Following on the heels of <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/lists/audemars-piguet-new-watches-royal-oak-mini-1235632777/royal-oak-mini-frosted-gold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the May release of multiple Royal Oaks</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/audemars-piguet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Audemars Piguet</a> is back with a <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/41-mm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">41 mm</a> self-winding <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/openworked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">openworked</a> offering, now in three striking case and bracelet materials. Stainless steel is going to resonate with the traditionalists, the yellow gold with those who like a louder wrist flex, and black ceramic will offer up a stealthy, futuristic vibe.



We’ve been <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/shopping-time-audemars-piguet-royal-oak-prices-are-dropping-fast-heres-5-you-can-buy-right-now-1235684745/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reporting that Royal Oaks are coming down in price</a> on the pre-owned and <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/neo-vintage-watches-how-to-collect-them-1235624589/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neo-vintage</a> market, and we’ve even just published <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/audemars-piguets-royal-oak-history-1234669410/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a brief history of the “RO.”</a> The <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/royal-oak/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Oak</a> was originally penned by acclaimed designer <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gerald-genta-2864111/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gerald Genta</a>, who singlehandedly revolutionised the sports watch market.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="555" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Openworked-41-mm-1024x555.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789172" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Openworked-41-mm-1024x555.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Openworked-41-mm-300x163.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Openworked-41-mm-768x416.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Openworked-41-mm.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Openworked 41 mm in stainless steel. Image courtesy of Audemars Piguet</figcaption></figure>



Audemars Piguet is sometimes said to have a hard time getting past its <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=patek+royal+oak+robb+report&amp;rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS1103US1104&amp;oq=patek+royal+oak+robb+report&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORigATIGCAEQRRg8MgYIAhBFGDwyBggDEEUYPNIBCDQzNDdqMWo3qAIAsAIA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strong association with the Royal Oak</a>, but this doesn’t seem to be hurting the brand whatsoever. As expert collector and vintage dealer at <a href="http://shift/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analog:Shift</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/slideshow/5-dapper-vintage-timepieces-from-the-analog-shift-x-j-press-pop-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Lamdin</a>, told us last week, “The brand is still in demand, and so [the Royal Oak] is still hard to get at the boutiques.” This situation may not come as a surprise to experienced collectors of the Royal Oak, though this new iteration may be especially difficult to get one’s hands on, as it’s at what many consider a perfect size (41 mm) with just enough technology (dual-barrel calibre 3132) and flash (openworked dial) to sing on the wrist.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="555" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Royal-Oak-Openworked-41mm-Black-Ceramic-and-Yellow-Gold-1024x555.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789173" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Royal-Oak-Openworked-41mm-Black-Ceramic-and-Yellow-Gold-1024x555.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Royal-Oak-Openworked-41mm-Black-Ceramic-and-Yellow-Gold-300x163.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Royal-Oak-Openworked-41mm-Black-Ceramic-and-Yellow-Gold-768x416.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Royal-Oak-Openworked-41mm-Black-Ceramic-and-Yellow-Gold.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Openworked 41 mm in black ceramic (left) and yellow gold. Image courtesy of Audemars Piguet</figcaption></figure>



Especially attractive here is the rose gold movement in the steel and ceramic versions. Rose gold from Audemars Piguet is especially warm due to its copper content. Against the steel, you’ve got a unique <a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/two-tone-watches-are-having-a-comeback-here-are-5-worth-buying" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bi-metal</a> (or <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/two-tone-watches-1235484110/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-tone</a>) sensibility, and against the black ceramic that rose-gold movement seems to blossom like a midnight flower. Both are very chic. But it may be the yellow gold iteration that comes closest to classic Royal Oak vibes, with the long-used 18-carat case and bracelet featuring a much quieter rhodium-plated movement that’s all smoke and shadow.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="619" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-1024x619.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789174" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-1024x619.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-300x181.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-768x464.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-1536x929.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image.webp 1882w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The dual balance wheel mechanism of calibre 3132 helps stabilise the balance staff in its ruby mount, which improves precision. Image courtesy of Audemars Piguet</figcaption></figure>



Calibre 3132 employs a dual balance wheel, which is a unique approach to minimising the tilt of the balance staff (the axil on which the balance wheel oscillates back and forth). When the balance wheel swings, there is a tendency for it to tilt within its ruby mount, which allows gravity to have its way with it, causing timing discrepancies in different positions (known as positional variance). By adding a second balance wheel (not just a second spring, as found in some movements), Audemars Piguet has added stabilising mass to the mechanism, as well as counter-force that steadies the balance staff as it changes direction, according to Audemars Piguet.



Prices are US$76,400 (HK$596,650) for stainless, and US$101,100 (HK$789,545) for either the ceramic or yellow-gold model.

Audemars Piguet

Royal Oak

Audemars Piguet Just Unveiled 3 New Openworked Royal Oaks

The savvy, smart, experienced collectors I know don’t always go for <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/patek-philippe-dominates-spring-watch-auctions-1235618152/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the big lots on the watch auction circuit</a>, but instead identify some really interesting pieces they’re passionate about that also seem like they’ll go up in value. Some of these collectors have flipped these low-key sleepers years later for serious money, which adds up to fund that newsworthy big lot at a later date. In one case I know of, a very chill purchase turned into a second home—and a rather nice one at that. If, like me, you are curious to know what this insider scene of the watch circuit is like, you may be interested in following the <a href="https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/HK080224" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hong Kong Watch Auction that Phillips is putting on this week</a>, which happens to be full of interesting watches with entirely down-to-earth estimates. Let’s call them sleepers.



The key at this year’s Hong Kong Watch Auction is, in my estimation, to look at what is often called “neo-vintage.” This is a relatively new and hot category—one which I cynically believe pre-owned dealers created to jack up prices on out-of-style, ageing stock. Despite the crass impulse behind the genre’s creation, the result has been an increased awareness of what watch collectors often call “sweet spot” or “sleeper” pricing: Watches that are neither old enough to be vintage nor new enough to be hot pre-owned models. As a soft rule, neo-vintage watches are roughly 20 to 40 years old.



A few things to note about this selection below, however: First, neo-vintage watches are often wildly out of style, but they’re going to come back in, just as everything does after enough nostalgia and buzz accrues. Second, not all the watches I’m recommending are neo-vintage, as I think a few of the offerings at the Hong Kong Watch Auction of recent vintage could end up being “big watches” to own down the road, too. The softening market doesn’t hurt either.



Let’s jump into the lots I think you should keep an eye on.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rolex-Coral-Oyster-Pepetual.jpg?w=1024" alt="Rolex Coral Oyster Perpetual 36 - Lot 803, $5,100 - $7200"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rolex Coral Oyster Perpetual 36 | Lot 803</h3>



Created in 2021, this coral Oyster Perpetual is probably the newest watch I’ll recommend here, but selling for around the retail prices, as estimated here, seems unlikely. These were hotter than hotcakes when they dropped in multiple colours, drawing interest around the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/lists/rolex-watch-grails-fails-1235591914/rolex-reference-1803-day-date-with-lilac-stella-dial/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1970’s Stella Dials</a> to which these colourful OPs pay tribute. Coral is among the hottest—both in hue and in demand. Keep an eye on this one, because it only takes two people who really want it to send it off the charts. If it doesn’t soar, and you dig it, then pounce! 



Presale estimates: US$5,100 to US$7,200 (HK$39,785 to HK$56,170)



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AP-Chronograph-Royal-Oak.jpg?w=1024" alt="Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph | Lot 816"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph | Lot 816</h3>



This is a great example of the neo-vintage effect. From 2005, this one is just 19 years old, and its estimate range is downright low for a stainless steel Ref. 25860ST. If anything else tells me the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/q1-2024-report-watch-market-slows-1235602572/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch market is slowing down</a>, it could be the estimate on lot 816, which I’m going to watch closely. Mid-pandemic, this reference was nearly unobtainable.



Presale estimates: US$19,200 to US$32,100 (HK$149,785 to HK$250,420)



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rolex-GMT-Master-II-Solid-Gold.jpg?w=1024" alt="Rolex GMT Master II 16718 | Lot 829"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rolex GMT Master II 16718 | Lot 829</h3>



I’ve gone on <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/lists/how-to-buy-your-first-rolex-1235609142/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at length about how the four-, five- and six-digit reference numbers from Rolex</a> have created a kind of lull around the value of the five-digit references, and this watch only proves my theory. Dating to 2002, this GMT Master II is entirely solid gold and ready to be scooped up in the mid-US$20,000 (HK$156,025) region. Neither rare nor really even in style right now, the model is only going to go up in value as it ages into the vintage category over the next decade. Being post-1998–1999, it will be loaded with Super-LumiNova, and, on this example, I’m seeing a rather well preserved aluminium bezel insert and only modest polishing. Definitely watching this bad boy.



Presale estimates: US$20,500 to US$30,800 (HK$159,925 to HK$240,280)



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Vacheron-Constantin-40-mm-Triple-Calendar.jpg?w=1024" alt="Vacheron Constantin 40 mm Triple Calendar | Lot 834"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Vacheron Constantin 40 mm Triple Calendar | Lot 834</h3>



These were <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/slideshow/8-hallmarks-of-the-golden-age-of-steel/vacheron-constantin-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">so hot when they launched a few years ago</a> that everyone seemed to have one. Then they were kind of the meh-watch, and then they were all over the used market, and still are today. Why this Ref. 3110V/000A-B425 from 2019 is at auction is a good question. I think this could go for (gulp) under US$10,000 (HK$78,015)—because, in my opinion, this isn’t the kind of watch people go to auctions to find (more of an eBay watch, if there is such a thing). As a minor collector of Vacheron Constantin myself, I don’t even particularly like this model at 40 mm (seems cartoonish), but I know a potential steal when I see one. Could be a total sleeper. And it is beautiful, really.



Presale estimates: US$7,700 to US$15,400 (HK$60,070 to HK$120,150)



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rolex-Datejust-Two-Tone-Diamonds.jpg?w=1024" alt="Rolex Datejust Two Tone Diamonds | Lot 850"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rolex Datejust Two Tone Diamonds (NOS) | Lot 850</h3>



This reference 116233 is from 2010, and it is listed as new old stock (NOS), which means it’s never been worn. It also comes with its original box, hang tags, and owner’s card. Snag this one for under US$10,000 (HK$78,020), drop it in the safe, and watch it outperform your portfolio year after year. Then, once the market is hot for these tasty Champagne dials—because everything goes in and out of style—bring it back to Phillips and flip it for that money you’re going to drop on the truly rare gem of your collection.



Presale estimates: US$6,200 to US$10,300 (HK$48,370 to HK$80,355)



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/White-Gold-Patek-Philippe-Perpetual-Calendar.jpg?w=1024" alt="White Gold Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar—Lot 854, $25,600 - $51,300"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">White Gold Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar | Lot 854</h3>



It wasn’t that long ago that Patek Philippe was still making perpetual calendars at the “correct” size of 36 mm—this my opinion, of course, but one I feel quite strongly about. A reference 3940G-013 that could land in the middle of the US$30,000 (HK$234,045) range? Need I say more? This is the magic of that neo-vintage sweet spot in a nutshell. The 2005 vintage may be a dead zone now, but give it 10 years and boom!



Presale estimates: US$25,600 to US$51,300 (HK$199,720 to HK$400,220)<a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Platium-Patek-Philippe-Annual-Calendar-37-mm.jpg?w=1024" alt="Platinum Patek Philippe Annual Calendar | Lot 856"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Platinum Patek Philippe Annual Calendar | Lot 856</h3>



For starters, 37 mm is a very tasty size for a truly complicated Patek Philippe. Add in the platinum build, the slate-grey dial, the moon phase, and this thing is simply a crazy good deal. The 2002 vintage puts it squarely in the neo-vintage category. With a classic visage and amazing pedigree, barring some unforeseen apocalyptic event, I am 100 per cent confident you won’t be getting a reference 5056P-001 for this kind of money for much longer. If this one stays below US$20,000 (HK$156,030), I’d be amazed—and impressed by the savvy bidder who took it home for peanuts.



Presale estimates: US$15,400 to US$25,600 (HK$120,145 to HK$199,720)



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/F.-P.-Journe-Resonance.jpg?w=1024" alt="F. P. Journe Resonance (First Generation) | Lot 865"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">FP Journe Resonance (First Generation) | Lot 865</h3>



I know the six-figure mark may not sound like a deal, but this is a first generation Resonance, people! We have <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/f-p-journes-chronometre-a-resonance-celebrates-its-20th-anniversary-2916635/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">detailed this remarkable model from FP Journe, so you can read up on why it’s significant</a> and why a Gen. 1 is going to be the thing to put your kids through college in no time at all. Frankly, I’m shocked at the estimate, but given the softening of the market and threat of rising interest rates, this could be the moment to jump on one of these rare beauties. As odd as it may sound, this may be the sleeper of this auction. Note the 2002 date of creation, which seems to be the sweet spot for this year’s edition of the Hong Kong Watch Auction.



Presale estimates: US$121,000 to US$231,000 (HK$943,950 to HK$1.8 million)<a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Piaget-Alta-Plano-Stone-Dial.jpg?w=1024" alt="Piaget Altiplano Stone Dial Ref. 9025 | Lot 869"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Piaget Altiplano Marble Dial Ref. 9025 | Lot 869</h2>



<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/how-watch-collectors-styling-piaget-timepieces-today-1235582152/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Piaget is hot</a>. Stone dials are hot. Thin watches are hot. <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/small-mens-watches-trend-1234825319/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Small watches are hot</a>. Why aren’t you rushing to place your bid for this 30 mm, marble-faced beauty? Get into this mid-1990s model for the price of a long weekend in the islands, and you’ll turn that into a two-week stay further abroad before you know it.



Presale estimates: US$3,200 to US$6,400 (HK$24,960 to HK$49,925)<a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Patek-Philippe-Calatrava-with-Salmon-Dial.jpg?w=1024" alt="Patek Philippe Calatrava With Salmon Dial | Lot 886"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Patek Philippe Calatrava With Salmon Dial | Lot 886</h2>



Reference 3796 was Patek’s follow up to the venerable reference 96 that started it all in 1932. And if there’s a company that <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/salmon-watch-dials-history-1235615405/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">makes a proper salmon dial</a>, it is Patek Philippe. I think every watch writer goes through what I just went through before including this watch: The temptation to not include it so that the price stays as low as I can possibly keep it. Why? Because I really want this watch! But I am a journalist first and a watch collector second, so here it is in all its affordable glory, one of the most beautiful 31 mm watches ever produced in the history of watchmaking. This baby is exactly 30 years old, setting it straight in the middle of the neo-vintage market. And with a hint of reluctance, I sign off with this pink gold piece of perfection. Happy bidding!



Presale estimates: US$6,400 to US$12,800 (HK$49,925 to HK$99,850)



All images courtesy of Phillips.

