Does Mr Raven have the power to predict the next moves in travel? After being in escapade-obsessed circles with friends in high places, a grandmother who danced the tango with the Onassises in Buenos Aires in their glory days, a father who swept me away from New York to India as a kid, where I learned how to waltz at a wedding in the presence of a Maharajah, all the way to present day where I create stunning, if I may say so, editorials and digital content that put a spotlight on destinations for the young high society, and countless luxury hotels in the world on publications in the Middle East, Japan and the USA, well I have to say that my prediction would probably be a little more seasoned than an average guess. One thing I have learned over the years, when it comes to predictions, you have to always follow the money.
Will wanderlusts with strong spending power triple their travel plans with a vengeance in 2023? I do think so!
Business and first class flights were nearly sold out in all of 2022, given that most airlines have cut down their fleet, and there’s of course the hype of the FIFA World Cup that added to the direct-sales of flights from and to Qatar, one or the world’s travel hubs. Let’s also consider some top destinations like Bali, Thailand, The Caribbean, and almost all of the Americas lifting their travel restrictions in the summer of 2022 — yes, there’s that. But there’s a big number of people who are still paranoid and afraid to hop on long-hauls, first class or not. That number however is slowly moving down as social media has been taken over by countless travel-inspired reels and images. This digital influence that affects our decision-making has somehow brought a positive impact on the lives of the afraid. How? Well, through constant inspiration, beautiful visuals, more often a filtered take on the lives of people we know, can relate to, follow, adore, love or hate. That overload of picture-perfect moments, fake or not, trumps fear. So for once, we are seeing a positive impact of social media, not to mention that it has driven the economy of travel back to the skies. Not only was the fear of travel kicked out of the scene, but it also revived a whole lot of jobs. So the next time you see a friend’s sparkling holiday video on Instagram, before hating on it, think about how many jobs did the travel industry lose during the pandemic, so yes, double-tap that. Inspiration is contagious, not just in the world of travel, but in all aspects of life.
All of the above is an impressive feat considering there were still staffing and operational constraints, not to mention closed borders in some destinations. While we’re thrilled to see the new dawn of travel and tourism rebounding. Rental car shortages, packed European capitals and sky-high airfares were just the start. Will travel in 2023 be as overwhelming? I’ve gathered some inside info to give you my take on what travel trends to expect in the Year of the Rabbit.
Sadly, inflation is making an impact on all travel plans, but that’s not enough to stop anyone who hasn’t travelled all year from booking a flight to destinations where their currencies are standing strong. Our friends at the US Travel Foundation has forecasted an increase in travel spending in 2023 compared to 2022 (or 2019, for that matter). As a frequent flyer, expect full flights and plenty of tourists at popular travel spots.
Here’s my prediction. Far-flung destinations like Iceland, Greenland, Antarctica, French Polynesia, Chile and the Easter Island, Maldives, Seychelles, Mustique, New Zealand, Rwanda, the Serengeti, and other destinations with minimal private jet landing restrictions and requirements, but have access to high-calibre and well-curated cruises, will be flocked by the elites. From the Arab world most especially. I already know some families, two of which are from royalty, who just took off for an expedition with an army of chefs, aboard their private ship to the far away.
For the global middle-class and those who have money but don’t want to go crazy on the spending department, Southeast Asian destinations like Bali, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, where the beaches are stunning and the Euro is bangin’. It’s almost predictable. We also know that these destinations hold some of the most beautiful, luxury resorts in the world. As for Americans, in its own category, there will be a lot of stateside travel. Keeping it local will be an ongoing theme for the majority, except New Yorkers. A true Manhattanite would drop dead on the street if they couldn’t at least pack their bags and get out of the US once a year.
The “new money” will flock to destinations like Bhutan, where luxury is muted but felt in the air through the serenity, and not having to bump into Australian backpackers. Bhutan gives a sense of peace at a price tag. Fact of the matter is, people with new money who are new to luxury travel love the feeling of old money, that’s what they aspire for, and Bhutan exudes old money charm.
Here are some places to look out for, and I predict, will be the next “new money hotbed destinations” for 2023: Fiji, Mauritius, Japan, the island of Corfu in Greece, and the Argentine and Peruvian Andes. After a dizzying saga of countless dinners and afternoon teas with editors and acquaintances who truly splurge on travel, these destinations are prominent on our 2023 calendars. You’re welcome.
Bernard Arnault, the famed entrepreneur and owner of the ultra-luxury group LVMH, has added a new property under his name. The billionaire is the new owner of Casa degli Atellani, the former residence of Leonardo Da Vinci, a polymath and master painter. Located in the city centre of Milan, the property’s previous occupants include the descendants of the Conti and Portaluppi families.
At press time, the transaction and purpose of this acquisition were not disclosed.
The majestic estate was built in the late 1400s and donated to Da Vinci by Ludovico “Il Moro” Duke of Milan in 1498 when the painter was in town to paint his magnum opus — The Last Supper. Through the years, Casa degli Atellani saw multiple changes of hands and ownership and in 1919, it was acquired by the senator and entrepreneur Ettore Conti.
Located on Corso Magenta, the estate underwent restoration works under the direction of Piero Portaluppi, who is a famous architect and son-in-law of Conti. Within the grand country house’s verdant courtyard is a hidden vineyard that once belonged to Da Vinci. It was the only wine-producing landholding in the centre of Milan and spans around two acres or 16 rows. Restored in 2014, after years of neglect, it was restored to its former glory in 2015 during the international Expo held in the capital city. The public could once again indulge in the wines made in Milan.
The revitalisation of Casa degli Atellani saw it become a top destination for fashion shows, presentations and cocktail receptions. Tourists and visitors often earmark the estate as one of the places to visit. There are also six for-rent apartments that could be utilised.
The multi-billionaire’s portfolio includes some of the world’s most luxurious brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Bvlgari and others. He also owns several wines and spirits firms, namely Ruinart, Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot. Being one of the richest in the world, Arnault is always at the top of the list and often competes with Tesla and Twitter owner Elon Musk for the crown. As of December 2022, Forbes estimates Arnault to have a net worth of US$181.8 billion.
If you have watched the Netflix documentary series featuring the former Duke and Duchess of Sussex, you would have noticed the property in which the series was filmed. The Montecito mansion where various interviews were recorded is listed for US$33.5 million with Ryan Malmsten of Santa Barbara Brokers.
Situated in Montecito, California, the Mediterranean-style house was built in 2006 and has six bedrooms. Boasting ocean and mountain views, the property’s multiple terraces and arched windows add to the grandiosity of the place. Furthermore, in the grand room, a chandelier hangs atop.
Other than the stunning layout of the mansion, It also includes a pool, hot tub, gym, game room and a theatre. For those who are fond of the South California weather, this 13,599 square feet property makes a great addition to one’s portfolio and an exceptional location to spend the holidays surrounded by nature.
As both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are nature lovers, the house’s exterior features two acres of lush grounds with romantic walkways, year-round flowers, a vegetable garden, a citrus garden and even a chicken coop. Audiences who had seen the Oprah with Meghan and Harry special would be familiar with these highlights. Furthermore, there is a five-car garage and energy-saving components like generators, solar power systems and a greywater irrigation system.
The couple moved to Montecito in 2020 after deciding not to continue as part of the British royal family. This six-part documentary series chronicles the couple’s courtship days up to the well-publicised resignation from the royal family. Harry and Meghan left England and started their new life in the US. The couple stayed at Tyler Perry’s home for a period before purchasing the mansion for US$14.7 million.
The area of Montecito is popular among Hollywood celebrities and the wealthy. These include Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ariana Grande.
Cartier has got the perfect scented candles to accompany you through the new year. More than a treat for the olfactory senses, these Écrins Parfumés candles also serve as chic objets d’art that instantly elevate any living space. A celebration of the art of fine objects, which Cartier is most known for apart from its jewellery-making savoir-faire, the Maison also puts the spotlight on its perfumery division.
Created by Cartier’s in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent, the quartet of scented candles aims to invoke a sense of relaxation, escapism and dreaminess. “Four candles designed by Cartier perfumer Mathilde Laurent that are capable of conjuring up a landscape and a sense of vastness, while also connecting us to nature,” Cartier shares in a press release.
“Through smoke, the origin of perfume, I wanted to offer the possibility to create amazing landscapes, real or imaginary, at home. By lighting the Écrins Parfumés, we can rediscover the joy of moments spent in nature and invite everyone to enter into this unexplored sensory world of fragrance,” explains Laurent on the intent behind the collection.
The wax component of the candle is housed in a porcelain casing and features Cartier’s emblematic red hue. Its shape is also modelled after its iconic gift boxes, and you will also see its garland motif surrounding the name of each candle. Coming in four scents: Pétales (Petals), Désert (Desert), Canopée (Canopy) and Neige (Snow); while each candle exudes a distinct fragrance, the through line of the collection is its nod to the beauty of nature.
Pétales
Captures a meadow filled with thousands of flowers, a floral explosion for the senses and a bouquet as vast as a field that has its scents wafted by the fresh morning ennoble the perfumes.
Désert
The image of endless dunes warmed by the sun’s rays. A sea of sand traversed by a slow, soft and warm amber breeze.
