MAGAZINE
SEA CHANGERS Watches that went to the bottom of the ocean
A TRIP TO WATCH COUNTRY Exploring the villages within the famed Vallée de Joux
SCENE STEALERS
Getting into character for these actors meant wearing their own Rolexes
4 THE MAGAZINE
{
Make a style statement with one — or two layered together.
}
So chic, so timeless — every jewelry box should have these.
A bold power ring is the perfect outfit maker.
} Style tip: Make a great statement watch part of your bracelet stack.
}
{
This page from top: Diamond pavé bar necklace in 14kt white gold, $595. Graduated diamond necklace in 14kt white gold, $1,275. Pearl and diamond earrings in 14kt white gold, $350. Matching necklace, $350. Multi-row diamond band in 14kt yellow gold, $495. Michele Deco Sport Two-Toned watch with a gold Lizard Strap band, $595. Michele Deco Park Stainless Steel Diamond watch, $2,395. Diamond inside outside hoops in 14kt white gold, from $495. Opposite page: Signature name necklace in 14kt yellow gold, from $350. Other styles available from $250. Diamond Fleur De Lis Necklace in 14kt white gold, $1,395. Pavé diamond bangle bracelets in 14kt white, yellow or rose gold from .35ct. t.w. to 5ct. t.w. from $895. Hand engraved cuff links: in Sterling Silver, $125 in 14kt yellow gold, $975.
The perfect dayto-night bling — wear them with everything!.
6 THE MAGAZINE
}
Wear a pop of personality.
}
Destined to become a modern day keepsake.
Holiday
GIFT Guide Looking for something shiny and new for all those special someones on your list? We're here to help with ideas for perfect presents you can pick up all in one place. Or, because
{
you've been so extra good this year, why not be good to yourself with a dazzling new addi-
Choose bracelets designed with stacking in mind.
tion to your jewelry box? We can help with that too! Check out these sparkly ideas from our jewelry experts. Every man should own a piece of jewelry that isn't a wedding band or watch.
} 7 THE MAGAZINE
THE
MAGAZINE
by ANTON’S
FINE
JEWELRY
16 28
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE
You'll also travel to far-flung places like the depths of the
PLEASURE to welcome
ocean, where few people — and yet some super-depend-
you to the Anton’s Fine
able watches — have dared to go, revealing discoveries that
Jewelry Magazine, which
could have enormous impact on the health of our planet. If a
is a great way for us to
soothing spa retreat is more your style, turn to Page 24 for a
share our considerable
peek at three indulge-yourself destinations.
knowledge about fine jewelry and timepieces with loyal customers like you. While our favorite part of the business is getting to know
And during the busy days ahead, as we enter the most festive time of the year, we invite you to come into our store and let our team of watch and gemstone experts find just the
you when you stop by our store looking for that perfect
right gifts for everyone on your list. We wish you happy holi-
engagement ring, birthday surprise or holiday gift, we also
days and look forward to seeing you.
hope you enjoy flipping through these pages, which will take
With kind regards,
you inside the world of watch collecting, where you may be surprised by what passionate collectors prize most.
10675 Coursey Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 (225) 291-1919 10 T H E M A G A Z I N E
George Anton
12
20 19
CONTENTS FEATURES
COLUMNS
12
15 19
16 20 24 26 28
SEA CHANGERS
How James Cameron, Sylvia Earle and Rolex are protecting our oceans and the future of our planet. THE SPORTING LIFE
Being at the top of your game year after year is what it takes to become a sports legend. Here, three famed pros tell us how they measure success.
23
A HISTORY OF THE LADIES WRISTWATCH
From 1571 to today. ROCK LEGENDS
The stories behind some of the world’s most famous diamonds. SCENE STEALERS Rolexes as famous as the actors who wore them.
A TRIP TO WATCH COUNTRY
A meandering drive through Switzerland's Vallée de Joux is a paradise for watch enthusiasts. SPIRITED AWAY
3 indulge-yourself destinations to relax, renew and de-stress. WHAT MAKES A WATCH COLLECTOR TICK?
Three serious collectors talk about the thrill of the hunt. FAST & FURIOUS
11 cool cars built for speed — a look at life in the fast lane.
