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T H E WATC H M A K E R O F WATC H M A K E R S
CALIBRE 844
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IW3716 THE REFERENCE. P ORTUG IE S E R CH RONOG R APH This Portugieser Chronograph builds on the legacy of IWC’s instrument watches for navigation. It is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 caliber, engineered for performance, robustness and durability. The vertical arrangement of the subdials enhances readability and has resulted in a chronograph celebrated for its iconic design.
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14 A LEGEND LIVES ON
6 SHE’S GOT THE LOOK
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 60th Anniversary recalls a race too dangerous to continue—and a watch too elegant to forget.
Whether they’re worn on their own, layered or stacked, Messika’s timeless jewels are a classic choice.
8 WHO’S THAT GIRL?
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Marco Bicego’s multi-colored gemstones on your ears, neck, fingers and wrists add pizzazz to your looks.
22 THE HEAD TURNERS Surprise every person on your list this year.
16 IN FULL BLOOM
Diamonds set in white gold are always a smart choice.
25 OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS
20 THE WAY SHE WEARS IT
10 COLOR ME BEAUTIFUL
A chic cocktail ring can showcase your birth month, your favorite color—or simply your enduring style.
Gold, enamel and diamonds from Roberto Coin help you grab the spotlight this season.
Add a little hue to your collection of gems.
32 TIMEPIECE TYPES
No matter your style—and lifestyle— you’ll find a luxury watch to match your personality at James Free Jewelers.
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36 WATCHES WITH PRINCIPLES
Three key concepts underlie the sustainable Swiss watchmaking of Oris, and one is “change for the better.”
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CONTENTS F/W 2023
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44 20
38 THE SECRET SWITZERLAND Swiss skiers in the know consider Val d’Anniviers the place to go—not for chic ski crowds, but for skiing.
40 POWDER, PARDNER!
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, isn’t as chic as Vail, but it’s unbeatable for the quality of its snow and the authenticity of its Western vibe.
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42 BARHOPPING EUROPE
If you only have time for one drink in each of these storied cities, let it be here!
46 ABOVE AND BEYOND
At James Free Jewelers, we’re devoted to giving back to the community we serve—and having a little fun too!
52 SEEING RED
Your holiday party will be a hit when you keep glasses filled with these crimson-colored cocktails.
56 AT YOUR SERVICE
Service has always been the heartbeat of James Free Jewelers.
JAMES FREE
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SHE’S GOT THE LOOK 6
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Messika White Gold Move Uno Small Diamond Hoop Earrings; Messika Yellow Gold Move Link Multi Diamond Ring; Messika White Gold Move Link Multi Pavé Diamond Ring; Messika Rose Gold Lucky Move PM Mother-of-Pearl and Diamond Ring; Messika White Gold Move Uno Pavé Diamond Ring; Messika White Gold Move Pavé Diamond Necklace; Messika White Gold Move Uno Pavé Diamond Drop Pendant Necklace; Messika White Gold Move Classic Pavé Diamond Bracelet; Messika Rose Gold Lucky Move PM Mother-of-Pearl Bracelet; Messika White Gold Move Noa Full Pavé Diamond Bangle; Messika Yellow Gold Move Noa Full Pavé Diamond Bangle.
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COLOR ME BEAUTIFUL
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Omi Gems Rose Gold Garnet and Moonstone Diamond Ring; Charles Krypell Diamond and Sapphire Lariat Necklace; Piranesi Diamond and Sapphire Flower Stud Earrings; Omi Gems Rose Gold Purple and Pink Sapphire Diamond Ring; Omi Gems Platinum Moonstone and Tanzanite Diamond Ring; Omi Gems Platinum Purple Sapphire and Violet Spinel Diamond Ring; Charles Krypell White Gold Diamond and Emerald Tri-Layer Ring; Charles Krypell White Gold Diamond and Sapphire Tri-Layer Ring. JAMES FREE
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WHO’S THAT GIRL? 10
Marco Bicego Yellow Gold Murano Collection Mixed Gemstone Drop Earrings; Marco Bicego Yellow Gold Murano Collection Mixed Gemstone Necklace; Marco Bicego Yellow Gold Murano Collection Mixed Gemstone Ring; Marco Bicego Yellow Gold Murano Collection Mixed Gemstone Bracelet.
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Profile
A LEGEND LIVES ON The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 60th Anniversary recalls a race too dangerous to continue—and a watch too elegant to forget. By Christen Fisher Long before there was a Mexican Grand Prix on the F1 circuit,
genre-defining timepiece by releasing the TAG Heuer Carrera
there was the Carrera Panamericana, an annual road race that
Chronograph 60th Anniversary. A faithful reinterpretation of
began in 1950 to celebrate the completion of the Mexican section
the highly coveted Carrera 2447 SN of the late 1960s, this new
of the Pan-American Highway. Sponsored by Mexico’s National
version features a silver, sun-ray-brushed dial and a silver flange
Automobile Association and encouraged by the Mexican govern-
with a 60-second/minute scale as well as three contrasting black
ment to increase tourism, it was a perilous, nine-stage, five-day,
subdials, a configuration known as a panda dial. The subdial at 3
2,096-mile, border-to-border trek through major climate and
o’clock is a minute chronograph counter; the one at 6 o’clock is a
elevation changes that ran from Juárez in the north all the way
permanent second indicator; and the one at 9 o’clock is an hour
to Cuauhtémoc on the Guatemalan border to the south. In 1951,
chronograph counter. All three have silver hands and markings.
