<a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/bang-olufsen/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bang &amp; Olufsen</a> is aiming for a perfect score with its latest release.



On Tuesday, the Danish audio brand debuted the Beoplay H100 <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/headphones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">headphones</a>, an update to the über-successful <a href="https://robbreport.com/gear/audio/lists/best-audio-products-2024-1235546070/best-headphones-for-travel-bang-olufsen-beoplay-h95/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beoplay H95</a> (our <a href="https://robbreport.com/gear/audio/first-listen-bang-olufsen-beoplay-h95-headphones-1234578953/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">favourite wireless noise-canceling headphones</a>, for the record). The brand claims the new design offers even better sound quality and noise cancellation, along with other upgrades aimed squarely at audiophiles.



Inspired by the brand’s Beolab 90 loudspeaker, the Beoplay H100 gets its hi-res sound—up to 96 kilohertz/24 bits—from 40 mm custom-made titanium drivers placed behind aluminium grills. 10 studio-grade microphones amp up both noise cancellation and transparency mode, meaning that you can just as easily hear your music as you can your surroundings. Fully charged, you get up to 34 hours of playtime—but even just five minutes of charging gives you enough juice for five hours of listening.



<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/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791098" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Inside.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A peek inside the headphones. Image courtesy of Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



Available in three colourways—the calm-sounding Infinite Black, Hourglass Sand, and Sunset Apricot—the Beoplay H100 features a detachable inner headband wrapped in knitted textile and earpad cushions swaddled in luxe lambskin leather. A scratch-resistant and hardened glass touch interface on the side of the headphones is designed to make sound control extremely easy. And you should be able to use the Beoplay H100 for quite a while: The inner headband and ear cushions can be replaced by the user, while the Bang &amp; Olufsen service team can swap out batteries, glass surfaces, drivers, and circuit boards. Plus, the company is rolling out a new software platform that allows the software to be updated with any new tech that may come along in the future.



<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/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791099" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Beoplay-H100-Colors.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The three different colourways. Image courtesy of Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



“Drawing inspiration from the unparalleled performance of our Beolab speakers, our iconic designs from the past and the modular construction that embraces material excellence and circularity, Beoplay H100 truly embodies our design and innovation capabilities,” Bang &amp; Olufsen CEO Kristian Teär said in a statement. Neo Kaplanis, the brand’s director of technology, took it one step further: “Beoplay H100 is the best pair of headphones we have ever created.” The new headphones are now <a href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpbolvw.net%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3D--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%252Fen%252Fus%252Fheadphones%252Fbeoplay-h100&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-beoplay-h100-headphones-1235841659%2F&amp;ref=&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1725607863321fia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">available for US$1,549 (HK$12,075)</a> on the brand’s website. We can’t wait to hear them for ourselves. We’ll be sure to keep it, well, 100 when we do.

convenient headphones

hi-res sund

luxury headphones

new headphones

noise-cancelling headphones

premium headphones

replaceable parts

sound quality

Bang & Olufsen Unveils Its Most Premium Headphones Yet

Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bang &amp; Olufsen</a> launched the <a href="https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/int/speakers/beosystem-9000c?utm_source=rrhk&amp;utm_medium=article" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beosystem 9000c</a> music system in Europe, and this summer, it’s finally our turn to get a chance to look, feel, and hear it in Hong Kong. An intimate number of by-invitation-only guests were among the chosen few to see and audibly experience the unveiling of the latest gear released by the famed Danish luxury audio brand at a dinner hosted by Bang &amp; Olufsen, with VIPs invited by Robb Report Hong Kong.



For as long as memory serves, Bang &amp; Olufsen has been renowned for its stellar releases that eventually end up on&nbsp;Robb Report’s&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/the-best-in-gear-from-bang-olufsen-and-samsung-to-devialet-and-kef" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best of the Best lists</a>. Love at first sight and sound, we slipped one of our favourite disks into the Beosound 9000 CD player, and awaited the notes of TLC to hit the air. As the first beat resonated, flushed with memories, we were plunged into awe. Paired with the Beolab 28 wireless stereo speakers, all within earshot were transported back to their days of youth. A powerful listening experience, we left with goosebumps as mellifluous beats of 1990s R&amp;B took us where we wanted to go: on a trip down memory lane. Bang &amp; Olufsen was banking on that nostalgia—and what a payoff.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0009-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788757" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0009-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0009-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0009-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0009.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



Last year, we spoke of how <a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/the-best-in-gear-from-bang-olufsen-and-samsung-to-devialet-and-kef" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bang &amp; Olufsen brought retro turntables</a> into the new century; this year, the brand is revitalising CDs in ways we had not thought possible. The notion that everything old is new again holds water, but those brilliant engineers are elevating the auditory experience in unfathomable ways of creativity and inspired, engineered genius. 



“With our Recreated Classics series, we are showcasing how Bang &amp; Olufsen’s unique capabilities within sound, design, and craftsmanship are creating long-lasting, circular products,” says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, director of product circularity and portfolio planning. “We want to demonstrate that a second-life product can be just as attractive as a new product and that a high-quality item such as the Beosound 9000 doesn’t need to have an end-date.”



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/2023-us-year-end-music-report-luminate-top-album-morgan-wallen-taylor-swift-1235579214/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billboard</a>, CD sales have seen a steady incline since 2023 after a tailspin since the early 2000s when music file sharing went viral, only to be outsold by an even older relic, the retro-chic elegance of the classic vinyl. But even in the digital age of music sharing apps, B&amp;O’s products are not for the masses, but the classes—a classic for the ages, in fact.&nbsp;



“More than showcasing our commitment to product longevity, we wanted to celebrate the revival of physical media that has taken place in recent years,” Hansen continues. “Vinyls and CDs have returned to being something special, where people invest time and energy to connect with the music and artists they love. Longevity in design and the passion for music listening are essentially what we are celebrating with the launch of Beosystem 9000c.” He emphasises, succinctly, “It is all about keeping listening choices alive.”&nbsp;



<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="1024" height="683" data-id="1234788758" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0014-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788758" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0014-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0014-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0014-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0014-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0014-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234788759" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0008-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788759" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0008-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0008-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0008-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0008-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0008-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234788760" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0012-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788760" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0012-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0012-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0012-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0012-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beosystem-9000c-0012-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Since our interview with <a href="https://robbreport.hk/stories/1234773861" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bang &amp; Olufsen’s CEO Kristian Tëar</a>, where we discussed how the brand doesn’t have customers but genuine fans, the community has long espoused the belief that the gadgets and accessories by the company are timeless beacons. Believers passionately speak of their speakers, audio systems, and even cordless telephones, often asking interior designers to build around their favourite accessories, truly living Bang &amp; Olufsen’s motto: “Creating products that can stand the test of time.”



For hardcore collectors, audiophiles, musicians, and creators,&nbsp;Bang &amp; Olufsen has sourced 200 units of the original Beosound 9000 CD player and then recreated to Beosystem 9000c.&nbsp;Its factory in Struer, Denmark, which originally created the multi-disc player back in 1996, is the motherboard that’s painstakingly retroactive in bringing magic and machine together. As per the brand, “the CD players are disassembled and thoroughly inspected by a team of skilled service technicians, including many of the same colleagues that worked on the Beosound 9000s in the 1990s, using the original workshop tables. Every component is painstakingly cleaned and repaired, and once they have been inspected, each Beosound 9000 is individually tested and fine-tuned to meet Bang &amp; Olufsen’s exacting specifications.”



A high note also includes the nod to industrial designer David Lewis’s original work, as the Beosystem 9000c is an extension built on the original design of his CD player. Its colour palette of Cosmic Black and aluminium finishes are a mix of modern elegance and vintage chic. For sound fidelity, the Beosound 9000 has been equipped with Beoconnect Encore wireless technology to allow seamlessly sound syncing with the Beolab 28 floor speakers.



“We wanted to enhance the graphic edge of Beosound 9000 whilst maintaining the integrity of the original design. To do this, we introduced a Cosmic Black finish to Beosound 9000’s aluminium back plate so that the CDs stand out even more as artworks, which was Lewis’s original design intention,” says Tiina Kierysch, head of design at Bang &amp; Olufsen. In doing so, it results in “a stark contrast against the natural aluminium on the control panel, creating a bold and modern finish whilst referencing the 1990s aesthetic of the original CD player. The result is timeless […]. Even though the two products were designed in different decades, they become closely related through the application of colours, materials, and finishes.”



Lewis believed in “slow evolution” in design; his ideology leaned on the idea that any product should have a long life, both in desirability and endurance. Legend has it, he was walking past a record store in London where six CDs were displayed in a row, which inspired the look of the machine, hence the album art was revealed in a linear manner, with six visible CDs and a swift movement of the CD clamper, not the disc itself—ingenious.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://videos.ctfassets.net/8cd2csgvqd3m/2P1i3nfBdhj1jsMacbcvtr/13b59a78675155f4c3c02b13373eed31/Beosystem_9000c_2024_Motion_EN__30s_1920x1080_Headline___Logo_0062.mp4"></video></figure>



Beosystem 9000c is limited to 200 units at a retail price of HK$425,000. It is available for order at selected Bang &amp; Olufsen stores worldwide, including Hong Kong. Learn more about the Beosystem 9000c <a href="https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/int/speakers/beosystem-9000c?utm_source=rrhk&amp;utm_medium=article" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

9000C

Bang & Olufsen

Gear

Music

Player

Sound System

speakers

Bang & Olufsen’s Iconic Recreated Beosystem 9000c is One for the Ages

First it was <a href="https://robbreport.com/gear/audio/director-david-lynch-lends-his-artistic-touch-to-bang-olufsens-a9-speaker-2754450/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Lynch</a>, now it’s MonoNeon: Bang &amp; Olufsen has enlisted another world-renowned artist to reimagine <a href="https://robbreport.com/gear/electronics/slideshow/10-all-one-sound-systems-sure-seduce-serious-audiophiles/bang-olufsen-beoplay-a9/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beosound A9</a>.



For the unacquainted, MonoNeon is a Grammy Award-winning bassist known for his avant-garde playing style and decidedly vibrant wardrobe. The new limited-edition speaker is a reflection of his unique approach to music and art. It also pays homage to his signature looks that incorporate patchwork, embroidery, and a very vivid palette.



“Whenever I see a painting, I can interpret it musically,” MonoNeon said in a statement. “For some people it may be just a picture, but I look at it thinking: ‘I can play that.’ I wanted the speaker to be able to play without playing. Bringing me inspiration and telling me a story just by looking at it.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beoplay_A9_MonoNeon-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234783652" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beoplay_A9_MonoNeon-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beoplay_A9_MonoNeon-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beoplay_A9_MonoNeon-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beoplay_A9_MonoNeon.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The colourful speaker cover is emblazoned with MonoNeon’s name. Image courtesy of Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



MonoNeon wanted the speaker to represent chords on canvas. The A9, which already resembles a canvas on an easel, has been covered in a trippy floral pattern that feels somewhat retro-futuristic and emblazoned with MonoNeon’s name. The bold composition showcases a kaleidoscopic mix of aqua, baby pink, purple orange, and yellow hues. (It is far more playful than Lynch’s design, which features reproductions of his “Paris Suite” series of lithographs.)



