Haute Dubai Issue #16

July - August 2015 | Issue 16

Y O U R

G U I D E

A Posh Progression

Victoria Beckham: from Spice Girl to style queen

T O

H I G H

When East Meets West Restaurant review: Qbara

L I V I N G

Museum Madness

The biggest museum openings of the year

CONTENTS 14

FEATURE

A Posh Progression Victoria Beckham: from Spice Girl to style queen

18 20

DINING

24 28 32 34 36 38

STYLE

42 46

July – August 2015

Living La Vida Roca We turn our sight to Roca brothers’ World’s Best restaurant and its estimable beginnings When East Meets West Restaurant Review: Qbara

Braving Boundaries Bovet Amadeo Fleurier BraveHeart: a timepiece that pushes the boundaries of chronometric precision Geometrically Glamorous The Diva watch collection by Bulgari: a multi-facetted universe of jewellery paintings The Butterfly Effect Inspired by beauty, essence, and evocation: the new Alegoría collection by Carrera y Carrera Bold & Beautiful Bulgari portrays the ultimate Italian femininity with 2015 Diva Collection Haute Must-haves Our Editor’s picks of must-have fashion of the season Making a Splash Evocative of exotic and distant destinations, Louis Vuitton introduces the new summer collection

TRAVEL

A Mirage in the Mountains Happy wanderer Natalie Amos goes on a sojourn to uncover some of the gems of Oman Spotting the Spotted Jawai Leopard Camp pioneers a new age of luxury safari camps

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CONTENTS 50 52 56 60 62 66 70 72 76

LEISURE

Linked In Yas Links combines unparalleled visual beauty with the thrill of golf’s traditional Links experience

LIVING

The Art Of Living by Giorgio Armani Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio’s most important global projects on display at Salone del Mobile in Milan Sound Investment Bring your music to life with our roundup of top high-end audio brands Seeing All Angles Perla Lichi creates signature look in a Palm Jumeirah villa

ART

Museum Madness Five major museum openings in 2015

YACHTING

First Look: The New Princess 35m The highly anticipated Princess 35M is now available to view, for the first time, in a series of exclusive images Crowning Her Grace Picchiotti Grace E: Motor Yacht of the Year 2015

MOTORING

Tried & Tested The New Bentley Flying Spur V8 Dawn of the Drophead Rolls Royce announces a new dawn for super-luxury motoring

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE Dear Readers,

We are a half way through 2015 and as Haute Dubai takes further steps into its third year of existence, I’m very happy to once again take off with you to an amazing journey of style, luxury and inspiring stories.

Since our launch, I have observed many luxury magazines come in and out of existence and I am thoroughly proud that we are one of those that have endured. Of course, this couldn’t have been possible without you. You have played a great role in Haute Dubai’s flourishing existence by allowing our passion take place in your life, and for that I am very grateful.

I have said it before, and I’m happy to say it again: luxury isn’t measured entirely by price tags – it’s a state of mind. And I can confidently say that within these pages you will always find little anecdotes and things to strike your imagination into an effervescent state of awe.

We kick-off this issue with a journey of talent that has taken Victoria Beckham from a Spice Girl to a style queen. Today, her brand echoes with dynamism and modernity and is sported by many celebrities, including Julianne Moore, Beyonce Knowles, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet. Read the full story on page 14.

As the mercury soars to the blazing Dubai sun, we put a spotlight on two nourishing summer escapes. Close to home, this issue visits the Hajar Mountains in Oman, blessed by a more temperate climate, and beautiful scenery. For a more far-flung retreat, we head east to the spectacular plains of Rajasthan, India, where Jawai Leopard Camp is redefining ‘glamping’ or luxury camping.

You will also be nourished with our regular pages which pack loads of new things, places and ideas picked for their avant-garde qualities. I personally had a very exciting time test driving the new Bentley Flying Spur V8, and am delighted to share the experience with you. You can read my impression on page 72.

Lastly, as we set forth this summer edition of Haute Dubai before you, we hope the summer edition of your life is similarly spectacular!

Editorial Team

HAUTE Publishing & Advertising P.O. Box 13294, Dubai - United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 258 3778 Fax: +971 4 258 3779 E-mail: info@hautedubaimagazine.com www.hautedubaimagazine.com © 2015 All rights reserved.

The publisher regrets that it cannot accept liability for any errors or inaccuracies printed, however caused. All articles contained within HAUTE DUBAI magazine are under copyright to the publisher and cannot be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission of the publisher.

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FEATURE

A Posh Progression Victoria Beckham: from Spice Girl to style queen

From a peculiar pop star to a bona fide fashion designer, Victoria Beckham has undergone a major evolution. The style icon has two successful fashion lines, a global e-boutique and a three-storey Mayfair boutique tucked under her fashion belt.

Popularly known as ‘Posh Spice,’ Victoria Beckham was born Victoria Adams on April 17, 1974, in Hertfordshire, England. She was brought up in an upper middle class environment and her aspiration to have a musical career was fulfilled by her parents by encouraging her to study acting, music, dancing and modelling. Since achieving success as a pop singer in the 1990s, Mrs Beckham has become one of the most photographed women in the world. Tabloids seem to follow nearly every move that she and her husband, soccer star David Beckham, make.

Although her musical career with the ‘Spice Girls’ gave a nudge to her successful image, it is her own hard work as an entrepreneur and a fashion designer that has made her one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK. Since launching in 2008, the Victoria Beckham fashion brand has developed a distinctive and modern language of clothing. Bold, intuitive and refined, its wardrobe of apparel and accessories is now stocked in over 500 stores in over 60 countries internationally.

Beckham is reportedly hands-on when it comes to her fashion. With each collection Victoria adapts her own personal style to the needs and desires of the international women who swear by the label’s luxurious and flattering garments.

Using only the finest craftsmanship, fabrication and materials, all five Victoria Beckham lines are de-

Image courtesy of The Independent

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Images: Victoria Beckham

FEATURE

veloped at Victoria’s studio in London. The Victoria Beckham ready-to-wear collection is primarily handmade in the UK, whilst the Victoria, Victoria Beckham and Denim collections are made in Europe.

The Accessories and Eyewear are both expertly handcrafted in Italy.

As the Victoria Beckham collections become ever more progressive, so this passion for innovation extends to the brand’s communications and creative projects. In 2013, it launched victoriabeckham.com, a website offering both e-commerce and interactive content curated to provide a more intimate view of Victoria’s design approach and working processes.

In 2014 Victoria Beckham opened its first store at 36 Dover Street in London – a collaboration with architect Farshid Moussavi to transform a neglected Mayfair townhouse into a shopping destination echoing the dynamism and modernity at the heart of the brand.

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Since launching in 2008, the Victoria Beckham fashion brand has developed a distinctive and modern language of clothing.

Bold, intuitive and refined, its wardrobe of apparel and accessories is now stocked in over 500 stores in over 60 countries internationally.

The Victoria Beckham fashion label represents modern luxury, comprised of the Ready-to-Wear, Denim, Eyewear, Accessories and ‘Victoria’ collections. All are conceived by Victoria and developed at her studio in London with the same aspirational, chic and refined aesthetic that is at the heart of Victoria’s creative vision.

Launched in September 2008 to great acclaim at New York Fashion Week, Victoria Beckham Ready-to-Wear is handmade in the United Kingdom and stocked internationally by the world’s best fashion stores. Victoria’s collections have been worn by celebrities including Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore, Beyonce Knowles, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet.

Mrs Beckham is not just a pop star, a business woman and a fashion designer but also a writer of two bestselling books. For now, it seems, she is focused on her work as a designer. “I’m so grateful to the fashion industry for accepting me and giving me a chance.”

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DINING

Living La Vida Roca

For serious foodies who enjoy the pursuit of the toughest restaurant reservations, El Celler de Can Roca is the new feat. It’s been that way since April, when the Catalan restaurant was voted number one on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, published by Restaurant Magazine. The three-Michelin star restaurant, known for combining traditional ingredients with a variety of cooking methods, last held the title in 2013.

Located in Girona, a city in Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region, El Celler de Can Roca may very well be the world’s most collaborative high-end restaurant, a fraternal enterprise built on the interdisciplinary cooperation of three foodie brothers, Joan (executive chef), Josep (head sommelier) and Jordi (pâtissier). As Four

With the Roca brothers striking No.1 on the World’s Best Restaurant list – for the second time – we turn our sight to their acclaimed restaurant and its estimable beginnings.

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Magazine put it: “El Celler de Can Roca is the amalgamation of a perfect triad of minds; Joan Roca the savoury, Jordi the sweet and Josep the liquid.”

Committed to the avant-garde, but still faithful to the memory of different generations of the family’s ancestors dedicated to feeding people, El Celler started out as a small bar-restaurant by brothers Joan and Josep Roca in 1986. Joan, in the kitchen, and Josep, in the dining room, the two brothers ran the restaurant which was then located just next to the parents’ home in Taialà-Germans Sàbat, a popular neighbourhood on the outskirts of Girona. A year after that, in 1987, Encarna Tirado, now married to Josep Roca, joined the project in the dining room.

And the youngest brother, Jordi, started in the kitchen 11 years later.