Canopée
The feeling of soaring high above the treetops. A fresh and vibrant expanse of green woodland with a rich, varied and complex aroma carried by the fresh wind.
Neige
The discovery of a snowy white immenseness atop which the sun diffracts its rays, bathing the landscape in a soft pinkish glow, shrouded with frosty, ozone, fresh, crystalline and musky notes.
When lighting each candle individually or in combination with the others, the aromatic notes blend flawlessly to conjure a poetic dreamscape. “Freshness, warmth, greenness, softness, lightness: everything blends together, everything is possible and new.”
XL matches, a panther lighter or Diabolo de Cartier candle holders complement this olfactory delight.
Canopée, Désert and Pétales will launch in February 2023 while Neige will be released at a later date. Get the candles in stores or online here.
Beneath Bottega Veneta’s brilliant cutting-edge sheen lies a rare sense of authenticity. Look around you — millions are entrapped by their phones, endlessly scrolling through social media. Ominous underpinnings of advertisements disguised as personal content infiltrate social media feeds, carefully convincing the audience to buy into a product or forcing the viewer to assimilate as its followers. It creates a harrowing sight — content stuffed down one’s face has infuriatingly proven successful.
Ex-creative director Daniel Lee explored these maladies with bold gambits on past occasions. He first made the label go dark on all its social media platforms, deleting its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts in one fell swoop, before reorganising the collections as private affairs by hosting discreet off-the-calendar shows. The modern era of Bottega Veneta ushered in aspiration towards intimacy, a personal connection to the brand that wades through the noise of targeted advertisements; something felt rather than seen. Then, when Daniel Lee left, his replacement Matthieu Blazy instead looked in the mirror and chafed at the label’s reflection.
Unlike Wardrobe 03 and Salon 03 — both attempted to capture a more obvious, straightforward angle of Daniel Lee’s radicality — Matthieu Blazy’s proposal for Winter 2022 tames the label’s recent taste for excess with an inward-looking suite of looks and accessories that was woefully absent of the reclusive and cultishly beloved traits introduced by Daniel Lee. Instead, where once a shearling dress sewn with the animated proportions of an enlarged flower once appeared on Bottega Veneta’s runway, Matthieu Blazy’s Winter 2022 is distilled clean of such nuances. It is completely ambient — focusing more on revealing a more discreet sense of luxury by using craftsmanship to hide the details others would so mistakenly make obvious. These deliberate counterpoints have become nothing less than routine among the growing canon of collections predominantly created after a predecessor has abruptly left.
His follow-up — Pre-Spring 2023 — again oscillates between comforting recollections of the past and tentative inklings of the future. With just about 64 looks that continue from where was left off in Winter 2022, it is the House’s largest and most focused pre-collection yet — one that perpetuates a simple message: Quiet Power. For a start, the Intrecciato weave — the label’s finely-tuned answer for monograms and logos — has been similarly shrunk to how it was when Tomas Maier steered the ship. It is further scrunched, pleated and reshaped in the large squares of Daniel Lee’s reintroduced Cassettes. The new styles for the accessories are noticeably designed to be more accessible, which includes the reintroduction of the classic backpack, document cases and bucket bags in its host of menswear offerings.
Silhouettes from the ready-to-wear are relaxed and the resulting clothes evocatively communicate a sense of ease with a utilitarian approach in their aesthetic. It offers a useful framework for interpreting movement, where every inch of the garments was carefully put together and imagined “on the go” — never allowed to be still and dormant. Styles are also repeated from the Winter 2022 collection, with new renditions in colour and material. Leather pants make a return and now feature an Intrecciato weave exterior. Leather coats spot a return of shearling, now used amongst seam lines to exaggerate proportions and create contrast between the leather’s toughness and soft textures of shearling — again, an emphasis on intimacy. It is simple but inimitable, general but specific.
Without the thematic discursions and stylistic detours of past collections, Pre-Spring 2023 can be viewed as an example of how Matthieu Blazy intends to lead Bottega Veneta by rendering “hype” secondary. Instead, he shows how being genuine could be part of the charm. This sense of commitment to the Bottega Veneta experience extends even to its new lifetime warranty program for its bag offerings. The “Certificate of Craft” program was launched in November and offers customers complimentary services to refresh and repair their Bottega Veneta bags to ensure the longevity of their purchases. That applies just in time with every Pre-Spring 2023 bag purchase.
At the beginning of 2021, Bottega Veneta was at its most popular. The Italian luxury House became one of fashion’s true word-of-mouth successes — what used to be a name unbeknownst to the general public became known without ever needing to introduce itself. By the end of the year, they somehow became more difficult to define. Daniel Lee’s sudden departure at what felt like a time when things at the label were starting to make sense, followed with Matthieu Blazy’s promotion — the Belgian designer served as Daniel Lee’s right-hand man since 2020 — left many to wonder what might change.
With the breath of fresh air presented in Pre-Spring 2023, it is not that the Bottega Veneta defined by Daniel Lee, is starting to disappear. It is simply the result of slowing itself down, taking a step back to think about its future, what an Italian “Quiet Power” means to its new generation of customers,and where it will be in the next few decades. Right now, we would like to think of it as a retrofit led by Matthieu Blazy, where bits and pieces are improved to present an identity that is meant to last the same way a Bottega Veneta bag would one day be passed on to the next generation.
You have been part of the Swatch Group for more than 20 years, mainly at Blancpain. How did you become CEO of Breguet?
It happened very naturally. Indeed, after internal reflection between the Hayek family and the various members of the management, it seemed judicious to me to offer myself for the position of CEO at Breguet. Indeed, through my years within the Swatch Group, I had the chance to approach various key sectors such as development, production, operations, and even marketing, which allowed me to have a vision of the overall needs of a brand. I am very honoured by the trust placed in me by the Hayek family. Taking the reins of a brand with such a heritage is a source of pride.
What was your impression of Breguet before and after joining the brand?
I was impressed by the technology put in place within the manufacture as well as by all the knowledge present. These elements were very important to Nicolas G. Hayek, who made it a point of honour to reinforce this know-how when Breguet was bought in 1999 by the Swatch Group. This initiative was also continued by Marc A. Hayek when he took over as director. That was also very important for him. In addition, I was touched by the passion that emanates from all the teams. I have no doubt that with such assets; we will bring the brand brilliantly to its 250th anniversary.
It was essential for me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each department. For this reason, I spent time in each workshop. This allowed me to readjust certain processes and find the most suitable solutions in order to gain in efficiency.
What are the biggest challenges facing Breguet today?
In my opinion, the biggest challenge is general to all of watchmaking: to continue to surprise. Indeed, the competition is great, and the innovations multiply, so you have to be both avant-garde while aiming for excellence. The processes of creating new complications and technologies can take years. We must also keep in mind that Breguet is not a fashion brand that multiplies releases. It is therefore essential for us to maintain the level of rigour and perfection that have given the brand its reputation. For these reasons, we only release our new products when they are up to par with our Haute Horlogerie manufacture.
Breguet has an incredible history, with founder Abraham Louis Breguet responsible for a number of horological innovations. However, what do you think have been the brand’s most beautiful creations in recent years?
Image: Breguet
Undoubtedly the iconic and recognisable Queen of Naples. It represents refinement and elegance. In addition, a work of know-how of great meticulousness can be admired on each piece. I’m also thinking of the Tradition line that I wear and particularly like. This collection allows you to admire its symmetrical and architectural movement on the dial side and on the caseback side. This one is inspired by the tact and subscription watches created by our founder Abraham-Louis Breguet. Finally, I also particularly appreciate the Tourbillon Extra Plat Anniversary that we launched last year. It incorporates the codes of the brand and elegantly refers to the creation of the tourbillon by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
While Breguet is a 246-year-old brand, it was founded by an innovator and pioneer who always sought to reinvent the workings of watchmaking. Do you consider the balance between innovation and tradition to be an important aspect of managing a brand such as Breguet?
Of course! For me, Breguet must constantly aim for excellence in all aspects of a watch, whether in terms of its complications, its materials and its design.
What’s a highlight for Breguet in 2022?
The Marine Hora Mundi. It combines technical prowess with aesthetics. It is an instant memory GMT whose display is done on a two-dimensional world map. Its dial is compensated with different plates to provide this dimensional effect. One of them, the sapphire one, is 0.4 mm. It is made up of meridians that have been metallised. This was an operation that required many tests before we were able to guarantee an irreproachable quality.
What do you think of the trend of sports watches today? Will we see Breguet bring out a Type XX project?
Image: Breguet
Like fashion, watchmaking is cyclical. It is good that certain trends stand out at certain times; however I think that everyone should be able to find the style of watch that defines them the most. A timepiece is now also an essential accessory to differentiate yourself and display your style. At Breguet, the Marine line is our collection that displays a sporty look. It is very well received on the markets and our titanium model is a great success. To answer your question about the Type XX, I would say that one of my tasks is to think about the existing collections and their evolution. Of course, the Type XX is one of these lines of thought…Something to follow!
While the watch industry has proven resilient despite the pandemic, we are now in a precarious situation with rising inflation, an impending decline and disrupted supply lines — what is Breguet’s position on this?
I’m not going to lie to you: like the entire watch industry, we are feeling the effects of the pandemic and are looking for the best solutions to be able to continue to offer our models in stores. We do our best to respond as closely as possible to requests. However, we still see so much enthusiasm for our watches, which is a very encouraging sign.
