Here are the stories behind the famous and iconic logos of the luxury powerhouses in fashion, jewelry and watchmaking: Chanel, Hermès, Rolex, and Longines.

1. Chanel

Chanel’s logo is arguably the most recognized logo in the world. The striking, opposite-facing and interlocking C’s is a striking and bold design, created by the brand’s namesake and founder, Coco Chanel, in 1925.

The story behind the logo’s inspiration is somewhat mysterious. Some believe the logo was a modification of the C-patterns used by the French Queen Claude and her daughter-in-law Catherine de Medici after share married into the family. Others assert the logo is an homage to Coco’s lover and business partner Arthur “Boy” Capel—after all, Capel’s own wardrobe served as the primary inspiration for Coco’s collections; why not be the inspiration for the logo too?

The Château de Crémat in Nice is another possible inspiration source. Coco’s friend, socialite Irene Bretz owned the estate and frequently invited Coco to visit. Legend supposes Bretz gave Coco permission to use the interlocking C’s that were the symbol for the vineyard and decorated property’s the doorways and windows as the logo for Coco’s then modestly small new company. Similarly, a final theory credits a stained-glass window in the Aubazine Chapel in central France (image above) where Coco spent a portion of her childhood living in their orphanage as the inspiration. The window featured interlaced curves which could have been abstracted into interlocking Cs.

2. Hermès

Hermès was founded in 1837 but its iconic logo was not introduced until the early 1950s. The luxury French manufacturer originally produced harnesses and bridles for the carriages of noblemen. Over the decades, the brand expanded its offerings to include leather goods and handbags, then scarves and ties.

The logo features a Duc carriage with a horse which harkens back to the brand’s original core offerings. It is believed the designers turned to the French painter Alfred de Dreux (1810-1860) and his painting “Le Duc Attele, Groom a L’Attente” (“Hitched Carriage, Waiting Groom”) as their primary inspiration source.

As for that distinct “Hermès Orange” hue, that was introduced after World War II. Due to supply shortages, Hermès had to drop their original packaging (cream colored boxes with brown edging) for orange ones. Hermès even won a packaging Oscar in 1994 for their unique boxes.

3. Rolex

The name Rolex itself has an unknown back story. Some historians believe it was borrowed from the French phrase “houloguorie exquise” which translates to “exquisite watchmaking.” Another common theory is that Rolex is derived from the sound of a winding watch. Others assert founders Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis liked the crisp sound of Rolex, which was simple to spell and easy to pronounce regardless of your native language.

Wilsdorf and Davis trademarked the Rolex logo in 1925. The original design was a five-pointed coronet or crown in gold above Rolex in green text with a gold outline. The logo embodied the Rolex slogan, “A Crown for Every Achievement” and the chosen colors were meant to symbolize the brand’s excellence in watchmaking (gold) and prosperity (green).

The Rolex logo underwent two major updates in the brand’s history. In 1965, the crown was changed from gold to bronze and the text to a pewter blue. However, in 2002, Rolex reverted back to its original color scheme: a gold crown and a green font.

4. Longines

The Longines logo was used by the watchmaker starting in 1867, but it wasn’t formally registered and trademarked until 1889. Even with this lapse in time, the Longines logo is the oldest trademark of its kind, still active in its original form, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Founder Ernest Francillon lifted the name Longines from the name of the site for his new factory in Switzerland. For his factory mark, Francillon chose a winged hourglass within a double circle. The stamp was originally intended to authenticate Longines’ watches and deter counterfeiters. In turn, the logo became a symbol of the brand’s manufacturing and design excellence and its rich history as a prominent Swiss watchmaker.

The Longines logo design has undergone a handful of modifications. The most recent update in 1981 was actually created in the same vein as the 1942-era logo.

Last night may have been the biggest night in music at the 2015 Grammy’s, but no one ever forgets about the fashion. While most people were distracted by the gowns – we’re looking at you Rihanna – we were watching out for the red carpet trends in jewelry. Check out our favorite trends from your favorite celebrities.

The red carpet left us green with envy this year. We spotted emerald trends this year with Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga finishing their looks with bold emerald jewelry from Lorraine Schwartz. From earrings to rings to plunging necklaces, emerald got the Grammys green light.

