Don’t be fooled by the classic look of Bang & Olufsen’s Beolit 12: the aluminium and leather might be reminiscent of the 1960s, but the electronics are right up to date...   read more >>

The US series ‘Mad Men’ has been the biggest thing on TV in recent years. Now, with the fifth season just hitting the screens, a new book has been published celebrating the era of the hard-drinking, even harder smoking and generally ‘hip’ world of advertising...   read more >>

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of RMS Titanic’s ill-fated voyage, both Bonhams in New York, and the British auction house Henry Aldridge & Son, will hold sales this spring of many artefacts from the annals of Titanic history....   read more >>

With a mixture of classic/contemporary styling and traditional/high-tech manufacturing, the unlikely pairing of 115-year-old Globetrotter with imaging and electronics giant Fujifilm has produced a truly ‘must-have’ item for all travelling photographers...   read more >>

This year's European Football Championship will be held in Poland and the Ukraine. As was the case in 2008, Hublot is the official sponsor of the UEFA tournament and has produced a limited-edition watch for the two host nations of EURO 2012...   read more >>

Proving that however you present them, the world just does not like Maybachs, the celebrated modern art auctioneers, Phillips de Pury, sold the wild and wacky ‘Rappers’ Maybach’ for a less than bling-tastic $60,000 at its 8 March sale....   read more >>

For over 60 years, American audio specialist McIntosh has devoted its resources to producing high-end speakers, amplifiers and turntables for the discerning audiophile. Now, owners of classic cars can enjoy the famous McIntosh sound, with a retro-look AM/FM tuner with CD player...   read more >>

The famous explorers Capt. Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen have gone into legend for their epic race to the South Pole. Bonhams’ forthcoming ‘Polar Sale’ catalogues some of the artefacts from the expeditions of 100 years ago...   read more >>

With the gentle rays of sunshine heralding the onset of spring, what better time to buy a new pair of sunglasses? The famous Oliver Goldsmith brand can be seen on the faces of the rich and famous from Acapulco to Zermatt...   read more >>

A new book from Merrell, written by Neil Handley, the Curator of the British Optical Association Museum, examines some of the world’s most charismatic eyewear since spectacles first came into use in the late 18th Century...   read more >>

Gold is a soft metal. For all its lustrous beauty and high value, it can scratch easily – hence its subordination to titanium and stainless steel in sports watches. Not so the all-new piece from official Ferrari watchmaker Hublot which is made of ‘Magic Gold’...   read more >>

Veritable palaces in which to store your cherished cars are no longer that unusual. But here is something rather different: a superbly luxurious 'garage' on the water...   read more >>

He was best known as the last of the great playboys, famed for his jet-set lifestyle, a high-profile marriage to Brigitte Bardot and the vast inherited wealth that enabled him to indulge numerous passions that ranged from film-making to photography, collecting to motorcycling and astrology to riding the Cresta Run...   read more >>

Who better to document the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, in all its iterations from the 1952 300 SL racers to the latest-generation SL, than renowned automotive photographer René Staud?   read more >>

We have already brought you news of Bonhams’ £8 million sale of the classic car collection amassed by the late Dr George Daniels, OBE – and now we can reveal that Sotheby’s is offering his equally remarkable collection of clocks and watches, conservatively estimated at £5 million...   read more >>

The latest in-house movement from Breitling, the B05, brings 24-zone time-travelling for the professional globetrotter...   read more >>

Chopard, the Swiss brand from Fleurier run by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, is well-known for its Mille Miglia and Monaco Historics chronographs. Its L.U.C. collection is devoted to haute horlogerie and features some of the more complicated movements utilised by Chopard...   read more >>

For 180 years, the district of Saint-Imier, in the Swiss Jura, has been the home of Longines. To celebrate this, the company has launched a new ‘Saint-Imier Collection’ at Baselworld 2012...   read more >>

‘Espada’: the bullfighter’s rapier, made famous by Lamborghini in the late-60s and by Zenith in 1970 when it introduced a chronograph of the same name...   read more >>

Launched at Baselworld, the all-new Sky-Dweller model from Rolex incorporates a perpetual calendar, a quick-change time-zone indicator and a 'months' display on the outer edges of the face...   read more >>

The latest Tudor Heritage Black Bay diver’s wristwatch dates back to a model first introduced in 1954...   read more >>

One of Patek’s latest watches, revealed at Baselworld 2012 is a return to a classic design of 90 years ago...   read more >>

First held in 1950 to celebrate the completion of the Mexican section of the Pan-American Highway, the original 3300km Carrera Panamericana road-race was the stuff of legends...   read more >>

Ferrari’s F12berlinetta won’t be on the roads for a few months yet, but you don’t have to wait that long to own one – provided you’re of small stature and can make do with 740HP less than the manufacturer claims...   read more >>

