If you ever wanted to experience <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/the-white-lotus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The White Lotus</a> IRL, we’ve got some good news. 



Ahead of the release of The White Lotus <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/white-lotus-season-3-1234784296/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">season three</a>, which is set to premiere in 2025, Max has teamed up with <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/four-seasons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons</a> and showrunner Mike White to create immersive hotel experiences inspired by the Emmy-winning <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hbo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HBO</a> original. The highly anticipated instalment will be set at the luxury hospitality group’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/the-white-lotus-season-3-luxury-hotels-thailand-1235487698/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Koh Samui property</a> in <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/thailand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thailand</a>, while seasons one and two were filmed at Four Seasons locations in Maui and <a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/resorts/san-domenico-palace-sicily-the-white-lotus-1234766000/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taormina</a>, respectively. For superfans who can’t wait to channel their inner Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), the forthcoming activation will kick off at California’s Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village before expanding to outposts across the globe.



“The White Lotus has always been about blending authentic beauty and culture with compelling storytelling, which makes our partnership with Four Seasons an ideal fit,” says Pia Barlow, executive vice president of originals marketing for HBO and Max, in a statement. “As we prepare to celebrate season three, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village provides the perfect backdrop for our global brand partnership and multi-day experience. We’re excited to create unforgettable moments that resonate both on and off the screen.”



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Much like the series’s next instalment, details of the marquee experience are still largely under wraps. However, Four Seasons has confirmed that it will be “grounded in themes of the show’s third season.” If you recall, season one focused on money and power, while sex was the main motif of season two. Previously, <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/carrie-coon-white-lotus-season-three-about-death-1235600769/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White had teased </a>that season three would explore spirituality and Eastern religion. Guests will get to indulge in everything from White Lotus-themed dining offerings to wellness activities. In fact, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village just underwent a swanky revamp and added a 40,000-square-foot spa, a lush Cove Pool, and three new restaurants.  



When the vacation drama makes its return next year, the series will <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/the-white-lotus-season-3-natasha-rothwell-belinda-1234833769/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">welcome back season one alum </a>Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey. Newcomers to the cast will include Carrie Coon, <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/walton-goggins-white-lotus-season-3-scripts-1235637585/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walton Goggins</a>, Michele Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, and Parker Posey. Jason Isaacs, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Aimee Lou Wood are also set to star. As for when exactly the pop-up will take place, dates and additional locations for the event have yet to be announced—but we’ll keep you posted.

Four Seasons

The White Lotus

White Lotus Experiences

‘The White Lotus’ and the Four Seasons Are Teaming Up to Offer—What Else—‘White Lotus’ Experiences

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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/06.-Interior_Library_Room_1_De-LEurope-Amsterdam-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234792612" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/06.-Interior_Library_Room_1_De-LEurope-Amsterdam-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/06.-Interior_Library_Room_1_De-LEurope-Amsterdam-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/06.-Interior_Library_Room_1_De-LEurope-Amsterdam-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/06.-Interior_Library_Room_1_De-LEurope-Amsterdam-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/06.-Interior_Library_Room_1_De-LEurope-Amsterdam-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hotel De L‘Europe Amsterdam takes art in hotels to a new level. Image courtesy of Hotel De L‘Europe Amsterdam</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Fairmont Golden Prague

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Hotel De L‘Europe Amsterdam

The Beaumont Hotel

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

What’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/four-seasons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons</a>’s version of spreading <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/holiday/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">holiday</a> cheer? Sailing around the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/caribbean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caribbean</a> on a luxury <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/superyacht/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">superyacht</a>, of course. 



Four Seasons Yachts just revealed nine new voyages to the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bahamas</a> and the Caribbean to celebrate the 2026–2027 holiday season. The portfolio expansion includes itineraries aboard its Four Seasons I ship which will set sail between 19 November 2026 and 31 January 2027. Meaning, you can escape the chill and celebrate <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/thanksgiving/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thanksgiving</a>, Christmas, and even ring in the New Year at sea.



“Building from the excitement and interest of our&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/four-seasons-first-itineraries-cruise-ship-1235561723/">initial Mediterranean and Caribbean journeys</a>, we are thrilled to unveil the final set of exceptional voyages for Four Seasons Yachts inaugural year,” says&nbsp;Alejandro Reynal, president and CEO of Four Seasons, in a press statement.



Four Seasons I will embark on a 10-night Thanksgiving journey from St John’s, Antigua, roughly one week before US travellers would normally be slicing into their turkeys. Instead, you’ll be treated to a Caribbean-inspired feast prepared by the Four Seasons culinary teams with the picturesque Saint Pierre, Martinique as the backdrop. In addition, the trip includes stops at Soper’s Hole in the British Virgin Islands and Prickly Bay in Grenada where seafarers can hang out at laid-back beach bar or check out a world-famous underwater sculpture park. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/four-seasons-holiday-yacht-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791992" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/four-seasons-holiday-yacht-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/four-seasons-holiday-yacht-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/four-seasons-holiday-yacht-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/four-seasons-holiday-yacht.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Four Seasons Yachts will offer sailings around the Caribbean for the 2026–2027 holiday season. Image courtesy of Four Seasons</figcaption></figure>



All will be merry and bright if you opt for the seven-night Christmas adventure. Guests will kick off the excursion with a stay at the sunny <a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/miamis-iconic-surf-club-reborn-ultra-luxurious-four-seasons-hotel-266020/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club </a>in South Florida. Then, it’s off to Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke for <a href="https://robbreport.com/food-drink/spirits/best-painkiller-recipe-rum-coconut-oj-pineapple-1234626579/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Painkiller </a>cocktails, which originated at the island’s iconic Soggy Dollar Bar. By the Christmas Eve, the vessel arrives in St Barths where you’ll trade animated displays for twinkling harbour lights, before zooming to Palmetto Point on the island of Barbuda for the big day. Here, travellers can dig into a beachside banquet and bask in local holiday traditions. The journey wraps on the powder-soft shores of Sint Maarten at <a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/hotels/why-the-four-seasons-anguilla-transformed-into-a-massive-five-star-wellness-center-1234866470/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla</a>. 



Meanwhile, the countdown to 2027 will take place on a seven-night charter in the middle of the Atlantic with a lavish New Year’s Eve&nbsp;party that includes flowing champagne and&nbsp;a relaxing beach day in the Exuma Sound to start the year. Of course, for those looking to spend their entire Twixmas break on the open ocean, there’s an epic 14-night sailing that combines both trips.