Breguet announced a partnership with Frieze. Why this partnership? What is your goal?
Image: Da Ping Lou for Breguet
The brand is fortunate to benefit from a rich history that links it to different worlds, and art is one of them. Indeed, Abraham- Louis Breguet inspired many artists, whether writers or painters. Moreover, the windows of the workshops of its founder, located at Quai de l’Horloge, overlooked the Louvre. He was very close to the establishment and its director at the time, Dominique Vivant Denon, and participated in various artistic events together. It is therefore quite natural that the brand continued its history in art. For example, at the instigation of Nicolas G. Hayek, the renovation of the Louis XIV to Louis XVI rooms present in the Louvres was supported by Breguet. Today, the brand is a partner of several institutions active in art (Carnegie Hall in New York, Teatro Real in Madrid) and now of the international art fair Frieze, which takes place in Seoul but also in New York, Los Angeles and London. As part of this partnership, we wanted to honour an artist’s work by giving it carte blanche: that of exhibiting through an ephemeral work of art, its vision of Breguet. At each event, a new work is produced. Our choice for this year fell on the artist Pablo Bronstein who is passionate about the 18th century.
(This is a) wonderful coincidence when you know that our brand was founded in 1775! During his visit to our museum in Paris, he was fascinated by the Breguet brand as well as by the avant-garde creations of Abraham-Louis Breguet. On the occasion of the New York and Seoul fairs, we met with a very nice response when visitors discovered our stand decorated with the artist’s work! If this type of event allows us to find our customers, it also offers us the possibility of making ourselves known to a new clientele, sensitive to luxury and art. Even if art is admired through the works of artists, it is also admired through works of art that are worn on the wrist, which are our watches. During Frieze New York, we had a guillocheur who showed and tested the guillochage to visitors, we were very impressed to discover the young generations so curious about this art and with a real desire to understand the secrets of designing a watch. And that is a great victory.
Japan’s foray into commercial whisky distillation began in 1923 when Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii founded the Yamazaki Distillery on the edges of Kyoto prefecture, in a region referred to in the past as “Minaseno”. Compared to the western world, Japan is a late bloomer with its history only going back to the early 20th century. In comparison, the Scotch whisky giant Chivas Regal traces its heritage back to the 18th century with the founding of the Strathisla distillery. However, despite its short history, Japanese whiskies have gained international recognition and popularity in recent years. In 2001 Nikka won “Best of the Best” at Whisky Magazine’s Awards with its 10-year Yoichi Single malt, planting the spotlight firmly on Japanese whisky. Understandably, it prompts the question, what exactly differentiates Japanese whisky from those of the western world?
Whisky or whiskey? Before getting into the down and dirty, it would be appropriate to clarify that even in the western world, there exist many distinctions between each country’s whisk(e)y. Whisky, in the old days, was spelt without the “e” in both Scotland and Ireland. However, in the late 1800s, four of the biggest distillers in Ireland pushed for the addition of the vowel as a marketing differentiator. The later use of the letter “e” by subsequent distillers in the non-Gaelic countries depended on their connection to either Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y. Japanese distilleries largely follow the same techniques as the Scottish and so exclude the vowel. Whereas the Americans favoured the Irish product and sought association with it by spelling it whiskey.
Since the Japanese took inspiration from the Scots, that seems to be the logical point of comparison. But first, here is a brief rundown of some of the major products of the West.
READ MORE: The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired by Intense Arabica: A Perfect Pairing of Whisky and Coffee Scotch Scotland’s cold windy climate has forced its distilleries to adopt unique traditions, contributing to the distinct taste of scotch. The harsh winds of Scotland mean that oak trees, traditionally used to produce whisky barrels are rare. Therefore, Scottish distillers adopted the practice of reusing barrels from the US and other parts of Europe to age their whisky. The lack of wood as a fuel source also led to the use of peat to dry out barley grains. This results in a unique flavour profile that is lighter than American whiskey but with that distinctive smoky flavour. This is nicely embodied by Chivas Regal’s 18 Gold Signature Blended Scotch and the Glenfiddich 18 Year Old. Both whiskies open with aromatic notes of dried fruits which then finish with a distinct smokiness that is unique to scotch.
Irish Whiskey
The Irish whiskey tradition is similar to that of Scotch, with some subtle differences. The Irish typically use unmalted barley in their mash bills while the Scots favour malted barley, and they utilise closed kilns compared to the Scottish tradition of drying barley over burning peat. This results in a subtler, smoother taste, that is generally light and fruity with notes of the various grains used. A great Irish Whiskey to try is Bushmills’ flagship 10 year Single Malt.
Bourbon uses predominantly corn while Rye uses mostly rye. Given the abundance of American oak, distillers in the US do not typically adopt the practice of reusing old barrels for ageing, resulting in a bolder flavour profile much like the American spirit. Bourbons have a delicious sweetness and full body provided by the corn while rye lends an earthy spiciness. Knob Creek’s Patiently Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the core product of the small batch brand embodies all things great about bourbon while FEW Rye Whiskey brings the heat of American rye.
While Japanese whisky may not have a history going back centuries, to say that the Japanese do not have a booze-soaked heritage would be folly. After all, they were the ones who introduced the world to the beauty of sake and shochu. A crucial component in Japanese whisky production is the purity of the water used which explains Torii’s choice to settle in that region of Japan. Additionally, many of Japan’s distilleries are built at higher altitudes resulting in lower pressure, in turn resulting in lower boiling points when distilling. This helps to retain aroma and flavour, for a smoother drinking experience. Finally, while following Scottish traditions, Japanese whiskies tend to be less peated, as Japanese generally prefer lighter flavours. The result is a unique light and fruity taste. The Hibiki’s 17 Year Old, Suntory’s main venture into blended whisky is a delightful whisky with notes of citrus peels and raisin and a tinge of gentle smoke, a nod to the Scottish traditions upon which Japan built its practices.
Hibiki 17 Year Old; Image Credit: Shanescotch Instagram
With its distinctive profile owing to the marriage of Japan’s connection to nature and Scottish tradition, it is little wonder that the Japanese are taking the world of whisky by storm.
In this final stretch of our look at innovation in watchmaking, we get to truly new things for brands and collectors alike, which are generally new for everyone. We are talking about the curious world of Web3 and the Metaverse, of course, but also the Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie’s own showcase of innovation, the LAB event at Watches and Wonders Geneva, and the sustainability journey. Web3 here includes blockchain and NFTs, as well as overlaps with the Metaverse. Unlike most things watchmaking, this is where collectors and watchmakers alike might scratch their heads in confusion, largely because both Web3 and the Metaverse are entirely nebulous.
This is unsurprising for purely digital technologies, but also relate to key issues in the development of these new digital tools. Never mind who will actually use these tools, and how they will be used, because you can fairly ask if these new ideas will not have been replace by newer and better (ostensibly) ones by the end of the year, or in the next couple of years. In fact, proponents of the Metaverse and Web3 are actually excited by the uncertainties here, because they see them as opportunities. Given that most watch brands struggled mightily for years with digital adoption – that means right down to making useful websites – we were surprised by how enthusiastic they are about the Metaverse and Web3. Maybe things have really changed from the days of the Quartz Crisis.
Trigger Warning
Before we get into it, a few caveats are needed on the digital narrative in particular. First, this story is not an introduction to the big technology ideas covered here. Leaving aside our lack of pages for this, we are also not domain experts so we should not attempt to provide basic education. We will therefore be using the most mainstream definitions (i.e. Wikipedia and major players such as Meta and the Ether blockchain) while relying on prominent explainers from major news outlets, including CNBC, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and others.
Secondly, we will be leaning heavily on comments by key figures in luxury about the digital world and its opportunities. While we intend to sound out more brand executives about this, the most recent statements on the record will suffice for this story. Finally, Heart Media, the publisher of this magazine, is a proponent of the Metaverse while the editor of WOW (also the author of this entire section) is a freelance digital consultant who is highly critical of Web3 and its constituents, aside from the blockchain foundation. In other words, here be biases so be warned.
We begin this story with something a lot less controversial, which is the LAB event, which was like the Cliff’s Notes of what we have covered here. The FHH, in its own presser on Watches and Wonders, declared with astonishing confidence that the event “has just demonstrated that watchmaking know-how, artistic craftmanship and NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) can coexist harmoniously.” Audacity aside, the release does not do the LAB event justice — just look at the pictures from the event, and ask yourself if your interest has been piqued.
The Rebellion Robot, for example, is portrayed as a sideshow and a curiosity, but it is in fact something Rebellion have been working on for years now. The brand says that the robot is being developed to assist watchmakers on the production floor, by taking on specialised and repetitive tasks. That message is both intriguing and disturbing so perhaps it is no wonder that the FHH does not know what to do with it. True innovation has a cost, but it almost always results in even more employment for human beings. Well, that is a summary of what the aforementioned experts say.
For our part, we think robots such as this are not so different to the ones already in use at various industrial powerhouses, including Rolex and the Swatch Group (who are of course conspicuously absent from Watches and Wonders Geneva). The Rebellion Robot, not a small or cuddly object by any means, does pose the question to collectors: how much do we value the inefficiencies that produce hand-made beauty? The robot was just one of 15 displays and we are certainly not going to cover all of them. Fortunately, some of them offer good entry points to certain key areas.
