With new creative director Fabio Panzeri onboard, Braun Büffel looks poised to set a brand new tone for the new year. Sporting tattoo sleeves and a professing a love of metal and industrial music, Panzeri looks as edgy as a leather-jacket-wearing, Harley Davidson biker riding into town with his posse of equally tough-looking friends.
But delve into a conversation with 48-year-old Panzeri, and you’ll yourself chatting with a cat-loving, environmentally conscious individual who’s really excited about taking the German brand’s creative direction to new highs, without losing the foundation on which they started.
Panzeri ‘s impressive portfolio ranges from Mila Schon, Prada and Helmut Lang to Dolce & Gabana and Calvin Kein. His capsule collection already promises eye-catching and updated designs, some with smart use of classic colours and Braun Büffel’s iconic buffalo.
Panzeri makes his design debut for Braun Büffel by styling the Spring/Summer 2018 advertising campaign, as well as the capsule collection, which launches in April 2018. Recently in KL to talk about the collection, Panzeri shared five key things with us about his design philosophy:
On his design philosophy:
“I designed this capsule collection with bigger logos. I can play with this buffalo and interpret it into something fun and colourful. Or instead of the logo, I can use colours of the buffalo to highlight that it is a Braun Büffel bag. That’s more challenging, but we can play with these concepts. For the next collection, I will clean up the bright colours in the men’s collection. I don’t think the men will want to use a bright yellow briefcase. We can do strange pieces for a window showcase, but not to sell. When people come inside (to our shops) they are looking for classic pieces.”
On how he finds inspiration, and the new direction:
“When I travel somewhere, I look at the people in my surroundings and try to imagine them in a perfect world — like they are living in a movie — for people who are completely unique, with special attitudes and styles. Then, step-by-step, I’ll analyse colours and shapes to create a collection.
We plan to expand worldwide by changing the perception of our brand, starting with a website refresh, a new creative direction and engaging a younger market.”
On his favourite piece from the collection:
“My favourite piece is a white tote bag with some black elements called Chester. It’s another element of the message, which is to be unisex. In our next collection, we will have more pieces for the unisex market, a new generation of customers who are completely open-minded about using a bag that is really traditionally used by the opposite gender. So it’s a gender neutral design that you can use everyday for work or fun.”
On the unisex/gender neutral concept, and whether it can work for every brand?
“I think yes, but you really have to go the middle ground because unisex is still a strange idea for some. The design cannot be too feminine and it also cannot be too masculine. There are some gender specific elements that can’t really be adapted for the opposite gender. For example, a skirt doesn’t really work for [average] men. It’s more strange. Any brand can do this, but you need to balance well.”
On the age group are they are targeting with his creative direction:
“From 18-45. Let’s give that a little extra margin and say up to 48 years old. (laughs) But at the same time we want to retain our classic customers. If we are able to explain really well that our new philosophy is to be more fresh and more modern, it should not be an issue for our old customers to accept. They would want to see something new too. Men and women don’t want to feel old, they want to feel young!
Visit the Braun Büffel website to see more of the collection.
The NO2ctuelle Night Range on display during the launch at St. Regis KL: Relaxing Pillow Mist, Detox Resurfacing Overnight Cream and Chrono-Destressing Sleeping Mask.
We should all be getting the recommended eight hours of sleep every night; but with our modern, busy metropolitan lives, who has time for sleep? While we often neglect that area of wellness, it doesn’t mean we don’t still want radiant, glowing skin that elicits compliments from all who gaze upon us.
In order to have our cake and eat it too, we can turn to premium French skin care line Sothys for a little assistance in covering our lack of sleep. Their latest is the nO2ctuelle Night Range, which consists of a detox overnight cream and chrono-destressing sleeping mask, created with a selection of ingenious and complementary active ingredients. With a spritz of mandarin orange mist on your pillow to help put you in the mood for sleep, the nO2ctuelle routine will help combat daytime stress to keep you looking well, despite a lack of sleep.
We spoke to Cinthia Montoro, Sothys international beauty trainer, to find out more about the NO2ctuelle Night Range:
What is happening to our skin when we sleep at night?
Cellular activity varies according to the alternating day and night, following our biorhythms. During the day, skin cells mobilize to face external aggression that affects them (sun, pollution, stress, lifestyle etc…).
However, during the night, aggressors are reduced to a minimum, muscular activity is low and the skin can dedicate itself to repair the damage suffered during the day.
Why should we apply a beauty product before going to sleep?
It is actually because the skin is under less pressure during the night, it is also more receptive to key active ingredients. That is why, more than ever, everyone should apply product before bed.
What are the three key things we should know about nO2ctuelle and how it benefits the skin?
The 3 key actions of that range are: to optimise the night time rest of the skin for an optimum sleep, along with the calming aroma of mandarin orange scented water. Its soothing fragrance combined with mandarin essential oil promotes a feeling of well-being for restful sleep.
It will also actively fight against visible effects of daytime assaults on skin, and protecting it from ageing: detoxify & smooth thanks to the detox resurfacing overnight cream, destress & synchronise with the Chrono-destressing sleeping mask.
Finally, it is to revive the skin in the morning through the combination of 2 active ingredients selected by Sothys advanced research:
-Stabilised Vitamin C, chosen for its anti-ageing, antioxidant and brightening actions.
-Extract of nastrurtium for an “oxygene-like” effect.
How long does it take to see results from using nO2ctuelle?
With the nO2ctuelle, you will see and feel the smoothing and resurfacing effect from 1st morning. This cream is the equivalent of 8 hours sleep for the face even when the night was short.
But of course to have long lasting action, use the nO2ctuelle cream night after night at least for a month.
Regarding the Chrono-destressing sleeping mask, as it is a weekly product, to be used once or twice instead of the night cream the action is immediate from first night as well.
Don’t forget to try our exclusive application technique with destressing and relaxing movements to help the product to penetrate in the skin after the 10 minutes application, which you can learn about at any Sothys beauty salon.
The new nO2ctuelle will be available starting from April 1, 2018 at all Sothys salons and beauty kiosks nationwide. For more information, visit the Sothys Malaysia website.
Patek’s First Instagram Posts introduce His and Hers’ Calatrava Pilot Travel Time
For Baselworld 2018Patek Philippe is finally on Instagram in an official capacity. Kickstarting their first official foray into social media is a series of 12 posts which introduce Patek Philippe’s newest Baselworld 2018 novelty – two new Rose Gold 5524R Calatrava Pilot Travel Time watches in men’s and women’s proportions.
Baselworld 2018: Patek Philippe Debuts new Rose Gold 5524R Pilot Calatrava on Instagram
The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time initially debuted in a cloud of artistic controversy in 2015 when industry insiders, used to the classicism of the Calatrava collection, were taken aback by the post-modernist aesthetic causing some to level accusations that it was similar to a Zenith pilot (the numerals mostly). However, the Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time was able to rise above the snarkiness of instagram critics like ShameOnWrist, soon cultivating a following. The Baselworld 2018 Patek Philippe ref. 5524R Calatrava Pilot Travel Time is essentially essentially a rose gold edition of the original Pilot launched in white gold.
Baselworld 2018 introduces a lady’s version ref. 7234R Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time in smaller 37.5mm diameter
Of greater importance, the new rose gold 5524R Calatrava Pilot Travel Time comes paired with a lady’s version ref. 7234R Pilot Travel Time in smaller 37.5mm diameter. This new Baselworld 2017 Patek Philippe novelty also marks a first for the brand in that the new re. 7234R Calatrava Pilot is a the first self-winding travel time watch for women.
