Tick Talk: Louis Vuitton shoots for the stars, Tiffany & Co unwinds The Rope, Piaget channels Warhol
Tick Talk: Louis Vuitton shoots for the stars, Tiffany & Co unwinds The Rope, Piaget channels Warhol
Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Galactique
Rocketing high watchmaking into orbit, Louis Vuitton's Tambour Taiko Galactique is a cosmic spectacle of a minute repeater.
Housed in a bold 46.7mm titanium and white gold case, the one-of-a-kind watch showcases an automata of an astronaut on the Moon. The dial is a stunner, featuring a vivid, hand-painted scene of Earth from the Moon with delicately mounted elements including the Sun, an astronaut and a satellite. It took more than 300 hours and four enamelling techniques to bring this extraordinary cosmic miniature to life.
When actuated, the slide – set with blue sapphires and topaz – gets the cathedral gongs chiming. The dial also springs to life in a mesmerising ballet: the astronaut waves an LV flag on the Moon, the satellite whirs, shooting stars dance and the Sun rotates.
Powering this lunar show is the LFT AU14.02 manual movement, assembled from 459 components with a 100-hour power reserve.
Price: $1.64 million
The Rope Watch by Tiffany & Co
The Rope Watch is fitted with the maison's first solar-powered movement, developed in collaboration with Swiss specialists La Joux-Perret.
PHOTO: TIFFANY & CO
This watch is a tribute to the late legendary jewellery designer Jean Schlumberger and his iconic twisted gold motifs, inspired by his textile roots in Alsace, France.
Dressed in 18K yellow gold and available with either a luminous white mother-of-pearl or glossy black dial, Tiffany's The Rope Watch comes in 27mm and 33mm sizes, and captivates with concentric coils of polished gold rope, shimmering with up to 39 brilliant diamonds.
It is fitted with the maison's very first solar-powered movement, developed in collaboration with Swiss specialists La Joux-Perret. Tucked beneath a semi-translucent dial, hidden solar cells keep the timepiece running with effortless efficiency.
Charging – which can be done under different lighting conditions – is a breeze. Just two minutes in the sun powers it for a full day, 14 minutes keeps it ticking for a week and a full charge of 14 hours fuels it for eight months.
Available with a Tiffany Blue or classic black alligator strap, the watch is full of charming details – from its rope-inspired minute hand to a sunburst-engraved caseback finished with a sparkling diamond accent.
Price: $35,400 (33mm) and $25,700 (27mm)
Tudor Black Bay Chrono 'Carbon 25'
Limited to just 2,025 pieces, the Black Bay Chrono 'Carbon 25' features a numbered PVD titanium caseback and is water-resistant to 200m.
PHOTO: TUDOR
Unveiled at the Miami Grand Prix and inspired by the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team, Tudor's Black Bay Chrono 'Carbon 25' is the brand's lightest, most race-ready Black Bay Chrono yet. The 42mm case, bezel, subdials and even end links are crafted entirely from lightweight carbon fibre.
One of the watch's most handsome features is the 'racing white' dial, which pops with blue accents, echoing the F1 team's 2025 livery. It is powered by the COSC-certified MT5813 chronograph movement, which has a 70-hour power reserve and column wheel construction for precision timing.
Limited to just 2,025 pieces, each watch features a numbered PVD titanium caseback and is water-resistant to 200m.
Price: $10,470
Piaget The Andy Warhol Watch
A high-jewellery white gold edition is set with deep blue baguette sapphires framing an opal dial.
PHOTO: PIAGET
Piaget's legendary Black Tie watch from the 1970s makes a bold return and has been dubbed the Andy Warhol Watch, a nod to the late P op Art icon who famously wore the timepiece. The revival comes through a fresh collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
To mark the occasion, Piaget has unveiled four striking new references. Powered by the in-house ultra-slim 501P1 automatic movement, each model sports a 45mm cushion-shaped case in white or rose gold with signature stepped gadroons, and precious or semi-precious stone dials.
Especially captivating is the high-jewellery white gold edition set with deep blue baguette sapphires framing an opal dial, a nod to both Warhol's and maison chairman Yves Piaget's love for the gemstone.
