Tempus issue 32

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/ Salon QP / H OT AU CT I O N S / Tahiti travel special / Watch snob S K I I TA LY / Watch boutique guide / LU X U RY C H R I ST M AS W I S H LI ST

Blancpain

NOT O N LY MINE BUT A PART OF ME www.francvila.com FV EVOS 18 “Cobra” Suspended Skeleton & FVq80 Tribute to Ladies FRANC VILA HEADQUARTERS & SHOWROOM Grand Rue 6 - Geneva +41 22 317 07 27

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The finest design Made in Glashütte, Germany: Metro

A tiny part that changes everything: NOMOS Glashütte spent seven years researching and developing an in-house escapement. Now the new watch Metro featuring the NOMOS swing system is here—and a worldwide first. With selected retailers: Cambridge: Catherine Jones Jewellery; Cardiff: Fraser Hart, Watches of Switzerland; Chichester: Perfect Timing; Derbyshire: CW Sellors Ltd.; Edinburgh: Hamilton & Inches; Glasgow: Fraser Hart, Orro; Kent: Fraser Hart; Leicester: Stewart’s Watches; London: Fraser Hart, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland; Manchester: Watches of Switzerland; Ruislip: C S Bedford.

Find out more at nomos-glashuette.com, or order online at nomos-store.com

M CLASS 30M . 35M . 40M To make an entrance. Arrive in style

WWW.PRINCESSYACHTS.COM PRINCESS YACHTS INTERNATIONAL 路 MCLASS@PRINCESSYACHTS.COM

A HEINDL IS MORE THAN A SAFE

HEINDL GERMANY GMBH NUREMBERG GERMANY WWW.HEINDL-GERMANY.COM PHONE: +49 (0)172 8144800

LIKE A DIAMOND IS MORE THAN A STONE

“Perhaps the most important development for a British watch brand for 50 years� C H R I S W AR D

Few watch brands create their own movement and of those that do, only a handful add something really original and important to the world of watchmaking. Our in-house, Calibre SH21, which powers the C9 Harrison 5 Day Automatic is one such movement. The C9 Harrison is destined to be one of the most talked about watches in years.

AC-ONE TIDES ADMIRAL’S CUP REINVENTED, BREAKING THE WAVES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS

www.corum.ch

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ISSUE

THIRTY TWO

From the editor Editor

Scott Manson

scott@curvecontent.com 020 3617 4693 Designer

Marcus Leitch Commercial Director

Jay Boisvert

jay@curvecontent.com 020 3617 4697 Business Development Manager

Ashley Collin

ashley@curvecontent.com 020 3617 4687 Head of Sales & Partnerships

Ray Fieldhouse

ray@curvecontent.com 0203 617 4684 CURVE CONTENT TEMPUS IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY

BY CURVE CONTENT LTD, 3-7 HERBAL HILL, LONDON EC1R 5EJ PRINTED BY

Contributors

As our thoughts turn to the festive season, I have already Tempus is proud to work with some of the UK’s finest composed my Christmas wish list, and it’s all thanks to Salon timepiece and luxury writers, including: QP, the UK’s best show for watch enthusiasts, which took place in November. The Tempus team spent several happy hours getting up close and personal with some of the world’s best watches, including pieces from the likes of Jaeger LeCoultre, Nomos, Piaget, Chopard and many more. Arguably even Ken Kessler more fun was checking out what was on the wrists of the One of the UK’s foremost event’s visitors – your Tempus representatives were, of course, authorities on watches, Ken is sporting the finest models from their respective collections. also renowned for his writing So, for my friends and family who might be reading this, if on high-end audio equipment. you’re unsure about the gift you’d like to buy me this holiday season, take a look at the feature on page 57 and you’ll see a host of show-stopping timepieces that I’d be happy to unwrap on Christmas Day. Elsewhere this issue, we take luxury ski trips to the Italian Dolomites and St Anton, check out some of London’s Alex Doak best watch boutiques and settle in for some country house A regular Tempus contributor hospitality at Whatley Manor, one of the finest hotels in the from Issue 1, Alex also pens Cotswolds. We also take a trip halfway around the world watch articles for the likes of Esquire, QP and City AM. to the glorious islands of Tahiti, where our writer enjoys an aquatic experience he will never forget. You can read all about it on page 115.

And for those still ruminating over what to buy loved ones and friends for Christmas, head straight to our wish list feature on page 94 where you’ll find something to suit even the most demanding of individuals.

Chris Hall As a former tech writer for Yahoo and the current deputy editor of QP magazine, Chris is well placed to get the lowdown on the latest in quality horology.

Enjoy the issue.

Scott Manson Editor - 15 -

Thomas Del Mar Ltd 25 Blythe Road London, W14 0PD

Email: enquiries@thomasdelmar.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7602 4805 Fax: +44 (0)20 7602 5973

www.thomasdelmar.com

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Inside ISSUE THIRTY TWO

22 Take Me There

57 London Calling

With winter drawing in, we explore the sun, sea and sailing opportunities of Hamilton Island, the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

We reveal the best in show from Salon QP, the UK’s premier watch event

25 Luxury Briefing

Looking for a watch? Here are some of the best boutiques to buy from

71 Retail Therapy

Find the finer things in life right here

79 Austrian Adventure

37 Food and Drink

The third installment in our series of ski specials sees us head to the beautiful Austrian Alps

Where to eat, drink and be merry 41 The Word

90 On The Fast Track

Lauren Steventon on experiential travel

Tempus drives Donington racetrack in a selection of supercars, with varying degrees of success…

44 Under The Hammer

94 The Wish List

This month’s best lots from the nation’s auction houses

When it comes to thoughtful festive gift ideas, we’ve got you covered

46 Watch Snob

105 Ski Italy!

Your horological conundrums answered

A trip to the Italian Dolomites sees our writer discover his new favourite hotel

48 Objects of Desire

All eyes are on Blancpain’s latest masterpiece

111 Timeless Elegance

The charm and wonder of the Cotswolds’ Whatley Manor hotel

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50 Fashion and Accessories

The latest in luxe

32

53 Style Advice

Unravelling the issues around gentleman’s ties J umei rah Carl t on Tower Cadogan Pl ace Tel : + 44 207 235 1323

Blancpain

/ Salon QP / H OT AU CT I O N S / Fahiti travel special / Watch snob / LU X U RY C H R I ST M AS W I S H LI ST

S K I I TA LY / Watch boutique guide

115 Magic Moments

Swimming with whales in the crystal clear waters of Tahiti 122 Moments in Time

Matthew McConaughey and his Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day Date Special thanks: Graeme Allen

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I “ finally found all of the privacy and relaxation I had been craving for months on an island as beautiful as it is welcoming.�

www.baros.com

“T he Essence of Maldives” Baros Maldives is a small coral island in the Indian Ocean, just 25 minutes by speedboat from the Maldives International Airport. Set in a translucent lagoon surrounded by a sun-drenched, golden sand beach, ringed with a colorful living coral reef, Baros Maldives is perfect for a holiday to remember forever.

45 thatched Beach Villas are nestled among swaying palms while 30 Water Villas including 15 Water Pool Villas are poised over a shallow, shimmering lagoon. Each villa is stylishly created with sandstone and timber, with fine furnishings and large windows to let in natural light and with contemporary linen blinds for privacy.

The resort’s Deluxe Villas, Baros Villas, Water Villas, Baros Pool Villas, Pool Water Villas and Baros Premium Pool Villas are all equally desirable for a vacation of pure bliss. They each have a king size bed, a daybed to relax, veranda, satellite television, air-conditioning, mini-safe and mini-bar, espresso machine and a wine chiller with sommelier selected bottles.

Water Villas have individual sun decks and stunning views of the sea with steps down to the lagoon for leisurely swimming. All villas have bathrooms en-suite, some open to the sky, others with panoramic views of the ocean. Some beach villas feature indoor and outdoor rainfall showers in a walled wgarden.

A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the award-winning Baros Maldives excels in caring personal attention to meet every guest’s desire. For guests who crave complete seclusion with in-villa dining, an intimate dinner for two on an isolated sandbank, or pleasure and indulgence in one of three gourmet-class restaurants and in the resort’s elegant cocktail lounge or Palm Garden, Baros Maldives is the answer.

Baros Maldives is dedicated to couples, whether on a secret interlude together, a honeymoon in the sun, a special anniversary, or for those who just want to enjoy each other’s company away from stress and hassle.

No small children or groups are allowed to disturb the serenity of this tropical idyll, and staff members are discreet and understanding.

The Spa features especially created revitalizing treatments and exclusive yoga sessions. A resident marine biologist and PADI dive center educate guests as they explore the reefs, and a luxury yacht and traditional sailing dhoni are available for guests to venture further through dolphin-filled waters to other islands on day excursions or sunset cruises.

For relaxation, there are comfortable loungers and hammocks in the Palm Garden, an over-water infinity swimming pool open to all guests, a library of films and books, and culture aplenty in the Maldivian Lounge with The ultimate in secluded privacy is the Baros Residence with its antique maps and artefacts. a large linen-canopied bed and an extravagant bathroom en suite. A day bed on the sun deck and sun loungers Guests return again and again to Baros Maldives, charmed overlook the Residence’s swimming pool in a secret, walled by the warm hospitality and memorable moments that are garden; a butler is on call to assure warm and willing service. the essence of the Maldives.

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Take me there Hamilton Island, Australia

This beautiful island, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef in the Whitsunday Islands, is arguably best known for a clever 2009 PR campaign which sought to appoint its first ‘caretaker’ – a position advertised as ‘the world’s best job’ and taken up by a young Briton.

For once, the PR lives up to the hype, with the island enjoying a year-round tropical climate, rare native birds and myriad marine life swimming in the azure waters that lap its coastline, including whales, dugongs, reef sharks, and dolphins.

For accommodation, visitors should look no further than Qualia, a serene and sophisticated luxury hotel – built by an Australian billionaire – that clings to the northern tip of the island. Whether you stay in one of the 60 superbly appointed pavilions, or the secluded Beach House, guests can enjoy award-winning restaurants, access to a world-class 18-hole golf course on neighbouring Dent Island or take a private yacht trip to Whitehaven Beach, regularly voted one of the world’s 10 best beaches. As a Christmas sunshine getaway, it doesn’t get much better than this.

qualia.com.au

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THE STERLING COLLECTION

ETTINGER.CO.UK

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Because the best things in life aren’t free

Wanted on travel

G I R A R D-P ER R EGAU X T R AV ELLER B I G DAT E & M O O N P H AS E This latest release from Girard-Perregaux features one of the most beautiful, and realistic, moonphases we’ve ever seen. The image of the lunar surface is made of mineral glass, then metalised and placed within a star setting. There’s also a big date at 12 o’clock, which uses a paper-thin disc so the second digit floats above the first – making for a barely perceptible gap between the two – plus a sapphire caseback showing off the beautifully finished in-house caliber GP 03300-008.

