A shopper has broken the record for duty-free purchases at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport by splurging nearly 50,000 euros on six bottles of exclusive wine.

The shopper, who was identified only as “an Asian”, bought a bottle of Romanee Conti 1995, a Chateau Margaux 2003, two bottles of Chateau Lafitte 1982 and two bottles of Petrus 1980, worth a total of 49,905 euros ($66,000).

The airport did not say when the purchases had been made, but noted that high-quality wines “sell better at the end of the year”.

Luxury Swiss retail giant Richemont, owner of such brands as Cartier, Piaget and Jaeger-LeCoultre, is to open the world’s largest shop for luxury watches in Paris.

Business Montres quoted an internal memo saying a three-storey 2,200 square metre (24,000 square foot) shop would open early 2013.

The shop would take over the premises of the landmark Old England shop near the Place Vendome, famous for its luxury watch shops and hugely popular with Middle Eastern and Asian tourists, in particular Chinese.

Tokyo has now more Michelin three star restaurants than Paris, according to the latest edition of the gastronomical guide.

Japan as a whole also beats France, with 32 establishments granted the maximum grade, against 25 in the guide’s home country. Paris has just 10 three star eateries.

Of Tokyo’s 160,000 restaurants, 16 were awarded top marks, 52 got two stars and 179 were deemed worthy of one star by the authors of the Red Guide.

Yachtmakers from around the world are gearing up to launch new products at the Nautic boat show, which gets underway next weekend in Paris.

Nautic traditionally focuses on the newest craft from luxury French names — although there is plenty on offer for those of varying budgets and interests.

Chief among the stars will be Bénéteau which has launched a slew of new models recently it intends to showcase in Paris.

Accessory aficionadoes can now master the art of jewelry-making thanks to an innovative move by iconic French brand Van Cleef & Arpels.

The Paris-based company will make history in February 2012 by opening its first jewelry school, where students from across the globe can gain unique insight into the world of creating world-class adornments.

Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in 1896 and the brand considers sharing its wealth of knowledge with connoisseurs and professionals alike to be a duty.

Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris has partnered with Taittinger Champagne to create the “Bubble in Paris” bar that resembles a life-size snow globe.

The translucent bar was conceived by artist Jean-Hugues de Chatillon, who drew inspiration from the mythical realm of Narnia to bottle a miniature winter wonderland.

The 16-foot tall dome will house an all-white, central, circular bar and small lounge that can accommodate 35 visitors at a time and will be open until New Year’s Eve.