D:Light – the avant garde timepiece, is the result of the Swarovskis’ ambitious project. The futuristic looking bangle watch designed by Eric Giroud, combines new electronic technology with jewellery design. “D:Light” is a futuristic model that links new electronic technologies with jewellery design.

This Swarovski timepiece brings together the functions of emotion creating watch, bracelet and collector’s item, artistically fashioned in super fine steel or gold. This sparkling golden bracelet turns into a watch at the touch of a button.

The case is in either PVD coated stainless steel or plain steel and the rectangular dial is made up from 171 Swarovski-exclusive Xilion crystals. The time is read after pressing the Swarovski Swan cabochon and the crystals change colour, light up, sparkle and show the hours and minutes in luminous orange dotted lines.

I visited both the online store and the boutique. The Swarovski web site is http://www.swarovski.com and the Swarovski Boutique at 118 Elizabeth Street.

Love LXS Fiona.

The most common pocket watches featured an analog display case, which could be securely attached to clothing by a chain or cord. During the golden days of pocket watches before becoming eclipsed by wristwatches, most pocket watches were equipped with a wind-up mechanical movement.

Currently, there are two types of watch movements: mechanical and quartz. Because of usability issues with mechanical movements such as the necessity for daily winding and time errors, watches with quartz movements are more popular and advantageous. However, some users still love old style mechanical watches for their unique attractiveness and environmentally-friendly quality of not requiring batteries.

Pocket watches also have different external appearances, and “the hunter-case type,” which has a metal cover for protection, and “the open-face type” without a cover are most common.

The newly developed pocket watch CDD00001W has the following characteristics to withstand usage ranging from everyday to industrial as the latest pocket watch.

• The power reserve hand always clearly shows the reserve power capacity.
• A mechanism to halt the second hand allows the time to be set accurately.
• The back cover is see-through, which allows observation of the precise movement.
• The extremely robust exterior features an all stainless steel case and a chain.
• Sapphire glass is used for both the front and back to ensure maximum protection against scratching while in the pocket.

Orient Watch has been manufacturing fine timepieces since 1950. I plan to experience for myself the reliable quality of the mechanical movement offered by such a dedicated watch maker as Orient.

Enjoy LXS, Jeremiah.

We bought a whole collection of decorated eggs for this easter. So these will form part of our gifts this year that we know will last beyond the week of Easter. The idea is to provide something other than chocolate.

There is a large collection of Easter eggs available. Wooden ones, real eggs decorated in vibrant colours and subdued colours. Eggs with butterflies, eggs decorated with flowers and beautiful patterns.

Babushka opened their first shop in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne in December 1991. In May 1992 they moved to the current location in the Royal Arcade. In June 1999, Babushkas opened their second store in Darling Harbour in Sydney. Babushkas also sells wooden boxes, artists matryoshki, Christmas decorations and Baltic amber jewellery.

Babushkas is located at Shop 9 Royal Arcade Melbourne, Victoria.

Love LXS Jenny

I thought on a beautiful sunny Christmas day I will share our wedding ring choices. The choices are endless, with many styles of settings including solitaires, settings with sidestones, ranging from round and fancy-shapes to delicate micro-pave settings, and many more. The list of designers is also endless from Tacori, Scott Kay, Simon G, Stardust, Vatache, Martin Flyer and Henri Daussi.

So our first choice is a set of classic rings. For me I am thinking of a three stone diamond ring, with rounds and nicely shaped diamonds. And Joshua’s ring is a Platinum brushed and polished band that is hand-made. The platinum band has polished edges and a brushed center with detailed milgrain borders. Of course, until the wedding day, we are not certain that these are the rings we will eventually choose.

I think we have seen over 1000 wedding rings in platinum and white & yellow gold, most with diamonds and some without. I did think about going with a plain wedding band (for all of 5 seconds).

We spent a day in Collins Street, Melbourne’s premier commercial streetscape. This boulevard of grand heritage buildings, chic designer shopping, five-star hotels and exclusive jewellers was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon with friends. So now we have marked a few things to do of our wedding plans.

Tiffany

Stepping in to any Tiffany store you know you are immersed in elegant and quality, and the rings available from Tiffany this year definitely do not disappoint.

Cartier

A French Maison, Cartier since 1847 has become one of the worlds best jewellers. Hidden inside each red box is the promise of eternal love, and the most beautiful diamond.

Georg Jensen

Georg Jensens Magic Rings are crafted in either 18 carat yellow gold or white gold. The insert ring in white gold, yellow gold and with diamonds. It has a total of 0.45 carats.

Art Metals Studio of Racine

As you know I am soon to be married so I have been looking for custom / bespoke rings for a while now. That is when I stumbled across Art Metals Studio of Racine, Wisconsin.

Bvlgari

And there is nothing to surpass the elegance and quality of a Bulgari ring. When I was in New York I purchased one from the store on Madisson Avenue. I found it impossible to resist the refined and understated elegance characterising the Griffe diamond ring.

While researching rings for my Wedding and Christmas presents I found CS Photography on Flickr. Credit for the beautiful red photo at the top of this post described as “The Bride’s rings in a bed of flowers at the Conrad in Chicago, Illinois. © 2007 cs photography.” I read somewhere that “Luxury once referred to something truly special” but, as a term “risks being diluted”. But with this collection of rings true Luxury still exists.

Love LXS Gaby.

