Reasons Why You Should Hire A Luxury Florist For Your Wedding

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Luxury-florist-wedding

When it comes to planning your dream wedding ceremony, almost all the couples are often confused over how much to spend, where to obtain specialized services and how to start planning for wedding floral decorations. Everyone loves flowers and every bride-to-be have their favorite flower that they want to use in their wedding bouquet. But is their favorite flower perfectly matches with their wedding theme and their wedding gown, they really don’t know and confused about their wedding floral arrangements. So, that’s why you should hire a luxury florist who helps you to make your wedding floral arrangements with their own creativity in beautiful flowers.

With so many floral arrangements needed in a wedding ceremony and so many flowers available in the market, you have to choose the best and perfect one from them for making a beautiful and eye-catching wedding bouquet. It seems that without the help of the florist, you can never choose the right variety of flowers for your wedding decoration. But if you have a dedicated wedding florist, you don’t have to take any tension on choosing the right flowers and you don’t have been spending that much money on buying flowers for your wedding flowers. In fact, only a wedding floral designer will help you in numerous ways throughout the whole wedding planning process. Arranging flowers in a beautiful manner is not a typical talent that most people have. This is actually a special skill that requires a lot of practice and knowledge about a specific flower and their other numerous species, color palettes, and designs. In more professional ways, you can arrange your wedding flowers beautifully only with the huge support or help of your wedding florist. So, that each flower is properly placed in its place. Here I mention a few reasons why you should hire a wedding florist for your wedding ceremony.

  1. Without the support of the florist, choosing the right varieties of flowers that match your wedding theme, style, and your wedding gown is really a complicated. Using several varieties of flowers is indeed a challenging job for you. But for an experienced florist, it’s a very easy task.

luxury-flowers-wedding-day

Even the simplest floral arrangements need an expert skill to execute in the right manner. So, you don’t have to compromise with your wedding bouquet and many other floral arrangements for a DIY. Because there are so many experienced florists available in the local market or on the web who can make beautiful wedding floral arrangements for you.

  1. An experienced florist has an extensive experience of buying flowers and arranging them in different beautiful ways. They also have many years of experience of buying flowers from a flower grower and through the internet.

They know very well, what species of flowers will be available in your wedding season and where to buy the best quality blooms. Furthermore, they know very well how to handle them in different weather conditions and how to arrange them to decorate your wedding altar.

Best-flowers-wedding

  1. A wedding florist also knows which flower will look fresh until the end of the ceremony and which bloom needs to stay in the water for looking fresh. Every reputable florist puts their all efforts, heart, and soul to make your wedding floral arrangements unique and beautiful. They always trying that all the floral arrangements and wedding venue decoration properly match your wedding theme and style. Moreover, they always trying that the whole floral arrangements of your wedding reflect your personality and style on your big day.
  2. All the wedding floral arrangements, like your wedding bouquet, table centerpieces, backdrops, flowers down the aisle, your wedding altar, and many others done by the florist will add a level of beauty and elegance to your wedding. Arranging flowers in order to create beautiful designs take an excellent amount of time.
  3. At the last and the most important benefit of hiring the florist- less stress. When you decided to hire a florist for your wedding flower arrangements, you should be able to enjoy your wedding. Planning a wedding can be an incredibly stressful process, and flowers are not the only one thing to think about by a long shot. So, hiring a florist allows you to focus on other parts of the wedding.

Daniel Clark

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only 

MP3 is dead for good. A chapter of electronic freedom ends.

José Amorim
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Reading Time: 5 minutes

Friends from the 90’s and the early years 2000 be aware that MP3 is dead. In a world in which music streaming erased the “format” debate, it was just announced that the MP3 format is over by stopping its licensing. An entire chapter of digital freedom has concluded. What a ride !

MP3-is-dead

The explosion of digital and specifically the world wide web allowed the dissemination of MP3. It liberated the audio format and made easier the sharing. Multi-device, multi player, multi OS system, the MP3 was a true revolution supporting the development of several businesses and digital usages.

Before 1993, the MP3 had a scientific background

The interest of MP3 was based on the fact that the human hearing has a certain limitation. This is what is called Auditory masking. So the audio data compression could be applied without a perceived loss of quality because we can get rid of certain amount of unperceived data. In 1959, Richard Ehmer described a complete set of auditory curves regarding this phenomenon. Ernst Terhardt et al. created an algorithm describing auditory masking with high accuracy. This work added to a variety of reports from authors dating back to Fletcher, and to the work that initially determined critical ratios and critical bandwidths. By the end of the 70’s a lot of work around this phenomenon was done which ended by creating a codec that would help music compression without a perceived loss of quality. Ten years later, Hiroshi Yasuda and Leonardo Chiariglione founded The Moving Picture Exerts Group – MPEG – They were both leading technological initiatives in their respective countries. They met in May 1988 and started working on a global standard. MPEG needed almost a decade to put in place the MP3 format and to delivered to the public.

