A month after setting a world record for the most valuable white diamond sold at auction—a 118.28-carat D-flawless that sold for $30.6 million on October 7 in Hong Kong—Sotheby’s Geneva expects to set another record on November 13, when the Pink Star crosses the auction block. The 59.6-carat internally flawless vivid-pink diamond is expected to fetch more than $60 million. It is the largest stone of this color and clarity ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America, according to Tom Moses, the institut…

More than 50 years ago, Bill Mitchell—the head of design for General Motors and an avid fisherman—was inspired by the powerful and hydrodynamic bodies of sharks and stingrays while at sea. He returned to his design room with the vision, and Peter Brock—the youngest designer on the GM team in ’59 and an Art Center College of Design alumnus—came up with the 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer XP-87, which will be a showpiece at the Art Center College of Design’s upcoming Car Classic in Pasadena, Calif., on October 27.
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Richie Notar is sick of casual dining. The restaurateur who managed the Nobu empire from its start, in 1994, is looking to restore glamour to the New York restaurant world with the opening of his first solo spot, Harlow. “I’m really bored with sitting in a farmhouse with a moose head over me,” says Notar. “It’s been done. People want to start making an effort again.”
Set in a cavernous Midtown space, Harlow is indeed a work of splendor. Decades ago this was the dining room of film star Marion Davies, gifted t…

Rarely in the world of Cognac has history repeated itself so dramatically as with the discovery and introduction of Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, for this is only the second time in the 139-year history of this prestigious double-distilled wine that a single-cask offering—rather than a blended Cognac—has been released.
Traditionally, Louis XIII is created by the judicious blending of 1,200 different Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, ranging in age from 40 to 100 years. But in 2004, Rémy Martin’s cellar master, Pierr…

Bec Brittain has added four dynamic lighting designs to her eponymous collection of geometric chandeliers, rope-inspired jewelry, and assorted novelties. Released in May, the pieces pair opaque glass with Brittain’s trademark angular hardware. “I wanted to soften the light but multiply it at the same time,” says the designer. “It is all about playing with reflection.”
Echo, for example, is a diamond-shaped chandelier (from $13,950) with internal gray or bronze mirrors that reflect the light generated by LED t…

Whether newly built or undergoing renovation, these remarkable homes have recently hit the market—and are poised to capture the attention of style-minded buyers.
Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.; Price: $36 million
Finished this month, this 11,200-square-foot estate offers expansive views— from downtown Los Angeles to Catalina Island—from its elevated 36,000-square-foot lot. The Los Angeles–based builder and designer Michael Palumbo, of Palumbo Design, and Marc Whipple, architect and founder of the city’s Whi…

Those seeking a design-worthy venue on the West Coast for an important business meeting or social event may wish to investigate One Kearny Club. Located at the intersection of San Francisco’s Geary and Market Streets, near the Financial District and Union Square, the 4,000-square-foot, 11th-floor space offers striking views of the city from its expansive terrace.
Throughout the venue—which spans two architecturally significant 20th-century structures and a 21st-century addition—contemporary elegance complemen…

Unveiled 18 months ago at the Geneva Auto Show, the Infiniti Emerg-E concept is striking in appearance, and its significance as a road map to future design and product initiatives at the Japanese luxury make looms large.
Like its Nissan division sibling, Infiniti is counting on the electrification of drivetrains, through either pure electrics or plug-in hybrid systems. Recently, Infiniti made the Emerg-E available for drives in Southern California.
The two-door sports coupe is based on a Lotus Evora chassis …

Every year in late September, the Principality of Monaco—which, at just less than 500 acres, is the world’s second smallest country by area—hosts many of the world’s largest megayachts. This year, for the 23rd annual Monaco Yacht Show, dozens of vessels made their debuts, some of them after several years of delay as a result of the global recession. New builds aplenty captivated the crowded show’s attendees, but only a scarce few of these yachts will be available for charter in their inaugural seasons.
As the…

This season’s topcoat is all about strong lines—belted waists that create a powerful silhouette, and textural fabrics and fur trims that make you want to bundle up on a blustery night. Here are seven styles from the runways of Milan, New York, and Paris that provide polished looks that won’t wither even in the most extreme weather.
Dries Van Noten’s winter wool plaid looks fresh in autumnal shades of burnt orange and burgundy. (Price upon request; www.driesvannoten.be)
Sleek is the operative word for Belstaf…