2014 SPRING
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E N I Z A G A M
LUXURY TRAVEL TECH TRENDS BUSINESS INVESTMENT FABULOUS FASHION YACHTS HOROLOGY LOVE EXCELLENCE
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Bespoke is a fashionable word
always read the label
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10 Savile Row, London W1S 3PF • Tel: +44 (0)20 7287 2941 • Fax: +44 (0)20 7734 8794 Email: info@dege-skinner.co.uk • www.dege-skinner.co.uk
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QUINTESSENTIALLY BRITISH SINCE 1934
Luxury Leather Goods and Accessories Hand Crafted in the United Kingdom www.ettinger.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 8877 1616
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LOVE EXCELLENCE
CONTENT
The place to go for all your shopping needs and desires, check out the latest and greatest gifts.
PERSONALISATION OF THE INTERNET Yves de Contades looks at the future of advertising, and what this means for you the consumer.
30 32 TALKING TECH This season’s pick of the latest, hottest gadgets about town.
PUBLISHERS
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16 The top yachts Edmiston launch their top E100 Yacht Charter.
International eXcellence, is a celebration of all that is truly outstanding, online, mobile and in print, courtesy of The eXcellence Group. As the name suggests, we are all about excellence from around the world, presenting the best brands, products, artists, designs, businesses and people who are passionate about their life and work. For all advertising enquiries please call: +44 203 289 9779 or 07957 246845. Copy enquiries to: editorial@internationalexcellence.co.uk
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CRUISING IN THE CARIBBEAN 42
exclusive EXPERIENCES
INTERVIEW with pascal berclaz
Create your own personal bucket list with our help. Have a look at a selection on offer from Love eXcellence.
The President of Quinting Watches talks about his luxury brand and his early inspirations.
40 WHAT’S ON AROUND THE WORLD
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FORTIES FASHION
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INVESTMENT OVERVIEW
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FABULOUS FOOD
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EDITORIAL
Welcome to our Spring issue of International eXcellence. Optimism is the word of the season, in business and in life. Now is the time to spring clean, physically and mentally, and look ahead. Book that holiday, go shopping, learn something, cook something, but whatever it is, make it the best you can possibly achieve, because if it’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing well. Make it excellent. In the meantime, immerse yourself in eXcellence and enjoy our Spring issue of International eXcellence!
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RUGBY 6 NATIONS
GRAND NATIONAL
THE BOAT RACE
CHELSEA ART FAIR
9th March In England’s second to last game of the tournament they will be keen to forget the heartbreak of their 2013 RBS 6 Nations defeat as they host Wales at Twickenham Stadium. rbs6nations.com
12th March A British sporting institution, the Grand National attracts over 154,000 racegoers for three days like no other, culminating in the John Smith’s Grand National. aintree.co.uk
6th April The Boat Race is one of the oldest sporting events in the world, watched by thousands along the banks of The Tideway, in London, and by millions more on TV around the world. theboatrace.org
10th - 13th April This little gem in the International Art Fair calendar will once again bring together 30 leading UK and International galleries to the Chelsea Old Town Hall. chelseaartfair.org
SPRING What’s On in the UK... The rain has stopped, hopefully, and it’s time to get out and about and enjoy some fabulous sporting events, from horses to boats, running to rugby. There is also plenty of culture around to stimulate the mind, head over to the Natural History Museum and take in their latest exhibition or pop into Chelsea Old Town Hall for some art.
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THE LIMITED EDITION LONDON BOX
P R I VAT E C O M M I S S I O N S | F U R N I T U R E & U P H O L S T E RY | G I F T S & A C C E S S O R I E S | F I T T E D C A B I N E T RY | I N T E R I O R D E S I G N
www.davidlinley.com
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LONDON
BADMINTON HORSE
GULLS EGGS CITY
MARATHON
TRIALS
LUNCHEON
13th April First run in 1981, the event holds the Guinness World Record as the largest annual fund raising event in the world. virginmoneylondon marathon.com
7th - 11th May This annual three day event, first held in 1949, takes place in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort, in Gloucestershire. badminton-horse.co.uk
13th May This unique fundraising event has raised over £1.5 million in the past., with guests enjoying a luncheon of gulls’ eggs, smoked salmon and fine wines. macmillan.org.uk
THE FA CUP FINAL
17th May The Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on its own day in the football calendar, thus ending the competition which started on the 17th August with 737 entries. thefa.com/
CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM NEW EXHIBITION
20th - 24th May This most prestigious flower show has been held in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital every year since 1913, apart from gaps during the two World Wars. The 2014 show will be as exciting as ever , with longstanding exhibitor Hilliers creating a stunning display on the Monument site at the heart of the Great Pavilion to mark their 150th anniversary. There will be 550 exhibitors in total. rhs.org.uk
23rd May - 7th September The Mammoths are coming! Enter the amazing world of some of the largest creatures to have ever walked the earth in Mammoths: Ice Age Giants at the Natural History Museum . Be awestruck as huge fossils and life-size models of mammoths tower above you and come face to face with the powerful trunks and tusks belonging to these great beasts. nhm.ac.uk
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THE ARMORY SHOW
SUPERYACHT
NEW YORK
REGATTA
6th - 9th March This leading international contemporary and modern art fair and one of the most important annual art events in New York, takes place on Piers 92 & 94., Manhattan. thearmoryshow.com
19th - 22nd March The Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous brings together sail and motor yachts during a four-day event for owners, their families and friends . loropianasuperyachtregatt aandrendezvous.com
BASELWORLD
SALONE DEL MOBILE
27th March - 3rd April The world’s biggest and most important event for the watch and jewellery industry offers a unique global overview of everything that the industry has to offer. baselworld.com
8th - 13th April Held in Milan, this event is the global benchmark for the Home Furnishing Sector. This invaluable tool for the industry is also open to the public on the final two days. cosmit.it/en/
SPRING What’s On around the World... Spring is in the air, and we are full of enthusiasm for the plethora of energetic events starting soon which will have you criss-crossing the world to attend. From golf, F1, tennis and yachting, to art, watches, jewellery, furniture and design - something for everyone, including a little star spotting at Cannes.
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US MASTERS GOLF
7th - 13th April This is one of the four major championships in professional golf and is the first of the majors to be played each year. It is held at the Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA. masters.com
CANNES FILM
ART BASEL HONG
FESTIVAL
KONG
14th - 25th May This year New Zealand film director Jane Campion has been announced as the head of the jury for the main competition section. Founded in 1946, it still is the epitome of glamour. festival-cannes.com
15th - 18th May The show has four exhibition sectors presenting an exceptional selection of works: museum-quality pieces by proven masters and new artworks by emerging artists. artbasel.com
MONACO GRAND PRIX
25th May This Formula One race has been held each year since 1929, and is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world. The race is held on a narrow course laid out in the streets of Monaco, with many elevation changes and tight corners as well as a tunnel, making it one of the most demanding tracks in Formula One. monaco-grand-prix.com
MILLE MIGLIA
15th - 18th May Known as “the most beautiful race in the world” only the cars selected from the models which took part in the original race can participate . 1000miglia.eu
ROLAND GARROS FRENCH OPEN
25th May - 8th June It is one of the largest events in tennis and by far the largest clay-court tournament, held at the Stade Roland Garros, named after the French aviator. Because of the slow-playing surface and the five-set men’s singles matches without a tiebreak in the final set, the event is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world. rolandgarros.com
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CRUISING THE CARIBBEAN Martin Guttridge-Hewitt soaks up the sun sans sea legs.
