Rumanoff's - The LX Magazine Fall/Winter 2013 by LX Publications

A Rumanoff's Fine Jewelry & Design Publication

from the publisher

Welcome. It is our pleasure at Rumanoff ’s Fine Jewelers and Design to announce the premier edition of Rumanoff 's-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. This issue showcases photographer Berry Behrendt, as he has gloriously captured the essence of Audrey Hepburn for our “Behind the Lens” feature. And that’s just the beginning. Read about the globe’s leading hoteliers across the world in the “Best New Luxury Hotels.” Celebrate an iconic automobile, the Porsche 911, that was introduced 50 years ago. Also meet Pedro E. Guerrero, the personal photographer of possibly the most famous architect the world has ever known in “Documenting Genius.” Locally, we feature “Perseverance, Adaptability And Rebirth,” the Story of Rumanoff ’s Fine Jewelry and Design. At Rumanoff ’s, we pride ourselves on being able to provide our customers with the best shopping experience, with friendly, professional customer service. We offer a wide selection of merchandise at great prices, complete jewelry repair and stone setting with a jeweler on site, custom deign, computerized engraving, watch repair on all makes and models, pearl and bead stringing and appraisals. As we enter this holiday season, know that you can count on us to help you choose the perfect gift for that special someone. With our most sincere gratitude for all of our loyal customers to whom we owe our success, and with the hopes of gaining the trust of more, all of us at Rumanoff ’s look forward to seeing you. Please enjoy this issue of Rumanoff 's-The LX Magazine. Warm wishes to you and yours, Douglas Rumanoff

www.lxmagazines.com

ART OF DECO DiAmOnD, DiAmOnD DiAl On DiAmOnD TAPER BRACElET

Features

inside

Community 10 The Story of Rumanoff's Fine Jewelry & Design

Jewelry 14 Tacori, The Story 36 Gift Guide 60 Hearts On Fire 64 Signature Collection Photography 19 Behind the Lens of

Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

54 Documenting Genius: Pedro

The Story of Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry & Design Gift Guide

TACORI Sterling City Lights Black Onyx Necklace, 38” $670

TACORI

18K Rose Gold Moon Rosé Peach Moonstone and Diamond Necklace $1,700, Earrings $2,420

TACORI Sterling Barbados Blue Turquoise Pendant $380

TACORI Sterling Cushion-Cut Black Onyx Earrings $220

TACORI Sterling and 18K Rose Gold Rose Amethyst and Diamond Pendant $1,710, Ring $1,550

TACORI

Sterling Barbados Blue Turquoise Ring with 18K Seal

Diamond Ring with 18K Seal $810

Sterling Island Rains Sky Blue Topaz and

$500

TACORI Sterling Barbados Blue Turquoise Earrings $590

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Amethyst Earrings $320

TACORI Sterling Classic Rock Ring with 18K Seal $270

Rumanoff's Fine Jewelry Gift Guide

E. Guerrero

Lifestyle 28 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911

43 New York Serenade Piano Travel 46 Best New Luxury Hotels Holiday 32 Signature Holiday Recipes

TACORI Sterling Island Rains Sky Blue Topaz, London Blue Topaz and Turquoise Bracelet with 18K Seal $1,640

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Rose Amethyst, White Chalcedony and Amethyst Pendant $490

TACORI 36

Sterling Classic Rock Bracelet $260

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Amethyst and Diamond Ring with 18K Seal $780

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Rose Amethyst, White Chalcedony and Amethyst Ring $350

www.lxmagazines.com

Behind the Lens of Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

28 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 7

cover on on thethe cover

Publisher DOUGLAS RUMANOFF Associate Publisher MICHAEL RUMANOFF LESLIE RUMANOFF STEVEN RUMANOFF Editor JON ROBERTS Senior Designer ANGIE HALTER

L-R: Michael Rumanoff, Doug Rumanoff, Leslie Rumanoff and Steven Rumanoff Photography by David Apuzzo Photography Hamden | davidapuzzo.com Hair by Christine Maturo of Belle Cheveux Cheshire | 203.272.2113 Makeup by Andrea Blair of Two Spa Girls North Haven | twospagirls.com