Available in steel, pink gold or in a limited edition 50-piece collection dedicated to John Harrison, the master watchmaker whose clock solved the nautical longitude problem. girard-perregaux.com

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Gourmet goodies

CONRAN SHOP

You could probably do all of your Christmas shopping at London’s Conran Shops in Chelsea and Marylebone, such is the breadth of beautiful things on offer. The gift emporium is also no slouch when it comes to gourmet goodies, with our pick of its specialty food products being the trio of top caviars on offer. From the Baeri Royal Caviar – a good ‘beginners’ caviar – to the smooth Russian Oscietra and the complex (and limited edition) Imperial Caviar, they would prove a wonderfully indulgent start to any festive evening. conranshop.co.uk

Ultra-premium

D E WAT ER E C H A M PAG N E This could be one of the finest bottles of champagne ever featured on the pages of Tempus. Not just the drink itself, although that is sublime – from the fact that the vineyards it comes from are only ploughed by horses, so as not to compress the roots too much, to the limited edition bottle production run of this beautifully balanced champagne. Its £30,000 price tag, though, springs from the fact that there is a 24ct gold coin, featuring a 1ct diamond, embedded in every bottle. Once you’ve finished the drink, you can return the coin and diamond to De Watère if you wish, and they will fashion the gold and gem into a jewellery piece of your choice. de-watere.com

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Beach life

FO U R S EAS O N S D U BA I New hotel alert! Dubai’s Jumeirah area, dubbed the city’s ‘Beverly Hills’, is home to a new Four Seasons property that opens this month, just in time for the influx of winter sun devotees and, of course, those attending the glittering occasion that is Dubai’s International Jewellery Week (3-6 December). Besides the beautiful rooms, set over a modest (by Dubai standard) five stories, the hotel also offers 10 stand-out dining and lounge options, including two venues by Zuma and a 7,600 sq ft spa. fourseasons.com

Intrepid exploration

A M A N EX P ED I T I O N S

If you’re looking for a truly unique travel trip then join Aman Resorts next year, as the brand is running expeditions to the remote Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat aboard Amanikan, a custom-built 32-metre luxury coastal cruiser. Sailing through one of the world’s most exceptional marine areas, home to more than 1,300 species of fish, 75% of all known corals and 15 mammal species, these seven-night journeys will prove to be a feast for the senses.

amanikan.com

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Skeleton crew

FR A N C V I LA FV I 17 C H RO N O B I C O M PAX I N T R EP I D O Skulls are definitely having a moment in the watch world, with this latest offering from Franc Vila being one of the best we’ve seen. Coming either partly or fully set with diamonds, and featuring a chronograph and prominent date functions, this tough luxe piece is clad in a titanium and black PVD case. francvila.com

Big sounds

CYG N U S AU D I O

If you’re looking for a high-quality speaker set-up, then Cygnus Audio is worth investigating. Founded by two enthusiastic physicists and audio experts, they set out to reinterpret conventional aspects of loudspeaker design, resulting in speakers that produce astoundingly good sound, even in limited size spaces, such as living rooms. Better still, the handsome kit can be customised to the colour of your choice. cygnus-audio.de

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This box rocks

WO LF D ES I G N S

Since 1834, this family business has produced some of the world’s best watch boxes and winders – as well as a selection of gift items – for the demanding collectors’ market. They are surprisingly good value, given the high quality of the design and mechanics, and offer clever options, such as the modular model, which functions independently, or as your collection grows, can be attached to other modular pieces to create a neat, stackable system. wolfdesigns.com

Changing times

M O N T B LA N C M ETA M O R P H O S I S I I Debuting at Hong Kong’s recent Watches and Wonders show, this update to 2010’s Metamorphosis is an altogether more classic and formal affair. The large case – a whopping 52mm – is finished in a highly polished rose gold and has a slider at 10 o’ clock that activates the ‘metamorphosis’; with the subdials at 12 and 6 o’clock splitting in half and retracting into the case, revealing two new subdials underneath and moving the watch into chronograph mode.

Available in a limited run of 18 pieces, this is a truly exceptional example of mechanical micro-engineering. montblanc.com

Treat your timepiece

G LO B E-T ROTT ER WATC H CAS E

Beloved for its iconic range of luggage, historic British brand Globe-Trotter has now launched a luxury watch case, with two versions – dove grey and burgundy – available. They’re created from the same vulcanised fibreboard and fine leather as the brand’s core luggage range and feature chamel pillows to hold beloved timepieces. You can also make them a bespoke offering by opting for a case lid monogram. Sheer elegance. globetrotter1897.com

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A certain vintage

PIPER-HEIDSIECK RARE M I LLES I M E 2 0 0 2 For those searching for that special bottle to toast the holiday season, try this prestige cuvee. Full-bodied and bursting with fruit, this 2002 vintage combines Chardonnays from the Montagne de Reims region (70%) with Pinot Noir (30%) from the same region. And if you’re wondering where to pop the cork, why not check out the brand’s new art installation in the VIP room of Mayfair’s Whisky Mist club. piper-heidsieck.com

Balance, refinement, power

M ERC ED ES-B EN Z A M G GT-S

Mercedes dealers’ phones have apparently been in meltdown since this incredible car was launched in November, with many car critics dubbing it the ‘Porsche killer’, so clearly is it targeted at the traditional high-end sports car market. A true thing of beauty, and running on a twin turbo 4.0 V8, it’s a hard charger, for sure, but also one that offers surprising amounts of finesse and refinement among the exhilaration. If you have £110,000 to spare, then register your interest for this desirable machine right now... mercedes-benz.co.uk

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Since 1920

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TRENDS AND NEWS FROM THE BEST BARS AND KITCHENS L’ESCARGOT

Reviewed by Jay Boisvert

This charming little French restaurant, which is something of a London institution, is perfectly positioned in the heart of Soho.The ideal place, then, for a long boozy lunch followed by an afternoon bouncing from bar to bar in this lively part of London. Now under new ownership, it’s a restaurant that’s definitely got its groove back, from its fabulous internal revamp to delightfully efficient and friendly staff that genuinely seem to enjoy serving – the opposite of many of my French brasserie experiences.

First on our dining list was obviously the snails, which I have to say surprised me. Coated in garlic and coming with all manner of snail-munching apparatus, they were a real pleasure and a far cry from the little blighters that plague my patio. I followed this with a delicate lobster and avocado salad, which comprised a zingy citrus sauce and succulent pieces of lobster served on a bed of crispy fresh

lettuce. It proved to be the perfect portion size to leave room for my main, heading off the menu and into the realm of the specials.

It being the season for game, I opted for a dish of pheasant, served pink, and surrounded by a lagoon of jus studded with bacon and cabbage – a gorgeous dish that would convince even the most reluctant game-eater to give it a try. Sadly, it was such a feast that there was no room left for dessert, although the ‘oohs’ and ‘aaaahs’ from the diners next to me who ordered the crème brûlée and profiteroles made me regret not giving them a try.

I was then given a brief tour of the new members club upstairs – a Tardis-like collection of beautifully appointed rooms, including one top floor space with an imposing domed skylight, with each offering something different – from a traditional private dining room to a modern loft space bar – and all imbued with a relaxed, homely atmosphere. Come here to dine, for sure, but I’d encourage every reader to investigate its members club opportunities too. lescargotrestaurant.co.uk

MAYFAIR’S LATEST MEMBERS CLUB Tucked away on Hay Hill in W1 is Rififi, Mayfair’s latest members club. It’s a bijoux space, giving it a personal, cosy feel, and is decked out in the style of a gentleman’s lounge – think brass fittings and taxidermy – giving it a classy, playful feel. Come here for drinks or dinner, courtesy of Head Chef Ivan Simeoli (Osteria Francescana, Club Gascon) and you could be sharing the space with notable types such as Uma Thurman and Eva Herzigova, who have already given it their seal of approval. rifificlub.com

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ONE CANADA SQUARE The windswept temple of high finance that is Canary Wharf is surprisingly short of decent places to eat. That changed, however, with last year’s launch of One Canada Square – part of the ETM Group’s stable that includes great gastropubs such as The Well, The Botanist, The Gun, The Jugged Hare and more. On the strength of my recent visit to their latest venture, the group has another hit on its hands First impressions of this buzzing, contemporary and surprisingly cosy restaurant didn’t disappoint, from the eyecatching bar to the dark oak and racing green colours of the walls, the attention to detail is impressive. Before ordering we got stuck into some cocktails, including the deliciously refreshing ‘Last Word’, comprising Portobello Road gin, green chartreuse, maraschino and lime juice.

Once at our table, an intimate space with a great vista that included a rather incongruous but still lovely white grand piano in the

Scotch on the rocks?

By Peter Dean We’ve never been more in love with whisky and never been more prepared to bend our credit cards to pay for it. Johnnie Walker’s Diamond Jubilee Scotch, of which only 60 bottles were made, has all but sold out since its September launch. Matching rarity to value is nothing new, but the globalisation of whisky is. From Iceland to India, Argentina to Tasmania, everyone seems to be turning to distilling barley in distinct, terroir-driven styles. The Japanese industry, previously only drunk by Japanese whisky lovers, is now a driving force on the world stage, much to the chagrin of the Scots. As if losing the independence battle wasn’t galling enough, the Scottish whisky industry has been brandishing steel again over the latest 2015 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible where Yamazaki’s Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 has been crowned the world’s best whisky, and best European

Reviewed by Ashley Collin corner, we took stock of the atmosphere.

Buzzing, just the right side of loud and energetic, it perfectly suits the clientele – a collection of business types who looked to be having far too much fun for a Monday night.

The meal itself was outstanding, kicking off with gossamer-thin Iberico ham served with a punchy celeriac remoulade and a venison carpaccio with artichoke and truffle. We followed this with a lemon chicken schnitzel in a caper dressing – crunchy and piquant – and a beautifully cooked chunk of sea bass with tomato, braised artichokes and a red pepper salsa. This is modern European food pulled off with panache. The wine recommendation was similarly strong – an Alain Marcadet Touraine sauvignon blanc, from France’s Loire Valley, proving to be a fruity favourite that went particularly well with the chicken. Coffee and a dessert wine served as an alternative to pudding, leaving us free to sit back and soak up the surprisingly upbeat ambience of a Canary

Wharf restaurant at 10pm on a Monday.

Clearly, our fellow diners and drinkers knew, like us, that they were on to a good thing.

Book it now for a Christmas celebration. www.onecanadasquarerestaurant.com

Whisky of the Year went to Chapter 14, an unpeated whisky from England.

On tasting, this is still so amazingly fresh and light for a 59.8% whisky. There is a distinctive viscosity to the mouth-feel with notes of crab apple and nut, giving way to rich, sweet salted toffee on the back palate. The finish is less powerful than the Port Ellen but still goes on for an eternity, with a beautiful drying finish with notes of wood and incense. Trying this with a salted caramel chocolate was a revelation.

3,756 bottles released. £750 a bottle, specialist retailers

2015’s best Scotch whiskies PORT ELLEN 35-YEAR-OLD ISLAY SINGLE MALT Port Ellen’s whiskies are some of the rarest and most sought-after in the world. This is the 14th and oldest-ever release of its 56.5% cask strength nectar. At a tasting this will be saved until last and savoured by the connoisseur – the whisky equivalent of a Bordeaux first growth. To me it has an ethereal ‘otherness’ about it, layers of taste and aroma that mix honey, citrus fruits and aged wood with a beautifully subtle smokiness that belies its Islay origin. With only 2,964 bottles released worldwide this represents a great investment, as well as a very special gift. £2,200 a bottle, specialist retailers THE SINGLETON OF GLENDULLAN 38-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MALT This is the first long-aged special release of this still-active distillery in Speyside.

