Prestige June 2009

PRESTIGE i n

t h e

l a p

o f

l u x u r y

MOTOR YACHT

COLLECTIBLES

ICONIC CHE

ASTON MARTIN

DHOW SAFARI ISSUE NO. 28

R49.95

LASTING GRACE

contents

56

22

marine 22

SuperYacht Alysia

50

The Ease of Owning a Motor Yacht

72

Starckly Confidential

92

BMW & Bavaria

Ain’t She Awesome?

Boating World

Vaudrey Miller Limo

Deep Blue 46

motoring

90

8

PRE S TI G e

36

Only Aston Martin

56

Mighty Morgan

V12 Vantage and DBS Volante

Aero SuperSports

special features 16

Everlasting Grace

38

Museum of London

80

Online Ivy League Education

86

Korda’s Famous Che Photo

Princess of Monaco

Anti-Apartheid Movement Exhibit

The Universe of Ideas

The Making of an Icon

contents

64

42

26

travel 30 Dhow Safari

Sailing the Quirimbas Archipelago

42

Shambala Game Reserve

64

Charismatic Cuba

82

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa

Password: Privacy

Hidden Charm in Old Havana

Business and Pleasure

lifestyle 26 Love Your Leiber

Classic, Collectible Handbags

46

Staying Safe

60

Collectibles

68

Artworks

77

Top Security

90

Handsome Hublot

94

Private Air Travel

DĂśttling Luxury Safes

What’s in a Name?

Restoring, Conserving and Valuating

Protea Coin Group

Watches of Distinction

United Charter Services

regulars 12 From The Helm 98 Savour 100 Live the Life 104 Making Waves 10

PRE S TI G e

Hawker

Fly with grace, poise and style

Hawker 4000

Hawker 900XP

Hawker 750

Hawker 400XP The sophistication of business travel is epitomised by the versatile range of Hawker jets.

When you experience a Hawker’s luxuriously spacious cabin, high cruise speed and best in class characteristics, you can be forgiven for feeling superior.

514Hawker/Prestige/08.04

For more information on these awe-inspiring aircraft, call National Airways Corporation.

ISO 9001:2000 Quality Assured An Imperial Company

Lanseria (+27 11) 267 5000 • Rand Airport (+27 11) 345 2500 • Cape Town (+27 21) 425 3868 Pretoria (+27 12) 567 5161 • Durban (+27 31) 571 8316 • Gaborone (+267) 397 5257 Australia (+6189) 429 8881 • Visit our website: www.nac.co.za

Issue 28

from the helm

PUBLISHER: Tanya Goodman (PhD Yale) tanya@prestigemag.co.za Chapel Lane Media PO Box 13404, Hatfield, 0028 Tel: +27 82 671 2762 Fax: +27 866 78 6370 MANAGING EDITOR: Charl du Plessis (MBA Yale, PhD Darden) Tel: +27 82 452 8110 charl@prestigemag.co.za

“Once the atom was split in the first nuclear explosion, small stopped being trivial.”

EDITOR: Toni Ackermann toni@prestigemag.co.za

(Oh Pure and Radiant Heart by Lydia Millet) We were sharing this wonderful line from a book while sipping a small cup of espresso, on a very small private beach (only one party may book it daily), on a really small island in one of the smallest countries in the world. Not a long way from home, yet far away from the seemingly big issues that seem to clog our everyday perspective. In the peace and quiet of a In the Next Edition: place that resembles Never Never Land, there was Lord Lucan Murder Mystery time to think about the small things that matter.

Economics teach us that all that is important happens in the margin. Art and aesthetics draw our attention to the detail. We keep our friends through the loyalty of small gestures that show our caring, and our clients stay with us when we go that little step beyond. Our impatience gets shown up for its lack of reason in the simple logic of a tiny toddler’s claim, “it’s not fair.” In reality, small has never been trivial, and whoever thought that “thinking big” is the only way to live misses out on the texture of our universe. In this edition of Prestige, we want to chafe your skin a bit with the sparkling granularity of our world, strictly for your enjoyment, of course.

Our cover story features Grace Kelly, whose parents were prescient in the name they chose for the storybook life their daughter would live. We share the tale of the two nicotine-stained photos of Che Guevara that turned him into the icon for all future revolutions and rebellions – big and small. The detail of artists and craftsmen is featured across several genres: bespoke safes made for generations by a German family; handbags so particular that they are housed in the Museum of Modern Art; priceless scribbles of ink embodied in the signatures of famous people and which have become valuable investments for their collectors; and the expression of designers’ ideas in the worlds of motoring and yachting, including some work by Philippe Starck, perhaps the ultimate master of fresh detail.

The author who penned the beautiful line of writing on things small and trivial never intended to suggest that the human spirit itself should remain puny, and we bring this indomitable force of humanity to you in features about an Anti-Apartheid art exhibition in London; a thrilling adventure on a dhow safari across the vast waters of the Indian Ocean; and a last glimpse of Old Havana as it fades away before the commercial onslaught that is inevitable now that American travel restrictions have been lifted. We invite you to look at the future of human knowledge when reading how Ivy League Universities’ free open courseware can stretch the horizon of what we may learn. If we could wish anything for our readers from this edition of Prestige, it would be new perspectives on things big and small.

Charl and Tanya 63024 PRESTIGE 9/11/08 2:59 PM Page 1

63024 PRESTIGE 9/11/08 2:59 PM Page 1 C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY CMY

K

C

CM

MY

CY CMY

K

Prestige

Prestige

t h e

l a p

o f

l u x u r y

shelby

diamonds

turkish baths

kRAL speedsTeR 580

t h e

l a p

o f

i n

l u x u r y

charlize

MOTOR YACHTS

branson’s africa

ART COLLECTIONS

flyfishing

PRIVATE JETS

cape to bahia

FINE JEWELLERY

t h e

l a p

o f

l u x u r y

ADVERTISING: Adie Pranger Tel: +27 83 601 2291 / +27 11 465 1572 adie@prestigemag.co.za Lodene Grobler Tel: +27 79 876 4130 lodene@prestigemag.co.za Claudia Henkel Tel: +27 82 443 6470 claudiahenkel@prestigemag.co.za Rui Barbosa Tel: +27 84 290 2070 rui@prestigemag.co.za Megan Coleman Tel: +27 72 567 3112 megan@prestigemag.co.za DESIGN & LAY-OUT: Liesel van der Schyf VDS Design Studio Tel: +27 82 336 7537 liesel@vdsdesign.co.za SUBSCRIPTIONS: SMS the words SUBSCRIBE PRESTIGE, followed by your name and email address, to +27 82 452 8110.

Alternatively, email your name, cell number and delivery address to mail@prestigemag.co.za.

Print: CTP Cape Town DISTRIBUTION: Prestige is available at major news stand outlets, retail stores and through subscription. Prestige is freely distributed in leading five-star hotels and airport lounges, as well as upscale coffee shops, wellness centres and spas, and waiting areas for private banking clients.

Cover Images Credits: Main: Gallo Images / Getty Images Thumbnails: Aston Martin; Döttling; Aswatada Safaris; Liveras Yachts; iStockphoto.com

PRESTIGE i n

the blue train ISSUE NO. 25

issue 25

issue 24 Composite

R39.95

i n

B O AT i N G |s A i L & C H A R T e R |L u X u R Y L i V i N G |M OTO R i N G |T R A V e L |s T Y L e

B O AT i N G |s A i L & C H A R T e R |L u X u R Y L i V i N G |M OTO R i N G |T R A V e L |s T Y L e

marilyn

rolex sailing

ISSUE NO. 24

Composite

Y

PRESTIGE PRESTIGE PRESTIGE i n

About Prestige

M

Lifestyle EDITOR: Claudia Henkel claudiahenkel@prestigemag.co.za

R39.95

special edition on southern shores

THe BOLd NeO AfRiCA

FAST CARS ISSUE NO. 26

R39.95

LEGENDARY COCO CHANEL

Prestige magazine has grown from its roots as a luxury yachting magazine, to become the leading South African luxury lifestyle magazine for high net worth individuals, and those who aspire to that lifestyle. Prestige incorporates the latest on the sport of kings and the king of sports (yachting), luxury travel, exotic motoring, private aviation, style and design, food and décor, arts and architecture, collectibles, jewellery, fashion, property and holistic well-being. Working with a finely nuanced definition of luxury, namely “meaningful and successful lives beyond money, old or new,” it is a magazine for families with finesse and financial freedom who engage with the world across many interesting dimensions. With each edition, Prestige pursues a mix of luxury elements that include rarity, nostalgia, elegance, understatement, freedom, curiosity, generosity, intelligence, wit, aesthetics, 12 PRE S TI G e adventure and more. Simply holding and enjoying Prestige should already feel like a luxury in itself.

t h e

l a p

o f

l u x u r y

All rights are reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. PRESTIGE is published by Chapel Lane Media. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or any of its clients. Information has been included in good faith by the publisher and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. No responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and reports in this magazine, the publisher does not accept any responsibility, whatsoever, for any errors, or omissions, or for any effects resulting there from. No part of this publication may be used, or reproduced in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.

Copyright ©2009. All copyright for material appearing in this magazine belongs to Chapel Lane Media and/or the individual contributors. All rights reserved.

benmore gardens • design quarter • bryanston shopping centre • riverside centre • www.ghorbany.co.za

Ghorbany CARPETS

Imagination meets sophistication

© MIRAH BRADT DESIGN STUDIO • 083 309 2338

Bakos Brothers is 100% Carbon Neutral

South Africa Johannesburg Dunkeld Decorating Centre Jan Smuts Ave, Cnr Bompass +27(0)11 325 2400 Sandton City Lower Level Rivonia Rd, Cnr Rivonia Rd +27(0)11 883 4716 Fourways Design Quarter William Nicol, Cnr Sandton Dr +27(0)11 465 0130 Nelspruit Alroe Park Madiba Dr, Cnr Andrew Str Mpumalanga +27(0)13 755 2331

Worldwide Delivery w w w. b a k o s b ro t h e r s . c o m The Regal

Ti m e l e s s

Q u a l i t y

S TAR

Everlasting

grace P r i n c e s s

o f

M o n a c o

She was chic and sophisticated; the envy of all women, and she made male admirers hot under the collar. She was the inspiration for countless fashion fads, stole the show every time she starred in a motion picture and, in 2007, inspired the lyrics of a pop song. She won the affections of a prince in the south of France, whom she married in a fairytale wedding. She was the revered silver screen goddess, Grace Kelly, and the world’s

M

ore than a quarter of a century after her death, Grace Kelly continues to exert a powerful force. Born 12 November 1929, Grace, together with her three siblings – two sisters and a brother – grew up in a respectable suburb of Philadelphia. Grace’s father, Jack, through his brick business, was a self-made millionaire and something of a local hero for his triple Olympic-goldmedal-winning sculling skills. Her mother, Margaret, later became the first woman to head the Physical Education Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Performing was in Grace’s blood; she had two wellknown uncles in the arts: one, Walter Kelly, was a vaudevillian; the other was Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, George Kelly.

It was always Grace’s dream to make movies. So much so that she left for New York soon after graduating high school.

Here, she passed the time doing odd modelling jobs, posing for magazine covers and making several Broadway and TV appearances. She also studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art. After two years in the Big Apple, Grace moved to California, where she soon landed a small role in Fourteen Hours, though it wasn’t

16

PRE S TI G e

darling, Princess Grace of Monaco. until her second film, High Noon that she really started attracting attention.

Grace’s third movie, Mogambo, where she starred alongside Clark Gable, required her to sign a studio contract with MGM. Reports circulated that, during filming, Grace had an affair with her handsome costar. Remarking on this, Grace coyly said, “What else is there to do if you're alone in a tent in Africa with Clark Gable?” Her performance in Mogambo won her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for “Best Supporting Actress.” In the 1954 film, The Country Girl, Grace’s portrayal of a decidedly unglamorous character also won her much recognition, as well as an Oscar.

By now Grace had caught the eye of the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The ultimate “Hitchcock blonde,” she appeared in three of his films: Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.

In May 1955, while in the south of France for the Cannes Film Festival, Grace met Prince Rainier on a visit to the palace of Monaco. A courtship ensued and, following Prince Rainier’s visit to the Kelly family over Christmas later that year, an engagement. When Grace announced that she was leaving Hollywood to marry a prince, MGM demanded they be present to film what everybody believed would be the

wedding of the century. Only then would they free her from the film contract she was breaking in swapping Tinsel Town for the French Riviera.

Though she was frequently offered film roles, Grace never acted again. Her last movie was High Society, a musical remake of The Philadelphia Story. She was voted 13th on the American Film Institute's (AFI) list of the Greatest Actresses of the Classic Era. Two of her films, High Noon and Rear Window, are considered by AFI voters to be among the 50 best films ever made. About stardom Grace was reputed to have remarked, “Hollywood amuses me; holier-than-thou for the public and unholier-than-the-devil in reality.”

On 4 April 1956, Grace, together with more than 50 friends and family members, boarded the USS Constitution for Monaco.

Some eight days later, Prince Rainier's yacht left the harbour to meet Grace and bring her back to shore, giving the people of Monaco the first glimpse of their new princess. Grace’s marriage to Prince Rainier, a splendid coming together of genteel European aristocracy and dazzling Hollywood glamour, had a sure hand in turning the small seaside enclave tightly wedged between France and Italy into a magnet for investment and tourism.

On her wedding day, Grace Kelly gave new meaning to the word icon. Her whole look, from the regal veil to the feminine lace details and the conservative gown, made her an ageless bride. – Oscar de la Renta

Words: TONI ACKERMANN Images: © GALLO IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES; WORDPRESS.COM

Forever Fashionable Some 50 years after her Hollywood heyday, Grace Kelly continues to influence the world's top designers. The year 2007 was dominated by looks Grace inspired. Even the Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and Gucci fashion houses tried their hand at emulating her inimitable style. Prada, too, took inspiration from her. Their Prada turban, 2007’s most controversial accessory, was drawn from Grace’s decadent “turban period,” those forty-something days when she split her time between Paris and Monaco. And, half a century after she used a Hermès saddlebag to shield her pregnant belly from the lens of a Life magazine photographer, the “Kelly,” as the accessory became known, remains an international bestseller. Industry experts agree that no fashion legend, not effortlessly chic Audrey Hepburn, glamorous Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis or even sensational Elizabeth Taylor, could ever rival Grace Kelly’s pulling power.

Princess Grace’s simplicity and purity were reflected in the genuine, superb nature of her personal preferences and taste. She was a symbol of refined perfection that found a natural echo in Cartier jewellery. This relationship took hold in January 1956, when Prince Rainier sealed their engagement with a platinum Cartier ring bearing an emerald-cut diamond of 10.47 carats.

From then onwards, Princess Grace would continue to take pleasure in adorning herself with beautiful creations from this jewellery house.

