A1 3 by fentonandgregory

People, Places & Lifestyle

Touring Superleggera A surprise around every corner

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CONTENTS

10 13 14 19

21 22 26 29 30 35 37

WATCHES: Christopher Ward PROPERTY: Palazzo Tornabuoni HOTELS: Royal Mansour TRAVEL: Cazenove & Loyd WINE: Berry Bros. & Rudd JEWELLERY: Selini AIRCRAFT: Sparfell & Partners ART: Tom Merrifield CARS: Touring Superleggera HEALTH: Lonhea Alpine Clinic WATCHES: The Grand Prix dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Horlogerie de GenĂ¨ve LIFESTYLE: Bentley Ski Chalet

A1 is an online magazine published by Fenton & Gregory. Copyright 2018: Design, photography & text Derek Gregory. The right of Derek Gregory to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright designs and patents act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The articles published do not necessarily represent the views of the author, publisher or Fenton & Gregory. Artwork production by Graphic Bubble. Derek Gregory, Fenton & Gregory, 30 Gay Street, Bath BA1 2PA England In all correspondence please E Mail: gregory@fentonandgregory.com

PUBLISHER

ow more than ever, private clients are looking to find, not just the right wealth management company, or private bank, but perhaps even more importantly, the right individual within that company to work with. A few years ago the term ‘boutique’ was brought into the private wealth spotlight. What’s interesting about this term, (originally used by hotels), is that many of the successful boutique wealth management companies from five years ago have since become so successful, they have outgrown their own defined boutique status, to become the very companies they were trying to portray were not providing the services, they could provide by being ‘boutique’. Confused? You should be. There are even instances today, where many boutique wealth management companies have outgrown their original remit, into much larger affairs, and so have then opened private offices within their original boutique businesses. Surely this becomes another word game and is really a spin off boutique business within what was once, but is no longer, a boutique business…? Anyway you want to look at this business model, private clients are still king and each business must find its own way through the complex maze to find a suitable differentiator, whatever they then decide to call it, in order to try and best serve the clients they are looking to attract… and from my experience of how upwards of 80% of private clients are still unhappy with the choices they have made, good luck with that. To use the analogy, it’s a maze out there, where one perhaps eventually finds the exit, only to find it is in fact the start of another mind bending maze… Stick with me on this, as I am hoping to unravel the sometimes complicated jargon

which is offered to attract new private clients, with a series of informal lunchtime discussions, with a selection of wealth managers and private banks over the coming months, with the first planned for issue 1 of 2016. Boutique is becoming much less of a buzz word these days, and is fast being replaced with the latest buzz word. Bespoke! Often as overused as boutique, I have uncovered a few businesses for the magazine this month, which I feel can be offered a genuine bespoke label. If you believe custom made and designed small number products and services are what constitute the word bespoke, then my visit to The Royal Mansour in the walled City of Marrakech definitely fits the bill. (See pages 14-17). As does my trip to Milan to visit my good friend Piero Mancardi, who runs the very bespoke Touring Superleggera. (See pages 30-33). And if you enjoy jewellery, then there is perhaps no better word than bespoke to describe Selini (see pages 22/23). Finally, just a few words on the next issue. We double up next month with our end of year/start of year double issue. I’ve just returned from Geneva, where I’ve been to visit the owners of Sparfell & Partners. (Last issue front cover, and page 26/27 this issue). Whilst in Geneva, I stayed at the wonderful La Réserve, and will have a four page review in a future issue. I do hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have enjoyed putting it all together ■

Derek Gregory Derek Gregory Publisher

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A1 WATCHES

THIS IS COMPLICATED As Watchpro’s editor James Buttery writes…

he passage of the heavens provided mankind with its first horological cues, forever linking astronomy with timekeeping and giving the moon a special role in the marking of time – and making the moonphase watch a must-have for any serious watch brand. Independent British luxury watch brand Christopher Ward is just such a brand. Launched in 2004, the company has a distinctly non-conformist approach to the market and was determined that its first moonphase model, two years in development, would deliver a much more dramatic realisation of the complication than the traditional sub-register approach. Modifying an existing movement to incorporate the sophisticated moonphase function envisaged by the brand offered a remarkable technical challenge. In 2013 the founding trio behind the brand, Chris Ward, Mike France and Peter Ellis, set this daunting challenge to the brand’s master watchmaker, Johannes Jahnke (JJ) – he rose to it. “Our approach was a consequence of JJ’s experience in calibre development,” Chris Ward says. “We always want to push boundaries with our own complications and so it was natural for us to aim for an ‘astronomical’ moonphase rather than an ordinary one.” A standard moonphase watch uses a 59-tooth wheel that advances one tooth each day, eventually falling out of sync with the Synodic (ie lunar) month by one full day after two and a half years. This wasn’t good enough for Christopher Ward or Jahnke, who wanted to achieve

A1 WATCHES

‘Christopher Ward’s C9 Moonphase perfectly crystallises the brand’s dedication to innovation and value.’