Aesthetics are not the speaker’s only selling point, of course. At once versatile and powerful, the A9 is equipped with no less than seven custom-built drivers and two tweeters that deliver its full 33 Hz to 25 kHz frequency range. B&amp;O says the speaker delivers clear vocals, crisp instrumentation, deep bass, and enough volume to fill any room.



Compatible with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the device can stream music from the internet using services like Spotify or sync up with other <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/speakers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speakers</a>. It can also be conveniently controlled via the Bang &amp; Olufsen app or the intuitive touch controls.



The limited-edition MonoNeon cover will retail for about $570 (HK$4,455), while the Beosound A9 will set you back an additional $3,999 (HK$31,260). (Just think you are getting a speaker and a work of art.) To commemorate the launch, Bang &amp; Olufsen hosted an event at its Madison Avenue boutique in New York on 17 January 2024. MonoNeon was performing, naturally.

MonoNeon

MonoNeon Just Gave Bang & Olufsen’s A9 Speaker a Technicolour Makeover

By P. Ramakrishnan and Josh Condon



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">You Ask, AI Listens</h2>



ChatGPT and other large-language artificial-intelligence (AI) models remain a source of fascination due to the uncanny way they can mimic human speech, but data-savvy companies are already using AI to help shape the products you buy—not by talking, but by listening.



Consider every time you’ve tossed an annoyed @ on X (formerly Twitter) complaining about the concierge service at your vacation villa rental or griped to a chatbot about a confusing tech user interface. Ditto blowing up a sneaker brand’s comments section pleading for a new colourway or taking to a watch forum to debate the design merits of an overlooked vintage model. Each of these seemingly off-the-cuff interactions is, in fact, incredibly rich with data points—a trove of unvarnished opinions, desires, and ideas, proffered by engaged consumers who often believe they’re just talking amongst themselves.



But there’s likely an invisible observer: AI brands use the technology to trawl public content on Reddit, Instagram, X, Tripadvisor, Facebook—anywhere people express opinions, upload images or videos, or even just “like” or down-vote something someone else posted. 



“Particularly for luxury, fashion, tech—those categories have very passionate, discerning fan bases in these niche parts of the internet,” says Chris Bingham, CTO of Brandwatch, a social-media suite in New York City that has worked with BMW, Unilever, and Carlsberg, among many others. “There’s this huge amount of information that’s available to brands to use for understanding how their own products are perceived, how their competitors’ [products are perceived], industry trends, what [customers] like, don’t like, et cetera,” he says, adding that it can be a replacement for, or complementary to, traditional market research, which tends to be expensive and slow. “This way, you’re tapping organically into what people are already talking about—they’re probably already answering the questions you would have asked them.”



The ability to turn the internet into a massive, ad hoc focus group has been around for a while (if rarely discussed by the brands that employ it) but is currently benefitting from the same technological leap that transformed ChatGPT, Midjourney, and others into household names. The key, now, is AI’s ability to deduce sentiment, according to Grant Hartanov, associate vice president of CXM Best Practices Group at Sprinklr, a New York firm that provides AI insights for clients including Prada and Lenovo. “The more robust a listening infrastructure is, the better you can identify themes and trends, but there’s also the ability to leverage AI to create visual insights,” he says. “That could be a really interesting way for a sneaker designer to say, ‘Hey, we’re seeing people gravitate towards this colour,’ but more importantly: How are people perceiving the colour?” In other words, AI can not only notice that people are posting or reacting to pictures with the colour green, but also deduce how people feel about the shade. 



“With better AI, you’re able to ask more specific questions and get more targeted, relevant insights,” Bingham says. But, he notes, “the human still has an extremely important job.” When it comes to “interesting, high-value products” like those covered by Robb Report, he says, “there’s some discernment, there’s some taste, there’s some innovation—that’s powered by people, that doesn’t just come out of the algorithm.”



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="982" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.40 PM-1024x982.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234781812" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.40 PM-1024x982.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.40 PM-300x288.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.40 PM-768x736.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.40 PM-1536x1473.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.40 PM.png 1746w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Turntable </h3>



Bang &amp; Olufsen



Beosystem 72-23 Nordic Dawn Limited Edition



Groovy, baby, the 1970s are back! In March 2023, a BBC headline went viral for reporting that vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time in decades. For a generation of a certain vintage, nothing compares to the audible pleasure of vinyl. Well, a daring Danish brand heard the siren call and released a limited-edition vinyl turntable and stereo speakers to meet our needs: the Beosystem 72-23.



“As part of the Recreated Classics Initiative, the Beosystem 72-23 Nordic Dawn Limited Edition symbolises a new beginning for a future where audio products are designed to last, where luxury is expert craftsmanship that expands beyond the first life cycle, and where connectivity can be timeless,” says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, head of product circularity at Bang &amp; Olufsen.



As expected from the renowned brand, it’s a visual delight as much as audible; the Beogram 4000C turntable, created in warm colours with a birchwood panel and Nordic aesthetics, is accompanied by a matching pair of Beolab 28 speakers. A Beoremote Halo remote control allows for seamless operation of the system. Each unit comes with a walnut presentation box, which doubles as a storage cabinet for your record collection—it’s a nostalgic touch of the past that warms our heart, while the handy wireless charging station looks into the future.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="569" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.22.37 PM-1024x569.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234781814" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.22.37 PM-1024x569.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.22.37 PM-300x167.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.22.37 PM-768x427.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.22.37 PM-1536x854.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.22.37 PM-2048x1139.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Projector</h3>



Samsung



The Freestyle 2nd Generation



Forget the ancient projector you’re used to from your school days, when the substitute teacher wheeled in a contraption with spotty picture and unsynchronised sound to enlighten how plants photosynthesise. Samsung’s second-generation Freestyle projector, with its phenomenal sound and colour, has us pelted in shades of wow. 



At home, you can watch a blockbuster film as Spielberg intended, on the big screen—even if the screen happens to be your ceiling! The Freestyle can project visuals with such precision that lying on your bed watching all the stars in the cosmos feels close to the real thing—this technological marvel can (almost) transport you to other worlds. 



In fact, on trial, we saw Lawrence of Arabia’s widescreen magic on a spotless wall with 360-degree surround sound in breathtaking technicolour. Samsung’s Smart Edge Blending technology permits two devices to merge and project a wide cinematic screen, providing a panoramic viewing experience.



Compact, ultra-portable, and lightweight, the new Freestyle does so much more than just allow you to binge-watch Netflix shows and nature documentaries in high definition—gamers can also connect their controllers to the Gaming Hub to access Xbox titles without a console, among other cloud-based gaming streaming partners. For gadget geeks, The Freestyle is a game-changer.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.58 PM-820x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234781815" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.58 PM-820x1024.png 820w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.58 PM-240x300.png 240w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.58 PM-768x959.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.20.58 PM.png 876w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Camera Lens</h3>



Leica



Noctilux-M 50mm F/0.95 ASPH “Titan”



As the professional photographer’s OG camera brand of choice, Leica’s first Noctilux lens debuted in 1966, but in the concentric circles of renowned cameramen the world over, the brand resonates to this day, and Leica’s new limited-edition “Titan” model of its Noctilux-M range is assuredly magnificent.



Its moniker, “Titan,” is apt—all the visible components are made of solid titanium, a lightweight yet sturdy metal that marries beauty with practicality, and matches well with Leica camera bodies. At an open aperture, the Noctilux-M lens offers an extremely shallow depth of field, delivering a distinctive bokeh effect and image aesthetics that are unmistakably Leica. 



Challenging lighting conditions are easily surmounted—the Noctilux-M is calibrated to tease out fine details and high contrast, promising exceptional imaging performance. If there can be such a thing as a legacy lens, then this is it, as each of the previous Noctilux generations was the best of its era, a sign of a gadget for all time. However, there’s the matter of getting your hands on one: there are only 100 pieces available globally, each engraved with a limited-edition serial number, with an appropriately high price tag.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="897" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.21.05 PM-1024x897.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234781816" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.21.05 PM-1024x897.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.21.05 PM-300x263.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.21.05 PM-768x672.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-06-at-4.21.05 PM.png 1238w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wireless Earbuds</h3>



Devialet



Gemini II



When it comes to wireless earbuds, one is just begging to be lost, isn’t it? Despite the proliferation of brands and styles promising ease and otherworldly audible dimensions, we’re finally convinced we’ve found a pair that has sound appeal. Ergonomic design, superb connectivity, and blissful noise cancellation are joyfully married in Devialet’s Gemini II, the sequel we didn’t know we wanted until we got it in hand and shoved in ear. 



According to the sound engineers, it has taken nearly two decades of R&amp;D to deliver the latest gadget. Among the “suite” of enhanced features is the trademarked Devialet Adaptive Noise Cancellation, and the resulting sound quality is expectedly first-class. “We have condensed 15 years of expertise in acoustic research and development into Devialet Gemini II to deliver an even bigger sound experience in our smallest package yet,” says Devialet CEO Franck Lebouchard. “Driven by our vision to continually break boundaries in audio design, Devialet Gemini II’s new design offers a universal luxury listening experience thanks to improved ergonomics that lets listeners experience industry-leading proprietary technologies without feeling the earbuds in place. On-the-go audio has never felt better.” 



With the Gemini II wireless earbuds in place, they adjust with surprising symmetry—you can knock your head around and they don’t pop out at every move, which make them perfect for runners. Plus, the improved battery life is a huge perk. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/K_2-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234781817" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/K_2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/K_2-300x188.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/K_2-768x480.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/K_2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Speakers </h3>



KEF



LS60 Wireless



The bane of interior designers is tangled wires and the constant conundrum of hiding them from sight, especially if a chic room is about to be photographed, but KEF has put forth an aesthetic home solution with stellar audio quality to boot.



KEF introduces its very first wireless floor-standing speaker system to bring high-fidelity sound into your home and engulf your senses in an authentic, immersive experience. What we particularly love about this model is that it’s got the fingerprints of Hong Kong-based designer Michael Young all over it.



Young collaborated with the KEF product design team to create the slim LS60 Wireless that can slide into any living space with ease, and the svelte silhouette is only possible because of the advanced technology contained within the sleek cabinet. KEF offers the audio powerhouse in three elegant matte finishes: titanium grey, mineral white, and royal blue. As to how the LS60 Wireless is able to project pristine audio, that’s the result of KEF engineers incorporating the latest developments in tech—such as a Uni-Q driver array, trademarked Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), and Uni-Core bass drivers—into the pretty package to eradicate distortion and maximise bass performance. As the name suggests, the unit supports WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connection, as well as cable options. Everything is interlinked with the KEF Connect app to permit listeners to stream music and podcasts at the touch of a button.