Spacing Out
Take Louis Moinet and the creation of its own NFTs, for example, which the FHH again devotes just one line to. While the brand touted the successful sale of all its initial 1,000 NFTs on its website, it also planned to offer two owners the chance to win a Super Moon model; the Louis Moinet Super Moon debuted at Watches and Wonders Geneva, and we see what the brand did with the watch’s name!
Louis Moinet worked with digital artist Tafi on its NFTs, which were sold on the Exclusible platform, based on the Space Revolution model. We see this as part of the ongoing shift towards contemporary aesthetics in watchmaking. The manner Louis Moinet made the NFT announcement and handled the sale were notable for being completely alien to watchmaking, although we will look to another brand for a truly novel approach to NFTs a little later. For now though, we must distinguish between Louis Moinet and other brands that have famously embraced Web3. This includes big names such as Vacheron Constantin and Bvlgari.
The former is part of a raft of Richemont brands adopting blockchain technology to secure supply chains and ensure a measure of transparency, and to turn out what are effectively certificates of authenticity. This year happens to be Vacheron Constantin’s target to issue digital passports, secured by the Arianee technology for all its new watches, and the brand reports that it has managed it. Vacheron Constantin is thus in a new era of ownership privileges, but it is not alone. IWC and Panerai are also partnering with Arianee to explore Web3, but we will reserve that for another story.
Back at LAB and with IWC, we were intrigued by the concept of the Cyberloupe, a specially designed and digitally enabled version of the watchmaker’s magnifier. It has an integrated camera and a network connection, meaning collectors can potentially get virtually up-close-and-personal with movement assembly and other watchmaking activities. This is one expression of the Metaverse idea of immersive experiences powered by networks and hardware; it might very well be the first from a high-end watchmaker. Here is what IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr had to say about this, from the official press release:
“With these newly developed virtual tours, visitors will go on an interactive, personalised and memorable journey of discovery, bringing them as close as possible to our home in Schaffhausen, no matter where they may be. Not only will they gain exciting insights into our history and the complex engineering behind our timepieces, but they will also be immersed into the world of IWC in a completely new way.”
Pleasure Principle
Image: Bvlgari
If the experience is as enriching as IWC promises, we have no doubt that more brands will follow suit, just as lots of brands are already onboard with their own sustainability ventures. This formed the last and potentially most significant bit of news from LAB. Panerai and Baume & Mercier were showcasing their recycled PET straps, and the former had plenty of news to announce with regards to its sustainability journey, which now includes staff-driven actions and a variety of climate-positive actions at the manufacture. This all follows on the brand’s recycled materials push, both in cases and straps, in recent years.
“As a company, we have the responsibility to be active and support the urgent need for change and help protecting our Planet, empowering everyone to take direct action to take care of it. The more we can work together, the better,” states CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué. Panerai is also working alongside Cartier in the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030, which has to do with the sustainability and transparency of the supply chain.
This allows us to neatly transition out of Watches and Wonders, and address the Metaverse. When it comes to this expansive concept, which is an enormous spectre looming large over the wraith of Web3, there is much to say, although it is mostly speculative. This is particularly germane given that Bvlgari has just announced a partnership with Naver Z’s Metaverse platform Zepeto, which has 300 million users. Reportedly, 80 per cent of these are teens. Bulgari’s virtual world launched 31 August and includes a pop-up store with online and offline experiences. There are also games in this virtual world, where users or visitors complete quests and receive rewards. In this case, these are items from the Bvlgari Resort collection, and signature accessories. No watches are in play yet.
In the Metaverse, such rewards are meant to transfer across platforms, meaning your avatar should be able to bring its items anywhere it goes. This part is not a reality yet, no pun intended, and no one knows yet exactly how it will work. If you think this reminds you of Second Life, you will not be alone, although Bulgari has gone one better than anyone else we can think of. The brand made Web3 a part of the real world of haute horlogerie with the Octo Finissimo Ultra bearing a laser-engraved QR code (pointing to an NFT) on its rachet wheel.
We contrast this upbeat note with a word of caution, delivered by Cartier CEO Cyrille Vigneron. He made this remark in an interview published by World Tempus, and it had nothing to do with any specific move by any specific brand.
“The Metaverse is a complementary virtual world, which can also be likened to playing at not being yourself, which already exists: it’s called carnival. Humans have long enjoyed pretending to be someone different, so it’s not a revolution. When I was a teenager, I read The Lord of the Rings and we played Dungeons and Dragons: we were already enjoying escapist-style entertainment, so let’s see in ten years what it becomes. As far as NFTs are concerned, this results in purely virtual luxury products… Why not? Yet our main job is to make tangible products for intangible feelings. I feel the watch on my wrist, like a ring or a bracelet, gifted for a memorable date, I prefer to feel it against my skin rather than displaying something on a computer. If I go home with a bouquet of flowers, it will give more pleasure than if I offer a QR code with the symbolic value of NFTs, it’s not the same thing.”
Nevertheless, it is certainly possible to use Web3 or NFTs in particular in a fun way to drive commercial results, as demonstrated by Nimany Club. The brand touts itself as the world’s first NFT-native watch brand, and it launched with the promise of offering NFT watches that could be ‘redeemed’ for actual watches. The entire process is randomised, with buyers being entered into a lottery, which is meant as a measure of fairness, just as MB&F demonstrated with the last MAD watch. For Nimanyclub, the idea is to promote the buying and owning experience as a journey, which also leads to the establishment of a community.
To close this story and this entire section, we feel it should be noted that innovation in watchmaking is a developing story. What will actually come to your wrist may not match up well theory, even after years and possibly decades of development. For example, the story of silicon in watchmaking is perhaps most amazing in that it actually worked, and was implemented in actual watches that some
of you might actually be wearing. This is not a given, even in the most famous of instances. For example, John Harrison’s marine chronometer never made it into production, amazing as it was, because it could not be industrialised.
In the end, we may look upon some of the innovations covered here with a fair degree of scepticism, and that is only to be expected. It seems impossible to view anything Metaverse related as experimental at best, and you would be wise to think of it that way. There is no inherent benefit to getting aboard the digital transformation train early, as far as watches go anyway. Just bear in mind that watch brands want to innovate because watchmakers want to make better devices. That said, we will be revisiting new techniques, materials and perhaps even fundamental research in our issues over the next few years. It may very well turn into a long-running series, like our eight-part escapement adventure that concluded last year.
Located at 229 Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, the Italian luxury house Gucci has opened doors to welcome shoppers into its Gucci Valigeria boutique — a stand-alone store dedicated to its travel line. Spanning two floors, the space occupies over 2,000 square feet and offers a complete range of products from weekend bags, duffles, garment bags, vanity cases, hat cases and other travel essentials. Inspired by the heyday of rail travel during the Belle-Epoque, elements like vintage light fixtures and shelving decorate the retail space.
Starting from the window displays from the storefront, nods to Gucci’s history as a trunk and suitcase maker could be seen from the luggage cart inspired arrangement. Stepping inside the store, on the ground floor, one would be reminded of a tony train station. The cash register is disguised as a welcoming desk, and just beside it is a pile of Gucci-monogrammed luggage. Exotic skin versions of Gucci’s weekend duffle and exclusive trunks and also be found on this level.
On the floor above, brass shelving can be found along the walls and call to mind the racks found in old-fashioned trains. Looking up, the ceiling features an arched roof, which is a nod to the top of carriages of the past. A loon-woven carpet in a tartan motif blankets the entire floor, while plush banquette seating adds a familiar vibe. Additional details like engraved lion heads, a symbol of courage and strength, can also be seen.
Overall, “the décor evokes the atmosphere of an elegant vintage railway carriage as dark walnut furniture and finishes are contrasted by neutral-toned canvas surfaces,” the press release shares.
Some of the highlights of this Paris store include the Gucci Savoy line, which infuses the brand’s signature monogram, the iconic Web stripe and Double G hardware. The Gucci Bauletto top handle bag with its unique triangular style can be found too. Trunks, along with its recently released “Off the Grid” variation made of recycled Econyl nylon, will also be offered. Additionally, it will be the first retail appearance of the recently released aluminium trolley suitcase, developed in partnership with Italian luxury luggage expert FPM Milano.
“Gucci Valigeria is a powerful reminder of our Florentine roots and our timeless craft,” says Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci.” It is a symbol of our legacy, reinterpreted through the ages for the travellers and modern-day explorers of every era. Paris’s Rue Saint-Honoré is the perfect location to house our first Gucci Valigeria boutique, offering a portal into our ever-expanding world of travel and discovery.”
The spirit of travelling has been a constant creative source for Gucci and its roots go back to the brand’s founder, Guccio Gucci. It began in the late 1800s when the young Gucci worked as a porter at The Savoy hotel and saw guests streaming in with trunks and suitcases. That sparked a business idea for him, and he returned to Florence to establish what is known as the House of Gucci in 1921. Today, the brand is one of the most powerful luxury brands that set the trajectory of the fashion industry.
Depending on the type of luxury goods, they can contribute a large amount to the economy. For example, some of the biggest countries in the world have their economies supplemented by companies that specialise in luxury goods.