“Have you cruised before?” Four words, one question on a constant loop inside the mind; for two first time shipmates the answer was simple enough, ensuring the constant repetition never became too painful. “No”, we would respond, and then wait, either for genuinely useful advice or another verbal love letter about how this is the finest thing to happen to international travel since the birth of international travel. OK, maybe we did hold a little information back. Still, aside from a week spent marauding around a vessel in the middle of the Mediterranean as a teenager neither myself, nor partner, had hit the sea to explore a string of islands before. Nautical terms may have been vaguely familiar then, but the nature of adult life on the tides, and the reason so many people come back for so many successive trips, remained a mystery. Several extra rolls of fat later and it’s impossible to deny that food plays a huge factor. During our 14-night Caribbean jaunt on the P&O mega-boat Ventura staying satisfied was simple. Opting for the freedom dining package - wherein tables are allocated on arrival, as opposed to the more traditional fixed seating times - we were given the choice of three eateries, each offering different breakfast, lunch and evening menus on a daily basis. That’s in addition to the crowded but well-stocked buffet, open
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for salads, snacks, seafood and hot dishes almost all hours of the day as an alternative to restaurant stateliness. Those formal five courses accentuate the relationship between cruises and cuisine best, though. Gorging on Grassingham duck, slow roast lamb and pan-seared venison rarely feels as indulgent as it does in the wake of swimming in gin-clear waters just before Christmas. It’s at dinner that P&O’s 176-year
This page: St Lucia Pitons Opposite: Choc Beach St Lucia
“"waiters and sommeliers laying on first rate, old-world service"”
sailing heritage was most evident too, with taking place inside after dark fail, then waiters and sommeliers laying on first rate, martinis mixed at our tableside in the Red Bar, as the resident pianist set the mood, old-world service. never did. A contrast to the more relaxed, resortstyle ambience dominating daylight This is all when we chose not to make the most hours, nevertheless thanks to the ship’s of our well appointed balcony stateroomalmost overwhelming size and onboard an essential personal retreat from what options it was always possible to punt for could be, at full capacity, a vessel carrying something more in keeping with ocean liner over 3,000 guests. A tale of two ships then, elegance. Even the sail away disco parties wherein classicists and contemporaries could hosted at the outdoor bar could easily be while away the time as they saw fit, although sidestepped if you preferred peace, quiet entertainments and accommodations are and a sublime Caribbean sunset viewed vitally important realistically the itinerary from the observation deck at Ventura’s bow. was always going to be the most crucial Meanwhile, should the live performances aspect of the trip. After all, we opened with
an overnight in Barbados, and then called at a further eight islands, many of whichfor example Grand Turk- would have been decidedly more difficult to reach via any other mode of transport. But for logic’s sake let’s start somewhere near the beginning. Waking on the first day at sea for an intimate breakfast in bed to discover you’re floating past St. Lucia’s dramatic Piton mountains is a wonderful experience to say the least. It also accentuates the biggest selling point of cruises in general, with a different vista each and every morning. Waters renowned for their calm temperament reflected back the kind of colours that make
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Photoshop redundant, whilst on land tiny roads wound through even smaller jungle villages before disappearing over the horizon. And the heat, even at 8 am, was inescapable. 24 hours later and we disembarked on verdant St. Vincent, a million theoretical miles from the opulence dominating Barbados’ west coast. There, a few hours before first setting sail, lunch at the Relais & Chateaux owned boutique beachfront hotel Cobblers Cove, just outside Speightstown, was an absolute delight, comprising delectable local delicacies such as tilapia and flying fish prepared by renowned Head Chef Michael Harrison. In juxtaposition, Kingstown was never going to be the most luxurious scheduled stop, yet its charm is immediate, making visitors acutely aware that this is not Kansas (or indeed the UK) anymore. Uneven streets lined with fruit and vegetable stalls stretching into the centre of town, heavy downpours of bath-temperature rain and a few hours spent avoiding those showers in a delightfully makeshift bar (comprising a few huts, a few local kids and some insufficient tent covers) being just three unforgettable and hugely entertaining memories. Despite docking with a few thousand fellow passengers, it was easy enough to find a sense of adventure, with abundant unfamiliar sights and sensations in every direction. Dominica’s capital, Roseau, followed suit and then trumped as arguably the most quintessentially Caribbean stop we made. A ramshackle town packed with colour and character, once in the streets we turned down an alleyway in the hope of fleeing the somewhat oppressive, well-above-30degree-and-humid weather, and emerged into a discreet drinking haunt complete with ragga soundtrack and (presumably) regular patrons similarly keen to keep out of the heat. Cold beer soon in hand, followed by the obligatory rum punch; it couldn’t have felt more tropical.
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At other times we ventured further than those points of entry. Reaching a near-deserted Choc Beach on St. Lucia from Castries City, where most ships dock, took no time at all. Seeking shade under a palm whilst keeping one eye on a watch for the return to port and our distance from the most urbanised zone in the country was astonishing. Just ten minutes by car and this stunning locale was quiet, not to mention stacked full of Kodak moments showing off the island’s infinite natural beauty, evidencing why this is currently the
planet’s honeymoon capital. A tropical Eden, there’s a common misconception that the entire region’s environment is homogenous. The first islands we called at, and next stop Antigua, where 365 beaches rival the aforementionedcertainly re-emphasised that Lost World stereotype, but the same can’t be said for everywhere en route. St Kitts, for example, in parts resembles Cornwall from a parallel universe, its southern peninsula’s windswept
“"Waters renowned for their calm temperament reflected back the kind of colours that make Photoshop redundant."
This page: Rowing Boats near port of St Lucia . Opposite: St Kitts from Brimstone Hill Fortress,
“"A trip of sizeable proportions resplendent with divine destinations."”