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LAGAVULIN 12-YEAR-OLD ISLAY SINGLE MALT For those who like their single malts full-on smoky this 54.4% cask strength packs a punch. It’s deceptive – very light golden in colour, it is unobtrusive on the nose with hints of leather, fruit, toffee, mint and smoke, but on tasting the peat smoke really hits you. It’s like munching a toffee apple on bonfire night, standing close to the fire.Try eating some blue cheese then have a dram, the intense citrus oils cut through the dairy completing one of the most extraordinary food pairings imaginable. £80 a bottle, specialist retailers

C E L E B R AT I O N S DESERVE SOM ETH I NG C E L E B R AT E D

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The rise of experiential travel

Lauren Steventon

According to Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” He goes on to suggest that we “throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.

Dream. Discover.”

It’s sound advice. So why are so many of us so lazy when we travel, taking virtually the same trip every year? Whether it’s hanging out at the same Ibiza beach club or skiing down an identical stretch of the Alps, we are often creatively bankrupt when it comes to planning a holiday.

Part of the problem is the need for today’s tourists to recreate abroad exactly the creature comforts they have at home. Nowhere is this more apparent than those luxury resorts that pride themselves on providing the same bed linen in every city, the same art on the walls and the same room service food. Even the greeting at the reception desk doesn’t vary.

The thrill of the unexpected – one of the main reasons for travelling – is nowhere to be seen.

Yet we live in a time when it has never been easier for all of us to experience all the cultural diversity we could wish for. Recent years have seen the rapid rise of luxury travel companies that provide something different, more adventurous, experiential and authentic.

They do all the hard work while you simply enjoy the experience.

Black Tomato, for example, specialists in ‘tailor-made authentic experiences’, has launched Epic Tomato, a tour agency that offers challenging trips, such as 20 days in the unexplored mountains and western provinces

of Papua New Guinea, or travelling along the White Nile in Uganda by foot, horse, bicycle and kayak – the same route that both Churchill and Roosevelt took.

I’m not suggesting we have to pack our rucksacks and go back to basics to truly experience a destination. Unlike the era of Churchill and Roosevelt, luxury and adventure are happy bedfellows in 2014, with plenty of top-end hotels offering exciting and enticing locations and activities. Four Seasons, for example, has its World of Wonder programme, which sees guests touring tea plantations by bicycle, assisting in archaeological excavations or reading a script on stage with a Broadway cast. This year alone, we have seen top-end boutique hotels pop up in some of the most unlikely places, including Ecuador, Panama, the Congo and Cambodia. Even Antarctica is no longer inaccessible, with a slew of new cruises taking travellers literally to the end of the Earth.

In all of these hotels, accommodation, service and design are not sacrificed, but are combined with a new take on luxury: private guides, expert-led tours or lectures, local interaction or unique wildlife or cultural experiences, all finished up with a session in the spa and finedining restaurant. They are responding to the demand of a new type of top-end traveller, one for whom an authentic and interesting experience is as important as an on-site butler and pillow menu. These travellers don’t want to sacrifice on quality or comfort, but they are willing to skip extraneous ‘luxury’ trappings for a unique trip that will stay with them forever.

So, if the realm of the explorer is within

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Lauren Steventon is a travel writer easy (and comfortable) reach, why aren’t more travellers taking advantage of it? A trip doesn’t even need to be a near-the-knuckle, way out of the comfort zone affair. Yes, sailing the Panama Canal or staying at a luxury jungle camp are fantastic, but truffle-hunting in Alba, mask-making in Venice or joining a float at the Rio Carnival are equally rewarding experiences. True travel is about discovering the mystery and magic of a destination, indulging in the unique experiences that it offers, whether that is close to home or halfway across the world.

Then, rather than returning and bragging about how a hotel in Paris ordered in sushi from your favourite restaurant in Japan, you will have some real stories to dine out on.

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- au ct i o n watc h -

Underthe hammer From horsepower to firepower, here’s the pick of the month’s auctions Bonhams

A 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB alloy-bodied Berlinetta once considered to be the finest production model Ferrari ever built is to star in Bonhams’ New Bond Street auction at the end of this month, carrying an estimate of £1,5m-£2m.

From 1964 to 1968 almost 800 275 Berlinettas were produced, but just a fraction were the highly desirable long nose alloy variants. This example, chassis 08035, has been inspected by renowned Ferrari authority Marcel Massini, who described it as “… one of the very best cars from the Maranello Rosso Collection. A real gem.” It retains many of its original features, and has just 61,212km recorded on the odometer.

Bonhams’ Bond Street sale takes place at its London headquarters on 30 November. bonhams.com

Gavin Gardiner

Thomas Del Mar

Gavin Gardiner’s Fine Sporting Guns Auction takes place at Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, London on 10 December. gavingardiner.com

The Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria auction will be held at 25 Blythe Road, London W14 on 3 December. thomasdelmar.com

Armoury specialist Thomas Del Mar is selling a fascinating selection of militaria, all coming from the armoury at Schloss Langenburg, the ancestral seat of the royal Hohenlohe-Langenburg family in southern Germany.

The pieces include a fine and very rare Nuremberg wheel-lock sporting carbine dating from circa 1600, which is estimated at £25,000-£30,000. There is also an English cased percussion sporting gun made for Prince Alfred as a small boy in about 1850. The proportions of the gun are in keeping with those of a young boy (84.5cm; 33 1⁄4in overall) and the piece carries an estimate of £5,000-£7,000. There is also a beautiful German Town Sword with a finely carved ivory memento mori hilt, dated 1656 and estimated at £6,000-8,000

Gavin Gardiner, the auctioneer of choice for shooting enthusiasts, has more than 300 fabulous lots at its upcoming London sale. Highlights include this magnificent pair of 12-bore over and under guns by David MacKay Brown, which carry an estimate of £45,000-£55,000.

Pairs and single guns by all of the major London gunmakers are also available, including Boss, Holland & Holland and Purdey.

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SWISS ARTIST

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The

Got a question about timepieces?

Put it to AskMen.com’s Watch Snob. Be warned: you may not like what he has to say…

A material matter Hi Snob, Reboots and space-age materials are two topics you have written of, and I think you have it right about most of the companies that seemingly endlessly roll out these ‘new’ takes on old ‘classics’. Just another temptation to get us to spend money.

However, I don’t understand why you are so denigrating of the industry’s use of silicon, ceramic and titanium etc. Why shouldn’t brands use these better materials to solve issues of maintenance, anti-magnetism and regulation? Do you honestly believe that Jean-Marc Vacheron, Abraham-Louis Breguet, Antoine Norbert de Patek or Adolph Lange would have refrained from using them had they been available, just because the great watchmakers before constructed their pieces without them?

Vacheron, Breguet, Patek and Lange did not work during our time and their attraction to us is not that they were au courant with respect to the latest technical advances of their time, it is that they executed their craft with an ingenuity that took refractory materials (base brass, temperamental steel, rapidly senescent oils) and made them produce refinements in performance unimaginable to less skilled hands.

Perhaps they would have embraced silicon.

Who knows? However, your logic is flawed: the real logical conclusion of this line of reasoning is not that they would have embraced silicon, but that they would have embraced quartz — probably radio-controlled quartz — into the bargain. Silicon in mechanical watches

would likely have struck them as a laughable half-measure — why prop up a fundamentally obsolete method of telling time when one far more advanced exists?

Your question is a fair one from a certain perspective but misses the point. We don’t love mechanical watchmaking because it is a rapidly evolving, cutting-edge technical field in which ground-breaking innovations come thick and fast, producing paradigm-shattering advances in performance with every new discovery. We love mechanical watchmaking because in spite of the difficulty in making these simple materials perform well, it can be done. Easy solutions are not when things are easy and makers become sloppy, which is a very bad and very boring thing for watchmaking.

I simply loathe answering “what can I find for x dollars/pounds/euros/two-yards-across-YapIsland-stone-disks”-questions as a rule, but here, with no idea as to whether you want to spend five or 50,000 of the currency in question, it’s impossible to answer.

That said, there are some basic assumptions I’m going to make: mechanical, sporty but not too flashy or loud, and a reasonable budget but not one that would support something like a dress watch from Patek or Vacheron. I don’t care for them myself, but I would suggest you look at Tudor — the Pelagos or Black Bay — as a mechanical watch of reasonable quality for the money asked.

A grand(son) watch Hello there Snob, I am in the market for a watch for my grandson, who is starting secondary school. I want to get him a classic watch.

A style that will stand the test of time. What advice can you give on a good match?

About a year ago, I fell in love with a brand of watch. Since then, I have purchased one and love every single piece of it.

I have looked at many watch blogs and websites but can’t find a review as to what experts think of this watch. I was wondering if you had any experience with this watch, which is a Steffen Julius.

This is just one example of the kind of question that absolutely tears me in half. On the one hand, it’s so poorly formed as to practically beg for a positively Swiftian satirical response; on the other hand, it’s so well intentioned that I — yes, even the Watch Snob — can’t really bring myself to be nasty.

The problem is that there is simply no data on the subject of the question, which is as much about a young man’s tastes and how he wants the world to see him, as it is about a watch.

Never having heard of a Steffen Julius, I proceeded to visit the brand’s website. I now blame you for not only wasting 38 seconds of my life but also for burning the horrible image of that watch in my brain. It is reminiscent of a time when I was 10 and accidentally walked into the bathroom as my Great Aunt Marlene was getting ready for a bath. I still wake up in sweats from that image. There is a reason why you can’t find out what experts think of this watch. They don’t.

J’adore Julius

To read more from the Watch Snob, head to askmen.com - 46 -

Gavin Gardiner Limited ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Auctioneers of Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns, Ries and Accessories

Forthcoming Auction: 10th December 2014 at Sotheby's 34-35 New Bond Street London Preview at Sotheby's Tuesday 9th December 9am to 4.30pm Wednesday 10th December 9am to 1pm Auction at 2pm Catalogue ÂŁ17 by post

Tel 01798 875300 www. gavingardiner.com

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here aren’t many watches that can stop the entire Tempus team in its tracks but this, the impressively named Blancpain Ocean Commitment Bathyscaphe F lyback Chronograph, had us cooing over it like lovesick teenagers. Limited to a run of just 250 watches, it’s a modified version of the Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph released earlier this year, adding a beautiful blue starburst dial, ceramic bezel and case and, crucially, a €1,000 donation from the sale of each watch to marine preservation charities. Oh, and it also comes with a suitably impressive book outlining the 60-year history of Blancpain’s iconic Fifty Fathoms timepiece. A fabulous piece of in-house engineering courtesy of one of our favourite brands. blancpain.com

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- fas h i o n & ac c ess o r i es -

The colour of love Gold and diamonds that help to add the finishing touches to outfits for a special occasion

Jason of Beverly Hills These beautiful Jason of Beverly Hills diamond chandelier earrings may not be subtle, but they are truly exquisite pieces and a perfect Christmas gift. jasonofbh.com

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Theo Fennell Theo Fennell’s jewellery combines creativity with pure luxury, as seen in this beautiful cocktail ring. Crafted from 18ct yellow and rose gold and featuring a spectacular yellow beryl and diamond floribunda bee, it’s a beautiful showcase piece. theofennell.com

Jacob & Co Jacob & Co’s Night and Day Flip cufflinks are seriously luxurious. Crafted from white diamonds, black onyx and white gold, they will look slick with a tux or velvet jacket. jacobandco.com

Stefan Hafner Rubies give a gorgeous pop of colour to the ring and pendant from Stefan Hafner’s Cigni Collection. These beautiful accessories are set on white gold, making elegant ready-to-wear pieces that are set to become timeless classics. stefanhafner.com

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HATTERS SINCE 1898

37 JERMYN STREET LONDON

252 RUE DE RIVOLI PARIS

+44 (0) 207 734 4707

+33 (0) 214 260 3609

www.bates-hats.com

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a knotty problem A tie is the perfect way to add some personality and pizzazz to your wardrobe

Eton Sebastian Dollinger, creative director, on adding personality to your outfit “A well-made shirt deserves an equally well-made tie. To best match the quality of our shirts, we have developed a close collaboration with two tie makers in England and Italy, both of which have proven themselves to be artisans in all aspects of production, from weaving silk to sewing each individual tie. These partnerships not only allow us to guarantee uncompromising quality, but also to create designs exclusively for Eton.

