Jane Birkin's Birkin Goes for Sale

The French singer and actress auctions her personal iconic bag on eBay to benefit the Japanese Red Cross.

Jane Birkin has inspired one of the most famous, coveted handbags in the world and the French singer-actress has put her very own Birkin bag up for auction on eBay April 7. With less than two days left to bid (the auction ended April 15), the price had escalated from its start at £1,210.95 to over £98,421.75.

 The lived-in and roughed-up black, leather bag (one of the mere four namesake totes that she owns) — which features stickers and prayer beads from Birkin’s travels on the exterior — is known as a "beater Birkin," to those in the designer consignment and resale business. "This is a bag for someone who wants it to look really used. It is a bag that has been loved and carried a lot," according to Cameron Silver, owner of Decades Boutique in London and Los Angeles, which specializes in designer vintage and resale (with an emphasis on the Hermes' handbags). He adds that if it didn’t belong to Birkin herself, a bag of this quality "should sell for about £3,633.31."

The Hermes Birkin bag has long been a symbol of style and stature among the fashion elite and Hollywood’s taste-making stars. The infamous tote was designed for and named after Birkin by the head of the design house himself, in 1984. Since then, the Birkin’s popularity has rocketed (Hellcat’s Ashley Tisdale waited two years for hers to arrive) and it can be found adorning the arms of fashion-savvy celebs such as Victoria Beckham (who reportedly has more than 100 different styles and colours) and Ashley Olsen.

"It’s an extremely iconic and revered bag that is still limited in number and prohibited in price point to most people and consequently people want it," notes Silver (who will be the star of Bravo's upcoming reality series, the Untitled Decades Project) of the luxurious item featuring a price-tag valued around
£6,056.00 retail.

Jane Birkin carrying her Birkin

Birkin — who will donate the proceeds of the auction to Red Cross efforts in Japan — isn’t fazed by the popularity of her designer, namesake bag. "If people want to go for the real thing, fine. If they go for copies, that’s fine too. I really don’t think it matters," she told Vogue. The fashion icon is too busy traveling and aiding the current situation in Japan — she will appear at the benefit concert "SOS Japan" May 31 — to worry about collecting "it" bags. "I never have more than one bag at a time. I think one is already quite enough."

Despite the current low auction price, many eBay shoppers save hefty bids for the last few minutes of the sale. "I wouldn’t be surprised if Hermes bought it back for their archives or if a major collector picked it up," notes Silver. If so, the bag could sell in the £18,169.67 range. "There is nothing disposable about a Birkin. They are timeless," he says.

The Hollywood Reporter

The final hammer fell at £98,601.03. Love her attitude, don't you?

£50,000 Diamond Stella Egg: The World's Most Expensive Easter Egg

The diamonds were attached to the egg in London

Yes, I do love chocolate but how do you like this.

Even by the standards of a London food scene that has marketed such extravagances as an £108 bowl of soup, the cost of this chocolate Easter egg may shock the unsuspecting shopper.

The "Diamond Stella Egg" went on sale at the Piccadilly shop La Maison Du Chocolat outshines previous examples of gourmet conspicuous consumption - with a price tag of £50,000.

It took two guards to protect the egg when the shop opened at 10am on the 12th April 2006.

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but combine them with chocolate and, as a London chocolatier has discovered, you have every woman's dream.

Unfortunately for most, the Diamond Stella Egg, which has gone on sale, comes with a hefty £50,000 price tag.

Thought to be the world's most expensive Easter egg, it was being kept under guard at its Piccadilly store. 

Encrusted with more than 100 0.5 carat diamonds, the 65cm (25in) tall creation was made for La Maison du Chocolat.

Made in Paris over, then, three weeks, no glue or tape was used to attach the diamonds - instead a chef in London melted small sections in order to place the gems around the

La Maison Du Chocolat has five branches in Paris, one each in Tokyo and New York and two in London - one in Piccadilly and one in Harrods. But only one £50,000 Easter egg has been produced for the London store.

A treasure trove of posh chocolate, the shop dispenses hot chocolate from a copper urn and sells handmade chocolates with such names as Salvador, Bacchus, Othello, Zagora and Anastasia. A 1,200g box of champagne truffles sells for £96.

A spokesman for La Maison du Chocolat described its creation thus: "This is the most unique, exciting and individual egg we have ever created.

"The question we are asking is whether the buyer will want to eat it or preserve it," he said.

If the buyer is brave enough to break into their pricey purchase, he or she will find it contains peach and apricot chocolates along with pralines.

