Luxist

UK-based TMB Art Metal is launching a limited edition set of cufflinks handmade from metal taken from the Aston Martin DBR1 race car that won Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championships in 1959. TMB's exclusive Aston Martin DBR1/2 Essence of Form links are crafted using original pieces of aluminum body panel removed from the the famous car that was driven by Carroll Shelby, and was victorious with Sir Stirling Moss behind the wheel in the 1959 World Sportscar Championship. Two versions of the cufflinks, with arms and drivers made of solid 18ct gold, are being issued accompanied by certificates of authenticity signed personally by either Shelby or Moss. Each version is limited to just 50 pairs worldwide, priced at £1,795 or about $3,000 each. The winning Aston Martin, one of the most famous cars in the world, is today believed to be worth around $25 million.

On May 1st RM Auctions will inaugurate a new annual sale in Monaco headlined by a rare Ferrari expected to fetch up to $3.5 million. The Sporting Classics of Monaco event will be held at the Grimaldi Forum during the same weekend as the 7th Grand Prix Historique de Monaco. 80 of the world's finest motor cars will be on offer, headlined by a stunning 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina (above). One of only six short wheelbase examples bodied by Pininfarina, the Ferrari, chassis no. 3309SA was the last example built, and displayed as a factory show car at the Geneva and New York Auto Shows in 1962. The car, which recently underwent a no-expense spared, nut and bolt restoration by top tier marque specialists, won an award at this year's famed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Widely regarded as more exclusive, powerful and luxurious than the SWB California Spider, its offering is set to garner significant attention from collectors around the world.

[via JustLuxe]

Duncan Quinn, the London-born, New York-based menswear designer whose Savile Row-with-a-twist togs are favored by the likes of Sean Combs, Entourage star Adrien Grenier, LeBron James and alt-rockers Green Day among others, has come out with a new line of silk ties sporting gangster chic motifs to complement his killer new fall collection we previewed here. The designs (above) are partially inspired by Russian prison tattoos - think Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises - and are made of 100% silk handwoven in England, cut, stitched and finished by hand in New York City. A lot of Quinn's inspiration comes from the "long and well-recorded history of members of the criminal fraternity frequenting Savile Row for their sharp suits and other attire," the designer notes - the ones played by Michael Caine at least.

An electric motorcycle that does 130 mph and looks as good as this seems an impressive enough feat in and of itself, but Mavizen has gone even further with its new TTX02 model, just unveiled at SEMA. Billed as a "laptop on wheels" it features a dedicated IP address, on-board web server, WiFi and Linux. Born of Team Agni's TTXGP race-winning electric motorcycle team, the bike is slated for a limited production of only 50 units, with a price of about $42,000 and a delivery date in early 2010, aimed at race teams who wish to compete in the upcoming eGrand-Prix series. "We are living in a click culture and connectivity is the key, across the board," notes TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain. "Our approach was to find how we could make a laptop go racing."

Building fine shotguns that blend beauty, performance and value is the key to gunmaker Caesar Guerini. Imported from Brescia, Italy, their over / under models combine craftsmanship, precision, and premium materials in a stylish package. The quality of the wood, the spot-on fit and finish and the intricate engraving are matched by the kind of perfect ergonomics and handling Italian gun makers are famous for the world over. Each Guerini gun is a work of art that is perfectly functional for sportsmen. The company now makes shotguns for legendary sporting outfitters Orvis, a testament to their worth.

Their newest and most stunning model, the Apex, put in an appearance in our recent Fall Sporting Style feature. It has distinctly British lines with a classic Prince of Wales grip on oiled Turkish Circassian walnut and a trim, rounded fore-end, with a revolutionary new full-length trigger guard. The action is embellished with full-coverage engraving that incorporates no fewer than four different techniques; the hand work and design are from the studios of the world renowned Italian engraving house Bottega Incisioni C. Giovanelli. And most importantly it shoots like a dream. Small wonder the gun was named Outdoor Life Magazine's Editors Choice. Not bad for a company started from the ground up in 2002.

Another much-lauded Guerini model is the Maxum, a true collector grade shotgun featuring deep relief floral scroll hand finished engraving on the receiver, side plates, and forearm assembly. An elegant coin finish complements the strikingly detailed classic style engraving. A deluxe grade of Turkish walnut, featuring precision cut, fines 26 lines-per-inch checkering and a natural oil finish, is hand rubbed to a stunning sheen. You can see both the Apex and Maxum in the gallery. The company also now has a custom shop in its Cambridge, Maryland, headquarters, offering services such as gun fittings and custom stock finishing.



