Luxuriously Yours 2013/01/04

Custom iPhone Tank Chargers created by tech-toy designer PHU resembles robotic tanks
An acclaimed Singapore-based tech/toy designer with the name PHU, an entirely imaginative self-created lingo, who develops his fun creations in line with his Phuturistic concept, which is a manifestation through his artistic form of thought and personalized treatment in which he exercises the habit of recycling, has now created an one-of-a-kind iPhone chargers 'Tanks' in collaboration with Four Corner Store. Especially designed for the likes of Apple enthusiasts who has it all, the iPhone Charge Tank Series, which resembles robotic tanks, has been impressively hand-constructed of both found objects and repurposed model fittings, notably as per PHU's motto of 'Deconstruct / Recreate'. Priced at $395, this absolutely unique iPhone charger Tank's is available in two stock designs, the DATA yellow/black for the iPhone 4/4S and M.A.C. red/grey for the iPhone 5. However, we have also earlier seen another artistic iPhone charger, the Thin Gypsy Thief's Steampunk iPhone/iPod charger which could be the kind Tim Burton might need for his iPod or iPhone, besides the luxurious gadgets and accessories for Apple Fanboys and the most expensive iPod docking stations.
Custom iPhone Tank Chargers created by tech-toy designer PHU resembles robotic tanks
Custom iPhone Tank Chargers
However, if any discerning Ap! ple enthusiast doesn't find the in-stock Tank designs unique and appealing, he/she can then contact the Four Corner Store to get their completely customized, masterpiece version, designed as per their specifications.
Custom iPhone Tank Chargers
All Tanks comes hand-crafted with the materials including cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, found objects and plastic rivets, and features a built-in charge cable, along with iPhone USB cables that hides out of sight in the charger itself.
Custom iPhone Tank Chargers
Via: FourCornerStore
The world's 100 richest people earn a combined $241 billion in 2012

And if you've been under the impression that the world couldn't get any richer, get a hold of this! The 100 richest people on the face of the earth managed to rake in nearly $241 billion in 2012, pushing up their combined net worth of nearly $1.9 trillion! And that's not all. In the New Year, 2013, these rich folk will begin looking for better investments outside the United States. This in turn will give them a further advantage, helping them pile on a lot more!

Of the 100 richest people in the world, only 16 netted loss in the year 2012 with the rest making a substantial profit. One of these billionaires is Amancio Ortega of Inditex SA whose bank balance swelled from $22.2 billion to a whopping $57.5 billion in a year. It's also safe to say that these billionaires will splurge their cash on some of the most luxurious pieces of human creation, most of which we hope to bring you via LuxuryLaunches!
[Usatoday]
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« Louis Vuitton fashionable paper dolls mark partnership with Kim Hersov
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Louis Vuitton fashionable paper dolls mark partnership with Kim Hersov

Famed fashion house Louis Vuitton (LV) never ceases to impress its global audience who wait eagerly for new offerings from this brand. The famed brand combines with leading names in fashion to create some of the most exquisite offerings for its loyal customers. This year the fashion house collaborated with iconic stylist Kim Hersov to combine the Ready-To-Wear Icons of the house with the Spring/Sumer 2013 collection. To commemorate this partnership Louis Vuitton has offered a fun and unique treat. LV has presented four looks styled by Kim Hersov as paper dolls with each doll flaunting a mix of the two collections.

Paper dolls which are collected by many will surely get a new status with LV adding its name to this unique collectible toy. LV partnered with Australian fashion illustrator Kerrie Hess to create these unique fashion dolls. The stylish dolls further reinstate LV's renowned status as one of the most creative brands across the globe.
[Louis-Vuitton]
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« Chinese businessman bestows $150 million dowry on daughter
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The world's 100 richest people earn a combined $241 billion in 2012»
Chinese businessman bestows $150 million dowry on daughter

While dowry maybe looked down upon and even legally banned in some countries, this practice still exists. Only recently Chinese businessman Wu Duanbiao gave his daughter and her husband a dowry worth nearly $150 million! Wu is the chairman of the ceramics firm Fujian Wanli Group and left no stones unturned to ensure his daughter got only the best on her special day and for her future life. Rumours and reports suggest that the businessman gave his daughter and her new husband four boxes of gold jewelry, millions of dollars, shares in the ceramics firm, two cars, as well as a retail store in Quanzhou, and real estate such as the Olympic villas and the Wanda mansion.