Mid-90’s: the year of globalization for MP3

In July 7th 1994, the first .Mp3 format is chosen as a file extension by a Germany organisation (Fraunhofer Society) to be applied to its encoder. During fall 1995, they release WinPlay3, the first massive distributed MP3 encoder that allowed millions of people to read their music in their PCs. Until the release of Winamp in 1997, WinPlay3 was the sole option for playing MP3-compressed music on Microsoft Windows. Unlike modern audio programs, such as Winamp or iTunes, it lacked advanced features such as equalizers, or playlists as a menu option, and concentrated mostly on playback.

Winplay3

Winamp

 

End of 90’s beginning of years 2000: MP3 was the best companion for digital freedom.

In the second half of the 1990s, MP3 files began to spread on the Internet, often via underground pirated song networks. The popularity of MP3s began to rise rapidly with the advent of Nullsoft’s audio player Winamp, released in 1997. In 1998, the first portable solid state digital audio player MPMan, developed by SaeHan Information Systems which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, was released and the Rio PMP300 was sold afterwards in 1998, despite legal suppression efforts by the RIAA.

In November 1997, the website mp3.com was offering thousands of MP3s created by independent artists for free.[49] The small size of MP3 files enabled widespread peer-to-peer file sharing of music ripped from CDs, which would have previously been nearly impossible. The first large peer-to-peer filesharing network, Napster, was launched in 1999. The ease of creating and sharing MP3s resulted in widespread copyright infringement. Major record companies argued that this free sharing of music reduced sales, and called it “music piracy”. They reacted by pursuing lawsuits against Napster (which was eventually shut down and later sold) and against individual users who engaged in file sharing.

MPMan-devices-mp3

Unauthorized MP3 file sharing continues on next-generation peer-to-peer networks. Some authorized services, such as Beatport, Bleep, Juno Records, eMusic, Zune Marketplace, Walmart.com, Rhapsody, the recording industry approved re-incarnation of Napster, and Amazon.com sell unrestricted music in the MP3 format.

2017 – The death of MP3 by its owner.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, part of the German research body which funded the technology, has terminated its licensing program for certain MP3-related patents after almost two decades. The institute said that while the MP3 is still popular with consumers, it has been outpaced by “more efficient audio codecs” with more advanced features.

Although there are more efficient audio codecs with advanced features available today, mp3 is still very popular amongst consumers. However, most state-of-the-art media services such as streaming or TV and radio broadcasting use modern ISO-MPEG codecs such as the AAC family or in the future MPEG-H. Those can deliver more features and a higher audio quality at much lower bitrates compared to mp3. – The Fraunhofer Institute 

MP3 helped an entire generation to discover the interesting power of sharing information without any limits. It helped the web to improve and the data storage as well. The online music industry would not have been the same without the MP3 format. Today a chapter ends. Licensing is over which means there will be no new devices to fully integrate MP3. Of course your music is not lost. If you spent hours transferring your music from your old CDs to your computer, you will be able to still listen to it. You might need to pay attention that certain devices or music services might transform your .mp3 into a different format. Another important phenomenon is music streaming services. With the arrival of Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music, no need to transfert music from CDs to Digital. You do not even need to buy music. You can only buy the access to listen to it thanks to a 9.99$ monthly subscription. Technology is evolving and it is evolving very fast.

Jose Amorim

info sourced in the official communication release, Techcrunch, Wired, Mashable and Wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Kristen Stewart is the face of Chanel’s new fragrance: Gabrielle Chanel

