Now this is big-picture thinking. The Fondation Louis Vuitton unveils today an exceptional exhibit of two French Impressionist masterpieces at its New York flagship. On loan from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, respectively, Gustave Caillebotte’s Boating Party (circa 1877-1878) and Young Man at His Window (1876) depict... ... Read full Story
Perhaps the best-known of all its collections, Patek Philippe’s Calatrava has been a solid pillar of the brand since 1932. The line’s clean, simple design was initially inspired by the Bauhaus movement, which emphasizes functionality and geometric shapes as part of its principles. Functionality, of course, is an important value for the watchmaker, whose mechanical... ... Read full Story
Bulgari Serpenti Misteriosi High Jewellery watch, price upon request at London Jewelers, 2118 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, LI Spiral up the sparkle with this charmer. Bulgari’s Serpenti Misteriosi High Jewellery watch is a masterpiece in stealth chic, beguiling even the most knowing timepiece aficionados with its secret dial (located in the serpent’s mouth) and seductive shape... ... Read full Story
Action star Scott Eastwood takes time for a starring role in the new Colleen Hoover film adaptation "Regretting You," shows off the year's most handsome luxury watches and shares advice from his iconic father, Clint. ... Read full Story
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 2, 2025 is:
arbitrary \AHR-buh-trair-ee\ adjective
Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right.
// Because the committee wasn’t transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary.
// An arbitrary number will be assigned to each participant.
“The authority of the crown, contemporaries believed, was instituted by God to rule the kingdom and its people. England’s sovereign was required to be both a warrior and a judge, to protect the realm from external attack and internal anarchy. To depose the king, therefore, was to risk everything—worldly security and immortal soul—by challenging the order of God’s creation. Such devastatingly radical action could never be justified unless kingship became tyranny: rule by arbitrary will rather than law, threatening the interests of kingdom and people instead of defending them.” — Helen Castor, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, 2024
Did you know?
Donning black robes and a powdered wig to learn about arbitrary might seem to be an arbitrary—that is, random or capricious—choice, but it would in fact jibe with the word’s etymology. Arbitrary comes from the Latin noun arbiter, which means “judge” and is the source of the English word arbiter, also meaning “judge.” In English, arbitrary first meant “depending upon choice or discretion” and was specifically used to indicate the sort of decision (as for punishment) left up to the expert determination of a judge rather than defined by law. Today, it can also be used for anything determined by or as if by chance or whim.