JM Weston presents Le Moc: the mocassin for generation Y.

LuxuryActivist
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1
Reading Time: 4 minutes

JM Weston invented in 1946 one of the most iconic men’s shoes of all: the Mocassin or Penny Loafer. The famous model n.180 became an icon of masculine elegance throughout the years. Now JM Weston dares to reinvent the Mocassin by launching the MOC, a flexible, essential version of the 180. The interior buttresses disappeared, the leather skins are carefully chosen for their flexibility and their maintenance, assembly is carefully achieved through expertise always perfected. It is a story about comfort and absolute lightness, an inimitable look in keeping clean the lines of moccasin 180. Welcome to the mocassin 2.0, the new elegant icon for generation Y. Check here the video for the campaign launch.

JM Weston, a new story about passion and style.

How come JM Weston changed the rules and created such shoe as the Moc?  JM Weston and its artistic director, Michel Perry, have a common approach of French elegance. There is a state of mind that relies on freedom, elegance and attitude. These are what describes the best the foundation of the Moc. Of course there is a completely omnipotence in a summer style. Colors and a more casual shoe can easily help celebrating the arrival of sunny days. No matter if you are in a city center, by the sea line or on a luxury yacht, your style will always be maintained by the elegance and sportiveness of your shoes. And that is the Moc. It is a new vision for JM Weston but style remains. The talent of JM Weston teams was to draw a new show and still keep the DNA of the mocassin.

JM-Weston-Le-Moc-new-mocassin

JM-Weston-le-Moc-featured

JM Weston creates amazing shoes collections from several generations now. Their aim is always to bring the best know-how possible at the service of quality, excellence at work and comfort. All wrapped in style. From one generation to another, a trasmission of masculine elegance is made possible thanks to the timeless design and look that JM Weston brings to its collections. The emblematic Mocassin 180 is the perfect example. From the Drugstore band to Presidents, businessmen or artists, this specific model became an icon of tradition and elegance. Michel Perry, the artistic director of JM Weston wished to celebrate this amazing shoe by offering a companion: Le Moc Weston.

JM-Weston-le-moc-collection JM-Weston-Le-Moc-loafer JM-Weston-Le-Moc-new-shoes Le-Moc-JM-Weston

With Le Moc Weston, the French luxury house highlights one of the key elements of its know-how: the leather! By destructuring the mocassin, JM Weston needs to pay a huge attention to the quality and the choice of the leathers in order to keep comfort and shape. With the amazing colors, it is a hint of summer that Weston reveals. The Moc escapes the urban formal ambiences to get more summertime spirit. You can associate the Moc with a rolled up pants, a linen shirt slipped casually: that’s when the Moc makes sense in an eternal quest for freedom.

JM-Weston-Le-Moc-le-film JM-Weston-Le-Moc-mocassin

This new collection will reveal the aesthetics personality of men. The colors and the casualness of this shoe allow a certain masculine freedom. We can easily image a group of men, hanging out together, like the Drugstore band in other times, for the spirit of elegance, complicity and good mood.

JM-Weston-Le-Moc-la-bande-2 JM-Weston-Le-Moc-la-bande

You can check the brand official website for more information here: http://www.jmweston.fr

JM Weston has been French avant-garde since 1891. The iconic style of the luxury house has shaped masculine elegance throughout several generations of men. The Mocassin 180 became an icon of elegance in every men’s wardrobe. Michel Perry dares to reinvent the iconic shoe with the launch of Le Moc Weston. It is history repeating for the good and the best.

LA

JM-Weston-le-Moc-featured

Info sourced at JM Weston official communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Pure distance WHITE, a beautiful fragrance that will put a smile on your face.

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Wearing a fragrance is a precious moment that has something to do with your deep yourself. Pure distance is an amazing brand that will strike your curiosity by the power of their fragrances. Every single creation is done with the best ingredients and their aim is to make best in class fragrances. They are launching Puredistance WHITE, a beautiful fragrance with a true positive emotion within.

Puredistance-white

Puredistance, every details counts.

PUREDISTANCE was founded in 2008 by Jan Ewoud Vos in the Netherlands. Their main offices are in the city of Groningen. Installed in a historical building, Mr Ewoud Vos gathered a team of creative people who will give the essence of PUREDISTANCE universe. When we ask him how would he describe PUREDISTANCE, this is what he says:

PUREDISTANCE for me is a voyage to the essence. And in the essence lies beauty. The kind of beauty that is timeless.

