Fine Living

The Four Horsemen It was inevitable, wasnt it? After the launch of Breitlings first in-house movement in 2009 (the Caliber 01), we saw each of the brands core collections get their own limited edition piece (complete with sapphire crystal display-back) featuring the Caliber 01. First was the Chronomat 01 . Then came the Navitimer 01 . And the Transocean 01 was indeed a stunning watch and welcome announcement just two months ago. Now the circle is complete with the launch of the Montbrillant 01. The Montbrillant 01 Limited is issued in twin editions of 2,000 in steel and 200 in red gold, individually numbered. A technical looking watch, if there ever was one, but this look is what Breitling is known for. Breitling Montbrillant 01 Limited Editions 40mm red gold (200 pieces) or steel (2,000 pieces) case, available on a variety of Breitling straps/bracelet styles Related posts: Breitling Chronomat 01 Limited Edition Breitling Transocean Caliber 01 Limited Editions Breitling Navitimer Cali...

If you have not experienced the joys of scooter ownership, I highly suggest that you get converted. Theres just so many reasons to do so. First of all, theres the gas mileage. Even if youre not concerned about gas prices, youre probably concerned about your carbon footprint, and these babies get 60-100 miles per gallon. And then theres the style factor. What could be more spot on than a vintage Italian scooter? I cant think of any more romantic way to travel. This beautifully restored 1967 Lambretta has a powerful, and totally brand new, engine. At 200 ccs, its as fast as a small motorcycle, without all the pesky gear-shifting. The off-white paint job and brown leather accessories are so casually chic. Plus, at $5,000, its basically the price of a high end handbag, only you can carry yourself around in it. So, if you dont live somewhere that makes it convenient to commute by scooter, maybe you should consider moving.

Can a car priced between $15,500 and $17,500 be of much interest to the typical luxury buyer? It can if it's Italian and will soon be offered as a convertible and electric vehicle. The new car is the Fiat 500, and it will start showing up in Fiat "Studios" any day now, starting in Los Angeles, and extending to 130 dealerships by the end of the year. Fiat USA's website has a full list of dealer locations. The 500, of course, is the U.S. version of the Fiat Cinquecento that is offered today in Europe. The car seats four, has a 1.4 liter multi-air engine and comes offered in ten exterior colors and ten interiors. If you want to have a totally unique Fiat 500 in your neighborhood even if you aren't the only one, then it will be more than possible. The entry-level car, the 500 "Pop," comes with a manual transmission, as does the mid-level version, the 500 "Sport." if you must have the automatic transmission, then you'll have to go for the top o...

Any red carpet is a glittering showcase of jewelry trends, but the SAG awards this year were a particularly sparkly affair. Or, perhaps it just seemed that way, given the current economic climate. The thing is that, for the most part, celebrities dont actually own the jewels they wear on the red carpet. They borrow them, sometimes millions of dollars worth. This year, actresses Lea Michele (of Glee) and Natalie Portman were both hooked up with classic gems by the illustrious Tiffany & Co. Michele wore nearly $1 million in Tiffany baubles, including a platinum pear-shaped diamond ring, platinum lever-back earrings, and several diamond studded bracelets. Portman wore $2 million white and yellow diamond earrings and a couple of diamond bangles. Not everyone was outfitted by the house of Tiffany, however. Mila Kunis wore Cartier, and Clair Danes wore Fred Leighton. For the most part, classic, iconic styles were favored over edgier, more contemporary looks.

