Alila Jabal Akhdar in Oman, at 2,000 meters above sea level overlooking the dramatic gorge and spectacular Al Hajar mountain range, has just introduced a new alfresco Spa Arbour, perched on the edge of the canyon, for some fabulously gravity defying Spa Alila indulgence. Staying true to the Alila philosophy of creating bespoke and surprisingly different wellness experiences, the Spa Arbour blends dramatic Omani vistas with Spa Alila treatments, inspired by the local traditions and delivered from the heart. Spa Arbour will offer a number of special, unique treatments with names reflecting its unique location: On The Edge, Heart of The Mountain, Reach Your Peak. Guests can also combine Spa Alila indulgence with adrenaline-pumping hikes especially the Via Ferrata, a brand new protected climbing route. The Via Ferrata Cave Affair Experience involves walking over a cave mouth, traversing along the side of the canyon and ascending into a steep gully. Those looking for a gentler trail can enjoy the 90-minute Adventure Trek experience. Rates at Alila Jabal Akhdar start from US$ 428 for a Mountain View Suite on a half board basis excluding tax.
From hard to achieve colours to the coveted horseshoe stamp and rare custom embroidered versions like this Tulip covered collector’s pride, Hermes bags are a treasure in their own right
Here’s a detailed guide from Christie’s on collecting the most covetable bags ever:
See quality as an investment
‘Working from its Paris ateliers, Hermès has crafted leather goods by hand since 1837, utilising the durable, double-needle saddle-stitch,’ explains Caitlin Donovan, specialist in Handbags and Accessories at Christie’s. It takes between 30 and 40 hours to produce one of the most cherished Hermès models — the ‘Birkin’. This unwavering dedication to craftsmanship is evident in every object the house produces and helps to drive the ever increasing values of the rarest examples.
A shiny black nilo crocodile Birkin 30 bag. Hermès, 2006. $53,500.
Accessorise like a legend
Every Hermès model is a legend. Created in 1935, the ‘Kelly’ bag has become part of the brand’s genetic code, having shot to fame when it was carried by Grace Kelly in 1956 — the celebrated actress using the bag to subtly hide a stomach rounded by pregnancy. From that point on, the Hermès ‘Sac à dépêches’ was rechristened the ‘Kelly’ in honour of the Monaco princess.
A violine ostrich retourne Kelly 35 bag. Hermès, 2011. $34,000. This lot is offered in Christie’s Handbag Shop
An Hermès bag can be a work of art in its own right
While Hermès remains faithful to its roots, it’s also a brand that innovates constantly and is celebrated for its whimsical sense of humour. Hermès designers derive their inspiration from a wide variety of sources, with the highly sought-after ‘Shearling Kelly’ — sometimes referred to as the ‘Teddy Kelly’ — being a perfect example. A unique play on a classic design using unconventional materials, it is iconically Hermès.
A brand aware of its roots
Hermès was established in 1837 as a harness workshop, and expanded into saddlery towards the end of the 19th century. The company has been synonymous with fine equestrian goods for almost 200 years, and this heritage is reflected in the construction and aesthetic of all the pieces created by this storied leather house, including handbags. The famed ‘Birkin’ bag, for example, was heavily influenced by the ‘Haut à Courroies’ bag, originally crafted to hold a saddle, and still produced by Hermès today. The first leather ever used by the brand was Barénia, which is now highly collectible in handbag form.
Why collectors covet the horseshoe stamp
For collectors who appreciate rarity, nothing has more allure than a one-of-a-kind creation. Only available to VIP clients, these special pieces are denoted by a horseshoe stamp and represent the pinnacle of any collection. The magic of owning a piece that no one else has can drive values sky-high, as they rarely appear on the market.
A rare, custom tulip veau doblis, embroidery & matte poussière porosus crocodile Birkin 35 with palladium hardware. Hermès, 2013. Sold for: HK$750,000 on 2 December 2015
Colour is everything
Hermès is known for its mastery of shades, with more than 100 to choose from. The colours are deep and rich, often presenting slightly differently on different materials. Reds — whether fiery, bright or deep-blood tones — have become legendary; blues are available as rich turquoise, deep-blue marines, or soft sky. While pinks range from shocking to the shade of a light lipstick, collectors can find that greens come in tones of olive or rich chlorophyll, such as ‘vert céladon’. From year to year different colours top the collector list, but it would be difficult to argue that the jewel-tone ‘vert emeraude’ does not hold the top spot.
