hermes.time

Hermes traditionally tends toward conservative design but their latest timepiece is a modern addition to their collection. The Hermes Carre H Watch was designed by French architect Marc Berthier and runs $15,000 with a run limited of 173 pieces. Found on Uncrate, the titanium watch is water resistant to 30 meters and features a 44 hour power reserve.

shoe.care

It's not difficult to find a good pair of shoes but keeping them in that condition takes some work. This matching set of shoe accessories from Hermès provide a top-notch solution that will lengthen the life of your leather. The shoe tree is available for $225, shoe horn for $155, and the shoe brush for $125. Take advantage of the beautiful and modern black beechwood and stainless steel accessories set for a total of $505.

third.dimension

I've always been a huge fan of coffee table books (see Room With a View) but this book breaks the mold. Found on Uncrate, 3DD: A 3-D Celebration of Breasts is fairly well defined in its title. Available for $19.77 on Amazon, a review notes that the website only provides simply cardboard glasses. Bought for an extra $10 on the 3DD website, you can buy straight from the source and receive the same plastic aviators shown below.

Updated: 28 February 2010
Buy the 3D Glasses Necklace by Design Glut to complete the set. Designed by Liz Kinnmark and Kegan Fisher and found on MocoLoco, the jewelry piece is one part of their new collection.

boom.box

The boombox may be old school but Bang & Olufsen's rendition turns tradition into modern design. The Beosound 8 is created to play music using apple products as source. Coming from B&O, discussing sound quality would simply be redundant. The audio player runs about $1,000 and is available with different grill and backing colors. B&O also released an iPhone app that allows you to stream specified radio stations, set a (trendy) alarm, and other features that integrate well with the stereo. After installing the application, I realized you can experience all the features without needing a B&O product (minus the sound quality).

dumb.bells

Unlike most exercise equipment, the stainless steel Menu Magnetic Dumbbells should not be stowed when not in use. The two dumbbells look great  when intertwined but equally aesthetic when apart. Each piece weighs one kilo (about 2.2lbs.) and could double as a paper weight. I previously featured Menu's Steel Shoe Horn and the two have a very similar appearance, though completed unrelated purposes. Nonetheless, the dumbbells are available on panik-prefers for $180 and come in handy when time is too limited for the gym.

studded.burberry

Burberry is definitely not my favorite brand -- I tend to think they sell-out for quick profits -- but they manage to create some great designs. Below is the Burberry Studded Trench Coat available for $1,695. I originally saw the modified classic on the Burberry website but it reappeared in an article on the NYT featuring Matthew Brookes from Spiderman. Inventing the modern trench in 1914, Burberry coats have become the classic and this rendition adds a unique touch to the traditional piece.

200th.post

ˈmä-dərn has received over 5,000 hits since its start and this post marks the 200th contribution. Some days I submit ten new posts while there have been months without a single update. The rhythm is victim to a varying schedule and the difficulty in finding items that make a perfect fit. As with previous celebrations, the blog marks the landmark with more jewels.

For this holiday season, Cartier showcases a winter panther in a 30 second video on their Winter Tale website. Follow the panther to view accessories for him, her, and a special "Diamonds forever" section. I would be happy to feature a little of everything Cartier has to offer but their watches have always been my favorite. I featured the ever-popular Tank Francaise near the beginning of this blog but a much newer masterpiece also exemplifies the distinctive Cartier design and elegance. The Cartier Roadster S, found on Uncrate, stands as the newest addition to the Cartier collection and is available for a mere $3,500. Perhaps the rubber strap helps tapper the price tag but it gives Cartier enthusiasts a chance to stick with the brand and go casual.

Also new on the slate for Cartier is the Cartier flagship opening in Hong Kong. Located in the 29-story Prince's Building on Chater Road, the façade emits fluctuating light and rises 17 meters above the ground, "reflect[ing] the pulsating rhythm of the city — ascending by day to absorb the light of the sky, before gently falling back to earth at night to showcase the store windows."