Another standout in white gold features a lustrous tiger's-eye dial, with warm orange and deep brown tones. Collectors can make it their own with a choice of 10 vibrant stone dials, five leather strap colours and a variety of hand styles.
Price: From $64,500
Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar
A tribute to the iconic A386, Zenith's Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar is housed in a 38mm 18k rose gold case.
PHOTO: ZENITH
A tribute to the iconic A386 model launched in 1969, Zenith's Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar is housed in a 38mm 18K rose gold case, and features a striking black dial accented with matching gold subdials and a 1/10th of a second chapter ring.
The triple calendar layout is intuitive and balanced: day and month windows sit at 11 and 2 o'clock, the date nestles at 4.30 and a moon phase is elegantly integrated at 6 o'clock.
The watch is powered by the high-frequency El Primero 3610 calibre, which has a 1/10th-second chronograph function and a robust 60-hour power reserve.
Fitted with a black calfskin strap and rose gold clasp, the watch has a sapphire display back which reveals the movement's blue column wheel and star-shaped rotor.
Price: $38,000
Ulysse Nardin Diver Hammerhead Shark
One percent of annual sales from the Hammerhead Shark edition will go to supporting the Shark Trust, a UK-based non-profit dedicated to shark protection.
PHOTO: ULYSSE NARDIN
Ulysse Nardin's latest high-horology dive watch is a bold tribute to one of the ocean's most iconic and endangered predators.
The Diver Hammerhead Shark commands attention with its striking 44mm blue PVD-coated titanium case, honouring the majestic hammerhead whose numbers are plummeting worldwide. Some species are now on the brink of extinction, listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.
Powering the watch is the in-house UN-118 calibre, a cutting-edge automatic movement which is equipped with a proprietary DiamonSil escapement and a silicon balance spring. Ticking at 28,800 vibrations an hour , it offers a robust 60-hour power reserve and features a handy date corrector that works both forward and backward.
One per cent of annual sales from the Hammerhead Shark edition will go to supporting the Shark Trust, a UK-based non-profit dedicated to shark protection. The campaign is championed by Ulysse Nardin ambassador Mike Coots, a shark attack survivor turned passionate advocate for these creatures.
Price: $17,800
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Vogue Singapore
4 days ago
- Vogue Singapore
Louis Vuitton's fall/winter 2025 collection is an ode to the modern voyager
A tribute to the modern voyager—for Louis Vuitton's fall/winter 2025 collection, Nicolas Ghesquière revisits the house's travel-inspired heritage in a way that feels both cinematic and culturally resonant. Louis Vuitton's fall/winter 2025 collection nods to the spirit of travel with utilitarian-meets-chic ensembles. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton The show took place at a secret location: L'Étoile du Nord, a rich, historical space tucked next to Gare du Nord, one of Paris's busiest train stations. Once the headquarters of a 19th-century train company, the venue was transformed to resemble a grand station platform. It was the perfect backdrop for a collection that celebrates the beauty of being in transit. The line-up sees comprises of bold, vibrant silhouettes complemented by embellished knit sweaters and plaid pieces. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton And in true Louis Vuitton fashion, the symbiosis of style and music was at the heart of it all. For this season, the maison collaborated with pioneering electronic band Kraftwerk, specifically referencing their Trans-Europe Express album—a tribute to the golden age of rail travel through a modernist lens. The album cover appears on some of the looks, with its title quietly anchoring the spirit of the designs. Voluminous ruffled skirts add a distinct layer of character to the utilitarian collection. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton The collection also pulled from a range of train-inspired films, handpicked by Ghesquière's team themselves. Titles like 2046 , Snowpiercer , Casablanca , Brief Encounter , Harry Potter , and Murder on the Orient Express all made the cut. These references translated into a dynamic cast of characters: city dwellers, lone adventurers, daily commuters—each look representing a different persona and story, almost like snapshots from different stations in someone's life. Draped dresses, tailored silhouettes, and thigh-high socks styled with boots tie into the collection's modern voyager theme. