Category: Collectibles

Charitable Hearts: Celebs open their closets for a good cause

If you’ve ever wondered what the rich and famous have in their closets, here’s a chance to take an intimate look.

Supermodel Toni Garrn has partnered with luxury fashion resale brand Vestiaire Collective for a charity sale that features items from her own collection, as well as personal belongings given by fashion icons and well-known celebrities.

Apart from Kate Moss’ denim jacket and Gisele Bundchen’s personalised Prada shoes, you’ll also find clothing and accessories from Hollywood A-listers like Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss and Poppy Delevigne.

Hong Kong celebs also rose to the occasion. Cara G, who donated a red MGM bag and Ted Baker clutch, was joined by Amanda Strang, Louise Wong, Angela Yuen and Jeannie Chan.

All proceeds raised from the sale will go directly to the Toni Garrn Foundation, which supports the education and empowerment of girls across Africa.

So now it’s your turn. Log on for the Vestiaire Collective X Toni Garrn global charity sale  for a chance to get your own celebrity keepsake and to support a worthy cause!

The charity sale begins November 2nd at: http://www.vestiairecollective.com/

Singleton’s Forgotten Drop Series promises to be a memorable experience

The Singleton of Glen Ord Forgotten Drop Series can easily be dubbed as the godfather of whiskies. Aged for 41 years, priced at around HK$22,000, limited to less than 50 bottles for Hong Kong, this whisky is by far more exclusive than the so-called ‘exclusive’ whiskies around.

Well, so what makes it so special? To start with, this whisky has been handcrafted by one of the industry’s most experienced Master of Malts, Maureen Robinson. She explains, “With The Singleton Forgotten Drop Series we set out to find more than just very old whiskies, we wanted to find exceptional whiskies with unique cask maturation. The influence of the refill American oak makes The Singleton of Glen Ord 41 Year Old so precious, as it’s so unusual for this distillery to have a whisky of this age in this type of wood.”

The result is an outstanding and memorable expression for whisky lovers. Evoking memories of old oak casks in dimly lit cellars, a sip into this drink can transport you to a bygone era of old-school luxury.

For those seeking this unforgettable experience, the Forgotten Drop Series is now available at select retailers across Hong Kong.

Racing Time: Cars star Paul Newman’s watch on the block

In many ways, the vintage collectible watch market owes its existence to the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona. Named after the late Hollywood icon who voiced the part of Doc Hudson in Cars, these now discontinued variations of the classic Cosmograph Daytona gained prominence in 1972 after Newman began sporting the watch while indulging his penchant for auto racing.

Although the majority of Newman’s Daytona collection resides with his immediate family, 2017 marks the first time any such pieces will be available to the public. Once gifted to James Cox – teenage boyfriend to Newman’s daughter, Nell Potts – the current Reference 6329 Daytona is slated to be sold at Phillip’s New York auction on 26 October.

The watch possesses historic provenance and rare features. Originally given to Newman by his wife of 50 years, Joanne Woodward, the caseback of this timepiece is engraved with a loving declaration urging the Cool Hand Luke star to “Drive Carefully, Me”. The cream dial, weathered by a gentle patina, has not been restored since the watch was originally manufactured.

Cox recalls Newman’s acerbic wit when the latter gifted the timepiece to him in 1984: “Here’s a watch. If you wind it, it tells pretty good time”. For contemporary collectors, it tells something more – a pretty remarkable story.

Going for Gold: Godiva’s latest collection gets creative

Godiva hosted a star-studded launch party to celebrate its new Gold Discovery Collection at the IFC Mall atrium. Guests were treated to an exhibition on the origin of chocolate, as well as live tastings of the latest flavours.

Gafencu sat with Belgium-based Godiva Master Chef Chocolatier Jean Apostolou and Shanghai-based Chef Chocolatier Philippe Daue to find out more about this latest collection.

What is the inspiration for this new collection?

Chef Jean: The collection is a revamp, a reinterpretation of classic Godiva flavours with a contemporary twist. The point of this collection is not to shock people, but to reintroduce them to the 2.0 version of old favourites while also introducing some new ingredients and textures.

What new flavours can we expect?

Chef Jean: The collection has 16 different flavours. We’ve included a greater variety of fruits and nuts and introduced caramels to the mix. We’ve also boosted the texture of each bite by experimenting with mousse fillings and ganaches for example. It’s a surprising collection because each piece is drastically different from the next.