11 T H E M A G A Z I N E
Top: James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenger. Below: Sylvia Earle’s dives. 12 T H E M A G A Z I N E
Sea Changers How James Cameron, Sylvia Earle and Rolex are protecting our oceans and the future
ROLEX HAS ENJOYED A LONG AND RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP
attached to its exterior to see how it would stand up to the more than
with nature ever since the company began. Nature has served as a
16,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. It survived the dive and
testing ground for Rolex watches, and the company has paid it for-
came out ticking.
ward with numerous programs and means of support to preserve
Decades later, Cameron repeated the extraordinary expedition in
the planet. The latest initiative, launched this year, is Perpetual
the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible vessel to reach the world’s
Planet. The program includes a partnership with National Geo-
deepest frontier. Affixed to the exterior of the vessel was the state-of-
graphic to embark on a five-year exploration of the planet’s least understood environments to document the changes occurring and gain new insights about the impact of climate change. Perpetual Planet’s reach is far-ranging, covering Arctic glaciers to tropical rain forests, but nowhere is it more desperately needed than in protecting the oceans that cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface. Two of Rolex’s most celebrated Testimonees — an exclusive group of individuals who have worn and/or used a Rolex while accomplishing extraordinary feats — have been committed to deep-sea
James Cameron’s DeepSea
exploration and to the preservation of the seas themselves. James Cameron is best known as the director of the blockbuster
the-art experimental ROLEX DEEPSEA CHALLENGE which was de-
films “Titanic” and “Avatar.” But when he was a kid, his ambition was to
signed, engineered, manufactured and tested in just over four weeks
grow up to be an explorer. “I was a science nerd,” he has said, and the
– a record time for the occasion. Cameron, curled up inside the
ocean held particular sway, way before the director documented its
vessel for seven hours wore his ROLEX DEEPSEA and was joined
mighty power on film. He was drawn to it by “curiosity,” he has said,
aboard by the 1960 DEEP SEA SPECIAL, the watch that made the
adding that “so little is known about these deep places that I knew I
historic dive 52 years earlier on the Trieste. “ She kept me company to
would see things no human has ever seen.” He was right.
the most remote place on this planet and was my good luck charm,”
Cameron journeyed where few had gone before: to the deepest place on earth. More humans have walked on the moon than
he later said. Unlike the Trieste’s dive, which spent 20 minutes on the ocean
descended the seven-mile depth of the Mariana Trench, which lies
floor, Cameron’s new sub stayed on the floor three hours and was
off Guam in the Pacific Ocean. In 1960 the bathyscaphe Trieste
able to gather samples of sediment. Ever the filmmaker, he used
famously plunged into its waters, with a Rolex DEEP SEA SPECIAL
eight high-definition cameras to chronicle the voyage, revealing
13 T H E M A G A Z I N E
The Rolex DeepSea Challenge was “the reliable companion throughout the dive,” Cameron later said
discoveries that could have enormous impact on life on earth. Some
She has led more than 100 expeditions, most famously a group
68 new species of bacteria and invertebrates capable of living in ex-
of female aquanauts who lived two weeks on the ocean floor while
treme pressure were discovered. (Similar dives could also record
gathering research.
close-ups of the ocean floor’s tectonic plates, which can cause dev-
She has walked on the seafloor 1,250 feet below sea level, lower
astating earthquakes when they shift.)
than any other human.
When Cameron surfaced, all the watches were still working.
She founded Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, or DOER,
That’s dependability. “The ROLEX DEEPSEA CHALLENGE was the
a company that develops equipment for expeditions.
reliable companion throughout the dive,” Cameron later said, and
She was the first female chief scientist of the NOAA, the National
“a tremendous example of engineering know-how.” In honor of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Cameron’s accomplishment, Rolex released a special Sea-Dweller
The New Yorker called her “her deepness.”
watch with a dial shaded blue descending to black, like the bottom
The Library of Congress named her a Living Legend.
of the Mariana Trench, where the sun has never shone, and with
After winning a 2009 TED talk prize of $100,000, she used the
lettering colored green, like the submersible.
money to form the nonprofit Sylvia Earle Alliance (S.E.A.)/Mission Blue, establishing Hope Spots, ecologically unique and Sylvia Earle’s Rolex Lady Datejust 28
protected areas of the ocean around
the world. “They will be like National Parks,” she has explained, “protecting the environment from pollution and overfishing.” Only 6 percent of the ocean is currently protected, and Earle aims to increase that number to 30 percent by 2030. Sylvia Earle
The octogenarian still dives, and still wears the same steel and
Few people on earth have done more to explore and protect its
yellow gold Rolex Lady Datejust 28 watch from her early days.
