Luxury Insider

If you are looking for something different from the usual spa retreats and holiday resorts, consider Frenchmans Lookout, a two-storey Carolina house nestled comfortably in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Its commanding presence above the Sir Francis Drake Channel was the reason for its popularity as an infamous pirates’ lookout. Its colorful history, however, does not overshadow its current status as one of the finest luxury estates in the Caribbean.

The Frenchmans Lookout offers a private retreat for 10 people. Beautifully-finished, and with wrap-around porches on each floor, elegance is the key word here. A freshwater lap pool and a six-person hot tub are among the lavish spa-like amenities. Even the surrounding gardens are spotted with specimen trees, providing a tinge of gardenia and jasmine scents in the air.

The estate’s privacy is complemented by its professionally-trained staff, including a private chef for your convenience. Since Frenchmans Lookout only accepts a small group at a time, you are encouraged to customize your itinerary to suit your needs.

MB&F is undoubtedly one of the most interesting brands, within the luxury watch industry or otherwise, out there today. With its innovative concept and provocative sense of design, this rising force in the discerning world of mechanical watches never fails to amaze observers. Its stunning first offering, the HM1, was met with much excitement for its seductive combination of art and science.

To chart the progress of its forthcoming releases, the HM2 and HM3 timepieces, the brand has launched its new website complete with a unique blog featuring similarly interesting concepts in design and technology. Best of all, the site is replete with fantastic images of their work, which is a must-see for all fans of watches, design, and technology.

An adventurous affair takes place right in this residential cruise liner, named the Magellan, where its residents will travel round the globe over a span of two years without having to leave their comfort zone of home. Being 60 percent larger than most other passenger cruise ships, The Magellan stretches over 860 feet and is 106 feet wide. Within its 15 decks, it houses 212 private residences, inclusive of 16 penthouses. It shall make its periodical stops at over 150 renowned ports of call annually, leaving its tracks along the exotics such as Monte Carlo, Ibiza, Grand Cayman, and so forth. Integrated with revered entertainment facilities, it may be hard to miss the 450-seat theater, or the night club and lounge situated under the stars. Other worthy features will include the “Aqua Spa”, observatory gallery, the casino, and not forgetting a variety of six restaurants.

With its estimated date of completion falling around summer 2010, the Magellan residences are expected to remain in an operational state for the vessel's 100-year life. Initiated by Randall Jackson, CEO of Residential Cruise Line, and designed by the world-renowned Norwegian firm of Peter Yran and Bjorn Storbraaten Architects A.S., the Magellan works towards being the cream of the crop of all luxurious residential cruise ships.

Music and art come together in the luscious, refined form of the ClaraVox Dogma range of hi-fidelity loudspeakers, available by special order only. Sculpted by hand from carbon and glass fiber by DGFdesign, this stunning pair of floorstanders is set to take your music experience to a whole new level with its optimal precision and pure quality.

Of course, as with all audio equipment, a personal audition is the only way to verify this, but the clarity, openness, and imaging of the Dogma are said to be very close to being at a real, live performance. Putting their money where their mouths are, ClaraVox and DGFdesign had soprano Alida Berti and their auditory objet d'art playing her recorded voice side-by-side on stage for a live comparison. The verdict? A hands-down "exceptional duet". If you’re an avid audiophile and appreciate modern design, the Dogma from ClaraVox is quite easily a shoo-in for your living room.

Döttling's range of luxury safes are much more than flamboyant, highly-priced antiques. They are designed to cater to the peculiar needs of its moneyed upper class. Traditionally handcrafted, everything they make is exquisite: on one example, a Wilhelminian-styled door handle is crafted out of 24-carat gold and an antique letter combination lock out of red gold. Bolt works are of state-of-the-art security standards and are backed by Traumsafe, the world’s leading authority in luxury safes.

The exclusivity of Döttling luxury safes is underscored by in-built facilities such as a humidor, a mini-bar, a wine-bar, and they can even work as showcases. A Cartier trophy can be displayed in Wilhelminian style and mini-bars are made from the finest mahogany. Selected safes are designed with an illuminated effect where valuable frame-works make the hall of honor. It is no wonder prices start from US$55,000 and can even reach an astronomical US$160,000.

Huvafen Fushi is a stunning resort built on stilts over a portion of Maldivian sea, situated in the North Malé Atoll. With its modern design, Huvafen Fushi offers 43 bungalows of different sizes, equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems, plasma TV screens, a chic iPod Nano along with a pre-installed selection of songs, your own private plunge pool, top-of-the-list Frank Gehry furniture, and the list goes on.

