Robb Report Singapore December 2021

DANISH PHILOSOPHER AND theologian, Søren Kierkegaard wrote that: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” In that respect, we take stock of what was and, more importantly, offer our annual compendium of fantastical gift ideas in this issue so that your 2022, upon reflection, will be one to behold for posterity. With the optimism of border reopenings, we offer you the best way to make up for lost time with a series of travel ideas, among them a personal hotel built just for you in the relative isolation of the Swiss Alps, or the seclusion of the Miavana resort on Nosy Anko, a private island off Madagascar’s northeast coast. At the latter, you and 43 other guests may enjoy picnics on one of Earth’s most pristine…

Globe-trotting Montblanc’s Meisterstück Around The World In 80 Days collection brings to life the timeless, classic Jules Verne novel – a story about the fantastical adventures of Phileas Fogg, who travelled across oceans to win a bet. The nautical-inspired accessory range features three editions: Doué, Le Grand and Classique, and Solitaire (right). As a symbol of Fogg’s mode of transport around the world, a steamboat motif is intricately laser-engraved on the cap of every edition. The design and colours reflect his journey from the Suez Canal to Bombay. On the Doué Edition, barrels are polished with a beautiful blue lacquer with a subtle gradient effect added to the sheen. On each clip is engraved an ace of spades, a reminder of Fogg’s favourite pastime of whist, which served as the adventure’s inciting incident.…

Bicorne Hat Believed to Have Been Worn by Napoleon Bonaparte Auctioned by Bonhams in London for £200,250 This black beaver felt bicorne hat with a black silk lining, attributed to the Parisian hatmaker Poupart & Cie, is believed to have been worn by Napoleon Bonaparte. He began wearing his trademark hat in 1799 (turned sideways in order to allow his soldiers to recognise him instantly on the battlefield), going on to use approximately 120 of them during his 15-year reign as the first emperor of France. This particular bicorne hat is thought to have been crafted for a winter campaign and is likely to have been worn by Napoleon during the battles of Jena and Auerstadt in 1806. Imperial Beijing Enamel Melon-shaped Teapot Auctioned by Bonhams in London for £2 million Comfortably exceeding its initial…

MY FATHER WAS a wit, sage and raconteur. At least by his own reckoning. He never held back when offering advice to his young, impressionable son – although I was 38 at the time. “Smile,” he always used to say, “things could get worse.” I listened. I heeded; and he was right. I smiled, and they did. The reason I mention this is because it reminds me of what many of us were going through as 2020 became 2021. The former was a quite horrible 12 months, as the pandemic raged around the world, there were mass protests about systemic racism, and, perhaps the greatest tragedy, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told The Queen exactly where she could shove her sceptre and orb. It was a year in which Kobe Bryant and his…

ALFREDO PAREDES SPENT over 30 years immersed in the world of Ralph Lauren, where, as chief creative officer, he designed stores around the globe and conceived the renowned Polo Bar in New York City. The interior designer founded his eponymous studio in late 2019. Taking cues from the minimalist work of Axel Vervoordt and the classic elegance of venues such as Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, Paredes creates light-filled spaces grounded by chairs and tables made from natural materials such as walnut and oak. His new furniture collection with manufacturer EJ Victor, which includes 33 pieces ranging from sofas to cabinets, brings these sensibilities to an even wider audience. He designed his home in New York’s East Village to resemble an elevated 19th-century artist’s garret. “It’s sort of timeless in…

Journey to the International Space Station and take a record-setting space walk Nothing says ‘I love you’ like passing up the opportunity to be the first civilian to walk in space so your partner/BFF can make the record books instead. The potential for such, well, astronomical self-sacrifice is but one perk of this genuine one-of-a-kind trip of a lifetime. Yes, you and your guest will spend two weeks on the International Space Station (ISS), with the luckier half eventually donning an Orlan space suit to make what will become a world-famous stroll through space. Deciding who will be the space walker could involve pre-launch couple’s therapy, but that’s about the only thing that’s not included in this extraordinary opportunity. The space walk is no cakewalk, however. It will involve four months of…