Besides he also made generous donations to charities in the name of the newlywed couple.
Reports of the dowry and photographs of the precious gifts were published by the South China Morning Post. The pictures were featured in an article that suggested that marrying a daughter from this province in China is "better than robbing a bank." As the article claims, the groom has definitely struck gold as he is said to be a civil servant who earns a mere $24,000 per year.

Bestowing expensive dowries on daughters is a practice commonly followed in Fujian province where the businessman hails from. In fact Wu's generous act generated a lot of praise. What do you think?
Did you know that some months back a billionaire from Hong Kong had offered £40 million ($64 million) to man who could woo his gay daughter into marrying him!
[Scmp and Yahoo]
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« Maserati launches website for locating pre-owned cars
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Louis Vuitton fashionable paper dolls mark partnership with Kim Hersov»
Maserati launches website for locating pre-owned cars

Maserati has joined the league of its contemporaries by launching a website dedicated to finding pre-owned vehicles including certified models. Rolls Royce had recently launched an app to help search for Provenance cars. What sets this website apart from other similar websites is its unique feature: The Maserati Stock Locator. The Maserati Stock Locator provides visitors access to dealers across the globe. A truly useful feature, it will definitely help Maserati fans across the globe locate a dealer in their area very easily.
The U.S.A Maserati Stock Locator reveals around 85 used vehicles available for sale, including a 2007 Nero Black Quattroporte Sport GT Auto with 25,266 miles (40,653 km) on the odo priced at $44,900, which is the most economical.

