PRESTIGE INTERNATIONAL - VOLUME 1

VOLUME 1 l AUTUMN 2015
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CONTENTS
26
TRAVEL
76 OMAN
Fairytales Come True
81 JANE GODALL
The Mother of Chimpanzees
82 IRELAND
Lighthouses
84 INFINITY POOLS
SpectaPOOLar
87 DID YOU KNOW…?
Oil, Indonesia and Terracotta Army
88 INSIDER TIPS
Vienna
90 MALDIVES
A Journey to Paradise
98 A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES
From Baghdad to North Korea
COVER STORY
26 THE BIG APPLE
New York
48 PRESTIGE PRESENTS …
In the Time Capsule
81
CULTURE & ART
56 BRAD PITT
A Flair for Art
62 AUTUMN DIARY
From Klimt to Sheep
Award Ceremony
64 FRANCK BOUROULLEC
The High-Speed Painter
68 ITALIAN VIOLIN MAKING
The Lollobrigida among the Violins
72 ELITE UNIVERSITIES
The Training Centres of the World
75 CHRISTOPHER LEE
The Most Famous Vampire of the World
90
16 | PRESTIGE

CONTENTS
WATCHES & JEWELLERY
118
100 FACES OF TIME
Dials
115 DID YOU KNOW…?
Rolex, Giant Crystals & Golden Times
117 CAROLINA BUCCI
Finely Woven Gold Jewellery
118 SHADES OF GREEN
The Emerald
122 ANNETTE & HERBERT KOPP
Handmade jewellery collection
124
DRIVE STYLE
124 COMMITTED TO ELEGANCE
Concorso d’Eleganza
140
129 RALLYE
Paris–Dakar
130 TULIPWOOD
The wooden Torpedo
133 MOTORISED BOOKS
Myths, Hippies & Members only
134 THE NEXT WAVE OF SUVS
Greetings from the Four-Wheel Drive Faction
140 A STAR ON AN EXTENDED TOUR
77 Years of Mercedes Four-Wheel Drive
142 THE GENTLE CONQUEROR
Maserati: Gentleman with 530 HP
115
18 | PRESTIGE

CONTENTS
FASHION
146 MOVIES CREATE FASHION
Wardrobes of the stars
152 SHARON STONE
10 Questions for …
172
BEAUTY
172 ORGANIC DE LUXE
The Eco-Luxury Class
178 SIX SENSES
From Smokey Eye to a Sea of Roses
154 PRESTIGE PRESENTS
Fashion Collages by Nora Ermatinger
164 FASHION CLASSICS
The Poncho
166 GOLF & FASHION
Fairway Fashion
170 NAOMI CAMPBELL
Beauty and the Beast
202
182 ZARKO AHLMANN PAVLOV
Fragrant Charm
186 HELENA RUBINSTEIN
The Queen of Cosmetics
187 DID YOU KNOW…?
Nivea, Mascara and Perfume
LIVING
188 BIG
Yes is more!
194 HOTEL ARCHITECTURE
Visiting Architectural Marvels
198 NEWS OF THE WORLD OF DESIGN I
Sofa & Corkscrew
200 DESIGN CLASSICS
Jacobsen’s Egg
202 HUBERT LE GALL
Furniture from Wonderland
207 NEWS OF THE WORLD OF DESIGN II
Lamp & Bathtub
208 ISAMU NOGUCHI
Western Art meets Japanese Tradition
146
20 | PRESTIGE

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TIME IS THE ESSENCE WE ARE MADE OF

CONTENTS
CULINARIUM
210 THE MAGICIAN OF FLAVOURS
Nenad Mlinarevic
215 PURE PLEASURE
Saffron
210
216 VIRTUOSOS BEHIND THE BAR
Jerry Thomas & Ada Coleman
219 NEWS FOR GOURMETS
Smokables & Espresso Pleasure
220 PROFESSIONAL BARTENDERS
RECOMMEND …
Favourite drinks for 2015
215
223 DID YOU KNOW…?
Taste of Christmas & Roots
224 BEER TOURS
Man’s best friend
NEWS
116 ELEGANT JEWELLERY
123 THE JEWELLERY OF YOUR DREAMS
139 I SEE BLUE
151 BLACK & WHITE
153 CASUAL ELEGANCE
171 CANDY COLOURS
180 PRETTY FOR AUTUMN
185 AUTUMN’S HERE
COLUMNS
71 WILHELM J. GRUSDAT – We Do it All …
97 JASMIN TAYLOR – A Trip to the Coloured Earth of Mauritius
10 LEGAL NOTICE
226 PREVIEW
GRAFF
22 | PRESTIGE

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DEAR
READERS
W
elcome to our first Prestige International e-mag edition in
english.
Let us take you on a journey to the city that never sleeps, the Big
Apple. Soaring skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State
Building, Fifth Avenue, Central Park – everyone knows the sights of
New York. But there are a few that are less well known but equally
worth seeing. Join us for a peek behind the scenes on Broadway
and visit Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Explore Brooklyn and discover all
the best places to stay. New York sets the trends, and some of them
have found their way over here. The «Go Veggie» initiative has come
and gone in the USA, but now celebrities are avoiding all animal
products. Find out about the latest «green» trends in the luxury
sector – including vegan fashion and organic beauty.
We’ll also reveal the latest must-have gadgets and which fragrance
you should be wearing this autumn.
So it’s time to pour yourself a nice glass of red and put your feet up
in front of the fire with the latest edition of Prestige.
Francesco J. Ciringione
Publisher
Yvonne Beck
Chief Editor

CULTURE
& ART

It is the capital city
of the American Dream.
The city that never sleeps. The
city of superlatives. There
is no doubt that New York is one of the
world’s most exciting cities. New York
is not America, but this is where
the country’s heart beats
the loudest.
NEW YORK
Yvonne Beck

CULTURE & ART
«New York is an ugly city. Its climate is a scandal,
its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is
madness, its competition is murderous. But there
is one thing about it – once you have lived in New York
and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.»
– John Steinbeck, 1953 –
MMoney changers on Ellis Island | 1910.
elting Pot
The metropolitan area of New York is home to 21 million people.
171 nationalities live cheek-by-jowl, and almost 100 languages
are spoken. 40 percent of the population speak Spanish at
home and 25 % do not speak English. Nearly a third of taxi
drivers speak barely a word of English. New Yorkers are protected by
50,000 police officers, treated by 12,000 psychiatrists, entertained by
600 productions on and off Broadway and have a choice of 18,000 food establishments
to eat in. Their spiritual needs are looked after by 6000 churches,
temples and mosques. 122,000 licensed taxis criss-cross the city. Including
its 5 boroughs, it covers a total surface area of 779 square kilometres
(compared to Berlin at 883 sq km and London at 1,580 sq km).
Originally settled by the Dutch, British and Huguenots, New York was very
much a city of immigrants. Its harbour meant that this was even more the
case during the 19th century. Between 1815 and 1915, 33 million immigrants
entered the United States, three quarters of them through the port of New
York. Thousands of Irish fled the great famine of 1845 to 1847 to seek a new
life in the New World. They were joined by German Catholics, Italians, Scandinavians,
Jews and people from every corner of the world.
Almost half of all immigrants worked in factories making everything from machinery
to shoes and cigars. Germans settled in «Little Germany» to the
28 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
Ellis Island: gateway to the New World.
Jewish market on the East Side.
This area was settled by many poor Eastern Europeans.
south, on the East River. This was the site of the Singer sewing machine
factory, so beer taverns and German businesses quickly sprang up. In the
2000 census, 43 million Americans – one in six of the population – said they
had German ancestors.
Admitting immigrants
In 1892 an immigration centre was established on Ellis Island to regulate immigration
to America. Some 12 million immigrants passed through the island
between 1892 and 1954.
At this time it was mainly people from Eastern and Southern Europe who were
fleeing unrest and political persecution. The majority were highly educated
Russian, Polish and Austrian Jews. They settled on the Lower East Side. At
the same time Italians were flocking to New York looking for unskilled work in
the clothing industry or as construction workers on the subway. These
new immigrants were said to be unwilling to assimilate and incapable of
understanding life in America. Writing and reading tests were introduced.
Restrictions on immigration became ever tighter, and gradually the authorities
began to refuse entry to the sick, polygamists, prostitutes, the poor, anarchists,
Chinese (1882), Japanese (1907) and illiterates (1917). In spite of this,
1,285,349 immigrants were cleared through customs in the year 1907 alone.
Almost every second American (40 %) has ancestors who entered the country
via Ellis Island.
A Hearty Welcome &
Thank You …
In 1524 the Italian Giovanni da
Verranzano was the first European
to sail around Manhattan. 85 years
later the Briton Henry Hudson also set
foot on the densely wooded island.
The Dutch made the first attempts to
settle the southernmost point and
called their trading post Nieuw Amsterdam.
The Mana-Hattans, native
Red Indians of the Delaware tribe,
gave the white man a friendly welcome.
Just 30 years later, they had been
wiped out.
The luxurious way of life | 29

CULTURE & ART
«It isn’t like the rest of the country – it is like a nation
itself – more tolerant than the rest in a curious way…»
– John Steinbeck –
Mott Street: a symbol of New York’s melting pot This street was mainly settled by Asian immigrants.
The immigrants named Ellis Island the Island of
Tears because many a fate was decided upon after
a 2-minute interview and a medical examination.
First of all, immigrants had to climb 50 steep stairs
to the registration room, closely observed by doctors.
Anyone who found this difficult could have a
heart problem, so they were subjected to a more
intensive examination. The doctors checked for infectious
diseases, inspected hands, face and hair
and if anyone looked suspicious they were given a
chalk mark on their right shoulder ( «S» for senility,
«Ct» for the eye disease trachoma and «X» for a
mental defect). The others passed through a door
with the inscription «Push to New York» and were
admitted.
Harlem continue to be shaped by that era. After the Second World War, large
numbers of Puerto Ricans, Cubans and Dominicans arrived in the USA. Israeli
and Arab immigrants began arriving in the 1960s. They abandoned their
homelands because of economic difficulties and political unrest in the Middle
East. Since 1965 the largest number of newcomers has come from China,
and since the fall of the Soviet Union many Black Sea Russians, mostly Orthodox
Jews, have also moved to New York. They predominantly live in
Brooklyn or on Coney Island.They predominantly live in Brooklyn or on Coney
Island. Asians from Vietnam, Korea, India and Taiwan mainly opt for the area
north of Queens.
So, New York may be a melting pot, but people still like to live among
their own, and many still follow the customs and traditions of their home
countries.
The Boroughs and their Nationalities
Between 1900 and 1930 some 300,000 people left
the Caribbean islands to come to New York. The
«Harlem Renaissance» of the 1920s attracted
many blacks to move to the city from the South.
But in contrast to other ethnic groups, they were
denied access to social betterment. As soon as
black citizens moved into a neighbourhood, the
white population left and the prices of real estate
went through the floor. It was only the music and
literature scene that afforded the black population
a measure of fame at this time. Districts such as
How the population is made up
27 percent of the population originate from Spanish or
Portuguese-speaking countries, and around half of
these come from Puerto Rico. Blacks (Afro-Americans)
make up 25 % of the population and whites (Eurasians)
around 35 %. 10 percent have other ethnic origins –
chiefly Asians and Arabs.
30 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
2
1
3
1 | Pizza and spaghetti
in Little Italy.
2 | LGBT community
3 | NYC: a melting pot.
4 | Chinatown
5 | Harlem street scene
6 | On the subway, heading
for Queens.
7 | New York is home to the
largest Jewish population
outside of Israel.
5
4
6
7

CULTURE & ART
THE
OF THE
BROADWAY
It is the most famous
street in the world.
This is where stars were born
and its lights shine as
if there is no
tomorrow.
«The musical is the American theatre’s
main claim to fame.»
– Jerry Herman –
32 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
For over 130 years Broadway has been the
heart and soul of American showbusiness.
Back then no one would have guessed that
this street would become the world’s longest street,
25 kilometres long. Broadway was originally an
Indian trail that was also an early trading route. It
became an important link between the harbour and
the hinterland.
Shows, Shows, Shows
Today when we talk of Broadway we generally
mean the relatively small theatre district, which
makes up just one thirtieth of the street’s length.
Nowadays the Broadway theatres are confined
to an 800-metre stretch and its side streets to east
and west. The term Broadway Theatre has remained,
even though there are now only five playhouses
on Broadway itself. Three of these can
barely be recognized as theatres because they are
located in office towers. A further 34 theatres are
located on the side streets of Time Square, between
42nd and 47th Street. Apart from London’s West End, this area has the
highest density of theatres in the world.
The Capital of Musicals
Musicals dominate Broadway – quite understandably, as this is where
they were born. This glamorous form of musical theatre developed out of
vaudeville, melodrama, minstrel shows, operettas, ragtime and jazz. «The
Black Crook» (1866) is considered to be the first real musical. But it was not
until the Thirties that the genre really took off. Musicals were also hugely
popular after the Second World War. Many of the songs that are still popular
today come from hit musicals from the Forties and Fifties: «Annie Get
Your Gun» (1946), «Kiss Me Kate» (1948) and «My Fair Lady» (1956) to name
but a few. In 1957 «West Side Story«, Leonard Bernstein’s Puerto Rican take
on «Romeo and Juliet», opened in New York. This was followed by global
hits such as «Cats», «Phantom of the Opera», «Miss Saigon», «The Lion
King» and «42nd Street». Many of these musicals have also been staged
in Stuttgart, Hamburg and Vienna. One musical that has not yet reached us
in Europe is «The Jersey Boys», a show which has close ties to New York.
PRESTIGE met up with Richard H. Blake who plays the role of Tommy
de Vito. We asked him about the attraction of Broadway and the «Jersey
Boys».
The Broadway Collection
The Broadway Collection brings together all the
wonderful Broadway musicals and events
in New York City. These shows are selected for
their unrivalled popularity with international
audiences. Its website provides information on
the best Broadway shows on offer in New York
so that visitors can make their plans before they
arrive. Tickets should be booked in advance
from one of the large tour operators. It is almost
impossible to pick up a ticket at a bargain
price at one of the TKTS kiosks when you arrive.
So it’s worth doing your homework and
booking now!
www.broadwaycollection.com
The luxurious way of life | 33

PRESTIGE: Mr Blake, how long have you been
acting on Broadway?
Richard H. Blake: This is my 15th Broadway
show. Before that I was in «Wicked» and «Rent».
I’ve acted in many excellent shows and now
I’m delighted to be part of the «Jersey Boys».
Broadway is a really tough business but the
applause and the reaction of the audience is like a drug
to me.
And how long have you been playing Tommy DeVito?
I joined the show a year and nine months ago. With eight
shows a week this makes about 710 performances. But
I’m still a newbie – some of the cast have already been in
it for seven or eight years.
Doesn’t it start to get boring, and as a musical performer
is it possible to give your very best every
evening?
You have to give your best otherwise you’re in the wrong
job. The audience expects this from you. Every Broadway
production in New York is a huge financial investment. For
example, the musical «Cats» swallowed up 1.2 million
dollars in production costs in London but in New York it
cost 5.3 million. Producing a musical in New York is an
enormous risk compared to somewhere like London’s
West End. Between 750‚000 and 1 million Dollars are
required for a play of not more than seven actors in a single
set cast in New York. Between 5 and 7 million are needed
for an elaborate musical. Whoever takes the stage here,
no matter how long this play has already been staged,
has to do their best.
But I love coming to work. I have a great job. And it’s twice
as much fun in a show like this one.
Did you know the story of the «Jersey Boys» before you
took this part?
No. I knew most of the songs, but I didn’t know anything
about the group. Their story is really fascinating. They weren’t
just musicians who came together to form a band but
small town gangsters who had even done time in prison.
They became pop idols because they simply had the right
sound. It is interesting how many people know their songs
without connecting them to the «Jersey Boys». Many of the
songs have been remixed … Lauren Hill’s «Can’t take my
Eyes Off You», «Begging» was sampled and just about
every musician has covered «Oh what a Night».
Are you originally from New York or did you come to try
your luck here?
I have lived in New York since the age of eight. I have lived
in New Jersey for the last 15 years – so I’m almost a true
Jersey Boy, not just on stage.
What does Broadway mean to you?
The past, the present and the future.
And what does New York mean to you in three words?
Exciting, wild and my home.
34 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
Harlem: a centre for Afro-American culture.
Schomburg Center for
Research in Black Culture
Anyone who is interested in Afro-American culture should visit
the Schomburg Center. The Center’s key exhibits come from
the private collection of Arthur Schomburg (1874–1938).
As a protest against the belief that blacks had no history, this
bank clerk from Puerto Rico amassed a vast collection,
including 500 books, 300 manuscripts and 200 etchings and
portraits. The building has an octagon at one end and features
a tower at the corner of 135th Street. It was designed by
Bond Ryder Associates.
36 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
TO
HARLEM
New York’s fast
subway trains – once
immortalized by Duke Ellington’s
«Take the A-Train» whisk their
passengers from Times Square
to Harlem in less than 10 minutes.
This neighbourhood is mainly
home to African-Americans,
so it has an interesting
culture.
The Harlem Renaissance
For many years, Harlem was known as
«The Black Capital of America». In 1910
Harlem’s population was almost exclusively
black. A construction boom began after the
turn of the century when a subway line was built
connecting Harlem to South Manhattan. But noone
wanted to rent the apartments that were built.
So Philip A. Payton Junior, a black real estate
agent, convinced the worried owners to let their
empty apartments to the fast-growing black population.
Writers, artists and musicians all moved
into the neighbourhood, which had its heyday in the
1920s. The renaissance of black consciousness
was celebrated in legendary nightspots such as
the «Cotton Club» and «Apollo Theatre» – though
racial segregation meant that they performed exclusively
for white audiences. After the Wall Street
crash in 1929 the neighbourhood sank into abject
poverty. Well into the 1980s, Harlem was synonymous
with drugs, poverty and violence. At night,
many parts of Harlem were no-go areas, but in the
21st century it has experienced a second renaissance.
Its cultural life has been reawakened and
crime rates are falling steadily. More and more
tourists are coming to explore the neighbourhood
and now companies such as Harlem Heritage
Tours and Harlem Spirituals are offering tours and
walks around the district.
Streetlife
The luxurious way of life | 37

CULTURE & ART
«The role of an artist in New York
is to make a neighbourhood so attractive
that artists can’t live there any more.»
—Ed Koch, former city mayor of New York—
Black Power in Harlem. The new black consciousness.
Apollo Theater: a springboard for world stars.
A Talent Factory
We cannot fail to mention the legendary «Apollo
Theatre». Until 1934 blacks were prohibited from
entering the theatre, which opened in 1913. Despite
this, the next 40 years belonged to Bessie
Smith, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. In the Forties its
stage was one of the homes of Bebop and New
York-style jazz was hugely popular here. In the
early Seventies it was turned into a cinema and
then closed down in 1976. It re-opened after undergoing
a total renovation in the 1980s. Its «amateur
nights» are particularly popular, and budding
talents have a good chance of being spotted, as
this is how Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and
Lauren Hill were discovered. And even on evenings
when no new global stars are discovered, the
atmosphere is still quite unique. The winner is
chosen by the audience and as soon as an adult
takes to the stage, anything goes: applause,
heckling, whistling and foot stamping. When the
audience doesn’t like an artist they simply boo
them off the stage. The audience is king. Despite
this, every year 1,500 hopefuls apply to perform at
Amateur Night, and only a quarter of them manage
to get on the stage. One of them who went all the
way was Michael Jackson. In the late 1960s he and
his family, «The Jackson Five», entered an Amateur
Night and won. So it’s not surprising that thousands
of his fans gathered at the theatre to mourn
his death.
Stirring Church Music
Most gospel services are held in Harlem, the South Bronx and the
black areas of Brooklyn. Of the most well known are the choirs of the
Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. It is the most famous of the
more or less 400 churches in Harlem. The Neo-Gothic church was
built in 1924 and provided the backdrop for father and son Adam
Clyton Powell – the son was also a Congressman in 1944 – to deliver
their fiery sermons. A gospel service is held here every Sunday at
11 o’clock. But despite the gospel choir’s lively and stirring music,
don’t forget that this is a church service, not a tourist attraction.
38 | PRESTIGE

CUTS
The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Times Square were the stars
of yesterday. Today visitors to New York make a beeline for the High Line,
the new Whitney Museum and the viewing platform at One World Trade Centre.
1 A NEW TREASURE TROVE
The Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan is home
to a major collection of American 20th and 21st century
art. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney founded the museum in 1931
when she donated 700 artworks from her private collection.
The museum’s mission is to «collect, explore, explain and
question» American art with an emphasis on living, contemporary
working artists. On 1 May 2015 the museum relocated
to Renzo Piano’s new building in order to provide more
space for the collection. The permanent collection can be
admired in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. It comprises
more than 18,000 works by over 2,800 artists, including
Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol and Louise Bourgeois.
www.whitney.org
2 A PARK ON RAILS
Once it was a disused elevated railway track, today it’s a green
oasis. Goods trains used to transport meat from A to B on the
High Line. From 1934 to 1980 this is how goods were delivered
to warehouses on Manhattan’s West Side. But it was abandoned
after goods moved onto the roads. Today it is adorned
with trees, lawns and flowers, providing the perfect retreat
from the hustle and bustle of the city. New York’s green promenade
is most definitely worth a visit. High Line Park can be
reached by a stairway between 10th and 11th Avenue from
Gansevoort Street to 30th Street on Manhattan’s West Side.
www.thehighline.org
1
3 DO YOU HAVE A HEAD
FOR HEIGHTS?
Then head to New York’s highest tourist attraction! Now the
city can be admired from 100 floors up. 14 years after the
attacks of 11 September the viewing platform in the new World
Trade Centre was opened to the public. It’s worth waiting in
line just for the ride up in the elevator. It is a form of time travel,
a journey through 500 years of Manhattan’s history, all in
just 47 seconds. And when they get to the top, visitors can
look forward to a truly unique view. The terrorist attacks
of 11 September have been deliberately ignored. For this, there
is the 9 / 11 museum, where thousands of objects from the
World Trade Centre are on display, including the possessions
of victims, eyewitnesses and helpers: shoes, hats, uniforms.
At One World Trade Centre, it’s all about experiencing
breathtaking views of the city.
www.onewtc.com
3
2

CULTURE & ART
With its 183 square kilometres
and 2.5 million inhabitants, Brooklyn
is the most densely populated
district of New York. Here Chinese,
Arabs, Africans, Mexicans,
West Indians and Russians
live on neighbouring
streets.
THE OTHER
NEW
YORK

CULTURE & ART
Street art on every corner.
«In my childhood no
one committed suicide –
people were far too
unhappy for that.»
– Woody Allen –
Flea market in Dumbo.
Before the New York boroughs were consolidated
in 1898, Brooklyn was the fourth
largest city in the USA. It was named after
the Dutch town of Breuckelen. Brooklyn is
one of the city’s liveliest neighbourhoods. This is
down to its multicultural vibe, Coney Island amusement
park and trendy Williamsburg with its little
shops and factories.
Brooklyn Bridge
Just getting to Brooklyn is spectacular, as it involves
crossing the legendary Brooklyn Bridge. As it
crosses over the East River, the high walkway offers
amazing views of Manhattan’s impressive skyline.
The bridge itself is also a marvel of engineering.
When it was completed in 1883, it was the world’s
longest suspension bridge.
It was constructed by the German engineer Johann
August Roebling, who founded America’s first steel
cable factory in 1841. His plan was to build the longest
and highest suspension bridge in the world. But
it would take another 16 years before his plans were
approved. He was killed in an accident during construction,
so he never got to see the finished bridge.
His son Washington took over managing the project
and decided to use the caisson technique. This involved
anchoring large cases underwater to act as
the bridge’s foundations. Air pressure prevents water
from seeping into the caissons. The working
conditions were brutal and many workers became
sick with a strange disease. Today this is known as
caisson disease or the bends, which occurs when
divers leave high-pressure environments too quickly.
Roebling also contracted this ailment. He suffered
severe pains and was disabled for the rest of his life.
But he did not want to stop construction so he
monitored progress from his wheelchair. His wife,
Mrs Emily Roebling, took over the supervision of
the gigantic building site. She did the negotiations,
enforced the quality standards of the Roebling
company and dealt with a host of problems. Even
today this would be a formidable achievement , but
in the late 19th century it was quite unheard of for
a woman. On 24 May 1883 the gigantic bridge
was inaugurated with a huge celebration. Today
more than 120,000 vehicles, 5,000 pedestrians
and 3,100 cyclists cross the bridge every day.
Art in Focus
Brooklyn is also always worth a visit for art lovers.
Over recent years a great many artists have settled
in the neighbourhood. Old warehouses and workshops
have been transformed into lively artist’s
studios and renowned galleries. The district of
Williamsburg is easily accessible by subway from
Manhattan. Visitors can spend the whole day
browsing round the galleries. And there are plenty
of little cafés and restaurants when it’s time to take
a break. In the evenings the clubs and restaurants
offer a huge range of live music. Dumbo is also
worth a visit. Brooklyn is home to the BAC gallery,
the A.I.R. gallery and the Dumbo Arts Center, as
well as one of New York’s most productive theatres,
St Ann’s Warehouse. Dumbo actually stands for
Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass and
is situated between Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan
Bridge.
The luxurious way of life | 41

CULTURE & ART
«New York is the only
real city-city.» – Truman Capote –
NYC’s most creative neighbourhood. No other district is home to so many young start-ups.
Hipsters & Artists.
Brooklyn has always cast a spell on artists and
writers. A huge number of famous people have
been born in Brooklyn or lived there for a while.
They include Henry and Arthur Miller, Truman
Capote, Woody Allen, Norman Mailer, George
Gershwin, Barbra Streisand and the gangster
Al Capone. Director Spike Lee uses Brooklyn as
the local headquarters of his film production company.
America’s best-known married writers, Paul
Auster and his wife Siri Hustvedt, draw inspiration
from Brooklyn for their bestsellers. Brooklyn is
quite simply different. Vegetables are grown on
factory roofs, the city’s coolest parties are held
here and there are thousands of little start-ups and
individual stores.
Coney Island
The five boroughs of New York including Manhattan
could not be more diverse. In one, skyscrapers
climb up to the heavens, in another you can relax
and have fun on the rollercoasters and beaches.
Coney Island is situated at the far south of Brooklyn
on the Atlantic and is New York’s only ocean
beach. Before the Second World War the rich and
beautiful flocked to its casinos and elegant
restaurants. It had every kind of attraction and
the most luxurious bathing areas. But this
luxury is now long gone. Those who can afford
it have a house in the Hamptons. Today
Coney Island is a place for cheaper pleasures.
It is far removed from 1938, when James Agee
described it in his travel journal as a nefarious
immigrant neighbourhood. Today Brooklyn is simply
hip and cool. Here you can find home-brewed
beer from micro-breweries, hand-made chocolate,
home- made cheese and miniature gardens in
glass jars. Brooklyn is not only the home of the
hipster, but also of digital doorkeys, home pickled
gherkins, Schnapps and an attitude to life that
encourages more and more people to go it alone
and start their own business. Brooklyn is the
neighbourhood where the movers and shakers
and the new Bohemians meet.
42 | PRESTIGE

Good Morning !
london - new york - paris - Milan - berlin - Moscow - beijinG - HonG konG
www.vispring.eu

REBIRTH
OF A
HOTEL-
The «Knickerbocker»
is an iconic landmark.
Formerly known as the
«42nd Street Country Club»,
it was a meeting place
for the rich and famous,
such as Rockefeller
and Scott Fitzgerald.

CULTURE & ART
Chic, modern design meets elegant charm and sophistication.
Location: The iconic building welcomes its famous guests in the heart of
Manhattan, directly on Times Square, on the corner of 42nd and Broadway.
Its convenient location means that guests at «The Knickerbocker» are just a
short stroll from attractions such as the Metropolitan Opera, the Rockefeller
Centre and MoMA.
Rooms & Suites: «The Knickerbocker» offers its guests a choice of 330 rooms
and 40 chic, modern suites. The nine Corner Junior Suites (55 sq m) provide
captivating views over Broadway, Times Square and 42nd Street. The beautiful
interiors offer guests the ultimate in luxury and privacy. It is hard to believe that
the hustle and bustle of New York City is on the streets below your feet.
The rooftop offers the best view over Times Square.
The hotel opened its doors for the first
time in 1906 on Times Square. Stars
such as Enrico Caruso and George M.
Cohan stayed there, and New York’s high
society partied like there was no tomorrow at the
legendary «42nd Street Country Club» bar. There
was good reason why it was said that: «If something
happened in New York during the early
1900s, it probably happened at The Knickerbocker
…» The hotel welcomed the rich and beautiful,
artists and dignitaries. But the dream was
soon over. The economic crisis meant that «The
Knickerbocker» had to close down in the 1920s.
But after more than 90 years, it once again opened
its doors to guests this year. «The Knickerbocker» is
a monument to New York’s evolution.
Culinary Highlights: Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner, at «Charlie
Palmer» guests can sample good honest American food prepared by star
while enjoying spectacular views of Times Square. The dinner menu includes
delights such as Fluke Ceviche with grated Meyer lemons and Atlantic halibut
with asparagus and carrot puree. And of course there’s the traditional «Knick»
burger with braised ribs, beef and pickles. «Jakes @ The Knick» is perfect
when you are short of time. It offers a perfect Grab-and-Go option for guests
on the move. The absolute highlight is the 725 sq m «St Cloud» bar on the
roof terrace. It offers refreshing drinks and spectacular views over central
Manhattan. Those lucky enough to spend New Year’s Eve here will enjoy
having a close-up view of the legendary ball drop.
Wellness & Spa: In «The Knickerbocker’s» Wellness & Spa area, guests can
recharge their batteries and relax with a massage. Those who have a little
energy left can join a class from Larry Johnson, the hotel’s fitness guru in the
Fitness Center.
Conclusion: If you were expecting a hotel steeped in history you’ll be disappointed,
as nothing remains apart from the wonderful Beaux Arts façade.
The hotel has a clean, modern look with a minimalist elegance that is perfectly
suited to business travellers and today’s globetrotters. But despite this, the
reopening of «The Knick» has revived a hint of New York’s charming old heart.
www.LHW.com/knickerbockernyc
The luxurious way of life | 45

CULTURE & ART
THE
DIAMOND
THE NEW YORK
HOTEL INDUSTRY
The «Peninsula»,
an Art Nouveau gem,
is located in the heart of the
Big Apple. The five star
establishment is the epitome
of glamour,
luxury and service.
46 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
Salon de Ning
This grand dame of the New York hotel
industry is now 110 years old. This building
was built in neo-classical style for the astronomical
amount of 2.3 million dollars and was
opened as «The Gotham» in 1905. The facade with
its limestone plastering, copper cornices and Doric
columns was unusual at the time. It was designed
to complement the adjoining university club. In
1987 The Peninsula Hotel’s parent company
acquired this grand building and celebrated the
opening of the first Peninsula Hotel on the American
continent in 1988. Ten years later, 45 million
dollars were invested to give the building a complete
renovation. In just ten months the turn-ofthe-century
building was re-cabled insulated and
redecorated using the most exquisite materials.
Today the «Peninsula Hotel New York» combines
Asian and Art Deco styles with state-of-the-art
technology.
Location: On Fifth Avenue in the heart of Manhattan,
the hotel has the world on its doorstep: the
most famous museums, the most exciting boutiques
and the most spectacular skyscrapers. The
Museum of Modern Art is just around the corner
from the «Peninsula», and Central Park is just a few
minutes’ stroll to the north. And the flagship stores
of the best jewellery and fashion designers can be
found on Fifth and the nearby Madison Avenue.
Rooms & Suites: The «Peninsula» offers its guests
239 rooms and suites. The jewel in the crown is
the Peninsula Suite. Covering 307 sq m, it is the
most luxurious guest suite at «The Peninsula New
York», taking up most of the 19th floor. High above
Fifth Avenue with a breathtaking view of the
Manhattan skyline, the Peninsula Suite was completely
refurbished in summer 2012. It has an urban
New York style and offers the ultimate in contemporary
comfort.
Culinary Highlights: Culinary treasure hunters
are also rewarded at the «Peninsula New York».
The «Clement» was refurbished two years ago,
and chef Brandon Kida serves his «farm-to-table»
cuisine, meaning that all ingredients come from
farms in upstate New York. In the atmosphere of
a private New York home, he delights his guests
with treats such as «Heirloom Beets» (creamy
yogurt with a spicy root gazpacho in a light wine
vinaigrette); «Scallop Degustation» (fresh scallops
with black truffles, savoury celery root and
«Woodlands» ham); or «Porcelet» (piglet served
with caramelised apples, chestnuts and warm
cabbage). The «Gotham Lounge» welcomes you
to enjoy a high-class afternoon tea. American
Sterling caviar and champagne are served in the
chic Art Deco ambience. One of the most gorgeous
views is offered by the «Salon de Ning» on
the top (23rd) floor of «The Peninsula New York».
Asian cuisine and Deutz Rosé champagne, specially
created for the «Peninsula», can be enjoyed
on one of the two outside terraces.
Wellness&Spa: Shopping is tiring, but the
«Peninsula» is there to help with its spacious
3,500 sq m Spa Oasis. It takes up the top three
floors of the hotel. Ayurvedic, Asian and European
massages are on offer in its 12 treatment rooms.
Take a swim in the 13-metre pool or jog on the
machine while looking out over Manhattan.
Conclusion: The hotel has earned every one of
its five stars – and more! Its impeccable service is
superior to all other hotels. The staff anticipate
your every wish, and whatever you expect, you’ll
get that little bit more. And this is exactly what
makes the «Peninsula» one of the best, if not THE
best hotel in New York City.
www.peninsula.com
The Clement: one of NYC’s
top restaurants.
Simple elegance in the master bedroom.
The luxurious way of life | 47