Caribbean

Christmas

Four Seasons Yachts

mediterranean

Thanksgiving

Four Seasons Yachts Wants to Take You to the Caribbean for the Holidays

The Four Seasons resort on the East Cape of Baja California recently launched a trio of six-bedroom properties that range in size from 7,652 to 10,000 square feet and, based on the season, can cost up to US$50,000 (HK$388,305) per night. But most people will never know they exist. There’s zero mention of them (or their private pools or on-call taco chefs) on <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/loscabos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the hotel’s website</a>. Ditto booking apps. The only way to reserve them is to contact sales director Niamh Hartel directly by phone or email. If the stars align—and you’re deemed the right kind of guest—she’ll send you a hidden URL where you can fill out a detailed stay request.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos1.jpg-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791587" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos1.jpg-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos1.jpg-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos1.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos1.jpg-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos1.jpg-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A bedroom suite in the Sea of Cortez Villa. Image courtesy of Four Seasons</figcaption></figure>



And these aren’t the only rooms you probably didn’t know you didn’t know about. Increasingly, hoteliers are keeping mum about splashy new accommodations, reserving them for the ultra-connected who will hear about them by word of mouth. <a href="https://www.fischertravel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fischer Travel</a>’s Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal points to a pair of such properties at the French Riviera’s <a href="https://www.lilyofthevalley.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lily of the Valley</a> hotel. “They have two owners’ villas that are not publicised or visible anywhere online,” she says. “They have a very limited period of time when they’re open for guest bookings, and the owners want to keep them very discreet.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos3.jpg-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791588" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos3.jpg-1024x683.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos3.jpg-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos3.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos3.jpg-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FS_LosCabos3.jpg-2048x1365.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The kitchen in the Pearl Villa. Image courtesy of Christian Horan/Four Seasons</figcaption></figure>



But the rise of secret rooms is actually as much about circumstance as about strategy. Modern hotel construction accounts both for rooms to rent and real estate to buy—and there has been an unexpected glut of the latter. “There were some buildings that couldn’t get sold during Covid, so developers thought ‘What do we do with them?’” says Bjorn Hanson, a long-time industry consultant and adjunct professor at NYU’s hospitality school. Framing them as the ultimate insider retreats is a smart move, but one that requires a fine balance. “The challenge will be to keep them secret enough, but not so secret that the model doesn’t work,” he says. “The other concern is the people who’ll boast about staying there—if they do a YouTube video about it, then all of a sudden the model is a problem.” Which means, better to keep the following list to yourself, just to be on the safe side.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hidden Hideaways</h2>



If the only place you’ll consider sleeping is somewhere that an Ordinary Joe doesn’t even know exists, we’ve got a few more suggestions for you. Perhaps you’d like to hide in plain sight the heart of New York’s Meatpacking District amid the mêlée or invite yourself over to stay with—well, at the house of—the owner of Puglia’s smartest hotel? Here are four more places for a secret stay around the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Casa Padronale | Borgo Egnazia, Puglia&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg-683x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791589" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg-683x1024.png 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg-200x300.png 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg-768x1152.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg-1024x1536.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg-1365x2048.png 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Borgo_Egnazia.jpg.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Borgo Egnazia</figcaption></figure>



You can rent owner Aldo Melpignano’s 5,382-square-foot personal villa at this countryside escape—if he likes you enough, that is. <a href="https://www.borgoegnazia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">From about US$16,700 (HK$129,695) per night</a> 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Private Resort | Puente Romano, Marbella&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg-683x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791590" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg-683x1024.png 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg-200x300.png 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg-768x1152.png 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg-1024x1536.png 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg-1365x2048.png 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Puente_Romano.jpg.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Puente Romano</figcaption></figure>



The oceanfront resort’s seven-bedroom villa boasts an Andalusian-style walled garden and a poolside bar. The duplex penthouse suite has its own cinema. <a href="https://www.puenteromano.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">From US$30,000 (HK$232,990) per night</a> 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Residence | RH Guesthouse, New York City&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RH_Guesthouse.jpg-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791591" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RH_Guesthouse.jpg-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RH_Guesthouse.jpg-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RH_Guesthouse.jpg-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RH_Guesthouse.jpg-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/RH_Guesthouse.jpg-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of RH Guesthouse New York</figcaption></figure>



Chairman and CEO Gary Friedman occasionally allows guests in the full-floor penthouse above his boutique hotel. Don’t <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">travel</a> with a private chef? RH will arrange one for you. <a href="https://rhguesthouse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">From US$15,000 (HK$116,495) per night</a> 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nobu Riad | Nobu Hotel Marrakech, Marrakech&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech-683x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234791593" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobu_Marrakech.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Nobu Hotel Marrakech</figcaption></figure>



This six-bedroom riad with a rooftop pool sits in the heart of the medina. It has its own spa, where a therapist will conduct treatments in situ. <a href="https://marrakech.nobuhotels.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">From about US$5,580 (HK$43,335) per night</a>

best secret villas

Luxury Villas

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If You Know, You Go: Inside the Rise of Secret Villas, the Ultimate Destinations for Connected Travellers

It’s never too early to start planning a vacation. Just ask <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/four-seasons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons</a>.



The hospitality giant just unveiled its <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">private jet itineraries</a> for 2026, giving travellers a chance to book their next adventure a good two years in advance. Designed by a team of experts, the six journeys allow jet-setters to explore far-flung destinations in five-star luxury. You’ll fly the globe in the fully customised Four Seasons <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/airbus-new-acj320neo-jet-details-2898688/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Airbus A321Neo</a> and stay in lavish Four Seasons hotels along the way. More importantly, guests can partake in curated experiences a cut above the typical tour.



“Our goal is to create connections with travellers of this generation and the next, fostering a legacy of transformative experiences that extend far beyond the journey,” Marc Speichert, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Four Seasons, said in a statement.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Taj_Mahal_Timeless_Encounters.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788550" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Taj_Mahal_Timeless_Encounters.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Taj_Mahal_Timeless_Encounters-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Taj_Mahal_Timeless_Encounters-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">History connoisseurs can visit famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal. Image courtesy of Four Seasons</figcaption></figure>



The itineraries cater to a wide range of travellers, with differing lengths and routes. The 16-day <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/journeys/asia-unveiled-2026/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asia Unveiled</a> trip, for instance, takes guests on a deep dive into the East, with stops in Tokyo, Bali, Angkor Wat, Hoi An, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Bangkok. Other adventures, like the 21-day <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/journeys/international-intrigue-2026/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Intrigue</a> journey, cover many global destinations from the African savannah to the city of Paris.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Resort_Maldives.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234788549" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Resort_Maldives.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Resort_Maldives-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Four_Seasons_Resort_Maldives-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wellness enthusiasts can indulge at Four Seasons Resort Maldives. Image courtesy of Markus Gortz</figcaption></figure>



Similarly, the experiences on offer are designed to appeal to a myriad of personality types, from culture vultures and history nerds to thrill-seekers and gourmands. On the <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/journeys/african-wonders-2026/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">African Wonders</a> trip, fitness buffs can join a Maasai guide for a nature walk in the Serengeti and then chill out in a meditation session led by an expert yogi. During <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/journeys/timeless-encounters-2026/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timeless Encounters</a>, explorers can take a submarine scooter to Bora Bora’s renowned diving spots. With International Intrigue and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/asia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asia</a> Unveiled, wellness enthusiasts indulge in lavish treatments at the Island Spa within Four Seasons Resort Maldives. Asia Unveiled also allows foodies to embark on a sushi masterclass with a Michelin-starred chef in Tokyo, while International Intrigue gives gluttons the chance to craft six courses with celebrated chefs in Mexico City’s local markets. In addition, history connoisseurs can visit famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal on <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/journeys/timeless-encounters-2026/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timeless Encounters</a>. That is just a taste of the experiences on offer, too.



The 2026 itineraries range from 13 to 21 days and cost between US$159,000 and US$229,000 (HK$1.24 million to HK$1.78 million) per person. To start planning your trip, visit the <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/?source=pr_corporate_PrivateJet2026_Phase1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four Seasons website</a> or email the team at fourseasonsjet@fourseasons.com.