To celebrate Porsche Design's 40th anniversary, horological expert Gisbert L. Brunner looks back on a history of memorable watches that were 'different', but always contemporary: the famous, mostly black chronographs from the pen of F.A. Porsche himself...   read more >>

After the Mona Lisa, Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' and Monet's water lilies, paintings don't come much more instantly recognisable than 'The Scream' by Edvard Munch – and now there's a chance to have it hanging on your wall, writes Simon de Burton....   read more >>

The Ferrari exhibition currently underway at the Pantheon Museum in Basle not only showcases some exquisite cars, but also a host of Ferrari images created by Günther Raupp – the artist behind the pictures in the official Ferrari calendar...   read more >>

A Maybach 57 that was given a Mad Max-style makeover for a music video is to be sold by esteemed auction house Phillips de Pury next week, with the proceeds going towards a children's charity...   read more >>

Over two days in Boca Raton, Florida, the entire catalogue of fairground collectibles, mechanical musical pieces, cars, guns and petroliana belonging to the Milhous brothers was sold for a total of $38.3 million...   read more >>

Phillips de Pury, the New York-based auction house renowned for sales of contemporary art, has re-opened its pop-up shop at London’s Claridge’s hotel...   read more >>

The new Omega boutique at London’s Olympic Stadium has been temporarily transformed into the secret headquarters of MI6...   read more >>

For 2012, Ralph Lauren has introduced new interpretations, sizes and finishes to its range of timepieces. In the Slim Classique Collection, for example, there’s an Art Deco theme with lavish diamond-set styling, while the Stirrup Collection describes a series of highly luxurious ladies’ timepieces...   read more >>

Joining the cars and motorcycles at RM’s Monaco sale on 11-12 May is the ARNO XI Hydroplane, the Ferrari-powered racing boat that established a world water speed record of more than 150mph in 1953...   read more >>

On what other day (14 February, Valentine’s…), and in which other city (Las Vegas) could they open a museum dedicated to organised crime?...   read more >>

They belong in the New York streets like hot dog stands and steaming drains – they’re the graffiti-ridden vans, an eyesore to many. But artist Kevin Cyr has dedicated a series of works to the decrepit old workhorses that endure the tribulations of Brooklyn's streets...   read more >>

Yes, 007 fans, there’s another piece of Bondmobilia for you to set your sights on. In celebration of five decades of the world’s favourite secret agent gracing the silver screen, Omega has produced a limited-edition version of Bond’s current timepiece...   read more >>

Freelance art director and graphic designer Vahram Muratyan’s blog about living in two of the world’s most exciting cities took the online community by storm. You can read it in beautifully illustrated book form...   read more >>

Those of you who might be proud of that complete 1966 World Cup Commemorative Coin display should see what the Milhous brothers amassed during their half-century of collecting...   read more >>

We Londoners might be familiar with rickets, bad hygiene, child labour and street-urchin crime but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to learn more. No. And we don’t mind sharing it with visitors to the Capital, either...   read more >>

The famous ‘Tank’ watch by Cartier, worn by many a politician and film star over the 95 years since its creation, has gained a little in overall dimensions yet remains as elegant as ever...   read more >>

For the last seven years, Hockney has been out in all weathers, capturing the vast landscape of the East Yorkshire Wolds in an extensive series of 'en plein air' works. Many of these are among the 150 Hockney works now on show at the Royal Academy…   read more >>

Describing itself as “a captivating universe of kinetic art where Horological Machines and Mechanical Art Devices reign supreme”, the M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva proves there’s more to the world of ‘complications’ than a moon-phase, multiple time-zone watch...   read more >>

On the "no one’s ever done THAT before" scale, this must score an 11. The skipper of the ‘Hugo Boss’ took his life in his hands when he ‘rode’ the keel of his solo, round-the-world yacht in the cold waters of The Solent. He was dressed for the occasion, though: in a Hugo Boss suit...   read more >>

In the mid-1950s, the young guns from Hollywood defined the ‘Ivy Look’ of the East Coast elite – and gave Brooks Brothers shirts and corduroy pants a top coolness rating. Now, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and the pioneers of the preppy movement are the subject of a luxurious, large-format coffee table book...   read more >>

As complicated a complication as can be, a star of the 2012 Geneva SIHH was on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s stand...   read more >>

Purveyor of fine wooden accessories, Good Wood NYC has produced a hand-crafted domino set and table – an ideal decoration for a study, boardroom or ‘man cave’...   read more >>

Set high in the Engadin, the now completely renovated Muottas Muragl is the first ‘positive energy’ hotel in the Swiss Alps. By that, the owners mean that it meets most of Switzerland’s strict environmental benchmarks, obtaining its energy from five different sources and reducing its overall consumption by a massive 64 per cent...   read more >>

If dragons and skeletons are your horological bag, this year's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie – the world's most exclusive watch show – would have held considerable appeal, writes Simon de Burton...   read more >>