Emerald or not, rings reigned on the red carpet. Many celebrities downplayed their jewelry this year in favor of sparking dresses, but no look was complete without a ring – or several. Rihanna’s hands were covered in Chopard, while Katy Perry kept it simple with a single Harry Kotlar yellow diamond ring. Kat Graham made a statement with a large gold and black Carrera y Carrera cocktail ring and Nicki Minaj wore a watch and rings by Jacob & Co.

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Valentine’s Day: love it or loathe it, you probably don’t want to spend the evening alone. Whether you have planned a romantic evening with your significant other, or a night out with friends, we have advice to lessen the stress of outfit indecision. TrueFacet teamed up with Dress For The Day to resolve your wardrobe woes. They provided the clothes, we provided the jewelry, so check out the videos for your Valentine’s Day inspiration!

1. Double Date

If you find yourself out with another couple, you might be doubly confused about the dress code. Sharing the evening means adjusting your look. Dress more casually than you would for a solo date, but dress it up with some statement jewelry, like these Gucci Bracelets.

2. Girl’s Night Out

A night out with your single friends is a sure cure for the red heart blues. For the single woman, this is a night you dress to impress yourself. Dress boldly and make a statement with your jewelry, perhaps with Chanel Earrings.

3. Date Night

If your plans lead you to a romantic night out with your other half, consider a classic look for a traditional date. Finish your outfit with an elegant Cartier staple.

We get it, planning for Valentine’s Day can be stressful. From flowers to chocolates to dinner reservations, you want everything to go off without a hitch, or maybe you’re getting hitched – whatever’s in the plan! Luckily, we’ve gone ahead and taken one of the most difficult tasks – choosing the perfect piece of jewelry – and made it simpler. We’ve kept our ears to the ground and our eyes on the trends to bring you the top items everyone will be asking for this year.

1. Get her heart beating.

Though the heart-shaped boxes of chocolate look tempting, heart-shaped jewelry, on the other hand, looks far better. An iconic symbol of love and exclusivity, Tiffany & Co. has a vast selection, so you can find whatever your heart desires.

2. Roses are gold.

Roses are red, but be sure your valentine won’t be blue. This year, get creative, ditch the flowers and gift your partner jewelry in rose gold. Pretty and pink Michael Kors watches and diamond-encrusted jewelry from Bulgari will be sure to last longer than a vase of roses.

3. Violets are amethyst.

Here are flowers that won’t wilt or droop. Instead of a bouquet, get your partner colorful gems. Striking gold rings and necklaces featuring colorful gemstones are as beautiful as flowers, but won’t fade with February.

4. True L⊝Ve

If you don’t only want to say “I love you,” demonstrate your devotion with a Cartier bracelet. The Love Collection from Cartier symbolizes true promise to your partner. With screws, the gold bracelet locks to the wrist, only to be removed with a screwdriver provided with the bracelet.

5. Vintage gifts for him.

Gifts for him can be tricky. This year, forgo current gadgets and get him a time-honored men’s accessory. From vintage Valentino to classic Christian Dior, these items have withstood the test of time, a perfect reminder of any relationship.

6. Watch out!

Watch out this Valentine’s Day! A classic fashion staple, you can’t go wrong with this gift. With a collection vintage and modern watches for men and women, there’s a watch for every type of person. Ornate and luxurious, or understated and elegant, each watch is timeless.

Style Icon: The most timeless watches by David Yurman

David Yurman, of cable bracelet creation fame, gained tremendous attention once again when he partnered with Mustang maker, Shelby, to come up with the limited edition Revolution Shelby 1000 chronograph watch.

Revolution Shelby 1000 43.5MM Chronograph

Revolution Shelby 1000 comes in two variations – one in complete black, the other in stainless steel. With 150 limited pieces all over the world, the black-PVD model is priced $8,600. Valjoux 7753 automatic chronograph movements, 43.5 mm case, bezel with tachymeter are incredible technical characteristics are found in both versions.

Other technical features include hours, minutes, small seconds and 48-hour power reserve. The C=crown is protected by rubber sides, the case is scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with non-reflective coating and it is water resistant up to 100 meters.

Revolution Shelby 1000 43.5MM Stainless Steel Chronograph

Aside from the use of stainless steel in the dial, everything else is a copy of the Revolution Shelby in black. Comparatively, it is $1400 less in price and its production is limited.