A person’s tie selection can say a lot about them and I feel this is a fun way to express yourself. My favourite ties for this season are

linked to the current autumnal conditions, which we all associate with the colder weather and falling leaves.

Floral prints including a micro leaf design, in warm, bolder colours makes for a nice contrast and is a great way of expressing oneself over traditional plaids, polka dots, paisleys and business stripes. The design and patterns are still tasteful, with sufficient colours in the tie to allow different shades of shirts to be paired with them.

As much as I like the use of ties to add personality to an outfit, not everyone has the

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confidence to stand out, which is why I often suggest a knitted tie as an alternative.The French term cri de la soie, which translates as “the cry of silk”, is sometimes used to describe the crisp, crunchy sound that knitted ties make when they are squeezed in the hand. Patterns can be a little more conservative but the woollen texture adds warmth and, tied in a simple fourin-hand knot with a traditional square tip, they will transform your ordinary, everyday work suit into an extraordinary thing.” etonshirts.com

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Bates Hats Tom Williams, general manager at Bates Hats, on the importance of the correct knot, fabric and cut I have heard on more than one occasion that upon meeting a gentleman for the first time it’s common for a woman to survey the nature and state of his footwear as a barometer of his taste and general worthiness. For me the measure I use is the appearance of his tie; not solely the design (for an amount of leeway must be allowed for personal taste) but also the presentation and visual quality. I have an aversion to any knot that has drifted and stands away from the top button, a fabric that lacks the necessary backing or an ill-chosen knot unsuitable to the collar shape.

While it may not be necessary to learn all 85 knots outlined in Messrs. Fink and Mao’s eponymous tome, a chap should have three or four techniques in his armoury. This serves to cover the bases of collar design, but also allows you to do justice to your tie’s material and weight – be it foulard , woven silk or tweed.

The main identifying elements of a quality tie vary. For some, the artisan nature of a classic seven-fold tie (created by folding a single piece of fabric to add body and drape) is the ultimate.

However, most quality purveyors will present you with a three-fold tie with a top grade lining that serves as a more than adequate alternative. If the tie is not a self-colour option, or continuous paisley print, you should check that the repeated pattern is correctly centred towards the end of the blade. If this is not the case it may indicate that the tie maker cut his cloth to maximise the number of pieces completed, rather than focusing on the final appearance. Likewise a well centred trademark or logo on the tipping – the contrast fabric inserted on the reverse of the blade – adds to a feeling that the tie passed through the hands of a craftsman, rather than being mass produced.

Remember, too, that there is not always one brand master for all materials. Our modest collection at Bates sees us select from three long-established English houses to cover all the fabrics we wish to offer. I would recommend rolled storage – not too tight! – as this helps to avoid any creasing or unsightly settling of the lining and will also ensure a correctly executed hand-sewn slip stitch to dissipate any tension along the seam caused by tying and wearing.

So give your tie wearing, and buying, some thought. Lift it from echoing the everyday chore of schooldays and make it a finishing touch, an outward display of your good taste and knowledge – not the equivalent of unpolished shoes! bates-hats.com

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etonshirts.com – facebook.com/etonofsweden

E TO N B R A N D S TO R E 5 3 s o u t h m o lt o n s t r e e t | l o n d o n

YOU CAN TELL A GOOD WATCH

BY ITS HEART. The most important element of a genuine Armin Strom is the movement. Not only is it where the work begins, it is also at the heart of the design. This means that everybody who checks the time will always see the beauty of the technology. arminstrom.com

TOURBILLON WATER

MANUFACTURE CALIBRE ATC11 16½‘‘‘

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Words – Scott Manson

calling The Salon QP watch exhibition didn’t disappoint. Here, we focus on the stars of this year’s show at London’s Saatchi Gallery

s

alon QP, the UK’s premier watch exhibition, took place at Chelsea’s Saatchi Gallery in November and proved to be an awesome feast for watch lovers.The exhibition offered the perfect opportunity to get to grips with the latest watches from established brands and exciting new independent watchmakers.

These are pieces that in many cases are changing the course of watchmaking, and it’s a privilege to hold envelope-pushing mechanical marvels in your hand.

There was a spectacular selections of men’s and, increasingly, women’s watches on display, not just on the stands themselves but also on the wrists of the visitors. In fact, part of the fun of an evening at this event is that you can walk up to complete strangers and ask them about their watch, with everyone only too happy to oblige.

The real stars, though, are the watches on display so read on to discover our top 10 timepieces from this year’s event.

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Zenith Captain Date Moonphase

For the money – around £9,800 since you ask – this is one of the best value pieces in our selection. While Zenith may be better known for its recent releases of sporty chronographs and big pilot watches, this beautiful rosegold moonphase piece shows that the brand also does a fine line in classic dress watches too. zenith-watches.com

The brand does a fine line in classic dress watches too

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Bonhoff

If Salon QP acts as a barometer for the current state of the watch industry then could Bonhoff be the shape of things to come? Founded by Hannes Bonhoff, a PhD-level engineer, the brand wowed the crowds in its debut year at the event with this quadruple-patented piece which uses circular display elements to show the time. It’s unconventional, for sure, and makes the wearer work a little harder to tell the time, but that’s part of its charm. bonhoff.watch

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Lasting values crafted by masters.

The name “Meister” has stood for classic watchmaking at Junghans since 1936. The Meister watches of today follow in this tradition, for they are a result of both passion for precision and close attention to quality. Choosing a Junghans Meister demonstrates appreciation for these values and for beautiful watchmaking – like our sporty Meister, the Meister Chronoscope.

www.junghans.co.uk · info@thebluecompanylondon.co.uk

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Manufacture Royale 1770

We’ve featured this brand in our annual Salon QP line-up every year, and with good reason as Manufacture Royale has always been an interesting, unconventional watchmaker. This year’s collection was similarly strong – with the 1770 collection being our models of choice – and it was interesting to see a more refined, even subdued, aesthetic come through. It’s the openworked version that really caught our eye, with the main attraction being that flying tourbillon. Beautiful. manufacture-royale.com

MB&F HM6 Space Pirate

Yes, it’s another striking horological machine from those boundary-pushing types at MB&F. Crafted in aerospace Grade 5 titanium – very tricky to polish, apparently – and featuring a flying tourbillon dome in the centre of the watch, its gorgeous curves evoke the idea of futuristic spaceships, and at £145,000 the cost is fairly stratospheric too. Limited to 50 pieces. mbandf.com

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Alexander Meerson Altitude Premiere Small Seconds

Another independent watchmaker on his Salon QP debut this year, Alexander Meerson’s name may be familiar to old-school horophiles as his father, Emerich Meerson, created timelessly classic watches that are still popular today on the vintage market. Alexander’s pieces are subtle, deceptively simple watches featuring modified Vaucher movements – also used by several pricier brands – housed in a titanium ‘envelope’ to improve strength. Art-deco inspired loveliness. meerson.com

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Junghans Max Bill Automatic

Swiss design guru Max Bill was one of Junghans’ foremost designers decades ago, and his classic style gets a revival here with a modern interpretation of his original Bauhausinspired aesthetic. Uncluttered, functional and beloved of graphic designers worldwide, this is a perfect ‘stealth’ dress watch that will stand the test of time. junghans.de

Extremely Piaget Cuff Watch

Inspired by the heritage designs of founder Yves Piaget and designer Jean-Claude Gueit, and part of a new collection that comprises 37 watches and 88 jewellery pieces, the flamboyant cuff watches were a particular delight. These boldly designed pieces blur the boundaries between jewellery and watch, with the ornate cuff with diamond motifs curling around sapphires or emeralds. Wonderfully 70s in style, and totally Piaget. piaget.com

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Jaeger LeCoultre Duométre Unique Travel Time

Always a firm favourite with Salon QP visitors, JLC’s stand was packed with horlogical goodies, including this beautiful example of high-end watchmaking, from its delicate hands to the bright blue globe, which syncs its rotation to the travel time setting. The brand’s in-house caliber 383 sits at its heart – a 498-part machine with a 50-hour power reserve, all viewable through the sapphire caseback. jaeger-lecoultre.com

JLC’s stand was packed with horological goodies

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Swiss Watch Winder

Safe-Lift This incredible watch winder is a state of the art product, paying a tribute to the great watch complications (over 1,200 components used). This Safe hides inside its heart a Lift of four winding cases of the latest technology and is among the most silent models in the world. Simply upon pressing the button of the remote control, the pinions of its gear made in fine gold will be put into motion, for the pleasure of your eyes! Exclusive model, produced upon demand only. Here in palladium, ruthenium and gold.

swiss made

www.rdi-watchwinders.ch info@rdi-watchwinders.ch

I LES AMBASSADEURS – Genève – Rue du Rhône 62 I MAVERICK – Watch & Jewellery – Genève – Grand Hôtel Kempinski – Quai du Mont-Blanc 19 I I ANTIQUORUM – Arcade du Cercle de L’Horlogerie – Genève – rue du Mont-Blanc 3 I I LES AMBASSADEURS – Lugano – Via Nassa 5 I AIRBIJOUX – Bijouterie-Horlogerie – Zürich – Bahnhofstrasse 1 I I JUNOD – Horlogers-Joailliers – Lausanne – Plce St.-François 8 I MILLIAUD – Joaillier-Horloger – Paris 8ème – r. Royale 8 I

Tourbillon-6, limited series of six pieces. Handcraî‚?ed in Voutilainen workshop. www.voutilainen.ch

Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Water

Swiss brand Armin Strom has a tradition of creating beautifully made watches with openworked dials and we have previously featured its One Week Skeleton model on these very pages. This, the Pure series, takes that styling even further, coating the main plate in a vibrant blue treatment, making for a truly eye-catching offering. Limited to 100 pieces and powered by the in-house ARM09-S caliber, it’s another hit from this boutique brand. arminstrom.com

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Vianney Halter Deep Space Tourbillon

Although this was released last year, Salon QP provided the first opportunity for Tempus to get its hands on this remarkable timepiece.

Created by science fiction fan and former winner of the Grand Prix de Genève prize for best watchmaker, Vianney Halter has moved on from his steampunk style pieces to create a watch inspired by intergalactic flights of fancy. The result is this – an architectural masterpiece featuring a mesmerising triple axis tourbillon.

Time is indicated by two blued hands that curve into the dial although, in fairness, this is more akin to a piece of art than it is to a watch. vianney-halter.com

More akin to a piece of art than it is to a watch

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London’s best watch boutiques

Whether you’re treating yourself or a loved one, London is one of the greatest cities in the world when it comes to buying a beautiful timepiece.

Here, then, is our hand-picked selection of superb watch stores, all perfectly placed to provide you with an unforgettable festive gift

Watches of Switzerland

This vast horological emporium on Regent Street – Europe’s largest luxury watch space, they claim – offers two floors of in-store boutiques and the Calibre Room below ground level, which includes a vintage section featuring a rare ‘tropical dial’ Rolex Paul Newman Daytona.

