The fabulous technique of blending of both gold and azure is called paillonné enameling. The complicated process of paillonné enameling is quite delicate and requires a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The artisans at luxury watch brand Jaquet Droz have become experts in this creative field, dating back to the 18th century. Jaquet Droz just unveiled three new limited-edition watch models that feature intricate paillonné enameling on the luxury watch dials.

The process of paillonné enameling entails several firings at temperatures that can actually near a whopping 1000 °C. The Grand Feu enamel process used by Jaquet Droz produces beautiful watch pieces and are works of art in their own right.

To ensure that the color is consistent, a trained eye is needed to carefully observe the time consuming process. The motif of the watch is then created utilizing gold paillons that have to be carefully placed in just the right position. The end result is spectacular!

The three new luxury watch models from Jaquet Droz include a 39 mm Petite Heure Minute, a 50 mm pocket watch, plus a 43 mm Grande Seconde. Each watch is unique and the motif design is stunning. The creation dazzles with circular forms that create the beautiful floral theme that is elegantly done by Jaquet Droz.

The paillonné Enameling process has been used on luxury timepieces for almost three centuries and Jaquet Droz introduced their three watch models at this year’s Baselworld show.

The blued steel hands of the watch mirror the stunning ultramarine dial. The watches come with a red gold case and either a black or blue alligator leather strap that appears to reflect the watch’s gleaming paillons.

The new Jaquet Droz watch collection is available in a limited edition of just eight pieces per watch model.

If you are a luxury watch connoisseur and want to ensure you are purchasing an authentic watch at the correct value, then contact The Life of Luxury to assist with the buying process. Stay abreast of new luxury watch news by following this luxury blog.

New York City will hold the inaugural Downtown Fair between May 8 and 11, 2014. Downtown Fair will be a new modern and contemporary art fair that’s produced by the same ownership team of highly popular Art Miami show in Florida.

The new show coincides with Frieze Week in New York City, which is one of the busiest and exciting weeks of NYC’s 2014 art and cultural season. The event expects large numbers of art collectors, art enthusiasts, art advisers, curators and international visitors to attend.

On May 8th, there will be a luxurious, invitation only High-Tea VIP Preview between 2-5 PM. The art show’s preview will be offering a first glimpse for VIP collectors and accredited members of the press.

The Downtown Fair caters to a wide range of seasoned plus new art collectors, who search for nothing but the very best. The global contemporary art market will descend upon New York City in May is expected to be a huge success.

Event attendees will be able to view art pieces from both emergent talent and mid-career cutting-edge artists. There will also be a fresh selection of secondary market works by top name artists from the Modern as well as Post-War eras. It’s expected that almost 600 artists representing more than 35 countries will showcase their artwork at the Downtown Fair.

The Downtown Fair’s formal dealer selection / advisory committee had a difficult time choosing from over 200 dealer submissions. The committee finally chose the top 50 galleries to display stunning 20th & 21st century art. The goal was to select art pieces that are carefully-curated, rich-in-content, and quality presentation.

The art event will be held near the amazing backdrop of the historic 69th Regiment Armory, which is a 30,000 square foot beaux-arts landmark found at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 25th Street, in the center of the Flatiron District.

If you plan to attend Frieze Week, all Frieze VIP cardholders will be offered complimentary admittance to Downtown Fair, plus you can utilize a courtesy shuttle service to and from the Frieze Ferry.

The painting shown above is by Don Eddy (Long Beach, CA 1944) and titled “Seasonal City IV”. It’s available at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York.

If you are interested in attending the Downtown Fair art event in New York City, contact The Life of Luxury to help plan and book your entire trip. Want to hear about art news? Then follow this luxury blog for future updates.

For the perfect VIP experience, stay at The St. Regis San Francisco hotel, a luxury hotel property in the “City by the Bay.”

This San Francisco landmark hotel is offering two, new St. Regis Aficionado travel packages that will become available mid-May.

