In a world where audio excellence is often an elusive pursuit, there are a handful of brands that are ever reliable (and often listed in our <a href="https://robbreport.hk/posts/the-best-in-gear-from-devialets-lifestyle-stereo-to-lgs-5k-dual-monitors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best in Gear</a> annual compendium). <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/devialet/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devialet</a> has consistently emerged as a beacon of innovation and luxury; every new drop is a highly anticipated event among technophiles and audiophiles. Now, the French acoustic engineering company has unveiled its latest masterpiece—the <a href="https://www.devialet.com/en-hk/amplifiers/?srsltid=AfmBOoqVI75JWUIEUJaz4-69exF7xZL8RI_IsPM1MX8UJp2KxohQq02v" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devialet Astra</a>, a high-end amplifier that promises to redefine the auditory experience for discerning listeners.



Launched in Hong Kong this past November,&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;went in for a spin (so to speak) as the hype and hoopla dusted down to spend some time with this avant-garde device that seamlessly harmonises cutting-edge technology with minimalist aesthetics, appealing to both audiophiles and design aficionados alike. Unfamiliar with new-age music, we requested a 1960s throwback album, and the&nbsp;Sound of Silence&nbsp;was palpably felt.&nbsp;



At its core, the Devialet Astra embodies the company’s signature Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH) technology, a revolutionary approach that combines the purity of analogue amplification with the compact power of digital systems. It’s this advanced integration that allows the Astra to deliver an impressive 2&#215;300 watts in stereo mode and a staggering 2&#215;600 watts in dual mono configuration, ensuring that every note is rendered with unparalleled clarity and depth. In fact, the amplifier’s frequency response extends to remarkable limits, capturing the nuanced details that make live performances so captivating.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793795" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01-300x300.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01-150x150.png 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01-768x768.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01-1536x1536.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DEVIALET-Astra_Packshots_Dual_Opera-de-Paris_01.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



“Our ability to reproduce sound in infinite detail brings true and vibrant emotions to life,” says Devialet CEO Jacques Demont, and this sentiment is echoed throughout the design and engineering of the Astra, which boasts a sleek, brushed-aluminium exterior inspired by the Art Deco movement. The result is an object of beauty that not only enhances auditory experiences but is also stark in its simplicity, serves as a visual statement in any setting.



Significantly, the Astra integrates a suite of proprietary technologies that elevate its performance. Speaker Active Matching (SAM) technology ensures that the audio signal is precisely adapted to the unique specifications of passive speakers, preserving their acoustic signature in real time. This capability is bolstered by Record Active Matching (RAM) technology, which allows for dynamic EQ adjustments tailored to the specific characteristics of any turntable or vinyl record. Such innovations underscore Devialet’s commitment to providing an audio experience that is as personalised as it is powerful.



The Astra is available in two exquisite finishes: the Light Bronze model and the exclusive Opéra de Paris edition, adorned with 23-carat gold leaf applied by master gilders Les Ateliers Gohard. This partnership not only highlights Devialet’s dedication to craftsmanship but also its commitment to cultural heritage, as seen in its long-standing collaboration with the Opéra National de Paris. With a price point starting at HK$149,900 for the Light Bronze stereo configuration and ascending to HK$377,800 for the dual mono Opéra de Paris edition, the Astra positions itself at the pinnacle of luxury audio equipment. Its launch in Hong Kong marks the beginning of a broader rollout across the Asia-Pacific region in March 2025.



All images courtesy of Devialet.

audio

Devialet

Devialet Astra

Gear

Devialet’s Elegant New Astra Amplifier Is an Audiophile’s Dream

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.

Bang & Olufsen

Beosystem

camera

Camera lens

Devialet Gemini II

Leica

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

The Best in Gear, From Devialet’s Lifestyle Stereo to LG’s 5K Dual Monitors

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

boeing starliner

starliner spacecraft return

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Beond

italy

jetsetting

luxury aircrafts

luxury leisure

Maldives

Milan

Luxury Airline Beond Is Now Flying Between Milan and the Maldives

Heart Aerospace is almost ready for takeoff.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Airplane

clean travel

electric aviation

Heart Aerospace

hybrid-electric airplane

Swedish

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Boeing

custom

Luxury Travel

Private Jet

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

Chinese couture

couturier

Exhibition

Guo Pei

Haute Couture

Hong Kong exhibition

Met Gala outfit

red wedding gown

Rihanna

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Barolo

Giacomo Conterno

King of Wines

Roberto Conterno

vineyard

Wine

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

If you’ve ever heard composer Johannes Brahms’s Violin Concerto in D Major, you may have already experienced the magic of the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius.&nbsp;



The world-famous violin is estimated to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/new-york/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York</a> next month where it’s estimated to fetch anywhere from US$12 million (approximately HK$93.32 million) to US$18 million (approximately HK$140 million), a sum that would break the record for the most expensive instrument ever sold, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-04/most-expensive-instrument-rare-stradivarius-violin-auction-could-break-record?srnd=phx-pursuits" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Wednesday. The Lady Blunt Stradivarius, formerly owned by the granddaughter of British Romantic poet Lord Byron, had previously set the record for the highest price paid for a musical keepsake, fetching US$15.9 million (approximately HK$123.65 million) in 2011.



Legendary Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim owned the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius, which was crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1714, in the 19th century. Joachim performed with the instrument at Brahms’s previously mentioned concerto in 1879, which today is considered one of the most famous and celebrated pieces of classical&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a>&nbsp;ever played on a violin. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="745" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-12.jpg-1024x745.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793995" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-12.jpg-1024x745.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-12.jpg-300x218.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-12.jpg-768x559.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-12.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin could fetch a record US$18 million at <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/auction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">auction</a>. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s</figcaption></figure>



“Stradivarius violins, with their depth and warmth, are regarded as the best instruments that Stradivari made, and Stradivari is the best of the best,” Mari-Claudia Jiménez, Sotheby’s chairman and president for the Americas and head of global business development, told Bloomberg.&nbsp;



Nearly 90 years later,&nbsp;the late Chinese-American musician Si-Hon Ma purchased the violin and used it all the way until his passing in 2009 at the age of 84. Before his death, he ended up donating the stringed instrument to his alma mater, the New England Conservatory (NEC). Now, the school has teamed up with the auction house to sell the instrument under Ma’s condition that all proceeds go toward supporting student scholarships. &nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793996" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joachim-Ma-Stradivarius-.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The instrument was originally crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1714. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s</figcaption></figure>



“After years of individual use by our students, now, we can establish the largest named student scholarship program in the history of NEC, honouring our mission to educate and train the next generation of musicians,” said Andrea Kalyn, president of NEC, in a <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/docs/pdf/pr-sothebys-unveils-the-legendary-joachim-ma-stradivarius.pdf?locale=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a>. “While it has been a privilege to have one of the world’s finest violins, this sale will be transformational for our students. It fulfils our responsibility to ensure a violin of this caliber is properly maintained and used as the concert instrument it was meant to be.” 



Ahead of the sale on 7 February during Sotheby’s Masters week, the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius will be shown to the public for viewing at Sotheby’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/london/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hong-kong/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hong Kong</a> locations.

Auction

Sotheby's

Sotheby's Hong Kong

Sotheby's New York

Stradivarius

Violin

A 300-Year-Old Stradivarius Violin Could Sell for a Record HK$140 Million at Auction

<a href="https://robbreportmonaco.com/author/lewis-chester/"></a>The famed castle frontage of <a href="https://yquem.fr/int-en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Château d’Yquem</a> dates from the days of Léon de Sauvage d’Yquem in 1711, before the estate passed through marriage to the long-time owners, the de Lur-Saluces family.  The history behind this château is simply unrivalled. Thomas Jefferson was enraptured by d’Yquem, in particular the 1784 vintage. Perhaps the most famed vintage of all was the “comet” vintage of 1811 which is on every d’Yquem lover’s bucket list. The 1855 Classification, which still resonates today, rated d’Yquem Premier Cru Supérieur, acknowledging that it was deemed higher than any other wine in the Bordeaux region. 



The sweetness in the wine comes, not from adding sugar, but from botrytised berries (known as Botrytis Cinerea or noble rot) that develop on the skins of the berries due to the micro-climatic conditions of the Sauternes region. Production costs for noble rot grapes are much higher than for still wine grapes, as it takes teams of experienced pickers to select only the best grapes over multiple tries or passages that they make in the vineyard over a period of weeks. Making sweet wine is not for the fainthearted or for those without a big balance sheet to support them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-03-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem-2048x1366.jpg-1024x683.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793741" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-03-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem-2048x1366.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-03-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem-2048x1366.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-03-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem-2048x1366.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-03-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem-2048x1366.jpg-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-03-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem-2048x1366.jpg.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Luckily for d’Yquem, LVMH bought the property in 1999 and have been dedicated to keep quality at the highest level, whereas many of their neighbours have dropped theirs to account for falling demand. Indeed, it is one of the wonders of the fine wine world why d’Yquem is always so superior in quality than anyone else in Sauternes or Barsac, the two principal villages making sweet wine in Bordeaux. Although the terroir, perched on the highest hill in the area (up to 80 metres), surrounded by large gravelly pebbles that store heat, and clay soils that retain water greatly assist in producing a majestic wine, we cannot ignore the custodians of the past and present, the de Lur-Saluces and now LVMH, in preserving the vineyard and investing into the wine. 



There is a misconception that sweet wines are either bad for your health and/or bad for the waistline.  In fact, the key criteria is actually the level of alcohol in the wine.  Alcohol has seven calories per gram, whereas sugar has four calories per gram. The level of sweetness is therefore less influential than the level of alcohol. At around 13 per cent ABV and people typically only having one glass of d’Yquem to satisfy themselves, the health and dietary programme is actually much better suited with d’Yquem than drinking two glasses of claret or Napa wine. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-The-Estate-Option-01-Copyright-G.-Uferas-for-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-1024x683.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793742" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-The-Estate-Option-01-Copyright-G.-Uferas-for-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-The-Estate-Option-01-Copyright-G.-Uferas-for-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-The-Estate-Option-01-Copyright-G.-Uferas-for-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-The-Estate-Option-01-Copyright-G.-Uferas-for-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-The-Estate-Option-01-Copyright-G.-Uferas-for-Chateau-dYquem.jpg.webp 1620w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Château d’Yquem © Gérard Uféras</figcaption></figure>



Nonetheless, the reduced amount of sweet wine being drunk today is in stark contrast to the past. Indeed, from the 18th century until the mid-20th century, most connoisseurs viewed the wines of Château d’Yquem—as well as other great sweet wine estates—as the very best expression of quality to be found in the wine world.  Modern palates have not found favour with our forefathers. 



