When you think of weddings, we think of fashion, style accessories, jewelry and glamour. A great wedding is remembered by how beautiful the bride and groom looked, how sweet the cake was, the number of guests and of course the different fashion statements from the bridal team to the wedding guests.
In fact, you cannot talk of weddings without incorporating fashion and accessories in the same conversation. There are a number of must have accessories for the groom and his groom’s men. However, owing to the fact that most men are not familiar with the accessory and jewelry world, choosing these accessories and jewelry can be a very intimidating task.
Truth of the matter is, accessories and jewelry can either make or break your day. For example, the wrong choice of men’s wedding bands can throw off a groom’s entire look and lead to frustrations. However finding the perfect wedding band in terms of metal, size and design will basically take his entire look a notch higher and make him enjoy his wedding to the fullest.
With that said, you cannot afford to ruin your day with the wrong accessory choices. To ensure that you are comfortable, relaxed and looking good throughout the day, it is always necessary to play safe and not go over the top. Therefore, here are 4 accessory mistakes that every groom and groom’s man out there should not make.
§ Choosing the Wrong shoes – let’s face it, from the morning of your wedding day, to the evening hours as you await your evening wedding party to the minute that you retire to bed for a long day’s rest, you will be in your wedding shoes. Therefore, your choice of shoes is very important. By all means avoid plastic shoes as they are very uncomfortable especially during summer days. If you are not comfortable with your shoes, pick up another pair. Never compromise on the comfort ability of your shoes.
§ The wrong choice of Socks – sad but true, the grooms and grooms men socks are the most ignored pieces in most weddings. No one seems to care about the type f socks the groom and his mean wear. However, you can complement your entire look with your choice of socks. For example, plain pair of socks will never go out of style; they are warm and they look good on everybody.
§ Wearing the Wrong Tie – a great majority of grooms choose their wedding ties without considering the bride’s dress or their wedding theme in general. Therefore, when picking your tie, it is important that you pick one that does no clash with your wedding theme and the bride’s and bridal party dresses.
§ Bad choice of cufflinks – did you know that your choice of cufflinks can say a lot about your sense of fashion and style? They might be the smallest accessory you will wear on this special day, but they play a very important role in your overall look. Therefore, do not under estimate the power of cufflinks; you can either kill your look or stand out with the best choice of cufflinks.
BIO
David Wicks is an expert web content writer and a local wedding stylist. David focuses more on fashion and art in his content pieces. If you want to learn more on wedding attire, men’s wedding bands, wedding accessories and jewelry, go to his blog.
With the SEASTRONG collection, Alpina Watches has made diving watch history since the 1960’s when the Seastrong “10” was already capable of reaching depths of 200m/660ft. In 2015 Alpina revealed the Seastrong Diver 300 Chronograph Big Date Collection and today, with the introduction of the new Diver 300 Black variant, Alpina proposes an all black execution of its successful professional diving big date chronograph. A highly recognizable diving watch due to its all black color code and its oversized red minute hand.
Serious about diving, the Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Chronograph Big Date is a professional diving watch. Everything about this model is designed to cope with the most extreme conditions any professional diver could ever encounter, starting with water resistance to no less than 300m/100ft.
The watch has been designed with all the necessary features that allow owners to get the information they need, when they need it, for a safe dive.
The aluminum, unidirectional, turning bezel, turns in just one direction: anti-clockwise. With this “fail-safe” feature the number of elapsed minutes can never be accidentally decreased, only increased. In addition, the 60 minutes markers on the black bezel are luminous, as are the dial indexes, which perfectly contrast against the matt black dial. The watch’s hands are luminous for maximum readability in low visibility conditions, and the minute’s hand is oversized to instantly read diving time.
Built-in features that are relevant to the professional diver include a 44 mm black PVD coated, cushion shaped, stainless steel case, screw-in crown and case-back, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a black water-resistant rubber strap. The beautiful engraving of the Alpina diving symbol on the case-back provides for an additional and distinctive aesthetic feature.
The Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Black Chronograph Big Date encases the AL-372 quartz chronograph movement. This high precision and extremely reliable 1/10th of sec. Swiss quartz chronograph movement features 30minutes and 10 hours chronograph counters, add and a split functions, a big date and provides a battery life of 48 months.
