Month: December 2015

Baccarat Rouge 540 in the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian bottle

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Baccarat Rouge 540 in the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian bottle

Baccarat Rouge 540 is a new addition to the Maison Francis Kurkdjian perfume range. Francis Kurkudjian, invited in 2015 to join the prestigious Comite Colbert, France’s association of 75 luxury brands, announced that the Baccarat Rouge 540 fragrance will become part of its permanent perfume collection, and will be packaged in the perfume house’s bottle.

Last year, 2014, Baccarat house was celebrating its 250th anniversary with Rouge 540 fragrance created by Francis Kurkdjian. Available in a limited and numbered edition of only 250, this woody amber floral fragrance was encapsulated in an exquisite crystal jewel box designed by Georges Chevalier. The Rouge 540 flacon was a monumental crystal spiral weighing 500 grams and comprising 160 facets: 96 on the bottle, 64 on the stopper. The full complement of Baccarat’s expertise is called upon to produce the bottle, including master glassmakers, cutters and gilders. Among the craftsmen four are “Meilleurs Ouvriers de France”(Best Artisans of France), who in addition to the prerequisite perfection, give the bottle the quality of rarity.

Baccarat - Parfum Rouge 540 Baccarat - Parfum Rouge 540- Baccarat - Parfum Rouge 540 bottle

540 degrees centigrade is the temperature that molten crystal has to reach in order to produce Baccarat’s hallmark golden red. As the inspiration behind the fragrance, this unique shade of red is the defining factor of one of Baccarat’s many alchemical secrets. Developed in 1847, this well-guarded secret “recipe” is obtained by the gradual fusion of clear crystal and 24-carat gold powder. As a tribute to the illustrious House colour, a red crystal pipette is provided with each bottle to place a few precious drops of this legendary perfume behind the ears.

“I wanted to create a graphic fragrance with a formula that was taut and compact in the extreme,” said Francis Kurkdjian, creator of Rouge 540. “A luminous, dense, transparent and intense fragrance.”

The perfumer made every effort to capture the power and sparkle of the crystal producing process, in all its opulence and precision.

Baccarat Rouge 540 in the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian bottle-

Baccarat Rouge 540 in the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian bottle (70ml) will be priced at €195, while the limited numbered edition of 250 in a Baccarat crystal bottle will be available priced at €3,000 (100 ml).

Baccarat Rouge 540 in the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian bottle--  Baccarat Rouge 540 in the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian - created in 2014 Baccarat - Parfum Rouge 540 limited edition bottle made in 2014 Baccarat - Parfum Rouge 540 bottle gold thread

 

Panerai’s sea-ready Carbotech – The Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mm

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Panerai Carbotech Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mmwatch

Carbotech, a light and very resistant composite material based on carbon fibre, never used before in the world of watchmaking, is the new coup-de foudre for luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Officine Panerai. The remarkable new technical innovation was introduced in the Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mm.

“While the technology of the material looks to the future, every detail of the design of the watch is faithfully inspired by the history of the luxury brand,” says the prestige watch manufacturer.

The unique composite material Carbotech reduces the weight, offering unique appearance and properties. Carbotech has an uneven, matt black appearance, which varies according to the cutting of the material: the result is that each example is unique.

Panerai Carbotech Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech Panerai Carbotech Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mmwatch Panerai Carbotech Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mm

The structure of carbotech is designed to enhance both the aesthetics and the performance of the material, which is used to make the case, the rotating bezel and the lever bridge which protects the winding crown. To form the plates of carbotech from which these components are made, thin sheets of carbon fibres are compressed with a high-end polymer which binds the composite material, making it even stronger and more durable.

The mechanical properties of carbotech are much higher than those of similar materials or of other materials used in the world of watchmaking, such as ceramics and titanium: carbotech is lighter than these and much more resistant to external solicitations, as well as being hypoallergenic and not subject to corrosion.

The Luminor 1950 case (47 mm), developed by Panerai in the late 1940s to be worn on the wrists of commandos of the Italian Navy, is enhanced by a rotating bezel with markers consisting of small studs, inspired by the model created by Panerai for the Egyptian Navy in 1956. The bezel rotates only anticlockwise and enables the time of immersion to be calculated: a very useful function for a professional underwater instrument which is tested for water-resistance up to 30 bar (about 300 metres).

Panerai Carbotech Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mm - watch-

The dial of the new Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech is black with applied hour markers, the date window is at three o’clock and the small seconds counter marked by Panerai blue details is at nine o’clock. The screw- in caseback, which helps to ensure the watch’s high degree of water-resistance, is made of titanium with black treatment and it is engraved with elements characteristic of the Panerai brand: “Florence 1860”, the city and year of birth of Panerai watchmaking, and the image of a Slow Speed Torpedo (SLC), the notorious “pig” on which in the 1940s the commandos of the Italian Navy sailed through the depths of the sea on their missions while wearing instruments made by Panerai.

The technological heart of the Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech is the P.9000 automatic calibre, developed and made by the Officine Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel.

The new ocean-ready timepiece is fitted with a black rubber strap, personalised for the first time by the OP logo in Panerai blue.

Panerai Carbotech Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic 47mm - watch

 

What should I wear? Fashion’s biggest questions – according to Google

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The search engine recently revealed the 10 style questions it is asked most often. From tying a shirt to walking in heels, our fashion experts answer the internet’s queries

“Year of the Red Fire Monkey” by Ulysse Nardin – A joyful timepiece, one cannot help but smile when checking the time

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Playful and happy “Year of the Red Fire Monkey” by Ulysse Nardin. 2016 celebrates the playful and happy Red Fire Monkey – the ninth animal in the Chinese Zodiac. Continuing the tradition of Zodiac- inspired dials, luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Ulysse Nardin (founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland) introduced the “Year of the Monkey” … Read more

José Mourinho: key reflections on the Special One’s wardrobe

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José Mourinho was more than Chelsea’s manager. He was an all-navy hairo, a clothes horse among men. Let’s look back on his style rules

2016 White Turf St. Moritz. New highlights of the race of races on the frozen lake of St. Moritz

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St. Moritz horse races on ice to be held on 7th, 14th and 21st February 2016. Founded in 1907, the traditional international St. Moritz horse races on ice are counted, for good reason, among the official ‘Top Events of Switzerland’. Every year, 35,000 spectators stream onto the frozen lake of St. Moritz on the three … Read more