Apparently, diamonds are robbers' best friends, too!
Llloyds of London is going green offering a $1 million reward for info leading to the recovery of the jewels recently heisted from the Paris store of jeweler Harry Winston, according to the award-winning news-breakers Sky News.
The robbery occurred approximately a year ago after a similar crime took place-on a smaller scale-at the store on the avenue Montaigne. Although a reward also was offered then, that unlawful act remains unsolved, too.
The eighth North America-based store opened at the grandiose South Coast Plaza shopping center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Other U.S. store locations include NYC, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Bal Harbour, Dallas, Chicago, and Honolulu. Retailers selling Harry Winston timepieces are found worldwide.
HW's is a fave of Hollywood A-listers, social notables, and royalty alike. It is likely that jewelry by Harry Winston has been sighted at more red-carpet events than that of any other jeweler's.
Mar 6, 2009
$1 Million Reward for Info on Harry Winston Caper
Jewelry Innovator Geoffrey Good
That a chunk of amethyst should remind Geoffrey Good of a hairy orange monster in a Bugs Bunny cartoon shouldn't come as a surprise. When it comes to fine jewelry, this New York-based designer's imagination soars.
Good puts creativity and originality ahead of conventional jewelry values - like big colourless diamonds.
And in terms of design, "if someone else is doing it, I have absolutely no interest," Good declared over lunch at Soho's 60 Thompson hotel.
Splayed out on the table before us was a selection of Good's extraordinary designs. An enormous 85 carat Brazilian aquamarine lay framed in African Gabon ebony, the darkest, most expensive wood there is. The "little monster" ring is a hunk of amethyst that looks as if it has been chipped from a slab of rock and plunked into a sculptural gold setting trimmed with microscopic diamonds. A fiery orange topaz is mirror cut so that looking at it straight on the colour is amplified, but it is transparent from the sides. And a swirl of pyrite set in wood resembles a golden mushroom.
"I'm mostly inspired to create with objects from nature that are as minimally processed by the hand of man as possible," Good explains. "There's so much unexpected beauty already in nature that - given the proper presentation - we don't need to limit ourselves to traditional ideas of beauty or gems."
Even sterling silver is unrecognizable in Good's hands, thanks to a process that encapsulates the metal to give it a black sheen.
"Everything is handmade by me experimenting with traditional techniques," says Good, who graduated from the jewelry program at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, where he now teaches.
A native of Virginia, Good studied trumpet, piano and fashion merchandising before discovering his talent for jewelry. He apprenticed with a Madison Ave. veteran, and has worked for Christies, Sotheby's, Taffin, Fred Leighton and Verdura.
"I was lucky that I cut my teeth on Cartier," Good acknowledges. "I have made pieces in the double digit millions, like a 100-plus carat D flawless necklace valued at $14 million."
Although he still designs and restores for major jewelers, collectors, galleries and museums, the classics bore him, and Good would rather be using his technical prowess to dream up innovations like the nearly invisible hollow wires that hold a spear of rudellated crystal.
Good emphasizes, however, how crucial traditional skills are in order to be truly creative.
"I encourage my students to learn all they can about technique," he says. "It's not fun but I tell them if they master that, they can do anything."
A Geoffrey Good micro-boutique will open soon at Sample in Manhattan's NoLita district. Rings are priced in the $3,000 to $7,000 U.S. range.
Feb 9, 2009
The Rolex GMT Vs the Rolex Submariner
The Rolex GMT and the Rolex Submariner fall into the professional line of watches. While the GMT is meant for the aviators, the Submariner was the world's first watch designed for diving. Both were introduced in 1954 at the Basel Fair.
Similarities between the Rolex GMT and the Rolex Submariner
Apart from being professional Rolex watches and sharing the same launching year, there are other similarities in the current versions of the two models. Some of these include:
1. Standard case size of 40mm
2. Self-winding mechanism
3. Rotating bezel
4. A scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire crystal, which gives the two watches a slimmer look
5. Triplock system providing another layer of protection to the Oyster case. It features a triple gasket system that screws down tightly onto the case tube and against the Oyster case
6. Available in 18k yellow gold, steel and Rolesor
Besides these similarities, the option of black bezel with black dial is also very popular in both these models.
How is the Rolex GMT Different from the Rolex Submariner?
