Donoho's Jewelers by Accent Magazine

A C C E N T/ T H E M A G A Z I N E O F L I F E ’ S C E L E B R AT I O N S

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PERFECT GIFT

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SPRING/SUMMER 2013

Three Exceptional Jewelers and a Collection of the World’s Best Brands, All Under One Umbrella.

The Woodlands, Texas www.donohos.com

Columbus, Ohio www.diamondcellar.com

Tulsa, Oklahoma www.brucegweber.com DIAMOND CELLAR HOLDINGS is a family of three of the finest jewelers in the United States. Each store has its own unique heritage, but together they represent almost 150 years of history in the jewelry business. We’ve built our reputation on excellent service, fine craftsmanship and unwavering integrity. That’s why the world’s top jewelry and watch brands trust us. And so can you. A. Jaffe Aaron Basha Adolpho Courrier Alex Woo Baume & Mercier Bell & Ross Breitling Carla Amorim Cartier Charles Krypell Christian Bauer Christine Cooper Hill Christopher Designs Corum

Collegiate Jewels David Yurman Denise Roberge Di Modolo Elizabeth Locke Forevermark Goldman Diana Girard Perregaux Graf von Faber-Castell Gregg Ruth Harry Kotlar Hermes Ippolita Ivanka Trump

Jaeger-LeCoultre Jay Strongwater JB Star John Hardy Kwiat Lagos Marco Bicego Memoire Michael Beaudry Michael Bondanza Michele Mikimoto Patek Philippe Penny Preville

Precision Set Raymond Weil Robert Procop Roberto Coin Roberto Coin Cento Rolex Scott Kay Sterling & Bridal Stephen Webster Soho SUWA Swiss Army TAG Heuer TW Steel William Henry Studio

WELCOME

Dear Friends, While reviewing pictures for this issue’s Events recap (see page 8), I couldn’t help but smile. It makes me so proud to be a part of The Woodlands community. Donoho’s Jewellers began as, and remains, a local jeweler. We strive to give you a level of personal service here that no corporate chain store could hope to match. What makes us especially unique as a local jeweler is our partnership with our sister stores in Columbus, Ohio and Tulsa, Oklahoma as part of the Diamond Cellar Holdings family. A lot has changed since we opened our doors 30 years ago. Today’s customers want to shop world-class luxury brands. They demand a selection of global, iconic names and they seek out stores who carry them. And these premier global brands have high expectations for the stores that represent them. They look for scalability: Can a store give them the kind of space they need to showcase their creations? Can they support the brand with a strong marketing initiative? Can they invest at an inventory level that represents their line significantly? I truly believe that Donoho’s Jewellers encompasses the best of both worlds. We provide personal, professional service in a relaxed atmosphere. And because we are part of a bigger family, we’re able to bring you the finest brands the world has to offer. Our roots are in the community. And as our customer, you are what really matters most. So we’ll continue to be your “local” jeweler, with branches that reach out into the world.

Richard van der Dys, Store Director

CONTENTS SPRING/SUMMER 2013

P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E B J I FA S H I O N G R O U P PUBLISHER STU NIFOUSSI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR HANS GSCHLIESSER MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN LAROCHELLE PROJECT MANAGER LISA MONTEMORRA DESIGNERS CYNTHIA LUCERO JEAN-NICOLE VENDITTI

FEATURES 3 Welcome Letter

WATCH SECTION

6 Our People: Erin Link

34 Advisor: Watch Wisdom

8 Events

38 Profile: TAG Heuer

PRODUCTION MANAGER PEG EADIE PRESIDENT AND CEO BRITTON JONES

10 Caring for the Community: American Heart Association

CHAIRMAN AND COO

12 Red Carpet: Rainbow Brights

MAC BRIGHTON

14 Designers: David & Sybil Yurman Prices are subject to change without notice and may vary

16 Trends: Strong & Soft

18 Trends: Asian Fusion

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OUR PEOPLE

ErinLink

ASSISTANT REPAIR MANAGER / SALES ASSOCIATE FOR DONOHO’S JEWELLERS What are you passionate about? I am passionate about growing spiritually and leaving behind a loving legacy. What do you admire in other people and why? I admire the passion in others! I am motivated by the dedication and diligence I see in people reaching their goals and not letting anything stand in the way of what they stand for.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received or the best lesson you’ve ever learned? To trust in the Lord. Who has been the biggest influence in your life and how did they influence you? My Oma; her unconditional love, her hard work and her wisdom have influenced me my entire life.

What do your friends depend on you for, mostly, and why? My friends depend on me to listen; I’ve been told I am a great listener.

What do you do to wind down? I love to watch a silly movie with my daughter or read an enthralling Anne Rice book. If it’s early, I like to sit on the patio with a cup of coffee and listen to the birds chirping and the wind chimes.

What makes you smile? My husband of 11 years and my beautiful 8-year-old little girl! I smile every time I think of how blessed I am. Describe your perfect day. My perfect day would start early on a bright, warm summer day with breakfast on the patio. Then the family and I would head to the lake with the boat to play on the water all day long!

What is your favorite book of all time and why? The Bible. It’s the only book that truly answers questions of the heart; you must learn of and seek whom you love.

If someone wrote your biography, what would the title be? What did you do before you joined Donoho’s? I started my

What Just Happened!? I have to laugh at myself; those who know me know it’s so true!

jewelry career 12 years ago, working for a family jewelry store that mainly handled repairs and custom design. I’ve been at Donoho’s for five years.

Name your top three favorite movies of all time. I’m a bit of a movie fanatic so this is tough…. The Wizard of Oz, Armageddon, and A League of Their Own

Where are you from originally? I am from Houston, Texas.

Hollywood is making a movie about your life. Who is playing you? I would love Ashley Judd to play my character. She is a

What’s your favorite part of your job and why? I have always

strong, southern girl with an immense heart. I have the utmost respect for her and I’ve been told I look like her.

been fascinated with the science of gems and minerals! But my true reward is knowing that I am linked to the most sacred and memorable occasions of people’s lives when they chose to give the gift of jewelry.

If your pets could talk, what would they say to you? I have a

What job would you do if you could do anything at all? I

guinea pig and let me tell you, I don’t wonder why they are called pigs! He probably would ask for the whole entire head of cabbage and endless helpings of bell peppers!

would absolutely be dreaming to say I would run a safari! I love wild animals and especially big cats; I would want to rescue them and provide a place for them to live out the rest of their lives in freedom and safety.

Christopher Designs

PHOTOGRAPHY: BARTOSZ POTOCKI

Crisscut

Generic Round 58 Facet

Crisscut 速 Round 121 Facet

Generic Emerald 46 Facet

Crisscut 速 Emerald 77 Facet

Generic Cushion 58 Facet

Crisscut 速 Cushion 77 Facet

DONOHO’S JEWELLERS EVENTS

Left: Donoho’s Jewellers was excited to kick off the holiday season with The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau at the 30th Annual Lighting of the Doves Festival, featuring the arrival of Santa Claus, live music, ice carvers, snow, kids activities and much more! Right: Donoho’s was pleased to host a very special evening with the leaders of the world’s top Swiss watch manufacturers as they shared their most rare and complicated creations at the home of Jeff & Marie Carr. Bottom: There’s nothing quite like beautiful jewelry in an equally beautiful setting. We were very pleased to welcome Italian jewelry designer Marco Bicego to the Woodlands for a very special evening. Customers and fans of Bicego’s jewelry gathered for an evening of browsing—and trying on—his exquisite creations. Bicego charmed the crowd and made sure to custom engrave each piece that was purchased that evening.

