Indice dei contenuti per Sep-15 in Robb Report

Gray Matters A UNIFORM SET OF high-quality, richly colored gray moonstones is a rare find. The designer Katherine Jetter (katherinejetter.com) discovered the stones used for the necklace shown here (top, price upon request) at last winter’s Tucson Gem Show and paired them with a multicolored opal. The opal weighs 33 carats and is set in gold with red-sapphire accents. The moonstones weigh a total of 238 carats. “Gray is a sophisticated and elegant color palette in gemstones,” says Jetter. Other new gray-tone jewelry designs include this Vhernier Etoile necklace ($70,000, vhernier.com), which is made of gray agate, diamonds, and white gold, and these Lily pendant earrings from Larkspur & Hawk ($1,900, larkspurandhawk.com). The earrings feature white topaz that is placed over foil to create the gray color. The stones are…

THE COMPLETION OF a model line’s second hull usually is not especially notable, not when interior colors and design materials are all that distinguish the follow-up from the first. But the May launch of the second Dominator 800S—from the Dominator shipyard in Fano, Italy—was deemed worthy of a media event that included a cruise lasting several hours and an opportunity to meet the yacht’s owner. He told the boating writers that he was drawn to Dominator because the company was willing to work with him to create a highly customized yacht. The company did just that. Compared to the first Dominator 800S, which was delivered to its owner at the Miami International Boat Show in February, the new 80-footer weighs nearly 7 tons less because of its carbon-composite hull, superstructure,…

IF YOU ARE a first-time buyer of a business aircraft, you should be asking yourself many questions before embarking on the quest to find the perfect plane: How often will I fly and how far? How much will I need to work or sleep en route to my destinations? How much luggage will I need to stow? How tall are my typical passengers and how much luggage will they bring? How long will I stay at each destination? How comfortable am I with the idea of other people chartering my plane? Once these questions have been considered, you should seek expert advice on what type of aircraft will best suit your needs. You will also want help negotiating a good price, finding any hidden issues with the aircraft, financing the…

EVERY ARTIST MUST settle on a medium; and although Truman Capote, as a boy, imagined a career in films, by the time he turned 20 he had tied his hopes to a literary career. Style—in language and in life—was a preoccupation for the author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood, whose aesthetic ideal was the fusion of ambition and taste in what he described as a living work of art. “There are certain women,” he said, “who . . . are born to be rich. By and large, these persons are artists of an odd variety; money, in astronomical amounts, is their instrument.” Capote became an eminent connoisseur of such venal virtuosos, whom he playfully called his “swans.” These ladies shared more than friendship with the writer: Each…

THE SMALL GERMAN village of Idar-Oberstein, which is renowned for its surfeit of highly skilled gem cutters, traces its history in this exacting trade to the 15th-century discovery of once-bountiful agate mines. While these sources have all but been depleted, the talent for perfectly cutting precious stones continues to thrive there—particularly in the workshop of the third-generation lapidary Bernd Munsteiner (munsteiner -cut.de) and his son, Tom, whose latest creations highlight the very mineral that brought the community to prominence in the world of gemology. “There are tons of agates out there, but finding the right one is not easy,” says Bernd, who unearthed the raw materials for these two new designs from mines in southern Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul region. Part of Atelier Munsteiner’s Agate Impressions series, these pieces…

HOUR HOUSE • In July, the Mandarin Oriental, New York (mandarinoriental.com), unveiled 42 renovated suites featuring three distinct palettes—inspired by the colorful vistas over Central Park at sunrise, dusk, and nighttime—as well as original paintings by local artists. BUILDING A LEGACY • The design firm Champalimaud has reimagined the Plaza Hotel’s (theplazany.com) 29 Legacy Suites, adding hand-painted wallpaper and custom chandeliers. Finished in May, the remodel extended to the Hardenbergh Terrace Suite. SKY PALACE • In June, the Quin Hotel (thequinhotel.com) debuted its 3,400-square-foot Penthouse, a two-bedroom suite with a custom Bowers & Wilkins sound system, a dining room for as many as 14, and a rooftop deck with views of Central Park.…

