Glitterbug
Whimsy and grace intersect in the new “Return to Tiffany” Love Bugs collection. Playful ladybug rings of sterling silver and 18-karat rose gold showcase gemstones of mesmerizing color, including an emerald-cut green quartz. Continuing the nature theme, a butterfly ring in sterling silver and 18k rose gold boasts a vibrant emerald-cut blue topaz. A bee pendant in sterling silver and 18k yellow gold glows, completing the suite in a design that is both irreverently cool and decidedly modern. The pieces start at $400. tiffany.com
Limited-Edition Brick House Cigar
The J.C. Newman Cigar Company released its first Tobacconist Association of America-exclusive brand, Brick House Ciento por Ciento. Handcrafted in J.C. Newman’s Nicaraguan factory, Puros de Estelí Nicaragua S.A., or J.C. Newman PENSA, the Ciento por Ciento uses only tobacco grown in the rich, volcanic Nicaraguan soil. It is the first Nicaraguan puro blend in the Brick House line, hence the name, which means “100 percent” in Spanish. The wrapper is a Habana-seed corojo leaf grown in the Jalapa Valley, enclosing binder and filler from three of Nicaragua’s mountainous regions. Production has been limited to 500 boxes and is available for purchase only by TAA members. The cigars were available for purchase at the association’s 2019 conference. Boxes of 25 cigars were priced at $7.40 a cigar, or $185 a box. jcnewman.com
McLaren 570S safety makes national news
A McLaren 570S Spider fell 70 feet off a California mountain road and automotive writer Sean Evans walked away uninjured. That’s the story he shared in Men’s Health magazine, in an article headlined “This Car Saved My Life” that details how Evans survived the crash. Traveling at about 70 mph, the driver missed a turn and the car soared some 225 feet out and 70 feet down the mountain—spinning, twisting and crashing through trees, brush and dirt. There was a large debris field, but the car largely was intact. Both Evans and the driver were uninjured. Credit was given to the strength of carbon-fiber Monocell II. It was first used in the 1981 McLaren MP4/1 race car. Today, production techniques for the Monocell II create a “cocoon” that withstands up to 50 tons of force in a front-end crash. Production of a single Monocell II costs an estimated $10,000. In Evans’ case, it was money well-invested. McLaren Tampa Bay has 2019 570S models starting at about $232,000. mclarentampabay.com
Ray-Ban Spring/Summer 2019 Collection
Ray-Ban has released some takes on their classic designs for the summer season. From classic Aviators and legendary Wings to retro ’70s squares and semi-rim ovals, there’s plenty of options to keep the sun out of your eyes whether you’re on boat or driving over the Sunshine Skyway.
The Ray-Ban models shown range from $150 to $200. ray-ban.com