FP Journe

Patek Philippe

Phillips

Piaget

Rolex

Vacheron Constantin

10 Collectible Sleepers at Phillips’s Hong Kong Watch Auction, From Neo-Vintage Standouts to Aughts Gems

Peach fuzz may be Pantone’s color of the year, but the watch industry is deep in the midst of a green regime. It’s a sporty yet versatile color that looks good with most other hues, as well as steel or gold cases. On a watch dial, it makes for a legible background against white, black, or gold markers. Style-wise, it’s bold enough to qualify as a flex and unlikely to be just a passing fancy: green watches are already morphing from an emerging trend to a full-on genre. Here are 15 watches of the moment with green dials, bezels, straps, and cases.<a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6656_3653_55B_RVB.jpg?w=800" alt="Blancpain Villeret Quantième Perpetuel"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blancpain Villeret Quantième Perpétuel</h2>



The dial on this perpetual calendar was inspired by the Spruce forests of Le Brassus, the Swiss village where Blancpain is headquartered, surrounded by the Jura Mountains. The gold applied markers and hands blend well with the green, as does Blancpain’s signature friendly-faced moon.<a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7130R_014_1_a3edfd.jpg?w=800" alt="Patek Philippe World Traveler Ref. 7130R"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Patek Philippe World Traveler Ref. 7130R</h2>



The ladies’ world time is the latest in a long line of Patek Philippe 24-city time zone models, dating from the 1930s. Despite how long Patek as been making them, they are produced in very limited quantities and remain rare. Here, the signature guilloché center dial shows in an olive-green basket-weave pattern that looks great with the rose gold case. The bezel is set with 63 diamonds.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HU565F1.jpg?w=800" alt="Hublot Big Bang Unico Green SAXEM"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hublot Big Bang Unico Green SAXEM</h2>



Big Bang Unico Green SAXEM, which stands for Sapphire Aluminum oXide and rare Earth Mineral, is Hublot’s proprietary variation of sapphire crystal. Like sapphire, it is transparent, so you can see the movement, the HUB1280 flyback chronograph, through the case side. The integrated rubber strap is perfectly matched to the green case, as is the lume on the hands. Hublot will make 100 pieces.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1-SOLDAT_Chronomaster-Sport_03.3119.3600.56.M3100_4x5.jpg?w=800" alt="Zenith Chronomaster Sport"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>Zenith Chronomaster Sport</h2>



The all-green version of the Chronomaster Sport makes a fashion statement without detracting from the signature tri-color subdial aesthetic of the watch. The green against the gray and blue subdials coexist without clashing. This is a more accessible version of the Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rogers limited edition introduced last fall, which sold out immediately.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CBS5011.FC6566_SOLDAT.jpg?w=800" alt="TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox Tourbillon</h2>



The Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon was launched in 2023 with a blue dial, but this teal-green monochrome variant transforms it completely. At 42 mm wide and with a very narrow bezel—a nice element of the vintage-inspired Carrera design, with its glassbox crytal—the dial becomes a large canvas, with plenty of space for the color to make a dramatic impact. It contains the new Heuer 02-TH20-09 movement, developed by movements director Carole Forestier-Kasapi, so you know the technical side is first-rate.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MBandF_LMSE_EVO_Taipei_Front_White_Hres.jpg?w=800" alt="MB&amp;F LM Split Escapement EVO"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>MB&amp;F LM Split Escapement EVO</h2>



This edition of the EVO was created for the Taipei market, where MB&amp;F recently opened a gallery. The watch is designed to display a flying balance wheel that floats above the dial, while the anchor and escape wheel reside below (hence: “split escapement”). The green subdial, along with day and date rings, also hovers dramatically above the dial. The titanium timepiece is limited to 20.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-03-29-at-3.28.17-PM.jpg?w=800" alt="Ressence Type 3 EE Eucalyptus"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ressence Type 3 EE Eucalyptus</h2>



The Type 3 is distinctive for its crown-free case and edge-to-edge sapphire crystal. The dial, with its rotating disk system of telling time, is now colored in a eucalyptus shade of green that makes a fashion statement beyond the unconventional design. All indications are treated with Super-LumiNova so they glow green in the dark.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/omega-constellation-co-axial-master-chronometer-41-mm-13130412199002-40e0fa.jpg?w=800" alt="Omega Constellation Meteorite"/></figure>



<a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>Omega Constellation Meteorite</h2>



The meteorite dial on this watch is, according to Omega, 4.5 billion years old. Every slice is unique, as it retains its natural pattern, and this one is tinted green, with a matching green ceramic bezel printed with Roman numerals. The 41mm case is steel, and it contains a Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement, caliber 8900.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HMoser_6804-0406_Streamliner_Tourbillon_RG_Wyoming_Jade__SDT_W.jpg?w=800" alt="H. Moser &amp; Cie Streamliner Tourbillon Wyoming Jade"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>H. Moser &amp; Cie Streamliner Tourbillon Wyoming Jade</h2>



The jade Streamliner covers three current trends: the return of the tourbillon, the color green, and mineral dials. The jade is sliced to just 1.5mm thick and then hand-finished and polished. Because high-quality jade is a rare find nowadays, this is limited to only 50 pieces this year, and 50 pieces next year depending on availability.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/19_Breitling-Chronomat-Automatic-36-Victoria-Beckham_Ref.-K103801A1L1K1_CMYK.jpg?w=800" alt="Breitling Chronomat Victoria Beckham"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>Breitling Chronomat Victoria Beckham</h2>



This limited edition of 1,500 pieces was launched to rave reviews in February. It’s a gender-neutral 36 mm, sporty chic interpretation of one of Breitling’s milestone heritage watches, and includes this bold peppermint green. Victoria Beckham’s initials appear on the counterweight of the seconds hand, and on the rouleaux metal bracelet.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Grand_Seiko_SBGH343_62GS-38mm_sakura_wakaba_watch.jpg?w=800" alt="Grand Seiko SBGH343"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grand Seiko SBGH343</h2>



Grand Seiko designs are often inspired by nature, along with the Japanese custom of celebrating 24 seasons instead of just four. This one takes the theme of Seimei, which translates to “clear and bright,” referring to the early days of April—with warm spring breezes and the sun shining on sprouting leaves. The 38m case is titanium, and it contains the high-beat (36,000 vph) caliber 9S85.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AN-AU-face-W.jpg?w=800" alt="Krayon Anywhere Aurora"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Krayon Anywhere Aurora</h2>



The color on this dial, created through a process called ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition), covers a surface engraved in a spiral pattern, for a 3D effect. The complication calculates the precise moment at which the sun rises and sets each day, in a location chosen by the wearer. The green edition, with a lightweight, 39 mm titanium case, is limited to 25 pieces.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/N45-002-BR03-Diver-Black-Green-Bronze.jpg?w=800" alt="Bell &amp; Ross BR 03-92 Diver"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bell &amp; Ross BR 03-92 Diver</h2>



The black, green, and bronze diver is a special edition of 999 pieces. The nautical theme, compared to the brand’s usual aeronautical-related pieces, includes a bronze case, which will look great with the dial once it oxidates because it will have some green tinge. Green and white are highly visible colors underwater, so work perfectly on a watch that can dive to 1,000 meters. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CODE_15210OR-OO-A056KB-01_SDT.jpg?w=800" alt="Audemars Piguet Code 11.59"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>Audemars Piguet Code 11.59</h2>



The first stainless steel models of the 11.59, introduced earlier this year, include this model with an olive green dial. The embossed ripple pattern was created specifically for the Code 11.59. The pattern of waves moves outwards from the center of the dial, and is notched with hundreds of tiny holes that play with the light. The green is created using a PVD process.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://robbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bulgari-2024_Lvcea_103731_Packshot_010.jpg?w=800" alt="Bulgari Lucea"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a><a href="https://robbreport.com/"></a>Bulgari Lucea</h2>



Bulgari’s latest Lucea has a malachite dial with an unusual twist. Instead of using a slice, as in conventional mineral dials, it creates a composition of malachite pieces that are inlaid, marquetry style, on the dial. The malachite pieces were salvaged from the making of other watches at Bulgari. The dial is set with 12 diamond hour markers, and the bezel is adorned with 56 diamonds.&nbsp;

15 Stylish Watches Proving Green Is the Colour of the Moment, From AP to Zenith

Spring is bringing hot temperatures and even hotter wrist candy.



Bonhams is auctioning off 31 exceptional timepieces at its upcoming Fine Watches sale. Running from 20 to 30 April, the online auction will include lots that range from a mere US$2,500 (HK$19,570) to a hefty US$250,000 (HK$1.9 million). As such, every type of collector should be able to find something to bid on.



The auction will be led by an iconic <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolex</a> Daytona Cosmograph “<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-2724803/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Newman</a>” from 1972 (pictured top). Combining parts from references 6262 and 6239, the vintage chronograph features a stainless-steel case and a classic “Panda” dial with a cream backdrop and black subdials. Offered with the original box, paperwork, and receipt, the watch is expected to sell for between US$150,000 and US$250,000 (HK$1.1 million to HK$1.9 million).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rolex_GMTMaster-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786878" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rolex_GMTMaster-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rolex_GMTMaster-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rolex_GMTMaster-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rolex_GMTMaster.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rolex GMT Master. Image courtesy of Bonhams</figcaption></figure>



Fans of the Crown will also be able to bid on a Rolex GMT Master from 1960. This example showcases a stainless steel case, a black dial with the signature date aperture at three o’clock, and the famous <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-nicknames-1234733641/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Pepsi” bezel</a>. The blue and red colourway was originally a nod to PanAm’s logo, as the GMT-Master was created for the crew of that airline in 1955. The dual time watch also allowed the crew to keep track of both GMT and the local time at their eventual destination. Again, the timepiece comes with the original box, paperwork, and receipt. The lot is expected to fetch between US$50,000 to US$80,000 (HK$391,445 to HK$626,310).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPJourne_Byblos-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786879" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPJourne_Byblos-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPJourne_Byblos-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPJourne_Byblos-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPJourne_Byblos.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/f-p-journe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FP Journe</a> Chronomètre Bleu “Byblos.” Image courtesy of Bonhams</figcaption></figure>



Rarities by independent watchmakers will be up for grabs, too. A limited edition by Francois-Paul Journe’s eponymous brand is expected to hammer down for between US$150,000 and US$250,000 (HK$1.1 million to HK$1.9 million). Released in 2014, the FP Journe Chronomètre Bleu “Byblos” celebrated the opening of the watchmaker’s 10th boutique in Beirut. Named after the ancient city of Byblos, the timepiece features a tantalum case and a striking open-worked dial inspired by the blue Mediterranean sky. The blue chapter ring that sits between six and seven o’clock glimpses the 18-carat rose-gold movement with barleycorn guilloché decoration. The watch was limited to just 99 examples, rendering this lot exceedingly rare.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP_Tourbillon-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786880" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP_Tourbillon-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP_Tourbillon-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP_Tourbillon-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP_Tourbillon.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/audemars-piguet/">Audemar</a><a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/audemars-piguet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">s</a><a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/audemars-piguet/"> Piguet</a> Jules Audemars minute repeating tourbillon. Image courtesy of Bonhams</figcaption></figure>



Another piece on offer pays homage to one of the founders of Audemars Piguet. Produced in 2000, the coveted Jules Audemars minute repeating tourbillon (Reference 5982BC) features an 18-carat white-gold case and dial set with mesmerising diamonds. The watch is also fitted with the complications Audemars helped pioneer after he co-founded the Swiss brand in 1875. The glitzy grail has a pre-auction estimate of US$70,000 to US$120,000 (HK$548,025 to HK$939,475).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bulgari_Tourbillon-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786881" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bulgari_Tourbillon-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bulgari_Tourbillon-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bulgari_Tourbillon-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bulgari_Tourbillon.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bulgari/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bulgari</a> Octo Finissimo Tourbillon. Image courtesy of Bonhams</figcaption></figure>



Several modern designs will also go under the (digital) gavel, such as one of the sought-after Bulgari Octo Finissimo tourbillons. Made in 2023, the limited edition (Reference 102900) is distinguished by an 18-carat gold case and an elegant skeletonised dial. The piece will be offered with an estimate of US$65,000 to US$85,000 (HK$508,880 to HK$665,455).



Bonhams says more details on the auction will be shared soon. Stay tuned.

Bonhams

Bulgari

A 1972 Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona and 30 More Exceptional Watches Are Heading to Auction This Month

As Christie’s prepares to ignite its first watch auction of the year, scheduled from 27 March to 9 April in Hong Kong for the 2024 spring season, the result of the local chapter is bound to set the tone for what lies ahead. 15 live and online auctions are in the offing in 2024, studded around the globe in various watch capitals, for enthusiasts and discerning collectors to congregate and bid as the hammer rises and falls with clockwork precision.



On 27 March, Christie’s is holding its online auction, with a live one following in May, and the attention of the watch world will be directed at the city for one simple reason: the numbers. Last year’s sales, particularly the ones from this past November, has made the Hong Kong chapter the cynosure of all eyes. On one autumnal evening, the auctioneers clocked in record global sales and participation from 39 countries spanning five continents. Important watches, those of historical value, the rarest of rarities, and mint collections were up for grabs; Christie’s presented three live watches auctions in Hong Kong and achieved a total of HK$222 million—the second-highest autumn sale at Christie’s Asia, ever.



In fact, Hong Kong established a new record sale total of HK$696 million, representing a 15 per cent year-on-year increase. Christie’s Hong Kong also achieved the highest price for any watch auctioned online, when Patek Philippe’s “Sky Moon Tourbillon” Ref. 6002G-001 attained HK$45.4 million in the Watches Online: Top of the Time auction.



“2023 defined a standout year for luxury with record growth across all departments.&nbsp;&nbsp;Together, Watches, Jewellery, Handbags, and Wine contributed US$1 billion to Christie’s annual global auction results, achieving the strongest-ever departmental sales total. Watches alone contributed US$234 million (HK$1.83 billion), representing the highest annual result ever achieved for the category. Whether the watches event is live or online, a key focus is to ensure seamless access to our auctions as we cater for a global clientele operating in physical and digital spaces,” says Emmanuel Danan, global managing director, luxury at Christie’s.



“Patek Philippe’s ‘Sky Moon,’ which sold online in Hong Kong at US$5.8 million (HK$45.4 million), is a strong indicator of the shift that is underway and gaining momentum, also due to 38 per cent of Christie’s global watch clients being millennials,” Danan reflects.



Highlights for horologists run the gamut, from a diamond-studded Cartier to a colourful novelty like Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition. Here are five watches from the Watches Online: The Hong Kong Edit auction that caught our eye:



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="753" height="1024" data-id="1234786326" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.13 AM-753x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786326" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.13 AM-753x1024.jpg 753w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.13 AM-221x300.jpg 221w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.13 AM-768x1044.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.13 AM-1130x1536.jpg 1130w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.13 AM.jpg 1177w" sizes="(max-width: 753px) 100vw, 753px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition (Limited Edition Of 500 Pieces)  HK$180,000–HK$350,000 </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="860" height="1024" data-id="1234786324" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.27 AM-860x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786324" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.27 AM-860x1024.jpg 860w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.27 AM-252x300.jpg 252w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.27 AM-768x915.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.27 AM-1289x1536.jpg 1289w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.27 AM.jpg 1343w" sizes="(max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rolex Daytona With “Mustard Dial”  HK$400,000-HK$800,000 </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="806" height="1024" data-id="1234786325" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.37 AM-806x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786325" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.37 AM-806x1024.jpg 806w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.37 AM-236x300.jpg 236w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.37 AM-768x975.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.37 AM-1210x1536.jpg 1210w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-9.26.37 AM.jpg 1260w" sizes="(max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cartier 18k Pink-Gold and Pavé Diamond-Set Ballon Bleu, Ref. 3271  Estimate: HK$350,000-HK$700,000 </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="749" height="1024" data-id="1234786323" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/c-749x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786323" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/c-749x1024.jpg 749w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/c-220x300.jpg 220w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/c-768x1049.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/c-1124x1536.jpg 1124w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/c.jpg 1171w" sizes="(max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Panerai Legendary Platinum Wristwatch with Rolex-Based Movement  HK$320,000-HK$650,000 </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" data-id="1234786322" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234786322" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71972770.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rolex Daytona “Eye Of The Tiger”  HK$1,000,000–HK$2,000,000 </figcaption></figure>
</figure>



Watches Online: The Hong Kong Edit



27 March–9 April



For more information, visit <a href="https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/watches-online-hong-kong-edit/lots/3502" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">onlineonly.christies.com</a>.

Auction

Christie's

Watch

Watch capital

This Diamond-Studded Rolex Daytona Is Expected to Fetch HK$2 Million at Auction

A recent headline from The Times of London posed the question, <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-time-running-out-for-the-luxury-watch-as-a-status-symbol-kptfqm3lc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Is time running out for the luxury watch as a status symbol?”</a> The article cites an uptick in watch robberies across the UK, as well as the plummeting share prices of <a href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D87443X1569519%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.watchesofswitzerland.com%252F%26sref%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Frobbreport.com%252Fstyle%252Fwatch-collector%252Fgolden-age-watch-collecting-1235517416%252F&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fstyle%2Fwatch-collector%2Fgolden-age-watch-collecting-1235517416%2F&amp;ref=&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1709047364215cfe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watches of Switzerland</a> (one of the largest multi-brand watch retailers in the world), as reason enough to suggest the decline of an entire industry.



But here on the other side of the pond, the picture is a bit different. While the watch business isn’t exactly booming in the same way it was in 2022, it’s far from bad. And a trio of circumstances stateside tell me that there’s never been a better time to invest in what’s on your wrist.



The first is that dedicated, die-hard collectors are still buying new watches, inflation be damned. Though top-tier coveted models from marquee luxury makers are still hard to get, these enthusiasts are ponying up. And this is despite an uptick in prices for new models from the ultimate industry bellwethers, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/patek-philippe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patek Philippe</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolex</a>. Their MSRPs are on the upswing thanks to the increasing cost of gold and materials—but there are also lingering levels of demand leftover from the spending frenzy of the early pandemic, when buyers flooded the market with cash. Many were uncommitted watch flippers and wannabe ballers who have now begun to drop off waiting lists, which means there are more opportunities to acquire pieces for those of us who actually love horology.



“I have noticed a slide in the prices of the once-hot Pateks and Rolexes and am hopeful that buying a piece and flipping it is no longer as lucrative—or the ‘sure thing’—it was thought to be even six months ago,” says Matt Borowiecki, a Boston-based collector. “I am cautiously optimistic that some or most of the speculators will be ‘flushed’ giving me, and others like me, a bit more of a chance. My hope is that this correction also means a ‘cooling off’ in the world of the independents. For example, Rexhepi’s Chronometre Contemporain going for US$900,000+ (HK$7 million+), I think, eight months ago wasn’t helpful! I am praying that pricing discipline is beginning to return.” We might be spending a little more than last year’s retail prices, and competition is still stiff in the secondary market, but at least we can aim for the models we want from authorised dealers without having to pay double on Chrono24.



“The watch market is far from dead. What is in demand will continue to be in demand and will continue to trade at a premium,” says New York-based collector Alex Lubin. “But what I’m finding is that all of the… let’s call them ‘bundle-able’ watches, the stuff that you buy in order to get the really high-end pieces, those are taking a hit [on the secondary market].”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GMTMasterIIPepsi-1024x575.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785752" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GMTMasterIIPepsi-1024x575.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GMTMasterIIPepsi-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GMTMasterIIPepsi-768x431.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GMTMasterIIPepsi.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Rolex</figcaption></figure>



He’s referring to the class of so-called ladder-climbing pieces, the several medium-tier watches—such as a basic Rolex DateJust for example—that a client is typically persuaded to buy before a multi-brand retailer deems them worthy enough to purchase a more elusive Daytona or a GMT-Master II. “You need to be much more selective as a buyer, or you need to take the financial element out of the equation,” says Lubin.



