Femininity and Fun: What’s Trending with Women’s Watches

Many designer brands and luxury watch companies are straying away from the large cases and plain straps to add femininity and fun to luxury women’s watches!

By Brielle Bryan

Photo courtesy of Longines

We’re seeing lots of diversity in each watches’ strap, from fabric and leather to metallic materials, that can be multi-colored or two-toned. Companies are changing up the size and appearance of watch bands, making them skinnier or into a multi-wrap strap.
Multiple brands are downsizing to smaller cases for women’s watches, as well as testing out different shapes to see what women desire in the luxury market. From squares to rectangles, these watch companies are shaking up the industry and diversifying their product lines.
Whether you decide to opt for a more fun strap or play with the case size and shape of your watch, definitely be BOLD about what color you go for! While some watch bracelets remain a classic gold or silver, we’re also seeing lots of colored-bands.
Here are a few watches that showcase the current trends in the luxury women’s watches market:

Photo courtesy of Longines

Longines DolceVita $4,300
You can be as fabulous as Kate Winslet in this marvelous stainless steel watch with an 18-karat pink gold crown and 46 Wesselton VVS diamonds outlining two sides of its rectangular face. This watch is not only the epitome of elegance and prestige, but is also very reliant with its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass shielding its face.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Hermes Cape Cod GM $3,125
While the face of this watch may seem simple, with its white dial and Arabic numeral time markers, its square stainless steel case and azalea pink calf leather wrap strap add pizzazz and spontaneity to its overall aesthetic.

Photo courtesy of Tudor

Clair de Rose $2,100

This stunning piece of art has a steel case with a polished finish that offers a smaller size of 26mm. It also has a self-winding mechanical movement and is waterproof up to 330 feet. The navy blue fabric strap that attaches the bright silver case to its owner’s wrist is bound to leave an impression on anyone who lays eyes on it.

Photo courtesy of Shinola

The Cass with diamonds 28mm $1,900
Cutting corners with this spectacular watch may be tricky with its squared stainless steel case with PVD gold plating that is lined with brilliant-cut diamonds. The 14mm strap of this petite watch is hand-sewn in the U.S. from genuine alligator.

Photo courtesy of Longines

Longines Mini $1,245.40
According to this Swiss watchmaker, “small is beautiful.” The miniature case on this stunning watch is adorned with diamonds and set on bright purple straps. It’s the perfect accessory for any summer occasion.

June 2, 2018 Comments Off

New Furniture Collection Exudes Disarming Comfort and Natural Beauty

with:Unique Homes Staff

Handcrafted using ancient techniques, Noble Souls is the first sofa range ever made using 100 percent natural vegetable dyes, feathers and natural linens.

The Noble Souls sofa collection is based on a simple idea that today’s real luxuries are those moments of blissful reconnection, when we feel ourselves truly alive and can deeply reconnect with one another.

In today’s globalized, virtualized world, those moments are too rare. We live in our heads, on our phones and in our screens, and we risk becoming more disconnected than ever from real life.

British furniture and interior designer Timothy Oulton wanted to figure out how to create more of these joyful moments where we feel closely connected to our surroundings and the world around us.

With a passion for materials and craft, Oulton unearthed answers on a journey that crisscrossed the globe, rediscovering ancient craftsmen, their techniques and the pure, natural materials they have used for thousands of years.

Timothy Oulton designs the Noble Souls collection to help people reconnect.

“We wanted to go beyond the sofa, to think about the space in someone’s home, and the context of their life,” Oulton says. “It’s not just furniture. Noble Souls gives you permission to relax and truly let go. In a home, these sofas become a hearth, a place where you can reconnect with each other more deeply, or even just with yourself.”

The collection features three sofas: Realm, Nest and Oasis. Each one offers a different seating contour, from extremely laid-back to more supportive profiles, ensuring there is a sofa perfectly suited to complement any lifestyle. The modular design ensures each sofa is endlessly configurable, to suit any space.

The Noble Souls collection is of disarming softness and epic comfort, made using natural materials and ancient craft. Each sofa is filled with goose down feathers, the simplest form of all feathers, creating thousands of tiny pockets of air within the sofa. Seat covers are all natural linen, using only 100 percent natural vegetable dyes.

