ACCENT The Magazine of Life’s Celebrations • Fall/Winter 2019
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FINK’S JEWELERS ACCENT THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS FALL/WINTER 2019
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Picks for Everyone on Your List
SHOWTIME Watches that Stole the Scene
Finely Tailored Meticulously Crafted Sparklers
FALL/WINTER 2019
FINKS.COM CHAIRMAN & CEO Marc Fink PRESIDENT Matthew Fink VP OPERATIONS Mark Bair VP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES Todd Stafford DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Lindsey Sinozich EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rita Guarna CREATIVE DIRECTOR Stephen Vitarbo SENIOR EDITOR Daria Meoli SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Darius Amos LIFESTYLE EDITOR Haley Longman EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Gianna Barone ART DIRECTOR Victoria Beall CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Donna Rolando, Josh Sens PUBLISHER Shae Marcus ACCOUNT MANAGER Lisa Menghi DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND CIRCULATION Susan Windrum ADVERTISING SERVICES DIRECTOR Jacquelynn Fischer PRODUCTION ART ASSOCIATE Christopher Ferrante GRAPHIC DESIGNER, AD SERVICES Violeta Mulaj ACCOUNTING Agnes Alves, Megan Frank, Randy Tashjian
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PUBLISHED BY Wainscot Media
4 Service Awards
52 Wines From Israel
6 Employee Spotlights
54 Table Matters
14 Holiday Gift Guide
62 A Wedding for the Books
24 Just Add Glitz
70 Love Stories: Happily Ever After
28 At the Movies: Watch for the Watch
74 Labor of Love
38 His Own Time
76 Value Your Valuables
40 Finely Tailored
78 Gatherings: A Day with David Yurman
46 Italy’s Showplace
84 Extra, Extra!
ON THE COVER: All from Roberto Coin, 18K white gold Princess bracelet featuring 21.80cttw diamond accents, $95,000; 18K white gold Princess collar featuring 33.00cttw diamond accents, $135,000; 18K white gold Princess flower earrings featuring 4.74cttw diamond accents, $17,600.
CHAIRMAN Carroll V. Dowden PRESIDENT & CEO Mark Dowden SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS Shae Marcus, Carl Olsen VICE PRESIDENTS Nigel Edelshain, Thomas Flannery, Rita Guarna Jewelry has been enlarged to show detail. Due to the fluctuating prices of diamonds, gold and platinum, prices are subject to change without notice and may vary depending on size, quality and availability. While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this magazine, we are not responsible for errors or omissions. ACCENT is published by Wainscot Media, 1 Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656 in association with Fink’s Jewelers. Copyright © 2019 by Wainscot Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Editorial Contributions: Write to Editor, Fink’s Jewelers, 1 Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656. The magazine is not responsible for the return or loss of unsolicited submissions. Subscription Services: To change an address or request a subscription, write to Subscriptions, Fink’s Jewelers, 1 Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656 or by telephone 201.573.5541. Advertising Inquiries: Contact Shae Marcus at 856.797.2227 or shae.marcus@wainscotmedia.
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SERVICE AWARDS FINK’S JEWELERS 4
recognition of loyalty
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AT FINK’S JEWELERS, WE’RE IN THE BUSINESS OF CELEBRATING! From engagements, to birthdays and anniversaries, every milestone is worthy of recognition. We would like to congratulate the following Fink’s employees for their length of service with the company.
30 YEARS 1. Delores Scott 20 YEARS 2. Kim Huddleston 3. Neil LaGarde 4. Debbie Cochran 5. Mitch Skaggs 10 YEARS 6. Allan Bake 7. Donna Young 8. Tracy McCrea
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
missie boitnott OFFICE MANAGER 419 at Colonial Avenue Roanoke, VA
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I tell people all the time how fortunate I feel that I have a job where I am surrounded by beautiful things and truly enjoy my customers and co-workers.
When Missie Boitnott began her career at Fink’s Jewelers 13 years ago, she had no prior retail experience and wasn’t sure what to expect of her new role. But Missie soon learned that her position was so much more than what she had envisioned—and she feels lucky to be a part of the Fink’s family. “I tell people all the time how fortunate I feel that I have a job where I am surrounded by beautiful things and truly enjoy my customers and co-workers,” she says. And at Fink’s Colonial Avenue location, Missie gets to mingle not only with multiple generations of families, but their four-legged “children” too, who join their owners on shopping excursions. “I keep treats under my desk,” she says of the furry friends. “I like that our customers feel like extended family.” Of course each member of the Fink’s team has his or her own responsibilities, but one of Missie’s favorite parts of her job, aside from sharing in life events and helping customers buy treasured items, is knowing that she has the capability to make a difference in people’s lives. “This is a true bonus,” she says. Missie loves jewelry as well, and her most prized possession in her personal collection is her Sabel diamond-by-the-inch cross necklace, which she wears almost daily. For a special occasion, Missie would love to be dripping in Sabel diamonds or in a statement piece by Roberto Coin or Marco Bicego. As for when she’s not working? “I’m spending time with my family doing just about anything,” Missie says. “I’m enjoying the lake, seeking items to repurpose or creating a delicious meal to share.”
A TR ADI T I ON OF E XC ELLENC E
E X C L U S I V E LY AT
E X C L U S I V E LY AT
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT FINK’S JEWELERS 10
nancy mccall SALES PROFESSIONAL Short Pump Town Center Richmond, VA
Every time I walked into a Fink’s location, I felt like I was with my family and I wanted to be a part of that.
Nancy McCall has been in the jewelry industry for 10 years and a sales professional at Fink’s for almost half of that time. She fell in love with Fink’s more than 20 years ago when she purchased her first piece of David Yurman jewelry as a customer at our previous Regency Square location. She left eager to return to the friendly environment and gorgeous luxury pieces. When Nancy’s favorite stylist at Fink’s revealed he was retiring, she quickly applied to be his predecessor. “It was the best decision I’ve ever made!” she says. Nancy says the best part about her role at Fink’s is seeing smiles on her customers’ faces, as that is confirmation to her that she’s done her job. The purchase she most enjoys helping her customers select is a Fink’s diamond. “When the customer chooses you to find a perfect diamond to start a new chapter between two people who are in love,” she says, “that’s a memory you will not forget.” Over the years, Nancy has followed this piece of advice: Always have a positive attitude because a positive attitude can cause a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes that create extraordinary results. Outside of work, Nancy enjoys spending time with her son and giving back to the community, both through a mentorship for young women in the Precious Pearls Youth Outreach Organization and by representing Fink’s at the KLM Scholarship Foundation. Nancy’s favorite piece in her own jewelry collection is her John Hardy Legends Naga Dragon statement necklace, which she says signifies love, protection and prosperity. For a casual night out, however, you can find Nancy with a wrist full of stacked bracelets from different collections that she mixes and matches herself for a new look every time. And you can bet that Nancy knows just what to wear to become the center of attention at any soirée. “My choice when I want to be the showstopper is the Princess Flower Bib necklace from Roberto Coin,” she says. “Any piece from that collection will make you feel like a princess for a day. Watch out, Cinderella!”
ROMAN BAROCCO COLLECTION
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Breitling’s Superocean When the first Breitling Superocean models were launched in 1957, they made it clear that there was a major new player in the diver’s watch market. These watches were distinguished by their exceptional performance, their quality, and their pure Breitling style. In the more than 60 years since, the family has remained a favorite, and a new Superocean Collection has been created to stand up to the rigors of the most challenging water sports. With its new Superocean Collection, Breitling has updated and upgraded one of its best-loved and most successful watch families. Breitling Superocean watches have been highly regarded for their diving prowess for more than 60 years. While the members of the new collection reflect the brand’s deep-water DNA, they are certain to appeal to men and women with active lifestyles. With their clean, sporty design and impeccable performance, these new Superoceans will feel at home on any wrist and in any environment. While the first Superocean watches were designed with divers in mind, the new models—which are absolutely equal to the challenges of the deep seas—have a broader mission. They are as fashionable as they are sporty and will attract not only watch enthusiasts who are ready to explore the oceans’ depths, but also those whose adventures are a little closer to the shore. Dive with it, surf with it, swim with it. Or wear it when you are helping keep our oceans and beaches clean, all safe in the knowledge that, however you might want to spend the rest of the day, your Superocean will fit right in. Breitling CEO Georges Kern points out that the watches reflect more than just the brand’s diver’s watch legacy: “Our Surfers Squad and our
partnerships with Outerknown and Ocean Conservancy speak volumes about our affection for the seas. With the new Superocean Collection, we have created watches for people who want to explore the oceans, whether they are active in water sports or in clean-up initiatives. And, of course, they will excite any fan of Breitling’s design values.” At the heart of each member of the new Superocean Collection is the Breitling Caliber 17, a movement that offers a power reserve of around 38 hours. The watches—all of them COSC-certified chronometers—feature luminescent Super-LumiNova® numerals, indexes, and hands, ensuring excellent readability in any conditions. The new Breitling Superocean Collection has been created in five different sizes, ensuring that there is an incredible diver’s watch ideally suited to every wrist. Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the brand’s storied association with aviation, Breitling has shared the finest moments in humankind’s conquest of the skies. Renowned for its spirit of innovation, it has also earned a place of privilege in the worlds of science, sport, and technology. Breitling manufactures its own movements in-house and the quality of every watch is confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, made in Switzerland.
