As we greet summer with our khakis, polos, and breathable sports coats, the fashion world opens brightly with diverse possibilities. Not only are our wardrobe options more plentiful with favorable weather, but the social gatherings we can attend open up a lot more, too. So whether the next event you’re attending is a company party on a yacht cruising the bay, or a rooftop mixer in the heart of the city, you’ll be sure to stand out sporting quality TrueFacet men’s jewelry.

Check out TrueFacet’s guide for three men’s accessories that’ll make you stand out from the crowd this summer.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Gold & Steel Diamond Watch

Few brands elicit the shock appeal quite like the Rolex, and this Oyster Perpetual Gold & Steel Diamond watch is no different. Boasting a beautiful contrast of colors, the band is a combination of yellow gold and stainless steel, with the Bezel flashing yellow gold and genuine round cut diamonds. The dial set fuses a custom satin matte silver finish with diamond hour markers to bring luxury to your wrist in each and every movement you make.

Bulgari 18K WG 3 Band B Zero Ring

A true companion to the bold and fashionable gent, this three-band Bulgari ring is made up of 18k white gold and comes stylishly engraved with the “BULGARI” name. Don this 3-band beauty with pride and put the finishing touches on that summer ensemble. Ships free with a TrueFacet certificate of authenticity when you buy today!

18K Yellow Gold Men’s Signature X Cufflinks

A true touch of elegance, these Tiffany and Co. cufflinks are a gorgeous choice. Each cufflink is made up of a solid 18K gold X. If you have any jewelry collection to speak of, you can be sure these cufflinks will rise to the top of his list of favorites. Just be prepared to keep these in an easily accessible spot in your jewelry drawer—you’ll be pulling them out a lot.

Think one of these accessories is the summer party accessory you’ve been looking for? Order now and get free shipping just in time for your summer soiree.

Ranked No. 65 on the Forbes list of the most valuable global brands, Rolex certainly has many accomplishments to boast about. From creating the first waterproof wristwatch with the “Oyster” back in 1926, to having the first watch displaying two time zones at once in 1954, Rolex’s status worldwide is unquestionably timeless and luxurious. So while you ponder the next gem to add to your collection, consider one of these striking Rolex watches for men.

Rolex Datejust Blue Luminous Stainless Steel Watch

When a watch made by one of the most recognized brands in the world gets a custom blue dial set and 18k white gold bezel facelift, people take notice. Luminous rectangles mark the hours with a date at the 3 o’clock position and a crown at the 12. Water-resistant and automatic moving, keeping time has never been more pleasurable. This Rolex Datejust is ideal for the watch-hobbyist looking to move up a tier in the game.

Vintage Rolex Viceroy

This manual-ticking vintage viceroy wristwatch may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Rolexes, but it may sway your perspective. With a solid stainless steel case, white dial and leather bracelet strap, it’s hard to find a more classic, straightforward watch. Get back in touch with your watch roots and take this viceroy for a rotation or two around the dial.

Rolex Explorer Stainless Steel Automatic

The sophisticated, modern man needs something luxurious yet sleek, and that’s exactly what this stainless steel Rolex Explorer offers. Its black dial and glowing hands contrast well with the Arabic numbers at the 3, 6 and 9 positions. Water-resistant and automatic, the Explorer will endure for years to come.

Vintage Rolex

Another blast from the past, this manual, gold-plated wristwatch will give you an old world look to pair with your wool coat and Prince Albert tie knot. Roman numerals accentuate the manual-ticking hands, white dial, and seconds sub-dial at the 6 o’clock position. This Vintage Rolex will be something to cherish for years to come.

Rolex Explorer II

Once again weaving between classic and modern, this Rolex Explorer II broadcasts a contemporary, no-nonsense approach to the utility of the watch. Automatic moving with 24-hour markings around the rim and a date display in the 3 o’clock position prove utility and style aren’t mutually exclusive. The Explorer II’s black-dialed contrast with silver-tone hands and a stainless steel finish throughout will have pops turning heads everywhere you stroll.

Like these Rolex watches for men? Order one now and receive free shipping! Or speak to an expert at 1-800-690-3736 to help make your decision easier.

Pantone, a color consulting agency in New Jersey, reigns supreme in the world of color. Each year, the company’s committee of color experts announces its prediction of color of the year. In December, the reddish-brown color dubbed Marsala was selected as 2015’s color of the year. We’ve seen the color on the runway and, true to prediction, it has found its way into the color palettes of fashionistas across the world. This has left us wondering, how exactly do they choose what shade to honor with the title?