Private Jet Trips

Four Seasons’ Private Jet Trips Will Take You to Asia, Africa, and Beyond in 2026

In April 2017, Emma Morano died at the age of 117. She attributed her longevity to eating three eggs a day, but others might cite exercise. In a bid to keep going, your correspondent climbed down and up the Spanish Steps every day for four days—132 steps down and 132 steps up, times four. Most importantly, the main takeaway was not that she did it, but that there were so few crowds around in what was still winter. In summer, the same activity would be like trying to get into Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert without a ticket.



The realisation of the joy of travelling out of season is expanding. More and more appreciate planning and taking trips when crowds are less dense, and when prices for airfares and rooms and suites are lower. Because of this, the shoulders between high and low are stretching and “the season”—high season—is also lengthening.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/off-season-travel-rajasthan-1024x683.jpg" alt="A large brown palace sitting atop a lake, against a background of mountains." class="wp-image-1234786683" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/off-season-travel-rajasthan-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/off-season-travel-rajasthan-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/off-season-travel-rajasthan-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/off-season-travel-rajasthan-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/off-season-travel-rajasthan-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jal Mahal, a landmark on the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Image courtesy of Sohan Rayguru/Unsplash</figcaption></figure>



In Goa, says Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO of IHCL, parent of Taj Hotels and Resorts, the season was only six months. Now, it is year-round. In Rajasthan, where temperatures can soar to 45 degrees Celsius, the season has doubled from four to eight months. In both instances, the same number of tourists is not more widely distributed—there are simply more tourists.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capella-Sydney-Main-Entrance-Farrer-Place-HR-1024x683.jpeg" alt="A brown historical building surrounded by trees and skyscrapers." class="wp-image-1234786679" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capella-Sydney-Main-Entrance-Farrer-Place-HR-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capella-Sydney-Main-Entrance-Farrer-Place-HR-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capella-Sydney-Main-Entrance-Farrer-Place-HR-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capella-Sydney-Main-Entrance-Farrer-Place-HR-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Capella-Sydney-Main-Entrance-Farrer-Place-HR-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Capella Sydney is located in the historical heart of the city. Image courtesy of Timothy Kaye/Capella Sydney</figcaption></figure>



Marc von Arnim, GM of Capella Sydney, feels Southeast Asia really doesn’t have a low season at all. “Sydney sees far more demand for travel in winter months, [which is] traditional low season. In Australia, travelling without children off-peak means less queues and more access to popular spots.”



This out-of-season trend extends even further east. Speaking from Tahiti, Guillaume Epinette, area GM of InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), says that throughout French Polynesia, the distinction between high and low season is gradually fading. Advantages of travelling during the slightly quieter periods include opportunities to delve deeper into the culture and experience the true essence of the beautiful islands.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FSHK-Gallery-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Hotel lounge with colourful armchairs, dining tables, and a bar." class="wp-image-1234786684" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FSHK-Gallery-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FSHK-Gallery-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FSHK-Gallery-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FSHK-Gallery-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FSHK-Gallery-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Four Seasons Hong Kong. Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hong Kong</figcaption></figure>



In Hong Kong, Christian Poda, VP of Four Seasons Hotels &amp; Resorts and GM of Four Seasons Hong Kong, agrees completely: travelling out of season allows you to experience a more authentic culture with deeper engagements with locals.



Poda also, from an outbound viewpoint, stresses that, indeed, global travellers, many of whom he sees in transit, are certainly redefining traditional travel patterns by venturing to destinations during what was previously considered off-season. “The distinction between high and low seasons becomes increasingly blurred,” he says.



But does low season always mean low(er) pries? Not always. Jill Goh, who recently relocated from Hong Kong to be GM of Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, points out that sometimes travel periods are determined by adults’ work or kids’ school breaks. In Singapore, she says, one can visit 365 days and the prices of hotel do not fluctuate too much.



Poda, in Hong Kong, gets the last word. “To sum up, one of the key benefits of off-season is the opportunity to avoid crowds and experience popular destinations in a more peaceful and authentic way.”



And, as a worthy and related postscript, he adds that impulsive travel is currently a trend. As travel decisions are significantly influenced by social media and television develops travel desires, if influencers travel out of season, why not tag along, and perhaps stay younger longer?

Capella Sydney

Four Seasons Hong Kong

InterContinental Hotel Group

Mandarin Oriental Singapore

Off-Season Travel

Taj Hotels

Off-Season Travel Is Becoming More and More Popular. Here’s Why.

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/delta/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta</a>&nbsp;is stepping up to a new level of luxury.&nbsp;



In an effort to win over its top spenders, the airline is boosting its premium offerings both in the sky and on the ground. The Atlanta-based carrier has begun rolling out high-end perks for fliers including everything from <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/delta-new-cabin-seat-design-1235956235/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">newly designed cabins</a> to a slew of swanky DeltaOne Lounges, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-doubles-down-on-luxury-to-attract-high-end-fliers-a53ca758?mod=hp_minor_pos7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Friday. The recent investments come amid a growing demand for upgraded services and an uptick in passengers who are willing to shell out extra for amenities while travelling. With this strategic push, Delta foresees its premium ticket revenue exceeding its main cabin by 2027 and says more than half of its current revenue comes from premium experiences.



As for what the airline has in store, it recently unveiled two exclusive new lounges in New York and Los Angeles. <a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/delta-one-lounge-lax-1235936318/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">At LAX</a>, the 10,000-square-foot space has seating for nearly 200 guests and offers a year-round sushi bar, plus a wellness room with relaxation pods, massage chairs, Hyperice compression boots, and amenity kits from luxury brand <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/missoni/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Missoni</a>. Over on the East Coast, Delta opened its inaugural <a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/delta-first-premium-lounge-jfk-june-opening-1235541384/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta One Lounge at JFK</a> this summer and plans on launching two additional outposts in Boston and Seattle. Contrary to other airlines, the exclusive lounges are only accessible to those who opt for business class. “It’s drawing people to that ticket,” Delta’s chief financial officer Dan Janki told the newspaper.



In October, Delta also revealed new cabin designs and seating across its fleet ahead of its centennial anniversary. The Boeing 757 aircraft will be first in line to undergo a redesign with a focus on high-end finishes. The actual layout won’t change, but in Delta One business class, expect to find a more breathable wool-and-nylon blend instead of leather on lie-flat seats. Beyond that, the plane is installing mood lighting that coincides with cabin activity.



“Delta has a 100-year history of creating a customer experience that feels welcoming and thoughtful with intentional design elements woven into every aspect of a customer’s travel,” Mauricio Parise, the vice president of customer experience design at Delta, said in a <a href="https://news.delta.com/delta-unveils-new-cabin-interior-across-its-fleet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press statement</a> at the time. “As we embark on our next century of flying, this refreshed cabin interior infuses utility with beauty to create an atmosphere that feels fresh, elevated, and timeless while reflecting our customers’ evolving tastes and expectations.”



Delta is upgrading its in-flight dining and hospitality experiences, too. Last month, the airline announced a <a href="https://news.delta.com/now-boarding-delta-serve-shake-shack-burgers-flights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnership with Shake Shack</a> on flights out of Boston in 2025. First-class passengers on routes over 900 miles will be able to order a Shake Shack cheeseburger on their flight, served with a side of chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie. The company also levelled up its wine programme by partnering with master <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/sommelier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sommelier</a> Andrea Robinson.