For many of my wine loving friends, Christmas lunch tends to be the time when they whip out a favourite vintage of d’Yquem.  However, I don’t subscribe to this rule. I regularly try to pair d’Yquem not only with dessert or cheese, but also with first course dishes instead of white wine. Drinking a younger d’Yquem with a fish or egg course can be a truly enlightening pairing. What is beyond doubt is that these wines are among the very best expressions of fine wine available in the world today, and deserve their place at the top table. Like the phonetic translation in Mandarin, Château d’Yquem is a “drop of gold.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best 3 Wines from Château d’Yquem&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="866" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-04-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-1024x866.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793743" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-04-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-1024x866.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-04-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-300x254.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-04-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem.jpg-768x650.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chateau-dYquem-–-Bottles-Option-04-Copyright-Chateau-dYquem.jpg.webp 1417w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Château d’Yquem 2001: When Pierre Lurton, the CEO of the estate, told me that the wine we were about to drink would last over 100 years, I suspected he was engaged in marketing talk. However, he was probably right. A wine of exceptional balance, vibrant acidity, exhibiting tons of honied fruits and sweet spices, and a sumptuous finish. Exceptional.



Château d’Yquem 1989: My go-to d’Yquem to serve at important occasions. I love the power, complexity, and silky texture of this wine. The marzipan, marmalade, and saffron notes are incredible alongside hints of tobacco aromas from the wood ageing. It also has continued to improve as time has passed—always an indicator of greatness.



Château d’Yquem 1945: A close friend told me this wine would be a disappointment, but in fact it was a revelation. Orange peel, bergamot, smokiness, nuts, and crème brûlée, and a thick dark coloured liquid that reminds you how well d’Yquem can age. Will be interesting to try alongside the 1811 vintage… at some point in my life!



The 2025 edition of the Golden Vines awards will take place in Miami between 7 and 9 November.&nbsp;<a href="https://liquidicons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquidicons.com</a>



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

Lewis Chester

wine producer

Discover the Sweet Secrets of Iconic Wine Producer Château d’Yquem

A striking <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/jewelry/2023-jewelry-auctions-colored-diamonds-1235445783/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coloured-diamond ring</a> is the star of Christie’s upcoming <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/jewelry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jewellery</a> sale.



The 5.7-carat fancy intense blue diamond ring leads the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels auction with an estimate of US$6 million to US$8 million (HK$46.7 million to HK$62.2 million). Taking place live in New York on 10 December, the sale includes several coloured stones, along with white diamonds and private collections that span labels from Cartier to Van Cleef &amp; Arpels.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Harry-Winston-Earrings.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793564" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Harry-Winston-Earrings.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Harry-Winston-Earrings-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Harry-Winston-Earrings-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harry Winston spinel and diamond earrings. Image courtesy of Christie’s</figcaption></figure>



While the blue diamond may be the star of the show—and the most expensive item on offer—other lots provide something for every sort of jewellery collector. Other singular standouts include a 20.1-carat diamond ring (estimated at up to US$1.2 million/HK$9.34 million), a pair of Harry Winston spinel and diamond earrings (US$400,000 to US$600,000/HK$3.11 million to HK$4.67 million), and an Art Deco sapphire and diamond ring (US$300,000 to US$500,000/HK$2.33 million to HK$3.89 million).



The private collections, meanwhile, are a veritable treasure chest of jewels. From late designer and philanthropist Mica Ertegun comes a Cartier Art Deco multi-gem and diamond brooch (US$100,000 to US$150,000/HK$778,445 to HK$1.16 million) and a rare JAR ruby and diamond torsade necklace (US$80,000 to US$120,000/HK$622,760 to HK$934,140). Elsewhere are pieces from an unnamed couple who became engaged just two weeks after meeting, leading to more than 50 years of marriage. The two were important clients of Van Cleef, and their collection features a number of pieces from that brand. A diamond Zip Couture Tirette necklace, inspired by Wallis Simpson, is expected to fetch up to US$350,000 (HK$2.72 million). Two Mystery Set bracelets could hammer down for US$180,000 (HK$1.4 million), and a Mystery Set bow necklace could achieve up to US$800,000 (HK$6.22 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/2024/11/Ruby-and-Diamond-Necklace-Tiara.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793563" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ruby-and-Diamond-Necklace-Tiara.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ruby-and-Diamond-Necklace-Tiara-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ruby-and-Diamond-Necklace-Tiara-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Antique ruby and diamond necklace-tiara. Image courtesy of Christie’s</figcaption></figure>



Another anonymous collector put together a trove of jewels from the 18th century to the early 20th century. The nine pieces included are in prime condition, with many coming with their original or early retailer cases. One example—an antique ruby and diamond necklace-tiara—is expected to achieve US$100,000 to US$150,000 (HK$778,445 to HK$1.16 million). Or if you’d rather bid on something tied to a well-known name, Christie’s is offering a Van Cleef diamond and cultured pearl ribbon brooch that was once owned by Eva Perón.



Prior to the live auction, Christie’s will preview the lots from 6 to 9 December at its Rockefeller Center galleries. And an accompanying Jewels Online sale will take place from 3 to 12 December. But if you’re looking to add any of the aforementioned pieces to your collection, you better get your paddle ready.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/jewelry/gallery/christies-magnificent-jewels-auction-photos-1235999828/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to see all the images of the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction.

Cartier

Christie’s

Harry Winston

Van Cleef & Arpels

This 5.7-Carat Blue Diamond Ring Could Fetch a Cool HK$62.2 Million at Auction

Every day is a vacation at this hotel-branded residential community in <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/costa-rica/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Costa Rica</a>. The 2,300-acre Reserva Conchal in Guanacaste is known for its white-sand beaches and sustainable practices, and now, you can live right in the middle of the eco-friendly resort town at the <a href="https://wresidencescostarica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">W Residences Costa Rica</a>.



In 2022, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/w-hotels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">W Hotels</a> announced the opening of its second outpost in Central America, and since then, the resort has added a collection of turnkey private homes for purchase, three of which are currently available.



The treehouse-style properties along the northern Pacific Coast were designed by renowned Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher, who was also commissioned to work on the hotel. Nestled within the tropical rainforest among swaying native Guanacaste trees, the villas feature private infinity pools with terraces that blend into the sprawling nature reserve.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.003.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793445" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.003.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.003-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.003-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The homes have airy great rooms that spill onto poolside terraces. Image courtesy of Reserva Conchal</figcaption></figure>



“Each house had a specific design in which we determined how many rooms it could have considering the condition of the topography to avoid obscuring the view to the house next to it, so we worked on a specific answer for each terrain,” Zürcher <a href="https://reservaconchal.com/w-residences-designing-for-coexistence-zurcher-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explained</a>. “Each house is unique—we can’t just grab a house with a helicopter and put it on the next lot because it wouldn’t work.” 



For buyers who prefer a rainforest view, Treehouse 1 and Treehouse 3 are listed for US$4.35 million (HK$33.8 million), and both comprise four bedrooms and four full bathrooms across two floors. If you’re set on an ocean-facing abode—and who could blame you!—the tri-level Treehouse 14 is available for US$5.45 million (HK$42.4 million) and sports four bedrooms, four full baths, a gym, a game room, an office, and a lift. In terms of the design, the airy interiors incorporate soaring high ceilings, oversized windows, and tons of natural materials like wood and stone.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="767" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.001.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793444" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.001.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.001-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/W-Residence.001-768x575.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elevated positioning allow for expansive views over the Pacific Ocean. Image courtesy of Reserva Conchal</figcaption></figure>



Reserva Conchal has an ongoing commitment to sustainability, and as a result, the entire community is powered by renewable energy. There’s also an on-site desalination plant that turns seawater into fresh water and a farming initiative that employs local women. 



Being part of a W Hotels resort, residents will have access to a slew of hotel-serviced amenities such as the Zona Azul Beach Club, an exclusive spa, and several on-site restaurants. Plus, a concierge is there to coordinate everything from grocery shopping to in-residence dining with a private chef and more.&nbsp;



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/gallery/w-residences-costa-rica-photos-1235987775/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to see more photos of the W Residences Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

Reserva Conchal

W Residences

These Treehouse-Style Residences Are Perched Above the Costa Rican Jungle

Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.



Describe the hotel in three words: Exquisite French flair.



What’s the deal?



Groupe Barrière, a continental name that has made its mark on Paris, Courchevel, Cannes, Marrakesh, St Barts, and more, has stepped foot stateside for the first time after more than 100 years since its founding. Fouquet’s New York, located in the fashionable Tribeca district, is the dashing debut, and while the outside screams post-industrial warehouse, the inside oozes French sophistication. Boasting a rooftop garden, private cinema room with velvet chaise lounges, residential-style accommodations, a spa and fitness centre, two restaurants, and a bar, the property brings the perfect blend of Parisian chic and New York glamour.



Martin Brudnizki, designer extraordinaire, strikes again—this time, with a pastel-coloured touch that infuses the property with a dreamy romanticism. Dusty lavender and sage green rule the roost across the 97 rooms and suites, but the Swedish visionary artfully left his eclectic signature on the lighting fixtures—spoiler alert: all the lampshades, chandeliers, and sconces are delightfully individual and harmoniously blended into the Art Deco design.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2022_09-Fouquets-32-Chambre-705_LivingRoom_003-1-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793728" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2022_09-Fouquets-32-Chambre-705_LivingRoom_003-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2022_09-Fouquets-32-Chambre-705_LivingRoom_003-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2022_09-Fouquets-32-Chambre-705_LivingRoom_003-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2022_09-Fouquets-32-Chambre-705_LivingRoom_003-1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2022_09-Fouquets-32-Chambre-705_LivingRoom_003-1-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stay in the 2,400-plus square-feet Fouquet’s Penthouse, spread over two floors, with three private terraces.</figcaption></figure>



The best room?



Our Hudson View Corner Suite, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and sizeable living room, was a delightful choice, but guests looking to go big or go home will want to spring for the 2,400-plus square-feet Fouquet’s Penthouse. Spread over two floors, the two-bedroom duplex includes spacious entertaining and dining areas, an executive office with a separate powder room, two outdoor terraces with loungers and a firepit, a master suite with its own private terrace, and a second bedroom. Brudnizki did the honours, infusing the penthouse with maximalism, vibrant colour and patterns, and custom-designed wallpapers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Appartement_Terrasse-1-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793731" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Appartement_Terrasse-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Appartement_Terrasse-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Appartement_Terrasse-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Appartement_Terrasse-1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Appartement_Terrasse-1-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A number of suites at Fouquet’s New York overlook the Hudson River.</figcaption></figure>



Does the hotel have a standout perk?



It’s a fantastic place to throw a big party. All of the suites on the seventh floor can be combined into one huge space, with a connecting terrace that wraps around the outside, affording you not only ample room to host a night to remember, but also urban views of the surrounding neighbourhood and the Hudson River. Bookmark that for your next soirée.



Did they greet you by name at check-in?



Yes, and the check-in process was smooth and swift to boot. We were promptly guided to the Hudson View Corner Suite for our stay, and given a tour of the facilities.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20220924_Fouquets_2_123_Nightlife_2_082-copie-2-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793734" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20220924_Fouquets_2_123_Nightlife_2_082-copie-2-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20220924_Fouquets_2_123_Nightlife_2_082-copie-2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20220924_Fouquets_2_123_Nightlife_2_082-copie-2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20220924_Fouquets_2_123_Nightlife_2_082-copie-2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20220924_Fouquets_2_123_Nightlife_2_082-copie-2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fouquet’s New York is located in the fashionable Tribeca district.</figcaption></figure>



Was a welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived?



