“Self-Portrait,” which dates from the early 1960s, is from Andy Warhol‘s very first series of self-portraits. It will be the star of the upcoming Sotheby’s modern art auction in the British capital.
Andy Warhol was 35 years old when he created this first self-portrait. It comes to the art market 30 years after the artist’s death in 1987.
“In the age of Instagram, Warhol’s fabled prediction that ‘in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes’ has never felt more prophetic,” said James Sevier, senior specialist in contemporary art at Sotheby’s.
Andy Warhol rose to prominence in the 1960s with his portraits of Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.
Six-fold Screen of the Sun, Moon and Five Peaks. Image courtesy National Palace Museum
“Fans of K-Culture will not find this showcase unfamiliar,” said Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) Director Kennie Ting, “as many of the stories and treasures we are showing in this exhibition have inspired Korea’s popular culture, from period drama series to contemporary arts and aesthetics, and even fashion.”
If your life is governed by the ebb, flow and impulses of K-Wave, particularly so if one is a fan of the recent Gong Yoo-starred TVN hit series ‘Goblin’, featuring an immortal man originating from a fictive Goryeo dynasty in full melodramatic, end-game meltdown mode, which incidentally is the preceding period before Joseon, then you’ll feel right at home in ACM’s latest blockbuster exhibition, ‘Joseon Korea: Court Treasures and City Life’. For those unaffected by South Korea’s effervescent pop cultural buzz — despite the museum’s enthusiastic overtures at calling out “fans of K-Wave” a number of times at the preview — you don’t want to miss this, as the sheer breadth of the show and the artefacts on display offer a rare look into a dynasty that spanned ancient to pre-modern times, and one whose influences have formed the bedrock of its national ideology today.
Bridal Robe (back). Image courtesy National Museum of Korea
‘Joseon Korea: Court Treasures and City Life’ is the result of a three-year collaborative effort with the National Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea. It is the largest showcase ACM has undertaken to date, with more than 150 artefacts and treasures on show. The big show also represents ACM’s continued commitment to, in Director Ting’s words, “partnering the best museums in the world to bring art, culture and heritage to Singapore, for Singaporeans. ”
The sprawling show is divided into six sections, opening chronologically at the end of the Goryeo period in transition to the Joseon dynasty, and then segregated into sections ranging from royal and court culture, proletariat life, nature and religion, to the Joseon influencers: the aristocratic class yangban. A common thread through it all is a deep-seated belief in neo-confucianism, and its major influence in the politics and culture of the Korean people. Aesthetics and morality were in rigid deference to the the contours of the state ideology — values which were espoused and appreciated by arbiters of taste and social convention: royalty and top elites — that trickled down to all segments of Korean society, with an austere sense of the aesthetic, compliance to societal structures, filial piety, loyalty, etiquette and more.
Landscape of Segeomjeong Pavilion. Image courtesy National Museum of Korea
Artefacts on display, in fixtures and vitrines that impressively, incorporated the Joseon aesthetic, range from robes to paintings to painted screens and ornamental fans to daily paraphernalia like norigae and bojajis, and each and every one is painstakingly dusted off to reveal its provenance and backstory, as well as its associated tensions. Also on display, interestingly — symptomatic to the prevailing beliefs — are various commissioned full-body portraits of aristocracy and top civil servants that, unlike their Western counterparts, are not visually baroque and opulent in their pomp, but rather of a deep importance placed in the accurate portrayal of their inner state of mind, even in painted form (on a silk substrate, no less). Curator Kan Shuyi during the tour, dropped anecdotes of painting subjects’ profound dismay at perceived inaccurate depictions.
Topping off the historical retrospective is an installation from award-winning South Korean artist Ran Hwang, ‘Becoming Again; Coming Together’, a contemporary interpretation of traditional Korean cultural motifs. It is her largest single mixed-media installation to date. Made of pins and thread pushed through a seven-metre wide plexiglass, the installation is accompanied by a video projection incorporating traditional music performed with Joseon-era instruments.
Ran Hwang, ‘Becoming Again; Coming Together’, 2017. Image courtesy Asian Civilisations Museum
Much like a good Korean drama, ‘Joseon Korea: Court Treasures and City Life’ is transformative, earnest and rich in academia and as well, sublime moments, if one looks close enough. (And yes, it is also the perfect salve for your K-Wave and ‘Goblin’-related post-Goryeo withdrawal symptoms.)
