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Publication Director: Gregory Ayoun Art Director: Yvan Babillon Editor in chief: Marine Pasquier Editorial project manager: Caroline Sambucchi Junior project manager: Emma Houffi n Jewelry: Sophie Colin Beauty: Quitterie Pasquesoone People: Franck Rousseau Fashion: Helene Battaglia Lifestyle: Delphine Gallay, Marine Pasquier Drive: Stephane Lechine Translators: Emma Lingwood, Victoria Selwyn Sales Manager: Sarah Tayari Publisher and Editorial Office: Blush Editions 136 Cours Emile Zola - 69100 Villeurbanne - France Marketing Manager: Fiona Esther.A Advertising Coordination: Cyril Montegu Advertising: EUROPE Blush Editions Case Postale 6349 1211 Genève 6 MIDDLE EAST Dubai UAE International circulation: KD Presse 14, rue des messageries 75010 Paris - France Tel.: +33 (9) 53 39 42 71 contact@kdpresse.com Distribution Export: Pineapple Média BLUSH Dream is a biannual edited and published by Publiscope.

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THE BLACK EDITION MARGOT ROBBIE, TIMOTHEE CHALAMET N°27 27

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P 64 CYRUS GENEVA An innovative double-independent chronograph

P 26 MARGOT ROBBIE Everything she touches turns to gold

P 66 CHARLES ZUBER Or the renaissance of Genevan luxury jewellery

P 32 TIMOTHEE CHALAMET It seems like nothing can stop him P 38 THE

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A

s the holidays are approaching, Blush Editions is pleased to present its latest publication, which elegantly closes this eventful and amazing year. On the program, a brand new identity and ever more original content. An ode to the art of living in all its forms, Blush Dream takes you on a journey to discover creative talents of yesterday and today, before setting off on a trip to one of our exclusive destinations, from Copenhagen to Miami. After a detour to Mauritius to meet Anggun, delve into the Gucci family saga and reveal the creative secrets of Piaget before hitting the road in the latest Pininfarina Battista. Fresh and daring, this new issue is full of surprises. From Margot Robbie’s intimate confessions to Timothée Chalamet’s success story, not to mention a fashion retrospective in homage to streetwear virtuoso Virgil Abloh…An artistic, modern and eclectic edition, just the way we like it. And as good news never comes alone, we are very happy to partner with a third official Rolex distributor, Philippe Guilhem, with whom we are launching the first Blush Megève at the end of this year.

The Blush adventure continues, with very nice projects in perspective. Carl F. Bucherer n.2, Bucherer Fine Jewelry magazine... 2022 promises to be a great year !

Gregory Ayoun Managing Editor

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PEOPLE

MARGOT ROBBIE

Everything she touches turns to gold

S

he made a name for herself playing Leo DiCaprio’s embattled wife in The Wolf of Wall Street and as the civilised girlfriend of Alexander Skarsgard’s Tarzan. Confirmation of her talent came with I, Tonya, the rollercoaster life story of Tonya Harding, the fallen figure skating champion of the 80s and 90s who was the first American woman to complete a triple axel at a major competition. Her role as Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood enhanced her reputation further. Since then, this remarkable Australian has been riding the box-office wave with astonishing ease and undeniable talent. It’s as if everything this stunning blonde touches turns to gold! Between two shoots, Ms Robbie looks back on her beginnings, her career, and reveals how she managed to avoid being swallowed up by the celebrity machine.

This girl has clearly kept a cool head!

Interview conducted in Los Angeles by Frank Rousseau, our USA correspondent

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H

ow did you fall into the world of cinema?

I have always been fascinated by the movies. Once I graduated from high school, my parents forced me to study law. They wanted me to become a lawyer! I was very capable and I think I could have worked wonders in a courtroom. But I couldn’t see myself pursuing a career in law. So I dropped everything and had just one goal: to travel. The ultimate goal of my journey was to unpack my bags in Hollywood and stay there. But to do that you had to earn a living. I worked in a surf shop for two years. I then worked as a babysitter and making sandwiches for Subway.

What else? Oh yes, I worked in a grocery shop, then a pharmacy. Then I was a waitress and a cleaner. But don’t think that I came to the United States without any artistic training. I learnt the business from coaches for two years. I had to get rid of my Australian accent, Crocodile Dundee-style. In short, there was a lot going on! (laughs) Was there one film above all others that made you want to perform in front of a camera?

I would love to say: Hiroshima mon amour, In the Realm of the Senses or 2001: A Space Odyssey, but that’s not the case! The first film that got me interested in this business was George of the Jungle with Brendan Fraser. Don’t ask me why but I loved that film.

My parents didn’t see it coming.

When I started expressing this desire to perform, they thought it would be a hobby. Something that wouldn’t last. As time went on, they realised that I was super-determined and that there was no way I would be twiddling my thumbs in Hollywood.

I think the day they really knew I had become a professional actress was when I showed them a huge poster of me on a skyscraper in Times Square in New York.

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other hand, that was also the moment they realised that I wouldn’t be going to university.

It took them a long time to get past that and to understand that people could make a living from this business. You know, I come from a very modest background.

Where I come from, every penny counts. We didn’t spend money without thinking about it first. To give you an example, when we went to the cinema, the first thing my mother would say was how expensive the tickets were. So we choose the films very carefully. As if it were a real investment. To save money she even made popcorn at home, which we took into the theatre.

We just couldn’t afford to buy popcorn there. Admittedly, it was overpriced!

It’s often said that Hollywood is a sham. So what misconceptions do people typically have about you?

That I spend all my time lying on a yacht and spend my nights in the most stylish and exclusive parts of the world. I wish that were true! I will tell you the reality of MY experience as an actress. Most of the time I have to stay in my studio trailer reading my script and learning my lines. I also spend a lot of time sitting in a car park while makeup artists and hairdressers come to get me ready to perform for the cameras. There’s nothing glamorous about it, you know!

There’s a big misconception about acting. Many people imagine that we get out of bed all glamorous and beautiful. Oh, if only that were true! One day I met a fan who asked me if I had staff working for me at home.

When I told her that I cleaned the floors, polished the cutlery and did my own washing, she didn’t believe me!

Even today I’m portrayed as a blonde with a pretty smile.

The implication being there’s nothing going on in her head!

I think that misconception will be around for a while longer.

Are you aware of the image you project?

I’m not an image, I’m a person. In answer to your first question, I feel that I’m a very lucky actress. It was the media that labelled me a ‘star’. Not me. The result is that people’s perception is distorted. No, I should point out that I don’t eat bucketfuls of caviar every day! I’m not being disingenuous when I tell you that I do my shopping at the supermarket or that I take the bins out myself.

I’m a simple girl. There is a tendency to focus on form more than substance. I am aware that appearance is crucial in Hollywood. But I also tried not to be pigeonholed. You know, in my profession there is a tendency to ‘categorise’ actresses.

The blonde, the tall one, the sporty one, the smart one, the funny one, etc. We mustn’t allow ourselves to get pinned.

I sincerely hope it was acting skills and not my physical appearance that caught the eye of the producers. On the other hand, I’m not a fool! (laughs) What advice would you give to teenagers who dream of doing the same job as you?

I meet lots of young girls and I tell them there’s no point in going faster than the music, skipping steps. I think that every stage of life shapes you and it’s important not to rush anything.

When you are 12 years old, for example, you shouldn’t try to grow up at all costs to look like someone else, especially an actress. This business can bring you great rewards, great satisfaction, but you mustn’t forget that before you break through, you have to overcome rejection. You go to a lot of auditions hoping to get a role and most of the time they don’t pick you. It makes you start to doubt your talent, your ability. It’s only those who don’t throw in the towel that break through eventually. That’s not only true of the film industry.

What are the downsides of stardom?

For a while there was a drone that would hover over my house.

I couldn’t figure out why. Until a friend explained to me that it was the paparazzi. I would also like people to understand that making a film is not at all glamorous. You spend most of your time waiting in your trailer for someone to come and get you to do your make-up, hair and finally perform your role. You’ve got the script in one hand and a latte in the other. Fortunately, during the loooooong wait, there’s also WhatsApp or Skype to call my family in Australia!

A few years ago you starred in Goodbye Christopher Robin, a film about the relationship between the writer Alan Alexander Milne and his son who inspired the Winnie the Pooh books.

You once said that school and books had been a great intellectual playground for you...

It’s true. I know that many young people today say to themselves: “What is the point of going to school? What is the point of learning if at the end of our studies we won’t find a job?” It’s nonsense to think like that. Education is a means of social advancement! It’s the key to understanding the complex world around us and to better comprehend it. I often see teenagers spending a lot of time online. Why not, if you can sort through the mess, you can learn a lot. But nothing can replace a book. Teenagers often reject reading because they associate it with something adults like doing or something that school forces them to do. That’s not smart. Above all, it’s deepening the well of ignorance. A book teaches you to build character and expand your vocabulary.

When you master a language, when you are at ease with words, I can assure you that doors open more easily...

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PEOPLE

How would you define celebrity?

All I know is that when it hits you the first time, it’s like riding the wave of a tsunami.

Some people manage to keep their balance throughout their lives. Others lose it and end up disappearing under the waves forever. You need to have inner strength and know how to follow the bubbles that will take you back to the surface. But few people in Hollywood manage to float. In any case, if a psychic had predicted ten years ago that I would one day arrive on the crest of the wave, I wouldn’t have paid him for his consultation. Maybe I’d have even called him a liar!

How does your family view your fame?

I don’t think it affects them in a negative way. My family has always supported me. They are all delighted that I have succeeded in this business where, as you know, there are very few chosen ones!

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They call you a feminist...

I’ve always thought that women have a muscle that men haven’t always been able to use properly; it’s the muscle between our ears called the brain!

You know, that spongy thing that allows you, in theory, to coordinate your movement and think!

It is said that Queen Elizabeth I, whom you portrayed so brilliantly in Mary Queens of Scots, I would say royally, would have powdered her face excessively with toxic products to hide her imperfections.

Yes, that almost clownish whiteness of her face was due to ceruse. It was a form of powdered lead! The women of that period also had reasons to show white skin. The aim was to keep a youthful and virginal appearance. It was the sought after look among women. It was essential that they gave the impression that they had never worked outdoors. Working outdoors was synonymous with poverty or the lower classes. It’s also

worth mentioning that ceruse was a very expensive cosmetic product that only the aristocracy could afford!

Looking back, can you tell us a bit about your transformation?

At first, we all had the image in our heads of this pallid queen, with her flamboyant wigs, her crazy dresses, a big lump on her nose, then we went further in our research and discovered the effects of smallpox. The disease was wreaking havoc at that time. 60% of those who had smallpox had permanent scarring, especially on their faces. I needed 3 to 4 hours of make-up to look like Elizabeth I! At first I was worried about taking on the role of this remarkable woman. Especially as the last person to play Elizabeth was the actress I admire most in the world, Cate Blanchett (editor’s note: in 1998 in the biopic Elizabeth: The Golden Age, by Shekhar Kapur). Thankfully, Josie explained that she wanted me to play her simply as a young woman. As soon as I stopped

thinking of Elizabeth as an imposing queen and approached her as a woman first, I was able to understand her. I naively assumed that she had a very easy life, whereas Elisabeth’s childhood was highly traumatic. And of course that didn’t stop when she came to power.

And wasn’t it hard having your body corseted?

I swore to myself that I would never take a role where I had to wear a corset. I hate that. It’s so restrictive. But the choreographer Wayne McGregor, with whom I had already worked on The Legend of Tarzan, made me change my mind. He told me to use it as a protective cage, as a kind of armour. He also explained to me that a corset can help you keep your distance, that it gives you stature, itself symbolic of many things.

He taught me how to play it.

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TIMOTHEE CHALAMET

“It seems like nothing can stop him”

H

e is 25 years old. He is a FrenchAmerican actor. His big break was in the film Call Me by Your Name alongside Armie Hammer, for which he was even nominated for an Oscar in the best actor category. Timothee Chalamet has since forged his own path. His latest film, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, is a global hit. At the same time, the talented actor has become an iconic figure in women’s magazines. Any public appearance is immediately seized on by social networks and commented, analysed, deconstructed and, ultimately, praised in the fashion columns, which love his audacity, his androgynous look and his eccentrically structured ensembles. In 2019, Vogue magazine was already calling him “the most influential man in fashion”. And a few weeks ago, the superstar featured on the cover of Time magazine. In short, this young man is everywhere and it seems like nothing can stop him! We met with this hyper-talented man who has already been dubbed the DiCaprio to the power 10!

Interview conducted in Los Angeles by Frank Rousseau, our USA correspondent

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L

et’s clarify something first, if you don’t mind. Should we call you Timmy? Tim? Timothee? Chala?

Timmy! Or there was also Timmy T or Little Timmy Tim when I was rapping! I recently learned that fans in China call me Sweet Tea. In the street not long ago someone called out “Hi Elio” because of my character in Call Me by Your Name! So all options are possible!

The role of Paul Atreides was previously played by Kyle Maclachlan, an iconic actor who, in 1984, portrayed the character inspired by Frank Herbert’s novel Dune, published in the 1960s! Now you are taking on this mythical role under the guidance of Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. When you found out you were going to be in this remake, did you watch or re-watch the David Lynch film or did you try to “create” this hero form scratch?

I have immense respect for Kyle’s performance and I love the David Lynch version, which I discovered about two months before we began shooting. I’ve also been lucky enough in the past to work on other films that have had earlier versions with other great actors. Actors I admire to this day. But when Denis Villeneuve asks you to make a film and he tells you about HIS vision, you forget about everything that has been done before! So I approached the role with a great deal of humility but feeling a certain amount of pressure!

What about Frank Herbert’s book?

I only started reading after I signed with Denis Villeneuve, and then I dived straight into the adventure. I’ve always been a fan of science fiction. But science fiction in cinema means special effects, green screen and so on. What’s incredible about this blockbuster is that

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Denis only had me shoot two scenes using those techniques.

The beauty of this Dune is that we were surrounded by immense landscapes that helped us to believe we really were in the desert on planet Arrakis...

Are you aware that Dune will have a huge impact on your career?

I had never been part of such a big production previously in my career and to be chosen by Denis Villeneuve to be part of this is without a doubt a huge honour! The other honour was being able to work for five months with actors I had already admired in other films. We had such good a relationship that I am proud to call them my sisters and brothers today. I hope we can do a second one (Dune), that would be a dream and yes, in a way I’m just grateful to have had this incredible experience.

As Josh Brolin put it so well: “There are three versions of a film. There’s the version you read when you’re given a script.

There’s the film you make and then there’s the film you discover once it’s been edited. I hope people will go and see it. I myself am already delighted. It’s a dream come true.

Is it true that you did everything you could to get THE role?

Yep! I admit that I set up Google alerts on my phone configured with the word “Dune”.

So much so that every time a website or a media outlet mentioned something about Denis (Villeneuve) and this project, I received a notification! As soon as I heard he was confirmed as the director, I rushed out to buy Frank Herbert’s novel. After that, my sole aim was to meet Denis and make him understand that I was up for the role.

For the record, I was in London when Denis contacted me. I was in the middle of preparing The King. Denis was on the Cannes Festival jury. We were not that far away from each other. When

he said, “Come and see me”, I didn’t think twice! The problem was that I hadn’t finished reading the book. So I read the second half at breakneck speed!

Dune sees the House of Atreides agreeing to rule the planet Arrakis, the production hub of spice, a substance that allows interstellar travel but also makes it possible to live longer.

Young Paul Atreides is an idealist, a born leader who fights for a cause he believes in. What causes do you like fighting for, Timothy?

Paul is a young man on a journey that is far greater than he can comprehend. He’s welcomed like a messiah on the desert planet Arrakis! What do I fight for? For justice. Be it racial, environmental or economic. These are important issues that resonate with the condition every human being finds themselves in today, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic that has impacted our lives. That is what our generation must fight for! I have great admiration for Greta Thunberg because she says things in a very straightforward way. Her courage and determination are amazing! I also remember the poem read

by Amanda Gorman at the inauguration of US President Joe Biden. It reassures me to know that young people of this calibre want to change the world and shatter certain outdated viewpoints It restores my faith in humanity.

Isn’t there a contradiction playing action heroes when you have the looks of a romantic lead? I don’t see you as the ‘sporty’ type...

You remind me of my father when you say that, Frank!

But yes, you’re right, sport is a very serious thing. That said, on the set of Dune I was lucky enough to play basketball with Oscar Isaac! Now, it’s important to understand this. Sometimes my job, and I don’t mean this in

a derogatory way, is a bit like a that of a labourer. In the sense that you work at an intense pace. You wake up very early every day. Typically, your day is 12 hours almost non-stop.

With a 30 minute break. You go home exhausted every evening.

Then you do it all again the next day. Going back to Dune, seeing Denis Villeneuve work was a real inspiration. He’s at the forefront of everything he does. Since I’ve been doing this job, I’ve had the chance to learn and above all to experience new things.

Paul’s upbringing had a huge influence on his perception of the world around him. Like the hero of Dune, don’t you feel like you’ve grown up too quickly sometimes?

My grandmother always tells me “You should go out more with people your own age and go on holiday with them!”

I was lucky enough to grow up in New York, a city with fewer “temptations” than Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is a huge open-air studio where people dream of making movies or singing.

In other words, performing.

I am very grateful to my parents, especially my father who is French. He was a journalist.

In a way, it was him who allowed me to have a good understanding of American culture. So I see the United States through the eyes of a Frenchman and France through the eyes of an American! Having this dual perspective, sometimes diametrically opposed, is a blessing.

The fact that I have dual nationality has created a kind of ambiguity within my identity. Having a broader, more open understanding of the world has made me less egotistical. When I was younger, my father listened to Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf at home while my mother preferred American musicals like Fiddler on the Roof. Although I was a hip hop fan myself! (laughs)

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People have called you “the next big thing” in Hollywood, one of the most promising actors of your generation, a future DiCaprio to the power of a thousand in terms of talent and potential, and so on. You’ve been doing interviews, walking miles of red carpets, winning awards, trophies, prizes, and touring all over the world. Are you going to suffer from burn-out?

I really like this question too, because I think I’m one of those people who finds it hard to take time off, and that doesn’t mean I want to work all the time.

Denzel Washington once said: “My big fear is that people will see too much of my face and get bored!” I’m on the same wavelength. That said, I’m not going to deny myself. I’m having a blast in my work and I’m making the most of it because I feel like I’m living a daydream.

I know that in Hollywood there are plenty of stories of young actors who achieved success at an early age and didn’t know how to handle it. But I can assure you, I am a strong character and I have no desire to be part of that sorry story.

In short, it would be a big lie to tell you that I don’t enjoy being recognised! Above all, it would totally contradict the reasons why I do this job: to perform in front of an audience and therefore, ultimately, to be appreciated for my performance as an actor. The actor who swears to you that he doesn’t enjoy being in contact with people or receiving accolades, prizes, awards, etc., is not an actor in my opinion. This job only has meaning or relevance if you are able to touch the hearts and souls of the people who come to see you in the cinema or the theatre. I’m an actor because I want to be able to take people out of their daily lives. My job is to transport them to a different place.

How do you stay grounded?

You have to stay connected with friends and family. That goes without saying. Then, you have to know how to distinguish between those people who praise

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you all day long to get something out of it and those whose only aim is to help you progress.

It’s not always easy to make the distinction, but with time and experience, you get there...

After playing the vice-president’s son in Homeland and Matthew McConaughey’s son in Interstellar, I realised that things were starting to happen for me. The phone started ringing, my inbox began to fill up.

I boarded this train and now I hope it doesn’t run off the rails!

You know, I’m someone who has always been in an artistic environment. My grandfather, Rodman Flender, was a well-known television director and writer. One of his books is called Rescue In Denmark, which takes place during the Holocaust in the Second World War. He also wrote Paris Blues, which was adapted into a 1961 film starring Paul Newman.

My uncle, Robin Flender, is a director. My aunt, Amy Lippman, a scriptwriter. She has also produced series such as Masters of Sex and Party of Five.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! I’ve been enchanted by showbiz and literature ever since I was born.

That’s all very well, but don’t you feel like you’ve missed out some steps?

That’s not a problem! I have always strived for my independence. When I was 10 years old, I used to take the metro alone.

I remember when I was 16, I phoned my parents to tell them that I’d landed a major role in the series Homeland. The point I was trying to make was that they had to cut me some slack!

A year later, I was accepted at Columbia University and I wondered how I was going to combine university with cinema. The trickiest one was when I shot Interstellar with Matthew McConaughey in Canada. I really didn’t want to drag my parents there with me. I understand the purpose and importance of a “legal representative”, but I just wanted to be free from any parental authority! So I did

some research online. And then I found a way out. Basically, there was a law that said if a film was produced by a Californiabased company and an actor had a high school diploma and was over 16, no one could do anything about it, not even their parents. So I jumped headfirst into that loophole!

Do you have to be crazy to be a good actor?

That’s a good question that deserves a proper answer. The answer is yes. We’re overly sensitive and thin-skinned. You can’t do this job if you haven’t analysed yourself. If only to try to understand who you really are. A role requires you to forget who you are. Sometimes you get so immersed that you forget who you are. We need some time to readjust. A bit like an astronaut who has spent too much time at zero gravity!

I suspect it was a dog-eat-dog world before you got to where you are now. Is that right?

Not really because I’m an animal lover, and that includes dogs! (laughs) I would say that that I’m making hay now that the sun’s shining – and that everything that’s happening now is the result of hard work.

You know, I went to a school in New York called Fiorello H. Laguardia High School for Performing Art. You remember the Fame movie and the series in the 80s? Well, that school that was the inspiration. The series and the film were about young people fighting to be the best. I’ve been there. I’ve experienced that intense and daily competition. Success one day, frustration the next. The only difference was that I didn’t get up on the tables to dance and at the end of the day I went home to my mother!