Did you take inspiration from regional ingredients?

Chef Philippe: As an international brand, we are constantly exchanging ideas with our chefs across the world to stay on the cutting edge of flavour development.

For this collection there are some very Asian flavours such as lychee and passion fruit. Nuts are also an Asian favourite, so that’s something we’ve built upon. Pistachio, macadamia, pecan, etc. have been used as a response to current global tastes.

Why did you focus on Asian tastes?

Chef Philippe: Firstly, Asia is home to an immense variety of ingredients that are not traditionally found or paired with chocolate. As a chef, it’s very exciting and refreshing to experiment with these flavours and create something new.

Also, Asia is one of our largest growing markets. Asians are becoming more educated in chocolate culture now, and we want to capture that interest by including some familiar tastes.

Which is your favourite from the collection, and why?

Chef Jean: My favourite is the almond one. The sweetness of the chocolate with that hint of salt rounded off by the crunch of a whole almond is just fantastic.

Chef Philippe: I love the pistachio one. It’s a hard nut to work with and to balance out. Jean has found the perfect combination, and the result is delicious!

Thank you.

The new Gold Discovery Collection is now available in Hong Kong.
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box 6pcs: HK$180
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box 9pcs: HK$260
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box15pcs: HK$415
Godiva Gold Discovery Chocolate Gift Box 20pcs: HK$525

Interview: Tenzing Thondup

Gaudy two-shoes: Loafers get million-dollar makeover

One can’t help but imagine that Nick Cannon’s philosophy when it comes to personal style is “more is more”. The 36-year-old American entertainer, known for hosting America’s Got Talent, has an appetite for extravagant displays of wealth. While flaunting his exhaustive sneaker collection to Complex Media in June, Cannon revealed that his most prized footwear, estimated to be worth HK$17.2 million, will go on sale at a charity auction later this year.

An avid fan of maximalist designers such as Giuseppe Zanotti and Christian Louboutin, Cannon debuted his now infamous diamond loafers in 2014. Originally made by American mega designer Tom Ford, these loafers were further customised with an eye-watering 14,000 white diamonds embedded in white gold. Each shoe possesses a weight of 340 carats, and the gems alone are valued at HK$7.8 million. The brainchild of Californian jeweller Jason Arasheben, the design was reportedly conceived in response to Cannon’s request for “the most expensive shoes in the world”.

It is not confirmed if Cannon has identified a beneficiary for the proceeds of his flashy footwear, but he is no stranger to philanthropic pursuits. The American entertainer has previously contributed to numerous causes, including education, women’s outreach and Alzheimer’s disease.

Keep Walking: Johnnie Walker Blue Label pays tribute to Hong Kong’s spirit

 

You may have heard about the genie in a bottle, but have you heard about a city in a bottle? That’s exactly what Johnnie Walker Blue Label has sought to achieve with its Pioneering Cities edition, in which the premium blended whisky-maker has collaborated with local artists from the world’s most thriving cities to depict each city’s true essence through artwork on limited-edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottles.

For the Hong Kong edition of the Pioneering Cities collection, Johnnie Walker has partnered with Hong Kong-raised illustrator Victo Ngai, a Forbes Art & Style 30-under-30 honouree and a two-time gold medallist at New York Society of Illustrators.
Victo’s artwork on the Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottles depict vibrant snippets of Hong Kong culture, including a Cantonese opera performer who takes centre-stage with her opulent blue costume, patterned with suggestions from the city’s iconic skyline, colonial architecture and neon lights.

To further underline the Chinese influence, an Oriental-themed tassel hangs decoratively from the bottle’s golden cap, making the bottles a prized possession for any art lover.

 

 

Each bottle also has its own unique serial number starting with Hong Kong’s area code ‘852’, followed by a four-digit number.
Talking about the special tribute to Hong Kong, Johnnie Walker Blue Label brand ambassador, Martin Newell, says, “As a progressive city with a never-say-die attitude, Hong Kong deeply resonates the ‘Keep Walking’ spirit of Johnnie Walker.” He further urges whisky lovers to try the limited edition, not just for the artwork, but also for the unique whisky that is blended from one in a 1000 casks, chosen meticulously from all corners of Scotland.

Priced at HK$2300 per 70cl bottle, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Pioneering Cities Limited Edition is now available at major retailers and specialised stores across Hong Kong.

