AW18 | £4.50
DIAMONDS & THRILLS
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Big Bang Unico Sang Bleu Titanium Blue. Developed with the famous tattoo artist Maxime Buchi, founder of Sang Bleu. Titanium case with faceted bezel. In-house chronograph UNICO movement. Innovative way to read time through the superposition of 3 skeletonized discs. Blue leather on black rubber strap. Limited edition of 200 pieces.
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MILLE MIGLIA CLASSIC CHRONOGRAPH Chopard is the historical partner and official timekeeper of the fabled Mille Miglia, the world’s most beautiful car race. Proudly created and assembled in our Manufacture, this unique 42 mm-diameter chronograph showcases the full range of watchmaking skills cultivated within the Maison Chopard.
AUTAVIA HEUER 02 CHRONOGRAPH
Patrick Dempsey, perfectly inspired by Gentlemen Drivers, is the symbol of TAG Heuer’s legacy. He embodies the taste for adventure, panache and elegance. #DontCrackUnderPressure is what drives him.
DEF Y EL PRIMERO 21
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When the conditions are unpredictable you need a watch that isn’t. 500 metres below sea level is no place to find out that your watch won’t function at 500 below sea level. That’s why every Bremont watch is ruthlessly engineered to be fit for purpose. However extreme that purpose might be. Anywhere you can go, a Bremont can go too. And usually further. Your Bremont is probably tougher than you are. The new Supermarine S500/BL has been hand-built and tested on British shores, at our headquarters in Henley-on-Thames. Sure, it has its limits, but you’re unlikely to ever find them.
British Engineering. Tested Beyond Endurance.
S500/BL
OFFICIAL FERRARI DEALER
Graypaul Edinburgh As an Official Ferrari Dealer for over 13 years, Graypaul Edinburgh is part of a select network that ensures Ferrari ownership remains a truly unique and rewarding experience. Our service department offers an enclosed truck collection and redelivery service and very competitive menu pricing on a wide selection of models.
Graypaul Edinburgh Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, EH15 3HR Telephone: 0131 475 5000 www.edinburgh.ferraridealers.com
Ferrari.com
ROX MAGAZINE
CONTENTS
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p. 48
CONTENTS WATCH ANATOMY Breaking down the Zenith Defy Zero G.
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HOW TO BE A MODERN MAN Getting it right where it really matters.
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MAXIMALIST MAN Comfortable in his own skin the ROX Man knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to wear his style on his sleeve.
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THE LUXURY WATCH EDIT The definitive guide to what you should be wearing on your wrist right now.
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LET’S MAKE A DATE Audemars Piguet masters the perpetual calendar.
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HIGH ALTITUDE Bremont takes British watchmaking to new heights.
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THE ART OF LUXURY WATCHMAKING
p. 80
Shining a light on the star power behind the Haute Horlogerie.
p. 126
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MOTORING
p. 98
Take off-roading up a gear with luxury SUVs.
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GADGET MAN You don’t have to be a tech wizard to enjoy a good gadget
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ONE CENTURY IN A BOTTLE Each decanter takes 4 generations of cellar masters over 100 years to craft. A blend of up to 1200 eaux-de-vie continuously selected and blended by Louis XIII Cellar Masters.
Please Enjoy Responsibly
www.LOUISXIII-cognac.com
ROX MAGAZINE
EDITOR'S LETTER
WELCOME...
I
’m nervous, quite frankly. And it’s because of the bloody moths. The nerves should be embraced, if I want to put a positive spin on things. For once, I have a winter wardrobe I can look forward to, as the colder months creep towards the door. Layering, textures, earthy tones, artfully draped scarves that accentuate my jawline? Begone summer! But then I remember my daughter’s second birthday, at the end of last October. A day that should have been nothing but joyous memories of cake and irresponsible afternoon drinking (oh, and the daughter I suppose). But no, instead of all that, it was The Day I Opened the Camphor Wood Chest… only to find the mythical qualities of this exotic, mothrepelling wood to be utter bunkum. Carefully folded stacks of 100 per cent cashmere, in infinite shades of autumnal tastefulness, as riddled as a kilo of Emmental. Those furry, fluttery, terrible bastards. So, as winter encroaches, you can understand my nervousness. I finally accumulate a winter wardrobe to embrace, which my highly fashionable
wife is finally happy to walk alongside, and it could all be ruined again. Still, writing this with summer’s last early-September gasp blazing though my office window, I can revel in the prospect of another shopping spree at the very least. An indulgent, slightly selfish attitude that we’re embracing with this issue of ROX Man, in fact. Summer is for relaxing in magnanimous fashion with friends and family, at patio BBQs or continental quaysides – shorts, shirt, diving watch, little else. Winter on the other hand is for shoring-up one’s pallid demeanour in the heartiest fashion musterable. With fashion itself, of course – plus rose-gold chronograph on alligator leather strap, if sir is so inclined? Apparently last winter’s “Beast from the East” cold snap vanquished all chances of 2017’s unusually warm moth-egg incubation period repeating itself. But sod the scientists – I’m stocking up on velvet jackets and statement sweats regardless. As for that watch, I’m leaving that choice to the experts at ROX. See you in store, maybe? (Just don’t judge me if I’m wearing a jumper with holes in it.)
Alex Doak
EDITOR’S PICKS
TAG Heuer Watch 70120 | £4,900
TOM FORD
Audemars Piguet Watch 69695 | £22,400
BERLUTI
Hublot Watch 70105 | £15,600
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FRESH MANIFESTO Revel in the pursuit of life’s finest things, as a self-declared connoisseur. This season more is more as we embrace a new ‘maximalist’ trend that is finally counteracting the Scandi mid-century minimalism that has been stifling the thinking-man’s bling. Extravagant, hedonistic and ever so slightly selfish, the Maximalist Man is a gentleman who appreciates that sometimes you have to go big or go home.
V&A Dundee, Scotland | ©HuftonCrow
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TREND REPORT
WISH LIST WATCH ANATOMY CULTURAL RADAR CYCLING TRAVEL DINNER PLANS FORE! ETIQUETTE www.rox.co.uk
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WISH LIST
FRESH MANIFESTO
ROX MAGAZINE
AW18 WISH LIST We’ve compiled a list of the season’s must have fashion, watches, and accessories. Don’t worry we’ve got this and you’ll want them all! It’s all well and good dressing to impress but taking pride in your appearance is also a must for the modern man. With that in mind, this Czech and Speake Oxford & Cambridge shaving set and stand is a must for gents proud to keep on top of their grooming routine. Complete with soft badger hair brush, embossed razor fitted with Mach 3 blades and lavender, peppermint and rosemary scented Oxford & Cambridge soap it’s a grooming kit that guarantees to impress.
Make sure your style means business throughout AW18 with this Burberry briefcase. Designed in Italian full-grain leather and lines with a cream canvas it’s a must for those always on the go.
A GREY-T EDITION The beauty of life is that it isn’t simply black and white – the best moments are often found in its many shades of grey and that’s what this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore celebrates. The bigger, more masculine brother of the iconic Royal Oak it’s a model that has made strides in the world of haute horlogerie to earn a reputation for its brash yet stylish nature. This 42mm two tone monochromatic design features the automatic movement 3126 with 50 hour power reserve and chronograph function and we promise it’s sure to be your latest must-have this season. 69770 | £24,500
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Some things just never go out of style and a leather bracelet is a prime example. Managing to be trendy yet sophisticated this ROX Man black woven leather bracelet, crafted in soft Italian leather, is the perfect choice for those keen to invest in a classic piece of jewellery that guarantees to be the ultimate all-rounder. 69327 | £50
Limited to just 999 pieces this Bell & Ross diver's watch cuts an impressive figure on the wrist. Simple yet striking the 42mm model is entirely cased in marinegrade bronze, precision-machined to formidable 300-metre water resistant tolerances. The ultimate choice for those looking for a timepiece that master the art of being both practical and stylish. 70135 | £3,200
ROX MAGAZINE
FRESH MANIFESTO
LOCO FOR LOGOS
MAKING AN IMPRESSION Are you the type of man not afraid to leave a lasting impression? Well, we’ve got the perfect watch for you. This Hublot Big Bang Unico King Gold Ceramic is 42mm of pure design mastery. It’s no secret that Hublot isn’t a brand to do things by half and this Big Bang is a shining example of just that. Featuring a polished and satin finished 18ct rose gold case with matt black skeletonised dial it’s a must have for those proud to wear their style on their sleeve. 70075 | £27,800
There’s no escaping the influence logos are having on style this season. Unashamed to embrace self-promotion, brands are making sure there’s no chance we’re forgetting exactly who they are throughout AW18. That being said, there’s a time and place for bold branding and sometimes it’s not the rush hour commute to the office. This pure wool Fendi scarf allows you to pledge your allegiance to the brand with the iconic Zucca monogram one side and plain on the other.
WISH LIST
You’ll not be afraid to flash the cash this season, just to show off your new wallet from the ROX Luxe leather collection. Crafted in black Saffiano leather its proof that sometimes the best style is about keeping it simple but significant. 68857 | £129
Take your style up a gear this AW18 with this Chopard Mille Miglia 2018 Edition. A limited edition model for 2018 this 42mm stainless steel model is the perfect choice not just for motor racing fans but those with a penchant for sports watches. With numerals inspired by vintage cars and a perforated leather strap this model is a champion of design and craftsmanship. 70157 | £4,540
SKELETONISED STYLE
Step into style this season with a little help from Gucci. And what better way than with a truly classic shoe – the brand’s Brixton horsebit loafers. Since the style was first unveiled in 1953 it has been synonymous with luxury. Such is their stylish prowess, the Gucci Brixton loafer was actually added to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent collection in 1985.
A modern masterpiece that is creating a horological history of its very own the Zenith El Primero Titanium Defy Classic truly is a sight to behold. This model’s skeleton dial offers a peek into the whizzing innards of the Elite 670 SK automatic movement and shines a spotlight on the attention to detail and precision that have earned Zenith's 'elite' reputation as watchmaker to the true cognoscenti. 70130 | £6,100
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WISH LIST
FRESH MANIFESTO
ROX MAGAZINE
Mysterious, sweet and smoky this ROX Burning Embers candle is guaranteed to transport you back to camping trips as a child. A woody aroma infuses with hints of sweet and spicy cinnamon create a masculine scent which promises to help you unwind after a long day at the office. 63430 | £35
NEED FOR SPEED Embracing new style this season isn’t a race against time thanks to this TAG Heuer Carrera Watch. TAG Heuer is known for its passion for motor racing, with the Carerra breaking ground (mostly tarmacced ground) in the Sixties, coining every enduring trope of the motoring timepiece in one fell swoop: chronograph feature, crisp legibility and tachymetre scale. Presented on a perforated black leather strap this model is a must have for watch fans with a passion for racing. 70123 | £3,400
Think adding a little flower power to your wardrobe is a look reserved for the favourite women in your life? Forget it. This AW18 feast your eyes on the visual feast that is Dolce and Gabbana’s King’s Angels collection for a dose of inspiration. This silk jacquard tie is the perfect step into blooming brilliant style.
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Still to tick the blue watch trend of your collectors list? There’s no better place to start than with this Hublot Spirit of Big Bang. This striking 45mm model, featuring a titanium case and blue alligator and rubber strap, proudly commands attention no matter what the occasion. Want to really show off your watch know-how? This timepiece is perfect as the skeletonised dial showcases the HUB4700 selfwinding chronograph movement. 70076 | £18,200
BACK IN BLACK This limited edition Raymond Weil AC/DC Freelancer is music to watch collectors’ ears this season. Fittingly presented on a black leather strap embossed with the band’s logo and featuring a 44mm black dial with stud indexes and the AC/DC emblem it’s an iconic timepiece proud to bring a little rock and roll to any occasion. 70167 | £1,795
A classic that encapsulates timeless style this Saint Laurent duffle has your AW18 look wrapped-up. From the spread point collar to rope toggle closures lining the front, this cropped coat exudes effortless swag.
ROX MAGAZINE
FRESH MANIFESTO
WISH LIST
AW18 will always be remembered as the season that fell in love with logos. Not keen on donning a jumper emblazoned with bold branding? You can still wear your style on your sleeve and pledge your allegiance to the double G with these sterling silver Gucci cufflinks. 70643 | £265
SAY I DO Finding a wedding ring that captures not only your love and devotion for your soulmate but also your style can be a daunting prospect. That’s why sometimes it’s best to keep things classic and it doesn’t get more classic, or indeed classier, than this ROX platinum wedding ring. 50264 | £1,995
THE MOVIE STAR Are you a fan of vintage watches? A new addition to the Black Bay family, this Black Bay Fifty-Eight pays homage to Tudor’s first divers’ watches, with the model’s dimensions and retro gilded flecks to the bezel that summon-up that golden age. This timepiece features a 39mm stainless steel case and is fitted with Tudor’s own manufacture Calibre MT5402 selfwinding mechanical movement 70081 | £2,560
Tom Hardy might don this luxury watch in the new Venom movie but Bremont's new U-2/51-JET aviator's chronometer is a star in its own right. Based on designs commissioned for the RAF’s 100 Squadron to celebrate their centenary and complement their Hawk TI Jet aircraft. The new timepiece incorporates a striking combination of the brand’s trademark vintage ‘51’ lume, originally found on the Limited Edition P-51, together with heat treated steel blued hands. 69975 | £3,995
MASTERS OF STYLE Put your best foot forward this AW18 with Alexander McQueen Chelsea boots. A wardrobe staple of any self-respecting man about town the Chelsea boot is a symbol of enduring style – combining modernity and tradition. Crafted in soft black Italian leather and featuring a silvertone harness this pair is a must have this season. Unashamedly bold and daring this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is a timepiece that commands attention whilst remaining eternally stylish. This chronograph boasts a sumptuous 18ct pink gold case and dial which positively glow in contrast to the hand-stitched large square grey alligator strap, ceramic pushpieces and chronograph subdials. A look inside this remarkable timepiece unveils 365 parts and 59 jewels alongside a Calibre 3126 / 3840 movement. 69692 | £36,000
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THE NEW RANGE ROVER VELAR
WORLD CAR DESIGN OF THE YEAR
BOOK A TEST DRIVE Was it the elegant but striking silhouette that clinched it for the New Range Rover Velar? The clean, continuous waistline and floating roof? Or the undeniable overall presence? Yes, yes and yes. Call or visit to book your test drive today.
