We recently discovered Thomas Kosmala and his captivating perfumes are without a doubt a true sensory journey. Thomas Kosmala is a renowned name in the world of perfumery, celebrated for his exceptional olfactory creations that captivate the senses and evoke emotions. Created and refined in his independent laboratory in the South of France, his perfume collection delivers contemporary scent profiles that are as unique as they are unisex.
Posts filed under Fashion & Style
From the Editor: Explaining Quiet Luxury and Why the Loro Piana Open Walk is Geneva's Watch Collectors' Grail Shoe.
In a world filled with ostentatious displays and clamorous extravagance, there exists a rare breed of luxury that whispers its elegance rather than boasting it aloud, and that we call ‘quiet luxury’. Walking through the streets of Geneva in Switzerland, one can attest to the finest examples of it. It is the realm of quiet luxury, where refinement and sophistication are found in the subtlest of details. Quiet luxury is marked by an understated charm, a sense of effortless grace that captivates without overwhelming. It is a sanctuary from the raucousness of trends and the constant need for attention.
Experience: Michael Aram Backgammon Set. Shades of Grey Like a Richard Mille RM 016 Americas Orange Limited Edition.
As you all know, here at WCL we have a thing for backgammon and backgammon sets. In 2021, we launched The Backgammon & Watches Society here at WCL and we’ve been playing this amazing game even before we were of legal drinking age. Even though we already have way too many cool backgammon sets, you can never have too many. Exactly just like you can never have way too many watches. The Michael Aram Backgammon set is the perfect match to the shades of grey on the extra flat Richard Mille RM 016 Americas Orange Limited Edition of which only 15 pieces were ever made.
Experience: The House of Creed Aventus Cologne. Shades of Grey to Break the Rules.
The latest and greatest from The House of Creed since the launch of Viking in 2017 is the Aventus Cologne. Despite this new fragrance could be considered by many purists as sacrilege, Creed went ahead and broke the rules just like Audemars Piguet did with the Royal Oak and launched this incredible scent after the huge success of Viking almost two years later. With its bottle dressed in grey, many would wonder why grey? Well, simply because the original Aventus for men is black and the Aventus for women is white.
Experience: Smythson Oxblood Camouflage Burlington Cardholder & Passport Holder. One of the Sexiest Camo Patterns on Leather.
A couple of years ago camouflage patterns became a thing, and most of the high-end leather goods manufacturers decided to jump on the bandwagon, some sooner rather than later. While it took Smythson of Bond Street a little longer than most, the Oxblood Camouflage Burlington Cardholder and Passport Holder are must have if you like camo leather goods. Since we’ve talked about Smythson a few times here at WCL, we don’t need to tell you much about their history but instead, focus on the cardholder and passport holder we have here.
Experience: Carlen Parfums Aztec Noir. Like the Japanese Culture Rich in Sensorial Stimulation.
We recently discovered Brooklyn-based Carlen Parfums and fell in love with their Aztec Noir fragrance. The name of this perfumier comes from the name Carlen, a German woman’s name which is a variant of Carlene or Carolina and which translates to ‘free man.’ With reverence to this androgynous muse, Carlen Parfums seeks to dismantle bonds of gender, place, and time and develop unique fragrances that can be worn by anyone regardless of gender orientation.
Experience: Diptyque 'Tempo' Eau de Parfum. A Nod to 'The Sixties', Like the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500.
The 1960s, was a one of the greatest decades of the modern era for many reasons. During 'The Sixties' not only man conquered space by landing and walking on the surface of the moon, but also one of the most iconic and legendary watches of all time was born. The Rolex Cosmograph was born in 1963 when a new exotic scent was changing the world. Born only two years after the release in 1961 of Dyptique's first fragrance 'L'Eau', the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is today, as perfect as it was more than 50 years ago.
Experience: Rossignol 1907 Chamonix Alpine Boots. Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge Like a Platinum Offshore.
In preparation for winter, nothing beats a good pair of Rossignol 1907 Chamonix Alpine Boots to keep you warm and dry and looking like a million bucks as if you just came down from the slopes in Chamonix, Gstaad, or St. Moritz. Rossignol is a brand that was born in the French Alps in 1907 and is truly an icon of the past and a symbol of the present. If you know, you know, and if you know anything about skiing, Après-ski, and the proper gear for it, these boots are a must-have this season.
Experience: Fauré Le Page Back Up 32 Paris Blue Backpack. Perfect Match to a Patek Philippe 5524.
It is no secret that here at WCL we love all things Fauré Le Page. The latest addition to the collection is their new backpack called the Back Up 32 Paris Blue Ecailles Canvas. Available in three different sizes, the 32 is the largest one, this backpack is one of the nicest items we’ve gotten from Fauré Le Page. The backpack usually comes in steel grey —black—, empire green, red ivress, or Paris blue. Measuring 32 cm —12.6 inches— in width at the base by 34 cm —13.8 inches— in height and 11.3 cm —4.3 inches— in depth, the Fauré Le Page Back Up 32 Paris Blue is perfect for daily use or when you are traveling around the world in style.
Experience: Hermès Pavage Watch Box. There are Watch Boxes and Then There's this One.
