Art imitating Life

I have to admit, I'm not much of a jewelry guy.  But every now and then a piece just speaks to you.

I subscribe to a few BMW motorcycle groups on Facebook.  The other day, a fellow on FB posted about a silversmith friend of his who was casting mens rings in the form an R68/R69S valve cover.

The castings were spot on, and I had to have one. Despite originally being made in up to a size 12, Bruce agreed to fabricate one for my fat finger in a 13.

So it's in production now.   If it looks half as good as the pics on his site, I'll be very pleased.  I opted for the oxide version as it gives a sort of aged, worn look and I liked the contrast.  Much like the valve covers on my bikes. Check them out, or order one for yourself at www.keisersterling.com

Update: My ring arrived and it's awesome!  Very cool piece that doubles as a weapon in pinch!

Art Deco Masterpiece

Berlin 1929

Continuing the theme of BMW advertising, I present to you one the most iconic pictures I've ever seen!  As part of a recent press campaign to highlight the achievements of BMW over the last 100 years, BMW made available this historic photo.

Splendidly captured in sepia tone is a BMW salesroom in Berlin, 1929.

Lets take a closer look.  Huge glass windows really open the space up to the outside.  Minimalist lit signage letters proudly display the brand name, flanked by the classic and iconic BMW roundel.  The room is brightly lit by an enormous panel of lights.  The internal decor is sparse other than strategically placed flowers.  The emphasis here is clearly on the product. The sleek tiled walls with a classic stylized art deco motif complete the classic art deco look of the day, elegant, understated, exceptional.

Fast forward 90 years and we can see the same theme at work in your local shopping mall.  TESLA has taken what BMW did nearly a century ago, and modernized it slightly.  However you can see that the concept is nearly identical.  In 1929 you would have likely left the showroom with a nice paper brochure listing the models and specifications.  Today you simply access those details on your phone or at the wall kiosk.  Otherwise not much has changed!