Park’s
100 Heathfield Road, Ayr KA8 9BN 01292 653200
61 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF 01463 716716
parks.uk.com/land-rover
Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Range Rover Velar range in mpg (I/100km): Urban 22.2-45.6 (12.7-6.2); Extra Urban 37.7-57.7 (7.5-4.9); Combined 30.1-52.5 (9.4-5.4). CO2 emissions 214-142 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparative purposes only. Real world figures may differ. Park’s (AYR) Limited and Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Limited are Appointed Representatives of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, FRN 308476 of 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited permitted business is Insurance Mediation and to act as a Credit Broker. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them. Retail customers only.
ROX MAGAZINE
FRESH MANIFESTO
WATCH ANATOMY
DEFYING GRAVITY Remember those old NASA films of Apollo astronauts training for weightlessness and disorienting g-forces while strapped inside man sized gyroscopes? Well this is the watch for them, it's high-frequency regulatory assembly tumbles inside its own miniature gyroscopic cage. Or as we know it, Zenith’s Defy Zero G. Offset hours and minutes appear on a bluetinted ring featuring luminescent facetedhour-markers and baton-type hands.
Small running seconds subdial A 3D spectacle from all angles, the entirely skeletonised and black rhodium-treated movement contrasts with the light tone of the five slim dial-side branches, which evoke the offset Zenith star symbol. The overall effect is one of architectural depth, light interplay and mechanical drama.
In previous Zenith Zero-G models, the gyroscopic module spun sandwiched within two convex “bulges” in the front and rear crystals. It now occupies only 30% of its initial volume, ensuring a perfectly smooth profile.
The Defy Zero G’s signature “Gravity Control” gyroscopic module is an extraordinarily intricate assembly of 139 components, keeping the ticking balance assembly constantly horizontal, however your wrist is oriented.
50-hour linear powerreserve indicator
The balance wheel ticks at a breakneck 5Hz or 36,000 vibrations per hour, ensuring greater precision whatever knocks come its way. It descends directly from Zenith’s El Primero chronograph of 1969, which was the first to tick at this rate, let alone the first chrono’ to be self-wound.
Forged from pink gold or titanium, the 44mmdiameter case is waterresistant to an impressive 100 metres – more than enough for a splash in the pool – styled in tribute to the geometric Defy models of the Seventies.
The always-horizontal suspended arrangement of Zenith’s Defy Zero G is a clever interpretation of the 18th and 19th century’s marine chronometers. Before GPS, the precision of these timepieces was so crucial to a ship’s navigation that they were adjusted precisely to a horizontal position, then suspended in “gimbals” in a mahogany case. However rough the seas, the timepiece remained flat.
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CULTURAL RADAR
FRESH MANIFESTO
ROX MAGAZINE
CULTURAL RADAR
It pays to keep your ear to the tracks, fingers on pulses, eyes on the prize and many other parts of your anatomy elsewhere. With most of a tumultuous 2018 behind us, a smorgasbord of smart thinking and cultural newness continues to keep even the most apathetic of men enthralled to the now. Take note! Tune in! Wise up!
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THE FILM
THE STREAM
THE EXHIBITION
WELLES DONE
BACK TO THE FUTURAMA
PURE EXHIBITIONISM
Coming soon to art-house cinemas and home streaming, this new documentary from Northern-Irish, Edinburgh-resident filmmaker Mark Cousins dives into the life of troubled genius Orson Welles, offering a fresh portrait of the actor and director as – so the billing runs – you’ve never seen him before. Granted exclusive access to hundreds of private drawings and paintings by Orson Welles, and executive-produced by Michael Moore no less, Cousins dives deep into the visual world of this legendary director and actor, exploring how the aesthetic genius of Welles still resonates today in the age of Trump, more than 30 years after his death. To find out more about the flim check out theeyesoforsonwelles.com
Exclusive to Netflix, Simpsons creator Matt Groening’s new adult animated comedy, Disenchantment was apparently envisioned in the first instance as a sequel to The Simpsons Movie – in which Homer would play the king of a Tolkienesque fantasy world. We reckon we can all be grateful that wasn’t given the green light, and instead enjoy this rollicking, sprawling new saga in the style of Game of Thrones about rebellious princess Bean, who’s determined to buck the ossified traditions of her family. Like Futurama’s iconoclastic Bender, Bean is a no-nonsense, unapologetic alcoholic, her elf companion Elfo, and her “personal demon” Luci accompanying her on various misadventures through a medieval kingdom known as Dreamland.
Paris in the fin-de-siècle was known as the “city of pleasure”; famed for its cabarets, dance halls and cafés. Most famous of all were the nightspots of the bohemian district of Montmartre, where ToulouseLautrec lived, worked and socialized, including the now legendary café-cabarets Le Moulin Rouge and Le Chat Noir. Coming to Edinburgh in October, Pin-Ups: Toulouse Lautrec and the Art of Celebrity will be the first exhibition held at the National Galleries of Scotland devoted to the art of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901), focusing on Toulouse-Lautrec’s lithographic posters, portfolio prints and illustrations, all of which made stars of Montmartre’s venues and their exotic entertainers. Visit nationalgalleries.org
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ROX MAGAZINE
FRESH MANIFESTO
CULTURAL RADAR
THE MEMOIR FROM THE CORNER OF THE OVAL OFFICE In 2012, Dorey-Stein answered a job ad for a stenographer at a “law firm”; turns out, it was to work at Barack Obama’s Oval Office. Obama administration memoirs are rolling in, but in a refreshing twist, From the Corner of the Oval Office swaps policy for good old-fashioned workplace dram, leading some to aptly dub it The West Wing meets Devil Wears Prada. Dorey-Stein may be a stenographer, but this is not typing; this is writing, with wit and self-deprecating humor, always fully aware, too, of the pomposity and petty spite of official Washington. Beck Dorey-Stein, Penguin Random House, 2018
THE ALBUM
THE SHORTS
THE TRAVELLER
JAZZ’S EPIC AWAKENING
HITS AND MISSES
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW
When Los Angeles’ titanic jazz saxophonist released his tour de force LP, The Epic, in 2015, it set Kamasi Washington on a path as our generation’s torchbearer for progressive, improvisational music that blew things wide open for young audiences searching for music unlike anything they had heard before. The 172-minute odyssey featuring his 10-piece band, The Next Step, featured elements of hip-hop, classical and R&B music, all major influences on the young saxophonist and bandleader, who exceeds any notions of what “jazz” music is. Next up is Heaven and Earth – even more ambitious, sprawling, uplifting, challenging, straddling trad’ Coltrane era, far-out ’70s Miles Davis, you name it. Heaven and Earth, Kamasi Washington
He’s 34 years old, a New Yorker contributor, Pixar writer and now fiction maestro… you could choose to be bitter about the literary overachievements of Simon Rich, but then you’d be missing out on a real treat: a tightly written set of short stories about Hollywood that skewers the weird, wonderful and downright controversial world of making movies in LA in every manner you don’t expect. In hilarious fashion (did we mention Rich is also a Saturday Night Live scribe?) he chronicles the absurdity of fame and the humanity of failure in a world dominated by social media influencers and reality TV stars. A must read for those in need of having their funny bones tickled. Check it out! Simon Rich, Serpent’s Tail, 2018
This is parable for all world travellers, centering on Count Alexander Rostov living under house arrest in the luxury Metropol hotel while some of the most tumultuous events in Russian history unfold under his nose. Alright for some, you might say? Perhaps… While movie stars and Russian royalty hobnob, and Bolsheviks plot revolutions, the danger of twentieth century Russia lurks outside its marbled walls. It is also where the count meets Nina with aspirations of royal privilege. Towles magnificently conjures the grandeur of the Russian hotel and the vibrancy of the interesting myriad of characters that call it home. A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles, Viking Press, 2016
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CYCLING
FRESH MANIFESTO
ROX MAGAZINE
FRAMING THE FUTURE Carbon has become as standard in road bikes as supercars, with appropriately dynamic design – one of the reasons (Italian dash being another) that Maserati sponsors the Rouleur Classic every year. Here are four of the best two-wheelers from the last event, whatever the four-wheeler you’re used to driving
If you drive a Bugatti Veyron Supersports…
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If you drive a Lamborghini Huracán…
DASSI INTERCEPTOR
PASSONI FIDIA
While no cars use it yet, Graphene is almost certainly the Next Big Thing in carbon, based on the laminar structure of graphite and first synthesised in 2004 at the University of Manchester (winning a Nobel Prize in the process). Resin-infused into this revolutionary new bike frame, the whole thing is just 500g unpainted. Quite simply, the ultimate. Frame only, £5,995; complete bike as pictured £12,000; dassi.com
Inspired by the carbo-titanium chassis technology first pioneered by Pagani, carbon and titanium filament are woven together to create a light and agile fabric structure with the more comfortable elasticity of titanium. What’s more, in keeping with the Milenese region where Passoni is based, and where da Vinci spent time in the 15th century, Fidia’s biomechanics are inspired by the Vitruvian Man. £22,000, passoni.it
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FRESH MANIFESTO
ROX MAGAZINE
CYCLING
GET THE CYCLING BUG’ 104 YEARS IN THE MAKING Bugatti’s first-ever urban bicycle was unveiled in 2017, created in collaboration with German bike specialists, PF (formerly Pimp Garage). The fully-custom “PG Bugatti Bike” is the lightest of its kind at under 5kg and – as you’d expect from Bugatti – boundaries in terms of both design and performance. The design is actually based on a forward-thinking sketch from 1913 by Ettore Bugatti himself who had a vision to create a bicycle that aligned itself with the iconic cars – essentially a ‘Bugatti on 2 wheels.’ Made with components created exclusively by the world’s leading producers in and around Stuttgart, the image you see here is a “blank canvas” – your own bike is made according to your exacting requirements; even to match your Chiron or Veyron. The starting / guide price for each bike is £39,000 and there will be a very limited run of just 667 models worldwide, with each bike taking 900 hours to produce. Visit www.pg.de
If you drive a Ferrari 488 GTB…
If you drive an Aston Martin DB11…
COLNAGO CONCEPT ART DÉCOR
LOOK 30TH ANNIVERSARY 795
Developed to be as fast as possible, this enjoys direct lineage from the first-ever carbon-fibre frame, developed by Ernesto Colnago in collaboration with Enzo Ferrari in 1986. Every detail has been studied to up the aerodynamic performance; even the front forks are monocoque carbon fibre, adorned with a “rake” for precision handling. £3,499.95, colnago.com
Look by name, and look by nature; just LOOK at it! That pop-art décor, the top tube flowing directly into the bars to give a bullish stance… It celebrates the 30th anniversary of Greg LeMond winning the first Tour de France on a carbon bike, at a time when steel was ubiquitous. Limited to just 200 bikes, all the bells and whistles are as standard, including the integrated carbon Aerostem. £9,999.99, lookcycle.com
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TRAVEL
FRESH MANIFESTO
ROX MAGAZINE
RAMBLING MAN Winter is coming, so Ned Stark professed, but that doesn’t mean mothballing your Tumi – city-centre mini-breaks, romantic getaways and epic skiing holidays are all on the boarding cards. Book it, pack it, you know the rest.
THE LONG WEEKEND LISBON, PORTUGAL There’s a reason everyone’s drinking smugly obscure Portuguese red wine now, and it’s not because we’ve all signed up to Algarve golf resorts: Europe’s western frontier is hot right now. At the time of writing, literally so – the Heatwave 2018™ has temperatures up to a ridiculous 40ºC. But also hot as in cool. Lisbon especially, offering an intoxicating cocktail of dilapidated charm, technicolour heritage, incendiary gastronomy, 3-hour flight times and all-year decent weather. Oh yes, and great wine.
STAY: You’re hard pressed to find a finer Lisbon hotel than the Hotel Ritz, built in 1959 by the Dictator Salazar. From the moment you enter the marbled lobby – like all Four Seasons properties, centered around a gorgeous flower arrangement – the hotel seeks to impress, from the Portuguese custard tarts waiting in your room, to the running track on the hotel roof. (The two might be connected…) Visit fourseasons.com/lisbon DO: After buffet breakfast on the hotel terrace, you could spend the morning on a three-hour vintage motorbike ride of Lisbon, organised via the hotel concierge. During the tour, in which you can either sit in the little sidecar, or straddle the back of the motorbike, your driver will take you for cinnamon coated custard tarts at the iconic Pasteis de Belem and for an Espresso in one of Lisbon's best-loved local cafes. But if the idea of two-wheeled transport gets you nervously fingering your travel-insurance dockets, there’s always the best, time-worn way to explore any city: by foot. Start at the Cais do Sodre on the water and walk your way up to the Alfama district via the Praça
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do Comércio. And if the steep hills seem daunting, there are handy antique trams trundling around Alfama – Instagram gold, and you know it. DINE: José Avillez’s Michelin-starred Restaurante Belcanto caters for Lisbon’s elite with new takes on traditional Portuguese food and beautiful live operatic arias from your waiters while you eat (with the added bonus of not having to lob them a Euro or two). There are only 10 tables, so book well ahead. CITY-LIMIT JAUNT: The coastal towns dotted around the region of Cascais, west of Lisbon, are rapidly becoming the discerning British holidaymaker’s hushhush destination. On a lazy afternoon you can have a dip in the lagoon by the Museu Condes de Casteo Guimarães, or check out the contemporary art at nearby Cidadela. Come sundown, the charming backstreets are made for idol, hand-inhand wandering, perhaps after a cocktail or three at Hotel Baia’s rooftop bar. You heard it here first, but keep it under your hat, right?
ROX MAGAZINE
FRESH MANIFESTO
TRAVEL
SKI SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY… DENVER, COLORADO Denver International Airport ranks as one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world, in large part down to Colorado’s hyper-magnetic draw on winter skiers – it boasts no less than 30 resorts and, thanks to early-fall and late-spring snows, some of the longest ski seasons in America. But as tempting as it might be to head to the hills, you should consider Denver itself as your base – surprisingly cosmopolitan, but cool with it, if you know what we mean.
