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Edox Ladies Royal Lady Luxury Chronograph Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

There is no coincidence that this Edox watch sounds as though it was named after a boat. The "Royal Lady Luxury" is meat to be a yacht themed ladies piece from the Swiss brand that comes with a relatively affordable price. The Royal Lady Luxury Chronograph watch is 36mm wide in steel with blue segments in the bezel and a mother of pearl dial. The look is stately and bold. Attractive, but not in too girly a manner.

Inside the watch is a Swiss Ronda quartz chronograph movement. I like the steel outlined chronograph subdials on the face against the mother of pearl. The case is attached to a white rubber strap and retails for $2,100.

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

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Blue Chronograph Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Girard-Perregaux's 1966 Chronograph watch gets bathed in blue for this 1966 Blue Chronograph version of the attractive retro-inspired timepiece by the high-end Swiss brand. The 40mm wide case in in 18k white gold with a sunburst style metallic blue dial that is very attractive. Blue just happens to be quite trendy in 2011 for watches. The chronograph subdials engravings are "snailed," which results in pleasantly contrasting visual with concentric circles. It also helps with legibility when wanting to see the chronograph info easily.

On the dial the hands and hour indicators are applied and in 18k white gold. Inside the watch is an in-house made Girard-Perregaux GP030C0 automatic column wheel chronograph movement that is decorated and visible through the caseback window. The watch will come either on a black alligator strap, or an all 18k white gold metal bracelet. Prices for the 1966 Blue Chronograph are $29,700 on the strap and $51,850 on the gold bracelet. Look for this attractive watch soon.

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

Hermes Cape Cod Tonneau Bleu de Malte Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

For the ladies this is the new color in the Hermes Cape Cod watch collection. The "Bleu de Malte" offers up a blue toned Hermes calfskin leather strap with gray stitching, and more blue on the dial used for the outline of the signature art deco hour numerals. The blue mixes well with the steel of the case, and the Cape Cod Tonneau look is always timeless in feeling. Not sure about the size of the watch, but the case is available with diamond decoration on the bezel and lugs.

The dial is in mother of pearl, so the blue rimmed numerals stand out to look great.. Mother of pearl is so diverse and elegant - no matter how much it is used today in watches. While the lady's Cape Cod does have an iconic shape, it also has a very easy to read dial, which helps this one stay a classic. Look or the Hermes Cape Cod Tonneau Bleu de Malte watch soon.

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

Delaneau Amazone Blueberries & Rectangular Dôme Invisible Damier Watches

Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

Creative women's watch maker Delaneau offers up two new timepieces that use their jumping hour/jumping minute mechanical movement. These provocative jewelry creations are visually interesting, and have a welcome old-world feel to them. As though the designs are from the past, but served up fresh in these two new watches.

Both pieces feature the brand's caliber 1608 automatic movement that has discs to display the hours and minutes that move immediately (as opposed to slowly) when the time is right.

The Amazone Blueberries watch is 42mm wide in 18k white gold with about 10.5 carats of large baguette cut diamonds on the bezel. There are much more brilliant cut diamonds on the dial as the leaves, while the blueberries are done in large blue sapphire cabochons. Really a lovely art jewelry piece with a nice movement. The strap is blue satin mixed with crocodile.

With the Rectangular Dôme Invisible Damier watch, Delaneau plays with decorative textures on a watch that reminds me a little hand bag with handle on the top in terms of the shape. The watch is 40mm wide and also in 18k white gold. Again you have about 20 carats of diamonds and sapphire on the case, and another large set of baguette cut diamonds and sapphires on the dial. It has a similar style of blue satin and crocodile strap as the Amazone Blueberries.

Such play with high-jewelry watches and blue and white colors makes for a nice tone with winter season from Delaneau. Such watches are incredible expensive, but beautiful nonetheless.

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

Bottega Veneta Large Lambskin Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Bottega Veneta Large Lambskin Shoulder BagThe Bottega Veneta Large Lambskin Shoulder Bag is a lovely big blue bag, marvelously executed and fabulously practical.

This roomy, Italian-made shoulder bag is built for comfort. It's made with ultra-light lambskin, which ensures it won't be too heavy even before you fill it, and the knotted shoulder strap is braided with malleable leather, soft against your shoulder and easy on your hand.

