Celebrity Life

Christmas can be quite a stressful and overwhelming time of year, so let us take one thing off your mind by providing a curated list of some of the - in my opinion - best gifts that would make anyone smile, be it yourself or someone else. Here's my 2020 Christmas wish list. 

Hermès

There’s no better feeling than cosying up on the sofa or beside a fireplace during Christmas, and this Hermès Brides de Gala jacquard blanket in wool and cashmere will make you feel as if you’re wrapped in a cloud.

Audemars Piguet x Carolina Bucci

Only available at the AP house in Hong Kong, Carolina Bucci’s latest collaboration with Audemars Piguet makes the perfect Christmas gift. Classic, simple and shiny, the hand-made KISS bracelet features Bucci’s signature frosted exterior. To add to the excitement, the bracelet is available in different versions of yellow, pink, white, black and brown gold

Gucci

This colourful GG Marmont Paillette puts me straight in the mood to party. A bucket bag with a mini and small shoulder chain covered in sparkling sequins in multi-coloured diagonal stripes of pastel pink, green, gold and silver, the GG Marmont will definitely turn heads.

Theo Fennell

British jeweller Theo Fennell specialises in meticulously crafted jewellery using precious materials and gemstones. This Christmas, I’d love to receive this ring made from a variety of gemstones to resemble a rainbow, along with this channel-set gold infinity band.

Four Seasons

For those looking for peace and quiet this Christmas, Four Season Hotel Hong Kong’s Harbour View suite is a luxurious place in which to spend the happiest time of the year. The spacious suite is a perfect getaway for a staycation with Hong Kong at your doorstep and a perfect treat to add to my 2020 Christmas wish list.

Saint Laurent

I’ve always been a die-hard fan of Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello for its chic, rock ’n’ roll looks. In particular, this bright red tie-neck jacquard silk minidress with a bow at the front makes for a festive yet stylish outfit for any occasion.

Dior

A new essential designed by Maria Grazia Chiuru, Dior’s St Honoré tote embellished with the CD logo is a practical and elegant bag that I can use on multiple occasions, round the clock.

Chloé

Chloé’s glittery Lauren sneakers in silver grey will allow me party until the wee hours. The wave-like edges of the bottom sole also give it a funky touch!

Giorgio Armani

This sleek Giorgio Armani backpack would make a nice gift for any man - or woman. Made of water-repellent nylon flanked by details in garnet calfskin, the backpack combines performance with design.

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I personally find it quite difficult to figure out what I actually want for Christmas. In fact, I tend to focus too much on what I need, rather than what I want, and it’s not until the last second that I usually come up with ideas. But not this year. 2020 has been one hell of a year and I’ve made it my mission to dream big. I’ve searched everywhere, obviously from the comfort of my house, to come up with a list of items that are worthy of a 2020 Christmas Wish List.

Fornasetti

Being obsessed with interior design and contemporary art, I consider Fornasetti, helmed by renowned Italian artist Piero Fornasetti, a mecca for inimitable objects that go beyond their function. The new Metafisica Otto scented candle will be a great addition to my home.

Rodarte

I don’t think there’s anything quite as exciting as sequin embroidery, and this Rodarte floral double- breasted blazer is the perfect statement piece for just about any celebration.

Dior

I don’t think I can say it loudly enough: I can’t wait to travel again. Also, I want to do it with a DiorTravel Vanity Case embroidered with the blue Toile de Jouy motif.

Chloé

While I don't really need a specific reason to want an effortlessly chic Chloé Faye, the small shoulder bag in smooth and suede calfskin comes in pastel mint green, which is the unofficial colour of the year and a personal favourite.

Shinola

2020 was a great year for my vinyl collection and it’s about time I put my hands on the handcrafted rose gold Shinola Runwell turntable.

Bottega Veneta

I’ve been thinking about this egg yolk orange Bottega Veneta teddy shearling coat ever since I first saw it on the runway a few months ago. There’s no question that it will be a timeless addition to my winter wardrobe and a must in my 2020 Christmas wish list.

Delfina Delettrez

I’m all on board with the eye mania trend and I’ve been dreaming to wear this Delfina Delettrez 18kt champagne gold “Eyes on me” diamond and sapphire earring.

The post 2020 Christmas Wish Lists: Marta’s Picks appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Fifty metres underground — this is the depth that local winemakers chose when they decided to store 10,000 wine bottles in the Aven d'Orgnac caves, an underground tourist attraction located at the southern end of the limestone plateau of the Gorges de l'Ardèche.