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

2017 is the year of Gabrielle Chanel. As a reminder of how amazing Chanel’s founder was, the French luxury house decided to dedicate this entire year to Gabrielle Chanel. This year of celebration started with the launch of the Gabrielle bag. Later in September, you will discover the new fragrance and the new campaign starring Kristen Stewart. She has been an ambassador for the House of CHANEL since 2013. She has already served as the face of such dedicated campaigns as the Métiers d’Art collections, Paris-Dallas in 2014, Paris to Rome in 2016, and is currently featured in the campaign for the GABRIELLE bag by CHANEL. Kristen Stewart was also the face of the EYES 2016 and 2017 makeup campaigns, as well as the FALL 2016 • LE ROUGE • COLLECTION N°1.
Portrait-Kristen-Stewart
We do not know much yet about this new fragrance but as we can image will gather all the essentiality of the brand and of its founder. The new women’s fragrance composed by Olivier Polge in cooperation with the CHANEL Fragrance Creation and Development Laboratory. It has been 15 years without a major core fragrance launch and we assume this new fragrance will hit the market with great success. According to Chanel, the new fragrance is described as an “Abstract floral”. We assume they will capitalize on the amazing floral signature of the French house yet bringing a modern twist to it. The Gabrielle Chanel eau de parfum is scheduled to premiere in Chanel’s boutique network and on its web site in June before a broader rollout, eventually reaching the firm’s more than 10,000 fragrance doors around the world.

gabrielle-chanel-eau-de-parfum
Created and shot by brilliant young British director Ringan Ledwidge, the campaign is slated for release in September 2017. Ring an Ledwidge is very well know for is capacity to tell a story, to beautifully showcase details and bring a clear modernity to a script. The print campaign was entrusted to photographer Karim Sadli. This amazing photographer has a instinctual ability to shoot both fashion and portraiture to consistently modern and elegant effect. His minimalist aesthetic and sophisticated use of lighting bring into sharp relief the natural beauty of his subjects. Sadli’s photographs have been featured in Vogue Paris, British Vogue, American Vogue, W Magazine, i-D, T Magazine, The Gentlewoman and Fantastic Man. We can see that Chanel is looking for a sharp modern eye for this fragrance, balancing modernity and elegance.

The choice of Kristen Stewart seems a great evidence as she represents a certain nonconformity nowadays. She is free of her choices without being attached to what others would say. On this attitude she is perfect to be the face of a fragrance called Gabrielle Chanel. The year of Gabrielle Chanel continues with great panache and we cannot wait to see what is ahead of us.

José Amorim

Info sourced in the brand official communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Larusée, Absinthe from Switzerland takes an acceleration in France

José Amorim
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Larusée, Absinthe from Switzerland takes an acceleration in France
Reading Time: 4 minutes

For all French Absinth lovers, this is good news. Larusée has just signed a new distribution agreement with Hedon in France. This will allow to accelerate the build-up of the brand in the French territory. Larusée is a company established in Switzerland and produces Absinthe in the great Neuchâtel tradition.

Larusée, a glamourous tradition of Absinthe, made in Switzerland

Larusee-absinthe-switzerland

Absinthe originated in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland in the late 18th century. It arose to great popularity as an alcoholic drink in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers. Owing in part to its association with bohemian culture, the consumption of absinthe was opposed by social conservatives and prohibitionists. Ernest Hemingway, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Amedeo Modigliani, Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Aleister Crowley and Alfred Jarry were all known absinthe drinkers. A revival of absinthe began in the 1990s, following the adoption of modern European Union food and beverage laws that removed longstanding barriers to its production and sale. By the early 21st century, a few brands of absinthe were being produced in a dozen countries, most notably in France, Switzerland, USA, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

Larusée offers an elegant and refined vision of a historical drink and brings new life to a drink that has inspired so many poets and writers. How? By revisiting the codes of the genre! A bottle, all in curves and generosity, recalling the old apothecary bottles; a luxurious case bringing back to the boxes that were found in our grandmothers kitchens; two elements treated in a contemporary spirit. An ambitious communication, relaying a premium positioning. But all this would be nothing without a truly high-end product. An exceptional know-how.

Larusée and Hedon, when passionate people join forces for the very best

It was announced this month that Larusée has signed a new agreement with Hedon, a French Alsacien company to distribute and built the Swiss brand business in the French territory. As the reputation of Larusée is on an upward slope, it was decided not to operate in its own name, but to entrust distribution and brand construction in France to an independent distributor, thereby enabling Larusée to benefit from a wide network and a selective distribution, as well as better logistics. Larusée operates in France since 2013 thanks to its affiliate based in Paris. Now it seems it is the right time to increase operations and yet maintain the quality of the approach.

According  to the brand there was a long process to select the right partner to accomplish the brand ambition in France. After a careful analysis, Larusée chose Hedon, a company based in Strasbourg, led by Cédric Kanté, who shares the same values, the same love for fine products and the same objectives of development and growth as the members Larusée family. Hedon is also very experienced on the new spirits, and does a fantastic work in France. Hedon is present on almost all French soil and opens up new opportunities for Larusée to be served and sold in the most beautiful establishments.