18

PRE S TI G e

The royal nuptials involved two ceremonies: a civil ceremony on 18 April, which took place in the palace’s baroque throne room and which was witnessed by just 80 guests, and a Catholic Mass on 19 April. The latter was attended by some 600 guests and watched on television by an estimated 30 million people. It was the invite of the year. Among those in the pews were Cary Grant, Aga Khan, David Niven, Gloria Swanson, Aristotle Onassis and Ava Gardner, as well as several diplomats and heads of state. In marrying the prince, Grace became Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco.

Princess Grace's gown was designed by MGM’s Academy Award-winning Helen Rose, and no expense was spared. The dress was worked on for six weeks by three dozen seamstresses. The fitted bodice was made from Brussels rose-point lace embroidered with seed pearls; the lace was over a century old. The bride wore a Juliet cap decorated with seed pearls and orange blossoms, and a veil of 85 metres of tulle. A total of 23 metres of silk taffeta and 90 metres of silk net were used in the making of the dress. Of the royal wedding, fashion designer Oscar de

She was active in improving the arts institutions of Monaco, which led to the eventual formation of the Princess Grace Foundation in support of local artisans. She also planned an annual Christmas party for local orphans, and was one of the first celebrities to support and speak on behalf of La Leche League – an organisation that advocates breastfeeding.

When Princess Grace died tragically in a car accident at the age of 52, the world reeled in shock. Condolences poured in, with King Baudouin of the Belgians, the Queen of England, the French Prime Minister, US President Reagan, and Hollywood legends Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, and Alfred Hitchcock commiserating the Princess’ passing.

Prince Albert, the current ruler of Monaco, said that Princess Grace loved her role as a mother of three children – Princess Caroline, Princess Stéphanie, and himself.

“She put a lot of herself into being a mother, and that took over from any other aspect of her former life or the fact that she was a princess and had official duties,” he said.

On 18 September 1982, the day of her

la Renta said, “On her wedding day, Grace Kelly gave new meaning to the word icon.

Her whole look, from the regal veil to the feminine lace details and the conservative gown, made her an ageless bride.”

As a wedding gift, the people of Monaco gave the couple a cream and black Rolls-Royce convertible. The Prince presented his blushing bride with a yacht, Deo Juvante II, on which they sailed around the Mediterranean on their seven-week honeymoon. Princess Grace was reportedly frequently seasick.

Princess Grace had a charitable nature.

burial, silent crowds waited outside the royal palace, were the red and white Monegasque flag, topped with a black crepe bow, hung limply at half mast. Princess Grace was buried in the Grimaldi family vault, following a requiem mass in Saint Nicholas Cathedral. Nearly 100 million people watched her televised funeral.

Today, the allure of this silver screen goddess lives on; the timeless elegance of this princess is upheld as a standard of beauty, elegance, and style. Grace Kelly remains one of the most revered and admired women in the world. 

SHOP 55 NELSON MANDELA SQUARE, SANDTON, TEL/FAX (011) 784 4062 • SHOP L127 ALBERTON CITY SHOPPING MALL, TEL/FAX: 011 907-5085 • SHOP U96 CRESTA SHOPPING CENTRE, TEL (011) 678 9161 /62 /63 • SHOP 94B WESTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE, ROODEPOORT, TEL (011) 768 5429 / 768 8562 • SHOP E16 RIVERSQUARE SHOPPING CENTRE, THREE RIVERS, VEREENIGING, TEL (016) 454 9970 • info@bellagiojewellers.co.za

W W W. B E L L A G I O J E W E L L E R S . C O . Z A

SuperYacht

Alysia is a custom made, luxury superyacht that ranks as one of the world’s most impressive, and expensive, charter yachts. At 280 foot (85.3 metres), she has unquestionable presence and, once onboard, life unfolds over five spectacular decks where there is room to entertain at the most lavish level.

Alysia

S

uperyacht Alysia can accommodate 36 guests in 18 cabins, with 34 crew members on hand to satisfy every whim and fancy. She is typically available at rates of €696,500 per week or €99,500 per day during the

Ain’t She Awesome?

Words: Tanya Goodman Images: © Liveras Yachts

winter in the Caribbean or the Maldives and in summer in the Mediterranean. Of course, customised itineraries can be designed based on your specific requests and availability. Do keep in mind that the fee covers just the charter and that expenses are not included. Should you

rather want to purchase Alysia instead of dealing with the tedium of queuing for a charter opportunity, a cool €115 million should do the trick.

But first, the basics. Built to SOLAS safety specifications and completed in 2006 at the Neorion shipyards in Greece,

FEATURE

Alysia has a steel hull and superstructure with aluminium deckhouses, exclusive design finishes, the highest quality and safety of materials, and all necessary security amenities onboard. The yacht is property of the Greek billionaire, Andreas Liveras, founder and chief executive of Liveras Yachts, who was tragically killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008. His portfolio of yachts is world renowned and the crafts listed continue to rack up awards for excellence. Alysia's sister ship, Lauren L, was featured in Prestige magazine’s edition 26.

A trademark of Liveras’ yachts is the decadent way in which they cater to fitness and well-being. On Alysia, the lower deck is devoted to this goal, where an expansive spa, with facilities such as saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and jacuzzis as well as exercise equipment and a beauty salon for facial and body treatments

24

PRE S TI G e

and massage only begin to express Alysia's commitment to enabling a healthy, albeit indulgent, lifestyle. The epicentre of this haven is a spacious, curved relaxation room set around a marble jacuzzi. Slabs of cut-to-curve Azul Paraliso marble are off set by floor to ceiling back-lit glass panels that dissolve through spectrums of purple, blue and green. Here, you can recline on the beds and gaze at the aquarium, all under a starry ceiling lit by fibre optics.

If this sounds too tranquil for your tastes, leisure activities to pump the adrenaline abound. Water skiing from one of the two open speed boat tenders, scuba diving, wind surfing, or jet skiing with a group of your buddies along the Côte d’Azur round out this picture.

Ah, but what can one actually do while onboard? With 25,833 square feet (2,400 square metres) of guest space, everyone

can enjoy the Alysia of their choosing. And the choice is enormous. Moreover, choice is encouraged and embraced by the crew.

Whether it is the lighting you want in the saloon, the menu you’d like for lunch, the degree of privacy you need for sunbathing, the temperature you prefer in the hot tub, or the film you want to watch in the movie theatre, no demand is left unmet. The wine cellar onboard, for example, is equipped with temperature and humidity controlled shelves for correct storage of over 500 vintage wines.

Entertaining on a grand scale is effortless onboard Alysia. Outside, indoors or even using both locations at the same time, guests can sit, dine and relax with ease. The dining saloon seats the full complement of guests on large, comfortable chairs with handmade silk upholstery. Aft on the main deck, the teak sofas, seats and tables can be illuminated for drinks before

or after dinner. Moving indoors, the raised platform rear saloon is ideal for a game of cards or a show on the 51-inch screen with surround sound. In the main saloon, fibreoptic lit glass pillars emit soft hues of colour with silver leaf louvered windows separating the saloon and bar from the dining area. Mirrored ceilings, a grand piano, large sofas and groups of armchairs, silk curtains, Michelangelo marble columns and the handmade, raised pattern carpet all combine to provide the perfect atmosphere for casual entertaining – day or night. The main and dining saloons can also be re-arranged, creating one enormous space suitable for hosting parties or conferences.

Meanwhile, the upper deck saloon is like a private club. Two seating areas each with their own plasma screen, a backgammon and card table and a generously stocked bar make this the place

to be after dinner. Alternatively, you can stroll downstairs past the spectacular panels of blue Brazilian Makauba marble and take in a movie in the main cinema. Alysia’s library includes vintage and modern classics.

Retreating to your cabin is equivalent to residing in a five-star-plus hotel. Each of the guest staterooms is a mini suite with super king-size bed (or large singles), tilting flat screen LCD linked to satellite TV, DVD, CD and radio, writing desk with direct dial telephone links and Internet connection.

All staterooms have handmade carpets, silk curtains, a sofa, walk-in closets and a generously-sized marble bathroom.

The master suite spans 1,313 square feet (122 square metres) and is located on the upper deck. Furnished with a superior California king-size bed, it features 180-degree panoramic windows with remote controlled curtains and access to a

private deck. Facing the bed is a retractable 42-inch plasma television/DVD with Creston control console. The master bathroom is finished entirely in pure white Afion marble with a double jacuzzi bath, two basins, two separate WCs and bidets, a separate shower and two walk-in closets.

The suite also has a fully-equipped study and a subsidiary twin stateroom with en suite bathroom for children or personal staff. Children onboard also have a specially-built crèche with climbing frame, slide, games, and toys.

And if the real world beckons while you are at sea, fear not, as Alysia is fully kitted for state-of-the-art conferencing and business connectivity. Facilitated by five satellite connections linked via an Inmarsat Ship to Earth station, you will never be out of touch, unless you want to be. The temptation to simply retreat to Alysia’s life of luxury will, no doubt, be great.

Your Leiber

Classic, Collectible Handbags American luxury brand Judith Leiber is synonymous with elegance, style and sophistication.

Each product is executed with meticulous attention to detail and flawless hand-craftsmanship.

A Judith Leiber creation, while being on the cutting edge of high fashion, will always remain a timeless classic.

S

panning a career that started in 1963, Judith Leiber has created more than 3,000 different handbag designs. She fashioned her first minaudière in 1967, quite by accident really, when a shipment of handbag cases was erroneously painted with green spots. To salvage the stock, Leiber resourcefully covered the areas with crystal rhinestones. Her first masterpiece was in the shape of a chatelaine or drawstring bag, and remained so popular that it is still in production today.

Judith Peto was born in 1921, in Budapest, Hungary. World War II interrupted her plans to attend London’s Kings College to study chemistry, and instead, at 18 years of age, she became the first woman accepted into the Hungarian handbagmaker’s guild. During her apprenticeship, she mastered every aspect of designing and constructing a handbag – from pattern making and constructing frames to handtacking and sewing.

In 1945, she met Gerson Leiber, a Signal

26

PRE S TI G e

S PAR K LE

Words: INGRID KENMUIR Images: © JUDITH LEIBER

Corps Sergeant in the United States Army in Budapest. They married the following year and moved to New York – Gerson’s hometown. Here, Judith spent many years working for leading New York handbag manufacturers. In 1963, with the support of her artistic husband, Leiber launched her own company. Though she is best known for her signature crystal-covered minaudières, which take myriad fanciful shapes, among them animals, birds, flowers, and fruit, Leiber’s name is also synonymous with perfume and eyewear, and fur and cashmere accessories.

The first Judith Leiber factory had just four employees alongside which Leiber worked, sharing her expertise. Leiber remembers, “There was such a sense of camaraderie, with all of us working together, producing these handbags. I made my first line in a grey/green calf, which was not that well received.

Nevertheless, I was determined to make my bags as beautiful and as well as I could and not to compromise. I have

never swerved from that goal. Never.”

The majority of the 100-plus parts of each handbag are made and assembled by hand. The beading of a single bag takes up to five days to complete, with between 10,000 and 18,000 crystals applied, depending on the design. Leiber’s ideas originate from an assortment of sources, though her personal interests, as well as those of her friends, are perhaps her greatest inspiration. Art has always been a strong influence, Asian art in particular, which Leiber collects, while her love of gardening led to the asparagus, tomato, watermelon, and rose handbags.

Leiber’s work has made a significant contribution to the cachet and sophistication of the stylish woman. Like Cartier and Tiffany, these creations have transcended their original function to be regarded as art. Over many years, several institutions have awarded Judith Leiber numerous awards. Among these are the “Swarovski Great Designer” Award, “Coty American Fashion Critics” award, “Silver Slipper” Award, “Handbag Designer of the

Year” Award, “Council of Fashion Designers of America” Award (the fashion industry's equivalent of an Academy Award) and

In late 2008, the New York-based Luxury Institute rated Judith Leiber the most prestigious luxury handbag brand for the second year running.

“Dallas Fashion Award for Excellence,” to name but a few. In 1993 the Council of Fashion Designers of America further honoured her with a lifetime achievement award, while in late 2008, the New Yorkbased Luxury Institute rated Judith Leiber the most prestigious luxury handbag brand for the second year running.

A Judith Leiber handbag is hailed for its incomparable originality and faultless craftsmanship. These elegant accessories are collected with passion and are toted at innumerable events, from presidential

inaugural balls to opera opening nights and movie premieres. Leiber bags are in the permanent collections of such museums as The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the Los Angeles Museum of Art. Adding to Hollywood’s nearly 50-year love affair with the brand, Leiber’s designs have graced the arm of celebrities including Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Rivers, Beverly Sills, Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Hurley, and Renée Zellweger.

And almost every First Lady since Nancy Reagan has carried these custommade bags to the US Presidential Inauguration ceremonies.

The collection is available at Judith Leiber boutiques in New York, The Forum Shops in Las Vegas, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California as well as at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman stores. A store can also be found at the Wafi Mall in Dubai, while a Los Angeles store is set to open on Rodeo Drive sometime this year. 

Sailing the

Quirimbas

Archipelago on a Dhow

Aswatada Safaris recently launched a seven day dhow safari in Mozambique; a voyage that winds through 31 islands of the Quirimbas Archipelago, stretching south from Cabo Delgado for approximately 320 kilometres of verdant green isles surrounded by the sapphire seas of the Indian Ocean. Prestige magazine was invited to join the adventure.

Words: CLEN COOK Images: Š CLEN COOK; ASWATADA SAFARIS

T

he Captain of the dhow calls, "Hyup!" and the marinaros pull hard on the ropes, hoisting the dhow's sail a few centimetres, "Hyo!" they reply. With each "Hyup ... Hyo!” the sail creeps upwards. The triangular canvas lateen sail writhes and angrily snaps at the marinaros as the wind catches it and the mast creaks and groans under the strain. Captain Djuma coaxes the well-worn tiller across, and the dhow calmly turns, the wind behind us now, filling the sail and propelling us forward. We recline on the deck and soak up the sun, our bright blue dhow gliding effortlessly as we make our way from island to island in the Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique.

Departing from the tiny airport of Pemba, we had taken a charter flight to Ilha Matemo. Our first stop was an “acclimatisation” one at Matemo Lodge on the northernmost island of the Archipelago.

The range of activities at the Lodge is wide, from snorkelling and diving to sailing beach catamarans and relaxing at the well stocked bar overlooking the ocean. Here, I choose to lazily swing back and forth in my hammock, eyeing a hermit crab scuttling across the sand, his tracks crisscrossing each other. A deep sense of tranquillity suffuses my body. Later, a long, sunset walk along the beach and the warm shallows help dispel any final

32

PRE S TI G e

lingering poisons of civilisation, traffic and deadlines.

