David Yurman

Shopping at a David Yurman store and want a really expensive watch? They have high-end watches, but if that isn't enough for you, then check out the David Yurman Tourbillon, more specifically the David Yurman Ancestrale collection Tourbillon. The Ancestrale collection is named after a variety of Cognac and contains a few pieces. The tourbillon is the top of the line model being 43.5mm wide in 18k rose gold case with that "rope" design on the side of the case that is common to the brand. Not sure who makes the movement, but the manually wound tourbillon based movement has a power reserve of 120 hours and displays only the time. The tourbillon escapement is skeletonized and doubles as the seconds hand. The slate dial has a few textures and applied gold hour markers. Attached to the Ancestrale Tourbillon watch is a Cognac brown alligator strap. Is the watch nice? Yes, but not likely nice enough to lure educated watch lovers who are already familiar with tourbillons movements from other brands.

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

Still haven't gotten her something for Valentine's day (I know I haven't)? Well here is another option that shouldn't be too tough to find given David Yurman's pretty good distribution. This is "The Classic" watch that comes in 30mm wide and 38mm wide styles in steel or gold, or steel and gold. The name could be better (no idea who they trademarked "Classic"), but the styling is is certainly acceptable. The easy-to-read dial comes with optional diamonds (either all or mixed with Roman numerals), and is mother of pearl. Inside the watch is a Swiss quartz movement, and you can get the watch with the steel bracelet (my choice) or with an alligator strap. Price as seen is $2,600.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews website aBlogToRead.com.

Valentine's Day is a romantic occasion for both men and women. So why is it that men have always gotten short-changed when it comes to special gifts, especially jewelry? We think the time has come to honor the men in our lives.

Luxist asked David Yurman, creator of elegant jewelry (and the genius behind the iconic cable bracelet), to suggest a few pieces from his extensive men's collection, all of which would make wonderful gifts on Valentine's Day, in addition to any other special occasion.

"I've always felt that jewelry is one of the most personal and emotional gifts you can give your loved one," says designer David Yurman. "Perhaps one of the first pieces I created was a gift for my then girlfriend, now wife and muse Sybil, over thirty years ago. For this Valentine's Day I have designed a unique assortment for men that embody the spirit of the holiday."

If a bracelet is what you are looking for, Yurman offers a unique sterling silver and 18K yellow gold curb chain, which is part of the Exotic Stone Collection. The bracelet is available in a variety of stones, from black onyx ($1,800) to malachite ($2,100) and lapis ($2,500), which can be seen in the gallery below. The bracelets are 6 1/2" in length. The Rubber Weave Bracelet comes in gray, brown and blue, and retails for $295. From the Naturals Collection, the bracelet has a sterling silver sea urchin-texture clasp on a braided rubber bracelet. The bracelets are 8" in length and 8 mm in width.

My colleague Annie Scott anointed aviator sunglasses one of the top fashion trends of 2010. If you haven't gotten yours yet you can splurge on a pair that also doubles as fine jewelry. David Yurman has designed some very special sunglasses, the 18k Gold Waverly Aviator. The luxury rendition of Yurman's classic Waverly aviator with the distinctive Yurman cable features solid 18 carat gold frames with pave diamonds set along the bridge and temples. These one-of-a-kind frames retail for $7,500 and are available at the David Yurman Townhouse on Madison Avenue in New York City.

Kate Moss, the Yurmans (David, Sybil and Evan) and fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh recently headed to St. Barth's to shoot the David Yurman Fall 2010 campaign. Thanks to street style photographer and blogger Garance Doré, we managed to snag three exclusive behind-the-scenes shots from the photo session, which David Yurman happily collaborated on with his team.

The latest David Yurman creation strikes out at a disease that is sadly mostly incurable. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers and has an overall survial rate of just five percent. The new David Yurman necklace with an amethyst shown at right, benefits the Lustgarden Foundation, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing the scientific and medical research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer. The bracelet is being sold by London Jewelers and all net proceeds from the sale go directly to the Lustgarden Foundation. The pendant in silver sells for $295 and the 18-karat gold version retails for $1,700.

[via National Jeweler]

Last year when we talked to David Yurman (David Yurman at Bloomingdales - Exclusive Interview), he spoke about working as a husband-and-wife team and alluded to the increasing involvement of his son in the family business. Evan Yurman has helped with the men's collections, and now, has even designed his own collection of women's eyewear (known to non-industry folks as "sunglasses") for David Yurman.