The annual Christie’s Ski Sale, this year held on 25 January, proved once again that there’s money not only on the slopes, but also in investing in the timeless advertising material of years past...   read more >>

BMW’s M division has collaborated with snow sports specialist K2 to create a limited edition pair of skis. However, to own a pair it’ll be your expertise on the piste that’s put to the test, rather than your alacrity to pay the inflated sum that usually accompanies limited edition items...   read more >>

With the Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph, Jaeger-LeCoultre is introducing a new water-resistant watch that reinterprets a famous classic – the Memovox Deep Sea. This nod to the past illustrates how the watchmaker has chosen to follow the current fashion for retro-styled pieces...   read more >>

What are the 2012 trends in watch design? Traditionally, the SIHH watch fair in Geneva reveals the latest ideas from the world’s greatest watchmakers. We’ve put our personal selection of the best timepieces under the microscope...   read more >>

It might come as a surprise to the uninitiated, but not all high-end watches are made in Switzerland. Germany has an honourable tradition of watchmaking, with the Saxon manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne perhaps its most famous name...   read more >>

This year sees the 40th anniversary of the famous Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and the landmark is being celebrated at the Geneva Watch Salon with the unveiling of the new Openworked Extra-Thin...   read more >>

The great Italian brand Panerai has revisited one of its earliest designs at this year’s Geneva SIHH. “Directly descended” from a prototype created for Italian naval frogmen in 1936, the Radiomir ‘California 3 Days’ is unusual in that it features both Arabic and Roman numerals on its dial...   read more >>

The manufacturer Parmigiani is a jewel of the Swiss watch industry. With the men's 1950 Tonda Special Edition, company patriarch and watchmaking legend Michel Parmigiani once again shows his flair for extraordinary timepieces...   read more >>

Maintaining its connection with the ingenious 19th Century French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec, Montblanc will present a new chronograph at this year’s SIHH Geneva watch fair...   read more >>

Newly formed company Heuristic Media has produced an appealing iPad app which explores 100 selected bicycles in 360-degree glory. The subjects were carefully chosen from the famous Michael Embacher collection...   read more >>

‘You can take a race car off the track, but you can never take the track out of a race car.’ One slot-racing enthusiast has taken this wisdom literally, constructing a complete track within the body of a full-size Porsche 917...   read more >>

Just when you thought Swiss watchmakers had investigated every possible permutation of form and mechanical complication, someone comes up with not only a “why has no one done that before?” about it, but also a “my goodness, that’s clever!”...   read more >>

The remarkable story of how the manufacturer of ‘Playtex’ bras and girdles came to make one of the world’s most distinctive garments is told by Nicholas de Monchaux, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, USA...   read more >>

Who didn’t run through the grass as a child, with arms outstretched and a determination to terrorise the skies in a fighter jet? Boys the world over have made it their mission to become a fighter pilot; now, those who missed their calling can indulge themselves at the Artcurial Aeronautics Auction...   read more >>

Rolls-Royce has released a behind-the-scenes video of Rankin’s ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ exhibition, just as the Flying Lady’s centenary has drawn to a close...   read more >>

The cult TV show Mad Men has not only won fifteen Emmys and four Golden Globes, but has also cast a massive influence on the fashion industry. Now, Jaeger-LeCoultre has announced a limited edition Mad Men watch in honour of the pin-sharp Don Draper et al...   read more >>

Cartier welcomes in the New Year with a double-complication wristwatch, a very limited edition – to just 100 pieces – masterpiece that will be introduced to the public at the forthcoming SIHH watch fair...   read more >>

Are you sitting comfortably in a room you can call your own? If not, Classic Driver recommends a trip to Bonhams Gentleman's Library Sale to procure some essential interior decorations...   read more >>

Since the mid-1930s, IWC has been making robust and reliable pilot's watches. And at this year’s SIHH, the international watch show in Geneva, IWC will present the Top Gun Miramar...   read more >>

Amphibious vehicles aren’t that unusual, but what about boats that can travel overland? Well, French boatbuilding company Iguana Yachts has come up with exactly that – the world’s first dual-purpose sports boat...   read more >>

The Bench & Loom clothing store is much more than just a fashion house. As well as the expected gentlemen’s clothing range, it also offers limited-edition books and a selection of accessories – not to mention the occasional custom-built motorcycle...   read more >>

Coolers are fantastic for a picnic, but the crude plastic materials used hardly make them things of beauty. However, Orvis – a specialist in gentlemen's accessories – now offers a stylish alternative with a leather version of the portable refrigerator...   read more >>

Under the motto “For every week of the year, and yet one more”, the Swiss watchmaker Carl F. Bucherer neatly proclaims the versatility of a movement not only capable of recording calendar weeks, but also of allowing for the occasional ‘53rd week’...   read more >>

