March 2024

Robb Report Singapore

Luxury without compromise

Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Robb Report Singapore
EDITORIAL ALVIN WONG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (alvin.wong@imv.com.sg) JACQUELINE DANAM CHIEF SUB-EDITOR AMOS CHIN DIGITAL EDITOR (a.chin@imv.com.sg) HANNAH CHOO CONTRIBUTING EDITOR (h.choo@imv.com.sg) HAZIQ YUSOF WRITER (h.yusof@imv.com.sg) ART KATHRYN TAN AS
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Editor's Letter
NO RISK, NO reward? Absolutely. And, very likely, not much fun either. This notion rings particularly true in the realm of luxury, where its purveyors, with a thirst for adventure, often tread a fine line between courage and incredulity. After all, t
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Objectified
With its deep blue dial, the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition pays homage to the starlit sky that inspired Georges-Favre Jacot to name his brand Zenith. Adorned with a unique corrugated texture, its dial is illuminated by luminous white Arabic
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Off The Block
Bidding commences on 28 March through Julien’s in Beverly Hills Designed for Marilyn Monroe, this glamorous evening gown was meant to be featured in Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch. Crafted for a dream sequence in the film, the dress is adorned wi
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Resetting The Archive
FOR JEWELLERY HOUSES with long histories, digging through the archives and paying homage to established icons is a perennial practice. These reinterpretations are done with such frequency that connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike can easily match legen
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Ben Küffer
PENETRATING THE VENERABLE Swiss watchmaking industry is no easy feat. Newcomers, enthused to join the table, often find themselves dismissed as upstarts. But the remarkable entrance of independent watch brand Norqain proves doors can be kicked open w
Robb Report Singapore12 min read
Climb Mount Everest. Skip the Hardship.
My first morning at Everest Base Camp, I awaken to the soft rumbling of a distant avalanche and the faint, nutty aroma of freshly ground coffee. My brain, groggy from slumber and lack of oxygen, doesn’t know whether to be alarmed or excited. The soun
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Mythic Mustang
Nepal isn’t the first destination to which the luxury-loving hotel junkie might turn, but 483km to the west of Everest lies the ancient, long-forbidden kingdom of Mustang, where a hotel grail awaits. Though the area opened to travellers just over thr
Robb Report Singapore11 min read
Polar Opposites
A century ago, an expedition to the North Pole involved dogsleds and explorers in heavy, furlined clothes, windburnt and famished after weeks of trudging across ice floes, finally planting their nations’ flags in the barren landscape. These days, if
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Paradigm Ship
For those studying polar ice, a berth aboard Le Commandant Charcot is like winning a lottery ticket. “This cruise ship is one of the few resources scientists can use, because nothing else can get there,” says G Mark Miller, CEO of research-vessel bui
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
I Would Walk Miles
IT’S ALMOST DINNER but it’s time for a hot bath. I had just walked 14.5km through countryside and temples and, believe it or not, the onsen was calling my name. While it’s not my usual practice to make eye contact at a Japanese hot spring—much less,
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
Dare To Dream
“IT TAKES A licking but keeps on ticking.” The catchphrase popularised by Timex in its television commercials in the 1960s has justifiably endured. A reminder that, in life, success isn’t determined by failure but how one pushes on in spite of setbac
Robb Report Singapore9 min read
The Spanish Revolt
Spain’s picturesque Ribera del Duero wine region, one of the nation’s leading producers of fine vintages, is located on a high plain that brackets the Douro River. The rich farmlands run for 114km through the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Segovia and V
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Spotting A Cellar-worthy Cosecha
How, beyond the price tag, can you tell the difference between cosechas selling for US$10 and US$100? First, check the year. If the wine is from 2021 or 2022, it’s probably a standard cosecha. If it’s an expensive new release from 2019 or earlier, it
Robb Report Singapore2 min readPopular Culture & Media Studies
Stylish Or Kitschy?
THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN bold and kitschy is as elusive as it is intriguing. Self-expression through clothing allows individuals to push the boundaries, flirt with eclecticism and challenge conventions. However, treading the fine line between making a fa
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
Make It Pop
Though his time on the stage was brief, Takashi Murakami was everything the capacity crowd imagined him to be. “Enjoy yourselves tonight,” he told the expectant audience. “I will be going back to my hotel to sleep!” The 62-year-old was in Singapore l
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
Currents Of Change
STARTING OVER AT 61? Automobili Lamborghini cannot wait. The Italian supercar marque celebrated its diamond jubilee last year in an appropriately boisterous spirit. From a jaw-dropping showcase of its milestone cars through the decades at its Bologna
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
The Space-race Business Case
AT THE END of the decade, after over a quartercentury in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS) is planned to be decommissioned by NASA in order for the agency to focus on deep-space exploration, lunar flights and journeys to Mars. That leaves
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
To Humanity And Beyond
YACHTING HAS LONG been synonymous with escape, but owners today are increasingly opting to engage instead, by employing their explorer vessels for humanitarian missions. Consider Texas billionaire Toby Neugebauer, chairman of Crestmoor Advisors, who
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Hot Pockets
Dream big, think small. That’s the maxim driving the recent wave of sub-90ft ‘pocket explorers’ that—minus helicopters and massive crews—have similar globe-traversing capabilities of full-sized explorer yachts, which combine range and seaworthiness w
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Meet The Sims
HONING ATHLETIC SKILL takes constant, year-round commitment, but try telling that to inclement weather. Thankfully, as elite professionals already know, virtual practice can yield valuable results, refining biomechanics and reinforcing muscle memory
Robb Report Singapore8 min read
Pressed For Time
When Matt Borowiecki, a Boston-based financier, wanted to add a new timepiece to his array of A. Lange & Söhne and Rolex models, he started looking at independent watchmakers to, as he puts it, “supercharge” his collection. After all, owning one of t
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Rebels On The Rise
With Philippe Dufour, the godfather of modern independent watchmaking, as his mentor, Schlüchter was bound to make the horological community take notice. But before he sought the tutelage of the Swiss master, Schlüchter had already spent a decade at
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
History Repeating
AMID THE SEEMINGLY never-ending hype around vintage sports models from Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, the pendulum has begun to swing, ever so slightly, toward dress watches. Cartier has been the trend’s main beneficiary thus far, but there have
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
The Cartier Crush
CARTIER, ALWAYS A collector’s darling, has mastered the recipe for reinventing its classics while infusing them with just enough edge to maintain relevance within the vibe du jour—but that’s still not enough to explain the massive surge in demand for
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Dealers' Choice
London “Collectors still have opportunities to buy very good and rare Cartier watches from the 1920s and 1930s at not-huge prices. I would suggest the 1930s Tank JCs and Tank Normales, which are still buyable at US$25,000 to US$30,000. This will, how
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Gold Rush
CONTRARY TO POPULAR belief, gold—not black—is the shade that never fades. The house of Bulgari attests to this with spectacular timepieces emanating the regal hue at LVMH Watch Week 2024. The fourth edition of the showcase from the luxury conglomerat
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Mixed Metiers
COCO CHANEL INTRODUCED her iconic tweed jackets and skirts nearly a century ago, and to this day her namesake brand continues to update and reinvent the look that built the company, sending fresh takes down the runway season after season. But this ye
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
The Need For Speedy
OF ALL THE burnished little signifiers men flash about like so much plumage—the hype kicks, the grail vintage piece and, now, the most eye-catching jewellery—at least we’ve largely been spared having to chase that unrivalled engine of stylish female
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
A Glorious Past
WHAT CONSTITUTES LUXURY? For some, it’s tethered to brand and price. For others, it resonates with quality. While the definition remains justifiably nebulous, in my view, exclusivity—the allure of scarcity– stands as a cornerstone of luxury. In an er
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
The Man Behind The Glow
SUSTAINABILITY HAS BEEN a buzzword for fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands looking to adopt new business models for the sake of our planet and posterity. In recent years, these conglomerates have continued to innovate with new technologies. Among th
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
The Vanity Table
Drunk Elephant’s most indulgent cream to date, this rich, buttery formulation is clinically proven to provide 24-hour moisture. It is specifically designed to rejuvenate and restore even the most parched and delicate skin. The ultra-rich lipid cream
