Look up the word rare in a thesaurus and you will find the following synonyms: extraordinary, few and far between, limited, unique and more. Combine those with all of the synonyms for the word beauty and the word responsible and you’ll come up with a whole treasury of words that when all put together define a Forevermark Diamond. In 2009, Forevermark launched internationally and in 2011 Forevermark was officially launched in the United States. For a diamond to be chosen as a Forevermark diamond, it goes through what can almost be described as a “diamond odyssey.” Ultimately the splendor of the jewelry and the story that goes with it is what makes Forevermark so very exceptional. From the time the diamonds are raised up from the earth to the time they are placed on someone’s finger or into a velvet box the process has been socially and financially responsible. The process of acquiring a Forevermark diamond meet international and local financial regulations, fair and good employment practices, conflict and oppression free source standards and more. These standards mean that the countries, communities and employees that mine, sort and cut the diamonds etc. have good jobs and quality of life that they may not have otherwise. In addition, the consumer can footmark the journey of his or her own personal diamond. Mining is just the beginning of the venture that the diamonds take. Not all diamonds are the same. They vary in quality and color and many have dark spots, cracks and other imperfections. A Forevermark diamond, even in the rough, needs to be beyond compare in clarity, shape and color. In effect, less that 1% of the diamonds in the world actually qualify to be a Forevermark diamond. After sorting the diamond from the cast asides, it is then set to be polished. The diamond needs to be perfectly symmetrical and have intense sparkle. Mastering the craft of polishing takes incredible talent, a good eye and expertise. Perfection and attention to detail in the cutting and polishing phase is essential to the quality of the finished/ refined stone. From polishing, the diamonds are then marked with the Forevermark signature inscription. They are then graded at the Forevermark Diamond Institute. Diamond grading is when experts evaluate and rate the diamonds based on the four C’s: cut, clarity, color and carat weight. The standards are so high for Forevermark that expert diamond assessor Theo Roelans says, “you won’t be able to see any imperfection on a Forevermark diamond with the naked eye.” Everything that goes into the jewelry from beginning to end is meaningful, but at the end of the “odyssey of the diamond,” what’s momentous is how it makes its possessor feel. According to Adelaide, “Forevermark diamonds are something you can be proud to wear forever. A diamond will last a lifetime and with Forevermark diamonds, you know you are getting the best of the best. You can confidently wear your diamond knowing that it is beautiful, rare and only comes from sources that are committed to the highest business, social and environmental standards.” This is something to wear with pride and adoration knowing that for every sparkle that you see from your diamond’s gleam, there is someone else across the world who is just as grateful for Forevermark’s brilliance as you are.
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Le s s th a n o n e p e rce nt of th e wo rld ’s dia m o n d s c a n c a rr y th e Fo reve rm a rk ® in scriptio n — a promise that each is beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced.
THE DIAMOND. THE PROMISE. Forevermark is part of the De Beers group of companies.
© 2 01 2 Fo reve r m a r k . Fo reve r m a r k ®,
THE CENTER OF MY UNIVERSE™ FROM FOREVERMARK®
® a n d C E N T E R O F M Y U N I V E R S E ™ a r e Tr a d e M a r k s o f t h e D e B e e r s g r o u p o f c o m p a n i e s .
D i s c o v e r F o r e v e r m a r k ® d i a m o n d s i n e x c e p t i o n a l d e s i g n s a t w w w. b r i n k e r s j e w e l e r s . c o m .
from the publisher
Welcome. We’re proud to announce the premier edition of Brinker's Jewelers The LX Magazine. It is with great appreciation, as our gift to you, we are publishing this beautiful coffee table piece. Within its pages, you will find unique and captivating stories, artistic photography, lifestyle features and more. In this edition we bring you “111 South Complex and the Shopping Experience,” a glance into how our store has expanded over the past year to provide more than just jewelry. Read about the most elite watch manufacturers coming together each spring at the Baselworld Watch Show in “Where Time Is Told.” We also showcase photographer Berry Behrendt, as he has magnificently captured the essence of Audrey Hepburn for our “Behind the Lens” feature. Read about the globe’s leading hoteliers across the world in the “Best New Luxury Hotels.” It’s hard to believe 50 years ago the iconic automobile, the Porsche 911, was introduced. You’ll find the story of that glorious coupé here as well. Also meet Pedro E. Guerrero, the personal photographer of possibly the most famous architect the world has ever known in “Documenting Genius.” We enjoy seeing you each time you visit us and feel honored to be a part of your life’s special moments. As we enter this holiday season, know that you can count on us at Brinker’s Jewelers to help you choose the perfect gift for that special someone. We have been serving the community as the Tri-State’s premier jeweler for 41 years and we continue to strive for cutting edge fashion in our jewelry while maintaining the high quality you have been accustomed to receiving. Above all, you are very important to us and we treasure your friendship and loyalty. Warm wishes to you and yours, Dean Brinker, Dirk Brinker, Kyle Brinker and Darren Brinker
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1954
59 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS INSPIRATION IN THE PURSUIT OF TECHNICAL PERFECTION
Heritage Black Bay is the direct descendant of Tudor’s technical success in Greenland on the wrists of Royal Navy sailors. 59 years later, the Black Bay is ready to stand as its own legend. TUDOR HERITAGE BLACK BAY® Self-winding mechanical movement, waterproof to 200 m, 41 mm steel case. Visit tudorwatch.com and explore more.
®
Features
inside
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Community 12 Redefining the Jewelry Experience
Jewelry 2 Forevermark 36 Gift Guide 60 Where Time Is Told Photography 19 Behind the Lens of
Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn
54 Documenting Genius: Pedro
Where Time Is Told - Brinker’s Jewelers and the Baselworld Watch Show
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Brinker's Jewelers Gift Guide
E. Guerrero
Lifestyle 28 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911
43 New York Serenade Piano Fashion 10 Pantone Fashion Color Report Travel 46 Best New Luxury Hotels Holiday 16 Wrap it Up 32 Signature Holiday Recipes
Behind the Lens of Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn
19 28 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 7
cover on on thethe cover
Publishers DEAN BRINKER, DIRK BRINKER, KYLE BRINKER AND DARREN BRINKER Editor JON ROBERTS Senior Designer ANGIE HALTER
Photo by David Green (www.diaphoto.net) Makeup by Kana Brown (www.kanabrown.com) Model: Megan Schmett Project Coordinators: Jaime Emig and Megan Schmett
Project Coordinators NICOLE HIGGINS COURTNEY DRENTH
LX: a coffeetable magazine Brinker's Jewelers - LX® Magazine is published by LX Publications, LLC, 524 North Main Avenue, Suite 110, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. LX® accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. LX® reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse material, is not responsible for errors or omissions and may feature the same content on lxmagazines.com, as well as other mediums for any and all purposes. Copyright © 2013 LX Publications LLC. All rights reserved. The entire contents of LX® are protected by copyright© and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of LX Publications, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part or storage in any data retrieval system or any transmission by any means therefrom without prior written permission is prohibited. LX® and LX® Magazine are trademarks™ of LX Publications, LLC. 8
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Advertising copyright © 2013 A’LOR International LTD. CHARRIOL® is a registered trademark of the Philippe Charriol Group.
PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT
Pantone LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated. © Pantone LLC, 2013. All rights reserved.
A PALETTE OF MANY MOODS Nanette Lepore
This season, designers express the many moods of fall with skillfully arranged collections that will enhance and enliven customers’ outlooks as the colder months set in. Similarly, colors come together to create moods that range from sophisticated and structured to lively and vivid, encapsulating our inherent need for wardrobe variety to reflect emotions that run from thoughtfully introspective to irrepressibly elated. “Just as the leaves change in autumn, the consumer will enjoy the ability to change their ‘look’ and try a new approach to their wardrobe for brisk days ahead,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “The fall 2013 palette allows for that versatility and experimentation.”
With the changing season, the greens from spring evolve and develop. Multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate, bringing luxury and elegance to the palette, while yellow-toned Linden Green brings a lightness and brightness to the deeper shades of fall. Try pairing both with Mykonos Blue, a bold, meditative blue, for a classic and relaxed fall look. Exotic Acai adds mystery and richness to the palette, and can be incorporated with the other colors to create a number of powerful fall combinations. Pair the elegant shade of purple with Emerald for a regal disposition, or spirited Samba red for an expressive and dramatic look. Koi, a decorative orange with dazzling and shimmering qualities, is a statement color that serves as a pick-me-up for your wardrobe. Vivacious, an unruly and wildly deep fuchsia, adds an ebullient sensuality to the palette. Pair Vivacious with anchoring Deep Lichen Green, a naturally lush shade of green, for a dynamic juxtaposition that captures both ends of the seasonal spectrum. Rounding out this season’s cornerstone colors, Turbulence, a dark mercurial gray, and Carafe, a rich, glamorous brown, provide more interesting and sophisticated alternatives to the black basics usually worn in colder months. Both staple neutrals pair gracefully with more expressive colors within the palette, such as Samba, Koi and Vivacious.
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Nicole Miller
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For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season’s most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for fall 2013.
Ella Moss
WHIT–NY Hervé Léger
This season, more than ever, there is a shift towards a unisex color palette. Similar to the women’s palette, the versatility of the men’s colors for fall 2013 allows for more experimentation as the weather cools. Luxurious Emerald, a sophisticated and vivid green, should be paired with Mykonos Blue or Linden Green for a clean and classic look. Acai adds exotic mystery when paired with bold statement colors like Samba, while Koi remains decorative and dynamic, adding a pop of orange to a neutral wardrobe. Deep Lichen Green acts as the cornerstone color for the men’s palette as well; however, pair the shaded mossy green with Beaujolais, a full-bodied red, for an elegantly masculine, quintessential fall look.
Unpredictable Turbulence and warm, rich Carafe, also play vital roles in men’s fashion trends, serving as strong staple hues for outerwear throughout the cooler months. Create a well-balanced look by combining either neutral with Beaujolais or Koi. Angelo Galasso
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Jewelry Experience
Redefining the
Brinker's Jewelers 40th Anniversary check presentation to the Vanderburgh Humane Society (from left to right): Diane Whipkey, Dean Brinker, Kyle Brinker, Dirk Brinker and Kendall Paul.
Last year was a monumental year for Brinker’s Jewelers. They celebrated 40 years of being the Tri-State’s premier jeweler and were awarded 2012 Best Jewelry Store by Evansville Living Magazine and the 2012 Readers Choice Award from the Courier and Press for Best Jewelry Store, an award they have won eight consecutive years. Located at the corner of Green River Road and the Lloyd Expressway in Evansville, their goal is to provide quality products and personalized service with a constant commitment to serving the needs of their customers everywhere, including those visiting online.
By using experiences from their travels and combining them with their own personal ideas, the owners have created something that cannot be found anywhere in the Tri-State. They have the brands, services and overall value that cannot be found in a typical jewelry store. Where else could you go and have your rings cleaned and inspected for free, while you have lunch inside of a café, with an old world bistro feel, and shop for a unique gift for a loved one or an accessory for you home all in one location? “We call this A World Away From The Everyday,” says Dean Brinker, President and co-owner of Brinker’s Jewelers. When asked about having a business that has survived over forty years and three generations, Kyle Brinker, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, attributed that success to the “willingness to evolve and adapt while paying attention to the customers every step of the way.” A perfect example of their willingness to evolve is with the shopping experience the Brinker family has created at One Eleven South which is located at the corner of Green River Road and the Lloyd Expressway. Since the Brinker family purchased One Eleven South (formally known as Harrison Village) back in 2005, their goal was provide the community a shopping experience that was unrivaled. They focused on having tenants that fit a certain lifestyle catered to fun, fashion and the overall enjoyment of shopping. Those tenants featured in One Eleven South are: Brinker’s Jewelers, Brinker’s Etc., Café 111, Season’s Salon and Day Spa, Tuesday Morning, Phoneix Nightclub and Events Center, Epic Personal Training and Legends.
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Lititz Watch Technicum graduate, Dean Powell, servicing a Rolex timepiece.
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Back row L-R: Darren Brinker, Dean Brinker Front row L-R: Dirk Brinker, Kyle Brinker
In the fall of 2013, Brinker’s Jewelers and Brinker’s Etc. has bolstered a whole new look that completes the overall vision that the Brinker’s set out for when they purchased the building back in 2005. “We are redefining what it means to buy and service jewelry and fine timepieces in this market,” stated Kyle Brinker, “and our little green box represents that.” Brinker’s Jewelers little green box represents family and tradition, while setting THE standard for overall quality and value when giving a gift during all of life’s special occasions. In addition to the new store layout, there is a whole host of new and exciting jewelry lines to go along with their current amazing selection, as well as a major investment in the watch and jewelry servicing facilities. “We are so excited to show our customers and the community our new store,” says Dean Brinker. “I only dreamed that this would come together! Knowing the sacrifices the family made long the way and how our little business started out compared to what it has become today makes me a very happy and humble man. I couldn’t have pulled it off without the love and support of my family and wonderful staff.” Brinker’s Jewelers, Brinker’s Etc. and Café 111 are the anchor stores at One Eleven South. They are joined together by an in-store passageway for the shopping convenience of their customers. What started out in 1972 as a 500 square foot jewelry store is now a 13,000 square foot shopping experience. The jewelry repair department features eight jewelers with over 150 years of combined jewelry repair and custom design experience. “I would put our staff that is dedicated to custom design, servicing and repair up against any staff in the Midwest,” said Kyle Brinker. “They are truly talented and passionate about what they do.” The hard work and dedication of the Brinker family sets the bar for the entire staff. It’s rare to walk into a business and be able to see the owners working every single day—however it’s an everyday occurrence at Brinker’s Jewelers. The second store to receive a face lift is Brinker’s Etc., which is owned and operated by Cheryl Brinker, Dean Brinker’s wife of 32 years. Brinker’s Etc. offers their customers an array of gift items including: eclectic jewelry, personal accessories, custom floral arrangements and unique accessories such as pictures, lamps and furniture for your home or office. Their showroom is nothing short of specular with all the colorful themes and seasonal changes throughout the year. They give you a reason to frequent their wonderful store multiple times throughout the year, none more important than during Christmas time, when the store becomes a winter wonderland full of holiday cheer. The final phase to complete the unique shopping experience was a restaurant. Dean Brinker said, “That was the missing piece to the puzzle when analyzing the shopping center.” So, he created Café 111 with the help of his wife Cheryl Brinker and long term employee Cindy Flittner. Café 111 is a great place to enjoy lunch with friends or family. All menu items are made fresh daily and cooked to order. Their signature honey almond chicken salad, pear salad, 18kt carrot cake muffin and coconut chocolate chip cookie are among their patrons’ favorite items. So the next time you have a free afternoon with friends or a little time to yourself, and you want something different…Think Brinker’s!