Noble Souls linens are colored using only 100 percent natural vegetable dyes, applied the same way it has been done for thousands of years, which is using only dye stuffs and water. Blue hues are achieved using indigo, and grays using gallnut. Color fastness is achieved with a gentle stone washing treatment.

Accompanying the sofa collection, a select range of furniture and lighting is available. The collection also supports the three key “realms of reconnection” in any home — the sofa living area, the dining space and the bedroom.

AGORA LIVE EGDE DINING TABLE

ANCHOR PENDANT

FAMILY RUG — BLUE

ENGLISH BEAM COFFEE TABLE

OASIS SOFA IN LINEN WHITE

SAHARA CARAVAN RUG — BAMBOO

SALVE CUSHION — OLD WOVEN STRIPE

SANCTUM DINING CHAIR

Photos courtesy of www.timothyoulton.com

May 30, 2018 Leave a comment

Belize Sees an Influx of New Luxury Developments

with:Brielle Bryan

Providing high-end amenities and views of the Caribbean Sea, these four luxury developments are gaining traction among homeowners and travelers.

By Brielle Bryan

Photo courtesy of Mahogany Bay Village

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Caye Chapel

Four Seasons Private Estates Caye Chapel
Located in the heart of Belize’s largest marine sanctuary, this private island invites guests to connect with nature while enjoying the level of personal service and luxurious amenities that Four Seasons offers. Opening in 2021, Caye Chapel will feature approximately 50 Four Seasons Private Estates, with opportunities starting at $2 million.
Erasing the line between indoor and outdoor, these exclusive lots encourage owners to take advantage of the unparalleled access to the natural environment of Belize through boat expeditions, snorkeling, paddle boarding, diving, mainland exploration and more. In addition to the private estates, the 2.5-mile island of Caye Chapel will feature a 100-room Four Seasons Resort, 35 Private Residences, a private airstrip, a Fabien Cousteau Nature and Conservation Institute, an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course, bustling Harbor and Marina village, world-class dining options and a stylish Beach Club.

The Ellysian
The Ellysian is owned by Belize’s Prime Minister’s wife, Kim Barrow, and opened in May of 2017. The boutique property is ideally located within the charming and vibrant village of Placencia, placed perfectly along Belize’s Southern Coast. Upon arrival, guests are immersed into an incomparably lush escape that is in walking distance to local artisan shops, restaurants and sites the village has to offer.

There are 12 beautiful rooms at The Ellysian, consisting of beach view studios and one-bedroom suites. The limited number of suites at The Ellysian ensures guests are afforded privacy and a higher standard of personalized service. Each suite is fitted with a private veranda, viewing either the Caribbean sea or the famous sidewalk center of the village. The boutique hotel values making a difference in the community, and as a result, it supports several charitable organizations such as the Belize Cancer Center and The Placencia Humane Society.

Photos courtesy of The Ellysian

Mahogany Bay Village
Mahogany Bay Village is a fresh and energized take on the conventional resort community. The Village is made up of Belize’s first global luxury branded resort, a collection of customizable homes, and a bustling retail marketplace. Located on the soulful island of Ambergris Caye, Mahogany Bay Village, which just opened in December, sits no more than 10 minutes from the colorful eateries and shops of the historic San Pedro Town.

Photos courtesy of Mahogany Bay Village

Dream Hotel Group
In January, the Dream Hotel Group announced the development of two new hotels in Belize: Unscripted Belize and Dream Belize. The first of the two Belize openings for the group, Unscripted Belize, will debut in late 2018 with 24 beachfront cabana accommodations that will be steps away from the Caribbean Sea. With an open-air concept, the property will also feature an outdoor restaurant and bar, an expansive pool area and two private boats for snorkeling and scuba diving.
In 2020, Dream Belize will feature 100 guestrooms and suites, 120 hotel condominiums and 40 branded residential home sites. Also included will be four vibrant dining and nightlife concepts, three pools, a luxury spa and fitness center and multiple coworking suites to round out the dynamic resort offerings.