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The Breitling Cinema Squad Charlize Theron Brad Pitt Adam Driver
#SQUADONAMISSION
WINTER
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5 1. Sabel Collection white gold diamond round “Y” necklace featuring 1.00cttw diamond accents, $3,795
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2. Sabel Collection white gold diamond bar necklace featuring .10cttw diamond accents, $550
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holiday gift guide Our top picks for the season of giving
3. Sabel Collection white gold pavé diamond dome ring featuring 2.89cttw diamond accents, $5,895 4. Sabel Collection white gold five station marquise diamond ring featuring 1.20cttw east-west set diamonds, $5,450 5. Sabel Collection yellow gold multi-row diamond crown ring featuring .49cttw diamond accents, $1,050 6. Sabel Collection white gold diamond stackable scroll ring featuring .32cttw diamond accents, $750 7. Sabel Collection rose gold linked rope design ring featuring .13cttw diamond accents, $595
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8 8. Sabel Collection yellow gold diamond bracelet featuring 1.02cttw diamond accents, $2,950 9. Sabel Collection yellow gold drop leaf earrings featuring 4.00cttw diamond accents, $8,495
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10. Sabel Collection white gold diamond flower multi-stone pendant featuring .49cttw diamonds, $1,695 11. Sabel Collection white gold diamond flower stud earrings featuring 0.98cttw diamond accents, $2,925
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12. Sabel Collection yellow gold 17” diamond necklace featuring 1.39cttw diamond accents, $3,895 13. Sabel Collection white gold 24” diamond necklace featuring 2.18cttw diamond accents, $5,850
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14. Sabel Collection white gold diamond multi-stone oval hoop earrings featuring .74cttw diamond accents, $1,295
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16. Sabel Collection white gold 18” cross pendant featuring .25cttw round sapphires and .25cttw white diamonds, $695 17. Sabel Collection white gold huggie earrings featuring .40cttw round sapphires with .18cttw white diamonds, $1,695 18. Sabel Collection white gold five row ring featuring 1.31cttw round sapphires and .70cttw round white diamonds, $2,295
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15. Sabel Collection diamond stud earrings starting at $275. Available in a variety of carat weights and prices. Let our diamond specialists help you find the perfect pair today!
* All Sabel Collection settings in 14K gold unless noted.
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19. IPPOLITA Lollipop sterling silver necklace in Maritime, 16-18”, $995 20. IPPOLITA Lollipop sterling silver 3-stone drop earrings in Maritime, $425
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21. IPPOLITA Rock Candy sterling silver 8-stone bangle in Hematite, $650 22. IPPOLITA Rock Candy sterling silver 5-stone bangle in Maritime, $595 23. IPPOLITA Classico sterling silver flat bangle, $295
22 24. LONGINES Ladies’ Conquest Classic Collection 29.5mm watch featuring a silver dial and rose gold-tone hands, $950 25. LONGINES Men’s HydroConquest Collection 41mm watch featuring a sunray grey dial, $1,600 26. TAG Heuer Ladies’ Carrera Quartz 36mm watch featuring a purple with pattern dial on a purple satin alligator bracelet strap, $2,000
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27. TAG Heuer Men’s Carrera Automatic Calibre 16 watch featuring a 43mm anthracite sunray brushed dial on a stainless steel bracelet, $4,800
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28. John Hardy Dot hammered 18K gold and sterling silver round enhancer, chain sold separately, $750
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29. John Hardy Dot 18K gold and sterling silver drop earrings, $495 30. John Hardy Dot hammered 18K gold and sterling silver round pendant on a 2.5mm box chain necklace, $1,495
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31. John Hardy Legends Naga sterling silver circle and pendant – on a 2.7mm box chain necklace with sterling silver sheen obsidian with blue sapphire eyes, 26”, $695 32. John Hardy Classic Chain sterling silver station bracelet on a 5mm blue braided leather with pusher clasp, $450 33. John Hardy Classic Chain sterling silver station bracelet on a 5mm black braided leather with pusher clasp, $450
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35. John Hardy Dot 18K gold and sterling silver cuff, $1,695
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34. John Hardy Dot 18K gold and sterling silver ring, $595
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36. Marco Bicego Petali 18K yellow gold hand-engraved flower ring with diamond accents, $1,870 37. Marco Bicego Petali 18K yellow gold hand-engraved flower dangle earrings with .16cttw diamond accents, $3,080
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38. Marco Bicego Petali 18K yellow gold hand-engraved flower pendant with .08ct diamond accent, $2,330 39. Marco Bicego Petali 18K yellow gold hand-engraved flower French hook earrings with .05cttw diamond accents, $1,990
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40. Mikimoto A+ quality 6mm Ayoka pearl earrings with .27cttw diamond accents, $3,450 41. Mikimoto A+ quality 7mm Ayoka pearl necklace with .15cttw diamond accents, $2,600
42. Mikimoto A quality 6.5x6mm Akoya cultured pearl necklace with 18K white gold clasp and 18” chain, $2,760 43. Mikimoto 6.5x6mm A Akoya cultured pearl 7” bracelet with 18K white gold clasp, $1,260
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FINK’S DIAMOND rings shown are available in a variety of carat weights and prices. Let our diamond specialists help you find the perfect ring for her today!
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44. Roberto Coin yellow gold Palazzo diamond stud earrings featuring .09cttw diamonds, $1,350 45. Roberto Coin yellow gold Palazzo diamond pendant featuring .04cttw diamonds, $1,100 46. Roberto Coin white gold Petite Venetian Princess diamond stud earrings featuring .12cttw diamonds, $2,300 47. Roberto Coin white gold Petite Venetian Princess diamond pendant featuring .06cttw diamonds, $1,600 48. Roberto Coin gold and diamond Princess bangle with charm featuring .28cttw diamonds, available in rose gold, yellow gold or white gold, $4,700
FINK’S JEWELERS
49. Cartier Santos-Dumont watch, shown in the small model featuring a steel & 18K rose gold duo-tone case and leather strap, $5,200 50. Santos de Cartier watch, shown in the large model featuring a steel case and steel bracelet, $6,850
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51. William Henry Red Tiger’s Eye Pinnacle dog tag pendant with reverse stainless steel side for engraving on a silver 22” chain, $425
Heather B. Moore Jewelry uses recycled precious metals and vintage tooling to create the finest personalized collection. Each piece is handcrafted in Heather’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, and is made to the customer’s specifications. As you experience life and grow, so can your personal collection of hand-stamped charms. Let one of our sales professionals help you custom design your very own Heather Moore piece today!
52. William Henry Bolt II Burl pen featuring a bolt action mechanism with an amboyna wood burl barrel and stainless steel accents, $495
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53. William Henry Gentac Red Sun pocket knife crafted in the USA featuring an aerospace grade titanium frame inlaid with stabilized blue spruce pine cone, $1,100 54. William Henry Pharaoh “Coco” money clip features a frame in aerospace-grade titanium inlaid with cocobolo wood, $295
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55. OMEGA De Ville Trésor Quartz 36mm Ladies’ watch with diamond paving curves along each side and mother-of-pearl dial on a black fabric strap, $5,000 56. OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Chronograph 42mm watch featuring a black dial on a stainless steel bracelet, $5,350 57. Breitling Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 watch featuring a 40mm stainless steel case and crocodile leather strap, $4,450.
