Rock Candy
Clockwise from top: LFrank pink sapphire cluster ring, $6,700. Vhernier mother-of-pearl and rock crystal ring, $9,600. Irene Neuwirth blue sapphire ring, $4,490. Meira T chalcedony and pink opal ring, $1,595. Roberto Coin ring with layered rutilated quartz, green agate, and mother-of-pearl, $4,900. Tiffany & Co. blue topaz ring, $1,000. David Yurman morganite and pave diamond ring, $5,600. Sloane Street blue topaz and diamond ring, $3,060. Dior Fine Jewelry pink quartz ring, $5,500.
The trend: Pink and blue rings
The backstory: For 2016, Pantone, which annually announces a “Color of the Year,” broke with tradition by choosing two hues: Pose Quartz (a light pink) and Serenity (periwinkle blue). Thanks to an abundance of these shades in a variety of gems, designers aren’t shy about showcasing them.
Luck of the Draw
Montblanc “Meisterstück Solitaire Blue Hour Skeleton 149” fountain pen, $8,700
The trend: Fountain pens
The backstory: Pens leaped from utilitarian to luxury in 1924 when Montblanc introduced its “Meisterstück” (German for masterpiece), with a barrel made of proprietary resin and 14-karat gold accents on the nib and cap. Over the decades the Montblanc pen became an increasingly coveted tool. The most famous model—the No. 149—sat on JFK’s desk. In the ’80s, it rested in the pockets of Wall Street titans, who referred to the cigar-shaped implement as the “Power Pen.”
Today designer brands are getting in on the action. Hermès offers a fountain pen as distinctive as its leather goods and silk scarves, and this fall Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille releases the “RMS05,” which features a timepiece in the barrel and a window that displays the watch’s complex recoil movement. The latter also comes with a $105,000 price tag.
Taking Note
From top: “Regal” (tuberose), “Celestial” (jasmine), “Sultry” (rose), “Apollo” (hyacinth), and “Velvet” (lavender); $500 per 250-ml. bottle
The trend: Floral scents
The backstory: For his latest fragrances, celebrity florist-turned-perfumer Eric Buterbaugh returns to his roots. Each scent—bottled in a crystal flacon—captures the essence of a particular flower. Brassy tuberose and seductive jasmine made the cut.
Photographs by Joseph Shin