You may be a gifted actor, but it can’t be easy to shoot love scenes with a man you didn’t know before?

For Call Me by Your Name, Luca, the director, got it right.

He had asked Armie and me

to hang out together before shooting. So six weeks before we started the film, we went out together. We talked a lot. We built up a connection. It meant that the scenes you refer to did not pose much of a problem. And you know, it’s not a big deal.

Love scenes are very technical.

You are asked to put your hands there, to make this or that expression and above all to believe in it a bit. A lot of people think I’m gay now because I was really natural. For me, that is the best compliment you can give me, it means that I was believable.

The beauty of Call Me by Your Name is that it makes us understand that love is love, including between people of the same sex.

In Beautiful Boy, you played a very convincing teenage drug addict. Tell us how you approached this challenging role.

I didn’t get the part straight away. There was a lengthy audition process. For Beautiful Boy, I had to go back three or four times before I was allowed to read the script with Steve Carrell. The script was very powerful but I wanted to go further by doing some research on You Tube. I wanted to see how people with certain addictions changed physically and mentally over time.

Can you emerge unscathed from a role like that?

Yes! I know how to separate fiction from reality. In fact, I think the hardest part was not getting out of that role but getting into it! When I was offered the role of Nick, I had no pain or existential crisis in my past. I’m a son. I have parents. And I have a wonderful relationship with my parents. So putting myself in the vulnerable situation of a young man in conflict with others and with himself required a lot of preparation and concentration.

people

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TIME-KEEPERS

The J12 Saga

by Chanel

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ust after the twentieth anniversary of the J12 watch by Chanel, the cult model prides itself on a number of novel features, without altering its identity. Not quite the same, not quite another. We look at the evolution and manufacturing secrets of this watchmaking icon.

By Delphine Gallay - Photos © Chanel Horlogerie

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More than a watch, a destiny Sharp lines, graphic perfection and cutting-edge technology, the remarkable J12 watch has singlehandedly won over aesthetes and watchmaking enthusiasts of today and tomorrow.

The first ceramic watch, the J12, was born at the dawn of the new millennium, after seven years of research and development.

An original creation by Jacques Helleu, then-artistic director of Chanel, it stood out for its masculine silhouette and sculptural lines, dressed in a signature black ceramic case. Inspired by the sleek lines of America’s Cup yachts and racing cars, the J12 embodies a sports-chic style, and from its inception, has established itself as a 21st-century icon.

Eternally modern Over 20 years since its creation, the elegant J12 has stood the test of time by reinventing itself with a new design by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio. A flawless 40

performance for this sleek new edition with clean lines and a streamlined graphic look, requiring the intervention of no less than 50 watchmaking experts throughout the design and production process. Revised in every detail, this stunning androgynous model is the fruit of some five hundred 3D drawings in order to accurately translate the aesthetics, curves, design, volume and ergonomics of the new mechanical edition.

Champions of precision Designed in Paris, at the Place Vendôme, and manufactured in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the latest generation J12 is fitted with Calibre 12.1, an extremely high-performance self-winding mechanical movement comprising 191 components, developed exclusively for the Maison Chanel. An exceptional movement visible through the sapphire crystal case-back, proof of unparalleled expertise. Chronometer certified, Calibre 12.1 has a 70-hour power reserve and withstands pressure to up to 200 metres

deep. Innovation, precision and technicality are undeniably at the heart of this creation.

Ceramic signature But the craftsmanship doesn’t stop there. Produced at over 1,300 degrees, ceramic, the hallmark of the Maison Chanel, becomes as soft as silk, and seven times harder than steel.

Perfectly resistant to scratches and wear and tear, this singular material forged at high temperatures, then polished with diamond powder, marries the curves of the wrist with comfort and lightness. Available in deep black or immaculate white, Gabrielle Chanel’s preferred colours, the watch also comes in some rare and limited editions, characterized by the creative elegance typical of the brand.

Despite the new-look J12, the flexibility of the links on the bracelet remain the same, as does the ceramic case adorned by a large fluted steel bezel, epitomizing Chanel’s formidable savoir-faire.

WWW.CHANEL.COM

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Interview with

Arnaud Chastaingt Director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio

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The House of CHANEL has a very personal definition of High Watchmaking. Can you share your vision of this territory and present us with your new creations?

At CHANEL, High Watchmaking goes far beyond a technical complexity. “High Watchmaking” is a combination of two words with which I haven’t always had a natural affinity. Originally, traditional watchmaking created and appropriated this name to categorize the family of watches with complications. The term “complications” is a word I find rather difficult. Why make it complicated when you can make it simple?

Personally, I prefer to dream of “watchmaking clarity”. The House of CHANEL has a very singular definition of High Watchmaking. The savoir-faire of our watchmakers is a métier 44

d’art that I benefit from in the same way as when we collaborate with a jeweler, a glyptician, an embroiderer, an enameller or a glove-maker. High Watchmaking for me is the ultimate expression of my vision of CHANEL watchmaking. It is such an inspiring playground where excellence, daring and the exceptional are key words. At CHANEL, “Haute Horlogerie” [High Watchmaking] and “Haute Couture”, have one word different, but the magic is just the same!

In 2020, CHANEL added transparency to High Watchmaking.

How does this theme continue to inspire you as you look ahead to 2021?

I like the idea of a material that reveals everything, but also the idea of a watch that has nothing to hide. Making the J12 X-RAY was a genuine technical feat, but

my first goal was still visual performance. Sapphire is a material full of surprises that can reveal unexpected prisms. There is an almost experimental dimension in the use of this material.

In 2021, the Calibre 3.1 incorporates the J12 38 mm in white ceramic. This piece brings together the best of both worlds with a high-resistance ceramic bracelet and a totally transparent inhouse Manufacture movement.

Transparency is also illustrated with the Boy-Friend X-RAY / Calibre 3 watch. The watch disappears in favor of the movement and reveals a black lace, embroidered with cogs and bridges. It is made-to-measure, a veritable exercise in Haute Couture, manufactured according to the rules of CHANEL High Watchmaking.

This watch, the Boy-Friend Calibre 3, was awarded the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève

in 2018 in the “Ladies’ Watch” category. It has established itself as a major creation of CHANEL High Watchmaking. This creation continues to teach us a lesson in style with the new 2021 Edition. Indeed, since its creation in 2015, the BOY-FRIEND watch has been cultivating its own history of style while playing with genres.

This year, it’s the aesthetic concept of “tone on tone” that I adopted for the BOY-FRIEND Calibre 3. After stripping it back completely with its X-RAY version, we chose to go “all over” with a full beige gold look. Without any compromise, its monochromatic silhouette is highlighted with baguette diamonds and a quilted, bronze leather strap.

TIME-KEEPERS

On a completely different note, the Monsieur collection has embodied, since 2016, the definition of CHANEL men’s watchmaking. What will it look like in 2021?

Without losing the elegance that has made its reputation, the men’s timepieces in our collection come with three new looks this year.

I had a lot of fun with this exercise in style! The Edition MARBRE sets the tone. In matte black ceramic, Monsieur displays a black marble dial. Dictated by the material, each dial has the luxury of being unique. To complete this discreet and contemporary elegance, we chose a matte black leather strap.

In 2021, the Monsieur watch also returns to the elegance of the baguette diamond.

The “black tie” look of the MONSIEUR EDITION DIAMOND is

signed by the depth of a black dial made in the purest tradition of ‘grand feu’ enamel. Finally, we chose a sporty look for the MONSIEUR SUPERLEGGERA. The J12 SUPERLEGGERA watch really made its mark in 2005. For 2021, CHANEL is launching a MONSIEUR SUPERLEGGERA. Why? The J12 SUPERLEGGERA was the first J12 created especially for men. The Monsieur watch launched in 2016 went even further in this approach by being the first High Watchmaking collection made for men by CHANEL. Bringing Monsieur and the automotive world together was an obvious choice for me and calling for the “Superleggera” signature was a must.

SUPERLEGGERA is a legendary name! An emblem synonymous with excellence and

exception, found on many of the most elite racing cars. The MONSIEUR SUPERLEGGERA watch assumes this sporting and elegant heritage.

The “Superleggera” signature is applied in red on a black background in the manner of an automobile speedometer.

Its case – or should I say its bodywork – is made of high-strength ceramic, a material 7 times harder than steel all while being much lighter. Its engine is of a great mechanical nobility because it is the Calibre 1, the first In-House movement of High Watchmaking with Jumping Hour and Retrograde Minute.

The SUPERLEGGERA reveals a whole new facet of the “Monsieur” collection universe.

of the biggest players in the industry. In your opinion, what makes CHANEL watchmaking so unique?

CHANEL is a House of creation and its watchmaking has fully adhered to this rule. In 1987, CHANEL entered this universe with the freedom that characterizes it. But at CHANEL, freedom of creation and excellence of savoir-faire go hand in hand. This combination is a given at CHANEL and each watch combines these two requirements. A CHANEL watch always illustrates a story of style.

Time is punctuated by the measurement of a pace, the pace of CHANEL Time.

In 30 years, CHANEL has established itself in the world of watchmaking and is now one 45

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Carl F. Bucherer and Caran D’ache

TWO ICONIC SWISS BRANDS CELEBRATE LIFE’S SIGNATURE MOMENTS

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wo globally renowned Swiss brands – prestige Swiss watch manufacturer Carl F. Bucherer and Caran D’Ache, the Geneva-based maker of outstanding writing and drawing instruments – have joined forces. In October 2021, they introduced the first product of their partnership: a pairing of a luxury watch and a striking writing instrument, which together celebrate life’s signature moments. The brands are defined by shared core values, century-old family legacies, their dedicated craftsmanship, and their visions for a bright, sustainable future.

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arl F. Bucherer and Caran d’Ache have announced their Signature Moments project: a pairing of a special limited edition (188 pieces) of the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback Signature watch and a superb Caran d’Ache Signature rollerball pen. The watch and the writing instrument are presented together in an innovative travel pouch made from eco-friendly material, which is delivered in a beautifully crafted wooden box. The brands, which earlier in the year announced their plans to work together on special projects, unveiled the Signature Moments project on October 8.

Natural Partners: Swiss Industry Pioneers Defined by Their Legacy of Partnership Carl F. Bucherer and Caran d’Ache are the most natural of Swiss partners: both opened their doors well over a century ago and remain family-led companies. Both are admired around the world for their craftsmanship and timeless contemporary design. And, while Carl F. Bucherer and Caran d’Ache create analog products in a digital age, they are both prepared to take their quality, innovation, and creativity into the future. A Celebration of Signature Moments and an Invitation to Dream Sascha Moeri, Carl F. Bucherer’s CEO, said that the product pairing focuses on signature moments – those events that change the trajectory of our lives forever – but it does something more: “The Signature Moments release through our Manero Flyback Signature watch and the Caran d’Ache Signature writing instrument also invite people to dream.

Very often, these important moments in our lives mark the realization of long-held dreams. Carole Hubscher at Caran d’Ache and I love the idea of celebrating not only the attainment of a long-held aspiration but also the earlier times in a person’s life that inspired that goal.” The CEOs were asked about signature moments in their own lives and offered interesting answers. Sascha Moeri of Carl F. Bucherer said that among many, there was his first meeting with Group Chairman Jörg G. Bucherer. “I didn’t know it at the time,” he says with a smile, “but it changed the trajectory of my life forever.”

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Carole Hubscher recalled an event celebrating the first 100 years of Caran d’Ache.

“We had organized a fantastic exhibition called ‘The Caran d’Ache de Picasso’ in Interlaken. We had the opportunity to display original artworks Picasso had created with Caran d’Ache products. It was an exceptional moment for me because it was a perfect intersection of one of the most inspirational artistic geniuses of the past century and the history of our brand.”

The Manero Flyback Signature: Technical Sophistication and Sporty Chic Design The new Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback Signature combines technical sophistication, sporty chic design, and the cosmopolitan essence that characterizes the line.

With its flyback function – the ability to reset and restart the chronograph timer with a simple touch – it is a stunning example of the brand’s Made of Lucerne horological craftsmanship. Its graphite gray chronograph subdials offer a sharp contrast to the silvered dial, whose hour markers recall some of the colors of the pencils that are such an important part of Caran d’Ache’s best-known products. Inside the 43 mm stainless steel case is the CFB 1970 automatic caliber with a power reserve of 42 hours.

The watch is presented on a stylishly striped beige and graphite gray NATO strap with red highlights, but anyone who wants to be able to make a different style statement or express a different mood in the space of a few seconds will be excited to find a second striped NATO strap – this one in two blue tones – nestled in the travelling pouch with the Caran d’Ache pen. Both straps are crafted from 100% sustainable materials. The watch is water resistant to 30 m (3 atm).

complement the watch’s face. A thin red line engraved in the clip is reminiscent of the watch’s hand and the cap features a delicately lacquered graphite grey hexagonal isotype.

The Caran d’Ache Signature rollerball pen is a subtle blend of precious materials that is magnified by the traditional guillochage and lacquering techniques, which are still upheld by Caran d’Ache today.

With its streamlined body, this exceptional writing instrument offers easy handling and optimum writing comfort, complete with a touch of timeless elegance.

Carole Hubscher, the brand’s CEO, comments: “I’m the fourth generation of my family to be involved in the company’s management, and it is important to me to see that our legacy is carried forward.

This Caran d’Ache Signature writing instrument has been created to invite future generations to dream big and to achieve their own signature moments. And, of course, it’s a perfect pairing with the watch. Every signature moment happens at a specific time that will stay in your memory forever – and you’ll note it precisely with your watch.”

The Signature Moments of Carl F. Bucherer and Caran d’Ache As Caran d’Ache CEO Carole Hubscher and Carl F. Bucherer CEO Sascha Moeri say, their Signature Moments partnership lives up to its name: the paired release is a joyous celebration of the most important events in our lives – the ones that are extensions of our most hopeful dreams and of the aspirations to realize those dreams. It is a homage to the moment that we glance at our watch to note the time and date and, with a pen in hand, sign a document that will forever change the trajectories of our lives.

The Caran d’Ache Signature Writing Instrument: Timeless Elegance The Caran d’Ache Signature writing instrument echoes the Manero Flyback’s traditional form; its rhodium- and silver-coated body is adorned with a deep “crown effect” guillochage and decorated with hand-lacquered multicolored triangles that perfectly

WWW.CARL-F-BUCHERER.COM

TIME-KEEPERS

Facts and Figures Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback Signature Reference number: 00.10919.08.13.98 Movement: Automatic, CFB 1970 caliber, diameter 30.4 mm, height 7.9 mm, 25 jewels, power reserve 42 hours Functions: Chronograph: minute and seconds counters, flyback function, date, hour, minute, small seconds Case: Stainless steel, double-domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides, case back with sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 30bar (3m), diameter 43 mm, height 14.45 mm, numbered on the caseback - 001/188 until 188/188 Dial: Silver colored, indices in rainbow colors, graphite grey counters Strap: NATO textile strap, 100% recycled PET with calfskin patch (beige/grey/red), stainless steel pin buckle Additional strap: NATO textile strap, 100% recycled PET with calfskin patch (blue), stainless steel pin buckle Limitation: 188 pieces

Caran d’Ache Signature rollerball pen Body: Rhodium- and silver-coated body with deep “crown effect” engraving Diameter: 12.2 mm, length: 135.73 mm Body and cap decorated with hand-lacquered triangles in 12 different colors in reference to Caran d’Ache color wheel Cap: Graphite grey hexagonal isotype in reference to the watch counters and Caran d’Ache graphite pencils Clip: Hinged clip engraved with a line of Caran d’Ache red lacquer Engravings: Engraved number on writing block – 001/188 to 188/188 Cartridge: Equipped with a black rollerball cartridge F Limitation: 188 pieces

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jewellery

A festival of light by

Piaget Piaget invites us to a celebration of its Extraordinary Lights Luxury Jewellery Collection, a nocturnal festival of light and colour that perpetuates all of the splendour and tradition of the famous jewellery House. This collection showcases the changes over three phases of the night sky. We examine the pieces these three moments have inspired, which may be said to truly encapsulate the Piaget spirit.

By Sophie Colin

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Festive Lights

embodied by the Blazing Night necklace

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vening has fallen.

The guests are gathered in the warmth of a magical summer night where a spirit of free-dom reigns, liberated from all conformity, a tribute to Piaget’s heyday in the 1960s. This was a time when Yves Piaget, then head of the House and fourth-generation representative of the founding family, hosted legendary parties that attracted a number of prestigious and well-known figures like Jackie Kennedy, Eliza-beth Taylor, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dali.

The fascinated spectators would watch an aerial ballet of red lanterns floating up into the sky.

The luminous choreography of the lanterns filled the celestial vault with flashes of intense

colour, like red embers drifting towards the stars. The Blazing Night necklace is set ablaze by twelve superb rubies from Mozambique and Thailand, and by a selection of subtly alternating baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds. The pear shape of the rubies—one of the rarest cuts for this stone—evokes the luminous arc drawn by the lanterns.

The necklace unfolds majestically and seems to take flight in turn, with a flexibility that only a highly skilled technical prowess could create. The fluid movement of the stones, per-fectly set next to each other, is a veritable feat. It took several years to source these pure rubies with such a natural red shade. Some of them, as well as the baguette diamonds, were recut in order

to respect the very precise proportions and to perfect the contours of the necklace. This piece represents no less than four hundred hours of work by the master craftsmen of the Piaget Manufacture. The dazzling spectacle of this memorable night pays homage to the Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire, in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva, dedicat-ed to goldsmithery and jewellery. From the initial design to the meticulous finish, designers, gemologists and artisans explore and experiment with gold and precious stones, guided by the motto, pronounced by Valentin Piaget, grandson of founder GeorgesEdouard Piaget: “Always do better than necessary.”

Blazing Night necklace in 18K white gold set with 1 pear-cut ruby from Mozambique (approx. 4.03 carats), 11 pear-cut rubies from Mozambique and Thailand (approx. 7.07 carats), and baguette-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds Unique creation.

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Magical Lights

embodied by the Magical Aurora necklace

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uddenly the sky appears to swirl, filled with the luminous phantasmagorical light display of the Northern Lights, catapulting streaks of green across the heavens in a kaleidoscope of shimmering, shifting hues.

The Magical Aurora necklace captures the beauty of nature’s light show and is adorned with a stunning central 16.84-carat emerald from Colombia, where exceptional stones of an intense and transparent colour are ex-tracted. Such stones are rare because the emerald, which forms in two phases, undergoes pressure during its development and carries with it inclusions that can alter its purity.

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Fortunately, Nature knows how to be generous with stone lovers. An experienced lapidary and setter then reveal the gem’s beauty, by transform-ing the raw material and setting it, to bring out the light and brilliance of the stone and allowing the colour to vibrate. The Magical Aurora necklace radiates with baguette-cut diamonds and delicately shaped dia-monds, highlighted by a handful of marquise-cut emeralds. This cut was born in the 18th century, taking its inspiration from the smile of the Marquise de Pompadour, to whom Louis XIV wanted to offer a dia-mond of an original shape. He entrusted a jeweller with the task of making one,

using the smile of his be-loved as a model. At Piaget, creation goes hand in hand with technical expertise, fusing artistry, skill, imagi-nation, glamour and fantasy. It is no coincidence that the sun is the privileged muse of Piaget’s collections and that within the House’s repertoire, the iconic words are sun, light, radiance, brilliance, luminosity, col-our… Nature too is a great source of inspiration for Piaget’s master jewellers. With this collection however, the focus is on the night, brought to life by the movement of the stones and the explosion of colours. Cre-ativity breaks free, daring and mischievous, filled with sensuality and wonder.

Magical Aurora necklace in 18K white gold set with 1 Colombian emerald-cut emerald (approx. 16.84 carats), marquise-cut emeralds, baguette-cut diamonds and brilliant-cut diamonds. Unique creation.

JEWELLERY

Infinite Lights

embodied by the Extraor-dinary Lights necklace

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alm returns and the guests gaze at the brilliant white glittering and glimmering stars that punctuate the immensity of the velvety night sky. Emotions run high, moved by the grace of these chromatic flashes, like this exceptional jewellery composition. The Extraordinary Lights necklace is a masterpiece born of creativity and skill, a tribute to the heritage of the House of Piaget and its associated artistry.

A staggering four-hundred-andfifty hours were needed hours to make this fully articulated necklace. This constellation of stones is led by a magnificent 8.88-carat cushion-cut diamond, in a Fancy Vivid yellow hue, a shade and cut sublimated by Piaget.

It also boasts a pear-shaped

Sri Lankan blue sapphire of 5.34 carats and a pear-shaped Tanzanian 3.61-carat red spinel.

The piece is set with spessartite garnets and diamonds. White pearls complement this sumptuous creation. Beyond its beauty and elegance, the necklace possesses a whimsical and imaginative function, dear to Piaget, echoing the House’s desire for individuality since its creation in 1874. The necklace can, in fact, be worn in nine different ways, transformable throughout the day and evening to suit every wardrobe and desire. It comprises a first necklace in warm colours of yellow, orange and red, and a second necklace in cooler shades of blue. For a more sophisticated style effect, the two necklaces come together to

form one. The spinel and diamonds that line the end of the necklace re-tract, as does the diamond chain, also sublime in its bracelet version. These combinations pose a challenge to the jewellers and artisans who craft them, whose mission is not only to make them possible but also to make them easy to wear by the woman who dons them.

This is the art of Haute Joaillerie creating a truly extraordinary piece that can be worn as easily and comfortably as possible.

And the challenge is superbly met by this Extraordinary Lights collection that transports us until the dawn replaces the night.

Extraordinary Lights necklace in 18K white gold set with 1 cushion-cut yellow diamond (approx. 8.88 carats, FVY-IF), 1 pearshaped blue sapphire from Sri Lanka (approx. 5.34 carats), 1 pear-shaped spinel (approx. 3.61 carats), round-cut red spinels, roundcut spessartites, round-cut blue sapphires, brilliant-cut yellow diamonds, marquisecut diamonds, baguette-cut diamonds, bril-liant-cut diamonds and white pearls.

