The Case for Recycling Coral

The use of coral as an adornment dates back to prehistoric times. The demand for coral in jewelry remains strong today, due to its impressive array of colors - ranging from pale pink, known as “angel skin”, to the much sought-after deep red, sometimes called “red fire coral”.

Angel skin coral was often used for antique style pieces, like this cameo pendant circa 1850’s (at left). As mentioned in our previous post, the use of softer, more easily carved materials such as shell and coral began replacing hard stone in cameos during the Renaissance.

Deep orange coral is also very popular, as shown in this Van Cleef & Arpels brooch circa 1960’s (below right). Forming a coral design itself, the piece is rendered in 18kt yellow gold and accented with cylindrical-shaped coral and round diamonds.

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Night of 1,000 Stars

What an event! The New Yorkers for Children Fall Gala is always one of the biggest on the New York social calendar, but I must say this year they outdid themselves. Of course, I may be biased because as the presenting sponsor, this year’s décor was sprinkled with our very own CIRCA branding –the CIRCA nest egg served as the table centerpieces, and it has never looked so chic!! My sentiments seemed to be echoed by the other attendees, all dressed to the nines for this big night.


Most importantly, the event raised record amounts for New Yorkers for Children. This year’s gala raised $1.6 million to benefit youth in foster care, including a record $400,000 from the live auction. Our own Chris Del Gatto bid $10,000 to provide a year’s college tuition to a lucky scholarship winner.

I was truly dazzled by all of the gowns and the jewelry, but I will say that the lovely Selita Ebanks, hostess of the evening, is quickly becoming a favorite. Below are more moments from the event. Can’t wait for next year!  (Image above: Estelle entertains the crowd; all photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan)

The evening's hostess Selita Ebanks with Kanye West

Model Veronica Webb, Chris Del Gatto, designer Rachel Roy

Wendi Murdoch arrives at the gala

Alexandra Richards, Kelly Rutherfurd, Matthew Settle, Courtney Love

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Making a Cameo...

The first cameos were handcrafted in ancient Greece dating back as far as the 3rd century BC. They were popular among Greeks and Romans alike and were carved from semi-precious gemstones, usually onyx and agate, which have different layers of contrasting colors. Ancient cameos typically depicted rulers or scenes from mythology and were used mainly for signet rings or l’objets d’art. Cameos as jewelry have had periodic revivals since, first during the Renaissance, and most notably during the 1800’s in France. During these revivals, shells were often used in the place of hard stones since they were easily carved, making them less expensive to produce.

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Lincoln Center Takes Center Stage

Fashion Week at Lincoln Center – why didn’t it happen sooner? Lincoln Center’s new director of fashion, the lovely Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, has described the move to Lincoln Center as fashion taking its place among the other cultural institutions of New York. I couldn’t agree more! On a more practical level, the Lincoln Center complex is simply made for the runway shows and presentations – designers have an array of options. And as a spectator, it was so easy to run around between shows and other events.

Of course, CIRCA had its own glam event this week in the midst of it all – a cocktail party to kick off our sponsorship of next week’s New Yorkers for Children (NYFC) Fall Gala. The party was held in celebrity chef Jonathan Benno’s new restaurant Lincoln, which is scheduled to open to the public on September 24th. It was wonderful to be one of the first events at this incredible glass-enclosed space – grass rooftop and all! CIRCA friends and fans turned out in full force for the evening. It was a combination of society, fashion and even sports. Believe me, there’s nothing like a couple of Argentinian polo players to liven things up!

As always, I had my eye on the jewelry, and I noticed lots of color and big, bold statement earrings and necklaces. But I must say that on this evening, the gorgeous ladies and gents in attendance far outshone their baubles. Music industry legend Kevin Liles hobnobbed with fellow NYFC Gala Co-Chair Henry Cornell of Goldman Sachs and NYFC President Nicholas Scoppetta. Carlos Souza of Valentino was there, looking dapper as always in a white double-breasted suit. Some of the ladies included the wonderfully chic Dayssi Kanavos, Susan Fales-Hill, Zani Gugelmann, Alexandra Lebenthal, Kimberly Guilfoyle….I could go on! And of course our own Chris del Gatto chatted away with a bevy of beauties, including supermodel Veronica Webb, model/actress Devon Aoki and Selita Ebanks of Victoria’s Secret fame!

Moving among our guests and sipping prosecco, I couldn’t help but think – what a wonderful evening – beautiful weather, fabulous people, and the perfect venue. New York City at its best! (Images above: Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Courtesy: this is fyf; Ashley McDermott and Susan Fales-Hill, Courtesy Patrick McMullan)

Devon Aoki and Chris Del Gatto

Erika Liles, Kevin Liles and Selita Ebanks

Lara Meiland-Shaw, Chris Del Gatto, Zani Gugelmann,Valerie Boster

For more photos, see our previous post.

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!

NYFC Kick Off Event at Lincoln

CIRCA celebrated its upcoming sponsorship of the New Yorkers for Children Fall Gala with a cocktail party last night at the as yet unopened restaurant Lincoln in Lincoln Center. Thanks to everyone who turned out to support CIRCA and New Yorkers for Children!