Project Coordinators NICOLE HIGGINS ASHLEY ANDERSON COURTNEY DRENTH

LX: a coffeetable magazine 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

www.lxmagazines.com

The Story of Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry & Design By Lyndon Conrad Bell The annals of business history are rife with stories of humble beginnings. Other prominent themes include perseverance, adaptability and rebirth. In the case of Rumanoff ’s Fine Jewelry and Design, all of the above apply. A story of triumphs, setbacks and new beginnings, it’s the kind of narrative from which compelling Hollywood productions are made. Picture it: New Haven, Connecticut, 1938, it’s the depths of the Great Depression. We’re talking about the longest, most widespread and deepest economic downturn in the history of the world. With unemployment in the United States topping 25 percent—one in four people are out of work. Cities around the globe are hit hard; consumer spending has ground to a near halt—as has new construction in many places. The prospects of starting any kind of a successful new business are practically nil. If ever there was a time in American history when a person had to make it by his or her own wits, this was it. Many found themselves not up to the task. And yet, one man—whether out of vision or sheer desperation—one man; Jack Silver (now is that a name straight out of a Hollywood movie or what?), faced with absolutely no other prospects, and with a family to feed, gathered as many desirable novelty jewelry items together as he could and began a pushcart business. Yes, a pushcart business. Silver literally hand pushed his cart from door to door—offering his wares on a wholesale basis to the few retailers still open.

www.lxmagazines.com

If ever there was a time in American history when a person had to make it by his or her own wits, this was it. Fortunately, Silver had several factors in his favor. In addition to a really cool name, he was a man of integrity, blessed with the gift of gab and an extremely likable personality. (Think a young Matt Damon with that fifty million kilowatt smile. Yeah, you’re buying from him—OK?) And while it was slow going at first, Silver gradually started making headway. The guy was so sunny; shopkeepers began looking forward to his visits—and purchasing more and more of his wares for resale. As the economy rebounded, Silver found himself with a thriving wholesale jewelry supply business. And it grew. So much so, Silver brought in his young teenage nephew—the first person with the last name Rumanoff—to work in the company. Eli Rumanoff joined his uncle and the business grew into the largest distributor of wholesale jewelry and giftware in the entire northeast region. Representing all of the most popular brands of the day, it looked like the sky was the limit. Then tragedy struck. Silver died. Ownership of the business passed to Eli Rumanoff, along with Silver’s son and his son-in-law. Eventually Eli bought out the other two, and made a go of it with his own family. With his sons Mike and Steven working alongside him, the Rumanoffs propelled the business to unprecedented heights. From its exceptionally humble origins as a one-man door-to-door pushcart enterprise, the Rumanoffs grew the J.A. Silver Company into a practically unstoppable wholesale juggernaut. Their success warranted a 10,000 square foot facility with a state-of-the-art showroom, practically limitless warehouse space, and a staff of 27 people. Times were good. But, like in every movie, just when you think the protagonist has it made, a nearly insurmountable adversity strikes. A child of the Great Depression, the J.A. Silver Company had risen from the ashes of economic devastation. Irony being what it is, of course another such economic calamity—this one the result of bad bets by the economic powerhouses of the go-go 1980’s—attacked the business and left it seemingly near death. Remember Michael Douglas as “Gordon Gekko” in the film Wall Street declaring, “Greed Is Good”? Well, this might have been true for the guys on Wall Street, but the results of their greed weren’t so good for practically everyone else—including the Rumanoffs.

www.lxmagazines.com

Heading into the 1990’s, the wholesale business model the J.A. Silver Company had pursued since its inception was taking serious hits from all quadrants. Economically ravaged, the business was literally under siege as its customers were being decimated left and right, along with its suppliers. The outlook was bleak. Facing a wholly untenable situation, if the company was going to survive, a new strategy was required. It was time for a rebirth. And so the Rumanoff ’s went retail—for the first time in the history of the company. Renaming the business J.A. Silver II and striking out once again to rebuild their company, the Rumanoff family ventured into unfamiliar territory, determined to make a new mark. Leaving their past behind, they moved to a new facility. Slowly, steadily, the new direction took hold. Adding custom design and repairs to the retail business gave them new opportunities. Fortunately, some of its allies from the old days were still around. This meant the company could also still work in the wholesale arena, but this time as manufacturer’s representatives—freeing itself of costly overhead. Growth ensued, but just when it looked as if the corner was finally turned, yet another tragedy struck the company. Eli suddenly and quite unexpectedly died. Saddened, and facing a gaping hole in the heart of the company, Michael and Steven carried on; as they knew their father would want them to. They renamed the business Rumanoff ’s Fine Jewelry & Design, to commemorate their father, as well as inspire them to strive even harder to ensure his legacy lived on. Today, a fourth generation of Rumanoff family members carries on the traditions established by Eli, Michael and Steven. Michael’s children, Douglas and Leslie have joined the company, infusing it with fresh new ideas and a youthful vigor. For more than 17 years, the family has worked to make Rumanoff ’s the strongest store in the area. The beautiful decor is enhanced with a casual and family friendly atmosphere. The store’s lounge is the only one of its type in the city. As for jewelry, they really do have something that will appeal to everyone. And so, Rumanoff ’s (nee the J.A. Silver Company) survives to this day, serving as both an employer and a philanthropist— giving back to the community which has seen it thorough trials and tribulations, ups and downs. At its essence, the story of Rumanoff ’s Fine Jewelry & Design is one of perseverance, adaptability, and rebirth, all in a quest to remain a vital member of the community. Somewhere, Jack and Eli are smiling.