The first luxury package is titled the Sport of Polo Aficionado Package. It’s an ideal way for The St. Regis San Francisco hotel guests to personally learn about the game of polo. Polo has long been called “the sport of kings” but you can experience it first-hand with a private lesson at the incredible Chalk Hill Estate in Sonoma, Napa Valley.

Polo is game that’s been long favored by both royals and nobility. Your private lesson for 2 people will be by esteemed polo professional Rafael Hernandez. Once you’ve finished your polo lesson, sit back and relax with an optional Chairman’s Reserve Tasting at Chalk Hill’s Chairman and enjoy a wide selection of great tasting wines.

The second luxury package is named the Pony Trails Equestrian Aficionado Package. The St. Regis San Francisco hotel is very proud to offer this VIP experience as part of the property’s The St. Regis Family Traditions program.

The San Francisco hotel has partnered with Sonoma County’s Wine Country Trail Rides and offers an unforgettable trail ride that takes guest on a scenic ride among the lush vineyards on Chalk Hill Estate. Once you finish your horse ride, enjoy a delicious luncheon that will be prepared by Executive Chef Didier Ageorges.

Both the The Sport of Polo Aficionado and Polo Aficionado Packages include luxurious overnight suite accommodations at The St. Regis San Francisco. This luxury, San Francisco hotel provides the city’s premier address for unmatched elegance.

The Sport of Polo Aficionado package is priced starting at $3,375 for two people and is available between May 17 and September 30, 2014 – based on availability. Pricing for the Pony Trails Aficionado Package begins at $3,425 per night for two participants. This program is also available between May 17 and September 30, 2014 – based on availability.

The St. Regis San Francisco is proud to have the honor of hosting the inaugural wine country St. Regis Polo Cup. This VIP event will provide a true VIP experience that combines the stunning beauty of Sonoma wine country in northern California along with the timeless tradition of Polo.

To plan a vacation to San Francisco and stay at The St. Regis San Francisco hotel, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can arrange your entire itinerary. Keep up with other VIP travel offers, by following this luxury blog.

Offering stunning views of both Miami and overlooking Biscayne Bay, this luxury property in Florida offers the ultimate luxury lifestyle.

The modern looking building features 90 exclusive residences and has taken great care to be environmental responsible. Featuring a trendy, Nordic architecture, this property has been consciously engineered plus LEED certified. It’s a unique chance to live in luxury style and own a residence that ideally blends both style and technology.

Serving up 240 feet of direct, waterfront views on Biscayne Bay, the building also provides incredible views of the dazzling Miami skyline.

The building offers 1, 2 and 3 bedroom residences plus four town homes and six luxurious penthouses that come with stunning rooftop terraces. The private residences all range in size between 807 to 1,668 square feet.

Each luxury condo residence features spacious terraces equipped with clear glass railings for unobstructed viewing. On the 8th floor of the building, you’ll find a resort-style pool deck with stunning, panoramic views of Biscayne Bay.

Security is always a concern these days and the luxury condo building is equipped with smart home security recognition system and smart building phone. In addition, you’ll find a high-level security monitoring system in both the building’s lobby and secondary entrance.

A building like is is sure to have an abundance of luxury amenities to provide owners a VIP lifestyle. You will enjoy a yoga studio, fully-equipped fitness center, a private state-of-the-art movie theater, in addition to an outdoor BBQ area. There is also a residential business center and conference room. The property offers both valet service and covered parking. The luxury amenity list goes on and on …

Pricing for these luxury units in Miami, Florida begin at only $444,000.

To learn more about or purchase one of these luxury Miami condos with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, please contact The Life of Luxury. Stay on top of the latest luxury real estate news, by following this luxury blog.

Spring is here and the arrival of the luxury Grand Hotel Tremezzo re-opening on Lake Como is upon us. First built in 1910, the luxury hotel in Italy underwent a 3 year renovation project that consisted of a complete overhaul of the hotel’s 92 rooms.

The incredible Grand Hotel Tremezzo has been a favorite destination for the many of the world’s most affluent people, from famous celebrities to noted dignitaries. This iconic palace hideaway offers the ultimate in luxury living.

