Luxury Arabia

The LEGO Group has revealed an authentic replica of the most famous ship of all time, the RMS Titanic. For the first time, fans can now recreate the luxury liner in detailed LEGO® brick form, 110 years since it was launched in Belfast in 1911. The LEGO Titanic is one of the longest and largest LEGO models to date, made up of 9,090 pieces, making it a truly immersive building challenge for LEGO fans and budding historians alike.

As well as its sheer size, the Titanic was known for its unrivaled grandeur, which has been faithfully captured in the set. Beneath the unmistakable exterior of the LEGO Titanic, there are several interior rooms to explore including the First-Class grand staircase which spans six decks and the Jacobean-style dining saloon which was located on the ship’s D deck. The Titanic was also renowned for its unparalleled speed, outclassing other ships of the era, and in the lower decks, fans will find a replica of the state-of-the-art engine room.

Mike Psiaki, design master at the LEGO Group commented: “At the time of its launch the Titanic was the pinnacle of nautical engineering, the largest moving vehicle ever created. It has been an incredible journey to recreate this iconic vessel from LEGO bricks, using blueprints created over a century ago.

“Designing the LEGO Titanic with such a focus on immense detail and scale, but also accuracy, has allowed us to create one of the most challenging building experiences to date. We know brick builders and ship enthusiasts of all ages will love building the set and displaying it in their homes.”

At over 1.3m long, the LEGO Titanic set is perfect for display and comes with a unique plaque with the ship’s name. This impressive set is available for pre-order from 1st November and general sale from 8th November from LEGO Stores and online at the recommended retail price of  $630.

Apple announced Apple Watch Series 7, featuring the largest and most advanced Apple Watch display ever - and a reengineered Always-On Retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders. The watch is available to order online and available in stores starting Friday, October 15.

The design of Apple Watch Series 7 is refined with softer, more rounded corners, and the display has a unique refractive edge that makes full-screen watch faces and apps appear to seamlessly connect with the curvature of the case. At just 1.7 mm thin, the narrower borders of Apple Watch Series 7 maximize the screen area of the display while minimally changing the dimensions of the watch itself.

Apple Watch Series 7 also features a user interface optimized for the larger display, a new QWERTY keyboard, plus two unique watch faces - Contour and Modular Duo - designed specifically for the new device. Users benefit from the same all-day 18-hour battery life, now complemented by 33 percent faster charging.

Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, Apple Watch Series 7 is the most durable Apple Watch ever, with a stronger, more crack-resistant front crystal. It is the first Apple Watch to have an IP6X certification for resistance to dust, and maintains a WR50 water resistance rating. The display on Apple Watch Series 7 has a unique refractive edge that makes full-screen watch faces and apps appear to seamlessly connect with the curvature of the case.

Apple Watch Series 7 introduces five beautiful new aluminum case finishes, including midnight, starlight, green, and a new blue and red, along with a range of new band colors and styles. Stainless steel models are available in silver, graphite, and gold stainless steel, along with Apple Watch Edition in titanium and space black titanium.

The newest Apple Watch continues to offer indispensable tools for health and wellness, including an electrical heart sensor and ECG app,3 and a Blood Oxygen sensor and app.4 watchOS 8 helps users stay healthy, active, and connected through new workout types, the new Mindfulness app, innovative accessibility features, greater access with Apple Wallet, and more capabilities with the Home app, along with enhancements to Messages and the Photos app.

Apple Watch Series 7 continues to offer indispensable tools for health and wellness, including an electrical heart sensor and ECG app. WatchOS 8 offers two new popular workout types that are beneficial for both physical fitness and mindful movement: Tai Chi and Pilates. The Mindfulness app in watchOS 8 features an enhanced Breathe experience; a new session type, Reflect; and guided Meditations for Fitness+ subscribers.

Apple Watch wearers can add hotel room keys to Wallet and tap their watch to unlock later this fall. The redesigned Home app in watchOS 8 offers more convenient access to accessories and scenes. With watchOS 8, Apple Watch users can combine the use of Scribble, Dictation, and emoji all within the same message.