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Wrap it up...
photo: Lisa's Gift Wrappers Photo provided by Tony Abou-Ganim
with a personal touch!
By Nichole Odijk DeMario Once you find that perfect gift for a holiday or special occasion, comes the task of wrapping. It doesn’t have to be seen as a difficult task though. Not only can it be enjoyable, it can also bring a level of presentation that will have the recipient in awe. Lisa Gleeson started recreationally wrapping and creating packages for others for important occasions. That led to classes, demonstrations, a contract with Neiman Marcus and then the creation of Lisa’s Gift Wrappers. Gleeson, who sees gift wrapping as an art form, says to start off with a clean place to wrap with all your supplies in one place. A pair of super sharp scissors is one of the most important tools. The latest trends include purchasing single sheets of paper. No matter what the occasion is, don't shy away from colors and patterns. New hot, go-to-designs include chevron, stripes and nature—such as leaves and branches. Gleeson says, “We also love to do a solid wrap with a contrasting band of a complimentary color pattern and make the package ‘pop’ with a great top. It could be a bow that is unusual, an ornament or small gift item.” Nowadays, paper options are plentiful and can easily correspond with your recipient’s personality. Gleeson states, “What will make them smile?” She suggests picking out a color or pattern for each person on your gift giving list so you can stay ahead by wrapping as you buy.
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111 South Green River Rd. | 812.476.0651 | brinkersjewelers.com
Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM Saturday 10AM-5PM 111 South Green River Rd., Suite C 812.476.4975
Monday-Friday 7AM-2:30PM Saturday 10AM-3PM 111 South Green River Rd., Suite D 812.401.8111
Forget sugar plums.
DREAM ABOUT PANDORA.
Sterling silver charms from $25
INTRODUCING PANDORA’S WINTER 2013 COLLECTION. As you drift into a blissful slumber, the wonders of the holidays fill your head. And maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll dream of the twinkling lights, warm colors and the timeless traditions of PANDORA’s enchanting new Winter Collection. Celebrate the season at PANDORA.net.
behind the lens of berry behrendt By Lyndon Conrad Bell
a tribute to
audrey hepburn
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Photographer Berry Behrendt Styling Wouri Vice Market Editor Ade Samuel Makeup Sonja Yaso Hair Andreas Schoenagel, Artist Management (using EZ Keratin) Photographers Assitant Anna Dilthey Model Rachele Schank, Women Direct, NY
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Berry Behrendt, born in Hamburg, Germany, started his career as a photographer after touring and recording as a musician in Europe for several years. His distinctive style won him considerable demand quite quickly. In short order, Behrendt received assignments to shoot fashion and beauty spreads for a number of well-known European and American magazines, including German Vogue, Soma, Vibe, Essence and Sunday Telegraph Magazine. Behrendt has also produced images of musical artists such as Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Moby, Busta Rhymes and Bootsy Collins. While he maintains a Hamburg office, Behrendt has also lived and worked in New York City since 2001. To learn more about the man, his work and what happens behind the lens of Berry Behrendt, we commissioned him to shoot this series of photographs so we could discuss them with him in detail.
Fashion inspires me, sure, but it’s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment. - Berry Behrendt
Top Enekyo Pants Gucci Shoes Edmundo
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Dress Blumarine Necklace Fenton Fallon Bracelet Larucci
LX Magazine: Clearly you were going after an Audrey Hepburn theme with this shoot; please describe the process you went through to create these images. Berry Behrendt: As soon as I learned what we were trying to accomplish, the film Breakfast At Tiffany’s popped into my head and became our theme. With the Hepburn theme, we had a terrific head start because explaining to the stylist, makeup artist and hair stylist what we were going after was very easy. Everybody in fashion knows Audrey Hepburn, so we were off and running in pretty short order. LX: What did you see in this particular model that made her right for the shoot? BB: I met Rachele on another shoot I was doing and thought of her right away when this project came up. She has an outgoing personality that works particularly well for what we were going after. She’s very friendly and very lively. Even before this assignment, I had already seen an Audrey Hepburn-esque quality in her. Rachele really made the shoot. In fact I conceived the project with her in mind, so the shoot just sort of evolved around her. LX: What is the foundation of your photographic approach? BB: Fashion inspires me, sure, but it’s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment. My approach is also driven by the theme. You have to make sense of the clothing first, or the jewelry or whatever it is you’re featuring. Beyond that, you just have to impart a particular feel to the images. My overriding goal is to always try to do something interesting with the person I’m shooting. Ultimately, my work is driven more by the person in the image. LX: These photographs have a very definite look and feel to them, even if I didn’t know you shot them all, I would know they were all shot by the same photographer. In other words, you have a clearly identifiable style. How did you develop it? 22
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Dress Novis
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BB: Thanks for saying that. Honestly, I’m actually always debating with myself if I truly have a style. These days, there are so many photographers out there; it’s difficult to stand out. One of the things that concerns me these days is for so many photographers out there now, their work all looks the same. It’s almost as if photographers are becoming somewhat interchangeable to a degree. I’m not saying I’m any better than anyone else, but I really try to make my work look different somehow. Having been doing this for more than 20 years now, I have learned in most cases the style is dictated by the client. Of course, I like to think the nature of the look I achieve is why my clients come to me. That said, you must have a variety of ways to get there. The main thing is I do what I do, and I make sure I like what I do. Typically, if I like it, others do too, and this seems to work consistently for me. Most of all though, I try to have a believable relationship with the model—and see that relationship conveyed in the finished photographs.