IN THE
TIME

CULTURE & ART
PRESENTS
Photographer
Nadine Gliesche makes time
stand still with her amazing long
exposures. Maybe it’s just for a brief moment,
but in her photographs time seems to slow
right down, and often it’s quite surreal.
She even manages to create this illusion in a
bustling city like New York. PRESTIGE spoke
with the photographer about the city that
never sleeps and her passion
for long exposures.
Yvonne Beck
Nadine Gliesche
The luxurious way of life | 49

CULTURE & ART
W
hen did you start taking photographs,
and how did it come about?
I discovered my passion for photography
around nine years ago, but I only do
it as a hobby.
What do you like to photograph best of all and why?
I love to do long exposures and also enjoy photographing
city scenes and natural landscapes. What fascinates me
about long exposures is the fact that can make the world
seem to stand still.
What did you like most about New York?
I loved its fast pace. I decided it would be a huge challenge
to use my long exposures to make the city that never
sleeps go to sleep.
How would you describe New York in three words?
Life! Life! Life!
Where does your love of long exposures come from?
For me, long exposures are a kind of meditation. And
once I discovered their potential, I just had to push the
boundaries of this medium. I’m still pushing!
Which camera do you use the most?
Canon EOS Mark III.
Photography is no longer about just releasing the
shutter. Now we do a lot at home on the computer.
What do you like most about photography?
Of course I am really happy when I can convert the image
that I have in my mind into reality. But I also like working on
the images on my computer, because it allows me to relive
the moment once again.
What, where or who would you like to photograph
and why?
I would really like to travel to Iceland with my camera and
photograph its waterfalls and hot springs. I’m really fascinated
by the fantastic colours and nature over there.
How many photographs do you have to take on average
until you have the right image?
It depends. When I photograph a sunrise I only have limited
time because of course the sun doesn’t wait for me to get
my act together. Then it’s very technical because it all has
to be done in a few seconds. But otherwise I like to take my
time. Sometimes I take loads of photos but never end up
with one that I’m happy with. Then I just enjoy reality and
leave it at that.
What does photography mean to you?
Meditation. Fun. A journey into the parallel universe.
When someone looks at my photos, I want them to let their
imagination take flight.
50 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
The luxurious way of life | 51

CULTURE & ART
The luxurious way of life | 53

CULTURE & ART
Photo: 2012, Ascot Elite
An attractive contract killer: Pitt in «Killing Them Softly».
56 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
A
FOR
Brad Pitt is certainly an established film star,
but he is still relatively unknown as a designer,
architect and art collector. We reveal a few
well-hidden secrets about the reclusive superstar.
Dominique Zahnd
Everyone knows Brad Pitt from his films – as a gentleman
thief in «Ocean’s Eleven», a Nazi hunter in «Inglourious
Basterds» and as a zombie killer in «World War Z». But
what about his personal life? He tries to keep this as
private as he possibly can, and admits: «I don’t really like leaving home». It’s
just too much fuss. He also has problems recognising people, so he’s always
afraid that he’ll be accused of being arrogant.
The luxurious way of life | 57

CULTURE & ART
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.
Shopping tour in Basel
He is a great fan of Switzerland. In 2008 he visited «Art» in Basel for the first
time, where he took a particular interest in the antique furniture. He reserved
a number of exhibited pieces and in the end bought a marble table
in Rococo style by Dutch designer Jeroen Verhoeven for 300,000 Swiss
francs. In 2009 he returned and bought a 2 x 3 metre oil painting by German
artist Neo Rauch amount: 1 million Franken.
58 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
First impressions
The first thing you notice about the 51-year-old
actor is that he’s taller than you expect. His blonde
surfer hair is tied up in a topknot, his blue eyes
watchful and curious. His face has its share of fine
lines and wrinkles, but Pitt is aging well. It’s interesting
to note that he has used the same make-up
lady for the past 25 years. She says: «He actually
wants people to see how old he is. I find that quite
remarkable.» He’s not the man you read about in
the gossip magazines. Indeed, Brad Pitt sees himself
as just a «normal guy». He wakes without an
alarm clock and is always the first up. After cleaning
his teeth and enjoying the first coffee of the day,
he gets breakfast ready for the kids – and for wife
Angelina. At home he spends his days in slippers
and overalls, «because they’re practical.»
Family always comes first
He’s loves to talk about his children. «I always
wanted a big family», he says, «I like the noise and
mess.» It’s never quiet in their house, there’s always
someone shouting, laughing or crying. Brad
is addicted to all this commotion. «I hate it when I
have to go away without them», he says. «I need all
this chaos around me. It’s what I love most.
That’s why I’m happier now than I’ve ever been.» When Mom and Dad have
to work, the whole clan usually goes with them. Pitt laughs: «Cars are never
big enough for our family.» When they all go out together, they always use a
rental car. «It makes it harder for the paparazzi to recognise us.» It’s quite
clear how much he hates the packs of photographers.
This large family has homes in California, Spain and Italy. For a long time their
main residence was the Château Miraval, on an old vineyard in Provence. The
chateau was surrounded by 300 hectares of vineyards and woodland. The
family looked after the vines themselves, and in 2012 Brad and Angelina
proudly presented their first wine, the «Miraval » Rosé. Apparently it was pretty
good. «Wine Spectator» magazine ranked it among its top 100 best wines
in the world, describing it as «elegant» with flavours of «dried red berries,
mandarins and melons». The smallest bottle sells for 26 Swiss francs. It was
Angelina Jolie who turned her partner into a family man. This glamorous
pair think alike and share the same priorities. Their focus is always on their
children, (at the moment they have six). Dad likes making things with his sons
and drawing with his daughters. He simply likes working with his hands. When
he’s not filming, he designs furniture and houses.
He’s been nominated for four Oscars and twice been voted «Sexiest Man
Alive ». But none of this is important to him, family is what really matters. And
art. «I often visit museums outside their normal opening hours. It’s a great
feeling when you can walk round the galleries on your own.» He is also a keen
collector. On the walls of their various houses, the celebrity couple have hung
paintings worth in excess of $25 million. They include works by Yayoi Kusama,
Marcel Dzama and Banksy.
Creativity is everything
Brad Pitt sets no limits to his creativity, whether it is improving scripts or decorating
his houses. He did much of the interior design for their house in LA.
His love of detail is omnipresent. Director Andrew Dominik («Killing Them
Softly») confirms this, saying: «Other movie stars’ homes look like beautiful
hotel rooms. But with Brad, it’s all about art. Everything has to go perfectly
with everything else. You immediately feel that you’ve entered his world.» The
American has always been fascinated by beautiful objects. «I spent my very
first acting paycheck on a restored, carved chair and a Frank Lloyd Wright
lamp.» And he has been designing and making his own objects since the
1990s. When he married Jennifer Aniston, he designed their wedding rings.
And his love of architecture led him to spend time working with top architect
Frank Gehry. He used what he learned to set up the «Make It Right» Foundation
to help rebuild New Orleans in the wake of the devastation caused by
Hurricane Katrina.
Pitt enthuses about family life:
«I like the mess.»
The luxurious way of life | 59

CULTURE & ART
Since then, Pitt has been working with a number
of partners on the design of whole hotel complexes.
But that’s still not all: in 2012 he brought
out his first collection of furniture. It includes
dramatic tables, elegant chairs, an exotic bed and
a marble bathtub for two people. They were made
by Frank Pollaro, whose New Jersey-based company
specialises in reproductions of fine Art Deco
pieces. The two met when Pitt asked Pollaro to
reproduce a Ruhlmann table as a gift for Angelina.
When he saw the furniture craftsman’s sketch
book, he spontaneously suggested they should
do something together. Pitt has often given Pollaro
some surprises. Once he asked him to call round
because he had a new idea for a table. And
what did the furniture maker find in the actor’s
studio? Forty different versions of the table made
out of wire.
The pair still meet up regularly to spend whole
days and nights talking about ideas, designs and
materials. «Frank and I have the same tastes. In
furniture – and wine.» The striking thing about
Brad’s designs is how he uses one continuous line.
What was the inspiration behind this? «It started
with my introduction to Mackintosh’s Glasgow
Rose, which is drawn with one continuous line.»
He is swept away by enthusiasm, talking about life,
the beginning and the end and the road between
the two. He loves to use a wide range of materials.
But he has a few particular favourites, such as
exotic hardwoods from Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
and Paul Dupré-Lafon. «I like materials that absorb
rather than reflect light.» Brad Pitt is clearly someone
who does his homework.
Making films is his job, but designing houses is his vocation.
60 | PRESTIGE

Understated British Clothing
19 Piccadilly, London W1J 0LA
0207 734 0830
www.cordings.co.uk

CULTURE & ART
Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka
women’s lib
Photo: Private Collection, Courtesy
Richard Nagy Ltd., London
In the early 20th century the traditional relationship between the sexes was
called into question by a series of social, economic and philosophical
changes. Above all, the first stirrings of gender equality provoked some
vehement opposition. Yet sexual liberation was to some extent a joint goal,
because it was not only women who were keen to escape the strict
moral taboos of the 19th century. Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar
Kokoschka all tackled this topic, which at the time was generally described
as a «woman’s issue». These three leading lights of the Vienna Secession
all approached it in different but intersecting ways. The exhibition at
the Belvedere in Vienna takes a close look at these differences and
commonalities. It reveals new insights into relations between the sexes
in the early 20th century and the origins of modern sexual identity.
www.belvedere.at
The Affordable Art Fair is a unique and truly amazing concept.
It provides an accessible, inspiring environment for admiring
or purchasing thousands of artworks, all under one roof.
Everything from paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs …
and no-one has to fork out more than 5000 euros for an
original work by a young talent or established artist. AAF in the
Netherlands is considered to be THE art fair for contemporary,
original art. Its relaxed atmosphere means it is a comfortable
place for budding art buyers, but it is also the perfect place
for keen collectors to add to their treasures. Figurative or
abstract, traditional or avant-garde, the AAF offers a vast
array of works from numerous galleries in and around
Amsterdam.
www.affordableartfair.com
Affordable
Art
Oktoberfest
«O’zapft is!» It’s Oktoberfest time again! On Saturday Oktoberfest
kicks off on the Wiesn with the traditional parade of the
tent patrons. One of the highlights is the traditional costume
and riflemen’s parade on the first Sunday of the festival.
The Wiesn calendar is packed with music, raucous fun and
the famous «Maß», the litre tankards of beer that ensure
a boisterous atmosphere in the tents and on the surrounding
fairground attractions.
www.oktoberfest.de

Best sheep
The traditional Shepherd Festival held in Schweigmatten/Furi includes a
prize-giving for the most beautiful black-nose sheep and for Shepherd
of the Year, who is crowned the previous day. It’s a day for admiring the
most beautiful and best-shorn sheep. A varied festive programme
guarantees fun for young and old alike. And of course Zermatt’s mascot,
Wolli the sheep, will be there to celebrate his birthday.
www.zermatt.ch
CULTURE & ART
AUTUMN DIARY
Glorious
colours
«Indian summer» is how we describe the last warm days of summer as it slides into autumn. In Canada
and New England the trees start to light up in every conceivable shade of crimson, vermillion, gold and copper.
The glorious colours of these silent, vast forests are quite unique. Once seen, never forgotten! The colours
often coincide with a period of clear blue skies and temperatures that once again rise to 20°C and above.
Our mild autumn days in Europe simply can’t compare with North America’s Indian summers. European trees
just don’t come close to producing such a huge range of intense colours. The origins of the expression
«Indian summer» are not clear, but it seems likely that it stems from Native American mythology. One legend
has it that when bears are killed their blood flows into the soil. The trees drink it up and it turns their leaves red.
www.neuenglandusa.de & de-keepexploring.canada.travel
Berlin illuminated
For three weeks in October, the German capital will light up in a
blaze of colour as night falls. Berlin Leuchtet and the Festival
of Lights will both create a magical atmosphere to accompany the
arrival of autumn in Berlin. Key buildings and seven commuter
train stations around the city will be illuminated as part of the
festival. It will even be possible to travel across Berlin on an
illuminated train. It is planned to run seven tours taking visitors
around the brightly-lit buildings.
www.berlin.de
The luxurious way of life | 63

CULTURE & ART
THE HIGH-SPEED PAINTER
FRANCK
BOUROULLEC
He is one of the world’s
best-known speed painters,
creating imposing portraits
at an almost manic pace. His secret: he
always paints his portraits upside
down, so the end result
can only be seen when he
turns them
the right way up.
Yvonne Beck
Volvo Art Session
64 | PRESTIGE

CULTURE & ART
Photo: Christian Breitschmid
Franck Bouroullec has long been one of
the most famous street artists. He began
wielding his can of spray paint on
the street when he was 16 years old.
He went on to become a storyboard
artist and animator. Today Bouroullec is a rock star
in artistic circles – he has already painted big
names such as George Clooney, Eva Longoria,
Beyoncé and Roger Federer. Top global brands
have also recognised the Frenchman’s talent and
often book him for their events. His biggest project
to date has been a work in Vevey in honour of
Charlie Chaplin, which he produced on two
43-metre high towers with a total surface area of
1,600 m 2 . PRESTIGE met the French artist as part
of the Volvo Art Session and talked to him about
speed, performance and much more
PRESTIGE: You have painted many portraits of celebrities.
How did that come about?
FRANCK BOUROULLEC: I’ve never sought to paint celebrities.
I’m just lucky that they call me and ask for a performance.
Of course I don’t say no. I admit I’m a popular artist,
most people seem to like my work. And I often do
paintings for the "elite".
And presumably they pay you well for your work?
I can’t complain, but I’m actually looking to do something
else. I want to do something that will still be talked about
when I’m no longer here.
Why did you do that? Aren’t things going really well?
Every week I spend hundreds of hours on planes. And I lose
up to half a kilo every time I do a performance. I’m getting
older, it’s time I looked after myself a bit more … I also
want to focus more on my sense of social responsibility.
You lose half a kilo every time you perform. I think
that’s because you move about so much when you’re
painting. Can you paint when you’re standing still?
I can, but I don’t want to. I like painting with my whole body.
I like throwing the paint onto the canvas.
How would you describe your work? Art? Performance?
Speed painting?
Well, first of all I don’t think of it as work, but as a kind of
passion. There are not many painters who dare to paint live
and at speed. So what I do is something special. You have
to stand out from the crowd.
Is this why you paint your portraits upside down?
Yes, exactly. Action painting, speed painting … they already
existed, but is anyone painting upside down? Yes,
me - Franck Bouroullec. It’s actually not as difficult as people
think. You just have to hold your head on one side and
move around a lot to distract people’s attention. That’s it!
It’s all just a show. People have to see me at work…
Do you still get nervous before a performance?
Oh yes, very. Look at how my hands are shaking (he laughs).
No, seriously, I’m really nervous before I perform.
The luxurious way of life | 65

CULTURE & ART
Every stroke of the brush is intuitive. It’s probably difficult
for other people to understand what I’m thinking when I’m
painting. I don’t think about the process. My goal is to
finish in a particular time. Today’s challenge is to paint
30 square metres and a car in 2.5 hours.
What are you doing for the Volvo Art Session?
For me, it’s always the journey that counts: my working
process is a kind of creative brainstorming about contemporary
luxury. Clashing geometric forms that eventually
overlap tell the story of my creative process - like a culture
that people still remember even when it is long gone. I use
high-tech elements to highlight the intelligent way that the
Volvo brand picks up on new technologies and continues
to develop them.
In art it is normal to reinterpret things in pictures.
Some people can spend hours philosophising about a
green square. What do you think about that?
I put thought into all my works, but I hate it when I’m constantly
expected to hold intellectual debates. For me, art is
simply about being the first to have an idea. I’ve never seen
anyone painting upside down, so it seemed like a good idea
to try it out.
But you don’t just paint upside down, you also paint
incredibly fast …
I began as an animator for Disney. I was drawing 60 pictures
a day for 3 seconds of film - that’s had an effect on
me. And when I was a young boy I saw an artist painting a
portrait of Jimi Hendrix. His paintbrush was flying around
all over the canvas. I found it really fascinating, and now
this is how I express myself too. But I don’t just want to be
known as a speed painter.
In Vevey you have decorated two high-rise blocks in
deprived areas. Why did you do that?
I think you shouldn’t have to live in ugly surroundings just
because you don’t have much money. A whole district
can be upgraded simply by giving it a little colour and art.
I decorated the two blocks with pictures of Charlie Chaplin.
He died in Vevey and had close ties to the area. I met
the Chaplin family beforehand and they showed me
some pictures from their archives that I had never seen
before.
How long did this project take?
I spent 8 weeks painting a surface of 860 square metres.
I used 500 litres of paint and loads of brushes, rollers and
sticky tape. Now it is the highest fresco in Europe. I think
I’m now being taken seriously as an artist. The name
Bouroullec is no longer only linked to design.
Are you related to the other famous Bouroullecs?
Yes, the Bouroullec brothers - Ronan and Erwan – are my
cousins.
Do you have any artistic role models?
I don’t emulate any other artist in my work, but I do admire
Leonardo da Vinci and Jackson Pollock.
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CULTURE & ART
THE
AMONG THE
VIOLINS
She nestles gracefully against your face, a capricious
beauty ready to bestow a musical kiss. Sounds are teased
from her strings, soft as the rustling of a poplar, wild as
a tarantella, rocking out then wistful as they cast their spell
over the listener. Violin makers have been crafting
their masterpieces for five hundred years.
Helena Ugrenovic
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CULTURE & ART
Emilia Romagna is a fertile region that could be compared to
a gleaming pearl necklace. It is the birthplace of famous
personalities such as Luciano Pavarotti, Giorgio Armani,
Federico Fellini, Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini and
Giuseppe Verdi. One of the wealthiest regions of Italy, it is
also home to the white, brown and red gold that - just like
the violin – truly beguiles the senses. Parmigiano Reggiano
is the only food whose texture does not change when it is in outer space. The
red terracotta buildings in enchanting cities such as Bologna and Modena,
with their arcades and World Heritage treasures, have doors that open on to
secret gardens and warm Italian hospitality. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di
Modena or di Reggio Emilia – this dark brown delicacy is drizzled sparingly
over just about every kind of food, sweet and savoury alike. The violin – an
instrument full of secrets and stories.
Where the nightingale sings
It is said that Antonius Stradivarius would only use the wood of trees where
the nightingale sang to make his unique instruments. In the 16th century in
Cremona, a town in Lombardy close to the border with Emilia Romagna,
Nicolo Amati and his students Antonio Stradivari and Joseph Guarneri del
Gesùcreated masterpieces whose mysteries still inspire the quest for perfection.
Where does their astounding tone come from? Is it the characteristic
curve of the body that is typical of Amati violins, the choice of wood, its thickness
or the legendary varnish used by Stradivari – but which no-one has ever
been able to recreate?
The luxurious way of life | 69

CULTURE & ART
A heaven full of violins
The buildings shimmer red and gold in the old town of Bologna, UNESCO City
of Music. Bruno Stefanini’s workshop on the Via Delle Belle Arti smells of
wood and dedication. Bruno Stefanini is one of five violin makers in Bologna.
It takes him 200 hours of devotion to build one violin. So how do you create
the perfect tone? «The quality of the wood, of course», replies Stefanini. «But
also taking meticulous care with the varnish, the final construction and the
adjustment of the instrument.»
Brescia, Cremona and Absam in Austria were the birthplaces of Italian violin
making and exerted a major influence over this art. Although Cremona is still
considered to be the temple of violin making, cities such as Milan, Bologna,
Florence, Genoa, Piacenza, Naples and Turin are also major centres.
Lady Blunt Stradivari
from 1721.
The elite
Stradivari and Guarneri have left the world exquisite violins that sell for millions
when they appear in the sales rooms. The «ex-Kochanski» Guarneri del Gesù
created in 1741 was sold in 2009 for 7.3 million euros. Stradivari’s «ex-Ries»,
«Dolphin» and «ex-Szigeti», created between 1693 and 1724, went under the
hammer for between 3.5 and 4.3 million euros. Guarneri’s «Lord Wilton»,
«ex-Carrodus» and «ex-Kochanski» from 1741–42 sold for 4.3, 5.1 and
7.3 million euros. The «Vieuxtemps» is currently up for sale at 20 million
dollars.
The absolute queen of these precious violins is the «Lady Blunt» Stradivari
from 1721, which was sold for 11.6 million euros at a charity auction.
70 | PRESTIGE

COLUMN
WILHELM J. GRUSDAT
FROM THE LIFE OF A GALLERY
OWNER: WE DO IT ALL.
Dali literally possessed the key
to a good night’s sleep.
Whenever the Surrealist master
needed a touch of inspiration,
he took a little nap. He would sit
down and hold a heavy iron
key between his thumb and
index finger. When he dropped
off, the key would crash to
the floor and wake him up.
Einstein also used to do this –
perhaps Dali stole the idea
from him?
In fact we spend one third of our
days sleeping. Sleep is the most personal
thing in the world. Apparently we reveal our
personalities through our choice of sleeping
position. People who sleep on their backs
are full of confidence. People who sleep on
their stomachs are control freaks, while
those who sleep in the foetal position tend
to be flexible and capable of handling
everything that life throws at them. This also
applies to couples’ sleeping positions.
Couples have a good relationship if they
still like «spooning». All other positions
mean that the couple is gradually becoming
more independent. When this theory first
emerged some couples desperately began
spooning, only to find they couldn’t sleep.
Nothing is more individual than sleep.
It is a remarkable state that has fascinated
artists through the ages. Andy Warhol
spent eight hours watching his boyfriend,
John Giorno, sleeping. This produced
Warhol’s first film, Sleep, which certainly
had a soporific effect on his audiences.
Nothing is more boring than watching
someone sleeping. But a few years ago,
crowds flocked to MoMA to see British
actress Tilda Swinton sleeping in a glass
box. Is there anything more wonderful
than watching a beautiful woman sleeping?
I remember Douglas
Kirkland’s photos of Marilyn
Monroe lounging seductively
on her snow white sheets.
Robert Rauschenberg used
bed linens very differently.
In 1955 the muse suddenly
took him when he had
no canvas to hand, so he
simply used his sheets to
create one of his first
Combine paintings. His work
«Bed» was a comment
on the art world, which at
the time only considered
certain painting methods to be worthy
of the name art. But it is also a self-portrait,
as the rumpled bedding and crumpled
pillows reveal an impression of the
artist’s body.
«Is there anything
more wonderful than
watching a beautiful
woman sleeping?»
Unfortunately we can’t all be like Marilyn
Monroe and just go to bed in Chanel No. 5.
They make me feel a little like Picasso,
who loved to sashay around his Paris
apartment in silk pyjamas.
And if I’m lucky maybe I’ll find a
scrumptious chocolate under my pillow –
apparently this is how Cary Grant
won over the ladies.
The luxurious way of life | 71

CULTURE & ART
ELITE
UNIVERSITIES
WHERE WORLD LEADERS ARE FORGED
Top universities create the world’s elite.
Lone K. Halvorsen
2
1
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CULTURE & ART
There is tough competition for places at the world’s top universities.
After all, the university you attended is a key factor when you’re looking
for a job. They promise tradition, first-class research and teaching
and exorbitant tuition fees. But tradition is also a harbinger of success. Students
who graduate from elite universities tend to find themselves in demand in the
international jobs market. And these universities provide a fertile breeding
ground for future Nobel laureates.
1 | Harvard University, USA
Harvard is considered to be the cradle of the American intellect, the New
World’s academic Mount Olympus. It is also the oldest university in the USA.
It was founded in 1636 by Puritans who had fled England, and three years
later it was named after English clergyman John Harvard. He was its first
patron and benefactor, leaving his whole fortune and private library to the
university upon his death. The university has produced more than 40 Nobel
laureates. But anyone who is keen to attend seminars with such luminaries
and enjoy cosy fireside chats with world leaders has to come up with something
special in order to gain entry. The admissions panel is looking for visionaries
and rising stars, but drop-outs can succeed too, as demonstrated by
Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook fame.
4
3
2 | Princeton University, USA
Princeton was founded as the College of New Jersey
in 1746. When the school was awarded university
status in 1896, it was renamed Princeton University
after its new location in Princeton. Its motto
is «Die sub numine viget» («Under the protection of
God she flourishes»). The university has close ties
to the Presbyterian Church but no longer requires
its students to have a particular religious affiliation.
Albert Einstein gave lectures at the university,
which has produced an extraordinarily high number
of Nobel laureates in Mathematics and Physics.
3 | Stanford University, USA
With 22 Nobel laureates and five winners of the
Pulitzer Prize, Stanford University is one of the
USA’s top universities. A private university, it was
founded by Jane and Leland Stanford in memory
of their only son, who died tragically at a young age
of typhoid fever. A self-made man, Leland Stanford
entered the history books when he was elected the
eighth governor of California. He became known
for his outstanding intellectual ability and extraordinary
talent for business. Stanford graduate Fred
Terman later returned there to teach and became
the university’s Provost. He came to be known as
the «father of Silicon Valley». By encouraging students
to start their own businesses in the local
area, he laid the foundations for the close ties between
Stanford University and Silicon Valley companies.
4 | Oxford University, England
Oxford is known as a city of learning and knowledge,
home to one of the world’s oldest and most
famous universities. The university’s history reads
like a «Who’s Who» of prominent people: 6 kings,
46 Nobel laureates, 25 British prime ministers and
5 presidents have passed through its doors. And
that’s without mentioning its many other great
alumni, such as Lord Byron, T.S Eliot, Oscar Wilde
and J.R.R. Tolkien, to name but a few. England’s
two most famous universities, Oxford and Cambridge
are embroiled in a centuries-old rivalry. This
is played out every year on the Thames, with rowing
eights from the two universities battling it out in
the traditional «Boat Race».
The luxurious way of life | 73

CULTURE & ART
5
6
7
5 | Cambridge University, England
In 1209 a violent episode caused a rift between
«town» and «gown» in Oxford. This led to many
students and professors fleeing to Cambridge and
setting up a new university. For centuries, Cambridge
University has been a leading university in
Maths and Science, so it is hardly surprising that
its alumni include Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton
and Stephen Hawking. Prince Charles also attended
for a few years before continuing his studies
in Wales. The eternal rivalry between Oxford and
Cambridge is not just measured by who can row
the fastest on the Thames, but also in numbers of
Nobel laureates: Oxford has 46, while Cambridge
can claim 88.
6 | University of California Berkeley, USA
Diversity has always been a cornerstone of UC
Berkeley. It prides itself on its tolerance and political
liberalism, its international student body and high
academic standards. The main university rankings
consistently list it as the best public university in
the USA, and it is nipping at the heels of the
smaller, elite private universities. The University of
California, Berkeley, or UC Berkeley, was founded
in 1868. Every year, more students gain their
doctorates here that at any other university in the
USA. It is known around the world for the excellent
quality of its teaching and research, and many of
its researchers and professors have won Nobel
prizes.
7 | Yale University, USA
Yale University, USA Yale is not just a university,
but an elite institution that is constantly admitting
new generations to its ranks. When it was founded
in 1701, its goal was to provide a scientific education
comparable to that available in Europe, and
increasingly it aims to produce the leaders of the
future. Yale has a particularly good reputation in
the Humanities and Social Science, though it is
also strong in Natural Science. Yale graduates are
following in the footsteps of many famous alumni,
including Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Jodie
Foster and 20 Nobel laureates.
74 | PRESTIGE

THE MOST FAMOUS VAMPIRE
IN CINEMA HISTORY
CHRISTOPHER LEE
«Dracula», «The Curse of Frankenstein», «Star Wars», «Lord of the Rings»,
«The Hobbit»: just a handful of the 280 films in which Christopher Lee - who
died in June aged 93 - acted or played voiceover roles. He was showered
with awards during his long career, and even given an entry in the Guinness
Book of Records. He was one of the most successful actors of all time, with
the most film and TV credits to his name. His greatest triumph came in 1958
when he played Dracula in the film of the same name. He went on to make
another seven Dracula films and gained cult status before finally giving up
the role. Even today, Christopher Lee is still generally associated with the
bloodthirsty vampire. At 6’5" (1.96 metres) tall, he was often cast in powerful
or villainous roles. He felt the most important role he ever played was in
«Jinnah» (1998), in which he played Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who fought for
Indian independence and became the founder of Pakistan. Lee found it
particularly interesting to spend ten weeks filming in a foreign culture and
felt the film was important because of the way it approached Islam.
4
QUOTES
He made his film debut at the age of 26 in the drama «Corridor of Mirrors».
His big break came ten years later when he made a name for himself in film
classics such as «The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes» (1970), and the Bond
movie «The Man with the Golden Gun» (1974). In the late Seventies, Lee and
his wife Gitte Kroencke, a Danish model and actress, moved to Hollywood
with their daughter Christina. He spent 20 years working on numerous projects
in the USA before finally returning to London, his home town. In 2009
he was knighted by Prince Charles, the son of Queen Elizabeth, at Buckingham
Palace. He was now a member of the aristocracy and could officially
call himself Sir Christopher Lee. But he kept on working and soon became
a familiar face to younger generations thanks to his work on the «Lord of the
Rings» trilogy and «The Hobbit». Despite holding a world record and being
the recipient of numerous awards, he never won an Oscar. On 7 June,
Christopher Lee’s 68-year career as an actor, singer and autobiographical
author came to an end when he passed away in hospital from respiratory
and heart ailments.
«To be a legend, you’ve
either got to be dead or
excessively old.» «Every actor has to make terrible films
«What’s really important
for me is, as an old man,
I’m known by my own
generation and the next
generation know me, too.»
from time to time, but the trick is never
to be terrible in them.»
«People sometimes come up to me,
and they say, I’ve seen all your films, Mr Lee ,
and I say, Oh no, you haven’t. »
The luxurious way of life | 75

TRAVEL

HOLIDAY LIKE IN
FAIRYTALES
COME TRUE
The Sultanate of Oman surprises you with its golden
dunes, magical beaches and unique culture.
The logo of the best kept secret in the
Indian Ocean is «Beauty has an address».
Text: Sara Berg
The Luxury Way of Life | 77

78 | PRESTIGE
he light from the setting sun paints the sheer never ending dunes
a deep red. The biggest sandy surface cloaks itself in silence. The
Omani smiles. He knows the Rub al-Khali like the back of his hand.
The desert is alien to the visitor. It forces him to step outside
the world of hustle and bustle and to go inward. The feeling is unique,
Toverwhelming.