The next morning we wait in anticipation as the dhow makes its way into the bay. Blue, weather-beaten and functional, the craft is everything I hoped for. The rough wood underfoot, the thick ropes, the groaning of the mast as the sail billows outwards; this boat, this dhow and its ancestors, have a long and proud history stretching back a thousand years as people have plied their trade up and down the East African coast.

Such a simple yet efficient design: a single, triangular sail set from a sloping yard, which is easily and quickly set to catch the wind from almost any direction.

Our captain, Djuma, shapes the boat’s course with an expert’s touch as we beat through the channels in a south-easterly headwind. The direction of our destination means we have to tack back and forth in a saw-tooth pattern, first towards the mainland, then away from it until we are in the right position heading towards our next destination – Ilha Ibo. Ibo grew as a Muslim trading port, and Vasco de Gama was said to have rested on the island in 1502. It was used alternately over the years as a plantation, a military emplacement, a slave port and the commercial hub of Northern Mozambique.

At its height, over 37,000 people stayed on the island.

FEATURE

The mangroves loom up before us, an imposing wall of lush green that separates Ibo from the main channel. A small gap, perhaps 30 metres wide, allows ingress into Ibo's harbour. As we sail through it, the incessant wind dies to the merest whisper and quiet settles on the boat.

Met at the dock by Pieter and Therin, who manage Ibo Lodge, we are welcomed ashore by cool face-cloths and a refreshing cocktail. The lodge is exquisite; with authentically restored 200-year-old Portuguese colonial buildings. The rooms are nearly triple volume, with the exposed beams of high, high ceilings and the gravitas of dark hardwood, hand-carved furniture giving an air of old-world serenity.

That night we meet on the veranda overlooking the waterfront. The tide ebbs like molten copper into the setting sun, and the cool night breeze springs up. A fantastic meal, crab curry with coconut rice and some of the local Ibo coffee round out the evening.

The following morning we visit Ibo Town, a fascinating mix of Portuguese colonial architecture with a dash of Arabic influences visible in the finishes. As we meander between the buildings, we are regularly met with “Salaama!” a friendly greeting and a constant reminder that 98 percent of the population is Islamic. Of special interest are the Ibo silversmiths, who have been designing and making jewellery in the traditional manner for hundreds of years.

The tide moves in over the mudflats and the mangroves, liquid gold reflecting in the sun as the boats sway gently in the breeze. In the distance, a marinaro poles a dhow across the water, moving to collect his fishing traps, which he has laid out during the day. We leave Ibo at high tide, with the sun an orange orb slowly sinking overhead. Motoring away from the harbour, we soon move out through the channel and into open water. Silhouetted dhows slip past us as we make our way to Ilha Quirimba. Night falls as we move through the channel, the sky above us ablaze with the myriad pinprick lights of stars, the Milky Way threading its glorious path across the Heavens. The capricious nature of the wind means that we start picking up a fairly cold spray, but the dhow’s crew

34

PRE S TI G e

members, ever thoughtful and prepared, hand us raincoats.

Arriving at Quirimba bay, we transfer to a smaller dhow to be ferried ashore where our campsite is being set up. In the morning, I am amazed – 18 enormous, magnificent baobabs, their fingers stretching skyward, surround the camp; like giant sentinels encircling us. The magnificent presence of these trees on an island is awesome, and humbling.

We tour Quirimba that day, with its coconut plantations and wide, white beaches stretching for miles into the shimmering distance. Lounging back at the camp in the late afternoon, avoiding the heat, I look forward to the fresh seafood we will be enjoying for dinner.

The next day we are fortunate enough to experience fantastic snorkelling off the island of Quililea. Prolific wildlife, resplendent coral, huge sea-cucumbers, emperor angelfish, dominoes: so, so much to see. A secluded beach is the ideal setting for a light lunch, and then back to camp.

We take a return flight to Pemba the following day, and circling over the island we see our campsite and the two dhows that served us so well the past few days.

We arrive at the Pemba Beach Hotel in the late afternoon, gazing upon the massive copper-studded doors leading into the entrance hall, captivated by the Arabic architecture. We have well-appointed rooms, a magnificent view, and most importantly after six days travelling in rustic comfort, the opportunity to be swathed in luxury again.

The Quirimbas Archipelago has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The sense of the past, and for me, the loss of this history personified by the ruined and abandoned buildings, seems to amplify the pathos and the mystery of the region; a region with a phenomenally rich tapestry of cultures that weaves together the disparate elements of Africa, India, Europe and Arabia. The great privilege was to witness all of this from the deck of a blue, weather-beaten and thoroughly charming dhow.  Contact Aswatada Safaris: • Tel: +27 31 768 2745 • Cell: +27 82 699 5051 • Visit: www.aswatada.com

nly O Aston Martin This year is an epochal one for Aston Martin. In March 2009, the company presented two models to the world, one representing an extreme development and the other a classic refinement: the V12 Vantage and the DBS Volante.

Words and Images: Š ASTON MARTIN

FEATURE

T

he V12 Vantage (pictured on the left) is the ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage model. Developed from the concept shown at the opening of Aston Martin's Design Studio in December 2007, the V12 Vantage is aimed at the performance enthusiast but still retains the everyday usability of the Vantage range.

On the surface, this car features subtle visual enhancements over the V8 Vantage, but under the skin there are some racebred technologies, materials and components to ensure the vehicle delivers a pure, highly-focussed driving experience.

Benefiting from race-developed materials and components, and featuring lightweight carbon fibre; performance and agility have been tuned to perfection. The V12 Vantage boasts a 6-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm of torque. It manages a top speed of 305km/h and goes from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds.

Visually enticing, the V12 Vantage expresses its performance potential through its purposeful stance created by enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids optically widening the car, while retaining traditional understated Aston Martin design. Equally inviting, the cosseting interior permits the driver to extract maximum performance ability from the car while also enjoying customary levels of Aston Martin comfort on longer journeys.

Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, says, “This is the ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range, combining our most agile model with our most powerful engine. It represents the definitive driving package; providing spectacular performance to ensure a dynamically thrilling and everyday useable driving experience.”

Bringing extreme high performance to open air motoring, the DBS Volante (pictured on this page) marries the power, speed and dynamism of the DBS coupe with the Volante's fluid beauty. For driver and passenger, the car provides unrivalled sensations, both aural and physical.

“Volante,” meaning “moving with light rapidity,” perfectly defines the performance potential and the dynamic characteristics of this vehicle. Power is provided by Aston Martin’s hand-built all alloy 6-litre V12 engine, allowing the DBS a top speed of 307km/h and the ability to go from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds.

In standard specification, the DBS has a rear-mounted 6-speed manual gearbox though an automatic 6-speed “Touchtronic” option is also available. Benefitting from materials derived from the motorsport and aerospace industries, the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are made from carbon fibre all helping to reduce weight. As with the coupe, the DBS is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard, providing exceptional stopping power.

Featuring a motorised retractable fabric

roof, fully retractable in only 14 seconds, the DBS’s beautiful profile is preserved whether up or down. Conceived as a Volante from the outset, Aston Martin engineers opted for a fabric hood to closely follow the silhouette of the DBS coupe and due to its lightweight properties, minimise overall weight gain.

Both the V12 Vantage (of which just 1,000 units will be made over the lifespan of the model) and the DBS Volante will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Deliveries of the Volante and the V12 Vantage to South Africa are expected in July for the former and during quarter three of 2009 for the latter.  Contact Aston Martin: • Tel: +27 11 301 7100 (Sandton) • Tel: +27 21 425 2007 (Cape Town) • Visit: www.astonmartin.co.za

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

37

S OLI D ARITY

Forward to

Freedom

A Remarkable Exhibition The Museum of London, in collaboration with the Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives Committee, introduces a display that marks the 50th anniversary of a remarkable campaigning organisation that vehemently opposed apartheid in southern Africa. As an example of the power of collective action, this history still has great relevance today.

Words and Images: Š AAM/MUSEUM OF LONDON

38

PRE S TI G e

S OLI D ARITY

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

39

O

pening on 12 June 2009, Forward to Freedom honours the five-decade anniversary of the formation of the AntiApartheid Movement (AAM).

The exhibit examines a powerful and creative campaigning history in support of the people of southern Africa and which culminated in the 1994 inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first democraticallyelected president.

The AAM was the largest and most potent international solidarity movement in British history, one which bridged political divides and involved ordinary people from many backgrounds. The display explores the versatility and creativity of its most significant campaigns, including the decades-long consumer boycott; the highprofile demonstrations against touring South African rugby and cricket teams; the call for an end to arms trade with South Africa; and the many campaigns in support

40

PRE S TI G e

of political prisoners and against apartheid executions. The display also underlines the central importance of London as both the city where the AAM was founded and where many of its campaigns were based, and the capital of a country which was inextricably linked with apartheid South Africa. The AAM was disbanded in 1994. Its archives are now held at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.

Lord Hughes of Woodside, Labour MP and previous Chair of the AAM says, “This display reflects the ethos of collaboration demonstrated by the Anti-Apartheid Movement throughout its history. Forward to Freedom is an expressive and thoughtful beginning to its 50th anniversary celebrations and a testament to its work and the passion and immense perseverance of its supporters in campaigning for equality in southern Africa.” Today, the work of the AAM is carried on by its successor organisation, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA).

Annette Day, Senior Curator at Museum of London, wanted the display to show the extraordinary imagination and commitment of the AAM in its work to support the struggle against the injustice and brutality of the apartheid government.

“London has a long history as a centre and a national and international stage for protest,” she says. “The Anti-Apartheid Movement and all those who supported its work and attended its demonstrations occupy an important and vivid chapter in that history.” Jack Lohman, Director, Museum of London echoes this sentiment, “This remarkable display showcases the work of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and provides a timely example of the influence that grassroots activism can achieve.”

The display includes: • More than 30 posters from key campaigns.

• An array of leaflets, stickers, badges, mugs, T-shirts and letters. Among these is the first leaflet distributed after the Boycott Movement (later the AAM) was formed in 1959, as well as campaign material spanning almost four decades and which includes a leaflet in support of Nelson Mandela and his colleagues during their trial in 1963-4, and letters from then Prime Ministers James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher.

• Testimony from some of the key individuals involved in the AAM. • News footage of anti-apartheid demonstrations and extracts from the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute, which was broadcast to 600 million people in 67 countries.

• Photographs depicting apartheid and resistance in South Africa as well as demonstrations, rallies, vigils and other anti-apartheid activities in Britain, with London centre-stage.

Forward to Freedom opens on 12 June and runs until 6 September. Entrance is free. Visit www.museumoflondon.org.uk for more information. 

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

41

FEATURE

Shambala Game Reserve Password: “Privacy�

When the owners of the upscale Saxon Hotel and their expert team set about creating Shambala Game Reserve in the Waterberg, they were driven by the idea of a stylish, yet homely retreat with such complete privacy that guests would want to leave their clothes in the wardrobe awaiting their next visit.

42

PRE S TI G e

S E C RET

T

here are a few inconveniences that come with fame and fortune. Having a global audience of more than one billion people seeing your face on television in any given period means that privacy is very well a thing of the past. Getting away from cameras, fans and paparazzi alike, and finding a discreet, trusted set of safe hands that can pamper your party without intrusion becomes the ultimate luxury.

No wonder then that luminaries such as Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon, Robert de Niro, and Will Smith, to name a few, have at different times sought refuge in the comfort of Douw Steyn’s Shambala. It was built for exactly this purpose. When a party reserves space, the rest of the property is off-limits for anyone else. That includes any of the seven guest chalets at Steyn Camp, as well as the eight chalets at Zulu Camp. Only one party at a time is the golden rule.

Owning your own piece of the 30,000 acres of African bushveld means that the staff at Shambala can offer a completely bespoke visit. If your party wants to go for a game drive starting at 2:00am through to sunrise, as one group of guests have indeed requested, your wish is their command. Food, wine and beverage preferences are carefully planned with guests well in advance of arrival, and the chefs are on call with suggestions prior to

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: © SHAMBALA / ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

each meal about how best to present some of your favourite dishes, adding a strong local touch to each dining experience.

Whisked away from the Saxon to run Shambala’s culinary treats, the head chef can cater to tastes across any international or local food preference.

Defying nature and logistics, the team that designed Shambala, with its glorious array of Zulu inspirations and French Provincial elements, left hardly a stone unturned. They settled on the Provincial interior design for the main lodge and chalets to evoke a "homely" feeling of comfort and relaxation, as opposed to opulent luxury. Steyn’s aim was a kind of elegance that didn't stop guests from feeling free to put their feet up after a day on safari. His fondness for French antiques made this an easy call.

As explained by Shambala’s architect, Len Lategan, in a recent interview with the international hospitality design press: “Steyn had very definite ideas about the Reserve's redesign. Mere topography wasn't allowed to intervene. The buildings had to blend into the scenery so as not to interrupt the environment's natural beauty. For example, Steyn wanted big trees to be positioned in front of the main lodge to hide it as much as possible. Accomplishing that required ingenuity. There was little soil on the rocky hillside where the main building, Steyn Lodge, is sited. This meant that trees could not be planted directly in

the ground, so workers had to build gigantic planter boxes. An enormous amount of concrete and steel went into them to achieve the strength to hold all the necessary soil and trees.”

Steyn's brief for the seven Frenchinspired guest chalets was equally specific: don't ruin the skyline. Lategan and his team kept the roof lines low and nestled the thatched-roof guest quarters into a small hill behind the main building.

That solution does more than preserve views of this pristine landscape; it affords a level of privacy Shambala's high-spend market demands.

Once construction was completed, landscape architect Patrick Watson, in the words of Shambala management, “made magic” by restoring the landscape with thousands of indigenous plants.

The decision on what kind of creature comforts to provide in the bush, without distracting from the experience of being in the bush and away-from-it-all elicited quite a conversation among the design team. Says TJ Steyn, operating manager of Shambala: "We decided that a few luxuries were necessary to make overseas guests feel comfortable: Internet, air conditioning, a gym and so on.” Meals are served at the Steyn House, which also doubles as entertainment centre for guests. The magnificent proportions, décor and furnishing of the Steyn House leave nothing to be desired, from the opulent French

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

43

FEATURE

antiques to a French kitchen setting where guests can enjoy breakfast.

On the activity side, guests can roam the 30,000 acres in search of game with almost certainty that they will encounter the Big Five. Only the sleek, shy leopard, with its nocturnal habits and inaccessible habitat, may sometimes elude the visitor.

Most special, and likely the fondest memory for most guests once they have said their goodbyes, is the elephant safari on several of these mammoth creatures that were

44

PRE S TI G e

relocated from Zimbabwe. Fishing and boat cruises at the Douw Steyn dam, hikes, bikes, gyrocopter flips, a shooting range, picnics, sunset cruises and star gazing round out the daily activity options.

For the less active, a brand new spa where, as part of the Reserve’s community development initiative, three local women have been trained in all the latest techniques, is available for the exclusive use of your party.