For the mechanically inclined, the 37.5mm women’s Calatrava Pilot Travel Time shares the same automatic cal. 324 S C FUS as the men’s 42mm ref. 5524R Calatrava Pilot Travel Time. The new Baselworld 2018 Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time shows two-time zones with an innovative day/night indication (dot apertures with white or dark blue indicators) for home and local time.
Be sure to follow the last independent, family-owned Genevan watch manufacturer on instagram @patekphilippe and show your affection with #PatekTime. Patek Philippe was one of the last few holdouts to join instagram. At press time, @patekphilippe had already gather 23.9k followers.
Every year sees the emergence of new trends, decorations and interior designs that are shaped to the liking of consumers. While some trends are here to stay, some faded and returned in different forms. But as long as trends are concerned, it will always continuously be in its transient state. How often have we been overwhelmed by the new looks, ideas and possibilities that stemmed from the global trade fairs or whenever there is a new catalogue launch. If you are thinking about a master bedroom overhaul, you may want to pay attention to the design trends and decoration inspirations we put together for you here:
1. Monochrome
Black is to white and grey is to white, the term “Monochrome” does not only represent black and white. Whether you are playing along with the spectrum of black, pick a lighter intensity and mix several shades of these colours into your bedroom to accentuate with white that will effortlessly add a luxury touch.
2. Colour-Me-Happy
Pantone has named ‘ultra violet’ as the colour of the Year 2018 and the colour “communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us towards the future.” Add a little bit of purple to mix and match other colours of your choice to your bedroom decor. While in home decor it makes a variety of statements, from tradition and elegance to boldness and spirituality, says Pantone. Ultra Violet is also noted for its “mystical or spiritual quality,” associated with mindfulness practices and used as lighting in meditation spaces.
3. Four-Poster Beds
Love the unique and classic look of the four-poster beds? Let it make a come-back into our homes. Maintaining them are a lot easier and simpler these days as compared to their ancient designs. Four-poster beds still give a sense of romantic vibe to the master bedroom.
4. Marble
From bathroom and flooring to table tops and countertops, this material could be anywhere to complete the exclusive looks in the home. The luxurious marble finish is often sought-after for its durability, exquisite elegance and the material surface of the marble is pretty exotic that will add modern marvels and brighten up any bedroom setting.
5. Design Nightstands
The unique details are achieved through the skill of talented artisans. If this piece of nightstand stands out to you, this might just be what you are looking for – glossy, mirrored glass with touches of gold would be something unique to add to your home decor.
6. Wood Walls
Recycled, wood walls with different textures and grain patterns bring a touch of nature to your bedroom space to beautify the contemporary master bedrooms.
7. Pastel Tones
Neutral colours like white, beige or grey or pastel touches in accessories or a single wall blends well with the natural sunlight that flows through the spaces in the room, giving homeowners a sense of light and space.
8. The Power of Nature
Every year sees the emergence of new floral trends. But the idea is not to turn your bedroom into a forest. When you browse through the interior trending on instagram and Pinterest, it seems like potted plants, artificial flowers and terrariums are the recurring themes to be found in gardens, window boxes and interiors in 2018. They give a touch of life and vitality to the bedroom.
9. Black & White Furniture
Like many other colours, black will never go out of fashion. It may come and go but the trend will be revived again and return in different forms. This time, back to furniture like it used to be in the golden days. As a colour, black has a strong connection that is very easy to coordinate with pastel or even bright colours for a beautiful contrast. In case of doubt, the black and white will not disappoint.
10. Classic is Still a Style
Classic master bedrooms differs out our almost ordinary, daily furniture. They took after the form of carved wood, some curves and tails with the use of metal. These styles are often seen as classy and elegant, adding a touch of warmth and cosiness to match other of the bedroom furniture pieces.
This jacket designed by Doggy Amour, specialising in bite resistant bespoke couture for man’s best friend, is said to be the “World’s Most Expensive Dog Jacket.”
Decorated with 24K gold and matched with a choice of black Swarovski crystals or black diamonds, this exquisite dog jacket is expected to sell at a staggering price at €842-€1,121,460.
The World’s Most Expensive Dog Jacket (Doggy Armour)
Thanks to the revolutionary Nano metallising technology, this fabric embraces 99.99 per cent gold and is Nano-structured, offering your loyal companion maximum protection whilst also enabling flexibility, speed and ensuring the dog does not overheat in the warmer weather.
“Thanks to Doggy Armour your precious pooch will both be well protected and resplendent in glittering gold,” said Marcel Knobil, founder of VeryFirstTo and Superbrands. The outfit is both bite resistant and slash resistant, offering 15 times more protection than the standard dog jacket, that is said to be stronger than steel and eight times stronger than Kevlar.
You can now heave a sign of relieve whenever you take your faithful companion out for a run or a stroll and need not worry about protecting your pet dog from any threat or danger.
Add on a beautiful golden bow or tie and a gold-plated lead connector to accessorise your pooch’s jacket.
What’s more, the interior of the outfit consists of a 3D fabric that allows a constant flow of air through the jacket, and it is also designed to be super light-weight and flexible too.
Along with the choice of 20 dazzling black diamonds or 20 sparkling black Swarovski crystals set, “you’ll never see a more golden Labrador, dashing Dachshund, cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or pompous Pomeranian,” added Knobil.
The jacket by Doggy Amour is priced at £750 for smallest dogs, with costs rising according to the size of dog. Allow eight to 10 weeks for delivery and add two weeks if tailored.
The company will donate a part of the monies made from the total sales to fund the making of highly innovative anti-poaching armoured jackets and protect precious animals from future harms or threats.
Despite being heavily pregnant, the comforts of the Azimut 66 Flybridge makes the journey an extremely calming one for Dato’ Sri Rozita.
But there’s more to it than meets the eye, going by this interview. She and her businesses are not just about the opulent and the high life though the luxury and yachting worlds have a close connection.
Her spacious business premises spanning five lots at Solaris Dutamas in Kuala Lumpur is one of understated elegance. Subtle lighting including a pair of mini chandeliers, selected Italian furniture pieces and local artworks adorn the space.
She came from humble beginnings. Ever enterprising, the eldest of four daughters sold tidbits to schoolmates to supplement family income. Dad was a teacher and Mom a homemaker not in the pink of health.
One attribute of her late mother that she carries to this day is to complete what she has started. “Look at life positively and give your all in anything you do,” Dato’ Sri Rozita Ramelan says.
Always a top student, she wanted to be a doctor but turned down Dublin due to Mom’s inconsistent health condition. She graduated from local UPM in statistics and computer science and became a private banker and investment consultant with Citibank for 10 years managing wealth of high net worth individuals. She was also into upscale property in Europe and the UK.
She decided on a career in high-end niche markets after realising she’s good at selecting objects that can grow as investments and yet easy to dispose of.
But she also wanted freedom to do what she can do and still have a balanced family life while benefiting others like giving them jobs.
As she no longer relished living out of a suitcase anymore, using her savings she started Kabinet Prive with five Hermes handbags. They were sold out in just three days! Her “baby” has since grown its online presence spanning 18 countries in addition to the offline operations, including The Boutique showroom at the six-star St Regis KL.
This business is a nice fit with Azimut Yachts as a client shopping for a beautiful vessel may buy a watch for himself while his significant other may want a piece of jewellery, she adds.
After Kabinet Prive, she went on to found Pwetty4U which sells pre-owned designer bags and accessories via pwetty.com.my, and does her bit channelling the proceeds to charity and medical research.
She has high regards for her employees whom she says she doesn’t need to buy their loyalty. Besides Kabinet Prive and Azimut Yachts, her other businesses include asset management, construction, and interior design under Anjung Bintang.
Family is a top priority. She feels very fortunate to be in a position to support two sets of elderly parents, provide employment to her two sisters, take care of the children of another sibling who has passed away, and provide employment to their father.
