Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i Robb Report Singapore

NO, WE ARE not imagining it. The year did fly by. And it will continue to do so next year and the year after that; the speeding up of time seemingly more relentless as we grow older. However, this is no illusion. There is science to back it up. “People are often amazed at how much they remember from days that seemed to last forever in their youth. It's not that their experiences were much deeper or more meaningful, it's just that they were being processed in rapid fire,” said psychologist and author Adrian Bejan. Bejan posited in a 2019 paper that, as our brains age, the information that we see and perceive travels through greater distances with more disruptions, no thanks to increasingly complex neuron networks. Because of the…

Objectified Rimowa has transposed the precise, elegant grooves that distinguish all its luggage to leather. On the new Distinct line, the trademark look gets a stately makeover, adding to Rimowa's familiar offerings in aluminium and polycarbonate. The first model from the collection is the Cabin suitcase, measuring 50cm x 40cm x 23cm and available in black and navy (S$4,590). The luggage is crafted from anodised aluminium and the leather is wrapped over the solid framework, resulting in a flawless translation of the brand-defining grooves. In addition, each Cabin piece is equipped with the brand's renowned stage-free telescopic handle, and multi-wheel system featuring ball-bearing-mounted wheels for smooth steering.…

FIVE YEARS AFTER its release, Audi's first electric vehicle (EV), the E-tron, is due for a significant transformation. That it's now dubbed the Audi Q8 E-tron suggests that timely finetuning has been performed instead of a major overhaul. While the Q stands for SUV in Audi lingo, the introduction of a numeral signals the shifting tide in the German brand's approach towards car making, anticipating the day when full-fledged EVs will no longer be an intermittent occurrence but the established norm. As per the brand's official statements, expect subsequent Audi releases from 2026 to be electric. On the external front, the Q8 E-tron sees the addition of a fuller front fascia and a sleek light bar that stretches between the headlights. Making its debut is Audi's redesigned four-ringed logo, which…

Dream Machines | WATER AS THE SAILGP F50 race boat suddenly tacks, the G force pins me inside the aft steering station. Working against gravity, the US team's driver, Jimmy Spithill, and four other sailors somehow sprint 6m between the twin hulls to a mirror-image station on the starboard side. The catamaran pivots hard on its foils, flying 1.8m above the water. What sounds like a jet overhead is actually the boat responding as the 15-knot gusts hit the ‘wings’—the stiff 29m-high sails designed as airfoils— and the 50ft catamaran accelerates to three times the speed of the wind. The F50 is techy, edgy, exhilarating and, without the right skipper, dangerous. “A hot-rod version of the AC50” is how naval architect Paul Bieker describes it, referring to the 50ft catamaran…

SADRY KEISER PERSONIFIES the idiom ‘there are two sides to every story'. As the man tasked with articulating Roger Dubuis’ concept of hyper horology, one that the brand has trademarked, Keiser is a rarity in the watch business. He is among a handful of executives who not only understands the need to sprinkle a bit of magic dust to market a brand, but actually supplements the storytelling with real knowledge of how watches are made. A business graduate, Keiser entered the watch trade by working in communications and events, before taking on roles in the manufacturing and research and development departments. Keiser joined Roger Dubuis’ research and development team in 2005, and took on the role of chief marketing officer two years ago. “The challenge in marketing watches lies in…

TWENTY-FIVE SKINCARE items to mark the 25 days to Christmas. Japanese brand Decorté numbers the days perfectly with its advent calendar 2023 limited-edition set that covers all grooming bases from hydration for the face to fragrances. The items come in an assortment of full- and travel-sized vessels to make sure that your skincare needs are taken care of when you are on vacation. The 53-year-old Japanese brand is known for combining traditional eastern medicine and scientific research in its formulations. As the comprehensive limited-edition set demonstrates, Decorté can add thoughtfulness to its list of virtues. The advent calendar set comprises four full-sized and 21 travel-sized items, covering skincare, make-up and fragrances. The skincare items are naturally the most extensive in the lineup. These include products from its bestselling AQ skincare…

