Z Zegna (the younger, more modern sub-brand of the Milanese menswear by Ermenegildo Zegna) has combined bespoke tailoring with state-of-the-art technology to create an activewear jacket that is as bold as the men who will undoubtedly wear it. The Z Zegna Icon Warmer Jacket—which was the highlight of the brand’s fall showcase—is a traditional outer shell, laced with heating panels designed to keep wearers warm during even the coldest of weather. Activated via a small switch in the pocket, the jacket dispels bur…

Looking more like an exploratory spaceship from Star Trek than a speedboat, Cantiere Navale Italia’s 43-foot Kifaru Baby is a futuristic cruiser that makes enjoying a day out at sea child’s play. Designed by Luca Dini, the high-tech tender is made completely from aluminum alloy (with magnesium to prevent corrosion) and somewhat resembles a bullet. The lightweight planing V-hull works with the twin Yanmar 370 hp diesel engines to achieve a top speed of almost 45 knots.

Designed to be easily operated by an ow…

Flitting across the sky, butterflies create a whimsical kaleidoscope of iridescent color. And though their life span is short, their beauty will be preserved forever in Harry Winston’s Premier Precious Butterfly Automatic 36mm watch collection.

In an effort to create truly original timepieces, Harry Winston’s designers spent 3 years researching how to harvest the exquisite powder on butterfly wings. The powder is then painstakingly applied to the watch dials by hand (a technique never before used in the wat…

Breaking through the barriers to luxurious expeditionary travel, Damen’s SeaXplorer yacht concepts will be equally at home in polar opposite conditions, while playing host to amenities that would make any sybarite smile. Dutch commercial shipbuilder Damen has collaborated with the naval architects at Azure Yacht Design and the extreme travel experts at EYOS Expeditions to develop 213-, 295-, and 328-foot versions of the superyacht. Capable of being at sea for 40 days at a time, each yacht has been designed to …

Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Robb Report Collection as “At Pebble, a Downshift”

The sunshine during August’s Monterey Car Week suggested anything but the slight cooling trend that blew through the auctions that weekend. While totals for RM Sotheby’s and Gooding & Co. broke previous records, it was clear that all but the most exceptional prewar cars could be had for cents on the restoration dollar, and that 1950s-era American iron may as well stay in the garage, so lackluster were th…

Fifteen years ago, the Cannes Yachting Festival was a small, regional boat show in a city most widely known for hosting glamorous film festivals. Today, Cannes is the official kick-off of the international boating season and draws 50,000 yacht lovers from five continents. Flanked by the stunning waters of the Côte d’Azur and the city’s postcard-perfect waterfront, this year’s event showcased 570 yachts—including 166 new launches—lining Vieux Port.

The docks were buzzing with visitors, and many exhibitors excitedly claimed this was the best show they have seen in years…

Teased at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in a menacing matte black with neon-orange accents, the BMW M4 GTS is officially coming to the United States as a street-legal road car. The German marque announced yesterday that only 700 of the special-edition M4s will be made, 300 of which will be allocated for the United States. The M4 GTS is 200 pounds lighter than the stock M4, thanks to aluminum and carbon fiber throughout, and it showcases two industry firsts for a production road car: a water-inje…

Legend has it that Napoléon Bonaparte would open Champagne bottles with his saber, declaring, “Champagne: In victory, one deserves it; in defeat, one needs it.” A more dramatic way to uncork a bottle of Champagne, the art of sabering continues to be practiced around the globe at St. Regis hotels, where butlers saber bottles to celebrate guests’ milestones or christen new hotels. Eager to bring this spirit of celebration to a larger audience, St. Regis has partnered with historic Parisian silversmith Christofle…

Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Robb Report Collection as “Telling Secrets”

The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, the governing system that controls the hierarchy of vineyards in Burgundy, may seem immutable. But in fact, it was only established in 1936, and in the region’s 1,600-year history of producing wine, there were other opinions on which plots of ground produce the finest juice. 

Last year, Charles Curtis published a deep historical exploration of the region in his…

For the Caribbean’s winter season, villa vacations are in high demand. These four island residences in St. Martin, St. Barts, St. James, and Anguilla deliver on location, design, service, and amenities. Each oceanfront property provides a slice of paradise in some of the most exclusive enclaves in the region. In the following slideshow, tour the stylish interiors and backyard aquatic playgrounds, letting winter’s dreams of sugarplum fairies be replaced by the wishes for warm white-sand be…