GIFT GUIDE: Luxury Jeweler Faberge Releases a New Collab for Game of Throne Fans

They said it couldn’t be done. Well, actually no one ever said that, but definitely no one thought about doing it until now. High end jeweler and well known Czar and gemstone-studded egg maker Faberge has teamed with Warner Bros. to release a new collaboration based on none other than HBO‘s hit series, Game of Thrones.

Says Faberge, “Continuing the collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the new Fabergé x Game of Thrones High Jewellery collection, which has been developed in partnership with Michele Clapton, the Emmy® and BAFTA® winning Costume Designer for Game of Thrones was unveiled in November 2022. The collection will be launched in a series of ‘chapters’ over the next two years, commencing with ‘Chapter One: Dragon’. These new creations are rare pieces of history in the making, set to delight fans, fusing Fabergé’s artistic ingenuity with the fantastical world of one of the 21st century’s most popular television shows.”

Now, we don’t know if you have to be the Mother of Dragons to wear this, or even to be able afford this, but you definitely don’t have to be her to want this… and we definitely do!

Fabergé’s Head of Design, Liisa Tallgren says of this collection: “The Fabergé x Game of Thrones ‘Dragon’ High Jewellery capsule collection presents different aspects of the mythical creatures, and documents their journey in the series alongside Daenerys. From skeletal designs that reference the dragon skeletons housed in a vault in the Red Keep in King’s Landing, through to creations which showcase Gemfields’ Mozambican rubies to hint that the dragons are back and alive, ready to breathe fire. The crescendo of ‘Chapter One: Dragon’ is a design which spotlights a row of diamonds and rubies which metaphorically burst into flames, showcasing that the dragons are back and full of life”.

We’re Loving these 3 Red Wines Right Now: Broadside, Vigna Petrussa, and Dough

Wine is intended to be enjoyed, and frankly that’s our main criteria for recommending them. If we enjoy them, then you might too.

Three red wines that we are enjoying right now are very different from each, and from very different regions, but we hope that each will give you the same reaction: Delight.

Our current picks are the Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles in California, Italy’s Vigna Petrussa Schioppettino di Prepotto, and Oregon’s Dough 2019 Pinot Noir.

Enjoy!

 

Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

The Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is from Paso Robles and the sub AVA of the San Juan Creek and Margarita Ranch. It is made up of 82% Cabernet, 12% Merlot, and 6% Malbec. The wine was aged 18 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, and has a lot of deep jammy flavors that include dark chocolate and cinnamon.

Award-winning winemaker Adam LaZarre has created a hearty Cab, very much what you would expect from the Central Coast. It is perfect for pairing with meats and poultry, or roasted vegetables. Of course, you can pair it with nothing and just enjoy it alone. Which we can recommend.

Find it at https://broadsidewine.com/

 

Vigna Petrussa Schioppettino di Prepotto

 

This Italian wine by Vigna Petrussa gets its name from the Italian word “schioppare,” which means to burst, since their description implies that the grapes burst in your mouth when you eat them. Schioppettino is an indigenous and sometimes overlooked grape in the North-Eastern corner of Italy, from the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Fortunately, second generation winemaker Hilde Petrussa has played a key role in the rediscovery and renaissance of this rare heirloom varietal.

We were actually quite surprised by this Italian wine because sometimes we find them to be a bit overly subtle. This Vigna Petrussa vintage does continue the trend of being gentle, but it is also robust enough to really deliver real flavor and nuance, as well as presenting some delightful aromas and fruit. The wine is aged for 36 months in barrels, then for another six months in the bottle. Some reviewers rankings have it has high as 90 points, which is good news.

One interesting part of the story is that Sheila Donahue of VeroVino Craft imports this wine into the United States, and is very supportive of women owned wineries like those of Hilde Petrussa’s Vigna Petrussa. Sheila started in the wine industry as a sommelier but now searches for and imports hidden gems around the world, gaining quite a bit of positive recognition in the process.

Find it at https://www.verovinogusto.com

Dough 2019 Oregon Pinot Noir

 

The winemaker for Dough is Heidi Bridenhagen, who has fermented this 100% Pinot Noir varietal in stainless steel. Oregon of course brings a unique kind of terroir and topography to its wines, often quite different from those in California or Italy. The Dough Pinot Noir is what many would consider to be a classic wine from Oregon with cherry and red fruits, as well as a bit of chocolate. We found it to be a light and casual drinking wine, one which we believe people will quite enjoy, especially during early in the day. That time frame doesn’t mean however that you can’t have it with a nice pasta with garlic butter sauce, or to start off a lovely evening with a friend(s).

Interestingly enough, the vineyard itself proposes that you chill it, which we suppose you might want to do if it’s an extremely hot day, but otherwise, Why?

Wine enthusiast gave it 85 points, but if up to us we would give it 87.

Find it at https://doughwines.com/

 

 

GIFT GUIDE: Get Her a Pair of handmade Lip Earrings by Female Alchemy

In our opinion the perfect gift should always be unique and conversation worthy. That simple critiera fits the description of the artistic Lip Hoops earrings that are part of the Female Alchemy jewelry collection by Miami ceramicist Tatiana Cardona, in collaboration with New York jeweler Konstantinos I. Leoussis.

