Simply Abu Dhabi

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w w w. s i m p l y a b u d h a b i . c o m £100 UK $100 USA €100 Europe

ABU DHABI, IT’S GOOD FOR THE SOUL

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CALIBER RM 037

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NEW ENGLAND COLLECTION

Experience the world’s finest handmade furniture.

Kitchens, dressing rooms, libraries and wine rooms. www.mwf.com or +44 (0)1380 850 007

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FURNITURE ALCHEMY

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THE MOST COVETED ADDRESS IN GOLF —

With an unparalleled location by the 18th green and fairway of the Old Course, the newly restored Hamilton Grand offers unsurpassed style and sophistication in the heart of St Andrews, Scotland.

In a town steeped in history and tradition, and with panoramic views out over the Old Course, the town and West Sands Beach, this is a unique ownership opportunity for those who want a home in the birthplace of golf.

For your chance to play a part in this magnificent story and turn a piece of history into “home,” contact the Hamilton Grand representatives.

I NTERNATIONAL I NQUIRIES +44 (0) 1334 474371 K INGDOM

OF

F IFE , S COTLAND KY16 9SP

HAMILTON G RANDS ALES@ KOHLER. COM

Refer to HamiltonGrand.co.uk for complete terms and conditions.

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Luxury Real Estate | Sales & Auctions

For sale: Les Moulins, French Riviera Welcome to a truly exceptional home.

A historically important property in a stunning location with connections to Grace Kelly. This former olive oil mill dating from the 14th century is recently entirely restored to the highest possible standard.

Located on a 2.1 hectare plot surrounded by a nature reserve. A haven of peace and tranquility. Very private, yet Nice Airport is only a 30 minutes drive and Monaco 50 minutes.

For more information or a private viewing visit our website: www.residence365.com

residence365.com | Herengracht 450 | 1017 CA Amsterdam, Netherlands +31 (0) 20 26 10 430 | info@residence365.com

Member of:

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Luxury Real Estate | Sales & Auctions

Stunning villa in St. Moritz, Switzerland Previously listed for € 55.000.000. Now selling from € 25.000.000.

This beautiful, modern villa (2008) is known to be one of the most luxurious villa’s in this mondain Swiss ski resort. Ultra high amenities, amazing views over the lake of Sankt Moritz and situated next to the ski slopes, village and the Palace Hotel. A must see!

Auction date: December 7th 2017 For viewing dates and information visit our website: www.residence365.com. Private viewings for highly motivated clients. It is possible to make an offer on the property prior to the auction.

residence365.com | Herengracht 450 | 1017 CA Amsterdam, Netherlands +31 (0) 20 26 10 430 | info@residence365.com

Member of:

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This is more than an engine room. It is a gallery, a museum, a theatre. It is the result of a shared vision and an uncompromising quest for perfection.

THIS IS UNIQUITY.

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Ibiza

Ta g o m a g o

www.tagomagoisland.com - info@tagomago-island.com - Tel. (+41) 799 61 11 27

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P R I VAT E I S L A N D N E X T T O I B I Z A

FOR RENT Just 900 meters from Ibiza

www.tagomagoisland.com - info@tagomago-island.com - Tel. (+41) 799 61 11 27

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• OFFICES IN LONDON DUBAI MONACO • Established over a decade ago in the heart of London’s Mayfair, Enness is the world’s leading ultra-high net worth interna onal property finance broker.

Our team offers an exclusive and bespoke service to the most pres gious ultra-high net worth clients seeking large property financing solu ons in the UK and Europe. The recent opening of our office in Dubai’s DIFC is a response to the growing demand from GCC-based clients looking for this service.

Our world-class brokers understand the complexi es involved in securing large mortgages for clients with unconven onal wealth structures and global asset por olios, so we appreciate that such clients require a bespoke approach to their financing solu ons.

We have rela onships with over 250 lenders, including the most respected private banks, enabling us to work with them to tailor products to the specific needs of our clients.

These rela onships also give us access to the most compe ve op ons available, including dry lending – that is, lending without placing assets under management – as well as market leading rates.

Our unrestricted panel of lenders enables us to cater for clients of almost every na onality, poli cal status and complexity, and we have a history of doing so to an excep onal standard.

MAXIMISING YOUR ASSETS

Beyond sourcing finance for the purchase of an asset, we are also experts in helping clients maximise on their exis ng ones.

For example, you may wish to release equity from your high value central London property, in order to invest in higher yielding opportuni es elsewhere in the world. We have the exper se to guide you in this, advising you on the best route to take when it comes to releasing equity.

Whether you’re purchasing a new property, refinancing an exis ng one, or simply restructuring your por olio of assets, we have the experience and rela onships to find you the most suitable solu on available.

HIGH VALUE ASSET INSURANCE

Further to the financing of assets, Enness has a team dedicated to the protec on of them. Enness specialises in sourcing bespoke insurance solu ons for not only your global por olio of luxury assets, but your family and business as well.

Whatever your requirements, our team acts with the utmost discre on and is trusted by clients who return to Enness me and me again. We would be delighted to hear from you about your requirements, and look forward to welcoming you as a valued client.

Built around precision, efficiency, and bespoke solu ons from expert brokers, Enness offers a centralised approach to real estate financing.

• enness.co.uk/simplyad • Call +44 (0)203 846 6552 •

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THE WORLD’S LEADING ULTRA-HIGH NET WORTH PROPERTY FINANCE BROKER REFINANCE OF £30MILLION KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE • • • •

£22.5million refinance 75% loan to value 1.75% + LIBOR Five years interest-only

£6.6MILLION REFINANCE FOR DUBAI RESIDENT • • • •

Refinance of £8.8million Knightsbridge property 75% loan to value 1.6% + LIBOR Five years interest-only

€6.7MILLION ST. TROPEZ VILLA REFINANCE • Refinance for redevelopment and further investment • €5.2million released equity for redevelopment of the villa • €1.5million released to create securi es por olio • 1.6% fixed rate over a five year term Enness Limited is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check our details on their public register through fca.org.uk using our firms’ reference number 565120. Registered address: 86 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 5AY. Registered in England and Wales under Company No. 07760090. Enness Limited (DIFC Representa ve Office) is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) as a Representa ve Office. It is authorised to conduct marke ng of financial services and financial products offered from a loca on outside the DIFC in connec on with the Enness Group.

It does not give banking or financial advice and the informa on contained on this communica on is not an invita on to buy or sell securi es. Enness Interna onal (SARL) is registered in Monaco. It is authorised to conduct ac vi es rela ng to strategy, business development and public rela ons with regards to projects in connec on with the Enness Group. It does not give banking or financial advice and the informa on contained on this communica on is not an invita on to buy or sell securi es.

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“The Diya” A Development by

the island of St.Lucia in the eastern Caribbean Sea

MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING DESIGN FIRMS dazzles with an extensive first-class portfolio, breathing a harmonious balance of elegance and comfort into each masterful design.

www.fdmdesigns.com

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www.fdmdesigns.com | 905.709.2077

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Evocative and exceptional Magically pleasurable Discover more at www.cocoprive.com or email yourplace@cocoprive.com

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FOUNDER & CO-FOUNDER’S LETTER ‫ترشع و شیع‬

सुख

奢侈品

Lujo

Luxe

Luxus

Lusso

Dear lovers of luxury

W

a very special interview with Alessio Boschi – the man behind the stunning AB Jewellery brand.

elcome to our 28th edition of Simply Abu Dhabi and the final issue of 2017.

In property, Julia Zaltzman brings you a showcase of incredible interiors from the award winning Sarah Ireland and Smallbone of Devizes, as well as some prestigious properties available worldwide.

This year has brought us so many exciting events in our amazing Abu Dhabi. One was the always-impressive Formula One race at the Yas Marina Circuit – whether you couldn’t witness it first hand or you were there and want to relive the excitement, Damien Reid brings you all the highlights of the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He then takes us over to our neighbouring emirate, Dubai, for the Chopard Classic Rally.

Simply Travel takes us on a journey from the UAE to NYC and the Maldives with Abu Dhabi international airport, as well as presenting the M/Y Elements Superyacht.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and wish you all health, wealth and happiness in 2018.

All the very best,

The finest in horology and jewellery has been hand selected for you by Nick Rice. We touch on the incredible Dubai Watch Week and timepieces from Richard Mille, Vacheron Constanin and Audermars Piguet. In the Simply Jewellery section, we present MKS Jewellery from the brain and heart of Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Khalifa bin Saif Al Nahyan. We also bring you

Jordana ,Arnie & Harvey and the Simply Abu Dhabi team x

W E L C O M E T O S I M P LY A B U D H A B I :

Wishing the World: Peace, Prosperity & Progress in 2018

“Your Passport to Pure Luxury”

Arnie S Hira – CEO & Founder Arnie.Hira@simplyabudhabi.com Jordana Imogen Lynch – Managing Director & Co-Founder Jordana.lynch@simplyabudhabi.com

Manoj S Hira – Director – info@nowaiting.co.uk Editor: Arnie S Hira Co-Editor: Jordana Imogen Lynch Copywriters: Jordana Imogen Lynch, Arnie S Hira

Management Team Creative Director: Colin Statham - colin@simplyabudhabi.com Managing Editor: Nick Rice - nick@simplyabudhabi.com Fashion Editor: Marcella Clarke - marcella@simplyabudhabi.com Beauty Editor: Sophie McMullan - sophie@simplyabudhabi.com Time / Travel Editor: Nick Rice - nick@simplyabudhabi.com Car Editor: Damien Reid - damien@simplyabudhabi.com Sub Editor: Caroline Stupnicka - caroline@simplyabudhabi.com Media Investment Director: Anthony Grundy – anthony.grundy@simplyabudhabi.com Sales Director: Ross Fenton – ross@simplyabudhabi.com Director of Photography: Charn Kamal Singh – charn@simplyabudhabi.com

Like our Facebook page via http://www.facebook.com/simplyabudhabi Follow us on instagram via http://www.instagram.com/simplyabudhabi or via the app @simplyabudhabi Images: All photos used in Simply Abu Dhabi are by Getty Images/Shutterstock/GoRunway/ Distribution: Abu Dhabi Media Company Circulation Director: Mr Mohamad Al Zarouni Operation Manger: Mr. Khaled Ibrahim Distribution In charge: Muzammil Sulaiman Disclaimer: The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on the information contained in this publication, which is provided for general and entertainment use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances.

The intellectual property and the ownership of trademarks are acknowledged. No part of Simply Abu Dhabi or any parts of the contents thereof may be duplicated or reproduced, saved, stored in a retrieval system or communicated/transmitted in any form without written permission of the publishers. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair and reasonable review.

Simply Abu Dhabi Limited HQ is Elizabeth House, Elizabeth Street, Manchester, M8 8JJ, United Kingdom.

Born in Abu Dhabi, Designed in Manchester, Distributed throughout the world.

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(*Correction "In our feature 'On the Waterfront' (pages 134-135, September issue) we reported Mina Rashid as having direct access to the 'Persian Gulf', when we in fact meant 'Arabian Gulf'. We would like to apologise for any confusion caused to our readers, and to Fabmar Middle East, Dubai Port's primary consultant for Port Rashid, which was referenced within the same sentence.")

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CONTENTS

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Page 34

Chopard Dubai Classic Rally

Page 58

Simply Jewellery

Page 66

MKS Jewellery, Armoura, Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Bulgari x Manolo Blahnik, Repossi, Van Cleef & Arpels, Alessio Boschi, Alessio Boschi Simply Time

Page 94

Dubai Watch Week, Jaeger LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, A Lange & SĂśhne, Richard Mille, Eberhard & Co, Rolex, Audermars Piguet, Chopard.

Simply Fashion

Page 117

Berluti, Chanel, Dior, Giorgia Armani, Gucci, Ferragamo, Stefano Ricci, Valentino, Burberry, Versace, Simply must-have Accessories.

Simply Property

Page 130

Marilyn Hoffman, SmallBone of Devizes, Randy Solakian, Sarah Ireland Interiors, Campbell Gray living Amman, Muraba Residences Palm Jumeirah, Alpine Guru.

Simply Travel

Page 176

The Address Boulevard Downtown Dubai, NYC, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Coco PrivĂŠ Private Island Maldives, 80m Superyacht M/Y Elements.

Simply Beautiful

Page 209

JK7 Skincare, Detox Delight, The Studio UAE.

Simply Abu Dhabi and Simply Abu Dhabi.com are intellectual property of Simply Abu Dhabi Limited, Elizabeth House, Elizabeth Street, Manchester, M8 8JJ. U.K. Fax: 0044 161 832 4566 / Skype: simplyabudhabi

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2017 Formula One Season review

By Damien Reid

T

he results book says that Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the 2017 Formula One World Championship at round 18 in Mexico, two races clear of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

What it doesn’t show is the titanic near season-long battle that was one of the best we’ve witnessed in recent F1 history.

The Yas Marina Circuit was robbed of holding a title showdown as it has done several times before, but the ferocity of the duel between Mercedes and Ferrari all year has been one that you will rarely witness in professional sport.

At the halfway stage of the championship, when the teams took their compulsory summer break in August, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel le the series by 14 points over Hamilton.

At his peak Vettel held a 25-point buffer over Hamilton after just six races when he won the Monaco GP, by which point people were already starting to wager a Ferrari title for 2017.

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Photography: Darren Heath

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While both drivers had four wins apiece at the halfway mark, it was Vettel’s consistency to also nab four second places compared to Hamilton’s pair of seconds that helped the Ferrari driver into a decisive lead by mid-year.

Remarkably, Hamilton’s lowest finish until then was seventh in Monaco, which was later matched by a reversal of fortune when Hamilton won the British Grand Prix and Vettel sat back in seventh, giving Hamilton his first chance to reel back some valuable points.

Until then, the talk remained about a Ferrari renaissance to perhaps clinch its first world title since Kimi Raikkonen’s last championship for the Scuderia in 2007.

Rd2 China: Hamilton is a master of Shanghai and claimed his sixth consecutive pole position to bounce back in superb style after the disappointment of Australia. He dominated the weekend, claiming fastest lap and his fifth win there. With Vettel finishing second, they were one apiece and went to Bahrain equal first on the ladder.

Drivers: Vettel: 43 Hamilton: 43 Constructors: Ferrari: 66 Mercedes: 65

But Hamilton bounced back from the break refreshed and mentally prepared for a fight to the end. A combination of determination and luck swung back in his favour and put him back on form and ready for the run to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.

Rd3 Bahrain:

Rd1 Australia:

In what was starting to show the signs of a heavyweight fight between the two leading protagonists punching blow for blow, Vettel struck back and took the win over Hamilton with Bottas third and Vettel’s teammate Raikkonen fourth.

The championship began as usual in Melbourne and after three years of Mercedes dominance, Ferrari came out fighting.

Vettel won the opening round in a clean fight, outpacing pole sitter Hamilton around the streets of Melbourne to take the Mercedes team by surprise and give the Scuderia an early confidence boost into 2017.

It was also the first race where the defending world champion wasn’t on the grid, as Hamilton’s former teammate Nico Rosberg – who took the title in sensational form in Abu Dhabi last year – retired from the sport and took the coveted number #1 plate with him.

Drivers’ Championship: Vettel: 25 Hamilton: 18 Constructors’ Championship: Ferrari: 37 Mercedes: 33

Bahrain saw the rise of Mercedes’ second driver and the replacement to Rosberg in Valtteri Bottas. The young Finn stepped out of Hamilton’s shadow and put his Mercedes on pole from Hamilton, with Vettel third and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo fourth.

Vettel now held a seven-point advantage over Hamilton, with Ferrari holding a slender three-point buffer on the constructors’ table.

Drivers: Vettel: 68 Hamilton: 61 Constructors: Ferrari: 102 Mercedes: 99

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Photography: Darren Heath

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Rd4 Russia:

Rd6 Monaco:

The Russian Grand Prix proved to be Ferrari’s first front row lock out since the 2008 French Grand Prix, when Vettel took pole from Raikkonen with Bottas third and Hamilton an uncharacteristic fourth. Further down the grid it was another race McLaren Honda’s Fernando Alonso would rather forget, as he failed to make the start line stalling on the grid. This was already his third retirement this year, with the Spaniard was desperately looking elsewhere for a future drive.

Monaco was arguably Ferrari’s best race of 2017 with Raikkonen grabbing his first pole position since France 2008. Vettel claimed Ferrari’s first victory on the streets of the Principality since 2001, and with Raikkonen second, it was Ferrari’s first one-two since the 2010 German Grand Prix.

The race didn’t go to plan for the leading pair, either, allowing Bottas to take his first win in Formula One from Vettel with Raikkonen filling the podium and Hamilton down in fourth with overheating issues.

Drivers: Vettel: 86 Hamilton: 73 Constructors: Mercedes: 136 Ferrari: 135

Rd5 Spain: Qualifying was almost a disaster for Vettel after his car stopped in the opening minutes and he was asked to stop over the radio, which would have guaranteed him a back of the grid start. Fortunately he managed to limp back to get the problem resolved and made the cut through the sessions to eventually qualify on the front row alongside pole sitter Hamilton.

Hometown favourite Alonso delivered a blinding result to get his underpowered McLaren into Q3 and then qualified as the best of the rest behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

Vettel led Hamilton into the first corner and they diced until the pit stops where Vettel emerged alongside Hamilton, banging wheels and briefly forcing Lewis off track. Hamilton on the faster tyres hunted down Vettel, passing the Ferrari on lap 44 and going on to win, while Ricciardo took his first podium of the season in third.

Drivers: Vettel: 104 Hamilton: 98 Constructors: Mercedes: 161 Ferrari: 153

With Hamilton off the pace and only qualifying 14th, it was always going to be a tough battle for Mercedes and he finished seventh. Vettel extended his championship lead, while in the constructors’ title, Ferrari reclaimed the points lead from Mercedes McLaren brought former world champ Jenson Button out of retirement for a one-off race to replace Alonso who was competing in the Indy500 in the US as a way to keep his motivation on the boil. However, Button retired from the race and confirmed his permanent retirement from Formula One at the same time.

Drivers: Vettel: 129 Hamilton: 104 Constructors: Ferrari: 196 Mercedes: 179

Rd8: Azerbaijan The race in Baku is the one which many considered to be the start of Vettel’s unravelling, as pressure got to him and he crashed into the back of Hamilton’s car during a safety car period.

Hamilton started from pole alongside Bottas with Raikkonen third and Vettel in fourth. A multi-car crash on lap one promoted Vettel to second while Ricciardo had to pit and dropped back to 17th. During a second safety car period, Vettel rammed Hamilton, then drove alongside the Mercedes and turned in on him, hitting him again as a deliberate move in frustration.

Vettel was penalised for dangerous driving and dropped back to seventh while Hamilton had to pit from the lead to fix a broken headrest. The result was a win for Ricciardo with Bottas just grabbing second on the line from Williams’s teenager Lance Stroll. Stroll became the youngest rookie to finish on the podium at age 18 years 239 days, and the first Canadian since Jacques Villeneuve.

Drivers: Vettel: 153 Hamilton: 139 Constructors: Mercedes: 250 Ferrari: 228

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Background Photography: Darren Heath

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Rd 10 Britain:

Rd 13 Italy:

The highlight for McLaren’s year came during qualifying, when under drying conditions following earlier rain, Alonso put on a set of supersoft tyres for the final minutes and set the fastest time of the session to claim P1.

Monza was the last race on the European calendar before the move offshore. A rain-interrupted qualifying session threw up a few surprises behind pole sitter Hamilton. The two Red Bulls qualified second and third, but were demoted due to grid penalties which pushed Williams’ Stroll into second to became the youngest ever front row starter in a Formula One race. Force India’s Esteban Ocon moved up to third ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen and Vettel.

It didn’t last, but it gave the team a well-needed boost for a poor season.

Hamilton grabbed pole by 0.5 seconds from Raikkonen with Vettel 0.2 seconds behind.

Hamilton quickly opened a 1.6 second lead over Raikkonen on the opening lap, while Vettel lost his place to Verstappen’s Red Bull. Hamilton took an easy win in front of his home crowd with teammate Bottas second. On lap 49 of 51 Raikkonen punctured a tyre, and on lap 50 Vettel’s Ferrari suffered the same fate. Raikkonen limped home to finish third but Vettel took a championship blow and finished seventh.

Hamilton got away well from the start but Stroll fell back into the pack.

At the end, Mercedes finished with a one-two for Hamilton and Bottas, with Vettel in third ahead of the charging Red Bull of Ricciardo.

Hamilton narrowed the gap to Vettel to just one point, while Mercedes extended its lead in the constructors’ title to 55 points.

Drivers: Hamilton: 238 Vettel: 235 Constructors: Mercedes: 435 Ferrari: 373

Drivers: Vettel: 177 Hamilton: 176 Constructors: Mercedes: 330 Ferrari: 275

Rd 11 Hungary: The last race before the summer break saw Ferrari get its first qualifying one-two since 2004 when Vettel took pole from Raikkonen. Mercedes locked out the second row, Red Bull secured the third row and McLarenHonda’s two cars snared the fourth row in what was its best qualifying performance of the year.

The number two drivers of both Ferrari and Mercedes were the quickest in the race, with Raikkonen asking for permission to pass a struggling Vettel for the lead while Hamilton stepped aside on the final corner to let Bottas through for third place. Vettel eventually won from Raikkonen, with Bottas’s third giving Ferrari and Vettel some much needed points after Silverstone.

Drivers: Vettel: 202 Hamilton: 188 Constructors: Mercedes: 357 Ferrari: 318

This was the turning point in the drivers’ championship chase, as it marked the first time Hamilton had lead the championship all season.

Rd 14 Singapore: As if losing the championship lead on Ferrari’s home soil of Italy wasn’t bad enough, Singapore proved to be a monumental disaster for the Scuderia with both Ferraris crashing out and Hamilton winning, giving Mercedes maximum points.