No, the refreshments that came with the room were standard Evian bottled waters and a fruit platter, but there were macarons and an Arc de Triomphe-shaped chocolate waiting.



Private butler for every room?



You won’t find private butler service at Fouquet’s New York, but all the staff members we encountered during our stay were more than happy to help, and the reception team in the lobby handled our requests, bookings, and questions for recommendations efficiently.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6N0A5862-2-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793735" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6N0A5862-2-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6N0A5862-2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6N0A5862-2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6N0A5862-2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/6N0A5862-2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hotel has a rooftop garden that doubles as a bar in the summertime.</figcaption></figure>



Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?



It’s 300 exact, and the luxurious linens are provided by Matouk, a manufacturer with nearly 100 years of history under its belt. (It counts many other boutique and heritage hotels in the United States among its clients, and is also preferred supplier for North American Relais &amp; Châteaux properties, so that should give you an idea of its plush and reliable quality.)



Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet?



No heated floors, but the king of washroom thrones, Toto, was a welcome fixture in the bathroom, and comes with all the bells and whistles you could ask for in a bidet.



Are the toiletries full-sized?



Yes, and it’s one of our favourite brands, too: Diptyque’s L’Art Du Soin, imparting zesty and refreshing notes of bergamot, green mandarin, and neroli. Full-sized dispensers are stationed inside the rain shower, while the large soaking tub comes with miniature bottles of the body wash (and a television, should you like to catch up on the latest happening in the world beyond the hotel while luxuriating in a long bath). A shoutout here to the gorgeous, richly patterned Calacatta marble counter with his-and-hers sinks—a beautiful centrepiece.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2209_Fouquets-15-sauna-pool-001-coloredit2-1-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793730" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2209_Fouquets-15-sauna-pool-001-coloredit2-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2209_Fouquets-15-sauna-pool-001-coloredit2-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2209_Fouquets-15-sauna-pool-001-coloredit2-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2209_Fouquets-15-sauna-pool-001-coloredit2-1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2209_Fouquets-15-sauna-pool-001-coloredit2-1-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Spa Diane Barrière has five treatment rooms, a sauna and steam room, and a hydrotherapy pool.</figcaption></figure>



Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use? How are the spa and gym?



No private pools to be found in any of the rooms or suites, but there is a hydrotherapy pool in the subterranean Spa Diane Barrière that guests can avail themselves of. Guests will not be doing laps, but loosening up those sore shoulders under the massaging jets is an equally good option during rest days. Fouquet’s New York also partners with the Dogpound gym brand to offer an on-site fitness centre and appointments with personal trainers for bespoke workouts. Pop over to the sauna and steam room or one of the five treatment rooms or after your workout for an Ultimate Glow facial and Diane Barrière signature massage, developed in partnership with Parisian skincare experts Biologique Recherche. Its deep-pressure application will reduce inflammation, nourish the skin, and drain the lymphatic system.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brasserie_Fouquets_New-York-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793729" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brasserie_Fouquets_New-York-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brasserie_Fouquets_New-York-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brasserie_Fouquets_New-York-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brasserie_Fouquets_New-York-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brasserie_Fouquets_New-York-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pierre Gagnaire lends his expertise to Brasserie Fouquet’s, a spin on the original Fouquet’s on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.</figcaption></figure>



Is the restaurant worth its salt?



Yes, and it comes with a Michelin-star-studded name, too. Chef Pierre Gagnaire lends his exceptional craft and expertise to Brasserie Fouquet’s, a spin on the original Fouquet’s on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and the menu is packed with classic French refinement—the likes of escargots in velouté, foie gras terrine, beef tartare, sole meunière with pomme purée, and roasted duck breast are all heavily represented. I was strongly recommended to order the highly popular Fouquet’s cheeseburger, of all things, and it did not disappoint. Pair that with the indulgent Fouquet’s onion soup, and lips will be smacked in delight.



Next door, Élysée’s sees to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In a conservatory-slash-courtyard-like environment dotted with potted trees, florals, and cosy banquettes, guests will find little to fault with the bistro-inflected Mediterranean fare; the crème brûlée French toast makes for a sweet and toothsome start to the day. Other highlights include the linguine with lobster and mushroom, branzino à la plancha, and ricotta gnudi with sage and brown butter.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Titsou_Bar-181-3-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793727" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Titsou_Bar-181-3-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Titsou_Bar-181-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Titsou_Bar-181-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Titsou_Bar-181-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Titsou_Bar-181-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Titsou Bar is an intimate speakeasy that brings the energy of 1920s and 1930s Paris to New York.</figcaption></figure>



Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?



Yes, and the fun part is finding it first. Hidden behind an innocuous display wall of trinkets and tasteful decorations, the Titsou Bar—named for Lucien Barrière, founder of Groupe Barrière, whose daughter fondly called him “Titsou”—is an intimate speakeasy that brings the energy of 1920s and 1930s Paris to New York. Lavishly dressed in a sumptuous palette of burgundy and maroon, with a dash of contrasting green that has become a signature theme across the hotel, the Titsou Bar’s buzzy atmosphere lends itself well to the innovative cocktails on offer, and the indulgent bar bites— Imperial Ossetra caviar on blini, anyone?



Would you buy the hotel if you could?



Sure would. What’s not to like about owning an elegant property in the heart of the city, just walking distance from some of the best boutiques and restaurants in the neighbourhood? Plus, living our best lives in fabulous Brudnizki-designed residences is a no-brainer for us—this is what a “home away from home” in New York should look and feel like.



Score: 8



What Our Score Means:



1–3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.



4–6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch.



7–8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms.



9–10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?



All images courtesy of Fouquet’s New York.

Fouquet’s New York

Groupe Barrière

Hotel Barrière

luxury hotel

New York

What It’s Like to Stay at Fouquet’s New York, Groupe Barrière’s Parisian-Chic Mansion

2025 is shaping up to be a big year for <a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/default" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosewood Hotels &amp; Resorts</a>.



Currently counting 33 hotels, resorts, and residences in 21 countries in its burgeoning portfolio, the hospitality brand, owned by Hong Kong-based <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/rosewood/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosewood</a> Hotel Group, has its eyes set on rapid global expansion, with 27 more properties to come in the near future. Among them, five are slated to open next year, dotted across the world map.



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<a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/miyakojima" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosewood Miyakojima</a> on tropical Okinawa marks the first Rosewood property in Japan. Encompassing 55 villas, each with individual private pools, the Studio Piet Boon-designed accommodations liberally embrace local materials and draw inspiration from the surrounding natural landscape to immerse guests in a tranquil environment replete with lush gardens and sweeping ocean views, channelling the Ryukyu Island spirit. From Oceanview Villas and Beachfront Villas with direct access to the ocean to the residential-style Kuura House, Upra House, and Kamii House, sized from 150 to 200 square metres, the elegantly appointed retreats make for an unrivalled getaway.



Fresh seafood, island-raised beef, and craft spirits and beverages are the focus of the four restaurants and bars at Rosewood Miyakojima, and with space and seascapes aplenty for get-togethers large and small. Rosewood Explorer’s Club, geared towards children, and the innovative Asaya integrated wellness concept, complete with treatment rooms, private gardens, and hydrotherapy facilities, make up some of the property’s on-site recreation options. Venture forth from Rosewood Miyakojima to discover the lighthouse at Higashi-Hennazaki Cape; Yonaha Maehama, hailed as Japan’s best beach and renowned for its cinematic sunsets; and the local culture, language, and customs of the local Okinawan uchinanchu (“sea people”).



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Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mandarina" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosewood Mandarina</a> will open its doors on Mexico’s Pacific Coast from 1 April, adding to the group’s existing three properties in the country. Lining the coast of Riviera Nayarit, the hotel sits in an area abundant with flora and fauna, picturesque beaches, and dramatic cliffs. 134 suites and villas, ranging from 92 to 1,216 square metres in size, come with terraces and plunge pools. Among them, the Cora Mountaintop Villa is the cream of the crop, and accommodates up to 14 guests, too, with a gym, media room, kitchen, living and dining areas, and a private outdoor terrace with a full-sized infinity pool to boot. Need we mention the spectacular views?



Aside from the trademark Asaya spa to meet your pampering needs, Rosewood Mandarina’s five restaurants and bars will keep guests fed and watered. If your own private plunge pool leaves you wanting more, the property’s four pools should do the trick. Pre-Hispanic Huichol and Cora cultures inform the activities, experiences, and sophisticated design of the hotel, emphasising influences drawn from the surrounding ocean, flatland, and mountain landscapes, whether it’s hiking to an ancient abuela&nbsp;tree, going horseback-riding on the beach, or zip-wiring through the jungle.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Doha_01-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793291" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Doha_01-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Doha_01-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Doha_01-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Doha_01-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Doha_01-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rosewood Doha.</figcaption></figure>



Over in the Middle East, Rosewood is briskly breaking new ground. Aside from three future openings in Saudi Arabia, the hotel brand is readying for the opening of <a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/doha" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosewood Doha</a> in 2025. 155 guest rooms and suites, 162 serviced apartments, and 276 residences make up the impressive accommodations, and the on-site experiences are no slouch, either—the property will house a multitude of speciality restaurants, bars, a cigar lounge, a library, wellness centre, the Manor Club executive lounge, meeting rooms, a 1,050-square-metre ballroom, and even a grab-and-go market. It’s not just the rooms that are fabulous, either; Rosewood Doha and its branded residences are located in stunning twin towers wrapped in a façade inspired by coral reef formations.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Amsterdam_highres-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793289" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Amsterdam_highres-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Amsterdam_highres-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Amsterdam_highres-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Amsterdam_highres-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rosewood-Amsterdam_highres-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rosewood Amsterdam.</figcaption></figure>



Amsterdam will soon receive its first Rosewood, too, and the setting is as grand as it is historical. Overlooking the scenic Prinsengracht canal, the former Palace of Justice is being converted into the newest ultra-luxury hotel in the Dutch capital. <a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/amsterdam" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosewood Amsterdam</a> will be located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Amsterdam Canal District, and is a stone’s throw away from a wealth of museums, high-end shopping opportunities on PC Hooftstraat, and the lively De Pijp neighbourhood. Aside from 134 rooms and suites, the property will offer three restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, a ballroom, a fitness centre, and the ever-popular Asaya wellness concept.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Chancery-Rosewood_exterior-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793290" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Chancery-Rosewood_exterior-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Chancery-Rosewood_exterior-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Chancery-Rosewood_exterior-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Chancery-Rosewood_exterior-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Chancery-Rosewood_exterior-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Chancery Rosewood.</figcaption></figure>



London’s second Rosewood property will take shape as <a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-chancery-rosewood" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chancery Rosewood</a>, a prestigious address in the Mayfair district. Balancing legacy with modern luxury, the hotel will feature architectural restoration by the legendary Sir David Chipperfield of David Chipperfield Architects, with French architect Joseph Dirand putting his spin on the interiors. Yabu Pushelberg was brought in to design an integrative wellness facility. The Chancery Rosewood will consist of 144 keys.



