An incredible pencil artist like no other, Julie Kraulis is a visual artist from Toronto, Canada that has been drawing for as long as she can remember. This 36-year old artist discovered watches two years ago by pure serendipity and is currently focusing on an independent study of timepieces through a collection of graphite drawings that are out of this world. For her the pencil has been an extension of her hand, mind and soul. Since receiving a Bachelor of Design in Illustration at the Ontario College of Art & Design, she's spent most days in her studio with a pencil or paintbrush in hand working on a wide range of projects with clients worldwide.
Posts filed under Fashion & Style
Experience: Alfred Dunhill Boston Leather Envelope Cardholder. The Perfect Souvenir from the Launch of the Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Tourbillon in London.
A trip to London is never complete unless you make a pit stop at Harrods to stock up on some good old Alfred Dunhill stuff. Alfred Dunhill himself was a British tobacconist and founder of Alfred Dunhill Ltd. a London-based luxury goods company that today happens to be owned by the Richemont Group —yes, the same group that owns Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne and Montblanc amongst other brands. What started as a small shop selling motoring accessories quickly became a tobacco shop that today is known as the tobacco Dunhill brand —now owned by British American Tobacco— and then years later progressed into a clothing store that evolved into one of the most important luxury goods brands in the world.
Experience: When Salvage Ferrari Parts Become Sculptures by James Ferrari. The Incredible World of Ferrari Turned into Works of Art.
Here at WCL we are suckers for good art and especially when works of art are the result of unlimited creativity and true originality. After stumbling upon the Ferrari Gallery in the Dallas Design District, we were just blown away by what we had just discovered. Geared with the proper wrist companion, a Hublot Big Bang Unico Carbon Ferrari, we embarked in a discovery of sculptures worthy of the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva. These incredible sculptures created out of salvage Ferrari parts from modern Ferraris including the iconic 308, the 328, the 512 Testarossa, the 360 or even the 550 Maranello just to name a few, are not only very unique and eye-catching but true works of art made by the skilled hands of a true artist.
Experience: Lanvin Mesh Cross-Trainer Sneakers. Underrated Like a Titanium Royal Oak Offshore.
Here at WCL we are suckers for any sneakers made by Lanvin and these orange Mesh Cross-Trainer sneakers are the latest addition from the oldest haute couture brand to their wide selection of shoes and sneakers. While Balenciaga tries to make their oversized geek-ready 'wanna be cool' sneakers —that were truly designed to make small feet look big— a trend, Lanvin —founded in 1889 by Madame Jeanne Lanvin— releases well designed and proportioned sneakers for those with a discerning taste when it comes to shoes and watches.
Experience: Alfred Dunhill Cadogan Engine-Turn Slip Card Case. A Perfect Match for a GMT Watch.
As traditional billfold wallets become more scarce with the use of electronic currency and credit cards, well made cardholders have become a necessity and here at WCL they're one of those items we absolutely love. While the Alfred Dunhill Cadogan Engine-Turn Slip card case might not be as exclusive as pulling out a Faure Le Page or Goyard card holder, it still seems to be the perfect pairing for a Tudor Black Bay GMT; at the end of the day the Greenwich Mean Time —GMT— is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in London where Alfred Dunhill is from.
Experience: Jaquet Droz The Signing Machine. The King of All Automatons.
When we thought we had seen it all when it comes to Jaquet Droz, the brand wowed us one more time with the release of an object of desire unlike any other. If you thought it would be impossible that one day a mechanical machine would sign for you all your important documents with fresh ink, well, Jaquet Droz just decided to prove everyone wrong. This Jaquet Droz automaton is the ultimate luxurious toy for those that can have it all. By means of highly complex movements and driven by a set of cams that are handmade in order to produce a fluid, natural script, the Jaquet Droz Signing Machine duplicates its owner’s signature.
Experience: Céline Radical Sunglasses. Timeless and Classic Looking Like a Stainless Steel Royal Oak.
Don't be fooled by the word radical in their name, this royal blue Céline unisex shades look as classic and timeless as a stainless steel AP Royal Oak on the wrist. The late 60s inspired blue frames along with the smoky brown perfectly flat lenses and the triple-dot golden accents will make you like like Marcello Mastroianni hanging out around Lake Como. While black or brown —tortoise— frames are typically the most popular and common way to go when looking for sunglasses that match every outfit and every occasion, the same could be said about the king of all colors.
Experience: Salvatore Ferragamo Groove 2 Double Gancini Slide Sandals. Gearing up in Style for the Summer.
When it comes to blue shoes or beach sandals, no one does it better than Salvatore Ferragamo. This quintessential brand was launched in the early 1900s by its founder Salvatore Ferragamo. Having made his first pair of shoes at age nine for his sisters to wear at their church confirmation, Ferragamo studied the art of shoemaking in Napoli where he opened a small shoe store at his parent's home. After moving to Boston in 1914—where one of his brothers worked at a cowboy boot factory— and then to Santa Barbara, California in 1919, he opened his his own boot shop to quickly become the 'Shoemaker to the Stars'.
Experience: Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose. A Fresh Fragrance Like the Sea.
As you probably have figured it out by now, we love everything that comes packed in orange boxes with brown markings. Therefore, we just added the Hermès Eau de pamplemousse rose 'cologne' to the fragrances that suit watchlifestylers very well. Especially because this 'cologne' can be shared by men and women as it is a unisex fragrance. The Eau de pamplemousse rose —pink grapefruit— follows the same notes and aromas as the iconic Eau d'Orange Verte —green orange— but with a fresher scent infused with floral notes of roses.
Experience: Fauré Le Page Messenger Bag. A Fantastic Bag from the Oldest French Luxury 'Maroquinier'.