something more impressive. An astronomical moonphase normally employs a wheel with 135 teeth, increasing the accuracy to 122 years – Jahnke set to work with this level of accuracy in mind. Jahnke explains his approach: “It was always important to have a big moon in the central position, which was the original idea, and to make it as simple as possible like the previous JJ calibres we created, such as the Jumping Hour and Worldtimer. They’re complicated watches, but also more simple than others in the market. That’s the challenge.” His solution, the JJ04, links the passage of the moon wheel across its window to the movement’s timekeeping mechanism, resulting in a smooth, perpetual motion rather than the one day progression offered by most moonphase watches. It also increased

the accuracy of the moonphase to one day in every 128 years and illustrates Jahnke’s “clever, simple, affordable” mantra. “We wanted a moonphase watch that stood apart from others on the market,” says Chris Ward. “When it became clear that JJ04 would have a continuous setting facility that allowed the moon to traverse the sky with unerring accuracy we felt this should be seen, which led to the generous aperture approach.” The size of the moonphase wheel, coupled with its constant movement across the dial, results in a watch far more animated than its competitors and is complemented by the dial’s wave pattern guilloche, reflecting the moon’s influence over the tides. All of this has been achieved at a price that belies the exceptional watchmaking skill needed to achieve such accuracy. But, as Mike France explains, this has more to do with the brand’s refusal to conform to established industry pricing. “What makes our watches affordable isn’t dependent on Johannes’ solutions as much as our unique business model,” he says. “The Calibre JJ02 Single Pusher Chronograph, for instance, is incredibly complex and very difficult to build. However, because we apply much smaller markups of around x3 to the cost of the watch, we’re able to deliver a price of at least half the nearest competitor for such a complication. The C9 Moonphase, like all our watches, was born of our mission to make the art of horology accessible to everyone.” Alongside rave reviews, the C9 Moonphase receives its first public outing at the watch industry’s most prestigious Uk event, the annual SalonQP exhibition, in London in mid-November and will undoubtedly be a serious contender for a number of awards. For anyone who has seen the C9 Moonphase and understands its technical achievement, it is clear that Christopher Ward could have trodden a far easier path but the model is further proof of the brand’s commitment to providing thoughtful horological solutions at prices that challenge the established norms of the watch industry ■

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A1 PROPERTY

BUYING INTO A FORMER MEDICI PALACE Become a member, or buy outright, at Palazzo Tornabuoni.

alazzo Tornabuoni is a former Medici Palace, set in the very heart of Florence and which has been painstakingly restored and converted into a series of grand and spacious apartments.

Apartments vary in shape and size, some with balconies, and some with a modern contemporary twist but all still retaining period details, such as ornate 16th century frescos and locally inspired artisan chandeliers. Some apartments are so unbelievably stunning, I had to pinch myself as I looked from one apartment window across to Brunelleschi’s Duomo! Available to purchase as a membership or as a whole ownership apartment. The Renaissance cardinal Alessandro Ottaviano de’ Medici, bought the Palace in 1574, when he was appointed archbishop of Florence, before later becoming the short-lived Pope Leo XI. Nowadays, the Palazzo is discreetly and skilfully managed by Four Seasons Hotels, and the relationship extends to full signing rights at their beautiful hotel property, just a fifteen minute walk away through the winding streets, and which upon arrival one can enjoy one of the largest private gardens in Florence in which to walk and dream in.

At Palazzo Tornabuoni history lingers everywhere. During the epic restoration work, restorers discovered an entire room hidden between two partitions. With its 18th-century floral mosaic floor and a delicate white-stucco dome, this room is now part of the Michelozzo Residence. Some palazzo owners have moved in full time, and others choose to treat the place like a hotel and come and go when they are in Europe, or not at one of their other global homes. Palazzo Tornabuoni also hosts a full concierge service through the club attaché, a full time member of the management team, with whom I sat and discussed various owner opportunities on one sunny afternoon in the club lounge. She explained that owners were from a wide range of countries but all had one thing in common, and that is to experience the authentic Florentine lifestyle, and enjoy the various lectures, tastings, concerts, dinners and organised excursions, as well as Italian cookery lessons, wine tastings and even truffle hunting. This unique service opens doors onto a Florentine social and cultural landscape that visitors rarely glimpse ■

A1 HOTELS

ROYAL MANSOUR MARRAKECH

King Mohammed VI issued an edict for a sumptuous hotel, and lo it came to pass. Words and photos Derek Gregory.

he first clue that this particular hotel is perhaps more spectacular than the many other hotels the walled city has to offer, comes when you step from the aircraft. In my case a British Airways Airbus, and as I reached the bottom of the steps… “Mr Gregory, how wonderful that you can visit with us”. I have to confess to having been met once or twice in arrivals, but normally a chauffeur holding a piece of card with my name on, but somehow this now felt immediately different. If I were to analyse just this first thing about the Royal Mansour it would be to ask; How did this person know which passenger I would be? From that moment on, I was transported into another dimension, in fact no, not transported, but whisked along on a magic carpet ride, which took me away from the other aircraft passengers into a separate room. No queuing for customs, no formalities, just a heavily scented fresh towel and a cut crystal glass of water. Not only did I not have to go to customs, the head of customs (I kid you not), was brought to me personally to have a polite flick through my passport, and somehow without breaking a smile or eye contact, he deduced I was a very suitable person to be allowed - not just into Morrocco and Marrakech but most importantly, into his king’s private hotel.

