Milla Jovovich - New Face of Jacob & Co.

Living bi-coastally has its pluses and minuses.  It definitely gives one access to a wide variety of events and experiences and the more laid-back CA lifestyle can compliment the non-stop pace of NY.  However, one disadvantage is that you can’t be in both places at once and you will obviously miss out on some things on both coasts.  This of course drives me completely mental!  As a child I never even wanted to take naps as I was afraid that I might miss something.  That mindset has not changed in me and I am able to meet some pretty awesome talent on both coasts!

On my last stay in New York, I was fortunate to spend some time with the people at Jacob & Co. on 57th street (look out for the video segment due out shortly).  I learned a lot about the venerable company and was seriously impressed with the artistry of their jewelry and watch creations.  After 25 years of designing for a private clientèle and the launch of their flagship store in New York in  2004, Jacob & Co. has become synonymous with luxury watches and exquisite jewelry.  A favorite of leaders in the entertainment and sports industries, you are probably most familiar with Jacob & Co. due to its pieces being worn on the red carpet by the worlds biggest celebrities.

Finding the right “face’ for a brand can be difficult, especially when dealing with such an iconic company as Jacob & Co.  So when the announcement came that Milla Jovovich would be the new face of Jacob & Co.., I had to ponder whether this was a good match.  My conclusion: Yes!  Ms. Jovovitch is an internationally famous actress and model whose image and personality are perfect for the company.  “Milla Jovovich is a powerful, intelligent, worldly, sophisticated and sexy, playful woman.  That is the talent that she brought to this photo shoot and what makes her synonymous with our brand, she is the “Jacob girl” we have been searching for to represent our brand globally.”, stated Jacob Arabo, Designer of Jacob & Co.

The advertising campaign encompasses eight different themes and looks stylized to feature Jacob & Co.’s red carpet diamond jewels, fashion diamond jewelry and watches.  Shot at the Sowden House, a lavish Los Angeles private residence, the campaign uses in-door and outdoor shots to capture the luxury lifestyle traits that are representative of the brand.  Scheduled to drop in Summer 2011, the campaign will be featured in the upcoming months in all major international markets.

In the meantime, Milla Jovovich has already put her beauty and talents to work for Jacob & Co.  Attending the “La Conquete” premiere during the Cannes Film Festival, Ms. Jovovich donned pieces from the Jacob & Co. Red Carpet Collection.  The collection consists of one-of-a-kind pieces carefully crafted and designed to accentuate valuable and rare gem stones, hand selected by Jacob Arabo himself.

Ms. Jovovich wore sun colored earrings with two canary cushion cut diamonds, total weight of over 27 carats, set in pavé white round brilliants topped with white emerald cut diamonds mounted from a pavé set French hook.  Complimenting the look, she also wore a one-of-a-kind cocktail ring made up of a 30 carat internally flaless, D color diamond sit in a vintage inspired design, adorned in round white brilliant cuts.  And finally to make sure that she was on time, Ms. Jovovich sported a Jacob & Co., signature Five Time Zone, World is Yours Watch.  The gorgeous timepiece is all pavé diamonds featuring natural fancy yellow and white diamonds with a total carat weight of 37.75 carats.

From the sneak peeks at the ad campaign to Ms. Jovovich’s appearance on the Cannes Red Carpet, this appears to be a match made in heaven.  For as Jacob & Co. and Milla Jovovich prove, not only are diamonds a girls best friend, but sometimes a girl can be a best friend to diamonds!

By Mdivani Monroe of Ladies Who Lunch Travel

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Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith at Brooklyn Museum

An exhibit that features 21 pieces of jewelry from a Brookyn designer may seem simplistic compared to the epic Costume Institute exhibits of the Metropolitan Museum.  However, the jewelry created by Art Smith, saw its influences from surrealism, biomorphicism, and primitivism.


The artist began creating work from a small shop in Greenwich Village after completing studies at Cooper Union.  He was a social activist and soon gained clientele from all facets of society.   Smith influenced the work of other jewelry designers like Claire Falkenstein and Ed Weiner.

Decorative Arts Galleries, 4th Floor

Brooklyn Museum

200 Eastern Parkway

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Van Cleef & Arpels Exhibit - Set In Style

One of the most elegant jewelers on the market, Van Cleef & Arpels began as a family business in 1896.  Two brothers-in-law set themselves up to use innovative techniques and high quality stones to draw International clients through their Paris doors.  The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum explores their legacy at their exhibit, Set In Style, The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels.  

The museum demonstrates how the company was an innovator in unique stone-setting techniques to display jewels in a unique way.  The company was also a trendsetter in taking inspiration from nature and foreign cultures.  Their snowflakes and bird motifs have always been popular.  The exoticism trend of the 1920's was seen in their Egyptian influenced handbag above, then through Cambodian and Japanese motifs in later years.

This piece was one of my favorites of the collection,  This jeweled bird is illustrated beautifully in stones.  However, I love the multi-tasking nature of the piece.  The wings can be removed and become earrings.  The tail can be removed to be a brooch.  The stone drop can be worn separately as a pendant around your neck.