Pure distance takes a lot of careful with all details. Every single aspect of their fragrances are purely perfect. their aim is to create unique fragrances that will be memorable. The quality of all ingredients used is quite unique as only the best ingredients are chosen. Puredistance also works with the best perfumers. When you smell a Puredistance fragrance you will dive into an unique universe.

Puredistance-white-sample-2 Puredistance-white-sample

Pure distance White, beautiful as a sunny ray of light

With the launch of Puredistance White, Puredistance presents a warm-hearted artistic work. The majestic Rose of may will play an elegant and luminous symphony with the following quatuor: Orris, Patchouli, Tonka bean and Vetiver. Bergamot will enlighten the structure and modern Musks will clear the path to an adventure you will not regret. Like a sunshine ray of light caressing your skin, Puredistance White will wrap you in a warm aura.

Puredistance-White-fragrance-ingredients

Pure-distance-white-fragrance

Puredistance-white-packhot

You can check Puredistance website for more information about this new launch and also about the amazing universe of the brand:
http://www.puredistance.com.

Pure distance White will place a smile on your face and lots of warmth in your heart. This new fragrance is an amazing modernization of the Chypre theme that brings a strong and intense trail while the solar composition will completely take you away from your daily life to another place, a do-me-good place. Congratulations to Puredistance.

LA

Puredistance-white

Info sourced at Puredistance official communication. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Elina Garanča finally back to La Scala in Milano. Carmen!

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Elina Garanča’s reprise will take place at Teatro alla Scala in Milano. Considered as one of the most demanding Opera audience, performing at La Scala is like walking on fire. Elina Garanča will then fight fire with the fire of Carmen, her signature role. Starring opposite José Cura as Don José with Massimo Zanetti leading from the podium.

Carmen, a passionate story, only one truth: to be free no matter what and above everything

Carmen-georges-bizet-history

Carmen is considered by experts as the most played Opera in the world. Yet, its debut was not as we could consider as glamorous. When Georges Bizet delivered Carmen, it was firstly performed at Opera Comique in Paris. This happened on March 3rd 1875. We would imagine that the audience of that time would immediately recognize Bizet’s talent on this masterpiece… Well, actually they did not. After the Premiere, the Parisian audience did not understand at all Carmen. The critics were pretty harsh on Bizet’s Opera.

Carmen-opera-georges-bizet-story

Carmen tells the story of Don José, a naive soldier who falls in love with Carmen, the fiery Gipsy. The opera is done in Opera Comique style, meaning there are dialogs between 2 acting. Don José abandons everything for Carmen, his career, his future and even his dreams. Carmen is a free spirit, so after a while she falls in love with the glamorous toreador Escamillo and leaves Don José. The pain of these treason, brings Don José down to earth and he realizes how miserable his life became. In order to get revenge, Don José kills Carmen. The fact the main role dies on stage was something pretty revolutionary for that time and not so well perceived. The talented author never understood why the public did not like Carmen. This was the cause of a deep sorrow for Bizet. He died 3 month later at the age of 36 years old.
Nevertheless, Carmen continue to be played specially abroad. After meeting the deserved success internationally, Carmen was back to Paris in 1883 and embraced success. As we can see, it took some time but today it is part of the great classics that every Opera singer needs to have on his or her portfolio.
What made this opera not only to survive but to become such an icon, is definitely the intensity of the primal role of Carmen. It is such an intense, authentic and passionate role that every opera singer wants to be part of this story. For a female artist, performing Carmen is a true accomplishment. The role is so pure and clear that the performer and the opera character need to unite. No place for cheating. You need to have this internal flame that will fuel the strong personality of Carmen. Carmen never surrenders. She is a free woman and she decides when, how, where and with whom she will deliver her passion. Being a free person, will always make the audience to face its own limitations and potentially, Carmen accomplishes what many would never dare: be free. Probably that is why it was not a success back in 1875.

Carmen requires a great singer with fire in the eyes. Elina Garanča has it.

The Mezzo-Soprano has made Carmen her signature role. And initially we would not have expected that! Elina Garanča has the passion that only true opera divas have. And this brought her to Carmen as a revelator of her talent. The Habanera in act I sounds like if it was made for her. If Elina Garanča would have lived at Bizet’s time, she would have been his muse. And he would have been right. Elina Garanča brings to the role a certain power that Bizet wanted for his Carmen.

Elina-Garanča-is-Carmen-La-scala-milano

With a tessiture as Mezzo-Soprano, Elina Garanča has the deepness of low notes and the striking of higher notes. She brings alot of emotions to the ears and the hearts of the audience and that’s how she conquered La Scala.
The first time Elina Garanča performed at Teatro alla Scala in Milano was in 2012 in a very successful recital. After a great start, she was back already at two different occasions to perform Verdi’s Requiem. This time, with Carmen, she will definitely make a big wave.