‘Joseon Korea: Court Treasures and City Life’ exhibition runs from 22 April to 23 July 2017 at the Asian Civilisations Museum.
This article was originally published in Art Republik.
To be a men’s sartorial conservative (I prefer my suits tailored to classic proportions even though I am adventurous when it comes to suit separates) and then provide commentary on Spring 2018 Menswear trends has been a bit of a mixed bag for me, particularly since I have a greater interest in Pitti Uomo, the Florence menswear trade show, sandwiched between London and Milan fashion weeks. Nevertheless, duty beckons and for Luxuo’s first Men’s Sartorial Report, I will be reporting on Spring 2018 Menswear from the perspective of sartorially conservative brands like Tom Ford, Brunello Cucinelli and Armani.
While both brands offer impeccably tailored ready-to-wear Spring 2018 menswear collections, only one of them looks like he’s wearing his father’s blazer. Guess which
Spring 2018 Menswear: Men’s Sartorial Report
First, I am glad to report that the slew of superhero movies helmed by the likes of Henry Cavil, Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman haven’t raised the bar on masculine physique beyond what is mortally achievable with your average salaried employee, furthermore, there seems to be a slight regression from the uber-masculine David Gandy form to the gentler, more refined musculature of slimmer proportions. Most surprisingly, Tom Ford opted for the sharp jawed man-boy instead of the square jawed man-men of Brunello Cucinelli and Giorgio Armani. Second, for these key brands, classic proportions and slim-cut profiles reigned supreme
Brunello Cucinelli Spring 2018
As a predominantly menswear oriented company, Brunello Cucinelli stands impressively in terms of market cap with €1.3 billion. Over the years, the Italian brand has expanded into ready-to-wear women’s wear and accessories in key territories – Switzerland, Belgium, the United States, France, Germany, Austria, Canada, China, Japan and three years ago, Singapore.
The man informally dressed in Brunello Cucinelli spring 2018 menswear looks impeccable either on court or off the Saharan plains with hold all and fitted safari jacket.Brunello Cucinello is headquarter in Italy’s “Green belt”, a castle on top of a hill.
Headquartered in a 14th century castle in the middle of Umbria, Italy, Brunello Cucinelli’s spring 2018 menswear collection is a reflection of that nobility and regal elegance. It’s a deeply humanist company unlike most purveyours and producers of fashion today – Brunello Cucinelli donates 20% of its profits to charity, pays its employees 20% higher than industry average and most surprisingly, does not allow after-hours e-mails – all while maintaining production in Italy where other companies have turned to most cost effective European cities to improve margins.
My dream is to set up a form of modern capitalism where business profit must be sought while respecting the human being’s moral and economic dignity. Hence our idea to act as guardians of the creation.
It is little wonder that their namesake founder was recently awarded the Global Economy Prize by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. As a merchant and a humanist, Cucinelli has managed to circumnavigate his brand through tough economic waters without sacrificing its humanist values in support of its bottomline. With Cucinelli’s family owning a majority 57% stake in the company, spring 2018 menswear collection is fully consistent with the founder personal style – the Italian penchant for sprezzetura, that is to say, the formally informal outfit, well tailored blazer, lived in and thrown over an informal shirt, crew-neck even sometimes, all while rocking ankle length pants sans socks.
Even dressed informally, the garments of Brunello Cucinelli spring 2018 menswear still bear a regal formality even with a colour palette which eschews the funereal and embraces sensual, warm and earthy hues of tobacco, iroko wood, and amber; accented with orange and red tennis knit pullovers.For Brunello Cucinelli spring 2018 menswear, a dressed up sombre double breasted ensemble can be dressed down with grey chinois and tassel loafers worn sockless. Alternatively, exchange shirt with t-shirt and pull a disheveled jumper over the shoulders for that well-worn look.
Filled with earth tones and rust hues, Brunello Cucinelli’s new Spring 2018 menswear collection has a definite safari-adventure vibe which becomes all the more clear when Cucinelli himself refers to Out of Africa as his inspiration. Harkening back to the classic age of fitted double-breasted blazers and safari jackets in a variety of light weight wools and linens for Spring 2018.
Giorgio Armani Spring 2018
Over 40 years on, Giorgio Armani has made a name for himself not just in native Italy where the brand is still one of the peninsula’s most storied fashion house but the potency of the Armani cut and sense of style also encourages Hollywood to eschew their own costumers and wardrobe specialists for Giorgio Armani himself.