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Turtleneck & Pants Moschino Hat Patricia Underwood Necklace Fenton Fallon Earrings W29
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Dress Furne One Gloves Sermoneta Earrings Circa 66
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Fur & Feather Boas Adrianne Landau Gloves Caroline Amato Earrings Fenton Fallon
Hat Patricia Underwood Top Enekyo
LX: What’s your background? Did you study photography formally? How did you decide to become a professional photographer? BB: Actually, no, I didn’t study photography formally. I was a working musician for a while and started in photography as an assistant for an established photographer to supplement my income. In doing so, I learned enough to take on small assignments on my own. After a couple of years of doing this, people started seeing my work and asking me if I could shoot things for them. Truthfully, photography just sort of evolved into my career. LX: Coming up, who were some of the photographers you admired? How did their work influence yours? BB: Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn and many of the other classic photographers have informed my approach. This particular shoot was definitely inspired by Avedon’s work with Audrey Hepburn. There are a number of young contemporary photographers I enjoy as well. And while their work is completely different from mine, I still find inspiration in what they are doing. LX: What was your first professional assignment? BB: My first assignment was for the photographer for whom I was assisting. It actually came about by happenstance. He was off skiing in the Swiss Alps when this big catalog shoot came in. He couldn’t get back in time, so I had to shoot it for him. Doing that shoot forced me to take responsibility for producing images for the first time. From doing this, I learned I could take the responsibility—I could actually execute a shoot. When you’re the photographer, it’s your responsibility to make sure everyone on the set is instilled with the confidence the work will turn out well. That shoot was my baptism by fire so to speak. LX: Describe your dream assignment. BB: Honestly, every assignment I get is a dream assignment these days. I really love to work. A client who respects what you do and is happy with the pictures you make is the absolute best. This, for me, is a dream assignment. I also like photographing interesting people from a variety of fields; musicians, politicians, actors—fascinating people I’d like to get to know. I suppose that qualifies too. More than anything else though, I really like what I do, so any chance I get to do it is a dream come true.
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A Tradition of Brilliance
By Lyndon Conrad Bell
In September of 1963, the world got its first glimpse of what would become the most successful sports car the planet has ever known. Over seven generations of steady development, the Porsche 911 has continually evolved in a manner in which there can be a straight line drawn between the first Porsche Type 901 show car and today’s Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Model grand touring/sports car.
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When the 911 was initially shown at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, it was called the Porsche Type 901. The people running the French car company Peugeot objected, declaring their company had established the rights to use three-number model designations with a zero in the middle. Rather than get caught up in a prolonged legal battle, Porsche replaced the zero with a one. When the car went on sale in 1964, it was billed as the Porsche 911. Porsche has applied the principle of continuous evolution to the 911. In other words, rather than remaking the car from scratch every five to seven years, Porsche works to improve some aspect of the car every year, altering its aspects only to improve the performance of the model. As a result, the overall mechanical layout of the Porsche 911 is essentially the same as it was on that first Type 901 introduced in 1963. Further, the profile of today’s car mimics the original car’s almost perfectly. In fact, the shape has become so iconic, it is immediately recognizable as a Porsche 911—whether you’re looking at the 1963 car, the 1983 car, the 2003 car or today’s 2013 car. Interestingly though, the 911 is actually an evolution of an even older model, the Porsche 356, which was introduced in 1948. Although truthfully, if you want to go all the way back, both of those cars owe their powertrain layout and overall shape to the Volkswagen Type 1 originated by Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche—the namesake of the company and one of the most prolific automotive engineers of all time. www.lxmagazines.com www.lxmagazine.com
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For the record, it is POR-sha—not “PORSH”.
Porsche is credited with creating the first gasoline electric hybrid automobile; one of the earliest purely electric automobiles; the Volkswagen Beetle; and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK range of automobiles—in addition to some of the most formidable racing cars of his time. As remarkable as all of that is, his crowning achievement—the one towering over all of the others— is the creation of the Porsche sports cars. Except…Ferdinand Porsche didn’t do the 356, nor did he do the 911. Porsche’s son, Ferry, did the 356 based on the rear-engine/rear-drive Volkswagen Type 1 (also known as the Volkswagen Beetle) his father created to fulfill Adolf Hitler’s desire for an affordable automobile for the German people. So, while we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 this year, the truth
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of the matter is the car’s lineage goes all the way back to 1931. Development of the actual 911 started in 1956, under the direction of Ferry Porsche. The other people key to the development of the car were Porsche’s automotive stylist son, Butzi Porsche, body engineer, Edwin Komenda and powertrain engineers, Hans Tomala and Ferry’s nephew, Ferdinand Piech—who joined the project in its latter stages to do some finishing work on the engine. Where the 356 used a swing arm rear suspension and a horizontally opposed air-cooled four-cylinder engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, it was decided the 911 would use an independent rear suspension setup to improve handling. For more power, the new car would employ a horizontally opposed air-cooled sixcylinder engine.
From its original displacement of 2.0-liters and 130 horsepower, the 911’s engine has grown to as much as 3.8-liters. Further, it now employs liquid cooling and has produced over 400 horsepower in production applications. Turbocharged racing versions have produced in excess of 1000 horsepower. As much a trademark of the car as the Porsche badge on its nose, the aural signature of the 911’s flat-six engine is uniquely distinctive. It can be argued quite successfully the Porsche 911 is more than a grand touring/sports car. It is an icon around which a cult-like following has developed. The people who love the 911 are so fanatic about the model they will literally spend hours arguing with other people about the correct pronunciation of the company’s name. For the record, it is POR-sha—not “PORSH”.
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Much has been written and discussed about the secret of the success of the Porsche 911. To date, in excess of 300 books have been produced about the car. Further, new tomes are published each and every year. The car has been examined from every conceivable angle. However, the answer to the question of the success of the 911 is actually very simple. The Porsche 911 is unique in the automotive world. Like no other automobile, it seamlessly combines opposites. With a 911 you get sportiness and everyday usability, tradition and innovation, exclusivity and social acceptability, design and functionality. Since 1963, some 820,000 copies of the model have been built over seven generations. More than just the most successful sports car in the world, the Porsche 911 is also the most successful sports racing car human beings have ever known. In addition to competing on racetracks, the 911 has also been modified for rallying purposes and proven quite successful in that area of motorsport as well. Ferry Porsche described the exceptional versatility of his masterpiece quite succinctly when he said; “The 911 is the only car you can drive from an African safari to Le Mans, then to the theatre, and onto the streets of New York.” Thanks to its continuous evolution, the Porsche 911 comes just about as close to perfection as any car will ever get. With that said, the next one will be even better, and the one following it will be even better still. What we have in the 2013 Porsche 911 is the culmination of everything the world’s most successful sports car company has ever learned about building cars—all contained in one model.
