Indice dei contenuti per January 2018 in Robb Report

Winter IsHere Brave the weather with a cozy (and collectible) dram of Scotch whisky like Winter Storm—an experimental, one-time release from Glenfiddich. robbreport.com/winterstorm STORY OF THE MONTH Ferocity atthe Fringe These extreme machines may not be household names, but then, they were never meant for the masses. robbreport.com/lesserknown supercars READER SURVEY RESULTS Which mountain resort would be your ultimate ski destination this winter? Our readers told us where they hope to find the perfect piste. WEB EXCLUSIVES STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WHETHER YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH, GAIN NEW INSIGHTS, OR JUST LOOK GOOD ALL YEAR LONG, ROBBREPORT.COM HAS COLLECTED SOME OF THE BEST WAYS TO FULFILL YOUR 2018 RESOLUTIONS. The High Five PILATES: JAIME BEARD; PORTLAND/MOUNT HOOD: JOSEMARIA TOSCANO/SHUTTERSTOCK YACHTS FOR WARMER CLIMES Dive into This Yacht’s…

H  ästens,theSwedish bedmakerknown for its horsetail-hair-stuffed mattresses with six-figure price tags, has been the ultimate purveyor of beauty sleep for more than 150 years. Founded in 1852, the family-owned brand produces handcrafted mattresses that are customized to accommodate everything from body composition to temperature preferences. A closer look at the meticulous and often months-long process of building a single Hästens mattress—each of which is created in the company’s state-of-the-art, Ralph Erskine–designed “Santa’s workshop” in Köping, Sweden—reveals why the blue-checkered mattress is still the king of beds. 1 Equine Inspiration Hästens’s researchers call horsetail hair a “magic fiber” for its microscopic cavities. The hand-teased hair in each mattress helps offer support, circulate air, and wick moisture. 2 Natural Benefits The mattresses contain only sustainably sourced fill. Flax helps divert static electricity;…

AN INHERITED PIECE of farming equipment intended to help secure the future of one of Napa Valley’s best-known vineyards very nearly eclipsed it. “We have a term called tractor blight,” says Doug Shafer, who, along with his father, John, established Shafer Vineyards in the Stags Leap District as one of California’s most prestigious labels. He recalls that in the early 1970s, shortly after acquiring a parcel of land in wine country, John—a former business executive—took to agricultural pursuits with hazardous zeal. “There was also this old International Harvester TD-9 crawler tractor. The 60-year-old vines on the place were spaced 8 by 8 feet, so you could crisscross back and forth with the equipment. But the tractor was 7 feet by 6 inches wide. So, being a rookie, my father took…

Offto the Races $4.5 million–$5.5 million “We have one ofthe most iconic cars in the world and certainly one of the most legendary of Porsches—a 550A Spyder,” says Jakob Greisen, vice president of Bonhams Motoring; only 40 examples of the car rolled off the factory floor. “Even better is the fact that this fantastic car is an ex-works racer that competed to an impressive fifth overall (second in class) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958. It is a very original example, with exceptional pedigree, just like you would want for one of these rare, archetypal sports racers.” The 1958 Porsche 550A leads the house’s seventh annual Scottsdale sale on January 18. bonhams.com A Major Draw $300,000–$500,000 “Parmigianino’s drawings have been justifiably recognized…

“Canapé?” Don’tmindifIdo. Around me, more than 175 members of one of this country’s most exclusive societies were gathered for cocktails last spring at the Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago. There was a prosperous though understated look to the crowd—more Brooks Brothers than Armani—and the room buzzed with pent-up excitement. “This is the first time in our 130-year history that we’ve ever done something like this,” confided the evening’s host, financier Christopher Wolf. The guests were no less aware of the momentous nature of the event. One partygoer, his tone hushed, observed, “This has always been like a secret society. I’m honored to be a member, but you don’t want to ask too many questions.” The woman standing next to him agreed. “I still don’t know how I was selected for…

“Make voyages! Attempt them! There’s nothing else.” —Tennessee Williams 1 OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE The French brand’s slim-fit, gray cashmere herringbone blazer wards off creases without sacrificing comfort ($1,100). Pair it with a crisp white Charvet cotton shirt ($495). mrporter.com 2 POLO RALPH LAUREN This wool blazer’s hand-sewn shoulders and rolled lapels give it a relaxed yet refined look—plus the suede undercollar helps maintain the jacket’s shape on long-haul flights ($895). Brighten it up with a white cotton Kingsman shirt by Turnbull & Asser ($495). mrporter.com…

ART & ANTIQUES ARTWORK WANTED Inherited American paintings wanted. Premiums paid for new-to-the-market family-owned 19th and 20th listed artists. Hudson River school, American impressionists, modern, and postwar are desired. If you have one painting or an entire collection please call or e-mail Newportart. Contact: (401) 954-5078; E-mail: jay@newportart.com AUTO MERCEDES SPRINTER CONVERSION Turn heads. The #1 classiest, ultimate Mercedes Sprinter conversion. Entertain in style, tailgate with class and travel in comfort. Loaded with options. Offered wholesale from $115,900 by one of Midwest Automotive’s largest dealers. 2018s in stock. Domestic and international immediate delivery available.www.UltimateToys.com Contact: (513) 770-1665 FINANCE & BUSINESS CONVENTIONAL & HARD MONEY LOANS U.S & International locations: Debt/Equity financing considered for new technologies, financial services, aviation, Internet/IT, oil & gas-energy, mining, gaming/ leisure, real estate and asset-backed lending.…