The experiment began in March 2018, when a new storage facility was specially created in a disused access tunnel to allow wine to mature in what amounts to a highly stable and peaceful environment.

A living product that ages best in undisturbed darkness, the wine will have benefited from ideal conditions: A constant temperature of around 12°C and an all-year-long rate of humidity of over 95%.

On December 12, 1,000 bottles of Côtes du Vivarais "Grand Aven 2017" from this treasure trove will be passed from hand to hand by a chain of human volunteers who will bring them back to the surface after two years underground. Thereafter, they will go under the hammer with a range of other local vintages in an auction with modest reserve prices.

Lots on offer will include 150 magnums of Terra Helvorum 2017 starting at 30 euros, 350 bottles of 2015 Terra Helvorum for as little as 15 euros and 350 bottles of Grand Aven 2016 from just 10 euros.

On land and sea

These days, experiments to store wine deep underground are very much in vogue in France. On June 3 of this year, 500 bottles were placed in racks at a depth of 103 metres in caves in Padirac under the watchful eye of Serge Dubs, the Best Sommelier of the World in 1989.

The first of these to return to the surface will be brought up for an initial tasting in the spring of 2021. And let's not forget that this experiment is focused on a very particular wine: A Clos Triguedina Cahors, christened Cuvée Probus, which has been produced to honour the 130-year anniversary of the Padirac Chasm.

Surprisingly enough, this new approach to maturing wine was initially inspired by a find at sea. In 2010, divers in the Baltic discovered a wreck containing what turned out to be a cargo of champagne, which was probably on its way to 1840s Russia.

The wave of experimentation that is now ongoing began when the bubbly, which was made by such houses as Veuve Clicquot, Heidsieck and the now defunct Juglar, was discovered to still be delicious after some 170 years under water.

In Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the French Basque country, winemaker Emmanuel Poirmeur has registered a patent for a process that involves vinifying wine in special vats at a depth of 15 metres under water. For its part, Leclerc-Briant set a record when it vinified one of its champagnes at a depth of 60 meters under the Atlantic in 2012, not surprisingly the vintage was christened "Abyss."

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Female competitors don’t have it easy in the overwhelmingly male preserve of motorsport. But thanks to the support of watch manufacture Richard Mille, that’s beginning to change.

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British luxury sportscar manufacturer Aston Martin may have been teetering on the brink yet again – this time, it’s predictably been the fault of Covid-19 – but that hasn’t arrested the flow of special-edition projects that seem to emanate regularly from its factory.

This time, it’s a pair of limited-run Vantage and DBS Superleggeras produced by the company’s bespoke Q division as a tie-in with the new James Bond movie No Time to Die, which may or may not be released in cinemas this autumn.

A throwback to the car that appeared in 1987 The Living Daylights, the Vantage 007 Edition will be available in 100 units, while 25 examples of the Superleggera 007 Edition, whose specification is similar to the Aston that appears in Bond’s latest cinematic outing, will be produced. Both models will be available globally, with deliveries beginning early next year.

Grey is the colour for both cars, the Vantage being decked out in a metallic Cumberland shade, with the Superleggera receiving a spectral Ceramic paint finish. Other unique details include the Vantage’s mesh grille with chrome surround, a vented sidestrake and yellow detailing on front spoiler, sill extensions and rear diffuser – the latter, we’re told, referencing the rocket boosters of the car in the ’87 film. Completing the homage is the availability of a ski rack and skis in matching colours, 007 branding on the centre console of manual-transmission models and an optional laser-etched gadget plaque depicting “controls” for such functions as rocket motors, missiles and ski outriggers (which, fortunately for other road users, aren’t part of the package).

The Superleggera, meanwhile, gets black carbon-fibre roof, aero additions and wing mirrors, massive 21-inch Y-spoke wheels, and 007 logos on wings and spoiler. The cockpit also gets the full Bond treatment, with branding on doors, armrest buckles and rear woofer cover.

Mechanically, both cars are identical to the regular models, with a 4-litre twin turbo V8 in the smaller, two-seat Vantage and a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 – the latter producing a mammoth 900Nm of torque – in the DBS Superleggera. All of which might well leave our hero somewhat stirred, if presumably not at all shaken.