Beosystem

camera

Camera lens

Devialet

Devialet Gemini II

Leica

The Best in Gear, From Bang & Olufsen and Samsung to Devialet and KEF

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ferrari/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ferrari</a>&nbsp;just gave Bang &amp; Olufsen’s lineup a racy refresh.



The Italian marque has reimagined a series of B&amp;O’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://robbreport.com/tag/headphones/" target="_blank">headphones</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://robbreport.com/tag/speakers/" target="_blank">speakers</a> in its signature red hue. Celebrating the duo’s shared passion for “poise, power, and precision,” the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/us/story/ferrari-collection" target="_blank">new collection</a> eschews B&amp;O’s traditional understated elegance in favor of a bolder and brighter aesthetic that evokes a Prancing Horse.



“Our classic speakers are meant to naturally blend in with people’s homes while also standing out for their beautiful design. This collection is different,” Christoffer Poulsen, B&amp;O’s senior VP of business development and strategic partnerships, said in a statement. “They’re statement pieces. Much like supercars, they make themselves seen and heard everywhere they go.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection4.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234779960" style="width:650px;height:366px" width="650" height="366" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection4.jpg.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection4.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection4.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Beosound 2 home speaker (US$5,499). Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kqzyfj.com%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%2Fen%2Fus%2Fspeakers%2Fbeosound-2-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">BUY NOW: US$5,499</a>



The collection includes new riffs on the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kqzyfj.com%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%252Fen%252Fus%252Fspeakers%252Fbeosound-2-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">Beosound 2 home speaker</a>&nbsp;(US$5,499),&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tkqlhce.com%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%252Fen%252Fus%252Fheadphones%252Fbeoplay-h95-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">Beoplay H95 headphones&nbsp;</a>(US$1,299),&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jdoqocy.com%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%252Fen%252Fus%252Fearphones%252Fbeoplay-ex-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">Beoplay EX earphones</a>&nbsp;(US$499), and the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.anrdoezrs.net%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%252Fen%252Fgb%252Fspeakers%252Fbeosound-explore-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">Beosound Explore portable speaker</a>(US$249). Each piece reflects the craftsmanship and innovation for which both brands are renowned.



The powerful Beosound 2 delivers 360-degree sound that fills any space in the home, according to B&amp;O. The high-grade aluminum body that houses the speaker has been finished in Ferrari red and polished for greater shine. The Ferrari badge also sits proudly below the grille.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection7.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234779961" style="width:651px" width="651" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection7.jpg.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection7.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection7.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Beosound Explore portable speaker (US$249). Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.anrdoezrs.net%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%2Fen%2Fgb%2Fspeakers%2Fbeosound-explore-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">BUY NOW: US$249</a>



Similarly, the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://robbreport.com/gear/audio/bang-olufsen-waterproof-beosound-explore-speaker-made-for-outdoor-adventures-1234614631/" target="_blank">Beosound Explore&nbsp;</a>features a laser-etched Prancing Horse. The two-layer body of the portable speaker is anodized in red and black so that the grille really pops against the dark interior. As its moniker implies, the Beosound Explore is made to be taken anywhere and everywhere. It is fully dust- and waterproof and offers up to 27 hours of playtime. It also comes with a black carabiner that makes carrying the speaker a breeze.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection5.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234779962" style="width:650px" width="650" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection5.jpg.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection5.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection5.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Beoplay H95 headphones ($1,299). Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tkqlhce.com%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%2Fen%2Fus%2Fheadphones%2Fbeoplay-h95-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">BUY NOW: US$1,299</a>



As for the cans, the Beoplay H95s have been decked out in Ferrari’s jet-black shade and laser-etched with both brand logos. Under the earcups, the titanium speaker grilles have also been anodized in a rich red hue. You can expect stellar audio, too. B&amp;O’s flagship headphones feature custom titanium drivers that reportedly “deliver punchier sound than ever before” and adaptive active noise cancellation that can be adjusted by simply rotating the earcup aluminum ring. The headphones will give you 38 hours of non-stop listening.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection6.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234779963" style="width:651px" width="651" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection6.jpg.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection6.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BO_Ferrari_Collection6.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Beoplay EX earphones (US$499). Bang &amp; Olufsen</figcaption></figure>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jdoqocy.com%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%2Fen%2Fus%2Fearphones%2Fbeoplay-ex-ferrari-edition&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">BUY NOW: US$499</a>



Bang &amp; Olufsen’s most powerful wireless earphones have also been given a motorsport twist. The Beoplay EXs are again finished in red and come housed in a matching wireless charging case. The right earbud sports a contrasting black foiled Ferrari emblem that sits under red glass, which has been cut and polished to ensure a mirror-like shine. The ‘buds have active noise cancellation, intelligent beam-forming technology, and six microphones, so they can be used for listening to tunes or taking calls. You can expect up to 20 hours of on-the-go listening.



“The combination of best-in-class performance, graceful aesthetics, and meticulous craftsmanship brought B&amp;O and Ferrari together to create the collection,” Bang &amp; Olufsen CEO Kristian Teär adds. This is elevated by the unrivaled heritage of both brands, making this collaboration one to remember”.



The collection is&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpbolvw.net%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%252Fen%252Fgb%252Fstory%252Fferrari-collection&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">now available online via Bang &amp; Olufsen</a>&nbsp;and Ferrari. It will also be rolled out at select boutiques.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/pmc_0aaa4_robbreport?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpbolvw.net%2Fclick-100000724-15163921%3Fsid%3DRR--%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%2Fen%2Fgb%2Fstory%2Fferrari-collection&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frobbreport.com%2Fgear%2Faudio%2Fbang-olufsen-ferrari-collection-1234889017%2F&amp;event_type=click&amp;trx-iid=iid1694506618278jaa" target="_blank">EXPLORE NOW</a>

Ferrari

headphones

speaers

Ferrari and Bang & Olufsen Teamed up on New Headphones and Speakers in the Marque’s Signature Red

Earbuds

Premium

Wireless

Wireless Earbuds

The 12 Best Premium Wireless Earbuds to Buy Right Now

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

The world’s wealthiest are <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/spaces/hong-kong-most-ultra-high-net-worth-1234895563/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flocking to Hong Kong</a>, and the city itself is shaping up to be one of the top financial centres in the world.



Adrian Cheng, CEO of investment firm New World Development Co, recently told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-14/hong-kong-tycoon-cheng-expects-city-to-become-no-1-hub-for-rich?srnd=wealth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a> he foresees Asia’s World City becoming a global hub for <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/billionaires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">billionaires</a>. “I’m very confident we will be number one for family office wealth management in the future,” said Cheng, who hails from one of <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hong-kong/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hong Kong</a>’s richest families. The third-generation heir recently established the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy and was appointed as the chairman of the board of directors in 2023 in an effort to boost the city’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/ultra-wealthy-population-growth-report-1235789531/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-net-worth population</a>.  



As far as Cheng’s ambitions are concerned, the property tycoon admitted to Bloomberg that the goal is to turn Hong Kong into a leading destination for super-wealthy family offices—and the region is already well on its way. A Deloitte survey commissioned by the Hong Kong government revealed that the city had over 2,700 single-family offices at the end of last year and approximately one-third of them managed at least US$100 million (HK$779.2 million) in assets. In addition, Cheng is hopeful that his newly created academy can act as a “super connector” for wealthy individuals interested in setting up offices in Hong Kong.



<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/Adrian-Cheng-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790490" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Adrian-Cheng-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Adrian-Cheng-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Adrian-Cheng-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Adrian-Cheng-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Adrian-Cheng-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Adrian Cheng, chief executive officer of investment firm New World Development Co. Image courtesy of Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Asia Society Southern California</figcaption></figure>



In 2023, Hong Kong had the largest population of ultra-high-net-worth people in the world, according to a report by Wealth-X. At the time, the data found that there were 12,615 individuals worth US$30 million (HK$233.7 million) or more. More recently, Altrata’s latest World Ultra Wealth Report revealed that Hong Kong’s UHNW population dipped to 12,546. The bustling metropolis was only slightly behind <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/new-york/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York</a>, which currently has the<a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/finance/new-york-city-millionaires-1235609330/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> most millionaires </a>of any other locale around the globe.  



“Hong Kong has a long-standing and proven history as a global financial hub,” said&nbsp;Ho-Pin Tung, head of private office at Knight Frank Hong Kong, in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apac.knightfrank.com/hubfs/Research%20Reports/Residential/Report%20PDFs/Rise%20of%20the%20Super%20Wealth%20Hub%20Series%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20Edition.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new report</a>. “The city’s connectivity to the Chinese mainland, robust infrastructure, and extensive experience with legislation and compliance have fostered stability, making it an attractive destination for family offices to establish themselves.”&nbsp;



Cheng added that Hong Kong is also in the midst of building an ambitious, tax-free art hub in a bid to lure more wealthy residents to the city.&nbsp;

Adrian Cheng

billionaires

family offices

global financial hub

global hub

high-net-worth population

Investment

New World Development Co.

ultra-rich

A Hong Kong Billionaire Says the City Will Become a Global Hub for the Ultra-Wealthy

Close to 70 international and local galleries from around the world gathered at Pacifico Yokohama over the first weekend of July for the sophomore edition of <a href="https://tokyogendai.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tokyo Gendai</a>.



From 5 to 7 July, collectors, artists, connoisseurs, gallerists, and art lovers from 40 countries and territories congregated to witness a diverse showcase of contemporary collections that featured the likes of Lois Weinberger, Roby Dwi Antono, Ozaki Satoru, Tsujimura Shiro, Ando Miya, and Robert Longo, whose new set of drawings, presented by Pace Gallery, was among the most expensive lots that found placement with buyers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1007" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Longo-Robert-Study-of-Split-Roaring-Tiger-2023-Ink-and-charcoal-on-vellum-1024x1007.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789502" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Longo-Robert-Study-of-Split-Roaring-Tiger-2023-Ink-and-charcoal-on-vellum-1024x1007.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Longo-Robert-Study-of-Split-Roaring-Tiger-2023-Ink-and-charcoal-on-vellum-300x295.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Longo-Robert-Study-of-Split-Roaring-Tiger-2023-Ink-and-charcoal-on-vellum-768x755.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Longo-Robert-Study-of-Split-Roaring-Tiger-2023-Ink-and-charcoal-on-vellum-1536x1510.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Longo-Robert-Study-of-Split-Roaring-Tiger-2023-Ink-and-charcoal-on-vellum-2048x2014.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Robert Longo’s Study of Split Roaring Tiger was presented by Pace Gallery. Image courtesy of Robert Longo and Pace Gallery</figcaption></figure>



For its second year, the fair welcomed notable private collectors, museum directors, patrons, and curators, and even a few art-loving celebrities. Reporting robust sales, Tokyo Gendai 2024 marks an ambitious step forward in its bid to promote and expand the contemporary art market in the country. Local gallery A Lighthouse called Kanata secured sales for six seminal pieces, while a pair of works titled Waterfall on Colours by Senju Hiroshi went for US$570,000 (HK$4.44 million) and US$385,000 (HK$3 million). Trevor Shimizu’s Water and Branches (2) was sold by Misako &amp; Rosen for US$85,000 (HK$663,360).