This collection is an homage to female empowerment, imagination, ideals and art, thoughts and words, and runs the gamut from necklaces to rings. What this means is if you were looking for a gift that truly celebrates Her, then a jewelry collection that celebrates Women is the ideal fit.

Tatiana says, “My work started off as an ode to the female artists that paved the way for the rest of us. With time it has since evolved into the embodiment of the fun, creative, lively feminine spirit. Lips carry our words out into the world, and help us articulate the messages we wish to send. My vessels carry their own message of the power in female energy.”

We think that these are fantastic pieces that you are going to want to wear as much as possible, especially while knowing that to the sharp observer there is more to them than meets the eye. The earrings are designed as a pair of lips with the hoop formed from the somewhat erotic and provocative tongue. The Lip Hoops come in either sterling silver or 18 karat gold plate finishes.

Says Konstantinos I. Leoussis, founder of KIL N.Y.C, “The pieces were hand carved from wax, and I also used softer wax to sculpt in a similar manner to Tatiana. I cast them, and all of it is done here in New York City with recycled metal. The Lip Hoop design is inspired by one of Tatiana’s first collections, from a piece that I fell in love with. We both had a really similar idea in mind, and combined them to create something that could be worn daily and makes a statement.”

For Tatiana, the lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Of course in our modern day and age, the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s has evolved into the women’s rights movement of the current millennium. Which means that this collection might not just be a form of celebration, it might also be a form of protest. As the designer puts an edgy and contemporary motif on her creations, she believes they will not be just wearable, but also heirlooms.

The public reaction to the Lip Hoops in particular has been extremely positive. According to Konstantinos, “They have been our best sellers. Several of my friends have supported our work and wear them which is really fun and they fuel a lot of my passion.”

Good for Mother’s Day gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, holiday gifts, and 5th dates. You can find more of the Female Alchemy Jewelry collection at:
https://www.femalealchemy.com/collections/jewelry

About Female Alchemy

Each piece in the female alchemy collection is handmade by Miami-based ceramicist, Tatiana Cardona. As an artist, she strives to create lively, empowering functional art, to brighten up one’s home. The lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Cardona’s work has since evolved into a positive and fun way to promote femininity in the sacred and ancient medium of ceramics.

About KIL N.Y.C.

Inspired by a life of travel and antiquities, jeweler, Konstantinos Leoussis created KIL N.Y.C. in 2018, to showcase his love of old-world techniques and motifs. KIL N.Y.C. puts an edgy and modern spin on sentimental jewelry, creating styles that are both easily wearable and instant heirlooms.

 

Media Business News: Alex Assouline appointed COO, Brand and Strategy at luxury publisher Assouline

Alex Assouline has recently been appointed Chief of Operations, Brand and Strategy, and has moved into a beautiful new apartment in New York City, which he designed and decorated himself- including the custom library and bookshelf. ASSOULINE is a global leader in luxury book publishing.

Formerly the Global Vice President, Alex will continue to play an essential part in strategizing and expanding Assouline’s business development in the US and abroad in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East in his newly expanded role, while overseeing the company’s umbrella of key departments including marketing, communications, wholesale, retail, logistics, and digital.

In addition, Alex has inaugurated Assouline’s curated library service, in which he works closely with clients to visualize, design, and curate bespoke libraries. He will also continue to expand on successful partnerships and collaborations, such as the Assouline Travel Series x Zara, Assouline x Olympia Le-Tan, and the introduction of products including stationery, notebooks, bookstands, candles, and more.

Alex was born in Paris and moved to New York City in 2007. Following his undergraduate studies in Montreal, he earned his Executive Education Degree in Digital Marketing at Columbia Business School. After the success of the 2020 Olympia Le-Tan clutch collaboration, Alex was instrumental in spearheading and expanding Assouline’s international footprint through a fashion capsule collection with Zara in 2021.

The limited-edition partnership democratized the publishing house’s acclaimed “Travel Series” by inviting customers to experience the brand in a new wearable form, featuring iconic cover art from select titles on travel-ready clothing, bags, and men’s accessories, including Capri Dolce Vita, St. Tropez Soleil, and Provence Glory. “At the core of our affinity for culture is our love of sharing its beauty worldwide. We are delighted to have collaborated with Zara in not only translating our unique view on the world’s most beloved destinations but also encouraging others to embrace them” adds Alex.

ABOUT ASSOULINE

Founded by Martine and Prosper Assouline in 1994, Assouline is the first luxury book publisher and brand on culture. Assouline began with the desire to create a new, contemporary style of book, using the family’s experienced eye for visually rich stories and compelling narratives. Guided by their passion for knowledge, culture, and travel, the Assouline’s have since expanded their vision to 1,500 titles in 5 main collections, and they have curated some of the world’s most aspirational private libraries. Throughout the last quarter of a century, the brand has established international boutiques in prominent places across the globe, with each location contributing to their vast collection of titles, as well as their personal curations of rare books and objects—creating the perfect cabinets de curiosités. With a distinguished team of creative talents and exceptional producers, which includes Alex, the brand continues to reinvent the notion of true luxury. Assouline’s roster of collaborators includes some of the world’s most respected artists, photographers, writers, designers, and more, who together, help tell a story. Assouline continues to exude an unparalleled signature style and elegant savoir-faire, which has redefined modern publishing.

www.ASSOULINE.com