Category: Collectibles

Theory of Happiness: Einstein’s priceless life advice

In 1922, having just been crowned the winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics, Albert Einstein travelled to Tokyo for a series of lectures. During the course of his speaking tour, a lone courier arrived at the Imperial Hotel to make a delivery and found himself face to face with the 20th century’s greatest theoretical physicist. Awe-struck, the courier refused a tip. Intent on repaying him, Einstein took a piece of hotel stationery on which he proffered these words of wisdom: “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.” And thus, the German physicist’s lesser known Theory of Happiness was born.

Einstein reportedly told the courier to hold onto the note because it might be valuable someday – an understatement indeed. The apocryphal story has yielded a generous (albeit belated) tip, with the Theory of Happiness fetching US$1.56 million at auction. Winner’s Auctions, the Jerusalem-based auction house, had expected to net between US$5,000-$8,000. Explaining the meteoric jump in sales price, Meni Chadad, a Winner’s spokesman, said, “I think the value can be explained by the fact that the story behind it is so uplifting and inspiring, and because Einstein continues to be a global rock star long after his death.”

Images: Winner’s Auctions and Exhibitions

Cha-Qing! Chinese antique shatters Sotheby’s auction record

Sotheby’s recently held its Important Chinese Art auction: a marquee event that assembled rare porcelain alongside artworks from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Sales totalled over HK$333 million, and amidst these impressive results there were some truly awe-inspiring highlights.

Case in point: a rare brush washer dating from the Northern Song dynasty and a “ram’s head” teapot crafted from white jade featuring a cloisonné enamel handle. The sale of the latter exceeded experts’ wildest expectations, netting an impressive HK$75.5 million – a world record for the most expensive jade carving to be acquired at auction. Sourced from a private collection, this ceramic is a fine example of classical jade art during the Qianlong Emperor’s reign.

Made from a singular block of white jade, the teapot’s body is shaped into 12 evenly-spaced petal lobes. The titular “ram’s head” carving forms part of the spout and is finely detailed, with each of the creature’s features individually articulated. “It is a fine example of Qianlong period imperial jades,” says Xu Lin, a Sotheby’s cataloguer. That this piece was once owned by debonair American socialite Millicent Rogers – reportedly a confidant of Madame Chiang Kai-shek – is merely the icing on the cake.

Images: Sotheby’s

Game of Thrones meets haute couture with Delvaux’s new collection

In a move guaranteed to thrill Game of Thrones fans, luxury leather brand Delvaux just unveiled four exclusive lines of bags and accessories inspired by the mega cultural phenomenon. These GoT-themed goods are part of Delvaux’s limited-edition Couture Exclusive Collection.

Each line draws inspiration from well-known personas in the fantasy land of Westeros. Golden Glory’s buckles derive its shape from the Iron Throne, itself, while Iron Shield’s militaristic metal tones come from Jaime Lannister’s armour. Black Beauty is influenced by Melisandre’s dark ethereal beauty, and Cersei Lannister’s beautifully embroidered gowns inspired the designs of Queen’s Desire.

The Couture Exclusive Collection features just 1,810 handmade pieces, so don’t miss out on the chance to own your own Game of Thrones-inspired handbag! The Couture Exclusive Collection is now available exclusively at select Delvaux boutiques.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images: Delvaux, HBO

Make the Most of Christmas with Gafencu’s Exclusive Luxury Gift Selection

With December nearly here, it’s almost time to spread a little festive cheer. This year, why not delight your loved ones with the perfect gift from the Gafencu E-Shop‘s selection of exclusive luxury lifestyle products?

And there’s even more reason to celebrate. From elegant jewellery and limited-edition accessories to the most debonair of timepieces, every item in the Gafencu online collection is available at a special Christmas promotional price.

Log on to the Gafencu E-Shop today and discover just what our carefully-curated selection of exclusive luxury goods has in store for you and for those you cherish.

Table talk with Saint-Louis Ceo Jerome de Lavergnolle on how to adorn your Christmas table and more

Iconic French homeware brand, Saint-Louis, has just introduced some timeless and contemporary tableware and decoration pieces ahead of Christmas. Drawing from experience dating back to half a millennium, these objets d’art are designed to transform your home into a magical space. We recently caught up with the brand’s CEO Jerome de Lavergnolle to find out about his personal recommendations and other special services this Christmas.

Please tell us something about the origins of Saint Louis.

Established in 1586, the Münzthal glassworks became known as Saint-Louis in 1767 by letters patent from King Louis XV. In 1781, Saint-Louis’s skilled craftsmen discovered the secret formula of crystal for the first time in continental Europe. Over centuries, Saint-Louis has remained an emblem of classic luxury and has sidestepped any risk of being engulfed by current fashion trends. In 1995, Saint-Louis became part of the Hermès Group.

What is your latest collection and what are the sources of inspiration for it?

 In January 2017, we introduced Folia – a 25-piece collection of tableware, vases, candlesticks and lighting. In September 2017, we wanted to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the iconic Tommy collection with colour and panache. The first Tommy collection was introduced in 1928 to celebrate the friendship between France and the UK after World War I.

What do you recommend from your collection for our readers this Christmas?

Saint-Louis has designed several eye-catching items especially for Christmas. Twist 1586 is an exhaustive tableware collection, perfect for wowing your guests, while the Plurielle Vase can easily be a centrepiece in any setting. For clients looking for more minimalist options, I’d recommend the Oxymore collection with its clean-cut features.

Does Saint-Louis cater to any special request services?