The best part of the resort, however, is the avant-garde Aquum spa where massage treatment rooms are submerged four meters deep into the Maldives seabed. The only wall between you and aquatic life is an oval-shaped dome, deliberately designed like a fishbowl. Different spa packages are available and the range stretches from a quintessential hour of yoga and meditation incorporated with an Asian blend massage to a Cleopatra ritual where you bathe in milk, gently sponged with shreds of coconut and spices.

From the looks of it, a night’s stay in one of these luxe-but-laid-back bungalows is surely worth more than your US$880.

Feadship is a name not unfamiliar to dedicated yacht-spotters. Founded by two families, De Vries and Royal Van Lent, and based in Netherlands, Feadship has two shipyards, Aalsmeer and Kaag, and one designing and engineering center, De Voogt Naval Architects.

This January, Feadship released a modest picture of a 219-foot motor yacht, Anna, the largest yacht in terms of volume ever built by the De Vries yard in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. All we know about this ‘graceful lady’ is that she has a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. Designed by Michael Leach Design, Anna is now undergoing her final touches in Makkun, residence of the finest motor works.

Today's real estate market in Singapore is astounding casual observers with ever-rising record prices, ever-more extravagant luxury developments, and an ever-eager market for them. One of the more notable developers of late, SC Global Developments Ltd. has announced its latest project, The Marq On Paterson Hill, which is pitched at the very top end of the market.

This prestigious address near the heart of Singapore's bustling Orchard Road will feature just 60 to 70 “mansions in the sky”, with a luxurious resort feel augmented by 15 meter-long, cantilevered lap pools outside every apartment. Unique in this thriving island nation, a stunning, unique feature like these private sanctuary-like pools is sure to make this condominium the talk of the town for a long time to come.

Imagine a 484-meter skyscraper built like a blooming flower. Then imagine the endless possibilities.

And that just about sums up the Burj Al Alam, also known as 'The World Tower'. Set to stand tall in Dubai’s Business Bay area in 2009, it will be a spectacle hard to miss in the thriving city. It also comes as no surprise that the structure has now found itself in the pages of the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s tallest commercial tower.

"Not just any tower". True to its bold claim you can expect no less from this US$1 billion project by Fortune Group – 74 floors of office space, leading retailers taking space in its base floors and 27 floors of the highest hotel rooms and serviced apartments promising sheer luxury and welcome respite from the buzz of the city. At the top of the tower sits a 6-story crown resembling flower petals that will contain an open air Turkish spa/bath, sky garden, among other club facilities.

As its name suggests and as the motifs indicate, the Ultraplate "Lotus" timepiece is inspired by the lotus flower. Featuring an original combination of guilloché dial, diamonds and rubber straps, the Lotus is as edgy as it is elegant.

The Lotus has a mechanical self-winding movement indicating the hours, minutes, seconds, and date. Shown here in a red gold case with white dial, the timepiece is also available in stainless steel with black or white dial.

Astir Palace is a luxury resort located in the heart of the elite area of Athens Riviera, Vouliagmeni. It boasts three five-star hotels, namely, the Arion Resort & Spa, The Westin Athens, and the W Athens (opening 2008).

With 526 panoramic, well-appointed hotel rooms, a stay at the 75-acre resort guarantees all guests breathtaking views of the Saronic Gulf on the Mediterranean Sea. Set in a natural environment, the resort complex marries luxury, relaxation and superb service with ease.

Astir Palace offers premier facilities ranging from access to three private beaches, a private helicopter service, and everything else in between, and you can relax in the knowledge that you will never be in want of anything on this vacation.

LG Electronics and PRADA, the Italian luxury outfitters, would perhaps hitherto not be thought of in the same vein, until now. Together, they have launched one of world's the first completely touch screen mobile phone in the world, the PRADA Phone by LG (KE850). The tactile new interface eliminates the need for a conventional number pad, which arguably opens up a world of new possibilities for the user interface of all mobile phones to come.

A large LCD screen, a 2 megapixel camera with a Schneider-Kreuznach lens, a video player, and a document viewer make for a versatile everyday communications companion. Best of all, its sleek, ultra-thin 12 mm-thick exterior makes it, as its name would imply, an intelligent fashion accessory. It is slated for imminent delivery around the world.

With its peerless architectural design, the Eighty South Street tower stands conspicuous against the skyline of New York City. This 835-foot-tall residential building houses just ten ultra-exclusive townhouse condominiums, with a starting bid for each unit at US$ 29 million. Each townhouse, contained within its own individual cube with roughly 10,000 square feet of floor space and containing four stories, is accompanied by a large private garden outside and a private elevator within. Moreover, convenience is paramount, with concierge services and amenities made available round the clock.

