Hearts On Fire has established a reputation for offering the world’s most perfectly cut diamonds.  Expensive though they are, to my knowledge, there is truly no other diamond cut which approaches their level of performance and beauty.

As a brand, Hearts On Fire has never been one to sit on its laurels.  They have developed a tradition of innovation and design which has led to the creation of 2 unique diamond cuts, along with an ever expanding collection of jewelry designs.  Elegance, class and practicality are guiding principles which have given rise to a collection rich in both fashion and bridal/anniversary jewelry designs.

With their “Signature” jewelry collection, Hearts On Fire offers couture jewelry which rivals the quality of design and craftsmanship offered by the world’s finest jewelry houses.  This collection features both classic and modern design styles with the unifying theme being size – these pieces are all significant in terms of carat weight and craftsmanship.

One must admire the dedication, persistence and innovative spirit which make Hearts On Fire such a unique success story.  There is little ground that this brand has not yet covered in the world of diamond jewelry, and they show no signs of slowing down.

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There are certain constants in the jewelry world which are iconic and never go out of style.  The first that comes to my mind is gold, which has been prized for millennia, and for very good reason.  Pure gold has a luster and vibrancy that is unparalleled.  It’s one of those miraculous natural substances, like diamonds or pearls, which have an inherently captivating beauty.

Unfortunately, very few modern jewelers use pure gold due to the cost, and the delicate nature of this gorgeous metal.  However, Gurhan Orhan has developed an entire brand around pure gold jewelry designs.  By reviving ancient tools and techniques, Gurhan designs and manufactures gold fashion jewelry which combines artistry and superior aesthetics in a truly unique tableau.

He’s also been able to find design methods which make his jewelry more durable and practical.  These beautiful jewelry pieces display that striking gold hue which you simply can’t get with 14k or 18k gold metal alloys.

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Franc Vila is an exciting new addition to Lussori’s exceptional collection of superb luxury watch brands.  A young company, Franc Vila emphasizes the production of a timepiece which respects the traditions of artisanal watchmaking, but with an emphasis on freshness, contemporary design, and significantly–the opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

Make no mistake, in regard to that last point; Franc Vila watches cannot be mistaken for anything else.  The striking ovoid case shape makes an immediate impression in several ways.  As suits a modern timepiece, the thickness of the case is considerable, giving each watch a lot of presence.  Secondly, finish is exquisite, with an emphasis on a variety of bevels and angles which show off the always pleasing contrasts between brushed and polished metal surfaces.  The fineness of finish on Franc Vila watches also invariably draws the eye to the uniquely shaped dial and sapphire crystal, which to my eye is reminiscent of a skull. (Perhaps Franc Vila is getting philosophical about time and existence here?)  Franc Vila dials themselves are worthy of their own commentary–whether rendered in classic silvered metal or mother of pearl, or something exotic like carbon fiber, you cannot help but be drawn in by the amazing amount of three-dimensional detail and exacting workmanship.  To see one in the metal is to instantly understand my enthusiastic proclamations.

The Franc Vila watch collection offers up a tremendous amount of variety in terms of the range of horological complications.  If you prefer to keep things comparatively simple, you can choose such models as the Master Quantieme, with its classical complete calendar, or Chronograph Grande Date, which gives you a handy large date in addition to the ever-popular chronograph function.  Travel frequently?  Then have a good look at the Franc Vila Universal Timezone model, which gives you the ability to change timezones–and corresponding world cities–with the ease of pressing a button.

If you are a seasoned watch collector, and prefer the heaviest hitting complications, then Franc Vila is a great brand to peruse.  Many of the most prestigious horological achievements are present, including a range of tourbillons which feature a very sophisticated spherical differential winding system that drastically reduces winding time.  Another beautiful model is the Tourbillon Dial Side Column Wheel Monopusher Chronograph, which exposes its intricate chronograph mechanism through the dial.  The “Queen of Complications”–the minute repeater–gets some very fine treatment from the house, as well.  Equipped with a particularly sonorous cathedral gong, the Franck Vila minute repeater with tourbillon shows off an “Absolute Isolated Sound System” which the manufacturer claims has eliminated regulator noise.

The Ocean Dual Time watch is the latest horological tour-de-force from Harry Winston. This stunning timepiece even won a “Best Men’s Watch” award at the 1st Asian edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve in Singapore.  Why did it win?  Knowing that there are many fine, attractive and practical GMT watches out there (among them examples with day/night indicators a la the Blancpain Dual Time Zone watch) Harry Winston took things a step further and created a supremely luxurious travel watch with two separate time zone displays, each with its very own day/night indicator.   Just a bit reduced in size compared to the primary timezone dial, the time zone subdial to the left has been made exceptionally easy to reflect changes to your location; by activating the “minute repeater-esque” slide piece on the caseband, you can advance quickly and simply; not just practical, the lever creates a palpable sense of technical suspense and watchmaking exclusivity.