STAY: Nestled in Denver's venerable Five Points neighbourhood, the bedrooms at eco-minded Queen Anne B&B are popping with personality. The four suites incorporate designs by local artists, and the nine smaller rooms may have mural artwork, log-cabin stylings, a private deck or a hot tub. There’s even a ‘Tower’ bedroom in the Victorian turret. The garden provides more than just a peaceful setting in which to relax as it contains more than 100 varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs – many of which you’ll find yourself eating at breakfast. Visit queenannebnb.com DO: Since regeneration started in the 1990s, Denver has been awash with ‘transplants’ from California and Texas, revelling in an outdoors lifestyle afforded by the city’s parks and lakes, plus its famous concert venue, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Its shining beacon being the rejuvenated Union Station – also, happily, still a train station. There is a booming restaurant scene – 250 openings in 2015 alone, mostly in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) district – and craft breweries feature prominently too, so the Denver Beer Trail is a highly happy, hoppy affair. Contemporary and traditional art galleries are also in the
mix, mostly in the River North art district known as RiNo, and how can we ignore the dizzying effects of life at altitude in a state where smoking cannabis has been legalised. There’s good reason they call Denver the Mile High City, after all… SKI: Many of Colorado's ski resorts cluster around Interstate 70, slicing horizontally through the state's northern tier – and right through Denver’s city centre too, rather conveniently. A freeway road trip from Denver hits both small ski hills and megaresorts with ease, an hour's drive easily taking you where the locals go: along the Continental Divide for some of the state's highest elevation skiing. Loveland, which is actually two ski areas connected by bus, tops out as the second-highest resort in the state with its hike-to summit touching 13,010 feet. Commit to a 90-minute road trip from Denver, however, and you have a fistful of ski resorts at your feet, so to speak. Winter Park, located on Highway 40, connects three peaks under one lift ticket. Almost 60 percent of its terrain is rated advanced to expert, which explains why the U.S. Freestyle Mogul Team trains preseason here every year. But, there's plenty of terrain for beginners, so no fear!
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DINNER PLANS What are you doing tonight? Eating will be involved, we’re sure, and Scotland and the Northeast has better-than-ever homegrown opportunity to sample our shores’ world-class produce – whether out on the town, way out of town, or in the kitchen.
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FRESH MANIFESTO
Close to home... MATT HEALY X THE FOUNDRY The starry buzz of Masterchef: The Professionals long behind him, one of our generation’s most exciting talents is spearheading Leeds’ reinvention as a foodie capital Standing prominently in south Leeds’ previously unloved Holbeck suburb, the noble red-brick buildings of the Round Foundry Estate – many now listed, and rightly so – make for an inspiring area to live and work. Artists, architects and tech startups, all spurred by the area’s regeneration while respectful of the industry that once defined it, have flocked to draw from each other’s collective creativity. A new form of industry that needs fuelling as much as any other. So where do these thrusting sorts get fed and watered? Step forward bearded champion of modern eating, Matt Healy, whose The Foundry project has won instant plaudits. Long-overdue plaudits it should be said, as Matt is that rare thing – a supremely talented chef without an ego or an overambitious plan. In fact, his friends virtually had to twist both of his tattooed arms into establishing a bricks-and-mortar place with his name on the door. A local boy, having graduated from Leeds’ catering college, Matt worked at Stuart’s Wine Bar, Babylon and Livebait before moving to Ripponden and working under Simon Shaw at the original El Gato Negro – the only Manchester city centre restaurant to hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Matt then moved to London and worked at the critically acclaimed restaurant Terroirs. If his name is familiar, it’s most likely from his stellar turn on Masterchef: The Professionals in 2016, in which he breezed into runner-up place and every viewer’s heart. Two-Michelin-starred, notoriously hardto-please judge Marcus Wareing famously described one of Matt’s sauces as ‘one of the best he had ever tasted’. After a series of high-profile but noncommittal residences, pop-ups and private dines, Matt now commands his own youthful team of chefs and staff, led by Iain Silver, former manager at Pintura and Blackhouse. The décor is Instagram gold – all deep teal, bleached wood and funky neon signage – but what of the food? In response to any ‘fine dining’ accusations, Healy is quick to dismiss the term, as it puts people off trying new places. So instead, The Foundry serves a robust menu of British food, lunches, brunches, all with seasonal produce, a daringly simplistic approach that might only use five ingredients at most, but always with a surprising twist. “I love that Leeds is getting its act together,” he says of his hometown’s renaissance, “it was a good few years behind London and Manchester but is catching up and I hope I can add to that.” The Foundry is certainly a decent start – we urge you to go, with friends, at lunch, with any plans for the rest of the day cancelled. It’s one of those places. www.rox.co.uk
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FEATURE
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Further afield... KINLOCH LODGE Come for the landscapes, stay for the… well, just stay here. The drive from Inverness Airport to Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye offers two exhilarating routes, making this epic trip worthwhile in itself. You could take the A82, tracking the breadth of Loch Ness before cutting through the northwest Highlands – a sweeping, broodingly romantic landscape that’ll make you proud to be a Briton. The second option is the A832, for the more ‘enthusiastic driver’, with ridges and parabolas aplenty, into ever-wilder territory. And once you’ve tackled Skye’s own challenging single tracks and sudden cambers? You’ll be all the more grateful for a sumptuous dinner and cosy accommodation at Kinloch Lodge. Until the Seventies the home of the current high chief of Clan Donald, since repurposed by Lord Macdonald and his wife,
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the cookery writer Claire Macdonald, the food comes courtesy of chef Marcello Tully – an unlikely BrazilianScottish blend of pure talent. In 2010 it was he who put Kinloch on the culinary map, by earning Skye’s first Michelin star. As a protégé of Albert Roux back in London, Chef Tully’s daily-changing five-course dinner menu (£80) and seasonal tasting menu (£90) are as experimental and exquisite as you’d expect – but combined with warmly traditional interiors and views across Loch NaDal and the Highlands beyond, it’s a heady concoction unlike anything else. Indeed, how many London restaurants can take you even closer to your dinner’s source by offering foraging trips and deer stalks with Kinloch’s resident ghillie, Mitchell Partridge? Pack your Sunday best, but also your waterproofs and wellies, relish the drive, succumb to Kinloch’s charms, then struggle to leave. Rooms from £140 per person per night, including dinner. The Kinloch Country Escape includes two nights, plus foraging, fishing and deer stalking trips, from £945 per person. A851, Sleat, Isle of Skye IV43 BOY. 01471 833333. kinloch-lodge.co.uk
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To try at home... GET IN THE KITCHIN Scotland’s premier chef, Tom Kitchin has launched a new book of ‘Fish & Shellfish’ recipes, and it leaves you no excuse for not treating your nearest and dearest. Here’s an excusive extract that’s perfect for a dinner party, as you can get the dish prepared in advance, allowing you to relax and enjoy the evening as much as your guests. Just be careful to really squeeze all the excess water out of the spinach after cooking, advises Tom, and use a really sharp knife or serrated knife to carve… Salmon Wellington Serves 4 100g spinach, thick central stalks removed 100g watercress sprigs 1 garlic clove, peeled but left whole olive oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 30g cream cheese 2 teaspoons chopped dill 1½ tablespoons creamed horseradish 300g puff pastry, thawed if frozen plain white flour for dusting 2 salmon fillets, about 250g each, skinned and pin bones removed (page 27) 1 free-range medium egg, beaten sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper First prepare the spinach and watercress for the filling. Rinse the spinach and watercress well and shake dry. Spear the garlic clove with a fork. Heat a well-seasoned sauté or frying pan over a medium-high heat, then add a splash of oil. When it is hot, add the spinach and watercress with just the water clinging to the leaves, season with salt and toss with the garlic fork until the spinach is just wilted. Tip into a sieve and squeeze out the excess water, then transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan and reheat over a mediumhigh heat, then add another splash of oil. Add the shallot with a pinch of salt and sauté for 1 minute before adding the spinach and watercress and mixing together. Remove the pan from the heat, transfer the spinach mixture to a bowl and leave cool completely. When the spinach is cool, stir in the cream cheese, dill and horseradish, and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper and set aside. Make room in your fridge for the baking sheet. Roll out the puff pastry on a very lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 30cm square, about the thickness of a £1 coin. Pat the salmon fillets dry and season them with salt and pepper, then place one fillet in the centre of the pastry. Spread the salmon and watercress mixture over, then top with the remaining salmon fillet. You now want to completely enclose the fillets in pastry. Use both hands to carefully lift the pastry and
fold inwards to meet at the top, so both ends just overlap. Trim off any excess pastry to avoid a layer of unbaked pastry. Brush the edges and press together firmly to seal. Brush the pastry on both short ends with beaten egg and press together, again cutting off the excess pastry. You want about a 0.5cm gap between the edge of the salmon parcel and the pastry seals. Carefully transfer the salmon parcel to the prepared baking sheet, seam side down. Brush the pastry all over with the beaten egg and chill for at least 20 minutes. When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 200˚C Fan/220˚C /Gas Mark 7. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the salmon Wellington for 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave to rest for five minutes before slicing.
Tom Kitchin’s Fish & Shellfish
By Tom Kitchin Absolute Press, 2018, £26
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FORE!
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GREAT DRIVES There’s nothing quite like a spontaneous weekend dash for the countryside. And with winter finally here, the autumn leaves still swirling about the roads, it’s time you repaired to somewhere with roaring fires, romantic landscapes and a spot of golf. Here are two of ROX’s favourite escape plans, to two of Britain’s most beautiful retreats, complete with tucked-away watering holes and thrilling B-roads.
BUNKER DOWN AT STOKE A stone’s throw from west London, Auric Goldfinger’s welcoming golf club is on the doorstep of some surprisingly deserted Buckinghamshire B-roads.
The Route:
1. Stoke Park (SL2 4PG) 2. Beaconsfueld (HP9 2DU) 3 Hazlemere (HP15 7LR) 4 Great Missenden (HP16 9AZ) 5. The Thatch, Thame (OX9 2AA) 6. Bicester Village (OX26 6WD)
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FRESH MANIFESTO
Those famous steps and white dome are instantly evocative – the star of many a film and visual shorthand for the best of Britain’s country estates. Stoke Park is Europe's leading 5-red-star golf club, spa and hotel, set among 300 acres of glorious parkland, lakes, historic gardens and monuments created over the past thousand years and – crucially – in one of the most convenient locations in Britain: only 35 minutes from London. After a leisurely weekend enjoying Harry Colt’s 27-hole Championship golf course, dating from 1908, Stoke Park provides the perfect jumpingoff point for some of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire’s most thrilling driving roads. The very best is between Beaconsfield and Hazlemere (B474) – a challenging mix of corners and a 50mph limit, so you can have fun at legal speeds. Take the back road from Great Missenden (with a safety margin in mind due to high hedges) to the ancient market town of Thame for a spot of lunch at The Thatch inn. Afterwards, the blast towards Bicester along the B4011 is to be savoured – lovely long sweeping bends with good visibility. Once in Bicester, why not indulge in some retail therapy in the shopper’s paradise that is designer outlet Bicester Village? Probably the only shopping mall in the UK where your Bentley won’t look out of place.
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Links:
stokepark.com thethatchthame.co.uk bicestervillage.com
Which car? BENTLEY FLYING SPUR A suitably stately, British limousine for a terribly British estate. Don’t let that regal exterior fool you though – this is Bentley’s fastest four-door yet, with 616bhp capable of propelling you to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds. Not bad for 2.5 tonnes of pure, unadulterated, luxurious refinement.
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FORE!
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TAKE AIM FOR ARCHERFIELD The Scottish Borders could be one of the most spectacular playgrounds for petrolheads – and a marvellous excuse to stay at one of Scotland’s most beautiful, secluded estates.
The Route:
1. Newcastle Upon Tyne (START) 2. Caddy Mann Restaurant, Jedburgh (TD8 6TJ) 3. Floors Castle, Kelso (TD5 7SF) 4. Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh (NE69 7DF) 5. The Maltings Theatre, Berwick-upon-Tweed (TD15 1AJ) 6. Archerfield House, East Lothian (EH39 5HU) 7. Carnwath (ML11 8JU) 8. Biggar (ML12 6FX) 9. Peebles (EH45 8SW) 10. Tibbie Shiels Inn, St Mary’s Loch (TD7 5LH) 11. Moffat (DG10 9EB)
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Links:
archerfieldhouse.com archerfieldgolfclub.com caddymann.com tibbieshiels.com
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To get to Archerfield House via a particularly scenic route – and the Scottish Borders does tend to do ‘scenic’ rather well – head northwest out of Newcastle on the A696, straight for the wide open spaces and fast roads of the exposed Northumberland National Park. Once over the border, continue heading north on the A68 towards Jedburgh calling in at the superb Caddy Mann Restaurant - the signature slow-baked local Borders lamb is not to be missed. Stomachs brimmed, take the A698 as you leave Jedburgh, pointing your satnav towards Floors, then Bamburgh Castle for some history on a vast scale. From Berwick, it’s a short dash up the A1 to your destination, the fabulously comfortable Archerfield House. Wherever you stay on the estate, it’s your private place to call your own. In fact, book the three Waterfront properties and the whole 27 acres of woodland and seafront is there just for your group - and not another soul. The Archerfield Links golf course is world class, should you have managed to squeeze the clubs into the car. Certainly good enough for Bentley, whose annual tournament is held here every year. Getting home is just as epic. Leave Archerfield westwards to Balerno and Carnwath on the Lanark road (A70). It’s then a series of panoramic blasts along the Scottish Borders’ finest A and B-roads: Carnwath to Biggar then across to Peebles via the A72 and down the B709 until you join the A708 past St Mary’s Loch, stopping at The Tibbie Shiels Inn for some lunch and a half of the local ale. The ‘Grey Mares Tail’ then continues down to Moffat and you either head home via the M6 or head back via the ‘Devil’s Beeftub’ (A701).
Which car? FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST The deserted, sweeping roads of the Scottish Borders demand a maturer supercar that can handle anything thrown at it, yet remain suitably poised for this route’s long distances and distinguished destination. The boot will even take a bag of clubs, which is unusual for something also packing 718Nm of torque.
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Illustrations by Ross Craig
ETIQUETTE
HOW TO...
BE A MODERN MAN How hard can it possibly be, looking cool in your favourite band t-shirt while exuding distinguished masculinity? Almost impossible, of course, with the timeworn codes of manliness acquiescing to repressed infantilisation (a foolish thing), equality (a good thing) and enlightenment (a scary thing). But don’t start playing the emasculation card just yet – here’s our fourth installment of ROX MAN’s guide to getting it right where it really matters: all four in keeping with the issue’s high-roller theme, but more relevant than ever. Words by Alex Doak.