We do honour special request services. For lighting, you can opt for our customised services to make changes to our ready-to-light collection. For instance, royal lightings can be customised for an extra touch of exclusivity: a single chandelier can offer over 15,000 possibilities! We also have a made-to-order service. Till date, the largest chandelier made to order at our factory was 9 metres high, 4 metres in diameter and weighed around 2,500 kg.

We also customise tableware and ornamental items, engraving them with your name or adding a new embellishment.

You have worked for the Hermes group for over 20 years. What are the biggest changes in terms of the Asian market? 

Today, Asian clients are not necessarily following trends, but are setting their own trends. They have become connoisseurs who have abandoned the prominence of the logo for signature designs. Customised or made-to-measure pieces also catch their interests.

Thank you.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Spread the joy this Christmas with Gafencu’s exclusive luxury gifts

With Christmas getting ever-closer, it’s the perfect time to select the ideal gifts for your loved ones. Given the huge number of Christmas special offers bombarding many of us, it’s often a struggle to discern where true quality lies. This year, though, you can cut through the clutter by logging on to the Gafencu e-shop, your one-stop destination for luxury lifestyle purchases.

From elegant jewellery and limited-edition accessories to exclusive homeware items, all of the current Gafencu online collection is available at a special Christmas promotional price.

Log on today and discover a world of carefully-curated exclusive luxury goods.

Make the Most of Christmas with Gafencu’s Exclusive Luxury Gift Selection

With December nearly here, it’s almost time to spread a little festive cheer. This year, why not delight your loved ones with the perfect gift from the Gafencu E-Shop‘s selection of exclusive luxury lifestyle products?

And there’s even more reason to celebrate. From elegant jewellery and limited-edition accessories to the most debonair of timepieces, every item in the Gafencu online collection is available at a special Christmas promotional price.

Log on to the Gafencu E-Shop today and discover just what our carefully-curated selection of exclusive luxury goods has in store for you and for those you cherish.

Blancpain showcases stunning Metiers d’Art collection in Hong Kong

Anyone who stepped into Blancpain’s Metiers d’Art exhibition at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental might have wondered if they’d entered an art gallery instead. Given the impeccable artistry of the stunning timepieces on display, the mistake was understandable.

Guests were treated to a fantastic display of one-of-the-kind watches such as the Villeret Ganesh and cherry blossom-themed 8 Jours Manuelle. The individual dial of each Metiers d’Art creation showcased one of four incredible techniques: enamel painting, detailed engraving, damasquinage and shakudo.

Opening night attendees were invited to learn more about each unique style and watch live demonstrations of dial painting and engraving in an exclusive and intimate setting. The latter is also part of Blancpain’s new bespoke service which allows high-end watch collectors to personalise and influence their own Metiers d’Art design.

Blancpain’s Vice President and Head of Sales Marc Junod described the unique collection and bespoke service as a dual-pronged approach to introduce the 282-year-old watch brand to a new audience, while also building a more interactive relationship with high-end watch collectors.

“It’s one thing to come up with a watch and launch it at the Baselworld watch fair,” explained Junod, “it’s much more interesting to sit down with someone from the get go and come up with an idea and a unique creation. It becomes a personal journey.”

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images: Gigi Ip, Blancpain

Baccarat’s new Gold Era Collection has historical allure

High-end French crystal brand Baccarat’s new Gold Era Collection showcases its most popular designs accented with a subtle touch of gold to evoke nostalgia for a by-gone era of luxury. We sat with CEO Daniela Riccardo to find out the sources of inspiration for the new collection and how it remains true to 250 years of French heritage.

In the wake of Baccarat’s recent acquisition by Chinese group Fortune Fountain Capital, Riccardo also shares the 250-year-old French brand’s future aspirations in the Asian markets. Check out our video interview above.

Bell & Ross unveils limited-edition watch at Search for Extremes event

Bell & Ross celebrated the launch its new Watch Beyond campaign in Hong Kong with an exciting, multifaceted exhibition dubbed Search for Extremes. Attendees were among the first to lay eyes on the new limited-edition Burning Skull Bronze watch. We sat with Bell & Ross General Manager Mr. Fabien de Nonancourt to find out more.

What is the inspiration behind the “Search for Extremes” exhibition?

From the beginning, Bell & Ross created watches especially for military use. We were dedicated to manufacturing high-performance watches that could withstand intense pressures.

Drawing from that, we have launched the Search for Extremes exhibition. The exhibition is divided into three distinct categories: air, earth and sea. For air, we drew inspiration from fighter pilots. For earth we looked to extreme car racing such as Formula 1. For our newest category, sea, we were inspired by deep sea divers.

Tell us about the new watch model you are unveiling at the exhibition.

The new watch that we are unveiling is very special for two reasons. Firstly, we’ve taken two of our iconic Concept Skull pieces and merged them into one spectacular creation: the BR01 Burning Skull Bronze. Secondly and more importantly, this limited-edition timepiece will only be available in Hong Kong and China, nowhere else.

What are Bell & Ross’ plans for the future?

Firstly, we are looking to grow our footprint in Asia, which began with the launch of Bell & Ross subsidiaries across the continent.

We are also planning to expand into the luxury segment. Bell & Ross already has an impeccable record of Swiss watch making craftsmanship, so it’s a very logical next step.

What is your favourite Bell & Ross watch?

My favourite watch is the BRV2-94 Bellytanker, which I’m wearing right now. It’s part of a 500-piece limited edition model inspired by fighter planes from WWII. It perfectly represents Bell & Ross’ ability to blend its military heritage with cutting-edge modern design.

Thank you. 

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images: Gigi Ip, Bell & Ross