The title “Emperor” is so respectable no one can just arbitrarily attach it to anyone or anything. Swiss watchmaker Piaget, with its established reputation for unrivaled quality and fine aesthetics, dares to use the regal terms and undoubtedly gives it justice. The Piaget Emperador Tourbillion skeleton watch is special in many ways. First, it uses the tourbillion, which is an addition to its escapement mechanism that improves the accuracy of the piece as well as flaunts the watchmaking virtuosity of the maker. Second, as a skeleton watch, the Emperador is not only a rare work of art in terms of its case design but also a welcoming window that lets the wearer view the complexities of the movement within. To top it off with a royal flair, the Reverse Tonneau white gold case and dial are set completely with precious stones much like a gem-decked monarch in its splendor.

 

Check out the Emperador and other Piaget pieces at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto.

 

 

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourbillon

http://en.piaget.com/watches/white-gold-diamond-skeleton-tourbillon-watch-g0a30037

The Panerai watch company flies a banner of seasoned expertise and astute discipline, which is not something unexpected given the brand’s history closely tied to the navy and marines. Oficine Panerai’s contemporary Radiomer 10 Days GMT remains loyal to that heritage. The chronograph’s Panerai P.2003/6 calibre is an automatic mechanical movement that is executed entirely in-house. It has 290 components which support multiple key functions like hours, minutes and small seconds, as well as date, second time zone and 24 hour indicator. It also has a circular power reserve indicator that warns the wearer how much time of the 10 day power reserve is left. Like all other Panerai watches, Radiomer 10 days is not just about functionality. The reliable, precise instrument is encased in 47mm polished steel case with patented wire loop strap attachments. The modern and sleek chronograph is held in place by brown Panerai personalized alligator strap and large size polished steel buckle. This is the watch for the man who looks for both admirable substance and sophisticated form.

 

Find Panerai watches at authorized dealer Shreve & Co. in Post Street, San Francisco. 

 

 

Reference: http://www.panerai.com/en/watch-collection/contemporary-collection/radiomir/51-10-days-gmt/41-radiomir-10-days-gmt-pam00323

The watchmaking brand, Patek Philippe, is widely known for its timepieces that are more than what meets the eye. As an established designer and producer of the world’s grandest watch complications, the brand gets accolades for the engineering that sit beneath the dials rather than on the outward aesthetics of the pieces. But of course, that does not mean it prefers the shabby and boring. The Ladies Nautilus is a shining proof of that. In addition to its mechanical self-winding movement, date window and sweep second hand, the watch’s 33.6mm rose gold case and straps is fully set with diamonds in gridless setting. That’s right, the strap, clasp, bezel and dial are all covered with the precious stone. Each elegant design and pattern is unique in every piece, all of which are adorned with around 9. 05 carat of diamonds. For certain, this watch from Patek Philippe is as elegant to wear as it is amazingly functional.

 

Check out the Ladies Nautilus and other Patek pieces at Shreve & Co. in Portland, Oregon.

 

 

Reference: http://www.patek.com/contents/default/en/7021_1R_001.html

Excessive temperatures, violent accelerations, and dangerous pressures – these are only some of the conditions pilots, astronauts, bomb-disposal experts and divers have to endure. The French watch manufacturer, Bell & Ross, specializes in building functional chronographs for professionals who work in this kind of extreme environment. Having been in partnership with the most seasoned experts in these fields, the watchmaker designs its pieces with utilitarianism and stiff standards for precision and durability. When accurate timing and reliable chronographs draw the line between life and death, the essentials can never be compromised by the superfluous. That is the essence of every Bell and Ross timepiece. The company works with a team of diverse expertise and experience, such as professional wearers, designers, master watchmakers, and engineers, to ensure that every piece perfectly matches the needs of the wearers. For real timekeeping requirements, nobody handles them better than Bell and Ross.

 

Check out their latest models at Shreve & Co. in Portland, Oregon - authorized dealer for Bell and Ross.

 

 

Reference: http://www.bellross.com/ww/bellross/origins/

Longines’ winged hourglass logo is the oldest registered trademark for a watchmaker. The brand’s mark of excellence has been making waves in sports and extreme professions since 1832, when Auguste Agassiz established the company in Saint-Imier, Switzerland. Longines is famous in aviation circles for its Aviation watches, designed personally by famous American aviation and explorer Charles Lindbergh after his fateful transatlantic flight. In 1899, Longines navigated to the North Pole with Arctic explorer Louis Amédée de Savoie. In that same decade, the trusted watch manufacturer provided timers for use in the first modern day Olympics. In 1912, Longines was the first to use automatic timekeeping for the Federal Olympics at Basel. 180 years, 10 Grand Prix Awards and a long list of applauded chronographs into its existence, Longines continues to embed a rich history into its already well-storied trademark.

