Karl-Henry Edström gives a preview of this anticipated annual edition.
“Time flies,” as the old adage goes, “when you’re having fun.” And for me personally, there is nothing more fun—or more rewarding—than sharing with our readers the finest products, experiences and innovations that have come into our orbit over the last 12 months. Reporting on the pinnacle of human achievement is a privilege for which our editorial team will always be grateful.
“Twists on design icons and classics from storied houses, which continue to infuse ageold jewellery-making savoir-faire with new techniques and refined ideas,” writes Ming Liu (page 90), in relation to her choices for this issue’s Jewellery section. And her words neatly capture a theme that runs throughout this issue: the enduring power of craftsmanship, creativity and refinement to drive excellence forward, as long as the past is continually respected and the future’s demands embraced.
In our Wine category (page 84), we explore one of the most intriguing shifts in the upper echelons of viticulture. Long overshadowed by the great reds of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Piedmont, white wines are increasingly capturing the attention of collectors, sommeliers and investors alike for their freshness, elegance and remarkable ageing potential.
On our Property pages (page 108), a pair of exceptional London addresses demonstrate how, in the British capital, the most seductive new residences on the market offer far more than prestigious postcodes—they provide access to a lifestyle defined by service, design, convenience and unadulterated it-factor. Meanwhile, BNW’s sublime properties in Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai are pulling off the remarkable feat of making the UAE skyline even more replete with wow factor.
Elsewhere, our Design segment (page 126) examines the extraordinary reach of Pininfarina, whose distinctive design language now extends well beyond the automotive world into watchmaking, interiors and even kitchens. In our Autos pageant (page 26), we investigate why Ferrari’s much-debated first fully electric model may possess a quality that even sceptics can appreciate, as well as the most thrilling tarmacshredders from the likes of Czinger, Bugatti and Bentley. And in our Style section (page 44), we spotlight the brands shaping modern menswear, from established luxury giants such as Dunhill, Brunello Cucinelli, Brioni and Louis Vuitton to (for now) smaller brands who are punching way above their weight in this milieu, such as Luca Faloni and Thom Sweeney.
Our yachting and aviation editor Rachel Ingram updates readers on all the latest and greatest from those worlds (pages 52 and 118 respectively), with developments across Spirits (page 102), Tech (page 134) and Cigars (page 142) also coming under the scrutiny of our global team of editorial experts. Wellness warriors, meanwhile, should turn to our Travel instalment (page 68) to find out more about MONADE, an establishment, set among the hills above Saint-Tropez, whose longevity programme is, in our eyes, the best devised and executed on the planet.
This annual issue is one of the most enjoyable projects we undertake. Looking back through past editions recently, I was struck by a simple truth: in the world of fine living, the best somehow continues to get better. Long may that continue.
