The Hermès Bracelet Story

It's safe to say this special edition has been two years in the making. The beautiful story begins when Mr. orchestrated a surprise exactly two years ago on our anniversary. That full narrative is detailed below in this very same article. I simply could not separate the two. And you're soon to find out why…

July is a big month around here with birthdays and anniversaries separated by only a week. Trust me, it's a huge disadvantage, lol. Just like in grade school, I think I'm about to start demanding a half-birthday celebration.

Let me take you back to earlier this year where we took a trip of a lifetime and traveled to Hong Kong and Japan. It was one of the most epic travel experiences of recent years. I am particularly fascinated with the civil order of their culture… It's unlike anywhere else in the world. Now I could insert 100's of blooming Sakura photos but I will spare you and try to stick to my story. And shopping, well – nowhere else really compares.

And yes, I went with an acquisition in mind for this trip. This year marks a special anniversary 💍 so naturally it warrants a big splurge… or so that's how I justify it to “us” – ok – ok.., just humor me for a moment. With the home project now near complete… (well, except for all the extra toppings like luxe bedroom drapes and even more perennial landscape – those are just two of my summer home projects) my wishlist has once again returned to blingy acquisitions: ie, jewelry.

For anyone that builds a home, you'll know the deep hole of obsessions where stone and faucets consume you and then of course the furniture and design process. It never ends… but my hubby would say I stayed the course and managed to maintain two separate channels of spend: home and personal. Let's leave that debate for another day.

After much internal deliberation (you know the kind… ), I set my sights on possibly adding the Adage Bracelet in Rose Gold and Diamond to match my ring 💍 and make it a full set. I had tried it only once before so it needed a full exploration of sorts. Truthfully, I didn't know at the time I received the Adage ring that there were matching pieces. I can't put my finger on exactly when this discovery came about, but it certainly had a lasting impression. The first time just a few short months after I received the ring, did I discover there was a matching bracelet and even a necklace… I spotted this spectacular matching Adage necklace at the Paris re-see the following f/w season.

My playground would be the gorgeous and numerous Hermès boutiques to be encountered on our Asian travels. You know – it feels like there's an Hermès boutique on every corner like a 7 – eleven. And so, during our travels, in every boutique I encountered, I would make a beeline to the jewelry department and seek out my indulgent request.

Alas.. the Hong Kong boutiques offered no hope, although I did add another diamond ring to my wishlist. Hermès Hong Kong. My girlfriends traveling with me patiently observed this song and dance at each orange pit stop. Even the airports were worth the ask as their inventory across the different métiers was impressive. I did actually have the opportunity to try the white gold version at one of the Hong Kong boutiques. I was now officially convinced this was the piece to add this year.

So many jewelry pieces I had never seen – a feast for the eyes. This was Hong Kong. Adage bracelet in white gold in Hong Kong. Although I struck out in Hong Kong, I was so optimistic that Hermès Tokyo Ginza boutique would be the place. Surely, it would have this masterpiece in my size in rose gold. The jewelry department alone is huge, rivaling the size of my entire Chicago boutique, a fact true of all the boutiques I visited in Asia. Not just a glass case or two behind a few desks like we see here in the US. The Ginza store's jewelry department was an entire floor much more like our upscale shopping mall Cartier or Tiffany boutiques… there were more pieces than I had ever seen.

As this was serious business and with only a few days stay in Tokyo, on our first free day we arrived early before the store opened so we could be one of the first to be let in. I requested to speak directly to one of the Jewelry managers. I expressed my desperation at this point but was utterly disappointed to hear that there were none available in Japan at this time. Trust me, I and the helpful manager explored every possible combination and permutation of trying to get it, but there were none available in inventory anywhere – in Japan or Hong Kong. It quickly became clear that the re-release of the white gold Adage collection was taking precedence at this time over the rose gold version I sought.

One of the motivations to purchase along my travels would be the significant savings purchasing abroad would present. Hermès Ginza. #ootd the morning we went to the Hermès Ginza store. Hermès ombré Kelly Danse, Hermès deerskin black long trench and gloves. Hermès sneakers bought at Hong Kong airport. Alas I returned home empty-handed (well, empty jewel-handed) and mentally put this chapter to rest. Little did I know that Mr. did not.

I confess that as I explored other precious pieces from Cartier and Bvlgari, the rose gold Adage Bracelet was always in the back of my mind… always playing a “this or that” game. Constantly asking myself which would I rather…

One evening in late July – just a few days after our anniversary.. this special box sat between us… To say I was excited is an understatement… A few happy screeches later it was on my wrist. I sat mesmerized… this precious piece marks a very special year and sentiment… How Mr PB pulled this off is still a mystery to me. He persisted after I gave up, and our sales associates waved their magic wand to make my wish come true: this Rose Gold Adage bracelet appeared just in time for our anniversary.