 

Carmen – Teatro alla Scala in Milano

  • March 22nd – Premiere
    Conductor – Massimo Zanetti
  • Staging – Emma Dante
  • Sets – Richard Peduzzi
  • Costumes – Emma Dante
  • Lights – Dominique Bruguière
  • Choregraphic movements – Manuela Lo Sicco
  • For more information, check the Opera house website: http://www.teatroallascala.org

Elina Garanča is probably one of the best Carmen in the history of this opera play. If you are lucky enough to see her perform on stage, you will understand why. The Teatro alla Scala is already lighting up the stage because Carmen has no limits. She is free.

LA

Info sourced at La Scala official communication, Elina Garanča communication, wikipedia, opera-online.com and Flickr. Featured image of Ms Garanča comes from Teatro alla Scala. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

William Eggleston at Musée de L’Elysée. Color is an art.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne is holding an exhibition about William Eggleston. This American photographer established color in photography as a recognized master art. Once again the Lausanne Museum for photography brings a daring and sharp choice for the pleasure of our minds and eyes.

William Eggleston, from Cartier-Bresson to contemporary photography

After some chaotic parcours in school and university, there is one thing that William Eggleston learned: the passion for photography. While in university, a friend offered him a Leica camera and since that moment he understood the power of photography and the interesting action of capturing in a photograph the essentiality of a moment. He became passionate about French photographer Henri Cartier Bresson and Swiss-born photographer Robert Frank.

Henri Cartier Besson Decisive moment

He was fascinated by these 2 artists artwork. At the same time, Eggleston believed that art photography needed to evolve and technology should help this evolution. Historically speaking, art photography was exclusively executed in Black and white. It was classicism and tradition that would place photography around these 2 colors and all shades of grey available. Lights and contrasts would play a tremendous role. In the second half of the 19th century, chemists and engineers would develop a new process allowing to add color into the photographic process. Several techniques were developed and all these would be treated in labs, after the photo was taken. We needed to wait until the 30’s to being able to use color in photography through color films. 2 big names would revolutionize the history of photography and film: Kodak and Agfa.

Kodak KodachromWith their technological breakthroughs in terms of color films, there is a full generation of new cameras that was launched in the 30’s and the 40’s. At that time, color photographs completely changed the way photographers would prepare their topic. Art photography was still remaining on the black and white side while color was used for photo-journalism and travel-photography. William Eggleston would change this. By using color films on his work, starting in 1965, he would change the approach of photography. He gets passionate about what happens in the daily life and will make the statement of a lifetime. The use of color will define in photography this nostalgical approach of things that will be as well a way to bring a critic eye into the society values and habits. William Eggleston work will be striking as he will reveal with his camera the extraordinary beauty of a mundaine world. One of his most famous artwork is called “The Red Ceiling”. It was done in 1973.

William-Eggleston-red-ceiling

According to the artist himself, this photography is so powerful that he never succeeded to reach a satisfactory result in print. It became the icon of his approach and inspired generations of photographers.

William Eggleston, from Black and White to color – new exhibition at Musée l’Elysée

Obsessed by icons of banality like supermarkets, bars, gas stations, automobiles and ghostly figures lost in space, William Eggleston is a one of a kind. Exhibited at MoMA in 1976, Eggleston’s work in color marked a turning point in the history of photography.

William Eggleston, From Los Alamos, folio 1 [Supermarket boy with carts], Memphis, 1965 © William Eggleston, Courtesy Wilson Centre for Photography

The Musée de l’Elysée reveals a sharp exhibition about Eggleston. More than 100 prints in black and white as well as color, will illustrate the game changing in Eggleston work. It is the first time that the Lausanne Museum for photography exhibits the artist, so it is definitely an appointment with all photography aficionados. Through the current display, the exhibition shows the artists obsessions about ceilings, food, waiting or unconventional framing.

MUSEE DE L’ELYSEE LAUSANNE
18, avenue de l’Elysée
1014 Lausanne – Switzerland
http://www.elysee.ch
From January 30th to May 3rd 2015 

William Eggleston was inspired by photography heritage to shape the future, his work inspired generations of photographers and designers. Several artwork are masterpieces of the genre and they are for some of them more than 30 years old. Yet Eggleston work is still on top of modernity. It is what we call being a visionary.