TRAVEL
The Best of Both Worlds
With its hustle and bustle, the capital reflects the past and the present of the
country. Almost half of the Omani population lives here. The Omanis are
proud of what they have built in the past 40 years under the reign of Sultan
Qaboos: today they live in a modern state in harmony with their old traditions.
So the capital Muscat offers the visitor best of both the worlds. A stroll along
the seaside promenade promises a cultivated Mediterranean flair, exciting
museum exhibitions and architectural masterworks from the past invite you
to stay and linger.
The Desert Lives
The Rub al-Khali means «the empty quarter» in
Arabic. An apt name, but the desert encompasses
a large part of the Arabian peninsula. It is one of
the few areas in the world that has not yet been
fully explored. And that is what it makes it more
appealing. The intoxicating view of the almost
endless sand dunes, shimmering like gold in the
searing light, makes the visitor pause for a moment.
Stress and the hectic pace are forgotten, problems
suddenly appear utterly trivial. As a visitor, you
experience the friendliness, openness and the
inner calm of the people of Oman when they
welcome you. One is truly a guest here. Relaxing
over a cup of tea, you get to know the unique
culture of Oman.
But even those who wish for more action during
their holiday get their money’s worth in Oman:
close to Muscat, the capital city, in the «Bawshar
Sands», the sonorous sounds of the four-wheel
buggies cut through the gentle silence of the desert.
SUVs and quads make their way through the
golden dunes and drive very fast through the fine
sand. In the evening light, you can marvel at the
white buildings of Muscat, which reflect the wonderful
green of the surrounding hills and cloak the city
in a mysterious glow.
One of these buildings is the large Sultan Qaboos Mosque. Located directly
on the main street, it exercises almost a magnetic pull on the visitor and brings
him in contact with the spirit of Islam as a religion, science and culture. The
huge prayer house, which took 6 years to build, has an area of 416‚000 square
metres for 20‚000 worshippers to pray. The central dome of the main prayer
hall rises 50 metres above the ground and has a stunning Swarovski crystal
chandelier. It took 600 weavers 27 months to weave the Persian carpet that
covers the floors. It has 1.7 million knots and weighs a whopping 21 tonnes.
Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the impressive building: it is open Sunday
to Thursday until 11 am. Please wear appropriate clothing. It is certainly
well-worth a visit – so are the royal palace of Al Alam and the forts of Al Jalali
and Al Mirani, which sit high atop rocks outside the city.
Hustle Bustle in Market
Traditions and customs run like a common thread through all of Oman’s landmarks.
One however feels its traces very strongly in the oasis city of Nizwa,
which was the capital and religious centre of the country in the 12th century.
The magical city nestles in the middle of a breathtaking mountain landscape
and is a cultural highlight of every visit. It is lively and colourful here – especially
when the merchants tout their wares at the extraordinary souk. In
addition to jewellery, traditional clothes, antiques and hand-woven Bedouin
carpets, a very special souvenir can be bought here as a present for loved
ones at home: the «khanjar», a curved dagger made of silver and ivory, which
is still being made in traditional craft enterprises just as it was 200 years ago.
It is not only a fashionable accessory but is an integral part of the traditional
costume in the Sultanate.
High above the city sits the largest fort on the entire Arabian peninsula. The
fort is the architectural testimony to the economic and military success of the
early Yaruba dynasty in the mid-17th century. Its watchtower has a diameter
of 45 metres and towers above other fortifications by 34 metres. The steps
concealed in the inner courtyard lead the visitor to a balustrade from where
he can view the entire city. Nicely renovated quarters dot the shabbier streets,
a symbol for the blending of the modern with the traditional. The view of the
large Friday mosque with its golden dome makes up wonderfully for the now
aching feet.
The luxurious way of life | 79

aces, which are partly organised by the royal
house, it’s not just the riders but also the powerful
animals who compete.
Beach & Ocean
Time to relax on the beach. With its long, fine sandy beaches, tropical bays
and towering cliffs rising from the ocean, Oman is an ideal place for those
who enjoy being near water. Dhofar Goveronate is characterised by attractive
beaches, noted for the purity of sand and magnificent cliffs. Hundreds of
flamingos romp around here, which give the lagoons their gaudy pink look.
Even many dolphins and whales are drawn to this coastal region. Porpoises,
grey dolphins and beaked whales jump happily through the waves, while
the visitor watches them spellbound, fascinated by the unbelievable beauty
of the nature.
The visitor also gets to experience the immense marine biodiversity: sea
horses glide like magical beings through the clear water, gaily coloured corals
nestle on the ocean floor, hundreds of colourful fishes float through the
unspoiled depths of water. Those who come at the right time of the year can
also marvel at the sea turtles making their way to the spawning ground.
Thousands of marine reptiles migrate annually from the shores of the Gulf of
Arabia, the Red Sea and Somalia to lay their eggs on the beaches of Oman.
A very special attraction is night turtle viewing in the nature reserve «Ras
Al Jinz», which is around 30 kilometres east of the city Sur. The reserve offers
the animals a quiet place to lay their eggs, securing their continued existence.
Camel racing is also popular and follows more
or less the same rules. Camels, the «ships of the
desert» have played a vital role in the region over
thousands of years. They were used as a means of
travel, for food and shelter, but have also being
used for entertaining from time immemorial. Today
camel racing has evolved into a professional sport.
The Omanis use the latest technology and spare no
expense to see their animal winning the title race.
Golf is relatively a new sport in Oman. Muscat now
has three 18 hole golf courses: Almouj Golf, the
Ghala Valley Golf Course and the Muscat Hills
Golf & Country Club. As the sport is becoming
increasingly popular among Omanis and tourists,
a few more Golf courses are expected to be
launched in the future.
Non-Stop Flight to your Dream Holiday
Only six and a half hours of flight separate the
grey everyday from the dream holiday like in
1001 Nights: Oman Air flies four times a week from
Switzerland to the Sultanate of Oman.
Ships of the Desert, Thorough-Bred Riders and the Perfect Shot
The passion for animals however does not just extend to the wildlife species,
which enjoy special protection in Oman. In Islam, horses enjoy a special status;
they symbolise integrity and pride. The Sultanate has many excellent horse
studs and is famous for raising, breeding and devoted care. In the annual horse
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www.omanair.com
www.omantourism.com
www.omantourism.gov.om

THE MOTHER OF CHIMPANZEES
JANE GOODALL
In 1960, Jane Goodall, the primatologist, began to study the behaviour of
chimpanzees in Tanzania. Jane Goodall is a peace loving, modest, energetic
and, also, a determined woman, who decided to initiate an ethical revolution
in some of the academic disciplines. In addition to Diane Fossey (gorillas),
Biruté Galdikas (orangutans), she is one of the third women who began longterm
studies on great apes at the suggestion of the paleontologist Louis
Leakkey. It was hoped that these study could shed light on the behaviour of
prehistoric humans. Now for the last 50 years, Jane Goodall has not only
provided accurate scientific findings, but has also been a perfect example of
how one should treat humans, animals and nature – our environment – with
respect and love. Many findings on chimpanzees are attributed to Jane Goodall’s
studies. She discovered that chimpanzees were capable of using tools.
The chimpanzees break branches and use them to fish termites from their
mounds. They also use stones as hammer and anvil to break open nut shells.
In addition, Goodall also found out that chimpanzees
eat meat and even hunt collectively other
monkey species and attack in groups other groups
of chimpanzees. Goodall was one of the first researchers
who gave the animals she observed
names instead of numbers. This practice did not
meet with the approval of the scientific community,
as it was said that the objectivity would be lost –
and also because previously Jane Goodall had
worked «only» as a secretary and a waitress and
lacked university education. Since then, many scientists
have followed Goodall’s example. Today
Goodall supports alternatives to animal testing and
is vehemently against any cruelty towards animals.
5
QUOTES
«We need money to live but
we should not live for money.»
«The least I can do is speak out for those
who cannot speak for themselves.»
«If everybody would have the same standard
of living like an average European or American,
we would need six planets.»
«If we take the future seriously,
then we must stop leaving it to others,
instead we must ourselves become active.»
«You can change something – everyday and at any time!»
The luxurious way of life | 81

IRELAND’S
LIGHTHOUSES
Ireland is an island, so it’s hardly
surprising that you will find many
lighthouses here. The real surprise
lies in their fascinating histories.
MIZEN HEAD
CLOGHAN
CORK COUNTY
Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s southernmost point. It is a place
of extremes. In 1908, these proved to be deadly. Back then,
«SS Trada» was shipwrecked here. On that day, the attendant
lighthouse keeper and the workers saved 68 lives. Today a
bridge with high walls ensures that visitors cross the tumultuous
sea safely to reach the signal station.
Also worth seeing: Treat yourself to lunch in Durrus, which is
33.5 km away from the Mizen lighthouse. The famous
Durrus cheese comes from this small village.
BLACKHEAD LIGHTHOUSE
WHITEHEAD BAY
ANTRIM COUNTY
Blackhead Lighthouse is located on the north shore of Belfast
Lough. It is an ideal location to see ships such as the «Titanic»,
the «Olympic» and the «Britannic» setting sail from Belfast.
Thanks to the Irish Landmark Trust, you can stay overnight at the
Lightkeeper’s House. Look out for the secret tunnel. During
stormy weather, the lighthouse keepers used it as a passageway
between the lighthouse and the house.
ALSO WORTH SEEING: Titanic Belfast located 25.5 kms away
from the Blackhead Lighthouse. The exhibition which has the
same name as the city offers a stunning interactive insight into the
myths and realities of the «Ship of Dreams».
FANAD LIGHTHOUSE
FANAD
DONEGAL COUNTY
Fanad Lighthouse was built in 1811. It was constructed in
response to «HMS Saldanha» being shipwrecked. It is reported
that only the ship’s parrot survived. Since then Fanad Lighthouse
has saved many lives. If the locals are to be believed, the
lighthouse is higher than the Eiffel tower. It stands at the west
shore of the peninsula Fanad Head.
ALSO WORTH SEEING: On the same peninsula, in Doaghbeg,
stands the Great Arch, an impressive sea cliff with an opening
formed by the Atlantic. So take your camera and take pictures for
your loved ones at home.
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RUE POINT, RATHLIN EAST LIGHTHOUSE &
RATHLIN WEST LIGHTHOUSE
RATHLIN ISLAND
ANTRIM COUNTY
ERRIS
MAYO COUNTY
Sailors demanded a lighthouse on Rathlin lsland for the first
time in 1827. Today there are three. In a cave under the
West Lighthouse, Robert the Bruce, the King of Scotland
from 1306–1329, is said to have learnt perseverance
from a tiny spider. With its modest 11 metres, Rue Point,
an unmanned lighthouse, is the smallest of the three.
Also worth seeing: A colony of seals at Mill Bay and the
RSPB Seabird Centre make Rathlin a favourite destination
for animals and bird lovers. Here you can discover
razor bills, puffins and kittiwakes, among other things.
BLACKSOD LIGHTHOUSE
3rd June 1944. Rough weather conditions prevent the Allies from
start the D-Day landings. On 4th June, whilst the commanders
are busy poring over each and every available weather report,
information is received from a weather station on the northwest
coast of Ireland. The message says that the weather conditions
will improve. The decision is made. Two days later, landings are
initiated and the Blacksod Lighthouse and its keeper
Edward «Ted» Sweeney will go down in the 20th century
history as a small but a significant footnote.
ALSO WORTH SEEING: Céide Fields, 61 kms from Blacksod
and just few metres away from the Atlantic. At 6000 years,
it is the oldest «Stone Age monument» of the world. Houses,
tombs and field systems stretch across over thousands
of hectares.
HOOK HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
FETHARD-ON-SEA
WEXFORD COUNTY
In its almost 800 years of history Hook Head has seen
many things. For example, it was named by the
Lonely Planet as one of the 10 most beautiful lighthouses
in the world. Records show that in the 5th century a
Welsh monk kept a beacon lit here to warn sailors of
possible shipwrecks.
ALSO WORTH SEEING: Do we owe the phrase «by hook
or by crook» to Hook Head and the small village Crooke,
which lies 68 kms away? Some say yes. Visit the village
and decide for yourself.
The luxurious way of life | 83

TRAVEL
GLORIOUS
VIEW, STUNNING,
Do you wish to cool off? Then dive into the
most beautiful hotel pools, which blend
with the horizon, which offer you breathtaking
views of nature and the rooftops of the
city – or are just fantastically fabulous The
best part is you do not need to go on a
world trip to enjoy these pools. They all are
located in Europe.
Yvonne Beck
1
1 | PRIESTEREGG
Loegang, Autria
At at an altitude of 1,100 metres, the guests are
a bit closer to heaven in the 14 metre long,
heatable infinity pool of the Willy Bogner chalet
and have a view of the mountains and the
Leogang valley.
www.priesteregg.at
3
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2
2 | PORTOROŽ AND PIRAN
Slovenia
More from the sea: «Lepa Vida», the thalasso
open-air spa, which is located in a disused
part of the saltpans, harnesses the healing
power of the sea and creates a sense of
well-being in the heated saltwater pool in the
middle of nature.
www.portoroz.si/de
3 | DAS TEGERNSEE
Tegernsee, Germany
DAS TEGERNSEE is located on a southern
slope with a magnificent view of the Tegernsee
lake. Against a backdrop of the impressive
mountains, the hotel and spa guests relax daily
from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
www.dastegernsee.de

TRAVEL
4
5
6
7
4 | BARCELÓ ASIA
GARDENSHOTEL & THAI SPA
Alicante, Spain
No, we are not in Asia. Located on the Spanish
coast, this tropical garden has seven pools invite
you to cool off. These pools cover a water surface
of 3500 square metres.
www.asiagardens.e
5 | HOTEL QUELLE NATURE SPA RESORT
Gsies Valley, Italy
Gsies Valley in South Tyrol is a true insider tip.
Once you are in the natural swimming pond
everyday stress ebbs away quickly. The pond
offers a view of the surrounding Dolomites.
Pure relaxation.
www.hotel-quelle.com
6 | BARCELÓ SANTIAGO
Puerto Santiago, Spain
The bathing belles treat themselves to a refreshing
time-out on the volcanic island, which
boasts a fantastic view of Los Gigantes and the
soft murmur of the Atlantic ocean.
www.barcelo.com
7 | BARCELÓ RAVAL
Barcelona Spain
The spectacular roof terrace of the futuristic
hotel delights you not only with a panoramic
view of the Catalan metropolis, but also with
a pool and a cocktail bar.
www.barcelo.com/raval
The Luxury Way of Life | 85

TRAVEL
8
8 | HOTEL MONTE MULINI
Rovinj, Croatia
Swimming fun in the sea: the pool of the five-star
hotel Monte Mulini, located in the picturesque Istria,
seems to blend seamlessly with the azure Adriatic
Sea.
www.montemulinihotel.com
9 | DAS.GOLDBERG
Bad Hofgastein, Austria
Set against the backdrop of the Hohe Tauern
mountains, the natural bathing pool with its white
sandy beach invites you to beach clubbing –
barbecue specialities and cocktails create the
right mood.
www.dasgoldberg.at
10 | ADLER MOUNTAIN LODGE
Seiser Alm, Italy The panorama pool lies suspended
like a mountain lake over the Alpine
meadow of Seiser Alm. The surrounding Dolomites
reflect proudly in the heated brine water.
www.adler-lodge.com
9
11 | VILA VITA PARC
Porches, Portugal
Surrounded by 22 hectares of a subtropical
park with around 5000 palms, fragrant flowers
and exotic plants, the residents of the Vila Praia
completely lose themselves in their private infinity
pool which faces the Atlantic.
www.vilavitaparc.com
10
11
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DID YOU
KNOW…?
Invented in England
In the 19th century, the English academics invented the name
«Indonesia». Until then, the archipelago, which stretched from
Asia to Australia, was called East Indies or Spice Islands.
The game «Rock, Paper, Scissors», which is also popular among
us, is played in Indonesia, but in their version, an earwig wins
over the elephant and the person. The elephant crushes the
person, the person crushes the earwig and the earwig crawls
into the elephant’s brain and drives him mad. Indonesia has
a total population of 230 million and is thus the fourth largest in
the world after China, India and the USA. 47 million people
live in Sumatra alone.
In Search of Eternal Life
King Qin Shihuangdi, the man behind the Terracotta
Army and the Great Wall of China, could have
anything he wanted. As the First Emperor of the
united China, he enjoyed everything that the
3rd century had to offer – ancient historians report
that a 45 kilometre long and comfortable walkway
led from his palace to the top of a holy mountain,
while his doors were fitted with metal detectors. But
there was one thing that he could not have and
that is what finally killed him. When the king grew
older, he sent hundreds of messengers to search
for the elixir of life, but it was all in vain. Instead
he took mercury tablets prescribed by his doctors,
which soon poisoned him.
Liquid Wealth
In 1938, Kuwait’s vast oil field Burgan was discovered.
This is the place where the oil flows so generously that it
literally gushes out of the ground. It’s where the Arabian
oil boom began. And although Kuwait is hardly bigger than
Upper Bavaria, it still holds 10 per cent of the world’s oil
reserves. Over the years, the nation has accrued 175 billion
euros with its oil operations. In 1991, when Saddam
Hussein retreated from Kuwait, his soldiers set fire to
600 oil wells. Until the fires were extinguished, the wells
burned daily approximately 950 million litres of oil –
well over what was burnt during the entire three months
of the «Deepwater Horizon» oil spill.
The luxurious way of life | 87

INSIDER TIPS
A journey to Vienna takes you to a cosmopolitan city with a historical
flair. From cultural attractions to the legendary coffee culture, the Austrian
metropolis has plenty to offer. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Castle,
the Ferris wheel in Prater, Vienna’s large amusement park, and Secession
building are only some of the highlights of the city. In addition to visiting the
Spanish Riding School, the Burgtheater and the Hundertwassser building,
you are allowed to shop to your heart’s content.
Daily Care with Style
At Walter Weiss, the long-standing customers, quality-conscious buyers and
nostalgics keep coming and going. Everybody is searching for «the daily
care with style». You will be hard put to find so many shaving appurtenances
anywhere else: bushy shaving brushes, all kinds of shaving creams,
countless accessories for the classical wet shave or badger bristle shaving
brushes for the sensitive skin. A gem on the shopping street.
www.walterweiss.atwww.walterweiss.at
Finest of Linen
The company «Zur Schwäbischen Jungfrau» has a long tradition.
It owes its name to a linen trader who moved from Swabia to
Vienna in 1720. His three daughters sold the finest of linen at
the market place. The company became the Imperial & Royal
Court supplier and Sisi slept on lace bedding supplied by
them. Even today it offers the finest of quality and the best of
service. Spread on three floors, you can browse through
linen and damask fabrics by the yard, kitchen, table and bed
linen and terry cloth products. And even today it supplies
to the nobility all over the world – for instance to the Malaysian
royalty and the Sultan of Pahang.
www.schwaebische-jungfrau.at
Handmade for the Feet
At Wieselmann’s, every customer receives his / her own shoe
last und has to go for three trial fittings, but gets a custom-made
shoe in return. Here shoes are custom made to last a lifetime.
It takes up to 60 hours to make individual pieces, which can cost
up to 3500 euros.
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www.wieselmann.org

Cabinets of Wonder of the Analogous Future
Florian Kaps, founder of Supersense, is the saviour of the analogous image
culture. He obtained the last of the Polaroid factory in the Netherlands.
In his shop in Leopoldstadt, you can buy nostalgic cameras and films rolls.
You will find pretty souvenirs stacked next to the Super-8 cameras and
Polaroid film rolls. You can record your own vinyl single in a small recording
studio for 15 euros. The analogous world lives on!
www.supersense.com
Stamped
In Stempel Lobenhofer, one is surrounded by nostalgic numbering
machines, hand stamps, bread stamps on wood pegs and enamel signs.
The company has been family-owed since 1912 and is devoted primarily
to the profession of flexography and engraving. Upon request, individual
pieces can be manufactured. There are no bounds to creativity.
Address: Hofmühlgasse 1, 1060 Vienna
The Unusual Shopping Guide!
Vienna proves that cliches about
it are correct: grumpy waiters,
horse-drawn carriages, enormous
schnitzel, souvenirs of Sisi at
every second corner. But in reality
it is much more than that, because
Vienna is different – that’s the
slogan of the city. Many specialised
companies with a long
tradition can still be found in the
winding lanes, creative young
people are taking over vacant
business premises. An attractive
blend, which underlines Vienna’s
slogan and merges development
with the past. The new Vienna
stands apart from the large
shopping streets.
Flag Twirling
If you are looking for banners, streamers, table banner or flags, then
Fahnen Christl is the right place to visit. Whether for patriots, national
holidays or pirate flags for the kids, this is the right address for you.
In this small shop, you will find over 200 different flags and many
colourful patches. By the way: while the national flag is one of a kind,
other flags are replaceable and can be manufactured in different sizes.
111 shops in Vienna that you
have to experience
Katrin Hofmann
Emons: Publisher
www.fahnenchristl.at
The luxurious way of life | 89

A JOURNEY TO
PARADISE
MALDIVES

TRAVEL
Around 1,200 islands and islets are spread
over 21 atolls. Approximately 235 islands
are inhabited. The Maldives is unique in
every way – both under water and on land.
Yvonne Beck
It is heaven on earth – and the Garden of Eden under water. The
Maldives is an archipelago with names which the visitors do not find
easy to pronounce: Ihavandippholu, Maamakunudhu, Kaashidhu,
Alifushi or Haddunmath. The names may be difficult for Europeans to pronounce,
but it is easy to relax here: the snow-white sand beaches, deep green
palm groves, and fragrance of flowers are the backdrop of the small islands
and their resorts, where you can indulge yourself.
Small Paradise Islands
Each island is a small kingdom, whose large, colourful treasure chambers
open up when you go diving and snorkelling. In the reefs, colourful fishes
entertain themselves in unusual shaped corals and flower gardens – a magnificent
spectacle, which surpasses every fantasy. Unforgettable impressions:
manta rays silently glide past divers like bizarre shadows. Large schools of
fishes performing an exclusive ballet, which is perfect in its choreography, just
for snorkellers. In addition to all of this, the large, gentle whale sharks make
their way unperturbed.
When one lands in Malé, one is a bit disoriented at first. High-rise buildings,
heavy traffic – an island that seems to be bursting at its seams. The capital
city of the Republic is efficient and far from the picturesque beaches and
dreams of holidays. But a short flight to the neighbouring atolls allows the
visitors to dive into an entirely different world. Glittering water, palm trees that
lean picturesquely over the beaches, luxury resorts and hotels in which the
staff can ostensibly cater to your every whim. From the small hideaway to the
luxurious resort with an underwater restaurant leaves no wish unfulfilled. Wellness
and finest of cuisine, nothing spoils the ambience. Simply unforgettable:
the Indian Ocean shimmers in many shades of turquoise, the clear flat white
beaches lead to crystal-clear water and the sky is a perfect blue – until the
sun dramatically sinks into the ocean and the stars appear in the night sky.
In short, when it comes to holidays, the Maldives is the crème de la crème –
whether over or under water.
The luxurious way of life | 91

PER AQUUM
NIYAMA
Niyama, the lifestyle resort, presents
itself as a resort which has an
extravagant design and an innovative
concept. Everyone who spend their
holidays here are hip and are happy to
show what they possess.
The Per AQUUM Niyama is unlike other resorts in the Maldives. Although
like many other hotels, it also upholds the original Maldivian values, it offers
lot more to its guests than just a romantic getaway, i. e. an exciting blend of
relaxation, adventure, inspiration and entertainment.
LOCATION: The resort lies in the southwestern part of the Maldives in the
Dhaalu Atoll on the idyllic islands of Embudhufushi and Olhuveli. From the Malé
International Airport, you can reach it via a seaplane in around 40 minutes.
ACCOMMODATION: The resort consists of 134 Studios and pavilions in eight
different categories. The motto here is: «He who has a choice has a torment».
One is spoilt for choice, as first one must decide whether one wishes to stay
directly at the beach or rather in an overwater accommodation facing the Indian
Ocean. It is purely a matter of taste; some prefer the unique closeness to water
and others would rather have sand under their feet. All accommodation provide
modern amenities but are decorated in traditional warm colours. In contrast to
the resort’s traditional architecture, which fits harmoniously into the heavenly
Maldivian landscape, the interior design and infrastructure are in a class of
their own. Ultimate comfort ranks first. Starting from deluxe furnishings and
technology through butler service to your own in-room deli.
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TRAVEL
HIGHLIGHTS:
➧ The 24 hour «LIME Spa» is the
only spa in the Maldives which
has overwater treatment rooms.
➧ The first underwater night club
in the world.
➧ Restaurant on the open sea,
which is only accessible by boat.
➧ Hotel-owned marine biology
research station and diving
reef with wrecks.
Mediterranean delicacies. The «Epicure» on the
«Chill» island offers whole day international culinary
delights, which are also available as takeaways. For
evenings, we recommend the rooftop bar «Fahrenheit»
with its spectacular sunset views. The canopy
restaurant «Tribal» provides South and East African,
Asian and South American cuisine – including show
cooking on hot stones or over open fire. A special
highlight is the «Niyama’s Signature Restaurant
Edge». Located 500 metres from the island, it
seems to float over water and can only be reached
by boat. Eight metres below it is the world’s first
underwater club «Subsix», where regular events
and internationally renowned DJs ensure a wonderful
atmosphere. Party while being surrounded by
turtles, rays, sharks and sailfishes.
The restaurant «Nest» has recently opened – the
first tree house restaurant in the Maldives. It is
erected on stilts in old Banyan trees and can be
reached via wooden paths and steps. Here, in the
middle of nature, you can enjoy the finest of Asian
cuisine from Thai specialities to Teppanyaki.
The villas have a terrace with a seating area, a semi-open bathroom with a
bathtub, covered and open-air shower. The Beach Studios (160 m²) are situated
directly on the lagoon. They have a living/bedroom, a bathroom and a private
garden facing the Indian Ocean. Some also have a private pool and direct
access to the beach. The Water Studios with Pool (180 m²) are built on stilts
over the sea and provide an unspoilt panoramic view. The Deluxe Water Studios
(200 m²) also have the same features as the Water Studios but has a larger
outdoor area. The Water Pavilions (255 m²) and Ocean Pavilions (2BR / 350 m²)
are also built over water. In addition, they also have a large eating area, deli-in,
a wine cellar, a Teppanyaki grill, a small open-air cinema, a working area and
a pool.
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION: The 2 Bedroom Beach Pavilion
(350 m²). It has a separate living area, a private pool and direct beach access.
T hese are the kind of places where one imagines that rock stars relax! And
perhaps that’s why an e-guitar is part of the décor.
CUISINE: Good food naturally goes together with such an accommodation
and it is also provided. The hotel has five restaurants and two bars. At the
pool of the «Play» island, the family restaurant «BLU» spoils you all day with
SPECIAL: Families with children prefer the «Play»
island, while honeymoon couples and those seeking
relaxation like it on the «Chill» island. Because of
the two islands, Niyama has also become a perfect
places for families with children. The heart of the
«Play» island is the large infinity pool equipped with
a pool for children. Located directly on the beach,
it invites the small guests to splash around to their
heart’s content, while their parents relax in cabanas
and allow themselves to be pampered by the sun
butler. The children’s club «Explorers» offers daily
fun and action-packed adventures for guests aged
between 12 months and 12 years. NIYAMA is the
only club in the Maldives that even offers a kid’s
club for children below three years of age, which
scores with its special feature such as a sleeping
area. A bridge connects the «Play» island with the
Niyama island «Chill». This allows the guests to
make the best use of the activity programme and
other facilities of both the islands. Despite the many
children, NIYAMA lives up to its name – which
means «travel peacefully».
The luxurious way of life | 93

TRAVEL
ANANTARA
KIHAVAH VILLAS
The luxury retreat on the lush green island of Kihavah
Huravalhi impresses you with its gourmet concept
and architectural details. Anyone who spends
their holidays here, just enjoys it. A genuine paradise
full of luxury and calm.
The Anantara Kihavah Villas stands for
uniqueness. Where else can you dine in an
underwater restaurant built in a natural reef
and where else can you dine surrounded by the
biodiversity of the Indian Ocean? Where else are
you surrounded by coral reefs and a blue lagoon?
Where else can you enjoy utmost luxury and a high
level of privacy?
LOCATION: The Kihavah Villas belong to the
famous Anantara Group and is located on the lush
tropical island of Kihavah Huravalhi in the Baa Atoll.
From Malé, you can reach it in 35 minutes by
a seaplane.
ACCOMMODATION: The 78 pool villas, which
are between 260 and 2738 square metres, nestle
among the lush vegetation at the beach or poise
over the turquoise ocean. In addition to their own
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TRAVEL
HIGHLIGHTS:
➧ The underwater restaurant «Sea» featuring the only
underwater wine cellar in the Maldives. Here wine lovers
can find over 6500 fine wine from 14 countries.
➧ An Anantara spa over the lagoon as well as one of the
largest pools in the Maldives.
➧ It’s own Coral Adoption Programme.
➧ With its 49 metres, the pool is the longest in the Maldives
and has its own sunshine butler.
➧ House reef is approximately 50 metres away.
pools and breathtaking views, the Water Villas offer
two special features – bathtubs and even
toilets with glass floors through which you can
marvel at the colourful underwater world. In contrast,
the Beach Villas stand out because of their
charming details such as the large outdoor bathtubs
with in-built wine chiller or palm trees that
grow through the roofs of the rooms. All villas are
open plan and have their own pools and large sun
terraces with comfortable swings or hammocks.
The very large villas offer maximum comfort, and
yet because of their Indian, Moroccan or tropical
decor they always appear to be pleasant. These
villas have private pools and daybeds on the
terrace or under a pavilion. The four residences,
each with two bedrooms, a separate living area
and spaciousness for every guest, are particularly
suitable for families. The «Presidential Beach
Residence» with its 2700 m², two private infinity
pools, two Jacuzzis, a spacious living area and
a shady pavilion along a 76 metre long private
strip of beach is particularly suitable for groups of
friends.
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMODATION: The Overwater
Pool Residence (861 m²), which has the
same features as the Overwater Pool Villa, but has
an additional bedroom and bathroom, a separate
living area, a 24-hour butler service and a large
pool (5 x 9 m). The villa is located on the sunrise
side. It is built on stilts over the crystal-clear lagoon
and has steps that lead directly to the ocean.
CUISINE: The luxury island Anantara Kihavah
also presents its best side when it comes to the
cuisine. The restaurants «Sea, Fire, Salt, Sky» and «Plates» and «Manzaru»
ensure that you are well taken care of with their exquisite food. The main
restaurant «Plates» provides Maldivian specialities for breakfast and dinner.
«Manzaru» offers wonderful Mediterranean dishes. The concept of dining is
based on the four elements and thus «Fire» offers Asian cuisine. The «Salt»
restaurant prepares dishes on a Himalayan stone, which lends them a special
aroma; in the «Sea» restaurant you can dine under water. For a nightcap, the
Bar «Sky» invites you to enjoy the evening with a fantastic view of the Baa
Atoll.
SPECIAL: Baa Atoll, where usually not a lot of diving takes place, offers the
right diving spot to suit every taste. A special highlight is the 12.5 metres long
Thila, where you can often watch grey reef sharks. The abundance of fish in
this untouched area is breathtaking – giant marine turtles and eagle rays are
not uncommon here. The Baa Atoll is impressive mainly because of its diversity
and the fine quality of the different coral species, especially the magnificent
soft corals. There are still new diving spots to be discovered from where
nobody has dived yet.
The luxurious way of life | 95