Movies like Gattacca are impeccably dressed and styled by Armani himself. For Giorgio Armani Spring 2018 menswear, the same silhouette and sombre colour palette returns.Stone, silver and slate featured strongly in the initial looks for Giorgio Armani spring 2018 menswear. At one point, an Armani overcoat was reminiscent of a pivotal scene in Gattacca and The Untouchables albeit in grey.Giorgio Armani Spring 2018 menswear was home to larger than life menswear staples like a mixed linen long double-breasted trench and a relaxed grey double-breasted notch-lapel ensemble.
While shades of grey featured strongly for Giorgio Armani Spring 2018 menswear, the river of slate made way for light silvery, almost iridescent offerings as the collection transitioned from its more sombre offerings and made way for something almost equatorial – a welcome respite, as if a wintry gloom had lifted and as if to say, “spring hath sprung!”
Among the most prolific of Italian designers for spring 2018 menswear shows, Giorgio Armani commanded a runaway of consumer-friendly and fashion-savvy pieces within a massive collection of suits, knits and texture tailoring – fuschia paired with turqoise, a masterstroke for opening the palette tastebuds of a general audience in a fashion-forward manner. The Giorgio Armani spring 2018 menswear show finally closes with a slew of navy executive suiting and blue cotton worksuits.
Having designed Daniel Craig’s suits for his last three James Bond films: Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre, Tom Ford is well-known as having single handedly undone the nightmare that was skinny suits and slim lapels and revived a dormant classical male penchant for wide and peaked lapels, boys were out and men were in.
In even before he left Gucci, the later collections of Gucci menswear started to bear the aesthetic trademarks of Ford’s signature hyper-masculine style. As a designer, Ford was a power-house, his departure from Gucci Group necessitated the hire of four others to do the work that he was singularly managing. At Tom Ford, the aesthetic vision he heralded came to fruition, hyper-sexuality, and equal opportunity objectification, Ford built his empire on sex appeal and it worked. Ford once described the “the Tom Ford customer” as international, cultured, well traveled, and then for Tom Ford spring 2018 menswear, the deft, sharp cuts of suits remained but the models he chose somehow looked like they were wearing dad’s suits rather than their own. Was the “Tom Ford customer” suddenly a man-child with an allowance?
Tom Ford Spring 2018
Nevertheless, Oscar-nominated, statement-making and a creative genius equally adept on runway as on film, the master designer in signature black watch is Tom Ford Spring 2018 menswear collection ushered through Via Borgonuovu, wide shouldered suits with peak lapels and narrow waists draped on the shoulders of boys.
Ford’s mastery of colour combinations, even the ones that on hindsight seem sartorially adventurous actually become safe choices in the careful hands of Ford. Mustards, pinks and even leopard prints become less outlandish when carefully dressed with gold-chained loafers and retro sneakers – there is an art to trendy men’s fashion and Tom Ford spring 2018 menswear collection proves that Ford really knows how to help you, the straight (or otherwise) male work it.
Changi Airport… holy sh!t this is a national treasure. Please SG, teach the rest of the world the secrets of your airport mastery because nobody else can do it like you. – departing expatriate on Changi Airport
Yesterday, Changi Airport dropped a sneak preview of their new Terminal 4 on Facebook with more than a few titillating images.
Sneak Preview of New Changi Airport Terminal 4
While it did not provide live visuals of the new Terminal’s retail space touted to host over 80 retail brands and the heritage Peranakan cultural zone, Changi Airport’s Facebook page did showcase the stunning new Terminal 4’s greenwall facade draped with 16,000 plants.
Changi Airport’s New Terminal 4 has many green features but it is a pity that it did not go further with a slew of new green technologies like photovoltaic features of an area of Singapore which catches a lot of un-obscured sunlight. Image: https://www.facebook.com/changiairport/
Meanwhile, the departure hall which greets outbound travelers beyond the wall of green is an expansive and spacious affair complete with a substantially increased availability of electronic terminals for self-check-in, perfect for the tech-savvy traveler wishing to skip the queues simply to collect a boarding pass.