The current state of the market means some clients are turning down models they might have snapped up quickly in the past. But their dedication to hot-ticket items is unwavering. One Southern watch buyer with an impressive collection who asked to remain anonymous, says he’s frequently offered precious metal pieces and grand complications—but never coveted stainless-steel watches. He’s been lingering on the waitlist for a stainless-steel Patek Philippe for six years and counting.



“Certain models such as Royal Oaks, Nautiluses, Aquanauts, Rolex GMTs, and Daytonas continue to experience record demand with wait lists that are as long as they’ve ever been,” says Boston-based collector David Chang. “This is partly driven by the perception of value in the secondary market with these iconic models continuing to fetch strong premiums over MSRP. This bifurcation is also creating confusion among buyers who are assuming that the watch market is soft across the board and that all models should therefore be more available.”&nbsp;



Still, others have seen a little leeway. “I am hearing that the demand for Rolexes, at least, has begun to moderate and I am starting to see—albeit very slowly—watches for sale actually appear on store shelves,” says Borowiecki. “Friends that are in the market for Rolex sports watches are seeing the same. I am still on waiting lists for the one I want, but again, I am growing cautiously optimistic. With regard to A. Lange &amp; Söhne, I am having trouble seeing any improvement. They adopted this new sales strategy and it’s as painful as ever. On the independents front, I am starting to think auctions are worth chasing. If some of the froth has been beaten out of the market, I am hopeful an auction strategy may bear fruit.” 



None of this tug-of-war has dampened enthusiasm among seasoned collectors or genuinely passionate newbies. With collectors who treated their watch boxes like stock portfolios cutting their losses, there’s an increased amount of models available for the rest of us, at a variety of price points and prestige levels, even if some of the juggernaut models remain relatively elusive.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="731" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSCF9413-731x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785751" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSCF9413-731x1024.webp 731w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSCF9413-214x300.webp 214w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSCF9413-768x1075.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSCF9413.webp 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Troy Barmore</figcaption></figure>



For devoted collectors—who reliably show up to Watches &amp; Wonders, Dubai Watch Week, Rolliefest, WatchTime, and other major industry events—the ups and downs of a market are not typically top of mind. This group has never been all that fussed with being able to make a profit. For many, bringing up ROI generally elicits a look of disgust: They’re the crowd you’ll hear reminding newer collectors to buy what they genuinely like. UK- and Uganda-based collector Roni Mahdvani was collecting Cartier long before it came hot on the heels of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe’s sport watches. His collection presents a studied point of view rather than a collection of “every watch of the moment.” Ditto Greg Selch, another New York-based collector, who will enthusiastically show off rare models from more affordable makers including Omega, TAG Heuer, Zodiac, Universal Genève, and Fave-Leuba. What is evident, always, when speaking to collectors with a considered curation is a downright electric enthusiasm. It is hard to be in the presence of any of these kinds of connoisseurs and not get excited about watches.



“Those of us who are in it for the love and passion and, more than anything, for the community, are going to make our way on our own and we are all happy for everyone to participate,” Selch recently wrote on Instagram. “There is no entry fee; you don’t have to buy a certain amount to qualify, you don’t even need to show up. All are welcome. Life is too short for competition and exclusivity.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeBethune_DB25.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785750" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeBethune_DB25.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeBethune_DB25-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeBethune_DB25-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of De Bethune</figcaption></figure>



I first started writing about watches around 2011. What I’ve observed is that the awareness and interest in the art of watchmaking has grown exponentially since then. A decade ago, the only brand friends would ask about was Rolex, and maybe a few knew about Omega. Today, I regularly get text messages from my husband’s colleagues asking about Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet but also niche brands like <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/de-bethune/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">De Bethune</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/f-p-journe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FP Journe</a>. Another friend, who works in the restaurant business, recently texted me to inquire about a Girard-Perregaux. Many of these people didn’t even wear a watch five years ago. When my 21-year-old cousin, who lives in Alabama, asked me over Christmas if I knew <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/tiktok-watch-collectors-1234830018/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok watch phenom</a> and vintage watch dealer, Mike Nouveau, I thought to myself, “We’re only at the tip of the iceberg.”



And as this enthusiasm continues to grow stateside—and as other markets contract around tumultuous economic and geopolitical circumstances—brands are investing heavily in the United States.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bucherer_LV1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785749" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bucherer_LV1.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bucherer_LV1-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bucherer_LV1-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Martin King</figcaption></figure>



Last year, Bucherer opened a 19,000-square-foot <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/bucherer-reopening-las-vegas-store-1234850609/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behemoth of a store in Las Vegas</a>. Just this month, Chanel opened its <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/chanel-opens-first-watch-and-jewelry-nyc-boutique-1235502214/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first dedicated watch and jewellery boutique</a> on NYC’s Fifth Avenue—only the fourth of its kind worldwide. Likewise, Japanese brand Grand Seiko opened its largest boutique in the world last week on Madison Avenue. Its previous flagship was just 500 square feet. Its latest? 6,000 square feet. “That is proportionate to the expansion of the brand itself,” Seiko president, Aiko Naito, tells Robb Report.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-01-27-GRAND-SEIKO-0258-PANO-3-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785748" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-01-27-GRAND-SEIKO-0258-PANO-3-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-01-27-GRAND-SEIKO-0258-PANO-3-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-01-27-GRAND-SEIKO-0258-PANO-3-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-01-27-GRAND-SEIKO-0258-PANO-3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Grand Seiko</figcaption></figure>



There’s even more new construction and investment on the way. Rumour has it Tiffany &amp; Co. is going to start ramping up its watch division. Watches of Switzerland is planning to open a sprawling new store in Manhattan’s midtown neighbourhood sometime this year. While the company has experienced a recent drop in value, you have to zoom out to get a better sense of its position. Its shares might be down about 40 per cent year to date, but the firm is up around 37 per cent since it went public on the London Stock Exchange in May 2019.



So no, luxury watchmaking is in no state of decline. The top end of the market doesn’t seem to be suffering. A little loosening of the reins on enormous waitlists would easily cover any downward turn. And, as far as I can tell, the enthusiasm for the category is becoming more widespread. You will find some of the old-school watch guard—collectors and journalists alike—often waxing on about the waning industry and how the increasing hype is ruining the hobby for passionate collectors. I think, however, this is a golden era for an industry that experienced an existential crisis 50 years ago and which is thriving today, against all odds, in the age of the smartphone.

Forget the Market. Watch Collecting Is Entering Its Golden Age.

There will soon be a new butterfly flying over Southern California. <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/overair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overair</a> today announced the completion of its full-scale Butterfly electric air-taxi prototype. The Santa Ana firm expects to begin flight tests early next year.



Overair joins other California-based <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/evtol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eVTOL</a> competitors <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/joby-electric-air-taxi-first-piloted-flight-1235268626/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joby </a>and <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/archer-midnight-evtol-aircraft-flight-launch-1235386743/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archer</a>, as well as European firms like <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/voloconnect-evtol-completes-maiden-flight-1234689152/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volocopter,</a> <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/lilium-special-edition-electric-jet-1234751448/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lillium</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/vertical-aerospace-first-evtol-flight-1234753186/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vertical Aerospace</a>, in testing their electric air taxis. A number of these manufacturers expect to have FAA certification by 2025, with commercial operations starting shortly afterwards.



Overair CEO Ben Tigner, according to the <a href="https://www.ocbj.com/technology/ben-tigner-taking-overair-to-the-skies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orange County Business Journal</a>, expects FAA certification in 2027. “Shortly thereafter we should be able to begin commercial operations,” he told the paper.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-Prototype-Group-Image85.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234782634" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-Prototype-Group-Image85.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-Prototype-Group-Image85-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-Prototype-Group-Image85-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Butterfly prototype will soon begin flight testing. Image courtesy of Overair</figcaption></figure>



The Butterfly incorporates four 20-foot-long rotors—about twice as large as other eVTOL models—into its design. Overair says the Optimum Speed Tilt Rotor (OSTR) and Individual Blade Control (IBC) technologies also differentiate its electric aircraft from competitors. OSTR varies propeller revolutions per minute to increase efficiency across vertical, transitional, and forward flight phases. It can also reduce power demand during the hover phase—the most energy-consuming part of an eVTOL flight—by 60 per cent. IBC also reduces vibration and propeller loads, resulting in a smoother, quieter flight, according to the company.



“Together, these technologies deliver an efficient, quiet, and reliable propulsion system in almost any weather, temperature, or altitude,” said a company statement. Tigner co-founded Overair in 2020 with Predator&nbsp;drone pioneer&nbsp;Abe Karem, who remains closely involved with the Butterfly project.



The Butterfly will have space for a pilot, five passengers and bags. The zero-emissions craft will have a 100-mile range and 200-mph top end, and theoretically, will be the quietest eVTOL on the market. The company it is designed to have no single point of failure, with the ability to hover on two of its four propellers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-runway_night_V003.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234782633" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-runway_night_V003.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-runway_night_V003-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.-runway_night_V003-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The company claims the Butterfly will be the quietest eVTOL on the market, producing decibel levels similar to a normal human conversation. Image courtesy of Overair</figcaption></figure>



After initial testing in Santa Ana, the prototype will move to Overair’s flight centre in Victorville, California, to test in different flight and weather conditions, as well as validating its 55-decibel noise target—equivalent to a normal conversation between two people. The Butterfly can be configured for different markets, including passenger, medical, cargo and military applications.



Overair has signed development agreements with authorities in Arlington, Texas, and Dallas-Fort Worth to explore eVTOL transport from those airports, as well as recently taking orders for 20 aircraft for South Korea air taxis and police. It recently received a US$145 million investment from a South Korean backer, according to the Business Journal.

This New Butterfly-Shaped eVTOL Aims to Be the Quietest and Safest in the Sky

The Best in Aviation, From Bombardier’s Global 8000 to Icon Aircraft’s Icon A5

The&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/starliner-spacecraft-launch-details-1235600665/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starliner spacecraft</a>&nbsp;hasn’t had the smoothest ride thus far, but it will soon attempt its return home.



The&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/nasa-starliner-spacecraft-fly-international-space-station-april-1235487687/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing vessel</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to come back to Earth on Friday evening,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/04/science/space/boeing-starliner-space-station-nasa.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday, parachuting into White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico six hours after undocking from the International Space Station. The return will take place a full three months after Starliner arrived at the ISS in June, but it will leave behind the astronauts it delivered to the space station.



“We have confidence in the vehicle,” Steve Stich, the manager of <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/nasa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>’s commercial crew programme, said during a news conference, according to the Times. “We’ve had two good landings with Starliner so far, and we’re expecting another one Friday.”



In the works&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/boeing-starliner-iss-launch-1234680879/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for years</a>, Starliner finally took off for the ISS with astronauts in tow earlier this summer. But as the craft approached the space station, it encountered propulsion system problems,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;noted. NASA officials said they’re still not sure what caused those issues, but they don’t expect them to reoccur upon Starliner’s return.



Still, NASA decided that the vessel should come back sans the astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The duo will stay on the ISS until February, the Times wrote, when they’ll return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Dana Weigel, NASA’s programme manager for the space station, told the newspaper that Williams and Wilmore both trained for a longer mission, and that they know how to perform spacewalks and operate the ISS’s robotic arm.



“We had them well prepared to move into this role,” she said.



As for what will happen with Starliner after it returns to Earth, it’s not clear what NASA has planned. The most recent flight to the ISS was supposed to be the space agency’s last step in making sure that the craft could take astronauts to the space station once a year,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;reported. Now, NASA could ask&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/boeing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing</a>&nbsp;to undertake another crewed test flight before those more regular trips begin. (Last month, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that Kelly Ortberg, the new CEO of Boeing, had told him that the company would continue to work on Starliner.)



The first step, though, will be the craft’s return home tomorrow. If weather or technical issues force a delay, backup dates are set for 10, 14, and 18 September.

boeing starliner

starliner spacecraft return

Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft Is Coming Back to Earth—Without NASA Astronauts

Jet-setters just got a luxurious new way to travel between&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/italy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Italy</a> and the dreamy islands of South Asia.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/beond/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beond</a>, which markets itself as “the world’s first <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/beond-aviation-start-up-maldives-1235562349/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">luxury leisure airline</a>,” recently <a href="https://flybeond.com/latestnews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">launched flights</a> between <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/milan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milan</a> and the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/maldives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maldives</a>. The new route connects Malpensa (MXP) and Malé (MLE), with a 45-minute refuelling break in Dubai in between. (Guests remain onboard during the brief stopover.) The flight takes roughly 12 hours and runs twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.



Milan is the third addition to Beond’s European network, which includes Munich, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland. The airline recently decided to reduce flights to Munich (MUC) and Zurich (ZRH) due to seasonal demand and therefore could launch the new service.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790465" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The seats were designed by Optimares and upholstered by Poltrona Frau. Image courtesy of Matheen Faiz</figcaption></figure>



Beond enlisted Poltrona Frau to help glamorise the first aircraft on the Milan-Malé route. The renowned Italian furniture brand upholstered all 44 lie-flat <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/business-class/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">business-class</a> seats on the specially designed Airbus A319. Designed by Optimares, each seat was handmade by artisans using full-grain Pelle Frau leather from Poltrona Frau. They also feature unique quilting that ensures more comfort than the typical aircraft seat, according to Beond.



“Partners like Poltrona Frau and Optimares were instrumental in the design of our luxurious cabin,” Beond CEO Tero Taskila said in a statement. “They understood from the outset our vision for customer comfort.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790466" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_4.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The lie-flat seat.</figcaption></figure>



The cabin décor echoes the dark charcoal livery of the A319. The white leather seats and light walls are elegantly juxtaposed with dark flooring. Seats are in pairs on both sides of the aisle, with enough room in between that each passenger can stretch out and catch Zs. In the air, fliers can expect professional service, top-notch fare, iPads, and Bose headphones.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790467" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Beond_3-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The iPad and Bose headphones.</figcaption></figure>



For the unversed, Beond offers three types of “experiences”: Delight, Bliss, or Opulence. Delight is the least expensive fare and offers the fewest perks. Bliss includes access to the airport lounges and premium seat selection. Opulence has those perks, plus a private chauffeur transfer, a more generous baggage allowance, free booking changes, and access to an&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/beond-maldives-apple-vision-pro-1235524165/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Vision Pro</a>&nbsp;headset.&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/beond-aviation-start-up-maldives-1235562349/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recently flew “Bliss”</a>&nbsp;from Zurich to the Malé, awarding the overall experience four stars out of five.



Beond recently took delivery of a second aircraft, with the Airbus A321 currently undergoing refurbishment. Look for more new routes soon, then.

Beond

italy

jetsetting

luxury aircrafts

luxury leisure

Maldives

Milan

Luxury Airline Beond Is Now Flying Between Milan and the Maldives

Heart Aerospace is almost ready for takeoff.



The Swedish outfit is set to launch its&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hybrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hybrid</a>-electric airplane in 2028, after reaching several significant milestones in the past few months.



First unveiled in 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://heartaerospace.com/newsroom/heart-aerospace-unveils-new-airplane-design-confirms-air-canada-and-saab-as-new-shareholders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ES-30</a>&nbsp;is designed to make regional travel cleaner and more efficient. (<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/gallery/regional-aircraft-electric-vtols-1235523846/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nine other companies</a>&nbsp;have developed concepts to do the same.) The hybrid can run on either lithium-ion batteries or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), meaning it will produce fewer emissions than traditional&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/aircraft/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aircraft</a>. It will also be cheaper to operate than conventional competitors, according to Heart.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2400" height="1600" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790041" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301.jpg 2400w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_301-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The onboard batteries. Image courtesy of Heart Aerospace</figcaption></figure>



Powered by four electric motors, the ES-30 can fly 124 miles in emissions-free “electric mode” or 249 miles in “hybrid mode” with the help of two turbo generators. The reserve-hybrid system means that the generators only kick in when additional grunt is needed on longer routes. The ES-30 will also be quieter than gas-powered craft and can take off from runways as short as 3,609 feet.



The ES-30 will offer all the usual creature comforts, too. The spacious cabin features three-abreast seating that can accommodate up to 30 fliers. (Having 25 passengers aboard increases the hybrid range to 497 miles.) The interior also features a galley, a lavatory, and large overhead bins to ensure a comfortable in-flight experience.



Heart has a rather aggressive timeline, but is making solid progress. The company opened a new research and development hub in the United States in May to speed up the development of the ES-30. The team plans to test the propulsion system on a full-scale demonstrator and showcase fully electric flight in 2025. It will then pursue type certification in 2028.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2400" height="1600" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790042" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303.jpg 2400w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Heart_ES_303-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The ES-30 in flight. Image courtesy of Heart Aerospace</figcaption></figure>



Heart has a decent amount of backing, too. It has already raised US$145 million (HK$1.13 billion) in development funding from significant industry players like <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/united-airlines-100-electric-planes-from-swedish-1234625038/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Airlines</a>, Air Canada, and Saab.