Ricciardo finished second with Bottas providing Mercedes with more valuable constructors’ points in third.

The weekend started well for Vettel by taking pole position from the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo with Raikkonen in fourth, while the best Mercedes could do was P5 and P6 for Hamilton and Bottas. A perfect scenario for Ferrari.

Off the start, Raikkonen got a good jump from the second row and pulled alongside Verstappen who was in a Ferrari sandwich with Vettel on his other side. The three cars touched heading into turn one, sending both Ferraris crashing into each other and ending the Italian challenge before the first corner.

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Background Photography: Darren Heath

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This was the first time in F1 history that both works Ferraris were eliminated on the opening lap, and Hamilton capitalised by taking the win from Ricciardo and Bottas in third.

Drivers: Hamilton: 263 Vettel: 235 Constructors: Mercedes: 475 Ferrari: 373

Rd15 Malaysia: Vettel installed a new engine which wasn’t running properly and failed to set a qualifying time, so was forced to start from last place. Hamilton was at the other end of the field on pole position, ahead of Raikkonen and Verstappen.

Raikkonen pulled to the side of the grid just as the race was about to start and retired. Hamilton led until lap 28 but struggled to stay in front of the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo. Coming into the last laps, Hamilton succumbed to Verstappen who took the second win of his F1 career with Hamilton second, Ricciardo third and a hard-fought fourth place for Vettel.

Drivers: Hamilton: 281 Vettel: 247 Constructors: Mercedes: 503 Ferrari: 385

Rd 17 United States: The US GP in Texas was relatively uneventful, except that as Hamilton entered the weekend with a 59-point buffer to Vettel and Mercedes carrying a 155 point margin to Ferrari in the constructors’ title, it could be a fatal blow to Ferrari’s championship hopes.

Qualifying marked a return to form for Ferrari, with Vettel on the front row alongside pole sitter Hamilton followed by Bottas, Ricciardo and Raikkonen filling the minor placings.

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The race was a straightforward affair that saw Hamilton take a comfortable win from Vettel, Verstappen and Raikkonen. After the race and just seconds before the top three were due to walk on to the podium, Verstappen was dealt a five-second post-race penalty for cutting a corner on the last lap as he passed Raikkonen for third.

This promoted Raikkonen to the dais to give Ferrari two of the three podium places, and unceremoniously kicked Verstappen out of the postrace winner’s room.

Mercedes clinched its fourth successive World Constructors’ Championship.

Drivers: Hamilton: 331 Vettel: 265 Constructors: Mercedes: 578 Ferrari: 428

Rd 18 Mexico: The final nail was almost in Ferrari’s coffin for 2017, since after losing the constructors’ title in Texas, Hamilton needed just fifth place to claim his fourth world drivers’ championship.

Vettel delayed the inevitable by taking pole position with Verstappen second and Hamilton relegated to the second row in third alongside Bottas.

Ricciardo took a 20-place grid penalty for a new engine so was out of the equation, but suffered a blown turbo in the race and was forced to retire.

Verstappen got past Vettel off the start, which also allowed Hamilton to make an opportune pass on the Ferrari into second. Vettel touched Verstappen on the third corner which damaged his wing, forcing him to pit for a new nose on the opening lap. In the melee, Hamilton also got a puncture and had to pit, putting the championship contenders back to last and second last places in the race.

Photography: Darren Heath

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With Hamilton now out of the points, Vettel needed to finish second in order to keep his championship hopes alive. He could only manage fourth place at the finish, though, which wasn’t enough to stop Hamilton in ninth place from winning the World Championship. Verstappen won his third F1 race ahead of Bottas and Raikkonen.

Drivers: Hamilton: 333 Vettel: 277 Constructors: Mercedes: 595 Ferrari: 455

Rd 19 Brazil: With both drivers’ and constructors’ championships locked up, the pressure was off at the penultimate round; and for Hamilton, at least, so too was the concentration as he made his first mistake of 2017 and crashed on his first lap of qualifying. This forced him to start from pit lane after he decided to take the chance to change his gearbox and power unit.

Teammate Bottas started from pole in front of the two Ferraris of Vettel and Raikkonen.

With a new engine and free tyres, Hamilton carved his way through the back markers while Vettel got the jump over Bottas for the lead. As the leaders conserved their engines, Hamilton powered through and passed Verstappen in fourth and was briefly challenging Raikkonen for third.

Vettel won from Bottas and Raikkonen with Hamilton just off the podium in fourth. The top four were separated by just 5.5 seconds at the end of the race.

Drivers: Hamilton: 345 Vettel: 302 Constructors: Mercedes: 625 Ferrari: 495

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Rd20 Abu Dhabi After hosting some nail-biting title deciders over the years, the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was an anti-climax by comparison.

The traditional end of season race at the Yas Marina Circuit turned on its charms as the most picturesque circuit on the calendar, but it lacked the excitement of a championship showdown.

However, further down the grid, an intense three-way battle for sixth place in the title was about to take place between constructors Toro Rosso, Renault and Haas, as finishing sixth in the championship would result in a DHS 50 million discount on next year’s race fees.

Bottas took pole from Hamilton, Vettel and Ricciardo, and despite history being against the pole man from taking victory at Yas, Bottas had a point to prove to his Mercedes employees that he is a worthy teammate to Hamilton for 2018.

Bottas was never challenged, and leading from pole position he recorded the fastest lap of the race, leading all but a handful of laps when Hamilton briefly took the lead while he pitted and claiming a comfortable 1.5 second victory over his teammate.

Vettel was relieved to finish third as he was at risk of losing second place in the drivers’ championship to Bottas if he finished outside the top six places.

After such a strong start to 2017, losing another place to Mercedes would have been the ultimate humiliation during a tiring season for the Scuderia.

Overall, Hamilton lad 524 laps throughout the season compared to Vettel’s 286, and joined F1 royalty Ayrton Senna and Juan Manual Fangio as the only people to have scored points in every race of a season.

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Further down the grid, Ricciardo was one of two retirements with hydraulic failure, while Renault’s Carlos Sainz lost a wheel after a pit stop which for a moment jeopardised Renault’s chances of taking the valuable sixth place in the constructors’ championship.

Those fears were allayed, however, when Sainz’s teammate Nico Hulkenberg brought his Renault home in sixth place which ensured the team bagged the DHS 50 million bonus for next year.

McLaren-Honda’s Alonso gave Honda a farewell gift of a points finish for their last race, which netted the team a staggering 393 grid penalties for engine issues during the season and 10 retirements.

Next year McLaren switches to Renault power and should be a race contender alongside Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.

Bring on 2018!

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Final Drivers’ Standings: Lewis Hamilton: 363 Sebastian Vettel: 317 Valtteri Bottas:305 Kimi Raikkonen:205 Daniel Ricciardo: 200 Max Verstappen: 168 Sergio Perez: 100 Esteban Ocon: 87 Carlos Sainz: 54 Nico Hulkenberg: 43 Felipe Massa: 43 Lance Stroll: 40 Romain Grosjean: 28 Kevin Magnussen: 19 Fernando Alonso: 17 Stoffel Vandoorne: 13 Jolyon Palmer: 8 Pascal Werhlein: 5 Daniil Kvyatt: 5 Marcus Ericsson: 0 Pierre Gasly: 0 Antonio Giovinazzi: 0 Brendon Hartley: 0

Final Constructors’ Standings: Mercedes: 668 Ferrari: 522 Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer: 368 Force India Mercedes: 187 Williams Engineering: 83 Renault: 57 Toro Rosso: 53 Haas Ferrari: 47 McLaren Honda: 30 Sauber Ferrari: 5

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Chopard Dubai Classic Rally

By Damien Reid

With a speed that’s typical of the progress of the United Arab Emirates, a flourishing classic car scene has emerged in just a few years and last month, the UAE hosted its first international touring event.

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Karl Friedrich Scheufele and Jacky Ickx

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he Chopard Classic Rally is world renowned, having run across Europe for many years – and it made its Middle East debut on 10 and 11 November with the inaugural Dubai version.

Thirty classic – and some near priceless – cars piloted by 60 enthusiastic competitors headed off from the Armani Hotel at the iconic Burj Khalifa on a typically stunning winter’s morning for the first of two days of action, making their first stop at the Hatta Fort Hotel near the Omani border.

Whilst we weren’t entered because cars have to be of a certain age, our media car from Lamborghini Middle East was perhaps a touch of overkill as the Huracan LP610-4 was easily able to stay ahead of the pack for most of the route, which ventured through the northern emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

The second day’s focus was tackling the highest mountain in the Emirates, which also happens to have a spectacularly winding road to the top of Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah.

“Chopard has been associated with classic motorsports for many years,” Chopard’s Co-founder and avid car collector Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele said. “My family has a passion for this. In 1988 I came across the famous Mille Miglia road race in Italy and ever since then we have entered classic racing.

“We also sponsor the Monaco Historic Grand Prix which is held every two years; and more recently we became partners with Porsche Motorsport which includes the Le Mans 24-Hour race as well,” he added.

Not content to sit on the sidelines, Mr Scheufele drove a classic 1971 Porsche 911 2.4S. His co-driver was none other than six-time Le Mans 24-Hour winner, eight-time Formula One Grand Prix winner, CanAm Sports Car racer and Chopard brand ambassador: the Belgian Jacky Ickx.

Scheufele and Ickx have become something of a team in Chopard Classic rallies, with Ickx, in typical gentlemanly style, opting to take the navigator’s seat to allow Scheufele to experience the competition from behind the wheel.

Ickx raced for Ferrari and Brabham during his Formula One career at a time when death was a close companion in the early 1970s; he went on to win the Le Mans 24-Hour, first with Ford and Mirage before making Porsche his home for the next four victories.

Quite appropriately, the Porsche they shared was previously owned by another multiple Le Mans winner and five-times IMSA champion: the American Al Holbert.

Holbert – inducted into the International Motorsport Hall of Fame in 1983 – used this 911 as his daily drive; the car is now part of the Tomini Collection in Dubai and was on loan to Chopard for the rally.

What makes this car even more desirable is the fact that the subsequent owners maintained Holbert’s personalised touches such as its lowered ride height, the sports steering wheel, a sportier exhaust and air conditioning.

“Because this region ‘gets’ cars and you have a lot of nice, fast cars here in the UAE, I am also sure there are many more classics hidden in garages, so getting this many out for the rally is job one done. Now you have to put them on the road,” Jacky Ickx said immediately after the event.

“It’s amazing that no-one has thought about a classic car rally like this before here, because this was such a special event with a nice atmosphere and a unique spirit,” he added.

An amazing array of 30 classics arrived at the start line, including early postwar Jaguar XK140 and XK120 dropheads, air-cooled Porsche 911s in every variety from the earliest 911E to the wildest mid-1980s 930 turbo variants, as well as Ferrari 308 and 328 GTBs, with a 1960s Ford Mustang and Chevy Corvette Stingray representing the US.

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”It is impressive how vibrant the classic car scene is in the Middle East,” Mr Scheufele said. “There are collectors just as passionate and knowledgeable here as anywhere in the world, and Chopard is proud to have organised this classic rally in the UAE. We hope that it will be a regular fixture on the regional and global classic car calendar,” he added.

An Austin Healey 3000, a Lamborghini Jarama 400GTS and a Maserati Ghibli 4.9 V8 were just three of the cars entered by Tomini Classics, while a Mercedes 230SL dishtop and a Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 Coupe represented Europe from the 1960s.

Of the more regal entrants, no one could get past the stunning RollsRoyce Silver Dawn and its matching year, Bentley S1, from 1960, or the immaculate Bentley Mk VI from the mid-1950s. The most modern car – possibly in years and definitely in spirit was – the movie fan-boys’ favourite: the DeLorean from “Back to the Future” of the mid-1980s.

To mark the inaugural rally, Chopard launched the L.U.C Time Traveler One – Time of the Desert. Produced in a 20-piece limited series with a refined sand colour dial recalling the golden dunes of the UAE, according to its maker this timekeeper reflects the Emirati gentlemen travellers.

Finishing day one back at the Armani Hotel, cars were garaged, wiped down, cleaned, refuelled and turned around ready for an early start the next morning.

Two of these watches were presented to the winning driver and navigator at the conclusion of the rally during the gala prize-giving dinner. The lucky recipients were Hannes Waimer and Hans Hotfiel who piloted Car 12 – an immaculate bottle-green 1969 Porsche 911E – to victory with a total time of 11 hours, 9 minutes and 36 seconds.

Day two was arguably tougher with a long drive to Ras Al Khamiah before the daunting task of climbing the UAE’s tallest mountain, Jebel Jais.

Five minutes and 45 seconds behind them was Car 03 of Ismail Tamraz and Fred Faidhi in arguably the best sounding car of the event – a V12-powered, six-carburetted, 1972 Lamborghini Jarama.

With cooling systems on some cars well over half a century old and more suited to the European Alps, it was a test of machine as well as the competitors’ patience – but, virtually without fault, every car made it to the top for a well-earned break and a few minutes to take in the spectacular views over the Emirate.

Showing just how close the competition was over the two full days, it was just a further 5 minutes and 18 seconds behind the Lamborghini that Car 24 claimed the last place on the podium with a well-deserved third, driven by the father and son duo of Imthishan and Mohammed Giado in the crowd favourite 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.

The rally again finished back at the Burj Khalifa after two days of sandblasted, sun-drenched driving and enormously fun rivalry over a combined 11 competitive hours behind the wheel.

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Other prizes included Best In Show, quite rightly awarded to the luscious white Car 22 – the Jaguar XK120 Drophead owned by Gilbert Ayoub with co-driver James Iremonger – while the Spirit of the Rally prize went to the majestic Bentley Mark VI, Car 27 driven by Beniot Lamonerie and Ali Reza Madhavi.

sense. The support from Ahmed Seddiqi and Sons, representing Chopard in the region, was crucial to ensure the classic rally was a success.

“In motor racing, there’s always a special atmosphere – but in classic car racing it’s outstanding and to get 30 cars at the first event is in my opinion an absolute success,” Jacky Ickx said.

“Beautifully executed, the rally brought together an esoteric group of individuals passionate about mechanics and aesthetics. As a long-standing partner of Chopard, Ahmed Seddiqi and Sons would like to congratulate all parties involved for a successful event and we look forward to the development of this endeavour,” he added.

“The Chopard Classic Rally is a remarkable display of the brand’s enthusiasm and appreciation for fine workmanship,” said Mr Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, Chief Commercial Officer of Seddiqi Holding.

“It’s clear that they found the right people to organise this first edition. I strongly believe that you only succeed when you are surrounded by the right people, and it’s true that with Mohammed Ben Sulayem who gave the permissions to stage the event and the organising body of the ATCUAE, Chopard has found the perfect partners in this region,” he added.

Other participants also echoed the parting words of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele at the presentation gala dinner when he concluded by saying that he hopes it becomes a regular event.

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) of which Dr Mohammed Ben Sulayem is President and FIA Vice President was key to making the Chopard Classic Rally happen from a sporting regulations

“Many questions have been asked if we are going to continue, and I will tell you that very soon, but I think there’s a very good chance that we will be back,” he said.

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Simply Je wellery

Natural Talent

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MKS Jewellery is destined to be a much admired and successful jewellery brand all over the world, thanks to the naturally gifted and determined mind of its founder, Her Highness Sheikha Mariam Bint Khalifa Bin Saif Al Nahyan

By Nick Rice

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lthough on the surface it may not always seem so, it is often an extremely tough journey for someone of a privileged background to be recognised and accepted for their true and natural talents. People can sometimes be too quick to judge a person or company’s success based on heritage rather than objective facts.

Her Highness Sheikha Mariam Bint Khalifa Bin Saif Al Nahyan is a remarkably talented 29-year-old creative designer and owner of the MKS Jewellery brand, and the granddaughter of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and daughter of Sheikh Khalifa bin Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and Sheikha Moza bint Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Thankfully for everyone who appreciates fine artistry and craftsmanship, Sheikha Mariam has not let her privileged background interfere or hinder her creative passions, and she has remained undeterred on her entrepreneurial journey to establish and grow her own business.

A graduate of Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, Sheikha Mariam holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies; in 2013 she took the brave and unprecedented step into the realm of public commerce when she founded the MKS Jewellery brand from scratch. Sheikha Mariam has always stayed true to the principle her family instilled in her: that success comes from merit. If it is deserved, appreciation for any endeavour will be authentic and forthcoming.

Sheikha Mariam is proudly inspired by her home. The myriad forms of beauty and creativity in the United Arab Emirates inform her work and can be appreciated in the sophisticated symbolism and the mature flair for design that belies her 29 years.

Her natural talent shines through in her artistry, and Sheikha Mariam was awarded Young Designer of the Year at the Arab Woman Awards UAE 2015. Philanthropy is also important in the evolution of her business, and Sheikha Mariam is often committing her time and efforts to various causes. She designed a rug to help empower Afghan women by providing them with work, weaving traditional Afghan carpets for the Artist for Change campaign of the Fatima Bint Mohammad Bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) in 2016. She also painted a traditional Arabic coffee pot known as a dallah to be auctioned for UNICEF MENA, as part of Architectural Digest Middle East’s One of a Kind royal charity auction.

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Sheikha Mariam’s passion blossomed from a young age when she took an interest in royal heirloom jewellery. Soon, layering jewellery and symbolism fed into her growing appreciation and artistic sensibility, and while still in education she began sketching, designing and dreaming of one day creating her own collection.

She made that dream a reality after university when she independently put the work in, created the designs and formed the company, learning every facet of the business as she went along. Sheikha Mariam is no stranger to the day-to-day affairs of her business, and as well as conceiving the beguiling jewellery collections she will also pay attention to other departments such as packaging and customer service.

At present MKS Jewellery produces locally and the jewellery deftly marries together the modern and the classic. Her UAE heritage is intertwined with elements of inspiration from her international travels to define the work.

The pieces are essentially wearable art that can be treasured and passed down from generation to generation, much like the heirloom jewellery that first inspired Sheikha Mariam.

Created to be worn by women of all generations, the jewellery works collectively or individually. Each piece is made with conflict-free stones, is independently hallmarked and has a certificate of authenticity. Vivid gemstones and lustrous Emirati pearls bring to life the highly desirable range of charms, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pendants and rings.

MKS Jewellery limits the number of pieces to ensure the work remains rare and valuable. The pieces are divided into five stunning collections: AL OTAIBA Inspired by a royal heirloom of pearls that Sheikha Mariam’s father and grandfather collected, Al Otaiba is a tribute to Emirati heritage. These refined necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets have timeless appeal and feature illustrious Emirati sea water cultured pearls, 18-carat gold, diamonds and precious gemstones.

SPARKLY ME Diamonds and gemstones are placed on transparent wires in this collection. The centrepiece floats on the wearer’s hand, neck, or ankle, creating the illusion that the stones are part of the body somehow.

Featuring a wide selection of gemstones and pearls in different sizes, shapes and carat weight, each piece can layer beautifully with other MKS Jewellery.

GEO This minimalistic range is inspired by nature’s distinctive lines, details and geometric symmetry. GEO comprises a variety of rings, bracelets and necklaces. With designs based on the characteristics of each animal or item, the wearer can reflect the character of the piece that she is wearing. The symbols in the collection are Geo Dove, Geo Bee, Geo Bangle and Geo Dog. Little Hearts A timeless set of illustrious gold symbols that are handcrafted with precision. The collection consists of four pieces that can be worn in different combinations, including Eternal Love with a detachable chain that can be worn as a bracelet, necklace or anklet. Each symbol has a deep meaning, intended to touch and resonate with the wearer.

Keepsakes Remember precious moments with this collection. With the customisable Happy Letters necklace, MKS Jewellery customers have a perfect opportunity to personalise the letters and gemstones of the necklace to match the name and birthstone of the wearer.

Bespoke Jewellery Believing that every detail of jewellery should be aligned with the taste and lifestyle of the wearer to reflect who they are, MKS Jewellery can modify pieces according to customers’ needs. Jewellery is a wearable art and ultimately profoundly personal, and bespoke is the perfect way to make it even more so.

MKS Jewellery went on sale online immediately after its launch, with prestigious retail points following soon after. MKS is currently available at leading department stores across the UAE. At present, Sheikha Mariam is busy with multiple projects, including working on a book titled “Al Waha” based on the true story of American missionaries who opened the Oasis Hospital, the first infirmary in Abu Dhabi, but MKS is paramount for her too. Sheikha Mariam has a strong and healthy ambition for the company and is working hard to elevate its reputation to global brand status in the years to come.

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rmoura has launched several new designs in its tradition of bold and original shapes with strong use of coloured and extraordinary stones.

The Award winning designer from Ireland has created several iconic collections which imbue a fine sense of place, time, memory and proportion.

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ideas as well as the precious materials. The Magnolia necklace and wider suite is homage to the flowering Magnolia tree with its sumptuous soft white and pink flowers, re-envisioned by Stuart with white diamonds, pink diamonds, rutile quartz, emeralds and white gold.

The designer reminisces hot sunny days spent in the South of France and the strong aroma of the perfume fields which inspired the Lavender necklace.

Featuring crisp Art-Deco lines made from baguette-cut white diamonds in a channel setting, framing a large purple sapphire, pear-cut lilac sapphires representing the lavender plant flower heads sitting on three strands of gorgeous natural Akoya pearls.

The Art Deco Emerald Burst collection is inspired by repeating Aztec and African tribal patterns and is carefully crafted using the finest materials and techniques. Along with the primitive Art Deco patterns, the scale and layout of the stones also reflects the strong visual impact of a recent visit to Paris where the chic and elegant proportions of the double height windows of the city’s Renaissance architecture inspired this configuration. The imposing lines of Asscher-cut stones resonate with the layout of the baguette cut emeralds, onyx and white diamonds.