www.lxmagazines.com

The Story. The Family. Blending the finest traditions of old world sensibilities with exquisite contemporary designs, Tacori’s highly regarded works of the jewelry maker’s art are coveted by glitterati appreciative of its unique and distinctive European flair all over the world; familyowned, the Tacori company’s philosophies and traditions have made it legendary within the ranks of the crafters of fine jewelry. Tacori’s designs are so intricate they defy duplication. Further, its strict marketing standards ensure its products are always presented in the most favorable manner possible. For these reasons and many more, the name Tacori has come to symbolize the absolute finest in presentation, quality, attention to detail and personal customer care. Capably guided by the strong, yet gentle hand of the company’s founder and family patriarch, Haig Tacorian, Tacori’s fine jewelry brilliantly mirrors the passion guiding the family whose name it bears. Tacorian left Europe with his wife Gilda in 1969 to start a new life in the United States. The principles upon which he founded and guides the company have made it one of the world’s premier brands. Paul Tacorian, the company’s president of sales and marketing, set the jewelry world on its ear with his innovative, full-page ads featuring achingly beautiful images of the masterworks his family creates. Tacorian’s advertisements were groundbreaking in that they were the first dynamically photographed, full-page, art quality advertisements run by a jewelry concern. So beautiful they could hang in an art gallery, it’s almost laughable today to think this wasn’t being done before he did it. Nadine Tacorian, the company’s president of operations, fiercely adheres to the standards set for the company, yet simultaneously engenders ever more creative takes on the traditional cues established by Haig Tacorian for the brand. Remarkably, even while inspiring outstanding creativity from the design staff, she has also introduced a myriad of efficiencies to the processes employed in crafting their creations. Together, in addition to creating and marketing intricately crafted artisan jewelry, the Tacorian family upholds an uncompromising legacy of passionately fusing classic elegance with modern inspiration.

“The Tacorian family upholds an uncompromising legacy of passionately fusing classic elegance with modern inspiration.”

www.lxmagazines.com

The Pieces. It’s been said jewelry tells stories of timeless qualities — stories that transcend time. In the case of Tacori, this radiates from the aura of heirloom elegance illuminating its progressive styles. Modern, yet traditional, at the core of every Tacori design is the company’s signature crescent halfmoon pattern. The pattern is so distinctive Tacori was granted both a copyright and a trademark for it. The crescent half-moon is so difficult to duplicate, when one sees it they can be unmistakably assured they are in the presence of an example of Tacori’s artwork. So timeless are the company’s creations, they just as readily grace the youthful beauty of a woman in her twenties as they do her grandmother. This quality sets Tacori’s heirloom pieces of timeless elegance apart from trendy “here today, gone tomorrow” designs endemic to mainstream fashion jewelry. Imbued with value transcending both time and currency, Tacori’s jewelry is nothing less than a work of fine art a woman can wear. Always innovating, one of Tacori’s most popular lines is its 18k925 creations rendered in 18-karat gold and the purest sterling silver. The Tacori 18k925 Collection represents a new collection of Tacori design; specifically referring to the 18-karat gold and 925 silver metal combination, which makes these pieces bold, fun and wearable. The new 18k925 Collection is full of colorful gemstones, stylishly

