Monthly Archives: March 2010

Beginning of the end for Maybach

Maybach 62 Landaulet could possibly become the very last model from Maybach, if Daimler decides to end the ultra-luxury line in the years to come.

It’s no secret Maybach has been a major flop: sales and growth have been poor in recent times compared to rival brands Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

Daimler’s Vice-President of Design, Gordon Wagener, admitted that his department had not yet been asked to sketch design ideas for a new Maybach.

Daimler-Benz first purchased the ultra-luxury brand in 1960 and 37 years later in 1997 the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept was introduced in Tokyo; in 2002, Maybach was officially restarted as an automotive brand.
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Watchmakers go back to basics

Luxury watchmakers are going back to basics with classic designs, as industry players at the world’s biggest watch fair in Switzerland warned Wednesday that the “years of extravagance” were over.

While the industry is reporting a glimmer of recovery, watchmakers gathering in the Swiss city of Basel also noted that recovery was fragile and that the mood among consumers was far from the heady pre-crisis years.

“After several months of economic upturn, there are some positive signs,” said Jacques Duchene, head of the organising committee for the Baselworld fair which officially kicks off on Thursday.

Companies such as Hublot and the giant Swatch have declared that the sales have been “exceptional” so far this year.

Hublot chief Jean-Claude Biver said that January was “the best in history, just like February would be and probably March.”

However, Duchene also warned: “We should not be overly confident, because the global economic situation is still highly precarious.”
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Bugatti 16C Galibier concept in black

Unveiled at last year’s Frankfurt show to a very select audience, the “four-door Veyron” remains a concept for now, but new images have surfaced showing the Galibier in black.

We like it considerably more this way, rather than the exposed carbon and blue shown before.

These new photos have also given us a chance to notice a few more details about the superfast auto – like the illuminated logos on the rims.

With a gorgeous design, this luxury 4 door sedan packs a 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine with two-stage supercharging and can reach speeds of 220 mph.
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Baselworld 2010: New Rolex Explorer

Rolex is refining its classics for 2010. The new Explorer I for 2010 has been given a slightly wider new dial (39mm) and comes complete with polished numeral indexes, and a whole heap of luxurious refinement.

In the watchmaking world, the Oyster is iconic and mythical. Introduced in 1926, it is the first waterproof wristwatch.
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McLaren Automotive Launch – LIVE on LUXUO

McLaren will be launching a completely new car brand “McLaren Automotive.”

In co-operation with Headstream, A press conference will be hosted by Chairman Ron Dennis and Managing Director Anthony Sheriff on March 18 , 2010.

They will tell the story of McLaren Automotive and the MP4-12C and cover topics such as investment, manufacturing, production, development, design, heritage and the Formula 1 process and technology transfer.

For this occasion McLaren will be doing something they have never done before, they will be hosting a live webcast of the entire event.
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Paris is the most expensive city in the world

Paris is the most expensive city to live in according to the latest survey from Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister company to The Economist.

The survey assesses the cost of living by comparing housing, food, clothing, transport and utility bills and the like in 132 cities around the world.

The study is aimed at helping companies calculate allowances for executives and their families being sent overseas.

Tokyo comes second, up from sixth place a year ago. The fall in Russia’s currency against the dollar has made Moscow cheaper than it once was.
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Sofa invasion in Paris metro

After beauty retailer Sephora targeted the French capital’s metro system with vending machines, it is now furniture giant Ikea that has chosen the tunnels for an unusual advertising campaign.

The Swedish chain has furnished the Saint-Lazare, Champs-Elysées Clemenceau, Opéra and Concorde metro stops with lamps and sofas from its new Ektorp and Karlstad collections.

With Ikea being associated with affordable and disposable furniture, it is likely that the campaign aims at demonstrating the durability of the designs.
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Chanel denies Lagerfeld retirement rumors

French luxe brand Chanel says that there is currently no plan to replace head designer Karl Lagerfeld.

“KL is Chanel’s creative director and has a long-term contract that is by no means reassessed,” a representative said. “His succession is not on the agenda.”

Rumor, first surfacing last summer, has it that Lanvin’s creative director Alber Elbaz is in talks with Chanel to take over once Karl Lagerfeld, now 76, retires.
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Hublot becomes official F1 watch supplier

 

Hublot and Formula 1 have announced their partnership with Hublot becoming the official watchmaker for Formula 1.

