As a Miami Beach resident, I have always been a fan of the wonderful Bal Harbour shops. But one would need to be drinking far too many mojitos not to notice the shift as more and more top tier jewelry houses move their flagship boutiques to the Miami Design District.
With an open courtyard housing several of the worlds best luxury brand watches, including Hublot, Vacheron, IWC, Ulysse Nardin, Jaeger-Le-Coultre, A. Lange & Sohne, Rolex and more, this diamonds girl decided to check out the jewelry houses!
First stop was the king of diamonds, Harry Winston. This beautiful double story boutique has everything your heart could ever desire, from haute joaillerie to engagement rings. My top pick? This perfect necklace, with two lines of round diamonds twisting together and ending in perfect pear shape diamonds. Elegant and chic, it has more than enough ice to keep you cool on a hot Miami day!
Next up….Cartier. The boutique has several jaw dropping one of a kind pieces from their high jewelry range that will have you gasping in delight, and it also houses all their collections (amulette, cactus, panthere, just en clou, trinity, and ecrou), so this is where you can add to your stack of love bracelets! I chose to play with the cactus collection, and of course, I can never, ever resist a piece of panthere! This particular Panthere Cuff, with its emerald eyes, and sapphire and diamond body was without doubt one of the most beautiful I have ever seen!
From Cartier I crossed the road to Van Cleef & Arpels, where the charming team was waiting to warmly welcome me with several delights! I have always been a huge fan of the iconic VCA zipper necklaces, so having the opportunity to play with one was a dream come true. Yes, the zippers actually work, and you can wear the necklace with the zip as open or as closed as you wish. Some fun facts: every zipper necklace is unique, no two are the same! And did you know the necklaces can also be converted into a bracelet? What a bonus! And how could I resist the delight of stacking a handful of VCA rings? And trying on an all diamonds Fairy Watch? Never!
By this stage, Bulgari was calling my name….Playing Diva has never been more fun than with Bulgari’s Diva Collection! I stacked up on bracelets and rings, although the store has an incredible range that includes earrings and necklaces too. The all diamond Diva items were of course a firm favorite of mine, but truth be told, each piece is stunningly beautiful.
Other places to visit include Jason Of Beverly Hills, whose edgy fine jewelry has been a hit in Miami. From diamond covered angel wings to diamond covered bullets, and with champagne always on tap, this super cool boutique is a welcome addition to the Miami jewelry scene. On the upper level sits two boutiques which are well worth a visit – Yvel and Sevan Bicikci. Yvel specializes in combining pearls with other precious stones, for example, diamonds and sapphires. The resulting creations are modern and fresh – no dowdy pearls here! Sevan Bicikci is a Turkish design who I first met at a jewelry show in Las Vegas many years ago. I was delighted to discover his plans to open in Miami, as there is absolutely nothing like his jewelry to be found anywhere here! Each piece is a miniature work of art that has to be seen to be believed, oftentimes paying homage to his native Turkey with bejeweled images from the city housed under glass domes. Like I said – it as to be seen to be believed! That ends my Miami Design District tour – I hope I have sufficiently wet your appetite so that you pay this beautiful area a visit when next in Miami. If you do so….I recommend lunch at Michaels Genuine Food, a longtime favorite of mine! Enjoy!
