Cartier

I’m a firm believer that no matter how fancy, as soon as you introduce gaudiness into an item, it begins to look cheap.

Diamonds is the ultimate symbol of luxury, but if one starts wearing diamond-encrusted coats with matching hat and scarf, the look screams more Jersey Shore than Audrey Hepburn; not to mention the backlash an overly flashy ensemble would elicit.

With the same concerns in mind, Cartier, the indisputable brand of sophistication is introducing discreet watches to assuage luxury-goods guilt.

With a prestigious client list that includes the star of Russia and the late and great Elizabeth Taylor, Cartier is focusing on watches with more understated class than ostentatious displays of wealth. Not skimping on jewels, diamond, gold, and other precious stones and metals, Cartier will show complicated timepieces and watches at the SIHH watch fair in Geneva.

The new product, Tank Anglaise, is available in three colors of gold as well as a gold and steel version. It’s said to be the biggest introduction since the Balloon Bleu. Balloon Bleu watches was first introduced to the market in 2007 and stood apart from its competitors with round cases and a crown set with sapphire.

Standard model of the Balloon Bleu begin at 10,000 euros while the diamond-encrusted versions are worth hundreds of thousands of euros.

Class, sophistication, and the agility to roll with the current socio-economic times are just a few of the reasons for Cartier’s revenue and market share growth.

Sandals Resorts

The Pirates was such an overwhelmingly influential franchise, it glorified pirates (mostly of the Caribbean persuasion) and showcased the beauty of the Caribbean.

Played by Johnny Depp, Captain Jack Sparrow standing proudly on a small, sinking sailboat was the image that immediately pops into my head, when I hear or see the word, “Caribbean.” But that hardly does Sandals Vacations justice. If anything can dominate the image of Captain Sparrow, it would be Sandals.

Sandals Resorts has a global reputation for providing the most romantic vacation experience in the Caribbean. With 14 luxurious all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, and The Bahamas, Sandals is further solidifying its reputation by offering a limited-time “Sandals Renewal of Vows” event.

The concepts of  The Sandals Renewal of Vows are simple, for each couple that reserves a stay of six nights or longer in any room category will receive a complimentary, intimate Renewal of Vows ceremony.

“A Sandals Renewal of Vows ceremony is perfectly tailored to create the ideal romantic experience and moments that will be treasured for a lifetime,” says Marsha-Ann Brown, Director of Romance, Sandals Resorts. Married couples looking to profess their love will enjoy a complimentary Renewal of Vows ceremony and reception styled by Martha Stewart that incorporates elements of the Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart ‘Beautiful Beginnings’ theme.

Along with a Personal Vow Renewal Consultant, all Renewal of Vows ceremonies include recorded musical accompaniment, an elegant reception with chilled hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine, as well as a Renewal of Vows Officiant and personalized commemorative certificate.

Following the festivities, couples celebrating a vow renewal at Sandals Resorts will also receive a full breakfast in bed on the morning of their choice, a romantic in-room turn down service and a 5×7 “second honeymoon” photograph and branded beach bag.

For more details on the Sandals “Renewal of Vows” package, visit www.sandals.com or call 1-877-SANDALS and mention promotion code ROV12.

Summit of Leysin, Switzerland

Winter in northern CA is experiencing delays. Midway into January, we are finally getting some cool weather. Though not nearly enough snow where I live, but at least Summit of Leysin, Switzerland is enjoying my snowy winter.

The luxury alpine resort at Les Diablerets in the Lake Geneva Region is covered in a deep blanket of fresh snow (yes, the fluffy kind).

With eight feet of snow to date, also known as the Canton of Vaud, the Lake Geneva Region is located in Southwestern Switzerland. With entertainment and recreation other than just skiing, the area is also home to museums, restaurants and shops; something for the artistically-hungry, the foodies, and the shoppers.

With stunning mountain views across Lake Geneva, cozy chalets serving authentic cheese fondue, and fast scenic rail connections from Geneva Cointrin Airport to the mountain villages in less than two hours, the Lake Geneva Region offers the ultimate Swiss ski vacation.

Thanks to more than 500 miles of marked ski runs, the resorts of the Lake Geneva Region can offer slopes for skiers and boarders of all abilities.

Currently 37 resort properties in the Lake Geneva Region are offering a Free for Kids offer that gives children age 9 and younger a complimentary ski pass and free accommodations in their parents/accompanying adult guardian’s room.

Take advantage of the snow while it lasts. Fluffy snow beats a thin layer of dirty northern California frost any day!

For additional news and information about the Lake Geneva Region, visit www.lake-geneva-region.ch 

Friends are hard to shop for. I try to give gifts that people both need and want. But fifty percent of the time, what they need greatly differs from what they actually want.

Case in point, the dinnerware set of 2009. Nice ceramic plates that bachelorette friend needs. So we can stop the indignities of eating from paper plates. But what she wanted was a sterling silver headband.

That is why I love wish lists and registries. That is where GiftVault.com comes in.

GiftVault.com fuses social media with luxury gifts by allowing users to search for their friends, see their wish list and buy exactly what they want.

