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Luxury Watches by Top Fashion Designers
The entire watch fraternity is expanding, not only in terms of big names like Rolex or Panerai but instead is now taking top fashion designers who have come in the league of adding watch to their huge collection. Whether the goal is to become more marketable to the masses or simply supply loyal customers with fresh merchandise, one thing is for sure: these timepieces fit right in with the level of quality that these high-end designers have become synonymous with producing. With price points and designs varying for men’s and women’s wrist wear, we decided to round up some of our favorite luxury brands’ watches to share with our readers.
Mobiado launches first touch-screen phones
Touch screen is in trend and what everyone wants. Not just the usual phone giants, but now even luxury brands are turning that a-side. Canadian company Mobiado has launched its first touch screen models, the Grand Touch and Grand Touch GCB. Sleek, precise and stylish is what defines it with varied features. It is designed by Peter Bonac who has exhibited a curvaceous look for the phone using CNC machining. The Grand Touch is anodized for regular use and the Grand Touch GCB has been polished from solid brass and plated with gold. The phone sparkles with a good amount of sapphire crystal. The Grand Touch comes in six designer styles – black, black satin, blue, grey, red and silver and the Grand Touch GCB two – yellow and rose gold.
Consumers are snapping Hermes handbags
Luxury brands such as Hermes, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Lanvin have expressed the opinion that trading remains buoyant even if consumer confidence was down. Speaking at a fashion show in Paris, Hermes Chief Executive Patrick Thomas told Reuters that for the moment there was no impact on their sales, adding that the he thought that the purchasing power of luxury consumers had not changed yet. However, as a word of caution he admitted that the situation could change tomorrow, he said, “The fact that we see nothing today, does not mean that we will not see anything tomorrow. When there are moments of macroeconomic concern, they always tend to affect our markets.” Hermes is world renowned for its 10,000-euro Kelly handbags.
On a different note, Thomas said that Hermes will very soon create an internal controlling company holding, having received a green light from a Paris court to do so. The structure will lock in the descendants of the founding family for 20 years, thus making it harder for Hermes family shareholders to sell their stakes to LVMH.
Jaguar Cars Partner with Luxury Brands
A new Jaguar automobile this year will now receive an added bonus through the company’s Platinum Access program. This membership provides Jaguar owners with extraordinary experiences and one-of-a-kind opportunities through partnerships with the luxury brands Jaguar owners use the most.
The exciting deals that members of the Platinum Access program are privy to include huge discounts at Donna Karan New York, invitations to exclusive Neiman Marcus designer events, upgrades at hotels like The Peninsula, membership in the elite Bluefish travel club.
To qualify for the membership, all you must do is purchase or lease a new vehicle from Jaguar. Any 2011 XJ, XJ, or XK qualifies you for the program, so long as you purchase it before December 31, 2011.
The Jaguar Platinum Access program has a list of luxury partners capable of commandeering anyone’s interest with brands like Virgin Atlantic, Steuben, Spago, MarquisJet.
Luxury Brands Pick Million-Dollar Employees
At Aditya Birla‘s luxury fashion chain, The Collective; for instance, they are the million-dollar employees – the ones who bring in annual sales worth $1 million. Keeping them in high spirits can only result in more moolah.
Gone are the days of the over-eager ‘salesman’ with his oily smile and sweaty handshake. The new store executive is sharp and suave, and effortlessly showcases the product he’s selling. Marquee global brands are lavishing attention on picking, training and retaining high-class staff only for the close ties they strike with the upper crest of India’s spending class.
So while some brands offer their employees a retention bonus to stay put, others such as Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna and Dior have gone a step ahead and reinvented the look and feel of their store to attract well-groomed and qualified staff that has now taken on the role of brand custodian and fashion consultant.
Swiss Watch Brand’s Gold Rush To China
This image is merely representative of a wave, a big tsunami-sized wave of watch brands pouring over China and other places in Asia. Recently, the Swatch Group opened up a Hotel with their name on it. In Shanghai, the Swatch Peace Art Hotel is just a small sample of Swiss attention on the orient.
Watch brands go where the money is. At least where the money being used to buy watches is.With China and surrounding countries experiencing growth unparalleled in other places in the world, spending for luxury items is high. That fact, mixed with China’s traditional high value placed on image and brands, makes for the perfect environment to market watches. A recent statement by the Swatch Group mentioned that about half of the major company’s income last year came from places like China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan.
The western market isn’t dead, just finicky. Luxury brands find it harder to squeeze money out of value conscious consumers. Luxury as we know it thrives on high margins. Meaning that a brand is able to make a lot of money when they sell an item. This isn’t about quality, it just means that they are used to making a high profit after each sale. Consumers on the other hand, feel strongly that they should be paying closer to what an item is actually worth. Resources like eBay and the gray market in the US and Europe have made people who do buy luxury watches less inclined to venture into a store and pay the full retail price.