The vast and spacious #ChangiT4 gives you a clear view of the interior and allows you to find your way around. Image: https://www.facebook.com/changiairport/
It is start contrast to the Departure halls of many other airports around the world crowded with tax redemption booths and baggage wrapping services (I’m looking at you Charles De Gaulle…) and a maddening crush of trolley traffic during peak flight hours.
That said, one can appreciate the abundance of natural sunlight in the halls filtering down from uniquely shaped skylights but Changi Airport could have gone further with eco-features.
A high ceiling with no columns in the middle of the departure hall gives you a clear line of sight, while the petal-shaped skylights allow natural light into Changi Airport’s new Terminal 4. Image: https://www.facebook.com/changiairport/
Splashes of colour greet departing guests as they progress through the transit area after check-in. One can appreciate the clear view of loved ones and relations waving goodbye from the departure hall as you proceed to your departure gate.
Colourful and cushy chairs in Changi Airport Terminal 4 departure transit area provide you comfort, relief and perhaps some cheer for the weary. Image: https://www.facebook.com/changiairport/
For the instagram minded, the new spacious boarding area in Changi Airport Terminal 4 gives you a excellent views of Runway 2 for those selfie moments. Also, it’s a great distraction for those traveling with young children as they pay attention to the bustle of aviation traffic rather than their iPads.
The spacious boarding area in the new Changi Airport Terminal 4 appears to follow international norms where travelers proceed through a centralised passport clearance and security check in area and then enter a shared boarding area with multiple departure gates. Image: https://www.facebook.com/changiairport/
Again, more natural sunlight greets arriving and returning guests as they wait to claim their baggage. Scientifically speaking, sunlight is a real pick-me up when it comes to serotonin production. When the human body receives sunlight, the amount of serotonin production increases, essential to mood regulation, particularly if you flew in cramped coach-class. Also great for those who took a red-eye flight into Singapore, natural sunlight coaxes the body to produce less melatonin in response to the natural circadian rhythm, shortening the jetlag curve.
You’ll bask in natural light against greenery on the walls of new Changi Airport Terminal 4 Arrival Hall. Image: https://www.facebook.com/changiairport/
Meanwhile, in a release last May, the Group proudly announced that of the over 80 retail and dining Changi Airport Terminal 4 shops opening, at least a quarter will be new to the airport including a mix of locally owned and foreign labels like PAZZION and Moleskin.
Interestingly, there was a lost opportunity for Popular Bookstore to operate a new Changi Airport Terminal 4 shop instead, the honour goes to British retailer WHSmith, which will be running its first Singapore branch in the new Changi Airport Terminal 4’s transit area. For the epicurean, London Fat Duck, Old Street Bak Kuk Teh and Sushi Goshin by Akashi will be among the 11 restaurants and cafes will be serving the public at the new Terminal 4. We also finally get an official food court dubbed Food Emporium operated by NTUC Foodfare in addition to the open secret that is the staff canteen at Terminal 2.
We wait with great anticipation for sneak peeks of the new Changi Airport Terminal 4 shops, especially the ones in the new heritage zone with Peranakan shopfronts to be unveiled at the new Changi Airport Terminal 4.
As companies like Obike, Ofo and now Mobike invade our common spaces and deliver a fun and affordable way to travel intercity or make that last connecting commute back home from the metro station (aka mass rapid transit), it is perhaps time to ponder that with the increasing popularity of bicycles and ride sharing services, the day may soon come where there would be an increasing number of spaces where one can comfortably park their electric bicycles. More importantly, as these private firms start dealing with the uncouth reality of some Singaporeans, these bicycle parking facilities might become more secure with some of these commercial enterprises lobbying the government for more secure bicycle spaces. Thus we thought, given the terrible weight (and not so ideal design) of these commercial ride-share bicycles, it might be best to start considering some of the best looking, most luxurious designer electric bicycles for your own car-free commute in Singapore with the masterplan of being a “car-free city of tomorrow”.
The Cykno electric bicycle is pure vintage ‘Made in Italy’ swagger.
5 Luxurious Designer Electric Bicycles
First up, we’d like to introduce the Derringer Electric Bike. It is the first e-bike from famed bicycle manufacture Derringer. Derringer’s claim to fame was derived from mimicking the aesthetics of vintage 1920s Board-Track racers while interpreting them with a twist of eco-friendly technologies. Available in 3 price points for different income brackets, each Derringer Electric bicycle offers performance proportional to the price tag – that is to say, the most affordable Derringer Heritage Series electric bicycle will be powered by a 37 volt 12.5Ah Li-NMC battery and street legal with a a 750W high-torque gearless hub motor.
