Georges & Monica Bloumels

For devoted fans of the traditional board game Scrabble, this new luxury product from Georges & Monica Bloumels is perfect.

The Luxury Leather Edition of Scrabble is the ultimate game to own. Georges & Monica Bloumels is a family business in France and for more than 30 years, has been professionally involved in upscale handicraft creations.

One of the goals of Georges & Monica Bloumels, is to “meet the precise demands of connoisseurs accustomed to the finest creations.” This luxury Scrabble board game is ideal for both enthusiasts and amateurs players.

The Luxury Leather Edition of Scrabble is a magnetic board game that revolves and the storage box is covered in full-grain lambskin leather. The game comes with four tile racks that are made from wood and also covered in lambskin leather.

Whether you liked to play Tetris or any other board or video game from your youth, Scrabble is one of the most popular games in the world. For those not familiar, Tetris is a very popular block game that first started back in the 80’s.

The tile bag is made of black goat suede and holds 102 board tiles, made from metal and covered in lambskin leather.

The Luxury Leather Edition of Scrabble comes in two languages – English and French and priced at 5,000 EURO. Georges & Monica Bloumels also offers the Scrabble board game in other languages upon request. Additional customization include colors and personalized of the board back.

The company also offers a Design Edition for only 1,300 EURO.

To learn more, please visit Georges & Monica Bloumels

Becoming a millionaire is a lifetime dream for many. Some people achieve it rather simply via an inheritance, or maybe hitting the right stock pick or lottery.

But for those fortunate enough to have become a millionaire, it usually entails very hard work, strategic thinking, dedication, and sometimes even a little luck.

Just becoming a millionaire isn’t a guarantee you will be set for the rest of your life.  Fidelity Investments conducted a study in 2011 of millionaires and discovered that 42 percent of them do feel wealthy.  On average, they believe they would need $7.5 million of investable assets to actually start feeling rich.  Of course, it’s all relevant right?

The below list titled Seven Secrets of Self-Made Multimillionaires is about generating multimillion-dollar wealth and enjoying it during the creation process. Enjoy and best of luck in achieving your dream of a wealthy lifestyle and a Life of Luxury!

No. 1: Decide to Be a Multimillionaire — You first have to decide you want to be a self-made millionaire. I went from nothing—no money, just ideas and a lot of hard work—to create a net worth that probably cannot be destroyed in my lifetime. The first step was making a decision and setting a target. Every day for years, I wrote down this statement: “I am worth over $100,000,000!”

No. 2: Get Rid of Poverty Thinking – There’s no shortage of money on planet Earth, only a shortage of people who think correctly about it. To become a millionaire from scratch, you must end the poverty thinking. I know because I had to. I was raised by a single mother who did everything possible to put three boys through school and make ends meets. Many of the lessons she taught me encouraged a sense of scarcity and fear: “Eat all your food; there are people starving,” “Don’t waste anything,” “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Real wealth and abundance aren’t created from such thinking.

No. 3: Treat it Like a Duty – Self-made multimillionaires are motivated not just by money, but by a need for the marketplace to validate their contributions. While I have always wanted wealth, I was driven more by my need to contribute consistent with my potential. Multimillionaires don’t lower their targets when things get tough. Rather, they raise expectations for themselves because they see the difference they can make with their families, company, community and charities.

No. 4: Surround Yourself with Multimillionaires – I have been studying wealthy people since I was 10 years old. I read their stories and see what they went through. These are my mentors and teachers who inspire me. You can’t learn how to make money from someone who doesn’t have much. Who says, “Money won’t make you happy”? People without money. Who says, “All rich people are greedy”? People who aren’t rich. Wealthy people don’t talk like that. You need to know what people are doing to create wealth and follow their example: What do they read? How do they invest? What drives them? How do they stay motivated and excited?