I asked TJ Steyn about South African

guests, and he commented that we have fewer celebrities who require this extreme privacy. He might be right, but then again, I suspect that with everything else that is on offer at Shambala, and at remarkably reasonable rates for this category of hospitality, they might yet be surprised by the local market’s interest.  For reservation and rate enquiries: • Tel: +27 (11) 292 6030 • Fax: +27 (11) 292 6001 • reservations@shambalagamereserve.co.za

StayingSafe Dรถttling Luxury Safes

S TA S H

The solid structure, finest leather and exceptional craftsmanship of German manufacturer Döttling's safes belie the hundreds of hours of labour that went into the production thereof. With their delicate gold plating, chrome finish, polished walnut interiors, and state-of-the-art electronic locking system, it is easy to see why they are so sought after by those wishing to safely stow their most treasured items and irreplaceable collectibles.

Words: TONI ACKERMANN Images: © DöTTLING

E

ver since Ernst Döttling founded his manufactory in 1919, two fundamental values have shaped the daily work of Döttling’s locksmiths and restorers: the consistent pursuit of perfection and an irrepressible, innovative strength. Current owner Markus Döttling represents the fourth generation in a company whose history extends back nearly a century, and he takes the notion of

handcraft quite literally and very seriously.

Today, almost every safe made or restored passes through the gates of the manufactory in the southern German town of Maichingen.

Throughout the years, Döttling has upheld the traditional locksmith’s craft in the style of Royal Prussian smiths of old.

Gold plating work, a laborious and timeconsuming process, is done painstakingly by hand using 24-carat gold leaf in chosen

shades. When it comes to saddler work, meticulous handcrafting is done here too.

Each hide is hand cut, to be later edge bevelled, sewn and worked by hand as well, and there is hardly a material that Döttling’s master saddlers have not handled.

In 2007, Döttling launched the first and only high-security safe in the luxury segment: The Bel-Air. With more than two years of development time, Döttling engineers created a masterpiece that

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

47

48

PRE S TI G e

last of the Medici from Milan and dating back to the 1700s, each safe delivered by Döttling is a remarkable and exceptional magnum opus.

“

The unforgettable impression that a Legends safe leaves behind is marked by its own personal history. Be it a Wilhelminian strongbox from the early 20th Century... or a work commissioned by the last of the Medici from Milan and dating back to the 1700s, each safe delivered

by Döttling is a remarkable and exceptional magnum opus.

“

caused something of a sensation among those in the know across the globe.

Visually, the Bel-Air is based on the overseas trunks of the 1900s’ “upper crust.”

These safes are crafted from solid steel, their 800-kilogram frame and electronic locking system developed in-house and offering the highest standards of security.

Of course, the finest of materials, both for the interior and for the external panelling, elevate the safe to an aesthetic masterpiece.

Following Döttling’s Bel-Air was the BelAir Magnus, a safe twice the size of its predecessor, but just as beautiful, and featuring double-doors opening out from the centre.

Although Döttling can quite aptly be described as time-honoured, most of the antique safes in the company’s Legends series are far older than the company itself. The Legends series comprises highly-exclusive antique safes, all of which have been lovingly restored at the Maichingen manufactory. The quality, technical perfection, and precise, loving attention to detail paid to these historic safes sets standards that remain internationally unsurpassed.

The unforgettable impression that a Legends safe leaves behind is marked by its own personal history. Be it a Wilhelminian strongbox from the early 20th Century, a Napoleonic coffer-fort from the mid-19th Century, or a work commissioned by the

The number and availability of said antique safes may be extraordinarily limited, but their interior design knows no bounds. Humidors, cocktail bars, jewellery compartments, watch winders, collectors' showcases or locking drawers; the only premise is the highly-individual requests of the client. Each bespoke item that Döttling

creates really is distinctive, tailored to the exact wants, needs, lifestyle, and fastidious desires of its owner. In fact, Markus Döttling personally consults with his customers to ensure all details are correct and just to their liking.

Today, specialised Döttling scouts are scouring the globe to uncover more of the very few antique specimens remaining in the world. Even safes that appear to be in derelict condition can pique the interest of Markus Döttling. “In the end it’s important that the skeletal structure of the safe, its basic functions and particularly its characteristic stylistic elements, have been preserved,” Döttling says. “Everything else is taken care of by our specialists and restorers.”

On request, the antique masterpieces can, of course, also be equipped with the latest security engineering by means of a method specially devised by Döttling, making them not just aesthetically- pleasing, but absolutely state-of-the-art in their function too. Thus, it is in only this aspect that all Döttling’s safes are alike; otherwise, they are the grand expression of a lifestyle reserved for only the lucky few.  Contact Döttling (Germany) • Tel: +49 7031 437456 0 • Fax: +49 7031 437456 1 • Email: info@doettling.com • Visit: www.doettling.com

The Ease of

Owning a

Motor Yacht

Those who thought owning a multi-million Rand awardwinning luxury yacht a mere pipe dream will be pleasantly surprised: Boating World, the exclusive South African agent for the luxury Fairline and Riviera brands, recently introduced its new Joint-Ownership Programme.

Words: VIVID LUXURY Images: Š BOATING WORLD

FEATURE

J

FAIRLINE SQUADRON 55 Wins Prestigious “Motor Boat of the Year” Award 2009

In January this year, at a gala dinner at The Waldorf Hotel during the London International Boat Show, Fairline Boats was awarded the prestigious accolade of the “Motor Boat of the Year” Award 2009 in the Flybridge above 50 foot category for the Fairline Squadron 55.

This was announced to an audience of around 200 of the marine industry’s VIPs and guests.

These awards are judged by a panel of boat testers from leading marine titles, Motor Boats Monthly and Motor Boat & Yachting. On presentation of the Award to Fairline, Hugo Andreae, Editor of Motor Boat & Yachting commented, “The Fairline Squadron 55 has raised our expectations of what is possible on a craft of this size thanks to its impeccable handling, low sound levels, effortless electronic steering and user-friendly systems monitoring.”

The Squadron 55 is one of the most successful boat launches to date, with 35 boats sold from early drawings before she made her world debut in autumn 2008.

52

PRE S TI G e

oint-ownership offers all the pleasures of a fabulous cruising lifestyle without the immense investment, high running costs and hassle. The first programme on offer is for the ultra luxurious Fairline Squadron 55 model, which recently scooped the “Motor Boat of the Year” Award. Boating World is also offering the programme on the prestigious Riviera 3600SY and Riviera 41 sports fishing vessels.

Perhaps the most obvious reason for considering joint-ownership is: why invest the money in a boat if you will only use it on occasion? For a small initial investment, each 10 percent share owner receives a share package of four weeks usage per year.

This is managed entirely by Boating World, who will further ensure that the boats are immaculately maintained and in excellent running condition. Additional benefits include daily cleaning, repairs, maintenance, comprehensive insurance, marina berthing, refurbishment, and the refuelling of the craft with petrol or diesel, all of which are included in the cost and taken care of by Boating World. And, on request, skippers are available any time too.

With joint-ownership, you will have realistic access to an investment in entertainment and enjoyment. Your luxury yacht or sports fishing vessel will make an ideal venue to entertain family, friends or business clients. Be it for an afternoon cruise out to Robben Island, an adventurous expedition to the Archipelago Islands off Mozambique, or for a day out on the sea hunting yellow-fin tuna, joint-ownership is the affordable way to make this pipe dream a reality.  To find out more about investing in the joint-ownership of a Fairline or Riviera motor yacht contact Derrick Levy on: • Tel:+27 82 881 2607 • Visit: www.boatingworld.co.za.

LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

OfямБcial agent for Fairline luxury motor yachts in South Africa.

DURBAN HARBOUR : Durban Yacht Mole Tel: 031 301 1115 / 083 324 4630 DURBAN POINT : The Quays Tel: 031 332 1987 / 079 872 2335 CAPE TOWN V&A WATERFRONT : Breakwater Boulevard Tel: 082 881 2607 / 072 860 6401 www.boatingworld.co.za | info@boatingworld.co.za

LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

A D V E RT I S E M E N T

Get Super Rich in Europe’s Massive Multi-National EuroMillions Lottery! ★★★★★ EuroMillions is the weekly multi-national lottery that’s taking Europe by storm. With the combined playing power of nine countries (France, Spain, the UK, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland) it generates massive jackpot prizes and has shattered every European lotto record.

Drawn Every Friday

EXAMPLE OF ACTUAL DRAW RESULTS PRIZE CATEGORY

PRIZE VALUE

JACKPOT .......................... €183 573 078.00 * SECOND ....................................... €224 419.29 THIRD ............................................... €43 725.10 FOURTH .............................................. €4 799.45 FIFTH ......................................................... €216.52 SIXTH ......................................................... €105.22 SEVENTH ..................................................... €84.51 EIGHTH ......................................................... €27.23 NINTH ........................................................... €25.80 TENTH ........................................................... €17.20 ELEVENTH .................................................... €11.20 TWELFTH ......................................................... €8.93

Each week the jackpot starts at around €15 million (R144 million) and continues to grow until there’s a winner.‡ The top prize has already reached an incredible €183.5 million (R1.7 billion) and could go even higher in *JACKPOT SHARED BY THREE WINNERS future. Often the entire jackpot is won by a single ticket, creating a AVAILABLE PRIZES DURING YOUR ENTRY PERIOD: new breed of lotto superJACKPOTS OF UP TO: millionaires, never before seen in Europe. In addition to the jackpot, there are 11 other prize (equivalent to R1 700 000 000.00) categories—more than most other European lotteries.

TOTAL PRIZE POOL OF UP TO: Play Direct From Home

€183

500 000.00

€ 640

000 000.00

Now this immensely popular (equivalent to R6 100 000 000.00) game is available to overseas players through a special inter★★★★★ national syndicate. By sharing the ticket cost, entrants can play for a longer duration and cover more draws.

Each syndicate runs for 12 consecutive weeks, during which time up to €640 MILLION (R6.1 BILLION) in total prize money is available to be won. According to your preferred spending level, you may purchase from 1 to 5 prize shares within your syndicate. Note that the more shares you hold, the more money you’ll collect when you win.

Receive Your Winnings In Full As an international player, you’ll receive complete documentation showing your EuroMillions ticket numbers ‡JACKPOT

PAYOUT GUARANTEE

E.&O.E.

European Lottery Guild

and dates of play. Your entry will be computerchecked after each draw and your prize money automatically calculated. At the end of your play period, you’ll receive a complete list of the official winning numbers along with a statement detailing your total share of winnings.

You are guaranteed to receive all the prize money you win, converted at the current rate of exchange and confidentially forwarded to you.

Playing EuroMillions couldn’t be easier! Use the adjacent International Entry Form to submit your entry now.

PLAY TODAY AND YOU COULD BE EUROMILLIONS’ NEXT BIG WINNER!

▲

If the EuroMillions jackpot is carried over for 11 consecutive draws, it will be distributed amongst any winners of the next prize level in the 11th draw. This means the jackpot is guaranteed to be paid out during the duration of your EuroMillions syndicate.

EuroMillions

Contact European Lottery Guild at: Priority Processing Centre, Postbus 74101, 1070 BC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. From within South Africa Call TOLL-FREE: 0800 980 657. From outside of South Africa Telephone: INT’L + 1 604 675-2704. Visit our website at www.europeanlotteryguild.com

Mighty Morgan

Aero SuperSports 56

PRE S TI G e

FEATURE

The Morgan Motor Company has remained in one family’s ownership since the founder, HFS Morgan, made his first car in 1909. It is customary among the small band of car manufacturers that have reached 100 years of age to produce a special model to commemorate the occasion, and Morgan is no exception.

Words: TONI ACKERMANN Images: Š MORGAN

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

57

FEATURE

S

ome 100 years ago, the Morgan Motor Company produced their first motor tricycle – three wheels attracted less road tax than four wheels. HFS Morgan mounted a seven horsepower, twin-cylinder Peugeot engine into a light threewheeled tubular chassis and voila: there was the first Morgan Runabout. It was a car for people with little money but a keen sense of adventure. As part of this year’s Centenary celebrations, Morgan announces a special model, designed and engineered in house: the Morgan Aero SuperSports.

The SuperSports is a lightweight aluminium sports car with a luxurious specification. The interior features a comfortable combination of polished hardwoods, hand-stitched leather and electronic technology to form a driving environment that is efficient, ergonomic and sumptuous.

In spite of these niceties, the overall weight of the car is still minimal and the vehicle is thus responsive to driver inputs and economical to run. Morgan achieves this through its use of aircraft-style superformed aluminium outer panels, combined with the vast skills of the craftsmen who hand finish the assembly of each car.

A limited edition, the Aero SuperSports makes use of two aluminium detachable roof panels able to effectively convert the car into a coupe or, when detached, bring fresh air and the outdoors to the driving experience without undue wind disturbance to spoil the journey. The panels are

58

PRE S TI G e

conveniently stored in the boot.

The Aero SuperSports benefits from the lightweight aluminium chassis, which is adhesively bonded for class-leading rigidity.

Exceeding global crash protection standards, this is also the platform used by the Morgan Aero Eight GT3 currently competing, successfully we should add, in the 2009 International FIA GT3 Championship. When combined with the aluminium 4.8-litre BMW V8 engine and a choice of 6-speed automatic or manual gearboxes, this chassis offers an unrivalled driving experience. No other automatic car offers such dynamic power transmission.

The contemporary Morgan range holds true to the vision that Morgan has followed for 100 years: the creation of elegant, fast sports cars. Using the best quality materials, aluminium, ash and leather, every Morgan is created with passion, care and dedication by the craftsmen and women at the small factory in Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

Incorporating the most modern drivetrain technology, a Morgan not only performs responsively but delivers low running costs and low carbon emissions too.

In addition to announcing the SuperSports this year, 2009 also heralds a new era for Morgan with environmental responsibility taking the fore. Morgan already has some existing green credentials – the modest weight of all Morgan sports cars makes them economical and low polluting, for example – though the Company is serious about greening up its production. Simple and efficient design using the latest computer-aided design software, and the use of recyclable raw

materials and water-based paint all give Morgan a very low carbon footprint.

Morgan also uses the latest electronic technology and fits efficient engines and gearboxes from Ford and BMW to give the lowest pollution levels.

Charles Morgan, grandson of the founder says, “The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a luxurious, flamboyant sports car that

The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a luxurious, flamboyant sports car that remains true to Morgan’s philosophy of lightweight minimalist simplicity. It is a celebration of our love of cars and the romance of travel. – Charles Morgan also remains true to Morgan’s philosophy of lightweight minimalist simplicity. It is a celebration of our love of cars and the romance of travel, and is a fitting model to announce during Morgan’s Centenary year.”

Drawn by Matthew Humphries and engineered for production by the experienced Morgan Design team, the new Aero SuperSports will enter production in early 2010. A deposit of £25,000 is required to ensure the supply of one of these models, with the vehicle anticipated to cost around £127,000. For more information, visit www. morgan-motor.co.uk or contact matthew. parkin@morgan-motor.co.uk. 

