• À La Carte: Leica X2

    À La Carte: Leica X2

    We all aspire to own something in sync with our own personal tastes, something that we can truly call ‘our own’. This oneness of product is what drives the bespoke market and customers alike looking to create something that has never been seen before, something that evokes that question – ‘Where did you get that…

  • Leica X2: Paul Smith Edition

    Leica X2: Paul Smith Edition

    Paul Smith is a designer that has somehow managed to lay claim to a sequence of colours, colours that transcend fashion to all aspects of design, colours, which upon seeing we can instantly recognise as being part of Paul Smith’s unique brand. This season Paul Smith has combined his creative mind with Leica and created…

  • The New Leica Range

    The New Leica Range

    Photography differs to other arts in that, coupled with technology, there are levels we can attain regardless of our naturally gifted ability. That said, much like other arts, photography can inspire, transcend generations, and evoke emotions from a ‘situation’ – that we were not aware existed. This is the power of imagery. Providing us with…

  • The Protocoles Illustrated: Noma Bar

    The Protocoles Illustrated: Noma Bar

    In fear that the ritualistic tradition of how to drink and truly enjoy champagne had been lost, G.H. MUMM called upon Israeli-born Noma Bar to modernize and bring to life their Protocoles de Champagne; a comprehensive guide of dos and don’ts of champagne. His artistry for the Protocoles elegantly combines the intricate use of G.H.…

  • The Protocoles Deluxe Case by G.H.MUMM

    The Protocoles Deluxe Case by G.H.MUMM

    The fact that something is freely available by no means devalues the aspiration of attaining it, but there is no denying that scarcity does increase the fervor to purchase, and the contentment of acquisition. Purveyors of luxury Champagne G.H.MUMM have recently launched their Protocoles Deluxe Champagne Case in a limited run of 50 units. Inspired…

  • Chapter II – A Question of Temperature

    Chapter II – A Question of Temperature

    One of champagne’s best features is of course its freshness. Picture that glass covered with a fine mist, the chilled and delicious bubbles, the coolness to the touch. But even though the perfect temperature at which to enjoy champagne is generally regarded as 8°C, each situation requires specific chilling preparations. It’s demanding, we grant you, but that’s often…

  • Chapter III – Opening the Bottle

    Chapter III – Opening the Bottle

    Having chilled your bottle to perfection, it’s all very well to wave it around with a certain panache. But now it’s time to open it. The trick is to avoid showering the room in foam, breaking the cork or giving your partner (or your boss for that matter) a black eye, and to achieve that elegant, soft…

  • Chapter IV – Sabring Champagne

    Chapter IV – Sabring Champagne

    So you now know how to open a bottle like a pro. But what really fascinates people is how to do it like a Napoleonic cavalry officer – in other words by sabring the bottle in one masterly and spectacular gesture – a legacy of those who celebrated their victories by unsheathing their sabre and using it…

  • Chapter V – Choosing the right Champagne Glass

    Chapter V – Choosing the right Champagne Glass

    What is the quintessence of elegance? Karl Lagerfeld puts it better than us: simplicity, of course. To enhance the champagne, your preference should therefore be for glass or, better still, crystal. While the former, transparent and smooth, enables you to enjoy the dancing bubbles and hue of the robe to perfection, the latter is obviously a cut above in terms of finesse…

  • Chapter VI – Serving Champagne

    Chapter VI – Serving Champagne

    Even on a linen tablecloth andin crystal glasses to boot, the best vintages can be ruined if poorly served. Knowledge of the correct gestures is essential for serving this great wine and thus putting the guests in the best frame of mind for the tasting. And let’s face it, this is your moment of glory: performing a majestic…

  • Rolls-Royce: The Finer Details

    Rolls-Royce: The Finer Details

    There is so much to take in when you first lay eyes upon a Roll-Royce Phantom Series II, some purposefully obscure, that you’ll be forgiven for missing out on some of the more intricate detailing. The whole vehicular makeup is steeped in tradition; while technology marches onwards, Rolls-Royce go through painstaking lengths to ensure that…

  • Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy

    Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy

    Often mistaken for being angelic in appearance, the story of the Spirit of Ecstasy (formerly The Spirit of Seed) is one of tragedy and romance; befitting of the historic motor it now adorns. The mystical figurine is actuality a tribute to a forbidden love, a romance that, in those times, should have never been allowed…