In these uncertain times, vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas from the 60s and 70s have joined Ferrari 275 GTBs, a Chelsea pied à terre and vintage claret as an alternative ‘world currency’. Bonhams sold two mid-60s ‘Paul Newman’ models at its recent North American auction...   read more >>

From the man who can supply you with an ‘oversized men's brogue shoe’, a model of Lady Penelope's Thunderbirds FAB1 Rolls-Royce, and an Art Deco original Zeppelin clock, come many other gift ideas for the last-minute shopper…   read more >>

A scale model of Lamborghini’s Aventador LP700-4 supercar will be auctioned in the coming months, with its €3.5 million estimate set to make it the most expensive model car in history...   read more >>

With Art Deco and classic, modern design seemingly more popular than ever, Phillips de Pury grossed nearly $5m at its recent, 13-14 December sales...   read more >>

From bespoke, $1m ‘dancing fountains’ created for you by the company that supplies The Bellagio in Las Vegas, to a special-edition Ferrari FF, the imagination of the legendary US store at Christmas time knows no bounds...   read more >>

Unlike many a plastic kit of Christmases past, this wooden model North American F-100 Super Sabre comes ready built and is mounted on a sturdy aluminium stand – all the better for a mock flypast of the roast turkey with authentic “shwooaaaarh!” sound effects...   read more >>

French multimedia studio Pyrolia has produced a very fine app for iPad owners that examines – in some depth, with 4,000 images, 200 audio files and much other footage – “50 exceptional automobile models”...   read more >>

Following on from Art Now and Architecture Now, this new book from Taschen (by Daniel Alexander Ross of Intersection magazine) sets out to "explore the full spectrum of vehicles in production today"...   read more >>

To celebrate five years of cooperation, luxury brands Aston Martin and Jaeger-LeCoultre have launched a new version of the AMVOX5. The latest chronograph includes a world time function...   read more >>

Regular readers will be familiar with our previews of classic car and motorcycle auctions held by Artcurial – but this month, the Paris-based house is 'catering' for a slightly different clientele, with a 140-lot sale dedicated to gastronomy...   read more >>

Choosing the Archer family to write the definitive history of both the 31 Ulsters, and the tangled and financially fraught history of the company from its birth to WW2, was the only way this epic could have been accomplished in such depth and with such clarity...   read more >>

Cultural object, a symbol of individual freedom, a medium of mobility – until 8 January 2012, the ZKM Media Museum in Karlsruhe will be displaying exhibits devoted to the role of the automobile in art and society...   read more >>

Classic Driver was invited to a first Mediterranean outing of Bavaria’s Sport 43 flagship model...   read more >>

The second in our series of gift ideas for Christmas from our favourite London shops is a luxury travel games compendium from British manufacturer Pickett...   read more >>

Is there space on the world’s bookshelves for ANOTHER book on American legend Steve McQueen? Yes, if it’s as good value as the latest volume by French author Frédéric Brun...   read more >>

Last week we previewed a selection of books for Christmas; but for those who might prefer a car-related calendar to hang on the wall, we have picked seven rather special ones...   read more >>

In the first instalment of a pre-Christmas gift guide, we asked our friends at the famous London leathergoods store for seasonal inspiration...   read more >>

Imagine, if you can, your narrator wreathed in cigarette smoke, drawing fingers scarred by action in countless colonial conflicts through hair the colour and consistency of fine steel thread. These are the actions of a Man, a French Man...   read more >>

Phillips de Pury & Company has sold Peter and Linda Blum’s collection of rare Swatch watches as a single lot for HK$51,060,000 – that’s around $US6.5 million...   read more >>

The famous Schaffhausen watchmaker has entered the world of ocean racing. Its latest chronograph is the result of an official partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race series 2011-2012...   read more >>

Is there no stopping the attraction of 007 and anything Bond-related? Apparently not, as Christie’s sold a small collection of the world’s most famous secret agent’s ephemera at a London sale this week...   read more >>

It’s that time of the year again. Soon comes round, doesn’t it? You can’t beat a good book as a pressie and these are some of the ones recently received in the editorial offices...   read more >>

The American design industry’s ‘dream couple’ of the 20th Century – husband and wife Charles and Ray Eames - had a decisive influence on U.S. post-War aesthetics. A new documentary film portrays the two as artist and architect – and grants an exciting, intimate glimpse into their lives and work....   read more >>

The first fruits of the recently announced strategic partnership between Hublot and Ferrari have just been revealed: a collectors’ series of just 20 watches titled Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Ferrari....   read more >>

Who knows if the pen really is mightier than the sword but, in the case of some of Dunhill's exquisite Namiki writing instruments, it can be a darned sight more expensive....   read more >>

The America’s Cup, the 160-year-old yachting competition for kings, princes and heads of industry has its traditions. As does legendary French atelier Louis Vuitton. But for the 2012-2013 season, as the official timekeeper for the event, Louis Vuitton has revealed an all-new watch...   read more >>