 THE BRITISH AUTHOR, journalist, and longtime frenemy of playwright George Bernard Shaw observed—correctly—that the essence of travel is a matter less of geography and motion than of perception. Unexpected insights of the kind Chesterton would have endorsed certainly informed the centerpiece of our annual travel issue, “The Places to Be in 2018” (page 101). “Our readers’ travel tastes have evolved quite a bit in the 15 years I’ve been at Robb Report,” says executive editor and veteran rover Bruce Wallin, who championed the feature. “We’re venturing farther and to a wider variety of destinations than ever before, inspired by everything from art fairs to extreme adventures. That diversity is reflected in our cover story, which spans the range from cultural events in Buenos Aires and Malta to luxury expeditions through…

“New buyers will pay anything. You can still pick up the occasional deal on eBay or your local watch shop—but not without significant risk. “ Zeroto Nerd When I was a kid, my dad always wore the same Rolex Datejust. As a result, I have always been a watch appreciator, but it wasn’t until I founded Crown & Caliber that I became a watch nerd. I always wondered why it was easy and safe to buy a pre-owned car yet so difficult and scary to buy a pre-owned watch. So I started Crown & Caliber to make it easy and profitable to buy or sell a pre-owned watch. Whatto Watch The retail market for new watches is always a precursor to what will happen in the pre-owned market. Instead of…

IF THE BRUICHLADDICH distillery on the Scottish island of Islay is best known for its annual Octomore iterations—limited-edition, peaty single-malt whiskies that are distinct in flavor thanks to the ever-changing assemblage of casks in which they are matured and finished—the latest such release from the brand promises to bolster that reputation. The Octomore Masterclass 08.2 ($200, available exclusively in duty-free shops worldwide; bruichladdich.com) is a refined whisky characterized by maturation in casks that once held a variety of grape-based libations. At its core, Masterclass 08.2 is a marriage of spirits matured for 6 years in second-fill casks that held Sauternes, Mourvèdre, and Austrian sweet wine. Those whiskies were then vatted and matured for an additional 2 years in first-fill barrels that held amarone. The spirits’ interaction with those amarone-soaked casks…

motor city sounds The new Shinola Canfield collection (shinola.com) of on-, over-, and in-ear headphones marks the luxury-goods manufacturer’s first foray into portable audio. Ranging from $195 for a basic pair of earbuds to $650 for a black, PVD-coated over-ear model, the line is constructed from high-quality materials like top-grain leather, stainless steel, and lambskin-encased memory foam. To ensure the utmost audio quality, each pair is tested and tuned at Shinola’s factory in Detroit. —ALEXANDER LAMASCUS truffle time Around the world it’s commonly known that if you’re hunting for truffles, you head to Southern France and Northern Italy. But tucked into the Pacific Northwest, a burgeoning movement of farmers and harvesters is making Oregon’s Willamette Valley the U.S. epicenter for the delicacy. Over two celebratory weekends in January and February,…

“Ilove when experts come here andgo throughmy collection, as I often wind up with a whole new collection.” -CHARLES HACK Upon entering the Sutton Place abode of real estate investor Charles Hack, one is thrust inside a personal Kunstkammer—a home that doubles as a cabinet of curiosities, striking in both the quality and quantity of works on view. Within a capacious foyer are furnishings by Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann, secessionist pieces by Franz von Stuck and Koloman Moser, and paintings by Belgian Symbolists FernandKhnopffandLéonSpilliaert. The living room is amply appointed with Renaissance bronzes, including a fanciful—if not altogether preposterous—aeolipile in the form of a pelican, its body adorned with a trio of pagan faces. Likely made as a presentation piece for Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, the 17th-century bronze vessel…

Thecity ofthefuture is gettingnostalgic. Sure, the home of sky-piercing towers, mega shopping centers, and more humans than any other city on Earth could double for the set of Blade Runner 2049, but lately Shanghai seems to be changing its tune. ¶ For evidence of the new pared-down approach in this capital of excess, look no further than Amanyangyun (aman.com), set to open this month as the city’s most anticipated new hotel. You won’t find it atop a gleaming skyscraper or teetering on the edge of the congested Bund; instead, the 37-room property occupies a collection of Ming- and Qing-dynasty structures in the quiet Minhang District. In lieu of neon-infused city views, the hotel will overlook a 1,000-year-old camphor forest and offer traditional tea service. Aman isn’t the only one looking…

