Filed under: Timepieces

My first impression of the Executive Dual Time watch from Ulysse Nardin is that the timepiece is highly uncharacteristic of the brand. That is not to say this isn’t a good watch, but rather that the design feels like an incredible departure from what I am used to seeing from the brand. On closer inspection you begin to realize lots of typical Ulysse Nardin features such as the layout of functions on the dial - but overall this is something truly new from Ulysse Nardin.

The Executive Dual Time is a very modern looking watch - my concern is whether it is refined enough to be taken seriously as a luxury timepiece. One element that I’ve never seen before is the rectangular index inside of a round dial. The bezel is black ceramic and the 43mm case is available in steel or 18k rose gold. The dual time functionality of the watch is pretty nifty. On the left side of the case are two pushers (for advancing or subtracting hours) used to operated the dual time window. The digit in the window displays the hour in GMT time, while the main minute hand is used for the minutes for both times. The watch also has a nicely integrated big date complication. While the subsidiary seconds works fine, there is nothing particularly special about it. Powering the watch is a automatic UN caliber 24 movement.

Something about the design of the watch feels a bit down market. Not cheap, but not Ulysse Nardin grade. I realize this is an exercise is being modern for them - and maybe the images don’t do the watch justice - but I just can’t seem to connect with the overall design of the watch which seems to have characteristics I’d see on a watch in a display case at Macy’s.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Ulysse Nardin Executive Dual Time Watch originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A wall-mounted aquarium looks great and adds distinction to any contemporary room. The Wandaquarium by Aquawall hangs on your wall like a painting, freeing up valuable floor space. Available in two models, the Comfort and the Elegance, the…

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions, The Classicist

No matter what state the economy is in, ten million is an awful lot to spend on one single car, so it had better be one exceptional piece of machinery to be fetching that kind of price. Fortunately the 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is just such a machine: the very first American car to defeat Ferrari in a world championship racing series in Europe.

The story goes back to the summer of 1963 when, at the eleventh hour, Enzo Ferrari called off a deal that would have given Ford 50% ownership in his company. Dejected and vindictive, Ford set out to beat Ferrari at its own game, and this is the car that made it happen. Based on the iconic Shelby Cobra roadster, the Daytona coupe featured a specially-designed aerodynamic body to give it an extra 25 mph of top speed. With a big-block, racing-tuned Ford 427 V8 under the hood, the Daytona was fast enough to beat the Italians, clinching the FIA GT title in France in 1965, and bringing the glory home to America. This beautifully restored piece of automotive history is anticipated to shatter existing records with an expected price of $10-15 million when it goes under the hammer at Indianapolis on May 15 at the Dana Macum Original Spring Classic, so stay tuned to see the Shelby Daytona make history yet again.

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Historic Shelby Daytona Expected to Fetch Over $10 million at Indy Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces

By the sound of it you’d think that Cartier was next to being bankrupt, though that isn’t the case. More like the optimistic balloon of sales growth is deflating (one of the reasons I used the “Ballon Bleu” watch for the image - and added the sad face). During the last few years of rapid growth and increased demand for Swiss watches and luxury goods, production increased and luxury firms like Cartier staffed themselves accordingly for what looking like prefect blue skies ahead. Now, about 5 years after that all started, the bubble has burst, and Cartier is being forced to let go of many of those people it hired at its production facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds to help supply the perceived demand for luxury watches. Note that this is one of three Cartier production sites.

While Cartier’s market success is not exactly a bellwether of the luxury industry, it is a pretty good indicator of current trends. Lots of companies are reducing their work forces, but the reality is that they are just getting closer to the way things where before the economy inflated itself so much. Now in survival or recession mode, luxury brands such as Cartier need to save cash while planning on better times ahead - instead of focusing on making lots of watches right now. Recall again that this cut at Cartier of about 400-500 people (or roughly 50%-60% of their work force) is in the production area, not necessarily at other areas of the Richemont Group owned company including administration, marketing, and sales. Many retained employees will received roughly 94% of their pay until things get better. Then then Ballon Bleu watch above can turn that frown… upside down!

Via WorldTempus here & here (in French).

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Cartier To Halve Production Workforce originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Apparel, Handbags

We feature a lot of fantastic handbags, but what about what you keep inside your handbag? Here’s a small splurge, just in time for summer (which I am so ready for after a cold, cold East Coast winter!). Kate Spade’s cute and colorful Jitney Coin Purse, named after NYC’s Hampton Jitney bus line, comes in two patterns, both with a summer theme: SPF (this page) and G&T (see below). The coin purse is cotton canvas with smooth cowhide trim and features a zipper closure and 14-karat light gold plated hardware. Unlined; 2.4″ H x 3.5″ W; $50.