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION The Go Red For Women luncheon helps to fight against the number one cause of death for women.

he facts are clear: More women die of heart disease than from all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, the killer is not easy to detect. To raise funds for cardiovascular disease and stroke research, and bring awareness to the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association will host its annual Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, May 10, at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Attendees will learn about the challenges faced by local women suffering from heart disease and receive lifesaving information to pass along to their sisters, girlfriends and colleagues. More than 500 of the Woodlandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; social and business elite will don their best red fashions to join event chairs Shirelle Chimenti and Kena Cope, to fight against heart disease at this annual event. Prior to the luncheon kickoff, attendees are invited to visit our exciting silent auction, set up inside the ballroom from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., featuring local favorites and fabulous gift packages. Since 2004, when Go Red For Women was founded, the number of women who are aware that heart disease is their number one killer has increased by 23 percent. This is a direct result of all the hard work of the

organization and its supporters. Thirty-four percent fewer women are dying each year of heart disease, which translates to 330 fewer women dying every day. But the fight is far from over. Women continue to battle heart disease every day. Currently, some eight million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat. According to recent studies, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, but only 45 to 50 percent of women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk. The numbers are alarming, considering that while one out of 31 American women die from breast cancer each year, one out of three women die each year from cardiovascular disease. Join the American Heart Association at the Annual Go Red For Women Luncheon. Tickets are $100 per person, with tables starting at $1,500 up to $10,000. Tickets are available online at heart.org/montgomerycountygoredluncheon or by phone (713)610-5000. For more information, please contact Morgan Dean at (713) 610-5061 or morgan.dean@heart.org.

MORE WOMEN DIE OF HEART DISEASE THAN ALL FORMS OF CANCER COMBINED.

Event chairs Shirelle Chimenti and Kena Cope

According to recent studies, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, but only 45 to 50 percent of women know that heart disease is their greastest health risk.

Red Carpet RASHIDA JONES

Pop of Pink

CHRISTOPHER POLK

ASTRID STAWIARZ

At the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Awards Ceremony honoring her father, Quincy Jones, the Parks and Recreation star’s fuchsia pout pumped up the pink pattern on her dress. Though she kept the rest of her accessories minimal, Jones’ choice of jewelry proves two rings are better than one.

IVANKA TRUMP

RAINBOW BRIGHTS

Red All Over

Stars shine in every color under the sun. JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

The always-elegant jewelry designer let her dress speak for itself at the 9th Annual Style Awards. Statement earrings and a silver bag subtly accented the sparkly floral appliqué.

JESSICA LANGE

IAN GAVAN

Orange You Glad

KATE MARA

Perhaps Lange’s golden cuff was a prelude to the statue to come. This tangerine dream turned out to be a winning look for the actress, who took home the Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her role as Constance in American Horror Story while wearing the goddess-like gown.

Not So Mellow Yellow ASTRID STAWIARZ

Even through the London fog, this rising star shone as bright as the sun at the West End premiere of her new Netflix series House of Cards. Mara added even more bold color with a jeweled bib necklace and violet box clutch.

VANESSA HUDGENS

VITTORIO ZUNINO CELOTTO

Blue Beauty

MONICA BELLUCCI

The actress played up her exotic good looks in the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge during Fall 2013 Fashion Week at New York’s Lincoln Center. A satin sheath in a royal blue hue provided the perfect backdrop for intricate silver beadwork, while a cocktail ring helped Hudgens call attention to her avant-garde manicure.

MIKE COPPOLA

Green with Envy For a lesson in how to liven up basic black, look no further than this Italian bombshell, who paired a show-stopping statement necklace with a slinky black dress to cut the ribbon at the reopening of Cartier’s boutique in Milan last fall.

DOUTZEN KROES

White Hot

ASTRID STAWIARZ

Proof that a lack of color can sometimes be just as sexy! The Dutch model’s on-trend extras, including a studded bag and a stack of mixed bracelets, popped against the blank canvas at a party celebrating the inaugural issue of Generation W hosted by W Magazine and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

IMAN

BENJAMIN LOZOVSKY

Purple Passion Not many people can pull off head-to-toe plum velvet, but Iman manages to make it chic with the additon of a chunky gold tassel necklace. (Her glowing golden skin doesn’t hurt, either.) We bet Bowie would approve.

DESIGNERS Crossing Over

“In the new Crossover collection [far left], we combine smooth and cable cords to create contrast, texture and a sense of movement. It’s really a symbol of the way Sybil and I work together: everything we do is intertwined.” —David Yurman

we found ourselves in the jewelry business.” Though he never set out to be a jewelry designer, working closely with Sybil, a painter in her own right, led him to explore different avenues of artistic expression. For the two halves of the famed Yurman design team, their collaboration as artists epitomizes the very essence of yin and yang. “We complement each other,” says Sybil, “and that creates a dynamic unity. Together, we create something bigger than us, sometimes larger than life itself.” While David sees the world through the lens of a sculptor, with a refined sense of proportion and a threedimensional perspective, his muse sees the world as a kaleidoscope of emotion, color, form and movement. After years of designing sculptural jewelry that was sold at craft shows and galleries, it was David’s creation of the cable bracelet, a twisted helix of sterling silver wire composed of multiple strands, that put his name on the proverbial map. The piece became an instant icon, a contemporary classic that has served as the thread that runs through all of the collections. Deemed a phenomenon in the jewelry world, David Yurman’s handcrafted creations — silver paired with gold, and diamonds and semi-precious stones set in silver — were revolutionary. The pieces, with ancient Gothic and Egyptian references, blended classic with contemporary styling. “We bridged the gap between fashion and fine jewelry, and we used art as the bridge,” says David. For David and Sybil Yurman, beautiful jewelry is not the end result of a simple technique or a single element. Outstanding quality and extraordinary craftsmanship are achieved from a foundation of artistic excellence. Over 30 years later, what began as an artist’s passion for sculpture and a painter’s love for color has turned into a jewelry house that continues in the classic tradition of the guild, but pushes the boundaries of convention with imagination and innovation.

WORKING

ARTISTS Sybil Yurman remains David’s muse. And so much more.

‘‘W

e create art for people to wear.” With those words, David and Sybil Yurman articulated an enduring vision for their company, America’s foremost jewelry house for over 30 years. From the very beginning, their belief that art is personal — that the artist’s world is unique and the creative process is an expression of the artist’s aesthetic — made using the word ‘jewelry’ seem insufficient. ‘Jewelry’ doesn’t entirely encompass David Yurman’s vision of what he is creating, nor does it express his passion for the creative process, his love of design and his refusal to be led by conventional wisdom. His interest in sculpting began early, at just 13 years old. During summers off from high school, David studied art, working as an apprentice to Cuban sculptor Ernesto Gonzales in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In his 20s, he hitchhiked to California, joining other artists in Big Sur, and immersing himself in the culture and lifestyle of the bohemian community. Moving back to his native New York City several years later to pursue his passion for sculpture and form, he served apprenticeships under master sculptors Jacques Lipschitz, Hans Van de Bovenkamp and Theodore Rozack — experiences he describes as life-altering. Then, another call from destiny: the chance meeting of his muse and future wife and partner, Sybil. His romantic nature inspired, he sculpted a piece of jewelry as a gift for her. She wore it to an art gallery opening and the owner, taken with the design, asked if David had more to sell. He recalls, “I couldn’t imagine recreating something so personal that I had made for Sybil, so I said ‘no.’ But at the very same moment, Sybil said ‘yes’ — and, like that,

“We use art

to bridge the gap between fashion

and fine jewelry.” David Yurman

Mother’s jewelry that’s as unique as her love for her children.

9590 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380

•

281.367.9050

TRENDS

STRONG & SOFT

rom gelato greens to sherbet purples, jewelry’s newest pastel gem palette looks simply delicious! And this spring and summer, the sweetest delicately hued designs are those that spotlight the stone as the star. As the precious metal plays more of a supporting role in many of the new pieces, four interesting stone cuts in particular are adding to the latest statement jewelry’s drama: cabochons, checkerboards, rose cuts and slices.

THE COLOR STORY Although bright Emerald is 2013’s Color of the Year, according to international color authority The Pantone Color Institute, most of the other leading hues of spring and summer are toned down, more muted. In a one-on-one interview, Pantone’s executive director, Leatrice Eiseman (often referred to as the “International Color Guru”) explains: “The first half of this year is more about less-bold shades that help us find harmony in the frantic pace of our everyday lives. That said, however, today we have a lot of trans-seasonal colors.” Exactly what colors are at the top of this proliferation of pastels? For women, there are 10 key shades, but here Eiseman discusses four of those that are especially significant to new luxury jewelry collections this season: Dusk Blue, Grayed Jade, African Violet and Linen. “You need to try a touch of all these on-trend colors in some way. And buying a beautiful piece of colored stone jewelry is a great place to start — because it’s like dipping your toe into new color waters. But just be sure it’s good color, from a quality brand and a respected jeweler that you trust.”