LA

Info sourced at Musee de l’Elysee official communication, wikipedia and the artist official website. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Victor Vasarely, art exhibition in Lausanne. First time ever at Artshop gallery.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Switzerland gathers an amazing passion for art. Some people like Virginie Bridy will share her passion by creating spaces, galleries, to show art to the public. That is how Art Shop Lausanne is born. This month you will be able to discover an amazing artist, father of many art trends: Victor Vasarely. First time in French speaking Swizerland.

ArtShop, bringing art to the public

ArtShop-by-unechouquettealausanne

Opened a few month ago, ArtShop is a beautiful place in the center of Lausanne. Virginie Bridy is an artist and a creator. She opened ArtShop as a friendly place where people can discover amazing artists, most of them for the first time in Switzerland. Ms Bridy explained the concept of ArtShop. It is a place where you can find regularly new installations in a very modular space, that can be adapted depending on the nature of the artist and the displayed artwork. She is completely passionate about arts and she dares to make choices that potentially many people would not dare. Here is a quote she told me from Jean Cocteau that illustrates a lot the flame of passion that animates her.

Le tout dans l’audace, c’est de savoir jusqu’où on peut aller trop loin.

The aim is to create a friendly place where you can discover art, buy art and even get a tasty coffee. Simplicity and attachment to details reigns at ArtShop. Artists will feel at easy to exhibit their precious artworks and the public, art aficionados or just passing by chance in front of the gallery will feel invited to enter. Is this not the first mission of the artist? To invite people to discover an universe that can be unique and original as well as the reflexion of people’s universe seen through the lens of the creator? Yes it is. ArtShop in Lausanne is more than a gallery, it is the expression of the defining philosophy behind arts.

ArtShop-Lausanne-Vasarely
ArtShop-Lausanne-Art-Gallery
Behind ArtShop, there is the ArtShop Artist Team. Several themes and artwork will be provided by them and between two installations. You can find here below the incoming agenda of the gallery. It is a very dynamic rhythm of installations with amazing artists. Names like Daniel Gastaud and Birdy Kids will be available during certain moments until this summer. You can click on the image below to amplify it.
Art-Shop-Lausanne-Agenda
Currently you will be able to discover a vintage visual art exhibition on the name of Victor Vasarely. One opportunity in a kink to discover or rediscover some of the artist master pieces, made available thanks to the generosity of Editions du Griffon.

Victor Vasarely, an artist who truly modernized art.

In Art, there are names that will immediately connect you with specific universes. The name of Victor Vasareli is one of them. He was at the beginning of the 20th century the artist who brought cubism and neo-impressionism to a level further: optical art. Most of his artwork is worldwide known. There are some paintings that you already saw once, either in a movie, an advertising, an art exhibition or even in fashion.
victor-vasarely-portrait
Victor Vasarely was born in Hungary and moved to Paris in the 30’s. The following 20 years, Vasarely will explore several techniques, from Cubism, neo-impressionism, futuristic and expressionistic. All these explorations will lead him to establish his own style. It will be the foundation of optic art and kinetic art. Year after year, Vasarely will develop his art and his style and be at the start of a modern philosophy of art. He will break all rules and will redefine the role of being an artist.
Victor-Vasarely
image-work-vasarely-vonal
 Fondation-Vasarely
 One interesting aspect of his work was that you could order an artwork from him and choose the size of it. This was truly a scandal for an artist that would produce almost industrially speaking his work. Vasarely had a real modern vision of his status and work. If you want to enjoy the privilege to see by yourself part of this amazing work, you definitely need to visit ArtShop until end of March.
ArtShop Lausanne
Rue du Flon 8
1003 Lausanne
 http://www.the-art-shop.ch 
When art and passion meet, only great things can come from it. ArtShop is definitely a place that counts in Lausanne.
 Artshop-vasarely-virginie-bridy
Info sourced at ArtShop Vernissage for Vasarely, Fondation Vasarely, Editions du Griffon. Photo sourced at unechouquettealausanne.ch. Thank you to Pia de Chefdebien-Schreve for the information. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

LuxuryActivist new website – released.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Based in Switzerland, LuxuryActivist is one of the rarest 100% online magazine talking about Luxury and lifestyle without any constraint. 5 years after its launch, this true webzine dressed up with a new website.

LuxuryActivist.com, the founding idea

Founded by José Amorim, luxury and digital expert, his aim was to create a digital space in which the quality and the independance of the editorial work would be key. Since 2010, LuxuryActivist proposes qualitative articles about several topics, from general Luxury, to Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Design, Music or premium hightech. Each article will provide deep analysis on a certain topic or product launch. With clear insights, this webzine based in Switzerland will keep you updated on luxury news from the Swiss as well as from the international scene.