<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/許寧-Xu-Ning-Painting-Fairytale-2023.-Oil-on-canvas.-113.5-x-163.5cm.-Photo-by-Kenji-Takahashi.-Courtesy-of-Tomio-Koyama-Gallery-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789497" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/許寧-Xu-Ning-Painting-Fairytale-2023.-Oil-on-canvas.-113.5-x-163.5cm.-Photo-by-Kenji-Takahashi.-Courtesy-of-Tomio-Koyama-Gallery-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/許寧-Xu-Ning-Painting-Fairytale-2023.-Oil-on-canvas.-113.5-x-163.5cm.-Photo-by-Kenji-Takahashi.-Courtesy-of-Tomio-Koyama-Gallery-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/許寧-Xu-Ning-Painting-Fairytale-2023.-Oil-on-canvas.-113.5-x-163.5cm.-Photo-by-Kenji-Takahashi.-Courtesy-of-Tomio-Koyama-Gallery-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/許寧-Xu-Ning-Painting-Fairytale-2023.-Oil-on-canvas.-113.5-x-163.5cm.-Photo-by-Kenji-Takahashi.-Courtesy-of-Tomio-Koyama-Gallery-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/許寧-Xu-Ning-Painting-Fairytale-2023.-Oil-on-canvas.-113.5-x-163.5cm.-Photo-by-Kenji-Takahashi.-Courtesy-of-Tomio-Koyama-Gallery-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Xu Ning’s 2023 Fairytale painting was one among several pieces that made up her sold-out show. Photo by Kenji Takahashi. Image courtesy of Tomio Koyama Gallery</figcaption></figure>



Blum fetched US$160,000 (HK$1.24 million) for a canvas by Okazaki Kenjiro. Beijist artist Xu Ning—featured in Tomio Koyama Gallery’s booth in the fair’s Hana section—experienced a sell-out show for her pieces. Both contemporary and traditional mediums found success with collectors during the fair, from large-scale works, tapestries, ceramics, and paintings to drawings, sculptures, and photography.



In addition to the fair sectors, Tokyo Gendai offered attendees the opportunity to participate in special VIP events, openings, and exhibitions, in collaboration with Artizon Museum, Mori Art Museum, the Tokyo National Museum, Kiyoharu Art Colony, Pola Art Museum, Enoura Observatory, and more to showcase Japan’s art scene.



<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/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-3-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789498" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-3-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Yoshitomo Nara’s Puff Marshie on display, courtesy of Blum. Image courtesy of Tokyo Gendai</figcaption></figure>



Kojima Reiri, general manager of Tokyo Gendai, says, “It was incredible to feel the energy and enthusiasm from both returning and new visitors alike. While the art market in Japan is still growing, we were very encouraged to hear that visitors were delighted by the galleries’ presentations, as well as the public and VIP programmes that connected Japan’s many cultural institutions to the global art world.”



Similarly, co-founder Magnus Renfrew adds that “the second edition of Tokyo Gendai built on the solid foundations laid last year. We were thrilled by the response to the fair by both the Japanese art community and international collectors. Consensus is emerging that Japan has the potential to play a much bigger role in the global art market and we are honoured to be playing an important role in both putting the spotlight on the incredible art scene in Tokyo and connecting Japan to the global art world. We are excited to have secured new autumn dates that will allow the potential for greater participation from galleries, collectors, and international visitors.”



<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/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-7-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789499" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tokyo-Gendai-2024-7-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nan Ke Gallery’s booth featured Meng Zhou’s Mount Top sculpture. Image courtesy of Tokyo Gendai</figcaption></figure>



Following feedback from attendees and gallerists, the upcoming third edition of the Tokyo Gendai fair will return next year in autumn, with dates set for 12 to 14 September 2025, while the preview and vernissage will take place on 11 September 2025. Stay tuned for more information.

Japan

Tokyo Gendai

Tokyo Gendai 2024

Tokyo Gendai 2024 Concludes With Robust Sales and Sell-Out Shows, Counting Robert Longo Drawings Among Most Expensive Lots

In November of last year, Paradero <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/todos-santos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Todos Santos</a><a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/vacation-homes/paradero-todos-santos-branded-residences-1235411090/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> expanded its portfolio</a> with the addition of two dozen hotel-serviced villa suites. Now, the eco-chic resort property in <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mexico/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mexico</a> has put a collection of branded homes within the town’s first gated community on the market—in case you want to make your stay more permanent.



The 41-room Baja hotel has just launched sales of <a href="https://paraderohomes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paradero Homes</a>, its debut residential collection. Altogether, the gated enclave features 26 fully furnished homes nestled within a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. The turnkey residences range from four- to six-bedroom layouts with prices starting at a cool US$2.5 million (HK$19.4 million).  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Living.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791389" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Living.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Living-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Living-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The homes have open living, dining, and kitchen areas that spill onto spacious terraces. Image courtesy of Paradero Homes</figcaption></figure>



“We are incredibly excited to market Paradero Homes in the US,” said Compass agent Tomer Fridman who is marketing the development with his Jones Fridman International &amp; Associates team. “This area of Mexico is rapidly becoming a coveted destination, and the quality of design, architecture, and elevated quiet luxury that Paradero offers aligns perfectly with the discerning tastes of our clients.” 



Designed by award-winning Mexican architect Gabriela Carrillo, the brutalist-style homes look to the local surroundings for inspiration. Carrillo was tapped to tackle the exterior while the interiors were crafted by Estudio Esterlina, who also worked on the <a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/what-its-like-to-stay-at-four-seasons-resort-tamarindo-a-secluded-nature-reserve-overlooking-the-pacific-coastline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons in Tamarindo</a>. Constructed from natural materials, the desert-hued abodes are spread out across two floors with open-plan living spaces, sunken dining rooms, and landscaped roofs with hammocks for stargazing. In addition, each property has its own organic garden and private swimming pool.  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Bungalow.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791390" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Bungalow.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Bungalow-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TypeC_Bungalow-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The residences feature brutalist-style design elements such as concrete walls and floors. Image courtesy of Paradero Homes</figcaption></figure>



Of course, residents of the community will have full access to the hotel’s amenities, including a 130-foot-long infinity pool, the Ojo de Agua spa, the Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant Tenoch, and an all-new clubhouse. Plus, buyers will be able to partake in local activities offered by the resort, such as surfing, mountain biking, and farming. Or, you can always hop aboard its custom, eco-friendly catamaran for a voyage around the Sea of Cortez. 



“In markets like Los Angeles, New York, or the Hamptons, a comparable development offering the same level of design, amenities, and privacy as Paradero Homes could easily command prices into the tens of millions,” added agent Jen Winston of Jones Fridman International at Compass. “This makes Paradero Homes an exceptional value proposition for US buyers, providing an opportunity to own a luxurious, ecologically sensitive residence in a world-class destination at a fraction of the cost.” 



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/gallery/paradero-homes-photos-1235854565/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to see more photos of Paradero Homes.

Luxury Residences

mexico

Paradero Homes

Paradero Todos Santos

This Luxe Resort in Mexico Just Unveiled 26 Turnkey Private Homes for Sale

Why begin my personalised list of the World’s Best 12 Fine Wine Estates with Maison Krug? As a fine wine collector for almost 25 years, I have collected more bottles of Krug than any other wine: more than 1,500. More importantly, I drink more bottles of Krug than any other wine—every Friday night with my family at a minimum. My middle daughter, Anoushka, was just 12 years old when she developed a craving for Krug. Maggie Henriquez, at the time the maison’s president and CEO, found out about Anoushka’s love of Krug and invited her and her friends to celebrate her future eighteenth birthday party at the estate!



Krug evokes class and sophistication. In 2012, the late, great Paul Pontallier invited me to an eight-hour marathon lunch in the great salon of Château Margaux, one of the five left-bank First Growths. On arrival, Paul—the château’s estate manager—served me a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée, the multi-wine non-vintage blend that Krug lovers around the world imbibe on a regular basis. At around 7 pm, after having consumed six bottles of Margaux and a bottle of Cognac, I asked Paul why he had chosen to serve me Krug: “We, at Château Margaux, want our guests to consider our wines as being at the same level as those from Maison Krug.” Wow! What an endorsement. Many years later, I would be told something quite similar by Don Weaver, the estate manager at Harlan Estate in Napa Valley, when he met me at the winery door holding two glasses and a cold bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="640" height="427" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Krug-Jenny-Zarins-Clos-Ambonnay-1_low.width-640x-prop.png.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791287" style="width:842px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Krug-Jenny-Zarins-Clos-Ambonnay-1_low.width-640x-prop.png.webp 640w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Krug-Jenny-Zarins-Clos-Ambonnay-1_low.width-640x-prop.png-300x200.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>



Krug ages forever. Along with Grande Cuvée, the “cheapest” wine in the maison’s range at around €240 (HK$2,075) per bottle, the maison produces a vintage bottling in good years, as well as a formidable non-vintage rosé, and a rare “Collection” version of its vintage Champagnes (only available to private clients). For those willing and able to pay thousands of pounds per bottle, they also produce—in minuscule quantities—a single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay) wine, Clos du Mesnil, and a single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs (Pinot Noir), Clos d’Ambonnay.



Known for having wines that are generous on the palate, with huge complexity helped by ageing in wooden barrels, Krug is somewhat opposite in design to its LVMH stablemate, Dom Pérignon, which is known for its reductive style of Champagnes. Unlike Dom Pérignon, Krug makes less than a tenth of the volume of wine, although getting the exact production figures from either maison is as difficult as getting your hands on Russia’s nuclear launch codes. 



<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/c-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791288" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/c-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/c-2048x1365.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/c-2048x1365.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/c-2048x1365.jpg-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/c-2048x1365.jpg.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The maison was established in Reims in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a true visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy for quality. Joseph’s novel idea was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate—rather than bottling a wine only in good vintages. He also introduced the idea of building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years to craft the perfect blend. Six generations of the Krug family have continued Joseph’s work, with Olivier Krug being the latest in a long line of family members to be working at the estate which has been owned by LVMH since 1999.



The most recent innovation at the estate was numbering each bottling of Krug Grande Cuvée with an “Edition” number. In 2016, Edition 163eme was launched, representing the 163rd annual bottling of Grande Cuvée from the time of Joseph Krug’s first vintage in1844. Krug rosé edition numbers shortly followed suit. Collectors can use the Krug app to quickly find out what and how many wines comprise any given Edition number, and even what music ensemble to pair with the wine. For instance, the most recent release, 171eme Edition, is blended with 131 wines from 12 different years (2015 all the way back to 2000), made up of 45 per cent Pinot Noir, 37 per cent Chardonnay and 18 per cent Meunier grapes. Julie Cavil, the chef de cave, recommends enjoying this Krug with Joseph’s Theme: Dream Variation (composed by Kazu Makino et al). 