oceans than the Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle. “The earth is in trou-
When asked how she maintains her childlike enthusiasm and
ble; therefore we’re in trouble,” she maintains. Over the course of 50
curiosity, she responded, “Growing up is way overrated.”
years, she has tried to reverse the situation to, as she has said,
To explorers and conservationists like Cameron and Earle, life
“make peace with nature.” Along the way, this 83-year-old oceanog-
is a never-ending journey of discovery, and Rolex, their supportive
rapher has racked up an impressive list of accomplishments:
and dependable companion, is along for the ride.
14 T H E M A G A Z I N E
A concise history of the ladies
Rolex Datejust 31 Everose Rolesor 15 T H E M A G A Z I N E
T H E
S P O R
BEING AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME a sports legend — as well as a Rolex Sports how they measure success.
Power MOVES LINDSAY VONN PUSHES HER LIMITS
U.S. World Cup Alpine ski racer Lindsay Vonn is one of the most successful skiers in the world. Her ability to ski was suddenly put at risk in 2013 when she injured her knee, which caused her to miss a full skiing season and the Olympics in Sochi, Japan. Although it was a devastating blow to her career, her fearlessness and perseverance turned that obstacle into what she considers her biggest strength today. "Skiing is like nothing else on earth," she said. "I love it. I think everyone should at least try it once in their life. At the top of a mountain I feel free; it’s my home. When I’m racing, it’s all instinct." “I’ve always been a fearless person and I definitely think that’s given me a big advantage in my career as a skier," she added. "I'm never afraid to go faster; I’m always pushing myself to the limit." “I’ve had a lot of injuries in my career, but it was my mother who told me to never give up. She had a stroke while giving birth to me and almost died, but she never complained about anything. I think that if she can overcome that, then my injuries are nothing. My setbacks and my injuries have made me a stronger person. In the end, it's not just about the wins; it's about the adventure." "I got my Rolex after I recovered from my second knee surgery. It was a dark period, but the watch signified to me that I had come back, that I had made it, that I’d overcome the biggest hurdle in my life and that I wasn’t finished yet. I wear it as a reminder to never give up."
T I N G
L I F E
year after year is what it takes to become Testimonee. Here, three famed pros tell us
Changing
COURSE TIGER WOODS ON REDEFINING SUCCESS
Considered one of the greatest golfers ever and the first to win all four professional majors in a row, Tiger Woods is truly a legend in his own time. But over the span of his 20 years in the limelight, his definition of success has evolved and changed. "Success used to be about getting A’s and about winning tournaments, he said, "but now I believe a successful life is just about being happy. It is not about what one accomplishes in their life, whatever their goals are. I think it’s just looking at yourself in the mirror and being happy.” "There were times when I couldn’t say that," he recalled. "I think all of us battle and have to try to keep a balance. I’m happy with who I am and what I've achieved on and off the golf course." Off the course, he's a devoted dad and a passionate diver. "The most rewarding thing that’s ever happened to me is being a father. And I grew up in Southern California, surfing, and I dive all the time. I free-dive with my kids and by myself. I scuba and I spearfish.” “I like the anonymity that comes with being in the ocean. My daughter loves shells, and my son loves sand dollars. They point at something that is too deep for them and I have to drop down, get it and bring it up. It doesn’t get much better than that." When he's not playing golf, Woods is most likely diving in the ocean – his other passion – accompanied by none other than his trusted Rolex Deepsea. “My watch has been part of wins, of losses, part of adventures with my kids, individual adventures. It’s literally been around the world close to 10 times."