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MAKE HER PERFECT EGGS BENEDICT Forget about the cool kids and their smashed avocado on sourdough: the classiest breakfast known to woman is eggs Benedict. If you get it right the morning after, you’ll earn serious brekkie points – not only because it’s delicious and indulgent, but it’s also pretty hard to get right. Why? That damned hollandaise of course. We all have our imperfect, occasionally triumphant means of poaching eggs, and the meat can range from parma ham to honeyroast breadcrumbed, so each to their own, as long as it comes on a perfectly toasted half of bagel. But still, that hollandaise… Well: dice 250g fridgecold butter into a pan with four egg yolks with a couple of tablespoons of cold water. Start stirring on a very low heat, until it all starts melting into itself, then switch up a gear to outright whisking. As soon as all the butter has melted, turn up the heat, keep whisking, season, add a squeeze of lemon juice and some tarragon leaves for added fanciness. You old smoothie, you!
ETIQUETTE
wearing black, the traditional dinner suit and bow tie is well and truly back in favour. For some, a welcome return after too many years of rollneck laziness. For most, an eye-roller; a necessary evil come the party season (or even worse, a summer wedding with pretentious dress code). But there are easy ways to get you looking like a king, rather than an emperor (penguin), and that starts with the obvious: invest in a dinner suit, never rent. If you’ve admitted it’s an eternal bugbear, but argue it’s too seldom to justify the cost, just consider how long a tailored outfit will last! Go for a closed back without vents for the sleekest silhouette, complemented by a smooth grosgrain-silk shawl lapel. Slim, tapered trousers with a plain hem are a must – no turn-ups. And that goes for the shirt collar too, as wings are for white tie only. Lastly, the bow tie: there are some great online tutorials, so there’s no excuse for a clip-on. But, should the prospect of tying your own have you sweating enough, a pre-tied bow from Charvet or Tom Ford is also acceptable: just messy enough to have everyone fooled.
DRESS BLACK TIE, NOT THREE WAYS WITH WHISKY PUDGY PENGUIN This’ll antagonise the purists, so let’s get Partly thanks to male solidarity at January’s Golden Globes awards, where Hollywood’s the “proper” way out of the way: neat with a women lent weight to the Time’s Up protest splash of mineral water. As proven last year by actual science, since slight dilution boosts the concentration of flavour compounds experienced at the surface of your glass. Thanks for that, Doctors Karlsson and Friedman of Sweden’s Linnæus University! Meanwhile, barring Irn Bru (geddit?), how else to switch up your whisky experience without offending the efforts of the distiller and wasting your money where a bottle of Bells would’ve sufficed? Line them up, barkeep: 1. Thanks to its status as Don Draper’s tipple, the Old Fashioned is now enjoying its fourth year on the trot as king of cocktails. The expert approach to making America’s classic? One sugar cube wetted with three dashes of Angostura bitters and a little soda, crushed, stirred with a large ice cube and two ounces of the good stuff. Best scotch: Monkey Shoulder 2. Originating in Philadelphia as a shot of Irish whiskey chased by a mouthful of pickle brine as a hangover cure, the Pickleback is now every Brooklyn hipster’s whisky chaser of choice. And surprisingly easy to drink. Just not particularly attractive with a gherkin perched on your shot glass. Best scotch: Chivas Regal 3. So go on then: what’s the ultimate way to fix a Manhattan? Well, if you’re using
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the LAMBORGHINI Huracรกn LP 610-4. at lamborghini edinBurgh.
LAMBORGHINI HURACร N LP 610-4
LAMBORGHINI EDINBURGH Fort Kinnaird Edinburgh EH15 3HR Tel 0131 475 5500
Lamborghini Huricรกn LP 610-4 fuel consumption (1/100 km) city 17.8; extra-urban 9.4; combined 12.5*. CO2 emissions 290 g/km *In accordance to directive 80/126/CE
lamborghini.com
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ETIQUETTE
scotch it’s called a Rob Roy, of course, and it palette (off-white and glass in other words, with couldn’t be simpler – just stir equal parts whisky, the slightly bigger desk option from the same Italian vermouth and bitters in lots of ice, then range as everywhere else), start softening the strain, garnishing with a twist of lemon. Not as rounded as a bourbon or rye Manhattan, but far more interesting. Best scotch: Johnnie Walker TREAT YOURSELF TO Black Label RIVAL DON DRAPER FOR CORNER-OFFICE COOL The office environment, as much as office politics, has shifted immeasurably in the past two decades – even the most drab call centres feature communal break-out areas and lunchtime yoga classes these days. However, the boss’s privacy is still sacrosanct, and the “corner office” will always remain a fixture. So how to furnish and decorate your fortress of business solitude in “tieless” fashion, sans Venetian blinds, family portraits and 5-a-side trophies? Bearing in mind it’s intimidating enough to be summoned here, all temptations to personalise and home-decorate should be resisted, as colleagues will feel like intruders as well as future P45 holders. So, taking the general office aesthetic as the backdrop
AN ACCENT WALL IN A GENDER-NEUTRAL MID-CENTURY PASTEL – OR EVEN EXPOSED BRICKWORK
edges with exotic, splashy foliage like peace lilies or Kentia palm (see patch.garden/offices for some great inspo). Treat yourself to an accent wall in a gender-neutral mid-century pastel – or even exposed brickwork, complemented by a cocktail tray or artisanal coffee machine for on-trend completeness. Rounded off with a meeting area soft-furnished by democratic IKEA. Keep that desk for work, not fortification, hear?
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Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Watch £5,500 (68696), Gucci Velvet Blazer and Trousers from Cruise, Shirt and Socks from Walker Slater, Shoes from Church's
MAXIMALIST MAN Comfortable in his own style and sophistication the ROX Man knows who he is, what he wants and how to get it.
PHOTOGRAPHY: TINE
BEK LAVENDER HAIR: PADDY MCDOUGALL LOCATION: HOPETOUN HOUSE MODEL: GRAHAM GARDNER / NEMESIS MODELS FASHION ASSISTANT: JENNY CREE PRODUCTION/ART DIRECTION/STYLING: I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR MAKEUP: SHAUN
Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Watch ÂŁ5,500 (68696), Gucci Velvet Blazer and Trousers from Cruise, Shirt and Socks from Walker Slater, Shoes from Church's
Hublot Big Bang Unico Watch £16,500 (57316), Balenciaga Aviator Jacket and Lanvin Knit from Cruise
Hublot Big Bang Blue Watch £10,700 (67863), Suit and Knit from Walker Slater
Hublot Big Bang Blue Watch £10,700 (67863), Suit and Knit from Walker Slater
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch £23,000 (70086), Coat and Belt from Walker Slater, Lanvin Shirt and Trousers from Cruise
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch £23,000 (70086), Coat and Belt from Walker Slater, Lanvin Shirt and Trousers from Cruise
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch ÂŁ23,000 (70086), Belt from Walker Slater, Lanvin Shirt and Trousers from Cruise
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch ÂŁ21,100 (66452), Suit, Shirt and Gloves from Walker Slater
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch ÂŁ21,100 (66452), Suit, Shirt and Gloves from Walker Slater, Shoes from Church's
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch £50,100 (67332), Fendi Knit from Cruise
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch £50,100 (67332), Fendi Knit from Cruise
Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Watch ÂŁ9,600 (68822), Balenciaga Shirt from Cruise
Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Watch ÂŁ9,600 (68822), Balenciaga Shirt and Lanvin Trousers from Cruise
TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Special Edition Watch £4,750 (70159), Gucci Blazer and Calvin Klein T-shirt from Cruise
LUXURY WATCH EDIT
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LUXURY WATCH EDIT The definitive directory of what you should be wearing on your wrist right now.
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HUBLOT
CHOPARD
AUDEMARS PIGUET
BIG BANG UNICO RED MAGIC
GPMH 2018 RACE EDITION
ROYAL OAK TOURBILLON EXTRA-THIN
What goes on in Hublot’s furtive Metallurgy & Materials laboratory is borderline alchemy. Not only has the cult ‘fusion’ watchmaker magicked up an 18-carat gold that’s virtually scratchproof – its twee Magic Gold trademark actually forgivable in this case – but their materials scientists have also hit on a formula allowing the creation of vibrantly coloured ceramics. This year’s spectacularly vibrant, polished red has realised using a combination of extreme pressure and heat that sinters the ceramic without burning the scarlet pigments. The overall effect is irresistible – hightech kinkiness with a top-flight mechanics whirring inside. 70104 | £21,700
Maison Chopard’s co-president KarlFriedrich Scheufele is as fully signed-up a petrolhead imaginable, his garage boasting over 30 priceless vintage cars – cars he actively races in the Mille Miglia, justifying his brand’s long-term sponsorship. Less well known is Chopard’s support of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, where ancient, irreplaceable F1 cars are raced terrifyingly fast around the Principality’s notorious street circuit. Limited to just 250 pieces, this year’s horological tribute in chronograph form is as racy as it gets, mounted in a titanium chassis and finetuned to high-performance ‘chronometer’ standards. 70550 | £5,960
Back in 1972, the Royal Oak wasn’t just groundbreaking for its octagonal design, integrated bracelet and the then-shocking supposition that there can be such a thing as a luxury sports watch in steel. The crosshatched ‘tapisserie’ dial, still laboriously milled by Seventies pantograph machines chez Audemars Piguet has become just as iconic. So it’s something of a surprise to see AP’s designers (and boffins on the factory floor, let’s not forget) playing with the pattern for the first time in over four decades. Dubbed ‘Evolutive’, the new sunray tapisserie beautifully frames the tumbling tourbillon carriage at 6’clock. 71224 | £POA
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BELL & ROSS BR V2-94 RACING BIRD When they’re not crafting instruments for the wrists of fighter pilots or Parisian S.W.A.T. units, Bell & Ross likes to hone its slick aesthetic via ‘what if?’ concepts in high-speed transport, making the companion watch in kind. It started with a B-Rocket motorbike straight from the pages of Judge Dredd, and continues this year with the futuristic BR-Bird – a similarly rocket-like V12 Rolls-Roycepowered monoplane, fit for the daredevil Reno Air Races. Satisfying any low-altitude hunger for danger is this accompanying chronograph – a crisply appointed flying machine that is pure Dan Dare raffishness. 71225 | £3,650
ZENITH
TAG HEUER
BREMONT
EL PRIMERO TITANIUM DEFY 21
MONACO GULF SPECIAL EDITION 50TH ANNIVERSARY
SUPERMARINE TYPE 300 S301
The 100th-of-a-second Defy 21 chronograph burst onto the scene last year to deafening plaudits – quite rightly rendered in skeletonised dial configuration, all the better for bearing witness to Zenith’s first step-change, high-frequency evolution since 1969’s equally revolutionary 10th-ofa-second El Primero. For those who are happy to things under wraps, however, this year’s closed-dial option is the very model of sporty refinement. The clean dial design marries perfectly with the surrounding brushed titanium, and showsup the seconds hand’s breakneck sweep with startling clarity. A true modern classic. 70648 | £9,900
This year sees the 50th anniversary of an automotive legend: the curvaceous dominator of Le Mans in the early Seventies, Porsche’s flat-12-engined, 240mph ‘917’. Back in 1968, the German sports-car maker determined to win the 24-hour endurance classic as soon as 1970 – which it did, overtaking Ford and Ferrari as THE car to beat. It was Briton John Wyer and his JWA Gulf Team who became the factory’s official team, in Golf Oil’s iconic blue and orange livery, winning races in ’70 and ’71 but never Le Mans –except in fiction, when Steve McQueen drove a Gulf-917K in Le Mans (1971), wearing, of course, a Heuer Monaco. Enough high-octane heritage for you? 70159 | £4,750
Britain’s booming action-man watchmaker is as familiar with the depths as the skies, having evolved the pilot-watch design codes beloved of so many military personnel into 600m-water-resistant capabilities just a few years into Bremont’s lifespan. Their Supermarine diving watches derive their name from the 1930’s aircraft company, whose Schneider Trophy-winning Spitfire prototype – the Type 300 – led to one of Britain’s most iconic aircraft. Now in a smaller, more day-to-day 300m guise, the retro styling Bremont does so well looks especially dashing on every hipster’s favourite “NATO” nylon strap, still a standard MoD-issued part. 67840 | £2,995
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LET’S MAKE
A DATE
Horology’s fabled perpetual calendar is the one complication every watchmaker wants to master – and as this year’s ultra-thin RD#2 proves, Audemars Piguet is the undisputed master. Alex Doak lifts the dial on a legacy stretching back to the days of sundials.