LuxuryActivist.com, the Activist spirit

The strong idea behind the webzine is to provide s clear, expert look into luxury. From Brands to new products, LuxuryActivist will cover independently from any brand or advertising program, luxury topics with a clear insight.

 “The aim of the webzine is that once you read an article, you will have the feeling to have learned something on that day”

Jose Amorim, Chief Editor

Official

Member of Syndicom, and of the Electronic Swiss Press, the mission is to defend a qualitative and dedicated online press to improve the digital press landscape.

A webzine shaped in the spirit of its time

The new layout was developed in the spirit of new technologies. The entire website is built on responsive design technology. This means that texts, images and the website structure will adapt to the screen of the user, no matter if it is a desktop PC, a tablet or a smartphone. Today, the world is mobile. With almost 50% of the total traffic coming from mobile devices, LuxuryActivist keeps people updated on luxury news, no matter where they are.

Happy Friday newsletter, the concept

No time to read the news during the week? Going on weekend and want something clever to read in the train? This is the happy friday newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter and you will get every Friday afternoon the articles of the week. You will never miss a single drop of news thanks to the newsletter. you can already read a short summary of each article in the newsletter and click in the article to get the full version.

LuxuryActivist, the blog

Friday is also the day for the activist to express himself on a series called Friday Chronicles. Collected under a new blog section in the webzine, readers will be able to read sharp articles about different topics. In general, the author’s pen get to do the dirty work and tell his true opinion about certain topics, from brands communication to online advertising or even the raw reality of certain industries.

Luxury-Activist-new-luxury-blog

Several luxury brands trust the activist

Since the beginning of this adventure, several luxury brands trust LuxuryActivist with their launches. By giving avant-premieres of their products, the brands submit their creations to the expert eye of LuxuryActivist. Each article is independently written and all related brands never see them before publication. Only when it is online. No changes are accepted.
With this new website, LuxuryActivist moves towards the future and aligns all efforts made in the past 5 years to educate, evangelize, analyse and describe the luxury landscape and people passionate about luxury. Everything is in one place: http://luxuryactivist.com. The more we share, the best. LA

Sol Maté drink, from South America to the world

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Soft drinks market is an amazing worldwide business. It is very segmented and sometimes we have the feeling there is no more room for any new product. Unless a great new product arrives. This is the case of Sol Maté. Made of organic natural Maté, one of the most popular beverages in the entire South America, Sol Maté joins the coolness of a modern soft sparkling drink and a secular usage of theMaté plant.

Mate-tea

Maté is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink, particularly in Argentina (where it is defined by law as the “national infusion”), Uruguay, Paraguay, the Bolivian Chaco and Southern Brazil, and to a lesser degree in southern Chile. It is also consumed in Syria, who are the largest importers in the world, and Lebanon. In South America, Maté is a traditional popular beverage that would give strength and vitality to the workers. Over the years, maté kept present in several countries as a popular beverage that you can drink hot or cold. Mate was first consumed by the indigenous Guaraní and also spread by the Tupí people who lived in that part of southern Brazil which was Paraguayan territory before the Paraguayan War. Therefore, the scientific name of the yerba mate is Ilex paraguariensis. The consumption of yerba mate became widespread with the European colonization in the Spanish colony of Paraguay in the late 16th century, both among Spanish settlers and indigenous Guaraní, who consumed it before the Spanish arrival.

mate-plantation

Sol-Mate-process

Mate-tree

Sol Maté, bringing the best of Maté to an urban and cosmopolitan universe

Sol Maté brings the best of Maté infusion into a modern word. Being a natural source of Caffeine, Sol Maté proposes a new way to drink Maté, as a natural energy drink format style. This will replace Maté into a more young, dynamic and urban clientele.

solmate-drink

Sol Maté has a simple yet very qualitative process of production. The formula? Water, Cane Sugar, Maté extract, Caramel color, Carbonation. Most of the ingredients come from organic plantations. You can visit the company website to learn more in how to purchase Sol Maté and also to get some ideas in how to drink it.

http://www.solmate.lu

Being Brazilian, I know perfectly well what is the taste of Mate, I even have a Maté traditional pot called Chimarrâo at home. When I tried the beverage, I immediately recognized the green, slightly bitter taste of Maté. I was completely taken by a positive surprise. It is fresh, sparkling, revigorating and perfectly done. We can taste a beautiful quality of Maté made from the best leaves.

solmate-drink-mood
You will be able to find Sol Maté in popular pubs, restaurants and beach bars, as well as in distinguished beverage retailers. Naturally you can also buy it from Internet. You can purchase it directly from the official website.  No excuses: refresh yourself with a dazzling natural feeling of what nature has to offer at its best in an original soft drink.

