Business Photo Slideshows

Burberry Trench

Thomas Burberry founded Burberry in 1856, making his name with outdoor attire made from gabardine, a fabric he invented. In 1914, he created a coat for British soldiers; meant to be functional, it became fashionable. The trench has since appeared in many fabrics. According to creative director Christopher Bailey, it is the jumping-off point for all of Burberry’s collections. The men’s classic trench starts at $850.

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Cartier Love Bracelet

Designed in 1969, the Love bracelet has graced the wrist of everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Katie Holmes. First made of yellow gold, it now has variations in pink and white gold, with or without diamonds. Fastened using a tiny screwdriver, the Love bracelet quickly became Cartier’s signature piece. In the first two months of 2007, the company sold about $15 million worth in the U.S. alone.

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Gucci Loafer

The loafer (or moccasin, as Gucci calls it) debuted in 1953. In 1985, the shoe, with its iconic horse-bit buckle, became part of the Costume Institute’s collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The hand-sewn shoes start at $430; for crocodile skin, the price can rise to four digits. They’re available in brown or black leather year-round, with variations introduced seasonally.

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Hermès Kelly Bag

First made in 1892, this bag was originally designed to carry saddles. In 1956, after Grace Kelly used one to shield her pregnancy from public view, it got a new name and glamorous image. Priced from $6,000 to $18,000, the bags take a single artisan about 25 hours to make, and are notoriously hard to come by. The Hermès boutique in Manhattan has closed its wait list, but bags do occasionally show up on its shelves.

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Hermès Scarf

Introduced in 1937, the Hermès scarf has become an international signifier of good taste and a consistent source of sales for the company. Made of hefty silk twill, the scarves start at $325 each—pricey enough to be a luxury but affordable enough to be collected. Two sets of new designs are released each year, and the most desirable vintage prints can sell for thousands of dollars.

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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watch

One of the world’s most recognizable timepieces, the Oyster debuted in 1926. In 1931, the “perpetual” technology that makes the watch self-winding was added. The watch is prized for its fine design and indestructibility; it can withstand 500 degrees of heat and is waterproof up to 100 meters. Prices start at $5,050 for stainless-steel and $20,550 for an all-gold version.

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Tiffany Six-Prong Solitaire

When Tiffany founder Charles Lewis Tiffany acquired the French crown jewels in 1848, the New York media dubbed him the king of diamonds. But the 1886 debut of the six-prong Tiffany setting put the jeweler on the map for good. Rings start at $1,090, for an 18-point diamond set in platinum, and go to well over $1 million. The setting helps maximize the diamond’s brilliance while protecting it from day-to-day damage.

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