Fisker: Sustainability Without the Sacrifice
JustLuxe talks with Fisker automotive co-founder Henrik Fisker, about the Karma hybrid electric vehicle and why sustainability does not necessarily mean sacrifice
Luxury and sustainability are not immediately obvious bedfellows. The glamour associated the finest fur coats, the fastest cars and the most elaborate private jets, is a far cry from images associated with ethical sourcing, sustainable farming and biofuel. Despite the disparity, some luxury brands that have put sustainability at the heart of their strategy and are leveraging the dichotomy to great success.
Stella McCartney is an early example. Her eponymous line produces a range of high fashion, no nonsense, covetable luxury clothes “” that just happen to follow her social beliefs and vegan convictions. A similar thought process has launched American automaker, Fisker, into similar success, with orders for their “Karma’ luxury hybrid already received from Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Gore, and Colin Powell, and production sold out until 2012.
The brand describes itself as a “premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer, with a mission to redefine the luxury automobile, with an unwavering dedication to sustainability.’ Born out of desire, by co-founder Henrik Fisker, to make an environmentally friendly car, without “the sacrifices that they are always associated with.”
“ What if you could make an environmentally friendly car, where you don’t have the sacrifices that they are always associated with? ”
In 2011 15,000 units of the new Fisker Karma will hit the road. Developed by an innovative team of engineers and a technology pioneered by the US military, the Karma was launched in 2008 as the world’s first luxury plug-in electric hybrid vehicle.
Of the eco-designed automobiles currently on the market, Fisker remarks “they don’t look good, they’re boring to drive. They’re slow.” The $100,000 Karma, however, has a top speed of 201kmph, produces more torque than the Bugatti Veyron and is capable of reaching 100kmph in 5.8 seconds.
Versetta iPad handbag is the right mix of tech & fashion
Major luxury brands have designed plentiful accessories to carry your iPad in style. We have seen many classy iPad cases like Celine iPad case, Dolce & Gabbana iPad case, Louis Vuitton’s and Dior Homme iPad cases. This time Versetta has given a new meaning to the iPad cases with its iPad handbag. Versetta handbags by Scott Creations are specifically crafted for the geeky girls to safely carry their iPad in style, without having to carry a separate case.
American Express & Mercedez Benz credit cards: Going the extra mile
Mercedez Benz is a name itself when it comes to luxury, especially in the legion of automobile expertise. But the German car maker is once again all set to make the luxury experience even better for its premium customers, while aiming at a higher brand recall, with its limited partnerships with other luxury brands to bring us some unique products, including the Swarovski studded key chain, which was offered in partnership with the jewelry brand, and also the Chambord Raspberry liqueur unveiled at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Now the German car-maker has partnered with American Express, to offer special credit cards with multiple benefits including entry into elite clubs and establishments, for the customers.
The credit cards are to be introduced in 2 versions; the general credit card and the platinum card. The general credit card has benefits like 5x membership points at Mercedes dealerships, 3x points for discount during re-fueling, 2x points for some select restaurants, $500 reward certificate after spending $5,000 at dealerships, and also $50 annual reward certificate for genuine spare parts purchased from Mercedes. The annual fee for the card with these benefits would be $95. On the other hand, the Platinum credit card similar reward points for Mercedes dealerships, single point for every other usage, $200 airlines credit, $1,000 certificate after purchase of a new Mercedes after an expense of $5,000, along with 2000 miles waiver at leasing Mercedes Benz cars, and the $100 reward certificate for genuine spare parts. However, the fee for this card shall be $475 for a year.
Looking at this maneuver from these corporate points out the multiple benefits they will accrue from it. With Mercedes presence in multiple ranges of vehicles, and also the physical presence in Europe and America, a large number of customers will be retained and kept satisfied with the multiple benefits.
Bentley Motors teams up with Estede for limited edition sunglasses in solid gold
Every time luxury brands partner with each other, one can be prepared to have something “eye-popping’ literally. British luxury vehicle maker Bentley, and luxury Eyewear Company Estede have been associated with each other for a year now. To celebrate the occasion, have introduced limited edition sunglasses made of pure gold, which will be made in a limited edition of 100 pieces per color, and will also be marked individually. This could very well be a perfect marriage of sophisticated design and quality at one place.
The sunglasses in question have been given a sophisticated “radiator’ shape in its design. The frame itself is a perfectly balanced and handcrafted specimen of eyewear, on which precious metals like yellow gold, platinum or even white gold have been used. The lenses have been given special state of the art treatments which include comprehensive UV protection, and are also polarized so that strong light conditions don’t affect the wearer. Since perfection has long been associated with these brands, the customers are asked to order their pairs individually so that the sizing and the perfect color of lenses can be looked into. Hence, there isn’t much of stock you could take a trial on. These sunglasses come in packaging which is equally exclusive.
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