This season, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo will offer 30 newly-renovated Lake View Prestige Rooms plus the new signature Historic Suite Aurelia. This unique lakeside palace serves up memorable views of the Riviera delle Azalee, Bellagio, plus incredible Grigne mountains.

Hotel guests will enjoy wrought-iron balconies that provide amazing water views of majestic Lake Como. The luxury rooms are decorated with custom furniture that have been created by local artisans. The decor has also been accented with finest, local silk. You’ll find gorgeous Verona marble in each bathroom. The glamorous style is truly magnificent!

Suite Aurelia becomes the latest “Historic Suite” at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo and pays tribute to one of the hotel’s own Grand Dames. Turning 90 years old this year, Aurelia is respected and beautiful member of owning family, and has an elegant style and well known for her sophistication.

In the Suite Aurelia, which is the fourth Historic Suite that the hotel has added, discover treasured antiques from her own personal collection. Examples are a beautiful 18th Century oil painting, incredible baroque mirror in addition to a writing desk.

Each Historic Suite at the luxury Grand Hotel Tremezzo celebrates the “Great Ladies” who have graced the Italian property. For example, Suite Greta was named after famous actress Greta Garbo, who mentioned the luxury hotel in her popular movie – “Grand Hotel.”

For hotel guests staying in one of the eight, amazing Rooftop Suites, they will experience the ultimate indulgence and VIP service of a private butler service. For those who want a true VIP experience, combine all 8 suites into your very own, opulent Rooftop Penthouse.

Each of the Rooftop Suites offers a private terrace and outdoor heated Jacuzzi. There’s no better place to take in the breathtaking Lake Como views and relax in luxury style.

The renovation at the luxury Italian hotel also consisted of updates to the luxurious T Spa. Indulge in luxury style by trying a spa treatment in the T Spa Suite. It even comes with a private couple’s massage room. T Spa Suite features a stunning whirlpool tub to relax your worries away, in addition to a steam bath, with contrast shower and cascade jets, plus a sauna.

For some of the best fine dining found anywhere, choose from any of the hotel’s five restaurants. Discover Italian cuisine from the culinary maestro Gualtiero Marchesi. Marchesi is well recognized as Italy’s most celebrated modern Chef. Along with Executive Chef Osvaldo Presazzi, Maestro Marchesi’s offers signature dishes such as his world-renowned “Risotto con Foglia d’oro,” or Saffron Risotto topped with Pure Gold Leaf.

If interested in booking a dream vacation to Italy and stay at the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como, please contact The Life of Luxury and one of our travel concierge specialists can assist you. To stay on top of the latest VIP travel news, come back often and follow this luxury blog.

There is no doubt how important health and fitness is and how we all need to do more in our daily lives. A trend that is becoming increasingly popular is integrating health and fitness into the luxury travel industry.

These days, many luxury resorts are bringing in highly regarded fitness experts from popular programs like Barry’s Boot Camp in addition to other famous NYC & LA gyms. The goal is to provide luxury resort guests with similar, high intensity workouts they can receive back home.

Of course, the big allure for many in the world of luxury travel is getting to exercise in beautiful settings such as a tropical beach with blue waters and abundant sunshine.

If you are interested in learning more about being part of an innovative fitness program in the Caribbean, we wanted to share four Caribbean luxury resort properties that are industry leaders:

· Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda introduced a new and enhanced Wellness Retreats fitness program for 2014. The fitness programs at this luxury resort consist of four-day retreats offering rigorous programming that include: Self Myofascial Release therapy, beach boot-camps with Kettlebell training and TRX suspension training. Developed and organized by well known NYC fitness expert Frank Baptiste, Frankly Fitness® Immersion provides program participants a high-intensity experience that’s been designed to get your heart racing and burn away calories. The Rosewood Little Dix Bay luxury resort also works with renowned yoga instructor Johnny Anzalone for the Revitalize, Refresh, Renew Yoga retreat. He leads classes that range from Multi-level Yoga to Core Strength and Choreography of Asana.