With a judicious sense of detail, pattern, shape and curve, the Tonda PF is Parmigiani Fleurier's latest and most forward-looking collection. Released as the watchmaking brand celebrates its 25th anniversary, these new integrated bracelet timepieces take attention to craft, complication and streamlined aesthetics to a new high. One that doesn’t scream expensive but says excellence. One that is created to satisfy purists looking for a high-end, finespun timepiece. The Tonda PF collection is built around the most iconic in-house movements of the maison, running a wide gamut of complications, and culminating in a limited edition, all-platinum, award-winning split-seconds chronograph.

The Tonda PF collection inaugurates a new brand signature. The PF logo appears at 12 o’clock, nestled in a vertical, oval, double-edged appliqué with extensive finishings, a harbinger of the level of care put into the collection. The indices of each timepiece are set across two levels of the dial, while the Grain d’Orge guilloché dial pattern is the finest imaginable. Any smaller and it would have become invisible. Any larger, it would have become obvious, therefore defeating the purpose of this line: imperceptible refinement, entire dedication to exclusivity, modern permanence.

The Tonda PF is an entirely new collection of timepieces within the Tonda family, featuring Parmigiani Fleurier's most distinctive complications from the outset. This includes the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor, a slim, pared-down, high-end two-hander with platinum micro-rotor. The Tonda PF Chronograph features an almost flush dial and an integrated high frequency chronograph movement. The Tonda PF Annual Calendar with retrograde date demonstrates how discretely and astutely advanced indications can be integrated into a pared-down design. All three models are available in steel with platinum hand-knurled bezel or entirely crafted in 18ct rose gold. 

At the top of the range, Parmigiani Fleurier is grooming a limited series of the Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph. Fitting for a 25th Anniversary, its 25 pieces feature a dial, case and bracelet made of platinum 950, whose high frequency, open-worked, split seconds chronograph movement is built out of solid gold. 

Everywhere the eye lands on a Tonda PF, there's a particular texture, form, detail to be seen and enjoyed. This is not ornament, ostentation or opulence. This is a mature, sartorial approach to watchmaking, where cloth is replaced by metal and weaving by dial pattern. The cutting and fitting of the shoulders and waistline take on the form of case and bracelet. Like in a Neapolitan or Sicilian workshop, these are entirely focused on silhouette, fluidity, proportions and taste. Like any jacket that originates in those institutions of male elegance, the Tonda PF is tailored to withstand the passing of time and trends, and remain. 

Its specific hands are made of solid gold. Slim and long, they're almost entirely open-worked and of completely new design. The bezel, a direct heritage from the Tonda collection, features a sleek, polished part and another that's been knurled by hand, and is crafted out of solid platinum 950 for the steel models. Rather than using the same steel as the rest of the case and bracelet, Parmigiani Fleurier has elected to work with this highly precious metal. Not for the sake of exclusivity, but because it provides a better, shinier play with light and a more artisanal feeling once polished by hand. 

The case band on all four references of the Tonda PF line deserves closer examination. It is not straight, but slightly bassiné, i.e. wider near the bezel and narrower on the wrist. This provides the overall design with a sense of increased slimness. The surface is horizontal-satin-finished all around as is the upper surface of the lugs.

All Tonda PF timepieces speak first and foremost to their owner and wearer. On point, extensive, highly studied details build up to a general result which endow the whole Tonda PF collection with acute contemporary elegance. This is not a conspicuous object of luxury. This is the incarnation of a culture of savoir faire that addresses a certain crowd, able to recognize its sense of refinement. 

As Guido Terreni, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier so eloquently sums up: “We have conceived the Tonda PF for the watchmaking purists of tomorrow. An uncompromising crowd of a select few, seeking personal hedonistic pleasure, who are savvy in watchmaking, appreciate sartorial craft on their timepieces, and have a strong sense of style and refinement.”

"What is good must also be beautiful." this was the credo of Wilhelm and Karl Maybach at the beginning of the 20th century. Both father and son were regarded as gifted designers, trailblazers of automotive luxury and pioneers in matters of style. With a simple-sounding formula, they created highly complex things: perfection and craftsmanship paired with innovation, both technically and in terms of workmanship. 

