In 1896, Parisians Salomon Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef founded the Van Cleef & Arpels French jewellery, watch and perfume company, with their first boutique opening in Paris in 1906.

The company quickly gathered speed in becoming world-renowned for its expertise in precious stones and jewellery and watch making and patented numerous milestones in the world of exquisite accessories.

These landmark creations included the formation of the world’s first watch with a leather strap, made with white or yellow gold in 1923.

Seven years later the Minaudiere, a petite and precious box to hold a lipstick, lighter, keys or powder compact, was produced and in 1950, Cleef & Arpel’s Zip necklace came along, which can be opened and closed like a zip.

Since its inception, Van Cleef & Arpels have been synonymous with royalty, the famous and the affluent, providing the elite members of civilisation with exceptional and unique pieces of jewellery, often designed to enhance the beauty of precious stones.

Until 5 June 2011, the Cooper-Hewitt, National; Design Museum in New York City is holding ‘Set in Style: The Jewellery of Van Cleef & Arpels’ exhibition, which explores the company’s exceptional innovation and influence in the world of jewellery making throughout the twentieth century.

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From fashion models on the front cover of Vogue boasting cheek bones to die for, to painstakingly accurate dual skyscrapers the mirror image of one another, symmetry has long been regarded as being the symbol of beauty and even success.

In a series of abstract architectural images, artist Paul Cook challenges our perception of how symmetry contests the way a shape is perceived. Through digital photographs of architecture, trees, bones and animals, Paul Cook explores symmetry as a universal aesthetic.

From May 1 – 31 2011, Paul Cook’s Parallel Universal exhibition will be showing as part of the 2011 Contact photography Festival in the city of Toronto. This annual photographic exhibition features many unique and exciting exhibitions which explore the relationship between the figure and the ground as well as interventions in the urban landscape.

Each year the Contact Photography Festival announces a theme that is to run throughout the work displayed, and this year the festival is focusing on the world’s relationship with the environment, which has been titled Figure & Ground.

From classic portraits of a figure on a landscape to critical perceptions of a landscape altered significantly by human intervention, Figure & Ground will focus on how photographic images change perception, expose meaning and enlighten knowledge.

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Jane Fonda (not) showing her age. The 73 (yes 73!) year old actress looked stunning on the red carpet in a fitted white Emilio Pucci maxi dress complete with revealing  sheer panels. It would have been breath-taking on a woman half her age.

Cheryl Cole (nearly a third of Jane Fonda’s age at 27) also stole the show with another revealing creation. This time a Stephane Rolland dress, in white with a plunging neckline.

The notoriously elusive Terrence Malick’s ‘Tree of Life’ is as big as its two male stars, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. Early reviews show this is ‘cinema thinking big’, an epic on ‘an unashamedly huge scale’.

Ooops! Not so great for Keith Allen’s ‘Unlawful killing’, a documentary about the death of Princess Diana. Critics, rather than praising the film, are simply just walking out of screenings.

Cannes 2011 gigs have been a real success. Jesse J, Jamie Cullum, Kanye West and Lady Gaga have all, so far, performed.

Maybe they should have stopped at three? ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ is not getting the best of reviews.

Jodie Foster’s ‘Beaver’ is also generating huge interest. With the bold move of casting Mel Gibson in the lead role, Foster has taken a risk following Gibson’s recent ‘indiscretions’. However, early reports suggest that Jodie foster just may have rescued Mel Gibson’s career.

Interestingly, current reports from Cannes show 2 ‘Beaver’ tickets are being swapped for 1 ‘Tree of Life’ ticket.

We will bring you a full report of Cannes 2011 shortly.

On the 16^th May, the Faconnable Taxi made its debut at Cannes 2011.

The Audi Q5 SUV has been given the Faconnable treatment, and the result is sleek and sporty.

Featuring Faconnable’s Côte d’Azur-inspired 2011 Spring-Summer advertising campaign, it fits right into the glamour of this international event.

The Taxi represents everything great about both Cannes 2011 and Faconnable, sophisticated style, excitement and star quality.

The perfect way to arrive at the red carpet.

As part of an installation at Milan Design Week, Nicola Bolla has transformed morbid objects into art forms.

The Italian sculptor has used Swarovski Crystals to create works of art, including an AK47 assault rifle, and remains of the human body.

These art pieces were showcased at an installation of Nicola Bolla called Ossuary, which was composed of her sculptures. Historically, an Ossuary is a place where remains of people that died in violent circumstances, such as battles, were finally laid to rest.

Bolla is extremely interested in the subject of transience of life and all earthy things, which she has translated into a more modern meaning – the superficial vanity of our time. She uses a nearly invisible structure and covers this with Swarovski crystals, symbolising the aspiration to preserve beauty and richness against the passing of time.

The sculptures include the assault rifle, along with skulls and human bones.

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