No. 5: Work Like a Millionaire – Rich people treat time differently. They buy it, while poor people sell it. The wealthy know time is more valuable than money itself, so they hire people for things they’re not good at or aren’t a productive use of their time, such as household chores. But don’t kid yourself that those who hit it big don’t work hard. Financially successful people are consumed by their hunt for success and work to the point that they feel they are winning and not just working.

No. 6: Shift Focus from Spending to Investing – The rich don’t spend money; they invest. They know the U.S. tax laws favor investing over spending. You buy a house and can’t write it off. The rich, in contrast, buy an apartment building that produces cash flow, appreciates and offers write-offs year after year. You buy cars for comfort and style. The rich buy cars for their company that are deductible because they are used to produce revenue.

No. 7: Create Multiple Flows of Income – The really rich never depend on one flow of income but instead create a number of revenue streams. My first business had been generating a seven-figure income for years when I started investing cash in multifamily real estate. Once my real estate and my consulting business were churning, I went into a third business developing software to help retailers improve the customer experience. Lastly, you may be surprised to learn that wealthy people wish you were wealthy, too. It’s a mystery to them why others don’t get rich. They know they aren’t special and that wealth is available to anyone who wants to focus and persist. Rich people want others to be rich for two reasons: first, so you can buy their products and services, and second, because they want to hang out with other rich people.

Source: Entrepreneur.com

Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2012

Faber-Castell is world renowned for its high quality fine writing instruments and accessories in the Design and Graf von Faber-Castell product lines.

The Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2012 is currently launching in stores and retails for $4,695.  This handmade luxury pen combines two materials that could hardly be more complete opposites: oak, the symbol of eternity and gold, the symbol of weather and good fortune.

Starting in 2004, the Graf von Faber-Castel Pen of the Year has been made from some of the most exotic and unique materials available: stingray leather, amber, jade and even horsehair.

The Faber-Castell company has a time honored commitment to tradition, quality, and innovation, and is one of the most desired luxury writing instruments anywhere.

The deep structure of oak, whose beauty has been naturally wrought over thousands of years, together with gold lends a supernatural sheen to the most magnificent works of art.  The 14-carat gold is applied to the oak pen barrel by hand in an intricate and detailed process dating back to the ancient Egyptians.

The pen’s barrel is then embedded in resin which reveals a unique pattern of reflections that only the purest gold can display.  The individually numbered writing instruments from Graf von Faber are kept safe in an exclusive jet-black wooden case.

Faber-Castell was founded more than 250 years ago in Germany as a pencil manufacturer and is currently run by Count Anton Faber-Castel, the 8^th generation in this family owned company.

For information on the Faber-Castell and all fine writing instruments, please visit Faber-Castel.

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Are you looking for an ultimate rush of adrenalin and luxury, then consider the “Sky High Champagne Breakfast” experience in Hong Kong.

The Sky High Champagne Breakfast is offered by The Peninsula Hong Kong. Begin your ultra-unique experience with a delicious breakfast at the luxury hotel’s aviation themed lounge – The China Clipper.

Next it’s time to take flight as you embark on a memorable bird’s eye view tour of scenic Hong Kong in an Aerospatiale twin-engine Squirrel AS355N helicopter. You will depart right from The Peninsula’s own helipads!

This amazing opportunity will only be available until Jun of this year. Enjoy an incredible, eight-minute helicopter experience that will take around Hong Kong’s world famous skyline.

The Squirrel AS355N helicopter are equipped with wraparound windows, so you’ll get one-of-a-kind views of Hong Kong’s thriving metropolis. Take in the views and the Hong Kong’s skyscrapers, then sweep around Happy Valley with full views of the racetrack, fly over to North Point for a photo opportunity of Kowloon and Hong Kong, then make their way back for a landing atop The Peninsula.

The Peninsula Hong Kong’s new and truly extraordinary Sky High Champagne Breakfast helicopter experience, is available now through June 2012. Guests begin with breakfast at The Peninsula Hong Kong’s aviation themed lounge, The China Clipper, followed by a bird’s eye view tour of Hong Kong in an Aerospatiale twin-engine Squirrel AS355N helicopter, departing from The Peninsula’s own helipads.