For warm-weather style, giant gems in subtle shades are oh-so-cool! LORRAINE DEPASQUE

On that note, here are some of the pretty-in-pastel gems that fine jewelry brands are focusing on this season. Because they’re fashion forward, you’ll often find them in pieces that are important to add to your jewelry wardrobe, like multi-strand bracelets and necklaces, power pendants, dramatic drop earrings and epically sized fashion rings. Dreamy Greens. Prasiolite, opal, chalcedony, moonstone, agate, green amethyst, jade, peridot, tsavorite, chrysoprase, tourmaline, green sapphire, green diamonds. And emerald, of course, because Emerald is the Color of the Year! Pretty Purples. Quartz, jade, moonstone, amethyst, mother-of-pearl, purple sapphire. Be-in-Style Blues. Moonstone, blue topaz, labradorite, blue cat’s eye, blue agate, aquamarine, turquoise, chalcedony, blue quartz, iolite, lapis-lazuli, sapphire, tanzanite, zircon, blue diamonds. The Right Whites. Rutilated quartz, agate, pearls, moonstone, motherof-pearl, white coral, champagne diamonds and linen-like shades of rough-cut diamonds.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JANE BOHAN, STEPHEN WEBSTER, ERICA COURTNEY, ROBERTO COIN

SOME PERFECT PASTELS

show your love for her today... tomorrow... forever...

s t e r l i n g s i lv e r INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST IVY LOVE COLLECTION FEATURING BANGLE BRACELETS, BAND RINGS AND OUR THREE RING LOVE NECKLACE. EACH PIECE IS INSCRIBED WITH A DISCREET BUT POWERFUL MESSAGE ON THE INSIDE I LOVE YOU TODAY, I LOVE YOU TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU FOREVER BANGLE BRACELETS SET OF THREE $990 s THREE RING NECKLACE $420 s RINGS SET OF THREE $360

TRENDS

ASIAN

FUSION

Eastern elements inspire modern American style.

hile shopping for your wardrobe this season, have you noticed that many of the most fashion-forward styles contain elements of Eastern cultures? Influences from Japan are particularly prevalent, like pleated origami-inspired organdy cotton, wingshaped shoulders, and wide pants, among others. It’s a trend that will continue into fall and winter, with floral jacquards from Vera Wang, Eastern spiritual styling from Prada, and brushstrokes of color from Lela Rose. And what jewelry do these Asian-infused fashions beg for? Pieces with a decidedly Eastern edge, of course. “These clothes are the perfect canvases, so to speak, for jewelry,” says David Wolfe, creative director of the Doneger Group in New York City. “Unlike what we saw before this year, the new fashions aren’t heavily embellished.” Wolfe, one of fashion’s leading international forecasters, adds that with these modern Eastern-inspired clothes, “The lines and the shades provide the color, if you will. And with this new sophisticated simplicity of extreme structures and curvilinear cuts, a strong jewelry statement becomes very important.”

and today “new Eastern” collections sometimes rely on colored resins and ceramics to impart that same bold mien. Techniques. Filigree and mokume-gane bring Eastern cultures to mind. The openwork of filigree can invoke the idea of Chinese calligraphy, while the ancient Japanese metalworking art of mokume-gane is a process used by specially trained artisans for one-of-a-kind jewelry. Themes. Art Nouveau-like motifs are characteristic of Eastern jewelry, especially dragonflies and butterflies, plus flowers and plants like cherry blossoms, bamboo, lotus and peonies. Spiritual symbolism abounds: the Om, the Tree of Life and certain mythological creatures, such as dragons. And all 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac are definitely key. 2013 is The Year of the Snake on the Chinese calendar, so new jewelry focused on those writhing reptiles is everywhere. The ancient Chinese culture viewed snakes as a positive omen, symbolic of eternal love, wisdom, immortality and so on. Today, contemporary luxury brands are fashioning serpentine-style jewelry whichever way you want it: replete with demonic details like a long tongue and menacing eyes, or in more stylized versions merely hinting at a snake via their super-curvy shapes, often inlaid or prong-set with precious gems. Whether you choose a snake-y style this year, or pieces with a feminine Art Nouveau-like beauty, heading toward the exotic East will surely lead you in the right direction!

GO EAST WITH YOUR JEWELRY Some of the best fine jewelry brands are making accessorizing à la the Asian aesthetic easy to do this year, by incorporating one or several of the following elements: Gems. Certain stones “say” Eastern, especially jade (in all colors), red coral, black onyx, pearls, mother-of-pearl, emerald and ruby. Materials. Enamel and lacquer, materials used in original Far Eastern jewelry, are significant,

WITH FASHION’S NEW SOPHISTICATED SIMPLICITY OF EXTREME STRUCTURES AND CURVILINEAR CUTS, A STRONG JEWELRY STATEMENT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT. 18

FROM TOP ROBERTO COIN, JOSEPH MURRAY, JUST JULES

LORRAINE DEPASQUE

SERVICE

AT YOUR SERVICE Sizing rings is only the beginning of what we can do at Donoho’s Jewellers. Here are seven things you probably didn’t know about our shop. DAVID POLLNER

We do a complimentary cleaning upon inspection on a customer’s jewelry, just for the asking.

Our ring sizings get dovetails. If you’ve ever noticed the joints on a drawer in a piece of fine furniture, you’re familiar with the dovetail joint. Furniture makers use the dovetail on heirloom pieces because it’s a superior joint, with mechanical strength and more surface area for the glue to do its job. The dovetail is also superior when it comes to sizing rings. Instead of simply cutting a piece from a ring straight across the shank and soldering a new piece in, we cut dovetails in the shank, and shape the new piece to fit those dovetails. It’s a joint that holds strong even before it’s welded and it will last a lifetime. It takes more time, and a lot of skill, but we know it’s worth it.

It’s a good idea to have your jewelry inspected occasionally for loose stones or broken or bent parts, while cleaning keeps it looking like new. So at Donoho’s Jewellers, we’ll perform these services for any customer upon request. And the craftsmen working on your jewelry have many years of training and experience, so you know it’ll be done right. We do this as a convenient service for our customers, not only as a required part of a warranty or service plan, like some jewelers.

We triple-check for quality.

We love our laser welder.

Each item that goes through our shop for repair or alteration gets three separate quality checks before it is handed back to the customer. First, the goldsmith who performed the work checks it for integrity, finish and overall repair quality. Next, the shop supervisor checks it again, and finally the salesperson handling the job checks it again. Three checks assure you that your item was repaired the right way, and will last.

Of all the advancements in jewelry making over the years, another favorite is the laser welder. The laser replaces the OxyAcetylene torch and soldering in many cases, and makes joining metal next to precious stones much safer and easier. It is extremely precise and makes an exceptional joint in metal. Now that we have it, we couldn’t go back!

We’re green.

We speak CAD.

Over 98% of the metals used in our shop are recycled and re-refined. Even the rhodium plating solution we use is sent to a refiner for recycling and reuse, with earth-friendly disposal. We also recycle all the worn-out batteries from our watch shop, over 5,000 a year! All of the chemicals we use are earth friendly, and our equipment utilizes some of the highest quality HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters available, to keep the air clean.

Traditionally, jewelry design starts with a hand sketch, which is often rendered in three different views, in water color, to help the client visualize the finished piece. From the sketch, a wax model is carved, again by hand, and any changes needed are made to the wax before it is cast in the final metal. Since Computer Aided Design (CAD) was introduced to the jewelry industry, it has enabled quicker and more precise jewelry design. You still need a talented mind to concept the piece (and we have plenty), but CAD can reduce the time it takes to produce the finished piece. A handcolored rendering is still valuable, as it is truer to size, and we have several craftsmen on staff who can produce them. We are also fortunate to have a CAD specialist at our sister store in Columbus, whom we can utilize for any design where it makes sense.