O
ver their 143-year lifetime, Audemars Piguet’s watchmakers have made a habit of responding to adversity with their best work. And that best work has always been in horological “complications” – finicky functionality on top of basic timetelling. They’ve coincided with the most challenging times that Switzerland’s finest have experienced. From 1929 to 1945, for example, fabrication of complicated watches was a tactical response to economic crisis, a way to occupy the craftsmen’s time, securing know-how for the future and working on new designs, such as elaborate openwork. Then, the hardest hit of all: the seismic Quartz Crisis of the Seventies, unleashed by a tide of new, cheap Far Eastern technology. Instead of hunkering down and praying the storm would subside, Audemars Piguet took the long view. While the Swiss watch industry shrank to a third of its employee numbers, the Vallée de Joux’s favourite son not only continued to produce complications, but was bold enough to continue innovating in defiance of batterypowered watches, correctly predicting the mechanical watch’s eventual resurgence come the late Eighties. AP’s fight back began in 1978 with the launch of the 2120/2800 calibre – nothing less than the world’s thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar movement. It represented a new era of business development and growth: 7,000 movements were produced, cased and sold in 15 years. It kicked off the revival and reinvention of other classic complications, all enhanced and improved by new techniques and technology. And 40 years on, healthier than ever, the
haute horloger from the mountain village of Le Brassus is ‘perpetuating’ this legacy with the RD#2 Concept – another perpetual calendar, even thinner still at an unrivalled, wafer-thin 6.3mm. (See sidebar for how on earth they managed it.) The perpetual calendar has a potency that will always fresh and vital in watchmaking. Not only is its traditional four-subdial arrangement pleasingly symmetrical (not to mention especially suited to the Royal Oak’s signature octagonal frame) but its mysterious ability to tell the correct date in spite of the vagaries of our calendar – vagaries that still have the best of us muttering a rhyme every 30th of every month – exerts an elusive, romantic allure, stemming back to the dawn of time itself. A perpetual-calendar watch even takes into account leap years, thanks to a single wheel that completes a single rotation every four years. It all boils down to the heavens – the sky being our original clock face of course, and continuing to be in fact, with astronomers adjusting atomic clocks according to the occasional wobble in relation to the night sky. The sun, the phases of the moon and the observable stars were the only timekeepers that mattered for centuries, from civilization to civilization, so it was only inevitable that watches from the mid-16th century began to feature astronomical complications, including day, date and phases of the moon. Meanwhile, the western world’s calendar was going through revision and refinement. Back in 46 BC, Julius Caesar had introduced the Julian calendar which consisted of 365.25 days, 12 months and incorporated a leap day at the end of February every four years. It was a major reform
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of the previous Roman calendar, which was believed to be a lunar calendar. However, the Julian calendar wasn’t perfect either, being “late” by 10 days after centuries of lagging behind nature. Pope Gregorio XIII therefore decided to introduce a new Gregorian calendar to correct this, ruthlessly scrubbing out 11 days from the calendar and leaping from October 4th 1582 to October 15th in a single day! Still in use today, the Gregorian calendar kept Caesar’s leap-year system, but one leap year was deleted every one hundred years – apart from the last years of centuries divisible by 400. Which is why 2100 and 2200 won’t be leap years and perpetual-calendar owners will need to adjust
Conceived in secret and developed by master watchmaker Michel Rochat (referred to as “Le Mic" by friends), the groundbreaking perpetual calendar wristwatch achieved its extra-thinness (3.95 mm) by adapting JaegerLeCoultre’s extra-thin automatic calibre 2120 launched in 1967 – a modular basis that survives in today’s calibre 5134. It was 1984 when the extra-thin selfwinding perpetual calendar was introduced for the first time in the Royal Oak collection, and while production of perpetual calendar wristwatches was well underway by then, Audemars Piguet continued to create avant-garde and pocket watches too. Over the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s,
IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE HEAVENS – THE SKY BEING OUR ORIGINAL CLOCK FACE OF COURSE their watches manually. Sorry, guys. Which isn’t to take from the extraordinary ingenuity behind the perpetual calendar watch – a hugely complex micro-mechanical analogue computer on the one hand, but also the one complication that continues to embody the ancient relationship between astronomical observation and horology itself. Its development is believed to have emerged circa 1800, but the ateliers of the Vallée de Joux – the cradle of complicated Swiss watchmaking, enjoying crystalline views of the night sky – is where it truly came to life in the 19th century. During the 1910s and 1920s, Audemars Piguet toyed with cushion shapes and art deco streamlining, then managed to shrink things into wristwatch size, with 1955 seeing the very first series of perpetual calendar wristwatches in the world to feature the essential leap year indication. Then of course, 1978’s bombshell. 82
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Audemars Piguet has introduced a dazzling variety of perpetual calendar watches with more ‘looks’ than you’d imagine, ranging from the Royal Oak and its steroidal cousin the Royal Oak Offshore, to the circular Jules Audemars and cushion-shaped Tradition. What says more than anything however, is that despite the many faces of Audemars Piguet and its perpetual calendar, what’s ticking under the bonnet has barely changed in a century – even in the case of 2018’s RD#2, fundamentally. A surefire sign of a watchmaker that got things bang-on right from the get-go. Given the notoriously fickle nature of a “quantième perpetuelle”, the bulletproof nature of AP’s QP says everything you need to know about its other complications. Audemars Piguet is available online and at ROX Argyll Arcade
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MECHANICAL ALCHEMY What makes AP’s perpetual calendars tick?
Calibre 5134 is the movement found in today’s “standard” Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar – the result of mounting a perpetual calendar mechanical module onto an ultra-thin base calibre, which AP calls its 2120.
Calibre 2120 was in fact developed in the 1960s by fellow Vallée de Joux neighbour, Jaeger-LeCoultre, based on their own Calibre 960. Never used in-house, this was a blank “ébauche” movement supplied to Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe. (There is a reason why people call JaegerLeCoultre “the watchmaker’s watchmaker”…). At Vacheron Constantin it’s called Calibre 1120, at Patek Philippe it’s Calibre 28-255, and to this day it is still the slimmest full-rotor automatic movement in production, at 2.45mm. AP afford J-LC the respect of calling the 2120 the 2120, and its perpetual calendar module is remarkably slim in itself, meaning the 5134 is just 4.31mm.
For this year's RD#2 however, things get turned up to 11. Or down, rather down by one, as the 5134 has been modified into Calibre 5133. Over its five-year gestation, AP reduced the height of the month wheel and date wheel by merging the teeth – which count off individual days or months – with the cams, which control the length of month and account for leap years. They effectively turned a three-level movement into a single-storey construction, bringing 5134's 4.31mm all the way down to 2.89mm. Breathtakingly elegant watchmaking. www.rox.co.uk
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HIGH
ALTITUDE Out of the blue and against all odds, British upstart Bremont is keeping time everywhere from the cockpits of F-18 Hornets to one-man tents at the South Pole, with a ripping yarn straight from the pages of Boy’s Own. Alex Doak takes to the skies with the impossibly English English brothers.
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t’s safe to say that ‘quintessentially British’ Bremont has a far from British name – especially considering the you-couldn’tmake-it-up surnames of the founding brothers. But one afternoon spent in the company of Nick and Giles English (no, really) is enough to convince anyone that the homegrown provenance of their timepieces is as solid as the
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hardened steel cases they come in. And either way, the story behind the Bremont name is too irresistible to go dishonoured. The fateful day was a particularly blustery one in 1996. Nick and Giles were flying their 60-year-old Bücker Jungmann biplane across France on a route they’d charted countless times before. The weather closed in and the
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20-something brothers were forced to make a shaky emergency landing in a pea field in the Champagne region. They were stranded. As it happened, the field was owned by a former Second World War pilot who, despite his considerable age, was as passionate about aircraft as they were and was happy to accommodate. Like Nick and Giles, whose pilot father Euan had raised them oily-handed in a household of clocks, watches and gadgetry, their host was passionate about horology too, with a house that ticked-tocked and chimed with eerie similarity. It was only fitting that 10 years later the English brothers named their fledgling watch brand after Antoine Bremont, the venerable pea farmer. “Antoine really was a sweet guy,” says Nick. “Sadly, he died before he actually saw a finished Bremont watch. He always thought it was a bit of a joke.” “It’s a lovely name, though,’ adds Giles (the brothers act as a bewildering conversational
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to be trendy – that way you run the risk of overcomplicating things so it’s difficult to tell time. When you’re flying, you want to be able to look quickly, see that ‘Oh, I’ve got 15 minutes of fuel left,’ and move on.” It may surprise readers to learn that pilots would even dare deviate from their cockpit avionics in favour of something as archaic as a mechanical wristwatch. But even the best of the best will admit they only feel comfortable with a reliable back-up instrument strapped to their flying suit. Military sorts are also a tribal, competitive breed, who love a talismanic status symbol and love getting one up on their contemporaries. So when the USAF’s spyplane pilots got their Bremonts and other squadrons noticed, the British outfit’s dedicated ‘Military’ division was inevitable. “The first true collaboration with a military squadron,” recalls Catherine Villeneuve, who alongside former USAF F-15 pilot Colonel Rich ‘Nemo’ Sweeten, runs the show from Henley-
“WE COULD HAVE USED OUR FAMILY NAME,” QUIPS NICK. “BUT THE TRADEMARK WOULD HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE.” tag team). “Finding something that looks good on a watch dial is much harder than you think, you know.” “We could have used our family name,” quips Nick. “But the trademark would have been a nightmare.” This is the last time the two brothers touch on branding or image during our afternoon together. Despite Bremont’s startling growth, with five of their own boutiques stretching from New York to Hong Kong, Brothers English would much rather chat excitedly over a cup of tea about the craftsmanship that goes into their Swiss mechanical movements, the headaches of CNC machining their signature tri-partite steel cases or the skills of the US Navy test pilots, who have worn Bremonts in action since 2007. Bremont’s Jaguar and Boeing brand alliances may be marketing-savvy – not to mention the alliances with plucky British ambassadors like Polar soloist Ben Saunders, plus their annual limited editions bearing impossible provenance (metal from Spitfires, wood from HMS Victory, even muslin cloth from the Wright Brother’s seminal 1904 ‘Flyer’ itself) – but believe us, they’re all born from mutual admiration. People ‘get’ Bremont and love their unpretentious, solidly engineered chronometers. “We never wanted to be a fashion or blingbling watch brand,” says Nick. “We can’t afford
on-Thames HQ, “was with the high-altitude U-2 pilots at Beale, California. One of their members had seen Bear Grylls wearing a Bremont on the show Man vs Wild and contacted us about making something special as tribute to their profession and aircraft.” Sure enough, a strictly exclusive version of Bremont’s shockproof MBII, engineered in collaboration with ejector-seat manufacturer Martin-Baker, incorporated the U-2 nomenclature, camera-sighting motif, aircraft and tail markings. Word soon got out about the U-2 guys’ cool new watch, and the floodgates were opened. From Sea King helicopter crews to F-A/18 fighter mavericks, A-10 tankbuster pilots or C-17 Globemaster transport squadrons – if they fly a camouflaged aircraft, chances are there’s a Bremont on their wrist. Which isn’t to say civvy street doesn’t benefit – this year’s publically available version of the U-2 MBII, the 51-JET is a veritable stealth bomber for the wrist, taking its black-on-black cues from the RAF’s night-flying 100 Squadron. As perfect with a roll-neck as a flight suit. “As well as being proper pilot’s watches, we always wanted to make something you could also wear in the boardroom,” says Giles. “Something that would stand out next to all the others, but something that you could knock against a plane, go swimming with, take up a mountain. www.rox.co.uk
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JAGUAR XE
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THE JAGUAR 18MY XE R-SPORT FROM £309 A MONTH ON PERSONAL CONTRACT HIRE PLUS INITIAL RENTAL OF £309* 48 month term. Model pictured (including optional Firenze Red metallic paint and optional 19" 5 Split-Spoke ‘Style 5071’ alloy wheels) from £382 a month, plus initial rental in advance of £382. Based on a mileage of 6,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charge 15.91p per mile. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited is an introducer and not a supplier of Contract Hire.
Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar 18MY XE Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 24.4-64.2 (11.6-4.4); Extra Urban 46.3-83.1 (6.1-3.4); Combined 34.9-75.0 (8.1-3.8). CO2 Emissions 194-99 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. *Important Information. Based on an 18MY XE Saloon 2.0i 200PS R-Sport Auto standard specification, with a mileage of 10,000 miles per annum, non-maintained. Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges (at 15.29p per mile) and return conditions apply. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles ordered by 30th September 2018. Jaguar Contract Hire is a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. Vehicle shown is an 18MY XE Saloon 2.0i 200PS R-Sport Auto with optional Firenze Red metallic paint and optional 19" 5 Split-Spoke ‘Style 5071’ alloy wheels. Park’s (AYR) Limited and Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Limited are Appointed Representatives of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, FRN 308476 of 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited permitted business is Insurance Mediation and to act as a Credit Broker. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them. Retail customers only.
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“It’s hard work getting that fine line though. It’s a labour of love. For us, the whole process comes from the heart.” Breathlessly ambitious, 100 per cent of their output is now hand-assembled in a beautiful oakframed workshop in Henley-on-Thames. The movements are encased in a precision sandwich of aerospace-grade steel parts manufactured from the raw metal at Bremont’s cutting-edge engineering facility. The latter has just recently relocated from Silverstone nearer Henley, in preparation for brand-wide consolidation into a purpose-built HQ, whose artist’s impressions look less Bremont and more Bond (or rather, eco-conscious Bond villain, with a penchant for a living roof). And it’s not just volume they’re after – it’s true independence from their third-party Swiss movement suppliers. Their most exclusive limited editions have recently benefitted from proprietary mechanics developed with La Chaux-
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de-Fonds’ renowned La Joux-Perret atelier. But the few parts they currently make on UK soil will soon be overshadowed by a 100% selfconceived Bremont movement, now entering prototype stage. “When we started out, our motivation was always to make a Made in England watch,” said Giles in an interview as far back as 2007. “As a watch company your ultimate aim is always to build your own movement, to be a truly independent and integrated ‘manufacture’.” Over a decade later, what then seemed to be naïve fighting talk – a ‘manufacture’ is a rare thing in Switzerland even, and costs tens of millions to set up – now seems more believable than ever. The sky doesn’t seem so much the limit for Bremont as the start… Bremont is available online and in-store at ROX Argyll Arcade www.rox.co.uk
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SPOTLIGHT
BACK FROM RUSSIA (WITH LOVE)
Hublot’s referee smartwatches and LED boards kept time on a thrilling, vintage World Cup this summer – and paired surprisingly well with Gareth Southgate’s waistcoat. Words by Alex Doak.
