OBJECTS OF DESIRE

Master craftsmanship, effortless style and timeless appeal; this month’s must-haves and collectibles

Chanel Coco Crush

Chanel’s iconic matelassé has long been a motif of the house. Inspired by its use in the equestrian world into which a young Gabrielle Chanel was introduced, she used it to decorate accessories at her private home on Rue Cambon, before it found its way onto clothing and handbags. The Coco Crush collection continues to pay homage to it in the most desirable way, and 2023 brings a host of new novelties crafted from 18k beige gold, including this bracelet worn by house ambassador Margaret Qualley.

DIOR ERL MEN’S CAPSULE

Kim Jones drafted in Eli Russell Linnetz, better known by his brand name ERL, as guest designer for this Spring 2023 men’s capsule, a man who is quietly becoming increasingly influential in the fashion world thanks to his cool Californian aesthetic. And it’s California that the pair lean on here, notably the rolling ocean waves, transformed into a motif that is used across a mix of sweatshirts and shorts. Elsewhere in the collection, the exceptional cuts are trademark Jones.

The bright minds at Hublot have produced an equally brilliant shade of neon yellow for the latest Big Bang, a totally transparent yet completely resistant material that took three years of research. The eye-popping nature of the timepiece continues with the decision to skeletonise the entire calibre, a feat of watchmaking that pushes open-worked materials to the limits of their functional resistance. It is available as a limited edition of 50 pieces, and comes with a rubber strap tailor-made for this watch.

HERMÈS’ HAUT À COURROIES

The Haut à Courroies, HAC for short, was Hermès’ first ever bag, designed in the early 20th century to carry a saddle and riding boots. This latest iteration is inspired by the brand’s men’s ready-to-wear universe, and the skill involved in its decoration

— strips of leather placed using the appliqué-piqué technique to form checks on the front, sides, flap, and on the back of the bag — has been hailed a genuine technical feat. Crafted from Evercolor and Evergrain calfskin, it’s also rather stylish.

The Jackie 1961

Since it was first christened in the 60s – taking the name of Jackie Kennedy, who was rarely photographed without it – Gucci’s most iconic handbag has had a number of iterations as it adapted to the changing times. Its signature style has, however, been the one constant, along with the quality of the material used to craft it. This latest offering comes in natural grain, patent or precious leather, or the GG Supreme canvas, in three sizes (mini, small, and medium) and countless colours.

Louis Vuitton X Yayoi Kusama Crafting Infinity

The nonagenarian Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who has polka-dotted her way through her celebrated career to become one of the art world’s biggest stars, has teamed up again with Louis Vuitton for the first time in a decade to produce the playful Crafting

Infinity collection, for which Kusama’s signature style enlivens the brand’s ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, accessories, fragrances, luggage and trunks. To be released in two parts, the first drop is in stores now, with the second to follow on March 31.

Zenith Defy Extreme Glacier

Living up to its name, the DEFY Extreme Glacier braves punishing, icy temperatures like no other timepiece, just as 2021’s DEFY Extreme Desert — the debut watch in the series — defied the heat. Numerous elements of the watch have been designed in keeping with the icy theme, including chronograph counters made in transparent sapphire crystal that’s given a frosted finish, and the use of chalcedony, a crystalline semi-translucent stone with a pale blue hue. It’s limited to 50 pieces.