Plunging necklace that can be worn in nine different ways. Unique creation.

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Kerbedanz marks the beginning of a new era

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n the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Kerbedanz has set itself the goal of conquering new markets, with a global offer accessible to a wider audience. The watchmaking house based in Neuchâtel now sells handbags, wallets and accessories, cufflinks and writing instruments ... All this, after just having added a complete collection of new watches: Cadanz by Kerbedanz.

By Marine Pasquier

© Fred Merz | Lundi13

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© Fred Merz | Lundi13

Crafting Your Singularity In tune with today’s rapidly changing society, Kerbedanz displays its ability to adapt to new buyer profiles and their needs. More modern and more eclectic, the Swiss watchmaking brand has reinvented itself by exploring new playing fields. Inspired by the new slogan Crafting Your Singularity, Kerbedanz’s watchmaking history takes on a new and exciting facet, extending its range with a collection of products rhyming with creativity, elegance and originality. Customers can choose from an array of accessories, including writing instruments, cufflinks in sterling silver and rose gold, and a bold range of bags. With its unique “Grain d’orge” motif, Kerbedanz demonstrates its bold creativity with a geometric aesthetic that combines colours and forms.

Available in grey, red, blue and mallard green, this printed coated fabric adorns a tote bag, wallets and credit card holders, passport holders and other practical accessories. Classic and chic urban leather goods

and accessories for everyday use. Targeting a younger clientele, more active on social media, these new collections will be available online soon on the main Kerbedanz retail site.

Remarkable watches that set the pace When it comes to watchmaking, while the Neuchâtel brand formerly specialized in mini-series and unique complications, like its gigantic Maximus tourbillon, it has extended its offer and is now a multifaceted brand, featuring a range of more accessible timepieces.

Its new collection, Cadanz by Kerbedanz, boasts no less than thirty references, each with a stunning design. Available in three sizes, 32, 36 and 41 mm in diameter, these self-winding mechanical models stand out for their central guilloché motif, and like any Kerbedanz watch, have the crown positioned at 2 o’ clock. Their anti-reflective sapphire crystal case perfectly matches the bracelets in distinctive colours, each with an elegant orange highlight. They are

available in an infinite number of combinations, from steel to rose gold to DLC, with mother-of-pearl details, sword hands or even versions set with diamonds. Kerbedanz explores the fundamentals of watchmaking in complete freedom, and even dares to challenge established codes, offering the feeling that each Cadanz by Kerbedanz is

unique. This new line is once again proof of Kerbedanz’s singular aesthetic, innovative creativity, and extensive expertise that showcase the wearer’s individuality.

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JEWELLERY

Artegemma

discreet yet eye-catching, the alliance of eternal elegance and innovation, a hint of mysteryand contemporary refinement

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abriela Maier, independent artist and jewellery designer, advocates the art of chic on a daily basis. “Making you happy” is her leitmotif and the source of her tranquil harmony that is practically an art de vivre.

By Helene Perdroux

Effortless elegance Genevan designer Gabriela Maier redefines the notion of modernity, outside conventional classicism, creating pieces that can be worn every day, without constraints and suited to busy lifestyles. Timeless shapes and colours, and precise meticulous designs are her hallmark.

Step inside Gabriela’s universe The creator seamlessly bridges the gap between history and innovation. Underneath her reserve, lies a fertile imagination that she expresses through the medium of art and design.

By delegating production and entrusting distribution to a single boutique, Gabriela benefits from periods of solitary creativity and the support of a skilled network. The resulting jewellery pieces, as dignified as they are luxurious, epitomize her graceful style.

Artegemma, an accessible prestige Inspired by the somewhat mysterious world of jewels and

jewellery-making techniques, Gabriela Maier creates Swissmade, 18-carat gold pieces that are painstakingly handcrafted.

The carefully selected stones, with their exotic evocations, are amongst the distinguishing characteristics of her creations.

A vision of a timeless luxury underlies Artegemma’s designs and productions. Following in the footsteps of the world renowned Gabrielle Chanel, Gabriela has succeeded in bringing a formerly inaccessible beauty to the streets. Like the famous fashion designer, who was the first to create models for ready-to-wear textile industries, Gabriela Maier imagines jewellery that sublimates the everyday life of those who wear them.

Artegemma’s colourful and original creations can be personalized to suit all tastes but nevertheless retain the signature of their maker: that of an understated elegance. Gabriela’s timeless pieces suit every mood and occasion. Customers can choose from an existing range or suggest their own ideas.

Artegemma jewellery does not define the wearer’s personality, but enhances it.

ELIZABETH-GENÈVE RUE VERDAINE 4 - 1204 GENEVA - +41 79 571 60 32 ARTEGEMMA.CH 56

TIME-KEEPERS

Meet

Alexandra Lanz

CEO Montres Cimier SA

What have been the highlights of your career thus far?

I have worked in the Swiss watch industry for 25 years and so a number of challenges have punctuated my career.

I could also refer to these as highlights as they have allowed me to constantly push my limits.

I hope that this continues to be the case for many years! These strong points have always been connected to other people, whether working as part of a team, or in collaboration with a designer, manufacturer, or client. In my eyes, the success of a project is made possible by the simple fact of knowing how to surround yourself with passionate, motivated people who are determined to give their all.

How would you describe yourself as a woman and as a CEO? My character traits as a woman are no different from those as a CEO. Over the years, I have obviously asserted myself, but I have been able to remain humble, genuine and generous; all these character traits have allowed me to advance in my career.

I remain deeply convinced that people should be adventurous, move forward and challenge the 58

status quo; that is my way of operating in both my professional and private life.

What inspires you in the world of watchmaking?

“Quite simply, to be fulfilling myself in this industry and to have done so for 25 years! I am happy to say that I have never ceased to learn. I am constantly improving and constantly evolving…

Where do you find your inspiration for the CIMIER brand?

In its history, the trends dictated by the markets, but especially in the exchanges with my team, our partners and our clients.

Watching and listening are essential to the development of any new project - inspiration has no age, experience or boundaries.

How do you see CIMIER evolving?

We are fortunate to be able to work for a brand that has a strong imprint in the history of Swiss watchmaking and its reputation has been preserved over the years. Let’s not forget that CIMIER will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024!

We plan to celebrate the centenary by unveiling a brand new collection of CIMIER watches, in keeping with the times while respecting the strong and wellmarked character of the brand.

The unique experience we offer through our Watch Academy

by CIMIER allows us to immerse our participants in the fascinating world of watchmaking.

This concept of discovery and personalisation allows us to constantly push the limits of creativity. It allows us to be different, to stand out in an industry that struggles to offer watches that reveal a person’s true personality. We have the ambition to take this concept even further

by offering various seminars, watch components in various shapes, materials and colours.

We are committed to producing our watch components with local partners.

Montres CIMIER SA is also a partner strongly invested in the “private label” to enable us to produce some tens of thousands of watches per year. It is important to share our knowledge, our advanced skills with our clients, in terms of design, development, manufacturing processes and after-sales service.

WWW.CIMIER.COM WWW.WATCH-ACADEMY.COM

DZINEBAGS.COM info@dzinebags.com @dzinebags

jewellery

Philippe Guilhem

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The Jeweller in Megève

incent Van Gogh once said that “the great artist is the simplifier”, which doesn’t apply only to painting. Observing the work of the French jeweller Philippe Guilhem, you can understand just how right the Dutch artist was. I believe that only the most gifted of jewellers can create minimalist designs that make you gasp at the mere sight of them.

By Marine Pasquier

Philippe was born into a family of antique boutique owners in Béziers “The oldest city in France”, who also worked as jewellery manufacturers, producing collections for various brands. His father, Jean-Pierre Guilhem, was one of the bestknown and most respected gemmologists in France, so from an early age, Philippe spent a lot of time in mining areas buying amazing gems with his father.

He grew up surrounded not only by exquisite jewellery but also by art pieces. There is no doubt that his early submersion into the world of jewellery and gemstones played a vital role in the development of Philippe’s tastes as a young man. “I was surrounded by jewels but also estate furniture and sculpture. In fact, my great-great-grandmother was a

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sculptor. She was the one who opened the Jewellery in Béziers in 1865 ” explains Philippe as he talks about his love for sculpted shapes in jewellery. “Now I love to pay homage to her and her work by including bronze in my jewellery.” It is, incidentally, the sculptor Gustave Miklos and architect Zaha Hadid who have been key sources of inspiration to Philippe for many years. The first things that catch your eye when admiring the French jeweller’s ring collection are the purity and minimalism, the expressive gemstones and the unusual finishes of the metal surfaces. If you look closely, you can see that Philippe prefers the classic beauty of gold.

“When I started creating my own jewellery about three years ago, I was exploring the idea of

replicating the patina you see on bronze sculptures,” continues the jeweller. “I have always loved how gracefully bronze transforms over time, allowing different streaks and marks to appear on the surface. Bronze jewellery matures along with its wearer.” For Philippe, creating a single jewel is a lengthy process that can take several months because what might seem simple at first glance is actually extremely difficult to realise. Each line must be perfectly honed and each millimetre measured to ensure balance and harmony in the design. If you change the width of a ring even slightly, the roundness of the shank or the location of a stone or the angle at which it is set, the design is compromised. What’s more, when the surface of the piece is

so open, even the tiniest of flaws are immediately visible. Driven by perfectionism, the only way to achieve a flawless result is to have talented jewellery makers working alongside Philippe Guilhem. The conception of a ring’s design begins with an inspiration, and after the idea is realised, through creating a mould of the jewel from a material that is easy to shape into the desired form. “It is not commonly used in jewellery making,” Philippe reveals. “I came across it in Tuscany, in Pietrasanta, where I often go with my wife Maria. It’s a special moist paste that allows me to play with several shapes before solidifying.

Then I use various tools, one of which looks like a nail file, to give my rings their final shape.” During our meeting, he

jewellery

admitted that he does not like using CAD modelling, which he feels creates lifeless designs.

Instead, he makes all the prototypes with his own hands. “I really do prefer handmade designs.

I feel the beauty is in the imperfection,” he says. Next, Philippe delivers his prototype to the workshop, where the jewellers produce the bronze element of the ring, after which it is sent to a different studio so that the gold base can be made. After that, the piece returns to the bronze craftsmen to undergo a special heat treatment of the metal surface, which creates the desired patina, and the process doesn’t end there. For the gemstone to be set, the ring must be returned to the gold workshop.

Only after this “finishing touch” has been added does the jewel

become a beautiful sculpture in its own right. Philippe creates eight different versions of each design and calls them by different names, with the shape the only unifying factor. All the colour combinations of bronze and precious stones are unique.

“I love this: a contrast between the exceptionally clean, shiny stone and the rough of the material. My work always starts with the gem and then I create around it,” he tells me. Philippe has long been under the spell of precious minerals and is very particular when it comes to acquiring sapphires, rubies, spinels, garnets, rubellites, Paraiba tourmalines and other brightly hued stones for his jewels. In his collection, there are many extraordinary stones that he handpicked directly at

mines, including an 18.77-carat blue sapphire, an untreated fire ruby from Tanzania weighing 8.12 carats, an oval Padparadscha sapphire weighing 20 carats and a 6.03-carat heart cut spessartine garnet.

Philippe chooses diamonds with extreme care and is not attracted to those that have nothing to offer besides a hefty carat weight and good clarity. He believes that the stone should, above all else, be a harmonious complement to the sculpted shape of a jewel, create a frame through its proportions and hue, and provide a spectacular contrast with the warmth of the bronze. With more than a dozen rings under his belt, Philippe has recently turned his attention to making earrings and even a cuff bracelet. “I am working on my first

cuff, which will be crowned with a wonderful “Jedi” red spinel from Burma,” he says. “I chose it out of perhaps 50 other spinels for its amazing colour and cannot wait to show you the result in a few months.” I, like you, cannot wait to see the results of this latest experiment. While waiting for the birth of a new work of art, you can see some of Philippe Guilhem’s existing pieces at his family boutique in the town of Megève in France.

GUILHEM JOAILLIERS 115 RUE CHARLES FEIGE 74120 MEGÈVE FRANCE GUILHEM-JOAILLIER.COM 61

JEWELLERY

JULIAN

PELLICCIA

Gold at his fingertips

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t the age of 26, Julian Pelliccia has emerged as a young prodigy of French Haute Joaillerie (luxury jewellery).

Taking inspiration from philosophy, literature and Japanese themes, the artistic sensibility of this talented jeweller finds its expression in his truly unique creations that testify to a very personal vision of jewellery art.

By Marine Pasquier 62

JEWELLERY

A symbolic art A recent graduate from the Haute Ecole de Joaillerie on the rue du Louvre, Paris, Julian Pelliccia embarked on his own creations in 2018, seeking to demonstrate to a wide public the extent of his expertise and the originality of his designs.

Sensitive to emotions, history and current affairs, each piece of jewellery is designed according to the artist’s feelings, thereby expressing a sensation or a message. These are productions that arise from an idea, a philosophical or more often than not spiritual reflection that convey his distinctive vision of the world. An intuitive approach, where forms and volumes emerge spontaneously. As a true perfectionist, the young man meticulously designs each item of jewellery by hand, or occasionally accompanied by state-of-the-art equipment, to

ensure a continuous level of excellence. The atypical and innovative worlds of his fabulous collections reflect his daily life, built around encounters, travels and memories.

The universe as a source of inspiration After his first collection, entitled Samurai, inspired by martial arts, and his Japanese-style creations like Sakura,—an ode to cherry blossoms,—the jeweller has turned his attention to a range representative of our universe and more particularly, of the four elements that compose it. His first creation, inspired

by Water, is called Intuition.

This is a ring that symbolizes emotion, the affect and imagination, qualities inherent to this element. It is a representation of the unconscious that dominates us: each being is at

the mercy of their feelings and intuition. Similar to a wave, Intuition places a sublime cobalt spinel on the wearer’s finger. Alternatively a sapphire, if the client so prefers. Entirely designed in titanium, this jewellery creation is adorned with a gradient of three shades of blue, similar to the nuances of seawater in the light of the sun’s rays. The whole is sublimated by the brilliance and light of diamonds, Paraiba tourmalines and set sapphires. The Intuition model will soon be completed with matching accessories, including a necklace and bracelet, inspired by the abundant foam of the sea. Another range, entitled Patience, inspired by the Earth, will soon see the light of day. These strong symbols represent self-discipline in the face of the constraints of the material world. Julian Pelliccia is a jewellery designer to be followed closely…

WWW. JULIANPELLICCIA-CREATEURJOAILLIER.FR 63

TIME-KEEPERS

CYRUS Geneva

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KLEPCYS DICE: an innovative doubleindependent chronograph

ince its foundation in 2010, CYRUS has associated each of its creations with its relentless “Conquest of Innovation”.

This year, the independent Swiss watchmaking house is expanding its Klepcys Collection by welcoming a new model: the chronograph known as “KLEPCYS DICE”, produced in two versions, limited to 50 editions each. As its name suggests, the model symbolizes a technical evolution from the traditional chronograph, transformed here into a double-independent chronograph, capable of measuring two short time intervals independently or simultaneously. Cutting-edge technology has allowed this model to be realized although its genesis dates as far back as America, 1873.

By Marine Pasquier

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TIME-KEEPERS

The conquest of innovation Characterized by its independent spirit, responsiveness, and autonomous production, along with its watchmaking expertise, CYRUS is proud to present “KLEPCYS DICE”, operated by a new manufactured automatic movement that incorporates an independent twin monopusher stopwatch. A creation directly inspired by the world of sport with which CYRUS has an important relationship. It is the “official timekeeper and watchmaking partner” of the Uralkali Haas Formula 1 Team. Designed and created by renowned master watchmaker Jean-François Mojon, this modern chronograph was born from an extensive study into the role of timekeeping in sports competitions,

where it is often necessary to measure the time elapsed with two distinct starting times.

A symbolic design With its 42-mm titanium case, guaranteed water-resistant to a depth of 100 metres, the KLEPCYS DICE model alternates polished, satin-brushed and micro-beaded elements, creating an aesthetic with a strong identity. The functional double crown—the distinctive CYRUS hallmark—in blue and red, is fitted with a push-piece that operates the three stopwatch functions (start / stop / reset). The prestigious mechanics of the KLEPCYS DICE are showcased thanks to the openwork architecture of the dial.

Comprising 443 components,

the new self-winding manufacture calibre CYR718 features two independent chronograph movements and two display axes: one corresponds to the seconds chronograph and the other to the 30-minute counter of the double chronograph.

During the design process, care was taken to keep the mechanics of the two chronographs isolated so as to avoid shocks during the resetting phase. In other words, the two chronographs operate independently, without influencing each other.

Unprecedented performance The unusual position of the chronograph mechanism on the dial side makes it possible to appreciate the movement of the finely decorated wheels, levers and gear trains. The 30-minute chronograph counter at 3

o’clock—the KLEPCYS DICE star function—features two vertically aligned hands in red and blue. Thanks to the bright colours, the two times can be read instantly. The meticulous aesthetic attention to detail of the KLEPCYS DICE is also evident on the back of the watch.

Transparent sapphire crystal highlights the NAC galvanized bridges, and the polished and micro-beaded surface is adorned with an embossed “sunray” motif. KLEPCYS DICE comes with a grey Cordura strap with a titanium folding clasp that matches the case. It also boasts an additional customized black rubber strap.

WWW. CYRUS-WATCHES.CH 65

JEWELLERY

CharleS Zuber

or the renaissance of Genevan luxury jewellery

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aster jeweller Charles Zuber is one of the last great artisans of his domain. Today, the eponymously-named Genevan brand, respectful of tradition, puts the Swiss capital at the heart of the international jewellery market.

By Quitterie Pasquesoone

A high-flying artisan Piaget, Audemars Piguet, Harry Winston and Parmigiani … over the course of his career, Charles Zuber worked for some of the world’s greatest jewellers and most prestigious watch brands. Admired by his peers, he was the inspiration behind iconic watches and jewellery collections. Charles Zuber was notably one of the last figures in his field to have successfully combined new moulding techniques with the ancestral savoir-faire of luxury jewellery, while making use of now rare micro-mechanical techniques.

The high-end jewellery brand, built on the values and expertise 66

of its deceased master jeweller, Charles Zuber, continues to put Geneva and its historic jewellery traditions back at the heart of contemporary creation and international markets.

Charles Zuber, expert watchmaker When it comes to watchmaking, the Maison Charles Zuber perpetuates the tradition characteristic of many Swiss brands.

Renowned for its fusion of materials, colours and know-how, the Perfos watch crystallizes a galaxy of skills that reconnects with the history of Swiss watchmaking, and Genevan excellence in particular, rivalling

the stringent standards that govern the world of luxury jewellery. Universal and iconic, the Perfos model is equipped with a Manufacture-shaped calibre, the Calibra 01. Fashioned by the creative genius of designer Eric Giroud, the case is elegant, powerful, and full of contrasts.

Its highly recognizable dial is distinguished by a complexity synonymous with uncompromising elegance.

Pomander, a symbol of modernity In terms of jewellery, one of the House’s flagship pieces is the Pomander. This legendary accessory, once containing

enigmatic and evocative scents, has been brought up to date.

This small recipient, whose name comes from the French pomme d’ambre (amber apple), was traditionally filled with medicinal essences like ambergris, civet or musk. In Renaissance times, these ornaments became ornate accessories, fashioned by goldsmiths from chiselled precious metals.

Today, it can be worn as a pendant, placed at the end of a long necklace, or on earrings and bracelets. A must-have in every collection.

WWW.CHARLESZUBER.COM

EXPERIENCE WATCHMAKING

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EXHIBITING BRANDS A. LANGE & SÖHNE BAUME & MERCIER CARTIER CHANEL CHOPARD GRAND SEIKO HERMÈS HUBLOT IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN JAEGER-LECOULTRE MONTBLANC ORIS PANERAI PARMIGIANI FLEURIER PATEK PHILIPPE PIAGET ROGER DUBUIS ROLEX TAG HEUER TUDOR ULYSSE NARDIN VACHERON CONSTANTIN VAN CLEEF & ARPELS ZENITH CARRÉ DES HORLOGERS ANGELUS ARMIN STROM ARNOLD & SON CYRUS CZAPEK & CIE FERDINAND BERTHOUD GRÖNEFELD H. MOSER & CIE. LAURENT FERRIER LOUIS MOINET REBELLION TIMEPIECES RESSENCE RUDIS SYLVA SPEAKE-MARIN TRILOBE

PERFUME

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PERFUME

Hedi Slimane brings back to life Céline Vipiana’s avantgarde and one-of-akind Heritage F

ounded in Paris in 1945 by Céline Vipiana (1915-1997) and her husband Richard as a little made-to-measure shoe service for children located in 52, rue de Malte, Céline has now become one of the most successful and powerful luxury fashion houses in the world.

Bought by French Entrepreneur Bernard Arnault in 1987 and fully part of his leading LVMH group since 1996, the Parisian brand is really blossoming since 2018, the year of the arrival of its new Artistic Director, the talented French Fashion Designer Hedi Slimane. For the 76-yearsold brand based in 16, rue Vivienne since November 2014, a new exciting and disruptive era has just started. Céline has become Celine.

By Hélène Battaglia - Photos © Celine

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PERFUME

I

f Céline Vipiana is probably less famous than Mademoiselle Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, she is unquestionably one of the few lucky Female Entrepreneur and Founders who made history in the Fashion Industry during the 19th century. As their peers before her, she was a pionner.