This is what the name Maybach stands for to this day. The Mercedes-Maybach brand continues to develop, with more models – soon also electric. At the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Mercedes-Maybach presented the "Concept EQS" and thus gave a preview of the first fully electric series model from 2023. 

The SUV will be based on the modular architecture for luxury - and premium-class electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Maybach is presenting the "Edition 100" to mark its 100th anniversary. A special edition of the current S-Class and GLS models, each limited to 100 units. The special series can be ordered from the fourth quarter of 2021.

Wilhelm Maybach, born in 1846, was a close companion of Gottlieb Daimler and initially worked for Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. Among many innovations, he developed the first Mercedes, which dominated the Nice Race Week in 1901. This success earned him the honorary name "Roi des Constructeurs" – King of the Constructors. He and his eldest son Karl combined progress with form: They wanted to create "the best of the best". "I think about it around the clock, a constant impulse: the perfection of the technology," said Wilhelm.

Maybach Motorenbau GmbH presented the first mass-produced car at the motor show in Berlin in September 1921. The W 3 model resembled a moving work of art: the first German production car with four-wheel brakes, epicyclic gear system and an interior with the finest materials. The audience was thrilled, a legend was born.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Maybach became an expression of character and social position, and the epitome of technical and craftsmanship refinement – in short, custom-made luxury. From then on, kings, industrialists and artists were chauffeured in the stately limousines and majestic Pullman saloons, and travelled the world in chic coupés, cabriolets and roadsters. Every Maybach model is uniquely equipped.  Precision meets glamour. An Indian maharajah even had his limousine decorated with gold and rubies in 1928.

After the death of Karl Maybach in 1960, Daimler-Benz AG took over Maybach Motorenbau GmbH In 2002, MAYBACH was revived as an independent brand: until the beginning of 2013, legendary vehicles like the Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 as well as the Maybach 62 Landaulet were delivered to customers all over the world. Again, automotive excellence was the driving force for engineers, designers and customers alike.

Mercedes-Maybach has been a Mercedes-Benz brand since 2014. In addition to the standard Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and GLS models, the brand is also launching the S 600 Pullman as well as limited-edition special models such as the S 650 Cabriolet or a G 650 Landaulet. The core markets are China, Russia, South Korea, the USA and Germany.

Each model follows the brand's tradition of creating the "best of the best" and is made in consultation with customers at the Center of Excellence in Sindelfingen near Stuttgart. On request, the vehicles can also be individualized with attention to detail by the specialists in the Mercedes-Maybach Manufaktur program: craftsmanship and perfection at the highest level.

To mark its centennial, the brand continues its journey towards maximum individuality, independence and comfort with two high-tech models. The top-class GLS SUV with a V8 engine and 557 hp (NEDC combined fuel consumption: 12.0 l/100 km | combined CO2 emissions: 275 g/km)[1] combines a sporty appearance with the luxury of a saloon: it is 33 centimetres higher than the classic saloon, offers a uniquely generous interior with 1.10 metres of legroom and air suspension. The interior is soundproofed and adorned with the finest leather. Electrically extendable running boards ensure maximum comfort when getting in and out.

The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class luxury saloon with a V12 engine and 612 hp (NEDC combined fuel consumption: 14.1-13.3 l/100 km | combined CO2 emissions: 322-305 g/km)1 is the perfect chauffeur-driven saloon. Equipment highlights include the noise-insulated first-class rear compartment with Burmester 4D surround sound system, heat and massage functions for the seats and high-tech screens for infotainment. Compared to the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, the model has an 18 centimetres longer wheelbase and is equipped with all-wheel drive for the first time. 

Both models are now being celebrated in the most beautiful way in a refined Edition 100 limited to 100 units each: characteristic Maybach hallmarks such as the impressive radiator grille bear the brand emblem. The S-Class and GLS are hand-painted in the same two tones – high-tech silver/nautical blue - and feature a special design of leather interior in designo crystal white/silver grey pearl.

The brand logo including the inscription Edition 100 adorns the C-pillar (S-Class) or D-pillar (GLS), various stowage compartments and the illuminated panels in the interior. The Edition 100 lettering also adorns the hub caps. The forged wheels of the GLS and the wheels of the S-Class also shine in a new grey finish.