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58. Meira T 14K yellow gold necklace featuring a diamond pavé moon pendant with 14K white gold star and .18cttw bezel set diamond charms, $770 59. Meira T 14K yellow gold tree of life 18” pendant necklace featuring .11cttw bezel-set diamond charm, $860.
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60. G-Shock Full Metal 5000 watch featuring a vintage square-shaped case and bezel with a brick pattern on the face, $500 61. Shinola Runwell Automatic 45mm stainless steel watch featuring a black dial with British tan leather strap, $1,095 62. Citizen Ladies’ Axiom watch featuring a 28mm case and mother-of-pearl dial with diamond accents on a two-tone stainless steel bracelet, $262.50 63. Citizen Men’s Vintage Brycen Sport watch featuring a 43mm case and pine green dial and bezel on a stainless steel bracelet, $243.75
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FINK’S DIAMOND rings shown are available in a variety of carat weights and prices. Let our diamond specialists help you find the perfect ring for her today!
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66 64. David Yurman DY Origami shrimp earrings in 18K gold with 1.74cttw diamonds, starting at $8,400 65. David Yurman DY Origami necklace in 18K gold with 2.46cttw diamonds, starting at $32,000 66. David Yurman DY Origami bracelet in 18K gold with 1.15cttw diamonds, starting at $14,500
Where on Earth Did Your Diamond Come From?
Know with certainty. Introducing the GIA Diamond Origin Report. Learn more at 4Cs.GIA.edu/Origin
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IF YOU’RE HOPING TO SHINE THIS SEASON, JUST ADD THESE TIMELESS ACCESSORIES. THEY’RE THE PERFECT FINISHING TOUCH AND WILL ADD POLISH TO ANY ENSEMBLE. You don’t need an invitation to dress to the nines. You can push past your usual style—whether it’s a chic sheath cinched at the waist or a classic jacket paired with a vibrant blouse—by adding subtle accents to elevate your look. These earrings, necklaces and bracelets, understated yet intricate in detail, complement any outfit while adding a touch of pizzazz and plenty of elegance and grace.
FINK’S JEWELERS
Sabel Collection 14K rose gold ring featuring a 3.00ct cushion-cut garnet center stone with .13cttw diamond halo accents, $650; Roberto Coin Pois Moi Luna Collection 18K rose gold diamond bangle featuring .07cttw white diamonds, $14,500; Sabel Collection 14k rose gold square stud earrings featuring .35cttw round ruby center stones with .18cttw diamond halo accents, $595.
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Ippolita Cherish Collection 18K yellow gold open link earrings featuring 1.07cttw diamonds, $5,995; John Hardy Classic Chain Collection sterling silver and 18K yellow gold extra-small reversible chain bracelet, $2,100; Marco Moore 14K yellow gold band ring featuring seven oval orange sapphires (2.15cttw) and .34cttw diamonds, $2,195.
FINK’S JEWELERS
Ippolita Lollipop Collection 18K yellow gold mini dark amethyst gemstone pendant with diamond halo accents, $1,195; Marco Bicego Jaipur Color Collection 18K yellow gold stackable ring featuring rose-cut amethyst, $560; Sabel Collection 14K yellow gold three-prong set tennis bracelet featuring 4.80cttw round diamonds, $10,395.
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AT THE MOVIES
AT THE MOVIES...
for the
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WHAT DO TIMEPIECES TELL IN THESE SIX POPULAR FLICKS? A LOT MORE THAN WHAT TIME IT IS. By Donna Rolando Whether it’s helping James Bond time an explosion or helping a homicidal businessman, legendary watch brands such as Omega and Rolex have been featured prominently on the silver screen through the years. More than mere movie trivia, they offer a style cue for any man looking to give business or formalwear polish and sophistication. That timepieces can work 300 feet under water or guide a spacecraft to Earth, as in the case of Apollo 13, proves they’re more than good-looking.
CASINO ROYALE
Movie makers gave James Bond all the gadgets: X-ray glasses, explosive toothpaste, yo-yo saws. But producers never tinkered with the beauty of the British spy’s Omega watches in 2006’s Casino Royale. On his way to the casino for a high-stakes poker game, Daniel Craig wore an elegant steel-on-steel Seamaster Diver 300M to complement his signature black tux. But when the going got a little tougher, 007 switched to Omega’s rugged Seamaster Planet Ocean. Both watches feature a unidirectional rotating bezel and a helium release valve—a handy tool for divers, not necessarily for beating the bad guys.
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DR. NO When it’s time to slip out of your wetsuit and set a bomb to blow up a heroin lab (as 007 did
in Dr. No), you need a watch that does more than look sharp. The original Bond Submariner, the legendary Rolex 6538, which Sean Connery wore in Dr. No, is said to have been the fashion star of several iconic Bond movies, including Goldfinger and Thunderball. But how many know that Rolex was also a favorite of Bond creator Ian Fleming? If you too have reason to go from ocean to nightclub with precision timing, the Oyster Perpetual Submariner can do the job with celebrated reliability—it’s waterproof to more than 300 feet.
As a fourth generation family-owned business, nothing is more important to us than YOU, our loyal customers. The Fink’s First Loyalty Program is designed to reward you with special savings towards your purchase of fine quality diamonds and fashion jewelry. As a member, you’ll receive:
BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY, AND VOLUME SPENDING REWARDS The Fink’s First Program is our way of thanking our best customers for supporting our business and helping us grow! At Fink’s Jewelers... you come FIRST! See a sales associate for details.
AT THE MOVIES
AMERICAN PSYCHO
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Making a killer fashion statement in the 2000 cult classic American Psycho,, the Rolex Datejust 16013 in Oystersteel and yellow gold was a symbol of wealth and status for Patrick Bateman, but you need not share the obsession to echo the famous line, “Don’t touch the watch.” This iconic Rolex timepiece was worth fighting for, as are two stylings of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 that make their debut this year.
A TRUE BLUE CLASSIC
Canfield Chrono 43MM
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APOLLO 13 The Omega Speedmaster chronograph featured in the blockbuster Apollo 13 was
more than a fashion piece for the astronauts depicted in the film; they depended on the accuracy of the Speedmaster, which became NASA’s official watch, to get their crippled lunar module home. You don’t need to travel the universe to find a Speedmaster today. In fact, Omega is marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with a limited edition. With features like new 18K Moonshine gold and a depiction of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, this timepiece is out of this world.
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DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE
Though best known for wearing a sleeveless ribbed T-shirt, Bruce Willis’ Det. John McClane of the Die Hard franchise knew how to accessorize. In 1995’s Die Hard With a Vengeance, the third installment of the action series, McClane is armed with a Breitling Chronograph with stainless-steel case, white sub-dials at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock and a brown leather strap. Though he wore the timepiece on the inside of his wrist likely to protect it from enemy gunfire, Swiss-made Chonomats feature scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and are water resistant at 500 meters.
WATCHMAKER
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TWO MEN FROM VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS PURSUE SECOND CAREERS IN THE WATCHMAKER TRADE. By Gianna Barone
Frances Zape (left) and Ben Fromson (right) left their jobs to become certified watchmakers, and eventually their second careers would bring them to Fink’s Jewelers.
It was then that Fromson knew he was hooked and caught “the bug,” as he referred to it. He went on the hunt for new timepieces to mend, and eventually found himself wishing he could retire his editing hat and take up watchmaking as a living. Soon enough, Fromson found himself researching the few schools in the United States that were dedicated to the trade. “It seemed like a pipe dream to run off and leave my very stable career and just go for this other thing,” says Fromson. “Eventually, my wife convinced me.” For Zape, watchmaking was a passion he developed while observing his father fiddle with different timepieces throughout his entire life. As a self-described “metalhead” teenager, who’d rather listen to Metallica and code computer programs with his friends than work on watches, he saw his father’s job as a way to start a new life in the United States. “It wasn’t my chosen career,” says Zape. “It was an opportunity for me to move here to the United States.” He took a position as an estimator for a jeweler, training with watchmakers who had years of experience. Zape and his father eventually decided to start their business. Together, they produced trade work for local jewelers, and Zape decided to work toward earning a CW21 certification from the American Watchmakers Clockmakers Institute. By 2015, Zape landed a position at Fink’s Jewelers in SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC. “What I really like about my job is to restore those pieces back to their original state, if I can,” says Zape. “Watches, especially the high-end pieces that I work on, are meant to be passed down from generation to generation. I know that I need to keep this watch running, and this watch means something to the owner.” Zape and Fromson both agree that throughout their time as watchmakers for Fink’s, they love working with the staff of knowledgeable, friendly associates who turn the busy sales floor into a positive environment for both employees and customers. “The sales floor is a lot…I like to work in the back, put my headphones in, listen to music or a book while I work,” says Zape. “I love this job. It’s a tiny tranquility for me.”