The Sky High Champagne Breakfast is currently availble through 24th June 2012, on Sundays and public holidays from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, with helicopter flights taking off between 9:45 am and 10:45 am.

This luxury experience is priced at at HK$1,388 per person, and includes a glass of Champagne. For reservations or additional information, please call (852) 2315 3146 or email diningphk@peninsula.com.

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.

IvyDate

One of the best things about being engaged is no longer having to date.  Dating has always been stressful for me.  In addition to emotional and physical compatibility, intellectual complement is also crucial.  Joining the ranks of eHarmony, Match.com, and OKCupid is IvyDate.

Founded by Harvard alums Philipp Triebel and Beri Meric deterred from their Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs background to develop IvyDate: a dating community that’s as selective as the Ivy League without being limited to the Ivy League.

Just prior to their launch in January, IvyDate has already attracted over 14,000 of the world’s most accomplished singles from the legal, medical, art, academic, and technological fields.

Similar to eHarmony, IvyDate evaluates each member based on their interests, achievements, and values.  Approved members then receive hand-selected matches directly to their inbox every week.  Unconventionally, there is no central database for the members to shop around for matches like strolling through the produce section of the supermarket.

Each member can only view and contact their own set of tailored matches.  Members also has access to 24/7 concierge services, exclusive events, and on-call relationship experts.

IvyDate is designed for accomplished individuals who are serious about starting a meaningful relationship.  The chances of finding your intellectual match is higher with IvyDate, but the search may take a little while until they expand outside of New York city and gain national momentum.

But if you do find someone through IvyDate, I still suggest meeting in a public place.  Just because they’re geniuses doesn’t mean they’re not crazy.  After all, there’s a fine line between genius and insanity.

To the find the love of your life, try IvyDate now!

Gresso Avantgarde Grand Premiere

Gresso Company is a manufacturer of the finest, luxury mobile devices. The luxury brand extends its legendary Avantgarde Collection by announcing an exclusive Grand Premiere mobile phone.

The Gresso Avantgarde Grand Premiere model is designed for the most sophisticated and well-off people, who truly appreciate and value the essence of luxury.

Grand Premiere mobile phone was designed with gold in mind. The allure of gold has long been the symbol of wealth and prosperity. By utilizing gold, the Gresso Avantgarde Grand Premiere mobile phone showcases its stunning details, and also highlights the elite and polished look of the phone.

The total weight of 18 carat gold in the Grand Premiere phone is estimated as 150 grams (5,3 ounce).

The appearance of the mobile phone is amazing. Featuring a gorgeous combination of both yellow gold and black surface sapphire screen, the phone has a luxurious color touch.

Quite thin for a phone of its class, Gresso Avantgarde Grand Premiere is only 12 mm in depth. The front and back panels of th emobile phone are covered in highly resistant sapphire parts.

Completing the classy look of the phone are the gold inset triangle-shaped piece and the classy Gresso logo.

The Avantgarde Grand Premiere is a limited collection. Each of 30 masterpieces has the engraved personal number on the back panel.

The Gresso Avantgarde Grand Premiere mobile phone is now available and has an estimated retail price of $50,000.

Successful investor Warren Buffett has donated another $1.5 billion of this vast wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway fame, is reported to be the third richest man in the world, behind only Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and Warren Buffet’s personal friend and Microsoft founder Bill Gates

The latest donation of $1.5 billion from Warren Buffet is part of his overall plan from 2006, to donate 99 percent of his personal wealth.

When you buy a high-end watch, you’re buying more than an expensive adornment — you’re investing in a lifetime relationship with the brand. Your watch is more than just a timekeeper –  it’s a symbol of your personality. It sends out a message about your characteristics and taste.