rolling hills boasting an almost moor-like appearance, with the swell topped Atlantic crashing down to the east. Not that visitors can’t then head inland to find lush, vegetation-packed rainforests, overrun with monkeys introduced by the colonial French during the island’s troubled history. Another key attraction nearby is Brimstone Hill Fortress, thought to be one of the finest structures of its kind in the world, originally built by the British on the back of imported slave labour in the 1600s, designed to stave off other nations looking to exploit the area’s resources after indigenous tribes had been wiped out. Grand Turk, our furthest port from the wellbeaten cruising path thanks to its relatively
recent ability to handle large vessels, probably belongs in the buccaneer days more than anywhere else. Looking out on what barely constitutes an island from onboard Ventura and every coastline was in sight. Spanning less than two miles across and six down, this minuscule member of the Turks & Caicos group is the perfect windswept strip of sand for one-eyed captains to dump disloyal crew members on. Then again, one of the seemingly endless cays offshore would fit the bill even better, as we found after making landfall on a tiny mound of earth roughly two kilometres out to sea. Of course in 2014, you can expect to make it back to civilization alive, after getting up close and personal with stingrays and
snorkelling over the coral reef close by, where an underwater ecosystem teems with life, from clown fish to barracuda. As the most memorable of our experiences it seems appropriate to leave it there, tempting as it is to go on for a good while longer. A trip of sizeable proportions resplendent with divine destinations, for two outed novices it more than demystified the art of cruising. Far from limiting passengers to a brief insight into various countries, the voyage itself is the real selling point, and that voyage can be whatever you make it. For cruise details and information: pocruises.co.uk
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THE TOP 100 YACHTS
International eXcellence attended the launch of the Edmiston E100 Yachts Charter. Edmiston have launched their new Yacht Charter Directory listing the top 100 boats in the world available to charter. This is a collection of the most stunning boats on the planet complete with everything from multiple helipads, swimming pools, on board sports, jetskis, tenders etc to 100 foot slides straight into the water. The prices range from 1,247,000 USD per week down, so this is the ultimate luxury holiday. It is more expensive than going into space, but the Yachts are quite simply stunning. International eXcellence spoke to Rory Trahair at Edmiston Yachts. - Why charter a Yacht? No other holiday offers such a unique combination of service, destination and flexibility – to be able to be in the right place on the right day is where a yacht proves superior to every other type of holiday. We often say to clients that they will unpack once or indeed have their bag unpacked for them and then visit 15 different destinations. The only ‘transfer’ they will make during this time will be from yacht to tender and tender to a secluded golden beach or waterside restaurant. Over the past two years we have built and delivered yachts to clients which have broken the boundaries in terms of facilities. These have included dual helipads, a zip wire, diving boards on every deck, a squash court and sound & lighting systems which would rival any Ibiza nightclub. These facilities, combined with unrivalled
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levels of service we are seeing onboard yachts, have set the benchmark for what our clients have come to expect from an Edmiston charter. - Some of the emerging trends ? In terms of destinations, the Mediterranean remains the place to see or perhaps more appropriately, “the place to BE seen”. It has the infrastructure, the restaurants, nightlife, scenery and facilities which our clients have come to expect and seem reluctant to give up. The Caribbean is not as popular as it was, but it is difficult to see that, if you find yourself anchored off St Barts for new year. We are finding an increasing number of yachts venturing further afield with 22 yachts currently in various points of a circumnavigation. With this comes increased demand from clients to explore these more exotic destinations. 10 years ago, a 50 metre yacht was regarded as large and anything over 100 metres was the preserve of Oligarchs, Shiek’s and Royalty. Today, 50 metres is the norm and the 30 largest yachts in the world are all in excess of 100 metres. Yachts are getting larger, and with this our clients expectations and demands for the latest and largest yachts are increasing, and our brokers are having to deliver….. this is exactly why we have developed the E100. - How did you come up with the E100? This is our FTSE 100 and represents the 100 best performing yachts on the market. Our commodity is yachts but what we aim to
deliver is an experience unmatched by any other. The selection process was not easy. With over 1500 yachts available for charter today, we had to ensure that we included what we perceived to be the finest in class; a comparison which was made on an analysis of so much more than simply size. Our experienced brokers looked at age, service, the all important crew, the chef and cuisine, deck space, water sports facilities and equipment, interior design and ultimately the yachts overall quality – the complete package. The E100 is the most dynamic list of yachts for charter and changes throughout the year with new yachts being launched and entering the charter market, while others may be off the radar for a year while being refitted to come back better than ever. 100 yachts, 37 new entries. The finest super yachts from 25 to over 90 metres with rates ranging from €30,000 to over €2 million per week. The top 5: NERO, NIRVANA, MALTESE FALCON, SOLANGE, ALFA NERO – 450 metres of some of the finest and most iconic yachts ever launched! The sensational LADY BRITT remains in her rightful place within the top 20, while the recently launched OHANA comes in at 47. - Where are the best places to charter? As the season progresses at the beginning of the year, the fleet heads East to Italy and beyond to Greece and Turkey, taking in the ever stunning Bay of Naples, Capri and the
Eleonora
Amalfi Coast, with a stop off in Portofino on the way of course. Corsica and Sardinia are where a yacht really comes into its own. Corsica’s Calvi to Bonfacio itinerary is one of the most popular, while Porto Cervo, Cala di Volpe and Porto Retondo still attract some of the largest yachts at the height of the summer. For those looking to get competitive, the Loro Piano Superyacht regatta in early June is a must see. The Cote D’Azur always has unending appeal. Start with breakfast in Monaco, Lunch in Cannes, Dinner in St Tropez – 120 kilometers of sublime scenery and the reason more of the E100 spend time here than in any other single locations in the world. The Cote D’Azur is home to some must see sporting and arts events: The Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes film festival in May. This year the London to Monaco powerboat race for which we will be sponsoring the superyacht division, and the Voile De St Tropez in late September marks the end of another memorable summer. Until recently, Croatia was known of, but rarely visited by large yachts. It seems
extraordinary that even in the Mediterranean a destination such as this has remained relatively undiscovered, but now it’s on every yachts must see list. Hvar offers the best scene in the evening, however with over a thousand islands and inlets, most prefer to anchor. Further south is the increasingly popular Porto Montenegro…. Which has someway to go before they catch up with Monaco, but they certainly have it in their sights. For winter sun, clients are consistently drawn to the Caribbean as it is easy to reach, good for families, has a laid back style, but is buzzy and cool. The sheer breadth of what is on offer is what makes the Caribbean so appealing. The fashionable harbours of St Barts and Antigua. Exceptional scuba diving in St Lucia and the Bahamas. The challenging peaks of Dominica, St Kitts and Grenada…. And this is before you have set foot on any one of the thousands of golden beaches for a BBQ! - What are the top yachts available? LADY BRITT Still in the top 20 for size, but arguably no. 1 for everything else, LADY BRITT already has
