Brand Identity That Still Looks Good 150 Years Later

Have you noticed how many modern luxury watches are shedding their skin more and more? It’s quite popular for watch to strip a bit and show you a view of their movement. Some watches are all movement, with no dial to speak of-mere hands floating above a landscape of gears. To accomplish this, watch makers must design movements to look nice, as well as perform properly. It is much easier to simply make a movement, rather than make an aesthetic looking movement.

Back in 1860 Girard Perregaux was one of the first watch makers to consider building a movement around aesthetic ideals. It wasn’t that watch movements were ugly before this, but rather that they displayed a sense of organic mechanical construction that was beautiful for what it was. Girard Perregaux implemented the idea of placing three symmetrical bridges as the main viewable element of a movement. Even today, symmetry in a watch movement (just as on a dial) is highly respected. The Girard Perregaux Tourbillon Three Gold Bridges watch continues in the brand’s tradition of releasing highly sophisticated tourbillion watches that prominently display the three gold bridges. The top bridge secures the mainspring barrel used to power the watch, the middle bridge helps secure the hour and minute hand, while the lower gold bridge secures the top of the tourbillion carriage (that also acts as the seconds counter). If the name of the watch sounds familiar, it is because the title has been used before, what you see is the 2010 version of the Three Bridge Tourbillon watch that enjoys a brand new style.

The 18k pink gold case is 41mm wide and houses a Girard Perregaux GP9600C automatic mechanical tourbillion movement (automatic tourbillion watches are less common than manually wound ones). You can see the movement number “9600” displayed on the watch dial. You will also find the watch’s number in the limited edition on the dial – there will only be 50 pieces of this Girard Perregaux watch model made. It comes on a black alligator strap with a matching gold buckle.

Some people will no doubt be confused by the style of the watch. While easily seen as attractive, the blend of an actual dial (barren and lightly engraved) and movement parts may seem an odd combination. However, the watch is actually an emblem of the brand. The iconic three gold bridge design signifies that the watch is not only a Girard Perregaux, but of the highest-end Girard Perregaux watches available. Ownership of a piece places you in a small club, and communicates to everyone else (who are in the know) of your affiliation with tasteful, classic timepieces. It is almost the anti-modern, modern watch. Price for each in the limited edition is $80,000.

Ariel Adams is the Haute Living Watch Editor and also publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Via: Girard-Perregaux

Hate flying? You’re not alone. French company Airbus has created a solution, however. The latest model of its huge offspring, the Airbus A-380, will change the way you think about flying forever. In this plane, economy and business class passengers are separated right from the entrance with different jet bridges to carry them into their separate cabins on separate floors. With folded out full-length coach seats to lounge on, you are provided with comfy socks, sleep masks and stickers to let the flight attendants know when you’d like to wake up.

Once the airplane takes flight, there’s no need to fret about what you can do to keep yourself busy or entertained. No more boring radio stations or movies to watch. You can hit the remote and get a massage, or play with the 17-inch touchscreen monitor right in front of you with two USB ports and remote with sat-phone in it. There’s even a bar to order your favorite cocktail from, and we hear you can actually jog around if you need to.

Via: Born Rich

We all think of the holidays as a time for giving, as well as receiving. For billionaires, however, the holidays takes on a whole new meaning to the spirit of giving. Let’s take a look at Warren Buffet for example, who is bestowing all of his money to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. But we all know that when it comes to greater materialistic wishes, we can list some of the most out-there choices for big spenders. Here are just a few that come to our attention.

1. Gulfstream 250 (pictured)
This amazing plane seats ten, plus two crew, and costs an estimated $24 million. The company announced it last month, but potential owners won’t be taking delivery until 2011. An upgrade to the Gulfstream 200, the 250 has a very hi-tech glass cockpit, plus heated leading edges to prevent ice build-up.

2. Hermes 8 Days Spiral Boule Clock
The 8 Days Spiral Boule Clock from French luxury goods house Hermes is expensive. For $560,000 the clock-you wind it by twisting the two half spheres of its body-goes eight days on a single wind, has a white gold face and a button at six o’clock that you press when you want to change the time rather than wind it.

3. Perfect8 5.1 Surround Sound System
Swedish company Perfect8’s surround sound system is a bargain- six components for just $500,000.

4. Polished Steel PingPong Table
This mirrored table by artist Rirkrit Tiravanija is just $55,000, making it possibly the most expensive table tennis ever.

5. Henk Travelfriend
For just under $60,000, you can buy this gold-coated ostrich-skin travel case with gold-leaf interior. Designed by a Dutch businessman, the Henk Travelfriend has a central locking system and two wheels: one to make it go forwards, the other for sideways sliding.

6. Larry Hagman’s Eco Home
Nestled in the hills of Ojai, California, one-time oil baron Larry Hagman’s eco home is on sale. The former Dallas actor is selling the house he built in 1992, which contains nine bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. The eco-warrior has installed solar panels, reducing the $37,000 annual electricity bill to a more manageable $13 a year. As well as stunning views over the Pacific, there’s a saltwater lap pool built under a retractable roof.

Via: DVice

For all of you political buffs, Barack and Michelle Obama fans, here are some interesting photos taken of their first Christmas living in the White House. The official Christmas tree arrived promptly the day after Thanksgiving in a horse-drawn carriage, and Michelle, Sasha and Malia were there to greet it, decked out in Christmas-spirited clothing. Even the delivery guy was dressed up!