Besides making a style statement, owning and wearing a timepiece also states a quality that you identify with — a quality that is you. Exclusive brands such as Ulysse Nardin, Leon Hatot, Breguet, Raymond Weil, Jaquet Droz, Piaget, Cartier, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe are not just beautiful ads in glossy magazines anymore; they can easily become a part of your collection.

A growing number of high net-worth individuals and a market for luxury goods make India a promising market for global brands. A number of high-end brands have entered the market.

You don’t have to import a Rolex or a Cartier anymore. Though that fancy watch is more accessible, it also makes the choice more difficult. Whether you’d like mechanical movement or quartz, a sports watch or an elegant piece of jewellery, the perpetual calendar or the chronograph — the choice is huge.

No matter what you choose, each watch makes a statement. Jai Ruparel, a Mumbai-based banker, owns an Omega Seamaster and believes it reflects his enthusiasm for sports. Many people prefer a pre-owned luxury watch. A pre owned Rolex watch makes a perfect choice for many watch collectors.

“I think a watch says a lot about the person wearing it. A guy wearing a good watch is someone who knows what he wants,” he says. For men, it’s more than a watch — it’s one of the few pieces of jewellery they wear. For women, it adds elegance and style to the sari and the stylish black dress.

Debra Wilson believes that her Longines watch reflects her personal taste and adds glamour to evening wear. “You have to have taste to pick out a smart, classy watch,” she says.

“It’s important because what you wear — your clothes, your tie and your watch — matter at business meetings and events.” Instead of bulking up on diamonds, try a subtle diamond-studded watch for a party.

If you’re wondering why you should invest in an expensive watch just to make a statement, it’s because these timepieces don’t just make a point. The value of a high-end watch only increases with time.

Though most brands launch new collections every season, old timepieces have heritage status. “Some of our watches have been passed on six times over to generations,” says Laurent Michaud, country manager, far-east, Ulysse Nardin.

In other words, these timepieces are masterpieces that are also collectors’ items and are an investment. Though fashionable, these timepieces are not dictated by fashion or season.

It’s almost like investing in jewellery — and in some cases, timepieces can be more expensive than jewellery. Franck Muller, Chopard, Tag Heuer, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Jaquet Droz, Breguet and Piaget are in a class of their own.

“A Rolex,” says Viraal Rajan of the watch boutique, Time Avenue, “is the Mercedes Benz of watches. The prestige and value attached to a Rolex are incomparable.” The Rolex, like most high-end mechanical watches, can last for over 25 years without any need for repair.

Even if you did have a problem with the watch, having it serviced is a pleasure. Once you’re a part of the brand, you’re treated like a member of the family.

“Those who patronise Mont Blanc are special to us, and once they buy a Mont Blanc, they are automatically welcomed as a member of our family worldwide,” says Anna Bredemeyer, spokesperson for Mont Blanc.

And once your name appears in the database of an exclusive brand, you can get your timepiece serviced every few years at any authorized service center of the brand, anywhere in the world.

Being attached to a brand and passing on the legacy of that luxury watch is far more prestigious than just showing off your timepiece.

As a follow-up to the story we did last month on Purveyors of Time Concierge, we conducted an interview with Jeannette Rose Jones, the Founder and CEO of one of the premier lifestyle management companies in the industry.

What services does Purveyors of Time Concierge offer its clients?
Purveyors of Time offers a myriad of personalized lifestyle management services:
– Personal Concierge – We procure tickets, create travel arrangements, arrange transportation, and any other service that can be completed in a virtual capacity.
– Hands-On Personal Assisting – We assist out-of-town travelers who need an assistant while they are visiting here in Los Angeles, we assist clients by accompanying them on out-of-town assignments,
– Errand Running – Any type of errands that need to be run, we run them. From grocery shopping, meal delivery, personal shopper services, vehicle pick-up and drop-off at airport or FBO, vehicle care and maintenance, just to name a few.
– Estate Management – We care for the secondary residences for those who have secondary properties here in Los Angeles. This includes: repairs to property, car delivery or pickup at airport or FBO, residence preparation prior to arrival (grocery shopping, pantry stocking, setting thermostat, etc.).