Not one to sit still, the heavily pregnant Dato’ Sri Rozita has just returned from the Thailand Yacht Show in Phuket prior to this interview, sharing glimpses into Azimut Yachts and more …
What is Azimut about and why are you very passionate about it?
Rozita Ramelan: Azimut Yachts is part of the Azimut Benetti group, and has a long and proud history of building luxury superyachts.
Today, it remains the only family-owned and family-run (its founder Paolo Vitelli and daughter Giovanna) Italian production yacht builder among the top three, which are Azimut, Ferretti and San Lorenzo.
Being a very family-oriented person myself, this particular aspect of the brand resonates with me and my husband (Datuk Omar Mustapha).
How did the franchise come into being?
RR: Azimut Yachts was previously represented in Malaysia and Brunei by a large regional multi-brand dealer. We were looking for our first yacht a few years ago and decided on an Azimut.
We visited Italy and met with Paolo and Giovanna. We clicked instantly, sharing the same intense love for the sea. They asked if we could represent them exclusively here, and we agreed. The rest is history.
What is its success story?
RR: In the rarefied world of superyacht construction league tables, which take into account yachts built over 24 metres, Azimut Benetti has been ranked number one globally for the last 18 consecutive years. Last year, we had 77 yachts being built totalling 2,840 metres in length!
Azimut Yachts’ success boils down to a simple formula – crafting the most desirable, luxurious and technologically advanced yachts for the most discerning yachting clients around the world.
Pictured here with what is frequently labelled as the world’s most expensive handbag due to its rarity, Dato’ Sri Rozita takes pride in being able to get her hands on items that are almost impossible to get — the Birkin Himalayan Diamond, is rare in the handbag world.
What is the buyer profile?
RR: Azimut Yachts attracts only the most discerning of clients. We build lifelong relationships, often with owners acquiring multiple yachts over the years, passing on their passion from father to son or daughter. Our clients are chic, appreciate luxury and quality, and their love for the nautical lifestyle transcends generations.
How do Azimut yachts compare with others on the global market?
RR: Our latest evolution is LaDolce Vita “The Good Life” 3.0 where we are taking the next great leap forward in luxury yachting.
Take the Azimut 66 Flybridge, the first yacht in its class to have electronic power steering, carbon fibre foredeck and four guest cabins.
Or the Azimut Grande 27Metri, the only 27-metre, raised pilothouse, widebody five-cabin boat on the market.
We are the industry’s true innovation – leveraging our deep legacy, superyacht heritage and expertise to constantly push the boundaries of what is possible.
When you go through yacht magazines, every brand looks glamorous and wow.
But it is only when you have spent some time on board an Azimut, visited our facilities in Italy, shared an expresso with our craftsmen and builders, tasted the wind cruising along the Italian Riviera, do you truly appreciate why and how we are distinctive. Azimut speaks to you at an emotional level like no other.
How can Azimut Yachts Malaysia contribute to local communities?
RR: Malaysian waters and dive sites are beautiful. We are not here to just sell the boat.
We want to nurture the luxury yachting industry, not only by giving jobs to the locals, but by training them with skills and craftsmanship that earn good money. Such workers in Thailand’s yachting industry are paid high salaries.
We together with Azimut yacht owners and their friends want to collaborate with state governments to grow the industry and tourism such as build marinas and food havens, offer yacht charters and help market their products abroad.
This way, we hope to create good-paying jobs for the local communities. Salaries for workers on luxury yachts are not cheap. Luxury yachting is about services.
Maldives’ trendiest undersea restaurant will turn into a perfect venue to host a major yoga event
Set on an enchanting private island surrounded by a beautiful lagoon and long stretches of white sandy beach, the 5.8 Underwater Restaurant (19-feet beneath the lagoon) in Hurawalhi Maldives, offers both panoramic views of its tropical marine underworld, and inviting guests to enjoy what is said to be a world-class tasting menu and a selection of fine wines from its cellar.
Interior view of the 5.8 Undersea Restaurant in Maldives
Other gastronomy experience in Hurawalhi includes dining options, such as A’la Carte Menu at the Coco Bar and Pool, In-Villa Dining (24 hour service) and Candlelight Beach Dinners and Chef’s Table. In addition, the underwater restaurant will also turn into a yoga venue for privileged yogis.
Organised by the Montreal-based yoga apparel company, it has previously held yoga events at prestigious landmarks around the world, such as the Eiffel Tower, Central Park in New York, The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
The 5.8 Undersea Restaurant to serve as the picturesque milieu of serenity for participants to engage in yoga event, surely is the first-of-its-kind under the sea. Suitable for yogis of all levels, from beginner to intermediate and advanced, the classes will take place on March 17 at $120.
What to expect: Vinyasa flow yoga class
The goal of the vinyasa flow class will be to “improve flexibility, boost muscle strength, power up the immune system and produce an inner calm.” Conducted by yoga instructor Jessica Olie in a one-hour class, “participants will engage in a unique session performing downward dogs and, perhaps, the fish or dolphin pose, surrounded by schools of colorful, tropical fish swimming in a liquid azure sky.”
However, if the Maldives is slightly out of reach, you might want to keep tabs on the Lole White Tour which organises yoga tours globally in unexpected places.
Koggelavani Muniandy, or Kogge, as most people call her, was still a full-time engineer when she first started spending her lunch breaks volunteering as a facilitator for underprivileged student programmes.
Those many hours of volunteering led her to realise the importance of addressing the non-academic issues — emotional and mental health, as well as self-esteem building — that plagues underprivileged students, causing them to act out aggressively in school.
Her desire to close that gap is what spurred her to resign from her stable career at Cradle Fund to start GoodKids Malaysia, a social enterprise that facilitates empowerment and confidence-building in underprivileged students, via performance arts. Rather than a passive session of counselling, the GoodKids method requires a high level of interaction from the students.
“The three of us — my uncle, my cousin and I decided to come up with experiential learning methods that made more use of performing arts and acting,” Kogge says, referring to her co-founders: S. Balasubramaniam, her uncle and counselling psychologist, and Naaraayini Balasubramaniam, her cousin and a musician.
In 2014, they collaborated with another non-profit to run a 20-weeks pilot programme at SMK Taman Tasik Ampang, where selected students joined GoodKids as an after school activity. Sessions involved acting and role-playing, as part of the exercise to address behavioural issues like bullying and rule-breaking.
Upon seeing resistance from the more headstrong students, the founders knew they had to include other elements to help those students participate.
To break the ice, Kogge, a musician herself, implemented a Stomp-style drumming activity which proved effective, even in strengthening overall group dynamics. “This activity worked really well in a group setting,” Kogge explains. “Even the quietest, most timid student would be brave enough to try the drums because it’s basic buckets and sticks.”
What Kogge and her co-founders didn’t expect in pursuing their noble mission at first, was the profound impact it had on many of these youths, most of whom are from troubled and unstable backgrounds. “Once they became comfortable enough to express themselves in an open and honest manner, it made a tremendous difference — more so than what counselling was able to do.”
Perhaps this was the first time they were being told that “it’s ok to make mistakes,” and are taught how to take ownership of their newfound skills. Students make their own instruments, and the weeks of role-playing and drumming culminates in a community stage performance that is open to the public. It’s the kind of intrinsic altruism that one would rarely think to associate with money, let alone profit.
Yet, financing for such a programme has to come from somewhere. How are Kogge and her co-founders making it work? She shares with us the strategies they’ve used, and her plans for growing GoodKids.
Without investors or a source of revenue, was it a hard decision for you to quit your full-time job to start GoodKids?
