Latest Launches
Luxury
Montegrappa has launched Q1, a fountain pen that draws its design inspirations from the world of firearms. Built in a masculine style, the tough titanium barrel of the pen blends with the fine Italian leather used for the pen cap. The internal parts are crafted in stainless steel and the pen sports an 18-carat gold nib with the filigreed Montegrappa logo fitted at the writing end. The Q1 sports a unique multiple cartridge loading system, which makes it possible for the pen to use several ink colours as the four different cartridges can be changed. The mechanism, similar to that of a bullet cylinder in a gun, is contained entirely inside the barrel and is the subject of a registered patent. Supplied in a wooden chest to accommodate both the pen and its accessories, Q1 comes with a pair of gloves, a set of tissues and spare ink cartridges. Q1 will be produced in an edition of only 100 pieces.
Tod’s, an Italian luxury brand specialising in leather bags, shoes and accessories, hosted a cocktail evening and private dinner to celebrate the opening of its boutique at Palladium Mall, Mumbai. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut inaugurated the boutique—the brand’s second in India. The company has echoed its values of tradition and craftsmanship in the décor of the new store, which features traditional Italian design with saddle-stitched boiseries matched in pale leather, bright wood coated panels, and sophisticated grey stone. Sumptuous leather sofas, consoles and selected furniture accented with steel details enrich the space. There are separate areas dedicated to the men’s and women’s lines.
Vertu, a luxury mobile phone manufacturer from the UK, has announced three new models in India as part of its Signature Collection. They are the Signature Ultimate Black, Signature Red Gold Black DLC, and the Signature White Mother of Pearl. The smart phones promise to offer an unparalleled experience through use of unique finishes and exotic materials in their construction, and top-of-the-line specifications, which include a 5.08cm (2-inch) QVGA display, 4GB internal memory and a battery that can offer talktime of up to five-and-a-half hours and up to 300 hours on standby mode. A unique service available for all Signature customers is Vertu’s ‘Dedicated Concierge’ service, offering access to a dedicated personal lifestyle manager who will provide 24-hour worldwide assistance, recommendations and priority bookings. ‘Vertu LIFE’, offering all customers a curated selection of exclusive privileges and unrestricted access to elite events, will also be available directly on the devices.
Luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega recently hosted a formal dinner at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, to celebrate the unveiling of its Constellation Pluma collection. The collection takes its name from the Latin word “feather” and comprises 27-mm timepieces featuring the Omega Co-Axial calibre 8520 and mother-of-pearl dial. Wearing the new timepiece at the dinner was American supermodel Cindy Crawford, the brand’s global ambassador and a member of the Omega family for two decades. Accompanying her was Raynald Aeschlimann, Vice-President & International Sales Director, Omega, and Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, Omega’s Indian ambassador.
DSK Benelli, a joint venture between Pune-based DSK Motowheels and Italian superbike brand Benelli, unveiled its first showroom (eighth in India) in New Delhi. With its 104-year-old heritage, Benelli has an impressive range of globally-respected superbikes that marry heritage and innovation with styling and technological prowess. Located at Fiaz Road, Karol Bagh, the showroom will retail all five of Benelli’s sportsbikes—the TNT 300, the TNT 600i, the TNT 600 GT, the TNT 899 and the flagship TNT R. The bikes will be assembled in India and offered for sale across the country. The company will offer a 24/7 on-call breakdown service.
Fashion
Italian luxury fashion label Gucci unveiled its Fall/Winter 2015-16 Collection that draws inspiration from the concept of a contemporary city: a place of unexpected events, rifts, remnants and amnesias. The collection for men and women provide a fresh look at the brand’s iconic floral pattern, with models sporting floaty rose or pale blue skirts, shirts and dresses, matched with fur slippers and bags adorned with woven bee motifs. The menswear collection—Urban Romanticism—embraces an androgynous aesthetic through the fur-cuffed box coats and long, loose bow ties. From a flourish of a chiffon bow to mink-lined men’s slippers to smatterings of signet rings, a dreamy ambiguity pulsates throughout the collection.
