5.9.09

'CARTIER TREASURES' TO BE EXHIBITED AT CHINA'S IMPERIAL PALACE



AN EXHIBITION OF HISTORIC CARTIER TREASURES WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE PALACE MUSEUM IN BEIJING 5.SEPTEMBER.2009 THROUGH 22.NOVEMBER.2009. THE BRILLIANT EXHIBITION INCLUDES MORE THAN 350 STUNNING ITEMS, INCLUDING ARCHIVES DATING FROM THE FOUNDING OF CARTIER TO ITS CREATIONS FROM THE 1970s. PARTLY DEDICATED TO ROYAL JEWELS, THE EXHIBITION WILL BE HOUSED IN CHINA'S FORMER IMPERIAL PALACE AND WILL BE ILLUSTRATED BY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO EUROPEAN ROYALTY, WHICH EARNED CARTIER, THANKS TO KING EDWARD VII OF ENGLAND, ITS REPUTATION AS THE 'JEWELER OF KINGS AND KING OF JEWELRY'.
SOME OF THE ITEMS SELECTED FOCUS ON THE CHINESE INFLUENCE ON CARTIER CREATIONS, INCLUDING LACQUER-WARE INLAID WITH MOTHER OF PEARL, ANCIENT CARVED AND ENGRAVED PIECES OF JADE IN VARIOUS COLOURS, AND DIVINITIES AND FANTASTIC ANIMALS CREATED BY THE SKILLED JEWELER'S HANDS. THE NUMEROUS CREATIONS REPRESENT THE BONDS THAT HAVE EXISTED BETWEEN CARTIER AND THE FAR EAST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 20th CENTURY. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE EXHIBITION COLLECTION IS THE BEAUTIFUL PANTHER WATCH/BROOCH FROM 1915, WHICH IS MADE FROM PLATINUM AND FEATURES THREE PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIECE AS WELL AS ROSE-CUT DIAMONDS SET WITHIN BLACK ENAMEL. WHILE ANOTHER STRIKING CREATION IS THE LARGE PORTIQUE MYSTERY CLOCK THAT DATES BACK TO 1923, AND IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF 6 MYSTERY CLOCKS FORMED IN THE SHAPE OF A SHINTO 'SHRINE GATE'. THE DISTINCTIVE CREATIVITY, STYLE AND EXPERTISE OF THE CARTIER JEWELER ARE FULLY ILLUSTRATED BY THE SELECTION OF DRAWINGS, ARCHIVE DOCUMENTS, AND A SET OF RARELY DISPLAYED PLASTER CASTS OF SEVERAL FAMOUS CARTIER PIECES. THIS EXHIBITION IS TRULY A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE CREATIVE GENIUS OF CARTIER'S WORLD OF SPECTACULAR JEWELS.


3.9.09

$300,000 HOLLAND & HOLLAND RANGE ROVER BY OVERFINCH


THE HOLLAND & HOLLAND RANGE ROVER BY OVERFINCH, THE 'ULTIMATE ALL PURPOSE, ALL SEASON LUXURY SUPERCAR' WITH A SPORTING EDGE BILLED AS THE MOST LUXURIOUS RANGE ROVER EVER MADE, WILL MAKE ITS DEBUT IN THE UK LATER THIS MONTH. LIMITED TO ONLY 100 EXAMPLES AND EXPECTED TO BE PRICED AT AROUND $300,000, IT WILL BE A CONTENDER FOR THE TITLE OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE SUV, IN COMPETITION WITH SPYKER'S PEKING-TO-PARIS. BASED ON THE SUPERCHARGED 503hp 2010 RANGE ROVER, BESPOKE TUNER OVERFINCH COLLABORATED WITH HOLLAND & HOLLAND, MAKER OF FINE SHOTGUNS ESTABLISHED IN LONDON IN 1835, WHO HOLD TWO ROYAL WARRANTS, ON THE VEHICLE. A SADDLE-STITCHED LEATHER INTERIOR IS OFFSET BE A 32 PIECE, HAND CARVED WOODWORK SET AVAILABLE IN A SELECTION OF FINISHES. THE REAR CONSOLE INCLUDES AN INTEGRATED REFRIGERATED, CAPABLE OF CHILLING TWO FULL SIZED CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES, ALONG WITH STORAGE SPACE FOR TWO FLUTES. THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT CONTAINS A BEAUTIFUL HAND-CRAFTED BESPOKE GUN CABINET WITH MULTIPLE DRAWERS CAPABLE OF HOLDING UP TO EIGHT CRISTAL CHAMPAGNE FLUTES AND WHISKEY TUMBLERS, AS WELL AS TWO CASED SHOTGUNS, CARTRIDGES AND ALL THE ACCESSORIES.

