Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i Robb Report Singapore

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, the tantalising promise of adventure doesn’t just seduce the spirit—it challenges one’s capacity to stretch and evolve through new, and sometimes disconcerting, experiences. So, instead of asking ‘why’ in response to the accoutrements and invitations to the adventurous pursuits featured in this issue, we opt for a more exploratory ‘why not?’. Ever dreamt of trekking the Himalayas, right to the Mount Everest base camp? Or taking a detour from the madding crowd of Shibuya Crossing to hike, instead, through the Kunisaki Peninsula on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu, taking…

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 legendary motifs—Serpenti, Anchor Chain, Bird on a Rock—to the brands that created them (for the uninitiated, that would be Bulgari, Hermès and Tiffany & Co., respectively). But recently, the industry’s biggest names haven’t just tweaked decades-old designs but instead have looked to reinvent them. At Bulgari, the snake-shaped Serpenti—applied to everything from chokers to watches—celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. The latest iteration eliminates the head and tail, allowing the eye to focus on the serpent’s body in a new necklace, which creates a sleek, slithering form around the neck, adorned with onyx, emeralds and…

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 three decades ago, the red carpet to this isolated region in northern Nepal was finally rolled out last August with the debut of Shinta Mani Mustang. Masterminded by architect Bill Bensley and hospitality guru Jason M Friedman, the 29-suite resort was Asia’s most anticipated opening of 2023 for good reason. Previously, if you wanted to visit this frozen-in-time locale and witness pure Tibetan Buddhist culture, your lodging options were US$10-a-night guesthouses or campsites. Shinta Mani Mustang delivers a never-before-seen level of luxury, and much more. Bensley has designed over 200…

THE ADVENTURE ISSUE 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, conversation—with strangers, I end up talking anyway. A woman in her 60s, who speaks English better than I do Mandarin, tells me about living the slow life in this part of Kyushu and how much she enjoys it compared to her hometown of Osaka. “It’s way too crowded over there,” she says. It isn’t every day I get to visit a part of Japan so hidden from the rest of the world. The southernmost island of Kyushu, sedated with natural beauty…

Dream Machines | WHEELS 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 headquarters, to the unveiling of the Revuelto, its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the message is clear: the future can’t come soon enough. While the spectre of hybridisation and electrification that looms on the horizon has nudged carmakers into reluctantly accepting a future of petrol-less and growl-less engines, Lamborghini seems to embrace the inevitable. In 2021, the company outlined its plans to electrify every vehicle in its portfolio by the end of 2024. Following the Revuelto’s launch, Lamborghini offered a sneak peak of the Lanzador, a futuristic, all-electric production…

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 status anxiety, the It bag. Until now. Enter Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton’s new creative director for menswear and a man whose personal style, from his Richard Mille watch collaboration to those custom Tiffany & Co. sunglasses framed entirely in diamonds, has long set the bar for unimpeachable cool. With his inaugural collection last June in Paris, Williams unveiled his take on Louis Vuitton’s famous Speedy bag; in a good sign for the brand’s high-profile signing but bad news for the rest of us, it instantly became the must-have carryall among the…

Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream 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 is a powerhouse of skin-loving ingredients. Glucosyl ceramides, calming beta-sitosterols, and essential zinc and copper salt minerals work in harmony to not only moisturise but also nourish the skin. This unique blend promotes the natural synthesis of healthy collagen, vital lipids and hyaluronic acid, contributing to a robust and resilient skin structure. In turn, a deeply hydrated and firmer skin with reduced visible redness and healthier skin barrier comes through. Boasting a thick viscosity, this cream is best incorporated into your nighttime skincare routine. For a personalised…

The Resource | SAVOUR 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 the lights off, lock the doors, go home and never return. Michter’s saw it coming. The American whisky industry was suffering; a 13-year Prohibition nearly drove it to extinction, white spirits had become fashionable and locals were looking global. Back then, it was mostly the export markets that were keeping distilleries alive. On that fateful day, a year after filing for bankruptcy, Michter’s pulled the curtain down, leaving its Pennsylvania premises in disrepair and the ‘Michter’s’ name, left for…

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 a lively reception and an informative presentation detailing the brand’s storied heritage and the design philosophy behind its iconic Lange 1 collection. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the Lange 1 flagship exclusives. These exceptional timepieces, each a unique iteration of the revered collection, are available in limited quantities. Guests took the opportunity to experience first-hand the exceptional skill and dedication that A. Lange & Söhne pours into every creation. The watches presented included the Lange 1 in platinum and its equally stunning 18k yellow…

