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LUXURY NET WORLD IS COMING BACK SOON!

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Zino Davidoff: 'Smoke less,but better and longer'.

“The cigar has been my life,” Zino Davidoff wrote in 'The Connoisseur’s Book of the Cigar', originally published in 1967 in French and later in five other languages. “I owe it everything: my deepest pleasure and my anguish, the joys in my work as well as my leisure time.”

Zino Davidoff was born on March 11, 1906 in Kiev in what is now Ukraine. He was the eldest of four children born to Jewish tobacco merchant, Henri Davidoff. Even in his own autobiographical writings, the facts on Zino's youth are a bit hazy, as he was quite young during this time and could only piece together the some stories of his youth. Fleeing the political turmoil and anti-Semitism prevalent in Russia, his parents left some of their family behind and emigrated to Geneva in 1911 for a better life and opened their own tobacconist shop in 1912. Finishing school in 1924, he went to Latin America to learn about the tobacco trade, spending time in such places as Argentina, Brazil, and finally Cuba where he spent two years working on a plantation and first encountered Cuban cigars.

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“Very quickly I learned that, just as no two great wines are the same, no two cigars are either, even from the same location,” he once recalled.

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Returning to Switzerland around 1930, he took over his parents' shop. What had originally been a modest tobacco shop grew into a rich business during and after World War II. Davidoff benefited from his good relationships with the Cubans. They allowed him to take charge of their large cigar warehouse in Paris before the Germans invaded France, with the result that for a considerable time Davidoff was the only dealer able to supply Havana cigars.

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After the War, Neutral Switzerland became a haven for wealthy tobacco customers. Zino was particularly successful in marketing the Hoyo de Monterrey Châteaux Series of Cuban cigars created for Zurich cigar distributor A Dürr Co. in the 1940s and named after great Bordeaux wines. Around this time, Zino is also credited by many as having invented the first desktop cigar humidor, in order to preserve cigars at the same conditions of humidity and temperature under which they were rolled in Havana. Davidoff also had success writing several books on cigar smoking and Cuban cigar brands.
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In 1970, Zino sold his small but highly successful tobacco shop in Geneva to the Max Oettinger Group. Zino stayed on as Davidoff’s ambassador until his death in 1994 at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife and daughter, who remained in Switzerland and by his siblings that had since moved to other parts of the world, mainly North America. Till his last moments, Zino an avid family man, sought out to find his lost family history back in what had been the Communist U.S.S.R. Unfortunately, many historical documents had been lost and so had his search. Not much information exists on their whereabouts, but through saved notes by Zino, it has been speculated that many had defected to North America in the early to mid 70's, some under new identities and family names.

Zino Davidoff will always be remembered as a bon vivant with a highly developed appreciation for the finer things in life. As a successful businessman remained true to himself and to his principles. Zino Davidoff believed in simplicity, in the complete enjoyment of life. People who knew Davidoff knew this. They came from all over the world to share his philosophy, to enjoy his finest, purest cigars. They understood what Zino Davidoff meant when he said: "Smoke less, but better and longer - make a cult of it, even a philosophy!"

Luxury Note: My father-in-law had the opportunity to meet Zino Davidoff in 1984 at the shop of Geneva. He was going to the shop every time he was visiting Geneve. One day, talking with Zino, he told him that he is sometimes enjoying smoking a Toscanelli cigar, you know, these cigars that Clint Eastwood was always chewing on in those old westerns. Surprisingly, Zino told him he likes them, too, so they smoked one together. We will never know if Zino really liked them, or he was simply very polite. My father-in-law always says that Zino was a real gentleman with a great sense of humour. He was treating all his customers equally...even if they were buying just a packet of cigarettes, or the rearest cigars.

'SIR' Sotheby's

Sotheby's International Realty (SIR) was founded in 1976 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. A natural extension of Sotheby's auction services, SIR's early mission was to assist fine arts, furniture and collectibles clients in buying and selling distinctive properties. Since that time, SIR has evolved into a worldwide organization serving an international customer base.

Today, the company continues to provide brokerage, marketing and consulting services for luxury residential properties, including estates, ranches, farms and resorts, in markets around the world.