Restaurant Fiz Restaurant Fiz is a world away from most of Singapore's fine-dining restaurants, and yet it hits close to home with the abundance of flavours Southeast Asia has to offer. Every meal here is a neat balance of sweet, salty, spicy and acidic, delivered through regional dishes, indigenous ingredients and ancient cooking methods. It owes its culinary allegiance to chef-owner Hafizzul Hashim and an epiphany that brought him back to his roots. Born in Kuala Lumpur to Malay and English parents, and raised in the coastal town of Lumut in Perak, the 40-year-old spent years abroad at Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Chez Bruce in London and Jean-Georges in Tokyo, before deciding it was time to turn things around. He thought that if the fancy restaurants of the world could…

The Resource | TRAVEL AS I ARRIVE at Highland Base by helicopter in August, the main hotel appears in the distance as a jagged sliver of blond wood dropped into a sprawling expanse of glacial mountainside. On approach, the gravel parking lot is filled with stacks of camping gear and hulking 4x4s on massive, knobby tyres; preposterously fluffy Icelandic sheep amble past A-frame cabins that dot the surrounding hills. Welcome to Shangri-La for the hard-core adventurer—especially one who still appreciates all the high-touch comforts of a luxury resort. The air taxi came courtesy of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, the five-star wellness destination perched alongside the country's famously turquoise geothermal pond; Highland Base, which soft-launched in July, joins the same portfolio. Located in the kaleidoscopically hued Icelandic highlands, the new…

Objectified Jacob Arabo, who is popularly known as Jacob the Jeweller, is not only the founder of ultra-luxe jewellery and watch brand, Jacob & Co, he is also a true connoisseur of whisky. In fact, Arabo's passion for whisky is so acute that he enlisted his longtime friend, visual artist and DJ, Alec Monopoly, to create the Jacob & Co x Alec Monopoly Limited Edition Whisky. The bottles house a blend of Scotch whiskies, the youngest of which is 30 years old. Former master blender of Bowmore, Andrew Rankin, began assembling the whiskies in 2016, when the blend was 26 years old. The spirit was then aged in American oak barrels that previously housed bourbon. Only 2,000 bespoke decanters, designed by Constellation X and cosigned by Monopoly, will be produced,…

1993 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport Prototype Bidding commences on 8 December through RM Sotheby's in New York RM Sotheby's closes the year with an auction simply and emphatically christened New York. The directness of the name belies the fact that the world's most desirable luxury automobiles will be showcased there. Among the lots is the ultra-rare Bugatti EB110 Super Sport Prototype, of which only three were produced. Equipped with Bugatti's world speed recordsetting EB110 engine, it is the only prototype with dual fuel tanks coupled with a single fuel filler system, carbonfibre engine lid cover and revised gear selector. Ducati 916 Senna II Bidding commences on 1 December through Bonhams in Milton Keynes From 1 to 11 December, Bonhams will curate rare motorcycles for its December Motorcycle Sale. Of the…

1 A Private Island Buyout In The Maldives The Dubai-based hotel group Jumeirah is synonymous with over-the-top luxury. The soaring Burj Al Arab, which reigned as the tallest hotel in the world for several years after it debuted in 1999, is a Jumeirah project. And while the company has operated hotels in the Maldives before, those past properties have been jettisoned in order to put the focus solely on its sumptuous Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island, which opened two years ago. The resort, which is at the northern end of North Male atoll, is a refreshing change from the thatched-roof vernacular that dominates the design of luxe resorts here. It's more Miami Beach deco than Maldives foliage, all sleek white walls and minimalist fixtures. There are private rooftops that are perfect for…