KM: My job at Cradle Fund had very much of a startup environment. I saw how different it was for co-founders who were committed to their mission full time, from the ones who were part-time. Seeing how much more the full-time ones could deliver in results, was like a case study for me. I knew that if I quit my job and focused on GoodKids, I could give it 100 percent and take it to where we want it to be. For the first few months, there was no income coming in at all for GoodKids. I supplemented my income on the side with photography for events and portraits.
It is really fulfilling to be able to do this, compared to all the other stuff I’ve done.
How did you come up with the name GoodKids?
KM: We wanted the kids who were part of the programme to associate themselves with a positive name, rather than something like “naughty boy”. My uncle, who is a GoodKids co-founder and counselling psychologist, believed that if we don’t tell them that they are good kids, they will never believe it themselves.
The name works really well, because now we can see that many of them are truly proud to identify themselves as a “good kid”. We have a hashtag, and we give them a t-shirt that says #iamagoodkid.
You joined the MAGIC accelerator programme for social enterprise startups. How did the programme help to grow GoodKids?
KM: Being in MAGIC was very helpful, they brought in successful social entrepreneurs to share experiences and helped me think beyond my boundaries. Since I was already familiar with the industry, it was also easier to network and find those who could guide me, instead of waiting for introductions.
When we went into the accelerator programme in August 2015, we had zero funding, and even our training module was not complete.
But we had very good account managers taking care of my project, who helped drill it down and pushed me to my limits.
It was also through MAGIC’s networking events that I got connected to the ECM Libra Foundation, which gave us our first grant to kickstart the programme in 2016.
Tell us more about how you secured that first grant.
KM: The ECM Libra Foundation supports educational and children and youth empowerment programs. When I first met them, they could relate to the problem that we were addressing in GoodKids, but it took a little more convincing, as we were one of the first long-term programmes that they were going to support.
Our team, comprising of us three co-founders bringing different strengths to the programme, convinced them that our proposal was well thought through. Thanks to my account managers at MAGIC, we had impact measurement strategies in place, which pleased the team in the Foundation.
Still, they only support costs that go directly to our beneficiary. I realised that we have to be self-sustainable and create our own revenue for other organisational costs.
What are some income-generating ideas that you’ve tried out, to raise funds for GoodKids?
KM: I considered many ideas, like putting on shows, giving classes to the public, and even holiday camps. Our annual GoodKids League show, where we sell tickets for RM50 and RM80, brings in some money. But in Malaysia, you have to be super popular to get the numbers. We’ve also been selling t-shirts with the hashtag “iamagoodkid” made from recycled fabric. It’s friends and family of ours and the kids themselves who are very supportive and buy the t-shirts.
Can you share some of your plans for growing GoodKids?
KM: Hopefully, we can branch out to giving more types of classes that become the foundation of a full academy. Every student needs an extracurricular programme like this, be it performing arts, sports or cooking. We’re looking at collaborating with other organisations who want to do this on the side.
We are planning more classes for the public. This year, we kicked off performing arts classes for adults, which is going very well. Acting and music also helps adults express themselves, boost confidence and discover their passion. Many of them thank us for providing them an avenue to enjoy themselves, while reliving their childhood.
What is a key lesson you’ve taken from your journey thus far, that you feel all entrepreneurs should know about?
KM: You cannot be 100 percent ready before going to meet an investor. When I went to meet my first investor, I only had a deck, but the execution was not documented like a typical project management plan, with resources and a timeline.
I know people who’ve had an idea for one or two years, and they’re still waiting to execute, because they feel like they aren’t ready to speak to someone. But I would say, you’ve got to throw your idea out there. It’s ok to look stupid, because only then you will know that you really look stupid. If you make a mistake, you will learn to deal with it.
In 2010, John Goldberger stumbled across a unique vintage White Gold Rolex Daytona reference 6265 and immediately, he knew he had something special on his hands. He wasn’t sure it was gold at first, since stainless steel and yellow gold Rolex Daytonas were commonly produced production models, but as Goldberger felt the heavier weight of the metal, he couldn’t believe (at least at first) that what he had in his hands was a vintage ref. 6265 Rolex Daytona in white gold.
Goldberger is an experienced watch collector and if ever there was a mythical unicorn in the watchmaking world, this was it. All 6265s were thought to have been made either in stainless steel or in yellow, and so, he was quite ready to dismiss the recognisable heft of gold as a trick of sensation.
The unique vintage white gold Rolex Daytona will headline ‘The Daytona Ultimatum’, a thematic sale of 32 of the finest Rolex Daytonas ever made.
Specialist Arthur Touchot explains the importance and provenance of the unique Vintage White Gold Rolex Daytona ref. 6265 which makes its Phillips Auction debut
Rolex made plenty of watches in white gold during the 1970s. Or, to be more precise, Rolex made plenty of white gold Day-Dates back then. The use of white gold in the production of the Day-Date shouldn’t come as a surprise. This was then the company’s most glamorous model after all, so the use of precious metals — including yellow, pink, white gold and platinum — seemed logical.
The decision to use that same metal for a sports watch is a little more surprising, however. Launched in 1963, the Daytona was designed as a robust mechanical chronograph, meant to be worn and used every day. The vast majority were therefore made in stainless steel, which is a little more forgiving than gold when it finds itself on the receiving end of life’s little knocks.
The unique vintage white gold Rolex Daytona is equipped with a black sigma dial
But here we are, looking at a unique white gold Daytona from the early 1970s. The watch also features a black “sigma” dial with white gold indexes, which is consistent with the case metal. Not much else is known, except that the watch was manufactured in 1970 and delivered in 1971 to a German retailer.
Specialist Arthur Touchot surmises, based on other unique pieces that have resurfaced, that it was a special order, placed on behalf of one the boutique’s most exclusive clients – not only the financial means but also the influence that would entice the behemoth Rolex to deviate from standard practice and make a White Gold Rolex Daytona reference 6265.
Since there is no other white gold Daytona model, it is impossible to say which bracelet the watch was delivered with in 1971. The crown, which is a different color to the case and pushers, is made from stainless steel, not gold.
The white gold Daytona nicknamed “Unicorn” first appeared on Hodinkee’s Talking Watches segment during an interview with Goldberger.
The unique vintage white gold Rolex Daytona will headline ‘The Daytona Ultimatum’, a thematic sale of 32 of the finest Rolex Daytonas ever made. The watch is expected to make in excess of CHF 3 Million. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Children Action.
It’s one thing to experience art within the confines of museum chambers, and quite another to see them applied to a real-life landscape, publicly available for all to view. At Rendezvous Hotel, guests who come to stay enjoy the benefit of a multi-sensory art experience throughout the premises — from the check-in desk to common spaces, along the hallways and even on the hotel’s exterior facade, which can morph into interactive art for the enjoyment of pedestrians across the street.
Mirror mosaic mannequins, also dressed in cheongsams made from blue and white ceramic mosaic chips, greet people checking in at the front desk, whilst Charlie Chaplin waits with you on the ground floor, for the lift to arrive. At least, his Warhol-inspired portrait does. Eclectic would be the right word to describe the art one sees inside the premises of Rendezvous Hotel, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. The quirkiness of the pieces provide a mental relief from daily stoicism, while setting expectations of a stress-free stay. That artsy energy follows guests into their rooms, with each room featuring a background light hue that matches a cushy, custom-made armchair positioned beside the window.
Rendezvous Hotel’s location in the middle of the city’s arts and cultural precinct provided the foundation of the property’s art themed relaunch in 2014, bridging the gap for travellers interested in an immersive experience of art by Singaporean artists and beyond. In showing its support for the local arts scene, Rendezvous Hotel Singapore collaborates with local art galleries, lending its space for special exhibitions and installations, mainly in the hotel lobby and level two gallery spaces. Works on display are available for guests to view and purchase.
