luxist guest post

Unexpected Treasures: CIRCA Evaluates A Reader's Finds

Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

A reader submitted the following letter to Luxist's Unexpected Treasures column and CIRCA agreed to help us evaluate:

Going through some old "junk" chests I had I came upon a few of interesting pieces I thought I would submit.

The first piece is an 18K gold Zenith wristwatch. The watch belonged to my grandfather and I believe it is pre 1930. Upon further inspection (I am a watch aficionado) I believe it uses a Valjoux .22 Calibre Chronograph movement (I could definitely be wrong). The watch does not have a model or serial number as is common with a lot of older timepieces. I have not been able to find much information on the piece online so any help you and circa could provide would be wonderful.

The second piece is a Tiffany's sterling silver bean clutch purse designed by Elsa Peretti. Elsa was a good friend of my mothers and gifted the purse to her in the late 70s or early 80's (as the stamp on the back of the purse suggests.)

The third piece are a pair of Tiffany's earrings made out of palladium(stamped in the back), designed by Paloma Picasso, also gifted to my mother by Elsa.

I would love to see what circa has to say about these pieces and they certainly were an unexpected treasures.

Best Regards,
Federico

Click through for the response from CIRCA...

Tags: circa, circa jewels, elsa perretti, luxist guest post, paloma picasso, tiffany, tiffany and Co, TiffanyAndCo, unexpected treasures, zenith

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Luxist Guest Post: Chris Del Gatto of CIRCA On The Real Value of Jewelry

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Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

Have you ever wondered what that diamond necklace that your grandmother left you would be worth if you ever wanted to sell it? We did, so we asked Chris Del Gatto, Chairman & CEO of CIRCA, the largest global buyer of fine jewelry from the public, to share some trade secrets on the true market value of jewelry.

As you can imagine, there's typically a disconnect between the public's perception of what jewelry is "worth", and the true market value of that item. True market value means the price that you would get if you were to sell the piece. This is very different from an appraisal value – what you would have to pay retail to replace an item if it were lost or stolen. What's important to realize is that when you're paying retail, you're paying for labor, marketing and the various profits made along the way.

For example, the generic yellow gold & diamond tennis bracelet that retails for $5,000, will typically cost a retailer an average of $1,800-$3,000, whereas the manufacturer's cost to make the piece would be more like $1,260 - $2,100. As someone who now owns that bracelet, and is selling it back into the marketplace, you're starting over again. You're not going to make back the profit that the manufacturer and retailer made. You also have to discount the labor that went into the piece. What you have left is the intrinsic value of the stones and the metal as your base. However, you can start adding value back if:

1) the piece is superbly designed and manufactured

2) the stone qualities are very high

3) it's a period piece, like Art Deco, Retro, etc.

4) the piece is signed by a famous maker such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co, etc.

Tags: accessories-pedia, awards-main, cartier, circa, circa jewels, jewelry, luxist guest post, luxist-awards, main-pedia, unexpected treasures, watches

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Luxist Guest Post: Celebrity Stylist Colin Megaro's Tips For Red-Carpet-Ready Style

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Sunday night's Emmy fashions got us in a fashion-centered mood. With New York Fashion Week approaching we decided to check in with celebrity fashion stylist Colin Megaro for his tips on how to create your own red-carpet-worthy looks.

Megaro is no fashion novice, he is a regular fixture on the international fashion scene and helps his clients hone a signature look, so they will look stunning for events ranging from launch parties and red carpets to interviews and first dates. He has been involved in numerous television projects, including upcoming appearances on E! Entertainment's The Shayne Lamas show and more. He has been dressing some of Hollywood's hottest talent including Daren Kagasoff from "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," Michael Emerson of "Lost" for his 2009 Emmy win, Brooke Hogan, Julie Benz of "Dexter" and Carrie Preston of "True Blood."

Let's face it: no matter who we are, we all want a taste of the celebrity life. However, real life often intrudes, and all of the upkeep can a bit out of the everyday budget. However, there are some at-home tips and tricks that will get you red carpet-ready every day.

Let's start at the top, with great hair. We all know that stars pay good money to have shiny, healthy, luxurious hair at all times. Guess what: you can do the same at home.

Know your hair texture, and "head" to your local drugstore or beauty supply and get products that work for you. For starters, I'd recommend a deep conditioner once a week -- you will love how your hair feels and reacts to styling. Dampen hair, apply deep conditioner, cover with shower cap and go about your routine for an hour, rinse.

We all know how important healthy, glowing skin is. You keep your skin looking its best, follow these simple tips. First: drink lots of water, hydration is key. Try a toning mask (look for cucumber in the ingredients) once a week, and an apricot scrub twice a week. Be sure to remove makeup nightly, and follow with a great moisturizer before bed.

