Happy Stories From our customers

Patek Phillippe watches are getting a resurgence of interest since Charlie Sheen ripped up a hotel room in search of his. But even Sheen couldn’t get his hands on this one:

New York—The only known Patek Philippe Ref. 2419 minute-repeating wristwatch sold for $710,500 at the Antiquorum auction held last Thursday in New York.

The bidding for the 18-karat gold timepiece, which was crafted in 1946 and sold by Cartier in 1950, was competitive, with a Chinese bidder ultimately winning.

“The spectacular results for the exceptional minute-repeating Patek Philippe Ref. 2419 wristwatch retailed by Cartier confirms that collectors today are willing to pay a premium for watches that are unique and new to the market,” Antiquorum President and Chief Executive Officer Evan Zimmermann said.

Source: National Jeweler

Overall, Antiquorum’s “Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces” auction garnered $4.5 million and was 81 percent sold by lot and 125 percent sold by value. The auction of 275 rare timepieces drew a standing-room-only crowd and 301 registered Internet and phone bidders. Aggressive international bidding came from nations including China, Russia, Qatar and Canada, as well as the United States.

In addition to the minute-repeating Patek Philippe Ref. 2419, other top lots included a Jaeger-LeCoultre “Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2” No. 52/75, which sold for $266,500. The watch was one of 75 of its kind crafted in 2009. The reversible platinum watch with visible Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 174 has an inclined two-cage multi-axis spherical tourbillon, 50-hour power reserve, 24-hour indication and “1000 Hours Control.”

A self-winding, 18-karat gold Patek Philippe “The Celestial Wristwatch,” Ref. 5102G sold for $218,500 while another Patek Philippe, a pink gold “TV Watch” Ref. 5020R, (below) went for $164,500. And a 18-karat yellow gold, self-winding Patek Philippe Genève Ref. 3448 sold for $158,500.

Spring has sprung. Flowers are flowering and birds are…birding. Let’s celebrate!

Here’s a quick peak at some simply “must haves” for this season of bloom and brightness from the lovely ladies at Refinery 29:

Above, from left:

Stella McCartney Floral Dress, $4,095, available at Net-a-Porter, image via Style.com. “I always gravitate to this type of flowing floral dress…but this one’s the pinnacle.”

Petite Bateau Bralette, $35, available at Petit Bateau; Petit Bateau Boy Shorts, $28, available at Petit Bateau. “Every spring I like to ditch all of last season’s unmentionables and start fresh. And this sweet little top and bottom is precisely the reason why.”

Nars Lipstick in Funny Face, $24, available at Sephora. “Come spring, I love switching my red lip in for the most intense shade of hot pink (it always reminds me of big beautiful camelia flowers!). Julie Hewett makes a great one called Scarlett, and Nars’ shade of Funny Face is equally divine.”

Above, from left:

Rachel Comey Bobcat Top, $255, available at Bird; Rachel Comey Shore Pants, $345, available at P.45. This silhouette pairing is kind of my uniform all year round, but it seems particularly perfect now in Rachel’s signature offbeat color combo.

Kenzo Metallic Jacket, image via Style.com. “Being from Long Island, I will always have a weakness for some flash, and this gorgeous metallic blazer could easily become my summertime staple.”

Acqua Di Parma Colonia, $98, available at Neiman Marcus. “This classic citrusy scent just smells like spring and summer. Plus the splash bottle really lets me overdo it, which I am sadly known for.”

Cartier Entrelaces Ring in Yellow Gold, $850, by Cartier. “Absolutely perfect in every way…a great piece on its own or layered with some of my other crazy rings.”

Keds Champion white canvas sneaker, $35, available at Keds. “These are probably the only kind of shoes both my mom and I swear by. The classic plimsole kick only gets chicer with age.”

Hey Joe:

I never gave you a proper ‘thank you’, but I’m so glad I worked with you and I’m grateful for your handiwork!

– TB

Is it even possible to put the media storm aside to discuss something as seemingly bland as his watch collection? Here’s at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we think so. So let’s focus on Sheen’s time pieces instead. Let’s be horribly boring. Well, not that boring, since he has an estimated 5.6 million dollar watch collection! Sheen wears a Rolex Yachtmaster on his previous television series and many of us heard the story of the $150,000 Patek Philippe 5970 that went missing during a stay in at the New York Plaza Hotel in 2010, after which Sheen accused his date of stealing the watch.

According to TMZ:

The watch that Charlie Sheen claims he lost during the night of his hotel meltdown ain’t no ordinary Timex … dude was wearing one of the most sought after watches on the planet … valued at $150,000.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us Sheen was rockin’ a Patek Philippe 5970 … a watch that one expert tells us is always in “crazy high demand” with collectors.

Another Patek, modeled by Sheen himself via Twitter

Many think of costume jewelry as something rather…gauche. But the truth of the matter is that costume jewelry is a perfectly legitimate way to “extra” adorn. I mean, who can afford a real diamond choker or a cocktail ring with a real sapphire? But you may be able to afford a moissanite choker. Or one like this:

A fake diamond choker

A fun, but fake, cocktail ring

Fun, flirty and fake earrings

Besides, costume jewelry has been around a long, long time. Here’s the history:

Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit, but not meant to be handed down through generations. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, outdate itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style.

Cheap jewelry also existed prior to the 1930s. Paste or glass jewelry dated as far back as the 1700s. The rich had their fine jewelry duplicated for a variety of reasons, using paste or glass stones.

By the mid 1800s, with the growth of the middle class, there were now different levels of jewelry being manufactured using fine, semi-precious and base materials. Fine jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems such as emeralds and saphires continued to be made.

Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin layer of gold attached to a base metal, entered the market for the middle class. This jewelry was often set with semi-precious gems such as amethyst, coral or pearls, and was much more affordable.

And then there was jewelry that most anyone could afford, consisting of glass stones and base metals made to look like gold. All three types were intended to be passed down to future generations.

Source: Home Jewelry Business Success Tips

If you want a piece of jewelry that’s outrageous and fun, but can only afford so much, contact us! We can make your custom design jewelry dream come true. Or stop by our showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona.