Aston-Martin DBS Carbon Edition Coupe (2012)

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It’s James Bond without the Tuxedo.

Few cars currently in production exude such sexiness, as the DBS Carbon Edition. If you are familiar with the sumptuous DB9, then the DBS Carbon Edition will feel like a comfortable Gucci loafer. Similarities abound, such as the angled-opening doors as well as the fluid jet-like design, and of course, the interior layout. All familiar features to those in the Aston-Martin know, yet the distinct personalities of the two models are readily apparent.

So what’s different? There are subtle changes, sporty additions and unique finishes as compared to the DB9, namely, the more powerful V12, featuring 510 HP on tap; the carbon fiber splitters under the front bumper; exclusive wheels and brake calipers; carbon-black grille; carbon fiber mirror caps; the gorgeous rear valance, flanked by the large dual exhausts; the carbon inlays in the center dash and door panels, just to name a few.

Approaching the DBS you instantly notice the attention to detail that goes into the paint, featuring a 25 hour polish process, leaving an amazingly deep, glossy look that is magical. Moving to the side, you notice no protruding door handles, but instead, a long thin cutout that is lit on one side. Pressing this piece on the forward end with two fingers; opens the door, (Yes, it requires a bit of practice, but this gives a subtle hint as to who has been in an Aston and who hasn’t.) The best way to describe the interior is; a symphony for the senses, as each of them gets a VIP treatment inside the cabin of the DBS.

Once inside and sitting in the drivers’ seat, my eyes are instantly drawn up to the gorgeous, hand-stitched, quilted leather headliner, giving the impression of being in a concept car. I realized this is so much nicer than the dull, black headliner most cars have, of course, the Aston-Martin DBS is not like any other car. As my eyes moved around the cabin, I noticed the sun-visors, funny thing, as I rarely if ever, have notices these ubiquitous pieces. The ones in the DBS feel as good as they look, featuring alcantara suede as well as a sublime metal rim for the frame and the mirror. This mundane, item feels extraordinary in the DBS. At that point it hit me, the wonderful aroma of fine leather, tugging at my olfactory sense, I was in heaven. Next, I noticed the center dash, which prominently features the P-R-N-D selectors, in the form of four push-buttons instead of a console lever, again a unique and stylish feature. In between the R and N is a slot where the “emotional control device” is inserted, for us, just mere mortals, this is also known as the ignition key. Slide the device into the slot, press, hold and be ready to be amazed. A high-speed starter whines, followed by the wonderful sound of a V12 roaring to life. Heaven seems to be quite sporty, I said to myself.

Driving the DBS is ridiculously easy for such a capable car. The driver has two choices, either automatic or manual mode. Selecting D and not touching the magnesium-alloy paddle shifters, the DBS drives as any automatic car would. Pressing either of the paddles, they re-program the DBS into manual setting, letting the driver control the shifting of the Touchtronic II gearbox. The throttle effort is firm yet smooth, giving almost any driver the ability to drive the DBS as if it’s been in their possession for years. Stomp on the throttle, and the DBS instantly transforms into a world class GT car. There is a burbling exhaust note, followed by a sound that I equate to “This means business” and then, at the upper levels of the tachometer; it’s the orchestral sounds of an Aston-Martin V12. Of course, a great car should be able to stop as well as it accelerates and the DBS Carbon Black does not disappoint with its ceramic brakes. These are not only effective, but also efficient at dissipating heat. The brake pedal feels strong yet easy to modulate, offering perfect stops every time. There are two rear seats, but don’t even think about putting anything other than a child back there, if that. Trunk space is typical for a GT, featuring straps for an umbrella as well as LED lighting.

The DBS is a subtle and elegant GT, that never screams nor does it attract undue attention. The Carbon Edition is one step above that. Make no mistake, even with its low-key approach, the Aston-Martin DBS Carbon Edition is a car that will turn heads, regardless where you arrive.

After several days, three hundred miles and a few thousand photos, it was time to bid adieu to this fabulous machine. I was sad to see it go, but happy to have one of the most rewarding driving experiences in the last 12 months.

Mr. Bond, your car is ready.

The Essentials:
MSRP: $284,976.47 MSRP (as tested): $292,278.97
Fuel Economy (observed): 13 MPG
Engine: V12, 5.9 liter, 510 HP
Popular options: High spec alarm, Smokers kit, keyfob pouch, satellite radio
visit: www.astonmartin.com

Photos by: Hector Chacon & Juan G. Robbin


LVMH looks to burnish Louis Vuitton mystique

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French luxury giant LVMH is struggling to retain its image as exclusive and high-end creators of $10,000 alligator handbags and goat-lined fur coats, while opening enough stores and reaching enough customers to keep profits high. Thus far LVMH has managed the balance well, but it is taking no chances, offering customers increasingly expensive and bespoke services in an effort to retain a high-end mystique around brands in danger of becoming ubiquitous. LVMH is taking particular care to protect the image of Louis Vuitton, the group’s signature brand, which accounts for 45 percent of operating profit, and has boasted double digit percentage growth through the financial crisis. – read more via Reuters


Beau Sancy Diamond Sells for $9.7 million

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A centuries-old diamond passed down through generations of European royalty fetched $9.7 million at auction in Geneva on Tuesday. The 34.98-carat “Beau Sancy” diamond measures 2.3 centimetres in height, is 1.9 cm wide and 1.1 cm deep.