A car cover with the iconic double M as well as a fine handmade case made of soft crystal white or black leather in file size - made to store keys and papers - further underline the exclusivity of the edition. In keeping with the anniversary edition, Mercedes-Maybach's long-standing partners are also designing strictly limited special series: Licensing partner Maybach Icons of Luxury, for example, offers a diamond-studded fountain pen from the Maybach the Peak collection; the silver and yacht manufacturer Robbe & Berking offers a champagne flute with a specially created engraving.

The Edition 100 will be available at dealers in the first markets from the beginning of 2022, with other markets following in the course of the year. Orders for the limited special series will be accepted from the fourth quarter of 2021.

Even 100 years ago, Karl Maybach was already working with the best specialist companies in order to meet his customers' wishes and their style when building the bodies. He combined technical quality with individual design and perfect craftsmanship. No two cars are alike. Each of the coach-builders complements the outstanding engineering of the chassis and engines with high-quality equipment and handcrafted bodies. Customers see their vehicles as their own creations with character. Elegant unique pieces are created, masterpieces for connoisseurs and collectors.

The genesis of Maybach luxury is based on constant innovation – then as now. For this, inspiration is needed, impulses from outside, from creative partners like the early coach-builders. For Mercedes-Maybach, ultimate luxury in modern form has always meant promoting creativity and making aesthetics in harmony with technology an individual experience. Mercedes-Maybach relies on the expertise of its partners, a strong creative network of traditional businesses, manufacturers and visionaries.

Matching lifestyle accessories such as exclusive travel bags, leather goods, clothing, home and eyewear made in Germany enrich the customers' lifestyles – beyond the car. Licensing partner Maybach Icons of Luxury develops the collections with the mythical brand emblem. 

Sustainably selected materials are used, such as natural horn, precious woods, titanium, cashmere or leather types that meet the highest environmental standards. The artfully staged understatement of the products conveys the fascination of the brand and fulfil the desire for personal expression. 

To celebrate the 100th anniversary, the Maybach The Peak collection presents a limited-edition fountain pen with an 18-carat gold nib and serial numbering in a stylish wooden gift box. The clip of the pen is set with 100 diamonds, in a choice of either black or white, the cap tip is made of mother-of-pearl, and the body is lacquered in the blue metallic shade of the Edition 100 vehicles.

Luxury Swiss Maison Les Ateliers Louis Moinet has created a collection of Eight Marvels of the World dedicated to eight of the most beautiful human achievements across the ages in the form of eight timepieces. Each of them is reinterpreted by Louis Moinet and its clan of artisans, whose burins, brushes and chisels shape the materials to reflect the finest craftsmanship. This initiatory journey encompasses eight one-of-a-kind creations, presented in the Louis Moinet travel trunk and priced at CHF 2.5 million or just over AED 10 million.

The marvelous collection includes a timepiece titled The Colosseum - the largest ovoid amphi-theatre ever built in the Roman Empire. It could accommodate up to 50,000 people, who attended shows as varied as plays and gladiatorial fights. For its inauguration, Emperor Titus even transformed the arena into a water basin to recreate the naval battle of Corinth against Corcyra. A major work of architecture but also of Roman engineering, its construction was completed in 80 AD under Emperor Titus. It remains the embodiment of the power of Imperial Rome and attracts over seven million visitors a year.

The inside of the dial features an intramural depiction of the Colosseum in its heyday. It shows the centre of the arena in onyx, surrounded by a magnificent symmetrical array of baguette-cut sapphires, arranged in a gradient ranging from green to yellow via all the colors of the rainbow. Rising gradually all around it are the signature rows of seats. The steps of the Colosseum are finely detailed and polished. Their brilliance contrasts with other details of the work, which are sandblasted. The artist has sought to achieve maximum volume while preserving the unique nature of the Colosseum.

This timeless reproduction of the Colosseum also evokes its outer arches. A total of 112 arches for the case middle and 90 for the bezel are engraved in the rose gold of the Neo case, whose transversal bridge-lug concept lends itself perfectly to total artistic expression in this Colosseum. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition. 