Time magazine said the route consisted of “hairpin curves, roll-
A masterpiece in legibility, the dial is complete with rhodi-
er-coaster dips and erratic paving…bone-jarring at tourist speeds,
um-plated, faceted, polished hour and minute hands, a black
and highly dangerous for even the most experienced racer.” After
lacquered central hand and the Heuer logo, also in black.
the 1955 LeMans racing disaster, authorities decided the Carrera Panamericana was too dangerous to continue. During its five-year sojourn, however, the alluringly dangerous
boasts sleek lines throughout. A raised profile sapphire-crystal, referred to as a Glassbox, and polished steel crown and round
race attracted F1, Rally and NASCAR drivers from all over the
pushers contribute to the watch’s cool, retro feel. Its screw-down
world as well as European and American manufacturers. It drew
steel-and-crystal caseback reveals the Heuer 02, TAG Heuer’s
close to two million spectators, was marked by a shocking 27 fatal-
80-hour in-house automatic chronograph caliber movement,
ities, and inspired two of Mexico’s greatest racing drivers, brothers
and is adorned with a limited-number special engraving that
Pedro and Ricardo RodrÍguez, for whom Mexico’s Grand Prix
reads “TAG HEUER LIMITED EDITION, XXX/600,” as
circuit, the Autódromo Hermanos RodrÍguez, was named.
well as a note of the watch’s 100-meter water resistance. Also
When Jack Heuer met the RodrÍguez brothers at Twelve
visible are the movement’s Geneva Stripes decoration, its column
Hours of Sebring in Florida in 1962, they regaled him with
wheel—the device that makes the activation of a chronograph
tales of the short-lived Carrera Panamericana, which in turn
precise—and a special Carrera 60th Anniversary rotor. Present-
inspired him to create a wristwatch reflecting the spirit of that
ed on a calfskin leather racing strap with steel pin buckle, the
legendary race. One year later, Heuer debuted what would be-
limited-edition piece comes in a racing-red box that includes Jack
come a legend in its own right, the eponymous Heuer Carrera
Heuer’s famous quote about the Carrera name.
Chronograph. Of the name, Jack said, “I loved not only its sexy
With a run of only 600 pieces, the TAG Heuer Carrera
sound but also its multiple meanings, which include road, race,
Chronograph 60th Anniversary is a highly collectible cele-
course and career. All very much Heuer territory.”
bration of the enduring spirit of racing and the first entry in
For 60 years, the Carrera Chronograph set the standard for chronograph design. This year TAG Heuer celebrates this
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The new Carrera’s 39mm polished steel case with fixed bezel
a season of releases planned to mark this milestone in Swiss watchmaking and racing history.
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IN FULL BLOOM 16
JB Star Alternating Diamond Circle Necklace; Picchiotti White Gold Xpandable Diamond Ring; Roberto Coin White Gold Cento Diamond Twisted Hoop Earrings; James Free White Gold Diamond Flower Riviera Necklace.
JAMES FREE
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Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Cialoma Knot Ring; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Mosaic Diamond Accent Ring; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Cialoma Single Knot Diamond Ring; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Cialoma Diamond Knot Earrings; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Cialoma Diamond Cloud Bangle; Roberto Coin White Gold Cialoma Diamond Cloud Bangle; Roberto Coin Rose Gold Mosaic Black Jade and Diamond Bangle; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Navarra Large Diamond Link Bangle; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Mosaic Turquoise and Diamond Bangle; Roberto Coin Rose Gold Mosaic Diamond Bangle; Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Domino Diamond Crossover Necklace.
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M A N U FAC T U R E Classic Tourbillon
B EYOND CONVENT I ONS
frederiqueconstant.com
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Gift Guide
Goshwara Blue Topaz Charm Necklace James Free Yellow Gold Layered Diamond Bracelet
Marco Bicego Yellow Gold Alta Diamond Earrings
Messika Yellow Gold Lucky Eye Malachite & Diamond Ring
THE HEAD TURNERS
John Hardy Yellow Gold Surf Diamond Pavé Ring
Surprise every person on your list.
Scan for more info.
Messika Yellow Gold Move Link Diamond Bracelet
Sloane Street Yellow Gold Blue Topaz Ombré Earrings
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Gift Guide
Roberto Coin Rose Gold LoveBy-The-Inch Diamond Station Necklace
Mikimoto Yellow Gold Akoya Cultured Pearl Pendant Necklace
Oris X Bracelet Aquis 43.5mm Watch
John Hardy Classic Chain Silver Love Knot Bracelet John Hardy Yellow Gold Classic Chain Diamond Pavé Flex Cuff
Roberto Coin Yellow Gold Cialoma Diamond Cloud Bangle James Free Yellow Gold Teardrop Diamond Earrings
Sloane Street Yellow Gold Pearl Huggie Earrings
Roberto Coin White Gold Love-By-TheInch Diamond Station Bracelet
Scan for more info.