In 1991, Roca brothers set their sights on can Sunyer, a country house, a hybrid of modernist and colonial styles built in 1911 by the architect Isidre Bosch i Bataller. After purchasing it they adapted it as a banqueting hall called la Torre de Can Roca. Fifteen years later, in November 2007, the new Celler was relocated to the Tower, and the former 170-squaremetre premises were quadrupled by the annexation of 200 square metres of kitchen, 200 of winery, 200 of dining room and 60 for the hall, plus a welcoming garden.

The Roca family’s gastronomic history stretches far more than that. In fact, El Celler de Can Roca is the outcome of the evolution of a family that has been engaged in the restaurant trade for many generations, and with a permanent avant-garde vocation. The father, Josep Roca i Pont, was born into Can Reixach – still an operating as a restaurant in Sant Martí de Llémena – in 1933. He was a local bus driver, roasted chickens on a spit and grilled meat, and spent a good many years behind the counter at Can Roca. His mother was Grannie Angeleta, her grandchildren’s muse, who spent “all her life stirring pans and feeding people”. Montserrat Fontané i Serra, their mother, is the revered driving force and cook, the person who has had the greatest influence on cooking at Can Roca. Montserrat Fontané’s family may possibly have been in the restaurant business since the 18th Century, while, all three Roca brothers studied at the Girona Catering School and believe in pedagogy as the basis for the professionals of the future.

El Celler de Can Roca’s commitment to cuisine and to the avant-garde, and its link to academia, has led it to defend the dialogue between the countryside and science, a total dialogue.

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DINING

20

Restaurant Review

When East Meets West

With the rare exception, Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai tend to come in the guise of casual outlets – quick and cheap rather than elegant and upscale. The cavernous Qbara aspires to greater things…

It is also good to know, if you are dining at Qbara for the first time, that it’s best to go with a crowd, because the menu, be it A la carte or one of the set menus on offer, is designed for sharing. The menu we chose for this review was the Early Dinner set menu, a sharing concept at AED220 per person, available for reservations from 7:00pm to 7:45pm. On it, you will find a wide range of signature flavours from the Levant to Morocco, including grilled meats and beautiful meze platters. Almost every dish melds traditional Middle Eastern staples with modern flavours, covering territory both predictable, such as a falafel salad, and newfangled like trufflescented labneh.

First up on the Early Dinner menu is a fine twist on a regional staple: fresh, chopped vegetables served on a tray of ice with a truffle scented labneh dip – a healthy starter to get the appetite going. Next, fattoush salad, with avocado as the eccentric component.

Similarly unusual was the use of falafel in another salad dish, but

If you are going to Qbara for the first time, you should know that Qbara has more of the ambience of a trendy lounge than your average Dubai Middle Eastern a restaurant. The voluminous bi-level space itself is divided into multiple lounges and dining areas, and is meant to be high on atmosphere, with a Resident DJ a spinning groovy tunes.

Ultra-contemporary design abounds, and next to the stylish, rather lavish dishes, seems to be one of the reasons Qbara has gained great popularity so rapidly. In the main dining room, the honey-hued carpet-panelled walls create the impression of a giant kaleidoscope. High ceilings with a central dome chandelier crafted from blown glass bubbles lend the feeling of grandeur, while a plush adjacent lounge with intimate lighting, a showcase bar, and a vertical art installation made up of intricately-carved timber panels that also serves as a live art wall and projection light show, give Qbara its unique character.

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STYLE

our favourite starter was the fish option, which carried somewhat a Middle Eastern accent – crudo of yellow tail, nicely matched with coriander seed, Persian lime and caviar.

The hot starters, with the lobster kebbeh being the exception, were more conventionally prepared: fried calamari with home pickled chilli mayonnaise and grilled chicken skewers which were lean, moist and flavoured with saffron honey from Yemen and chilli salt from Aleppo.

The main course also consisted of three dishes. The fish was a seven-spiced crispy salmon cooked to perfection. So was the meat dish: spicy, beautifully chargrilled tender lamb cutlets executed with panache and in fine dining portions. The third dish, tasted of Moroccan flavours: vegetables in spicy tomato sauce served over chickpeas and couscous.

Dessert, similarly, struck a Moroccan chord: sweet milk b’stilla – a traditional Moroccan dessert of rose water custard, toasted almonds and brique pastry – with sliced strawberry imbedded in the middle.

The verdict: Qbara breaks the mold when it comes to Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai. With its considerable charms, impeccable service and wine list culled from across the Mediterranean, it turns a medium-profile cuisine into a big-time event.

Qbara is located in Oud Metha, Dubai, tel: +97147092500 Open daily for dinner: 6:00pm – 1:00am

Yellowtail Crudo

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STYLE

Braving Boundaries

Bovet Amadeo Fleurier BraveHeart: a timepiece that pushes the boundaries of chronometric precision

specialty refers to its double co-axial seconds display mechanism. It went without saying that this patented double coaxial seconds display had to be included in this new calibre, regardless of the difficulty incorporating it into a tourbillon axis. This desire to display the seconds on both sides of the tourbillon carriage constitutes a world first, which naturally led the Manufacture’s technicians to develop the first flying tourbillon of the Manufacture Dimier history.

A traditional tourbillon moves between two bridges which support the pivots situated at the far ends of its axis, whereas a flying tourbillon pivots on a ball bearing fixed to the lower extremity of its axis, generally located in the plate.

Simply adopting the latter solution would have prevented the transparency of the “pivoted” tourbillons already manufactured by Bovet from being achieved; in addition, the weight of the tourbillon carriage represents a sizeable constraint for the ball bearing due to the leverage force established by the height of the carriage’s axis. To counteract these issues, the Manufacture Dimier technicians came up with an innovative idea: to support the entire carriage in the middle of its axis. As well as halving the leverage force generated by the total height of the axis, this solution enabled the carriage’s weight to be spread over each side of its anchorage point.

To achieve this, the escapement was positioned on the lower part of the axis, while the balance wheel and balance-spring occupied the upper section of the axis. This patented mechanism results in unequalled chronometry for a flying tourbillon, and creates an impression – more convincing than ever – of a tourbillon levitating in the extra space provided by the three-quarter plates.

The chronometric improvements obtained by the innovative architecture of the tourbillon carriage are com-

Year after year, Dimier 1738, Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Artisanale, illustrates the extent of its artisans’ talent by developing and manufacturing timepieces that constantly define new criteria of excellence in decorative arts, horological engineering and chronometry. It all started with owner Pascal Raffy’s dream, a spontaneous vision that constantly leads him to design new timepieces. In parallel, a compendium of calibres and complications produced by the Manufacture Dimier since 2006 and the extraordinary historical heritage of Bovet 1822 defined the future of the Maison and its collections. From that point on, a clear set of specifications was drawn up and a privileged position reserved for innovation and the ideas that emerge during the various stages of development. The calibre destined for the new icon, the Amadeo Fleurier Braveheart Tourbillon with 22 days of power reserve, had to redefine the boundaries of chronometry while offering optimal ease of use. This required a long power reserve both to provide a singularly constant force to the regulating organ and offer unparalleled conditions of use.

In addition to incorporating the sum of 193 years of experience, the Braveheart was designed around one of the main characteristics of Bovet’s modern time-pieces: the Amadeo convertible case system. This ingenious system, which has equipped all Fleurier collections since 2010, gives two aspects to two sides of the timepiece. Two different, yet harmonious expressions of time, combined with the numerous technical challenges involved in integrating two time displays into an elegant and controlled volume. In 2014, Bovet unveiled its first watchmaking specialty calibre not regulated by a tourbillon – a first in the history of the Manufacturer. Patent number 0169-DI-CH relating to this

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STYLE

pocket watch to compensate for the effects of gravity when the regulating organ was in a vertical position, here it finds unprecedented modern legitimacy. Its reversibility must also have meaning; this is why, following the example of the other timepieces in the Grandes Complications collection, the Braveheart displays the hours, minutes and seconds on both sides of its movement, harmoniously dividing the rest of its indications between two separate faces. The first of these two faces seems to possess a single hand, even though it presents three indications. The hours hand, slightly offcentred on the upper part of the movement, is the only hand to cross the surface of the main dial. A triangular index traces the 160° of the minutes sector, and moves back every hour to recommence counting. A second 120° sector acts as the seconds indicator. Here again, there are no hands, but the gently angled and polished ends of the three arms of the tourbillon-carriage bridge alternate every 20 seconds, totalling one minute for every revolution of the tourbillon.

When the timepiece is turned over, another expression of time is revealed. The hours and minutes are displayed traditionally by two hands on an off-centred dial at 12 o’clock. From this perspective, the tourbillon is the centre

pounded by those originating from a resolutely new balance wheel/balance-spring combination. Faithful to the principles of Bovet, the tourbillon carriage and balance wheel/ balance-spring constitute a new milestone in the search for absolute isochronism. The entire tourbillon carriage is the subject of three patents, which bear testimony to the innovative spirit of Pascal Raffy while honouring the artisanal production methods that have underpinned Bovet’s success since 1822.

Like all the timepieces in the Grandes Complications collection, the functions and indications of the Braveheart are intended to be useful and suited to modern lifestyles.