When a gift is purchased on GiftVault.com, the item grays out and the “wisher” receives an email notifying them that someone has bought something from their wish list. This feature will be most helpful when it comes to items that come in multiple sizes or sizes.

GiftVault’s owners are Lee Greenberg, a formerly Beijing-based new media fundraising and venture capital specialist, and Violetta Gruosi, a luxury expert with degrees in business, gemmology and international management, and the daughter and step-daughter of the heads of Geneva-based jewellery brands De Grisogono and Chopard.

“At GiftVault we treat every gift with the same love and care as if it were for our own special occasion. Our social gifting network massively ups your chances of buying your friends a gift they’ll really adore,” says founder Lee Greenberg.

GiftVault.com is not an average online retailer site like Overstock.com. You won’t find Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, or Liz Clairborne on this site. Items tend to be more exclusive and unique. Brands such as Armand de Brignac, Carolina Bucci, and Christofle. Gifts tend to be pricey, so it would be an ideal Christmas, birthday, anniversary, wedding, or other special occasion gift site.

Namale Resort

There’s one obnoxious trend in the early 2000s that I am happy to see disappear. I used to receive “Don’t You Wish You Were Here Instead” email attachments with photos of heavenly Eden-esque paradise with clear blue waters, sunset with the perfect blend of orange and yellow, and colorful exotic fish that swim up directly up to your hotel cabin.

Now I know where these photos were collected: the Namale Resort and Spa in Fiji.

Host to ABC show, The Bachelorette, the Namale Resort is nothing short of amazing. Staying there is like taking a vacation in your screensaver.

The elegant Namale Resort is built on the boulders and seacliffs of Vanua, Levu, Fiji’s second largest island. Known for its expertise in infusing magic into any honeymoon, Tatadra (Dream House) suite boasts 3,000 square feet of luxury.

A living/dining room overlooking the private pool and ocean, glass-walled master suite with a four-poster bed, raised Jacuzzi for two, and a hanging-bed pavilion, are just a few of the features that set Namale apart.

Recently voted one of the Top 50 Most Romantic Places on Earth and Fiji’s #1 all-inclusive resort and spa, Namale Resort encourages life at a slow, relaxing pace. As soon as you check-in, every amenity you can think of is in your own Fijian bure or villa overlooking the Koro Sea or on the resort.

The Namale Resort will tempt you to revive the obnoxious “Wish You Were Here” email tradition.

Martell Cognac

To me, cognac is one of the hardest things to evaluate.  Unlike wines, where you can appreciate the fruit, spice, or woody flavor and undertones, cognac is created from fruit brandy, eau de vie, intended for distillation and aging.  Martell now has tasty tips on how to enjoy distinguished features of each type of cognac.

Best known for its cognac, Martell remains to be the oldest and one of the most prestigious brand of its kind.  Part of Martell’s success and longevity is its craftsmanship in the creation of cognac.  Martell carefully selects specific crus, has a strict double distillation method and aging process, and uses only vins clairs and grains fins.

Now they have taken that same approach to gastronomy (the art and science of food and culture): Pure Gourmet.

Eric Danger and Christophe Pienkowski, the two resident chefs of Martell’s Château de Chanteloup, alongside Martell’s Cellar Master Benoit Fil, developed an ingredient-centric recipes that blend each of Martell’s cognac with three key ingredients that highlights its characteristics.

Coined as “the perfect bite”, Benoit Fil explained the that it “consists of three ingredients but you can decide the way that you discover the facet of each iconic recipe by mixing the three central elements however you wish.  Each recipe should be served with its corresponding Martell cognac.”  Pure Gourmet is the perfect union of food and beverage.

Hotel de La Paix

With our nuptials rapidly approaching, selecting a honeymoon destination has been a source of both excitement and frustration.  When I think honeymoon, I see images of rich blue Kauai waves, the silver sands of Jamaica, or romantic Gondolas gracing across Venetian waters.  My fiance, however, dreams of Moai on Easter Island.  Luckily, an option like Hotel De La Paix in Laos may be the answer.

Hotel de la Paix Luang Prabang is built on a UNESCO World Heritage site in the former royal capital of Laos.  This boutique resort hotel has 23 sanctuaries of private space in the form of luxury suites.  Each suite has its own secluded outdoor garden and a front terrace overlooking a Eden-esque courtyard.  Four of the 23 suites also include a private private swimming pool.  You read correctly, not a spa tub, a swimming pool.

This luxury resort in Luang Prabang is the reincarnation of a century old property with historical significance.  It was once a Governor’s residence and a military fort.  Blending the old with the new, the exterior of the original buildings was restored to French colonial style, while a new wing baring true resemblance of a Laotian village was added.

The Hotel de la Paix Luang Prabang resort offers natural spa therapies, gourmet dining and a private Asian cooking school, all adhering to Laos’ ancient health and wellness tradition. Set against a backdrop of majestic peaks, this resort is the perfect escape for a taste of royal living with the promise of an exotic adventure in an unconventional location.

