American

Bozeman Watch Co. Cutthroat Limited Edition Timepieces

This is actually the second set of limited edition Cutthroat watches from Montana based American watch maker Bozeman Watch Company. The brand is known for classic looking luxury watches with an outdoorsy American twist, using Swiss movements. There are really very few smaller Americans brand such as this. As an homage to fishing and the famous Cutthroat trout, this newest edition of 100 pieces is broken up into at least 5 color choices. Four dials are in silver with either red, orange, blue, or green trim (as the color of the lume on the hour markers and tips of the hands), and one version with a black colored face. These are distinguished by regional or thematic names such as the "Yellowstone" or "Whitefish" editions.

In a classically handsome manner the watches are nice in a subtle way. Understated and functional. Inside the watches are Swiss automatic GMT movements (likely an ETA 2893-2) that have been COSC Chronometer certified. The arrow shaped (literally like an arrow used with a bow) GMT hand is red tipped on all models, and follow a neatly marked GMT hour scale on the chapter ring. The dial is very easy to read with all markers present. One of the things I really like about the watches is that all the hands are perfect in length. This is a sign of a good watch designer. The counterweight on the seconds hand is shaped like the brand logo. The watches are each in a 42mm wide, highly polished steel case with a sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance. They are matched to simple leather straps with contrast stitching. Price for these hand-tooled watches is between $4,200 - $4,700 (each model is in a limited edition of 15 or 40 pieces - together totaling 100). The pictured model is the Bozeman Cutthroat Mack Creek Edition. You can learn more from Bozeman Watch Co. here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: american, Bozeman, co, cutthroat, GMT, limited edition, LimitedEdition, montana, watch

RGM Reference 400 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

About to be released from all American watch maker RGM (based in Pennsylvania) is this new Reference 400 watch. With a mixture of traditional watch styling and classic muscle car looks, this new chronograph model will also feature an array of dial options. While it is a bit hard to tell in this image, the 42.2mm wide steel case enjoys a combo of brushed and polished surfaces (the bezel is nicely brushed) and displays really classic sport watch lines (just check out those cool retro rectangular pushers!). Looking at the dial I ponder RGM's suggestion that design influences from America's most popular classic muscle cars went into the design. I begin to easily imagine how the dial designs (given all the possible colors options) would fit well into the look and feel that used to accompany the inside and instrument gauge readouts from the greats that owned the 1960s and 70s. There are also hints of classic diving watch in the design.

Lucky for us, RGM places inside of the Reference 400 watch the newer Swiss ETA Valgranges A07.211 automatic mechanical chronograph movements. The seconds dial has been removed for a more traditional bi-compax look on the dial. Color choices for the dials include black, gray, orange, blue, white, and some combos thereof. No word of pricing or specific availability yet, but the Reference 400 watch is coming.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: RGM Reference 400 Watch

Tags: 400, American, chronograph, Lancaster, reference, RGM, watch, watch of the day, WatchOfTheDay

Zingerman's Bakehouse: Artisan Bread and Pastry from Ann Arbor

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Zingerman's Bakehouse of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is nominated for a Luxist Award in the best bread bakery category. Zingerman's is one of the 'younger' nominees, having just come into existence in 1992 as a way for the Zingerman's Deli to have their own freshly baked bread. First there was bread (1992), then there were pastries (1994), and eventually a retail shop opened (1996). Today the Bakehouse is comprised of a group of 130 dedicated foodies and skilled artisan bakers that use traditional methods to hand make all of their breads and sweets and sell to over 100 wholesale customers in addition to a growing crowd of retail shoppers.

Zingerman's Bakehouse prides itself on being run by regular people that simply love to bake, and love to share their baked goods with others. And when it comes to sharing they don't stop at simply selling bread, in 2006 Zingerman's launched BAKE!, a hands-on teaching bakery where experts and newbies alike can learn to make their own scrumptious breads, pastries, and cakes at home.

Zingerman's Bakehouse goods can be found in their in-house shop or in any number of retail locations and restaurants (only in Michigan), or you can buy most everything online through Zingerman's Mail Order.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

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Tags: american, awards-main, food-awards, luxist-awards, made in america, MadeInAmerica, zingermans, zingermans bakehouse, ZingermansBakehouse

Red, White, and Blue, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Happy Fourth of July! What better way to accent your outfit and show off your patriotic spirit this Independence Day than with a stylish new handbag. Designed by Julie Feldman and described as an "Americana tootsie roll handbag" (now I'm craving candy) this classic and simple bag is made of distressed leather with two rolled leather handles and zip closure at the top. I love the earthy and worn looking stars and stripes because they're so much less obnoxious than the brightly colored versions, and make the bag that much easier keep using all summer. $490

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Tags: 4th of july, 4thOfJuly, american, american flag, american flags, AmericanFlag, AmericanFlags, bag, bags, fourth of july, FourthOfJuly, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, handbags, holiday, holidays, independence day, IndependenceDay, patriotic, patriotism

A Hummer Made of Candy

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Artist Heidi Heiss must be even more upset by the discontinuation of the Hummer H1 than we are - just kidding. She made this candy-coated Hummer as a tribute to "the soldiers who gave candies to children during the war." It is a life sized HumVee that is made of gumballs, steel and wire mesh. This one was on display at the MOCA Tucson in Arizona, but it's easy to imagine it ending up in the car collection of someone who really wants something different.

There's another picture, for perspective, after the jump.

[via OMG Blog]

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Tags: american, art, artist, german, heidi heiss, hummer, liberty

Continue reading “A Hummer Made of Candy”

Kazaan Viveiros paintings

by Anne Metz (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Many in the San Francisco art community were saddened to hear that Steel Gallery -- owned and operated by novelist Danielle Steel -- is closing its doors this month.

Take heart, art buffs: despite the bad news, one of Steel Gallery's favorite painters, Kazaan Viveiros, is still alive and kicking.

A favorite of ARTnews and the SF Weekly, Viveiros's eerie works are equal parts hyper-realist images and abstract color planes. In other words, they're both traditional and edgy. And while I'm not sure if Condoleeza Rice is a Kazaan Viveiros fan, the Portugese-American's paintings do grace the walls of the State Department.

Though painting prices are not disclosed on Viveiros's website, I'm sure Steel Gallery can quote you a price. Better hurry up and give them a call, though.

Tags: american, art, ARTnews, danielle steel, kazaan viveiros, novelist, painting, portugese, San Francisco, SF weekly