What Can't Come Quickly Enough

The store's usually-enticing displays
looked, on this visit, a little rough.

This weekend brought, among others things, a trip to the David Yurman Chicago boutique on Oak Street. While my visit was, overall, a positive one (is it ever not?), it was also, unfortunately, an unremarkable one in three ways, which I will now enumerate below. These are, officially, The Three Things That Can't Come Quickly Enough:

1. Removal of Bündchen, Posting of Upton (or Menghia... or Mali or Hemingway)
Hasn't Fall 2013 launched? Why is an oversize Gisele still featured to the left of the store's front doors? Don't get me wrong; I love the model and her work for DY, but that image is from the Fall 2012 campaign. Out with the old. In with the new, right?

2. Demotion of Griffin Collection
Yes, I solemnly declare I seek the withdrawment of the Griffin line. I've now inspected thoroughly most of the rings in the collection and can say they are as I've all along thought--that is, average at best. Being such, they should not occupy a half of a display case (as they presently do), not in a boutique with only four men's collection cases! According to the sales professional with whom I spoke, the designs are only selling "OK" due to their being crafted for a "very specific customer" and having not all the "kinks [in design] worked out." Enough is enough, I say. Feature one piece--my vote goes to the red jasper signet ring--and place the rest in back stock.

3. Release of New Men's Product
Part of me really believed F/W pieces had debuted, just not online. That part of me was wrong. There are, at this time, no new men's arrivals in the DY boutiques either. And so we continue to wait. I've heard rumblings of a mid-September release. As always, I'll keep you posted.

That's all for now. DYguy over and out.

David Yurman Releases New S/S '13 Men's Catalog

You have the right (and privilege) to be awed by DY's latest men's collection catalog, which is presently on its way to stores, boutiques, and customers' homes nationwide and also available for online viewing. In this booklet the viewer is treated to another a showcase of dazzling product, more poignant in-line-with-the-DY-lifestyle quotations, and another series of shots featuring Ben Hill, the face of David Yurman Men for two campaigns now. (He was preceded by Jon Kortajarena). See below for screen captures of the digital catalog and profiles of fresh-from-the-studio DY men's product with, of course, my own original commentary (because, yes, I just can't help myself).

The shot on the left is, in my opinion, the most outstanding and memorable from the forty-page booklet. (I'm indifferent to the array of tags and necklaces on the adjacent page.)

Yes, of course the Griffin Collection is featured, and no, it has yet really to grow on me. I do, however, love the Armory cross ring displayed in the shot on the left. Retailing for $395, it is one of the most affordable pieces of Yurman out there.

I had to include this spread. These are the offerings from the catalog I love most of all. Just my luck, though: They are Signature Collection high-jewelry offerings, which means their high style is paired with an equally high price tag. Ah well. The signet piece on the left page with the lines of green color--the stone is opalized wood--will be mine in my dreams, if nowhere else.

Maritime rope design? Check.
1.29 carats of diamonds? Check.
The price? A fair $3900.

This new arrival to DY.com practically
demands to be rocked as a men's
pinky ring. It retails for $295.

David Yurman Targets New Market Segment with Griffin Collection

Pictured are designs from Yurman's new Griffin Collection for men.
Pieces range from $350 to $2600.

"Bold" is a word I'd use to describe David Yurman's fresh-from-the-studio Griffin Collection. "Curious" is another. As I've mentioned in an earlier post, these designs are anything but quintessential, classic Yurman. In fact, if it weren't for the shape of and antiquing on the tag necklace (see above), I'm not sure I'd even make the Yurman connection. I'd think Stephen Webster or Scott Kay. (I know. Scott Kay. Gross.) That's not to say I dislike what DY is doing here. It's just that these creations, I think, are not for me. While the motifs employed are designed, according to David Yurman copy, to "conjure... symbolic power," I don't think I'm--what's the right word?--burly enough for these to mesh with my look. The designs are sharp, hard, and, well, almost angry. They have an Armory Collection feel to them with the heavy antiquing and use of spikes on the amulets, but I can wear and pull off Armory, whereas I don't think I can Griffin.

I wish Yurman provided a
second, alternate product image
for this three-sided ring.
I'm interested to know what's out
of view on the left there.

And so for whom has this collection been prepared? For whatever reason, I see men with thick sausage
fingers working (and rocking) Griffin. I see the collection on gents who fancy the mythical (and mystical, for that matter). I see it on those whose chest hair is ample, those who wear only jackets of leather, those whose  musk is heavy and whose beards are dense. Will these men pay for Yurman? Will Yurman actively target them in advertising? Only time will tell, I suppose. I will say this, though: It is going to be an interesting fall/winter for the DY Men's Collection. At this point, what comes next is likely anybody's guess.

What's Next for David Yurman Men: the Mythical

Instagrammer @gregmaczko posted this series of shots (see left) to the social media portal yesterday, showcasing what he claims are new and soon-to-be-available David Yurman Men's Collection amulets and tags. Given the geotag on the upload and the fact that four of the items pictured have already been previewed by DY, it is reasonably safe to assume that, indeed, these are all legitimate brand product.

I am not sure how I feel about the direction in which Yurman seems to be going here. DY designs tend to exhibit a timelessness, which these pieces do not, I feel, possess. What is more, there seems a shift in target market. I do not see the typical sophisticated urbanite--to whom I feel the brand regularly caters--being drawn to these enhancers. They exude a certain roughness, a coarseness that is not characteristic of David Yurman pieces.

But tell me: What are your thoughts on these offerings? Is there one you especially like or do not like? Sound off; post a comment or shoot me an E-mail.

UPDATE: Many of these enhancers went live on DavidYurman.com today. It appears all are authentic DY designs.

DY Ay!

That's quite the pointy griffin there.

So either this David Yurman design (see left) is beyond abstract (does that look like a griffin to you?) or there is a image-descriptor correspondence issue with this particular product. What? An inventory data input error on DavidYurman.com?! OK, so stranger things have happened, and yet, curiosity has gotten the best of me. I mean, what do you think one receives if he or she were to order this mysterious item number DYS13_N22D3--the item pictured or the one described in words? Perhaps a smelted hybrid of the two? Heh, I kid. I kid. All the same, why don't you, dear reader, order me one of whatever it is, and I'll report back. ;)

UPDATE: DY has since revised the item's designation to read "North Star Cut-out Amulet" so evidently the wait continues for the emergence of the griffin piece. (I was privately hoping it was the image that was wrong and not the descriptor.)