five bookings for this year and remains one of the most sought after yachts in the E100. With a 30 piece aqua park and 13 metre water slide, she is a firm favourite with families and kids who will certainly not be disappointed by the Chef’s 30 flavours of ice cream. His Michelin star and countless accolades should keep the parents happy too! Having just spent the winter in the Caribbean, she returns to the Med for another busy season. OHANA The latest addition to our fleet, OHANA sailed all the way from New Zealand where she was launched, through the Pacific to arrive for her debut in the Caribbean this winter. A very powerful sloop, OHANA is at home on the regatta circuit or cruising the world’s oceans. Even at 50 metres, OHANA offers all the thrill of sailing with the luxury and comfort of a superyacht. DB9 Cruising the Cote D’Azur this summer is DB9, with a top speed of 30 knots, her metallic paintwork and the small detail of not one, but three pools, DB9 is the ultimate sportsboat, and at 52 metres, she will certainly stand out
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in St Tropez as you watch the sun go down at Senequier and prepare for a quiet evening out! Over the past year we have organised charters in Indonesia, the Seychelles and Maldives, French Polynesia, Marshall Islands, Fiji and even the Amazon. Perhaps well known and popular destinations for traditional land based holidays; on a yacht, these places take on a completely different appeal offering unique access and a totally new perspective. Over 12 yachts from the E100 are currently cruising in the Indian Ocean. The Seychelles are most people’s idea of the perfect islands as well as the Maldives. For those looking to cruise for a lifetime, the Andamans, Thailand and Indonesia offer some of the finest cruising in the world. This winter ANASTASIA and UTOPIA have been in the Maldives, while PRINCESS IOLANTHE continues her voyage around Thailand. From the Great Barrier reef to the Easter Islands and on to the Galapagos and Central America, the Pacific Ocean can only be properly explored onboard a yacht. AZTECA II is cruising in Mexico and the Sea of Cortez and for the ultimate adventure, cruise up the Amazon onboard AQUA If you are a football fan, why not charter a yacht in Brazil for the World Cup this summer. NIRVANA in the Maldives In at no. 2 and at 88 metres, NIRVANA is one of the most impressive yachts afloat today. Her huge aft deck features a 5 metre pool with retracting floor which transforms into a dance floor. The watersports equipment onboard is staggering with a fleet of jet skis, sports and limo tenders and every conceivable inflatable and towable for everyone to enjoy. There is a vast Jacuzzi on the sundeck, while the gym and spa on the upper deck would rival any 5* hotel. If time is money, which it will be at €900,000 per week, there are two helipads. TV in Thailand Number 7 in the E100, TV is one of the most
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impressive yachts for charter anywhere in the world – the fact she has spent a number of years cruising in some of the most spectacular destinations across South East Asia makes her even more unique. Returning to the Med this summer now you really can see the world on TV. - So what’s hot for 2014? Over 50 yachts in excess of 50 metres are due to be launched this year, I suspect we will see some new editions to the E100 almost immediately! The Mediterranean remains incredibly popular and with over three quarters of the E100 based there this summer, that seems unlikely to change. While yacht owners are starting to see the benefits of venturing further afield, we are also seeing many emerging markets coming onto our radar. Many are long games, but we are watching them closely. The key wealth centres of the world, London, Dubai, Singapore, New York, Hong Kong are showing signs of renewed confidence. In response to this we are attending the Dubai yacht show in early March and will be in Singapore for the show in April. edmiston.com
Yacht Reborn
Yacht Princess Iolanthe
Yacht Christina
Yacht Apachell sundeck
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STEAM TRAIN 40’s GLAMOUR
by Yves de Contades
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Joseph jacket Joseph trousers Dunhill shirt Oswald Boateng tie Bally shoes
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Steaming Fashion from the 40’s
Etro trousers Dunhill knit Bally shoes Lacoste scarf Dunhill gloves Dunhill flat cap Dunhill computer case
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Clements Ribeiro dress Beige dress with fur trim, £1,152.50, Joseph coat PaulAlom. & Joe wedge heels patent peepby Avsh Green Lesley Vik Waddell crystal necklace toe sandals, £230, by Betty Jackson. Dunhill holdall Mint and brown scarf, £115, by internationalexcellence.co.uk 23 Missoni.
Poppy wears Clements Ribeiro with Hockley fur coat Matthew Williamson heels Laura Ashley handbag Dyberg & Kern ring Tulli wears Jesire tweed suit Daniel Swarovski crystal bracelet Mustard Finale tie-front Amanda Wakeley fur bolerotop, £297, – boots by EleyBally Kishimoto. Indigo and black River Island – floppy hat
trousers with white stitching, £240, 24 internationalexcellence.co.uk by Sinha-Stanic.
Joseph scarf Sand Jacket John Varvatos shirt John Varvatos trousers Bally – shoes
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Joseph coat Ronit Zilkha knit Tata Naka brooch necklace Tata Naka belt Etro boots
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Gant shirt Etro suit Bally shoes Aquascutum tie Dunhill holdalls
Jesire turtleneck Diane von Furstenberg cardigan Lesley Vik Waddell brooch Clements Ribeiro skirt Fabris Lane sunglasses Etro shoes Clements Ribeiro handbag
Lacoste scarf John Varvatos jacket Joseph shift dress Matthew Williamson jacket Etro handbag Clements Ribeiro belt
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Photgraphic assistant: Darren Lynsdale Stylists: Anna Svensson Louise Howlett Make up: Andrew Lloyd McCalla Hair: Acacio da Silva Models: Poppy - Storm Seb - Storm Tulli – Storm With special thanks Red gathered polo to: neck, £124, by Paul Smith Black. The Watercress Line Ashish Black sequin The Railway Station skirt, £270, by Selfridges. Arlesford Necklace, price on request, by Modernist. Hampshire Carlotta Black Gold Britain boots, £460, by Georgina England Laura Ashley dress SO24 9JG Styled by Kathryn Slack. Hair and Tata makeNaka fur Goodman. 01962 733810 Clements Ribeiro cardigan up byE-mail: Jennie Lam, using Dermalogica and Redken 5th info@watercressline.co.uk River Island handbag internationalexcellence.co.uk 28 www.watercressline.co.uk Aquascutum hat Avenue NYC. Model: Kate Tognolini at FM Agency.
Matthew Williamson fur poncho Christian Louboutin shoes Clements Ribeiro gloves Joseph skirt Gant knit Etro handbag Dyberg & Kern earrings
John Varvatos jacket John Varvatos shirt Joseph trousers Bally shoes Sand belt
makers of the world’s finest sporting guns and rifles n ew Y ork +1 212 752 7755
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www.hollandandholland.com internationalexcellence.co.uk
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THIS TIME IT’S PERSONAL Yves de Contades disusses database marketing and the personalisation of the internet. The future of sales and marketing, really the future of all business, social interaction, our quality of life and learning is about to be governed by algorithms. Rubbish I hear you say, we are in control of our lives, decisions, learning and future. Well, not for long unless we look very carefully at how we structure the internet and our collection of personal data over the next few years and tailor the code, that will soon run much of it, with an eye to ethics and quality of life over personal gain. The world is about to get personalised and it will be all about you. If you are in advertising, technology or internet industries that you probably already know that much of the information we see when we search on Google, Yahoo, Bing or any other search engine is personally tailored to us. Personalised search is here and is now expanding into everything. Everyone does not get the same search results when they look for a brand, news or information. The searches that come up are filtered by multiple factors. What you have searched before, what you write in your emails (if you use Googlemail, they search it), what sites you have looked at before, your demographics, what your friends like on social sites, what you have bought before and an ever growing amount of information that is stored to identify you in every possible way. Two of the biggest database companies are
