Columnist Muriel Stevens: The time is here for luxury

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000 | 8:52 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@lasvegassun.com or 259-4080.

Searching for luxury items? Is the sky the limit? Search no more. Never before have we had such a plethora of high-end gifts right at our fingertips.

Bulgari, a branch of the legendary Italian jewelry company, is in the Forum Shops at Caesars. For more than 100 years Bulgari designs have been coveted by celebrities and international jet-setters. Known for its fine collections of jewelry and timepieces, Bulgari also offers perfumes, leather and silk accessories, eyewear and, most recently, a selection of designs for the home.

Regardless of what you spend, you'll find that the merchandise and service are exceptional. Bulgari's original-design jewelry is pricey, but there are items such as its seven-fold silk neckties ($180), men's black leather belts with a palladium-coated square buckle ($210) and luxurious small goods for women that are well under $500.

The write things at Neiman Marcus: Fine pens and other extravagant desk accessories can be found at Neiman Marcus stationery departments and online at neimanmarcus.com. I'm not the only one who's crazy about fancy pens. Collecting special pens is a trend hotter than ever. Mont Blanc, Must de Cartier, Montegrappa, Delta and Omas pens ($250-$995) are found at NM. Pen cases, too. These handsome, see-through cases keep pens out of harm's way. I'm mad about the Diabolo De Cartier mini pens sized for women as well as men (ballpoint $150; fountain pen $250).

Exotic furniture at Amandari: Amandari, at 8400 W. Sahara Ave., showcases select furniture pieces from Bali and Indonesia, antiques as well as fine reproductions. What pampered pooch wouldn't enjoy snoozing in a hand-carved teak bed with a canopy ($665)? Included is a choice of a blue or orange mattress. Not to be outdone by a pet, there's a grand, hand-carved bed for $14,500. It takes one artisan seven months to do the elaborate carving. An antique wood trunk with the original hardware, lock and keys is $4,800. This 4,500-square-foot store is filled with unusual pieces collected by Amandari owner Marilee Latham, who spent 10 years traveling to "remote corners of the world" in her search of enough hand-carved pieces to literally "fill a warehouse." The store is stocked with everything from handmade silk, by the bolt, from Singapore to a baby pillow from Su matra.

Tiffany & Co.: Tiffany at Bellagio is always well stocked with fine jewelry. Check out the lovely "Garland" collection, a Tiffany design that celebrates nature. Ultra feminine, "Garland" designs are a continuous pattern of delicate leaves and buds that unfold around diamonds set in platinum. The diamonds are paired with blue sapphires, fancy pink sapphires or cultured pearls, in a flexible 18-karat gold necklace. A fresh, exciting new look.

Fred Leighton jewels at Bellagio: It's a rare time of day when the windows at Fred Leighton are not crowded with shoppers. This divine shop sells both new and antique and estate jewelry. The selections are gorgeous. Many pieces are one-of-a-kind. I never tire of looking at the jewelry displayed in the windows and in the store's showcases. The staff is friendly and never minds answering questions. Please be patient. This is a very busy place. Serious buyers can call ahead for an appointment.

These suggestions are only the tip of the luxury shopping iceberg. So many of the top name shops, such as Mikimoto pearls in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, sell luxury items in addition to pearls. Movado, the watch people, have expanded their merchandise mix to include Movado crystal.

The Lalique salon in the Forum Shops at Caesars offers a brilliant selection of their prized designs. This is a good time to buy Lalique, Baccarat and other fine crystal. Prices increase by at least 15 percent every January.

Chanel boutique at Bellagio offers the complete collection of Coco Chanel jewelry designs, handbags and accessories and a number of fashion statements not found elsewhere. They also offer Allure For Men grooming essentials presented in a handsome zippered case imprinted with the Chanel logo.

This is the season to indulge. Don't wait for Santa to help. He's busy with the kids. Opulence and lavish spending are for the grown-ups.