Passed down through the royal families of France, England, Prussia and the Netherlands, the Beau de Sancy has witnessed 400 years of European history.

An anonymous telephone bidder purchased the jewel, put on the market by the House of Prussia and described by Sotheby’s as one of the “most fascinating and romantic” gems ever to come to auction.

“You are buying an historic work of art — you are not buying a diamond,” said Philipp Herzog von Wuerttenberg, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, following the sale.

The stone gets its name from diamond collector Nicolas Harley de Sancy, who bought it in Constantinople, now Istanbul, in the late 16th century.

It is believed to have come from the city of Golconda, in central India, where other famous diamonds such as the Kohinoor and the Regent originated.

Marie de Medici wore it mounted atop her crown for her coronation on 13 May 1610, the day before her husband, France’s King Henry IV, was assassinated.

According to Sotheby’s, when the last German Emperor and King of Prussia fled to exile in Holland in 1918, the crown jewels — including the Beau Sancy — remained at the Kaiser’s palace in Berlin.

At the end of World War II, the collection was transferred to a bricked-up crypt in Bueckeburg, where it was later found by British troops. It was returned to the House of Prussia, which is now auctioning it.

The Beau Sancy went under the hammer at Geneva’s Beau Rivage hotel as part of Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels” sale.


Chanel beauty spot face stickers

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Chanel’s Cruise collection at Versailles earlier this week didn’t disappoint in the beauty stakes, and now fashionistas will be able to recreate the Marie Antoinette-inspired aesthetic with the launch of Chanel logo beauty spot stickers.

For Monday’s runway show, Chanel’s creative director of makeup Peter Philips adorned models’ cheekbones with black velvet Chanel logo beauty spots.

Style.com reports that the stickers recreating the effect will be available for sale in an upcoming line called Collection Versailles de Chanel.

“Last minute I added a subtle highlight with Mouche de Beauté,” said Philips, explaining the customized highlighter, a bold pink eyeshadow and CC stickers will form the forthcoming beauty set.

Chanel has previously enjoyed success with a collection of temporary jewelry-like tattoos inspired by Chanel symbols, cherry blossoms, and birds.


Meet Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg, The Facebook Founder’s New Wife

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Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg sprung into the spotlight on Saturday when it was revealed she had married longtime boyfriend Mark Zuckerberg — the Facebook founder & CEO (and billionaire after the Facebook IPO). The wedding had been planned for months and the couple was waiting for Chan to finish medical school, but the date of the IPO was a ‘moving target’ not known when the wedding was set.”

According to friends, Priscilla likes Target, the Food Network and sun-dried tomatoes. She loves taking pictures of her dog Beast, and admits to checking her phone “every five seconds.” She writes that she “loves cooking and soft things” and enjoys diet A&W. “I am a simple creature,” she writes.

The Monday before Facebook’s IPO, the same day Zuckerberg turned 28, he was in the audience at Chan’s UCSF School of Medicine commencement ceremony. He ‘checked in’ via Facebook, natch, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, writing: “I’m so proud of you, Dr. Chan :).”

Dr. Chan was never going to be a stereotypical billionaire’s wife of the many-spouses-of-Donald-Trump variety. The 27-year-old bilingual Mandarin speaker graduated from Harvard in 2007, the year after Zuckerberg would have earned his degree if he hadn’t left to focus on Facebook — or thefacebook, as it was then known.

The couple met more than nine years ago while both were studying at Harvard. In a 2005 Harvard Crimson story about Mark leaving the university, he is quoted as asking Chan, identified as a “passing friend,” “Hey, Priscilla, do you want a job at the Facebook?” “I’d love a job at Facebook,” she responds while “offering him a Twizzler.” Priscilla never worked for Mark at Facebook.

According to her Facebook page, Chan speaks English, Spanish and Cantonese. The newlyweds also have a dog, aptly named Beast.


Milla Jovovich in Versace at the 2012 Life Ball in Vienna #LIFEBALL

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Nearly 40,000 people dressed in colorful costumes attended this year’s Life Ball, Vienna’s glitzy annual AIDS charity, Saturday, with actress Milla Jovovich and former U.S. president Bill Clinton among those adding to the star factor. It’s the high profile event where fashionistas don their brightest colours to help raise money for a good cause, and it took place in Vienna’s city hall on May 19, 2012. Milla had the right idea for how to stand out amongst a sea of glitzy celebrities when she made her outfit choice for the 20th Life Ball. Wearing a lime green Atelier Versace gown, the 36-year-old model and actress employed two tactics as a means to be the brightest star of them all, stepping out in neon while also flashing ample flesh.