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Acxiom and BlueKai. Acxiom (built over 5 acres in Arkansas) claim to have 1500 pieces of data on 96% of Americans, from their credit rating, to their buying preferences and medical notes. This is the company the US government went to after 9/11 and they had more information on the terrorists than the secret services, from their previous addresses to their spending habits. Companies like Kayak don’t just make a fee off the travel you buy, they sell the information of your travel purchase to data companies, who then sell that to the highest bidder. The company that bought that information can now target you with ads for travel everywhere you look on the internet. Companies like Loopt and Foursquare tell advertisers where you are from your mobile phone, so ads can be targeted at you everywhere, not just from your computer. It is the big shopping sites like Amazon and Net-a-Porter who buy this information and use it to profitable effect. TargusInfo and the Rubicon Project both claim databases in the billions, with a vast array of information on you, much of it old or out of date, but these are getting more sophisticated and the processes applied to them much more incisive. It is well known that 98% of people leave a shopping site without buying. So now when you have looked at say a Nikon camera on a site, after you leave the shop you see ads for Nikon cameras on every other site you visit. This is Retargeting. You have shown an interest and the ad is there to push that interest into
a sale. Retargeting is used because it works. You can be subtly persuaded into making that purchase by automated software. This collection of information is not bad per se, much of it will be for your convenience. When you walk into a store for the first time, the sales staff will know what your clothes size is, what you have bought before, how you would like to be addressed and can personalise your experience. Your life will become simpler and easier on a day to day level, but much of the control will also have been passed to large conglomerates who may not put your best interests at the heart of their sales strategy. The information collected about you is being pulled from every source, it collates your Facebook information, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, emails, buying habits, spending habits, credit rating, dating habits, medical records, web browsing (yes everything you have looked at, the government does track those that look up bomb making frequently) and where you have been. Your mobile phone sends out Geolocation information about everywhere you go to many companies (around 20 currently on a default new iphone) and many apps record where you take a photograph or video. This affects us in many ways that are not immediately apparent. Previously news was curated by “experts” who chose what was relevant, important or entertaining. Many news companies still use editors to pick the best content that will inform, but this is
“"We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us."” John Culkin fast dying and unprofitable. News sites now follow the criteria of most read. What is most read will get pushed out more and what is not read is lost. There are companies out there that literally have the most read articles up on a screen and the journalists writing the least read are shown the door. In simple terms it means that we will see a lot more articles about David Beckham launching a new perfume than political news or orphans in India. Advertising money follows the most hits and this means the real news that might be important for us will gradually get pushed further down the page. The entire internet could become tabloid fodder as it is simply easier after a hard days work to zone out than to keep up with world events. This is no doom and gloom scenario, but it is new, never in the history of our planet have we been able to collate information in this way so it is very important that we have a say on how it is done. Any totalitarian government would give their high teeth to be able to monitor and follow everyone automatically and control what they see and where they see it using easily automated programs. China no longer worries about
dissidents as it effectively controls the majority of the news disseminated and, more effectively, encourages people to self monitor both what they put out and what they read. This means that you are constantly partaking of information that supports the prevailing government opinion. The management of this information and the laws affecting its freedom are vital. How we interact with the world and the information we absorb is based on ever changing criteria and often chaotic. We need to be able to access information from all over the net without search engines effectively telling us what we or they went us to hear. It is like the McDonalds of the information world. Here it is, easy, packaged, unchanging, just like you had your mush before. Or like the Daily Mail, who feed people the same product information and pander to prejudice, most of it PR lead. Because it sells and pays their wages. The internet is like a vast cultural mind, it needs to stay free and constantly evolving, providing us with information that is not curated by brands or conglomerates, but an
open and free source of information about everything in our world. Not just what the algorithms of search engines think we want. If you rarely read about world affairs or politics, soon these will simply cease to come up in your search, whatever your search term. Algorithms following your database profile will be editing and curating what you see. Creativity and deeper understanding come from the serendipitous collision of ideas, cultures, tales and history. We need to be in charge of the curating process and that means we need to be in control of the data that companies keep on us. The internet is without doubt the greatest knowledge resource the world has ever seen, we need to be very careful how we look after it. It is really only in its infancy now and will need careful nurturing as it grows. One day it will be looking after us and we are responsible for its evolution. Further reading: The Filter Bubble: Eli Pariser Here Comes Everybody: Clay Shirky An Optimist’s Tour of the Future: Mark Stevenson.
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TALKING TECHNOLOGY Looking into the Future: Now you can have it all right in front of your eyes. Heads up, displays are coming. Nothing new for fighter pilots but this is the next must have gadget. Just think, instant access to every library and resource on the web. You never need look up that quote, statistic or lyric again. Word search through Wikipedia, faster than you can say: “I have total recall”. Immediate identification of new faces, direct link to their LinkedIn page, Facebook page, you name it. No one will ever be a stranger again, their full CV accessible as you pass them
by for a fee. Think of the dating possibilities. You could be informed of a date’s preferences and relationship status, even their mood at that exact instant. This is an advertisers’ dream. Every product you look at in a shop will be accompanied by similar products in the shop next door. You will be greetd by the shop staff as though they know you, as they will have all your clothes preferences and measurements already. They know who you are and where you are thanks to Geolocation in the phone and glasses. Every restaurant you pass will show the faces
of friends who have been there, liked it and their recommendations. Everything you see and tag can be recorded for your personal storage. It will be easy to keep a complete visual and written record of your life. All of us will become broadcast channels in our own right. Follow my life in 3D, not just my Facebook page. The future is all free mass media, it’s privacy that will cost.
Nikon Df The Nikon Df design harks back to the days when a camera was pretty much a nicely designed box with a hole in the front and film in the back and in the hands of great photographers this was all that was required to produce stunning work. The square box design seen in cars and gadgets of the 80’s is back in this modern twist on the Nikon classic series cameras of old. In a famous incident the war reporter Don McCullens’ life was apparently saved by his Nikon F stopping a Khmer Rouge AK47 bullet during the Vietnam war. This camera is for photographers who don’t need or want video and who are image obsessed rather than self obsessed as it is really more about producing beautiful artworks than pandering to the latest digital trend or social site. It boasts 16 MP and a Nikon F mount for all the old and new lenses. The winning feature here is the old style manual nobs for settings and the full frame FX format. At just over £2700 it is definitely for those who are looking to shoot art with a piece of retro art and can afford the statement. imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/df/
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SpaceGlasses META launch the SpaceGlasses in July. 3D glasses that project your smart phone, computer or even apps inside the lenses so you become a mix of Iron Man and Minority Report. Total information straight from the internet to your eyes only.
