Monthly Archives: March 2011

Hublot King Power Cathedral

Hublot King Power Carbon Fiber Cathedral

Hublot King Power Cathedral

To mark the 2011 Baselworld Fair Hublot is presenting a world first, with a minute repeater watch featuring two “Cathedral” type gongs, a tourbillon and column wheel chronograph, with carbon fiber bridges, in a case made from carbon fiber.

This is a perfect illustration of “Fusion” between great watchmaking tradition and the technology of the future.
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CPT002

Aston Martin & Mobiado Luxury Phone

CPT002

Aston Martin and luxury mobile phone maker Mobiado have announced that they have teamed up to produce a collection of luxury mobile handsets.

Their first concept phone is called CTP002. It is basically one big, transparent sapphire glass with two titanium edges on the left and right.

This phone shares a special connection with the Aston Martin. It functions as a key that automatically unlocks the doors as owners approach the vehicle.
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gordon macphails glenlivet 70

New 70-year-old malt unveiled

gordon macphails glenlivet 70

A family-owned whisky firm in Scotland has released what they say is one of the oldest single malts in the world and is selling the bottle for £13,000.

The Glenlivet 70 Years Old is touted as the follow-up to their Mortlach single malt launched last year — the oldest in the world, say Gordon & MacPhail.

Like its predecessor which spent 70 years aging in a cask, The Glenlivet is also a septuagenarian single malt which has been maturing quietly in its cask since February 3, 1940, when it was first put to bed by company forefather John Urquhart.
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e-lanvin

Lanvin’s new online store

e-lanvin

After its recent store openings in Los Angeles, Milan and Beijing, Lanvin has launched its new European e-Lanvin store.

Lanvin’s dynamic style, the spirit of Alber Elbaz, and the creative wealth of its collections are showcased in this new e-store.

Indeed, Lanvin delights in so many ways. As a first stop, visitors should enter the ♥ Hot Picks section to discover the must-haves from each collection.
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Fisker Karma

Fisker Karma begins production

Fisker Karma

The Fisker Karma electric sports car has entered production for the first time, it emerged this week.

The Karma, a plug-in vehicle expected to provide serious competition to the Tesla Roadster, has been on the drawing board for years but could finally be with the first buyers by next month, according to reports from US-based Automotive News.

Priced at around €85,000, the final version of this sleek model debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2010 and attracted a lot of attention for its 480 km range, achieved using an extended range motor in the same manner as the Chevrolet Volt.
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Perrier Jouet bicentenary

Perrier-Jouët Celebrates its 200th Anniversary

Perrier Jouet bicentenary

March 21st, the first day of spring, saw Champagne House Perrier-Jouët celebrate its bicentenary in Paris with the unveiling of Bi-Centenaire—the very first Living Legacy champagne designed to be passed on to future generations.

Just 200 guests from 10 countries attended the private launch, set in the stunning glass courtyard of the iconic Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.

Guests were also treated to the unveiling of a new work of art commissioned from American artist Daniel Arsham, designed to embody the spirit of Bi-Centenaire.
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Aston Martin DBS 14

Aston Martin and Mobiado team up for luxury phone

Aston Martin DBS 14

The British luxury car brand Aston Martin and the luxury mobile phone manufacturer Mobiado are collaborating to produce a collection of luxury mobile handsets.

Synergy between the two brands provides an ideal opportunity for Aston Martin to enter into the electronics sector, with an exclusive range planned to launch in May 2011 through a range of premium outlets.

Peter Bonac, President of Bonac Innovation Corp. said, “Like Aston Martin, Mobiado prides itself on design innovation and technological excellence.”
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Hermes iPad2 cases

Hermes iPad 2 cases

Hermes iPad2 cases

French luxury brand Hermes is cashing in on the popularity of the iPad 2 with cases that cost more than the tablet itself.

The Hermes Swift (left) is a slipcase made from calfskin leather that costs a whopping $820. It comes in 10 different colors.

The Hermes Station (right) is a book-style cover, made from fine calf-skin leather , that doubles as a stand. Available in four colors, the Station will cost about $1,400.
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pop up hotel Singapore

Singapore’s Merlion transformed into a hotel

pop up hotel Singapore

Singapore‘s Merlion is a mythical beast (that’s part mermaid, part lion) — frozen in time in the shape of an eight-meter tall statue — who is supposed to keep watch over the city’s waters and bring wealth and good fortune to its citizens.

As of March, though, the Merlion will play a entirely different role when its structure is transformed into a hotel as part of this year’s Singapore Biennale.

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, work on the project will start on February 7 and the “Merlion Hotel” will be open for overnight stays from March 9 until May 15.
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Swiss watchmaker Rolex basel 2011

Watchmakers see strong 2011

Swiss watchmaker Rolex basel 2011

Watchmakers gave upbeat forecasts for 2011 at the industry’s largest fair on Wednesday, although the deadly earthquake which hit key luxury consuming country Japan and Arab uprisings cast shadows over the expectations.