Hedon, it is all about the very best.

cedric-kante-hedon

Founded in Strasbourg in 2015 and specialized in the distribution of fine spirits, it is now run by Cédric Kanté, a Franco-Malian born in Alsace 37 years ago. He is a former professional footballer and an accomplished sportsman for 15 years. Freshly converted into the world of wines & spirits after a busy high-level sports career, he strives to find premium products with a strong identity, focusing on human adventure with the leaders of the brands it represents.

It is in this spirit that the Larusée and HEDON companies have decided to collaborate to propose and showcase the absinthes and other spirits of the artisanal distillery on the French market. Do not hesitate to connect to Larusée official website to discover more about this amazing brand: http://www.larusee.com 

José Amorim

Info sourced in official communication release from the brand and website. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

5 Luxury Things to Do in London

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you’re looking for a luxury trip in the U.K., then look no further than the capital city of London. This city is home to some of the most luxurious tourist attractions, such as Buckingham Palace, the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, where royal weddings take place. In addition, you can also find luxury shopping at the world-famous locations Bond Street, Mayfair, Covent Garden and Saville Row, to name a few. If you’ve got the cash to splash, here are some of the best ways to enjoy your London visit in style.

#1. Mahiki Club

The-nightclub-Mahiki

If you want to party with the royals and several members of the A-lister crowd, then look no further than Mahiki Club. Located on the world-famous luxury shopping destination Dover Street, the club is conveniently close to the Ritz Hotel and is often the setting for many tabloid snaps of celebs who’ve been caught after a few too many. Join the Mahiki guestlist to celebrate in true VIP style.

#2. Rolls-Royce Rental

Driving around London in style could be one of the most luxury things to do during your visit to this city. Forget the open-top buses; you can explore the sights whilst cruising around town in a classic Rolls Royce Phantom with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, charging sockets for your devices, and complimentary champagne.

#3. Create a Bespoke Suit

custom-suit-local-uk

If you’re in London for an event or celebration that you will need a suit for, why not arrange a meeting with one of Saville Row’s world-renowned bespoke tailors? For a luxury stay in London, it’s important to dress in style. Saville Row is the best place to go; the tailors here have a glowing reputation for being the best in town and are often frequented by A-listers and royalty.

#4. Get the Best Football Match Seats

London is home to some of the best and most well-known football teams in the world, so sports fans looking for a luxury experience are in luck. The biggest London football stadiums are no strangers to providing luxury experiences for their guests; book an Executive Box for the best seats in the whole stadium along with private catering, free merchandise, exclusive betting facilities and a friendly guide.

#5.  Hire a Private London Eye Capsule

The London Eye is great for all budgets; shared basic capsules for observing the view come at a very affordable price. But, if you’re looking to spend a lot more for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can make this happen in London. You can book your own private capsule to enjoy with family or friends, including a variety of theme choices, champagne and wine tasting, a 4D movie before entering, and tasty food samples. You’ll even have your own mini guide of the town for the two rotations that last one hour in total.

If you’re looking for luxury, then head to London. Home of the British Royal Family and a hotspot amongst the rich and famous, there’s no shortage of glamorous things to do.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images for illustration purposes only. 

Enhance Your LA Vacation by Staying at the Right Hotel

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Los-Angeles-travel-guide

If you’re going to be vacationing in the LA area, you have many options to choose from when it comes to activities, itinerary and hotels. If you want your vacation experience to be as exciting as possible, then you want to cut down on driving to the attractions and sights you’re most interested in. Spending your valuable vacation time in a rental car is not anyone’s idea of fun. Make the most of your vacation time by booking a hotel that is close to the activities you will most enjoy.

Sneaking a peek at A-Listers

Are you hoping to catch a glimpse of your favorite actor? Do you want a chance to pass Mila Kunis or Johnny Depp on the street? Then you’ll need to stay close to West Hollywood, where many famous actors can be spotted doing everyday things like shopping, dining and walking the neighborhoods. There are plenty of boutique hotels in West Hollywood that are both affordable and luxurious. For lunch, stop by at the Urth Caffe on Melrose Ave. You just might spot an A-lister having lunch there too. Choose from several 4 and 5 star hotels like the Best Western Sunset Plaza and Chamberlain West Hollywood.

