Category: General

Filed under: Timepieces

Parmigiani Fleurier presents this new line of women’s Kalparisma watches, including the Kalparisma Ouranos with the diamond constellation motif. The watches each share the same signature Parmigiani case which looks particularly flattering on one’s wrist. The “Small Star” models use just that, a small spinning star as a subsidiary seconds display. Other models have a traditional second’s hand, and each model has its only unique character. The watch line features a 37.5mm wide tonneau case in 18k gold (either rose or white) with a bracelet or well matched strap. Various levels of brilliant cut diamonds decorate the cases and dials, with handsome guilloche engraving on the watch faces themselves. Inside the watches are PF331.02 automatic mechanical movements.

I find the gold metal bracelets particularly fine looking, being technical and functional, but still attractive. The Kalparisma watch line has always been conservatively ‘nice,” but never wild looking. This helps maintain Parmigiani is a maker of consistently attractive, though sober looking luxury timepieces. Designs have been known to get more experimental for the men’s pieces though, but predictability has been the mainstay for Parmigiani Fleurier. Expect the new Kalparisma line to be available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Parmigiani Fleurier Kalparisma Watch Models For 2009 originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

The real estate habits of Nicolas Cage are legendary. He does more buying and selling in a year or two than most of us could do in a lifetime. In the U.S. he currently has three properties on the market but overseas he’s just sold one of his many homes. Cage bought the 11th-century Schloss Neidstein in 2006 for .3 million back in July 2006. It is believed that he spent millions in renovations on the 10-bedroom property which is on a hill and overlooks more than 395 acres of forest and meadows. But after all that work, Cage did what he always does, he moved on. The Telegraph says that Cage spent only one night in the castle.

Cage has a variety of properties up for sale from a million island in the Bahamas to homes in Nevada, California, Rhode Island and Louisiana. While I’ve covered the other three, I haven’t given the New Orleans, Louisiana house estate-of-the-day treatment yet. It seems a grave mistake on my part because it’s quite lovely. The Garden District home has six bedrooms and grounds that include a heated pool and statuary. Inside the home’s graceful lines, marble fireplaces, plasterwork, stained glass and curved staircase are elegantly preserved. The kitchen seems to be an overly modern off note but otherwise the home is beautiful and the rooms done in shades of periwinkle and pale blue are particularly winning. Cage bought in 2005 for .45 million and this home is now listed at .7 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

[Thanks, Lana!]

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Nicolas Cage Sells One, Many More To Go, Estate of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Fans of the uniquely delectable Spanish hams might want to stock up on the traditional bone-in jamon Iberico de bellota because a change is afoot. The hams are made from the hind legs and traditionally presented with the black hoof attached but U.S. government regulations are putting an end to that. The hams have only recently been allowed to be imported from Spain. The hoof violates a U.S. Department of Agriculture sanitary rule which also applies to domestic meat that is designed to reduce the risk of contamination.

LaTienda, an online retailer of Spanish wine and food, is selling hams that they have already imported with the foot attached for around ,395 for a 15-pound ham. Another reason to buy now is a new tax that goes into effect on April 23. The tax is 100 percent on cured Spanish hams shipped with the bone.

The AP quotes Jonathan Harris, co-owner of LaTienda.com as saying the ham won’t be the same without the hoof. The ham is made from pampered free range pigs each given an acre of space and fed a diet of acorns. The jamon Iberico is considered to be the most delicious ham with a rich flavor and silken mouthfeel.

Changes For Import of Jamon Iberico Ham originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Dining

At the start of March, one of New York City’s priciest restaurant’s Masa dropped its menu price. It’s a good time to eat in New York City for less because, as the Wall Street Journal reports, another of the city’s premier dining destinations, Thomas Keller’s New York restaurant, Per Se is introducing an à la carte menu. Since the restaurant opened, Per Se has only offered two multi-course dinner tasting menus at 5 a pop.

The à la carte menu which is served only in the restaurant’s lounge, lets customers sample a few of the famed chef’s dishes. You don’t even have to make a reservation months in advance, you can simply walk in. The menu changes nightly and includes items that are part of the tasting menu served in the dining room. Of course you’ll still be spending quite a bit, wine and cocktails start in the to range and most dishes are around to .

Per Se Offers A La Carte Dining originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Jewelry

The market for Obama jewelry is still going strong. The range of jewelry runs from the inexpensive and symbolic to the extravagant diamond Obama necklace. Somewhere in the middle range is the “Elements of Change” collection from jewelry designer Jeanine Payer. The line features pieces inscribed with excerpts from President Barack Obama’s inauguration poem by Elizabeth Alexander, “Praise Song for the Day.”

The collection includes three necklaces and three bracelets offered in sterling silver and 14-karat gold. The bracelet shown above has a 14k gold medallion hanging from a sterling silver multi-chain. The engraving appears on the pendant’s front and back and the piece sells for 0.