The convertibility of the Amadeo case already constitutes a real complication in itself. Directly interacting with the movement’s complications, it proves that the timepieces developed by Bovet are designed as whole objects rather than as assembled movements, dials and cases. In addition to changing into a table clock or pocket watch without the use of a single tool, the Amadeo case of the Braveheart also allows it to be worn as a reversible wristwatch.

As the tourbillon was invented in the days of the

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of attention once again. Due to its innovative structure, the tourbillon presents a second, completely unprecedented face. We see the escapement as it has never been seen before: distinctly separated from the balance wheel and balance-spring, yet still perfectly connected to it.

At the centre of the timepiece, the power reserve hand skims over the movement, tracing a wide area. To ensure enhanced lightness, legibility and elegance its scale is metallized beneath the crystal. Driven by a desire for unequalled chronometry, Pascal Raffy included a colossal power reserve in the specifications of the Braveheart, as the force supplied to a regulating organ is more constant over long periods of time. A true specialist in long power reserves, all of the movements manufactured by Bovet prior to the Braveheart offered power reserves of five to seven days. The hand of the Braveheart promises no fewer than 22 days of power reserve. The secret of this phenomenal increase in energy lies, above all, in the strict calculations of the timepiece’s energy efficiency. The aim was to reduce the movement’s energy consumption as much as possible in order to add a limited extra supply of energy which would, in turn, increase its autonomy. The two barrels that store this energy each harbour a 104 cm-long spring, and take up half of the movement’s surface area.

Solving the puzzle of the long power reserve immediately created a new problem for the Dimier’s technical department: winding. The number of turns of a crown required to wind a movement is logically proportional to the length of its power reserve, which becomes unreasonable for 22 days of autonomy. The technicians, however, were not prepared to let this new challenge disparage their ingenuity and designed a spherical differential gear on the stem of the winding system that enables the gear ratio to be doubled and the number of crown rotations necessary to fully wind the movement halved – all in an extremely reduced space.

This spherical differential gear is the subject of the fifth patent specific to this exceptional calibre.

The technical expertise of the Braveheart sets new standards of ingenuity and chronometry. Yet, fine watchmaking according to Bovet does not merely involve manufacturing the best timepieces – they must also be the most beautiful. Honouring the tradition of the decorative watchmaking arts has contributed to the Maison’s reputation for almost two centuries. Pascal Raffy perpetuates the unparalleled expertise of his artisans and renders it eternal. As the new emblematic timepiece of the Bovet collections, the Braveheart offers the noblest demonstration of this new artistic orchestration. Homage must be paid first of all to the work of the master craftsmen.

Each of the 722 components of the movement passes through the expert hands of the artisans of this prestigious workshop, where all the traditional decorative techniques have been mastered to perfection. The decoration of the Braveheart’s components often requires thirty times more

time than that required to manufacture the same, functional component. Chamfering, circular graining, all techniques are used to enhance the precious mechanics of the Braveheart, down to the rounding off of the curved arms of the tourbillon bridge, which alone requires two days of work and establishes a new landmark in the excellence of the decorative arts.

The meticulous work of the hand-engravers completes this enchanting decoration. Each bridge and plate passes through their hands, as they complete this masterpiece with engraving that is unique to every timepiece.

The two barrels are adorned with a symbolic sentence that paraphrases the authenticity certificates accompanying historic timepieces produced by Bovet: “Faictes de mains de Maistres pour servir ponctuels Gentilshommes, ce par quoy attestons longue valeur” (“Born from the hands of Masters to serve punctual Gentlemen, by which we certify enduring value”). This maxim begins on one of the barrels and finishes on the second. For increased legibility and to add a new aesthetic dimension, this sentence has been etched using deep engraving: an additional prowess underlining the talent of the Maison’s craftsmen.

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STYLE

Geometrically Glamorous The Diva watch collection by Bulgari: a multi-facetted universe of jewellery paintings

The Diva watch proudly proclaims its roots in the

in 2013 on this theme is interpreted through the many

the Dolce Vita era during which Bulgari and the world of

our, exalts the graceful charm and reflects the radiance

expressions of Haute Joaillerie. Drawing inspiration

founding jewellery values of the House. A reference to

from modern-day divas, its captures the spirit of glam-

the golden age of silver screen legends, Diva embodies

of contemporary feminine icons. Each of the creations

movies were inseparable. Countless vintage photos have

in the collection reflects the personality of the woman

indeed immortalised the steady flow of film stars going

who, in conjunction with Bulgari, conveys a blend of

in and out of the flagship boutique on the Via dei Con-

glamour, charisma, sensuality and passion.

dotti, all clearly fascinated by Bulgari jewellery. For dec-

In much the same way as the pictorial arts, the

ades and through to the present day, Bulgari has been

Diva covers a prodigiously varied spectrum of expres-

closely linked to the most iconic celebrities.

sion. An abundance of gemstone and colour combina-

Embodying a tribute paid by Bulgari to these

tions compose jewellery scenes encompassing a broad

timeless moments, the Diva watch collection presented

range of colours. From shimmering turquoise, diamonds

and tourmaline to the pristine beauty of white embodied in the diamond alone, as well as the restrained glow

of gold enhanced by gently contrasting coloured pearls, all of these watch creations vividly represent the history of the House and the symbols that have punctuated its

history through the decades. In just a few clever touches, the Diva watch provides a temporal measure of jewel-

lery artistry by interpreting the infinitely subtle nuances of this spellbinding register.

The epitome of charm and femininity, the Diva

watch plays with the theme of modular geometrical

motifs echoing the eponymous jewellery collection. The characteristics pleats of the fan that inspired the ob-

ject embrace the three-dimensional shape of a delicate corolla. This collection culminates in the full-set Diva watch, enhanced by a paved setting featuring alternating brilliant-, baguette- and round-cut diamonds.

The 302 baguette-cut, 16 round-cut and 394 bril-

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that accentuates the softness of the snow-set dial. A true masterpiece of jewellery craftsmanship, Diva and its diamonds perpetuate the spirit that has united Bulgari with contemporary icons for the past six decades.

Like an artist, Bulgari plays with the whole pal-

ette of colours to compose a stunning gallery of precious paintings.

liant-cut diamonds (totalling 22.62 carats) form a splen-

did composition in which the sumptuous and elegantly stylised petals unfurl across the details of the generously sized watches. Its small fans are transformed into dainty

oriental-inspired “bouquets�, while the simple or double cone-shaped motif adorns the bracelet. The slender grace of the latter creates a light and sophisticated effect

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STYLE

The Butterfly Effect

Inspired by beauty, essence, and evocation: the new AlegorĂ­a collection by Carrera y Carrera

Authentic sensitivity and delicacy, beauty and pure

natural energy. Spirit, meaning, and soul. Transformative and

evocative power. Unique jewels that fly from the hands of a master goldsmiths leaving trails of gold, sapphires, and dia-

monds. This is the new AlegorĂ­a collection. Pieces where but-

terflies are the protagonists. Fascinating and full of meaning and soul, these small winged creatures inspire stories that give

flight to all of our fantasies and desires. Stories, dreams, magic, but also spirituality.

But beyond the symbolic and the transcendent, the mas-

ter goldsmiths at Carrera y Carrera pay tribute to eternal femininity with jewels that are characterized by dynamic volumes and harmonious profiles full of movement. Life, movement,

and weightlessness, to make the jewels feel as if they are part

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of one. Dream jewels that create a universe of mystery and sensuality where any fantasy can become reality.

Alegoría is a collection composed of earrings, rings, and

necklaces that stand out for their trendy combination of white and

yellow gold with pink sapphires and diamonds. The maxi ring in

white and yellow gold with diamonds and pink sapphires consists of an arm that simulates the branch of a tree where the butterfly

embraces flowers with its antennae. The difficulty of this piece was

to create weightlessness, while simultaneously giving it an ethereal and organic character that would furnish a subtle fluttering effect.

Carrera y Carrera designers particularly emphasized sculptural work so that the movement of the wings could be appreciated from any angle.

The earrings in yellow and white gold with diamonds feature

a modern design where the concept of an earring is reinvented; it

draws upwards as if the butterfly were taking flight. The silhouette of the butterflies is filled with openwork that gives greater lightness to the pieces.

The maxi necklace in yellow and white gold with diamonds

and sapphires simulates a flock of butterflies. The butterflies flit and play with each other, bringing much movement to the piece.

We also observe a filigree of lace in white gold suggesting

a diaphanous fabric and a pavé of diamonds on the butterflies to

simulate drops of dew. The greatest difficulty in crafting this piece was to hide the joints without loss of movement and without dam-

aging the necklace’s ability to adjust to the body. To achieve this, the firm’s master goldsmiths integrated said joints into the different butterfly parts without adding any external elements.

These, among others, are the extraordinary pieces that make

up Alegoría. Luxury and sophistication combine in this romantic

collection designed for a woman of infinite delicacy and femininity.

The perfect jewels to complete spring and summer looks.