FEATURE

Collectibles

W h a t ’s i n a N a m e ?

While conventional investment returns have plummeted, one area of collectibles has consistently proven its worth. By collecting and owning the documents or photos signed by famous historical or popular figures such as Oliver Cromwell, Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe or the Beetles, you can personally connect with history while preparing your nest egg for the future.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: Š STANLEY GIBBONS LTD

60

PRE S TI G e

FEATURE

B

ecoming a rare stamp and autograph collector has turned out to be the taste of the town in developing markets such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

Headquartered in London and Guernsey, Stanley Gibbons, the 150-year-old collectibles company, has made it progressively easier for investors to gain assets and see excellent returns in this special class of collectibles. Essentially, investing in the ink trails of yesterday’s icons is a sure-fire way of hedging against recession over a five to 10 year period, with solid performers like Winston Churchill, Tiger Woods, JFK and The Beatles always in demand.

Stanley Gibbons' Portfolio Manager, Geoff Anandappa, says, “Collectors are driven by passion, whereas investors are driven by greed and fear. This is why collectibles such as rare stamps and historical autographs are still showing great returns, despite the current economic downturn.”

According to Anandappa, their Fraser’s Autographs division has been tracking and publishing an index of the top 100 signatures for the past 11 years since this division launched. If you ignore that eternal

outlier, gritty John Wayne, who averaged only a 30 percent return over this period,

none of the other signatures grew less than 60 percent in value, while the complete index grew by a whopping 280 percent over this lapse of time. The $120,000 you spent in 1997 for these 100 signatures would now be worth $450,000.

Top performing signatures in 2008 were: Fidel Castro (1,066 percent), Andy Warhol (1,014 percent), Neil Armstrong (1,057 percent), Pele (850 percent), and John Lennon (781 percent). As Robert Johnson suggested in a recent article in Jumeirah magazine, “If you attended the most bizarre party in the world and in one night managed to collect the signatures of a strange artist, wonderful footballer, inspired musician, revolutionary dictator, and reclusive astronaut, you’d be looking at a portfolio worth $40,000 today.”

Should this pop culture side of the Stanley Gibbons collections still feel a bit too American baseball-cardish to you, do look towards their more classic portfolios of historical documents. Most interesting is a selection of documents offered in a

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

61

FEATURE

Signed by Edward IV

hypothetical “Stanley Gibbons £1-million Portfolio,” representing the best of the best available when you are ready to spend that kind of money.

The highest priced individual item in this special portfolio is a remarkable original engrossed royal proclamation of the conclusion of a treaty of peace for 30 years between King Edward IV and Francis Duke of Brittany. It was signed by the King at the close as “EdowardR” (thought to be the French form of his signature) and with stated warranty of Parliament. The document is dated 8 June 1467 and is written in French but accompanied by a full translation. It is in superb condition and measures 15.25 x 23.25 inches. Documents written by Edward IV are the earliest royal ones that a collector can ever realistically expect to obtain.

My personal favourite, priced at £50,000, is an extremely rare handwritten poem by Vincent van Gogh on a portion of a leaf cut from an album. The leaf was originally included in an album containing about 60 entries written during Van Gogh's residence in England in 1876. While there, Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo about his love for English hymns, especially Tell Me the Old, Old Story. The four verses of this poem are neatly penned in tiny script, while the verso contains 32 partial lines of Dutch religious verse, also in Van Gogh's hand. Handwritten material by Vincent Van Gogh is exceedingly rare and desirable. The few letters that have come onto the market in the

62

PRE S TI G e

Signed by Henry VIII

last 10 years all sold in the six-figure range.

Anandappa explains that despite investors initially looking at collections for their investment value, they tend to migrate towards collecting in areas of their own special interests such as military figures, musicians, movie stars or politicians. For history fanatics, imagine owning (for a mere £29,500) the note that began the countdown to the Falklands War. It is one page, with the original message dictated by Rex Hunt, Governor of the Falkland Islands, over the radio to Trevor Edwards of the British Antarctic Survey, and to him by the Argentine expedition that had landed on South Georgia, headed, “Sat March 20th 1982 from the Governor of the Falklands Islands.” The piece begins, “You Have Landed illegally at Leith without obtaining proper clearance” and is written in green ballpoint pen on lightweight paper.

The Stanley Gibbons £1-million Portfolio further includes several rare stamps as well as documents and photos signed by the likes of John F Kennedy, Princess Diana, Oliver Cromwell, and Admiral Nelson. Now if only one could lay your hands on the original piece of paper on which Shakespeare penned those immortal words, “What’s in a name?”

Contact Geoff Anandappa at the Stanley Gibbons Investment Department in London at +44 (0) 20 7557 4442, or visit their website at www.stanleygibbons.com/investment. 

Charismatic

S AL S A

Cuba

H i d d e n C h a r m i n O l d H ava n a With its pulsating rhythms, sultry dancing, smoky cigars, and smooth rum, Cuba has certainly contributed to the world’s global culture. The country’s history is peppered with stories about pirates, corsairs and colonialists, and its people enjoy rich traditions. But perhaps most alluring of all is the country’s capital, Havana, and the to beafound The 200EX is the latest experimental vehicle from Rolls-Royce Motormany Cars,treasures and explores design in its city.Century. direction for a dynamic, modern, four-door Rolls-Royce engineered for theold 21st

Words: TONI ACKERMANN Images: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

65

FEATURE

66

PRE S TI G e

UNESCO World Heritage List. A safeguarding campaign was launched a year later to restore the authentic character of the buildings.

Old Havana is one of the most visited sites in the Caribbean, attracting thousands of tourists each year. One of the most famous visitors was American author Ernest Hemingway, who said, “In terms of beauty, only Venice and Paris surpass Havana.”

Hemingway went on to pen many of his famous novels in Cuba, living here for the last 22 years of his life.

As it was such an important trading port, Havana suffered frequent attacks by

“

“

I

n Cuba, life is lived on the streets, and in Old Havana, it’s a simple pleasure to just sit and watch life as it happens. Mothers gossip on pavements, their cradled babies grinning across at each other; children play baseball on the road while dogs bark excitedly from small courtyards almost hidden from street view; vintage Fords and Chevys line the kerb; washing hangs between balconies, festooning the walls like Christmas tinsel; and of course, the buildings themselves, each a relic of the past, stand tall, full of stories and mystery. There is much energy here; much life, and much history.

Established by the Spanish in 1519, Havana is one of the oldest cities founded

by Europeans in the western hemisphere.

Spain’s trading fleets sailed twice a year in massive convoys to and from the European continent, and Old Havana (or La Habana Vieja in Spanish) soon became a stopping point for these treasure-laden galleons. The city was flanked by a harbour at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico and had easy access to the Gulf Stream, the current that navigators followed when travelling between the Old and New Worlds.

Interestingly, Havana was not originally the capital city of this colony. It became the effective capital in 1592 only, when the Spanish relocated the Governor’s residence here, from the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. Havana was named the official capital in 1607. The core of the original city of Havana is what nowadays comprises Old Havana, with the original Havana city walls marking the modern boundaries of Old Havana.

The Cuban government takes an active interest in preserving the country's heritage and, in 1982, through the Office of the City Historian, La Habana Vieja and its fortifications were added to the

In Cuba, life is lived on the streets, and in Old Havana, it’s a simple pleasure to just sit and watch life as it happens.

buccaneers and brigands. In 1555, the city endured its first attack, when it was raided by the French corsair Jacques de Sores. The pirate took Havana easily, plundering what he could. But de Sores failed to find the enormous wealth he had hoped would be there, and he left the city devastated and burning. While this was the first assault on the city, it certainly was not the last.

Eventually growing tired of the constant marauding, the Spanish set about fortifying the city, building walls and forts to protect it. Walls were erected between 1674 and 1797, finally enclosing an area of roughly three square kilometres. These walls defined the extent of Old Havana, and gave it a look strongly reminiscent of the Spanish port city of Cadiz and the Spanish island of Tenerife.

Perhaps the best way to really appreciate Old Havana is to wander through its streets, allowing the city’s faded beauty time to soak in. Much of its story is revealed by simply walking from one street to the next.

Havana’s architectural history spans three principal periods, each of which can be seen through the metropolitan landscape: the Spanish colonial (1519 to 1898), the American neo-colonial (1898 to 1959), and the revolutionary (1960 to present). The colonial periods, which lasted almost 400 years, gave Havana its most distinctive architecture. Sadly, many of the city’s buildings fell into ruin with the passage of time, though many are today in the process of being renovated and preserved.

According to historians, Havana was the last of the first seven villages established by order of Diego Velázquez.

Pánfilo de Narváez, one of Velázquez’s deputies, founded the city on 25 July 1514, baptising it with the name of San Cristobal de La Havana, after the saint of the day.

Within a few years of this, citizens requested permission to emigrate northwards, where they settled alongside the Casiguaguas River, today know as Almendares. On 16 November, 1519 they established the village that today occupies what is called Old Havana. Havana, as founded by Narváez, was not completely abandoned and so, for a while, the two Havanas coexisted – one in the north, the other in the south. But it was the one in the north that held its staying power and grew over the centuries, and which prospers today.  Editor's Note: With American travel restrictions to Cuba finally lifted, the traditional face of Havana may soon change. Try to visit before it is too late.

S ALVA G E

Restoring, Conserving and Valuating s k r o Artw The preservation of precious artworks holds much importance as it allows the pieces to retain

both their value and their beauty. Likewise, the valuation of artwork is essential as it determines whether your prized possessions are assets or liabilities. Graham’s Fine Art Gallery offers these and other services.

Words & Images: © GRAHAM’S FINE ART GALLERY

68

PRE S TI G e

S ALVA G E

Before restoration

U

nfortunately, many inexpert “restorers” in South Africa irreparably damage the artworks with which they were entrusted, leading to devaluation of the items.

When treating artworks, the correct restorative and conservative measures should be taken so that the works can be enjoyed in their original condition as intended by the artist. Proper restoration also preserves the investment value.

Graham’s Fine Art Gallery uses only those restorers who were trained to the

After restoration

highest standards, are well experienced, and who are masters in their field. These professional art restorers evaluate the condition of each piece they work with and attend to the following areas of importance: • Any accumulated dirt on the surface of the artwork.

• The condition of the varnish on canvas and the reapplication if required.

• The repairing of holes and tears on canvas or paper.

• The resetting of canvas tension to avoid bulges and sagging.

• The repair of flaking and cracked paint

• Neutralising any acidity that has occurred on paper works.

• Attending to any other problems that may have occurred due to environmental conditions or adverse treatment.

An artwork that is in a good condition should be examined every five years to ensure its conservation. Works that have undergone any major restorations should be attended to on a more regular basis. You can monitor the condition of your paintings on canvas, for example, by keeping an eye on the canvas tension over the years to avoid slackness thereof. Ensuring that your

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

69

FEATURE

artworks are properly taken care of is essential when wishing a future generation to enjoy the works as much as you have.

Graham’s Fine Art Gallery is able to value a range of artworks including paintings, drawings, lithographs, sculpture, and mixed media, with a value determined for a single artwork or for an entire collection. The valuation of an artwork includes a layout with a colour image of the work, its empirical data and a condition and framing report recommending any necessary restoration or framing requirements. Concluding the valuation, an auction value and a nett retail value are assigned. Each artwork is individually researched and any exhibitions, references or illustrations of the work are noted and included for your reference.

It is highly beneficial to have valuations of artworks done for the following reasons: • Insurance purposes • To establish the correct worth • Personal knowledge and peace of mind • Documentation purposes, such as the inclusion of artworks in one’s estate • Capital gains purposes; a registered asset • Art portfolio management Graham’s Fine Art Gallery curates

70

PRE S TI G e

personal art collections for clients, compiling comprehensive collections of quality artworks by major South African artists. This is generally referred to as art portfolio management. Collections are assessed annually and clients are advised as to which artists are performing well in the market and the best way to continue developing their art collection. The value of portfolio management lies largely in the objective outlook given to a person’s collection, and its focus and criteria.

Acquisitions that are of a more decorative quality than of strong historical significance can be identified, and purchases with no market future can be avoided.

High quality, handmade frames significantly complement and conserve artworks. The correct framing of a piece not only enhances its aesthetic presence, but also preserves its condition to benefit future generations. The secret to an effective frame is not to overwhelm the painting but rather to highlight the work’s best qualities in a discreet manner. This creates a concordant art object where the frame complements the artwork so well that one will think the artist selected

it personally.

Graham’s Fine Art Gallery offers a specialised framing service for all paintings and artworks on paper: • Artworks are conservation handled to ensure no damage is caused to them during the framing process.

• Custom-made frames are sincere and subtle, and each frame is hand painted to complement the artwork.

• All frames are made from the finest quality materials using only solid wood.

• Works on paper are framed using acidfree museum conservation board. Antireflective glass, which blocks out more than 90 percent of UV rays, can be used.

For advice and information on restoration, framing and valuation of artworks, contact Graham’s Fine Art Gallery: • Tel: +27 11 465 9192 • Email: Sarah Sinisi Senior specialist in art sarah@grahamsgallery.co.za • Email: Megan Kidd Junior specialist in framing, art, restoration, valuation, sales and procurement megan@grahamsgallery.co.za 

Starckly Confidential

Vaudrey Miller Limo When Client X wanted two tenders to match his 119-metre superyacht A, he turned to Vaudrey Miller in New Zealand for the handcrafting of an Open craft and a Limo version. The tenders were styled by legendary designer Philippe Starck and reflect the artistry of the mother ship.

For now, the name of the client and the yacht, as well as the images of the tenders’ interiors, remain confidential.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: Š VAUDREY MILLER

FEATURE

I

t is tough at the top of the food chain. Superyacht owners are forever competing to own the latest, largest, and most glamorously-fitted yachts. Saddam Hussein dabbled in this vanity at the height of his reign, and Sultans, Sheikhs and software and soccer bosses have not escaped the chase to lay claim to owning the biggest and best.

Given that a $100-million-plus superyacht might take several years to get to completion, it is understandable that confidentiality surrounds each one of these projects. Imagine dishing out the GDP of a small country in the hope of topping the list of superyacht owners for a while, only to find shortly afterwards that some industrial espionage has given your rivals the chance to supersede your vainglorious attempts as soon as you have launched. In bringing you the Vaudrey Miller story we were faced with some of these secrecy constraints regarding the ownership and design of the superyacht A for which these two stylish tenders were commissioned.

The good news for the mere mortals in the yachting world is that the superyacht rat race has spun off this wonderful secondary industry, the design and manufacture of eye-catching tenders.

These lovely boats need not sit idle onboard a superyacht, as they make for more than sufficient day and overnight cruising from any mooring, and there may be nothing better for a day round to First or Fourth Beach than a handcrafted yacht of this size. If you really want to stand apart from the rest, this kind of tender option may be a much classier choice than standard European production yachts, however stunning these might be.