Today, we will be examining what type of luxury goods drive the economy, and we will establish whether or not they contribute a considerable amount to the economy. Some people have highlighted that luxury goods can contribute negatively to inflation. Establishing what causes inflation is a good start to understanding how the economy works. However, for many strong economies, luxury goods can attract highly wealthy individuals to spend money in their nation.
The world’s richest
Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH
A recent study has shown that Elon Musk is no longer the world’s richest man. Due to the price of Tesla stock declining and his multibillion-dollar takeover of Twitter, he has now been replaced by Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH. LVMH controls dozens of some of the biggest luxury companies in the world. Some of these companies include:
Christian Dior
Givenchy
Marc Jacobs
Tiffany & Co.
This might be a strong indicator that despite a bleak economic outlook and a cost of living crisis that i beginning to tighten its grip on many of the large economies across Europe, there is still a huge market for luxury goods. Arnault, the CEO of a company that primarily deals in luxury goods, has increased his net worth to an astonishing US$180 billion. Although Arnault has been criticised for potential tax evasion schemes, he has paid billions of dollars in tax. He has also contributed massively to the French economy.
Other luxury items
Image: Patek Philippe
As long as there is a considerable market for luxury goods, there will be an underlying economy that provides jobs and helps fuel job creation. There is a counterargument, of course, that this money can be better spent, especially in the case of Arnault, who has a dizzying net worth that he couldn’t spend in 50 lifetimes. Studies have shown that the production of a luxury car adds more to a country’s GDP than a standard vehicle, due to the higher market value of a luxury vehicle.
The same applies to other luxury items, such as watches. Some of the top watchmakers in the world create items that sell for upwards of US$30 million. Rolex and Patek Philippe are the two biggest luxury watchmakers in the world, and overall, the luxury watchmaking industry provides a staggering 1.5 per cent of Switzerland’s GDP. This may sound like a small percentage, but the Swiss GDP is over US$800 billion per annum.
The bulk of the Swiss economy comes from manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Although luxury watches make up a small percentage of this overall market, it adds glamour and mystique internationally. Many people won’t know Switzerland for its manufacturing or pharmaceutical industry. They will, however, be aware of its penchant for world-class watch design, as the premium watches are worn by some of the world’s most recognisable faces.
Luxury yachts
Image: Benetti
Some of the world’s biggest superyachts sell for over US$100 million. A company that manufactures these awesome contraptions only needs to sell one yacht to turn over a mega profit that year. Many luxury yacht providers will hold events where they advertise their products to the mega-rich in the hope of building one for them. Benetti is considered the premium luxury yacht maker in the world. They have won a multitude of prestigious awards and boast a turnover that is considered somewhere in the region of US$1 billion per year.
Conclusion
Luxury goods contribute a sizeable amount to some of the world’s biggest economies. It is important to note that global economic superpowers such as those we have mentioned have several huge corporations operating within their borders, causing them to turn over so much profit annually.
For example, the United States of America has a gigantic tech sector, with some of the biggest companies in the world operating out of the country. Luxury goods comprise a small section of their economy, but some of the world’s richest individuals will indulge in them.
Many economists consider luxury items a recession-proof industry because their focus is solely on customers who will not be hugely affected by any economic downturn. Therefore, the contribution to the economy doesn’t waiver, and some luxury companies continue to post impressive figures. This includes luxury watch sales increasing by 40 per cent in 2022.
While some high net-worth individuals have been accused of moving away from their homeland to pay less tax, their tax liability remains considerable, and as long as there is a market for luxury goods, they will contribute to the economy by purchasing them.
Italian culture is prized for its intense passion for tradition. Throughout the realms of food, fashion and all the other facets that make up culture, the Italians have made it a point to protect and preserve centuries and years of artisanal know-how such that it not only endures with an almost patriotic fire today, it is still growing without a single need to be reinvented or repurposed for the contemporary time. It is romantic in its constancy, and that is what Bottega Veneta is choosing to laud in this love-filled campaign.
While the Italian house lent its spotlight to 12 specially selected bottegas last year, they made it a point expand their celebratory search to include other Italian culture-inspired bottegas from other parts of the world this year. Presented this month, the second campaign of Bottega for Bottegas thus presents 14 bottegas from places like Shanghai, New York, Vermont, Hong Kong, Japan, and of course Italy, to celebrate everything Italian, their unparalleled creativity and craft on Bottega Veneta’s various platforms.
In the curated list, look forward to an uncovering of the traditional Florentine technique for book binding, restoration and novelty items with a Japanese meticulousness at Ateliergk Firenze; Rockledge Farm Woodworks, a family-run workshop in Vermont that crafts exquisite handmade furniture from fine natural woods; traditional fresh pastas made by Je&Jo Pasta, run by the Yu family in Shanghai; the art of crafting the perfect espresso cup in a process inspired by traditional Japanese tea ceremonies at Yoshiaki Imamura — just to name a few.
Expect to see the myriad of culturally rich and patiently refined works on Bottega Veneta’s website, advertisements, newsletters, and in window displays that include a special custom display at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Finale winners. Image: www.SNAPP.media
At the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Finale, an award-winning pool of accomplished developers across the region convened in Bangkok to witness the prestigious event.
Held at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, the grand finale was presented by Kohler and supported by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. The host and presenter being PropertyGuru Group — Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, the awards ceremony presented 48 categories in total. The 2022 Grand Final was streamed live on AsiaPropertyAwards.com as well as the programme’s official Facebook and YouTube channels. It also marked the full return of the black-tie gala dinner and awards presentation, following a successful virtual gala edition in 2021. The winners were selected by an independent jury consisting of head judges in participating markets across the region.
KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd receiving the awards. Image: www.SNAPP.media
New World Development Company Limited snagged the award of Best Developer (Asia), representing China (Hong Kong and Macau). Along with the design practice Lead8, the company also received the Best Mega Mixed-Use Development (Asia) award for the 11 SKIES project.
Representing Mainland China, Lead8 additionally won the Best Retail Architectural Design (Asia) award for Shougang Park Urban Weaving District. Benoy Limited won Best Mixed-Use Architectural Design (Asia) for CRL MixC Qianhai in another regional win for Mainland China.
The Philippines garnered seven regional wins, led by the Best Industrial Developer (Asia) title for Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates and the Best Lifestyle Developer (Asia) title for Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI). Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates also took the honours of Best Industrial Development (Asia) and Best Green Development (Asia) for LIMA Estate. AppleOne Mactan, Inc. also won Best Branded Residential Development (Asia) for The Residences at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort while Cebu Landmasters, Inc. won Best Hospitality Architectural Design (Asia) for Sofitel Cebu City. Arquitectonica was honoured with the Best Office Architectural Design (Asia) award for Mega Tower.
Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited accepting the awards. Image: www.SNAPP.media
Thailand also clinched seven regional wins, including the Best Landmark Mixed-Use Development (Asia) award for One Bangkok by Frasers Property Holdings (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (FPHT). Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited won both the Best Condo Development (Asia) and Best Health and Wellness Development (Asia) awards for The Aspen Tree at The Forestias. PMT Property Co., Ltd. earned the titles of Best Condo Interior Design (Asia) and Best Condo Landscape Architectural Design (Asia) for 125 Sathorn. Lake Legend Bangna-Suvarnabhumi by Hongkong Land and Property Perfect PCL was named Best Waterfront Housing/Landed Development (Asia) while Jaytiya 2 Private Pool Villas Residence by Jaytiya Property Co., Ltd. won Best Housing/Landed Landscape Architectural Design (Asia).
Singapore picked up six regional wins at the Grand Final. GuocoLand was named Best Luxury Developer (Asia) and Best Sustainable Developer (Asia) while UOL Group Limited was named Best Hospitality Developer (Asia). UOL Group Limited also won Best Hotel Development (Asia) for Pan Pacific Orchard.
Guocoland accepting the awards. Image: www.SNAPP.media
Park Nova by Shun Tak Holdings won the Best Condo Architectural Design (Asia) title while Artyzen Singapore by Artyzen Hospitality Group won Best Hospitality Interior Design (Asia).
Cambodia and Malaysia bagged two regional wins. The Best Breakthrough Developer (Asia) award went to Kambujaya Development Co., Ltd, with the Best Waterfront Condo Development (Asia) title going to Vue Aston by The Peninsula Capital Co., Ltd. KL Wellness City by KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd was conferred Best Mixed-Use Development (Asia), with Infinity8 Reserve JBCC by Infinity Group winning Best Co-Working Space (Asia).
Hari V Krishnan, CEO and managing director of PropertyGuru Group said: “The Awards remain among our widest-reaching enterprise solutions and have expanded over the years to represent some of the world’s most dynamic property markets from Southeast Asia to Australia. With these award-winning developers and designers as benchmarks, we hope to guide property seekers toward finding, financing, and owning the right properties. In this, the 17th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, we elevate not only the region’s dream homes but also its finest, most sustainable live-work-play developments, workspaces, retail hubs, hotels, resorts, and industrial parks, among others, to an international platform. Whether you’re seeking, selling, or building property, we will see you home.”
