Cartier legends say this New York flagship store was bought for a string of pearls in 1917. Now, nearly 100 years later, the Fifth Avenue mansion has undergone renovations to bring brilliance back to the iconic landmark. The jeweler worked with French architect Thierry Despont to return the mansion to its former luxury.

The mansion was built in 1905 for fancier Morton Freeman Plant. After a decade of living at the Fifth Avenue location, Plant and his wife Maisie believed the area was over-commercialized and set their sites uptown. Cartier saw an opportunity upon learning Maisie’s admiration of an extremely rare double strand pearl necklace. The necklace featured 128 perfectly matched natural pearls, an extreme rarity valued at $1 million in 1916 — that’s the equivalent of nearly $18.5 million in 2016! Cartier offered a trade, the necklace and an additional $100 for the mansion, which the Plants accepted.

The building was last renovated in 2001 and posed a unique challenge as an official New York City landmark. The restoration took two and half years and was finally revealed on Sept. 8th with a glamorous event during New York Fashion Week. Guests attending the event included new brand ambassador Sofia Coppola, Rooney Mara and other celebrities, along with performances by the New York City Ballet, Kacy Hill and others.

The restoration sought to combine a modern shopping experience with the luxurious atmosphere of a Parisian mansion. The space is better organized in six floors. On the ground level, the most iconic jewelry collections, like the Love, Trinity and Juste Un Clou collections are featured. The second floor is called the Pierre Cartier Salon which is where you can view and order a custom Cartier diamond engagement rings and view the Cartier high jewelry line.

The third floor houses men’s and women’s watches with the Santos-Dumont lounge and Andy Warhol salon. Accessories, leather goods and fragrances are found on the fourth floor along with the servicing department. The fifth floor is a workshop where master craftspeople work on the newest pieces. Finally, the sixth floor features an exhibition space and terrace.

View More Rooms Below

Photo Credit: cartier.com / artnet.com / hodinkee.com

Do you think you know it all when it comes to Cartier jewelery and watches? Test your knowledge and learn something new about the famous French jeweler!

Here are five ways to determine if your Cartier Love Bracelet is real—or just a really good fake.

1. Closely read the hallmarks and logos.

Every Cartier Love bracelet is stamped with a “hallmark” that indicates the metal quality. Love Bracelets made out of 18K gold are stamped with 18K, 750 or sometimes both numbers. Platinum Love Bracelets, meanwhile, are marked with the numerals 950. If those hallmarks are not impressed on your bracelet, it’s definitely a warning sign.

And double-check the spelling and typography of the Cartier logo. It the brand name is misspelled or not in the iconic cursive font, your bracelet is—sorry to say—a forgery.

2. Feel its weight and evaluate its quality.

Across its entire collection, Cartier uses only high-quality and durable gold and platinum metals. In turn, an immediate giveaway is the weight of the bracelet. Depending on their size and metal, a Cartier Love Bracelet should weigh between 30 and 38 grams (roughly the equivalent of five to six US quarter coins). Fake bracelets oftentimes are comparatively much lighter than authentic Love Bracelets.

Also areas of discoloration or chipping metal—even more so if there is another color underneath it—are indicators that the piece is not genuine.

Cartier is also very meticulous with their quality control. Therefore, the screws of the Love Bracelet should always be in perfect alignment.

3. Price compare.

Brand new standard yellow gold Cartier Love Bracelets retail for $6,300 USD and, because they are highly coveted and made of the finest materials by skilled craftsmen, they do not significantly depreciate in value. So keep that $6,300 figure in mind as you price compare; the quoted resale price should not waver too far from the original ticket price. So if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

But one notable outlier here is the Charles Revson Love Bracelet. In the 1970s, Cartier partnered with Charles Revson, founder of Revlon Cosmetics, to release a special edition Love Bracelet. Stamped with “Charles Revson” on the inside, this iteration was a less expensive version of the original. To keep costs low, the Revson Love Bracelets were electroplated and unscrewed only on one side.

These vintage Revson Love Bracelets are in circulation but should be advertised and priced accordingly. Some vendors may not disclose that you are looking at a Revson Love Bracelet and tag it as simply a Love Bracelet and pricing it as if it was a solid Love Bracelet. So beware if the price of the Love Bracelet you’re eyeing seems unusually inexpensive.

4. Verify the seller’s reputation.
Scrutinize the seller’s website and research any customer reviews that can provide insight into the seller’s legitimacy. Be wary of sellers who do not list where they’re headquartered or do not indicate where their product is being shipped from.

5. Get an official appraisal.
After you receive your Cartier Love Bracelet—even if you’re confident it’s 100% authentic—you should have it independently appraised as proof positive you’re in possession of the real thing. If you have further questions regarding TrueFacet’s authentication process, contact our concierge representative here.

The latest accessories and trends have just hit the runway at New York Fashion Week. Now, we just need to find out how to get the look! We’ve made a list of the biggest trends and best accessories from fashion week and how to get each look at any price point! Click on the images below to learn more about the piece.