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SIGNATURE
By Nichole Odijk DeMario
There is nothing like holiday recipes, those that stay nestled in recipe boxes or in cookbooks reserved for that special time of the year. When bar professional, Tony Abou-Ganim was selected to create the cocktail program at the Bellagio Las Vegas in 1998, he made sure to include something unique to commemorate the holidays—Hot Buttered Rum. “I wanted to create a signature holiday drink that would be served every year at every bar and with luck it would become a Bellagio holiday tradition," said Abou-Ganim. “I feel creating special traditions are a huge part of properly celebrating the holidays.” Abou-Ganim, whose accomplishments include, but not limited to: author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails among other titles, three time winner of Iron Chef America and one of two Americans to win the Bacardi Martini World Grand Prix.
Hot Buttered Rum Serves 10 to 12
Batter ingredients: 1 pound light brown sugar 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 to 2 teaspoons allspice Freshly grated nutmeg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Each drink: 1 – ½ ounce rum, preferably Mount Gay Eclipse Boiling water, as needed
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Beat together the brown sugar, butter, spices and vanilla extract until well combined. Refrigerate in an airtight, resealable container until ready to use. When ready to prepare drinks, combine two heaping tablespoons of the batter and rum in a warmed coffee mug. Add boiling water, fill to the top and mix well. Serve with a spoon. Notes: Must be served steaming hot, not lukewarm. For a non-alcoholic option, omit rum. It is best to make the batter in advance so the spices have an opportunity to mingle. Be sure to remove the batter from the refrigerator at least six hours before serving to allow it to soften. Batter may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month or frozen for up to 2 months.
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photo: Tony Abou-Ganim www.lxmagazines.com
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Photo provided by Hedy Goldsmith
Maple Flan Serves 8
Ingredients: 3 cups heavy cream, at room temperature ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 1 vanilla bean, split 2/3 cup sugar 1 cup maple syrup, preferably Grade B earl amber 7 extra large egg yolks, room temperature
Hedy Goldsmith, who among her many accolades, is a 2012 and 2013 James Beard Award Finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef, author of Baking Out Loud: Fun Desserts with Big Flavors and guest on Iron Chef America. She loves adding an element of surprise to her holiday desserts.
In a large saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the syrup is reduced to ¾ cup. Keep an eye on the pot; reduce the heat if the syrup threatens to boil over.
“I love creating non-traditional, unexpected holiday desserts. Maple Flan is a great one that can be made well in advance. It’s flavor-forward and plays beautifully in the sandbox with figs, apples, pears, grapes, chestnuts and chocolate,” Goldsmith says.
Slide the pan of cream off the heat, fish out the vanilla beans and slowly add the cream to the caramel whisking until blended.
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 300 degrees. In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream and salt. Scrape all the seeds from the vanilla bean and add to the saucepan along with the bean. Cook over medium heat until just simmering, about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes. Arrange eight, 6-ounce ramekins in a baking dish that has 2-inch high sides. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 3 tablespoons of water and cook over low height, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear. Increase the heat to medium high and boil without stirring, 3 - 5 minutes, or until the sugar begins to turn golden brown. Gently swirl the pan over the heat to even out the color and cook for 2 - 3 minutes longer or until the sugar turns deep amber. Carefully and quickly pour the liquid evenly into the ramekins, swirling each one to cover the bottom completely.
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In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until blended. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the warm maple mixture into the egg yolks until blended. Pour the custard through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Pour the custard into the prepared ramekins in their baking pan. Put the baking pan into the oven, and carefully fill it with very hot water halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Tightly cover the pan with foil and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the center of the custard jiggles slightly when the ramekin is shaken. Carefully transfer the baking pan to a wire rack, uncover the pan and let the flans cool completely at room temperature. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and cover them with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days. To serve, run a thin knife around the edge of the custards and invert them onto small serving plates.
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Gift Guide Brinker's Jewelers
IPPOLITA 18K Yellow Gold Sculputal Metal Cascading Earrings $2,295
ROBERTO COIN 18K Yellow, White and Rose Gold Mesh Bracelets starting at $1,160
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ROBERTO COIN 18K Yellow and White Gold Primavera Pave Diamond Bracelet featuring .35ctw Diamonds $3,600
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TACORI City Lights Green, Blue and Red Onyx Bracelet $410
TACORI City Lights Dangle, Blue, Green and Black Onyx Earrings $480
TACORI City Lights Red Onyx Cocktail Ring $410
TACORI City Lights Black Onyx Cocktail Ring $550
DIAMOND JEWELRY Diamond Hoops starting at $1,100
TACORI City Lights Black Onyx Studs $360
DIAMOND JEWELRY Diamond Studs Martini Settings starting at $400
DIAMOND JEWELRY Diamond Tennis Bracelet starting at $2,000 www.lxmagazines.com
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PANDORA Dangle Candy Cane Charm $35 Pine Cone Charm $50 Dangle Silver Bells Charm $50 St. Nick Charm $50 Dangle Santa's Reindeer Charm $35 Dangle Forest Trinity $50
FENDI Crazy Carats PavĂŠ Edition with Rubies and Diamonds starting at $2,400
BLACK DIAMOND JEWELRY Black and White Diamond Earrings starting at $3,700
CHARRIOL Modern Cable Mix Bracelets starting at $895
BLACK DIAMOND JEWELRY Black and White Diamond Band starting at $1,500
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OMEGA Ladymatic starting at $6,900
OMEGA Ladymatic starting at $6,900
OMEGA Two Toned Constellation starting at $4,050
OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Chronograph 42mm starting at $4,400
OMEGA Good Planet $8,000
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VICTORINOX Chrono Classic $625
TUDOR Heritage Chrono Blue $4,425
SHINOLA Runwell 47mm $550
TISSOT Squelette starting at $1,950
NOMOS Tangente Datum Sapphire with Crystal Back $2,610
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MONTBLANC MONTBLANC
Timewalker Voyager UTC $3,600
Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph $13,000
MONTBLANC Heritage Writing Instrument $1,110
MONTBLANC Urban Walker Collection Cuff Links $495
MONTBLANC Silver Square Urban Collection Cuff Links $365
MONTBLANC Diamond Legrand Rollerball Ren starting at $395
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WWW.RADO.COM
RADO HYPERCHROME AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH MONOBLOC CASE ENGINEERED IN HIGH-TECH CERAMIC 42
Andy Murray
Moments in Time on Luxury Piano All photos courtesty of Piano Solutions XXI
When Guennadi “Gene” Korolev established Piano Solutions XXI, he had a new vision for piano restoration. He wanted to build a “one-man shop” and be able to restore a piano from start to finish. Gene dedicated his whole life to perfecting the restoration process and now has the most innovative and technologically advanced shop in the industry. In February of 2012, Gene, along with his daughter Katherine Banyasz, began working together on a custom piano project — dubbed “New York Serenade” — featuring the most advanced technology and use of new materials on a piano. While Gene used his scientific background and great knowledge in piano technology, Katherine provided her creative input and knowledge in arts and design. www.lxmagazines.com
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The New York Serenade is adorned with 164,000 cubic zirconia stones; with every stone inserted by hand into the piano case.