Chris Del Gatto, Selita Ebanks, Maryse Thomas, Angelo Peruzzi

NYFC President Nicholas Scoppetta, Erika Liles, Kevin Liles, Vanessa Cornell, Henry Cornell

Lauren Shortt Pinto, Ashley McDermott, NYFC Director of Development Amy McFarland, Allison Aston

Veronica Webb talks with Chris Del Gatto

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Guest Blogger - Hassan Pierre

In this second week of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, CIRCA sat down with Hassan Pierre, designer of the environmentally conscious clothing line WISB* to find out what his style influences are:

Name:  Hassan Pierre

Hometown: Miami Beach, FL


When did you first start designing: I have been designing since I was a child.

When did you launch WISB*: WISB*, which stands for Way it Should Be, was launched in 2008. My inspiration began with a love for the ocean, and all that it encompasses – so natural and beautiful. So I decided I wanted to create a truly beautiful luxury brand that was organic and sustainable from start to finish, from the production, to design, to the overall aesthetic of the brand.

WISB* is a sustainable clothing line. What does that mean: Sustainable means we are environmentally friendly every step of the way. From the organic fabrics to recycled zippers and buttons, to our zero-waste method; meaning we use every scrap of fabric.  Even our hang tag can be planted in the ground, and our latest addition - cardboard mannequins!

What was your inspiration for your Spring 2011 collection: My inspiration for the Spring/Summer 2011 began with an homage to the great super models of the late 80s and early 90s; Linda, Christy and Naomi. It then morphed into a mash of classic minimalism and sex appeal with feminine details, which I found in characters in such films as 'Basic Instinct' and 'The Talented Mr. Ripley.' I thought to bring it to a return of truly clean, classic, sexy and luxurious clothing.

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CIRCA Sponsors New Yorkers for Children Gala

I’m proud to announce that CIRCA will be the presenting sponsor of this year’s New Yorkers for Children Fall Gala on September 21st at Cipriani 42 in Manhattan. The Annual Gala is the major fundraising effort of NYFC and raises significant funds to assist children in foster care in New York City. Last year’s Fall Gala raised over $1.5 million. The event is one of the biggest events on the New York social calendar, and is always attended by a prominent and dedicated group who care deeply about NYFC’s mission. This year’s event Chairs include Oscar de la Renta, Tony Gilroy and Frédéric Fekkai.

NYFC was founded in 1996 and is committed to enriching the lives of young people in foster care as they strive to become successful, self-sufficient adults. Fundraising initiatives like the Fall Gala have enabled NYFC to reach these youth through scholarships, tutoring programs, job training, networking opportunities and the support needed to succeed in college. As a life-long New Yorker, I’m proud to support an organization like NYFC, which has had such a positive impact on our community, and the future of New York.

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Guest Blogger - Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

Every jewel tells a story. As Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week gets underway in its new home at Lincoln Center, we asked Stephanie Winston Wolkoff about her favorite jewelry pieces:

My wedding band: my treasured jewelry comes from my father's company Bruce Winston Gems. The symbol of eternity with my husband is a glorious wedding band. It is a circle comprised of gorgeous perfect emerald cut stones encircling my finger in a dazzle of fire - a metaphor of the expanse of time and love. I also live in my Lanvin and Vera Wang necklaces that are chunky and fun and have lots of sparkle. Any outfit is changed by the colors in the necklaces together with a beautifully woven necklace made of thread. I love to wear my Hermès cuffs. They are fun and funky and bring out a bit of the warrior in me.

- Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is Director of Fashion for Lincoln Center


CIRCA wishes Stephanie all the best as she orchestrates the first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center!

Highly Collectible - The Rolex Milgauss

The Rolex Milgauss watch was introduced in 1956 as the first watch whose movement was impervious to magnetic fields. It was created for scientists working in power plants, medical facilities and research labs where electromagnetic fields are prevalent and interfere with the movements of regular watches. The name Milgauss originates from the Latin mil, meaning one-thousand, and gauss, the unit of magnetic field strength. This watch can withstand a magnetic flux density of 1,000 gauss.

The watch pictured at left is a Milgauss 6541, circa 1958. The lightning bolt second hand is a distinguishing feature of the Milgauss, and makes it instantly recognizable. Its casing is made of stainless steel, the only metal used in these watches, which gives it a more utilitarian feel than the typical Rolex. The model and reference numbers that identify this piece are at the top and bottom of the watch where the band would be.

When this model was introduced, it was the slowest mover in the Rolex collection and was eventually discontinued. As a result, these original Milgauss models are extremely rare, and don’t surface often in the secondary market. In fact, this is the first that CIRCA has seen in our 10-year history. As you can imagine, their scarcity makes them extremely collectible.

Rolex reissued the Milgauss in 2007, and it was so popular that it sold for above the suggested retail price – if you could find one! It’s their ability to turn their missteps into triumphs that make brands like Rolex so iconic.

Guest Blogger - Chris Del Gatto

As the Hamptons polo season winds down, we sat with Chris Del Gatto, CIRCA CEO and one of the stylish men of CIRCA polo, to find out what his style influences are:

Name: Chris Del Gatto

Hometown: New York, NY

How long have you been playing polo: I’m relatively new to the sport, compared with my teammates. I’ve been playing for only 5 years.

How did you first start playing polo: I was first exposed to the sport when CIRCA sponsored a tournament in Vero Beach, FL, five years ago. I was drawn to the beauty, tradition and physicality of the sport.

Style icon: Steve McQueen, not necessarily because of what he wore but how he wore it.

Favorite jewelry piece or watch: A beautiful Breguet watch with a hand painted enamel dial that one of my dearest friends gave me.

 

Image: Steve McQueen in a 1964 MGM publicity shoot by William Claxton, Courtesy: www.younggalleryphoto.com