The next step, Delta chief executive&nbsp;Ed Bastian told the&nbsp;WSJ, is ramping up its strategy with&nbsp;private flights thanks to its investment in&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/private-aviation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">private aviation</a>&nbsp;firm&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/wheels-up-reinvent-brand-1235415283/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wheels Up</a>. “We’ve got some work to do,” Bastian&nbsp;said. “But eventually, it’s going to be our next step on our premium ladder.”&nbsp;

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Delta airlines

Luxury Travel

Delta Is Pulling Out All the Stops to Woo Luxury Travellers

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

boeing starliner

starliner spacecraft return

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Beond

italy

jetsetting

luxury aircrafts

luxury leisure

Maldives

Milan

Luxury Airline Beond Is Now Flying Between Milan and the Maldives

Heart Aerospace is almost ready for takeoff.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Airplane

clean travel

electric aviation

Heart Aerospace

hybrid-electric airplane

Swedish

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

Chinese couture

couturier

Exhibition

Guo Pei

Haute Couture

Hong Kong exhibition

Met Gala outfit

red wedding gown

Rihanna

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Barolo

Giacomo Conterno

King of Wines

Roberto Conterno

vineyard

Wine

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

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time for buyers, sellers, and renters to prepare for what the housing market will have in store next year. &nbsp;



If you’re planning on snapping up <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/vacation-homes/second-homes-draw-luxury-buyers1235477999-1235477999/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a second home</a> or parting ways with your property, the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/real-estate-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">real estate</a> sector is entering a new phase. As a refresher, <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">home</a> price growth hit 4 per cent in 2024, up from 1.1 per cent in 2023, while average mortgage rates hovered around 6.3 per cent, according to Realtor.com’s <a href="https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/housing-forecast-mortgage-rates-home-prices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025 forecast</a>. As of the third quarter, the median sale price in the <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/united-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United States</a> was US$420,400 (approximately HK$3.26 million), a 32 per cent jump from Q3 2020. Rents nationwide rose as well, coming in at US$1,382 (approximately HK$10,745) a month in November which is 20 per cent higher than what they were in January 2020, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/realestate/housing-market-2024-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. 



“This past year brought us a surprising upward trend in home price growth despite the persistence of high mortgage rates and rising inventory,”&nbsp;Realtor.com&nbsp;economists wrote in the report. “Mortgage rates are expected to keep mortgage payments essentially unchanged in 2025 despite continued home price growth.”&nbsp;



Per the experts, home prices are projected to soar an additional 3.7 per cent within the next year after hitting an <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/us-home-prices-all-time-high-june-1235832594/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">all-time high</a>. On the upside, when it comes to supply, inventory is expected to surge 11.7 per cent, making the market less competitive and giving buyers more time to negotiate. However, those who have been waiting on the sidelines may actually drive up the number of home sales in 2025. Redfin <a href="https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-predictions-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predicts</a> approximately four million homes will be sold by the end of next year with an expected annual increase in the number of sales rising between 2 per cent and 9 per cent.



“Prices are going to keep rising because we’re not going to have a recession,” Ralph McLaughlin, a senior economist at&nbsp;Realtor.com, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-2025-outlook-home-prices-mortgage-rates-realtor-com-2024-12" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Business Insider</a>. “If you look at the times that home prices fall, it’s typically only when there’s a recession, and only when people are forced to sell.”&nbsp;



If you’re a renter, prices won’t change all that much. The Realtor.com forecast sees asking rents <a href="https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/luxury-rental-prices-falling-across-the-world-1235510668/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">actually declining</a> albeit slightly as more units become available. Nationally, a construction boom which began in 2024 has significantly increased the number of available units. Over the summer, <a href="https://www.zillow.com/research/july-2024-rent-report-34276/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zillow</a> found that in June, more multifamily units were completed than any month in approximately 50 years creating more options for renters.

2025

Forecast

Housing

housing market

market

Real Estate

Here’s How the Real Estate Market Will Fare Next Year, According to 2025 Housing Forecasts

A&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/style/jewelry/blue-diamond-ring-christies-auction-1235999563/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blue diamond</a>&nbsp;lived up to the hype at auction this week.



The 5.7-carat fancy intense stone, mounted as part of a diamond ring, hammered down for US$8.8 million (approximately HK$68.42 million) during Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale. That price was more than the diamond’s pre-auction high estimate and makes the jewel the second most expensive sold at auction globally this year.



“Today’s sale in New York was a testament to the vibrant market for <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/jewelry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jewellery</a> of the highest calibre with singular provenance,” Rahul Kadakia, the international head of jewellery at Christie’s, said in a statement. “We were particularly pleased with the result of the top lot&#8230; We also were deeply honoured to sell jewels from several of the world’s most esteemed private collectors, including Mica Ertegun. Offering this selection of jewellery hailing from the collection Mica Ertegun was a tribute to her brilliant eye, and we are thrilled by the exceptional outcome.”



<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/Harry-Winston-Results.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794270" style="width:841px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Harry-Winston-Results.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Harry-Winston-Results.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Harry-Winston-Results.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Harry-Winston-Results.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harry Winston spinel and diamond earrings. Image courtesy of Christie’s</figcaption></figure>



In total, the Magnificent Jewels auction was sold 97 per cent by lot, for a grand total of US$49.2 million (approximately HK$382.52 million). Buyers came from around the globe, with 62 per cent from the Americas, 21 per cent from Europe, and 17 per cent from the Asia-Pacific region. While the blue diamond was far and away the star of the show, other pieces similarly crossed the US$1 million (approximately HK$7.77 million) mark: A pair of Harry Winston spinel and diamond earrings fetched US$2.2 million (approximately HK$17.10 million), four times their high estimate, and another pair of Harry Winston diamond earrings also achieved a cool US$1.9 million (approximately HK$14.77 million).



As Kadakia mentioned, Ertegun’s collection of jewels was also highly desired by bidders. The 16 lots were all sold, with more than 80 per cent hammering down for more than double their pre-auction low estimate. The most valuable piece was a Cartier Art Deco multi-gem and diamond brooch, which sold for US$1.4 million (HK$10.88 million), more than 10 times its low estimate. The next highest-priced items were a JAR ruby and diamond torsade necklace (US$378,000/approximately HK$2.93 million) and a pair of Old European brilliant-cut diamond earrings (US$352,800/approximately HK$2.74 million).



<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/Cartier-Brooch-Results.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794271" style="width:842px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cartier-Brooch-Results.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cartier-Brooch-Results.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cartier-Brooch-Results.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cartier-Brooch-Results.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cartier Art Deco multi-gem and diamond brooch. Image courtesy of Christie’s</figcaption></figure>



Also achieving a rather impressive sum was a Van Cleef &amp; Arpels “Ruban Mysterieux” necklace, which went home for US$1.4 million (approximately HK$10.88 million). And the Jewels as Art sale, part of the same auction, was led by a Suzanne Belperron diamond “Tube” bracelet (US$945,000/approximately HK$7.34 million).



If you’re feeling left out from not having acquired any of these exquisite jewels, Christie’s is keeping its Jewels Online auction open until Thursday.