FINK’S JEWELERS
The role of watchmaker is not one a person falls into. It is a profession that calls to a select few who have enough zeal for horology to make it their lives’ work. Take Francis Zape, for example. He was a longtime computer programmer who loved technology but couldn’t shake his penchant for tinkering that was passed down from his watchmaker father during his childhood in the Philippines. Ben Fromson, a copy editor from the Greensboro, NC area, left his job at a custom publishing company, picked up his young family and moved to Lancaster County, PA, to start a two-year watchmaking certificate program from Lititz Watch Technicum. While they grew up a world away, Fromson’s father, like Zape’s, was interested in watchmaking. After completing the program at Lititz, Fromson began his second career at Fink’s Jewelers’ South Point location in Durham, NC. These are two men from two different countries with very different backgrounds. But their fervor for watchmaking led them—and a miniscule number of other curious individuals—to the trade and so their stories couldn’t be more similar. “It’s a small group of people who are drawn to this enough that they make it their job and their No. 1 focus,” says Fromson. “It’s a strange, semi-secretive world that is hard to get into.” Fromson isn’t wrong. Currently, Switzerland and France, two countries known as luxury watch capitals, filed a joint movement to UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to add watchmaking art and mechanics onto their list of “endangered” trades this year. In the United States, however, Zape and Fromson are living proof that there is, indeed, a demand for horological professionals in the jewelry industry. Fromson took up the trade after his father gifted him one of his old pocket watches that wasn’t working and challenged him to fix it. He pried the back off with a pair of his wife’s cosmetic tweezers—the only tools he owned that were small enough to get the job done at the time. After a “halfway-decent job” at repairing its mechanics, he gave the watch a quick polish, clicked the back into its proper position and heard a fateful tick, tick, tick…
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YOU’LL BE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH EXCITEMENT OVER THESE METICULOUSLY CRAFTED SPARKLERS AND TIMEPIECES.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 chronograph watch with a blue dial on a brown calf skin strap, $4,300
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MATERIAL MATTERS
Marco Bicego Lunaria 18K yellow gold and white mother of pearl with .40cttw diamond pavé large drop earrings, $5,450
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Marco Bicego Lunaria 18K yellow gold and white mother of pearl with .10cttw diamond pavé clasp lariat, $7,480
Platinum diamond ring featuring a 5.04ct pear-cut center diamond with two pear-cut side stones, $327,000 Platinum and 18K yellow gold diamond ring featuring a 5.28ct fancy intense yellow radiant-cut center diamond with two trapezoid-cut side stones, $142,000 Platinum diamond ring featuring a 7.04ct round brilliant-cut diamond with pavĂŠ diamond shank, $188,000
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MATERIAL MATTERS
Sabel Collection 14K white gold tennis bracelet featuring 8.44cttw diamond accents, $19,550
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Sabel Collection 14K white gold drop earrings featuring 1.96cttw diamond accents, $4,450 Sabel Collection 14K white gold double row necklace featuring 30.30cttw diamond accents, $55,195
Your Diamond Does Good in the World DIAMONDS, FORMED BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, ARE IMPROVING THE PRESENT AND CREATING A SPARKLING FUTURE
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efore there was life, there were diamonds. In ancient Greece, they were known as “tears of the gods.” Created by rare natural conditions billions of years ago, they are the oldest thing a person will touch or own.
However, diamonds are not simply a connection to the distant past. Today, modern diamond mining supports the livelihoods of 10 million people around the world. Through skilled jobs, improved access to healthcare, and direct investments in local communities, diamonds strengthen communities across the globe as they travel from mine to jewelry box.
Kesego Jarona is one of the millions of people for whom diamonds tell a very personal, life-changing story. The first female electrical apprentice at the Debswana company in Botswana, Jarona saw first-hand that modern diamond mining offers opportunities for personal and community growth. “Mining inspired me when I was a schoolkid growing up in the mining town of Selebi Phikwe,” she says. Mining jobs are often highly skilled and are supported by extensive investments in worker training and education. The industry provided Jarona with educational opportunities that gave her control over her future. “I rose from being an artisan in a male-dominated field to become a fully-fledged mining engineer,” she says. In addition to providing tens of thousands of safe, well-paying jobs that often become lifelong careers, modern diamond mining creates $292 million of benefits annually for social programs, such as funding local hospitals and education. And considering most diamonds are discovered in remote regions—from the edges of the Kalahari Desert to Canada’s far north—where sustainable development resources can be scarce, these opportunities are often vital to communities writing their next chapter. Supporting the future of these communities also means aiding their children today. Around the world, families from remote regions often have to travel long distances to obtain the care their children require.
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“The diamond industry is not just a fixture in our community. It is a part of our lives. Diamonds to me represent more than natural beauty. For us, they symbolize a future of possibilities.” DR. MOKGWEETSI E. K. MASISI, PRESIDENT OF BOTSWANA
In the Siberian city of Yakutsk, Russia’s ALROSA provided critical funding for the construction of a children’s rehabilitation center in 2014. The $12 million center now provides therapy for 3,000 children each year with a range of physical and psychiatric disorders. The center includes a hotel for those families that need to travel from other regions to receive care. For the mother of three-year-old Sasha, who has cerebral palsy and hardly walks or talks, the center is invaluable. “Today my son waved his hand to me for the first time in his life,” she said on a recent visit to the center. “The diamond industry is not just a fixture in our community. It is a part of our lives,” explains Dr. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, president of Botswana. “Diamonds to me represent more than natural beauty. For us, they symbolize a future of possibilities.” For centuries, humanity has been captivated by diamonds. They connect us across centuries and nations; they communicate beyond language and between generations. Today, these links are stronger than ever, and are building a better future for all.
For more information on how your diamond does good, visit total-clarity.com.
8/15/19 10:24 AM
FOR FIVE CENTURIES LAKE COMO HAS BEEN A PLAYGROUND OF THE UBER-FAMOUS, BUT ITS AZURE BEAUTY CAN STILL SURPRISE. By Everett Potter
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If Lake Como were nothing more than an exceptionally beautiful lake in northern Italy, it would still count as one of the country’s stellar attractions. In one of the most dramatic settings in the world, it’s a 29-mile-long inverted Y, flanked by steep, thickly wooded mountainsides. To the north lie the Alps, which are snow-dusted for much of the year, while along the lakeshore are palm trees next to ornate villas, some of which have origins as early as the 16th
The village of Bellagio is referred to as “the pearl of Lake Como.” Visitors soak in the splendor as they stroll down the waterfront promenade or trek to the peninsula’s end at Punta Spartivento.
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century. It is a veritable stage set of villas, hamlets and garden follies, on a 1,400-foot-deep body of water that seems more a fjord than a lake. But Lake Como’s very name has come to mean much more in the 21st century—it’s a catchphrase that automatically connotes glamour and wealth. Part of that is due to the proximity of Milan, less than an hour away, and the patronage of the fashion crowd. But much of the buzz is because of George Clooney, who bought a lakeside villa here nearly two decades ago. He brought along Hollywood pals Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon, who enhanced the glamour and myth of the lake with their comings and goings. But, truth be told, Como’s history long predates the latest iteration of an LA bro-pack. Celtic tribes once lived along these shores, until the Romans drove them away, and Julius Caesar ordered 5,000 of his men to literally drain the swamp at the end of the lake and set up a Roman town at what is now the city of Como. In time, it was the wealthy Lombards of nearby Milan who came in the 16th century, finding a place where imported Chinese silkworms thrived on the lake’s native mulberry trees. They built fortunes based on their silk empire, and the industry thrives to this day, as Versace, Hermés, Ralph Lauren and countless others continue to source their silk here. The wealthy Milanese merchants built villas, and then, in the fashion of the day, became patrons of the arts. You can’t visit Como without hearing a lot of cultural name-dropping: how Leonardo painted here, how Verdi composed part of La Traviata there, how
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Left: The medieval village of Torno has well-preserved architecture and luxury accommodations. Below: With the catch of the day on its way to the dinner plate, fishing boats dock in the lake’s azure water.
