Best of the Best

Best of the Best 2025

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Style

The Best in Style 2025, From Stefano Ricci, Dior, and Ferragamo to Dunhill, Loro Piana, and The Armoury

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/dior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dior</a> is renowned for its <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/dior-lor-de-vie-formulation-update-1235888029/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cutting-edge skincare products</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/grooming/francis-kurkdjian-perfumer-1235821273/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inspiring fragrances</a>. But this year, the company wants to dig a little deeper.



In April, the maison will host its first <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wellness</a> retreat at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the illustrious writers’-getaway-turned-luxury-resort in Cap d’Antibes, France. The retreat will offer four days of programming designed to address how you look and how you feel—all of it guided by experts at the top of their fields.



From 19 to 22 April, a limited group of just eight guests will check in for a highly personalised regimen of Pilates, nutrition coaching, and signature treatments at the Dior Spa. The Pilates classes, both one-on-one and in group settings, will be taught by Bryony Deery, the movement expert whose app—Pilates by Bryony—has helped countless people start learning the exercise modality. Nutritionist and functional medicine expert Rose Ferguson will be on hand for individual consultations for your relationship with food, mindfulness, and inner well-being. Along with the four spa treatments each attendee will enjoy—which range from facials to full-body scrubs and massages—the goal is that you leave feeling refreshed and empowered.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Hotel.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795241" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Hotel.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Hotel-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Hotel-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Oetker Collection</figcaption></figure>



“For Dior, beauty and wellness form an inseparable whole achieved through physical, psychological, and emotional harmony,” the brand says in a statement. “Over the course of this journey, energies are rebalanced through calm breathing, and the senses flourish as they are revealed. Body and mind reconnect with the fundamentals.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Grounds.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795242" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Grounds.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Grounds-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RR-Dior-Spa-HDCER-Grounds-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Oetker Collection</figcaption></figure>



Of course, there are worse places to cure what ails you. The Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, ensconced on an idyllic slice of the French Riviera, is a uniquely soothing place to stay—and has been home to a Dior Spa since 2023. Packaged with the very personalised attention, and the barrier to entry is almost understandable. The programme only has space for eight guests. Each spot, which starts at US$27,000 (approximately HK$210,325), can only be booked by calling a Dior Ambassador at (+33) 1 49 53 84 44.

Dior

Dior Spa

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Oetker Collection

wellness

Wellness Retreat

Dior’s First Wellness Retreat Offers Workout Classes, Nutrition Workshops, and Lots of Spa Time

As January comes to an end, the Year of the Snake is slithering rapidly upon us, and luxury brands are bringing this iconic symbol to life with collections that perfectly balance tradition and sinewy style. Gone are the days of over-the-top designs—this year’s pieces are sleek, sophisticated, and full of character. Whether it’s a bold accessory or a fashionable trinket, these stunning items are a celebration of the snake’s serpentine beauty and unfurling mystery.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buccellati_LNY_Bubu-Collection-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795136" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buccellati_LNY_Bubu-Collection-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buccellati_LNY_Bubu-Collection-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buccellati_LNY_Bubu-Collection-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buccellati_LNY_Bubu-Collection-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buccellati_LNY_Bubu-Collection.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Buccellati</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Buccellati&nbsp;</h3>



In anticipation and celebration of the Lunar New Year, Italian jewellery house Buccellati has curated a selection of fine accessories and silverware. Buccellati artisans have captured the spirit of the animal in a silver snake figurine that has us beguiled; the lively silver snake ornament, from the Bubu collection, no less, embodies good luck and great fortune.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bulgari_edt-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795164" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bulgari_edt-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bulgari_edt-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bulgari_edt-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bulgari_edt-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bulgari_edt-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Bulgari</figcaption></figure>



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



Bulgari celebrates the Year of the Snake with the Serpenti Cuore 1968 bag—a tribute to its iconic serpent motif that the noble house has circumnavigated the world with. It features a clever heart-shaped design, with the body of the bag forming one half of a heart, and the snake-shaped golden handle the other. Inspired by house’s heritage, it harkens back to the 1968 Serpenti Harlequin jewellery watch, blending timeless elegance with modern creativity. In fact, there are several pieces—be it watch, jewellery, or leather goods—from the nest that we have taken a shine to.&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/2025/01/Chantel-Shafie-_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795111" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chantel-Shafie-_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chantel-Shafie-_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chantel-Shafie-_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chantel-Shafie-_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chantel-Shafie-_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Chantel Shafie</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chantel Shafie</h3>



A brand closer to home, Hong Kong’s own Chantel Shafie unveiled a diamond-encrusted Medallion Necklace in honour of the Year of the Snake. Part of her Chinese Zodiac Series, the piece features a 24-carat solid gold Hong Kong coin, with a snake curled into the lucky number eight on one side of the face, framed by flowers, while the other showcases iconic Hong Kong skyscrapers and the bauhinia flower. Available with a choice of 18-carat mixed-gauge gold chains.&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/2025/01/compressed-Dior_2400x1600-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795112" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/compressed-Dior_2400x1600-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/compressed-Dior_2400x1600-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/compressed-Dior_2400x1600-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/compressed-Dior_2400x1600-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/compressed-Dior_2400x1600-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Dior</figcaption></figure>



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



Designer Maria Grazia Chiuri has sent us a special Lunar New Year collection that’s a sparkling take on the holiday, featuring the Dior Astral motif on accessories, knitwear, sneakers, and more. A tip of the hat to Dior’s famed fascination with the stars, the motif combines gold and white tones with celestial elements. For Dior, high fashion is never far from the divine.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gucci_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795113" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gucci_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gucci_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gucci_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gucci_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gucci_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Gucci</figcaption></figure>



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



For the Year of the Snake, Gucci introduces two striking colour combinations that we are tickled pink by: Gucci Rosso Ancora with pink accents and Gucci Rosso Ancora with blue accents, inspired by the sinuous elegance of the serpent. The collection features the&nbsp;maison’s staple accessories loved by Gen Z, such as Gucci Rosso Ancora patent leather shoes with snake-detailed insoles and the Gucci Re-Web sneakers, each artfully incorporating the serpent emblem.&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/2025/01/Maison-Margiela_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795114" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maison-Margiela_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maison-Margiela_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maison-Margiela_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maison-Margiela_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maison-Margiela_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Maison Margiela</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Maison Margiela&nbsp;</h3>



 Maison Margiela rings in the Year of the Snake with its first-ever Lunar New Year launch, focusing on the timely theme of “Renewal.” For a novel twist and turn, this special line reinterprets the snake motif through moon phases, representing new beginnings with elevated streetwear essentials like cotton jerseys, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and accessories, emblazoned with a bold, red ouroboros-inspired motif, symbolising the snake’s cycle of rebirth. Look for the striking symbols of prosperity entrenched in design and detail.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCM_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795115" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCM_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCM_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCM_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCM_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MCM_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of MCM</figcaption></figure>



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



 In celebration of the Year of the Snake, MCM presents a stunning golden python print that is pretty on the nose regarding the zodiac animal of the year; the signature scales in blushing pink, set on leather goods, are a high-voltage touch to the bold print that’s hard to miss. Knitted from soft Japanese bouclé, the collection also features complementing python-print apparel.&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/2025/01/MR-PORTER-_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795116" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MR-PORTER-_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MR-PORTER-_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MR-PORTER-_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MR-PORTER-_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MR-PORTER-_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Mr Porter</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mr Porter</h3>



Mr Porter presents a curated collection of ready-to-wear menswear that embodies the season’s running motif—well, without the obvious one that has snaked through innumerable brands this season. A subtle nod, the selection prominently features contemporary menswear in shades of red, a colour symbolising luck, prosperity, and joy. With its fine fabrication and intricate designs, this is an elevated wardrobe to turn heads during the Lunar New Year festivities.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="776" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02a_Chinese-New-Year-Tiffany-Blue-Box-776x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795154" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02a_Chinese-New-Year-Tiffany-Blue-Box-776x1024.jpg 776w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02a_Chinese-New-Year-Tiffany-Blue-Box-227x300.jpg 227w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02a_Chinese-New-Year-Tiffany-Blue-Box-768x1014.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02a_Chinese-New-Year-Tiffany-Blue-Box-1164x1536.jpg 1164w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02a_Chinese-New-Year-Tiffany-Blue-Box.jpg 1212w" sizes="(max-width: 776px) 100vw, 776px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Tiffany &amp; Co.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tiffany &amp; Co.</h3>



Tiffany &amp; Co. celebrates the season with a stunning new collection with an artistic twist. Of course, there are astounding jewellery and watches within the blue box, but one of the pieces we have latched on to is an exquisite ceramic jewellery case crafted from&nbsp;Blanc de Chine porcelain. In collaboration with local artist Oscar Wang, the heart-shaped infinity design merges the snake symbol with the concept of eternal love. It’s so subtle and so perfect; the figure-eight that represents wealth and fortune is beautifully showcased with the signature Tiffany-blue glaze and Chinese knot. This piece beautifully combines art and function, perfect for holding treasures of all kind—a timeless piece that can charm for years to come, not just this serpentine year.&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/2025/01/TUMI_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795117" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TUMI_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TUMI_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TUMI_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TUMI_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TUMI_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Tumi</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tumi&nbsp;</h3>



 Tumi launches the Alpha Bravo collection for the 2025 Lunar New Year, incorporating gold brushstroke designs on functional travel essentials that you can easily spot from a mile away. Be it the Navigation Backpack or the Compass Crossbody, each item is enhanced with a unique snake-shaped luggage tag and a “Lucky Coin” for prosperity. Designed for durability, the Alpha Bravo collection blends aesthetics with everyday functionality. Gold detailing is set against a black base for a brush of elegance, while the lightweight materials ensure optimal performance.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Valextra_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795118" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Valextra_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Valextra_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Valextra_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Valextra_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Valextra_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Valextra</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Valextra&nbsp;</h3>



In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Valextra launched an exclusive capsule collection for the Year of the Snake, and we have been deeply drawn to a signature bag with perforations that perfectly mimic the scales of snake in a unique way. The Iside Micro handbag, crafted in crimson red and Valextra Black Millepunte leather, is stunning. The Snake Charm, created with Valextra’s intarsia technique and available in many hues, is just the right signature to complement the piece.

BVLGARI

Chantel Shafie

Gucci

Maison Margiela

mr porter

Tumi

Valextra

Lunar New Year 2025: 11 Luxury Gifts and Accessories Celebrating the Snake Motif

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

Diptyque

MTM Labo

Swarovski

Tea WG

The Peninsula Hong Kong

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

The numbers are in—according to reports from&nbsp;The&nbsp;Washington Post,&nbsp;Euromonitor International, and Circana, not only has the multi-billion-dollar behemoth that is the fragrance industry recorded an august two-figure growth in 2023 as new designer bottles drop and reimagined classic scents return to the shelves, but sales of the US$64.4 billion (HK$502.25 billion) global fragrance market have been on a steady incline this year, too.



The&nbsp;Post’s analysis of this boom points to fragrance as the fastest-growing category in the beauty sector, thanks to men and first-time buyers driving the rise in sales and revenue of brands the likes of Chanel, YSL, Dior, Le Labo, Jo Malone, and Tom Ford, to name a few.&nbsp;



Come September, the biggest names in the field—Jo Malone, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Chanel, and Valentino—will dispense their latest scents. In the meantime, taking top notes from the above-mentioned reports, we knocked on the doors of the most elite aromatic designers in the hopes of getting a whiff of what’s already in store this summer. From the classics (Tom Ford) to the fashionable (Dior and Versace) and the novel (Brunello Cucinelli ventures into scents for the first time), the following fragrances have us swooning.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Brunello Cucinelli</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="726" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pack_Cucinelli-Insieme-726x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790129" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pack_Cucinelli-Insieme-726x1024.jpg 726w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pack_Cucinelli-Insieme-213x300.jpg 213w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pack_Cucinelli-Insieme-768x1084.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pack_Cucinelli-Insieme-1089x1536.jpg 1089w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Pack_Cucinelli-Insieme.jpg 1134w" sizes="(max-width: 726px) 100vw, 726px" /></figure>



Just this past May, Brunello Cucinelli unveiled the Brunello Cucinelli Pour Femme and Brunello Cucinelli Pour Homme fragrances at a star-studded bash at Regent Hong Kong. Both scents were inspired by the Umbria region in Italy, with a touch of aromatic splendour and a wisp of quiet luxury. A new chapter in the story of the brand—the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/menswear/brunello-cucinelli-70th-birthday-celebration-italy-1234891575/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personal and business successes</a>&nbsp;of Brunello Cucinelli were jointly celebrated just a few months ago—the men’s fragrance is a refined blend of angelica, black pepper, ginger, and sage, courtesy of a fruitful collaboration with French master perfumer Olivier Cresp.



Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.brunellocucinelli.com/en-hk/fragrances/mens-fragrances/?_gl=1*1po49qj*_up*MQ..&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwiOy1BhDCARIsADGvQnCPA2WSXgogL-1rQTr2PoivNmlfU77uFBxAoN1aOKUeuuDFaa_rOWkaAjwrEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tom Ford</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="732" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/993364_NA_1__77683-732x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790159" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/993364_NA_1__77683-732x1024.jpg 732w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/993364_NA_1__77683-214x300.jpg 214w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/993364_NA_1__77683-768x1075.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/993364_NA_1__77683-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/993364_NA_1__77683.jpg 1143w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /></figure>



If the past decade is anything to go by—with the release of wallet-distilling perfumes like Bitter Peach, Lost Cherry, Velvet Orchid, and other magical potions with vivid titles—exceptional scents are to be expected from Tom Ford. As per an early report by JP Morgan, Tom Ford fragrances help to propel the brand to among the top 10 most prestigious in China based on sales, a huge part of the company’s achievements, and the latest drop can certainly only strengthen that sweet smell of success.&nbsp;



Released just seven months ago in the US, you can now find the latest unisex eau de parfum Vanilla Sex at Tom Ford Beauty in Hong Kong. Its top notes are vanilla tincture, vanilla absolute, floral notes, bitter almond, sandalwood, tonka bean absolute, and Ultravanil—the ingredients read like a baking recipe, which is why it is only fitting that the scent itself has a florid, almost pastry-like essence and resonance. Vanilla Sex is light, airy, and quite frankly, delicious.



Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tomfordbeauty.com/product/vanilla-sex-eau-de-parfum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>&nbsp;or at Lane Crawford&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lanecrawford.com.hk/product/tom-ford/vanilla-sex-eau-de-parfum-50ml/_/EHR876/product.lc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dior&nbsp;</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dior-LCP-Summer-Eden-Roc-02_LR-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790246" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dior-LCP-Summer-Eden-Roc-02_LR-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dior-LCP-Summer-Eden-Roc-02_LR-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dior-LCP-Summer-Eden-Roc-02_LR-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dior-LCP-Summer-Eden-Roc-02_LR-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dior-LCP-Summer-Eden-Roc-02_LR-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Fashion history repeatedly proves that when Dior does something, it does it right. Instead of confining itself to just one perfume, the La Collection Privée line&nbsp;features three fragrances to encapsulate the essence of summer. The limited-edition scents are housed in couture cases adorned with the Dioriviera 2024&nbsp;toile de Jouy&nbsp;motif: Dioriviera in emerald green, Eden-Roc in yellow, and a blood orange hue for the floral Jasmin des Anges.



To the jet-setting crowd, the unisex eau de parfum trio will ignite memories of the south of France, its scents vividly bringing back memories from the region—and its harmony of top notes are a reminder of Dior’s ideal of&nbsp;la dolce vita&nbsp;and celebration of the season. As Jasmin des Anges’s name suggests, the fragrance has the heady charisma of a jasmine bouquet, blended with apricot nectar and honey. Dioriviera’s dance between fig and rose has a more feminine mystique, while the Eden-Roc’s gentle sophistication is a tribute to the pleasure-indulging Cap Eden-Roc location, just south of Antibes on the Côte d’Azur.



Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.dior.com.sg/collections/la-collection-privee-summer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Versace-Eros-Energy_3-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790125" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Versace-Eros-Energy_3-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Versace-Eros-Energy_3-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Versace-Eros-Energy_3-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Versace-Eros-Energy_3-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Versace-Eros-Energy_3.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure>



The latest adverts from Versace featuring actor Channing Tatum, returning to his roots as a model, have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kt48vT99u8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spread online</a> and on billboards across cities overnight, causing quite the media stir. As the eau de parfum for men, Eros Energy—part three of the existing Eros and Eros Flame family of fragrances—lands on our storied shelves, clips of Tatum chasing after an arrow as the star of the new Versace Eros campaign have gone viral.



Like in most perfume adverts, the storyboard is theatrical, with many flashes of striking visuals, overwrought masculinity, and a questionable respect of physics. But how’s the scent? Pretty good, in fact. Perfect for the season, the designer drop has soothing citrus top notes of blood orange, lime, grapefruit, lemon, Sicilian bergamot, and mandarin orange. Fit for olfactory seduction, the base notes are musk, patchouli, and oakmoss, while the middle notes are white amber, pink pepper, and blackcurrant. The yellow bottle is in line with Versace’s signature Greca and Medusa motifs with the crowning glory of a bronze-coloured cap reminding one that it’s a jewel to possess&nbsp;Eros Energy&nbsp;this sizzling season.&nbsp;



Coming soon. All images courtesy of their respective brands.

Aroma

Brunello Cucinelli

Colognes

latest releases

Perfumes

Perfumes 2024

Scents

Summer Scents

Tom Ford

4 Stellar Summer Scents, From Tom Ford and Brunello Cucinelli to Dior and Versace

Ningxia is now China’s largest wine-producing region, with 253 wineries making about 140 million bottles a year. The Fourth China International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo is scheduled for 9–11 August in Yinchuan, Ningxia’s capital, and over 60 foreign wineries are signed up. Expect big names from Australia, Chile, France, Italy, and Spain.



Savvy oenophiles visiting Yinchuan then, or at any time, should head for the 409-key Kempinski Hotel Yinchuan—its top suite is the three-bedroom, 330-square-metre Presidential Suite. In the hotel, the Grand Chai wine room has two PDRs (private dining rooms) exclusively pouring such Chateaux labels as Haut-Brion, Lafite, Margaux, and Pétrus, with more than 3,500 bottles of French wine in total—the most expensive is a 1995 Chateau Pétrus, a snip at HK$115,000. During the expo, says hotel GM Patrick Ritter, the hotel will offer Bounties of Wine Country dinners, featuring five courses paired with such local wines as Jia Beilan, Kanan, and Silver Heights.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fiamma_Pizza-Chamber-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789973" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fiamma_Pizza-Chamber-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fiamma_Pizza-Chamber-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fiamma_Pizza-Chamber-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fiamma_Pizza-Chamber-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fiamma_Pizza-Chamber-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fiamma at Capella Singapore welcomed consultant Mauro Colagreco to host a special menu paired with Veneto wines. Image courtesy of Capella Singapore</figcaption></figure>



Pair wines with big-name chefs and there’s double success, as Fiamma at Capella Singapore knows only too well. Its regular special dinners are clearly promoted: the latest, which took place on 18 July, paired Fiamma consultant Mauro Colagreco with Veneto wines, resulting in dishes like traditional fresh pea risotto with Tedeschi Amarone Valpolicella Marne 180 and tiramisú with Tedeschi Vapitel Recioto Fontana (both wines vintage 2019).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MVC240500991-Gran-Hotel-Mas-den-Bruno-The-Lobby-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789873" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MVC240500991-Gran-Hotel-Mas-den-Bruno-The-Lobby-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MVC240500991-Gran-Hotel-Mas-den-Bruno-The-Lobby-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MVC240500991-Gran-Hotel-Mas-den-Bruno-The-Lobby-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MVC240500991-Gran-Hotel-Mas-den-Bruno-The-Lobby-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MVC240500991-Gran-Hotel-Mas-den-Bruno-The-Lobby-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The lobby at Mas d’en Bruno featuring Ben Jakober’s circular clock. Image courtesy of Mas d’en Bruno</figcaption></figure>



Wines are also a big deal at Mas d’en Bruno, a sensational new art-filled winery hotel in Priorat, only a 90-minute drive from Barcelona through rolling vineyards. David Stein, Mas d’en Bruno’s man-of-the-world owner, has included pieces from his own collection. One is a three-foot-wide circular clock-with-fringe by Ben Jakober. It hangs on a lobby wall and its peripheral fringe—formed of real books held to the clock by their spines—rotates, the pages flapping as it turns. It’s art, and it’s fun.



It sounds as if the next Art Basel Hong Kong, slated for 28–30 March 2025, will have fun retail. Art Basel’s global CEO Noah Horowitz confirms there will be a boutique, with Unlimited clothing, and trinkets like badges with quips of “See you in Miami Beach.” Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 will, deliberately, coincide with the inaugural Photofair Hong Kong, organised by Scott Gray, who launched the concept in Shanghai.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Exterior-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234790176" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Exterior-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Exterior-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Exterior-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Exterior-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Exterior-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is built into the side of a cliff. Image courtesy of InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland</figcaption></figure>



Shanghai has one hotel that is attracting a lot of international interest. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland in Sheshan, half an hour from Shanghai’s main rail station, isn’t the first hotel to be built in a former mine—Sunway Resort just outside Kuala Lumpur has that honour. But at Wonderland, the architect, Martin Jochman—who did Dubai’s iconic Burj Al-Arab—has produced another wow, an upside-down hotel, with arrival and reception at the top. The best views, says hotel GM Richard Hng, are from the sixth-floor Chairman’s Suite, and the best seafood is at the 330-room hotel’s Mr Fisher restaurant—under water.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Beverly-Hill-Hotel-Dior-boutique-sun-seating-HR-Dorchester-Collection-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234789876" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Beverly-Hill-Hotel-Dior-boutique-sun-seating-HR-Dorchester-Collection-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Beverly-Hill-Hotel-Dior-boutique-sun-seating-HR-Dorchester-Collection-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Beverly-Hill-Hotel-Dior-boutique-sun-seating-HR-Dorchester-Collection-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Beverly-Hill-Hotel-Dior-boutique-sun-seating-HR-Dorchester-Collection-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Beverly-Hill-Hotel-Dior-boutique-sun-seating-HR-Dorchester-Collection-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dioriviera pops up at The Beverly Hills Hotel for the summer. Image courtesy of The Beverly Hills Hotel</figcaption></figure>



The best brand for travelling A-list fashionistas these days could well be Dior. Pop-up boutiques at Ember Beach Club at One&amp;Only Desaru Coast and a host of other leisure hotspots are showing Travel with Dioriviera collections. These have soft fern or salmon-coloured toile de Jouy Sauvage and toile de Jouy Soleil pieces by Dior’s global creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri. Far away in Beverly Hills, the stars-favourite Beverly Hills Hotel, part of Dorchester Collection, has similarly allowed its famous poolside, and spa, to be Dior-ised, temporarily. The world is becoming one small place.

Art Basel Hong Kong

Dorchester Collection

InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland

Kempinski Hotel Yinchuan

Mas d’en Bruno

Mauro Colagreco

Ningxia

The Beverly Hills Hotel

Discover China’s Largest Wine-Producing Region, Celebrate Summer With Dioriviera, and Other Things to Bookmark this August

By Michael Verdon, Julie Boatman, and Jen Paolini



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Next-Gen Piloting Is Here</h2>



The fast-approaching era of electric aircraft will transform intracity and regional travel for passengers, but it will also fundamentally change the pilot experience. The new crop of electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) craft are smaller than most helicopters and conventional planes, but also potentially more complex, with multiple rotors that tilt for hovering and forward motion. That’s supplemented by the need to constantly assess flight conditions in what promise to be busy urban airways, all while managing prop and rotor pitch and adjusting ailerons, rudders, elevators, and landing gear.



How does one lessen the pilot’s burden without compromising safety? The answer, eVTOL leaders Archer and Joby agree, involves unified flight controls, adopted from military programmes such as the F-35B fighter jet. The fly-by-wire systems used by Dassault, Gulfstream, and Bombardier operate on the same principle, with a flight control computer (FCC) linked to a multi-servo digital autopilot. Unlike mechanical systems of older aircraft, where a pilot controls every aspect of flight, here the computer takes over once the pilot inputs commands.



The next generation of unified flight controls are significantly faster, smaller, and more sophisticated. BAE Systems has designed controls that relay pilot input every few milliseconds but are 40 per cent more compact than five years ago. This customised technology is designed to be intuitive for fixed-wing or rotorcraft pilots and far more simplified. 



Joby’s inceptor, or the stick that controls speed, for example, recentres after an input, maintaining the airspeed set by the pilot—similar to cruise control in a car. “If I want to go to 100 knots, I’ll kind of peg the stick,” says Joby’s Greg Bowles. “The number reaches 100, you let go, and it’s going to stay at 100. If you continue to accelerate, it’ll get to a maximum safe top speed and stop.”



“The pilot doesn’t control power,” adds Archer’s Brian Gump. “The pilot commands acceleration or deceleration, a climb or descent, or a heading change, and the FCCs allocate power as required to meet that command.” Archer’s controls include two sticks: the left regulates velocity while the right handles vertical speed and direction. 



These advances signal a new chapter for not only the eVTOL world, but also how pilots train. Flight is not so automated that the aviator is entirely removed from the equation—the pilot still dictates the direction and navigation of the aircraft’s path—but it is a fundamentally new way of flying. Not exactly a magic carpet, but closer than aviation has ever been before.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bb-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796192" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bb-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bb-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bb-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bb-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/bb-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



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



Gulfstream



G700



Breaking one record for rapid transit is remarkable enough, but what about two? Gulfstream’s ultra-large-cabin G700 did exactly that on recent trips from Savannah to Honolulu, covering the distance in eight hours and 52 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.9 using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel, and Los Angeles to Sydney in just 14 hours and 26 minutes—that’s two more performancebased honours to swell the G700’s growing tally of city-pair speed records.



Add to that the numerous features that make Gulfstream a commanding presence in its sector—whisper-quiet noise levels, the most spacious cabin in business aviation, 100 per cent freshair ventilation technology, natural-light design with panoramic windows, layout configuration flexibility, the lowest cabin altitude in the industry, and a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935—and the G700 stands for not only the fastest aircraft in the company’s fleet, but also the most comfortable, providing an unrivalled experience for passengers. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ee-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796193" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ee-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ee-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ee-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ee-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ee-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jet Card</h3>



Sentient



SJ25+



If there’s a gold standard for jet cards, Sentient, which launched the industry’s first in 1999, can claim the title. Despite the onslaught of competitors, its 25-hour card has remained at the top of the pack even as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The differentiators: Sentient’s new app allows clients to quote prices and book flights in under 60 seconds via text, its preferred aircraft fleet is top-tier, and the card is backed by a multi-tiered safety structure for its clients, including an independent safety advisory board. Or just consider the numbers over the past 25 years: more than one million passengers flown to over 2,500 destinations; 6,700 active card owners; and revenue growth of 549 per cent. Not to mention the company’s expanding partnerships with luxury hotels and events, which in 2024 offered perks valued at US$225,000 (HK$1.74 million), and its sustainability programme that offsets emissions 300 per cent from each flight with no cost to clients (to date, Sentient has offset 1.34 million metric tons of carbon). 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cc-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796194" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cc-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cc-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cc-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cc-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cc-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Super-Midsize Jet</h3>



Textron Aviation



Citation CJ3 Gen2



While it was no surprise that Textron Aviation would sequence through one of its most successful models for next-gen treatment, the Citation CJ3 Gen2 update still rocks, making it our pick for the best of the super-midsize fleet. Inside, the revised CJ3 looks and feels like a bigger jet than its predecessor, with an interior that its engineers are justifiably proud of—from the articulating seats to the use of eco-friendly materials throughout. On the flight deck, the updated Garmin G3000, coupled with the new GDL 60 data link, transforms the pilot’s suite into a connected cockpit. The jet has a max cruise of 416 knots true airspeed, a max range of 2,040 nautical miles, and a landing distance of 2,770 feet. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffs-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796195" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffs-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffs-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffs-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffs-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Exclusive Experiences</h3>



VistaJet



A global leader in private and business aviation, now with two decades under its belt, VistaJet knows better than most that getting travellers to and from their destination is only one part of the journey. As the demand for tailored experiences continues to rise, the company is reinforcing its commitment to its exclusive Private World programme, creating even more opportunities for VistaJet members to unlock a wealth of unparalleled adventures across the planet. 



From exploring the beautifully restored Bottega Veneta residence in Venice, witnessing spectacular wildlife on a luxury safari in the Serengeti National Park, and cruising through Costa Rica’s waters to discover humpback whales, dolphins, and sea turtles to highly coveted access to Formula 1 racetracks through Ferrari, VistaJet’s Private World collaborations with diverse partners are designed to offer members an everchanging calendar of activities that are personalised, unique, and exciting—not to mention completely unforgettable.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/a-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796196" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/a-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/a-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/a-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/a-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Large Cabin</h3>



Dassault



6X



Dassault recently delivered its first long-range 6X, completing a circle that began after the French aerospace firm cancelled its four-year-old 5X programme in 2017 without delivering any aircraft. It stretched the 5X’s fuselage by 20 feet to get the 6X, creating its debut wide-body configuration, which has a wider floor and taller cabin than its competitors. Despite the extra girth, the 6X’s stats are impressive: 5,500-nautical-mile range (delivering nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Geneva or S.o Paulo to London), 16-passenger capacity, and maximum speed of Mach 0.9. The customisable cabin, divided into three zones, has 30 extra-large windows, a full galley, and features such as a low-altitude pressurisation system and circadian-rhythm lights to mitigate jet lag. Fly-by-wire controls and an advanced situational awareness system called Falcon Eye are the cockpit differentiators. Plus, the 6X has paved the way for an even larger wide-body, the ultra-long-range 10X, scheduled for delivery in 2027. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffe-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796199" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffe-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffe-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffe-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffe-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ffe-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Light Jet</h3>



Embraer



Phenom 100EX



Embraer leans into the big E with its evolution of the Phenom 100EX. Choose your word: Efficiency, environment, experience—they all play a part to make it the biggestfeeling light jet on the market, which is a particularly crowded segment. Up front, the optional Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System (ROAAS) that enhances stabilised approaches adds an extra layer of protection during a critical phase of flight, while the Flight Stream 510 allows the pilot to connect portable electronic devices to the aircraft avionics, thus reducing workload. In the cabin, Embraer’s design team has revised every element—opening up the space, upgrading the seats, increasing workspace by 30 per cent by repositioning tables, and using new combinations of leather, Ultraleather, and veneer to dress up the interior. Stats remain best in class: a top speed of Mach 0.7, a 1,178-nautical-mile range, and a takeoff distance of 3,190 feet.

Aviation

Dassault

Gulfstream

Private Jet

Sentient

Textron Aviation

VistaJet

The Best in Wings 2025, From Gulfstream’s G700 and Dassault’s 6X to Textron Aviation’s Citation CJ3 Gen2

The private-jet world seems to be <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/private-aviation-declining-newcomers-leaving-1234792248/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">levelling off</a> from its record highs during the Covid years. The fractional and jet-card segments are still above pre-Covid sales levels, while others such as used aircraft sales and on-demand charter have declined from giddy highs in 2021 and 2022.