Blue Ocean Watch – Grieb & Benzinger

The caliber of craftsmanship by the Grieb & Benzinger is undeniable.  Most luxury brands have their own line of timepieces.  Chanel, Bvlgari, Bulova, Tag Heuer, Tissot, and most notably, Rolex.  They are as much a symbol of status as they are appreciation of art.  But the “Blue Ocean” and the Platinum Collection from Grieb & Benzinger is in a league of its own.

In order to create truly unique timepieces, Grieb & Benzinger collect rare, historical watch movements from all over the world by renowned masters such as Vacheron Contantin andBrequet.

The watch movements are fully stored to normal function, then skeletonized and hand-engraved using tools and equipments from the time periods matching the movements.

Traditional and lost techniques such as hand “guilloch” (a form of engraved decoration from the 1960s) and Brequet style of oversize case mounting in silver and gold, or platinum are just a couple of the lost art techniques utilized by Grieb & Benzinger.  Owning a piece from Grieb & Benzinger’s collection is equivalent to owning a piece of ancient art; a restored DaVinci painting.

Their new artistic restoration is the Blue Ocean, a skeletonized monopusher chronograph based on a column wheel chronograph movement from 1926 housed in a solid platinum case.  In typical Grieb & Benzinger style, the historical movement within this oeuvre has been awakened to enjoy a new life.

Take a look for yourself, the level of artistic, meticulous, and technical soul infused into each timepiece to make it a true “Grieb & Benzinger.”

DeLeon Tequila

This is not your typical tequila shots at a party.  At an average of $150-$250 per bottle, DeLeón Tequila lacks the harsh edge that tequila is typically known for.  It’s unlikely you’ll find a pale, hung partier regretting what little events he could recall, on the other side of this tequila.

Produced at a family-owned agave field and fabria in Purisima del Rincon, Guanajuato “The Purest of the Corner”, Mexico, the DeLeón Tequila is known for its sweeter, honey, citrus, and floral notes. The unique taste of DeLeón Tequila is due to the cultivation in the iron-rich soil of a mountainous region higher than 7,500 feet above sea level.

Since launching in 2009, DeLeón has become a staple for those seeking only the highest quality tequila. DeLeon Tequila has quickly become the new benchmark for superior quality and refined luxury within the tequila market.

Not only known for its taste among celebrities, its unique bottle and cap design illustrates the essence of DeLeón: sophistication with an edgy undertone.

Please view the DeLeon website at www.deleontequila.com

John Boultbee Criterion Mk1 Jacket – Brooks England

Synonymous with cycling, Brooks is a globally renowned, century-old British company. Their new collaboration, the John Boultbee Criterion Mk1 Jacket, continues to demonstrate why Brooks England and Timothy Everest of London will continue to thrive and inspire.

Designed by respected Savile Row tailer, Timothy Everest of London (mentored by the late, great Tommy Nutter, Tailor to The Beatles and Rolling Stones), the chic yet strong Criterion carries an intricate amount of detail.  Only 500 of the hand-made, hand-numbered, and hand-signed Criterion Mk1 jacket have been created.

Winner of the 2011 Eurobike Award, the Criterion Mk1 is engineered for cyclists, bicyclists and motorcyclists.  It was also one of the top five picks for Gear of the Show at the 2011 Interbike show.

With reflective seams, fold-out seat panel, concealed key pocket, windproof, waterproof, and various other features designed to improve the comfort and performance of cyclists, the Criterion Mk1 jacket is well worth its price.

Universal Whisky Experience

I have a love/hate relationship with Las Vegas. I’ve experienced two disastrous work-related conferences, lost all of the cash I had on me, and had my shoes vomited on by a drunken stranger. But on the flip side, I was astounded by multiple amazing Cirque du Soleil shows, tasted the most exquisite food and wine, and most importantly, Vegas was where my fiance proposed.

I vowed to never return to Vegas after each calamitous encounter, but the allure of luxury and the promise of adventure always kept me revisiting Sin City. It looks like next March would be another excuse for me to escape my day job for a weekend and sneak away to the Universal Whisky Experience at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Taking place on between 2-3 of March in 2012 is world’s first premier luxury whisky show, the Universal Whisky Experience. Created by commercial real estate mogul, Mahesh Patel, these shows are designed to promote super-premium whisky.

Mahesh’s great passion in life is whisky, namely “Scotch” whisky. A connoisseur and enthusiast, he frequently attends exclusive whisky events and gatherings both domestically and abroad. He has been a collector of fine and rare whiskies for more than 20 years.

An event unlike any other, it attracts globe trotting whisky aficionados, collectors, and industry experts to one location where guests can share their passion for high-end whiskies. Taking place between March 2-3, 2012 at the Wynn Las Vegas, the Universal Whisky Experience consists of over 25 distilleries, exclusive VIP tasting events, Master Classes and gourmet dinners. In addition, attendees have the rare opportunity to savor samples from Mahesh’s distinctive whisky collection.

Just remember to drink responsibly. No woman likes having their shoes vomited on.