LA

Sol-Maté-drinks

Info sourced at Coolbrandz initiative, the brand website and wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

 

Friday Chronicle #13: Everybody is launching a smartwatch, so it is not cool anymore!

Sebastien Eich
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Since Apple announced its Apple Watch, there was an acceleration in the smartwatches market. While Samsung, Peeble and Motorola were driving the way, there was little incidence in terms of watch-making trends. Since Apple brought to live its project, all watch brands are going crazy about the theme of digital watches. During the SIHH and soon at BASELWORLD, we will see dozens of brands launching their smartwatch. From Montblanc, to Kenneth Cole, Frédéric Constant, Tag Heuer, Swatch or Vector… all launching their connected watch. Well it is not that cool anymore.

Apple Watch, the hurricaine in the tech world

In the world where wearables are multiplying like flies, is a smartwatch still something cool to do? My feeling is that Apple brought a certain doubt in the minds of watchmakers in terms of competition and success. Based on their reputation in how they enter the market place (remember their mobile phone strategy?) several brands think they need to react to a potential pressure from the IT company.

Apple-watches

Apple brought strong signs in terms of conviction and determination. First they have hired people from the luxury and watch industry. Then, they have proved their skills to put together cutting edge technology. Final but not least, they have developed over the years a very strong and sustainable relationship with customers that became brand fans and some of them Apple-obsessed.

Apple Watch, it is actually a watch!

Apple analyses the situation of the watch industry as well as the context of the wearable devices.

Apple-watch-full-range

By tackling the “watch problem” they know 2 things: there is only one place for a watch on someone’s wrist and they need to produce a real watch if they want to sell watches. So all the arguments behind the famous “digital crown”, the bracelets, the sapphire glass, the clasp, etc… Brings the product into a very specific field of watchmaking.

There is also a third important point for Apple. The 2015 Apple watch is the V1. Imagine what will be the V4? If we take the iPhone evolution, it means that in less than 10 years, we went from the iPhone 1 to an iPhone 6 and 6Plus. They are the 9th version of the iPhone. We can do things with the iPhone 6 that nobody would have imagined back in 2007 (launch of the iPhone1).

Why Smartwatches are not cool anymore?

With so many brands launching their smartwatch, we have a certain feeling of “deja vu”. Some of these brands are launching a smartwatch to look cool, others to look young and some of them to be visible in the press. We are still missing a lot of “meaning” in this products.

The main purpose of a watch is to give time. Everything else is “extra”. Naturally, some watches are true state of art and others more a way to deliver a simple service: display time. In many ways, our smartphones are delivering many similar functionalities:

  • Time
  • Day and Date
  • GMT
  • Summer time / Winter time
  • Alarm

If we get into Mobile Apps, then the possibilities are endless. That’s why Apple decided to add Apps on its Apple Watch. Somehow they are probably doing the right thing. I suppose that in certain countries, more than in others, people will be a little resistant to have a wearable device that will keep you constantly connected to the web and might vibrate on your wrist every time you get a notification. And the more the internet population is growing, the biggest is the opportunity for tech companies to grow. By end of 2014, the total world population crossed the bar of 7 Billion people. 7’182’416’565 people are today living in our planet and 42% of them have a regular connection to the internet. This means over 3 Billion people in 2014 connect to the web versus only 400 million in 2000 (source: internetworldstats.com). If we take North America, almost 90% of the total population has internet. So this means internet is everywhere: in your car, in your fridge, in your phone, TV set, even in your running shoes. Should you connect your watch as well? There are definitely pros and cons.

Who cares about confidentiality nowadays?

Another interesting topic is about confidentiality. It is amazing to see how easy people can trust any app they might download into their smart-objects, no matter if it is a TV set, a phone or now a watch. We deliver a strong amount of personal data everyday through these clever devices and almost no one wonder where their data is hosted, who access the data or even if they sell it. When the NSA scandal came, people were shocked to hear that apps like WhatsApp were under listening. What would you expect? So not sure you are consciously happy with a all-time connected tracker.

The big question for me is about the true motivation of the watch industry to launch a connected watch. Would watch manufacturers be launching such products if the IT industry would not have launched theirs? Is it really a need and a natural technological evolution? Not that sure. When discussing with some brands who are launching their connected watch this year, most of them do not really have a long-term strategy. Basically it is the hottest topic of this Spring, so if you want to be trendy, you need a smartwatch. The difference between brands looking for trends and brands looking for longterm developments? The trendy ones might not be around in 50 years time. Let’s meet in 2064 and see. Same time, same place.

