LOUIS VUITTON $10,000 MANHATTAN RICHELIEU WINGTIP SHOE

FOR THEIR SPRING/SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION LOUIS VUITTON HAS CREATED THE ULTIMATE LUXURIOUS LACE-UP WINGTIP FOR MEN, THE MANHATTAN RICHELIEU WINGTIP SHOE FINISHED IN WAXED ALLIGATOR LEATHER AND IS PRICED AT $10,000 PER PAIR. THE CLASSIC DESIGN EMBODIES LOUIS VUITTON'S TRADITION OF LUXURY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH A BIT OF VINTAGE FLAIR, THE HANDMADE FOOTWEAR FEATURES INTRICATE STITCHING AND A SUBTLE PATTERN OF PERFORATIONS. THEY ARE CRAFTED USING BLAKE CONSTRUCTION, A SHOE-MAKING TECHNIQUE DESIGNED TO IMPART IMMEDIATE SUPPLENESS AND COMFORT. BLAKE STITCHING CROSSES THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF THE SHOE, FINISHED IN GENUINE ALLIGATOR SKIN, AND IS VISIBLE ON THE INSIDE. THE THREAD IS EMBEDDED IN THE OUT-SOLE, MAKING IT LESS VULNERABLE TO WEAR AND TEAR. FINALLY THE STYLISH SHOES HAVE A GLOVE-SOFT LEATHER LINING, A RUTHENIUM-FINISHED LV CUBE EMBEDDED IN THE LEATHER HEEL AND A HAND-PAINTED LEATHER SOLE. THE WINGTIP TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE TOE CAP SHAPED LIKE THE SPREAD WINGS OF A BIRD,POINTED IN THE CENTER AND EXTENDING REARWARDS WITH PERFORATED SIDE SEAMS.

GEMFIELDS DISCOVERS 6,225 CARAT 'INSOFU' EMERALD IN ZAMBIA

GEMSTONE PRODUCER GEMFIELDS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE AMAZING DISCOVERY OF AN 'EXCEPTIONAL' 6,225 CARAT ROUGH EMERALD IN ITS KAGEM MINE IN ZAMBIA. THE EMERALD WAS RECOVERED DURING NORMAL MINING OPERATIONS ON 5.FEBRUARY, THE COMPANY SAID IN A STATEMENT, AND IS BEING EXAMINED BY GEMFIELDS' EXPERTS TO ESTABLISH A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF ITS VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE. THE EMERALD HAS BEEN NAMED 'INSOFU' (WHICH MEANS ELEPHANT IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE BEMBA PEOPLE WHICH ARE INDIGENOUS TO THE REGION) DUE TO ITS SIZE AND I HONOR OF THE WORLD LAND TRUST'S "WILD LANDS ELEPHANT CORRIDOR PROJECT', OF WHICH GEMFIELDS IS A PARTICIPANT. GEMFIELDS SAID ITS EXPERTS 'WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE GEM BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN IN TERMS OF ITS FUTURE.' IAN HAREBOTTLE, CEO OF GEMFIELDS, SAID: 'THIS IS A UNIQUE FIND. THE INSOFU DISPLAYS WONDERFUL COLOUR AND GOOD TRANSLUCENCY. ITS SHEER SIZE, RICH COLOUR AND FINE PROTECTIVE BIOTITE SHELL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE DEEP INTO THE GEM. HOWEVER, ALL THE INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE CORE OF THE EMERALD IN COMPETENT AND THAT IT SHOULD YIELD A NUMBER OF CUT GEMS OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE.' THE LARGEST UNCUT EMERALD BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FOUND WAS IN CARNAIBA, BRAZIL IN 1974. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE 86,136 CARAT NATURAL BERYL CRYSTAL. THE STONE WAS EVENTUALLY VALUED AT $1,120,080.