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OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS
Goshwara Rose Gold Lavender Amethyst and Diamond Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Blue Topaz and Diamond Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Three-Stone Blue Topaz and Peridot Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold London Blue Topaz and Diamond Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Three-Stone Amethyst and Garnet Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Citrine and Diamond Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Three-Stone Prasiolite and Peridot Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Prasiolite and Diamond Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Three-Stone Peridot and Lolite Ring; Goshwara Yellow Gold Citrine and Garnet Ring. FALL / WINTER 2023
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Gift Guide Charles Krypell Diamond Angel Heart Pendant Necklace
John Hardy Silver Surf Diamond Pavé Link Pendant Necklace
James Free Yellow Gold Diamond Band
Bell & Ross BR 03 Black Matte Watch
John Hardy Classic Chain Silver Love Knot Orange Cord Bracelet
Goshwara Two-Stone Amethyst and Garnet Earrings
Mikimoto Yellow Gold Akoya Cultured Pearl Earrings
Marco Bicego Yellow Gold Masai Diamond Crossover Bracelet
Scan for more info.
Sloane Street Yellow Gold Toi et Moi Blue Topaz Ring
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Gift Guide
Messika Yellow Gold Baby Move Diamond Necklace
Mikimoto White Gold Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings
John Hardy Classic Chain Yellow Gold and Silver Diamond Flex Cuff
John Hardy Yellow Gold Diamond Pavé Surf Link Bracelet
Messika Yellow Gold Move Link Diamond Ring
Goshwara Emerald and Diamond Earrings
James Free White Gold Diamond Butterfly Bracelet
James Free Yellow-Gold Three Row Diamond Ring
Scan for more info.
James Free White Gold Two-Stone Diamond Band
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TIMEPIECE TYPES
No matter your style—and lifestyle—you’ll find a luxury watch to match your personality at James Free Jewelers.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Ref. Q3918420
THE TRADITIONALIST
Traditional doesn’t have to mean boring. Beloved classic objects are those that never go out of style and those you hope to pass along to future generations. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar (ref. Q3918420) is one such piece. The latest model maintains the aesthetic of the original Reverso styles—two distinct, reversible, rectangular-shaped faces—but adds a contemporary look that’s equally elegant and enduring. Honor tradition by wearing the front dial, a clean white face with full calendar at 6 o’clock. To break the mold, flip the dial and reveal a blue sunray face, which features JLC’s new day-night disc and double hour markers. Along with the stainless-steel case, the contrasting styles keep in the true timeless spirit of the iconic Reverso.
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THE PROFESSIONALIST
The watch you wear to the office should be a polished piece—one that can take you from corporate meetings to after-work negotiations. The IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph (ref. IW371617) is the epitome of sophistication and a versatile companion for your workday. For the first time, the watch comes with a stainless-steel bracelet featuring butterfly folding clasps for a sporty yet refined style. It’s neutral in color with unique blue hands and appliques, so the piece is suitable for any outfit—whether you’re dressed to the nines or simply keeping it casual. And thanks to its robust sapphire glass in front and back, the timepiece allows you to view IWC’s precise chronograph movement and rest it ergonomically on your wrist for all-day use.
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph Ref: IW371617
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OMEGA Seamaster Ref. 210.32.42.20.10.001
THE OUTDOORIST
Yachtsman, fisherman, diver or hiker, not just any watch will do for the nature enthusiast. The outdoorsman needs a timekeeper that matches his lifestyle, polished yet functional for the guy on the go. And what better watch for the job than James Bond’s? The Omega Seamaster Diver 300m (ref. 210.32.42.20.10.001) is water resistant to 1,000 feet with a selfwinding movement, a dual-sided scratch-resistant sapphire crystal backing and a date window at 6 o’clock. A handsome touch is the olive-green strap and ceramic bezel, a camo-inspired color to complement your nature-inspired hobbies.
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THE TRAVELER
Loved by generations of explorers, the Breitling Navitimer has been the preferred watch of aviators worldwide and the official timepiece of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) for more than 70 years. The latest iteration, the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 (ref. AB0137211C1A1), features all the complications you’d expect from the classic Breitling, but it’s a modern refinement of the original. Wherever your travels take you, show off understated luxury with the watch’s domed sapphire crystal, brushed metal finish and updated dial shades, including the sophisticated blue face shown here. But what many will appreciate most is the return of the AOPA wings to their original 12 o’clock position—a piece of nostalgia that appeals to pilots and timepiece enthusiasts alike.
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 Ref. AB0137211C1A1
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Profile
WATCHES WITH PRINCIPLES Three key concepts underlie the sustainable Swiss watchmaking of Oris, and one is “change for the better.” By Christen Fisher In 1904, talented watchmakers Paul Cattin and Georges Christian
dent, family-run company that sends pilots, planes and equipment to
decided to go their own way. They left Le Locle, the city at the
areas all over the world affected by wildfires.
heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry, for the small village of
To support the Billion Oyster Project and its mission to restore
Hölstein deep in the spectacularly beautiful Waldenburg Valley.
one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035, Oris has released
There they purchased a recently closed hat factory and formed a
the New York Harbor Limited Edition. Based on the Aquis diver’s
new company they named for a nearby brook, Oris.
watch, this 41.5mm wristwatch features a green mother-of-pearl
Since its founding, Oris has claimed “go your own way” as its
dial and a matching rubber strap inspired by the color of the water
guiding principle. Today that sentiment is one of three pillars that
and oyster shells in the harbor. With just 2,000 pieces made, this
form the foundation of the company’s value system. The second
stainless-steel dive watch is water-resistant to 300 meters and
is that “things must make sense.” This independent spirit, guided
features a caseback engraved with the words “New York Harbor
by a tradition of rationality, inspired Oris’s role in overturning
Limited Edition,” the watch’s production number and a stunning
in 1966 a watch statute that had impeded industry innovation.
rendering of the oysters.