This magnificent hotel owned by the King of Morocco, took 4 years to build and over 1000 craftsmen were involved in the build, which technically makes it the only hand built hotel in the world. It is a palace made up entirely of private riads. As I was escorted from the discreetly logo’d Range Rover which collected me from the airport - just ten or so minutes away, I was met by the General Manager, who personally escorted me to my two-bedroom Riad, and as if by magic, my luggage had of course already arrived and Mohammed, (not King Mohammed), was in the process of hanging my shirts, whilst grinning at me from ear to ear, (no doubt thinking that he had already impressed me), and he had. Not least because I knew not from where he came, nor knew quite where he departed - but it wasn’t the front door. I later found out, each riad is serviced discreetly by a series of underground passageways with separate entrances for staff to access the riads. Each of these stunningly beautiful riads has a separate interior design but they all follow a central theme of the inner courtyard and fountain with a rooftop pool terrace and tented area. The word luxury does not do justice. The hotel attracts exclusive guests who do not wish to be seen and these private residences accommodate the needs of such guests.

A1 HOTELS

At last a hotel where I won’t be seen… (tongue firmly in cheek). However many times Mohammed came and went he was extremely well trained in the art of discretion and timing. At one point I thought how nice it would be if the fire in my living room could be lit. I disappeared upstairs to change my shirt and when I came back downstairs, not ten minutes later, my fire was roaring, with absolutely no sign of Mohammed! Expectations were sky high when the Royal Mansour opened as this was King Mohammed VI’s personal

‘The word luxury does not do justice to what is a truly magnificent hotel.’

project; (we don’t talk cost to build as there simply wasn’t a budget), and this was to be - and in every way is, not just the flagship hotel but a showcase for national decorative arts. No budget was ever fixed, just a royal edict that the Royal Mansour should take as much time and money as necessary. The massive bronze entry gate is a case in point. It weighs four tons and yet glides open electronically without the hint of a whisper. However, King Mohammed didn’t like the first one. “Too small!” he announced when he saw it in situ. ▶

A1 HOTELS

In all, there are 53 individually designed riads, each on three floors set around a traditional open-air courtyard. A canopy closes automatically should the sensors detect rain. Each has its own roof terrace with plunge pool and living room with open fire. There are two gastronomic restaurants supervised by Yannick Alléno, who brought three Michelin stars to Le Meurice in Paris. La Grande Table Marocaine serves local cuisine while La Grande Table Française is already the best French restaurant in Africa. There is also a lobby dining

‘Royal Mansour Marrakech is a true masterpiece of Moroccan craftsmanship... and has to be seen to be believed’

area, La Table, open all day for hotel guests. Each restaurant or whether you select to dine in your riad served by your personal butler, (as I did on one evening, and can thoroughly recommend), brings to life a dialogue between art and tradition. Beautiful meals that marry culinary daring alongside time-honoured recipes and all go towards creating an unforgettable dining experience. To let off a little steam, or indeed take pleasure in a little steam, the huge spa has all the usual treatment rooms, with two swimming pools and a hammam

A1 HOTELS

with hot, mild and cold rooms created with combinations of light, steam and water. There are also the usual beauty, fitness and gym facilities. Forget Dubai’s Burj al Arab and it’s seven stars, Royal Mansour Marrakech outshines it. Reading about this uber luxe hotel enticed me enough to travel and review it, but what I experienced was a complete sensory overload. Royal Mansour Marrakech is a true masterpiece of Moroccan craftsmanship and the sheer opulence of the property is overwhelming. The attention to detail and impeccable

service makes this peaceful oasis the ideal hideaway destination, but I must add a caution to my tale. You may find, as I did, that you are more than content to stay firmly put in your riad and have Mohammed bring everything to you, only venturing out to walk the grounds and visit the spa and listen to the birdsong. With so much peace and tranquility I just couldn’t dream of going into the madness of the medina, which means I will have to do that next time! A one-bed riad costs from around… don’t ask, just go ■

A true legend of the skies Paying tribute to the iconic World War 1 aircraft known as the ‘King of the Air Fighters’ – the Sopwith Camel is the inspiration for Valour’s first offering – The Sopwith Aviator®, a limited edition model of only 200 individually numbered timepieces. At the heart of the Sopwith Aviator® sits the customised Swiss made Soprod A10-2 automatic mechanical movement with a 42 hour power reserve. Not including the movement, 114 components are used in the construction of the timepiece and combine to represent the Sopwith Camel’s iconic nose cowling and early Clerget 9 cylinder rotary engine in full 3 dimensional form. With Swiss made precision and detailing, this intriguing design makes for a bold statement on the wrist while acknowledging a legend of aviation history.

Elegant options that break with convention Introducing the Sopwith Aviator® desk stand, a truly elegant way to enjoy the timepiece in addition to wearing it on the wrist. By simply removing the straps with the custom tools provided, the watch is ready to slide into its purpose made mounting. A combination of solid ash wood, stainless steel and bronze are used to achieve an eye catching aesthetic while functionally the design provides 360 degrees of rotation in two axes allowing full viewing of the watch including the exhibition case back. Bespoke hand engraving on the bronze base adds the perfect touch to what will be a fine addition to your desk.

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A1 TRAVEL

TWENTY YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY With Cazenove & Loyd.