In 1945, just after the second World War ended, at the dawn of her 30years- she was born in 1915-, together with her husband Richard, she opened a small business: a made-to-measure shoe service for children located in 52, rue de Malte in the 11th arrondissement. She named it as her Christian name, Céline and chose a red elephant designed by illustrator Raymond Peynet as the first logo.

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Success came quickly: in 1948, Mrs & Mr. Vipiana were the happy owners of several shops located all around the city. From manufacturing high quality shoes for children, to please the request of some of their wealthy female clients, the couple started to create women’s footwear collections.

In the early 1960s, Céline V. who has undeniably a good taste and, above all, a good nose for business launched her first line of leather goods and accessories. In 1964, the first ever perfume of the brand called “Vent Fou” landed on the market as well as in 1968, the first readyto-wear collection.

Everything proceeded quickly. In the 1970s, Céline was a growing Fashion House leaded by an ambitious and picky

PERFUME

businesswoman on a mission: To spread, all over the place, her sophisticated and minimal Parisian Chic style thanks to a unique savoir-faire and an innovative vision.

Her little empire in progress became the property of French Entrepreneur Bernard Arnault in 1987 and then, in 1996, a part of the leading LVMH group, a collection of 75 distinguished Houses rooted in six different sectors. Even she wasn’t the owner anymore, Céline stayed in charge of the artistic direction until 1997, the year she passed away. American Fashion Designer Mickael Kors was the first to take over. It was not easy but he made it and stayed until 2004. After him, Italian Roberto Menichetti (2004-2006) and Croatian Ivana Omazic (20062008) tried their best but regrettably, the house went through a bad time and gradually lose its identity. Fortunately, in 2008, British Phoebe Philo reconnected with the original and free spirit of the founder: her first collection S/S 2010 was a huge success. Céline was finally back in the game. As she has big plans for the Maison, literately reborn from its ashes, she decided to look for a new big home and chose the perfect one: l’Hôtel Colbert de Torcy, an historic building raised in 1653.

After the renovation- she personally supervised- in November 2014, Céline’s headquarter (office, atelier and showroom) moved to its new address: 16, rue de Vivienne. Unexpectedly, in January 2018, Philo quitted

after a decade spent on board: Her ‘reign’ has been both productive and profitable. She has reread in a modern way the house’s basics. And she has certainly brought it into the third millennium. By using modern tools and a younger language.

But first of all, by innovating, as she did by choosing an unexpected testimonial for her campaign S/S 2015: the over 80-years-old American Writer Joan Didion. The latter went for sure not unnoticed and at the contrary, was even duplicated by others.

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PERFUME

In her wake, French Fashion Designer Hedi Slimane, former Creative Director of Dior (2000-2007) and Yves SaintLaurent (2012-2016) and new Artistic Director in charge since February 2018, has brought a flush of oxygen and new and disruptive ideas to build a brilliant future. The first revolutionary and surprising move he did was to remove the accent from Céline: Céline is indeed no more Céline but Celine.

Since his arrival, Slimane is a very busy captain on board: As he has an inclusive vision of what the Maison deserves to be, he supervises everything: readyto-wear, shoes, accessories, perfume, boutique. He works hard, every single day, to pay tribute at 360 °to the one-of-a-kind heritage of Mrs Vipiana.

2019 was a true year of Renaissance for Celine. Slimane 72

has started to write a new exciting chapter of the house’s saga.

While preserving its DNA, he has gradually imposed his own signature aesthetic.

In February, on the occasion of the opening of a new boutique located at 650, Madison Avenue in the heart of NewYork, he officially launched the new architectural and store design concept he has specially designed.

On 2nd of November of the same year, the first haute parfumerie boutique located in Paris at 390 rue de Saint-Honoré was opened. This Parisian little temple of perfume is a timeless place furnished with elegance mixed with an arty touch.

Slimane is a prolific mind.

In September 2019, he reimagined and relaunched the Triomphe Canvas, the couture house’s historic monogram

inspired by the chain encircling the Arc de Triomphe which first debuted in 1972.

And as he never runs out of ideas, it’s a safe bet to imagine more and more prolific surprises coming very soon. As well as the romantic idea of the Celine Parade (F/W 2021-22) which was showcased on March 2021, in the middle of the pandemic of Covid-19, in the emblematic and first ever French Gardens of château de Vaux-Le-Vicomte designed in 1656 by André Le Nôtre, principal gardener of King Louis XIV of France.

Slimane is definitively the right one for the job. The one who is able to bring to life Céline Vipiana’s avantgarde and oneof-a-kind Heritage. Celine is in good hands for sure.

WWW.CELINE.OM

THE LIGHT TRANSCENDED

www.charleszuber.com/perfos

fashion

Gucci celebrates its 100th anniversary in the name of Creativity, Sustainability and Humanity O ne hundred years ago, this year, leather Craftsman and Entrepreneur Guccio Gucci founded the eponymous Maison in his hometown, Florence. He certainly never could imagine how great the destiny of this latter could be. Property of the global luxury group Kering, owned by French billionaire Entrepreneur FrançoisHenri Pinault since 2004, Gucci has become one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands. The Italian duo in charge since 2015 is at the heart of a truly modern fairy tale. Creative Director Alessandro Michele and President and Chief Executive Marco Bizzarri are writing the future of the Florentine Maison with genius and efficacity. They have literally propelled Gucci into the third millennium by looking at the coming decades with a new eye and a new heart and by celebrating Creativity, Innovation and Italian craftsmanship. But also Sustainability and Humanity. Gucci is no more a luxury brand only. It is much more.

A real way of life shared by a growing worldwide community.

By Hélène Battaglia - Photos © Gucci

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FASHION

Alessandro Michele&Marco Bizzarri

H

appy Anniversary Gucci! The famous Florentine Maison celebrates its first century this year.

This is an historic date. The perfect one chosen by American Director Ridley Scott to release his movie The House of Gucci with popstar Lady Gaga and actor Adam Shriver on last November.

The opportunity for him to tell his truth about the murder of Maurizio Gucci, grandson of the founder Guccio Gucci on 27th March 1995.

Fortunately, the past is behind.

And this drama which was able to cause some damages to its image in the Nineties, could not be a threat for the future anymore. Gucci is on the right

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track. The Italian brand, owned

by The Kering Group since 2004, is working on a new exciting and innovative way of offering a new experience of Fashion and Luxury to its customers.

Especially the younger ones.

Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, on board since 2015, is the revolutionary mind, architect of this new successful concept. He surely knows how to speak with the Millennials and he is totally aware of the priorities of those hard-to-please generations Y and Z: People and Planet, that’s it.

As lots of brands which operate in the Fashion Industry, Gucci needed quickly a greener and more human approach

to face the incoming decades.

Gucci Equilibrium was indeed launched as the Maison’s concrete commitment to generate positive change for people and the planet as soon as possible.

«Our inaugural Gucci Equilibrium Impact Report illustrates our actions and commitments to be inclusive, sustainable, responsible and accountable in everything we do. We have surpassed our target to reduce our total footprint four years early, an achievement that underlines our commitment to transformative change. It is our mission to be part of the solution for a better tomorrow and we will continue to build authentic value across our business and in the wider world – value for people, value for climate and value for nature. » explained Marco Bizzarri, Gucci’s President and

CEO. The 2020 EP&L analysis have showed a -44% reduction of Gucci’s total environmental footprint and a -47% decrease in its greenhouse gas emissions in its direct operations and across the supply chain since 2015.

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FASHION

In 2021, the small Florentine family-owned leather shop founded in 1921 turned into a leading luxury fashion brand, is more than ever powered by Creativity. After the creative and unforgettable reigns of talented Tom Ford (1994-2004) and Frida Giannini (2006-2015), Alessandro Michele, Artistic Director since 2015, has started his own artistic and creative revolution. A little Renaissance is in progress: He has broken the rules and the codes for the best and has really reinvented the image of the Maison around the world. The Gucci’s Wonderland he has created, rocks. People love it. It’s unexpected. New and fresh. As, extravagant ARIA collection F/W 2021-22 revealed on last 15th April and its short movie which celebrates Gucci’s heritage and displayed the pieces in an imaginary

Savoy Club, clearly inspired by the Savoy London Hotel where founder Guccio Gucci worked as a lift boy in his youth. « I celebrated Gucci’s equestrian world by transfiguring it into a fetish cosmogony; I sublimated the silhouette of Marilyn Monroe and the glamour of old Hollywood; I sabotaged the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie and the codes of masculine elegance. » confided Michele. On last July, the Maison showcased ‘Hortus Deliciarum’, its second High Jewellery collection (130 pieces). The location chosen for this event was a little paradise on earth: the Borromean islands located on the Lago Maggiore in Lombardy. American actress Odie Turner-Smith is the beautiful testimonial of the glamorous campaign led by Glen Luchford.

In occasion of this prestigious anniversary and his six happy

and prolific years on board, Michele had the brilliant idea of the Gucci Garden Archetypes: An exhibition from the third millennium located in Florence, an immersive and multi-sensory space that explores the campaigns of the House from the last six years and his creative manifesto. “I thought it was interesting to accompany people in these first six years of adventure, inviting them to cross the imaginary, the narrative, the unexpected, the glitter. So, I created a playground of emotions that are the same as in the campaigns, because they are the most explicit journey into my imagery,” says Michele.

Unstoppable, he has recently launched Vault, a new avantgarde online concept-store.

Because Gucci it’s fun too.

Not only luxury. It is of course not the traditional commercial

platform but at the contrary, a new experimental online space where you can experience a new one-of-a-kind shopping.

Customers can choose between a selection of Vintage Gucci pieces customized by Michele himself available in limited edition. As well as pieces of new incoming talented fashion designers as Ahluwalia, Shanel Campbell, Stefan Cooke, Cormio, Charles de Vilmorin, JORDANLUCA, YUEQI QI, Rave Review, Gui Rosa, Bianca Saunders, Collina Strada, Boramy Viguier and Rui Zhou. Or new arty collabs as Comme des Garçons x Gucci. Vault will be soon the virtual place to be and to show.

The perfect place between past and future. Reality and dream.

WWW.GUCCI.COM VAULT.GUCCI.COM 79

FASHION

FACE A FACE The art of optical design

S

ince its creation in 1995, FACE A FACE has made a name for itself as an innovative and avant-gardist eyewear design brand. Inspired by architecture and modern art, the Parisian company stands out for its clever use of colour and sophisticated designs that are at the forefront of trends but consistently timeless.

By Marine Pasquier

A contemporary eyewear brand “Made in France” The expression of luxury in every detail, FACE A FACE explores the world of eyewear, in all its facets. This Parisian company shows off its creativity through its collections of prescription eyewear and sunglasses that poetically combine sculpted lines and unique shapes with vibrant colours and innovative materials. The result of skilled craftsmanship, each frame is conceived and designed as a masterpiece. Handcrafted in France, Italy and Japan, FACE A FACE glasses are the product of a talented technical team in each country, carefully selected for their expertise. The FACE A FACE design team, based in Paris, masterfully combines tradition and innovation by offering a large choice of frames to suit all lifestyles. Now a member of the Design Eyewear optical 80

group, FACE A FACE continues to confirm its status as an exclusive designer brand.

The call of the night As the end of the year approaches, FACE A FACE presents its latest sunglasses collection: Colour as Light. An ode to light and its flamboyant power, this range gives pride of place to colour. The expert team of French designers have come up with a line that illustrates the trajectory of the sun across the sky, from dawn to dusk, creating a range of original, modern eyewear. The soft, delicate light of sunset is evoked through the BEYOND model, where the last rays of the sun seem to marry the frame’s feline forms; there is the memory of sundown with SUNSET where colours shimmer and sparkle; we have a halo of light with ECLIPS—a dialogue between sun and moon;

and echoes of twilight with the NIGHT model, large glasses that envelope the face thanks to the wide arms, with a design reminiscent of a Venetian mask…

Here, FACE A FACE perfectly captures a sense of mysterious elegance. The Colour as Light collection is a symphony of colour, where tangy, transparent

notes respond to the deep and dreamlike shades of the night.

A skilful fusion of ancestral craftsmanship and futuristic design, for a collection that seems to come from elsewhere.

FACE A FACE WWW.FACEAFACE-PARIS.COM

Crafting Your Singularity

www.kerbedanz.com

h i t t h e o p e w i t h SHOPPING

h i t t h e s l o p e s w i t h s t y l e

by Emma Houffin

ZAI X SAINT LAURENT: Pair of skis in wood and ski poles with grip, 7500 € DIOR: Dioralps M1I, 800 € CHLOE X FUSALP: Ski helmet, 590 € BALMAIN X ROSSIGNOL: Ivory and black Balmain monogram ski jumpsuit, 3 190 € PRADA: Blow Padded ankle boots, 850 € RIMOWA: Polycarbonate cross-body bag, 980 €

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Dior Spa Cheval Blanc the gates to happiness

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rom the encounter between two remarkable Houses, the Cheval Blanc Paris and the House of Dior, was born an equally exceptional spa: the Dior Spa Cheval Blanc, a prestigious Parisian jewel in the crown. Focus on a space where well-being, luxury and savoir-faire are king. Christian Dior once said: “My desire is always to make women not only more beautiful, but also happier.” The Dior Spa Cheval Blanc, tucked away in the heart of the City of Light, has surely made this their credo. Here, everything is done to ensure that each guest is rejuvenated and refreshed, a little like a renaissance…

By Quitterie Pasquesoone

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“I insist on the word happiness’.”

Christian Dior

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A Parisian setting in homage to Christian Dior In the heart of the hustle and bustle of Paris, the Dior Spa Cheval Blanc stands out as a haven of peace, away from the noise and stress of city life. A luxurious setting, designed

by Peter Marino, in the spirit of a Parisian apartment where the decor pays homage to the emblematic style of the House of Dior and the life of the couturier. Upon entering, visitors take the curved staircase where they can admire the Rose Dior, shining gently, like the promise of the memorable beauty experience to come. In the living room, the immense fireplace warms the atmosphere and above it, the mirror reflects the elegance of the room. A porcelain tea service, library, comfortable armchairs and dimmed lighting: guests will quickly feel at home, in a bubble of well-being.

Suites offering unique treatments Here, every guest is considered holistically, with the physical, emotional and psychological dimension taken into account.

A truly avant-garde approach that offers a unique experience, guaranteed to ensure a deep sense of well-being. Treatments are

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administered in six elegant suites, each evoking the codes of the House of Dior.

Equipped with private white onyx bathrooms, each suite is unique, although they all share the same sense of refinement.

The Bonheur, New Look, Mitzah, Sauvage, Granville and Bonne Étoile Suites: each space benefits from its own signature decor.

Our favourite? The Sauvage Suite, sublimated by the use of natural materials, reflecting the desire to return to nature so dear to the couturier. The massage bed is even covered in alpha quartz, inviting communion with the elements. An experience not to be missed…

Cutting-edge treatments to awaken the senses In terms of treatments, professionalism and avant-garde techniques are in the spotlight.

Manual techniques exclusive to Dior, such as the Dior Tissue Modelling and Sensory Awakening treatments, are associated with cutting-edge technology to ensure the best service, where bespoke is the key word.

No less than forty-eight treatments are offered, to meet all expectations and adapt to all rhythms. Our favourite? Sapphire Crystal Micro-Abrasion, an exclusive Dior skincare

technique that combines micro-abrasion with photo stimulation. Lined with fine sapphire particles, a vibrating and oscillating head gently and delicately massages the face for exfoliation and cell regeneration. Dior Micro-Abrasion boosts the skin’s receptivity to other subsequent treatments, and promises age-defying results from the very first session. The result is a remarkably visible radiance, finer skin texture and smoothed wrinkles. In short, a veritable renaissance.

Snow shower, sauna, hammam...

And the happiness does not stop there...

The benefits of the treatments extend to the heart of the different spaces dedicated to well-being and sensual pleasure. A majestic thirty-metre swimming pool, undulating with handcrafted mosaics designed by artist Michael Mayer, a “snow shower”, sauna and hammam complete the experience. A fitness studio with cutting-edge equipment and a hairdressing salon also allow you to prolong the pleasure of indulging yourself.

Without a doubt, this venue is sure to become an address that you can no longer do without.

Rita & Zia Flagship Boutique Rue du Rhône 80, CH - 1204 Genève

w w w. r i ta - z i a . c o m

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Well

being

a way of life

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rom her early experiences in some of the most luxurious Parisian spas to the creation of her own well-being kits and tutorials, via the path to increased spirituality, met Maud Ganry Boutaric, How To Spa founder.

By Marine Pasquier

How would you define well-being?

In my opinion, well-being is first and foremost about loving yourself and loving others.

When we feel a sense of fullness or plenitude, we are radiant and we give off positive vibes. In order to be kind with others, we first of all need to be happy in ourselves. Our behaviour towards other people is a reflection of our own feelings.

Japan, China, Botswana and several regions of the United States, where I discovered various cultures, a variety of treatments and odours, but also active plant ingredients that I had never heard of. The How to Spa concept goes back to the very origins of pleasure and selfcare, without being limited to the world of cosmetics. It does this by developing a complete universe of well-being.

In other words, the art of the spa means firstly caring for yourself so that you can then care for others. Can you tell us about your interest in care and self-care? Where does it come from?

From a young age, I saw my mother applying creams and lotions, taking care of her skin and body. I connected the notion of care to this maternal aspect, which is both gentle and comforting, but there’s also the aspect of pleasure and sensoriality. I reproduced these same rituals from an early age, developing my knowledge of cosmetics, recipes, raw materials, etc.

Later, I had the opportunity to travel frequently, to Argentina,

More than just a means of relaxation, How to Spa is also a personal development tool.

Can you tell us more about this holistic dimension?

By constructing How to Spa, I constructed myself, learning to be kinder to myself. It’s difficult to explain, but by being more positive, I felt a kind of spiritual accompaniment, a phenomenon of visualization linked to positive energy. I came to the realization that by applying a positive attitude on a daily basis, positive things come your way more easily. I opened myself, like many, to notions of spirituality, karma, and the laws of the universe. It’s not necessarily a question of religion but simply

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of faith in oneself and in others. The universe of well-being and relaxation is based on this belief in yourself and self-love.

As author Eleanor Brown puts it, “You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” Knowing how to accept your emotions, being benevolent and showing gratitude all help you enter a positive state of mind.

Given the current complicated context, fear, uncertainty and anxiety seem to be the daily lot for most people. What role does How to Spa play when it comes to reassuring and refocusing the individual on what really matters?

There’s no doubt that the various lockdowns and restrictions have created a growing attraction to the world of well-being.

In this anxiety-inducing context, How to Spa offers the necessary tools to calm stress and help create a bubble of relaxation where you can say to yourself “I’m pressing pause, it’s time for me to breathe and think about myself.” This concept allows you to refocus, even for a short time, to get back to basics and be able to start again. In these uncertain

times, I recommend that everyone create this timeless bubble for themselves where they can try to listen to and understand their needs and find some inner peace.

What’s your secret for staying calm?

I think what makes the current situation so difficult is the removal of the social aspect.

Going to restaurants, the theatre, the museum or even just meeting up with friends, all of these things that bring us pleasure on a daily basis, have been taken away. We need to start experiencing that sense of pleasure again, but in a responsible way. Allowing myself to go out a few times, visiting the well-being structures that have remained open, enjoying the fresh air in a park, meeting a few relatives in a small committee ... I’m trying to go beyond the habits acquired during the various lockdowns to gradually return to my life as it was before, by fully appreciating each moment.

WWW.HOWTOSPA.COM

MARIA KHOREVA

www.giberg.com

BEAUTY

M5C

Massage of the Five Continents

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evitalizing, energizing and detoxifying, the unique treatments of the International Massage Federation of the 5 Continents have been designed to treat ailments of both body and mind. Born from the imagination and expertise of coach Olivier Honsperger, they allow you to reconnect with the essential and to express the best version of yourself.

Focus on a new kind of therapeutic method.

By Marine Pasquier - Photos © Johann Sauty 90

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“The best massage in the world” Fusing magnetism, aromatherapy and reiki with various massage techniques from around the world, the 5 Continents Massage stimulates the body’s vital energy. This deep and powerful massage awakens natural self-healing processes by releasing negative emotional memories and toxins. Like a psychotherapy session for the body, it provides restorative and rejuvenating growth, by cleaning away old traumas to let the energy of pleasure and life flow freely. This treatment, considered today to be “the best massage in the world” is performed in two parts: the detoxification of the body and then its unification.

Soothing aches and pains The first phase consists of specific movements to evacuate the stresses and anxieties that may weigh us down physically, mentally and emotionally.

Using Ayurvedic techniques with respect for the chakras, the 5 Continents Massage works on the energy points to liberate body and mind. On a muscular level, this treatment is inspired by the techniques of Swedish massage with a particular attention to specific anatomical reference points in an effort to ease aches and pains.

Harmonizing energy The second phase of the treatment focuses on letting go, relaxation and reconnecting with the body and inner mind.

Thanks to stones like hawk’s eye and tiger and dragon nails, the Massage of the 5 Continents transports us to Asia, where reputed techniques like Shiatsu and Tuina work on the energetic meridians, making the body more balanced. Using Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi, the body is flooded with a “wave” effect of complete and utter well-being. Finally, the use of traditional Turkish treatments, formerly provided in baths, offers an immediate and effective form of relaxation.

By connecting the healing energy to universal energy through the body, with an emphasis on the spine, the Massage of the 5 Continents releases kundalini, the vital life force that stimulates and energizes body and heart.

Renewed balance The different essences used during the 5 Continents Massage make it a holistic, innovative and unique experience. Allowing you to truly let go of physical and mental stresses, this journey to the heart of your inner being never ceases to surprise massage amateurs and novices alike. The feelings of deep peace and joy procured by the 5 Continents Massage allow you to regain a sense of harmony and self-confidence, while strengthening the immune system.