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Kate Spade Jitney Coin Purse - Small Splurge originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Journeys

Ever wanted to experience Vegas the way high rollers do? There are at least ten different options to fulfill that dream. Treat yourself and your friends to a fancy suite and you’re bound to feel like one of the strip’s most valuable customers. Imagine a casual party setting complete with a bowling lane, a two-level club decorated by Absolut, a relaxing villa offering its own pool, spa and private kitchen, or a Hugh Hefner inspired space. One of these is bound to tempt your inner millionaire. Peruse the gallery for a tour of options.

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Top Luxury Suites in Sin City originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

When football/baseball double threat Deion Sanders and his wife Pilar moved to the small town of Prosper, Texas they put the small town in North Texas on the map. Their huge home is described in the listing as the “ultimate party and family ranch” and spans over 29,000 square feet. The multi-winged home is on 100 acres and has ten bedrooms. Few homes are as dedicated to the pursuit of leisure activities as this one is. It has an indoor basketball court and bowling alley, both indoor and outdoor pools, a billiard room, hall-of-fame gallery, movie theater and a game room modeled after the Dave & Busters restaurant chain. The grounds include a 12-acre lake, tennis court, a ten-car garage and a guest house. For a sense of the scale check out this Flickr picture. This is one monster of a home.

The Real Estalker provides additional details including the fact that the master bedroom has a large round bed, a sitting room that spins, kitchen, Jacuzzi and a two-story walk-in closet. The decor is completely over the top with swaths of drapery, columns, crystal chandeliers, a cartoon of lavishness. It is listed at $21 million.

After the jump check out a video of Neon Deion and his family touring the home which is so large that they drive around in little scooters. Deion seems both amazed and awed by the scale of his own home and does a better job explaining its many over-the-top features than any real estate agent ever could.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

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Continue reading Deion Sanders in Prosper, Texas, Estate of the Day

Deion Sanders in Prosper, Texas, Estate of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

This year’s Leggende e Passione auction event at the Ferrari factory in Maranello is shaping up to be, well… legendary. RM Auctions has run the historic Ferrari and Maserati auction at the factory for three years running now, but this year’s roster of classic exotic machinery going under the hammer looks to be the best crop yet. In addition to the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 (among the myriad other priceless classics) we’ve already reported on, the auction will feature the historic Formula One race car which Alain Prost drove in his infamous duel against Ayrton Senna in 1990.

Packing a 685-horsepower 3.5-liter V12 revving up to 13,000 rpm and mated to a ground-breaking seven-speed sequential transmission, Chassis #121 is what Prost drove to five podiums over the course of the 1990 championship, including one race win. It’s also what Prost was driving when arch-rival Senna crashed into him on the penultimate race of the season in Japan, ending the race for both but handing the title to Senna by default. It was one of the most controversial championships in motor racing history, and now the car in which it all happened is up for sale. Following a nearly €110,000 restoration at the Ferrari factory where it’s being sold, Chassis #121 is expected to fetch €300,000-€400,000 when the hammer drops next month in Maranello.

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Prost’s Historic Title-Deciding Ferrari 641/2 F1 Car Up for Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wine

The announcement that the wine cellar of the UK government is worth nearly £800,000 has some people up in arms over questions of extravagance. The government’s cellar has over 39,000 bottles of wine including around 500 bottles of spirits and liqueurs for a total of £792,000. Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster was quoted in the BBC News as saying that the huge cellar shows that the government is living ‘beyond its means’. Figures show that the ministers spent a total of £5 million on wining and dining including more than £100,000 toward maintaining Whitehall wine cellar. By contrast, according to a recent article on Slate, the White House currently stocks around 500-600 bottles.

Expensive UK Government Wine Cellar Causes Controversy originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If the McLean V8 monowheel was something that impressed you, you are definitely one big-wheel aficionado. In that case, the Ciclotte exercise bike is the thing you should be looking at. It appears that a monowheel has been transformed into a unique…

Filed under: Gadgets, Wheels

A fully armored Rolls-Royce Phantom, able to withstand everything from a direct assault with an AK-47 to a poison gas attack, is for sale in Germany via online global luxury marketplace JamesList for about $1.5 million. Engineered to the highest international protection rating, the armored Phantom is virtually indistinguishable from the standard version to lure attackers into a false sense of security.

The car features high-tech fiber composites and special steel plating to provide protection for the bodywork, with bulletproof glass for all windows and its own oxygen supply in the trunk in case of a gas attack. The ultra-luxe car’s aluminum spaceframe chassis and suspension have been strengthened and the 453 hp powertrain remains unchanged, while nothing has been sacrificed in the way of luxury, refinement and comfort.