No, it’s not a takeaway curry for loyal customers collecting their Hindustan Ambassador from its annual service. ‘Food Finish’ is just what the world’s been waiting for: edible gloss spray paint for cooked foodstuffs...   read more >>

Those interested in discovering the Scottish border country should base themselves in Kelso, and look no further than the Roxburghe Country House Hotel as the ideal holiday retreat...   read more >>

The latest Open 36, from German boatmaker Hanse, is designed to be a more accessible example of the ‘open day boat’ class, made famous by Wally and VanDutch...   read more >>

After opening in New York, the BMW Guggenheim Lab – a combination of think tank, public forum and community centre – will operate in Berlin from 24 May to 29 July 2012. Berlin is the second stop in the Lab's nine-city tour....   read more >>

With ‘magnifique’ already in the catalogue description, what other word can describe the price achieved by Artcurial for just one Birkin at its 17 November Paris sale?...   read more >>

In one of the final stages of the year-long celebration of the famous Spirit of Ecstasy’s 100th anniversary, Rolls-Royce and fashion photographer Rankin will hold an exhibition in Los Angeles. It will be the first time the works will be on display to the general public...   read more >>

Under the slogan ‘Find Your Inspiration!’, Christie's is holding a number of auctions in London, between the 15 and 30 November, that focus on ‘culture, style and adventure’. Each of the 10 sales offers a range of rare and quirky collectibles...   read more >>

In 2012, Swiss watchmaker Fortis celebrates its 100th Jubilee and, to mark the occasion, the artist Rolf Sachs was asked to come up with a very special concept. His answer was the Fortis Frisson...   read more >>

The Halkin was one of Europe’s first boutique hotels, offering guests an alternative to anonymous global chain service and décor. As it celebrates its 20th anniversary, Julia Marozzi salutes a luxury pioneer...   read more >>

When Classic Driver UK decided to create a book on the Bentley Brooklands, we were determined to produce something very special indeed. But even we never imagined that the book would be shortlisted for the 2011 British Book Design and Production Awards...   read more >>

Pullman Editions has produced a further six posters in its ‘Art Deco Winter Sports’ collection of newly commissioned artworks. The jet-set resorts of Les Trois Vallées, Portes du Soleil, Klosters, Megève and Courchevel, together with a generic ‘Winter Sports in Switzerland’, join the 24 other, Art Deco-inspired works....   read more >>

The sculpture ‘Psalms’ by American artist Richard Serra was the highest-selling work at the first part of Philips de Pury’s November contemporary art sale in New York. The price achieved, $2,322,500, was a little below the $2.5m – 3.0m estimate yet still fittingly ‘colossal’ for the artist’s typically multi-tonne works...   read more >>

Yes, that’s Ronnie Wood the musician. Of the Rolling Stones. Because Ronnie is not only a talented guitarist but also an artist, and he will be creating a limited-edition run of 14 individually hand-painted (by Ronnie) clocks, in collaboration with Bremont Watch Company...   read more >>

In our Icons of Watchmaking series, timepiece historian Gisbert L. Brunner presents classic watches with a cult status. This week we devote ourselves to the particularly accurate El Primero Chronomaster made by Zenith...   read more >>

The Blackberry is the workhorse of mobile phones. Conceived as a mobile workplace, the Blackberry is chosen by millions to deal with their e-mails, text messages and business phone calls. But it’s never been known for its thrilling design. That could be about to change...   read more >>

During the 2011 Ferrari World Finals at Mugello today, 5 November, Hublot and Ferrari announced a long-term strategic partnership which will officially start on 1 January 2012...   read more >>

'24hours – One Team. One Target', a documentary following Team BMW Motorsport in its quest for glory at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours, will be released on 11 November...   read more >>

Swiss businessman the late Peter Blum and his wife Linda became avid Swatch enthusiasts soon after the very first model was launched in the early 1980s. In fact, they were so keen on the cheap, plastic watches that they amassed a remarkable collection of no fewer than 4,350 examples which Mrs Blum has now decided to offload at auction...   read more >>

Attention, enthusiasts of all things horological, there’s still time left to book tickets for SalonQP, London’s finest event for the watch collector...   read more >>

The first Swatch Art Peace Hotel was opened today (1 November) in the heart of the historic Chinese city of Shanghai. Not a ‘hotel’ in the normal sense, the early 20th Century, six-storey building has been transformed into a living space for visiting artists...   read more >>

Recognised around the world, American road signs are some of the most iconic symbols of the last 100 years of United States history. Midway through November, Bonhams will put a collection of some of the most memorable up for auction at the ‘Classic California’ sale in Los Angeles...   read more >>

In our Icons of Watchmaking series, timepiece historian Gisbert L. Brunner presents classic watches with a cult status. This week, we look at one of the jewels of the Rolex crown: the legendary Datejust...   read more >>