T HTEH ES PSPOORT R T II N NGG LLI FI EF E
Courting VICTORY ROGER FEDERER TURNED
DISAPPOINTMENTS INTO WINS Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, holding 20 Grand Slam titles and the record for most titles at Wimbledon. But for the Swiss-born Federer, tennis wasn’t always about breaking records. “My goals were very down to earth, very normal, hoping to be maybe a top 100 tennis player, possibly top 10," he said. "However, reaching for my dreams was always something I tried to do. But it took me years to feel completely at ease on a tennis court.” “I tried to understand what mental strength was all about," he added, "and I needed to learn the lessons the hard way—feeling the big disappointments after losing yet another match because of uncontrolled emotions. So I took inspiration and motivation out of rivalries, out of records that could be broken, out of tournaments that I loved playing." “Eventually, I realized I could be the first Swiss to be World No. 1 — and that everything that had not been done before, I could achieve." “Then came 2009. I had just won the French Open for the first time that summer, and I was going to Wimbledon trying to break Pete Sampras's all-time Grand Slam record. When I did win and broke the record in an epic five-set match against Andy Roddick, I couldn’t believe it until I was finally able to lift the trophy. I was wearing my Rolex on my wrist." "Every time I put on my Rolex, it reminds me of those great moments. It also reminds me that if you do not work hard, somebody else will, and they eventually will pass you. So you’ve got to be tough and even ruthless to some extent, but always be fair and play with style. I think that’s really important." 18 T H E M A G A Z I N E
Federer's Rolex is especially important to him. "When I look at it, I remember Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and other tennis legends in the audience congratulating me for breaking the record. It was nice to feel the love from the tennis family, which is very important to me.”
ROCK
Legends The stories behind some of the world's most famous diamonds TIFFANY YELLOW DIAMOND Not only is it one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world, but it's also been made into three iconic pieces of jewelry. The 128.54-carat diamond formed the pendant of Lady Gaga's necklace at this year's Academy Awards telecast. Audrey Hepburn wore the diamond in another necklace for a “Breakfast at Tiffany's” photo shoot. And in 1995, the stone was mounted in a whimsical brooch called Bird on a Rock for a museum exhibition on the decorative arts. Price? It's not for sale.
THE PINK STAR DIAMOND The dazzling sums some stones fetch at auction also have to do with rarity. When the largest (59.6carat) Internally Flawless Fancy Pink Vivid Diamond that the Gemological Institute of America has ever graded went up for bidding, it sold for a record-breaking $71.2 million in 2017.
THE ORANGE Coined a "miracle of nature,” this rare gem is believed to be the largest Fancy Vivid Orange Diamond in the world. It weighs a total of 14.82 carats and broke the world record in 2013 when it sold at auction for $35.5 million, surpassing its estimate of $21 million by more than 50 percent.
SHIRLEY TEMPLE BLUE DIAMOND A famous owner usually adds to the value of a piece — but not always. Although Temple, the adorable child star and American diplomat, owned this 9.54-carat Fancy Deep Blue Diamond until her death in 2014, it failed to meet its estimated worth at auction. But after a team of gem cutters and polishers gave the stone a slight makeover, its richer color and clarity mean it’s expected to sell for $25 million to $35 million.
A Trip to Watch
Country
Exploring the villages within the famed Vallée de Joux is time well spent.
20 T H E M A G A Z I N E
WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OUTSIDE GENEVA, IT’S HARD to believe that many of the world’s most famous and fabulous watches are made there. The biggest names in the industry — Rolex, Hublot, Breitling — are located in the little villages nestled in these verdant, rural Swiss valleys. It is in these villages that renowned watchmakers work their magic, all the while viewing grazing cows and church steeples outside their windows. The first watchmakers, legend holds, were farmers who used the many months of snowy winter to hone their watchmaking skills, and today the industry flourishes in this same quiet, bucolic setting. The village of Le Solliat is home to arguably the most famous watchmaker of today, Philippe Dufour, as well as of yesteryear: Louis François Reymond, the watchmaker to King Louis XVI of France. Mr. Dufour’s atelier, in a former schoolhouse where his daughters used to attend classes, and which he shares today with a cheesemaker, is right next door to the farmhouse where Mr. Reymond made the King’s timepiece. Driving around this village and others, it’s easy to find the farmhouses where watchmakers are at work, Mr. Dufour says — just look for homes with an extra-large expanse of windows, since excessive natural light is a necessity for executing the intricacies of this profession. Mr. Dufour grew up barely a stone’s throw from where he works today, in the neighboring village of Le Sentier, where he attended the École Technique, which has trained many of the current and future watchmakers. When students graduate, they have merely to head down the street to find work at Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek
Valleé de Joux
Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. Or they can go a few kilometers farther, to the village of Le Brassus, where Audemars Piguet and Blancpain are headquartered. These villages are all part of the famed Vallée de Joux, the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking, high in the Jura mountains, some 30 miles north of Geneva. Driving north we reach the neighboring Val-de-Travers (or Twisted Valley) that also contributed to watchmaking history. This is where the village of Fleurier is located, and where
21 T H E M A G A Z I N E
Bovet and Parmigiani are headquartered and Chopard and Cartier have factories. Centuries ago, the craftsmen of Fleurier specialized in the arts of engraving and enameling in order to create watches that appealed to an acquisitive Chinese market. These skills of adornment still flourish today in the sleepy village of Fleurier, producing some of the finest, most complicated and most expensive watches in the world, all within earshot of tinkling cow bells.