More than a bracelet, this will forever be a reminder of our special anniversary, the story behind its discovery, and a husband who listened carefully even when I thought my search had come to an end. Every time I look down at my wrist, I'll see not only the diamonds and rose gold, but the memories of Hong Kong and Tokyo, the excitement of searching for this piece, and the love behind the surprise that was waiting for me all along.

Celebratory dinner and drinks at Adalina Prime. I couldn't leave the bag in the car with valet so it sat right next to me :) Memories etched in my mind forever ♾️

What follows below is the original story from exactly two years ago when hubby surprised me with the Hermès Adage ring. As you read through, you will understand how I could not separate the two stories… nor was I able to express my sentiments as beautifully as I captured them two years ago. Much love ❣️

The First Part : Hermès Double Dip Anniversary Surprise

“Happy wife, happy life” has been my mantra forever, but it's hard to accomplish in July when her birthday and our anniversary fall within a week of each other. A perfect orange-boxed surprise has always been my savior, but with each passing year, the selection, acquisition, and maintaining secrecy have become increasingly challenging. This year's Hermès surprise was especially thrilling because it was completely unexpected for Monika. Our longstanding relationship with our dear Hermès sales associate, spanning a decade, has been invaluable and she knows her preferences more so than I do. But together we pulled it off this year with a double H dip. I can't wait to see her reaction. – Mr.

I'm writing this article in as close to real time as I may have ever. Today is July 19, our wedding anniversary. Six days ago, July 13, was my birthday. Growing up, I never liked my birthday because, since it fell during the school summer holiday, it wasn't celebrated it in school where I could be the special student of the day like my peers experienced on their birthdays. You know how important these little things are when you're young. Truthfully I can't remember if the concept of half birthday existed when I was in grade school. A decade or so later and to compound issues, my wedding day would fall exactly one week after my birthday. My younger self felt this was disadvantageous because everything celebratory would be done within a span of one week and then I would need to wait for the next July. I am sure that over the many years of my marriage I have expressed this (repeatedly perhaps) to Mr. . To his credit, he has made our Julys extra special. And this year is no different.

Last Friday, I received a delivery, a Ferrari delivery no less, and a text from Mr. that read like this: I only recently became familiar with this term, or more like a service coined, Ferrari delivery. It's a delivery carrier that many brands use to secure high-value goods. Think jewelry, watches, and, of course, expensive bags. What makes the service unique is that it requires an in-person delivery and the recipient must present ID before the item is turned over. My first Ferrari experience was in December 2022 when I received Miss Mimosa for Christmas. Another Incredible surprise plotted between my Hermès sales associate and my dedicated hubby.

It's been exactly seven days today since I accepted delivery, and seven days of me staring at the sealed package resting in the corner of my bedroom. Mr. stated very clearly last Friday that I would need to wait till our anniversary to open this mysterious package. Thankfully, it's been an extremely busy week with a wedding celebration that spanned all of last weekend, followed by a formal reception on Monday, then on Tuesday was the Heritage Auctions Chicago yacht cocktail event, and a one-day trip to New York City on Wednesday. Due to an eight-hour travel delay I didn't return to Chicago's O'Hare Airport until 3am Thursday. So really yesterday, Thursday was the first day that I could indulge myself contemplating and anticipating this year's birthday anniversary treat.

Over the last many years, our Hermès sales associate has become quite close, if not closer, to Mr. than to me. It really is very special that the two of them together orchestrate these novel-worthy surprises for me. This morning, when my eyes first opened, I reached over to Mr. PB to wish him a Happy Anniversary. He flung his left arm out, I clapped it with my right, and quickly snapped this unconventional photo that I share with you here. It was pretty early, I'd say it was about 6:45 am. We snuggled and fell back asleep for a bit. Our morning schedules are very different so I can't say which one of us typically gets out of bed first, but today Mr. popped out first. He immediately changed his clothing, a departure from his usual routine. From the closet, he told me in no uncertain terms that I was to stay in bed until he got back from a necessary errand. It was really cute. Obviously, I assumed he was going to pick up coffee, or something of that sort. So I obliged, rolled over, and just lay back, reflecting on life, the many blessings, the ups and downs…. It was like a movie of images, jumping from different stages of our lives, some recent, and some dated as far back as our earliest meetings. Life with one's partner, for those of us that are blessed to have found one, are never a straight road. Embracing those twists and turns are just part and parcel of it all.

He wasn't gone long, I did get up to brush and go through my morning rituals, and before I knew it, I heard the door chime and quickly jumped back into bed to make it look as though I had never left. I heard some paper rumblings as he entered the room, but played dumb as though I was sleeping. It just seemed to be the romantic thing to do. I was facing away from whatever he was orchestrating on my nightstand. I was overcome with all those fuzzy feels. He's a simple man really. I have certainly rubbed off on him.

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