Toby Pomeroy Champions Reclaimed Metals

It’s a little-known fact that mining for precious metals is one of the most environmentally destructive activities that humans engage in. With effects that dwarf the impact of the “Blood Diamond” scandals, the precious metals mining industry is poised to become the next major controversy in an industry which has a fairly checkered history. Precious metals mining produces massive amounts of toxic waste and pollution which in 2001 accounted for a staggering 46% of the total toxic waste for all U.S. industry combined! As is common with the jewelry industry, companies have been all too happy to ignor this information with few brands putting any effort into rectifyinig the situation.

However, Toby Pomeroy is an exception to this rule. As a designer of fine jewelry, Pomeroy became concerned about the environmental impact of precious metals mining and decided to take proactive action. Pomeroy made arrangements with the largest supplier and refiner of precious metals in the US, Hoover and Strong, to find an alternative metal supply that he could use. The company now exclusively uses gold and silver dubbed “EcoGold” and “EcoSilver” which are acquired entirely from recycled or reclaimed metal. Continue Reading… »

Jaquet Droz Ceramic Watches Embody Individualistic Elegance

It’s neat to see what Jaquet Droz has done with ceramics.  While most brands (Hublot and IWC, for example) have gone the purely sports-based route when using this fascinating and somewhat Darth Vader-esque material, Jaquet Droz has held to their own successful theme of individualistic elegance. My favorite of JD’s ceramic cased watches is the just-announced Quantieme Perpetuel Ceramique, which has to be one of the most strikingly original complicated dress watches ever created.   ( Click here to read an article on it) Continue Reading… »

Megan Fox in Gurhan for Transformer’s Premier

Great things are clearly on the horizon for Megan Fox. This blue eyed and tattooed brunette is fast becoming one of the hottest stars of her generation. With tremendous media attention and the watchful eye of America’s men and women on her, this young star is poised to take Hollywood by storm. Often compared to Angelina Jolie, Fox is a sexy and fiery model and actress who grabbed the world’s attention for her turn in Michael Bay’s “Transformers” film. Since appearing scantily clad and sweltering over a car engine, Fox has nabbed #2 spots on both FHM’s and Maxim’s top 100 lists of the world’s sexiest women. Continue Reading… »

Steve McQueen’s ‘67 Rolex Submariner Sets Massive World Record Price

“The Rolex Submariner is a dime a dozen.”  That sometimes-voiced dismissal of the world’s best known dive watch–using dimes or dozens– certainly couldn’t be applied to the personal Ref. 5512 Submariner of tough-guy actor Steve McQueen.  The excellently kept circa-1967 Rolex Sub favored by the King of Cool likely widened a few eyes in the Antiquorum auction room when it sold for a herculean $234,000–a figure some twenty times the pre-sale estimate.  A resonant world record, for sure! Continue Reading… »

Tag Heuer Finally Makes The Monaco V4 Watch, And Offers The First for Charity At the “Only Watch” Auction

It was 2004 when Tag Heuer first announced the Monaco V4 concept watch. What was unique was the movement and the automatic winding mechanism. Complications merely included the time and a dial that was open-worked (as part of the movement). The Monaco V4 concept watch was the first ever “belt driven” movement – and is still the only such movement to operate in the way it does. It is gimmicky sure, but it looks very cool, and still images don’t really do it justice. Another unique aspect of the watch it’s the automatic winding system. Instead of having a rotor that oscillates, it has a weight that moves in a linear fashion up and down – just like a piston almost. That movement acts to move gears that wind the mainspring. I don’t know exactly how elegant it looks in reality, but it is certainly a very interesting concept, and now reality. Continue Reading… »

Eva Mendes for Cartier Love Day

For over 30 years, the Cartier “Love” bracelet has been a symbol of passion, goodwill and style. The bracelet design is one of the most rocognisable and coveted styles avaialble. With the Love campaign, Cartier supports a host of charities ranging from Breast Cancer Research to UNICEF and the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust amongst others. This year, with the help of hollywood belle Eva Mendes, Cartier announced their fourth-annual “Love Day” initiative on June 11th, 2009. The event was held at the Cartier Mansion at 653 Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street. Continue Reading… »

Gurhan Collection for NY Metropolitan Museum of Art

With a vast collection of 24k gold jewelry designs all inspired by and incorporating ancient goldsmithing methods, Gurhan Orhan has built the premiere modern gold jewelry brand.  By incorporating ancient techniques, designs and materials, Gurhan shows supreme reverence for the history of jewelry making while simultaneously helping to write the next chapter in the ongoing story of jewelry design.  In acknowledgement of Gurhan’s unique expertise, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has partnered with the brand for their “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul” exhibit. Continue Reading… »

Blu Quartett Watch: Elegant Simplicity Meets Technical Charm

The timepieces of independent watchmaker Bernhard Lederer and his stealthily eponymous brand Blu (Bernhard Lederer Universe) have always caught my eye. There are two things in particular which attract me: I love the way in which his cosmos-inspired orbiting tourbillons and time displays manage to convey technical brilliance with serenity–an unusual virtue in supremely high quality timepieces.  And, I adore his cases, which emphasize the ethereal beauty of the mechanisms and convey a modest and non-stuffy elegance.  The Blu Quartett watch pictured is a great addition to the brand’s “Classics” line–one which I would be delighted to cherish and wear often.  Continue Reading… »

Gurhan Silver Diffusion

Gurhan Orhan has built one of the most recognisable, innovative and exciting modern jewelry brands almost exclusively through his use of 24k gold .  It’s rare that a designer is so strongly associated with one material, and Gurhan has done wonders for reviving interest in gold jewelry.  With the gold jewelry trend back in full swing and gold prices creeping back up into the stratosphere, Gurhan now throws us a serious curve-ball: he has introduced a massive new collection of sterling silver jewelry. Continue Reading… »

Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Watch To Auction At Bonhams

It’s always interesting to follow the appearance of exceptional vintage Patek Philippe watches at the various auction houses.  One of the latest is from Bonhams, which has announced the upcoming (June 10th) sale of a yellow gold Patek Philippe chronograph with perpetual calendar and moon phases.  This model, the Ref. 2499, is interesting because despite its comparatively long production run of more than 35 years,  only 349 pieces are known to exist.   Continue Reading… »