We talked to Evan Yurman, the next in line for the David Yurman empire, about more than just fancy shades -- read the interview below for a peek inside this fiery fashion heir; a talented designer in his own right. Just scroll down to see the amethyst-studded beauties which grace his sparkling collection ($695).

Luxist: Have you always been involved in the family business?

Evan Yurman: I officially joined the company in 2004. Before then, I spent time cutting and carving with my knife collection; it was part of my eventual growth into design. Creativity has always been part of my life, so it is great to have an outlet to explore my ideas.

L: What do you foresee in the future of the Yurman collections?

EY: We will continue to incorporate unique, artisanal elements into our collections while staying true to our brand DNA of innovation in the modern tradition. I like integrating different textures and motifs -- rhino, sea urchin, waves, chevron are some of my favorites.

While classic jewelry purveyor David Yurman sponsored The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering spring gala in New York on Tuesday, his son Evan carried the torch in person with New York's sparkling social set.

America may find the vacuous catfights between Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" entertaining, but meanwhile, the true socials of New York quietly continue fund-raising for worthy causes such as The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. On May 18, in the ballroom at the Pierre Hotel, they did so with great style, brightened by considerable gems.In fact, the hosts of this third annual gala, designer Tory Burch and her close pal Jamie Tisch, proved so popular that the event sold out before invitations were posted in the mail. Wearing chunky, rosy-red Rubellite chandelier earrings, sunny blonde co-chair Shelley Carr spoke of Yurman's support. "He started as a sculptor, and now his son Evan just helped to open a fabulous townhouse store on Madison," she offered. "I told them I was wearing blue, so they wanted to go with pink Rubellite earrings and ring and bracelets from Yurman's new lattice series."

Evan Yurman, who loaned the statement jewelry, acted like a star magnet in the ballroom. "I studied Italian Renaissance literature and photography," said Yurman's strapping son, also trained as a blacksmith, filling in for Dad that night. The artisan with reddish facial scruff, a skinny straight black tie, and unruly natural curls, told Luxist, "I love analyzing the historic apparel of decadent eras, the wants of jewelry patrons. Rubellite can come from the U.S., Nigeria, and Afghanistan, depending on the different colors of pink that you're looking for . . . [designing with them] can be like painting."

According to young Yurman, co-chair Heather Leeds had on "Prasiolite drop earrings. . . part of our couture collection." Leeds kept her hair up that night to reveal the luminous stones. "I was trying to pick jewelry created with our spring ball colors, either green or purple," she said. "And there were so many beautiful choices."

Mary J. Blige, who performed at the event, wore her golden hair freshly snipped into a honey-striped bob. According to Evan, Blige had on a Yurman's signature Albion ring that matched her hair. "She owns that one," he said of the ring. "She's one of our greatest clients."

"I have a lot of David Yurman chains and rings that I bought at Neiman Marcus," added Blige. And she enjoys mixing in the work of other jewelers; she also had on large cuff with a flower created in sparkling stones, by her friend Lorraine Schwartz.

Iconic jewelry designer David Yurman has expanded his brand yet again with the opening of a new 2,000 square foot Madison Avenue flagship location. The three-story shop-within-a-shop townhouse offers his classic collection of jewels plus one-of-a-kind pieces as well as an entire third floor devoted just to bridal collections, his newest endeavor.

The modern space mixes contemporary design with the expected elegant additions - marble flooring, oversized mirrors - with a decided lack of ostentation - the ceilings offer sleek dark wood paneling with inset lighting rather than large fixtures, so that the focus stays on the jewels in the cases rather than the shop itself.

Offering designs for both women and men, the Yurman brand is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Can't visit in person? Use code DYMOM for free shipping, just in time for Mother's Day.

712 Madison Avenue. At 63rd Street. www.davidyurman.com.

As Fashion Editor at Neiman Marcus, Roopal Patel has one of the coolest jobs on the planet. I asked the fashion insider about the biggest fashion mistake people make and what she thinks are the hottest upcoming trends.

Q. What does a fashion editor for a major departments store do?

A. I scout up and coming talent and designers for the store, provide trend direction for the season and help translate that vision into our merchandise assortments with our buyers. It is important for the store to have one consistent message.