“Heart Aerospace has just entered an exciting new phase of hardware testing, and our aim is to have a hybrid-electric passenger plane on the market before the end of this decade;” Heart Aerospace CEO and co-founder Anders Forslund said in a <a href="https://heartaerospace.com/newsroom/swedish-region-gotland-partners-with-heart-aerospace-for-sustainable-aviation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>. “As we get closer to this goal, collaborations with airports, operators, and regional authorities are crucial to ensure the eco-system needed to support electric aviation.



Heart has secured 250 orders for the ES-30, with purchase rights for another 120 planes. It has also received letters of intent for a further 191 aircraft.

Airplane

clean travel

electric aviation

Heart Aerospace

hybrid-electric airplane

Swedish

This New Hybrid-Electric Airliner Could Hit the Skies by 2028

In terms both of size and exclusivity, the pinnacle of private aviation has long been contested between just two parties: <a href="https://businessjets.boeing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing Business Jets</a> (BBJ) and <a href="https://www.acj.airbus.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Airbus Corporate Jets</a> (<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/acj/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACJ</a>). Each converts its large commercial aircraft into lavish, sometimes outlandish, business jets commissioned by captains of industry, world leaders, and royalty. Yet these duelling giants have seen shrinking market shares against competitors such as <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/gulfstream/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gulfstream</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bombardier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bombardier</a>, and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/dassault/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dassault</a>—and in the bizliner biz, less is never more. 



“The biggest wide-bodies comprise only about 5 per cent of the bizliner world,” says Richard Gaona, chairman of <a href="https://comlux.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Comlux</a>, a Zurich-based provider of aviation services certified for both BBJ and ACJ interior completions. Gaona notes that, in this rarefied segment, “most interiors tend to be subtle and elegant, designed for heads of state who want their aircraft to represent their countries,” which means total customisation has always been a given. 



After recognising that this elite customer base was an underserved market, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/boeing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing</a> launched its BBJ arm in 1996. The first four years saw annual deliveries to their interior-completions partners range from 18 to 20 units, but from 2002 through 2015 the number dipped to about 10 examples per year. Since 2019, following Boeing’s second 737 Max incident, demand has steadily declined to the point where, in 2023, BBJ sold only four jets.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BBJ_Interiors-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789909" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BBJ_Interiors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BBJ_Interiors-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BBJ_Interiors-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BBJ_Interiors-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BBJ_Interiors-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An office and bedroom from a pre-engineered BBJ Select. Image courtesy of Boeing</figcaption></figure>



Last year, the company pivoted by launching&nbsp;<a href="https://businessjets.boeing.com/select/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBJ Select</a>, for the first time offering semi-custom, modular interiors for the program’s 737-7 model; between layout and material choices, 216 cabin configurations are available. Compared to one of BBJ’s bespoke interiors, the pre-engineered Select versions can drastically reduce variable costs while also saving up to six months of engineering time. “It’s appealing to those who don’t want to design a clean-sheet interior yet want the amenities of a turnkey BBJ,” says BBJ president Joe Benson.&nbsp;



Those hundreds of pre-engineered options from BBJ Select, and the similar <a href="https://www.acj.airbus.com/en/acj-twotwenty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACJ TwoTwenty</a> programme from Airbus, are return salvos against dedicated business-jet competitors including Gulfstream, Dassault, and Bombardier, which represent the bulk of the ultra-long-range market. These three have also invested heavily over the past decade in larger and more amenity-rich flagships. The resulting aircraft offer faster speeds and longer ranges than the BBJ 737, which can cost up to 50 per cent more thanks to the fully tailored cabin. 



The BBJ Select 737-7, though, can drop that price by at least US$25 million (HK$194.4 million), while the ACJ TwoTwenty is set to compete directly with the Gulfstream G700, Bombardier’s Global 7500, and Dassault’s new 10X flagship. These allow BBJ and ACJ to offer bizliners boasting significantly larger cabins and lower operating expenditures, plus a more luxurious in-flight experience. “We’ve reduced costs, production times, and, frankly, the risks involved with bespoke interiors,” says Chadi Saade, ACJ’s president. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ACJ_MainLounge-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789906" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ACJ_MainLounge-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ACJ_MainLounge-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ACJ_MainLounge-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ACJ_MainLounge-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ACJ_MainLounge-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A social area on a recently delivered ACJ TwoTwenty. Image courtesy of Adrien Daste/Airbus</figcaption></figure>



ACJ claimed nine orders when it announced the ACJ TwoTwenty programme in 2020 and has since delivered two aircraft. The third is currently being completed by Comlux (the company was contracted for the first 15 interiors) at its Indianapolis facility, which has “the capacity to do four or five per year,” according to Gaona. 



The big question now is whether BBJ Select can revive Boeing’s flagging bizliner figures in the same way the ACJ TwoTwenty initiative made Airbus a more viable competitor. According to ACJ’s Saade, annual bizliner conversions typically number in the mid-single digits—a small slice of the market compared to last year’s total sales of 164 long-range aircraft from Gulfstream and Bombardier. Boeing’s 737 Max issues will also likely continue to impact BBJ sales, though Benson insists the division is experiencing “continued growth and strong demand” via repeat clients.&nbsp;



“Our customers are already ordering new models that will be introduced and enter service over the next few years,” says Benson, likely referring to BBJ’s 777X, with its 3,700-square-foot cabin and 11,000-mile range. With a projected first delivery in 2025, the 777X is poised to be the world’s largest and most prestigious business aircraft—one on which Boeing, in its struggle to maintain market relevance, is betting big.&nbsp;

Boeing

custom

Luxury Travel

Private Jet

Boeing’s New Configurator Lets You Design a Semi-Custom Private Jet

Chinese couture

couturier

Exhibition

Guo Pei

Haute Couture

Hong Kong exhibition

Met Gala outfit

red wedding gown

Rihanna

First Look: Chinese Haute Couture Icon Guo Pei Brings a Career-Spanning Collection to M+

This year marks the 10th anniversary of my first visit to Giacomo Conterno. Hosted by Roberto Conterno, the third-generation winemaker at the helm of arguably Piedmont’s most famed estate, we spent four wonderful hours together tasting wines both in the cellar, and later in his reception lounge, while enjoying some local cheeses and meats.&nbsp;



Roberto Conterno is not like many Italian winemakers I have met. Firstly, he’s serious and fastidious. A clean freak, the cellar is always spotless. While tasting wine from one of his barrels, he almost had a coronary when a few drops of red wine spilled from his pipette onto the cellar floor. We met again a few years later, and nothing had changed, except he was keen to show me his new range of glassware, Sensory, that he had designed to taste with wines from any region. In the process, he opened some very pricey wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux to prove his point. Convinced by the taste test, I purchased the first 36 glasses sold in the UK market.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="697" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roberto_2015-1394x2048.jpg-697x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791428" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roberto_2015-1394x2048.jpg-697x1024.webp 697w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roberto_2015-1394x2048.jpg-204x300.webp 204w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roberto_2015-1394x2048.jpg-768x1128.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roberto_2015-1394x2048.jpg-1046x1536.webp 1046w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Roberto_2015-1394x2048.jpg.webp 1394w" sizes="(max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roberto Conterno.</figcaption></figure>



Roberto is deeply respectful of the terroir that he inherited from his late father, Giovanni. This includes the fourteen-hectare monopole (solely owned designated vineyard) of Cascina Francia, in what is considered the best village in Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba. 400 metres in altitude, it includes 9.4 hectares of Nebbiolo, the varietal he uses in his Barolo designated wines. In 2008, Roberto increased the estate’s landholdings by acquiring three hectares of Cerretta, another well regarded vineyard in the village. Finally, in 2015, he purchased Arione, a highly-sought after nine-hectare vineyard situated next to Cascina Francia. 



Although the estate makes more than 10 cuvées, undoubtedly the best is Monfortino Riserva. An iconic wine designed for long-ageing, it has more than a hundred years of history since the inaugural 1920 vintage. Monfortino Riserva is aged for a minimum of seven years in either 50-plus-year-old Slavonian oak or newer Austrian Franz Stockinger large casks. 



Returning from the First World War, Roberto’s grandfather, Giacomo, had the vision to create a unique bottling of Nebbiolo, sourcing the best grapes from different growers at a time when wine was typically sold in cask or purchased by local merchants for blending. Only from 1978 was the first Monfortino produced from grapes sourced from the family’s own Cascina Francia vineyard. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cantina-2015-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791429" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cantina-2015-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cantina-2015-2048x1365.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cantina-2015-2048x1365.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cantina-2015-2048x1365.jpg-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cantina-2015-2048x1365.jpg.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



I first realised that Monfortino Riserva was one of the world’s greatest wines when I purchased some very old bottles from a little wine shop in Alba fifteen years ago: 1955, 1961, and 1978, all legendary vintages. Opening them at various dinners, they all performed remarkably well. The 1955 vintage had a bizarre trajectory. On opening, it buzzed with aromas of violets, rose petals, and a hint of tar, collapsing to oblivion within 20 minutes of pouring. The wine in my glass had become a deadly shade of pale.  However, after a further 30 minutes, it had miraculously revived and was as good as when it had first been poured. The greatest comeback since Lazarus!



Monfortino Riserva is still Italy’s reference fine wine. It is also one of (if not the) most expensive, with many vintages selling in the secondary market for more than £1,000 (HK$10,370) per 75cl bottle. But it’s worth every penny. Fear not, however. Roberto’s other bottlings, in particular Cerretta and Arione, are incredible wines that cost a fraction of the price of Monfortino Riserva. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Facciata-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791430" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Facciata-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Facciata-2048x1365.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Facciata-2048x1365.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Facciata-2048x1365.jpg-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Facciata-2048x1365.jpg.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lewis’s Best 3 Wines from Giacomo Conterno</h2>



Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino Riserva, 2010: An iron fist in a velvet glove is the most apt description of a wine full of power and grace that will no doubt be showing well for the next fifty-plus years. Monfortino is known for aromas of leather, liquorice, incense, and dried rose petals, and this wine has it in abundance.  However, the coup de grâce was the extremely long finish that captivates you to drink the rest of the bottle before your wife reaches for the bottle. 



Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino Riserva, 2002: I was lucky enough to try the 2001 and 2002 (in magnums) together at a dinner in Turin. It was a close toss-up as to which gave greater pleasure. However, the 2002 got the nod as I was wowed by the balsamic and black tea aromas, savoury sweet mid-palate, and the silky but firm tannins. Just divine.



Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino Riserva, 1955: You just can’t beat having a wine that’s older than oneself and marvelling at how it can make you smile. The flowery petal notes, the intensity of the palate despite the wine having lost almost all its colour, and a long delicate finish. The fact that the wine died and then revived miraculously only added to the long-lived memory of its happy consumption. 



The 2024 edition of the Golden Vines awards will take place in Madrid between&nbsp;25–27&nbsp;October 2024. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://liquidicons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquidicons.com</a>.



Lewis Chester DipWSET is a London-based wine collector, member of the Académie du Champagne and Chevaliers du Tastevin, co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://liquidicons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liquid Icons</a>&nbsp;and, along with Sasha Lushnikov, co-founder of the Golden Vines® Awards.&nbsp;He is also the honorary president and head of fundraising at the&nbsp;<a href="https://gerardbassetfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gérard Basset Foundation</a>, which funds diversity and inclusivity education programmes globally in the wine, spirits, and hospitality sectors.

Barolo

Giacomo Conterno

King of Wines

Roberto Conterno

vineyard

Wine

Barolo is the ‘King of Wines’—and This Vineyard is its Crowning Glory

I recently viewed some of my old tasting notes, including a bottle of 2001 Harlan Estate tasted in October 2007: “Left-Bank Bordeaux aromas with ripe black fruit, powerful but refined mid-palate and an exciting finish—my first-ever Harlan!” English wine lovers generally don’t buy heaps of American wines, often having preconceived conceptions that they are all likely to be alcoholic fruit bombs. However, Harlan produces majestic wines that rank among the very best in the world.



In adding a Californian estate to my World’s Best 12 Fine Wine Estates, I debated long and hard between Ridge Vineyards and Harlan Estate. After all, Ridge makes one of my favourite wines, Ridge Monte Bello, in a European style that is still underrated and under-appreciated by many American collectors. 1,000 fine wine professionals from 120 countries voted Ridge the Golden Vines® Best Fine Wine Producer in the Americas in 2021, 2022, and 2023—above Harlan that ranked consistently in the top three. But the clincher for me was that the Harlan family also produces two other wines that are close to the level of Harlan Estate: Promontory and Bond. For this reason, the Harlan family—rather than just Harlan Estate—more than justify the ranking. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="945" height="630" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0078-Harlan_031222.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792257" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0078-Harlan_031222.jpg.webp 945w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0078-Harlan_031222.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0078-Harlan_031222.jpg-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></figure>



Bill Harlan had been in the real estate business when, in the early 1980s, he followed through on a lifelong dream to establish a wine-growing estate, modelling the endeavour on the Bordeaux Left-Bank First Growths. In 1984, his vision for creating a “First Growth” of California began with the purchase of a 240-acre tract of land—33 acres of which are under vine—on east-facing volcanic soils situated on the western side of Oakville in Napa Valley. “My dad wanted to build something that would be in the family for generations, and which could produce wines that might someday be considered among the fine wines of the world. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, a small parcel of Merlot, and a very small parcel of Petit Verdot,” Will Harlan, Bill’s son who now runs the estate, told me.



Bill Harlan’s vision became a reality. Producing less than 3,000 cases annually at a release price of US$1,700 (HK$13,210) per bottle, the 2023 Liv-Ex Classification (inspired by the 1855 Bordeaux Classification to determine a hierarchy of the leading global fine wine estates) places Harlan Estate as the only non-French fine wine label in the top ten (10th place). Screaming Eagle, also from Napa Valley, is the next highest-placed Californian wine in 23rd place.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="945" height="630" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0001-Harlan_031222.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792258" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0001-Harlan_031222.jpg.webp 945w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0001-Harlan_031222.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0001-Harlan_031222.jpg-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></figure>



Will Harlan took over the stewardship of the family’s wine holdings in 2020, although his father remains the chairman and founder, and the two—along with his sister, Amanda—remain closely united on their long-term vision. “My father and I are aligned one thousand per cent on where we want to go and what we feel the potential is, with regards to deciphering the language of the land and translating that into the wine.” 



One of their shared beliefs is in evolution, rather than revolution. “We’re coming up to our 40th anniversary next year. Our understanding of the vineyard, the vines, and the soils have improved greatly over time. We have dialled back on many of the inputs at Harlan Estate. The vineyard is now almost entirely dry farmed [no irrigation], the harvest date has moved forward, extraction is gentler, and therefore we have removed the layers obscuring the essence of the wine.”  The result is wine that is different from those which many Francophiles associate with Napa Valley. There can be a profound elegance and refinement, especially in recent vintages.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="751" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-tankroom-2.jpg-1024x751.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792259" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-tankroom-2.jpg-1024x751.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-tankroom-2.jpg-300x220.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-tankroom-2.jpg-768x564.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-tankroom-2.jpg.webp 1296w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lewis’s Best 3 Wines from Harlan Estate</h2>



Harlan Estate, 2019: This is the wine that really showcases the evolution of the vines and the “dialling back of the inputs” that Will Harlan had explained. Dark ink in colour, the nose is still quite primary, but exhibits black fruits, liquorice, and a eucalyptus note. The tannins are remarkably soft, and there are no obvious oaky notes. The wine is very fine, and defined by fresh acidity which gives it an attractive lift in the mid-palate, and a savoury long finish. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-Estate-2019-Bottle-1338-Harlan_011323.jpg-683x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792260" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-Estate-2019-Bottle-1338-Harlan_011323.jpg-683x1024.webp 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-Estate-2019-Bottle-1338-Harlan_011323.jpg-200x300.webp 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-Estate-2019-Bottle-1338-Harlan_011323.jpg-768x1152.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Harlan-Estate-2019-Bottle-1338-Harlan_011323.jpg.webp 945w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure>



Harlan Estate, 1995: A wow wine that is still remarkably fresh and vibrant, and is as good as most First Growths from that period of time. Bright dark berry fruits, hints of eucalyptus, and forest floor—a firm but full mid-palate and a long satisfying finish. 



Harlan Estate, 1993: An early expression of Harlan Estate, the wine was made from seven-year-old vines. A ringer for a high-quality expression of aged Left-Bank Bordeaux, the nose was complex with floral petal notes, tobacco, chocolate, sweet spices, dark fruits, and liquorice. In the mouth, the wine was still full of fruit with a good amount of fresh acidity and a cool menthol, eucalyptus taste on the long finish.



