The Most Luxurious and Exclusive Things in The World Today
Dreamjet’s Flashy Delights
To experience the Dreamjet’s flashy delights travellers will need to hire out the whole plane – as it’s not possible to book just a single seat. That will set them back roughly $40,000 per hour, meaning a flight from London to New York would have a price tag of at least $300,000 or from New York to Australia – $900,000 single fare, $1,700,000 for return journey. Although, that’s a small price for the complete privacy and unmatched luxury the remodelled aircraft offers. The conversion offers guests ample space – 2,400 square feet to be precise – which is limited to a capacity of 30 lucky jet-setters. Fitted with extra-large windows for greater views of the skies, the luxury cabin also features 18 lie-flat first class beds, in addition to the main lounge for meetings, relaxing or partying.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métrographe
Parmigiani Fleurier has revealed its new Tonda Métrographe and it’s just as impressive as its initial viewing at SIHH. The brand has combined mechanical prowess and elegant design in the steel-cased Tonda Métrographe. This latest version is defined by a more understated and highly legible dial. A few other faint tweaks put it right up next to big players like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, and other contenders in the (relatively) affordable category.
The elegant new dial configuration is by far the most notable change. It now features a tachymeter scale and the date window has been repositioned to 12 o’clock. In addition to this, a double-hand semicircular running-seconds subdial has been incorporated at 3 o’clock. These latter two elements provide the piece with improved balance and legibility as well as a slightly dressier feel than its predecessor. The two-tone watch makes use of rose gold. The case’s design remains effectively unchanged but it boasts decreased thickness. The watch is available in two configurations—a white-dial version and the black variant shown—both on either a supple calf-leather strap ($11,500) or a bracelet ($12,000).
Eurocraft Crossover Explorer
A new “crossover” explorer-yacht design has been debuted for the 151-foot Eurocraft. It gives a powerful boost to the performance capabilities of the comfortable yacht, making it expedition-ready. The exterior is designed by Federico Fiorentino, who has many award-winning yacht designs in his resume. However, his latest work is in a class of its own. The vessel is powerful, with an almost militaristic profile, offset by long banks of windows and the open skybridge. Its strong, silent body gives it an aggressive vibe – far different than the typically conservative superyachts that populate the Mediterranean.
Distinctive touches on the exterior give the yacht a unique look. These include high, protective bulwarks and a vertical bow with a large rub-rail around the front. The gray-blue hull, with its black and chrome accents, complements the spacious, bright interior. Five staterooms for 10 guests (including a master suite on the main deck and VIP on the deck below) provide plenty of space for sailing enthusiast and their friends. There is also a bright, open saloon, and a formal dining area in addition to the quarters for nine crew members.
Buyers can choose an optional Ice Class compliance to upgrade the yacht and venture into remote areas like the Antarctic or even the Arctic. Eurocraft can also adapt the propulsion to a hybrid battery/electric system to cut down on running costs and emissions. Outside, the yacht doesn’t lack space either with an aft deck, where the helipad converts into a vast sunning area. The sundeck, has a bar, spa pool, and shaded seating areas. The yacht has an asking price of $25.4 million, and the anticipated build time is between 24 and 30 months – well worth the wait.
Luxury Holidays and Hotels
Summer or winter, the ultra-wealthy are already lining up their private jets and yachts to jet or sail off to the world’s most exclusive destinations. Cuba and Abu Dhabi continue to top the list with a plethora of exclusive hotels and private villas that offer unimaginable luxury. Tourists can choose between Havana’s New Kempinski – Cuba’s First True Five-Star Hotel at $500 a night or the Atlantic Penthouse North ($1,000 per night), a four-bedroom apartment with a rooftop pool overlooking the Malecón.
Tanzania is also a desired location to vacation at as it offers pristine landscapes, amazing wildlife and bespoke luxury. Known for its signature campsites that blend the freedom of open spaces with top-of-the-class service, Lamai Serengeti has 12 tents, split between two separate camps, each with its own veranda (but it will set you back $740 per person per night sharing accommodation; $600 per person in low season, November to December).
Those, who enjoy opulent luxury, are advised to head to Abu Dhabi and enjoy the stellar service at the recently-opened St. Regis. The 283-room hotel features two outdoor swimming pools, a Remède Spa, and a restaurant ran by the British chef Gary Rhodes. The London-based firm HBA designed the contemporary-arabesque guest rooms and public spaces, including a palace-like lobby with towering marble columns and the walnut-panelled St. Regis bar, where large paintings depicting Arabian sporting scenes are on display.
520 West 28th Street, New York
The late Zaha Hadid—a Pritzker Prize-winning architect – is the creative mind behind 520 West 28th Street’s new 39-unit residential tower in New York City. Hadid designed the building inside and out. Hand-crafted metal and curved glass give the exterior a contemporary look while the interior is characterized by understated elegance. Hadid designed the kitchens and bathrooms in partnership with Boffi and Gaggenau. The building culminates in a four-bedroom model residence, which overlooks the Empire State Building and High Line Listed at $15 million, it gives homeowners the chance to live inside the architectural marvel. The 4,500-square-foot is beautifully arranged and decorated with contemporary artwork and colourful accents to create a modern motif.