The UK Maserati Stock Locator revealed a total of 60 cars. The most affordable amongst this lot is a 2006 Quattroporte DuoSelect with an asking price of $44,000. A very useful offering, this website is sure to generate a lot of traffic courtesy the ease and convenience it offers for locating a car.
[Carscoop]
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« Maclaren's BMW buggy to launch at Harrods
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Chinese businessman bestows $150 million dowry on daughter»
Audi Debuts Ultra Lightweight Chair at Design Miami
Audi is looking to blaze a trail in the home design world, with the release of its high-tech, high-style Audi R18 Ultra Chair at Design Miami last month.
Collaborating with German design duo Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram, the chair is made using results from an experiment conducted at the Milan furniture fair last year, where thousands of visitors were asked to sit on the chair while it was hooked up to advanced stress-analysis sensors.
"It's a process somewhat borrowed from the testing and development of a race car," Kram said in an interview with Dezeen. "Sitting is a very dynamic activity, weirdly, and everybody uses the chair differently," added Weisshaar. "So simply putting weight on it and doing static load tests doesn't get you anywhere. You actually need people to engage with it."
By working closely with Audi's Lightweight Design Centre, Weisshaar and Kram were able to shave off every ounce of excess weight. The result was a sublimely-crafted chair made of carbon fibre, carbon and high-strength sheet aluminium that weighs a mere 2.2 kg.
via [Dezeen]
Audi
Bentley Reveals 2014 Continental GT Speed Convertible
Bentley has revealed its latest Continental GT Speed Convertible, ahead of its official debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month.
With a top speed of 202 mph, it is billed as the fastest four-seat convertible on the market to date. The muscular power is fueled by the car's 6.0-liter W12 engine, which ekes out an impressive 616 brake horsepower and can zip from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
The Continental GT Speed Convertible sits on 21-inch wheels and is loaded with the premium features expected of a Bentley: gleaming wood veneers, diamond-quilted hide upholstery, and even a neck warmer for open air driving on chilly days.
Commenting on the new Continental GT Speed Convertible, Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive Dr Wolfgang Schreiber said: "Following the recent successful introduction of the GT Speed, the new GT Speed Convertible will appeal to drivers who seek the sensory thrills of the world's fastest four-seat soft-top and the practicality of a year-round grand tourer, together with unrivalled levels of luxury and refinement. It is designed for those who accept no compromise."
Bentley
Interview: CoCo Lee
Published in: January 2013Features> Red-Hot CoCo (Page 1 / 2)
When we last met [in 2010], you had just announced your engagement to Bruce Rockowitz after a seven-year courtship. What's it like being a married woman?
Incredible! I never imagined I'd get married. Before I met Bruce there was only work and family in my life – I was a workaholic. Now, as a married woman, I still get to do what I'm passionate about. I'm in a very blissful state.
Has marriage changed you?
The only difference is a comfort level that I never knew could exist between a man and a woman. I now know that when we disagree about something, we will still be together tomorrow. We are each other's best friends. He's my pillar and I'm his best listener.
Are you are still working as hard?
As a performer and recording artist there's a huge load, which is hard on Bruce. I'm constantly away. There are a lot of shows; it seems like every weekend I'm in China doing a concert. It's good for me, of course – I'm hot at the moment, which is the greatest feeling! – but I do have to sacrifice time with Bruce. He sometimes flies in for a show, and if he is in New York on business I may fly over for a few days to join him. We have promised each other never to be apart for more than 10 days.
"I believe it's very important for married women to have a career or something they are passionate about.Women nowadays are not subservient to men."
He doesn't have a problem with you working so much?
No, he understands that I've had my career for a long time, that it's my passion and it wouldn't be fair if I had to drop it. The new generation of women is very strong and independent. I believe it's very important for married women to have a career or something they are passionate about. It brings conservation topics to the dinner table, it keeps things interesting. Women nowadays are not subservient to men; they have careers when they are married and have children.
I wasn't going to bring that subject up, but as you mentioned it are you and Bruce going to have children? [Rockowitz has two daughters from a previous marriage.]
[Laughs] It's up to me, and up to God. I don't know. At the moment I'm focusing on work.
So you are happy being on the road so much . . .
