Vive la France!

I am the ultimate Francophile, since to me France has historically been the source for all things fine and luxurious. Working, as we do, in the realm of the luxury market and in jewelry, I think that we at CIRCA should do something special to celebrate Bastille Day. After all, we talk about Cartier, Chanel, and other French hallmarks constantly!

Ideally, we would begin the day with champagne. Veuve Clicquot or Krug will do, but it is always Dom Perignon in my dream sequences… As an accompaniment, we could serve oeufs brouille (scrambled eggs) with truffle. Then we could examine a fine piece of French jewelry like the magnificent Cartier Art Deco diamond watch, circa 1920, we just purchased, before moving on to something modern, like Van Cleef’s Alhambra necklaces.


To continue on CIRCA’s “French” day, it will be salade nicoise for lunch paired with a lovely Puligny-Montrachet. This would be followed by more jewelry – Chaumet perhaps? Of course, if I were in a dream sequence à la the classic film L’Année Dernière à Marienbad (Last Year at Marienbad), I would be shopping at Dior or Chanel. Naturally, throughout the day, I will be snacking on marrons glacés or Pierre Hermé’s macarons.

Sadly, Monsieur Del Gatto, our CEO, has not rallied around my idea of a CIRCA French day; even as he happily uses his vintage French cufflinks collection with his Hermès ties. Perhaps when we open our Paris office, he’ll come around? Until then, I will mark Bastille Day by listing the things we must thank the French for: parfum, Burgundy, foie gras (dèlicieux!), fromage, the Tour de France, Proust, madelaines, La Tour d’Eiffel, St. Tropez, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Edith Piaf, La Nouvelle Vague films…I could go on!

Happy Bastille Day!

Images: French Flag Courtesy Edulink networcs; Delphine Seyrig in Last Year at Marienbad, Courtesy Museum of the Moving Image; Bastille Day celebration, Courtesy Yahudi4 blog

In the Loupe is authored by CIRCA’s resident trendspotter and style maven. She’s traveled the world, dabbling in high finance, haute cuisine, and fine art at one of the world’s leading auction houses, before finding her true calling in the world of priceless gems. The result is a genuine global luxury connoisseur, with a knowledge and appreciation of beauty, quality and true style. She is one of the industry’s foremost experts on the valuation of fine gems and jewelry, and is now happy to share her discerning eye and impeccable taste to help you look and feel fabulous! Print this post