Own A Piece Of The Luxurious Paris Ritz

The façade of the Ritz hotel in Paris. Image: Vincent Leroux.

When it comes to Europe’s grand-dame hotels, none are quite as iconic as the Ritz Paris. The Ritz Paris has been synonymous with refined luxury and timeless glamour for over 100 years. Opened in 1898 by Swiss entrepreneur Cesar Ritz the Ritz has served as the backdrop to several key moments in French history. The Nazis requisitioned it during World War II but had cleared out by the time Ernest Hemingway burst in with a group of Resistance fighters on August 25, 1944, gun in hand, to ‘personally liberate’ it. Realising he was too late Hemingway took to the bar where he is said to have run up a tab for 51 dry Martinis. In 1997, tragedy befell the hotel when Britain’s Princess Diana, who had been staying there, was killed in a car accident in a Paris tunnel while being pursued by paparazzi. The hotel made global headlines again in January, when robbers armed with guns and hatchets ransacked jewellery shops on the ground floor, making off with over four million euros ($4.9 million) in gems and watches.

The Ritz decided to sell the pieces when it reopened in June 2016 after four years of a fittingly glamorous top-to-bottom renovation. After being closed for over 4 years, the Ritz has long been a favorite of visitors to the City of Light, hosting everyone from Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan and Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in its opulent rooms and suites.

Now, the hotel’s fans have a chance to own a piece of Ritz history – 3,500 lots consisting of 10,000 pieces of furniture and decorative objects from the property will be up for auction on the Champs Élysées this April. Organized by Artcurial – the firm that was also behind the sales of historic pieces from pre-renovation Hôtel de Crillon and the Plaza Athénée – the Ritz Paris auction will be held from April 17 through 21.

Price estimates run from 100 euros for a pair of tablecloths to 10,000 euros for a pair of nymph sculptures carrying bronze candelabras that used to decorate the lobby. Each lot in the auction’s extensive catalogue has been meticulously restored, inventoried, and catalogued by a team of 15 experts from Artcurial, who went to great lengths to ensure that every piece bearing the Ritz Paris insignia was returned to its former glory before heading to the auction block.

A cross section of the Ritz Paris’ illustrious history, the auction includes pieces from the property’s 120 years as a hotel. When it was opened by Swiss hotelier César Ritz in 1989, the original décor was meant to entice well-heeled Americans visiting the city, combining elegant art with antiques and replicas of everything from Louis XIV– to Empire-style furniture to create a unique sense of traditional French elegance. The style of 15 Place Vendôme quickly became iconic, and hallmarks like the hotel’s plush red-velvet barstools, salon sofas from French writer Marcel Proust’s retreats at the hotel, the gilt-framed bed that starred alongside Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper in their 1957 film ‘Love In The Afternoon’, the first en-suite bathtub ever installed at the property (or in any hotel, for that matter), and ornate marble side tables are all up for loyalists to bid on.

In addition to hallmarks of the Ritz’s style, pieces from suites that some of property’s most famous inhabitants called home will be up for sale. Sure to spark bidding wars are pieces such as a pair of plush floral chesterfield armchairs, a gilded headboard, and sleek lacquered bedside tables from the Coco Chanel Suite. The legendary fashion designer called the hotel her home for more than 30 years – giving testament to both the hotel’s enduring stylishness and its famous homelike feel . . . if home is a Versailles-inspired mansion, of course.

A bedboard and lacquered bedside tables from the Coco Chanel Suite.

Believe it or not, many of the lots aren’t outrageous, either. Bids open at €150 for a pair of gilded lanterns, and €300 for a set of Louis XVI-style banquette. If the over-the-top opulence fits with your own personal aesthetic, then what better way to hold on to a piece of history? One thing’s for sure: there’ll never be another hotel quite like it.

Come into the world of the Ritz Paris.

 

 

 

 

Guerlain Flacon Quadrilobé

Guerlain’s Quadrilobe Bottle Colour Collection was inspired by a phenomenon that remains a mystery: synaesthesia. A spontaneous association of the senses experienced by many artists, musicians and authors. Including Vassily Kandinsky and Duke Ellington, who saw music in colour, and Vladimir Nabokov who, as in Rimbaud’s ‘Vowels’ (A black, E white, I red, etc.), perceived the shade and texture of letters…

One of Guerlain’s most iconic creations has been reinvented for the occasion. Designed by Baccarat in 1908 for Jacques Guerlain’s Rue de la Paix Boutique, the Quadrilobe bottle has accompanied the perfume House’s history for over a century, holding Jicky, Liu, Shalimar, etc. over the years. Now crafted by the famous Verreries Brosse (Brosse Glassworks), it harbours the private collections and tailor-made fragrances, along with spectacular exceptional pieces made of crystal.