Industry giants including Swatch and LVMH have all posted strong recoveries over 2010 and they are expecting the recovery to continue in 2011.

Swiss exhibitors underlined that January sales were up 16.9 percent over a year ago and predicted that 2011 would be a new record year for the industry.
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French bubbly

Champagne exports up nearly 20 percent

French bubbly

French exports of Champagne shot up 19.5 percent in 2010 after two years of sagging sales abroad due to the global economic crisis.

Britain remained the top importer of genuine bubbly, buying 35.5 million of the 134.5 million bottles shipped outside France.

Sales in Champagne’s number two overseas market, the United States, jumped nearly 35 percent over the previous year, to 16.9 million bottles, followed by Germany and Belgium, up 21.6 and 7.8 percent respectively.
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Ginza area Tokyo

Tokyo’s fashion stores slowly reopen

Ginza area Tokyo

According to local and international media, Tokyo‘s fashion business is gradually getting back to usual.

After the earthquake hit Japan on March 11, many brands including Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Cartier acted to bring some of their executive staff back to their home countries and closed local boutiques.

News outlets including WWD and Racked now confirm that on March 22, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, and Forever 21 reopened their doors in the capital.
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jimmy choo luxury shoes

Jimmy Choo staying true to his roots

jimmy choo luxury shoes

World-famous designer Jimmy Choo may have come a long way since working in his family’s humble shoemaking business in Malaysia, but he never forgot his dad’s dedication to perfect footwear.

In fact, the Penang-born Choo, whose Haute Couture shoes are coveted by royalty and the likes of Madonna and Michelle Obama, says that shoemaking is in his blood.

“I felt destined to be in the shoemaking business,” he told AFP during a recent interview in Hong Kong, where some of his shoe sketches were auctioned off to raise money for poor students in China.
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McLaren Pro Road Bike

McLaren S-Works Venge Bicycle by Specialized

McLaren Pro Road Bike

McLaren has teamed up with US bicycle manufacturer Specialized to create an aerodynamic road bike called the Venge.

The racing road bicycle has been designed by Chris D’Aluisio and features an aerodynamic frame built entirely out of carbon fibre.

The launch took place at the Formula One team’s HQ, two days ahead of Milan-San Remo, where Mark Cavendish will ride the bike for the first time in competition.
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TAG Heuer Meridiist Gulf Phone

TAG Heuer Gulf Meridist

TAG Heuer Meridiist Gulf Phone

The TAG Heuer Gulf Meridiist is the brand’s latest luxury cell phone that is inspired by Michael Delaney, Steve McQueen’s character in the 1971 film “Le Mans”.

His character, Michael Delaney, drove for the Gulf team; he got behind the wheel of a speed machine that featured the iconic Gulf light blue and orange racing livery.

He also wore the original Heuer Monaco Chronograph on his wrist, and thus the legend was born.
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donald trump interview private jet

Trump: I’d Pay $600 Million for White House

donald trump interview private jet

Billionaire business magnate Donald Trump is ready to shell out $600 million of his own cash to become President.

He told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday that his name recognition would probably save him “hundreds of millions of dollars” compared with other candidates.

The 64-year-old, who held the interview aboard his private jet, said he’d announce his decision by June.
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keira knightley chanel

Keira Knightley’s full ‘Mademoiselle’ fragrance ad

aaa

Following on the heels of Blake Lively’s handbag campaign for Chanel, Keira Knightley is starring in a video for the commercial of the brand’s Mademoiselle fragrance.

The commercial was directed by Joe Wright and shows the actress channeling an elegant superhero, wearing a beige catsuit and riding a motorcycle to her shoot at Chanel’s Paris apartment.

Knightley has fronted the Mademoiselle fragrance ads since 2007, taking over from Kate Moss, who currently stars in Dior’s Addict beauty ads.
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entrance Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo

Shangri-La stops taking bookings in Tokyo

entrance Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo

The Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyosaid Monday it would not accept any new bookings “until further notice”, citing the city’s uncertain power supply following Japan’s massive earthquake and tsunami.

The hotel said it hoped to resume normal operations as soon as possible but the decision highlighted problems the tourism industry will be forced to confront as Japan recovers from the deadly March 11 twin disasters.

“Following the natural disasters in Japan on 11 March 2011 and the resulting logistical difficulties and hazards, Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo will not be accepting any new guests until further notice,” the statement said.
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gucciguiltyfragrance

Gucci and Chanel win at Italian fragrance awards

gucciguiltyfragrance

On the occasion of the Cosmoprof fair running in Bologna, Italy, which wraps up March 21, the Italian fragrance foundation Accademia del Profumo has announced the winners of its annual awards.

Its two main prizes, best women’s and men’s perfume, are yearly chosen by consumers and were won by Gucci Guilty and Bleu de Chanel respectively.

The juried awards for olfactory creations went to Love, Chloé in women’s and Voyage d’Hermès in men’s perfumes.
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