The 2024 edition of the Golden Vines awards will take place in Madrid between 25–27 October 2024. <a href="https://liquidicons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquidicons.com</a>



Lewis Chester DipWSET is a London-based wine collector, member of the Académie du Champagne and Chevaliers du Tastevin, co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://liquidicons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liquid Icons</a>&nbsp;and, along with Sasha Lushnikov, co-founder of the Golden Vines® Awards.&nbsp;He is also the honorary president and head of fundraising at the&nbsp;<a href="https://gerardbassetfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gérard Basset Foundation</a>, which funds diversity and inclusivity education programmes globally in the wine, spirits, and hospitality sectors.<a href="https://robbreportmonaco.com/home/art-collectibles/vo-vapen-swedish-rifle-maker-blending-tradition-with-innovation/"></a>

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley

Napa wines

A Deep Dive Into Napa’s Leading Fine Wine Estate—and the Bottles to Sample

Are you looking for the right <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/porsche/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Porsche</a> race car for your collection? Well, you might be in luck.



Broad Arrow <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/auctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Auctions</a> will take bids for the final 1984 911 SC RS at its inaugural Chattanooga sale next month. Not only is this the last Type 954 rally car the German automaker built, but it’s also thought to be one of the most original still in existence.



The 911 SC RS, or <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/1984-porsche-911-sc-rs-gruppe-b-evolutionsserie-broad-arrow-auction-chattanooga-1235842595/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">911 Evolutionsserie</a> as it is sometimes known, was built from the start for competition in FIA Class B rally racing. The company built just 21 examples in 1983, five of which went to professional racing teams. The rest, including this vehicle, were sold to private customers. These 16 cars were built for the (dirt) track, but could also be registered for road use. Yes, the 911 SC RS is street-legal.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="383" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/911scrs02.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792045" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/911scrs02.webp 681w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/911scrs02-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">1984 Porsche 911 SC RS Gruppe B “Evolutionsserie.” Image courtesy of Broad Arrow Auctions</figcaption></figure>



This example, chassis 021, was the last to roll off the line. It may have left the factory in a Dutch flag-inspired colourway, but its aluminium body panels, fibreglass bumpers, a rally light pod, and forged Fuchs wheels are now all finished in a brilliant coat of white. Since it is an actual racer, the 911 SC RS’s interior is about as spartan as they come. It features a roll cage and 935-style “lollipop” seats, along with a few creature comforts, including a radio, power windows, and air-conditioning. The relative lack of features like soundproofing helped keep the vehicle’s curb weight down to just 2,160 pounds.



A mechanically injected 3.0-litre flat-six since in the vehicle’s engine bay. The number-matching mill is mated to a race-spec five-speed manual gearbox and produces 280 hp. 184 ft lbs of torque, and has an 8,000-rpm redline. Back in 1984, Porsche claimed the car could hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, but testing has shown that figure to be rather conservative. It tops out just shy of 159 mph.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="383" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/911scrs03.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792046" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/911scrs03.webp 681w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/911scrs03-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the 911 SC RS Gruppe B “Evolutionsserie.” Image courtesy of Broad Arrow Auctions</figcaption></figure>



This example was originally delivered to importer Tycho Christian van Dijk in 1984. He intended to race the car in multiple events, but it would wind up only competing in one event, that season’s Tour de Corse on Corsica. It finished 14th, the best of any Porsche entered in the rally. Its brief racing career means the car never claimed any honours, but it does mean the car is in stellar shape four decades later. It’s changed hands just once over the year—the seller acquired the vehicle in 2004—and has just 3,237 miles on the odometer. It also comes with an extensive paperwork history, as well as a Porsche Classic Technical Certificate.



Intrigued? The 911 SC RS is set to hit the auction block on Saturday, 12 October. Prepare to spend big if you want to take it home with you, though. Broad Arrow expects the vehicle to go for between US$2.6 million and US$3.5 million (HK$20.2 million and HK$27.2 million).

Broad Arrow Auctions

Porsche

This Ultra-Rare 1984 Porsche Rally Car Could Fetch HK$27.2 Million at Auction

In a stunning display of artistic prowess, auctioneering excellence, and exquisite curation at its mint new home at The Henderson, Christie’s Hong Kong’s inaugural sales proved to be a resounding success, amassing a total of HK$1.25 billion (around US$162 million).&nbsp;



For art lovers and connoisseurs, buyers and collectors, purveyors and voyeurs, critics and editors,&nbsp;the&nbsp;place to be in the last days of September was on the 7th floor of the recently opened commercial development The Henderson, the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed tower from where Christie’s Hong Kong’s new Asia-Pacific headquarters loom large over the city.&nbsp;



These landmark auctions not only cemented Christie’s Hong Kong’s position as a leading force in the global art market, but it also captivated discerning collectors who gathered to witness the unveiling of magnificent masterpieces at close proximity, of which many rare items from the East and the West were on display in Hong Kong for the first time.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="878" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/72983188-frame-rs_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x878.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791866" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/72983188-frame-rs_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x878.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/72983188-frame-rs_Digital-Content-JPEG-300x257.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/72983188-frame-rs_Digital-Content-JPEG-768x659.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/72983188-frame-rs_Digital-Content-JPEG-1536x1317.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/72983188-frame-rs_Digital-Content-JPEG-2048x1756.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Moored Vessel, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)</figcaption></figure>



A testament to Christie’s Hong Kong’s unwavering commitment to bringing the greatest works of art to the most discerning buyers in the world, the top marquee of the art segment shone bright. As expected, the much ballyhooed pieces were the van Gogh and the Monet; the top lot, Les Canots Amarrés (1887) by the Dutch painter, peaked at HK$250.6 million (around US$32 million). Owned by Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the auctioning of the painting was easily one of the most memorable moments of the night. Claude Monet’s Nymphéas went for HK$233.3 million (US$30 million)—well over expectation.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="667" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/71839684_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791865" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/71839684_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x667.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/71839684_Digital-Content-JPEG-300x195.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/71839684_Digital-Content-JPEG-768x500.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/71839684_Digital-Content-JPEG-1536x1000.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/71839684_Digital-Content-JPEG-2048x1334.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pastorale, Alix Aymé (France, 1894-1989) </figcaption></figure>



Other achievements of the three inaugural sales that took place from 26 to 27 September included Ronald Ventura’s&nbsp;State of Bloom&nbsp;going for HK$36.7 million (US$4.7 million), Lalan’s&nbsp;La Mère de Nuage&nbsp;fetching HK$23.4 million (US$3 million),&nbsp;18:50&nbsp;by Lucy Bull realising HK$18.5 million (US$2.4 million), and more. Over 90 per cent of the lots at the Inaugural Sales and 20th and 21st Century Evening &amp; Day Sales were sold, while the Au Bak Ling Collection sold at 100 per cent, achieving 160 per cent over the low hammer estimate.



With over 12,000 visitors who attended the preview leading up to the sale, and 5.2 million viewers following the event on a livestream, the air was thick with anticipation. While the hammer went down hard on famed yesteryear artists, the evening proved that more recent Asian artists equally got their tacit nod of approval from the volley of bids. A mesmerising abstract landscape by Zao Wou-ki, 29.09.64, a vibrant tryptic that captivated bidders with its masterful blend of colour and range of emotion, realised HK$95.3 million.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="541" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZWK_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x541.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791867" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZWK_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x541.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZWK_Digital-Content-JPEG-300x159.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZWK_Digital-Content-JPEG-768x406.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZWK_Digital-Content-JPEG-1536x812.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ZWK_Digital-Content-JPEG-2048x1083.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">05.06.80 – Triptyque, 1980, Zao Wou-Ki</figcaption></figure>



“We are honoured to present this seminal triptych by Zao Wou-ki this September at our new Asia-Pacific headquarters and to offer such an important and rare acquisition opportunity for collectors,” said Cristian Albu, Head of 20th and 21st Century Art, Asia-Pacific. “The 20th and 21st Century Inaugural Sales at The Henderson will epitomise a key aspect of our curatorial mission for the category in Hong Kong—to globally showcase both Eastern and Western artistry, and the dialogues between them, through exceptional masterpieces.”



As the curtain eventually fell on this momentous occasion, and with many more auctions to come at Christie’s new Hong Kong address, the house is poised to continue its tradition of excellence and innovation. The auction house’s commitment to Hong Kong remains a beacon for collectors, offering unparalleled access to the most coveted masterpieces in the world.



All images courtesy of Christie&#8217;s

Hong Kong

Monet’s “Nymphéas” Just Sold For a Staggering HK$233 Million at Auction

A French&nbsp;maison, a Japanese artist, and a New York auction house just made history.



A <a href="https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/handbags-online-september-edition/rare-limited-edition-yellow-black-monogram-leather-pumpkin-bag-silver-60/231632" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">limited-edition handbag</a> <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/louis-vuitton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louis Vuitton</a> created in collaboration with <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/yayoi-kusama/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yayoi Kusama</a> sold for US$151,200 (HK$1.17 million) via Christie’s New York on Wednesday, setting two new world records in the process.



Kusama first began working with LV in 2012, creating playful versions of the Keepall, Neverfull, Papillion, and Speedy that were adorned with her signature dots. Just over a decade later in 2023, the contemporary artist put her quirky stamp on more of the French fashion house’s designs. (You might remember the bonkers&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/fashion/louis-vuitton-kusama-pop-up-tokyo-1234791849/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">co-branded pop-up</a>&nbsp;that opened in Japan.) Clothing and accessories from both collections sell for a premium on the secondary market, but it was a “pumpkin bag” from the most recent drop that achieved the new records.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag1.jpg-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791654" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag1.jpg-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag1.jpg-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag1.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag1.jpg-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag1.jpg-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The bag opens to reveal a co-branded badge. Image courtesy of Christie’s New York</figcaption></figure>



As the name suggests, the distinctive design was inspired by Kusama’s iconic pumpkin sculptures and prints. Crafted from grained cowhide leather, the yellow bag is shaped like a pumpkin and covered with black LV monograms and motifs. The piece is not only quirky and cute but also highly collectible. This particular example was expected to fetch between US$10,000 and US$15,000 (HK$77,835 and HK$116,755) but hammered down for roughly 10 times that to set a new record price for the model and any LV bag to sell at auction. The previous records were held by <a href="https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/handbags-online-new-york-edit/rare-limited-edition-yellow-black-monogram-leather-pumpkin-bag-silver-55/205202" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">another pumpkin bag</a> that sold for US$44,100 (HK$343,260) at Christie’s in December 2023.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag2.jpg-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791655" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag2.jpg-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag2.jpg-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag2.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag2.jpg-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/LV_Pumpkin_Bag2.jpg-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The bag features a removable strap. Image courtesy of Christie’s New York</figcaption></figure>



Interestingly, the pumpkin bag wasn’t the star of Christie’s inaugural <a href="https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/handbags-online-september-edition/lots/3741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Handbags Online: The September Edition</a> auction. The top lot of the sale was a rare Hermès Himalaya Retourné Kelly 25 with matte niloticus crocodile and palladium hardware that sold for US$163,800 (HK$1.27 million). Two coveted Hermès Birkins also sold for US$119,700 and US$63,000 (HK$931,715 and HK$490,375), respectively. The results highlight the fact that <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/hermes-birkin-luxury-handbag-slingo-1234871666/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birkins</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/accessories/ultimate-fashion-collectors-item-hermes-2767515/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kellys</a> remain the holy grails for collectors, proving to be <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/accessories/luxury-handbags-are-now-the-best-investment-items-2931458/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solid investments</a> that appreciate over time. A Himalaya crocodile Retourné Kelly 28 sold for a record US$513,200 (HK$3.99 million) at Christie’s in 2021, in fact. Christie’s currently holds the record prices for the most expensive Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/handbags/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">handbags</a> to sell at auction.



Nearly all (99 per cent) lots part of Handbags Online were sold, resulting in an impressive total of US$1,931,202 (HK$15 million). Not bad for 118 bags.

pumpkin bag auction

yayoi kusama louis vuitton auction

yayoi kusama LV pumpkin bag

Yayoi Kusama’s Louis Vuitton Pumpkin Bag Just Sold for a Record HK$1.17 Million at Auction

Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;is delighted to announce that the first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rr1hongkong.com/leaders-of-luxury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leaders of Luxury Summit</a>&nbsp;will be held in Hong Kong at the spectacular Regent Hong Kong from 26 to 28 November 2024 for what is expected to be the most exciting international luxury event to take place in Hong Kong this year.



Organised by&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong, the leading voice in the global luxury market, the Leaders of Luxury Summit will gather luxury leaders, heads of international luxury companies, top business leaders and entrepreneurs, C-level executives, and international&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;editions to deep-dive into the dominant trends, disruptions, and direction of the global luxury industry through a series of engaging talks, thought-provoking panel discussions, and stimulating keynote speeches under the theme “Redefining Luxury Through a Global Lens.”



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://video.wixstatic.com/video/86217e_d6e7d4883e814c81904cdddb202c021e/1080p/mp4/file.mp4"></video></figure>



From exploring the Greater Bay Area and how family offices can drive luxury growth, to the impact of AI on luxury commerce, and the role sustainability plays while defining the financial forces impacting the global luxury market, a rich variety of seminal topics will explore the direction of the luxury industry and how current economic development in the region is creating opportunities for global luxury markets. 



Major tentpole topics covered by&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;pages, such as wheels, wings, and water, as well as travel, fashion, watches, and all matters of lifestyle, will be discussed at length as the Leaders of Luxury Summit represents a platform for speakers to engage, enlighten, and inform a gathering of influential guests and fellow industry players.



“I am delighted to announce that Hong Kong has been chosen as the city to host the inaugural&nbsp;Leaders of Luxury Summit,” says Tak Man, CEO and publisher of&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong. “For the first time ever in Asia, to bring this kind of event to Hong Kong is exciting on a global level—an event like this sets the stage to announce that Hong Kong is the definitive luxury hub of Asia, and we are thrilled to be the host.”



Hong Kong remains a dynamic luxury consumer hub and an all-important gateway to mainland China, one of the most significant markets for any brand worthy of its stripes.&nbsp;The Leaders of Luxury Summit sets out to zero in on Hong Kong’s position as the defining luxury hub of Asia, analysing its unique position as a leading consumer of luxury goods and services, as well as a driver of redefining luxury on a global scale.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="628" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/botb--1024x628.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790842" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/botb--1024x628.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/botb--300x184.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/botb--768x471.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/botb--1536x943.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/botb--2048x1257.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Capping off the entire event, the spectacular&nbsp;Best of the Best themed black-tie gala dinner will be held in the grand ballroom of Regent Hong Kong on 27 November 2024 to honour the finest in luxury, burnished by an exclusive awards presentation. It will be attended by top leaders of luxury and the global publishers and editors of international&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;editions.



Click <a href="https://www.rr1hongkong.com/leaders-of-luxury" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.rr1hongkong.com/leaders-of-luxury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more information.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791214" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

Leaders of Luxury

Robb Report

Robb Report Hong Kong

Summit

Robb Report Hong Kong Launches Inaugural Leaders of Luxury Summit this November

A gastronomic powerhouse is making his presence felt at Galaxy Macau this summer.



Miyakawa Maasaki, one of only six sushi masters in Japan to be honoured with three Michelin stars, has landed at <a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/what-its-like-to-stay-at-raffles-at-galaxy-macau-the-groups-largest-suite-only-hotel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raffles</a> in Macau with his new restaurant, the first outside of his native Japan. Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa distils the essence of traditional Edomae-style sushi into a refined dining ritual, where the meticulous preparation of seasonal ingredients at their peak shapes the sophisticated heart of the intimate experience.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1707" height="2560" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789960" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-scaled.jpeg 1707w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Masaaki-Miyakawa-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Miyakawa Maasaki is one of only six sushi masters in Japan to be honoured with three Michelin stars.</figcaption></figure>



Diners might recognise Miyakawa from Sushi Yoshitake’s Hong Kong outpost, where he had led the restaurant to achieve three Michelin stars in the mid-2010s. He later returned to Hokkaido to set up the equally lauded Sushi Miyakawa, another establishment conferred with three-star status in the 2017 edition of the Michelin Guide Hokkaido. Sushi Shin by Miyakawa in Niseko and at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo hotel soon followed, as did the acclaim and praise from guests, critics, and press alike.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1707" height="2560" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789963" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-scaled.jpeg 1707w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240524-Sushi-Kissho0185-v1-1-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sushi Kissho’s concept is inspired by wabi-sabi, the art of finding beauty in the simple, imperfect state of things.</figcaption></figure>



Now, in Macau, Miyakawa has set yet another stage to further the art of sushi, in a simple, wabi-sabi way that celebrates this delicate Japanese cuisine through a trinity of honouring tradition, taste, and trust between chef and diner. Miyakawa is a soft-spoken conductor—a small smile is perched upon his face throughout the refined omakase dinner as he leads the gastronomic action, deftly slicing through aged otoro tuna, shaping bite-sized pieces of seasoned shari rice, and preparing a delicate nishin herring roll with shiso leaf. 