W
hether you were rooting for England or not, there’s no denying the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia thrilled from beginning to end. The 21st edition of the world finals produced many a vintage moment likely to endure in the collective memory of both those in love with the beautiful game, and those who only show a passing interest when we get through to the knock-outs. From Kaliningrad to Ekaterinburg from Saint Petersburg to Sochi, what was particularly wonderful about 2018 was the generosity of goals: the first and only goalless draw came after
teenager in history to score in a final. It wasn’t just about Les Bleus, though. Other, more unlikely nations scaled new heights, such as the Red Devils of Belgium, who had their bestever World Cup, finishing third against England’s fourth. Which isn’t to denigrate the efforts of Gareth Southgate and his boys – not since Italia ’90 have English fans been so hopefully galvanised, and during a domestic heatwave too. Brexit, who? Yup, Russia 2018 was historic for many joyous reasons, but in the field of football technology it also saw the dawn of a new era with the introduction and use of the Video Assistant
THE BIG BANG REFEREE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA CONNECTED THE PITCH-SIDE OFFICIALS TO FIFA’S NEW GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY as many as 36 matches – the latest for a single edition in history. Of course, France were crowned champions for the second time in history and for the first since they were hosts in 1998 after defeating Croatia 4-2 in what will go down as one of the most thrilling finals in World Cup history. Nineteen-year-old Kylian Mbappe followed in a 17-year-old Pele’s footsteps as the second
Referee (VAR). History was made in France’s 2-1 win over Australia, when Griezmann scored the first penalty kick resulting from a VAR review. And backing up this technology was Swiss legends Hublot, which seemingly in no time whatsoever has established itself as THE watchmaker to the footballing stars. The Hublot logo and classic bezel design of the Big Bang watch was synonymous with a www.rox.co.uk
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@ harrykane
@ ktrippier2
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SPOTLIGHT
significantly rich amount of injury time, the official statistic of the tournament being “19”, as there were a record 19 goals scored in secondhalf injury time at Russia – all at the behest of the linesman’s LED Hublot board. Neymar even scored the latest-ever goal at a World Cup in regular time (90’+7’) when he doubled Brazil’s lead in their 2-0 win over Costa Rica. Not only that, but eagle-eyed watchspotters will have spotted the iconic lines of the Big Bang on several pitch-side wrists, but rendered in a particularly unusual, shiny-black guise. Gareth Southgate’s wrist for a start, in monochromatic combo’ with his now-legendary waistcoat, but most significantly the wrist of every match referee and assistant referee. Already tested discreetly during the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the FIFA Club World Cup 2017, the Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia (£4,300) connected the pitchside officials to FIFA’s new goal-line technology, operated from a multi-screen nerve centre in Moscow, which followed all the trajectories of every ball, determining for certain – but always at the request of the referee – whether the ball did or didn’t cross the line. In total, the wrists of the World Cup’s referees vibrated 163 times, Hublot’s technology perfectly dovetailing with FIFA’s, helping to ensure 2018 was one of the fairest and least controversial finals. Developed by LVMH in partnership with Intel and Google – in fact an evolution of TAG Heuer’s gamechanging Connected smartwatch – Hublot’s smartwatch didn’t just proved invaluable to the match officials, but also proved to be the watch that diehard football fans never knew they were waiting for! Thanks to its Android ecosystem and bespoke 1.6GHz Atom processor, those lucky enough to snap up one of the 2,018 editions stayed abreast of every game via pushed “GOAL!” alerts, yellow and red card notifications plus imminent substitutions. Hublot and football truly became one during Russia 2018 (the guestlist at the watchmaker’s closing party is proof if proof be needed, viz Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly, Maradona, Roberto Martínez Montoliú, José Mourinho, Juan Carlos Osorio, Pelé, Hervé Renard, Gareth Southgate, David Trezeguet…) which gets us thinking, just what could be in store for Euro 2020? Hublot is available online and at ROX Argyll Arcade, ROX Edinburgh and ROX Newcastle
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MODERN GENTLEMAN The ROX Man respects himself to know he deserves the best and always lets his style match his ambition.
from left to right: Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Watch £9,600 (68822), Hublot Big Bang Unico Watch £16,500 (57316), Tudor Black Bay GMT Watch £2,790 (70079), Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch £22,700 (69696), TAG Heuer Carrera Watch £4,900 (70120)
THE CAVALIER Boys have swagger, men have style and gentlemen have a timeless charm that never fails to impress.
from left to right: Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Watch £5,500 (68696), Bell & Ross Vintage Watch £3,400 (67926), Chopard L.U.C Time Traveller One Watch £19,530 (68102), Tudor Heritage Black Bay S&G Watch £3,580 (70100), Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Watch £50,100 (67334)
NOMADIC MAN Life is a great adventure! Armed with the ultimate travelling companions, your passport and luxury watch, you’re ready to discover and embrace all the world has to offer.
from left to right: Zenith Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Watch £6,400 (69725), TAG Heuer Autavia Watch £4,250 (69906), Bell & Ross Vintage Watch £2,200 (63608), Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Watch £2,860 (68630), Bremont Classic Watch £4,895(69963)
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ART OF LUXURY WATCHMAKING
THE
PART II: TIMELESS APPEAL In the second of our Art of Luxury Watchmaking series we continue our journey through horological history, this time Alex Doak shines a light on some of the star power behind the world’s most iconic timepieces.
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ara Delevingne and TAG Heuer, David Beckham and Tudor, Dustin Johnson and Hublot - the world of superstar luxury watch endorsements is vast and lucrative. Every luxury watch brand wants to be regarded as aspirational and one surefire way to ensure that’s how you’re viewed in the 98
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public eye is to be spotted on the wrist of an enviable celebrity. That’s not to say that these ambassadors are picked at random. They’re always chosen to reflect a deeper meaning that the brand want to convey, whether that’s for a particular watch or collection of watches, or for the brand itself. Take Hublot and Jose Mourinho – the
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‘Special One’ is well known for his dapper sense of style and his passion for luxury timepieces. Declaring himself as a ‘watch fanatic’ when speaking of his relationship with Hublot he said: “I am honoured to be part of a brand that upholds such similar values to me.” Or there’s the ever stylish LeBron James and his longstanding relationship with Audemars Piguet – most recently featuring in the brand’s ‘Future of First’ campaign to mark the 25th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak Offshore collection. However, don’t be fooled into thinking all celebrities are personally choosing one brand’s watches over another for personal reasons though – many celebrity endorsements might be based on personal characteristics but they’re still very much a business deal. Take Charlize Theron for instance, who had to settle a $20 million lawsuit from Raymond Weil for wearing a Dior watch when she had already signed a contract to exclusively endorse their timepieces. From athletes to actors, models to singers - we’ve created a gallery showcasing some of the most recognisable luxury watch ambassadors, as well as digging into what it is about each celebrity that makes them so perfect for the brand they’re now associated with. WHO WEARS WHAT? USAIN BOLT, HUBLOT In 2010, Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter in the world, was announced as Hublot’s new ambassador - he even had his own watch named after him. According to Hublot, Bolt is a great match for their brand as he smashes records and surpasses all limits. If you’re a fan of Hublot watches, you’ll also spot their clever wordplay in their description of him, that “since the famous ‘Big Bang’, since the creation
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of our planet, no man has run so far in such a short time!” Clever! ALAN SHEARER, HUBLOT In 1996 Alan Shearer became the world’s most expensive footballer when he signed for his hometown club, Newcastle United. He remains the English Premier League’s record goal scorer and is a leading pundit for the BBC. ROX and Hublot partnered with Shearer to launch the Limited Edition King Power Alan Shearer watch in 2016. Only two were ever made, one going to Shearer himself and the other auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Alan Shearer Foundation. SERENA WILLIAMS, AUDEMARS PIGUET According to Audemars Piguet, Serena Williams was chosen to become a ‘friend to the brand’ because, as an astounding athlete with multitudes of medals and trophies under her belt, she perfectly embodies their philosophy of ‘to break the rules, you must first master them.’ IAN POULTER, AUDEMARS PIGUET English pro golfer Ian Poulter is a longstanding member of the ranks of Audemars Piguet’s golf ambassadors. According to AP, both golfing and luxury watchmaking share a number of similarities such as: self-control, time management, a love of perfection, precision, elegance and ‘the beauty of both the gesture and the performance’. DAVID BECKHAM, TUDOR If you were aiming for widespread recognition, there aren’t many faces more recognisable than David Beckham, who was announced as the new ambassador for Tudor in 2017. When asked why he chose to front the new Tudor Born to Dare campaign, the ex-footballer replied: “I was attracted to Tudor by the attention to detail I www.rox.co.uk
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could see in their watches. I then learned about the history of the brand. One of adventure, pioneer diving and daring expeditions. I was instantly hooked.” LADY GAGA, TUDOR Chosen as the first female brand ambassador for Tudor, which previously had traditionally focused on men’s watches, Lady Gaga seems like an obvious choice to front a campaign titled ‘Born to Dare.’ The campaign is all about pushing boundaries and breaking the status quo, and who better to embody that than the woman who once wore a dress made entirely from meat to an awards ceremony?
AMBASSADORS ARE CHOSEN TO REFLECT A DEEPER MEANING THAT THE BRAND WANT TO CONVEY, WHETHER THAT'S FOR A PARTICULAR WATCH OR THE BRAND ITSELF CHARLEY BOORMAN, BREMONT Although not as well known as others on this list, Charley Boorman’s fame came initially as an actor. Bremont, however, consider him to be a modern day adventurer having participated in the 2006 Paris-Dakar Rally and partnered Ewan McGregor for the epic Long Way Down and Long Way Round motorcycle journeys. It is through his rugged exploits that Charley is able to showcase the quality of his Bremont S2000. GRAHAM BELL, BREMONT Graham Bell represented Great Britain at the Winter Olympics five times. This skier turned presenter may not be the most well known ambassador for a watch company, but he is a familiar face to many. As one the greatest downhill skier’s the UK has produced and presenter of BBC’s Ski Sunday, he demands watch that can stand the rigours of the Alpine environment. To find out more about The Art of Luxury Watchmaking visit www.rox.co.uk/art-of-luxurywatchmaking www.rox.co.uk
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OUTSIDE EDGE
Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Watch 70687 | £9,600
OUTSIDE EDGE
Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Watch 70109 | £22,000
Styling by Laura McLetchie/Cruise. Photography by Gerardo Jaconelli
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BLACK AND BLUE Eternally stylish black and blue watches exude a charming confidence – looking the part in both the boardroom and bar for post-work drinks.
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Watch 65613 | £2,630
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch 67343 | £23,000
Zenith El Primero Defy Watch 70588 | £10,600
Hublot Big Bang Ceramic Watch 69704 | £13,300
TAG Heuer Carrera Watch 70120 | £4,900
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Experience the power of extraordinary. The new Continental GT.
From the first 1919 prototype to the new Continental GT – Bentley has been perfecting performance to deliver the ultimate grand touring experience. Experience it for yourself on a test drive at Glasgow.BentleyMotors.com
The new Continental GT fuel consumption – EU Drive Cycle in mpg (l/100 km): Urban 16.0 (17.7); Extra Urban 31.7 (8.9); Combined 23.2 (12.2). CO2 Emissions 278 g/km. The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2018 Bentley Motors Limited. Model shown: Continental GT.
BENTLEY GLASGOW
Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Limited is an Appointed Representative of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, FRN 308476 of 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited permitted business is Insurance Mediation and to act as a Credit Broker. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them. Retail customers only.
OUTSIDE EDGE
TAG Heuer Carrera Skeleton Watch 69944 | £4,350
OUTSIDE EDGE
Hublot Big Bang Unico Watch 57314 | £15,600
Styling by Laura McLetchie/Cruise. Photography by Gerardo Jaconelli
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UP YOUR WRIST GAME Add a touch of finesse to your fitness regime by upping your wrist game with a luxury sports watch. Bold and determined designs are at the heart of each of these timepieces, with each vying to come first in the style race.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watch 69696 | £22,700
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Watch 67630 | £5,720
Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Watch 68774 | £7,200
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Watch 69880 | £1,050
Bell & Ross Racing Bird Watch 70107 | £3,400
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OUTSIDE EDGE
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch 66452 | £21,100
Hublot Classic Fusion King Gold Watch 69475 | £19,400
Styling by Laura McLetchie/Cruise. Photography by Gerardo Jaconelli
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OUTSIDE EDGE
THREE'S THE MAGIC NUMBER You may be wondering where we’re going with this – after all most watches have three hands, don’t they? But as watchmakers vie for ever-more-complicated bragging rights we’re shining a spotlight on the timepieces proud to keep their dials simple but significant.
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Watch 67942 | £2,110
Zenith El Primero Defy Watch 70110 | £5,500
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Watch 69682 | £15,800
Raymond Weil Freelancer Watch 70242 | £1,295
Hublot Classic Fusion Watch 64795 | £6,400
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FOOD & DRINK
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SHOWSTOPPER There’s no better feeling than tucking into a succulent roast during the winter months. Take your Sunday dinner game to the next level with a little help from this roast grouse recipe by Michelin starred chef Martin Wishart.
discard the core and roughly shred the ROAST GROUSE WITH BRAISED CABBAGE, CELERIAC PUREE AND leaves. Cut the carrots into long batons about 5mm thick and cut the bacon SAUCE ALBERT into lardons (strips). In a pan melt the duck fat and CELERIAC PURÉE cook the bacon for three minutes. 1 medium sized celeriac Add the carrots and onions to the 150ml double cream pan and cook for a further two to three 50g un-salted butter minutes. Add the cabbage with a good Trim outside of celeriac and cut pinch of salt and mix into the pan. into large even sized pieces, cook in Pour in the white wine and reduce, boiling salted water until tender. Drain then add the chicken stock, thyme and and steam off any excess moisture, add garlic and bring it to the boil. Cover the cabbage with the double cream and simmer until reduced by half. Purée in a liquidizer greaseproof and cook in the oven at 200˚c for 15 to 20 minutes. add the butter BRAISED SAVOY CABBAGE 1 whole Savoy cabbage 2 Medium sized carrots 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced 150g quality smoked bacon 50g duck fat or lard 2 springs fresh thyme 2 cloves garlic 150ml dry white wine 250ml fresh chicken stock Good pinch of salt
SAUCE ALBERT 60g fresh bread crumbs 300ml milk 1 bay leaf 1small onion studded with 3 cloves 30g unsalted butter 1 teaspoon English mustard 1 teaspoon Creamed Horseradish 1 tablespoon of double cream Salt and fresh ground pepper
add the butter and cream. Stir on a low heat for five minutes. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper. Stir in the teaspoon of English mustard and creamed horseradish remove the studded onion before serving the sauce. COOKING THE GROUSE 6 fresh grouse, drawn (insides removed) 6 sprigs of thyme 6 cloves garlic, peeled Vegetable oil for frying Salt Heat a little oil in a casserole pan. Season the grouse with salt including inside the cavity and stuff it with the thyme and garlic. Fry the grouse lightly in the oil until evenly coloured on all sides. Place the grouse on a tray and cook in the oven at 210˚c for 8 to 10 minutes. When cooked remove the birds from the oven and rest them for 10 minutes in a warm place before removing from the bone and serving.