507.5 CARAT GEM SELLS FOR RECORD $35.3 MILLION

A 507.5 CARAT GEM DISCOVERED IN SOUTH AFRICA LAST YEAR HAS BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE ROUGH DIAMOND EVER SOLD. HONG KONG'S CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELRY COMPANY BOUGHT THE CULLINAN HERITAGE STONE FOR $35.3 MILLION, PETRA DIAMONDS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY. PETRA RECOVERED THE GEM, THE 19th LARGEST EVER FOUND, DESCRIBED AS THE SIZE OF A CHICKEN'S EGG, FROM ITS CULLINAN MINE NEAR PRETORIA IN SOUTH AFRICA IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. PETRA SAID THAT THE RECORD PRICE REFLECTED THE 'INCREDIBLE RARITY' OF THE STONE BASED ON ITS 'REMARKABLE SIZE' AND 'EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR AND CLARITY'. 'IT IS FITTING THAT THE CULLINAN HERITAGE SHOULD ACHIEVE A SALE PRICE OF $35.3 MILLION, THE HIGHEST SALE PRICE ON RECORD EVER ACHIEVED FOR A ROUGH DIAMOND, AS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT POLISHED GEMS. THE SALE PROCEEDS FURTHER BOLSTER PETRA'S TREASURY AND WILL BE INVESTED IN THE GROWTH OF OUR CORE ASSETS', SAID JOHAN DIPPENAAR, PETRA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE. CHOW TAI FOOK HAS YET TO OUTLINE ITS PLANS FOR THE AMAZING STONE. THE WORLD'S LARGEST DIAMOND, THE 3,106 CARAT CULLINAN, WAS DISCOVERED IN THE SAME MINE IN 1905. THAT WAS CUT TO FORM THE GREAT STAR OF AFRICA AND THE LESSER STAR OF AFRICA, SET IN BRITAIN'S CROWN JEWELS. PETRA RECEIVED $9.48 MILLION AT A SALE IN MAY FOR A POLISHED 7.03 CARAT BLUE GEM, ALSO FROM THE CULLINAN MINE, SETTING A PER-CARAT RECORD. A CARAT IS A FIFTH OF A GRAM.

STORE TURNS EVERYTHING UP-SIDE-DOWN FOR NEW SALES PROGRAM

A NEW SALES PROMOTION RECENTLY LEFT SHOPPERS FEELING A LITTLE QUEASY, BUT THE UNIQUE AND UNUSUAL DISPLAY MOST CERTAINLY GRABBED THEIR ATTENTION. THE STAFF AT THE BRANCH OF A GAP CLOTHING STORE TUNED IT UPSIDE DONE, AND IN SOME CASES LITERALLY FROM THE MANNEQUINS INSIDE TO THE LABELS ON CLOTHES AND EVEN CARS ON THE STREET. ALMOST EVERYTHING WAS FLIPPED AS PART OF A NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM BEING TRIALED IN VANCOUVER. THE ADVERTISEMENT SCHEME, CALLED 'SPRIZE', BEARS THE TAG-LINE 'TURNING SHOPPING ON ITS HEAD'. EMPLOYEES SPENT OVER TWELVE HOURS SUSPENDING 32 MANNEQUINS FROM THE CEILING, TURNING OVER FOUR DISPLAY TABLES, HUNDREDS OF T-SHIRTS AS WELL AS THREE CARS AND A HOT DOG STAND. SHOPPERS WHO SIGN UP FOR THE 'SPRIZE PROGRAM' WILL HAVE ALL THEIR PURCHASES TRACKED, AND IF THE PRICE DROPS WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THEM BUYING THE ITEM, THEY GET THE DIFFERENCE REFUNDED TO THEIR 'SPRIZE CARD'. THEY CAN THEN USE THE CREDIT, WHICH IS VALID FOR UP TO A YEAR, TO MAKE FURTHER PURCHASES FROM GAP STORES. SO FAR 10 VANCOUVER STORES ARE INVOLVED IN THE 'SPRIZE' PILOT PROGRAM. 'WE ARE EXCITED TO BE PILOTING THIS PROGRAM IN VANCOUVER', SAID SCOTT KEY OF GAP INC. 'VANCOUVER WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST RETAIL LOCATIONS TO OPEN OUTSIDE OF THE US. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL MARKET FOR GAP AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 'SPRIZE PROGRAM HERE WILL INFORM HOW AND WHEN WE ROLL OUT 'SPRIZE TO OTHER STORES.WE THINK OUR VANCOUVER CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO APPRECIATE THIS EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK AT THE PROGRAM, AND WE HOPE THEY ENJOY THE 'SPRIZE'.