<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/fdsdfas-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791290" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fdsdfas-2048x1365.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fdsdfas-2048x1365.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fdsdfas-2048x1365.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fdsdfas-2048x1365.jpg-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/fdsdfas-2048x1365.jpg.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



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



Krug, Clos du Mesnil, 1979: The first vintage from this iconic single vineyard, it ranks as one of the best three wines I have ever tasted from any estate. Aromas of roses and petals, and a finish that ran for several minutes in the mouth. World-class. 



Krug, Clos du Mesnil, 2002: Although still a relative puppy, I am convinced that the 2002 vintage will last for another 20-plus years and be considered alongside the 1979 vintage as a legendary wine. 



Krug, Vintage 1988: If you can find a bottle that has been stored well, the wine will be remarkably fresh, vibrant, and complex, and I guarantee that it will blow your socks off. 



The 2024 edition of the Golden Vines awards will take place in Madrid between 25–27 October 2024. Visit <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.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://robbreportmonaco.com/food-drink/fine-dining/meet-chefs-swapping-michelin-starred-kitchens-for-superyacht-galleys/"></a></h2>

Champagne

Krug

Maison Krug

Wine

Why Maison Krug Remains Champagne’s Most Collectible Wine

The wealthy are only getting wealthier.



Super-rich families are set to be worth a bonkers US$9.5 trillion (HK$74 trillion) by 2030, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-04/ultra-rich-families-set-to-control-9-5-trillion-by-2030-deloitte-says?srnd=wealth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Wednesday. That sky-high number, from a new Deloitte report that surveyed family offices, is an impressive 73 per cent increase from the US$5.5 trillion (HK$42.8 trillion) currently owned by people with such businesses. In that same time span, the number of family offices is expected to jump by one-third to 10,720.



In recent years, family offices have become more popular with those wealthy enough to have them, Bloomberg noted. It’s become easier to open a family office, for example, and they have fewer restrictions than a hedge fund. Because of that, though, they can also lead to major problems—take the case of Bill Hwang: The investor’s Archegos Capital Management defaulted in 2021, and in July, he was found guilty of criminal charges related to the collapse.



The family offices assessed in the Deloitte report managed an average of US$2 billion (HK$15.5 billion) in assets, according to Bloomberg. With just about 15 employees, only one-third were led by someone outside the family in question. “It can definitely be risky managing that much <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/wealth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wealth</a>,” Rebecca Gooch, global head of insights for Deloitte Private, told the outlet. “Family offices really need to be careful about who they bring on board.”



The new data are just the latest signal that the super-rich are controlling more money than ever before. To even be considered a member of the 1 per cent in the United States, you would need to have at least US$5.8 million (HK$45.2 million), a report from earlier this year <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/finance/world-1-percent-threshold-1235527233/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">showed</a>. That’s a 15 per cent increase from 2023. (If you live in Monaco, you would need an even more hefty US$12.8 million/HK$99.7 million to meet that threshold.) And just last month, another report noted that the world’s ultra-wealthy population—those with a net worth of US$30 million (HK$233.8 million) or more—is <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/ultra-wealthy-population-growth-report-1235789531/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expected</a> to grow 38 per cent by 2028.



Those numbers pale in comparison to the wealth depicted in Deloitte’s report, which is largely focused on <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/billionaires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">billionaires</a> rather than millionaires. And in fact, the 500 richest people in the world collectively got <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/finance/richest-people-2023-wealth-gains-1235459176/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US$1.5 trillion (HK$11.6 trillion) wealthier</a> last year. They’re on track to bring in only more dough in the next six years.

ultra-wealthy

wealth

Ultra-Wealthy Families Will Be Worth HK$74 Trillion by 2030, a New Report Says

Real estate in any region is always worthy of inspection, a fine harbinger charting the state of the economy, mood of a city, and even demarking times of historical significance. Just ask Georgina Atkinson of Origin Private Office, who only works on prime global real estate and ultra-luxury properties for a clientele with global interest.



Several images, graphs, and reports on Hong Kong property and rental price indexes show dramatic highs followed by incremental dips, and, almost inevitably, staggering heights again. But if you take a step back, you’ll notice the overall arc, an incline that has grown exponentially over the past century. In a world with no surefire bets, dealing in property in Hong Kong has served UHNW individuals exceedingly well.



In conversation with Origin’s new Private Office, dedicated to “ultra-prime” real estate,&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;learns about how the company deals bespoke client services within the real estate sector to VVIPs.



“At the moment, we don’t have an office in Hong Kong, or currently a project in the city, but we do have many clients who are based in Hong Kong, which brings me back often,” says Atkinson as we mull over the markets. “I’ve had the privilege to travel back and forth to Hong Kong regularly and it is considered a global powerhouse and financial hub that attracts foreign talent and foreign investment, which has an impact on the real estate sector, and because of the geological scarcity of land, it supports prime pricing in real estate.”



“Despite market trends, which obviously come and go in every real estate market around the world, Hong Kong continues to witness strong demand for ultra-prime real estate from both local and international buyers.”



Chances are, this will never change. Looking at the property sales graph of Hong Kong, it appears like the erratic heartbeat of an island, one where luxury property prices are surreal. Ultra-high net worth individuals in Hong Kong don’t just dabble in real estate—their net worth and it are one and the same.



“In Asia, wealth preservation and diversification in real estate is a primary purchasing driver,” says Atkinson, “and we see Asian ultra-high net worths view prime real estate as a store of value, and, of course, as a hedge against inflation.



“We see sustained demand for ultra-luxury real estate, both domestically in Asia, and internationally; and we continue to see this appetite for homes in the ultra-prime, ultra-luxury segment of the market. Buyers from Asia enjoy exclusivity, privacy, access to the very best amenities and service, and, of course, they enjoy unique, beautifully tailored finishes.”



What&nbsp;has&nbsp;changed in recent years is the role of women in wealth. The recent tangent brought to business has not gone unnoticed by savvy purveyors of property ownership. And the number of female-led ones is only growing.



“We’ve seen it increase considerably, and I think this will only continue,” agrees Atkinson, who herself mentors women working in real estate, and counsels high-net-worth women buyers. “Particularly in Asia. Today, more than ever, we are seeing women make an enormous difference in business, but also, obviously, that then transpires into the wealth side of many women now owning real estate in different markets around the world. We are acting for several prominent Asian women at present who are building portfolios in different markets. For example, I was recently in New York with some celebrity clients of ours from Asia—myself and my colleague took them over for the weekend to view property in Manhattan. We looked at real estate, we ate together, we shopped together, we met some of our partners on the ground together. It is incredible to see the rise of female wealth.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GA-Headshot-Colour-2-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789643" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GA-Headshot-Colour-2-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GA-Headshot-Colour-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GA-Headshot-Colour-2-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GA-Headshot-Colour-2-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GA-Headshot-Colour-2.jpg 1066w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Georgina Atkinson of Origin Private Office.</figcaption></figure>



For the Origin team, led by Ross Savas, Georgina Atkinson, and Scott Tanner, Zoom calls are part of the gig, and so is hopscotching the world, either to meet a client or to view developments in the most stunning—you know it—location, location, locations!



“I’m in Dubai now and it’s a wonderful time to get business done. The UAE market is fast paced and very exciting—we continue to see buyers from around the world gravitate to Dubai in particular, and we are now witnessing new developments come forward every day. I think the UAE government has created some extraordinarily strong initiatives, and they are putting incredible infrastructure into place for their residents. From a lifestyle perspective, there are many pluses.”



As with any agency of this calibre, there really is no singular country that has all its attention, but a global market that includes Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, the US, the UK, and the UAE. Also of note, the recent global health crisis shifted the wants and needs of buyers who turned introspective, looking at health as a priority.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG-r342r-1024x640.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791031" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG-r342r-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG-r342r-300x188.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG-r342r-768x480.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG-r342r-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG-r342r-2048x1280.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">888 Brickell, Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Ballroom, JDS Development Group.</figcaption></figure>



“We absolutely see wellness now as a preference when it comes to purchasing real estate,” concurs Atkinson. “On the development side, we see many offerings of customised health and fitness programmes that are delivered in-house. We are seeing fully integrated medical facilities; we’re seeing open space be prioritised more so than ever. And we are seeing the incorporation of multi-functional wellness spaces into home design from the outset. Healthcare and wellness is definitely become an increasing trend that we’re seeing particularly in the new development segment of the market.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="677" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Af10Eld4-1024x677.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790998" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Af10Eld4-1024x677.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Af10Eld4-300x198.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Af10Eld4-768x508.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Af10Eld4-1536x1015.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Af10Eld4-2048x1353.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">111 West 57th Street, New York.</figcaption></figure>



One of the many perks of the job, Atkinson gets a first look to locations that will eventually be sold for staggering figures. The world loves to get a glimpse of how the one per cent lives.&nbsp;



“I have just returned from New York; there is a building that is complete, called 111 West 57th Street, which sits central on Central Park South. It is the former Steinway Building—it is incredibly elegant and truly unique,” says Atkinson, listing off some of the most memorable places that are, or soon will be, on the market. “The developer is Michael Stern’s JDS Development Group.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/shop-architects-site-santa-fe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SHoP Architects</a>&nbsp;designed&nbsp;the exterior, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/inside-the-new-york-offices-of-ad100-firm-studio-sofield" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AD100 designer Studio Sofield</a>&nbsp;designed the interiors. What it has brought to the table, probably for me, is one of the most iconic residential buildings in the world. You have the sweeping full floor and duplex residences overlooking the park; however, what also it really represents is a marriage of the old and the new: the former historic Steinway Building co-existing with the new tower that rises above.”



And what of properties in Asia that have caught her—and many Asian buyers’ eye? “In Asia, in respect of city destinations, I love Aman. I think Aman creates incredible spaces and homes. The brand really sets a benchmark when it comes to the ultra-luxury segment of the market. On that level, if you just look at, for example, Aman in&nbsp;Azabudai Hills,&nbsp;Tokyo; this is Aman’s very first standalone private residences. Overlooking Tokyo Tower, you have residences that really offer owners a sanctuary within the city, surrounded by art, dining, cultural experiences, and an international school, all within a beautiful urban green space in central Tokyo. Aman across Asia and globally deliver a truly special product.”



