Dior Homme has collaborated with Paris-based Bogarde Bikes for this Dior-branded BMX bike, which the brand’s Artistic Director Kris Van Assche unveiled with a black and white teaser picture on Instagram. The pricing and launch dates are under wraps for now. But hold your breath, for the Dior bike is going to be followed by Dior branded skate decks, set to be unveiled next year, in the summer of 2018. They come in three designs in red, black and white colourways that reflect Dior Homme’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection theme. One of the decks boasts an image of a figure wearing an all-red outerwear piece, while the other two designs feature Dior logo fonts and lettering.
Ferrari is always trying to better the best, and the new FXX-K Evo is proof enough. Released at the Finali Mondiali at Mugello this month, the 1035-horsepower generating Evo is the enhanced version of the LaFerrari based FXX-K, and this one’s all about the evolution of the body, being lighter than ever and boasting greater aerodynamic supremacy. To heighten speed, the track-only supercar has been launched with 23 per cent more downforce: the side fins were eliminated and replaced by a large fixed wing that included a stabilizing ‘shark fin’ to support its three vortex generators, producing an extra 10% downforce. The rear bumper has also been reworked to complement the diffusers and generate another 5% downforce. What’s more, you’d also find a Formula One-like steering wheel inside, plus KERS hybrid boost system controls. The information screen has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and the camera that previously served as a rear view mirror has also been improved. For Ferrari owners looking towards upgrading from the FXX-K version, the new Evo model is also available as a turn-key car. But the new limited “Evo” version is only available to clients who are part of the company’s XX development programme.
Barbie lovers, Hello Kitty fans and die-hard collectors can all rejoice, for now they can get their hands upon a special Hello Kitty themed Barbie doll. Mattel and Sanrio have collaborated to create this Collector’s edition that flaunts the cutest Hello Kitty ensemble: a bow-buttoned red sweater with a sewn Hello Kitty face and a pink skirt that has an embroidered Hello Kitty sitting upfront, along with her trademark apples and pretty red bows. The doll is also decked up in lacy socks and red platform sandals and flaunts a matching Hello Kitty purse. And yes, let’s not forget the tiny figurine of Hello Kitty herself that accompanies Barbie inside the gorgeous collector’s box that houses them both. The collaboration is timed to coincide with Hello Kitty’s 43rd birthday, and you can pre-order the Hello Kitty Barbie on Mattel’s official website.
Mercedes-Benz is all set to launch the new AMG CLA 45 and GLA 45 on November 6, taking the total of AMG models launched in the country this year to seven. The AMG CLA 45 and GLA 45 are the entry-level models from the company’s performance wing. The exteriors of both cars flaunt glossy black paint with yellow detailing along with a matte black racing stripe that runs through the bonnet, roof and boot. The models feature the new AMG styling kit which includes black grille, AMG badging on the slat and an aggressively designed bumper. Both the supercars are powered by the existing 2-litre in-line four-cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 375bhp and 475Nm of torque. The engine is coupled to an AMG Speedshift DCT 7-speed sports gearbox plus they also feature the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive systemand the AMG dynamic plus package which comprises of four modes. The plush interiors feature an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, with an all-black dashboard highlighted by red stitches on the side panels and leather seats. The steering wheel is also wrapped in black leather with red detailing.
Wallace Chan's earring with diamond briolette 'roots', yellow-diamond-encrusted orb, green tsavorite garnet bulb and white diamond blossom
The European Art Fair’s New York edition, launched last year, showcased some rare and exceptional high jewelry pieces from various contemporary designers this year. Founded in 1988, the European Fine Art Fair or TEFAF is held in Maastricht in the Netherlands every year and is widely regarded as the premiere showcase for the richest and the best that the worlds of art and design have to offer.
The displays at TEFAF range from Old Master paintings to 20th-century furnishings, curated by an exclusive vetting committee that inspects and authenticates each item on display. But perhaps the most glittery section of TEFAF is where the most impressive, world-class jewels are on display. TEFAF, which stretched from Oct 28 to Nov 1 at New York’s Park Avenue Armory this year, elicited collective sighs through its displays of these fine jewelry pieces. Presented here are some of the exclusive pieces from the exhibit.
Floral Brooch from Lee Siegelson’s Collection
On display at TEFAF was the exquisite ruby, quartz and enamel floral brooch from the collection of Lee Siegelson, which includes some very rare jewelry and objets, from Art Deco Cartier clocks to mid-century modern cuffs by Art Smith. The dazzling floral brooch in question was created by Suzanne Belperron in 1936 and was featured in Harper’s Bazaar by the legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland.
Wonders of Life Earrings by Wallace Chan
Intricate earrings titled ‘Wonders of Life’, a creation of Chinese jeweler Wallace Chan, evoke the exquisite image of a flower blossoming from a pinecone. The earrings reveal diamond briolette ‘roots’ that lead to a yellow-diamond-encrusted orb nestled inside rock crystal dotted with emeralds. The green bulb of tsavorite garnets set in purple titanium is followed by pink sapphires linking the jeweled stem to a white diamonds blossom. Wallace Chan is famous for his poetic approach to design as well as his unique methods, with several patented ones of working with everything from jade to titanium.