What happens when German engineers are told to tighten their belts? They ingeniously invent the Porsche Classic Cooler: a cylinder from a G-series 911 recycled and sold as an exclusive Champagne cooler...   read more >>

Renowned Swiss watchmaker Blancpain launched its latest waterproof masterpiece yesterday (25 October) in the depths of the Aquarium at the Dubai Mall in the U.A.E...   read more >>

Any book that includes a quote describing Enzo Ferrari as “a great bloke to work for” has clearly explored the more cobwebby corners of motor racing history. But what else would you expect from Palawan?...   read more >>

A sky blue time-zone ring - and lemon yellow hour-markers - make the latest limited-edition (to 250 pieces) chronometer from Graham one of its most colourful...   read more >>

Photographs featuring the British supermodel Kate Moss, 1960s French actress Brigitte Bardot and Bond girl Shirley Eaton in lustrous make-up for the 1964 film ‘Goldfinger’ are some of the items to be offered for sale in London on 17 November...   read more >>

In our Icons of Watchmaking series, horological expert Gisbert L. Brunner presents classic watches with a cult status. This week, we look at the unusual DiaStar by Rado...   read more >>

Works from Man Ray, David Hockney, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are some of the highlights of a 78-lot catalogue of Modern Art to be auctioned by Phillips de Pury later this month...   read more >>

Are you looking for a new holiday home with 360° views of the sea? If so, then the Huldra oil rig in the North Sea may just fit the bill. Admittedly, there are no car parking spaces, but ample room to land your helicopter may offer sufficient recompense...   read more >>

It was at Brooklands in 1911 that Sir Malcolm Campbell first named a car ‘Bluebird’ – and in celebration of the 100 years that have passed since this landmark event, GTO London is creating 100 pairs of hand-crafted cufflinks...   read more >>

It’s a dilemma for classic car owners: do you replace your car stereo with a new one which illuminates the interior like a fortune-teller’s booth, or do you stick with the original, aesthetically harmonious unit and its lack of modern practicality? Well, maybe Porsche has the answer...   read more >>

In our Icons of Watchmaking series, watch expert Gisbert L. Brunner gives us some insight into timepieces with a cult status. This week, we put pedal to the metal with the Porsche Design P'6530 Chronograph from 1980...   read more >>

Sellotape, Hoover, Tipp-Ex – only a few product names ever manage to become generic terms, and the car which succeeded against all others is the Jeep. Coinciding with the 70th birthday of the prototypical SUV, Delius Klasing Verlag has published an autobiography of the marque, fittingly only giving it the title of the brand...   read more >>

Conrad Leach, who for the past nine years has been artist in residence at the Louis Vuitton Japan/Celux gallery, now has his work on display in London...   read more >>

The Voyage is one American yacht designer’s vision of what would happen if Aston Martin decided to expand its product portfolio onto the water...   read more >>

Back in May, Classic Driver revealed the first two pictures in a series of 100 images by Rankin, commissioned by Rolls-Royce to celebrate the centenary of the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’. Now, a wider selection of these dramatic, evocative images have been released...   read more >>

Method: take two inflatable swimming pool toys and two wire wastepaper baskets; inflate toys; insert one in each basket through pre-cut holes. Now add price tag of £2 - 3 million...   read more >>

The latest in our series by expert Gisbert L. Brunner of groundbreaking watches is another waterproof timepiece with dramatic styling, born – when else? – in the 1970s...   read more >>

Monte Carlo-based yacht manufacturer Wally has revealed its new luxury day boat: the Wally//One...   read more >>

New York-based artist Jonathan Brand has built a 1969 Ford Mustang entirely out of paper – in original size and with every detail faithfully recreated. The exhibit is currently being displayed at the Hosfelt Gallery in New York, attracting much interest...   read more >>

The biennial charity event known as ONLY WATCH took place again at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, with 40 unique watches achieving a staggering 4.5m euros in aid of the victims of Muscular Dystrophy...   read more >>

In our ‘Icons of Watchmaking’ series, Gisbert L. Brunner provides his expert opinion on wristwatches with a cult status. This week, we dive into exciting underwater worlds with the Panerai Luminor Marina...   read more >>

Aston Martin’s stylish stylist, Marek Reichman, had a new set of threads for this year’s Goodwood Revival. Not for him grandad’s old ARP uniform, no, it was to Savile Row he looked for the ultimate, tweed-based ‘Driving Suit’...   read more >>

The bobsleigh run is one of the most exciting winter sports in existence – whether you’re a participant or spectator. The daredevil teams of two or four thundering down the ice are gripping to watch, but the newer trend of monobob is attracting more and more attention...   read more >>

One might more normally associate the words ‘football’ and ‘Pininfarina’ with the latest purchase by a highly paid star of the Premier League...   read more >>