The idea guided the company through the quartz crisis of the
the world’s leading aerial firefighting organization, by releasing
the subsequent decision to abandon the manufacture of quartz
the Coulson Limited Edition. Featuring a vibrant, gradient-orange
watches for mechanical ones only. In 2021, Oris was certified as a
dial reminiscent of fire and a case produced using a novel 3-D
climate-neutral company by ClimatePartner underlining the third
printing process that weaves together carbon fiber and a high-
pillar, “change for the better.”
grade polymer called PEKK to create an ultra-lightweight, rigid
Oris, which for decades has worked with more than 20 groups
material, this watch is based on the Oris Big Crown ProPilot. Its
in the world of sustainability, launched its Change for the Better
innovative multi-piece case with gray PVD-plated titanium fixed
initiative to raise funds for and bring awareness to a plethora of
bezel measures 41mm and houses the highly anti-magnetic, five-
pioneering environmental protection and conservation organiza-
day automatic caliber 400 movement. Limited to 1,000 pieces, the
tions. At the same time, the initiative has guided its own produc-
Coulson Limited Edition embodies the Coulson Aviation vision:
tion decisions regarding sustainable design and materials sourcing
to crush fires, assist firefighters on the ground and protect life and
while maintaining the brand’s high standards for craftsmanship,
the environment.
beauty and quality.
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Oris has commemorated its partnership with Coulson Aviation,
1970s and ’80s, galvanizing a successful management buyout and
Conservation and sustainability have also become cornerstones
Two organizations championed by Oris in this endeavor are the
of Oris’s production, specifically in materials sourcing. Standard
Billion Oyster Project, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring New York
watch presentation boxes are now made from Forest Stewardship
Harbor’s lost oyster population, and Coulson Aviation, an indepen-
Council-certified or natural algae-based materials, and some of the
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Oris’s Change for the Better initiative has guided its the company’s production decisions regarding sustainable design and materials sourcing while maintaining the brand’s high standards for craftsmanship, beauty and quality.
limited-edition conservation watches are presented in boxes made from recycled plastics. To celebrate its climate-neutral status and encourage people all over the world to take part in ocean cleanup days, Oris has launched the Aquis Date Upcycle, a version of its high-performance diver’s watch with a colorful dial made exclusively of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastics. Because the plastic recycling process produces random patterns, each dial is unique. Available in either a 41.5mm or a 36.5mm multi-piece stainless-steel case, the Upcycle is waterresistant to 300 meters and has a 38-hour power reserve. For Oris, sustainability is a value that applies not only to the world at large, but also to home base in Hölstein. The pristine beauty of the Waldenburg Valley has been a part of the Oris identity since the company’s inception, and so it was only natural for the brand to partner with Cervo Volante, a young Swiss company that uses sustainable deer leather obtained from Switzerland’s necessary and highly regulated deer population management program and tanned with traditional methods to make luxury shoes and accessories. The Oris x Cervo Volante collaboration has debuted three stainless-steel Big Crown Pointer Date watches with gray, blue or green gradient dials inspired by the colors of the Alpine landscape and straps made of dark brown, oak brown or cognac deer leather. Each is presented with a travel pouch and a card holder made of the same material. Powered by a caliber 754 movement, these wristwatches feature center hands for hours, minutes and seconds as well as a date center hand. Notably, the Aquis Date Upcycle and the Oris x Cervo Volante Big Crown Pointer Date are not part of limited production runs, but instead will remain included in Oris’s regular collection as symbols of the brand’s continuing commitment to inspire and create change for the better.
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Travel
THE SECRET SWITZERLAND Swiss skiers in the know consider Val d’Anniviers the place to go—not for chic ski crowds, but for skiing. By Everett Potter I have been skiing in Switzerland for decades, visiting
Grimentz sits at about 5,200 feet in Val d’Anniviers,
dola, from the base area to the main resort area, offers
classic resorts like Zermatt, which is dominated by the
which is an offshoot of the Rhône Valley. It’s over-
access to tree runs, a godsend on those flat light days.
imposing presence of the Matterhorn and welcomes
looked by the jagged peaks of the mountain known as
There’s a total of 115 kilometers of pistes in Grimentz,
an international mix of skiers and riders. I’ve skied the
the Becs de Bosson. This French-speaking part of the
connected by 21 lifts. The views of the Rhône Valley
glittering slopes around Gstaad, which attracts some of
Valais lies south of Sierre, and while there are groomed
are a delightful bonus.
the most moneyed skiers in the world. It’s outflanked
runs, it’s especially noteworthy for its backcountry
only by St. Moritz, which is even flashier and wealthi-
skiing.