The brands with in-store boutiques include Patek Philippe, whose space is the Swiss watchmaker’s first shop-in-shop boutique anywhere in the world, and also the only boutique in Watches of Switzerland with its own VIP area. watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

Parmigiani

Located at 97 Mount Street, this has become a must-check atelier for all serious horophiles with pride of place going to the in-store watchmaker’s bench, where you can often see delicate tweezer-wielders plying their trade. The space itself is elegant and calming while the collection includes beautiful Grand Complication and Objects of Art pieces. parmigiani.ch

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Blancpain

Situated on New Bond Street, this flagship store opened in November – the first Blancpain boutique in the UK – offering visitors a number of ultraexclusive timepieces. It’s set over two floors and includes a relaxing bar and lounge area, crafted in cherry wood by workmen from Switzerland’s Joux Valley – a fitting homage to the traditional roots of the brand. blancpain.com

David Duggan

The team at this Burlington Arcade boutique have been immersed in timekeeping for a combined length of 150 years, and David Duggan himself has a 40-year pedigree in sourcing and servicing pre-owned watch brands, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, Vacheron, Panerai, JaegerLeCoultre, Lange & Sohne and IWC. Little wonder, then, that the brand is a member of the British Horological Institute and an associate member of Sotheby’s. daviddugganwatches.co.uk

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Bremont

One of two Bremont stores (the other is in the City’s Royal Exchange building, also home to Montblanc, Omega and Watchfinder), the brand’s Mayfair outpost is like an officer’s club. From the aviation-inspired décor to the beautiful pilot watches on display, it’s a wonderfully relaxing place to do some browsing and, if the mood takes you, buying. bremont.com

Breitling

A relatively new addition to New Bond Street’s ‘watch row’, its corner location provides plenty of natural light – all the better to admire those handsome pilot watches, travel chronographs and the quirky pop-art interior. breitling.com

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Richard Mille

Take a stroll to Mount Street this Christmas to check out the awesome selection of Richard Mille pieces at the brand’s first flagship UK boutique.

Set over two floors with, of course, a VIP lounge, it offers a rare opportunity to see these incredibly high-end, ultra light pieces up close and personal.

The RM029 Yellow Flash is particularly worthy of your attention… richardmille.com

Shinola

We’re big fans of this rugged American watch brand and November’s launch of its first UK store, in London’s Soho, saw a stack of watch fans descend to check out its no-nonsense range. Besides the timepieces on offer, there are also leather goods and a selection of Shinola’s wellrespected bicycle collection. shinola.com

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BULANGANDSONS.COM

Image: Rob Truijen

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Rolex

Situated at the prestigious location that is One Hyde Park and operated by The Watch Gallery, this iconic store showcases the UK’s biggest selection of Rolex watches over 3,000 sq ft of retail space. The interior design style utilises a variety of materials, from multi-layered Italian aqua glass to Crema Marfil Spanish marble flooring and Rolex Jubilee pattern embossed leather walls. There are also two dedicated private suites for VIP clients and those seeking privacy when considering a purchase. thewatchgallery.com

coming soon IWC

December will finally see the covers come off the storefront of IWC’s first London boutique, situated on New Bond Street, which the brand say will offer customers a “unique and dedicated brand experience”. The Schaffhausen-based watchmaker, famous for its pilot watches, will showcase one of the largest selections of its pieces in the world. iwc.com

Vacheron Constantin

London’s glamorous Old Bond Street is a fitting home for Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch company. The full range of collections are on display in the boutique, all of which bear the coveted Seal of Geneva. Of particular note are the brand’s Metiers d’Art limited-edition watches – an annual series that represent the pinnacle of the watchmaker’s art. vacheron-constantin.com

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THE LUXURY

CHALET COLLECTION

info@kitzbuehel-lodges.com 路 +49 170 799 1032 www.kitzbuehel-lodges.com Kitzb眉hel Lodges is a brand of Rhein Property GmbH See worldwide rental property portfolio on www.rhein-property.de

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Words – Scott Manson

Ski

austria Austria isn’t exactly bursting with five-star hotels, but one of its best sits in St Anton in the heart of the Austrian Alps, and offers all you need for a luxury Alpine break

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If you’re going to St Anton, then get in touch with Andy

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A

s a snowboarder, flat ground is my nemesis. Anyone who’s been on a board and come barreling around a corner on a piste, only to be faced with a quarter mile of flat snow or, worse, an incline, will know what I’m talking about. The crushing sense of despair, as the realisation dawns that you will have to take your board off and trudge along until the next decline, is the bane of every boarder’s life.

Yes, of course you could pay closer attention to your piste guide before you set off but, frankly, when you’re having fun blasting around a mountain it’s easy to get a little distracted.

That’s why everyone needs someone like Andy Butterworth in their life. He’s the co-founder of Kaluma Travel, an alpine travel specialist, as well as a resident of St Anton – the ski village that was my home for the next few days.

His local knowledge proved invaluable during our trip, from taking us for a delicious mountain-side meal at the Verwallstube, St Anton’s most sophisticated restaurant, to guiding us around the mountains. A lunch at the former was truly special – from the rich, rib-sticking truffle pasta to locally-sourced game – and is a must-do for anyone visiting the area. Andy’s guiding was second to none which meant, crucially, I never came to a grinding halt.

He knew exactly which runs to ski at which time, ensuring that we didn’t have to endure sheet ice or slushy slopes. If you’re going to St Anton, then get in touch with Andy.

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We were looked after in style when it came to the hotel, too. One of just 13 five-star hotels in Austria, Hotel Tannenhof has been sensitively converted – thanks to a £9m investment – from a 23-room hotel to a luxurious seven-suite property, complete with 20 staff (clad in natty Austrian outfits) looking after a maximum of 16 guests.

The suites themselves are more like high-end apartments, with huge bathrooms featuring oversized showers and beautiful freestanding baths made of pressed stone – which helps to retain water heat, apparently – plus open fires in the lounge and a deep carpet that virtually demands you kick off your shoes and socks as soon as you come in. There’s also an all-inclusive mini-bar featuring local delicacies, balconies offering panoramic views over the mountains and wonderful art dotted around the property.

Everything has been perfectly planned and the owner’s eye for design is impeccable, with each of the seven suites picked out in different colour palettes. There are also wonderful, and sometimes wonderfully quirky, pieces of furniture – from English tartan armchairs to polished pewter tables – which only increase the feeling that this is a home, rather than a hotel. There’s also a cosy bar downstairs and a large pool table in the library.

The hotel’s owners pride themselves on the spa – a surprisingly large space with a relaxing pool area, a small gym and several treatment rooms. Many guests opt for a five-day detox package, combining indulgent treatments such as pampering seaweed and mineral mud body wraps with a tailor-made daily feast from the hotel’s talented chefs. We enjoyed everything from a rich watercress soup with hazelnut and truffle to turbot served with spinach, artichoke and olive. Even simple vegetarian pasta dishes – my wife is a veggie – were zinging with flavour.

“This,” she pronounced at one point, “is the best pomodoro pasta I’ve ever eaten. The tomatoes are astoundingly good.”

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When a hotel is this small, going off menu is never a problem, with the chefs only too happy to cater for any meal requests. There are also freshly squeezed juices and hot drinks whenever you want them. It’s such a wonderfully welcoming place, in fact, that it proved impossible to leave. During the three nights we were there, we vaguely considered popping out for a drink at a local St Anton bar but, knowing nothing could top the Hotel Tannenhof, we instead settled back into our chairs, took another sip of our dessert wine and looked forward to an evening spent lounging on our suite’s vast couches with a DVD, chocolate and a roaring fire blazing in the woodburner. And as I gazed from my balcony at the twinkling lights of the party town of St Anton, imagining the raucous après ski that was happening there, I felt not one twinge of regret.

Luxury living and an early night, courtesy of Hotel Tannenhof, definitely trumps youthful high jinks and a hangover.

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Unrivalled alpine luxury, tailored to you.

WWW.SUMMITRETREATS.COM | INFO@SUMMITRETREATS.COM | +44(0)117 985 6966

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how to do it Hotel Tannenhof

The five night detox costs â‚Ź3,750 per couple and includes: five nights in one of six Tannenhof luxury suites on a full board basis two detox experience treatments at the Tannenhof Spa two Detox Body Wrap treatments one reflexology massage two yoga sessions with private yoga instructor at the hotel one Delight Hike with private guide one Alpine Herbage Hike with an expert Champagne on arrival Ski passes for the duration of your stay Alternatively, suites start from about ÂŁ1,540 per night on a full board basis. hoteltannenhof.net

Kaluma Travel

For guided skiing from experts who know every inch of the mountains, and who can also help with restaurant bookings, ski kit, transfers and much more, look no further than Kaluma Travel. This Alpine specialist offers an unrivalled service to cater for your every need. kalumatravel.co.uk

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Other Austrian properties of note Summit Retreats

As one of the UK’s leading boutique chalet agencies, Summit Retreats offers an exclusive, hand-picked portfolio of luxury chalets throughout Europe, with a number of stunning properties in Austria. The company’s bespoke service means that the desires of each client are clearly identified, thus enabling the agency to select the ideal chalet for every occasion. So bring your swimsuit, a DJ and the helicopter, and enjoy a chalet experience unlike any other this ski season.

Take Chalet N in Lech, for example. Sitting in the exclusive Oberlech area and sleeping 18 people, this deluxe property comprises 11 suites – each with its own well-stocked bar and 3D TV – and several outstanding features, such as a spa with a private hairstylist, home cinema, library, wine cellar and huge indoor swimming pool.

Another property of note is The Chalet at 11 Degrees East, which sleeps 10, in the heart of Obergurgl village. Recently renovated, this allensuite chalet includes a log fire, home cinema, bar, dining room and is conveniently situated next to the children’s ski school.

Summit Retreats also has a handsome rental property in the popular village of St Anton. Spread over four floors and sleeping 12, Chalet Artemis offers nightly gourmet dining, an 8m swimming pool, sauna, wet room, hot tub and more. summitretreats.com

Rhein Property

A specialist in chalet rentals, Rhein Property seeks out only the best in the market, with its chalets all hand-picked for their combination of striking architecture and finest fixtures and fittings. The company’s ski portfolio includes properties in Kitzbühel, St Moritz, Courchevel, Verbier and Zermatt, with Chalet Comtesse in Kitzbühel being one of the best of the bunch. Sleeping 14 in seven all-ensuite bedrooms and just a short walk to the ski lift, this gem of a property also features a large indoor pool, hammam, sauna, fireplace and parking for eight cars. It’s a stunning chalet set in the snow-sure ski area of Kitzbühel – a place that Tempus has visited many times and can heartily recommend. rhein-property.de

Chalet Panorama

SelectChalets.com

Maria Alm - Austria

Clive Sinclear

Austria's hidden gem is an hour from Salzburg airport and is a member of Ski Amadé – a network of 28 ski areas and towns that together make up one of the largest ski areas across Europe.

Our Sister Chalet Chalet Sonne Sonne

The beautiful, unspoilt Austrian resort is home to a fantastic chalet, owned and operated by the family-run Selectchalets.

Maria Alm is one of four inter-linking valleys that make up the Hochkönig ski circuit, which boasts skiing for beginners and advanced skiers. The impressive circuit extends into the Ski Amadé network – giving you access to a total of 670km of slopes.

Maria Alm - Austria

The Great Room

Recently renovated it retains original and distinct features alongside modern amenities such as; TV room, sauna and a games room for children.