With even more Rosewood hotels announced for Rome, Milan, Shenzhen, Mexico City, Crete, Seoul, and Shanghai, among many others, the group’s opening calendar is packed all the way through to 2028. Not a bad way to keep fans of the brand on the go.



All images courtesy of Rosewood.

Rosewood

Rosewood Amsterdam

Rosewood Doha

Rosewood Mandarina

Rosewood Miyakojima

The Chancery Rosewood

Rosewood Is Opening 5 New Hotels in 2025. Here’s a Look Inside.

Restaurants are most often lauded for outstanding culinary achievements, but when it comes to dining out, it’s not just the food that matters. Excellent service as well as an attractive atmosphere contribute greatly to an elevated experience when it comes to creating a welcoming space that discerning guests will want to revisit time and again.



Mott 32 knows a thing or two about that. First launched in Hong Kong in 2014, the sophisticated Chinese restaurant has scooped up recognition after recognition not only for its gastronomic programme, but equally importantly, for its interior design. Named after 32 Mott Street in New York, home to the city’s first Chinese convenience store, the restaurant pays homage to a slice of history through a modern lens.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Orange-Room-200120-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793828" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Orange-Room-200120-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Orange-Room-200120-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Orange-Room-200120-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Orange-Room-200120-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Orange-Room-200120-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Hong Kong.</figcaption></figure>



In the realm of fine dining, the art of design transcends mere aesthetics—it is a symphony of culture and intention. At Mott 32, the founders, with their keen discerning eye, orchestrate every detail of the various restaurants in their portfolio, ensuring they stay true to their ethos of sharing not just the history but also the opulence and luxury of Hong Kong with the world whilst integrating key elements from the local environment. This meticulous approach is underpinned by extensive research and a dedicated in-house design team, all of whom are devoted to crafting an immersive experience that tells a unique story, blending elegance with a deep sense of place.



What gained inspiration from New York’s vibrant Chinatown and took its first steps in Hong Kong has since expanded to a multitude of cities across the globe, all while retaining the quintessential design DNA that firmly planted Mott 32 as a leading Chinese restaurant brand. For the Hong Kong outpost, Joyce Wang created a space that has become an iconic part of the Hong Kong experience. Befitting its unique location in the basement floor of a historical bank building in the heart of the city, Mott 32 Hong Kong evokes feelings of treasure vaults and elegant antiquity. A ceiling of showpiece chandeliers, eclectic lanterns, and exposed glasswork add to the deeply sumptuous appearance, the ideal backdrop to match the sophisticated dining experience..



“For the design story, what we really want to get across is the ethos and meaning behind Mott 32, what the design means, and how it has impacted global design. When we started talking to Joyce Wang, the brief we gave her is that we wanted to show Hong Kong what Hong Kong looks like today. Hong Kong is built on trade and is a city of warehouses, yet it’s also one of the most luxurious cities in the world, and there is really nothing else like it,” affirms Matt Reid, co-founder and director of Maximal Concepts.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTBKK_Main-Dining-Day-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793829" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTBKK_Main-Dining-Day-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTBKK_Main-Dining-Day-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTBKK_Main-Dining-Day-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTBKK_Main-Dining-Day-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTBKK_Main-Dining-Day-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Bangkok.</figcaption></figure>



“When we started to design Mott 32, Hong Kong was really just finding itself in a post-colonial world, and the image of Hong Kong was really undefined. We really wanted to embody Hong Kong and show the very best of every part of the city from the history to the culture and food,” Reid continues. “Design is great when it makes sense, when it makes something right for you—rarely does design have a role in influencing your view on a location.” From that point, the founders of Mott 32 set out to do exactly that.



Joyce Wang’s seminal design has bled into Mott 32s around the world, though each location retains a distinctive local influence. In Las Vegas, Wang applies a cinematic approach to match the drama and hedonism of the city, replete with neon lighting and detailing featuring Chinese embroidery and chinoiserie, as well as theatrical lighting and an oversized chandelier. A modern touch comes in the form of artist Ngai Joe-joe’s graffiti mural, adding contrast to the canvas. Las Vegas, too, has themed private rooms inspired by the setting and theme, such as the Anna Wong Room.



Cebu’s Mott 32, another Wang-designed location, marries Filipino traditional elements with the restaurant’s trademark industrial-chic style. High ceilings add to the light-filled space, framed by latticework panels, pops of botanical colour, and patterns akin to Chinese knots. Capiz shell, a common material in the Philippines, lines the bar counter.



<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="1234793858" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_001_03.01.23-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793858" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_001_03.01.23-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_001_03.01.23-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_001_03.01.23-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_001_03.01.23-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_001_03.01.23-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Dubai.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234793859" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_013_03.01.23-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793859" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_013_03.01.23-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_013_03.01.23-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_013_03.01.23-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_013_03.01.23-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MOT32_BeARTpro_013_03.01.23-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Dubai.</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



Wang’s design continues into Seoul and Singapore, but it’s in Dubai where the East-meets-West, spice-route-influenced philosophy takes a sky-high turn. Overlooking Bluewater Island, the Jumeirah Beach Residence, Palm Jumeirah, and the Ain Dubai from the 73rd floor, Mott 32 Dubai blends the character of Arabesque courtyard houses with an open-air layout, rich foliage, and geometric tilework reminiscent of Arabic culture and history, creating an urban jungle fat above the city. Porcelain artefacts dot the semi-private Amber Room and Lotus Room, while the private Opal Room affords up to 10 guests an intimate space with clear views of the sea and iconic Dubai skyline.&nbsp;



Highly prized locations are the key to creating the foundations for memorable Mott 32 restaurants, and the Bangkok outpost, designed by CAP Atelier, retains the quintessential feeling of Mott 32, pairing it with an inner-city spot within the city’s The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon hotel, honoured with one Michelin key. Bringing the outside in, Mott 32 Bangkok is lush with botanical accents, an open terrace, and al fresco seating options, as well as three semi-private and private dining rooms.



“We took [the same] ethos into every other Mott 32 around the world and looked at the relationship between Hong Kong and this [city]. What was the story of our joint history together, what was the trade relationship, and how could we integrate this into the design? For example, one of our biggest trade relationships with [Bangkok] was silk, and this is why we have a silk loom in Mott 32 Bangkok,” Malcolm Wood, co-founder and director of Maximal Concepts, explains. “In Toronto, the steelworks are a major part of Chinatown, and this is why Mott 32 Toronto features a lot of raw steel. In Arizona, we’re looking at how to bring the desert into the design.”



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 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="1234793856" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTTOR_Main-Bar-2-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793856" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTTOR_Main-Bar-2-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTTOR_Main-Bar-2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTTOR_Main-Bar-2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTTOR_Main-Bar-2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTTOR_Main-Bar-2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Toronto.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234793857" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTVAN_Bird-Cage-Main-Dining-Room-9-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793857" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTVAN_Bird-Cage-Main-Dining-Room-9-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTVAN_Bird-Cage-Main-Dining-Room-9-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTVAN_Bird-Cage-Main-Dining-Room-9-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTVAN_Bird-Cage-Main-Dining-Room-9-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTVAN_Bird-Cage-Main-Dining-Room-9-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Vancouver.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234793855" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MT_PDR_Metal-Room-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793855" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MT_PDR_Metal-Room-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MT_PDR_Metal-Room-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MT_PDR_Metal-Room-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MT_PDR_Metal-Room-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MT_PDR_Metal-Room-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
</figure>



In Toronto, Parts &amp; Labor Design (PLD NYC) balances the old-world splendour of the Shangri-La hotel with the distinct DNA of Mott 32 for an antique-slash-contemporary restaurant that tells the story of Chinese craftsmanship and New York entertainment. Emerald glass, brass, delicate upholstery, custom terrazzo floors, bespoke millwork, an open kitchen, and double-height spaces add to a grand, elevated interior that complements the momentous dining experience in multifaceted ways.



“Mott 32 is really a celebration of Chinese culture,” Wood emphasises.&nbsp;“Around the world, it is only the Chinese that have Chinatowns—there are no ‘Englandtowns’ or ‘Americatowns.’ For the last 100 years, Chinese communities have had to huddle together to survive; the family who started 32 Mott Street did everything they could to survive and support their families back home, and for the first time, we don’t have to build a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown—we are now on the best streets and in the very best five-star hotels. For us, this is really about&nbsp;pride.&nbsp;We are the first luxury Chinese restaurant to be franchised [from] East to West and we are not in Chinatown, but on the main street, side by side with everyone else, celebrating the rise of Chinese food, art, and culture.” He adds, “When we opened Mott 32 Las Vegas, the great-grandson of 32 Mott Street came especially to thank us for honouring and recognising what they fought for and this story we really want to bring to the world.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="532" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mott-32-Las-Vegas-16-1024x532.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793841" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mott-32-Las-Vegas-16-1024x532.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mott-32-Las-Vegas-16-300x156.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mott-32-Las-Vegas-16-768x399.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mott-32-Las-Vegas-16-1536x797.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mott-32-Las-Vegas-16-2048x1063.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mott 32 Las Vegas.</figcaption></figure>



As Mott 32 continues its ambitious expansion around the globe—with a new opening in Arizona on the horizon, at the Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie, as well as upcoming outposts in Hollywood, London, Bali, and Manila—the revered gastronomic brand is poised to perpetuate its impact and culinary excellence to even more judicious diners and connoisseurs of the finest things in life.



All images courtesy of Mott 32.