Relaxing at the Beach

Los-Angeles-Beaches

Looking to relax on the sunny, sandy beaches of LA? You may prefer an affordable Airbnb close to the shoreline. Venice on the Beach Hotel, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and Jamaica Bay Inn are all great choices. Whether you want to surf, swim, play or lie on the beach and soak up the rays, you have plenty of options for great beaches. El Matador State Beach will remind you of a European beach, with its rocky outcrops and rougher terrain. This is one of the best places to watch a sunrise or sunset. El Porto Beach is great for surfing, and there are also volleyball courts and a bike path. Leo Carrillo State Park is great for scenic beauty, surfing, and relaxation.

Museums, Amusement Parks and other Attractions

Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills is the perfect accommodation if strolling down Rodeo Drive is on your agenda. There are also plenty of great restaurants, tour bus rides and spas to capture your attention. Going to Disneyland? Stay at the Camelot Inn & Suites in Anaheim, the Fairfield Inn Marriott or the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel. If you’re interested in visiting the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, you can choose to stay at Wilshire Crest Hotel or the Hilgard House Hotel & Suites. Mr. C Beverly Hills Hotel and the Farmers Daughter Hotel are close to the Peterson Automotive Museum.

Mix of Everything

If you want a centrally located hotel that is both affordable and convenient, try the Knights Inn Los Angeles Central Hotel, the City Center Hotel or the Orlando Hotel. These offer great prices, great amenities and are ideally located to a mix of attractions, museums and shops.

The Magic Castle

Magic-Castle-los-angeles

Originally built as a single-family residence in 1908, it was meant to lord over a bunch of orange groves. Today, it is a majestic building that only an elite few (by invitation only) have the privilege of entering. It is a private club for magicians and magic enthusiasts. This club is known as the Academy of Magical Arts, or AMA. Fun Fact: Neil Patrick Harris used to be the club’s president. Another fun fact: The castle is said to be haunted. To get in, you must say the password; then the door/bookcase ‘magically’ opens to let you inside. To get in, though, you must be invited or accompanied by a member. Even if you don’t get in, you can catch a glimpse of this majestic castle and enjoy its breathtaking beauty.

Liz Becker

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Best Lodges for the Luxurious Traveller

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Have you been putting off an adventurous vacation because the idea of answering nature’s call in the middle of the woods doesn’t exactly appeal to you? Well, you don’t really have to worry about that anymore because, in this article, we have listed places that offer the best of both worlds. By “best of both worlds”, we mean you can experience an exhilarating adventure outdoor and come back to luxuries like delicious meals, classy wine, and massages at the end of the day. So without further ado, let’s take a look and find out more about the best adventure lodges that will provide you with exactly what you always wanted from a vacation; an adventure that doesn’t make you sacrifice luxuries.

The Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada

Luxury-Lodges-Fogo-Island

This was once a fishing village in the 18th Century and now it has been transformed into a popular adventure destination for locals and international travellers. The all-suite inn even has three hot tubs on the roof, just in case you want to enjoy the beautiful view while sitting in a hot tub. Each of the 29 rooms is themed with Scandinavian art and furniture, complete with matching fireplaces and big individual tubs for extra comfort. Fresh seafood and vegetables cooked to local recipes by expert hands are the focus of the menu here. Activities and adventures in the area include the following.

  • 14 marked hiking trails to explore
  • 120 miles of the remote Fogo island and its rocky cliffs to discover
  • Snowshoeing and Nordic skiing
  • Cycling, Kayaking, fishing, and rowing
  • Watching the Aurora Borealis/The Northern Lights

Le Chardon Mountain Lodges in Val d’Isère, France

Luxury-Lodges-Chardon-Val-d-isere

If you are looking for five-star services in the French Alps, Le Chardon’s luxury ski chalets are the best there are. They are famous in the area for providing personal and customized services to each of their guests, so expect every luxury you ever need to be there. Fine dining, excellent wine and swift service, coupled with friendly and courteous behaviour make the experience particularly special. However, let’s not forget the skiing adventures, and trust us when we say that there are plenty.

  • The famous La Face de Bellevarde Winter Olympic track
  • Some of the best skiing slopes in Europe
  • Husky Sleigh Rides
  • Ice Climbing
  • Parapente
  • Cross Country Skiing

Saffire Freychinet in Tasmania, Australia

Luxury-Lodges-Tasmania

The location of the Saffire Freychinet is just stunning to say the least and the deluxe services of the hotel make everything so much better. Each of the suites (there are only suites) are fitted with a stocked mini-bar that mainly consists of local wine and beer. The fine dining experience revolves around local seafood and special lamb preparations, but that’s only scratching the top of the expansive and delicious items on the menu here. Adventure options are plenty on the island and just like in every other Australian outdoor adventure, there is a hint of danger associated with them that makes it all just a tad bit more alluring.