29 RUE DE CHÊNE DE BOUGERIES 1224 CHÊNE-BOUGERIES - SWITZERLAND MASSAGEDES5CONTINENTS.COM 91

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Renata Franca

the story behind her star method

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hanks to her iconic treatments, she has become the preferred masseuse of celebrities and VIPS. And for good reason: Renata Franca is known all around the world for her therapeutic massages, including her famous lymphatic drainage technique. Focus on a modern Brazilian fairy tale...

By Quitterie Pasquesoone

Renata Franca, from the slums of Brazil to VIP magazines Born in a humble district of Ilhéus, Brazil, Renata Franca had far from a privileged childhood. Growing up in a modest family, she dreamed of becoming an international journalist.

When she was still a child, her mother opened a small beauty salon. To help make ends meet for her family, Renata assisted her mother in the salon, working as a masseuse. Her special touch was quickly noticed and she was invited to come and work in a famous spa in São Paulo. Despite working fourteen hours a day, enduring the harsh winters of the big city, and frequent hardships, none of this dampened Renata’s determination and self-sacrifice. Through hard work and talent, she developed a massage method that now bears her name, consisting of her own unique style of manoeuvres, rhythms, pumping and pressure with results that have proved to be much more effective than those of traditional massages. Word of mouth spread and Renata soon attracted the attention of the press.

Her bookings diary exploded!

Massaging stars The therapist’s best-known massage is her special lymphatic drainage massage, of which she 92

knows every tip to boost efficiency. Known to activate the circulation of blood and body fluids, and reduce oedema like cellulite, it has the same effect as a real detox massage. Carried out by expert hands, the massage makes use of a mixture of firm pressure and an accelerated rhythm. Pumping manoeuvres and other movements exclusive to the Renata Franca technique ensure immediate results: a sleeker silhouette and a veritable feeling of well-being, from the very first session. This massage technique opened the doors of fame and popularity to Miss Franca.

Certified collaborators With her new-found success, Renata Franca decided to export her method overseas by means of dedicated training courses.

Today, she works with collaborators from all over the world, to whom she has passed on her know-how, as well as the basics of a healthy lifestyle, which are important if clients are to fully benefit from the effects of her massages. She explains: “I try to boost my clients’ self-esteem not only with massages but also by working on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and try to convey this to my students.”

www.giberg.com

CHARLY ZENGER Via Borgo 40 6612 Ascona Switzerland

CHARLY ZENGER Via Pessina 8 6900 Lugano Switzerland

TISSOT JACQUES SA Nidaugasse 68 2502 Biel/Bienne Switzerland

BOLLWERK 8 Rue de Metz 68100 Mulhouse France

BENDIX COPENHAGEN Kajgaden 7D 3390 Hundested Denmark

SHOPPING BEAUTY

Red and gold Gold powders, deep reds and warm tones: to celebrate Christmas in style, the best beauty houses have imagined treatments and make-up palettes to suit the season. Focus on some of our favourites, ideal for the end-of-year festivities.

by Quitterie Pasquesoone

Bespoke

An exceptionally elegant case in the hallmark flamboyant red, adorned with the iconic Christian Louboutin spikes. The refillable case holds your favourite make-up items and allows you to choose a refill from amongst three eye shadows or blushes by the famous Maison.

Palette Rouge Louboutin, Christian Louboutin, €65

Precious

Gold comes in a multitude of hues. Peter Philips has brought them together here in this multi-use illuminating make-up palette infused with a variety of warm reflections. Dare these bold combinations for a super luminous glow, in just a few brushstrokes.

Palette visage Dior Backstage Pur Gold, Dior, €48

A touch of spice

A nail polish made in France, composed of up to 79% ingredients of natural origin, organically-sourced and certified vegan. This eye-catching chili red polish is the perfect way to sublimate nails on festive evenings. The bottle comes with an elegant black beech cap.

Piment nail polish, Maison Sarah Lavoine, €18

High shine lip lacquer

A glossy lipstick that lacquers the mouth in intense shades. Ultra-reflective, it comes in four elegant colours, each designed to add sensuality to every smile. Enriched with nourishing olive oil, fig

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extract and hyaluronic acid, it keeps lips perfectly nourished and “shinissimo” bright!

Shinissimo lipstick, Dolce & Gabbana, €46

Chiaroscuro

A magnetic fragrance, with notes of neroli, illuminated by bergamot and petit grain. The perfume is counterbalanced by the darker and more enigmatic notes of smoked tea. An olfactory chiaroscuro that is akin to a flash of light in the darkness...

Néroli Outrenoir eau de Parfum, Guerlain, from €295

Ultimate regeneration

Firmness, smoothness, vitality, regeneration: this unique cream offers no less than 12 combined actions on the eye contour. Its secret? Enriched Planifolia PFA containing pure, precious, rare active ingredients. Some 60,000 green fruits and 14,000 fresh flowers are required to produce just one kilogramme of this magic ingredient.

Sublimage La Crème Yeux, Ultimate revitalization eye cream, Chanel, €175

Shimmery eyes

The first YSL eyeshadow combining intense gold with a daring finish, housed in an elegant couture setting. Bonus points for the super easy application (with a finger or a brush depending on the desired intensity). It can be worn alone or mixed with other eyeshadows for a sassy look.

Sequin crush, Yves Saint-Laurent, €33

SHOPPING BEAUTY

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R O S E O F T H E W I N D S Es c ap e w i nte r c o ld d ays a nd j o i n Anggun, the talented actress and s i n g e r, i n t h e h e a v e n l y s u r r o u n d i n g s of Mauritius Island.

Photographer: Johann Sauty Make-up and hairstyle: Aline Le Special thanks to Anggun Cipta, Mauritius Tourism and Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa

Watch: Kerbedanz Swimmsuit: Calarena Necklace: Rita&Zia

Watch: Charles Zuber Ring: Rita&Zia Dress: Calarena

Bracelet: Giberg Swimmsuit: Calarena

Watch: Frederique Constant Swimmsuit: Calarena

Watch: Frederique Constant Dress: Solis Lyon Jewels: Rita&Zia

Dress: Pleats Please Issey Miyake - Solis Lyon

Dress: Pleats Please Issey Miyake - Solis Lyon Watch: Kerbedanz Ring and Bracelet: Rita&Zia Bag: Dzine Bag

Dress: Calarena Watch: Kerbedanz Ring and Bracelet: Rita&Zia

Swimmsuit: Calarena Jewels: Rita&Zia

Tote bag: Pinel&Pinel Dress: Calarena

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S T R U C T U R E D L E G A N C Photographers: Contarsy + Karecha for Highmark Studios Stylist: Alison Hernon Assistant: Sarkis Delimelkon 2nd Assistant: Ben Steel Model: Lindsay W / New York Models Hair: Li Murillo / Link NYLA Make up: Gabriel Cruz Video: Van Harris

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Top/Skirt and Boots: Louis Vuitton Coat: Dolce & Gabbana

Coat: Stella McCartney Hat: Lynn Paik Blouse, sweater and belt: Club Monaco Cargo Pants: Club Monaco Bag: Jimmy Choo Necklace: David Yurman

Jacket and Dress: Valentino Tights: Wolford Shoes: Roger Vivier Rings and Earrings: David Yurman

Head to toe: All Chanel

All Etro Hat: Lynn Paik

Coat, Sweater and pants: Zimmerman Shoes:Jimmy Choo Jewelry earrings and Bracelets: Tiffany Scarf: Stylist’s Own

Coat: Moncler Scarf, shoes, shirt and jewelry: Christian Dior

ÉVIAN • LAC LÉMAN

É V I A N • L AC L É M A N • TO U T P R È S D E C H E Z VO U S

( source d’enchantement )

© ARTO 2021

( parenthèse enchantée)

U N PA L A C E É V I A N R E S O R T WWW.HOTEL-ROYAL-EVIAN.COM

design

Snøhetta Landscape architecture

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or more than 30 years, Snøhetta has been developing innovative projects, taking its conceptual buildings to the four corners of the world at great speed. With 280 employees working at seven international offices, the Norwegian landscape architecture firm shows no signs of slowing down. From Oslo to Paris, via Alexandria, New York and Tokyo, we take a look at these audacious designs, which grace the streets with their majestic structures.

By Marine Pasquier

Underwater Restaurant © Hholder Ivar Kvaal

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design

Harbor Bath Knubben

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From the classroom to an international firm The story of this architectural juggernaut begins in 1989.

New graduates Craig Dykers and Kjetil Trædal Thorsen win the contract for the new library in Alexandria. Inaugurated in 2001, this new version of one of the most famous monuments of the ancient world takes the firm into the big league. With a world architecture award in their pocket, the duo soon rise to prominence and win the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet project. Inspired by the surrounding environment and local culture, Craig and Kjetil design a building that appears to float like an iceberg in the fjords. A true cultural focal point, the site showcases the modernity and technical sophistication of the two multi-award-winning architects. Fortune favours the brave, and the pair are given the daunting task of designing the pavilion for the September 11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero. This American adventure leads the partners to open their second office in the heart of the Big Apple.

Contextual and conceptual Buoyed by this momentum, the company expands and takes on a series of projects on a scale.

From Times Square to Under in Norway, Europe’s first underwater restaurant, via the Shanghai Opera House, the reproduction of the Lascaux IV caves in the Dordogne and the headquarters of Le Monde newspaper in Paris... One of the reasons behind this tremendous success is the unique approach that Snøhetta applies to all its designs. A multi-disciplinary philosophy integrating many different skills in the creative process, such as interior and product architecture, graphic design, digital design and art in general. Because since its beginnings, Snøhetta has remained faithful to its identity. Old, new and forthcoming projects all have at least one thing in common: they stand out for the beautiful way in which they blend into their surroundings. While retaining its own urban and natural style, the group takes inspiration from the climate and history of each location to design coherent projects in keeping with the spaces they inhabit. To achieve such a result, Snøhetta implements an innovative collaborative system, whereby a variety of specialists, including designers, landscape architects, engineers, urban planners, but also sociologists and psychologists, share their vision of the local environment to map out future projects together.

Calgary’s new Central Library © Michael Grimm

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Lascaux IV © Eric Sol

Engaged architecture As a supporter of community development, the Norwegian firm is also involved in sustainable architectural solutions, designing buildings that adapt to the ecological systems within which they will be integrated.

One example is the “Svar” project, the world’s first hotel designed to the new Powerhouse standards. The annual energy consumption of this complex is 85% lower than that of a standard hotel. Hotel Svar is also capable of supplying its own energy requirements. Mounted on wooden pillars in the heart of the Svartisen glacier’s wilderness, this ultra-modern building blends in harmoniously with the surrounding nature. In the same vein, the Norwegian firm 122

has presented one of its most ambitious projects, the Harvard HouseZero. The collaborative group had fun transforming this 1940s building into one of the most sustainable and ecological buildings on the planet.

Their aim? To prove that it is possible to change our habits using the existing infrastructure. Responsible projects that retain Snøhetta’s distinctive artistic identity. A subtle blend of deconstructivism and hyperrealism, interspersed with crisp, smooth lines, reflective facades and innovative materials.

Cultural meeting point Although each location is unique, Snøhetta cultivates the same spirit in all its creations: that of bringing communities

together around contemporary structures, which can be easily appropriated by everyday users.

In addition to its award-winning range of landmark projects, the firm is no less involved in local architecture, taking pleasure in transforming cities into places of meeting and sharing.

The group’s latest construction, the new Düsseldorf Opera House, which has become the regional capital’s cultural epicentre, is an example of this.

Buildings that interact with their neighbourhoods and residents, thus promoting openness at a time when fear and uncertainty push societies to build walls and withdraw into themselves. Snøhetta invites us to think about how architecture creates spaces that can be both public and private, exterior and interior.

Read more at snohetta.com

DESIGN

The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Pavilion © Diephotodesigner.de OHG 2010

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A comeback in style DESIGN

Salone del Mobile Milan 2021

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ince its creation in 1961, the holy grail of design has brought together the best of Italian and international furniture design in the Lombardy capital. After a forced break of two years, due to the pandemic, the Salone del Mobile reopened for business last September, much to the delight of enthusiasts. This unique edition, called the “Supersalone” marks the return of an entire industry. Showrooms are reopening their doors, creative collectives are working hard to come up with new and exciting ideas, and brands are eager to present to buyers and visitors alike creations that have been kept out of the spotlight for too long. A five-day fair, where Milan becomes the XXL showcase of the next trends and the latest design innovations on the world stage. Between inspired novelties and sublimated reinterpretations, we look back at some of our favourites from this 59th edition of the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

By Marine Pasquier

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design

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DESIGN

Challenging perceptions with Artemide Considered one of the largest lighting brands in the world, Artemide stands out for its collection of daring and innovative lighting, the expression of a search for excellence and superior quality. Conceived as icons of design, these creations combine conceptual and material knowhow with a responsible and human approach to light. The philosophy behind Artemide—“The Human Light”—is born from the encounter between cutting-edge technology and ageold knowledge of lighting design, as may be seen through its latest creation Flexia. Presented at the Supersalone, this hanging light challenges perceptions by offering a play between the visible and the invisible, colour and artemide.com

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light. Inspired by papiroflexia, the art of papyrus folding, Flexia evokes the Japanese art of origami. Merging Artemide’s technical skill with Mario Cucinella’s design talents in a respectful and sustainable design, this model boasts a careful choice of materials and some remarkable features, such as the integrated acoustic panel section that controls reverberation and absorbs sound waves. With its flexible wings, Flexia offers many possible positions and inclinations, in tune with the frequency of human interactions. Designed to improve the quality of environments, Flexia provides the perfect balance between sound and light for use in workspaces and living spaces.

DESIGN

A trip to New York with Cini&Nils An expert in lighting technology, Cini&Nils has made a name for itself thanks to its boundless creativity and design excellence.

Precision, attention to detail and sophistication are omnipresent: values transmitted from one model to the next, resulting in collections whose watchword is innovation, both in terms of style and technique. Exhibited at MoMA in New York, these audacious creations are the result of a collaboration between renowned designers, sculptors and architects. From this dream team, arises an artistic production in line with the times. Cini&Nils pays special attention to the interaction between the object and its owner, the promise of a unique

user experience. An example of this is the Manhattanhenge, a New York-inspired luminaire that generates a variable decorative light. With its unique design in homage to the city known as the “Big Apple”, the light generated by the Manhattanhenge evokes the memory of a sunset over the city’s skyscrapers. Made from sheet metal, its two arched discs contain the light, projecting it to create a warm and pleasant atmosphere. The design with its attention to detail suits all types of interiors. Placed on a console table, a shelf or sideboard, the Manhattanhenge becomes a decorative piece in its own right.

cinienils.com

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DESIGN

Elegant ergonomics by de Sede De Sede’s story begins in the Swiss village of Klingnau. A saddlery workshop that houses artisans, committed to transforming the best leather into high quality seating furniture.

The experience of these professionals has enabled this small factory to become a renowned company, faithful to its founding principles. Since its creation, de Sede has privileged an artisanal style of production, entirely carried out by hand, with pieces imagined by the world’s best designers and produced with the utmost respect for precision and Swiss standards. This production method quickly earned the brand an international reputation: it is now one of the leaders in leather furniture. For the latest edition of the Salone del Mobile, de Sede presents a desede.ch

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functional yet elegant creation, the DS-142 lounge chair. With its adjustable back and armrests, which can be moved individually to different positions, this chair with a dynamic and relaxing system offers optimal comfort, all the while paying attention to posture and ergonomics.

More than a simple decorative object, the DS-142 model, designed in collaboration with doctor, surgeon and orthopaedist Dr Winfried Totzek, takes into account the physiological and ergonomic needs of users to ensure the perfect conditions for relaxation, even during short breaks. The chair’s elegant form and ingenious functionality are complemented by the masterful finish of high-quality leather, typical of de Sede.

faceaface-paris.com

art

© Photo: Fritz Pitz

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art

SOULAGES, FROM BLACK TO LIGHT A

major figure of abstraction, Pierre Soulages has made outrenoir (beyond black) his signature. Essential in his art, this hue recurs throughout his work, on both smooth and uneven surfaces, revealing an unexpected quality of light. “The best-selling living French artist”, now 102 years old, continues to caress the canvas with matter and light.

By Delphine Gallay

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ART

Pierre Soulages, peinture, 202x327cm, 17 janvier 1970, huile sur toile © Photo: T. Estadieu

Never tell Pierre Soulages that his paintings are black. His outrenoir is “beyond black”.

Much more than a colour, it is practically a universe onto itself. To grasp its nuances, viewers need to step back from his paintings, then get closer again, gravitate around them, and step to the side, allowing themselves to be transfixed by the light reflected on the matt hues, clinging to the notched streaks of the material. Never quite the same, Soulages’ light is fleeting. Elusive. Fluctuating according to the perspectives and the lighting, it offers a veritable spectacle of unimaginable richness.

The effect of the light on the colour black: this is the essence of Soulages’ work. A prolific artist, he has dedicated his life to this—almost eight decades.

The last major figure of modern art, he is the artist who attracts the most superlatives: the most popular living French painter in the world, the first living artist exhibited at the Hermitage 132

Museum in St. Petersburg, etc.

His black paintings, bursting with light, are exhibited in the most beautiful museums all around the world: from the Tate Modern to the Guggenheim via Beaubourg or even the Salon Carré of the Louvre on the occasion of his hundredth birthday.

Previously, this was a privilege accorded only to Chagall and Picasso.

Back to the future As far back as he can remember, Soulages was always fascinated by the colour black. As a child, one day while he was tracing lines in India ink on a sheet of white paper, a friend of his big sister, surprised at the scarred and blackened sheet, asked him: “What’s this, little Pierre?” He replied with the confidence of a child: “Snow!”

Black snow, obviously.

Born in 1919, in Rodez, he fell in love with Roman art at the age of twelve during a school

visit to the Abbey of Sainte-Foy de Conques. Unexpected, it proved to be a revelation for the young Soulages. At sixteen, he became fascinated by rock art.

Overwhelmed by the “curled up bison” of the Altamira caves, he immersed himself in the world of prehistoric times and developed a passion for those men who had painted in the pitch black depth of the caves. At this time, Soulages also began painting in a palette of blacks and browns, and devoted himself to archaeological excavations on the arid plateaus of Aveyron.

These three passions would stay with him throughout his life, just like the prehistoric black.

Working the darkness At the start of the 1940s, Pierre Soulages was in his twenties, but he already wanted something different out of life: “Around me, it seemed to me that everyone was wasting their lives […].

They weren’t happy (...) I felt

that only one thing could make my life content: painting”. After dropping out of the School of Fine Art, he was mobilized in Montpellier in 1941. It was here that he met the woman who would become his lifelong companion: Colette. Arriving in Paris, the young painter crossed paths with Sonia Delaunay.

Thus began the great adventure of abstraction. In his studio in Courbevoie, Soulages temporarily abandoned oils to experiment with gouache, India ink, charcoal and even walnut stain, which he gleaned from cabinet makers. In large jars, he cooked this thick black syrup obtained from crushed bark.

Contrary to the semi-figurative painting of the post-war period, the painter expressed his unique conception of abstraction by exploring this unconventional technique, which became the characteristic of many of his works on canvas and paper: “Walnut stain has a dark but warm tone, a kind of elemental power that I like.

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It allows me to naturally obtain transparencies and opacities with a beautiful resonance.

It suited me all the more in that it was a cheap material and one that was easily found.”

Ahead of his time After a first refusal at the Salon d’Automne in 1946, Soulages exhibited three of his works the following year at the Salon des Surindépendants.

Francis Picabia declared to the young painter: “With your age and what you do, it won’t be long before you have a lot of enemies.” The former Dadaist would soon be proved right.

However, Soulages needed to be patient just a little while longer.

Although his work was beginning to appeal across the Rhine, in Japan and on the other side of the Atlantic, his career was struggling to take off in France.

Indeed, his dark and contrasting style stood out amongst the coloured canvases of the time.

Invited to exhibit at the Galerie de France in 1958, Soulages met illustrious poet Léopold Sédar Senghor, future president of the Republic of Senegal from 1960 to 1980. It was platonic love at first sight. The man of letters and politics praised “the highest expression of pure painting” he saw in the artist’s work, and confided to the magazine Les Lettres Nouvelles: “The first time I saw a painting

by Soulages, it was a shock. I received a blow to the pit of my stomach that made me wobble, like the affected boxer before he suddenly keels over…”

From black to beyond Breaking with contemporary art, his “chiaroscuro” pictorial field gradually evolved towards complete blackness from 1959 to 1979; the lines of his compositions became thicker and thicker, and covered the surface of the canvas. The year 1979 marked a radical turn in

Soulages’ work. The painter invented outrenoir (which can be translated as “beyond black”): “a mono-pigmented painting with chromatic versatility.”

Yet one should see nothing symbolic in this enigmatic darkness. Freed from all figuration and representation, these paintings are as much about light, as he explains in the following words: “In front of an Outrenoir, what do we see? There is a light reflected by the black, therefore it is already modified, transformed. If it were reflected by green, blue, or a mirror, it wouldn’t be the same. We see the light coming from the painting towards the viewer: that is what happens in my painting, it is the optical dimension (...). If the light changes position, it is no longer the same painting before us; and if the viewer moves, they are no longer looking at quite the same thing. There is an organization, certainly, which remains the same but which is erased or appears in a more obvious way;

it is a whole set of things that change, while in a traditional painting there is a point of view.

In my case, interiority does not precede the act of painting.

It comes during it.”

Not one to theorize his work, Soulages is content to name his paintings by their size and date of completion. For him, “painting is the state of the absence of words.” The bard of the outrenoir likes the contrast of smooth and striated surfaces, the ambivalence of matt and brilliance.

In the formal minimalism of his paintings, he seeks above all to create the accident, which will make the light and movement vibrate. Using a brush, blade or paintbrush, he shapes the material and infuses the light with the relief and body necessary for its reflection. We can easily imagine therefore, the ochre, red, white and blue tones that underlie his sombre palette.