The building has a number of amenities, including a 75-foot swimming pool, an IMAX screening room, and a spa suite with a pool and sauna. Zaha Hadid’s signature furniture lines the lobby, and a 34-foot marble sculpture wall with a water-jetted pattern adds visual allure. There are several remaining apartment layouts from around $5 million to $50 million.
Conrad’s Bora Bora Nui
French Polynesia has a new gem on the turquoise waters of the ocean –Conrad’s Bora Bora Nui. Opened recently, the resort is Bora Bora’s first five-star luxury opening in a decade and certainly one that will draw a flock of wealthy travellers looking for exceptional service and privacy.
The sprawling property—Conrad’s only one in French Polynesia—is just a short boat ride from the mainland in a private cove on Motu To’opua. It consists of 114 rooms, three restaurants, a private islet and a long stretch of a pristine white-sand beach. Two of the rooms are the first multi-story overwater bungalows ever built in the archipelago. A total of 28 garden villas and 86 overwater bungalows complete the compound. Their décor is light and airy, elegantly blending modern luxury with Bora Bora’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. Two standout presidential villas are the most luxuriously appointed accommodations. Each features two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two separate dressing rooms. The suites also benefit from upgraded amenities like a whirlpool, a sauna, and a rooftop sundeck with panoramic views over the ocean.
A whole host of culturally focused activities is part of Conrad’s 1/3/5 program. The initiative works to entertain guests as well as bring local lore to life through itineraries that include activities like ukulele lessons with local musicians or a traditional Polynesian tattooing experience. The Hina Spa offers indulgent therapies in treatment rooms that overlook the calm waters of a sparkling lagoon in the ultimate relaxation package. Rates start at around $20,000 a night for two for the King Garden Villa.
Exquisite Chocolate Eggs
The Eastern tradition of gifting exquisite chocolate eggs is a delicious one. But with these decadent eggs – courtesy of Michelin-starred chefs – you can experience a treat like no other. Of course, it doesn’t come cheap. Wealthy buyers can bring a taste of spring over-the-top Easter delicacies with a number of delicacies like the Hôtel Le Bristol Paris’s $740 chocolate nest. The nine pound goodness is a limited-edition dessert – courtesy of the hotel’s three-Michelin-star restaurant Epicure. Almost too beautiful to eat, the sculpted treat consists of four golden eggs rest in a chocolate nest that stands atop a pair of sculpted chicken legs.
The renowned French pastry chef Pierre Hermé—the chief pâtissier at Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris—has also released a limited-edition Easter creation, Oeuf Tagli. The egg (priced from about $135 for an egg and a selection of bonbons) draws inspiration from 20th-century Italian artist Lucio Fontana’s Olii works. Hermé’s monochromatic eggs, featured in vibrant colors are as tasty as they are aesthetically pleasing. Made from single-origin chocolate from Belize with red fruit notes, they are on display at Le Royal Monceau, and available for purchase at Hermé’s shops throughout France and the UK.
Ritz Paris’s head pastry chef François Perret took an entire year to compose his Du Côté de Chez Swann Egg concept. The elaborate creation is 7-inch-tall teapot made with 70-percent Carupano chocolate from Venezuela and topped with a chocolate-dipped madeleine crest. A secret trove of miniature madeleines with a praline-hazelnut filling is sure to inspire all kinds of wonderful memories.
Macallan Whiskies in Limited-Edition Lalique Crystal Decanters
A set of rare the Macallan whiskies in limited-edition Lalique crystal decanters were auctioned by Sotheby’s Hong Kong for $993,000. This sets a new world record for any lot of whisky sold at auction. The Legacy Collection consists of six decanters of the Macallan single malts aged from 50 to 65 years. Each represents one of the Macallan’s Six Pillars or a set of characteristics—such as aging in exceptional oak casks, employing small stills, and using the finest cuts. These set the brand apart from competitors. Two companies have collaborated on the Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars series for a little over a decade. And this has been the first ever auction for a complete collection offered for sale.
Apart from the six decanters, the lot included six miniature bottles from the Macallan’s Fine and Rare series (two each from 1937, 1938, and 1939 respectively), six pairs of hand-crafted Lalique whisky glasses, and autographs from the Macallan’s master blenders. This exceptional collection came with an opulent cabinet for storage – courtesy of the craftsmen at Lalique Maison. Made from natural ebony, the true work of art is the only one of its kind in the world. A large percentage from the auction’s proceeds went to charities dedicated to helping the disadvantaged of Hong Kong and throughout Asia – a worthwhile humanitarian effort from Sotheby’s.
Article created by Torrens Luxury Collection, Gold Coast Australia. For more Luxury Yachting articles and blogs just go to www.torrens.yachts/blog or contact us on 1300 148 648.
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