As a company that strives to end environmentally destructive gold and diamond mining practices, Green Karat is at the forefront of ethically sound and eco-conscious jewelry. By labeling pieces with green certifications, championing fair trade, opposing diamond mining and using recycled precious metals, the company has a solid philosophical foundation. But the pieces aren’t lacking in any brilliance. Ever the geeks, we like the Binary ring, which can be customized with a personalized message in binary code. The ring is made from recycled metal, deeming it ecologically responsible, and has been refined by a secondary refiner in an ecologically certified refinery. You can even add a carbon offset tax. Now that’s eco-conscious jewelry. $950 (in white gold)
Morgan Milligan, the only West Coast distributor of the Dirtsurfer, says that he recognizes the rift that the Dirtsurfer is causing, just like skiers viewed snowboarding in the ’80s. “In a niche market abounding with ‘ego,’ the Dirtsurfer has not been received with the desire that one might think it would,” he says. But Milligan is not worried. The trend has been rising steadily for the last decade, and we feel it’s on the cusp of blowing up big. Because two large tires allow for cruising on almost any surface conditions, riders have been known to scream down hills at more than 50mph, descend concrete stairs, and, of course, surf endlessly across dirt. Some even attach kites, parachutes and windsurfing sails for quick propulsion across flat surfaces. It’s extreme, to say the least. And we want one. $650
17-inch MacBook Pro
www.apple.com; 451 University Ave., Palo Alto (650) 617-9000; 183 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto (650) 330-2430; 925 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose (408) 362-4930; Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara (408) 551-2150; 23 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos (408) 399-3880
What took Apple so long to make a 17-inch MacBook Pro? Well, bigger things take time, people. Riding on the heels of three new 15-inch MacBooks in October 2008, Apple continues to dazzle with this aluminum unibody that has a buzz-worthy built-in battery that reportedly delivers up to eight hours of use and 1,000 recharges. The new MacBook comes equipped with all the old features (two months is old in the Apple world), including LED-backlit display, glass multitouch track pad, and eco-friendly materials and efficiency. The price is as jaw-dropping as the features, but, hey, what do you expect? $2,799.
Toywatch Bloomingdale’s, 1 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto (650) 463-2000www.bloomingdales.com
Milan-based fashion watch brand TOYWATCH caused a stir upon arrival in the US a few years ago, when its watches soon found their way onto high-profile wrists despite their humble price tag (celeb devotees include Oprah, Madonna, Owen Wilson and Katie Holmes). We love their new Jeweltone Plasteramic Collection, which sees the plastic watches in an array of vibrant gemstone-inspired colors, including deep aquamarine and amethyst, or for the minimalists out there, a dazzling white. These chic wrist pieces boast all of the TOYWATCH signature features, including brilliant stone markers, quartz movement, a jewel-toned rotating stainless steel bezel and that fabulous Plasteramic bracelet. And yes, style bible Women’s Wear Daily has already compared the brand’s popularity to the Swatch watch phenomenon of the ’80s. $195
*This Article appeared in Volume 9, Issue 01 of The Wave Magazine.
Dirtsurfer
17-inch MacBook Pro
Toywatch