<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="1024" height="715" data-id="1234790985" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EgBncafL-1024x715.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790985" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EgBncafL-1024x715.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EgBncafL-300x210.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EgBncafL-768x536.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EgBncafL-1536x1073.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EgBncafL-2048x1430.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nihi Sumba in Indonesia.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" data-id="1234790983" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AZke4Y0l-1024x575.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790983" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AZke4Y0l-1024x575.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AZke4Y0l-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AZke4Y0l-768x431.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AZke4Y0l-1536x863.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AZke4Y0l-2048x1150.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nihi Sumba in Indonesia.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="779" data-id="1234790986" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/uKj73oOq-1024x779.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790986" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/uKj73oOq-1024x779.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/uKj73oOq-300x228.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/uKj73oOq-768x584.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/uKj73oOq-1536x1168.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/uKj73oOq-2048x1557.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nihi Sumba in Indonesia.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234790984" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ReadMcKendree_2017-06-09-Nihiwatu-51-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790984" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ReadMcKendree_2017-06-09-Nihiwatu-51-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ReadMcKendree_2017-06-09-Nihiwatu-51-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ReadMcKendree_2017-06-09-Nihiwatu-51-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ReadMcKendree_2017-06-09-Nihiwatu-51-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ReadMcKendree_2017-06-09-Nihiwatu-51-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nihi Sumba in Indonesia.</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



For those seeking something off the beaten path, there’s always the exotic, the eccentric, the island, and the not-on-the-map destination that can intrigue the average billionaire buyer. “I recently had the privilege of spending time in <a href="https://www.robbreport.hk/posts/inside-nihi-sumba-where-you-can-stay-in-all-inclusive-treehouses-and-get-chocolate-spa-treatments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nihi Sumba</a> in Indonesia; this was developed by Christopher Burch and James McBride. I can only describe it as magic. I’ve been lucky enough to experience many ‘luxury’ hotels around the world. However, this, for me, is, hands down, one of the most magical places on earth. It is barefoot luxury, leaning into its finest. You have the hotel, and then you have a handful of very special private residences. Owners of the residences in Sumba are offered award-winning, uniquely designed villas, which really make you feel you are sitting on the edge of wilderness. You have an array of wonderful amenities, wellness activities, and programming on your doorstep coupled with exceptional local&nbsp;Sumbanese service, which&nbsp;only enhances what I would call ‘paradise.’ The Nihi Group are currently developing their new resort and private residences in Santo Tomas, Costa Rica, which will be coming forward in 2026—given what has been created in Indonesia, I have no doubt that Costa Rica will be just as magical.”



All in all, when it comes to today’s UHNW market, it’s not just square foot that is considered, but amenities, the news, the weather—everything is a touchpoint that can affect the mood of the market. “I wake up to Bloomberg! But of course, absolutely, so many things affect a client’s proclivity to purchase—and rightly so. Currency, the weather, political and economic stability, education, transport, amenities, cultural destinations. There are many factors that go into that decision of where to purchase property.”

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Property

property

Real Estate

Hong Kong Will Always Be a High-Interest Ultra-Luxury Property Market. Here’s Why. 

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

Forget a resort. On your next European jaunt, you’ll have a slew of stylish estates where you can rest your head. &nbsp;



Luxury travel company Red Savannah just unveiled its <a href="https://www.redsavannah.com/ultimate-estates/ultimate-estates?filter=%7B%22continent%22%3A%22%22%2C%22country%22%3A%22%22%2C%22region%22%3A%22%22%2C%22priceRange%22%3A%5B35400%2C219900%5D%2C%22currency%22%3A%22GBP%22%2C%22guests%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22rooms%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22greatFor%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22amenities%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22sortMethod%22%3A%22featured%22%2C%22itemsPerPage%22%3A999999%2C%22currentPage%22%3A0%2C%22product%22%3A%22%22%7D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ultimate Estates</a> collection, an assembly of private vacation rentals scattered across Italy, France, Greece, and Spain, to name a few. The 21 properties essentially function as a five-star hotel, with the added bonus of not having to share your space. 



Want to stay in an English manor in the Cotswolds? How about a beach club-inspired villa in <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ibiza/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ibiza</a>? You can expect to find a minimum of six bedrooms no matter the booking, plus epic amenities like spas, private boats, gyms, tennis courts, wine cellars, and home movie theatres. In addition, each reservation comes with a full team of staff including chefs and a 24/7 concierge contact. 



“These highly experienced travel specialists act as personal travel assistants to organise bespoke itineraries, secure one-of-a-kind experiences, and ensure a flawless stay,” Red Savannah said in a statement. “Past arrangements have included delivering a Steinway grand piano by helicopter to Villa La Cassinella and arranging for a soprano from Milan’s La Scala to serenade guests during dinner on a wisteria-draped terrace overlooking Lake Como.” 



<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/Villa-Xi.jpg-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791188" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Villa-Xi.jpg-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Villa-Xi.jpg-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Villa-Xi.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Villa-Xi.jpg-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Villa-Xi.jpg-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Villa Xi on Ibiza. Image courtesy of Red Savannah</figcaption></figure>



For bigger parties and a glitzy beach-club vibe, look no further than the 10-bed Villa Xi on Ibiza. At the property—which is just down the road from the iconic Blue Marlin on Cala Jondal—you and your family can tuck your toes in a sandy bar area nestled underneath pine trees and, by night, hang by the palm-shaded Jacuzzi. The villa’s generous 10 acres offer up plenty of opportunities to stay active, from playing volleyball to swimming in the over-80-foot pool. The villa itself was recently completed in 2017 and is decked out with modern interiors that merge Scandinavian and Indonesian designs: Think en-suite bedrooms with Balinese-style showers and tropical shrubs. &nbsp;



Nestled in the heart of the French Riviera on the Cap d’Antibes, Red Savannah’s Domaine de la Garoupe is perfect for smaller groups perhaps seeking a respite from the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The château has nine total bedrooms, split between a main house (known as La Palombière) and two separate dwellings dubbed&nbsp;La Maison du Cap and La Petite Palombière. Altogether, the abode can sleep up to 18 guests and packs a ton of perks such as a private spa, a salon for hair and nail treatments, a gym, a wine cellar, and a 15-seat cinema. La Palombière acts as the property’s hub with a marble-clad kitchen, a drawing room overlooking the garden, and an outdoor swimming pool.



<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/The-Great-House.jpg-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791189" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Great-House.jpg-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Great-House.jpg-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Great-House.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Great-House.jpg-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Great-House.jpg-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Great House in <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/barbados/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barbados</a>. Image courtesy of Red Savannah</figcaption></figure>



If you’re looking for something with say, a tropical flair, the Ultimate Estates collection includes the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/caribbean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caribbean</a>, too. There’s a massive 12-suite spread in Barbados planted right on the beach on the island’s northwest coast. The Great House, as it’s known, can sleep up to 30 people between its main digs, the Hillaby House, and two cottages. However, you’ll most likely spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying the alfresco perks. Chief among them is a beach bar with a pizza oven, a 33-foot motorboat, kayaks, and water toys. &nbsp;



As for any non-estate escapes, Red Savannah’s got you covered there, too. One of&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/red-savannah-yves-saint-laurent-trip-1235737638/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its newest itineraries</a>&nbsp;will let you explore Marrakech just like Yves Saint Laurent, or you can opt for a litany of&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/gallery/literary-themed-travel-1235780266/o-41/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">literary-themed activities</a>&nbsp;in the brand’s In the Footsteps of the Great Detectives series.

latest europe private estate

new european private estate

red savannah new estate

This Collection of Lavish Private Estates Is Ready for Your Next European Vacation

Robb Report Hong Kong is excited to announce the debut of the <a href="https://www.rr1hongkong.com/leaders-of-luxury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leaders of Luxury Summit</a>, taking place in Hong Kong as the host city. With the welcomed support of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the inaugural Leaders of Luxury Summit highlights the city’s position as a hub of luxury lifestyle and an important destination for international luxury brands.



Organised by&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong,&nbsp;the highly anticipated Leaders of Luxury Summit will be held at Regent Hong Kong from 26 to 28 November 2024. It is set to be the most exciting international luxury event to take place in the city this year. A host of world-class speakers and panellists are expected to attend the event for thoughtful discussions centred around this year’s summit theme, “Redefining Luxury Through a Global Lens.”



Heads of international luxury companies, top business leaders, global entrepreneurs, C-level executives, and international&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;editors will 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.



Additionally, the publishers and editors of&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;titles around the world have been invited to attend the Leaders of Luxury Summit and participate in this significant event that has global implications on the luxury front.



An important day of discussion will lead to a glamorous night of entertainment, as a by-invitation-only black-tie gala dinner will cap off the summit. Under the theme “Best of the Best,” an awards presentation and exciting evening with luxury leaders are on the agenda.



Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rr1hongkong.com/leaders-of-luxury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>&nbsp;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-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791301" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_-2024-09-11-at-10.49.17 AM-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

Leaders of Luxury Summit

Robb Report Hong Kong Joins Hands with Hong Kong Tourism Board to Bring Inaugural Leaders of Luxury Summit to the City

Bali

Nirjhara

Tabanan

What It’s Like to Stay at Nirjhara, a Boutique Luxury Retreat in Tabanan, the “Rice Bowl” of Bali

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

gas-powered engine

Ferrari Confirms Its First Electric Car Is Coming Next Year

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/lewis-hamilton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lewis Hamilton</a> isn’t the only <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/formula-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Formula 1</a> legend changing teams.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/the-7-greatest-race-cars-designed-by-adrian-newey-1235656134/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adrian Newey</a>, one of the most respected design bosses in the competition’s history, has agreed to a five-year deal to join the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/aston-martin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston Martin</a> Aramco (AMR) team.  He will now serve as the team’s managing technical partner, starting early next year.



The entire F1 world has been waiting to find out where the 65-year-old would end up after he announced he was leaving Red Bull Racing in May. Newey is F1’s foremost designer and won 25 world championships. He also designed the outfit’s first hypercar, the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/red-bulls-first-hypercar-rb17-debut-goodwood-festival-speed-1235755774/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">track-only RB17</a>, which made its public debut earlier this year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.



Since leaving Red Bull, Newey has met with a number of teams, including Ferrari and Williams,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-adrian-newey-to-join-aston-martin-as-silverstone-squad-win-race-to.4hHfMt6Z5FX1KiLDqWRV4C" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according to Formula1.com</a>. A private tour of the brand-new AMR Technology Campus located near the Silverstone Circuit in June is said to have helped the designer decide which team was the right one for him.



The large sums of money that Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll will reportedly pay Newey probably didn’t hurt, either. In addition to agreeing to serve as the team’s managing technical partner, the designer will also become a shareholder. The five-year agreement is thought to be worth £30 million per season, or around US$200 million (HK$1.55 billion) in total, according to ESPN. That would make Newey the sport’s second highest-paid figure, behind only Hamilton, its biggest star.



“I am thrilled to be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team,” Newey said in a statement “I have been hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment that Lawrence brings to everything he is involved with. Lawrence is determined to create a world-beating team. He is the only majority team owner who is actively engaged in the sport.”



Although he’ll start his new job next March, the partnership won’t really begin to yield results until the next year. When Newey does officially join up with AMR, he will immediately begin work on the team’s car for the 2026 season. That is when a new set of car regulations, including a new power unit formula, are set to go into effect. It’s Aston Martin’s hope that Newey’s involvement will help give the team a leg up on the competition as the F1 enters its next era.

Adrian Newey

Aston Martin

Formula 1

Legendary Formula 1 Car Designer Adrian Newey Is Joining Aston Martin

A car like the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/bentley-flying-spur-speed-robb-report-2024-car-of-the-year-runner-up-1235507638/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bentley Flying Spur</a> only changes so much, but some updates are bigger than others.