A sexy new sleeping spot has opened on the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles , the Redbury Hotel, the latest addition to the sbe Hotel Collection . The decor is downright divine, featuring a kaleidoscope of colors, materials and eras - the eclectic energy is just right. While crimson is the predominant hue of the property creating a boudoir-esque flair, playful armchairs, throws and helter-skelter framed ephemera counter it perfectly. Be sure to swing by Redburys new bohemian-cum-chichi restaurant Cleo as well, which is serving up traditional tapas, nibbles from the raw bar, and creative cocktails. (Weve heard the Lotus Flower with crushed blackberries or the Honey Citrus Sidecar with Jack Daniels whiskey and agave nectar are downright delicious.) Helmed by executive chef Daniel Elmaleh , guests can nosh on everything from tuna tartar and grilled octopus to moussakah and pumpkin salad - satisfying delicate omnivores and toothy carnivores alike. Cleo echoes the famous 1917...

If you're looking for an ideal casual Valentine's Gift, look no further than the new limited edition LOVE sandals from Havaianas. The Brazilian flip-flop giant has created the perfect mix of comfy footwear with an adorable red and gold design. If you're gifting your Valentine a classy ring, or any larger piece of jewelry, try tying it around a sandal strap as a fun way to wrap your gift. We love any gift that hints the spring sun is right around the corner. The sandals are available exclusively on the Havaianas site for $24, and a small run is available for purchase now. Luxist has a pair to give away at random to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment on this post and we'll randomly select a winner this Friday, February 4th. Good luck! * To enter, leave a confirmed comment below. * The comment must be left and confirmed before February 4, 2011 at 5:00pm Eastern Time. * You may only enter once. * One winner will be selected in a random drawing and notified by email. * ...

One of the beautiful things about the watch collecting hobby is the human element. Behind these seemingly cold, precise miniature machines is a worldwide community of passionate people who build them, wear them, pass them down, sell them, rediscover them, love them and restore them. Web forums devoted to timepieces can be a trove of great human stories. Last week, one story over on one popular forum captivated many of us with a tale of a young Dutch enthusiast, his efforts to restore a classic chronograph and the generosity of the president of one of Switzerlands great watch marques. Mick Mooren, aka mickmo92, is an 18-year old Dutch member of WatchUSeek , one of the largest Internet watch forums. Mick recently acquired a rather battered 1973 Zenith chronograph, with the vaunted El Primero automatic movement, arguably the worlds first self-winding chronograph caliber. Mick is a self-taught watchmaker who studied 1950s watch repair manuals and was gifted some tools by an uncle. So he s...

Theres a new high-style, lower-price hotel brand on the block, reports the Los Angeles Times, and its pretty sweet. Called Modo Hotels, the global lifestyle chain will be all about the music. Not just memorabilia, but a full immersion in music; think turn tables and music downloads for guests. To quote the Los Angeles Times: With a mix of high-energy public spaces, moderate room rates ($90 to $150 per night) and tech-heavy room design, the full-service, 150-room Modo hotels may seem like a mash-up of Hard Rock Hotels and Starwood Hotels affordable Aloft brand. The chain will feature Bauhaus-inspired dcor. Hotels will include a restaurant, large lounge area, gym, courtyard and the centerpiece: a music center where guests may spin vinyl albums, CDs or download MP3s. On the Modo website, you can already download selections from the collection of independent musicians who will be featured in the hotels. Modo Hotels will first open in major Brazilian metropolises like Sao Paulo, Campina...

Anyone whos ever stayed at lebua at State Tower the all-suite luxury hotel located in the second tallest tower in Bangkok on the banks of the Chao Phraya River has gleaned a thing or two about lebua Hotels & Resorts. The luxury boutique hotel operator specializes in creating new concepts in luxury hospitality; lebua at State Tower has Bulgari amenities and private balconies in every suite, plus mind-numbing views of the city from the Sky Bar and Sirocco Restaurant, one of the highest al fresco restaurants in the world. lebua also owns and manages the Tower Club at lebua (the pinnacle of luxury on the top floors of State Tower) and the award-winning Lake Okareka Lodge (an exclusive hideaway surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Rotorua, New Zealand). Just recently, lebua Hotels & Resorts welcomed a new addition to its elegant portfolio: The Eugenia , a refined Relais & Chateaux property in the heart of Bangkok. Situated in a graceful Colonial-style house, The Eugeni...