Also featured in the new works by Stuart are other themes such as the Queen Bee collection, featuring hexagonal-cut diamonds, orange sapphires and black onyx which are repeated over and over to create a chain mail effect mirroring the natural honeycomb which inspired this series of designs.

Exceptional and exotic stones as well as architecture and nature prove to be a sustained source of inspiration for Stuart who continues to sketch and push

As well as the high jewellery pieces, Armoura has expanded to offer elegant everyday pieces inspired by the larger ornate creations. These smaller pieces allow people to wear a simple but strong design icon from each collection.

Design and craftsmanship are paramount and continue to drive new and evermore creative ideas.

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Cufflinks Although universally known for their supremacy in the world of haute horlogerie, Audemars Piguet – the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families of Audemars and Piguet – is also a brand famed for its excellence in the sphere of haute joallerie. In recent years, the Diamond Punk, Diamond Outrage and Diamond Fury have wowed high jewellery customers and connoisseurs.

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However, for men who require something far less spectacular, yet as meticulously crafted and unquestionably elegant, Audemars Piguet has re-launched its accessories collection with six new pairs of Royal Oak cufflinks: three in stainless steel with a blue, black or silver tapisserie pattern in the centre, two in pink gold with blue or black tapisserie, and one in yellow gold with a blue tapisserie pattern in the middle.

And what better way to compliment one of the most iconic men’s watches of the last 45 years – the Royal Oak. The Royal Oak collection is broad and features stunning pieces such as the Royal Oak Offshore Grand Complication in titanium and ceramic, the restrained finesse of the Royal Oak Extra-Thin and the instantly recognisable heft of the Royal Oak Chronograph.

The newly refreshed cufflinks are inspired by the Royal Oak’s distinctive octagonal bezel and robust case and also feature the signature hexagonal screws. The retail price for a pair is $1,600 in steel or $4,200 in gold.

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by Ivan Allegranti

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n another inspired move, Chopard has collaborated with superstar Rihanna for an exclusive capsule collection of jewels. The collection debuted at one of the most glamorous red carpet events of the year: the 70th Cannes Film Festival, which Chopard has supported for more than 20 years as one of its main sponsors and creator of the most prestigious prize: the Palm D’Or. This relationship led to a limited edition collection: the RIHANNA CHOPARD Joallerie Collection. Defined by minimalist geometry, sharpness and clean lines, this collection lends to Chopard’s classic Ice Cube shape a sense of power and introduces new designs and coloured ceramics.

Linear rectangular motifs link frosty rose gold cubes with solid ceramic blocks, everything in a colour personally selected by Rihanna: jungle green. Crafted from 18-carat ethical rose gold that is certified fairmined, the nine-piece capsule collection will be available with icy polished or diamond set gold cubes.

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“I have always been in love with Chopard’s exquisite jewellery, so to actually design collections with them is something I still can’t believe,” says Rihanna. “It was a really incredible process and I learned so much! I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

“Rihanna and I collaborated closely on the collections so you can feel her unstoppable energy, strong creativity and inherent sense of design in every piece,” says Scheufele.

“With her unique style, she redefines the way people see and wear jewellery.” The result of this collaboration is a luxurious and modern collection that fits perfectly the contemporary woman, up-to-date and on-the beat.

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CHOPARD CHRISTMAS COLLECTION HAPPY HEARTS Should you ever find yourself at an impasse, drawing a blank on what to buy a loved one for the festive season, just remember one word: C h o p a r d . Yo u a r e g u a r a n t e e d t o p l e a s e w h o e v e r t h e g i f t i s f o r a n d w i n massive present-buying points.

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The Happy Hearts are slim white or rose gold chains dotted with large gem-set hearts and small hearts housing moving diamonds. The suppleness of the jewellery combined with the mobility of the diamonds, as well as the random nature of the motifs, set the signature touches to an exquisitely feminine jewellery line infused with a distinctive aura of natural chic.

he Maison Chopard has no shortage of choices for a luxurious gift to last a lifetime; from impeccable jewellery and dazzling diamonds through to exceptional timepieces, you can’t go wrong.

This year sees more fine pieces featuring the classic and timeless symbol of the heart, deeply associated with the brand and a motif that is dear to Caroline Scheufele, artistic director and co-president of Chopard.

The Happy Hearts collection also includes a luminous version with white diamonds. Delicate as snowflakes and evocative of the wintry festive season, they are coupled with small hearts holding a moving diamond. Alongside the bracelets and sautoir necklaces, the collection also welcomes new types of jewellery with diamond-set gold ear studs and new stackable rings.

The family-owned, luxury Swiss Maison has married gem-set hearts with moving diamonds, a signature element of the brand, to create a best-seller waiting to happen. According to Chopard, the heart symbol is “A token of love and a lucky charm; it is also a much-loved fashion feature that women enjoy matching with their mood. For Christmas, Chopard is offering new interpretations of its Happy Hearts that will beautifully enhance a festive outfit.�

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BULGARI AND MANOLO BLAHNIK COLLABR ATE FOR A HIGH JEWELLERY SHOE by

Ivan

Allegranti

uring the celebration of Manolo Blahnik: he Art of Shoes exhibition, organised by Vogue Spain in Madrid, Bulgari and the Spanish fashion designer and creator of the eponymous high-end shoe brand presented an exclusive and strikingly opulent pair of shoes. The attention-demanding result of their collaboration is a magnificent pair of green silk satin shoes with ultra-precious ankle straps, counting more than 11 carats of diamonds, 48 carats of rubellites and 38 carats of amethysts. The decoration takes inspiration from Pepperoncini – a typical Italian symbol that stands for chilli peppers and a leitmotif of this year’s Festa high jewellery collection.

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forever… Beauty should be worn and enjoyed, always,” declares Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari Jewellery’s artistic director.

“To co-design these unique pieces together with the legend Manolo Blahnik was the realisation of a personal dream – I am just addicted to his shoes! We both believe that creativity is there to serve women and make them feel amazing. There is no reason to wear high heels only on a catwalk or to lock a high jewellery necklace in a safe

Blahnik said of the notable partnership, “It has been an honour to work with such an iconic brand with a wonderful Italian heritage. We both share the same vision and creativity to produce beautiful things for beautiful women. I adored the accessory which was used, totally divine and it perfectly complimented the zesty green satin.”

Silvestri continues, “Colours, creativity, daring femininity, unexpected materials, excellent craftsmanship, attention to details… Manolo Blahnik and Bulgari have a perfectly shared view in the matters of luxury creations. Whilst designing this bejewelled shoe, I had the perfect counterpart in front of me. The green silk satin reminded me of the colours of peridots and I just needed to find the right gemstone combination.”

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REPOSSI

by Ivan Allegranti

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his year Gaia Repossi celebrated her 10th anniversary as artistic and creative director of Repossi, the prestigious jewellery house founded in Turin in 1920. After years of hard work trying to revolutionise the idea of contemporary jewellery, Repossi is now well worthy of being considered one of the best jewellers in the world. In 2016, the brand opened a boutique at 6 Place VendĂ´me in Paris, the most prestigious location in the world for a jeweller.

Also this year, to mark this important achievement, Repossi presented the Two Works high jewellery collection which splits between high and statement jewellery design. The collection was presented at the MusĂŠe Picasso in Paris under a setting curated by Diego Giacometti, whose aim was to enhance the duality between jewellery and art, between Repossi and Picasso, both as progressives.

Two Works by Repossi comprises two distinct themes: Studio and Luminant. With Studio, Repossi recalls the abstract shapes of Fauvism and Cubism; with Luminant, on the other hand, she plays with the idea of Cubist mosaics. She also introduces a new design concept in which organic belts of gold are used to congregate

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teardrop diamonds in opposing positions. This new technique gave a vivacious S-shaped hoop effect to delicate triple-chain collar necklaces and to an exquisite single statement ear cuff in white diamonds and a big emerald drop.

With this collection, Repossi showed how the world – her world – of fine jewellery and non-classical art like that of Picasso can be linked together in terms of silhouettes, concepts and ideas. In fact, looking at Repossi’s jewellery is often like looking at a modern painting: you see what the object represents (an ear cuff or a woman, perhaps) but you have to analyse it and understand it to appreciate completely the beauty that lies in its geometric-shaped lines.

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he venerable French jewellery, watchmaking and perfume company Van Cleef & Arpels, founded by Alfred Van Cleef and his uncle Salomon Arpels in Paris in 1896, has a rich and illustrious heritage to draw inspiration from as the business continues to thrive more than 120 years on. When looking for a seed that can grow into a new collection, the artists and designers at Van Cleef & Arpels can delve into a fascinating patrimony department and find all manner of triggers for the imagination.

The newly launched Bouton d’or jewellery collection, wonderfully delicate and embracing pink and white gold, comprises five new pieces inspired by the paillette motif. The skills of the artisans include the intricate assembly of different elements and working with precious metals to create miniature works of art worthy of Van Cleef & Arpels.

The paillette motif was created in the mid1940s, a vibrant time in France in the wake of the Second World War with the fragrance of peace and liberation in the air.

In the world of fine jewellery there was a re-embracing of yellow gold, along with rubies, diamonds and turquoise.

According to Catherine Cariou, director of heritage at Van Cleef & Arpels, “The yellow gold reveals its full splendour. The motif appears in two forms: it can be convex or concave, or it can be curved. At the centre of the paillette motif there is always a small closed setting motif incorporating rubies, turquoise or diamonds. The first paillette motif appeared on quite imposing torque necklaces, but also on single or crossed bracelets. The paillette then appears on the ballerinas. The ballerinas are iconic Van Cleef & Arpels designs, born in the mid1940s in the US, and many of these ballerina tutus were created using these paillette motifs.”

The Bouton d’or collection includes a necklace, a ring, a bracelet, earrings and a pendant, marrying pink and white gold with the dazzle of diamonds. The effect of alternating colours and closed settings is a subtle gradation of shades. The gold’s twin colours play with reflected light and draw the eye in to the piece. This attention to colour is paramount and is complimented by intricate three-dimensional volume: whether concave or convex, the paillette motif provides the pieces with fluidity and relief.

VA N C L E E F & A R P E L S BOUTON D’OR COLLECTION

These five new creations join the existing Bouton d’or creations, which are all distinguished by diamonds with motherof-pearl, carnelian and pink gold or onyx, chrysoprase and yellow gold. Since 2016, the paillette motif has taken on a new lease of life within the Bouton d’or collection, with its precious palette of materials.

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A conversation with… Alessio Boschi

by Ivan Allegranti

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Alessio, please tell us about yourself. How did you get involved in the jewellery business and when did you realise that you wanted to be a jewellery designer?

When I was seven years old my parents divorced and I went to Greece on holiday. It was my first trip away from Italy and I was very excited. I visited an exhibition of the jewels of Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. And I was so fascinated by that gold and by the manufacture of those precious jewels that it was impossible to pull me away from the exhibition. So, this was my first insight into jewellery.

My second one was when, after I studied science in high-school, I enrolled at the Accademia di Costume e Moda in Rome (the Fashion Academy of Rome) where I joined the jewellery design course, which was very influential at the time. When I graduated, I won a scholarship at the Accademia and after that, by chance, a friend of my cousin’s – a trader of stones – asked me if I wanted to join him in Greece to sell jewellery collections to jewellery companies. And then, Mihaïl

Vassiliadis, a Greek jewellery company, asked me to work for them. They “adopted” me, and I stayed in Greece for three years. My third bond with jewellery happened when I saw an exhibition about 18th century painters from Valtellina, famous for their artistic pendulum clocks, to whom I’m distantly related. I was so fascinated by their craftsmanship that my love for jewellery just kept growing. My love for jewellery was born when I was 19 years old and studying at the Accademia di Costume e Moda, but it really grew when I was in Greece where I discovered my true calling.

You founded your own company, Alessio Boschi Jewels, in 2013. How long was the journey to this point?

In 2010 I founded Lux2Lux with my best friend. We started to make jewellery ourselves, and, using the connections I had in Asia, selling it to Chinese customers. One of our main clients was Florentia, a Chinese brand of pearl jewellery, and another one was

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Queen of Jade in Beijing. For the latter I was designing and producing unique pieces of jade. Then in 2013 I decided to move to Thailand where I founded Alessio Boschi Jewels. I didn’t name the brand after myself because I’m a narcissist, but because I won many jewellery competitions, making my name recognisable, which meant the business could grow easily. Around a year later I founded another company, Tao, where I was joined by my former assistant at Florentia and, soon after, by my sister Valeria.

What are the stylistic codes of the Alessio Boschi jewellery brand?

The first thing is the colours. I love colours because they are the meaning of life. For me they are everything, with or without using stones. For instance, needles of rutile within quartz or bubbles inside tourmalines that look like flowers are fascinating and beautiful to me. I also really like colours because we use them as a representation of our emotions and feelings. Another important characteristic of my jewels

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Is there a stone which you tend to use frequently in your collections, and if so, what is it and what is its attraction?

is the movement. I think that movement gives more life and sparkle to the stones I use. I’m also fascinated by multifunctionality. As a Roman, I love to see people’s interactions and watch them play and have fun with jewellery. It has such an amazing and surprising effect when a ring becomes a pendant, or an earring can be transformed into five smaller earrings. I also favour curves over spiky and geometric lines, because for me they are more feminine. Another rule of my creativity is that I love to play with hidden details, because I don’t like jewellery you understand too quickly. Instead I want that my customers to interact with it and feels emotions for it. That’s why my brand’s motto is “A precious journey” – I want people to discover the details of each jewel trough the story I tell them. Finally, the most important characteristic of my jewellery is that the pieces need to have a story.

I love all stones, and it depends on the collection and the collection’s spirit. But I have a love affair with Paraiba tourmalines – they are very expensive and I use them a lot in my Thalassa collection (Greek for the sea). I once used a 0.8mm stone as a detail in a piece of a jewellery, and I like it because it’s very pure. I don’t use fancy stones, because I can’t source them. I make high-end jewellery at affordable prices – I prefer to work with high quality stones but not rare stones, and I prefer to focus on exceptional design which adds value to the stone.

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Your brand doesn’t opt for celebrity placements or brand ambassadors – what is the reason behind this choice?

Please tell us more about your new pieces. What is their main inspiration and their major characteristics?

When I was working with an Australian pearl company, they approached many stars from the Academy Awards red carpet. I designed an Art Deco-style collection for the awards one year, and it worked well as a celebrity placement. But it was a time when celebrities were affordable. Now, in my opinion, unless you don’t have a muse or a face for a campaign, it makes no sense to give your jewellery to celebrities because it doesn’t really help increase sales. So, instead of using money on celebrities, I prefer buying stones and doing something unique.

The collection is an extension of my three main collections.

Naturalia is inspired by animals, nature, flowers and natural phenomena, Thalassa is devoted to sea creatures and everything related to the sea, and Historica – my personal favourite – is inspired by architecture and great people of the past. In fact, with the new collection I can explore and get to know many great people from the past, like Maria Antoinette or Casanova, or the Moghul dynasty. With the Breakfast in Jaipur collection I want to express the beauty of feminine icons like Audrey Hepburn, but with Rajasthani craftsmanship. These pieces are my most expensive ones because I use decorations developed during the Moghul era. The other piece, a world premiere, is the Thalassa collection embracing the ultimate in multifunctionality. It will be officially launched during Baselworld 2018. The shell ring is a masterpiece. It is inspired by scallop shells and at first glance you see that it is a ring, and you can remove the shell and wear the ring on its own. But when you open the shell you find a chain with sea creature pendants, and there is a separate piece you can easily attach to the shell which looks like a fish skull and which becomes a brooch.

What do you want to express with your jewellery?

The first thing I want to express with my jewellery is my passion for it. In fact, I like to repeat this saying: “When you buy something from an artist you’re buying more than an object. You are buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation. You’re buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You’re not buying just one thing, you are buying a piece of heart, a piece of soul… a small piece of someone else’s life.” I want to express myself with my jewellery to let my customers enter my dream world and my soul.

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What are some of your dreams – both in terms of business and your free time away from work?

In terms of business, I hope to have enough money to keep creating more jewellery. But I also want to restructure my business and hire more people. In fact, at this stage I’m the 100% owner of my company which employs seven people – and I am very happy about this.

But I would also love for the company to boom. I would love to be discovered by someone who believes in me and my creativity. In terms of my private life, I would love to live in Civita di Bagnoregio near Orvieto. When I’m there I feel like I can get back to normal life, like in the olden days, with people who live with real values. So, my dream is to retire there and buy another house so that I can run a B&B. What are the future plans for your brand? Can you reveal something we might see in the future?

it’s the door to Europe. I’m also thinking about making objects d’art. At Baselworld 2018 you will see an expansion of the Breakfast in Jaipur collection and there will be a new collection inspired by 18th century art, featuring micromosaics used in a modern way.

Also, a revisited Castellani in which the jewels intertwine modern and antique features. And then, there will be a new masterpiece, a necklace called Medusa.

What do you think are the three characteristics that a perfect piece of jewellery should have?

The first is excellent craftsmanship of the piece, and it needs to have a story behind it. Secondly, jewellery should be beautifully wearable, expressing the owner’s femininity. Finally, the jewel should be ethically correct – made with stones, materials and craftsmanship that respect nature and human rights.

In the coming months, I will expand to Europe because I see that there is a demand for my jewels. I’m considering founding a company in Cyprus, because

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S I M PLY T I M E

BY NICK RICE

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Dubai Watch Week

ovember is now firmly established in the global watch industry’s calendar for one of the most impressive, diverse and well-executed horology events of the year: the Dubai Watch Week.

The third edition of Dubai Watch Week, held between 16 and 20 November at the Dubai International Financial Centre, was held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

The event brings together a richly varied and prestigious collection of luxury watch brands with talented watchmakers, dedicated collectors and watch experts from the media. Dubai Watch Week shines a spotlight on the craftsmanship, innovation and excellence that distinguish the watch industry in the Middle East.

Dubai Watch Week is organised and curated by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the Middle East’s most widely respected and trusted distributors of luxury watches and jewellery.

With a crackshot team including Melika Yazdjerdi, Senior Marketing & Communications Director, Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chief Marketing & Communication Officer, Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, Chief Commercial Officer, Pascal O. Ravessoud, Director of Missions & Secretary General of the Cultural Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), Remy Julia, Christie’s Watch Specialist and Alan Marzo, Diplomatic Advisor, Embassy of Switzerland – UAE, the ongoing success of the event is assured.

The mission of Dubai Watch Week is “To create opportunities for discussion, and encourage the transfer of knowledge and craftsmanship to the next generation of watchmakers and master craftsmen and women alike,” and it achieves this in fine style.

The workshops, seminars, product presentations and social events all combine to make the perfect platform for some of the world’s most prestigious watch brands to present their masterpieces to the region. There was a broad array of stunning timepieces, and we have selected three brands that are the epitome of excellence in modern day haute horology.

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Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon

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ndoubtedly one of the world’s finest watchmakers, JaegerLeCoultre were an incredibly popular presence at Dubai Watch Week. It’s fair to say that wherever in the world the brand exhibits, it is unfailingly appealing to anyone with even the slightest knowledge and appreciation of high watchmaking.

Jaeger-LeCoultre displayed a stunning collection of high-end complications from the Reverso, Master, Rendez-Vous, Duomètre, Geophysic and Atmos collections. The Master Grand Tourbillon, Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication and the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Bleu drew particular attention and widened plenty of eyes. The new Rendez-Vous line of ladies’ watches also had a place to shine at DWW. The most accomplished and extraordinary collections are the Hybris Mechanica and Hybris Artistica, which both strive for ultimate perfection.

The Hybris Mechanica collection was unveiled in 2003 with the Atmos Mystérieuse clock and its constant force mechanism, and a succession of unquestionable masterpieces followed ever since. Amongst other innovations, Hybris Mechanica give pride of place to the mechanical measurement of time, the mathematical approach to eternity, and the musical indication of the hours.

Unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in 2014, the first pieces in the Hybris Artistica collection were a bold expression of the winning combination of the Grande Maison’s many talents in the form of its Métiers Rares rare handcrafts. True to its past of continuous invention, for the very first time Jaeger-LeCoultre combined ancestral techniques – such as guilloché work, enamelling, and engraving – with ingenious mechanical movements featuring particularly sophisticated complications. For Jaeger-LeCoultre, 2017 is an opportunity to reveal watchmaking treasures of stunning beauty from four of its iconic collections: Rendez-Vous, Reverso, Geophysic and Hybris Artistica.

After 2016 marked the 85th anniversary of the iconic Reverso, JaegerLeCoultre chose Dubai Watch Week to present the Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon. Marc de Panafieu, Brand Director, says, “Once again, JaegerLeCoultre is delighted to be part of the innovative Dubai Watch Week that works so diligently in supporting the luxury watch segment. This year, as a nod to the event’s role in promoting the intricacies of fine watchmaking, the Jaeger-LeCoultre exhibition, showcased some of our most thrilling and complex pieces. These included our Gyrotourbillons, diamond paved tourbillons, the perpetual calendar, and samples of our haute joaillerie.

Notable among them were our iconic Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon, shown in the Middle East for the first time.”

The Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon is a Grande Complication model paying tribute to the iconic watch first developed in 1931. It is a masterpiece of watchmaking skill and a vivid representation of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s legendary horological sophistication, revealed on both faces. The platinum model was a limited issue series of just 75 pieces. This fascinatingly technical timepiece epitomises the watchmaking genius of the Grande Maison’s gifted artisans.

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VACHERON CONSTANTIN OVERSEAS DUAL TIME

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ean-Marc Vacheron laid the foundations for this most illustrious watchmaking maison in 1755 when he took basic materials and created a timekeeping masterpiece. Today, the legacy continues and every Vacheron Constantin timepiece undergoes the careful scrutiny of the Geneva office to ensure that the quality deserves the Hallmark of Geneva seal of approval. Vacheron Constantin chose the Dubai Watch Week to unveil a stunning Pre-SIHH 2018 novelty: the Overseas Dual Time.

