You can almost smell the exotic tanning oil and feel the French Riviera breeze on your neck. Scrolling through La Mer Collections’ watches’ website is like the best part of a Hemingway novel—foreign and dangerous, thoughtful yet very Rive Gauche. It’s time for fall fashion shopping sprees, kill two birds with La Mer time pieces that double as accessories. Martine Ilana is the creator of the La Mer Collections brand. This is a careful assembly of thoughtful and fashion forward leather watches. The band of each watch is in the rich color palette that you’d only see on holiday, widely influenced by her passion for travel.  The colors are vibrant and rich; there is a sense of intrigue that only a vacation abroad can convey. Though the design and overall presentation of Martine’s designs carry international mystique, La Mer watches are all carefully crafted right here in the United States. She has a handpicked a team of people who help create, assemble and ship every piece with care to her customers, right there in Venice Beach. The La Mer design and production studio is the last building before you hit the Pacific Ocean. Martine sites the lifestyle and working environment as a serious influence on the direction of her brand. At the time of our interview, Martine had just hopped off a plane from Costa Rica—they were shooting the pics for the Fall and Holiday 2010 catalog. Martine posed her models and product in the rainforest, dangling off of volcanoes, sunning on the beach and of course, speeding through the city streets. Ilana has devised a sexy way to market not just a stunning accessory, but, a whimsical way of life. Metallic studs dot some and chains dance daintily from others. La Mer is a concise way to say, “Maybe I’m with the band, but I still read books.” Ilana is a highly educated business owner, splitting time behind both by college books and international itineraries. Her resume is impressive, she’s been making jewelry since childhood, then a degree as an Industrial Designer, and as an accessory designer for Vans, and finally entrepreneur. This has prepared her for accessories that cater to all, without bias toward body image. She creates for the shoppers that want something left of center, original and of course hand assembled. La Mer manages to be personal, quirky, and chic, yet classically elegant. Martine will soon be adding travel bags to her line. Martine has been careful to devise a line of accessories that fit all women across the board. She has pieces that can add some personality to every woman’s bag of tricks. Personally, my La Mer watch says that I’m a cherry bomb, I’ve been to Italy and maybe I’m hiding an off shore account or two. What will yours say about you? Do you also have a penchant for travel? Well, Martine Ilana and Buzzbin want to know: what major city in the world would best inspire a new watch for La Mer Collections? Email me: Jara@Buzzbinmagazine.com. If your answer is the best, you’re going to get a brand new La Mer watch—straight outta Venice Beach. Submissions must be received by Sept 10^th, winners notified by Sept 13^th.