February 2017

 “Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.” —Aldous Huxley Acceleration is a drug, notes Aldous Huxley in his essay “Wanted, A New Pleasure”—and anyone who has succumbed to the adrenaline rush administered by vehicles such as those presented in this month’s issue has no cause to doubt him. The design process, however, […]

Tom Kalenderian, an executive vice president for Barneys New York, first saw the Boglioli K jacket (boglioli.it) in Italy, and his company was among the first to bring it to the States more than a decade ago. “Nothing epitomizes casual chic more,” he says. At first glance, the distinctive unlined piece seems loose fitting, but […]

For centuries, Greek jewelers have been celebrated for their ingenuity and artisanship; and today a new generation is melding hallmarks of ancient times with modern styles, crafting magnificent gold- and gem-laden designs informed by classical architecture, mythology, and the majestic Mediterranean Sea. Those leading the charge include (clockwise from middle left) Ileana Makri (ileanamakri.com), whose […]

The multitalented musician Lenny Kravitz can now add horology to the list of creative media on which he has made his mark. Built in conjunction with Swiss aftermarket specialist Les Artisans de Genève, his design for the Rolex LK 01 (lesartisansdegeneve.com) adds an edgy mien to the famous Rolex Daytona chronograph. “We’re not redesigning the […]

Fans of the original IWC Da Vinci—the watch that democratized the elite perpetual-calendar chronograph complication back in the 1980s—will be heartened to hear the company is releasing a newly redesigned Da Vinci in its original round shape. This edition, however, features a completely manufacture-made movement equipped with the sliding-pinion chronograph base the company introduced in […]

What began 8 years ago as a design exercise by a firearms-accessories company evolved into a limited-release motorcycle from Denver-based Ronin Motor Works (the47.com). In 2010, Magpul Industries debuted the Ronin concept, a one-off bike that began as a Buell 1125R. The name comes from the Japanese word for a samurai who has lost his […]

You can’t miss the motorcycle photo at the Restoration, a boutique hotel in Charleston, S.C., that reopened a year ago after a $27 million transformation. It stretches across the wall opposite an entrance and shows a stripped-down 1976 Honda CJ360 customized with an up-swooping Yamaha seat, chrome fenders, and handlebars that are lower than the […]

After establishing his winery in the Oakville appellation of California’s Napa Valley in 1966, Robert Mondavi enjoyed early success with his Fumé Blanc—a unique interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc with a deliciously smoky profile. Still, from the start his ambitions included producing red wines on a par with the best from France, and the key to […]

In the world of premium tequilas, extra añejos are the single malts of blue agave. They typically spend about 3 years aging in oak to develop their deep amber hue and mellow finish, inspiring more sipping than blending. But a new, limited-edition tequila from the boutique distillery Casa Noble (casanoble.com) has just turned up the […]

Part of Mustique’s appeal is that nothing much ever happens there. Long a getaway for British royals and others seeking refuge, the private island in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is beloved as much for its predictability as for its exclusivity. At the destination’s only luxury resort, however, a rare transformation […]

Seattle is abuzz—and it’s not just the coffee. The city’s downtown is pulsating with new developments and destinations, and at the center of it all is the stylish Thompson Seattle (thompsonhotels.com). Opened in June, the 158-room hotel near Pike Place Market and Puget Sound is both elegant and industrial, juxtaposing a geometric glass facade by […]

New upscale adventures in the most parched place on Earth. Three new luxury experiences have landed in the lunar-like expanse of Chile’s Atacama Desert. Leading the way is adventure outfitter Abercrombie & Kent’s (aber​crombiekent.com) overnight camping safari in the appropriately named Moon Valley. Offered in partnership with Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa (altoatacama.com), the […]

A native son is creating one of the country’s best golf destinations in the heart of the Ozarks. Johnny Morris grew up exploring the forests and fishing the rivers of the Ozark Mountains outside of Branson, Mo. Over the past three decades, the 68-year-old founder of Bass Pro Shops has dedicated himself to creating a […]

The newly crowned seven-time Sprint Cup Series champion reflects on life in the fast lane. Jimmie Johnson’s need for speed is elemental. The NASCAR driver—who in November joined legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt as the only seven-time champions in Sprint Cup Series history—began racing motorcycles competitively at the age of 5. By 7 he […]

Arch Motorcycle Company’s Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves talk about the passion that goes into producing the swift and sleek KRGT-1. The sprawling warehouse in Greater Los Angeles that houses the Arch Motorcycle Company could be mistaken for one of the city’s hip contemporary-art galleries. Behind the factory’s frosted-glass doors are polished concrete floors and […]

 Photography by Kelly Serfoss The author takes the brand’s racecar for a spin and finds that less luxury can be more fun. Bentley describes the Continental GT3-R as “probably the most uncompromising and focused road car” the company has ever produced. The lightweight, high-performance variant of the Continental GT can accelerate from zero to 60 […]

Lee Broom lights up New York’s SoHo neighborhood with his first U.S. showroom. Those who missed last summer’s bedazzling Lee Broom pop-up store on SoHo’s Greene Street can once again find Broom’s dynamic creations in the area, in a permanent storefront just down from the temporary one. Visitors to 34 Greene—the British designer’s only independent […]

The precision of Montblanc’s TimeWalker Chronograph 1000 is determined by the speed of its parts. Dressed in black and gray with bold red accents, Montblanc’s newly redesigned TimeWalker collection takes cues from certain vintage timepieces by Minerva, a maker of stopwatches and chronographs that was purchased by Montblanc in 2006. Of the series’s many new […]

Jewelry artist Wallace Chan (wallace-chan​.com) conveys his Chinese heritage and Zen philosophy in one-offs such as this cicada brooch. The striking creature of titanium and imperial jade—part of a sculpture Chan calls Stilled Life—bears wafer-thin wings that allow light to pass through the stone. The effect is ethereal, as though the insect might fly from […]

Many successful individuals begin their careers early, but few have begun at as tender an age as McKeel Hagerty.The scion of the family behind Hagerty Insurance, which dominates the classic-car segment, undertook the restoration of a 1967 Porsche 911S at age 13. Now the CEO of the family business, Hagerty is regarded as a leading […]