The British luxury marque has just unveiled the latest version of its Flying Spur. The ultra-luxe saloon may look awfully similar to last year’s vintage but flip up the hood and you’ll find something brand new: a hybrid V-8.



That’s right, the saloon’s vaunted V-12, a fixture since its launch in 2005, has been swapped out for a smaller electrified engine. The Flying Spur is the latest vehicle in the automaker’s lineup to go hybrid. Like the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/2025-bentley-continental-gt-speed-revealed-1235679570/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continental GT</a> before it, it now comes equipped with the company’s new “Ultra Performance hybrid powertrain,” which pairs a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V-8 with an electric motor.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur02.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791382" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur02.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur02-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur02-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2025 <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bentley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bentley</a> Flying Spur Speed. Image courtesy of Bentley</figcaption></figure>



Sure, the vehicle may have lost four cylinders but the new <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/plug-in-hybrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plug-in hybrid</a> setup generates a combined 771 hp and 738 ft lbs of torque (592 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque from the engine, 187 hp and 332 ft lbs of torque from the electric motor) in the debut Speed variant. That makes the new Flying Spur the most powerful four-door model in Bentley’s history. It’s also the quickest since it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, which is nearly a half-second faster than its immediate W-12-powered predecessor.



The 25.9-kWh battery pack that powers the electric motor also gives the saloon 47 miles of electric-only driving range (which ups the total range to 515 miles per tank of gas) at speeds of up to 87 mph. The car’s four battery-specific driving modes include Pure EV, Electric Boost, Regenerative Braking, and Charge. It takes under three hours to recharge the battery.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur04.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791381" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur04.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur04-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flyingspur04-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the 2025 Flying Spur Speed. Image courtesy of Bentley</figcaption></figure>



The powertrain isn’t the only new feature the Flying Spur has to offer in 2025. The exterior design has been refined in subtle ways as well. Yes, the car looks almost identical to the 2024 model, but the front end has been reworked with a more prominent grille, which looks especially aggressive on the Speed. There are also three new sets of 22-inch wheels to choose from.



The interior changes are also only likely to be noticed by the most diehard Bentley aficionados. They include a new digital gauge cluster and infotainment system, a new diamond quilt pattern for the seats, and laminated windows which make the cabin even quieter than before.



The new Flying Spur is expected to arrive at dealerships later this year. Bentley has yet to say how much the hybrid saloon will cost, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s priced higher than last year’s car, which started at US$214,000 (HK$1.66 million).



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-hybrid-powered-2025-bentley-flying-spur-hybrid-1235854547" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the 2025 Bentley Flying Spur.

Bentley

Flying Spur

Bentley’s New Flying Spur Is Its Most Powerful 4-Door Car Ever

It’s taken longer than expected, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ginetta.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ginetta</a>&nbsp;is ready to deliver on what it promised.



The boutique British <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/sports-car/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sports car</a> maker has announced that that it will finally put its lightweight track beast, the <a href="https://www.ginetta.com/us/our-cars/for-the-road/akula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Akula</a>, into production. The news comes over a half decade after the hardcore speed machine made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early 2019.



Deliveries of the Akula were supposed to begin in January 2020, but, as is frequently the case with niche brands, that target was missed (the Covid-19 pandemic that followed probably didn’t help either). But Ginetta didn’t give up, and five years later, the finished customer version of the coupé is finally here. A lot can change over that much time, but the Akula remains remarkably close to what was initially shown off. And the few changes that have been made are unlikely to turn anyone off.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula01.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791349" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula01.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula01-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula01-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ginetta Akula. Image courtesy of Ginetta</figcaption></figure>



The production Akula will be powered by a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 6.4-litre V-8. That’s 0.4 more litres of displacement than was originally announced. The naturally aspirated mill pumps out 592 hp at 7,200 rpm and 494 ft lbs of torque at 5,100 rpm. As Motor1.com points out, that last figure is 26 ft lbs of torque less than promised, but it’s still a respectable figure, especially when you consider that the Akula tips the scales at just 2,624 pounds. That puts it in the same neighbourhood as a zippy little sports car like the Mazda Miata.



It also comes equipped with a six-speed manual and is actually street-legal, two things we imagine will appeal to the purists out there. Its performance numbers are attractive as well. Ginetta says the two-door can rocket from zero to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula02.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791350" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula02.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula02-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/akula02-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Ginetta</figcaption></figure>



Based on the images of the finished Akula, its all-carbon-fibre body has been revised a little. The car’s front is more substantial than before, giving it a much more powerful, GT-like feel and stance. Its aero package features plenty of sharp edges, ducts, and a giant rear spoiler, but drivers in search of more downforce won’t mind all that unsubtle aggressiveness one bit. The interior, meanwhile, is relatively stripped down, with the exception of loads of racing-style gear like a competition-grade steering wheel.



In the market for a new track machine? Ginetta plans to build just 20 examples of the Akula, so you may want to register your interest with the company as soon as possible. Pricing starts at £275,000, or roughly US$360,000 (HK$2.8 million), which is around US$80,000 (HK$623,775) lower than the cost quoted back in 2019.

Akula

Ginetta

Production

Track Car

Ginetta Is Finally Putting Its Ultralight Akula Track Car Into Production

Some things are even better than expected.



You can add the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/shelby-ford-mustang-gt500-code-red-1234742468/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shelby GT500 Code Red</a> to that list. The heavily modified <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ford</a> Mustang is even faster than initially thought, recently <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajsZ3rrLxjs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">running the quarter mile in just 8.59 seconds</a> at 161 mph. And what might be most impressive about the feat is that it comes more than two years after the track-only muscle car made its debut.



That quarter-mile time makes the GT500 Code Red one of the quickest accelerating cars currently available. Only four other vehicles can cover that much ground in under nine seconds,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carscoops.com/2024/09/shelbys-1300-hp-gt500-code-red-runs-1-4-mile-in-insane-8-59-seconds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Car Scoops</a>. They include the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-drive-lucid-air-sapphire-1234882587/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucid Air Sapphire</a>&nbsp;(which runs the quarter-mile in 8.93 seconds), the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/dodge-challenger-srt-demon-170-final-last-call-car-1234820866/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170</a>&nbsp;(an NHRA-certified 8.91 seconds), the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-drive-pininfarina-battista-1234893734/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pininfarina Battista</a>&nbsp;(8.55 seconds), and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=rimac+nevera+robbreport&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;oq=rimac+nevera+robbreport&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgkIARAAGAoYgAQyDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGDzSAQgzMDMyajBqNKgCALACAA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rimac Nevera</a>&nbsp;(8.23 seconds). Three of those vehicles are all-electric, including two seven-figure hypercars, while one, the Demon 170 is gas-powered. That makes the GT500 Code Red the quickest accelerating ICE car currently available.



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajsZ3rrLxjs?si=En_C5uLLHSy1Lkr3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>



Of course, it’s not a complete shock to see the GT500 Code Red post such a ridiculous quarter-mile time. It is, after all, the pinnacle of <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/shelby/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shelby</a>’s upgraded Mustang lineup. The hardcore muscle car was designed specifically for straight-line performance. Shelby took the already powerful Mustang GT500, the stock version of which has a 5.2-litre supercharged V-8 that makes 760 hp and 625 ft lbs of torque, and turned everything about it up to 11.



The Shelby wears a carbon-fibre wide-body kit, has a revised suspension setup, and, most importantly of all, has had its powertrain completely overhauled. Its supercharger has been swapped out for a pair of turbochargers and it’s been equipped with Manley pistons, Ferrara competition valves, and a new fuel system. Thanks to those changes the brawny setup churns out a staggering 1,300 horses and 1,000 ft lbs of twist. Shelby didn’t release performance numbers at the time of the vehicle’s debut, but, as we now know for certain, it’s awfully fast. What it isn’t though, is a series production model. Instead, the GT500 Code Red is limited to just 30 units.



<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/2024/09/codered02-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791208" style="width:713px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/codered02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/codered02-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/codered02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/codered02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/codered02-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shelby GT500 Code Red. Image courtesy of Shelby American</figcaption></figure>



Unsurprisingly, that kind of drag strip dominance does not come cheap. Pricing for the upgraded package starts at US$224,995 (HK$1.75 million). That figure, as Shelby notes on its website, doesn’t include the actual vehicle. When it was last available in 2022, the Mustang GT500 started at US$79,420 (HK$619,685), so you’re looking at more than US$300,000 (HK$2.34 million) for the entire build.

Ford Mustang

GT500 Code Red

modified car

new speed record

quickest accelerating ICE car

racecar

Shelby

track-only car

The Shelby GT500 Code Red Just Set a New Gas-Powered Car Speed Record

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

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

Only seeing watches in person can suffice when it comes to meaningfully judging them. So, we recently visited the folks at&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/piaget/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Piaget</a>&nbsp;to spend some extended time with the current watch collection, which dazzled us far beyond our expectations. From amazing&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/slideshow/seeing-green-11-spring-ready-green-dial-watches/piaget-altiplano/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ultra-thins</a>, to watches fully&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/best-womens-diamond-pave-releases-1235517866/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paved in diamonds</a>, to the tasteful solid-gold 35 mm time-only&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/altiplano/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Altiplano</a>, today’s Piaget watch collection&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/womens-collections-watches-wonders-1235578527/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenges horological norms</a>, just as it has since&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/piaget-watches-complete-history-1235807418/#:~:text=Like%20many%20older%20watchmaking%20concerns,movements%20with%20skill%20and%20precision." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Piaget began producing</a>&nbsp;its avant-garde, design-forward timepieces in the 1950s. &nbsp; Over the past couple of years, we have documented the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/2024-watch-auction-data-report-suggests-trends-1235637516/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent turn away from tool watches</a>&nbsp;toward&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/small-dress-watches-are-back-1235821302/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dress watches</a>. We’ve noticed&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/the-best-dress-watches-of-1235609724/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dress watches themselves shrinking</a>, sometimes to proportions that—like the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/cartier-tank-louis-mini-watches-and-wonders-1235578638/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cartier’s&nbsp;new&nbsp;Tank Mini</a>—can illicit a giggle from behind a man’s well-oiled beard. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/jewelry/men-wearing-jewelry-1235423279/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">men and broaches</a>&nbsp;are now having a little moment, as are men and&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/jewelry/initial-pendant-jewelry-marie-lichtenberg-harwell-godfrey-1235778191/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">initial-pendant necklaces</a>, and together all of this may explain why the daring, design-forward watches from Piaget—vintage and new—are also having a moment.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="671" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-1-1024x671.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791076" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-1-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-1-300x197.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-1-768x504.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-1-1536x1007.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-1-2048x1343.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piaget. Image courtesy of Allen Farmelo</figcaption></figure>



This softening of style and embracing of bodily luxury hasn’t done away with our manly love of the fastest, loudest cars and motorcycles, dangerous deep-sea adventures, safaris, and all the other Hemingway-esque stuff that folks who took Feminism 101 freshman year sometimes suggest might be deployed as compensation for a lack of stature in an area Freud indicated might otherwise cause envy. But look, our masculinity—OK,&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/watches-fashion-gender-1235569136/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our&nbsp;gender</a>—is complex, perhaps more now than ever before, and Piaget watches seem to speak to that complexity.



