In our weekly series, we bring you the latest in luxury news from around the world. This week’s highlights: Prada and Adidas team up on a new pair of sneakers, Ermenegildo Zegna collaborates with Leica on a capsule collection, and Omega supports Orbis’ global eyecare mission
Badrutt’s Palace in the Swiss Alps is back in business
Why you should care: Badrutt’s Palace, a luxury alpine resort located in St. Moritz, Switzerland, recently reopened with 40 newly renovated rooms and suites. The resort’s spa and award-winning restaurants will now be accessible to guests, such as the two-Michelin-starred Igniv and the vintage Renaissance Bar. The resort has also launched a remote mountain touring experience, which will whisk guests to the most secluded skiing destinations in the Engadin valley by helicopter, accompanied by an expert guide.
Virgin Limited Edition launches the Ultimate Bucket List
Why you should care: Virgin Limited Edition, a collection of luxury retreats owned by Sir Richard Branson, has recently unveiled the Ultimate Bucket List. It is a once-in-a-lifetime travel package involving stays at all eight of its magnificent properties across the world, and includes accommodation for a group of eight travellers at each luxury retreat, across a period of three weeks – from The Lodge in the sublime Swiss mountains of Verbier, to the Kasbah Tamadot in the pristine High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Prices start from £167,883 (S$301,387).
Richard Mille releases the RM 65-01 Automatic Split Seconds Chronograph
Why you should care: The Swiss luxury watchmaking brand, known for its radically avant-garde timepieces, is once again pushing boundaries with its latest chronograph, the RM 65-01. The watch’s integrated movement is the first automatic calibre in the brand’s oeuvre to feature a split-seconds hand. A pusher at 8 o’clock activates the brand’s first in-house patented rapid-winding mechanism, while the crown is equipped with a new gearbox that allows the wearer to switch between traditional winding, semi-instantaneous date adjustment and setting the time. The RM 65-01 is also made with ultralight Carbon TPT, and retails for US$310,000 (S$411,295).
Prada and Adidas team up on a new pair of sneakers
Why you should care: Having previously worked together on the Adidas Superstar trainer, Prada and Adidas have released yet another collaborative sneaker – the A+P Luna Rossa 21, a variation of Prada’s PS0906 (or America’s Cup) sneaker, inspired by the AC75 Luna Rossa boat. The sneaker features a transparent colour tone and is made with Primegreen upper, a proprietary fabric developed by Adidas that’s composed of 100 per cent recycled polyester. Lightweight and breathable, the shoe fulfils not only the needs of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team, but is also versatile enough for comfortable, everyday wear. The A+P Luna Rossa 21 is available on both Prada and Adidas’ online platforms, priced at S$920.
A smart city in Senegal by R&B singer Akon
Why you should care: The famed R&B singer has announced his plans to build a whopping US$6 billion (S$7.98 billion) smart city in Senegal – narcissistically named ‘Akon City’ – which will serve as a second home for the African diaspora. The 809-hectare metropolis will feature a luxury resort, high-rise condos, recording studios, a stadium and even its own cryptocurrency dubbed ‘Akoin’. It will also run on clean energy, and have its own artificial intelligence data centre. Construction on the smart city is expected to begin in 2021.
Ermenegildo Zegna collaborates with Leica on a new capsule collection
Why you should care: The Italian luxury fashion house has teamed up with Leica on a capsule collection of high-end camera accessories, flaunting refined designs that appeal to the modern photographer. Featuring Zegna’s iconic Pelletessuta fabric – specially woven strands of Nappa leather – the collection comprises camera holsters and protectors for the Leica Q2 and M cameras, functional Insta-Pack crossbody bags, as well as other smaller accessories like carrying and wrist straps, keyrings and round wallets. The collection is available on both Zegna and Leicas’ online platforms.
Ermenegildo Zegna x Leica Camera AG
Omega unveils two Trésor models supporting efforts to prevent blindness
Why you should care: Omega’s latest Trésor models feature 40 mm stainless steel cases with domed gradient blue dials, polished hands and applied domed indexes in 18K white gold. One has a polished bezel, while the other has a bezel set with diamonds. Both models have a distinct blue teddy bear – a plush toy commonly given to children undergoing eye surgery – that replaces the number eight on the date indicator. It is a symbol of Omega’s ongoing partnership with Orbis International, a non-profit which operates sight-saving programmes worldwide. The model with the polished bezel retails for US$6,500 (S$8,650), while the one with the diamond-set bezel retails for US$11,800 (S$15,703). Proceeds from the sale of both watches will be in support of Orbis’ global eyecare mission.
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The Porsche #DrivingTomorrow exhibition is now on at Jewel Changi Airport until 16 January 2021
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