Fancy a Rolls Royce tuxedo? Yes, now you have a one of its kind collaboration between the luxury car maker and Sydney’s made-to-measure menswear brand The Bespoke Corner, for a limited edition tuxedo collection based on the Ghost and Wraith models. This is the first time that Rolls Royce has entered into such a collaborated for the creation of exclusive tuxedos for their customers. The extremely limited edition tuxedos will be made to measure in Tuscany, Italy, and are priced at $3995. The “Starlight Tuxedo” is based on the Starlight headliner on a Rolls-Royce. The car uses a perforated headliner and 1,340 fibre optics to create the starry night effect on the roof, while he tuxedo recreates that effect through the use of a very rare silver lurex material. The “Classic Velvet Plum” tuxedo, on the other hand, draws inspiration from the plum paint of the Ghost, and makes use of an uncommon blend of silk and cotton as its fabric.
Mandarin Oriental, Milan has launched a luxury weekend accommodation package that provides guests with a VIP welcome at fashion retailers and entrance tickets to art exhibitions. In addition to launching the Milan Weekend Escape package, the hotel is collaborating with the Pinacoteca di Brera, the city’s most important public art gallery, to offer guests private tours and viewings of its collection. Guests can enjoy three different kinds of private visits to the Pinacoteca di Brera: Mondays at the Pinacoteca, where up to fifteen guests can gain private access to the museum on Mondays, when it is closed to the public. A donation to the museum is included in the ticket price. Tours with Conservators: Guests can join a private tour of the gallery led by conservators. Visitors will learn about the aesthetic aspects of restoring masterpieces, including Raphael’s The Marriage of the Virgin (Lo Sposalizio della Vergine) and Titian’s Portrait of Count Antonio Porcia (Ritratto del Conte Porcia), and discover which works are currently under restoration. Private Evening Tours & Events: Private group tours in the evenings will be arranged. The elegant interiors make an exceptional setting for hosting events. Milan is a bustling metropolis with a rich cultural legacy, home to historic monuments, famous art galleries and modern museums displaying an array of artistic treasures.
Siddharth Kasliwal, son of the trendsetting Munnu Kasliwal, is the ninth generation co-owner and counted among the 50 most eligible bachelors in the world (Photo Credits: Manpreet)
When it comes to creating fine jewelry, no one can compete with India’s pre-eminent jewelry house, the Gem Palace. Historically Jaipur-based, the Gem Palace has been crafting the most exquisite, stupendously beautiful designs a jeweler could ever make. In fact, this is the place where you can spot some of the finest original pieces dating back to the Mughal Empire still on display, testifying to the timelessness of their work. Some of their few pieces have been featured at the best art institutions in the world like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Kremlin Museum.
This family business dates as far back as nine generations and has been the go-to place for jewelry for connoisseurs in India and across the world.
JEWEL IN THE CROWN | Gem Palace boasts a 200 year old history, with the Kasliwals appointed crown jewelers by the Maharaja of Jaipur (Photo credits: Manpreet)
Siddharth Kasliwal, the ninth genration co-owner of the 200 year-old jewlery business, is the son of the late trendsetting jeweler Munnu Kasliwal. 32-year-old Siddharth, who has been mentioned in international magazines as one of the 50 most eligible bachelors in the world, took over the family business as the Creative head of Munnu the Gem Palace after the death of his father in 2012.
Siddharth elaborates to us the history of Gem Palace, which is rich and varied. “The Kasliwal family came to Jaipur in 1728,” he says. “Much of ancient history of The Gem Palace is lost in the mists of time. In that period the Maharaja of Jaipur was building a modern city that he wanted to turn into a centre of excellence. As well as attracting the country’s intelligentsia, he invited the finest artists and craftsmen from all over India to build his now famous pink city. The Kasliwals were then appointed as the Crown Jewelers. Originally, the family operated within the walls of the City Palace but in 1852, when the Maharaja was expanding the city, the Kasliwals moved to some land outside the palace and established the Gem Palace on the site where it remains to the present day on M.I road.”
From the Crown Jewelers to the Maharaja of Rajasthan, Gem Palace grew in fame and stature, until they could boast of being ‘crown jewelers’ to royalty from all over the world. Their star-studded list of patrons includes names like Princess Diana, Nichole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, members of the Kennedy family, Oprah Winfrey, the Arab sheikhs and of course, Indian royalty.
Masterpieces like this Lotus flower bracelet are crafted using the traditional Indian technique, Kundun, where precious stones are cut paper-thin and inlaid with gold
In an era where nearly everything is mechanized, the masterpieces at Gem Palace are crafted with a certain attention to craft and detail. The Jewelery house is synonymous with big, bold baubles and fine objects that reference India’s rich history. Everything you spot is meticulously hand-made by craftsmen at the workshops who have learnt their expertise from their fathers and grandfathers, maintaining traditions and techniques that date back centuries.
To hold a Gem Palace creation is to unfold an entire universe within the palm of your hand. Each turn reveals a new dimension — belts transform into brooches, rings open to unveil loose gems, necklaces flip to display backings as intricate as their facades. Rubies and emeralds nestle into pure gold settings, inlaid with such precision that, on first glance, one assumes they were painted.
The Taj Mahal Necklace in all its gloryThe Taj Mahal Necklace, flipped over, displays backings as intricate as the facade
Recently, Siddharth Kasliwal also payed homage to his father’s legacy and the brand by unveiling a Sindoor Collection – inspired by a traditional Mughal style Sindoor box made of rubies, designed by his father. A five-piece jewelry, this labor-intensive collection consists of a necklace, ring, earrings, bracelet and a perfume bottle and has been made using the traditional Indian technique, Kundun, where the rubies are cut paper-thin and then inlaid with gold. The method of making the jewelry is labor intensive and the process very expensive, marking out its exclusivity.
So which among these are their signature pieces? “Our signature pieces are the bird earrings, diamond kundan enamel choker and Ruby cuff, all of which have been exhibited at various museums around the world,” informs Siddharth. What about his personal favorites, which ones according to him are the most stunning? “It is difficult to say as we try to make all our pieces beautiful in their own manner!” he exclaims, and one look inside the Gem Palace would surely make you understand how hard it is to choose a favorite. But then he adds, “To point out a few, the ruby sindoor box, poison ring, Ruby cuffs and a multicolour tourmaline cuff made by my father would be the best ones.”
The fascinating Poison Ring is among the most stunning pieces at Gem Palace
Some of the jeweled baubles present at Gem Palace even date all the way back to the Maharajas’ time. “We have a good chess set, a parakeet drinking flask and few turban pins,” points out Siddharth when you question him about pieces crafted for royalty in the earlier days of Gem Palace’s existence.
Siddharth was 21 when he joined the family business, but he was introduced to the world of jewels at a pretty early age by his father. “I grew up seeing the egg-sized stones, the beautiful uncut Colombian emeralds and rubies from Mozambique. During my summer vacations, he would take me to Brazil to visit mines,” he recounts. “At the age of 20, I accompanied him to New York, where he was creating a special line of jewels for a high-end exhibition at Metropolitan Museum of Art. During that period, I got a chance to visit a lot of galleries and meet a lot of people for business. All that gave me a lot of exposure to the world of jewels.”
The Peacock ear rings are among their signature pieces, exhibited in museums across the world
Despite that, it was a challenge for him to carry forth his father’s legacy. “After my father’s demise, I went through all sorts of emotions. It was a challenging time for me. There was a struggle in business to take decisions and to take responsibility of the business. Stepping into my father’s shoes meant dealing with people who had looked up to my father. But one beautiful thing that happened to me was that I was introduced to the business by my father at a very young age and everyone who dealt with him accepted me in no time.”
But his learning curve has been steep and the work quite demanding. “Handling the business has not been easy because you deal with clients who require customized work,” he explains. “You need to give a personalized touch when it comes to dealing with them. Also, being an elder son, you have to shoulder many responsibilities and are expected to do a lot of things. This could also be showing up for all the events in my craftsmen’s lives, whether it is a child’s naming ceremony or a wedding, it is important to attend all. Their families have served us for generations and they are a very important part of our company.”
People come to Gem Palace looking for timeless designs, traditional but contemporary like this amethyst necklace
Handling all the challenges, Siddharth has done a pretty good job of carrying the legacy forward, meticulously focusing on his clients’ requirements. “When people are traveling to India they come from all places,” he explains. “With our jewelry they are particularly looking for designs that are traditional but contemporary. Designs that are timeless and ageless, like our Mughal contemporary collection.”
But he also observes a shift in tastes from opulence to minimalism. “People have started moving to art deco, minimalist designs like a simple long chain. While 5 years ago people used to go for heavy stuff from big kundans to big stones. At Gem Palace, we now see people moving to modern stylish designs but they still prefer quality over quantity. In fact, a lot of Americans go for lighter, modern designs and are not so much concerned about matching jewelery with the outfit. They are rather concerned about the value of the jewelry.” That is why, he says, what they are doing now is to “modernize Indian jewelry”, create pieces that you can wear every day and everywhere, and they always look stunning. Stone beads, he says, have grown rapidly in popularity, while “modern and vibrant multi colored stuff is back in fashion.”
Faceted spinel and carved tourmaline ring
The designing of all these modern day creations is a joint effort, according to Siddharth. Designing is done by all and everybody puts things together, he says. “Earlier my father Late Munnu Kasliwal used to be the chief designer for the company and after him I have stepped into the position.”
As for the future, he has major expansion plans for the brand, with his vision set clearly on the summit. “We launched stores in Mumbai and Raas Haveli in Jodhpur after my father’s demise. We also have various exhibitions planned in many national museums in the years to come, can’t name it yet. Hopefully, we are looking to expand in cities like Calcutta, Chennai and also open stores in Japan and Hong Kong in the next 3 years.”
Old mine-cut emerald 7.69 karats set in platinum with hanging diamond beads, 5.48 karats
And that should pretty much quell our curiosity about all things Gem Palace, but we still need to ask him our signature question. So what does luxury mean to the Kasliwals?