Many Simply Abu Dhabi readers will be exceptionally well-travelled people and no strangersq to the need to monitor time in dual locations. The Overseas Dual Time includes this vital complication in a stunning watch that is as reliable as it is elegant. It features a new inhouse mechanical self-winding movement, the calibre 5110 DT, which has been developed over several years and deploys coaxial hands.

The hours hand indicates the local time zone corresponding to the user’s current location, while the hand tipped with a triangular arrow shows the home time in a reference time zone.

With characteristically sophisticated style, the watch presents an intuitive 12-hour display, adjustable via the crown in both directions, along with a day/night indication set to home time, and a pointer-type date display, adjusted and secured via a screw-lock pusher at 4 o’clock and synchronised with local time.

The Overseas Dual Time model is available in three versions: two with a stainless steel case, either silver-toned or blue, and an 18-carat pink gold case with a silver-toned dial. The pink gold version is certain to be popular in the Middle East. In a welcome move, all versions are delivered with two additional straps matching the shade of the dial: in blue alligator leather or rubber, equipped with an equally interchangeable stainless steel folding clasp.

The comfortable to use six-sided bezel gives a sense of solidity to this beautiful watch and is inspired by Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese cross logo. As the brand concludes, “The Overseas embodies a modern lifestyle resolutely open to the wider world. This Overseas dual time timekeeper joins the adventure equipped with the eponymous function representing a complication much favoured by globetrotters.”

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A. LANGE & SÖHNE RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS

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. Lange & Söhne occupies the highest echelon in the world of haute horlogerie. Based in Glashütte near Dresden, Germany, this lauded watchmaker is revered by watch collectors and connoisseurs all over the world. Ferdinand Adolph Lange laid the cornerstone of Saxony’s precision watchmaking industry when he established his manufactory in 1845. His pocket watches remain highly coveted timepieces, although today they are superseded by the most mind-bogglingly exquisite and technically advanced watches in the world.

The company has had a tumultuous 172-year history, including being expropriated by the post-war soviet administration in 1948. The company was defunct until, following the collapse of the East German government, it was brought back to life in 1990 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great-grandson, Walter Lange, who recently passed away.

Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s eldest son Richard Lange, born in 1845 – the same year the manufactory was established – was the long-tenured technical director of the manufactory, and he focused on evolving precision watchmaking on the basis of scientific research. So, it is befitting that the modern-day Richard Lange collection of watches are ultra-precise timepieces with technical performance being paramount.

The Richard Lange Jumping Seconds was first introduced at the 2016 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in platinum, and this year sees the model arrive in pink gold.

The distinctive dial, which is comprised of an interlinked trio of subdials, is based on a dial design of a pocket watch created

by Johann Heinrich Seyffert in the late 18th century.

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The jumping seconds complication, which used to be known as deadbeat seconds, and the largest subdial, is devoted to showcasing the seconds hand. In 60 stages per minute, the blued seconds hand advances along the upper and largest circle of the regulator dial. The cadence is defined by an ingenious one-second constant-force escapement that serves two purposes. Firstly, it delivers the switching impulse for the seconds jump, and secondly, it assures constant power delivery for the entire power reserve of 42 hours. A small aperture window in the intersection of the three time circles indicates when it is time to rewind the watch by becoming red.

With the unique combination of a jumping second, a constant-force escapement, a zero-reset mechanism and a prominent regulator dial layout, the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds plays in a league of its own.

The watch constant force mechanism, also known as a remontoire d'ĂŠgalitĂŠ, is an old and highly esteemed complication that acts as a second power source for the balance, which drives one of the gear train wheels and is itself periodically rewound by the mainspring. The idea is to provide as unvarying energy as possible; the more consistent the energy going to the balance, the better the rate stability should be.

The Lange manufacture calibre L094.1 at the heart of this superlative timepiece is manually wound and crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand and precision-adjusted in five positions.

The constant-force escapement with remontoir spring is crafted in-house, and the plates and bridges are made of untreated German silver. The tiny balance cock is engraved by hand and the entire piece speaks of sober and restrained perfection. The second version in pink gold is available in a limited 100-watch edition.

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RICHARD MILLE RM 055 YMC

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ichard Mille creates watches that are inspired by a wide spectrum of sports, but the man and his extreme high-tech Swiss watchmaking manufacture have a particularly strong connection to the world of Formula One racing. After all, this is the brand that builds racing machines for the wrist.

The latest in a long line of extraordinary timepieces is the RM 055 Yas Marina Circuit – an eye-grabbing piece designed in the colours of the YMC, one of the world’s most advanced motor racing facilities ever built. The watch is stunning in the signature YMC hues of white and a striking turquoise called Yas Blue. The YMC logo is also engraved on the sapphire caseback, which offers a hypnotising view of the calibre RMUL2 automatic movement.

Richard Mille watches become highly sought-after and prized collector’s pieces as soon as they are launched, and the RM 055 will be no different. However, the fortunate 50 customers who purchase this limited edition will be exclusively based in the UAE. Richard Mille has been the official timekeeper of the Formula One Yas Marina Circuit since 2011.

Commenting on the union, Richard Cregan, CEO of the Yas Marina Circuit, said, “This partnership with Richard Mille recognises the brand’s reputation for innovative technology and cutting-edge design.

Accurate timekeeping is at the heart of motorsport, and the Yas Marina Circuit is globally renowned for the way design has defined our unique appearance, so the two companies are well matched.”

As always with Richard Mille timepieces, the mechanical performance inside the watch is comparable to the extreme feats of engineering outside on the track. The calibre RMUL2 movement handles acceleration forces of over 500 G. The construction of the watch is as meticulously conceived and constructed as an F1 car. The proprietary carbon TPT material used for the case consists of over 600 layers of carbon fibre, making it exceptionally rigid and highly resistant to impact.

As is to be expected, the movement exacts extreme performance. Highly skeletonised, the open architecture showcases the PVD and Titalyt-treated mainplate and bridges. The treatment guarantees optimum rigidity as well as providing ultra-smooth and flat surfaces, which are key to optimum functioning of the gear train. A variable inertia balance wheel ensures reliability under impact and during assembly and dismantling, thereby increasing the watch’s precision over the long term. The regulator index is eliminated, and a more accurate and repeatable inertia adjustment is possible thanks to four small adjustable weights located directly on the balance wheel. The doublebarrelled mechanism helps to optimise long-term torque stability and performance. The stored energy is dispersed, reducing pressure and friction on the gears, bearings and pivots, thus improving performance.

This innovative and extraordinary watch is exclusively available at Richard Mille Boutiques in the Dubai Mall and the Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi.

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RICHARD MILLE RM 70-01 TOURBILLON ALAIN PROST

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ichard Mille’s watchmaking genius has been applied to a range of sports – the man and his brand have formed meaningful partnerships with a slew of athletes at the top of their game. Rafael Nadal and tennis, Pablo Mac Donough and polo, Yohan Blake and running, Bubba Watson and golf, Sébastien Loeb, Romain Grosjean and Felipe Massa in Formula One – the list goes on and on. Each partnership is characterised by true commitment and participation from the ambassador – these aren’t merely promotional partnerships but rather long lasting personal relationships that result in exceptional timepieces. Each watch is developed to perform in the most extreme real world conditions of the respective sport.

The latest star in Richard Mille’s illustrious list of collaborators is the four-time winner of the Formula One drivers’ championship Alain Prost – a true living legend in the world of motorsports. However, the RM 70-01 is not just another watch inspired by the world of Formula One. As unpredictable as he is uncompromising, this time it’s a timepiece for the sport of cycling. “I like to go where people don’t expect. I want to surprise,” Mille says. The watch has been three years in development and the complication at its heart is a mechanical odometer capable of recording total kilometres cycled – up to distances of 99,999 kilometres.

The two Frenchmen are both keen cyclists and the collaboration grew from their shared passion. The silhouette of the stunning watch is based on the original signature tonneau shape of Richard Mille watches, but this time it has been adapted into an asymmetrical form specifically for comfort and legibility when worn riding in the typical downward handlebar-holding cycling position.

The brand says, “As always at Richard Mille, function dictates form. In order that they may fully enjoy the dynamic and mechanical qualities of the RM 70-01, each buyer will receive as a gift their very own bespoke road cycle. Developed by Alain Prost and Richard Mille in partnership with the prestigious Italian bikemaker Colnago, these individually numbered bicycles are made by hand and painted in the watchmaking brand’s colours.”

The RM 70-01 Tourbillon Alain Prost is available in a limited edition of 30 pieces, each priced at US$815,500.

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CHRONO 4 130

EBERHARD & CO

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n an industry that is heavily dominated by luxury goods holding companies and multinational conglomerates, a true independent and family-run company is something to be admired and valued. This year the Swiss luxury watch brand Eberhard & Co, founded by the Swiss watchmaking industrialist Georges Eberhard in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, celebrates 130 years of uninterrupted and preeminent watchmaking history.

Now headquartered in Bienne, the brand continues to respect tradition, whilst also driving passionately into the future through constant research and innovation. Mario Peserico, General Manager of Eberhard & Co, says of the milestone, “It’s amazing, yes, but we have also been changing the company. Tradition is important, but you cannot refer to the past without having a present. So, what we’re doing with the novelties that we have been presenting and the collection of the last 20 years is creating targets and aims to build the brand for the future – keeping an eye on the history and tradition, and also on the development and the modernity of the brand.”

It’s fair to say that Eberhard & Co have always respected their roots while daring to be innovative. The brand has excelled in multiple areas of watchmaking, with a range of patents and developments to the company’s name, but it is their chronographs that have carved out an impressive history.

In 1919, the brand launched a single button wrist chronograph that was peerless at the time. This was followed in 1935 with another cutting-edge chronograph featuring two buttons for stopping and restarting without resetting. Four years later Eberhard & Co unveiled the rattrapante, or splitseconds, chronograph, and soon after came the extra-fort chronograph in the early 1940s. And it’s not just in the early part of the 20th century or with chronographs alone that the brand has achieved great success. There is also the Scafograf diving collection, which only last year saw the re-launch of the 300 watch which won the Sport Watch Award at the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

The watch selected to commemorate the 130th anniversary had to be a chronograph, though, and we have two editions to behold. Both are new versions of the lauded Chrono 4 watch which was patented with a registered design in 2001 and is a real icon for Eberhard & Co. The Chrono 4 made a simple yet profound leap by aligning four counters across the dial – minutes, hours, 24 hours and seconds. This was the first ever chronograph to display time this in such a natural and efficient manner.

The new Chrono 4 130 arrives in a limited edition of 130 pieces with a skeletonised dial, plus a non-limited version with a stunning grey dial.

Eberhard & Co has been active in celebrating the historical milestone by collaborating with respected companies that have a real shared synergy and common values. Simply Abu Dhabi travelled to Kaprun in Austria to witness the collaboration with world-leading Austrian skiing brand, Blizzard.

The partnership resulted in the Eberhard & Co-branded Blizzard Quattro RS high performance skis – the most technologically innovative skis made

by Blizzard. Various athletes from Team Blizzard, including Olympic champion Daniela Ceccarelli, Anne Wangler, a professional freeskier, and Mariaelena Rahman, a former member of the Italian World Cup team, were all there to celebrate the launch of both the Chrono 4 watch and the new high tech skis.

Mario Peserico concludes, “The goal of this special initiative is the enhancement of our brand, in a year that is so important, developing targeted projects with selected partners such as Blizzard, which represent the excellence in their field of reference. An exclusive and precious product is born as a result.”

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ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL PEARLMASTER

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othing make the Rolex Pearlmaster as iconic as finely-set gems.

Rolex excels in each and every facet of watchmaking: thousands of stages and processes and skills, all executed in the Rolex way – that is to say, the best and most advanced way possible. And the art of jewelling is no exception, and the Oyster Perpetual Pearlmaster, with its broad bezel, is the perfect canvas for Rolex to showcase their supremacy.

This stunning timepiece is available exclusively in 18-carat yellow, white or Rolex’s own Everose gold, each set with precious stones. The date with Cyclops lens and the in-house self-winding mechanical movement, COSC certified, are expected elements. This Rolex-certified Superlative Chronometer is equally impressive in a 29, 34 or 39 mm Oyster case, waterproof to 100 metres.

The Pearlmaster is offered in an enticing array of dial colours and materials, but especially attractive is the Everose polished gold case and aubergine dial with sunray finish – simply exquisite.

Rolex has its own foundry in the depths of its manufacture, alloying gold using the purest raw materials. By doing everything in-house, quality is carefully maintained and there is no call to reply on any external suppliers.

From the casting to the shaping and polishing of the gold, everything is carried out by Rolex with unwavering attention to detail and the utmost quality – which is why Rolex gold watches are universally as good as currency.

The Rolex Everose gold is the proprietary pink gold alloy patented by Rolex; its distinctive hue is down to a special composition that preserves the pink colour over time. The mother-of-pearl option offers an interplay of nuances and reflections, and the diamond-paved versions dazzling and yet suavely sophisticated.

The characteristically shaped case is crafted from a solid block of 18-carat gold and its fluted case back is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers access to the movement. The winding crown, fitted with the Twinlock double waterproofness system, screws down securely against the case. The crystal, with the instantly recognisable Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock, is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire. The waterproof case provides the Pearlmaster’s high-precision movement with optimal protection.

The movement itself is the calibre 2235, 2236 or 3235 depending on the size – 29, 34 and 39mm versions respectively. These are self-winding mechanical movements, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Their architecture, manufacturing and innovative features make them singularly precise and reliable. The oscillator at the heart of the watch has a balance wheel with variable inertia regulated extremely precisely with gold Microstella nuts. It is held firmly in place by a height-adjustable traversing bridge enabling very stable positioning to increase shock resistance. Rolex use the innovative Syloxi hairspring in silicon of its own design, and the 3235 calibre also deploys the Chronergy escapement it has patented.

Mounted on a gently rounded gold bracelet, with the option of extra gempaving, the perfect combination can be selected for a watch to last a lifetime and longer.

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 25th Anniversary Editions

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avoured by myriad celebrities and watch connoisseurs all over the world, the Royal Oak Offshore is the ultra-masculine iteration of the widely admired and desired Royal Oak watch. Turning 25 in 2018, Audemars Piguet is celebrating by presenting avid AP watch lovers with three anniversary versions to mark the milestone.

Ready to be launched at the prestigious Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève in Geneva in January 2018, the 25th editions will include a recreation of the original selfwinding model from 1993, plus a Chronograph Tourbillon in stainless steel or 18-carat pink gold, each one limited to 50 pieces.

The two tourbillon models take inspiration from the previous Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph (26388PO and 26288OR), and have an entirely redesigned movement. The new in-house calibre 2947 includes a seven-day power reserve.

Over the years, the Royal Oak Offshore has been available in an array of materials, from the perennial favourite stainless steel to the more exclusive and expensive versions in titanium, gold and platinum. The 25th anniversary adds ceramic instead of metal and rubber for the crown and push-pieces.

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 25th Anniversary Editions

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The tourbillon watches are guaranteed to set tongues moving and wallets opening when they become available.

Totally striking in their open dialled architecture, they are bold and extreme statements, framed as always by the famous octagonal bezel. The Royal Oak screw heads contrast perfectly with the new dial, which cuts away excess material to leave a lattice of eight skeletonised bridges.

This is a fine example of contemporary and utterly confident aesthetics from Audemars Piguet, and it’s particularly fitting for the Offshore collection. As the brand’s tagline says, “To break the rules you must first master them”. A quarter century after it was first launched, the Royal Oak Offshore still exudes new creative dimensions.

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Chopard L.U.C Perpetual T Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac

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t has been a triumphant year for the House of Chopard. There have been a batch of awards, including the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike taking the GPHG 2017 Aiguille D’or Grand Prix and the Chopard Lotus Blanc taking the jewellery watch prize.

The number of retailers worldwide is over 1000 but only 350 points of sale carry the exclusive L.U.C range of Chopard watches. The L.U.C Collection is a tribute to Louis-Ulysse Chopard, watchmaker from the Swiss village of Sonvilier who founded Chopard in 1860.

Each part of these exceptional timepieces is a masterpiece its own right, designed to spotlight the craftsmanship of the past for the distinguished contemporary gentleman of today. The L.U.C Haute Horlogerie Collection is crafted with the attention to detail expected of the finest Swiss watchmaking excellence, to satisfy the most discerning of wearers.

Karl Friedrich Scheufele, co-owner and CEO of Chopard, says of the L.U.C collection: “We don’t aim to make 10,000 pieces; instead, our ambition is to focus solely on quality and innovation rather than think about how many watches we can sell tomorrow. It’s supposed to remain exclusive and represent the pinnacle of Chopard in terms of watchmaking expertise.”

One of the latest additions to this fine family of timepieces is the L.U.C Perpetual T Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac. This one-off watch honours a millennium of culture with 12 hand-engraved animal motifs of the Chinese Zodiac on the pink gold midcase, marking the milestones of high horology and traditional Chinese arts.

The 12 signs are individually represented using the champlevé engraving technique. This requires meticulous patience from the Chopard craftsman in order to etch little cavities which are then filled with black patina. The engraver devoted 200 hours to creating this tribute to the richness of Chinese culture. The artisan’s expert hands deftly formed the 12 animals ordered chronologically and symbolising the Chinese calendar. The tiger’s head is perched on the crown while his body fits the case. A dragon and a snake are coiled between the lugs.

An incredible accomplishment both in technical and aesthetic terms, the watch includes a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon and a one-week power reserve ensured by the four barrels of the Quattro system.

Naturally rare by its sheer complexity and the work involved in its making, as well as by the mastery of artistic crafts it entails, the L.U.C Perpetual T – Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac is a limited edition of just one piece.

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S I M PLY FA S H ION

by Ivan Allegranti

Cruise Collections World Tour From New York to Paris, from California to Florence – the 2018 Cruise season is a wonderful world tour where brands present collections that reinvent local cultures with fantastic poetry and imagination.

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BERLUTI Berluti has a new designer: Haider Ackermann. The autumn/winter 2017/2018 collection by the men’s French fashion house, which is part of LVMH, was the first created by the Colombian designer. Known for his luxurious and androgynous fashion, clean lines and precise silhouettes with a punk vibe, Ackermann had a big task in taking over Berluti’s creative helm.

Replacing Alessandro Sartori – now at Ermenegildo Zegna – who has imprinted Berluti’s aesthetic with a luxurious and technical savoir faire, Ackermann took over the Maison with the idea of a fashion line that could develop over time. The ensemble of the collection was a stylistic exercise in luxury, in which a soft camel coat, a black leather aviator jacket, a cashmere sweater or a velvet tuxedo were seen as a gentlemen’s modern wardrobe essentials. And a small capsule of female pieces was presented in the show, which marked a new era for the brand.

Berluti customers know the brand well and expect the very best. They want to feel comfortable and wear suits, sweaters or jackets that are as soft as a second skin – but they also want to be cool and original, not stuck in a dated and unimaginative classic wardrobe.

The new colour palette, which includes blue, pink, burgundy, beige, black and green, is something of a vibrant statement of contemporary luxury in which the details make all the difference. For the accessories, lace-up boots in a deep emerald green are an exquisite statement, with high quality casual bags the perfect companion.

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CHANEL “The criteria of beauty in ancient, then classical, Greece still holds true. There have never been more beautiful representations of women. Or more beautiful columns. The entire Renaissance, in fact, was based on antiquity. It is really about the youth of the world in all its power and unpredictability – just like the unforgiving gods,” declares the Parisbased creative director, artist and photographer Karl Lagerfeld.

As the head creative director of the fashion house Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld took inspiration for Chanel’s 2018 Cruise collection from Greek antiquity. At the Grand Palais in Paris, a fantastic reconstruction of Greek ruins was the perfect stage for the collection’s launch.

Tweed, jersey, silk, linen, lace and crepe are interpreted using the Chanel codes but with a modern twist given

by Lagerfeld’s genius. It’s a story of antiquity meeting modern fashion mythology. It’s easy to find in the collection references to what we commonly recognise as Greek antiquity – Olympic laurels that have been transformed into head ornaments, the traditional Greek sandal, and an interpretation of the Amphorae (typical Grecian ancient vases) that become small or large pleated backpacks or part of curvaceous amphorae-like hip of the iconic Chanel jackets.

The colours of the clothes recall Mediterranean culture, like suit dresses in Cycladic blue or black, or white, beige, terracotta and gold jumpsuits, coats and dresses. The silhouettes are clean and simple: Aline jackets and fluid trousers are a huge part of the collection. Exquisite and precious embroidery, a true mastery of Chanel’s craftsmanship, is used to embellish jackets and dresses.

With this collection, Chanel rewrites the codes of antiquity and aesthetics.

“Reality is of no interest to me. I use what I like. My Greece is an idea,” concludes Largerfeld.

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DIOR In the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Calabasas, California – a vast open nature reserve spanning nearly 3,000 acres – Dior presented its 2018 Cruise collection.

For her first midseason collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior women’s collections artistic director, took inspiration from the Lascaux collection presented by Christian Dior in 1951.

Chiuri was directly influenced by the ancient cave paintings found in Lascaux in southern France, in which nature and animals such as deer, horses and oxen take us back to the infancy of humankind and art. Her strong designs reflect upon femininity and its links with the Earth.

Dior’s key style elements, such as the Bar Jacket or the New Look, were in the collection; however, more than ever, there was a shamanic allure in the show. Chiuri has also taken inspiration from the Georgia O’Keeffe Living Modern exhibition she encountered at the Brooklyn Museum, and from her collaboration with Vicki Noble, creator of the Motherpeace feminist tarot deck. In particular, this collaboration is evidenced in T-shirts ad leathers with Noble’s tarot style prints.