Despite the vibrant artistic stimuli around, there are plenty of respite options. Enjoy a swim in the Balinese pool and jacuzzi deck, or join other guests for movie night, over a few drinks at the Library Bar. Opting for club benefits allows you access to Club Rendezvous on the 11th floor, where all-day access to a private lounge overlooking the city, and complimentary refreshments, are available. And if you’re looking to make your staycation, honeymoon or anniversary getaway that much more enticing, ask for Room 1111, a suite with a picture perfect view of Singapore’s iconic old landmarks like the National Museum and Fort Canning Park — that can be seen from the bathtub room.
The 298-room Rendezvous Hotel Singapore offers guests easy access to various local attractions, especially the history and art museums at the hotel’s doorstep. Rendezvous Hotel Singapore is located within the vicinity of Singapore’s famous Orchard Road shopping belt and other top attractions like Chinatown, Little India, Suntec City, Esplanade, and Fort Canning. For more information, visit www.stayfareast.com.
Fashion illustrator and calligraphy artist Wong Lihua. Photos by Shahrul Nizam Basri.
Lihua Wong is a unique artist in a world dominated by Photoshop-manipulating designers. While she may argue that both professions belong in different fields of varying practicality, her published works has put her in a league of her own when compared to her contemporaries in Malaysia.
Fascinated with women’s curves, the 28-year-old fashion illustrator merges Chinese calligraphy with digital techniques to translate the graceful features and gestures of the female form on paper. Aside from using traditional Chinese ink, her works also feature watercolour that add interesting dimension to her sketches.
This distinct style may have taken her to work with fashion brands in Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States since 2016. But it’s her deep sense of self-awareness and thirst for improvement will spring her to greater heights in the fashion industry.
Born in Kedah in 1990, the self-professed fan of Chanel and Dior believes that there’s only one way to carry an artist’s craft to the next level. And that’s through persistent assessment of one’s own body of work. It’s a never-ending learning process that she reveals, in an interview with Luxuo, she still undergoes long after her graduation at Birmingham City University in 2015.
Calligraphy-based art has put your style in the radar of fashion brands here and abroad. Can you tell us how it all began?
Wong Lihua: I learned a lot about Chinese calligraphy when I was 5 or 6 years old. My whole family was learning it together, and we all developed a habit of applying it in writing.
At first, I didn’t like [calligraphy] because I was quite young and my parents forced me into it. It was only when I was growing up that I began to appreciate it. I like the strokes and how they seem to go with the flow.
Did incorporating calligraphy into your artworks come naturally, or was it a conscious effort on your part?
WL: It was quite related to my line of work. After college, I taught painting for five years. I would usually take a break from all the traditional paintings I had to finish for my class. I would sit down and try to draw other stuff.
I remember having Chinese ink on my table and I used it with a flat brush on an A4 paper. When I finished drawing, it occurred to me that it was something that I was looking for. It looks easy and effortless even though it takes time and effort to complete. It matches my style, and that really helped when it comes to creating my own signature.
It also makes my artworks more intriguing, helping it stand out because fewer people are using the element of Chinese calligraphy in Malaysia. So, I try to fit it in my art because it makes me more unique as an artist.
Is calligraphy always going to be a key element in your illustration style?
WL: Yes. I apply it into whatever I’m working on right now. But the way I apply it gradually changes as I change my goals. I can’t say that I have a fixed one. You can actually see my style evolving from black and white to using water colour. I always look for the best tools to see how they respond to the paper and other surfaces. I always test new ways to see how it looks like and find out if it matches with my current mood.
Social media seems to have contributed a lot to your popularity in the local fashion scene. How important has it been to your career?
WL: I used to share my works on Facebook until its ads policies made it harder to manage. Then, I moved to Instagram. They’re important because I engage with a lot of clients through [Instagram]. That’s how people got to know me. It also helped me build my digital network, which I need, in order to gain an international following.
Brands like Gardens Mall as well as Hugo Boss and Dior both from Malaysia and Singapore contacted me through Instagram. The first big one to approach me was Chanel around 2016. It happened so fast.
That must be thrilling.
WL: But the first jobs I got weren’t really related to fashion. They engaged me because I can draw people in just a few moments. It’s something they could use as a form of entertainment or activity in their media events.
There are also some who want to use my art to promote their brands in Europe and the US, which I hope focus more in the future. It’s more fashion-related. Some of them would send me their outfits. And because they cannot draw it, they need my ink to interpret in a more artistic way.
What is your advice for artists who are in the process of learning how to become more business savvy?
WL: When it comes to creating a business, artists need to think not only about what they want to market, but also why a client would want to hire you. Understand what is currently in demand, but also identify how viable it is for you as an artist to fill that demand.
What was your strategy for making a name in the fashion industry?
WL: I used to accept every job that’s offered to me because I felt that I need to try out everything when I was younger. I needed to understand what I was good at. But now, I feel like I already know my strengths and the direction I want to go. So, it makes more sense for me to be more picky in the collaborations I want to be a part of.
How do you stay focused in the course of achieving your career goals?
WL: You must understand the direction you want to go.
You must also know how to ensure your growth if you follow that path. My goal was to work with fashion brands. So, I went to the right industry and tapped the right clients before I slowly expanded my network.
Where do you get your inspirations from?
WL: I always look for fashion shows and just watch them on Youtube every morning. I just let the clips play or I just look at online magazines. I don’t read through them but I look at pictures a lot. If I get stuck, I’ll go out and look for a masterpiece outside fashion. And when I travel, I go to art galleries or museums to look at paintings and study other people’s works, of course. I can spend my whole day there.
Where do you see yourself in the next two years?
WL: I’m still hoping that I can work with more fashion brands. I would like to have one of their outfits to be produced using my signature illustrations. To do that, I need to cement myself in this path to go that way and see where I end up.
Will we see you delving into other areas of art, like textile or even fashion designing?
WL: Seeing my designs on textile is a part of it. Let’s see how it pans out. If not, I want do more in ad campaigns. But I don’t think I will end up as a fashion designer. I’m not into crafts, and I’m not good in sewing.
What’s your advice on young artists who aspire to etch a name for themselves?
WL: Always look back and study your body of work. Look for ways to improve them. Don’t be afraid to play with different techniques because you will need to master them before you can take it to the next level.
See more of Lihua’s work on her Instagram account.
Based in Shanghai, Chilean-born Chef Francisco has established himself as maestro in the fine dining scene with restaurant NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen, of which he is Executive Chef. He earned his one Michelin star for the casual fine dining at 81 Restaurant in Tokyo, serving borderless cuisine with a mix of Latin American, European and Asian influences. His impressive portfolio also include a season at the legendary three Michelin-starred restaurant El Bulli in Spain under the tutelage of world-renowned Chef Ferran Adrià, and Alegre in Chile.
This five-day promotion will see Chef Francisco meticulously crafting a seven-course modern European seafood specialties at the Library, Ritz Carlton KL. Available from 6 to 10 March from 7pm until 11pm, the seven-course dinner is priced at MYR350 nett per person with an option of wine pairing at MYR500 nett per person.
The Menu
Amuse-bouche of crispy scallop and herbs, smoked celeriac hen egg, tomato, shrimp and watermelon, beetroot tartelette
Oyster served with caviar and cauliflower
Scallop ceviche with ginger and cilantro
Arroz Verde consisting of Carabinero shrimp, Arborio rice and spinach
Shrimp prepared with yuba, caramelised onion and dill and Japanese Orange Sea Bream with calamari and zucchini blossom
Dessert of pandan ice cream, financier and late harvest roustabout
Amuse-bouche: Crispy scallop and herbs, Smoked Celeriac Hen Egg, Shrimp with tomato and watermelon, Beetroot Tartelette
Japanese Orange Sea Bream calamari, zucchini blossom
Pandan Financier, Pandan Ice cream, Late Harvest Roustabout
Available from 6 to 10 March from 7pm until 11pm, the seven-course dinner is priced at MYR350 nett per person with an option of wine pairing at MYR500 nett per person. For reservations and enquiries, please call +60 3 2142 8000 or email [email protected].