Objectified Take To The Skies 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 numerals that provide peerless readability. A highlight of this timepiece is its big date display at 6 o’clock. This larger-than-usual indicator features a patented instantaneous switching mechanism that takes just 0.03 seconds for each date disc to jump and stabilise. Housed in a sturdy 42.5mm stainless steel case, the timepiece is powered by the El Primero 3652 movement. The highfrequency engine, which beats at a rapid 36,000 vibrations per hour and boasts 60 hours of power reserve, drives the aforementioned date display and the…

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 you’re a tourist, the only way to reach 90 degrees north latitude, the geographic North Pole, is aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a six-star hotel mated to a massive, 492ft icebreaking hull. My wife, Cathy, and I are among the first group of tourists aboard Ponant’s new expedition icebreaker, the world’s only Polar Class 2-rated cruise ship (of seven levels of ice vessel, second only to research and military vessels in ability to manoeuvre in Arctic conditions). Our arrival on 14 July couldn’t be more different from explorer Robert Peary’s on 6…

Dream Machines | WINGS 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 low-Earth orbit, the layer 402km above the atmosphere, as the next frontier in commercial space enterprises. NASA seems all for it, supporting private developers via grants that promise to set off a gold rush of scientific research—and tourism. “There will be at least one, maybe two, private space stations in the next five to 10 years,” says Tom Shelley, president of Space Adventures, which has been placing civilians on the ISS since 2001. But while he’s confident of the timeline, specifics remain vague. “Just…

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 along the way. Just ask those who make a living competing in sports as disparate as Formula 1, golf, soccer and hockey, where these computer-assisted training tools can help provide a winning edge. Whether aiming to be a contender or just a better weekend warrior, you’ll find the following top-of-the-line simulators will help keep you at the top of your game where it counts: in the real world. Golfzon TwoVision Golf Simulator There’s no shortage of golf sims, but it was Golfzon that notched Golf Inc.’s Most Innovative Product Award. The TwoVision (from US$72,000) name comes from the…

The Goods | TIME 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 conglomerate, LVMH Watch Week has become a curtain raiser for the new horological year, with Bulgari radiating alluring charms for 2024. Just as it was traded as currency in ancient Greece, and used to craft the most treasured of luxury accoutrements throughout centuries, the world’s most coveted metal has never lost its lustre since it was first mined in the Transylvanian Alps in 4000 BC. Gold’s rarity, of course, contributes to its desirability. But there is also its unmistakable sheen that, depending on its alchemy, can evoke…

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 era of mindful consumerism, the trend towards luxury vintage shopping burgeons as it caters to this very essence. Luxury, for many, resides in the individuality of an item. The inherent risk with contemporary fashion lies in its accessibility; a beautiful dress or a stunning accessory that becomes a ubiquitous sight somehow becomes less charming or desirable. However, when one delves into the world of vintage shopping, he unearths treasures that are not just rare but often singular. Each vintage find comes with its own story—a tale of dormant memories, of craftsmanship and,…

THE WORLD 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. Billing itself as the largest, privately owned residential yacht on Earth, The World allows you to do just that. It has only 165 luxury residences, which can be customised to each owner’s preferences. The residences range in size from 290 sq ft for an Ocean Studio to 3,242 sq ft for a Three-Bedroom Residence With 12 decks, The World offers a gamut of distractions for young and old, such as a spa, a fitness centre with personal trainers, restaurants that offer fine and casual dining options, and the only…

Quenino by Victor Liong 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 culinary horizons expand to Singapore and Malaysia’s waters, where flavours prepare you for a night of sensory overload, but only in the best ways possible. Found on level four of Artyzen Singapore in a tranquil space of its own, Quenino by Victor Liong has to be one of the hotel’s biggest draws. Its name, which points to the crossroads of flavours around Asia, is derived from ‘little one’ in Kristang, a creole language spoken by a community of mixed Portuguese and Malay ancestry. It’s also…

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. Emanating soft shades of amber and light bronze, with smooth viscosity and big personalities, they comprise 48-, 49- and 51-yearold whiskies from the Glenglassaugh Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection. “I equate a whisky’s age as being half the age of a person,” explains Barrie. “So, for a 48-year-old whisky, that makes it 96 years old in human years. How often do you get to meet someone this old? Just in terms of their rarity, I hope this gives some context to the whiskies.” The exceptional age…