Scheduled to enter service in 2018, the Gulfstream G500 (gulfstream.com) has made its first flight. The aircraft is part of a new line of clean-sheet designs that also includes the longer-range G600, which is scheduled to enter service in 2019. According to Gulfstream, the G500 will be able to travel more than 5,700 miles at 561 mph and nearly 4,400 at 594 mph. The aircraft’s projected price is $43.5 million. Gulfstream also has begun installing a new satellite-communication router on its G550 and G450 models. The enhancement enables passengers to use their phones to call and text while in flight at any altitude and from virtually anywhere in the world. —L.B.…

RUBINACCI IS AMONG the most celebrated names in Neapolitan tailoring. The family first earned renown in the mid-1800s, when Mariano Rubinacci imported silk from Asia for his shop, which still sits at its original location near the Castello Cellamare. By the 1930s, the tailoring skills of Mariano’s grandnephew Gennaro were drawing European and American aristocrats to the shop. Now Gennaro’s grandson, the 33-year-old Luca, has introduced a ready-to-wear collection that adds fashionable flair to the family business. Along with the new collection, Luca—a dapper gentleman who demonstrates panache by mixing colors and patterns—continues to offer wardrobe advice. “I love to style my clients,” he says. A visit with Luca usually involves a glass of wine, maybe a meal, and sometimes a weekend at Casa Rubinacci in Naples, where customers can…

IN DEFIANCE OF our digitally accelerated, smartphone-obsessed culture, which emphasizes an immediate gratification that seldom gratifies, Pierre-Alexis Dumas dedicates himself to dreaming up concepts intended to inspire society to slow down and savor the moment. The latest such whimsy from the artistic director of Hermès is an attaché case that unfolds to form a small writing tablet—a practical yet capricious device that gives the imagination a place to play, no matter where the owner happens to be. “I designed the Sac Écritoire for myself,” he says. “When I’m stuck at the airport or in transit, I can open my little desk and sketch wherever I am.” More than just an adaptable tool for daydreamers, the portable escritoire represents a continuation of one of the company’s most novel traditions: Each year,…

THE ROBB REPORT Boeing 757-200ER—an aircraft that typically holds 233 passengers—has been custom configured to accommodate just 52 VIP guests, each in a 180-degree lie-flat seat. These white leather sanctuaries are handcrafted in Italy and feature mid-height privacy screens and 6.5 feet of space in full recline. While kicking back in the Robb Report jet, you will also enjoy: An in-flight menu designed by the trip’s executive chef to reflect the ingredients of each destination and the palate of each passenger. Journey managers and a dedicated flight crew and staff to address your every need, from completing landing documents to selecting the perfect wine. Individual iPads loaded with custom trip information and on-demand entertainment. Global Wi-Fi and in-seat USB ports and power outlets to ensure you stay connected in the…

AT AN AVIATION conference in 2007, PrivateFly founder Adam Twidell made a presentation in which he introduced his idea for an online portal for booking charter flights directly. It would allow customers to choose jets from multiple charter companies, giving them much more choice than any single company could provide. Customers would be able to select the specific jets they were interested in flying and compare the prices online. Halfway through the presentation, Twidell was shouted down by an angry aviation executive. He asserted that Twidell did not understand the luxury industry and that no one would ever book a private jet over the Internet. The executive had a point. Most private-aviation clients are over 40, and eight years ago many people in that age group were not yet accustomed…

SIZING UP A birdie putt on the ninth green of the East Course at Kasumigaseki Country Club, I had a realization: This could be one of the best rounds of my life. Kasumigaseki, which is located about 30 miles northwest of Tokyo, will be the host course when the Olympic Games come to Japan in 2020. The club is one of the few in the country that still features two greens on each hole—one planted with grass best suited for warm weather, the other featuring a more durable turf for play during colder months (a common practice before the advent of hybrid grasses). I was playing the easier set of greens and had managed, through nine holes, to avoid the densely grown trees that line the course’s expansive fairways, as…