SIR provides real estate clients with a global network of brokerage operations, including 15 company-owned brokerage offices and numerous franchise offices. Company-owned brokerage offices are located on the upper East Side and in SoHo; Southampton, Bridgehampton and East Hampton, Greenwich, Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, and Jackson Hole.In Europe and the Middle East, Sotheby's International Realty maintains brokerage offices in London and Paris and has franchisees in the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Sweden and Israel. In the Far East, the worldwide network is further supported with Sotheby's International Realty offices in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and South Korea.
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Some of the properties on sale now

Phuket,Thailand

Turks and Caicos, Caribbean

The Hampton's, USA

London, UK

Lord Byron's Residence, Venice, Italy

http://www.sothebysrealty.com/

Influential Styles

Influential Styles demonstrates how some of the world's most talented designers create gorgeous interiors that are historically influenced, yet fresh and relevant as ever. Covering the main design influences from medieval times to today, each chapter begins with an introduction to each style, accompanied by an overview of the architectural, furnishing, and decorative details that typified the interiors of that period-for example, mouldings and columns, colours and furniture shapes, porcelain and china. Next, scores of dazzling photos of real homes display these styles in a modern setting, such as the simplicity and practicality that's a throwback to Shaker; vibrant colours and fabrics that echo Victoriana; and white walls, chrome, and dashes of colour that scream art deco. This invaluable reference tool provides a wealth of creative inspiration for anyone who wants to capture the art, architecture, and visual drama of a period style in any room of their own home.

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Judith Miller started collecting antiques in the late 1960s when studying at Edinburgh University. Her knowledge of antiques grew and in 1979 she was cofounder of the best-selling Miller's Antiques Price Guide. A regular contributor to newspapers and magazines, she is co-host of BBC TV's 'The House Detectives'. She resides in North London. www.amazon.com

Aman Resorts and Amanpuri: 20 years of beauty

Twenty years ago Aman created its flagship resort Amanpuri on a cream beach in a mature coconut grove on the island of Phuket. So began a journey of exploration, determination and sheer passion, dedicated to extending the 'family' to lands where the mind has often 'wondered', in order to create experiences in contemporary comfort, where the sum of the parts determine a nourished, enriched, and rejuvenated whole. The evolution of Aman's genesis continues to flourish with 18 individual and uniquely sculpted resorts, nestled in remarkably beautiful places, from sunrise to sunset.

Amanresort never focused on being the biggest. They prefer to think small. Intimate. Involving. Different. Amanresorts responds to a contemporary lifestyle. That’s what they offer – a lifestyle experience, without limitations. www.amanresorts.com

Amanpuri, is the first born to the Aman family. It opened in 1988 on Thailand’s jade green island of Phuket, where nature and culture harmoniously merge, yielding a pure tranquillity where less means more and luxury is found in graciousness. It is a ‘place of peace’ amongst coconut palms which leads to a private crescent beach touching brilliant turquoise sea. Amanpuri embodies the inner spirit of the Thai culture while allowing nature to reign supreme. The natural beauty combined with sincere warmth and a genuine soul allows for complete rejuvenation.

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Amanpuri's web site: www.amanresorts.com/home.aspx?id=584

The apartment of Princess Yasmin Aga Khan

A very elegant flat in the heart of Manhattan. It is the apartment of Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, daughter of actress Rita Hayworth and the late Prince Ali Khan. In this apartment, collections of Ballet Russe costume sketches, Oriental rugs, family photographs and heirlooms, arranged casually and with a great deal of flair, create the unmistakable signature of Princess Yasmin Khan. The influence of old-world tradition is evident throughout. “I have a genuine appreciation for art and antiques and I enjoy collecting things with a past or family history. They become part of me and create the only atmosphere in which I feel truly at home,” she says.

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In the living room, careful placement enhances favorite objects, including an English chair and a Japanese lacquered chest on stand, both 17th century. The lounge chairs are covered in embossed velvet, and the ottoman in cotton. The piano is a Steinway. Through the doorway, an entrance hall wall covered in grasscloth on silver paper sets off a Persian mirror.

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In the dining room, fabric wallcovering complements one of two Kirman tapestries given to the princess by her father. A mounted Chinese vase adorns the table. I really like the colours of this dining room!

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Artworks in the living room range from a T’ang ceramic horse to watercolors by Pavel Tchelitchew, part of a collection of Ballet Russe costume designs. The 18th century lacca contrafatta commode was made in Venice.

Interior Designer: Samuel Botero
Source: Architectural Digest

Palazzo Pucci

The Renaissance palaces of Florence have such a class! Among them, the 14th- and 15th-century Palazzo Pucci, a palazzo that belongs to the same family since it was built. Marchesa Cristina Pucci di Barsento, widow of Emilio Pucci, still remembers how astonished she was when she first entered the house, back in 1959: ‘I was very young and quite astonished: It was a heavy house, even severe, like Florence’. Still, what looked like a timeless palazzo outside was a living house inside.

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But, while Emilio Pucci revolutionized couture with vibrant colors in optical patterns, the aesthetic of the clothes never entered the residence. In the brown room, for example, the silk draperies and wallcovering were made at Antico Setificio Fiorentino, a silk workshop founded by the Puccis and other families in the 17th century; Emilio Pucci took it over in the 1950s.