With the Colour Collection, this legendary creation is available for the first time in a range of five subtly gradated colours of precious stones. The neck of the bottle is adorned with a matching silk thread, meticulously hand-tied and combed according to the barbichage technique, traditional know‑how kept alive by Guerlain’s incomparable Dames de Table.

This jewel bottle nestles in an amethyst case decorated with a sun, Guerlain’s historic emblem. In the Colour Collection, sumptuous gem tones express the quintessence of five fragrances, chosen from Guerlain’s Les Exclusifs collection:  amber is the color of Spiritueuse Double Vanille (2007), the ruby bottle features Oriental Brûlant (2008), the sapphire bottle contains L’Heure de Nuit (2012), amethyst is the color for L’Eau de Parfum du 68 (2013). And Santal Royal (2014) comes in a green bottle that represents emerald. All created by Thierry Wasser, they are all for women and men.

 

Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille, 2007

Spiritueuse Double Vanille comes in a bottle of amber color, which refers to the shimmering sensuality. The fragrance is a sparkling elixir of rum, cedar, vanilla and herbs.

 

Guerlain Oriental Brûlant, 2008

Oriental Brûlant represents the color of passion, fiery temperament and sensuality. The composition is a cocktail of herbs, almond, tonka bean and carnal balms.

 

Guerlain L’Heure de Nuit, 2012

L’Heure de Nuit represents a modern homage to the legendary L’Heure Bleue fragrance, inspired by the magical atmosphere of Parisian nights. The scent combines delicate and light notes of orange blossom, vanilla, heliotrope, iris, sandalwood and musk.

 

Guerlain L’Eau de Parfum du 68, 2013

L’Eau de Parfum du 68 by Guerlain, is a blend of red and blue, reflects the contrast between the warm and cool facets of this distinct fragrance, in which everlasting flower pairs with rose, over an enveloping heliotrope, cedar and benzoin base.

 

Guerlain Santal Royal, 2014

Santal Royal. The emerald green of Santal Royal leads us into a woody universe, at the heart of the mysteries of the Orient. A play of contrasts between the allure of sandalwood, the radiance of jasmine and rose, and the obscure charm of leather and oud accords.

Guerlain Colour Collection Flacon Quadrilobé perfumes are available in bottles of 125 ml at the price of 650 Euros. They will be sold starting in June 2016 in the Guerlain boutique at Place Vendome.

Discover the world of Guerlain
www.guerlain.com

 

 

Boucheron Epure Bleu de Jodhpur

Launched in 2013, the Epure Collection by Boucheron boasts a timelessly modern designer aesthetic that plays on contrasts that accentuate the sophistication of its clean, strong lines. Each watch case has Frédéric Boucheron’s maxim ‘Je ne sonne que les heures heureses’ (‘I only sound joyful hours’) engraved on its back.

Epure revisits other emblematic codes of Boucheron, including a signature blue cabochon in sapphire, double gadroons and Clous de Paris that lend a contrast effect to the gleaming black dial. The 9 and 3 o’clock indexes are given prominence as a tribute to the year 1893, when Boucheron was established on Place Vendôme in Paris.

Special Edition Boucheron Epure Bleu de Jodhpur. The case, in stainless steel, measures 42mm x 10.5mm. It has an AR-coated sapphire crystal, a sapphire display back, and it is water resistant to 50 meters. It has double gadroons (inverted flutings) on the side and beveled horns. The crown features a blue sapphire cabochon.

Movement is the Swiss automatic Sellita caliber SW300 with 25 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 42 hours. The bridges have pearl and snailed finishings, the rotor is engraved and features ‘Côtes de Genève’ decoration.

The dial is blue or white, with polished and silvered double gadroons, blue or white ‘Clous de Paris’ centre, with Arabic numerals and silver stick hands. It comes on a black alligator leather strap with large square scales and stitches and a steel triple folding clasp.

Another special edition of the Boucheron Epure is the Epure Cypris. The Epure Cypris comes in two versions: (above left) Epure Cypris in black, a limited edition engraved to 8 pieces. Made of white gold and diamonds. The dial is made of handcut black Tahiti mother-of-pearl, sculpted in swan shape.

(above right) Epure Cypris in white, also a limited edition engraved to 8 pieces. Made of white gold, diamonds and white mother-of-pearl: the dial in white mother-of-pearl, handsculpted in swan shape. The Cypris’ contours are delicately highlighted with diamonds. Total number of stones: 128.

The Boucheron Epure collection is available at Boucheron boutiques and selected stores worldwide. The Boucheron Epure Cypris is exclusiv available at Boucheron boutiques. Come into the beautiful world of Boucheron.