The start of the multi-year deal for Hublot will be marked with the brand-new F1 King model watch, a limited edition of the company’s King Power model.

Maintaining the popular large case sizing which has become synonymous with Hublot, the F1 King comes in a matte black aesthetic with ceramic case and subtle nods to F1 set against the background of the watch’s face.

The Hublot F1 King will be released in a limited run of 500 watches with each watch numbered between 01/500 to 500/500.
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Chinese collectors push prices to new levels

Prices for antiques in China have risen sharply over the past five years and now galleries all over the world over are waiting for the nation’s cashed-up collectors to spread the wealth overseas.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Netherlands’ Tefaf Maastricht, New York gallery director James Hennessy said that internationally things were looking up in the antique market, but all eyes were on China.

“Business is better than last year,” Hennessy told the Bloomberg news agency.

“The market for Chinese art expands with the Chinese economy. There are thousands of collectors in mainland China who are seeking out works in the West.
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Celsius X-VI-II: The $275,000 Mechanical Cell Phone

Imagine a cellphone crafted with the same horological insidiousness of churning gears, analogue dials and mechanical parts as a Swiss watch.

That’s the idea behind the Celsius X-VI-II’s mechanical cellphone. The phone is made with 547 mechanical parts, and it features a tourbillon in its hinge.

The unique combination uses a patented Remontage Papillon mechanism that mimics butterfly movement, and is activated when the wings are unfolded.
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The Most Expensive Books Ever Sold

In an evermore digitized world, the printed word takes on special value–especially if it happens to be enshrined in a rare, beautiful and historically significant book.

People are willing to pay incredible sums of money just to own and hold a copy of one of these rare, antiquated gems.

From the first book ever printed to the most valuable comic book, check out our TOP 10 most expensive books in the world.

1. The Gutenberg Bible – $25-35 million

In 1456, the Gutenberg Bible was the first book ever printed with moveable type. About 180 versions are believed to have been printed originally.
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Easter at Harrods

Find something unique to put on your table this Easter at Harrods, where a premium collection of chocolate eggs are available.

The Harrods Chocolatier Easter Egg, is available in Milk, Dark or White chocolate.

The smooth egg opens to reveal a gourmand array of heavenly Marc de Champagne truffles. £34.95


Mobiado Classic 712GCB Luxury Phone

Mobiado known for its luxury cellular phones has recently launched its new model: the Mobiado Classic 712GCB.

Among the features of the 712GCB include a 2.2” QVGA screen, 3G connectivity, 5MP camera and GPS.

But the nitty gritty lies on the craftsmanship of this luxury phone. The 712GCB is built from stainless steel, “large sapphire crystal plates” and 24K gold.

The phone’s keys are also made out of sapphire crystal hand-painted with gold.
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$1.5 Million Luxury Gown

Fashion designer Jad Ghandour and Danasha Luxury are set to unveil a luxury dress valued at $1.5 million during Miami International Fashion Week.

The couture dress will incorporate diamonds and gold as well as other fine materials and precious gems.

The luxury dress is set to be worn down the runway by a celebrity model on March 20, but until then it’s in the safe hands of two armed security guards.
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Asia Boating Awards 2010

The sixth edition of the Prestigious Asia Boating Awards will be hosted this year at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club.

For the first time ever, the Asia Boating Awards, the top event of the yachting calendar in Asia, will be staged in Hong Kong at the upcoming Hong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show on May 8, 2010.

Organised by Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating magazines, the awards recognise the best yachts globally as well as top Asia-based yacht builders, Asia-based regattas, Asian marinas and yacht clubs, best maritime city in Asia and Asia’s top yachting personality.

This is the sixth edition of the Asia Boating Awards, having being staged in Singapore and Bangkok with the last two editions taking place in Shanghai.
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Citroen DS3 Yves Saint Laurent

Citroen worked together with Yves Saint-Laurent fashion designer to create a special edition of DS3 model.

This special edition Citroen hatchback comes with a new red exterior color that’s combined with the black roof with that unmistakable Yves Saint Laurent logo.

The trendy version of the DS3 is not for sale – it was built to bring VIP guests to the premiere of the fashion house’s retrospective exhibition, held last week.

The display was created by the Pierre Berge foundation and features over 300 models that showcase a complete image of Yves Saint Laurent’s work.
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