spaceglasses.com
Caran d’Ache Caelograph Beautiful ink pen that doubles as a mechanical astronomical instrument, charting the stars in the sky. Caran d’Ache Caelograph Alpha 30 limited edition Fountain Pen features a chart of the sky that is delicately engraved on night blue Chinese lacquer impregnated with silver particles. The grooves on the cap and writing block are the hour lines and the pen tip is embellished with a compass rose. From £3,500. carandache.com/caelograph
Caterham Bikes Caterham will be launching a range of bikes, the Brutus 750 (dubbed the ‘SUV of motorcycles’), Classic E-Bike (an all-electric bike with retro styling) and Carbon E-Bike this year. It’s all about the mix of past and future. caterhambikes.com
Sony’s new 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector This projector is a technological marvel as it does not need any set up on the ceiling or wall and projects on the surface whilst perfectly correcting for any angular distortion. Available in the U.S. summer of 2014 for around $35,000. sony.net/Products/4k-ultrashort-throw/
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THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT Jake Moeller, Head of UK Research at Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company. The panic and carnage markets exhibited in 2008 now seem for many a distant and unpleasant memory. Since equities bottomed in February 2008 the U.S. market has returned nearly 120% to the end of January 2014. While the U.K. market has yet to pass its June 2007 peak, its upward trend is clearly evident. Figure 1. U.K. Versus U.S. Benchmarks, February 1, 2004-January 31, 2014 The year 2013 should have contained more anxieties for investors than it actually did. Back in 2008 quantitative easing was not in common parlance and “tapering” hadn’t entered investment vernacular. In 2013 the market assuaged the fears of European contagion, Middle Eastern uprisings, and concerns about a hard landing in China; but it was spooked by the sudden mention of tapering or the withdrawal of quantitative easing. This had particular ramifications for emerging markets, which had benefitted considerably from the easy money coming from Western economies. The U.K. and U.S. markets, despite a small wobble in May and June 2013, continued on their merry way. Figure 2. U.K. and U.S. Versus Emerging Market Benchmarks, January 2013-January 2014 Importantly, flows into mutual funds remained buoyant; over the course of 2013 the European fund industry enjoyed
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net flows of €183.5 billion into mutual funds, with flows of €96 billion into bond funds and €92 billion into equity funds. This reflected the continuing optimism pervading investors’ mentality. The year 2013 stood in considerable contrast to 2012, which saw the complete domination of flows into bond funds. But 2014 may not yet see the bursting of the bond bubble; it certainly hasn’t been reflected in investor sentiment. Since the tapering scare of May 2013, there have been large adjustments in fixed income composition, but interestingly, investors haven’t cashed in their bond chips. Rather, we are seeing de-risking within the sector—moving out of emerging market debt and local currency bonds into better-rated global currency and Western high-yield bonds. The bond managers I have met agree that 2014 won’t prove to be a stellar year for bond funds, but—given the credit default rates and that the level of inflation is expected to remain very low—it should be a year when bond investors can expect their coupons with low or little capital appreciation. The year 2013 was characterised by a considerable uptake in investor risk appetite, reflected by more robust flows into equity funds. Equity fund sales increased in all major countries (with the notable exception of Germany), and this trend seems set to continue into 2014. Global economic headwinds
are less pronounced, companies are in good shape after a long period of deleveraging, and the U.S. economy has continued to grow, with U.S. consumer, housing, and business confidence metrics all more sanguine. In the U.K. companies are well placed to benefit from the global improvements, and our domestic economy also is improving. For 2013 €85 billion poured into mixedasset funds in Europe. Asset-allocation techniques had become more advanced in recent years, with funds able to use new tools and instruments to take advantage of opportunities in the market. Table 1. Growth and Volatility of Various Market Benchmarks, January 2009-January 2014
Considering the reduction in volatility that diversification offers (see table above), it might be that we have in 2014 a good opportunity to examine some of the quality fund offerings in the mixedasset space. While the markets remain buoyant, we’ve seen—with the recent incursion by Russia into Ukraine—that perhaps political risks are those that most demand a diversified portfolio.
Figure 1. U.K. Versus U.S. Benchmarks, February 1, 2004-January 31, 2014
Figure 2. U.K. and U.S. Versus Emerging Market Benchmarks, January 2013-January 2014
Table 1. Growth and Volatility of Various Market Benchmarks, January 2009-January 2014
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Spring is here - time to clear out the old and start shopping for the new! Love eXcellence is our beautiful luxury on-line shop. Wonderful gift ideas from the everyday to the extraordinary - candles to submarines. Fantastic furniture to enhance your home, from sublime stools to grandiose gold dining tables. Electrical equipment, lighting, interiors, tasty teas - everyhing you
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and your home desires. Do allow yourself enough time to browse the jewellery and of course the watches - everything from Quinting, McGonigle, Lip, Swiss Military, Rudiger, Johan Eric and Haurex. There’s also plenty for the art, fishing, boating, cycling and motorbike enthusiast. Something for everyone. Happy Shopping!
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Lauge Jensen Bespoke Motorbike Dark Knight £43,500
The matt black finish of the Dark Knight absorbs light like a black hole as sea-green details glimmer in the twilight. With an under- stated wheel design, the rare glimpse of chrome is highlighted to perfection, allowing just the right amount of light to penetrate the darkness. Coffee Bean Cufflinks £75 This perennial best seller from Veritas is simple and stylish, the organic coffee bean is crafted in sterling silver and provides understated elegance to any cotton cuff. All Veritas cufflinks are beautifully presented in their hallmark purple and black cufflinks gift box.
Hand of Fatima £2,608 Choose a Hand of Fatima pendant as an amulet for great good luck and protection! It is a much loved and popular symbol in many parts of the world. Wrightson & Platt life cast a lady’s hand and using their clever technology have it perfectly reduced in size to make these bejewelled and exotic pieces.
G1 Floor Standing Loudspeaker £43,500
Quinting Watch Mysterious Chronograph £27,500
The GIYA G1 is Vivid Audio’s top of the range, flagship speaker.. This is a loudspeaker system like no other. A myriad of technical details skilfully combined to achieve a remarkable sense of pistonic transparency and tonal naturalness together with a uniqueness of design forming its final appearance..
Overcoming obstacles and braving the impossible to attain perfection and excellence; this philosophy motivated Quinting to create the first and only 100% transparent watch in the world. (QSS5DD)
Tobagan Hummingbird Cushion £65 The design comes from an oil painting by Briony Benge-Abbott, and the layers of paint and brush strokes have been carefully captured so that you can enjoy the detail of the original artwork in your own home.
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loveexcellence.co.uk “Serenity” £1,200 Mixed media on Canvas by Grace Aza-Selinger.
Pink Ice Cream Cushion £38.95 This delightful cushion from Victoria Eggs is guaranteed to go down a treat with any lover of traditional English ice cream. One side features vintage typography and lists classic ice creams and the reverse has an iconic stencilled image of a 99 flake.
Tribeca Table Lamp £771
Lip Watch Fridge Ruby Nubuck £160 Tallon’s design keeps all the particulars that make an analogue watch: traditional movement, time fitting by the crown, wrist watch, current strap and buckle. However, this watch breaks with the jewel watch concept, exploding the straitjacket of the classical watchmaking shapes.
With its geometric form and classic size, the Tribeca desk lamp from Boca do Lobo is the perfect addition to any modern décor, easily converted from a table lamp to a bedside lamp.The lamp base can be made from oak, beech tree or mahogany wood. The wood can be lacquered in either a black or white finish.
British BBQ Apron £18.95 This BBQ apron will keep your clobber clean and you looking sleek all party long. Whether you’re a seasoned barbecuer or novice this Barbecue apron is the perfect accessory to when you are cooking outdoors.
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Queen Bess Acorn and Oak Leaf in Sterling Silver £520 This breathtakingly detailed piece of jewellery from Wrightson & Platt, has been made directly from fallen oak leaves and acorns. It is a timeless piece which will forever be precious and forever tell a tale of a Queen and an oak tree.
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Intimate Set Orange £78 Each set is hand blown to create these collectibles. The design is achieved through the movement of colour blown into the glass, a technique that is fiendishily difficult to achieve let alone master. Each piece is truly unique. The MARTA Intimate Collection from Bib & Sola is offered in 8 colours. Set comes with 1 glass, 1 carafe.
Times Side Table £1,045
Lip Watch Himalaya 1954 Chrome Black £130 All black chromed-steel version, this 2013 revision concentrates all the elements of the original to make a perennially fashionable model, with simplicity, reliability and robustness.
The Gentleman’s Fly Fishing Kit £2,400 The Gentleman’s kit is the ultimate must have flyfisherman’s gift. Each order is handmade at Chris Clemes workshops in England and includes a choice of either an available Harmony or one of our bespoke Symphony split cane fly rods presented in a beautifully made custom wooden presentation case.
This exquisitely handcrafted side table from Boca do Lobo, was designed for both function and unadorned beauty. A square top supported by clean minimal legs completes its pure simple style. The tabletop is made from luxurious rosewood or palisander. The tabletop can also be veneered with silver or gold leaf if desired. The support structure is in stainless steel, which is polished for a fabulous shine.