$1.5 Million Armored Rolls-Royce Phantom for Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Journeys, Events

The Cannes Film Festival in a couple weeks will bring the silver screen’s best to the French Riviera which makes me wonder where do all the fancy stars stay while in town? Offering both elegance and luxury it isn’t surprising that the Majestic Barrière on Avenue La Croisette is a favorite among the Hollywood crowd. Recently emerging from a winter of renovations, the Majestic Barrière is sporting a new lobby area and freshly decorated rooms which each face the sea. The deluxe hotels also allows guests to stay within walking distance of the Palais des Festivals. This exclusive resort is sure to be a paparazzi hotspot beginning May 13th when the film festival is kicked off.

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Hollywood’s Finest Prefer Majestic Barrière in Cannes originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Timepieces

Please note that the US President in this message does not endorse this ad. This is a brand new advertisement campaign from Omega with permission from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The ads will not be limited to the US, as this international campaign is part of a larger effort by Omega to increase demand for the brand worldwide. Recent efforts include the opening of a flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York City, as well as a celebrity appearance by Michael Phelps (which makes sense as Omega is the official Olympics watch).

The Kennedy connection is of course possible due to licensing from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation that owns Kennedy’s image’s right of publicity. The idea behind the campaign is that because the Omega Speedmaster Professional was the official watch used by US astronauts, and eventually saw its way to the moon, it has a connection with John F. Kennedy who was instrumental in advancing US efforts to visit the moon and fund the space program. He was killed in 1963, several years before the space program was even looking too promising. I like how the ad displays the Speedmaster Moon Watch in the retro image, making it look perfectly at home, and helps advance the idea that it is really a timeless tool watch design. This year celebrates the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, for which special edition Omega Speedmaster Professional watches are available.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Omega’s New John F. Kennedy Speedmaster Watch Ads originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This teddy bear doesn’t have diamond eyes and a gold nose like the one offered by Selfridges last year, but still, it asks for a whopping half a million pounds (US $741,670). This teddy bear has gone on sale in Suffolk, England. That’s a hell of..

Filed under: Handbags

The Botkier Trigger Medium Satchel is bright and shiny and a perfect spring pickmeup!

This luscious bag is made from luxurious, sunny yellow Italian cowhide and lambskin. At 12″W x 9″H x 6″D, the bag is large enough for a whole day of shopping or sightseeing. Yellow goes with everything this season, so you can wear this bag with black, white, brown, and any other color you may have — it’s terrific for picking up the lemony shades in the floral print dresses you’ll be wearing!

This bag has a bunch of compartments (we love the diagonal zippers), and sassy little tassels for a little extra flair. We recommend carrying this to brunch and then off to wherever the day takes you!

The Botkier Trigger Medium Satchel is available from Bloomingdales for $610.00.

Botkier Trigger Medium Satchel, Handbag of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wine

Summer may be within reach but no matter the season a great bottle of Cabernet always hits the spot. Fantesca’s 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon soothes your stress away and satiates your wine desires with notes of deep earth and rich fruit. The combination of chocolate cherries, cassis and warms the soul while a hint of earth-scented spice perks up the palate. Fantesca Estate on Spring Mountain is known for its superb sun exposure and long growing season offered by the elevation and hilly terrain which makes for high quality wines with a lasting impression. With only 800 cases produced the $65 bottle is certainly worth purchasing. If you prefer to cellar it you can count on fifteen or more wonderful years of drinking pleasure.

*Disclosure: This bottle was provided as a sample*

Wine Tasting: Fantesca Cabernet Sauvignon originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We have seen some pimped-out motorcycles in the past, including the gold-plated Kawasaki, computerized chopper and the Kawasaki ZX10R that features 12 loudspeakers with 1,500 watts of output, two iPods, a Sony PSP, a flat screen with DVD and remote…

Listen to your favorite music while you play. Made by Newwave Design for Debut Sport Leisure, the Lunar pool table is MP3 compatible and features built-in 80w speakers. A glossy white surface, orange cloth, under-cloth illumination and funky legs…

The experts believe that the fractional ownership market will be one of the first industries to recover when the economy goes on rebound. For those who have made a move toward fractional ownership, British architect Lord Norman Foster has launched his..

Everyone has now heard of and seen the Bling king Alexander Amosu’s £70,000 ($101,860) bespoke luxury suit. Here is the video footage of the launch event. See what people are saying about the world’s most expensive suit.

Thanks, Alexander…