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STYLE

Bold & Beautiful Bulgari portrays the ultimate Italian femininity with 2015 Diva Collection

Diva jewels reflect a woman’s mood, her style or her occa-

The 2015 Diva collection has been enriched with 26 new cre-

ations, in every shade of the gemstone rainbow. Carved, like a pre-

sion. The collection is divided into different expressions of itself, its

hypnotic new hues, its jewels enchant with sensual lines, recalling

every trademark design incorporating the emblematic Diva shape,

spectrum of colours enriched with hard stone possibilities and the

cious gem, into radiant new facets of the Diva spirit, the collection

iconic shape is being used in the most creative combinations. With

reflects the multiple styles, moods and attributes of a woman. In

the collection has become iconic to Bulgari. As the gemstone signa-

the feminine silhouette: Diva is the ultimate of Italian femininity.

ture of femininity, each Diva creation reflects the multiple facets of

Captivated by the magnetism and the beauty of a diva, Bul-

a woman.

gari captures her allure within its Diva collection. Dating through

the decades, Bulgari has been inseparable from the most exquisite

A shapely signature

celebrities, since the Dolce Vita era, when film stars discovered

Since it first hit the world stage, Diva has become a Bulgari

their love for the Italian jeweller. With a mutual admiration, Diva was created, a shimmering Bulgari collection that captures the

icon, recognisable by its emblematic shape. Curved into the signa-

Shades of femininity

ancient beauty, Bulgari Diva reinterpreted the arced patterns that

ture of Bulgari heritage, Diva design is entrenched in the deep roots

glamour, exalts the grace, and reflects the radiance of today’s fa-

of Roman history. Embellishing its modern approach with a form of

vourite divas.

decorate the famed Roman Baths of Caracalla, built in 216 AD. With

The dazzle that makes a woman a diva is embodied by Diva

the 2700 years of ancient history that preceded it, Bulgari has al-

jewels, arching with design and ever-more eclectic interpretations.

ways created contemporary renditions of the Eternal City: Rome

A charismatic woman is many things: strength, sensuality, audacity,

is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. As such, the Bulgari Diva

and radiance. Yet some days she is pensive, or festive, sophisticated,

embodies the Roman finesse and its sensual signature almost re-

laid-back, creative, seductive. A woman is never the same: a woman

calls the curved silhouette of Italian femininity.

is ever in evolution.

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Pure elegance For the everyday look, Diva gleams as a bright assortment of

Diva pendants, worn as magical little talismans, a colourful dose of

luck. Understated and chic, the diva who has mastered such effort-

vaceous contraire rings are wrapped with contrasting stones, onyx

pis lazuli or coral rubrum, as they dangle from playful pendants,

per her look: a vintage-length necklace, wrapped twice around the

and mother-of-pearl or mother-of-pearl and pavé diamonds. Mean-

less elegance is a marvel: she makes it look easy. Renditions of these

while, with an urban edge, the diva creatively entwines her sautoir

easy-to-wear Diva creations feature brilliant stones of turquoise, la-

neck, or wound as a bracelet. The contemporary sautoir recalls the

and sparkle with a dash of diamond. Or, this colourful tier combines

vintage ages of divas who set the stage for sophistication. The cha-

deep carnelian with ethereal models of mother-of-pearl, to entwine

risma diva mixes and matches the colours per her mood, playing

the finger with a wink of pavé diamonds. Capitalising on the pure

with her style as she fills the world with her mystery.

elegance of gold and diamonds, dressier versions of these earrings,

pendants and rings can accompany casual or elegant looks. Trade-

Glamour and glitz

mark Bulgari style is arced into every piece, a treasure of chic to

Sensuality and sophistication reign supreme in the garden

keep forever.

of glamour. This tier of Diva jewels rules with floral elegance, shimmering with pavé diamonds against the gleam of pink or white gold.

Cosmopolitan charisma

The Diva shapes arc into an almost flower-like shape, blooming

With style and flair, this new Diva tier defines distinction. This

with the most precious of petals and delicate of curves. With seduc-

woman knows what she wants and who she is, as she is charisma it-

tion and elegance, the “diamond rose petals” fan into renditions of

self. This diva is dynamic, carefree, maybe a bit rebellious – she sets

rings, earrings and necklaces that burst with Bulgari style. Immedi-

the trend. With contrasting colours and combinations of carnelian,

ately recognisable as Diva, they have put a floral twist on the classic

lapis lazuli and malachite, this style is complex, contemporary, and

shape and turned it into something alive and very romantic. The

absolutely captivating. The swinging pendant earrings that curve

glamour of this Diva is fascinating, magnetic and a true representa-

turquoise with onyx are also splashed with diamonds set against

tive of the Diva’s multifaceted soul.

white gold. This Diva tier makes a statement with jewellery. Its cur-

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STYLE

Haute Must-haves 3

Hers 1

2

5

4

7 6

1. Fendi Two-tone cotton-crepe and silk-crepe mini dress Sicily printed leather shoulder bag and crystal clip earrings

trolley

2. Oscar de la Renta Gold-plated, resin and crystal necklace

4. Bottega Veneta Square-frame acetate and rubber sunglasses

6. Jimmy Choo Dory metallic textured-leather sandals

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3. Dolce & Gabbana

5. Oscar de la Renta Gold-plated, resin

7. Globe-Trotter Safari leather-trimmed fiberboard travel

His

8 9 10

12

11

13

14 8. Loro Piana unstructured double-breasted cotton blazer 9. Lanvin knitted silk tie 10. Bottega Veneta intrecciato-embossed silver-tone cufflinks

11. Gucci diamante textured-leather holdall

Andy Suede loafers

12. Dunhill cream linen trousers

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13. Brioni navy 3cm leather belt 14. Berluti

STYLE

Making a Splash

Evocative of exotic and distant destinations, Louis Vuitton introduces the new summer collection.

Shot in Miami by Casper Sejersen, the 2015 Summer collection is articulated around two main themes. First is the emblematic ‘V’ inspired from the Volez, Voguez, Voyagez advertisement from the mid-sixties, a reminder of Louis Vuitton’s DNA as travel goods maker for the adventurers of the twentieth century. The Summer collection also introduces the ‘Ramage’ pattern, reminiscent of under the sea landscapes and colourful universe.

ABOVE THE SEA COLLECTION V

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POCHETTE ACCESSOIRES The Pochette Accessories Monogram V takes inspiration from the popular “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” ads of the 1960s. The eye-popping V comes in a fresh and elegant design. A playful pochette to wear from day to night.

SPEEDY 30 The Speedy 30 Monogram V is a clever and easygoing interpretation of the iconic Monogram and stylish V. A classic choice for day and night inspired by the Maison’s “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” ads from the 1960s.

LOCK-IT BRACELET Utlra-chic and stylish, the Lockit Bracelet combines the iconic Monogram canvas with new colors coming from Summer Leather goods line. It is inspired by the locks of historical Maison trunks. A feminine and fresh accessory, perfect for a summer look.

PEONY SUNGLASSES A seductive Cat Eye design that contributes a trendy twist to any look. With their distinctive 3-layer horizontal acetate structure, they are a perfect complement for oval and triangular face shapes.

ILLUSTRE V BAG CHARM Iconic prints from archive is used for this seasonal animation of Illustré bag charm. Summery color palette both fresh & feminine.

ZIPPY WALLET A bold V motif inspired by a Louis Vuitton ad from the 1920s adorns the classic Zippy wallet in Monogram canvas. With generous interior and subtle golden brass hardware, it is understated while elegant.

VOYAGE FLAT THONG This chic flat thong combines natural calf leather with a pop of vibrant colour, aligning with Louis Vuitton’s Summer 2015 leather goods collection. The design is complemented by a golden plaque on the heel and an insock in Monogram canvas.

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NEVERFULL MM The Neverfull MM Monogram V is inspired by a famous Louis Vuitton ad from the 1960s. Monogram canvas easily mixes with the stylish “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez avec les Valises Louis Vuitton” print.

STYLE

UNDER THE SEA COLLECTION RAMAGE

COSMETIC POUCH RAMAGES Ready for summer escapades, this pretty and practical pouch holds beauty essentials in style. Classic Monogram canvas gets a trendy update with the Ramages print inspired by the Cruise 2015 collection.

IVY CAT EYE SUNGLASSES With a Cat Eye shape that perfectly complements oval and triangular face shapes, these glamorous sunglasses feature a bi-layer acetate structure that incorporates a metallic petal signature inspired by the Monogram Flower.

RAMAGE DOTS SQUARE The Ramage Dots Square features a transversal fresh and luxurious print in pop colours to give a chic touch to any outfit. Easy to wear and easy to match, it is ideal to accessorize a summer look.

NEVERFULL MM The Neverfull MM Ramages combines the classic Monogram with a trendy and playful print.

Stylish and bold, it easily goes from day to evening.

SARAH WALLET A bold combination of prints inspired by Louis Vuitton’s 2015 Cruise collection adorns the Sarah wallet in Monogram canvas. It combines an elegant envelope-style exterior with an ingeniously designed interior featuring a variety of pockets and credit card slots.

KEEPALL 45 This summery version of the iconic Keepall is an indispensable partner for spur-of-the-moment escapes. The colourful Ramages print overlays Monogram canvas to create a look that combines House heritage and on-trend style. Designed to accommodate a weekend’s worth of belongings, the Keepall 45 slips easily into overhead bins on planes and trains.

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VOYAGE SANDAL This chic, feminine sandal combines natural calf leather with a pop of vibrant color, coordinating with Louis Vuitton’s Summer 2015 leather goods collection. The design is complemented by a golden plaque on the heel and an insock in Monogram canvas.