WHEN YOU GO Rent a car. Or rely on the Swiss rail service, which has trains that go to these little villages. Once you alight from the train, however, don’t expect to find a stand of taxis waiting. You’ll need to hire one in advance. Or you can walk; the villages are small, and you can pass most of the big-name factories on a walk around town. Or rely on the Swiss rail service, which has trains that go to these little villages. Once you alight from the train, however, don’t expect to find a stand of taxis waiting. You’ll need to hire one in advance. Or you can walk; the villages are small, and you can pass most of the big-name factories on a walk around town. Take a bike tour. You can rent electric bikes, or E-bikes, through the Vallée de Joux tourism office in Le Sentier or at the Sentier-Orient train station. The Vallée de Joux tourism office provides a map of 26 farms, many dating back to the 1400s, where watchmakers lived and worked. As you bike the route, through the rolling green countryside encircling the Lac du Joux, you’ll also pass the “manufactures”, or factories, of today’s greatest watch maisons. Look for Jaeger-LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Breguet and Blancpain. Hit the museums. There are several museums in the region that provide an excellent inside-view of the art of watchmaking. One of the newest, and best, is the Espace Horloger in Le Sentier, which features an information-packed, interactive experience in English, French and German. Screens allow visitors to disassemble a watch and learn all about the various skills required to make one. Three hundred timepieces made in the Vallée de Joux are on display — the earliest from 1720, and the latest, a simplicite’ wristwatch, hand-made just down the street by Philippe Dufour. Book a hotel. There are some small inns in and around these villages. Watchmaking Central used to be the Hotel des Horlogers in Le Brassus, where executives from the major watch companies often met and dined. Audemars Piguet recently bought the inn, however, and plans on replacing it with a 5-star hotel. In the meantime, the Hotel de la Lande offers spare but pleasant rooms and dining just down the street, while Bellevue le Rocheray in Le Sentier, overlooking the Lac du Joux, proTop: Espace Hologer, Center: Rolex factory Bottom: Patek Philippe factory
vides more gracious dining and accommodations.
22 T H E M A G A Z I N E
SCENE
Stealers Getting into character for these actors meant wearing their own Rolexes TO SOME, THE DECEMBER AUCTION OF MARLON Brando's Rolex
nies his character on a thrilling chase through Paris in the 1988 film
GMT-Master will be looked on as yet another trophy acquisition for a
"Frantic." Clint Eastwood's brown and gold Root Beer GMT-Master
wealthy investor. At publication time, the final hammer price was
actually became part of his character in three thrillers, “Firefox,”
estimated to be in the six figures. But what
“Tightrope” and “In the Line of Fire,” while
really makes the watch so extraordinary is
Dustin Hoffman can be seen wearing his own
the part it played in one of the most
red and blue GMT-Master in “Marathon Man”
famous movies of all time, “Apocalypse
and “Straw Dogs.” Other big-screen sightings
Now” (1979). It was Brando's own watch,
include Robert Redford's Single-Red Sub-
which he insisted on wearing during film-
mariner, model 1680 — the first Submariner to
ing. The filmmakers wanted him to re-
come with a date. He wore it in “The Candi-
move it. Instead, to make the watch look
date” in 1972 and “All the President’s Men” in
and feel more authentic to his character,
1976. And Jeff Bridges' penchant for Rolex
a former Green Beret gone rogue, he
Submariner models seems to have been
removed the bezel.
passed down from his father, the actor Lloyd Bridges, who left him his trademark gold
Brando isn't the only actor to flash his own Rolex on camera. So did the Holly-
Submariner with a blue
wood legend Clark Gable, whose gold
dial. Jeff can be seen wearing
Oyster Perpetual makes an appear-
his own stainless steel Sub-
ance in the 1953 film “Mogambo.” And
mariner in the 1976 version of
Robert Mitchum wore Rolex
“King Kong” and the 1984 film
watches for decades, off and on
“Against All Odds.” Whether any of these
the screen, including the filming of both the original “Cape Fear” (1962)
watches will come to the auc-
and its 1991 remake.
tion block is anyone's guess. But if they do, their scene-steal-
Harrison Ford's own stainless steel Datejust with white dial and black Roman numerals accompa-
From top: Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman
23 T H E M A G A Z I N E
ing moments are sure to add to their appeal.