We buy gold and diamonds. We offer competitive prices for your jewelry, and we recycle the gold in our manufacturing and repair facility. So it’s good for you, and good for the environment.

Donna’s Home Furnishings is more than just a furniture store. We are a celebration of creativity. Traditional, yet always fresh, always on trend. Discover heirloom quality furniture and unique finds. Our pleasure is bringing the best of the world back home to you. Making a special place for family is our mission. Come in, explore and be inspired. Experience the best in home and garden furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, organic botanicals, mirrors, art, and more at Donna’s Home Furnishings.

DONNA’S

A Place to Come Home

HOME FURNISHINGS

5629 West Davis Street

Conroe, TX

77304

P. 936.828.3788

www.DHFONLINE.com

F. 936.828.3789

SPRI NG FASHION The Spring 2013 Runways exhibited an eclectic mix of bold graphic prints, strong jacket silhouettes, feminine flounce and stark color contrast. With the help of clothing and styling from Rowe boutique, we have chosen four of the most standout trends, featuring two distinct looks per trend, to spark your fashion fancy and keep you looking stylish all season long.

This page: Scott Kay Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet $985, 18K White Gold Blue Agate Drop Earrings with Black and White Diamonds $3,070, Stephen Webster Sterling Silver and Gray Cats Eye Superstud Ring $595, Sterling Silver Blue Sodalite Ring with Diamonds $1,331, Breitling Stainless Steel Galactic Watch $5,900 Opposite page: Rolex 18K Yellow Gold Day-Date Watch $31,350, David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold Oval Link Bracelet $4,400, Ippolita necklaces in 18K Yellow Gold: Jet Set Necklace $10,000, Modern Chain Necklace $3,395, Glamazon Necklace $9,000, Diamond Stud Earrings 1 Ct. T.W. and larger, starting at $2,200, David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold Cable Bracelet $5,250, Ippolita bracelets in 18K Yellow Gold: Glamazon Bracelets $695 to $5,795, Hammered Bangle $895, Clear Quartz Gelato Bangle $3,995, Diamond Superstar Bangle $6,500, Diamond Bangle $2,495, Gelato Bracelet with Hematite, Mother-of-Pearl, and Clear Quartz Doublets $2,995, Hematite Doublet Rock Candy Bracelet $1,995, 14K White Gold Ring with Orange Sapphires and Diamonds $1,969, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold and Lemon Quartz Martellato Ring $2,540

BY LAND OR BY SEA

Beautiful graphic landscapes have inspired many of the bold prints we are seeing this spring. A wild collage of mixed and matched linear shapes and wildlife make up some of the most sought-after scenery a garment could ever hope for.

Le SMOKING JACKET

The female tuxedo paved the way for a plethora of modern shapes and jacket styles for women. Consider this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jackets a feminine twist on the sport coat and pant suit for the fashion-minded woman.

This page: 14K White Gold and Diamond Hoop Earrings $12,870, David Yurman Stainless Steel and 18K Yellow Gold Classic Watch with Diamonds $8,000, Penny Preville 18K Yellow Gold Labradorite and Diamond Necklace $2,783, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Yellow Sapphire Flourentine Necklace $6,140, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Yellow Sapphire Flourentine Necklace $12,000, David Yurman 18K Yellow Gold InďŹ nity Necklace $4,200, John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold and White Topaz Bedeg Batu Ring $700, David Yurman Sterling Silver and 18K Yellow Gold Wheaton Ring with PavĂŠ Diamonds $6,300, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow and White Gold Primavera Bangle $1,900, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Mesh Primavera Bangle $780 Opposite page: Rolex 18K Rose Gold Datejust $30,700, John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold Classic Chain Bracelet $9,600, John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold and Ruby Naga Ring $1,100, John Hardy Sterling Silver, 18K Yellow Gold and Blue Topaz Batu Ring $1,495, John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold Classic Chain Necklace $11,000, John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold and Diamond Pendant $4,700, Michele Stainless Steel with Yellow Gold-Plating Deco Watch $1,495, Fashion Strap $120, Elizabeth Locke 19K Yellow Gold Venetian Glass Intaglio Drop Earrings in Mint Green with Tiny Chariot Design $4,825

FEMININE FLAIR

Ladylike flounces, ruffle details and dainty peplums make up this ultra-feminine trend, allowing girls to be girls and celebrating the delicately intricate feminine complexity of fashion.

This page: Roberto Coin 18K White Gold Flower Earrings with Diamonds $6,040, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Flower Necklace with Cento Diamond Center $3,400, Rolex Stainless Steel and 18K Yellow Gold Datejust Watch $16,150, Elizabeth Locke 19K Yellow Gold Flat Wide Bangle with Daisies $7,700, Elizabeth Locke 19K Yellow Gold Wide Channeled Bangle $8,975, Kwiat Platinum Diamond Tennis Bracelet $88,700, Roberto Coin 18K Rose Gold Art Noveau Ring with Pink Tourmaline, Pink Sapphires, and Diamonds $6,080, Marco Bicego 18K Yellow and White Gold Jaipur Ring with Diamonds $3,830 Opposite page: Roberto Coin 18K Rose Gold Mother-of-Pearl and Diamond Earrings, $7,400, Cartier Stainless Steel and 18K Yellow Gold Tank Anglaise Watch $7,250, 18K White Gold Bracelet with Diamonds and 18K Yellow and Rose Gold Accents $25,968, 18K Yellow Gold Smoky Quartz Ring $1,999, Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold 3-Row Multi-Colored Semiprecious Necklace $37,000, John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold Bamboo Ring with PavĂŠ Diamonds in 18K White Gold $2,350

OPPOSITES ATTRACT Black and white may represent the highest level of contrast on the color wheel, but in fashion, they combine to create the perfect complementary duo. The stark contrast of black's sleek precision to white's immaculate lightness creates a bold statement, the perfect canvas on which to add bold pops of color with jewelry and accessories.

This page: Jaeger-LeCoultre Stainless Steel Grande Reverso Watch $5,650, Stephen Webster Sterling Silver Superstud Bracelet $2,150, Stephen Webster Sterling Silver and Black Sapphire Earrings $1,195, Kwiat 18K White Gold and Black Diamonds Ring $900, Scott Kay Sterling Silver, White Sapphire and Ruby Snake Ring $1,325, Scott Kay Black Spinel and White Sapphire Guardian Lariat $1,145 Opposite page: Breitling Superocean GMT in Stainless Steel with White Arabic Dial and White Rubber Strap $4,340, John Hardy Sterling Silver Kali Pebble Link Necklace $1,895, Ippolita Sterling Silver Oval Link Necklace $995, Ivanka Trump Black Onyx and Diamond Cocktail Ring $3,650, Charles Krypell Sterling Silver Saddle Ring with Black and White Sapphires $2,596, Ippolita Sterling Silver Hammered Bangle Bracelet $495, Ippolita Sterling Silver Glamazon Bangle Bracelet $395, Ippolita Sterling Silver Hematite Doublet Wonderland Bracelet $595, Ippolita Sterling Silver Wonderland Bracelet (Barolo) $395, Ippolita Sterling Silver Rock Candy Bangle with Black Onyx $650, Ippolita Sterling Silver Doublet Earrings $395

Tradition

Craftsmanship Don’t trust your jewelry and watch repair to just anyone.

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ACCENT MAGAZINE SPECIAL SECTION SPRING/SUMMER 2013

GETTY 1

WATCHES

FOCUS: ADVISOR

WATCH WISDOM

TIME TO ANSWER YOUR PRESSING QUESTIONS.

IS IT NECESSARY TO SERVICE MY WATCH IF I’M NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT? All watches need maintenance. The extent of the service required depends on the particular timepiece, its movement and its age. Generally, quartz watches need battery replacements every two to three years. Mechanical watches, much like automobiles, need regular servicing. The inner movements of the mechanical watch are lightly lubricated to reduce friction between the parts and ensure accuracy and reliability. Deterioration of the lubricants occurs over time and results in higher friction, increasing wear and tear and decreasing precision. A mechanical watch should be serviced every three to five years. Watches should always be taken to an authorized retailer to be properly serviced. If the wrong gaskets, batteries or parts are used, it can result in more expensive repairs down the line. Even quartz watches, after a simple battery change, have to be properly sealed and closed to ensure their water resistance.

