In our weekly series, we bring you the latest in luxury news around the world. This week’s highlights: Experience Franck Muller’s homage to the year of the rabbit, go on an ultra-luxury cruise with Silversea, and celebrate 25 years of Grand Seiko.
A Cafe Takeover With The New #FR2NK MULLER Vanguard
With the recent launch of the new Franck Muller timepiece, in collaboration with Tokyo-based streetwear label #FR2. In time for the impending Chinese Lunar Year of the Rabbit, this 41mm timepiece features a novel carbon and glass fibre composite Vanguard case, durable and offering an unusual aesthetic in how it is both matte and lustrous. For those keen to experience the cool cues of this collab, The Backroom Coffee @ The Row cafe offers a #FR2NK MULLER speciality menu, and interactive installations as well as a new Instagram filter from now till the 17 January.
The Dior Lady Art Projects Features Artists’ Reimaginings Of The Iconic Handbag
The Lady Dior handbag, with its soft lambskin topstitched with the Cannage motif, rounded handles and D.i.o.r charms, is a timeless paragon of Dior style and refined elegance. It has been worn, desired and revered for generations, so much so that it has been elevated and venerated into an objet d’art. Recently, the seventh edition of The Dior Lady Art Project saw 11 artists from all over the world reinterpret and transform the handbag, in a grand celebration of savoir faire and the coming together of cultures, craftsmanship and couture. This limited-edition collection is available at the Dior boutique in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
25 Years Of The Grand Seiko Calibre 9S
Grand Seiko’s first 9S calibre was released 25 years ago, and the 9S family of movements has since gone on to become a hallmark of the brand’s high-end watchmaking. Two 1,200-piece limited editions have been released to celebrate this milestone. SBGH311 is equipped with the high-beat Calibre 9S85 and sports a cloud-inspired silvery-white dial. SBGR325 houses Calibre 9S65 and has a bright blue sunray dial that takes after the sky. Both are in 37mm steel cases that are direct homages to the original case designs of 1998.
Seeing A Different Side With Silversea
For the first time in the history of ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises, the company sets sail from the Southern Hemisphere. On 10 January, the all-suite Silver Shadow departed Sydney, embarking on a 139-day arts-inspired voyage, sailing the South Seas to the Amazon Rainforest and beyond, eventually calling in 66 destinations in 34 countries and across five continents. Guests who go along for the whole epic journey will arrive at Fort Lauderdale on 28 May, sampling all the riches of its itinerary ranging from the untold wonders of Papua New Guinea, Reunion Island and Cape Verde, as well as a total of 10 days exploring Tasmania and New Zealand, all the while having the Silver Shadow’s butlers available to pack and unpack the moment guests are on board.
Bang & Olufsen Releases Lunar New Year 2023 Limited-Edition Collection
Inspired by The Silk Road, Bang & Olufsen‘s limited-edition Lunar New Year 2023 collection features some of its most popular, critically acclaimed offerings in colours that are both appropriate for the festive season yet timelessly cool to be used, worn and on display all-year-round. The Beoplay A9 home speaker, Beolit 20 portable speaker, Beosound A1 portable speaker, Beoplay H95 headphones and Beoplay EX true wireless active noise-cancelling earphones are available in hues of Lunar Red, Jade Green, and Gold Tone. In addition, hand-woven leather knots have been incorporated into the designs of the Beosound A1 and the Beolit 20, while the Beoplay A9’s cover features an exclusive silk ribbon design.
Art Rocks Us – An Art Show With Heart
Across a one-month period, a collaborative effort entitled Art Rocks Us takes place between educational non-profit organisations Fugee, Angsanacare, Brand Me Happy and Tea Bird Tea. This art show, which takes place at Ken Gallery located on the mezzanine floor of Menara Ken TTDI, will run till 2 February. It intends to promote a sustainable and future-proofed business model for Fugee, showing how donors and businesses can derive a corporate benefit while also supporting the efforts of Fugee as the leader of refugee education here in Malaysia. Among the art pieces on display are pieces by the children from Fugee who showcase a depth and maturity in the subjects that they address in their artworks.
Liquid Luck In The Year Of The Water Rabbit With Hennessy
To ring in the new Chinese Lunar Year, Maison Hennessy commissioned Shanghai-born Chinese painter Yan Pei Ming to transpose his zodiac painting into its Chinese New Year limited edition bottle collection. Yan’s bold brush strokes feature on the Hennessy V.S.O.P., X.P and Paradis bottles. A new Host Starter kit is also available, which comes with a collection of premium festive snacks as well as a bottle of Hennessy X.O 5cl and Hennessy V.S.O.P. 5cl, ideal to complete festivities wherever you go.
Renewal In The Year Of The Rabbit
One of the most foremost names in regenerative medicine, Professor Augustinus Bader’s breakthrough formulation of the Wound Gel technology has led to skincare products which promote perfect healing at cellular level. Just in time for the new lunar year, the brand releases a limited edition serum in a red glass base (RM1,695). Insider, one finds what is simply called The Serum, packed with pomegranate seed concentrate, vitamin C, Edelweiss extract and rice bran oil, all of which contribute to a phenomenal anti-ageing effect. Clinical and user trials indicate reduction of lines and wrinkles by 85 per cent, while hyperpigmentation and brown spots are reduced by over 80 per cent. Most stunningly, skin hydration is improved by a whopping 292 per cent.