CapitaLand Development accepting the awards. Image: www.SNAPP.media
Indonesia
Best Township Development (Asia) award for Kota Baru Parahyangan — PT. Belaputera Intiland Best Township Masterplan Design (Asia) award for PIK2 Sedayu Indo City — Agung Sedayu Group & Salim Group. Best Office Development (Asia) award for Autograph Tower at Thamrin Nine Complex — PT Putragaya Wahana, a member of Galeon Group Best Connectivity Condo Development (Asia) award for LRT City Jatibening — KSO PT Adhi Commuter Properti Tbk. & PT Urban Jakarta Propertindo Tbk. Best Connectivity Housing/Landed Development (Asia) award for Metland Cibitung — PT Fajarputera Dinasti, a subsidiary of PT Metropolitan Land Tbk Best Green Industrial Development (Asia) award for LOGOS Cikarang Logistics Park by LOGOS Indonesia
Frasers Property Holdings (Thailand) accepting the award for One Bangkok. Image: www.SNAPP.media
Australia
Best Boutique Developer (Asia) title — Spacious Group. Best Smart Building Development (Asia) award for Paradiso Place — SPG Land Best Smart Building Development (Asia) award for Paradiso Place — SPG Land Best Eco-Friendly Commercial Development (Asia) award for Zero Gipps — Dare Property Group Best Housing/Landed Architectural Design (Asia) for The Archwood Residences — Mayrin Group
Vietnam
Best Mixed-Use Developer (Asia) — Keppel Land Best Housing/Landed Development (Asia) award for Sycamore — CapitaLand Development Best Eco-Friendly Housing/Landed Development (Asia) award for Sycamore — CapitaLand Development Best Retail Development (Asia) for Artisan Park — Gamuda Land
Greater Niseko
Best Completed Housing/Landed Development (Asia) award for Andaru Collection Niseko — Blue Waves Group Best Housing/Landed Interior Design (Asia) award for Andaru Collection Niseko — Blue Waves Group Best Completed Condo Development (Asia) award for HakuVillas — H2 Group
Argentinian artist Marcelo Martin Burgos now lives and works between Buenos Aires and Madrid. He has been practising sculpture for some thirty years, while also pursuing a career as a filmmaker. He finds his equilibrium through this alternation between immobility and movement, solitary work and teamwork, gesture and speech.
His artistic world is deeply rooted in childhood. The artist spent his early years in an orphanage where his father was the director and he was in contact with the children who lived there, who were also his friends. He remembers: “The place was on a hill, surrounded by trees but far from idyllic; it was eternally overcast by a heavy atmosphere of sadness. I’ve always remembered those kids with admiration. The way they would seek refuge in fantasy. The same way I found solace in art when just a few years later I lost my own father. Those children were the most resilient and brave of all the people I have met in my life.” Marcelo Martin Burgos continues to be fascinated by the imagination of children, which “helps them to make sense of the enormous, mysterious and overwhelming world they are thrown into.”
Polycephalous by Marcelo Martin Burgos. Bronze sculpture, 2017.
To rekindle the power of that imagination and to recapture the joy and freedom he felt in creating as a child, the artist has spent years shedding the academic baggage he received as an art student. A path which is not as easy as it seems: “it takes years to “unlearn” an education in the Fine Arts. The hand and the eyes are trained in a certain tradition, we are taught art history, we learn to imitate. Even worse, we are taught art is a struggle, and that to be a good artist means to cut an ear or drink oneself to death. I spent years trying to be a “serious” artist, I grew tired and bored. Until one day I stumbled upon some chalk drawings a kid had made on the floor of a park, and it struck me. Like a Proust’s Madelaine moment, I went back to the years I would draw just to amuse myself or to escape a reality that was too difficult to comprehend for a child. I had a voice, but for years I was trained to ignore it, to dismiss it.”
Dragoness by Marcelo Martin Burgos. Bronze sculpture, 2022.
His sculptures are crafted in bronze, a noble metal that he values for its versatility and above all, for its golden, mirror-like appearance once it is polished. Long before the invention of glass, the Etruscans were already using polished bronze to create mirrors. The reflective aspect of his creations is a way of inviting his viewers into his works and transforming his sculptures into sensory cues that trigger a memory. “My aim is to elicit images and feelings that will take those who observe my art back to the most creative, awe-inspiring, and frightening time of their lives: the golden age of childhood.”
Winged Demon by Marcelo Martin Burgos. Bronze sculpture, 2017.
This “golden age” is interpreted literally in his sculptures, which resemble statuettes in gold, a material traditionally associated with spirituality and the sacred. This dimension is particularly evident in his latest series, entitled “Monsters.” Although they evoke the spontaneity of children’s drawings, the pieces in this series are also reminiscent of the votive statues of ancient civilisations, which were meant to provide protection and comfort. The art of Marcelo Martin Burgos draws from multiple sources: manga and pop culture, dinosaurs, Toltec and African art. This power of evocation is precisely what gives his sculptures their capacity to resonate in everyone who views them: the sculptures become the means of escape into the memories, the dreams and the meanderings of our inner world.
Menschenfresser by Marcelo Martin Burgos. Bronze sculpture, 2017.
Marcelo Martin Burgos does not worry about the common critique expressed by viewers of contemporary art: “A kid could have done that”. “I would like them to know that that is the greatest compliment that you could ever give an artist, especially me”.
When humans began to measure time, we turned to the skies. While we have no written records, we do know that ancient humans tracked the motion of celestial objects, and common sense tells us that the day and night cycle would have been obvious. After all, our own internal clocks run on this, which we confirmed experimentally and know today as circadian rhythms. That very name, circadian is derived from two Latin words, circa (about) and dies (day). It would be many millennia before we could match these internal clocks, but our ancestors did a bang-up job of using external objects to create broader measures of time, for weeks, months and years.
Calendars were probably the first real external timekeeping we ever managed, and they eventually got us into all manner of conflicts between different cultural standards. Wherever people built clocks of some kind, they were likely to be about tracking cycles of some kind, like the phases of the moon. These instruments gave the human species, and only us, the ability to know our place in time and space. Little did we know that such a wonder would someday come to our wrists in a form as stylish as the Tonda PF Annual Calendar.
This particular story you are reading is about a variant of that handsome watch, only slightly more handsome and much rarer. This one is the SHH Limited Edition in a shade of blue entirely exclusive to this 25-watch limited run. This is not merely a colour that has been tacked on, or borrowed from elsewhere in the PF assortment. Instead, it has been drawn from nature itself, as interpreted by legendary architect Le Corbusier and the palette of colours he advocated in his Architectural Polychromy essay of 1931. Sincere Fine Watches and Parmigiani Fleurier inform us that this colour is called Pacific Blue, and blends blue and grey for a subtle effect. The aim was to deliver a degree of “softness and clarity to the guilloché dial of the Tonda PF Annual Calendar dedicated to Sincere Fine Watches.”
Watch brands and specialist retailers have a bond that often comes with years of trust and shared passion. This will be no surprise to true blue watch enthusiasts and collectors, given that we all know retailers are the first to take a chance on new watchmaking brands. One need only look at auction catalogues to find double-signed watches, where the retailer has put its own name on the dial alongside the watchmaker’s, as a sign of trust, value and, most obviously, a strong partnership. Indeed these examples, ranging from Tiffany & Co. to Cartier are rapidly gaining favour amongst collectors in search of historic vintage pieces that celebrate certain traditional relationships in the watch trade. In the case of the SHH Limited Edition, that wonderful dial is not compromised by two brand names.
Terreni also weighed in on connections and relationships when we spoke with him last year: “What is important to me is the bond or the connection that you have (between oneself and one’s craft, and one’s clients). We want to build human relationships, human value, not brand value.
“This obliges us to not make compromises. Our reason to exist is not a commercial objective; we arrive at this by building relationships (with customers). If we succeed at cultivating relationships then we succeed commercially.”
We wrote last year that the Parmigiani Tonda PF collection was introducing an absolute rarity for the brand — an annual calendar without chronograph. While it may seem odd to get excited about a less complicated approach, dial clutter is real and can all too easily spoil the experience of wearing a beautiful watch. It can also make it unreasonably tough to read the date, which happens to be in retrograde form here… It is displayed by a crescent moon-tipped hand that points to a date track between 8 and 4 o’clock. Days of the week, month and phases of the moon are displayed at 9, 3 and 6 o’clock, respectively, in slightly recessed subdials. This helps keeps things neat and tidy, which is sometimes a challenge with subdials. Another thing that is not difficult to see is that this approach to the annual calendar is not unique to the Tonda PF, but the effect tends to be very different.
Terreni basically created the entire Tonda line no sooner than he had walked in the door to his deliriously well-appointed office at the manufacture. When he asked how he accomplished this in a year when it takes up to five years to develop a new collection, he smiled wryly and said he simply took advantage of what was already there, and the amazing expertise of Pamigiani Fleurier. “The creative process of the Tonda PF went smoothly (in 2021). Design was validated in the hard milestones on February 19, leaving finishings and dial colours to be finalised in parallel during the development. The first prototypes saw the light March 8, and the whole collection was finalised at the end of June, and presented with production pieces in Geneva Watch Days on August 30; deliveries to clients started in the second half of October,” said Terreni. While you might not think much of this process, but recall that Terreni had only joined in January of 2021. “I would never have taken such a challenge without such an in-house capacity (at Parmigiani Fleurier).”