They selected Steinway and Sons unique model A-III for this challenging custom piano project. As a tribute to the Swing years in America, the artistic inspiration for New York Serenade, according to Katherine, came from the periods of the 1920's to the 1940's, when the Art Deco movement and the Swing era of jazz and big bands flourished in New York City. This custom piano is adorned with 164,000 cubic zirconia stones that sparkle with various intensity, showcasing nostalgic imagery of New York City’s familiar places like Grand Central Station, The Cotton Club, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and of course Steinway Hall. The lid shows the New York Skyline and a magical moon shining over the Hudson River. The designs continue thoughout the piano with overlapping images. The mystical floral-like patterns bring together images to one magnifying effect.
The soundtrack also transmits wireless on a home theatre system or highresolution sound system that enables this piano to produce the effect of a full symphony orchestra or a live jazz band entertaining. One of the most important innovations in this piano design is a trapwork made from aircraft aluminum with ballbearings in rotating points of the moving mechanism. The friction and durability of this trapwork surpasses any existing trapwork on the market today. New York Serenade is a piano made for someone with great taste for luxury, art and design. A piano that will serenade you and take you to a new world of music and elegance.
Every stone was inserted by hand into the piano case, and took the fatherdaughter duo 16 months to put into place. In addition, this piano also comes with seamless installation for Live-Performance Model LX, a high resolution sound reproducing system, with sustain and shift proportional operating pedals. A completely wireless operation with using an iPad.
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BEST NEW
HOTELS By Martin Sayers
The world may still be in the grip of recession but the globe’s leading hoteliers don’t seem to have noticed. A range of high-end resorts across the world have recently opened and offer no compromise in terms of location or facilities.
Palais Namaskar - Morocco Palais Namaskar in Marrakech is one of the newest pretenders to the title of Morocco's most luxurious hotel. This spectacular Moorish building is nestled between the Atlas Mountains and Djebilet Hills, and offers immaculately kept grounds studded with lakes, ponds and scented gardens, as well as a variety of outdoor baths, heated swimming pools and Jacuzzis. Rooms, suites and villas are available for booking, as well as two multibedroomed ‘palaces’ that include private kitchens, swimming pools and 24hour butler service. The hotel even has its own liveried private jet that is on hand to collect guests from any airport around the world and fly them directly to Marrakech.
Palais Namaskar
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Hotel Burj Al Arab
Hotel Burj Al Arab
Hotel Burj Al Arab - Dubai
This new hotel in the billionaire’s playground of Dubai has been designed to resemble a billowing sail and at around 700 feet tall, dominates the skyline. The 28 double-story floors of the hotel accommodate 202 luxury suites, with prices ranging from $1,000 to over $28,000 per night. Chauffeur driven RollsRoyces are on offer to all guests and each floor of the towering structure boasts its own reception desk, while a team of butlers provides 24-hour service. Private shoppers are on hand to ensure that guests can benefit from Dubai’s legendary shopping scene without leaving the resort and the hotel, which features six signature restaurants and its own private beach. 48
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The Shangri-La at The Shard - London
London’s most anticipated luxury hotel opening for many years has been legendary Hong Kong hotelier Shangri-La’s contribution to the incredible skyscraper known as ‘The Shard’. This new building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, is the tallest in Europe standing 70 stories tall and is scheduled to open this fall. The hotel is the first new-build, five-star hotel in the Central London area in over a decade. With 202 deluxe guest rooms, averaging more than 452 sq. ft., The Shard will be amongst the largest in the city — introducing a new standard of ‘suite-style’ accommodation to the British capital. Facilities include a Champagne bar situated on level 52, which boasts spectacular views over the River Thames and the city of London.
The Shard
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti - Tanzania
Set in the heart of Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park, this property has a collection of rooms, suites and private villas that enjoy views over unspoiled wilderness. The setting offers guests the opportunity to get close to wildlife in a safe and ecologically responsible environment while still enjoying the height of luxury.
Four Seasons Safari Lodge
Featuring contemporary African architecture sympathetic to the natural landscape, the centerpiece is a two-story great house that offers several dining options with indoor and outdoor seating, which is connected to guest accommodations and a spa by elevated wooden walkways. The hotel’s large infinity pool overlooks an active watering hole that is regularly visited by a herd of elephants. St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort - USA
Heralded as the ‘most anticipated luxury hotel opening of 2012,’ the new St. Regis resort in Miami is certainly an attractive option for anyone who wants to vacation in Florida. Each of the hotel’s 243 rooms and suites features glassenclosed balconies that offer floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the beach and ocean beyond. The location doesn’t get any better as far as Miami is concerned as the hotel is perched oceanside in the exclusive Bal Harbour district, directly adjacent to the world renowned Bal Harbour Shops and just minutes from the buzz and vibrancy of South Beach.
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Ballyfin - Ireland
Nestled at the foot of Ireland’s Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin is a Regency-era mansion that was once the family-seat of the Cootes family before being run as a school. After falling into disrepair, the site was bought by developers and the house underwent eight years of meticulous restoration before opening as one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels in 2011. Just fifteen guest rooms are contained within this huge house, which boast 600-acres of parkland containing a lake, ancient woodland, garden buildings, follies and grottoes.
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The Alpina Gstaad The Alpina Gstaad
The Alpina Gstaad – Switzerland
This luxury hideaway in the heart of the Swiss Alps represents the first luxury hotel to be built in the exclusive ski resort of Gstaad for over 100 years. Although new, the hotel has been built in traditional Swiss style, with all the stonework handcrafted by local stonemasons. Alpine herbs and flowers have been planted in the lush gardens that surround the property. The Alpina boasts attractions such as a wine tasting room, a cigar room, a private cinema and a 25-meter indoor lap pool, while its spectacular location ensures incredible views of the surrounding mountains from every room. The hotel will also host the first Western European location of the renowned Japanese restaurant MEGU.
Palace Hotel Tokyo – Japan
This contemporary Japanese hotel occupies the most enviable position in Tokyo – right next to the moat that guards the Imperial Palace, home of the Japanese royal family. The 23-story property cost $900 million to build and the 290 guest rooms are all built on the palace side of the building to offer uninterrupted views across the Imperial gardens.
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Guests can also avail themselves of seven restaurants, the first Evian spa in Japan and an in-house shopping mall that features seventeen high-end retail outlets.