Auction

Christie's

High Jewellery

jewellery

A 5.7-Carat Blue Diamond Ring Just Fetched Nearly HK$70 Million at Auction

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Zealand</a> isn’t scrapping its golden visa programme, but the government is making tweaks to lure deep-pocketed property investors.



The country’s government is worried after the number of applicants for its Active Investor Plus Visa plummeted in the past two years, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-12/new-zealand-plans-golden-visa-changes-to-lure-wealthy-migrants?srnd=phx-wealth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Thursday. In its prime, the lucrative programme brought in an average NZ$1 billion (or roughly US$580 million/approximately HK$4.5 billion) per year. Since changes to the regulations were made in 2022, the nation has only approved 35 international applications totalling NZ$352 million (approximately HK$1.58 billion)—and now it’s trying to win people back.



“We are conscious that the government changed those settings and we saw a marked decline in the number of investors,” New Zealand finance minister Nicola Willis said during an interview. “You can expect to see announcements from us on that in the coming weeks.”



While the exact details of the proposed plan have not been released, under the current programme rules, aspiring applicants for the visa must invest at least NZ$5 million (approximately HK$22.46 million) directly or NZ$15 million (approximately HK$67.38 million) via passive investments. Previously, before the change in regulations in 2022, applicants only had to commit to a minimum of NZ$3 million (approximately HK$13.48 million). 



Already, the government has taken action to expedite the application process. In addition, Willis plans to introduce legislation in 2025 “to emphasise that the nation requires foreign capital to achieve its economic objectives.” However, she maintains that gaining more wealthy foreigners isn’t the only goal.



“It’s also the networks, the expertise, the experience, the ideas that they bring with them,” Willis explained. “There are many examples throughout the country where investor migrants, while they may make initial investments, then go on to make other investments and become more engaged in the economy in a range of ways which are helpful.”&nbsp;



Golden visas for foreign investors have become <a href="https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/golden-visa-demand-portugal-greece-1234882030/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immensely popular</a> since the pandemic crisis when hordes of US citizens migrated abroad. At the time, high-net-worth individuals flocked mostly to <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Europe</a>, settling down in places such as <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/portugal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portugal</a> and <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/ireland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ireland</a>. However, more European countries have now decided to <a href="https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/golden-visa-portugal-ireland-1234809695/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">end their programmes, </a>which allowed real estate investors to gain visas and sometimes citizenship. Last month, Spain was the latest country to attempt to discontinue the gold visa over concerns it was driving up housing costs. While the bill was <a href="https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/12/10/spain-flip-flops-on-golden-visa-ban-as-applications-continue-to-flood-in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vetoed by the Senate</a>, Congress could still push the proposed ban forward next year.

Golden Visa

Golden visa Program

New Zealand

Travel

UHNW

visa

New Zealand Is Changing Its Golden Visa Programme to Lure Wealthy Visitors

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Sotheby's

Sotheby's Hong Kong

Sotheby's New York

Stradivarius

Violin

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

In an exclusive interview following the inaugural Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024, hosted by&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong&nbsp;on 27 November 2024 with support from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Pang Yiu-kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, shares his insights on the ever-evolving luxury landscape and Hong Kong’s pivotal role within it.&nbsp;



A formidable roster of delegates spoke on stage in a resoundingly positive and hopeful spirit as the conversations explored reshaping the future of luxury beyond Hong Kong. Its ripples reached far and wide as the words of the most significant players in industry, many of whom flew down especially for the event, resonated with the audience.&nbsp;



“When I first heard about the theme, ‘Redefining Luxury Through a Global Lens,’ I thought, ‘What better place to host such a forward-looking dialogue than Hong Kong?’” Dr Pang reflects on the overarching theme of the entire event.&nbsp;“Hong Kong is an ideal backdrop for such a discussion. As one of the fastest-growing luxury markets globally and the gateway to Mainland China, Hong Kong is strategically positioned to lead this conversation. With projections indicating that Mainland China will contribute 25 per cent of worldwide luxury sales by 2025, the timing of the Leaders of Luxury Summit is indeed opportune.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chmns-portrait_Jul-2023-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794469" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chmns-portrait_Jul-2023-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chmns-portrait_Jul-2023-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chmns-portrait_Jul-2023-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chmns-portrait_Jul-2023-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chmns-portrait_Jul-2023-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr Pang Yiu-kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.</figcaption></figure>



Speaking on stage on the busy and eventful day, his view from the dais oversaw roughly 550 attendees in the audience, each individual related to lifestyle and luxury. “The Hong Kong Tourism Board was honoured to partner with and co-host this inaugural event, aiming to influence the future trajectory of luxury. This vibrant city, located at the heart of Asia, offers unparalleled connectivity, allowing luxury brands to access half the world’s population within a mere five-hour flight,” he says, elaborating on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages as a luxury hub and highlighting its strategic location, favourable business environment, and affluent demographics. “The anticipated influx of over 180,000 high-spending business visitors between 2024 and 2026 underscores the immense market potential.”



“The business environment in Hong Kong further enhances its allure for luxury brands. The absence of sales tax, alongside a competitive corporate tax rate, creates a thriving ecosystem for growth. Recent investments, such as The Landmark’s US$400 million upgrade and the reopening of Louis Vuitton’s flagship store, testify to this vibrant economic landscape.”



Without question, Hong Kong’s affluent demographic is pivotal, with one of the highest concentrations of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) globally. “The expected 22.4 per cent growth in UHNWIs by 2028 signifies a burgeoning demand for luxury goods and experiences, further augmented by the city’s focus on hosting mega-events that attract high-spending business travellers,” Dr Pang adds. Events like&nbsp;Robb Report Hong Kong’s Leaders of Luxury Summit, Culinary Masters, and other programmes currently entrenched in the planning stages have deep economic impact—and perhaps more so culturally.&nbsp;“The city not only serves as a premier shopping destination but also as a cultural nexus, where cuisine, creativity, and luxury converge,” Dr Pang affirms, asserting that Hong Kong’s unique selling proposition is rooted in its sophisticated luxury ecosystem, which seamlessly integrates Eastern and Western influences. “With nearly 100 award-winning restaurants recognised by the Michelin Guide, World’s Best Restaurants, and Asia’s Best Restaurants and Bars, Hong Kong is a true paradise for gourmands.”



Dr Pang conveyed a message of inspiration and collaboration to international guests at the Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024 as well: “Such events not only elevate Hong Kong’s image on the world stage but also foster meaningful connections among industry leaders.”&nbsp;



As the Hong Kong Tourism Board looks to the future, Dr Pang assures us that a wealth of experiences awaits. “With an emphasis on the mega-events economy, luxury travellers can anticipate a dynamic year ahead, filled with top-tier exhibitions, festivals, and culinary showcases. Hong Kong stands ready to deliver exceptional luxury experiences, continuing to captivate those who seek the pinnacle of sophistication and enjoyment.”



The Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024 and the insights shared by Dr Pang affirm Hong Kong’s status as a leading luxury destination, uniquely poised to redefine the luxury narrative on a global scale. “Whether it’s a global art fair, a luxury fashion showcase, or a gourmet food festival, there will always be something to excite and inspire,” concludes Dr Pang. “For those seeking the pinnacle of luxury travel, Hong Kong is ready to deliver.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793662" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/official_post_-10-2048x2048-1.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

Dr Pang

Dr Pang Yiu-kai

Hong Kong

Leaders of Luxury Summit

Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024

Hong Kong Affirms Its Status as a Premier Luxury Destination

We at Robb Report Hong Kong have made no secret about what “the Grande Dame of Hong Kong” means to us; <a href="https://robbreport.hk/brands/the-peninsula/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Peninsula Hong Kong</a> is as iconic as it can be. Since its opening in 1928, the hotel has epitomised luxury and elegance, continuously enchanting guests with its rich heritage, impeccable service, refined experience, and unparalleled hospitality that set such a high benchmark from the onset, all others are measured from its lofty ideal.



As the festive season approaches, the hotel invites guests and visitors to experience the holiday season that highlights the hotel’s commitment to creating unforgettable memories, blending time-honoured traditions with contemporary festivities.



The Peninsula Hong Kong commenced the festive season with “The Peninsula Express—Festive Extravaganza” on 21 November 2024, featuring a musical journey, a feast, and a tree-lighting ceremony. During this period, the first floor of the hotel is transformed into the Grand Salisbury Station, featuring a custom-built Peninsula Express train carriage. With its signature Peninsula Green exterior and richly appointed interior, this dining experience is designed to take guests on a journey through iconic Chinese destinations, inspired by The Peninsula hotels in Shanghai and Beijing. Reservations for this unique gastronomic experience can be made on a per-table basis, accommodating up to four guests. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gaddis-Festive-Menu-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794363" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gaddis-Festive-Menu-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gaddis-Festive-Menu-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gaddis-Festive-Menu-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gaddis-Festive-Menu-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gaddis-Festive-Menu-2048x1364.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gaddi’s.</figcaption></figure>



The feasting does not stop there. The Peninsula Hong Kong is offering an exquisite array of holiday dining experiences throughout the season. Among them, Gaddi’s, the&nbsp;&nbsp;Michelin-starred French restaurant, invites guests to enjoy a sophisticated dining experience amid elegant. Chef de cuisine Anne-Sophie Nicolas presents a selection of French haute cuisine specialities that pair well with the wine list.



For an equally delightful experience, Aurélie Altemaire, chef de cuisine of Felix has crafted a seasonal menu to celebrate the flavours of the holidays, complemented by creative cocktails. The combination of stunning vistas of Victoria Harbour and culinary excellence makes Felix a must-visit destination, whether to celebrate Christmas with loved ones or for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve countdown. 



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://video.wixstatic.com/video/86217e_3982f11e43ca4f128401664b7647aa47/1080p/mp4/file.mp4"></video></figure>



The festive offerings extend to The Lobby, where guests can indulge in the renowned Peninsula afternoon tea, enhanced with seasonal delicacies and live carol performances. In the spirit of the season, the hotel is proud to introduce the festive-themed Teas of Hope afternoon tea, in which a portion of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish International, a non-profit organisation that grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses, providing them with hope and joy.



<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/Chesa-Festive-Menu-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794362" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chesa-Festive-Menu-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chesa-Festive-Menu-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chesa-Festive-Menu-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chesa-Festive-Menu-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chesa-Festive-Menu-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chesa.</figcaption></figure>



An unmissable classic during the festive season is the culinary indulgence at Chesa, the hotel’s timeless Swiss restaurant. Evoking the atmosphere of a mountain chalet, Chesa’s iconic cheese fondue and raclette is the quintessential winter meal.



For those wishing to extend their stay, The Peninsula Hong Kong offers luxurious accommodations that promise magical holiday memories. Guests booking a two-night stay or more can enjoy daily breakfast, hotel credits for restaurants and spa, and priority dining reservations. Amid the festive bustle, guests can retreat to The Peninsula Spa and Wellness Centre for a moment of tranquillity. Exclusive seasonal treatments designed to relieve stress are on offer, accompanying by a complimentary gift for you to continue your pampering at home.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="786" height="1024" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Star-Ferry-Afternoon-Tea-Sep-2024-3-1-786x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794365" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Star-Ferry-Afternoon-Tea-Sep-2024-3-1-786x1024.jpg 786w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Star-Ferry-Afternoon-Tea-Sep-2024-3-1-230x300.jpg 230w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Star-Ferry-Afternoon-Tea-Sep-2024-3-1-768x1001.jpg 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Star-Ferry-Afternoon-Tea-Sep-2024-3-1-1179x1536.jpg 1179w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Star-Ferry-Afternoon-Tea-Sep-2024-3-1.jpg 1228w" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Star Ferry x The Peninsula Hong Kong.</figcaption></figure>



To top it all, this festive season, guests are invited to rejoice in its celebrated Afternoon Tea on the Harbour experience, resuming its enchanting voyages on the iconic Victoria Harbour from now till 31 March 2025. Hop aboard the beautifully customised World Star ferry to enjoy breathtaking views and live music, whilst savouring a thoughtfully crafted menu by chef de cuisine Kay Ng, featuring seasonal delights and the renowned Peninsula raisin scones, paired with premium teas and coffees for a complete gastronomic experience. These voyages will operate on Saturdays and selected Sundays, with two sessions available.&nbsp;



The Peninsula Hong Kong promises to enchant guests with unforgettable experiences that blend timeless traditions with contemporary luxury. Whether indulging in culinary delights, enjoying festive performances, or simply soaking in the opulent surroundings, guests will embrace the true spirit of the season at The Peninsula Hong Kong.

Christmas at The Peninsula

Christmas in Hong Kong

Dining

Hk Dining

The Peninsula

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Wine and Dine

Embark on a Journey of Tradition in the Peninsula Style

After showing out this year in Madrid, the Golden Vines weekend is headed to Miami after previous wine-splashed editions in London, Florence, and Paris. While the 2024 Golden Vines pulled out all the stops for wine lovers who gathered from around the world, Miami is set to one-up one of the great wine weekends of the year. Guests had the opportunity to rub elbows—and enjoy a glass—with 55 winemakers from all over the globe who took part in masterclasses, lunches, and other experiences during three days of jam-packed with events.



Held Friday, 25 October through Monday, 27 October, the weekend in Madrid began with tastings and masterclasses by the likes of <a href="https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/dom-perignon-2023-scrapped-vintage-1235853717/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dom Pérignon</a>, Château d’Yquem, Maison Krug, Bond, Ridge Vineyards, and Opus One. Friday evening brought guests to the Real Casa de Correos for the Golden Vines Charity Gala hosted by Ronan and Storm Keating and featuring the culinary creations of Michelin two-star chef Mario Sandoval served alongside wines such as Krug Grand Cuvée 162ème, Vega Sicilia Unico, and Taylor’s Port 50-Year-Old Tawny. All that food, wine, and elbow-rubbing serves a higher purpose: The Golden Vines Live Auction, hosted by Sotheby’s, offered exclusive “money can’t buy” wine and luxury experiences that raised over £800,000 (US$1,020,300/approximately HK$7.86 million) alongside additional online bids for the Gerard Basset Foundation. Established in 2021, the foundation supports educational opportunities for people from underserved communities in the wine, spirits, and hospitality industries.