www.lxmagazines.com

taking iconic glamour and adding a modern Tacori twist. Tacori’s Dantela Collection beautifully juxtaposes the modern with the traditional and the classic with the unconventional. A veritable symphony of dazzling design and eye-catching allure, the collection’s name “Dantela” means “lace” in Romanian; a nod to the Tacorian family’s heritage. Also a singular work unto itself, the Tacori diamond is certified by no less than two external authorities (the GIA and GemEX), in addition to Tacori’s own diamond experts. Fewer than five percent of the diamonds considered by Tacori’s diamond experts make the grade. Because of this, Tacori’s exceptional gemstones carry a titaniumclad guarantee of quality and are certified to be conflictfree. Chosen specifically to mesh in perfect harmony with the company’s designs, few diamonds match the fire and brilliance displayed by a Tacori stone. Whether it’s engagement or wedding rings, fine jewelry or diamonds, the Tacori name is engraved only after several degrees of rigorous inspection, certification and approvals have been conducted. Only the finest gold, platinum, and diamonds with at least G color and VS clarity will do. Setting aside the overarching beauty of the pieces themselves, these guidelines and processes ensure the transcending desirability of Tacori’s jewelry eternally endures.

Design Passion. From the innovative vision of the designers, to the crafting and polishing of the intricate signature crescent details, the creation of Tacori jewelry takes place under the Tacorian familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guidance at their design studios in California. Their philosophy of personal care and quality guides every aspect of the process. Each piece is precisely matched to hand-selected gems. If it bears the Tacori name, you can be absolutely assured it has met the rigorous standards of quality and beauty unique to Tacori as established by Haig Tacorian, back in 1969.

behind the lens of berry behrendt By Lyndon Conrad Bell

a tribute to

audrey hepburn

www.lxmagazines.com

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

www.lxmagazines.com

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 itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment. - Berry Behrendt

Top Enekyo Pants Gucci Shoes Edmundo

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

www.lxmagazines.com

Dress Novis

www.lxmagazine.com www.lxmagazines.com

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.

Turtleneck & Pants Moschino Hat Patricia Underwood Necklace Fenton Fallon Earrings W29

www.lxmagazine.com

Dress Furne One Gloves Sermoneta Earrings Circa 66

www.lxmagazines.com

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

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 todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Model grand touring/sports car.

www.lxmagazines.com

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

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

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”.

www.lxmagazines.com

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

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

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

photo: Tony Abou-Ganim www.lxmagazines.com

Photo: 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.

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

Gift Guide TACORI Sterling Barbados Blue Turquoise Pendant $380

TACORI Sterling Barbados Blue Turquoise Ring with 18K Seal $500

TACORI Sterling Island Rains Sky Blue Topaz and Diamond Ring with 18K Seal $810

TACORI Sterling Barbados Blue Turquoise Earrings $590

TACORI Sterling Classic Rock Ring with 18K Seal $270

TACORI Sterling Island Rains Sky Blue Topaz, London Blue Topaz and Turquoise Bracelet with 18K Seal $1,640

TACORI 36

Sterling Classic Rock Bracelet $260

www.lxmagazines.com

TACORI Sterling City Lights Black Onyx Necklace, 38” $670

TACORI 18K Rose Gold Moon Rosé Peach Moonstone and Diamond Necklace $1,700, Earrings $2,420

TACORI Sterling Cushion-Cut Black Onyx Earrings $220

TACORI Sterling and 18K Rose Gold Rose Amethyst and Diamond Pendant $1,710, Ring $1,550

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Amethyst Earrings $320

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Rose Amethyst, White Chalcedony and Amethyst Pendant $490

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Amethyst and Diamond Ring with 18K Seal $780

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Rose Amethyst, White Chalcedony and Amethyst Ring $350

www.lxmagazines.com

PANDORA Sterling Light As A Feather C.Z. Pendant $100

HEARTS ON FIRE 18K White Gold Fulfillment Diamond Earrings starting at $2,450

HEARTS ON FIRE 18K White Gold Fulfillment Diamond Necklace starting at $1,490

PANDORA Sterling Light As A Feather C.Z. Ring $80

GABRIEL & CO. 14K White Gold .12cttw Diamond Necklace $595

GABRIEL & CO. 14K White Gold .19cttw Diamond Hoop Earrings $595 Monogram Collection Available in Sterling Silver, White or Yellow Gold