Photo courtesy of Gensler

May 28, 2018 Comments Off

Adventure Photographer seeking Ultimate Storytellers

with:Brielle Bryan

Photographers, writers and videographers can enter with the chance to win money, mentorship and an “adventure mobile.”

By Brielle Bryan

Travis Burke, the widely followed adventure photographer, is on a quest to find some of the most talented individuals who are looking to tell a story through their art. Burke started the Ultimate Storyteller contest to encourage others to follow their dreams and embrace their creativity, which he decided to do four years ago when he took a huge leap of faith. With just $81 to his name, Burke decided to trust his instincts and set out to follow his passion. This calling has taken him around the country in a van or “adventure mobile,” which Burke affectionately refers to as “Betty the Grey Wolf.”

Through the Ultimate Storyteller contest, Burke is seeking entries from photographers, writers and videographers, and will be choosing winners based on their works’ creativity and authenticity. The contest is accepting admissions during the entire month of May, and winners will enter with the chance to receive “Betty the Grey Wolf,” $6,000 worth of gear and a one-on-one mentorship with Burke himself.

Burke hopes to share his personal experiences with aspiring artists seeking adventure. Burke has visited the backroads of Vermont during Fall to photograph a covered bridge under the star-filled night sky. He’s captured the dangerous, yet stunningly beautiful ice caves in Washington and spent months in Utah exploring some of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the world in search for the perfect light. Burke is following his dreams, wherever they take him — chasing inspiring images and capturing them for everyone to see.
Burke’s breathtaking pictures feature the unending beauty of the natural world. A trademark of his images is the human touch — a man on a cliff admiring the beauty before him, a trio trekking through rock formations, a couple kissing under a waterfall. Burke said that his photographs help people experience the emotion and grandeur of a location so that they can imagine themselves being there.

Along his journey, the avid athlete can be found walking slacklines over canyons, freediving through caves in the ocean and just pushing himself and the boundaries of his craft. Burke has enjoyed the insight and experiences that he has gained from his travels. It’s a life that has fed his soul. Now Burke wants to pay it forward!

Photos courtesy of Travis Burke Photography

May 21, 2018 Comments Off

Restaurant Provides Charitable Experiential Dinner

with:Unique Homes Staff

A percentage of revenue from The Chef’s Table at BLACKBARN restaurant will go toward the Heavenly Harvest Foundation, a charity that creates nutritious and quality meals for those in need.

The Chef’s Table, open to the general public on Saturday nights, provides the opportunity to watch the restaurant’s renowned chef-owner John Doherty and his team in action and taste five distinct courses made from the season’s freshest ingredients. With a specially crafted menu that changes monthly, the $150 meal includes a selection of five wine pairings to present an affordable journey into New York City’s dining scene.
“We are thrilled to turn an evening out into an opportunity to give back for our guests, as proceeds from each dinner can provide a child in need with nutritious meals for an entire week,” says Chef John Doherty. “Like every detail of the BLACKBARN experience, from the decor to the tableware, the fully curated dinner leaves an impression of comfort and luxury while now sharing our passion for philanthropy.”
A personal dining experience that invites guests to have a front-row view of the action at long tables overseeing the exposed kitchen, The Chef’s Table offers a performance that is as elegantly simple as the dishes Chef Doherty creates. The April menu featured flavorful and unique combinations like a rich and round foie gras terrine cut with a tangy rhubarb and ginger conserve, and seasonal stars like ramps, white asparagus, fennel, and figs.

May 9, 2018 Leave a comment

3 Ways to Enjoy Glamping This Summer

with:Kelly Potts

Summer is the season for camping! Or, if you’d rather not sacrifice comfort and luxury during your scenic outdoor expedition, then ‘glamping’ may be the perfect fit. From tiny homes bordering national forests to island excursions for young campers and expansive tents with endless views of Hollywood Hills, here are three ways to glamp all season long.