The second timepiece in this collection is an artistic interpretation of the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is one of the historical mosques of Istanbul. Its construction was completed in 1616, during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I. It is regarded as the last example of classical Ottoman architecture and owes its name to the 20,000 predominantly blue ceramic tiles adorning its inner walls. It is privileged to have six minarets and was an important starting point for the pilgrimage to Mecca. This interpretation aims to render the visual strength of the Blue Mosque, a major work representing the culmination of two centuries of development of both Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches.

The dial base is composed of a mother-of-pearl inlay consisting of 13 elements in different shades of blue. The background represents the motifs of the vaulted ceiling that decorate the interior of the Mosque. It features a hand engraving of the Blue Mosque, whose details are enhanced by miniature painting. The ribbed domes and half-domes create pleasing visual harmony, while the six minarets are finely chased to accentuate their grooves. The case is entirely hand-chased. It represents an arabesque, a magnificent ornamental motif with complex interlacing patterns. This essential element of Islamic art is particularly highlighted by the chasing which combines finesse and accuracy.  The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition.

The third timepiece is an ode to Petra - an ancient Nabataean city located in Jordan, whose name means "rock" in ancient Greek. As early as the 6th century B.C., the Nabataeans made it a prosperous stage along the route of caravans carrying pearls and turquoise, ivory and silk, incense and spices. Petra was a real crossroads between Arabia and the Mediterranean, and between Egypt and Syria. Having fallen into oblivion in the modern world, it was rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt in 1812. The emblematic building in Petra is the Khazneh, with its monumental facade carved into the rock face. 

To enable the brand to imagine the power of Khazneh, the artist has combined – for the first time in watchmaking – three different techniques. The process begins with a bas-relief engraving applied on a slightly rounded base to give more volume to the motif. This simulated perspective creates a striking depth effect. As the statues decorating the niches on the façade have now been destroyed, they could only be imagined thanks to the artist's research work. His curiosity led him to find a watercolor by the famous painter David Roberts, dating from 1856, on which the statues are well depicted.

Once the model is thus engraved, the second stage involves applying the grisaille pictorial technique, using only shades of the same color. Ranging from light to dark, it is therefore especially suited to symbolizing the predominantly red-brown Petra sandstone. Finally, the distinctive fresco painting sets the final touch to this creation. Implementing this artistic practice requires great skill and speed of execution, since it involves painting on fresh plaster before it dries, to allow the pigments to penetrate the mass. The white gold case is adorned with a bas-relief and features hand-engraved lugs. The depictions of columns and elephants – symbolizing strength and wealth – are drawn from across the entire Petra site. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition.

The fourth watch is inspired by the Pyramid of Khufu - the largest of the Giza pyramids and also referred to as the Great Pyramid. It was built by the Egyptians about 4,500 years ago, under the IVth dynasty. Already considered in antiquity as the first of the seven wonders of the world, it is the only one to have survived to the present day. For millennia it remained the tallest and most voluminous ever construction. It is still being analyzed because it has not yet revealed all its mysteries. 

The dial is cut from a block of Willow Creek Jasper, a natural stone whose design is reminiscent of the sand dunes of Egypt. Hieroglyphics are then applied using a transparency technique to create a mysterious effect. The pyramid itself is made of gold and covered with carefully calibrated grains of enamel. Perfect control of the firing temperatures is then required to preserve their granular appearance. Originally, the Pyramid of Khufu was covered with white limestone facings, which explains why this color appears in this miniature work. 

The pyramidion (capstone) was made of electrum, a gold and silver alloy greatly prized by the ancient Egyptians. In this model it is carved from gold and given a mirror polish to maximize its brilliance. The statue of Khufu is represented on three different levels. Like ancient Egyptian statues, it is made of black basalt and its headdress is adorned with gold miniature painting. The case is engraved by hand, partly using the taille de joue technique, in which the engraver imparts a particular sense of movement to the engraved object. It depicts the lotus flowers adorning the tops (capitals) of Egyptian columns. The lugs are engraved with Khufu’s cartouche. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition. 