The mid tier Derringer Signature Series electric bicycle is driven by a 52V 12.5 Ah Li-NMC battery coupled to a 2000W high-torque gearless or geared hub motor, naturally, it can electronically tuned to keep within legal power output depending on your region’s regulations.
Derringer Electric Bike is the first e-bike from famed bicycle manufacture Derringer
According to eBikeSchool.com, a gearless hub motor is: a direct drive hub motor, the axle that passes through the center of the motor is actually the axle of the motor itself, with the copper windings fixed to the axle. This whole axle assembly is called the “stator”. The magnets are mounted to the outer shell of the hub motor. When electricity is applied to the stator a magnetic field is induced that causes the magnets to move. This in turn makes the whole shell of the motor turn and propels the ebike forward.
At the highest price point, the Derringer Bespoke Series electric bicycle is powered by a 63V 12.5 Ah Li-NMC battery driving a 2800W high-torque gearless hub motor. ‘Gearless’ essentially means that like a Tesla, you have all the power of 2800W high torque at your finger tips (that is until the Land Transport Authority or Police come and arrest your speeding butt). Unfortunately, the planned Derringer Electric Bicycle series never quite took off on kickstarter in 2011 but there’s a reason they’re on this list… read on..
5. Derringer Electric bicycle
At the highest price point, the Derringer Bespoke Series electric bicycle is powered by a 63V 12.5 Ah Li-NMC battery driving a 2800W high-torque gearless hub motor. ‘Gearless’ essentially means that like a Tesla, you have all the power of 2800W high torque at your finger tips
Next up, this bike might not be classically styled like the Derringer but it can be considered the super-car of luxury designer electric bicycles. The current Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike is a high performance lightweight contender among electric bikes. Weighing 18.2 kilograms, it is one of the lightest carbon e-mountain bikes in the world.
High-tech ultra-lightweight carbon monocoque frame makes the Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike an ultra exclusive, high performance off-road designer electric bicycle unlike any other. Co-engineering with e-mountain bike pioneer Haibike, the Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike is powered by a street legal Bosch lithium-ion battery 36 volts, 500 Wh coupled with Bosch middle motor performance CX, 250 watts with max. 75 Nm output. Aesthetically, the sporting dynamic lines of matt black as well as glossy red and silver, were developed by designers of Audi industrial design in Munich.
The Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike an ultra exclusive, high performance off-road designer electric bicycle unlike any other.
With Shimano XTR Di2 11-speed digital shifting, the Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike hits up to 25 km/h with Pedelec e-support. It also shares a bit of luxury with its R8 relative, the same fine nappa seat leather dresses the Selle Italia Flite tekno flow saddle.
4. Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike
The current Audi Sport e-tron mountain bike is a high performance lightweight contender among electric bikes.
When it comes to any list involving the words luxury and designer, you definitely have to look at the Italians. Enter Bicicletto®, an electric bicycle (but they call it a ‘vehicle’) with an innovative design that defines a new concept of personal mobility while blurring the boundaries between a motorcycle and a bicycle.
Design-wise, the Bicicletto electric bicycle pretty much follows in the same vein as Derringer, inspired by classic motorcycles or café racers. The Bicicletto electric bicycle borrows much of the design cues and aesthetics of these vintage motorcycles but gives them a unique Italian flair. That said, the brand feels it is difficult to categorise Bicicletto®, nor do they consider it a simple pedal-assisted bicycle.
High tech features blend with vintage inspired elements on the Bicicletto electric bicycle.
The front light detail is a signature of the Bicicletto electric bicycle – a modern reinterpretation of early automotive headlamps, its unique shape projects a subtle emblem of manufacturer, the SPA logo, set back from the front light. A high tech touch sensor toggles the light on and off. While it might appear as if it is integrated into the bike frame, the headlamp is actually removable and can be used as a hand held torchlight.