 

Look for the Longines winged hour glass when you check out the elegant timepiece selections at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto – authorized dealer for Longines.

 

 

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longines

A myriad of world-renowned models, one tradition of masterful innovation, and one unmistakable name that goes with it – Corum. This inventive and tenacious Swiss watch company, established in 1955 by Rene Bannwart and Gaston Ries at La Chauz-de-Fonds, has paved new design trails in watchmaking with its uniquely engineered and designed timepieces. One of the brand’s earliest designs, released in 1957, was the Golden Tube model, which was literally a tube of gold fitted with a movement. This became the basis for Corum’s famous Golden Bridge model. In 1964, the coin watch was unveiled and became a favorite among numerous U.S. presidents and famous personalities. It was an ultra-flat movement with no back cover set on an authentic $20 Double Eagle gold coin. In 1970 came the Feather watch, composed of genuine bird feathers, and six years later the Rolls Royce watch, which was the first ever collaboration of its kind. Half a century after its birth, Corum continues to surprise the world with its creativity and watchmaking prowess.

 

Check out the latest innovations from Corum at authorized dealer Shreve & Co in Post Street, San Francisco.

 

 

Reference: http://www.corum.ch/site/#/NAVIGATION/2

Classics may be defined in many terms, but the whole concept simply boils down to enduring elegance. That is the absolutely embodied by Baume & Mercier’s Classima collection. The Swiss luxury watchmaking company has been designing and manufacturing first-class timepieces and complications since its establishment in 1830. It saw the many evolutionary stages of watch design and technology in nearly two centuries now. While it rides the changes of time, Baume and Mercier captures the most enduring and unfading watch designs and untiringly adds them to the Classima collection. The Classima 10077 is a classic timepiece from its dials to its leather straps. The 33mm round case is made of rose gold, a favorite material for watches since the mid 1900’s. The smooth mother of pearl dial conceals an automatic movement and displays a simple yet elegant set of Roman numeral hour indicators. To complete the look, the mechanism is held up by the undying alligator black leather strap.

 

For watches that could not get more classic than they already are, check out the Classima collection at Shreve & Co. in Portland, Oregon – authorized dealer for Baume and Mercier timepieces.

 

 

Reference: http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/collection-classima/classima-10077

Subtle elegance is the overarching theme of Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda 1950 Diamond-Set Mother of Pearl design. The latest extra-flat stone-set model from the contemporary Swiss watchmaker finds a new dimension of horlogerie refinement. The rose or white gold 39-millimeter case falls nowhere short of grandeur in its bezel’s 84 brilliant cut diamonds and sleek feminine profile. The dial is an even more stunning display. Two optional shades of mother pearl provide a rare and sophisticated backdrop to the watch’s restrained delta hands and appliqué indexes. Whether it is the Tahitian grey or the white mother of pearl, the dial’s iridescent sheen breathes vitality into the whole timepiece. All the watch’s 145 components, including the PF 7 automatic movement driven by a micro-oscillating weight in intricately decorated platinum, are masterfully crafted and pieced together in Parmigiani Fleurier’s independent, verticalized watchmaking center. Check out this deliberately scaled-down and highly functional timepiece from the maker of elegance itself.

 

Visit Shreve & Co. In Portland, Oregon – authorized dealer for Parmigiani Fleurier luxury watches.

 

 

Reference: http://blog.parmigiani.ch/content/tonda-1950-diamond-set-mother-pearl

Long before techno companies conceived the idea of shrinking gadgets into more compact sizes, miniaturization has been the thing for premiere watchmaking company Jaeger Lecoultre. In 1929, the brand created the smallest mechanical movement in the world even up to present times, the Calibre 101. Only a very imaginative person and an exceptionally talented engineer could create a way to fit 74 complex parts – now 98 pieces after several innovative reinventions – into a tiny mechanism that weighs approximately one gram. Joallerie 101 Entrier in 1930 carried this amazing little movement. This haute horlogerie achievement has fuelled even more innovations and developments not just in the brand but across the whole industry.Even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England wore a Caliber 101 watch on her coronation. Jaeger Lecoultre goes to show that when one has great visions, he must also be able to think small.

 

Check out Jaeger Lecoultre’s timepieces at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto.

 

 

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaeger-LeCoultre

Mademoiselle Privé, Chanel’s sophisticated ladies’ watch, tells something more than the time – it tells a story.  The high-precision quartz timepiece flaunts the time in an onyx dial that is decorated with a camellia in mother of pearl marquetry and brilliant-cut diamond indicators.  Mademoiselle Chanel had always loved the camellia for its delicate elegance, a trait that has been attached to the brand since the first decade of the 1900’s at Gabrielle Chanel’s studio on Rue Cambron in Paris. Like the Mademoiselle Privé that sits grandly on the wrist with its expertly crafted 18k white gold case, beautifully cut stones and painstaking mother of pearl intricacy, Chanel’s world-renown was also carved from one woman’s passion and hardwork. Mademoiselle Privé’s story is not just about Chanel but about every fashionable modern woman who thrives and makes a beautiful life the way only a woman can. Let the story unfold for you from Chanel’s timelessly lovely treasures.