This week, watch expert Gisbert L. Brunner explores space… with the Omega Speedmaster Professional...   read more >>

Following the author’s previous work on photographer Rodolfo Mailander’s Ferrari archive, Karl Ludvigsen has produced another large-format book, with Porsche race and road cars of the early 50s as its subject...   read more >>

Bentley has created a new colour – ‘Breeze’ – for the Continental GT Convertible which debuts at this week’s Frankfurt motor show. And, to complement the colour, Bentley Collection is launching a small range of exclusive leather goods...   read more >>

The latest in Gisbert L. Brunner’s series on iconic watches is the Bauhaus-styled Tangente from German manufacturer Nomos...   read more >>

If you've ever wondered why your dinner jacket is also known as a Tuxedo, Simon de Burton has the answer. It’s all down to the 19th Century New York millionaire James Potter, the Prince of Wales, and the urgent need for a smart jacket...   read more >>

From an early career that included a short spell at Ferrari in F2 and F1, to more than three decades at the top of sports car racing and multiple Le Mans wins, Derek Bell has lived many enthusiasts’ dreams...   read more >>

In our Icons of Watchmaking series, expert Gisbert L. Brunner presents timepieces with such cult status they literally 'stand the test of time'. This week, we take a look at the Lange & Söhne Lange 1...   read more >>

This is a book about the ‘rebirth’ of a 1936 yacht, the marine equivalent of a barn-find, restored and relaunched thanks to Italian luxury watch company Officine Panerai...   read more >>

Considering its international launch at the European Southern Observatory at Paranal, Chile, the home of the project’s Very Large Telescope, it’s a pity IWC did not simply name its newest creation ‘Very Complicated Watch’...   read more >>

Having stepped out of the luxury and comfort of a motor car graced with a 'flying B', an owner may feel a little less than well-looked-after in a regular restaurant. That could never happen in the recently updated 'Bentley Room' at Mosimann's private dining club in London...   read more >>

The latest timepiece in our Icons of Watchmaking History series is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. Here, Gisbert L. Brunner takes a look at the wristwatch with a special twist.   read more >>

The Morgan Motor Company (old, yet somehow funky) has joined up with British clothing brand Superdry (new, and decidedly ‘happening’) to present both a special edition of the 3 Wheeler and a matching leather jacket...   read more >>

This year’s Panerai British Classic Week in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, saw 71 vintage and classic yachts facing weather that ranged from gales on the opening day (severe enough to put paid to the around-the-island race), to 20-knot-plus winds on the second day, plus a full spectrum of light breezes and rain throughout the remainder. Yet the camaraderie and friendly competition was as strong as ever...   read more >>

As part of our Icons of Watchmaking series, wristwatch expert Gisbert L. Brunner provides his insight into timepieces with a cult status. This week, his attention is focused on the elegant 'Portuguese' from IWC...   read more >>

Gaining entry to the Royal Yacht Squadron clubhouse, on the Isle of Wight, can be as difficult as opening a Colchester oyster, writes Philip Rathgen...   read more >>

Maybe it’s a tad early for ‘Mad Men’, but there’s definitely something retro about Tanner Krolle’s new 'York Slim Line Computer Case'...   read more >>

In our Icons of Watchmaking series, timepiece expert Gisbert L. Brunner gives his opinions on wristwatches with cult status. This week, attention is focused on a modern classic: the Hublot Classique from 1980...   read more >>

With Britain's red grouse population currently ducking for cover in advance of the Glorious 12th, writes Simon de Burton, it seems fitting to bring you details of the annual Sporting Gun auction taking place at Auchterarder's swish Gleneagles Hotel this month...   read more >>

The Ferrari 250 GTO is already one of the most exclusive cars on the planet: but what if it were in 24-carat gold? As a scale model, of course...   read more >>

This week, watch guru Gisbert Brunner considers the famous ‘Carrera’ from motor racing watch specialist of the 60s and 70s, Heuer...   read more >>

The BMW Abbate wooden boat is one of the top lots at the upcoming Power by BMW auction in Munich this autumn. The stylish speedboat is one of only two prototypes built with a full-blooded BMW V8 engine...   read more >>

If the marine equivalent of a Ferrari 458 Italia is a luxury speedboat, then the Fiat 500 Abarth surely equates to a little rubber boat. Welcome, then, to the SACS – Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari. Yes, it’s a dinghy, made by Italian boatbuilder SACS...   read more >>

Now, why hadn’t someone thought of this before? Of all the places to market a ‘designer shisha pipe’, the upmarket Knightsbridge store Harrods, now owned by the Qatari royal family, is just the place...   read more >>

This week’s watchmaking icon feature by expert Gisbert L. Brunner is the Regulator from Chronoswiss, the German manufacturer founded by Gerd R. Lang in the early 1980s....   read more >>