Beverly Wilshire

Beverly Hills, California

Bringing a touch of the great outdoors with the first urban glamping experience available in Los Angeles, the Veranda Suite is a one-of-a-kind, studio-style suite suite featuring a 2,140-square-food terrace with unparalleled 270-degree views of the Hollywood Hills and Rodeo Drive.
The expansive tent, which is 16 feet in diameter and over 10 feet tall in the center, offers the coveted Four Seasons sleep experience with a queen-size bed and Four Seasons linens, and lavish furnishings including a crystal chandelier, marble lamps, fur rug and antique nightstands. Outdoors on the terrace, oversized lounge furniture surrounding a fireplace and a dining area for eight completes the glamping experience.
Guests can also enjoy an exclusive glamping menu during their stay, prepared on the veranda by the executive chef. Urban glamping in the Veranda Suite is available for a limited time, with rates starting at $3,500 per night.

Snake River Sporting Club

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Situated on 800 acres with nearly seven miles of private access to Snake River, this private club recently began offering luxury overnight lodging to the public.
The Discovery Village, perfect for couples, is an intimate collection of four designer-furnished, 1-bedroom tiny homes, each with their own fire pit and patio surrounding a communal open space. The tiny homes range from $225 to $625 per night, and guests can enhance their stay with outdoor activities such as world-class golf, fly fishing, hiking and biking, or the restored hot springs.

Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina

Kapolei, Hawaii

Located at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, the glamping excursion allows young campers to gather under the night sky surrounded by the comfort of a luxurious tent with Four Seasons bedding.
The well-appointed outdoor accommodations are matched by traditional camping experiences for an evening of Hawaiian stargazing and story-telling, games, movies and a “Great Outdoors” inspired dinner.
Overnight glamping is $150 per camper, which includes supervision, dinner, camping materials and breakfast. Glamping without camping is $100 per camper, including supervision, dinner and games until 10 p.m.

May 2, 2018 Comments Off

Latest Works from Trompe L’oeil Master Exhibited at Martin Lawrence Galleries

with:Kelly Potts

Martin Lawrence Galleries recently announced that the latest works from pop-illusionist Philippe Bertho — which showcase his recent decision to explore the dreamlike deliriums and the vibrant pleasure of his own personal narrative, context and texture — will be exhibited at its SoHo location.

Philippe Bertho, Gruetesque, acrylic on canvas, 47 1/2 x 47 1/2 inches

Philippe Bertho, Le Grand Saut, acrylic on canvas, 23 1/2 x 23 1/2 inches

Philippe Bertho, Love Pop 3, hand-signed serigraph on linen, 24 x 24 inches

Philippe Bertho, Le Plus Beau Cosmonaute, acrylic on canvas, 28 3/4 x 23 1/2 inches

MLG began presenting the unique works of Philippe Bertho exclusively at its nine galleries across the country a decade ago, noting that never before had it seen a painter of such magnificent vision and unique perspective. Since then, Bertho’s work is exclusively offered at its fine art galleries from New York to Orleans to Maui to La Jolla. MLG notes that Bertho’s personal and visual works illustrate, enlighten and — with gloriously subtle nuance — confound the eye.
“I think my paintings are paintings of ideas. There are many kinds of painters; I am a painter of ideas who paints with delicacy and restraint,” says Bertho. Bertho, born in the Brittany of France, is a classically trained artist who began studying his craft in the early 1990s in Reims. He spent considerable time mastering trompe l’oeil (“to fool the eye”) painting, a technique which literally creates the illusion of a third dimension on a flat surface.
“For a long time, I naively believed that painting was a matter of technique. Then I read about Picasso, son of a drawing teacher, who spent his life learning to draw as a child; then and there, my perspective on art was transformed forever. To represent a face in profile and from the front at the same time; it is simply great poetry,” says Bertho.
Bertho’s newest works, now offered for acquisition at MLG’s SoHo, New York and San Francisco locations, reflect his desire and recent decision to return to his vision of life as new ideas. New and original works on canvas and hand-signed prints are available to view and acquire.

April 23, 2018 Comments Off

Best NYC Homes for Every Stage in a Relationship

with:Unique Homes Staff

Whether you’re celebrating a first home or enjoying life as new parents, these are the best New York City homes for any romantic situation.

