The Swiss luxury jeweler and watch brand, Piaget has named Jessica Alba the face of their newest collection, aptly named “Possession.”
We think Alba and Piaget make an excellent pair, not to mention we are a big fan of Alba’s style (including her taste in watches- like the Rolex Datejust we spotted her wearing in US magazine!)
read more here
Peanut butter and jelly. Bacon and eggs. Sonny and Cher. Athletes and watches.
The first round of the NFL Draft was last night and many of the draftees were in attendance, dressed to the nines. And what two trends were apparent? Huge watches and nerd glasses. Clearly we have talked at length about the huge watch trend, but we’re also right on top of the nerd glasses trend. Don’t believe me? Click here to check out all of our blogs on the subject.
And now onto the watches. Check out these large, diamond-encrusted frisbees! Sorry for the terrible photos, but you get the idea! Whoa.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we thought we’d ask our readers – What’s a better Mother’s Day Gift, a Rolex or Cartier watch? Weigh in below (click on the images for more details).
This weekend I am attending…(cue dramatic “dun dun dun” sound effect)… my High School Reunion. With May just around the corner, (and the “R-word” weighing on my mind), it seems a fitting time to share some thoughts from eRelyx with regards to graduation, as well as share a peek at some gorgeous pictures taken at last weekend’s “Real. Grad” promo photo shoot (we threw in a few sneaky candids in there for you as well 
)
Graduation- be it high school or college or graduate school- is a major milestone in a person’s life. Personally, I can’t help but think there is no better gift to commemorate this special time in your, or a loved one’s, life than a luxury watch (and no, I’m not just saying this because of where I work). I remember an old boyfriend whose parents presented him with a Rolex Submariner for his High School graduation. Now, nearly a decade later, he is a successful banker in NYC and this is still the watch he wears every single day. After graduation from college I noted several of my friends turning up to new jobs in Rolex, Tag Heuer, Omega and Cartier- gifts from very generous parents and grandparents.
So what gives? Why do watches seem to be such a popular gift for grads? Well, a luxury watch serves function and purpose as well as being indulgent and luxurious. It will not depreciate in monetary value and will appreciate in sentimental value. A watch is an ideal gift for the graduate as it will continue to serve as a reminder to the wearer of this particular moment in time, as well as serve as a symbol of pride and success.
For grad gift ideas at every price point check out our blogs by following the links below:
This week’s favorite celebrity-watch-photo-find: She might not have won last week’s eRelyx ”who wore it best?” contest- but we still think Julianne Hough makes the Cartier Ballon Bleu even hotter. This pic of the starlet taken at a gala held over this past weekend is our favorite celebrity-watch-photo-find of the week. We love the way her watch takes center stage and the gold plays off the gold of her gorgeous mini dress. Since our first sighting of the starlet wearing the stunning watch, we’ve been unable to find her photographed without it- Does it have some sentimental value perhaps? A gift from beau Ryan Seacrest? We’re wondering…
Minka Kelly was sighted out and about in her go-to Rolex Datejust while Matthew McConaughey represents Tag Heuer- wearing the Carrera model during filming for his latest movie project “The Lincoln Lawyer.”
Charlize Theron rocks what we believe to be a black ceramic Dior watch (Theron is a spokesmodel for the brand) while out shopping and Aunt to Paris & Nicky Hilton/Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, Kyle Richards flashes an oversized gold statement-making watch on the red carpet in Vegas.
We also sighted everyone’s favorite funny lady- Betty White- at a lunch held in her honor wearing a very classic and conservative timepiece we have yet to identify.
From the pages of US Weekly: Minka Kelly; Matthew McConaughey; Charlize Theron
Photos courtesy of PR Photos: Betty White; Kyle Richards; Julianne Hough
We’re going to change up “Watch of the Moment” this week. We’re going to provide a list of our favorite watches for men and women. Sure, our opinions will change over time, but for today, here’s the list. What are your favorites?
Mens:
1. IWC Portuguese Chronograph
2. Breitling Navitimer and Navitimer World
3. Panerai Luminor Marina
4. Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph
5. IWC Portuguese Yacht Club
IWC Portuguese Chronograph
IWC Portuguese Yacht Club
Womens:
1. Cartier Ballon Bleu
2. Cartier Tank Francaise
3. Patek Philippe Twenty 4
4. Rolex Datejust Turn-o-graph
5. Chanel J-12
Cartier Ballon Bleu
Who did we miss – sign in and share your thoughts!!
We’ve noticed Cartier’s Ballon Bleu appearing on the wrists of more and more young trendy celebs. The latest in Cartier’s line of watches, the Ballon Bleu design is a recently blogged about obsession here at eRelyx HQ, and apparently the Hollywood elite agree.