IS A WATCH A GOOD INVESTMENT? Many people buy a watch because they love the individual statement the piece makes about them. However, in today’s economy, people also want to know that the watch they’re buying will hold its value over time, and maybe even go up in value. Most top-name watches will hold their value and some can even become heirloom pieces over the coming generations. If you’re looking to start building a watch collection, invest in different styles of watches appropriate for different situations, and do your homework regarding the most coveted brands. Special or limited-edition watches are almost always a good investment in the long term. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; our knowledgeable watch experts are here to give you guidance.

Intuition The warm ivory tone of the ﬁnely ﬂuted barrel catches the eye immediately. It is shaped with puristic elegance from a single piece of precious resin. Also available with a black barrel. 18-karat bicolor gold nib ‘run in’ by hand. Handmade in Germany.

FOCUS: ADVISOR

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT WATCH TRENDS? One of the most important trends in the watch market today is definitely the proliferation of dual-, triple-, and multi-time zone watches. For today’s global business person, or any busy traveler, having alternate time zones readily available at the flick of the wrist is almost essential. These timepieces come in a wealth of styles and in an array of price ranges, offering design and technology options for men and women. Chronographs also steal the limelight with their form-meets-function attitude. A chronograph is a watch that times multiple events, and it can be a very useful tool. Another important trend today is the move toward new timepieces for women. These include mechanical and quartz watches that offer sophisticated features and functions, like elegant moonphase indications, chronograph counters and calendars.

I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT “COMPLICATED” WATCHES; WHAT DOES THIS MEAN (AND ISN’T LIFE COMPLICATED ENOUGH)? The term complicated refers to timepieces with certain functions or features that are considered top feats of watchmaking. The most coveted complications vary depending on personal taste and watchmaking progress. Among the top categories today are tourbillon watches (expensive, complex mechanical calibers that house an escapement, which compensates for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity), repeater watches that chime the time on demand via a series of gongs and hammers, and perpetual calendar watches that can track the day, date, month, year and leap year (and sometimes moonphases and more) for hundreds of years to come. Some of the world’s finest complicated watches can have waiting lists, but please stop in anyway — we’re happy to show you some fabulous timepieces whether or not you plan to buy.

WHAT NEW MATERIALS ARE BEING USED IN WATCHMAKING? As watchmakers progress in their quests for innovation, they naturally turn to other fields, such as the space and automotive industries, to see what these state-of-the-art worlds are utilizing. This has led to a wealth of new lightweight, rugged, hypoallergenic materials being incorporated into wristwatch cases, dials and straps. Among the more interesting materials being used: high-tech ceramic, carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium and alloys of various elements. These are great new introductions that are well worth checking out the next time you visit the store.

DIAMOND STUD EARRINGS FROM DONOHO’S JEWLLERS.

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FOCUS: PROFILE

by Robert Haynes-Peterson

THE STRONGEST LINK

TAG HEUER DOES WELL BY DOING GOOD. Natural Resources Defense Council — was in town filming The Wolf of Wall Street. He bounded on stage to join Diaz and Babin, showering high praise on the brand. "It's incredible to work with a company that cares so much, and gives so much. That kind of dedication to service is important to me, and it's reflected in everything TAG Heuer does." The Link Lady Trilogy Limited Edition set and Leonardo DiCaprio Link Automatic Chronograph Calibre 16 watch are in stores now. TAG Heuer fans can also enjoy a technological breakthrough this year: the TAG Heuer Mikrogirder. The innovative regulator, which TAG Heuer claims challenges the 300-year heritage of hairspring/balance wheel mechanical regulation, allows the company to present a highly accurate chronograph, impervious to gravity, with minimal isochronous error. Winner of the 2012 Aiguille d'Or — the top prize in all categories at the Geneva Watchmaking Gran Prix — the Mikrogirder Chronograph replaces the spiral hairspring and classic balance wheel with a coupling beam and excitatory beam system, paired with a linear oscillator. The technology allows the chronograph accuracy to 5/10,000 of a second, beating 7.2 million times each hour. The design features a anthracite dial and rubber strap, with assymetric case.

nly a couple of weeks after Hurricane Sandy, when much of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey were still plunged in darkness, TAG Heuer went ahead with its plans for the Manhattan launch party of its latest Link collection, the Link Lady Trilogy Limited Edition. Created in conjunction with brand ambassador Cameron Diaz, who attended the event, the Trilogy collection (a limited-edition steel ring, bracelet and watch trio featuring the first automatic watch in the Link Lady line) was already slated to do good: Profits are dedicated to support UN Women, an organization that advocates for women's rights around the world. In the wake of Sandy's destructive force, however, the watch company knew it must do more. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Sandy," TAG Heuer president and CEO Jean-Christophe Babin told the crowd of 500 or so, many of whom had flown in from Europe for the event. "We decided it was important to help New York Cares with their relief efforts, and we are donating $100 for every guest who is here." As it happened, actor Leonardo DiCaprio — another TAG Heuer brand ambassador, whose new Signature Link Calibre 16 Chronograph (with blue dial) will raise funds for Green Cross International and the

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Natural Diamond Not Synthetic

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THE UNIVERSAL STANDARD BY WHICH GEMS ARE JUDGED.

SPOTLIGHT

WRITTEN

INTO HISTORY Like its extraordinary writing implements, the Faber-Castell family stands the test of time. JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

his year Faber-Castell celebrates 252 years in business, making it one of the oldest continually operating companies in the world. The leading manufacturer of wood-cased pencils, it also makes a variety of other writing instruments and luxury cosmetic pencils for some of the world’s top makeup brands. To tell the fascinating story of Faber-Castell one must begin with Kaspar Faber, who lived from 1730 to 1784 in a small village outside Nuremberg, Germany. A cabinet maker by trade, he had a side business producing pencils, which he sold from a basket in the village market. Its success soon made pencil-making the family’s primary business, and Kaspar’s son Anton Wilhelm took it over upon his death. Remarkably, the site Anton Wilhelm acquired on the outskirts of Stein to build his first workshop still remains today as global headquarters of the A.W. Faber-Castell Company. Each subsequent generation grew the company and its product line (inks, writing slates, slide rules, etc.), and in 1849, Lothar von Faber became the first to expand beyond the borders of Germany. He set up foreign subsidiaries first in New York, and then in Vienna, London, St. Petersburg and Paris. In 1870, A.W. Faber became the fifth entry in the U.S. Trademark Register, and today bears the distinction of being the oldest active registered trademark in existence. Now a roughly €600 million business, Faber-Castell employs 7,000 people in 100 countries around the globe. As if surviving (and growing) for more than a quarter millennium isn’t enough of an achievement, Faber-Castell is also credited with helping pass the first trademark laws to protect brand name products; inventing the hexagonal pencil shape; founding Germany’s first life insurance

company in 1884, still in existence today; and being the drawing tool of choice for artists including Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Klee and cartoonist Carl Barks. One thing that hasn’t changed over Faber-Castell’s long and storied history is its serious commitment to making the world’s highestquality writing implements, and its motto of “doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” The eighth generation is currently at the helm, led by Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell. His wife, Countess Mary, serves as managing director of FC Cosmetics, a division for which they both have a special affinity. (The two met when Faber-Castell began making cosmetic pencils for Chanel, where Mary was director of marketing.) The couple’s four children, Count Charles and Countesses Sarah, Katharina and Victoria, are currently studying international business, law and marketing in preparation for their futures within the company. A notable highlight is the company’s pen of the year, of which only 10 are produced annually; the design for 2012 featured 58 diamonds in 18K yellow gold, along with a $90,000 price tag. Among the more attainable — but still exquisite — offerings is the E-Motion collection of ballpoint pens, like the ivory resin version pictured above. Its body will fit comfortably in your hand, while its laser-etched crocodile pattern will surely make you the envy of other pen connoisseurs. We are proud to offer Faber-Castell products, and to support a family business dedicated to upholding tradtions much like our own.

