Gray = Timeless

We've always wanted a gray watch. We thought we were the only ones, until we saw this piece in Details magazine.

Now, these timepieces aren't cheap. The A. Lange & Sohne is a superb example of the watchmaking artistry. At $108,000, it should be.

The Piaget will set you back $18,300.

The least expensive, from the venerable American firm Hamilton, seems like a bargain at only $1,495. Sad to say, it's not as elegant as the others shown here.

We tried to find affordable gray watches. There just aren't many to be had.

One option: the Toy Watch Oversize Plasteramic at $225.

You might also like Movado's classic Museum Watch with gray face and dark gray sharkskin strap. It's $695 and available at amazon.com.

The Enlightened Traveler: Hermes On A Budget In Paris

Saturday's Wall St. Journal reported on the November 10 sale of vintage Hermes at the prestigious French auction house Artcurial.

Great deals on vintage Hermes in Paris. Top: Hydra bag $189. Bottom: Mephisto bag, $259. Below left: watch, $689

The paper states that the appetite for Hermes, whether vintage or new, has not at all been affected by the global economic downturn. Indeed, the auction netted a record of nearly $1.2 million for 631 lots, mostly bags and scarves but also including some unusual pieces such as a pair of garden pruners and a circa 1930 ladies watch that records golf scores.

While items from Vuitton, St. Laurent and other luxury labels are gathered into group auctions, Hermes is the only house to have its own twice-yearly sale.

The famous Birkin and Kelly bags were the top sellers with prices to match. Some crocodile and alligator models in exotic colors went for $25,000 - $50,000.

Still, there were bargains to be had. Many scarves sold in the $200 - $300 range.

You could have purchased a Kelly bag in natural pigskin for $4,677 or one in black leather for $2,598. A large Kelly in blue leather went for $2,079.

One lucky buyer snagged a small Kelly backpack for just $693.

If you schedule your next Paris visit to coincide with one of Artcurial’s Hermes auctions, you can skip Printemps and the other grands magasins altogether and return home with an affordable and prized vintage Hermes.

Getting a bargain won’t be the best part. When others compliment you on your good taste, you’ll get to tell them that you picked it up for a song at an auction on the Ave. Montaigne.

The full WSJ report is here.
Artcurial’s website is here.

What Time Is It Here? And There? And There?

Ritmo Mundo is a young watch manufacturer whose "I-gotta-have-that!" timepieces are sold at Barneys, Geary's in Beverly Hills, select jewelers worldwide, and by our gifting company, Jasper & James.

What do we love about Ritmos?

For starters, you can't beat their fabulous styling. The Piccolo Data model combines Daliesque numerals, a wavy second hand, and Art Deco touches. Sounds crazy, yes, but it works!

New this year is the Luna, and it's stunning, too.

Ritmos are designed in Italy and manufactured in Switzerland to a high standard. (Looks are important but no substitute for quality.) Ali Soltani, the owner, does much of the styling himself.


Our favorite Ritmo for men is Ali's signature Persepolis three time zone watch. With it's large but quite elegant 50mm case, handsome wide leather strap and imperial lugs at each corner, it's a wonder to behold and a joy to wear!

One side of the case houses retro hour and minute indicators. Here is the beauty part: when you turn the case, the reverse incorporates two additional, separate time zone indicators, say Paris and Tokyo.

Four precision Swiss quartz movements power this marvel of design, functionality, and quality watchmaking.

$3,600 in all stainless or stainless with rose gold.

Buy it and other Ritmos now at www.shopjasperandjames.com

For more gift ideas, click right here.