The dining room of the Palazzo Pucci. The late-18th-century fresco, by Luigi Ademollo, depicts Aenes leaving Troy. Marchesa Pucci and her husband added the Venetian chairs. The crystal glassware was made for the family in the 18th century.

The 17th-century bed in Emilio Pucci’s bedroom. Made in Lucca, it was among his favourite pieces. The gilt woodwork on the headboard echoes the embroidery on the canopy.

The Wedgwood room was created by an English artist in the late 18th century. The palette and Neoclassical plasterwork were inspired by the signature ceramics. An 18th-century marble sculpture of the goddess Diana is at center.


Source: Architectural Digest

The most beautiful libraries in the world

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All libraries in the world, whether small or large, public or private, serve the same purpose: to preserve, cherish, or show off the riches of human knowledge. For the first time, an internationally renowned photographer takes the reader on a journey to more than 20 of the most historic of these magical places, all architectural treasures. From the dramatic, baroque Library of the Institute of France in Paris, to the splendid Vatican Library in Rome; from the majestic Royal Library in El Escorial, Spain, to the famed New York Public Library. Indeed, some of the most exquisite libraries of the Western world.

Guillaume de Laubier is one of France's foremost photographers of interior design. He has undertaken projects all over the world for magazines such as Elle Décoration, Architectural Digest, and Madame Figaro. Jacques Bosser, journalist and translator, has written for Architectural Digest and Connaissance des Arts as well as contributing to Le Dictionnaire international des arts appliqués et du design and Le Dictionnaire international du bijou. James H. Billington has been the Librarian of Congress in the United States for more than 15 years. www.amazon.co.uk

An egg for Easter

Drawing of the Imperial Rosebud Egg (Fabergé, 1895). A gift from Czar Nicolas II to Alexandra in 1895. Rows of diamonds edged with white enamel on gold divide the egg into panels, set on a background of translucent, wave patterned, red enamel. The egg is known as the Rosebud egg, because it contained an enamel rosebud as a suprise.

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Happy Easter to all! See you next week...

Hotel Cipriani: A Venetian Affair

Even if Carnival came to its end, there is always a good excuse to visit Venice. The city has always been a centre for architecture, the fine arts and the world's most exquisite crafts. The history of La Serenissima is a story best told by the lives of two of its' most well known citizens; Marco Polo, the merchant and explorer of the 13th century; and Giacomo Casanova, the seducer and lover of 18th century Venice. One used his mastery to explore the world and trade in the most precious goods, thus creating a great wealth. Whilst the other one worshipped all that is beautiful and romantic. Together, these two forces of industry and art have over many centuries created a truly magical city.

Having found the perfect hotel guarantees your pleasant and beautiful stay in Venice. It was in 1956 when Giuseppe Cipriani presented his project for a new hotel to his partners. His idea was to build a small palazzo very near to St. Mark Square, but at the same time distant enough to maintain privacy. The result was an amazing palazzo in the Giudecca island in Venice. Created to provide the very best of Venetian hospitality, Hotel Cipriani incorporates the most luxurious accommodation, the best service and the finest cuisine in an atmosphere of calm and seclusion.

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Hotel Cipriani offers a wide choice of suites and rooms, with views of the gardens, the lagoon, and St. Mark's Square. Palazzo Vendramin and the connecting Palazzetto are two 15th century buildings linked to the Hotel Cipriani. For the guests of these two palazzi, a private butler service is available.

The Hotel operates a free boat service to and from its private landing stage at St. Mark Square. Furthermore, the harbour of the hotel has docking facilities for yachts and boats up to 70 feet. In the hotel you can also find the Casanova Beauty & Wellness Centre where you can try the world’s most exclusive beauty treatments. The beauty centre is named after the legendary lover who once held clandestine trysts in the gardens of the Hotel Cipriani .

Cipriani-style food is simple, fresh and perfectly prepared: pasta and pastries are made in the hotel daily, as well as the breakfast croissants. Indeed a cuisine that meets international standards of excellence. The chef, Renato Piccolotto works in the hotel since 1970. His philosophy is to offer his guests authentic Venetian dishes in which the flavour of the ingredients is given pride of place. I do recommend the Ravioli filled with Eggplant and Mozzarella with Tomato and Fresh Oregano Sauce, and the Roast Rack of Lamb in a Crust of Herbs.

Julia Roberts, Martin Scorsese, Uma Thurman, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, and Donatella Versace are some of the people that stayed in the Hotel Cipriani.

