Legend or reality, a work of art must in its modest sphere elevate
the soul by its beauty. Of course, nothing stokes the soul of a woman more pleasurably than a shining bauble. Jewellery is no casual observer of the anthropology of vanity: from Marie Antoinette to Marilyn Monroe, its heady seduction has lured women and lightened wallets through war and peace.
Spice regales the sparkle saga that resonates on a deeper level than pure desire through an exclusive India preview of the Flawless Rivière: A magnificent diamond necklace estimated at 50 crore that will make
` its international debut at the Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong on April 7th. A stunning D colour, flawless diamond weighing over 10 carats sits in the centre of this necklace commanding a spectacular collection of Type II A (the most valued and purest of diamonds; they represent only 1 per cent of all mined diamonds in the world), flawless round, brilliant and marquise-shaped diamonds, totalling over 85 carats set in Platinum, designed by luxury jewellery designer Neerav Modi.
With passion and provenance as twin goals, we find that if humility rides fastest on the seat of power; style coasts high on vertiginous heels. During her exile in Hawaii, infamous former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos, famed for her love of shoes, complained in an interview about her reputation for extravagance. “I did not have 3,000 pairs of shoes,” she said. “I had 1,060.”
Facts and figures notwithstanding, few can argue with the transformational power of a pair of shoes. It allows the wearer the ability to literally and figuratively step into character: a powerhouse in a black stiletto, glamourous drama in strappy silver sandals, or rebellious cool with biker boots. Sandra Choi, the creative director of luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo deconstructs the Holy Grail to the perfect shoe wardrobe for Spice with the quintessentials. From defining heights to exploring the growing trend towards the simplistic mid-heel to the classic appeal of the dressed up nude shoes; patent, suede, glitter and lace only add drama offering elegance as an added dimension.
From allegorically grand to surreal glory, Spice flutters through the wisps of time to succumb to the luxury and exoticism of antique carpets. From identifying the right carpet from a wide range of production quality and traditions to discovering the symbolism of the inherited patterns of the Beshir prayer rug to the glorious sumptuousness of the legendary Persian carpets that take on average, 4-5 weavers working 6 hours a day, 6 days a week over a year to complete (for a small 9’x12’ Persian carpet that is 9 knots per square cm).
At Spice, we don’t believe a flying carpet is just a figment of imagination. Luxury travel concierge services deliver indulgence at every turn; appeasing the sense of entitlement to the superlative, especially in unfamiliar territory. Spice surveys the finest among those that temper knowledge informed by experience to make travel truly soulful. For we believe that bon vivants need to experience special destinations and unique experiences with an indefinable magic. As Coco Chanel so unforgettable uttered: “it is the unseen, the unforgettable that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure”.