WHEN IT COMES to racing lineage and pedigree, few boast as rich and fervent a history as the Mercedes-AMG SL. It was first released as the groundbreaking Mercedes-Benz 300 SL race car in 1952, beating Porsche's 911 by a good 11 years. But while the original was lauded for being a trailblazer, subsequent iterations of the MercedesAMG SL were gradually watered down over the years, taking on a more languid demeanour that better resembled a grand tourer than a spirited sports car. Well, the Mercedes-AMG SL55 4Matic+ is looking to rewrite the book. The car seeks to restore the model back to its lofty raison d'etre— SL, after all, comes from ‘sport-leicht’ (‘sporty’ and ‘light’). That the reboot has been undertaken by the company's high-performance sub-brand is good indication that…

AS ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS progress further into an age of sleek minimalism, it seems as if the technology's longtime drawback—a morass of unsightly cables—has finally been eradicated. Wireless TVs are now a reality, though the technology is still so bleeding-edge that only two manufacturers have currently entered the market. Electronics giant LG and upstart Displace both promise to centralise and conceal the cords elsewhere, then beam their 4K feeds to your display with no loss of quality, but each takes a slightly different tack.…

AFTER WHAT SEEMS like an eternity of extremes, with lockdown sweatpants and hoodies at one end of the spectrum and celebratory “We're back, baby!” eveningwear at the other, it feels like men's style is finally settling into the 2020s. At the fashion shows earlier in the year, most brands presented collections that were grounded in modern menswear staples, with designs that felt sleek and sophisticated. Now, well-cut jackets, full-length coats, finely tailored overshirts and butter-soft leather blousons are the cornerstones of 2023's wardrobe, care of brands such as The Row, Hermès, Alexander McQueen and Zegna. Saint Laurent's Spring/Summer 2023 collection, which was unveiled in July last year during a show in Morocco's Agafay desert, hinged on classically proportioned tailoring and a restrained mix of shirt-and-trouser pairings in cream, brown and…

THE KENZO HOUSE PARIS, FRANCE Hidden from view in the courtyard of an 18th-century residential building in the city's historic Bastille district, this 13,778 sq ft, four-storey home is a zen-like oasis that will appeal to fans of Kenzo Takada and Kengo Kuma. The house was built by the late Paris-based Japanese fashion designer in 1993 and redesigned in 2018 by the celebrated architect. Nature takes centre stage here, with cedar, teak and clay used for the facade; an authentic Japanese garden with a nishiki carp pond, cherry and maple trees and waterfalls; and louvres, beams and flooring of French oak. The residence comes with four bedrooms with attached bathrooms and dressing rooms. Entertaining guests is easy thanks to two reception rooms, two dining rooms and two kitchens. Staff can…

The Resource | SAVOUR Duck under a low beam and step into the blackness of Vallein Tercinier's ancient cellar, and for a moment, your muscles tighten instinctively. It's the type of close yet cavernous space where you might expect to encounter a hibernating bear. As your pupils struggle to adjust, the only indication of the room's purpose is the unmistakable angel's share, the ambrosial aroma of cognac, hanging in the damp air and coating your lungs with every breath. The proprietor, Stéphane Roudier, is apologetic, first for the appearance of his ageing stillhouse, then for the lack of heating in this unseasonably cold winter. “We have no investors,” he explains. “There's no money.” He and his wife, Catherine Tercinier-Roudier, own and operate Cognac Vallein Tercinier, as her family has since…

Rolls-Royce bows to the transcendental power of the elements in its new Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis Private Collection. From conception to execution, this ride is premised on extreme rarity. Its aesthetics are inspired by the solar eclipse—a phenomenon that recurs at any given place only once every 360 to 410 years—and its production is capped at only 25 units. The Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis Private Collection boasts features that are awe-inspiring. When one starts the engine, the Starlight Headliner activates a rapid darkening and a gleaming circle of fibre-optic lights to evoke a solar eclipse. This scene remains visible for seven minutes and 31 seconds, which is the longest possible duration of a total solar eclipse. Following this, the regular radiance of the night sky resumes. Integral to this spectacular…

