To the stars

Most of my regular readers know: I love black and white. And yes! I found my new China!! Timeless and classic! That would fit perfect with my black original Josef Hoffmann chairs and Giorgetti table… Minimalist and nonetheless opulent, made of the finest porcelain, and 24-carat gold applied by hand, with the beautiful name Ca’ d’Oro. Perfect for me!!

Fürstenberg Ca’ d’Or by Sieger (Click photo to enlarge).

For someone who lives alone, I have a lot of different, beautiful Bernardaud, Herend, Cartier, Limoges, Hammersley Tiffany and Wedgwood porcelain. But drinking my Lapsang tea in the finest porcelain, with minimum thickness, with burnished gold refines pure black and white contrasts. must tast good! The geometric interplay gives rise to classic stripes, squares, circles and other architectonic patterns.

Fürstenberg Ca’ d’Or by Sieger (Click photo to enlarge).

Clarity and precision meet sensuality and poetry, the new Luna collection from SIEGER by FÜRSTENBERG is sculptural in nature. Like a space capsule travelling towards the moon and stars, the vases feature the same harmonious contours to recreate the object-like character of these spacecraft.

Sieger by Fürstenberg Luna Ca’ d’Or cache pot vase (Click photo to enlarge).

Sensual and sculptural

Fascinated by space discovery, Michael Sieger infused the vases with their individual character. One thing that makes them so special is their tapering conical form; available in three sizes, they can therefore showcase both smaller and more lavish floral bouquets. They are available either in pure white or in a black-and-white decor that brings together both vertical and horizontal stripes, refined with 24-carat burnished gold.

Luna is available in different diameters and the following heights: 203mm, 215mm and 325mm.

These lines are completely handmade by Fürstenberg that shares the Sieger family’s high standards of quality and design. Handmade in Germany, dishwasher safe, but not suitable for the microwave. I Always prefer handwash for myself…

by Jean Amr

Bottega Veneta Deluxe Craftmanship edition 2015

Bottega Veneta Deluxe Craftmanship edition 2015

The Italian label is paying tribute to Venetian glassmakers with the introduction of its 2015 Deluxe Fragrance collection.

Bottega Veneta’s two iconic fragrances,its first signature perfume and the Knot Eau de Parfum, are presented in a luxurious collection and enclosed in an artisanal bottle.

The luxury collection includes an artisanal edition of the perfume bottles, decorated with the intrecciato motif so loved by Bottega Veneta and the emblematic butterfly symbol. Designed with a detachable spray nozzle, the handcrafted bottles are easy to refill.

In addition to the fragrances, the handcrafted frosted glass has been designed for two scented candles in the same aromas to complete the collection.

Bottega Veneta Candle Deluxe Craftmanship edition 2015

The first signature scent of the Italian house is inspired by Veneto and various leather goods collections by Bottega Veneta, a fragrance with notes of leather, floral chypre and prune accords.

The Knot fragrance was created by Daniela Andrier, who also created last year’s Pour Homme scent for the brand with Antoine Maisondieu. It opens with mandarin, orange blossom and neroli, over a floral heart of rose and peony. The drydown arrives with pairing of musk and tonka bean.

The Bottega Veneta Deluxe Fragrance Collection 2015 is available in the brand’s boutiques and select department stores.

Prices: €68 for the candle, €90 for the Deluxe Signature craftmanship bottle of 50 ml and €115 for the 100 ml refill.

by Jean Amr

My favorite jewelry box: Jumelle

I love jewels and I’m addicted to watches! I love Bvlgari, Chaumet, Boucheron, Mauboussin, Tabbah, Van Cleef & Arpels and of course; Cartier. All very precious. I love jewelry shops. Sometimes I’m (vèry) glad that I’m not a woman! (lol)….

You know the feeling when you pass that shop window seeing ‘that one item’ oh so beautiful! At Jumelle: ring in rose gold with brown diamonds!

(Click on photo to enlarge)

I have some old family pieces’ of old and antique picture frames, like a few Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels sterling frames, some of you will have seen them before in some earlier post as ‘background decoration’. The two Cartier Art Deco Sterling frames here, where a present from Begum Om Habbibeh Aga Khan. Now the frames look really wonderful, but it was not always like that….

Two pictures from Begum Om Habbibeh Aga Khan, framed in antique Cartier picture frames. The picture left was taken at in her garden at Yakymour. The right one at a dinner at Bayreuth Music Fesitval. At Jumelle they did an amazing job to restore these picture frames! (Privat collection)

(Click photo to enlarge).

For a long time they have been in a drawer. They had scratches, dents, and some sadly bad damage. One day I was talking to someone at a local jewelry store nearby, and we had a nice, friendly talk about these frames. She assured me that it would be possible to ‘restore’ them. I brought one of the frames (one at the time), and a talked about the possibilities.

Cartier Art Deco Sterling, Gold, Coral picture frame. With picture from Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan at Bayreuth Music Festival (Prival collection)

(Click photo to enlarge).

Some time later they give me a phonecall, that the frame was ready. And I can only say: They did an amazing job! Yes, I saw in their store some work they had designed and made, like beautiful sterling candles and sushi-sets, but still, seeing your own item fully restored, is a bit different. I was more then happy! Their silversmith did a great job! So, now I bring from time to time a frame to pollish it or for a complete restoration.

Jumelle’s jewelry shop (Click photo to enlarge).

I’ve been told that they all have a jewelry and/or gold/silversmith background. And I found out that they have a lot of expertise. Coming into the ‘friendly’ shop you wouldn’t expect that they have also some famous watches like Breitling, Christian Dior and Vacheron & Constantin in maintenance. But the do….!!

With brands like Silk, Rabinovich, Rodrigues Cohen, Aller Spanninga (and much more) they have a réal beautiful, and affordable collection. But they have also some amazing unique one-off’s, in all price ranges! And not to forget: a great watch collection of Behring, Ice Watch but also Seiko.

Precious pink gold, with brown and white briljant cut diamonds. Great to wear alone, amàzing to wear together

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Because they are só elegant and beautiful! Handmade chains and pendants with Pearls in red, white or yellow gold

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Highly unique: A facet cut pearl!!! They made a pendant of it, with white gold and diamond, like there is a flower on top of it. Here on a Venetian white gold chain

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Jumelle is not only for women. No, the have a nice collection for men too. Like bracelets, rings and watches. Like this new Bering watch, in Rosé with a fantasic ‘Nato’ strap! I love it!

(Click photo to enlarge).

Their friendly shop in the heart of the small village of Bunnik is doing well. Later this year they will move, to another, larger shop in the same street. More space, large windows and an instore ‘atelier’ and an even greater collection!

For more information, visit them at

Jumelle

Dorpstraat 15, 3981 EA, Bunnik, Holland

030 656 77 52

or see: http://www.jumelle.nl/

by Jean Amr