The Luxury Chalet Panorama sleeps 19 and is just 300m from the village slopes. It comes with a personal chef who will whip up a culinary breakfast and dinner. The chalet also has a formal dining area and cosy fireplace to relax by in the lounge and bar.

Sleeps up to 11 guests.

After a full day skiing, there's a private wellness spa that includes a private relaxation area with steam and sauna rooms. All bedroom suites have balconies that overlook the slopes of Maria Alm and each comes with an LCD TV, Wi-Fi and en suite bathroom. The Penthouse apartment has a large terrace with scenic views over the village and an exquisite open-plan lounge. The après-ski is plentiful too, with bars, restaurants and family activities such as horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Tel: 01444 848680

Traditional and cosy - Chalet Sonne is located in picturesque Maria Alm and is perfect for small families or small groups.

The Garden Room

Private Wellness Spa

Chalet Sonne

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www.selectchalets.com

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info@selectchalets.com

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Obertauern ’ Austria s hidden gem

With perfect skiing conditions for months on end – it lies at 1,600m, making it one of Austria’s highest resorts – and a claim of snow-sure conditions for 160 days a year, Obertauern is proving increasingly popular with British skiers. You might have seen it in the Beatles’ film Help! - the band filmed the Ticket to Ride sequence there in 1965 – and it offers a winning combination of lively après ski, good mountain restaurants, efficient, modern lifts and a rugged, dramatic setting. With 2015 being the 50th anniversary of Help!, Obertauern opens the winter season on November 29 with a huge multimedia show A Tribute To The Beatles featuring Austria’s own Andreas Gabalier and tribute act The Backwards. Expect an all-night party and some sore heads on the slopes the next day. obertauern.com

Heliskiing No skier can truly call themselves an expert until they have enjoyed the delights of heliskiing, an adventure that opens up a whole new world of deep powder possibilities for intrepid snow sports enthusiasts. If you’re ready to take on the challenge, then few companies are better placed to escort you than Elemental Adventures, a global ski operation that has organised exceptional heliski experiences to some of the world’s most powder blessed mountains for the past 15 years. From the champagne powder of Canada to the rugged shores of Iceland and even Greenland, the expert skiers who own and run the operation will provide you with a trip you will never forget. eaheliskiing.com

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gear The

Hamish Stuart, CEO of skiwear specialist Perfect Moment, on what to consider when buying your ski kit

Balancing your temperature comfort on the slopes is a key element to anyone’s choice in skiwear. No one wants to be too cold, but being hot can be just as bad. Perfect Moment uses the latest technological performance fabrics and materials to regulate temperature and allow you to enjoy the slopes in comfort.

Whether you’re in the backcountry chasing powder or just starting out on the piste, your skiwear has to fit and move with you. The Perfect Moment collection is designed with the elite skier in mind and tested by our team of pro riders, placing seams in strategic positions and allowing just the right level of stretch and movement.

Standing out from the crowd and owning your look on the slopes is essential, Perfect Moment has a distinct style, carrying unique seasonal colours and designs through the entire collection. Whether you go for the technical Qanuk Pro Jkt. or the heavy down Super-Mojo Jkt., our motto at Perfect Moment is: if you don’t know how to ski, at least look like you can ski.

As skiing is one of the most social sports of the winter season, taking an outfit from the slopes to après ski is important – my outfit has to be wearable, on and off the slopes.

From a young age I always admired skiers who had a unique style with their choice of skiwear, something true to the sport with a style edge. Perfect Moment keeps that style edge throughout the collection, bringing fashion to function from the adults to the kids’ offering.

You can always spot the style – it’s inimitable. perfectmoment.com

OBERTAUERN

IT’S SNOWTIME IN OBERTAUERN FROM LATE NOVEMBER TO EARLY MAY! • Get the fantastic holiday feeling in one of the best skiing resorts of the Alps with a snow guarantee.

• Enjoy perfect winter sports conditions in a romantic atmosphere.

• Ski in – ski out: straight from your hotel onto the slope.

OBERTAUERN AT A GLANCE: 100 km of slopes, 26 cable cars and lifts, night skiing, snowkiting school, 5 skiing and snowboarding schools, fun park for snowboarders.

ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE PERIODS: • 19.11. – 20.12.2014: Opening Weeks • 10.01. – 31.01.2015: Powder Snow Weeks • 14.03. – 21.03.2015: 50 years anniversary The Beatles – Help!

• 21.03. – 28.03. / 04.04. – 03.05.2015: Sun & Fun Weeks

Tourismusverband Obertauern | Pionierstraße 1 | A-5562 Obertauern | tel. +43(0)6456 / 7252 | info@obertauern.com

WHERE SNOW IS AT HOME!

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Words – Jay Boisvert

fast track

Strap yourself in and put the pedal to the metal for the drive of your life

W

hen it comes to good ideas, my editor is full of them. And, as suggestions go, this was one of his best yet.

“How do you fancy coming to Donington Park with me and driving a selection of supercars? Oh, and two world touring cars champions will also drive us around the track…”

I cleared my diary for that day faster than you can say ‘now, where’s my driving licence?’ and, come the following Monday, the editor and I found ourselves standing on a mercifully dry and sun-baked pit lane at the seminal raceway that is Donington.

The event was organised by The Racing School and, as you’d expect in a sport where timing is everything, the day ran like clockwork.

In truth, I was a little sceptical at first as I’ve been on a number of driving experiences in my time, all of which have been fairly disappointing.

I recall one Ferrari experience which comprised what felt like a 16-hour safety briefing, followed by four minutes of driving the car with a very nervous instructor.

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So I had my reservations. However, this was on a different level. Upon arrival we were fed and watered with a great bacon butty, pastries and gallons of tea or coffee. Then came ‘the chat’, so I settled back and made myself comfortable for what I imagined would be a lengthy talk about what to do if you crash into a wall and find yourself trapped in a burning car. ‘Get out’, would be my advice. However, to my huge surprise, the briefing was over in under 10 minutes and we were suiting up and getting ready to choose our first drive of the day.

Walking out to the pit garages where the cars were being started, the instructors welcomed us to what proved to be a truly exciting time, as well as a fairly nerve-wracking affair. The idea of crashing one of these prized specimens did not bear thinking about, and there were some nervous giggles among the budding racers as we strapped on our helmets. First up for me was a Ferrari 360, an old favourite of mine that I have been fortunate enough to drive in the past, though never on a track. The paddleshift gearbox really makes you feel like you are in a proper race car, as did the helpful and surprisingly relaxed instructor.

I was expecting to hear “slow down, slow down” for most of the day but, refreshingly, it was the complete opposite. “Faster, faster,” came shouts from the passenger seat, along with “brake later, accelerate harder” – this was my kind of driving experience.

After a few laps I was waved into the pits and stepped out of the Ferrari and into an Aston Martin Vantage, with a different instructor. This was a tricky beast, being a manual and not quite as steady on the road as the Ferrari. It took a few laps to get used to, particularly with its penchant for power slides through the turns, but it was terrific fun. Next on the list was the Audi R8, a car I have never driven before but about which I have only heard great things. And they were all true – this was the best drive of the

day for me – the car handled like it was on rails and felt so solid on the track, with its paddle gears helping me to concentrate solely on the driving.

After an adrenaline-filled morning, we broke for lunch. Again, past experience had told me to keep my expectations low, but what we got was a superb buffet that was more five-star hotel than track-side burger van. So after three visits to the buffet, which I suspect added at least two pounds to my driving weight, it was time to start the afternoon session in the gleaming white Lamborghini Gallardo.

I hadn’t had the pleasure of driving this Italian stallion before and it was soon apparent that this would probably be the last time I drive one. At 6ft 3in, it was a fairly tight squeeze anyway, made worse by the fact that I had a helmet on. Driving four laps at speeds of up to 140mph while your head is tilted at 45 degrees is a tricky experience, so while the car is a beauty, I’ll leave it to more diminutive types.

The last drive of the day saw me squeeze myself into a Formula TRS open cockpit single-seater racing car. I thought the Lambo was a tight fit, but this was a different level and really made me feel for F1 drivers. Then I remembered that they earn £15m a year, travel the world in luxury and date models. I could put up with a lot of discomfort for that. Being out on the track and left to fend for yourself – while following a pace car, of course – is a pretty scary experience, but a hell of a lot of fun. With no ABS or traction control and perched just inches above the track, it’s also the closest I’ll ever get to being a racing driver.

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Talking of top drivers, we were lucky to have two members of British Touring Car royalty with us – champions Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan – who gave us the opportunity to go out for a few laps with them in the cars that took them to the podium. Having spent the day trying to master each braking point and racing line, it was great to be taken out by a professional to see how it’s done. It was truly amazing how quickly these guys can take a car around the track – the deceleration on corners was intense – and I’m pretty sure I spent most of the drive swearing and nervously laughing in equal measure. Incidentally, Matt Neal, you owe me some new underwear.

One of the things from the day that really stood out for me was the quality of the instructors and how they pushed and pushed us to improve our racing skills. This is no meander around a track. Rather, it’s a high octane, fullthrottle thrill-fest that anyone with a passion for supercars should investigate.

How to do it The Racing School is Europe’s longestestablished performance driving school, offering the most diverse range of experiences of any provider. It maintains a racing fleet of more than 80 vehicles.

Its other driving experiences include Formula 1, off-road, single-seater, supercar, multiple supercar, race training and junior.

In addition to Donington Park, it operates at the Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Three Sisters race circuits.

To book the ultimate driving experience call 01942 270230 or visit racing-school.co.uk.

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The Wish List Panic buying? It’s a thing of the past thanks to Tempus’s annual Christmas gift guide, an eclectic selection of the bold and the beautiful for the most discerning ladies and gentlemen

For him Every dapper gent will appreciate receiving one (or more) of these fine festive gifts.

Ladies, grab a pen and take note.

Geneu

If you’re looking for the future of skincare, then Geneu could well be it. Comprising the world’s first DNA personalised anti-ageing skincare collection, users can experience skincare designed specifically for them. Award-winning microchip technology tests your DNA in 30 minutes before creating an anti-ageing dual serum tailored to your genetic result. geneu.com

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A Fine Pair of Shoes

The unpredictable British weather can play havoc with a good pair of shoes – something that could (and should) last you a lifetime – so it pays to invest in a decent shoe care kit. This natty valet kit contains all the creams, polishes and brushes you could ever need. It looks great, too. afinepairofshoes.co.uk

Avakian

A rising star in the jewellery world, creating collections for men and women. We love this beautiful black gold and diamond-studded cufflink set. avakian.com

Garia

Anil Arjandas

A favoured brand of celebrities the world over, this tactile bracelet will perfectly complement your prestige watch. anilarjandas.com

Christopher Ward

The British watchmaker with the Swiss heart, Christopher Ward produces keenly-priced, quality watches, such as this C9 Harrison 5 Day Automatic – featuring an in-house movement. christopherward.co.uk

Gaziano & Girling

This is the ultimate street-legal golf buggy, featuring superb handling and luxury features, such as a built-in fridge, plus options like leather seats and carbon fibre body panels. garia.com

One of London’s finest shoemakers, head to its fabulous Savile Row emporium to find footwear such as these smart chestnut Chesterfields, or the stunning swan-neck Strand shoes. Both are available with matching belts. gazianogirling.com

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Geo F. Trumper

London’s premier barbering boutique also does a fine line in products, such as this warm and woody Spanish Leather cologne, combining patchouli, sandalwood and vanilla to make for a heady scent. trumpers.com

Six3Nine

Mühle-Glashütte

Representing German engineering at its finest, this special anniversary edition is dedicated to brand founder Robert Mühle and comes in steel or a limited edition run of 18ct gold. muehle-glashuette.de

Looking to shed that holiday weight? Then check out Covent Gardenbased personal training gym Six3Nine. Its 12-week Transformation package gives astounding results from a thrice-weekly workout and a nutrition plan. six3nine.com

The Reel Poster Gallery

The Shoe Snob

Victorinox

What started as a blog for those who appreciated fine footwear has blossomed into an online store, selling excellent own-brand footwear and a colourful range of quality Egyptian cotton socks. It’s time to treat your feet. theshoesnob.com

Established in 1991, this treasure trove of a store is the last word in fully authenticated movie posters, such as this 1939 original – believed to be the only remaining copy – for The Wizard Of Oz. reelposter.com

If you’re planning a travel trip this Christmas, why not invest in some quality luggage, such as the robust yet stylish Spectra 2.0 kit from Victorinox. Travel + Leisure magazine voted the range Luggage of the Year in its 2014 Design Awards. victorinox.com

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For her

Alexander Davis

This cutting-edge, award-winning jewellery designer draws from a diverse range of inspirations, including science, architecture and nature, to create visually arresting pieces of jewellery with bold colours, luxurious gemstones and inspiring craftsmanship. alexanderdavisjewellery.com

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Augustine Jewels

Clinic Lémanic

Livyora

Sicis O’Clock

This limited edition cuff is handmade in Britain from 18ct gold, with citrine and garnet natural gemstones. It’s also available in silver with peridot and garnet, or in rose gold with sapphires and garnets.