Grimentz was connected to Zinal by the Sorebois cable car in 2013. That gave skiers an easy way to
er, a place where Dolce & Gabbana and Prada are pa-
Lift lines are rare, and after dark the villages are
access about 43 kilometers of challenging red runs in
raded après ski. I’ve also spent time in smaller, homier
pretty quiet. Grimentz and its siblings are not for the
Zinal, as well as a selection of blue and black runs. It
resorts like Villars, Leysin and Les Diablerets, which
nonstop party crowd. They exist for those who really
also provided access to some of the best backcountry
are French-accented and charming and have a loyal
want to ski and enjoy old-fashioned Swiss mountain
terrain in Switzerland. On the return back to Gri-
British clientele who love the fact that these slopes are
hospitality. Those in the know come for the powder,
mentz, I skied the Chamois run, a favorite of experts,
only an hour from Geneva’s airport.
which is legendary and can remain for several days,
where you can test your mettle on 1,326 meters of
Yet I had never discovered one of the sweetest spots
unlike at larger resorts, where it is summarily skied off
vertical that can humble all but the best skiers. Let’s
of Swiss skiing until I chanced upon the resorts in the
within a few hours. Remarkably, these areas are just
just say I was humbled. Equally compelling was an
Val d’Anniviers, a place where alpine powder meets
two hours by car from Geneva. That’s easy enough
off-piste run to Vercorin.
old-fashioned Swiss villages. A Swiss friend suggested
now that all COVID entry requirements have been
these slopes, which have plenty of challenges but a de-
lifted for Switzerland.
Zinal is known for its venerable chalets and vintage mazots. It also has a few hotels and au-
lightful lack of the kind of international Bogner-wear-
Grimentz has the look and feel of a traditional
berges, but the village has also witnessed newer
ing ski crowd one finds at a typical well-heeled resort.
Swiss mountain farming town, and that’s a huge part
high-rise buildings and a spate of chalet-condos.
Val d’Anniviers is an isolated, 15-mile-long valley
of its charm. There are mountain huts called mazots
The pick of the accommodations here is the
encircled by 4,000-meter peaks and accessed by
that historically were used to store grain. Built of larch
Swisspeak Resorts Zinal. Comprising six min-
vertigo-inducing roads. There are six resorts here—
wood, they are blackened by centuries of sunshine
imalist wooden buildings, it has apartments of
Grimentz-St Jean and Zinal are the largest, and then
and date back as far as the 12th century in some cases.
varying sizes, all done in a modern Swiss chalet
there’s St-Luc Chandolin, Vercorin and Vissoie—and
There are also venerable chalets and newer chalets
style.
I’ll wager you’ve never heard of any of them before.
mixed in, the latter constructed according to strict
I think of this as the secret Switzerland, the ski areas that the Swiss take their families to, the resorts that
guidelines to blend in.
In Chandolin, a good bet for a hotel with a wellness center is the Chandolin Boutique Hotel,
This is the sublime side of Swiss skiing. You come
considered one of the country’s best mountain
friends in Geneva and Zurich head to when they want
to Grimentz if you’re an expert skier or rider because
hostelries. I had a memorable massage here
deep powder and no crowds, seeking prices for lodging
so much of the off-piste terrain can be accessed by
following a day of leg-pounding runs down the
and dining that are a far cry from nearby and far tonier
the lifts. There is a good variety of such terrain, from
slopes. Aesthetically, it helps that the village is
Swiss resorts like Verbier, Crans-Montana and that
tree skiing lower down to a true bowl. Yet if you’re
long on charm and tranquility—it’s one of the
all-time classic, Zermatt. It so happens that all of those
traveling with skiers of lesser ability, there are beginner
highest inhabited places in the Alps.
resorts are also here in the Valais, the canton where
and intermediate runs that are accessible from the
The smaller hamlets have their delights as well. My
the Val d’Anniviers is found, but the latter is a different
Bendolla ski area, a major advantage when you want
favorite hotel in the region is in St-Luc, the Bella Tola,
beast altogether.
to meet up at the end of a few laps. The Bendolla gon-
which was built in 1859 on the foundation of a Roman
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villa. This stuccoed mountain hotel has painted ceilings, wooden paneling, antiques and historic rooms that have been gracefully modernized, a remnant of the grand hotels that once could be found throughout Switzerland. You don’t come to Val d’Anniviers for cutting-edge chefs and menus. The fare adheres to the tried and true mountain food that has kept Swiss skiers happily sated for more than a century. In Grimentz, the Becs de Bosson restaurant offers traditional alpine cuisine—think fondue, raclette, gnocchi and roast pork and veal dishes. If you’re looking for further challenges in the snow, Grimentz is one of the few resorts in the world that offers guided snowshoe hikes into the ice caves of a glacier, in this case the Zinal glacier. This five-hour walk with mountain guides is a memorable excursion, though you may prefer less rigorous Swiss activities such as good old-fashioned tobogganing. What you won’t find are packs of Euro glitterati here for partying and aggressive Instagramming, dancing on tables après ski or a competition among Michelin-starred restaurants offering tony fare at astronomical prices. If you’re in search of those elements, head to Zermatt, Crans-Montana or Verbier. If you come to Val d’Anniviers, it’s because you’re seeking the essence of the Swiss ski experience.
Clockwise from top: Val d’Anniviers boasts some of the highest skiing in Switzerland; several small hamlets are home to mountain hotels, fine dining and, of course, many trails for skiing; after a long day on the slopes, refuel with a quick meal like raclette; sledding is just as fun and exciting as skiing in the Swiss Alps; for a different kind of adventure, explore one of many ice caves in the region.