The carbon fibre frame of the Bicicletto electric bicycle is freestanding and its innovative design conveys that rare sense of sprezzetura. As a result of high tech carbon, the design of the Bicicletto electric bicycle may look heavy but it’s actually quite light – only 17 kg. The false “gas tank” may look like where the battery is housed but it’s actually a bluetooth speaker which allows smart devices to connect to it allowing music and phone calls while conveying that vintage motorbike look which when complete with saddle, sells the classic “born to be wild” appeal despite its contemporary design. Prices range from €9,200 for the 250 W Engine with max speed of 25 km/h on 36V 15A battery and 90km range model to €12,200 for the 250 W Engine empowered (think bicycle turbo 350 W) with throttle set up for max speed of 48 km/h on 36V-20A Battery capable of 70 km autonomy. [Shop Bicicletto electric bicycle]
3. Bicicletto electric bicycle
The Bicicletto electric bicycle borrows much of the design cues and aesthetics of these vintage motorcycles but gives them a unique Italian flair.
Still keeping to the heritage Euro-style with Italian design influences, the Cykno electric bike is a collaboration project between Bruno Greppi alongside designers Luca Scopel, Gianpietro Vigorelli and Italian advertising guru Riccardo Lorenzini. The result is that the the Cykno electric bicycle is pure vintage ‘Made in Italy’ swagger.
Backed by a 250/500 watts lithium polymer battery with capacity of 360 wh or 60km autonomy and a charge time of 4 hours, the monocoque carbon fiber frame, and aluminium parts (produced in Italy) cut down the weight some but it is still a heft 26 kg (the heaviest electric bicycle in this list). It also carries a torque control Pedelec system which helps you to achieve 20-25kmh easily.
2. Cykno electric bicycle
A lot of leather can be found on the Cykno electric bicycle giving the bike stylish appeal but drawing a lot of criticisms from biking enthusiasts for their impractically weather-wise. That said, saddle leather like the ones used for horses are designed and cured to resist rough weather conditions.
Top on our list of 5 most luxurious designer electric bicycles is this entry – the Vintage Electric Bikes The Tracker. We considered it to be the spiritual successor of the now defunct Derringer. More importantly, the demise of Derringer seems to have allow the fates to give us Vintage Electric Bikes in gorgeous WWI-era motordrome racer aesthetics in 3 other different flavours aside from the Tracker; they are the Cruz, the Scrambler and the Outlaw.
Topped with Brooks leather saddle, you are seated on a modern electric motor with rear-hub-mounted drive with two settings: a 750-watt mode for tooling around at 20 mph and a 3,000-watt mode that’ll let you zoom down country roads at 36 mph. Naturally, the 3,000 watt mode isn’t a street legal spec but we’ll get to that in a moment. Each vintage electric bicycle takes two hours to charge with a range of 35 miles.
Top on our list of 5 most luxurious designer electric bicycles is this entry – the Vintage Electric Bikes The Tracker.
Race mode
Race Mode is an optional upgrade for the Tracker electric bicycles, it basically utilises a 3,000 watt rear hub motor can accelerate the rider to 36 Miles/Hour (58 Km/Hour). The battery outputs a steady 60 amps at 52 volts; Remove the Race Mode key to switch back into street legal mode to comply with your region’s regulations.
Regenerative Braking
Another cool feature, more likely found on modern cars than electric bicycles is the Tracker’s regenerative braking. The rider can smoothly decelerate while re-charging the battery with a simple tap of the regenerative braking button. The heart of the Tracker’s drivetrain is a 3-phase brushless electric motor which recoups energy that is typically wasted in brake use. This maximises the range of the vintage electric bicycle, ensuring you’ll go 35 miles on a charge, further with efficient braking. A sophisticated computer located in the battery box provides smooth anti-lock braking so you don’t skid out.
1. Vintage Electric Bicycle’s The Tracker
The heart of the Tracker’s drivetrain is a 3-phase brushless electric motor which recoups energy that is typically wasted in brake use. This maximises the range of the vintage electric bicycle
With preview from 19 June leading up the June 22nd auction of “Important Modern and Vintage Timpieces”, collectors from all over the world can now participate in Antiquorum’s auction online or in person at Antiquorum’s offices located at 805 Third Avenue in New York City. Meanwhile, here are some of the Highlights of Rare Watches from Antiquorum’s June Auction in New York with prime horological exemplars including Rolex, Patek Philippe and particularly significant A. Lange & Sohne.