Hotel Cipriani is an experience that few should miss. Just few hotels can match the splendour of this hotel.

© Orient-Express Hotels

Rolls Royce: Phantom Drophead Coupe

The maximum beauty of a convertible car is now a reality. The Phantom Drophead Coupe of Rolls Royce combines the latest light-weight engineering technology with the finest hand-crafted materials. Beautifully proportioned, this coupe is more dynamic than ever and it offers incredible levels of comfort.

Just 200 Dropheads will leave the factory each year. Each car is individually built by highly skilled craftsmen (100 craftsmen working on wood alone). It reaches 96,5 km/h in less than 5,7 seconds, and it can reach a maximum velocity of 240 km/h.

The inspiration for this car came from classic Riva powerboats and J-Class yachts. The resulting 100EX design study is elegance combined with leather, teak and aluminium. No other car can match the beauty and elegance of this Rolls.

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As Ian Cameron, design director of Rolls-Royce, said: ‘Someone once said that if we deliver a true Rolls-Royce, it ought to make time stand still. Time is a very, very important factor. It takes time to do anything competently, so you can't rush the design or the build of a Rolls-Royce. I think you must produce a quality that is timeless, and you should have the time of your life when you buy one of these cars. Typically, the customer who buys a Rolls-Royce is celebrating something. They're fulfilling a dream, an aspiration, or making a statement about success. If you don't achieve a sense of occasion with these cars, then you've failed. Also, because Rolls-Royce owners typically have a four, five or six-car garage, they're not buying compromise. They want a specific car for a specific use. To achieve that, you've got to be very clear with your goals’.

www.rolls-royce.com

Principe di Savoia: La Dolce Vita a Milano

Some days after Milano Fashion Week. A great occasion for talking about a great hotel in Milano, the Hotel Principe di Savoia. Three months ago I had to go to Milan for the presentation of a new line a brand was going to launch. I decited to stay in Principe di Savoia, as it was very near the place I had to go for my work. Member of The Leading Hotels of the World, right in the Piazza della Repubblica, the largest plazza of the city, this hotel indeed satisfied my expectations. With a very high standard of services and facilities, you will not leave this hotel unsatisfied. Since 1927 when the hotel opened its doors, until today, Principe di Savoia continues the tradition of being considered as one of the best and most luxurious hotels in Milan.

The hotel offers a variety of choices for dining-in experiences. Breakfast as well as afternoon tea and an à la carte menu are available all day at the Lobby Lounge. Indeed a very elegant café for some pastries and traditional English tea, as well as à la carte all-day dining. It has wonderful hand painted decorations, and windown overlooking the beautiful garden.

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You can also have a coffee or a drink at the Giardino d'Inverno, an elegant and exclusive place in the hotel. Decorated in a baroque style, with coloured glass dome ceiling, during the evening il Giardino becomes a relaxing piano bar.

The hotel has very good italian restaurant, the Acanto. One of the nights we stayed in, we had dinner there. And we really loved the food and the atmosphere the restaurant offers. As the decoration is concerned, the room is lighted by some amazing Murano chandeliers. The director of the restaurant explained that they were designed by Celeste Dell'Anna exclusively for the hotel, using as inspiration the great masters of the 1900s.

Fabrizio Cadei, the executive chef, has really prepared a fabulous menu. For starters I do recommend the duck fois gras terrine with pistachios, and the tagliolini pasta with langoustine ragout. The risottos are also fantastic. For the main course, I found the confit veal breast just delicious. For the fish eaters, there is an interesting selection of fish. For the dessert, as I love tiramisu, I ordered the trilogy of tiramisu…simply a dream! You just have to try it...it is all about a dining experience.
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The rooms and the suites are spacious and very elegantly decorated, mainly with silk or wooden panels, featuring a 19th century Lombard style. In the one I stayed, they bedroom and the sitting area were divided with curtained doors.

On the top floor of the hotel, you can enjoy Club 10 Fitness and Beauty Centre with its breathtaking view of the city. There is a really big pool area, gymnasium, and a beauty treatment area. After a long day, you will surely enjoy a thai massage. The best is the make up and hairdresser service. You are ready to go out in an amazing way.

Apart from the fully equiped business centre the hotel has, the tours and excursion services, it also offers complimentary service in a limousine to the centre of the city. This is indeed a very convenient service.

Some of the very famous clients of the hotel were Gabriele d’Annunzio, the Duke of Windsor, Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, Eva Peron, Aristotle Onassis, Aga Khan and Maria Callas. Now a days the Hotel Principi di Savoia is still a place where the international elite of business and leisure meet in an atmosphere of class and sophisticated style.

Let yourself go...Live your own Dolce Vita!