Sentiment for the near-term of <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/business-aviation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">business aviation</a> was positive at last week’s <a href="https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corporate Jet Investor (CJI) </a>conference in Miami, in an industry known for its cyclical highs and lows. Aircraft company CEOs, jet-card executives, aviation attorneys, aircraft brokers, and private equity reps examined different sectors of the industry during three days of interviews and panel discussions. They agreed, with some exceptions, that <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/private-jet-market-outlook-fall-2024-1235963576/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the market remains strong</a>, following those unprecedented pandemic highs.



“We’re happy as clams,” said Don Dwyer, a principal with Guardian Jet, a brokerage firm specialising in consulting and used aircraft sales. “We’re seeing an underlying optimism in people buying and selling aircraft. The market remains strong. This is our biggest year ever.”



<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/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-85642743.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794823" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-85642743.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-85642743.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-85642743.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-85642743.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">High-net worth clients have largely remained in business aviation since Covid, while the sector has also seen a return of corporate travelers.  Image courtesy of Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



The re-election of Donald Trump seems to have had an immediate beneficial impact. “Our market indicators have gone up 35 points since the election,” says Rollie Vincent, director of JetNet IQ, which tracks business aviation in industry surveys. “There are a lot of signs right now that things aren’t going to slow down, at least not for the short term—barring a black-swan event.”



Business aviation is broken down across different categories, between new and used aircraft sales, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/fractional-ownership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fractional ownership</a> (where a company or individual buys an ownership stake in a jet for three to five years), on-demand charter, and jet cards.



“It’s nuts. We saw our spring being extended beyond its usual season and then summer was really busy,” says Alan Walsh, senior vice president of client management and operations for Sentient, a jet-card maker. He explains that the company expects to sell US$100 million (around HK$778.50 million) worth of flights by the end of the year, and expects a strong year next year, “barring any unforeseen larger issues.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1.-Flexjet-Global-HQ-Exterior-Rampside.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794824" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1.-Flexjet-Global-HQ-Exterior-Rampside.jpg.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1.-Flexjet-Global-HQ-Exterior-Rampside.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1.-Flexjet-Global-HQ-Exterior-Rampside.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fractional ownership firms like <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/flexjet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flexjet</a> are seeing growth and making investments in new aircraft and infrastructure. Flexjet’s new US$50 million (around HK$389.25 million) headquarters.  Image courtesy of Flexjet</figcaption></figure>



Sentient’s sister company, Flexjet, has seen its fractional business grow during the Covid years and beyond. The company reported an 11 per cent year-to-date sales growth compared to last year, with a waiting list.



For the entire fractional segment, including fractional’s largest firm, NetJets, Flexjet, and nearly a dozen smaller companies, the number of flights was up 59 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter of pre-Covid 2019. A mix of whole aircraft owners, now selling their jets and moving into fractional, charter users, and corporate flight departments are driving the increase.



“Surprisingly, our fractional customer profile has gotten about 10 years younger,” said Kenn Ricci, the principal of Directional Aviation Capital, during the keynote address. “That’s a good thing because they’ll be with us longer. We’re also selling shares in four times as many mid- and super-mid aircraft than we do light jets. So, the jets are getting bigger. The other big change is our international growth.”



<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/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-582758850.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794825" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-582758850.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-582758850.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-582758850.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-582758850.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bizav’s weak links are shortages of repair facilities, technicians and spare parts. Some aircraft can be grounded for weeks.  Image courtesy of Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



The used-aircraft market, which softened after frenzied sales activity in 2021 and 2022, seems to be stabilising in the second half of this year, according to Vincent. “Values are holding up higher and longer than we expected, and we expect values to increase in the fourth quarter of this year,” he said. Because of US tax, the fourth quarter sees a surge of business jet sales.



New business jet deliveries were valued at about US$700 million (around HK$5.5 billion) this year, said Vincent, noting there is also a backlog of unbuilt, ordered aircraft valued at about $51 billion. “It’s enough for several years of production,” he said. “That leaves the aircraft manufacturers in good shape.”



On-demand charter is the only segment of the market that is softer, according to industry analyst Argus, which reported a 5.2 per cent drop in total hours during the first half of 2024, compared to the first half of 2023. But the 14.7 per cent decline from the 2022 high is even a better indicator in the decline of on-demand charter.



<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/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-158315417-1.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794826" style="width:837px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-158315417-1.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-158315417-1.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-158315417-1.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-GettyImages-158315417-1.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An ongoing pilot shortage also continues to dog the industry, with many owners unable to find pilots to fly their jets.  Image courtesy of Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



The shortage of aircraft repair technicians, and not enough Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centres, along with a continued supply-chain shortage of parts, is keeping many aircraft grounded for days, or even weeks. Ricci says a third of the Flexjet fleet is undergoing repairs at any given point. Most experts expect it to continue for several years.



The conference also had panels focusing on new connectivity technologies for aircraft cabins, the use of AI toward pilot-less aircraft, and the FlyHouse app that promises a seamless, Uber-like experience for people who want to book on-demand charters. Jack Lambert, FlyHouse’s founder, said the app lets potential charterers initiate a “reverse auction” among multiple charter firms and gain the best price. “On the low end, we expect this to be a US$3 (approximately HK$23.36 billion) to US$5 billion (around HK$38.93 billion) market in five years,” he said.

Business jet

corporate jet

private

The Private-Jet World Is Optimistic About 2025, Despite a Post-Covid Slow-Down

bombardier

Bombardier Global 7500

Here’s What It’s Like to Fly on the World’s Largest, Most Luxurious Business Jet

Why settle for a seat when you can have a suite?&nbsp;



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/london/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London</a> Heathrow’s private terminal, the Windsor, once a well-kept secret among royals and celebrities, has undergone a major renovation unveiling eight lavish lounges and a host of exclusive amenities from British brands. The first phase of the terminal’s three-year refurbishment offers up suites by Oliver Burns Studio, in addition to door-to-plane chauffeur service, a special menu by celebrity chef Jason Atherton, and private security screenings. To get in, you’ll need to be departing or arriving either business or first class on any airline. You’ll also have to pay a one-way entry fee of £3,812 (about US$4,795/HK$37,290) for up to three guests or £7,624 (US$9,648/HK$59,290) if you want round-trip access.  



Unlike the typical airline or credit-card-affiliated lounges, Heathrow’s Windsor terminal is directly owned and operated by the airport itself. You’ll be escorted from their front door directly to the plane in an all-electric <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bmw/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMW</a> i7, with pickup available within a 25-mile radius. A personal porter will meet you at the entrance to take your checked luggage. If you’re travelling internationally, a dedicated Border Force will be present to manage private immigration services. Then, just hand over your passports and documents to your host, and the rest is taken care of. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/the-windsor.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795730" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/the-windsor.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/the-windsor-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/the-windsor-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Members of the Windsor get shuttled to and around the airport in a private BMW. Image courtesy of the Windsor by Heathrow</figcaption></figure>



Each suite is named after a prestigious London neighbourhood, such as <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/chelsea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelsea</a> and Kensington, and sport bespoke furnishings, soft-hued Axminster carpets, Commune toiletries, and August&amp;Piers fragrances. The private terminal doesn’t currently offer showers or beds; however, each suite comes with a private bathroom and there are plans to add showers in the future, Burns told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-20/inside-heathrow-s-private-terminal-for-vips-the-windsor?srnd=homepage-americas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a>. The high-end art on display, which changes every two months, includes pieces from Banksy and Andy Warhol and are available for purchase via a QR code.  



When it comes to the food, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/michelin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michelin</a>-starred chef Jason Atherton has crafted a selection of exclusive dishes for the Windsor, including English butter shortbread with praline cream, Earl Grey tea ice cream, custard sauce, and charred mandarin. There’s also a traditional tea trolley that rolls through carrying everything from Champagne to Victoria sponge cakes.  



“The Windsor by Heathrow is more than just a rebrand, it’s a testament to our heritage in pioneering luxury travel,” Charlotte Burns, VIP lead at Heathrow, said in a press statement. “From our carefully curated interiors to our exceptional service, we provide our guests with an unparalleled experience that reflects the finest of British hospitality.”&nbsp;



Sounds like quite the upgrade.

Heathrow

London

Private Terminal

The Windsor

Inside the Windsor, the Private Terminal at London’s Heathrow Airport

<a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Boom Supersonic</a>&nbsp;hit a milestone yesterday when its XB-1 experimental jet passed Mach 1.0, the speed of sound, on its way to Mach 1.122 or 860.87 mph. The event took place over the Mohave Desert, the same location where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier for the first time in 1947. Yesterday’s flight was number 11 of the XB-1 human-piloted test flights that started last March.



And the test also the culmination of years of work for Boom, which began operations in 2014 and, against much industry skepticism, has become the first US independent company to join the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/supersonic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supersonic</a> club. The last civil supersonic jet was the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/supersonic-jet-concorde-replaced-boom-overture-1235428265/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Concorde</a>, which flew from 1969 through 2003.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-3.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795490" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-3.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-3-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-3-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Test pilot Tristan Brandenburg before flying the XB-1. Image courtesy of Boom Aerospace</figcaption></figure>



“XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,” said Boom’s founder Blake Scholl. “A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.” Boom has not received grants from any US military programmes, which some competitors considered essential to get a supersonic programme off the ground.



<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/supersonic-jet-test-flight-pilot-1236111411/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg</a>, Boom’s chief test pilot and a former Navy test pilot, made the flight yesterday. It followed a protocol that expanded its flight envelope through subsonic, transonic, and then supersonic speeds. It was shadowed by two former fighter jets that Boom uses to monitor the XB-1 during the test flights.



Scholl said the next step is to scale up the technology used on the XB-1 for Boom’s supersonic airliner called the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/boom-supersonic-major-steps-towards-flight-1234860127/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overture</a>. “Our ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone,” he said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-5.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795489" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-5.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-5-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-XB-1-SSF-5-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The first supersonic flight of a US-designed civil aircraft attracted a large crowd. Image courtesy of Boom Aerospace</figcaption></figure>



The Overture is a much larger, more complicated commercial aircraft, designed to fly at Mach 1.7 and carry 64 to 80 passengers. Boom anticipates that the first commercial Overtures will take flight in <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/boom-supersonic-jet-fly-next-months-1234889597/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2029</a>. It has begun construction of a <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/boom-opens-supersonic-factory-north-carolina-1235657781/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">production facility</a> in North Carolina and has received 130 orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.



Boom says, at scale, it should be able to produce 66 Overtures per year. But that is still just a business plan that many aviation experts believe is unrealistic, citing the fact that the company was forced to build its own supersonic engines after major aviation engine manufacturers turned down the project.



Still, the company proved that it has reached the first step through an experimental jet—a step that its better-funded competitor, <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/aerion-shuts-down-1234615163/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aerion</a>, never reached aft 20 years of developing its own supersonic business jet concept. It abruptly shut down in May 2021, citing little investor appetite in the supersonic concept.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-Overture-4.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234795488" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-Overture-4.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-Overture-4.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2.-Overture-4.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The XB-1’s goal is to prove the technologies needed to the larger Overture commercial supersonic airliner. Image courtesy of Boom Aerospace</figcaption></figure>



As a test platform, the XB-1 tries out multiple technologies that will be applied to the much larger and more complicated Overture. They include an augmented-reality vision system, which aids the pilot in seeing the runway on takeoff and landing, and digitally optimised aerodynamics, referring to the shape of the airframe and wings for the greatest stability at supersonic speeds. The aircraft is almost entirely made from carbon-composite materials, which allowed the designers to shape it more precisely.



The company will continue testing the XB-1 going forward.

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Let’s set the scene. The host: Robb Report Hong Kong. Our partner: Edrington. The location: The Garden Suite at The Peninsula Hong Kong. The occasion: The grand unveiling of The Glenrothes 51, a rare and exceptional bottle so precious that only one (of five total in all of Hong Kong) was in the room, guarded by the sharpest of eagle eyes. 



Anyone with HK$363,000&nbsp;to spare for The 51 would join an elite club of just 100 worldwide, and be invited to fly down to Scotland, welcomed at the distillery, and learn about how this liquid gold is created in the finest casks for an unforgettable pour, swivel, sniff, and sip.



<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="684" data-id="1234797201" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797201" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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It was an exceptional evening as&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;played host to just a handful of VIP guests and distinguished RR1 Hong Kong members as a remarkable whisky, which has been meticulously matured for more than half a century,&nbsp;made&nbsp;its first appearance in Hong Kong, following successful unveilings in San Francisco, New York, and London.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797211" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Upon arrival, attendees were greeted by the breathtaking panorama of Victoria Harbour and the newly launched Best of the Best 2025 annual magazine by&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong, setting the tone for a night steeped in sophistication. Our by-invitation-only guests assembled, each eagerly anticipating the celebration of this extraordinary release.



Tak Man, CEO and publisher of&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong, began the evening with a warm welcome. “It is an honour to have you all here tonight for a very special occasion: to unveil the&nbsp;Glenrothes&nbsp;51, a whisky that not only boasts an incredible 51 years of maturation but also introduces a world’s-first in whisky packaging design,” he remarked to the gathering. 



<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="684" data-id="1234797203" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797203" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">John Laurie.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-id="1234797431" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797431" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797466" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-1024x684.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797466" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-2048x1367.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797204" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-132-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797204" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-132-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-132-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-132-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-132-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-132-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797212" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797212" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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While the highlight of the evening was, undoubtedly, the unveiling of The Glenrothes 51, the reveal of the highly anticipated whisky was preceded by a spirited (pun intended) talk and engaging fireside chat led by Tak Man, featuring three esteemed whisky connoisseurs: Kam Daswani of Dram Good Stuff, Benjamin Po of Edrington, and John Laurie, head of global partnerships and private client management at The Glenrothes, who had flown in from Scotland specifically for the event. Together, they delved into the nuances of whisky appreciation, sharing insights that resonated with the gathered aficionados.



Guests raised their glasses&nbsp;to toast the occasion, and the selection of welcome drinks curated for the evening featured a range of exquisite Glenrothes, including the 18-, 32-, and 42-year-old variants—each a testament to the artistry and dedication behind every bottle.&nbsp;



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In anticipation of the excellent pours, the fine folks at The Peninsula Hong Kong crafted a menu that complemented the notes of the fine whisky. Guests started the meal with appetiser options of either Boston lobster avocado roulade or Hokkaido scallops with cauliflower and seaweed beurre blanc. For the main course, a slow-roasted Wagyu beef striploin was a solid option, and for those preferring lighter fare, there was a crispy&nbsp;amadai&nbsp;fillet with razor clam and young leek ragout. Cooling off the evening with a palate cleanser, dessert naturally had to be a Dulcey whipped ganache with the piquant tastes of mango marmalade and ginger madeleines.



This special gathering&nbsp;was not merely about unveiling a whisky—it was an homage to the shared love of exquisite craftsmanship, heritage, the bonds forged over fine spirits, and the indomitable spirit of fine whisky-making. As guests departed, they carried with them memories of an exceptional evening and the spirit of The Glenrothes and its enduring legacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;



All images shot exclusively for Robb Report Hong Kong.

RR1 event

The Glenrothes

Robb Report Hong Kong and RR1 Hong Kong Members Celebrated the Grand Unveiling of The Glenrothes 51 in Hong Kong

For those in search of an idyllic escape at the bottom of the world,&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Zealand</a> is offering a rare opportunity. After years of tight restrictions on foreign property ownership, a recent court ruling has opened the door for international buyers to purchase land in one of the country’s most breathtaking locations. And thanks to the foresight of entrepreneur Craig Heatley, a few select parcels of prime waterfront in the stunning Bay of Islands are now available.



