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Le Renard is the highlight of the rare Lalique Mascot Collection
RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is going to host its 14th annual Amelia island sale in Northeast Florida on 10th of March. One of the most exquisite line-ups that we’re going to see here is the exceptionally rare Lalique Mascot Collection of El Chesney, recognized as one of the foremost female collectors of antique automobiles in the United States. One of as few as three complete sets of the 30 mascots comprising the 1932 Lalique catalogue are going to be featured at the sale and ‘Le Renard’ (The Fox), the rarest Lalique of all is going to headline the collection. It is one of only seven known to exist. Lalique mascots have been heavily contested at auctions in the past attracting strong prices. The collection which will be sold as a single lot is estimated to fetch a whopping $800,000- $1,200,000. It will be accompanied by two large display cases, custom made for this collection.
Hermes products will cost more
The economy is struggling and people are penny pinching, but that has does not seem to deter Hermes from raising their prices. Citing high cost of raw-materials like silk, cashmere and crocodile skin, the ridiculously expensive French luxury brand will proceed with the increases in early February. Anyone remotely interested in fashion knows Hermes’ Birkins & Kellys bags, accessories, scarves and shoes demand a huge price. With this price hike there will be an approximate 9% increase. On the other hand the residents of the United States are religiously counting their stars as the increase in prices has been inculcated in Europe and Asia.
The $1.2 million Pagani Huayra
For all of you who are very passionate about cars must be familiar with Pagani. These are one-in-a-million cars, given the fact that the company doesn’t have an assembly line, instead producing a smaller number of cars that cost a fortune each. The company is now planning to begin selling in the United States by the year 2013, with the $1.2 million Pagani Huayra, named after the ancient Andean wind god Aymara Huayra Tata. The company plans to produce just 40 of these a year, of which about five to eight will be sold in the United States on an annual basis. It is equipped with a 6.0-liter twin-turbo Mercedes-Benz AMG V-12, this one produces about 700hp and touches the 60mph mark in 3 seconds. The car, weighing in at 3,000-pounds, touches speeds of up to 230mph, and seems to corner pretty well too.
Miu Miu Enters The E-Commerce Scene
The fashion brand from the Prada house took its time to make the move. The Italian brand’s e-commerce website was launched with presence across 17 nations including Japan and the United States. The fashion brand was begun in 1992 by Mrs Prada as an addition to the Prada empire. Since then it has grown considerably and counts among its loyal fans well-dressed Hollywood celebs like Kirsten Dunst and Jessica Alba.
The shopping website from Miu Miu is sure to be welcomed by fashion loyalists everywhere. Already, the brand is attracting attention from fashion enthusiasts because of its new line of miniature Miu Miu designer handbags. These Miu Miu collectibles are miniature versions of the popular Miu Miu luxury handbags, but don’t expect them to come cheap. The charm-sized designer handbags come with price tags ranging from $115 to $380.
Roberto Capucci Exhibit
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is featuring 80 sculptural fashion creations by Italian designer Roberto Capucci in an exhibit called “Art Into Fashion.” Capucci is known for his wild and interesting use of silhouettes and structural design elements to create fashion that’s as much art as it is clothing. The exhibit marks the first survey of Capucci’s works in the United States and also includes various sketches and drawings from past years. Roberto Capucci was born in Rome in 1929 and sold his first design at age 18 to the wife of film director Roberto Rossellini.
Irish Whiskey Sips for St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day gets prosperous for Irish whiskey makers as their particular brand of elixir remains one of the fastest growing segments of the spirits business.
Jameson Irish whiskey, the world’s leading brand, reported a strong 16 percent spike in sales by volume in the last six months of 2010. The brand sold more than three million cases during 2010, with one million of these cases consumed in the United States. In the U.S., sales were up a hefty 27 percent.
Though the market is dominated by two brands, Jameson and Bushmill’s, there are several other brands of Irish whisky to consider lying in for the holiday, or giving as a gift.
$60.00: Turning to Bushmills, or as the Irish refer to it the Protestant whiskey, my choice is the 16-year old, not the older, more expensive 21-year old. This version of Bushmills is aged for 16 years in a combination of Olorosso Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks.
Bulleit Shoots a New Premium Rye
When Bulleit Bourbon hit the shelves in 1999, its high Rye content, as well as its unique apothecary-style bottle put it on the map right away with Bourbon fans. A dram more than a decade after it started rolling through the market, Bulleit has come forth with a straight rye.
Rye is on the rise, especially with bartenders who seem to have rediscovered it in the last couple of years. But rising popularity is still relative. Heaven Hill, for example, says it can produce a year’s worth of its Rittenhouse Rye in about a day. Some of the popularity and increased consumption is coming about because of new brands and expressions, though, like Jim Beam’s Ri1.