Highlights of Rare Watches from Antiquorum’s June Auction in New York (and available online)
Perhaps, due to the ubiquity and almost universal love for Rolex in the watch collecting world, it’s almost inevitable that a Rolex Ref. 6239 Paul Newman naturally headlines the sale of most watch auctions, Antiquorum’s including. Come 22 June, the Rolex Ref. 6239 Paul Newman with Tropical Dial in Steel, unarguably one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex sports model today goes on sale. Antiquorum’s own appraisers believe that it is sure to attract worldwide attention due to the striking “tropical” subdials, naturally faded into a soft and creamy chocolate color, enhancing the exceptional beauty of this vintage Rolex Daytona. Sans screw-down pushers, this rare and desirable vintage Rolex Daytona made circa 1965 is accompanied by service papers dated May 30, 1995.
1. Rolex Ref. 6239 Paul Newman with Tropical Dial in Steel
This Rolex Ref. 6239 Paul Newman with Tropical Dial in Steel, unarguably one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex sports model today goes on sale at Antiquorum’s Important Modern and Vintage Timpieces, this June in New York. Estimated auction price: $70,000 -$100,000
Another extraordinary highlight of the “Important Modern and Vintage Timpieces” Antiquorum auction is the Patek Philippe Ref. 5078 Minute-Repeater with Black Dial in Platinum. Sold in 2010, one of the lesser known but more charming attributes of a Patek Philippe Ref. in platinum is a small diamond in the mid-case at 6 o’clock, differentiating a watch of exceptional material from the more commonplace white gold (or God forbid, mistaken for mirror polished steel) – a visual reminder of the superior exclusivity of this Patek Philippe Minute-Repeater with black lacquer dial. This Patek Ref. 5078 is accompanied by a certificate of origin and a solid platinum case back, which unfortunately, would obscure the view of the superlative finishing (Geneva stripes, guilloche, graining and chamfering of the various components) of the Calibre 27 R PS.
2. Patek Philippe Ref. 5078 Minute-Repeater with Black Dial in Platinum
This Patek Philippe Ref. 5078 Minute-Repeater with Black Dial in Platinum from the Antiquorum auction “Important Modern and Vintage Timpieces” is accompanied by a certificate of origin and a solid platinum case back, which unfortunately, would obscure the view of the superlative finishing on the chiming calibre. Estimated auction price: $250,000 – $350,000
Connoisseurs of A. Lange & Sohne will be chomping at the bit for this Antiquorum auction piece, up for grabs – an A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Ref. 704025 Tourbillon in Platinum with Special Ordered Blue Steel Hands. Why? Because this A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Ref. 704025 is a bonafide rare highlight, the only known example in platinum fitted with blue steel hands. Apparently, it was a bespoke custom order ordained by the late honorary Chairman Walter Lange himself for a special customer. The provenance of this piece is impeccable – from manufacture documentation of special dispensation for this unique A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 reference, preserved in pristine unworn condition complete with original accessories, acquisition of this Lange 1 is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
3. A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Ref. 704025 Tourbillon in Platinum with Special Ordered Blue Steel Hands
Made in 2011, this is an extremely rare A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Ref. 704025 Tourbillon in Platinum with Special Ordered Blue Steel Hands is a unique piece ordained by Walter Lange himself for a special customer. It is the only known example in platinum fitted with blue steel hands; and it can be yours thanks to this Antiquorum auction in June. Estimated auction price: $100,000 – $150,000
Also for sale at the June Antiquorum auction in New York is an unopen and unworn Patek Philippe Ref. 5970 Chronograph Perpetual Calendar in Yellow Gold. Widely considered to be the best watch Patek Philippe ever made due to its balanced proportions, it had a relatively short run from 2004 to 2011 due to the introduction of the in-house calibre 5270. Sold in 2008, this Lemania-based Patek Philippe Ref. 5970 Chronograph Perpetual Calendar in 18K yellow gold with perpetual calendar, moon phases, chronograph and tachymeter is considered by watch collectors to be one of the safer investments when it comes to watch collecting (the piece previously hammered north of US$89 thousand, now they cost double now at Gemnation). The lot offered by Antiquorum comes with the original wooden box, Certificate of Origin, solid 18K yellow gold caseback, setting pin and booklets.