Vaudrey Miller’s “Tender Touch” is

74

PRE S TI G e

proudly reflected in each and every tender produced, and they have established themselves as creators of handcrafted vessels that visually complement and reliably service some of the world’s largest and most prestigious superyachts.

Discerning owners and designers are more and more selecting Vaudrey Miller as their builder of choice. With superyachts increasing in size and range and varying markedly in style and purpose, tender requirements have evolved to include many specialist applications. Vaudrey Miller operates at the forefront of these developments, building classic-styled commuters, contemporary D-RIBs, fullyenclosed and sumptuously-appointed limousines, recreational sports models, and state-of-the-art catamarans with beach landing and “heavy-lift” capabilities.

Hull structures are crafted in epoxy composites that utilise carbon fibre, Kevlar and the latest resin infusion techniques to achieve weight reduction, high strength and excellent performance. And while individual commissions are finely detailed to showcase distinctive styles and finishes, exacting attention to operational reliability and ease of servicing is invested across the range.

You hardly find a more elegant set of tenders than the two 11-metre tenders commissioned for superyacht A. The Vaudrey Miller Limo has a sumptuous interior with 1.9 metres of standing headroom as well as a cutting-edge entertainment system. Air conditioning, refrigeration, fresh water and black water systems are integrated onboard. Detailing is completed to an exceptionally high standard throughout. The varnished teak and holly deck appears to be crafted in a

traditional manner; however, an unseen non-slip texture is incorporated into the inlay. All major hatches are remotely activated and hydraulically powered, as is the recessed mast carrying the navigation lights. The Open tender has a layout that is both spacious and defined. The circular cockpit forward provides dedicated guest amenities with easy access to private facilities in the bow. Styled by Philippe Starck, with naval architecture by Patrick Banfield, these two tenders are so inimitable they simply demand attention.

Warren Vaudrey and Simon Miller founded Vaudrey Miller in 1992. Since then they have built a solid international reputation and enjoyed repeat business from high-profile clients throughout the world. To ensure designers’ and stylists’ intentions are communicated clearly and concisely to the shop floor, Vaudrey Miller employs experienced project managers to coordinate each contract, and a qualified naval architect to head the design office. It also maintains an elite woodworking studio and engineering machine shop on site. The majority of staff at Vaudrey Miller sail competitively; cruise, dive or fish in their leisure time; and understand firsthand the demands placed upon a vessel by rough seas and long-term exposure to the elements. This sea-going experience adds a valuable dimension to the professional boat building skills available to the client.

Vaudrey Miller does not restrict itself to its tender business, and other completed designs have included large blue water cruisers, catamarans, and sports cruisers. To view some of these yachts, with delightful names such as Tsunami, Whimsy, Gray Lady or Rascal, visit www.vaudreymiller.com. 

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

75

secure

TOP SECURITY

Protea Coin Group Words & Images: Š PROTEA COIN GROUP

The collective experience of Protea Security Services & Coin Security comprises the Protea Coin Group, which has established itself as a market leader in integrated risk reduction solutions to various industry sectors both locally and abroad. Protea Coin has transformed from a traditional provider of physical guarding to now proffer a wide and comprehensive range of services that include a Closed Protection Unit offering reconnaissance and security, support and protection, intelligence and investigations, and asset protection and recovery.

B

y its very nature, the security sector is reasonably stable, but at the same time in a state of constant flux. Being a highly competitive sector (there are no fewer than 4,000 registered security service providers in South Africa), facing continuous barriers relating to fierce competition, and strict and rigid regulation, entrance into the market is easier said than done. Challenges and obstacles arising from multitude sources need to be carefully managed and, once overcome, the resultant lessons learned embraced for the sake of bettering the services on offer. The ever-changing nature of criminal tendencies and techniques, for example, forces Protea Coin to change too: re-inventing, developing and adapting security strategies so as to always remain a step ahead of the criminals.

The private security sector in South Africa includes a legion of activities or facets including, inter alia, physical security, assets-in-transit, technical security, residential security, fencing and other physical barriers, vehicle and asset tracking, and vehicle security. The Protea Coin Group covers all of these. In addition, the Group also offers a Close Protection Unit (CPU) or VIP service, which sees the deployment of skilled operators, the majority of whom stem from elite,

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

77

FEATURE

specialised units, to act in the most challenging urban and rural areas of South Africa.

Some of the services offered by the CPU include route and venue reconnaissance and security, and facility and premises security, secure travel procedures, operational support, executive, employee and workforce protection, armed protection and armoured transportation, crime trend analysis, corporate investigations, and asset protection and recovery. Only the best, state-of-the-art specialised equipment is utilised by the CPU, such as armoured SUVs, protective vehicles, motorcycles, helicopters (on request), tactical equipment in excess of international standards, and covert communication systems.

The CPU operates on an international

78

PRE S TI G e

basis and liaises and coordinates frequently with international agencies to ascertain an in-depth understanding of the client’s needs. This Unit’s management and employees are today recognised as leading experts in political and physical risk protection.

The Protea Coin Group’s vision, values and operating ethos bear witness to their incomparable commitment to customer service and safety. It is the mission of the Protea Coin Group to continuously improve upon, and sustain, its existing client base and to become the security service provider of choice. For two years running, in 2008 and 2009, the Protea Coin Group has been awarded, by TopCo Media, as published in Top 500, the honour of being the number one company in the security sector. Top 500, exclusively reserved for the leaders in

business in South Africa, is the only publication of its kind. It is an annual business-to-business publication that identifies companies achieving the highest levels of performance and success. On 25 March this year, the Protea Coin Group announced the appointment of Petrus van Niekerk as Chief Executive Officer. Van Niekerk has been involved in the security industry for almost 15 years, 13 of which were spent in an executive capacity.

He is sure to take the Group’s successes even further.

The Protea Coin Group employs more than 16,000 employees nationally, and has international offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The company also provides security services in East and West Africa. For more info, visit www.proteacoin.co.za or contact 0861 80 8000. 

Authorized Financial Service Provider 4903

Luxury Yacht and Small Craft Insurance COMPREHENSIVE MARINE INSURANCE IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN Benefits include: | comprehensive local and international cover

| policies issued and premiums payable in any major currency

| worldwide racing and charter risk cover

| very competitive rates with ‘noclaim’ benefits

| passenger and third party legal liability cover

| underwritten by the largest insurer in Africa

tel: +27 (21) 443 4400 | fax: +27 (21) 443 4444 | website: www.rbsolutions.co.za | fap: 4903 Contact Singeon Green for expert cover and advice on +27 (083) 459 6989 or e-mail singeon@rbsolutions.co.za

FEATURE

The Universe of

IDEAS

Of Death, Dreams and Dark Energy Been dying to read the provocative ideas of a Darwin, Machiavelli or Hawking? Did not your last trip to Italy inspire a zeal for Renaissance Art that has frayed once back at the office? Don’t give up yet. Several Ivy League universities now make their best courses available online, offering a wealth of knowledge, free of charge.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Image: © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

80

PRE S TI G e

L

ife is full of opportunity cost. To study engineering when at university years ago meant waiving the chance to read philosophy or politics. And when the economics classes were just too demanding, out went the chance to study French or Italian. Now, when you might have the time and means to tend to these interests and are more curious about the world than ever, you can hardly enrol fulltime with students half your age.

Enter Open Courseware, the kind of solution that could only emanate from some of the world’s oldest and bestendowed universities. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), predictably,

S M ART

was the first to place several of their most popular courses online for general public consumption. No need to enrol or register with the lecturer, all you need is some pretty good bandwidth and you can download transcripts of world-class teachers in their lecture halls free either in HTML, audio or video format.

I favour the idea of downloading the MP3 audio versions onto my iPod and then killing time during my daily slog through traffic listening to experts contemplate the philosophy of our own beliefs in immortality, the real reasons for the international financial markets’ meltdown, an update on modern poetry, or getting to understand what my dreams mean.

Researching several online Open Courseware modules on offer at different Ivy League schools, it becomes apparent that these courses were carefully chosen to

serve the mature and intellectually-curious person in search of education for the sake of interest and learning. No tax-fordummies or capturing-export-markets kind of vocational trivia here. The range of courses deals with some of the major fields of knowledge underpinning who or what we are, where we come from and where we are going. The big issues, you know: astronomy, philosophy, art history, bioethics, classics, literature, religious studies, and political science.

I clicked through to the popular courses offered at Yale, some of them offered by people often seen on CNN or the Discovery Channel because of their expertise in their field of study. Here are the course descriptions: Milton: A study of Milton's poetry, with some attention to his literary sources, his contemporaries, his controversial prose, and his decisive influence on the course of English poetry.

Death: There is one thing I can be sure of: I am going to die. But what am I to make of that fact? This course examines a number of issues that arise once we begin to reflect on our mortality. The possibility that death may not actually be the end is considered. Are we, in some sense, immortal? Would immortality be desirable?

Also a clearer notion of what it is to die is examined. What does it mean to say that a person has died? What kind of fact is that?

And, finally, different attitudes to death are evaluated. Is death an evil? How? Why? Is suicide morally permissible? Is it rational?

How should the knowledge that I am going to die affect the way I live my life?

Game Theory: This course is an introduction to game theory and strategic thinking. Ideas such as dominance, backward induction, Nash equilibrium, evolutionary stability, commitment, credibility, asymmetric information, adverse selection, and signalling are discussed and applied to games played in class and to examples drawn from economics, politics, the movies, and elsewhere.

Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics: This course focuses on three particularly interesting areas of astronomy that are advancing very rapidly: extra-solar planets, black holes and dark energy.

Particular attention is paid to current projects that promise to improve our understanding significantly over the next few years. The course explores not just what is known, but what is currently not known, and how astronomers are going about trying to find out.

Financial Markets: Financial institutions are a pillar of civilised society, supporting people in their productive ventures and managing the economic risks they take on. The course strives to offer an understanding of the theory of finance and its relation to the history, strengths and imperfections of such institutions as banking, insurance, securities, futures, and other derivatives markets, and the future of these institutions over the next century.

Yale's philosophy of teaching and learning begins with the aim of training a broadly based, highly disciplined intellect without specifying in advance how that intellect will be used. This approach goes beyond the acquisition of facts and concepts to cultivate skills and habits of rigorous, independent thought: the ability to analyse, to ask the next question, and to begin the search for an answer.”

Political Philosophy: This course is intended as an introduction to political philosophy as seen through an examination of some of the major texts and thinkers of the Western political tradition. Three broad themes that are central to understanding political life are focused upon: the polis experience (Plato, Aristotle), the sovereign state (Machiavelli, Hobbes), constitutional government (Locke), and democracy (Rousseau, Tocqueville). The way in which different political philosophies have given expression to various forms of political institutions and our ways of life are examined throughout the course.

Spend some time online searching Open Courseware and you should find several more institutions placing some the world’s best knowledge at your fingertips.

Download and enjoy – it sure beats the incessant chatter of the person sitting next to you on the plane. Start at Open Yale Courseware www.oyc.edu, MIT’s www.ocw.mit.edu, or the highly ranked Berkeley University site at http://video.google.com/ucberkeley.html to see the amazing array of offerings. 

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

81

The

Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa Whether you are looking for a place in Cape Town in which to engage in pleasurable business or indulge in the business of pleasure, the sublime and sophisticated Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa meets both criteria and then some.

Words: TANYA GOODMAN Images: Š TWELVE APOSTLES HOTEL AND SPA

O

f course, it is the setting of the hotel that immediately captivates the senses and has one begging to contrive a reason to stay here, be it for one night or an entire week. Located on Victoria Road, just a few minutes’ drive from Camps Bay, the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa (12A) is tucked into the foot of the mountain range of the same name, with its back to the indigenous fynbos-covered landscape and its front perched majestically above the rocky Atlantic coast. The gleaming white buildings stand in stark contrast to the myriad of greens and blues that populate the slopes and sea, and guests are invited to take advantage of the entire spectrum of natural drama on offer.

For those who must conduct meetings at the tip of our continent, why stay at a traditional hotel when you can taste the

salty spray of the pounding waves over breakfast with a client or watch the whales

frolic at sunset over a cocktail-inspired get-together? With a team of professional

event organisers on hand and specialised function rooms that can accommodate groups of up to 90 people, there is no reason not to consider hosting a conference or board meeting here as well.

When it comes to special events, however, the sheer romance of the 12A beckons those wanting to celebrate a wedding or create a memorable gathering for family and friends. The selection of stunning and varied locations throughout the hotel, from the indoors Conservancy – an intimate, richly decorated lounge with extraordinary sea and mountain views, reminiscent of a Victorian tearoom – to the outdoor Atlantic Terrace Marquee – a distinctive venue overlooking the Atlantic with an ambience of style and grace – provide a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable occasion.

But why not simply take time out and treat yourself to a sensuous mini-holiday in this oasis of calm. A member of the Small Leading Hotels of the World, and winner of their “Commitment to Quality for Africa and the Middle East” Award for two consecutive years (2005 and 2006), the 12A combines African chic with Continental sophistication and service. Accommodation is provided in 70 rooms, ranging from classic guestrooms to various luxury suites with mountain or sea views, as well as two superior garden suites and one glorious presidential suite.

One cannot, and should not, miss the Sanctuary Spa, carved into the rock at the base of the hotel. In fact, the Spa is responsible for many of the accolades 12A has received over the years, and rightfully so. This is one of the most exceptional spa

84

PRE S TI G e

environments that one can encounter in South Africa. Here, you enter another world of darkness and light where you can totally submit to a spirit of harmony and peace as you drift between the hot, cold, and saltwater flotation pools before or after your signature treatment. The Rasul Chamber, unique to any spa in the Cape, is inspired by the cleansing rituals of the ancient harems and purifies your body while giving you time to reflect in an atmosphere of serenity.

To optimise this sensory experience, it is best enjoyed with a partner.

During my recent sojourn to the 12A, I was, however, travelling solo. Yet there were plenty of options for leisure and relaxation. Just before sunset on my first evening, I strolled up the mountain trail behind the hotel, wishing I had started out slightly earlier with novel in hand so I could have stopped to laze in one of the inviting blue hammocks strung along the path.

Luckily I had thought ahead enough to prepare for a quick dip in the heated rock pool situated at the end of my hike. After a day in the spa and an early evening walk, I was ravenous, though soon to be tempted and then sated by the divine offerings of the Azure Restaurant, with Chef Roberto de Carvalho’s speciality fynbos dinner menu paired with Sommelier Luvo’s selection of wines from the hotel’s vinotech. Had I been with my family, I would have certainly requested a picnic basket along with beach bag, towels and umbrellas for the following day to enjoy on one of the nearby beaches, thanks to the complimentary transfer service offered by the hotel.