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Sporting Life
POWDER, PARDNER! Steamboat Springs, Colorado, isn’t as chic as Vail or Aspen, but it’s unbeatable for the quality of its snow and the authenticity of its Western vibe. By Everett Potter On my third visit to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, I
Steamboat offers 3,000 acres of skiing spread
the ski mountain’s official ambassador and will
was riding in a truck to the Hayden Airport driven
across six peaks. There are 170 named runs and
stop and chat with just about everyone. Yes, it’s a
by Todd Lodwick, one of this ski town’s most famous
3,668 feet of vertical drop, and it may be the only
town of cowboys and Olympians, and the cowboy
sons. Lodwick is a six-time Olympian in cross-coun-
mountain of which it can honestly be said that it
culture continues in town at the Steamboat Art
try skiing who won a silver medal at the 2010 Olym-
has skiing for everyone, from rank beginner’s slopes
Museum in a former bank, which offers exhibits
pics in Vancouver. We had spent a couple of days
to wide runs, gladed tree skiing among aspen and
on Western culture and heritage.
skiing, and now we were in a blinding snowstorm,
spruce trees, and steeps that merit double black-di-
Steamboat is an Alterra resort, meaning that it’s
with Steamboat’s legendary champagne powder
amond status. The mountain also offers fantastic
part of the Ikon Pass program. Insiders know that
rapidly piling up around us.
views, some of the best of any resort in the West—
getting up at dawn and paying an extra $55 above
across Colorado and into Wyoming, with vistas
the cost of the lift ticket or pass for the First Tracks
stretching one hundred miles or more.
program is worth doing at least once during your
“Looks like it’s three-wire winter,” he said, referring to the snow height on the barbed-wire cattle fences on either side of the road. The expression had
What changed this year was the opening of
stay. It buys you 45 minutes of prime skiing, on
nothing to do with the Olympics. This was cowboy
the new Wild Blue Gondola this past winter. The
powder or fresh groomers, before the crowds are
talk in a ski town deeply rooted in its Western past.
2023–24 season promises even more changes, a new
allowed on at 8:30 a.m.
Steamboat Springs is one of my favorite ski towns
lift providing access to 650 acres of expert terrain,
After a day of floating through powder, check out
and one of the most distinctive ones in the country.
making Steamboat second only to Vail for skiable
one of the hot springs that gave the town its name.
It’s a real town with a wide main street that retains
acreage in Colorado.
The fantastic rock-lined pools are at Strawberry Park
an authentic Western feel. Every January, there’s the
Now Steamboat is famed for its wide-groomed
annual Cowboy Downhill, when professional rodeo
boulevards, and my favorites include Vagabond,
riders compete on skis in daredevil races down snow-
Buddy’s Run and Rainbow. I like glade skiing in
If it’s another type of liquid, you’re in search of,
packed Main Street, towed by galloping horses in a
Twilight, Morningside Park, which is a bit easier,
head to the TBar, an old-fashioned après ski bar in
sport called skijoring, which originated in Norway.
and Pioneer Ridge. On your first day, I find that
a former ski patrol building off the Right-o-Way run
You’ll never see this in Vail, Zermatt or Stowe.
a good bet is to ski off the Sunshine Express lift,
near the base, filled with loud music and local brews
No question, this event is a thrill. But every ski day
Hot Springs, a few miles from town, or downtown Old Town Hot Springs.
where you can pick and choose from gentle runs to
like Storm Peak’s Chowder Hazy IPA. Mountain
in Steamboat is pretty much a thrill for me, because
bona fide blues, blues that are almost blacks, and
Peak Brewery is also a fine choice in town, a classic
I get to ski on champagne powder, which is light and
blacks that will immediately test your mettle and
Colorado brewpub with pizzas and other casual
fluffy, making skiing almost effortless. You can credit
ability. You can also dip into the glades. There are
fare. Beyond the slopes, my favorite dinner choices
the geography. Steamboat’s location in the northwest
various on-mountain dining choices, but I especially
include Mazzola’s Italian Diner for Italian comfort
corner of Colorado is where the moisture-laden jet
love the Paramount, which has some of the best and
food, Arum for its creative fare and views, Meatbar for
stream from the Pacific frequently encounters the
freshest homemade sandwiches and other fare.
small plates, and Bésame for fine dining.
Rockies first. It’s where moisture evaporates, and
On the mountain you may even spot an
On your day off from the slopes, go snowshoeing
the snow’s water density is reduced by more than
elegant skier in a white cowboy hat. He’s Billy
at Fish Creek Falls outside of town or winter horse-
half. Or, to put it simply, on an intense powder day,
Kidd, an alpine ski racer who was one of two
back riding at Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch. One of the best
Steamboat offers what may be the best powder skiing
men to win America’s first medals in the slalom
non-ski activities I’ve ever done at Steamboat is to
in the world, neck-and-neck with the snow found in
at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics in 1964. It
head out to the deep snow near Rabbit Ears Pass on
Niseko, Japan. It is the only snow in the world that’s
was silver, and Kidd went on to win three other
the Continental Divide with Steamboat Snowmobile
been trademarked.
Olympic medals, including a gold. He remains
Tours in the Routt.
