ebony

Hermes Arceau Ebony Chronograph Watch

Adding just a new color to the Arceau Chronograph watch lineup with the "Ebony," and Hermes almost has you convinced you've got a totally new model. This is follow up watch to the Arceau Chronograph Alezan announced around Baselworld earlier this year. To Hermes, the Arceau line is direct extension of their equestrian heritage, making for a perfect companion to their full line of riding gear.

Hermes watches are finely designed in my opinion with flowing smooth lines and a refinement on par with other luxury watches with the names of exclusive French designers on them (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc...). The Arceau Ebony Chronograph has an almost totally black colored dial on the 43mm wide steel watch. Applied rings around the chronograph dials add a sense of depth to the mix, while the classic looking Arabic numerals have a character undeniably Hermes. The face is simple and clean, and Hermes could not resist adding the splash of their signature orange hue to the face to complete the branded look. I like the faceted window cut for the date window.

You get the distinct idea that the case shape is extremely smooth and pleasant to wear. Note the different lug structure at either end of the watch. Powering the timepiece is a Swiss ETA 2894 automatic movement. There is really nothing superfluous about the design, a fact that pleases me. Of course the watch would not be an Hermes if not fitted with a high grade calf leather strap, here in black with contrast stitching. Available soon from Hermes.

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

Tags: arceau, black, chronograph, ebony, hermes, timepiece, watch

Ebony Macassar Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

This Ebony Macassar Wooden Clutch by Celestina strikes me as very retro, what with all the dark woodgrain and the symmetrically placed tagnipis studs on the front, and in this case that's a good thing. It's a long oval shape with a hinge at the base and a concealed magnetic fastening at the top, so it stays closed without any visible hardware. It also has a suede lining (to soften the wood, I assume) and comes with a small mirror.

My only complaint? Looks a little inconvenient/awkward to hold onto. $755

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Tags: bag, bags, celestina, clutch, ebony, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, handbags, wooden clutch, WoodenClutch

Man of Steel Superyacht for Sale at $50 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The 164-ft. Heesen superyacht Man of Steel (above) is for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for $50 million. Built in 2008, the tri-deck ship with helipad takes its name from the use of hot rolled steel threaded seamlessly and worked in elegantly throughout the yacht. The main stairway floats off of the wall, supported on a steel column, while the stairs themselves are created out of steel with carpet inserts. Steel is also a notable element in the reveals of the maccasar ebony cabinetry. That and the floating glass floor over a bed of black river rock encountered upon entering the yacht mark it as one-of-a-kind among ultra-luxury cruisers.

The full-sized glass owner's suite has 240-degree views and a bed that rotates to take them all in. The owner's balcony contains a private negative edge spa and its own sundeck. The lower level and "pop-culture" themed family room are Moroccan-inspired with bright colors and a specially-commissioned Bisazza tile mural. Key elements of the modern Art Deco-inspired salon space include maccasar ebony, period-correct sterling silver, crystal, and a platinum color scheme. Asian and Zen influences can be seen in the custom platforms for the furniture, the square proportions of the cushions, and the glass encased black river rock floor.

Tags: ebony, Heesen, JamesList, steel, superyacht, yacht