Seeing my fans in all the different cities in China is a big thrill for me. They are excited to see me in person and I'm always happy to take pictures with them – it makes their day.
There was one scary incident in Nanjing recently though. I was woken at 3am by the sound of someone trying to get into my hotel room. I called my manager in case she'd left something in my room and was trying to get in, but it wasn't her. The noise went away, but 10 minutes later it was back – and much louder; it was like someone was trying to break down my door. I called the front desk but by the time they came up to check there was no-one there. I was really shaken.
In the morning I found that my door was almost off its hinges – thank goodness for the inside lock. After checking the surveillance cameras, the hotel reported that the disturbance was caused by two drunken guys, who had mistakenly thought it was their room and had tried to force their way in. The lesson here is always to activate the indoor look on your hotel door, especially if you are a woman staying alone.
"I used to wear a lot of racy cropped tops – I was a Spice Girl before the Spice Girls came along!"
Coco Collection Opens Private Island Retreat in the Maldives
Christmas might be over but with Chinese New Year two months away we're already scouring the web for our next holiday destination. Beach bums will be delighted to learn that Coco Prive has landed in the Maldives.
Part of the Coco Collection, an established portfolio of Maldivian-owned resorts, Coco Prive is flanked by wavering palm trees and enjoys expansive views of the Indian Ocean. The private island retreat comprises one grand Master Residence and five luxurious villas, and can accommodate up to 12 guests at a time.
Done up by award-winning architect Guz Wilkinson, the exterior is a harmonious blend of sleek minimalist contours and wood accents. The interiors, meanwhile, are bathed in earthy palettes and tactile textures.
The jewel in the crown, the Master Residence, is spilt into two levels. The upper level plays host to an open bedroom, living area and master bedroom while the lower level comprises a library, dining room, living room, cocktail bar and gymnasium with steam shower. The private upper deck, featuring a sunken lounge and a Jacuzzi, is just the tonic after a day spent swimming or diving in the pristine Indian Ocean.
Coco Prive's chef and sommelier will be on hand to cater to your every gastronomic need. Hotel guests can also hop over to the neighbouring five-star resort Coco Bodu Hithi to tantalize their taste buds at one of their five fine dining restaurants.
Beauty aficionados and thrill-seekers will find themselves spoilt for choice, with the range of daily spa treatments and complimentary water sport activities including wind surfing, paddie boarding, kayaking and snorkeling on offer. Certified divers can also take advantage of scuba diving opportunities with a qualified diver master.
Coco Collection
2013 Luxury Forecast: A Men's Market In China
Dunhill opened its first Shanghai "Home" in 2009
The Chinese male shopper has long been the backbone of China's luxury market, as government officials and businesspeople alike have continued to propel the controversial tradition of high-end gift-giving. But while we anticipate male consumers to maintain their perennial demand for watches and automobiles this year (regardless of recent anti-corruption pushes), a shift is clearly afoot. Recent studies have repeatedly indicated thatthe rising number of upper-middle-class male shoppers (with annual salaries averaging around 510,000 yuan (US$81,800)) are showing a greater interest in more individual luxury segments such as apparel, leather-goods, and personal accessories. This is definitely a trend that brands should keep in mind when planning for the year ahead.
Adding to Microsoft Advertising's "Luxury Connoisseurs" study, which found that Chinese male consumers are purchasing more luxury items for themselves rather than others, Bain & Company recently indicated that between 2005 and 2009, the luxury goods market for men in China grew by 48 percent. By 2011, sales data at Beijing's SOGO Department Store showed that men contributed 30 percent to its total sales, yet their individual expenditure was two to three times higher than female customers.
While the data fails to detail whether these shoppers were buying more for themselves, or with the intention of gift-giving to significant others or business acquaintances, these middle-class male consumers have clearly become an important and growing buyer base. Overall in China, wealthy male shoppers accounted for two-thirds of luxury purchases in 2011, a figure that has continued to grow in the past year.
Explaining this growing trend, Sina Style recently observed changing consumer behavior among male shoppers. Gift-giving is no longer the singular driver of male luxury purchases, as Coach China president & CEO Jonathan Seliger recently observed. Said Seliger, "Chinese men have become even more enthusiastic about following fashion trends and have started attaching more importance to their outward appearance through the use of ornaments and personal decoration." These personal "ornaments" and "decor" include watches, neckties, bags, suitcases, eyeglasses, jewelry and even skincare products. According to Bain & Company, "Accessories have become the core category in personal luxury goods. For the first time, leather-goods and shoes have become the largest piece of the market, now at 27 percent of sales. The category is seeing increasing levels of male spending, and increasing interest in higher quality, higher price items."