Above: The lakeside botanical gardens at Villa Melzi are a must-see. Right: Enjoy house wine alfresco at Osteria del Beuc.
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Bellini worked on his opera Norma and how writers as diverse as Wordsworth, Longfellow and Hesse wrote poetry extolling the lake’s singular virtues. I am lucky to travel to Lake Como two or three times every summer. Every season is different, and every time I visit I see things I did not see before. The perfect time to go? I like early summer, when there are still waterfalls fed by the high mountain snows and a fringe of snowcapped peaks to the north. Regardless of the season, an ideal day on Lake Como is spent on the water, looking at the villas, stopping at those that can be visited, having lunch, taking a swim. If your budget allows, the boat trip should be in a sleek wooden Riva speedboat heading up the lake to meet friends for lunch in a restaurant on Isola Comacina, the lake’s only island. Or perhaps in Varenna, where a jumble of ochre-colored buildings form the backdrop for café life and the slow sipping of prosecco. For those who don’t have access to a private boat, the ferry system will do, as it crisscrosses that lake and provides access to the bustling waterfront and narrow, shop-filled lanes of Bellagio. It allows you to explore quiet fishing villages, such as Pescallo, and drops you at Tremezzo to see the gardens and artwork at one of the lake’s masterpieces, Villa Carlotta, a favorite of 19th-century writers Edith Wharton and Henry James. Indeed, as you travel the lake, there are many grand private villas, with names to match. Villa Fontanelle near Moltrasio, once owned
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Above: Soak in the natural splendor while strolling through public gardens. Left: A statue of Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electrical battery and Como native son, stands in a square.
by Gianni Versace, was sold after his death to Arkady Novikov, arguably Russia’s most successful restaurateur and a man known colloquially as “the blini king.” You can observe it from the water, as you can the nearby Villa Passalacqua, where Napoleon stayed, and Villa Le Rose, where Churchill retreated after World War II. Laglio is where Clooney and his wife Amal live at Villa Oleandra. Villa La Cassinella has long been rumored to be owned by Sir Richard Branson, who denies it. Then there is Villa del Balbianello, my personal favorite, which holds the most coveted place on the lake, a promontory close to the village of Lenno, topped by a fantastic stone compound. The building originated as a monastery, was then acquired by private hands and eventually became the home of Guido Monzino, heir to an Italian supermarket fortune and a self-styled explorer who led the first Italian expedition up Mt. Everest. It’s a museum now, and thankfully, Monzino’s quirky and sometimes wondrous collections from his trips to the four corners of the earth are still housed here, in what must be the most photographed villa on the lake. Filmmakers adore the place. It was here that Casino Royale was shot as well as A Month by the Lake and even Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. It can get very crowded here, so go early in the morning and soak in the gardens and the statuary and the sheer elegance of the place. Villa Melzi is a 10-minute stroll from the busy docks at Bellagio, where silk-mad shoppers and lunch-going day-trippers can make it a little too crowded. Here you can stroll acres of lakeside gardens planted with specimen trees from all over the globe. Alas, the interior of the villa, built for Francesco Melzi d’Eril, vice president of the Italian Republica, and the place where Franz Liszt composed his Dante Symphony, is private. The grounds, however,
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give you a real sense of tranquility and what Lake Como must have been like 150 years ago. The best part of Lake Como is the chance to stay in one of these historic villas. A few years ago, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, built in 1910, was redone from top to bottom, infusing serious chic into what had been an aging dowager. The champagne bar and the pool that literally floats in Lake Como are the essence of lakeside glamour. Villa d’Este in Cernobbio continues to reign as the queen of the lake, having originated in the 16th century as a residence for a cardinal before passing to the hands of British royalty and eventually becoming a hotel in the late 19th century. But the stakes have gotten even higher in the past couple of years. Il Sereno Lago Di Como opened in Torno, while the Vista Palazzo, an 18-room luxury lair in the city of Como, opened in 2018, as did the six-suite Villa Làrio set on two lakeside acres in Pognana Lario. The latest entry to the Lake Como luxe sweepstakes is Mandarin Oriental, which took over a villa in Blevio. Sure, you can dine regally at some of these hotels, but I prefer the locals’ haunts. A couple of months ago, it was in a quiet café in Cernobbio, Osteria del Beuc, that I sat at an alfresco table 50 feet from the lake on a sultry night and drank the local white wine blend from the producer Sorsasso, situated above the lakeside village of Domaso, the same wine that Clooney requested be served at his wedding to Amal. It accompanied a lemon and parmesan risotto served with a dramatic scoop of basil-flavored gelato in the middle, which slowly melted into the risotto. It was tradition married to the fashionable, a surprise and a revelation, a little like Lake Como itself.
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Above: The resort town of Lecco offers a dramatic Alpine backdrop with fewer crowds than some of the better-known villages. Left: Historic villas are a highlight of any trip to this part of the Lombardy region.
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A COUNTRY WITH A STORIED VITICULTURAL PAST OFFERS UP EXCITING NEW CHOICES. By Josh Sens Winemaking isn’t quite as old as time, but it does go way, way back. In the land known as Israel today, the roots of the practice are millennia deep. Archaeologists there have turned up remnants of wine presses that date to the sixth century BC Added evidence comes from the Old Testament, which is filled with mentions of the fruit of the vine. When Noah clambered off his ark onto dry land, among his first pursuits was planting grapes. A more recent major moment came in the late 19th century, when Baron Edmond de Rothschild, owner of the fabled Lafite Rothschild in France, introduced grape cuttings to the Holy Land, then went on to establish Carmel Winery, now the longest continually operating winery in Israel. But enough of the old news. Here’s the latest headline: It’s 2019, and Israeli winemaking is enjoying a boom. Rumblings that began 30 years ago, with the opening of Israel’s first boutique winery, have given way to explosive growth. The country is now home to more than 300 wineries, many of them small, artisanal outfits, producing astounding but still under-the-radar wines. “The grapes were good thousands of years ago,” Jeff Morgan says. “So it’s really no surprise that the grapes are very, very good today.” A former writer and editor for Wine Spectator magazine and co-founder of Covenant winery in Berkeley, CA, Morgan sees the industry from a global view. In 2011, he traveled to Israel with two goals in mind: to connect with his own Jewish heritage and to conduct some recon on the country’s wines. What stood out for him, as he toured around, was how much northern Israel reminded him of the Rhone Valley. “Not just the limestone outcroppings, but the red, mineral-rich soil,” Morgan says. “It seemed to me the region had all the potential of anything I’d seen in France.”
Two years later, Morgan and his Covenant cofounder, Leslie Rudd, launched a sister winery, Covenant Israel, drawing fruit from select producers in Galilee and the Golan Heights. Their first vintage was a 2013 Syrah that justified Morgan’s faith in the awakening wine region. And awakening it is. Israel’s constellation of refined producers today includes the likes of Tulip Winery, which overlooks the Jezreel Valley in the north and operates within a village of special needs residents, who pitch in at the winery in the manner of a kibbutz. Tulip’s compelling backstory is matched by a portfolio of compelling wines, chief among them a Cabernet Sauvignon that has all the elegant structure of a top-notch Napa cab. Another winery to watch is Gva’ot, which sits in the heart of Samaria at nearly 2,500 feet of elevation, releasing vintages of striking subtlety in a region that benefits from diurnal contrasts: warm by day, cool at night. “When I travel to the United States, I often find that customers are not looking for elegance but power,” says Gva’ot chief winemaker Shivi Drori. There’s nothing wrong with big wines, Drori adds. But to focus solely on “body monsters,” he says, is a shame. It overlooks all that Israeli wines can be. Such misperceptions stem from a common tendency among consumers to conflate Israeli wines with sweetand-sticky kosher for Passover wines. Never mind that some up-and-coming Israeli wines are indeed kosher. (Covenant’s are.) Manischewitz it is not. “Confusion among consumers—that’s just something that can happen, and it’s something we need to deal with,” Morgan says. “The greatest challenge for Israeli winemakers is to convey to the world the idea of Israeli terroir. This is a wine region, just like such regions in Spain or Italy or France. The wines reflect the topography and climate, which gives them a sense of place.”