Pearly Wong, fashion designer and founder of Sze Women of Hope.
Pearly Wong is both a designer and the name of her independent fashion label. More than that, Pearly Wong Sze Kwan (her full name) is also the founder of Sze Women of Hope (SWOH), a non-profit organisation that empowers women’s lives through vocational training, livelihood projects and education in Malaysia.
Her business has unique opportunities to give back to communities, to do social good, and has a social culture that lets employees know they are working for something that’s bigger than themselves, that it also cares for people and the environment.
Last year, Pearly Wong gave back through its partnership with leading Swiss watch brand CORUM and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and presented Pearly Wong Sze Women of Hope Fashion Show in Kuala Lumpur. It showcased garments designed by Pearly Wong and accessories conscientiously sourced and produced, with the garments sewn and accessories handmade by refugee artisans at SWOH.
SWOH and UNHCR have teamed up to provide UNHCR-registered refugees a secure place that offers training courses and space for them to work on their projects to generate their own income.
The designer shares with LUXUO.MY that the key to running your own business is hard work: “There are going to be a lot of times when things don’t go your way. You can either let it get to you, or get back up and knock on more doors.”
Her definition of success is to operate a business with respect to the people and the environment, and every decision she makes is towards this goal. “Passion is the start of your career, then you need motivation, perseverance and a lot of hard work to succeed,” she says.
So, at the end of the day, does she feel ‘this is it’, having work/business satisfaction and a noble SWOH initiative? “A lot of times I do! But we still have so much work to do. Every day is a new challenge for SWOH. It takes a lot of hard work, determination and a lot of faith to run a social enterprise.”
More on the CSR initiative in this interview…
How did you decide that the cause championed by SWOH is a right fit?
Pearly Wong: SWOH and Pearly Wong are businesses that focus on artisanal crafts. Both enterprises value handmade, slow-fashion products made by artisans – one is clothing (PW) and the other is accessory (SWOH). Both businesses complement one another where the other is lacking.
Why did you start this CSR initiative?
PW: At Pearly Wong, we have been injecting small CSR projects into the business since we started in 2012. We have been conducting recycling classes at orphanages in Cheras, in the vicinity of our old office.
A lot of our CSR projects entail sustainability (recycling and upcycling) and vocational education (teaching the marginalised community women on handicrafts). Founding SWOH with some of my co-partners would be the right thing to do as we are ready to take our CSR commitment to the next level.
Do you think all local businesses ought to have CSR programmes?
PW: Yes, I think the trends in businesses are rapidly changing and evolving. One of the trends that never goes away is giving back to the community and the people.
When you give back to the community, a beautiful thing happens; you see people wanting, even more, to support your business because they appreciate your give-back effort and wish to be aligned with your cause.
How can CSR impact our society?
PW: A business must operate itself concerning the people, planet and to make profit sustainably. If every business has a small initiative or a CSR department for those who can afford it, it would make an impact on the world and increase the livelihood of our community and for the environment.
[For example,] I’ve worked with the CSR department of Uniqlo Malaysia for a project by UNHCR, and Uniqlo has been doing a fantastic job with upcycling leftover fabrics.
Assuming that every business operates this way, especially the garment industry, which is the second most polluting industry in the world, then our planetary boundaries relating to human-induced changes to the environment will be met.
Think of it this way … the human population is growing, and by the half of this century the human population is projected to rise to 100 billion, but our resources are finite. There’s an imbalance of how much resources we can take from this earth, which is finite. So it is crucial for every business to think about this urgency, and to operate itself by sustainable rules.
How do you feel about lending a helping hand to empowering women’s lives through vocational training, livelihood projects and education?
PW: It gives meaning to my work and benefits my label Pearly Wong at strengthening our CSR programme. So, in this regard, we have a healthy balance of operating our business with an active CSR initiative. Everyone working in Pearly Wong and SWOH believes in our cause, and we adopt a working culture surrounding it.
How are you financing and sustaining SWOH?
PW: Our group of partners from different backgrounds helped jumpstart SWOH, and we are currently sustaining it through sales of artisan products and donations from various organisations.
Is SWOH the only such CSR programme in Malaysia?
PW: There are a lot of businesses and social enterprises that are doing the good work around here. And if you look closely, there are a lot of great initiatives; some choose to assist the social community, some through environmental work and others through advocating equality for animals, etc. In regard to empowering women’s lives initiatives, I know many NGOs that help single mothers to get back on their feet (Bonda bonding) and Tanoti crafts is doing a great job helping the indigenous women to promote Malaysia’s artisanal crafts.
What are your aspirations, in both work and CSR, beyond SWOH?
PW: My aspiration is to be able to lift the lives of others through artisanal crafts, a passion of mine.
I wish for the women to achieve self-reliant skills and earn self-sustaining income. I also want to end gender-based violence in women, so giving them education and skills will be a good way to make them safe from the start.
How can women in need of a helping hand access SWOH, and how can the public help the SWOH cause?
PW: We currently open our hands to women in these categories – women refugees, indigenous people, and children from low-income families. We provide training and education to these three groups. They can reach out to us via our website and our volunteer will assist them to their needs.
The best way for the public to help is to go to the Sze Women of Hope website and buy the products made by the women. This can generate income for our women refugees to feed their families!
Serial entrepreneur, Datin Seri Joanna Lim, is now on her third ad-venture. Photo by Karen Sim.
One definition of serial entrepreneur is, the person often comes up with an idea and gets things started but gives responsibility to someone else, and then moves on to a new idea and new venture. It’s essentially one business at a time.
In her serial entrepreneurial pursuits, Penang-born Datin Sri Joanna Lim has launched businesses in industries of which she knew nothing and she learns along the way.
She manages to capture those “aha” moments when they happen.
When opportunity knocks, she opens the door, takes significant leaps of faith to believe that she can succeed, is not afraid to take chances, and thinks one’s never too cool to learn something new.
Datin Sri Joanna Lim’s first enterprise in Penang in 2006, in the bead and jewellery industry, was only the start of a promising and successful future as a serial entrepreneur.
The thrill of her serial entrepreneurial journey has not diminished one iota over time, evident in her third “ad-venture” embarked on, just recently.
Life may not be boring with multiple businesses as you’re building knowledge, marketing experience, networks and other resources but there are challenges and stress as well.
There can’t be a rainbow without a little rain, she says, revealing that sometimes it does rain pretty hard on her side.
According to the experienced, the first time you do anything, you’re barely hanging on. The second time you do it, you get a little bit better. The third time, you’re starting to develop confidence. By the fourth and fifth time, you feel like you’re getting the hang of it.
How does that sound to her?
In an email interview with Luxuo, she shares what it’s like to be a serial entrepreneur, the lessons learnt, the key takeaways and her latest project.
Your courage to change course from dealing with beads, crystals and costume jewellery to setting up an automobile business engaged in selling cars and car accessories, which is an entirely different industry, is inspiring. Tell us more.
Joanna Lim: In all honesty, everything came by as a chance and I just took a leap of faith. If you don’t take chances, you’ll never know how far you can go. I’ve been in the bead and jewellery industry since 2006. This year is my 12th year since it all started. It has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride on that journey as I started from not knowing how to string a bead to flying around the world picking up ideas and lessons to make jewellery. Now 12 years on, I’ve trained some really good help in store who does most of the designing and jewellery making.