The post Licensed to Thrill: Aston Martin’s New 007 Editions appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Italian yacht brand, Antonini Navi, has unveiled the UP40 Crossover, its first superyacht platform.

Almost before we knew it August is upon us, and with the prospect of balmy autumn weather just months away – perfect for cruising Hong Kong’s coastline or escaping much further away into the wide blue yonder – our thoughts begin to turn on the kind of boat in which we’d like to do just that. And the stunning new UP Crossover could well be exactly the one we’ve been looking for.

Built at the Antonini Navi shipyard close to La Spezia on Italy’s Ligurian coast, the Crossover is the first of three vessels (the others are a Motoryacht and Sport Explorer) to be built on a modular steel platform that enables a range of concepts and configurations to be decided upon as the yacht is being constructed. It’s been designed in collaboration with award-winning marine architect Fulvio De Simoni, who says that it’s “a modern reinterpretation of classic boats designed for a precise function: simple forms with a strong personality clad in a versatile architecture open to customisation, designed to offer a simple and direct way to enjoy life at sea”.

Testing of the UP40’s hull, which features generous freeboards (the distance between the waterline and upper decks) and a thoroughly contemporary bow design, was carried out at the Marin Maritime Research Institute in the Netherlands to extreme navigational conditions. Which means that in theory and within reason, this yacht should be seaworthy enough to transport you to just about anywhere.

The 40.8-metre-long, two-deck vessel with a helm station on a conjoining half deck is available either with a fully open upper-deck that offers some 200 square metres of space and is most suitable for Mediterranean conditions, or one with an enclosed bridge and superstructure over part of the upper deck. The latter not only features extensive glass areas but also permits a 60-square-metre owner’s suite with private terrace. The lower deck can accommodate up to four double guest cabins, with a further five cabins for crew, while exterior areas both forward and aft can also be configured variously, with one option being the installation of an infinity pool at the bow.

Powered by twin Caterpillar C18 diesels, which together provide some 1,770hp, the UP40 Crossover can travel at speeds of up to 15 knots (28km/h). More important for those of us who really do want to sail away from it all, its ability to carry up to 46,000 litres of fuel gives it a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 kilometres) at a cruising speed of 10kt. Tahiti, here we come!

The post The Horizon’s the Limit Aboard Antonini Navi’s Amazing New UP40 Crossover Superyacht appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to luxury, you can rest assured that Prestige has it covered.

But with the sheer multitude, let alone variety, released regularly on the landscape, it can become rather difficult to figure out the best from the rest or to even pick up the newest and most exciting. As luck would have it, our editors are forever on the look out: discovering on-the-rise labels, picking up new products from cult brands and the finding the most desirable items there are. So for those that are curious what that might be, keep scrolling to discover what made the cut in our weekly Most Coveted list.

The post Most Coveted: Bvlgari, Chanel, Dom Pérignon, Dior and More appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to luxury, you can rest assured that Prestige has it covered.

But with the sheer multitude, let alone variety, released regularly on the landscape, it can become rather difficult to figure out the best from the rest or to even pick up the newest and most exciting. As luck would have it, our editors are forever on the look out: discovering on-the-rise labels, picking up new products from cult brands and the finding the most desirable items there are. So for those that are curious what that might be, keep scrolling to discover what made the cut in our weekly Most Coveted list.

The post Most Coveted: Jacquemus, Sacai, and Clot x Nike x Medicom appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to luxury, you can rest assured that Prestige has it covered.

But with the sheer multitude, let alone variety, released regularly on the landscape, it can become rather difficult to figure out the best from the rest or to even pick up the newest and most exciting. As luck would have it, our editors are forever on the look out: discovering on-the-rise labels, picking up new products from cult brands and the finding the most desirable items there are. So for those that are curious what that might be, keep scrolling to discover what made the cut in our weekly Most Coveted list.

The post Most Coveted: Chanel, Alexander Wang x Bvlgari, Delvaux and More appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to luxury, you can rest assured that Prestige has it covered. But with the sheer multitude, let alone variety, released regularly on the landscape, it can become rather difficult to figure out the best from the rest or to even pick up the newest and most exciting. As luck would have it, our editors are forever on the look out: discovering on-the-rise labels, picking up new products from cult brands and the finding the most desirable items there are. So for those that are curious what that might be, keep scrolling to discover what made the cut in our weekly Most Coveted list.

