CIRCA Starts off Strong in Bridgehampton

CIRCA started off the Mercedes-Benz Challenge Cup strong with a 17-11 win against a talented Black Watch Polo team on Monday. CIRCA was led by captain Martin Pepa with 7 goals and Magoo Laprida with 6. The Black Watch team is captained by star player and Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras, possibly the world’s most famous polo player. CIRCA returns to action today against Certified. Stay tuned!

Image: Chris Del Gatto and Nacho Figueras in action

A Taste of Monte Carlo in West Virginia

I recently attended the opening night of the new Casino at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Yes, you read that correctly – West Virginia. The Greenbrier is a legendary resort built in 1778 and is a historical landmark. It is one of my favorite places to visit, and there is really nothing else like it.

The casino reminded me so much of Monte Carlo - men in black tie and women in gorgeous evening gowns dripping with gems - that for a moment I forgot I was in the mountains of West Virginia! The interiors were decorated by the world-famous designer Carleton Varney, owner of Dorothy Draper, the oldest interior design firm in the U.S. Mr. Varney designed the interiors of Ashford Castle in Ireland, the lobby of the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, and even designed for President Carter during his time in the White House. He’s known for his bold, vibrant and unabashed use of color that is both fanciful and comforting with a defined sense of elegance. He applied this look to the new casino and it looked fabulous!

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Timeless

At CIRCA, we have a great appreciation for all things Cartier, but this wonderful Art Deco Cartier watch is a true find. This ladies’ evening watch is platinum, framed by two diamond baguettes and a case studded with Old Mine cut diamonds. It has a silk cord band with an enamel clasp, which is the precursor to the deployant buckle used in Cartier watches today. Its condition is remarkable considering its age - the enamel clasp and cord are intact with little wear.

What makes this watch particularly sought after as a collectible, though, are the two hallmarks on the piece. First, there is an EWC stamp (European Watch and Clock Company) located in the back of the watch alongside the workshop and stock numbers. The European Watch and Clock Company was founded in 1919 as a joint venture between Cartier and Edward Jaeger, and was the primary producer of watch movements for Cartier in Paris. The second hallmark is the dog’s head stamp on the side of the watch, which can be seen in the photo below. Platinum was first officially recognized as a precious metal by the French government in 1910, when the eagle’s head stamp was used to denote both gold and platinum. The dog’s head stamp was introduced in 1912 as a separate mark just for platinum.

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Guest Blogger - Janie Schoenborn

Every jewel tells a story. CIRCA asked Janie Schoenborn about her favorite jewelry piece:

I am a chronic jewelry buyer. It is a weakness…a sickness…an obsession…all of which brings me SHEER DELIGHT. I shop vintage constantly. I buy new. I buy real. I buy costume. I buy whimsical trinkets. Bottom line...I buy.

In a very uncharacteristically UN-GLAM way, I keep my costume jewelry in tackle boxes. They have the dividers for the different size lures…it works perfectly!

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The Age of Aquarius

The counterculture movement of the Viet Nam era in the US gave the world Hippies, Woodstock and psychedelic drugs. It also ushered in a search for meaning from non-traditional sources, including Eastern philosophy and astrology. The jewelry of the time reflected these alternative ideas, and included love beads, mood rings and Zodiac symbols. The two pendants featured here are from the late 1960’s – early 1970’s and happen to represent Cancer and Leo, the two astrological signs celebrating birthdays this summer.

The pendant and chain above was designed by Tiffany & Co. and is comprised of solid 18kt yellow gold. On the front is a picture of a crab, the sign for Cancer (June 21- July 22), and on the back is the astrological symbol for the same. The 1.5-inch medallion is cast in wax, which gives the crustacean a more three-dimensional and animated appearance. This technique is often used in sculptural jewelry.

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CIRCA Polo Wins Independence Cup

The CIRCA Polo team started out the 2010 Hamptons season by winning the Independence Cup at the Southampton Hunt & Polo Club last week. The Independence Cup is part of the 8 goal league. The CIRCA team was led by Captain Martin Pepa and included CIRCA CEO Chris Del Gatto, Marcos Del Rio and Ignacio Gaffney.

"It’s great to be back out in the Hamptons. Since CIRCA is based in New York, it’s like coming home. And of course, it’s nice to get a win," Del Gatto commented after the tournament.

The CIRCA polo team will be in action again on July 24th at the 20-goal Mercedes-Benz Bridgehampton Polo Challenge, competing against some of the top teams in the sport. Hope to see you there!

Images: Above - The CIRCA Polo Team celebrates its victory. (l-r) Marcos Del Rio, Ignacio Gaffney, Captain Martin Pepa and Chris Del Gatto; Below, left to right - Chris Del Gatto mixes it up; Marcos Del Rio and Martin Pepa; CIRCA Polo in action

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.

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Early Victorian Jewelry - The Romantic Period

The 2009 film Young Victoria has sparked a renewed interest in Early Victorian jewelry, like this recently purchased brooch, circa 1850. Victorian jewelry is most associated with the dark, somber Mourning Jewelry that Victoria adopted after the death of her husband Albert in 1861. However, Victoria’s 64-year reign encompassed several aesthetic phases in both fashion and jewelry.

The Early Victorian Era, 1837- 1860, has been dubbed the “Romantic Period”, and encompasses Victoria’s coronation at the young age of 18, her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. This period was a time of marital bliss for the royals, and the jewelry of the day consisted of intricate pieces full of romantic symbolism. Brooches were extremely popular, since the high necklines and bonnets characteristic of the 1830’s and 1840’s made necklaces and even earrings impractical. Women responded by wearing brooches everywhere - on their necks, waists, shoulders and in their hair. They were even fastened with ribbons to be worn as bracelets or pendants.

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Old Glory

As the US returns from the 4th of July holiday weekend, we at CIRCA wanted to stay in the spirit by featuring a patriotic piece. This micromosaic pin measures just 1 1/4 inches and features one of the earliest versions of the American flag in a lovely 10kt gold etched floral motif frame.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the US did not have an agreed upon flag. It wasn’t until June 14, 1777, that the Continental Congress adopted the resolution that the flag contain thirteen stripes and stars to represent the original thirteen colonies. Because the resolution was not specific, there were numerous variations of the 13 star flag. The first documented US flag was the staggered star pattern shown in the pin above.

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