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Two icons of authentic sporting style come together in classic British outerwear brand Barbour's cool new limited edition collection designed in homage to the great Steve McQueen, set to launch this fall. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of their iconic International clothing range, which the King of Cool wore while motorcycle racing in the 1960s, the capsule collection of 19 pieces features several new jackets, shirts and sweaters inspired by archival photos of the actor racing motorbikes and driving his collection of classic sports cars. McQueen first donned a Barbour International jacket when he represented the United States team in the 1964 International Six Day Trials (ISDT) motorcyle race in East Germany. The ISDT (now known as the International Six Days Enduro), one of the most challenging moto racing events in the world, requires each rider to cover 200 miles a day over hellish terrain. Prior to the event in '64 Steve McQueen and other members o...

We could be looking at a breakout model here from Audemars Piguet. Ask the average city-dwelling watch fan under the age of 50 which model they'd choose if given the the run of the whole AP family and realistically, you'd be looking at a 99% Royal Oak response rate. But, one watch that could change all that is the new Millenary 4101 announced at the SIHH earlier this month. The 4101 borrows the case dimensions from existing Millenary watches (including the $370,000 Titanium Minute Repeater we showed you here ) but unlike most previous iterations of the Millenary, this one happens to be available in steel. So, right off the bat you have a versatile case material that is much more approachable (read as "affordable") than any precious metal. On top of the steel case, you have a brand new calibre (Cal 4101 from which the model takes its name) from Audemars Piguet that is hard to define, in the best possible way. The watch is not skeletonized - there is no openworking on t...

It is not everyday that you see two museums placing bets on a Super Bowl match, or for that matter any sporting event. But a very unlikely event has been taking place at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art . Art critic Tyler Green has started this bet between the museums in which the winner gets an artwork from the other museums collection. So this year if the Packers win, the Carnegie Museum will have to send their Bathers with Crab by Renoir to Milwaukee Art Museum. And in case the Steelers win, Boating on the Yerres by Gustav Caillebotte will be sent over to Carnegie for a temporary loan, where visitors will be able to admire the new visitor. Last year the participants were Indianapolis Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art. The Fifth Plague of Egypt, 1800, a landscape by British artist J.M.W. Turner was sent over from the Indianapolis Museum of Art to the New Orleans Museum of Art, where it spent a few months along with a Lombardi-trophy-shaped sign c...

Naveen: Alexander Amosu , who has already won us over with his bling-bling creations, is back with his latest masterpiece, the 18-carat Solid Gold Blackberry Torch. While the mid frame in 18-carat solid gold and weighs in at about 38gms, the other parts are in metallic gold color. The limited edition handset will be available in yellow, rose and pink gold, along with the choice of adding diamonds in any color to suit your liking. The handset comes with an international concierge service and a golden number allowing you to choose from a series or sequence of unique mobile numbers (07xxx 111111). The phone comes in matching crocodile or python gold Amosu case, with each handset and the case personalized with your own name or company logo. The 18ct Solid Gold Blackberry Torch costs 8,000 (about $12,725). Thanks, Alberto DSilva

Naveen: While most of the coffee tables are just meant to harmonize the mood and overall decor of your living room, there are a few that tend to changes the notion. Enter the Acoustable , a high-tech coffee table with built-in sound system from Belgian designers Jrme Spriet and Wolfgang Bregentzer. Born out of a reflection on music and ways of listening to it, the Acoustable combines a coffee table and sound system into one unit. The coffee table offers an easy way to integrate music more seamlessly into daily life. Positioned between the tables base and top surface is the sound system that includes Teac speakers, woofer, and stereo amplifier with USB and iPod connection ports. There are USB adaptors within the table that can be extended to hook into PCs, iPods and phones. If you look at the exterior of the table, it simply looks like yet another gorgeous coffee table, as no technical components are visible. A built-in pocket can be used to house the remote and the player. Acoustable i...