Post Ranch Inn
Spirited
AWAY 3 indulge-yourself destinations to relax, renew and de-stress WHEN IT'S TIME TO SLOW DOWN, CLEAR YOUR HEAD AND CATCH
1,200 feet above the Pacific, you'll take in plenty of scenic serenity from the
your breath from the busyness of life, you could always go on a Netflix
ocean and mountain views — including those from your very private cliff-
binge. But why settle for a quick virtual escape when you can make
side rustic room.
your next getaway a mind-, body- and soul-pampering wellness reWhat to do: In addition to hiking the grounds, you can take daily yoga treat, somewhere you can vacation and achieve your health goals at classes in the resort’s yurt, which is in the middle of the redwood forest. the same time? These three resorts offer exotic settings combined Recover your muscles by booking a soothing treatment at the intimate with relaxing body renewal treatments, exercise, sightseeing and meals prepared by professional chefs. No binge-watching allowed!
spa, maybe craniosacral therapy or a vibrational resonance that uses Tibetan bowls to help balance the chakras. Then there are the California
Commune with nature in Big Sur
inspired fine-dining dishes at Sierra Mar, a restaurant with a patio that’s
Post Ranch Inn: One of the most luxurious and iconic properties in the
prime for stargazing with the high-tech Meade telescope. For more info,
country, Post Ranch Inn inhabits 100 glorious acres in Big Sur, Calif. Set
visit: postranchinn.com.
24 T H E M A G A Z I N E
Miraval Arizona
savor veggie-heavy dishes made with ingredients from the on-site Chable Yucatan
Mayan gardens. For more info, visit: chableresort.com.
Clear your head in the desert Miraval Arizona: A mainstay destination for travelers in search of a luxury wellness vacation, Miraval Arizona is situated on more than
Check into a jungle retreat
400 acres of land at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, near
Chable Yucatan: This 40-room Mexican resort, in the state of Yu-
Tucson. Here, even the room décor is designed to help you unwind
catán, near Mérida, is the ultimate wellness retreat. Besides the grand
with calming earth tone color schemes and amenities like a pillow
18th-century hacienda, lushly landscaped gardens and tropical swim-
menu and cellphone "sleeping bag" to encourage you to unplug your
ming pool, the star attraction is the gorgeous spa. It overlooks a natu-
device and tuck it away.
ral “cenote,” or fresh water spring – a setting that transports guests to a state of relaxation as soon as they arrive.
What to do: Hit the 30,000-square-foot spa and after a day of salt scrubbing, hot-stone massaging and curative clay wrapping treat-
What to do: Yoga classes are held daily in a variety of styles (including
ments to renew the body, settle into a spiritual workshop created to
hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga and aquatic) and can be practiced at various
soothe the soul. There's also yoga, catering to all levels, including the
spots around Chable’s 750 acres – overlooking the spring, say, or in
new aroma-flow style, which combines the use of soothing essential
the midst of the verdant green forest. Cap off the movement with a
oils with healing postures. And when you’re not in the flow, other
Mayan-inspired treatment in the spa or with an immersion into a tradi-
popular activities are therapeutic horseback riding to help you iden-
tional temazcal, a heated hut, guided by a temazcalero. Come
tify communication barriers and frequent demonstrations of healthy
evening, sample the world’s largest private tequila collection, and
cooking. For more info, visit: miravalarizona.com.
25 T H E M A G A Z I N E
What makes a
watch collector tick?
WE ASKED THREE SERIOUS COLLECTORS TO talk about their addiction to watches. Although their passions range from new to vintage and span various price points, they all had one thing in common. It's the thrill of the hunt that gets their hearts racing.
