Shopping: Timely Father’s Day gifts from IWC
Upscale timepieces are traditional Father’s Day and graduation gifts. One place to look for them this gift season is IWC, which offers luxury watches for active dads and grads, whether their pursuits be ecology, sailing, diving, piloting or golfing or just being a great dad.
IWC — which stands for International Watch Co. — is based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and was founded by an American, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in 1868. Jones went to Switzerland to scout skilled watchmakers for a Boston-based watch brand but ended up founding his own company with the goal of combining Swiss handcraftsmanship with American manufacturing techniques.
For the graduate, an ideal IWC watch is the entry-level Mark XVI, which retails for $3,500 and features classic styling with a black dial, traditional Arabic numerals and an alligator leather strap.
For Father’s Day, an active, eco-conscious dad might like the link to tradition in the brand’s new Automatic Mission Earth Edition Adventure Ecology watch. It’s part of IWC’s Ingenieur series, which is rooted in the watchmaker’s original automatic collection from the 1960s. To launch this watch, IWC partnered with environmentalist David de Rothschild, a descendant of the European banking family. He’s crossing the Pacific in a 59-foot-long catamaran called the Platstiki (a homage to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki), made from recycled plastic bottles, for his Adventure Ecology initiative. The stainless-steel watch has a blue dial with orange indices and a blue rubber strap ($6,900).
Surfers, divers, golfers, runners and tennis players might prefer IWC’s durable rubber-strap sports watches. Its Aquatimer collection includes an automatic diver’s watch that can go 2,000 meters, or 6562 feet, underwater ($4,400).
Creative dads as well as those with traditional tastes might like the hand-wound pilot’s watch from IWC’s Vintage collection, based on a 1936 design, featuring a classic face, glow-in-the-dark Arabic numerals and a brown buffalo leather strap ($8,900). Some dads might prefer IWC’s re-launched Portuguese hand-wound collection, which showcases a dial based on a 1939 design from the Schaffhausen archives that can be had in stainless steel with a black dial for $9,900.
For fathers and sons, IWC offers pilot watch sets, based on the original 1936 design, with one watch slightly larger than the other. The watch sets, which come with a rhodium-plated dial and alligator straps ($49,000), can be engraved with your “pilot’s” and “co-pilot’s” names (included in the price). And if Dad has two sons or more, you can order the watches in multiples.
IWC, 9490-C Brighton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 734-0520. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
SAMPLE SALES
Steven Alan Sample Sale Thursday through June 13: Steven Alan has its annual sample sale at Siren Studios featuring current and past season styles for men, women and children at up to 75% off retail. Pick up Steven Alan’s signature cotton button-down shirts for $58 (regularly $148) for women and $68 ($168) for men. Freecity is also offering its unisex sweatshirts for $100 ($248) and sweatpants, $60 ($168). Other finds including $90 Demylee cashmere cardigans ($260) and $25 Generic Man sneakers ($60). Onsite parking is available at Siren Studios. Major credit cards accepted.
6063 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Joie and Current Elliott Warehouse Sale Friday and Saturday: Pick up a head-to-toe Joie look at 70% off retail with items including dresses, tops, jackets and shoes along with denim looks from Current/Elliott. Parents can also find a selection of Petiti Joie kid’s clothes. Major credit cards accepted.
4599 District Blvd., Vernon. (323) 277-3900. Noon to 7 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Judith Ripka Sample Sale Thursday through Saturday: Judith Ripka, New York-based jewelry designer, has her first L.A. sample sale at the Century Plaza Hyatt Regency, taking 50% to 70% off retail prices on 18K gold and silver jewelry. Items are priced as low as $250. Cash and major credit cards accepted.
2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
SCtyle Saturday: USC Alumni Club hosts SCtyle sample sale fundraiser — all proceeds are donated to the USC Scholarship Fund — at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel. Fashions are for men, women and children, including cosmetics from UNII. Designer fashions can be found from Yana K., Amy Tangerine, Dream Culture and Stella & Dot. The first 100 registered VIPs (register at https://www.westlatrojans.com) are eligible for a gift bag stuffed with goodies from Smashbox Cosmetics, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Netflix. Guests can also make clothing donations to Dress for Success, a nonprofit that provides disadvantaged women with professional attire.
101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 776-5380. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
EVENTS
Ten Thousand Things at Persimmon Thursday: Persimmon hosts a trunk show for David Rees and Ron Anderson, jewelry designers for New York City’s Ten Thousand Things. Prices start at $100 and go up to $2,500. Complimentary libations.
310 N. Flores St., Los Angeles. (323) 951-9540. 6 to 8 p.m.
Sally Hansen’s Color That Cares Thursday: Cosmetic brand Sally Hansen is attempting to set a Guinness World Record for manicures in one day at Hollywood & Highland’s Central Courtyard, while supporting DKMS, a bone marrow donor center. After your complimentary Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure, you can get “swabbed” — as a potential morrow donor for leukemia and blood cancer patients — and take home a bottle of nail polish.
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 817-0220. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Alex and Ani Bangle Bar Launch Thursday: Live! On Sunset launches a bangle bar for jewelry brand Alex and Ani. That evening, 20% of sales will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Bangles cost around $38 each. RSVP to rsvp@liveonsunset.com.
8801 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 360-1660. 6 to 9 p.m.
Billabong’s Design for Humanity Thursday: Billabong throws a fundraising fashion, music and art party at Paramount Studios featuring performances by Fischerspooner and Kid Sister along with a bikini runway show and DJs. All ticket sale proceeds will benefit Invisible Children, which helps kids in war-torn Uganda. Check out Billabong’s pop-up shop with custom T-shirts. Tickets are $30 to $40 or $150 for VIP passes.
5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
https://www.us.designforhumanity.com
OPENING
Évolué: Green beauty products abound at this new Beverly Hills boutique, which opened May 18. Owner Jean Seo, former manager at eco-boutique Vert, carries only nontoxic, sustainably produced products including RMS, an organic cosmetic line. Eyebrow shaping and threading services are available by appointment by Marco Ochoa.
357 ½ Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 289-1560. 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