The bag is 21½"W X 12½"H X 12"D, lined in pretty grey suede, and has two center compartments, a cell phone pouch and an inside zip pocket. It closes with a magnetic snap at the top. We especially love the signature Intrecciato detail woven down the middle of the bag, and the way it gathers at the bottom. Tote bags have started to get so boring -- and this is just as big, with a lot more character.

The Bottega Veneta Large Lambskin Shoulder Bag is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $2,350.00.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Flyback Chronograph Complete Calendar Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Arguably the best collection in Blancpain's lineup, the Fifty Fathoms gets a "blue" job and a chrono-calendar set of complications added to it. I got to check out the blue version of the Fifty Fathoms watch a while ago before it launched. The decorated metallic blue dial is lovely (especially matched with the blue bezel with sapphire crystal over it), and the addition of the classic set of dials is an interesting addition to the dive watch theme. Does anyone diving need a chronograph and annual calendar, and a moon phase indicator? They probably wouldn't want it - but hey, who is actually gonna be diving with this thing? Blancpain themselves describe it as a "yachting watch." The first few of the pieces were actually debuted at the Cannes International Boat Show. So the "point" of the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Flyback Chronograph Complete Calendar (yes, I am sorry, that is actually the name of it) makes more sense now.

I wish they could have named it something better. It is as though watch brands ask you to have more of an emotional investment in their watches than they do when naming them. These names are unoriginal, and what are called "merely descriptive." Inside the watch is a Blancpain in-house made automatic calibre 66BF8 movement. It features a 12 hour chronograph, date, day of the week, month, and moon phase indicator. The watch itself is 45mm wide in a steel case with a specially treated blue canvas strap (to match the blue theme). Really a nice piece that will satisfy collectors looking for a complicated and "worldly" version of the Fifty Fathoms.

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


Ladoire Roller Guardian Time Blue Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As its popularity grows, Ladoire timepieces of Switzerland moves to add new models, as the small independent watch maker eyes the future. While many independent luxury watch brands never reach the momentum necessary for their watches to be serious hits, the interesting Roller Guardian Time watch has been well received despite its relatively high price point. The fascinating rounded rectangular case is a mixture of soft curved and sharp edges - a very modern style that is popular in automotive design - which is a likely source of influence for the younger Lionel Ladoire who began the brand only in 2007.

The Roller Guardian Time Blue is a variation on the core design and mechanics. I discussed the Roller Guardian Time watch here further, with hands-on images of the piece. Actually, in the gallery in that previous post you can see an early picture of this blue version of the watch that I was able to snap. The Roller Guardian Blue is a lovely refresh on the design with some new styling and a black PVD and blue dial and case. The strap is blue alligator. As complex as it looks the Roller Guardian time is actually quite simple to read. The watch has an exclusive automatic (micro-rotor) mechanical movement and tells the time and GMT time. Priced around $150,000.

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

Swatch Automatic Chrono Right Track White Or Blue Watch Giveaway

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

These are two good looking Swatch watches. Fresh from the Automatic Chrono collection, Swatch offers two new versions of the Right Track model, and we have got one for you. Enter below to win your choice of a Swatch Automatic Chrono Right Track White or Right Track Blue watch (you can click on those respective links to see more details about them or buy one. We previously offered a Swatch Automatic Chrono watch giveaway here that was so popular, Swatch agreed to another round for this new model. The watches are handsome, and have a great sense of civility, but also modern design to them. You can think of one as a man' piece, and the other as a woman's piece, but they are actually unisex and larger at almost 45mm wide. The cases are in Swatch plastic with alligator print leather straps and mechanical automatic calibre C01.211 movements from ETA. The watch bezel is metal, along with the dial and hands. A pretty chic look, retailing for $370 each. View the gallery below for more images. Check them out, enter to win, and enjoy a cool Swatch watch for the summer. Follow Swatch on Twitter here.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on June 28th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before June 28th, 2010 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Swatch Automatic Chrono Watch in a choice of white or blue valued at $370.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See full giveaway rules here.

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

Blumera Meheru Laptop Bag, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Blumera Meheru, $790The Blumera Meheru Laptop Bag makes working a far more attractive and enlightened experience.