They have been around longer than many luxury holiday companies but have remained owner-run and their philosophy is the same today as the day they started, which is about being the best rather than the biggest. This is a good philosophy to have, as I firmly believe bespoke and tailor made is the best way to travel, and you can’t do that with a large company. It takes dedication, time, planning and expertise. All things Cazenove & Loyd have, and by remaining true to their beliefs, they continue to organise the most incredible holidays and trips for clients, in some of the world’s most vibrant and exciting places. Imagine waking up every day for a week or more, on your very own tented African Safari, where only you and your

chosen guests have the run of house…or run of African plain and luxury tented accommodation. The options are indeed only limited to your imagination. They choose to work with people and in places not just because they are special but also because they are special to them. They want to keep the people and the habitats where they live the way that they should be. Every moment of every day of your trip is meticulously planned and C&L have people on the ground and in the office who really care about your bespoke adventure. Whatever the time of year and wherever the destination, and whatever the reason. You can rely on C&L to arrange every tiny detail, to ensure your trip is the absolute trip of a lifetime…everytime. Over the coming months we will be highlighting several travel opportunities, and should you wish to make contact about your own ideas for a bespoke trip, then I will be pleased as always to personally make the introductions to the owners of Cazenove & Loyd on your behalf ■

Photos courtesy of Unchartered Africa.

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A1 WINE

EXPAND YOUR PORTFOLIO Placing your bids on fine wine, through the Berry Bros. & Rudd Broking Exchange.

he Berry Bros. & Rudd broking exchange, BBX, is the world’s most extensive fine wine marketplace for private individuals. It is a unique trading platform, which gives access to bottles and vintages which, quite simply, cannot be bought anywhere else. Established in 2010, BBX allows those with wine stored in their warehouses to buy and sell private stocks. The wines remain in bond (ie pre-import tax), which not only avoids any complications with duty and VAT but also gives customers the reassurance that all eligible wines have passed their rigorous quality inspections and are kept in perfect cellarage conditions. The service is designed for wine lovers who are hoping to secure highly sought-after bottles, as well as investors who are looking to expand their portfolios. To date, more than £45m of fine wine has been traded on BBX. BBX gives clients the opportunity to list your wines for sale at a price you determine. Valuation data, including an online connection to Liv-ex, means that you will always know the real market worth of your portfolio. Listing wines on BBX is straightforward and free, you simply need to register via your online account. Anyone with eligible wines stored in their warehouse can opt in to receive bids; you can set a minimum threshold for bids, either for individual wines or your cellar as a whole, to ensure you only receive offers of interest. Once a sale is completed, your funds will be transferred to your bank account after 10 working days; Berry Bros. & Rudd takes a 10 percent brokerage fee on all successful sales. There are currently almost 14,000 BBX wines on which you can place a bid. These include everything from an 157-year-old Madeira through to recent vintage Berrys’ Own bottles; prices range from entry-level cases to famous classics such as Romanée-Conti and Petrus priced north of £40K. Once registered as a bidder, you may place a bid on any BBX eligible wine (see below). Cases don’t have to be actively ‘listed’ by sellers; instead all wines held in customers’

private reserves (ie wines held in bond by BBR, and which are in original packaging, complete cases or large format bottles) are displayed in a selection which can be refined by price, vintage, region, maturity, grape variety and case size. You may place a speculative bid on any of these wines. An additional benefit of BBX is that buyers don’t pay commission on their purchases. You can have total confidence in anything you buy: all wines bought through the service are covered by BBR’s quality guarantee, and they are happy to offer a refund or replacement on any faulty wine. Fine wine will only retain its value if it is kept in optimum conditions, allowing the liquid to mature while minimising the risk of any faults developing. At Berry Bros. & Rudd, they have unmatched wine storage facilities; these include three state-of-theart bonded warehouses, with a fourth due to be added to meet the growing demand. Their secure warehouses are strictly controlled environments: temperatures are regulated to within half a degree, and movement of stock is kept to a minimum. The majority of wines sold through BBX are sourced directly from the producer; any additional cases entering their warehouse are thoroughly checked and gently acclimatised to ensure they can guarantee the perfect condition of everything they store. For added piece of mind, all wines are insured at replacement value. BBX was launched in August 2010; since its launch more than £45m of fine wine has been traded. To date, they have sold more than 40,000 cases of wine. There are currently 8,000 registered sellers and in excess of 2,000 unique wines listed on BBX. In addition, since the launch of the bidding option in 2012, they now have around 2,200 registered bidders. The largest single transaction to date was £80,000 for a six-bottle case of Romanee-Conti, Grand Cru, Domaine de la Romanee Conti 1999. BBX currently has more than 7,000 live bids, worth in excess of £10m ■

A1 JEWELLERY

THE BESPOKE JEWELLER Robin Girling of Selini Jewellery explains when used in conjunction with traditional methods how CAD, lasers, microscopes and a technologically advanced workshop can benefit the design and creation of high end one off pieces.

arly this year a good client of mine in Saudi Arabia approached me to design and make a special piece to commemorate the birth of his son and an important occasion for his wife. The brief was to make a floral Jewel based on a daisy and that it must incorporate a natural Alexandrite, his son’s birth stone, other than that I was given free rein to come up with a design.

A necklace was my initial focus, but the idea came to me that it would be special to have the piece on display as an Objet d’art when not being worn. Given that I like to make technically complicated pieces I then got to thinking that it would be good if it could also convert to a brooch for formal occasions. Initial design sketches and ideas I did on a Wacom tablet, a virtual drawing

pad, the tablet allowed me to take the sketches, exact curves and a natural look that can only be achieved by hand directly onto computer. With the basic layout done I started drawing the piece 3 dimensionally on my CAD system, this piece was very time consuming and complicated to model as each petal is unique, but I wanted to keep it as ‘organic’ looking

A1 JEWELLERY

as possible. Once the main flower head was drawn I started on the detachable stem, fittings and components. The use of CAD for the design and virtual assembly of complex parts, enables me to see how it all fits together and allows for the design of very complicated parts. After the design and prototyping work I started to produce the production waxes for casting. I used a combination of milling and 3d printing all done in-house to produce castable waxes. The different stages of the casting procedure, spruing the waxes, building the wax tree and then finally casting the tree in gold, are the next stages, the final gold cast tree with all components can be seen below.