As a mother of three now, I can’t really be in store all the time to create pieces of my own, so I’m truly glad having creative people around me. As for the automobile industry, I’ve my husband to be thankful for. Without him, I probably would not have said yes when the chance was offered to us.
What are the lessons learnt?
JL: To quote Richard Branson, “if somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later”.
You’ll never truly know how far you can go unless you take a leap of faith and push yourself towards that direction. There is never failure in learning to do things right; only lost opportunity if you don’t try.
In business, there are ups and downs, and some thrills. How do you control the ride?
JL: I’m all about going with the flow and learning from mistakes. Nobody is perfect. Why judge a mistake made? Learn from it and move on. Why dwell on the downs when there’s limited time on earth to do things right?
How do you motivate yourself to reach beyond yourself and live life that’s successful and meaningful?
JL: Live today like there’s no tomorrow. If today was your last day on earth, at least you know you’ve done something right today. Don’t wait for the moment to make it right because every moment is the moment, it’s just how you take it. Or your so-called right moment might not even come if you think it isn’t the moment.
Success is subjective to a person’s belief. Never settle for anything less but always appreciate the present moment. I might now see what there is coming tomorrow, for I think tomorrow when I wake up it might not be as what I thought it would be.
So seize the moment to do things right. If it isn’t, learn from it and do it right again.
What are your expectations?
JL: I live by the moment. I just want to see people around me happy.
There’s no point in making millions of dollars and have three business ventures while the family is falling apart. To me, having a balanced life is important. Time for myself, time for family and time for business. If one is able to feel “enough” with these things, life would be less stressful. I’m still trying to achieve that.
There won’t be rainbows without a little bit of rain. Sometimes it rains pretty hard on my side but such is life. I’m just hoping to cut the rainy moments by living more positively.
What’s your third business endeavour?
JL: I’ve just ventured into a retail business of a Swiss-made product with 80 years of history, selling essential oil-based spa and wellness products including herbal creams, hair care, beauty care, oral care and body care.
What inspires you to venture into that?
JL: This is a joint — I’d call it “ad-venture” — which my sister and I got into when we chanced upon this amazing product brought in by a mutual friend. We were “guinea pigs” who ended up loving the product so much that we decided to start selling it.
It appears that there’s no stopping at three enterprises for you. What is it like to be a serial entrepreneur?
JL: You wish for 48 hours in a day, three bodies and six hands.
Do share with us tips and principles you live by in order to succeed.
JL: Trust. Having people around you who you can trust is important. You can’t do everything alone. Letting go and don’t be too harsh on yourself. Learn from mistakes and move on.
For Baselworld 2018, Bell & Ross reintroduces the BR03-94 Horolum, a chronograph update to the time-only version of what was launched last year in a limited edition production of 500 pieces.
Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross Horolum & Horoblack
Bell & Ross, maker of iconic square professional aviation watches launched its Horo line in 2017 with the BR03-92 Horolum. For Baselworld 2018, the “Horo” concept of micro blasted steel, a production technique which involves high-pressure spraying of tiny glass beads on the watches’ steel surfaces returns. The Horo treatment “depolishes” the surface giving it a uniform appearance thus imbuing Bell & Ross watches with this prefix a matte, anti-reflective surface which gives pilots the benefit of optimal readability. Yes, even those combat pilots performing high G-manoeuvres with solar flares reflecting off literally every surface except the Bell & Ross timepiece on their wrists.
Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR03-94 Horolum chronograph enjoys a high degree of luminosity even in daylight
For Baselworld 2018, Bell & Ross reintroduces the BR03-94 Horolum, a chronograph update to the time-only version of what was launched last year in a limited edition production of 500 pieces. The “Lum” suffix here stands for luminosity or light, making a literal association of this timepiece’s key attribute – a generous coat of Superluminova which facilitates daytime and nighttime reading.
The intense green Superluminova of Bell & Ross new Baselworld 2018 novelty is reminiscent of the landing strip lighting, offering much needed luminescence and visibility required for safe twilight landings and of course, time display free off visual distractions when used on a timepiece. The green tinted Superluminova® C3 is ultra-phosphorescent and lasts a long time in the dark allowing for persistent reading.
Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR03-94 Horolum Chronograph
Movement Automatic calibre BR-CAL.301 with 42 hours power reserve Case 42 mm microblasted steel with 100 metres water resistance Strap Grey-green calfskin and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric Price SG$8100
Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack
Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack
Available in 999 limited editions, the Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack follows last year’s three hands Horolum but instead with Superluminova, the indexes and hands play on the black and grey contrast guaranteeing similar legibility as its predecessor. Naturally, the emblematic Bell & Ross square returns in matt micro blasted steel and sandwich dial design leaning on a minimalist aesthetic save for bar indexes and the four numbers: 12, 3, 6 and 9 for uncluttered reading.
Movement Automatic calibre BR-CAL.302 with 42 hours power reserve Case 42 mm microblasted steel with 100 metres water resistance Strap Black calfskin and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric Price SG$4800
The emblematic Bell & Ross square returns in matt micro blasted steel and sandwich dial design for the new Baselworld 2018 novelty
The Best Cocktail Bars in Asia to be Announced in May
Singapore will host the first-ever awards ceremony on May 3 that will coincide with the Singapore Cocktail Festival, which runs May 4 to 13, 2018. The gala event will bring together Asia’s top bartenders, influential bar owners and industry leaders to witness the 50 Best brand champions in Asia.
Singapore is the current titleholder of Asia’s best bar, having led last year’s awards with 13 bars on the list, and The Regent Singapore hotel’s Manhattan bar clinched the No.1 spot. Head by bartender Philip Bischoff, he mixes a magnificent Manhattan using Michter’s US1 Straight Rye whisky, but there are plenty of other libations inspired by American history, from colonial-style punches to bourbon sours.
Another major highlight will the invitation-only forum, which will take place the day-after, forming part of the exciting events calendar. There’s opportunity for guests to meet and greet fellow prominent players in the same industry and discuss the latest bartending topics and trends.
How the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list is compiled
The ranking is determined by an influential group of more than 200 drinks experts, including renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from across Asia. Judges must also be able to vote for bars outside their country of residence.
Discover the new list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2017 here.
Introducing Johnnie Walker The Black Label The Jane Walker Edition
For the first time in more than a century, Scotch whisky brand The Johnnie Walker Black Label will feature a new icon “Jane Walker”, depicting her in a distinctly curvaceous silhouette with top hat, tuxedo jacket, jodhpurs and riding boots.
The new icon is part of the brand’s marketing campaign to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, which kick-start next month.
When the Scotch whisky brand mentioned the launch of a new campaign with an aim to highlight the roles of key women in the development of the brand, it didn’t take long for comments to flood the Twitter social media channel. Some are in favour of the move, while several others are not in full support of it.
“I can’t even enjoy scotch anymore without being mansplained and condescended by nitwits?! No thanks,” reads one tweet.
“Sorry… exactly what progress has been made? Pay equality? Political Equality? Reproductive control? Hmmm…But thank GOD there’s a scotch with a lady on the bottle. Now I feel equal. Thanks.”
Another woman pointed out that other brands have tried and failed — spectacularly — in trying to cash in on the feminist movement. She said: “I’m not remotely intimidated by Scotch, but I’ll be steering clear of this. It’s as condescending as those foolish Doritos and Bic pens for ‘ladies.’ You may want to consider what happened in those cases.”
As reported by Bloomberg, Scotch whisky volumes grew 2.1 percent between 2002 and 2017 in the U.S., according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., a trade organisation. And Johnnie Walker has outpaced many competitors, growing 18 percent last year – boosted by a revival of cocktail culture.