 

Check them out at Shreve & Co. in Portland Oregon – authorized dealer for Chanel.

 

 

References: http://www.chanel.com/en_US/Watches/chanel_moments/article/Mademoiselle_Prive_Film

http://www.chanel.com/en_US/Watches/mademoiselle_prive#H3096

Ball Watch has been saving lives since the late 1800s. Before the American watch brand came into the scene, there was no recognized standard time. It really was no big deal, except on the railroad where trains came and went along crisscrossed tracks loaded with thousands of passengers on board. In 1891, a couple of minutes’ timekeeping difference between two trains led to a devastating crash that took the toll of many, many lives near Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. After that tragedy, the railroad was ready for some drastic changes. Ball watch was established by jeweler and Chief Time Inspector Webb C. Ball, the Ball Railroad watch was created to serve the train masters and officers, and the rail lines instituted a strict standard time measurement that synchronized time all throughout the roads with to-the-dot precision. Since Ball’s participation in the operations of the American railway, the train tracks have become a so much safer and enjoyable means for meaningful journeys.

 

Check out the enduring heroism of Ball Watches at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto.

 

 

Reference: http://wornandwound.com/2011/07/27/brand-highlight-ball-watch/

The Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen is a solid part of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. IWC is not really out to beat the clock in those races. Technically, it is the clock. IWC is the team’s Official Engineering Partner this 2013, which means the watch company lends it an expert hand in designing the motorcars considering performance, size, packaging and aesthetics. Is IWC the authority for this engineering feat? Absolutely. IWC has been rising over the same kind of challenges in the field of watchmaking since 1868. In the creation of its haute horlogerie masterpieces, the internationally acclaimed brand combines exclusive design with precision engineering. With unbelievable creativity and painstaking attention to complex details, IWC pieced together the Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium. The timepiece is an astounding display of engineering expertise, with a face that displays five hands layered one on top of the other. For certain, IWC is a name top-notch racing teams would trust.

 

Check out IWC wrist watches at Shreve & Co. in Post Street, San Francisco.

 

 

Reference: http://www.iwc.com/en/experiences/the-time-is-right/

If Breitling was a car, it would have been a Bentley. As a matter of fact, Breitling is in Bentley. In 2002, the shared pursuit of perfection, performance and elegance brought two great brands together; the famed British car manufacturer, Bentley, and the Swiss watch specialist, Breitling. The watchmaker contributed its personal touch to the most powerful Bentley ever built, the Continental GT, by participating in the design of the automobile’s technical instruments and even creating its onboard clock. Breitling is the first watchmaker ever entrusted with this task for the 90 year-old auto brand, and Bentley had good reason to do so. Breitling has been a strong influence in the field of horology since 1884, making pioneering strides in the development of wrist chronographs and mechanical chronograph movements. Hit the road with the most comfortable and reliable journey buddies from Bentley and Breitling.

 

Check out Breitling timepieces at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto – authorized dealer for Breitling.

 

 

References: http://www.breitling.com/en/Since1884/

http://www.breitlingforbentley.com/en/breitling-for-bentley/

“Standstill is regression,” says Walter Lange of the premiere German luxury watch manufacturer, A. Lange & Sohne. That is why, in a world where they say nothing is new under the sun, the word innovation has been coined. For the engineers who work on the details and complexities of the A. Lange watches, outstanding engineering is a well-calculated balance between ingenious innovation and honored traditions. The brand places great value in its long and colorful Saxon origins. Every timepiece is designed to uphold the watchmaker’s heritage of excellent complications and elegant aesthetics. At the same time, each design carries a set of enhanced and new features that roll in keeping with the times. Even after almost 170 years of international success, A. Lange & Sohne innovations never come to a standstill.

 

Check out A. Lange watch collections at authorized dealers like Shreve & Co. in Post Street, San Francisco.

 

 

References: http://www.alange-soehne.com/home/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Lange_%26_S%C3%B6hne

The Suna Brothers loves the classic look as much as it loves manufacturing high-end designer jewelries. A classic piece of jewelry is one with enduring style. That is why they never get out of fashion. For instance, Suna Bro’s pave heart pendant can be a very special gift from a husband to a wife on their first wedding anniversary. And she will still enjoy it just as much on their 25th anniversary. When the time is right, she can also hand it down to the next generation as a precious family heirloom, and then to the next generation to continue the tradition. That is the kind of timeless sophistication that Suna Brothers carefully integrates into every piece that it manufactures.