[via National Jeweler]

Obama Poem Becomes Jewelry Collection originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Handbags

I’ve written about Harveys Seatbelt Bags on Luxist because I love them. But, one can argue they’re not the most traditionally glamorous bags, even if they are different, fun, and functional. But let’s say you’re a Disney fan, and you like an interesting handbag, and the word “couture” grabs you. Good news! Harveys introduces the Seatbelt Bag for Disney Couture, a website-only special collection in four styles.

Each bag is loaded with Disney details, such as a Mickey ears zipper pull, Mickey charms, custom red Disney lining with a monogrammed Harveys Logo and Mickey ear silhouette, and a comic-strip printed seatbelt body that tells the story of how Mickey seeks to capture Minnie’s attention by serenading her. Also featured: black nickel hardware, a Harveys for Disney Couture plaque, interior pockets (one for cell phone), an interior keychain hook, and a drawstring storage bag. Shown at right: the Disney Carriage Baguette, 8. Dimensions vary; prices range from 8 – 8. See the gallery for photos of the other three styles as well as Harveys Disney accessories.

Harveys Seatbelt Bags for Disney Couture, Handbag of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Estates, Wealth

For a long time as Florida real estate values plummeted Palm Beach remained an enclave of protected wealth but it seems even that is starting to change. There is no bigger symbol of the change in Palm Beach than Bernie Madoff. Since Madoff’s arrest last year, Palm Beach’s fortunes have shifted a bit. Stores along Worth Avenue have closed and even the value of Madoff’s home has dropped by nearly two million dollars. Last year Palm Beach County officials assessed the taxable value of Madoff’s home at .3 million but a new appraisal that federal officials did in March says it would likely sell for .45 million.The home was seized on Wednesday along with two of Madoff’s yachts.

While prosecutors are trying to preserve as much of Madoff’s wealth as possible in order to redistribute it to his many victims, it might be smart to wait a little while before putting this home on the market.Palm Beach has seen some big sales in the past couple of years including .5 million for Sidney Kimmel’s mansion and 0 million for Donald Trump’s oceanfront flip. Currently the most expensive home on the market in Palm Beach is still Casa Nana which is listed at .5 million the same price it was last November when we covered it as an estate of the day.

Madoff’s Palm Beach Home Worth Less In Real Estate Slump originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Downtown Los Angeles got a big boost this week with a proposal for a -billion hotel, office and retail project. The project from Korean Air is being developed by Thomas Properties Group. The two skyscrapers would replace the Wilshire Grand hotel and adjoining offices being used by Korean Air. The project would be the first time a South Korean developer has created a project this large in the U.S.

Los Angeles architect David Martin, a principal at AC Martin Partners, designed the towers which may have a photovoltaic skin to create solar power. One tower will host a 40-story hotel with as many as 700 rooms and several floors of condominiums. The other taller tower will be a 60-story building offering over a million square feet of office space and a plaza and shops on the ground level. What’s really amazing is that this would be the first major high-rise office building constructed in Los Angeles since 1992. Los Angeles needs a new skyscraper about as much as it needs an NFL team of its own (could be a lot or not at all depending on who you ask).

The project still has to win city approval but if it does construction could begin in 2011 and be finished in 2014.

New Billion-Dollar Project Proposed For Los Angeles originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Estates

We’ve seen some big price cuts lately but when a property gets cut more than a few million it always attracts attention. The New York Observer reports that Austrian-born investor Gerhard Andlinger has cut a whopping million off his Time Warner Center penthouse which first hit the market for million last November.

For your million you get 8,300 square feet of space with stunning 360 degree views of New York City. The penthouse has 14 foot ceilings and the master bedroom suite includes an office, his and her dressing rooms, gym and his and her bathrooms. For entertaining there is a 41 foot-long living room with floor to ceiling windows, and for more private moments there is a red lacquered corner library/office. The penthouse also has a full dining room, chef’s kitchen and pantry, laundry center, four additional bedrooms and a screening room.

The building also has an array of amenities such as concierge service, the use of the gym, spa and pool of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and access to Club 51, which offers party rooms with bar and catering kitchen, roofdeck, children’s playroom, gym, massage room and theater. The listing is here.

Time Warner Center Penthouse Gets A Million Price Cut originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Jewelry, Charity

Montblanc has created a new necklace for Mother’s Day. The “Precious Heart” necklace is rendered in sterling silver with a brilliant, full-cut diamond on the silver heart. A portion of proceeds from sales of the necklace go to Jewelers for Children, a non-profit created by jewelers to benefit children affected by illness, abuse and neglect. The necklace will be available at Montblanc boutiques and select retail jewelry stores in the U.S. and Canada starting on April 20.

Montblanc’s Mother’s Day Necklace originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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