Now it can be told, now that the major domos of London jewelry house Asprey have caught the big bird to New York carting with them their cache of $50 million in to-die-for bling. The diamond jewels were haute temptations presented at dinner at the home of John and Becca Cason Thrash and then at private showings at Hotel Granduca this past week.
A select group of 50 individuals with a taste for luxe and the discretionary income to enjoy it were invited to the dinner hosted by Asprey chairman John Rigas, managing director Paddy Byng and Asprey's rare diamond expert Philip Baldwin. Adding a colorful note to the British entourage was Shaun Leane, who designs jewelry for the venerable jewelry and luxury goods house founded in 1781. Asprey has enjoyed patronage of the British royal family since Queen Victoria granted the house a royal warrant in the 1800s. Crowns, coronets, sabers, anyone?
Six security guards on site at the Thrash home escorted the young and lithe jewelry models to the changing room where they picked up their dazzling bounty for display.
Six security guards were on site at the Thrash home and obviously escorted the young and lithe jewelry models to the changing room where they picked up their dazzling bounty for display.
Competing heavily with the Asprey jewels was the diamond and mega-emerald suite worn by one fashion maven who seriously knows her way around carats and cuts.
It was a high-fashion crowd that included New Yorker Chesie Breen, her mother-in-law Pat Breen, Diane Lokey Farb, Ann and Matthew Wolf, Sara Dodd with Gregory Fourticq and Melissa and Michael Mithoff.
Little expense was spared for the tony gathering. Two lengthy dinning tables, laden with magenta-hued, giant phalaenopsis orchids on long stems and crystal candelabra, lined each side of the Cason Thrash pool room where the Andy Warhol Marilyn's kept a watchful eye on the elegant proceedings. City Kitchen provided the lavish three-course dinner presented in attentive white-glove service with one waiter for every two diners.
Among those swooning over the rich diamond offerings and contemplating Asprey's rumored move to Houston were Courtney and Jason Fertitta, Kathryn and Jeff Smith, Ceron, Joanna Barrett and Todd Brooks, Joyce and Hugh Echols, and John Evatz.
Hostess Cason Thrash, stunning in a beaded cocktail dress by Ferragamo and a pair of stunning diamond chandelier earrings, was off the following day to Los Angeles as the guest of the Ferragamo family for opening of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, chaired by Robert Redford, Wallis Anneberg and Brad Pitt. Ferragamo was underwriter for the opening.
Margaret Alkek Williams, from left, jewelry designer Shaune Leane, Pat Breen and Diane Lokey Farb at the Asprey party.