Palace Hotel Tokyo
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Amanzoe - Greece
The Amanzoe is perched on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula and boasts 38 guest pavilions that are all built on different levels to ensure privacy and allow for uninterrupted views across the sparkling Aegean. Each pavilion has its own courtyard featuring marble walls and a private terrace, while guests also have access to the hotel’s private beach, as well as restaurants, a library and an art gallery.
Dusit Thani - Maldives
New hotel openings tend to go unnoticed in the tourist Mecca of the Maldives but the Dusit Thani Maldives is something special. Encircled by a reef that supports an abundance of marine life this exclusive resort is housed on its own private island and is also close to Hanifaru Huraa — a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve renowned as a feeding ground for manta rays and whale sharks. The complex also boasts the largest swimming pool in the Maldives, while guests are able to enjoy a unique spa experience thanks to the Devarana Spa, which features six treetop treatment pods nestled amongst the leaves high above the island. Amanzoe
Dusit Thani Maldives
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Documenting Genius Architectural Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero By Lyndon Conrad Bell
Faced with the prospects of a future career as a bilingual clerk at a department store or a carryout boy at a supermarket, 20-year old Pedro Guerrero left his childhood home in Mesa, Arizona to learn a craft at which he would be accepted for who he was, rather than what he looked like. His quest took him to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the Art Center College of Design. Fate has a way of leading us to our destinies, and for young Pedro, fate chose the path of photographer. Without a hint the field would become a passion for him, Guerrero enrolled in photography classes there, largely because he had no experience in any of the disciplines offered. Well, that and all the other classes were full. Guerrero says after exposing his first roll of film, developing it and printing his first image, he knew photography was what he’d be doing for the rest of his life.
ve uerrero Archi © Pedro E. G
Thanks to that realization, we have some of the most beautifully crafted and carefully detailed photographic images of some of the 20th century’s most gifted American architects— including Frank Lloyd Wright—but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
In 1939, Frank Lloyd Wright hired 22-year-old Pedro Guerrero as his resident photographer, the start of a collaborative bond that would last until Wright’s death in 1959.
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Guerrero studied photography at the Art Center; however by his own admission, he was in all probability, the worst student the school ever had. The Art Center College of Design was geared for commercial artists, and while Guerrero ultimately became quite celebrated for his commercial work, he was more intrigued by art photography. In fact, an administrator at the school once told him that even though Guerrero had come there to learn, he was defying the school to teach him. Whether Guerrero was already aware of his own path, a rebellious individual, or a combination of the two is difficult to say. But ultimately, he became disillusioned with the school. After studying there for only two years, Guerrero returned to his home in Arizona. Still working with his cameras, but moping around the family home, Guerrero’s father—who had been following the career of Frank Lloyd Wright—suggested young Pedro go to see Wright and inquire as to his needs for photographic services. Guerrero knew very little about Wright, other than the fact he was an architect. Further, Guerrero knew very little about architecture. He had seen a photograph of Wright, and he had also seen a photograph of Wright’s Pennsylvania house, “Fallingwater”. But other than that, he really didn’t know much about the man. This, as it turned out, was quite fortunate.
© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Guerrero photographed Mr. Wright taking a tea break at his exhibition Sixty Years of Living Architecture in New York City in 1953.
Guerrero said if he’d had an inkling of how accomplished Wright really was, he would have been embarrassed to go see him. So it was a highly inexperienced and wholly unaccomplished 22-year old Pedro Guerrero introduced himself to Frank Lloyd Wright—one of America’s most revered architects—as a photographer. Which, by the way was the first time he’d ever introduced himself that way in his life. However, it wouldn’t be the last. With an extremely thin portfolio—but excellent timing— Guerrero was invited to come in and show Wright what he could do. By his own admission, Guerrero had the world’s worst portfolio. The school had tried to train Guerrero to be a commercial artist, but he had focused on fine art instead. Because of this, his portfolio contained such jewels as an image of a girl and a dog, as well as a dead pelican on the beach with a beer can. Fortunately though, Guerrero had also done quite a bit of artistic female nude work, which intrigued Wright. The two developed a rapport and within 15 minutes Wright had invited Guerrero to start work—that very day. What Guerrero didn’t know at the time was Wright’s previous photographer had just eloped with one of the apprentices, leaving Wright without photographic services.
© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Mr. Wright appeared without shaving for this portrait in 1947. Guerrero had to move the camera back to conceal his stubble.
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With a charge to photograph everything he saw on the site, because everything there was important to Wright, Guerrero was hired as Frank Lloyd Wright’s photographer. An almost unbelievable situation, Guerrero’s good fortune really demonstrates the extreme value of timeliness—as well as being willing to work for very little money. 55
Guerrero said Wright told him the pay wasn’t much, but he could live at Taliesin West and use Wright’s camera. Guerrero later found out the pay wasn’t anything, but he said it didn’t matter—after all, look where he was. Working for Wright was the equivalent of getting a postgraduate degree in commercial photography. Interestingly though, the direction Wright gave Guerrero was very minimal. All he told Guerrero was he wanted to recognize the work as his own. Wright eschewed bird’s eye views, worm’s eye views, and abstract views. He wanted to see the work the way he drew it. Given Wright drew from a sitting position, this meant Guerrero shot from eye level more often than not. Further, as much as possible, he shot Wright’s designs in their entirety because Wright wanted to see as much of the architecture as possible in one shot.
© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Taliesin West: This was one of Guerrero most dramatic photographs of Taliesin West. This 1940 view of the drafting studio shows the extravagance of the reflecting pool, designed to add both beauty and utility.
After Mr. Wright’s death, Architectural Forum assigned Guerrero to photograph the house in Bethesda, Maryland, he had designed for his son, Robert, in 1953. © Pedro E. Guerrero Archive
David Wright’s house in Phoenix © Pedro E. Guerrero Archive
Fortunately, this nicely dovetailed with Guerrero’s vision, so he found Wright quite easy to please. For Guerrero, the buildings were essentially large sculptures and he photographed them on that basis.
© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Shot in 1947 for a House and Garden feature, this photograph never appeared because Mr. Wright did not have enough other postwar work to show.
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When World War II started, Guerrero served as a photographer for the Army Air Corps. Upon returning, he resumed his work with Wright. However, his photography had by then also attracted the attention of a number of other architects—as well as fine artists. Sculptors Louise Nevelson and Alexander Calder commissioned Guerrero to document their works, as did architects Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer. Still, out of loyalty to the man who gave him his first break, Guerrero avoided working for a lot of different architects until after Wright died in 1959. A number of prominent magazines also gave Guerrero assignments based on his work with Wright. These included Architectural Forum and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as House and Garden. He also authored a number of books—among them; Picturing Wright: An Album from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Photographer and Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer’s Journey.
In 1962, Guerrero traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to photograph the functional kitchen of the fabled Julia Child.