1. Bold and Blue Earrings

The Show: Kate Spade
Get the Look:
1. Tacori Quartz Drop Earrings ($620)
2. YG Pearl Drop Earrings ($1200)
3. Judith Ripka Drop Earrings ($8500)

2. Black Leather Cuffs

The Show: Alexander Wang
Get the Look:
1. Michael ors Double Wrap Leather Bracelet ($225)
2. Hermes Collier de Chien Leather Bracelet ($1493)
3. Versace Medusa Bracelet ($2930)

3. White Florals

The Show: Marchesa
Get the Look:
1. Chanel Camellia Earrings ($340)
2. YG Pearl and Ruby Earrings ($499)
3. Van Cleef & Arpels Pearl and Diamond Earrings ($13,500)

4. Charm Necklace

The Show: Rodarte
Get the Look:
1. Emporio Armani Charm Necklace ($371)
2. Chanel Medallion Charm Necklace ($1995)
3. Louis Vuitton Idylle Blossom Charm Necklace ($2100)

Today, New York Fashion Week is the biannual must-attend event of the year. Although now designers show off their newest collections to the fashion elite, it wasn’t always in its present form. Keep reading to find out about the history of New York Fashion Week!

Before there was Fashion Week, the couture and high fashion world was exclusive to very few. Fashion shows, before they became a social and cultural event, were private events for exclusive clients to view the latest designs on live models. In 1903, a brand in New York City wanted to generate interest in their clothing, so they held an event which is now thought to be the first runway show in the United States.

Forty years later, during World War II, fashion designers and press publishers were unable to travel to Paris, the epicenter of high fashion. So, to draw attention to American fashion instead, publicist Eleanor Lambert founded the very first version of Fashion Week that was originally called “Press Week.” The event happened twice a year and was a loosely organized version of the fashion shows happening at shops and department stores already.

The shows were only coordinated to time and not a place before, but in 1993, they were brought together at a single location. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), founded by Eleanor Lambert, organized the events of Press Week into one location and called the event “7th on Sixth,” named after the events management company of the same name that was founded by the CFDA.

In 2004, after 7th on Sixth was sold to ING and then to Olympus, the name changed to Olympus Fashion Week. Similarly, in 2007, Mercedes-Benz gained primary sponsorship and the name changed to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Today, there is not a single location or event management company. The shows are still held within the same week, twice a year based on the fashion seasons, but are produced by several events management companies.

As Fashion Week in cities across the world became more about celebrity, combined with the proliferation of social media and internet influencers, the event is changing every year. This year, Fashion Week is finally accommodating the mass consumption of social media. Traditionally, the fashion shows presented collections that would be available in the following season, but this proved a problem as more and more people have become exposed the show’s content. Now, many designers are offering items for sale immediately following the show and pop-up shops offering the latest styles have surrounded the event.

In the face of a changing fashion scene, Fashion Week struggled, but with introspection and creative problem-solving, the event is adapting to the new media surrounding it. In a way, Fashion Week has reverted back to the old model without a central organizational model, allowing the event more flexibility and imagination. At the same time, it has evolved to embrace the new attention and excitement. With these changes bringing promise to the event, each season may be more successful than the last!

Photo Credit: notjustalabel.com / wnyc.org / cochicstyling.com

New York Fashion Week is under way and the newest jewelry trends are starting to emerge. These accessories are paired for springtime looks, but still wearable for the fall and winter season. We’ve kept our eye on the catwalk and streets for the up-and-coming trends. Keep reading to check out five of our favorite emerging jewelry trends.

1. Button Earrings

This season, trends are finally evolving. While last season was all about the statement — earrings and necklaces alike — this season we are seeing a more toned down version of our favorites. Button earrings popped up on the Kate Spade and Hellessy runways where large drop earrings were before.

2. Hammered Metal

Hammered metal was spotted throughout the shows, with Tom Ford the biggest proponent of the look. Creatures of the Wind followed suit with oversized hammered metal earrings to compliment flowing designs.

3. Golden Pendants

Simple, golden pendants are always a fashion fixture. We saw the look layered on the streets, and solo on the Yeezy runway.

4. Simple Collar Necklaces

While the choker ruled 2016, spring 2017 might loosen up a bit with collar necklaces. We spotted simple collar necklaces at Carolina Herrera and Dianne Von Furstenberg.

5. Tribal Necklaces

We spotted these large, tribal-inspired statement necklaces on the street and at the Tom Ford runway show. The Tom Ford show was filled with opulent, oversized, metal-heavy necklaces made from golden hoops, hammered metal and roughly cut-shapes.

Photo Credit: nymag.com / vogue.com / elle.com

Investing in a vintage watch is a smart way to put your money towards an item that you can immediately enjoy (and wear) and still has the potential to actually appreciate in value. However, we always caution: a return on your fine mechanical watch investment is never a given. Although some luxury watches may appreciate in value, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll be able to resell your watch for a premium.

