Vacheron Constantin: Timekeeping Since 1755
The legend begins In Geneva, on September 17, 1755, a 24-year-old master watchmaker named Jean-Marc Vacheron signed on his first apprentice, Esaïe Jean-François Hetier, in the Saint-Gervais district. That signature marked the start of what would become the world's oldest continuously operating watch manufacturer, the house we know today as Vacheron Constantin. Vacheron was the son of Jean-Jacques Vacheron and a follower of the Enlightenment ideals shared by his fellow citizen Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He wanted precision, beauty, and innovation at a time shaped by scientific discovery, and Geneva's 18th-century tradition of arts and crafts gave his new workshop a natural [...]
Where to Stay in Valletta: Luxury Edition
Valletta’s hidden luxury secret Valletta, Malta, might not be the first name that springs to mind when you picture a luxury hotel. The capital holds its own, though, with a handful of high-end properties that stand comparison with Europe’s better-known resorts. Many visitors assume Malta’s luxury scene can’t match its continental neighbours. It can. Valletta’s boutique hotels pair historic character with modern comfort, often inside centuries-old palazzos and fortified walls. There is no Rosewood, Aman, or Four Seasons here. What you get instead are intimate palazzo hotels, personal and small in scale, set in UNESCO World Heritage surroundings. […]
Exclusive Detox Retreats in Austria: A Curated Guide
The curator’s eye Wellness and spa retreats sit in their own corner of luxury travel. Travelling through Europe’s spa destinations, I’ve found that Austria, with its alpine landscapes and old spa culture, does detox retreats as well as anywhere. This selection comes out of years spent watching how nature, architecture, and wellness philosophy fit together. The retreats here promise tranquility and back it with real health outcomes, old traditions sitting alongside contemporary medical insight. […]
The Voyage of Ferretti Yachts: A Legacy of Luxury
The legend begins In 1968, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, brothers Alessandro and Norberto Ferretti started what would grow into a major maritime company. They were sons of a fuel trader who also ran a luxury car dealership in Bologna selling the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini. After securing the Italian representation for the American motorboat brand Chris Craft, the brothers pushed the family business into the nautical world and opened a multi-window shop, Ferretti Nautica, in the centre of Bologna. […]
Hermès: Crafting Elegance Since 1837
The legend begins In Paris in 1837, Thierry Hermès set up a harness workshop at 56 rue Basse-du-Rempart, near the Madeleine church, to serve Europe’s noblemen. He had spotted a gap in high-quality harnesses for the carriage trade and set out to fill it. Back then the quality of your carriage accessories signalled your status, and Thierry’s eye for craftsmanship set his workshop apart fast. […]
Champagne Dreams: Reims’ Luxe Escapes
Reims sits among the vineyards that produce the world’s champagne. The region’s hotels, in and around the city, open up that landscape while running their own dining and spa facilities. […]
Ravello’s Luxe Retreats: Amalfi’s Best Kept Secrets
What sets Ravello apart Ravello sits high above the Amalfi Coast, and its luxury hotels are part of the draw, as much as the panoramic views and the historic sites. The hotels pull together architecture, local culture, and tailored experiences, and end up feeling as central to an Amalfi trip as the coastline itself. […]
Elegance Redefined: The Rosewood Story
The Legend Begins In 1979, in Dallas, Texas, Caroline Rose Hunt set out to turn her idea of luxury hospitality into something real. She was 55, had raised five children, and was the daughter of Texas oil tycoon H.L. Hunt. She entered the hotel business with a clear concept: intimate, residential-style hotels that gave guests a genuine “Sense of Place.” Her first acquisition was the historic Sheppard King mansion in Uptown Dallas, an Italian Renaissance-style estate built in the 1920s. With a $21 million investment, Hunt turned it into The Mansion on Turtle Creek, which opened its restaurant on August [...]
Tokyo Ginza’s Elite Hotels Unveiled
The Truth About… Luxury in Tokyo’s Ginza district isn’t really about the extravagant decor or the high-end amenities. It runs on Omotenashi, Japan’s spirit of hospitality. This goes well past customer service: it’s about anticipating a need before you voice it, an attentiveness that stays quiet but lavish. Many visitors confuse grandeur with size and miss the subtleties that actually set Tokyo’s best accommodations apart. […]
Louis Vuitton: Crafting Luxury Since 1854
The Legend Begins In the mid-19th century, on the busy streets of Paris, a craftsman named Louis Vuitton started something that would reshape luxury fashion. The year was 1854, a time of industrial boom and a society in love with travel. Vuitton saw the need for travel gear that was both durable and stylish, and opened his first workshop on Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, laying the foundation for a brand that would become bound up with the art of travel. […]
The legend begins In Geneva, on September 17, 1755, a 24-year-old master watchmaker named Jean-Marc Vacheron signed on his first apprentice, Esaïe Jean-François Hetier, in the Saint-Gervais district. That signature [...]
Valletta’s hidden luxury secret Valletta, Malta, might not be the first name that springs to mind when you picture a luxury hotel. The capital holds its own, though, with a [...]
The curator’s eye Wellness and spa retreats sit in their own corner of luxury travel. Travelling through Europe’s spa destinations, I’ve found that Austria, with its alpine landscapes and old [...]
The legend begins In 1968, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, brothers Alessandro and Norberto Ferretti started what would grow into a major maritime company. They were sons of a fuel trader [...]
The legend begins In Paris in 1837, Thierry Hermès set up a harness workshop at 56 rue Basse-du-Rempart, near the Madeleine church, to serve Europe’s noblemen. He had spotted a [...]
Reims sits among the vineyards that produce the world’s champagne. The region’s hotels, in and around the city, open up that landscape while running their own dining and spa facilities. [...]
What sets Ravello apart Ravello sits high above the Amalfi Coast, and its luxury hotels are part of the draw, as much as the panoramic views and the historic sites. [...]
The Legend Begins In 1979, in Dallas, Texas, Caroline Rose Hunt set out to turn her idea of luxury hospitality into something real. She was 55, had raised five children, [...]
The Truth About… Luxury in Tokyo’s Ginza district isn’t really about the extravagant decor or the high-end amenities. It runs on Omotenashi, Japan’s spirit of hospitality. This goes well past [...]
The Legend Begins In the mid-19th century, on the busy streets of Paris, a craftsman named Louis Vuitton started something that would reshape luxury fashion. The year was 1854, a [...]