His team is equally composed, each man at his station, well-oiled cogs in a culinary machine to advance the seamless procession of the meal. Executive chefs Satake Hironori and Maeda Norihisa and their cadre of skilled sushi chefs stationed at Kissho, all trained by Miyakawa himself, are positioned across the culinary stage of the open kitchen, demonstrating every step that results in the lengthy, almost 20-course omakase menu, from mochi-pounding to unagi-roasting over a live fire.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chu-Toro-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789964" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chu-Toro-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chu-Toro-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chu-Toro-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chu-Toro-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chu-Toro-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chu-toro medium fatty tuna is one of the sushi courses on the omakase menu. </figcaption></figure>



A symphony of flavours is the result, beginning with a Hokkaido corn pudding with sea urchin that perfectly captures the essence of the season, followed by appetisers such as tender Shimane black abalone dressed in a rich liver sauce and Nagasaki beltfish, among others. 10 sushi courses follow in efficient succession, from chu-toro medium fatty tuna, delicately prepared kohada gizzard shad, and kuruma-ebi prawn to arguably the most fawned-over moment of the night: Hadate’s Murasaki uni, the highest-rated batch of sea urchin available that day, a highly sought-after item that Miyakawa had successfully secured for the day’s service. From one nigiri to another, Sushi Kissho takes diners on an oceanic adventure, hopping from prefecture to prefecture for a taste of the freshest catches and regional specialities.



Its curation of accompanying sake is just as painstaking and features rare homegrown labels including the likes of Kokuryu, Mutsu Hassen, Hakurakusei, and Tatenokawa, which boasts a 180-year-old history. Sushi Kissho is also one of the few establishments that offers a taste of Wa8, a private-label junmai daiginjo sake developed by Sumikawa Shozo Brewery and Wa Creations.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kohada-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa0-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789966" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kohada-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa0-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kohada-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa0-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kohada-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa0-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kohada-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa0-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kohada-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa0-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kohada gizzard shad. </figcaption></figure>



Guests, meanwhile, spectate the goings-on from behind an imposing 300-year-old kiso hinoki cypress slab inlaid with momiji maple-leaf motifs, crafted by a seasoned Japanese carpenter who specialises in constructing counters for sushi restaurants. Hand-installed on-site, this fine centrepiece anchors the minimalist dining space, punctuated by exquisite handmade pottery sourced from generations-old producers and workshops in Japan. Ceramics made by the Miyagawa family, specialists in the delicate art since the Edo period, and antique ikebana baskets add character to the natural setting. As expected of an experience this exclusive, Sushi Kissho seats just 10 at the main carved counter, with another 10 in a private dining room, but you really want to be close to the action to take in the meticulous artistry practised by the masters.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sushi-Counter-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa1-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789961" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sushi-Counter-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sushi-Counter-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sushi-Counter-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sushi-Counter-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sushi-Counter-Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa1-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Diners spectate the preparation of the omakase meal while seated at a 300-year-old kiso hinoki cypress counter.</figcaption></figure>



As luck would have it, the restaurant recently announced that Miyakawa will return to Sushi Kissho from 1 to 4 August to offer an exclusive, limited-time omakase menu and curated beverage pairing featuring Japanese wines and spirits that will tantalise the senses. In these bimonthly visits, the chef, alongside his team, will showcase seasonal ingredients sourced from a trusted roster of farmers, foragers, and fishermen.



Run, don’t walk, to make your booking—this is one sushi dinner you don’t want to miss.



<a href="https://www.galaxymacau.com/dining/restaurants/sushi-kissho-miyakawa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa</a>



2/F, Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Cotai, Macau



Tel: (+853) 8883 2221



All images courtesy of Sushi Kissho.

Japanese Cuisine

Macau

Miyakawa Maasaki

Omakase

Raffles at Galaxy Macau

Sushi

Sushi Kissho

Inside Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa, a New Edomae-Style Sushi Restaurant Helmed By a 3-Michelin-Starred Chef

Suite number 248 at Hotel De L‘Europe Amsterdam takes art in hotels to a new level. Thanks to the property’s close association with descendants of the artist, hotel MD Robert-Jan Woltering—one of the most creative and extroverted hoteliers in the industry—has worked with colleagues at the 97-room hotel to come up with a unique proposition. Stay in suite number 248 and you get a personalised welcome note from Vincent Van Gogh’s great-nephew Willem Van Gogh. Its living room is suitably sunflower-yellow, and decorations include the artist’s memorabilia. Study copies of his sketchbooks and try your own hand at drawing in his style, or however you like. Choose which authentic copy of a Van Gogh painting is your favourite and have it hanging in your temporary home, here in Amsterdam.



Hotel De L‘Europe Amsterdam, a newly anointed Leading Hotel of the World, is personally owned by descendants of another creative name, Fredy Heineken. If you’re really into Van Gogh, visit the Van Gogh Museum, a 22-minute over-canals walk from the hotel. You can also go from Amsterdam to London to see a Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery, now till 19 January 2025.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Royal-Suite-dining-room_credit-Hospitality-Builders-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792471" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Royal-Suite-dining-room_credit-Hospitality-Builders-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Royal-Suite-dining-room_credit-Hospitality-Builders-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Royal-Suite-dining-room_credit-Hospitality-Builders-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Royal-Suite-dining-room_credit-Hospitality-Builders-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Royal-Suite-dining-room_credit-Hospitality-Builders-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The 233-square-metre Della Gherardesca Royal Suite has trompe-l’oeil upper walls and ceiling frescoes. Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze</figcaption></figure>



At the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, 15 minutes’ walk from the city’s duomo, you feel you are entirely ensconced in art. Part of the 116-room hotel is a conversion of the Palazzo della Gherardesca, built in 1430 by Lorenzo de Medici as a wedding gift for his sister, marrying into the Gherardesca family. Its 233-square-metre Della Gherardesca Royal Suite, for instance, has trompe-l’oeil upper walls and ceiling frescoes, and it takes your breath away.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-683x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792474" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JR1_2582-scaled.jpeg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sir Antony Gormley’s Crouching Man is part of the Beaumont Hotel’s façade. Image courtesy of The Beaumont Hotel</figcaption></figure>



The Beaumont Hotel, in London’s Mayfair, is a 10-year-old hotel that evolved out of a 1926 vintage multi-storey carpark built exclusively for customers of the Selfridge’s department store, a couple of blocks north, on Oxford Street. Look up as you approach it to see a 25-foot-tall modern sculpture appearing to clutch the outside of one corner of the building. This is Crouching Man, by Sir Antony Gormley. Inside, the Antony Gormley Suite extends to the inside of the statue. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Magritte-Bar-01_00011-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792473" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Magritte-Bar-01_00011-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Magritte-Bar-01_00011-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Magritte-Bar-01_00011-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Magritte-Bar-01_00011-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Magritte-Bar-01_00011-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Le Magritte Bar &amp; Terrace is named after the Belgian surrealist artist. Image courtesy of The Beaumont Hotel</figcaption></figure>



In general, the Thierry Despont-designed hotel is classical-with-edge: The name of the bar, Magritte, and the lounge, Gatsby’s, correctly indicate a considerable eclecticism—which, of course, is what art, in the plural sense, is all about. There are society portraits in the public areas, and bedrooms and corridors give hanging space to some of the 3,000 black-and-white photos of the famous—and infamous.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fairmont-Golden-Prague-FB-Zlata-Praha-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792475" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fairmont-Golden-Prague-FB-Zlata-Praha-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fairmont-Golden-Prague-FB-Zlata-Praha-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fairmont-Golden-Prague-FB-Zlata-Praha-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fairmont-Golden-Prague-FB-Zlata-Praha-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Fairmont-Golden-Prague-FB-Zlata-Praha-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Fairmont Golden Prague</figcaption></figure>



Art lovers will be waiting, too, for the March 2025 opening of Fairmont Golden Prague on the bank of the Vitava river, a complete redo of the most famous Brutalist building in today’s Czech Republic. Built in 1974 as a hotel and monument to what could be done with unadorned concrete and glass, the style will be retained, but the hotel will also become a museum of art—ancient, modern, and exclusively Czech. It’s the private collection of one of the three local millionaires who own the hotel, and they have added an adjacent pair of glass cubes, the size of two-floor-high squash courts, for high-end retail opportunities. And fashion, as we all know, is, of course, also an art.

Fairmont Golden Prague

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Hotel De L‘Europe Amsterdam

The Beaumont Hotel

Art-Forward Hotels Are Transforming the Guest Experience. Here are 4 Places to Check Out.

<a href="https://www.raffles.com/singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raffles Singapore</a> is the main setting for what will undoubtedly prove to be the luxury traveller’s catchphrase for a long—if not a very long—time: “The butler did it.” Full stop. Now, here are four words that imagine and intrigue (what do they say to you?). It’s also <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/raffles/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raffles</a>’s new campaign; fashion, but for a hotel brand, or rather, the butler brand. Robb Report Hong Kong wanted to know how it all came about.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="725" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-725x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792411" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-725x1024.jpeg 725w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-213x300.jpeg 213w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-768x1084.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-1088x1536.jpeg 1088w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-1451x2048.jpeg 1451w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAFFLES_The-Butler-Did-It_Pool-1-scaled.jpeg 1813w" sizes="(max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Raffles’s new The Butler Did It campaign was shot at Raffles Singapore and launched during New York Fashion Week. Image courtesy of Raffles</figcaption></figure>



Raffles brand director, Claudia Kozma Kaplan, is the creative key. She came from a decade in dressing—including being SVP of marketing for Christian <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/dior/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dior</a> Couture. Now based in New York, she called four top-notch creative agencies into bid. Trey Laird, who is well-known in A-list circles—and he who has Tiffany and <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/tom-ford/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Ford</a> in his professional pocket—hardly took breath after hearing the brief. Ah, he said immediately, we’re talking about “the butler did it.”



That was that. Shooting at Raffles Singapore was, well, so appropriate, as butlers were a part of the iconic hotel from the first day of operations, all the way back in 1887. As director, among “guests” whom Laird signed for the campaign video are Malaysian model and writer May Siu, and flamboyant Punjabi actor <a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/actor-waris-ahluwalia-launches-his-new-guilt-free-sparkling-elixir-in-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waris Ahluwalia</a>, known for his stunning finger rings. The butler, of course, needed to be an ageless English gent. Think versatile fashion model Tim Easton. Cementing its fashion DNA, The Butler Did It was officially launched during New York Fashion Week.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TLBNK-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792410" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TLBNK-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TLBNK-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TLBNK-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TLBNK-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TLBNK-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Customs House, on the Chao Phraya river, will become a 78-room Langham hotel. Image courtesy of Langham Hospitality Group</figcaption></figure>



Heritage is increasingly important in these days of newness. We hear that Bangkok’s 1888-vintage Customs House, on the Chao Phraya river, will become a 78-room Langham hotel. It’s scheduled for opening in 2026. As always, any property on the river has extra clout, especially in Bangkok.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/506675-Anantara-Palazzo-Naiadi-Rome-Hotel-Front-Facade-bb5b38-original-1696934968-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792415" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/506675-Anantara-Palazzo-Naiadi-Rome-Hotel-Front-Facade-bb5b38-original-1696934968-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/506675-Anantara-Palazzo-Naiadi-Rome-Hotel-Front-Facade-bb5b38-original-1696934968-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/506675-Anantara-Palazzo-Naiadi-Rome-Hotel-Front-Facade-bb5b38-original-1696934968-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/506675-Anantara-Palazzo-Naiadi-Rome-Hotel-Front-Facade-bb5b38-original-1696934968-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/506675-Anantara-Palazzo-Naiadi-Rome-Hotel-Front-Facade-bb5b38-original-1696934968-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome will host the Anantara Concorso Roma presented by UBS in April 2025. Image courtesy of Minor Hotels</figcaption></figure>



Who first comes to mind when thinking about Bangkok and luxury lifestyle? US-born Thai citizen Bill Heinecke is a main contender. As the boss of Minor—named because he was underage when he founded the company (his father signed the relevant papers)—his now-worldwide empire encompasses elephant sanctuaries and tented camps, foods from fast to Michelin-starred, and some stunning hotels. Think St Regis in Bangkok, and the equally gorgeous Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome, an 18th-century marble palace overlooking the Fountain of the Naiads. It is the official host hotel for the Anantara Concorso Roma presented by UBS, scheduled for 24 to 27 April 2025. Expect an exclusively Italian line-up of motor marques, with Heinecke, a renowned collector of the best, beaming throughout.



One wonders if luxury hotel owners and petrolheads go together naturally. Sir Michael Kadoorie, the Peninsula legend, is similarly a renowned lover of vintage cars (and planes). At its Quail Lodge in California, the Peninsula presents the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The 2024 event’s two-day auction realised over US$108 million (HK$839.5 million) in total sales. Star of the show was a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider, sold for US$14 million (HK$108.8 million)—its value perhaps enhanced by having recently been rescued from a high-profile heist. The auction was conducted by leading car auction house Gooding &amp; Company. Founded by CEO David Gooding and his wife Dawn Ahrens, Gooding &amp; Company was recently bought by Christie’s, which in turn is owned by the Pinault family’s Artemis.

Anantara

Bangkok

Langham

Minor Hotels

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Raffles

Raffles Singapore

rome

Raffles Launches “The Butler Did It” Campaign, The Langham Is Opening a New Hotel in Bangkok, and Other Things to Bookmark this October

Manhattan

Martin Brudnizki

New York

The Fifth Avenue Hotel

What It’s Like to Stay at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, a Whimsical New York City Escape Designed by Martin Brudnizki

Since its introduction late last year, the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/rolls-royce-spectre-arrival-1234864752/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolls-Royce Spectre</a>&nbsp;has made quite some wafting ripples in the luxury EV landscape. Enough, in fact, for&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;editors to have named it the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/best-of-the-best/gallery/2024-botb-automotive-1235638998/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best of the Best&nbsp;</a><a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/electric-vehicle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Electric Vehicle</a>&nbsp;for 2024. Its substantial presence and performance make it an obvious choice, with the latter every bit the equal of that found in any of Goodwood’s V-12-engined cars.



What makes the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/rolls-royce-spectre-ev-on-sale-blacklist-1235497187/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spectre&nbsp;</a>a standout among other zero-emissions models is its very EV-ness as it embodies the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/rolls-royce-facts-2900540/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolls-Royce&nbsp;</a>ethos of silent comportment and refined luxury, something to which even the most muffled&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/the-dirty-dozen-why-12-cylinder-engines-remain-magical-2747474/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">V-12</a>&nbsp;can never match. (It’s to be noted that the original 2004 Phantom did not have visible exhaust tailpipes, so discreet and elegant was its design.)



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2400" height="1600" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790121" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5.jpg 2400w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-w-Spectre-Semaphore-5-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The one-off <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolls-royce/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolls-Royce</a> Spectre Semaphore. Image courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars</figcaption></figure>



Rolls-Royce automobiles, though, have never been shrinking violets. The automaker has been amenable to bespoke commissions from the very beginning, some of which have been remarkable in the extreme. Today, the latest one-off Rolls-Royce is the Spectre Semaphore, which pushes the creative envelope far afield. This unique Spectre features one-of-a-kind artwork on the bonnet (Brit-speak for a car’s hood), which is, according to Rolls-Royce, “a dramatic ‘Marbled Paint Spill’ requiring 160 hours of development by Rolls-Royce craftspeople, who applied silver lacquer and multiple layers of clear coat for a seamless finish.”



To us, it recalls paintings by Morris Lewis or Paul Jenkins, whose poured colour fields expressed lyrical abstract patterns across vast expanses of canvas or paper, though these were created in far less time than it takes to paint a bespoke Rolls-Royce. The Semaphore Yellow colour was “inspired by the informal elegance of coastal California,” according to the marque’s official statement, which we interpret as a romantic glance over the shoulder at the days when driftwood beaches instead of concours lawns were a destination for drivers coming up from bustling Los Angeles or down from freezing-in-the-summer San Francisco.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2400" height="1600" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790122" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11.jpg 2400w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-w-Spectre-Semaphore-11-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has given the name “Marbled Paint Spill” to the abstract artistic expression adorning the hood. Image courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars</figcaption></figure>



Donovan’s hit album&nbsp;Mellow Yellow&nbsp;was all the rage in 1966, and the psychedelic patterns of the Spectre’s hood—er, bonnet—would be perfectly at home on a fluorescent Fillmore poster stapled to the wall at a Haight Ashbury love-in. Inhale (the nostalgia) deeply.



Like a field of&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/auctions/christies-auction-van-gogh-1235600846/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Van Gogh</a>&nbsp;sunflowers, yellow is carried through the Spectre’s interior in a combination of Bespoke&nbsp;Lemon Yellow and Citrine Yellow leather across the seats, Starlight doors, and above&nbsp;the instrument panel. Grace White and Slate Grey leather is enlivened by Lemon&nbsp;Yellow stitching that enhances the creative vision.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-w-Spectre-Semaphore-6-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790123" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-w-Spectre-Semaphore-6-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-w-Spectre-Semaphore-6-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-w-Spectre-Semaphore-6-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-w-Spectre-Semaphore-6-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-w-Spectre-Semaphore-6-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bespoke Lemon Yellow and Citrine Yellow leather dress the interior. Image courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars</figcaption></figure>



The team at Goodwood also programmed the Spectre’s SPIRIT operating system to illuminate instrument dials in the Semaphore Yellow colourway. Highly polished wood serves as complementing trim, and is finished in Cashmere Grey paint infused with silver mica flakes that sparkle when illuminated.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-w-Spectre-Semaphore-9-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790124" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-w-Spectre-Semaphore-9-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-w-Spectre-Semaphore-9-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-w-Spectre-Semaphore-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-w-Spectre-Semaphore-9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-w-Spectre-Semaphore-9-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Semaphore Yellow paint colour was “inspired by the informal elegance of coastal California,” according to the marque’s official statement. Image courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars</figcaption></figure>



The Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore is infinitely rarer than even a sealed first pressing of Yellow Submarine (The Beatles, 1969). In fact, the factory is emphatic that only one Spectre Semaphore will be built for the entire global market. This one-of-one is available exclusively through authorised dealer partners of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the United States.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/?post_type=pmc-gallery&amp;p=1235801503/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore.