Eat or preserve? - I know what I would choose.....


story content thank you friends Martin Hickman, The Independent & Our friends at BBC

The World's First Diamond Ring by Shawish Geneva A Ring Made Entirely From One Diamond

Delortae Agency were amongst those priviledged enough to be invited to a special event that took place on April 14 in Central London, presenting and charting the creation of the history making ring from original sketches to final design. the world's first diamond ring by Shawish Geneva.  The ring is made entirely from one, single faceted diamond, weighing 150-carats and is unique as it’s composed entirely from a single diamond, with the faceted band carved directly into the stone. £43 million

London had been selected as the city to present the exclusive invitation-only event at Il Bottaccio, on Grosvenor Place. After that the tour continues to Moscow where then after two days, will continue it's journey to Seol, South Korea before returning home to Geneva.

Brothers Mohamed Shawesh and Majdy Shawesh, who co-serve as the brand’s CEO &
President, are the brains behind the unusual design.A ring made entirely of a faceted diamond has always seemed like a fantasy," says Mohamed Shawesh, president and ceo of Geneva-based Shawish Jewellery. "It seemed impossible, so we decided to embark on the adventure of creating it. To create the perfect diamond ring is the epitome of art."

Drawing inspiration from a variety of global cultures, Shawish sees jewellery as a way to “enhance a woman’s femininity and beauty.”

But creating the ground-breaking ring wasn't a straight-forward undertaking: "We got the copyright one year ago in Geneva," Shawesh explains. "It then took one year to get the copyright and we had to do multiple tests with the design, to get the precision of the circle right. Diamonds are made of carbon and molecules that can change, even the colour can be altered when attempting to cut it. We had to buy special laser equipment, to cut directly into the diamond. The most important aspect is preserving the integrity of the diamond and of course the most difficult phase is precision cutting an entire stone into a ring."

Shawish Diamond Set

The evening was in deed history making as we were treated to see varied diamond collections of the most stunning jewellery ever assembled in one place. Exclusive piece auction, on the night, that saw a stunning jewellery set (similar to that featured) go to one lucky bidder and the entertainment was astounding.

Needless to say the security was discreetly scattered amongst the diamonds. Along with the champagne, cocktails and canapés that never stopped flowing all evening.

It was indeed a rare event that completed a history making rare evening.


The Shawish flagship store is found in Geneva’s cathedral square. Visit www.shawish-jewellery.com for more information.

Delortae Agency™| Mimi's Blog: Tiffany & Co Sues Counterfeit Websites for Copyright & Trademark Infringement

Delortae Agency™| Mimi's Blog: Tiffany & Co Sues Counterfeit Websites for Copyright & Trademark Infringement

Tiffany & Co Sues Counterfeit Websites for Copyright & Trademark Infringement

The big brand are fighting back. This article reproduced by Anthony Demarco of the Jewellery News Network proves they are relentless in their attempts to rid the world of counterfeits

Tiffany & Co. has filed a lawsuit against 44 websites based in China that sell counterfeit Tiffany products.

The civil suit argues that the websites are “are promoting, selling, offering for sale and distributing counterfeit and infringing Tiffany branded products.”

The lawsuit adds that the websites “constitute willful and intentional infringement and counterfeiting of Tiffany's trademarks in total disregard of Tiffany's rights, and have taken place … in spite of defendants' knowledge that their use of Tiffany's trademarks was and is in direct contravention of Tiffany's rights.”

The three defendants listed in the complaint are Ge Wang, King Wang, and Ning Zhou, along with “various unknown associates.” The formal charges are for trademark, counterfeiting and infringement, false designation of origin, and cyberpiracy.

The suit was filed in federal court in Norfolk, Va., the state where the luxury jewellery retailer has its websites registered, according to a story in The Virginian-Pilot. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith on January 18 extended a temporary restraining order that prohibits some 44 websites from selling knockoff Tiffany products. However, the websites quickly change names, and their operators are nearly impossible to locate.

At least some of the websites, such as tiffanymall.org and tiffanystore.org, now redirect visitors to a website that outlines the lawsuit.

Tiffany will seek a preliminary injunction at a hearing on Feb. 1 and, ultimately, a permanent injunction, the newspaper reports.

Original Article

But Newsroom Staff: Tim McGlone, has even more to report on the matter reproduced from his article

Tiffany sues in Norfolk to shut down counterfeit websites

At the website www. tiffany.com, women's watches sell for a minimum of $2,700, with most priced between $4,000 and $5,000.

However, at www.ustiffany4sale.com, a ladies' watch with the Tiffany emblem that the site says retails for $4,950 is on sale for $169. It's a counterfeit, and Tiffany & Co. has come to Norfolk's federal court seeking to shut down such websites.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith extended a temporary restraining order that prohibits some 44 websites from selling knockoff Tiffany products. The problem, Tiffany discovered, is that the websites quickly change names, and their operators are nearly impossible to locate.

Smith extended the Jan. 1 order 14 days to give the company's attorneys more time to attempt to serve papers on the defendants.

An investigator in China hired by the company learned that the addresses and phone numbers used by the defendants to register their websites were bogus, court records say. Tiffany & Co., based in New Jersey, filed the suit here because the websites' registrars are based in Virginia.