The male grooming market in China is expected to grow by 20% annually through 2014
What makes this increasingly individualistic male consumer segment an important one, however, is their consumer psychology. Contrary to female shoppers who, according to LS:N Global Research, exhibit more "emotional spending habits and are more vulnerable to the impact of an economic crisis," male shoppers tend to be a "more rational and stable performance consumer market," which is good news for brands that have developed new strategies to cater to their male shoppers. Furthermore, as VLOV CEO and chief designer Qingqing Wu recently told Jing Daily, men tend to stick to a smaller group of preferred brands than their female counterparts, as "standards and expectations [among men] of the overall quality of a brand are very high. Moreover, men tend to be more loyal to their brands of choice."
Looking ahead in 2013, luxury brands in China or those planning to be in China should begin to think of more effective ways to target this evolving male market, if they haven't already. Brands such as Coach, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, and Lanvin have already taken steps to accommodate the rising personal consumption of Chinese male consumers, expanding their product range to items that cater to gents and even taking a page from their operations in the West and setting up specialty stores in the Greater China region. As Coach's Seliger puts it, "In China, quite often it is women who buy our products for men. So we are implementing the model of dual-gender sales and we are also opening more dedicated men's stores in major cities."
Club Monaco menswear pop-up in Hong Kong
Dedicated men's stores are something we're sure to see more of in the years ahead, particularly in top-tier cities. According to the Wall Street Journal, Ferragamo was one of the first high-end brands to open a men's-only store in China, while Bottega Veneta recently opened its second men's store in Shanghai, as have Club Monaco and Lanvin in Hong Kong. Following the same blueprint as its London and Tokyo outposts, Dunhill opened "Homes" in Shanghai and Hong Kong to offer a full lifestyle experience. While mainland China is catching up, Hong Kong has a head start on the men's boutique front, as the city boasts respected sartorial standouts like Moustache and the Armoury, as well as world-class designers such as Anthony Hill and tailors like Ascot Chang.
While the opportunity presented by this big-spending segment is clear, the challenge for retailers is even clearer: with more affluent male shoppers walking through the door, product lines must be clear, diverse, and inspired. At the same time, customer service and store experience must be decidedly pour les hommes.
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Tag: bottega veneta,coach,consumption,cosmetics... , Morebottega veneta,coach,consumption,cosmetics,dunhill,lanvin,luxury consumption,male consumer,qingqing wu,VLOV
Chinese Footwear Brand Stella Luna Unveils Parisian Store
News of Western luxury brands expanding into the Chinese market is nothing out of the ordinary these days. However, a Chinese brand competing head-to-head with established luxury companies in the West…in Paris… is still rare.
In December, Stella Luna, China's most prominent luxury footwear label, opened its first European store on the glamorous Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. With over 200 stores already in Asia and the Middle East, Stella Luna makes its foray into the European market.
The 870-square-foot store is located at 181, Boulevard Saint-Germain, the well-known shopping district that is also home to fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss. The store was designed by renowned British architect Jamie Fobert, who is accredited for redesigning the entire women's shoe department in the Oxford Street Selfridges in 2012.
Stella Luna's Parisian store maintains the Asian style of other stores while incorporating a more modern French feel. During its grand opening, 150 pairs of shoes were on display with prices ranging from €235 to €425.
"The concept is a contemporary museum with a little French touch to it. We believe shoes are like an art and should be presented like art pieces," said Stephen Chi, CEO and creative director of Stella Luna.
Stella Luna is part of Stella International Holdings Limited, which was founded in 1982 in Taiwan. The company reportedly manufactures up to 55 million pairs of shoes every year. It currently has 233 stores in China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Lebanon, the UAE, and Kuwait. In addition to the Paris store, Stella Luna plans to open stores in London, Milan, and Venice within the next five years with collections specifically made for the European market.