TEA SHOPS & PORT LIFE
With a diameter of two kilometres and over 100‚000 inhabitants, Malé is one
of the most densely populated places in the world. Approximately one-fourth
of the Maldivians live here. Although Malé is by no means a paradise island,
which holiday makers would seek, it is still well worth a visit to experience
the bustling streets, the national museum and the Friday mosque. One can
only experience here the authentic daily life of Maldivians: afternoons at
the port, when the fishermen arrive from the remote atolls and unload their
catch of the day. Dhonis, the traditional fishing boats, stand fully loaded
next to one each other at the quay, fishes are stacked on the tables and the
hustle and bustle begins. Fishermen, traders, young people and business
men also meet in tea shops – a kind of a bar for the Maldivians, but where
absolutely no alcohol is served. Here you get an interesting insight into
the daily Maldivian life. One can also eat here cheaply and to one’s fill of rice,
baked aubergines with vegetable, meat and fish balls. The oldest building,
which is also steeped in history, is the Hukuru Miskiiy, the Friday Mosque.
But non-Muslims who wish to visit the inner rooms can only do so after
having obtained special permission.
SHARK ALARM OR
ALARM FOR SHARKS?
Ever since there has been tourism in the
Maldives, there have been no shark attacks
on swimmers. The fear of the sharks is
therefore unfounded. There are 50 known
shark species in the Maldives. But humans
are a far greater threat to sharks than
vice versa. Every year, humans catch around
100 million sharks, i.e. three sharks are
caught every second. They fall victim to
sport fishermen or natural medicine or
die in nets. 69 shark species have therefore
been classified as endangered. And
should these really become extinct, the
entire equilibrium of the oceans will be
turned upside down.
THE BOAT OF THE MALDIVIANS
The Dhoni is the traditional transport of the Maldivians.
Originally, the boats were used for fishing and to transport
goods. Building Dhonis is the most important craft for the
Maldivians. For centuries, Dhoni has remained largely
unchanged. The ship hulls were made of coconut palm
timber which is very hard and difficult to process, so that
Dhonis could adapt perfectly to the water and weather
conditions of the Maldivian atolls. The wood is so resilient
and elastic that even if the boats were to collide with the
coral reefs, which are often very shallow and lie below the
ocean surface, it would get not damaged.
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COLUMN
JASMIN TAYLOR
Proprietor of the Travel Company JT Touristik:
A TRIP TO THE COLOURED
EARTH OF MAURITIUS
It is not for nothing that Mauritius
is one of the top travel destinations
on this earth. Many travellers
dream of coming here at least
once in their lifetime. As part
of a marketing campaign last year,
we invited a number of travel
experts to discover the highlights
of this exotic island nation. In
the run-up to the trip, their task
was to design a unique summer
outfit. Those who got the most
votes from their fans secured a
place for the trip.
Even I was just as thrilled as the guests to
visit Mauritius. As the name implies, at
the museum «L’Aventure du Sucre», it’s all
«Pink hues characterise
the corporate image of my
own tour company –
all the more reason for
my being impressed
by the corresponding
colours.»
about sugar and its significance as the
«white gold» for the people and their history
here – in particular for their rum production.
For this reason, a visit to the country would
have been incomplete without the requisite
tasting. In Port Louis, the capital city, we
also enjoyed shopping at the Caudan
Waterfront and picked up unique handicrafts
as souvenirs at the Craft Market, which
is close-by.
I was delighted by the cultural diversity
of the island. For instance, a visit to the Tamil
temple revealed the influence
of Hinduism.
In contrast, the Eureka
House bears eloquent
witness to the colonial
heritage. Generally, the
different cultures here
live side by side and make
Mauritius a real melting
pot. This is reflected not only
in the architecture but also
in the versatile Creole cuisine,
which is full of influences
from various countries. The
Mauritian landscape is just
as impressive as the culture and the cuisine, for
instance, the imposing Chamarel Waterfall
located in the southwest reaches of the island,
which would almost
make it into a movie as an exotic backdrop.
What I really liked was the «coloured earth».
The earth appears in different shades of colour,
which evolve through conversion of lava to
clay minerals. Pink hues characterise the
corporate image of my own tour company –
all the more reason for my being impressed
by the corresponding colours.
If you wish to treat yourself to a trip to
Mauritius, I can only recommend the luxury
homes of the Beachcomber hotels. They
have several resorts on the island. In addition
to all kinds of comforts, the diverse
Creole cuisine of the country is elegantly
presented here. And after experiencing
all that the island has to offer, the beautiful
beaches of Mauritius naturally give you
an ideal opportunity to recover from the
multitude of colourful impressions. The
bays of the island are one of the most
beautiful in the world and offer everything
imaginable not only to those seeking
rest and relaxation but also to the
water sports enthusiasts.
Mauritius is truly a paradise island!
The luxurious way of life | 97

A
BEHIND THE
CURTAIN
To visit authoritarian states, you need a good deal
of adventurous spirit, curiosity and flexibility.
In addition to the beautiful landscape, travellers can
also expect to see many famous cultural
attractions that are being opened up slowly but
surely for tourists, provided that they adhere
to certain rules and conventions – the Chinese
proverb applies here as well: Better to see
something once, than to hear about it a
thousand times.
NORTH KOREA
Even though totalitarian states may be controversial from the democratic
standpoint, when it comes to tourism, they offer a very varied
landscape and diverse cultural highlights. The moral question of whether
one should visit such countries should be answered by everyone themselves.
A peek behind the curtains however allows you to complete your
personal impression from a different point of view …
Between Kim Jong-un and Kongming Dynasty
Travellers on a tour to the empire of Kim Jong-un get an extremely interesting impression
of the culture and nature of North Korea. Large buildings and imposing monuments in
the capital Pyongyang, the tomb of the King Kongming in the Demilitarised Zone, which
runs in the vicinity of the 38th parallel north as well as an unforgettable performance of the
national circus await the travellers in North Korea. And on such travels, which are always
accompanied by government minders, the slogan «Big brother is watching you» holds true …
98 | PRESTIGE

Sitting in a special Turkish train, the route follows the historical
Baghdad railway, passing comfortably through many landscapes,
all leading to the seven UNESCO world heritage sites.
Between Isfahan and Istanbul one allows oneself to be enchanted
by colours and fragrances of the Orient as well as the
spectacular archaeological site of Pasargadae, once a capital
city, and the impressive stillness of the deserts. This is how
you get a peek behind the curtain …
Between Rouhani and Pasargadae
UZBEKISTAN
Between Karimov and Caravan Saray
IRAN
Remote, exotic places rise like a mirage in a desert – this is Uzbekistan. Legends tell
of adventures and curiosity spurs one to experience them also in the 21st century. Every
person travelling to Uzbekistan will succumb to the magic of the Silk Route of Central
Asia, the fragrances, monuments and caravan sarays because Samarkand, Bukhara and
Khiva are melodious names – even though not everything is covered with velvet and
silk on the Silk Route …
MYANMAR
Between Being and Sagaing
An enchanting place with golden pagodas,
traditions and warm people: Myanmar is a jewel
in South Asia, just waiting to be discovered.
On a spectacular river cruise, travellers experience
the beauty of the country, full of light, gold,
temples and monastaries in Sagaing. Those who
wish to immerse themselves in the land of
pagodas, will certainly enjoy this radiance …
RUSSIA
Between Putin and Perestroika
From KGB, Cold War, Glasnost and Perestroika, to Stalin, Gorbachev and
Putin – Russia is shrouded in legend and raises many questions. A tour
of Moscow to secret places on the trail of the «Russian X-Files» gives one
very interesting insights and one feels like a comrade who has gone
back in time to the Soviet Union era …
The luxurious way of life | 99

FACES
OF
TIME
WATCHES
JEWELLERY
There’s no denying it. Men, at least those who
are not vain about the size of everything, will look at
the face and hands of their wristwatch more
often over the course of a day than in the mirror.
Gisbert L. Brunner
Many women would have it no other way. No wonder then, that
these faces of time naturally attract special importance.
It’s also natural, however, that watchmakers traditionally place
the hands of the watch at nine minutes past ten when photographing them.
Not only does it frame the logo, it also creates a friendly smiley face. That is
also down to what designers believe makes up 80 percent of a watch’s
overall impression, over centuries of constant change. Three-dimensionality
made watch faces more complex. Colour brings variety. A retro look reminds
us of the good old days. And skeletonization ensures interesting insights into
the mechanics that make the whole thing tick.
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In 1801, Abraham-Louis Breguet was granted the patent for his tourbillon for
compensating the negative influences of gravity on the accuracy of vertically
positioned pocket watches. Dane Bahne Bonniksen presented an alternative
with the carousel in 1892. The patent for this is dated 1906. Both inventions
were combined by Blancpain in the new calibre 2322V2. To constantly keep
an eye on the complex mechanism, the multi-level watch face allows an unhindered
view of the ornate hand-wound mechanism. The designers and
watchmakers also placed emphasis on the two carriages, so that they rotate
prominently. The discreet casing of this special watch is made from platinum,
with a diameter of 47.40 millimetres. As something so exquisite is so rare even
in the 21st century, Blancpain has limited this edition to just 50 watches.
BLANCPAIN
The luxurious way of life | 101

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
A. LANGE & SÖHNE
Over the course of over twenty years, the «Lange 1» from A. Lange & Söhne
became an iconic watch. It owes its aura in no small amount to the striking
but unobtrusive asymmetrical face with its conspicuous power reserve display
and innovative large date. The latter may not have been invented by A. Lange
& Söhne, but it contributed from 1994 to the watch’s previously unknown
levels of popularity. The mechanism, patented for the luxury manufacturer
from the small German town of Glashütte near the Czech border, also allows
for a display up to five times larger than normal. As only seven months of the
year have 31 days, a small button on the left of the case allows for quick date
corrections. In 2015, the company surprised with a new hand-wound mechanism
called the L121.1. Among its features, alongside the usual 72 hour
power reserve, were a date display that now jumps precisely at midnight and
a balance wheel with variable inertia. The watch ticks at three Hz, with a microcosm
of 368 components enclosed in the casing made from platinum,
yellow or red gold.
CARL F. BUCHERER
Carl. F. Bucherer will produce only 188 of the «Manero Tourbillon Limited
Edition 2015», with a 42-mm red gold case and chocolate brown face. The
mechanism hidden behind it, christened the CFB T1001, embodies the pinnacle
of traditional craftsmanship. This can be seen in the Geneva waves as
well as the angled and polished steel parts. The mainspring needs to be
manually wound after 70 hours. A power reserve display at the «9» shows
the remaining energy. A crescent-shaped date indicator rotates around the
face of the watch. The watch also features as 24-hour indicator to show a
second time zone.
Carole Forestier, chief watchmaker at Cartier, has delivered a masterpiece
with this watch. The microcosm, developed over five years, has everything
that affluent watch nerds treasure. The name «Grande Complication» does
not come from just anywhere. No fewer than 578 components are required to
produce one of the skeletonised, self-winding movements with flying tourbillon,
perpetual calendar and minute repeater. Cartier requires ten weeks to
decorate the components and five further weeks to assemble them. The ambitious
manufactory’s watch comes of course with the prestigious Poinçon de
Genève. This applies to the entire watch with its platinum housing and diameter
of 45 millimetres. The seal requires unconditional fulfillment of countless
quality criteria, as well as a demanding level of accuracy for tourbillons. The
watch may diverge by no more than one minute after one week.
CARTIER
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY
Most watches with minute repeaters are very discreet. Their special ability to
strike time precisely to the minute is only revealed after operating a small slide
piece on the left of the case. In contrast, the Breguet «Tradition Répétition
Minutes Tourbillon 7087» is happy to show off its many aspects of outstanding
watchmaking. In the «south», i.e. at the «6», the tourbillon rotates around its
axis once per minute. Particularly impressive, however, are the gongs for the
striking mechanism mounted in the left side on the bezel. When Breguet invented
the aforementioned gong springs in 1783, these were coiled up around
the movement. After carrying out many experiments, his successors improved
the form to create the perfect sound. This is precisely why the two
hammers strike the carefully tuned gongs vertically from below at lightning
speed. The entire automatic calibre with peripheral rotating flywheel and
80-hour power reserve is called the 565DR. The parts for its escapement and
balance are made from silicon. At the «12», there is also a discreet power
reserve display.
BREGUET
The luxurious way of life | 103

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
TAG HEUER
A fraction of one horsepower is all it takes to keep a mechanical watch movement
ticking. To reduce that energy requirement even more, TAG Heuer took
inspiration from the automotive world. In place of the thirsty toothed wheel
chain, the patented automatic calibre V4 uses no fewer than thirteen much
more efficient timing belts. High-performance computers had to calculate
their way through around 2500 variables to get everything working perfectly.
In the end, only five belts were left. These are joined by highly resilient
and low-friction micro ball bearings with zirconium balls. In 2015, this cuttingedge
mechanical technology was combined with an innovative case design
in the «Monaco V4 Carbon Phantom». Its cushion-shaped case, measuring
41 x 41 mm, is made from a highly resistant carbon matrix composite. Handling
this material, however, requires a great deal of expertise. The tools are worn
after approximately ten cases. After all that, only 85 percent of those
produced are actually used.
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY
CHOPARD
1963 was a very special year for Chopard. This was when the German
Scheufele family took over the brand, founded in 1860. In 1996, it became a
full manufactory with its own range of mechanical watches that has become
remarkable. This collection includes the extraordinary hand-wound calibre
L.U.C 02.19-L1 with tourbillon. It can trace its history at Chopard back to 2003
and the L.U.C 02.01-L. In addition to the tourbillon, it features an outstanding
power reserve of 216 hours. A total of four barrels store the required energy.
In order to be better safe than sorry, the new movement fulfils not only all
criteria of the Swiss quality standard for chronometers, but also those of the
exclusive Geneva Seal. Chopard will produce only 100 of these rosé gold
watches, which highlights also include the fine enamel face, in which the
tourbillon rotates. The «12» is crowned with a power display, to remind the
wearer of when to wind.
MONTBLANC
Another exquisite eye-catcher is the «Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères
Vasco da Gama» from Montblanc. Only 18 of these watches exist, inspired by
the explorer Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India in 1497.
The pioneering spirit of the Portuguese seafarer is reflected in the handwound
calibre MB M68.40, including the combination of tourbillon with cylindrical
hairspring and a spectacular time zone display, the first of its kind. An
ingenious mechanism also creates a stunning, three-dimensional chronometric
spectacle. Hands for the hours and minutes at the respective location rotate
at its centre. When on the road, a small blue hand at the «6» shows the time
at home. The spherical globes to the left and right feature realistic engraving
and miniature painting. The northern and southern hemispheres are depicted
on the left and right respectively. Each of these is surrounded by a ring with
24-hour graduation and light/dark zones for differentiating day and night. No
less prominent is the 18.4 mm minute tourbillon at the «12», which counteracts
the negative influences of gravity. Both ends of the aforementioned cylindrical
hairspring are curved upwards.
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY
BULGARI
Classic watches with repeaters chime the minutes on a high-pitched gong
and the hours on a low-pitched one. The quarter hours are signalled acoustically
by both gongs being struck sequentially. In 2015 Bulgari released the
Carillon as part of its Daniel Roth series. This name refers to a kind of musical
chiming instrument, as the boutique manufacturer uses three hammers and
three hand-formed gongs to sound the quarter hours. The design of the
calibre 3300, comprising 327 parts and including a minute tourbillon, bridges
the gap between classic watchmaking and modernity. In contrast to traditional
designs, the hammers go about their work on the dial side at the «10».
The power reserve of the hand-wound mechanism, which Bulgari encloses
in a 48-millimetre red gold case, is sufficient for 75 hours.
The luxurious way of life | 107

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
CHRONOSWISS
As the name «Sirius Répétition à quarts» suggests, Chronoswiss can let know
the exact time every quarter of an hour, if the wearer wishes it. The mechanism
required for this is discreetly hidden, however, behind the hand-guilloched
face made from sterling silver. Every watch is produced by an experienced
craftsman using traditional methods and machinery. Alongside the hours and
minutes, the exclusive C.126 automatic calibre with a power reserve of around
35 hours also indicates the seconds. Its oscillating weight is skeletonised to
increase winding efficiency. The striking mechanism is triggered by pressing
the handy button on the left side of the case. The case is available in red gold
or stainless steel. Both models measure 41 mm in diameter and are water-resistant
up to three bar.
PATEK PHILIPPE
Patek Philippe has been producing drag pointer wrist chronographs since
1923. Its first production watch in 1938 was the now priceless reference 1436,
which was used by Valjoux. The CH 27-70/150 in the reference 5004,
presented in 1997, is based on a Lémania design and features a perpetual
calendar. In 2011 the manufactory released the calibre CH 29-535 PS Q,
developed and produced entirely in house. The hand-wound mechanism
again has a perpetual calendar. After 77 years, the Geneva family-owned
manufactory is finally once again celebrating pure chronograph art with the
expert craftsmanship of the fly-back hand. The reference 5370P in its 41-mm
platinum case embodies a pure strain of nostalgic understatement. The black
watch face with its subtle Breguet digits and tachometer scale shows no
signs of obtrusiveness. A look through the transparent base reveals the astonishing
and lovingly perfected CHR 29-535 PS in all its glory, protected by
multiple patents.
VACHERON CONSTANTIN
No need to rush, then. Being in the right place at the right time is all that
matters if you want one of the only ten ultra-flat «Harmony» drag pointer
chronographs from Vacheron Constantin. The development work for this
watch took a whole seven years. The automatic calibre 3500, designed and
produced in house, has set two world records simultaneously. Despite housing
a self-winding rotor, chronograph, drag pointer and power reserve display,
it measures just 5.2 mm in height. This is made possible by a solid gold oscillating
weight, which rotates peripherally around the actual movement. The
cushion-shaped platinum case, measuring 42 x 42 mm, is only 8.4 mm on the
wrist. The complex movement comprises 459 components, including several
springs that are just three hundredths of a millimetre thick. As usual for the
craftsmen of this 260-year-old manufactory, all components are finished to
the absolute highest quality. The opalin watch face evokes the spirit of the
1920s. Its red tachymeter scale can be used to record average speeds up to
1000 metres away.
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY
The sound of a Bugatti is like music to the ears of petrol heads. To mark the
launch of the 1001 hp Veyron in 2004, Parmigiani created the perfect wrist
watch. Michel Parmigiani developed a very special movement motor for this
piece. The spokes of its gear wheels reflect those of the car’s rims. When
viewed from above, the ergonomically domed casing reveals the full movement,
with the calibre PF 370 sitting formally on the wrist with its two barrels
and ten-day power reserve. External cardan shafts take care of the winding
and hand positioning, with a fuel gauge showing the remaining power reserve.
Last but not least, the piece with its five plates is mounted on silent
blocks. These proven technical aspects were retained by the manufactory for
the new «Bugatti 370 Révélation». The characteristic visual features of the red
gold anniversary edition are the engine bonnet, which can be folded up and
removed, as well as the watch face with its diamond-shaped honeycomb
structure of the Bugatti radiator grille.
PARMIGIANI
The luxurious way of life | 109

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
RADO
There are times in life when every second counts. That’s why Rado developed
the «DiaMaster Grande Seconde». Its face design harkens back to a wise
observation by the French pilot and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: «Perfection
is not achieved when one can add no more, but when one would take
nothing away.» With this in mind, the puristic timepiece sticks to displaying
the hours, minutes and date, along with the seconds emphasised in the left
half of the face. The hands and date display on this piece from the Swatch
group member are driven by an automatic calibre Eta 2892-A2, modified in
house. The 43 mm monoblock casing, made from high-tech ceramic with a
metallic gleam, promises eternal beauty and no scratches.
Its raw case is available in white, polished or sand-blasted variants. The case
is then processed further in a special plasma oven. At 900 °C, the molecular
structure of the ceramic changes. Gases help the special colour to emerge
without affecting the high skin tolerability.
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY
Produced at Glashütte Original’s own watch face manufactory, the face for
the «PanoReserve» is understated but powerfully expressive. The hands for
the hours, minutes and seconds turn around the dark blue disc. Another hand
indicates the power reserve. In the bottom right, one finds a further display
for the so-called panorama date. The manufacturer’s own hand-wound calibre
65-01 can be seen through the sapphire glass base, with Glashütte
three-quarter plate, 42-hour power reserve and 48 functional stones. The
duplex swan neck fine-timing device, developed especially for this movement
in 2002, has two functions. It allows the wearer to control the movement and
also creates a uniform ticking. The stainless steel case is 40 mm in diameter
and water-resistant up to five bar.
GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL
The luxurious way of life | 111

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
HERMÈS
The combined genius of outstanding craftsmen at La Montre Hermès regularly
leads to truly extraordinary creations. In the illustrious «Cape Cod Zebra
Pegasus», two traditional features deliver a real wow effect. These are the
engraving and the fire enamel. The mythical winged zebra that decorates the
face of this watch features wings enamelled using the cloisonné method. Thin
partitions prevent the liquid enamel from mixing. The four parts, each with
different colour palettes, evoke the design of a silk scarf by Alice Shirley.
The zebra itself is created in painstaking enamel painting. This burst of colour
requires multiple melting and burning processes at temperatures of over
800 °C. Only four models have been produced, elegantly framed by a white
gold case and featuring a Manufacture Hermès H1837 automatic movement
to keep time.
PANERAI
»Mare Nostrum», our sea, was the name given by the Romans to the Mediterranean
at the heart of their empire. In 1943, Panerai produced three prototypes
of a 52-mm wide chronograph. In contrast to the diving watches »Radiomir» and
»Luminor», these deck watches allowed officers to transfer the precise time from
the stationary pendulum clocks to the marine chronometers onboard. They
never went into full production at the time, for reasons as yet unknown. Outstanding
water resistance was not considered important back then. This is also
true of the 150 pieces of the retro model presented in 2015. In contrast to the
original, Panerai uses lightweight and anti-allergenic titanium for the jumbo-sized
case. This makes the new »Mare Nostrum» a comfortable accessory on the
wrist. To stay true to the original, the casing has no transparent base through
which to view the fine hand-wound calibre OP XXV. The chronographs, with
column wheel control, classic wheel coupling and 30-minute counter, are
supplied by its subsidiary Montblanc. The movement, originally developed by
Minerva, is known as the 13-22.
IWC
Anyone waiting for the white gold IWC «Portuguese Perpetual Calendar» to
diverge by one day will be waiting for a long time, 577 and a half years to be
precise. In addition to that, the watch shows the passage of the moon across
both hemispheres. But this member of the 75-year-old watch series can offer
much more. Its perpetual calendar consists of 109 parts. The extra 27 components
compared to the original design of 1985 are a result of the larger
diameter and the need for several more intermediate wheels. The 37.8 mm by
7.5 mm automatic movement calibre 52615 is made in house. Its golden rotor
can be wound from both sides and provides the two barrels with enough
energy for 168 hours. Alongside the double moon, the watch face also indicates
the hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the power reserve, date,
day of the week and month, and the year in full.
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY
HUBLOT
Since November 2014, Hublot and Italia Independent have been working
together on the Lapo Elkann fashion label founded in 2006. The fruit of this
liaison is a blue set, consisting of a wrist watch and sunglasses. What’s
special about the «Big Bang Unico Italia Independent» is the first ever use of
the material texalium in the watch casing. This impressive innovation delivers
truly glowing colours, achieved by packing a 0.2-mm thick layer of chemically
dyed and highly resilient glass fibre onto several layers of carbon fibres.
Hublot conducted over a hundred firings to achieve the gleaming blue of the
bevel. The light 45-mm case protects the «Unico» HUB 1242 chronograph
against water pressure up to 10 bar. When fully wound, the mainspring will
keep the automatic movement ticking for a whole weekend without the need
for an extra power boost. The extravagant language of Lapo Elkann’s design
can also be seen on the denim watch strap, with added platinum rivets.
500 sets will be produced before production ends once and for all.
The luxurious way of life | 113

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
ROLEX
The «Yacht-Master» from Rolex was the subject of furore as soon as it
debuted in 1998. Since then, its striking design with bidirectional rotatable
glass bezel has made history. The Swiss watchmaking giant is unmoved by
spectacular revolutions. Its focus is on cautious evolution, reflected in the new
«Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 37». The centre of its case is made from a
single piece of red gold. This material, named «Everrose», is also used for the
screwed back cover and the bezel, with its scratch-proof «Cerachrome» inlay.
The watch is resistant to water up to ten bar and comes with an official
chrono meter certificate. It is powered by an automatic calibre 2236 movement
and features a rotor that can be wound on both sides, a 55-hour power
reserve, a balance frequency of four hertz, second stop, «Syloxi» silicon
balance spring, and a balance wheel with variable moment of inertia. The
innovative «Oysterflex» strap ensures the watch sits equally securely and
comfortably on the wrist. Its flexible metal spring blades are coated with
high-quality elastomer. While we’re on the subject of Rolex, the company is
offering a five-year guarantee on all watches since 1 July 2015.
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DID YOU
KNOW…?
The crystal mine
In 1794 to the south of the Mexican city of Chihuahua, Alejo
Hernández, Vicente Ruiz and Pedro Ramos discovered a small
vein of ore at the foot of a mountain chain known as Naica.
The vein wasn’t mined, however, until 1828 and even then only
on a small scale. The real excavation work didn’t start until
1900. In 1910, deep under the surface in one of the largest ore
mines in the region, two miners drilled a new ventilation shaft.
As the drill broke through the wall, a torrent of boiling hot water
surged through and revealed a cave. Completely by accident,
the two miners had made a fascinating geological discovery – a
cave full of massive crystals made of selenite, a special kind
of gypsum. This led to the cave being named the «Cave of
Swords». As the cave was also full of highly poisonous gases,
the preparations for exploring it took several years. 90 years
later during further exploration work in the mine, another cave
was discovered – the «Cave of Crystals». While the most
impressive specimens of known crystals measure around
25 centimetres in our regions, those in Naica reach heights
of up to 14 metres.
Golden age
The country with the world’s largest gold reserves is the USA with
over 8100 tonnes of gold. This means that the precious metal
makes up 71.6 percent of the country’s currency reserves. Germany
is second with approximately 3,380 tonnes. Golden ducats were
first minted in Venice in the year 1284. For over 500 years,
they were the most popular method of payment in the
world. Global gold reserves are currently around
171,300 tonnes. Of these, 84,300 tonnes are in the
form of jewellery and 33,000 tonnes are made
up of bars and coins. The world’s central banks
possess 29,500 tonnes. The rest is in industrial
reserves. Around the world, there are still
approximately 51,000 tonnes of gold that
can be excavated.
Famous Rolex wearers
One of the most famous wearers of the Rolex watch, albeit a fictional
one, is James Bond. Ian Fleming, author of the original books, names
among others the Rolex «Oyster Perpetual». Another personality
closely linked with the brand is Paul Newman and the «Daytona». Cult
actor and racing driver Steve McQueen is also linked with the Rolex.
His name is often tied to the model «1655 Explorer II».

JEWELLERY
Items
I
II
Look elegant this autumn
with precious stones
on gold and silver chains to reflect
the colours of an Indian summer.
«Autumn is the most beautiful
time of the year.»
BY LAURA
VI
III
I OLE LYNGGAARD
II MEISTER
III DIOR
IV CARTIER
V PANDORA
VI BULGARI
IV
V
116 | PRESTIGE

FINELY WOVEN JEWELLERY
MADE FROM GOLD AND SILK
CAROLINA BUCCI
5
QUESTIONS
Jewellery designer Carolina Bucci is continuing a family tradition that
stretches back to 1885. This tradition is enriched by her contemporary
touch and high-quality everyday style. Bucci spent her childhood in Florence,
between the grey and azure tones of the Italian renaissance. These
colours, just like her sense for balance and strictly non-ostentatious elegance,
have been a constant part of her life and have followed her from Italy
to New York to London, where she now lives. From finely braided golden
bracelets and rings with lightly structured surfaces to chains of richly
coloured silk, Carolina Bucci has taken weaving technology and methods
originally used in renaissance Florence and made them her signature. After
studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and working at
Penny Preville and Graff Diamonds, she founded her own jewellery label in
London. Bucci’s breakthrough came in 2003, when one of her colliers was
worn by Salma Hayek on the cover of British magazine «Vogue». The work
of the London-based designer combines modernity with an effortless sense
of luxury in a uniquely elegant and sleek style. Carolina explains: «My generation
wears jewellery differently from our parents, who would only get out
precious items for going to the opera.» The mix of traditional craftsmanship
and a modern, holistic and relaxed attitude has become Bucci’s trademark.
In 2007, she opened her flagship store in Belgravia, whose customers include
Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate
Moss to name a few.
How would you describe your style in three
words?
Colourful, relaxed and classic.
Which city has the best-dressed people?
Paris and New York.
Which designer do you like?
I love Mary Katzantrous’ colourful materials. They are just
so original and full of life.
What advice would you give women in terms of their
outfit?
One piece of advice that my mother gave me: women
should dress appropriately for their age. And you should
always pay attention to your shoes.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Everything that I design is inspired by moments from my life.
I always start with a piece that I design for myself and then
create a whole collection around it. I know that sounds a bit
selfish. I create jewellery that I feel I am missing.
The luxurious way of life | 117

SHADES
GREEN
OF
Emeralds are erotic and valuable. Connoisseurs
are addicted. The bigger the stone, the
greater the desire. The Bahia emerald, worth
400 million dollars, is a special source
of wild stories of obsession
and betrayal.
Yvonne Beck
118 | PRESTIGE

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
Brazil 2001, an emerald mine in the
eastern state of Bahia. This is where
the world’s largest emerald, weighing
in at 381 kilos, was discovered. This
180,000 carat gem is about as large as
a human thigh. Emeralds of this size are very rare
and are worth a fortune. There are many treasures
in this world, but only a few have such a bizarre
story as the Bahia emerald. Eight people claim to
be the legal owner of the stone. Californian businessman
Thony Thomas claims to have bought
the stone for just 60,000 dollars soon after it was
excavated. But the receipt for the purchase was
destroyed shortly afterwards in a mysterious
house fire. The only evidence is a picture of the
businessman with the huge emerald.
A perfect emerald is worth more
than the most beautiful diamond
The emerald is the most precious stone of the
Beryl group and has been the most sought-after
green stone since the days of ancient Egypt. The
word emerald is derived from the Latin «esmaralda»,
which itself comes from the Greek «smargdos»,
meaning «green stone». Emeralds almost
always have small to medium-sized inclusions,
known as «jardin» (French for garden). Stones
without any inclusions are extremely rare and
achieve carat prices far beyond those of comparable
white diamonds. The emerald gets its colour
from traces of chromium. Emeralds are quite brittle,
which is an issue particularly when grinding the
precious gems. The octagonal step cut method
(with angled corners) was developed to smooth off
the sensitive edges, and is still known today as the
emerald cut.
only be found in a few places. Columbian emeralds
sell quickly and are often sold in the boutiques of
Los Angeles just weeks after being discovered.
That’s what was also hoped of the Bahia emerald,
but the gem didn’t turn up in the USA until 2005.
The Columbian emeralds have a gleaming green
colour and a special intensity that the Brazilian
stones lack. So although the Bahia emerald is
certainly one of the largest, it is not one of the most
beautiful. The stone therefore needed a very
special buyer who was not so easy to find. The
emerald was stored in a bank deposit three
stories underground. No-one could have
known that Hurricane Katrina was to
devastate New Orleans. After Katrina, the
stone lay submerged in its deposit for two
months.
«Emeralds are
not a luxury good.
Emeralds are
a must!»
– Precious stones trader –
The best quality emeralds come
from Colombia
The world’s most valuable emeralds are excavated
in a small region called Muzo. The area is about as
large as Las Vegas and is a seven-hour drive from
the Colombian capital Bogotá. Traders come here
looking for clear stones and deep colours. The
larger the stones, the better suited they are to
making expensive jewellery. As beautiful emeralds
are very rare, they achieve high prices. They can
The luxurious way of life | 119

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
The best quality emeralds come from Colombia.
120 | PRESTIGE
A proud discovery in Columbia’s jungle mines.

