Farewell Travers Fine Jewelers on Madison Avenue

These smart phone photos don't do the jewelry justice.

Recently I discovered one of my favorite shops on Madison Avenue, Travers Fine Jewelers, closed it's doors for good. Although much more high end than I can afford, I loved looking at its fine jewelry, and once partner, Sam Travers, let me try on a gorgeous oval stone ring I long admired! It was a Ceylon 12 carat sapphire and 14 solitaire diamond ring ... in fact a stunning replica of Diana, Princess of Wales' engagement ring that her son, Prince William, gave to fiancée, Kate Middleton upon their engagement. As you see, the shop also had the matching lookalike sapphire and diamond necklace and earrings Diana often wore, as well as, many fine diamonds, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, Tahitian South Sea pearls, elegant watches and a variety of other beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Is it any wonder I gawked at the shop's window display every time I passed?

Although the jewelry was beyond my budget (by 6 figures!), it was fun to see what flawless, top-of-the line stones look like.

This is the 12 carat sapphire and diamond ring I tried on. I love it! One of the partners once said he had sold it, but he was joshing!😍

Occasionally, I'd tease the partners by saying: "Oh, you're selling the sapphire and diamond ring I want to buy!!"🙂 At times they'd come to the front door of the shop to promise me a good price, to which I'd reply, "When I get my invitation to the Met Gala, I'll be back!"

Since the shop has closed, it appears I'm not the only person to have no society events where I could wear such lavish and expensive pieces of jewelry. I mean, where can I go? To the grocery store? Up and down Madison Avenue? Down into the subways? I think not!🙁

It's a tough time for brick and mortar stores. Travers Fine Jewelers is the 3rd retailer on the Upper East Side to close recently. Pier 1 shut its doors in late summer; and another of my favorites, Laytners (for home goods) is closing up shop after 31 years. All 3 businesses added to the milieu of my neighborhood, and they will be greatly missed. 

Whenever I walked by Travers, I looked for MY 12 carat sapphire and diamond ring. I always thought, "One day somebody will walk in to buy it. Unfortunately it will be somebody else, not me." :((( Philosphically speaking, I suppose I was spared the pain of losing it. But now the window is bare, the store empty and the glitter is gone.

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Walking Up - Down Madison Avenue

Can't go wrong with this designer

Walking up or down Madison Avenue to see the latest fashions is one of the great pleasures of being in Manhattan. The shop widows can be summed up in one word ... magnificent. LA's Rodeo Drive is shockingly pint-sized compared to the 6 miles of Madison Avenue. On the Upper East Side stretch (comprising 1.5 miles between East 86th Street to East 57th Street, there are about 400 luxury and flagship stores, selling apparel, shoes, high end accessories (like purses, belts, hair ribbons, etc.) and fine jewelry.

All that glitters is gold!

These twinkling diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds at Travelers Jewelers on Madison (at East 77th Street) are huge and real gold and gems! I swear, they blink at me every time I walk by!

Georgio Armani (at East 66th Street) has shimmering windows too ... presently featuring evening gowns. Despite the glare from the street lights and traffic, I'm posting a few. There are many more to see!

Wouldn't the elegant designer dresses look lovely with some jewels? Feel free to select your favorite necklace, bracelet and/or ring.

Next razzle dazzle up the avenue stopping at Giuseppe Zanotti (on East 68th Street) for a pair of embellished fancy shoes.

This 12 carat sapphire ring with 14 solitaire diamonds in white gold is my favorite. A kind salesman let me slip it on my finger, and it's a perfect fit! Each time I pass Travers, I look for it in the window. But alas ... after months and months, somebody with deep pockets walked into the jewelry store and bought my ring! {Are you reading this? That's right, MY ring, sister! I know your ring size!!}😁 Fortunately, I have this photo to show you. What a beauty ... I will miss it!😍

On Madison Avenue there are ever changing pretties to see, and the exercise and eye candy are free!


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SVA's Fashion Show On Madison Avenue

Fashion created from (left) pouches and (right) Polaroids.

Students from Manhattan's School Of Visual Arts fashioned attire that is on public view on the sidewalks in front of the famous fashion houses on Madison Avenue.

Fourteen exhibits enclosed in glass run from East 61th Street through East 76th Street. The layout is called One-Of-A-Kind Luxury, and the outfits are made of unusual materials for clothing, including house keys, packing peanuts, computer keys, forks and spoons, white paint, copper pennies and orange earplugs. 

Dresses designed using: 1) silverware (the bust is created from 2 ladles, the neckless is a spoon); 2) copper pennies; 3) Monopoly themes.

A cup of tea to go with a stylin' raincoat made of teabags anyone? Take a look.

Clothing created from: 1) paint; 2) Lipton teabags; 3) left - metal keys and right - packing peanuts; 4) earplugs.

Each reveal looks posh in my humble opinion. If designed out of cloth, people would want to wear them. The students are as talented and clever as the professionals whose couture shops face their creations.

Dresses made using 1) tree bark; 2) left - darts and right - computer keys; and 3) the slinky.

The art exhibit will run through November 15, and it's free! Walk down Madison Avenue for a close-up. Enlarge the photos I snapped by clicking on each one, or simply hold down your "command" and "+" keys at the same time. Here is a Print magazine link to see the 3 exhibits I do not have photographs of using: 1) tin cans, 2) wheat stalks and pencils and 3) a computer (program part). Between my blog and Print magazine (Ahh, with a better camera), you get an excellent view of the show!

Where the School of Visual School Arts sits in Manhattan

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