Eco-Luxe on the Seas: Hybrid superyachts employ both electric motors and traditional diesel engines for propulsion
Eco-Luxe on the Seas: Hybrid superyachts employ both electric motors and traditional diesel engines for propulsion

After supercars that pack in a punch and remain planet-friendly, we now have superyachts following in the footsteps. Hybrid superyachts employ both electric motors and traditional diesel engines for propulsion, thereby helping to reduce harmful carbon emissions and promise eco-friendly luxe. So now you can indulge without guilt.

Columbus 40S Sport Hybrid

Priced at $16 million, the Columbus 40S Sport Hybrid was launched by Italy’s Columbus Yachts in 2013 and features a hybrid propulsion system equipped with two diesel engines and two electric motors. The aluminum-hulled yacht moves smoothly with vastly reduced noise and vibrations when moving only on the electric motors, and accommodates up to 10 guests in five spacious suites.

Columbus 40S Sport Hybrid features a hybrid propulsion system equipped with two diesel engines and two electric motors
Columbus 40S Sport Hybrid features a hybrid propulsion system equipped with two diesel engines and two electric motors

Wider 150

This is Wider Yachts’ first hybrid superyacht launched in October 2015 and is priced at $29 million. The aluminum ship features a diesel-battery hybrid system that runs on either lithium polymer batteries paired with a power management system (specifically designed by Wider) or with four inline, variable-speed diesel generators. Outside, wing-like structures unfold from the boat’s hull to function as decks, swimming platforms, and lounging stations. The yacht comes equipped with myriad luxury add-ons such as a helipad, a hidden one-car garage, and even a saltwater swimming pool that converts into a tender garage!

Priced at $29 million, the Wider 150 comes equipped with a helipad, a hidden one-car garage, and even a saltwater swimming pool
Priced at $29 million, the Wider 150 comes equipped with a helipad, a hidden one-car garage, and even a saltwater swimming pool

Admiral E Motion 55 Quinta Essentia

The 180-foot Admiral E Motion 55 was conceived in 2013 by Sergei Dobroserdov of Monaco’s Dobroserdov Design who envisioned a cutting-edge yacht with superior hybrid capabilities and a clean, modern exterior. Built by Admiral Yachts and launched in May 2016 as Quinta Essentia, this full displacement yacht can reach a top speed of 17 knots when using both diesel and electric power and 9 knots when running on electric alone. The sleek maroon-and-silver yacht features two master cabins, four guest cabins, and a full-beam spa area complete with a sauna, a hammam, and a massage room.  Quinta Essentia is available for charter, so there’s your chance to savour some eco-friendly luxe.

The 180-foot Quinta Essentia can reach a top speed of 17 knots when using both diesel and electric power and 9 knots when running on electric alone
The 180-foot Quinta Essentia can reach a top speed of 17 knots when using both diesel and electric power and 9 knots when running on electric alone

Feadship Savannah

This one is a 273 foot imposing creature of the seas, built by Netherlands–based Feadship Yachts and launched in spring 2015 and is available for charter this season. The Feadship Savannah runs on a single diesel engine (compared to the two found on traditional yachts) which is paired with three electric generators and high-power, lithium-ion batteries. An azimuth thruster at the bow grants the ship extra maneuverability in port. One of the ship’s standout features is an underwater lounge inside the hull, which features a thick glass wall that allows guests to gaze into the ocean. Now that’s our favourite part yet!

A 273-foot imposing creature of the seas, Feadship Savannah boasts an underwater lounge inside the hull
A 273-foot imposing creature of the seas, Feadship Savannah boasts an underwater lounge inside the hull

Silver Wind

The ISA Yachts Silver Wind is the world’s first yacht to use water-jet propulsion coupled with a hybrid diesel-electric system. This 141 foot cruiser yacht can reach a top speed of 32 knots when powered by its two diesel engines, or 8 knots when powered by only its water jets. Move inside and you’ll find onyx, marble, and Armani Casa and Hermès upholstery in the main saloon, while a custom-made circular dining table provides plenty of space for guests. The yacht accommodates up to 10 guests.