Via: Guest of a Guest

Bonhams and Butterfields is going to auction off the world’s second-largest documented pearl, the “Palawan Princess,” a five-pound gorgeous jewel found off the coast of the Philippines. This extremely precious, rare, expensive, and haute natural non-nacreous pearl was found in saltwater near the Philippines’ Palawan island. The only pearl that is bigger than the “Princess” is one that weighs 14 pounds, dubbed the “Pearl of Allah”. We can’t help but notice that this “Princess” pearl resembles a human brain, making it extra unique.

The Palawan Princess is a blister pearl, which measures six inches in diameter and is accompanied by the lower half of its original giant clam shell. The price of this precious gem is estimated to be somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000. It will be auctioned off on December 6.

Via: Luxury Launches

On November 18th in Park Avenue Armory, Elin & Michael Nierenberg celebrated the 12th Annual Collaborating For a Cure to Benefit The Samuel Waxman (pictured) Cancer Research Foundation, as guests, including Victoria’s Secret Angels Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lindsay Ellingson and Candice Swanepoel, Patti D’Arbanville and Susan Meisel, enjoyed gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, followed by dinner, an exciting live auction and a show-stopping performance by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Steve Winwood. During his address, Samuel Waxman, M.D., Scientific Director of the SWCRF, focused on the continuing work of the Foundation in developing treatments for reversing abnormal cancer cell behavior.

Elin & Michael Nierenberg

For exclusive event photos, please visit our events page.

Last week, we told you all about the Kids for Cancer event in Miami. This week, we have updated our photo archives for your entertainment. Added to the gallery are several photos of celebrities and socialites, including our favorite Haute girl, Eva Longoria. For exclusive photos, visit our events page. Here’s a preview of what to expect:

Eva Longoria

Gilles Marini

Louis Moinet North America, which safeguards the 200 year-old legacy of renowned watchmaker Louis Moinet recently announced it has donated three Twintech Chronographs watches at a recent charity auction to benefit the Dan Marino Foundation.

Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino and renowned cigar maker Carlos Fuentes, Jr. hosted the 9th Annual Marino Cigar Dinner, benefitting the Dan Marino Foundation at the Marino’s home on Tuesday, November 10th. NFL players Jason Taylor and Sam Madison, luxury jeweler Mark Levinson and over one hundred prominent businessmen, community leaders, athletes and celebrities joined Marino, Chairman of the Dan Marino Foundation, for an evening of unwinding with cigars, entertainment and a sit down dinner.

Over $241,000 was raised through ticket sales and a live and silent auction, with all proceeds going to the Dan Marino Foundation to help fund programs for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. A highlight of the live auction was the Louis Monet Twintech Chronograph, donated by Michael Brader-Araje, President of Louis Moinet North America and exclusively represented by Mark Levinson of Levinson Jewelers on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  The watch was in high demand during the auction, with a final bid of $13,000 – 30 percent above retail.  As a result of the popularity of the timepiece, Brader-Araje made an impromptu decision to donate a second Twintech, which also sold for $13,000.
“An exciting night for a lot of reasons,” said Dan Marino.  “It was the 9th year our friends came out for this event in support of the Foundation and we raised over $240,000.  A big part of the auction’s success were the amazing watches donated by Louis Moinet that are sold exclusively at Levinson Jewelers.”

The Twintech Chronograph is a limited edition watch-only 60 are available worldwide.  This chronograph builds upon the design of the Louis Moinet Twintech based on original drawings by Louis Moinet in 1848. It’s distinctive and powerful design are a fitting tribute to the legacy of Louis Moinet.

“All of us at the Louis Moinet company believe in giving back, so it was truly a privilege to support the Dan Marino Foundation and the great children’s causes it supports,” stated Brader-Araje. “The fact that our watches were so well-received during the auction was just an added bonus to an incredible evening.”

Pictured: Michael Brader-Araje, President of Louis Moinet North America, Mark Levinson, co-owner of Levinson Jewelers,  Dan Marino and Barry Lipsitz (winning bidder). Photo by Michael Hopkins.

Located on the San Francisco Peninsula for over thirty years,  Bruce Good of The Oriental Carpet in Menlo Park has helped discerning homeowners & designers achieve the look and feel that a truly beautiful carpet can bring to a room.

Now, the Oriental Carpet will help celebrate women and their families overcome poverty. Women all over the world from Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East will be creating exquisite crafts to show that even in the midst of poverty, violence, terror, and loss, women are persevering by creating beauty and hope with their work.

Offering an extensive collection of fine rugs and carpets, they are proud to celebrate the work of Rising International, an organization that envisions a future where hopes are realized in even the poorest parts of the world; where lives are uplifted by economic prosperity, allowing women to participate in the global economy.

On Thursday, December 10th, the Oriental Carpet on 707 Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park, CA will celebrate women and their families overcoming poverty.

Rising International’s party at The Oriental Carpet features these crafts and the women and families who make them, and bring their crafts, their history, and their stories to the store for this very special event.

As if the New Moon and Twilight saga fever had come and gone, there seems to be quite a commotion among some South Floridians about one of the movie’s stars ariving to Miami. Last week we reported Twilight and New Moon’s Kellan Lutz’s arrival just in time for the Audi A8 Reveal for Art Basel 2009.

After landing in Miami on Sunday night, the heartthrob headed straight to SET on Lincoln Road for the Sunday Sundance House Music Party. Only there for a few hours, Lutz kept a low profile while sipping on a Belvedere and cranberry at a VIP table he shared with a buddy, wearing jeans and a hat. We hear he was amazed on how beautifully designed SET’s decor was.

Via: Miami Herald