WATCHES & JEWELLERY
Who is the legal owner?
The emerald frenzy is a combination of the stone’s
beauty and the lust of the rich. The sheer size of
the Bahia emerald aroused this lust. So it is no
wonder that the battle for ownership of the emerald
continued. The stone came into the ownership
of a businessman, who went on to lose it shortly
afterwards in an obscure diamond deal. He claims
to have been kidnapped by the Brazilian mafia during
the deal. With millions of dollars at stake, devious
methods are common in the trading of precious
stones. Even small deals are exciting.
Emeralds are a symbiosis of power and romance.
This is what makes the Bahia stone so enthralling.
Somehow, the emerald ended up in California in
2008 and came into the hands of the state justice
system. The press broke the story and went crazy.
The story raised interest across the whole country,
which raised the value of the Bahia emerald by
several million. Five parties are still arguing over
the ownership of the 400-million dollar stone,
which is currently waiting for its rightful owner in
the custody of the sheriff of Los Angeles.
The Brazilian government has also registered its
own claim. It argues that the «Bahia emerald» is
part of the country’s cultural and scientific heritage,
and as such should be returned.
Trading place Colombia
All kinds of traders flock to the market square in Muzo. Auf der Plaza Central von Muzo werden
Smaragde gehandelt. Bigger deals, however, are negotiated in Bogotá, attracting emerald
dealers from all over the world. There are four large buildings in the capital that are the places
to go to find those who cut, trade and buy emeralds. The professional precious stone dealers
who dominate the market can also be found here. Almost all emeralds from the mines are
brought here, whether by mine owners in sacks or in the trouser pockets of amateur prospectors.
An emerald will pass through many hands and everyone involved receives their share. By
the time the emerald is placed in the shop window of a New York jewellers, its original price will
have more than quadrupled. Whereas in the USA a raw emerald will barely raise an eyebrow, in
Colombia the emerald fever will take hold at first sight. People there see the finished gemstone
and the riches that it promises. In order to achieve the perfect result, an emerald can easily lose
up to 70 percent of its weight. A matching counterpart can double its value, as these stones are
perfect for making them into earrings, such as those worn by Angelina Jolie at the Oscars in
2011. They were valued at 2.5 million dollars.
The luxurious way of life | 121

HANDMADE JEWELLERY
COLLECTION
ANNETTE & HERBERT KOPP
4
QUOTES
«Art is the wonderful jewellery of life.»
– Henry van de Velde –
«We prefer to live with art.
We leave trading it to others.»– Herbert Kopp
in an interview with the German newspaper «Die Welt»–
«Our most popular items are our Love
collection and the colourful targets from
the Magic Color range.» – Herbert Kopp –
«A woman without jewellery
is like a mill without a millstone»
– Old saying –
Annette Kopp is a trained silversmith. Herbert
Kopp studied painting. In 1986, the couple founded
the label CADA in Munich, which today is one
of Europe’s most famous jewellery brands. With
Herbert Kopp’s designs, the company quickly became
the no. 1 stop for fashion-conscious women
and creatives. The XXL rings and bracelets reflected
the zeitgeist of the 80s and 90s, just as the
pieces from the «Love Collection» do today.
The couple have succeeded in surprising again
and again in the fine jewellery segment. Whether
with fetish elements from popular and everyday
culture or simply by consistently reinventing and
refining classic shapes. The items are produced in
the company’s own workshop and are always relaxed
and wearable. As passionate art collectors
and music lovers, Herbert and Annette Kopp immerse
themselves in creativity. They combine this
with their exceptional talent for cutting-edge design
and their instinctive feel for materials, shapes
and colours. CADA customers therefore know that
the «CADA loves you» claim is no empty slogan.
Annette and Herbert Kopp have always stayed
true to themselves, and their customers value their
good and reliable service. Anyone searching for
their new favourite piece of jewellery will be in the
right place. The name CADA stands for Creativity,
Art, Design and Anarchy. For inspiration, the
Kopps look to art and music. The most successful
collections, Love and Magic Color, are inspired
by works of art. These are treasured by
celebrities like Paris Hilton, Princess
Caro line of Monaco or Patti Smith, all of
whom wear colourful CADA jewellery.
The trend towards classic,
timeless and delicately crafted
pieces is continuing, for example
with the «Ribbon» chain or the
«Hoop» earrings made from
18-carat white gold and sparkling
diamonds.
122 | PRESTIGE

VII
VI
I
II
Jewellery
BY LAURA
This autumn/winter we will be
seeing lots of classic hunter green, icy pastels
and strong, luminous cobalt blues,
edged with white gold.
V
I BUCHERER
II TIFFANY & CO.
III STENZHORN
IV GRAFF
V HARRY WINSTON
VI BULGARI
VII DIOR
III
IV

DRIVE
STYLE
COMMITTED TO
ELEGANCE

DRIVE STYLE
«There is one thing
that one should
demand both of one’s
watch and of one’s self:
never stand still.»
– Walter Lange –
The winner’s watch: Lange 1 Timezone Como Edition.
126 | PRESTIGE

Winner «Best of Show»: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1932.
Once a year, the eyes of the car world are trained on the small
town of Cernobbio on the banks of Lake Como. Since 1929,
the famous grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este have played
host to one of the most exclusive classic car competitions
in the world – the Concorso d’Eleganza.
R
Anka Refghi A. Lange & Söhne, BMW Group
oaring engines, chassis polished to perfection, gleaming chrome
and the smell of petrol in the air. The organisers of this year’s
d’Eleganza pulled out all the stops to create an astonishing
event in breathtaking surroundings and perfect weather. This exhibition of
superlatives, held over the Whitsun weekend in May, welcomed rare and historic
cars to compete for the affection of the crowd and the jury, and to bring
the sophisticated glamour of bygone years back to life.
Art on wheels
The BMW group, sponsors of the Concorso since 1999, showcased a collection
of very special artworks and presented five cars from its exhibition
«40 Years of BMW Art Cars». These vehicles, both race and series models,
were designed by famous international artists such as Roy Lichtenstein,
Andy Warhol and Frank Stella from 1975 to 2010.
A winner’s watch
The high point of this year’s festival on the banks of Lake Como was the
beauty competition for historic vehicles in a range of categories. The title of
«Best of Show», awarded to the most beautiful car at the Concorso, went this
year to the stunning Alfa 8C 2300 Spider 1932 owned by American collector
David Sydorick. This fascinating car was designed by the famous Zagato
design and development studio. Alongside the trophy, the winner was also
awarded a very special prize. German watch manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne,
another sponsor of the Concorso d’Eleganza for
four years, awarded a ticking work of art with the
legendary LANGE 1 ZEITZONE «Como Edition».
This watch features a hand-engraved coat of arms
of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the
white gold caseback and the event’s location
Como on the city ring. A true work of craftsmanship
suitable for the show’s most elegant vehicle.
At the end of this unforgettable event at the exclusive
gala dinner in the Villa d’Este, Wilhelm Schmid,
CEO of A. Lange & Söhne, awarded the unique
watch and ended his speech with the words of
French painter Marc Chagall: «You can recognise a
true collector not by what he already has, but by
what he would love to have.» The passions for
exclusive timepieces and precious cars are often
closely linked. Both involve extraordinary levels of
craftsmanship and the love with which they are
created. The «marriage» between watch manufacturer
A. Lange & Söhne and the Concorso d’Eleganza
could therefore not be a better partnership.
We speak to CEO Wilhelm Schmid about the
trends of the age.
The luxurious way of life | 127

The Lange 1 Timezone «Como Edition» watch is presented by CEO of A. Lange & Söhne, Wilhelm Schmid.
PRESTIGE: Mr Schmid, are there in your view different
dimensions of time?
WILHELM SCHMID: Absolutely. When I was working for
BMW in Africa, I was in charge of the markets in Zimbabwe,
Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique. You
arrive there accustomed to well-functioning German processes
and procedures and after a while, you ask yourself
whether you’d be better off adapting or jumping on the
next flight home. Advanced economies have a much different
feeling for time than countries where the process of
industrialisation is not so developed. There is a wonderful
saying in Africa: «You have watches, we have time.»
A. Lange & Söhne is famously reluctant to jump on
every «trend bandwagon». Is this your philosophy?
Our philosophy is essentially to keep advancing the aim of
our founder – to produce the best watches in the world and
to never stand still. Whether we achieve that or not is another
question, but that is the aim that drives us every day.
On top of that, we concentrate on what we are really best
at – men’s watches. We always think long term and never
go running after trends. If you’re waiting for us to produce
a smartwatch then you will probably be disappointed.
The winner of this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza was
awarded a very special watch …
Yes, the Lange 1 Zeitzone. This special version of the
watch is unique, only one has been produced for the
winner. That’s something very special when you consider
that we normally do not produce custom watches.
How do you want people to feel when they wear an
A. Lange & Söhne watch?
I always find it very moving when I realise that people
know exactly why they invest so much money in one of our
watches. When they understand how much work has
gone into it and how these watches are produced with
such love for detail. When I get the feeling that people
understand this when they wear that watch, that makes
me very happy.
Do you have a favourite watch?
You might as well ask me who my favourite child is, there
is no right answer. But there are some watches with which
I share an emotional connection. Like the Datograph,
for example, which we launched in 2012. That was the
first watch where I was involved in the development right
from the start. It’s fair to say that I have a soft spot for
chronographs.
Back to the here and now. What would you do if you
had six months free?
Easy. I’d go to Africa. I’d love to just travel all over the continent
again, enjoy our house and lie on the beach.
Just switch off and then maybe travel around Asia for
a few weeks.
A. Lange & Söhne
Dresden watchmaker Ferdinand A. Lange laid
the foundations for the company in 1845 by founding
his workshop. After the Second World War,
the company was dispossessed and the name
A. Lange & Söhne faded almost entirely into
memory. That was until 1990, when Walter Lange,
great grandson of the company founder, saw
the time was right for a new start. Today, the company
produces only a few thousand wristwatches made
from gold or platinum, which all contain mechanisms
produced exclusively in house that are painstakingly
decorated and assembled by hand.
128 | PRESTIGE

THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST RALLY
PARIS–DAKAR
It is the most famous long-distance and desert rally in the world and was held
annually almost exclusively on the African continent from 1978 to 2007. In
2008, a terror threat resulted in the rally being cancelled and then moved to
South America for security reasons, where it has since remained. The first
Dakar Rally began on 26 December 1978 in Paris and ended on 14 January
1979 in Dakar. The idea came from Thierry Sabine, who got lost whilst travelling
with his motorbike in the Libyan desert in 1977 and almost died as a result.
The desert that almost claimed his life fascinated Sabine, who wanted to
share this fascination with as many people as possible. He organised a race
through the endless sea of sand. 170 participants set out on the 6,000-mile
journey across the tracks of Algeria, Niger, Mali, Upper Volta (modern day
Burkina Faso) and Senegal. Over a quarter of participants lost their way in the
Aïr mountains. By the time they reached Bamako, half had already given up.
This is what helped create the Dakar legend and gave the rally its first heroes.
By the 80s, the rally had already achieved cult status. To this day it is a human
and sporting adventure, and an experience for those who want to put their
courage to the test. This adventure is open to everyone and «victory» goes to
every participant that completes the course. In 2001, German race driver
Jutta Kleinschmidt was the first woman to win the Dakar Rally. The rally is one
of the toughest and most dangerous sporting events in the world and has so
far claimed 61 lives.
5
QUOTES
«A challenge for everyone who
takes part. A dream for those
who stay at home.»
– Thierry Sabine –
«When we go up a dune,
we drive up like a snake, slowly
working our way up to the top.
We cannot afford to come to a
stop, because then you can get
stuck very quickly.» – Carlos Sainz –
«Of course the rally is dangerous,
but I wouldn’t abolish it for that
reason. We have to think of
what can be done to reduce
the number of accidents. Or
at least to have fewer fatal
accidents.» – Jutta Kleinschmidt –
«You either love the rally or you hate it.»
– Toby Price, driver –
«Dakar Rally: One dead,
several injured. Hey people,
fly to the sea and relax.
But what’s the point in
pelting through the desert as fast
as possible? So you don’t
have to see all the poor,
hungry and sick children?»
–Wolfgang J. Reuss, satirist –
The luxurious way of life | 129

DRIVE STYLE
Pablo Picasso with his Hispano-Suiza.
Marc Birkigt
Damian Mateu
130 | PRESTIGE

DRIVE STYLE
THE WOODEN
TORPEDO
Originally produced for race driver André Dubonnet,
the Hispano-Suiza H6C «Tulipwood» Torpedo,
with its planked wooden design, remains
a fascinating piece of automotive history.
Anka Refghi
Blackhawk Museum
It was 1904 when Spanish financier Damian
Mateu founded «La Hispano-Suiza de Automoviles»
in Barcelona and named gifted
Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt technical director on
the same day. Under Birkigt, Hispano-Suiza soon
became one of the most decorated car brands of
the pre-war years, at the same level as Rolls-
Royce or Bugatti. Among the fans of the luxurious
Hispano-Suiza vehicles were King Alfonso XIII of
Spain, dictator Francisco Franco, Prince Hendrik
of the Netherlands and Pablo Picasso.
Extraordinary design
When Hispano-Suiza presented its model H6 at
the Paris Salon in 1919, the industry was amazed.
With its 6.6-litre, six-cylinder engine, overhead
camshaft, duel ignition and a four-wheel power
brake, which was later licensed to Rolls-Royce,
the H6 was well ahead of its time. Hispano-Suiza
only offered the bare chassis in various lengths.
This led to the world’s leading car body makers
virtually falling over themselves for permission to
make their body designs as individual and
The luxurious way of life | 131

DRIVE STYLE
«La Hispano-Suiza de Automoviles» motor
company.
spectacular as possible for their exclusive clientèle.
The Hispano-Suiza H6C 1924 was as
wooden design produced for the pilot and race
driver André Dubonnet for his participation in the
Targa Florio, a long-distance race played out on
the mountain roads of Sicily. The spectacular design
would go down in motoring history. The car
was perfect for long distances, with an 8-litre,
6-cylinder engine generating 200 hp, together with
a deeper fitted radiator and a 175-litre tank in the
rear. To save weight, Dubonnet hired the French
plane manufacturer Nieuport Astra Aviation to create
the spectacular lightweight wooden construction,
which had to weigh no more than 45 kilos. The
name «Tulipwood» came from the false assumption
that this wheeled work of art was planked with the
material. Nieuport in fact used mahogany planks
for the finish, held together by thousands of brass
rivets. Both the mudguards and headlights could
be removed for races to significantly improve aerodynamics.
Dubonnet came in 6th place in the
Targa Florio. In the Italian Coppa Florio circuit race,
Dubonnet came 5th in the overall competition and
won his category of cars with engines larger than
4.5 litres. Although this was an impressive result,
the real attraction was the car itself. The Hispano-Suiza
H6C was later converted for road use
and can be seen today in the Blackhawk Museum
in California, albeit a little «over-restored».
The flying stork
Since the end of the First World War, the cars
of Hispano-Suiza have been decorated with
one of the most elegant radiator mascots,
the «cigogne volante», the flying stork. The stork
was the lucky symbol for the squadron of French
captain Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer,
whose S.P.A.D. fighters were fitted with Hispano-Suiza
engines during the war. The front of the radiator also featured
the company’s coat of arms with two wings, which combined the
national colours of Spain and Switzerland.
132 | PRESTIGE

AUTOMOTIVE
BOOKS
1 For hippies and workmen
No other vehicle has created so many happy memories
for its owners and given them so much freedom as
the Volkswagen Camper, a love story with an everlasting
happy ending. This book is dedicated to the Camper’s
owners, fans and admirers around the world. It is a
homage to freedom, versatility and the courage to be
yourself. From China to America, from Great Britain
to Japan, from Australia to its German homeland, the
Camper brings people together and has countless
personal stories to tell.
Bulli Love
Edwin Baaske
Delius Klasing Verlag
2
1
Exclusive Yacht Clubs
Svante Domizlaff
Delius Klasing Verlag
2 Members only?
New York, Hamburg, Monaco, Palma, London: of all
the yachting clubs in the world, only a handful stand out
thanks to their history, their sporting activities and the
example they set for society. Once the reserve of
eccentric old men, they have grown into businesses
with modern company structures, ready and able
to organise large sporting events. This book offers a
glimpse behind the scenes and shows, for example,
how the Royal Club Nautico Palma de Mallorca changed
from a socialite hotspot centred around actor and
pirate film hero Errol Flynn to one of the world’s leading
sailing clubs under the active patronage of the king
of Spain, himself a passionate sailor. In Spain and
around the world, famous and influential people such
as Aga Khan, the Roosevelt family and members of
the British monarchy have participated in the club’s
sporting and social success. Values like tradition,
sportsmanship, seamanship and etiquette are treasured
and protected accordingly by the yacht clubs. The
£book «Exclusive Yacht Clubs» explains the structures
of these exclusive organisations, exploring their
meaning and history, as well as the people who have
shaped them and the ships that sail under their flag.
Readers will also find out how to become a member.
3 On the Road
Get your motor running, head out on the highway.
Route 66 is arguably the most legendary road
in the world. Photographer Christophe Géral and
author Stéphane Dugast set out in style on a
Harley Davidson to find out whether this legend is
still alive. From Chicago to Los Angeles, their
journey takes them 3,933 miles through the endless
desert expanses in the heart of America. Along the
way, they meet bikers and barmen, cowboys and
Indians, and discover more about the Wild West and
its legends and secrets than they would have
dared dream.
Route 66
Christophe Géral &
Stéphane Dugast
National Geographic
3
The luxurious way of life | 133

DRIVE STYLE
THE NEXT
WAVE
OFSUVS
As the variety of traditional 4x4 manufacturers
increases, even luxury car makers are
switching to crossovers and are breaking
all records. Market research predicts
that demand in premium segments will
continue to rise.
Stefan Lüscher, Matthias Pfannmüller, Hubertus Hoslin
Nick Dimbleby, factory
2
4
134 | PRESTIGE

DRIVE STYLE
As a result, Alfa Romeo, Tesla and even Rolls-Royce are planning
to release their own softroaders, with Lamborghini also catching
up. This subjective selection of current and coming models
shows how big the choice will be by 2017.
1 | Brit-Buggy: Ariel Nomad
This small British manufacturer is famous for its wacky, light and very fast
mid-engine sports car, the Atom. The Somerset-based producer has now
come up with the Nomad, a stripped-down two seater intended for tarmac-free
driving. This is a new design, with just the floor plate, steering column, instruments
and pedals coming from the Atom. It is powered by a 2.4-L-iVTEC
four-cylinder engine from Honda that generates 235 hp. Together with a
weight of 640 kilos, it can go from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds. The Nomad is of
course great on the road too, providing you get special permission. Off-road
factor: Extremely high, extreme fun.
3
2 | Ditching the pounds: Audi Q7
The second generation of the Q7, available from
this summer, has undergone a bit of a facelift. It’s
tighter, more chiselled and sinewy. It’s also shorter
and leaner than it’s predecessor, measuring 5.05 m
long, 1.97 m wide and 1.74 m high. A lot has
changed under the bonnet too. Thanks to its lightweight
design, the new Q7 has shed a whole
325 kilos, not only earning respect but also making
it more modern and agile in all regards. Initially
available will be the 3.0 TFSI with 333 hp, and the
3.0 TDI with 272 hp. Both versions feature an
eight-speed automatic gearbox. A plug-in hybrid
version, the Q7 E-Tron Quattro, has already been
announced and boasts 373 hp of power, 35 miles
of purely electric range and standard fuel consumption
of 166 mpg. Off-road factor: Satisfactory.
3 | All-terrain opulence: Bentley Bentayga
The boys from Crewe have already produced offroad
cars, but these were custom models for Arabic
and Asian customers. 2016 will see the standard
model, whose name comes from a mountain
on Gran Canaria but is also supposed to reflect the
company’s name and the taiga (no, not the Lada
Taiga, it’s a type of forest that’s supposed to be a
synonym for wilderness). It’s clear, then, that the
luxury 4x4 wants to be taken seriously as an offroader.
Bentley are still keeping their lips sealed
about the drive. What we do know is that alongside
the W12 twin-turbo version (approx 600 hp /
800 Nm), there will be a four-litre V8 turbo and a
hybrid model. Off-road factor: Pretty good, but it’s
too pretty to get muddy.
1
4 | SUV XXL: Cadillac Escalade
If you’re the type to get misty eyed when reminiscing
about the great off-roaders of old, this gigantic
Caddy could be for you. The fourth generation is
5.18 metres long and, just like the good old days,
is powered by a 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine with
426 hp and 621 Nm of torque. The first Escalade
appeared in 1999, and yet the manufacturer
speaks about «a long tradition in the premium market».
Fuel consumption? Yeah … let’s skip that.
Among the other highlights are LED headlights and
22-inch rims, along with space for up to eight
(optional) or a head-up display. As you’d expect,
the interior is enormous and very well insulated.
For those who want it even bigger, there’s a
5.7-metre long version. Off-road factor: Excellent,
providing you have the right tyres.
The luxurious way of life | 135

DRIVE STYLE
5 | The bargain bin: Dacia Duster and Co.
So far, the secret to the Romanians’ success has
been to produce cars as simply shaped as possible
to keep the cost of the metal sheets down. The
Duster may be five year old, but the timeless,
4.32-metre long 4x4 is still attractive and looks
more robust than it actually is. It cheerfully chugs
along powered by petrol (115 / 125 hp) or diesel
(110 hp) engines. Off-road factor: No-fuss countryside
conquest. For another eastern European alternative,
look no further than the Lada 4x4 (it used
to be called the Niva and is sold in some markets
as the Taiga). It’s reputation for indestructibility is
just as legendary as its off-road factor.
5
6 | Mainstream: Ford Edge
Following on from the Kuga and EcoSport, Ford
now hopes its new 4x4 will take it up in the world.
The Edge, available around the world later this
year, wants to be seen not as a softroader, but
rather as a trendy full-size car with gritty looks.
Coming in at a considerable 4.8 metres in length,
the five-door car looks stocky and robust enough,
but its average ground clearance and low rolling
resistance tyres make it clear that the Ford is designed
for the road. Four-wheel drive is available at
extra cost. Technical highlights include adaptive
steering, along with optional interior noise reduction
or front split view camera. The Ford is only
available in a turbo diesel version with 180 hp (sixspeed
gearbox) or 210 hp (six-speed automatic).
Offroad factor: Think about the leasing return!
6
7 | Beast from the East: Honda HR-V
Honda’s 4.3-metre long second generation of the
HR-V (the first was available from 1999 to 2005) will
be available from late summer and is another 4x4
below the CR-V. The name stands for «High Rider
Vehicle» and tells you pretty much all you need to
know. This is a compact car on stilts (based on the
Jazz), with optional four-wheel drive, designed to
take on the Opel (Vauxhall) Mokka and Co. The
1.6-litre diesel engine generates 120 hp, the 1.5-litre
petrol engine gets 130. Fuel consumption is 70 and
54 mpg respectively. Both engines come with sixspeed
manual gearboxes (with twin clutch available
for the petrol engine) and do 0 to 60 in around ten
and a half seconds. Modern infotainment systems
and camera are included, along with a radarsupported
assistance system. The boot also
boasts 455 to 1,025 litres of space. Off-road factor:
More ground clearance please.
7
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DRIVE STYLE
8
8 | This cat’s got claws: Jaguar F-Pace
This big cat from Britain will be stalking the countryside
from the start of next year. Jaguar’s first SUV
is designed as a high-performance crossover
based on an innovative aluminium platform. With
space for five, this lightweight alternative is set to
challenge the top dogs of the premium segment
like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 or Porsche Macan. This
«family sports car» will become Jaguar’s fifth
model series and is driven by new and efficient
four and six-cylinder engines (diesel 163-300 hp,
petrol up to 380 supercharged hp). A 500 hp V8
version is due to follow. The off-road factor is
promising given that the four-wheel drive system
comes from Land Rover.
9
9 | Confident and carefree: Kia Sorento
The third generation of the 4x4 from Korea goes up
against its established competitors with well-balanced
design, much room and only slightly larger
dimensions (L / W / H: 4.78 / 1.89 / 1.69). It’s confident
and well made, with a seven year warranty. The
interior features fold-down rear seats, which can
also be pushed forward and back. Folding down
the rear seats can easily be done from the boot,
which offers up to 1730 litres of space, with a third
row of seats available as an optional extra. There
is also plenty of equipment to choose from.
The 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel generates
200 hp and 441 Nm of torque, can reach over
120 mph , does 42.8 mpg, has fuel consumption of
6.6 liters and comes with a six-speed automatic
gearbox. Off-road factor: Not bad.
10
10 | A real live wire: Lexus RX 200T
Around one year after the NX, Lexus has renewed
its successful RX model. It too features an extrovert
design, which is even more special in the dynamic
F-Sport look. The 4.89-m long five-seater is
powered by the same two-litre turbo petrol engine
as the NX 200t, generating 230 hp and 350 Nm of
torque. This is the first drive unit in the world to
have a water-cooled cylinder head for better exhaust
properties. The price of 65,000 Francs includes
a six-speed automatic gear box, with the
RX 350 offering a beefier 3.5-litre V6. The RX 450 h
is the top model with a premium hybrid drive
(approx. 300 hp), and is due out at the end of 2015.
Off-road factor: Try and find a field with a plug
socket.
The luxurious way of life | 137

DRIVE STYLE
11 | Al dente: Maserati Levante
The Italians have been flirting with the idea of a
sporty luxury SUV for years and are due to make
an advance in 2016. In both design and technology,
the Levante takes its cue from the four-door Ghibli
S Q4. In other words, up to 50 percent of the
power can be redirected to the front wheels via a
multiple-disc clutch. The top-of-the-range model
features the well-known 3.8-litre V8 biturbo with
up to 530 hp. Moving down the price scale, there
are turbocharged six-cylinders (petrol and diesel)
generating 250 to 410 hp. The Levante will celebrate
its official première in January at the North
American International Auto Show in Detroit. Offroad
factor: Let’s go find some truffles!
11
12 | FWD only for now: Ssangyong Tivoli
Following on from the Korando, which enjoyed
great popularity in Switzerland, the South Koreans
have extended their product range downwards
this summer. But Ssangyong claim that there is
much more to the appeal of the 4.2-metre long
five-seater than the price, five-year warranty or
seven air bags. In terms of flowery design language,
they appear to have excelled themselves:
«Nature-born 3 Motion – rhythmic, dynamic, dignified».
The vehicle is powered by a new and efficient
1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 126 hp, but
currently only offers front-wheel drive. This makes
for a negligible off-road factor. Three equipment
levels are available, with diesel and four-wheel
drive versions planned.
13 | Plug and Play: Venturi America
15 years ago, Monegasque Gildo Pastor bought
the French sports car company Venturi and turned
it into a manufacturer of electric vehicles. The latest
model is the America. Presented in 2014 for the
30th brand anniversary, the «high-voltage buggy»
is taking e-mobility to the dunes and beaches.
Powered by a 53-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery
and two electric motors (300 kW / 480 Nm), the
open-top two-seater can go from 0 to 60 in just
four and a half seconds and can keep going all the
way to over 120 mph in 14 seconds (!). The maximum
speed is 136 mph with a range of 96 miles.
The America is made from aluminium, carbon and
plastic, and is rear-wheel driven. But be quick, only
25 have been made. Off-road factor: Extraordinaire!
12
13
138 | PRESTIGE

I
I SEE
BLUE
Inky, light and Mediterranean shades of blue
are all the rage this autumn. Combine
elegant, confident shades of dark
blue with a light grey for an understated,
very masculine look.
BY LAURA
VIII
II
I JOOP
II EMPORIO ARMANI
III OMEGA
IV BULGARI
V JOOP
VI RALPH LAUREN
VII THOMAS SABO
VIII FAY
VII
III
VI
V
IV
The luxurious way of life | 139

DRIVE STYLE
A
STAR
ON AN EXTENDED TOUR
77 years of Mercedes four-wheel drive:
Off road with the silver star since 1938.
Jochen Kruse
Daimler’s innovative AWD tractor with four-wheel steering, 1919
The world’s first four-wheel drive car, according to
Mercedes: the Dernburg car of 1907.
«Paul Daimler designed the
first passenger car with
four-wheel drive in 1903»
The eight-wheel, amphibious MTw1 personnel carrier
from 1928.
140 | PRESTIGE

DRIVE STYLE
The latest generation of Mercedes 4x4s has a
long family history. The first branch of the
family tree was the G5, presented at the
London Motor Show in October 1938 as the «colonial
and hunting car» after the German military
showed no interest in the vehicle. The model
W152 (1937–41) featured a four-wheel drive and
switchable four-wheel steering. Three chassis variants
were available as standard: a military «bucket»
design, a touring car with side windows and tropicalised
folding top, along with a simpler bucket
car for use by the police, for example. Power was
provided by a two-litre, four-cylinder engine with
45 hp at 3700 rpm. The four-wheel drive was fitted
with three locking differentials and the gearbox
provided five forward gears, the first of which was
reserved solely for off-road driving with a reduction
ratio of 7.22:1. The handbrake acted on the
drive shaft, with the wheels all suspended individually.
The G5 had a top speed of 53 mph. With the
four-wheel steering activated, the owner’s manual
recommended not exceeding 18 mph. Despite its
technical perfection and the range of available
models, the G5 remained a fringe product, with
only 378 vehicles built in total.
The history of the four-wheel drive goes back even further
As early as 1903, Paul Daimler, son of the company founder, produced the
first design with four-wheel drive. In 1907, the so-called Dernburg car was
produced for travelling in Africa. Based on a truck, it was designed to function
as a passenger car. In 1934, production began on the powerful, six-wheel G4
car (model W31) at the company’s plant in Untertürkheim near Stuttgart.
Power was transmitted to the two rear solid axles via the drive shaft. Two
locking differentials ensured good off-road mobility, with a gradeability of 43
percent at full load. Even so, only 57 vehicles were produced in all motor
variants by 1939.
Aside from these, Mercedes has always had off-road-capable commercial
vehicles in its product range, from the legendary Unimog to trucks and delivery
vehicles like the Vito and Sprinter. But that is a whole different chapter.
Almost 50 years separate the first
Unimog (above) and the M-Class (below).
4x4s have since ceased being solely
commercial vehicles, but have become
lifestyle symbols.
From the luxury G4 cabriolet with eight in-line cylinders and two rear axles to the G5
mountain rescue vehicle, Mercedes has never been short of technical ideas.
The luxurious way of life | 141

QUATTROPORTE GTS
GENTLEMAN WITH 530 HP
OR THE GENTLE CONQUEROR
Great figures from history have crossed over the Great
St. Bernhard pass. At around 2,500 m above sea
level, it marks the border between the Aosta valley in
Italy and the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Mirella Sidro

DRIVE STYLE
In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte had his historic
crossing immortalised in a famous painting.
Sitting grandly astride his rearing horse, he
gazes towards the viewer as he rides into Italy.
According to legend, the pass was also used by
Hannibal when he crossed the Alps in the depths
of winter with his elephants to conquer Rome.
You can get an idea of how difficult this crossing
must have been by visiting the hospice in the
summer months. In temperatures of around three
degrees Celsius, you are greeted by an icy wind
that blows over the mountain lake and the
snow-covered cliffs.
Now an Italian is crossing back to conquer the
world, but this time in peace. It was born in the
northern Italian city of Modena, in the Avvocato
Giovanni Agnelli plant. It has been built here since
1963. It is the legendary Maserati Quattroporte.
This particular Maserati Quattroporte GTS is travelling
from its home to the town of Chichester in
southern England to visit the Goodwood Festival
of Speed. It sits regally, painted in rebel black, with
530 horsepower and eight cylinders under its
stylishly shaped bonnet. The radiator grille is
adorned with the logo shaped like Neptune’s trident.
Its design reflects the Italian attitude to life:
speed and sport combined with comfort and
luxury.
The luxurious way of life | 143

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DRIVE STYLE
Italians place just as much importance on comfort and style as they do on
good food. The interior of the Quattroporte GTS is available in three colour
combinations. For the extravagant, there is red leather combined with coalcoloured
elements woven from silk threads created by luxury designer Ermenegildo
Zegna. The driver is virtually lying on a bed of finest silk whilst hurtling
along the road at up to 190 mph in comfort mode, or in sport mode to enjoy
the full roar of the engine.
Swiss vineyards and French champagne
The trip from Modena to Chichester is approximately 930 miles. Before continuing
to France, the first break in the journey comes in the idyllic resort town
of Montreux on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. We stay overnight
in the famous «Fairmont Le Montreux Palace» luxury resort, which lies directly
on the lake surrounded by vineyards and mountain chains. The hotel is an
artefact from the golden age of Art Nouveau, when the rich and glamorous
would gather at magnificent parties. As you wander through the splendid
lobby and the corridors that lead to the traditionally decorated rooms and
suites, you sense the ghosts of history right up to the present day.
Reims could be described as France’s Mecca for history and cuisine. Or
simply as the place where God goes to eat. This is where the grapes that
produce champagne are grown and is home to the world’s greatest temple
for gourmets. We stay at the five-star château «L’Assiette Champenoise». The
guest house combines bourgeois and contemporary style, reflected in the
modern decoration of the generous rooms. We dine in the château’s own
restaurant, run by the master of the house Arnaud Lallement, one of the best
chefs in the world. His culinary skills have been awarded three Michelin stars
and five toques from Gault & Millau. The chef’s creations are rounded off with
champagne and cheeses from the region.
On the way to the Eurotunnel, we pass France’s most famous race track at
Circuit de Reims-Geux, whose doors were shut in 1970. The corners were
deemed too dangerous after many drivers lost their lives. Today, the only
noise heard here is the chirping of crickets in the fields that surround the
skeletons of the pit stops and stands. Nevertheless, the legendary track is
worth a short stop.
Fast cars and slow food
The quote «We have fast cars and slow food» from
the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna
sums up the region pretty well. «Slow Food» promotes
the pleasurable and conscious attitude
towards the food that comes from here: Aceto
Balsamico di Modena, Lambrusco Modenese,
Parmigiano Reggiano. The list of culinary delights
goes on and on. Before the journey begins, we are
spoiled with Italian dining culture.
In good company
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the catwalk for the fastest and most
beautiful cars from all eras from around the world. The festival is held in the
grounds of Goodwood House, owned by racing enthusiast Lord March, and
is famous for its 1.15-mile hill race. Participants must overcome nine corners,
partially boxed in by a high stone wall. For three days, visitors can watch the
priceless cars in the pits and in the rally. It is essentially a huge open-air car
museum. Maserati is also in attendance to showcase its models. With a bit of
luck, we’ll be able to sit in the GT as passengers in the race and feel the power
of its engine. Goodwood is an adrenaline-fuelled end to a stylish journey.
«Neptune’s trident is the sceptre of the world» goes a saying from the 18th
century. Maserati’s logo seems to be a very good choice.
The luxurious way of life | 145