What was your inspiration for starting a Personal Concierge & Lifestyle Management company?
My inspiration for starting Purveyors of Time was: I had been a personal assistant and executive assistant to various CEOs, Presidents, and Vice Presidents, so I knew all about personalized services. I also knew that I always wanted to own my own company, and struggled for years trying to determine what it is that I wanted to do. Since I was born and raised in Los Angeles and know the City like the back of my hand, I first thought that I wanted to provide personalized tour services for out-of-town visitors who had specific requests of places that they wanted to see throughout Los Angeles, without having to partake in the ubiquitous double-decker buses that tour the City. I wanted it to be something very personalized. Then one day while meeting with our CPA, he suggested that I do something that’s more every day and what I’ve been doing all of my life. That’s when it hit me that people need more personalized services but in a very on-call/as-needed kind of way. I figured that all the celebrities have their entourage and assistants, and this allows for the masses to be able to utilize their own personal assistant without the cost of hiring and retaining an employee. And Purveyors of Time has been growing ever since.

Who are your clients?
Our clients really run the gamut. They are the personal jet owners, CEOs, doctors, celebrities, business owners, royalty, PR firms, movie studios, and out-of-towners. Discretion is key, and we assure that all of our clients that their identities will never be divulged.

Why should travelers seek out the advice and services of Purveyors of Time Concierge when traveling to Los Angeles?

Travelers can benefit by the use of our services when coming to Los Angeles. We will ultimately save them a tremendous amount of time due to our first-hand and insider knowledge of the city and all that it has to offer. We can also assist in a personal capacity which is something a traditional “sitting” concierge cannot do.

What are the differences between a hotel concierge and your Personal Concierge staff?
A hotel concierge is a necessary asset to any hotel property; however, the hotel concierge staff is usually tethered to their desks by the nature of their job. Purveyors of Time picks up where the hotel concierge leaves off. A hotel concierge can recommend and suggest places of interest, but we actually are there providing hand holding to our clients. We run the errands, we can create and accompany on personalized tours, and we provide hands-on assistance to executives.

What unique experiences and/or special services can you provide to your clients outside the realm of a “traditional” sitting concierge in a hotel?
We can tailor unique experiences for travelers based on their specific lifestyles, what they like to do, what they would like to see as well as their wants and needs while in Los Angeles. We have a plethora of resources that enable us to provide unique and unusual itineraries for anyone. In reference to the special services we provide that are outside the realm of a “traditional” sitting concierge, well, that runs the gamut as well. We can provide personalized, hand-on assistance and guidance that the “traditional” concierge simply cannot due to their inability to leave their particular property. Again, we compliment the “traditional” concierge by extending and enhancing the services they can provide.

What are the most worthwhile sights and activities at your destination?
The answer to this question really depends upon the traveler and why they came to Los Angeles. There are so many things to do in L.A. Many people come to Los Angeles for the movie industry and all that it has to offer. There are many tours that visitors can take that cater to all things celebrity and movie stars. We have mountains, beaches, and not too far away, we have deserts. So there are many beautiful sights to take in. If art is your idea of fun, we have many museums that cater to that interest. Los Angeles is so vast with venues and experiences that you could stay here for a month and still not see everything. We actually can personalize and tailor a visit to Los Angeles that will be designed around each person’s desires. We truly are a bespoke service.

What restaurants are at the top of your “best” list?
Restaurants in Los Angeles are great. Los Angeles has often been thought of as a City without any good restaurants. This paradigm is definitely shifting. Los Angeles is becoming known for having quite a few great chefs offering up their gastronomic delights. Again, one’s decision on choosing a restaurant is often based on one’s mood and the type of food for which they might be in the mood.

If you’re in the mood for the most amazing piece of steak ever, then I recommend Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant CUT. This restaurant is located inside the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire. Their Kobe beef is to die-for, and everything on the menu is amazing. The restaurant has won numerous awards and has become known as “the place to see and be seen.” This epicurean feast comes at a premium price, but it is well worth it. The service is incomparable too.