“To enable a higher degree of accuracy and quality, I have several microscope workstations; I do all of my bench work, diamond setting and polishing, under microscope”.

on, the laser allows me to assemble after setting, where stones and components are heat sensitive. All the brooch and pendant fittings were then assembled. I used pin wire and traditional construction methods for the brooch components and then final assembly and checks on functionality were done. After six months and over 300 hours of design and bench work the piece was finished. It features 15 carats of rubies, 12 carats of diamonds and a central 3.75 carat Alexandrite in 18ct rose and yellow gold and is displayed in a custom, colour matched display jar ■

After casting, all the components are worked and semi-polished by hand and the fit of each component to the next is done. Most of the multiple component assemblies in this piece were ‘tacked’ together with the laser and then traditionally solderose. The flower head was then set with diamonds and rubies with spaced out pavé work so that the organic nature and difference of each petal is more noticeable. After setting the flower heads were polished front, back and inside. Difficult to reach areas I polish with tape and string. The backs of each petal after polishing were then laser welded

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A1 AIRCRAFT

TAKING THE LARGE HELICOPTER OR BUSINESS JET? Often the choice may just come down to the weather.

t takes only a few moments in conversation with Sparfell & Partners company Chairman, Philip Queffelec, to realise he is passionate about helicopters. A successful pilot himself, he speaks fluidly about past experiences, and his approach to helicopters - and his talk of flying is infectious. It is this enthusiasm that helps set him apart from the competitive world in which he chooses to do business. Philip has been in the private aviation business for many years. Raised in a flying family he created his first company in 1988 dedicated to business aircraft leasing, and which grew into the French leader in that sector. During this period, this company became the McDonnell Douglas helicopters sole distributor for France and Benelux. To demonstrate the new technology developed by this manufacturer, the Notar system (no tail rotor), Philip successfully beat as commander, the world speed record with the MD 520N. In 1992 Philip founded Euro Aircraft Trading Ltd in London, a company dedicated to trading business and commercial aircraft. In 1995 Euro Aircraft Trading Ltd made an Agreement with Air Hanson to trade business aircraft jointly under the name of Air Hanson Aircraft Trading. This very successful team kept running up to its sale by Hanson Plc to Signature. In 1996 Euro Aircraft Trading Ltd. became the distributor for McDonnell Douglas aircraft up to the merger with Boeing Company.

Derek Gregory, A1 Publisher. Philip Queffelec, Chairman Sparfell & Partners.

In 2000, Philip created Corporate Jet Management SA in Geneva in order to operate Rolex Watch Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fleet, whilst at the same time, he founded Masterjet, which became one of the leading European business airlines, specialising in Head of State and VVIP flights, and which is now part of Luxaviation Group, the new global leader in business aviation. I recently visited Philip in his very shiny new offices at the private terminal of Geneva Airport and we spoke about all kinds of flying, but the conversation always

came back to his favoured type of flying and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helicopters. Here is a transcript from a part of our conversation as I asked him about the benefits of flying large executive helicopters. Derek: Philip, tell me a little about the helicopter options. Philip: Concerning VIP helicopters this is my view : In the VIP helicopter world I would say that you have 2 categories : The single engine one mainly used for tours or short flights, and the twin engine one used

A1 AIRCRAFT

The Sikorsky S-76 currently for sale at Sparfell & Partners.

by corporate or the wealthy individual on longer trips. Derek: So, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the advantage, say over a Business Jet if one can be used in rough comparison. Philip: Only the second category can really be compared to the private jet use in matter of comfort and performance, with the maximum distance that could be considered for the helicopter as competitive with the Business Jet at around 500kms, but its point to point capability is a real advantage.

S76C+ and again it is much more efficient than the Business Jet scenario as we are considering just 1h for the leg to compare to 2h for the jet. Derek: And what about disadvantages? Philip: The main issue could be the weather condition as, to be honest, even if these aircraft are all IFR (flight using instruments only) they may still face situations where they could not perform the mission.

Derek: For me, the helicopter whether small or large, has one district advantage, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s its ability to take off and land from your back garden, or perhaps from a hotel landing pad. Philip: Exactly. Sparfell & Partners currently have several fixed and rotor wing aircraft for sale and lease on their books. Please visit their website for more details, or contact me for a personal introduction. Derek Gregory â&#x2013;

Derek: What about speeds in relation to times? Philip: The cruise speed of the Agusta 139, Airbus EC 155, and the Sikorsky S76 are around 140 to 150KTS and, on a flight from London to Paris for example, you have to consider 2h30 for the jet and 1h45 for the helicopter. The price in this case is more or less the same. Derek: What are other advantages? Philip: Efficiency. We have customers flying from Geneva to Monaco with our

NEW MOON RISING THE C9 MOONPHASE

Mankind has looked to the moon to tell the time for over 34,000 years and now, with the introduction of our in-house modification, Calibre JJ04, we are proud to join this tradition. With the continuous setting of this new complication the transformation of the moon is perpetually accurate with a tolerance of just one day in 128 years.

