CONNOISSEUR: GIFTS, TRAVELS & TOYS

WORTHY OF A PRINCESS
Fourth generation owner and designer Gérald Clerc and Clerc Watches of Geneva, creators of the official wedding jewels for Princess Grace of Monaco, unveil the “Red, White, and Blue” Collection. Made in Geneva, Switzerland, each jeweled masterpiece is crafted from the finest solid stainless steel and adorned with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. Clerc Watches, which has been creating exceptional watches for more than 125 years, offers a variety of other luxurious styles of its individually numbered, automatic watches (priced from $7,490 to $22,900). For more information, call 800.566.8448.

A SPICY IDEA
Mix a few nights at the Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with demonstration classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking for a very tempting and Muy Sabrosa (very tasty!) package. Back by popular demand, the Inn’s culinary package features 2-1⁄2 hours at the cooking school founded by Susan Curtis, one of the most respected culinary personalities in contemporary Southwestern cuisine. Carne adovada, chile rellenos, goat cheese enchiladas, and blue corn and pinon nut muffins are just a few of the tantalizing New Mexican specialties offered to Muy Sabrosa participants. The school also features classes in Southwest tapas, Southwestern dishes with a contemporary twist, and traditional Mexican recipes. And, after class, there is all of Santa Fe to explore and enjoy. Package rates begin at $310 per couple, based on double occupancy. School dates are set through June. For more information, contact the Inn on the Alameda at 800.289.2122 or visit www.inn-alameda.com.

THE GOOD LIFE
New for this year, Le Bon Vivant offers whole-boat charters for eight people ($32,000). The deluxe vessel will cruise on the Middle Loire. Move through the rare beauty of the French countryside at the leisurely pace of a bygone era. Luxuriously appointed accommodations and a variety of activities and excursions make this a vacation experience of a lifetime. For more information on this and more than 50 canal barge cruises in France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Holland, and Germany, contact the Barge Lady at 800.880.0071 or visit www.bargelady.com.

SHOP PINEHURST
Stock up for spring and summer with a variety of apparel, accessories, and gift items from Pinehurst. Just click on www.pinehurstshoppes.com for preferred offerings for Associate members. Be sure to have your member number handy when ordering.

EUROPEAN RENTALS
Experience European living like the natives with the help of Ville et Village, a company specializing in rentals in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The firm represents more than 1,200 individually owned farmhouses, cottages, villas, manor houses, and châteaus. Although most are in beautiful country settings or in small villages, there is a growing selection of city apartments in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Florence. Each rental comes with a personal recommendation, so there are no surprises, says Carolyn Grote, founder of the 10-year-old company. For details, visit www.villeetvillage.com.

GOOD AS GOLD
Gold has gotten better, thanks to GoldAvenue’s offerings of couture jewelry crafted from 18-, 22-, and 24-karat gold. This is jewelry created to be worn and enjoyed, as it should be, with a sense of fun, wit, and irreverence of convention. Pictured here are the Lightsource necklace ($4,750) and its Beaded Torsade Bracelet counterpart ($2,200) for which each hollow shell of gold has been hand-hammered and polished to phosphorescence as if lit from within. The subtly twisted and weighted forms are finished with double Etruscan hook clasps. Available via direct-to-consumer catalog and the Web site www.goldavenue.com.