TRAVEL

A Mirage in the Mountains Happy wanderer Natalie Amos goes on a sojourn to uncover some of the gems of Oman Words by Natalie Amos

There is something truly magical about Oman. Land of five hundred forts, towers and castles. When I think of the sultanate, punctuating the images of sunsets, mountains and souks, my head spins with the heady scents of damask roses and Frankincense. An ideal destination for a short trip and a digital detox, Oman is less than 90 minutes away from Dubai, yet you feel like you are travelling back centuries in time. A boon for nature lovers and with temperatures typically 15-degrees cooler than Dubai, there really is no better excuse to retreat to the mountains.

Our flight touched down in Muscat, and although first light had barely arrived, already the city’s residents were

beginning their day – the roads, a hive of activity. The ancient saying ‘Rise early, for the hour after dawn is borrowed from paradise’ certainly rings true in Muscat.

But we were not pausing in the beautiful capital city of golden minarets set upon the Arabian Sea. We were heading out past Muscat’s old city walls and towards the Al Hajar Mountains and beyond.

Our guide was taking us back in time to visit Nizwa, the former capital of Oman during the sixth and seventh centuries. Now named Islamic Capital of Culture 2015, the historic town of Nizwa is less than two hours from Muscat and sits at the base of some of Oman’s highest mountains –

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Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams. Nizwa is home to the ancient fort built by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’rubi famed for its 30m-tall watchtower which offers a beautiful perspective of the date plantations surrounding the town and a breathtaking view of the mountains. After an afternoon spent exploring the battlements soaking up Oman’s turbulent past, we headed to the old souq to shop for antiques and Bedouin silver jewellery before continuing our journey upwards into the mountains.

Aware of my love of flowers in bloom (other Country Holidays itineraries include trips to see the Cherry Blossom season in Japan), the bespoke tour operator had recommended a stay at Jabal Alila Al Akhdar. Meaning ‘Green Mountain’, the region is punctuated with wadis and terraces set with juniper and almond trees. During the spring however, there is a decidedly pink hue. During my visit, several thousand rose bushes were in bloom cascading down the mountainside to the bottom of the gorge as we climbed higher.

As the day reaches its end, we reached Alila and were greeted by a generous sunsets and sweeping vistas stretching beyond the horizon. Set more than 2,000 metres above sea level, Alila Jabal Akhdar is hidden in the Al Hajar mountain range and comprises traditional, low-slung Omani style buildings wrapped in a shoe shape against the edge of the cliff top, blending seamlessly into the rugged mountainscape beyond. Since opening in 2014, Alila Jabal Akhdar has garnered a clutch of awards and appeared on British Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot List 2015. That evening we dined outside at the edge of the mountain with 1,001 stars to accompany us, before retiring to the oversized fireplace for sweetened Omani tea.

The next morning we joined Alila’s Leisure Concierge on a climb to discover the local ‘mirage’ - Sarab, an abandoned village just a few miles from the resort. The village was the original home of the local community, many of whom work for Alila or are producers for the resort. Titled The Mirage in the Mountains our walk was the perfect way

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TRAVEL

through the traditions, cuisine, environment, and the culture of the local people. Alila also offers an excursion to the local village to see freshly harvested rose petals being handpressed between copper and terracotta and distilled into fine rosewater.

The next couple of days were spent exploring the area and peering over canyons offering heart-racing views over the edge of the mountain. All too soon, our visit was over and we began our descent back to Muscat, our journey taking us slowly along the winding roads as the sun began to set lazily, illuminating the mountain in a golden haze.

We reached Muscat at nightfall and headed to what is quite possibly the city’s most stylish hotel. The Chedi sits amidst an elegantly landscaped garden oasis and is an ideal base for exploring the capital. After a breakfast of warm bread, fresh fruits and laban (yogurt), we headed along the coastal road to admire Al Jalali Fort, before visiting the old souk to purchase Bahla pottery and hand woven goods.

Later that evening, as we sipped rosewater tea and gazed at the majestic Al Hajar Mountains reflected in the Gulf of Oman, it felt odd to think that not so long ago we had been hidden away in the mountain retreat. We could not even glimpse the road we had ascended. Our experience really felt like a Mirage in the Mountains.

Country Holidays offers a six day Oman itinerary The Country of Mountains, Wadis, Deserts and Historic Old Forts with accommodation at Alila Jabal Akhtar and The Chedi Muscat and return flights from Dubai.

for us to learn about the natural wadi system which provides sustenance for the apricot and walnut trees that grow in abundance. We encountered hardy mountain goats and even surprised a wild donkey and her foal balanced precariously on mountain slopes.

Other trips organised by the Leisure Concierge include the World above the Mountains which is also part of Alila’s mission to help guests discover the destination

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TRAVEL

Spotting the Spotted Jawai Leopard Camp pioneers a new age of luxury safari camps

Lying at the heart of an untrammelled wilderness where leopards roam wild

and free is Jawai Leopard Camp; SUJà N’s latest experiential creation. Enclosed

by the ancient Aravali range, with a landscape which hosts a diverse eco-system, this sophisticated 10-tent camp is the only luxury offering to lie within this unexplored region of outstanding natural beauty.

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Jawai is where the hills throw the moon out and just as soon absorb its glow into their gorges. Where nomadic Rabari herdsmen are as much a part of the earth’s tales as the mysterious felines that grace these hills and vanish at will into their folds. Where pastoral fields meet and merge with wild grasslands and the swells of the Jawai Bandh’s waters lap at the toes of mighty granite forms, where flamingos flock and cranes in their hundreds dance to springtime.

The unique flavour of this land and its offerings provide for an entirely different experience from the rest of Rajasthan, yet there is an abundance of heritage

around. The area makes for comfortable access to the airy citadels of Kumbalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those still thirsting for monuments, the sculpted temples at Ranakpur are only an hour’s drive away from camp. Two of Rajasthan’s most visited destinations; Udaipur and Jodhpur are equidistant from Jawai and easily accessible by car. In the middle of this incredible landscape that combines human endeavour and nature’s provision lies Jawai Leopard Camp, as distinctive as this land itself.

Leopards are Jawai’s predominant attraction, and guests can track these normally elusive big Cats with in-

47

TRAVEL

formed trackers riding in customized 4x4 safari jeeps.

The camp also offer an exclusive wildlife experience, uninhibited by restrictions as the surrounding countryside is a vast sprawling wilderness of craggy hills, scrub, grasslands and winding sand riverbeds. The greater Jawai area is country made for walking, and Ramblers are guaranteed to have a field day out, to relax and tune those muscles tired by long hours of trains, planes and automobiles.

Designed by the owners, Anjali and Jaisal Singh, Jawai Leopard Camp represents a style that combines subtle opulence with abundant adventure; a vigorous rendition of camping at its finest. Created in a timeless flourish with canvas, stainless steel and leather accoutrements, each tent at Jawai Leopard Camp is abutted by a private deck that looks upon unobstructed, spectacular views of the dramatic wilderness around. The use of local stone and stainless steel brings an understated, elegant and light feeling to the camp. An inviting Dining Tent and a scattering of discreetly located areas to unwind in form part of the Encampment. The celebrated artisan, Michael Aram’s charming collection of decorative artefacts; hand-crafted using age-old traditions of Indian workmanship complete the winsome furnishings.

At Jawai guests can enjoy access to sites of their choice for private dining. What could be more dramatic

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The unique flavour of this land and its offerings provide for an entirely different experience from the rest of Rajasthan, yet there is an abundance of heritage around.

than a granite kopje serving as a private dining room overlooking the expanse of the Jawai wilderness? Breakfasts in the bush and picnics in the wild, luncheons by lakes and embracing dinners, ensconced by granite hills under constellations of an unending sky provide unlimited dining options for guests.

In addition to an inviting dining tent, library and private lounging areas, the Jawai Spa offers wellness therapies and treatments using indigenous herbs and oils of the region. Dramatic views and an idyllic location make the spa at Jawai a perfect spot to unwind, relax and heal yourself within.

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LEISURE

Linked In

Yas Links combines unparalleled visual beauty with the thrill of golf’s traditional Links experience

The game of golf began along the sea in Britain on areas of sandy ground which were covered with natural shrub and grass species, traditionally used by shepherds for their sheep. This land was called ‘linksland’ because it linked the arable farming land with the sea. As the sheep grazed on the natural vegetation, avenues of tightly ‘mown’ grass emerged as fairways between the windswept sand dunes and undulating topography, giving birth to this new pastime played with leather balls and hickory clubs.

Even as golf has spread inland and across the world, golf on ‘the links’ remains the purest form and the gold

standard for the game. And every year, the very best professional and amateur golfers come together from around the globe to compete in The Open Championship which is always contested over a links course.

The effect of the sea breezes and the irregular ground require a level of creativity, imagination and shot making skills, that are unmatched in the modern style of course design. By nature links courses have features that are not readily apparent the first time the course is played.