TASTING NOTES Gva’ot Masada, 2012, $101 A Bordeaux blend with lush berry notes and a suave body. Try it with rich braised beef dishes, such as pot roast or ribs. Black Tulip Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018, $60 Hints of ripe cherries, currants and cassis mingle in this full-bodied wine, which benefits from concentrated but balanced new oak. Delicious with hearty meat dishes of any kind. Covenant Israel Syrah, 2016, $75 A bold wine with forthright notes of dark fruit and winter spices, backed by soft and silky tannins. Pair it with a pork loin and no one will complain.
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Clockwise from top: Zoë Morgan and Ari Erle of Covenant Israel; a wine tasting room at Tulip Winery; vineyards at Gva’ot Winery; and three Israeli wines to try.
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ENTERTAINING
LET THIS PICTURESQUE FALL FEAST INSPIRE YOU TO TAKE YOUR PARTY PREP TO THE NEXT LEVEL—NO MATTER WHERE OR WHAT THE OCCASION.
Position a bowl of seasonal fruits in between two identical autumnal floral arrangements for a wow-worthy centerpiece. Blue monogrammed linens and bold china add another unexpected pop of personality to your tablescape.
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Presentation counts, and Alex Hitz knows it. The celebrity chef and lifestyle expert has been hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “the very best host in the world,” a title that would make even Martha Stewart jealous. His French-inspired cooking, mixed with some good ol’ Southern hospitality, makes him a host extraordinaire, one whose delightful dinners and beautiful brunches, hosted in his hometown of Atlanta, in Manhattan or in Beverly Hills, are as photogenic as they are delicious. This festive fall lunch and other pictureperfect parties—plus easy-to-follow recipes—featured in Hitz’s new tome, The Art of the Host: Recipes and Rules for Flawless Entertaining (Rizzoli New York) prove that not just what you serve your guests, but how you serve it, is what leaves the most lasting of impressions.
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ENTERTAINING
CHILLED CORN CHOWDER WITH LUMP CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD Yields: 2½ qts. (enough for 10 to 12 servings)
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
FOR THE CHILLED CORN CHOWDER n 5 lbs. fresh corn on the cob (approximately 12 cobs) n 8 Tbs. (1 stick) butter n 3 lbs. yellow onions, chopped (4-6 onions, depending on their size) n 3 tsp. salt n ½ tsp. ground black pepper n 7 cups whole milk n 1 cup heavy cream n 2 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro, for finishing
TO MAKE THE CHILLED CORN CHOWDER: Remove the corn kernels from the cob and scrape the kernels into a mixing bowl. Run the blunt edge of your knife against the cobs to extract as much corn milk as you can into the mixing bowl. Reserve the cobs.
TO MAKE THE LUMP CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD: Combine all the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir them carefully so as not to break the crab more than is necessary to blend the salad. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. TO SERVE: Remove the cobs from the soup and purée the soup with an immersion blender or a food processor in batches until it’s as smooth as velvet. Stir in the chopped fresh cilantro, then ladle the chowder into individual chilled bowls. Garnish the soup with a scoop of the lump crab and avocado salad. FINK’S JEWELERS
FOR THE LUMP CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD n 1 lb. jumbo lump crab, picked for bits of shell n 2 large shallots, finely chopped n 2 medium ripe avocados, pitted, peeled and diced n 1 Tbs. fresh-squeezed lime juice n 2 tsp. grated lime zest n 3 Tbs. Hellmann’s mayonnaise n 2 Tbs. sour cream n 2 Tbs. tasteless vegetable oil n 1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar n ¾ tsp. salt, divided n ¼ tsp. ground black pepper, plus an additional pinch
Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. When the foaming has subsided, turn the heat to medium, and add the onions and sauté them until they are translucent and soft, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring them constantly. Add the corn kernel and corn milk from the bowl, the cobs, 2 tsp. of the salt, the ground black pepper, milk and heavy cream, stir them together well, and bring the mixture to a boil before turning the heat down to low. Let the chowder simmer, uncovered, for an hour. Remove from the heat, add the remaining 1 tsp. of salt, and let the chowder cool. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight to allow the flavors to fully develop.
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ENTERTAINING
SALMON EN CROÛTE WITH EASIEST-EVER BÉARNAISE SAUCE Yields: 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
n 2-lb. salmon fillet, preferably cut
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Season the salmon on both sides equally with the salt and pepper. Place the puff pastry sheet on a heavy baking sheet, center the seasoned salmon on the puff pastry and evenly coat the salmon with the mushroom duxelles. Curl the pastry up on the sides and bake for 20 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Remove it from the oven, let it rest for at least 5 minutes before transferring the salmon to a serving platter and garnishing it with the fresh chopped dill. The salmon may be served up to 2 hours later at room temperature as well.
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from the center so it’s thicker, skin and dark meat removed ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 (10-by-15-inch) sheet all-butter puff pastry Mushroom Duxelles (recipe follows) fresh chopped dill, for garnish
MUSHROOM DUXELLES n 8 Tbs. (1 stick) salted butter n 2 lbs. medium mushrooms,
minced n ½ tsp. salt n ¼ tsp. ground black pepper n ½ cup sherry
EASIEST-EVER BÉARNAISE SAUCE In a large heavy saucepan over a high heat, combine the white wine, vinegar, shallots, tarragon, pinch of salt and the black pepper and boil until it is thick and the consistency of syrup, about 12-15 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat and set aside. Melt the butter over medium heat in a heavy saucepan. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the egg yolks, water, lemon juice, remaining ½ teaspoon salt and the white pepper. Process them until they are thick and sticky, approximately 2-3 minutes. When the butter has melted and is fully bubbling, slowly pour it through the tube of the food processor, drop by drop, with the processor running. Process the sauce until all the butter is incorporated and a sauce emulsion forms. Remove the sauce to a warm bowl, stir in the tarragonshallot reduction and serve it immediately.
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EASIEST-EVER BÉARNAISE SAUCE n ¼ cup white wine n ¼ cup white wine vinegar n 1 Tbs. minced shallots n 1½ tsp. dried tarragon n ½ tsp. plus a pinch of salt n ¹⁄8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper n 8 Tbs. (1 stick) butter n 4 egg yolks n 1 Tbs. water n 2 Tbs. lemon juice n ¹⁄8 tsp. ground white pepper
MUSHROOM DUXELLES Melt the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. When the foaming has subsided, add the mushrooms, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook the mushrooms very slowly until all liquid has evaporated, approximately 20 minutes. Add the sherry and continue to cook the mushrooms until the sherry has evaporated and there is no more steam coming off, another 10-15 minutes.
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ENTERTAINING
FRENCH GREEN BEANS WITH ALMONDS Yields: 8 to 10 servings
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
n 2 lbs. French green beans,
Tie bundles of 8 to 10 green beans with a chive. Transfer the bundles to a serving platter. Pour the melted butter on top, sprinkle with the almonds and serve.
trimmed and blanched in salted water n 1 bunch long chives n 4 Tbs. (½ stick) butter, melted n ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
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SPOTLIGHT
a wedding for the books
STARTING ON THE STEPS OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, THIS CEREMONY HERALDED A HAPPY MATCHUP—BETWEEN OPULENCE AND TASTE.
Upon their arrival at the wedding, this Beantown bride and groom’s guests walked the Boston Public Library’s marble staircase topped with glimmering candles and gorgeous greenery.
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Much like painting a masterpiece or molding clay into a sculpture, planning the perfect party is an art. It requires time and patience, immaculate attention to detail and, of course, an eye for design and style. Nobody knows that better than Bryan Rafanelli, named by Vogue as one of the top party planners in the world, who was the event designer behind Chelsea Clinton’s wedding and a multitude of White House soirées during Obama’s terms. Rafanelli’s brand-new and first-ever book, A Great Party: Designing the Perfect Celebration (Rizzoli New York), features inspirational photos and secrets from some of the most fabulously artful fetes he’s orchestrated. The tome is also chock-full of tips should readers want to host their own Rafanelli-style nuptials, dinner party or holiday gettogether, one that’s unforgettably stunning and unique to its hosts. The following pages offer a glimpse of photos from a Boston wedding in Rafanelli’s vault, which took place at multiple iconic locations, beginning with the public library, and featured one spectacle after another.
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As a string quartet played from the balcony above, guests were ushered into the ceremony at the venue’s open-air courtyard. The chuppah was set up next to a picturesque fountain and a statue of a nude woman. The statue was controversial when it was placed there in 1896, but it made the perfect centerpiece for a 21st-century celebration.