Geometric Marble earrings by Hemmerle
Munich-based Hemmerle’s signature style is stamped all over these marble earrings displayed at TEFAF New York. Minimal and geometric in design, the earrings highlight the natural veining of marble by graphic lines of oxidized silver and white gold. The oxidised metal is a reference to the Berlin iron jewelry Hemmerle created in the 19th century. Hemmerle’s specialty has been his innovative designs since 1893, and the rand’s signature style today is the interesting combination of unusual, everyday materials like pebbles and aluminum alongside the most regal sapphires and spinels.
Burmese Sapphire bracelet from Olivier Reza
This bracelet from Oliver Reza’s collection is 19.5 carats of pure unheated Burmese sapphire cabochons, contrasted with 44.24 carats of emerald-cut diamonds, alternating with smaller rows of brilliant-cut diamonds. The scintillating brilliance is typical of all the objects in the collection of Olivier Reza, who heads the house founded by his father, Alexandre, in postwar Paris. The brand’s Place Vendôme atelier is renowned for crafting pieces that are a captivating mix of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.
Breitling’s Chronoliner Flight Captain’s Watch just got two new brilliant editions: blue and bronze. Plus, the watch gets updated with a broad bezel made of scratch-resistant ceramic in a star-shaped cutout, with matching dials in Blue and Bronze. The timepieces still provide readings in three time zones: the red-tipped hand shows a second zone, while the rotating bezel allows a third zone reading in 24-hour time. Powered by in-house 24 caliber, self-winding automatic movement with a 42 hour power reserve and water resistance down to 330′ (100m) inside 46mm stainless steel cases, the Chronoliner’s finishing touch is the cambered sapphire crystal and solid engraved caseback. The watches feature either a leather strap, a steel or steel mesh bracelet, or rubber done in the mesh motif.
In the world of all that is bizarrely luxurious, perhaps nothing could top this one: the $1000 Intreccatio waste paper basket from Bottega Veneta. Crafted from pure nappa leather, this trash basket comes in the brand’s signature woven style, and apparently has a whole set of objects in the same nappa leather, and with the same weave, to go with it. The collection includes a pen tray, memo pad and pen holder. Well, this one’s for those of you that value even their trash!
The Summit, Montblanc’s very first smartwatch released recently, now gets a gorgeous new face inspired by London’s skyline–and what’s more, the image changes according to real weather updates–presenting London city in all its cloudy, rainy or sunny glory–as the case may be. Interestingly, London was the city where the watch made its global debut, and therefore made the perfect choice for the brand new watch face. However, the world’s most celebrated skylines–Berlin, New York and Milan–will feature on future Summit watches as well. The Montblanc Summit watch is powered by Android Wear 2.0 and runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor. Domed and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal covers an AMOLED display with 400×400 resolution, and the smartwatch is water resistant IP68. Prices for the watch are upwards of $16,000, with buyers getting the option to customise the unit according to their preference.
There’s been so much Star Wars themed super expensive memorabilia up for sale in the past one year, you’d think things couldn’t get any pricier and shinier. But now Swarovski has unveiled the scintillating, crystal-studded Darth Vader figurine that wields a light saber and is priced at $10,250.Only 300 units of the limited edition Vader figure will be created, each studded with 29,000 hand-set crystals and crafted only on demand. The meticulously crafted glittering figure is rich in detail and each one comes encased in a premium blue suitcase, with its very own certificate of authenticity. Each figure takes 120 hours to complete and bears a unique number on its granite base. Now that’s how the Empire strikes back in style.
COGNAC-WORLD | The Grande Champagne vineyard is considered to be one of the highest-quality vineyards of Cognac
The Luxe Cafe: It has been a successful journey so far, what do you love the most about working with the firm?
Baptiste Loiseau: I joined Remy Martin 10 years ago and I took the position as the Cellar Master 3 years ago, It was a question of transition between the previous Cellar Master and myself during seven years to understand the style of the house, how we select the eaux-de-vie, the blending process etc. I was born and brought up in the Cognac region so I decided to go back to my roots to be totally involved in the cognac making for a prestigious house like Remy Martin. What’s important for me is to respect the style, to respect all the people who make the grapes and the wonderful eaux-de-vie. At Remy Martin, we say that we are rooted in exception because we’re dealing with this small part of France where we can make Cognac.
Remy Martin XO is the signature of the Cellar Master who with his expertise blends up to 400 different eaux-de-vie.
What makes Remy Martin XO stand out from the other liquors?
The Cognac Fine Champagne involves the exception of the terroirs i.e. the climate, soil, people who make the Cognac. Remy Martin is the specialist of Fine Champagne and this is what makes our XO so different. When you have the best grapes from the very beginning, you know that at the end with this best potential of ageing, there will be harmony in the final XO.
In a matter of hours, he can determine the quality and aging potential of dozens of brandies based solely on smell.