Not only does this create a sense of mystery, intrigue and excitement, but also preserves the tactical aspects of the

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Voted among the ‘Top 10 New International Golf Courses’ by the USA’s influential Golf Magazine, and named one of the world’s top 25 by US publication Golf Digest, the Par 72 championship course stretches to a demanding 7,450 yards off the back tees, while a nine-hole Par 3 academy course, floodlit practice facilities and luxurious clubhouse further complement the offering.

game, providing players with the opportunity to use their knowledge of the course against their opponents.

According to the course’s architect, Kyle Phillips, the vision of Yas Links as the first true links golf experience in the UAE began with a foundation of sandy ground, an undefined open coastline and variable sea breezes. The design of the course included the creation of landforms and vegetation reminiscent of those found in traditional ‘linksland’ settings. In the spirit of the game’s origins, the course has also been designed for easy walking.

The opening hole offers a welcoming introduction to the rumpled fairways and rugged dunes that are characteristic of Yas Links. The landing area for the drive is wider than it appears from the tee. A tee shot down the left side that avoids the large bunker on the right will yield the best angle for an open approach shot to the green. True to links golf, the green sits ‘on the ground’ and is simply an extension of the fairway ground in front of it. A great opportunity to execute a low running ‘links style’ approach shot that will be useful throughout the round.

Another beautiful links challenge is the 17th hole.

Shaped around an inlet in the coastline the forms a tranquil bay, tee shots on the stunning Par must not only carry water, but also avoid dramatic blow out dune bunkers surrounding the green. Coastal breezes make proper club selection and shot trajectory vital.

Voted among the ‘Top 10 New International Golf Courses’ by the USA’s influential Golf Magazine, and named one of the world’s top 25 by US publication Golf Digest, the Par 72 championship course stretches to a demanding 7,450 yards off the back tees, while a nine-hole Par 3 academy course, floodlit practice facilities and luxurious clubhouse further complement the offering. Yas Links is a golfing challenge for the purist and a truly authentic adventure of the senses.

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LIVING

The art of living

by Giorgio Armani During the Salone del Mobile in Milan the Armani/Teatro offers a fascinating voyage through some of the world’s most dynamic cities. It is a journey that takes in different cultures and inspires a variety of emotions, looking at ways of life and examining local sensibilities. It is a history of the introduction of innovations and a reflection of an aesthetic sense that redraws the boundaries of taste.

Some of the Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio’s most important global projects are on display here for the first time.

Sketches, renderings, plans and cross sections, photos, scale models, layouts, samples of fabrics and materials – all reveal the breadth and richness of the Studio’s stylistic research, both formal and material, and illustrate the Studio’s working methods and the various phases that constitute the preparation of projects. The installation concept metaphorically evokes the atelier where ideas are conceived and take form.

Giorgio Armani says: ‘For the past decade my Interior Design Studio has been working on outstanding projects all over the world, coming up with new creative solutions in which an aesthetic of luxurious simplicity is interpreted through the local culture and ethos. In this exhibition I wanted to present this very complex, wide-ranging experience, a voyage through innovation in hospitality and the dream of living, working with great masters of contemporary architecture.’

The exhibition represents an important milestone in Armani/Casa’s quest, which began in 2004 when Giorgio Armani surprised the world by signing a partnership with Emaar Properties PJSC. The company’s chairman, Mohamed Alabbar, had the intuition to contact the Italian designer, known for his passion for detail and endless striving for perfection, to add character and personality to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building. It was to become home to the first Armani Hotel. This initiative was then repeated in Milan and in other cities, from Miami to Istanbul, from Mumbai to Manila, and from Tel Aviv to Chengdu and London. Indeed, the UK’s capital is the location of the latest project, just completed, a preview of which is presented in the exhibition.

Just as the design philosophy of the designer – an approach that perfectly represents Made in Italy – changed the world of fashion, his interior design has changed our concepts

of ease and comfort within architectural spaces. His signature aesthetic is a taste for luxurious simplicity, and this sums up the designer’s profound design identity. It is this sensibility that affects all the senses and is transformed into a cultural factor underlining the uniqueness of his projects, revealing their profound harmony with their surroundings. Iconographic elements characterising different places and cultures and the inspiration of encountering new materials and unusual colours provide the basic stylistic inspiration for each individual project.

The projects exhibited

Queen’s Gate Place in London in collaboration with Alchemy Properties. In a historic townhouse built in 1863 and subject to strict heritage building regulations, Giorgio Armani came up with a truly contemporary plan, which nonetheless respects all the valuable original elements of the architecture.

Indeed, he decided to showcase these with careful attention to their composition and detail. The plasterwork, the cornices and the stairway, with its highly decorative iron railings, have been restored to their original splendour, in perfect harmony with the project’s modern spirit and use of today’s most advanced materials and technologies.

Inaugurated in 2010, the Armani Hotel Dubai, with its 160 luxurious rooms and suites, eight restaurants, shops, spa and 144 Armani Residences, offers a whole world of harmony, privacy and calm, giving the concept of comfort a whole new look, which characterises all the interiors designed by the Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio.

In The World Towers in Mumbai, the world’s tallest residential building, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and promoted by the Lodha Group, India’s biggest real estate developer, the interior design of the various different types of residential unit and the large common areas creates a style perfectly integrated with India’s traditions and customs: iconographic elements of Indian culture, such as the jali, are reinterpreted in a modern way to create warm, cosy spaces characterised by unusual effects of light and shadow and the juxtaposition of original shapes and textures.

In an extraordinary building in Makati, an elegant residential district in Manila, the Armani Group has formed a

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LIVING

partnership with Century Properties to design the interiors of residential units and common areas of the Century Spire. The building’s bold structure, that seems to open up at the tip like a bud, and the dynamism of the oblique lines of the façades, provided key sources of inspiration for the development of the interior concept, which features all the comfort and elegance associated with the Giorgio Armani name, here sitting in perfect harmony with the expressiveness of Daniel Libeskind’s architecture.

A partnership between Giorgio Armani, Dezer Development and the Related Group led to the creation of the prestigious Residences by Armani/Casa in a building of bold structural design built by César Pelli in Miami’s exclusive Sunny Isles Beach neighbourhood. In the interiors he designed for this project, the designer reinterprets the art deco style associated with the city in a contemporary form, creating a colour palette that pays homage to the colours of the ocean in all six types of residential unit and in a great variety of common areas and amenities.

Giorgio Armani and Mind Group’s first residential project in China, located in Chengdu, includes two residential buildings in a large multi-purpose architectural complex overlooking the Jinjiang River and the historic Wangjianglou Park, which dates back to the Qing dynasty. The Art Residences, situated in the twin towers designed by Aedes, have a curved symbol on their walls that the designer took from the pattern of a fabric in his collection, giving the two buildings iconic value. The interior design of the many different types of residence, and the common areas (which are two floors high), pays homage to the local culture, reinterpreting the theme of bamboo and the wave (water), key iconographic elements in this part of China.

In the central residential district of Nisantasi, the Maçka

Residences, promoted by Astas Holding, is Istanbul’s most exclusive residential project. The three towers, with spectacular views over the Bosphorus, the Prince Islands and Seraglio Point, include various different types of residential units and three big lobbies that have come to symbolise style in the city of Istanbul. The lobbies are characterised by sculptural curved staircases winding through the double height of the space and majestic curved walls made using advanced technology.

Giorgio Armani’s first architectural project in Milan, in partnership with Emaar Properties, is the Armani Hotel in Via Manzoni, located in a historic Rationalist building designed by architect E. Griffini in 1937. Every detail of the development expresses the Armani aesthetic, combining light, warmth and beauty in a new form that is a contemporary expression of hospitality.

The designer came up with an original solution for the little lobby at San Pietro all’Orto 6, a complex of serviced apartments in the heart of Milan for which the Studio designed the interiors of the common areas and all the furnishings for the residential units.

In the Harbaa Towers in Tel Aviv, designed by architect Moshe Zur and promoted by the Hagag Group, the Armani/ Casa Interior Design Studio was asked to design the entrance lobby and the large skylounge. The challenge here was how to give soul and character to spaces that are by nature transitional areas where people don’t spend much time. The Studio’s stylistic research and study of the icons of the city gave rise to the idea of using a stylised palm as a leitmotif in the design. The symbolic plant, rendered evanescent by skilful combinations of technologically advanced materials, characterises the walls of the entrance lobby, so that it appears to be an extension of the space outside.

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LIVING

Sound Investment

Bring your music to life with our roundup of top high-end audio brands

Music is emotion expressed through sound. Melodies, rhythms and vibrations that swell the air with

feelings, sent to move you. If you value your tunes then you probably also value acoustic perfection and a qual-

ity Hi-Fi audio system that respects your music.

There’s no doubt that high-end audio does better than budget audio. How exactly? In simple terms,

high-end audio tends to be able to sound more like real life than artificial sounds reproduced artificially. If you don’t consider yourself a serious audiophile and want to spend the bare minimum to hear your tunes, then high-end audio is probably not for you.

The main difference in loudspeakers and audio equipment today is who’s making them. The audio

brands we are about to reveal are known for using unique technologies and sound signatures to elevate audio performance to a whole new level of high-fidelity sound reproduction. Whether you’re looking for a home

theatre or a stereo system to listen to your favourite classics, you will be safe with one of these brands, whose

state-of-the-art audio systems are sure to express every frequency and every ounce of subtle melodies you never knew existed.