Of meeting Clinton, Milla tweeted: “It’s so incredible at the #LIFEBALL! I had the privilege of meeting our former pres. Clinton! He is doing so much 2 help fund medicines 2 reach children in 3rd world countries working with an unbelievable woman named catherine tucker who has an orphanage in Cambodia. They save children’s lives every single day. What a honor to meet the real heroes. Lol! It’s a bit blurry but finally here is a pic of bill Clinton n I! I already have one with Hillary, so my collection is complete!”


Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg marries Priscilla Chan

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Facebook founder and CEO, an overnight billionaire, Mark Zuckerberg has married his longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan.

The two met while studying at Harvard around 2004. It was the same year as Zuckerberg came up with the Facebook concept. Him and A Few friends That he Knew, including Chan, packed up and moved to California so he Could project his firm in the empire it is today to develop. Since then, it was Chan and Zuckerberg’s close, but Kept Their relationship secret for the most part.


Palace Hotel Tokyo

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Palace Hotel Tokyo opened today following a £690 million rebuild. Located moat-side to the Imperial Palace at 1-1-1 in the heart of Tokyo, the new hotel promises an entirely new, fully contemporary luxury Japanese hotel. Palace Hotel Tokyo will preserve its independence and a distinct commitment to home-grown hospitality. A Leading Hotels of the World property, this 290 room hotel features expansive city views from each of its 23 floors, with all guest rooms enjoying long sight lines over the verdant Imperial gardens. Palace Hotel Tokyo is perfect for leisure and business travellers alike, guests benefit from exceptional facilities including ten restaurants, bars and lounges, a Club Lounge, a cake and pastry shop, extensive meeting and private function space, a fully equipped fitness room, indoor pool and Japan’s first evian Spa.

The hotel is aiming for a constellation of Michelin star restaurants. The French restaurant Crown opens as a collaboration with Patrick Henriroux, who runs two-star La Pyramide in France. The Japanese restaurant Wadakura will include a sushi outpost by Michelin-starred Shinji Kanesaka and Chinese restaurant Amber Palace will be operated by Chugoku Hanten Group, which operates Tokyo’s two-star Fureika.

Features include:
290 rooms and suites
7 restaurants, serving international, Japanese, Chinese and French cuisine
2 bars and a lobby lounge
Cake and pastry shop
1 boardroom, 2 meeting rooms and 8 multi-purpose function rooms that can be combined for larger events for up to 1,500 people and divided into 15 separate spaces
evian SPA TOKYO – offers a unique combination of hot baths and quality treatments, complemented by a 20m indoor pool, Jacuzzi, fitness room and personal training programmes
Wedding chapel and Shinto Shrine
Photo studio and Beauty salon
Hotel arcade with 17 retail outlets
Florist
Direct underground passage to the Otemachi subway station (one of the largest in Tokyo) due to be completed in Spring 2013


Palace Hotel Tokyo

Posted on by

Palace Hotel Tokyo opened today following a £690 million rebuild. Located moat-side to the Imperial Palace at 1-1-1 in the heart of Tokyo, the new hotel promises an entirely new, fully contemporary luxury Japanese hotel. Palace Hotel Tokyo will preserve its independence and a distinct commitment to home-grown hospitality. A Leading Hotels of the World property, this 290 room hotel features expansive city views from each of its 23 floors, with all guest rooms enjoying long sight lines over the verdant Imperial gardens. Palace Hotel Tokyo is perfect for leisure and business travellers alike, guests benefit from exceptional facilities including ten restaurants, bars and lounges, a Club Lounge, a cake and pastry shop, extensive meeting and private function space, a fully equipped fitness room, indoor pool and Japan’s first evian Spa.

The hotel is aiming for a constellation of Michelin star restaurants. The French restaurant Crown opens as a collaboration with Patrick Henriroux, who runs two-star La Pyramide in France. The Japanese restaurant Wadakura will include a sushi outpost by Michelin-starred Shinji Kanesaka and Chinese restaurant Amber Palace will be operated by Chugoku Hanten Group, which operates Tokyo’s two-star Fureika.

Features include:
290 rooms and suites
7 restaurants, serving international, Japanese, Chinese and French cuisine
2 bars and a lobby lounge
Cake and pastry shop
1 boardroom, 2 meeting rooms and 8 multi-purpose function rooms that can be combined for larger events for up to 1,500 people and divided into 15 separate spaces
evian SPA TOKYO – offers a unique combination of hot baths and quality treatments, complemented by a 20m indoor pool, Jacuzzi, fitness room and personal training programmes
Wedding chapel and Shinto Shrine
Photo studio and Beauty salon
Hotel arcade with 17 retail outlets
Florist
Direct underground passage to the Otemachi subway station (one of the largest in Tokyo) due to be completed in Spring 2013