 

LA

 

smart-watches-review
Info sourced at SIHH and Pre-Baselworld communication releases, World Internet stats and Wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Top 5 luxury hotels around Leman lake – Switzerland

José Amorim
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Switzerland is an expensive destination for holidays. Since the increase of the Swiss franc, many people think twice before booking their holidays in Swiss lands. Nevertheless, Switzerland is an unique place that you need to see at least once in your lifetime. There are breath-taking landscapes, a specific horizon made of magnificent lakes and sharp mountains. One of the most beautiful region is the one around the Leman Lake, also called Geneva Lake. In one side you have Switzerland and in the other France. In order to enjoy the best possible your holidays in this Swiss region, here is our top 5 best luxury hotels you might want to consider next time. Wilkommen in Der Schweiz.

Geneva, cosmopolitan luxury with Le Richemond

Richemond-Hotel-Geneva

Geneva is probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. With its 200’000 inhabitants, Geneva has more than 125 different nationalities permanently living in the city. It is a true luxury destination and a very wealthy clientele enjoy shopping at the famous Rue du Rhone. If you are looking for a great hotel to stay, you can choose without hesitation Le Richemond. This prestigious address is opened since 1875 and was owned by four generations of the Armleder family. Since 2004, the hotel was sold and today the Dorchester Collection is managing the hotel. At Le Richemond you will feel a complete Swiss luxury way of life. Nothing is too much but every single detail will be handled with care. The location is perfect, just by the lake from which you can see the famous Geneva Water fountain over the lake.  You will be by foot just a few minutes away from all shopping areas and places to be. The room service is amazing, LuxuryActivist team had the chance to try it in avant-premiere. You can see our review here. They also have an amazing spa by Sisley, one of a kind with a full range of massages (some of them very exclusive). Here our review about the spa.
For more information, you can visit the hotel official website: http://www.dorchestercollection.com/fr/geneve/le-richemond

Lausanne Palace, Luxury all season

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Sometimes in luxury hotels you might find the ambiance a little “cold”. At Lausanne Palace, all the employees are very efficient, professional, respectful… with a smile. They know you expect to spend a nice moment there and they will do all their best to make it happen. Despite of the respectful size of the hotel, there are only 146 rooms, 30 of them being suites. It has 4 restaurants and was inaugurated in 1915. Since 1980 it is the official residence of the Olympic committee president. What are the highlights? They have an amazing Spa with all sorts of massages. If you like Ayurvedic massages, it is one of the best spot in the region. They also have a nice interior swimming pool and fitness. One special detail is the Sunday brunch. Potentially one of the best in the region. You can read our full review here. If you wish to learn more about the Lausanne Palace, do not hesitate to visit the official website: http://www.lausanne-palace.com

Le Mirador Kempinski Mont-Pelerin, luxury with a view

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One of the specificities of Switzerland is its amazing breath-taking landscapes. So in order to enjoy such view you better find the right spot. When it comes to finding the perfect spot, Le Mirador Kempinski is world champion. Located on top of Montreux and Vevey, around 1000m altitude, Le Mirador Kempinski offers a magical view to all Leman Lake. You will enjoy an outstanding journey with the charms of being in the heart of the Alps. The restaurants are amazing and the Spa area very impressive. You can see our review here.
They have an interior swimming pool with view to the top of the mountains. The Spa is managed by Givenchy and it offers an ideal choice of different massages. 2 interesting bespoke services they have concern transportation. The hotel has a beautiful Rolls Royce that can pick you up or drop you at the airport. This is what we call traveling with class. The second service is an heliport. Either with your personal helicopter or by renting the services of one, you are able to get your airport transfer or simply discover the region with a great sight-seing. These 2 services require an extra-cost but at this level of experience, it is not really a problem. Visit the website for more information:
https://www.kempinski.com

On the French side, luxury and Golf

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If we continue our journey around Leman Lake, we obviously end up in France. There you can find a very interesting Resort that combines the best of luxury and luxury sports: Golf. In this resort located in the charming town of Evian-les-Bains, you will find 2 distinctive hotels: the Royal Evian and the Evian L’Ermitage. Both are located in the middle of a beautiful parc that contains a professional golf track. Every year, in September, the Evian Master of Golf takes place. It is one of the key female golf events in the world and brings to the small city of Evian an international clientele. On the hotels, the Royal Evian is a 5 stars hotel and the Evian L’Ermitage is a 4 stars. Both represent a stylish environment between mountain and lake. Both have amazing spas and services. You can read our review about the Evian L’Ermitage here. If you are a Golf player you will be pleased by the outstanding situation of the parcour. You can check more details about Evian Resort by visiting the official website that presents both hotels.
http://www.evianresort.com