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton As for the looks themselves? It was utilitarian meets chic in the best way possible. An eclectic palette that felt like voyagers heading in every direction, from laid-back layering to sharp, tailored moments with a hint of formality. Think city-country mix looks comprising of fishing trip blanket coats, velvet dévoré dresses, sporty commuter jackets, and train attendant ties. Leather cargo shorts, ruffled velvet dresses, and vivid belts add a depth of texture to the range. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton Silhouettes were also reminiscent of the '80s, coupled with plaid capes, embellished knit sweaters and bejewelled yoke dresses. Translucent rain jackets, leather cargo shorts, and voluminous ruffled skirts also added an audacious edge to the line-up of ensembles. Accessories take the spotlight with soft-sided bags reimagining the classic Louis Vuitton travel gear. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton The accessories stayed true to the house's DNA, with the show spotlighting soft-sided travel bags—a nod to the maison's legacy of designing for the journey. There was the familiar Keepall, but also a fresh, reimagined silhouette: L'Express, crafted in soft tones and clean lines. And the extras pulled no punches—chunky bangles, boots paired with thigh-high socks, sculptural belts, as well as statement hats of every kind: exaggerated bucket styles, leather baseball caps, wide brims, and miniature berets. A medley of tailored and effortless pieces, the collection reimagines travel-inspired looks through a modern lens. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton In the end, this wasn't just another dreamy, escapist show. Ghesquière used travel as a lens to reflect on identity and culture by storytelling through contemporary, wearable designs. It was cinematic, yes—but also practical and beautifully grounded in reality and tasteful commute. For more information, visit Louis Vuitton.
Straits Times
26-07-2025
- Straits Times
Extra, extra: Read all about the last newspaper hawker in Paris
PARIS – Among the literary cafes and chic boutiques of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres quarter of Paris, an impish man with a wad of newspapers makes the rounds, his trademark cry of 'Ca y est!' or 'That's it!' echoing down narrow cobblestone streets. Mr Ali Akbar of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is a man with a ready smile who has been hawking newspapers for a half-century. Sometimes, he spices his offerings with made-up stories. 'Ca y est! The war is over; Putin asks forgiveness,' was one recent pitch that caused grim hilarity. From Cafe de Flore to Brasserie Lipp – two famed establishments where food and culture are intertwined – Mr Akbar plies a dying trade in a dwindling commodity. He is considered to be the last newspaper hawker in France. The profession may have reached its zenith in Paris in 1960, when American actress Jean Seberg was immortalised on film with several newspapers under her arm crying 'New York Herald Tribune!', as she strolled on the Champs-Elysees, pursued by French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. Nobody in French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard's classic movie Breathless (1960) is buying The Trib except Belmondo's character, who is unhappy that the paper has no horoscope, but unhappier still to discover that his charm makes little impression on the beauty and faux American innocence of Seberg's character, yet another foreigner smitten by Paris and angling to make a buck. Mr Akbar is one of them, too. 'Sah-yay!' is roughly how his cry to buy sounds. Through persistence and good humour, he has become 'part of the cultural fabric of Paris', said Mr David-Herve Boutin, an entrepreneur active in the arts. Such is Mr Akbar's renown that French President Emmanuel Macron recently awarded him a Legion d'Honneur, the Republic's highest order of merit. It will be conferred at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in autumn. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Asia Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive in Shanghai's luxury estate Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur calling for the resignation of PM Anwar Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Business Can STI continue its defiant climb in second half of 2025? 'Perhaps it will help me get my French passport,' said Mr Akbar, who sometimes has a withering take on life, having seen much of its underside. He has a residence permit, but his application for French nationality is mired in Gallic bureaucracy. A stack of newspapers under the arm of Mr Akbar. PHOTO: DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/NYTIMES Mr Akbar moves at startling speed. A sinewy bundle of energy at 72, he clocks several kilometres a day, selling Le Monde, Les Echos and other daily newspapers from around noon until midnight. Dismissive of the digital, he has become a human networker of a district once dear to writers Jean-Paul Sartre and Ernest Hemingway, now overrun by brand-hungry tourists. 