<a href="https://omarino.co.nz/explore-omarino/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ōmarino</a> is the brainchild of Heatley, one of New Zealand’s most respected entrepreneurs. He and his family have owned the pristine, hilly land for nearly 24 years, and in that time, they’ve transformed what was once cattle-grazing land into a thriving, eco-friendly oasis. The over 350-acre property now comprises four fully completed homes, with five exclusive parcels still up for grabs, starting at US$8 million (approximately HK$62.15 million) per lot. Each lot spans 15 to 20 acres, ensuring owners enjoy both space and privacy. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="767" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/11.jpg-1024x767.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796686" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/11.jpg-1024x767.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/11.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/11.jpg-768x575.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/11.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The 350-acre Ōmarino community is set within New Zealand’s Bay of Islands. Image courtesy of Ōmarino</figcaption></figure>



New Zealand is known for its commitment to protecting its remarkable landscapes, and for good reason. In fact, the nation has strict laws surrounding foreign ownership, especially when it comes to its coastal regions.



“Ōmarino stands out as the premier development of its kind in New Zealand. As the only <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/real-estate-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">real estate</a> available to foreign buyers, it holds a unique distinction—only further enhanced by its breathtaking beauty,” Heatley tells Robb Report. “Ōmarino represents the pinnacle of luxury living defined by its unparalleled privacy, serenity, and exquisite Bay of Islands location.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="767" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/21.jpg-1024x767.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796687" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/21.jpg-1024x767.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/21.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/21.jpg-768x575.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/21.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">There are four already built homes in the development, with another five homesites now available. Image courtesy of Ōmarino</figcaption></figure>



The Overseas Investment Act (OIA) regulates who can buy land, making it incredibly challenging for outsiders to purchase property here. The OIA requires foreign buyers to get approval for sensitive properties in New Zealand. However, Ōmarino’s special OIA waiver allows international investors to purchase land in this exclusive community while bypassing typical restrictions.&nbsp;



The development offers more than just breathtaking views and epic homesites. Residents enjoy private beach access,&nbsp;a dedicated jetty for yachts up to 75 feet, world-class fishing, diving, golfing, and a private helipad for quick trips to Auckland. Plus, a full-time maintenance team ensures everything is kept pristine. In addition, the subdivision is also a model of sustainability. Over a million trees have been planted to restore soil stability and biodiversity.&nbsp;



But with only five parcels available, there’s bound to be some stiff competition from those looking for a remote and uncommonly beautiful escape from it all.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/new-construction/gallery/omarino-new-zealand-photos-1236362717" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> to see more photos of the New Zealand development.

Investment

New Zealand

New Zealand property

property

Real Estate

Inside Ōmarino, the Only Properties Open to Foreign Buyers in New Zealand

Scotch whisky distillery The Glenrothes has unveiled its latest creation, the remarkable 51, and among aficionados and connoisseurs, this refined and highly anticipated edition is the talk of the town. Aged for an impressive 51 years, this release represents the distillery’s oldest and most ambitious offering to date. Founded in 1879 with a goal of crafting the most elegant whisky in the world, The Glenrothes has long been synonymous with quality and sophistication, and The 51 embodies this vision in its most rarified form.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TGR-2022_RS-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797024" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TGR-2022_RS-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TGR-2022_RS-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TGR-2022_RS-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TGR-2022_RS-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TGR-2022_RS-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



It all starts with the water: the distillery sources exceptionally pure water from its own private spring which contributes to a delicate character that evolves beautifully over time. The 51 serves as a celebration of this natural phenomenon, epitomising a “strength in fragility” akin to the wild orchids that flourish discreetly on the Speyside estate. Such flowers inspired the crafting of this exceptional single malt, which is drawn from only two casks, resulting in a whisky that boasts a complexity and vibrancy seldom encountered in such aged spirits. Moreover, the unique composition of The 51 includes one cask that imparts floral notes reminiscent of the orchids’ fragrance, while the other delivers a luxurious richness.



With only 100 bottles available worldwide, this limited whisky release is as rare as it is fragrant, positioning The 51 as the crown jewel of The Glenrothes collection. Each sip reveals new layers of flavour, from soft floral notes to profound complexity, mirroring the cyclical beauty of the orchids that bloom annually on the estate.



“The 51 is a testament to those rare moments in whisky-making when patience, nature, and craft align perfectly,” says&nbsp;master whisky maker Laura Rampling of the special Glenrothes edition. She explains that “this whisky defies expectations—elegant yet powerful, it offers a singular experience for those who truly understand and appreciate rarity.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
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In a bold departure from traditional whisky packaging design, The 51 is encased in a solid, sustainably sourced jesmonite column—this innovative and interactive presentation necessitates the destruction of the receptacle to access the whisky, with each column breaking in a unique manner. Inside, a hidden “orchid” rewards those brave enough to unveil it. Once retrieved, owners are invited to return the remnants of the column to The Glenrothes, where a&nbsp;kintsugi&nbsp;artist will restore the pieces with precious metal, creating a bespoke vase that can nurture a real orchid, thus turning the remnants into a lasting work of art.



Jonny Fowle, global head of whisky at Sotheby’s, highlights the bottle’s appeal “for true lovers of whisky; those who interact, drink, and enjoy Scotch.” He commended The 51 for its bright tropical fruit characteristics and rare vitality, which reflect the distillery’s exceptional ability to age whisky, with each layer of flavour harmoniously integrated.



The launch of The 51 marks a pivotal moment for The Glenrothes, a bold reimagining that pays homage to the distillery’s founding story. Priced at £37,000 (approximately HK$370,655), this extraordinarily limited release offers connoisseurs a rare opportunity to experience a transformative moment in an industry poised for innovation.



Available through select whisky specialists, including Sotheby’s.



All images courtesy of The Glenrothes.

The 51

Whisky

The Glenrothes Unveils Its Oldest and Most Ambitious Scotch Whisky to Date

It might surprise you to know that one of the most in-demand Burgundy domaines (as wine estates are known in that region) is owned and run by a champion rock climber: Pierre Duroché of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.domaine-duroche.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Domaine Duroché</a>&nbsp;from the village of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits. Burgundy is full of eccentric vignerons (winemakers), as well as people who have enjoyed successful previous careers (such as, Jean-Marc Roulot, the actor and owner of famed white wine domaine, Domaine Jean-Marc Roulot). So perhaps we should not be surprised to see a champion rock climber running up and down the vines either.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hot Property</h2>



As a passionate wine collector of Burgundy wines, Domaine Duroché came onto my radar around 2015. I had heard some gossip that there was a new guy making top quality wine in the small village of Gevrey-Chambertin. Eventually, thanks to my persistence, I managed to gain an audience at the estate with Pierre and his charming wife, Marianne. Having tasted the wines—stylistically focused on elegance and purity—I realised that I had to own them. Ever since, I have come back to the Domaine at every opportunity, and have seen a continual improvement in wine quality as the youthful, Pierre, learns his trade.



Born in 1982, Pierre and his wife, Marianne, make no less than 18 wines (or cuvées, as they are called) from an estate covering a mere 8.6 hectares, recently adding a new grand cru (a tiny 0.099 hectare plot) to their repertoire, Charmes-Chambertin. (They also make a few wines from buying grapes, known as négociant wines.) Indeed, to add to the workload, for the 2020 vintage, Pierre makes eight cuvées of one barrel or less (i.e. less than 300 bottles). Included is his tiny production of Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, where he makes 85 litres (less than 115 bottles) in a mini-barrel specially made by Burgundy’s 30-year-old wizkid cooper, Pierre Cavin at Tonnellerie Cavin. Indeed, the Griotte is the smallest declared single cuvée in the whole Burgundy region, in part because very few vignerons would even attempt to make a wine from such little juice. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796976" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg-768x576.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aiming High</h2>



Rock climbing has been in Pierre’s blood from a very young age. His parents noticed his fascination with climbing when they took him on family holidays to Zermatt, Switzerland and found him continually wandering off to climb things, causing his parents no end of stress! At age 12, his best friend, Bertrand Dugat of Domaine Claude Dugat, introduced him to the sport. Bertrand was one of the best climbers in the Burgundy region, and Pierre naturally wanted to be better. Honing his skills, he rose through the ranks, and was then called up to the French national team to compete in the World Cup of Rock Climbing in 2004. Of the five members of the French squad, due to his inability to escape the family vineyards, he was the only amateur to compete—all of the rest were professionals. Competing at World Cups in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008, he usually ranked in the top 10 to 25 competitors individually, at a time when the French were the team to beat. Unfortunately, due to the pressures of work, he gave up competing at this level in 2013, although he still dabbles, especially on holidays; this summer, he was rock climbing with the family in Squamish, Canada.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conquering the Peaks</h2>



One claim to fame is how he conquered a particularly impassable route in the Cormot, a famed climbing area in the Burgundy region. One of the routes, graded 9A in difficulty, had never been traversed. (Difficulty levels are graded from 3A all the way up to 9B, which is the maximum.) In 2007, Pierre achieved what nobody else had previously done and nobody else has done since despite the attempts of hundreds of climbers. Chapeau, Monsieur Duroché!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Partner in Life and Wine</h2>



He has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to rock climbing: he met his wife, Marianne, at a rock climbing gym in 2007, as she had come along with her brother, another passionate rock climber, who now runs Domaine Jacques Cacheux down the road in Vosne-Romanée. (Whoever knew there were so many rock climbers in the Côte de Nuits?!) After they married in 2014, Marianne and Pierre became partners in life and at work. They run the estate together, and Marianne is involved in all aspects of the work, whether in the vineyards, cellar or office. They have even managed to build a small négociant business by buying grapes from her brother in Vosne, to make a Vosne-Romanée village and an Echezeaux Grand Cru wine. According to Pierre, Marianne is generally always right when it comes to difficult decisions—something a lot of us married men have come to appreciate about our wives!  The couple have two children: Albane, a daughter, who is six, and Edgar, a son, who is four; keeping them out of playing in the vats or on the tractor is a perennial problem. 



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s in the Blood</h2>



Pierre’s journey in the wine world started from youth, growing up on the estate run by his father and mother (who passed away from cancer in May 2022). The estate has been in the family for five generations, since 1906. His father tended to sell the grapes to négociants rather than bottle the wines under his own label. Having grown up around the vines, it was natural for Pierre to study viticulture. His course consisted of one-third class study and two-thirds apprenticeship. A career away from rock climbing was a necessity in order to continue with the family business. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Taking Control</h2>



In 2003, his father asked him to come in as a partner. Pierre promptly arranged a bank loan and bought 50 per cent of the estate. From the start, his father was more interested in the administration side of the business, leaving the vineyard and cellar work to his young passionate son. Pierre’s influence led to them bottling more and more wine under their own Domaine Duroché label, until 2013, when they stopped selling grapes to négociants entirely. In 2015, Pierre bought out the remaining 50 per cent of the estate from his father, who is now retired. 



Principally self-taught, Pierre’s moment of enlightenment came in 2005, when he and his best friend, Bertrand Dugat, opened two incredible bottles together: Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 1995 from Bertrand’s family estate and a Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Denis Mortet. It was at that moment, Pierre realised how good wine could be, and he made it his mission to try to make wines of this level from his family estate. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quality-Driven</h2>



To reach these heights, he made the decision early on to cut the amount of new oak barrels for ageing—which he felt negatively affected the elegance of the wines—as well to avoid fining and filtration entirely. In the vineyard, starting with the Cazetiers vineyard in 2014, he began to increase the size of the canopy, focusing on reducing the crop yield and increasing homogeneity through more precise pruning and de-buding work; as a result, even in the difficult 2021 vintage, there was no need for Pierre to sort the grapes. Depending on the vineyard, he has experimented with vine training techniques, such as the time-consuming Echalas system, used by Charles Lachaux at Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux and Jean-Yves Bizot at Domaine Bizot, two of Burgundy’s greatest winemakers. In his very old vineyards, where there are already a lot of smaller grapes that ripen well, there is less need to experiment with such techniques, as they would take too much energy from the old vines. Pierre’s philosophy is to be flexible and adopt the best techniques for each vineyard, rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-1024x768.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796977" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-1024x768.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-768x576.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg.webp 1417w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pleasure Seeker</h2>



Elegance, purity, precision, and pleasure are what Pierre is aiming for in his wines. Indeed, on a recent trip together with our wives, Pierre told me about how his friend, Klaus-Peter Keller (the famed German winemaker), who had come to the Domaine to taste, commented that “when you have a sip, you always want to have another one”—proof that Pierre is achieving his goals. To confirm the theory, when arranging a trip to Château Latour for Pierre and I, Jean Garandeau, the sales and marketing director at Latour, expressed his excitement to see Pierre; I asked him if he liked Pierre’s wines, to which he responded: “What’s not to like about the Duroché wines?” (Of course, no homegrown Bordelais would have ever made that comment, but Garandeau is originally from Burgundy.)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Great Terroir</h2>



Pierre’s job is helped considerably by the vineyards he owns, which include four Grand Crus: Griotte-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, and the famed Chambertin Clos de Bèze. The vine age across the estate is 70 years, but in Chambertin Clos de Bèze, it is over a hundred years old, which explains why he made a 100-year anniversary wine in 2020 in memory of his grandfather: the Hommage à Philippe. Old vines, although less productive, make very concentrated berries, which help create depth and complexity in the wines. Pierre thinks he has more millerandage in his vineyards than most estates due to the age of his vines—these are the small, shot berries that produce potently concentrated juice. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Arsenal Above All</h2>



What I like most about Pierre is that he’s an Arsenal fan. At my suggestion, he completely renovated a new cellar with an Arsenal crest logo embedded into the marble. It has become known as the “Arsenal Cellar,” perhaps the only example of its type in the world of wine!



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As a mad, passionate Gooner (as us Arsenal fans are known), there’s an instant connection with anyone who “bleeds red and white.” Pierre’s love of the world’s greatest football team came from watching Frenchman and legendary Arsenal player, Thierry Henry, play some of the most breathtaking football ever seen in the English Premiership. Our joint love of Arsenal, therefore, created an instant brotherly bond between us, despite the fact that Pierre—as he himself admits—is shy and reserved, and takes a little time to open up. Marianne, on the other hand, is naturally friendly, and her smile can disarm even the sternest of customers. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not Enough Wine</h2>



Although he only made 20,000 bottles across the estate in 2020, he sells to 40 countries. As one of the superstars of Burgundy, Pierre isn’t short of buyers for his wines. The issue is having enough wine to sell—a familiar retort from all the top winemakers in the region. Nonetheless, despite having precious little wine, I asked Pierre to open the best three wines he has ever made so we could taste them together.  



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pierre’s Top 3 Wines</h2>



We started with the 2019 Chambertin Clos de Bèze. (He would have opened the 2020, which he thinks is better, but it’s still too young.) Despite being one of the top Grand Cru in the Côte de Nuits, he used no new oak on this wine. The tannins were super silky, the red fruit character fresh and juicy, filling the mouth and ending with a long sweet finish. The wine had all the characteristics I recognise when tasting Pierre’s Chambertin Clos de Bèze: elegance, concentration without being heavy, and a touch of sweet spice. At 13 per cent ABV, the wine has wonderful balance without the power being muted. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-768x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796979" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-768x1024.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-225x300.webp 225w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-1152x1536.webp 1152w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg.webp 1417w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



The 2016 Chambertin Clos de Bèze is from a vintage which suits Pierre’s winemaking style. Even purer than the 2019, with a little bit more sweet spice, the crushed raspberry nose is very complex and the sweet long finish is typical of all Pierre’s wines. A class act.