“Time travels in diverse paces with diverse persons.” —William Shakespeare 1 JAEGERLECOULTRE This new limited-run Master Geographic has a secondary time-zone subdial that can be quick-set via the crown at 10 o’clock—a welcome convenience for those who frequently travel east and west. jaeger -lecoultre.com ($9,400) 2 CHOPARD The L.U.C Time Traveler One’s world-time complication has a compressor-style case that takes design cues from the early dive-watch era, which quickly cemented it as one of our favorites in the category. chopard.com ($35,910) 3 CZAPEK GENÈVE Czapek presents a more classical approach to the travel watch, albeit with a unique twist. The Place Vendôme positions a second time-zone indication off-center from the dial, making room to display its exposed tourbillon. czapek.com ($92,600)…

“Our company purchased the yacht because of its rich history, unique character, and classic style.” -EDUARDO DIEZ JR., QUASAR EXPEDITIONS Presented in 1953to Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco by Aristotle Onassis as a wedding gift, this 147-foot yacht, which the royals christened Deo Juvente II, served as a honeymoon cocoon during the couple’s nuptial cruise along the coasts of Sardinia and Corsica. Yet this romantic voyage was but a short chapter in the vessel’s storied history. Deo Juvente II was originally owned by Franco-Argentinean Jacques “Santiago” Soulas and launched in 1928 by Camper & Nicholsons. Soulas named the vessel Monica after his daughter. Four years later, the Soulas family sold the yacht, which then changed hands several times before being acquired by the British Royal Navy in 1939.…

BEFORE PRESENTING jewelry to a client, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos may spend months or years researching and gathering pieces by an influential jeweler or from a certain design movement. The collector’s curatorial approach creates a narrative and historical context for designs that set the Mahnaz Collection (mahnaz collection.com) apart from other vintage-jewelry boutiques. “I like to bring lost masters to the fore to tell their story—who made it, when they made it, and the cultural context in which they made it,” says Ispahani Bartos, who last summer moved her growing business from her private studio to a larger, by-appointment gallery on Midtown Manhattan’s East 57th Street. Her own story is compelling, too. The global policy expert turned vintage-jewelry dealer worked for the New York–based Ford Foundation for 10 years before launching…

WHEN MASA TAKAYAMA came to Los Angeles in the late 1970s and eventually opened Ginza Sushi-Ko, the Japanese-born chef kick-started the city’s love for sushi. In 2004, with the encouragement of Thomas Keller—who was opening Per Se in New York—Takayama left the City of Angels for the Big Apple, soon establishing one of the finest restaurants in America with his Michelin three-star Masa. But after arriving in New York, he felt something was missing. He envisioned the kind of place he’d want to visit on his day off, to sip a martini—extra cold, with dry gin and three olives—and enjoy some of his favorite comfort foods, like a hamburger or steak seared over a traditional Japanese grill called a robata. So this past November, he opened that restaurant himself in…

NIRAV MODI Made for a memorable evening out, this cocktail ring is the perfect piece to put on with a printed party dress. It would also be divine with a chic jumpsuit for an elegant weekend brunch. The dazzling design will be all anyone can talk about. White Luminance Ring with pear, marquise, and round diamonds set in 18K white gold; $24,300 at niravmodi.com ; call 800-772-0000. AARON BASHA A talisman loaded with style, the swinging centerpiece adds dynamic movement to this evil eye bracelet. Pair it with designer denim or other sleek pieces in your closet. 18K white gold small open link bracelet with diamond bars, starting at $6,660. Charms sold separately and starting at $770 each at aaronbasha.com ; call 212-644-1970. SHAMBALLA…

1 ZERO HALLIBURTON Known for durable travel cases that provide superb security, Zero Halliburton makes a deep-blue Large Classic Framed Polycarbonate Attaché that weighs less than 5 pounds—perfect for protecting documents, jewelry, timepieces, or a few flawlessly folded dress shirts. zerohalliburton.com ($465) 2 RIMOWA Hard sided but easy on the eyes, Rimowa’s four-wheel aluminum Classic Flight Cabin Multiwheel suitcase weighs in at 9.7 pounds and delivers first-class protection for its cargo. rimowa.com ($850) 3 GOYARD For more than 160 years, Parisian trunkmaker Goyard has fashioned fabulous valises. This gray, Goyardinepatterned Bourget PM is an eye-catching example of the brand’s classic, chic aesthetic—accented with leather details and palladium hardware. goyard.com ($7,930) 4 GLOBE-TROTTER Handcrafted in Hertfordshire, England, Globe-Trotter’s 20-inch Centenary Trolley Case boasts durable leather corners, straps, and handles and is…

“A wise man travels to discover himself.” —James Russell Lowell 1 ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA This weekender-style bag stands out with its Pelle Tessuta, or woven-leather, exterior. The Black Holdall itself is made from silky-smooth calfskin and features a detachable leather strap and two front pockets. zegna.us ($3,695) 2 LORO PIANA Getting sound sleep on a plane can make or break a flight. Loro Piana’s travel collection includes a plane pillow, a blanket, and an eyeshade—each made using ultrasoft baby cashmere. loropiana .com ($400–$2,450) 3 ATELIER COLOGNE Inspired by the ambience of a jazz club, Tobacco Nuit has notes of Turkish tobacco flower and Italian clementine. The 30 mL travel size comes with a custom-engraved leather case. ateliercologne.com ($130) 4 ROYAL FERN Look refreshed, youthful, and ready for adventure—even after a…