'How are you, dear Ali?' asks Ms Veronique Voss, a psychotherapist, as he enters Cafe Fleurus near the Jardin du Luxembourg. 'I worried about you yesterday because it was so hot.' Heat does not deter Mr Akbar, who has known worse. He thanks Ms Voss with a big smile and takes off his dark blue Le Monde cap. 'When you have nothing, you take whatever you can get,' he says. 'I had nothing.' At his next stop, an Italian cafe, Mr Jean-Philippe Bouyer, a stylist who has worked for French luxury brand Dior, greets Mr Akbar warmly. 'Ali is indispensable,' Mr Bouyer says. 'Something very positive and rare in our times emanates from him. He kept the soul of a child.' Born in 1953 into a family of 10 children, two of whom died young, Mr Akbar grew up in Rawalpindi amid rampant poverty and open sewers, eating leftovers, sleeping five to a room, leaving school when he was 12, working odd jobs and eventually teaching himself to read. Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Mr Akbar left home in his late teens in search of a better life. PHOTO: DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/NYTIMES 'I did not want to wear clothes that reeked of misery,' he said. 'I always dreamed of giving my mother a house with a garden.' To advance, he had to leave. He procured a passport at 18. All he knew of Europe was the Eiffel Tower and Dutch tulips. A winding road took him by bus to Kabul, Afghanistan, where Western hippies, most of them high, abounded in 1970 – but that was not Mr Akbar's thing. He went on by road to Iran where, he said, 'the shah was an omnipresent God'. Eventually, he reached Athens, Greece, and wandered the streets looking for work. A businessperson took pity and, noting his eagerness, offered him a job on a ship. Mr Akbar cleaned the kitchen floor. He washed dishes. He was faced by aggressive mockery from bawdy shipmates for his refusal, as a Muslim, to drink. In Shanghai, he abandoned ship rather than face further taunting. The world is round, and around he went, back to Rawalpindi, and then on the westward road again to Europe. His mother deserved better – that conviction drove him through every humiliation. Visa issues in Greece and eventual expulsion landed him back in Pakistan a second time. His family thought he was mad, but, undaunted, he tried again. This time, he washed up in Rouen, France. It had taken only two years. After working there in a restaurant, he moved on to Paris in 1973. 'By the time I got to Paris, I had an overwhelming desire to anchor myself,' Mr Akbar said. 'Since I began circling the planet, I hadn't met many people who didn't disappoint me. 'But if you have no hope, you're dead.' He slept under bridges and in cellars. He encountered racism. He spent a couple of months in Burgundy harvesting cucumbers. Mr Akbar began hawking newspapers in Parisian streets in the early 1970s. PHOTO: DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/NYTIMES At last, in 1974, Mr Akbar found his calling when he ran into an Argentine student hawking newspapers. He inquired how he could do likewise and was soon in the streets of Paris with copies of satirical magazines Charlie Hebdo and Hara-Kiri, now defunct. He liked to walk, enjoyed contact with people and, even if margins were small, could eke out a living. Fast forward 51 years, and Mr Akbar is still at it. Because Saint-Germain is the home of intellectuals, actors and politicians, he has rubbed shoulders with the influential. From former presidents Francois Mitterrand and Bill Clinton to actress-singer Jane Birkin and author Bernard-Henri Levy, he has met them all. None of this has gone to his head. He remains a modest guy with a winning manner. His main newspaper is now Le Monde, which he acquires at a kiosk for about US$2 (S$2.50) a copy and sells for almost double that. He makes around US$70 on an average day and rarely takes a day off. Newspaper reading remains ingrained in France. Friends may buy two or three copies and slip him €10 (S$15) or invite him to lunch. He has no pension, but he gets by – and his mother got a Rawalpindi garden. Mr Akbar will receive a Legion d'Honneur, France's highest order of merit, at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in autumn. PHOTO: DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/NYTIMES From an arranged marriage with a Pakistani woman in 1980, Akbar has five sons, one of them with autism and another with various physical ailments. A sixth child died at birth. Life has not been easy, one reason 'I have made it my business to make people laugh', he says. He is deeply grateful to France, which he calls a land of asylum, not least for the education it gave his children. But he believes that as a brown-skinned foreigner, he 'will never be completely accepted'. Some 50 years lat er, Mr Akbar remains on the move. Lose sight of him for a second and he is gone. But then comes the cry, 'Ca y est! Marine is marrying Jordan!', a reference to far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her young protege Jordan Bardella. His jokes are a sales pitch, but they also reflect a yearning for a happier, simpler world . NYTIMES