A new addition to the striking Meheru collection, which includes a shoulder bag, clutch and travel bag in this stunning shade of violet-lapis crocodile print leather, the Laptop Bag features interior padding in Blumera's signature magenta silk, ensuring that "if you drop it, god forbid, the computer should be ok!" A hidden strap secures any computer of up to 17" into place for maximum protection. The bag also includes a padded zip compartment which fits an iPad perfectly, also in magenta. Did we mention how much we love the bold, feminine colors? Violet-lapis crocodile print leather and magenta silk don't happen every day, but they should.

Keeping true to the designer's spiritual roots and inspiration, the bag includes a goldtone trinket engraved with a secret message from Indian mystic leader Meher Baba. We got a source to go and look at this one for us; it says: "It is for love that the whole universe sprang into existence, and it is for the sake of love that it is kept going." That's a nice sentiment to carry around.

The Blumera Meheru Laptop Bag costs $790 and is currently available for pre-order from the new Los Angeles Blumera boutique (8570 Melrose Ave.). Call 720-BLUMERA (258-6372) or email orders -at- blumera.com to get yours ahead of everyone else.

Rebellion Regulator REB-7 Blue Version Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Rebellion Regulator REB-7 Blue Version Watch
While I think Rebellion watches are cool and exciting, I personally don't get super excited about them. Sound ironic? Maybe it is, but I feel like I got excited the first time I saw a Rebellion watch, and each time after that, it is just more of the same. Now the Rebellion DNA has been enhanced with the suave look of electric blue and steel. The case is 46mm wide, 56mm tall, and 20mm thick.

Rebellion is no BS brand. All Swiss, they also make their own, in-house made movements. Inside this new Rebellion Regulator REB-7 Blue Version watch is the REB-7 automatic movement with the regulator complication (and date). The date is read through the small window close to 6 o'clock, with an exposed numeral ring. aside from futuristic steel composure of the watch, all the hands and hour numeral information is in blue. Being a regulator, the subsidiary dial at the top is for the hours. Normally, a regulator watch would have another subsidiary dial for the seconds, but here the middle dial is used for the minutes and the seconds. The dial is covered with a large sapphire crystal and has some of its edges exposed. Sure to have good legibility due to double AR coating on said crystal.

The complex watch case has over 40 parts to it. Watches like this can sometimes be so visually complex, reading the time is a chore. A bit less of the case here, but don't get a watch like this thinking it is as easy to read as a Rolex Submariner for example. Not sure about price at this point, but recognize that Rebellion is a high-end luxury watch brand.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Blue Is For Bremont With the ALT1-P Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

bremont alt p1
In addition to the new watches I share with you (constantly), I like to always give you thoughts on existing models that I get to check out that move me. I recently was visiting with Bremont and had the fortune of testing out their lovely metallic blue dialed ALT1-P watch. Even the image here doesn't do the blue hue justice. Take my word that this is a great dial tone, that looks sexy, but doesn't inhibit function at all. If you prefer, there is a black dialed version available as well.

The rugged case construction include a middle section in black PVD. Features like this separate Bremont pieces from other function themed timepiece out there. The case is in steel and 43mm wide, with a AR coated sapphire crystal, and sapphire crystal caseback with a view into the decorated movement. Bremont uses a base Swiss automatic, probably an ETA 2894 in this instance. The movement has been COSC Chronometer certified for accuracy.

Bremont rates the ALT1-P watch at 100 meters water resistant. If you do not know the brand, then you won't be aware of their reputation for really rock-solid timepieces. The dial design of the watch is so easy to read it transcends from ordinary to almost legendary. A few design mistakes wold have made the dial less than special. Bremont plays between the thin line of cluttered and useful quite well. The hands and hour markers are all covered in SuperLumiNova luminant. The crown on the left side of the case is used for rotating the inner timing bezel. Often used for diving, this is a more aviation themed piece.

Just look at that great blue leather strap. How cool is that combined with the dial? The images in the gallery below display my point really well. Price for the Bremont ALT1-P is about $5,000.

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

Botkier Harper Lambskin Tote, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Botkier Harper Lambskin ToteThe Botkier Harper Lambskin Tote is a beautiful, bright blue bag with a fun, festive design.