Naveen: List price: $2,139,000 The Property: The million dollar house listings with a car to sweeten the deal are nothing new to us. If you buy this Spanish-meets-Mediterranean style home, located at 5 Marsh Creek in Laguna Niguel South, you will get a free 2011 Mercedes Benz C300 as part of the deal. The buyer of the luxury home will get the keys to a prepaid car lease for two years. The cars retail value is $35,900, and the owner can select the color to his/her taste, depending on availability. The luxurious house comes with five bedrooms, 3.75 bathrooms, 5,130 square feet of living space, a pool, a basketball court, two backyards, outdoor entertainment space and more. Listing agent Michael Caruso said Its tougher to obtain loans in that price point. If we can eliminate a Mercedes payment for someone, it helps them qualify for a house payment. It [the house] is priced well and there is an incentive Physical Address: 5 Marsh Creek, Laguna Niguel, California. Interior & Exteri...

With the rising levels of competition in the Japanese markets, customers are akin to gods, and the first step to pleasing that god is being friendly with people to whom you render your services. And running ahead in the smile race is Japanese company, Omron that has developed a high-tech smile-o-meter way back in 2009. Meant largely for the Japanese service industry the recently updated Smile-Scan device with a smile improving video guide provides smile analysis by considering key spots like your mouth and eyes and scores you. So a 100% score translates to the perfect smile. No wonder the product was an instant hit within the target group! Price: $7,300 the device will be limited to only 200 units for Japan only.[ Crunchgear ]

Following the free-for-all his New Years blowout in St. Barths, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and fellow oligarch Andrei Melnichenko have motored their megayachts to Anguilla for more fun in the sun. Abramovich, who also made a stopover in Barbados en route, dominates the seascape in the Eclipse (above), his $500 million, 550-ft. behemoth built by Blohm + Voss , while Melnichenko makes do with his measly $300 million Philippe Starck-designed destroyer A. Abramovich also brought the Luna along for the ride, the 377 ft. explorer yacht he purchased last year as a sort of support yacht for the Eclipse. All three of the enormous vessels were anchored off Meads Bay, allowing their owners easy access to Anguillas posh resorts including the Viceroy, Frangipani Beach Resort, Carimar Beach Club and Malliouhana Hotel and Spa. While its too early to say whether there are any celebrities aboard the billionaires cruisers, its worth noting that Abramovich and Melnichenko hosted the likes of De...

Naveen: At the SIHH 2011, Montblanc presented the Nicolas Rieussec Horological TimeWriter Table Clock, which has been developed in collaboration with Munich-based German clock maker Erwin Sattler. Limited to 19 pieces, the clock imitates the famous Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph watch collection. The dial of the clock comprises the time, a chronograph and two power reserve indicators. Interestingly, the table clock comes with two balance springs, two timing mechanisms and two barrels to hold power. While one will tell the time, the other is meant for the chronograph mechanism. The back of the clock features the Horological TimeWriter with a 15-day power reserve. The table clock also has a watch winder, which includes a special limited edition Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Automatic watch. The watch comes in 18k red gold. The crystal glass dome raises and lowers with a special tap to the back of the unit. The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Horological TimeWriter Table Clock is price...

Tadaaki Wakamutsu, a designer for Japanese luxury chocolate manufacturer Q-Pot designed this kitschy cute chocolate-themed Smart Car just in time for the Valentines Day holiday. Unfortunately, its not actually made of chocolate, it just looks like it is. The paint scheme is like nothing Ive ever seen before. Honestly, Im not really sure why chocolate = romance, even when it comes to cars, but the design is interesting. Interesting, but maybe not exactly what you want to tool around in 365 days a year, I think. I mean, dont get me wrong. I love chocolate as much as the next girl, but Im not sure that driving around in a chocolate bar doesnt strike me as exactly how I want to get around. This made for Valentines Day gift is a big question mark, especially when it comes to the price tag. At $28,000, its about $6,000 more than your average Smart Car without delivering any particularly interesting elements.