[shanghaiist]
photo credit: stella luna
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Old Cars, Grand Pianos: China's New Status Symbols
Cadillac's "Dramatic Journey" exhibition in Beijing appealed to China's burgeoning antique car lover
With many of China's wealthy elite turning away from public displays of wealth and enjoying high-priced toys within the privacy of their own homes, new status symbols like antique cars and grand pianos are joining the ranks of popular stealth buys. Joining other collector segments that have gained popularity in China over the past decade — among them wine, art, cigars and watches — as China Daily notes this week, interest in the Mainland is steadily rising for rare automobiles, following similar trends in Europe, the US, and Hong Kong. Via China Daily:
"In my view, a resurgence in antique car collecting is in the making among Chinese car enthusiasts and the newly rich. Some mainland collectors have become interested in antique cars, influenced by their friends from Europe, the United States and Hong Kong," said [businessman Ian] Wade.
More importantly, "during a global economic downturn, there is still enough capital among car collectors and rich investors on the Chinese mainland," he added.
Though collectors like Wade obviously have a vested interest in seeing the popularity of high-end car collecting gaining traction in China, other recent happenings have shown that interest in antique cars isn't limited only to a handful of niche enthusiasts. Last month, in an effort to promote antique car collecting, China's State Administration of Culture Heritage held its first-ever seminar on the topic at the Shanghai Auto Museum, bringing together experts and potential buyers.
Over the course of 2012, automakers themselves also promoted heritage models to Chinese gearheads, with Volkswagen holding an antique auto rally from Beijing to Shanghai in October that featured a 1930 8-liter Bentley, a Lamborghini 400 GT, a 1975 2.7-liter Porsche 911, a 1956 Volkswagen Beetle Miglia Mile and a 1972 Beetle Salzburg Kfer shipped from Europe. Last April, Cadillac sent classic models ranging from a Harley Earl-designed LaSalle (1927-1940) to Salvador Dali's beloved Fleetwood Sixty, a classic Eldorado, and a one-of-a-kind Model M to China to take part in its "Dramatic Journey" exhibition in Beijing.
Efforts to promote classic and antique car collecting in China haven't been limited to auto brands and cultural departments, however. In 2011, Chinese auction house Beijing Poly sold five antique autos at its spring auctions for the first time ever. As Ian Wade told China Daily, it's likely we'll see more Chinese enthusiasts scouring the world for classic motors, but the high price of importing overseas buys and a dearth of trained maintenance professionals means it'll remain a very expensive hobby for quite some time.
The BMW Individual 7 Series Steinway & Sons edition debuted in China in 2011
In addition to antique cars, high-priced grand pianos are also becoming a must-have status symbol for China's newly wealthy. As with any segment of China's luxury market, however, buyers aren't homing in on just any old brand, a fact that has benefited prominent manufacturers like Steinway & Sons. With the country's cashed-up consumers spending heavily on music lessons for their "little emperors," a grand piano has become a household must-have to connote sophistication and cultivation, and with the European market shrinking for top-tier piano producers, the timing is just right for leading brands. Via Worldcrunch:
"In the past few months, demand [in Europe, for grand pianos] has fallen 10 to 12%," [Werner Husmann, managing director of Steinway & Sons in Europe and Asia] says, adding that the pinch is being felt far more by cheaper brands like Schimmel and Bechstein than it is by Steinway.
In China, private buyers comprise up to 65% of Steinway's market, but in Europe only 40% of Steinway buyers are amateur musicians. Most European customers are professionals – music teachers, soloists.
"And a lot of people in Europe already have a piano," Husmann points out, so on the old continent the company is pursuing a strategy of keeping its sales stable.
Another major growth market is the Arab Emirates [...] In the Emirates, as it is in China, a Steinway grand piano is more a symbol of an up-market lifestyle than it is something to aspire playing. So here too "we're competing with other luxury goods for the favor of wealthy customers," says Husmann.
While grand pianos haven't quite joined the luxury car, the Rolex or Patek, the antique ink-and-paper painting and logo-festooned handbag among the crucial "first buys" of China's nouveau riche, wealthy consumers who want to keep their pricey items behind closed doors are certainly shelling out. Last year, China became Steinway's leading market, demoting long-time top market Europe into second place, and back in June 2011, the piano maker's BMW Individual 7 Series Steinway & Sons edition got the red-carpet treatment during its China debut.
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Tag: antique,antique car,auction,auto... , Moreantique,antique car,auction,auto,cadillac,car,luxury auto,new chinese collector,piano,steinway,steinway & sons
Concierge service Kocierge offers luxury travel packages for travelers with all types of dietary needs
For the likes of discerning travelers with all types of dietary needs, an exclusive international luxury concierge service Kocierge, now provides world-class vacation packages where luxury yachts and exquisite vacation villas can accommodate every special diet, from gluten-free to certified glatt kosher, that too at no extra charge. And, in addition to the dream vacation rentals, Kocierge that works to make exclusive luxury travel as luxurious and wonderful for any individual on a special diet as other five-star travel experiences, also provides traditional agent services, including private jets, commercial flights, airport transfers and car rentals, along with the fully-appointed kosher kitchens, private chefs and catered meals at the same price as all other luxury travel bookings. Notably, every Kocierge villa booking with rates beginning at $2,800 per week comes with the company's signature service, a fully appointed kitchen, including kocher cookware and cutlery for those seeking the highest in kosher standards.
Concierge service Kocierge offers luxury travel packages for travelers with all types of dietary needs
And, bookings over $10,000 features the Kocierge Package, and the Premium Packages are included in bookings of elite villa collection which starts at $20,000.
Currently, Kocierge is currently launching its first season of winter travel to the famous holiday destinations of the jet-setters, including St. Martin, St. Barths and Anguill! a with non-stop flights from New York and other convenient connections throughout the U.S.
La Samanna - St Martin
At St. Martin, travelers can book the luxurious La Samanna resort (pictured above) on the exclusive Baie Longue beach in St. Martin, Caribbean, starting at $21,000 per week, or the world-class beachfront estate Le Château des Palmiers (pictured top above) situated on the white sand beach at Plum Bay for price starting at $50,000 per week, which includes a 5-bedroom ocean side villa and a 4-bedroom garden side villa, or the Sandyline which is a newly completed world-class, privately owned estate at the cost of $50,000 per week. (pictured below)
Sandyline - St Martin
Via: Kocierge
Maclaren's BMW buggy to launch at Harrods