  • Hiking (guided) in the national park that surrounds the hotel
  • Oyster digging
  • Canoeing (guided), kayaking and fishing
  • Kite flying
  • Mountain biking

Whether you like adventures or just the idea of going on one, you will not be disappointed either way as these places are truly the best of both worlds as mentioned before.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Victorinox Spartan PS: black is the new black.

José Amorim
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0
Victorinox Spartan PS: black is the new black.
Reading Time: 4 minutes

2017 is almost half way and Victorinox is delivering amazing new launches. This time we took a focus on a new great launch around the Spartan collection. It is called Victorinox Spartan PS. Delivered with black or white scales, the new Spartan has all stainless steel elements in black thanks to a process known as Polispectral. The result is super classy.

Victorinox-Spartan-PS-black-shadows

Victorinox-Spartan-PS-black-blades

Victorinox Spartan, ultimate Icon of Design

From a construction point of view, we can easily identify the well known Victorinox Spartan. 13 functionalities for the perfect essential companion for any occasion. From the far end of a forest to the cosiness of a New York office, The Victorinox Spartan will never let you down on those moments you need the most.

  1. toothpick
  2. tweezers
  3. lanyard
  4. blade, large
  5. blade, small
  6. can opener
  7. screwdriver 3 mm
  8. bottle opener
  9. wire stripper
  10. screwdriver 6 mm
  11. reamer, punch and sewing awl
  12. corkscrew
  13. key ring

The story of the Victorinox Spartan probably started on June 12th 1897 with the official registration of the “Officer’s knife” by Victorinox. The company Founder Karl Elsener was a master with knives and the development of this registration opened up a complete new era of pocket knives. Without any doubt the special spring system made it possible for this new development. The Spartan 91mm today with red iconic handle scales and Victorinox emblem is the descendant of the 1897 knife. With Victorinox we have a very special evolution for the 91mm Swiss Army Knives. The Founder made Officers and Sportsmen knives and by 1909 he had several models with the inlay cross and shield……The inlay cross and shield can already be seen in the 1903 Founders catalogue. The combination of awl and knife blades make the Spartan a very versatile pocket knife. The corkscrew can be used for more than opening bottles. It can be used for opening knots as well. With a little imagination you can improvise several usages for it in a great deal of challenges or tasks ahead. You can read more about the Spartan story in the great review done by Trond Ole Mojlanen, just click here.

The new Victorinox Spartan Polispectral, black tie please!

With the new Victorinox Spartan PS, all stainless steel elements have a black color treatment, called Polispectral. The colour is produced by the interference of light on a colourless, transparent metallic oxide layer, whose thickness, together with the colour of the incident light, determine the color. By means of an electrochemical process, a layer of chromium oxide is deposited on the pocket knife tools. This layer is bonded organically and elastically to the stainless steel with a high cutting strength. One interesting aspect of this technology is the layer transparency, which makes it possible to obtain the so-called interference effect. Various color effects are deployed as a function of the thickness of the layer, the composition of the light spectrum and the perspective. The Spartan PS blades even reflect what’s around. The stainless steel surfaces thus treated do not alter, nor do they crack, bleach or chip. The coating is harmless to humans and the environment.

Polispectral-architecture

This effect is comparable with the colours of a film of oil on water or a film of paint on hot metal. The colours do not age or bleach with time. The oxide layers are highly resistant to chemicals, evenly bonded with the metal surface, and will neither crack nor flake off. The technology is quite well known in architecture, allowing to obtain amazing results in metal pieces. Jewelry brands also started using Polispectral as the resistance to time conditions is very good. By bringing this technology to the Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox translates its sharp sense of design into innovation. The result is pretty amazing.

Victorinox-Spartan-PS-black-mood Victorinox-Spartan-PS-black-shadow Victorinox-Spartan-PS-black Victorinox-Spartan-PS-white-knife Victorinox-Spartan-PS-white-shadows Victorinox-Spartan-PS-white

Other details:

  • Net weight 58 g
  • Scale material ABS / Cellidor
  • Blade lockable No
  • One hand blade No

With this new addition to the Spartan family, Victorinox shows that even after 120 years, the Spartan represent endless possibilities and it deserves its title of ultimate icon of design. You can visit the brand website to get more information:
https://www.victorinox.com.