· Viceroy Anguilla created the ultimate workout for its resort guests who desire to integrate a fitness routine into their tropical vacation. The luxury resort in scenic Anguilla offers its renowned Barry’s Boot Camp classes. These exercise classes are offered almost every holiday weekend.  Barry’s Boot Camp has quickly escalated to top of the luxurious resort’s fitness schedule.  The course features one of Barry’s celebrity trainers from their L.A. or New York locations.

· This year, the amazing El Conquistador Resort & Las Casitas Village, which is a luxury Waldorf Astoria Resort in Fajardo, Puerto Rico offers an immersive four-day health and wellness program. The luxury resort has partnered with Lisa Taylor of Twist-Life. The fitness program offers its resort guests: guided meditation, a way to build strength and stability with hikes, educational workshops and seminars in addition to a wonderful superfood cooking demonstration.

· Another luxury Caribbean luxury resort – The BodyHoliday LeSport in St.Lucia provides wellness retreats that feature an intensive, two-week long boot camp that’s led by Olympic champion Sharron Davies, pro athlete Danny Crates, as well as professional coach Ayo Falola. Get in shape and indulge in a luxury lifestyle like no other.

If you are ready to experience your dream, luxury vacation and try a fitness program at one the above Caribbean luxury resort choices, please contact us to make your travel reservations. Want to keep up with the latest luxury travel news? Then follow this luxury blog.

For many years, being a millionaire was an elite status that most of us could only dream of. Well prior to the recent worldwide recession, the economic gain by those wealthiest people has risen to unheard of heights.

In a world of about 6.5 billion people, there is a group of people so rich and so wealthy that the numbers are staggering. There are now 793 people who have the title of billionaire!

These billionaire people live a luxury life can go beyond words. The world is there luxury playground and they have all the money to do or buy as they please. It truly is the ultimate lifestyle of the rich and famous.

As a billionaire, your luxury lifestyle is often shielded from public life. But everything you do is on a grand scale – mega homes, private jets, super yachts, fine jewelry and around the world luxury travel.

This incredible video details who some of these ultra rich people are who live an extravagant and billionaire luxury life. It’s a VIP lifestyle to the extreme. Some of those wealthy people featured include: Paul Allen, Bill Gates, Donald Trump, King Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Sir Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin & Larry Page, Stephan Cappon, Roman Abramovich, Wayne Azengus, Stavros Niarchos, Amanda Hearst.

This list details the top 10 richest people today, including their billionaire net worth, age, wealth source and country of citizenship.

1) Carlos Slim Helu & family (photo above)
$73 B 73 – telecom – Mexico

2) Bill Gates
$67 B – 58 – Microsoft – United States

3) Amancio Ortega
$57 B – 77 – Zara – Spain

4) Warren Buffett
$53.5 B – 83 – Berkshire Hathaway – United States

5) Larry Ellison
$43 B – 69 – Oracle – United States

6) Charles Koch
$34 B – 78 – diversified – United States

7) David Koch
$34 B – 73 – diversified – United States

8) Li Ka-shing
$31 B – 85 – diversified – Hong Kong

9) Liliane Bettencourt & family
$30 B – 91 – L’Oreal – France

10) Bernard Arnault & family
$29 B – 64 – LVMH – France

The beautiful Cayman Islands are made up of three different islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac and are located in the western Caribbean, south of Cuba and just northwest of Jamaica.

Scheduled to open next month on the Cayman Islands is the luxurious The Londoner. This new luxury resort offers 20 units and is on the same property as the 184-unit Morritt’s Resort.

The Londoner luxury resort is offering a grand opening promo for a two-bedroom suite priced at $250 per night, a townhouse priced at $275 per night and a stunning three-bedroom penthouse at $350 per night. The two-bedroom suite and townhouse can accommodates up to six people and the three-bedroom penthouse up to eight people.

The goal of David Morritt who is the developer and president of Morritt’s Properties Ltd. is to create a home-like environment in a tropical vacation atmosphere like the Cayman Islands. Resort guests are treated with a true VIP experience and endless luxury amenities.

The Londoner guest accommodations are adorned in Caribbean Chic’ decor and include extra-large private balconies that overlook the amazing beach and provide spectacular Caribbean ocean views. The luxury units all offer spacious interiors, fully-appointed kitchens with granite countertops and high-end, stainless steel appliances.