We have been to seven weddings this year from Whale beach (Northern Beaches), South head, Leura Everglades Gardens … and a friends farm. So we think we have a great selection of experiences to choose from. After talking with friends and family, we decided that we are going to Sydney’s next Wedding Expo. We will keep you posted. Over the last few months we have been thinking what we have to do. Our list of things to do include the following:

• ceremony location
• reception location
• decorations for the ceremony
• decorations for the reception
• flowers
• wedding rings
• music
• invitations
• guest list and seating
• wedding cake
• transport
• photographer
• wedding dress, shoes and accessories
• bombonieres
• hairdressers and makeup for bridal party
• bridal party suit hire
• dress fittings for the bridesmaids
• arranging an mc for the reception
• co-ordinating all the suppliers
• dress rehearsals
• legal requirements
• our honeymoon

Over the next few months Me, Jenny and Fiona will let you know about the plans. One thing I can let you know already is that Jenny and Fiona will be my bridesmaides. I was thinking that we would have Tiffany bombonieres on each table.

Love LXS Gaby.

   Just a quick post to say I checked out the 2008 Swarovski Christmas release and I am excited. Between a beautiful vibrant red Christmas stocking a Santa’s hat, the 2008 Kris bear and angel and of course the 2008 Christmas star.

A few of my close friends already know that last Christmas we decorated our tree with Swarovski ornaments and I think my Christmas Star collection goes back from 2007 – 2000. All that means is I have to go out today and get the 2008 star.

Swarovski describe this years star as … “this 2008 Christmas ornament sparkling in a million ways, hangs diantily on a blue satin ribbon. The star in clear fully cut crystal comes with a silver tone metal tag with the year of issue.“

I am heading to the store today to add to my collection.

Love LXS Jenny.

I visited both the online store and the boutique. The Swarovski web site is http://www.swarovski.com and the Swarovski Boutique at Westfield Shopping Centre, Bondi Junction.

A brand new shiny Swarovski Intervalle Bangle.  Half of this amazing piece of jewellery is made from a clear crystal mesh. The other side of the bangle is metallic silver creating an all-white glitter on textured calfskin leather. And the hinge is made from stainless steel. Heaven.

I saw this bangle instore and I love it.  I have a similar bangle from Tiffany, but this one looks great and feels great.

I have other crystals, a few from their Christmas range … but right now this one is my favourite.  Yes, as you’ve probably guessed … I am a member of the Swarovski Crystal Society and love browsing through their catalogues. Definitely enjoy receiving the free members gift (for 2008 it is a Bamboo Ornament) – in recognition of Endangered Wildlife.

And now I have my eye on the 2 hearts fashion watch.  Its case is stainless steel and has two heart-shaped rose crystals. Has a nice white satin strap,  with additional pink, white and clear crystals and a white mother-of-pearl dial.

Love LXS Jenny

I visited both the online store and the boutique. The Swarovski web site is http://www.swarovski.com and the Swarovski Boutique at 118 Elizabeth Street.

The dark brown and beige designed leather, signature of the Louis Vuitton handbags and luggage, frequent the pages of fashion magazines and celebrity pictures. Louis Vuitton handbags are revered for their excellence in craftsmanship, exquisite leather or other material, and elegant design. Louis Vuitton bags are also revered throughout the majority of the world.

The authors of Luxury Shopper have visited the following Louis Vuitton stores:

• Louis Vuitton Paris – Champs-Élysees Avenue des
• Louis Vuitton Sydney – King Street
• Louis Vuitton Singapore – Orchard Road
• Louis Vuitton Melbourne – Collins Street
• Louis Vuitton Beverly Hills – Rodeo Drive

Walking down the Champs-Elysees in Paris, standing out like a luxury beacon is the palacial Louis Vuitton store. Around the corner is the company’s gallery, Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton. Something we would loved to have seen was the East Without Borders: From Beirut to Beijing in the Tracks of the Yellow Cruise, an exhibit combining contemporary art with the history of travel. When we where in Paris travelling down the Champs-Elysees was a 3 story Louis Vuitton luggage.

In Sydney, Louis Vuitton can be found amongst other high class fashion names on King Street Hugo Boss, AJX Armani Exchange, Bally and Paspaley Pearls. Turn onto Castlereagh Street and you will find Hermes, Versace, Chanel, Bvlgari and Cartier and Carla Zampati. Continuing the walk you can find elegant boutiques of Tiffany & Co, MaxMara, Bruno, and Magli the world’s most beautiful.

Louis Vuitton Singapore is an amazing store to visit, found on Orchard Road – Singapores version of Regent Street or Rodeo Drive. Leaders of the fashion avant-garde. It is All of us at Luxury Shopper love Singapore shopping. A definite favourite is the Hilton Shopping Gallery a designers haven. This gallery has three levels of exclusive brands also including Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Paul Smith and Valentino.

Gaby visited Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and from her recent stories, this is one place you must visit. Rodeo Drive is renowned for boutique and designer stores and of course Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Recently I stopped by Louis Vuitton in the tree-lined Collins Street and the staff were extremely friendly. The Visit Victoria web site describes Collins street as …
“Majestic and tree-lined, Collins Street exudes style and glamour. It’s a boulevard of grand heritage buildings, chic designer shopping, five-star hotels, exclusive jewellers and private clubs. It’s also the city’s premier commercial streetscape and home to big corporations and the stock exchange.”

Louis Vuitton web site is http://www.louisvuitton.com