DROUOT RICHELIEU AUCTION HOUSE TO SELL CHANEL TREASURES

HUNDREDS OF FASHINOISTAS, COLLECTORS AND WOULD-BE CONSUMERS WITH A DREAM JOSTLED FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF MORE THAN 800 GARMENTS, ACCESSORIES AND SHOES BY THE ICONIC LUXURY FASHION GIANT CHANEL THAT WILL HIT THE AUCTION BLOCK. THE LOTS ON DISPLAY INCLUDE TRADEMARK TWEED SKIRT SUITS, CLASSIC CHAIN HANDBAGS, 1980s-ERA ENSEMBLES IN BOLD COLOURFUL HUES BY THE LABEL'S CURRENT IN-HOUSE DESIGNER, KARL LAGERFELD, AND VINTAGE HAUTE COUTURE GOWNS BY MADEMOISELLE CHANEL HERSELF. THE ORGANIZER, AUCTIONEER PIERRE CORNETTE DE SAN CYR, SAID HE EXPECTS THE SALE TO FETCH BETWEEN $270,000 AND $550,000, THOUGH HE ADDED 'THERE COULD BE SURPRISES'. ESTIMATES FOR THE LOTS RANGE FROM $27 FOR A BUNCH OF BUTTONS EMBLAZONED WITH THE LABEL'S HALLMARK DOUBLE 'C' TO $14,000 FOR A 1923 DROP-WAIST DRESS IN IVORY SILK, THOUGH MOST OF THE ESTIMATES HOVER AROUND THE HUNDRED DOLLAR MARK. STAR LOTS, WHICH COULD END UP FETCHING SEVERAL TIME THEIR ESTIMATES, INCLUDE A 1935 HAUTE COUTURE SHEATH GOWN IN FINE BLACK LACE, ITS NECKLINE EMBELLISHED WITH A BLACK SILK BOW, AND A 1029 AFTERNOON DRESS IN VERDANT LEAF PRINT, WITH A SWING JACKET IN EMERALD GREEN. WHILE THE VINTAGE PIECES, DISPLAYED ON MANNEQUINS BEHIND VELVET ROPES, WERE OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THEIR FRAGILE CONDITION, MOST OF THE LOTS COULD BE HANDLED, INSPECTED AND EVEN TRIED ON. A HOARD OF WOMEN OF ALL AGES, SOME OF THEM DRESSED IN HEAD TO TOE CHANEL IN A MARK OF BRAND LOYALTY, SWARMED THE RACKS, SHIMMYING INTO SLIGHTLY TOO-SMALL JACKETS, SWIMMING IN OVER-SIZED TRENCHES AND SOMETIMES, JUST SOMETIMES, FINDING THAT PERFECT FIT. IT TOOK ASSESSOR FRANCOISE STERNBACH A YEAR AND A HALF TO ASSEMBLE THE 820 LOTS, WHICH SHE ACQUIRED FROM MORE THAN 120 PRIVATE SELLERS. COME OF THE VINTAGE ITEMS WERE DUG OUT OF TRUNKS OR RESCUED FROM ATTICS WHERE THEY HAD LANGUISHED FOR DECADES, SHE SAID, ADDING SHE HOPED THOSE LOTS WOULD END UP GOING TO MUSEUMS. WITH BIDDERS EXPECTED FROM ACROSS EUROPE AND TELEPHONE BIDDER CALLING IN FROM AS FAR AFIELD AS ASIA AND AMERICA, THE REST OF THE GARMENTS WILL LIKELY GET A CHANCE TO COME BACK INTO FASHION IN THE WARDROBES OF WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.drouot.com