For more information on our watches, please visit our website or feel free to contact us directly. You can email Mrs Annabel Corlay at corlay@alpina-watches.com
Julien Marchenoir from Founding Partner Vacheron Constantin, launched the second London Craft Week at the V&A Museum. Makers rubbed shoulders with leading experts, influencers,editors and directors from the art, design, culture, food, luxury, fashion, media and government sectors, whilst admiring exceptional works from London Craft Week’s programme.
Live demonstrations from Vacheron Constantin’s enameller and watchmaker, Chinese calligraphy artist Wang Dongling and paper artist Karen Bit Vejle, were admired by guests on site; who enjoyed an interactive experience with the artisans.
Guy Salter, Chairman of London Craft Week said “There is a magical combination of imagination, individuality, passion and skill found in the best-made of things. This is as true for buildings, lighting or cars as it is for watches, clothes, jewellery or sculpture. This is the simple thought behind London Craft Week.”
Julien Marchenoir commented “6 years after we contributed to the launch of Artistic Crafts Days we have seen 18 countries praising Artistic Crafts in recent weeks. It is a true ‘Craft Spring’ that we are witnessing, bringing peope of all ages and socioeconomic categories together. London Craft Week is the ideal platform on which to build this momentum and to foster the promotion of crafts on a global scale”
Noted names from the arts, fashion and luxury industries, as well as famous faces, celebrated the week’s opening and enjoyed the live demonstrations. These ranged from Prince and Princess von Ratibor, Lord Rumi Verjee CBE, artists Martino Ganper and Francis Upritchard chef Skye Gyngell, fashion designers Mary Katrantzou, Nicholas Kirkwood, Caroline Issa, Rupert Sanderson, Ozwald Boateng and interior designers Sophie Conran and Nina Campbell. Other respected names in the arts and government included Justine Simons from the Mayor’s Office and Charles Saumarez-Smith, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy.
Highlights of the evening included the inaugural London Craft Week medal, created by Vacheron Constantin, for ‘Outstanding Creatitivy and Craftsmanship’ being presented to Alison Britton. Vacheron Constantin was proud to present its latest collection, Métiers d’Art Elégance Sartoriale,which pays homage to fine tailoring and well known British fabric patterns. This unique addition to the Métiers d’Art collection showcases the encounter between the custodian of time and style and the Maison’s expertise.
From 3 – 7 May the second edition of London Craft Week will showcase exceptional craftsmanship from around the world through a programme of over 130 events across the city, featuring hidden workshops and unknown makers alongside celebrated masters, famous studios, galleries, shops and luxury brands.
Visitors will see world-class fragrances being developed scent by scent, diamonds being cut & polished, porcelain being hand painted, silver being shaped, glass being blown and Chinese calligraphy being performed live. All against the backdrop of the vitality, variety and serendipity of London from Selfridges to Chelsea Physic Garden, from Mayfair to SE27.
An invitation-only VIP programme is run alongside the main programme with a small number of oneoff and intimate experiences, including handling objects from museum collections, special access to private residences and exclusive dinners, including a collector’s talk at the Vacheron Constantin boutique, hosted by a watch expert from Phillips Auction House.
For over 260 years, Vacheron Constantin has invested in the perpetuation of manual skills and recognised the value of apprenticeships; in fact basing its foundation in 1755 on the day Jean-Marc Vacheron signed a contract with his first apprentice. Pursuing its longstanding ties with the world of art and culture, Vacheron Constantin is committed to fostering fine artistic crafts that play such a key role in contemporary creativity, while highlighting the excellence achieved by combining these talents with those of design.
New app enables passengers to control in-car systems from their smart watches
Seats, entertainment selection and climate control can all be adjusted remotely
Apple Watch app uses bespoke Bentley digital architecture
Available to download now from the App Store
Bentley Bentayga passengers now have the luxury of controlling a selection of in-car systems from their Apple Watch, thanks to a new app developed by the British luxury brand.
The technology, which uses bespoke digital architecture, enables those being driven in the Bentayga to remotely control the on-board climate and entertainment systems; adjust the heating, ventilation and massage functions of their seats; and monitor real-time information, such as vehicle speed, distance travelled and outside temperature.
Using the Bentyaga’s Bluetooth connectivity, Apple Watch wearers simply synchronise with the vehicle’s Touch Screen Remote (TSR) system and then interact with the car from the convenience of their wrist.