Three defendants from China have not responded to the suit. Roughly half of the 44 websites, with names such as tiffanymall.org and tiffanystore.org, now redirect visitors to a website that outlines the lawsuit.

Some websites on the list apparently have tried to thwart the court action. The website www. ustiffanysale.com, one of the 44, now redirects visitors to www.ustiffany4sale.com, offering products that it admits are counterfeit.

"When receiving your jewellery gift," the web site states, "all will surely give a loud hooting cry of exultation or excitement."

A disclaimer on the site says it does not sell genuine Tiffany products: "Even though the products sold on our site may look the same as those original Tiffany & Co. jewellery, they are not made by Tiffany & Co."

Tiffany will seek a preliminary injunction at a hearing on Feb. 1 and, ultimately, a permanent injunction.

Original Article
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com

Love some of the comments on Tim's article, leave yours here...

Will Fakes Morally Corrupt You?

According to recent studies, the answer is yes!

It is not that often I get excited about a discussion (even though, I love research and surveys) but this article reproduced from the London Evening Standard by Phillip Delves Broughton, I found so fascinating had to share and get your opinion on the study.



Counterfeit goods seizure 1

Why should it matter whether you buy real designer sunglasses or fake ones? The designer may be upset because he or she is being ripped off. But then you console yourself. They're only sunglasses. It's all fun. Who cares? It's not as though Stella McCartney's heading to the poor house any time soon.

It's the same with bags. Do you shell out hundreds of pounds for the real thing or spend a fraction of that on a decent-looking fake, which may fall to pieces in the rain but does the job? But what is the job? Is it to do what sunglasses and bags are supposed to do, shield your eyes and hold your things? Or are fake designer items actually meant to signal to others that you are better than in fact you are?

Academic researchers have concluded that people buy fake products in order to tell themselves and others that they are better than they are. Buying a fake is a shortcut to fooling yourself and others that you are rich and have good taste. Even people who claim to be buying fakes for a laugh are in fact hoping that they will appear more affluent.



Counterfeit electronics seizure 2

   But a new set of experiments has found that buying fakes has a darker side. It not only causes people to think they are something they are not, but actually makes them behave unethically. Wearing a pair of shades you know are knock-offs creates a “counterfeit self” who lies more and is more mistrustful of others. What starts with fake sunglasses and bags may end up with you lying about your past and present and assuming everyone else does the same.

Three American researchers, Francesca Gino, Michael Norton and Dan Ariely, ran a series of tests on a group of 85 female university students to examine the behavioural effects of wearing fake products.

In the first tests, they were all given a pair of real Chloe sunglasses but half of them were told their glasses were knock-offs. They were then all given a series of tasks to test their honesty. In one test, they were given a set of mathematical problems to complete in five minutes and asked to record their own score on a separate piece of paper. They would receive 50 cents for each correct answer.



Counterfeit goods seizure 3

However, there was no obvious identifier on each work sheet, so a dishonest person could claim a higher score and take more money, assuming that their true score would never be found out. But the researchers were actually monitoring each student, so they could tell who cheated and who didn't. It turned out that 71 per cent of those who thought they were wearing knock-off sunglasses inflated their performance, compared to just 30 per cent of those who thought they were wearing the real thing.

Those who thought they were wearing counterfeit sunglasses considered people they knew to be more dishonest, were more distrustful of common excuses and thought the characters in the scenario much more likely to behave dishonestly.

A final experiment tested the subjects' feelings of authenticity, measured by feelings of alienation from themselves. They were asked to what extent, on a scale of one to seven, they agreed with the statements: “Right now, I don't know how I really feel inside”; “Right now, I feel as though I don't know myself very well”; “Right now, I feel out of touch with the real me'; and “Right now, I feel alienated from myself.”



Counterfeit seizure 4

 Higher scores indicated higher levels of self-alienation. The students who thought they were wearing fakes were on average one point on the scale more self-alienated than those who thought they had the real thing.
The researchers' depressing conclusion was that wearing fakes is not just bad for the wearer, but also for broader society as it leads to higher levels of mistrust. Whatever you think you are saving by buying a knock-off at a fraction of the cost of the real item, you pay for with your morality. It's great news for the fashion companies, which are constantly battling the knock-offs, and bad news for anyone who thought those fakes were fooling anyone. This is the most comprehensive research I have seen, would you agree or disagree with results?

Original article

Don't you just love it? What's your take? Have your say?

Fashion File: Making Of A Hermes Bag VIDEO

If you are passionate about Hermes bag and how they make them, then take a sneak peek at this video hope you find the info as interesting as I did, enjoy the actual making and process of Hermes Bag (include views of Hermes Birkin, Hermes Kelly also their crocodile lines)

For luxury authentic products & services; http://www.luxuryonlinestore.net