Best of the Best 2024

Electric Vehicle

luxury car

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Spectre

Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore

Rolls-Royce Just Unveiled a Psychedelic, One-of-a-Kind Spectre. Here’s What We Know.

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ferrari/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ferrari</a>’s electric future will be before you know it.



The storied automaker’s CEO, Benedetto Vigna, has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ferrari-boss-sets-ambitious-brief-2025-debut-ev" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">confirmed to&nbsp;Autocar</a>&nbsp;that the company’s first EV will make its debut in 2025. He also revealed that the company’s test drivers have already put thousands of miles on test mules of the vehicle.



Vigna was careful not to reveal too much about the vehicle, but he did say it will be unveiled late next year, before going on sale sometime in 2026. That timeline isn’t all surprising since Ferrari has been spotted testing out mysterious prototypes around Maranello. The executive didn’t have to say much about that other than that the company’s drivers had already put “several thousand kilometres” on the test mules. Spy shots have shown a heavily camouflaged vehicle wearing a modified version of the Maserati Levante’s body. It remains to be seen whether the finished EV will look at all like that SUV, though. Prototypes of the Ferrari Purosangue (which is pictured above) were also based on the Levante, but the production version was significantly different.



Whatever shape the battery-powered model ends up taking, Vigna is convinced it will appeal to the brand’s most ardent supporters and tech-savvy newcomers alike. That’s because, as Vigna puts it, there’s not one thing that makes a Prancing Horse a Prancing Horse—though they are all fun to drive.



“There is not a pattern really,” Vigna told the magazine. “People buy a Ferrari because when they buy a Ferrari, they have a lot of fun. They don’t buy a Ferrari because A, B, C, D or a single element. It’s a combination of things. When we do electric cars, we will produce them in the right way.”



Although Ferrari is keeping information about the model close to the vest, there has been plenty of speculation about the vehicle. Last month, Reuters reported the company’s debut EV <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/ferraris-first-ev-will-cost-over-1235661037/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">will likely start at well over US$500,000</a> (HK$3.9 million) and that another battery-powered model is already in the works. Vigna wouldn’t comment on the report other than to say that the price likely won’t be finalized until just before launch.



An electric Prancing Horse may be on the way, but the sports car&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/ferrari-exec-says-first-ev-deliver-authentic-sound-1235650084/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remains committed to the traditional gas-powered engine.</a>&nbsp;Vigna didn’t go into much detail about the company’s future but did say it plans to offer internal combustion, hybrid-powered, and all-electric models.

battery-powered

electric car

Ferrari

gas-powered engine

Ferrari Confirms Its First Electric Car Is Coming Next Year

One of the year’s best concepts is becoming a reality.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bmw/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMW</a> has confirmed that it will put the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/bmws-new-concept-skytop-maybe-headed-production-1235631150/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Concept Skytop</a> it brought to this year’s Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza into production. The German marque plans to build just 50 examples of the two-seater, but the fact that it’s going into production at all is a victory for anyone who appreciated beautiful automotive design.



The announcement was made during a special event hosted by the House of BMW in Milan late last week. It was there that Adrian van Hooydonk, the head of BMW’s design team, revealed that a strictly limited run of the vehicle had been approved due to the hugely positive response it received following its appearance at the annual Concours event. The marque has increasingly catered to collectors with ultra-limited special editions in recent years including the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/bmw-3-0-csl-50th-anniversary-1234777699/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMW 3.0 CSL</a>, a tribute to the company’s first M car, the “Batmobile.”



It’s easy to see why the Skytop generated so much excitement following its debut. The hand-built two-seater is a celebration of the brand’s long history of sporting convertibles. It features a sculptural look that calls to mind the Z8. It’s based on the current 8 Series convertible but features a revised front fascia with illuminated kidney grille, more aggressive lines, including a visually striking central spine, and removable roof panels that can be stored in the trunk when the weather’s nice. Rounding things out is a set of alloy wheels with a gill-like covering.



No performance details were announced back in the spring, other than that it is powered by the most powerful engine the automaker makes. That suggests it will have the twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V-8 from the M8 Competition under the hood. The potent mill makes 617 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque, suggesting the convertible will be plenty fast.



Unfortunately, it’s also going to be plenty hard to acquire. All 50 examples BMW will build have already been spoken for, the company announced last week. It’s unclear what the price tag will be, but expect it to cost significantly more than the range-topping M8 Competition Convertible which starts at US$148,800 (HK$1.15 million).



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-spectacular-bmw-concept-skytop-1235631328" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the BMW <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/concept/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Concept</a> Skytop.

Skytop

BMW’s Stunning Skytop Concept Convertible Is Going Into Production

Lucid Motors may have finally figured out how to sell its EVs.



The California-based company just set its quarterly delivery record in a row,&nbsp;<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/07/lucid-motors-sets-third-straight-quarterly-sales-record-gravity-launch/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according to Tech Crunch</a>. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the company has already bettered the number of vehicles it sold all of last year with three months left to go in 2024.



Lucid announced on Monday that it delivered 2,781 examples of its one and only model, the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/lucid-air-pure-most-efficient-ev-market-1235777811/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Air</a> sedan (seen above), between the beginning of July and the end of September. Most automakers, including the leading EV leader, Tesla, don’t release concrete sales data, so delivery numbers are generally considered the closest approximation.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="562" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/lucidgravity01.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792122" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/lucidgravity01.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/lucidgravity01-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/lucidgravity01-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lucid’s first SUV, the Gravity, will go into production later this year. Image courtesy of Lucid Group</figcaption></figure>



Not only does this figure represent an increase over the past two quarters—when Lucid delivered 1,967 and 2,394 units, respectively—but it’s a 91 per cent increase over the same period last year. It also puts total sales for 2024 at 7,142 units, which is significantly more than the 6,001 examples of the Air that were sold during the entirety of 2023. Manufacturer discounts—which averaged US$19,403 (HK$150,770) per vehicle for the third quarter, according to InsideEVs—likely played a big part in the increase.



Deliveries may have risen in the third quarter, but production fell 1,805 units, down from the 2,110 EVs that it built in the second quarter of the year. Lucid has previously said that it wants to build 9,000 examples of the Air in 2024, which means it will have to build more than 3,000 between now and the end of the year. That number, if it can be reached, would establish a new production record for the company.



There is still room for improvement—and a lot of it. Lucid may have set successive sales records each quarter of 2024, but it remains far from the sales pace that it promised when it went public in July 2021 through a SPAC deal. At the time, the automaker said it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/28/lucid-shares-skyrocket-after-confirming-deliveries-of-169000-air-sedan.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">planned to build 20,000 examples</a>&nbsp;of the Air per year. The company’s deliveries also&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://ir.tesla.com/press-release/tesla-third-quarter-2024-production-deliveries-and-deployments" target="_blank">can’t compete with Tesla’s total of 463,000 units</a>.



Luckily, help is on the way. Lucid’s second model, the full-size <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/lucid-ev-gravity-first-images-1234773808/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gravity</a>, will go into production later this year. As other premium automakers like Bentley and Lucid can attest, introducing an SUV is a great way to increase sales performance. A third model, which will be a mid-size SUV, is <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/lucid-ceo-third-model-mid-size-suv-1235613641/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expected to follow sometime in 2026</a>.

Lucid

Lucid Air

Lucid Gravity

Lucid’s New All-Electric SUV Will Launch Later This Year

A new dawn for <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mclaren/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McLaren</a> supercars is fast approaching.



The British marque released the first teaser for the successor to the P1 earlier this week. We won’t have to wait too much longer for the full reveal, either. The company plans to unveil the finished vehicle, which will be named the W1, early next month.



As of now, we know next to nothing about the company’s latest model except for what it will be called. On Wednesday, the company <a href="https://youtu.be/hTkMHrSjEb4?si=WscWgKO-MyOIvS1K" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">released a video</a> about its 1 cars—a very select group that includes the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=mclaren+f1+robbreport&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;oq=mclaren+f1+robbreport&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg80gEINjQ2MGowajSoAgCwAgE&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iconic F1</a>, the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/15-facts-mclaren-p1-hypercar-2910319/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">P1</a>, and, soon, the W1—that included a few quick peeks at the vehicle. The short clip was short on detail, but if a quick shot of the company’s Formula 1 driver Lando Norris giggling is anything to go by, it’ll be fun to drive.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="What makes a ‘1’ car? An icon that redefines what&#039;s possible." width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hTkMHrSjEb4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Plenty of enthusiasts outside the automaker’s Woking headquarters hold the 1 cars in high regard. Because of this, there has been plenty of rumour and speculation about what to expect of its latest model. On Thursday, a <a href="https://www.autonews.com/cars-concepts/mclaren-revealing-1200-hp-halo-hypercar-phev" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report in Automotive News</a> claimed that the new model would be cross between the P1 and the Senna. It will supposedly feature an all-new V-8 engine paired with hybrid technology similar to that used by the company’s Formula 1 team. The potent setup will produce up to 1,200 horses, while still being significantly lighter than the hardware used by the brand’s other hybrids. Additionally, the car will feature an advanced aero system meant to provide plenty of oxygen for its internal combustion mill.



Regardless of what the finished vehicle looks like and is capable of doing, it has an awful lot to live up to. The F1 and P1 are two of the greatest performance vehicles of the last half-century. The former, which was conceived of and designed by the legendary Gordon Murray, created the blueprint for the modern-day <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/supercar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supercar</a> when it debuted in 1992. The latter, meanwhile, may not have been as much of a shock to the system as its predecessor, but it proved that the marque remained at the vanguard of performance engineering when it launched in 2013.



McLaren will pull back the curtain on the W1 on Sunday, 6 October. Why then, you may ask. That will mark 50 years since the company won its first Formula 1 constructor’s championship and Emerson Fittipaldi won the driver’s championship. What better time to reveal the closest road-going equivalent the brand has to a race car?

McLaren

Supercar

McLaren’s Next Supercar Is Coming Next Month

Setting a record is great and all, but what about setting one when you’re not even trying?



That’s what happened to a <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mcmurtry-speirling-road-car-planned-1234695058/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McMurtry Spéirling</a>. The electric fan car recently posted two different lap records at Laguna Seca—both with a “non-professional” driver behind the wheel. The Spéirling is now the fastest EV and production car in the track’s history.



The two marks were set during a demonstration event held during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The display ran for 10 minutes and featured two of the fan cars running together in public for the first time. One of the vehicles, a Spéirling Pure model driven by Philip Kadoorie, was able to circle the 2.238-mile track seven times, posting a best lap of 1:18.413 minutes.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Laguna Seca - 7 laps onboard McMurtry Speirling PURE inc. EV lap record 17/08/24 - Philip Kadoorie" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9gOs99X7-_0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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That time makes the Spéirling the fastest EV in track history, besting a mark posted by the Porsche Taycan GT this March, as well as the fastest production car, beating a Czinger 21C that had owned the record for less than a week. If all that wasn’t impressive enough, the record was set while the EV’s running power and downforce were set at just 50 per cent.



“The confidence I had with the fan assisted aero is one of the reasons we broke the EV record today without really trying,” Kadoorie, who races a Porsche 962 Group C car in historic competitions, said. “I’d love to return next year and try the more powerful fan and power settings next for the outright lap record.”



Of course, it’s no surprise to see the Spéirling break another record, something it’s been doing since making its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2021. The Batmobile-like EV has an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque chassis—thanks to which it tips the scales at just 2,200 pounds—and a dual-motor powertrain that produces 1,000 hp. The real difference maker, though, is a set of two turbine fans that can create over 4,000 pounds of downforce, keeping the car glued to the tarmac as it rips around the track. It can rocket from zero to 60 mph in 1.55 seconds and has a top speed of 185 mph.



Interested in setting some track records of your own? The Spéirling Pure is available now through McMurtry. Pricing for the truly outrageous fan car starts at US$1.178 million (HK$9.17 million).

EV Hypercar

Hypercar

Laguna Seca

McMurtry

record

Spéirling

This Electric Hypercar Just Set the Laguna Seca Lap Record by Accident

Still flying under the radar, but gaining in popularity among the most discerning collectors, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/parmigiani/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parmigiani</a> Fleurier has slowly updated its sports watch catalogue since 2021 when the Swiss brand introduced <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/parmigiani-fleurier-tonda-pf-sport-1234857775/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the “PF” line of watches</a>. These PF models replaced previous versions, as is the case with the PF <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/tonda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tonda</a> Sport <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/chronograph/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chronograph</a>, which stepped in for the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/parmigiani-tondagraph-gt-hands-on-review-2940379/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previous Tonda GT Line</a>. This most recent refresh of the Tonda Sport Chronograph brings a fresh trio of luxurious colours.



These new models feel very much on trend with <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/from-grand-seiko-to-parmigiani-pale-green-watch-dials-are-low-key-killing-it-right-now-1235586760/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paler shades making the rounds</a> these days, as well as with the rest of<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/new-watches-watches-wonders-2024-1235570773/parmigiani-fleurier-tonda-pf-micro-rotor-_e8354c/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> the 2024 Parmigiani catalogue</a>, which blew us away at <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/new-watches-watches-wonders-2024-1235570773/a-lange-sohne-datograph-perpetual-tourbillon-honeygold-lumen-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watches and Wonders</a> this year. Parmigiani is calling these new colours Milano Blue, Arctic Grey, and London Grey, names evocative of entirely different locations united by a sense of adventure and/or sophistication. But what makes these new Tonda Sport Chronographs so special are rather subtle upgrades.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788321" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-300x300.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-150x150.webp 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-768x768.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Parmigiani Fleurier</figcaption></figure>



Consider, for example, the new guillouché dial, which refines the previous engraving pattern with a subtler clou triangulaire pattern. This new pattern is akin to a clous de Paris dial, also made of pyramids, which Audemars Piguet would call a tapisserie dial. But putting French semantics aside, we can agree that this Parmigiani guillouché pattern breathes more than the chunkier pyramid-grid dials out there, lending the watch a quietness that suits the desaturated colourways.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Chronograph-Tonda-Black-and-Rose-Gold-2024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788320" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Chronograph-Tonda-Black-and-Rose-Gold-2024.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Chronograph-Tonda-Black-and-Rose-Gold-2024-300x300.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Chronograph-Tonda-Black-and-Rose-Gold-2024-150x150.webp 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Chronograph-Tonda-Black-and-Rose-Gold-2024-768x768.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Parmigiani Fleurier</figcaption></figure>



Further distinguishing these chronographs is the movement. Calibre PF-070 is crafted in-house, and the beat rate of five Hz lends 10th of a second precision, a smoother sweep of the seconds hand on the sub-dial as well as the central timing hand, and—most would agree—improved precision. Rather impressively, the movement still provides 65-hours of power reserve, despite burning through power at a greater frequency than most mechanical watch movements do.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-Back-1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788322" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-Back-1.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-Back-1-300x300.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-Back-1-150x150.webp 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Parmigiani-Macro-Tonda-Chronograph-2024-Back-1-768x768.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Parmigiani Fleurier</figcaption></figure>



None of that may interest the person who is buying this watch to luxuriate in its immaculate elegance, and instead may turn their interest to the solid-gold oscillating weight that imitates the steering wheel of a Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most beautiful and iconic cars of all time. A watch like the Tonda Sports Chronograph seems perfectly suited to unabashedly luxurious driving experiences, including the inevitable long lunch, glamorous destinations and high-end accommodations surely to appear on the roster when cruising in a vintage air-cooled Ferrari—or the latest electronic super car.



The watches come in satin stainless steel in the new colourways at US$30,000 (HK$234,520), or 18-carat rose gold at US$50,000 (HK$390,865).

Parmigiani Fleurier

Tonda PF

Tonda PF Sport

Parmigiani Fleurier Unveils New Tonda PF Sport Chronographs

It has taken the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mclaren-w1-hypercar-revealed-1235895890/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McLaren W1</a> less than a week to inspire its first outlandish timepiece.



The British automaker’s long-time collaborator, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/richard-mille/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Richard Mille</a>, has just unveiled the RM 65-01 <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mclaren/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McLaren</a> Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph W1. The bold watch is the fourth born out of a years-long partnership between the two brands, both of which are among the most respected names in their respective industries.