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Saturday’s festivities began with lunches hosted by esteemed wine producers such as Maison F. E. Trimbach, Weingut Müller, Harlan Estate, Iwa Sake, Liber Pater, Château Cheval Blanc, Tenuta San Guido, and Biondi-Santi. Nightfall saw guests arriving at the Palacio Cibeles for the Golden Vines Awards Gala, where Michelin three-star chefs Joan and Josep Roca from El Celler de Can Roca created an ethereal five-course dinner paired with Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2 2006, Le Petit Cheval Blanc 2020, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia 2006, Marques de Murrieta 1980, Château d’Yquem 1983, and Gonzalez Byass Golden Vines Barrel Select Palo Cortado.



The evening’s highlight was the awards presentation, which saw winners from the world’s top wineries take to the stage to accept a custom trophy presented in a specially designed Gucci trunk. Award winners included Spain’s famed Vega Sicilia and Familia Torres, <a href="https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/domaine-de-la-romanee-conti-2020-vintage-review-1234820591/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Domaine de la Romanée-Conti</a>—which needs no introduction—Harlan Estate from Napa Valley, South Australia’s Henschke, Saadie Family Wines from South Africa, and Scotch legend The Macallan. Guests were also treated to a performance by rising star Victor Ray. The weekend culminated with a variety of experiences on Sunday including a visit by private jet to Asador Extebarri in San Sebastian, a private shopping experience at Gucci followed by a Michelin-starred lunch paired with Taylor’s Port and Maison Camus Cognac, and a rooftop whiskey and cigar tasting with the Dalmore.



Miami plans to bring the heat for the 2025 Golden Vines, with Friday’s night gala to be held at the Dupont Building and Saturday’s awards dinner to take place in the Faena Forum. The weekend is limited to just 300 guests, who will enjoy cuisine from Michelin-star chefs and wine from Colgin Estate, Ridge Monte Bello, Château d’Yquem, Château Lafite, Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Burgundy’s Domaine Vincent Dancer. Masterclasses will include Iconic Women in Wine, Iberian Icons, Bordeaux All Stars, and Burgundy Icons, while lunches will feature the likes of Salon Champagne, Château Angelus, Burgundy Rising Stars, and 2024 Golden Vines Award winners. Sunday experiences offer guest choices that include caviar and Champagne, a white truffle lunch at Cartier, private yachting with Garrus Rosé, and Opul Jets private jet to the Bahamas with lunch hosted by Burgundian vignerons. <a href="https://liquidicons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tickets</a> are priced at US$15,000 (approximately HK$116,630) per person, which includes VIP concierge services to assist with all travel, hotel, and on-the-ground requirements. US taxpayers can pay 50 per cent of the ticket price to Americas Charities Inc. as a deductible cash donation.

2024 Golden Vines

awards

Golden Vines

Golden Vines Awards

Oscars of the Wine World

wine awards

Inside the 2024 Golden Vines, the ‘Oscars of the Wine World’

French Cuisine

Julian Royer

Loic Portalier

Louise

Inside Louise, Julien Royer’s Fine French Restaurant, and Its Evolution

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/maldives/"></a>The <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/maldives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maldives</a> is a beach-lover’s paradise, and now there’s one more reason to visit the Indian Ocean archipelago.



Sun Siyam Olhuveli, a luxury resort spread over three islands on the&nbsp;South Malé Atoll, just unveiled 40 brand-new beachfront suites. Located on the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hotel</a>’s so-called Dream Island, each of the recently constructed room features a private plunge pool, while lush tropical gardens and crystal blue waters are just feet from your lodgings.&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/hotel/"></a>



<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/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suites.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794299" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suites.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suites.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suites.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suites.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Each of the beachfront suits have a private plunge pool. Image courtesy of Sun Siyam Olhuveli</figcaption></figure>



The swanky new suites offer about 1,100 square feet of living space, big enough to accommodate four adults or two adults plus three children. In terms of the aesthetic, the rooms are decked out with sleek and earthy hues set off by a chic, contemporary vibe. If you do plan on bringing the kids, note that there’s a convertible extra room that can be closed off from the main living area for little ones. Each suite also comes with a secluded outdoor bathtub and rain shower, plus a sprawling outdoor terrace where you can hang with your morning coffee and watch the crashing ocean waves. &nbsp;



“We are incredibly excited to introduce these new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-olhuveli/accommodation/grand-beach-suite-with-pool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grand beach suites</a>&nbsp;with private pools, where guests can indulge in a heightened sense of tranquility and style,” said Hassan Adil, general manager at Sun Siyam Olhuveli, in a press statement. “Our team of professionals from the planning department has truly captured the essence of the Maldives with their design, creating spaces that allow guests to connect with nature while enjoying the very best in comfort and sophistication.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-olhuveli/accommodation/grand-beach-suite-with-pool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>



<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/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suite.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794300" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suite.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suite.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suite.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-suite.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The rooms also come with outdoor bathtubs and showers. Image courtesy of Sun Siyam Olhuveli</figcaption></figure>



Beyond the new suites, you can make use of Sun Siyam Olhuveli’s amenities, such as its four swimming pools and on-site restaurants. On Dream Island, you’ll find three dining options in addition to a relaxing overwater spa. There are also opportunities to play a game of tennis or head out for water sports like a snorkelling safari. If you’re looking for something more advanced, you’ll also have access to 50 world-class dive sites. 



Sun Siyam Olhuveli opened its doors over two decades ago, in 2002. Located 45 minutes via speedboat from Velana (Malé) International Airport, the hotel features 470 rooms and villas across its three islands which are all connected by a walkway bridge. The most recent addition, known as Romance Island, debuted in 2022. 



Seems like a trip to the Maldives is in order.

Beachfront

Dream Island

holiday

hotel

Private Pools

Resort

Vacation

This Luxe Maldives Resort Just Unveiled 40 New Beachfront Suites With Private Pools

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.

Aston Martin

hybrid

Supercar

Aston Martin Just Unveiled Its First Plug-In Hybrid Supercar

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Best of the Best 2024

Electric Vehicle

luxury car

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Spectre

Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore

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

Why stop at one special edition when you can make five?



<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/lotus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lotus</a> has just unveiled the new Emira Limited series. The exclusive model will be available in five different colourways, each of which is inspired by one of the automaker’s most beloved <a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/formula-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Formula 1</a> cars.



An F1 team hasn’t carried the automaker’s name in nearly a decade now, but it used to be a dominant force in the sport. Between 1963 and 1978, <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-lotus-type-12-formula-1-racer-bonhams-2024-monaco-auction-1235555158/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Team Lotus</a> won seven constructors and six driver’s championships. Its success extends past this period and some of F1’s most noted drivers spent time on the company payroll, including Jim Clark, Mario Andretti, and Ayrton Senna.



<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/emiralimited25.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794318" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited25.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited25.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited25.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited25.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lotus Emira Limited inspired by the Type 25. Image courtesy of James Arbuckle/Lotus</figcaption></figure>



It is five of the Team Lotus race cars that provide the inspiration for the exclusive <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-drive-lotus-emira-1234847682/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emiras</a>. The first of the special editions is inspired by the Type 25 that Clark drove to the constructor’s and driver’s championship in 1963. It finished in Verdant Green with yellow striping. It’s followed by the Type 72, which has a Shadow grey and gold design that includes a half Union Jack pattern on the side, just like that of the race car that won seven grand prix between 1977 and 1978. There’s also a blue Emira with red and white stripes just like those of the Type 86, the one-off prototype that inspired the Type 88.