FASHION
Katharine Hepburn | Woman of the Year
146 | PRESTIGE

MOVIES
CREATE
FASHION
We still don’t know how
often a film star creates
a fashion trend by wearing
a particular dress, suit or
accessory. But we do know
that film exerts an astonishing
impact on fashion.
Lilly Steffen
Annex
Dorothy Lamour
«What I wear
attracts millions.»
– Dorothy Lamour –
The luxurious way of life | 147

Marlene Dietrich
A Classic – the Marlene Slacks
The fact that actors can continue to play their roles in what is meant to be their private lives has
a lot to do with their outfits. Marlene Dietrich had designer Travis Banton to thank for the
sparkling appearances that were defined by her unique and provocative style. Banton’s contrived,
tried-and-tested masculine suits ensured Dietrich always made her trademark grand
entrance, even when she was not filming.
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FASHION
«I never go outside unless
I look like Joan Crawford
the movie star. If you want to see
the girl next door,
go next door.» – Joan Crawford –
the personification of big city attitudes. Our
grandmothers’ generation discarded their corsets,
pearls and fringes to dance to the rhythms
of the Charleston and the Shimmy. This generation
was replaced by strong career women
like Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo and Norma
Shearer – the kind of self-made women who
wore body-hugging dresses and classic tailormade
suits. With her slacks, flowing dresses
and short hair, Joan Crawford became the girl
next door with an exquisite and expensive
wardrobe. During the first big break in her long
career, she engaged Gilbert Adrian, MGM’s
star costume designer, to be her stylist. Strong
women like Crawford had to dress the part.
Adrian designed geometrically cut dresses with
huge collars, wasp waists and shoulder pads.
This became Crawford’s signature style and
Macy’s sold over half a million of such broad
shouldered creations.
Fashions gradually became more and more diverse
with the advent of the sporty Katherine Hepburn,
the sex bomb Marilyn Monroe, the young rebels
James Dean and Marlon Brando and the erotic
Sophia Loren. In the eighties, Madonna put fishnet
vests and lacy gloves on the map in her movie
«Desperately seeking Susan».
CJoan Crawford | Letty Lynton
ostume designers have a massive influence on films
because they determine the visual appearance of each
character. Their work also determines whether a production
is successful. Costume designers have a great
deal of responsibility: they are not only creative artists,
but often also historians, researchers and skilled artisans,
all rolled into one. Cinema and haute couture play
by different rules. Some costume designers have even
reinvented the colour scale. For example, Orry-Kelly realized that a rustcoloured
dress would look blood-red in a black-and-white film, making it
much more intense than in real life.
Wardrobe of the stars
Dressed in the slacks of a Marlene, the little black dress of an Audrey or
the leather jacket of a Brando, even your average girl or boy-next-door
would feel that little bit more rakish, daredevil and extravagant. Marlene
Dietrich had a particularly powerful influence as the curtain gradually rose
to reveal the emancipated woman. Girls with bobs and the skimpy satin
dresses of the Charleston era looked like Louise Brooks and Clara Bow,
Costumes create Actors
In the film «Sabrina» Audrey Hepburn played a
chauffeur’s daughter who is sent to Paris for cooking
classes. When she returns home, she has
transformed herself into a sophisticated young
lady with the help of French couture. To illustrate
this metamorphosis, Paramount hired a genuine
French fashion designer – Hubert de Givenchy.
The first collection from this young designer had
sent shockwaves through the fashion world, so it
was not surprising that the movie was awarded an
Oscar for Costume Design. A lifelong friendship
evolved between de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn.
From then on, the French designer was the
star’s private and professional stylist. His sense of
colours lit up the silver screen. His red coats, applegreen
suits and that shocking pink dress really
caught the audience’s imagination. And then there
were his hats. They provided the perfect frame for
Hepburn’s face. Audrey Hepburn herself commented:
«Givenchy’s creations always gave me a
sense of security and self-confidence. Work was
much easier when I knew my appearance was
The luxurious way of life | 149

FASHION
perfect. It was the same in my private life:
Givenchy’s outfits gave me a sense of being protected
when I was with strangers or in unfamiliar
situations because I felt so good in them. I have
been shaped by Hubert de Givenchy.» If clothes
make the man, then costumes certainly make actors.
And costume designers create fashions that
are desired by millions of people.
Design or Disaster!
Film history has also had its fair share of fashion
flops. In 1931, the famous Coco Chanel failed
by clinging too hard to the very particular style
of her label. Her inflexibility meant she failed to
recognize a new fashion trend and her costumes
for Gloria Swanson in «Tonight or Never» proved
to be a flop. In brief, it is the substance of failures.
Coco Chanel failed to calculate how long it takes
for a film to move from the design phase in
pre-production to being ready for release. In the
meantime a new, accentuated silhouette had come
into fashion and longer skirts were now a must.
Madame Chanel’s mistake was to stubbornly cling
on to her designs from the late 1920s.
Gloria Swanson | Father Takes a Wife
The Concept of the Muse
The Thirties and Forties were the heyday of the
Hollywood Look. During this time, a new kind of
femininity was created, which swept through the
stores on New York’s 5th Avenue. Now cinema
either competed against fashion designers or
tried to flirt with them. Adrian was the most influential
costume designer in Hollywood. He mainly
worked for MGM, where he styled Greta Garbo,
Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Judy
Garland, Katharine Hepburn and many others between
1928 and 1948. Adrian was the pioneer
for a generation of costume designers
who were couturiers at heart. The movies were
their boutiques, the actresses their models and the
silver screen their catwalk. Today, when fashion
magazines adorn their covers with images of major
stars, it is only because these actresses have contracts
with the top labels. Fashion is once again
staking its claim on movie stars. The concept of the
muse is the latest episode in this relationship between
film and fashion.
«We had
stumbled on a real
recipe for success: a
non-stop fashion show
of amazing dresses.»
– Gloria Swanson –
Reference List
Film and Fashion // Fashion in Film
Regine and Peter W. Engelmeier
Prestel-Verlag
Fashion in Film
Véronique Le Bris
Edel Verlag
Muses and Designers
While Lauren Bacall was raising the bar in Hollywood with
her masculine suits, in Paris Dior was launching his
New Look. They were followed by Ava Gardner in her pencil
skirt, Audrey Hepburn with her Givenchy silhouette and
Brigitte Bardot in her Mary Quant mini skirt. As for
Catherine Deneuve, she idolized Saint Laurent, while
Jeanne Moreau was devoted to Pierre Cardin.
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BLACK
WHITE
Who loves black and white?
If bright autumn shades are not for you,
why not step back and dress in
eternally chic black and white? The perfect
way to bring classic black
bang up to date.
BY LAURA
I
VII
II
V
VI
V
I HERMÈS
II BURBERRY
III MICHAEL KORS
IV MICHAEL KORS
V HERMÈS
VI MOLLY BRACKEN
VII RALPH LAUREN
III
IV
The luxurious way of life | 151

FASHION
10 QUESTIONS FOR
The «Basic Instinct» diva talks about fashion,
beauty and the love of her life.
Which garment is always in your bag when you travel?
Black leather leggings and a white shirt or Cashmere
pullover – you’re always well-dressed, and with high heels
you always look sexy.
Which character traits can you enhance with
the right clothing?
Contentment and self-confidence.
When did you discover your love of fashion?
Oh, I was three or four years old when I put
on my first little fashion show in my parents’ bedroom.
Later I used to browse through my mother’s
magazines and cut out my favourite outfits.
Can you remember your
key moment in fashion?
I’ve always loved movies
from the Twenties, Thirties
and Forties. The women
looked so fabulous.
Their clothes were really
elegant and feminine.
That really impressed
me and I wanted to
dress like that too.
You’ve started modelling for the Airfield label again.
How has the industry changed over recent years?
Everything has speeded up. Now a photo shoot only
lasts a day. And the fabrics are now much more comfortable
and beautiful. The emphasis has shifted towards
comfort.
Is there a special source of inspiration in your life for
new projects?
It comes from within. As soon as I feel something could be
good, I give it a try. It’s important to listen to your inner
voice.
What is the love of your life?
My three children – I can’t imagine life without them.
What are your best attributes?
Warmth, honesty and a great deal of discipline.
Have many of your dreams come true?
Yes, lots of them. And the best thing is that it’s made me a
very happy person.
What does beauty mean to you?
For me, beauty is something you can discover every day if
you go out into the world with your eyes wide open.

I II
III
BY LAURA
CASUALE
l e a n c e
IV
Smart casual in attention-grabbing colours.
Women who dress in smart casual style like to look
relaxed but elegant, so they often opt for jeans and a blouse.
Give this style your own personal twist by
accessorising in strong colours.
V
I BULGARI
II FABRIC FRONTLINE
III HERMÈS
IV RALPH LAUREN
V STEINWAY & SONS
VI MICHAEL KORS
VI
The luxurious way of life | 153

PRESENTS
COLLAGES
by Nora Ermatinger
IIn the autumn of 2014, Nora Ermatinger completed her training in photo
design. Internships with Dennis Savini and Gerry Nitsch taught her a
great deal about photographing food and people. She also had an opportunity
to assist Quentin Bacon in New York. Since then she has worked
as a freelance photographer in fashion and features and has always enjoyed
producing collages. She loves fashion photography because it gives her the
freedom to be creative. It allows her to create different worlds and to work
with some great people. For her, fashion and art photography are closely
linked. The starting point for Nora Ermatinger’s collages is a particular emotion
or mood, which she tries to communicate through the right images. She
then thinks about colours and shapes and gathers ideas. In this way she soon
has a specific image in her head. She then needs several shoots to complete
the work. She uses Photoshop to combine the individual images and create
the finished collage.
She has founded the Nonophotography label with her colleague Noemi Bräm.
The two photographers are working together to create a fashion portfolio.
They have been photographing the collections of young designers and working
with new shops.

FASHION
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FASHION
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FASHION
2006–2011
Liceo Artistico, Zürich
2012–2014
specialized course in photo design,
Zurich School of Design
2012–2014
internships with photographers
in Zurich and New York
Since 2014
freelance photographer, mainly in
fashion and features
www.noraermatinger.ch
The luxurious way of life | 163

FASHION CLASSICS
PONCHO
Sarah Jessica Parker, Cara Delevingne,
Olivia Palermo … there’s one thing they all
have in common! Burberry ponchos –
stylishly embellished with
their own monogram.
Lone K. Halvorsen
Soft wool and cashmere blankets
have become fashion must-haves
thanks to the famous brand with its
trademark checks. At last autumn’s
fashion shows, Burberry designer Christopher
Bailey casually draped ponchos – which looked
remarkably like horse blankets – around the shoulders
of his models, starting a real fashion mania.
But unlike many garments, the poncho manages
to stylishly bridge the gap between stable and
catwalk. Ponchos have popped up regularly over
the years, but Bailey looked back in the Burberry
archives and was inspired by their vintage capes.
Of course the other fashion houses have followed
suit and produced ponchos that provide a stylish
alternative to the coat this autumn.
The word poncho comes from the language of the
Mapuche (an indigenous tribe in South America).
It is a sleeveless garment that is pulled over the
head through an opening in the middle. The cape
is often confused with the poncho, but the cape
has slits for sleeves on both sides. In Europe, the
poncho is only worn by women, but in South
America it is popular with both sexes. This iconic
style has been worn in Peru since the 5th century and is the embodiment
of South America’s textile culture. Fashion was not the focus back then –
ponchos were very functional garments because they protected the wearer
from wind and weather.
But the fashionable ponchos with traditional patterns would not make you
look like a member of a Peruvian street band, so it’s important to follow a few
rules: short women should wear short ponchos, tall women longer ponchos.
And be careful with knitted accessories – after all, who wants to look like an
alpaca? In this case a pair of fine leather gloves perfectly complements the
look. Skinny jeans and boots are the classic look, but you could dare to try it
with sneakers. Less is more – when you wear a stylish poncho you don’t want
to steal its thunder. The beautiful Raquel Welch realized this when she wore
little more than a poncho in her movie «Hanni Calder» in 1971. … We hope
you’ve now learned that ponchos are not all about pan pipes!
A cool gaze through narrowed eyes, a chewed cheroot
in the corner of his mouth. Clint Eastwood was the
man with the Colt and the poncho. Eastwood probably
wore one of the first ethnic-inspired ponchos in his
Spaghetti Western, «A Fistful of Dollars» A few years later
he exchanged his poncho for a sports jacket and
created a new hero, Dirty Harry.
The luxurious way of life | 165

FASHION
FAIRWAY FASHION
GOLF
No other sport celebrates its history quite like golf.
And this includes golf fashions.
Lone K. Halvorsen
Kjus
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FASHION
ZWhen the very first golfers teed off in the
Scottish town of St. Andrews, they were
wearing long, flowing robes. There’s some
debate about whether it was the Scots or
the Dutch who invented the game back in
the 14th century. But at least we don’t have to ask
whether they were allowed to wear jeans on the
course.
Dress code
Golfing etiquette is very important. It governs players’
behaviour but also stipulates that «suitable
clothing» must be worn on the course. Golf’s
rather antiquated image is a thing of the past, but
many clubs still set a dress code or ask players not
to wear certain garments. Women are generally
not allowed to wear sleeveless tops without collars,
and men are expected to wear collared shirts.
And even on hot days, men and women can only
wear shorts if they are the right length.
Some golfers like to bend the rules, perhaps by
wearing stiff trousers in gaudy colours. But there
are other ways of standing out as a player. Even
though the rules of etiquette still apply, golf fashions
are constantly evolving. Top sportswear manufacturers
are waking up to golf’s potential and are
keen to ensure their elegant men’s and women’s
outfits are stylishly displayed on the course.
Clothing without compromises
While playing a round of golf together, the famous
Norwegian ski racer Lasse Kjus and Swiss investor
Didi Serena decided to launch an exciting new
sports collection based on high-performance textiles
and strong designs. The main focus was on
using very stretchy fabrics, which allow players the
freedom of movement that is so vital when doing
sport. What began as a skiing brand soon grew
and expanded, and in 2010 they launched their
first golf collection. «Kjus» clothing is made with
innovative performance fabrics that are light, soft,
quiet and stretchy. Keen golfers all over the world
who are looking to make their mark in all conditions
can rely on these materials to keep them
feeling totally comfortable. The garments in the
Kjus golf collection feature strong colours and
sporty, timeless designs that have been thought
out in every detail. Kjus ambassadors Max Kieffer
and Caroline Martens have now been joined
The Ladies Sugar Dress from Kjus.
A sporty golf dress with functional features
and a cool retro look.
The luxurious way of life | 167

FASHION
«I accept no
compromises when
it comes to clothing
design and
performance.»
– Didier Cuche –
by two-time Ryder Cup winner Peter Hanson.
PRESTIGE chatted to the likeable Swedish golfer
about clothing etiquette and his dream flight.
PRESTIGE: How did you begin working with Lasse
Kjus?
PETER HANSON: I took a look at his collection last year.
Then during the last PGA I got to know CEO Didi Serena,
and we soon decided we’d like to work together. For me,
it’s really exciting to work with a brand that is at the forefront
of both performance and style.
What’s most important - looking good, performance or
comfort?
Performance is very important! It’s all about staying dry,
inside and out. In the USA we generally play in hot weather
so of course we need breathable, light fabrics that keep us
cool. But when we’re playing somewhere like Scotland we
also need protection from the wind. And of course comfort
is important, because when we’re playing golf we’re always
changing position. When we’re putting we have to
bend our knees, and it’s important we don’t feel restricted
in any way. Kjus garments are really stretchy so they never
hamper my swing.
Which piece of clothing has to be the most functional?
Trousers are the most important! It’s so important to have
freedom of movement when you’re playing.
Is there a colour that you would never wear on the
course?
Absolutely! But of course things are different in different
parts of the world. For example, something that’s fashionable
in Europe may take a while to catch on in the US.
Do you agree that there should be a dress code in golf?
A lot has changed over the last five to seven years. In the
past, people didn’t really like wearing golf clothes when
they weren’t on the course. But times have changed.
What goal did you set yourself at the start of the
season?
My goal was to finish in the top 50. My position at the end
of the season is vital if I’m going to be invited to play in the
top tournaments. But so far I’m optimistic that I’ll hit my
goal. For 2016 I’m focusing on the Olympic Games.
What do you think is the main weakness in your game?
It used to be putting, but now I have back problems, so
the physical side is probably my main weakness at the
moment.
How did you start playing golf?
To be honest, it’s because I wasn’t good enough to play
tennis! I would have loved to be a tennis professional, but I
just couldn’t cut it. But when I was 14 I discovered I had a
talent for golf, so I switched sports.
What is your dream flight?
Stefan Edberg, Roger Federer and I love Formula One, so it
would be a dream to have Michael Schuhmacher on the
flight.
168 | PRESTIGE

The Men’s Sevve HZ half-zip windbreaker
from Kjus has high-tech features yet
fits easily into every golf bag.
With their floral print, the Ladies
Inu Bermudas will certainly
stand out on the course.
LADIES FIRST
There’s a good reason why the principle of «ladies first» doesn’t apply on the tee. Just imagine –
a woman is playing golf with a group of men. The men drive off and set off down the fairway,
almost forgetting to wait at the ladies’ tee. Now the woman drives off and the men set off again as
soon as she hits the ball. The woman watches the flight of her ball, picks up her tee and puts
her club back in her bag. She follows on after the men. She normally hits the shortest drive, so she’s
first once again. The men are already waiting near her ball, making her feel under pressure. So,
gentlemen, please curb your impatience and be prepared to play golf with the ladies. It would be
a shame if the only time they played golf was on Ladies’ Day.
The luxurious way of life | 169

BEAUTY & BEAST
NAOMI CAMPBELL
She was one of the most sought-after models in
the world, and at the age of 45 she still looks stunning.
Naomi models two elegant designs from the
«Made to Measure Atelier» Collection by Italian underwear
label La Perla. Even when she was a
young girl, Naomi knew she wanted to be famous.
She dropped out of school and went to London to
attend drama school. At the age of 15 she was
spotted by Beth Boldt, the head of a famous modelling
agency. Just one year later she was on the
cover of the British «Elle» and went on to appear on the cover of all the world’s
top fashion magazines. In 1988 she was the first black model to feature on
the cover of British Vogue. On the catwalk, she has modelled for all the top
designers and worked with world-famous photographers. She is well known
for her extraordinary beauty, but also for being a diva who gets into catfights
and even resorts to violence. But her beauty means that people tend to
forgive her notorious tantrums. Men flock after her, and her many famous
conquests include Mike Tyson, Robert DeNiro, Eric Clapton, U2 bassist Adam
Clayton, Flavio Briatore, Tommy Lee and Usher. She had a long-standing
friendship with Nelson Mandela.
6
QUOTES
«If a woman wants to know what life is like
without a man, she should get married.»
«I love Britain, especially its food.»
«There’s nothing better
than a delicious
bowl of pasta.»
«I have no regrets. I’m healthy!»
«I don’t believe that I was
born beautiful. I was
simply born myself.»
«You have to make mistakes.
That’s how you learn how
the world works.»
«I’ve earned a lot of money
but I’m worth every penny.»
170 | PRESTIGE

Candy
COLOURS
BY LAURA
VI
I DOLCE & GABBANA
II PARMIGIANI
III MULBERRY
IV GENIE IN A BAG
V RADLEY
VI GRAFF
VII ROBERTO CAVALLI
I
VII
V
Light colours for dark days:
if strong autumn colours are not for you,
why not banish gloomy days
by accessorising in pastel shades?
This autumn, even classic black sunglasses
are giving way to light blues and
soft pinks to ease us gently into winter.
II
IV
III

THE ECO-LUXURY CLASS
BIO
DE
LUXE
Batik pants, Birkenstocks and baking
spelt bread under a full moon. In the past,
natural cosmetics were considered to be
only for tree-huggers and hippies who
grew their own vegetables, long before
the advent of «urban gardening». But now
a new generation of high-end beauty
products means that organic beauty has
a touch of real luxury.
Steffi Hidber
The luxurious way of life | 173

BEAUTY
SInterestingly, it is mainly young, dynamic businesswomen
who have recognised the need to
meet the growing demand for gentle, natural and
green skincare and make-up products by creating
quality niche brands. In the past, natural cosmetics
may have been formulated very cleverly,
but they just weren’t sexy. Now all this has changed with the rise of luxury
organic brands. Of course natural cosmetics giants such as Weleda, Dr.
Hauschka and Annemarie Börlind supply excellent, effective products for the
skin and hair. But what about customers who are looking for effective ingredients
and the shopping experience offered by major luxury brands? Such
consumers are increasingly choosing organic foods, taking up yoga and
meditation and drinking green smoothies in order to keep their bodies in Instagram
shape.
The solution
With a little know-how and a good marketing team it’s possible to launch a
luxury natural cosmetics brand. Young, dynamic brands such as Susanne
Kaufmann, Lina Hanson and Kahina Giving Beauty show that spoilt
consumers are keen to use expensive natural cosmetics. Harvard graduate
174 | PRESTIGE

BEAUTY
As a beautician, Laura Schurter struggled with her own sensitive skin problems,
but soon realised that her skin felt so much better when she used natural,
organic skincare products. Now she is also delighted to see how demand is
soaring and has set up her Greenlane portal to offer a range of new organic
brands from around the world. She also sells beautiful cosmetic brands,
including Kjaer Weis and Ilia, who are now finally providing real alternatives to
the cosmetics giants, such as MAC and Lancôme.
Skincare using precious plant extracts
Tata Harper is a leading organic skincare brand. An engineer by training, Tata
set up her eponymous label in 2011 because she simply couldn’t find what
she was looking for elsewhere. «When I started looking for natural, non-toxic
alternatives to the synthetic creams that I had been using for years, I realised
there was a huge gap in the market. Clearly no-one was offering 100 % natural
skincare products that were totally uncompromising in terms of their effectiveness,
texture and scent. So I drummed up a group of experts from all over
the world to create Tata Harper – based on the very latest research that
promised real anti-aging results.»
and young entrepreneur Anna Baumgartner
picked up on the trend at an early stage when
she opened her Biomazing online store. She
clearly believes the future lies in luxury organic
brands.
«In terms of quality, it’s clear that luxury natural
cosmetics are the best products on the market. It’s
not possible to take rare, highly effective raw materials
and ingredients and craft them into handmade
products using industrial manufacturing
processes, just as a Birkin Bag can never be
mass-produced! Now that the effectiveness of luxury
natural cosmetics has been proven, discerning
customers are looking for – and finding – special,
premium- quality ingredients and products that
really work. For a time, it was difficult to get hold
of high-end natural cosmetics. We wanted to
change all that with Biomazing, and the demand
has proven we were right.»
In the luxury sector, Tata Harper is joined by a number of other interesting
brands. They have already attracted many devoted followers - including many
celebrities – from all over the world thanks to their quality range of effective
skincare products. For example, make-up artist Lina Hanson counts many
Hollywood stars among her clients, including Naomi Watts, Natalie Portman,
Brooke Shields and Ewan McGregor. She knows only too well how demanding
«pampered skin» can be. Many organic beauty retailers say her top-quality
face and body serums are some of their most popular products. But her own
favourite beauty product is not a luxury oil. It’s «simple» coconut oil. «I use
coconut oil for everything. I add it to my green smoothies, use it for oil pulling
(a cleansing ritual involving swishing oil around the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes),
as a hair mask and make-up remover. It can be used in so many ways – you
just have to make sure it’s certified organic and untreated.»
Many of the new luxury natural cosmetics
brands come from Europe:
Susanne Kaufmann has built up her small-but-beautiful organic cosmetics
empire from her hotel and spa in Austria’s Bregenz Forest, while in Switzerland
four friends (and subsequently their children) have now been running
Farfalla for 30 years, producing natural, organic beauty and skincare products.
The UK and USA have produced some rather more media-savvy ’stars’
who proclaim their green lifestyles through selected products and present
themselves as icons of the new trend towards sustainability. May Lindstrom
is not only a former model but also a young mother who has recorded the
process of setting up her high-priced skincare products on Instagram, Facebook
and her own blog. She describes the whole process from design
through to sales, in this way building a personal relationship with her customers.
Some people might think it’s just hype. But the ingredients used in these
new luxury products have always been highly valued, and they are often
gentler and more skin friendly than their high-tech clones.
The luxurious way of life | 175

BEAUTY
WEB TIPS
www.biomazing.ch
www.greenlane.ch
www.shetime.ch
www.allforeves.com
www.beingcontent.com
www.spiritbeautylounge.com
www.niche-beauty.com
Natural cosmetics with a luxury bonus
Coconut oil is one of the shining stars of natural
cosmetics, but there is also a whole range of new,
precious plant oils with extraordinary properties
that benefit the skin, such as marula oil from South
Africa, baobab oil from Africa and camellia seed
extract from Japan. For Christina Roth, an international
make-up artist from Berlin, these precious
ingredients lie at the heart of her UND GRETEL
make-up line. Working with her colleague Stephanie
Dettman, her small label has recently begun
producing long-lasting cosmetics in strong colours,
including mascaras, eye liners, eye shadows,
lipsticks and beautiful foundations and powders.
Every product has to meet their own high standards
as make-up professionals. «We found natural
cosmetics lacked that touch of luxury that brightens
up our everyday lives. So with UND GRETEL
we have brought together two contrasting elements
– premium high fashion and certified natural
cosmetics.»
For businesswoman and model Kartika Luyet, it
was this gap between what was wanted and what
was available that drove her to set up her «ecotrendy»
range of nail polish, Kure Bazaar. «We
wanted to create a formula that was as natural as
possible but without compromising on quality and
durability. The polish had to be tough, long-lasting,
fast-drying and very glossy … and of course it
had to come in a range of great shades. In other
words, it was quite a challenge» In the world of natural cosmetics, nail polish
is the most difficult product to manufacture because durable nail polish
generally needs hardening – and therefore toxic – ingredients. So Kure Bazaar
went as far as possible, with the current formula containing 85 % natural ingredients.
«This is the highest percentage we can use while still guaranteeing
good results.»
Kjaer Weis runs a leading luxury make-up brand of the same name. For her
range, the very best ingredients are combined with environmentally friendly
but beautiful packaging. Since launching her stunning make-up products
(including «Radiance», a highlighter which has won many beauty awards), this
native of Denmark has become one of the leading lights of the fashion scene,
particularly because of her heavy metal compacts. The shiny, silver packaging
give the product a very expensive feel, but the compacts are also very
easy to refill. Her products are also totally free of ingredients such as phthalates,
propylene glycol, parabens and mineral oils. She sums up her philosophy
in a few words: «We have solved the problem of what’s «good» or «bad» for
the skin by quite simply not using anything «bad».
There are now so many wonderful natural beauty products for skin and hair,
so it’s easy to cheat on your much-loved luxury brand just a little by trying out
one of the new organic alternatives. You might even discover a completely
new way of feeling good. And at worst you might find a gentler alternative with
a feel-good factor. Isn’t that something we all deserve?
A DISCOVERY FROM A TO Z
Herbivore Botanicals
Ilia
John Masters Organics
Kahina Giving Beauty
Kjaer Weis
Kure Bazar
Lina Hanson
May Lindstrom
Rahua
Richard Lüscher Britos
RMS Beauty
Spa Manufactur
Susanne Kaufmann
Tata Harper
The Organic Pharmacy
UND GRETEL
Vestige Verdant
176 | PRESTIGE

BEAUTY
LINA HANSON
Global Face Serum, 30 ml
VESTIGE VERDANT
Bioactive Detox &
Anti Aging Mask (200ml)
ABSOLUTION
La Crème du Soir, 30 ml
KJAER WEIS
Lip Tint in Dream State
UND GRETEL
«Lieth» Foundation (30ml),
in five shades
TATA HARPER
Volumizing Lip and
Cheek Tint
INDIE LEE
Swiss Apple Facial Serum, 30 ml
The luxurious way of life | 177

BEAUTY
SENSES
Get naked, smoky-style
Have you ever bought a beauty product then found you
have absolutely no idea how to use it? Naked Smoky
is self-explanatory and very easy to use at home. Smoky
eyes need more than just lots of smudgy black and a
hard-as-nails attitude. Naked Smoky from Urban Decay
has everything you need for the perfect look, from the
right brushes to the perfect shades. And the XXL make-up
mirror turns touching up your make-up into selfie time!
www.urbandecay.com
A sea of white roses
Seven years ago a very special rose was born. Sensual and powdery. A gentle
fragrance that was fresh and unusual, like a second skin. It was a huge success from
day one. After Chloé Eau de Parfum, L’Eau de Chloé and Roses de Chloé, a fresh
chapter is now starting with the launch of a new, delicate fragrance: Chloé Eau de Toilette.
It echoes the distinctive beauty of its predecessors in all its facets. It’s all about roses,
just like every other variation of the original perfume. But this time it is lighter and softer
than ever before. From the very first notes, Chloé Eau de Toilette emanates a special
kind of freshness.
www.chloe.com
A new legend is born
Skin Caviar, the phenomenon from La Prairie, marches on with three fantastic
new products. The iconic Skin Caviar Collection has now been rounded
out with Skin Caviar Luxe Cream - Sheer, designed to meet women’s needs
and desires for a choice of textures. La Prairie has also joined forces
with Baccarat, artisans of fine crystal. The limited Edition Caviar Spectaculaire
is a breathtaking masterpiece of legendary craftsmanship, timeless
elegance and beauty.
www.laprairiegroup.com
178 | PRESTIGE

BEAUTY
Exquisite gin with a taste of the exotic
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®, the world’s leading premium gin, presents STAR OF BOMBAY,
a new super premium gin. It highlights the extraordinary balance of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
thanks to the addition of exotic botanicals and a slow distillation process. STAR OF
BOMBAY is based on the same ten hand-picked botanicals that are used in BOMBAY
SAPPHIRE gin: juniper from Italy, coriander from Morocco, lemon zest from Spain,
orris from Italy, angelica from Germany, bitter almond from Spain, licorice from China,
Chinese cinnamon from Indochina, cubeb pepper from Java and grains of paradise
from South Africa. These characteristic notes are lifted to a new dimension in STAR OF
BOMBAY. Gently dried Bergamot orange peel from the mountains of Calabria,
Southern Italy, provides a fragrant, rich citrus note; while the floral musk of ambrette
seeds from the tropical yellow hibiscus flower from Ecuador supply a graceful
elegance. Along with these new botanicals, the elegant liquid captured in each bottle
is created by slowing down the signature BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Vapour Infusion
process. This increases the level of oil extraction from the botanicals, building richer
aromas and more intense flavours.
www.bombaysapphire.com
«Let us say what we feel and
feel what we say. Let
speech harmonise with life.»
– Lucius Annaeus Seneca –
My Grandmother Asked
Me To Tell You She’s Sorry
Fredrik Backman Authorised
audio version
Narrated by: Heiko Deutschmann
Directed by: Doreen Maas
Runtime: 9 hours, 7 minutes, 7 CDs
Publishers: Argon Hörbuch Verlag
If you liked Ove, you’ll love grandmother and Elsa!
Grandmother is 77, a doctor, a little chaotic, and someone who drives the neighbours crazy.
Elsa is 7, loves Wikipedia and superheroes and only has one friend in the world: grandma. Elsa has
the most exciting adventures thanks to grandma’s fairy tales. Until one day grandma sends her
off on the greatest adventure of her life - into the real world. «Promise you will still love me when you
find out who I used to be. And promise you will look after the castle. And your friends», she says
to Elsa. Fredrik Backman hit the top of the bestsellers list with his debut novel «A Man Called Ove».
With his second novel, «My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry», Backmann once
again shows off his virtuosity as a writer.
The luxurious way of life | 179