The fifth watch is inspired by the Taj Mahal - a white marble mausoleum built in 1648 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, which means "Jewel of the Palace" in Persian. A jewel of Mughal architecture, its style combines Islamic, Iranian, Ottoman and Indian influences. For its construction, more than 1,000 elephants are said to have been used to transport white marble from Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, turquoise from Tibet ... In total, 28 types of fine and ornamental polychrome stones were used for the stone inlays in the white marble. 

An elaborate miniature painting graces the white marble dial of this timepiece. It depicts the architectural details of the Taj Mahal, including the slightly bulbous central dome, which is 35 metres high. It is topped by a bronze pinnacle decorated with a kalash, a Hindu symbol of good luck, as well as an Islamic crescent moon symbol. The dome rests on an inverted lotus-shaped drum. It is surrounded by smaller secondary domes, as well as four free-standing minarets, 43 metres high. They have an octagonal base and a tapered cylindrical body. Vertically, the minarets are divided into three parts by two different balconies. In front of the Taj Mahal, the turquoise part evokes the water of one of the garden's canals.

A polished and rhodium-plated grid is affixed to the dial. It gives the work a depth effect and is adorned with ornamental motifs reminiscent of the moucharabieh windows found in traditional architecture. The case is hand-engraved with ornamental representations of the Taj Mahal and Indian mandala patterns, complemented by an engraving of a Mughal motif on the bezel. The subtle work on the upstrokes and downstrokes creates a pleasing decorative contrast. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition. 

The sixth watch is inspired by The Great Wall - one of the most important architectural structure ever built, in terms of length, surface area and mass. It stretches over 6,200 kilometres, with walls averaging six to seven metres high and four to five metres wide. Intended to protect China's northern frontier, it starts at the border with the coast north of Beijing and extends to the Gobi Desert. Its construction dates initially from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century. Since 1987, the Great Wall has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The hand-engraved rose gold applique depicts the Great Wall, which gradually transforms into a powerful dragon surrounding the jade path that is lost in the perspective of an endless wall. The bright green shine of the maw-sit-sit jade stone lends itself wonderfully to illuminating the path of the dragon. In the background, a celestial vault consists of a gradient paving of 129 brilliant-cut sapphires and 11 brilliant-cut diamonds. Through its three shades of blue, it evokes a deep sky, studded with a few diamonds. It overlooks the distant mountain, appearing as a hand-engraved white gold applique. A subtle play on height dissociates the elements of this artwork. It enables the dragon to express its power and dominate the scene. The case helps assert this authority, as the hand engraving gives life to the dragon theme picked up on the case middle, bezel and lugs. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition.

The seventh watch in the collection is inspired by the Statue of Christ the Redeemer a monumental statue of Christ. Installed on Mount Corcovado, it overlooks Rio de Janeiro. An icon of the city, the statue is 38 metres high and as such is one of the world’s largest statues. Designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, it was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida (for the head), then erected in collaboration with the French engineer Albert Caquot. Completed in 1931, the statue is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, a soft yet very resistant rock. The head weighs 30 tons, each hand eight tons, and the span of the outstretched hands is 28 metres. 

From the top of Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer appears to be protecting Rio and its famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, as well as the Bay of Guanabara and its 130 islands. The statue is hand-engraved on a gold base and stands out majestically from the landscape with a relief applique. It faces a sea whose floor is hand-engraved and then enamelled in translucent azure blue. The mountains are also glazed in opaque Grand Feu enamel. To instill even more life into this creation, the multicolored buildings of the town are depicted in enamelled micro-painting. The various enamelled elements are based on the champlevé technique, which consists of removing a little material to apply the enamel. The case features a skillful reinterpretation of the decorative elements of the Brazilian coat of arms: coffee leaves and tobacco leaves. These intaglio elements served as a guiding thread enabling the engraver to define a powerful theme, accentuating both the power of Christ the Redeemer and of Brazil itself. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition.

The eighth watch in the collection is inspired by Machu Picchu which means "old mountain". This 15th century ancient Inca city is perched on a promontory joining the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains in Peru. The presumed residence of the first Inca Emperor (Pachacútec, who reigned from 1438 until his death in 1471), it was a religious sanctuary of the utmost importance. Following the collapse of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu fell into oblivion for several centuries. The Sacred City is considered the masterpiece of Inca architecture. It is located in the east of the Andes mountain range, on the edge of the Amazonian forest. The ruins of 172 constructions are located at an altitude of 2,438 metres, between the two peaks: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu.