This collection embraces and explores Dior’s heritage through the eyes of an archaeologist. Dior’s Cruise 2018 must-have accessories in the show were definitely Stephen Jones’s parson’s hats featuring Lascaux printing: a glamourous nod to cowboy style and native American Indian imagery. Also outstanding were the silk gold jacquards with Lascaux prints boasting sequined embroidery in earthy shades. Chiuri has succeeded in reinterpreting primitive inspirations with her own contemporary and women-empowering style.

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GIORGIO ARMANI Giorgio Armani represents a classic and timeless style, which is nevertheless updated season after season. This time, Armani entitled his men’s autumn/winter 2017/2018 collection Neo-Classics, interpreting it as an authorial, innovative reflection of men’s fashion.

Soft grey double-breasted or single breasted suits, double-breasted jackets in velvet, hoodies seen as waistcoats and soft shoulder jackets are in the collection as you would expect, but the twist is given by the ample sleevescarves that create a striking image by wrapping the arms and crossing over the chest. Grey, green, beige, dusty light blue, classic blue, burgundy and black are all mixed together, giving the collection a classic feel with an eclectic soul.

Exquisitely crafted materials and finishes dictate Armani’s spirit of synthesis in which a man’s shape is enhanced by his clothes to express a vigorous, masculine and strong figure.

Elegance is tuned into the present, enriched through the brand’s heritage.

The evolving Armani style comes over in a subtle and unique way that defines a contemporary idea of elegance.

Warm and luxurious natural textures and voluptuous shearlings are mixed together with white shirts and small neat hats to add an unexpected quirk to the collection, which is characterised by a masculine, strong and classic attitude. Elegance is always about a way of being, and Armani evolves this concept season after season, adding or retouching his timeless spirit of style.

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GUCCI Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, showed the brand’s Cruise collection 2018 at the Palatine gallery of Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The entire collection was a tribute to ancient Greek and Roman culture, with a touch of Italian Renaissance thrown in for good measure.

Michele has evoked those eras in his work, but also, in his own unique way, created something new and fresh by mixing in references of the psychedelic 1960s and even the palazzo pantsuits of the 1970s. There are gowns, capes, tiaras, turbans and outdoor coats; the whole ensemble bears something strange and unusual, and perhaps this is Michele’s intent.

Thanks to blending styles and references, nothing is overly clear and there is a curious uncertainty in Michele’s own codes and his own sense of beauty. It’s a beguiling stance to assume.

What is surprising about Gucci is that when you get enter any of their boutiques, all the content – from small accessories to the ball gowns – exude a sense of quality and craftsmanship, even if the aesthetic is too extreme of unconventional for many potential customers.

The feelings and emotional response Gucci creates is fluid, but what is always solid is the legion of admirers who always queue up to buy the best of each collection. In the latest creations, we see the GG logo embroidered and sparkling with new slogans such as “Guccy”, “Guccification” and “Guccify Yourself ”, which have become hallmarks of the collection.

Statement pieces of the collection were ten leisure track suits that contrasted Athenian gowns and logo print suits for men. The Gucci cruise collection 2018 was a combination of playfulness and consciousness in which women can express their sense of style by mixing cultures, ideas, styles and materials. The whole show is a tribute to life and the joyful notion that the best of life can be found in combining things.

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FERR AGAMO The new Salvatore Ferragamo men’s autumn/winter 2017/2018 collection is the first created by Guillaume Meilland, recently appointed men’s design director by the brand’s executive board. This season, Meilland created a new tailoring code and a sartorial language for the Maison.

He started with the men’s silhouette and the unparalleled craftsmanship skills for which Ferragamo is famous worldwide. The style is urban and modern, and the collection presents a more elegant and tailored silhouette as well as a more voluminous and relaxed one.

Outerwear is one of the collection’s key elements: naval pea coats and flight jackets are revisited in a contemporary way with coloured fabrics. For example, calfskin has been crafted so well on a raincoat as though it were rubber. Cashmere and English gabardine are mixed together to create warm and soft knitwear pieces. But the crown jewels in the Ferragamo collection are definitely the shoes. For the autumn, Guillaume Meilland conceived shoes in two styles: one is a distinctly American design that takes the form of a work-boot with a stacked sole and a robust shape when covered with rubber studs, while the other silhouette is more Italian thanks to its fine form and exquisite handwork.

In terms of bags there is a duality seen with an oversized holdall in leather and lined with fur, and an enlarged leather hip-pack worn over the shoulder like a rucksack. The entire collection is a combination of modern and antique. We have the finest Italian craftsmanship combined with a fresh combination of materials and silhouettes. And this spirit propels Meilland’s work into a new era in the Salvatore Ferragamo menswear canon, since it encapsulates the classical yet audacious and revolutionary spirit of the house that almost a century ago made its debut in Hollywood and in the American bourgeois society.

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STEFANO RICCI Stefano Ricci debuted in the fashion world 45 years ago with his eponymous label. To celebrate this anniversary the Florentine designer decided to stage an unprecedented men’s high fashion show at one of the most symbolic Italian fashion venues: the Sala Bianca at Palazzo Pitti. It was in this immense ballroom that acclaimed designers received their international induction into the fashion world back in the 1960s.

Ricci staged his autumn/winter 2017/2018 men’s fashion show among the 18th century stucco decorations, which the Grand Duke Peter Leopold Habsburg-Lorraine commissioned from Lugano Grato and Giocondo Albertolli in 1775, illuminated by 11 bohemian chandeliers. The core values of this collection are the perfect fit and tailoring that matches the needs of the modern and cosmopolitan man; a man who stands out for his impeccable style.

Ricci’s suits, in two or three pieces with the waistcoat, and soft, comfortable leisurewear made for the man who embodies the epitome of luxury, are utterly desirable.

Embellished with precious skins such as alligator, or with sheared mink or precious silk from the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, Ricci’s collection expresses the dynamic and sartorial life of his concept of the modern man.

A classic look enriched with luxury jeans, cool and comfortable sneakers or overcoats in lightweight fabrics or soft and warm knitwear, are the key pieces for Ricci’s autumn/winter collection. In terms of colours, brown, beige, grey, black and blue are the protagonists. For evening wear, the tuxedo, in all its tailoring and beauty, conquers for its boundless elegance, especially with generous flashes of satin.

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VALENTINO Valentino presented its Cruise 2018 collection in New York to widespread praise. This time, Valentino’s identity merged with hip-hop, the most diffuse American cultural phenomenon. Pier Paolo Piccioli looked to the style of the street, creating everyday looks with an atleisure spirit such as tracksuits cut in hammered silk, feathered flip-flops, pleated track skirts, short and long zipfront track dresses or colour blocked A-line midi dresses.

Through the collection there are fluid short or long dresses adorned with pre-Colombian prints reinterpreted, deconstructed and mixed with the Zandra Rhodes lipstick motif. The entire collection is an urban metamorphosis, where the brand’s essence is conserved but its spirit is shaken. Like a cocktail, this Cruise 2018 collection by Valentino intertwines styles, eras and cultures: the classic elements of a wardrobe such as the shirt, the trench coat, the pleated skirt, the track jacket or the dress receive an attitude transformation and a fresh new interpretation by boosting their volumes and quivering their surfaces.

It’s not as linear collection as we are used to seeing at Valentino. Instead, it is very diverse and mismatched: from sports to romance with the hip-pop and pre-Colombian references, topped off with a touch of lipstick print. These are Piccioli’s key elements for the 2018 Cruise collection that submerge themselves in diversity and stun with their harmony. A few bags and accessories were created for the show, in which jewellery is imagined as a composition that marks out personality and attitude. At Valentino, borders become elastic, making it possible for diverse cultures and contradictory ways of being to merge together.

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BURBERRY Christopher Bailey, Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer and President, transformed Britain’s largest luxury brand by sales, (annual revenues of $3.7 billion reported in March 2017), from a local heritage name to a global fashion giant.

After 17 successful years with the company he will step down from the board in March 2018 and leave Burberry completely by December 2018. Before he leaves though he will continue to oversee the creation of engaging collections and the Fall/Winter 2017-18 collection is no exception.

Dedicated to British identity, the show took place in the newly restored Old Sessions House in Clerkenwell, London, where Bailey organised a photography exposition entitled, “Here We Are” – a retrospective of 20th-century British photographers in which social heavyweights such as Dafydd Jones, Shirley Baker, Ken Russell, Alasdair McLellan and Gosha Rubchinskiy portrayed life in the UK in the 21st century.

On the catwalk, men (and women) represented the features of the British culture: aristocracy meets the streets and craftsmanship meets modern techniques: these are the collection’s key points. This men’s fashion show was presented together with a women’s fashion show, as Burberry has been doing since 2015.

The iconic Burberry trench and Burberry’s winter coats are there but in new and extravagant colours made in collaboration with Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, who helped Christopher Bailey to develop the men’s collection. Classic was mixed with modern: the new world meets the old world.

Textures, colours and silhouettes subverted and reinvented by Bailey are crucial for this collection that rethinks British essence in a fresh and modern way.

Key colours of the show are pink, green, blue, black, camel, red and navy while the fabrics used are tartan and vintage check wool, Aran, Fair Isle and Argyle knits, plastic, Sketch-print cotton and natural shearling. For the accessories, extra-long chunkyknit scarves, the baseball cap in Vintage check and tartan, maxi shopping bags made of tartan and playful socks are definitely seasonal must-haves.

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VERSACE From Versace’s headquarters in Milan, Donatella Versace presented her 2018 Cruise collection as a love letter to LA. It is a tribute to subcultures, diversity, pleasure, freedom and the communities that celebrate life.

“I am in love with LA. The diversity, freedom and individuality of the city reflect the different women who define Versace today,” said the designer. Her interpretation of Los Angeles is a statement of her aesthetic: sexy, glamourous, youthful and rebellious with a rock’n’roll and street culture vibe.

All the Versace core elements are seen in the collection, such as studs, leather dresses and prints, but they are reinvented in a fresh and relaxed mood.

Pinstriped suits adorned with studs, a black unlined coat with vertical stripes of gold and graphite grey studs, double breasted pant suits and lace-trimmed slip-dresses with a CEO power allure are all designed to create a perfectly downtown mood.

Rock culture references become concrete in a series of black-studded biker jackets worn with pleated miniskirts, leather patchwork mini dresses or sculpted tuxedo jackets, stitched and outlined with silver chains. And then there is Baroque – relaxed and in a Beverly Hills mood, this part of the collection is characterised by its 1990s vibe and by the joyful, sexy energy that spreads out from the colourful and vibrant reworked Baroque prints.

They are like emblems of positivity. Print slip dresses have a dark urban romance, with lace and woven ribbon trims and a georgette under layer, held by a buckle and spaghetti straps.

Embroidered palm trees, peacock feathers and jungle flowers decorate faded denim boyfriend pants, trucker jackets and cotton bikers with power shoulders.

For evening wear, we see fitted long jersey dresses in shades of lilac, pale yellow and blue, with lingerie detailing for empowered femininity, giving a gentle touch of elegance. For the accessories, iconic bags such as the DV One are studded, pinstriped or embellished with intricate tropical embroideries.

Palm print canvas oversized bags capture an attitude of laidback living, while high-heel sandals or biker boots with added studs lend some vigour and definition to footwear.

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ccessories are simply essential. They can be one of the most vital elements items to truly transform an outfit from fine to fantastic. Funny or classical, luxurious or metropolitan, opulent or simple, accessories reveal who we are and express our way of being. They can create a unique allure and mirror our personality.

This season’s on-trend lady has a Roger Vivier Viv' Cabas trapezoidal shape bag, still curved and soft, combining vibrant stripes with an aristocratic air. Ballerina shoes are big this season and Florentine shoe brand Gia Couture present a striking version of the ballerina pump: the Gia Couture Dance with me Decolleté – a calfskin 3cm heel decolleté with velvet ribbons to wrap around exactly like an elegant dancer.

And finally, as mademoiselle Chanel used to say, “A woman who doesn't wear perfumes has no future”. The French Maison launches the hotly-anticipated new fragrance: the rebellious Gabrielle Chanel Eau de Parfum. The audacious fragrance was created by Olivier Polge and the Chanel Laboratories and it marries ylang-ylang, yasmine and orange blossom and a touch of tuberose, with musk, sandalwood, mandarin peel, grapefruit and blackcurrant – all encapsulated in the thinnest glass bottle ever made, which resonates with the haute couture spirit of the house as well as the rebellious allure of the founder.

And for men, it's all about a modern “sprezzatura”. This Italian word originates from Baldassare Castiglione’s “The Book of the Courtier”, where it is defined by the author as “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it”. In other words, a studied carelessness, especially as a characteristic quality of style. Sprezzatura is “effortless style”.

Metropolitan and modern, autumn’s man loves to travel in style and comfort with no compromising on his taste for luxury. Instead of a business bag he opts for a Stefano Ricci cosmopolitan backpack in burgundy calfskin featuring the Africa motif with the palladium signature – comfortable and classic.

For the shoes, the ultimate comfort is found in Arfango’s softly opulent blue velvet sleepers, customisable and indulgently luxurious. Modern but still classic, the sense of sprezzatura shines in the choice of accessories. A classic Hermés silk tie with a micro burgundy and grey pattern matched with a stunning pair of Tateossian limited edition cufflinks in 18-carat rose gold that expose a skeletonized watch movement framed by 122 black diamonds on a black rhodium trimmed case – altogether a fine statement of male modern elegance.

Got To Have It! This season’s hottest accessories will elevate any ensemble.

by Ivan Allegranti

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S I M P L Y P R O P E RT Y i n A s s o c i at i o n w i t h H a m i lt o n G r a n d

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Marilyn Hoffman and National Champion Stallion, Ultimate Bey.

Marilyn Hoffman T h e

O n e

H u n d r e d

M i l l i o n

D o l l a r

R e a lt o r

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arilyn Hoffman’s expertise in selling extraordinary estates and farms attracts a clientele that reads like a Who’s Who of business, sports, entertainment and the social register. Golfer Lee Trevino, a Saudi Prince, sports legend Deion Sanders, transportation secretary Milo Bryant, a billionaire Texas oilman, cosmetics queen Mary Kay, Merv Griffin, the CEO of the country’s largest corporation, a Trump cabinet member and a major sports team owner have all been her clients.

Marilyn sold a 35,000 sq. ft. waterfront estate for the full price of $20,000,000 in only 24 days. This home is believed to be the largest waterfront estate sold in the country. It was previously listed with another international broker for $13,000,000 and did not sell.

Marilyn was also the first Texas broker to list a $100,000,000 home. Her Kentucky sales include the Summer Wind Farm, with a 25,000 sq. ft. mansion, sold for James Thornton, and Dr. Bruce Jackson’s Paris Pike farm. Her sale of a $9,995,000 Penthouse in Dallas was the most expensive penthouse ever sold in the city and was sold to the most famous Texas oilman in only 79 days after it had been listed with other brokers for 807 days.

www.FreelandFarms.com Offered at $30,000,000

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ASPEN’S FINEST EQUESTRIAN ESTATE Marilyn Hoffman

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his 30 acre Aspen estate features a spectacular 6,800 sq. ft. 7 bedroom custom home with a creekside guest house and a 5 car garage. There are 5 fireplaces, a media room, wine cellar, and 3 decks with breathtaking views. Prime location only 20 miles to Aspen Airport, this estate features a 9,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art show barn and an addition barn with a recreation room with wet bar, full bathroom and hardwood floors.

Offered at $15,950,000. Furnishings negotiable. www.AspensFinestEstate.com

HOFFMAN INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES TEL – +1 214 698 1736 CELL – +1 214 674 3961 MarilynHoffman@sbcglobal.net www.MarilynHoffmanRealtor.com

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Marilyn Hoffman

Deer Run Breathtaking one of a kind custom ultra luxury showplace, true log home estate, built by one of the country’s top entrepreneurs for his own private family retreat.

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No expense was spared in the creation of this private oasis located near Cleveland in north east Ohio, USA. This truly magnificent 21,000+/square foot masterpiece is situated privately behind security gates on 23 lush, scenic, rolling acres with 17 rooms of the finest top of the line luxury and modern amenities available for the ultimate serene experience within reach from every space. There are 5 bedroom suites,

Marilyn Hoffman HOFFMAN INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES TEL – +1 214 698 1736 CELL – +1 214 674 3961 MarilynHoffman@sbcglobal.net www.MarilynHoffmanRealtor.com

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8 bathrooms, stunning kitchen and 5 fireplaces. The lower level features a fantastic saloon bar, wine room, second kitchen, game room, exercise room, dog kennel, 5-car garage, workshop and elevator. Outdoor in ground pool, Natural Stone Decks, Attic Storage and Extra Room, Dual Central Vacuums, Sprinkler / Irrigation fed from pond, Security System, Motion Detector, large Closets, Granite Jacuzzi, Granite Countertops throughout, Indoor Dog Kennel and Indoor Dog Bath,

and a 19 ft Free Standing Totem Pole.

The tremendous warmth and opulence of this exquisite Engelmann spruce log home . Initially built in Montana out of reclaimed timbers from forest fires and beautifully repurposed to craft this one-of-a-kind home.

Greeted by massive 13’ custom mahogany doors, enter the 29’ foyer of this estate, you find yourself embraced by the natural beauty of Engelmann Spruce timbers. Unique, custom

crafted chandeliers and light fixtures are fitted throughout the home.

Heated Mexican Saltillo Tile floors bordered in rich black walnut throughout the main floor.

Step outside to amazing the spaces to explore, the natural springs and 30 foot natural waterfall in picturesque woods and farmland. Rich Natural Details, The finest materials in the hands of expert craftsmanship fill the home and reflect the surrounding outdoor beauty nature.

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Marilyn Hoffman LY U

HOFFMAN INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES TEL – +1 214 698 1736 CELL – +1 214 674 3961 MarilynHoffman@sbcglobal.net www.MarilynHoffmanRealtor.com

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Exclusive listing agent Vanessa Andrews Texas Cell/text: 281-744-7252 www.MagnificentProperties.com®

Marilyn Hoffman HOFFMAN INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES TEL – +1 214 698 1736 CELL – +1 214 674 3961 MarilynHoffman@sbcglobal.net www.MarilynHoffmanRealtor.com

Additional Features: 2 Full Kitchens, Lower-Level Saloon, Wine Cellar, 5-Stall Horse Barn and Horse Arena, Clubhouse (wired with electric), Double Tiered Attic, 3-Floor Elevator, In-Ground Pool and Spa 5-Car Garage (geothermal heated) Stocked Lake & Active Farm (livestock permitted).

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www.OhiosFinestEstate.com

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Smallbone of Devizes taking British hand-crafted interior design to the world. From its workshop in Devizes, Smallbone is crafting timber cabinetry with soul – and catching the eye of the A-list.

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eading the way in the hand-crafted revolution is Wiltshire based Smallbone of Devizes. Specialising in custom-made kitchens and fitted cabinetry, the brand combines traditional craftsmanship with modern materials resulting in furniture that is built to last.

At the forefront of British furniture design for nearly 40 years, Smallbone of Devizes has an unparalleled global reputation for producing the finest bespoke cabinetry. Throughout its history, the British furnituremaker has pioneered key innovations, including the larder and kitchen island, that have transformed the kitchen from a cooking space to a multifunctional social hub.

With decades of experience, Smallbone’s highly skilled craftsmen have evolved a diverse portfolio of immaculately executed furniture for every room in the house. From kitchens and bathrooms to libraries and home

offices, each commission is still handcrafted in the company’s Devizes workshop. Smallbone’s talented team of joiners – there are now 120 master craftsmen and apprentices, including three generations of the same family, in the Devizes workshop – have produced elegant, soughtafter pieces, exclusively tailored to the client’s taste and environment, and finished in their colour palette of choice.

From concept to completion, all of Smallbone’s commissions are a close collaboration between the client and design team. Taking a completely bespoke approach, Smallbone starts by learning about the client’s lifestyle and how they use their space before even putting pen to paper. This ensures that every design enhances the client’s home and is tailored to suit their lifestyle. Wherever it is in the world, each commission is designed and installed by the company’s own dedicated team.

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Ever building upon its impressive portfolio, Smallbone continues to innovate with a number of exciting projects taking place across the Middle East.

This commitment to excellence, combined with a very personal service, has ensured that the name Smallbone is synonymous with luxury worldwide. Working with some of the most prestigious figures in architecture and interior design, including Jean Nouvel who recently designed the Abu Dhabi Louvre to great critical acclaim, Smallbone is the company of choice for the world’s leading property developers. In New York, it was commissioned to design 129 state-of-the-art kitchens for ONE57, a landmark condominium overlooking Central Park. With the penthouse breaking the real estate ceiling in Manhattan, the development is an example of how Smallbone’s designs can increase the value of properties in the world’s most luxurious addresses.

Ever building upon its impressive portfolio, Smallbone continues to innovate with a number of exciting projects taking place across the Middle East. These include the extensive Emaar property development in the Dubai Hills, one of the most desirable residential communities in Dubai, which features bespoke Smallbone cabinetry in the kitchens, media rooms and dressing rooms within the luxury villas.

Branching out beyond the kitchen, Smallbone continues to bring its unique brand of luxury to the rest of the house. Whether it is a bedroom, bathroom, media room or home office, Smallbone’s custom-made furniture and storage solutions are the ideal choice for creating an elegant yet functional space. Ever the pioneer, Smallbone has pushed the boundaries of design and technological development in these spaces.

Another exciting project that showcases Smallbone’s offering outside of the kitchen is its recent collaboration with Paris-based menswear designer, Paul Helbers.