The post Most Coveted: Chaumet, Bottega Veneta, Rejina Pyo and More appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Coravin, the wine lover's dream device that lets you pour wine without uncorking, is back with brand new models.

As fans of the smart wine preservation system, we have observed Coravin for some time and seen the brand expand with new technology every year. Now, they have extended their product lineup with the launch of new systems -- Models Three and Six. What's more, all new and existing models have been equipped with SmartClamps™, which, prior to the launch, was only available on Model Eleven. The new easy-on and easy-off clamps are designed to go over the neck of the bottle and push down firmly on the handle in one fluid motion, making the system even easier to use.

Coravin's wine access technology is all down to the hollow needle that is inserted through the cork, before the system pressurises the bottle with Argon (an inert, colourless and odourless) gas, to pour the wine out. Once poured, and the Coravin is taken off the bottle, the cork reseals naturally -- allowing wine to stay fresh for months on end, and years if needed.

The new systems also comes with a Coravin Screw Cap which allows users to enjoy new world wine (with screw caps) the same way as old world wine (cork) bottles, preserving them for up to three months.

So, with four Coravin Models in total, Model Three, Five, Six and Eleven, which model is the right one for you? Well, let's find out shall we.

Coravin Model Three

Details: Model Three is an upgraded version of Coravin's Model One and features a clean and simple, user-friendly and functional design in matte texture.
Perfect for: the everyday wine drinker.
Price: HK$2,080

Coravin Model Five

Details: Model Five is not available for retail as it has been made specifically for trade. The design is simply elegant but durable.
Perfect for: those in the industry who favour classic design with metallic accents.
Price: email for trade price

Coravin Model Six

Details: Model Six is the upgraded version of the popular Model Two Elite edition, it also features vibrant colours with chrome accents.
Perfect for: luxury style and fashion lovers.
Price: HK$3,580

Coravin Model Eleven

Details: Model Eleven is the smartest device of the Coravin family. It is the first bluetooth connected and fully automatic system. It comes with LED display, glass pour optimisation, and connection to the Coravin Moments app, which tracks system statistics and advises on wine pairings with food, music and more.
Perfect for: technology and gadget enthusiasts who love a varied wine experience.
Price: HK$6,880

The post These Are the Most Valued Auction Items to Go Under the Hammer appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Coravin, the wine lover's dream device that lets you pour wine without uncorking, is back with brand new models.

As fans of the smart wine preservation system, we have observed Coravin for some time and seen the brand expand with new technology every year. Now, they have extended their product lineup with the launch of new systems -- Models Three and Six. What's more, all new and existing models have been equipped with SmartClamps™, which, prior to the launch, was only available on Model Eleven. The new easy-on and easy-off clamps are designed to go over the neck of the bottle and push down firmly on the handle in one fluid motion, making the system even easier to use.

Coravin's wine access technology is all down to the hollow needle that is inserted through the cork, before the system pressurises the bottle with Argon (an inert, colourless and odourless) gas, to pour the wine out. Once poured, and the Coravin is taken off the bottle, the cork reseals naturally -- allowing wine to stay fresh for months on end, and years if needed.

The new systems also comes with a Coravin Screw Cap which allows users to enjoy new world wine (with screw caps) the same way as old world wine (cork) bottles, preserving them for up to three months.

So, with four Coravin Models in total, Model Three, Five, Six and Eleven, which model is the right one for you? Well, let's find out shall we.

Coravin Model Three

Details: Model Three is an upgraded version of Coravin's Model One and features a clean and simple, user-friendly and functional design in matte texture.
Perfect for: the everyday wine drinker.
Price: HK$2,080

Coravin Model Five

Details: Model Five is not available for retail as it has been made specifically for trade. The design is simply elegant but durable.
Perfect for: those in the industry who favour classic design with metallic accents.
Price: email for trade price

Coravin Model Six

Details: Model Six is the upgraded version of the popular Model Two Elite edition, it also features vibrant colours with chrome accents.
Perfect for: luxury style and fashion lovers.
Price: HK$3,580

Coravin Model Eleven

Details: Model Eleven is the smartest device of the Coravin family. It is the first bluetooth connected and fully automatic system. It comes with LED display, glass pour optimisation, and connection to the Coravin Moments app, which tracks system statistics and advises on wine pairings with food, music and more.
Perfect for: technology and gadget enthusiasts who love a varied wine experience.
Price: HK$6,880

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