A Shiny Vert Eméraude Niloticus Crocodile Sellier Kelly 28 with Palladium Hardware. Hermès, 2015. Estimate: £20,000-£30,000
Vintage & Discontinued
The hunt to find a discontinued, vintage piece can be challenging. If the item is no longer in production, a collector can spend a lifetime seeking the vintage piece of their dreams. As in many collecting categories, condition is everything and handbags are no different. Fortunately, finding that perfect bag in pristine condition is a hunt that collectors find worthwhile and rewarding.
A rare black calf box leather mini Kelly 20 with gold hardware & studs. Hermès, 1994. Sold for: €14,375 on 9 November 2016
The market has become increasingly co-ed
Interesting items from the men’s collections are increasing in value — larger size handbags, travel pieces, briefcases and backpacks, in particular. As the market for women’s handbags trends towards smaller pieces, savvy male collectors have started collecting ‘Birkin 40’s, while female collectors look towards the men’s section for travel items.
A limited edition bleu nuit togo leather shark Bolide 45 with palladium hardware. Hermès, 2016. Sold for: HK$200,000 on 30 November 2016
Why rarity makes Hermès so collectible
Most people know about the limited production levels which can make it difficult to find a ‘Birkin’, but few realise that nearly every model is held at a very low level of production. The materials and quality intrinsic to their creation contribute to the rarity of all Hermès leather goods. Handbag collectors can spend years searching for seemingly readily available models in atypical colours (specifically shades that are lighter and are therefore more difficult to achieve) and materials.
The Mercedes Maybach Vision 6 Cabriolet Concept, an all-electric spectacular two seater convertible, was revealed at Pebble Beach this year
The Mercedes Maybach Vision 6 Cabriolet Concept, an all-electric gorgeous two seater drop top, has been revealed at Pebble Beach this year.
The Cabriolet Concept keeps all the stately lines of the previous concept but is covered in Nautical Blue Metallic body paint. Stretching a full 20 feet from its ‘boat tail’ format with narrow tail lights and vertical grillwork inspired by the classic pinstripe suit, the Vision 6 Cabriolet design is a nod to a luxury yacht. The traditional motif of the two-seater cabriolet reminds one of the stretched proportions and design principles of the luxury cars of 1940-50s.
The chrome-laden grille is made of vertical louvres and is flanked by a slender set of LED headlights. The coach line ends right at the boot lid, where a strip of the LED tail lights runs all across the tip of the tail. The chrome strip at the bottom of the bumper accentuates the luxury feel. The Vision 6 Cabriolet rides on massive 24-inch multi-spoke, centre-locking wheels, finished in a ‘rose gold’ colour. The custom made retractable top includes rose gold threads too, interwoven to compliment the dark finish.
Crsystal white high-quality Nappa leather fills the interior. The wooden floor with aluminium inlays and minimalistic cock-pit with blue surround—all constitute the Mercedes ‘360degree lounge’. One of the highlights of the cabin is a floating, transparent centre tunnel which visualises the drive system’s electrical energy flow by the means of blue fibre optics.
Similar to the hardtop counterpart, the Vision 6 Cabriolet is powered by electric motors. Four motors, each driving a wheel, belt out a whopping 750 hp, accelerating the car to a 100kmph in under four seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 250kmph.
Vacheron Constantin’s latest Patrimony Collection Excellence Platine is the quintessential all-platinum, three-hand dress watch collection, but with a fresh new take and contemporary proportions. The Collection Excellence Platine is a phrase Vacheron uses for limited edition watches they release with cases and dials made from 950 platinum. The Patrimony collection’s most significant feature is in fact this 44 mm case of 950 platinum with a thin, polished bezel and simple curved lugs. It is also a slim watch at 7.65mm. The baton hour markers and primary hands are polished 18ct white gold with a hint of colour present in the form of heat-blued steel seconds hands The most significant thing about the watch is the movement—the caliber 4400 AS—a manually wound, time-only movement that provides 65 hours of power reserve and beats at 28,800bph. It is also stamped with the Geneva Seal as many other Vacheron Constantin watches are. The movement is on display through a sapphire crystal case back, and the watch is rated at 30m of water resistance.