Together with the designer, the company created a handmade oxidised English oak wardrobe for the Wallpaper* Handmade project during Salone Del Mobile 2017. Featuring unusual transparent doors, the design subverts the concept of concealed domestic storage, elevating clothes to works of art. Featuring clever design solutions, such as door detailing using discrete tenons and a concealed hinge sourced from Japan, it is as technically perfect as it is beautiful. The Smallbone team devoted more than 500 hours to the construction of the wardrobe, meticulously finishing every detail by hand.

This homegrown British brand with bags of international appeal shows no signs of standing still, with a number of exciting new product launches and collaborations and many more in the pipeline. Looking to the future while celebrating its past, this British icon continues to lead from the front while keeping its artisanal roots in plain sight. smallbone.co.uk / +44(0)20 75 89 5998

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Macassar Inspired by British neo-classical style with the use of richly opulent veneers, mirrored strips, glass and marble. This kitchen space cleverly uses timber cabinetry — Macassar veneered panels with stained walnut frames, book-matched Calacatta marble splash backs and counter tops. Detailing of custom nickel Smallbone flush handles finish this design to super-luxe standards.

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Clean Lines Generous storage solutions and seamless craftsmanship are at the heart of this unique design.

Left

Right

Mitred drawer fronts are crafted with an integrated finger rail for ease of opening and to maintain the sleek, uninterrupted lines. Precision-cut apertures hold signature walnut handmade drawer boxes perfect for all storage needs.

This contemporary, bespoke kitchen features a backframe with precision-cut apertures designed to perfectly fit the handmade timber drawers. Available in an endless combination of finishes, from bronze and steel to handpainted, stone or veneer, this handleless kitchen is a flawless example of a custom-made modern design.

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Opposite — Alchemy Newly designed bedroom concept for the Alchemy collection using stained and bleached English oak as positive contrasts in a space showcasing a combined use of styles. Curved drawer fronts bring softness to linear furniture and a clever use of metallic and reflective surfaces bring light and space to this project.

1. Standalone Larders Featuring everything from willow baskets and pull-out trays to spice racks and custom china stores, a Smallbone standalone larder is just as flexible as an in-built design.

2. Spacious Solutions Smallbone knows one size doesn’t fit all. Cutlery drawers are tailored to specific collections, ensuring everything has a place in your new kitchen 3. Elegant Displays Spices, oils, condiments — simple ingredients can be transformed into a covetable collection thanks to a joyful union of smart design and expert craftsmanship.

4. Time for Tea Favourite china should have a home all of its own. Keeping treasured sets together in one multi-purpose drawer will make life a whole lot easier.

5. Neat & Tidy From phones to chargers and laptops, the trappings of modern life can look messy. Bespoke drawer dividers will ensure an uncluttered aesthetic.

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The Premiere Estates of Montecito & Santa Barbara

RANDY SOLAKIAN (805) 565-2208 www.montecitoestates.com License #00622258

DEANNA SOLAKIAN (805) 565-2264 www.montecitoestates.com License#01895788

Exclusive Representation for Marketing & Acquisition Additional Exceptional Estates Available by Private Consultation

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ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE ON 5 ACRES MONTECITO | $27,500,000 | COMPLETE PRIVACY

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PRIVATE POLO RANCH ESTATE ON 20 ACRES ALL AMENITIES INCLUDING, POLO FIELD, STABLES & CLUBHOUSE

NEAR SANTA BARBRA POLO CLUB | $65,000,000

The Premiere Estates of Montecito & Santa Barbara

RANDY SOLAKIAN (805) 565-2208 www.montecitoestates.com License #00622258

DEANNA SOLAKIAN (805) 565-2264 www.montecitoestates.com License#01895788

Exclusive Representation for Marketing & Acquisition Additional Exceptional Estates Available by Private Consultation

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Decade of Design Sarah Ireland is an award-winning British interior designer based in Worcestershire in the UK. With a portfolio boasting 10 years of prestigious projects and clients, her expertise ranges from large-scale new builds to transforming small residential spaces, but always underlined by a great passion for design.

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hether on site, in her design studio or walking the hills of the surrounding Worcestershire countryside, Sarah Ireland is never far from inspiration. Adept at turnkey projects, as well as courtyard designs, new builds and commercial renovations, she has a mounting number of awards and accolades to her name, and specialises in transforming small spaces. But whether large or small, the first step to any new project is, she says, getting to know the client.

“Designing is knowing how to interpret someone’s brief, and creating a one-off piece that is completely about them,” says Sarah.

“To exceed all expectations, you have to really know your client. If it’s a domestic project, you need to understand their behaviour, tastes, dress sense and overall style, their lifestyle and general dayto-day. For commercial briefs, such as restaurants and bars, it’s knowing who their desired clientele is, and what sort of ambience they’re after.”

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Decade of Design

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Born in Birmingham before moving as a child to the Forest of Dean where she was privileged to have “a very rural, happy and sheltered childhood,” Sarah has always enjoyed the great outdoors. Her first foray in design started out in the bustling city of Cheltenham, where she cut her teeth studying under a design group that specialised in high-end bathroom design. “I trained there for nine years, where I not only refined my design style but came to understand all the behind the scenes running of a business, from finances to project management to building/installation works.”

Recent projects of Sarah’s include Malvern Spa; it saw her working alongside a local architect to bring a high-end, relaxing retreat to quiet Worcestershire, and highlights the flexible nature of her design schemes.

Initially challenged by the harsh surroundings of the spa location, which sits within a business district on the outskirts of Malvern, Sarah introduced stone walls adorned with foliage, and a clever positioning of trees to create the feel of a rural haven. Her ongoing projects for both Hilton Hotel Group and Hampton Manor also demonstrate how her couture vision can be applied to even large-scale projects.

Now firmly established within her own studio in Worcester, Sarah is a regular guest designer on British television, and divides her time between the UK and the Middle East. “The Middle East is my second home,” says Sarah. “Having had family there for the past 18 years, I’ve seen the place grow and develop into the cosmopolitan chic dream location that it has become, and it will always have a special place in my heart.”

“Both these larger commercial projects were enjoyable clients and briefs, achieving stunning contemporary yet timeless styling within each bedroom or bathroom space,” she says. “It always comes down to those finer details and finishes on handles, soft furnishings or even tiles. Both clients are aiming for the top end of the market, requiring attention to detail on a larger scale, and making every room blend seamlessly with its surrounds, while maintaining its own individual touch. Hampton Manor has gone from strength to strength, and I will be designing phase two shortly, whilst Hilton is a growing brand with high expectations.”

When it comes to the fast-paced trends of interior design, too, the seasonal fashions of the UK dovetail nicely with the cosmopolitan edginess of the Middle East. “I am influenced every time I am in the UAE, whether it’s visiting a souk or viewing the Yas Viceroy, the newly opened Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr al Muwaiji, or even the Burj Al Arab, which is still a permanent favourite.

“Dubai is really at the forefront of design, and there have been numerous relevant design exhibitions of late, such as Downtown Design and the CID Awards,” she adds. “Every hotel or home is demanding the next big thing, the highest quality products and attention to detail; it’s a design mecca. Meanwhile, design trends in the UK seem to develop every few months, and these are naturally led by the seasons and coincide with all fashions. As we head into winter, the trend for metallic finishes with an industrial-edge are still at the fore. Geometric lines throughout tiles, fabrics, wallpapers and accessories are also prevalent, as is warm lighting, filament bulbs and a strong desire for bold shapes. The arrival of 2018 is forecast to soften everything with pastel tones.”

Boutique in size with infinite creativity, Sarah Ireland Designs regularly collaborates with other artists, architects and interior designers, including Pippa Orgee, who specialises in soft furnishings and exquisite fabrics and shares the design studio. In the new year, Sarah will also be actively pursuing both commercial and residential ventures in the UAE, where she has her sights firmly set on a new design project. But, no matter the location, for Sarah, the skill of successful interiors is to stay true to your own sense of style.

“Like everything, design evolves; nothing is truly original but an adaptation of something else,” she says. “I’ve seen so many materials, styles and trends emerge and morph, but I always say, the key is to be trendy yet timeless.”

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The jewel of Amman

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Amman’s layered history is reflected in its diverse people and its varied architecture. Home to numerous churches and mosques, the capital city of Jordan is home to a multidenominational and multicultural population – and now, set amongst the colourful ancient souks, Roman ruins, cultural museums and monuments sits a new state-ofthe-art mixed-use development: Campbell Gray Living.

by Julia Zaltzman

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or a city smack in the middle of an ancient region, Amman can be charmingly modern. Its rolling hills and tolerant attitude have long been a refuge for displaced Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian neighbours, and a base for nongovernmental organisations. It is also home to a worldly creative class, increasingly inserting Western trends, such as a Manhattan-style speakeasy, into the fold.

Known as Philadelphia in Hellenistic times and reduced to a forgotten village until it became Jordan’s capital in 1921, Amman has expanded from its original seven hills to around 20, steadily progressing westwards since the 1950s. In the west, stately villas, malls and glass-and-steel towers predominate, while in the east, a gritty, more traditional old city is centred downtown, where the hillsides are blanketed with white, boxy architecture. It is also home to the elegant new Campbell Gray Living development, which launched in May 2017.

Located in downtown Abdali, Campbell Gray Living – a development by Al Seraje Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Audeh Group – includes residences, offices, boutiques and a five-star hotel, Campbell Gray, Amman (launching 2019).

Campbell Gray Living will cater to the local and international elite in a thriving city that serves as a major hub in the region creating a luxury urban retreat.

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The private residences offer one, two and three-bedroom apartments with the interior design being overseen by the internationally acclaimed Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. Residence owners can enjoy luxury amenities such as a rooftop pool with private cabanas and 24-hour security, as well as a concierge and maintenance services. The first phase of 62 residences will be completed by December 2017.

“Drawing on bespoke furniture and fittings and exquisite finishes such as dark stained parquet flooring, marble worktops and seagrass wallpaper, the apartments at Campbell Gray Living are designed with the global elite in mind,” comments a spokesperson from Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. “Residents will take pleasure in the light palette with added accents of colour of each apartment, helping to reflect the rich culture of Jordan.”

Artwork and patterned fabrics in tones of blue and coral provide a warm edge to the space, and loose rugs lend a soft touch whilst echoing the heritage of the region.

The bathrooms feature glazed tiles and composite stone flooring which help reflect the strong Eastern sun, whilst the bespoke sealed veneer timber and chrome vanity units add a glamorous touch.

“Whether monochrome or pale blue, the bathroom schemes are fresh and contemporary and complement the adjoining living areas. Each apartment is characterful and designed with convenience in mind.”

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Contemporary art for some of the residences have been commissioned from high-end local and regional artists, and British artist Huw Williams has been commissioned to create four oversized paintings of horses for the four lobbies. The project owner Saad Audeh is a big fan of polo and horseback riding, and horses are seen to be a very good omen in the Middle East in general.

Housing a unique mix of exciting boutiques, cafes and restaurants, Campbell Gray Living has over 4,200 sq.m. of premium retail space. The development surrounding the residences and offices (which are within a five-minute walk from Shmeisani, Jordan’s financial district) is in close proximity to the five-star hotel, Campbell Gray Amman, which is a new addition to the Campbell Gray Hotels portfolio. Once completed, the hotel will have 180 guest rooms and suites, as well as an extensive array of amenities and facilities. These include a rooftop pool, signature gourmet restaurants, bar and terrace, a spa with an indoor swimming pool, a ballroom, private cigar lounge and various meeting rooms.

In September, the entire development won a five-star award within the Mixed-Use Development – Jordan category at the Africa & Arabia Property Awards 2017-2018. One of the most prestigious industry events in the region, the project also received awards for Interior Design Apartment – Jordan and Residential High-rise Architecture – Jordan, and it was selected from over 200 entries spread across the Africa and Arabia region.

“The USP for any Campbell Gray project is always to be the very best and created to the highest possible standards,” comments Gordon Campbell Gray, founder and chairman of Campbell Gray Hotels. “In the case of Campbell Gray Living in Amman, we have created a very special project which, when completed, will consist of the two award-winning iconic towers housing apartments, offices, retail and our five-star hotel, the Campbell Gray Amman.”

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Luxury on the Palm Muraba Residences Palm Jumeirah is a project like no other. Developed by home-grown UAE developer Muraba Properties, and designed by 2017 Pritzker Prize-winning RCR Arquitectes, Muraba Residences consists of just 50 flawlessly formed apartments and penthouses on the Eastern Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.

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esigned from the inside out, with the resident in mind and the convenience, comforts and luxuries of modernday living at its core, Muraba Residences is the new landmark in town. Located on the prestigious Palm Jumeirah, with uninterrupted views across the water of the entire Dubai skyline, it is the carefully considered design and exceptional build quality that makes this development stand out from the crowd.

Ibrahim Al Ghurair, founder of Muraba Properties, says, “Vision is one thing, execution is quite another matter, but it is this attention to detail that sets the Muraba Residences apart, and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

An architectural gem with the iconic Burj Al Arab a clear focal point on its horizon, Muraba Residences is a unique structure with an impressive yet discreet visual aesthetic created by 2017 Pritzker Prize-winning Spanish firm RCR Arquitectes. The building is aligned not only with its surroundings, but with a certain kind of mindset; one that is appreciative of a more sophisticated architectural philosophy. Or, in the words of RCR Arquitectes’ Rafael Aranda, “In the power of the sea that could be seen from inside any apartment, and the spatial richness from crossing and transversal views.”

Ibrahim Al Ghurair & Rafael Aranda

Consisting of 46 two- and three-bedroom apartments, and four penthouses, all of which offer exceptional living space with a focus on style, not one element of the contemporary design has been overlooked. All living rooms have sea views with floor-toceiling windows, incorporating various ingenious architectural

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elements that fully integrate the exterior with the interior, whilst ensuring complete privacy.

“All rooms have natural light but we have softened its sharpness through shadows and wrinkled glass,” explains Rafael. With a considered use of colour and transparency now recognised as being the design calling card of RCR Arquitectes, these elements are manifested in Muraba Residences via “precision and continuity”, he says, while a connection to the notable location itself – the Palm Jumeriah – is achieved by “facing the sea and blowing up boundaries”.

“Working with Muraba was our first venture in the Middle East and with such a landscape,” he continues. “It was clear the sea would be integral to the design. Upon seeing in real life the area we had as our blank canvas, it become apparent what we wanted to achieve, and how we would do this. The perfect blue sea would be framed in each living space, bringing to life the apartments and presenting a holistic lifestyle experience.”

All materials within the design have been locally sourced, from the glass and precast concrete panels to the use of travertine stone.

Modern in its appeal, yet warm in its execution, the allure of the apartments lies in their “rough luxury”, says Rafael, describing them as “a contemporary space where you feel luxury which doesn’t show in an obvious manner”.

Working from a brief that required them to build apartments where its purity finds a new way of communication about Dubai, quality is a theme that runs throughout the development. It boasts world-class facilities, including a swimming pool stretching the length of the building, the latest in gym equipment, men’s and ladies’ indoor vitality pools, crystal steam rooms and experience showers, not to mention 24-hour security and concierge services. Fixtures and fittings are second to none and all are provided by global leaders within their respective fields.

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Established in 1988 by its founding architects – Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta – RCR Arquitectes has forged a name for itself by creating truly innovative designs, and its collaborations with economists, biologists, lighting specialists and local architects. They continue to investigate structural and constructive themes that support the essence of architecture in each work, and the recent completion of Muraba Residences Palm Jumeirah stands to further strengthen the UAE’s quickpaced and globally recognised movement towards becoming a hub for design and architectural excellence. Following the celebrated win of their 2017 Pritzker Prize, both RCR Arquitectes and Muraba Residences now join an elite club – that of Pritzker winner-designed buildings in the Middle East – rubbing shoulders with Jean Nouvel’s newly opened Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the late Dame Zaha Hadid’s Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim and Sir Norman Foster’s Index Tower.

“The project perfectly reflects the vision that we had right from the start, and we are proud to be part of a team that can once again place Dubai on the world’s architectural map with a Pritzkerdesigned building,” says Ibrahim Al Ghurair.

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Chalet Chic Specialising in exceptional, one-of-a-kind chalets and hotels in the world’s premier ski resorts, Alpine Guru is a boutique agency that uses its first-hand knowledge of what’s fresh on the slopes to create your perfect winter holiday.

edelweiss

by Julia Zaltzman

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iving travel planning that personal touch, only the finest ski chalets in the coolest locations are individually selected by Alpine Guru for their exquisite level of service, style and amenities. With 700 different rental properties in over 40 countries worldwide currently on their books, Alpine Guru co-founders, Oliver Corkhill and Anthony Cullen, use their impressive local knowledge and book of contacts worldwide to arrange almost anything that their guests desire, from spa treatments and restaurant reservations to VIP excursions and ski instructors. Combining the best of tailored travel with a premium concierge service, Alpine Guru does all the planning, so guests don’t have to.

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All Alpine Guru’s properties come with the highest level of service, including a team of dedicated staff. For the personal touch, a Michelin-standard chef is often available to prepare breakfast, afternoon treats and delicious evening meals. Working closely with guests to tailor the menus perfectly, chefs can serve an exquisite seven-course taster menu.

One such idyllic offering which forms part of the exclusive 7 Heavens development, ideally located right in the heart of Zermatt, is Chalet Aconcagua. Representing the ultimate in super-luxurious alpine living, it has all the facilities required for a relaxing and entertaining break including a hot tub, hammam and cinema room. Within walking distance of the main railway station, shops, bars and restaurants, the slopes are also easily accessible via the Sunnegga funicular, which is just a short stroll away.

Boasting spacious, stylish open-plan living throughout an expansive 550 sq.m. spread over four floors, its feature windows open onto a balcony offering stunning views over the village and Matterhorn, and accommodates ten adults and two children across four en-suite double bedrooms and a bunk room. The elegantly designed interior combines authentic alpine furnishings

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edelweiss

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with Chalet Elbrus, accommodating 24 guests in 10 en-suite bedrooms.

with premium, chic finishes. A large contemporary fireplace surrounded by sumptuous sofas and armchairs creates a warm and welcoming ambience, providing the perfect spot to relax before dinner.

For seasoned admirers of the historic village of Courchevel 1850, however, Chalet Edelweiss is arguably the most lavish property in the whole of the Alps. Spanning a massive 3,000 sq.m. of opulent living across seven floors, the lavish chalet, which was completed in September 2012, sports a ski-in/ski-out location in a highly exclusive private residential area of Courchevel – right on the Bellecôte piste – and just a five-minute walk from the centre of the village. It’s also worth noting that rental of Chalet Edelweiss includes a private ski instructor for six days during the week.

The ideal chalet for sociable retreats, with access to a shared gym and a lobby with a pool table, Chalet Aconcagua is also fully wired with the latest audio and visual entertainment systems which are put to good use in its very own cinema and games room, meaning the entire family is catered for. Other facilities include a ski room with heated boot warmers, a laundry room and a lift, and for those looking to rent in larger groups, Chalet Aconcagua can even be rented in conjunction 172

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Aconcagua

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Perfect for the mornings after the night before, the chalet spa occupies an entire floor, and is equipped with a jaw-dropping 16m indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam and Jacuzzi, plus no fewer than two massage rooms. There are changing rooms and a fully-equipped fitness centre, and the spa also features two massage and therapy suites for in-house treatments.

The chalet sleeps up to 16 guests across eight bedrooms, and features enormous statement fireplaces, beautiful marble bathrooms, huge bedroom suites, an impressive grand hall and plush neutral fabrics throughout. The piece de resistance is undoubtedly its own private nightclub, with a dance floor, bar and billiard table. Fully catered with sociable guests in mind, a car lift provides access to a large underground garage that can park 20 cars, while the nightclub

can host an impressive 100 guests. There’s even a private cinema, library, office and professional kitchen.

Exhibiting incredible artworks on the walls, the main living space is vast with a dining table that seats up to 22 with additional three seating areas opposite. A grand hall splits the two areas, and a separate kitchen is also housed on the same level.

The main master bedroom has sole command of the top floor and has his-and-hers dressing rooms, as well as a luxurious bathroom and lounge area.

Whether seeking adventure off piste or looking forward to the enjoyment of après ski, Alpine Guru can tailor the trip of a lifetime, removing the stress from travel and placing magical memories at the fore.

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Aconcagua

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S I M P L Y T R AV E L

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The Number One Address Contemporary design and cosmopolitan convenience meet artisanal craftsmanship, world-class service and luxury leisure at its finest.

Welcome to Downtown Dubai’s new must-see resort: Address Boulevard.

by Julia Zaltzman

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illed as the centre of now, Downtown Dubai is high on the list of the world’s most sought-after destinations. A dynamic city hub that has catalysed the economy and cemented Dubai’s reputation as a truly global metropolis, the region is host to some of the most impressive residential and commercial developments to emerge in the past year, including the newest addition to the premium Address chain: Address Boulevard.

Soaring an impressive 368m into the sky, the 72-storey skyscraper presents the right mix of cool and luxe with its prestigious residences and hotel accommodation. Nestled close to the culturally vibrant opera district and the Dubai Mall, Address Boulevard offers world-class views of the magnificent Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building and an iconic symbol of Dubai.

The perfect fit for international visitors who like to be near retail, cultural and leisure attractions, the stunning new resort takes its lead from its well-travelled guests and residents. Inspired by European finesse while demonstrating old world, understated elegance and luxury, its art deco-style architecture and sumptuous interiors are influenced by the era of luxurious travel, with exquisite craftsmanship evident throughout. Artisanal skill reigns, and time spent here is akin to being surrounded by someone’s private art collection, all set within a home living space.

The hotel capitalises on the reach and reputation of the flagship brand of Emaar Hospitality Group across the GCC as well as Europe, the Far East and emerging

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luxury travel markets of India and China, and delivers a lifestyle city resort atmosphere that assures a premium experience for business and leisure travellers, as well as families.