Therefore, you want to purchase a watch that you will love regardless of whether or not it fetches a higher resale value. However, to hedge your bets, look for simple, classic, and conservative designs from well-established and legacy brands which are most likely to hold their value and accuracy over time.

To help you navigate the vast world of vintage and antique watches, our experts break down two key brands—Patek Philippe and Rolex—and which models will hold their value over time.

Vintage Patek Philippe

Vintage Patek Philippe watches retain their value better and appreciate more than any other watch brand. Fewer than one million Patek Philippe watches have been made since the brand was established in 1839. (To compare: Rolex makes nearly 1 million watches every year.) Patek Philippe watches are beautifully handcrafted; it can take up to nine months to produce a basic Patek Philippe watch and up to two years to manufacture a more complicated model. Therefore, the incredible scarcity and brand prestige add to the value of any Patek Philippe watch.

The Patek Philippe Calatrava is one of the safest watches to invest in. The Calatrava is a signature model for Patek Philippe and is considered prototypical of the Patek Philippe style and design. The model has also greatly appreciated in value; to wit, the Patek Philippe Calatrava retailed for $300 in 1950 ($3,121.58 in 2017 dollars). Today, the Patek Philippe Calatrava retails for roughly $20,000.

Similarly, the Patek Philippe Nautilus is another reliable investment, particularly if you can source a model from the 1970s and 80s. The Nautilus watch has largely outpaced inflation; the watch retailed for $3,000 in the 1980s (roughly $9,500 in today’s dollars), but now the model retails for $50,000.

Vintage Rolex

While Patek Philippe is a smart investment, their watches are still significant investments and can fall far outside of your budget. Therefore, Rolex is a more accessible investment opportunity.

Within its price range, Rolex has the best resale value of any of its competitors. Rolex is largely recognized as the quintessential status symbol and certain models have garnered an incredibly loyal following making them a particularly attractive investment.

The Rolex GMT-Master, Submariner and Daytona all have their devoted fan base and are likely to be easier to resell than other Rolex watch models. Rolex typically only makes inconspicuous updates to their watch models. Therefore, watches that are in the first release of a significant update can turn into a collectible item for Rolex devotees.

For more information about how to start a vintage watch collection, read our full post on the topic here.

The history of the watch industry within the 20th century is displayed in the vintage watch advertisements throughout the decades. We took a look back at watch ads from the 1900s to the 2000s to witness the rise, fall and rise again of mechanical timepieces. Keep reading to learn about the watch styles and innovations throughout the decades.

1900 & 1910

At the beginning of the 20th century, American watchmaking was at its peak. Companies like Waltham and Hamilton had applied industrialization to watchmaking, using machines to mass-produce intricate watch parts with accuracy and speed. While pocket watches were the timepiece of choice, the beginning of the century saw the rise in wristwatches which would continue to gain popularity over the next two decades.

’20s & ’30s

During the ’20s and ’30s, the wristwatch truly departed from the pocket watch. In early wristwatches, lugs were merely soldered onto a pocket watch case, but slowly the wristwatch took a shape of its own. Stylistically, during the Art Deco period of the 1920s, tonneau, rectangle and square-shaped cases were the dominant shapes, though circular cases were still fairly common. During this time, major technical advances were made as well, including the development of the self-winding movement and water resistance.

’40s & ’50s

The effect of World War II was apparent throughout every facet of American and international culture, including the watchmaking industry. During the 1940s, wristwatches were mostly produced for the armed forces, and the pieces were simple and well constructed in steel cases. The Swiss watch industry was especially successful during this time since Switzerland is a historically neutral nation that was able to produce watches for the Allied and German forces. Wartime efforts also led to an improvement in machining parts post-war. In the ’50s, movements became even more accurate thanks to better tools and practices. Many important watches were released in the ’50s as well, including the Omega Constellation and Breitling Navitmer.

’60s & ’70s

The 1960s was mostly a transition period in the watch industry — Rolex surpassed Omega for market share, watch movements continued to gradually improve, and electronic watches started to threaten the mechanical watch industry. In the early 1960s, Bulova released the Accutron, a precursor to the quartz watch. By the 1970s, the mechanical watch was viewed as an inaccurate relic of the past. Now, battery-powered quartz watches were more accurate for a fraction of the price of mechanical watches. This time is known as the quartz crisis in the watch industry. The more prestigious and established watchmakers managed to make it through the transition, but many small Swiss watchmakers were forced to shut down.

’80s & ’90s

The ’80s saw yet another shift in the watchmaking industry. The savviest Swiss companies saw an opportunity arise from the quartz crisis and decimation of the industry. Mechanical watchmakers began to market their product as a luxury item, handcrafted by professional craftsman. At this time, people began seeing vintage mechanical timepieces as collectibles, with new watch enthusiasts searching for their ultimate watch. The ’90s saw the continuation of this new era in Swiss watchmaking, with subtle changes and advancements to watch designs and movements.

Photo Credit: vintageadbrowser.com