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Spirits
BARHOPPING EUROPE
If you only have time for one drink in each of these storied cities, let it be here! By Everett Potter
The Connaught Bar, London I’ve been haunting European watering holes for decades, but I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a more spectacular drinking establishment than the Connaught Bar. It’s located in the five-star Connaught Hotel, London’s most sublime cocoon of luxury. I used to meet friends at the hotel’s lively, clubby and more casual Coburg Bar, which is still there. But in 2008, designer David Collins oversaw the construction of the dramatic Connaught Bar, an Art Deco temple to all cocktails and a nod to the hotel’s heyday. Collins essentially was given carte blanche to go over the top, and he did just that, inspired by English and Irish Cubist art of the 1920s. The result is a palace with textured walls of platinum silver leaf, mirrors galore, low lighting and leather banquettes, and it feels like a set with you at center stage, a throwback to the glorious, dandified 1920s. You might well think of “Brideshead Revisited,” and indeed, all the Bright Young Things of today are the habitués. You might go with a drink like Vieux Connaught, made with Ron Zacapa 23 rum, Bulleit Rye, a blend of dry vermouths, Bénédictine, saffron smoke, and Angostura and orange bitters. Or go gaga over the limited edition champagnes, spirits and liqueurs. You can even speak with Agostino Perrone, director of mixology at the Connaught Bar, if you want something over the top. But the classic reason to settle in here—apart from a celebrity sighting like Gwyneth Paltrow, a frequent visitor—is to order a drink from their legendary Martini Trolley. It’s martini as sacrament, painstakingly prepared tableside, using made-in-house bitters and vermouths. These martinis are always stirred, never shaken.
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Harry’s New York Bar, Paris Generations of Americans have made a beeline to this venerable watering hole since it opened in 1911 as “The New York Bar.” Long a haunt of writers, artists and expats—Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, for instance, drank here—it’s still quite clubby. I can still recall the first time I saw the ad for Harry’s in the back pages of the International Herald Tribune, decades ago, long before the internet came along. It gave the bar’s name and in parentheses read “Sank Roo Doe Noo.” Code? Well, sort of. It’s a phonetic pronunciation of the bar’s address, 5 Rue Daunou. The ad ran for years in the IHT, and it was designed so that a newly arrived Yank in Paris, unfamiliar with the French language but eager to go to the storied Harry’s, could shout it at a taciturn Paris cab driver and get there in a hurry. Even today, the bar itself is a set director’s dream, dimly lit with wooden walls lined with a century’s worth of memorabilia. This is a classy drinking establishment, a space where George Gershwin is said to have penned “An American in Paris.” In the 1940s, Harry’s was a favored haunt of British novelist Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. In Casino Royale, in fact, Bond referred to Harry’s as the best place in Paris to get a “solid drink.” Solid drinks are still what to expect here; Harry’s claims credit for inventing both the Bloody Mary and the Sidecar. In this dimly lit bar, the bartenders in white coats will look at you sideways if you ever utter the term “mixologist.” The best advice is to man up and go for one of the preferred tipples: a Manhattan or a dry martini.
Potter
Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Rome The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, a hidden boîte in Rome, is sort of the anti-Rome, the last thing you’d expect to find in the city. The bar, which opened in 2010, is named after a legendary or possibly fictional 19th-century American bartender. That’s sort of beside the point. Getting inside is the challenge. In a 21st century version of the old speakeasies, where entry was provided only to those who knew the password, the password for Jerry Thomas Speakeasy comes from a multiple choice question on the bar’s website. The question always has something to do with some aspect of the cocktail, and it changes all the time. Armed with the password, you can now make a booking for the same evening. But where is this place? In Vicolo Cellini, an otherwise nondescript street near Chiesa Nuova. Inside it’s small, dimly lit, and jammed with about 40 people. It’s a bit of a squeeze, but I’ve always felt that the best bars are small spaces. If you can’t find a spot on one of the vintage leather couches, you’ll be perched on a barstool, filling out the requisite membership card and paying in cash for the privilege of drinking with Roman hipsters with perfect stubble to the sounds of jazz. The downside is that it can be awfully smoky. The upside is that if you’re one of those Yanks who think that dinner in Trastevere and a stroll along the Tiber is the real Roma—I count myself among them—it’s a passport to a side of the Eternal City that you never knew existed. Plan on sticking to classics like Manhattans, Sazeracs and Old Fashioneds, because the entire place is an homage to the American cocktail. FALL / WINTER 2023
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Spirits Dry Martini and Speakeasy, Barcelona The concept of Dry Martini and Speakeasy, which opened more than 30 years ago, might have been dreamt by a Spanish surrealist like Salvador Dali. It starts with a bar called Dry Martini. Hidden in the backroom of this classic cocktail bar is a very small restaurant called Speakeasy. So the bar is in the open, quite public, and the restaurant is hidden. Got that? Speakeasy started as an informal restaurant for bar-goers who needed a little sustenance after a few martinis too many. A password even was needed to gain entry. It’s no longer password-protected, so you now can reserve safely a table there. But it’s still charming and has a playful air of mystery. There are just a handful of tables in a handsome setting, with walls of stacked liquor and wines, all backlit. But for my money, Dry Martini is the main attraction. There’s a wooden bar and wooden paneling, and it looks and feels like a classic English hotel bar from the 19th century. It began life as a so-called “Martineria” serving only martinis. It serves other cocktails now, but you will do well to stick to the original, because you rarely will have a tastier one anywhere in the world. Waiters clad in white jackets make an absolutely perfect signature dry gin martini, presented on a silver tray, poured from a shaker right in front of you into a classic martini glass. These guys are masters of the martini art, which is why Dry Martini was singled out as one of the best gin bars in the world by industry journal Drinks International. It’s long been considered the best bar in Barcelona, and I like it because you rub shoulders with lots of locals here, not just wide-eyed visitors.