Dan Whittaker, Director of Electrical and Electronics at Bentley, said: “The Bentayga is technologically advanced and combines this with luxury in a way
only Bentley can achieve. This new Apple Watch connectivity is another example of how we are constantly innovating in order to enhance the customer experience.”
The Swiss watch manufacturer Frederique Constant is delighted to introduce a new model to its successful Classics collection: the Classics Art of Porcelain, a genuinely unique watch limited to only 188 pieces. By day or by night, this peerless timepiece will bring elegance and sophistication to every wrist.
The Classics Art of Porcelain timepieces set themselves apart from other watches in the Classics collection; the addition of a hand made porcelain dial and the accentuated black roman numerals bring a unique and elegant touch to the refined design.
The beauty, depth and subtle texture of the hand made porcelain dial speaks for itself, but what makes this model so special is the fact that each dial is made by skilled craftsmen from the Zsolnay Porcelain Manufacture, who ensure that the colour of the porcelain will last for decades. The Zsolnay factory was established by Miklós Zsolnay (1800–1880) in Pécs, Hungary, to produce ceramics in 1853. In 1863, his son, Vilmos Zsolnay (1828–1900) joined the company and became its manager and director after several years. He led the factory to worldwide recognition by demonstrating its innovative products at world fairs and international exhibitions, including the 1873 World Fair in Vienna. Then at the 1878 World Fair in Paris, where Zsolnay received a Grand Prix.
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating components in a kiln to temperatures reaching between 1,200 and 1,400 °C (2,200 and 2,600 °F). The toughness, strength and translucence of porcelain arises mainly from vitrification and the formation of the mineral mullite within the body at these high temperatures. Porcelain is highly valued due to its association with the court, either as a tribute offering, or as a product of kilns under imperial supervision. Unlike its lower-fired counterparts, porcelain does not need glazing. However, many types of porcelain are further treated using various methods, such as the iron-containing glaze, for its striking effects on porcelain.
Sumptuous and Timeless design
The Classics Art of Porcelain is presented with a highly polished, 3-parts stainless steel case of 40mm. The porcelain dial features the words “Swiss Made” at 6 o’clock to pay tribute to its Swiss origins, and the Roman numeral indexes give this model a classic appearance.
Driven by the FC-302 automatic calibre, with 25 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve, this watch features the hours and minutes functions. The sapphire crystal case back enables to admire the FC-302 in action and is water-resistant up to 3 ATM. Finally, this elegant timepiece is finished with a black leather strap and will be produced in a strictly limited edition of 188 pieces.
About Frederique Constant
Frederique Constant is a family owned watch manufacturer based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. The company is involved in all stages of watch production, from initial design, to final assembly and quality control. Frederique Constant develops, manufactures, and assembles in-house calibers, 20 different versions since 2004. In 2015 Frederique Constant introduced the first Swiss made Horological Smartwatch, powered by MotionX® and entirely displayed with analog dial, thereby creating an entirely new watch category in the Swiss watch industry. Frederique Constant watches are defined by their high quality and differentiation and precision in design and manufacturing. Their perceived value, through quality of design, materials, and manufacture, is a key component of their success. Each watch is assembled by hand, with the latest equipment and extensive controls, to ensure maximum quality and durability. The company embraces innovation to offer creativity and exceptional value. Its 32,000 square foot facility in Geneva is ultra modern and offers the best environment for its passionate watchmakers.
About Zsolnay
Zsolnay Porcelain Manufacture was founded by Miklós Zsolnay (1800–1880) in Pécs, Hungary in1853. Zsolnay Porcelain Manufacture has produced outstanding works of art. Zsolnay is still headquartered in Pécs, where it also has a museum located in the Zsolnay family’s former home. Zsolnay has gained worldwide recognition at world fairs and international exhibitions, including the 1873 World Fair in Vienna and the 1878 World Fair in Paris, where Zsolnay received a Grand Prix. The history of Zsolnay Porcelain Manufacture is intertwined not only with those of a city rich in historical and cultural tradition and of an exceptionally talented family, but also of the whole of Hungary. The name of the Zsolnay Family and the depiction of the five towers after which the city was named in the Middle Ages have become known and recognized all across Europe and around the world during the periods when industry and commerce were not restrained by borders, and social and economic development were inspired by a desire for progress, and the uninhibited blossoming of culture and the arts.
For more information, please visit our website or feel free to contact us directly.