José Amorim

Info sourced in official communication releases and product testing. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion, Hyper-luxury

José Amorim
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0
La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion, Hyper-luxury
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La Prairie has a strong know-how in luxury skincare. The caviar collection became the ultimate icon in terms of hyper-luxury. There is no doubt that La Prairie invented the ultimate luxury in terms of cosmetics with the Skin Caviar collection. Back in 1998, La Prairie settled the foundations of what would become a true icon in the cosmetic industry: the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. Based in the cutting edge technology developed since 1987, La Prairie established all the codes for a luxury cosmetic product. From colors to texture, scent, active ingredients it was a true revolution in the old powdery cosmetic market. Modern cosmetology was born. 19 years later, the caviar collection developed very well. The extension towards the White Caviar collection allowed the Swiss brand to tackle a very important growing market: Skin enlightening. For years, products were old in this segment and there was not much to say in this niche. Since La Prairie among other leading brands have revamped this segment, things started going forward. This yearLa Prairie launched the White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion.

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The skin whitening market, a heavy trend

Whitening products are very popular in Asia and just recently found their place in the western world. If you wonder how come Asian women have that porcelaine skin, even after a certain age? There is for sure a trick, or let’s say a precious help from cosmetic science. The key to the perfect whitening product is a deep understanding of how the skin operates and how the aging process interfere with  the homogeneous aspect of the skin. It is interesting to see that the global market for whitening products are evolving towards a more globalization and is reaching regions like Europe and also North America. Switzerland for example represents a strong market for cosmetics in general and is quite an early adopter of certain trends. Swiss beauty consumers buy 3 times more premium cosmetics than France or the UK (2 strong beauty markets in Europe). Being in a CHF 2.1 billion market for beauty products, Switzerland becomes a great showcase window for new trends coming to Europe. More than 30% of the above number is represented by skincare (face and body). Whitening products is a growing segment and thanks to the specificity of the products, consumers are ready to pay the price for the best product.

 

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La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl infusion in details

The more our skin get old, there are some issues that if you do not pay attention to, you might get a bad look. The problems are several and sometimes the causes can also be very different from one person to another:

  • Redness
  • Age spots
  • Dull grey film

The scientists at La Prairie have developed a new proprietary break- through in the complex science of brightening skin: White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion, with its exclusive Illuminating formulation. Targeting the three chromatic light-barriers to a luminous complexion, White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion brightens and lifts skin – with visible results in just four weeks. In order to launch the White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion, La Prairie technical teams needed to bring a cutting-edge scientific advancement. Through their research, La Prairie scientists have discovered that skin’s uneven tone and loss of luminosity are due not only to melanin-induced spots but also to redness and dullness. La Prairie therefore developed a formula – the first of its kind – that works to fight not one but all three types of skin chromatic disorders. At the heart of the formula:

  • Golden Caviar extract
  • Stable oil soluble form of Vitamin C
  • Diglucosyl Gallic Acid (DGA)

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One of the main villains of our story is Dark spots. They are also called age spots and in general they are caused by sun damage. The process is quite straight forward. When triggered by UV light, melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin begin to synthesize the brown pigment melanin. By  adding the DGA active ingredient into the formula, it allows to better regulate the melanin production and distribution throughout the skin. In addition, Vitamin C is freshly released at each usage as it is protected by the pearl capsules. It reduces the intensity of the brown melanin. Skin redness is also a big cause of  non-homogeneous skin. Stress, polluants, chemicals and UV light can aggress the skin and damage the skin natural barrier. That is why La Prairie created a new complex that plays an anti-irritant role. This would reduce significantly the skin redness.
When testing the product for a whole week, we realized several interesting points that deserves to be highlighted here. First of all the product looks amazing. We can see that all the materials used to produce the product flacon reflects La Prairie approach of luxury. It is for sure a product we would be proud to have it at home, in one’s bathroom or in our luggage while traveling. Then the other striking point is its formula. When we apply it on the skin we feel a true pleasure for all the senses. The formula’s texture looks by far very modern. It melts on your skin and immediately provides a visual effet. The skin seems more homogeneous and grabs light in the right way. After a week of testing, we can say that the formula truly allows to unify complexion. We realized that redness is by far a strong cause of non-perfect complexion. After a couple of days we could see a real result.