Chinese Restaurant

Design

Mott 32

This Striking Chinese Restaurant Brand Redefines Industrial Opulence with Dramatic Silhouettes and Heritage-Inspired Designs

Picking the right gift for Christmas is a daunting challenge, especially for the person who has everything. But there is a different way: a series of small presents, to be unwrapped each day, and here’s where the trusty advent calendar comes in. No need to wait till Christmas to do a grand unboxing—with these spectacular advent calendars, you can treat your loved ones (and yourself) to something joyful as we cross off the days leading up to the holiday.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aman-advent-calendar-2-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793803" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aman-advent-calendar-2-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aman-advent-calendar-2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aman-advent-calendar-2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aman-advent-calendar-2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aman-advent-calendar-2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



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



Bring a piece of <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/aman/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aman</a> into your home with this limited-edition advent calendar. Inside a blush-pink collector’s box embellished with geometric patterns and a gold-foiled illustration of snow-capped Mount Fuji, Aman has curated 25 drawers filled with Aman Essentials skincare products, wellness accessories, and fragrances. Among the offerings are the 111Skin x Aman gold algae eye mask, Aman Kyoto essential oil with notes of green tea and cedar to reflect the resort’s surrounding environment, and Amanemu herbal bath sachet. Buy <a href="https://shop.aman.com/aman-advent-calendar-24?lid=g3o4soiqu3mj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dior-advent-calendar-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793805" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dior-advent-calendar-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dior-advent-calendar-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dior-advent-calendar-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dior-advent-calendar-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dior-advent-calendar-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Dior



<a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/dior/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dior</a>’s Le 30 Montaigne advent calendar is strikingly decorated in homage to the maison’s historic boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, and the miniature gifts inside are equally poised to bring cheer and joy. Expect a collection of fragrances spanning from Miss Dior to Dior Homme and more, lipsticks, nail polishes, eyeshadows, skincare items, and a candle. Buy <a href="https://shop.diorbeauty.hk/en/products/open-the-dior-advent-calendar-le-30-montaigne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Holiday-Advent-Calendar_2-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793806" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Holiday-Advent-Calendar_2-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Holiday-Advent-Calendar_2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Holiday-Advent-Calendar_2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Holiday-Advent-Calendar_2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Holiday-Advent-Calendar_2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Diptyque



<a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/diptyque/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diptyque</a> returns with its highly coveted annual advent calendar; this year’s design, created in collaboration with artist Lucy Sparrow, emulates a festive sewing box, though you’ll not find pin cushions or thread in its compact drawers. Instead, unbox 25 scented candles and personal fragrances, enough to keep the home smelling festive and fantastic all winter long. Buy <a href="https://www.diptyqueparis.com/en_hk/p/advent-calendar-2024.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTM-Labo-advent-calendar-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793807" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTM-Labo-advent-calendar-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTM-Labo-advent-calendar-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTM-Labo-advent-calendar-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTM-Labo-advent-calendar-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MTM-Labo-advent-calendar-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



MTM Labo



For the skincare maven in your life, <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/mtm-labo/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MTM Labo</a>’s charming jar-shaped advent calendar will keep them feeling moisturised and looking fresh for the season. Inside, tucked into nine neat drawers, is a range of custom-blended formulations, including eye masks, a cleanser, toner, essence, and cash vouchers for products and spa treatments. Best of all, it comes with two full-size jars of Q10 treatment and hydro lite moisturiser to be personalised at the shop. Buy <a href="https://www.mtmlabo.com/product/2024-mtm-labo-limited-edition-advent-calendar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Festive-2024-Mood-Shot-Chocolate-advent-calendar-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793808" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Festive-2024-Mood-Shot-Chocolate-advent-calendar-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Festive-2024-Mood-Shot-Chocolate-advent-calendar-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Festive-2024-Mood-Shot-Chocolate-advent-calendar-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Festive-2024-Mood-Shot-Chocolate-advent-calendar-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Festive-2024-Mood-Shot-Chocolate-advent-calendar-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The Peninsula Hong Kong



Keeping things classy and classic, <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/the-peninsula/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Peninsula Hong Kong</a>’s festive chocolate advent calendar is a treasure trove of sweet delights. 12 flavour varieties are part of the collection, covering milk and dark chocolate ganache, ginger ganache, and fine carré chocolates. Buy <a href="https://www.peninsulaboutique.com/hk/en/chocolate-advent-calendar.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_HOLIDAY_T2_HOME_KV-01-FULL-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793809" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_HOLIDAY_T2_HOME_KV-01-FULL-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_HOLIDAY_T2_HOME_KV-01-FULL-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_HOLIDAY_T2_HOME_KV-01-FULL-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_HOLIDAY_T2_HOME_KV-01-FULL-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_HOLIDAY_T2_HOME_KV-01-FULL-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Swarovski



An advent calendar from <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/Swarovski/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swarovski</a> is the gift that keeps on giving—because the trinkets inside can be used for years to come! Capturing the excitement of the holiday season with its bright-red, beribboned gift box, the calendar’s windows open to reveal a selection of 25 crystal Christmas tree decorations themed around a holiday locomotive, including train wagons, animals, and festive wintertime emblems like snowflakes and candy canes. Buy <a href="https://www.swarovski.com/en-HK/p-M5653681/Annual-Edition-Advent-Calendar-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Twelfth-Night-Advent-Calendar-「第十二夜」聖誕日曆-2-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793812" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Twelfth-Night-Advent-Calendar-「第十二夜」聖誕日曆-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Twelfth-Night-Advent-Calendar-「第十二夜」聖誕日曆-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Twelfth-Night-Advent-Calendar-「第十二夜」聖誕日曆-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Twelfth-Night-Advent-Calendar-「第十二夜」聖誕日曆-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Twelfth-Night-Advent-Calendar-「第十二夜」聖誕日曆-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Tea WG



A riff on the well-known Christmas carol and William Shakespeare’s play of the same name, the Twelfth Night advent calendar from <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/tea-wg/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tea WG</a> is a worthy addition to anyone’s kitchen cabinet. Here, a dozen festive blends, housed in colourful collectible tins, include teas of the black, white, green, rooibos varieties. Brew a cuppa and put on Michael Bublé’s Christmas album.

Advent Calendars

Aman

Christmas

Dior

Diptyque

MTM Labo

Swarovski

Tea WG

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Robb Report Hong Kong’s Christmas Gift Guide 2024: 7 Advent Calendars to Buy

It’s not too early to start making 2025 travel plans.



If you’ve got an opening in your calendar, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ponant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ponant</a> just announced four new itineraries highlighting destinations such as <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/italy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Italy</a>, southern Spain, Portugal, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ireland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ireland</a>, and Sweden. The French cruise line will have guests embark on small luxury exploration ships with notable experts and special guests onboard to lead the voyage. Throughout these journeys, passengers will have the opportunity to fully engage with each region they’re travelling to, learning insights into the history, cuisine, and local landmarks.



For the foodies, Le Bougainville will depart on 10 June for an eight-night trek, traveling through <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/sicily/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sicily</a> and the Adriatic Coast of Italy and visiting seven <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/unesco/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO</a> World Heritage sites. Food writer and cookbook author Maureen Fant will be there to educate guests on the country’s gastronomic highlights. Also on board will be wine experts John Camacho Vidal and Barbara D’Agapiti who will lead tastings, plus acclaimed Italian chef Denny Imbroisi who’s in charge of preparing authentic dishes during the trip. 



Then, on 15 July, cruise ship Le Lapérouse will sail 10 nights in the Baltic Sea showcasing historic cities such as Stockholm and Helsinki, as well as the picturesque Danish island of Bornholm and the scenic Swedish harbour town of Gothenburg. Joining the trip will be former Polish president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa, New Yorker contributing writer Robin Wright, and ambassador Beth Jones. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ponant.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793543" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ponant.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ponant-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ponant-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Benagil Cave in the Algarve region in southern Portugal. ©Studio Ponant/Thibault Garnier</figcaption></figure>



Ponant will partner with socially conscious operator Mejdi Tours for an eight-night voyage along the Iberian Peninsula. If you’re interested in learning more about the cultural forces of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, L’Austral will begin in Tarragona on 10 October before heading down the Mediterranean coast with stops in Valencia, Cartagena, Málaga, Cadiz, and Lisbon. Off-boat excursions are offered too, including visits to the Great Mosque of Córdoba and Granada’s Alhambra. Should a question arise, activist Aziz Abu Sarah and journalist Yuval Ben Ami will be there to weigh in. 



Last but not least, music lovers can take concert tourism to new heights by booking a nine-day voyage aboard Le Bellot from 11 to 19 October. The so-called Symphony at Sea itinerary will explore the melodic traditions of Ireland and France with appearances by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and six internationally renowned musicians. Also included are performances by Irish dancers and instrumentalists in Belfast and winery tours in the Médoc region in <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bordeaux/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bordeaux</a>. 



“While Ponant is known for our immersive expeditions and exploration, we also curate themed voyages that invite guests to embark on a more personalised journey of discovery that speaks to their individual passions and curiosities,” explained Samuel Chamberlain, Ponant Exploration’s CEO of the Americas, in a statement. “The result is journeys that exceed expectations and deepen both understanding and connection on a profoundly personal level.”

Ireland

Ponant

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Ponant’s Newest European Journeys Turn Cultural Luminaries Into Your Personal Travel Guides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Best of the Best 2024

Electric Vehicle

luxury car

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Spectre

Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

battery-powered

electric car

Ferrari

gas-powered engine

Ferrari Confirms Its First Electric Car Is Coming Next Year

One of the world’s most famous vehicles is going all-electric.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mercedes-benz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercedes-Benz</a>&nbsp;has just pulled back on the first fully electric Popemobile. The 2025 edition of the vehicle is based on the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mercedes-benz-all-electric-g-580-revealed-1235592257/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new G580 EV</a>, or, as it’s better known, the battery-powered&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mercedes-amg-g-wagen-suv-1234625265/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">G-Wagen</a>.



Pope Francis’s personal vehicle—or at least the one he is driven around in very slowly while waving to his more devoted followers—is a coachbuilt G-Class. This isn’t the first time the automaker has teamed up with the church, either. Mercedes has been working closely with the Vatican dating back to 1930 when they supplied a Nürburg 460 Pullman Sedan for Pope Pius XI.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/popemobile02.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794003" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/popemobile02.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/popemobile02.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/popemobile02.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/popemobile02.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 EV “Popemobile.” Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



The electric Popemobile, which will be used for local events, sports a custom design developed in conjunction with the Vatican that is much different from that of the G-Wagen you can buy at your local dealer. The roof has been chopped off at the B-pillar, basically turning the EV into a squat truck. The resulting bed features a swivelling chair for the Pope, as well as two smaller seats positioned behind in the corners. It’s finished in all-white—like the other Popemobiles before it—and also includes a removable hard top that can be deployed in case of inclement weather. Francis isn’t about to let a storm get in the way of him and his papal duties.



Mercedes’s announcement is curiously short of details performance details, but the standard version of the EV has a quad-motor powertrain that makes 579 hp and 859 ft lbs of torque and can sprint from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds. The Popemobile variant is unlikely to ever post those kinds of numbers, though. Mercedes says it modified the G-Wagen’s powertrain for low-speed driving so people have time to see him.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-2.20.16 PM-1024x563.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794004" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-2.20.16 PM-1024x563.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-2.20.16 PM-300x165.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-2.20.16 PM-768x422.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-2.20.16 PM.png 1266w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



“The G-Class is one of Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic vehicles and we are proud that we can develop vehicles for the Holy Father in this tradition,” the automaker’s chief design officer, Gorden Wagener, said in a statement. “The first all-electric G-Class combines sustainability, elegant design, and maximum functionality. It is a great honour for us to be able to present this special vehicle to Pope Francis today.”



If you’re dreaming of riding around in a Popemobile of your own, you’re out of luck—or going to have to shell out a ton of money on a custom job of your own. The Vatican’s G580 EV is about as exclusive as vehicles come and the only way you’ll get one is to become the next pope—or dish out way too much money on a custom job of your own.

Mercedes-Benz

Popemobile

Mercedes Just Unveiled the First All-Electric Popemobile

One German tuning company wants to make sure that&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/lewis-hamilton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lewis Hamilton</a>&nbsp;gets a proper sendoff before his final race for&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mercedes-amg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercedes-AMG</a>&nbsp;Petronas.



<a href="https://www.hof-manufaktur.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HOF</a>&nbsp;has just unveiled a custom Mercedes-AMG G63 called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hof-manufaktur.com/sir-class" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Sir Class.”</a>&nbsp;The exclusive build features several Hamilton-inspired details and is the fastest&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mercedes-amg-g-wagen-suv-1234625265/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">G-Wagen</a>&nbsp;in history.



