Around Town - Sabrage At Christofle

If you are in Beverly Hills
Thursday December 17th
the CEO of Christofle demonstrating the Art of Sabrage

Yeah...I bet you CEO can't do this!
History of Sabrage:
This technique became popular in France when the army of Napoleon visited many of the aristocrat domains. It was just after the French revolution and the saber was the weapon of choice of Napoleon's fearsome cavalry (the Hussar). Napoleon's spectacular victories across all Europe gave them plenty of reason to celebrate. During these parties the cavalry would open the Champagne with their sabers. Napoleon probably encouraged this and is known to have said: "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it."

Vintage Value Venture - Never Pay Retail

I just thought that I would point this out

Henry Dunay Diamond Sabi Ring in PLATINUM from Beladora.com for $5750

Henry Dunay Diamond Sabi Ring in GOLD from Bergdorf Goodman $15,600

NOTE: The ring from Bergdorf's has is in gold and not platinum

has about half the diamonds, and is about 3 times the price

as the ring from Beladora.com

Bergdorf's would probably sell the Dunay platinum ring for about $30,000

It just blows me away that anyone would pay retail

Favorite Foularde

Taking a clue from Deja Pseu
I thought that I'd show you what I am wearing today at the office
my foulard de la semaine


This is the same scarf that I wore to my first job interview after I graduated from college....waaay back in the day.

Et voila,
fine silk scarves like fine estate jewelry will last decades, if you take care of them.

Beladora.com in Elle.com

Vintage VCA from Beladora.com

Buying Vintage Jewelry for the Holidays
A guide to getting the most bling for your buck
By Kate Davidson Hudson

Here are a couple of paragraphs from this very interesting article

The vintage jewelry market, is, for many, unfamiliar territory. It's sometimes perceived as terrain riddled with esotericisms and studied references that are intimidating to broach (no pun intended). Yet, in an economy that is encouraging people to streamline their wardrobes; vintage jewelry companies are finding a ripe market for buying and selling vintage gems with everyday consumers rather than connoisseurs or other dealers. This means that the product is more accessible and the marketplace more transparent, so, you are bound to get a little more bling for your buck.

Interest in vintage jewelry heightened in the last few years as greater attention focused on the investment-worth, and, design exclusivity offered by estate pieces. Estate jewelry, specifically fine pieces, tends to hold its value, or, even appreciate over time. The 18k yellow gold chain that you’ve held onto for the last decade is, in most cases, worth more today than the day you bought it; and if it’s signed, you may have just bolstered the rate of return on your initial investment two-fold. High quality vintage is quickly becoming the delicacy of the jewelry world as rarity in quantity and design, make it an increasingly exclusive commodity.

But be sure to read the whole thing!

Holiday Hiking In The Hills

After two weeks of nonstop work and staying at the office until 9:00 at night
and dealing with some major office mayhem
not the least the servers and cameras going down
topped off with scrambling to get jewelry to to ELLE magazine in NY
and driving through the pouring rain to get the goods to
Vanity Fair magazine for a cover shoot by Annie Leibovitz!!!
I was desperate for some down time

So the sun came out today and I took to the Brentwood hills for some hiking

Sadly, the last rainstorm was warm and all of the snow has melted on the local mountains

but still beautiful

it was beautiful

And tomorrow is another day...back to work