The Cayman Islands is famous for incredible outdoor water experiences. The Londoner offers numerous on-site leisure activities such as sailing, jetskiing, kayaking, wind surfing, scuba diving, banana boat rides, plus full- and half-day boat excursions as well as snorkeling trips.

There are two fine dining choices to choose from – David’s Deep Blue Restaurant & Bar and Mimi’s Dock Bar & Restaurant. Foodies will be treated with delicious dishes and unique Caribbean cuisine. Both eating establishments provide festive themed nights plus daily happy hour specials.

This luxury resort in the Cayman Islands includes its very own shopping center. You can shop at Sundry Boutique,  Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits, Grand Jewelers, Fosters Express grocery store, Andy’s Rent-A-Car and Italian Kitchen Restaurant & Pizzeria.

After a long day of fun in the sun or looking for a way to undwind, experience the ultimate in pampering and relaxation at the La Mer Spa. This luxury spa offers the soothing, natural benefits of “the sea.” La Mer Spa can be found at the Morritt’s Resort Tortuga Club. You can try the sauna or two massage suites plus one couples massage suite with a shower. There is also a manicure / pedicure station to get your nails done.

The Londoner resort rates for its grand opening begin at $250 per night (for up to six people) and are valid between May 18 and October 30, 2014.

To book your travel reservations to the tropical Cayman Islands and a stay at the new The Londoner luxury resort, please contact us for assistance. Follow this luxury blog to keep up with current luxury travel news and announcements.

Fur garments are still the rage with many affluent people who desire the look, feel and warmth they provide. But now that the brutal winter is behind us, many need to plan for the proper way to store and preserve them.

The owner of Central Fur Storage is Barry Kirsch and he is offering up some helpful tips to protect your fur coat and help with cleaning and storage suggestions.

– Can furs really crack and mold?
Barry says “yes.” If a fur is not properly kept in the ideal setting, that includes both temperature and humidity, then it will crack and tear. Barry states, “Ideally, climate controlled vaults should maintain a 34-50 degree Fahrenheit temperature and a humidity of between 45 and 50 %. After the extreme winter we’ve experienced, with back to back Polar Vortices, personal fur garments have definitely been exposed to harsh conditions and elements.”

– Watch out for bugs.
Bugs are always an issue with storing any type of garments but is especially critical for your fur. Various dust mites, vermin and moths love an unprotected fur coat. It’s important to maintain the proper temperature and humidity control during the long, storage period. Cedar closets have long been described as the best place for your fur coat. Although it can help keep deter moths and other critters away, the cedar wood also pulls in moister from the surrounding air and can speed up the drying and therefore cracking of furs. Not a good thing.

– Furs can attract and hold dirt like a magnet.
It’s important to properly clean and remove the built-up grease and dirt on your fur coat. Left unattended, the result is it will reduce the life of the garment and leave the fur skins looking both matted down and dull. By having your fur professionally cleaned, the process will soften and bring back the luster. For people who live in snowy climates, the salt and de-icing products can do damage to your fur coat so get them cleaned.

– Importance of routine repair and maintenance.
A fur coat can receive minor damage and should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage. By leaving your fur in a professional storage facility, these repairs can be easily spotted by the pros and repaired.

Central Fur Storage was founded in 1947 and contains storage of around 130,000 garments including leather, furs, suedes, shearlings, fur trimmed and various fur lined items.

To keep up with other helpful tips and the news in the world of fine fashion, please follow our luxury blog.

Adam Levine is the lead singer of the popular band Maroon 5 and continues to expand is empire by launching a new womenswear fashion line for retailer Kmart.

A menswear collection launched last fall by Adam Levine was successful for Kmart, so the sexy celebrity wanted to try and bring to market a women’s collection. The new fashion line for women includes a stylish collection of both dresses and separates.

When questioned about his level of expertise in womens fashion, Levine replied, “I don’t know how to read music, but I can still play. So I don’t really give a (expletive) about formal training or going to school. Levine continues, “You don’t have to be trained in everything to be good at it.”