Welcoming Little Ones

Circa Central Park is the perfect place for young families to call home. The Upper West Side residential development has an array of amenities conducive to inspiring the minds of youngsters. In addition to a children’s playroom and tween room, Circa offers an environment that stimulates education, socialization and fun. Residence 3G, priced at $4.5 million, boasts a spacious layout outfitted with 3-bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the perfect setup for a family-friendly environment.

Photo courtesy of FXCollaborative

The Single Life

The one bedroom apartment at 525W52 offers residents hotel-like amenities, making each day a new adventure for those living the single life. The team at 525W52 works to curate attention-grabbing experiences for residents and their guests including book club in the library, film series in the screening room, social events on the rooftop and day trips. For those newly living on their own, 525W52 offers opportunities to connect with neighborhoods.

Photo courtesy of 525 West 52^nd Street

Empty Nesting

Retirees living at the d’Orsay will appreciate the building’s classy interior design by renowned French designer Jacques Garcia. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom Residence 5B, priced at $3,175,000, has the perfect amount of space for couples wishing to host friends and family visiting from out of town or spend quality time with the grandchildren.

Photo courtesy of The Neighborhood

Moving in Together

Couples shacking up together for the first time have a lot on their plate, but Fifty Third and Eighth offers a stress-free move-in process through a unique partnership with Design Within Reach, where buyers can purchase a unit fully-outfitted.

Photo courtesy of Fifty Third and Eighth

March 5, 2018 Leave a comment

French Ski Resorts Welcome Winter Olympics

with:Unique Homes Staff

Skiingproperty.com acknowledges the Winter Olympics’ history in the French Alps by highlighting four essential ski resorts.

South Korea’s hosting of the 2018 Winter Olympics in February offered an opportunity to promote winter sports to the world while demonstrating the diversity of today’s skiing destinations, according to Skiingproperty.com.
“The Winter Olympics is always exciting and it will be no different in PyeongChang,” said Skiingproperty.com director Julian Walker. “This hugely popular quadrennial event was in fact born in the French Alps, specifically in Chamonix in 1924. It returned to France in 1968, to Grenoble, and then again in 1992, to Albertville. For those French resorts that were fortunate enough to participate, the Olympics helped put them on the map and have become an important part of their history.”

Les Arcs — Speed skiing

Part of the Paradiski ski area in the Savoie region, Les Arcs hosted the exhilarating speed skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics. The event involves skiing as fast as possible down a straight downhill run, such that competitors often exceed 200 kilometres per hour. The resort’s Olympic speed run, known as the ‘Kilometre Lancé’ (Flying Kilometre), is in the Aiguille Rouge area of Les Arcs 2000, where the slopes are especially steep. Pro speed skiers still use it today while the public can use it under supervision. Skiingproperty.com has new-build apartments in Les Arcs, available from €200,000.

Méribel — Ice hockey and Alpine skiing

Picturesque Méribel, a favourite with British skiers, is located in the centre of the vast Trois Vallées ski area, making it ideally placed for hosting two events at the 1992 Olympics — the ice hockey and women’s Alpine skiing. A legacy of this is the resort’s impressive indoor ice rink, the Patinoire Olympique, built for the Olympics and which now includes a swimming pool and restaurant. Skiingproperty.com has luxury property for sale in Méribel, including the newly built 4-bedroom chalets from €2.9 million.

Val d’Isère — Alpine skiing

Testament to the quality of the slopes around trendy Val d’Isère, the resort played a key part in the 1992 Olympics. Part of the Espace Killy ski area, which includes Tignes, the resort hosted all bar one of the men’s Alpine skiing events, including the downhill, super-G, giant slalom and combined. The resort’s famous Face de Bellevarde, a thrilling black run, was integral to these events and today remains a highlight of skiing at Val d’Isère. Skiingproperty.com has luxury off-plan apartments in Val d’Isere, available from €1.3 million.

Courchevel — Ski jumping and Nordic combined

Internationally exclusive Courchevel played its part in the 1992 Olympics by hosting the jumping and Nordic combined at its Le Praz (1,300) village. The Courchevel Valley also benefited from the creation of accommodation for competitors in the village of La Tania. Skiingproperty.com has new luxury apartments in Courchevel, available from €825,000.

Photos courtesy of SkiingProperty.com

March 3, 2018 Leave a comment

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