JAYDEN STAR Crystal Seven Row Bracelet $90

www.lxmagazines.com

ELLE SYLVIE 14K White Gold Diamond Halo Pendants starting at $695

Sterling C.Z. Sideways Cross Necklace $80

DOVES 18K Rose Gold Amethyst Over Pink Mother Of Pearl and .35cttw Diamond Necklace $2,195

DOVES 18K Rose Gold Amethyst Over Pink Mother Of Pearl and .26cttw Diamond Ring $1,750

RUMANOFF'S SIGNATURE COLLECTION

TACORI Crescent Lace Diamond Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

VERRAGIO Diamond Engagement Ring

TACORI TacoriSport Bands: Complimentary with any 18K or Platinum Tacori Gentlemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Band www.lxmagazines.com

PHILIP STEIN Mother Of Pearl and Diamond Watch with Aubergine Accents on a Purple Calf Leather Strap $2,145

COLORE|SG Sterling Pavé Diamond Necklace $450

COLORE|SG Sterling and 18K Gold Pavé Diamond Necklace $995

COLORE|SG Sterling Green Agate and Quartz Fusion Ring $175

PHILIP STEIN Gent’s Black PVD and Rose Gold Accented Watch $1,050

COLORE|SG Sterling Green Amethyst and Diamond Ring $395 Sterling Amethyst and Diamond Ring $395

ALEX & ANI Positive Energy Charm Bracelets starting at $24

www.lxmagazines.com

MICHELE

Signature CSX-36 Two-Tone Diamond Watch $2,345

Tahitian Jellybean Carousel Black with Silver Dial Watch $345

MICHELE Urban Mini Diamond Watch $2,145

MICHELE Tahitian Jellybean Carousel White Watch $345

PANDORA Sterling and Enamel St. Nick Charm $50

PANDORA Sterling and Enamel Candy Cane Charm $35

PANDORA Bracelet with Charms www.lxmagazines.com

Forget sugar plums.

DREAM ABOUT PANDORA.

Sterling silver charms from $25

INTRODUCING PANDORA’S WINTER 2013 COLLECTION.

4133 Whitney Avenue • Hamden, CT 203.230.1199 • rumanoffs.com

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.lxmagazine.com

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 Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

www.lxmagazine.com

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

Palais Namaskar www.lxmagazines.com

Hotel Burj Al Arab

Hotel Burj Al Arab - Dubai

This new hotel in the billionaireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary shopping scene without leaving the resort and the hotel, which features six signature restaurants and its own private beach. 48

www.lxmagazines.com

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

Ballyfin - Ireland

Nestled at the foot of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

www.lxmagazines.com

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

www.lxmagazines.com

Amanzoe - Greece

The Amanzoe is perched on Greeceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 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

www.lxmagazines.com

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.

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

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.

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

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

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

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.

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.

www.lxmagazines.com

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

If you’ve seen a print ad or one of the television commercials, you probably have the tag line committed to memory: Hearts On Fire, The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond. And indeed, Hearts On Fire stones possess brilliance unlike any other. While some may decry the Hearts On Fire diamond as marketing hype elevated to its highest level, the truth of the matter is, with a Hearts On Fire stone, the buyer knows exactly what they’re getting—even if they know nothing at all about diamonds. From the very beginning this was the Hearts On Fire founder Glenn Rothman’s ultimate goal. He wanted to offer the most perfect stone possible. Says Rothman; “Hearts On Fire is much more than the world’s most perfectly cut diamond. For

that matter, Hearts On Fire is also much more than a luxury brand. Hearts On Fire is a message. It is an experience of communicating emotion at a higher level.” To get there, a very painstaking process must be undertaken with each and every stone. Rothman explains; “When you look at a Hearts On Fire diamond from the bottom through a proportion scope you’ll see the eight perfectly symmetrical hearts. When you look at it from above, you’ll observe eight perfectly aligned Firebursts. Witnessing this for the first time is a moving emotional experience. Once an individual sees what Hearts On Fire really is, it creates an amazing connection, right away.”

Hearts On Fire’s diamonds are produced using the most meticulous processes in the industry. The gems are cut and polished at 10 times the normal standard to ensure the true beauty of each diamond is realized. While most manufacturers use a 10 times magnification process, Hearts On Fire diamonds are subjected to100 times magnification—using NASA based technology. So painstaking is the process, only 400 people on Earth are capable of crafting a Hearts On Fire diamond.