Adam Levine is a busy guy these days. Of course, he’s still the frontman of the musical group Maroon five plus Adam is popular in his role as coach on NBC’s smash hit show “The Voice.”

Whether Adam has formal design training or not, he feel that is not important. He was quoted, “I kind of know what I like for both men and women. I think that it’s a little more difficult and challenging when you’re not, it’s not something you can conceptualize, or it’s not something you can conceive of wearing,” he said of designing for the opposite sex. “So I needed to get a little bit of help.”

The new womens fashion clothing line collection by Adam Levine will retail for $30 or less. The goal is for the new clothing line to feature colorful, casual printed T-shirts, patterned maxi dresses, mini crop tops, plus both twill and jean shorts.

Of course getting a little help from his stunningly beautiful fiancee doesn’t hurt either. Behati Prinsloo is a Victoria’s Secret model and helped Adam draw creative inspiration by allowing him to look through her clothing closet for ideas.

Adam Levine is taking this next endeavour very serious and said, “I didn’t want it to just be something that I phoned in. So I was really involved in the process.”

At age 34, Adam Levine drives many women crazy with his looks and vocals and late last year was awarded PEOPLE magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2013.

Be sure to follow this luxury blog to follow all the latest news by celebrities and the world of luxury fashion.

Photo: Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scheduled to open September 1, 2014, the Raffles Istanbul luxury hotel is on path to become the “new face of Istanbul” and offer true VIP service plus endless, luxurious amenities.

Raffles Istanbul is centrally located in the Zorlu Center. This social hub is noted for fine fashion, wonderful food and the arts. The luxury hotel sits on the European shore in Beşiktaş and offers scenic views of the Bosphorus, the Princess Islands and local peninsula.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has long history of offering luxury properties going back to 1887 when they opened Raffles Hotel, Singapore. This award-winning, luxury international hotel company offers ten luxurious properties in the following locations: Singapore, China, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Seychelles, Philippines and Paris.

Similar to the Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris luxury hotel, the new Raffles Istanbul will be adorned in fine artwork from Turkish artists. The art collection will enhance the already sleek modern interiors and consist of a mix of sculpture, paintings, photography plus video installations.

As there is a thriving art industry in Istanbul, the Raffles Istanbul hotel wants to assist its guests with an Art Concierge. The service is similar to what is currently offered at Le Royal Monceau in Paris, and will help hotel guest better understand the flourishing, new art scene and celebrating a new generation of creative artists.

Istanbul, Turkey is a timeless city and the Raffles Istanbul will deliver a luxury oasis for those of expect the very best in a luxury hotel. VIP services abound, hotel guest will be wowed by an elegance that will overwhelm their senses.

If you would like some discretion, then use the hotel’s rooftop helipad to arrive and depart in an expeditious manner in a helicopter. As you arrive, you’ll notice the luxury hotel’s sleek rooms with huge balconies that provide amazing views of the ancient city of Istanbul, Turkey.

There are a total of 130 luxurious guestrooms and 50 suites at the Raffles Istanbul hotel. The property also features a wide range of luxury amenities and VIP service, such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, two restaurants and a bar, ballroom. For a relaxing and pampering experience, try the signature Raffles Spa which will be one of the largest spas found anywhere in Istanbul.

The rooftop swimming pool is a wonderful place to unwind and beat the city’s summer heat. At night, the pool area comes alive with the vibe of live music in addition to a vibrant DJ / nightclub atmosphere. Socialize, dance and enjoy the awesome city views.

The Long Bar, found downstairs will offer delicious tasting, modern cocktails but with a new glam twist. It will soon become a popular social gathering for both locals and hotel guests.

Hotel room rates at the new Raffles Istanbul luxury hotel will start at €600 per night.

To learn more and book your Istanbul reservation and stay at the new Raffles Istanbul hotel, please contact The Life of Luxury. One of our travel concierge specialists will be happy to plan your travel itinerary. Follow this luxury blog to keep abreast of the latest travel industry news.