Its strategic location by the southern tip of the Manhattan waterfront, as well as being a stone’s throw away from the World Trade Center site, suggests a panoramic view of both the calming waterfront seascape as well as the vibrant city skyline. This work of art is part of the portfolio of the world-famous Spanish architect and engineer, Santiago Calatrava, whose other works include the Athens Olympic Stadium, Sweden's Turning Torso, and more.

Renowned distillers John Walker & Sons have unveiled their latest, ultra-deluxe whisky blend, the Blue Label King George V Edition – named for the King who awarded the company a Royal Warrant to supply his Household with Scotch. This handcrafted blend is made using original, historical techniques, and only whiskies from distilleries operating during King George's reign have been selected, including a rare whisky from the now-defunct Port Ellen distillery.

As with the famed Blue Label blend, the King George V Edition's unique flavor contains a delicate balance of peatiness, smoke, and lighter aromatic fruit flavors from a variety of oak casks. Lucky Asian connoisseurs will be the first to sample this exquisite blend – available through selected outlets on a strict allocation basis only – which comes in a silk-lined presentation box, making it perfect as an extra-special gift.

Nestled between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo on Mexico’s flamboyant coasts lies the pristine tropical island landscape of Costa Careyes, where luxurious the Casa Triton is secreted away. Built palapa-style and designed with a modern edge, Casa Triton's exotic villa, perched upon a vertical cliff 120 feet above the ocean, is an ideal retreat for visitors to immerse themselves in Mother Nature’s offerings.

An infinity pool connects the different sections of the property, and visitors to the exotic villa can snorkel, horseback ride, and snooze the day away to the charming music of exotic birds and the dancing ocean waves. The good news is that this retreat is free from futuristic technologies. The calming sea breeze, hundreds of lighted candles, the soft rhythms of Beethoven, and a sea of starry skies forms the equation of a priceless experience. It is no wonder this villa is US$6,000 a night and always booked.

Few mobile phones are sleeker and more dazzling than the Sony Ericsson Black Diamond, immaculately designed by Singaporean Jaren Goh and to be finished by Swiss diamond retailer VIPN. According to Goh, the phone, which started out as a design concept for the “new millennium”, is a marvel of “both form and function”. With just five handsets planned for production, prices are set at a cool US$300,000.

To be released in early 2007, its 2-carat diamonds – one on the joystick and the other embedded behind – exemplify the best in cut, color, and clarity. But it isn’t just the diamonds that seal the deal. Layered with polycarbonate giving it a clean, borderless screen, the glossy sophisticated cut makes the Black Diamond an irresistible lure for luxury gadget lovers. Powered by Windows Mobile 5.0, it features an impressive 4 megapixel camera, a 2-inch touchscreen LCD, Wi-Fi connectivity on an Intel 400MHz XScale processor, Bluetooth, 128MB of internal memory, and a SD memory card slot.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled the new Phantom Drophead Coupé at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show. Featuring a streamlined body, the two-door, four-seat convertible utilizes an all-aluminum spaceframe to achieve classic Rolls-Royce styling combined with modern sleekness.

At the heart of the Drophead Coupé is a 6.75-liter, V12 engine capable of producing 453 bhp and 720 Nm of torque. Moving off from standstill is easy with 75% of the engine's torque available at 1000 rpm. The naturally-aspirated engine is paired with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.

The Drophead Coupé’s power-operated coach doors, unique only to Rolls-Royce, strengthen the convertible immensely while offering a pillar-free profile. The soft-top is lined with cashmere to ensure a quiet ride and a touch of elegance, and folds away neatly under a teak deck.

The Prickly Bay Waterside is a new luxury development by the water's edge of the Lance-aux Épines peninsula in Grenada, an island in the southeastern Caribbean Sea.

Surrounded by Grenada's extraordinary variety of landscapes (a central mountain range, tropical rainforests, waterfalls, and stunning beaches), Prickly Bay Waterside consists of marine houses, lawn houses and apartments, with all properties designed to provide a unique combination of indoor and outdoor living.

Inspired by Prickly Bay's nautical background, the award-winning development showcases many marine influences such as the marine houses that resemble moored superyachts.

Lush, modern, and exclusive, Prickly Bay Waterside promises to be all that and more.