According to color expert Leatrice Eiseman, the committee noticed Marsala making appearances in fashion collections in the fall, though not heavily. While the committee travels to fashion capitals of the world — London, Paris, Milan and New York included — they observe street fashion, automobiles, films and art. They take notes and photos while observing a large picture of the world, so they can determine the colors prevalent throughout every facet of society.

Here’s a look at the past Pantone colors of the year.

Marsala has also been included in the Fall 2015 color predictions, also made by Pantone color experts. The palette for the fall is titled “An Evolving Color Landscape.” It includes earthy tones and bold and natural colors to reflect the landscape. These colors were determined by the most prevalent runway colors from various designers during New York Fashion Week in February.

For more information about the fall color palette predictions, visit the Pantone website.

This Father’s Day, learn a little more about your dad’s favorite watch. There are favorites for a reason and these three companies have plenty of reasons and history for your father’s admiration.

Rolex:

If your dad is obsessed with precision, functionality and being the best, then it probably makes sense that Rolex is his favorite watch company.

Hans Wildorf was only 24 when he opened his first store. This store was originally located in London, where he established himself in the watch industry. In 1908, the store formally became Rolex as Wildorf finally found the exact word he was looking for — a word that was short, easy and memorable in any language. By 1910, Rolex became the first watch company to earn the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision. Then, in 1919 the company moved to Geneva, Switzerland.

Rolex was the first of many more, including the first waterproof watch, the first self-winding mechanism, the first watch to fly over Mt. Everest, the first to climb to the peak of Mt. Everest, the first to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and the list goes on.

Omega:

Not many watch companies have as many “official” responsibilities quite like Omega. We will just list a few. Omega is the official timekeeper for combat units the British Royal Flying Corps and American army. Omega has also been the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932.

The watch company is also responsible for a lot of amazing watch firsts. The Omega Speedmaster was the first watch in space and the preferred watch of NASA. The Speedmaster is also the only watch certified for use in space outside of an aircraft. Finally, it was the first watch on the moon, worn by Buzz Aldrin. Omega is also the first watch to the North and South Pole.

Breitling:

Breitling is a company that built its success on the ties between father and son. The Swiss watch company was founded by Leon Breitling who passed the business to his son, Gaston, who, in turn, past the company on to his son Willy. Together, the family created a company longstanding and impressively innovative.

Founded in 1884, Breitling has been focused on chronographs for science and industrial use. Gaston followed in the inventive footsteps of his father and created the first chronograph wristwatch.

From the beginning, the company intended to aid the advancement of science and industry, and it has successfully done so ever since. Breitling supplies watches to the Royal Air Force, the American military and pilots across the world.

Photo Credit: nbcnews.com

You probably thought this accessory was a ‘don’t’ straight out of your great-grandmother’s closet. Fashion has a way of cycling through the styles, and this year, designers have reinvented the brooch. From Prada to Celine to Balenciaga and Chanel, our favorite designers have featured this accessory in their ready-to-wear collections. Check out our favorites below!

1. Chanel

[Jade Butterfly Brooch] [Blue Monarch Butterfly Brooch]

This feminine and flowy look is perfect for the summer. Just add a butterfly brooch to add a touch of color and flair.

2. Oscar de la Renta

[Chanel Onyx & Diamond Brooch][Givenchy Flower Pin]

If you tend to dress in monochrome, take advice from the Oscar de la Renta runway. Monochrome patterns were accessorized with floral brooches to break up the monotony while keeping the color palette simple.

3. Dolce & Gabbana

[Givenchy 5 Star][T&C Wreath][T&C Feather][Chanel Snowflake][T&C Brooch/Earring Set]

There was no such thing as too much in Dolce & Gabbana’s RTW show. Looks were accessorized with as many matching brooches they could fit as possible. We were fond of the glittering gold.

4. Les Copains

[T&C Sapphire Dragon Fly Brooch][Cellino Insect Brooch]

For fantastic and feminine accessories, Les Copains paired sparking earrings with sparkling necklaces and brooches too. We especially liked the nature-inspired glittering insect brooch.

Photo Credit: atelieralicante.com, mandyciccone.co, popsugar.com

Pearls: lustrous, beautiful and coveted. They’ve been an essential part of the finest jewelry longer than most other gemstones. Throughout history, pearls have been exclusive to only the elite and wealthiest in the world. Some designers perfected the design of pearl jewelry, others have innovated the industry, and then others have brought pearls to the masses. Check out these famous pearl designers to learn how they changed the world of pearl jewelry.