A. Testoni, page 87 212.399.7733 Abellán New York, page 141 abellannewyork.com Armin Strom, page 79 arminstrom.com Audemars Piguet, pages 20-21 audemarspiguet.com 888.214.6858, 866.595.9700 Backes & Strauss, page 138 backesandstrauss.com 212.463.8898 Bell & Ross, page 89 bellross.com 888.307.7887 Bermuda Tourism, page 154 gotobermuda.com Black, Starr & Frost, pages 36-37 blackstarrfrost.com 949.673.1771 Boglioli, page 97 boglioli.it Breguet, Cover 4 breguet.com 212.288.4014, 877.403.8160 Broadgreen Pictures' Learning to Drive, page 225 learningtodrivemovie.com Brunello Cucinelli, pages 28-29 brunellocucinelli.com 212.627.9202 Camper & Nicholsons International, page 50 camperandnicholsons.com 561.655.2121 Carl F. Bucherer, page 113 carl-f-bucherer.com 800.395.4306 Cesare Attolini, page 69 cesareattolini.com 212.246.0085, 800.550.0005 Christopher Designs, page 49 christopherdesigns.com 800.955.0970 Cohiba, page 165 cohiba.com Cvstos, page 95 cvstos.com 212.463.8898 De…

SINCE OPENING HIS first restaurant in 1987, the chef known simply as Nobu has cooked up an international empire that today spans 38 restaurants across five continents, hotels in Las Vegas and the Philippines, partnerships with Crystal Cruises and VistaJet, and more. The James Beard Award winner has also ventured beyond hospitality, taking brief acting roles in such films as Casino, alongside his business partner and longtime friend Robert De Niro. Robb Report caught up with the 66-year-old sushi master at his Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace to discuss his passions for food, travel, and the arts. —ANUSH BENLIYAN What are some of your favorite destinations and cuisines? Los Angeles is my home right now, but I was born and grew up in Japan, where I now have…

featuring The Master Chefs & Their Nominees AUGUST 8 BEVERLY HILLS John Besh & Justin Devillier AUGUST 14 HALF MOON BAY Norman Van Aken & Phil Bryant SEPTEMBER 18 NEW YORK CITY Barbara Lynch & Patrick Campbell OCTOBER 10 SAN FRANCISCO Christopher Kostow & Kim Floresca Daniel Ryan OCTOBER 16 NEW YORK CITY Curtis Duffy & Lee Wolen OCTOBER 24 NEW YORK CITY Michael White & John Becker Robb Report is pleased to announce the fourth annual Culinary Masters Competition and this year’s panel of celebrated master chefs and their nominees. The master chefs—John Besh, Curtis Duffy, Christopher Kostow, Barbara Lynch, Norman Van Aken, and Michael White—each represent a region across the United States and each has nominated an up-and-coming chef doing groundbreaking work in the regional style. These emerging…

Sartorial Meets Sporty ONE OF THE menswear style trends emerging prominently for fall is the pairing of elegant sartorial pieces with casual street wear. Among those who have embraced this relaxed look is Antonio De Matteis, CEO of Kiton (kiton.it). “The hooded sweater is replacing the more traditional V-neck or crewneck sweater,” he says. “It gives a very elegant outfit a sportive look.” The style is exemplified by this Kiton ensemble that combines a finely tailored cashmere sport coat ($7,950), a cotton shirt ($595), and a silk pocket square ($215) with a lightweight cashmere-and-silk hooded sweater ($2,950). —JILL NEWMAN A Better Cashmere IN TIME FOR the arrival of cooler weather, Cruciani (cruciani.net) has unveiled a new type of cashmere that does more than just keep you warm. The Italian knitwear…

Next summer, the 40-passenger Belmond Grand Hibernian (belmond.com) will make its inaugural journey, traveling through the Irish countryside from Cork to Westport. Scheduled for August 2016, the train’s first voyage will stop at the Blarney Stone, the Jameson whiskey distillery, and several other sites along the way. The Grand Hibernian, which was designed by the British firm James Parks Associates, will feature 20 en suite cabins, two restaurants, and an observation car serving up Irish whiskey and live music. Two-, four-, and six-night itineraries throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland (priced from about $3,180 per person for a two-night journey) will also offer guided tours of ancient castles, fishing expeditions at the Lakes of Killarney, and tee times at some of the world’s oldest links. —J.C.…

EVERY LEADER NEEDS a lair. For more than a decade, Nelson Mandela found respite at his private estate, the Nelson Mandela Centre for Reconciliation (centreforreconciliation.co.za) in South Africa’s Shambala Private Game Reserve. Now the storied residence—which features six bedrooms, a swimming pool, and sprawling outdoor decks—is available to travelers seeking an exclusive safari experience in the 24,700-acre wildlife reserve. Debuted in May, the home retains its original interiors, including Mozambican wood carvings, handwoven tapestries, and other African artworks. Visitors can embark on game drives and bush walks led by private guides, or glimpse elephants, hippopotamuses, and other wildlife at the estate’s watering hole. Guests of the property (which is priced from about $5,600 per night) also have access to an office where Mandela’s desk and chair remain as they were…