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A short departure from beyond black: the stained glass windows at Conques The artist’s only departure from outrenoir to date are the stained glass windows of the abbey church of Sainte-Foy de Conques, the same one that had fascinated him as a child.

In 1987, Pierre Soulages was entrusted with the renovation of the 104 stained-glass windows of this 11th-century jewel, an important stopping point on the pilgrimage to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. A massive project, heavily criticized at the outset, which required eight years of work and seven hundred trial tests alongside master glassmaker Jean-Dominique Fleury to obtain a new material similar to alabaster: a colourless glass, translucent and non-transparent. With this work, Soulages dialogues with divine light to encourage contemplation.

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Musée Soulages in Rodez The town of Rodez is also enveloped in Soulages’ aura.

Located not far from the abbey in Conques, since 2014, the birthplace of the master of outrenoir has been home to a remarkable museum, dressed in rust-coloured steel, dedicated to the artist’s work. Originally intended for the exhibition of the preparatory drawings for the famous stained-glass windows, the idea of a monographic museum gained ground following the donation of an exceptional collection from the Soulages couple. A far cry from a mausoleum, this dynamic museum offers the largest collection of Soulages’ work in the world: outrenoirs of course, as well as engravings, paintings on canvas and paper, preparatory work for the stained-glass windows at Conques, but also a 500 m2 space, exclusively intended for temporary exhibitions by other artists.

The beyond black of every desire Last September, the Musée Soulages in Rodez welcomed its one millionth visitor, and three years previously, the work entitled Peinture, 200 × 162 cm, 14 mars 1960 sold for 9.6 million euros. A record price for the painter from Aveyron, who is now the best-selling living French artist on the planet.

An astronomical sum that for many is beyond comprehension ... A staggering 9.6 million euros, indeed.

The reason for this dizzying price was described with great accuracy by writer Caroline Gaudriault in the preface to her book on the artist, Soulages, nos reflets. Motif à une introspection (Editions Paradox). She says: “If I think of all this, it is because of the reflections. I saw there, not what you were, but what you represented. This solid rock—you have often been

compared to a rock—lets the waves break upon it, in a dull burst. It sweeps away all those who have tried to exist through it and reminds them of their uselessness. The medium of art that has been created in the existence of artists reflects the image of these crustaceans stuck to the rock. Without raising the question of legitimacy, this world gravitates in an artificial manner around what is most sacred. Of this spiral, all outlines will be erased. No name will remain. Curators will be forgotten. As will theorists, gallery owners, and reviews. All that will be left is the artist, who alone will traverse history.”

Now retired and living in his home-cum-studio in Sète with his wife Colette, also a centenarian, the artist continues to contemplate the canvas, dreaming of the movement and intensity of his next project. “Art, the void, and plenitude.”

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Peinture 202x143cm 30 novembre 1967

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VIRGIL ABLOH Tribute to a fashion supernova

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ith Virgil Abloh’s passing, fashion has lost one of its brightest stars.

The founder of the Off-White label and artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton died of cancer on 28 November 2021, aged 41. We pay tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, the guru of street couture.

By Delphine Gallay

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The sudden announcement of Virgil Abloh’s death sent shockwaves through the fashion industry and left fans bereft. After the initial shock, tributes began to pour in. The tall, soft-eyed guy with the gentle smile who succeeded in freeing the luxury goods industry from its fusty conventions and promoted all forms of diversity had achieved iconic status in his profession and beyond.

Virgil Abloh was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive type of cancer back in 2019, but chose not to go public about his battle with the disease. That delicacy was typical of a man who managed to remain discreet while living in the public eye.

Determined that the show should go on right to the end, he gave no sign that anything was wrong. Virgil Abloh is gone, but “driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design”, he has paved the way for a new generation of Black American designers.

From outsider to idol through hard work Just a decade ago, few people had heard of Virgil Abloh outside Kanye West’s coterie, but he emerged from West’s shadow and shot to stardom in the luxury industry, winning plaudits from fellow-professionals and adulation from the latest generation of cool kids. Who would have thought a hoodie-wearer 138

from the suburbs of Chicago would become one of the brightest stars in high-end fashion? Or, for that matter, that a graduate in civil engineering and architecture whose parents were Ghanaian immigrants would end up as the high priest of cool? Defying all attempts at categorization, Abloh bridged divides between disciplines and launched a new trend in fashion and design.

Founder of the pricey, ultra-hip Off-White clothing label, artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, painter, designer, architect and digital curator, Virgil Abloh was a glutton for work who could seemingly turn his hand to anything.

We take a look back at the career of a self-made designer whose fusion of streetwear and couture shaped a generation.

Launchpad Virgil Abloh’s career took off in 2002, when he became Kanye West’s right-hand man. The fashion-obsessed rapper and the quiet family man, married to his high-school sweetheart, became best buddies. West took Abloh under his wing, scooping him into his private jet and toting him along to fashion weeks.

The pair were taken on as interns at Fendi in Rome in 2009 - an experience that unleashed Abloh’s creative imagination.

That same year, helped by media exposure at Paris Fashion Week, he co-founded a concept store called RSVP Gallery in central Chicago with friends

Don C and Marc Moran, offering a shrewd blend of up-to-theminute streetwear and vintage couture items.

As West’s official stylist and creative director, Abloh handled the merchandising side of the Yeezy label and was art director on the 2011 album Watch the Throne. In 2012, the album’s sleeve (designed by Riccardo Tisci) was nominated for the Grammy Best Recording Package, propelling Abloh into the limelight. It was then that he took the leap and launched his first clothing label, Pyrex Vision, a streetwear line featuring highend deadstock items upcycled by the simple device of screenprinting on them. Prominently worn by Abloh’s buddy Kanye and other music-industry heavyweights, the brand was an instant hit. Its creator found himself being courted by the big fashion houses, and soon, Virgil Abloh capsule collections were popping up all over the planet. But this dazzling debut wasn’t enough for Abloh.

He was already thinking bigger.

He stunned commentators by shutting down the label to focus on new projects.

Off-White, on trend Abloh grasped early on that, sooner or later, fashion always repeats itself. In an industry where everything has already been said, instead of designing from scratch, he upcycles cult items. In 2013, he founded the label Off-White. A long

way from the usual high-end sportswear brands, Off-White subverted vintage 1980s, 1990s and 2000s ready-to-wear, bridging gender divides and - naturally - plastering the items with Abloh’s instantly recognizable logo. It was an instant hit.

Virgil Abloh’s media-savvy upcycling drew heavily on the youth culture that was around when he was a youngster. He was mining a rich seam. Born in Rockford, a suburb of Chicago, in 1980, he grew up in the golden age of hip-hop, graffiti, breakdancing, skateboarding and the Chicago Bulls’ Jordanera run of championship wins – an inexhaustible source of inspiration. He delved the archives of street culture, combining, reworking and redetailing pieces to set up a dialogue between past and future, high fashion and streetwear.

“Z” factor Once retro fans Queen B, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna and the Hadid sisters were seen sporting Virgil Abloh items, his clothing became all the rage with the luxury firms’ prime target market, Generation Z - helped by his knack of knowing just what to say to promote himself to today’s youth. A consummate communicator, Abloh reigned supreme on social media, managing his own publicity.

Not surprisingly, he was soon being courted by big luxury firms eager to recruit new blood with the all-important “Z” factor.

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Superstardom at Louis Vuitton Behind the scenes, Abloh was the talk of the luxury goods industry. In 2015, he reached the finals of the 2015 LVMH Prize for Young Designers, and in 2018 he joined Louis Vuitton as artistic director of menswear, with instructions to tear up the rule-book. Abloh was only the second black designer to be put in charge of a clothing line at a leading French fashion house (Olivier Rousteing, appointed

by Balmain, was the first). His instinctive feel for style and forward-looking approach to fashion were just what the French trunk maker was looking for.

Brilliant ideas such as carrot pouches, pleated skirts for men and a revamped chequered and monogrammed version of Nike’s Air Force 1 sneakers were emblematic of the brand’s new image.

Let’s work together It wasn’t the first time the bankable Mr Abloh had worked with Nike. He had already produced a collection called “The Ten”, reworking iconic Nike sneaker designs and collaborated with the sportswear firm for a controversial tutu worn by tennis champion Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open. As well as pushing design boundaries, Abloh was a serial collaborator with an uncanny eye for the joint projects most likely to go viral. Inspired by hip-hop featurings, he worked with performing artists and iconic brands to explore new artistic horizons.

In addition to designing capsule collections for brands such as Moncler, Jimmy Choo, Van’s, Baccarat, Byredo, MercedesBenz, Evian and Ikea, he created costumes for the New York City Ballet, put together a

Basquiat tribute collection, had joint Gagosian Gallery exhibitions with visual artist Takashi Murakami, and produced Leonardo da Vinci-themed T-shirts and hoodies for the Louvre to coincide with the recent landmark exhibition. The world seemed to offer endless scope for self-expression in the form of “ready-mades” (Abloh liked to cite Marcel Duchamp) - or for making a quick buck, if you were more cynical.

One step ahead Designer by day, DJ by night, Abloh was a workaholic who was never content to rest on his laurels, surprising the punters season after season. In 2020, as the fashion world reeled from the global pandemic, he bounced back with a clever plan B. Unable to hold an Off-White runway show, he launched the spring-summer 2021 show “Adam is Eve” on his new digital platform Imaginary TV. Modelled on MTV, the platform broadcast a constant stream of videos and digital performances related to the collection by Abloh’s favourite artists. To present the new Louis Vuitton collection to buyers, the designer and his crew got round the problem of border closures by abandoning the official schedule and setting off for Tokyo and Shanghai. Like it or loathe it, Abloh’s forward-looking approach paved the way for tomorrow’s fashion and suggested new ways of working with key buyers.

“Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself” Virgil Abloh’s clothing consigned racial discrimination and male/female dress codes to the past - witness his non-gendered Louis Vuitton spring-summer

2022 collection, in which highly wearable skirts and dresses for men referenced African tribal dress, the cult group Wu-Tang Clan and martial arts.

In addition to expressing diversity and inclusiveness via his designs, as the son of immigrants, Abloh actively sought to give a voice to people who often remain invisible. Peculiar Contrast, Perfect Light, the video he made to accompany the launch of Louis Vuitton’s 2021 autumn-winter collection for men, illustrates that commitment. Loosely inspired by the African American writer James Baldwin’s literary masterpiece Stranger in the Village, it was conceived as an anti-racist performance.

In July 2020, Abloh set up the “Virgil Abloh ‘Post-Modern’ Scholarship Fund” programme and raised a million dollars to fund a study grant for Black students intending to embark on an artistic career. Was it just a marketing ploy? Abloh’s closest colleagues say he was a fine person and a man of great wisdom. Be that as it may, his philanthropic initiative holds out a helping hand to youngsters from his community.

Behind the smile His cancer diagnosis was a bolt from the blue, just as Abloh reached the top of the tree in the luxury goods industry. With impressive sang-froid, he remainedly outwardly calm. The only inkling he gave of what he was going through behind the scenes was an interview in the September 2019 edition of American Vogue, in which he said that he’s been to see his doctor because he was tired, and the doctor had told him to ease up for a while. Everything was fine, but his gruelling schedule, with up to eight business trips a week, had taken its toll on his health.

Everyone thought it was just a case of burnout due to overwork. After all, a break seemed to do the trick, and he was soon back at work, pushing himself as hard as ever.

Virgil was here Nothing could have been further from the truth. For those not in the know, he seemed unchanged, but in private, he was preparing for the worst. Ever the workaholic, determined to carry on against all odds, he pursued his dreams, stepping up the pace and taking his exploration of archetypes and subcultures still further with more collaborations, Louis Vuitton collections and his brand OffWhite, in which the luxury giant LVMH bought a 60% stake in July 2021 – just in time. With hindsight, Abloh must have been thinking ahead.

Virgil Abloh even curated his final bow. With his last breath, he worked behind the scenes to devise one more show for Louis Vuitton. The posthumous show Virgil Was Here (in allusion to the phrase he used when autographing sneakers), which opened in Miami just two days after his death, in accordance with his wishes, is an incredibly poetic farewell message to the world – like the teaser posted the day before the tribute by the French trunk making firm, in which a Black American kid cycles across the city of Miami before getting into a red hot-air balloon, ready to float up into the sky.

Rest in power Virgil Abloh’s premature death is a great loss, but he bequeaths us a vision of fashion, art and design that perpetuates his celebration of life and diversity and will continue to strike a chord with future generations.

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ESSENCE OF LUTENS T

he name “Lutens” instantly conjures up glamour. The discreet Serge Lutens is an outstandingly creative individual and a true aesthete. From his mesmeric photographs and dramatic make-up styling to his distinctive perfumes, he has flouted convention - an enigma who has made a career from expressing his emotions. We retrace the creative journey of a virtuoso who knows exactly how to play on our senses.

By Delphine Gallay

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© Serge Lutens by Ling Fei

Leading a reclusive lifestyle in his superb Marrakesh villa, Serge Lutens cultivates his aura of mystery. In the course of a career that has encompassed beauty, fashion and photography and spans almost 60 years, he has dictated his terms and resisted all attempts at categorization. Nothing in his background marked him out for a glittering career in the world of French fashion, but his powerful creative urge and highly distinctive style took him from a provincial hairdressing salon to the top of three professions - and to a ruined palace in Marrakesh.

A backward glance Born in Lille, in the north of France, Serge Lutens was the result of an extra-marital liaison.

As a child, he was shuttled backwards and forwards between two households. A lonely boy with a head full of dreams, at fourteen, against his wishes, he was put to work in a ladies' hairdressing salon. It turned out to be just what he needed. Through the women he came into contact with, his idea of the perfect woman gradually took shape.

She should be enigmatic, with a sleek short bob, a transparent complexion and unabashedly heavy eye make-up. Persuading female friends to model for him, Lutens perfected his fantasy woman, immortalizing the images he created in large-format photographs. The selftaught photographer frolicked in his exquisite imaginative playground - but he was already seeking pastures new.

Lutens unbound In 1962, Lutens was 18 and determined to go places. Armed with his portfolio, he knocked on Vogue's door. The magazine staff were spellbound by his glamorous style. Soon the newcomer was working alongside the greatest names in fashion photography – Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Irving Penn – and styling the most beautiful women of the day.

In 1967, Christian Dior asked Lutens to design the first Dior make-up collection. A master of subtle shading, glamorous style and dramatic visual effects, he revolutionized make-up and photography in the wink of an eye. His boundless inventiveness and legendary portraits led to an exhibition at the Guggenheim

Museum in New York. This was the period when he discovered Morocco and Japan, the two countries that sparked his interest in perfume - one of which was later to become his home.

In the early 1980s, now world-famous, Lutens was courted by the huge Japanese makeup firm Shiseido. He was given carte blanche to reinvent the Shiseido brand as he saw fit, without having to kow-tow to the marketing department. In 1982, he designed the perfume Nombre Noir for the firm. It was the first in a long line of unforgettable fragrances.

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© Serge Lutens by Laid Liazid

Leading a reclusive lifestyle in his superb Marrakesh villa, Serge Lutens cultivates his aura of mystery. In the course of a career that has encompassed beauty, fashion and photography and spans almost 60 years, he has dictated his terms and resisted all attempts at categorization. Nothing in his background marked him out for a glittering career in the world of French fashion, but his powerful creative urge and highly distinctive style took him from a provincial hairdressing salon to the top of three professions - and to a ruined palace in Marrakesh.

A backward glance Born in Lille, in the north of France, Serge Lutens was the result of an extra-marital liaison.

As a child, he was shuttled backwards and forwards between two households. A lonely boy with a head full of dreams, at fourteen, against his wishes, he was put to work in a ladies' hairdressing salon. It turned out to be just what he needed. Through the women he came into contact with, his idea of the perfect woman gradually took shape.

She should be enigmatic, with a sleek short bob, a transparent complexion and unabashedly heavy eye make-up. Persuading female friends to model for him, Lutens perfected his fantasy woman, immortalizing the 144

images he created in large-format photographs. The selftaught photographer frolicked in his exquisite imaginative playground - but he was already seeking pastures new.

Lutens unbound In 1962, Lutens was 18 and determined to go places. Armed with his portfolio, he knocked on Vogue's door. The magazine staff were spellbound by his glamorous style. Soon the newcomer was working alongside the greatest names in fashion photography – Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Irving Penn – and styling the most beautiful women of the day.

In 1967, Christian Dior asked Lutens to design the first Dior make-up collection. A master of subtle shading, glamorous style and dramatic visual effects, he revolutionized make-up and photography in the wink of an eye. His boundless inventiveness and legendary portraits led to an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. This was the period when he discovered Morocco and Japan, the two countries that sparked his interest in perfume - one of which was later to become his home.

In the early 1980s, now world-famous, Lutens was courted by the huge Japanese makeup firm Shiseido. He was given carte blanche to reinvent the

Shiseido brand as he saw fit, without having to kow-tow to the marketing department. In 1982, he designed the perfume Nombre Noir for the firm. It was the first in a long line of unforgettable fragrances.

Scents of memory Ten years later, Lutens created the scent Féminité du bois, inspired by a piece of Atlas cedar wood picked up by chance in a souk in Marrakesh - a "confection in wood" inspired by the warm, honeyed scents wafting from sharifian joinery workshops. It sums up the lyric quality of Lutens' perfumes. It was not until 2000 that Serge Lutens brought out his own Shiseido perfume range - scents that can be worn by men or women, stemming from his personal preferences and unique experience.

For Serge Lutens, a lover of literature and a commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres since 2007, his perfumes are like chapters from his life-story.

"I set out to rediscover the identity of perfume - and my own.

Hypocritically, when I talk about perfume, I'm talking about myself. I'm incapable of detaching myself from what I do." Be they smoky or powder-light, each of his fragrances conjures up an emotion. Their very names tell a story: La Fille de Berlin (The Girl from Berlin), Ambre Sultan

(Amber Sultan), Jeux de peau (Skin Games), L’Orpheline (The Orphan Girl), Tubéreuse criminelle (Criminal Tuberose).

A lucky few inhaled their subtle aromas before anyone else at a preview in Lutens' discreet Palais Royal premises, designed to resemble a tea house, or more recently in the gorgeous setting of his Saint-Honoré boutique in Paris.

Paradise regained Nowadays, Lutens never leaves his beloved Red City.

He concocts his utterly distinctive perfumes from his villa in the Palmeraie, surrounded by books and memories, emerging from his solitude only to minister to the abandoned palace in the medina that has become his life's work. He bought it as a ruin in 1974, and it has taken 40 years to renovate, with the help of 500 Maalems (skilled craftswomen). "It was in the same state as I was. I knew it was the one. That building saved me from my downfall. I don't live in it but for it. I'm its prisoner, its slave, its debtor. It knows I'll never live there. Instead, I am inhabited by it." Today the palace preserves the memory of the past: it houses Lutens' foundation - his declaration of love to Moroccan decorative arts and his adoptive country, and his last consummately perfect creation.

artegemma.ch

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Polar life forms the ultimate survivors

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ntarctica, the land mass that encircles the South Pole, is the coldest and driest of the continents. It is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth - its 14,000-odd square kilometres chiefly consist of polar desert. Yet some organisms manage to survive in these extreme conditions. Meanwhile, in the far north, plants and animals have developed specific strategies to survive in the unique conditions of the Arctic. Let’s take a closer look at the weird and wonderful marine and terrestrial animals, plants and micro-organisms of the polar regions.

By Marine Pasquier

Life in Antarctica The White Continent is one of Earth’s most precious - and most vulnerable - wildernesses.

Its waters harbour a wealth of flora and fauna including penguins, sea lions, elephant seals, whales, albatrosses and petrels, not to mention curious species such as krill, the keystone of the region’s entire ecosystem, in that most of Antarctica’s invertebrates feed on them.

Antarctica’s waters are connected with the rest of the world, allowing many seabirds to make it their base: the best-known are probably the emperor penguins. Away from the ice and rock beaches, nearer the South Pole, there are fewer living organisms. No mammals live here, but insects, mosses, a wide variety of algae, lichens and amazing 146

microscopic plants manage to survive. Frequent snowfalls provide the necessary soil nutrients and minerals for microbial species and supply plants with enough water to last through the summer. With the arrival of fine weather, the snow melts, revealing tundra - a steppe landscape where the vegetation is low-growing. The organisms that live here are unobtrusive, but there are no fewer than 2,000 different species including flowers, bacteria, fungi and trees.

Adapting to the cold Arctic species manage to survive, reproduce and spread in harsh conditions with the aid of highly unusual strategies.

Arctic animals are capable of maintaining an ideal body

temperature despite the extreme cold, protected by their plumage, fat or fur. Polar flora stay close to the ground for warmth, to save water and to reduce the wind factor. Dwarfism is common in Arctic tree species such as the dwarf birch or the polar willow: some specimens grow no taller than 5 centimetres. Flowering plants bloom in clusters or, in the case of the moss campion, in cushions.

Antarctica’s research potential The discovery that there are life forms that can survive in Antarctica all year round has prompted scientists to study their cell systems for possible applications of their unique biological mechanisms.

Looking ahead to the future, GREENTECH has set itself the

goal of furthering our knowledge of polar life forms and contributing to progress in this area of science.

GREENTECH is a pioneering firm that specializes in plant biotechnology. For over 25 years, the group has been developing and producing high-tech ingredients for a wide range of sectors. Its four specialized operators - in particular GREENSEA, which specializes in marine cultures - take samples from marine and terrestrial environments and grow them in the laboratory to create innovative ingredients.

GREENTECH looks to the future, studying all manner of life forms to gain insights into their biology, contribute to scientific advances and apply new discoveries to meet tomorrow’s needs.