Finally, the pièce de résistance, the 2016 Griotte-Chambertin from the tiny 85 litre Cavin barrel. Simply a wow wine: darker, denser, and more mature than the Chambertin Clos de Bèze, the wine has a lot more power and concentration while maintaining an elegance and purity that defies explanation. Made from vines planted in 1923, using the whole bunch method (i.e. the grapes have not been de-stemmed), vinifying such a small quantity of grapes is an art form in itself. I have to admit that I couldn’t stop tasting the wine until I had finished the bottle, such was the pleasure I derived from it. Shame, he didn’t have another bottle with him!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best 3 Red Wines Pierre has tasted – but not made</h2>



1953 Château Cos d’Estournel



1952 Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru



1976 Domaine Dujac, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best White Wine Pierre has tasted</h2>



1962 Joseph Drouhin Marquis de Laguiche, Montrachet Grand Cru&nbsp;



Pierre’s Death-Row Last Request:



1982 Château Lafleur in Magnum



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pierre’s Desert Island Choices</h2>



Book: L’Axe du Loup by Sylvain Tesson



Film: Les Tontons flingueurs



Music: Alain Souchon &amp; The Doors



Luxuries: Swiss Army Knife&nbsp;



Past-time: Rock climbing &amp; gardening



The 2025 edition of the Golden Vines awards will take place in Miami between 7–9 November. <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.

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Professional partnerships in the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/wine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wine</a>&nbsp;industry are far less frequent than fashion or watch collaborations. But even if they were a dime a dozen, the oenological world would likely still be fervently excited about the just-released joint effort by Penfolds Grange and La Chapelle, which blends two of the world’s finest Syrahs—one grown in&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/australia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australia</a>, where the grape is called&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/shiraz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiraz</a>, and the other in&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/france/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">France</a>—into a single bottle.&nbsp;



It helps that Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago and La Chapelle owner and winemaker Caroline Frey are longtime friends. They came up with the idea to blend their products over—what else?—a glass of wine after meeting at the Vinexpo trade fair in Bordeaux many years ago. And though both prestigious businesses produce coveted vintages, the resulting bottling is somehow far greater than the sum of its parts.&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/2025/04/Grange_LaChapelle_Bottle.jpg-2-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797380" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grange_LaChapelle_Bottle.jpg-2-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grange_LaChapelle_Bottle.jpg-2-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grange_LaChapelle_Bottle.jpg-2-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grange_LaChapelle_Bottle.jpg-2.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The finished collaboration bottle.  Image courtesy of Penfolds Wines</figcaption></figure>



Penfolds Grange was created in 1951 and is named for the original estate cottage Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfolds and his wife, Mary, had built in Adelaide, in 1844. Once completed, they planted cuttings of Syrah grapes transplanted from France. It is arguably the most coveted Australian wine among connoisseurs in the know. La Chapelle also takes its name from a specific structure: the chapel of St Christopher, which sits atop a granite hill on the banks of the Rhône. It has been tempting collectors since the 1920s, and several of its vintages have scored the elusive 100-point grading from critics, placing it among the most acclaimed bottles in the world. 



“The two wines, La Chapelle and Grange, the Syrah and Shiraz, have such a connection, such a long story,” Frey says. “Even if it seems a little crazy, the idea to blend them came quite naturally.”&nbsp;



Because they could legally not be mixed in France, the La Chapelle 2021 had to be air-freighted to Australia in temperature-controlled tanks before being combined with an equal amount of Grange. “They were initially oak-aged separately, then blended, and then went back to oak,” Gago explains. “That helps us with the harmony, not just of the flavours, but also the tannins.” In other words, Frey adds, “you don’t identify those two wines in the blend, but for me the interesting thing is that it shows me the powerful side of La Chapelle and the elegance of Grange.” 



<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/2025/04/Syrah_Fields.jpg-2-683x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797379" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Syrah_Fields.jpg-2-683x1024.webp 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Syrah_Fields.jpg-2-200x300.webp 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Syrah_Fields.jpg-2-768x1152.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Syrah_Fields.jpg-2-1024x1536.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Syrah_Fields.jpg-2.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Syrah fields that produce La Chapelle’s wines. Image courtesy of La Chapelle</figcaption></figure>



The result, called Grange La Chapelle 2021, is violet in the glass and offers a bouquet of black cherry, pomegranate, and eucalyptus with a pleasant touch of forest floor. After an opening burst of cranberry, slightly grippy tannins and well-balanced acidity support flavours of purple plum, blackberry, milk chocolate, mint, and black pepper, with a soft hint of baking spices that lingers into the persistent finish. 



You won’t find it on a store shelf anywhere: The tightly limited bottling is being sold directly to customers (at US$2,500/approximately HK$19,395 apiece). Those who miss out will be pleased to learn that the 2022 and 2023 vintages are already bottled and resting in the Penfolds museum under Gago’s watchful eye.

La Chapelle

Penfolds

Penfolds Grange

Penfolds Grange and La Chapelle Team Up for a Limited-Edition Wine Collaboration

Let’s set the scene. The host: Robb Report Hong Kong. Our partner: Edrington. The location: The Garden Suite at The Peninsula Hong Kong. The occasion: The grand unveiling of The Glenrothes 51, a rare and exceptional bottle so precious that only one (of five total in all of Hong Kong) was in the room, guarded by the sharpest of eagle eyes. 



Anyone with HK$363,000&nbsp;to spare for The 51 would join an elite club of just 100 worldwide, and be invited to fly down to Scotland, welcomed at the distillery, and learn about how this liquid gold is created in the finest casks for an unforgettable pour, swivel, sniff, and sip.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797201" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797201" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-47-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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It was an exceptional evening as&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;played host to just a handful of VIP guests and distinguished RR1 Hong Kong members as a remarkable whisky, which has been meticulously matured for more than half a century,&nbsp;made&nbsp;its first appearance in Hong Kong, following successful unveilings in San Francisco, New York, and London.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797211" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-3-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Upon arrival, attendees were greeted by the breathtaking panorama of Victoria Harbour and the newly launched Best of the Best 2025 annual magazine by&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong, setting the tone for a night steeped in sophistication. Our by-invitation-only guests assembled, each eagerly anticipating the celebration of this extraordinary release.



Tak Man, CEO and publisher of&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong, began the evening with a warm welcome. “It is an honour to have you all here tonight for a very special occasion: to unveil the&nbsp;Glenrothes&nbsp;51, a whisky that not only boasts an incredible 51 years of maturation but also introduces a world’s-first in whisky packaging design,” he remarked to the gathering. 



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797203" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797203" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-94-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">John Laurie.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-id="1234797431" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797431" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/gl_rs-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797466" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-1024x684.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797466" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-127_RS-2048x1367.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-id="1234797212" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797212" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RRHK-x-Glenrothes-51-Private-Dinner-2-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
</figure>



While the highlight of the evening was, undoubtedly, the unveiling of The Glenrothes 51, the reveal of the highly anticipated whisky was preceded by a spirited (pun intended) talk and engaging fireside chat led by Tak Man, featuring three esteemed whisky connoisseurs: Kam Daswani of Dram Good Stuff, Benjamin Po of Edrington, and John Laurie, head of global partnerships and private client management at The Glenrothes, who had flown in from Scotland specifically for the event. Together, they delved into the nuances of whisky appreciation, sharing insights that resonated with the gathered aficionados.



Guests raised their glasses&nbsp;to toast the occasion, and the selection of welcome drinks curated for the evening featured a range of exquisite Glenrothes, including the 18-, 32-, and 42-year-old variants—each a testament to the artistry and dedication behind every bottle.&nbsp;



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In anticipation of the excellent pours, the fine folks at The Peninsula Hong Kong crafted a menu that complemented the notes of the fine whisky. Guests started the meal with appetiser options of either Boston lobster avocado roulade or Hokkaido scallops with cauliflower and seaweed beurre blanc. For the main course, a slow-roasted Wagyu beef striploin was a solid option, and for those preferring lighter fare, there was a crispy&nbsp;amadai&nbsp;fillet with razor clam and young leek ragout. Cooling off the evening with a palate cleanser, dessert naturally had to be a Dulcey whipped ganache with the piquant tastes of mango marmalade and ginger madeleines.



This special gathering&nbsp;was not merely about unveiling a whisky—it was an homage to the shared love of exquisite craftsmanship, heritage, the bonds forged over fine spirits, and the indomitable spirit of fine whisky-making. As guests departed, they carried with them memories of an exceptional evening and the spirit of The Glenrothes and its enduring legacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;



All images shot exclusively for Robb Report Hong Kong.

In the battle of luxury powerhouses,&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/hermes-heirs-five-billion-payout-1236228055/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hermès</a>&nbsp;has come out on top—for now, at least.



The French fashion house’s market capitalisation hit US$276.3 billion (€243.65 billion) on Tuesday, surpassing&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/lvmh/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVMH</a>&nbsp;Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE’s valuation of US$274.5 billion (€243.44 billion). That figure places Hermès in the No. 3 spot on the list of the largest listed companies in Europe, trailing behind software brand SAP SE and weight-loss drug supplier Novo Nordisk A/S, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-15/hermes-market-value-surpasses-lvmh-which-once-tried-to-buy-it?srnd=homepage-americas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. It also makes the&nbsp;maison&nbsp;the most valuable company in France, according to the nation’s CAC40 stock index—as well as the world’s most valuable luxury company, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/luxury-stocks-fall-after-lvmh-sales-miss-expectations-f62254ba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>.



The shakeup comes in the wake of LVMH’s poor performance in Q1, where the brand saw a 3 percent decline in sales—falling below analysts’ projected 2 percent growth over the same period, Reuters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/lvmh-shares-slump-after-luxury-giants-q1-sales-miss-forecast-2025-04-15/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>. The drop was the result of sluggish demand in the U.S. and China, as well as the looming threats of tariffs and their threatening presence over the luxury market. As a result, the conglomerate’s shares fell over 8 percent.



“Hermès is seen as more resilient in certain environments, which are more uncertain, and that’s exactly what is happening right now,” Jelena Sokolova, an analyst at Morningstar, told Bloomberg.



That market value is something of a victory for Hermès. In 2015, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault sent shock waves through the luxury sector when he announced that he had acquired a stake in the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/hermes-birkin-luxury-handbag-slingo-1234871666/">Birkin</a>&nbsp;bag maker, Bloomberg reported. In response, the Hermès family came together and eventually drove&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/finance/2024-french-billionaire-losses-1236137150/">France’s richest man</a>&nbsp;to sell his shares in the company.



Something that’s helping Hermès is the exclusivity of its products. Most notable, of course, are handbags like its Birkin and Kelly, demand for which far surpasses supply.



Many high-end brands, including LVMH, have suffered over the past year in the face of a <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/lvmh-revenue-luxury-slowdown-1235786060/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">luxury slowdown</a> that has plagued the sector—though the Arnault-helmed conglomerate did net a better-than-expected <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/lvmh-revenue-1236185585/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US$88.27 billion</a> in 2024, a growth of 1 percent from 2023. As for Hermès, the maison has been bucking the trend, seeing an <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/fashion/hermes-beats-luxury-slowdown-1235966414/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11.3 percent</a> increase in sales in Q3 last year and whipping up about US$15.9 billion (€15.2 billion) in revenue in 2024 overall—a 13 percent increase from the year prior.



As for how the luxury brands will fare in 2025, we’ll just have to wait and see.

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Hermès Just Passed LVMH as the World’s Most Valuable Luxury Company

It might surprise you to know that one of the most in-demand Burgundy domaines (as wine estates are known in that region) is owned and run by a champion rock climber: Pierre Duroché of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.domaine-duroche.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Domaine Duroché</a>&nbsp;from the village of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits. Burgundy is full of eccentric vignerons (winemakers), as well as people who have enjoyed successful previous careers (such as, Jean-Marc Roulot, the actor and owner of famed white wine domaine, Domaine Jean-Marc Roulot). So perhaps we should not be surprised to see a champion rock climber running up and down the vines either.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hot Property</h2>



As a passionate wine collector of Burgundy wines, Domaine Duroché came onto my radar around 2015. I had heard some gossip that there was a new guy making top quality wine in the small village of Gevrey-Chambertin. Eventually, thanks to my persistence, I managed to gain an audience at the estate with Pierre and his charming wife, Marianne. Having tasted the wines—stylistically focused on elegance and purity—I realised that I had to own them. Ever since, I have come back to the Domaine at every opportunity, and have seen a continual improvement in wine quality as the youthful, Pierre, learns his trade.



Born in 1982, Pierre and his wife, Marianne, make no less than 18 wines (or cuvées, as they are called) from an estate covering a mere 8.6 hectares, recently adding a new grand cru (a tiny 0.099 hectare plot) to their repertoire, Charmes-Chambertin. (They also make a few wines from buying grapes, known as négociant wines.) Indeed, to add to the workload, for the 2020 vintage, Pierre makes eight cuvées of one barrel or less (i.e. less than 300 bottles). Included is his tiny production of Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, where he makes 85 litres (less than 115 bottles) in a mini-barrel specially made by Burgundy’s 30-year-old wizkid cooper, Pierre Cavin at Tonnellerie Cavin. Indeed, the Griotte is the smallest declared single cuvée in the whole Burgundy region, in part because very few vignerons would even attempt to make a wine from such little juice. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796976" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PHOTO-2022-08-26-14-37-03.jpg-768x576.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aiming High</h2>



Rock climbing has been in Pierre’s blood from a very young age. His parents noticed his fascination with climbing when they took him on family holidays to Zermatt, Switzerland and found him continually wandering off to climb things, causing his parents no end of stress! At age 12, his best friend, Bertrand Dugat of Domaine Claude Dugat, introduced him to the sport. Bertrand was one of the best climbers in the Burgundy region, and Pierre naturally wanted to be better. Honing his skills, he rose through the ranks, and was then called up to the French national team to compete in the World Cup of Rock Climbing in 2004. Of the five members of the French squad, due to his inability to escape the family vineyards, he was the only amateur to compete—all of the rest were professionals. Competing at World Cups in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008, he usually ranked in the top 10 to 25 competitors individually, at a time when the French were the team to beat. Unfortunately, due to the pressures of work, he gave up competing at this level in 2013, although he still dabbles, especially on holidays; this summer, he was rock climbing with the family in Squamish, Canada.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conquering the Peaks</h2>



One claim to fame is how he conquered a particularly impassable route in the Cormot, a famed climbing area in the Burgundy region. One of the routes, graded 9A in difficulty, had never been traversed. (Difficulty levels are graded from 3A all the way up to 9B, which is the maximum.) In 2007, Pierre achieved what nobody else had previously done and nobody else has done since despite the attempts of hundreds of climbers. Chapeau, Monsieur Duroché!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Partner in Life and Wine</h2>



He has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to rock climbing: he met his wife, Marianne, at a rock climbing gym in 2007, as she had come along with her brother, another passionate rock climber, who now runs Domaine Jacques Cacheux down the road in Vosne-Romanée. (Whoever knew there were so many rock climbers in the Côte de Nuits?!) After they married in 2014, Marianne and Pierre became partners in life and at work. They run the estate together, and Marianne is involved in all aspects of the work, whether in the vineyards, cellar or office. They have even managed to build a small négociant business by buying grapes from her brother in Vosne, to make a Vosne-Romanée village and an Echezeaux Grand Cru wine. According to Pierre, Marianne is generally always right when it comes to difficult decisions—something a lot of us married men have come to appreciate about our wives!  The couple have two children: Albane, a daughter, who is six, and Edgar, a son, who is four; keeping them out of playing in the vats or on the tractor is a perennial problem. 



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s in the Blood</h2>



Pierre’s journey in the wine world started from youth, growing up on the estate run by his father and mother (who passed away from cancer in May 2022). The estate has been in the family for five generations, since 1906. His father tended to sell the grapes to négociants rather than bottle the wines under his own label. Having grown up around the vines, it was natural for Pierre to study viticulture. His course consisted of one-third class study and two-thirds apprenticeship. A career away from rock climbing was a necessity in order to continue with the family business. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Taking Control</h2>



In 2003, his father asked him to come in as a partner. Pierre promptly arranged a bank loan and bought 50 per cent of the estate. From the start, his father was more interested in the administration side of the business, leaving the vineyard and cellar work to his young passionate son. Pierre’s influence led to them bottling more and more wine under their own Domaine Duroché label, until 2013, when they stopped selling grapes to négociants entirely. In 2015, Pierre bought out the remaining 50 per cent of the estate from his father, who is now retired. 