For those who like to indulge in their gastronomy, the signature restaurant at Address is a fresh, exciting initiative that uses impeccably dressed spaces to enable guests to savour international cuisine. With its unique design concept, it feels like a luxurious European apartment providing classic dishes and great food in sublime surroundings. Each room cleverly depicts the interior of a different home, featuring both communal and private dining spaces, including Kitchen, Living Room, Collection Room, Dining Room, Dressing Room, Study Room and Secret Room for intimate meetings. Wellconsidered socialising areas are also available, such as Library, Music Room and Games Room, while al fresco dining is provided on the restaurant’s family-friendly outdoor terrace. Both the menu and the modular spaces have been designed to bring people together through the act of sharing whilst maintaining an intimate dining experience; culinary delights and innovative beverages are available any time of the day.

In addition, the sophisticated Lounge area with its superior views of Burj Khalifa serves as the perfect place to hold a meeting or indulge in a light snack or beverage. Soothing music wafts through the lobby, and this chic area is the

ideal place in which to end the afternoon or start the evening (there is a selection of appealing mocktails), not to mention head to the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest retail and leisure destination. An air-conditioned travellator connects Address Boulevard to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station and the Dubai Mall itself.

Both the bustling Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, which is ideal for families and young visitors, and Dubai Opera, the multi-format performing arts venue, are just a short journey from the hotel. Additionally, business guests have the convenience of being close to the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai International Convention Centre.

With its inspiring architecture, design and dĂŠcor, Address Boulevard offers a unique experience for guests and builds on the strong credentials of Address Hotels + Resorts in managing mixed-use luxury hotels and serviced residences. It boasts 196 rooms including seven twobedroom suites and a marvellous Address suite offering spectacular views. In addition, there are 532 serviced residences, comprising duplexes and a stunning sevenbedroom penthouse. Calm, neutral tones and hues reflect the grand ambience of the vibrant downtown Dubai lifestyle, while spacious living and sleeping areas blend perfectly with each other, complemented by elegant architecture, immaculate technology and fine furnishings.

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Providing a one-of-a-kind, first-class experience in the heart of the city, the seven fully-furnished bedroom penthouse flows seamlessly over two levels, exuding timeless style and flawless design. Perfect for larger families, this grand residence indulges the entire family with all the space and extravagance they need.

The generously-sized master bedroom, replete with a 32” TV and built-in walk-in closet, is complemented by a spacious bathroom with rain shower, bathtub, vanity and dressing area.

The apartment has elegant high ceilings throughout, as well as a stylish kitchen and chic dining area, accompanied by state-ofthe-art appliances. A balcony with panoramic views of the city completes the experience, with unrivalled views of Burj Khalifa and panoramic vistas of the mesmerising city skyline in its magical entirety.

Short-term guests at the residences are also guaranteed access to the hotel’s unique facilities, including the spa and its rejuvenating therapies and treatments. Dedicated to beauty and wellness, it is set on an entire floor spanning 700 sq.m., and

features a swimming pool, ten dedicated single treatment rooms, a private couple’s treatment suite, manicure and pedicure areas, and a private vitality pool.

The best of ancient and modern therapies are combined with opulent ingredients and the most advanced skincare technologies, all housed within a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere to revitalise mind and body. Other amenities include relaxation lounges, men’s and ladies’ thermal suites, steam rooms, saunas, rhassoul and hammam, experience showers and ice fountains. Address Boulevard also provides a state-of-the-art fitness centre, including a yoga studio and a kinesis fitness wall.

When it comes to forging an impeccably chic lifestyle with indulgence at the fore, the Address Boulevard presents an altogether magnificent and holistic experience that is streets ahead of its competition.

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WINTER WONDER BOROUGHS Passing through New York City streets in pursuit of the finer things in life

By Laura Brown

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t’s not a secret that New York City’s boroughs have had a dramatic facelift over the past decade, and with it a reawakening of the structures within. What better time to revisit, then, when the residents are getting ready for their winter hibernation, and hotels are in full festive spirit to beat the snowy cold? We’re in pursuit of festive happiness and will be gathering round the fireplaces of some of the finest hotels in (outer) town.

Walking the walk Framed by three bodies of water, Manhattan is the epicentre of the finer things in urban life, with its neighbourhoods such as Chelsea, SoHo and Lower East Side where the old-world charm has not worn off in the midst of new developments. The refined details of modern-day developers have left their quirky and sophisticated marks on the interiors as well as the city streets. Still, the soul of the boroughs has kept its charm.

Convivial cafés and elegant boutiques with dazzling couture collections alternated by sturdy industrial builds are bringing an eclectic sphere together on the city’s sidewalks.

These sidewalks are New York’s finer USP, where the avenues from north to south create a rhythmic grid of broad lanes and the numbered streets weave themselves through the generous framework from east to west – becoming catwalks during fashion week and fast-paced running tracks on workdays, places to flaunt new purchases and an urban background for many a movie scene or picture frame. And in winter, when cold winds gust by, the beautifully decorated shopfronts create windows of innovative storytelling and jolly scenes. Passing through town, pause to admire outdoor frames of elite retail giants such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman (with its BG Radar

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making shopping child’s play!) and Barney’s, while exquisite jewellers such as Harry Winston bedazzle with massive, luxury diamonds and stunning timepieces. Here, on the roads to success for many living the American Dream, high street brands, elegant fashion houses and tiny boutiques cater for fashion New York-style and provide quirky gifts and heavenly scents, while foodie favourites bring fine dining to the streets in cool sidewalk cafés where to-go coffees become your new found access card to NYC life.

On corners and near zebra crossings tourists become more distinct from the New York dwellers. Here, the rush of the city becomes apparent, as locals on their way to work have exchanged their classy footwear for sturdy sneakers, pacing through the routines to get to their first meeting of the day. This city is made for walking, even though taxi cabs are visible at each entrance and on every city’s block, especially enticing on a winter’s day. All the while, tourists are keen to take in the city, slowing down their pace and enjoying their casual stroll, chins tucked into woolly scarves enclosed by winter jackets, through festive lit neighbourhoods while gasping at the skyline filled with historic remnants and metal, window-paned titans.

Sparkling splendour It is here where splendour makes its way through hotel lobbies and exquisite taste flaunts itself on rooftop terraces – where guests escape the sidewalks below.

Rumour has it that in the olden days, ice rinks were created on these top terraces to woo the aristocrats, while elevators carried private cars and even elephants to the opulent ballrooms. Now, people can relax and enjoy the views of the city that never sleeps.

Ideally situated in the midst of the city, opposite the Museum of Modern Art, the terrace of the lavish Baccarat welcomes guests and residents alike. In the grandeur of its time, the hotel’s entrance sparkles through ceiling-hung chandeliers revealing the crystal company’s heritage and the 250 years of history translating its essence into contemporary culture, whilst the Harcourt vitrines showcase works by commissioned artists. The exquisite art knowledge and taste of glamour embellish the hotel, resulting in a collection spanning from the 18th century to the present day. The suites are decorated in subtle colours, elevating the carefully curated artworks and finer materials. Floor-to-ceiling windows subdue the city lights bringing in the right amount of cosmopolitan vibe – all together the perfect setting for a private haven of calm after a day out on the town.

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Amicable ambiences For a younger vibe along Manhattan’s pavements, head to the Lower East Side, leaning against the Financial District and cornered by Little Italy and Greenwich Village. This lesser known district, with triple access to the mainland via three suspension bridges (Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge on the north end), mixes galleries, charismatic shops – where you find the latest trends and unusual designs – and utterly refined hotels and eateries; it is where old-school builds have been given an overhaul and room has been made for a kaleidoscope of details. Materials, scents, even the surroundings all perfectly combined to bring in the correct ambience. The Ludlow’s presence with its private terrace suites, loft spaces and eclectic mix of old and new marks a deep-rooted heritage, where interiors are uber chic and subtle hints of longgone eras can be found – the marble mosaic flooring, for example, is a given.

Here, Dirty French calls for reservations as the French bistro brings in crowds from near and far. The allure of simple food has far surpassed the bistro elements and now holds its own with a beautifully curated menu, packed with timeless dishes and bold flavours.

These rustic charms have made it across the water, where boutique hotels have had the chance to flourish away from Manhattan’s grasp. Individually operated hotels cater for exquisite tastes and bring fresh visitors. The newly opened Brooklyn’s 1 Hotel gives guests their own private suites with a Manhattan skyline view over the East River. Designed by local artists and inspired by nature, from building materials to room furnishings and living green features, each detail is intended to bring the outside in, creating a pure and natural environment – all under the watchful eyes of the city’s giants across the water.

Every single detail has been given an element of thought: room keys are made of five different types of wood and clothes hangers are made of recycled consumer materials, and each room even comes with a yoga mat. These mindful moments come with excellent service and fresh produce for breakfast, lunch and dinner from nearby farms; this is urban luxury on a whole other level, and the green approach somehow feels jolly good. baccarathotels.com ludlowhotel.com 1hotels.com

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Luxury, Innovation and First Class Service Abu Dhabi International Airport Voted Best Airport in the Airport Service Quality Awards

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eing voted the best airport in the Middle East by Airports Council International, and Most Improved Airport in the Middle East, marks the start of an exciting time for Abu Dhabi

International Airport (AUH).

With the buzz around the construction of its iconic new Midfield Terminal Building growing, the airport is entering a period of expansion, innovation and excitement about the future.

The much coveted Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards were handed to Acting Chief Operations Officer Ahmed Al Shamisi in a ceremony on the idyllic island of Mauritius in October, attended by the great and good of the global aviation industry, and firmly marking Abu Dhabi International Airport as one to watch.

The ASQ is the world-renowned and globally established benchmarking program measuring passengers’ satisfaction while traveling through an airport.

The awards recognize airports around the globe that demonstrate a commitment to providing an excellent customer experience and they are given on the basis of passenger surveys that are supervised by Airports Council International. Travelers give their views on a group of services offered to them, as well as rating their satisfaction with these services

Ahmed Al Shamisi , Acting chief Operations Officer and Muna Al Ghanim,

provided by the airport. The areas reviewed include airport access, check-

Head of Airport Service Quality from Abu Dhabi Airports, receive the “Best

in, security screening, stores, and restaurants, amongst other services.

Airport in the Middle East” award from Angela Gittens, Director General

Awards are presented to those airports whose customers have rated them

of ACI World, at the ASQ Awards ceremony held in Mauritius.

the highest over the course of the year.

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“The appreciation from our passengers who voted for these awards is heartening,” said Acting Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, Abdul Majeed Al Khoori. “This recognition is thanks to the hard work of our team at Abu Dhabi International Airport and our stakeholders, and reflects the team spirit of those working in the airport’s terminals to make sure that the passenger experience is as exceptional as possible.”

Being billed as the Middle East’s best airport is a lot to live up to, but AUH doesn’t disappoint. With much focus placed on the passenger experience over the last few years, with projects such as ‘Abu Dhabi DNA’, showcasing the emirate’s rich culture and heritage, and the introduction of pioneering new technologies, like Smart Travel, the airport’s offerings are something to talk about.

Smart Travel has made AUH one of the quickest airports in the region to travel through. Implemented in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior and the Police, it allows passengers to check-in and move through immigration and security within fifteen minutes, interacting only with cutting edge technology.

The system consists of self-check-in and baggage drop facilities, automated passport control gates, and smart boarding gates. Smart Travel has significantly enhanced the passenger experience by decreasing processing times within the airport by up to 70%, meaning more time for travelers to enjoy the airport’s retail, leisure and food & beverage facilities.

Quick as it is to pass through the airport, for those passengers who’d like to have an even easier way to travel from A to B, the exclusive VIP Terminal offers travelers the option of having everything done for them.

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The facility, attached to the main airport, is available for all passengers, whether departing, arriving or transiting. It has its own immigration, police and baggage handling facilities so that passengers can enjoy the utmost privacy and convenience while relaxing in a luxurious environment. From the minute they arrive, travel documents are taken away to be processed while guests refresh and unwind in a private majlis, a luxurious home away from home.

Offering a fusion of Arabian and European design, equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual systems, Wi-Fi zones and a variety of culinary offerings and other facilities, the VIP Terminal is the perfect enhancement to any journey.

Passengers are whisked away to their aircraft door in a BMW or Rolls Royce shortly before flight departure, or collected in style upon their arrival.

The unparalleled levels of comfort and services provided by the VIP Terminal are in line with Abu Dhabi Airports Company's commitment to delivering services of the highest standards, to all passenger segments, ultimately enhancing their airport experience, which enabled AUH to win the ASQ awards.

“These ASQ awards are testament to the hard work we do to ensure the passengers have a warm and memorable experience in all our terminals”, commented Al Khoori. “We constantly strive to move closer towards our vision of being the world’s leading airports group, and this international recognition is the best vote of confidence in our services we could ask for. We are always developing and enhancing our offering to meet the expectations of our unique passenger demographic, and to reflect the proud image of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

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Coco Privé Private Island Maldives Secluded and luxurious havens unlike anywhere else, the awardwinning Coco Collection resorts have to be experienced to be believed. Nick Rice reports on Coco Privé, the breathtaking private island in the Maldives.

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f Coco Chanel were still alive, she would be enthralled by Coco Privé – the ultra-exclusive private island found in the North Malé Atoll of the Maldives. The sophisticated style icon would love it not because of the shared name, or the reassuring attention to every detail, but for the triumph of luxury.

Coco Chanel said, “Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity. I love luxury.

And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness but in the absence of vulgarity.”

This is a perfectly accurate way to describe what the familyowned hospitality group Coco Collection has accomplished with Coco Privé and their sister resorts in the Maldives, Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu. There is no fussy and gilded atmosphere, nor imposing and ostentatious statements – just impeccable good taste. A refined and understated sense of what luxury really is.

Whilst the entire interior design aesthetic, furnishings and finish, materials and state-of-the-art facilities are all of the highest quality, nothing is over the top. There is no vulgar overembellishment or baroque decorative excess. The luxury is found in the utter seclusion and the warm yet professional and discreet service, which provides guests with any request that is feasibly possible.

As Andrew Stuart McLaren, the Island Manager, says, “We aim to fulfil dreams, strive to make the impossible possible, and, above all, focus all efforts on our philosophy of providing guests with a 360-degree experience like no other they will have anywhere else in the world, at no other point of time.”

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Coco Privé is just 35 minutes from Malé International Airport. Guests are met at the airport, invited aboard a private yacht and whisked to the lapping shores of the island. Surrounded by the impossible blue of the Indian Ocean and the endless sky, Coco Privé becomes a personal paradise.

The 1.4-hectare island has a stunning master residence and five equally beautiful guest villas – all designed by award-winning architect Guz Wilkinson. Every detail and amenity has been thought of and provided.

The team at Coco Privé corresponds with you before you even arrive so that they can arrange personal touches that are unique to you.

There is everything any world class five-star hotel would have and more.

The residence is fitted with an ultra-modern kitchen and spacious dining room, bar, cellar and library, plus indoor and outdoor gym areas, a sauna and a 40-metre pool – all with the most breathtaking views of the natural landscape. Space and comfort have been masterfully conceived and designed with flair.

McLaren and his permanent team of 30 provide consistent and noteperfect service. Although there is no reception, a simple phone call will be answered within three rings at any time of the day or night. Food and drink is unlimited and guests can specify any dish under the sun to their private chef and it will be made to request. Whatever is needed or desired, 24 hours-a-day, the dedicated team of hosts and butlers will attend to it swiftly and without fuss.

Heavenly spa treatments are available around the clock from a personal therapist, and there is a wide variety of entertainment options – the water sports and diving experiences are extraordinary given the flawless natural environment.

Every day at Coco Privé is an opportunity for guests to create their most perfect day. Awake to admire the sunrise over the ocean and, after a morning dip, enjoy an energising massage or a yoga session to charge up the system. After a deliciously fresh breakfast, try any non-motorised water sports such as windsurfing or paddle boarding, before snorkelling with turtles and manta rays and then diving with whale sharks. At lunch, try your hand at a Maldivian culinary masterclass and then enjoy a picnic on the sandbank. After lunch have a game of giant beach chess with Maldivian-inspired chess pieces and then head out for a private deep sea fishing expedition. Upon your return, be greeted by an ensemble of local performers followed by a world-famous DJ or live band to soundtrack the evening ahead, or enjoy the jungle cinema under the stars. Whether you prefer the night to end with a relaxing massage and a movie or dancing and fireworks, anything is possible on Coco Privé.

The every wish approach of the island also extends to younger guests, and they can be endlessly entertained with tropical treasure hunts, bouncy castle parties, dolphin watching excursions and live children’s entertainment.

“Rooted in tradition and authenticity – while true to the island’s beautiful and delicate environment – our unique experiences have been designed to match your tastes and genuinely exceed your expectations,” is the message from Coco Privé.

The ultimate private island retreat, the whole team strives to give every guest a truly personalised experience – this is what makes a stay at Coco Privé an unforgettable and unparalleled experience.

Coco Privé recently won the World’s Best Private Villa and Asia’s Best Private Villa at the 2017 Boutique Hotel Awards, and it’s no surprise that this peerless paradise retreat is a treasured resort for Middle Eastern and European royalty, A-list celebrities and discerning billionaires.

An entire island dedicated to you and your family and friends – there is nowhere quite like it. Coco Privé is one of the only private islands for exclusive hire in the Maldives at $45,000 per night. Coco Chanel said, “The best things in life are free. The second-best are very expensive.”

While she might be right, Coco Privé offers something priceless – true luxury with your loved ones.

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Elements of Surprise The second superyacht to emerge from Turkish shipyard Yachtley, the 80m M/Y Elements marks the dawn of a new age for both her owner Mr Fahad Al-Athel and the capabilities of his impressive marine facilities.

by Julia Zaltzman

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‘Convention’ is not a word that interests Mr Fahad Al-Athel. He’s not limited by standard practice nor restrained by the unknown – his ambitions surpass the confines of what is typical in the yachting world, and instead, he is realising his goals one vessel at a time.

Born in Saudi Arabia, Mr Al-Athel did not grow up by the sea. His passion for yachting was happened upon in 1999 when a good friend requested his assistance. “He asked me to visit Amels in Holland with him, and to discuss the potential of extending his yacht by three metres,” he says. “So, I went, it was a successful meeting, and from that time I became interested in boats.”

When that same friend decided to build a 65m yacht, he once again placed his trust in Mr Al-Athel. “He asked me to look for a good, reliable shipyard that could build a 65m at a competitive price,” he explains. “I didn’t want to go to Australia or Germany or Holland, so I decided to go to Turkey where I discovered a highly competent workforce at an achievable rate. So, I leased some land in Izmit near Istanbul, which I still have today, and decided to build the yacht myself.”

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The result was the highly praised 65m M/Y Nourah of Riyad – designed

by Donald Starkey and at the time the largest yacht to ever come out of Turkey. It was also the establishment of Mr Al-Athel shipyard, Yachtley.

“We completed the build in good time – it only took four years to build both Nourah of Riyad and the shipyard,” he explains. “We built them together, and I then became very excited about what we could achieve.”

More than happy with the finished product, Nourah of Riyad’s owner went on to request a refit a few years later, also undertaken by Yachtley, and one that would see her extended to 70m. She was also equipped with a new swimming platform, beach club, new saloon on the sun deck and given several other cosmetic changes. It was during her original build, however, that Mr Al-Athel made some crucial decisions regarding the future of Yachtley and its workforce.

“I decided to hire Lloyds to certify the shipyard, and to certify M/Y Elements – the yacht that I planned to build for another client,” he says. “I also decided to go for Lloyds and SOLAS certification for Elements, which cost me more, but I wanted the experience and training for my employees.

We now have a really high calibre workforce producing fantastic quality of work.”

At an impressive 80m, Elements is an inspiring yacht, thanks in no small part to her notable SOLAS classification, and her naval architecture undertaken by Alfa Marine in Athens. She comfortably accommodates up to 24 guests within her expansive interior, comprising a master suite, two VIP staterooms, four double staterooms, four twin cabins and one smaller twin cabin, as well as providing accommodation for 19 crew.

She features a classically-styled displacement steel hull (tested at Marin Institute in Holland) and an aluminium superstructure with teak decks,

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and is fitted with two pairs of stabilisers that work at anchor to increase onboard comfort when the yacht is stationary, particularly in rough waters.

Powered by two MTU (16V 4000 M63L) diesel engines and propelled by her twin screw propellers, Elements is capable of a top speed of 18 knots.

Originally commissioned to be built for an owner who made some minor changes before suddenly pulling out of the deal, Mr Al-Athel made the bold decision to continue with the build himself, hiring renowned Italian designer Cristiano Gatto for the interior. “I asked Cristiano, whom I knew from before, if he would work with me on Elements. He is an excellent designer – I would recommend him for any design job, and I will always use him from now on.”

Enlisting the likes of Yachting Protection for all paint and fairing, and Vibrascan for the noise and vibration study, the finished result is an oceangoing vessel of indisputable status, with a volume of 2,900GT and key features that include a beach club, spa pool, hammam and an elevator to provide convenient access to her four voluminous decks. Her opulent interior is cast in cool shades of silver and blue, with in-built cabinetry at every turn, as well as key pieces of specially commissioned stand-alone furniture. Marble pillars and crystal chandeliers combine to great effect, punctuated by royal blue and sea-green silks and fabric detailing.

“Elements is a fantastic yacht and I’m proud of every bit of her,” says Mr Al-Athel. “It’s very hard to achieve a yacht of that quality for that price, but I want to have the best of everything. It took me time, especially with the Lloyds certification, but we now have an amazing team. When people visit the yard, they want to see Elements, and they’re very impressed with what they see.”