Prinzipal Kreuzberg Berlin You can call it time travel to the Weimar years, to a burlesque bar with tassle-clad women on trapeze swings. Prinzipal Kreuzberg is a self-proclaimed “Rabbit Hole” where Alice in Wonderland and Lord-knows-who-else might be found in anything-goes Berlin. In this small, packed space with blinking lights, there’s a touch of Moulin Rouge Paris of the 1920s mixed with the Berlin portrayed by Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli. It’s all a bit raunchy, as the Weimar years were. Entrance is through an unmarked doorway on Oranientrasse in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood. Think lots of crystal glassware, bowtie-wearing bartenders, mirrored walls and the odd sense of being inside a burlesque star’s dressing room, which, in fact, you might be, since the doors to those rooms are usually open. Waitresses in corsets and feather boas serve you drinks that use syrups, infusions and bitters that are all made in-house. They have bizarre concoctions like the Bloody Betty, made with vodka, Scotch, house-spiced tomato and white balsamic. They get even stranger, like the Eflatun Royale, with cognac, lavender, lemon and crémant. There’s also the oddly named Potion of Sykei, with gin, fig-infused vermouth and blue cheese. Of course, not everything may be what it seems. Berlin has long been the mistress of the tease, documented so well by Christopher Isherwood in his “Berlin Stories,” the very basis of Cabaret. So while there are plenty of femme fatales disrobing on stage, other “ladies” may well be something else indeed. A Saturday night spent here is decadence writ large.
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JFJ Community
ABOVE AND BEYOND
At James Free Jewelers, we’re devoted to giving back to the community we serve—and having a little fun too! James Free has been locally owned since 1940, and giving back to the communities that support us always has been part of our fabric. Anything is possible if we work together toward creating a brighter future for everyone that lives and works here. We make it our personal mission to spread support and positivity through our communities. Whether you are giving time, money or resources, we know how important charity is. The world needs more of it, and we are humbled to be able to do our part in Southwest Ohio.
This page, clockwise from top left: Cincinnatian of the Year Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Gala, Ignite the Fight Cincinnati: Pink Ribbon Girls, The Joe Burrow Foundation Inaugural Golf Outing
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This page, clockwise from top left: James Free X Ferrari Club of Ohio: Annual Cruise-in to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, Moeller Moms Club Fashion Show to benefit the Scholarship Fund, Sam Hubbard Foundation Fowling Tournament
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fope.com
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FOPE,
fine italian jewelry
FOPE is an Italian fine jewelry brand founded in 1929, whose key values are high quality, elegance and comfort. Its collections spun from timeless classics to the contemporary Flex’it lines, which feature a patented system of tiny gold springs that renders the gold mesh chain smooth and easv to wear. Every jewel is crafted under one roof in Vicenza, near Venice, and it represents an intrinsically Italian idea of style. From the new Aria lariat to the stackable Solo Flex’ it bracelets, from the versatile Essentials hoops to the Flex it rings everything comes in 18 carat yellow, white or rose gold and can be dressed up or down accordina to one’s taste. This is FOPE’s idea of #EverydayLuxury.
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VENETIAN PRINCESS
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Wine
SEEING RED Your holiday party will be a hit when you keep glasses filled with these crimson-colored cocktails. The writers of “The 12 Days of Christmas” overlooked the gift of wine and spirits in their song—all the more reason why you should feature a signature cocktail at your next holiday get-together. Eggnog and mulled wine might bring feelings of warmth and comfort, but a drink in the colors of the season is certain to boost spirits for the festive occasion. Here are three easy-to-prepare drinks that will keep everyone rockin’ around the Christmas tree.
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Holiday Cheer Wassail
Classic Manhattan Cocktail
Pomegranate Prosecco Cocktail
n 1 bottle (750 ml.) red wine n 3 cinnamon sticks n 2 lemon wheel slices n 4 whole cloves n 1 cup honey n 2 cups water
n 2 oz. rye whiskey n 1 oz. sweet vermouth n 2 dashes Angostura bitters n ice, for mixing n bourbon cherry, for garnish
n 1 oz. premium vodka n 4 oz. pomegranate juice n 1½ oz. prosecco or sparkling wine n ice n sprig of rosemary, for garnish
Chill a cocktail glass. In a mixing glass, combine the whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Add ice and stir. Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry.
Fill glass with ice and build the mixture in a glass.
Combine all the ingredients minus the wine in a large pot and heat until the honey is dissolved in the liquid. Add the wine and continue to heat, keeping the liquid below boiling. Serve the drink warm.
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At Your Service
HOLIDAY HOURS
2023
STARTING DECEMBER 11: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, December 10, noon–5 p.m. Sunday, December 17, noon–5 p.m. Sunday, December 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
SHIPPING
CINCINNATI, OH USA
Next day shipping available
9555 Main St. Montgomery, OH 45242 513.793.0133 888.844.0177
COMPLIMENTARY GIFT WRAP Any purchase from James Free Jewelers can be wrapped beautifully by request.
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SERVICES: Since 1940 generations have trusted James Free with expert repair of their precious timepieces and jewelry. CLEANING/MAINTENANCE: We invite you to bring in your jewelry/timepiece for a complimentary cleaning. APPRAISALS: Ensure your most treasured pieces have the correct and formal documentation of value. REPAIRS: We have hundreds of years of experience in jewelry/timepiece repairs. Most repairs are completed in-house.
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Ombré Lariat with Sapphires and Diamonds set in 18k White Gold. Peacock._FP_Template.indd 1 20230824_CK_DiamondCellarAd.indd 5
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