Throughout the exhibit, you can also see the work process from sketch to finished product.  The museum also highlights the personalities that have either made certain pieces famous (and vice versa).  Jewelry owned by Hollywood legends like Grace Kelly and Marlene Dietrich are on display.

For the ultimate in glamor, surround yourself in all the glitters.  The exhibit runs until July 4th, 2011.

Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum

2 East 91st Street New York, NY 10128

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One of a Kind Show and Sale: Sharon Rosenthal Jewelry

The One of a Kind Show & Sale this past weekend pulled together a fantastic collection of independent artists and designers.  The basic requirement of those who sold there was that every piece had to be handmade by the artist.  This guaranteed that if you purchased a piece of clothing, fashion or accessory, it would be a unique, crafted piece you could be proud of.  The midtown location right before the holidays didn't hurt either.

One of my first discoveries of the show was Sharon Rosenthal. Her background was as a multi-media artist.  Her work eventually transitioned into wearable sculpture/jewelry.  The highly dimensional pieces on display at the show were fashioned from semi-precious stones, antique toys, found objects of nature like snake vertabrae, nut shells from the Phillipines or weathered horn. 

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JewelMint's Bauble of the Month

A custom-style piece of jewelry delivered to me based on my personal tastes every month.  How can someone not be tempted by that?   The project is the collaboration between actress Kate Bosworth and celebrity stylist Cher Coulter.  For a subscription fee of $29.99 each month, you will receive a stylist-chosen piece of jewelry for you that would normally be worth over $100.

I admit, I was a little skeptical about this when I first received the announcement.  There are plenty of celebrity collections out there and anyone can state that a piece of jewelry is worth a certain amount subjectively....right?

I decided to see the collection in person.  I see a lot of jewelry at all different price points.  The pieces here really are substantial and very well made.  I can honestly say that the weighty creations I picked up are in the same caliber of quality that I see at much more expensive boutiques.  How is this possible?  Well, Kate Bosworth has family ties to fashion.  Her father is CMO of Talbot's Clothing, giving her a professional perspective.  Cher Coulter has always designed.  The pair personally oversee the design and production of each piece of their collection.  They are also selling directly to the consumer.

I loved the chic gift boxes that every delivery arrives in.  New members take a thorough survey to determine their jewelry tastes.  I also appreciate that you're not committed to purchasing anything you don't like.  If you don't find the right piece for you, you simply won't be charged.

The boys can have Beer of the Month club.  I'll take my baubles any time.

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LAKME FASHION WEEK: Jewelry by Eina Ahluwalia

One typically thinks of ethnic jewelry as traditional and well, ethnic. However, designer Eina Ahluwalia's modern, thoughtful take on ethnic jewelry was stunning as she presented her latest collections in Mumbai this week at Lakme Fashion Week. She smartly presented her bold, statement making pieces in a collection called “Containment".

Amphorae, jars, vases made of traditional terracotta and hand blown glass in over-sized pieces defined the collection. The intricate glass pieces were handmade by glass artist Srila Mukherjee with the juxtaposition of precious stones and sterling silver for the collection. The massive size of the pieces were shown perfectly on beautiful models wearing drapey outfits in saffron, black and nudes. Each piece that came out brought an elated response from Bollywood Fashionistas and Bombay elite.

Eina presented a second collection which was distinctly differen called “How I felt”. This was a tongue-in-cheek play on her ideas of wool and felt designs. Again, she partnered with fellow artist, Beatrice Woonders, and produced striking pieces using felt and fur with stones and silver. These were presented as massive brooches, modern takes on Victorian muffs and face framing scarves in colors like azure and whites.

For Eina, “jewelery,an autonomous object of art, when worn by a person, enters a new domain of relationship and definition” which is an apt description for her stunning works of art.

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Kara Ross Holiday and Spring 2011

When you think you can't improve upon something like a simple clutch, where do you go from there?  Designer Kara Ross always manages to surprise me with new treatments of leathers.  For this season, her team showed me some highly dimensional python purses.  The scales had been dyed in an innovative two-tone technique, making it look like it glowed.  A similar technique had been employed with a foil metallic, looking like a platinum serpent had sacrificed itself for a fabulous bag.

This chic bag had a soft leather texture, but the animal was unrecognizable...Turns out it was made of a sueded cork (eco-friendly!) with jet metallic accents.  The price point was accessible and offered a great option for those who did not with to buy skin.

Of course, Kara Ross' roots are in jewelry design.  The stone accents are a signature touch on the bags and belts.  She brings her unique touch with leather back to her jewelry in several interesting collections.

Kara took inspiration from a vintage Navajo piece she found and translated the feather motif into an abstract modern pattern.  She embedded snake skin into the metal as a luxe twist on enamel.

Another new technique for jewelry, was this collection of leather, resin and glitter.  The collection had an icy, organic look.  The sparkles gave the pieces the look of 'jewels', the resin had a vintage quality.

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