The Keeper Wearing the Watches KATHLEEN MCGIVNEY and her husband, photographer Atom Moore, had been casually collecting Swatch watches when she heard there was a handful of watch owners in New York City who met regularly to talk about their collections. That was nearly 10 years ago and since then RedBar Group has grown to more than 3,000 members with 40 chapters worldwide. McGivney, 45, is now CEO, and her collection has grown to “northward of 80” including “serious, mechanical watches” thanks to the knowledge and confidence gained from other members. “I only buy things that I love. Things to keep.” She is especially drawn to moonphases because of their beauty, and to GMTs (watches with multiple time zones) “because I Kathleen Mcgivney
travel a lot. I’m also attracted to blue and gray dials, and I pre-
fer white metals like steel and titanium.” The only yellow gold watch she owns is a Rolex GMT in a steel and yellow gold combination. The collection is stored at home in a purpose-built safe by Wolf. “I usually wear a watch 2 or 3 days in a row then go to the safe for something I haven’t worn in a while. I’ll wear a dressy watch only if I’m going to a special occasion. If it’s raining I wouldn’t wear anything vintage.” And whenever there’s a full moon, she wears one of her moonphases to look at the moon on the dial in its glory. Kathleen Mcgivney’s Oris Aquis 26 T H E M A G A Z I N E
The Entrepreneur Turning Passion into a Profession JAMES LAMDIN is only 35, so it’s a bit of a surprise to hear him say “I’ve been collecting for about 20 years.” When he was a teenager he inherited the collection—and love --of watches from his grandfather. “He collected things that came with a story,” Lamdin says. Vintage watches have wonderful stories to tell, whether about ocean dives, outer space orbits, or keeping time for Hollywood stars. Over the years, Lamdin’s love, and his collection, grew to the point that he felt he had to do something. So he turned his passion and pastime into a business. In 2012 he launched Analog/Shift which he claims is the premier online resource for vintage watches. Right now Lamdin is keen on collecting an “overlooked period, early American watches, like Art Deco and watches from the 1950s with their asymmetric design.
James Lamdin
They don’t get a lot of wrist time, though” being too small and precious. So for everyday practicality, Lamdin favors one of his Rolex GMTs. Lamdin turns to various sources to find the watches to personally collect or professionally sell (and often those lines are blurred): “estate sales, dealers, collectors, beating the streets.” He never knows where he’ll find something special, saying “once I bought a Rolex off a guy at a bar.” These days “barn finds” are few and far between as watches have become so popular. Times may have changed, but the thrill of the chase remains.
The Beginner Starting to Collect MELODY BENLOSS has always had a thing about timepieces. Growing up in England, her family home had a pendulum clock, and listening to its rhythmic tick-tock at night, “I felt safe.” But it wasn’t until 3 years ago that the now 50-year-old started learning about timepieces and only a year ago that she started collecting. The turning point for the executive assistant came when a former work colleague convinced her to attend a RedMelody Benloss
Bar meeting. Next, “I discovered the Horological Society of New York;” she’s now the groups’ librarian and record-
ing secretary. “The watch community is so willing to share what they know. They expanded my knowledge of different brands and what goes into making a watch. It inspired me to get my first mechanical watch.” While she admires Patek Philippes and Omegas, they are out of her price range. Her first purchase was a Nomos Glasshutte Ludwig, which she bought for around $1700. “I loved the Roman numerals and the classic lines.” Next: an Oris Dive 65, about $2100. “It’s extremely practical, I can wash my hands and not worry about getting it wet.” Her collection now numbers 5, but there’s soon to be a 6, a Bremond or a Grand Seiko. Why? “I’ve met their sales people and manager at RedBar events and kept up a relationship.” A timepiece, after all, does more than tell time: “there’s a story to it, a history, a Melody Benloss’s Nomos Glassutte Ludwuig
sentimentality.” It can even keep you safe.
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Fast &
FURIOUS The Triple Crown Winner Secretariat, the fastest thoroughbred ever, hit 49 miles per hour in those races. If you want to drive six times faster, as in 304 miles per hour, you will need 1,578 horses, or horsepower, and the $3.9 million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, as of this fall, the fastest production car in the world. And the most expensive of the hypercars for those with an appetite for track-gobbling speed (never mind highways). But there are other speed demons available – O.K., they won’t hit that 300 but will top 200 miles per hour – and not all are wallet breakers. Here’s a shocker: Cadillac. Not your grandfather’s Caddy, but rather the four door CTS-V. It will crack 200 miles per hour, has a starting price of $86,495 and unlike the Bugatti has options like automatic parking assist and collision alerts, and will get to 60 in 3.7 seconds. Nicely equipped, it will cost a bit more than $100,000, but not much more. Another fire-breather comes from Dodge: The Charger SRT Hellcat, a four-door sedan that looks truly menacing, cooks out the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds and up to 60 in 3.4 seconds. It is compara-
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11 cool cars built for speed — here’s a look at life in the fast lane, 2020.