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Another important factor to take in consideration is also all external conditions from weather to pollution. We observe that polluted and crowded urban areas contribute to a grey, dull complexion. When you analyse the pearls shelfs themselves, they are made of Polysaccharides who offer a strong anti-pollution action. It forms a protective second skin to preserve your own skin from any damage.
If you wish to learn more about this amazing product or to learn more about La Prairie great products portfolio you can visit the brand official website here: http://www.laprairie.com

José Amorim

Info sourced in La Prairie official communication release and product testing. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Baselworld 2017 – 5 great watches you need to know.

Arsene Wargas
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Baselworld 2017 – 5 great watches you need to know.
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With Baselworld 2017 starting, all the Swiss watchmaking industry will be celebrating the best creative minds and extraordinary watches. Last year was not the greatest year of all for the Swiss Watchmaking industry. Thanks to a good holiday season, Swiss watchmakers ended up the year at -9.7%. It could have been much worse. The segment of +CHF 8’000 were responsible for the biggest part of these negative results with -11.6%. Watches between CHF 500 to CHF 3’000 only decreased by 3.9%. The total exports for 2016 is at CHF 19.4 billion. So there are big expectations for 2017. Here are 5 great watches that show that the Swiss watch industry has a strong future.

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Astorite

Astorite dial, white mother-of-pearl center, 18K red gold applied ring. 18K red gold case set with 232 diamonds, total of 1.23 carats. Self-winding mechanical movement. Power reserve of 68 hours. Diameter 35 mm. Numerus Clausus of 28.

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  • MOVEMENT Jaquet Droz 2653.P, self-winding mechanical movement, balance-spring and pallet-fork horns in silicon, double barrel, flat bridges, 18-carat red gold oscillating weight.
  • INDICATIONS Off-centered hours and minutes
  • JEWELLING 28 jewels
  • POWER RESERVE 68 hours
  • FREQUENCY 28,800 v.p.h
  • CASE 18K red gold case set with 232 diamonds, total of 1.23 carats. Diameter Ø 35 mm Height 10.80 mm Individual limited serial number engraved on the case-back
  • WATER RESISTANCE 3 bar (30 meters)
  • DIAL Astorite dial, white mother-of-pearl center 18K red gold applied ring
  • HANDS 18K red gold
  • STRAP Rolled-edge hand-made grey satin strap
  • BUCKLE 18K red gold ardillon
  • DIAMONDS IF to VVSI, Full Cut, D to G Total carat weight: 232 diamonds, 1.23 karat
  • NUMERUS CLAUSUS 28

Hermès Slim d’Hermès Quantième Perpetuel platinum

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Slender, pared-down, minimalist: the Slim d’Hermès welcomes a new entirely in-house- crafted model in platinum. After an amazing launch, the Hermes Slim became a new icon for the watch brand. Its unique design makes this watch very recognizable. Hermes is now bringing the slim to a new level in terms of watchmaking. By introducing a Quantieme Perpetual calendar. The Hermes Slim has a mechanical self-winding movement, crafted in Switzerland. Manufacture ultra-thin H1950 movement of 2.6mm only. In terms of functions:

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe

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The vintage-inspired Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, first presented in 2013, is extending its range by introducing a 38 mm timepiece attired in abyss blue. The new three-hand 38 mm Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe model appears in a blue shade particularly cherished by Blancpain in that it recalls the depths of the ocean. Various key characteristics of this timepiece are nods to the historical Fifty Fathoms editions. Setting the perfect finishing touch, the steel bezel features a blue ceramic insert and hour-markers in Liquidmetal®, an alloy known for its deformation resistance and its long-term stability.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Skeleton

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In 2014, Bulgari presented the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon. It was the first time a watch maker proposed a tourbillon under the 2mm thickness – 1.95mm precisely. This time Bulgari proposes a skeleton version that brings the watch to its essence.

  • Case: 40 x 5 mm, platinum
  • Movement: manually wound Caliber BVL 268 with one-minute flying tourbillon,
  • Sapphire crystal base plate,
  • 62-hour power reserve
  • Functions: hours, minutes

Chanel Première Camellia Skeleton

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Last year Chanel revealed an amazing watch for men, the Monsieur de Chanel. Now that one year is passed, Chanel is coming back to Baselworld with new great novelties. One of them is a second in-house movement now housed in a ladies watch, the Première Camélia Skeleton. It shows the commitment of Chanel to develop its watchmaking business in the state of art.

  • Case 28.5 x 37mm
  • 48-hour power reserve

As you can see, Baselworld is always a great source of inspiration. Swiss watch makers present their work and try to seduce an audience of buyers who will shape the incoming year’s watch landscape. See you there.

Arsène Wargas

Info sourced at the respective brands websites and official communication releases. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

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