Another fun restaurant we have really taken a liking to is Lisa Vanderpump’s, of Housewives of Beverly Hills fame, Villa Blanca. This is definitely a restaurant for those who like to people watch, and for those who do, it doesn’t get any better than this. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, this sexy, stylish, and romantic restaurant, serves Mediterranean, Italian, and Asian food with indoor and outdoor seating. Their prices are incredibly affordable, which is a refreshing change in Beverly Hills.

To learn more about Purveyors of Time and Jeannette Jones, please visit their website at www.purveyorsoftime.com.

Celebrities have long been known to have an entourage of people following them around tending to their every whim and need. This entourage usually consists of at least one, if not more, personal assistants who dutifully perform just about every task imaginable.

Paying these personal assistants comes at a premium. Not only do you have to pay their salary (which can be hefty), but also benefits such as paid vacation, sick days, insurance, and even perhaps living expenses. This can be a pretty hefty investment and quite a large commitment for anyone…no matter their worth.

However, today there are companies such as Purveyors of Time Concierge in Los Angeles that can provide you with the same level of personalized, dedicated service that your very own personal assistant can provide … but on an on-call, as-needed basis.

Purveyors of Time Concierge is a world-class, personal assisting and errand-running company providing lifestyle management services to celebrities, music industry professionals, sports figures, high-net-worth individuals and families, among others.

Jeannette Jones, Founder and CEO, says “Living in Los Angeles, we saw firsthand the inherent need for a service that would cater to the successful and busy lifestyles of all kinds of affluent people, and we moved to fill that need.”

A native Angelino, Jeannette has extensive knowledge of the City of Los Angeles and adds a sophisticated flare to every project, offering clients an unprecedented level of service excellence. With the many years of assisting CEOs and presidents, Jeannette’s knack for anticipating the needs of high-level executives and streamlining their professional and personal lives, she has parlayed this expertise into the individually tailored services she provides her clients.

Jeannette’s strong entrepreneurial background has been the driving force in establishing Purveyors of Time as THE premier personal concierge service in Los Angeles.

Purveyors of Time’s concierge staff and lifestyle experts are some of the most experienced in the hospitality industry. All of their staff is dedicated to meeting their high standards of style, service, and personal attentiveness ensuring that your needs are met with the warmth, grace, and quality you expect.

Each member of their team has been thoroughly vetted with a complete background check, DMV record check, and all are fully bonded. Their entire organization and coterie of experts are always at your disposal.

Jeannette and her team of hospitality experts provide all of the same services provided by a full-time personal assistant, and MORE. From personal needs to professional demands, all of their clients enjoy a variety of lifestyle management services that run the gamut.

From personal assisting, luxury personal shopping, relocation services, vacant home services, estate management, fine dining reservations, private jet and yacht charters, luxury and exotic vehicles, bespoke travel, to researching and errand-running, Purveyors of Time will jump to the task.

Purveyors of Time will rent a luxurious vacation home for you, book an extraordinary hotel suite, find that exclusive Hermes bag, they will handle any request. They provide all of their clients with a sanctuary of intuitive, unwavering and highly-personalized service.

“Whether our client needs us to fly to Tuscany, Italy, to personally procure a bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano or our client needs us to go to his loft to prepare it for his arrival in Los Angeles, no request is too extreme”. In today’s economy, everyone wants value for their hard-earned dollars”, says Jeannette. Purveyors of Time brings both competitive pricing and stellar service to all their clients.

Purveyors of Time offers on-call / as-needed services as well as comprehensive membership packages.

If you would like to find out more about Purveyors of Time and Jeannette Jones, visit their website at www.purveyorsoftime.com.

You can also drop them an email or contact them at 310-471-7151 for a personal assessment of your individual needs. They would be delighted to be at your service.