ANGULAR MOMENTUM SHAH JAHAN & MUMTAZ MAHAL TIMEPIECE


THE TAJ MAHAL, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 1653, IS THE ULTIMATE TESTAMENT TO ETERNAL LOVE AND IS EASILY THE MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK IN MODERN INDIA IF NOT THE WORLD. THE NEWLY RELEASED ANGULAR MOMENTUM SHAH JAHAN & MUMTAZ MAHAL WATCH SHOWS US THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO LOVERS, WHICH EVENTUALLY GOT THE TAJ MAHAL BUILT. THE FRONT OF THE STUNNING NEW TIMEPIECE HAS A TINY RESERVE SAPPHIRE VERRE EGLOMISE ENAMEL HAND PAINTED PORTRAIT OF MUMTEZ MAHAL, PORTRAYED IN THE TRADITIONAL INDIAN STYLE, WHILE THE REAR OF THE CASE HAS A SIMILARLY STYLED PAINTING OF THE SHAH JAHAN. TIME CAN BE SEEN THROUGH CUT-OUT WINDOW ON THE DIAL OF THE WATCH BY LOOKING AT THE REVOLVING HOUR DISC. THE SIZE OF THE WATCH CASE IS APPROXIMATELY 41mm WIDE. THE CASE IS IN STEEL WITH WITH SERTI EN PAVE DIAMOND DECORATION (1.42 CARATS), ON THE LUGS AND BEZEL. THE CASE IS ATTACHED TO A BLACK ALLIGATOR STRAP WHICH LOOKS MAGNIFICENT, ADDING TO THE ETHNIC LOOK OF THE WATCH. THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM SHAH JAHAN & MUMTAZ MAHAL TIMEPIECE IS A LIMITED EDITION OF JUST 5 PIECES.

2.9.09

HERMES ARCEAU EBONY CHRONOGRAPH


THE HOUSE OF HERMES HAS RELEASED ITS LATEST WATCH MODEL, THE ARCEAU EBONY CHRONOGRAPH, WHICH IS A DIRECT EXTENSION OF THEIR EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE, MAKING FOR THE PERFECT COMPANION TO THEIR FULL LINE OF RIDING GEAR. THE ARCEAU EBONY CHRONOGRAPH HAS AN ALMOST TOTALLY BLACK COLOURED DIAL ON THE 43mm WIDE STAINLESS STEEL CASE. APPLIED RINGS AROUND THE CHRONOGRAPH DIALS ADD A SENSE OF DEPTH TO THE MIX, WHILE THE CLASSIC LOOKING ARABIC NUMERALS HAVE A CHARACTER UNDENIABLY HERMES. THE FACE IS SIMPLE AND CLEAN, AND HERMES COULD NOT RESIST ADDING THE SPLASH OF THEIR SIGNATURE ORANGE HUE TO THE FACE TO COMPLETE THE BRANDED LOOK. TO SUM IT UP, THE NEW ARCEAU EBONY CHRONOGRAPH PAYS A VIVID TRIBUTE TO HERMES' FIRST COMPANION, THE HORSE, AND MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH TIME WITH THE UNDERSTATED BOLDNESS OF A GREAT CLASSIC.

1.9.09

BARBOUR'S FALL-WINTER 2009 COLLECTION



CLASSIC BRITISH OUTERWEAR COMPANY BARBOUR HAS RELEASED A BRILLIANT NEW COLLECTION FOR FALL/WINTER 2009, WHICH BUILDS ON THE BRAND'S HERITAGE WHILE UPDATING ITS TRADITIONAL DESIGNS AND ADDING SUBTLE NEW TAKES ON THE SPORTING CLASSICS. INSPIRED BY THE BEST VARSITY WEAR AND BARBOUR'S OWN RICH LINEAGE OF PROVIDING A WARDROBE OF CLOTHES FOR COUNTRY PURSUITS, COUNTRY LIVING AND FOR THOSE WHO SIMPLY LOVE THE COUNTRY. THE FASHION HOUSE, FOUNDED IN 1894 BY JOHN BARBOUR, HOLDS ROYAL WARRANTS FROM HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II, HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AND HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES. 2009 ALSO MARKS NEW ADDITIONS TO EACH OF BARBOUR'S COLLECTIONS: HERITAGE, CONTEMPORARY, CLASSIC AND SPORTING.
FALL 2009 USHERS IN A BOLD, VISUALLY APPEALING AND TACTILE RE-INTERPRETATION OF BARBOUR'S AUTHENTIC BRITISH STYLE. THE NEW SEASON SEES AN EXPANSION IN NEW STYLES IN THE COMPANY'S OUTERWEAR, KNITWEAR AND SHIRTS RANGES, AS WELL AS A BRAND NEW, FULL TROUSER COLLECTION WITH FORMAL, CASUAL AND JEANS OPTIONS. FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE COLLECTION IS THE UNION JACK INTERNATIONAL LEATHER MOTORCYCLE JACKET WHICH FEATURES A STUNNING SILK BRITISH FLAG LINING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.barbour.com