“THE POINT IS NOT TO CLING TO TRADITION FOR ITS OWN SAKE, BUT TO PRESERVE IT, IN KEEPING WITH THE TIMES, AS A SUCCESSFUL SYSTEM OF VALUES.” –COUNT ANTON WOLFGANG VON FABER-CASTELL

Left: The Faber-Castell Castle in Stein, Germany.

FOR THE GUYS

N A M FF STU

when y u g a be lry time to oices in jewe d o o g ch u It’s a o your he pieces yo ard t s e m T tw it co pieces. ecome an ou d e m i t an rb and to wea er interests, r e s o o n fo ch your in ng out there you f o n g i i s y someth the wa there’s e. Of course, ge with n n everyo look can cha ation. u o want t od or the sit u can o o your m five looks y er you’re e th r e Here a ur own, wh ooney, l o make y ike George C Dean… l s feeling Jones, Jame a Indian ourself. y or just

2 3

8 11 7

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1. David Yurman Skull Ring $550 2. David Yurman Jasper Belt $950 3. Scott Kay Sterling Ring $595 4. TAG Heuer Monaco $6,300 5. John Hardy Naga Bracelet $495 6. David Yurman Exotic Stone Tag Necklace $550 7. John Hardy Coin Pendant $295 8. David Yurman Ironwood Ring $395 9. Girard Perregaux Hawk Watch $11,350 10. John Hardy Coconut Wood Cufflinks $425 11. David Yurman Maritime Bracelet $450 12. Scott Kay Tribal Bracelet $200 13. David Yurman Antique Tag Necklace $625 14. John Hardy Meteorite Tag Necklace $850 15. Scott Kay Sterling Bracelet $1,050 16. David Yurman Classic Moon Phase $5,800 17. David Yurman Heirloom Cufflinks $525 18. John Hardy Bronze Ring $250 19. John Hardy Classic Chain Bracelet $625 20. John Hardy Bronze Cufflinks $350 21. TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 $6,200 22. John Hardy Palu Bronze Hook Bracelet $395 23. Jeager-LeCoultre Master Ultra-thin Tourbillon Watch $70,000 24. David Yurman Black Diamond Ring $2,100 25. David Yurman Black Diamond Tie Clip $2,950 26. John Hardy Naga Bracelet $4,700 27. David Yurman Bear Claw $1,795

individual runs up the driveway, and attracts about 150,000 spectators from around the world. Then in the fall, Lord March presents a spectacular vintage race held at the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit, built in 1948 by his grandfather just a mile or so from Goodwood House. In its glory days (the 1950s through 1966), this circuit hosted Formula 1 races and other toplevel events that rivaled the best in the world. Today, all who attend the reunion come dressed in period clothing. In the U.S., Classic Car Week in Monterey, California takes center stage every August. Dinners, auctions, car shows, lawn parties and other exclusive events keep auto enthusiasts remarkably busy all week. At nearby Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, some of the most extraordinary vintage racing is held from Friday through Sunday at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Perfectly restored racecars from around the world compete in full fields, using modern timing and scoring techniques. Split-second accuracy determines grid positions, and drivers fight to shed every possible second from their time charts. On the 18th green at nearby Pebble Beach on the final day of Classic Car Week, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance draws the most remarkable cars and the most knowledgeable attendees to these celebrated grounds. The contrast between the racecars and show cars is significant: In racing, time is everything; in showing cars it’s inconsequential. In both instances, however, winners at Monterey are presented with iconic Rolex timepieces.

“NATURALLY, RACECAR DRIVERS WEAR THE MOST ADVANCED, BEAUTIFUL AND PRECISE TIMEPIECES ON THE MARKET.”

PERFECT

TIMING

In motor racing as in timepieces, precision is everything. DAVID A. ROSE

TOP: ROLEX/TOM O’NEIL. BOTTOM: ROLEX/JAD SHERIF

CARS

t was a tough qualifying session. Lap after lap I pushed myself to the max, knowing it meant the difference between starting on the pole position (where there’s an advantage going into the first turn) or starting on the outside of the front row (where chances of taking the lead at the start are slim). As I took off alongside the other 35 cars in the field, I was confident I could win the pole, especially since my pit crew had written a large #1 on my pit board. But as I came into the pits, I could tell by the look on their faces that this was not to be: I had lost pole position by only 5/100ths of a second. Motor racing is a sport where time can be your best friend or your worst enemy. At the Rolex 24 at Daytona or at Le Mans, two cars can finish just seconds apart after 24 hours of racing. Pit Stops in Formula 1 are lightning fast: a car can have four tires changed in under three seconds. The drivers of these cars are in constant radio contact with their crew members, who report competitors’ timing and scoring figures; race strategy can change several times based on these reports. While both motor racing and timepieces involve speed and precise mechanics, the fashionable gatherings of classic and vintage cars at Concours d’Elegance events involve neither. In fact, these extraordinary vehicles are presented stationary. Perhaps the longest running of these events is the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which has been held on the shores of Lake Como, Italy since 1929. At events like this, classic and vintage cars are scored on the basis of perfection. It may be a static display, but the value of these glorious cars can reach or even exceed that of some thoroughbred racecars. In England, The Goodwood Festival of Speed is held each summer at Lord March’s estate in West Sussex. This event combines static display with

A beautiful D-03 1913 Mercer Model 35 J Raceabout Ray Scherr lines up for the start of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, presented by Rolex.

PERFECTGEMS EXPLORE THE LITTLE LUXURIES THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER.

A STROLL THROUGH HOTEL LA MAMOUNIA

Marrakech has a fascinating history, exotic markets, exciting nightlife and a delightfully opulent hotel. La Mamounia, a former palace celebrated for its mixture of traditional Moroccan and modern French styles, offers intriguing experiences from great art to ice cream. Take a walk through the reception room, lobby and tearoom, where Moroccan paintings and statues inspire. Stop at the Italian Bar to view the latest photography exhibition while sipping a Le Grand Dame Champagne cocktail made with citrus essence. Next, wander outside into the serene 17-acre garden filled with olive and citrus trees, magnificent roses and an extensive kitchen garden (you might chat with the chef as he gathers vegetables for dinner). At the center of the garden is Le Menzeh, an ice cream pavilion that offers pastries and freshly made ice creams. Finally, to recover from your exertions, complete your tour with a Royal Hammam treatment at the lavish spa.

THE NIGHT SPOT

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that Broadway singers and actors hate when the curtain comes down and they have to leave the stage. So on Tuesday nights, after the shows are out, performers and the fans who love them gather for Backstage at 54 Below (located in the basement of legendary Studio 54) to keep the music and jokes going over drinks and supper. Led by musical director Brad Simmons and host Susie Mosher, gypsies, Broadway and cabaret stars (and occasionally an audience member) sing or do their routines in this intimate and fashionable 144-seat space created by Tony-winning set designers. The wine list and food are good, the service excellent, the crowd always fun. And you never know who might turn up to perform. End your evening on a high note.

BOTTOM LEFT MARC BRYAN-BROWN

CHRIS LEE

DONALD CHARLES RICHARDSON

Celebrate. The three-stone anniversary ring from Donoho’s Jewellers.

9590 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380

•

281.367.9050

SPIRIT OF THE PAST

ALEX R. KIRZHNER

Built in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman de Burgos family, Ashford Castle is set on 350 acres with a spectacular backdrop of Irish woodlands, lake and mountains. Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness purchased the estate in 1855 as the family’s country residence. Since becoming a hotel in 1939, the castle has welcomed dignitaries and celebrities including Prince Edward, King George V, Ted Kennedy, Sharon Stone, Brad Pitt and Barbra Streisand. The castle offers contemporary comforts and conveniences, but naturally, oldworld traditions still thrive. There’s Ireland’s first school of falconry, a decanter of sherry in each room, and tea served in the drawing room. And in keeping with conventional castle ambiance, there’s also a ghost, reportedly from the 19th century when the Guinnesses were in residence. Not to worry: guests who’ve seen the young female apparition say she’s friendly.