Most entrepreneurs would be satisfied to produce and market the finest stones the world has ever known. However, Glenn Rothman is most assuredly not in the category of “most entrepreneurs”. Rothman says; “The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond deserves an equally extraordinary stage. Our diamonds are placed in exquisite settings designed specifically to showcase their intensity.” Thus, Hearts On Fire collections such as Ceremonious, Boundless, and Virtuoso have been renowned for their singular beauty and are worn by tasteful individuals all over the world. Two such remarkably gifted people are the Hearts On Fire brand ambassadors Tara Subkoff and Janie Bryant. These two fashion icons stand out in their respective fields. Owner and lead designer of the Imitation of Christ high fashion line, Tara Subkoff has starred in more than 27 films. Her clothing line is an artistic collection based on hand sewn, vintage inspired pieces that quickly became an international fashion sensation and garnered her a cult-like following. Janie Bryant, costume designer for the television series MadMen, as well as a number of feature films has been lauded with an Emmy award in addition to legions of very prestigious awards nominations. That women of this caliber chose to associate themselves with the Hearts On Fire brand reveals much about the quality and integrity of Rothman’s life’s work. Giving the gift of a Hearts On Fire diamond speaks to the purest expression of love. Rothman effuses; “Every time a woman wears Hearts On Fire, she’ll feel better about herself. And every time a man who has given Hearts On Fire to the woman he loves sees her wearing it…can you imagine how good he’ll feel knowing he has positively influenced the way she feels about herself?”

www.lxmagazines.com

4133 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT | 203.230.1199 | rumanoffs.com heartsonfire.com

Precision, brilliance, fire and those little kaleidoscope like flickers of color that dance across the surface when it’s illuminated – they’re what sets Rumanoff ’s signature jewelry apart from the rest. We’ve been offering fine jewelry and service to you for four generations, and we are proud to say that our jewelry line offers the superior quality that you have come to expect from us. When we decided to offer a signature collection to you, our customers, we took many points into consideration. First, we wanted to make sure that what we were to provide to our customer’s was of such a high quality that when placed next to another brand ours would gleam more brightly. We wanted the fine metals and the gems to work together to brilliantly enhance each other’s beauty. This meant that the stones needed to be so perfect that they reflected onto the fine metal. The settings of precious metals were to be designed in a way that the light could not only display the stones’ brilliance, but it must enhance their perfection as if light was emitting from them. Our jewelry is in fact this magnificent. We owe the exquisiteness of our line to not only mother nature which created the fine alloys and jewels, but to the technological advances that have allowed us to forge them in such a way that their indigenous beauty is ornamentally refined. We like to put it this way. The precision of a watchmaker, the skills of an engineer and the artistic influence of a fine jeweler are all masterfully combined to produce this jewelry in a way that has never before been possible. The process that takes place before each ring or bracelet etc. is placed in our displays and before it adorns you is unparalleled in excellence. Each setting is made from a single piece of metal that is not melted and cast; instead it is machine struck, leaving no holes or porosity that could dull the metal. An advantage of this process is that the inner parts of the setting, underneath the stones are as smooth and reflective as the outer areas. This radiates light onto the diamonds like a mirror enhancing their fire and brilliance unlike a die cast piece of jewelry where the under-metal is dull. The settings also use Azures, which are machine cut. Azures are like magnificent little windows that allow light in to illuminate the diamonds. With machine cut technology, these windows are able to be perfectly symmetrical which optimizes each diamond's brilliance. Our diamonds are exceedingly more intensely ablaze with light and color than others. We use diamonds that are cut using perfectly calibrated machine precision, guaranteeing no human error and that each facet is perfectly aligned and polished. This process ensures that each diamond is as dazzling as nature allowed it to be. Since each stone is perfectly equal in size, when set the gaps between stones are proportionately balanced and your jewelry is as elegant as you could possibly desire. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. You can have an exclusive Rumanoff ’s piece custom made to your liking. Choose any number of stones set in your proffered precious metal, including 14K, 18K, Palladium or Platinum, with the finish you desire. Your piece will be unsurpassed in beauty, and glisten radiantly for years to come.

www.lxmagazines.com

Every Philip Stein watch contains wellbeing technology to help bring order to your life.

Live in tune. philipstein.com

4133 WHITNEY AVE, HAMDEN | 203.230.1199 RUMANOFFS.COM