Let’s face it. Most people don’t wear luxury sports watches for practical reasons. They buy them because they look cool. The best chronographs on the market are like wearable versions of a luxury sports car.

But if you happen to be an outdoor enthusiast who actually needs a watch that will stand up to the rigors of your adventures and even offer some useful benefits, there are myriad timepieces for sports enthusiasts of all means and athletic persuasions.

Lovers of sparkle, mark your calendars. On November 16, 2014, a dazzling new exhibit will open at the Denver Art Museum, titled: Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th century.

Brilliant will feature 250 tantalizing jewelry pieces, wristwatches, and other decorative objects made by the luxury jewelry house between 1900-1975. Much of these rare and valuable Cartier pieces come from the private collections of luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor, the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace, and other celebrities and royals.

Time has run out on this year’s Baselworld but watch enthusiasts are still buzzing about the innovative and creative luxury timepieces unveiled during the show’s week-long run.

For those new to the high-end watch scene, Baselworld is the premier trade show for the international watch and jewelry industry. Every year, over 1,400 of the world’s most dedicated watchmakers and jewelers descend upon Basel, Switzerland to display their latest creations and designs to more than 122,000 chronometer experts, retailers and devotees.

When watchmakers want to promote their brands, they turn to the celebrities their male customers admire most: star athletes. Luxury and sports watch brands are gearing up for this years big sports seasons to begin, after a winter spent targeting the Olympic Games, watched by millions of sports fanatics (and watch collectors) worldwide.

From the refined Upper East Side to Brooklyn’s haphazard and hip Williamsburg, the city is teeming with jewelry creations in anticipation of spring—call it march madness for jewelry lovers, if you will. Here’s what’s hot in these two contrasting neighborhoods.

Upper East Side

Known for its easy access to Central Park, swanky townhouses and high-end shopping, NYC’s Upper East Side is the go-to location for the jewelry needs of the rich and famous. Madison Avenue is the street to stick to when browsing flagship stores of luxury designers such as Graff Diamonds, Fred Leighton, and Chopard.