E XC LU S I V E LY AVA I L A B L E AT

christopherward.co.uk

A1 ART

‘A TOUCH OF GENIUS’ From concept to completion.

om Merrifield is an internationally renowned artist and a master of his skill for over 40 years. Without any formal art training, he has been called a “Genius” by critics and the people that buy his work, but even he says that it is not easy…. The creation of a sculpture – from concept to completion – takes months, sometimes years and can often involves blood sweat and tears. “I am obsessed by symmetry and proportion. It is easy to make the mistake of foreshortening an arm, distorting the line of a foot or a hand. Until I do my calculations I cannot progress to making the piece ‘live’.” He much prefers to work from life and generally it will take two or three modelling sessions to ensure that he has calculated and checked the correlation of position, style to the dancer’s body. During these sessions he chats to the person modelling and gets a sense of who they are – “It really shows on a piece if the dancer has spent more time modelling for me”. “Over the years, I have always found it amazing that that the big stars, the really busy artists like Dame Beryl Grey, Dame Alicia Markova, Wayne Sleep, Gillian Lynne and even Helena Bonham-Carter have been so eager to give their precious time. I owe everything to such people” After the modelling sessions and preliminary work is over, the secret creative process begins. “I try to capture the soul and spirit of a dancer

– Otherwise it is dead. It’s hard work and there are no shortcuts. I apply my dancers discipline as a sculptor. I often make myself physically sick working on a piece”. Tom Merrifield admits to possessing a total recall of the model he has been sculpting and vivid impressions and recollections often inspire him to work steadily throughout the night. The last stage takes place at Tom Merrifield’s foundry where the model he has created is cast in bronze. Tom is a perfectionist and visiting the foundry can be a potentially traumatic experience as any minor imperfection or minor imbalance produced unwittingly by the hand of a foundry craftsman will be in that sculpture forever. Every sculpture has to be approved and then signed by him. Tom does not generally take commission work and prefers the free spirit of his imagination, but possibly the most challenging and poignant sculptures of his career is the bust of Diana, Princess of Wales, commissioned after her death by the British Red Cross, of whom she had been the patron. Tom had met Diana on a few occasions and she even had some of his work – But working completely from memory he toiled away until it was completed. This exquisite work is displayed at the Red Cross headquarters in London. Now is his 80’s he continues to create both sculpture and drawings of dancers and the human form. He loves what he does and so do the people that collect his work ■

A1 CARS

A VISIT TO ITALY UNCOVERS A BIG SURPRISE

...And not an Aston Martin in sight. Words and photos Derek Gregory.

s every magazine in the world right now seems to be featuring the new James Bond film, and in particular his latest Aston Martin, I decided to take a step back from the newest car the company is hoping will in time become as iconic as ‘the original’, and so take a look at where it all started, and it might not have started where you first thought! I like to think I know a thing or two about cars. I live and dream them, in fact as I write this article at 7.15am on a dark and chilly morning in my Gloucestershire home, I have just woken up from a vivid dream, where I was at a car auction viewing all the different cars, but with a particular interest in a 1960 MGA in green with a tan interior. (I’ve never shown an interest in an MGA before), although the year is significant, as it’s the year I was born, but why an MGA? I have no idea. That’s dreams for you. (Maybe I should now pursue this car!)

‘In 1960 Touring designed what has since become, the iconic shape of the Aston Martin DB4.’

Whilst drinking my coffee, I started to think about a recent trip I had made to Milan, and specifically to an industrial estate, where a small company which goes by the name of “Touring” is based. I had been invited to view the company’s collection of bespoke cars, which it builds for a few like-minded millionaire car collectors, each of whom enjoy collecting very small number bespoke

finished cars, and the car I was due to see was one of their latest creations, an Alfa Romeo Disco Volante. If I give you the company’s full name it might give you a clue as to the other reason I had made the trip to Milan, and up until my research before flying out, I had not known one perhaps hidden, yet amazing and very important fact about this small Italian company. The full name is Touring ‘Superleggera’, which just means superlight, but why is this so important for my story I hear you ask? In 1960 Touring designed and made the bodyshell for what has since become, the iconic shape of the Aston Martin DB4, and if you look closely you will see the Superleggera badge on its bonnet. The Aston Martin DB4, then DB5 and the DB6 were named after David Brown’s initials, and he entrusted Touring Superleggera to design his next generation GT’s after the introduction of the successful DB2. The license agreement enabled Aston Martin to use the design and the Superleggera construction method at Newton Pagnell against a licence fee of £9 for each of the first 500 bodies and £5 for each further unit. Having found this out prior to my visit to the Milan factory, and particularly as the DB4 & DB5 are my most favourite cars in the world, I was even more ▶

A1 CARS

excited about this small but perfectly formed factory hidden away in the industrial outskirts of Milan. Who knew this Italian coach builder was responsible for the design of the most iconic Aston Martin in history, and in which James Bond would first drive in the 1964 film ‘Goldfinger’, and much later, bring back to life in the 2012 film ‘Skyfall’. What

‘Suddenly on the wall, there it was. A photograph of The Aston Martin DB4 ‘Superleggera’.’