Rounding the Emira Limited series out are two special editions inspired by race cars Senna drove in the 1980s, Team Lotus’s final full decade of operation. These include the Type 97T, which was the race car that the Brazilian drove to his first Grand Prix win in 1985. This model is also finished in dark Shadow Grey, with gold graphics (including the number 12 on both sides) and wheels. Finally, there’s the Type 99T, which is finished in vibrant yellow with blue accents, just like the car that Senna drove in the 1988 season, in which he finished third in the driver’s championship standing.



<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/emiralimited99t.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794319" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited99t.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited99t.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited99t.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emiralimited99t.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lotus Emira Limited inspired by the Type 99T. Image courtesy of James Arbuckle/Lotus</figcaption></figure>



Emira Limited series cars may all have different liveries, but their powertrains are the same. All five models are powered by the same Mercedes-AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-four. The mill is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and makes 360 hp and 317 ft lbs of torque. The Emira isn’t as fast as an F1 car, but it can still sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 171 mph.



Lotus plans to sell just 12 examples of each Emira Limited model. They start at €98,107, or about US$103,000 (approximately HK$800,810). Unfortunately, as of now, the exclusive editions will only be available to buy in Europe, continuing Emira’s <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/lotus-emira-us-delay-california-emissions-standards-1235488941/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">frustrating time in America</a>.



Click <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/photos-racing-inspired-lotus-emira-limited-series-1236120509" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for more photos of the Lotus Emira Limited series.

Emira Limited series

Emiras

Formula 1

Formula 1 Cars

Lotus

race car

Lotus Just Unveiled 5 New Emiras Inspired by Its Greatest F1 Race Cars

Mercedes isn’t going to sit out all the performance SUV fun.



The German marque’s sportiest sub-brand,&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/mercedes-amg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercedes-AMG</a>, has just shared a first look at its upcoming electric people hauler. The EV will be the second model built on the company’s&nbsp;AMG.EA&nbsp;platform and has the chance to be one of the most powerful vehicles to ever wear the three-pointed star.



Mercedes has long understood the allure of a luxury SUV. The boxy&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/mercedes-amg-g-wagen-suv-1234625265/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">G-Class</a>, or G-Wagen, has been one of the class’s most popular models since its introduction at the tail end of the 1970s. But while the automaker has plenty of SUVs in its lineup, it lacks the sort of high-performance EV that can match up with the&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/porsche-reveals-details-all-electric-macan-1235487074/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Porsche Macan Electric</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-drive-all-electric-lotus-eletre-suv-1234870979/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lotus Eletre</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="562" src="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amgelectricsuv01.jpg.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234794256" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amgelectricsuv01.jpg.webp 1000w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amgelectricsuv01.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amgelectricsuv01.jpg-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz</figcaption></figure>



That’s about to change. AMG has shared photos of an in-development SUV undergoing road testing. Little is known about the prototype at this point, but it is one of two new models the sub-brand is working on, the other being a four-door coupé. Both new models will be built on Mercedes’s new all-electric&nbsp;AMG.EA&nbsp;architecture.



The EV in the photograph may be covered in a camouflage wrap but it’s clear it’s unlike anything else in the current Mercedes line-up. It has an aggressive stance and sharper lines than any of AMG’s other SUVs, including the GLC and GLS. The difference is especially pronounced when compared to the line’s only other electric SUV, the jellybean-like EQE. We’re particularly intrigued by the front fascia which has a concave section that suggests the division’s trademark Panamerican grille could be in line for a radical reimagining.



Mercedes may still be keeping details about its new EVs close to the chest, but the reporting out there is easy to get excited about. Earlier this week, the <a href="https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mercedes-amgs-new-super-suv-pack-more-1000bhp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK-based Autocar reported</a> that the SUV will be the latest member of the AMG GT family. Its powertrain could make well over 1,000 hp, since the AMG.EA platform allows for either a twin- or tri-motor setup. The motors used by the setup can supposedly make up to 473 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque by themselves, suggesting the vehicle will be significantly more powerful than the Macan Turbo Electric, which tops out at 630 hp, and the Eletre R, which tops out at 905 hp.



Luckily, we shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to find out more. According to Mercedes, the SUV will soon begin cold-weather testing. Its sibling, the four-door coupé, is expected to debut sometime next year, with the SUV following shortly after.

mercedes

Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes Is Developing an All-Electric SUV With 1,000 HP

<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/genesis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genesis</a>&nbsp;is going after one of auto racing’s biggest prizes.



The Korean luxury marque has just launched a new&nbsp;<a href="https://robbreport.com/tag/motorsports/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motorsports</a>&nbsp;team called Genesis Magma Racing. The outfit plans to enter its first prototype racer, the GMR-001 hypercar, in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026.



Genesis is following in the footsteps of other high-end marques, like Cadillac and Lamborghini, by focusing its attention on endurance racing first. The new team will be overseen by Cyril Abiteboul and intends to field two hypercars in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA (International Motorsports Association (IMSA) series, starting in 2026 and 2027 respectively. The team has already lined up two drivers for WEC races, current champion André Lotterer and Luis “Pipo” Derani, both of whom will contribute to the GMR-001 development.



<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/gmr02.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793987" style="width:838px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr02.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr02.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr02.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr02.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Image courtesy of Genesis</figcaption></figure>



“As we look to push the boundaries of our brand, motorsport allows us to bring the spirit of hyperspeed—which drives how we create and innovate—in a way that aligns perfectly with our core values: Audacious, Progressive, and Distinctly Korean,” Luc Donckerwolke, Genesis’s chief creative officer, said in a statement.



Genesis also offered up a first glimpse at the GMR-001. The all-new vehicle will compete in the Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) category and will feature a bubble cockpit, giant fenders over each wheel, and an even bigger rear wing. Technical details about the futuristic racer are all being kept close to the chest at this point, but class rules require it to have a hybrid system and make around 670 hp. Car and Driver reports that that a turbocharged V-8 will be at the heart of the powertrain. Expect details to start filtering out as we get closer to the car’s 2026 debut.



<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/gmr03.jpg-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1234793988" style="width:839px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr03.jpg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr03.jpg-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr03.jpg-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.robbreport.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gmr03.jpg.webp 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image courtesy of Genesis</figcaption></figure>



The establishment of a motorsports team is also another sign that Genesis is serious about upping its performance credentials. Earlier this year, the marque announced a new sub-brand called Magma that will build a sportier version of the marque’s cars and SUVs. The line’s first vehicle is an over-the-top <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/genesis-electrified-g80-refreshed-extended-wheelbase-1235685371/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">G80</a> variant that comes outfitted with a wide-body kit and a specially tuned powertrain that makes over 400 hp. Another special edition based on the <a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/genesis-unveils-first-ev-gv60-crossover-1234631254/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GV60 EV</a> is said to be on the way as well.

Genesis

Hypercar

motosport

This New Genesis Hypercar Will Race at Le Mans in 2026

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Ayrton Senna

TAG Heuer

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Omega

Speedmaster

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Orkos

Watchlock

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Cubitus

Patek Philippe

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Cartier

Luxury watches

Rolex

Sotheby’s

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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