Even in the exclusive world of champagnes, there are tiers. While the birthplace of any champagne makes it special, all champagnes are not created equal. Charles Clavem, inspired by the story of a leather craftsman from a Champagne town called Les Riceys, offers bespoke bottles decorated with precious gems and noble metals. And, oh, the taste!
Given GaryG’s musings on these pages about the relative roles of rarity and complication in driving the value of a watch, he thinks it appropriate to dedicate this “Behind the Lens” entry to a piece that is both complicated and limited in production: Patek Philippe’s Reference 5950A. What’s so special about this watch? Well, first of all it’s a split-seconds chronograph. What else?
There’s a big overlap between the populations of watch and car enthusiasts, so it should come as no surprise that some of GaryG’s watch (and car) buddies leapt at the chance to attend the annual Singer Reimagined Monterey event this year and then took advantage of being in the area to sample other events over the weekend as well.
Alexander Doerr hadn’t really paid much attention to opals before, but upon closer inspection realized that this gemstone is extraordinary – they are shrouded in mystery and well worth learning more about. Looking at an opal is like looking at fireworks or even looking into a galaxy. And two Swiss watch brands specialize in using the fiery gemstone in watches are Jaquet Droz and Piaget.
Critics are not supposed to have favorites, though we get asked exactly that question all the time. It ranks with asking parents which is their favorite child, and chances are you’ll get an equally noncommitted response. For champagne, Ken Gargett has many favorites – too many – but the house of Pol Roger will always hold a special place for him.
Though pen makers collaborating with watchmakers is more common today than it was a decade ago, the combination of Blancpain and Grayson Tighe continues to delight with characteristically distinctive writing instruments expressing elements of both creators. The titanium Series 2 is a perfect example of the pen maker’s art mixed with thoughtful watch details.
Henschke’s Hill of Grace is Australia’s greatest single-vineyard Shiraz. Ken Gargett thinks that the 2013 vintage, which was grown in a block planted in the 1850s, has concentration, structure, and generosity despite the ultra-dryness of 2013 and the shortened harvest period. Cheers!
There is probably nowhere in the world you will find more information on the juxtaposition of tennis and wristwatches than right here at Quill & Pad. Unless, that is, you are an ardent follower of Miguel Seabra. In this article, Elizabeth interviews Miguel on the current state of tennis and timepieces, including new sponsorships, strategies, and Rolex’s recent patronage of the U.S. Open.
The king is dead. Long live the king. It has been with us seemingly forever, but finally the esteemed house of Charles Heidsieck will move on from the 1995 vintage of its stunning prestige cuvée Blanc des Millenaires to the 2004 vintage. What about all those vintages in between, you ask? Well, these missing vintages are part of what makes this wine so special.
Ian Skellern and his wife serendipitously chanced upon “seeing” the aurora borealis while visiting Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the excitement of that led to months of research. And that research led to spending a few days in the Arctic Circle in the north of Sweden. Here is what I’ve learned about the northern lights so far, some of it firsthand.