 
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Opulence Revealed: Rémy Martin’s newest X.O. cognac unveiled in Hong Kong

 

Iconic French cognac house Rémy Martin has just unveiled the prestigious Rémy Martin X.O. Cannes 2017 Limited Edition in Hong Kong in an exclusive event titled ‘Opulence Revealed’.

Originally launched as a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, the cognac went on to become a runaway success in France, the US, the UK, China and Taiwan before being released in Hong Kong.

Limited to just 300 bottles in the Hong Kong market, the Rémy Martin X.O. Cannes 2017 cognac is strictly elite. Justifying the letters X.O. – extra old – the cognac has been aged for three decades using only the best-quality grapes from the Fine Champagne region of France.

Blended from up to 400 aged eaux-de-vie, the cognac creates a perfect balance of exquisite and refined notes. The rich amber colour, together with the fragrant aromas of jasmine, plum, figs, candied orange, cinnamon and hazelnuts, create a beautiful anticipation even before the first sip. Surprisingly, the Rémy Martin X.O. cognac is quite light on the palate and can be paired with any kind of protein.

The decanter is equally delightful to behold – a beauty in black and gold, reminiscent of film reels and with a gift box that also includes a film on the cellar masters and the craft of cognac-making.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Get a taste of Louis XIII’s royal history with limited-edition cognac  

Premium cognac brand Louis XIII, from the house of Rémy Martin, has just launched a limited-edition collection as a tribute to history.

In 1874, Paul-Émile Rémy Martin bought an ancient royal flask unearthed by a farmer near a historic battlefield. Inspired by its striking shape and regal fleur-de-lys medallions, he created a similar decanter for storing a special cognac made with only the oldest and rarest eaux-de-vie from his cellars.

More than 100 years later, the legacy of the unique decanter still lives on. The recently launched collection, titled The Origin – 1874, recreates the exclusive decanter. It contains a rare cognac made from a blend of up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie drawn from Louis XIII’s signature Grande Champagne.

Speaking about the new collection, Louis XIII’s global executive director, Ludovic du Plessis, says, “The greatest stories often have humble beginnings and ours is no exception. It was 1874 and a new, yet very old cognac was born. The Origin – 1874 marks one of the landmark moments in Louis XIII’s fascinating story, and it will become part of your own personal legacy and tale.”

Divine Duo: Diamonds inspired by the gods

Apollo and Artemis aren’t just Greek gods; they’re also the most valuable earrings ever sold at auction. Or at least that’s what they were called before they were auctioned off. The anonymous buyer who made off with these dazzling dangle earrings gave them new monikers – “The Memory of Autumn Leaves” and “The Dream of Autumn Leaves”. Although, considering that the pair sold for a combined total of US$57.4 million (HK$447.7 million), you wouldn’t want to go frolicking around in a pile of leaves while wearing them.

The more valuable of the two is the 14.54-carat internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond, which went for US$42 million alone. In recent years, only the Cullinan mine in South Africa has produced blue diamonds with any regularity, but the stones are still exceptionally rare. Less than 0.1 percent of the diamonds have a blue hue, and even fewer are graded a fancy vivid blue diamond. The fancy intense pink diamond earring is slightly larger at 16 carats, but it’s less rare than its periwinkle partner.

The earrings were the “stars” of the auction, according to Sotheby’s representative David Bennett. “These exquisite coloured diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right,” he says. “Together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking.”

Basquiat painting sells for HK$861.6 million at auction

A painting by late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat sold for a staggering US$110.5 million (HK$861.6 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The sale of the untitled painting set a number of records, including the highest price ever paid for a post-1980 artwork and the most expensive American artwork ever sold at auction.

Although Basquiat is lesser known than Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon and Andy Warhol, he has joined their ranks in the $100 million-plus club. Basquiat’s Untitled painting (1982) depicts a grimacing skull on canvas. It’s rich with imagery that is now synonymous with Basquiat, such as the graffiti-like typography sprawling across the canvas. The Brooklyn-born artist was 21 when he painted it, but the haunting skull foreshadowed darker things to come: just six years later, he died of a heroin overdose.

The painting was purchased by collector Yusaku Maezawa, who plans to house it in a museum in his hometown of Chiba, Japan. “When I saw this painting, I was struck with so much excitement and gratitude for my love of art,” Maezawa says. “I want to share that experience with as many people as possible around the world.” Maezawa is clearly a big fan of Basquiat, as he helped set a previous auction record for the artist in May 2016 when he purchased another untitled work for US$57.3 million.