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As one of the rare shipyards in Europe with its own in-house interior workshop, Yachtley strikes a keen balance between in-house workmanship and sub-contracted exterior suppliers. “We have a Turkish naval architect, and Turkish and Greek engineers, including Kostas Christodoulou, the manager of the shipyard who is an expert in electronics and helps me a lot – they are all of an excellent standard,” Mr Al-Athel says. “We also boast top quality carpenters, and I bought the latest machinery to enable them to deliver a premium job. The shipyard carpenters have completed work on my residential properties as well, and the quality is perfect. We source nearly all materials from Turkey, too, apart from the marble, which we source from Italy.”

Elements marks the dawn of a new age for Mr Al-Athel and Yachtley.

Always keen to go beyond the expected, he leaves aside convention, and instead opts for the unity of aesthetics, safety and function in modern, customised designs. Collaborating with proven naval architects to create yachts with elegant lines and curves, Mr Al-Athel has his sights firmly set on the future of hybrid yachts, SOLAS yachts and groundbreaking design concepts.

“After Elements, we’re hoping for more orders. We are ready – I have the team, I have the capacity to build bigger, we can go up to 120m,” he says.

“And that’s what I want: to keep building large yachts of this calibre, that’s the aim.”

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S I M PLY BE A U T I F U L

By S op h i e M cM u l l a n

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Detox Delight I

f the idea of detoxing fills you with dread, fear not – there is a more palatable way to digest this concept. Gone are the days where you needed to taste something nasty in order to feel its benefits. We've moved on leaps and bounds from the time where the process was complicated and unattainable. On the contrary, Detox Delight has made it all a breeze. Think of them as your personal assistant to your diet. However you're feeling on a daily basis, and indeed how you'd like to feel, they can help. They provide a truly personal service with a results-driven outcome, since a body reset is what we all need sometimes.

We tend to promises ourselves this sort of cleanse at the start of the New Year, but Detox Delight believe that it's more of a way of life. Alter what goes into your body every day, and you will reap the benefits immediately! Your body is a vessel which needs fuel, so why not use the best possible ingredients, all naturally sourced and of prime selection.

In the end, if you heed the advice of the expert team at Detox Delight, your mind, body and soul will thank you. Nathalie Lugrin was kind enough to share some of this wisdom with me, so read on to find out her advice – and there’s also a recipe to get you started!

How long have you been an advocate of healthy and clean eating?

I grew up in the countryside and my mother cooked the majority of meals with fresh, natural ingredients from our own garden or purchased from the farmer nearby. Healthy eating has somewhat been ‘in my DNA’ from a young age, and it has continued to be an integral part throughout my life. I also hold a certificate as Health Coach from the IIN Institute New York.

I am passionate about food and personally believe that it is our best natural pharmacy.

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Do you have a large team/support network?

How do you start your day?

Our team consists of three to four people in the kitchen, depending on the number of orders.

On the operations, sales and marketing side we are three people. What makes me proud is that we have long-standing employees with us, who have detailed knowledge about our product range and broad experience in their specific fields. Our employees are true believers in our products. We function incredibly well as a team and everyone works with great passion and a high sense for customer care to produce only excellent, above benchmark quality products for our esteemed clientele.

In general I try to wake up early so I don’t have to rush for my first meeting. Over many years I developed a habit of drinking a big glass of warm water with a splash of lemon and a pinch of cayenne pepper first thing in the morning. This stimulates detoxification, hydrates the body instantly and benefits the digestive system. Then I do some simple stretches for five to ten minutes and get ready in the bathroom while doing an affirmation for the day. Before I leave the house, I pick my breakfast – a green or protein juice which I drink throughout the morning hours.

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Detox Delight Do you think diet is more important than exercise?

There is a great synergy between healthy eating and physical activity, and both have a tremendously positive impact on how we feel in our bodies – boosting the mood and sleeping better, to name just two. I personally believe that a combination of healthy eating and an a well-rounded exercise routine are both key components for a healthy and happy lifestyle.

What key ingredients/foods do you think we should all be consuming on a daily/weekly basis?

It is recommended to follow a balanced healthy eating style, and in particular incorporate a lot of vegetables, fruits, beans, sprouts, nuts and seeds. Make sure to consume food rich in nutrients and eat rainbow colours, which include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet begins with the quality of the ingredients used. Look out for fresh, seasonal and local produce whenever you can, which have no artificial dyes or preservatives, no flavour enhancers and of course no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Also make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day and always have a glass of water next to you, refilling it once drunk. Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables can potentially reduce risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions.

What is a simple juice can we all make at home that is beneficial and should be consumed every day?

I absolutely love this juice, as it provides an immediate energy boost, and is packed with loads of minerals and vitamins. Take a handful of kale, a couple of carrots, one green apple, one orange and one small beetroot, add a handful of spinach leaves and watercress and a thumb of ginger, then blitz in your juicer – delicious!

How about sleep? We all know it's important, but how do we ensure our resting time is regular and of best quality?

Try to establish a regular sleeping pattern by trying to go to bed at the same time every day. The same goes for getting up. When it comes to dinner, eat light and avoid eating heavy meals shortly before going to bed. Two to three hours between the last meal and going to bed works best for me. Doing a detox cleanse can help to improve sleep. Also turn off the television, stop working on the computer and resist checking your phone before going to bed. Make sure you have some relaxed time before going to bed – for instance calm your mind with meditation or listening to soft music. Take a hot bath with lavender and light a candle. Think of all the positive things that happened to you today and all the blessings you have in your life.

How do you feel about caffeine?

I personally don't drink coffee or other drinks containing caffeine, as they leave me feeling way too nervous and anxious. When I tried coffee and black tea years ago, I listened to my body and felt that it was not agreeing with me. However, many people handle caffeine very well and enjoy it tremendously, and of course some countries celebrate a beautiful coffee culture. Many people find or experiencing some sort benefits from drinking coffee. Again, like many other things when it comes to food and drink, it is all about moderation.

What are the best superfoods?

This largely depends on the individual’s personal preference! Here are some of my long-time favourite: - blueberries are one of the top antioxidant foods, rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and a great source of fibre.

- acai berries are high in antioxidants, amazing for helping the skin maintain a youthful appearance with a bright complexion. Their high fibre content also helps to cleanse the body with the help of the liver and kidneys - quinoa is high in nutrients, has a nutty flavour and is gluten free. It has a relatively high protein level compared to other grains and provides essential amino acids (the building blocks of all tissues in our body) - chia seeds are high in antioxidants, fibre, omega-3, protein, vitamins (A, B, E, D) and minerals (magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron etc.)

- ginger isn’t generally called a superfood, but it’s one of my favourite wonder foods/spices. I love the unique taste and I put it in almost every juice, or simply enjoy it in hot water with lemon and a little Manuka honey. It is known for its antiseptic and cleansing properties.

What about treating ourselves – is chocolate a no-go?!

Being Swiss, chocolate has and will always be a part of my diet and I indulge in a piece every day, although I am rather fussy on the subject. I appreciate high quality chocolate and always believe that where the milk comes from is a crucial. The higher the cocoa content (70%+) and subsequently the lower the sugar content, the better. Chocolate also has antioxidant benefits.

It's great that you offer really personal service and guidance of being there for your clients. How do you make this work?

Detox Delight was established in 2012 in Dubai (as a franchise from Pure Delight Germany, which is the motherhouse) and was the first company in its field. We have been totally passionate about our work ever since. It's not a job for us – it is a life philosophy we live and breathe ourselves. We love to support people to make them feel better and help them transform into the best version of themselves. We want them to feel beautiful and full of energy, to shine and glow as much as possible.

We respect and honour our clients’ individual and personal choices. We personalise their preferences to every extent possible. We are at their disposal for any advice needed and act as their cheerleaders on the side line.

We truly enjoy manufacturing high quality products, whereby we choose only the very best available ingredients – no compromises. Everything is 100% natural with no artificial dyes or preservatives, no flavour enhancers and of course no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. We lovingly prepare each meal fresh each day by hand. We emphasise the importance of care and attention to detail, starting from the first interaction with our clients until the delivery and follow up as required. To provide an outstanding level of service to our clientele is key and non-negotiable, and we are truly thrilled time and again by the many positive results and success stories our clients share with us.

What's the biggest mistake you see people making with their diets?

No diversity, no colourful (rainbow) choices and/or balanced (nutrient dense) diet.

Little fresh ingredients and no regular established eating habits. Given the pace of life, people often eat on the run, feeling they have no time to sit down properly. Purchasing only convenience food and not checking the ingredients such as artificial colours, flavour enhancers, sugar content etc. I urge people to try to cook at home and eat less fast food in general.

We suggest taking and allocating time to eat and sit down. Engage in mindful eating.

Don't eat in a rush, slow down and chew your food well before swallowing. Be conscious of what you eat and of what is on your plate, feel joy in what is given as nourishment to your precious body. Make sure you have a lot of different colours on our plate. Check in with your body on how you feel after the meal – do you feel bloated, anxious or fatigued, or – on the contrary –do you feel full of energy, focused and joyful?

Listen to your body’s signals! It’s tremendously important to fuel your amazing biocomputer with the best ingredients possible.

Also take a moment to go through your kitchen cupboards and fridge, stocking them up with healthy, high quality products and lots of fresh, seasonal local produce wherever possible. Eliminate the less nutrient-dense foods, in particular items with a high sugar content. I personally go by the rule that if a food lists more than five ingredients, some of which I don’t know or can’t even pronounce, I leave it on the shelf. Learn to cook, enjoy the creativity process, light a candle, play music and have fun cooking together with friends or family. Feel inspired and relaxed whilst cooking.

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How do you stay motivated?

By being passionate about what I do every single day. I identify myself with my brand and, above all, put the clients’ needs at the centre of my attention. It's rewarding to be close to our clients and being able to establish meaningful relationships. We take time to listen to our clients’ needs and have great joy in celebrating their successes. We are on a mission to help people become healthier and happier by taking little steps in the right direction. We feel fortunate and at the same time very blessed that we can touch so many lives. We receive great feedback and high satisfaction levels. Listening to the success stories of our clients keeps us going and inspires us day by day.

Simplicity and convenience are key with most people's eating habits. How do you ensure not much time is taken up with their meal preps?

Our fresh, hand-prepared meals and cold-pressed juices are ready to enjoy instantly out of the bottle or jar. Should someone prefer to gently heat something like an evening meal or a soup, of course this can be done, but it's not very time consuming. We deliver all orders directly to the doorstep, or, should the client prefer, they can be picked up from our production site.

Tell us a little about the Detox Delight option. Do you recommend this programme for everyone?

We offer a great variety of programmes for various requirements. We also personalise as much as we can in accordance to our clients’ wishes. There is the choice between juices, soups, vegan meals (clean and lean eating) and raw food snacks. Our clients can have each one as an individual cleansing option, or we have programmes providing a mix of juice, soup and meals.

What is a typical cleanse day like, based on juices?

During a juice cleanse, you will consume six 440ml portions of fruit and vegetable juice throughout the day. The day starts off with our alkaline lemonade. During the day, you will then drink four juices approximately every two hours. Each juice contains at least 40% vegetables. A balanced mix of vegetables and fruit is especially important for keeping the blood sugar level constant – a pre-requisite for a smoothly functioning lipometabolism.

The grand finale of the day is a vegan nut or almond milk in the evening, which delivers an extra helping of plant-based protein. With cleanses featuring soups and vegan evening meals, one or two of the juices and the nut milk are replaced with a soup or meal.

We also offer an intense cleanse, whereby our juices contain no fruit but only vegetables, which are very low in fructose, extremely alkalising and low in calories.

What about people who may have allergies or intolerances?

All our products are gluten free and 100% plant-based. You will find no artificial dyes or preservatives, no flavour enhancers and of course no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. What you taste is 100% pure nature! Detox Delight products are never pasteurised or preserved.

If you have identified intolerances, we will do everything we can to replace juices containing the ingredient in question with other juices from our daily menu or customise a cleanse just for you. All ingredients are listed on the bottle labels. As our juices and nut milks are all made at the same location, they may contain traces of nuts (in particular cashews and almonds). If you have known intolerances, please contact us directly and we will do our best to customise your cleanse.

Wheat, gluten, dairy, red meat, sugar – there are so many bad things a lot of us consume… What's your advice to minimise this?

A well-balanced healthy eating style is important for our overall wellbeing. Eat and enjoy a variety of food, all in moderation. When buying food, look for high quality produce and non-processed foods, untreated, natural, fresh, seasonal and local produce wherever you can. Check the origin of your products –are they grown locally or imported from far away? Take your time going through the grocery store and checking the ingredients on the packet. If you feel that a certain food type is not agreeing with you, one option could be to cut out that particular food for a few days to see how you feel – but remember that this is just a testing out phase and must not be a solid commitment for the rest of your life.

Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?

When it comes to diet, the views are often divided on this subject – in particular whether a healthy breakfast should be on the lighter side or more robust. I personally believe this is a very individual question, and you should to listen to your body. It also largely depends on factors like the kind of work or activities you engage during the day, how old you are and so on. Breakfast should give you the necessary fuel to kick start the day, allowing you to feel energetic and focused. I find breakfast is also a great opportunity to socialise and enjoy quality time with family and friends, especially at weekends when everyone is more flexible.

What is your favourite meal?

I love my salads and I try to incorporate leafy greens into meals every day. I always add avocado, olives, sunflower seeds, sprouts, blueberries and pomegranate as basic ingredients and add any other fresh items I might have available. For example, quinoa and sometimes a piece of grilled wild caught fish. For a dressing, I take a high quality olive oil, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of sea or Himalayan salt.

Should we all be drinking two to three litres of bottled water a day?

As we are all well aware, staying hydrated is very important, especially in Dubai! I always recommend you have a bottle of water next to you and keep refilling it. If drinking plain water gets somewhat boring, try to add some flavours like fresh lemon, grapefruit, cucumber or berries to give you a light and refreshing infused water. Our range of products includes Beauty Water with hibiscus, rosewater, lime, berries, ginger and other secret natural ingredients. Water in general has so many benefits – it helps keep your skin looking good, energises your muscles, supports bowel function, maintains the balance of body fluids and, very importantly, it helps to transport and eliminate waste products/toxins out of the body.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

My parents taught me to never lose sight of my goals and to never give up. Even if I were to fall down, they told me get up, fix my crown and move forward in the direction of my dreams.

What does the future hold for your business?

Through the passion for our business we aim to further expand our footprint in the UAE and in the Middle East. We will stay true to our mission and values in helping more people transform into the best versions of themselves and get them feeling healthy, happy and fulfilled in their lives. We are visionary, entrepreneurial and always keep ourselves up-to-date within our industry. We keep on adding to and changing our ingredients and product range to achieve the most beneficial results for our clients. We will never make any compromises when it comes to the ingredients of our products, as they have to be as fresh, seasonal, local and naturally produced as possible. We will continue to prepare each meal with care a love. Our clients can expect an excellent level of service and we will never stop listening to their feedback.

(Please note that Detox Delight will be rebranded to Pure Delight in early 2018.)

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Founder of the Studio Mariam Al Sayegh

THE STUDIO

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W

hether you’re a gym bunny or take a more relaxed approach to exercise, we all try to stay fit and healthy in our own way. Even if you love to get your heart racing in your chosen sport, it’s important to stretch the muscles, both before and after your sessions. Some might even say that if you’re not warming up and warming down around your workouts, there’s not much point to do them at all.

That being said, I’m sure we’re all aware of the benefits of practices like yoga and pilates.

They can totally transform your body, core strength, posture and general mindset. Stress levels will undoubtedly be reduced when you’re on the mat, and shutting out the noise of the world in your head is essential in today’s society.

The power of movement, however fast or slow you like to take it, is something we should all be doing. The Studio believes in this, and especially so when it comes to women. This is a space where women of all ages and experience can come to feel comfortable. A welcome and supporting environment is what the Studio is all about, and once you take your first steps you’ll be part of a very special community. Bonding with other like-minded women is healthy for your spirit, as is practicing within classes that will strengthen your physical being.

To find out more about this innovative concept, I asked the founder of the Studio, Mariam, all about herself, how this idea came about and how it’s been going since the Studio’s birth in April this year…

What’s your background and link to yoga?

I started practicing yoga six years ago while I was studying in the US. It was something that I would do on a weekly basis to help deal with stress at first, but over time I saw that it also had great physical and emotional benefits, so I made it an integral part of my lifestyle, not just a series of classes that I would attend. I graduated in 2015 and moved back to Abu Dhabi, and got certified to become a yoga teacher the following year.

How did the opportunity for the Studio come about?

Many influences affected my decision to open a yoga and pilates studio, the most pivotal being my course of study at college (industrial engineering with a focus on healthcare) which took me to work at Cleveland Clinic after graduation. Working at a hospital inspired me to look at the health benefits of yoga and pilates and the wellness industry as a whole.

From my research and experience, the integration of both has a profound impact on one’s approach to a more holistic and healthy lifestyle, and I wanted to be able to share this with other women.

Women supporting each other in work and personal lives is a growing trend. How do you feel about women sticking together?

I think that is essential in today’s society. I do believe it’s a trend nowadays, although admittedly it sometimes feels a bit surface deep as there definitely exists a rather competitive, and often judgemental, component to the industry. Our mantra at the Studio is “We rise by lifting others” and that is what I want the Studio’s purpose to be: to create a supportive environment for women to feel empowered and supported, either by the people they meet there or by myself and the staff.

Your clients practice yoga in a supporting and encouraging environment – could you elaborate on what you mean by this?

We built the Studio to create an environment where women can come and practice comfortably, away from competitive gym environments. Some people who are not in the best of shape generally feel intimidated to work out in gyms because they are scared that they will be judged. They are therefore demotivated before they even attempt to improve their lives and health. We cater to all women of all experiences and abilities, and try to build a community of empowerment and solidarity through our classes, and even through the many quotes we have painted on the walls.

Who has been your greatest source of inspiration?

The Studio is a space exclusively for women. What inspired this idea?

The idea came from my need to find a space where I was comfortable practicing. I tried a few places in Abu Dhabi that had ladies-only classes, but none of them were at ladies-only facilities, which I found uncomfortable. I saw that many of my friends were complaining of the same thing, and that’s when I decided to open a ladies-only studio.

My inspiration for almost everything I have done is my late grandfather. He always made me believe from a young age that I could do anything I set my mind to, and he was always there for me whenever I needed support or guidance. I still think of his words before I make any major decisions in my life.

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What support team do you rely on?

What are you most proud of in your work?

I have a great support team within my family. My husband has been there for me guiding me through the many obstacles of starting a new business and I would have never been able to do this without him.

I am proud that I was able to build a start-up business from scratch, and I hope that I will be able to grow it into something that will benefit the community.

What are the key benefits of yoga and pilates, in your opinion and experience?

My parents have been a huge support, too, in both my personal and professional life. My friend Michelle has helped me build the Studio – everything from designing the logo and website to recruiting. She still helps me as part of the Studio’s management team.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

In my opinion yoga is a great way to centre and focus yourself physically and mentally, and it can also be a way of strengthening and toning your body. Most people here mistake yoga with mediation, and that is why we are also working on awareness in the community.

Even though it may be tough and not the easiest route, stay true to yourself and forge your own path. This has been so essential in forming the Studio, and we are really looking forward to creating a unique community here in Abu Dhabi.

Pilates has various different benefits. In my opinion one of the best ones is improving posture and strengthening muscles that are not usually targeted with traditional workouts.

Especially if you have a desk job and are hunched over a computer all day – both yoga and pilates allow you to open up your body and prevent stiffness and muscle pain.

What keeps you moving forward in your job every day?

What excited you most about creating the Studio?

It’s the feeling I get when a client calls me and tells me how much of a difference we have made in their lives and how helpful their visits to the Studio has been. That just makes all the hard work worth it.

I was excited about creating the Studio because it would give me a platform to share all these practices that helped me improve my day-to-day life. Also, I was excited about having my own business, which would allow me to continue my career on my own terms to be able to give me more time with my daughter.

How do you think your space differs from others out there?

I think our space differs in many ways. Our décor which is very simplistic and minimal, with inspirational quotes painted on all of the walls. The goal is to let the clients feel comfortable and at ease when entering, and to help them relate to the quotes.

What advice would you give to someone who has never done yoga?

I would tell them to at least give a shot and try a few handful of different classes. Yoga is so diverse and there is something for everyone.

What has been your greatest challenge so far?

What type of yoga do you favour most?

I think one of the challenges has been trying to find the right balance of classes based on our clientele. When we first opened we focused more on morning classes to cater to mothers who would come after dropping off their children, but we slowly realised that most of our clients were working women who were looking for something after work. So we are working on finding the right balance and having something for everyone.

Currently my favourite type is aerial yoga. It’s a different take on the traditional practice, using a hammock hanging from the ceiling. It is a great way of releasing pain and tension by hanging in different positions!

Where would you like to go in the world where you haven’t already visited?

I would love to visit South Africa and Latin America.

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What does the future hold for your business – do you have plans to open more Studios?

I definitely would like to open more Studios in the future inshallah, but for the time being I want to focus on making this one the best it can possibly be and expand it with new and exciting activities.

Do you practice yoga to relax or rejuvenate, or both? How often do you practice?

I practice yoga for both. The reason I got into yoga in the first place was stress, which would cause my shoulders to tense a lot. Yoga really helps me with both the mental and physical aspects. I practice three to four times a week.

How does pilates differ from yoga?

Yoga definitely has a bit more of a spiritual element to it, but both offer stress-relief, flexibility, strength, control and endurance. They really complement each other amazingly, and each one influences the other. Both class types can be gentle and slow, or more challenging and sweaty – it really is about what suits your body best.

Where do you call home and why?

Abu Dhabi has always been my home because is it where I am from, where I grew up and where was raised, and I love it. Part of me also sees Boston as home, as I spent my university years there. I feel attached to that city and the memories it gave me.

THE STUDIO

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