Q. What are the most popular trends for resort and spring 2010?

A. Not to give away the highly-coveted list that Senior VP/Fashion Director Ken Downing issues at the beginning of every season but ...blue is the color for both resort and spring. Neiman Marcus is embracing all shades of blue for every category. Tribal fusion was on every runway this season. Look to Givenchy for some of the must-have tribal print wedges and platforms of the season. The nude shoe is the new neutral of the season. The Fendi platform sandal [pictured above] is a must on our list.

Q. What is the most unusual fashion item you've seen in your career?

A. I am always amazed at how high the heel heights are at runway shows and how they get higher with every season. The models make it look so easy. The shoes at Alexander McQueen spring 2010 were over the top!

Q. Has Neiman Marcus changed in response to the economic climate? If so, how?

A. For the holidays, we have our "Little Gems" shop that features presents and gifts for under $100. There are also great [inexpensive] items in many of our designer collections. I found a silver stud pyramid ring from Stephen Webster for $275 and a great David Yurman silver infinity ring at $275.

Q. What is your favorite item in The Christmas Book?

A. I cannot help but to smile when I see the customized cupcake car. It's so original and unique. I also cannot wait to get my hands on the sequined leggings from La Rok and the John Hardy cuff bracelet for evening holiday sparkle.

Q. What is the one thing that makes a look?

A. The right accessory. The perfect handbag or shoes can change your look in seconds.

Q. What is the one common fashion mistake people make?

A. The only mistake one can make is not having fun with your wardrobe. Enjoy and translate the trends that work best for you.

David Yurman opened up a brand new "shop within a shop" at the iconic Bloomingdale's on 59th Street in NYC last week. Located right on the mezzanine with the cosmetics, the new David Yurman 775 sq. ft space is completely separate in design from the surrounding department store fluorescence. The opening party included not only David and his wife, Sybil, but members of the board at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, as a portion of the proceeds from the first week of the new shop will be donated to The Society of MSKCC.

The opening was an absolute madhouse (which is what happens when someone shows up at Bloomingdale's with free champagne), and definitely got the word out about David Yurman's new home at Bloomingdale's. I managed to pull the charming and jovial David Yurman himself away from the masses of adoring women for a quick interview about the new shop, working as a husband and wife team, charity and inspiration.

Luxist: So, why a shop within a shop?

David Yurman: Oh, why not? We've had a smaller shop here [at Bloomingdale's] for about six years, but this is the biggest shop [within another shop] we have, probably, in the world. We have our own ceiling, we have our own video ... it's as large a size as I would imagine I would want.

L: And did you design it yourself?

DY: No -- well, I designed it with Michael Gabellini. Originally we designed the furniture, the show cases. We worked for about 5-6 months with Michael -- great designer, great person to work with -- sometimes it can be difficult; two creative people with their concepts, but to me, [the shop] is like, warm, minimal, not even minimal. Warm modern. Very functional. I mean, we used oak, solid black walnut, and it's connected to our flagship, which opened in March. Not all our stores look alike. We have five different looks in fifteen stores. This is our new design and we love it. It will be here, it'll be in our flagship, we're opening up in Paris in March, but this is -- I call it 'the pavilion.'"

L: It's a pavilion within a shop.

DY: It's a pavilion within Bloomingdale's!

L: You work with so many charitable organizations -- what's your philosophy as far as giving back?

DY: It's actually for my parents. If you have enough, you don't need any more. What's enough? I mean, I definitely have enough, so, we give back. It's the DNA of our family. I mean, I was giving back on Saturdays when I was in high school. Or, three months every year, the last few years of high school, I worked at the MS Center, I worked with underprivileged and handicapped children.

L: Sounds like they raised you well.

DY: They told me giving back, working, being with people is just .. I would never [have done] this, personally. I wanted to play football, I wanted to hang out at the mall -- but it was the best thing I ever did. It's such a good feeling.

L: What's it like working as a husband and wife team?

DY: It's difficult and rewarding. We have a lot to talk about.

L: Who does what?

DY: We make one person. Sybil's probably more focused on marketing, but I weigh in on marketing. I'm more focused on design, product development.

L: She weighs in on that?

DY: She weighs in on that. Nothing happens without both of us signing off. If we don't both sign off, it doesn't happen. We've been married for 39 years.

L: What are you working on next?

DY: It's hard to describe in words, but a lot of extensions, evolutions. We're doing a lot more 'younger,' our son is doing the men's and watches, and bridal and also the high jewelry which is amazing materials, great design, and it's where he's growing in our business. It's a family.

L: And what keeps you inspired, where you you get your ideas?