As sophisticated as the mechanism is within the Ocean Dual Time watch, it is the uncanny beauty of every design element that ultimately makes this a must-have timepiece.  Consider the intricate dial: While there a reasonable amount going on, and it might even seem slightly chaotic, you quickly realize that the organization is actually perfectly logical.  From the mechanical cool factor of the large date display, to the mysterious day/night indicators and the signature throwing-star seconds indicator, everything fits together with precise artistry and exemplary attention to the most minute details.  The same can be said of the exquisitely intricate Ocean watch case, with its immaculate transitions between satin and polished surfaces and luxuriously potent wrist presence.

It is objects such as the Ocean Dual Time which keep watch lovers abuzz over what great projects Harry Winston might be concocting next.  As a luxury watch brand, Harry Winston is outstanding–consistently achieving a winning mixture of traditional horological craftsmanship, mechanical wizardry, and that rare beauty which defies tired aesthetic cliches.

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The Chopard L.U.C Pro One is a dive watch which places a great priority on elegance and refined detail.  In contrast to classic “tool” divers like the Rolex Submariner or the original 1950’s-era Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the L.U.C Pro One seems designed under the
assumption that the deepest descent its owner will likely undergo, is maybe the bottom of the swimming pool.

This is not a detraction, nor is it an assertion that the L.U.C Pro One isn’t capable of fulfilling the role of a real dive timepiece; after all, it is pressure-tested to 300 meters, and has both a protected screw-down crown and a unidirectional rotating bezel–all important requirements for a watch which may serve to save its owners life in a critical underwater situation.

However, most owners of this beautiful Chopard watch will find their mission far less arduous: to simply enjoy some very fine craftsmanship .  From its impressively fine case finishing, to the superbly intricate dial with its decorative wave motif, the L.U.C Pro One is a beautiful watch which epitomizes the category of “casual elegance”–the dive capabilities are merely an added attraction, rather like the off-roading prowess possessed by a superbly optioned Range Rover.  That Chopard offers the Pro One in 18K gold versions, including particularly lavish diamond-set models further substantiates this point.

Like all Chopard L.U.C. watches, there’s as much beauty on the inside as the exterior, courtesy of a fine manufacture 3.96 Chopard movement with a micro-rotor winding mechanism; while this one may be concealed beneath the nicely decorated solid steel case back, rest assured that finishing is exemplary.

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Lets say your dad was a professional soccer player who was a two-time FA Cup winner. Then, lets say your uncle was the coach of Portsmouth, another major soccer franchise.

Lets even take it a step further and say you had a first cousin was also a professional soccer player too – playing 12 seasons at another major franchise before retiring. Some might argue that you were genetically engineered to become of of the  greatest midfielders on the planet – Welcome to the life of [tag]Frank Lampard[tag].

This 30 yr old soccer sensation has been recently playing at the English powerhouse Chelsea FC – where he is probably earning more money per week then the Queen. At least he has a boss in Roman Abramovich, who can afford to sign those hefty paychecks.

I am happy to see that when comes to accessories, Lampard has taste – as he is seen here wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watch.

He shoots! He Scores!

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Bell & Ross probably isnt the brand that comes to mind when one is on the market for a dress watch–the reputation of the company has been forged with bold, bad, and big sports timepieces.  However, the introduction of a new model may just change that.  I’m referring to the new Bell & Ross BRS Gold watches.  Manufactured in both rose and grey shades of the noble metal, these handsome 39mm timepieces present a considerably more formal concept for the BR Instrument collection.  While not a dress timepiece in the “stiff-upper lip” sense like the Patek Philippe Calatravas, Girard-Perregaux 1966, or the manual-wind Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars watches, (this IS a Bell & Ross, after all!) the BRS Gold models display a great deal of refinement and inexplicable charm.

Of the three BRS Gold watches which Bell & Ross has shown in its press kit, I particularly love the understated grey gold version, which stands out with its superb ivory-colored dial, grey alligator strap, and shimmering blued hands.  The elegant time-only display with sub seconds these watches have is pure class, and the choice of a hand-wound movement (the classic 17-jewel Peseux 7001 caliber) to power it makes the whole package that much sweeter.

With all of this said, these models retain all the characteristic design cues that have made the BR Instrument watches the virtual “face” of Bell & Ross.  One could say that the BRS Gold watches are a kinder, gentler interpretation of an edgy timepiece design–they should be a great acquisition for a Bell & Ross collector, or indeed, anyone who might be seeking a dress watch with just a bit of attitude.

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