Boucheron and Goyard celebrate Place Vendôme

 

Boucheron and Goyard were founding members of a committee (later renamed Comité Vendôme) whose mission was to unite neighborhood Maisons, as well as to preserve and promote the reputation of the fashionable Parisian square. The committee aims to promote the influence of the area in France and worldwide.

Boucheron and Goyard, members of Comité Vendôme, have joined forces to create a beautiful case and watch set, combining the brands’ heritage and expertise while celebrating Place Vendôme of Paris.

The two famed French design houses have collaborated on the ultimate gift this holiday season. Boucheron and renowned travel goods-maker Goyard are enticing style connoisseurs with 80 glittering, limited-edition timepiece sets.

 The golden Goyard Goyardine case which contains Boucheron’s iconic Reflet watch in yellow gold, wich comes with three interchangeable straps. Icons of their respective brands, the Goyardine was created in 1892, while the Reflet debuted in 1947.

Each set is comprised of a chevron-patterned canvas Goyardine case containing a yellow gold Reflet watch with three interchangeable straps in gold, white, and black. On the back of the watch casing, an engraving celebrates the Place Vendôme – the inspiration for the first coming together of the luxury labels back in 1936.

Only 80 pieces of the limited-edition engraved watch and case sets are exclusively available at the Boucheron Boutique at 26 Place Vendôme at 14.500 euro per set.

 

 

 

 

 

Boucheron & Hiroshi Sugimoto

 

To mark Boucheron’s presence for 120 years at 26 Place Vendôme, the Maison exhibited exceptional works by Hiroshi Sugimoto. The remarkable and enigmatic images were presented with the new High Jewelry collection ‘Hôtel de la Lumière’.

The introduction of Boucheron’s latest High Jewellery collection was, once again this season, a highlight of the couture week in Paris.

A highlight indeed, as ‘Hôtel de la Lumière’, the new collection, pays tribute to… Light! The light that shines constantly on 26 Place Vendôme, an exceptional location  chosen in 1893 by Frédéric Boucheron precisely because there, at the heart of the City of Light, sunrays would shine on the stones from dawn till dusk.

Created in honor of the 120th anniversary of 26 Place Vendôme, the High Jewelry collection Hôtel de la Lumière is also inspired by Boucheron’s archives. Soleil Radiant, Paon de Lune, Cascade de Diamants, Perles d’Eclat, Halo Delilah, Goutte de Lumière, Les Messagers Célestes and Fleur du Jour : each line in the collection evokes the art of Light according to Boucheron.

Today, let’s focus on the masterpiece of the new collection : the Soleil Radiant line, with its incredible necklace. An allusion to the Place Vendôme, the Soleil Radiant set is a tribute to the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV. It is under his reign that Jules Hardouin-Mansart – the architect of Versailles – designed the Place Vendôme, where the balconies are, still today, decorated with suns. The Soleil Radiant line is a stylized interpretation of those suns, and its masterpiece is a necklace.

The sparkle of the diamond in the Soleil Radiant necklace (which comes with a circular case of rock crystal and diamonds in the center) is enhanced by the variety of cuts: the baguette-set choker looks like a halo of teeming rays, alternating tapered, princess cut, baguette and round diamonds in a clever arrangement… 1,000 hours of work were needed for this masterpiece.

The exhibit took place from the 15th to the 25th of October 2013 in the Boucheron private salons at 26, Place Vendôme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louis Vuitton to unveil jewellery boutique

Maison Louis Vuitton, which began making bags in 1854,  will open a boutique and jewellery studio on Paris’ Place Vendôme this spring and is preparing its first perfume.

“In April we will have our own jewellery workshop and in May will will open our boutique in the same building”, the label’s head Yves Carcelle said.

The project, unveiled in an area of Paris synonymous with luxury, will allow Louis Vuitton to “rejoin the exclusive club of the few jewellers who have their own workshops on the Place” and make the coveted adornments in situ, he said.
Carcelle said there was no timetable yet for the perfume launch — and revelled in the fact that luxury meant not having to bow to pressure.

Louis Vuitton advertisement from 1890

“We just at the beginning. We’ve recruited the famous ‘nose’, Jacques Cavallier, and we are in the final phase of buying a country house in Grasse, on the French Riviera, where the perfume laboratory will be built”, he said.

Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier, 49, is the ‘nose’ behind L’Eau d’Issey, Dior Addict, Poeme by Lancôme and Stella by Stella McCartney. The deal will make Louis Vuitton one of the few labels in the world with its own exclusive ‘nose’, along with Chanel, Dior, Guerlain, Hermes and Cartier.