DY: You know, the thing with the word 'get' -- you can't say 'get ideas' because you kinda make yourself available to them. It's a river, you sort of guide yourself.

L: So you're just open to [ideas], you don't go looking for them?

DY: No, I don't look -- well, I'm not blind. I look at women, like I was liking [a nearby woman's] earrings ... those are my earrings! Ha! I was saying I liked them, and they're mine.

He certainly is friendly and entertaining -- and it was hard to keep the ladies from ambushing him mid-interview! Be sure and visit the new David Yurman space next time you make it to Bloomingdale's in NYC, it's like a breath of fresh air amongst the fragrances -- and, of course, the jewelry is fabulous.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is upon us, and David Yurman is celebrating (and supporting) by releasing these lavish pink dog tags for his Women's Tag Collection.

At left is the Pink Rhodonite and Sterling Silver Breast Cancer Dog Tag, which is emblazoned with the DY logo and costs $450. On the right is the extremely sparkly and eye-catching Pave Diamond-Encrusted model, available for $950.

These tags not only show your support for breast cancer victims and research, but they also have a great "I'm a survivor" vibe to them -- the dog tag theme is perfect. Never have pave diamonds looked so courageous.

Naturally, 10 percent of retail sales from these items goes directly to fund the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, so it's the perfect way to show your (actual) support, or to reward a survivor. Click here to purchase from David Yurman.

I would love to be an iPhone app developer that is well connected to the luxury world. I would have clients waiting in line to get their own iPhone app making it possible for trendy mobile phone goers to check out watches and jewelry on the go. It is really effective actually. People who have iPhones are eating up their free time by always playing with apps. What used to be time for important self reflection and idle thought can now be used for enjoying more media consumption. It makes sense to have this time filled with virtual window shopping. Pictured is one of David Yurman's newest watches, the Classic Chronograph as seen in the application.

David Yurman's free iPhone application gives you a view of their jewelry and watch collection. You can look at images of the items up close in glorious detail, check out promotional videos, find stores close by so that you get yell at your driver to quickly alter their course, share your top picks with buddies, and even buy watches. Purchasing is done through a "David Yurman personal shopper," but this is one step closer to Internet sales, which is a fantastic thing. If you want this application, and you have an iPhone, I don't need to tell you where to get it.

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

David Yurman is celebrating Fashion's Night Out with a theme you might not expect -- Western. Turns out Yurman, known for his signature rope-like twisted cable work, is a cowboy at heart and an accomplished rider. He and his wife Sybil will be hosting an exclusive party at their Madison Avenue Boutique on September 10 complete with cocktails, BBQ-style hors d'oeuvres, country music and a raffle of the spectacular buckle above.

This stunning buckle is sterling silver and bronze with elegant, graceful wings and a picture jasper stone -- what a perfect, beautiful stone. The back is engraved with "1975" and "Putnam Art Works." For the uninitiated, Putman Art Works is the name of a duo which used to exhibit paintings and sculpture art at craft fairs back in the 70s ... that duo was none other than Sybil and David.

The buckle, which a rep for the company has declared "priceless," is a one-of-a-kind must-have for a true David Yurman enthusiast, and is sure to be a huge hit with anyone who appreciates craftsmanship. It serves as proof that true masters create masterpieces long before they're famous.

A portion of sales from the official FNO T-shirts, as well as a percentage from the raffle, will benefit the National September 11th Memorial & Museum.

There is a reason this new watch from David Yurman has the word "classic" in it. This is because the design references not only the classic "triple calendar" look, but also a classic style and decor. Triple calendar refers to the fact that the watch displays the date, date, and month. It also has a moon phase display and of course the time. Thus, the timepiece has the unoriginal name of "David Yurman Classic Moon Phase."

In an 18k white gold case, the watch is 43.5mm wide - certainly modern in stature. The crystal is sapphire with an AR coating making for a nicely legible luxury watch. The only other thing it could have used to make the dial easier to read are lume covered hands. Still, the tapered and faceted hands look nice. The watch has an automatic Dubois Depraz caliber 9000 movement inside. This is an ETA 2892-2 movement with a module attached for the calendar and moon phase functions.

Around the edge of the watch on the side, you'll find the signature "rope" design that David Yurman is known for. The Classic Moon Phase is a handsome and competent watch that makes up with classic appeal, what it loses in lacking much originality. The strap is black alligator, and the watch should be available relatively soon.

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