The W1 is McLaren’s follow-up to one of the brand’s most revered vehicles, the F1, and its successor, the P1. Each 1 car has been a halo model, showcasing the marque’s most advanced designed techniques, delivering boundary-pushing performance, and built-in low numbers. Sure enough, the W1 looks like a Transformer and is powered by a motorsports-derived, hybrid-assisted twin-turbocharged V-8 that makes a ferocious 1,275 horses. It’s little surprise that the vehicle costs US$2.7 million (HK$20.9 million) and is limited to just 399 examples.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opener-w--1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792482" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opener-w--1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opener-w--300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opener-w--768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opener-w-.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">McLaren W1. Image courtesy of McLaren Automotive Limited</figcaption></figure>



Fittingly, Richard Mille claims that the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/richard-mille-rm-65-01-chronograph-in-gray-quartz-1234876158/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RM 65-01</a> model is its most powerful timepiece yet. The watch is powered by the Swiss company’s high-performance RMA4C automatic chronograph movement. It beats at high 5Hz, or approximately 36,000 vibrations per hour, and can keep track of two times to the nearest tenth of a second, according to the watchmaker. The 480-piece movement sits on chassis mounting rubbers and has a “rapid winding” system that allows wearers to quickly charge its 60-hour power reserve by using a special pusher made from Quartz TPT.



Performance isn’t the only area in which the watch is a match for its namesake. It features an eye-catching look as well. Its case, which measures 43.84 x 49.94 x 16.19 mm, is made from multi-later TPT carbon, features Richard Mille’s thinnest bezel yet, and sports a design influenced by the lines of the supercar. The skeletonised dial, meanwhile, is made of titanium, shares a pattern with the W1’s wheels, and has several colour accents synonymous with the automaker. Its trademark colour, Papaya Orange, also abounds, popping up on the dial, crowns, and, most notably of all, the rubber strap.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rm6501w102-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792481" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rm6501w102-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rm6501w102-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rm6501w102-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rm6501w102.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richard Mille RM 65-01 McLaren Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph W1. Image courtesy of Richard Mille</figcaption></figure>



Richard Mille plans to build 500 examples of the RM 65-01 McLaren Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph W1. It will <a href="https://uk.motor1.com/news/736783/richard-mille-mclaren-w1-chronograph/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly cost 320,000 Swiss francs</a>, or roughly US$374,000 (HK$2.9 million). The first 399 will be offered to W1 owners. That means there will be around 100 examples for those just looking to complete their collection of McLaren-themed Richard Mille timepieces.

Richard Mille

Richard Mille Just Unveiled a Sleek Watch Inspired by McLaren’s New Hypercar

Antiquorum, the preeminent name in the world of horology, is set to dazzle collectors and enthusiasts alike with its autumn auction in Hong Kong on 26 October 2024. Held at the Mandarin Oriental, this eagerly awaited event promises an exquisite collection of 364 rare timepieces and jewellery, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of some of the most revered brands in the industry, a line-up of all the usual suspects: Rolex,&nbsp;Patek Philippe, A. Lange &amp; Söhne, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, among others.



As one of the foremost auction house in the world, renowned for curating timepieces, Antiquorum has built a reputation for presenting only the finest examples of horological excellence. Its autumn auction will feature a significant selection of grand-complication watches, vintage treasures, and exceptional models—quite a handful of which are no longer in production. Collectors will be particularly drawn to the rare double-signed pieces from illustrious brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex, as well as military and tropical timepieces that tell their own unique stories of heat and artillery that leave an enduring legacy.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792390" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WhteAo7A-1.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lot 351 is a platinum Patek Philippe Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar.</figcaption></figure>



Among the highlights is Lot 351, a magnificent Patek Philippe Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar in platinum, estimated to fetch between HK$3.2 million and HK$5 million at auction, a stunning piece that exemplifies the watchmaker’s commitment to technical innovation and timeless elegance. We also expect all eyes on Lot 139, an 18-carat Honey Gold Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour Le Mérite” by A. Lange &amp; Söhne, with an estimate of HK$1.1 million to HK$2 million. In fact, several of the watches are over a cool million, and each of these timepieces not only represent a formidable investment, but also a rare opportunity to own a piece of horological history that can stand the test of time.



Antiquorum will also feature exceptional vintage pieces—brace your britches; watches from the 1980s and 1990s are now marked as “vintage”—including Lot 350, a tropical Patek Philippe Nautilus from circa 1991, estimated at HK$680,000 to HK$1 million, and Lot 364, a stunning 18-carat Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona from 1983, valued at up to HK$1.6 million.&nbsp;



Antiquorum has made it a point to engage with its clientele through public previews, allowing aficionados to experience these horological masterpieces up close. For the autumn auction, the previews will take place from 23 to 25 October at Antiquorum Auctioneers in Central, providing a rare chance for potential bidders to appreciate the meticulous details and craftsmanship of each lot in minute detail.



Since opening its doors in 1974, Antiquorum continues to lead the charge in the world of collectible watches. Its autumn auction is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of artistry, history, and the enduring allure of timepieces that transcend generations. For those seeking to acquire a timeless treasure, the upcoming auction promises to be an unmissable occasion.



All images courtesy of Antiquorum.

A. Lange & Söhne

Antiquorum

Cartier

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Watches

Antiquorum’s Autumn Auction in Hong Kong Leads With a Patek Philippe Estimated to Fetch Up to HK$5 Million

It was one small decision for <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/omega/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Omega</a>, one giant win for <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/watch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch</a> collectors.



The Swiss watchmaker has re-released the first <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/speedmaster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Speedmaster</a> that went to space, combining classic 1950s styling with modern horological innovations.



Launched in 1959, the original watch (Ref. CK 2998) was the successor to the first Speedmaster model that Omega unveiled in 1957. It featured a symmetrical 39.7 mm case, a dark bezel, and slender Alpha hands that set it apart from the previous iteration. <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/nasa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra famously wore the second-gen Speedy on the Mercury-Atlas 8: Sigma 7 mission of 1962, earning it the title of “first Omega in Space.” Omega did drop a model in 2012 to honour this feat but discontinued it in 2021. The “First Omega in Space” is now back, with a bold new look.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space4-820x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792269" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space4-820x1024.webp 820w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space4-240x300.webp 240w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space4-768x959.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space4.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A close-up of the dial. Image courtesy of Omega</figcaption></figure>



The contemporary release takes design cues from the CK 2998, maintaining the same polished-brushed stainless-steel case, triple-register chronograph display, and domed crystal. The CVD-coated dial is finished in a grey-blue hue that appeared on some CK 2998 models produced in the 1960s, while the black aluminium bezel features the signature “Dot-Over-Ninety” tachymeter bezel synonymous with the earliest Speedys. The hour markers and Alpha hands are filled with Super-LumiNova in a golden hue that gives an aged quality. In keeping with that historic feel, vintage Omega logos have been added to the dial and crown.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space2-819x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792270" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space2-819x1024.webp 819w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space2-240x300.webp 240w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space2-768x960.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space2.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The engraved caseback. Image courtesy of Omega</figcaption></figure>



The major difference between the two is the movement. The original was powered by the Calibre 321, while the modern edition is driven by the Calibre 3861. The hand-wound movement, which has the all-important Master Chronometer certification from METAS, offers the highest standard of precision, performance, and magnetic resistance, according to Omega. It has a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz) and a power reserve of 50 hours.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space3-819x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792271" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space3-819x1024.webp 819w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space3-240x300.webp 240w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space3-768x960.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Speedmaster_Space3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The stainless-steel bracelet. Image courtesy of Omega</figcaption></figure>



The new Speedmaster also has a couple of special, sentimental touches. The caseback showcases an integrated Seahorse medallion and the engravings “Speedmaster,” “The First Omega in Space” and “October 3, 1962.” The latter is the date that the Mercury-Atlas spacecraft took off from the Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, orbiting the Earth six times, before landing in the Pacific Ocean. Schirra was the sole occupant of the spacecraft, completing the nine-hour mission with his trusty Speedmaster on his wrist.



The new Speedmaster First Omega in Space costs US$7,500 (HK$58,265) with a leather strap or US$7,900 (HK$61,375) with a steel bracelet.

Omega

Speedmaster

Omega Just Re-Released Its First Watch to Ever Go to Space

Breitling

Georges Kern

luxury wathes

Swiss

Swiss watches

Breitling CEO Georges Kern on Celebrating 140 Years of Breitling and Expanding the Evolution of the Historical Watch Brand

Steve Kozloff is making his marine dream a reality.



The California-based designer, known for penning pioneering <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/steve-kozloff-2us-sailing-yacht-1234895603/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sailing yachts</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/steve-kozloff-trimaran-trident-1234694754/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trimarans</a>, and <a href="https://robbreport.com.au/motors/boating/a-hybrid-expedition-yacht-concept-claims-11000km-on-a-single-tank/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explorers</a>, just unveiled a new <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/submarine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">submarine</a> concept that would allow him to fulfil his dream of traversing the deep sea with his wife, Terry.



Aptly christened the Deep Sea Dreamer, the 107-footer allows two or more seafarers to explore the underwater world in complete privacy. Constructed entirely of sturdy steel, the sub features massive viewing windows and a forward observation bubble that provides cinematic vistas of the surrounding ocean. It can also function as a regular yacht should you wish to explore the world above the waves.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_3-1024x576.webp" alt="Computer rendering of a panoramic observation salon inside a submarine, with dining tables, a grand piano, and armchairs." class="wp-image-1234786638" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_3-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_3-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_3-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The panoramic observation salon. Image courtesy of Steve Kozloff</figcaption></figure>



Built for extended expeditions, the Dreamer is equipped with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system comprised of two Cummins engines, one electric motor, and 10 directional thrusters. During long voyages, the vessel cruises just below the waterline, with a fixed dorsal providing fresh air to the interior and the genset while expelling the exhaust. Kozloff says this submerged cruising position results in exceptional range, decent speeds, and smooth conditions. The sub has an estimated cruising speed of six knots, a maximum speed of 10 knots, and a go-anywhere range of 6,000 miles.



In addition, the Dreamer can dive to 328 feet and travel up to 100 miles on silent, electric power. The sub can also remain firmly planted on the ocean floor for up to seven days, with the onboard batteries providing power for the week.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_Owner3-1024x576.webp" alt="Computer rendering of a suite inside a submarine concept, showing a bed and cabinets." class="wp-image-1234786639" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_Owner3-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_Owner3-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_Owner3-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DeepSeaDream_Owner3.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The owner’s suite. Image courtesy of Steve Kozloff</figcaption></figure>



Explorers will traverse the seas in the lap of luxury, too. The plush living quarters are akin to that of a <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/superyacht/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">superyacht</a>. The two distinctive decks offer approximately 1,500 square feet of space for lounging and entertaining. Guests can easily travel between decks using the watertight elevator or ladder tube.



The interior includes an elegant dining area, a gourmet galley, a spacious salon, a forward lounge, a full-beam owner’s suite of 275 square feet, two guest cabins, and crew quarters. The panoramic observation salon is the highlight of the interior, with four recliners on the glass floor enabling guests to appreciate oceanic treasures. In addition, guests can enjoy nearly 2,500 square feet of space on the expansive exterior deck when the vessel is above water.



The sub remains a concept at this stage but Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/deep-sea-dreamer-1235558165/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to see all the photos of the Deep Sea Dreamer.

Deep Sea Dreamer

Steve Kozloff

Submarine

This Insane Submarine Concept Doubles as a 107-Foot Superyacht

We knew the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/yacht-launches-boot-dusseldorf-boat-show-1235471729/2-mayla-gt-speed-3-4-front-view/">Mayla GT</a>&nbsp;would be one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/yacht-launches-boot-dusseldorf-boat-show-1235471729/2-mayla-gt-speed-3-4-front-view/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most exciting boats</a>&nbsp;at Boot Düsseldorf, but a deep dive into the specs shows it could be downright revolutionary. The brainchild of German start-up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayla-yacht.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mayla</a>, the 44-footer brings you the blistering performance of a speedboat and the luxe amenities of a motor yacht in one neat carbon-fibre package.



Inspired by the go-fast boats of the 1970s and 1980s, the GT sports an angular, retro-futuristic body and the sleek lines of a rocket ship. Tipping the scales at just 4.5 tons, the lightweight design features a deep-V hull with twin transversal steps and patented Petestep deflectors that help it slice through the waves with ease. In fact, Mayla says the deflectors decrease energy usage by up to 35 per cent while ensuring a more efficient planing.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_2-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785191" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_2-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_2-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_2-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_2.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The range-topping GT can reach 110 mph. Image courtesy of Mayla</figcaption></figure>



The GT is also capable of soaring at breakneck speeds, with the option of a gas, diesel, electric, or&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hybrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hybrid</a>&nbsp;powertrain. The range-topping GTR-R model packs dual petrol-powered engines that can churn out 3,100 hp for a top speed of more than 100 knots (115 mph). At the other, more sustainable end of the spectrum, the E-GT is fitted with an electric powertrain that can produce 2,200 horses for a max speed of 50 knots. The hybrid E-GTR pairs that same electric powertrain with a 400 hp diesel engine for a top speed of 60 knots (69 mph). (The GT in the water at Boot sported two entry-level V8s good for 650 hp and a top speed of over 70 knots.)



The GT is suitable for more than just high-speed jaunts, of course. The multipurpose cockpit, which can accommodate up to eight passengers, features a sundeck with sliding loungers, a wet bar and BBQ, and a foldaway dining table for alfresco entertaining. Further toward the stern, a beach club sits atop a garage with an electric transom door.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_3_cc0b0c-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234785190" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_3_cc0b0c-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_3_cc0b0c-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_3_cc0b0c-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mayla_GT_3_cc0b0c.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The garage has an electric transom door. Image courtesy of Mayla</figcaption></figure>



The GT is even fit for overnight stays. Below deck lies a cabin with a double bed, sofa, wardrobe, vanity, and en-suite. You can also expect a high-tech entertainment system with TVs and premium audio.



As for price, the GT with the entry-level powertrain will cost between US$1.74 million and US$1.85 million (HK$13.6 million and HK$14.4 million), depending on the final configuration. (You can fine-tune the layout, hull colour, and interiors, naturally.) Interested buyers can set up a sea trial with Mayla, with test-drives set to begin this spring in Europe.

Carbon-Fibre

Mayla

Speedboat

This 44-Foot Carbon-Fibre Speedboat Can Rocket to 110 MPH

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/numarine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Numarine</a>’s first hybrid explorer yacht has hit the seas.



The <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/numarine-30xp-explorer-yacht-1235406822/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30XP</a> debuted at the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/cannes-yachting-festival-launches-2024-1235818216/rr-mv-requests-081924-6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cannes Yachting Festival</a> in late September, marking the start of a cleaner, greener era for the European yard.



First unveiled in September 2022 to mark Numarine’s 20th anniversary, the <a href="https://www.numarine.com/30XP-Detail3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">101-foot model</a> sits squarely in the middle of a seven-strong lineup that ranges from 72 to 148 feet. As with the rest of Numarine’s sleek, steel-hulled explorers, the 30XP was designed inside and out by Turkish-based designer Can Yalman but is equipped with a propulsion system that sets her apart from her sisterships.



The newcomer can be powered by either a hybrid setup comprising two electric engines and four 108 kW diesel generators or a traditional drivetrain featuring twin 560 hp MAN engines. Both options give the 101-footer the same maximum speed of around 13 knots, a cruising speed of 10 knots, and a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 8 knots, but the diesel-electric system uses less fuel, produces fewer emissions, and is cheaper to run than conventional gas engines. To further reduce environmental impact, Numarine has incorporated eco-friendly materials and various waste/recycling systems throughout the yacht.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_10.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792235" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_10.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_10-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_10-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The aft decks. Image courtesy of Numarine</figcaption></figure>



The 30XP will be capable of taking owners and their families “far and wide in tremendous comfort and safety,” according to Numarine chairman Ömer Malaz. The explorer will be outfitted with advanced stabilisation systems, high-tech navigation gear, and smart home technologies to elevate the cruising experience. Furthermore, the yacht has a raised pilothouse design that results in a large internal volume of 208 GT.



Penned in partnership with Istanbul-based Ofist Design Studio, the generous living quarters showcase the simplicity, minimalism, and functionality synonymous with Scandinavian design. Think natural stone floors, sisal rugs, and pale oak panelling. The layout can be adapted to meet the requirements of individual clients, but the standard configuration sees a large owner’s suite forward on the main deck, four guest cabins on the lower deck, and a crew quarters for five. The first hull features two VIPs and two standard doubles for guests, plus a lavish owner’s suite with an office and balcony.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_6.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792236" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_6.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_6-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Numarine_30XP_6-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The salon. Image courtesy of Kerem Sanliman</figcaption></figure>



On the main deck, the light-filled salon is fitted with sliding doors that open to several epic outdoor spaces. Highlights include a plush, alfresco dining area on the aft deck, a semi-open beach club with fold-down wings, and a flybridge with the square footage of a larger yacht. Another standout is the side-loading tender bay, which can accommodate a 19-foot runabout.



“This yacht offers an exceptional onboard experience with its spacious and well-appointed interiors, stunning exterior design, advanced technological features, and sustainable attributes,” Malaz said in a statement.



The 30XP is already proving quite popular, too: Four units have been sold off-plan since 2022. Stay tuned for future launches.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/numarine-30xp-hybrid-superyacht-1235899529/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to see all the photos of the first Numarine 30XP.

30XP

Cannes Yachting Festival

Numarine

Numarine Just Unveiled Its First Hybrid Explorer Yacht