This tote is belted in all kinds of ways, from the clever double buckles on the double handles to the chic and utilitarian horizontal straps which give the bag its unique, sexy shape. The warm, Caribbean blue is set off nicely by the gunmetal hardware -- and did we mention it's not your average leather, but soft, buttery lambskin? You could practically use this as a pillow.

The bag is 12"H x 15"W x 4"D, and features a cream-colored jacquard lining (creating a fabulous teal-and-cream contrast). The top zips with a tassel pull, and a detachable shoulder strap is included.

This Botkier will make an excellent splash of color to set off this seasons pale grays and beiges, and is large enough to function as a work bag for the gainfully occupied.

The Botkier Harper Lambskin Tote is available from Neiman Marcus for $595.00.

Franc Vila FVt28 Jumping Hours Automatique Ivy Edition Watches

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches


From boutique watch maker Franc Vila comes this new collection of women's watches. If you would have told me that he made a woman's watch using his signature case design, I would have been concerned about the result give the aggressive masculine looks that most of his watches have. But seeing the result here I am greeted with something that looks unique and technical - not exactly "aggressive" at all. Though the watch design is complex and deep. It will take the type of woman who can appreciate both beauty and mechanics to understand the charms this watch has.

The oblong shaped DieHard Extreme steel (the story behind this action adventure sounding metal is unknown to me) case comes in two versions for the FVt28, the "White" and the "Blue." The latter having more diamonds all over it with a total 387 stones, while the White version embraces its high polish with 91 diamonds on the bezel and dial. They have white or blue mother-of-pearl dials with applied floral patterns. The White version has diamonds as 5 minute markers on the dial, while the Blue version uses soft looking sapphire orbs on the dial. These aren't used as hour markers because the Fran Vila FV28 movement is a "jumping hour." This means that the automatic mechanical movement has a window that displays the hours digitally on a disc, while the main dial is used for the minutes. There is a smaller subsidiary dial for the seconds. The watch cases are water resistant to 100 meters and have sapphire crystal on both the front and back. The straps and alligator. The automatic rotor for the movement is specially decorated and in gold. Each watch is a limited edition with just 88 pieces each.

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

The Fashion Statement: What Will You Be Wearing in 2010?

Filed under: The Fashion Statement





You have to be Nostradamus to predict the future. But when it comes to fashion, it's a little easier. Here's my rule of thumb: Consider what's already been popular, push that as far as it can go (ultra low drop crotches, anyone?) and if you can't push it any further, go completely in the other direction.

That, or just ask around, like I did recently! Here are some trends my fashion friends will be watching closely next year.

Tribal prints: From tattoos to prints on dresses, leggings and shoes, tribal prints will be everywhere for spring. The look is warrior-like, intricate and, ahem, fierce.

Sweet Prints: The counterpoint to primitive tribal influences is soft and cuddly prints like blooms, birds, dogs, cats and strawberry. The point is to be cute and nice.

Sheer: Barely there, diaphanous -- whatever you call it, if you can see through it, you'll want to wear it. Many runways didn't bother with undergarments. In the real world, I might.

Military: Michael Jackson died when designers were coming up with their spring 2010 collections and it shows. Epaulets, braids, badges and other accouterments of the uniform marched down runways on both sides of the pond.

F.P. Journe Chronometre Blue Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is a lovely watch that should probably considered a "starter timepiece" to the F.P. Journe brand. I saw this given the basic classic look of the watch and the brand's reputation for typically complex watches. Though perhaps that is a misconception on my behalf as there are plenty of existing fans that would enjoy the unique qualities this 39mm wide watch has. Aside from the gorgeous metallic blue dial, the watch is made in tantalum, a rarely used exotic metal sometimes used in the aerospace industry. One reason it is paired with the blue dial is because the metal alloy shines blue in the right light.

Inside the watch is a F.P. Journe caliber 1304 manually wound movement that is in-house made and has 56 hours of power reserve. The movement is made in 18k rose gold. The "Chronometre" part of the watch name refers to the fact that F.P. Journe has made this mechanical movement accurate within chronometer ranges.

The dial design is purely F.P. Journe with emphasis on signature brand characteristic such as numeral font and hand design. No word on price for the F.P. Journe Chronometre Blue watch yet, but I suspect it will be higher than I would predict.

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

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