The Sir Class is HOF’s first vehicle and it’s easy to see why the company chose to use it as an opportunity to pay tribute to Hamilton. The British driver is the definition of a living legend when it comes to Formula 1. He’s tied with Michael Schumacher for the most driver’s championships in history (seven) and is the sole owner of records for wins (105), pole positions 104), and podium finishes (202). And the vast majority of that success has come with Mercedes, for whom he will race one last time in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass02.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794027" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass02.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass02.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass02.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass02.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HOF Sir Class. Image courtesy of HOF</figcaption></figure>



Hamilton will join Ferrari next year on a three-season contract, but no matter what he does there—even if it includes breaking the driver’s championship record—he will still always be associated with Mercedes. As such, the Sir Class has several references to the team. The G-Wagen’s exterior, which features a carbon-fibre body kit, has a silver-to-black paint job just like the team’s race cars. The Petrona’s Tiffany Green accents also make an appearance, on the badging, the side view mirror caps, and bespoke 23-inch forged wheels.



The cabin is done up in a stylish black Alcantara and Nappa leather off set by gunmetal and exposed carbon-fibre trim. As with the exterior, there are plenty of Tiffany Green accents, including on the headliner, which features an outline of the Yas Marina circuit where the Abu Dhabi GP is held. Other racing-inspired details include a rectangular F1-style steering wheel and performance bucket seats up front.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass03.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794028" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass03.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass03.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass03.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sirclass03.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the Sir Class. Image courtesy of HOF</figcaption></figure>



If all this hasn’t won you over, the performance upgrades will. The Sir Class has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V-8 just like other G63s, but it’s been fully rebuilt and tuned so that it now produces 1,063 horses and 959 ft lbs of twist. Thanks to all the added grunt, the SUV can sprint from zero to 60 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 186 mph. The standard G63, which makes 585 hp and 627 ft lbs of torque, takes 4.2 seconds to reach 60 mph and tops out at 137 mph.



If you want a Hamilton-inspired G-Wagen to park in your garage, you’ll want to reach out to HOF soon. The tuner plans to build just 11 examples of the SUV. Pricing for the exclusive vehicle begins at  US$690,000 (HK$5.4 million), or about US$500,000 (HK$3.9 million) more than the standard G63.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-lewis-hamilton-inspired-hof-sir-class-1236113688" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the Lewis Hamilton-inspired HOF Sir Class.

G-Wagen

lewis hamilton

mercedes

Mercedes-AMG

Petronas

Sir Class

This New Lewis Hamilton-Inspired Mercedes Is the Fastest G-Wagen in History

What better way to for <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/land-rover/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Land Rover</a> to show off the capabilities of the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-drive-dubai-2023-land-rover-defender-1234836735/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Defender</a> than by entering it in the world’s toughest off-road race?



The British marque has announced that a Defender will compete in the 2026 edition of the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/2023-dakar-rally-recap-1234797112/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dakar Rally</a>. The move is part of a multi-year partnership between the automaker and the notoriously difficult race that will run through at least 2028.



It’s easy to see why Land Rover would want to work with the Dakar Rally. Since it was first held in 1979, the rally has widely been regarded as the world’s most challenging off-road race. It originally stretched from Paris to Dakar, Senegal, but has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. Last year’s rally saw contestants in two- and four-wheeled off-road vehicles traverse across nearly 3,000 miles of the world’s toughest terrain over the course of two weeks.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/octa07.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793894" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/octa07.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/octa07-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/octa07-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The new Land Rover Defender Octa is the most powerful version of the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/suv/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUV</a> yet. Image courtesy of Land Rover</figcaption></figure>



The fact that the automaker, which is owned by JLR, wants to enter the Defender in the gruelling rally shows how much faith it has in the popular model. The announcement included no details about the version of the SUV will run in the 2026 race, but Land Rover has plenty of options to choose from. Earlier this year, the marque introduced the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/land-rover-defender-okta-twin-turbo-v-8-626-hp-1235698624/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-performance Octa variant</a>, which has a twin-turbocharged mild-hybrid 4.0-litre V-8 with mild hybrid technology that makes 626 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque, easily making it the most powerful Defender in history.



“Anyone who loves motorsport will have a passion for Dakar,” James Barclay, the managing director of JLR, said in a statement. “It’s the Everest of motorsport and an event where success is dependent as much on human determination in the toughest of conditions as it is ultimate test for vehicle and engineering capability.”



Land Rover will have a good sense of how the Defender will handle itself at Dakar well before the SUV makes its competitive debut. As part of the multi-year partnership, Land Rover will be supplying a fleet of Defenders to organisers to use as support vehicles during next year’s race. Six Defenders will also be used to test routes for future Dakar events. The 2025 Dakar Rally will run from 3 to 17 January.

Dakar Rally

Land Rover

Land Rover Is Racing a Defender in the Notoriously Rugged Dakar Rally in 2026

The grid just got a little more crowded.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/formula-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Formula 1</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/general-motors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">General Motors</a> have reached an agreement for the automaker to join the world’s most prestigious racing championship starting in 2026. The new outfit will likely be branded <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/cadillac/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cadillac</a> and will be the competition’s 11th team.



F1 has been at 10 teams since the 2017 season and that looked to be the way things were going to stay for the foreseeable future as recently as the beginning of this year. In January, the competition’s owner, Colorado-based <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/motorcycles/formula-1-owner-liberty-media-motogp-takeover-1235567675/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liberty Media</a>, <a href="https://www.espn.com/racing/story/_/id/39430557/why-f1-rejected-andretti-bid-join-grid-2025-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turned down a bid by Andretti Global and GM</a> to join the grid, saying it had no plans to expand until at least 2028. That decision led to much grumbling, <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/congress-mario-andretti-formula-1-1235603291/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">including a bi-partisan congressional request this spring</a> for an explanation as to why an American team was being excluded from the sport.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cadillacf1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793906" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cadillacf1.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cadillacf1-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cadillacf1-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A preview of Cadillac’s first Formula 1 race car. Image courtesy of Cadillac</figcaption></figure>



A lot has changed since then, though. In September, Michael Andretti—who’d&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/35424468/michael-andretti-says-f1-greed-blocking-entry-cadillac" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">called the sport and its teams “greedy”</a>&nbsp;for past resistance to the proposal—stepped down from his role leading Andretti Global,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f1-grid-expansion-11th-team-andretti-9ffab2a3b1c71d59bd838b1c154b690f" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according to the Associated Press</a>. This cleared the way for the team to carry the Cadillac name, though it will be run by Andretti Global’s new majority owners, Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. Mario Andretti, the legendary race car driver and Michael’s father, will also serve in an ambassadorial role for the team.



<a href="https://corp.formula1.com/statement-on-general-motors-application-to-join-fia-formula-one-world-championship-in-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In its announcement of the deal,</a> F1 said that it had “maintained a dialogue” with GM despite all the drama. It had previously voiced concerns that the team would be competitive right away, but says that the automaker had achieved “operational milestones” that show it is committed to the sport. Adding an American team to the grid could be huge for a sport already experiencing a popularity boom in the US, which is now home to three Grand Prix races. Despite this, ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/42605948/formula-1-approves-gm-11th-team-grid-2026-season" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> that the Cadillac team will be based out of England.



“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence,” GM president Mark Reuss <a href="https://news.cadillac.com/newsroom.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2024/nov/1125-f1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said in a statement</a>. “It’s an honour for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world.”



Plenty still needs to be worked out before Cadillac starts racing in 2026. General Motors will eventually build the team’s powertrains, but the first units won’t be ready for its debut, and possibly not by 2027 either. That means Cadillac will need to reach a customer agreement with an existing manufacturer. The AP reports they will be provided by Ferrari during the team’s first two seasons.



Cadillac will also want to do more than just show up, especially since it is backed by one of the world’s largest automakers. The marque has little racing heritage and will be starting from scratch against 10 other teams that—for the most part—know what they’re doing. It could take up to a decade of heavy investment and hiring the right people for Cadillac to even begin to show progress. We’ll have to wait and see if GM is willing to be that patient.

Cadillac

Formula 1

General Motors

It’s Official: Cadillac Will Race in Formula 1 Starting in 2026

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/tag-heuer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TAG Heuer</a> wasn’t about to let a chance to celebrate the legendary driver <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ayrton-senna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ayrton Senna</a> pass it by.



The Swiss watchmaker is teaming up with the late <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/formula-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Formula 1</a> icon’s eponymous brand to release a special <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/tag-heuer-carrera-963-chronograph-porsche-1235653719/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carrera</a> chronograph. The limited-edition timepiece is set to drop later this year to coincide with the release of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT7h6sUeUhU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Senna</a>, a six-part <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/netflix/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix</a> mini-series based on the driver’s life that stars Gabriel Leone.



The exclusive Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Senna is the latest chapter in a relationship that dates back to 1988. It was during his time as a TAG Heuer brand ambassador that Senna achieved the success that made him one of the sport’s most revered figures, winning three driver’s championships—in 1988, 1991, and 1993—and setting several records on the track.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Senna | Official Teaser | Netflix" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LT7h6sUeUhU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



The collaboration between the driver and watchmaker culminated in the release of his first signature timepiece, the <a href="https://magazine.tagheuer.com/en/2022/05/02/the-ultimate-collectors-guide-tag-heuer-senna-special-editions/#:~:text=1994%20%2D%20THE%20FIRST%20TAG%20HEUER%20SENNA%20SPECIAL%20EDITION&amp;text=The%20TAG%20Heuer%206000%20Senna,with%20the%20driver's%20creative%20involvement." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6000 Senna Limited Edition</a>, in 1994, the same year before he tragically died following an accident at the San Marino Grand Prix. The agreement to create the watch was <a href="https://www.tagheuer.com/is/en/vintage-collection/tag-heuer-6000-series.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reached two days before the fatal crash</a> in Imola, Italy. Several references celebrating the driver have been released over the years, including two chronograph <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/best-new-tourbillons-2024-1235611370/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tourbillons</a> in the Carrera collection in 2018 and 2019.



The third Senna Carrera is still being finalised, but TAG Heuer has shared some tantalising details about the timepiece. The watch has been designed to be something the driver would have actually wanted to wear and features several elements that reference his life and racing career. These include a carbon bezel inscribed with a tachymeter scale that goes to 400 km/h, a reworked skeletonised dial that incorporates a checkered flag motif, and a 44 mm caseback that reveals an image of Senna with helmet.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="383" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tagsennna01.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793044" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tagsennna01.webp 681w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tagsennna01-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ayrton Senna with TAG Heuer watch. Image courtesy of TAG Heuer</figcaption></figure>



In addition to the exclusive release, several TAG Heuer watches can be seen in Senna, its star, Leone, recently told Robb Report. The actor, who is also an ambassador for the watchmaker, revealed that he wore two of its timepieces in the series, a Carrera 409 the driver is given by his character’s father and a Senna S/EL Link Chronograph S25.706C. The vintage watches help ground the show in the 1980s and 1990s, while also serving as a reminder of the brief-but-intense life lived by Senna.