Business Times
25-07-2025
- Business Times
A time of celebration: Wedding jewellery for keeps
FROM ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RINGS AND early Celtic trinity designs to modern interpretations of the Chinese si dian jin, wedding jewellery has long symbolised marital bonds. Today, jewellery options for the big day are wide-ranging, from the refined and demure to the extravagant and dramatic. Every bride – and groom – can enjoy a selection of treasured pieces that will be lasting reminders of that special day. To help happy couples along, we sifted through the possibilities and shortlisted our picks of modern and timeless designs. All that's left to do? Celebrate! Tiffany Sixteen Stone rings. PHOTO: TIFFANY Introduced in 1959 as a wedding ring, the Sixteen Stone design by Jean Schlumberger was inspired by his family's roots as textile manufacturers in Alsace, France. Today, its signature motif, derived from the cross-stitch, continues to hold as a symbol of love and strength – the perfect emblem of marital vows and lifelong commitment. Louis Vuitton Le Damier de Louis Vuitton bracelet. PHOTO: LOUIS VUITTON Le Damier de Louis Vuitton ring. PHOTO: LOUIS VUITTON Fans of the French luxury fashion house can opt to meld their love for each other with Louis Vuitton's signature Damier motif. Modern and striking, the distinct chequerboard pattern expressing notions of infinity is replicated in Le Damier jewellery as gold squares and diamonds. Best of all, they look as good on the groom as they do on the bride. Bvlgari Serpenti necklace. PHOTO: BVLGARI Serpenti earrings. PHOTO: BVLGARI Serpenti ring. PHOTO: BVLGARI The Serpenti is an instantly recognisable icon of the Italian jeweller and has undergone multiple transformations over the years. Besides symbolising wisdom, vitality and seduction, the snake, rendered in Bvlgari's sculptured and supple jewellery designs, presents an elegant choice for couples. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Chanel Bouton de Camelia choker. PHOTO: CHANEL Bouton de Camelia transformable earrings. PHOTO: CHANEL Feminine and timeless, the camellia flower emblematic of the French luxury house is the key feature of its Bouton de Camelia choker and transformable earrings. Not only do the jewellery pieces match dreamy bridal gowns with their delicate designs, they also have adjustable lengths. The earrings can be turned into simple studs for everyday wear, making them suitable for occasions big and small. Cartier Love necklace. PHOTO: CARTIER Love transformable earrings. PHOTO: CARTIER Love wedding band. PHOTO: CARTIER Love bracelet. PHOTO: CARTIER Can anyone say 'no' to the Love collection from Cartier? Created in 1969, the original Love bracelet is still a sought-after piece of jewellery – and now, the precious handcuff's screw motif has been extended to a full range of necklaces, earrings and rings. Unisex and eminently wearable, this is jewellery that will take a bridal couple from wedding to work and everything else in between. Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake transformable necklace. PHOTO: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Snowflake clip and pendant. PHOTO: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Snowflake earrings. PHOTO: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Snowflake bracelet. PHOTO: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Snowflake ring. PHOTO: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS One enduring school of thought holds that brides should look like princesses on their wedding day. And why not? For that fairy tale vibe, look no further than the French luxury jeweller's Snowflake collection, which brings to mind an ethereal winter landscape – and a certain charming animated film. Don't let this go. Lee Hwa 916 gold designer series necklace. PHOTO: LEE HWA 916 gold bracelet. PHOTO: LEE HWA 916 gold earrings. PHOTO: LEE HWA 916 gold ring. PHOTO: LEE HWA For more than 50 years, the home-grown jeweller has been a trusted brand for engagement rings and wedding bands. Building on that foundation, it has developed a collection of jewellery created by its own design team. The range of 916 gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings are modern and valuable keepsakes. Goldheart Platinum wedding band with diamond. PHOTO: GOLDHEART Platinum wedding band. PHOTO: GOLDHEART For those who prefer minimalist designs, Goldheart's platinum wedding bands are the answer. Refined and ageless, the jewellery options include pieces with and without diamonds, ensuring that there will always be a perfect pair for every couple.