Pour the milk into a pan and add Remove the tough outside cabbage the onion and bay leaf and simmer for Visit Restaurant Martin Wishart in leaves. Cut the cabbage into four, five minutes. Stir in the breadcrumbs, Leith and The Honours in Edinburgh www.rox.co.uk
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FOOD & DRINK
6 WAYS
TO BRAVE A WINE LIST We’ve all been there – confronted with the wine list in a restaurant but too embarrassed to admit that we don’t even know where to begin. Well this AW18 you need fear no more as wine merchants Corney & Barrow guide us through the art of selecting the perfect vino
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Red wine with fish. Well, that should have told me something.” James Bond may have recognised Grant as a fraud when he ordered a Chianti but these days restaurant etiquette is no longer so stuck on following the rules. This is great news for oenophiles the UK over, but with so much choice, the less winesavvy among us may become overwhelmed. As much as we’d like to embrace our adventurous side, sometimes it just seems easier to stick to that same old bottle of Sauvignon Blanc – not because we love it, but for fear of getting it wrong. So perhaps we’re still in need of a few guidelines. We asked the experts at independent wine merchants Corney & Barrow to give us their top tips on braving the wine list. 1. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE READING Not all wine lists are born the same. Sommeliers create their selection based on different features, such as all biodynamic, or wines from female producers. Whatever
the theme, there will be a certain order to how their choices are arranged. Taking a minute to suss out the style will make your browsing a lot simpler. 2. LIFE REWARDS THE CURIOUS It can be so easy to lean towards the familiar, but it’s generally not where you’ll find the best value. Lesser known appellations of France and Spain are producing fantastic wines for a fraction of what you’d buy from Bordeaux or Rioja. Central and Eastern European countries have also been flourishing in recent years offering wine lovers a healthy return on their interest – try Hungarian Furmint or Romanian Pinot Noir 3. GO FOR THE GRAPES YOU CAN’T PRONOUNCE Reading a wine list can sometimes feel like dealing with a foreign language (or several foreign languages!) Varieties like Falanghina, and Aglianico may seem daunting but such lesser known indigenous grapes are appearing more and more on wine lists. Italy alone has www.rox.co.uk
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KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…
FARFALLONE AGLIANICO SANNIO DOC 2016
IL BARROCCIO IGT ROSSE TERRE SICILIANE 2016
over 370 recognised indigenous grape varieties, which may promise a lot more bang for your buck than your usual glass of Pinot Grigio. 4. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE EATING We can often find ourselves stressing about food pairings but there’s never just one wine that’s going to complement your meal. Choose what you’re going to eat first and then pick a wine you like to match – if you’re eating something rich and heavy , then a more full-bodied wine will stand up better (and vice versa). Another good trick is to try and match regional food with wines from the same place. There’s a reason why Muscadet matches Moules Marinière, and why Italian reds work perfectly with Bolognese. 5. BY THE GLASS It may seem like better value to share a bottle, but if you and your dining partner have completely different tastes, this may be a false economy. Many restaurants are fleshing out their offering of wines by the glass and this can be a brilliant way to try new things. It also makes it a lot easier to indulge in that sparkling aperitif or glass of dessert wine to finish off the meal. 6. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR ADVICE Not all wines will necessarily be listed as you expect. For example, many European wines are only listed by the name of the region rather than the grape, and chatting to your waiter may be the easiest way to find what you like. It’s not just Michelin star restaurants that have brilliantly trained staff, and imparting their knowledge is all part of the service.
Independent wine merchants Corney & Barrow have been helping clients find their perfect tipple for more than 200 years. A lot might have changed since it was founded in 1780 but you’d equally be surprised at how much hasn’t – discover more at www.corneyandbarrow.com
MUCADET SUR LIE JEAN FRANCOIS DE GRAND MOUTON JF GUILBAUD 2016
SANZIANA PINOT NOIR RECAS CRAMELE 2017
SANTORINI ASSYRTIKO SANTO 2016
INCANTESIMO FALANGHINA SANNIA DOC 2016
OREG KIRALY DULO DRY FURMINT BARTA 2015
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FEATURE
A GRAND OPENING With a fresh new look and exciting new menu Maxine McCreadie discovers what The Grand Café at The Scotsman has to offer.
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ake a wander along North Bridge and one thing is undeniable – The Scotsman is an Edinburgh venue with a tale to tell. Named after the national newspaper which proudly called the iconic Baroque building home the now luxury hotel is celebrated as a landmark in the Scottish capital. With unrivalled views of Edinburgh Castle, The Mound, Calton Hill and Princes Street Gardens; The Scotsman shines a light on what makes the city such a dynamic and vibrant place to live and visit. Classic luxe meets modern elegance in the leading venue which masters the art of paying homage to its rich history whilst embracing modernity with pride and passion. And nowhere is that more evident than in the hotel’s recently refurbished Grade Café. Following an extensive six-month renovation, with the respected Graven Images design team bringing a continental feel to the décor, the Café re-opened its doors to the public earlier this summer. Inspired by the ‘Grand Cafes’ of Europe relaxed dining to suit all tastes and occasions is a key ingredient to the success of the venue. Set within the Scotman’s former advertising hall, the spectacular double height space seats 150 covers across its ground floor and balcony, filled with light, character and celebrating beautiful period features which date back to 1905. Original walnut wood panelling, green marble pillars and ornate cornicing have been carefully brought back to life by interior specialist Jim Hamilton, and mixed with elegant new furnishings and accessories to create a stylish but informal ambience. Speaking of the design concept of the Grand Café, Jim said: “A key element was in making sure we created a very socially inclusive space, that was openly inviting to all customers and it was key to create a striking first impression as there is
a huge amount of traffic passing by the front door. The ground floor is very much in the mode of a continental café and is very relaxed and we have fused an interesting mix of loose furniture pieces with the stunning original décor which gave us an incredible starting point. It was key though not to be too reverential to the existing interior or we could have ended up with the existing architecture being too powerful for re-invention of the Grand Café. We think the balance has worked out just about right and customers get to enjoy a relaxed, cosy environment whilst enjoying afternoon tea or an early evening cocktail. “A key move was to open up the central internal façade with a series of full height doors that can be fully opened up to fuse the interior with the street life. The upper balcony offers a little escape from the ground floor with a series of luxurious booths that afford fantastic views over to Calton Hill as well as being the perfect vantage points to watch the Grand Café at its best.” “Edinburgh is a walking city for guests to explore so we felt it was very important to create a space that hotel guests and others could totally relax in after, or during a hard day’s trek around the Old Town.” From early breakfasts and brunch through to afternoon tea, lazy lunches and delectable dinners – the Grand Café will serve up a true taste of Scotland with Dundee-born Masterchef: The Professionals finalist Chris Niven taking on the role of head chef. For those looking to indulge in the best of Edinburgh’s night life, the Grand Café is open until 3am Thursday through Sunday – transforming into a bustling hotspot filled with live music and entertainment on offer. Meanwhile the cocktail menu celebrates the great European bar traditions but reinvented with modern Scottish craft spirits and creative serves. For more visit scotsmanhotel.co.uk www.rox.co.uk
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HOT
PROPERTY A man’s home can literally be his castle. We open the door to a world of opportunities as Maxine McCreadie looks at what’s moving and shaking in the property market.
EDINBURGH Escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at Innerwick. Nestled within private, beautifully screened walled grounds in the sought-after Murraryfield district of Edinburgh the seven-bedroom Georgian property is the ultimate family abode. Featuring original period features alongside elegant drawing and reception rooms, dining rooms and an open plan kitchen, it’s a home perfectly equipped for family life.
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However, what makes this property particularly special is the addition of an Old Coach House within the landscaped gardens. This property, which features an entry hall, breakfast and kitchen utility room, two bedrooms, an office / additional bedroom, open plan dining room and drawing room with a Minstrel’s gallery above and courtyard parking, has recently been successfully let on short-term holiday lets.
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Address: Innerwick House, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, EH12 69HZ Offers Over: £2,950,000 Savills Edinburgh: 0131 247 3770
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PROPERTY
DUMFRIESSHIRE They say a man’s home is his castle and that could literally be the case with a little help from Crawfordton House. Nestled within 33 acres of lush countryside the category B listed Baronial Mansion House is a sight to behold. Brought into 21st century life whilst retaining its old-world charm Crawfordton House features four reception rooms, six principle bedrooms suites across the ground and first floors, an immaculate open plan kitchen, wine cellar,
gym and library. What’s more, this property offers expansion opportunities with planning permission granted to complete renovation of the property on floors two and three – offering the opportunity to create a further six bedrooms, games room and cinema room. Planning permission has also been granted for a detached pavilion housing an indoor swimming pool and separate double garage
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Address: Crawfordton House, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, DG3 4HF Prices: POA Rettie Edinburgh: 0131 624 4200 www.rox.co.uk
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EDINBURGH Think your days of being sent to the headmaster’s office were long behind you? Think again – only this time we guarantee you’ll want to be there. This three bedroom apartment, found within The Playground at Donaldson’s, incorporates the former Headmaster’s Office and is located adjacent to the entrance hall of this impressive building. Boasting three bedrooms and three bathrooms this south-facing mezzanine apartment on the ground floor enjoys breathtaking views across the sweeping lawn and the Edinburgh skyline towards the Pentalnd Hills. A wander through the property will also unveil a double height drawing room 120
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with intricate ceiling detail, an ornate decorative fireplace as well as a separate kitchen with Corian kitchen worktops and dining room with double height windows. Use of secure underground parking, a concierge service and full use of the lush landscaped grounds is also included. The Playfair at Donaldson’s is a remarkable building of palatial elegance yet is just a stone’s throw from Edinburgh city centre. A seven minute walk from Haymarket station, with direct services to Edinburgh city centre, Glasgow and London, and ideally located next to a plethora of bars, cafes and restaurants. An award-winning development, having scooped the 2018 Scottish Home
Awards for Apartment Development of the Year and 2018 Scottish Home Awards for Renovation of the Year, The Playfair at Donaldson’s brings a whole new meaning to going back to school.
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Address: G01 Donaldson’s, West Coates, Edinburgh, EH12 5JQ Fixed price: £1,150,000 Rettie Edinburgh: 0131 624 4209
DISCOVER THE NEW VANTAGE BEAUTIFUL WON’T BE TAMED
Aston Mar tin Edinburgh Bankhead Dr, Edinburgh EH11 4DJ Tel: 0131 442 2800 www.astonmar tinedinburgh.co.uk
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PROPERTY
NORTHUMBERLAND Steeped in history the remarkable Middleton Hall dates back to around 1107 when it is believed that the land was gifted to Roger De Muschamp by Henry I. Passed through families over the generations the impressive property is on the market once again. Nestled within 29 acres of landscaped gardens Middleton Hall features a grand reception hall, drawing room, service kitchen, cocktail bar, orangery, dining room, kitchen/
breakfast room, billiard room as well as nine bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms as well as a further bedroom with private bathroom. Meanwhile the North Wing plays host to a reception hall, kitchen, dining room, five bedrooms (one ensuite) and two bathrooms. This property also plays host to a Folly, Boathouse and Lake Cottage. A breathtaking property which blends contemporary style with traditional charm.
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Address: Middleton Hall, Northumberland Fixed price: ÂŁPOA Finest Properties: 01434 410 029 www.rox.co.uk
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Bentley Bentayga
ROX MAGAZINE
MOTORING
OFF-ROAD'S ON TOP Where there’s muck there’s brass, the saying goes, so it’s no surprise luxury car makers are focusing more than ever on SUVs, reports Chris Chilton.
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UVs are big and big business. High-rise family cars now account for one third of all cars sold in Europe and even luxury marques like Aston Martin and RollsRoyce that once worried what damage building an SUV might have on their carefully nurtured brand image are now investing heavily in off-road-style cars. They can’t afford not to have one in their showrooms. Maserati is a perfect case in point. The mystique of this storied Italian marque is bound up in the romance of early F1 racing and slinky grand tourers, which is about as far from SUVs as it’s possible to get. But having watched Porsche make
a similar leap into the SUV market entirely successfully, it launched its own Cayenne rival, the Levante. Initially only available in Britain with a diesel engine and later, a petrol V6, this year Maserati hopes to add a pair of Ferrari-built V8s in the form of the 590hp Trofeo and only slightly less unhinged 550hp GTS. Prices haven’t been confirmed but don’t expect much change from £100k. Thirty minutes to the west of Maserati’s Modena home, Lamborghini is building its own SUV, the 190mph Urus. Cleverly managing to retain much of the look of a Lamborghini supercar despite being almost 500mm taller, the £164,950 Urus is significantly lighter than its VW Group sister SUVs,
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Levante GranSport
The Maserati of SUVs
Levante. Yours. From £58,315 Park’s Maserati 143 / 159 Almada Street, Hamilton ML3 0ET 01698 303 828 parks.uk.com/maserati
Official fuel consumption figures for the Maserati Levante MY19 range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 17.8 (15.8) – 29.1 (9.7), Extra Urban 27.6 (10.2) – 39.2 (7.2), Combined 23.1 (12.2) – 34.8 (8.1). CO2 emissions 282 – 213 g/km. Fuel consumption figures are based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown is a Maserati Levante GranSport
MY19 at £83,270 On The Road including optional mica paint at £660, 21” Anteo alloy wheels at £1,700, Black painted callipers at £200, Pieno Fiore leather interior with heated and ventilated front seats at £6,030, Trident stitching on head rests at £320, Bowers & Wilkins sound system at £2,300, Rear laminated privacy glass at £360 and Driver Assistance Pack Plus at £2,300. Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Limited is an Appointed Representative of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, FRN 308476 of 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited permitted business is Insurance Mediation and to act as a Credit Broker. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them. Retail customers only.