We had the pleasure of meeting Wes Lang, president of Guerini U.S.A., at the recent Orvis Cup sporting event sponsored by Barbour at the Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds in Millbrook, New York. "We are like you, avid shooters and hunters," Wes says. "The passion for fine shotguns and the related activities influences many of our decisions. Our goal is to produce the very best shotguns possible at a price that makes your purchase a good investment. We constantly strive to manufacture shotguns that we enjoy shooting and we want to share the results of our passion for finely crafted and highly functional shotguns with all of our customers. Providing exemplary customer service to anyone who owns a Caesar Guerini is our mandate as well. When you own one of our shotguns you become part of a family - our family - and it's our goal to treat you that way."

We've seen the bag of tricks the exotic auto tuners have used on the brand new four-door Porsche Panamera - now how about a bulletproof version? An armored Porsche Panamera Turbo has just been listed for sale in Frankfurt, Germany via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for €295,000, or about $450,000. It comes equipped with armored steel in the doors, posts, overlaps and walls, and ballistic steel in the roof and floor; bulletproof glass; run flat tires; an armored fuel tank; armored battery and radiator protection; and more. Capable of stopping 9mm rounds as well as an assault from an M16 or .44 Magnum, the car's impressive performance is not hampered in any way by its added security measures.

Those new aviator shades Brad Pitt's been sporting lately are by his favorite designer Tom Ford, naturally. The decadent designer's Pablo model is actually two pairs of sunglasses in one. One set of lenses fits right into the metal frame and the other set sits in plastic inserts. The Pablo is an evolution of an earlier Ford design as worn by Daniel Craig; these are much better proportioned and actually a fine fit for both men and women. The sunglass history buffs at Eyegoodies, where the Pablo can be purchased for $450 a pair, note the influence of an old (1970's) Ted Lapidus aviator with the plastic inserts in, and the Porsche Design Aviators from the 1980's with the plastic inserts out. The Pablo comes in three colors: gold / light havana (pictured above), gunmetal / dark havana, and gold /black.

[via JustLuxe]

We've seen a lot of futuristic superyacht designs that look extremely cool and avant garde, and have no chance at all of ever being built. The 315-ft. Project Orca (above) by UK-based designer Michael Leach is an exception; it's currently under construction at the famed Blohm + Voss shipyard, scheduled for delivery in spring 2010. Leach's 220-ft. Anna for Feadship, one of their largest ever, won a World Superyacht Award for best displacement motor yacht. The Orca features a futuristic exoskeletal curving superstructure, aggressive lines and innovative glazing. Its enormous entertaining and private spaces will feature bespoke furniture from British firm Silverlining, with each piece handmade by a single craftsman and stamped with their signature silver hallmark. Metrica will handle the interior execution, and Cougar Marine will provide two custom limousine tenders stored on the yacht's sports deck.

Looking for a really unforgettable Christmas present for that special someone this year? That glossy chronicle of the filthy rich Robb Report has just the thing - a matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million. The eye-popping present, the world's most expensive, is part of the profligate publication's Ultimate Gift Guide, a seasonal offering of over-the-top exclusives. The recipient will receive an Airbus A380 (above), the world's largest jumbo jet, and a bespoke megayacht, both customized by renowned designer Patrick Knowles. The interiors will complement each other creating what Knowles calls a "custom personal brand" for the lucky owner. There's one catch - considering the backlog on A380 deliveries and the time required to design and build a custom megayacht, the giftee will have to wait at least six years to get their hands on the toys.

The five star Gleneagles resort in Perthshire (above) and Rocco Forte's The Balmoral in Edinburgh are teaming up to offer an incredible "Taste of Scotland" package this season, providing guests with a true Scottish gourmet experience in two legendary, luxurious and multi award-winning locations. At the historic Balmoral in Edinburgh, travelers will be welcomed into a complimentary upgraded Executive Room, complete with a bottle of Bollinger champagne on ice, and will enjoy dinner in the Michelin-starred number one restaurant. While at Gleneagles, set on 850 acres of Perthshire countryside, guests will relax in a sprawling Estate Room before sampling a Scotch whisky tasting for two in the bar and then dining at the Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant. Gleneagles is also home to three of the top Scottish Championship golf courses, a wide range of exhilarating outdoor leisure activities and a spacious spa. The Taste of Scotland package costs £1,200, or about $1,985, for two people with two nights at each hotel.

[via JustLuxe]