“When you think about a watch, it’s like having time on your wrist,” Leone told us. “He loved watches, so they were important to us, not only as an object, but a concept.”



Luckily, we won’t have to wait much longer to see the finished Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Senna. The watch is expected to launch in November, shortly before the 4 December premier of Senna. The timepiece will be limited to just 500 pieces, and is priced at 37,000 CHF, which works out to around US$43,375 (HK$337,205).

Ayrton Senna

TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer Is Releasing a New Carrera Watch With Netflix’s ‘Senna’ Series This Autumn

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Omega

Speedmaster

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

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolex</a> has long been the <a href="https://robbreport.com/food-drink/dining/restaurant-thefts-nyc-rolex-patek-philippe-1235698756/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">catnip for robbers</a>, and reports of Rolex thefts have increased with a vengeance over the last couple of years. Crimes have been reported everywhere, from <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-thief-nyc-1235808553/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NYC</a> to the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-robberies-bay-area-california-1234741619/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bay Area of California </a>to <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/watch-thefts-rise-targeting-rolex-patek-1234784453/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London and Paris</a>. A new company, Orkos, thinks it has the solution for keeping your Rollie on your wrist.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WAT04_Visuel-2_boucle-acier-PS_Nocturne_ind01.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793707" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WAT04_Visuel-2_boucle-acier-PS_Nocturne_ind01.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WAT04_Visuel-2_boucle-acier-PS_Nocturne_ind01-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WAT04_Visuel-2_boucle-acier-PS_Nocturne_ind01-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Orkos</figcaption></figure>



After French entrepreneur Sébastien Buonomo nearly lost his Rolex GMT-Master II, given to him by his late brother, he devised a system to ensure his prized heirloom would always remain in his possession. Alongside watchmaker Bruno Herbert, the duo invented <a href="https://orkos-watches.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watchlock</a>, a bracelet clasp with an integrated micro-locking system that effectively locks your timekeeper. Made from 316 L 1.4441 stainless steel and fully assembled in Switzerland, the system uses a micro-locking system with a key. When the key is inserted, the deployment buckle can be used conventionally. When the key is pulled out, it fastens the micro-lock, effectively locking the clasp in place so there is no risk of someone grabbing it off your wrist without taking your arm with it. It also prevents loss during swimming, diving, or other sporting activities. The <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/watchlock/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watchlock</a> system is currently available for Airking, DateJust, and Daytona models.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_293.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793706" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_293.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_293-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_293-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Orkos</figcaption></figure>



It certainly seems like a good idea for those travelling to destinations known for widespread theft or for any adventure-ready trips. The catch is that it cost €680 (approximately US$708/HK$5,510 at current exchange). That’s a small price to pay to prevent your US$15,100 (HK$117,535) Daytona from being snatched off your wrist (particularly when you factor in its secondary market value). But the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOeVM4wk0Ck&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watchlock system </a>also requires a bit of handiwork. The folding clasp comes with a Bergeon SA x Orkos tool kit, including a screwdriver, pump driver, magnifier x 4, and microfibre, as well as a 5 ml tube of Loctite 243 thread locker to optimise the tightening and locks of the screws when reassembling the Watchlock buckle. It also comes with a smart and sage key holder for removing and securing the key (a total of three are supplied). For the average consumer, that’s a lot of work. But on the company’s Instagram, @orkos_watchparts, it does offer free installation at one of its distributors or watchmakers. Again, that’s a bit of an inconvenience. On the other hand, if you have an insanely valuable Rollie it could be worth it in certain circumstances.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_097.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793705" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_097.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_097-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ORKOS-18MARS-_097-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Orkos</figcaption></figure>



Questions remain about the product’s practicality, and we’ve sent queries to the brand that have not yet been answered. As one of my colleagues pointed out, “What happens if you’re travelling and forget the key at home? Will you need to wear the watch the whole time? That wouldn’t be fun, haha.” Indeed, you would be putting its water resistance to the test daily. While it does come with extra keys, if you happened to forget them while travelling, you would be in quite a predicament. Nevertheless, Orkos may be on to something here, and we’ll be curious to see if it catches on.

Orkos

Watchlock

This New Watch Clasp Aims to Keep Your Rolex From Being Stolen

Perched on a balcony high above a crowd of retailers, clients, and press, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/patek-philippe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patek Philippe</a> president Thierry Stern lorded over the official unveiling of the brand’s first new collection in 25 years, <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/patek-philippe-debuts-cubitus-collection-watches-1235953276/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Cubitus</a>. The October event, held about an hour outside Munich, was supposed to provide the first glimpse of the latest offering, but the much-anticipated reveal was spoiled when an ad for the timepiece leaked online a few days before, sending social-media commentators into a frenzy. Word of the release caught like wildfire, but the response was anything but warm. (Even The New York Times went so far as to compare it, if unfairly, to a US$717 (HK$5,580) model from an English microbrand powered by a cheap Miyota movement.)



None of this seems to have stopped demand for the Cubitus, and it didn’t take long for seasoned collectors to start bragging about receiving their orders. Among the first was American rapper NORE, born Victor Santiago Jr, who <a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealnoreaga/p/DCOdmuEuyGu/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posted photos and videos</a> of himself opening his two-tone Cubitus (Ref. 5821/1AR) just four days after its launch. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusGreenDial-683x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793479" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusGreenDial-683x1024.webp 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusGreenDial-200x300.webp 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusGreenDial-768x1152.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusGreenDial-1024x1536.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusGreenDial.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Patek Philippe’s much-anticipated Cubitus is available in three references: steel with a green dial (above); a calendar watch with a blue dial; and a two-tone time-and-date. Image courtesy of Patek Philippe</figcaption></figure>



Even if you run watchmaking’s most revered brand, releasing a new collection is no easy feat—especially when it comes two and a half decades after the previous one. The weight of the watch world’s expectations was upon Stern’s shoulders. In response, Patek’s head honcho produced what many pundits agreed was a rather simple design; the time-and-date pieces were so straightforward, in fact, that watch enthusiasts complained they were just reinterpretations of existing Nautilus models housed in a larger 45 mm case. 



The Cubitus line includes three references: Ref. 5821/1A comes in steel with an olive-green dial—if you can get it at retail, it will cost US$41,243 (HK$320,935)—and the aforementioned two-tone version has a blue dial for US$61,276 (HK$476,825). A third iteration, Ref. 5822P, has a platinum case with a blue dial and is priced at US$88,378 (HK$687,725); it’s the only Cubitus to sport a strap. It houses the new Calibre 240 PS CI J LU and combines a large date window, moon phase, and day-of-the-week indications, all of which can be changed simultaneously in 18 milliseconds. The watch has six patents pending (many of which concern the perfect alignment of the date digits and the ability to correct the indications at any time of day), proving that you can’t judge the Cubitus by its cover. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusBlue.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793480" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusBlue.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusBlue-300x200.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Patek_CubitusBlue-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Calendar watch with a blue dial. Image courtesy of Patek Philippe</figcaption></figure>



As for the comparisons to the best-selling Nautilus, “they’re right,” Stern admits, noting that he looked to both the Nautilus and the Aquanaut when creating the Cubitus. “Today, I have an amazing line with the DNA of the other one—that’s what I do,” he says. “I also do it with the Calatrava line or the complications, all of them. You should not always reinvent everything from zero,” he adds. “Take the best of what you know and improve it.” It’s a winning formula for other luxury brands, after all—Hermès, Rolex, and Ferrari do this sort of thing all the time. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PAtek-Cubitus-Two-Tone-with-Cuff-Links.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793481" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PAtek-Cubitus-Two-Tone-with-Cuff-Links.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PAtek-Cubitus-Two-Tone-with-Cuff-Links-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PAtek-Cubitus-Two-Tone-with-Cuff-Links-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Cubitus two-tone with matching cuff links.</figcaption></figure>



Yet Stern insists the idea behind the Cubitus is not to stay stuck in the past, but instead to attract new customers. “I cannot only stay with the older clients—and I will not lose them—but I also know that at one point they will be gone, and the new ones should also be part of it.” His ideal Cubitus buyer is someone young and active, who might be just starting a new business—and in the same breath he adds that, unless that person is already a VIP client, they’ll have to get in line. “It will be the same as the Aquanaut,” he notes. “The first year might be a bit difficult for the newcomer to have it, but after that, it will be easier.” The nonchalant admission only seemed to further drive home the message: There’s nothing radically new here. And yet it’s all anyone can talk about—which is just the way Patek Philippe likes it.

Cubitus

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe’s Buzzy New Cubitus Line Is Not Radically New—and That’s the Whole Point

Sotheby’s had a record-setting weekend—four times over.



The auction house’s live watch sales in Geneva broke four world records, with two occurring in the Important <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/watches/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watches</a> event and two coming in the Treasures of Time sale. In total, the two auctions combined for an impressive US$22.9 million (HK$178.2 million), with more than 27 per cent of the lots hammering down for more than their high estimate.



Two of the world records came for <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/sothebys-will-auction-a-31-piece-watch-collection-full-of-rare-patek-philippes-1235845907/lot-16-patek-philippe-first-series-reference-2499-pink-gold-perpetual-calendar-chronograph-moon-phases-and-wenger-case-est-2500000-5000000-chf-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patek Philippe timepieces</a>, some of the most coveted among collectors. A Ref. 1563—a yellow-gold split-second chronograph with luminous Breguet numerals and hands made in 1947—fetched US$3.8 million (HK$29.5 million). One of just three known examples of the reference, the watch includes the case of Patek’s 1463, but it was made larger to include the movement of the brand’s 1436. Then a Patek Ref. 2499 Black Dial hammered down for US$2.6 million (HK$20.2 million). That timepiece is the only known third-series 2499J (yellow gold) fitted with a black dial, and only six 2499s in total are known to have such a dial.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="383" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Geneva-Watch-Auction-Patek-Black.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793415" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Geneva-Watch-Auction-Patek-Black.webp 681w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Geneva-Watch-Auction-Patek-Black-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/patek-philippe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patek Philippe</a> Ref. 2499 Black Dial. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s</figcaption></figure>



Elsewhere, a <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/cartier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cartier</a> London Tank “Oblique” was <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/shaped-watches-headed-to-auction-this-fall-from-rolex-to-patek-philippe-1235980414/lot_65_cartier_tank_oblique_yellow_gold_wristwatch_circa_1970_est_30000_60000_chf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">auctioned off</a> for a record-breaking US$190,920 (HK$1.48 million). The yellow-gold watch from around 1970 features rare details from the jeweller’s London atelier, including a slimmer case with spring bars and screws between the lugs and no rail track on the dial. And a <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolex</a> Coin watch fetched US$95,460 (HK$742,955): Just 10 versions of the Rolex “50 Pesos” Ref. 3612 were made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Cordoba. The 39 mm case is shaped like a 50-peso gold coin, while the band is engraved with “Libertad—Independencia.”