Among the other activities facilitated by 12A are an adrenalin-pumping

helicopter ride across the Cape Peninsula, an introductory one day scuba diving course in the ocean in front of the hotel, shark cage diving, boat and yacht cruises, race car driving, power boating in Hout Bay, or flying an ex-combat supersonic jet.

The 12A is not just for those travelling from afar. If you live in the Cape, spend a rainy winter afternoon in the sumptuous surrounds of the Leopard Room Bar & Lounge or meet your pals for a traditional, and rather decadent, high tea in the Café Grill, a local legend in the Mother City. The 12A’s couples’ packages are worth leaving the creature comforts of home for, too. Treat your partner to a new kind of “Dinner and a Movie” date by booking for these weekly events, which start with a leisurely meal in the Azure Restaurant followed by a movie screening in the 12A’s private 16-seater cinema, which is furnished with plush, red leather seats and serves patrons popcorn, ice cream, hot chocolate, milkshakes and candy.

If you come as a group and wish to book the cinema exclusively, you can choose your own film. Then definitely opt for an overnight stay, and if you can extend your brief interlude long enough to schedule a morning in the Sanctuary Spa, you’ll feel as if you’ve been away from the madness for a week, not just a day.

Rates start at R3,990 for a double classic room in low season up to R11,630 for a double garden suite in peak season, with a full English breakfast and VAT included. The Presidential Suite ranges from R13,605 to R19,220. For more information, call +27 21 437 9000 , visit www.12apostleshotel.co.za, or email bookta@12apostles.co.za 

P r o u d Catamarans

Proudly made, Proudly owned!

Our Pride: 38ft

40ft

44ft 64ft

70ft.

S a i l i n g , Po w e r a n d S p o r t F i s h i n g C a t a m a r a n s m a n u f a c t u r e d t o o w n e r s s p e c i fi c a t i o n s .

Contact: Keith McVeigh Tel: +27 82 320 5917 Email: keith@proudcatamarans.co.za www.proudcatamarans.com w w w. p r o u d c ata m a r a n s . c o m

O u r c a t a m a r a n s a r e n o w av a i l a b l e i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s .

C o n t a c t o u r I s l a n d A g e n t Jo h n d a C o s t a o n + 2 3 0 7 2 2 3 3 8 8

S ALUTE

The Making of an

Icon Korda,s Famous Che Photo

It is a face that has adorned the walls of revolutionaries’ training camps and the T-shirts of the urban chic alike. That one photo of Che Guevara, wearing his beret perched with attitude, has done more than any of his deeds to keep the memory of this tragic hero alive.

Words: CHARL DU PLESSIS Images: © GALLO IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES

T

he censors of the apartheid era must have understood all too well, when banning photos of Nelson Mandela, how an image can come to represent an idea.

Iconic imagery represents a range of meanings for a whole generation and can encapsulate all of the ideological weight that people read into the images.

In one of the most infamous moments from World War II captured on film, all the horrors of nuclear warfare were epitomised in a single photo of a crying Japanese baby sitting in the aftermath of Hiroshima. Kevin Carter froze famine in the mind’s eye of the world with his photograph of an Ethiopian baby being watched by a waiting vulture.

Mother Theresa photographed in white robes in Calcutta will forever represent

86

PRE S TI G e

personal sacrifice and Christian charity.

Then there is a picture of South Africa’s most unforgettable moment, when Mandela walked out of Pollsmoor prison, his fist raised high, affirming the success of the liberation struggle. But most famous of them all is that one Che Guevara image. I have had the T-shirt and the bandana at times, and the hand-painted image I bought on the streets of Cuba still hangs in our beach house. But from where did this legendary photo come?

It was March 1960, in Havana Cuba, following the death of some 160 people killed when a Belgian arms transporter, La Coubre, exploded in the harbour. A grand memorial service was being held, and Fidel Castro, excellent orator that he was, was at his best, giving a speech that went on for

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

87

FEATURE

hours. In attendance on stage were international Cuba sympathisers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. In the crowd was Alberto “Korda” Gutierrez, staff photographer for a local newspaper.

For a brief moment during the Castro speech, Il Commandante, as Che was reverently known, stepped onto the stage for just a few seconds, and Korda turned his Leica to capture no more than two shots of him.

Korda chose the one of Che he liked most to develop and print, and after spending a long time on the wall of his darkroom, the picture eventually made it to his study.

Some seven years later, this tobaccostained frame was hanging right there when Korda was visited by an unknown man who had a letter from high-ranking Cuban officials asking for help in finding a good photo of Che. Korda made the man

two prints of the photo hanging on his wall, and when the man came round to collect the photos the following day, refused payment from a “friend of the revolution.”

What Korda did not know was that this “friend” was none other than Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, at that time best known for having smuggled the

For a brief moment during the Castro speech, Il Commandante, as Che was reverently known, stepped onto the stage for just a few seconds, and Korda turned his Leica to capture no more than two shots of him.

Dr Zhivago manuscript out of the Soviet Union. Feltrinelli had just returned from Bolivia, where Che Guevara was the guerrilla leader of a struggle about to be lost. Feltrinelli must have calculated that Che’s death was a real possibility.

His gamble paid off. Not much later, Che was killed, his body unceremoniously dumped in Bolivian soil. Within six months Fetrinelli had sold more than two million posters of Che worldwide, and set the stage for that image to become the long-lasting icon for rebellion against any authority.

Korda never made a penny out of that photo, himself passing away in 1993, always happy to state that his only claim to money from that famous shot would have been relying on the Western-Imperialist concept of intellectual property rights. Viva la revolución, viva Korda! And Hasta Siempre Comandante Che. 

Until Always Hasta Siempre Comandante We learned to love you From the heights of history With the sun of your bravery You laid siege to death The deep (or beloved) transparency of your presence Became clear here Comandante Che Guevara Your glorious and strong hand Fires at history When all of Santa Clara Awakens to see you The deep (or beloved) transparency of your 88 presence PRE S TI G e

Became clear here Comandante Che Guevara You come burning the winds With spring suns To plant the flag With the light of your smile The deep (or beloved) transparency of your presence Became clear here Comandante Che Guevara Your revolutionary love Leads you to a new undertaking Where they are awaiting the firmness Of your liberating arm

The deep (or beloved) transparency of your presence Became clear here Comandante Che Guevara We will carry on As we did along with you And with Fidel we say to you: Until Always, Comandante!

The deep (or beloved) transparency of your presence Became clear here Comandante Che Guevara

Handsome Through their use of unusual materials such as ceramic,

Hublot

Watches of Distinction

tantalum, tungsten, and zirconium, Hublot has placed itself at the forefront of technology, and emerged as one of the hottest watch brands of the new millennium.

90

PRE S TI G e

Words: INGRID KENMUIR Images: Š HUBLOT

T

owards the end of the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry endured its worst crisis ever.

Despite these unfavourable circumstances, Carlo Crocco, a denizen of Northern Italy, set about reinventing the watch. His innovation had to be elegant, sporty, and uncompromisingly modern. Of course, it also had to be Swiss made.

Crocco moved to Nyon on Lake Geneva in 1979, where his ideas materialised into horological hardware. He named his creation Hublot, which is the French word for a ship’s porthole, and from which the Hublot case design was actually derived.

Crocco showed his watch to the world at the Basel watch fair in the spring of 1980.

It was incredibly well received.

In many respects, this watch was

FEATURE SWISS

revolutionary. Its most noteworthy feature was the band, which was made of black rubber, provided with a folding clasp and which smelled discreetly of vanilla. Steel pieces vulcanised into the rubber gave a sturdy yet flexible link with the case. Three years of research were necessary to create this unique strap, and to demonstrate the exceptional properties of natural rubber.

Members of numerous royal families were immediately enthusiastic about Hublot, and were soon emulated by celebrities the world over. Carlo Crocco had taken a gamble, but it had paid off. In just a few short years, Hublot watches joined the elite group of leading watch making brands.

Fusion is one of the quintessential traits of Hublot, and the company has been exploring this concept for some three decades now. The watch is a merging of the inner movements and the external parts, while the materials, too, are a fusion of Heaven and Earth; past and present. The use of gold from the depths of the Earth, for example, coupled with the use of rubber photosynthesised by a tropical tree, Hevea brasiliensis, and futuristic materials such as titanium and tantalum, is a coming together of past and present; then and now. In this respect, a Hublot is much more than an immediately recognisable watch: it is a synergy of several dimensions.

Research has, of course, enabled the discovery of new materials, but above all, new alloys, have contributed to the development watch mechanisms as

Members of numerous royal families were immediately enthusiastic about Hublot, and were soon emulated by celebrities the world over. well as their presentation. Technological advances have also enabled designers and engineers to imagine revolutionary models using novel materials.

The materials Hublot uses are the keystone of the brand, each watch combining many elements. Gold is one of the main components, though its cache includes ceramic, carbon fibre, Kevlar, magnesium, zirconium, palladium,

platinum, tantalum, and rubber. In 2008, Hublot launched the use of zirconium for its new “Big Bang” classic model. Zirconium, like tantalum, is highly resistant to corrosion.

“Big Bang,” in the collective consciousness, immediately makes one think of ancestral times, of a vast explosion from which – thanks to the fusion of elements – resulted the creation of the universe and the dawn of planet Earth. Thus, it is no coincidence that Jean-Claude Biver, who joined the company as CEO in 2004, decided to name his first Hublot watch “Big Bang.” This model demonstrates the surprising capacities of Hublot as far as design is concerned, and illustrates perfectly the original fusion approach in its bringing together of four elements: traditional Swiss watch making know-how, visionary artistic ideas, new combinations of materials, and the latest technological advances.

Nowadays, the watch is so much more than merely an instrument used to measure time. It has become an object serving to assert one’s identity. The watch is worn as an accessory; like a jewel that the wearer exhibits, shows, admires. In buying a Hublot watch, the fans of the brand thus embrace the philosophy; the spirit commended by the Nyon-based watchmaker. And so, each watch sold and worn throughout the world becomes the spokesperson for Hublot's values.

For local distributors contact Christoff Fine Jewellery on +27 21 421 0184. For more information, visit www.hublot.com. 

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

91

BMW&

Bavaria’s Deep Blue 46

92

PRE S TI G e

FEATURE

B

MW and Bavaria Yachtbau have always been synonymous with Bavarian quality and one would, thus, expect that a partnership between the two would naturally result in a truly extraordinary design concept. The new boat model, aptly named Deep Blue 46, was recently released at the “Boot” Show in Dusseldorf.

Some of BMW Group Designworks USA’s award- winning designs and partnerships include the Embrear Jet interior, a concept design for Boeing’s 787

Words: TONI ACKERMANN Image: © WILTEL MARINE

Dreamliner, Rolls Royce Phantom and BMW X5, among others.

The design team had a major challenge on their hands; after all, how do you improve on Bavaria’s best selling boat design? The brief was such: the company’s principal philosophy of exceptional value for money had to be maintained, without compromising style and space. The design also needed to accommodate a model that would be made available in a sport and sport top, as well as Bavaria’s first flybridge configuration. The result: a 14.2-metre

boat with a design that incorporates some very important concepts found to be especially popular with boaters.

Among these is an extended swim platform; a larger than normal tender garage; a cockpit with circular seating around the D-shaped table, with a wet bar just forward of this; and a large sunbed. Ample seating and easy access to the bow coupled with a wide walkway round off the external features.

For more information, contact Wiltel Marine on 0860 MARINE or +27 82 562 5145. 

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

93

FEATURE

VIP

l e v a tr

Join the Jet Set!

The advantage!

Depart from a V.V.I.P private lounge with fast track check in and personalised welcome on board.

Relax in a refined upper class seat. Relish in the finest Gourmet cuisine served “à la française” while enjoying a variety of latest movie releases. Service-oriented staff handle all the details including 7* catering and first class amenities. That’s what we call the ultimate travel experience on a United Charter V.I.P. aircraft!

Just one phone call is all that is required to have all your chartering and air travel needs instantly met. With a United Charter private aircraft and crew at your service, you are afforded complete flexibility regarding your route, time, privacy, productivity, and an environment that allows you to arrive at your destination refreshed and ready for action!

94

PRE S TI G e

FEATURE

The freedom to fly, whenever, wherever, in the luxury of your own private aircraft.

United Charter Services is a premium charter service provider to many major South African corporate and government clients both locally and abroad. Established in 2002, by Jonathan Wolpe, a professional pilot who is passionate about aviation, and has a strong focus on complex travel solutions. They also specialise in providing large aircraft to its customers in Africa, Europe and the United States with services provided for executive and government travel.

them to fulfil their clients charter requirements no matter what they are, as well as deal with aircraft availability issues.

Their large fleet of managed aircraft, currently 128, ranging from twin piston aircraft to turboprops and more significantly, various (fabulous!) executive jets. Short and long haul airliners allow

This saves you time and money, in fact, it allows them to provide you with more options at better prices, based on bulk buying power with their partners, as well as their local operations.

Since their establishment, United Charter has also formed partnership agreements with very successful and well established charter companies in both the United States of America and United Kingdom, thus broadening their base of operations further as well as expanding their fleet capabilities.

Why you should charter a private aircraft!

Well its simple really... style, convenience and the efficiency of the whole journey will take your travel experience to a whole new level of fabulous!

You can also be sure that you will enjoy the following V.I.P. services: • From the booking procedure and departure, right throughout the flight to the arrival at your chosen destination, every detail is taken care of by their knowledgeable and professional charter team.

• United Charter’s aircraft and services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

• Their aircraft range from light single-engine aircraft to Boeing 747-400, as well as freight aircraft to handle any size and weight freight at competitive prices.

• Beautiful V.V.I.P charter lounges with full facilities at Lanseria and Johannesburg International airports, as well as other locations nationally, ensure a calm and relaxed environment while they pre-clear your passports for international flight.

No more standing in queues!

• 5 * airport shuttle transfers are available for any sized group with “meet & greet” at the airport by their professional, friendly staff.

With United Charter Services your every need is taken care of !

w w w. p r e s t i g e m a g . c o . z a

95

FEATURE United Charter Services has extensive expertise in the provision of charter aircraft throughout the world for clients with very specific needs and expectations. Over a number of years they have successfully built trusting, discreet and totally confidential relationships with company chairmen and chief executives, heads of state, governments and celebrities!

This is your sanctuary in the sky, providing a haven of calm, luxury, safety and indulgence!

They offer independent advice and technical expertise on the type and location of the aircraft most suited to your needs, and can arrange flights to and from anywhere in the world at short notice.

They are able to launch a flight within 3 hours after receiving written confirmation of your flight!

Their specially trained V.I.P. crews will look after each detail, and provide you with a discreet, yet attentive service ensuring that all of your personal needs are taken care of.

All of United Charter’s clients are assigned a personal Client Liaison, who will remain with your programme from the initial proposal until the flight is complete. Your Client Liaison will attend to the planning, quotation and implementation of all your flight requirements as well as any other requests you may have!

