What the paparrazzi missed

The buzz has quieted down in the South of France and normal people can finally get a dinner reservation in Cannes. There are no cameras around, but you're dressed for the paparazzi anyway. You don't need a red carpet or a world premiere. The cool salty breeze off the Mediterranean is occasion enough. Steamed mussels on the veranda with a view of the beach. Life is good.

She wanted to dress like a village girl in a loose tunic dress with open-toed shoes and she needed some accessories. You knew that the place to look was far from the Croisette and Rue d'Antibes. Those shops are nice to look at, but murder on the wallet. The best stuff is always off the beaten path. The less beaten the better.

It wasn't too long before you found a tiny shop and struck gold. The Riviera is a light, elegant strand of flat oval links and opulent golden orbs that glow like ripened fruit. Fashioned completely from gold-fused .925 sterling silver, the necklace looks like a lost treasure from some ancient civilization, but feels thoroughly modern. The luxurious 28" strand swings long and low and secures with a lobster claw clasp. After dinner the two of you staked out a spot underneath the palms and raised a toast to the best dressed neck on the beach.