Stunning photographs of the most beautiful Wally yachts are a highlight of the Monaco boat-builder’s redesigned website. And by clicking on ‘view image full screen’, the visitor can dispense with the menu and – via the online gallery – be transported to the glorious world of Wally...   read more >>

This week, horological guru Gisbert L. Brunner considers the Cartier ‘Santos’, one of the first wristwatches and a watch truly born out of necessity...   read more >>

Italian luxury yachtbuilder CRN, a division of the Ferretti Group, today announced a new superyacht concept that combines the speed and fun of an ‘open boat’ with the comfort and seaworthiness of a traditional displacement vessel...   read more >>

The third in our series of ‘icons of watchmaking history’ – by expert Gisbert L. Brunner – examines a favourite of the 1970s night club scene, the Bvlgari-Bvlgari – so good they named it twice...   read more >>

Famous Swiss watchmaker Tudor has teamed up with Italian sportsbike specialist Ducati. Tudor will be the official timing partner to Ducati and a new chronograph has been produced to celebrate the cooperation...   read more >>

Swiss watchmaker Breitling, whose name is synonymous with air travel, has entered the games market with a new app which enables the chair-bound to take to the skies in the virtual cockpit of a P-51 Mustang...   read more >>

Hublot’s irrepressible CEO, Jean-Claude Biver, was joined by tennis legend Ilie Nastase and Time Products Chairman Marcus Margulies this week to unveil the company’s latest watch, the ‘Nastie Bang’, at its newest store, 31 Bond Street...   read more >>

Hendrick’s gin, with its cucumber taste, is a fairly unusual beverage; but nothing like as unusual as the company’s promotional campaigns. Take the Cucumbermobile. This is a customised 1961 Rover P4, complete with its own Hendrick’s and tonic dispensing bar in the boot...   read more >>

He might not look much like George Clooney, but 200 years ago, when being an ‘ambassador’ required wearing a wig rather than a wristwatch, the French-domiciled Abraham-Louis Breguet was the face of horology du jour...   read more >>

The second in our series of ‘icons of watchmaking history’ – by expert Gisbert L. Brunner – looks at the Breitling Navitimer...   read more >>

The Dracula Club in St Moritz is legendary. Known for hosting some of the world’s most exclusive parties, once a year the private Club – usually open only to members and their friends – unlocks its doors to the public for the summer Festival da Jazz...   read more >>

In our new series, ‘icons of watchmaking history’, expert Gisbert L. Brunner looks at a selection of watches which have achieved cult status. This week, it’s the 1972 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak...   read more >>

The very thought of something with ‘Daddy Cool’ embossed on it should get like-minded dad’s feet tapping involuntarily – it might also bring a smile to the old fellow’s face as the tinies trot into the bedroom this Father’s Day, 19 June...   read more >>

Chopard watch boss Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, well known for his support of the Mille Miglia both as a main sponsor and a competitor, last year took his passion for classic cars to a whole new level by introducing a wristwatch designed to look like an engine block...   read more >>

DesignworksUSA, the BMW Group design consultancy, has created an interior concept for aircraft manufacturer Dassault’s new business jet, the Falcon 2000S...   read more >>

With its ‘Art Deco in the Alps’ range of limited-edition fine art travel posters tucked away for the summer season, Pullman Editions has launched an all-new collection: a celebration of the romance and mystique of Ferrari...   read more >>

Bonhams’ Watches & Wristwatches department will hold two top-level sales this June. First off will be a sale in London on 8 June, closely followed by a US-based ‘simulcast auction’ on 16 June...   read more >>

With its light-faded numerals and less than immaculate dial, the 1942 Rolex chronograph that appeared as lot 129 in the Christie's flagship Geneva watch sale on Monday hardly looked a million dollars – but that’s what it fetched, establishing a new record price for any Rolex at auction...   read more >>

Corinthia Hotel, London – now open

London has a new luxury hotel, joining the ranks of the Capital’s finest 5-star establishments. The Corinthia Hotel at Whitehall Place, which opened in early May, has a fascinating history: from WWII until 2007 it was owned by the Ministry of Defence...   read more >>

Chopard Mille Miglia GT XL Chrono 2011

Reprising its trademark ‘racing tyre tread’ rubber strap and the famous red ‘1000 Miglia arrow’ logo, Chopard’s latest chronograph was launched at this year’s Mille Miglia retrospective...   read more >>

Rankin: Spirit of Ecstasy – Rolls-Royce commissions 100 images

The Spirit of Ecstasy was created 100 years ago and in celebration of this centenary, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has commissioned renowned photographer Rankin to capture 100 images inspired by the legendary Rolls-Royce emblem. The first two have already been revealed...   read more >>

Rocket man: JetLev Flyer takes to the air

The notion of a ‘jet pack’ to enable human flight has been around for more than half a century, but most people still regard it as a sci-fi dream of the future...   read more >>