LIGHT FOOTED

This spring, let your feet shine with bright bejeweled footwear by Ivy Kirzhner, featuring cloisonné metal work and exotic leathers. The 2013 collection includes the Ark, a dress wedge with crystals and snake leather inlays on an 18K gold-plated heel. The Taj Mahal gladiator sandal features gold silk metallic leather with crystals. Nefertiti is an ornamental high wedge with 18K gold-plated hardware and hand-enameled cloisonné treatment. Pictured above are the Montezuma Deco-bejeweled slippers in royal blue and hot coral kid suede and gold silk metallic, and the Tresor, a Deco ballet flat in gold silk metallic and opal, both with crystals on an 18K goldplated hardware ornament. Step into a brilliant summer.

CONCERT GRAND

Steinway Lyngdorf is a collaboration between Steinway & Sons, makers of the world’s finest pianos, and audio innovator Peter Lyngdorf. Their speaker systems range from the invisible to the compact to the giant. Currently, the state-of-theart choice is the Model LS Concert. Combined with the SP-1 Stereo Processor or P-1 Surround Sound Processor and Steinway Lyngdorf’s fully digital amplifiers, it’s perfect for luxurious home theaters. The open-baffle design makes the speaker interact with the room much as a musical instrument would, resulting in extremely open and life-like musicality. There’s also a remarkable remote that weighs nearly 2.2 pounds, with a rotating wheel crafted from solid, gold-plated brass and mounted on precision-machined Swiss bearings, providing intuitive and total command of the system.

DESIGN

TELLING

STORIES

Nate Berkus discusses his new book, The Things That Matter. BETHANY RABORN

esigner, film producer, author and TV personality Nate Berkus has made a career out of taking interior design beyond paint colors and fabric swatches. His latest book, The Things That Matter (Spiegel & Grau, 2012), gets to the heart of design in a way that has you simultaneously poring over the vibrant pages and setting it down to rearrange your living room. Here, we chat with Berkus about the book, his own home décor, and more. Your new book focuses on design as a personal statement. Was there a point where you realized design was not just about making things pretty? I realized that very early on. My mom is an interior designer, so “home” was more about a well-designed room than a home-cooked meal. That was her way of saying she cared about her family. Things were not expensive, but they were beautiful. It was ingrained in me that assembling interiors was not something to be rushed. You talk about incorporating things from your travels into your décor. How does one avoid a room full of kitschy souvenirs? I do a lot of research before I travel. I talk to the concierge at the hotel, I talk

to a friend who’s gone there before, to really get the best sources for everything. I have a deep knowledge of furniture creators and modern art, but one thing that is always important to me is the element of the handmade, whether it’s a Navajo basket on a coffee table or a South American belt on a pile of books. I look for the best silversmith in Portugal, the best textiles in Asia or ceramics in Mexico. I look for what’s indigenous, what’s historic and traditional. When you walk into someone’s home, what stands out as “good” or “bad” design? What makes me happy is walking in to see different styles all combined. That may be a Swedish dresser, a French mirror and a Native American rug in one room. I think it makes a room feel layered, like it was assembled over time. I love when someone takes a risk. I may not love what they did, but I am taken in when I see someone is adventurous. Conversely, what bugs me is when everything is of the same quality or out of one catalog. You can tell when someone spent a great fortune, but you don’t know anything about that person except that they’re rich. In the book, you discuss designing your own home in NYC. How was the process different than designing for other people? In a designer’s own home, he is answering only to himself, so he can take more risks. I like to let things find me, whereas with clients you don’t have the luxury of buying things haphazardly. For my home, I started to feel like I didn’t have roots; I wanted to assemble everything in one space, under one roof. Over 570 boxes were delivered to that home and as I went through all of them, I started to understand my own connection to things. I had to decide what to keep, where to put it, what it went with. The editing process is the most important part. Even if there is something you love, if there’s no place for you to display it and enjoy it and have it add to the graciousness of your home, then it should be edited out. What did you learn from writing the book? I didn’t set out to write an autobiography, rather I wanted the book to be about how I approach design. I hope people recognize that we each have a story, which is why I shared my own in the book. Everyone I’ve known, everywhere I’ve been, everything I’ve done has influenced my style. I hope people will stop, take a beat, and decide for themselves what really serves them in the home and what doesn’t. Only then can someone achieve an interior that truly reflects their personality. What’s next for Nate Berkus? My Chicago design firm is constantly undertaking new projects. I am excited about my collaboration with Target, and hope people find a few things from my line to add to their décor. I’m producing a second feature film that I’m really excited about. I love books so much, and after producing The Help, I wanted to find another project where I could make a beloved book into a film. We need more of that.

L e s s t h a n o n e p e r c e n t o f t h e w o r l d ’s d i a m o n d s c a n c a r r y t h e F o r eve r m a r k i n s c r i p t i o n — a promise that each is beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced.

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EATS

JOYCE N. BOGHOSIAN

FOOD

FOR THOUGHT Reimagining the kitchen garden. JACQUELIN CARNEGIE

nce upon a time, everyone who could grew vegetables in their own “kitchen” garden, to have easy access to good, nutritious food and to supplement what they could purchase. Unfortunately, as a civilization, we’ve moved far away from the land, and most people now get their fruits and vegetables from giant chain supermarkets. Most of these fruits and veggies come from industrial-sized farms, ripen in the transport truck — instead of in the sun — and have practically no taste and very little nutritional value by the time we purchase them in plastic-wrapped packages.

STARTING A DELICIOUS REVOLUTION The good news: a group of passionate and dedicated food “activists” has launched the

Good Food Movement. The overall goal is to get Americans to eat healthier by relying more on locally grown produce with higher nutritional value, all while reducing our global carbon footprint. In addition, there’s an emphasis on improving children’s diets, specifically in lowincome areas. Because while the number of supermarkets with organic produce sections, local farmers’ markets and locavore (organic food, locally grown) restaurants has increased dramatically, most inner-city children still live in neighborhoods served only by fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. “Many in the movement credit famed chef 1 First Lady Michelle Obama plants a White House kitchen garden with help from horticulturist Dale Haney and Bancroft Elementary School students, March 20, 2009. 2 A public schoolyard is transformed by The Edible Schoolyard Project. 3 Tools at rest. 4 Harvest from Roger Doiron’s (Kitchen Gardeners International) own garden. 5 Famed chef Alice Waters started The Edible Schoolyard Project to teach kids how to grow and cook nutritious food.

ROGER DOIRON

Alice Waters, of the renowned Berkeley, California restaurant Chez Panisse, with getting the ball rolling,” says Arnell Hinkle, executive director of CANFIT, an organization that helps communities implement healthy-food programs. About 15 years ago, over concern for a local public school, Waters launched The Edible Schoolyard Project. Through kitchen gardens planted on their own public school grounds, students across the country learn how to plant and harvest organic produce. The kids are then taught how to make nutritious meals from what they’ve grown. “We’re calling for a revolution in public education — the ‘Delicious Revolution,’” Waters explains. “When the hearts and minds of our children are captured by a school lunch curriculum enriched with experience in the garden, sustainability will become the lens through which they see the world.” The Good Food Movement got another boost when First Lady Michelle Obama planted a kitchen garden at the White House in 2009. She was inspired to do so by a grassroots advocacy campaign led by Roger Doiron, director of Kitchen Gardeners International. Doiron is a modern-day Pied Piper for the benefits of kitchen gardens. Knowing that when Eleanor Roosevelt planted a “victory” garden at the White House in the 1940s, it inspired 40 percent of the U.S. population to follow suit, he figured Mrs. Obama’s enthusiasm for the cause might have a similar effect. “The commercially grown foods we’re eating today are significantly less nutritious than they were just 30 years ago,” Doiron points out. “What we need are millions of people joining the movement by planting four-season kitchen gardens right in their own back — or front — yards. This produce provides healthy meals for families and any excess can be donated to local food pantries.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF URBAN FARMING As the population explodes and urban areas continue to encroach on farmland, the ability to grow more nutritious food in less space becomes paramount. Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power, is an urban-farming guru, admired and revered by everyone in the Good Food Movement. Allen’s mission is to get nutritious, organic food grown with the smallest environmental impact. Using his methods, Growing Power’s two-acre urban lot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, produces enough healthy food to feed 10,000 people. Some of these methods include: greenhouses