They have suitable aircraft available to fly to almost any destination anytime day or night!

United Charter arrange flights for any event and any number of people, from the single executive to an entire conference.

They will ensure that the aircraft meets with your travel requirements, the price is within your budget and the level of service and comfort is exemplary!

They arrange all overflight landing permits and fuel arrangements, as well as assist in all hotel accommodation and your transportation needs.

The exceptional customer service which they are renowned for includes: Worldwide travel, Presidential, Diplomatic, VIP & Corporate flights, Lodge transfers, Incentive travel, Scenic flights and complicated Cargo flights!

Overall a great experience to fly United Charter Services!

Contact Jonathan Wolpe on +27 (0) 11 788 0813 at United Charter Services to arrange your personalised travel arrangements!

24 hour Hotline: Fax: E-mail: Website:

96

PRE S TI G e

Fly with United Charter and you will also enjoy: • 24/7 flight support.

• Customized service, including catering and in-flight amenities.

• Freedom from crowded terminals and long security lines.

• Access to 10 times as many airports as commercial airlines • An aircraft at your disposal allowing you to take control of the time you spend on travel!

• You can schedule your own departure and take off within minutes of your arrival at the airport.

• No more waiting around, no more missed flights!

• You have the option to fly to multiple destinations in one day without the inconvenience of connecting flights through a major airport.

• The flexibility to fly to places that are not serviced by the major airlines.

• Departure lounges that are designed to provide a comfortable and relaxed environment for passengers prior to departure or upon arrival, they are also situated to allow direct access to your chartered aircraft.

• Ground handlers that assist with both arriving and departing passengers, and will also assist with customs and immigration formalities.

+27 (0) 11 788 0813 +27 (0) 11 507 6814 info@unitedcharter.co.za www.unitedcharter.co.za

S AV OUR

98

PRE S TI G e

S AV OUR

Lamb Neck Braised

with Wild Rosemary and Garlic Served with Potato Custard and Tomato Bredie Ingredients For the Lamb • 1.2kg lamb neck chops, bone in • 60g wild rosemary • 1 whole garlic • 400ml red wine • 1.5l lamb stock • 100g tomato paste • salt and pepper to taste • flour for dusting For the Potato Custard • 800g medium-sized potatoes, peeled • 150ml full cream milk, warmed • 50ml cream, warmed • 1 vanilla pod • 15ml vanilla essence • 4 egg yolks • small amount butter, melted : and pepper to taste • salt For the Tomato Bredie • 1kg ripe tomatoes, chopped • 2 large onions, chopped

• • • • • • • • •

5 cloves garlic, chopped 150ml white wine 50g sugar 3 star anise, whole 10g coriander powder 10g curry powder 1 fresh chilli, medium sized 50ml white vinegar 50g tomato paste

Method Cook the lamb: Season neck chops with salt and pepper. Lightly dust in flour and seal off in a hot pan with a touch of oil.

Transfer lamb to a deep oven tray. Deglaze the pan with red wine and lamb stock.

Whisk in the tomato paste and add the rosemary and garlic. Bring to the boil. Pour over lamb, cover with foil and braise in oven for approximately 2 hours at 180˚C until tender. Remove lamb and set aside. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve, pour into a clean saucepan and reduce until thick. Keep sauce warm for serving.

Words and Images: © SOLMS-DELTA

Make the potato custard: Cut the potatoes into quarters, place into a pot of cold water and add a pinch of salt. Boil until soft, drain off water and mash.

While mash is still warm, mix in the vanilla pod, warm milk and warm cream.

Add egg yolks and return to stove on low heat, stirring continuously. Cook for five minutes. Add vanilla essence, season to taste and finish off with a touch of melted butter.

Prepare the tomato bredie: Sauté onions and garlic on medium heat, add star anise, coriander and curry powders, fresh chopped chilli and tomato paste. Allow to cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring continuously. Add white wine and vinegar and cook for a further 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and sugar, and a little water if needed. Cook until the tomatoes are soft - the bredie should have the consistency of a stew. Season to taste and serve over the lamb, together with the potato custard. Serves 4.

Perfect Pairing: Solms-Wijn de Caab Hiervandaan Multi-flavoured and medium-bodied, Hiervandaan is a rich, Shiraz-led blend, matching beautifully with a variety of food partners. Superb with richly-sauced ostrich and game, it also complements classic roasts, grills and earthy casseroles. It is the perfect pairing for Fyndraai chef Shaun Schoeman’s Lamb dish.

About Solms-Delta The Solms-Delta wine estate in the historic Franschhoek Valley tends to do things a little differently, and this is not only where their wine making is concerned. Fyndraai, an exciting new restaurant with an authentically local twist, recently opened on the Solms-Delta Wine Estate. The cuisine, like the Estate’s adventurous wines, historic buildings and Museum van der Caab, lives up to the Solms-Delta claim of being proudly Hiervandaan – “from this place.” At the helm is Executive Chef Shaun Schoeman, the latest addition to Franschhoek’s impressive offering of talented chefs. The much acclaimed Solms-Delta wines, which burst onto the local scene in 2005 with an innovative maiden vintage from grapes desiccated on the vine, complement all meals at Fyndraai. From the glass floor, which affords guests a view of the archaeological remains of the old wine cellar, through to the innovative menus, Fyndraai combines historical ingredients with contemporary taste.Fyndraai is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between 9:00am to 5:00pm. Visit www.solms-delta.co.za, email info@solms-delta.co.za, or contact +27 21 874 3937 for more info or to book.

livethelife Belt it Out Treasures

Lost and Found

According to experts, this year looks set to be a slow, conservative year. But, it thus brings with it a global move towards traditions and values, and a renewed interest in antiques and collectibles. The intrinsic value of a Georgian armoire, a silver Irish tea set, rare coins or a signed Lalique vase offer more than just visual and tactile pleasure; these are assets that will only grow in value as the years progress. Collecting as an investment has become a viable alternative to volatile markets of late. At the National Antiques and Decorative Arts Faire, exhibitors from around the world will have their wares on show, ranging from Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau furniture and Cape, Russian, Irish and English silverware to porcelain and China, glassware, jewellery, books, prints, maps, coins, medals, and military memorabilia. Various respected dealers will also be present, showing their rare collections to the public. The National Antiques and Decorative Arts Faire will be at the Sandton Convention Centre from 24 to 26 July 2009. For more information, contact +27 11 482 3266 or visit www.naada.co.za.

For over 85 years, Andrea Zori has crafted the finest exotic and personalised leather belts available. These accessories are exclusive; their quality world class, and they are now available in South Africa. Andrea Zori has two ranges available: the Wildlife Collection and the So Pure Collection. The Wildlife Collection uses only specially-selected real exotic leathers, all of which are chosen only from those tanneries where the rules dictated by the International Convention of Washington for the safety of protected animals are respected. The So Pure Collection highlights typical Italian artistry by creating personalised, hand painted belts. A complex and sophisticated crafting process, the “vegetable tanning method,” is characterised by the use of tannin and the natural extract of chestnut and Argentine quebracho. Through this elaborate process, a material is produced that improves its look with the passing of time – streaks, creases, scratches and even the smallest imperfections increase the belt’s great value over the years. Andrea Zori belts are available at G2 by Gerani, with stores in Cavendish Square, Cape Town and Bedford Centre, Johannesburg. For more information, call +27 21 683 7166 or +27 11 615 7663.

Charles Greig and LVMH Champagne Present

Collections de Luxe

Jewellery and champagne, the ultimate symbols of luxury, are synonymous with pleasure, grandeur and celebration. World-renowned jeweller Charles Greig chose the revered LVMH champagne portfolio as inspiration for its dazzling new Collections de Luxe. Designed as a tribute to the glamour and extravagance that champagne personifies, Collections de Luxe perfectly captures the essence of each champagne house: Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, Krug, and Ruinart. Pieces include sparkling 18-carat rose gold and diamond necklaces, earrings and rings inspired by the spectacular Karl Lagerfeld campaign shot for Dom Pérignon’s Vintage Rosé, as well as 18-carat white gold rhodolite and diamond earrings designed to reflect the glamour that Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial personifies. Collections de Luxe can be viewed at the following Charles Greig stores: Hyde Park, Sandton City, Michelangelo, V&A Waterfront, Brooklyn Mall and The Palace. The 100 PRE S TI G eThe Marine and The Plettenberg are also displaying select pieces from Collections de Luxe for guests and visitors to admire.

Cellars-Hohenort,

livethelife Higher Hire The next time you need a hire car but don’t fancy a run-of-the-mill Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series give Status Luxury Vehicles a try. Specialising in top-end luxury rentals for a discerning clientele, their extensive fleet comprises a superb array of luxury cars from Mini Coopers to Ferraris, Bentleys, and Aston Martins. Services include self-drive rentals, chauffeur drives, airport transfers and cars for special occasions. A full-service team of experts caters to three major cities, namely Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Contact 0861 100 108, email info@slv.co.za or visit www.slv.co.za for more info.

Bilton’s Sir Percy

Louis Vuitton Toy Charms Toys of gold, sapphire sweets, and pearl playthings… Toy Charms, the latest Louis Vuitton collection, takes a gentle stroll through the wondrous imaginings of childhood. Created by Lorenz Bäumer for Louis Vuitton, these eight pendants are like a cluster of lucky charms, each marvel expressed in subtle, delicate colours. There is a small, yellow or white gold rattle – the perfect companion to baby’s first steps; a white gold sailboat – to celebrate passion and discovery; a yellow gold gingerbread house – for new beginnings; and two slender silhouettes, one a boy, the other a girl, each available in both white and yellow gold. Visit www.louisvuitton.com for more info or call +27 11 784 9854 or +27 21 405 9700. Price on request.

102

PRE S TI G e

Bilton Wines recently unleashed the second vintage of its full-blooded flagship, Sir Percy 2005. Crafted in a classic French style, the 2005 vintage is a rich blend that reflects the great Sir Percy himself. The result: an intense Bordeaux blend of great complexity and tangible masculinity comprising 65 percent cabernet sauvignon, 18 percent merlot and 17 percent petit verdot. The Sir Percy 2005 was matured for 22 months in French, American and Hungarian 300-litre oak barrels, whereafter further maturation took place in the bottle.

On the palate this wine shows great balance with its layered, masculine tannins, its velvety mouth feel and long lingering aftertaste. This versatile wine is great on its own and pairs brilliantly with a well matured fillet. Both the Bilton Sir Percy 2004 and 2005 vintages were lauded with four stars in Platter’s South Africa Wines. Sir Percy retails at approximately R155 per bottle and is available at the cellar and leading wine outlets or online at www.biltonwines.co.za.

For further information, contact +27 21 881 3714.

LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

OfямБcial agent for Riviera luxury motor yachts in South Africa.

DURBAN HARBOUR : Durban Yacht Mole Tel: 031 301 1115 / 083 324 4630 DURBAN POINT : The Quays Tel: 031 332 1987 / 079 872 2335 CAPE TOWN V&A WATERFRONT : Breakwater Boulevard Tel: 082 881 2607 / 072 860 6401 www.boatingworld.co.za | info@boatingworld.co.za

LIFE PASSION ADVENTURE

makingwaves Loro Piana SuperYacht

This June, the waters off Sardinia’s north-eastern coast will see a gathering of some of the grandest yachts when they return to the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) for the 2009 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta. This Regatta is open to sailing yachts with a minimum overall length of 24 metres or 80 foot, and accepts a maximum of 30 entrants. The participating yachts will be split into Racing/Performance and Cruising categories, both competing under the IRC rating system. Among the confirmed entries competing for the ultimate prize on the superyacht racing circuit – The Boat International Silver Trophy – are: Claus Peter Offen’s 30.5-metre (100 foot) Y3K; Charles Dunstone’s Philippe Briand-designed 36-metre (118 foot) Hamilton II; Dr Thomas Bscher’s 28.55-metre (94 foot) Open Season; Marco Vogele’s Philippe Brianddesigned 31.87-metre (104 foot) Gliss; Alessandro Rinaldi’s Bruce Farr-designed 30-metre (98 foot) Farewell; the German Frers-designed 47-metre (154 foot) Hyperion; and Kim Schindelhauer’s Tony Castro-designed 29-metre (95 foot) Scorpione dei Mari.

The world’s largest gaff-rigged cutter, Lulworth, at 46.3 metres (152 foot) is also organising her Med summer diary with a view to participate. For more information, visit www.loropianasuperyachtregatta.com.

Introducing the

Aura

To celebrate the international success of the ultimate luxury handset, AURA, Motorola commissioned an incredible photo shoot with one of the world’s most stylish sporting icons, David Beckham. Shot in downtown Milan by celebrated Hollywood director Anthony Mandler, the final result, (following some postproduction technical wizardry of course), quite aptly captures the imaginative essence of AURA. A celebration of artistry and design, AURA takes its inspiration from luxury time pieces and features Swissmade bearings with over 200 individual components in a stainless steel, handsculpted body that takes more than 14 days to make. The circular screen – the first of its kind for a mobile phone – displays some 16 million colours in 300dpi on a 62-carat sapphire-cut lens – one of the most scratch resistant materials on Earth. Inspired by a modern interpretation of classical renaissance sculpture, combined with the beauty, power and craftsmanship of the AURA phone, the image, which shows the inner physical workings of Mr Beckham as never before seen, launches Motorola’s phenomenal global campaign. For more information, or to purchase the AURA from Motorola’s online store, visit www.motorola.com. The phone retails for upwards of £1,400.

104

PRE S TI G e

New Arrival:

The Fairline Targa 38

If anyone was worried that the global economy was affecting the South African luxury yachting market, the arrival in Cape Town of a third multi-million Rand luxury yacht in as many months should quell any concerns. Prestigious British manufacturer Fairline launched the super-sporty Targa range a few years ago. With its sexy design and high performance capability, this model racked up multiple awards in a relatively short time. Boating World, exclusive local agents for Fairline, recently moored a spanking new Targa 38 at Granger Bay. It is without a doubt the most perfect yacht for a day cruise to Clifton, although its range, together with its luxurious overnight space for up to six people, could allow a trip as far up the coast as Mosselbay. It is a fast boat, with plenty of crafty creature comforts. Moorings are available in Granger Bay, where the experienced hands of Boating World staff are available to take charge of maintenance and management of the yacht. Visit www.fairline.com to view the yacht, or call Derrick Levy on +27 82 881 2607 for an appointment to step onboard. Also visit www.boatingworld.co.za for further luxury yachting options in the Fairline and Riviera ranges.

Image: © Rick Tomlinson/YCCS

Regatta 2009

AVOID THE RUSH

ROLLS-ROYCE 200EX Arriving December 2009. Contact Marek on 082 560 1023 Rolls-Royce Sandton: Sandton Isle, Cnr Rivonia Road and Linden Road, Sandown,Telephone: +27 (11) 676 6655