WWW.GREENTECH.FR

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GOLDMUND The ultimate

sound experience F

or over forty years, Goldmund has been creating cutting-edge sound systems, taking technological research towards the exact reproduction of sounds. From its turntables to its legendary Apologue speaker—exhibited at MoMA—as well as Logos home theatres, customized to suit individual interiors, the Swiss hi-fi manufacturer has quickly become known as one of the best and most successful brands on the market. Their promise: to provide customers with the optimum concert experience, live from their very own living room!

By Marine Pasquier

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A vision of excellence Even more than words and images, sounds are known to evoke intense, memorable emotions.

The more realistic the sound reproduction, the higher a listener’s level of emotional engagement. This is the concept behind Goldmund, who have revolutionized the sound industry thanks to systems offering an incomparable acoustic fidelity. Combining the unique savoir-faire of Swiss engineers with the most advanced technology, the Goldmund range removes all other noise apart from the music itself, by eliminating the distortions that could compromise the reality of the sound.

Beyond their unparalleled rigour and expertise, Goldmund 150

boasts a unique aesthetic identity, drawing on Modernist, Cubist and Bauhaus inspiration.

The beauty of art aligns with the performance of technology to satisfy the demands of the most discerning of clients, with no compromises made along the way.

Cutting-edge technology Since its foundation in 1978, the House of Goldmund and its audio systems have produced the most precise sound ever realized around the world. To appreciate the ultimate quality of the musical or cinematic experience, without detracting from the decor of your living room, the Logos Home Theatre and its invisible speakers provide the

perfect solution. While in the past, only the best movie theatres provided immersive surround sound, today customers can experience an optimal sound experience from the comfort of their own home or even aboard a yacht! Thanks to the unprecedented realism of Goldmund Bespoke Home Theatres, the action of the film does not just unfold before you, but all around you, and you can even feel the vibrations. The algorithm devised

by Goldmund, the Proteus HT, calculates the ideal sound system for each living space, including the number of speakers needed and their exact placement in the room, based on the size of the space and other specific technical variables. The speakers boast integrated Telos amplifiers and

offer a prime listening experience, without crackling noises or distortion to bring customers the highest level of pleasure and emotion. An unrivalled sensory experience, with a level of definition and precision never seen before. Available from some twenty expert distributors worldwide, discover the Logos Home Theatre and instead of staying a mere spectator, become a fully-fledged actor in the movie!

GOLDMUND CHEMIN GRENET 21 1214 VERNIER, SWITZERLAND WWW.GOLDMUND.COM

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swissFineLine Innovative and exclusive window designs offering spectacular views

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stablished in 1886 by master blacksmith Christian Berger and his wife Rosa, over time, the simple blacksmith’s forge has become a prosperous and impressive family business, and an innovative player in glass architecture. Today known as swissFineLine, the brand born in the picturesque landscape of the Emmental region is dedicated to designing unique architectural solutions, inspired by a passion for contemporary art.

By Marine Pasquier

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Sheer transparency Surrounded by the landscape, bathed in light and sky, swissFineLine’s floor-to-ceiling sliding windows seamlessly fade into the beauty of the decor.

Here, absolute transparency takes centre stage, creating a harmonious balance between simplicity, aesthetics and functionality. As Le Corbusier aptly declared: “The history of architecture is the history of the window”. Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, swissFineLine develops high-end sliding windows of an exquisite elegance, offering previously unknown possibilities. Frameless, they connect the interior and exterior, while providing the sensation of infinite space and light. Creativity merges with passion to satisfy every need, in a unique design.

This combination of quality materials and remarkable style earned the brand the “Special Mention” distinction from the German Design Awards in 2017.

A la carte design Attentive to service and customer relations, swissFineLine develops refined and exclusive products, modelled on the customer’s wishes and needs from the choice of glazing to the selection of components, colours and coatings. These finishes create a coherent architectural whole down to the smallest details. Whatever the dimensions or steps required,

swissFineLine’s team of professionals strives to put the full extent of their talent to use in pushing the boundaries of possibility, even in the narrowest or largest of spaces. The guide rails and circular profiles are fully integrated into the floor, ceiling and side walls. This innovative technology results in a significantly improved quality of life, filling interiors with light, air and nature.

Certified technology For over 125 years, swissFineLine has met stringent architectural requirements by means of frequent national and international controls, ensuring the safety and performance of their productions. Their frameless sliding windows meet thermal insulation and energy efficiency standards, while offering maximum security due to the combined action of multi-point locks, acoustic protection, alarm systems, and laminated safety glass. The company has continued to cultivate this “Swiss level of perfection”, often leading to new options for architects and builders. A fourth-generation family business that embodies “Swissness” in every way: quality, reliability and precision.

With foresight and commitment, the success story with swissFineLine windows continues - from Emmental out into the wide world.

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- DESIGN

by Emma Houffin

A p r è s - S k i a t h o m e

SHOPPING

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ASSOULINE Diamonds: Diamond Stories, 95 €

MONT BLANC MB 01 connected travel helmet brown, 595 €

ACQUA DI PARMA x EMILIO PUCCI Notte di Stelle candle, 185 €

PERRIER-JOUËT Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2006, 395 €

LOUIS VUITTON Baby-foot Cyan, 68 000 €

GUCCI Star Eye mug, 250 €

HERMÈS Plaid H Flag Fuchsia / Orange, 2 500 €

vincentmichel.ch Rue de bourg 47-49 1003 lausanne

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Beautiful Battista T

he eagerly awaited pure-electric Hyper GT Pininfarina Battista made its first outing this summer in Monterrey, California. Breathtakingly styled, this car boasts an exceptional level of performance.

By Stephane Lechine - © Photos: Automobili Pininfarina

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Design in its genes Named after the founder of car design firm Gian-Battista Pininfarina, the Battista is the first car designed and produced under the Pininfarina brand.

Founded in 1930, the firm rose to fame at a time when it was common to provide chassis with specific bodywork. In the 1950s, it worked with Peugeot on their style brief and continued this collaboration, producing some iconic models such as the 205 or the 406 Coupé. Closely linked to Ferrari since 1952, Sergio, the founder’s son, convinced Enzo Ferrari to adopt the rear mid-engine structure that would culminate in the famous Ferrari Dino 206 GT Speciale.

Subsequently, many of the beautiful models coming from the Maranello-based Ferrari factory were designed by Pininfarina.

These models include the Testarossa, F40, 288 GTO, and more recently the Enzo.

International renaissance Unfortunately, the 2008 crisis did not spare Pininfarina who was in financial difficulty at the time. The family gradually lost control of the company, car production ceased and factories were closed in 2011.

Salvation came in the form

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of an investment from Indian group Mahindra in 2015, which allowed the company to rise from the ashes with the ambition of becoming a fully-fledged constructor. Now resolutely international, the Automobili Pininfarina Company, headquartered in Munich, Germany, relies on Indian capital but continues to ensure the manufacture of the Battista model near Turin, Italy.

All electric The Battista’s design remains in the hands of the design studio, but it relies on other partners, well-known in the production of electric cars.

The development of the chassis is entrusted to the Mahindra Racing department, engaged in Formula E. In partnership with Rimac Automobili, which caused a sensation during the presentation of its eponymous model, the battery delivers 120kWh distributed between the four independent motors, placed at each wheel. The advertised power is 1900hp for a torque of 2300N.m! Like its competitors, such as the Lotus Evija, these jaw-dropping figures are undoubtedly becoming the standard for electric hyper GTs! Predicted performances

make it a direct rival to the Bugatti Chiron. Less than two seconds to go from 0 to 100km / h, the Pininfarina Battista reaches 300 km / h in 12 seconds and offers a top speed of over 400 km / h. It has an estimated WLTP range over 500 km, according to the standards in force. To slow down the car, there are huge carbon-ceramic six-piston brakes. The active aerodynamic features also serve as airbrakes to ensure stability at high speeds.

An exclusive experience The dynamic performance is one of the strong points of this hyper GT with tuning entrusted to former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld. On the track, the car performs similar to a racing car. Torque and the drivetrain erase the effect of the generous weight, and the Battista is easily controlled. By an experienced pilot, at least. On the road, it has four predefined driving modes. The Calma Mode optimizes autonomy and energy management. The most accessible driving mode is the Pura, which limits power to 800kWh. The suspensions are softened and the dynamic response guarantees a smooth ride. The power

that matches the setup of the chassis can be seen in the mores sporty modes, resulting in a perfectly balanced car, always in line with the mood and skill of the driver. The fourth mode allows the driver to configure all of the possible settings for an even more exclusive experience.

A league of its own This driving sensation would not be complete without a particularly refined sound system.

Based on a frequency of 432 Hz (Verdi’s A for music lovers) and its multiples, the sound is calibrated to resonate in our ears and transmit vibrations to the body, comfortably installed on the Alcantara seats. The carbon fibre that is very present in the compartment is showcased by brushed and anodized aluminium inserts. Because personalization is an important concept at Pininfarina, it is possible to customize the colours and choice of certain materials, thereby benefitting from a quasi infinite range of combinations. More than enough to make each of the 150 Battistas a unique piece...

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Business Driver H

ave you heard of the Lamera Cup? Probably not. But this endurance competition, which attracts experienced drivers and amateurs alike, broke the world record this year for the longest endurance race at 30 hours and one lap!

By Stéphane Lechine - Photos © Lamera Cup

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A GT endurance race Increasingly renowned, the Lamera Cup was born almost 10 years ago at the initiative of Wilfried Merafina, then an experienced GT race driver. Driven by a handful of enthusiasts, he set himself the challenge of creating an endurance series with a completely new car. Bringing together technical partners such as Ford, which provides the 5-cylinder turbo engine of the 320-hp Focus, the car’s design is based around a tubular chassis. With its race-oriented design, the custom-made wheels and suspension and polyester bodywork give the car an aggressive GT look. From the outside, this Lamera is highly impressive with its compact size and open front end allowing maximum airflow, giving the impression of a predator ready to pounce.

The wheels at either end of the car are fitted with Continental tires as standard. Therein lies the ingenuity of the design.

The Lamera is a true racing car, but the use of road tires makes it accessible to all.

A race for everyone From the outset, Wilfried Merafina understood that the success of his competition was not only down to the participation of experienced drivers.

As in the World Endurance Championship, the Lamera Cup features 3 categories of drivers. The Elite category, in which teams comprised of renowned drivers and true Lamera specialists, compete for victory. The Pro-Am category, 162

in which a well-known driver shares the wheel with amateur racers. And the GENT category for amateurs, undoubtedly the most crowded in the field and featuring a wide range of driver profiles. There are those who compete throughout the season with the aim of participating in high-profile events and improving alongside the most experienced drivers. But above all, TTM Competition, which is responsible for the development of the car, opens the Lamera Cup to first-time racers.

At the wheel It is this open field that sets the racing series apart from all others: giving everyone, without any particular skills, the opportunity to experience the thrill of driving in real races alongside experienced drivers. Blush had the opportunity to step into the shoes of an amateur racer at the penultimate round of the season at the Misano international circuit on Italy’s Adriatic Coast.

Accompanied by an instructor, we were soon up to speed after negotiating the first few corners.

Easy to handle, the Lamera has paddles on the steering wheel for upshifting and downshifting the 6-speed gearbox. Although it can be handled with relative ease, mastering the car and lowering lap times remains a difficult task. The road tyres, forgiving of minor errors, mean that a smooth drive is needed to pick up speed!

Atmosphere and passion From the very beginning, Wilfried Merafina’s intention

was to allow his partners such as Ford, Continental or Triangle Intérim to participate and take the wheel. It has proved to be a winning formula and a few initial partners have turned into a full-blown club where numerous business leaders have a car at their disposal all year round to bring customers and suppliers together on the track.

As Regional Director Danièle explains: “Giving clients the opportunity to drive allows us to get to know each other better and to create a real relationship. It’s also a business catalyst; at the last meeting we resolved a problem between two sessions.” Day drivers and regular participants meet at the Lamera team’s reception area. It’s an inspirational experience. There are logistics and transport professionals as well as those from more exotic professions such as a specialist in undersea engineering or even the cheesemaker who supplies the finest tables in France! With everyone brimming with passion

and enthusiasm about the race, conversation flows during the traditional aperitif organised after the first race on Saturday, as the magic of the Lamera Cup atmosphere gets to work.

10 years on Far from resting on his laurels, Wilfried Merafina has many more projects in the pipeline. A new car is in the works. Still manufactured by Ford, it will be powered by the Explorer’s V6 engine. To ensure reliability, it will only be offered to clients after at least 10,000 km of testing. To make the programme even more enjoyable, the aim is to offer more than 100 hours of racing in a single season. In short, the time has come to put your racing suit on and join the Lamera Cup for the 2022 season, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the series.

WE SOURCE NATURE TO RESOURCE THE FUTURE

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Romain

Grosjean The renaissance

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inding himself trapped inside a blazing Formula 1 car after smashing through a safety rail, he managed to escape.

The images went around the world and also marked the end of Romain Grosjean’s Grand Prix career..

By Stéphane Lechine

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Not long after the accident, he had to face the facts. The burns on his hands meant that he would not be able to finish the season. Not one to be defeated, Grosjean realised how lucky he was to be alive after his crash and, with an honesty rare in a driver, he recounts those terrible moments he spent trapped in his cockpit. How he came to accept his destiny, before thinking of his family and summoning the energy to find a space between the hull of his car and the rail to free himself from the blaze. His openness is in a sense a hallmark of the Franco-Swiss driver. Always searingly honest, his errors will often be highlighted at the expense of his talent.

Challenging beginnings Grosjean is a respected driver whose blistering speed was well known recognised in the paddock. His arrival in Formula 1 during the 2009 season at Renault was a poisoned chalice. Unprepared and at the wheel of an uncompetitive car, he was dropped after a handful of races. His career could well have ended there. But Grosjean would not be deterred and took the wheel in GP2, the gateway to F1, where he dominated and

won the championship at a canter. That success was his ticket back to the top table with the Lotus F1 team.

On the podium The four seasons he spent with the Enstone team alongside Kimi Räikkönnen included 10 podiums and some great performances. He was involved in a spectacular pile-up at the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix for which he was handed a one race suspension. Sidelined by his peers, he worked with a psychologist to channel his energy, something he talked about openly. It was a pioneering and courageous approach to take at a time when even the slightest weakness could be exploited by his rivals. Psychologists are now part of every Formula 1 driver’s toolkit...

The Haas adventure In 2016, he was recruited by Haas, a new American team receiving many technical components directly from Ferrari.

At the wheel of this new car, Grosjean scored points from the very first races. He didn’t make a podium finish during his first three seasons with Haas despite putting in some fine

performances. During a challenging The final two seasons were more challenging, during which he had to deal with a malfunctioning slow car, Grosjean convinced his team to change technical direction and gained recognition for his engineering know-how.

Discovering IndyCar February 2021, Barber, Alabama. Romain Grosjean is back in a racing car for the first time since his accident. Invited for a test in IndyCar (the US equivalent of F1), Grosjean gets the measure of the vehicle big single-seater despite still feeling pain in his hand. For him it is a question of overcoming the doubts that are troubling him. Is he still capable of driving at the highest level? The tests prove a revelation as he discovers the straightforward American atmosphere, in sharp contrast to the constraints of Formula 1.

He signs up for the season with a small team but avoids oval racing, which is far too dangerous for his liking.

Family racing

the best. Warmly welcomed by the other drivers, he quickly finds his feet, taking pole position in the third race where he is thrilled to finish on the podium.

He confesses to savouring the outcome, whereas a few months earlier he would have dwelt on a race lost rather than considering second place to be an excellent result. Bit by bit, the atmosphere of the American paddock takes hold. Grosjean travels and lives on the road with his huge motorhome. His family joins him and spends the two summer months traversing America, racing and touring. A happy Grosjean shares his life on the track with his children, something that is after all very normal in Indycar.

His good performances and enthusiasm for the American series persuade him to take the plunge and compete in oval racing. A challenging experience for any novice driver, he manages it superbly. Ending the season with another podium finish, Grosjean signs a contract with Andretti, one of the most prestigious teams in IndyCar. In 2022, he will be one of the favourites to win the championship that culminates in the Indianapolis 500.

The first race of the season removes any lingering doubts about his ability to mix it with 165

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News

ALPINE ANNOUNCES LE MANS HYPERCAR The Hypercar category of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) continues to attract manufacturers.

Following announcements from Peugeot, Porsche, Audi and Ferrari, Alpine has unveiled its development programme; it is working on a new prototype that is scheduled to take to the track in 2024 with the stated aim of winning the Le Mans 24 hours. The renaissance of the blue racing cars, which began in 2013 at the famous track La Sarthe circuit, has already yielded success in the LMP2 category

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with numerous victories and podiums. Alpine intends to build on this experience and continue to develop its range with a previous car that will be entered in the premier class next season to challenge Toyota. Now Renault’s leading racing brand, Alpine is present at the highest level of motor sport in Formula 1 and also in endurance racing.

Although it is too soon to talk about drivers, the development of the blue cars has been entrusted to Signatech and Oreca, who are already running the current prototypes on the track.

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CHOPARD MILLE MIGLIA BAMFORD EDITION An emblematic brand model, the Mille Miglia chronograph by Chopard is available in a limited edition in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, a renowned talent in the field of customisation. This special version of the Mille Miglia marks Chopard’s 33 years as a partner of the iconic Italian race. With a beautiful dark grey and flame orange finish, this watch has a DLC stainless steel case rendering it

highly resistant and scratch-resistant for sports use. The black rubber strap is lined with orange calf leather. The heart of the chronograph, visible through the sapphire case back, has a frequency of 28,000 vph and a power reserve of 42 hours.

Only 33 units have been built and released for sale, which will make this Mille Miglia a highly sought-after model.

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LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LP500 The Lamborghini Countach is 50 years old. To celebrate the anniversary of one of the most iconic cars of the 1980s, a collector asked the Modena-based company to remake the original Countach first presented in 1971. This prototype, with sleeker lines and no rear wing, led to the design of the Countach, which was produced from 1974. Technicians and engineers at Lamborghini’s heritage

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department, the Polo Storico, spent 25,000 hours recreating the original model using as many of the original components and tools as possible, right down to the tyres that Pirelli made specifically for the occasion. A true museum piece, its lucky owner was given the opportunity to perform exhibition laps at the Lamborghini test track during the car’s official presentation last October.

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AMG ONE AMG One will go into production in 2022. Unveiled four years ago, the arrival of Mercedes’ most powerful car yet has been delayed by development problems. Adapting the turbocharged V6 hybrid Formula 1 engine, which will be used in the 275 AMG One cars produced, proved more complicated than expected. At issue is the stabilisation of the engine at a lower rpm idle speed in the road car than in the F1 car in order to

comply with emissions standards. The advertised maximum 1,200 horsepower would allow the car to go from 0 to 200 km/h in just 6 seconds with a top speed of 350 km/h. With all models selling out shortly after their announcement, the prototype seen this summer at the Nürburgring circuit should reassure buyers who must remain patient before they can expect to receive their car next year.

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travel

COPENHAGEN 48 hours in the Land of Happy People

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he capital of hygge, gastronomy and good taste, Copenhagen has more than one trick up its sleeve when it comes to attracting visitors. If the Nordic metropolis is at the forefront of design and ecology, it nevertheless remains a city on a human scale, characterized by its zest for life. From the alternative district of Christiana to the banks of the Øresund, here’s a spotlight on some of our favourite addresses.

By Delphine Gallay

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Enjoy new Nordic cuisine at Høst While the pioneer of new Nordic cuisine, Noma, boasting three Michelin stars and named “best restaurant in the world”, no longer needs an introduction, the Danish culinary scene continues to surprise us and reveal new talents. Whether gastronomic or bistronomic, the experience is a unique one, just like the sensational moment guaranteed at Høst. In this neighbourhood bistro, the recipient of several design awards for its impressive interior, Chef Jonas Christensen perfectly prepares and presents new Nordic cuisine. An ode to the land, the evening course comprises between three and five inventive dishes, combining rustic and maritime flavours, interspersed with surprise amuse-bouches. In an irresistibly Danish atmosphere, the connection to nature is total. With discreet lighting and wooded decoration, guests couldn’t ask for a better introduction to new Nordic cuisine.

HØST NØRRE FARIMAGSGADE 41 – 1364 COPENHAGEN

A delicious smørrebrød that defines the genre A famous and very affordable snack in the Land of the Vikings, smørrebrød is a slice of finely buttered rye bread, topped with a mouth-watering array of colours and flavours: salmon tartare, herring marinated in aquavit, roast beef, radish, horseradish, vegetable compote and seasonal green shoots… The list is long and the variations endless! Paired with Carlsberg, an old-fashioned juice or floral-based lemonade, smørrebrød is a Baltic staple. One of the best places to try the snack is at the covered market of Torvehallerne, the headquarters of Copenhagen fine food lovers.

TORVEHALLERNE MARKET FREDERIKSBORGGADE 21 – 1362 COPENHAGEN

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On the go and with style!

In the land of hygge, there’s nothing quite like relaxing on the cosy bench of a charming Danish café between two bicycle rides. With a bohemian and vintage atmosphere, the Café Atelier September is an ideal spot. In this former art gallery transformed into a café, Chef Frederik Bille Brahe (owner of the very fashionable Apollo Bar & Kanteen and Kafeteria), serves avocado toast and homemade granola with a delicious zucchini jam. A taste to remember! Apparently, the 3-star Michelin Chef Rasmus Kofoed is a regular here...

CAFÉ ATELIER SEPTEMBER GOTHERSGADE 30 – 1123 COPENHAGEN WWW.CAFEATELIERSEPTEMBER.COM

The Audo, much more than a hotel Located in the futuristic district of Nordhavn, The Audo is the new haven for design lovers and creative minds. Designed by the fashionable trio—Menu, Norm Architects and Nathan Williams (co-founder of Kinfolk magazine) —this hybrid space shakes up the codes of traditional hotels to offer visitors a multifaceted experience. Imagined as a place to live and meet, The Audo houses ten attic bedrooms under the one roof, as well as a café, restaurant, concept store, library, artists’ studio, and even the offices of Danish furniture manufacturer, Menu! The hotel is proud to showcase the creations of its famous resident brand, as well as the latest releases by partner publishing houses, all available for sale and ever-evolving in tune with customer tastes and growing collections.

