Jewellery

"I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet." —Carrie Bradshaw

Accessories are my weaknesses. They are usually small details, yet it highlights strongly a person's style.

From earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, all are statements on its own. They make something plain looks wow.

Hermes designs are inspired from the horse carriage trade, it is no surprise chunky jewellery features in its collection, and here you have the croisette ring and kelly chain.

Another of my favourite are collections from Van Cleef and Arpels. The Magic Alhambra range, with motifs representing luck, health, fortune and love, are elegant pieces with a tad of whimsical feel.

Many assume fashion jewellery are expensive. In my opinion, Tiffany & Co. has been and still is the market leader for luxury fashion jewellery, not to be confused with luxury fine jewellery. Whilst Tiffany is constantly updating its style, upcoming competition comes from brands like Gucci, which focuses on silver vintage styles.

Loewe, Spanish

Bags

Satchels, crossbody, totes, handcarry, clutches, backpacks - all in the name of a carrier to contain personal belongings on a daily basis.

But the fact is they still sell. There are consumers who are loyal to a particular brand, there are customers who are collecting brands.

So what is about a bag that the demand for it is always there?

A brand direction and design usually follows that of a change in its Creative Director. A good example would be Loewe, where it shifted away from its classic Amazona range to the funkier Puzzle and Gate range. Similarly, the change in logo design and name for Yves Saint Lauren.

Watches

There is a whole lot of stories and learnings within the watch industry.

Appreciation of watch is a whole lot more technical compared to jewellery and bags. Yet this is where stories and brands tie in very strongly together. Other than the intricacies, workmanship. what is very compelling is the heritage and purpose of the different collections.

At Vacheron Constantin, the story behind the American 1921 is the 45 degree angle tilt which makes it easy for a car driver to look at the time without having to move his hand away from the driver's wheel.

For IWC, the Pilot series' distinctive features are its big conical crown, illuminated dial hands, triangular mark at the 12 o'clock position, all to allow for ease of use when pilots are in full concentration during piloting.

I have recently visited Malmaison by The Hourglass, which makes me feel like I have travelled to a Parisian departmental store.