Valentines Day is a mere two weeks away, so if youre planning on getting her anything good, youd better get on it. This gorgeous notebook from Smythson is a fabulous, but practical gift that will last her the whole year through. Practical may not seem romantic, but when it looks this good, you might change your mind. This is a great gift for a busy fashionista who likes to stay organized in high style. Every detail of this notebook has been well thought out, from the Barbie pink leather exterior, to the soft creamy lined pages. The simple embossing on the front is a daily reminder that keeping track of our thoughts and dreams is a great way to make sure youre getting what you want out of life. In case you want to keep those things private, the notebook has a lock, and theres a grosgrain ribbon bookmark to ensure you never lose your place.

I must admit that Im not that much of a high tech stereophile. I love music, but Im a devotee of vinyl, and I just dont spend a lot of time thinking about high end stereo technology. But this fabulous set of iPod speakers caught my eye because of their unusual looks, and once I looked into the specs, I became semi-obsessed. The Fatman 252 is actually an amplifier and not a speaker. Im not exactly sure what the technical difference between those two things are, but I dont think it really matters. If youre just an ordinary person, youll probably just be using these as speakers. The Fatman dock is known for its ability to reproduce very warm, expansive tones. They restore the fullness that is lost during digital compression without a lot of gear or space. Frankly, Id buy these speakers on looks alone. They have a bizarre, almost steampunk design sensibility that is really unusual in high end technology.

Coins are some of the most easily passed down collectibles. They are small, often easily stored and immediately cherished as something of value which means they don't end up forgotten in an attic. Luxist reader Jerome sent us some photos of United States coins that he reports belonged to his late mother. The first was immediately recognizable to me as a Morgan silver dollar. The Morgan dollar takes its name from the designer, George T. Morgan and features a profile of Liberty wearing a "Liberty" coronet or small crown surrounded by stars on one side. The reverse shows an eagle with outstretched wings. The Morgan dollar was minted intermittently from 1878 to 1921. This example dates from 1883 and was minted at the New Orleans Mint. The small "o" designating the New Orleans Mint appears between the the D and O in the word dollar. Judging by the photographs this piece appears to be in "good" condition meaning that it is heavily worn. the design and words ...

Bedat & Co. has an interesting history for not being such an old brand. Life, lost, and then reborn, the brand today is now trying to attack Cartier's market share for women's pieces. During the brand's former life (and potentially again in its future) it had a few men's models as well. One of my favorite of them (and one of the only ones) was the Bedat & Co. Number (No.) 8. Wit a sort of cushion shaped case that had a round dial, the watch comes in a few flavors. There was a power reserve model, and one with a bit date, as well as this most basic version that happened to also be a limited edition model. This is known as the Ref. 878 series of Bedat & Co. No. 8 men's watches. Each of the versions (a few steel, gold, and maybe a platinum one) were offered as a limited edition of just 878 pieces. The dials started with Bedat's really nice hands. For good luck, the number 8 was place at o'clock in contrast to the other applied baton hour markers. E...

It is likely that your pocket has been picked sometime or the other and it left a bad taste in your mouth, and you wished to do something to ensure that it never happens with you again. It has happened with practically every one of us and sensing the potential demand a biometrically secured wallet has been developed. The luxury brand Dunhill is behind this development. The Dunhill Biometric Wallet combines a biometric finger reader with a bluetooth alarm and carbon fiber frame to ensure no one can crack into it without destroying it. The owner must keep the Bluetooth alarm activated and the wallet will sound an alert everytime it moves more than five feet away from the phone it has been synchronized with. Sounds very high tech and appropriate for a James Bond movie. The focus of this wallet is on the security aspect and the technology involved so the aspect of its looks and appearance has been ignored. It doesnt look bad but is not great looking either. The high tech wallet by Dunhill...

