skip to content enable focus indicator
BACK TO BLOG
Vacheron Constantin watch - THEA apartments in Downtown Los Angeles

Exceptional Watches & Luxury Jewelry

Tis the season to sparkle and shine, and nothing dazzles quite like a statement watch or bespoke piece of designer jewelry. This year, legendary European watchmakers have released new collections, including a limited edition watch by Hermès displaying an actual meteorite slice. On this side of the pond, Los Angeles jewelry designers are receiving accolades from the press and garnering prestigious awards. To shop local near THEA, DTLA’s historic St. Vincent Jewelry Center is open to the public and ready to explore. Or visit Arka Designs, a family-owned store at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel specializing in custom designs. If you’re ready to indulge in an exceptional watch or glittering accessory, this season, the sky’s the limit.

Hermès 434 N Rodeo Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Hermès’ new Arceau L’heure de la lune features an actual piece from space. The dial of this U.S.-only limited edition displays a slice of New York meteorite that was discovered by a fishing boat and later acquired by Hermès. The watch offers a unique vision of earth’s satellite: the simultaneous display of moon phases in both northern and southern hemispheres. Two mobile counters gravitate on a lunar, martian or Black Sahara meteorite dial, by turns revealing mother-of-pearl moons. These mischievous displays have swapped cardinal points, with the south in the north and the north in the south – a topsy-turvy direction inviting observers to lose their bearings, with their head in the stars.

Patek Philippe Geary’s 360 N Rodeo Dr #2, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

If you’re looking for an exceptional timepiece, you’ll meet your match with the Patek Philippe Grand Complications. A ‘complication’ in watchmaking is anything a mechanical watch might do beyond telling the time, such as annual calendars, dual time zones and World Time displays. Patek Philippe has been pursuing traditional Genevan watchmaking artistry without interruption since 1839 and has twice built the world’s most complicated portable timepiece. The manufacturer benefits from full creative freedom, which allows it to design, develop, and craft watches that connoisseurs consider to be the world’s finest – as pledged by its founders Antoine Norbert de Patek and Adrien Philippe.

Vacheron Constantin 365 N Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210

One of the most exciting new watches of 2020 is the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Tempo. With 24 horological functions and 1,163 components in its reference 2756 calibre, Vacheron Constantin’s one-of-a-kind Les Cabinotiers Tempo is the most complicated wristwatch in the world. The watchmaker’s Les Cabinotiers studio is well-known for turning out some of the most complicated and exceptional luxury timepieces in existence, all of which are one-of-a-kind. Founded in Geneva in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, Vacheron Constantin is the world’s oldest watch manufacturer in continuous production for over 260 years.

Anita Ko Jewelry

Los Angeles-based designer Anita Ko has always had a natural passion for jewelry. In 2006 she turned her passion into a flourishing business, establishing a timeless fine jewelry company. Designed for the modern woman who is always on the go, Anita creates a variety of unique and contemporary pieces that allow her customers to develop their own style and express their individuality. Anita Ko has an immense following and has been worn by celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Watson, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, and Rihanna.

Lisa Kim Fine Jewelry

Drawing inspiration from mythology, fantasy literature, graphic novels and ancient history, LIsa Kim Fine Jewelry is created for strong women. Each piece reminds us to be bold and brave in the face of our challenges, the way heroes were made in myth and legend. Based in Los Angeles, Lisa Kim works with the brightest talent to produce her jewelry locally. All of her pieces are made by hand, not by machine, and the maker passes power and intention on to the jewelry. Lisa Kim employs hand casting, fabrication, and chasing and repoussé to weave a memorable story into her jewelry that is to be told again and again throughout the ages.

Cathy Waterman

Cathy Waterman is a California-based jewelry designer and a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She is known for designing ethereal, feminine, lyrical jewelry using recycled metals and fair trade stones. Her creations have been worn on the Red Carpet by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Viola Davis, Jennifer Lawrence, and many more. In 2013, Michelle Obama wore a Cathy Waterman necklace and earrings to the Presidential Inauguration, which are now in the Smithsonian Museum.

St. Vincent Jewelry Center 650 South Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90014

Located in the heart of the jewelry district in downtown Los Angeles, St. Vincent Jewelry Center is the world’s largest jewelry center – a massive emporium encompassing over 700,000 square feet and over 500 retail and wholesale jewelers serving your jewelry needs at savings of up to 80%. While you’re there, take time to linger in St. Vincent Court, one of the city’s most beloved passageways. Relax in a charming corridor of quaint shopfronts, cafes and cobbled brick, and take advantage of the picture-perfect setting for a selfie or two. No one will believe you’re not in a small European village.

Arka Designs Fine Jewelry 506 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071

Arka Designs is a fine jewelry retailer located in the lobby of the historic Millennium Biltmore hotel, in Downtown Los Angeles. Specializing in custom jewelry, Arka will collaborate with you on a concept and bring your idea to life. They will share with you sketches and 3D renderings, and discuss details from stones to curve and color. Arka Designs sells lab-created diamonds as well as natural diamonds. All Arka designs are handcrafted in Los Angeles, which means artisans, not machines, shape the pieces by hand.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Vacheron Constantin

Photo #2: Hermès

Photo #3: Patek Phillippe

Photo #4: Vacheron Constantin

Photo #5: Anita Ko

Photo #6: Lisa Kim Fine Jewelry

Photo #7: Cathy Waterman

Photo #8: St. Vincent Court/Wikimedia Commons

Photo #9: Arka Designs