6 Roger Doiron, Kitchen Gardeners International. 7 On a two-acre lot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Growing Power produces enough healthy food to feed 10,000 people. 8 No room for a kitchen garden? Set up Windowfarms. 9 vintage Victory Garden poster.

and “hoop” houses (made from plastic sheeting and plywood) that are composted with the richest fertilizer, verimcompost, made from worms (heat generated from the composting process also warms the greenhouses in winter); aquaponics, a symbiotic method of growing certain plants and fish together; and raising crops and animals (bees, chickens, ducks, goats) sustainably, without chemicals. Growing Power not only raises healthy food in a compact urban space, they run extensive programs for inner-city and disadvantaged youths to get them interested in and involved with the process. They also hold workshops and travel around the country training others how to replicate their results. Allen, winner of a Ford Foundation leadership grant, a MacArthur “genius” award, and a spot on Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move” team, states: “We have to change where and how food is grown right now, because we are malnourishing ourselves to death. Today, most people live in urban areas, yet many have very limited access to healthy, nutritious food. What’s needed is a Good Food Revolution.”

GET ON BOARD THE GOOD FOOD REVOLUTION All of these organizations offer advice, classes and workshops. Kitchen Gardeners International can help anyone plant a kitchen garden. If you don’t have the space, find a community garden with help from the American Community Gardening Association. Learn how to get a kitchen garden planted at your local public school through The Edible Schoolyard Project. And, if you want to start or join an urban farming project in your community, attend a Growing Power workshop. As Thomas Jefferson said: “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.”

Learn More: Good Food Movement Resources ACGA communitygarden.org CANFIT canfit.org Edible Schoolyard Project edibleschoolyard.org Growing Power growingpower.org Kitchen Gardeners International kgi.org Windowfarms windowfarms.com Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, through August 2013

SPIRITS

FINE

TEQUILA

Mexico’s national spirit looks toward luxury.

he Margarita continues to rank as one of the country’s most popular cocktails, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS), as well as a perennially popular resort option. Fortunately, today’s drinker has an unprecedented range of premium and superpremium tequila options from which to choose, whether sipped, shot or mixed into a drink. Casa Dragones is a super-premium, limited-production blend of blanco (aged two to six months) and extra añejo (aged five years) tequilas, designed for refined, smooth sipping. It’s made in small batches and bottled in individually engraved, signed and numbered crystal decanters. “For us, it’s one bottle at a time,” says co-founder and maestra tequilera Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, “and we never want to change that.” At about $300 a bottle, it’s not for shooting. Instead, it’s for sipping and is part of what could be called a Third Wave of Tequila in the U.S. (Jose Cuervo representing our introduction to the agave-based spirit in the 1960s and ’70s, Patron/Sauza/El Tesoro taking us further along the journey in the ’80s and ’90s, and today’s artisanal and luxury products expanding our horizons yet again). Most of the flexibility in tequila production involves the fine points of harvesting agave hearts, or piñons, how and how long the piñons are cooked, and specific distillation techniques. Blending differently aged batches, as Casa Dragones does, is a relatively new twist, one which Maestro Dobel

Single Estate tequila ($45) claims to have mastered first. A clear, colorless blend of various aged tequilas, Dobel is unexpectedly earthy on the palate, in part due to the use of Balkan oak. Don Julio, meanwhile, launched its Añejo 70 Claro ($70) in late 2011. Not a blend of aged tequilas, rather a clarified and filtered añejo, the result is a clear, colorless juice like a blanco, with the toasted oak and dusty sugar notes of an aged spirit. Perhaps the most interesting experimentation happening with tequila involves barrel choices. Most brands employ new oak or used bourbon barrels (the way most Scotch whisky does) during the aging process, but a few are exploring sherry casks, port barrels and more. DeLeon, a Guanajuato-based spirits brand, launched Leona on December 21 last year (the “end of the world” on the Mayan calendar). It was the first in a series of high-end, limited-edition “reserva” releases from the brand. Founder Brent Hocking says, “We were lucky to have purchased extra Sauternes barrels used in finishing our añejo expression. While going through the warehouse, we decided to experiment and see what would happen if we left some to sit.” Taking the tequila to the aging “edge” of the añejo classification (34 months), the resulting liquor is sweet, rich and complex and, quite simply, one of the most intriguing tequilas on the market. At $825, it had better be good of course, but Leona is no vanity project. It’s definitive proof that tequila has potential, as a fine spirit, far beyond body shots at spring break.

COURTESY DELEON TEQUILA

ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON

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READS

LIVING A CHARMED LIFE

Stylist, designer, writer and founding fashion director of this magazine, BETH BERNSTEIN talks to Accent about love, life and the profound power of fine jewelry. generations, taking on each of our personalities as it changed • My grandmother’s fantasy gems • A platinum eternity band I bought myself. It was my first self purchase and it meant that I was independent and didn’t need a man to buy me jewelry. • A locket and baguette stick pin from my mom, pieces that always remind me of her • My dad’s Cartier Tank watch • The plastic bead necklace my niece made for me when she was three • A pendant my dad gave to my mom that I had revamped into a ring; it keeps them alive, and together, forever… Family is obviously important to you. What’s the best advice you ever got from your loved ones? From my grandmother: “Always wear a little lipstick. And earrings…” “Superstitions are just that. Worrying doesn’t make something not happen…” And the zinger: “If he hasn’t married you by now, he’s not going to!” From my father: “People can only hurt you if you let them.” From my mother: “You can usually see the train coming from afar; get off the tracks before it hits you.” And (the words I heard most often) “He wasn’t worthy of you anyway…” What’s your best advice to women about buying and wearing jewelry? I very much believe in personal style and creating your own look. Buy for who you are, not who your friends are. Try on lots of different things: you’ll learn your style as you get more comfortable trying on. Leave hints for your husband or significant other about your dream gifts. But never feel like you have to stick with something: you can change your style as you grow. The most important rule: there are no rules. Wear what you love. Wear your jewelry; never let it wear you. I understand you’re a bit superstitious about your jewelry… Just a bit! I always wear some sort of talisman when I fly. (I truly believe it helps land the plane…) I never wear a ring on my left hand ring finger because some Russian woman told me when I was very young that I’d never get married if I did. I’m still not married, and still longing for that band of gold…

“WEAR YOUR JEWELRY; NEVER LET IT WEAR YOU.”

NOLET’S GIN

You’ve been touring the country and the reviews have been sensational. Why did you write this book? I felt there was something ultimately universal in the way women relate the most significant moments in their lives to jewelry. Open any woman’s jewelry box and there will be at least a few pieces that connect her to her past, that represent her present and that can be handed down in the future. As a writer and jewelry designer, I wanted to explore this theme, kind of what Ilene Beckerman did in Love, Loss, and What I Wore. What did you learn about yourself from writing it? More than I wanted to know; it was a painful process of self discovery. I learned that I hold on, am afraid of loss (thus I have every piece of jewelry every guy ever gave to me — even the ones I don’t want to remember). I learned that I have incredible connections that go deeper than I realized with the maternal side of my family. That I continually choose the wrong men and stay too long in bad relationships. And that my mom and grandmother were the true gems in my life. What have women told you about themselves upon reading your book? I’ve had many women write me about their mothers: the shared emotions and shared jewelry boxes. Almost everyone who wrote mentioned the relevance certain pieces have to significant moments in their lives: the exciting time they got their ears pierced or the magical moment they were first given jewelry by a guy — even if it was from a vending machine! Women have told me about the pain of selling their jewelry after a divorce, the joy of receiving their engagement ring, the bittersweet memories conjured up by their mom’s charm bracelet… What are your most prized pieces and why? • My mom’s baroque pearls handed to me in the hospital in a Ziplock bag when she died unexpectedly • My great-grandmother’s brooch, transformed four times for four

DONOHO’S ACCENT THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

SPRING/SUMMER 2013