Children’s Art Double Frame £25 The Articulate Gallery Double frame is a great way to display children’s artwork, they hang portrait or landscape and will display 3D pictures too.
Tea: The Honey Special £56 You will fall in love with this gorgeous, sophisticated tea, from Taiwan’s hightest mountain. Infuse it throughout the day; explore its layers of flavour, depth of character and length of finish. internationalexcellence.co.uk
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S E C N E I R E P X
Visit our online luxury shop Love eXcellence and take your pick from the different experiences on offer. loveexcellence.co.uk
CETEWAYO TWO DAY GET AWAY YACHT CHARTER Cetewayo, named after the Zulu king, is a yacht of exceptional pedigree. This is a special charter where a couple can experience the freedom of sailing and living onboard a classic yacht. The duration of the cruise can be extended at request. Fully catered.
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OVERNIGHT HELICOPTER TRIP
POLO TASTER
ROUND THE ISLAND RACE
Take an exclusive helicopter trip to the luxury country house hotel and spa, Chewton Glen with Amadeus Aviation. Depart from Battersea in their Agusta 109 helicopter and enjoy a tour over London and the complimentary champagne bar before heading off to Chewton Glen.
Cool Hooves Polo are offering this polo taster which is a group activity for a minimum of six people that runs for half a day, ideal if you want to try your hand at the sport with your friends or colleagues. Enjoy lunch in the clubhouse afterwards to celebrate your success!
Experience this world famous yacht race from the cockpit of a Class 40 performance racing yacht. Begin with training to “learn the ropes” before heading to the start line off Cowes. Be as involved as you want to be- enjoy the thrills as a passenger, or the adrenaline as a fully active crew member!
“Create your own personal bucket list ... don’t wait for tomorrow, seize the day, pick one and do it!”
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PASCAL BERCLAZ International eXcellence interviews the president of Quinting.
Overcoming obstacles and braving the impossible to attain perfection and excellence; this philosophy motivated Quinting to create the first and only 100% transparent watch in the world. - What was the first watch that you owned? I don’t even know if this watch belonged to a brand or had any name, actually it was just providing time and at the moment it was enough for me. It is exactly what luxury watches do not do: simply display time, it is so much more than this… - How did you start in the industry? By accident! I have a degree in Economics and Research Engineering. In the early 90’s three crazy watchmakers decided to realise the dream of every Swiss watchmaker: create a totally see-through wristwatch. However, as with others before them they didn’t find a way to do it. It is at this moment that we met. Combining our know-how with a fifth engineer, in automotive research, we developed the first 100% transparent chronograph. After 7 years and an investment of $15 million, Quinting was born and I never left the watchmaking industry. - Who have been the most interesting clients and why? All watch enthusiasts are interesting! They all love watches for different reasons, as crazy and personal as they are. Maybe customers asking for special pieces are the most interesting. They always have very specific ideas of their watches and it is a great challenges for us to design the perfect watch for them, combining their deepest dreams and the Quinting DNA. 42
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- What actions and qualities most contributed to your success? We are the first in the world who succeeded in creating a transparent watch and from the beginning we never gave up accepting new challenges. I think our success is essentially based on three points: *The exclusivity of our pieces: the Mystery of transparency, impossible to copy. *World Premieres: First transparent wristwatch, first movement in sapphire, first movement with counter balancing forces, first true Moon phase. *High technicality : a Swiss President said that he wears a Quinting because the brand represents all the Swiss traditional watchmaking and its future. - What do you consider to be the three most important innovations in mechanical watch design? To limit watchmaking innovations to just three is as difficult as listing all the amazing things that have been done in the past centuries in this industry. Just to pick a few, I would say the automatic movement, the perpetual calendar and the Moon phase. - How would you compare the top watch brands with yours? Quinting is really a niche. As we do so specific timekeepers, we do not really have concurrence. However, some journalists in Sweden and in Switzerland once compared us with Rolex, as they would be the ‘old school’ and we are the ‘new school’. I don’t really know what to think about it but it is pleasant to be compared to the biggest brand ever in our industry.
- What most excites you about producing a new range? Push the boundaries further and further, accept the craziest challenges, keep on differentiating ourselves as we have always tried to. Our last collection, Street Art, is the perfect example of this state of Mind. We took an artistic part 3 years ago with our Art Collection: only unique pieces, hand decorated with enamel. It is figurative art so we wanted in 2013 to explore new horizons and go on a way other brands don’t dare to take: Street Art, the most dynamic, young and urban kind of art. For each watch we pick a famous street around the world, never twice the same, and imagine special design for it. As a street is significantly different during the day, some elements are moving at the speed of hour or minute and glowing at night so you will never have twice the same watch a day. When you buy a watch from the Quinting Street Art collection you also get a hand decorated box and a canvas. It is not watchmaking anymore, it is Art. It is what we are. - Your favourite watch that you produce? It is like choosing among his own children… For the technicality, I would say the Moonlight as our team worked for months to create this special movement. It is the first one truly showing the moon phases (you can see the moon rotating around a hand decorated earth. As the five others, it is totally manufactured by Quinting and is patented. For the symbol, however I would definitely choose the Dove of Geneva. Two doves are rotating inside, one at the speed of the minutes and the other one at the speed of the hours, perfectly superposing one minute per hour. The message behind is that you can
fight 59 minutes if you obtain one minute of peace in return. It is a 192 pieces limited edition (in reference of the countries in the United Nations) that some of the biggest names around the world choose to wear, including Bill Clinton, Kofi Annan and the majority of the Swiss Government. We are very proud of trying to have a role into the fight for peace. - What is your favourite watch of all time and why? Except the Quinting ones you mean? I have to say ‘El Primero’ by Zenith. This watch is such a technical achievement that it is even not necessary to explain this choice. - What would you advise a first time watch buyer to look for? Most people only look for a well-known brand but I think two points are essential when you buy a watch; even more when it is your first one: reliability (you will want to see this watch at the wrist of your grandkid) and originality, because you deserve it! - What is your take on the state of the luxury watch business today? There are so many technical wonders and, at the same time, so many watches looking like each other… Too few dare to completely distinguish themselves, take some risks, and it is a pity. We have this chance at Quinting because of our total independence. - Where do you consider to be the best market for watches and the best emerging markets worldwide? For Quinting, the best markets definitely are Eastern Europe and Middle East, for the last
decade and a half. To no one’s surprise, Asia is now the fastest growing market. - What do you regard as the most exciting technological developments in the last year or about to hit the industry? Hard to say but probably the additional plate thanks to that we can add high complications to standard movements. - What is your favourite thing to do when not working? Relaxing on a boat with a good cigar. - What are you working on now and what are your plans for the future? We are currently working on some brand new projects with other big names of the Luxury segment as Quinting is not only a watch seller but also a Manufacturer. We created the Chrystal movement for Dior a couple of years ago and you will discover other projects of this type, even crazier, during 2014. - List some brands or people who you judge to be excellent and why? All the people who are trying to make this industry better are excellent! I have the chance to meet many in my work ! More generally, Porsche is a brand that makes you dream. Quality / price ratio, the automotive industry has by far the largest concentration of new technologies. This is an industry that takes technical developments into the future.