Mikimoto

In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto grew the first manmade pearl. Though the pearl was only semi-spherical, this was only the beginning as Mikimoto would spend the next 20 years perfecting his process. It wasn’t until 1905 that he would culture the first perfectly round pearl. By 1913 the Mikimoto company was successful enough to open a store abroad in London.

Pearl farming, or periculture, was controversial when Mikimoto began. Because natural pearls of high quality are extremely rare, they are extremely expensive. Mikimoto had found a way to sell beautiful pearls for a fraction of the price and when he brought his cultured pearls to the world market he was sued by the top jewelers. The result: farmed pearls had to be called cultured pearls.

Cultured pearls were publicly perceived as fake initially, so the pearl farmer worked tirelessly to change the attitude. Mikimoto was dedicated to producing only high-quality pearls and he wanted to make this known to the world. He even went as far as to burn tons of low-quality pearls as a publicity stunt to prove it.

Ultimately, Mikimoto’s company was a success. The brand is synonymous with cultured pearls and cultured pearls have become the standard in pearl jewelry. Today, 95 percent of the pearls used in jewelry are cultured.

Chanel

Chanel might not exactly be known for real pearls, but her iconic costume jewelry was partly influenced by her love of pearls. Because they were her favorite accessory, Coco Chanel was always spotted with ropes of pearl around her neck.

However, as she found herself in relationships with wealthy and influential men, like the Duke of Westminster, she was criticized for her lavish lifestyle. To combat this, Chanel designed her own costume jewelry instead. Without giving up the pearls, Chanel incorporated imitation pearls into her designs.

Today, the pearl designs have remained a staple of Chanel’s jewelry lines. The costume jewelry lines are reminiscent of Chanel’s original designs. The fine jewelry line is inspired by the costume lines but with more intricate designs, real pearls and precious metals and gemstones.

Cartier

Cartier may not have made pearls a fashion icon in an obvious way, but they’ve certainly recognized the value and beauty of the perfect pearls. The jewelers have played part in the design of the world’s most expensive pearl jewelry.

Cartier’s flagship store in New York was purchased by Jacques Cartier for a double-strand pearl necklace. The building was owned by New York financier Morton F. Plant. The story goes that Plant’s wife was fond of the pearls on display at the former Cartier store. At the same time Plant was selling his house and Cartier was looking for a new location. Aware of Mrs. Plants affinity for the pearls, Jacques Cartier offered him $100 along with the rare double-strand pearl necklace valued at $1 million. Later Mikimoto would introduce cultured pearls to the market and after the death of Mrs. Plant, the pearl necklace only sold for $150,000.

Another double-strand pearl necklace cost a little bit more. Cartier aided in the design of a rare 120-pearl necklace that sold for $3.7 million. The jeweler also aided in the design of the Baroda Pearl Necklace, valued at $7.1 million. Finally, the late Elizabeth Taylor, when in possession of arguably the most famous pearl in the world, La Peregrina Pearl, commissioned Cartier jewelers to redesign the necklace. It is currently set with more pearls, diamonds and rubies.

Pearls are truly a unique and rare gemstone. Here are 10 facts about pearls that may surprise you!

1. Pearls are the only gemstone that come from a living organism.
Gemstones are a mineral crystal that form in the Earth’s crust or mantle when magma slowly cools under immense pressure. Although a pearl is classified as a gemstone, it is not true a mineral; a pearl is instead a composite of the mineral calcite or calcium carbonate and layers of nacre, the organic material created by an oyster’s mantle.

2. Although any shelled mollusk can produce a pearl, the more valuable nacre-covered pearls are made in oysters.
An oyster’s mantle is the organ that actually produces the oyster’s shell, converting food into vital minerals. Lining the inside of the shell is a material called nacre. A natural pearl forms when a foreign substance (like a grain of sand) falls in between the mantle and the shell, effectively irritating the mantle. As a defense mechanism, the oyster then covers the bothersome foreign object with layers and layers of nacre to create a pearl.

3. The color of the pearl depends on the color of the inside of the shell it comes from.
In between layers of the oyster’s inside-shell nacre are layers of organic “glue” called conchiolin. Conchiolin can have a natural pigmentation which appears as blue, grey, yellow, green, pink or orange hues which are then absorbed into the surface of the pearl. Thus we see pearls in a variety of colors.

As for the allusive black pearls, they get their color from a very specific type of black-lipped Tahitian oyster. Unlike most oysters where the interior nacre is white or silver, the nacre of a Tahitian oyster has a band of black running through it. And, when a pearl forms near that strip of color, it absorbs the rich black color.