Brand owner Diageo Plc is hoping the move widens the appeal of the product while celebrating women, said Stephanie Jacoby, vice president of Johnnie Walker. “It’s a really exciting opportunity to invite women into the brand.”
While the Scotch whisky brand has stood for progress in women rights, esteemed women such as Elizabeth Walker, wife of founder John Walker together with the company’s 12 females blenders, too, have been involved in the development of the brand.
The Jane Walker Edition will be available in March 2018. With every bottle sold, London-based Diageo, one of the world’s largest producer of spirits and a key producer of beer, will donate a dollar to the organisations, including charities that champion women’s causes.
As man’s best friend, the affable dog is arguably the most beloved and popular of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac. Loyal to a fault, it travels wherever you go, even on the wrist (at least for 2018) as watchmakers continue their annual tradition of depicting these totemic beasts on dials. With its myriad personalities – from heroic Lassie to sweet Marley to yappy Mr Muffykins – the charismatic canine is perfectly expressed through an array of splendid métiers d’art commonly seen on these limited timepieces.
Vacheron Constantin “The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac” Series
Take Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art “The legend of the Chinese Zodiac” series, which portrays the dog’s noble disposition through an alliance of artistic crafts. A handsome Setter, sculpted and hand-engraved in platinum or pink gold, takes pride of place at the centre of a blue or bronze-toned grand feu enamel dial, while surrounding foliage is etched to resemble the Chinese paper-cutting technique, Jianzhi. The hands-free time display leaves plenty of space for the showcase, with four surrounding windows presenting the hours, minutes, day, and date.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Pekingese Timepiece
Jaquet Droz offers two renditions of the playful Pekingese on its Petite Heure Minute timepiece. One is a miniature painting; hand-painted using grand feu enamel in a watercolour style that echoes Chinese calligraphy, the pooch is found wandering in a natural landscape of rocks and plants. The other is a miniature sculpture of the toy dog in mid-leap, carved in decorative yellow gold and set against a backdrop of radiant red (the dial is made of the Sonora Sunrise variety of cuprite from Mexico) for good fortune.
Ulysse Nardin “Akita”
Ulysse Nardin brings a fiery Akita to frolicsome life through its in-house mastery of the centuries-old craft of champlevé enamelling. Done at its Donzé Cadrans dial manufacture, the technique involves carving cells directly on the dial, then filling it with enamel and firing it repeatedly until the desired depth of colour is achieved. A brilliantly coloured hound with flaming fur outlined in gold emerges, paws padding and tail wagging in the deep blue outdoors.
Panerai Luminor 1950 Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciaio
Finally, Panerai captures a Retriever’s likeness on the cover of its special edition Luminor 1950 Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciaio. Hand adorned by Italian master engravers using the ancient technique of “sparsello” (named after the special tool used in the process), gold threads are meticulously inlaid onto the engraved steel lid to outline a dog in a field of plum flowers. The cover protects a simple grey dial, with a small signalling mirror on its back for emergency use.
Some champagne bottles come at a painful price tag: the 2013 Armand de Brignac Rose 30-Litre Midas that sells at $275,000, the 1959 Dom Perignon at $42,350 and the 1841 Veuve Clicquot at $34,000, just to name a few. While some are simply expensive because of the signature logos handcrafted in 18-carat gold or the 19-carat flawless deep-cut white diamonds fitted prominently on the bottles. Others have a lot to do with the price tags because of the taste of sparkly diamonds.
That said, would you pay £50,000 for a truly expensive cocktail?
This margarita (pictured above) perhaps is one of London’s most expensive drink, topped with lashings of gold. You can only buy this margarita at Cantina Laredo, a Mexican restaurant nestled in Covent Garden, in London. So, what’s in this pricey and sumptuous drink?
Other than the exceptional ingredients put together to concoct this cocktail, the drink is made up of Jose Cuervo Platino, and the 1800 Colección tequila that sells for around £2,000 per bottle, a fusion of white pineapple juice and limequats and topped with the Australian finger lime with “caviar-like” appearance. The margarita lives up to its name as it is served with a pineapple flower and a diamond.
Making a graduation watch is a rite of passage for many watchmakers. Typically, apprentice watchmakers are given a Unitas calibre and then a short brief to make modifications or develop complications as they see fit or simply to follow the requirements and execute their vision of how a certain time indication should be. The SIHH 2018 Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece or Montre Ecole follows Master Watchmaker Ferrier’s personal horological journey.
SIHH 2018 Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece and Galet Micro-Rotor
Designed entirely in-house, the Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece is a homage to the Master Watchmaker’s own graduation watch. Ferrier, a former Creative Director of Patek Philippe, is best known for his classically elegant, deceptively simplistic timepieces. The Galet Annual Calendar School Piece joins a family known for hiding its high complications on the reverse-side of the movement. “School Piece” or Montre Ecole is a nod to Ferrier’s own journey from apprentice to watchmaker and when you think about how the coin of the watchmaking realm turns on provenance, it becomes a nice bookend timepiece in the Laurent Ferrier brand journey.
The SIHH 2018 Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece follows the typical design conventions of an Annual Calendar but it is the little details and hidden “secrets” which set it apart from conventional Annual Calendar timepieces. First, bevelled apertures for day and month indications sit in a selection of either silver tone or a slate grey dials. Second, the dials themselves feature three different types of straight and circular brushed finishing, progressing from the centre to the minute rail and then to the date numerals on the periphery, including concentric engine turned circles for the subsidiary seconds. Beyond the face of the Galet Annual Calendar Montre Ecole lies an in-house calibre which embodies all the values and spirit of Laurent Ferrier’s artisanal watchmaking workshop.
For SIHH 2018, the brand unveils its 5th exclusive caliber featuring a technically sophisticated but user-friendly Annual Calendar function developed with the aim of ensuring smooth operation: Where traditional annual calendars can only be set forward, a skipped date forces the user to potentially complete a cycle in order to get back to the correct date. On the 2018 Galet Annual Calendar School Piece, the date and month can be adjusted by intuitively turning the crown forward and backward, a rarity, allowing for faster adjustment than most.
In terms of heritage, Laurent Ferrier’s 5th in-house calibre also pays tribute to its first manual winding movement The tourbillon double hairspring. The new caliber features a long “blade” type click ratchet which became a distinctive signature. For the first time, Laurent Ferrier will introduce a “pale” 18K yellow gold version.
Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece Price and Specs
Movement Manual winding calibre LF126.01 with 80 hours power reserve Case 40mm red gold, pale yellow gold or stainless steel with 30 metres water resistance Strap Black alligator leather Alcantara lining Price SGD 87,000
SIHH 2018 Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor Price and Specs
Laurent Ferrier harbours a passion for the beauty of 19th century pocket watches, and this muse is best exemplified in the maison’s Galet Micro Rotor. First designed for another “Montre Ecole” limited edition 40mm three-piece bassiné case timepiece, the new SIHH 2018 novelty serves as an introduction to the breadth of Mr. Ferrier’s philosophy and watchmaking know-how. Like others in the brand’s foundational collections, there’s a strong vintage appeal but thanks to contemporary case design, it looks like a thoroughly modern if classic timepiece.
Beneath its simple appearance lies a world of harmonious, highly technical engineering. The SIHH 2018 Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor uses new double direct-impulse escapement fitted directly on the balance is equipped with a silicon lever, an exclusive development inspired by the “natural” escapement invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet. The silicon lever, coupled with modern construction techniques maximizes energy efficiency, which in turn ensures high amplitude for the balance and reduces the mechanical force required to wind the mainspring.
Movement Automatic Calibre FBN 229.01 with 72 hours power reserve Case 40mm gold or stainless steel with 30 metres water resistance Strap Black alligator leather Alcantara lining Price TBA