When it comes to watch boxes, the options are infinite. From leather, to fabric, to wood, watch boxes come in all sorts of shapes and forms. And just like some watch boxes are meant to be taken around the world as you travel with your precious possessions, other watch boxes are meant to simply stay at home and be that one statement decor piece that you lust after day after day.
Experience: Shanghai Tang Jade Dragon. Awakening Olfactory Travel Memories Alongside a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time.
Wearing a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time calls for exploration and world discoveries. We still remember like if it was yesterday the day we walked into the Shanghai Tang boutique in Kowloon during a hot and humid day in Hong Kong. If you’ve ever been to Hong Kong, the name Shanghai Tang is no stranger to you. Inspired by the Chinese cultural icons of the 1930s Bund, a glamorous time when Hong Kong was famous for its architecture, fashion, music and commercial activities, Shanghai Tang first opened in the iconic Pedder Building in Hong Kong as a unique concept store for customers looking for authentic Chinese products and bespoke tailoring.
Experience: The House of Creed Viking. As Bold and Manly as an AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver on the Wrist.
One of our favorite fragrances from The House of Creed since the launch of Aventus in 2010 is the Viking. For those of you not familiar with Creed, The House of Creed is the oldest perfumer in the world, established in London in 1760 by James Henry Creed. A supplier to the English Court with custom tailored clothing, scented leather gloves and commissioned fragrances, The House of Creed was a favorite to the Royal Court of England.
Experience: Jonathan Adler Eden Backgammon Set. Perfect Match to a Black Ceramic Laureato.
Last year we launched The Backgammon & Watches Society here at WCL. Since then, we’ve been on the search for the coolest backgammon sets and were not going to lie, we already have too many of them. But just like with watches, there’s never such thing as too many. Backgammon is one of the oldest board games in the world that dates back to Mesopotamia around 5,000 B.C. It is a very sophisticated board game often played by the elite and royals.
Experience: Goyard Goyardine Ambassade Briefcase. The Color of Money is Green and so is a Rolex Submariner Hulk.
While there are many wonderful European maroquiniers or leather Maisons from France to choose from, Maison Goyard along with Fauré Le Page are those that typically stand out as Louis Vuitton is extremely more mainstream. Goyard originally started as the House of Martin in 1792 by Pierre-Fraçois Martin specialized in box-making, trunk-making, and packing. Originally the brand was known as a specialist in box-making, trunk-making, and packing. Pierre-Fraçois Martin was the guardian of a young woman named Pauline whom he arranged to marry his employee, Louis-Henry Morel. As her dowry for her wedding, Pierre-Fraçois Martin gave his business to Morel. In 1834, the House of Martin moved its store from 4, rue Neuve des Capucines to 347, rue Saint-Honoré.
Experience: Byredo Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum. The Scent of a Library and its Leather-Bound Archive Books.
If you are an avid reader of WCL, then you already know we love great fragrances and especially those that are mode under the radar. From Creed and Penhaligon’s to Diptyque, Frédéric Malle, and everything in between, we are always in constant search for the ultimate scent to pair with our watches. Byredo and its most iconic scent Bibliothèque is our latest find and a new favorite here at WCL.
Experience: Leopine Gentalovers Socks. Keeping the Gap Between Your Pants and Shoes in Style.
While here at WCL we’ve never been the biggest fans of socks with patterns or designs, we do have to give our friends at Leopine a round of applause for releasing yet another splendid watch-centric collection of socks. As we’ve talked about it before, Leopine is a relatively new brand that started selling swimwear and pocket squares a couple of years ago.
Experience: Diptyque Eau Rihla. Just like a Journey in Watch Collecting.
Olfactory memories are the longest lasting memories and smelling good is always a must. When you collect watches for the right reasons and not for bragging rights, you are the kind of man that also likes to indulge in life’s luxuries in a non-pretentious way. An exquisite fragrance very much like an understated iconic watch brings an air of distinction that is unrivaled and that is gently appreciated by those in the know.
Experience: WOLF Memento Mori Triple Watch Roll. Protecting People's Legacies.
We’ve been using watch rolls and cigar cases from WOLF for several years but we have not featured them here at WCL. However, after getting their newest Memento Mori triple watch roll we knew it was time to give credit where credit is due and tell you guys/gals more about them.
Experience: Fauré Le Page Three Watch Travel Case
Here at WCL, we were the earliest adopters of the Fauré Le Page brand and our love for them doesn’t cease. Fauré Le Page is renowned for creating Napoleon's vermeil saber and Louis XVI's hunting pieces, and the brand evolved in the 1800s to become a provider of hand-painted leather holsters and gun bags for the same firearms and weapons their clients were buying from them.
Experience: Rimowa Aluminum Watch Case. Great Looking but Quite Heavy and Cumbersome.
When the Rimowa limited edition watch case was released, we were all over it and we really liked it. Finally, we now get to bring you or impressions on one of the coolest looking three-watch cases out there that is now sold out. Rimowa was launched in Germany in 1898 with the production of wooden trunks at a manufacture in Cologne. In 1937, the very first aluminum trunk was created by the founder's son, Richard Morszeck —the abbreviation of his name gives Rimowa their name. In 1950 Inspired by the golden age of aviation, they added their iconic and distinctive grooves to their aluminum suitcases and in 2000 they released their line of polycarbonate luggage which was groundbreaking at the time.