Principally self-taught, Pierre’s moment of enlightenment came in 2005, when he and his best friend, Bertrand Dugat, opened two incredible bottles together: Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 1995 from Bertrand’s family estate and a Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Denis Mortet. It was at that moment, Pierre realised how good wine could be, and he made it his mission to try to make wines of this level from his family estate. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quality-Driven</h2>



To reach these heights, he made the decision early on to cut the amount of new oak barrels for ageing—which he felt negatively affected the elegance of the wines—as well to avoid fining and filtration entirely. In the vineyard, starting with the Cazetiers vineyard in 2014, he began to increase the size of the canopy, focusing on reducing the crop yield and increasing homogeneity through more precise pruning and de-buding work; as a result, even in the difficult 2021 vintage, there was no need for Pierre to sort the grapes. Depending on the vineyard, he has experimented with vine training techniques, such as the time-consuming Echalas system, used by Charles Lachaux at Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux and Jean-Yves Bizot at Domaine Bizot, two of Burgundy’s greatest winemakers. In his very old vineyards, where there are already a lot of smaller grapes that ripen well, there is less need to experiment with such techniques, as they would take too much energy from the old vines. Pierre’s philosophy is to be flexible and adopt the best techniques for each vineyard, rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-1024x768.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796977" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-1024x768.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-300x225.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg-768x576.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Duroche-Pierre-IMG_0547.jpg.webp 1417w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pleasure Seeker</h2>



Elegance, purity, precision, and pleasure are what Pierre is aiming for in his wines. Indeed, on a recent trip together with our wives, Pierre told me about how his friend, Klaus-Peter Keller (the famed German winemaker), who had come to the Domaine to taste, commented that “when you have a sip, you always want to have another one”—proof that Pierre is achieving his goals. To confirm the theory, when arranging a trip to Château Latour for Pierre and I, Jean Garandeau, the sales and marketing director at Latour, expressed his excitement to see Pierre; I asked him if he liked Pierre’s wines, to which he responded: “What’s not to like about the Duroché wines?” (Of course, no homegrown Bordelais would have ever made that comment, but Garandeau is originally from Burgundy.)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Great Terroir</h2>



Pierre’s job is helped considerably by the vineyards he owns, which include four Grand Crus: Griotte-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, and the famed Chambertin Clos de Bèze. The vine age across the estate is 70 years, but in Chambertin Clos de Bèze, it is over a hundred years old, which explains why he made a 100-year anniversary wine in 2020 in memory of his grandfather: the Hommage à Philippe. Old vines, although less productive, make very concentrated berries, which help create depth and complexity in the wines. Pierre thinks he has more millerandage in his vineyards than most estates due to the age of his vines—these are the small, shot berries that produce potently concentrated juice. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Arsenal Above All</h2>



What I like most about Pierre is that he’s an Arsenal fan. At my suggestion, he completely renovated a new cellar with an Arsenal crest logo embedded into the marble. It has become known as the “Arsenal Cellar,” perhaps the only example of its type in the world of wine!



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As a mad, passionate Gooner (as us Arsenal fans are known), there’s an instant connection with anyone who “bleeds red and white.” Pierre’s love of the world’s greatest football team came from watching Frenchman and legendary Arsenal player, Thierry Henry, play some of the most breathtaking football ever seen in the English Premiership. Our joint love of Arsenal, therefore, created an instant brotherly bond between us, despite the fact that Pierre—as he himself admits—is shy and reserved, and takes a little time to open up. Marianne, on the other hand, is naturally friendly, and her smile can disarm even the sternest of customers. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not Enough Wine</h2>



Although he only made 20,000 bottles across the estate in 2020, he sells to 40 countries. As one of the superstars of Burgundy, Pierre isn’t short of buyers for his wines. The issue is having enough wine to sell—a familiar retort from all the top winemakers in the region. Nonetheless, despite having precious little wine, I asked Pierre to open the best three wines he has ever made so we could taste them together.  



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pierre’s Top 3 Wines</h2>



We started with the 2019 Chambertin Clos de Bèze. (He would have opened the 2020, which he thinks is better, but it’s still too young.) Despite being one of the top Grand Cru in the Côte de Nuits, he used no new oak on this wine. The tannins were super silky, the red fruit character fresh and juicy, filling the mouth and ending with a long sweet finish. The wine had all the characteristics I recognise when tasting Pierre’s Chambertin Clos de Bèze: elegance, concentration without being heavy, and a touch of sweet spice. At 13 per cent ABV, the wine has wonderful balance without the power being muted. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-768x1024.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796979" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-768x1024.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-225x300.webp 225w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg-1152x1536.webp 1152w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4901.jpg.webp 1417w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



The 2016 Chambertin Clos de Bèze is from a vintage which suits Pierre’s winemaking style. Even purer than the 2019, with a little bit more sweet spice, the crushed raspberry nose is very complex and the sweet long finish is typical of all Pierre’s wines. A class act.



Finally, the pièce de résistance, the 2016 Griotte-Chambertin from the tiny 85 litre Cavin barrel. Simply a wow wine: darker, denser, and more mature than the Chambertin Clos de Bèze, the wine has a lot more power and concentration while maintaining an elegance and purity that defies explanation. Made from vines planted in 1923, using the whole bunch method (i.e. the grapes have not been de-stemmed), vinifying such a small quantity of grapes is an art form in itself. I have to admit that I couldn’t stop tasting the wine until I had finished the bottle, such was the pleasure I derived from it. Shame, he didn’t have another bottle with him!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best 3 Red Wines Pierre has tasted – but not made</h2>



1953 Château Cos d’Estournel



1952 Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru



1976 Domaine Dujac, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best White Wine Pierre has tasted</h2>



1962 Joseph Drouhin Marquis de Laguiche, Montrachet Grand Cru&nbsp;



Pierre’s Death-Row Last Request:



1982 Château Lafleur in Magnum



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pierre’s Desert Island Choices</h2>



Book: L’Axe du Loup by Sylvain Tesson



Film: Les Tontons flingueurs



Music: Alain Souchon &amp; The Doors



Luxuries: Swiss Army Knife&nbsp;



Past-time: Rock climbing &amp; gardening



The 2025 edition of the Golden Vines awards will take place in Miami between 7–9 November. <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.

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The Best in Wheels 2025, From the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II and Aston Martin Vantage to Porsche 911 S/T

It has taken its time, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/aston-martin-reveals-production-valhalla-supercar-1234624583/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston Martin Valhalla</a>&nbsp;has finally made it to the finished line.



The British marque just unveiled the production version of its eagerly anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/plug-in-hybrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plug-in hybrid</a>&nbsp;supercar. The futuristic speed machine will launch as part of the automaker’s 2026 model class and is somehow more impressive than what was originally promised.



The Valhalla made its debut way back in 2019 in the guise of the AM-RB 03 concept. Five years is a significant chunk of time and it should come as no surprise that the supercar has evolved in that time, even since the production version was first teased in 2021. Sure, the finished version of the car may look about the same, but thanks to the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/aston-martins-formula-1-team-helped-develop-valhalla-supercar-1235041677/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">help of the automaker’s Formula 1 team</a>&nbsp;the hardware is different—and more powerful.



<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/valhalla03.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794261" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla03.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla03.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla03.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla03.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2026 <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/aston-martin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston Martin</a> Valhalla. Image courtesy of Aston Martin</figcaption></figure>



The big story with any supercar is bound to be the powertrain, and the Valhalla is no different. At the centre of the plug-in hybrid setup is a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V-8. It’s similar to the mill found in the DBX707 but has a flat-plane crank, dry-sump lubrication system, reworked pistons, and bespoke ignition system. Thanks to these changes the engine, which is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, makes 817 hp, which is 77 hp more than the brand said it was targeting in 2021.



That figure alone would make the Valhalla potent, but its powertrain also includes three electric motors, one more than was supposed to be present in 2021. Two of the motors are positioned on the front axle (which gives the car all-wheel drive) and the other is integrated into the transmission and acts as a starter generator. The trio gets its juice from a 6.0-kWh battery pack that can be recharged while decelerating. Thanks to the motors the vehicle can also operate in EV mode, in which it can cover 8.6 miles at speeds of up to 80 mph.



<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/valhalla05.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794262" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla05.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla05.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla05.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla05.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Aston Martin</figcaption></figure>



When the engine and all three motors are working together output comes to a combined 1,064 hp and 811 ft lbs of torque. The first figure is 127 hp more than the number quoted in 2021 (937 hp), meaning the powertrain is nearly 14 per cent more powerful than expected. Performance numbers remain the same, but it’s hard to imagine anyone complaining. Aston Martin says the Valhalla can rocket from zero to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph.



That last number is helped by the Valhalla’s rather aggressive aero kit. The vehicle, as is increasingly common in its class, looks like a LMDh prototype racer with slightly cleaner, more attractive lines. It sits low to the ground, has a wide-mouth grille, sculpted curves, and an active rear wing that can elevate up to 10 inches up into the air. These elements combine to produce 1,323 pounds of downforce once you reach 149 mph, helping keep the car glued to the road. It’s also equipped with a set of forward-hinted dihedral doors that open up to reveal a surprisingly minimalist interior. The cabin lacks the flare of the exterior, but the flat-bottomed steering wheel and simplified digital screen setup are nice touches.



<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/valhalla06.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794263" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla06.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla06.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla06.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/valhalla06.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Aston Martin</figcaption></figure>



The Valhalla is a 2026 model and because of that it won’t go into production until the latter half of next year. The marque plans to build just 999 examples of its electrified supercar, which will likely sell quick. No final price has been announced, but it’s previously been speculated that it would cost between US$800,000 (approximately HK$6.21 million) and US$1 million (approximately HK$7.77 million).



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-production-ready-2026-aston-martin-valhalla-1236116968" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the 2026 Aston Martin Valhalla.

hybrid

Supercar

Aston Martin Just Unveiled Its First Plug-In Hybrid Supercar

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/genesis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genesis</a>&nbsp;unveiled its first full-scale&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/genesis-new-race-team-gmr-001-prototype-racer-le-mans-1236110595/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GMR-001 hypercar</a>&nbsp;this week in New York City, where it will go on display at the New York International Auto Show ahead of a campaign next year that will see it race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.&nbsp;



The company had&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/genesis-new-race-team-gmr-001-prototype-racer-le-mans-1236110595/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously shown a version of the race car</a>, launched by Genesis Magma&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/racing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Racing</a>, the luxury marque’s racing team. The new prototype is for LMDh endurance racing, including in the FIA World Endurance Championship, which races at Le Mans, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, whose most famous races are the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.



Genesis’s new hypercar is intended to show that the luxury marque can compete with the world’s very best when it comes to endurance racing, and, therefore, perhaps manufacturing performance-oriented luxury cars as well. Porsche, Toyota, and Audi have dominated the World Endurance Championship in recent seasons.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="577" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6_GMR_REAR-BOTTOM_-SAMIR-e1744813487991.jpg-1-1024x577.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234797332" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6_GMR_REAR-BOTTOM_-SAMIR-e1744813487991.jpg-1-1024x577.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6_GMR_REAR-BOTTOM_-SAMIR-e1744813487991.jpg-1-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6_GMR_REAR-BOTTOM_-SAMIR-e1744813487991.jpg-1-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6_GMR_REAR-BOTTOM_-SAMIR-e1744813487991.jpg-1-1536x865.webp 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6_GMR_REAR-BOTTOM_-SAMIR-e1744813487991.jpg-1.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Genesis GMR-001. Image courtesy of Genesis</figcaption></figure>



The car Genesis revealed Wednesday shows a livery that the company says is inspired by the brand’s Korean heritage. The livery incorporates elements of Hangul, including the lettering for “magma,” or 마그마. A team supervised by Genesis chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke, who is perhaps best known his work on&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/drive-review-2001-lamborghini-diablo-1236144323/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Lamborghini Diablo</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/car-of-the-year-2009-winner-lamborghini-gallardo-lp5604-237055/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lamborghini Gallardo</a>, designed the car’s bodywork.



“The GMR-001 Hypercar, like every race car, is a sculpture designed by the constraints of efficiency and performance—combined with the design DNA of Genesis—the brand with the Two Lines,” Donckerwolke said in a statement. “The livery is an orchestration of the tension and balance of the distinctly Korean character of the brand with gradients from Magma orange to dark red emphasising the high temperature of the powertrain. And the colour gradients from light to dark of the Magma writing in Hangeul is an optical doppler effect that expresses the glorious sound of the V-8 Twin Turbo engine in motion.”



Genesis has not released performance numbers for the hypercar, though it will conform to endurance racing regulations, including with the twin-turbo V-8. It’s expected to make around 670 horsepower.



The new car represents a big push for Genesis Magma Racing, which is Genesis’s motorsport program. That itself is an expression of Magma, which is Genesis’s new performance sub-brand for its luxury cars, in the same way that Mercedes has AMG and BMW has M. With endurance racing and a big splash at the New York International Auto Show, Genesis is hoping that in a decade or two buyers will put Genesis Magma in the same sentence as those two marques.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/genesis-gmr-001-photos-1236476504/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the Genesis GMR-001.

Genesis

le mans

Genesis Just Unveiled Its New Hypercar for Le Mans

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mercedes-benz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercedes-Benz</a>’s next generation of&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/electric-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric vehicles</a>&nbsp;is finally here.



The German luxury marque unveiled the latest version of the CLA-Class sedan on Thursday. The sleek four-door will only be available as an EV at launch and offers up a preview of what to expect from the marque’s battery-powered models going forward.



Mercedes has been teasing the new CLA since 2023, when it first appeared in concept form. That may seem like a lot of time and effort to spend hyping up an entry-level vehicle, but the sedan is also the first car built on the new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) platform. The flexible technology—it was designed to be compatible with multiple powertrain types—will provide the underpinning for several vehicles in the years to come, including the next-generation GLA and GLB SUVs.



<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/2025/03/cla01.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796645" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla01.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla01.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla01.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla01.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



Thanks to the new platform, the CLA is Mercedes’s most advanced EV yet. Two versions will be available at launch, the 250+ and 350 4Matic. The first has a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup that makes 268 hp and 247 ft lbs of torque, while the latter has a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup that makes 349 hp and 380 ft lbs of torque (both models feature a two-speed transmission designed to improve efficiency). Those aren’t exactly performance specs that get the heart racing, but they’re decent for a more accessible EV. The 250+ can accelerate from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds, the 350 4Matic in 4.8 seconds, and both top out at 130 mph. Another version, with a hybrid powertrain, will launch in the future.



Driving range is just as important as acceleration or top speed when it comes to everyday EVs, and it’s there that the CLA shines. The 250+ travels an estimated 492 miles on a charge and the 350 4Matic 479 miles. Those numbers were reached using Europe’s more forgiving WLTP testing cycle, but the EPA estimate should be over 400 miles in both cases. The MMA platform’s 800-volt technology will also allow for DC fast charging at speeds of up to 320 kW. This would theoretically allow drivers to add up to 200 miles of range with a 10-minute charge.



<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/2025/03/cla03.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796647" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla03.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla03.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla03.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla03.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the new CLA Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



The CLA’s new design is just as impressive. The production version looks almost identical to the concept, which is a very good thing. The four-door is sleek but has a more aggressive and athletic look than the company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mercedes-benz-2023-model-year-lineup-1234743820/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current, blob-like EVs</a>. We’re especially fond of the illuminated grille, which surrounds the three-pointed star with light-up elements.



The redesigned interior is just as sharp. The front features a trio of displays—a digital gauge cluster, the infotainment system, and an optional passenger screen—that span the length of the dashboard. There’s also a standard panoramic glass roof, which provides more headroom for those sitting in the back. Because it is a Mercedes, the sedan comes with a long list of premium materials and trim options, as well.