Revel by Harman Every Revel product is the result of thousands of hours of work and testing. Since 1996, revel relied on its technical resources, one-of-a-kind testing facilities, and cutting-edge design tools unavailable to most manufacturers to create every loudspeaker it produces. That's how it continues to set the standard for acoustical accuracy and allow Revel customers to experience a level of acoustic clarity that they've never heard before.

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Bang & Olufsen Since 1925, Bang & Olufsen has been synonymous with the art of acoustic perfection. To this day its craftsmen still calibrate and tune every loudspeaker model by hand. Bang & Olufsen’s acoustical, electrical and mechanical engineers work closely together to make sure that only the finest audio fills a room, ensuring those within the ultimate experience. If you’ve never played your favourite music through Bang & Olufsen sound, you’ll find it hard to imagine what you’re missing.

The new Bang & Olufesen wireless line-up includes BeoLab 17, a place-anywhere compact speaker with outsize sound; BeoLab 18, the latest incarnation of Bang & Olufsen’s sculpturally iconic audio columns for walls or floor; and BeoLab 19, a radically redesigned subwoofer that pumps refined bass with a visceral punch – and looks too good to hide.

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LIVING

Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins has a long history of technological innovation in its pursuit of the perfect loudspeaker. Whether it’s through the innovative use of materials such as Kevlar and Diamond, new solutions to complex engineering conundrums, or ‘eureka moments’ of brilliance, Bowers & Wilkins engineers constantly strive to produce the best possible sound. Bowers & Wilkins high-quality audio products are loved by millions worldwide, and are found in some of the world’s leading recording studios including London’s Abbey Road and California’s Skywalker Sound. Bowers & Wilkins speakers are also increasingly found in business environments including new property developments, the world’s finest hotels and aboard luxury yachts.

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KEF Kef was founded in 1961 by Raymond Cooke OBE (1925–1995) and was initially headquartered in a Nissen Hut on the premises of Kent Engineering & Foundry (from where the name KEF is derived) – a metal-working company on the banks of the River Medway, near Maidstone in Kent. Cooke, an ex-BBC Electrical Engineer, was keen to experiment with new materials and technologies in order to create products with superior acoustic quality that could reproduce recordings as natural as the original performance. From the very beginning, the pioneering inventiveness of KEF loudspeakers was undeniable, and now for several decades, audiophiles around the world have revered KEF for its innovative, highperformance loudspeakers.

Steinway Lyngdorf Steinway Lyngdorf delivers high performance digital sound systems that combine design artistry and the finest craftsmanship with perfected technology.

Founded by Peter Lyngdorf and based in Denmark, Steinway Lyngdorf is the result of a visionary ambition and uncompromising commitment – a shared dream which brings together Steinway & Sons, makers of the world’s finest pianos for over 160 years, and Peter Lyngdorf, one of the most forward-thinking audio innovators of our time.

Peter Lyngdorf has led some of the most significant audio breakthroughs the world has ever seen and heard. Prior to Steinway Lyngdorf he owned several prominent high-end companies, including Snell Acoustics, NAD Electronics and Gryphon Audio. At Snell, he developed the world’s first full-range DSP roomcorrection device. And he gave the world the first fully digital amplifier, the Millennium, in 1998.

LIVING

Seeing All Angles

Perla Lichi creates signature look in a Palm Jumeirah villa in the Italian Renaissance style, upholstered with chenille tapestry and highlighted with a centred medallion front and back for added drama. The glass table features a scroll border inlaid in silver, gold and copper leaf.

Perla describes the look as Venetian with green accents, rich velvet swags and opulent trims. The entire villa represents Perla’s signature look with a subtle Venetian flavour.

The master suite provides just the romantic getaway that the clients wanted. Custom crown moulding that wraps the entire perimeter is a reproduction of a moulding featured in many historic villas throughout Venice. The moulding is enhanced with another one of the designer’s original concepts: tri-colour gilding of gold, silver and copper leaf.

Bedding ensemble fabrics were selected in shades of muted apricots and celadon greens with subtle dressmaker accents including appliqué and pleating and a montage of various fringes. A richly hand carved, silk upholstered Empire style bench provides counterpoint to the two-poster hand carved, antique bronze bed.

The walls are hand crafted in a mother of pearl texture that glows romantically as it reflects the light.

Perla Lichi is currently working on villas and palaces throughout the UAE and the Middle East. Says the designer: “We are versatile and can create any look to suit any lifestyle.”

Perla Lichi is passionate about every interior design project that she tackles and admits getting emotionally involved with all of them. This four-bedroom, six-bathroom, 7000-square-foot villa in The Palm Jumeirah is no exception.

Her clients reviewed Perla’s first two ‘Beautiful Rooms’ coffee table books and quickly recognized that they wanted their new villa to showcase the rich and luxurious signature Perla Lichi style.

The seasoned touch of Perla Lichi is evident in her masterful layering of color on colour and detail on detail to create rich Europeanstyle opulence.

A custom, hand-tufted carpet defines the seating area “island” in the living room. The carpet serves as a foundation for the colour palette that springs forth throughout the entire space – rich sage greens, cinnamon reds, and golds over a neutral background.

Two half circular chenille-upholstered sofas face each other across a round, glass top, ornately carved coffee table. Two over-sized club chairs, upholstered in gold silk damask, and an upholstered Empire style bench create a cosy ambiance that features all around water views.

The rectangular ceiling detail above the living room seating area is enhanced with hand gilded, carved applied mouldings that frame a lyrical gold and crystal chandelier. The entire ceiling accent is finished in antique silver leaf that shimmers like a jewel, day or night.

The dining room is resplendent in tones of gold and deep cinnamon, with an elaborate antique silver-leafed ceiling enhancement the glows from the light of the chandelier. Dining chairs are

Perla Lichi Gallery H Hotel - 33rd Floor, Sheikh Zayed Rd. Dubai - UAE Tel: +971 43942898

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P

Birsen Tomar CEO of Byond Design

erla Lichi Gallery

INTERIOR DESIGN | FURNISHINGS | INSTALLATION One Sheikh Zayed Rd | 33rd Floor | H Hotel | Dubai UAE | Tel +971 43942898

DUBAI | INDIA | USA | WORLDWIDE www.PerlaLichi.com | info@PerlaLichi.com | facebook.com/PerlaLichiDesign

ART

Museum Madness

Five major museum openings in 2015

The global expansion of the art world shows no sign of slowing down in 2015.

With many noteworthy museums and new landmark spaces for art opening their doors all over the globe, the year is set to be a busy one for art lovers. Some of these museums serve as entirely new buildings, while others extend or clarify existing institutions. From Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles, we highlight five of the most important museum openings of the year.

Louvre, Abu Dhabi Born of a cultural collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and France, the future Louvre Abu Dhabi will be a universal museum in the Arab world. It will also represent all regions, periods, including contemporary art and the narrative of art history. One facet of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s vocation will be to form a shared universal memory. The dialogue between artworks, sculptures and objects will allow visitors to discover shared influences and mutual historical connections between different cultures around the globe, giving insight into the history of humankind since the beginning of time. The aim is to avoid the isolation of cultures and disciplines in order to offer a comprehensive history of art, providing an alternative to the particular vision of the world that has long been proposed by museums. The dome-topped building, designed by Jean Nouvel is expected to open on 1 December 2015.

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New Whitney Museum, New York The Whitney’s collection includes over 21,000 works created by more than 3,000 artists in the United States during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. At its core are Museum founder Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s personal holdings, totaling some 600 works when the Museum opened in 1931.

Designed by architect Renzo Piano and situated between the High Line and the Hudson River, the Whitney’s new nine-storey building, inaugurated on 1 May 2015, vastly increases the Museum’s exhibition and programming space to 220,000 sq. ft., offering the most expansive display ever of its unsurpassed collection of modern and contemporary American art.

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow Through an extensive program of exhibitions, events, education, research, and publishing, the institution reflects on current developments in Russian and international culture, creating opportunities for public dialogue, as well as the production of new work and ideas in Moscow. At the centre of all these activities is the Museum’s collection, which is the first archive in the country related to the development of Russian contemporary art from the 1950s through the present. Founded in 2008 by Dasha Zhukova, the institution was moved to its first permanent home — a ground-breaking renovation of the famous 1960s Vremena Goda (Seasons of the Year) pavilion in Gorky Park – in June 2015.

ART

The Broad, Los Angeles The Broad is a new contemporary art museum being built by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

The museum, which is designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, will open to the public on September 20. The museum will be home to the nearly 2,000 works of art in The Broad Art Foundation and the Broads’ personal collections, which are among the most prominent holdings of post-war and contemporary art worldwide. With its innovative ‘veil-and-vault’ concept, the 120,000-square-foot, $140 million (AED514.24 million) building will feature two floors of gallery space to showcase The Broad’s comprehensive collection and will be the headquarters of The Broad Art Foundation’s worldwide lending library. The Broad is also building a 24,000-square-foot public plaza adjacent to the museum to add another parcel of critical green space to Grand Avenue.

Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester The Whitworth’s extensive and eclectic collection of art and design is of international significance. It ranges from outstanding groups of works on paper to textiles and wallpapers made for the mass market, a unique collection of Outsider Art and international contemporary works. A £15 million (AED85.25 million) extension, which opened on 14 February 2015, has transformed the gallery, doubling it in size and creating new spaces that embrace the park it calls home.