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An arched chuppah blooming with white larkspurs and stocks mirrored the architectural details of the neoclassical building.
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Ruby-backed chairs and a scarlet accent wall added vibrancy to the reception’s allwhite floral arrangements. Chandeliers of wisteria hanging from above flowed beautifully with the centerpieces comprised of calla lilies, lady’s slipper orchids and Veronica flowers, arranged in the Japanese ikebana style.
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After the ceremony, guests rode down to the Boston Harbor in classic white trolleys. Waiters presenting glasses of champagne under an awning of English ivy made for a dramatic arrival moment at the boat reception. Within guests’ line of vision was the six-tiered cake designed by Sylvia Weinstock and a wall of live roses, the entryway into the reception, the evening’s final stop.
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SPOTLIGHT
Partygoers danced the night away in the floating dining room on the barge with Boston’s skyline twinkling in the distance.
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LOVE STORIES
photo dreams photography
FINK’S JEWELERS HAS BEEN HELPING COUPLES SAY “I DO” SINCE 1930.
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5 1. Daniel & Beth Ann Yates, Tulum, Mexico, married January 3, 2019 2. Matt Koliopoulos & Kendall Smith, Raleigh, NC, engaged March 14, 2019 3. Antone Exum & Chelsea Dacosta, Richmond, VA, engaged April 10, 2019 4. Justin Dern & Bridget Geiger, Spotsylvania, VA, married November 9, 2019
5. Jeff Faatz & Heather Tolley, Ashville, NC, engaged the weekend of March 17, 2019 6. Riley Ray & Rhian Merwald, Raleigh, NC, engaged March 30, 2019
Michael & Samara, Raleigh, NC, engaged July 13, 2019
9. Jonathan Wheaton & Whitney Tyler, Calabash, NC, engaged February 21, 2019 10. Justin Litman & Emma Gallo, Wrightsville Beach, NC, engaged May 31, 2019 11. Wade & Nancy Allen, Washington, DC, married October 18, 2018 12. Steven Ball & Meredith Lawrence, Roanoke, VA, engaged July 20, 2019 13. Mr. Matthew Stephen Laskovics & Dr. Meridith M. Womick, Ashville, NC, married May 26, 2019.
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8. Michael Tindall & Lindsey Rash, Raleigh, NC, engaged February 15, 2019
14. Andrew Griffin & Amila Tola, Corolla Beach, NC, engaged July 20, 2019
LOVE STORIES
15. Jeremy Lebling & Julia van de Riet, Richmond, VA, engaged February 24, 2019 16. Julian & Logan Son, Richmond, VA, married June 15, 2019 17. Campbell Buie & David Moltz, Charlottesville, VA, engaged July 27, 2019 18. Branson Linnens & Ciara Thomas, Blowing Rock, NC, engaged May 23, 2019 19. Aaron Sronce & Kaitlyn Jones, Folly Beach, SC, engaged June 28, 2019 20. Damian & Amy Burkemper, Blowing Rock, NC, married October 20, 2018 21. Robbie Beattie & Mary Beth Pauley, Paris by the Seine, engaged April 15, 2019
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22. Robert Harris & Lauren Chesnet, Richmond, VA, engaged May 22, 2019
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Since 1930. Trusted for Generations.
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DESIGN STUDIO
FINK’S DESIGN STUDIO CREATES ENGAGEMENT RINGS AS UNIQUE AS THE BRIDES WHO WEAR THEM.
use cutting-edge technology and techniques to design any ring the customer can dream up. This process itself, according to Fink, has allowed the jeweler to provide engagement ring customers with a costs reduced as much as 50 percent of the traditional price. When the timing of the perfect proposal is tight, Fink’s customers don’t wait days on end for a quote. According to Fink, if someone knows what they want, Pinterest inspiration in hand, his team of friendly and ring-savvy sales associates handles the rest. Each sales associate has been trained to carefully evaluate the style, estimate carat weight and provide a quote on the spot via a specially-designed pricing calculator. Once the ring design is selected, the average turnaround for a custom sparkler is roughly three weeks. Fink says this is less than half the time required by their competitors, who often take eight weeks to complete a custom job. Above all, Fink believes that the opening Fink’s Design Studio is a celebratory step into a new generation of customers who have scoured their social media channels for the inspiration to craft their own, unique design that makes for an engagement ring unlike any other. “That’s the beauty of our Custom Design Studio,” Fink says. “Every couple is incredibly unique and we’re able to provide the perfect engagement ring made just for them.”
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Diamonds may be forever, but the way we design diamond rings changes every day. Most soon-to-be-betrothed clients walk through the doors at Fink’s Jewelers with smartphone in-hand with a lit up pictureperfect photo plucked from an unsuspecting bride’s Pinterest board. And with new styles and photos of awe-worthy sparklers popping up on our news feeds every day, design variety has grown exponentially from the days of the simple but elegant solitary gem. “People are so inspired now by a wider range of outlets, whether it’s social media, websites or friends and family,” says Matthew Fink, president and the fourth-generation Fink to lead the family’s namesake jewelry business. “Through that, and this sharing culture, people have a wider understanding and knowledge of different styles out there.” This cycle of eager fiancés posting pictures of their dazzling engagement rings for friends and family to gawk at has opened a near endless vault of variations for customers to choose from when crafting the perfect ring. Couple that with the trend among today’s generation of lovebirds wanting every aspect of their wedding to be a one-of-a-kind, custom experience, brimming with personality and elegance. Luckily, every bride can get her ideal ring through the Fink’s Design Studio. “Here, the clients are able to control all aspects of the ring design in order to maximize their budget,” Fink says. “Many of my friends and contemporaries are getting engaged, so I get a first-hand look of how customers go through the process of buying a diamond,” Fink says. “They don’t want their setting to compromise their total budget or what they’re able to achieve with the center stone.” For this reason, the team behind the Fink’s Design Studio went on a mission. With an in-house concept in mind for the project, the Fink’s team traveled up to Montréal, Canada – a city known for its incredible jewelry-making talents and notable vocational schools that are supported by the government and local community. Here, Fink’s has forged a partnership with a manufacturing facility, where an exclusive team of incredible craftsmen committed to the Fink’s brand
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TRAVEL
THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO IN THESE FIVE TOP NORTH AMERICAN WINTER RESORT COMMUNITIES, YOU MAY STRUGGLE TO FIND TIME TO SKI. By Everett Potter
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No matter where in the world you’ve skied or dreamed of skiing, this continent can hold its own with the best. But when you travel to a skiers’ mecca, the sport, of course, is only part of the experience. People drawn to the powdery slopes have other appetites as well— they’re hungry, thirsty, sleepy, curious and avid for company and fun, and it’s the job of a resort community to more than satisfy their needs. These five do it particularly well.
JACKSON, WYOMING
This ski town is a real town—a mix of outdoors lovers, powder hounds and ski bums along with a cadre of exceptionally well-heeled families with enormous second homes. What they have in common is a love of the Tetons, arguably the most dramatic mountains in the U.S. The town square is framed by arches fashioned from elk antlers, which are shed yearly by the vast elk herd that winters just outside the city limits. Jackson hosts the National Museum of Wildlife Art and has preserved its Old West storefronts, many of them now welcoming folks to pricey boutiques and outdoor wear shops. Yet the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar tells you that this town has not lost its roots. Dining spots Rendezvous Bistro and the Snake River Grill, which both serve inventive American classics, are my in-town favorites. But remember that while Jackson is the name of the town, a resort called Jackson Hole lies a few miles away, offering some of the most challenging slopes in the country. It has more shops and restaurants that I like such as Old Yellowstone Garage for Italian fare and Bar Enoteca for tapas-style dining. There’s also a great range of hotels, including Four Seasons Jackson Hole and the new all-suite Caldera House. Midway between town and mountain is Spring Creek Ranch, my pick for a taste of the Old West with views to match.