THE PONT NEUF is Paris's oldest bridge, dating back to the 16th century, and this summer, Louis Vuitton claimed it as its own. The brand decked the surface in a golden version of its signature checkerboard Damier motif and ferried some of the world's most starry people—LeBron, Rihanna, DiCaprio, Beyoncé—to the front row in a boat. A gospel choir's rousing benediction filled the air as models, including former Zegna designer Stefano Pilati and rapper Pusha T, sauntered down the runway illuminated by the warm mauve glow of a perfect Parisian sunset. The show closed with a surprise performance by Jay-Z. Vuitton had named Pharrell Williams as its newest men's creative director back in February, but it wasn't until this spectacle of extravagance that his arrival was well and truly announced.…

It was a celebrity catch-up ahead of its time. On a balmy September morning in 1887, Mark Twain met Robert Louis Stevenson, of Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde fame, in New York. The two literary giants took a stroll along Washington Square before settling down on a bench to chat— for five hours straight. Among the many things they talked about was the subject of fame. “(We) tried to find a name for the submerged fame, that fame that permeates the great crowd of people you never see and never mingle with, but who read your books and have an affection for you… and you will remain in the home of their hearts’ affection forever and ever,” recalled Twain in a speech from 1908. “Stevenson and I…

WITH HELICOPTERS AS backup, the black SUVs race in formation behind speeding squad cars as a drone sweeps the side streets. But this isn't Baghdad or Caracas—it's Detroit, with visiting Saudi ambassador Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arriving by private jet. “That was highly unusual,” says Mike Bunk, chief operations officer of Detroit Executive Group, part of a security detail organised by the US State Department and supported by local police. “But when a threat level is that high, the response has to match it.” Such calls to action are on the increase in the world of private aviation. The public's eagerness to track aircraft belonging to the likes of Elon Musk and Taylor Swift, as well as to high-profile CEOs, correlates to recent growth…

PHILIP BARAT IS Patek Philippe's go-to guy when casual chats about watches take a turn towards erudite discourse. At every annual reveal of the Genevan manufacturer's watches, he is there, hosting curated ‘technical presentations’ for deep dives into Patek Philippe's most complex watches of the year. Barat looks like a drill sergeant but has the manner of a gentle librarian. Affectionately referred to as Mr Plexi by industry peers for his love of using plexiglass models to explain complex mechanisms, Barat was again called upon to explain one of Patek Philippe's more unusual watches this year: Ref. 5224R Travel Time, which features a 24-hour dial that can display two time zones at once. “It is a ‘simple’ development,” he reassures. The unfussy way in which he breaks down the mechanism…

POPULAR WISDOM OFTEN regards good design as invisible. While that may be true, we shouldn't discount celebrating showstopping marvels that demand to be seen. One need only gaze upon the stunning courtyard pavilion at The OWO in the Whitehall district of London to situate it in that class of visually inspired and exceptionally designed works. A testament to the big-picture vision that informed its conception, the pavilion is ravishing. Its good looks are the most obvious thing about it. Which is why, when Dae Wha Kang, founder and director of the eponymous London firm behind the pavilion's design, expounds on the humility and thoughtfulness that went into its creation, it looks even better. “We have a great love for taking care with everything that we do,” he says, affirming that…

MARCUS AURELIUS, THE great Stoic philosopher, had this to say about the impetus behind every action: “Let no act be done without purpose.” That dictum underscores the importance of thought in shaping the intentions that drive action; action that when purposefully applied, can effect change for the better. In that spirit, Robb Report Singapore annually carries a torch for a select group of trailblazers and captains of industry whose successful endeavours radiate outward with a changemaking power under the banner of Thought Leaders. Spotlighted in the Power-themed September issue, this year's community of Thought Leaders comprises 24 individuals from disparate arenas including banking and finance, hospitality, fintech, medtech, gaming, photography, commerce and the civil service. To celebrate their individual journeys in a collective and sumptuous fashion, we rallied these stalwarts…