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Swathed in her plaid shirt, Indian vest and trademark scarf, sculptor, Louise Nevelson gazes at her artwork.
Alexander Calder posed with a stabile named Sabot (French for shoe) in 1976 in front of his huge Saché studio.
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WHERE TIME IS TOLD BRINKER’S JEWELERS AND THE BASELWORLD WATCH SHOW By Lyndon Conrad Bell Since 1917, the planet’s most elite watch manufacturers have come together each spring to present their latest horological masterpieces to the world in Basel, Switzerland. As any true watch aficionado will tell you, the city of Basel is home to many of the world’s most exacting builders. Thus, the city’s watch exhibition— called Baselworld—is to watches what the Detroit Auto Show is to cars. Baselworld is the place where the best of the best go to show their finest work. To get an idea of how serious watchmakers take Baselworld, consider this; exhibitors like Rolex and Omega spend the majority of each year planning their displays for the event. After spending the better part of a year planning for the exhibition, their stands typically take about three months to set up. Once the show is over, it can take as much as another two months to disassemble the display—all for an exhibition period lasting but one week. Truth be told though, the word “display” hardly does what they accomplish justice. Exhibitors’ pavilions resemble nothing less than full-fledged retail outlets. Imagine a 1.5 million square foot mall containing 1,460 glittering shops—each one specific to a particular brand—and you’ll get the general idea. Over the seven days of the exhibition, Baselworld attracts some 120,000 visitors, along with approximately 3,600 journalists. For a company like Brinker’s Jeweler’s, which is very serious about offering fine timepieces, attending Baselworld is absolutely mandatory. Dean Powell, a certified Swiss watchmaker and watch department manager at Brinker’s Jewelers says; “The scope of it is positively enormous—and yet it affords us the intimate opportunity to meet face to face with the people behind the brands we represent.” Those personal connections cannot be underestimated. 60
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photo: BASELWORLD
Kyle Brinker, CMO and CFO at Brinker’s Jewelers says; “The people we meet at Baselworld are the sharpest minds in the industry. If there is a new innovation, we’ll learn about it there. Plus, it gives us the opportunity to become personally acquainted with the individuals at the essence of the brands with which we partner. This ensures the absolute finest in products and services for our clientele.”
photo: BASELWORLD
Powell agrees; “Typically, when we find a brand we’re interested in at Baselworld, we’ll also tour the manufacturing facility where the timepieces are crafted. This affords us tremendous insight into the quality and effort put into the watches our customers will be strapping to their wrists.” Brinker continues; “Doing this enables us to represent these timepieces with complete confidence because we’ve seen firsthand what went into creating them. It is impossible to underestimate just how important this is to us.” Says Powell; “ Our latest trip to Baselworld was very exciting in that it yielded relationships with two new brands; Nomos Glashütte and Shinola. It also marked the return of the Tudor brand to the U.S. market, which we will represent. This is a very exciting development, as it broadens our relationship with Rolex (the parent company of Tudor).” Brinker; “We’re also getting new product from Omega as well as Rolex. This is going to be a very exciting year for us.” Nomos Glashütte watches originate from the German village of Glashütte, situated in close proximity to the city of Dresden, near Germany’s border with the Czech Republic. A center of high-grade watchmaking for more than 160 years, schoolchildren in Glashütte are capable of assembling alarm clocks. It is from this environment the decidedly elegant, yet robust designs from Nomos originate. One of the few high-end manufacturers still producing its own movements in house, Nomos Glashütte watches are timeless in their beauty and their durability ensures they last a lifetime.
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photo: BASELWORLD
Shinola watches are made in Detroit. These quintessentially American timepieces benefit from that city’s legacy as an industrial leader, while offering one of the few products made in America these days. Completely assembled by hand, Shinola watches contain Swiss-made movements whose final assembly is accomplished in Detroit. Two master watchmakers oversee the building of these distinctively American watches by Americans—for Americans. Despite their affordable price point, Shinola watches use sapphire crystals, their dials are overprinted 14 times, and the most sophisticated luminous paint available is employed to ensure the hands and numerals glow consistently in the dark. Further, the straps are handcrafted using leather from the Horween tannery—Chicago’s only remaining leather tannery—one of the finest in the country.
Dean Powell and Kyle Brinker with Russell Kelly, brand manager for Tudor USA at BASELWORLD
The previous generation of Tudor watches was last sold in the United States in 2000. Rolex, Tudor’s parent company, reintroduced the brand earlier this year. Brinker’s is one of only 70 companies selected to represent Tudor timepieces in the U.S. These contemporary Tudor chronological instruments hew strongly to the original 1946 edict by Hans Wilsdorf, founder and then-governing director of the Rolex watch company. Wilsdorf wanted to produce a watch his company could offer at a more affordable price point, but one also capable of meeting the standards of dependability of a Rolex branded instrument. As for their precision, the French Navy employed Tudor watches, as did the US Navy SEALS. These new Tudor watches have unique cases, bracelets, and specific ETA movements, but their quality and the experts behind them are solidly representative of the Rolex brand. Brinker’s has incorporated these fine timepieces into its portfolio of instruments on offer from some of the world’s most prestigious and luxurious marques including; Rolex, Omega, Montblanc, Fendi, Rado, Tissot, Victorinox and Pandora. The Brinker’s commitment is underscored by the expansion of its watch department from 100 square feet to 700 square feet with full state of the art equipment and choice, skilled technicians to support it. Partnered closely with each of the brands it represents, Brinker’s is now the most elite watch destination in the Midwest. With two Lititz Watch Technicum graduates on staff, Brinker’s also performs in-house servicing of highgrade Swiss movements, vintage restorations, and the crafting of bespoke parts. While Powell and Brinker may go to Switzerland to attend Baselworld every year, they also bring a bit of Baselworld back to Brinker’s with them—every time they go. 62
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IN 60 YEARS OR SO, A GRANDFATHER WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO PASS DOWN AN AMERICAN WRISTWATCH. TH E R U NWE LL FEATU R I NG A B LACK DIAL WITH R E MOTE SWE E P SECON D I N A B LACK I P CASE AN D DETROIT-B U I LT ARGON ITE 1069 MOVE M E NT.
As makers of handcrafted watches, bicycles, leather goods, and journals, we believe that products should be built to last, and they should be built here in America. Shinola stands for skill at scale, the preservation of craft, the beauty of industry.
NOMOS Ahoi! Cutting a fine figure at all times, and always ready for adventure. An exquisite piece of craftsmanship in a robust case, which is also water resistant down to 200 meters—Ahoi is the new mechanical watch from NOMOS Glashßtte uniquely combining sport and style. www.nomos-glashuette.com
T H E O R I G I N ATO R O F C U LT U R E D P E A R L S . S I N C E 1 8 9 3 .
Pois Moi Collection
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