Being a Cellar Master which brings in a number of daunting responsibilities, what is the biggest challenge you have faced?
The most challenging part for me is to recreate the same blend with the eaux-de-vie which are different every year. When I’m focusing on the final blend of XO, it’s one of the most difficult and challenging part because you have to keep the tradition going with something which has been aged this long.
“To be fair to the decision we make and to be sure about the eaux-de-vie samples, the tasting is done blindly, to ensure impartiality”
What is the process of making Remy Martin XO?
The process is based on tasting, feelings and intuition. Most of the time, it’s hard for me to explain why it’s going the right way. From time to time, the techniques and experiences help me to make the final blend and to take the final decision to make sure that it’s going the right way. Most of the time I have to stay in the Cognac region that’s why it’s rare for me to travel because my main mission is to maintain the style and in order to do so, I have to be where the grapes are grown and be there when the Cognac is being made. It first starts with growing grapes, the harvest takes place in September then we obtain the white wine ready for the dual distillation. The final distillate is then presented to me and a tasting committee to select the finest samples. To be fair to the decision we make and to be sure about the eaux-de-vie samples, the tasting is done blindly, to ensure impartiality. It’s only numbers on the samples and everyday we taste 20-30 samples in a day. After this process, I select all these wonderful concentration of aromas from the chosen eaux-de-vie and put them in oak casks for ageing. For XO, we have to wait atleast 10 years of ageing for the youngest eaux-de-vie. When I’m facing the challenge of making the final blend, I have to go back to the old eaux-de-vie selected by the previous Cellar Masters. Once it’s all ready, it is sent out to the rest of the world to taste and appreciate it.
How do you maintain the strong sense of taste?
I maintain the strong sense of taste by tasting a lot, it’s based on the memory. When you spend a lot of time in the tasting room with the team, sharing impressions, trying to find the right terms to describe the eaux-de-vie, also being curious in wine tasting, you become more and more aware of the diversity and ultimately it becomes the question of memory and keeping one’s brain awake and fresh all the time.
“Cognac is a classic drink and has seen a lot more attraction from the southern part of the country.”
How is the Indian consumer behavior pattern like?
When I am speaking to people worldwide, people are more interested in the making. Along with paying tribute and respecting what has been done by the The Cellar Masters and the winegrowers, it is important to play with the spirit, there are no set rules when it comes to enjoyment. Focusing on the millennials , I’m sure India is the best country to explain to the youth how to play with the spirit in many different ways. With the increased consumption of the product and the rising middle class which has a great sense of luxury, India is gradually becoming a large Cognac drinking market. Cognac is a classic drink and has seen a lot more attraction from the southern part of the country.
When we think about Cognac, the two biggest names to cross our minds are Remy Martin and Hennessy, how would you differentiate between the two?
The big difference is the approach in the origin of grapes. If you go for the Hennessy bottle, it will be a Cognac generic one but if you go with the Remy Martin’s Fine Champagne, one is aware that it has the best potential of ageing that’s why we are focused on VSOP and XO. When you are dealing with Remy Martin, you know you are dealing with the part of the region which is much more concentrated in the aromas. We are old, professional in the Cognac region whereas they are respecting the Cognac category. It is a good product too but I choose Remy Martin because of the link to the terroir, the people is much more intense to deliver the quality we are looking for.
Of all the Remy Martin Products which one would you suggest a Champagne aficionado to try as their first and why?
For me, it has to be something that has been aged a really long time, so it would be XO. When you are a purist and you need to appreciate something with time and enjoy the moment with people, sharing impressions etc, XO would be the best option. XO is the perfect expression of Fine Champagne.
What would be your definition of Remy Martin XO house of style?
In one word, it would be “Harmony”, because it has fruitiness, spiciness, richness, everything inside but nothing which is competing or struggling, it’s all together.
When we’re thinking of Cognac to sip Vs Cognac to mix, what should be one looking for?
It depends on the kind of Cognac you’re appreciating, with the youngest one ofcourse you can play as much as you want. My favorite one would be VSOP with ginger ale and ice, easy to make, fresh, light and best to have fun with people. But if it has to be much more complex then it would be XO which can be best appreciated just with a big ice cube. Cognac remains a symbol of purification, artistry and authenticity.
As a Cellar Master, your job entails maintaining the consistency, how do you plan on doing that?
Being a Cellar Master, one has to be really demanding. From the very beginning one should be sure about respecting the style. I am seen as someone who is very demanding, who wants the best grapes from the best regions, the best wine, the way we make the distillation, very particular about the quality of the wood which is used for the cask making, I want the oaks to be dusted in a specific way to respect the quality of the wood and also to be sure of the quality of the eaux-de-vie. So when we are sure from the very beginning that everything is going the right way, at the end we are really confident about the diversity and harmony in the Cellar House. It will only satisfy me once when the recipe I have yields the same result as the one I did a year before. We are dealing with time but we are not in a hurry.
What is the best way to enjoy Remy Martin XO?
I suggest the best way to enjoy Remy Martin XO would be on the rocks with a big ice cube as an apèritif and neat as a digestif.