4. Patek Philippe Ref. 5970 Chronograph Perpetual Calendar in 18K yellow gold
The Lemania-based Patek Philippe Ref. 5970 Chronograph Perpetual Calendar in 18K yellow gold is considered by many watch collectors to be one of the safer “investment pieces”. Case in point, auction prices have risen from each subsequent auction. Estimated Antiquorum auction price: $90,000 -$130,000
Next up, not the most auction friendly (in terms of value appreciation) but definitely one of the more interesting timepieces for bids at Antiquorum’s online auction, the Jean Dunand Shabaka Piece Unique in White Gold, made circa 2007. We find the Jean Dunand Shabaka particularly appealing due to the unique roller-system to indicate calendar information. Its art deco aesthetic is undeniable as is its geometric and angular case. That’s not even counting the minute repeater function. This unusual Antiquorum auction piece is available in large 18K white gold and originally retailed for $515,000. Though it’s not expected to fetch a wealth of bids, it does come as a complete set with original box, certificate, setting tool and instruction set.
5. Jean Dunand Shabaka Piece Unique in White Gold
Not the most auction friendly (in terms of value appreciation) but definitely one of the more interesting timepieces for bids at Antiquorum’s online auction, the Jean Dunand Shabaka Piece Unique in White Gold originally retailed for US$515,000 but it’s estimated to fetch: $80,000 – $120,000
One of the outstanding highlights of rare watches from Antiquorum’s June auction in New York is this amazing openworked Christophe Claret Piece Unique Tourbillon De La Roche In Platinum. A unique piece inspired by Christophe Claret’s acquisition of Chateau De La Roche in the Besancon region of France in September 2005, the Christophe Claret Piece Unique Tourbillon De La Roche is so named for the property of Baron Othon De La Roche, Duke of Athens and a knight of the fourth crusade. Made circa 2005, this is a unique and stunning, platinum and sapphire-set tourbillon wristwatch with a visible one-minute tourbillon regulator movement is made especially intriguing thanks to visible gearwork unobstructed by a dial.
6. Christophe Claret Piece Unique Tourbillon De La Roche In Platinum
The Christophe Claret Piece Unique Tourbillon De La Roche is so named for the property of Baron Othon De La Roche, Duke of Athens and a knight of the fourth crusade. One of the outstanding highlights of rare watches from Antiquorum’s June auction in New York, estimated to fetch $55,000 to $85,000
Not exactly a highlight (due to relative availability as far as rare watches go), not exactly a staple but a fan favourite at many rare watch auctions and perhaps one of the most affordable “panda” style Rolex 6263s, Antiquorum has a Rolex Ref. 6263 Big Red in Steel up for bids this June. You’d be remiss to lose out, considering it’s a piece of history at a smidgen more than the price of the new ceramic Daytonas.
7. Rolex Ref. 6263 Big Red in Steel
The June Antiquorum auction in New York has a Rolex Ref. 6263 Big Red in Steel up for bids this June estimated to fetch: $25,000 – 35,000.
No one ever says no to a Pepsi, especially when it comes in Rolex GMT form, even a Coke fan will acquiesce. A rare and definitely interesting highlight is this Rolex Ref. 6542 GMT Bakelite Bezel with Gilt Tropical Dial in Steel. Made in 1955, it’s in pretty good shape considering that Bakelite bezels have become extremely rare due to their fragility and were often replaced with later metal inserts. This Antiquorum lot up for auction in June still retains its original Bakelite bezel and the dial has turned a beautiful brown color.
8. Rolex Ref. 6542 GMT Bakelite Bezel with Gilt Tropical Dial in Steel
This Antiquorum lot Rolex Ref. 6542 GMT with Gilt Tropical Dial in Steel up for auction in June still retains its original Bakelite bezel and the dial has turned a beautiful brown color. Estimated auction price: $15,000 – $35,000
Something for the ladies too…
A 1970s, Patek Philippe Ref. 4347 Lady’s Diamond & Yellow Gold wristwatch. The rare and not exactly rectangular, cushion-shaped, 18K yellow gold and diamond lady’s wristwatch with a stunning turquoise dial and integrated 18K yellow gold woven Patek Philippe mesh bracelet.
1970s, Patek Philippe Ref. 4347 Lady’s Diamond & Yellow Gold wristwatch
The Antiquorum for Lots 1-208 will begin at Thursday, June 22, 10am Eastern Daylight Time. You can bid online or attend the preview from 19 to 21 June (11am to 7pm) or be present at the live auction at this address on 22 June:
Antiquorum Auctioneers
805 Third Avenue, 10 fl
New York, NY 10022
Tel (212) 750 -1103
Email: Newyork@antiquorum.com