Straight rye whiskey must have at least a 51 percent rye mashbill. But Bulleit Rye is 95 percent with the remaining 5% from malted barley. Tom Bulleit, founder of the brand, says he has been working on the rye for seven years. The company says that it sources its rye from Germany, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
Bulleit Rye is aged in new, white-oak barrels that are charred to the maximum #4 level, says the company, before being filled. The whiskey is bottled at 90 proofs, the same as Bulleit Bourbon. And the suggested retail price is $27.99.
Highland Park Leif Eriksson
Highland Park unveiling a new limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky later this month. Named after Leif Eriksson, the special scotch is set to debut at the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) trade show later this month.
The special bottling honors the first European to reach America. Legend has it that Leif Eriksson set out on his voyage from the Scottish Isle of Orkney, which sits in between Norway and Iceland and which serves as Highland Park’s home.
Bottled at 40% ABV, the 700ml Highland Park Leif Eriksson will retail at $88 in the United States before being rolled out in markets around the world.
Richest man’s philanthropy plan
Bill Gates, investor Warren Buffett and last year’s richest man, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, will almost certainly be in the top three of Forbes 2011 billionaires list. The trio has topped the list for the past five years.
But it would be no contest if Microsoft co-founder Gates had not already given away more than a third of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health and development and U.S. education.
Lincoln said Gates was currently worth about $49 billion, behind Slim, whose fortune he estimated at $60 billion. Buffett, also a philanthropist, is now worth some $47 billion. But had Gates not given away any money, he would be worth $88 billion, Lincoln said.
Gates and his wife Melinda have so far given $28 billion to their foundation, the largest in the United States.
Forbes’ 2010 billionaires list put Gates’ fortune at $53 billion, but he was knocked into second spot by Slim’s $53.5 billion, losing the crown for only the second time since 1995.
Slim has said businessmen do more good by creating jobs and wealth through investment, “not by being Santa Claus,” and while he has still pledged several billion dollars to charity, his efforts have been a fraction of Gates’ philanthropy.
Buffett, who Forbes ranked as the third richest man in the world last year with $47 billion, has also pledged almost all of his fortune to the Gates Foundation and has given $8 billion to the organization since 2006.
But Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc has fared better than Gates’ Microsoft. Microsoft shares now trade about where they were a decade ago, while Berkshire shares have roughly doubled. Since the end of 2009, Microsoft shares have fallen 16 percent, while Berkshire shares are up 29 percent. Slim’s major companies, which include Mexico’s former state telecoms monopoly Telmex, have also seen gains in their stock prices.
“DRAMATIC” PHILANTHROPIC INFLUENCE
Gates and Buffett have joined forces to encourage other billionaires to publicly pledge to give away at least 50 percent of their wealth during their lifetimes or upon their death as part of a campaign called The Giving Pledge.
Glen Macdonald, president of the Wealth and Giving Forum, said Gates’ philanthropy had influenced the way other rich people in the United States approach their own philanthropy.
“Encouraging people and leading by example — there’s no question that’s going to have influence on people’s giving patterns,” said Macdonald. “They are going to give sooner and they are going to give in greater amounts.”
But Macdonald, whose group has advised 600 wealthy U.S. families on their philanthropy, disagrees with the public nature of The Giving Pledge, which requires billionaires to release a letter explaining their intentions.
So far 59 billionaires have joined The Giving Pledge, publishing their letter at www.givingpledge.org. The campaign does not accept any money nor tell people how to give away their wealth, it just asks for a moral commitment.
Paul Schervish, director of the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, said Gates’ influence had been “dramatic” and likened philanthropy to a gem, saying Gates was “changing the facets by learning and teaching others.”
Clubby new Coca-Cola bottle’s by Daft Punk
French house DJ duo Daft Punk is teaming up with Coca-Cola in the design of a new line of soda dubbed “Club Coke.”Coca-Cola posted a video featuring Daft Punk beats and the austere gold and silver bottle design, which mimics the helmets the duo wear during live performances.
The new beverage is set to be released next month and will be available at dance clubs across Europe, as previous “Club Coke” lines have been. A special collector’s package with both bottles will be available exclusively through the French boutique colette, according to online fashion magazine Hypebeast.
There is no mention yet on whether the beverage will be distributed in other countries, including the United States. This marks Coca-Cola’s third branding collaboration on their “Club Coke” line. In 2009, the company teamed up with another French electronic duo, Justice, and designer So Me in a new bottle design.
Last year, the company also signed on British singer-songwriter Mika in a bottle design featuring a jungle scene.
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