ANNE WINTOUR PORTRAIT RECENTLY UNVEILED

RECENTLY A UNIQUE PORTRAIT OF ANNE WINTOUR, EDITOR OF US VOGUE, WAS UNVEILED. HER ICY DEMEANOR HAS EARNED HER THE NICKNAME 'NUCLEAR WINTOUR', SO ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE EXPRESSION WHEN THE PORTRAIT WAS DISPLAYED FOR EXHIBITION. THE PAINTING BY ACCLAIMED US ARTIST ALEX KATZ, IS NOT EXACTLY A PHOTOGRAPHIC LIKENESS. THE FAMOUS BOBBED HAIRSTYLE IS REPRESENTED, BUT BEARS A DISTINCTLY GINGER TINGE, AND THE EXPRESSION ID SOMEWHAT FLAT. ON THE PLUS SIDE, WINTOUR APPEARS MUCH YOUNGER THAN HER 60 YEARS, AND THIS IS A RARE SIGHTING OF HER WITHOUT HER SIGNATURE DARK GLASSES. SHE SAT FOR KATZ AT HIS NEW YORK STUDIO IN LATE 2009, THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS CONSENTED TO HAVE HER PORTRAIT PAINTED. 'I COULDN'T THINK OF A NICER WAY TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON. WE TALKED FOR TWO HOURS WHILE HE WORKED', RECALLED WINTOUR, WHO WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR MERYL STREEP'S TERRIFYING EDITOR IN 'THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA'. KATZ ASKED WINTOUR TO POSE WITHOUT HER SUNGLASSES AFTER WATCHING 'THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE', THE RECENT DOCUMENTARY FILM WHICH WENT BEHIND THE SCENES AT VOGUE, AND NOTICING THAT SHE HAD 'LOVELY EYES'. HE SAID: 'PAINTING ANNA WAS LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL. THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD MISS IT.' THE PAINTING WILL GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MAY AT LONDON'S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, IN AN EXHIBITION OF KATZ'S WORK. WINTOUR'S VERDICT ON THE PORTRAIT? WELL, SHE LIKED THE YELLOW. 'I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT HE USED A LOT OF COLOUR, WHICH I ADORE', SHE SAID.

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART TO ACQUIRE FOUR PROMISED PAINTINGS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTION

LAWRENCE J WHEELER, DIRECTOR, NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART, RALEIGH, NC, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PROMISED GIFT TO THE MUSEUM FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOSIE AND JULIAN ROBERTSON, OF NEW YORK. THE GIFT INCLUDES FOUR STUNNING PAINTINGS BY IMPORTANT EUROPEAN IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ARTISTS. IN ADDITION TO PICASSO'S 'SEATED WOMAN, RED AND YELLOW BACKGROUND', THEY ARE 'THE BRIDGE AT MORET ON AN APRIL MORNING', BY ALFRED SISLEY, 'THE BRIDGE AT POISSY', BY MAURICE DE VLAMINCK, AND 'FISHING BOAT' BY EMIL NOLDE. THE FIRST OF THE PROMISED WORKS TO BE ON PUBLIC VIEW WILL BE PICASSO'S SUPERB PORTRAIT OF HIS LOVER FRANCOISE GILOT, WHICH WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE MUSEUM'S NEW BUILDING WHEN IT OPENS ON 24.APRIL. PICASSO'S VISUALLY COMPLEX, EXPRESSIVE PORTRAIT OF GILOT WAS PAINTED AT THE END OF THEIR TURBULENT RELATIONSHIP. GILOT SITS IN A STUDIO CHAIR, HAND CRADLING HER CHIN, EYES WANDERING. BUT WITHIN THE RECTANGLE OF THE PAINTING, SHE REMAINS VERY MUCH PICASSO'S SUBJECT, THE PRETEXT FOR A VIRTUOSIC PERFORMANCE OF THE ARTIST'S COMPOSITIONAL AND TECHNICAL BRILLIANCE. 'WHILE THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART IS KNOWN FOR ITS STRONG GROUP OF MODERN GERMAN PAINTINGS, IT NEVER HAD COMPARABLE SCHOOL OF PARIS WORKS', NOTES JOHN COFFEY, THE MUSEUM'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ART. 'THE PROMISED GIFT OF THESE WONDERFUL PICTURES ENSURES THAT THE MUSEUM WILL HAVE A SOLID REPRESENTATION OF FRENCH MODERNISTS, INCLUDING THE EXCEPTIONALLY VIVID PORTRAIT BY PICASSO, THE FIRST WORK BY THIS ARTIST TO ENTER THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION.'