You can email Miss. Annabel Corlay at corlay@frederique-constant.com.
Alpina & Icelegacy 2016 Borge Ousland and Vincent Colliard to cross the Alaskan st. Elias ice field unsupported
Norwegian Polar Explorer Borge Ousland and French Adventurer Vincent Colliard are currently attempting the unsupported crossing of the St. Elias Ice Field. They started their expedition on the 21st of April and are currently on the ice for their third glacier crossing – after the successful Main Spitsbergen and Stikine Glacier crossings – of the Alpina & Ice Legacy Project, a long-term expedition project to become the first Men to cross the 20 largest glaciers on earth. The aim is to raise public awareness about the importance for mankind of preserving the ancestral ice, and to collect data for the scientific community. Both adventurers will wear the ALPINA HOROLOGICAL SMARTWATCH to measure their activity parameters and sleep during the crossing.
Area Facts
Shared between Alaska and Canada, St Elias Wrangell Mountains Range Ice field is the largest non-polar ice field in the world with a total 31700 square kilometers and up to 1 kilometer thick. It nourishes many valley glaciers that drain down both sides of the range. St Elias Wrangell Mountains Range Ice Field is mostly in retreat.
Plate tectonics are responsible for the uplift of the mountain ranges that cross the ice field. Its extreme high point is Mount St. Elias at 5,489 m, the second tallest mountain in both the United States and Canada. Also, the competing forces of volcanism and glaciation have shaped the ice field.
Two main rivers border the ice field. The Copper River is a 290-mile (470 km) river in south-central Alaska known for its extensive delta ecosystem, as well as for its prolific runs of wild salmon. The river is the tenth largest in the United States. The Alsek river is a wilderness river flowing from Canada – Yukon into Northern British Columbia -and into Alaska. The ice field have advanced and retreated repeatedly, reaching the sea and filling the rivers of Copper and Alsek.
St Elias Wrangell Mountains Range Ice Field has a wide variety of habitats. Much of the area is high mountain peaks covered with permanent ice. Rivers occupy broad, flat glacial valleys and have constantly-changing braided riverbeds. Apart from the relatively sterile glacial and riverbed areas, the environment can be divided into different categories such as: lowlands, wetlands, uplands, sub-alpine and alpine. Some of these environments are influenced and defined by the presence of permafrost, permanently frozen sub-soil.
The animal life is quite rich in the area including black bears, wolves, brown bears, and caribou. Mountain goats and Dall sheep are found in mountainous areas. Many different species of fish and bird are also present in the region.
Route
The 2 explorers are planning to start their expedition around 20th of April. They will first embark on flying journey onboard a Cessna 185 with all their gear. The plan is to fly over the icecap all the way to the start point, Novatak area at approx. 59’ 24’’53N 138’ 22’’ 23W.
From there, they will ski pulling their sleds for about 430 kilometers all the way to Miles area 60’40’’32N 144’ 36’’00W. Then Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard hope to use their light rafts and paddle the Copper river for 30 to 40 kilometers before the pick up point. They will take food and fuel for approx. 40 days.
Scientific Data
Mid April 2016, Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard will meet Dr. Jeffrey M. Welker – Professor of Biological Sciences – from the university of Anchorage in order to work together. The idea is about sampling snow for the spatial variation in “black carbon”, snow water isotopes, and using radar to examine glacier ice properties during the expedition. Consequently, the goal is to have the explorers bringing these samples and data back to professor Welker for future studies.
Social Media
It will be possible to follow the expedition daily through the website www.icelegacy.com directly on the home page. The website will be updated every day for whole length of the expedition. From the ice, the 2 explorers will transfer their position, some text describing the day on the field and also a photo in order to illustrate the text. The content will be then relayed on all IceLegacy and Alpina Watches social platforms.
“Borge Ousland is undoubtedly the most experienced living polar explorer,” National Geographic Adventure.
Photo & Videography
Alongside Alpina, Icelegacy is also partnering with National Geographic. While on the ice, Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard will document their journey from the very beginning of the journey all the way to its end. People can already see some of the footage edited by National Geographic and the website www.nationalgeographic.com
About the Explorers
Borge Ousland – The Legend
“Borge Ousland is undoubtedly the most experienced living polar explorer,” National Geographic Adventure.