WALT DISNEY COMPANY TO ACQUIRE MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT FOR $4 BILLION


BUILDING ON ITS STRATEGY OF DELIVERING QUALITY BRANDED CONTENT TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY HAS AGREED TO ACQUIRE MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, INC IN A STOCK AND CASH TRANSACTION, THE COMPANIES ANNOUNCED TODAY. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT AND BASED ON THE CLOSING PRICE OF DISNEY ON 28.AUGUST, MARVEL SHAREHOLDERS WOULD RECEIVE A TOTAL OF $30 PER SHARE IN CASH PLUS APPROXIMATELY 0.745 DISNEY SHARES FOR EACH MARVEL SHARE THEY OWN OR APPROXIMATELY $4 BILLION.
'THIS TRANSACTION COMBINES MARVEL'S STRONG GLOBAL BRAND AND WORLD-RENOWNED LIBRARY OF CHARACTERS INCLUDING IRON MAN, SPIDER-MAN, X-MEN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, FANTASTIC FOUR AND THOR WITH DISNEY'S CREATIVE SKILLS, UNPARALLELED GLOBAL PORTFOLIO OF ENTERTAINMENT PROPERTIES, AND A BUSINESS STRUCTURE THAT MAXIMIZES THE VALUE OF CREATIVE PROPERTIES ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS AND TERRITORIES", SAID ROBERT A IGER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, "IKE PERLMUTTER AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE AN IMPRESSIVE JOB OF NURTURING PROPERTIES AND HAVE CREATED SIGNIFICANT VALUE. WE ARE PLEASED TO BRING THIS TALENT AND THESE GREAT ASSETS TO DISNEY."
UNDER THE DEAL, DISNEY WILL ACQUIRE OWNERSHIP OF MARVEL INCLUDING ITS MORE THAN 5,000 MARVEL CHARACTERS. IKE PERLMUTTER, MARVEL'S CEO, WILL OVERSEE THE MARVEL PROPERTIES, AND WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH DISNEY'S GLOBAL LINES OF BUSINESS TO BUILD AND FURTHER INTEGRATE MARVEL'S PROPERTIES. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DISNEY AND MARVEL HAVE EACH APPROVED THE HISTORIC TRANSACTION, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CLEARANCE UNDER THE HART-SCOTT-RODINO ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT, CERTAIN NON-UNITED STATES MERGER CONTROL REGULATIONS, EFFECTIVENESS OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO DISNEY SHARES ISSUED IN THE TRANSACTION AND OTHER CUSTOMARY CLOSING CONDITIONS. THE AGREEMENT WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF MARVEL SHAREHOLDERS. MARVEL WAS ADVISED ON THE TRANSACTION BY BOFA MERRILL LYNCH.

31.8.09

DE BEERS WILDFLOWER COLLECTION


THE DE BEERS WILDFLOWERS COLLECTION IS INSPIRED BY THE RARE FLOWERS THAT ARE ONLY BLOOM IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WILDERNESS WHERE THE DE BEERS DIAMOND MINES ARE LOCATED. THE STUNNING COLLECTION CONSISTS OF NECKLACES, BRACELETS, PENDANTS, EARRINGS AND RINGS ALL FEATURING DIAMONDS SET IN A WILDFLOWER DESIGN. THE COLLECTION FEATURES PREDOMINATELY 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD AND DIAMONDS BUT SOME PIECES FEATURE CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS AND 18 CARAT YELLOW CARAT GOLD. THE DE BEERS WILDFLOWERS COLLECTION A LIGHT AND MODERN FLORAL DESIGN REMINISCENT OF SPRINGTIME FOR ALL SEASONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.debeers.com