<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/2025/03/cla02.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796648" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla02.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla02.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla02.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cla02.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



The new CLA is set to go on sale later this year. Mercedes has yet to announce pricing for the sedan, but something in the neighbourhood of its current US$45,000 (HK$349,675) starting price doesn’t seem out of the question, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/business/mercedes-cla-electric-vehicle.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to The New York Times</a>. That price would also help it be more than competitive with Tesla. The hybrid model is expected to follow sometime next year.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-2026-mercedes-benz-cla-ev-1236362796" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.

Electric Vehicle

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLA

The New Mercedes-Benz CLA Previews the Marque’s Exciting Electric Future

Mercedes is saying “auf Wiedersehen” to the hottest of hot hatches.



The German luxury marque has revealed that its discontinuing the A-Class, three years after it stopped selling the vehicle in the US, <a href="https://www.motor1.com/news/753969/mercedes-a-class-dying/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Motor1.com</a>. Why is this such a big deal? Because that means the automaker has pulled the plug on its one and only hatchback.



Since its introduction in 1997, the A-Class has been Mercedes’s entry-level model. In the car’s fourth generation, a sedan edition was added to the lineup, but it has mainly been sold as a three- or five-door hatchback. As a true compact, it’s often been on the smaller end of the automotive spectrum, but there have also been several AMG versions over the years. The most recent, the wing-sporting A 45, came with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that made 421 hp, making it the most powerful gas-powered hatchback you could buy.



<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/2025/03/amga4501.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796729" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/amga4501.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/amga4501.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/amga4501.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/amga4501.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2023 <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mercedes-amg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercedes-AMG</a> A 45 S. Image courtesy of Justin Leighton/Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



But the A-Class’s days as the automaker’s entry-level model are now over. Last week, that role was <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/2026-mercedes-benz-cla-ev-previews-electric-future-1236362595/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">taken over by the new CLA sedan</a>, and this week, Mercedes has confirmed the older model won’t make it past this generation. The <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">news</a> comes via chief technology officer, Markus Schäfer, who <a href="https://www.quattroruote.it/news/industria-finanza/2025/03/17/mercedes_benz_schafer_la_classe_a_non_avra_eredi_.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told Italian magazine Quattroruote</a> that the company will built fewer compacts, which are mainly popular in its home region, to focus on more expensive SUVs, which sell better worldwide.



“We need models that will work around the world, including China and the US,” the executive said. “I know the hatchback is a favourite in Europe, but it was not part of the plan, and we had to make choices, including difficult ones.”



Mercedes may be getting out of the hot-hatch game, but there are still a couple of attractive options out there for compact enthusiasts—especially if they’re willing to go electric. The 641-hp <a href="https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/ioniq-5-n" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ioniq 5 N</a> has won plenty of plaudits since debuting in the summer. Renault is also bringing back the legendary <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/13-youngtimers-modern-classic-car-collectibles-1235389594/rr_new_classics_renault_5_turbo_2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 Turbo</a> as an <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/renault-5-electric-mini-supercar-turbo-1236372284/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">all-electric “mini-supercar”</a> that it claims will make 540 hp. And, for those who crave a more traditional powertrain, there’s also the <a href="https://automobiles.honda.com/civic-type-r" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Honda Civic Type R</a> and <a href="https://www.toyota.com/grcorolla/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Toyota GR Corolla</a>. The cars may top out at around 300 hp, but they are both available with a six-speed manual, something that can’t be said of their more powerful battery-powered peers.

German luxury

Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes-AMG Is Getting Out of the Hatchback Game

Are you concerned the new&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/bugatti-tourbillon-hybrid-hypercar-revealed-1235660589/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bugatti Tourbillon</a>&nbsp;isn’t ridiculous enough? Don’t worry, the marque has you covered.



The French automaker has just unveiled the first option package for its third modern-day hypercar. Dubbed the Équipe Pur Sang, the upgrade celebrates the company’s racing-rich history and adds several new elements, including six additional exhaust tips.



The&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bugatti/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bugatti</a>&nbsp;name may be most closely associated with exclusivity these days, but in its early days, the automaker was a major player on the track. The company was a dominant force in racing between the wars, its cars taking checkered flags at the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 and twice at the 24 Hours of Le Mans the next decade. The new option package—the name of which translates, in English, to “Team Thoroughbred”—is meant to pay tribute to this heritage.



<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/2025/04/tourbilloneps02.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796909" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps02.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps02.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps02.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps02.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bugatti Tourbillon Équipe Pur Sang. Image courtesy of Bugatti</figcaption></figure>



The Tourbillon Équipe Pur Sang may not look radically different from the base hypercar, but eagle-eyed observers will notice a couple of subtle tweaks. These include a new front splitter, upgraded directional wheels, and a deployable rear wing with small endplates to increase downforce and stability. The biggest changes can be found in the rear, where the standard two-pipe exhaust system now features eight tips. This is complemented by a reworked diffuser which helps improve aerodynamic efficiency.



Inside the vehicle, you’ll find new embroidered details on the dashboard and headrests. Performance seats designed to offer enhanced lateral support in the corners also come standard.



<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/2025/04/tourbilloneps01.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796908" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps01.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps01.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps01.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tourbilloneps01.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the Tourbillon Équipe Pur Sang. Image courtesy of Bugatti</figcaption></figure>



The Tourbillon’s hybrid powertrain remains untouched. It’s not hard to see why engineers have chosen to leave well enough alone. The setup, which pairs a naturally aspirated 8.3-litre V-16 with a trio of electric motors, makes a combined 1,800 hp and 1,464 ft lbs of torque. All that power is enough to rocket the car from zero to 60 mph in two seconds flat and to a targeted top speed of 276 mph.



“With the Équipe Pur Sang option, we elevate its appearance towards the track, enabling customers to celebrate the pure racing soul that has defined Bugatti for over a century,” Hendrik Malinowski, the managing director of Bugatti, said in a statement.



Has your interest been piqued? Just be prepared to spend. Bugatti has yet to announce how much the Équipe Pur Sang option package will cost, but expect to add a significant amount to the Tourbillon’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/lists/most-expensive-cars-1234885095/bugatti-tourbillon-4-1-million/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US$4.1 million (approximately HK$31.91 million) starting price</a>.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-racing-inspired-bugatti-tourbillon-equipe-pur-sang-1236383865" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the Bugatti Tourbillon Équipe Pur Sang.

Bugatti

New Tourbillon

Bugatti Just Made the New Tourbillon Hypercar Even Better

As the Lunar New Year approaches, this is not just a time for celebration, but also for the most prestigious watchmakers in the world to unveil their exclusive, carefully crafted, limited-edition snake- and serpent-themed timepieces—an annual affair that we have come to embrace as artisans and craftspeople of note exercise their deft skillsets in creating absolutely striking (pun intended) timepieces.



Lunar New Year is always a special occasion in the world of luxury timepieces, with watchmakers unveiling exclusive designs that celebrate the rich symbolism of the Chinese zodiac. As the spotlight falls on the Year of the Wood Snake, precision meets artistry in a series of breathtaking creations. From intricate engravings to masterful enamel work, these watches embody not just a celebration of tradition but also a daring exploration of modern craftsmanship.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FRANCK-MULLER_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794971" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FRANCK-MULLER_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FRANCK-MULLER_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FRANCK-MULLER_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FRANCK-MULLER_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FRANCK-MULLER_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Franck Muller</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Franck Muller</h3>



Silhouette CX Snake



Paying homage to the transformative power of the snake, Franck Muller’s Silhouette CX Snake is a striking creation that blends serpentine allure with cutting-edge technical innovation. Its unmissable ophidian influence is complemented by the debut of the Silhouette CX case, making this piece an instant standout. With only 28 pieces available in Asia-Pacific, the watch promises to be as rare as it is captivating.



<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/2025/01/BREITLING-_2400x1600-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794969" style="width:841px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BREITLING-_2400x1600-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BREITLING-_2400x1600-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BREITLING-_2400x1600-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BREITLING-_2400x1600-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BREITLING-_2400x1600-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Breitling</figcaption></figure>



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



Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Cobra



Breitling’s latest release, the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Cobra, features a bold take on the Year of the Snake with a striking cobra motif, with just 200 pieces available. Find the hidden-in-plain-sight snake on the nine o’clock subdial, paired with a conspicuous yellow, black, and red colour scheme. A true statement of power with a perfect fusion of watchmaking mastery and striking design, this distinctive timepiece conveys both personality and prominence.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LANGE-1-MOON-PHASE_2400-1600--1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794975" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LANGE-1-MOON-PHASE_2400-1600--1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LANGE-1-MOON-PHASE_2400-1600--300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LANGE-1-MOON-PHASE_2400-1600--768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LANGE-1-MOON-PHASE_2400-1600--1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LANGE-1-MOON-PHASE_2400-1600--2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of A. Lange &amp; Söhne</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A. Lange &amp; Söhne</h3>



Lange 1 Moon Phase



Not a snake in sight but nevertheless a special edition launched ahead of the Lunar New Year, we had to embrace this gorgeous release from A Lange &amp; Söhne. Its unique design is such that the watch captures the spirit of the new year perfectly with its off-centre design—a Lange signature, based on the golden ratio—and moon-phase display.&nbsp;Imagine experiencing this masterpiece, where the moon-phase display unfolds before one’s eyes, with a celestial disc gracefully rotating every 24 hours.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IWC-Schaffhausen-_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794967" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IWC-Schaffhausen-_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IWC-Schaffhausen-_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IWC-Schaffhausen-_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IWC-Schaffhausen-_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IWC-Schaffhausen-_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of IWC Schaffhausen</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">IWC Schaffhausen</h3>



Portofino Automatic Moon Phase



IWC Schaffhausen celebrates the Lunar New Year with a limited-edition Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake, available exclusively at the newly reopened boutique in IFC Mall in Hong Kong. Its 37 mm stainless-steel case is paired with a vibrant burgundy dial, symbolising the colour of fire, while the golden moon and stars create a stunning contrast. Limited to just 500 pieces, this elegant timepiece is a perfect fusion of tradition and sophistication for the festive season.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hublot_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794973" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hublot_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hublot_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hublot_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hublot_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hublot_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Hublot</figcaption></figure>



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



Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake



Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake is a captivating tribute to the wisdom, transformation, and allure of the snake in the Chinese zodiac. Limited to just 88 pieces—a lucky number denoting good luck, fortune, and blessings in Chinese culture—this remarkable timepiece features an intricate, gold-plated snake integrated into the open dial. With the snake motif extending across the engraved bezel and strap, it flawlessly combines horological craftsmanship and artistic expression.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-PF_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794977" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-PF_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-PF_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-PF_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-PF_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-PF_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Parmigiani Fleurier</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Parmigiani Fleurier</h3>



Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar in Rose Gold



Parmigiani Fleurier’s intricate Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar made waves as the first-ever mechanical watch capable of displaying the complexities of the complete Chinese calendar, seamlessly merging Swiss watchmaking with Chinese&nbsp;cultural heritage. Now available in rose gold, the timepiece celebrates the heritage, innovation, and artistry of Chinese history, and its powerful relationship with the cosmos.



<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/2025/01/Breguet_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794968" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Breguet_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Breguet_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Breguet_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Breguet_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Breguet_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Breguet</figcaption></figure>



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



Classique 7145 Lunar New Year 2025



Breguet’s latest creation honours the elegance and enigmatic symbolism of the serpent, showcasing trademark artisanal mastery through a gold-engraved dial in bas-relief to transform the dial into a stunning miniature sculpture. Open-tipped hands and a delicate profile make this an instantly recognisable Breguet timepiece, revealing the depth and brilliance of the&nbsp;maison’s mastery and horological expertise.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Longines_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794976" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Longines_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Longines_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Longines_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Longines_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Longines_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Longines</figcaption></figure>



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



Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake



Conquest Heritage gets a timely new appearance for the Year of the Snake. Chinese artist Wu Jian’an collaborated with Longines on this project to create a design appropriately dressed in red and gold. On the caseback, the intricate engraving shows a serpent holding a&nbsp;lingzhi&nbsp;mushroom in its mouth, symbolising longevity.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 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="1234794974" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaeger_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794974" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaeger_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaeger_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaeger_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaeger_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaeger_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1234794983" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jaeger_2400-1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794983" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jaeger_2400-1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jaeger_2400-1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jaeger_2400-1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jaeger_2400-1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jaeger_2400-1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jaeger-LeCoultre</h3>



Reverso Tribute Enamel “Snake”



Jaeger-LeCoultre is back with another instalment of its festive Lunar New Year timepiece series, a fine addition for collectors looking to complete the zodiac. Using hand-engraving and enamelling techniques, the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Snake” features a pink-gold case with Art Deco-inspired detailing. A coiled snake motif, enveloped by clouds, stands as the main highlight, powerfully projected off the black&nbsp;grand feu&nbsp;enamel background that has become a signature for the collection.



<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/2025/01/Harry-Winston_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794972" style="width:823px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Harry-Winston_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Harry-Winston_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Harry-Winston_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Harry-Winston_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Harry-Winston_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Harry Winston</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Harry Winston</h3>



Chinese New Year Automatic



Harry Winston observes the arrival of the Year of the Snake with a pair of extremely limited, 36 mm timepieces in 18-carat rose and white gold. Featuring a green-and-red colourway with a diamond-studded rose-gold case, and a blue-and-red colourway for the equally sparkling white-gold design, the mother-of-pearl dial is decorated with a lacquered snake and painted metal leaves, paired fittingly with a red leather strap.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chaumet_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794970" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chaumet_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chaumet_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chaumet_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chaumet_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chaumet_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Chaumet</figcaption></figure>



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



Espiègleries Tresors d’Afrique



Not strictly a Lunar New Year watch, but certainly bearing a serpent motif, Chaumet’s Espiègleries Tresors d’Afrique celebrates Africa’s lush flora and fauna, highlighting the snake as the centrepiece of the dial. It features a golden snake set with brilliant-cut tsavorite garnets and yellow sapphires, decorated with enamel and enhanced with a yellow-gold frog and leaves, completing its vivid 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/2025/01/VAC_MdA_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794978" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/VAC_MdA_2400x1600-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/VAC_MdA_2400x1600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/VAC_MdA_2400x1600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/VAC_MdA_2400x1600-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/VAC_MdA_2400x1600-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Vacheron Constantin</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Vacheron Constantin</h3>



The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac—Year of the Snake



In honour of its historic ties with China, Vacheron Constantin recently unveiled&nbsp;the latest addition to its Legend of the Chinese Zodiac series to herald the Year of the Snake. An annual exercise to commemorate Lunar New Year, the timepiece features an exquisite dial decoration crafted by a master artisan, who delicately applies enamel powder using a fine brush. Each layer of colour is fired at high temperatures to create a stunning gradient of hues from the centre to the edge.

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Chinese New Year

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Hublot

Lunar New Year 2025: 12 Luxury Watches to Celebrate the Year of the Snake

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/rolex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolex</a>&nbsp;is rolling into 2025 hot with a price hike on its&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/gold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gold</a>&nbsp;models. For those who bought new models at retail last year, that’s good news, but for those still on the Crown’s seemingly eternal waitlists, that could mean paying more when the time comes to collect on your long-awaited timekeeper.&nbsp;



Hard-to-get and expensive references are becoming even more out of reach. <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/all-of-rolexs-new-watches-from-watches-wonders-1235575848/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Last year’s gold releases </a>saw price increases of around nine to 11 per cent. The Rolex Deepsea—the company’s shockingly heavy dive watch with an equally hefty price to match—went up from US$52,100 (approximately HK$405,049) in 2024 to US$58,000 (approximately HK$450,918) today for an 11.33 per cent climb. Meanwhile, Everose models, such as the Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228235 and the Sky-Dweller Ref. 336935, rose 11.57 per cent and 9.26 per cent, respectively, for new price tags of US$46,300 (approximately HK$359,957) for the Day-Date and US$57,800 (approximately HK$449,363) for the Sky-Dweller. That’s almost US$5,000 (HK$38,872) more for each and that doesn’t factor in taxes.