ASPEN, COLORADO
This former silver mining town morphed into a ski resort post-World War II. The brick architecture and wide streets set the template for a town that has been attracting the glitterati for decades. Hollywood started coming here in the 1960s. Now everyone comes to shop at Gucci and Prada, and to check into The Little Nell, the gold standard of luxury ski hotels in the U.S. There’s a St. Regis as well, the casually clubby Limelight, and this winter the town’s first W hotel opens, appealing to the millennial crowd. Aspen has long fostered some of the most cutting-edge chefs in the country, and the annual Aspen Food & Wine festival is proof positive of that. Restaurants such as Element 47 at The Little Nell offer fine dining and an astounding wine cellar that can be booked for a private dinner, but I also like the more casual Meat & Cheese as well as the Ajax Tavern for slopeside dining. There are four great mountains— Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk—and lots of après choices. My fave is the Western saloon themed J Bar at the Hotel Jerome. For night owls, clubbing at the Caribou Club is de rigueur. I’ve come to love Aspen’s quasi-LA vibe, which includes the Aspen Art Museum and its highly regarded exhibition as well as the Wheeler Opera House, for big-name performers in an intimate setting.
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB, PARK CITY, UTAH Another ski resort town that was born as a silver BRITISH COLUMBIA
mining town, Park City is in the catbird seat, with eye-pleasing low-rise condos and hotels, revamped miners’ houses, a bustling Main Street jammed with restaurants, bars and shops, and an energy that seems to be equal parts East and West Coasts. No other ski town can lay claim to hosting a major cinema event, which is what happens when the Sundance Film Festival, started by Robert Redford, comes to Park City every January. The locals’ secret is to ski during the festival, when the mountains are empty because everyone else is sitting in screening rooms. You can walk to the lifts of Park City Mountain, which connect by gondola to the massive area once called The Canyons. A mile away by shuttle bus is Deer Valley, the moneyed mountain that offers fine dining on the slopes and perfect grooming as well as the Stein Eriksen Lodge, the best luxury digs in the area. In town, Hotel Park City is my choice. As for dining, Riverhorse on Main is perfect for a big night out, Chef Bill White’s Chimayo is ideal for Tex-Mex fare, but I like High West Distillery, which bills itself as the only “ski-in, ski-out” distillery in the world, for micro tastes of whiskey and solid American comfort food.
You can never be bored at Squaw, not with the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe in view. Once upon a time, this place was called Squallywood, a nod to the denizens of LA who partied here. They still come, but so do tech types from the Bay Area and East Coasters who fly in for the snow, of which more than 700 inches fell this past season. Squaw is the capital of freestyle skiing, hence all those staggeringly fit 20-somethings doing aerial tricks on the mountain. But High Camp, set at 8,200 feet, is a mid-mountain resort that offers a vast pool, hot tub and bar complex that tempts non-skiers for a day way up on the slopes. Call it a bit of California beach life in the mountains. The car-free village is stylish but laid-back, with the Auld Dubliner and Le Chamois rivals for après. Plumpjack Café and Bar has long been a standard bearer for fine California cuisine, but I happen to love the mountain lodge feel of Graham’s Restaurant & Bar. The Resort at Squaw Creek has long been my favorite hotel on the mountain, from its walls of windows down to its private chairlift. The Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn is also a solid choice. The shopping is decent, but for more variety, the skibum town of Truckee is just 10 minutes away by car.
FINK’S JEWELERS
Whistler Blackcomb—two mountains, one resort—is the big one. That’s “big” as in 5,000-plus feet of vertical, as every skier loves to brag. But it’s also an enormous complex of three ski villages—Whistler Village, Upper Village and Creekside—that are mostly car-free yet give it the feel of a small, civilized city. That’s civilized as in Four Seasons Resort Whistler and Fairmont Château Whistler, two of the finest ski hotels. You could spend an entire vacation in their spas. But then you’d miss out on après-ski energy and Irish music at Dubh Linn Gate, the fine dining at Araxi and Wildflower, the fresh sushi at Nagomi Sushi and nightlife that rivals the best in European ski resorts, at places like Tommy’s. A mix of guests from Japan, the U.S. West Coast and Europe gives this town an international flavor. But since it was bought by Vail in 2016, there’s even more focus on niceties in the village. For non-ski pastimes, check out the ice-skating rink, and up on the mountain the suspension bridge at Whistler Peak is ideal for those who just want to look. Not to mention the Audain Art Museum to tour on a day off, or a snowmobile excursion, while the city of Vancouver is just two hours away. If Whistler doesn’t have it all, it sure packs in a lot.
SQUAW VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
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GATHERINGS 78
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AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME AT FINK’S JEWELERS
At Fink’s Jewelers, we strive to be more than just a jewelry store. In addition to offering unsurpassed customer service and selections, we also provide experiences that create memories for a lifetime. That’s why we were so excited to host David Yurman himself this past April at our Short Pump Town Center store in Richmond, VA. During this exceptional event, we showcased an exclusive selection ranging from David Yurman’s iconic Cable designs and pinky rings, to bold and bright pieces from the brand’s newest collections, including Novella and Pavéflex. In addition, this event featured a very special assortment from David Yurman’s High Jewelry and Artist Series collections, including exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces. Fink’s Jewelers makes it a priority to give back to the communities that support us. With David Yurman, we proudly donated a portion of the event’s proceeds to benefit VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Women & Wellness program, which was established to educate women in the Richmond and greater Virginia area about healthcare options. The event was a smashing success, and everyone who attended loved meeting David Yurman and hearing about his journey to becoming America’s premier luxury jewelry designer. Marc Fink, Matthew Fink and the entire Fink’s Jewelers’ Family were proud to host such a once-in-a-lifetime event!
Since 1930. Trusted for Generations.
GATHERINGS
in good company
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A FINE TIME IS HAD BY ALL WHEN WE GET TOGETHER.
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1. Chris DiPietro, Birkdale Village store manager, at the Rolex Advanced Training in NYC. 2. Ike and Cindy Savvas enjoying the Kentucky Derby Make-A-Wish Event in Greensboro, NC. 3. Roger Harper, SouthPark store manager, at the OMEGA training event in Miami, FL. 4. Jeff Long, Mark Bair, Nasa Hataoka, Marissa Steen, Dan Schaffer, Lee Lockwood at LPGA tournament in Williamsburg, VA, at Kingsmill Resort. 5. Roger Harper, Ashley Grissett and Mr. and Mrs. Rollie at the Touchdown Club Ball in Charlotte, NC.
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6. Roger Harper enjoying some time overseas at the TAG Heuer training in Switzerland. 7. Keisha Nakhle and Erin Rose with Fink’s customer Madison Madden at the Black and White Ball in Roanoke, VA. 8. The MacArthur team enjoying dinner with representatives from Tudor, TAG Heuer, OMEGA and Breitling in Norfolk, VA. Left to right (left side of table) Michael Hooper, Floy Pence, Aaron Gonzales, Mea Nenn. Back to front (right side of table) Dawn Holland, Jeffery Rogers, Cole Hale, Michael Youngblood 9. Mea Nenn and Michael Youngblood enjoy a beautiful day at sea during the Parade of Sails Harborfest in Norfolk, VA.
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10. Lelia Gruwell and Nancy McCall attend the Women and Wellness Event at Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA.
12. Nancy McCall at Tee-Off for a Purpose at Highlands Country Club in Richmond, VA. 13. Ike Savvas and Steve Ellis at the Fink’s and Hamilton event in Pinehurst, NC.
FINK’S JEWELERS
11. Ike Savvas with Greenboro Symphony president Laura Green at Fink’s in Greensboro, NC.
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#myfinksstyle Wear it. Share it.
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VIRGINIA • MARYLAND • NORTH CAROLINA • www.finks.com
FINISHING TOUCHE
extra, extra!
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HOLD THE PRESSES: BEFORE YOU CHOOSE ANOTHER WATCH, CHECK OUT THESE NEWSWORTHY NUMBERS.
From top: Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Co Axial Master Chronometer 42MM; Breitling Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 and Rolex Datejust 41.
virginia Roanoke 419 at Colonial Avenue • 540.342.2991 Valley View Mall • 540.362.3779
Lynchburg 16960 Forest Road • 434.237.6301
Charlottesville Barracks Road Shopping Center • 434.284.4060
Richmond Chesterfield Towne Center • 804.379.7171 Short Pump Town Center • 804.377.8589
Dulles Dulles Town Center • 571.434.6540
Norfolk MacArthur Center • 757.640.1132
north carolina Greensboro 1951 Battleground Avenue • 336.292.8355
Charlotte SouthPark • 704.366.3120 Birkdale Village • 704.927.4888
Raleigh North Hills • 919.881.8247
Durham The Streets at Southpoint • 919.281.8407
fi nks.com
S:8.375”
T:9”
T:10.875” S:10.375”