Roll up, Roll up
Utter the name Rolex and collectors in the watch world will agree there is no finer watchmaker. It comes as no surprise that the Swiss watchmakers were ranked number 64 on Forbes most powerful global brands list for 2016. Luxury aside, the watchmakers excellence extends to the sporting world.
Rolex are the official time keepers for Wimbledon and the Australian Open as well as in golf the PGA Tour and European Tour. In 2013, the brand became the official timekeeper to the FIA Formula 1 motor racing championship, having already been the official timekeeper to the Le Mans 24 Hours motor race since 2001.
And it is not just in the sporting world where Rolex takes centre stage, it is speculated that Sir Edmund Hillary used a Rolex for his 1953 expedition to the summit of Mount Everest.
''Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.'' - Coco Chanel
And that couldn't be more true of Coco Chanel's impeccable designs. Coco Chanel revolutionized fashion with her monochrome designs. She began her career in fashion as an atelier in Paris, Deauville and Biarritz. She then went on to create her own clothes that she would wear on public occasions, stood out against the traditional dresses women were wearing during that period.
Playing with feminine and masculine codes, Chanel created comfortable, stylish and practical clothes. She would adorn her simplistic creations with wondrous accessories, and today, of course, the design house is known the world over for their classic designs and experimental jewelry and handbags.
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Just as Coco Chanel had done with her N°5 perfume and the 2.55 bag, in 2000 the fashion house created the J12, a timeless piece of watch craftsmanship. First introduced in 2000, the ceramic watch was inspired sailing and seafare. As the little black bag had done before it, the J12 took a simple material - in this case ceramic - and created a couture icon.
Orange is the new black
In 1837, trained saddler Thierry Hermès (1801 Krefeld - 1878 Neuilly) opened his Paris store, selling high quality horse gear and bridle. Hermès' luxurious designs came with a luxurious price tag - with his clientele made up of only France's most rich and glamorous. Hermès' impeccable craftsmanship was honored with an award at the Paris World Exposition in 1867.
In 1878 the company was taken over by Thierry Hermès' son. Under Charles-Émile Hermès (1835-1919), suitcases and leather bags were added to the production line in the 1890s. The shop was also moved to the elegant Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré no. 24, where the company's headquarters remain today.
As well as their iconic bag designs, the design house is renowned for their silk scarves. Each design is a work of art, playing with colours and motifs.
All items featured are on sale at Seized Assets Auctioneers this month. See here for more information.