The 141 foot Silver Wind is the world’s first yacht to use water-jet propulsion coupled with a hybrid diesel-electric system
The 141 foot Silver Wind is the world’s first yacht to use water-jet propulsion coupled with a hybrid diesel-electric system
luxury silverware

Fancy a set of sterling silver chopsticks to savour your Chinese food with? When the world of luxe has all kinds of extravagant, bizarre indulgences, why not this one too? These chopsticks by Rick Owen are made of sterling silver and packaged in fraxinus wood box with a camel skin case and priced at $1460. So now you can have a set of silver chopsticks to match the luxury silverware on your table.

eurocraft

The new 151-foot Eurocraft explorer yacht is a ‘crossover’ design, boasting the qualities of both typical superyachts and hardy ocean explorers. With an exterior designed by Federico Fiorentino, the vessel boasts high, protective bulwarks and a vertical bow with a large rub-rail around the front that resembles the bow of a tugboat. While the hull is gray-blue with black and chrome accents, the interiors are bright and opulent, with five staterooms for 10 guests (including a master suite on the main deck and VIP on the deck below), a bright, open saloon, and a formal dining area. There are also quarters for nine crew. The aft deck features a helipad while the sundeck has a bar, spa pool, and shaded seating areas. The Eurocraft’s full-displacement hull has a transoceanic range. The optional Ice Class compliance will let the yacht venture into remote areas like the Antarctic or even the Arctic. What’s more, it can also adapt the propulsion to a hybrid battery/electric system that will cut running costs and emissions. This explorer superyacht comes at a price of a cool $25.4 million, with an anticipated build time between 24 and 30 months.

everose rolesor

The latest Rolex Oyster Perpetual model is the Yacht Master in 40 mm, specifically desgined for sailors. This Rolex Osyter Perpetual Yacht-Master has previously been offered in two different sizes. This third rendition, however, marks several departures for Rolex. The first of these is the use of the Everose Rolesor, which is a combination of 904L steel and Everose gold, developed and manufactured by Rolex, for the case and bracelet. This is accompanied by a chocolate dial and a bezel in Everose gold. Previously, the Yacht-Master had been distinguished by the use of platinum for the bi-directional rotating bezel, with steel for the rest of the case. The steel and platinum standard for this model remains in the collection, too. The watch has a 48-hour power reserve, and is powered by a  self-winding Rolex Calibre 3135 movement. The model retains the Rolex Superlative Chronometer status, the solid-link Oyster bracelet, the Cyclops lens and the large hour markers.

made to measure

This summer, Prada has revealed a refreshed version of its Made-to-Measure program. More than 50 of the brand’s boutiques worldwide offer the Made-to-Measure service, each outfitted with a luxuriously appointed VIP room where clients are taken through each step of the process in a private, intimate setting. The clients get their measurements taken by a specially trained member of Prada’s staff, who then assists them in choosing the perfect fit, fabric, and finishing details to create a custom shirt, with prices starting at $640, or suit or coat beginning at $3,500. Standout options include coats made of stunningly soft vicuña; shirts available in new, spring-ready prints as well as classic designs from Prada’s archive. Shirts can be further personalized with monograms in four different colors and added chest pockets. Completed bespoke shirts are delivered in four weeks, and suits and coats are delivered in five. So go ahead and play the designer with Prada.

WEDDING WISHES | Palace hotels serve as the perfect royal retreats for destination weddings, but you might want to explore and choose something completely different too
WEDDING WISHES | Palace hotels serve as the perfect royal retreats for destination weddings, but you might want to explore and choose something completely different too

Planning a wedding and looking for the perfect destination? Whether you’re the opulence loving old-world royalty types, or the seaside fairytale seeker, or simply looking for a hidden gem where you take your vows in pristine, secret, detached-from-the-world style—we have you covered. Take your pick from these five hotels offering a variety of indulgences to choose from.

Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad, Telangana

The world’s longest dining table for a sit down dinner
The world’s longest dining table for a sit down dinner

What could possibly be more regal than the former residence of the Nizam of Hyderabad himself? The 60 restored rooms evoke old world splendour, while the six venues are of varying sizes; the sprawling lawn has a capacity for 1,500 people. A sit-down dinner at the 101 Dining Hall housing the world’s longest dining table—at 110ft—is an absolute must-do. And the Nizam’s very own spectacular suite, shaped like a scorpion, is all yours for the taking.

Suryagarh, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

A sundowner at the Lakhmana dunes and the halwai breakfast are highlights of a wedding here
A sundowner at the Lakhmana dunes and the halwai breakfast are highlights of a wedding here

Royalty abounds in India, and Rajasthan is the ultimate destination to experience it. Suryagarh is a fortified royal retreat that pampers you in every way imaginable. The ample venue choices—a smorgasbord of courtyards, patios and lakeside venues—provide a fresh backdrop for every function. A sundowner at the Lakhmana dunes and the halwai breakfast are highlights of a wedding here.

