Robb Report Singapore August 2021

TRUST THOSE WHO have had the opportunity to live rich lives, to comment on how best to extract interest from life itself. This advice is perhaps especially welcome in an existence rendered dreary by repetitive lockdowns and an endless news loop of case numbers and glum statistics. The Brazilian lyricist-turned-author Paulo Coelho, who once undertook an 800-plus kilometre walk of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, wrote: “The adrenaline and stress of an adventure are better than a thousand peaceful days.” Thrill seekers reference that soothing ‘reptilian’ sensation in the brain where our body’s vital functions often take over in moments of extreme stress. To appreciate and unlock this unique reward within yourself, start with an understanding of the why. In ‘(Way) Out Of Office’, Robb Report examines the motivation of…

Higher Power Cartier is celebrating the senses with its latest high jewellery collection. Organic textures, trompe l’oeil and graphic patterns as well as optical illusions intertwine to form the seven exquisite rings and necklaces in Sixième Sens par Cartier. Comprising the Phaan ring, Meride necklace, Pixelage necklace, Parhelia ring, Alaxoa necklace, Sharkara necklace and Coruscant necklace, each piece commands attention while possessing a quiet elegance. The tiny emerald beads in Alaxoa (left), for example, appear to cascade in an organic flow, an illusion Cartier achieved by using its signature threading technique to secure the stones while allowing movement in the fringes. Twin Titans The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a unique, by-commission car that spared no expense in its pursuit of individuality. This extends to its timekeeping, for which the British marque teamed up…

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, Ref 25554BA Auctioned by Phillips in Hong Kong for HK$3.3 million. Setting a world record for a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo’s Hong Kong Watch Auction: XII, the rarity of this yellow gold wristwatch lies in its smallest details. Crafted in 1986 (only two years after the first production of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar), there are just 279 examples of Audemars Piguet’s reference 25554 timepieces. This particular yellow gold model is fitted with a black dial and bears a brand signature on the moonphase in a smaller font – a feature of early production pieces. In addition, it may be the only known version with applied gold print on the dial, making it an ultra-covetable find. British Guiana One-cent…

ACROSS NEARLY TWO decades, Thomas Bouleuc has been a part of Moët Hennessy. He began his career at French personal care powerhouse L’Oreal and management consultancy McKinsey before taking the reins as business development director for Hennessy in the Americas in 2003. His career took him to France and back to the US with a trajectory that saw him appointed as international director for Veuve Clicquot in 2016. This March, he was appointed managing director for Moët Hennessy Diageo Singapore Malaysia following two years leading the joint venture in Malaysia overseeing the portfolios of both companies. The recent promotion excites him for the two countries’ close relationship. “Malaysia and Singapore are both geographically at the core of Southeast Asia. They are both a hub for commerce, finance and business but…

THE BATHROOM IS one of the few private spaces where you can have a moment’s peace. Sheltered from the helter-skelter outside, it stands to reason that you would want things to be exactly as you deem fit in this little oasis of tranquillity. Of the many ways you could furnish this space, there are few options that are better at what Axor does. The Axor MyEdition collection, in particular, delights the senses in more ways than one. Its sleek minimalist design blends seamlessly into the background, and yet it offers unique palettes and textures for visual and sensorial impact. The sleek faucet is cleverly fashioned from two key parts, a body and a plate, which are highly customisable. You have over 225 design choices through the combination of 10 high-quality Axor FinishPlus…

LISA THOMPSON, A 48-year-old mountain climbing enthusiast, is recalling her harrowing trek on Bottleneck, one of the most perilous passes of her 8,611m ascent to the summit of K2 in 2018. “This giant tower of ice is hanging above you, with chunks that periodically fall,” she says, “and you have to climb underneath it for hours.” But the biggest threat lay beneath. “You walk very delicately, right up against it, on a boot path that’s less than the width of your foot. And if you fall there, it’s something like a two-and-a-half-mile (four-kilometre) drop.” The Bottleneck comes about 8,230m into one of the world’s most treacherous climbs. The inherent difficulty of breathing at that altitude and the unsettling narrowness of the path aside, Thompson says the physical challenge is relatively minor…