Parmigiani Fleurier collectors and enthusiasts will recognise the fact that the calibre P339 that powers the annual calendar has been in service since roughly 2012, in the old Tonda collection. I had completely lost track of this old reference until Terreni confirmed that the Tonda PF Annual Calendar was not the first time the annual calendar had been separated from the chronograph. What has happened with the new Annual Calendar, including the SHH Limited Edition, is that the proportions have completely changed, to the great benefit of the dial. The fit of the watch is of course very impressive, at 42mm in steel with hand-knurled platinum bezel, and we have waxed lyrical so much about the bracelet that we will not repeat ourselves again. Instead, we have Sincere Fine Watches CEO Ong Ban’s thoughts on this: “The bracelet hugs the wrist in a way very few watches in the market do.” This sort of observation is something only purists will understand — the sort of people who would not buy a watch without trying it on. This matches Terreni’s sentiments perfectly, as noted in the press release that accompanied the launch of the SHH Edition: “We have conceived the Tonda PF for the watchmaking purists of tomorrow: an uncompromising group of a select few, seeking personal hedonistic pleasure, who are savvy in watchmaking, appreciate sartorial craft on their timepieces, and have a strong sense of style and refinement.” Movement: Automatic calibre P339 with annual calendar and retrograde date; 50-hour power reserve Case: 42mm in steel with hand-knurled platinum bezel; water-resistant to 100m Strap: Steel bracelet
The latest iteration of the Bell & Ross BR 05, the BR 05 Sincere Green Steel, is immediately distinguished by a remarkable dial that features what might possibly be the most appropriately creative use of the ampersand. To get it out of the way, the BR 05 Sincere Green Steel is a special edition for Sincere Fine Watches in Singapore, celebrating the links between Bell & Ross and the retailer. So the use of the ampersand here is not just a Bell & Ross thing, but a hallmark of the partnership between the brand and the retailer.
The watch also comes with a moniker or nickname, the Greenback, that is also very clever because just looking at the dial explains it; for the sake of completeness, there is also another component to the name of the watch — cadran vert et motif. Basically, this means green dial with motif, and thus the full name of the watch becomes the Bell & Ross BR 05 Sincere Green Steel “Greenback” Cadran Vert et Motif, which is wild. The watch is limited to just 111 pieces so you might want to place a call to your friendly specialist at Sincere Fine Watches immediately — just ask for the Greenback and see how it goes.
The dial of the Greenback, which is how we will refer to the watch henceforth, requires close examination because it is actually the first time Bell & Ross have used the ampersand in this style. Fans of the brand and pundits will recall that the brand has leaned into the ampersand in its logo a few times, including on various tourbillon cages; Bell & Ross asserts that the Greenback is the first time the ampersand has become a design element on the dial, which combines green sunray with the embossed repeating pattern of the ampersand. As far as the colour goes, the sunray element keeps things from being flat, which works (at least in pictures) well with the highly textural aesthetic in play here. By way of contrast, there was also another green BR 05 this year, the BR 05 Skeleton Green, but we digress.
Unlike most simple three-handers with date BR 05 models, the Greenback uses applied indices exclusively, which is no doubt to avoid overloading the visual elements. Said indices are hollowed out to feature beige SuperLuminova, which is also true of the hour and minute hands; this SuperLuminova glows green in the dark and low-light conditions. In a touch that fastidious collectors will appreciate, the date at 3 o’clock is colour matched. On the exhibition caseback, the ampersand makes a return over the centre of the rotor, with the limited edition details indicated around it (as seen here).
In all other ways, including water-resistance, movement, case finishing, size and bracelet, the Greenback follows the standard BR 05 playbook.
With the holiday season in full swing, Swiss luxury watchmaker Rolex has released their Holiday Gift Guide 2022. From the Oyster Perpetual Datejust to Oyster Perpetual Explorer and Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust, there is one timepiece for either the gentlemen or ladies. Get ready to explore the world of Rolex with your loved ones this festive season.
For Him:
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 in Oystersteel and 18 ct white gold with a bright blue fluted motif dial and a Jubilee bracelet
A horological symbol of power and prestige, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 is a classic staple that never loses popularity and effortlessly captures the hearts and minds of those you meet.
Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in 18 ct Everose gold, with a sundust, diamond-set dial and an Oyster bracelet
For those constantly on the move, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona represents tenacity, precision and endurance. This emblematic sports chronograph makes the perfect timekeeper for all of life’s adventures.
Oyster Perpetual Air-King in Oysterseteel with an Oyster Bracelet
The new-generation Oyster Perpetual Air-King pushes the envelope of innovation while also paying homage to the golden age of aviation. This timepiece is a love letter for its wearer to take the helm of their own destiny.
Oyster Perpetual Explorer II in Oystersteel with a white dial and an Oyster Bracelet
Conquer 2023 with a fearless spirit wearing the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II. A robust and reliable timepiece, the watch is an ideal reminder to strive for excellence valiantly.
For Her:
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 in Oystersteel and 18 ct white gold with an Azzurro-blue floral motif, diamond-set dial and an Oyster bracelet
When summer arrives next year, be sure to don the new Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31. Its Azzurro blue flower motif brings to mind the wild summer meadows from a countryside where life is bursting with verve and fresh energy.
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 in Oystersteel and 18 ct Everose gold with a silver palm motif dial and a Jubilee bracelet
A great wrist companion that suits any occasion from morning meetings to gala dinners, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 is made to bring versatility for its wearer. The silver palm motifs evoke a sense of a balmy oasis — a gentle reminder to take enjoy every of life’s precious moments.
Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust in Oystersteel and 18 ct yellow gold with a white mother-of-pearl diamond-set dial and a Jubilee bracelet
A manifestation of opulence, the yellow Rolesor version of the Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust embodies all of the attribute of the classic Datejust but crafted in a bejewelled version that elevates a slender wrist.
Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40 in 18 ct white gold with 46 brilliant-cut diamonds and an Oysterflex bracelet
Capturing the ephemeral beauty of the aurora borealis, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40 has a ring of diamonds along its bezel and is arranged in a harmonious sequence of five hues repeated eight times. No doubt a loud statement when worn, the watch is the epitome of radiant prestige.
In partnership with the British automaker for Aston Martin Residences in Miami, Aston Martin has unveiled its first Aston Martin Triplex Penthouse, “Unique”. Ahead of the physical art gallery opening on the 52nd floor, an exclusive leather-bound book has been created to commemorate the special occasion. Inside the 80-page coffee table-style compendium, illustrations of the building can be found and created by globally renowned artists-in-residence.
While a virtual launch was done in 2021 with British artist and acclaimed photographer Julian Lennon, who presented images from his collection, the limited-edition book serves as a memento and collector’s item. Presented on a bespoke lectern designed by the British marquee, it resembles the shape of the Aston Martin Residences and together both form a unique sculptural piece.
The book contains paintings, sculptures, music and poetry inspired by the building it pays homage to. Some artists featured include Peter McLennan, Aaron Schwartz, Fabio Mesa, Robi Walters and Michele Utley. These creatives each shared their interpretations of what the building would be when they saw the renders.
For example, in imagining how the triplex’s upper terrace and private pool would look, artist Fabio Mesa envisioned the space to be filled with bursts of blue, white, yellow and orange. Together these colours create an epic ocean view with the sun setting on the horizon as the backdrop. He illustrated his vision through oil and acrylic on canvas.
Artistic impression by Fabio Mesa. Image: Aston Martin Residences
Similarly, automotive photographer Rafael Delceggio’s vision of the luxurious triplex penthouse is one that has uncompromising design features and drives his point using a rare Aston Martin Vulcan.
Apart from just pleasing the eyes, the book also appeals to the ears as an original piece of orchestral music is played upon scanning the QR code. The stirring symphony takes inspiration from the magnificent views from the Unique Penthouse.
Germán Coto, CEO of G&G Business Developments, spoke more about the book: “Art is intrinsically linked with the Aston Martin Residences. Our owners will be able to immerse themselves in an ever-changing canvas of contemporary artwork in the gallery on the 52nd floor. The art book we’ve created contains exclusive images. It’s a permanent record inspired by the UNIQUE penthouse, and we expect it to be an object of desire for those who appreciate the unrepeatable.”
Image: Aston Martin Residences
Marek Reichman, EVP and Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “The creation of art is one of the most important things on the planet, and at Aston Martin, we articulate the soul of our brand through art and beauty. It’s evident in everything we design, from the most beautiful sports cars to the most beautiful residences, so it’s wonderful to celebrate the UNIQUE penthouse with a new art book.”
Priced at US$59 million, the triplex penthouse has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a wrap-around terrace on each floor, a private pool, gym, spa and custom-build garage. Access to this sanctuary is via a private elevator which travels to the top of the Aston Martin Residences building.
For more information about Aston Martin Residences Unique, click here.
Anyone who has wandered to wonderful Thailand will tell you that the draw card for this exotic “land of smiles” is the incredible feeling of calm you get, almost instantly upon arriving on its shores.
The friendly, heartfelt greetings at every stop, the warm, flavourful cuisine that seems to transport you to distant lands and the gentlest touch of the waves that quietly tip-toe past the breakers, as if not to disturb their long-awaited guests. Everything in this place seems to live on its own time, and in its own way, free and at peace.
