Most of what you need to know is right there in the invitation. The Montblanc boutique store located near Union Square in San Francisco is having a two week private sale. What does private mean? That you are invited, and others aren't of course. Sales such as this aren't scheduled to my knowledge, and mean that there are deals to be had at the impressive Montblanc store. Among the included items are watches, pens, jewelery, and their fine leather goods. Did you know that Montblanc makes really nice wallets? Even belts and bags I think. If you are nearby and have been looking for the right time to incorporate some new Montblanc in your life, this is the time.

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

Do you know what happens during a feeding frenzy? Too many people arrive for chow and in the end there isn't enough food for everyone. Compounded with the fact that there is a diminishing amount of food, a real problem can arise. This is what happened with the watch industry. Things were looking so good for a few years that unwise minds thought that either the bubble wouldn't burst, or that they would get in while things were still good. Now people aren't buying as much luxury watches, and the overall industry is feeling the bite and trying to figure out what to do with all the extra unsold watches.

Before getting to the nasty figures, this situation is also a blessing in disguise. The last few years of the watch industry was almost a set-up for disaster. You had too many brands, too little realistic values, and way more watches than we had people to service them. Thus, there was going to be a major problem in a few years anyway. Now companies are realizing that they need to have actual back-end support on the technical and customer service side of things, and they are realizing that consumers are actually interested in the fact that if they pay $100,000 for a watch, it might actually be worth close to $100,000.

So, here are the numbers from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry in brief. Sales in all top 30 markets are down. Here is the damages in some key markets from one year ago. US down 43%, Hong Kong down 22%, Japan down 29%, China down 36%, UAE down 34%, Russian down 61%, and Singapore down 30%. Big hits all around, but remember these are numbers just for Swiss watches.

It may look as though people just aren't buying as many watches these days. This assumption would be wrong. Recall that Swiss watches are for the most part the most expensive watches. Almost all segments of consumers are reducing the amount they are spending on timepieces, but they are still buying watches. Thus, the Japanese and American owned brands aren't doing amazingly, but aren't hurting nearly as badly. Some brands are even likely doing better given the focus on less expensive brands.

The message to watch companies is to focus on value. Make sure a watch demanding $5,000 is actually worth that, and can be communicated well to the consumer. Otherwise they will need to focus on the sub $1,000 segment if they wish to see any retail space in the next few years. Lastly, watch companies must adapt to the times and embrace the Internet as a strong sales, distribution, and marketing channel. They can learn from Rolex, the most powerful watch brand in terms of value, which also spends the most money on advertising. Coincidence? I think not. Estimates see these trends improving over the next few years, but we shall see just how much, and in what way that happens.

Via FHS report (PDF).

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

This is a good deal from Israeli luxury watch maker Itay Noy, in celebration of the Pope's pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel, or course) that will take place this year from May 8th through the 15th. During this time, you can get one of five Itay Noy City Square Collection Piazza di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) watches for $2,500 down from the standard price of $3,300. This is a significant discount, and apt for the occasion. I'll be the first to say that it is ironic that an Israeli brand is celebrating a Catholic event, but that event will take place in Israel - so it's all good.

The Itay Noy City Square Collection of watches is pretty cool. They take an aerial view map of an area, and turn it into a Google Maps like image for the dial of the watch. Looking at the dial, you are reminded of the region all the time. Saint Peter's square in the Vatican City within Rome, is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, and makes a great center for a watch face given its relative radial symmetry. The watch itself is 42.4mm wide in stainless steel all hand assembled with a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic mechanical movement inside. The Itay Noy City Square Piazza di San Pietro is part of a limited edition of just 99 watches, so this special offer is made even better by that fact. The $2,500 price is available only during May 8 - 15, 2009. To learn more or get your watch visit Itay Noy here.

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

If you didn't get what you wanted in the jewelry department this holiday season, J.C. Penney may be your place to shop on December 26. The retailer has announced that its after-Christmas sale will include discounts of 50% on its entire stock of diamond jewelry. J.C. Penney also plans a 50% sale on gemstones and cultured pearls, 70% off gold and fine sterling sliver jewelry and another 40% off clearance prices. The company says this sale will be its largest to date and stores will open at 5:30 a.m. on December 26.

[via Diamonds.Net]

Today in Chelsea, 85 top vintage dealers gathered at Metropolitan Pavilion for a textile show and sale. The room was full of sparkling jewels, fur coats, and gowns fit for princesses. Menswear wasn't ignored either; vintage boots, suits, and cufflinks were abundant.

Above is a display of items from Exquisite Costume, a vintage clothier with a shop in Soho. At right is a closer look at that fabulous boa; one of the most exciting pieces we saw.

Our pick of the show was a boutique called Grape in the Shade. Previously featured in Travel and Leisure, Grape in the Shade is a vintage shop in Connecticut with a reputation for having whimsical, classical wares. Owner Joanna Lombardi, whose taste is exceptional, was an absolute treat. Their website will be up and running soon. For now, you can contact the shop (we recommend them for hats and jewelry) at 860-868-9119.

Also spotted at the Manhattan Vintage show was Mad Fashionista Elisa DeCarlo, an eccentric seller of fine plus-sized vintage clothes.

The next three shows are already scheduled, so if you didn't make it this time, watch for the show again in February, April, and October of 2009. You can keep tabs here at ManhattanVintage.com.