4. Natural pearls are found in about one of every 10,000 oysters.
Pearls are an incredibly rare occurrence in nature and were made even rarer in the 1930s when oyster beds were over-harvested and severely depleted to meet rising consumer demand. It is estimated that, for every ton of oysters harvested, only three or four of them will have gem-quality pearls.

5. Today, most pearls are cultured.
The majority of pearls you see today are cultured or human- or farm-made pearls. An irritant is implanted within the oyster to mimic the natural formation of a pearl. An estimated 99% of pearls in the market today are cultured pearls.

6. Kokichi Mikimoto is credited as the first man to ever create an artificially produced round pearl.
In 1878, Japanese entrepreneur Kokichi Mikimoto began exhaustively exploring methods to create perfectly round cultured pearls. In 1896, Mikimoto received a patent for his cultured pearls and completely revolutionized the pearl jewelry business. Mikimoto continued to advance the science of cultured pearls and vastly expanded his business into the international powerhouse and veritable leader of pearl jewelry it is today.

7. The oldest pearl necklace ever discovered was found in the sarcophagus of an ancient Persian princess, dating back to 350 BCE.
In 1901, archeologists uncovered what is believed to be the oldest pearl necklace in Susa, an ancient city in Iran. Buried inside the precious stone-encrusted sarcophagus was the skeleton of a woman adorned with gold ornaments and the pearl necklace. The necklace was incredibly deteriorated with only 238 of the estimated original 500 pearls, some of which crumbled away when touched.

8. Famed jeweler Jacques Cartier bought the land for the Cartier New York flagship store on 5th Avenue for $100 and a pearl necklace.

In 1917, New York millionaire Morton F. Plant sold his palatial, six-story 5th Avenue building to Cartier for $100 and a pearl necklace his young bride had her eye on. The necklace was worth an estimated $1 million (roughly $22 million today) but, unfortunately for Plant, this was just before cultured pearls started flooding the market, wildly devaluing his precious necklace. When the pearl necklace sold at the time of Mrs. Plant’s death in 1957, it fetched a mere $150,000 (approximately $1.3 million today).

8. Cleopatra, the last Queen of Egypt, drank a pearl dissolved in vinegar to win a bet with Marc Anthony.
Legend speculates that Cleopatra made a bet with her lover Marc Anthony that she could top his extravagant lifestyle by eating a single meal that cost 10,000,000 sesterces (roughly $30 million in modern dollars). Marc Anthony took her up on the ridiculous bet. The following night, after a languorous feast (one that was expensive but not $30-million-expensive), Cleopatra removed one of her large pearl earrings that were believed to be the largest pearls in the world. She dropped it into a glass of vinegar, waited for the pearl to dissolve, and drank it. Just before she removed her second earring, Lucius Plancus, the night’s de facto referee, intervened and dubbed Cleopatra the winner.

10. Pearls have their own vocabulary for length.

A collar hangs directly against the neck. A choker sits at the base of the neck. The princess length hangs just below the collarbone. The manatee length hangs just above the breast. The opera length reaches the breastbone or sternum of the wearer. Finally, the rope length hangs at any length lower than the opera length.

It is estimated that for every 10,000 oysters harvested, only one will contain a high-quality pearl. The scarcity of natural pearls in turn makes them incredibly valuable—and incredibly well sought-after. Celebrities, jewelry connoisseurs, royals from every continent, and more have paid millions of dollars to get their hands on high-quality pearls, some of which fetched record-breaking sums. Here are seven of those fabulous pieces: the most expensive pieces of pearl jewelry in the world.

1. Marie Antoinette-Barbara Hutton Pearl Stand Necklace

This historic pearl necklace had two rather infamous owners. The first was the doomed Marie Antoinette, the vilified queen of France who was beheaded during the French Revolution in 1793. The next tragic owner was the socialite Barbara Hutton. Heiress to the Woolworth Department Store fortune, Hutton received the necklace as wedding gift from her father in 1933. Hutton was wildly wealthy in her youth, but frivolous and careless spending throughout her lifetime would ultimately leave her bankrupt by the time of her death.

This storied necklace features 44 pearls ranging from 8.7-16.33mm with a diamond and turquoise clasp. It sold at a Christie’s auction for $1.6 million USD in 1999.

2. Five Strand Natural Pearl Necklace

This five-strand pearl necklace includes 349 lustrous pearls, ranging from 4.1mm-11.35mm. (For comparison, the largest pearl was bigger than the width of an M&M candy.) Each pearl was tested by the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute who confirmed the authenticity of the saltwater natural pearls. The necklace’s comparatively modest closure is a simple blue silk cord. The necklace was auctioned in 2012 as a part of Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels showcase. The winning bid was $1.7 million USD.

