jewellery

The Culture of fashion: Susy Dyson’s Cartier bangles



Cartier coloured enamel bangles

Think of Cartier classics and you probably think of Jeanne Toussaint’s panther-themed pieces or Aldo Cipullo’s 70s signatures, the Love bracelet or the Juste un Clou. But not so much pieces like these simple enamel hinged bangles from the 1980s (above).

This threesome (sold singly) is part of an auction taking place this week of 70s Peruvian model Susy Dyson’s jewellery and accessories. Dyson was a favourite model of Yves Saint Laurent, Armani, Karl Lagerfeld and Issey Miyake, not to mention Helmut Newton. Her personal style seen in the accompanying auction imagery sums up the casual-yet-jet-set glamour of the 70s. Youthful, free-spirited and chic, it straddles the high-low style and status that we now accept as standard. (more…)



The watch that thinks it’s a necklace



Hermes Kelly sautoir - rose gold - black alligator

‘Secret’ watches are my thing. The Hermès Medor is my favourite, but the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso* is the gold standard.

The story goes that a 1930s businessman and watch collector was tasked with creating a watch for polo players to wear that would withstand the rough and tumble of the game. The result was the sleek JLC Reverso whose case was engineered to flip over to protect the watch face – and back again after the game. 90 years later, there’s a market for mind-bendingly intricate paintings on that smaller-than-postage-stamp caseback, with limited editions models selling for €80,000. (more…)



Loud luxury: Saint Laurent fine jewellery



Yves Saint Laurent fine jewellery

Quiet luxury‘ is all the rage. Except when it’s a shouty, brassy, bike-chain-thick gold bracelet (or two) from Saint Laurent. Yes, Saint Laurent fine jewellery just launched and they want you to know about it. (more…)



Print media – but make it French



Harper's Bazaar France March 2023

Digital media is in meltdown. Again!

Buzzfeed news is dead, Paper followed suit and things aren’t looking too rosy for Vice. Meanwhile, everyone’s sick of Instagram and TikTok is burning us out, one braincell at a time.

It’s enough to send one running to the calm, serene refuge of print mags – particularly French ones. (more…)