Shown: Far left: Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ Above: Cadillac CTS-V, Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Corvette ZR-1 Ford Carbon Series GT
tively modestly priced, starting at $67,000. Faster – but pricier – is the top-end Corvette, with 6.2-liter V-8 engine 755 horses all to the rear wheels to get you from the green light to 60 in three seconds flat. Like nearly all the speedsters, the ‘vette offers plenty of lightweight carbon in the interior, Apple Play and Android hookups, onboard wi-fi and a seemingly infinite number of exterior paint combinations. Speaking of lightweight carbon, there is Ford’s Carbon Series GT, a two-door race-inspired coupe that looks it. The car costs about $500,000, and even has a polycarbonate engine cover and a titanium exhaust system to save weight to promote speed. That speed is 0-60 in three seconds flat, a quarter-mile run in 10.8 seconds. But comfort and plenty of room are also important to many speed aficionados, and for that, look to the Bentley Continental GT coupe or convertible, a twin-turbo-charged 626 12-cylinder beauty that rockets to 60 in 3.3 seconds, despite weighing 5,019 pounds, about 600 pounds more than the Bugatti. And it has an automated emergency braking system with pedestrian detection via cameras.
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Bonus: If it starts raining, you can raise the convertible top, even at 50 miles per hour, in 15 seconds. Prices start at $220,000, but with lots of nifty options, like 20-way front seats with a massage function, expect to throw in another $100,000. Top-end speed is 207 miles per hour. Mercedes Benz’s fastest car is a four-passenger coupe, the AMG GT 63 S with a top end of 195 miles per hour, costing more than $200,000 with options and a display for those in the rear seats showing navigation and media. And if you want to stop this rocket quickly, cough up an additional $8,950 for a high-performance ceramic composite braking system. Faster still is Ferrari’s V12 812 Superfast, which will rush you and one other passenger to 62 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds and (with the carbon package) costs $474,000. A drawback: There is no navigation system, so memorize the route before you take off. But for your trip, you can buy a color matching golf bag and luggage set for an additional $10,439. One or the other will fit inside the trunk. The Ferrari’s competition is the $610,370 Lamborghini Aventador SVG, a two-door coupe with a top end of 217 miles per hour and a floor-it to 60 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds. For exterior paint, you have your choice of 50 colors from Bianco (white) to Viola (violet). Porsche’s 911GT2 RS, starting at $294,450, will match any of the other European cruisers with a neck-snapping 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, and up to 140 miles per hour in 10.3 seconds for a quarter-mile drag race. But if money is an object, go with the hyperversion of the tried and true Mustang, in this case, the soon-to-be-released 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT5000, costing around $107,000 packed with options, and a governor-limited top end of 180 miles per hour. Buy one of these speed demons now. Because they will be gone with someone else fast – gone like a cool breeze.
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Shown from top: Bentley Continental GT Mercedes Benz AMG 63 S Ferrari V12 812 Ford Mustang Shelby GT5000
True blues...and pinks, reds, greens and yellows
THE RESULTS ARE IN! Colored gemstones are rocking some of our favorite jewelry looks to wear now and for years to come. Leading the jewelry color palate is blue. "It's people's favorite color gemstone, year after year," says Doug Hucker, chief executive officer of the American Gem Trade Association. But if your taste runs to green, pink or yellow, Anton's Fine Jewelry also offers a rainbow of choices. Here is just a sampling of what you will find.
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All that glitters Diamonds are still a girl's best friend
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WEDDING
Your
Romantic rituals start with the rings. Engagement rings and wedding bands are symbols of your never-ending love and the most important pieces of jewelry you’ll ever own — or give. So think long term and choose what you love! A round cut solitaire with or without a halo will always remain a classic.
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Buy your engagement ring and band together so you will know how they look together.
Round, cushion or oval cut, a halo of diamonds ups the sparkle of the center stone. A fancy yellow diamond is a brilliant choice for the bride who wants something a little different.
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Seamless The
COLLECTION
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MonteCarlo Designs
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