maori

Magrette Tane (B), Lord Of The Forest Engraved Watch

The original Magrette Tane timepiece (click there to see original post) was one of their most expensive watches to date at close to $4,500. Beautifully hand-engraved all over the case and on the rotor of the automatic movement, the piece was a tour de force of the engraving talents of Magrette's engraver Andrew Biggs. Following up on the original Tane watch is this Tane (B) engraved watch ("B" as in side B like a tape?). Like the original, it is limited to just 10 pieces, but features a toned down look - more like other Magrette limited edition watches. The fascinating Maori style engraving is limited to the bezel, while the rest of the case is in polished and brushed steel and is 44mm wide. The dial is laser-cut with LUM-TEC MDV GX luminant and an embossed Magrette logo face design. Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA 2824 automatic movement. I cannot do the Tane story justice, so you can head over to Magrette to learn more about the mythology behind the art on this beautiful timepiece. Price is more affordable than the original Tane, with the Tane (B) priced at $1,785 for each of the 10 pieces.

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

Tags: B, engraved, magrette, maori, tane, watch

In Harmony: New Zealand And Emerging Luxury Travel Trends, Part 1

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

In my recent Luxist articles,The Dawn Of A New Economy, and Is The Recession Over?, I have discussed a multiplicity of luxury trends, derived from the Luxury Summit discussions and research, and from the American Affluence Center Research, Spring 2010. These new trends suggest changes in high end spending and saving, redefining what is newly important to consumers. Such changes have been enhanced by the recession that has at best lightly touched and at worst deeply affected both the aspirational and inspirational high net worth populations. Much of this research suggests changes in purchasing attitudes that range from a more conspicuous to a more conscious consumption, allowing for less artifice and more authenticity, less presumption and more purpose, less spending and more investing – all in material and experience that mean more than just acquiring more stuff.

Within the past year also, a greater interest has emerged in high end, authentic adventure travel, multi -generational family travel, and all with a greater eco-sensitive outlook. These luxury travel trends correspond, and indeed harmonize with high end travel offerings found in New Zealand, the youngest, least populated (still more sheep than people, 16 million sheep, 4 million people), and arguably one of the most unspoiled, green, eco-sensitive and adventurous and adventuresome country left in the world.

Tags: adventure travel, adventuretravel, air new zealand, christchurch, george hotel, laffluent reserach, maori, new zealand, New Zealand affluent travel, new zealand travel, remarkables mountain, treetops, TreetopsLodge

Continue reading “In Harmony: New Zealand And Emerging Luxury Travel Trends, Part 1”

The Fashion Statement: Body Art

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Singer Leona Lewis sported an eye patch at Perez Hilton's birthday bash.

No longer content with rockin' the usual cocktail dress and stilettos on the red carpet, celebrities have turned to body art. Body painting is having a moment at press events, concerts, in magazines and on TV.

A few weeks ago, Ke$ha started tongues wagging about her glow-in-the-dark neon body paint and Native American headdress she wore on Saturday Night Live. Not many were getting the tribal-warrior-in-space thing. Critics complained of sensory overload, noting that the visual mayhem distracted from her mediocre performance (maybe that was the point).

Back in March, British singer Leona Lewis (pictured above) sported an eye patch at Perez Hilton's birthday bash. No doubt just following the dress code for the carnival-themed party, nymag.com poked fun at her for wearing a clown collar and a lace eye patch.

In February Soccer players WAGS (wives and girlfriends in British slang) Sarah Brander, Abbey Clancy, Bethany Dempsey and Melissa Satta were photographed in body paint by Joanne Gair for the Sports Illustrated 2010 swimsuit issue. Gair is the body paint guru having painted models for the swimsuit issue 12 years. Most of you probably know her work from the Demi Moore's Birthday Suit cover for Vanity Fair back in the '90s.

And, of course, what would a Hugh Hefner Playboy party be without nude bunnies running around in painted-on bikinis and corsets? And, last year, a Carnival queen in Sao Paulo grabbed headlines for painting President Barack Obama's face on her left thigh.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement:Body Paint

Tags: body paint, BodyPaint, Kesha, Leona Lewis, LeonaLewis, Maori, Playboy bunnies, PlayboyBunnies, Rodarte, WAGS

Continue reading “The Fashion Statement: Body Art”

Magrette Tane Hand-Engraved Watch From New Zealand

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Magrette of New Zealand presents the Tane "Lord of the Forest" hand-engraved watch. Part of a very limited edition of just 10 pieces, the watch is decorated by a single master engraver and displays a classic Maori myth as seen in images all over the watch. While Magrette offers high quality reasonably priced watches, their higher end collection specializes in these beautiful engraved works of art. The 44mm steel case is almost totally covered in engravings. This includes, the bezel, case, lugs, and even on the exposed rotor of the automatic Swiss movement. Despite all the decoration, the watch is still very masculine.

The detail is stunning, and so are the images. In addition to native Maori decor, the watch has faces and characters that really liven it up. New for Magrette is an upgraded dial done by American LUM-TEC. This means the dial has their special in-house MDV GX luminant for impressive darkness viewing and visual appeal. Magrette fans will notice the upgraded dial immediately. The watch is attached to a black leather strap with red stitching. Inside is a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic movement that has a decorated rotor like you've never seen before on any other brand's watch. The watch is available now, and each of the 10 pieces are priced at a reasonable $4,485.

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

Gallery: Magrette Tane Watch