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YACHTING

FIRST LOOK

At The New Princess 35m

The highly anticipated Princess 35M is now available to view, for the first time, in a series of exclusive images

Unmistakably powerful lines make the 35M a modern classic, and while she takes design cues from the Princess 40M, it is clear that the 35M is a further evolution for the M Class craft. With her cutting-edge semi-planning hull design, the new 35M is capable of exhilarating speed and globe-trotting efficiency, delivering owners a true superyacht experience.

This inspired design continues in the raised pilot house, which is accessible from both the flybridge and lobby area.

A port side door also provides access to the vast foredeck which incorporates an attractive and spacious seating and sun lounging area.

With a sizeable gross tonnage of 243gt, the new Princess 35M provides exceptionally generous accommodation, relaxation and entertainment areas throughout. Full height windows to port and starboard in the vast saloon create a wonderful sense of space and light and can be enhanced with

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hydraulically folding balconies with sliding doors on either side.

The 35M’s exterior spaces are vast and versatile offering the most luxurious and sociable on-board experience.

An innovatively designed cockpit and transom area create an informal ‘Beach Club’ arrangement where a large seating area incorporates a combination of aft and forward facing seating.

An optional bar can be specified to create an informal leisure space that can easily be transformed into a formal dining area.

Across the main deck, a full beam owner’s stateroom is accessed via an ante-room which can be specified as an office.

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YACHTING

Large panoramic windows, two walk-in wardrobes and a generous bathroom with bath, shower and toilet facilities complete the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite. Below decks the flexibility of the design also affords the owner the opportunity to choose from a number of different layouts.

On the lower deck, three or four beautifully appointed en suite staterooms accommodate six or eight guests, with the crew quarters located forward comprising of three en suite cabins.

The interior renderings released by princess show several bespoke upgrades chosen by her owner, an experienced yachtsman who has been working closely with the Princess Design Team.

The first impressive steel grey hull left her build shed, at Princessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; superyacht facility, to begin her final stage of fit out.The stunning Princess 35M will be making her world premiere this autumn.

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YACHTING

Crowning Her Grace Picchiotti Grace E: Motor Yacht of the Year 2015

A stunning yacht with an environmental focus and outstanding wellness centre, Grace E trailblazes an entirely new approach to superyachting. The 73m Picchiotti branded motor has won the Motor Yacht of the Year 2015 at the 10th edition of the Boat International World Superyacht Awards in Amsterdam.

The awards ceremony – known as the Oscars Night of the yachting world – recognized Grace E’s unique combina-

tion of distinctive lines, stunning Remi Tessier designed interiors, perfect execution of detail and outstanding quality.

This award comes as a further recognition for Grace E and will adorn her Wall of Honour which already includes four prestigious Showboats Design Awards and the Baccarat Trophy awarded by the Monaco Yacht Show on the occasion of her debut in September 2014.

Following the success of her two predecessors, the

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cluding the transatlantic crossing – confirm major achievements in fuel and power consumption, efficiency and remarkable noise and vibration reduction.

Offering the complete range of spa facilities, Grace E’s wellness deck is equipped with a massage room with steam sauna, full gymnasium, a treatment room with hydrotherapy bath, a cold dip bath and dry sauna. Also on the wellness deck, a peaceful retreat room for meditation offer 180 degree views out to sea. The aft sunbathing area provides an ideal yoga floor and includes a jacuzzi, expansive sun pads, stylish loungers and a circular bar. Completing the wellness provisions, a salon for beauty treatments awaits on the upper deck and a 3.5m exercise pool, with varying resistance currents for gentle or more strenuous workouts, is located on the main deck.

Incorporating a dynamic positioning system that allows the yacht to stay in place without dropping anchor, this yacht can cruise in ecologically vulnerable locations such as coral reefs, without damaging the environment. Guest deck spaces offer luxurious curved seating cocooned from the elements, and further protection is provided in the form of low-profile transparent windshields.

Twelve guests have ample space and privacy across five decks, four of which are connected by an elevator. Seven superluxurious cabins include two VIP suites on the main deck, two double cabins and two twin cabins on the lower deck, all with en suite bathrooms. The spectacular full beam master suite features a beautiful central bath tub and separate his and her shower rooms.

multiple awarded-winning 50m Exuma and 55m Galileo G, Grace E builds on the same hull and superstructure design elements which characterize the Picchiotti Vitruvius series.

Her Philippe Briand hull design assures efficient and long range navigation with her unique propulsion characteristics, featuring an advanced new generation diesel / electric system with two Azipod fixed pitch propulsion units by ABB. The operational data collected on her initial voyages – in-

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MOTORING

Tried & Tested

The New Bentley Flying Spur V8

Taking a performance saloon car and giving it a smaller engine may sound like a sinister thing to do, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just until you take a ride in the new Bentley Flying Spur V8...

Apart from the smaller engine, the new Flying Spur shares the same platform, same imposing bodywork, same wonderful eight-speed gearbox and four-wheel-drive system, and many other exorbitant options with the W12 variant. So you are probably not alone in wondering why then should the V8 Spur be the Bentley of choice. Well, for one

simple reason: while the smaller-engine Flying Spur loses

little in performance, its far better when it comes to running costs. Even if fuel cost is not a concern, having to pull over for refuelling a third fewer times than with the W12, is a quality desired by many buyers. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not by you, then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always the W12 as a second option.

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Additionally, there will be less to pay for road tax (depending on where you live), and less guilt, as the V8 car emits 254g/km of carbon dioxide as opposed to 343g/km for the twelve-cylinder model. With this in mind, you probably won’t miss the extra four cylinders or 116bhp of the W12. And also because despite its 2.5-ton mass, the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine of the new Flying Spur produces 500bhp and 660 Nm, powering it from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and to a top speed of 295 km/h, which is more than adequate for a luxury four-door saloon.

On the motorway, the Flying Spur V8 is a joy to drive, and is surprisingly nimble for a car its size. This comes thanks to its permanent four-wheel drive providing immense traction and control. What’s even more surprising is how little wind, tire or engine noise penetrates the Spur, which simply whooshes along the road in its own cocoon of serenity. Another high point is the computer-controlled, self-levelling air suspension, which is delivered in four modes between Comfort and Sport.

At 5.3m, the Flying Spur V8 is perhaps too long. At any public parking space, the Flying Spur’s nose is likely to stick further out than other cars. But by virtue of that, the interior offers lots of leg room, even when the front seat is fully extended. The boot also remains very big.

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MOTORING Though the new V8 looks virtually identical to the W12, there are subtle styling differences between the two. The exhaust ends are styled in the figure of eight to signify the alternative powertrain, while the famous Bentley winged badge receives the usual red colour to denote the V8 engine.

Providing the refinement and sheer panache one would expect from Bentley, the interior features sculpted, sleek coachwork, while the panels on the top of the front doors, wrapped in soft leather, swing closed to blend beautifully into the dash. In addition to this, our tester was equipped with a Naim premium audio system, multimedia setup including two 10-inch screens in the second row, and heated and cooled seats.

The Bentley Flying Spur V8 is available at Bentley dealers across the Middle East.

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MOTORING

Dawn of the Drophead

Rolls-Royce announces a new dawn for super-luxury motoring

It is always exciting when a super-luxury carmaker announces a new car, but no excitement can match the breathless anticipation conjured up in a press release about a new car from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The British carmaker announced recently that its forthcoming new car, an exciting and sensuous drophead, will be called the Rolls-Royce Dawn, reviving a name from the early 1950s.

The car was unveiled to representatives of the marque’s 130-strong global dealer network at the 2015 Rolls-Royce World Dealer Conference in Los Angeles, California in May, and is set to launch during the first quarter of 2016.

“Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date,” said Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Executive Officer.

“Dawn is a beautiful new open-top motor car with a name that suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one’s senses and a burst of sunshine. It will be the most social of superluxury motor cars for those beautiful people who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world’s social hotspots.”

Rolls-Royce Dawn is the next step in the renaissance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars which began in 2003 with the launch of Phantom and subsequent introductions of Ghost and Wraith. It justifies the continuing in-

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vestment of the BMW Group into the world’s pinnacle super-luxury brand.

The new Rolls-Royce Dawn will revive another famous and rare Rolls-Royce name first used in 1949, but only ever applied to 28 very special drophead bodies between 1950 and 1954. A new beginning for Rolls-Royce at the time, the original Silver Dawn was the first RollsRoyce to be offered with a factory-built body. The drophead Rolls-Royces that carried the name Dawn continued to be coach-built for individual customers, ensuring their uniqueness and rarity.

‘Dawn’ perfectly expresses the character of the new Rolls-Royce. In its tentative, inchoate, anticipatory state, dawn is the world coming to light from the ethereal dark of the night. The early-day chill of dawn provides an erotic tingle on the skin, awakening the senses and passions as the day begins. Like Eleanor Thornton, thought by many to be the inspiration behind the Spirit of Ecstasy, the Rolls-Royce Dawn will also prove itself to be the muse that leads its owner to believe that at the start of the day, anything is possible.

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