“Luxury means happiness. Ability to do things that you love and love what you do. That’s the biggest luxury and we all are creating the pieces and continuing the craftsmanship that was done centuries ago.” And so while they’re creating luxury for others to savour, to the Kasliwals, the creation of these masterpieces is luxury itself. That’s what we call a labour of love.
Germany is now home to a museum opened by Japanese car manufacturer Mazda, and it’s the very first Mazda Museum to open outside the home country. The museum is called Mazda Classic – Automobil Museum Frey, and is the outcome of the collaboration between Mazda Germany and the Frey family, owners of a German Mazda dealership, Auto Frey. The museum displays vintage Mazdas all which come from the Frey’s personal collection, and is housed in a refurbished, converted train depot dating from 1897 in Angsburg, Bavaria.
Gitanjali Gems, Titan and PC Jeweller are three Indian brands that have made it to the list of the world’s top 50 luxury goods companies. The list is part of the fourth annual Global Powers of Luxury Goods report, titled ‘The new luxury consumer’, which examines and lists the 100 largest luxury goods companies globally. Louis Vuitton emerged as the top name in the list of 50. As for the Indians, Gitanjali Gems ranked 30th, followed by Titan on 31st spot and PC Jeweller on 44th.
Christie’s just auctioned off the world’s largest heart shaped diamond for $14.9 million at its Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale. The impressive 92-carat diamond is named “La Legende” and was designed by Boehmer et Bassenge, a Paris-based high jewelry house launched a year ago. The heart shaped rock forms the centrepiece of a necklace of cultured pearls sold in Geneva. La Legende’s selling price has created a new world record in the category of heart shaped diamonds, breaking the previous record of $10.9 million that was set in 2011 by a 56.15-carat rock. Among the other highlights of the Magnificent Jewels sale was a 15.03-carat unheated Burmese ruby mounted on a diamond ring that fetched $12.9 million.
Indians can now lay their hands on the Diesel version of the Jaguar XE, for it’s been launched in India at Rs 38.25 lakhs. Powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged oil burner, the 2017 XE gets 177bhp of power at its command, with 4,000rpm and 430Nm of max torque. The sedan sprints from 0-100kmph in 7.8 seconds and boasts top speeds of 228kmph. The interiors feature upholstery in Taurus leather and an eight-inch touch screen with smartphone connectivity, navigation, Bluetooth, USB, AUX and a 380W Meridian sound system. Additionally, the features include driver seat memory, 10-way electric front seats, four-way lumbar support and light oyster headlining. Plus, it comes with a glorious sliding sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, mist sensing, auto-dimming rear view mirror, steering mounted controls, and 12v power sockets. Now that’s what we call fully loaded!
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has put on display an exhibit of Phulkari work from Punjab. Titled ‘Phulkari: The Embroidered Textiles of Punjab’, the exhibit presents phulkaris from the collection of Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz alongside the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s permanent collection, focusing mostly on embroideries from a pre-partitioned Punjab. The Museum has also showcased two gowns made especially for the exhibition by Indian designer Manish Malhotra, in an effort to highlight the couture culture and the new stories developing around phulkari.
Häagen-Dazs is hosting a pop-up exhibit titled “My Extraordinary Life Pop-up” for Instagram in London. The ice-cream brand has partnered with culinary architects Bompas & Parr to create mind-blowing, multi-sensory ice cream experiences. The pop-up features unique themes such as the ‘infra-red ice-cream zone’ and an ‘ice-capade’ station. And the brand also intends to crown the greatest ice-cream photographer of the evening with a 3D scan of their face made into an ice-cream lolly! What’s more, you’ll be treated to an exhibit of decadent dinner tables with edible center-pieces and a toppings station called the ‘sprinkle mountain’, where you can use all your creativity and go wild with the sprinkles–garnish an ‘ice-cream canvas’, creating personalised ice-creams. Did we hear you scream in delight?
And now, there’s a special Bentayga designed exclusively for falconry lovers. Built by Bentley’s custom car division Mulliner, the Bentayga is designed to house “all the equipment required for an enjoyable falconry expedition.” The trunk of the Bentayga Falconry houses a ‘Refreshment Case’ and a ‘Master Flight station’, both trimmed in luxurious natural cork fabric, ostensibly crafted from thin sheets of sustainably harvested cork. Inside the master flight station is a stowage tray with individual compartments for holding a GPS bird tracking unit, binoculars and hand-crafted leather bird hoods and gauntlets. And then there’s the Piano Black veneered drawer featuring a striking Saker falcon crest, that stores GPS tracking antennas, along with various tools and tethers for the birds. The refreshment case contains three metal flasks for holding the beverage of your choice. And for transporting the falcon in your car, there is a removable perch and tether that fits on the central armrest. The black and red cabin is trimmed with exquisite Hotspur hide, and features a sweeping desert scene with a glorious “revered” Saker falcon, created from handpicked special pieces of veneer. The creation of this took nine days from 430 individual pieces of wood sourced from around the world. Whew! Knowing all this, of course, you’d want to know how much this Falconry special edition costs. So here’s the price tag: $230,000. Not a bad deal for the indulgence of your falconry fetish!