In today’s poll we want to know, who rocks the gold Cartier Ballon Bleu best?
Is it the all-american girl-next-door, country singer, dancer (…with the stars), and overall hottie Julianne Hough? Or the sassy & sexy Colombian import- Sofia Vergara? Or perhaps our newest celebutante obsession from across the pond? The british model/media personality/socialite and daughter of Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone- Tamara Ecclestone.
It’s up to your votes to decide. Poll closes Friday at 3pm EDT. We’re sure this one wont be an easy call to make…
It’s no secret that we love IWC watches. In fact, we have been trying to add a few IWC Portuguese Chronograph watches to our inventory. It hasn’t been as easy as we had hoped. Not only are they somewhat difficult to find, but they’re pricey when we do find them.
So what gives? Here’s our take:
1. Many manufacturers like IWC and Cartier are placing increased emphasis on their own branded boutiques. Some manufacturers have even gone as far as ending relationships with a large number of their retailers. Why? First, they cut out the “middleman.” The manufacturer gets to keep a larger share of each watch sold through their own boutique. Second, they get better control over their brand. “Better control” is just code for “less discounting.” Manufacturers don’t like when their watches are sold for deep discounts. They would rather sell fewer watches at higher prices – this leads to a “better” brand image.
So why don’t the remaining retail partners continue to offer great discounts? Well, maybe it’s the reduced competition. If the manufacturers’ boutiques aren’t going to discount, why should the retail partners? Plus, the retail partners may be afraid to discount too much, thereby angering the manufacturers (leading them to pull the account). And finally, the retail partners may not be getting their “fair share” of popular watches. The manufacturers may allocate a larger share of those popular watches to their own branded boutiques. If a retail partner does get a popular watch, he’s not going to be quick to offer it up at a discounted price.
2. The other big trend that I’m hearing about is the growth of the Asia Pacific market. Wait, China is growing? Get out of here. All kidding aside, we all know that many Asian markets have been growing quickly. Today, more and more watch shipments are being allocated to the Asia Pacific region. The result – fewer watches in the US. And fewer watches (and steady demand) leads to higher prices.
3. There are rumors of IWC price increases. I would believe it – I’m getting that vibe from my contacts in the industry. One of my contacts said, “These watches are getting tougher and tougher to find.” Another contact, just back from Basel, said, “Price increases are the norm.” There are also clues and hints on other watch blogs, forums, and retail sites. While the sticker price on the IWC Portuguese Chrono (in steel) is still $6,800, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it hit $7,300 by the summer.
I’m not saying that everyone should run out and stock up on IWC Portuguese Chronograph watches, but, I am warning you that you may need to pay a bit more if you decide to wait!
Good luck – and please share your thoughts and experiences on the subject. Thanks!!
Spring is in the air…watches are on the wrist. Sounds good to us. Check out the latest celebrity watch list. (Click on the images to enlarge)
Know what kind of watch Arnold, Diddy, or Sheryl is wearing? Let us hear it in the comments.
Want to look like your favorite celeb? We can help – sort of. Check out the similar watches that we currently have in stock.
(Celebrity Photos by PR Photos)
We’ve primarily focused on men’s watches for our “Watch of the Moment” blogs but today we are all about the ladies. Our obsession this week? The Cartier Ballon Bleu.
Say Cartier and for most, the image that comes to mind is a Cartier Tank watch- the Tank Francaise being the brand’s most iconic piece as well as a number one best seller at eRelyx. But its actually Cartier’s latest collection- the Ballon Bleu- that has us drooling.
Introduced in 2007, Cartier describes the watch design as a blend “between classical and futuristic, a familiar roundness and strange distortions…the beginning of a legend in a dream world.” Legend, indeed, in just four years since its introduction, the Ballon Bleu has soared to new heights of popularity- appearing on the wrists of everyone from Sofia Vergara and Bill Clinton to Jennifer Love Hewitt and reality star, Bethenny Frankel.
We completely understand the popularity of the Ballon Bleu- its an amazingly beautiful watch that translates seamlessly from a day in the office to a black tie affair. The two tone is especially breathtaking- providing a versatility for those unwilling to commit to a single precious metal (its that endless female struggle of gold or silver- and can the two be worn together? Two-tone offers a solution, at least in the department of your watch). The unusual crown, decorated with a sapphire cabochon, adds an element of surrealism that lends a uniqueness to this watch unparalleled by other models of ladies’ watches.
Honestly, I just cant get enough- it is perfection- the Holy Grail of women’s watches. I’d say, I’ve found true love, and its name is the Ballon Bleu de Cartier.