3. Cowdray Pearls

The Cowdray Pearls were originally owned by Viscountess Cowdray, Lady Pearson (1860- 1932). Her husband, Weetman Dickinson Pearson, First Viscount Cowdray, made his fortune as a construction and oil industrialist and was allegedly the sixth richest man in Britain when he died in 1927. Viscountess Cowdray was revered for her fine taste and superb collection of art, furniture, and, of course, fine jewelry.

This pearl necklace features 38 grey pearls and a rectangular diamond clasp. The pearls range from 6.8-11.4mm in diameter and are brown to grey with purple and green overtones in color to give it even more dimension. This stunning necklace fetched over $3.35 million USD in 2012 when it was put up for auction at Christie’s in London.

4. Rare Double-Strand Pearl Necklace

This double-strand pearl necklace may not have a name, but it easily holds its own in quality against the other fabulous pieces on this list. The necklace features 120 large pearls, ranging from 6.5-12.25mm in size. (For comparison, the largest pearl is even wider than a penny’s diameter.) The pearls are strung together and secured with a cushion cut three carat diamond clasp, a type IIa piece—the most chemically pure type of diamond—signed by Cartier. The necklace was auctioned at Christie’s in 2012 and fetched $3.7 million USD.

5. Duchess of Windsor Single Strand Necklace

Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, was an avid and scrupulous fine jewelry collector. Throughout her life she amassed an exquisite collection of exceptional jewels, including this stunning single-strand pearl necklace.

The necklace was a gift from Simpson’s husband, the Duke of Windsor, who had famously abdicated the throne to marry Simpson. The Duke of Windsor had received it from his mother, Queen Mary and it is rumored to be the same necklace owned by King George V, who purchased it from his aunt, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia in 1929.

The exquisite quality of these pearls is a strong indication of the necklace’s imperial legacy. The necklace, designed by Cartier, is made of 28 large pearls, each with a beautiful sheen and are nearly perfectly round in shape. The clasp also features four diamonds.

The necklace was, at one point, purchased by fashion designer Calvin Klein who gave it to his wife. In 2007, the necklace was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for over $4.8 million USD.

6. Baroda Pearl Necklace

Maharani Sita Devi Sahib of Baroda in western India (1917-1989) was dubbed the “Indian Wallis Simpson” after she legally dissolved her first marriage and married her second husband, Maharaja Pratapsingh Gaekwar, who at the time was reportedly the second richest Indian prince and the 8th richest man in the world. To commemorate the couple’s wedding, the Maharaja gave Sita Devi several pieces of jewelry from the Baroda treasury, including a seven-strand pearl necklace.

The Baroda Necklace was re-fashioned into a two-strand necklace using the largest and most perfect pearls from the original seven-strand necklace. The necklace includes 68 graduated pearls, measuring 9.47mm to 16.04mm, and is joined by a cushion-cut diamond Cartier clasp. The necklace sold at Christie’s in New York for an incredible $7.1 million USD.

7. La Peregrina Pearl

With its long, 500-year history, the La Peregrina Pearl is one of the most famous pearls in the world. In the mid-16th century, the pearl was found off the coast of Santa Margarita, a Spanish colony, in the Gulf of Panama. Phillip II of Spain then gifted the pearl to Mary I of England before their marriage. Upon the Queen’s death in 1558, it was returned to the Crown of Spain where it remained for the next 250 years and was worn by multiple Spanish royals on special occasions and for their official portraits.

In 1808, the older brother of Napoleon, Joseph Bonaparte became the King of Spain. He ruled for five years until the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Vitoria and he was forced out of the kingdom. As he fled, Bonaparte took some of the crown jewels, including La Peregrina Pearl. The pearl was then left to Napoleon III, who, after his exile to England in the 1870s, sold the pearl to James Hamilton, Duke of Abercorn.

In 1969, the Hamilton family sold the pearl at a Sotheby’s auction in London. Actor Richard Burton was the winning bidder, nabbing the pearl for a mere $37,000 USD. Burton gifted the pearl to his wife Elizabeth Taylor as a Valentine’s Day gift to feed her fine jewelry collection. Taylor later commissioned Cartier to re-set the Peregrina Pearl in a necklace outfitted with rubies, diamonds, and even more pearls.

In 2011, Elizabeth Taylor’s estate was posthumously auctioned by Christie’s and the Peregrina Pearl necklace sold for over $11 million USD.