I
II
AUTUMN
PRETTY FOR
BY LAURA
Matt black and studs – a rock chick
look witha very feminine touch.
This autumn, Pretty Metal is the latest
trend for beauty products. At its heart
lies a really effective moisturiser to make
III
your skin glow on dreary autumn days.
IV
I HAIRDREAMS «STOP&GROW PHT ELIXIR» The new, powerful
hair growth serum. II GUERLAIN «KISSKISS ROSELIP» Hydrating
and plumping tinted lip balm with essential oil of rose. III GUERLAIN
«NAILIFT LA BASE» Perfecting and protecting nail care. IV YVES
SAINT LAURENT «COUTURE PALETTE COLLECTOR» The
perfect embodiment of the Pretty Metal mood. V RETROUVÉ Revitalising
Eye Concentrate. VI LANCASTER «365 SKIN REPAIR» 365 Skin
Repair Serum protects the DNA and optimises skin function by setting it to «reboot».
VII CHANEL «LE LIFT» Eye concen trate instant smoothing- anti-aging.
VIII DIOR «EXUBÉRANTE» 5 shades For those mysterious, darker days
when summer is over. IX EVIDENS «L’EAU PAR FUMÉE NO. 4» Soft
top notes of bergamot and neroli are enhanced with a hint of
blueberry, releasing the fragrance’s floral heart notes of narcissus,
jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and rose. This soft, feminine fragrance
also contains musk, frankincense, vanilla and cedarwood.
X LANCÔME «HYDRA ZEN» Beauty Essence 24-hour,
non-stop hydration to refresh the skin.
X
V
VIII
IX
VII
VI
180 | PRESTIGE

BEAUTY
182 | PRESTIGE

BEAUTY
«A perfume is nothing without human skin.»
Steffi Hidber
HBehind this exciting perfume brand
there is one man. Externally, his imposing
presence makes him look more
like a doorman or farmer. farmer. This will not have
escaped the notice of his colleagues in the perfume
industry, but this native of Russia and Dane
by choice displays his more lyrical side in his passion
for fragrances. In the eight years since he
launched his own Zarkoperfume label, he has not
only become the first Danish perfumer but also one
of the world’s most exciting fragrance creators.
He began his career at a French vineyard, before
returning to Denmark and opening a fashion boutique
in 2000 with a view to selling his own designs.
He wanted to create a signature fragrance for his
customers, something that would capture the «scent
of the North». Ahlmann loves the North above all
else, and he wanted his perfume to reflect the
exciting contrasts offered by vast landscapes, total
silence, forests and seas, the midsummer sun
and the deep, dark night. He worked with several
renowned perfume laboratories in Italy and France,
but none of them came up with what he was looking
for. So in 2008 he decided to realise a new dream.
He sold his boutique and trained to be a perfumer.
His career has been shaped by his passion for
the perfumer’s art. His approach is to fuse classic
French perfumery with stringent molecular
science.
The luxurious way of life | 183

BEAUTY
Fragrances that are different
on different people
Zarkoperfume creations are not built on the traditional
fragrance pyramid of top, middle and base
notes which develop and disperse at different,
rates. Instead they are based on minerals which,
in combination with selected essential oils, develop
their own fragrance only through fusion (skin
contact!) with the pheromones of the wearer.
To put it more scientifically, Zarko Ahlmann creates
pure molecular fragrances with a unique scent.
This means that the fragrance remains on the skin
with the same intensity for several hours without
changing. What’s exciting about that? The fragrance
itself does not develop different facets, but
it changes according to your skin temperature and
environment. Unlike a traditional fragrance, this is
not a straight-line development where you notice
the top notes first, then the middle notes emerge
after a while … and finally, after a whole day, only
the base notes are left. Instead, these perfumes
take you on an exciting journey. Because a Zarkoperfume
can suddenly disappear, only to reappear
a little later.
This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in his most famous perfume,
MOLéCULE 234°38, as this really does consist of just one big molecule. The
connection between this molecule and the wearer’s skin lasts around ten
hours before it dissipates. This is what makes the fragrance so unique and
evolving. All these six fragrances have their own unmistakable signature and
contain sophisticated ingredients and molecules that evolve in different ways
in different people.
It took Zarko six years to get his five fragrances ready for the market. Today
he sells six creations in selected boutiques and concept stores around the
globe. His five-person team also includes his wife and childhood sweetheart
Lene. He is driven by his vision of making fragrance an individual experience.
«A perfume is a work of art like a painting or a musical composition. It should
be all about the fragrance, the essence, not about marketing or elaborate
packaging rituals.» Ahlmann knows that developing and manufacturing a perfume
is a life-long process. We can look forward to a future of exciting fragrances!
The Zarkoperfume fragrances
e’L - Zarko’s declaration of love to his wife Lene,
with a warm, profound character and a fresh,
tangy tone.
INCEPTION – A homage to the dream
sequences in Christopher Nolan’s film of the
same name, with an incredible six phases
that tell a complete story.
MOLÉCULE 234°38 – Zarko Ahlmann Pavlov
spent six years perfecting his masterpiece:
«Your aura. Intensive like never before.»
OUD’ISH – A highly sophisticated Nordic
interpretation of the mysterious oud, presented
in two parallel phases.
PINK MOLéCULE 090°09 – Pink champagne
and «Denmark’s dark forests» were the inspiration
for this light, tangy scent of elder, with a hint of
sandalwood to give it an edgy depth.
MOLéCULE No. 8 – The latest Zarkoperfume
creation promises «Light and dark. At the same
time.» Or the scent of a Polar night, exuding
a sense of strength and hope.
184 | PRESTIGE

VII
VI
HERE!
Autumn’s
I
II
We reveal the most seductive fragrances in the
most beautiful bottles. Subtly delicious
vanilla notes or lavishly floral, woody scents, all in
contemporary, luxurious packaging.
There really is something for everyone.
BY LAURA
I THIERRY MUGLER
II ESTÉE LAUDER
III THOMAS SABO
IV BOTTEGA VENETA
V APRIL AROMATICS
VI HERMÈS
VII MIU MIU
V
IV
III
The luxurious way of life | 185

THE QEEN OF COSMETICS
HELENA RUBINSTEIN
She was one of the world’s most successful cosmetics
entrepreneurs. It all began with twelve little
jars of cosmetics. When she was 18, she began
studying medicine in Krakow and Zurich, but later
dropped out. She emigrated to Queensland in
Australia and worked as a nanny for her uncle. Her
mother had given her twelve little jars of face
cream so that she could look after her skin while
she was far away. She gave some of them to the
local ladies in Coleraine. Her first business idea
was to import and sell the creams, but later she
began making her own creams. In 1899 she
opened Australia’s first beauty salon in Melbourne.
Soon after, she decided to return to Europe. In
Paris, she studied under the most famous skin
doctor of the time, and also learned more about
nutrition and facial surgery. After the outbreak of
World War I in 1914, Helena Rubinstein moved to
the USA. In 1915 she opened a beauty salon in
New York and set up Helena Rubinstein Inc. In
1920 she launched her own «Helena Rubinstein»
brand. From then on, every tube and jar of beauty
products bore her name. Although Helena Rubinstein
liked to show off her wealth, she could
also be very miserly towards others. She bought
jewellery and artworks by the dozen, but always
demanded a third off for buying in bulk. Her
wardrobe largely consisted of garments that her
maid had copied from Parisian haute couture. As
a businesswoman, Helena Rubinstein was a
pioneer. Designers and artists created luxurious
flacons and packaging for her products. Writers
produced advertisements, brochures and the inhouse
magazine. Famous architects created exclusive
beauty salons, which were truly «temples
of beauty». So it is hardly surprising that after her
death she left behind a cosmetics empire valued
at 17.5 million US, with 100 branches in 14 countries
and 30,000 em ployees. She also had a
private fortune in excess of 100 million.
5
QUOTES
«I have always felt that a woman
has the right to treat the subject of her age with
ambiguity, until, perhaps, she passes
into the realm of over ninety. Then it is better
she be candid with herself and with the world.»
«Ideas, ideas, that’s what we need.»
«There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.»
«Although days only have 24 hours, I worked 50.»
«Work has been my best beauty treatment.» «Hard work keeps the
wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.»
186 | PRESTIGE

DID YOU
KNOW…?
… that a bottle of Chanel Nº 5 is sold
every 30 seconds?
Coco Chanel’s Nº 5 has been on the market since 1921 and is the most
popular women’s fragrance of all time. French chemist and perfumer
Ernest Beaux created the scent from more than 80 different ingredients
that were stipulated by Coco. This timeless perfume is dominated by
notes of jasmine, rose and lily of the valley. Even its minimalist, elegant bottle
has attained cult status. Its design may be 94 years old, but it looks as
fresh as ever. In 1959, MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art, New York City)
honoured it with a place in its permanent collection, and Andy Warhol
featured it in a series of prints in 1964. A bottle of Chanel Nº 5 is sold every
30 seconds.
… that mascara was invented by a man?
The sister of chemist T. L. Williams burned her
eyelashes and brows when she was cooking, so
he decided to find a product that would help
her. In 1913 he mixed together coal dust and Vaseline
to create a jet black paste, creating the world’s
first mascara. It was so successful that he went on
to found Maybelline. The name Maybelline came
from the name of his sister, Maybel, and Vaseline. The
company has enjoyed huge success over the years,
and its Volume Express mascara is the world’s
most popular mascara. Polish make-up brand Helena
Rubinstein also broke new ground in the world of
mascara. In 1939 it developed the very first waterproof
mascara, and 20 years later it launched the Mascara
Matic, the first automatic mascara. This kind of
mascara is still used today: a mixture of oils, waxes
and pigments in a small tube with applicator brush.
… that Nivea Creme is 105 years old?
Originally a manufacturer of plasters, Nivea sold its first – and still its most popular – skin care
product in 1911: white Nivea Creme in a blue tin. Pharmacist Oscar Troplowitz worked with
dermatologists and chemists to create this classic product. He used lanolin, an emulsifier obtained
from sheep wool, to make the cream particularly rich and long-lasting. The cream was named
Nivea after its bright white colour. Nivea comes from the Latin word nivius, meaning «snow white».
Its composition has changed little since then, though the packaging now looks a little different.
For the first 13 years of its life, the cream came in a khaki-coloured patterned tin before the classic
blue tin was introduced. The new colour was meant to reflect the changing attitudes of the
1920s with its fresh, sporty look. In 2007 Nivea’s owners, the cosmetics group Beiersdorf, even
went so far as to seek to patent the dark blue colour.

LIVING
Foto: 8H Image by Jens Lindhe
«For me,
architecture is the
means, not the end.
It’s a means of making
different life forms possible.»
– Bjarke Ingels –

YES
IS
MORE!
«Architecture seems to find itself in a quandary:
either naively utopian or stultifyingly pragmatic.»
Lone K. Halvorsen
Bjarke Ingels Group / BIG

Photo: SOF Image by Luca Santiago Mora
«I think architecture
is rarely the product of
a single ideology. It’s more
like it can be shaped by
a really big idea. It can
accommodate a lot
of life forms.» – Bjarke Ingels –
Photo: SOF Image by Luca Santiago Mora
The Maritime Museum of Denmark The
building meets the strict conditions that were
set: the museum is only 1 metre high, but
descends 10 metres below ground.
190 | PRESTIGE

LIVING
«Museet for Søfart», the Maritime Museum of Denmark
in Helsingør am Øresund, Denmark.
This may sound a little utopian but that’s how it
should be, because Yes is more! The philosophical
basis of the company is reflected in its abbreviation
and provides scope for further interpretation. BIG
means BIG thinking with BIG ideas from BIG thinkers
who push the envelope and aim to create truly
great architecture! And how to avoid architecture
that is naively utopian or stultifyingly pragmatic?
Ingels says: «A pragmatic utopian architecture
aims to create spaces that are socially, economically
and environmentally perfect.»
BIG! No other abbreviation could have been
more fitting for the Bjarke Ingels Group. Bjarke
Ingels is young, bold and already internationally
acclaimed at the age of 40. Since 2005 he has
headed up the architects firm with the name of
BIG – now with offices not only in Copenhagen but also in New York and
Beijing. In 2001 he had already attracted international attention with his first
company, PLOT, which he co-founded with Julian de Smedt. The two of them
quickly gained the recognition they deserved, winning the Golden Lion in
Venice in 2004 for the design of the concert hall in Stavanger, Norway. Despite
their huge success they went their separate ways in 2005 and Bjarke Ingels
founded BIG.
Boldly Pragmatic with Visionary Tendencies
With his bold ideas and extraordinary projects, Bjarke Ingels is one of today’s
top young architects and BIG is undoubtedly a high-flying architectural firm.
His Style: boldly pragmatic with visionary tendencies. His Philosophy: Yes is
more! His objective: architecture that is flexible and innovative and adapts
itself to current conditions. This creates spaces that function without compromise
and respond to as many needs as possible.
Urban Utopias
He builds dwellings in the shape of a curved eight,
apartment blocks in stone to look like mountain
landscapes, and he even hides a waste-to-energy
plant beneath a ski slope. Ingels himself says: «Architecture
has always been governed by extremes:
by an avant garde full of crazy ideas drawn from
philosophy or mysticism and by highly organized
consultancy firms, who construct predictable, boring
boxes to a high standard.» BIG commits itself
to the crazy ideas, but its unorthodox designs are
not only zany but also sensational, functional and
sustainable. The «Mountain Dwellings» is another
of BIG’s crazy ideas. Dating from 2008, it is also
one of their best-known projects. Indeed, it is a
pretty bizarre project that turns out to be even
more off-the-wall in real life. The experimental architects
twisted the various stacked functional
elements, constructing a building in which the independent
living and parking components are
connected symbiotically with one another. They
built an artificial 34-metre-high mountain and, with
a 1:3 ratio, the apartments function as the roof of
the four-storey parking garage. The apartments
were constructed in tandem in a stepped style, so
the terraces were planted and laid out with a permanent
irrigation system which serves the apartment
above. It makes a mockery of the idea that
parking garages are the grey places where murders
are committed that we see in the movies.
Here, they are bright and colourful and built using
dozens of pillars – in some areas the ceiling soars
to 16 metres, giving it a cathedral-like air. In Mountain
Dwellings, the simple principles of lifting, lowering,
turning and shifting have created a sensational
building – you could even imagine moving
into the parking garage.
The luxurious way of life | 191

Foto: MTN, Carsten Kring
Mountain Dwellings
Not far from Copenhagen, in Helsingør on the river
Øresund, we find Kronburg Castle, a World Heritage
Site. This is where Shakespeare’s Hamlet lived
and died. And located on a headland facing Sweden,
it was also a major passageway between the
Baltic Sea and the North. This was where Danish
sailors left their country, perhaps never to return.
So it is the perfect place for a maritime museum.
But after a hundred years the Danish maritime museum,
«Museet for Søfart» had to leave Kronburg
Castle at UNESCO’s request. But there was one
condition: the new building could be only one metre
high, so as not to spoil the view of Kronburg
Catle. As we have come to expect from BIG, the
new building is stunning! This time the building
was constructed quite differently: «Although it is
below the surface, we have constructed the highest
building we have ever designed for Denmark»,
say Ingels. The condition was adhered to and there
is still an unrestricted view of Hamlet’s stage. Below
the turf they laid a 150 metre long, 25 metre
wide, 10 metre deep cement dry dock (the pillars
go down another 30 metres). With this, Bjarke Ingels
became the king of the paradox, as his hallmarks
had previously always been hills and mountains.
He has managed to create a new, implosive
architecture which no longer needs to explode
above the earth. The tilted bridges and steep stairs
make visitors feel like they are on the high seas –
not a problem for a seafaring nation like the Danes.
Big, bigger, Bjarke Ingels
So who is the young Dane who is making his mark
in the earth? Bjarke Ingels was born in Copenhagen
in 1974 and in 1999 completed his studies at
The Royal Danish Academy for Art and Architecture.
«I knew absolutely nothing about architecture.
The only architect I’d ever heard of was Jørgen
Utzon. I really had no preconceived ideas»
says Ingels. For a long time he dreamt about becoming
a comic artist and he only applied to the
Danish Academy because he thought his studies
would involve a lot of drawing. His breakthrough
came when he worked with the renowned architect
Rem Koolhaas and set up his first company
with Julian de Smedt. Considering that he originally
wanted to be a comic artist rather than an
architect, he has certainly had his share of success.
FURTHER READING
«Yes is More» is an easy-to-read, radical manifesto from Copenhagen-based
architectural firm the Bjarke Ingels Group, or BIG for short. More like a
comic than a typical architectural book, it communicates its unique agenda
for contemporary architecture. The play on words, Yes is More, sums up
the company’s philosophy, its lack of respect for excessive formalism and
its determination to involve the masses. This monograph presents the
company’s approach and results using that most appealing and popular
form of communication: the comic.
Yes is More. An Archicomic on the Evolution of Architecture
Bjarke Ingels Group
Pocket Publisher
192 | PRESTIGE

The frameless insulated sliding doors by Sky-Frame blend naturally into their surroundings.
So it is hard to say where the living room ends and where the view starts: WWW.SKY-FRAME.CH
INSIDE
OUTSIDE
LIVING.

LIVING
ARCHITECTURAL
OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
Torches, flames and broken fragments – when seeking inspiration for new
hotel buildings, architects do not limit themselves to classical structures.
The more extraordinary the look of a new hotel, the more potential it has to
become a new city landmark.
Secret Escapes
1 | Stationary ship: Titanic Beach Lara
For anyone who is prone to seasickness but who
would like to overnight on a cruise liner, the Titanic
hotel chain has created the perfect solution. This
hotel complex at Lara on the Turkish Riviera is in
the shape of a giant cruise ship and goes by the
fitting name of «Titanic Beach». Opened in 2003,
the hotel’s 589 rooms are designed to look like
cabins.
1
2 | Like a Gift Bow:
Hotel Marques de Riscal
An exquisite and unique exterior has been created
by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry for the
Marques de Riscal Hotel in the small wine village
of Elciego in Rioja, northern Spain. Wave-shaped,
brightly coloured steel plates tumble over each
other to form the roof of the building. Unveiled in
2006, the hotel has just 46 rooms. It offers its
guests a fine selection of local wines and a Michelin-starred
restaurant.
3 | London: The Shard
The Shard is the skyscraper that has dominated
London’s skyline since 2014. This narrow, pointed
glass tower is one of Europe’s tallest buildings at
310 metres and with 72 floors. It is home to the
five-star Shangri-La hotel, At the Shard, London.
Each of its 202 rooms provides breathtaking views
over the city and the very highest standards of
comfort.
Foto: www.ilkercanikligil.com
2
194 | PRESTIGE

Photo: Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London
3
LIVING
Photo: AC Hotels by Marriott
4
5
4 | In the Copenhagen skies:
AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen
The two slender towers of the AC Hotel Bella Sky
Copenhagen, which opened in 2011, look as if they
have been twisted by the wind. Only the bridges
between the two towers seem to be stopping them
from crashing together. With its 812 spacious
rooms and Nordic style, it is one of the largest
hotels in Scandinavia. The literal highlight is the
Sky Bar on the 23rd floor of the complex, with its
sublime views over the city.
5 | Flaming Towers at the Caspian Sea:
Fairmont Baku
Baku is in flames. Perhaps not literally, but anyone
who looks at the skyline of Azerbaijan’s capital
from a distance will see three towers rising like
torches into the sky. This is an amazing sight,
particularly when they are lit up at night. The
architects, Francis Krahe and Associates, were
inspired by Azerbaijan’s Persian name, «Land of
Fire». The five-star Fairmont Baku Hotel is located
in the Flame Towers.
6 | A Ball for China:
Sunrise Kempinski Hotel
Many people think it looks like a marble that is rolling
into the water. But in fact the Sunrise Kempinski
Hotel, which opened in 2014 on Lake Yanki close
to the Chinese capital of Beijing, was designed
to symbolise the rising sun. The facade of the
97- metre high ball has been assembled from
10,000 pieces of glass. The topmost of its 306
rooms and suites provide a glimpse of the Great
Wall.
Photo: Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing
7 | Qatar’s Flaming Torch: The Torch Doha
Like an over-sized Olympic torch, the 300-metre
high Aspire Tower rises in the heart of Doha, the
capital of Qatar. The highest building in the emirate,
it was built for the Asian Games in 2006. Its distinctive
appearance has led to it being nicknamed
the «Torch». The Torch Doha is also the name of
the five-star hotel that is located in the tower.
6
The luxurious way of life | 195

LIVING
Photo: Aspire Zone
7
8 | Above the Racecourse:
Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi
Directly above the Formula 1 racecourse in Abu
Dhabi, the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi provides its
guests with the most exclusive and impressive
view of the action. The roof consists of 5,100 rhombic
glass panels and steel connectors, which can
be lit up in an array of colours. The luxury hotel was
unveiled in 2009. It has 499 rooms and highlights
include a ballroom and rooftop swimming pools. It
is the work of the visionary architects at Asymptote
Architecture.
8
Photo: Viceroy Hotel Group
9 | The Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi:
Hyatt Capital Gate
Leaning at almost 20 degrees, the Hyatt Capital
Gate tower looks like a modern take on the Leaning
Tower of Pisa as it climbs up into the skies
above Abu Dhabi. Architects Robert Matthew
Johnson Marshall were rewarded with an entry in
the Guinness Book of Records. Opened in 2011,
the hotel’s rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows,
providing guests with spectacular views of the
coastline.
10 | Sailing Boat on the Coast of Dubai:
Burj Al Arab
One of the most world’s best known wonders of
modern architecture is Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, which
opened in 1999. On an artificial island, the building
was designed by Tom Wright to look like a sail. The
321-metre-high building has become Dubai’s landmark.
One of the most expensive hotels in the
world, the hotel offers its guests luxury suites, nine
world-class restaurants and a private beach.
Photo: Hyatt Hotels
9
10
Photo: Jumeirah Group
196 | PRESTIGE

ICONIC HOTELS IN ICONIC PLACES
Captured on iPhone
FAR FROM THE
MADDING CROWD
A SWISH OF DOORS. AN AIR OF TRADITION.
A GRAND PROMENADE. THE TINKLE OF TEACUPS.
THE TALK OF THE TOWN.
THE DORCHESTER.
LONDON I +44 20 7629 8888 I DORCHESTERCOLLECTION.COM

JUBASSIN
The classy design basin from natural stone and glass
sets the stage for bathrooms. A timeless design for
bathrooms and spas. Beautifully finished natural stone
is combined with dramatic glass elements. The
combination of heavy, top-quality natural elements
with lightweight, modern materials give it a very
distinct character.
www.juma-exclusive.com
Zoe & Noe
(RED)
Alessi supports the (RED) initiative to raise money
for the fight against AIDS and increase society’s
awareness of this issue. Alessi has
created special editions of two of their
iconic bestsellers: the «Anna G». and
«Alessandro M.» corkscrews for
(RED) the work of designer
Alessandro Mendini.
www.alessi.com/RED
The word «Zoe» means «life»
in Greek. It is no coincidence
that the youthful lounge
chairs from Italian furniture
manufacturers, Verzelloni
bear this name. With their soft
seats that elegantly sweep
into the flexible back support,
they invite you to let go,
relax and enjoy «Zoe» – life.
Noe takes Zoe a step further
by turning the lounge chair
into a sofa. Noe still has Zoe’s
generous, informal shape.
www.verzelloni.it
ERY
The 142-year-old company, Dietiker, has launched ERY, a light but
sturdy bench for indoors and out. This item is the work of the innovative
Swiss designer Andreas Saxer. It was vital that the material used –
in this case aluminium – would comply with the requirement that nonflammable
materials must be used for escape routes in public places.
www.dietiker.com
198 | PRESTIGE

CU
The CU curved wire chair is perfect for using indoors and out.
The design has an Asian look, so it is no surprise to discover that
its designer, Avinash Shende, is of Indian origin. There are many
different wire chairs on the market. But the CU wire chair is made
from a single piece with no screws, making it extremely stable.
www.seleform.ch
SHORT
CUTS
This season BoConcept is presenting a
surprising new design collaboration.
To produce the Monaco sofa, the traditional
Danish company has for the first time
collaborated with Dutch designer Frans
Schrofer. Both parties share a love of
urban, modern design – unconventional,
but never forgetting the fundamentals
of function, good looks and comfort.
www.boconcept.com
MONACO
The luxurious way of life | 199

LIVING
DESIGN
CLASSICS
The chair has long been a fixture in Copenhagen’s Art Museum and
New York’s MoMA. Who would have guessed that an egg could make such
an impact on the world of design?
Lone K. Halvorsen
«In my next life I’d like to be a gardener», Arne Jacobsen used to
say. So it’s a blessing that he decided to dedicate his first life to
beautiful objects. Whether an ant, a swan or an egg – Jacobsen
knew how to combine aesthetics and functionality, and he worked tirelessly
to make everything as aesthetically perfect as possible.
When he received the contract for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in
1958, he designed an architectural gem that bore his signature in every detail,
from top to bottom. At the time, Jacobsen did not receive the recognition he
deserved for his work on the hotel. Quite the opposite in fact, as the hotel was
voted the ugliest building in the city. Nevertheless, this «gem» went on to
become a Danish icon of international style. The interior of the hotel revealed
dozens of iconic designs, including the legendary Egg chair. Jacobsen said:
«I am choking on aesthetics», but it was precisely this aesthetic sense that
brought him the international fame that still lasts today.
Jacobsen began by deciding to design a chair to go in the hotel lobby. This
chair should provide a certain degree of privacy in a public space, while at
the same time its shape should provide a contrast
to the building’s vertical and horizontal lines. Der
Prototyp entstand in Jacobsens Garage. where he
made the first plaster moulds. At the time it was
very avant garde to consider creating the seat,
back and arm rests in a single piece. Finally a chair
was produced that gave its occupant a sense of
security and protection, as though they were nestling
in a cocoon – or even better, like a chick, safe
and sound inside the egg.
Since its creation, the Egg has been produced by
Republic of Fritz Hansen. At first it was a flop, but
this sculptural piece of furniture made its breakthrough
in the Seventies, and even made its Hollywood
debut in «Men in Black». Whether Jacobsen
would have been amused about this remains a
secret – locked in the Egg.
NAME
Arne Jacobsen
BORN & DIED
*1902, † 1971 Kopenhagen
APPRENTICESHIP
Apprenticeship: stone mason;
ACADEMIC STUDIES
architecture at the Royal Danish
Art Academy Copenhagen
200 | PRESTIGE

LIVING
«The right shape cannot be seen.
It can only be felt. It is right
when you sit in it.»
– Arne Jacobsen –
The luxurious way of life | 201

LIVING
Hubert le Gall’s Pinocchio series
goes perfectly with his credo:
«Design is a lie».
A game of shapes and colours. A confusing
game! A sculpture or a piece of furniture?
202 | PRESTIGE

LIVING
FURNITURE
FROM
WONDER
LAND
Hubert le Gall brings art into the living room – in the
shape of furniture. The Frenchman uses a lot fantasy and
humour to create functional art objects.
Yvonne Beck
Ruinart
DOn his journey to becoming a successful
artist and designer, the French
sculptor Hubert le Gall decided against
pursuing art studies and taught himself art. He
seems to have done a good job of it because his
playful, innovative furniture is popular. He became
well-known because of his large sculptures
that were inspired by the famous surrealists. He
was successful in creating furniture from bronze,
wood, metals and materials. His style: a playful
elegance. An armchair with rabbit ears or a table
with small magnetic balls – you have to look
twice at Hubert le Gall’s creations: his designs
create a sense of surprise in a living
room and invite you to play.
Through his work, the sculptor
wishes to encourage people
to reflect. Many museums
have already bought his works
and they can also be seen in the the dining room
of the Mayor of Paris. PRESTIGE met with the
artist at Art Basel, where he presented his «Glass
Calendar», which he designed for the Champagne
house Ruinart. We spoke with him about
his adult version of «Alice in Wonderland» and
glass blowers of Murano.
Rabbit Chair
The luxurious way of life | 203

LIVING
PRESTIGE: Who are you and what do you do?
HUBERT LE GALL: I am Hubert le Gall. I am a designer and
I pursue my passion. I love my work and this is very important
these days. Everything I make, I make with passion
and I want each day of my life to be a special day.
Are you more of an artist or a designer?
I have often heard this question, but I am still not really sure
how should I answer it. I am very sure that I am not a pure
designer. I pursue more of a sculptural vision. I however
dislike design that insists on always telling the truth. It’s a
design that lies. A lamp, for instance, must also be able to
cast really good light and not just look beautiful. A chair on
which one cannot sit is absurd. Then it cannot call itself a
chair, it’s a mere sculpture. That’s why I would say, yes, I
am a designer because I do not create pure sculptures, but
I am more of an artist. As an artist I am not inspired by
everyday life, instead I am inspired from art itself – my
wish is to remove art from its high pedestal and bring it
closer to people.
Where did you draw your inspiration from for this
project?
To find inspiration, I took many walks in the vineyards of
Sillery in the hilly terrain of Reim – in the historical wine
region of Ruinart. Pretty soon I was fascinated by the Chardonnay
grapes, which take on various hues of colours in
the course of the seasons: from the most different shades
of green to radiant gold. Before long I had a vision of a
colourful, joyful, vivid, lively work as a tribute to Champagne
and its elegance in terms of colour, luminosity and
fine bubbles.
But instead of one sculpture, you have created
twelve …
The theme of my works is time – time of the year and
working time. There is a time to make Champagne, a time
to let it rest, it is always a question of time. I narrate
stories, all my pieces of furniture narrate stories and I
wanted to approach the project for Ruinart in the same
It’s for the first time that you have started working with
glass. Why did you decide to work with it this time
round?
I usually work a lot with bronze but also with plaster and
wood. It was always my dream to work with glass. But one
needs a lot of time to work with it and I have very little of
that. That’s why I kept postponing to work with glass again
and again. But two or three years ago, I visited an exhibition
on Murano glass and I had the desire to spend someday
three or four months in Murano, to meet the glass
blowers and to learn from them. I wanted to understand
this material. A little while later, Ruinart approached me
and asked me whether I’d make a sculpture for them. And
then it was clear for me: Ruinart – Champagne – glass. It
was incredibly interesting and fascinating. I think, now, I
will work more often with glass. With glass, I can show and
express things, which previously eluded me. Glass is full of
colour and shape and the silhouettes that arise out of it are
just unique. In this case, it’s the transparency, the light
refraction and the range of colour that makes the material
perfectly reflect the Chardonnay.
204 | PRESTIGE

LIVING
Champagne meets Art
Since the 19th century, Ruinart, the oldest
Champagne house, has enjoyed a close
relationship with contemporary art. It all began
when Ruinart commissioned Alfons Mucha,
a well-known Czech illustrator, to create the first
advertising poster. Since then, Ruinart has
remained true to art, buying several works of
young well-known artist and participating in
important art fairs worldwide. Hubert le Gall
has created a new limited edition for
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. A tribute to the
radiant brilliance of the Chardonnay,
the grape of this cuvée.
His work for Ruinart pays homage to time. The seasons
and the ripening grapes.

LIVING
manner. And now I have told the story of Champagne in
twelve chapters/months, as each month has a new face
and the people who work in the vineyard must carry out a
different task each month. The twelve sculptures also reflect
years of experience that go into making and refining
Champagne. It is a tribute to the work of the winegrower,
who checks the weather and vineyards daily, so as to respond
to the smallest of changes and thus provide optimal
conditions for the grapevines.
How was it to work with the glass blowers in Murano?
It was a bit like being in the army. One was not allowed to
speak with the master during work. When I explained to
them what I wanted, I was told: «We can make anything out
of glass – anything!» And, I must say, they are really big
artists in their profession. They are very confident in their
abilities, but rightly so. This time the beauty of the works
stems especially from imperfection, from its rawness, and
its air bubbles.
A lot of your works such as the Rabbit Chair looks like
that it is taken from the book «Alice in Wonderland». Do
you not wish to be an adult?
I love to play. I want to connect all senses. My furniture
should surprise people. One can play with my furniture,
touch it and it can even change many people. I also love the
confusion and discussions that surround my pieces «Is it a
sculpture? Is it art? Is it design? Is it furniture?»
Which book do you have on your night table?
An auction catalogue.
Your favourite designer?
How far back does the word designer go? Is a craftsman
who lived and worked during the golden age of Pompeii a
designer? He, in any case, combines all the characteristics
that I appreciate in decorative art. The knowledge of a
unique quality and a great deal of imagination. If the term
designer refers only to my contemporaries, then Ettore
Sottsass is certainly one of the designers who interests
me.
And your favourite artist?
Impossible to choose just one. I never miss an opportunity
to visit the Water Lily Room at the Musée de l’Orangerie. I
consider it to be one of the most beautiful works worldwide.
It is music for the eyes. The basis for the modern art.
In three words: art is for you …?
Art is a must.
And what is design for you?
Design is a good lie!
What is your favourite virtue?
In an artist: honesty … even if it’s a flaw.
What is absolute an luxury for you?
Silence. It’s becoming rarer. I do not like people or things
that are continuously loud; I try to avoid them.
Hubert de Gall at a Murano glassblowers.
Your worst and the best quality?
People say I am too fast, too impulsive, too impatient. I am
an unmitigated optimist. I rarely look back at my past. I
erase things from my memory, I just carry on, I forget, I
forgive.
206 | PRESTIGE
Le Gall: an artist whose works tell stories.