THE AUDO ÅRHUSGADE 130, 2150 COPENHAGEN – WWW.THEAUDO.COM

Take a day trip to the Louisiana Museum Located in the small coastal town of Humlebæk (a short 30-minute train ride from Copenhagen), this modern and contemporary art museum offers a fabulous getaway. Bathed by the waters of the Øresund Strait, this former 19th-century bourgeois residence, extended over time by architects Vilhelm Wohlert and Jørgen Bo, offers a succession of pavilions connected by glass passageways opening on to nature. A jewel of modern architecture immersed in a green setting, works by some of the greatest names in painting and sculpture from the post-war period to the present day can be seen: Giacometti, Jorn, Kusama, Calder, Moore, Warhol, Baselitz, and Hockney, as well as contemporary Swedish artist Mamma Anderson.

LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART GL. STRANDVEJ 13 – 3050 HUMLEBÆK – WWW.LOUISIANA.DK

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Dream apartment Near the Christianshavn canal, there is an apartment like few others. In this 18th-century family building, the owner Tina Seidenfaden Busck has created from scratch an apartment-design gallery, where she displays her current favourites. Like a cabinet of curiosities, antique pieces are combined with limited editions and contemporary creations. From one room to the next, guests can admire a 1920s’ lamp, a Bjørn Wiinblad ceramic, a Kaare Klint coffee table, or a colourful vintage rug. The hostess undeniably knows her stuff: she cut her teeth at Sotheby’s! An insider’s address, Tina extends her offer to the upper floor of her own home with a self-decorated apartment that she rents by the night.

THE APARTMENT (BY APPOINTMENT) OVERGADEN NEDEN VANDET 33, GROUND FLOOR – 1414 COPENHAGEN WWW.THEAPARTMENT.DK

Design, design, design!

At Dansk Made for Rooms in the Versterbro district, sisters Ma-Lou and Malene Sofie Westendahl hunt for rare and beautifully-made objects. On the shelves, crafts, lights and ceramics flirt with Nordic tableware and pretty stationery... Whether customers are after little or well-known designers, their selection is always impeccable and at affordable prices. The ideal spot for gift ideas to slip into the suitcase! And because happiness is best shared, the brand has a second kitchen utensil annex across the street!

DANSK MADE FOR ROOMS ISTEDGADE 80 – 1650 COPENHAGEN – WWW.DANSKSHOP.COM

A bath – Danish style!

As dusk falls, head for Copenhot. Facing the port and the city of Copenhagen, Copenhot attracts even the most averse to the cold, with its sauna / hot bath combo. In tanks, sea water is heated over a wood fire providing a piping-hot 40°C bath where guests will turn anything but blue! The nearby Sailing Hot Tub offers another ambiance and experience. Enjoy a floating bath in a small tub driven by a skipper, and in small groups, admire the Baltic Sea from another angle.

COPENHOT REFSHALEVEJ 325 – 1432 COPENHAGEN – COPENHOT.COM

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Hotel Marqués de Riscal

A treasure-house for epicurean experiences

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t the heart of the famous Rioja wine lands, Hotel Marqués de Riscal stands on an area of incomparable natural beauty : Sierra de Cantabria. A wall of mountains, where rich colors changing with the seasons and stone villages clustered around formidable churches stud the landscape. Built by a visionary architect, Frank Gehry, Hotel Marques de Riscal offers to their guests a collection of vintage experiences.

By Marine Pasquier - Photos © Hvf Villa Franca Positano

Visionary architecture Imagined as a “Château of the 21st Century” by Frank Gehry, Hotel Marqués de Riscal provide a 360 degree experience around the world of wine, a luxury hotel with avant-garde architecture capturing the essence of the Rioja district and the passion of Spain. This astonishing masterpiece is considered as one of the world’s iconic hotel buildings with its flamboyant forms and dramatic colors, admired on five continents. Guests can enjoy a privileged insider view of Gehry’s sensational design scheme, masterminded by the architect and carefully maintained ever since. Judicious use of metal in the copper-paneled walls in the lobby contrasts with the goldecked velvet of the low chairs in the public areas. Walls and carpets are colored the rich, sweet red of grape juice running from the press.

Enchanted castle The 61 rooms, all unique, are designed with the intention to be minimalistic so not to distract from the architecture of the building and its symbiosis with nature. The new suites discreetly complement existing rooms with a contemporary design sensibility that is both fresh and distinctive.

The most beautiful one, the Gehry suite, is a clear example of the architect inspiration with all the different lines and shapes, featuring a 770-squarefoot bedroom with a living space that opens up to a magnificent terrace overlooking the village of Elciego and its majestic medieval church.

Francis Paniego, whose brings to the hotel both his peerless command of traditional riojan cooking and the contemporary air that has won him two Michelin stars in Ezcaray and one star here, at the hotel. Respect for local ingredients, soulful flavors, and uncluttered presentation are the stand-outs of Paniego’s tasting menus. The wine bar, reached from the lobby, provides a relaxed and laid back atmosphere for tasting the full range of house wines along with delectable tapas.

An expression of fine wine culture Explorers visiting the hotel will discover exceptional wine experiences through the Spa Vinotherapie® Caudalie. The French brand deals with wellness by the healing properties of vines and grapes. The 1400 square meters’ spa area is a serene space of honey colored wood and burnt umber stone floors, taking in 14 treatment rooms, indoor heated pool with jets and waterfall, Vichy shower, hammam, jacuzzi, two barrel baths, and relaxation rooms. The treatment menu makes creative use of Caudalie’s nature-based products like crushed Cabernet scrub, or Merlot and honey exfoliant for a range of massages, facials, and wraps. Innovation, modernism, wellbeing, and comfort: a new way of sharing the culture of wine and experiencing new sensations. For a more traditional experience, enjoy a full guided tour of Herederos del Marqués de Riscal winery, ending with a wine tasting, for total immersion into the wine making process and the history of the cellars.

Gastronomic journey in Spain Life at Marqués de Riscal turns around food and wine. From its inception in 2006, the hotel’s gastronomic personality has been dominated by chef

HOTEL MARQUÉS DE RISCAL C. TORREA KALEA 01340 ELTZIEGO, SPAIN WWW.MARRIOTT.COM

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erched overlooking spectacular white sand and turquoise waters, Faena Hotel Miami Beach boasts decadent design, luxe amenities, and legendary service, making each and every guest feel like

a star.

Sea, sun and glamour

FAENA HOTEL MIAMI

By Marine Pasquier - Photos © Faena Hotel Miami Beach

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A story of success Once known as « The Saxony », one of Miami Beach’s first luxury resort hotels, this establishment founded by George Sax in 1947 was considered the most lavish and expensive hotel of its time. Located on a majestic stretch of beach, The Saxony was designed by architect Roy F. France and completed in 1948. The hotel became the epitome of modern glamour, where Hollywood icons such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin entertained the crowds. Drawing from this DNA, Alan Faena has transformed The Saxony into a place of infinite possibility that enthralls and transforms all who visit.

A tribute to Miami Golden Age With its Art Deco design, conjuring geometric outlines to the glamour of the 1950’s, Faena Hotel Miami Beach features a unique atmosphere, far from the usual minimalist South Beach style.

Inspired by famous movies theme such as Moulin Rouge or the Great Gatsby, interiors combine wild tropical murals to their own lush signature red stripes, accented everywhere with gold, pillars and gilded art. A wonderland of colors and luxurious amenities, that blurs the lines between dreams and reality. Their 169 guest rooms and suites with picture-perfect sunset views of the ocean or the bay will expands your imagination and cradles your spirit.

Elevated dining experiences With a philosophy of offering locally grown produce, Faena Hotel Miami celebrates the rich culinary tradition of the Americas through a collection of various restaurants and bars. Observe the art of open-fire cooking at Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann, taste the innovative Filipinoinspired dishes at Pao by Paul Qui, or dine in style under Miami’s glimmering sun at the tropical

Veranda. Enjoy the sunset at Faena Beach, a 100,000 sq. ft. of pristine beach front with luxury cabanas and finish the night at La Cava with their collection of fine wines, or at Saxony Bar, an exclusive and intimate place evoking the glamour of Miami Beach’s Golden Age.

Holistic therapy To regain all your energy after Miami’s night, Tierra Santa Healing House, the world acclaimed oasis where shaman-developed rituals meet the latest treatments, welcome your for a unique moment of wellness. Featuring eleven mutli-function treatments rooms including two oceanfront private spa suites, as well as a hammam, a hydrotherapy area and a spa boutique, Tierra Santa Healing House is the United States’ first South American-inspired spa. Designed as a place of relaxation and rejuvenation of mind, body and soul, Tierra Santa spa will offer custom treatments that merge ancient healing rituals with contemporary techniques and services.

Faena’s lifestyle model Typifying South American warmth of spirit, Faena Hotel Miami sets a new benchmark for hospitality. Curated amenities, paired with genuine, graceful and attentive service enhance the guest experience on every possible level.

More than a simple hotel, Faena Hotel Miami is a complete district featuring innovative and immersive entertainment, destination shopping, as well as remarkable multi-use arts and culture venues. A global model for highly-quality, purpose-built lifestyle living. Special mention for the Faena Theater, inspired by Europe’s grand opera houses and the glittering allure of Old Hollywood.

FAENA HOTEL MIAMI 3201 COLLINS AVENUE FAENA DISTRICT MIAMI BEACH FAENA.COM

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ONE&ONLY PORTONOVI

An Ultra-Luxury Nautical Playground on the Adriatic Coast

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ocated in Herceg Novi, at the entrance of Boka Bay, a fjord-like idyll on Montenegro’s Adriatic Coast, One&Only Portonovi is a year-round haven where cultural wonders and fresh-air adventures meet the glamour of Europe’s most fashionable new riviera.

Surrounded by dramatic coastline and spectacular mountains, guests can explore a nautical playground, discover fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites or escape to the resort’s sparkling pools and private sandy beach that rivals the finest in the Mediterranean.

By Marine Pasquier

A sheltered idyll Designed on an impressive scale, the first One&Only resort in Europe reflect the architectural style of the old Venetian palaces of the region including grand facades, majestic colonnades, signature red terracotta roofs, gardens and an extraordinary array of indoor and outdoor pools. One&Only Portonovi’s elegant guest rooms, suites and villas are positioned for guests to enjoy and relax against the backdrop of the mountain and bay views. The resort also offers two secluded expansive villas: Villa One and Villa Two. Each villa is set in its own fragrant garden with an outdoor shower and private pool, as well as a hydrotherapy pool and incredible sunset views over the Adriatic Sea, all paired with exceptional service from a dedicated team of butlers, chefs and valets. A number of activities are available across the resort for guests of all ages, including KidsOnly and OneTribe for children and teenagers. One&Only Portonovi is a nautical playground waiting to be discovered.

World-Heritage sites, abandoned fortresses, and hidden beaches can all be explored, rich with local culture and folklore. Montenegro’s diverse landscape is compact and easily accessible, so guests can enjoy a variety of activities and scenery within just one day.

A tribute to fine cuisine One&Only Portonovi is the dining destination on the Adriatic coast with a variety of distinctive, world-class culinary experiences. Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, the Michelin-star chef’s first restaurant in the region, serves refined Southern Italian cuisine in a Riviera-style setting, with a focus on fresh seafood and vegetables and a Raw Bar. Taste

a contemporary Japanese cuisine at Tapasake Club, a relaxed yet vibrant pool club with its own sake bar and regular DJ sets. Championing locally sourced ingredients and Montenegrin-inspired cooking styles, La Veranda boasts an open kitchen and live cooking stations. Ideal for an aperitif or post dinner cocktail, Caminetti Bar welcomes guests with expansive views over the terrace, gardens and sea, providing an extensive beverage list as well as afternoon tea and a pre-dinner caviar menu.

A revolutionary approach to wellbeing Following their exclusive partnership, One&Only Portonovi is the first One&Only resort to offer Chenot Espace by the leading health and wellness expert brand Chenot. Chenot’s pioneering approach to wellness combines the latest scientific advances with the best in Chinese and traditional medicine to detox and reset the body. This unique wellness experience enables guests to understand what is aging their body and how to set new pathways to positively improve performance and wellbeing, resulting in increased vitality. Following advanced diagnostic tests by medical professionals, guests receive a bespoke programme involving nutritional consultations, detox menus, fitness schedules, targeted spa treatments, stress relieving activities and more.

Chenot Espace also includes hydrotherapy and cryotherapy facilities, sauna, steam room, indoor pool and relaxation areas.

ONE&ONLY PORTONOVI RESORT PORTONOVI HERCEG NOVI 85340 MONTENEGRO ONEANDONLYPORTONOVI.COM

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ULTIMA COURCHEVEL BELVÉDÈRE

A luxurious resort at the foot of the slopes

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erched high up, a stone’s throw from the best skiing area in the world, Ultima Courchevel Belvédère opens its doors and provides guests with its own unique vision of the traditional skiing holiday. The fourth Alpine property in the collection, this luxurious resort and newly established wellness centre offer a highly personalized experience in complete privacy.

By marine pasquier - Photos © Ultima Collection

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Luxury at its best Indulge in the charms of the winter season and head to the upscale Belvédère resort for the grand opening of Ultima Courchevel Belvédère.

The quintessence of luxury and well-being, this establishment immediately stands out for its unique character. A subtle blend of old and new, the resort has been designed around thirteen chalets, each comprising between four and five bedrooms, and a comfortable living space, which can accommodate families and groups of friends. In keeping with its usual high standards, the Ultima Collection succeeds in the challenge of bringing together in the one place the privacy of an apartment and the services of a large hotel. A trip to the mountains where guests can feel properly “at home”, where they can invite their loved ones, cook a good meal together, throw on a pair of fur-lined slippers and relax in front of the fireplace.

With its team of attentive professionals and concierge service, Ultima Courchevel Belvédère aims to provide bespoke stays, adapted to every need. From the choice of bedding to eating habits and even your preferred candle scent, the Ultima Collection is the undisputed queen in the art of personalization, making everyone feel that unique sensation of being special.

guests to take care of both body and mind. With its black marble decor, the spa offers a formidable choice with Jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool and state-of-theart gym. When it comes to skincare, benefit from the crème de la crème of beauty products with Swiss Perfection, the first brand to apply vegetal cellular extraction technology to cosmetics.

Here, the aim is to take one’s time: enjoy a moment of escape in a cocoon of serenity, combining prestige and self-care.

The perfect Alpine postcard Situated near the Trois Vallées, connecting the resort area of Courchevel 1850 and La Rosière Forest, Ultima Courchevel Belvédère has an enviable location for discovering the hidden gems of this mountainous region. Winter sports enthusiasts are well catered for with the numerous slopes in the area and experienced skiers can upgrade their equipment in the ski room offered by the establishment.

If you are not in the mood for a day on the slopes, Courchevel has many shopping addresses and activities of all kinds to ensure a pleasant day under the snow-capped peaks. Or enjoy a movie in the cinema theatre offered by Ultima, before joining guests for a delicious dinner of authentic, local cuisine. Difficult to leave this new “home away from home”!

Timeless It’s impossible not to mention the truly blissful Ultima Spa. A haven of well-being, designed as a holistic break, allowing

ULTIMA COURCHEVEL BELVÉDÈRE COURCHEVEL MORIOND 228 RUE DU BELVÉDÈRE COURCHEVEL, FRANCE ULTIMACOLLECTION.COM 183

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Anne-Sophie Pic Reaching for the stars

By Marine Pasquier

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Photo © Emmanuelle Thion

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nne-Sophie Pic is the third in a line of illustrious chefs: her father and grandfather were both famous chefs in their time. She has garnered a total of seven Michelin stars - an amazing feat for someone who didn’t initially intend to be a chef and had to teach herself from scratch. To mark the festive season, Blush Dream treats readers to a portrait of the delicious Anne-Sophie Pic, whose subtly innovative dishes epitomise an art de vivre that is inimitably French.

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© Alexandrebienfait

© Maison Pic

© Alexandrebienfait

© Maison Pic

A family affair

To boldly go...

Anne-Sophie Pic comes from a family of Michelin-starred chefs. Valence, in the heart of the Drôme area, is their stamping-ground.

The Pic family restaurant first achieved the coveted three-star ranking 40 years ago. For AnneSophie, the place is full of memories. It is where she grew up, amidst festive banquets and frenetic activity. Her father, Jacques Pic, taught her the basics and it was assumed she would carry on the family tradition, but she couldn’t see herself making cookery her career. Instead, she chose to study business. But fate intervened, dealing her two crushing blows - first her father’s sudden death in 1992, then her brother Alain’s decision to leave the restaurant. In 1997, despite her lack of experience, Anne-Sophie decided to return the kitchens of the family restaurant. She was never to leave.

Without her father to learn from, Pic had a tough start. As a young woman in an almost entirely masculine profession, she was at a double disadvantage, but she was determined to live up to her illustrious forebears. So began a long apprenticeship. Luckily, she was able to rely on a team of stalwarts until she was ready to take charge at the Maison Pic, together with her husband, David Sinapian. It took her ten years to surmount her anxieties - the restaurant’s history cast a long shadow - but in 2007, her efforts were rewarded. She regained the restaurant’s third Michelin star and was named “Best Female Chef” by the prestigious British magazine Restaurant. Through hard work and innovation, the self-taught chef had succeeded in making a name for herself. Starting from scratch had helped her break away from her father’s style and find a distinctive, subtly feminine culinary identity that was all her own.

Anne-Sophie Pic now rules the roost at the Maison Pic, but her father watches benignly over her, smiling down from the photos on the walls, alongside Paul Bocuse and Alain Chapel. She draws inspiration from these master chefs, reworking their combinations and associations with her signature delicacy to create dishes that are contemporary masterpieces. Guided by intuition and inherited talent, she seeks out unusual flavours, approaching ingredients in the round to explore all their possible uses and finding new ways of using ingredients that are often overlooked to create her own style - a perfect balance of precision and expressiveness. Her cuisine doesn’t assail the senses: it subtly steals up on the diner who is capable of taking the time to look, taste and listen to what it has to say. Anne-Sophie Pic hasn’t just shown she is a match for contemporary fellow-chefs: she has transcended the family legend.

Today, Pic is a group comprising four Michelinstarred restaurants in Valence, Paris, London and Lausanne, a gourmet canteen, a fine foods shop, a cookery school and a series of books on gastronomy. The latest result of her constant quest for innovation is “Imprégnation Absolue”, a pairing of foods with alcohol-free cocktails. Even more boldly, she has opened a food truck offering a fresh take on typical American fast-food. But perhaps her greatest source of pride and joy is her son Nathan. Who knows? Perhaps he’ll be the next in the amazing Pic dynasty of brilliant chefs.

MAISON PIC 285 AVENUE VICTOR HUGO 26000 VALENCE FRANCE FIND OUT MORE AT ANNE-SOPHIE-PIC.COM 185

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ICE-Q

A gourmet restaurant on the Autrian summits

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pened in December 2013 at the peak of the Gaislachkogl in Sölden, ice Q is the Austria’s highest located toquerated restaurant. Considered as one of the most spectacular buildings in the Alps, this gourmet restaurant offers a dreamy alpine experience in a stylish and contemporary atmosphere.

Belonging to the 5-star luxury hotel DAS CENTRAL in Sölden, ice Q is a unique place for real gourmets to enjoy an alpine cuisine with a spectacular scenery all around.

An atypical architecture Located at 3,048 metres altitude, ice Q gourmet restaurant is glistening like a diamond in the sparkling winter sun through its puristic glass facade.

Designed by Innsbruck architectural firm Johann Obermoser, the four level establishment impresses every time with its appearance, its clear, linear forms and its interior dominated by local materials like natural stone from the glacier and solid wood for the furniture. Built on a hydraulically moveable high-tech foundation, ice Q is connected with the new Gaislachkogl cable car, which brings visitors from the valley up to the mountain in a record time of just 12 minutes.

James Bond’s highest location Fun fact, the incredible location of ice Q was chosen for the filming of the James Bond movie ‘SPECTRE’. The 007 agent Daniel Craig and French actress Léa Seydoux take place in the Austrian gourmet restaurant for an intriguing scene, one of the major action sequences of the movie, viewed 2.8 million times already. Being a location for a James Bond production is a huge opportunity for ice Q to reach new tourism markets and to advertise in countries where Sölden isn’t known yet. Since 186

the appearance of the James Bond crew in January 2015, a James Bond adventure world 007 ELEMENTS was opened at the summit of the Gaislachkogl, a wonderful journey through a total of nine galleries into the suspense-packed world of James Bond.

A tribute to Alpine Cuisine With its unique situation, ice Q proposes its own vision of Alpine Cuisine, where nature meets local products and sophisticated wine culture to form one harmonious and inspiring whole. Here, indulgence meets passion. Head chef Klaus Holzer and his team delight diners with their craftiness, finest aromas and spices and quality of the highest level in creating their gastronomic menus, which have obtained 2 toques from the famous Gault Millau review.

The romantic highlight is the fine dining ‘Summit Dinner‘, under the glistening stars. Every Wednesday evening during winter, a musical perform accompany your dining experience, and fine wines too. A memorable gastronomic experience, where delectation literally reaches new heights. Perfect way to end an unforgettable day’s skiing in the world-famous Sölden ski area.

RESTAURANT ICE Q GAISLACHKOGL BERGSTATION DORFSTRASSE 115 - 6450 SÖLDEN, AUSTRIA ICEQ.AT

contact@goldmund.com

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