This is Thailand. And this is the message from the minds behind Sukkho Samui Estates, the award-winning vacation home rental. “Sukkho” is a Thai word used to express the feeling of happiness that comes from genuine and memorable experiences, where everything is at ease. And this ambitious “home away from home” styled estate achieves just that.
Located in the heart of Thailand’s island-hopping hub, Koh Samui, Sukkho Estates offers everything that this island paradise has to offer, but with a hint of elegance, and sophistication. Walk the pearlescent sands and dip your toes in the aqua-blue water before returning to your own, private villa. Perhaps order in with your personal concierge service, or explore the local street cuisines that Koh Samui has to offer. The choice is yours, and the options are plentiful.
What separates Sukkho Samui Estates is not just the exclusivity that it offers, or the private infinity pool on your own deck. What separates Sukkho estates, is the personalised, daily itinerary, which can be tailored to your liking. An opportunity to explore Samui on your own time, in your own unique way. “A truly crafted living, with a luxurious twist.”
From scuba diving to off-road biking, Sukkho Estates offers a wide variety of activities over a vast space of coral reefs and isles, which are only limited by your own curiosity and daring. Immerse yourself in the Thai culture with your beloveds and sign up for a temple tour, or spend the day with the mighty elephants, but should you really want to see the sites, then why not put your sailor’s hat on and take to the seas?
A personal cruise around an island paradise is the only way to travel in Thailand, and the seafaring Sukkho range is something to behold; in fact, the range of boats you can rent is just as great as the variety of places to visit. Equipped with a local expert as your captain, you will truly live the life of an explorer as you are introduced to the secret places of the archipelago, where a snorkel and some flippers will help acquaint you with some of the most exquisite marine life you will ever see.
The coast of Koh Samui is home to barracuda, whale sharks and titan triggerfish at some spots, to name a few. The adventure doesn’t stop there though, as Koh Samui has another unbeaten path laid out for you in the form of the Moh Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, which consists of 42 individual islands, filled with some of Thailand’s most beautiful and interesting reptiles, and a fit home for the most passionate bird watcher.
The real treasure that this little piece of paradise has to offer is Tala Nai, or as the locals call it, “emerald lake”. A hidden saltwater lake, which reflects the sunlight in countless shades of green and provides you with an overwhelming feeling of tranquillity and peace. Koh Samui’s National Marine Mark and the Emerald Lake are only two of the many awe-inspiring locations in this little oasis, which was made famous in Danny Boyle’s blockbuster “The Beach”. And if it’s good enough for Leonardo Dicaprio, it’s good enough for us.
Sukkho Estates is a place one can go home to. A place to live, and smile, as the Thais do.
With more than one billion views over the course of each championship, the FIFA World Cup is the world’s most watched sporting event. Hublot served as its official timekeeper for the fourth consecutive time earlier this year at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and unveiled a special watch ahead of the event to commemorate this edition of the tournament. This timepiece, the Big Bang e FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is based on the brand’s third-generation connected watch, and was worn by all 129 official referees of the event. Just 1,000 pieces of this watch will be produced.
During the FIFA World Cup 2022, spectators who were wearing the Big Bang e FIFA had access to specific functions that were specially tailored for the tournament. For a start, the watch had a countdown function that tracked the time to the championship’s opening match, as well as the individual matches after. At 15 minutes before each of the 64 scheduled games’ commencement, push notifications would be sent to each Big Bang e FIFA with information on the teams’ line-ups and player profiles.
The watch would then automatically enter “match mode” and activate its “timeline” function at kick-off. This did not just track the progress of a match, but also logged events such as when and by whom every goal was scored, and every penalty that was awarded and/or converted. The timepiece’s wearer could thus have a real time, play-by-play recount of a match as it progressed, right into overtime and penalty shootouts. This information could also be recalled after a match, to essentially serve as a record of the entire championship.
To support all these functions, as well as the staples expected of a modern smartwatch, the Big Bang e FIFA is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor running the latest version of Google’s Wear OS. A full suite of connectivity standards and sensors are included, from a heart rate monitor to GPS receiver. Hublot has stated that this watch will come with an all-day battery life, with a fully drained battery requiring just two hours to fully charge.
The lineage of Hublot’s iconic Big Bang watch is, of course, clearly visible here. Design aside, what also sets this watch apart is its finely crafted case, which is constructed from ceramic and titanium. The bold 44-millimetre case diameter also alludes to the brand’s penchant for strong, confident designs — one backed up with the equally daring watchmaking philosophy the brand dubs “the art of fusion”.
The Big Bang e FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 offers a great degree of personalisation, with dozens of dial options available via its accompanying smartphone app. There is an “official” colourway: a burgundy dial with a matching black and burgundy lined rubber strap inspired by the flag colours of Qatar, this edition’s host country. Fans will also be able to choose dial and strap designs in the colours of each of the 32 participating countries. After all, what better way to support one’s chosen team than to wear its colours on the wrist?
Movement: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+; up 24-hours battery life Case: 44mm ceramic and titanium; water-resistant to 30m Strap: Rubber Price: S$8,200
Hand-built automobiles inspired by American 1930s coupes, that was the dream of three Australian Lebanese brothers Anthony, George and Gerry Khouri. That dream was given form In 1986 when Gerry began to build these special sports coupes in his garage which led to the brothers incorporating Bufori.
For over 30 years, Bufori has been handcrafting exclusive luxury cars with a timeless classic touch. It’s a name composed from an acronym standing for Beautiful, Unique, Fantastic, Original, Romantic, and Irresistible. LUXUO spoke to Asia’s answer to Bugatti during the lead-up week of Penang RendezVous to get the details on these extraordinary carmakers
Designed to last, each Bufori can be completely bespoke: from unlimited choice of body colours to interiors — the choice of leather and wood paneling to the stitching thread and even its pattern. Other options include Persian silk carpets and 24-carat gold-plated instrumentation.
Dreamed in Australia, Built in Malaysia: The Story of Luxury Handmade Cars from Bufori.
Driven by passion and dedication, the Bufori story is one of great achievements and resilience in the midst of setbacks. We interviewed Asia’s most luxurious and exclusive (they hand build 200 – 300 cars a year) car marque to learn just what makes Bufori so special.
When was the BUFORI concept born? Tell us more about the key three founders?
BMC: Bufori started in 1986 out of a challenge between friends. Company founder Gerry Khouri wanted to prove that it is still possible to fully build cars by hand like in the Olden days. So he created his own workshop in his garage and built the first Bufori, which took approximately one year. Gerry always had a soft spot for classic cars, especially the 1920’s American classics such as the famous Auburns, Packards and Duesenbergs. He drew inspiration from these iconic automobiles for the styling of his own car. At this time Gerry was only 19 years of age, and his elder brothers Anthony and George supported him and were involved in the management of the company in the early years. Stemming from a family of property developers with Lebanese heritage, the Khouris have a strong sense of entrepreneurship, which certainly fuelled the expansion of Bufori in the past three decades.
BUFORI stands out from any other car manufacturer, tell us more about the brand’s DNA and its uniqueness?
BMC: People always say that you only need to see one Bufori and you will remember it for the rest of your life, whereas other luxury cars usually don’t stand out from the mass. A Bufori is unique, opulent and a tad flamboyant. The main components of its brand DNA are the distinct contemporary classic styling, the fact that all cars are fully handmade to the highest standard and of course the customisation, which allows every owner to create a vehicle which corresponds to their unique personality.
What have been the latest BUFORI models released? How bespoke is each model from the proposed car colours to the choice of leathers on offer?
BMC: Our latest model is the Bufori Geneva Luxury Saloon, which is the first four-door car produced in Bufori’s history. It was first launched as a concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and our official production began in 2014. As for every Bufori, the car can be fully customised to suit the preference of our distinguished clientele. Any exterior or leather colour can be achieved. We can match colour samples such as a particular flower or fabric. Customers are only limited by their imagination. Whichever unusual idea they may have, our team will strive to make it a reality. We can include a fridge, a cigar humidor, a coffee machine, a Chinese tea set with sink or even secret compartments into the Bufori Geneva. Every Bufori is a single creation, unique and unrepeatable.
Each model is tested in Germany and homologated to European standards.
BUFORI has been expanding from Asia to the Middle East & European markets. Let us know what have been the major challenges to overcome?
BMC: Bufori has been steadily growing its business over the past decades, with cars exported to nearly 50 countries worldwide. The most obvious challenge is to convince people that there is in fact a luxury car which is handmade in Malaysia. When people see the quality and attention to detail on a Bufori, they usually expect it to be built in Europe and don’t believe that it is fully developed, engineered and handmade in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur. Some even visit the factory only to ensure this is true. Another challenge, which is typical of the Middle East, is that customer don’t like to wait for their car to be custom-built. They would rather instantly drive away with a Bufori the same day they make an order.
Buforis may look classic but these vintage inspired beauties are equipped with the latest in automotive technology, From stainless steel chassis to kevlar composite fabric on crumple zones (seven times stronger than steel for crash and crush resistance), the invisible is just as beautiful as the visible
We trust it is highly rewarding to meet BUFORI owners around the globe. What are the most important global events for you to meet BUFORI car lovers?
BMC: Bufori tries to participate in global motor shows on a regular basis, but most importantly, we take part in smaller events with a more private crowd.