The Leela Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

A beach ceremony, and maybe a cliff top reception at India’s only cliff-top luxe resort
A beach ceremony, and maybe a cliff top reception at India’s only cliff-top luxe resort

If royalty isn’t your preferred style but the pristine seaside for a fairytale wedding, then The Leela Kovalam is perfect for you. As India’s only cliff-top luxury beach resort, it guarantees a jaw-droppingly gorgeous backdrop. This place offers you a beach ceremony, and maybe a reception at the cliff top. Apart from the 183 rooms and suites, the hotel packs in 15,860sqft of banquet venues. Pandal, the rustic Kerala hall, oozes charm and is only five minutes from the beach—tailor made for the Mandap. For a more traditional wedding, their convention centre, the largest in Kerala, can accommodate up to 900 guests.

The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa, New Chandigarh, Punjab

A wedding venue surrounded by 8,000 acres of protected natural forest
A wedding venue surrounded by 8,000 acres of protected natural forest

Fancy a city wedding but in an island of calm? The Oberoi Sukhvilas is a brand new property that’s 45-minutes away from Chandigarh airport yet surrounded by 8,000 acres of protected natural forest, and is largely unexplored as a wedding destination, so you would have that added edge. An added appeal is their 12,000sqft spa, adjacent to the forest and perfect for post-wedding relaxation.

The Barefoot at Havelock, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Natural thatched tents, cottages, and villas for guests at the offbeat destination wedding
Natural thatched tents, cottages, and villas for guests at the offbeat destination wedding

So you want something completely offbeat to seal your vows of love? Would you like to skip the fanfare and claim each other on a paradise far removed from the crowds? The Barefoot resort is a tropical paradise waiting for you on the world famous Beach No 7 at Havelock. The 25 elegantly designed thatched tents, cottages, and villas can hold your inner circle as you celebrate this most precious moment of your life.

lotus exige cup

After the Lotus Elise Sprint that was unveiled last month comes the even faster Lotus Exige Cup 380. Equipped with a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine that belts out 375hp and 410Nm of torque, the car can sprint from 0-100 in all of 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 280 km/h. Additional weight saving components make the Cup 380 extremely light, increasing the total aerodynamic downforce on this car to 200kg. The Cup 380 weighs a feather-light 117 pounds, compared to the 2,477-pound Exige Sport 380. This is thanks to the obsessive attention to wind tunnel detailing, meaning that the car could potentially take a bend at 175mph and not lose traction! The limited edition sports car — of which only 60 are up for grabs — is road legal, unlike its counterparts—f it for both the track and the streets. Because it is a genuine track car as well as a road car, it comes with adjustable damping and cup tires as standard. Driver friendly, it is equipped with two-way adjustable shocks and anti-roll bars that can be adjusted to its driver’s needs. Rounding it up is a T45 steel roll-over bar and towing hooks, meaning it can be legally entered into a race. The interior sees handmade visible weave sections, including detailed carbon race seats and door sills as standard. The Exige Cup 380 offers a choice of five finishes: Essex Blue, Metallic White, Metallic Silver, Metallic Grey and Metallic Black. For an extra touch, its front panel comes with two unique bold red highlights to define its shape.

most satisfying sleep

Here is the world’s most expensive pillow that costs $57,535. Neck specialist Thijs van der Hilst crafted this pillow using 3D scanning technology to determine the precise shape required and moulded it out of non-toxic Dutch memory foam. Each pillow is covered in hand-stitched Mulberry silk, Egyptian cotton, and—wait for it— 24-carat gold. But that’s not all. There’s more to justify the price tag. The zipper comes studded with four diamonds and a huge 22.5-carat sapphire.  Now is that isn’t a pillow fit for royalty, we don’t know what is. Feast your eyes on the pillow at the INDEX Design Series, Dubai World Trade Centre between Monday 22 and Thursday 25 May.

alila fort bishangarh

The newest entrant on India’s luxury hospitality scene is set to open in summer this year.  The first internationally managed property in the Aravalli mountain range, the Alila Fort Bishangarh is about an hour’s drive southwest of Jaipur, in northern India. Built inside the 230-year-old Fort Bishangarh, this heritage address took nearly a decade to complete. It’s the kind of place where you expect to find a hidden trapdoor or a spiral staircase leading to a secret lair— a mix of raw history and mystery. Jaipur-based firm STHAPATYA Architects who worked upon the fort made sure to keep the entirety of the original structure intact, claiming not to make a ‘palace’ but keep the sanctity of the original structure. The Alila Fort Bishangarh is due to open in July 2017.

rare pocket watch

Patek Philippe’s rare creation from the 1980’s, the Calibre 89, is all set to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s Geneva auction on May 14. Complete with 1,728 components in all, the Calibre 89 is the most complicated Patek Philippe ever seen. It boasts of 33 Complications and is 9cm in diameter, with a thickness and weight of 4cm and 1.1kg respectively. The watch was originally produced in four colors – yellow, white, rose gold and platinum. The current yellow gold version fetched 11 million at Christie’s last year and is estimated at a whopping £6 – 8m this time.