makes it doubly fascinating, is that upon arrival, at Touring Superleggera, it is right next door to another iconic Italian coach building company. Zagato! As I got out of the taxi and the sound of it’s broken exhaust disappeared into the far distance, I listened closely, and coming from inside the Zagato factory...not a sound, but as I made my way across the crunchy gravel of the car park and got closer to the doors of Touring, all I could hear was the sound of hammering, but I knew this was not just any hammering. This was panel beating and as I listened, before walking through the open doors to what lie inside, it was like a symphony of drummers, and each in tune with the other. A glorious sound. CEO, Piero Mancardi and head of design, Louis de Fabribeckers both welcomed me and took hours to show me around the factory and the cars they were working on, and I had suddenly become a little boy in a sweet shop. Fascinated at every turn, and as we walked the corridors from the offices down to the factory floor, suddenly on the wall I noticed a framed photograph of The Aston Martin DB4 Superleggera. The photograph stopped me in my tracks and I explained to Piero that I had no idea they had designed and produced the body of one of the most iconic cars of all time. He explained, “ You would be surprised how few people know this when they come to visit our small factory”, but then he continued, and my mouth I am sure literally hit the floor...”We also designed the Alfa Romeo 8c 2900, Lamborghini 350, 400 GT and the Maserati 3500 GT”, all of course iconic to this very day. Watching the Touring craftsmen panel beat and roll the various panels for a customers eventual Disco Volante, it made me realise how some things change, and how after 55 years, some things simply are okay to stay the same. Yes the new DB10 is indeed a fabulous looking car, but for me it will always be the DB Superlegerra series of the 1960’s. Designed by a small boutique company on an industrial estate just outside Milan ■

A1 CARS

Thorough Investment Research. BBX wine broking exchange from Berry Bros. & Rudd

Call it investment research, or call it many days spent in the company of many fine wines: we’ve done our homework. When you trade on BBX, the biggest private wine trading platform in the world, you are trading only the finest wines, all protected and managed by us, and all passing our one simple test: ‘Is it good to drink?’

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A1 HEALTH

GETTING YOUR BODY AND MIND BACK INTO SHAPE

It’s all in a day’s work, but could take a while longer, at Lonhea Alpine Clinic.

onhea, which is a combination of LONgevity and HEAlth, has been created from the association of Anne and Adrien de Meyer, and Dr. Michel Golay, D.C. Their approach is based on salutogenesis which describes how to create health, as opposed to pathogenesis which defines the origin of diseases. During your visit, their mission is to help you find, optimise and maintain your most precious asset – your health – to ensure your well-being and longevity. They are aiming to create and accompany you through a true change in your life, and not just a short-term fix producing only an ephemeral and exonerating effect. This is also why Lonhea offers a 4 months programme in which the cure, of 1 or 2 week(s), is the main catalyst. Dr. Golay is known as one of the best specialists in his chosen field. He first graduated as a Chiropractor in Los Angeles in 1988, validated his diploma in Switzerland in 1990, then studied various health philosophies such as acupuncture, and homeopathy. He also followed post-graduate studies in micro-nutrition and functional neurology. Through further specialist sports training, he also has an excellent reputation with international athletes and in 1997 in Geneva, he created the “Athletics Centre” where the goal is to develop physical activity programs for all. On the strength of 25 years of research and experience, he has reached the goal he set himself when he was younger, to create a method for the development of global health, and which can be scientifically valid.

Located in the heart of the Swiss Alpine resort of Villars-sur-Ollon (1’300m) and set on a sunny terrace of the Alps looking over the Rhone Valley, Lonhea Alpine Clinic has a splendid view of the Dents-du-Midi - a well known summit of the region. The clinic has been built in typical mountain style with various tints of wood and stone recreating a “chalet” spirit with a touch of modernity. Rooms are decorated in simple elegance with an emphasis on details and quality of beds. In a warm welcoming environment, patients retreat to 4 individual rooms and 3 suites (for a double’s stay), and the number of guests, (or patients) is limited to just 9 per week. Various common areas are at your disposal for relaxing – seating area with library, state of art dining room, gardens and terraces, “Les Fontaines de Pierre” - SPA & wellness centre comprising an outdoor heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, infrared sauna, steam bath, relaxing room, and swedish sauna with its refreshing outdoor cold tub. Meals take place by the fireplace in a spacious dining room with a stunning view of the Alps. A mountain location is probably the ideal health retreat as it seems to naturally enhance well-being and health. Just outside the grounds of the clinic are beautiful forests, fields, and mountain lakes, all of which will help you to reconnect with nature, and with what is simply essential to your healthy retreat ■

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A1 WATCHES

THE GENEVA WATCH OSCARS ... and the winner is...

he Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is an annual awards ceremony in Switzerland that celebrates “excellence and creativity” in watchmaking. The awards have been dubbed the “Watchmaking’s Oscars” by Forbes magazine, and it’s a prestigious ceremony within the industry. We’ve rounded up the winners from this year’s ceremony, which took place on October 29th. Let me start with the top prize, the most prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix that was awarded to Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes. Was I surprised? To be honest no, because my prediction turned out to be correct. This is an exceptional timepiece, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey’s third invention, a 24 second Tourbillon, and should you be wondering: €290,000, £207,000, $319,800. The list of winners for 2015 are: “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix: Greubel Forsey, Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision Ladies’ Watch Prize: Hublot, Broderie Ladies’ High-Mech Watch Prize: Fabergé, Lady Compliquée Peacock Men’s Watch Prize: Voutilainen, Voutilainen GMR Chronograph Watch Prize: Piaget, Altiplano Chrono Tourbillon Watch Prize: Ulysse Nardin, Ulysse Anchor Tourbillon Calendar Watch Prize: Hermès, Slim d’Hermès QP Striking Watch Prize: Girard-Perregaux, Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges Mechanical Exception Watch Prize: Jaquet Droz, The Charming Bird “Petite Aiguille” Prize: Habring2, Felix Sports Watch Prize: Tudor, Pelagos