The top fashion brands and designers are always experimenting with new fabrics to get the right feel or the right look. Even special fabrics get made for a special purpose. Prada recently used polyamide, usually used for fencing to get the right density for the mens jacket for their autumn show. Some of the new fabrics being created these days sound like the stuff of science fiction. Moncler , an outerwear brand recently developed an ultra light nylon fabric that weighs just 40gm per meter. You realize how light it is when you compare it with Egyptian cotton that could weigh as much as 800gm per meter. Waterproof tweed has been developed for skiwear. Ermenegildo Zegna has developed suit fabric with a yarn count of 600, which is the highest ever, but weighs in at just 145gms per meter. A colored fabric made from Australian wool can now reflect the sunlight like a white material and reduce body temperature by as much as 10 Celsius. The high street brand Uniglo is launching a collection...

January 2011's aBlogtoRead.com's watch giveaway is just about over. This is your last chance to enter for a chance to win this rare and great condition (recently serviced) Early 1970's Omega Speedmaster Mark 4.5 watch. Click here to enter before January is over . Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com , trusted independent watch media. Related posts: Giveaway: Vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark 4.5 Watch You lucky readers get a treat this month. A chance... Last Chance: LUM-TEC Combat B15 Watch Giveaway The aBlogtoRead.com LUM-TEC B15 free watch giveaway is almost over.... Last Chance: Vittorium AT Watch Giveaway This month's watch giveaway is just about over. Click on... Win An Omega SpeedMaster Date Watch: Enter In About 5 Minutes! Her e is a shout out for a little giveaway that...

Tory Burch is a definitively American designer. Her preppy posh design aesthetic defines some of the most coveted addresses in the country, namely the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Palm Beach. Refined and conservative, her accessories possess a timeless elegance that classy fashionistas have come to respect the world over. So much so that Ms. Burch has just opened a brand new flagship store on Londons fashionable Bond Street. The new store is over 4,000 square feet and is housed in a 19th Century townhome. The decor is high thread count comfortable, and the interior is peppered with company signatures like moss green floors, gold leaf mirrors, plum snow leopard curtains and orange lacquer trim. The second floor of the shop is VIP and special event only, and it also houses a library where guests can relax and peruse specially-curated collections. You gotta hand it to Tory Burch, she really knows how to show her customers a good time.

Mostly vanity bathroom accessories are with shiny lacquer owing to the fact that they are fashioned out luxury metals. If you are in to add a dab of some wood essence, the Wood Shower Head from Rare could be your pick of the day. Laced with Terra Marique Design aesthetics, this shower head displays simple basic design in non-intricate shape and natural material. The designer here is Mihran Rovelli Manoukian who has a lot of impressive home dcor creations up his sleeves. He has incorporated steel core in this wooden head and the water passes through silicon wood without damaging the wood. The timeless design here is combined with glass walls a matching wood-slat shower floor which completes the spa ambience of your bathroom. Apart from the vanity attributes here, this one also guarantees to be eco-friendly owing to reduction of water usuage from 40 liters to 6 liters per minute. So you get to papmper yourself without bringing on the guilt of wasting precious natural resources like water...

The Volkswagen XL1 car definitely looks the earthly transport tool of a Star Wars warrior. Apart from its awe-inspiring design, another thumbs up factor here is that is soon going to step out from the realm of concept and soon going to hit the production mills. This Formula XL1 concept can be driven by battery alone for sometime and when you run out of that juice, there are two tiny cylinder diesel engines for the extra miles. The hybrid car gives an excellent mileage of 260 miles per gallon and thus it gets billed as the most efficient car to be sold soon. The first production batch will consist of 100 and will be available to German folks upfront. Later it would hit the American roads if at all there is a demand shortfall in Germany chances of which look very very slim to me. These are yet to be put to crash and emission test which means that there are tons of other clearances also. Well, we are definitely going to be on a watch for more updates. I really hope these become available ...