German company ThyssenKrupp has created a revolutionary new design for the way elevators move — horizontally instead of vertically. These new designs for an elevator called Multi depict a ropeless system which will get a test run within an 807-foot-high test tower in Rottweil, Germany. Instead of separate shafts for multiple elevators, Multi will have several elevators running in a loop—quite the multiple trains operating on the same metro loop. The new Multi elevator is expected to reduce waiting times for passengers and also =significantly reduce the amount of space required by the elevator inside the building. European Real Estate business OVG Real Estate has already become the first customer for the new Multi system.
The Gunther Werks 400R which made its debut at the 2017 Quail is the latest example of a tuning company applying modern automotive engineering and components to classic air-cooled Porsche 911 models. This model is a remake of the classic Porsche 993, the last of its air-cooled kind and the car many consider the last real Porsche. Priced at about $600,000 which includes the donor 993 and the customisation by Gunther Werks, this model is a super limited edition of which only 25 units will be made. The 400R Porsche 993 features various upgrades such as the naturally aspirated 4.0 liter flat-six engine, made for them by Rothsport Racing of Oregon, belting out 400 bhp kick at 7,800 rpm and 330 ft-lb. of torque. The transmission is updated from shift linkage to a single mass mid-weight flywheel and single-plate carbon clutch. The body features a special bespoke wing and carbon fiber bodywork on the roof, bumpers, and fenders widened to accommodate larger tires. Interior upgrades include special Gunther Werks carbon fiber seats and a carbon fiber parcel shelf in place of the rear seats. The whole cabin is also highly customizable in terms of colors and materials, and there are 18 exterior paint options available, or you can opt for custom work.
The Icon Duesey Watch is a watch designed not by the brand’s professionals but by a collector himself. Created by Jonathan Ward of Los Angeles-based ICON4x4, who restores vintage vehicles and that’s why the watch is also base on a vintage vehicle: the Duesenberg. Stylish and minimalist, the watch comes in a 42mm case made from a combination of Grade 2 & Grade 5 titanium with a polished onyx stone face that houses two brass rimmed windows rather than traditional hands. The top window features the hour on a jump movement and the lower window scrolls the minutes under a domed sapphire crystal. The futuristically attractive, limited edition watch comes with an Italian made “rolled edge” matte alligator strap, and it’s powered by a Dubois-Depraz automatic 14400 module with an ETA 2892-A2 top base featuring a customized tungsten oscillating weight with a 2-day power reserve. Only 50 pieces of the watch will be created, priced at $11,500 each and numbered on the case back where another crystal shows the movement underneath the ICON lizard logo.
Maserati has unveiled the new Ghibli GranLusso, which will make its official debut at the ongoing Chengdu Motor Show in China. The new Ghibli feature subtle design and styling changes, such as revised bumper with chrome inserts, tweaked headlights, adaptive LED units and a grille embellished with chrome. GranLusso badges feature prominently at the bases of the front fenders and body colour side skirts. The rear bumper gets a sharper look too. Maserati claims the design modifications all contribute to a substantial improvement of the aerodynamic efficiency in the new Ghibli. As for the engine, there’s a 3.0-litre V6 diesel belting out 276bhp while the 3-litre V6 petrol engine produces either 345bhp or 404bhp. But what’s more significant here is that the Ghibli GranLusso comes equipped with semi-autonomous driving features too. Stay tuned for more.
After having shelved its plans for building a self-driving car, Apple is now working on an autonomous shuttle service. Under the project named PAIL, (Palo Alto to Infinite Loop) this shuttle will transport employees from one Apple building to another, and is likely to be a commercial vehicle manufactured by an automaker. Apple will use the shuttle vehicle to test its autonomous driving technology and it is expected to be a crucial testing ground for Apple in real-world conditions.
French brand Diptyque has now created Un Air De Diptyque, the first luxury diffuser for cars, and it’s available in six signature scents: ambre, baies, figuier, roses, fleur, d’oranger, gingembre, and 34. Un Air De Diptyque diffuser can be fixed to a car’s air vent, and the fragrance is released through perfume-concentrated beads using uses a cold diffusion system. Priced at $60 for each scent, the luxuy diffuser is avaialable online.