Rolex created these two models to meet different professional needs. Some of the major aspects where the watch models differ from each other are explained below:
1. The Rolex Submariner features a uni-directional rotating bezel as opposed to the bi-directional bezel found in the Rolex GMT watches. The functionality of the bezels is different in the two models. The uni-directional bezel in the Rolex Submariner is designed to help a diver measure the elapsed time while diving. Before a diver gets enters the water, he needs to set the bezel so the triangle engraved on the bezel points at the current minute hand position. This will start counting the minutes while the diver descends. Similarly, by resetting the position of the triangle again, he can pace his ascent as well. Thus, by measuring the elapsed time, the bezel ensures the safety of the diver.(On the other hand, the bi-directional rotating bezel in the Rolex GMT helps the wearer to read the time in two different time zones simultaneously. Divided into two equal parts, the time 6:00 to 18:00 represents the day and the time 18:00 to 6:00 represents the night. The special 24 hour hand is used to display the 24 hour time frame on the bezel. The watch features an independent hour hand, which can be set to a different time zone without adjusting the 24 hour hand and the bezel. In addition, the "one-hour" jump feature enables the hour hand to jump one hour at a time without affecting the minute or second hand. This feature is not present in the Submariner models.
2. The current Rolex GMT Models have a water depth rating of 330 feet, while the Submariner models have a water depth rating of 300 meters or 1000 feet.
3. All current Rolex GMT models sport a ceramic bezel, unlike the Submariner models.
4. The Rolex GMT models currently available offer many jewelry embedded options such as diamond-paved dial, rotating bezel fitted with diamonds, sapphires and rubies and even diamond fitted lugs. Such jewelry options are not available in the Submariner models.
By Scot Jhon Parham
Finding Movado Diamond Watches
New Designer Watches
Mens watches are often welcome as gifts - but in some cases, have real symbolism. For example, in Spain, just like many other Western countries, it is traditional for men to present women with engagement rings when their proposals are accepted. However, Spanish women often return the gesture by presenting their future husbands with designer watches. This is only one of the more unique ways in which mens watches are presented as gifts.
A Short History
Designer and luxury watches have actually been around for about 500 years, although they were usually signs of status or a tool of one's trade, as was the case for railroad mens' pocket watches and dive watches. The first men's watches appeared around the time of Martin Luther in the mid-16th Century; they were essentially miniature versions of the spring-wound wall clocks that had been invented less than a century earlier. Rather large and unwieldy, these early men's watches were worn around the neck, fastened by a chain.
"Bracelet watches," which were the first true wristwatches, were not mens watches at all; first appearing shortly after the American Civil War, they were actually intended to be worn by women. Men used pocket watches exclusively. It wasn't until the invention of the airplane that it became necessary to develop a time piece that allowed pilots to tell time without removing their hands from the stick.
Louis Cartier, who later became well known for the production of luxury watches, was actually the first to come up with a practical mens watches designed to be worn on the wrist for the benefit of those early aviators.
Citizen watches are yet another famous name in luxury watches. These were first manufactured in 1918 by a Japanese company, Shoshoka Watch Institute, which changed its name in 1930. To this day, Citizen watches are considered some of the finest and most accurate timepieces in the world.
By Jonathon Blocker
Top Designer Qualities of Omega Watches
For over 100 years, watchmaker Omega has been creating masterpieces in the area of luxury brand watches. Both men and women have found something to love with this type of luxury watch. Whether it is the excellent craftsmanship which every single Omega watch possesses or the unique characteristics regarding the style of watch, the Omega brand is highly sought after on the consumer market. There are a few distinct designer qualities which in and of themselves make Omega a top-notch luxury brand.
Attractive Styles
Most individuals who purchase luxury watches want them to stand out on their wrist. They are searching for the type of watch which will look attractive as well as tell the time. With Omega brand luxury watches, purchasers are getting the best of both worlds. They are acquiring a watch which will tell the time with supreme accuracy as well as getting a luxury style of watch which looks great on them. The Omega watches for both men and women come in a variety of styles and no matter which one you choose you are sure to find an attractive watch to suit your style perfectly.
Omega Brand Watches Are Built to Last
Since watches are in a vulnerable spot on the body and can occasionally be bumped now and again, it is important to choose a luxury type of watch which is also durable in nature. Omega designer watches are built to last, which is a quality that all luxury brand watches should possess. When manufactured, the Omega watches go through rigorous testing to ensure that they will last and look good all the while as well. When one spends a good deal of money on their watch they want to know that they will have this timepiece for quite a long time. Omega is a company which strives to present this quality with all of the watches they produce.
Unique Features of the Omega Watch
There are also a variety of unique features which the Omega watches possess. Certain watches have features such as scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, co-axial escapement, mother of pearl dials, colored stone embellishments and more. The more features the Omega watch contains, the higher the price tag. However, if you are set on purchasing a luxury brand watch, considering the Omega name for your timepiece purchase is a great idea. You will be getting a high quality watch with unique features that no other luxury watch manufacturer may offer in many circumstances.
Omega Constantly Outdoes Itself
In addition, the Omega brand of luxury watch is constantly changing with regard to style. New styles of Omega watches hit the market and contain designer qualities which are often even better than their predecessors are. Whether it is to add a higher degree of water resistance or add more crystal embellishments to the watches, Omega is a watchmaker which aims to please and will continue to produce top designer quality watches to the public which are even more unique than the ones already being sold by Omega.
By Joseph Levy