Tags: celebrities, celebrity stylist, colin megaro, luxist guest post, red carpet style

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Luxist Guest Post: To Keep a Star Shining; the Challenges of Celebrity PR by Ronn Torossian

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It has been hard to ignore the spate of celebrity disasters this summer. From Lindsay Lohan's turn in jail to Mel Gibson's infamous rants, it seems each day's news brings a new scandal. That means it has also been a busy summer for celebrity public relations. In a Luxist guest post, Ronn Torossian, the CEO of 5WPR, who has worked with celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Pamela Anderson and Nick Cannon, discusses the challenges of celebrity PR and why we need to remember that celebrities are human beings, like the rest of us, subject to the same frailties and foul-ups.

One of the most challenging parts of working in celebrity publicity is re-shaping an image which the world already thinks they know. Constant public scrutiny, the demand of hundreds of media outlets calling non-stop, and the immediacy of today's media make this even harder. The latest news from Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson, Tiger Woods and other shining stars, makes one wonder about the differences between a celebrity and a "normal" human being.

After years of work with corporations and celebrities, I realize that the media often decides a story angle before they actually hear the facts. In "Bias" - probably the century's most significant media-criticism book - Bernard Goldberg, ex-CBS producer, states that a lie in media terms is not really a lie, "they would pass the polygraph test... they honestly believe what they're saying. And that's the biggest problem of all". Just last week, in an unprecedented rule in England, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt won their case over privacy against a gossip outlet that reported an upcoming divorce. The damages will be accounted for by the paper and offered to the intruded couple. And, all this because drama sells paper, whether it's true, false or exaggerated. I mean consider how many headlines were written on Tiger Woods, but what do we really know other than that he cheated on his wife?

The media simply feels compelled to respond to massive public interest, and human fascination. Celebrity representatives often can't respond quick enough to damaging news – and this lack of response, or failure to fix the issue, can often shape the story. In contrast to a company, brand or product, the "celebrity brand" stands alone. If something is perceived to go wrong you can't accuse production lines, 'industry trends' or forces of nature, like BP has tried to do. Instead, the individual celebrity is the only one who can break, or fix, his or her "brand."

Tags: 5wpr, 5wPublicRelations, luxist guest post, ronn torossian

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Luxist Guest Post: G4TV's Alison Haislip On Surviving Comic Con

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As a field correspondent for G4 TV's Attack of the Show, Alison Haislip has done everything from eating a scorpion while mescal-tasting to attending spy school. In today's guest post, she gives us her guide to surviving Comic Con, the upcoming event that has stars, comic book fans and creators and others converging in San Diego. Her advice also applies to any other conventions.

The noise. The smells. The overly expensive food court food. And the hundreds and thousands of people all crammed into a giant room. This is a convention. And no matter where you work, there's a good chance you'll end up at one of these some day.

In the industry that I work in, the nerd/geek/fanboy industry, there is no bigger convention than Comic Con. Once a year, almost 130,000 Star Wars fanatics, Lord of the Rings lovers, and comic book hoarders, descend on San Diego for a full four days of pandemonium. This year will be my 3rd visit to Comic Con (July 22nd-25th), and I believe my ability to survive this event can be utilized at any convention out there. So whether you're stuck going to that annual meeting of brain surgeons you love so much or elated to be checking out the latest cars at your local auto convention, here's some pointers to help you get the most out of your experience.

1. Comfortable shoes- All you do in conventions is walk or stand in line. Sometimes, if it's a really long line, you can sit on the debatably clean floor, but beyond that, you're on your feet all day. Yes, lots of times we're at these conventions for work so it's important to look good, but this is not a situation where it's okay to sacrifice your comfort for style. I'm looking mainly at the ladies and their stilettos here, but men, this can apply to you too. 8-12 hours on your feet in bad shoes is enough to put anyone on edge, so what good are you doing your business if you're uncomfortable and agitated? Comfortable shoes are key.

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Luxist Guest Post: Poker Player Beth Shak's Favorite Las Vegas Spots

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Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Poker player Beth Shak gives us her view of Las Vegas in this special guest post.

This year when I returned to the 2010 World Series of Poker for my 5th tournament, I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodations waiting for me. I decided to stay at the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which opened in December 2009. It is important to note that I did not stay in a suite, because the amenities were better than some of the nicer suites I've stayed in.

The Mandarin Oriental was beautiful and quiet; I didn't feel like I was in Las Vegas after leaving the World Series of Poker.

Highlights:
Push-of-a-button accommodations: the room is completely plugged in, including electronic curtains to hide the gorgeous, lit-up view when it's time to rest.
Amazing closet: This is not just a closet; it is more like a dressing room, completely separated from the actual room.
The bathroom: The bathroom has an entire make-up area, Bulgari products, gorgeous Eastern design and – get this – a flat iron. Nobody does that! I was beyond impressed.
Gamble-free. I was able to sit back and relax, and save the games for WSOP.
The best concierge, Joe: maybe he can move to the East Coast and be my assistant!

Tags: aria, beth shak, lanvin handbag, las vegas, luxist guest post, mandarin oriental, mandarin oriental hotel, mandarin oriental las vegas, wsop, wynn

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