A hand-engraved golden sun shines above the creation while respecting the iconographic representation of the Incas. Everything converges towards this daystar embodying the spirituality of the Inca culture. These include four Andean condors, a true national symbol of Peru. Meticulously engraved and painted by hand, these birds fly in a deep blue sky, crafted using the micro-painting technique. Their style is directly inspired by drawings of the Nazca civilization, a pre-Colombian culture of southern Peru (200 BC to 600 AD). 

The site of Machu Picchu is represented by a golden city at the foot of two marvelous mountains cut and carved with great finesse from a Yowah Nut opal. They surround a central stone in Crazy Lace Agate, chosen for its delicate veins pointing towards the sun. The desire to bring out the smallest details of the golden city and its various buildings called for the production manufacture of special tools, especially for the chasing. The terraces featuring a distinctive farming system are enhanced with green lacquer. The case is adorned with a strong relief-effect hand engraving of the sun at 12 o’clock and at 6 o'clock. It is surrounded by the hummingbird and the condor from the Nazca Geoglyphs. The watch features a Calibre LM 35 60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition.

In the course of his travels, Jean-Marie Schaller has reveled in discovering an array of monuments as varied as they are powerful, each playing a role in composing the tapestry of human genius. He has therefore personally selected "8 Marvels of the World" representative of artistic diversity and testifying to human cultures through time. The trunk evokes a journey through time. It houses the eight one-of-a-kind creations composing the "8 Marvels of the World".

It is made of natural elm burr and adorned with a silver-colored Fleur de Lys pattern. Its domed lid is topped by two cognac-colored leather straps. Its interior is made of black leather and the inside of the cover features an 18th century treasure: a globe drawn by Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr. The print is enhanced by watercolors, making this creation truly one of a kind.

Oris marks the 10th anniversary of Botswana’s aeromedical rescue organization Okavango Air Rescue with a limited-edition version of the Big Crown ProPilot that’s inspired by nature. The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition celebrates the landmark achievements of Botswana’s aeromedical rescue organization.

To celebrate the indescribable drive and competitive spirit of all athletes and fans, Apple launched the International Collection bands for Apple Watch, featuring 22 limited-edition Sport Loop bands with colorful designs that represent those nations across the globe. Each band also features a matching downloadable Stripes watch face showcasing color combinations that customers around the world can use to personalize their Apple Watch and boldly show their country support.

Available only online, the International Collection Apple Watch Sport Loop bands are available in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes for $49 (US). The band packaging includes App Clip functionality to easily download the matching country’s Stripes Apple Watch face. Additionally, customers can download any of the 22 watch faces from their website and also use Face Sharing to share with other Apple Watch users. The new Sport Loop bands and matching downloadable Stripes watch faces feature colorful designs that represent 22 nations across the globe.

The new Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm series is both modern and avant-garde with heavy wide crown guards, and short angular semi-integrated lugs making this watch one of unique proportions that is considerably more compact on the wrist than other diver watches. 

Oris Calibre 400 Series sets the new standard in automatic mechanical watchmaking. Conceived entirely in-house by the independent Swiss watch company’s skilled engineers, it offers elevated levels of anti-magnetism and a five-day power reserve, and comes with a 10-year warranty and 10-year recommended service intervals.


The watch is available in three iterations with ceramic bezel insert featuring a bright, legible white diving scale on a base of black, navy blue, or deep forest green. The case back includes a sapphire display window to showcase the new in-house movement, and the watch is water resistant to 300 meters.

All three versions of the new Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm series use a sunburst dial finish. Buyers can choose between a dark anthracite gray tone, an oceanic sunburst blue, or an emerald green, which feels deep and intense in initial images. The in-house Calibre 400 automatic movement inside the Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm series is a major step forward for the brand’s movement-making capabilities, especially for its core offerings. 

In addition to outstanding accuracy, the Calibre 400 offers magnetic resistance of up to 2,250 gauss, more than 11 times the current ISO standard for anti-magnetism. Power reserve performance is robust as well, with twin mainspring barrels producing 120 hours of power reserve. 