Jewellery Watch Prize: Audemars Piguet, Diamond Punk Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Blancpain, Villeret Cadran Shakudō Revival Watch Prize: Piaget, Extremely Piaget Double Sided Cuff Watch Innovation Watch Prize: Antoine Preziuso, Tourbillon of Tourbillons “Horological Revelation” Prize: Laurent Ferrier, Galet Square Special Jury Prize: Micke Pintus, Yannick Pintus, Jean-Luc Perrin (the three Vacheron Constantin watchmakers who developed the Reference 57260 watch).

A superb evening was had by all, and I even got to sit next to Nick Foulkes, on my BA flight home, who had been one of the jury members the evening before, as we discussed a vast number of luxury subjects, but mainly the winners and ‘non-winners’ of the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève ■

A1 WATCHES

APPLE & HERMÉS

A clever move by Apple, as they team up with Hermés.

n what is Apple’s very first (we think of many more to follow), tie-up with a luxury brand, we take a look at the all new Apple Hermés watch. At first I have to say I wasn’t convinced about the Apple Watch, and this coming from a user of their products for the past twenty years. I use an iPhone 6, an iPad Air and I am currently typing this on a “13-inch retina MacBook Pro”, so fair to say I am a big fan of the brand, so as I love and collect watches and I am clearly an Apple fan, what has been stopping me from buying the Apple Watch?

complete, and now they have teamed up with Hermés, I have to admit I am now much more tempted. Although it’s basically a standard model Apple Watch you can buy for around £500, the Hermés version can come with your choice of single tour (strap), double tour, or cuff along with special Hermés engravings on the buckle and on the rear of the watch case. The best part though has to be the new watch faces featuring the Hermés logo and versions of their custom font. I like it. In fact I like it a lot, and they’ve even tied up the packaging with the Hermés famous orange boxes.

Well, here’s the thing. I wear watches as a luxury item and somehow the standard Apple Watch just didn’t seem a premium product for me, which is now entering into a very different debate of what one perceives as luxury, but maybe we can address that at another time. Seems that Apple might agree, as they have teamed up with luxury French fashion house Hermés to make the limited edition Apple Hermés, with Hermés leather straps and the French fashion brand logo on the face. Thank heaven they are using Hermés leather straps, because the Apple leather straps on their other models are quite frankly horrible, and not like any leather I have ever seen. The question is do you now want one. We all know what the Apple Watch can do, and I have no doubt it will sync brilliantly with all of my other Apple products and make my life ultimately

Starting at around £950 for the single tour and topping out at around £1,250 for the cuff, the Apple Watch Hermès is definitely priced to sell, and sell it will, with its limited availability and stamp of approval from a legendary fashion house, it may just be the most luxurious watch Apple has made…so far. Available now as a limited edition and only available through selected Apple stores ■

TOM MERRIFIELD

020 7431 0794 www.tommerrifield.co.uk

A1 LIFESTYLE

ABOVE THE LINE, AHEAD OF THE CURVE and with a fast downhill expected...

s we fast approach the ski season, I thought I’d throw in this little news piece from our friends at Bentley Motors. Seems I was very much ahead of the game, when I approached Bugatti about an idea I had for an owners’ club, to be set within a large gated villa estate, belonging to a family office I was working with back in 2012. The idea might have been a few years ahead of it’s time, as I now hear on the grapevine, Bugatti and several other top end brands are now considering similar ventures, with Bentley being the first to actually do it. Well done Bentley, maybe I should have spoken to you and not Bugatti back in 2012… This new concept of living the Luxury Bentley lifestyle, beyond your actual car, luggage and Breitling for Bentley watch, is only available for private bookings for customers and friends of the brand. It’s a fully-serviced and luxuriously furnished chalet nestled in one of the most exclusive Alpine hot spots, namely Kitzbühel in the Austrian Tyrol. The Chalet is surrounded by peaks and valleys, and offers an unrivalled hideaway for fans of the brand, and is only minutes from ‘downtown’ Kitzbühel.

One of the latest Bentley models will be available at all times for guests as well as various bespoke experiences such as fishing, hunting, horseback riding, skiing, tennis, golf and spa treatments. The historic building was originally the forester’s lodge and dates back to the founding year of Bentley Motors in 1919. Managed by Bentley Motors in partnership with hotelier Richard Hauser, the lodge has been inspired by the techniques, the materials and the finishes that characterise Bentley’s renowned car interiors. The chalet is made of traditional Tyrolean stone, pine wood and natural stone from the Upper Tauern region. Now that Bentley have opened the doors, I expect to see more of these lifestyle branded opportunities in the months to come, with perhaps an Aston Martin branded Spanish Villa, set in glorious countryside surrounded by rip-roaring roads, (I can still make this happen), or maybe a Rolls-Royce inspired club in Abu Dhabi, or how about a McLaren inspired Scottish Castle for owners to meet at once a year? ■