Quinting Watches are available to buy at loveexcellence.co.uk internationalexcellence.co.uk
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BEAUTY SKIN CLEAN Spring is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to clear out, organise and re-stock your skincare with some hard working skincare. Forget the house spring clean; Levanah Reyes-Wainwright dishes out the skin clean.
"Night time requires a cream packed full of skin loving ingredients to heal and rejuvenate."
First up get rid of anything and everything that is out of date. The little pot on the back of the bottle will give you an indication of whether it should be thrown away after 6, 12 or 18 months. If you can’t even remember when you bought it then it has to go. The cleanser you are using is probably not cutting it anymore. Forget foaming washes and gels, oil based balms and cream cleanser make for a great skin day. Pick up a tube of the new Clarins ExtraComfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream
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(£25, clarins.com) designed to eliminate all traces of pollution and detoxifies in addition to cleansing and nourishing the skin. The miracle tree Moringa seed ingredient acts as a barrier against free radical forming particles and ensures the skin’s surface is rinsed of these impurities. Next it is time to upgrade your toner. No longer just a step to rid you of your leftover cleansing residue, today’s toners are hardworking with multiple benefits. If you have oily or blemish prone skin, opt for an antibacterial toner
first, followed by a rehydrating toner. Kerstin Florian’s Rehydrating Neroli Water (£31.50, kerstinflorian.co.uk) is a unique floral water from the Bitter Orange Blossom that soothes, hydrates and freshens the skin. The delicate floral scent helps soothe anxiety and uplift the spirit, making it perfect for use during air travel. Day and night moisturisers have been amped up too. For the day, if you have been using a combined moisturiser with SPF you aren’t doing your skin any favours. A separate light
"Today’s toners are hardworking with multiple benefits."”
fluid moisturiser followed by a specifically designed SPF, will mean you are perfectly protected from those UVA and UVB rays. YonKa’s Pamplemousse Vitalizing Cream (£37, yonkashop.co.uk) is a light, luscious formula perfect as a moisturising base under sun protection. Invigorating citrus scents give the skin a real shot of energy and with famous faces such as Jessica Alba, Blake Lively and Jada Pinkett-Smith singing its praises as an anti-fatigue and oxygenating pick-me-up for tired skin, you know you are in safe hands. Night time requires a cream packed full of skin
loving ingredients to heal and rejuvenate. Fresh from LA, eco-luxe brand Dahliana has risen to international stardom as a natural skincare brand harnessing the power of fruit stem technology. The Dahliana Overnight Fruit Life Crème (£56, abeautifulworld.co.uk) is full of natural fruit acids, which refine the surface of the skin, and Co-EnzymeQ10 to stimulate natural collagen production. Finally, swap out those dated clay based masks for Korea’s hottest new skincare trend – sheet masks. Jamela Skin Care’s 24k Gold
Collagen Facial Masks (£49.50 for a box of 5, jamelaskincare.com) are the ultimate luxury face masks infused with Mineral Gold, Plant Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid and Rose Essence. The nutrients are absorbed 10 times faster than a traditional face mask, as the body temperature slowly dissolves the mask. The moisturised, plumped skin will feel smoother with a radiant glow, with a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin worthy of a spring in your step.
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SPRING INTO SUPPLEMENTS More than ever, we are adding energy enhancing, skin clearing and body boosting supplements to our diet. Levanah ReyesWainwright picks the best of the bunch. Mornings are when we face our hardest healthy eating challenges, so supplementation alongside your breakfast or even in place of can be a great way to keep on track for the rest of the day. Purition Superseed Breakfast Smoothie (£19.95, purition.co.uk) is a 100% natural, high protein shake meal replacement made from 7 wholefood seeds and available in coconut, chocolate or pistachio flavours. James Duigan, creator of the Clean & Lean diet, followed by Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Elle Macpherson highly recommends his Body Brilliance powder (£50, bodyism.com). Formulated with pro and prebiotics, fibre and minerals, “Body Brilliance is the super model’s secret weapon,” he says. Both of these supplements help to stabilise blood sugar levels and reduce cravings for sugar. If you are still craving the white stuff, switch to a zero calorie natural sugar alternative like Natvia (£5.27, natvia.com) made from the freshest tips of Stevia plants blended with naturally occurring nectar found in melons and grapes. Replacing certain foods in your diet with nutrient rich alternatives is a great way to boost your health levels. Snacking on your mind? This is not about deprivation or starvation. Make yourself a smoothie full of natural goodness. Blend fruit with a
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spoonful of 100% Meridian Nut Butter (£2.49, hollandandbarrett.com) whether protein packed peanut, mineral heavy cashew or good fat rich almond. To pack in the omega3’s Good Hemp (£13, goodhempnutrition. com) raw powder will keep you fuelled throughout your busy day. For a supercharged energy boost Bioglan Superfood Acai & Berry Powder from Matt Dawson (£22.99, bioglansuperfoods.co.uk) delivers a powerful dose of berries to revitalise the body and promote immune health. To add variety to your dishes for lunch and dinner, there are a range of bolt ons that will not only bulk out the meal but also keep you fuller for longer. With 3 times more iron than spinach and 5 times the amount of calcium in milk, Chia bia’s Whole Chia seeds (£11.99, hollandandbarrett.com), are great to sprinkle on top of yogurt or add to soup. When that cold or flu flares up, a spoonful of Steens Raw 100% pure New Zealand Manuka Honey (£21.95, Waitrose.com) will ward off symptoms with its impressive antibacterial properties.
"keep you feeling focused and alert for the day."”
If you are craving sweet substitutes and facing chocolate challenges, pick the most nutrient dense supplements. Spread delicious Tiana Fair Trade Organic Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (£14.99, tiana-coconut.com) on toast for a cholesterol free treat, it keeps skin and hair in peak condition and boost your metabolism thanks to the healthy fatty acids. For chocolate lovers, blend Choc Chick Organic Raw Cacao Powder (£8.95, chocchick.com) with alternative milks such as rice, oat or almond for a superfood antioxidant boost rich in magnesium. Top it off with raw Creative Nature Organic Peruvian Cacao Nibs (£5.66, creativenaturesuperfoods.com) which are high in iron, fibre and Phenylethylamine (PEA) to keep you feeling focused and alert for the day.
“"there are a range of bolt ons that will not only bulk out the meal but also keep you fuller for longer."”
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FABULOUS FOOD
A QUICK AND EASY, TASTY AND SATISFYING SNACK OR PERFECT ADDITION TO A BEAUTIFUL BRUNCH. MAKES 8.
CHEESE AND BACON MUFFINS from our eXcellent chef, Lucy Rowe 4 rashers streaky bacon 60g cheddar 175g self raising flour 1 tsp English mustard powder 2 eggs 200ml milk 85g butter, melted
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200C/180fan. Grease a muffin tin. 2 Cut the bacon into small pieces and dry fry until crisp. Leave to drain on kitchen paper. 3 Cut ž’s of the cheese into small dice and grate the remainder. 4 Stir the flour, mustard powder and some salt and pepper together in a large bowl. 5 Whisk together the eggs and milk, stir in the melted butter. 6 Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. The mixture should look quite runny and a bit lumpy. Add the bacon and diced cheese and stir only a couple of times. 7 Ladle into the prepared muffin tin (the holes should be quite full) and sprinkle with the grated cheese. 8 Bake for 25 minutes until risen, golden and quite firm.
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