Revolution 43.5MM Chronograph with Black Diamonds

With a 17.24-carat black pave diamond case, this self-winding watch comes with special Valjoux chronograph movements. An engraved DY logo and galvanic sub-dials reflect the charm of the design. Of course this black beauty is technically advanced at the same time with an anti-reflective coat and high water and scratch resistance.

Limited Edition Classic 43.5MM Timepiece

Black PVD, associated with most DY watches, is more aesthetically appealing and also eliminates reflective glare. It’s matte-finished alligator strap has contrasting blue thread stitching and the case comes with cable.

Alright ladies, now it’s your turn! Below are few amazing picks as interesting as his bracelet collection.

Classic 30mm 18K Rose Gold Quartz Timepiece with Diamond Bezel

Rose gold, diamonds and sapphires — David Yurman understands what a girl wants, even while designing a watch. This watch has a bezel set with stunning diamonds, a dial with engraved mother of pearl and braces embraced in 18k rose gold. This wristwatch is a work of art!

Thoroughbred 25mm Stainless Steel, 18K Gold and Sterling Silver Quartz Timepiece with Diamonds

Here, Yurman features the signature cable design again. Mother of Pearl is incorporated in the dial and a series of diamonds line the bezel, which is made of yellow gold. Outlined in stainless steel, a thin line of yellow gold separates the inline sterling silver cable of the strap.

A stunning red carpet look can be made even more stunning with the perfect pieces of jewelry. When you get hold of a smoking hot Versace or Gucci dress, what would you pair it with? Diamonds, crystals, beads or pearls? Hollywood stars (and their stylists) always have the answer. Here are some inspiring jewelry looks we hope to see on Oscar Sunday!

Buccellati – The classic, intense and architectural inspirations of Buccellati jewelry are not only out of box, they truly speak for themselves. Generations of family traditions in jewelry-making are a recipe for brand excellence. Let the jewelry pieces themselves do the rest of the talking! Below are some of our favorite exquisite examples of Buccellati.

Graff – Graff is a London based jewelry brand is known for its incredible diamond designs. Every single piece is completely different and portrays the rich taste of Italian designer patterns. Who wouldn’t want to see some of these pieces on this year’s nominees?

Mikimoto – This Japanese brand has been operating since 18th century and they always aim to create one-of-a-kind jewelry with exquisite quality. They excel in keeping it contemporary yet elegant and would be the perfect choice for a star looking to keep their look simple.

Bulgari – Bulgari has continued to deliver fantastic designer jewelry pieces that wow the world. From the reptile trend and their spiral snake wristwatches to their signature necklaces and bracelets, Bulgari always brings the creativity!

Not only known for their jewelry or signature snake watches for women, Bulgari watches for men are kept to high standards as well. Giving priority to the detail and finishing of the product, the brand also takes care of internal and functional features which guarantees a happy wearer. These are watches we hope to see on some of Hollywood’s leading men.

Van Cleef and Arpels – Every design of Van Cleef and Arpels has a story to tell. Stars are meant to look heavenly on the red carpet and the jewelry they wear has to do the same! Challenging, competing piece of beautiful jewelry is what it takes and Van Cleef and Arpels knows how exactly to delivery.

Le Grand Frisson jewelry – Tiaras and hair jewelry are something rare on the red carpet and not everyone’s cup of tea but worn with just the right dress, these pieces can stand out amongst the necklaces and bracelets. This Le Grand Frisson tiara and hair jewelry is an impeccable yet fresh look.

Jack Du Rose Jewelry – From under water jelly fish to creeping caterpillar and flying butterflies, Jack du Rose knows how to create stunning pieces of artistic jewelry. His incredible eye for detail and masterful design techniques contribute to these jaw-dropping results.

Harry Winston – How can the most talked about red carpet event of the year be complete without the appearance of Harry Winston on a star! The brand is known as being a favorite of almost every Hollywood lady.

Expert Tips for Buying Gorgeous Diamond Rings

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, well they are also a man’s best friend when it comes to buying diamond rings. Diamond rings come in an exciting range of variations and styles for both men and women. With a diversity of size, shape and quality, diamonds are available in an almost endless variety of different styles. However, having knowledge about them before buying is a must, not only because they are incredibly costly, but also because it is a very emotional purchase.

