In Love and Outdated, Central
The Dictator rules: Good idea. Women love being branded by their men. Think about it: how do you like it when women try to shackle you? (No need to get kinky, now.) Joking or not, you have actually picked an item that’s had a minor resurgence in fashion. Classic jewellers such as Tiffany & Co carry them in sterling silver (HK$2,100 to HK$4,200; The Landmark, Central, tel: 2845 9853). Sure, they’re from the men’s collection, but who can tell? Engraving by machine costs HK$90 for the first three letters and HK$5 and up for subsequent letters; by hand, it’s HK$250 or more for the first three letters, and HK$40 and up for each letter after that. Both take about 14 days. In love but out of cash? Mom-andpop- style silver shop Tong Kee is, amazingly, still around and offering bargain prices (61 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2527 1216). Support this dying breed of Hong Kong retailer and get your ID bracelet for as little as HK$350 to HK$1,950. Engravings are beaten in by hand rather than etched for only HK$5 per letter, and can be done in a few hours. Now, if I were to be shackled, I’d like it to be by something more interesting, like, say, a Cartier love bracelet in 18-carat gold – hold the diamonds and leave a message inside, please (HK$43,500; Prince’s Building, Central, tel: 8105 5008). I’d also settle for the mercifully unengravable Bottega Veneta oxidised silver Intrecciato ID bracelet (HK$10,100; The Landmark, tel: 2973 0882).
Where can I find Pleats Please in Hong Kong? Lane Crawford in Admiralty has gone and Pleats Please with it. I went to the Lane Crawfords in IFC Mall and Times Square but they don’t stock the brand.
Please, More Pleats, Pok Fu Lam