Oris also validates the longevity of the Calibre 400 platform, recommending a service interval of 10 years rather than the more standard five recommended years between services. All three watches feature a stainless steel bracelet with vertically brushed center links. For those that prefer straps, all three models in the new line can also be optioned with the brand’s signed textured black rubber strap, which also includes a folding clasp and dive extension for a modern and functional sporting look.

The Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 41.5 mm line is available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $3,300 on rubber and $3,500 with the stainless steel bracelet. For more details, please visit the Oris website.


MENA Newswire: Luxury e-commerce startup ShopWorn is on track to hit $20 million in sales by year end. Initially fueled by the revenge shopping spree begun by Chinese consumers, leading ShopWorn to open a Hong Kong satellite, American consumers are now doing their own revenge spending on ShopWorn as a sustainable alternative to buying used luxury. ShopWorn’s circular business model of acquiring past seasons’ unsold luxury watches, jewelry, leather goods and other accessories directly from luxury brands or their authorized retailers tackles a less addressed area in retail sustainability conversations: what to do with unsold inventory at the end of every season. 

With consumers now choosing where they spend their money based on a company’s environmental footprint, luxury brands are viewing ShopWorn not only as a channel for their remaining inventory of never previously owned products, but also as a pathway for achieving zero-waste in their production cycles.  This added value has aided ShopWorn in increasing the number of luxury brands working directly with the site by 50 percent over the past 12 months. This gained market share and new customer acquisition account for ShopWorn’s 117 percent projected growth since the start of the pandemic. 

“Talk of sustainability must go beyond what has already been produced,” said Larry Birnbaum, CEO of ShopWorn. “What about the raw materials remaining after wholesale orders have been fulfilled? We understand these supplies are often never enough for a complete production run, so we encourage our brand partners to provide us merchandise made from these leftover materials, whether this is one item or five. In this, we assist our partners in reducing waste and support our customers’ desires to be part of the circular economy.” 

Cyril Guerin, Product Director for DeWitt Watches, commented, “The challenges that come from sparing no detail in achieving the highest in horology is the spare components once a DeWitt timepiece is completed.  This is where our relationship with ShopWorn has become a valuable part of our business as we continue to explore our environmental impact. Through ShopWorn, we are able to ensure fewer unused components at the end of every production season. Once our primary clientele orders have been satisfied, we then deliver to ShopWorn customers exceptional DeWitt timepieces that allow us to advance our ingenuity in watchmaking while focusing on zero waste. Sustainability in watchmaking isn’t impossible – you must only have the right partner to achieve it. For us, ShopWorn has been that partner.”

ShopWorn is an e-commerce shopping destination for customers who want to be the first to own authentic, unused luxury products but don’t want to pay luxury prices. Launched in 2015, ShopWorn was created to help brands and their authorized retailers sustainably alleviate the challenge of unsold inventory. 

With ShopWorn’s unique sourcing strategy of obtaining products directly from luxury brands and authorized retailers, every item sold on ShopWorn is guaranteed to be 100% authentic and never previously owned, even at incredible savings from the original MSRP. The direct relationship between ShopWorn, brands and authorized dealers alleviates any question of authenticity. And because customers should be able to trust what they see and buy online is what they receive, all ShopWorn product images are from an in-house photographer. Stock images are never used.  Items featured on the ShopWorn site are always in stock and ready to ship within two business days. 

Miral in collaboration with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment announced that The WB Abu Dhabi hotel is on track to open in 2021. With a design and concept inspired by the world-famous Warner Bros. brand, the hotel, developed with a total investment of US$112 million, will complement the company’s commitment to diversifying Yas Island’s offerings and delivering unforgettable experiences for its visitors.

Peter van Roden, SVP Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, said, "We are thrilled to be so close to completion on the world’s first Warner Bros. branded hotel. The WB Abu Dhabi will be an amazing complement to the adjacent Warner Bros. World theme park. The hotel will be a first-rate family destination inspired by the iconic WB library of film and television shows. Guests will be able to participate in all the thrills and excitement of the theme park then step inside the hotel for an experience fit for a Hollywood star.