Bespoke requests are also taken. augustinejewels.com

Taking inspiration from the movement of the octopus, these impressive statement earrings ‘climb’ up the ears of the wearer. Made in 18ct yellow gold with a pink rhodium finish, and a carnelian cabochon as the centrepiece, set alongside round brilliant cut brown diamonds. livyora.com

This renowned clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland has become a European centre for excellence for those looking for face-lifts and body sculpting without surgery. If you’re looking for a new you in the new year, this is the place to go. cliniclemanic.ch

From its headquarters in Ravenna, Italy, Sicis O’Clock manufactures high-end contemporary collections of watches marked by the unique setting of thousands of tesserae in gold, precious gems and micro- and nano-mosaics. Unique, and truly striking. sicisjewels.com

Memo

Soak Yourself

Made using only natural ingredients, Soak Yourself ’s bath ritual recipe kit is the ultimate in hand-made luxury. Mix up an indulgent potion, pour in, lie back and let relaxation wash over you. soakyourself.co.uk

This Parisian fragrance brand has curated a selection of beautiful gifts for the festive season, including limited edition gift sets, a new fragrance (pictured) and a travel purse spray with a bespoke engraving option. A sensorial journey awaits. memofragrances.com

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Amor et Psyché

The Amor et Psyché range of candles, reed diffusers and perfumes were created by chandler Lex Lane. They are available in 14 distinct scents and arrive beautifully packaged, with a true artisan look, feel and, of course, scent to them. amoretpsyche.com

Homeware

Benjamin James Ryan

A bespoke designer, silversmith and jeweller, Benjamin combines traditional skills with cutting edge technology to create not only visually stunning pieces but beautifully functional and practical items too. These salt and pepper grinders are a brilliant example of his art. benjaminjamesryan.com

Cinema AV Design

This audio-visual specialist offers expert installation of state-of-theart equipment, whether it be for a home cinema room or kitting out an automated home. When it comes to projection, it recommends the Grand Cinema Superlumis Sim 2, offering extraordinary picture quality and fatigue-free 3D viewing experience for a true ‘Hollywood’ picture quality experience. cinemaavdesign.co.uk

Heindl Germany

Engineered and manufactured in Germany and Switzerland, these ultra-secure and very handsome safes provide the perfect home for a much-loved timepiece collection. The Inedia safe (pictured) can be finished in any high-gloss lacquer colour you desire. heindl-germany.com

Design By Dante

Award-winning Swiss artist Dante Rubli is renowned worldwide for his delicate and painstaking recreations of classic sports cars, with the models formed from precious metals. A stunning centrepiece for any gentleman’s study. dantedesign.ch

Kristjana Williams

This Icelandic-born artist has picked up numerous design awards for her groundbreaking work. Our pick of her current products are the limited edition bespoke globes, crafted using a 16th century technique. kristjanaswilliams.com

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Technology Vertu

The luxury mobile phone maker of choice has just made its handsets even more covetable, thanks to a partnership with Bentley. The Bentleybranded Signature Touch includes the car marque’s logo and is clad in Bentley’s traditional diamond stitched New Market Tan colour leather. vertu.com

Bear Grylls Paramotor

Approved by the intrepid adventurer himself, this ingenious machine offers a flight time of up to three hours and the ability to take off in just 20 metres. parajet.com

KJ West One

Halda

The Halda Race Pilot is a modular watch developed in cooperation with racing engineers and is the official watch of F1 driver Marcus Ericsson. It features a mechanical module with a Zenith movement and a digital module with functions custom-made for Formula 1. haldasweden.com

Samsung

The high-end audio paradise that is the KJ West One boutique has a host of premium products to tempt you this Christmas, including this new Statement system from Naim. kjwestone.co.uk

This 85-inch UHD TV is a technological work of art, delivering four times the detail of full HD TVs for an experience that is truly immersive. Make it the centrepiece of your home entertainment experience. samsung.com

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Food & drink

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Asprey

The c lever and talented silversmiths that beaver away above London’s Asprey store have come up with this cool cocktail shaker, clad in sterling silver with red enamel fins. asprey.com

Bespoke Beverages

Looking for the world’s rarest and most expensive coffee? Look no further than Liquid Diamonds, a 100% wild Kopi Luwak coffee that has been likened to the finest wines, with subtle flavours of chocolate, wild berry and caramel. bespokebeverages.com

Vérité

Wine critic Robert Parker recently announced seven 100-point scores for Vérité’s three blends: Le Désir, La Joie and La Muse, with La Joie described as an “utterly perfect, flawless wine”. Why not find out for yourself ? veritewines.com

Godiva

A luxury Christmas hamper stacked with chocolate is surely at the top of everyone’s festive wish list. This smart hamper contains milk and dark chocolate, plus pralines, chocolate pearls and much more. godivachocolates.co.uk

Nyetimber

The multi-award-winning Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2009 is the fizz of choice this festive season and is available through Berry Brothers & Rudd, Farr Vintners and most good wine merchants and wine shops. nyetimber.com

Porsche

Made from anodised aluminium with the Porsche Crest lasered onto the side, this exclusive bottle cooler is derived from an original ribbed cylinder from the early air-cooled Porsche 911 G Series models. porsche.co.uk/shop

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Stocking fillers Gifts that people don’t necessarily need, but that they really, really want…

Bulang & Sons

This respected online boutique for fine watches and luxury lifestyle products also produces high quality, own brand watchstraps. Handmade and tanned for eight to nine months, they are butter soft and perfect for that vintage Omega or Rolex. bulangandsons.com

Fiona Kruger

Ettinger

Since 1934 this London-based brand has handcrafted luxury goods for ladies and gentlemen and, while Ettinger is best known for its wallets and bags, the brand also produces beautiful jewellery boxes.

This nine-compartment version is clad in waxy hide on the outside and pig suede on the inside. ettinger.co.uk

Have a spookily good Christmas, care of one of our favourite watch designers of the moment, Fiona Kruger. The Skull Watch is a true talking point, offering a great movement and an innovative case. It is, of course, strictly limited edition. fionakruger.com

Perrier-Jouet

Released in time for the festive season, the PerrierJouët Limited Edition cuvée Belle Epoque Rosé 2005 by V ik Muniz provides the perfect match for special year-end celebrations. perrier-jouet.com

Speedometer Official

Inspired by iconic Rolex bezel designs, such as those found on the Rolex Submariner and GMT-Master II, these striking bracelets are a great way to accessorise yourself with a piece of horology. speedometerofficial.com

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Choice. Unlimited.

Porsche Driver’s Selection.

Whether you are a Porsche owner or a keen enthusiast, Porsche Driver’s Selection embodies the tradition, style and quality that you expect from Porsche. Clothing and chinaware inspired by our return to Le Mans and our motor racing heritage. An office chair, book shelf and wall clock using genuine Porsche 911 components.

Timepieces and accessories including phone and tablet* covers, computer mice, cufflinks and calendars.

And our newest addition - the STEVE MCQEENTM collection.

See the full Porsche Driver’s Selection range at www.porsche.co.uk/shop

Discover more about Porsche Driver’s Selection

* For iPhone and iPad

Canada

I

alaska

I

T h e h i m a l aya s

I

Russia

I

GReenland

I

iCeland

“Skiing crowded pistes will never seem good enough again.”

Tom RobbinS

I

The obSeRveR

E L E VAT E YOUR EXPERIENCE +44 (0)20 3059 8787 www.EAheliskiing.com james@eaheli.com l Call or email to order our 55 page broChure

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Words – Ruben Tabares

Hidden gem High-end hotels that cater for families are few and far between, but there’s great skiing and family fun to be had at the Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel in Ortisei, Italy

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F

irst up, a confession. I am something of a ski snob, with my slopes of choice usually being those in Zermatt, St Moritz or Verbier. From their beautifully groomed pistes to wonderful après ski, I’ve spent many a happy long weekend in those popular resorts. A recent addition to the Tabares family, however, combined with a desire to seek out something new, saw our clan head off to Ortisei, the most vibrant and charming resort in Italy’s Val Gardena.

For many years it was part of Austria, and it still has a Tyrolean appeal. From the moment we arrived, we heard lots of German being spoken. So although it boasts Austrian efficiency, with everything working and running smoothly, there’s the bonus of Italian food – this is a nation that simply doesn’t do bad food, even at the lowliest slope-side café – guaranteeing us a delicious feast at every mealtime.

Although it’s a relatively low resort with erratic natural snowfall, the snowmaking and piste conditions are excellent, and it offers a spectacular, dramatic setting with a mix of open and wooded slopes – some with big verticals – and good nursery slopes. An early classic centre for skiing, it became more famous in modern times when it staged the Alpine Ski World Championships in 1970.

A lively, cosmopolitan place, it’s also supremely child-friendly, with the Dolomiti Ski Pass offering low prices and free lift use for younger children, plus there’s ice skating at the town’s large outdoor ice rink. When it comes to wonderful facilities for the family, though, it was hard to top our temporary home – the wonderfully named Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel.

It’s set in an enchanting location, surrounded by the wonders of the Dolomites and right in the centre of Ortisei, next to a beautiful private park.

The resort’s stylish boutiques and bars are only a snowball’s throw away, as are more than 175km of marvellous ski slopes – both world cup-standard alpine descents

and magical cross-country trails, all connected with an ultra-modern ski lift network.

I’d considered booking my son – who was new to skiing – into a ski school, but being a decent intermediate skier myself I decided to show him the ropes. After a morning on the gentle nursery slopes, he took his first chairlift up to the top of a blue piste and it was truly rewarding to see him snowplough down there like he’d been skiing for a week.

Every time I go skiing, it only serves to remind me what a wonderful sport it is – one that can be enjoyed no matter what your level of competence.