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Realty Check | The Haute Life
Imagine being part of an exclusive community of around 200 or so ultrahigh-net-worth individuals from across the globe who share one common interest: to explore the world in utmost comfort and privacy without any of the usual travelrelated hassles. B
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
In The Studio With Annie Morris
ANNIE MORRIS is talking a mile a minute over Zoom, routinely interrupting herself midsentence, or even mid-word, as she paces non-stop through her East London studio. “I never sit down,” she admits, holding her phone aloft. Her husband, artist Idris
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Divide & Conquer
It may have art deco vibes, but Porus Studio’s Seattral screen (about US$14,780) takes inspiration from Seattle’s Central Library, a contemporary 11-storey glass-andsteel building designed by architects Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus. Character
Robb Report Singapore4 min readWorld
This Month's Feed
While standing out in fine dining is a competitive sport these days, there is pleasure to be found getting comfortable at Quenino by Victor Liong, the chef behind Lee Ho Fook, Melbourne’s go-to for creative, new-age Chinese cuisine. At Quenino, his c
Robb Report Singapore1 min read
Building Possibilities
NEIT, NAMED FOR the Irish god of war, is an up-and-coming Irish whisky brand that is seeking to recapture the spirit’s glory days. Combining small batch artisanal craftsmanship with contemporary style and panache, it aims to address the noticeable ab
Robb Report Singapore6 min read
Heartwarming Spirit
IT WAS 1990, Valentine’s Day, the end of Michter’s. Like a stab to the heart the way this special day went, Dick Stoll, the master distiller at the time, received the news by phone. A bank was taking over the entire property and everyone was to turn
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Waves Of Memories
DR RACHEL BARRIE invites me to “listen to the taste” and I curiously, but expectantly, oblige. It isn’t every day that one of the world’s most renowned master blenders takes me through a taste test. Even rarer yet is the trio of drams on offer. Emana
Robb Report Singapore1 min read
Dr Rachel Barrie's Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection tasting notes
“We matured it in an Aleatico red wine cask from Italy, which makes it really sweet. I wanted to explore its richness and ripeness—everything ripens faster at Glenglassaugh. You can see the viscosity on the sides of the glass. Nose it and you get bla
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
Remember Paris
OVER THE PAST several years, Maxim’s has become best known as a gourmet food brand, the name emblazoned on chocolate bonbons, champagne bottles and foie gras sold in French airports and souvenir shops. But for decades it was among the most famous res
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
A Brunch Like No Other
WHOEVER SAID BREAKFAST is the most important meal of the day clearly hasn’t had brunch at Aniba. Meaning ‘Here I Come’, the restaurant evokes anticipation, and anticipate you will, as your tastebuds get ready for a harmonious play on flavours between
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Epicurean Haven
SITUATED AMID THE lush expanse of Bamboo Hills in Kuala Lumpur, Potager is a narrative of culinary artistry that unfolds in an intimate setting, inviting guests to become integral participants in the communion of flavours, virtuosity and a profound a
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
A Week in Peru
WHEN ANTHONY BOURDAIN mused on the inseparability of food, people and landscapes, he must’ve been thinking of Peru. The land of the Inca, where the majestic Andes meets the verdant Amazon, is a grand tapestry of natural splendour. However, the landsc
Robb Report Singapore4 min read
Carpe Diem
IN THE AFFLUENT neighbourhood of Seoul, Gangnam District has never been short of attraction and fascination. There, JW Marriott recently launched its Stay in the Moment Asia-Pacific campaign with a Korean drama-inspired video featuring South Korean a
Robb Report Singapore9 min read
Don't Ride This Wave*
It’s day two of the 2023 Tahiti Pro surf competition. I’m perched on the roof of a VIP boat 122m from Teahupo’o, one of the world’s most dangerous waves. Surf icon Kelly Slater has just been swallowed by a heaving wall of turquoise water. I’m so clos
Robb Report Singapore2 min read
A Big Date With Time
IN A CELEBRATION of timekeeping artistry, A. Lange & Söhne hosted an exclusive soiree for 16 Robb Report Singapore readers, enticing the guests with the allure of German high horology. Held within the A. Lange & Söhne boutique, the evening began with
Robb Report Singapore3 min read
Timely Pursuits
WHOEVER COINED THE phrase about not having to work a single day if you truly love your job probably set countless professionals up for years of an existential crisis. Until they encounter someone like Ong Ban, who offers hope that passion and profess
Robb Report Singapore1 min read
Stockists
#02-05A Ion Orchard 6509 1712 www.alange-soehne.com #B2-236 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 6338 6006 www.breguet.com #B2M-237 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 6634 8771 www.blancpain.com #B1-36/37 & #B2-34/35 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 6634 8313
Robb Report Singapore1 min read
A Nerd's World
One likes his machines big and loud, the other prefers them small and mostly silent. But otherwise, this Venn diagram is closer to a perfect circle. Both Watch Guys and Car Guys are infatuated with outmoded 19thcentury technology, both like to say “i

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