Established 38 years earlier than Vacheron Constantin —which happens to be the oldest watch manufacture in the world founded in 1755 with over 260 years of uninterrupted history—, Fauré Le Page is today the oldest French luxury 'maroquinier' —leather goods company— in the world as it was established in 1717, more than a century before Goyard and Louis Vuitton. Much like a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time that is reserved for those that know, Fauré Le Page would be the equivalent when it comes to luxury leather goods.
Experience: The House of Creed Viking. As Bold and Manly as an AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver on the Wrist.
The latest and greatest fragrance from The House of Creed since the launch of Aventus in 2010 is the new Viking just released a couple of weeks ago. For those of you not familiar with Creed, The House of Creed is the oldest perfumer in the world, established in London in 1760 by James Henry Creed. A supplier to the English Court with custom tailored clothing, scented leather gloves and commissioned fragrances, The House of Creed was a favorite to the Royal Court of England.
Experience: Vilebrequin Mistral Limited Edition Swimwear. Perfect Match to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
Watchlifestylers, get ready to experience the fanciest Vilebrequins out there. The Mistral Limited Edition is the latest exclusive swimwear line by Vilebrequin. This line features embroidered patterns in the same style and fit as the Moorea. On this post we are featuring the embroidered turtles and the embroidered starfish designs along with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15300ST with a perfectly matching blue 'grande tapisserie' dial.
Experience: Penhaligon's Portraits The Tragedy of Lord George. As Powerful and Classic as a Rolex GMT Master Batman.
The Penhaligon's Portraits collection is one of the most unique sets of fragrances from this brand and one in which the characters of each fragrance are all related and part of a fictitious very British affair that involves love, betrayal and nobility. Penhaligon's describes Lord George as a wealthy and noble man, an aristocrat that immediately reminded us of Bruce Wayne with his alter ego Batman, perfectly epitomized by the Rolex GMT Master II ref. 116710 BLNR a.k.a Batman —full review here.
Experience: Frederic Malle Monsieur by Bruno Jovanovic. As Understated as a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Jumbo ref. 5065A.
Frédéric Malle is a name that not everyone knows about and is the name behind some of the most exclusive fragrances in the world. Introduced in 2000 as Editions de Parfums, this brand is just as understated as a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Jumbo ref. 5065A on someone's wrist. A completely novel concept whereby the world’s greatest noses composed exclusive, creative fragrances to be sold under their names, Malle draws attention to the raw materials utilized in the product itself and not to his name like most fragrance makers out there.
Experience: Eleventy Blue Nylon and Suede Sneakers. What 'Made in Italy' and 'First Class' Entails When it Comes to Sneakers.
If you are an avid reader here at WCL or one of our longtime followers on Instagram, you know we love a good pair of fashionable sneakers. While most of the time you'll see us sporting Lanvin Captoe sneakers —like those we featured here— in every color possible, we recently discovered that Eleventy happens to make some of the nicest and most comfortable fashionable sneakers out there.
Insider: MB&F Caran d'Ache Astrograph Pen. Hands-on with the 99-Piece Limited Edition Writing Instrument Shaped Like a Rocket.
As you guys know, MB&F always bring the most creative thinking to watches, clocks, musical boxes and now mechanical pens. MB&F are the makers of all things cool and their newest addition is the rocket-shaped pen designed and manufactured in collaboration with the most reputable Swiss writing instruments maker, Caran d'Ache. Complete with rocket-shaped fuselage, a miniature astronaut, shock-absorbing “switchblade” landing gear and a case designed like a launch pad, the new MB&F Astrograph is nothing short of uber cool.
Experience: Vilebrequin Massimo Vitali Rocks Special Edition Swim Trunks. Perfectly Paired with a Panerai Radiomir GMT 3 Days PAM 421.
The latest collection of Vilebrequin —one of our favorite brands here at Watch Collecting Lifestyle—, this time brings a very unique design in collaboration with renowned Italian photographer Massimo Vitali. This special edition swim trunks, feature some of the most captivating images of Massimo Vitali as crystal blue waters wrap a rocky shoreline scattered with sunbathers on these classic Moorea cut from the 70s.
Experience: Penhaligon's Halfeti Eau de Parfum. Leathery Like the Hornback Strap on the Armin Strom Tourbillon Skeleton Air.
Using the finest rare ingredients, from hand squeezed Bergamot, to jasmine at twice the price of gold, Penhaligon's was founded in London in 1870 by its founder William Penhaligon, an Englishman living in an age of excess and flamboyance, William was witty, wildly creative and always inspired by the unusual. Hammam Bouquet was Penhaligon's first scent, dreamed up by William in 1872 after inhaling the steam and sulphurous aromas of his neighbouring Turkish baths.
Experience: Thirdman Eau Monumentale. A Cologne that Smells as Classic as a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso on the Wrist.
The Thirdman Eau Monumentale is one of our favorite colognes at this moment. With Extraordinary freshness, unprecedented comfort, unisex and with the ability to splash it or spray it thanks to its removable sprayer, this fragrance is the epitome of modernity, class and understated elegance. A complete new attitude in luxury fragrances that will feel on your skin as classic as that Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso does on your wrist.
Experience: Vilebrequin Swimwear and Three Divers. The Perfect Summer Companion for those Divers.
Vilebrequin was launched in Saint-Tropez —the heart of the French Riviera— back in 1971. Daytime, outside. View of the port. Café Sénéquier, meeting place of the happy few on the French Riviera. In the background, the village is abuzz with the news of the imminent arrival of Brigitte Bardot with her admirers, to spend a night at one of the legendary Saint-Tropez nightclubs. Music and champagne, non-stop! The stars have their own country here, governed by the laws of pleasure, carefree living and legend.