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After a tiring day on the slopes, the hotel was like a comfort blanket. It’s tailor-made for children, subverting the received wisdom that a glamorous, luxury hotel isn’t set up for little ones. Here, professionally trained staff, many qualified to assist even babies, are on hand to help take the strain, allowing parents to relax, savour a romantic dinner (an all too rare occasion in the Tabares household), and pamper themselves with a heavenly beauty treatment. There was never that uncomfortable feeling that our kids were being too noisy or bothersome, or going where they’re not wanted – here everyone is welcome everywhere and smiling staff looked on as our kids wandered happily around the restaurant or through the spa area.

And what a spa it is. Named Aqva-Sana, it’s a huge world of wellness spread over a 2,900 sq m area with six different sauna areas, a tranquil relaxing zone with water beds that play the music of your choice and a superb spa menu that includes a selection of beauty treatments, with a particular emphasis on mums and babies. The skilled therapists also offer romantic couple treatments, shiatsu and ayurvedic massages.

Like any family holiday, though, it’s only a happy trip if the little ones are content. This is where Lino Land comes in. Not, as the name suggests, a space dedicated to the wonders of the favoured kitchen floor

covering of the 70s. Rather, it’s a vast 1,250 sq m childrens’ play area – a genuinely breathtaking place – comprising a mini sports area, pirate island, giant Lego bricks, kitchen and carpentry areas, a creative laboratory, a doll’s house and a large games area with PlayStation, table tennis, mini billiard table and even a children’s restaurant with soft drinks available all day long. In the outdoor garden there’s also a small petting zoo with rabbits and goats. Even babies are catered for, with carers playing with them in the ball pool, cuddling area, sweet dream rooms and sensorial station.

I realise that, in a review of a ski holiday, I have spent way more space on children’s fun than you’d expect but this is literally like no hotel I have ever stayed at. Come for the skiing, but you’ll return for the comfort, convenience and effortless service that is hallmark of Cavallino Bianco. cavallino-bianco.com

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Words – Kirsten Boisvert

T Timeless elegance A luxury spa and a two-starred Michelin restaurant are the highlights of this beautiful manor house nestled in the Cotswolds

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ucked away in sleepy Malmesbury, in the heart of the Cotswolds, is Whatley Manor – a stunning spa hotel set in the most beautiful surroundings. The timelessly elegant atmosphere begins from the moment you walk from your car and through the courtyard to reception, with every inch of this restored manor house filling you with a sense of serenity. In the words of Björk, it’s oh so quiet here, with just the twitter of birdsong echoing around the 12 acres of traditional English gardens providing the soundtrack to our entrance.

For such a big property, it has surprisingly few rooms – just 23 in all – with ours being a beautiful suite complete with four-poster bed, Bang & Olufsen TV, separate lounge area and a very inviting bathroom kitted out with all manner of Asprey amenities. Frankly, it was tempting to plot up here for the rest of the stay but the delights of the spa were calling.

This impressive space is an oasis of relaxation, comprising not just the standard sauna and steam rooms but also salt-scrub showers, ‘experience showers’ (one of which was a refreshing rainforest-style affair), thermal cabins, wave dream sensory room and, my personal favourite, the heated stone recliners in the tepidarium, which were sheer bliss.

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The main pool itself is a large hydrotherapy space featuring an airbed, airtub, neck massage jets and an air bench. Best of all, though, was the outdoor section of the pool where, despite the crisp autumnal breeze, I felt warm and relaxed thanks to the toasty water temperature.

All of this proved to be the perfect precursor to the double Michelin-starred meal that we were about to embark on, courtesy of The Dining Room, the hotel’s premier restaurant. It’s held in high regard by in-the-know foodies, so much so, in fact, that our waiter told us that many people actually drove up from London simply to sample the food.

Following some delicious amuse bouche (about which my dining partner remarked “my bouche is definitely amused”) I started with some sublime quail breasts followed by a pearly, perfectly cooked fillet of turbot. My husband enjoyed the hand-dived scallops – served with crispy bacon and courgette puree, and the garden

pea risotto. Conversation, it has to said, was kept to a minimum as we enjoyed what can only be described as a feast. The sommelier, Andrea Domenicucci, was also on hand to give great wine recommendations, including a cheeky sauvignon blanc that complemented my generous hunk of fish beautifully.

Following dinner, we retired to the lounge for a brief nightcap before heading upstairs for what proved to be one of the most comfortable night’s sleep I’ve ever had. Looking out at the fairy lights in the manicured gardens before falling into bed made me feel like a princess – if only real life could always be like this.

Nothing is too much trouble for the friendly, ultra-efficient and knowledgeable staff, and after a memorable short break in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK I for one certainly hope it won’t be long before I enjoy the warm embrace of Whatley Manor once again. whatleymanor.com

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Words – Julien James Davis

Magic Getting up close and personal with sharks and whales in the idyllic setting of Tahiti, one of the hundreds of islands that make up the remote but beautiful French Polynesia - 115 -

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I

t’s amazing how quickly you get used to swimming with sharks. Just half an hour ago I was circumnavigating the breathtaking mountains of Bora Bora in a small skiff boat, exchanging furtive glances with other members of our diving party. We giggled nervously and took turns humming the Jaws theme in a poor attempt to mask our fear.

“We’re not actually going to do this, right..?”

And when our stereotypically chiselled, sunkissed skipper “Chic” (I’m serious) dropped anchor in a picture-perfect lagoon, the only reason I wound up being first in was because he had all but pushed me overboard.

Yet after only a few moments sharing the water with these graceful but daunting creatures (thanks, Mr Spielberg), here I am having a Damascene epiphany: sharks look so much cooler when they’re swimming toward you.

And so - astonishingly - I find myself, GoPro in hand, swimming casually and confidently into the path of a pair of black tip reef sharks, suddenly eager to get the best possible shot.

My heart has a slight flutter as I realise - far too late - the possible stupidity of my decision, but at the last possible moment, these most photogenic of predators veer off to my right, mercifully disinterested in a gristly morsel like me. And exhale.

Later, over a delicious lunch of mahi mahi tartar at the nearby St Regis Resort, the exhilaration of the group is infectious. We’re all very much aware that this morning’s aquamarine adventure definitely qualifies as a bonafide bucket list moment and, incredibly, it will not prove to be the only one during my week-long visit to Tahiti.

Situated in the heart of the Pacific, the 118 islands that make up French Polynesia are sprinkled across the ocean over an area the

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size of Europe, yet with a population smaller than Iceland (about a quarter of a million).

It’s a region as beautiful as it is remote and it’s no wonder that the locals are so proud to welcome you to their unique archipelago. With its stunning vistas, rich culture and fascinating heritage, it really is true what they say: “Tahiti.

It’s a magical place.”

Perhaps in part due to their remote location, the islands still feel decidedly unspoilt.

Everywhere you go, life moves at a slower, more languid pace, and it’s infectious. There’s also something rather decadently Sixties about stepping straight out of a small, twin-engine plane right onto the jetty and into an idling speedboat. It’s no wonder that Marlon Brando saw fit to buy his own private slice of island paradise here.

We journeyed from Brando’s backyard in Bora Bora across the high seas to the nearby island of Mo’orea, and the stunning seclusion of the Hilton Lagoon Resort and Spa. It has to be said that watching the sun set across the silver smooth ocean from my private overwater bungalow, I felt as though I was actually witnessing the Earth turn the page of some gigantic, celestial ledger at the end of another day. The beauty of that moment, combined with the knowledge that the International Date Line lay in wait just beyond the horizon, utterly captivated my imagination – and the fact that I happened to have an exquisitely smooth glass of moelleux gros manseng to keep me company only served to further enhance the experience.

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Dinner that evening was beneath the stars at the resort’s Toatea Bar, an excellent eaterie set around an open-plan, circular kitchen with a conical, thatched-roof and situated along an undulating, wooden promenade out over the waves. It also has the added attraction of local lemon sharks circling in their dozens in the waters below - just feet beneath the diners hungrily awaiting whatever fresh carnivorous offcuts the chefs choose to theatrically discard from time to time. It’s all so deliciously Bond Villain and watching the water froth ferociously as they thrash over the scraps is definitely not to be missed.

The following morning, the promise of an experience even more magical than swimming with sharks hung around my head like a sweet perfume – a once-in-a-lifetime chance to swim

with whales. As you might imagine though, whale-watching is not an exact science and for the first hour I had the creeping feeling that the only thing of note we were going to see all day was the (admittedly beautiful) mist-shrouded summit of Mouaputa – the distinctive, shark tooth mountain at the centre of the island, famous for its Polo mint hole right through the peak.

Suddenly though – and for no immediately apparent reason I could fathom - there was an urgent call for us all to don our goggles and get into the water. I dutifully obeyed, and just in time to catch a giant plume of sea mist explode from the surface 40ft off to my left. Instantly I ducked my head underwater and there, right in front of me… It… Was. Nothing in life - no amount of BBC HD wildlife documentary footage - can prepare you for the bewildering cocktail of emotions that floods your mind when you are first confronted by the unflinching reality of a humpback whale.

They are just so astonishingly otherworldly. So alien, so huge and yet so mesmerisingly graceful.

The young female (I was later informed) moved

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through the water with such nimble poise; a gloss-black zeppelin with snow white tire treads running the length of her abdomen. She seemed both rubber-smooth in some places and rugged as a rock face in others. A singular testament to the prodigious artistry of Mother Nature herself; if whales did not exist, mankind would most assuredly lack the imagination to ever dream them up.

As I watched transfixed, the gorgeous beast arced onto her flank and glided right past us, just 20ft away, propelled by an effortless waft of the gigantic, barnacled flukes of her tail. And for one incredible minute I could see life with the wide-eyed wonder of an eight-year-old child again – and it was awe-inspiring. That feeling alone is worth travelling halfway around the world for.

Everywhere you go throughout the islands, in every resort, on every boat ride, you will undoubtedly be greeted by both a warm smile and with a lovingly handcrafted lei placed around your shoulders. Some are made from dozens of fresh-cut flowers - the white, TiarĂŠ Gardenia variety being a personal favourite - while others are painstakingly constructed out of tiny seashells, either in simple chains or sometimes in more intricate lattice designs.

By the end of your stay, you do begin to run the risk of looking a little bit like an eco-friendly Mr T, with your burgeoning necklace collection. Should you decide not to keep them though, it’s worth remembering that leis should never be merely discarded in the bin; received etiquette is instead to cut the string and simply allow the petals or shells to return to the earth, or better yet, back into the ocean.

How to do it For more information on the islands of Tahiti, tour operator package deals and special offers visit tahiti-tourisme.co.uk Air Tahiti Nui is the national carrier to French Polynesia with departures from Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Auckland to Tahiti with connecting flights available from London with Virgin Atlantic. For further information email resa@airtahitinui.co.uk or visit airtahitinui.co.uk.

Exclusively

Exclusively

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GALACTIC FANTASTIC Matthew McConaughey’s renaissance as a respected actor, as opposed to his previous life playing dull romantic leads, continues apace with the recent release of Interstellar, a high concept space-based movie directed by the similarly lauded Christopher Nolan. In it, McConaughey plays Cooper, a farmer living on a future vision of Earth who discovers a space probe that, ultimately, sees him journey to the other side of a galaxy via a newly discovered wormhole. The film enjoyed good reviews but the sharper-eyed horology fans among you might have spotted that the actor was sporting a rather lovely Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day Date timepiece throughout the film.

With its classic aviator design, superluminova hands, large, easy to read dial and respectable ETA 2834-2 movement, it’s the perfect, robust choice for those embarking on a perilous interstellar mission or, indeed, anyone who loves handsome pieces that combine the best of form and function.

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