SHORT
CUTSCOPPA
Classic and timelessly beautiful, the candlestick holders from De
Giorgio allow candles to burn with a pure elegance!. The Coppa and
Trave 6 candleholders combine opulence and colour for glamorous,
candlelit moments. In a complex process, the metal is burnished and
polished before being chromed, silver-plated or plated with 24-carat
or 18-carat gold.
www.degiorgiogalleria.ch
TEATIME
Teatime is a distinctive lamp and side table all in one. Thanks
to its leather covered wire handle, Teatime also evolves
into a mobile light source to accompany you when darkness
falls. With its beautiful, fine details, Teatime is a
functional piece of art.
www.bielefelder-werkstaetten.de
SPOKES
Spokes is the new pendulum light by Foscarini. Its name comes from its
resemblance to the spokes of a wheel and its shape is reminiscent of bird
cages and antique oriental lamps. Its soft, light shape makes it appear
almost weightless. The lamp’s design is enhanced with solid metal rods and
practical LED lights, which provide direct lighting while still creating a
magical play of light and shadow.
www.foscarini.com
CUNA
Patricia Urquiola from Agape has used her expert knowledge of fabrics and
production processes to create this new design, the Cuna bathtub. Deep-drawn
from the Solid Surface® mineral compound, the curves of this small, compact
tub are reminiscent of a crib. This association is enhanced by the surrounding
steel tubes, giving it its name, Cuna (crib).
www.agapedesign.it
The luxurious way of life | 207

WESTERN ART MEETS
JAPANESE TRADITION
ISAMU NOGUCHI
Isamu Noguchi, the son of the Japanese poet,
Yone Noguchi, and the American author, Leonie
Gilmour, was born in Los Angeles in 1904. He
studied at Columbia University and at the Leonardo
da Vinci Art School. He went on to set up his own
art studio and in 1927 was awarded a Guggenheim
scholarship. He then became the assistant to
Constantin Brancusi in Paris and held his first
exhibition in New York. He studied the art of brush
painting in China and worked in clay under Jinmatsu
Uno in Japan. His experience of living and
working in different cultures is mirrored in his creative
activities. Isamu Noguchi is a real all-rounder,
creating sculptures, stage sets, furniture and
lamps and also designing interiors, public spaces
and gardens. His sculptural style is bound up with
an organic language of shapes and had a lasting impact on design in the
1950s. Noguchi believed his best piece of furniture design was his coffee
table, probably because it closely resembled the bronze and marble sculptures
that he was working on at that time. He directly translated their biomorphic
shapes into a sculptural piece of furniture. The coffee table’s heavy
glass plate rests on two identical wooden elements at right angles to each
other.
American-Japanese artist, Isamu Noguchi has produced some extremely
complex designs. His dining table is one of the 20th century’s most elegant
designs. With its round cast-iron pedestal and base frame made of chromeplated
rods, it is very sturdy without ever looking heavy. From 1951 onwards
Noguchi designed his Akari light sculptures – over 100 handmade table, standard
and ceiling lamps made from Shoji paper. He chose to call them «akari», a
Japanese word meaning brightness and light, and which also conveys a sense
of ease and lightness. Isamu Noguchi died in New York in 1988.
4
QUOTES
«Weight gives meaning
to weightlessness.»
«We are the landscape of
everything that we have seen.»
«My father, Yone Noguchi,
is Japanese and his poetry
has long been known as the
translation of the East for the
West. I would like to achieve
the same with sculpture.»
– Noguchi’s application for the
Guggenheim scholarship.–
«The light of an Akari shines like the light of
the sun, when it is filtered through Shoji paper.
The magic of the paper transforms the cool
electricity back into the eternal light of
the sun so that its warmth can fill
our rooms at night too.»
208 | PRESTIGE

Tradition meets Innovation
Zbären Kreativküchen AG
Bahnhofstrasse 26 . CH-3777 Saanenmöser . Telephone +41 33 744 33 77
design@zbaeren.ch . www.zbaeren.ch
Suter Global Communication
New: Showroom Bern, Gerechtigkeitsgasse 29, CH-3011 Bern, Telephone +41 031 311 18 80
Official Dealer
Saanenmöser . Gstaad . Lenk . Bern
Official Dealer

Photo: Nico Schärer
THE
OF LAKE LUCERNE
Nenad Mlinarevic joins the world’s
elite chefs with «focus».
Dr. Thomas Hauer
Photo: Beat Brechbühl

Photo: Nico Schärer
CULINARIUM

Photo: Beat Brechbühl
Nenad Mlinarevic
Making comparisons is always
difficult. Particularly
when we’re talking about a
chef’s particular style. But in
fact the stylistic contrasts that define today’s topflight
cuisine have changed little since the days of
Carême and Escoffier. Generally, they are still
closely linked to the names of a few star chefs.
Switzerland is no exception, despite the fact that it
only has a few top chefs. Indeed, while Andreas
Caminada has for many years been the undisputed
creative force behind Switzerland’s culinary
avant-garde, it is Benoît Violier with his passion for
the best and finest produce who is the current king
of classic haute cuisine. Just about every Michelin-starred
chef in Switzerland falls roughly into one
of these two schools.
212 | PRESTIGE

CULINARIUM
decorative. He is always seeking out new ideas
and trying to evolve.
Photo: Nico Schärer
Mlinarevic hails from Zurich but has Serbian roots,
which he honours in «focus», his fine dining restaurant
on the banks of Lake Lucerne. His cuisine
is indubitably one of the most modern and innovative
to be found anywhere in Europe today. It
was not for nothing that Mlinarevic spent two years
as Caminada’s sous-chef, and he has twice
worked with Joachim Wissler as a guest chef. But
he also has the most profound respect for ingredients,
something he particularly learned from the leading
lights of New Nordic Cuisine around René Redzepis.
Mlinarevic worked with the latter at Noma, his acclaimed
restaurant in Copenhagen. His creations also display glimmers
of classic haute cuisine, which the 34 -year-old chef learned under
Claus-Peter Lumpp at Restaurant «Bareiss» and «Tantris» in Munich.
Despite these influences, Mlinarevic’s dishes are characterised by their
captivating simplicity, as is the case with other exceptional chefs such as
Thomas Keller or Alain Ducasse. At the same time, his creations are easy to
understand and quite simply fun!
But only just.
In Nenad Mlinarevic, a man has entered the international
culinary stage and joined the ranks of the
very best in a few short years. Perhaps this is
be cause he has consistently refused to be pigeonholed
in this way. With a right arm covered
in tattoos of vegetables, dressed in skinny jeans
and a T-shirt, Mlinarevic certainly smashes the
usual stereotypes. His tough exterior conceals a
razor- sharp mind, boundless creativity and a high
degree of sensitivity. Although he is relaxed
during our interview, he is also extremely focused.
He is not one for inconsequential chit-chat. Aided
by his team of three under Sous-Chef Pascal
Steffen, he serves up to 35 guests five evenings
a week. Behind the heavy chef’s table there are
rows of cookbooks that are clearly more than just
Photo: Beat Brechbühl
Ideas from nature
Many of his colleagues seem to be obsessed with luxury products or like to
laboriously deconstruct their ingredients until they are practically unrecognisable.
They then employ a whole battery of texturisers to glue them back
together and create alginate spheres, solid foams or gaudy dollops of gel.
Meanwhile, Mlinarevic is simply following his own path. This is why many
young chefs are finding their way to Vitznau to learn from him and hone their
skills. Mlinarevic draws his main inspiration from nature, the natural rhythm of
the seasons. The aromatic and intellectual value of his creations is a result of
his careful selection of ingredients that are rarely used in traditional haute
cuisine. Common ingredients such as radish, beetroot, kohlrabi and cabbage
are found alongside more unusual items, such as canola, beeswax and wheat
grass. Every day the chef and his team gather fresh wild herbs and flowers
from the slopes of Mount Rigi.
Mlinarevic likes to use traditional techniques, so his menu often includes
foods that have been fermented, smoked or preserved in some way. They are
served up in a wide variety of ways, but the essential ingredients are always
clearly recognisable. This is an approach that is far removed from the culinary
mainstream, which clings on to the safe trio of soft, sweet and pleasant.
Mlinarevic is not afraid to play with sour, salty and spicy flavours. His ninecourse
degustation menu allows guests to select what they want, taking them
on a journey into unknown – and hence all the more exciting – worlds of
flavour. In early 2015 Mlinarevic was the first prominent chef in Switzerland to
decide to take things a stage further and ban all international luxury products
from his menu. This means that in future he will only use seasonal Swiss
products. Most of them come from the 80-kilometre radius around Vitznau.
The most exotic things are often to be found on your own doorstep.
Every course on the menu comes with details of the origin of the main
The luxurious way of life | 213

CULINARIUM
ingredients and those that provide the key flavours. So guests learn that the
raw marinated whitefish with nasturtiums and camelina vinaigrette comes
from Lake Maggiore; that the saffron in the smoked goat’s ricotta with braised
artichokes comes from Althäusern; and that the juicy suckling pig with caramelised
cauliflower is from Muotathal.
Turnips, haute cuisine style
Some critics like to suggest that this radical departure from mainstream haute
cuisine is an attempt to copy restaurants like Noma or to jump on the farmto-table
bandwagon. But Mlinarevic has other ideas. For him, this reorientation
is simply the logical next step for his cooking. He believes any halfway talented
chef can create a passable dish from lobster and langoustines, but it takes
real creativity, going far beyond cheap effects, to turn turnips and potatoes
into haute cuisine. Of course it involves some risks. At first glance, it seems
that Mlinarevic runs the risk of alienating fans of foie gras and other luxury
foods. After all, they make up the majority of lovers of fine cuisine in a conservative
country like Switzerland. But the Swiss are also patriotic in culinary
terms, and perhaps they really do prefer to see
locally grown produce on their plates. A more serious
threat is the fact that inspectors for restaurant
guides tend to view radical tendencies with
suspicion, preferring evolution to revolution. It is
true that the Michelin Guide awarded «focus» two
stars in the year it opened, but at that time it was
for a cuisine that concentrated more on traditional
products. But Nenad Mlinarevic doesn’t worry
about this. Indeed, he just does his thing, without
trying to earn stars and points. And perhaps the
key to his success lies in the fact that his cooking
appeals equally to the heart, the taste buds and
the intellect.
Setting new standards in presentation
At first his creations look almost as if they have
been thrown together. But they have been thought
through in the minutest detail – though paradoxically
this isn’t always totally clear, even to Mlinarevic.
An important part of the presentation is the
carefully selected tableware. During the meal,
Mlinarevic switches between bright white porcelain
from Hering Berlin, providing a bewitching
contrast between glazed and unglazed surfaces,
and simple plates and bowls that reflect Japanese
minimalism with their mix of bright and subdued
colours. It’s as if every dish is telling a little story.
This dialogue of content and form, nature and culture,
is continued in the restaurant decor. Modern,
almost sculptural furniture that has been stripped
back to essentials, a few carefully chosen table
accessories, warm colours and beautiful natural
materials create an almost meditative atmosphere.
Water also has its part to play in this work of art.
Diners can look across Lake Lucerne and admire
the majestic mountains on its far shores.
Photo: Beat Brechbühl
Photo: Beat Brechbühl
214 | PRESTIGE

CULINARIUM
PURE PLEASURE
SAFFRON
THE RED GOLD
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. Its crimson threads give
dishes a unique flavour and for centuries have been used as a dye
and as a treatment for various ailments.
Annabel Roten
Every autumn, fields in the Middle East and Mediterranean
region are transformed into seas of purple. This
is when the crocus sativus come into flower, whose
buds yield the coveted saffron. The majority of saffron
fields are in Iran, which grows 91 percent of
the world’s saffron. It is also grown in Spain,
Greece, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. Each
crocus flower contains three stigmas, which
look like thin red threads. They are laboriously
separated by hand from the rest of the
plant, which is not used because it has no
aroma. It then takes many hours to dry the
threads before they can be used.
At up to 10 Swiss francs per gram, saffron
certainly deserves its name «red gold». But
why is it so expensive? Around two tonnes
of saffron are grown worldwide each year.
The production costs are very high. One
flower produces just three saffron threads,
but it needs a relatively large area to grow. It
takes over 100,000 flowers and 1,000
square metres to produce one kilogram of saffron. The harvest
period is only two months long, and the saffron has to be picked
by hand. These high prices make it tempting to produce fake
saffron. This is done by pulverising pure saffron and diluting it
with other spices such as turmeric.
«What do farmers
know about saffron?»
– Old saying –
«Saffron is as arrogant
as a beautiful woman –
it demands attention
from the moment the sun
comes up.»
– Old saying –
Real saffron gives dishes an intense, bitter, hay-like flavour and
a golden colour. It contains crocin, a natural pigment mainly
found in varieties of crocus and gardenia, so it is also used as a
yellow dye.
The name saffron comes from the Arab
word za’fran, meaning «be yellow». Yellow is
the holy colour of rulers and elites, a symbol
of happiness and is also associated with
gold. According to mythology, Zeus slept
on a bed of saffron, and the Romans
strewed saffron threads on their marriage
beds. The Roman saying «dormivit in sacco
croci» (he has slept in a bed of saffron)
means that someone is feeling cheerful and
full of life. And they were onto something, as
saffron seems to have a positive effect when
we are feeling down. It contains carotenoids
and essential oils, which have anti-inflammatory
properties and aid digestion. It also
stimulates oxygen intake and lowers blood
pressure.
Saffron really is worth its weight in gold. It is a true all-rounder
that acts as a dye, adds flavour to our food, lifts our spirits and
improves our health.
The luxurious way of life | 215

«The cocktail
shaker is an instrument
of virtuosos, who
show off their art in the
poetry of the drink.»
– Hans Krönlein –

CULINARIUM
VIRTUOSOS
BEHIND THE
BAR
The golden era of the cocktail is inextricably linked with
the names Jerry Thomas and Ada Coleman. The
drinks they invented, such as the Blue Blazer and the
Hanky Panky, are still classics today.
Anka Refghi
The invention of the cocktail was a result of the
terrible state of American whiskey in the 18th
century, when it was often only rendered drinkable
by adding honey, sugar or fruit. The quality
of spirits began to improve in the USA at the beginning
of the 19th century, thanks to the expertise
that arrived with European immigrants. So people
started to call these mixed alcoholic drinks
«cocktails».
The maestro
The father of American mixology was Jerry
Thomas. From being a sailor and gold prospector,
he went on to become the most famous bartender
of all time. No-one could mix a cocktail like him,
and his showmanship, which included juggling
bottles, glasses and ingredients, was legendary. In
1862 he published a book, «How To Mix Drinks, or
the Bon Vivant’s Companion». Today, this is still
the bartender’s bible. Thomas travelled far and
wide, teaching saloon owners the art of mixing
cocktails, and he even came to Europe to work in
the very best bars of the time. He was quite clearly
a star. It is said that he earned 100 dollars a week
at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, more
than the US Vice-President of the time. He is said
to have invented the Blue Blazer in the El Dorado,
a gambling saloon in San Francisco. Its preparation
involved setting whiskey alight and passing it back
and forth between two glasses in spectacular
Jerry Thomas
The luxurious way of life | 217

CULINARIUM
The world’s first barmaid:
Ada «Coley» Colemann.
The original bars
fashion. In 1869 he opened his own bar on Broadway,
but he had to sell it after making losses on the
stock exchange in the 1880s. Upon his sudden
death at the age of 55 in 1885, newspapers across
America published obituaries in his honour.
Tailor-made treats
In England, Ada «Coley» Coleman, the world’s first
barmaid, caused quite a furore. Her father, who
was once the steward of the golf club owned by
the influential Rupert D’Oyly Carte, died when Ada
was 24 . To help her survive, in 1899 D’Oyly Carte
offered her a job behind the bar of his hotel,
Claridge’s in London’s Mayfair. She was soon
conjuring up wonderful drinks for her guests. In
1903 she moved to the Savoy Hotel, where she
gained international renown as Head Bartender at
the American Bar. Ada mixed cocktails for Mark
Twain, Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich and the
Prince of Wales. Her bar was also a regular haunt
Settlers in America originally sold their food and
alcohol in drug stores. But the consumption of alcohol
led to fights and shootings, so alcohol sales were
separated from the food. Saloons began to spring
up around 1800, where the owners protected
themselves and their wares with a wooden barrier,
which became shortened to «bar», meaning just
the counter. It was only later that «bar» also came to
mean the whole establishment.
of theatrical agent and actor Sir Charles Hawtrey,
for whom she created a bitter cocktail consisting
of gin, Italian Vermouth and Fernet Branca. When
Hawtrey tasted the cocktail for the first time, he
supposedly said: «By Jove! That is the real hanky
panky!» – and a legendary cocktail classic was
born. Ada Coleman worked at the Savoy until
1924, when she took a well-earned retirement.
218 | PRESTIGE

New Nicaragua Mini Cigarillos
Inspired by Zino Davidoff’s pioneering spirit, Davidoff Cigars went on a quest for a new type of blend
to tempt aficionados who are seeking more intense and flavourful experiences. The Davidoff
Master Blenders found it in Nicaragua, in the fiery, fertile volcanic earth of Esteli, Condega, Jalapa
and Ometepe. The very finest leaves from these Nicaraguan soils have been mixed to create a
blend for mini cigarillos that has the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Expertly mixed in
the Dominican Republic, the blend has all the sophistication and subtlety that is the hallmark of
Davidoff cigars.
www.davidoff.com
Amazing cocktails – at home
Drink-Syndikat takes cocktail lovers on a journey into a world of wonderful drinks. Now it’s easy to enjoy
fabulous cocktails at home. Sip a classic creation from the Roaring Twenties or sample imaginative concoctions
from the very best bars in the world: timeless drinks with an unusual twist. Every month, Drink-Syndikat puts
together a set of hand-picked spirits from small distillers and other carefully selected ingredients to make six drinks.
It is accompanied by a booklet containing two recipes and instructions on how to make classic cocktails and
modern variations. Over recent years, the amazing bar and cocktail culture of the «Belle Époque» has seen
a remarkable revival. And now you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home.
www.drink-syndikat.de
P.E.P. © for optimum espresso flavour
A cool, upmarket cafe or typical coffee shop, a lake view, the soft sounds of a street musician.
The sun on your face and the scent of flowers in your nostrils. What more do you need? Of
course, a really good espresso - freshly prepared by an expert barista who knows just how you
like it. Don’t we all long for that? Now the new Z6 automatic coffee machine from JURA makes
this dream come true, any time and in your own home. The machine’s unique technology optimises
extraction time and intensifies the flavours. Now coffee at home tastes as good as coffee in
the very best coffee shops. With the new Z6, you can prepare every kind of speciality coffee at
the touch of a button. During the brewing process, the water is pressed through the finely
ground coffee beans at precise intervals. This gives the flavour much longer to develop, bringing
out the very best from the fresh beans. Jura’s revolutionary Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P. © )
produces perfect, full-bodied ristrettos and espressos.
www.jura.com
The luxurious way of life | 219

CULINARIUM
PROFESSIONAL BARTENDERS TELL US
THEIR FAVOURITE DRINKS FOR 2015
BITTER
FRUITY
OR
Gin with berries and basil: drinks made from juniper
schnapps, Vermouth and fruit are enjoying huge popularity.
The German’s tend to prefer bitter flavours, while the
Austrians like their drinks fruity. In Switzerland most people
prefer a mixture of the two flavours.
Secret Escapes
1 | A touch of class and refinement
in Geneva
In the elegant Leopard Bar of the Hotel d’Angleterre,
a Secret Escapes partner hotel on the shores
of Lake Geneva, guests can relax with live music
and enjoy a special version of the classic Bellini
cocktail made from Prosecco and peach puree.
Head barman Fabio Dotolo only uses fresh white
peaches from the local region – syrups and concentrates
are banned from his creation. The drink
is then finished off with champagne to create the
perfect after-work drink for a warm summer’s
evening.
2 | A healthy mixture, high up in the Alps
With its comfy armchairs and dignified atmosphere,
the Altitude Bar at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz
is the perfect place to relax after a day in the
mountains. Head barman Alberto Re recommends
his guests try a refreshingly tart fruity drink by the
name of Bitter Fortune. Gin and Aperol provide a
subtle bitter flavour, while grapefruit and lemon
juice give the drink a fresh, fruity character. It is
garnished with raspberries, blueberries and lemon
zest. Bitter Fortune is more than just a refreshing
drink. Alberto tells us it is also healthy, as the bitter
constituents of the grapefruit stimulate fat burning
and help to reduce cholesterol.
1
2
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CULINARIUM
5
4
3 | Celebrating with sweet and sour
This summer, the historic Hotel Lausanne Palace
& Spa is celebrating its 100th birthday. A good
reason for Laurent Boulc’h, head barman of LP’s
Bar, to honour the hotel with a special summer
cocktail, a sweet and sour creation called the
Palace Century. It is made with Limoncello, sugar
syrup, bitter lemon and a fine white Burgundy from
the Chasselas grape. The drink is served on the
bar’s panorama terrace with beautiful views over
Lake Geneva.
4 | A fine herby aroma and blue gin
In the Bar Les Trois Rois at the hotel of the same
name in Basel, Bar Manager Thomas Huhn likes to
offer his guests refreshment in the shape of a Blue
London Summer. He mixes blue gin, apple juice
and lemon juice with tea and a little honey. A few
fresh basil leaves give it a delicate herby flavour.
Thomas tells us that gin is currently the most
popular spirit. The basil and apple juice in a Blue
London Summer makes it the perfect refreshing
drink on a hot summer’s day.
5 | Martini with mint and berries
at the Sans Souci Vienna
The Hotel Sans Souci Vienna in Austria’s capital
also serves up sparkling cocktails. Head barman
Holger Gärtner’s favourite summer drink is the
Jaguar F-Pace, made with Martini Rosato, Fentiman’s
Rose Lemonade and sparkling Prosecco,
served with fresh berries and mint in a red wine
glass. He gave it this particular name because he
thinks the drink is as refreshing as a trip in an
open-top sports car. Guests at Le Bar also love
their home-made iced teas and fruity smoothies.
6 | Ginger and strawberries
at the Hotel Sacher
In the Blaue Bar of Vienna’s legendary Hotel Sacher,
2015 is all about ginger. Inspired by the many
guests who frequently ask for fresh ginger in their
classic cocktails, head barman Johannes Reim
has added the mild tanginess of this spice to his
fruity, refreshing creations. His favourite is a strawberry
ginger cocktail consisting of fresh strawberries,
strawberry puree, limes, ginger and white
rum. For cocktail fans who like their drinks a little
less sweet, he mixes a version with grapefruit and
lemon juice and a shot of Campari.
3
6
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7
7 | Berlin loves Vermouth
This summer, everyone in Berlin is drinking Vermouth.
Berliners love to sip their weekend drinks
in the club-like atmosphere of the Amano Bar at
the stylish hotel of the same name. Here, Vermouth
is served with ice and tonic and garnished with a
twist of lemon or grapefruit. Bar Manager Martin
Bauermann explains: «This drink – also called
Vertonic – is very light and refreshing. It’s not
too sticky and not too tart, it just has a hint of
bitterness.»
8 | Gin with local herbs
Gin was the big hit of last summer, and in 2015 it
remains hugely popular with Berliners. In the bar of
the upscale Das Stue hotel in Berlin, raspberryflavoured
gin is combined with seasonal local
herbs, egg white and a dash of soda. The Stue Bar
is famous for serving classic cocktails from the
Twenties and Thirties, and at weekends live music
transports guests back to the Berlin atmosphere
of the past.
9 | Mint and pine cone bud syrup
Warm nights in the woods around the campfire:
the summer drink created by Arnd Heissen, Bar
Manager of Fragrances, reminds him of the summer
nights of his youth. They inspired him to call
his favourite summer cocktail Nuit Étoilée, echoing
the perfume of the same name created by Annick
Goutal. He mixes his cocktail using Tanqueray Gin
No. 10, Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire, fresh
lemon juice, Moroccan mint and pine cone bud
syrup. The Fragrances bar at the Ritz-Carlton in
Berlin opened in April 2015 with a very special concept.
Exclusive fragrances from brands such as
Giorgio Armani and Yves Saint Laurent act as the
inspiration for creating their unique drinks.
10 | Munich raises a glass to Greece
In Munich’s trendy bar The Flushing Meadows in
the hotel of the same name, head barman Robin
Bruderhofer raises a glass to Greece. His special
drink for 2015 is based on the aroma of Mastiha, a
Greek liqueur seasoned with resin from the mastic
tree. He serves it in a wine glass, pouring homemade
pink grapefruit lemonade and Müller-Thurgau
white wine from Germany’s Palatinate region over
ice, then garnishing it with mint and grapefruit
chips. «This is our tart, fruity terrace drink for toasting
the economic crisis and political dialogue», he
says with a grin.
9
10
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8

DID YOU
KNOW…?
Roots
The carrot originally came from Afghanistan, which is still home to
the largest number of different varieties. It has been grown for
thousands of years, but for a long time people only ate the leaves,
chopping them up like its relative, parsley. It wasn’t until the
Middle Ages that people also began eating its root. But carrots
should be eaten in moderation, as over-consumption can
turn your nose orange, along with the palms of the hands, soles
of the feet and backs of the knees (though this is less obvious
because of the higher number of sweat glands). If you eat huge
numbers of carrots, you will find the whole of your body takes
on a pronounced yellow tone. This is known as carotenodermia.
Christmas nuts
The brazil nut tree has to be pollinated by a special type of bee. Then the nuts
need fourteen months to ripen. So in every rainy season a small group of
collectors gather in the Brazilian jungle to wait for the nuts to fall from the
giant trees. Every year they harvest around 40,000 tonnes of nuts. The
brazil nut also harbours a mystery that is still perplexing scientists
after many years of research. They still have no answer to the
«brazil nut problem» - why do the largest nuts in a box of muesli
always rise to the top? It seems that as the muesli settles and
touches the sides of the box, it forces the pieces in the middle to
make way. And as large pieces are too chunky to gather
against the sides again, they stay on top. This effect has more
important but less familiar connotations, such as in drugs
manufacturing, creating models of earthquake damage and
the formation of asteroids.
Serve chilled
The Fiji islands’ gift to the world’s drink culture is called kava
and is known as «the anti-energy drink». Village life revolves
around this drink, which is drunk every day after work, but only
by men. The thick, grey-green liquid tastes like mud and has
an anaesthetic effect on the tongue and lips, and also on
the stomach, which can cause nausea in people who are not
used to the drink. But fans of kava are prepared to put up with
these side effects in order to enjoy its sedative effects, which
it is said are similar to a high dose of liquid Diazepam (Valium).
The luxurious way of life | 223

CHEERS,
SANTÉ
AND
PROST:
BEER, MAN’S
BEST FRIEND!
A cold beer can be the perfect way to
wind down after work. Beer has
many fans all over the world, there is no
shortage of beer tours and beer
events to help them learn more
about the brewer’s art.
GetYourGuide
DRESDEN
The state capital of Saxony can also
be explored on the beer trail. Take a
city tour with a difference and find out
what Dresden has to do with beer,
guided by the Good Soldier Schwejk
or Otto the Master Brewer. The
guides’ cheery, chatty manner will
give you a different perspective of
magical Dresden. And of course you’ll
be fortified by beer tastings and a
two-course meal.
It’s a little known fact, but Lithuania has its own independent beer
tradition. The country currently has around 80 breweries, all
producing their own varieties of beer. A three-hour pub tour
around Vilnius allows visitors to sample a wide range of
beers and learn more about the history of local brewing. It
finishes in a small local brewery where the beer experts reveal
some of the secrets of the brewer’s art.
VILNIUS
COLOGNE
Kölsch is the only language you can drink! On a brewery
tour visitors can experience the authentic atmosphere,
typical Cologne lifestyle and special mentality of the oldest
city on the Rhine. Through informative and entertaining
anecdotes, lovers of beer find out why Kölsch makes you
«beautiful, clever, slim and healthy» and how it affects
your love life.
224 | PRESTIGE

AMSTERDAM
You don’t always have to walk. Give your feet a rest
and take a one-hour beer tour around the Dutch capital –
by e-bike. 20 litres of beer are there to refresh you
while you travel around the city and its sights. Don’t
worry, the driver won’t be drinking! The tour is
perfect for company events and stag nights, and
can be combined with other activities.
MUNICH
How can we talk about beer without mentioning
the Bavarian capital? München ist das reinste
Mekka für Bierfreunde – nicht nur zu Oktoberfestzeiten.
During an evening tour of Munich a tour
guide introduces visitors to the world’s beer capital
and shows them the favourite haunts of the locals.
They learn more about the fascinating history of
German brewing, including its historic beginnings,
the huge monastery breweries of the Middle
Ages, and the world-famous purity law, the Reinheitsgebot.
Then it’s time to taste a range of beers
and sample some local Bavarian dishes in one of
the city’s best historic breweries. White sausage,
roast pork with dumplings, and more … The
package also includes a private tour of the Beer &
Oktoberfest Museum.
PRAGUE
The Czech Republic and beer are inextricably linked. The prize for the
highest per-capita beer consumption in the world doesn’t go to the Germans,
but to their eastern neighbours. So a beer tour is a must when you’re in
Prague. A three-hour tour of the best microbreweries gives visitors an insight
into the history of beer and the city’s long brewing tradition. Every brewery
gives visitors a chance to sample their beers. The choice includes traditional
light and dark beers and seasonal brews. The tour includes the Pivovarsky
Dum, the rustic U Fleku pub and the U Medvidku beer hall.

PREVIEW VOLUME 2
The Emperor of the Tahitian pearl
Robert Wan has brought the cultivation of Tahitian pearls
to a whole new level, and is rightfully known as «the Emperor
of the Tahitian pearl». His pearls range in colour from light
grey to anthracite, with overtones of brown, blue, peacock green
and aubergine. These extraordinarily beautiful pearls are
worn by Tahitian men and women, young and
old. His pearls are in demand with
jewellers the world over. Our editor
visited Wan’s pearl farms and
learned more about the art of
pearl cultivation.
A city with heart
Avant-garde architecture and unusual buildings
dominate the skyline of Canada’s business and
financial capital. Toronto is also a leading light of
the theatre and dance scene. «Think big, be
creative»: The city’s iconic buildings include the
National Ballet School, whose original historic
building has now been enfolded in glass wings,
and the world’s third-highest TV tower, the
CN Tower. But nature certainly doesn’t allow itself
to be overshadowed – right on Toronto’s
doorstep, the Niagara River plummets over the
famous Falls at a rate of 155 million litres per
minute. Toronto is home to more than 100 different
cultures, providing a colourful blend of ideas,
traditions, passions, tastes, flavours and
opinions.
The
cowboy
photographer
Richard Prince became
something of a superstar when
he put together pieces of Marlboro
advertisements to create his «Cowboys»
series. But very few people know that this American
artist owes a debt of gratitude to Dieter Blum, the German
photographer who turned the myth of the American cowboy
into advertising and art history. In 2007 his unique print
«Rauchender Mann» (Smoking Man) became the most expensive photo
ever to be sold at auction in Germany. Our editor talks to Blum about
his fascination with cowboys and looks back at his 50-year career
as a photographer. The large-grained textures and overblown
colours of his photographs give them an almost
cinematic look.
226 | PRESTIGE

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