I’ve been known to douse myself in Chanel Blue before hopping onto my 175 hp BMW S1000R so that I can catch a bit of sweet, romantic Paris up in my otherwise not-great-smelling helmet while doubling the speed limit. I’ve seen uncouth straight men rubbernecking as a gorgeous woman passes by, all the while fidgeting with some 31.5 mm vintage gold watch on a mesh bracelet, or puffing on a lime-green anodised e-cigarette emitting a tropical fruit scent that elicits from my middle-aged memory the Kool-Aid Man crashing through the nearest wall. Men are complicated, and for some of us the surfacing of that complication in today’s fast-changing watch fashion is a good thing. It affords us a bit of freedom to explore our identities.



<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/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791077" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piaget Limelight watch with <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/diamonds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diamonds</a>. Image courtesy of Allen Farmelo</figcaption></figure>



The good news is that you don’t have to sell your jacked-up Ford F350 to enjoy a bit of razzle-dazzle on your wrist, and in fact it may be that such a juxtaposition is what’s chic right now. And the fast lane to insanely cool, high-quality, mechanically sophisticated, ultra-tasty wrist dazzlers is none other than the modern Piaget watch collection. Mashing these dazzling <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/how-watch-collectors-styling-piaget-timepieces-today-1235582152/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watches up with everyday fashions</a> is becoming increasingly hip.



<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/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791078" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-3-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piaget Altiplano Ultimate. Image courtesy of Allen Farmelo</figcaption></figure>



As my esteemed colleague, Paige Reddinger, wrote of<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/piaget-brings-back-all-gold-polo-watch-from-1235500996/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> the reissued Piaget Polo</a> in April of this year: “Its release has aligned with the style zeitgeist, with ‘mob aesthetic’—think luxe track suits and fur coats—trending and flashy dress watches, the kind once worn with macho suiting and a heavy dose of cologne, now seen on guys more apt to pair them with a T-shirt and APC jeans.” James Lamdin, founder and operator of Analog:Shift, recently walked us through an <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/vintage-piaget-watches-how-to-collect-1235801897/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">incredible vintage Piaget selection</a> and told Robb Report, “I didn’t expect for men to embrace it the way [they have].”   We were also recently blown away when visiting with Manhattan-based watch dealer Gai Gohari, who showed us what is likely the<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/biggest-vintage-piaget-watch-collection-north-america-gai-gohari-1235822484/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> largest vintage Piaget collection in North America</a>, if not the world. Gohari was scooping up <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/italy-vintage-watches-1235824016/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vintage Piaget in Italy</a> years ago, well ahead of the curve, and found great value there. Gohari told us, “I mean, you have a super funky watch: gold, mechanical, all in-house, made from A to Z with a stone dial, totally unique, for like, at the time, US$2,000 to US$2,500 (HK$15,595 to HK$19,490).”



<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/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-4-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791079" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-4-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piaget Limelight Gala watch with opal dial. Image courtesy of Allen Farmelo</figcaption></figure>



But vintage isn’t for everyone, with its inherent risks. And vintage Piaget—being less known and wildly varied compared to, say, vintage&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolex</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/omega/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Omega</a>, which adhered to the regularity of industrial production—is particularly hard to get to know (though we’ve made strides in understanding vintage Piaget watches better lately).



<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/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-5-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791080" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-5-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piaget Altiplano Moonphase watch. Image courtesy of Allen Farmelo</figcaption></figure>



During our appointment at the Manhattan Piaget boutique at Hudson Yards last week, we were able to feel out what the modern Piaget collection has to offer. What we found was just as mind-blowing as the vintage Piaget collections we’ve seen, but with ramped-up complications of the highest order, exceptional modern sport models in the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/polo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Polo</a> line, and of course the bejewelled dazzlers that are, suddenly, seeming more “unisex” than ever before.



<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/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-6-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791081" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-6-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



If there was a stand-out watch, it was unexpectedly the simplest: a 35 mm time-only watch in rose gold with a red alligator strap. This watch represents one of the very few truly vintage-sized dress watches currently available on the market today, and in so doing it seems that Piaget is, once again, ahead of the trend—or is setting it, perhaps. At around US$20,000 (HK$155,940), you’re paying quite a bit for this Altiplano, but this is a watch we’d put up against a Lange Saxonia Thin or even the modern Patek Calatrava, both of which come in at 37 mm—which really does feel large for a dress watch with a narrow bezel.



<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/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-7-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791082" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Piaget-Collection-In-Person-2024-7-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piaget Altiplano Origin watch at 35 mm. Image courtesy of Allen Farmelo</figcaption></figure>



Overall, wearing these modern Piaget watches felt like a journey into an entirely unique corner of today’s Swiss watchmaking, a corner that is filled with unabashed luxury, complication, design, jewel-setting, and—for lack of a better word—imagination. As we continue to explore Piaget’s wonderful watches, this time spent with the Piaget collection has confirmed that no other brand has done so well what Piaget continues to do: dazzle.

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Vintage Piaget Watches May Be All the Rage, but the Brand’s Current Collection Is Utterly Dazzling

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/panerai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Panerai</a> has been inventing new ways of illuminating dive watches as far back as the First World War. In 1916, it created a radium-based powder, dubbed Radiomir, to light up maritime instruments for the Italian Royal Navy, and by 1935 it was being used on military-dive-watch prototypes. Luminor, a tritium-based luminescent substance with low, harmless emissions was patented and approved for use by the company in 1949; 17 years later, Panerai pioneered the use of a new material called Elux, deploying it to light up command centres, internal signalling boards, and pathways for helicopters landing on military ships. And while luminescence has now become a proprietary point of differentiation among elite watchmakers—Grand Seiko has Lumibrite, Rolex offers Chromalight, etc.—Panerai continues to innovate, making things brighter with its new <a href="https://www.panerai.com/us/en/focus/elux.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Submersible Elux LAB-ID</a>. 



At first glance, the 49 mm by 21.9 mm watch looks like a standard model for the company. (The exception is its case, made of Ti-Ceramitech, a patent-pending material whereby ceramitised titanium is put through a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation process to achieve its special matte-blue hue.) But a simple push of the clicker, located beneath the Elux-branded protector at eight o’clock, illuminates the hands, indexes, subdial, power reserve—even the triangular pip on the bezel. It’s the first mechanical watch where lume can be activated on demand, rather than by absorbing and re-emitting light, which is how Super-LumiNova, the industry standard, works. It sounds simple, yet the invention was eight years in the making in Panerai’s Laboratorio di Idee, the company’s research and development workshop, and required four patents. 



<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/Panerai_SElux2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790771" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Panerai_SElux2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Panerai_SElux2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Panerai_SElux2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Panerai_SElux2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Panerai_SElux2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Close-up of the dial. Image courtesy of Panerai</figcaption></figure>



The Ref. PAM01800, which is water resistant up to 1,640 feet, achieves its glow thanks to four minuscule barrels that draw on the movement’s kinetic energy and then, at the push of the button, unwind in a microgenerator, thus converting that energy into electricity that can power the LEDs for up to 30 minutes. (Another two barrels are used to power the movement, which has a three-day power reserve.) Should time run out on the activated lume, the watch also sports Super-LumiNova on the indices, hour markers, minute hand, and bezel dot.&nbsp;



Limited to just 150 pieces at US$96,300 (HK$750,820) each, with only 50 pieces released each year through 2026, getting your hands on one is likely a shot in the dark. But for those elite Panerai obsessives who have cultivated deep collections and the connections to match, the future looks bright indeed.

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Panerai’s New Dive Watch Mechanically Generates Luminescence. Here’s How.

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/chanel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chanel</a> has decided it’s time to dive deeper into haute horlogerie.



The French fashion house just entered into a new partnership with MB&amp;F, according to a statement shared Thursday. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed but Chanel has walked away with a 25 per cent stake in the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/independent-watchmaking-1235367160/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">independent watchmaker</a>.



Founded by Maximilian Büsser in 2005, MB&amp;F specialises in designing and crafting wildly imaginative, exclusive, and complicated timepieces. The boutique Genevan outfit routinely collaborates with artists, designers, and horologists—MB&amp;F stands for Maximilian Büsser and Friends, in fact—to push the boundaries in watchmaking with <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/mbampf-wild-new-hm11-watch-with-4-apertures-and-a-spinning-case-1235415974/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">avant-garde creations</a>. Chanel is hoping that investing in MB&amp;F will help safeguard that creativity and expertise.



“The announcement is part of our long-term strategy to continue to preserve, develop, and invest in specialist know-how and expertise,” Frédéric Grangié, president of Chanel watches &amp; fine Jewellery, said in a statement.



<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/MBandF_MAD_Gallery_Geneva_8_Hres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790707" style="width:711px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MBandF_MAD_Gallery_Geneva_8_Hres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MBandF_MAD_Gallery_Geneva_8_Hres-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MBandF_MAD_Gallery_Geneva_8_Hres-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MBandF_MAD_Gallery_Geneva_8_Hres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MBandF_MAD_Gallery_Geneva_8_Hres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MB&amp;F’s M.A.D. Gallerry in Geneva. Image courtesy of MB&amp;F.</figcaption></figure>



Chanel forayed into the watch world nearly 40 years ago, unveiling its first timepiece in 1987 and opening a dedicated watch boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris the same year. The maison acquired Swiss watch and jewellery manufacturer Châtelain in 1993, then invested in Bell &amp; Ross in 1998, Romain Gauthier in 2011, and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/f-p-journe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FP Journe</a> in 2018. Chanel says it has created an ecosystem of watchmakers and suppliers, which remain independently run.



MB&amp;F will also operate independently. Büsser has retained a majority, with a 60 per cent stake. His partner Serge Kriknoc also owns 15 percent. Büsser will continue to lead creation and general management of MB&amp;F. The current leadership team will remain, too. The watchmaker currently has two boutiques (MAD Galleries) in Geneva and Dubai, plus four smaller store-within-stores (MAD Labs) in Paris, Taipei, Singapore, and <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/westime-opening-the-first-mbampf-lab-in-the-united-states-this-fall-1234872175/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beverly Hills</a>.



“It was our responsibility, in today’s very favourable context and with our management team in its prime, to take this major step to ensure our long-term future—a natural evolution for a company celebrating its 20th anniversary next year,” adds Büsser. “In addition to allowing us to pursue our independent path, free of any pressure on growth, the investment by Chanel will strengthen our operations by providing access when needed to their wider ecosystem and network of specialised suppliers.”



Wonder which watchmaker Chanel will snap up next?

Chanel

Chanel shares

Chanel Now Owns a 25% Stake in Swiss Watchmaker MB&F