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FEATURE
Maserati Levante Lamborghini Urus
Bentley Bentayga
Range Rover Velar
including the Bentley Bentayga, that 30 miles on electric power, and second, use versions of its chassis architecture by leveraging Bentley’s sporting and 650hp 4.0-litre twin turbo V8. reputation to set an SUV record at the legendary Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado. LAMBORGHINI IS The barely modified Bentayga W12 took 10m 49.9sec to climb the 12.42 BUILDING ITS OWN miles, besting the previous champ, SUV, THE 190MPH URUS. a Range Rover Sport, by almost two minutes – a timely reminder to Land CLEVERLY MANAGING TO Rover that just because you invented RETAIN MUCH OF THE the whole luxury SUV segment, you can’t afford to rest on your laurels. LOOK OF A LAMBORGHINI Fortunately, the stylish new Range Rover Velar proves that Land Rover SUPERCAR DESPITE BEING isn’t one to sit idle. Ushering in a new, ALMOST 500MM TALLER sleeker design language for the brand and offering a huge range of engines Meanwhile the real Bentayga from a 2.0-litre diesel to a 575hp 5.0 has been busy deflecting attention supercharged V8 the Velar costs from from the launch of archrival Rolls- £44,000 and slots into the gap between Royce’s Cullinan SUV (see p126) in the Evoque and Range Rover Sport. two ways. First, with the launch of a plug-in hybrid version that should cost Find more motoring news at around £140,0000 and can travel up to www.rox.co.uk/magazine www.rox.co.uk
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MOTORING
CULLINAN:
QUITE LITERALLY THE ROLLS-ROYCE OF SUVS The legendary British marque is the latest to throw its (quite sizeable, beautifully appointed) hat into the luxury off-road ring. Words by Chris Chilton.
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olls-Royce is out to crush rival Bentley and its Bentayga with the most expensive production SUV in the world. And to underline Rolls’ confidence it has called the £250,000 leviathan Cullinan after the Cullinan Diamond, a jumbo 3106-carat gem found in a mine in South Africa in 1905 that is the largest rough diamond ever discovered. But there’s nothing rough about this Cullinan apart from the terrain it can cover. Rolls doesn’t like the SUV tag, referring instead to the Cullinan uncatchily as an ‘all-terrain, highbodied vehicle’. But an SUV is exactly what it is, and while most Cullinan are unlikely to stray far from the road, this Rolls-Royce is more than capable if you ask it. For the first time ever on a car fronted by the legendary Spirit of Ecstasy power is delivered to all four wheels and backed up by switchable off-road driving mode, hill
descent control and adjustable air suspension to lift the body clear of obstacles and contribute to a 540mm wading depth. Footage of Rolls test drivers blasting across sand dunes in Cullinan prototypes suggests it really does work and backs up Rolls-Royce’s ‘effortless everywhere’ message. Built using the same aluminium architecture that underpins the latest Phantom limousine, the Cullinan will eventually be offered as a zero-emissions electric car. But for now it comes exclusively with Rolls’ familiar 6.75-litre twinturbo V12 engine, here producing 571hp. That’s significantly less than the 608hp of the Bentayga, which also wins the top speed race thanks to an electronic limiter curtailing fun in the Rolls at 155mph while the W12 Bentley strolls on unfettered to 187mph. But it’s still enough to propel the 2660kg Cullinan to 62mph in around 5 seconds – we don’t know exactly because in a nod to the days
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CULLINAN
ONE LIFE, MANY LIFESTYLES Enter the unchar ted at www.rolls-roycemotorcars-edinburgh.co.uk or call us on 0131 442 1000
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Edinburgh One Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 6DD Tel: 0131 442 1000 www.rolls-roycemotorcars-edinburgh.co.uk Official fuel economy figures for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan: Urban 12.6-12.9*mpg (22.4-21.9l*/100km). Extra Urban 25.7-25.9*mpg (11-10.9*l/100km). Combined 18.8*mpg (15*l/100km). CO2 emissions 341*g/km. *Preliminary data not confirmed, subject to change. Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle. They are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions.
Š Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd 2018. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.
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FEATURE
when it referred to its power outputs as ‘adequate’ Rolls is far too modest to say exactly how quick it will accelerate. In a car like this, however, what matters isn’t how fast you reach your destination, but how much you enjoy the journey. And RollsRoyce hasn’t held back in making sure you do. The Cullinan is big: 90mm taller and 350mm longer than a Range Rover, but to aid entry the air suspension lowers the body 40mm when unlocked. And to help you thread it through city streets between your townhouse and hedge fund offices there’s agility-boosting four-wheel steering. As with other Rolls models, but unlike other SUVs, the wide-opening rear doors are hinged at the rear and can be closed with the touch of a button. Customers get the choice of a three-seat bench in the rear, or two individual seats separated by an elegant console containing a drinks cabinet and fridge. And to shield rear-
IN A CAR LIKE THIS, WHAT MATTERS ISN’T HOW FAST YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION, BUT HOW MUCH YOU ENJOY THE JOURNEY. seat occupants from the extremes of weather when the tailgate is open an optional glass shield separates the passenger compartment from the generous luggage compartment. There’s even an option to fit two further seats on the dropdown section of the tailgate, though this ‘viewing suite’, comprising two chairs and a cocktail table is designed purely for posh picnics or to ensure you a good view at the polo. The Cullinan will start at around £250,000 when deliveries begin at the end of this year, making it around double the price of the cheapest Bentley Bentayga, though pegging it somewhere behind Rolls’ flagship, the £300k+ Phantom. But you can bet owners will be happy to watch that price mushroom by adding options and personalised touches including bespoke paint and upholstery. Only a handful of years ago the idea of a Rolls-Royce SUV might have sounded absurd. Now it looks likely to become the company’s best-selling model.
Find more motoring news at www.rox.co.uk/magazine www.rox.co.uk
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THE NEW BMW X5. KNOW YOU CAN. Forget what you know about sports utility vehicles, the new BMW X5 has been redesigned and rebuilt from the wheels up and has new levels of luxury, connectivity and performance. Whatever adventures lie ahead, know you can.
SEARCH: DOUGLASPARKBMW. Hamilton Bothwell Road ML3 0AY 01698 303700 Glasgow Kyle Street G4 0HP 0141 333 0088 Stirling New Kerse Road FK7 7RZ 01786 474477
douglasparkbmw.co.uk
The Ultimate Driving Machine
Douglas Park Limited is an Appointed Representative of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, FRN 308476 of 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited permitted business is Insurance Mediation and to act as a Credit Broker. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them. Retail customers only.
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GADGET MAN
GADGET MAN You don’t have to be technical wizard to enjoy a good gadget. We bring you a selection of the best gizmos on the market. As our old friend Inspector Gadget would say: “Wowsers.” AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH Conceived as always by AP’s Renaud & Papi skunkworks –the go-to custom shop for complications mega-brands such as Richard Mille and Girard-Perregaux – it’s not so much ‘openworked’ as blasted into concave constructivist futurism. The trusty 2497 movement has been entirely reimagined in architectural form, featuring sandblasted titanium bridges and satin-brushed chamfered edges to look as if it were all suspended from the bezel. £POA
CHOPARD L.U.C. FULL STRIKE Unlike 'conventional' minute repeaters that chime-out the hours, quarters and remaining minutes on circumferential alloy wires, the Full Strike's tiny hammers (visible dial-side at 10 o’clock) instead make contact with two transparent sapphire ‘gongs’, which form an integral part of the watch glass, thus amplifying the sound further and flawlessly. This time round, the L.U.C Full Strike appears in a new set of colours with a case in certified non rhodium-plated ‘Fairmined’ white gold, framing a silver-coloured dial. £POA
G-RO SMART LUGGAGE There’s no escaping that as we move further into the digital age everything has to be just that little bit smarter. Combining travel with technology is big business, ensuring that your suitcase is useful for more than just carrying your clothes – who’d have thought it? The unique design of the G-RO Carry-On Classic is a shining example of the new world of travel, featuring a removable power-bank, tile Bluetooth luggage tracker, expansion sleeve and TSA approved locks along with one-of-a-kind GravityRoll wheel technology. Visit www.uk.g-ro.com
HUBLOT BIG BANG MP-11 Hublot, ever the alchemist of high-tech materials – whether it’s scratchproof gold, sapphire-crystal cases or scarlet-red ceramic – has now unveiled its already-epic Big Bang MP-11 in carbon, reinforcing the case’s polymer matrix substrate with three-dimensional woven resin, shaped into a case inspired by a Ferrari race engine. Equipped with 7 series-coupled barrels providing 2 weeks’ autonomy, this mechanical tour de force of micro-architecture reveals the inline cylinders within a smoky-black showcase of crystal. £POA
BENQ TK800 HOME CINEMA PROJECTOR OK, so large screen TV’s are ten a penny these days but to really take your viewing to the next level, the BenQ TK800 True 4K HDR is the way to go. For a fully immersive experience this projector produces a huge 100” projected 4K UHD, 8.3 million pixel picture with visit HDR colour in any lighting. What’s more it’s complete with a custom football and sports mode with powerful sound to put you in the middle of the action. Visit www.benq.co.uk
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TREATS FOR HIM
TREATS FOR HIM You may not need convincing to spend that cash on a flash must have, but just in case, here’s a selection of treats to tempt you.
ROX Classic Cufflinks 63863 | £125
Emporio Armani Renato Watch 70753 | £319
Brioni Cashmere And Silk-Blend Scarf
Gucci G-Timeless Watch 70217 | £850
Hugo Boss Trophy Watch 70678 | £349
Francesco Maglia Wood-Handle Twill Umbrella
Gucci Men Interlocking G Tiebar 70642 | £200
ROX Man Brown Leather Bracelet 69328 | £50
Givenchy Leather Belt
Bell & Ross Vintage Watch 70009 | £1,700
ROX DNA Cufflinks 65852 | £125
Mulberry Pebble-Grain Leather Holdall
Vivienne Westwood Watch 70042 | £235
ROX Leather Card Holder 68907 | £39
Paul Smith Silk-Twill Pocket Square
Raymond Weil Tango Watch 70272 | £1.095
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GIFTS FOR HER
GIFTS FOR HER We love the ladies, and they're good us, so if you need some gift inspiration look no further than our selection of treats for her. Happy wife, happy life!
ROX Celestial Gold Vermeil Pendant 69636 | £80
Olivia Burton Artisan Dial Watch 70618 | £95
ROX Diamond Ring 0.14cts 69323 | £650
Gucci Marmont Quilted Leather Gloves
Mulberry Textured Leather Cardholder
ROX Boho Torque Silver Bangle 71099 | £185
ROX Diamond Pendant 0.18cts 69556 | £950
Emporio Armani Watch 70738 | £279
ROX Classic Infinity Silver Pendant 68811 | £50
Chloé Roy Leather Bucket Bag
Michael Kors Pyper Watch 70787 | £199
ROX Diamond Bracelet 0.12cts 69466 | £325
Hugo Boss Symphony Watch 70155 | £199
ROX Orbit Silver Earrings 70748 | £40
Burberry Checked Cashmere Scarf
ROX Diamond Earrings 0.46cts 69364 | £995
www.rox.co.uk
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GUESTLIST Here at ROX we’re lucky to be part of the hottest events around, we take a look back at some of our favourite celebrations from the past season…
HOW TO SHOP
ROX MAGAZINE
HOW TO SHOP Every piece you see in this magazine is coded to make it easy for you to shop - just search the five digit number at rox.co.uk. Alternatively you can shop instore - all the details you need are below.
GLASGOW
EDINBURGH
ABERDEEN
Immerse yourself in a truly decadent shopping experience at Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade. Also at Braehead Shopping Centre.
Located within the iconic Assembly Rooms on George Street, Edinburgh’s luxury shopping destination.
Since opening in Union Square in autumn 2009, ROX has quickly established a reputation as Aberdeen’s most stylish jeweller.
Argyll Arcade / 0141 221 0550
Assembly Rooms / 0131 541 2209
Union Square / 01224 587 275
LEEDS
NEWCASTLE
SHOP ONLINE ANYTIME
Relax in the heart of the City Centre at Trinity Leeds, the newest and most stylish shopping destination in Leeds.
Situated at Monument Mall, our Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar upstairs is Newcastle’s little known hidden gem.
Where closing time never comes – at rox.co.uk our doors are always open. Shop weekly for new arrivals.
Trinity Leeds / 0113 887 9213
Monument Mall / 0191 300 9470
rox.co.uk
The materials in this publication may not be reproduced in any format without permission. Please email requests for permission to pr@rox.co.uk. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be accepted. Editorial material and opinions expressed in the ROX Magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of ROX (UK) Ltd. ROX (UK) Ltd do not accept the responsibility for the advertising content. Jewellery shown may not be actual size and/or set to scale. Carat weights shown are approximate and
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www.rox.co.uk
may vary in-store. When buying online, please check our website for full terms and conditions. The contents of this magazine were correct at the time of going to print (October 2018). ROX and the brand owners featured reserve the right to change prices and specifications without notice. For more information about ROX, or to request a brochure, please call our Customer Services team on Freephone 0800 0124 363. © Copyright ROX (UK) LTD 2018
ROX WOMAN Find more luxury style inspiration in ROX WOMAN
Raise your limits. 720S
Super Series
McLaren Glasgow
McLaren Glasgow
Global Retailer of the Year
European Retailer of the Year
2016
2016
McLaren Glasgow Bothwell Road, Hamilton ML3 0AY 01698 303777 glasgow.mclaren.com
McLaren Leeds 2 Aire Valley Drive, Temple Green, Leeds LS9 0AA 01134 879710 leeds.mclaren.com
cars.mclaren.com
Official fuel consumption figures in UK mpg (l/100km) for the McLaren Super Series 4.0L (3,994cc) petrol, 7-speed Seamless Shift Dual Clutch Gearbox (SSG): urban 17.1 (16.5), extra urban 38.2 (7.4), combined 26.4 (10.7). Official combined CO2 emissions: 249g/km. The efficiency figures quoted are derived from official NEDC test results, are provided for comparability purposes only, and might not reflect actual driving experience. Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Limited is an Appointed Representative of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, FRN 308476 of 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited permitted business is Insurance Mediation and to act as a Credit Broker. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them. Retail customers only.
TO BREAK THE RULES, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THEM. THE VALLÉE DE JOUX. FOR MILLENNIA A HARSH, UNYIELDING ENVIRONMENT; AND SINCE 1875 THE HOME OF AUDEMARS PIGUET, IN THE VILLAGE OF LE BRASSUS. THE EARLY WATCHMAKERS WERE SHAPED HERE, IN AWE OF THE FORCE OF NATURE YET DRIVEN TO MASTER ITS MYSTERIES THROUGH THE COMPLEX MECHANICS OF THEIR CRAFT. STILL TODAY THIS PIONEERING SPIRIT INSPIRES US TO CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE THE CONVENTIONS OF
+44 (0) 207 409 0782 | AUDEMARSPIGUET.COM
FINE WATCHMAKING.
ROYAL OAK CHRONOGRAPH IN PINK GOLD