The Resource | TRAVEL 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 actor Lee Minho—befitting Gangnam’s reputation for sophistication and entertainment. In the video, the narrative unfolds in a dramatic tapestry of betrayals and power struggles. A family divided by circumstance eventually uncovers the meaning of peace through the beauty of human connections, self-discovery and strong familial bonds that are forged in unforgettable moments. Set against the backdrop of JW Marriott’s breathtaking natural surroundings, the visuals serve as a compelling testament to the enriching experiences designed for rediscovery. “The Stay in the Moment campaign focuses on the discerning luxury traveller who seeks…

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 sound of tumbling ice fades, but the smell of a strong French roast only grows stronger. A rap at my tent door is followed by a cheerful voice saying subha prabhat, or good morning, in Nepalese. I remain in bed, cocooned in the warmth of my electric blanket as the door unzips to reveal an apple-cheeked man holding a tray with a French press and a mug. “Delivery from your barista guy,” he says with a chuckle. He places the much-needed caffeine on a side table,…

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 Valladolid in the autonomia, or state, of Castilla y León, north of Madrid. Archaeological evidence suggests wine has been made here for 2,600 years, since the Romans commanded these lands, and the geology explains why. The vineyards sit at 762 to 1,097m above sea level, and such high altitudes provide what’s known in viticulture as the diurnal temperature shift. Hot, sunny summer days offer ideal conditions for grapes to ripen, while significantly cooler nights allow them to retain their freshness and acidity. Locals call Tempranillo, the main grape grown…

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 embarked on a five-year global journey last month on his 180ft Purpose. Having recently undergone an extensive refit, Purpose will be used for both charter and charity, allowing guests the option to get involved with philanthropic aid, from relief efforts to educational fieldwork. “The aim is to leave each destination better than we found it,” says Neugebauer, who plans to join the expedition for eight weeks. “I can’t imagine us doing a trip where we’re not doing something constructive.” Other causes close to Neugebauer’s heart include disaster recovery, female empowerment in developing nations and strengthening families—…

The Goods | 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 the right indies has long been seen as a sort of graduation to the big leagues of watch collecting. But he soon found that having the means, the interest and even the right connections wasn’t enough to get his foot in the door. “It’s been incredibly difficult for me to break in,” he laments. “I’m either not playing at that level yet or I’ve not been able to participate. I’ll hear about a brand, or I’ll hear about a release, and I’m left trying…

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 the latest advancements in the realm of sustainable skincare are products from Nor Sken, which draws on the powers of science and nature to supercharge the production of crucial proteins that create younger-looking and healthy skin. A single-step regimen, the cream stays true to Scandinavian simplicity while changing the way we age in a remarkable way. “I saw the need for a reverse ageing solution that was effective and powerful, yet gentle on the skin. We craft every bottle of Nor Sken Restore using plant-based ingredients that create high-performance skincare with meaningful…

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 Khan, whose studio occupies the same former toy-factory building as hers, pops into the screen and vouches for her ambulatory habit. “People follow her around the studio,” he says. That space is now a forest of richly hued plaster sculptures, the latest in Morris’s long-running series of totemic towers of misshapen spheres she calls Stacks. The orbs appear to teeter on top of one another in ways that defy physics (a hidden steel pole impaling the pieces enables that bit of magic). “It’s a really, really busy studio. I can…

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 appreciation for the art of dining. In this haven of gastronomy, executive chef Masashi Horiuchi orchestrates a symphony of complexion that transcends the mere act of dining. With his deep-seated philosophy of kokoro (Japanese for ‘heart’ or ‘spirit’), Horiuchi reflects on this guiding principle: “It is the driving force of all our culinary creations at Potager—to delve into our innermost selves and our craft, presenting the discoveries we unearth onto a plate.” Together with head chef De Wet Visser, they navigate the intricate dance of flavours, presenting a contemporary French tasting…

The Resource | TRAVEL 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 close to the action that when he’s finally spit out from the ride, my face gets misted in ocean spray. Below me, Australian Jack Robinson, who will go on to win the event, sits on the edge of the boat performing breathing exercises ahead of his heat. Around me, a flotilla of kayaks, jet skis, surfboards and small vessels bobs in the channel, acting as a floating stadium for fans. For many of the competitors—and the 1,400-odd residents of the…