Types of Diamonds

Based on diamond shape, size, color, cut, clarity, carat weight, settings and metal base, they are categorized in to various types. Ones’ personal taste and budget are the two main factors that control how you pick a diamond ring.

Diamond Shapes and Cuts

Diamond cut represents the rate of light reflection based on symmetry and facets, while shapes can be round, princess, emerald, cushion, asscher, radiant, pear, heart, oval and marquise.

While round cuts and princess cuts are the most popular picks, emerald cuts are considered to be the most elegant.

Asscher is named after the company that created these cuts and there are two different types of asscher cuts: one is the royal asscher cut with 74 facets and the other one is the simple asscher cut, which looks more like a square emerald and comes with 58 facets.

Henry Grossbard patented radiant cuts in 1977 and he created this version as an alternative to emerald cuts. Radiant cuts are a combination of square and rectangular cuts and as the name suggests, they shine brilliantly.

Pear shaped diamonds are an alternative to round brilliant cuts, with a round cut at one end and a narrow shape on the other — creating a teardrop.

Heart-shaped diamonds are, of course, a symbol of love, while the oval shaped diamonds are close to round brilliant cuts. Marquise shaped diamonds come with maximized carat weight and a larger look. They also make your fingers look slender and longer. Cushion cut diamonds or pillow shaped diamonds are round cornered, with large facets that enhance their brilliance.

Diamond Size

Carat is the unit of weight and it is what determines the size of a diamond. The bigger the size, the higher the price.

Quality

Color, cut, carat and clarity are the 4C’s that determine the quality of the diamonds. Cracks or minute imperfections visible and not visible to naked eye fall on low scale of quality. Before purchasing a diamond ring, you must understand the color and clarity chart.

FL, IF represent Flawless, Internally Flawless diamonds – these high clarity diamonds possess no inclusions visible to naked eye or under 10x magnification. These are the expensive of all.
VVS1-2 stands for Very Very Slight Inclusions – these diamonds have Nano inclusions barely visible under 10x magnification.
VS1-2 expands as Very Slight Inclusions and these diamonds have imperfections which are difficult to spot under 10x magnification.
SI1-2 goes for Slight Inclusions visible under 10x magnification but not naked eye.
I1-2-3 are Imperfect, with visible flaws. Cracks, inclusions are seen via naked eye. These are the lowest cost diamonds.

Diamond Color

The other scale of quality for diamonds is color. Colorless, nearly colorless, faint tint, light yellow and yellow are the range of colors under this scale. Colorless diamonds are the premium ones with the most enhanced quality.

Last night the stars took to the red carpet to shop off some of the best fashion and accessory looks of the season! While the spotlight is definitely on the top dresses these A-list stars choose to wear, we loved the gorgeous jewelry looks as well. Let’s review some of the top jewelry pieces that made an appearance at the Golden Globes. Which earrings, necklaces and bracelets do you think should take home the prize for best accessory?!

Allison Williams in Cartier

Girls star Allison Williams chose a stunning red Giorgio Armani dress for the awards ceremony. Paired perfectly with this look? Diamond Cartier earrings and bracelets. This look is perfect, polished and just the right amount of sparkly.

Naomi Watts in Bulgari

Naomi Watts certainly knows how to make a statement and last night she chose a bright yellow Gucci gown and this stunning serpentine necklace by Bulgari to create one of the most iconic looks of the night! You couldn’t miss this diamond wrap necklace.

While Naomi Watts may have won the award for best necklace, it was Emily Blunt who was wearing the best earrings with these aquamarine picks from Lorraine Schwartz. By pairing statement earrings with a simple, white Michael Kors dress she was able to create a perfectly balanced ensemble.

Michelle Monaghan in Irene Neuwirth

Nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in True Detective, Michelle Monaghan took to the red carpet in a silver Jason Wu dress. Rather than choose one statement piece for her jewelry, she paired a few simple Irene Neuwirth items to complete her look.

Want to wear this look? View all of our new arrivals from Irene Neuwirth!

Amy Adams in Tiffany & Co.

Amy Adams presented one of the most polished looks of the night in a one-shoulder, periwinkle dress by Versace gown and Tiffany & Co. earrings. Tiffany and Co. can always been counted on for a classic red carpet look.