British departmental store Harrods is famous its luxurious offerings and this is not restricted to just kids. You can now indulge your kids with Maclaren's BMW buggy, priced at $385, which is all set to launch exclusively at this store and its website on 10th January 2013. This latest product is more than just a stylish stroller. It is an engineering-inspired Maclaren Object of Design using the highest quality materials and signature design details to unveil a world class product. The stroller is for use for kids aged 6 months and upwards and boasts of being lightweight and high on performance. Taking a cue from the car which inspires it, it comes with a padded liner, a luxurious bucket-seat feel, multiple position recline seat, contoured hood with mesh windows and insignia details. Adding to this, is the choice of colours; take your pick from black, silver and blue.

Also on offer is the BMW StyleSet which packs with it a sleek stroller and organising accessories, making it easier to pack your essentials for trips or holidays. So head to the iconic Harrod's fourth floor to sample these strollers-after all they take a leaf out of the book of BMW's advanced engineering sophistication and techniques.
[McLaren via Harrods]
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Salvatore Ferragamo Boosts China Investment For 2013
Ferragamo has a dual e-tail presence in China via Xiu and TheCorner
Having invested heavily in Asia— its largest regional market — over the past several years, and focused increasingly on mainland China expansion, this week Italian luxury fashion group Salvatore Ferragamo announced plans to increase its stake in China joint ventures for distribution from 50 to 75 percent over the course of 2013. This, as the AP points out, follows recent agreements with the Hong Kong-based brand management and distribution company Imaginex Holdings as well as Imaginex Overseas.
Ferragamo has expanded aggressively since entering the mainland China market in 1995, opening around 60 locations in more than 30 cities throughout the Mainland. The brand currently operates around 100 points of sale in the Greater China region alone, and launched an official online store this past October. Despite a tougher retail environment in mainland China in the third and fourth quarters of 2012 — owing to more overseas spending by tourist-shoppers in search of good deals – Chief Executive Michele Norsa has said that he expects a rebound in the months ahead.
While over-expansion has been a problem for some global high-end brands in China, particularly those with lower brand-name resonance among inland Chinese consumers, Ferragamo has built up quite a name for itself even among male consumers in third- and fourth-tier cities. This, in addition to the brand's strong nationwide sales presence (both physical and online), social media activities, and wide product mix bodes well for the year ahead, even if shoppers in Beijing or Shanghai significantly cut back. (Which we and a number of retailers do not expect.)
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Tag: beijing,china expansion,distribution,e-commerce... , Morebeijing,china expansion,distribution,e-commerce,e-tail,Fashion,ferragamo,imaginex holdings,investment,italy,joint venture,luxury consumption,salvatore ferragamo,second-tier,shanghai,third-tier
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation watch features panther motif in gold granulation
Referred by King Edward VII of England as 'the jeweler of kings and kings of jewelers', the French makers of exquisite jewelry and exceptional wrist-watches with a long history of serving royalty and celebrities, which notably includes the creation of iconic Panthère brooch of the 1940s for Wallis Simpson 'Duchess of Windsor', Cartier has now gave an exclusive pre-view of the Rotende de Cartier 42 mm Panther with Granulation. Scheduled to be officially unveiled at SIHH 2013 on January 21st, the watch impressively sporting the 165-year-old brand's iconic panther motif in gold granulation, actually forms the part of the Cartier d'Art line, presenting various artistic crafts, usually as part of the dial decoration. The Rotende de Cartier 42 mm Panther with Granulation has been impressively created using millennia-old goldsmith's technique of granulation and immaculate artistic craftsmanship.
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation
And, this technique in which gold granules are fused together to create exotic patterns actually peaked during the 1st millennium in Ertruia with exquisite objects in Etruscan granulation.
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation
To create the panther motif on the 22-carat yellow gold dial, each tiny gold granule was hand-applied, one at a time, to achieve a lustruous sparkle from several angels.
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation watch features panther motif in gold granulation
Made in 18-carat yellow gold, the watch's case is set with 306 brilliant-cut diamonds for 3.63 carats, while the beaded crown in yellow gold is set with a diamond.
Rotende de Cartier 42mm Panther with Granulation
Featuring the Manufacture mechanical with manual winding movement Calibre '9601 MC', the Rotende de Cartier 42 mm Panther with Granulation with semi-matt black alligator skin strap, will be produced in a limited edition of just 20 examples.
Via: Cartier / WatchProSite