With more than 20 years of record-breaking Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, Norwegian Borge Ousland became the first explorer to complete a solo expedition to the North Pole without resupplying. As a Nansen and Amundsen heir, he was also the first to cross the Antarctic continent alone. Borge is also a renowned photographer and documentary filmmaker who has already received numerous international awards for his films and expeditions.
Vincent Colliard – The Successor
“Vincent Colliard is a young adventurer, energetic and with a strong character, who has the unique ability to forge ahead when anyone else would give up.” Borge Ousland
Frenchman Vincent Colliard, 28 years old, is an experienced adventurer, having participated in expeditions across Norway, Patagonia, Alaska and the Himalayas. In 2010, he was a crewmember aboard “Northern Passage” with his mentor Borge Ousland during the historic first expedition/circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean ever completed in a single season. Once again with his mentor, he completed the first crossing of Nordauslandet glacier in Spitsbergen in 2012.
About Alpina & Ice Legacy
By supporting the IceLegacy project by Borge Ousland, the only man to have crossed the North and South poles alone, and Vincent Colliard, young adventurer and Borge Ousland’s partner, Alpina Watches wants to promote the protection of the glaciers, an environmental and climate issue that is dire yet little known, yet of enormous importance for the future of our planet.
The project combines athletic prowess, human adventure and the sharing of knowledge about the polar environment with as many people as possible, so that future generations may enjoy the fascinating and priceless legacy of glaciers and icecaps: believe, preserve, transmit.
Borge and Vincent will measure their effort with the Alpina Horological Smartwatch. The watch will measure the distance covered, their steps, calories burned and sleep profile during the entire crossing. The watch will also wake them up when their body is most ready for their effort.
About the Alpina Horological Smartwatch
The Alpina Horological Smartwatch is the synthesis of high-tech innovation and traditional Swiss watch craftsmanship. There is no digital screen on the Alpina Horological Smartwatch. Instead, the beautiful laser cut hands on the watch dial display information in analog form. The Alpina Horological Smartwatches retain their natural classic beauty and can deliver the benefits of the quantified self, all without ever having to recharge a battery.
Powered by MotionX®, the 100m/330ft water-resistant Alpina Horological Smartwatches is capable of bi-directional communication with iPhone and Android apps. The Alpina Horological Smartwatch supports the following functionalities:
– Always-on time & date
– MotionX® activity tracking
– Sleeptracker® sleep monitoring
– Sleep cycle alarms
– Get-Active alerts
– Adaptive coaching
– World Time
– 2 years battery life / 100m-300ft water-resistant
The MotionX patented sensor-fusion engine tracks activity and sleep patterns with high accuracy. Activity and sleep information is presented in real-time using beautiful traditional analog dials. The watch synchronizes automatically with applications on Apple and Android smartphones. On the iOS and Android apps, simple and easy-to-understand graphics highlight how much one has moved and slept during the day, week, or month. This data will assist users to better understanding themselves, and along with appropriate goal setting and intelligent coaching, will improve their well-being. Better sleep and a more active lifestyle are widely recognized as simple, but effective, positive behavioral changes.
About Alpina
ALPINA, THE ORIGINAL SWISS SPORT WATCH
ALPINE SPORTS WATCH MANUFACTURING – SINCE 1883
Alpina, famous for its red triangle signature, is an independent, family-owned fine watchmaking manufacture based in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1883, Alpina’s watchmaking history spans more than 130 years.
A true pioneer of the Swiss watchmaking industry, Alpina has been the source of numerous patents and innovative calibers. Alpina invented the concept of the Swiss sport watch, as we know it today, with the birth of its legendary Alpina 4 in 1938. Today, Alpina is one of the very few independent Swiss watch companies, which develops, produces and assembles its movements entirely in-house. Alpina proposes five in-house calibers: the AL-980 Tourbillon; the AL-718 World Timer; the AL-950 Automatic Regulator; the AL-710 Automatic Small Date, and, most recently, the AL-760 Flyback Chronograph, featuring the new and patented “Direct Flyback” technology.
Faithful to its long tradition of innovation, in 2015 Alpina introduced the first connected Swiss Made Horological Smartwatch, thereby creating an entirely new watch category in the Swiss watch industry.
Alpina’s mission is to design and engineer luxury sport watches that operate with the greatest precision and reliability possible in the most demanding sporting environments, like the Alps.
www.alpina-watches.com
For more information, please visit our website or contact Mrs Annabel Corlay at corlay@alpina-watches.com