Moët & Chandon celebrates spring with the launch of the Moët Flower Rosé Collection. With vibrant packaging designed by socialite and fashion illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, these chic champagne bouquets are set to be a whimsical hit with bubbly lovers the world over. Sleek, sophisticated, and fun, the Moët Flower Rosé Gift Set makes for an eye-catching table centerpiece. It comes with a bottle of Impérial Rosé and is accompanied by four lacquered tulip champagne stems elegantly set on a clear stand.

Produced with Valentine's Day in mind, the delightfully portable Limited Edition Mini Moët Flower Rosé Gift Set includes two mini Moët bottles of Rosé Impérial and thoughtful mini flutes. With the imminent arrival of spring, no picnic basket or intimate bar setting would be complete without Moët Flower Rosé. The Moët Flower Rosé Collection will be available at all leading wine retailers and departmental stores from February 2007.

So steeped in legend and myth, it is hard to believe that Ferrari is just 60 years old this year. To celebrate, the famed sports car company is organizing a relay race – complete with symbolic baton – across five continents, 50 countries, and 148 days. Culminating at the factory at Maranello, the event ends off with Ferrari assembling its 60 most important innovations, including the electronic locking differential and revolutionary F1 gearbox. They will also be organizing their first concours d'élégance, complete with events at the track, at the factory, and at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello.

Along the way, each participating country will dedicate an object representative of their local culture and traditions, which will then be exhibited at the Farnesina Palace in Rome before being auctioned off for charity. For posterity, a historical book will be published alongside a collection of pictures and data of all the cars built by the company.

Central Park West (CPW) has long been one of New York City's most coveted avenues, with its legendary Art Deco-styled apartments facing the gargantuan Park dominating the luxury property market both in terms of desirability as well as dollar values. Finding an available unit in the area is often difficult, as well as hugely expensive in many cases – per-square-foot figures upwards of US$3000 are not unheard of despite the centennial age of many of the properties on CPW.

Attempting to recreate the glamor of legendary buildings such as the Dakota, the San Remo, and the Beresford is 15 CPW, reputedly the most sought-after address in all Manhattan last year. Romantically built from limestone, and with set-back penthouses complete with huge wrap-around balconies, sales of 15 CPW have been a huge success, with latest figures allegedly running well past the US$1.5 billion mark, on a site that was purchased for a fraction of that not too long ago.

Goldarths Review has launched its January 2007 issue. In it, we present you with our Special Feature on Luxury Aviation. From jet ownership to the finest commercial airlines in the world, we hope to rekindle the magic and marvel of flight.

Also in this issue, our columnists have been hard at work, with master watchmaker Ron DeCorte reviewing the hotly-anticipated Nautilus from Patek Philippe, while real estate expert Khalil & Kane gives an overview of the luxury real estate market in the US, Mexico, and Canada.

If all is smooth sailing, we could be seeing the world's first underwater hotel come 2008. The brainchild of Bruce Jones, the man also behind the neat craftsmanship of U.S. Submarines, the aptly named Poseidon will sit among the corals in the emerald waters of northeastern Fiji. It is soon to be submerged to a depth of 40 feet beneath the waves.

What it promises is no less than surreal – lavish suites with a 270-degree view of beautiful oceanic fauna on a seabed you can only imagine to see on Discovery Channel, exquisite dining in a 3000 square-foot rotating restaurant/bar, and for scuba enthusiasts, a chance to leap into the great abyss from the hotel's airlock. Add to that a spa, library, and even a wedding chapel for frivolous Las Vegas type weddings, if that is your thing.

The underwater world is a playground for the high rollers and for now, the Poseidon looks set to roll in the guests. Already, reservations at exorbitant rates are being made. As they say, nothing is impossible in the vast oceanic depths.

Debuting at the 2007 North American Auto Show in Detroit, the C-XF concept from Jaguar heralds a new design direction for the British luxury car manufacturer's sports sedans of the future. As with all Jaguars, a sense of feline dynamism is visible in the elegant profile. Powered by a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine, the concept combines luxury with high performance in the best Jaguar tradition.

With hints of its past – that squared grille evoking memories of the 1968 XJ saloon – the C-XF has a bold, athletic shape that breaks with the current Jaguar look and features “slim-wedged headlamps”, a shallow glasshouse, and a flowing roofline that culminates in an Aston-Martin Rapide-esque rear haunch. Inside, a futuristic look as achieved with a wrap-around design and unique instruments and switchgear. Not just a design showcase, the C-XF hints at the exciting new motorcars to come from a famous British marque, not least of which is the replacement for the worthy but aging S-Type.