Layered Legacy FEW WINES HAVE followed a longer path to the cellar than Patriarch by Frank Family Vineyards ($225, frankfamilyvineyards.com), a 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon whose story begins in 1916, whe Hy Frank was born in New York City. As a young man, Hy joined the invasion of Normandy; on returning home, he founded his own small business, which he ran successfully enough to put his son, Rich, through college. That investment paid off: Rich launched a career in entertainment that included positions as president of the Paramount Group and Walt Disney Studios before purchasing the Larkmead Winery in Napa Valley, where Frank Family Vineyards operates. Patriarch honors the man who made Rich’s achievements possible. Redolent of black currants, dried cherries, and attar of roses, this Rutherford red adds its…

BORN INTO A diamantaire family in Mumbai, India, and raised in Antwerp, Belgium, Nirav Modi learned early on how to identify the top-quality diamonds in a pile of stones. But instead of following his father and grandfather into the thriving family business, he eventually returned to Mumbai, and five years ago he established his namesake jewelry collection, which is inspired by Indian art, among other influences. “My jewelry is about design as opposed to a rock,” says the 44-year-old jeweler, whose collection will become available in the United States for the first time in September with the opening of his store on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. Modi expresses his Indian aesthetic in Mogul floral patterns and lotus flowers formed from diamonds. Instead of pairing the stones with the bold gold…

LAST OCTOBER, ART dealers were gearing up for the world’s newest high-profile show, Art Silicon Valley San Francisco. Seventy galleries from New York to Beijing were in attendance, and the usual suspects—Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Jeff Koons, to name a few—were up for grabs. Rumors swirled that new pieces by the famed street artist Banksy would also be unveiled. But as the four-day fair commenced, it was clear that the attendees were the biggest news. Young, wealthy, and for the most part completely new to the art market, the visitors made for an unusually green audience in the world circuit of art collectors. If history is any indication, Silicon Valley may soon become the next great art market. The past has shown that, when a great deal of wealth…

HOW DO YOU sell the most valuable U.S. coin collection ever assembled? This is the question that Vicken Yegparian and his colleagues at Stack’s Bowers Galleries faced when real estate investor D. Brent Pogue turned to them last year to disperse the coins that he began collecting as a teenager four decades ago. Calling Pogue’s collection peerless is akin to saying that water is wet: The description is accurate but insufficient. If it is the rarest U.S. coin or the finest example of one, Pogue almost certainly owns it. The value of his collection is estimated at $200 million. (The face value of the coins is $769.14.) The next most valuable coin collection to go to auction was the $60 million John J. Ford Jr. collection, which Stack’s Bowers sold…

IT IS MORNING IN MILAN, and the place to be is Pasticceria Marchesi, the venerable pastry shop on the Corso Magenta. As usual, it is standing room only at the café, packed with attractive men and women—at least a handful of whom I assume are models in this perennially fashionable city—sipping espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes between bites of biscotti and chocolates. Not long ago, this chic clientele was on edge when another local purveyor of pastries, Cova, fell into the hands of Italy’s cultural archrivals, the French, with the luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton purchasing the café in 2013. Panic ensued nine months later when Pasticceria Marchesi—a cornerstone of Milanese society since it opened in 1824—went up for sale. Local patrons heaved a collective sigh of relief, however,…

Peter Agur Jr. Chairman and Founder, The VanAllen Group vanallen.com Peter Agur Jr. has been a management consultant since 1985. His firm provides consulting services for large corporations, high-net-worth individuals, and royal families. Agur began his career as an army aviator and went on to work for several major airframe manufacturers. He has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical sciences from the Metropolitan State College of Denver and an MBA from Georgia State University. James Butler CEO, Shaircraft Solutions shaircraft.com James Butler is the CEO of Shaircraft Solutions, a private-aviation consulting firm that advises individuals and businesses on the full spectrum of private-air-travel options, including fractional jet ownership, jet card programs, and private-jet charter. A business attorney with expert industry knowledge, Butler has negotiated transactions ranging from multimillion-dollar fractional-share purchases and…