“There is plenty of feel positive about the outcome of our live sales, not just the great overall total and the records, but knowing that discerning watch collectors will always be prepared to defend their bids to win outstanding lots, whether from independent or major watchmakers,” Mikael Wallhagen, Sotheby’s head of watches for Europe and the Middle East, said in a statement.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="383" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Geneva-Watch-Auction-Cartier.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793414" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Geneva-Watch-Auction-Cartier.webp 681w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Geneva-Watch-Auction-Cartier-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A Cartier London Tank “Oblique.” Image courtesy of Sotheby’s</figcaption></figure>



Beyond the record-smashing results, the Sotheby’s Geneva sales point in a positive direction for the collecting market. The majority of bidders overall were under 50 years old, with 32 per cent under 40. Buyers in Europe made up 34 per cent of the sales, with those in the United States and Asia each responsible for 19 per cent of sales. Of those groups, an impressive 60 per cent were under the age of 50.

Luxury watches

Rolex

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s Just Set 4 World Records at Its Geneva Watch Sales

The most expensive <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/f-p-journe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FP Journe</a> watch ever sold just hammered at Phillips for a whopping US$8.3 million (HK$64.6 million). And it breaks the record previously held by Philippe Dufour as the priciest watch by an independent watchmaker to ever sell at auction.



If the Phillips Geneva auction <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/neo-vintage-watches-from-the-80s-and-90s-get-their-own-auction-1235831494/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Reloaded: The Rebirth of Mechnical Watchmaking, 1980–1999”</a> is any indication, hype is not dead in the watch world. FP Journe cemented its status as a must-have prized collector’s darling today with the blockbuster sale, which set a new record for the watchmaker. The opening bid reportedly started at jaw-dropping US$5 million (HK$38.9 million), while the original estimate was in excess of CHF 2,000,000, or approximately US$2,360,000 (HK$18.3 million).



Previously, the most expensive watch ever sold by Journe was the FFC Blue made in collaboration with Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola—made for the <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/only-watch-2021-auction-results-1234646396/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Only Watch charity auction in 2021</a>—which was purchased for approximately US$4.9 million (HK$38.1 million). It also beats Journe’s contemporary, Philippe Dufour (a fellow master of modern independent watchmaking), who had formerly held the record of the most expensive watch ever sold by an indie when his Grande et Petite Sonnerie watch <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/philippe-dufour-grande-sonnerie-most-expensive-independent-watch-1234630541/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sold at A Collected Man</a> for US$7.63 million (HK$59.3 million).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Journe-Remontre.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793282" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Journe-Remontre.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Journe-Remontre-300x300.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Journe-Remontre-150x150.webp 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Journe-Remontre-768x768.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of FP Journe</figcaption></figure>



So, what makes the FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain à Remontoire d’Egalité worth 7,320,000 CHF (roughly US$8,369,834/HK$65.1 million at current exchange rates)? The 38 mm manual-wind timepiece in platinum with an 18-carat movement is the watch that launched Journe’s career as an esteemed independent maker, a modern craftsman and engineer following in the footsteps of long-passed watchmaking legends such as Abraham-Louis Breguet and Antide Janvier. Launched in 1999 as a 20-piece souscription (subscription) set, the timepiece is engraved 15/93; it’s the second wristwatch ever made and the first sold by François-Paul Journe. Firsts and records aside, what was and remains fascinating about this timepiece is that it improved upon Breguet’s tourbillon system with the addition of a remontoire—a constant force mechanism that provides an equal amount of energy regardless of the winding level of the mainspring to provide even greater accuracy.



In an autumn 2016 edition of the FP Journ[al], a print newsletter put out by the brand, Journe further explained his intent: “In 1991, I embarked on a new adventure. I realised (late, I know&#8230;) that it was easier to wear a wristwatch than a pocket watch. Thus was borne by 1st tourbillon wristwatch. And I did not want to replicate (for those who know me, they know I hate to copy, it is just boring to do the same thing over and over) my first movement but come out with yet another movement, this time adding a Remontoir d’Egalite. I take this as a compliment (or at the very least a validating) that we hear now lots of watchmakers talking about the Force Constante (constant force mechanism).”



The original prototype of the watch, of course, remains in the watchmaker’s private collection. This watch is one of two subsequent creations from 1993—the other is engraved 16/93. They would serve as the foundation for the DNA of the company going forward: a 38 mm case size, gold dials, and off-set indications. The secret sauce of Journe is the ability to innovate both in design and function, while looking simultaneously modern and traditional—a formula often strived for but rarely achieved in today’s watchmaking.



The icing on the cake of this beauty is that it is one of only three watches fully handmade by Journe himself. For those that truly know watchmaking, that in of itself is enough to send this timepiece into the stratosphere, but the recognition of its US$8.3 million (HK$64.6 million) importance by the market during his lifetime is significant validation indeed for Journe.

FP Journe

Phillips

The Most Expensive FP Journe Watch Ever Just Sold at Phillips for HK$64.6 Million

Steve Kozloff is making his marine dream a reality.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Deep Sea Dreamer

Steve Kozloff

Submarine

This Insane Submarine Concept Doubles as a 107-Foot Superyacht

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Carbon-Fibre

Mayla

Speedboat

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

What do you get when you put one of the world’s most famous designers and a forward-thinking boat builder together? Answer: A cool-looking hybrid-electric catamaran that blends art and technology.



Italian custom yacht builder <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/rossi-family-rossinavi-launches-nolimits-yacht-brand-1235517314/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rossinavi</a> introduced Solsea at Design Miami, which is being held alongside Art Basel Miami. The concept is the result of a three-year collaboration with designer Yves Béhar. The 141-foot catamaran, plus its electric-hybrid propulsion and AI-powered systems, is designed for sustainability. Béhar’s designs add understated elegance across the yacht.



“It’s been an incredible journey to see how Yves Béhar reimagined the naval platform of our hybrid-electric catamaran,” says Federico Rossi, chief operations officer at the shipyard, during the launch event. “He brought a style that is both fresh and refined.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Rossinavi_Yves-Behar_Solsea_2024_06.jpg.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793978" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Rossinavi_Yves-Behar_Solsea_2024_06.jpg.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Rossinavi_Yves-Behar_Solsea_2024_06.jpg.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Rossinavi_Yves-Behar_Solsea_2024_06.jpg.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Rossinavi_Yves-Behar_Solsea_2024_06.jpg.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The bow pool, with a mechanical but artistic hardtop, is just one of many design features on Solsea. Image courtesy of Rossinavi Yachts</figcaption></figure>



Features like the bow pool, with delicate, crisscrossed mechanical supports that raise and lower the hardtop, or the artistic curving arches beside the bar on the flybridge, or the stylised wooden walls in the salon all demonstrate the designer’s subtle flourishes.



Béhar’s work is part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum, and he has had solo exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the other at the Musee de Design et D’arts Appliques Contemporains in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has designed hundreds of beautiful, functional objects, including chairs and lighting for Herman Miller, <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/home-design/slideshow/the-moma-design-stores-top-5-of-2017/samsung-frame-tv-by-yves-behar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">frames for Samsung televisions</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/accessories/yves-behar-making-sunglasses-recycled-ocean-plastic-1234577740/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunglasses made from recycled ocean plastic </a>and even <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/underwater-space-station-2937518/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater research centres</a>.



“When working with clients, my philosophy is to connect emotionally through ideas and content rather than style,” says Béhar. “It’s less about this or that aesthetic and more about meaningful conversations where people come to agreement in terms of approach and direction.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="722" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-1.48.46 PM-1024x722.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793981" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-1.48.46 PM-1024x722.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-1.48.46 PM-300x212.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-1.48.46 PM-768x541.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-1.48.46 PM.png 1268w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The salon has a calming, subtle feel, with lots of muted-tone woodwork.  Image courtesy of Rossinavi Yachts</figcaption></figure>



That’s certainly apparent in his first yacht. Rather than bold statements, there is a timeless look throughout Solsea, bolstered by natural matte wood and bouclé textiles across the interior. The designer also employed recycled ocean plastics and solar panels to enhance sustainability. “For me, Solsea is a return to simpler, more respectful ways to enjoy the oceans while integrating the future of efficient propulsion, and cutting-edge technologies,” says Béhar.



Of course, without the recent launch of <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rossinavi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rossinavi</a>’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/rossinavi-ai-catamaran-1235985649/2-animal-instinct/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sea Wolf X</a>, another 140-foot catamaran, Solsea would be just another fancy concept. But that vessel, which the shipyard showed at the last <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/monaco-yacht-show-2024-1235866205/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monaco Yacht Show</a>, would form a baseline for the technology and design for a future Solsea, if any owner comes forward.



It is also a hybrid electric yacht with batteries, electric engines, and diesel generators, but also contained artificial intelligence software to enhance performance as well as the owners’ and guests’ experiences.&nbsp;Robb Report&nbsp;was the first to exclusively tour the yacht following its delivery in August.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Animal-instinct.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793979" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Animal-instinct.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Animal-instinct.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Animal-instinct.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2.-Animal-instinct.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rossinavi’s recently launched Sea Wolf X provides a good template for its future power cats. Image courtesy of Rossinavi Yachts</figcaption></figure>



The artificial intelligence system, named Rossinavi AI, hones in on performance and efficiency. It continuously monitors the vessel’s operations, learning from observation and even anticipating guests’ needs. “[The AI] will be able to self-learn, surely surprising even us in the future,” Federico Rossi, chief operating officer of Rossinavi, tells&nbsp;Robb Report.



The AI works in tandem with a series of sensors that are fitted throughout the yacht. These include checking when guests are present in their cabins to prevent unnecessary use of air-conditioning and to switch off TVs that have been left on. When they return, the AI recalls the guests’ exact preferences for temperature and powers up, as if it had continued running the entire time.



The interior lighting throughout the yacht also automatically brightens or dims depending on the time of day and exterior sunlight. It even interacts with the crew to encourage lower-impact behaviors. It also highlights interesting landmarks along the cruise. Presumably,&nbsp;Solsea’s AI system will be even more advanced.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="724" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cc99f84d-14a7-2a90-3f6f-2c216302734e.jpg-1024x724.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793980" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cc99f84d-14a7-2a90-3f6f-2c216302734e.jpg-1024x724.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cc99f84d-14a7-2a90-3f6f-2c216302734e.jpg-300x212.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cc99f84d-14a7-2a90-3f6f-2c216302734e.jpg-768x543.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cc99f84d-14a7-2a90-3f6f-2c216302734e.jpg-1536x1086.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cc99f84d-14a7-2a90-3f6f-2c216302734e.jpg.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Behar’s rendition of the upper deck emphasises curves and stylised arches. Image courtesy of Rossinavi Yachts</figcaption></figure>



Of course, another advantage of large catamarans is the wide beam, which dramatically increases the internal volume.&nbsp;Solsea’s full-beam master suite has about the same space as a 229-foot superyacht. It also offers a 180-degree view and direct access to a private external balcony that sits across the twin hulls and connects to the bow.



Perhaps its best feature is the hybrid-electric system. It will power the boat on just the batteries for full-day trips, and even cross the Atlantic at 80 per cent electric mode. That whisper-quiet experience is a game-changer not for power cats but for the whole superyacht world.