<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/2025/01/m228235-0055-.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794616" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/m228235-0055-.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/m228235-0055-.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/m228235-0055-.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/m228235-0055-.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



It’s not a price hike just because they’re Rolex, <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-certified-pre-owned-program-shorting-watch-market-1235779745/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and they can</a>…although they could certainly get away with it. This is due to the continuing rise of the precious metal industry globally. In 2024, gold prices rose by nearly 40 per cent with both consumers and countries betting on the investment due to varying factors from worldwide instability. At the beginning of last year, gold was roughly US$2,000 (approximately HK$15,549) per ounce and was up to US$2,800 (approximately HK$21,768) by the end of the year. According to some jewellers we’ve spoken with, they expect the price of gold to continue to rise and, given Rolex is, on its own, a pretty steady value riser, getting in on its gold models, even at higher prices than last year, is probably a pretty good idea. That is if you can get your hands on them. Pre-owned Rolex expert <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rolex-paul-altieri-bobs-watches-2723552/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Altieri</a> of <a href="https://www.bobswatches.com/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9m7BhD1ARIsANsIIvDdxplWFHPCPwqGJk2OHAUP8fVClqoGhcjQ72i-8OiZwqNvb-gZxgcaAg1IEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bob’s Watches</a> sees it for what is typically the driving factor in the watch world: rarity. “The Rolex price increases aren’t just an economic reaction,” he tells Robb Report. “It’s a recalibration of value in a world where craftsmanship and scarcity remain timeless currencies.” As suspected, he adds that a price increase at Rolex nearly always equates to an increase in demand.



In other words, it may be high time to follow up with your Rollie AD&#8230; again.

Gold Rolex

Gold Watches

Rolex

Watches

Rolex’s Gold Watches Just Got More Expensive

<a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/de-bethune-swizz-beatz-new-watch-season-1234820436/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swizz Beatz and De Bethune</a>&nbsp;are back at it again.



The record producer and the Swiss watchmaker just dropped an all-new timepiece, the DB Kind of Two GMT “Season 3,” marking their <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/de-bethune-dream-watch-5-tourbillion-season-1234644131/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">third collaboration</a> since 2021. And, as usual with this dream team, this release shows off some seriously inspired engineering: The watch offers up two distinct dials—one contemporary, one classic—that wearers can choose via an ultra-precise flipping mechanism.



For this vision from Beatz and Denis Flageollet, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/de-bethune/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">De Bethune</a>’s master watchmaker and founder, an extra level of mechanical wizardry was required. For the new launch, known as reference DBK2V1SB, the brand created a hand-wound movement that was entirely developed and produced in its Swiss manufacture. The calibre DB2517 is made up of 394 parts and offers up a four-day power reserve, ensured by a self-regulating twin barrel.



<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/2025/04/debethuneDB-Kind-of-Two-GMT-Season-3.png-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796826" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethuneDB-Kind-of-Two-GMT-Season-3.png-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethuneDB-Kind-of-Two-GMT-Season-3.png-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethuneDB-Kind-of-Two-GMT-Season-3.png-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethuneDB-Kind-of-Two-GMT-Season-3.png.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The contemporary dial on the new DB Kind of Two GMT “Season 3.” Image courtesy of De Bethune</figcaption></figure>



The contemporary dial, one of two personalities you’re getting with “Season 3,” is made to show off that movement. With a black-and-gold colour scheme, the timepiece features a black open-worked deltoid bridge in its centre, mimicking the shape of a triangle. On this side, a sub-dial at six o’clock shows off the golden hour markers, while the minutes are shown around the periphery—both equipped with polished, blue-steel hands. Alongside the microlight and satin finishes, you can catch a glimpse of the dual central gold wheels of the jumping time mechanism and those silver twin barrels.



Flipping over to the other side, you’ll find the classic GMT dial, done up in silver, black, and hints of De Bethune’s signature blue. Here, you get the polished mirror-finished steel jumping seconds hand in all its glory, tracking the silver numbers around the dial’s outer edge. The hour numerals, meanwhile, are set on a wider ring, marked by blue titanium hands. A hand-guilloché central motif streaked with waves of silver and blue mark the centre of the dial.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/swizzbeatzdebethunewatchdials.png.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796827" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/swizzbeatzdebethunewatchdials.png.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/swizzbeatzdebethunewatchdials.png-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/swizzbeatzdebethunewatchdials.png-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A close-up of both dials. Image courtesy of De Bethune</figcaption></figure>



On the DB Kind of Two GMT “Season 3,” the contemporary dial is where you’ll set your home time, using the crown in position three. Then, the second time zone is set on the GMT dial by pulling the crown to its second position.



With a Nubuck strap, the new launch is also housed in a 43.3 mm case, which sits at a 11.4 mm thickness and is crafted from zirconium and satin-finished Grade 5 titanium. The floating lugs were redesigned just for this timepiece, allowing you to move with ease between the two dials. And if you’re into the Jekyll and Hyde effect, you better act fast: Limited to just 10 pieces, the “Season 3” is priced at US$235,000 (CHF 210,000/HK$1.9 million).



As we mentioned, this isn’t Beatz’s first collab with De Bethune. The duo launched <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/de-bethune-dream-watch-5-tourbillion-season-1234644131/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Dream Watch 5 Tourbillon “Season 1”</a> back in 2021, a striking, ogive-shaped timepiece that showed off a flurry of the watchmaker’s signature patents. That first drop was followed by the sleek <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/de-bethune-swizz-beatz-new-watch-season-1234820436/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DBD “Season 2”</a> with a burgundy dial just two years later, a 43 mm number that Beatz described as “the culmination of a constant quest in which beauty meets virtuosity.”



<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/2025/04/debethunelounge1916newyork.png-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796828" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethunelounge1916newyork.png-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethunelounge1916newyork.png-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethunelounge1916newyork.png-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/debethunelounge1916newyork.png.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the new De Bethune lounge at the 1916 Company New York. Image courtesy of De Bethune</figcaption></figure>



And, in case you need another reason to celebrate, De Bethune is opening its first dedicated space in the US, joining two other locations in Geneva and Hong Kong. Known as the De Bethune Lounge at the 1916 Company New York, it is housed in the Big Apple’s Fuller Building on Madison Avenue. There, you can explore De Bethune’s rotating collection of timepieces, both old and new, and eventually use its upcoming custom-strap service on your favourite models from the watchmaker. You won’t have to wait long to check it out, either: The new space will start welcoming customers via private appointment starting 24 March.

collab

De Bethune

Dual-dial watch

Swizz Beatz

Watch

De Bethune and Swizz Beatz Team Up (Again) on a Bonkers Dual-Dial Watch

Few partnerships of this exalted stature resonate as profoundly as that between Richard Mille and Ferrari, and the fact we didn’t see it coming on the horizon and it simply and suddenly zoomed into view—that’s just perfect branding and timing!&nbsp;



Ferrari and Richard Mille’s RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph emerges as a highly coveted collaboration, bringing to the table the essence of both brands in peak formation: innovation, performance, and impeccable design. Limited to just 150 pieces—75 crafted from micro-blasted titanium and 75 from carbon TPT—this watch not only pays homage to the marque’s illustrious legacy but also sets a new benchmark in high-complication timepieces that Richard Mille has been perfecting for so many decades.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5kgjQt9yXpwaXqqxJ-original-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796748" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5kgjQt9yXpwaXqqxJ-original-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5kgjQt9yXpwaXqqxJ-original-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5kgjQt9yXpwaXqqxJ-original-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5kgjQt9yXpwaXqqxJ-original-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5kgjQt9yXpwaXqqxJ-original-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



In fact, the genesis of the RM 43-01 is a testament to the synergy between Maranello and Les Breuleux. Each watch is a canvas where engineering prowess meets aesthetic brilliance. Ferrari Centro Stile’s involvement has been pivotal, influencing everything from the watch’s silhouette to intricate details such as the crown and the strap, which features a pattern reminiscent of the Purosangue’s luxurious seats—a deliberate design choice that encapsulates the passion and precision that define Ferrari as a leading automotive giant.&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/2025/03/E6ZTrA357r67NPCzH-original-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796749" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/E6ZTrA357r67NPCzH-original-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/E6ZTrA357r67NPCzH-original-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/E6ZTrA357r67NPCzH-original-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/E6ZTrA357r67NPCzH-original-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/E6ZTrA357r67NPCzH-original-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



A striking titanium plate, laser-engraved with the iconic Cavallino logo, occupies the space left open during the movement’s development. Inspired by the rear wing of the Ferrari 499P, this detail is a nod to the marque’s automotive heritage, seamlessly blending watchmaking with the world of high-performance cars. Moreover, the RM43-01 calibre is a marvel of engineering, developed over three years to ensure optimal performance and durability. Its lightweight, skeletonised titanium baseplate is complemented by bridges crafted from both titanium and carbon TPT, resulting in a structure that is robust and aesthetically pleasing. A remarkable 70-hour power reserve is indicated at two o’clock on a 5N PVD titanium dial, while a torque indicator on a secondary dial showcases the watch’s energy efficiency.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796747" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FERR_RM_fPn74YYLiWsg2WrAT-original.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



At the heart of the timepiece lies an off-centre tourbillon escapement, which injects kinetic energy into the design. Enhanced by an innovative active seconds display featuring five radial blades, the watch elegantly merges complexity with functionality.



Richard Mille’s commitment to excellence is evident in every facet of the RM 43-01. As Salvador Arbona, the&nbsp;maison’s movement technical director, says, “Our work as movement manufacturers is becoming increasingly scientific,” and this philosophy drives the development of components that are not only durable but also enhance performance. Extensive testing and meticulous research underpin the integrity of each part, ensuring that every design decision amplifies the watch’s technical capabilities.



The RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari encapsulates the thrilling intersection of automotive and watchmaking artistry, marking a significant chapter in the rich narrative of both Richard Mille and Ferrari.



All images courtesy of Richard Mille.

Chronograph

collaboration

Ferrari

Richard Mille

Tourbillon

watch collab

Richard Mille and Ferrari Team Up For a Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/louis-vuitton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louis Vuitton</a>&nbsp;watchmaking is on fire.



In 2023, the company shocked the watch world with a collaboration with <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/lists/the-greatest-independent-watchmakers-1235792096/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">indie darling</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/rexhep-rexhepi-watchmaker-interview-1236118006/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rexhep Rexhepi</a> of Akrivia. His workshop makes just 50 timepieces a year—not the kind of atelier you would expect a luxury conglomerate like Louis Vuitton to bring into its fold and it’s certainly not the kind of partnership one would expect a master of horology to even consider. Now, French house has partnered with another <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/independent-watchmaking-1235367160/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">independent watchmaking master</a>, <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/a-collected-man-kari-voutilainen-1234669361/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kari Voutilainen</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_macro.jpg-1024x575.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796735" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_macro.jpg-1024x575.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_macro.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_macro.jpg-768x431.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_macro.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Louis Vuitton x <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/kari-voutilainen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kari Voutilainen</a> LKV02 GMR 6. Image courtesy of Louis Vuitton</figcaption></figure>



Earlier this year, during <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/gallery/louis-vuitton-tag-heuer-lvmh-watch-week-1236170890/rr_lv_012025_lead_aeed81/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVMH Watch Week</a>, the company released timepieces that caught the collective watch cognoscenti’s eye including a sleek gold guichet watch with barely visible branding (it also came in platinum and diamonds) and toned-down version of its highly recognisable Spin Time in muted hues like soft cornflower blue with a khaki leather strap. Even a rainbow watch was set so the gems just barely show for a discretely appealing touch on a <a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/louis-vuitton-reimagines-tambour-sports-watch-integrated-bracelet-1234865162/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tambour</a> model—a line that now features serious movements and finishing.



What this all signals is that Jean Arnault, the 27-year-old watch director of&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/louis-vuitton-escale-1235650279/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louis Vuitton&nbsp;</a>and the youngest son of luxury scion Bernard Arnault, not only has a sophisticated eye, but he’s intent on making the fashion house’s watchmaking part of the conversation in high horology and high-brow collecting circles. “You just get the impression that he’s super smart and detail-oriented and thoughtful product-design-wise—the whole nine yards,” Drew Coblitz, a seasoned Philadelphia-based&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/watch-collector/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch collector</a>, told&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/how-fashion-houses-fighting-for-watchmaking-credibility-1235953333/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robb Report&nbsp;last year</a>. “And the thing that he’s trying to do, branding-wise, is just really hard. It’s got to be one of the hardest things to do in watchmaking.”&nbsp;In other words, it’s a monumental feat to get a watchmaking arm of a fashion house to be taken seriously (some, like Bulgari and Chanel have achieved success), but it’s especially challenging at a house with so much hype surrounding it’s other, more visible and longstanding product categories.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_crown.jpg-1024x575.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796736" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_crown.jpg-1024x575.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_crown.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_crown.jpg-768x431.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_crown.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LKV02 GMR 6. Image courtesy of Louis Vuitton</figcaption></figure>



At first glance, the 40.5 tantalum and platinum-cased Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LKV02 GMR 6 is surprising for its burst of rainbow but it has plenty of Voutilainen’s signatures. You have his masterful hand guilloché work, executed on 18th-century machines, at the centre of the dial that mimic’s the French luxury maison’s famous Damier pattern. There are his distinctive take on Breguet-style hands. And, of course, there is the finishing for which he has become known: the lug polishing and satin finishing are done by hand; the caseback engraving requires 12 hours of work; and you can see much of the master’s hand on the movement which was designed, built, assembled, and finished in Voutilainen’s workshop.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_box.jpg-1024x575.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234796737" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_box.jpg-1024x575.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_box.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_box.jpg-768x431.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RR_Louis_Vuitton_X_Kari_Voutilainen_LVKV_02_GMR_6_box.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LKV02 GMR 6. Image courtesy of Louis Vuitton</figcaption></figure>



The pops of colour are more than just an eye-catching device. The diamond-polished hour circle is the work of Maryna Bossy, an artisan in Louis Vuitton’s esteemed La Fabrique du Temps watch manufacture. It requires 28 different colours, 32 hours of hand-painting, and eight hours of firing in a kiln to achieve this kaleidoscope of hues referencing ancient stained-glass windows. But it was the Voutilainen workshop that executed the day/night indicator, which required hand-engraving the sun and moon disc in saffron yellow and cobalt blue which were then painted by hand with enamel to achieve the gradient effect. 



Images of Jean Arnault wearing the timepiece on his own wrist have circulated on social media and he makes a compelling case for the timepiece, which arguably looks more subtle and sophisticated on the wrist and comes in a perfect size. But if you’re thinking about splurging, you’ll have to start working on your VIP status at Louis Vuitton. Just five top collectors will get to take one of these GMT watches home, which means you might have to set your sights on the next partnership. Who will that be? F.P. Journe and MB&amp;F are likely ruled out since&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/chanel-invests-swiss-watchmaker-mbf-1235823975/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chanel owns a stake</a>&nbsp;in both businesses. We could see Greubel Forsey being a fit, especially with its signature 3D globe on models like the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/greubel-forsey-gmt-balancier-convexe-1234738049/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GMT Balancier Convexe</a>. But we suspect, a GMT watch won’t be a follow up to this GMT. We would love to see Japanese watch master,&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/the-armoury-naoya-hida-collaboration-1234681960/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Naoya Hida</a>, pair his ultra-refined, nuanced, and traditional aesthetic to the French house. Time will tell.

collab of the year

Louis Vuitton and Kari Voutilainen Team Up on the Biggest Watch Collab of the Year (So Far)