These days when a famous hotel needs a redesign, they often make a cottage industry of selling off the old design. The Royal Monceau in Paris is selling off furniture, mirrors, minibars, curtains, bar stools, dishes and more in a multi-day auction that ends today. The grand hotel has played host to many famous faces since its opening in 1928 including everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Britney Spears. The sale is expected to bring in around one million euros with some of the top pieces for sale including an 18th century commode and a Louis XIV-style marble table. Next week, on June 26th, VIPs are invited to a "demolition party" to help smash whatever is left over.

The four-star hotel will reopen in Fall 2009 after a thorough redesign by Philippe Starck that will give the hotel a style referred to as "Art Deco revisited which is expected to give the hotel more oomph to attract a younger crowd.

Jerry Hall, supermodel, actress, and ex-wife of Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, is emptying out her closet and donating everything to charity.

She's getting rid of 430 items total, including clothing and accessories from designer names like Dior, Balmain, Balenciaga, and textiles from as far back as 1700. Also included in the sale will be several outfits and evening dresses worn to various events, and perhaps most noteworthy of all the wedding dress she wore at her wedding to Mick Jagger back in 1990. The goodies will be auctioned off at Sotheby's in London on June 10th, with all proceeds going to benefit the homeless through the Emmaus charity.

Whenever a celebrity tries to sell something expensive on eBay there's always speculation as to motives, but here's a case where it's pretty obvious what the deal is: music producer Scott Storch is short on cash. He's selling his yacht, called "Tiffany," on eBay for well under its $20 million value (per Rolling Stone magazine) because apparently he can't afford to keep it anymore. As of right now it's going for just under $1,000,000. What a deal.

I'm no eBaying expert but I'm not sure it's such a great sales technique to display in big bold letters "THE BOAT IS BEING SOLD UNDER DISTRESS ,OWNER BOUGHT HER AND NOW GOT SHORT ON MONEY." Seems more than a little on the tacky side, and hardly inspires the celebrity "cool" factor that might help it sell for more.

UPDATE: Bidding has ended at $1,000,101, that's a fair amount of cash but not enough to meet the reserve, looks like Storch is going to have to try again.

If you're looking to buy beautiful pieces of fine art you don't always have to battle it out in the auction world. TEFAF, or "The European Fine Art Fair," is scheduled to start this week and will run from March 7th - 16th. Last year the fair sold more than $500 million in fine art, and this year they hope to not only meet but exceed that number.

TEFAF is geared towards the "highest caliber of collector," and they are actually looking to avoid big crowds because they "threaten the fair's reputation of quality and exclusivity." Among many valuable items that will be available for sale is the 1890 "The Child with an Orange" by Van Gogh for $30 million.

Donna Karan is doing a little spring cleaning, which means a huge warehouse sale of all kinds of things she's been hoarding over the years. The sale will take place on March 13th and 14th in New York City at the Stephen Weiss Studio, and profits from the 2,000+ items will support different charities through Donna Karan's Urban Zen program.

In addition to all kinds of shoes, handbags, jewelry, and couture gowns Karan has decided to sell a black and white gown worn by Barbara Streisand, several vintage pieces she found inspiring, and a few creations from her first collection. She was quoted as saying things were "out of control" and that she plans to clear some things out on a yearly basis from now on.

I've covered liquidation sales at the Plaza in New York and the Stardust in Las Vegas but now the famous, or more accurately, infamous Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. is holding a liquidation sale. The hotel which is getting a posh makeover and plans to re-open in 2009 is selling off beds, silverware, artwork and other items. There are deals to be had on columns, televisions but few items bear the word Watergate and there is nothing there that is connected to the Nixon-era when the Watergate hotel became synonymous with scandal. The sale is this weekend and costs $10 to get in.

Care to go designer handbag shopping at the local museum?

Wait...what?

Not just any local museum will do, but if you're in the vicinity of the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A. you can totally go do that. Or you will be able to, once their exhibit honoring Japanese artist Takashi Murakami opens at the end of October. From October 29th to February 11th the museum will have high-end Louis Vuitton handbags and other pricey leather goods available for sale.

The explanation? Some say that in general with museums lately "the lines between commerce and pure art are increasingly blurred." Yeah, that's pretty blurry.


Via Styledash

I really don't understand the appeal of selling big name items online -- isn't eBay largely for bargain hunters? But obviously there are plenty of people who don't share my views, as demonstrated by how well this 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago, rumored to be owned by rapper 50 cent, is doing. The auction ends soon and as of writing this post there are 15 bidders and it's currently at $310,000. 50 isn't actually mentioned in the auction, but based on this YouTube video it sure looks like he's the mysterious "celebrity owner."


Via AutoBlog

Care for a little 70 year old champagne from Adolf Hitler's own stash that may or may not be poisoned? Sign me up!

Not really, I'm kidding.

But in all seriousness going up for auction this month on the 17th is a bottle of 1937 Moet et Chandon that was apparently taken by a soldier from the Reich Chancellery in Berlin in 1945 after the Nazis were defeated. And the poisoned part? There was a rumor going around that some of the champagne bottles had been poisoned via injections through the cork.

I might not be interested, but I can still understand why other people would be -- it is a piece of history. Just make sure you store it so there's no chance you're going to pop it open and drink it accidentally this New Years!