Villa Cecile, confidential luxury on the Leman lake

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To finish our around the lake trip, we are happy to present to you the Villa Cecile. In the picturesque city of Yvoire, just by the lake. This charming country house will reveal its charms for those curious enough to discover it. There are 2 external swimming pools and a very qualitative spa. The restaurant will please those who like organic food, some of it vegetarian but all prepared with great care. The Villa Cecile has 22 rooms all decorated with great taste and you will find yourself at ease in such cosy environment. You can learn more about this great address on their official website:
http://www.villacecile.com

In conclusion, the Leman lake area is full of great surprises. You will be conquered by the majestic spirit of the surrounding mountains and the peacefulness of the lake. Switzerland is an amazing country that will surprise you with more than one facet.
Bienvenue.

LA

Best-hotels-leman-lake-geneva-lausanne

Info sourced at Luxuryactivist reviews and brands websites, wikipedia and Myswitzerland. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Apple competitors: Best connected smart watches launched before Baselworld 2015

Sebastien Eich
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2015 will definitely be the year of connected watches. All brands are trying to develop or adapt to their collections dedicated products with new that will compete with the Apple watch. A few brands decided to launch their product just before Baselworld 2015, here is LuxuryActivist recap of what you should know before the fair.

Frederic Constant and Alpina Horological Smartwatch

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Frederic Constant and its sister brand Alpina decided to stay classy, without a digital screen and kept the aesthetic of traditional watchmaking. First advantage of this choice, it improves the autonomy with 2 years announced for the battery life. Second advantage, if the electronic system becomes obsolete, the watch can still be worn. For the technology part of this watch, they partnered with Silicon Valley company Motion X that produced the chip and with Californian Firm Fullpower for the software. An open platform called  MotionX-365® Horological Smartwatch has been created by Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT) and can now be used by many watch brands. These watches will be on sale from late May. The beginning price will be around 1000 Swiss francs, and around 2000 Swiss francs for the high end models.

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 Mondaine Helvetica No 1 Horological Smartwatch

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First external client of  the open plateform MotionX-365® Horological Smartwatch, Mondaine presented it’s first smartwatch inspired by Swiss railroad (SBB CFF) clocks. It can track your activity and sleeping patterns, allowing the wearer to set up sleep cycle alarms and get fit with an adaptive coach. It will be released in autumn this year at a price estimated under 1000 Swiss francs.

 Swatch Touch Zero One

Swatch-Touch-Zero-One-Beach

Swatch Touch Zero One has been created with focus to beach volley activities. It has a large tactile curved touchscreen that can count power hits, power claps, steps, activity time, calories burned per game, progress per month…etc. All the data are sent to your smartphone via the Touch Zero One app that make the aggregation and analysis.  Like Runkeeper or Runtastic for Runners, this device is a motivation system for volleyball players. Battery life is announced for several months and you can charge it. If you are waiting to control your smartphone via this watch, this is not the good choice. Expected price is under 200 Swiss francs.

Montblanc e-Strap

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Here is an exception, we are talking about a connected strap that can be adapted on any case. This could be a good compromise if you don’t want to change your watches but would like to add “connected features” to your actual watch collection. Montblanc’s e-Strap has a small monochrome OLED screen which connects via Bluetooth to your phone and display notifications when you receive calls or text messages (7 functionalities linked to smartphones announced). It will be officially launched in June 2015.

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LG Watch Urbane LTE

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LG announced their first really elegant  smartwatch with gold or steel finished cases. This is a turning point because they choose to adapt the design of their high technological products to the classic watchmaking codes. The plastic OLED screen has a 320 x 320 pixel resolution. The chip is running on Android wear. The CPU, a  1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400, has a storage capacity of 4GB and RAM of 512 MB. It includes heart rate sensor, gyroscope, accelerator and a compass. Pricing and availability will be announced this month at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

H. Moser & Cie

Moser-SmartWatch2

This is actually the only picture released by the independent Manufacture H.Moser & Cie. It promises a revolutionary creation with a clean interface and a long battery life explained CEO Edouard Meylan. “The H. Moser & Cie. smart watch stays true to the original character of our products, and it is an important milestone for the future of the Swiss watch industry.”. This first “Haute Horlogerie” Smart Watch timepiece will be presented on Mach 9th. 

 
Sebastien Eich 

 Info sourced at all brands official communication releases. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available

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