 

Don on that classic look with Suna Brothers’ classic jewelry pieces. Find them at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto – authorized dealer for Suna Brothers. 

 

 

Reference: http://www.sunabros.com/faq/

Africa is a great place to get lost in, for a certified globetrotting artist, that is. Marco Bicego’s explorations have taken him far and wide across many countries and continents. And from those trips, his numerous collections of sophisticated jewelry pieces get their inspiration and design. One of the most remarkable collections is Africa, which is inspired by the tribal jewelry of the region and the soft, windblown contours of the Sahara dunes. The handcrafted golden pieces are light and elegant in their hand brushed and textured spherical shapes. Even the clasps have been thoughtfully detailed to make them an integral part of every sparkling gem. Experience the unusual beauty of the continent with Marco Bicego’s Africa collection.

 

Check it out at Shreve & Co. in Portland, Oregon – authorized dealer for Marco Bicego. 

 

 

Reference: http://www.marcobicego.com/en/#/en/home_page/womens_collection/africa

The river has long been the wellspring that inspired songs, poetry, epic drama, reflections, and works of art. In the Indonesian Island of Bali, John Hardy – world-renowned manufacturer of nature inspired designer jewelry, carries on this tradition of creative musings among talented artists. Its Kali collection, named after the Balinese term for river, draws inspiration from the steady streams of water that flows through the edges of the bustling John Hardy compound. The sterling silver pieces are cleverly decorated with black sapphire stones and fashioned to resemble the smooth patterns of riverbed pebbles like the ones that are so refreshing to walk on. As this refreshing pattern continues to gain popularity among jewelry connoisseurs and nature lovers, Head Designer Guy Bedarida expands the Kali collection to include other related natural themes like Zen gardens, yacht’s chains, and water flowing over rocks.

 

Check out the Kali collection from John Hardy at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto – authorized dealer for John Hardy.

 

 

Reference: http://www.johnhardy.com/women/rings/kali-collection-large-round-ring-rbs20180bls?back=/collections/kali/kali-collection

There is always room for improvement, even in a field teeming with seasoned experts like the diamond industry.  When Christopher Design’s Crisscut Diamond was launched with its 77 facets (versus the conventional 48) with great fanfare, the definition of a brilliant diamond was redefined. “I have always been intrigued with taking something established and making it even more beautiful,” explains Christopher Slowinsky, the Polish master jeweler behind the Christopher Designs label. Slowinsky first applied his design to emerald shapes, then to cushion cuts. In time, the classic round cut diamonds also grabbed the spot light in the diamond ring market with their vibrant 109 facets, cut with 12 sides and 12 walls using excellent technology-aided engineering that creates an illusion of scalloped borders. With the multiple patents that Christopher Designs holds, you would think Slowinksy and his seasoned team of artists and diamond experts would like to sit on their laurels, but no. They still believe that there is always room for improvement.

 

Check out Christopher Designs at Shreve & Co. in Post Street, San Francisco.

 

 

Reference: http://www.christopherdesigns.com/Designer/Jeweler

Philosophers have considered the fact that our existence could very well be the mere result of someone’s imagination. Most people would certainly disagree with that, but the concept becomes frighteningly possible when we consider Alex Sepkus and his “Tiny” creation. The much-admired Lithuanian jeweler crafts his miniature artworks from 18k gold adorned with colorful precious stones and diamonds. His 17-inch gold necklace, “Tiny”, is a little world of its own that sprang forth from his vivid imagination. The piece draws attention to its clean lines and carefully-calculated patchwork of geometric forms. What makes Alex Sepkus designs so amazing is that they are never really “calculated”. They just come to him naturally, as if he was telling a captivating story with gold and stones. The Tiny necklace is a whole little world of wonderful stories – if only one could open up his imagination and see them.

 

Check out Alex Sepkus and his collections at Shreve & Co. in Portland, Oregon.

 

 

Reference: http://www.alexsepkus.com/flash.php/catalogue/4

Who says personal statement and diamond glamour could not go together? Stephen Webster stands to prove they always could, even if barb bracelets and rock music are the stuff that expresses the inner you. It is true that conventional jewelry making veers away from punky or rock and roll themes, but who really wants to get lost in the sea of usual accessories? Certainly not Hollywood’s favorite designer, Stephen Webster, nor the throngs of urban fashion icons who cannot get enough of his collections. Webster’s jewelry pieces are skillfully crafted and ingeniously designed, bringing together impeccable precious materials and savvy contemporary designs, such as gem-studded barb wires, spiders and bow ties.  Platinum and diamond has always been a sophisticated jewelry combination, but Stephen Webster collections dress the time-tested elements and turn them into glamorous personal statements.

 

Check out the different selections at Shreve & Co. in Palo Alto – an authorized dealer for Stephen Webster.

 

 

Reference: http://www.stephenwebster.com/collections.asp