In our weekly series, we bring you the latest in luxury news around the world. This week’s highlights: Seán McGirr’s first Alexander McQueen campaign, Grand Seiko’s sakura hour, and the Dior Chiffre Rouge collection
The Macallan’s Home Collection, River Spey
Since its founder Alexander Reid first established The Macallan 200 years ago, the distillery has been the proud custodian of a 2.4-kilometre stretch of the River Spey, which flows gently through the estate. An enduring source of water and inspiration, this river is also the heart of the second edition of The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey. Aged in European and American oak sherry casks, and rich in raisin, treacle sponge and butterscotch, this limited annual release comes in the shade of raw umber, a natural pigment artists use to capture the depth of nature. Which is what photorealist Michelle Lucking did for this collection—a watercolour painting of the River Spey in its element, and autumnal hues reflected in the natural colour of The Macallan’s whiskies. Yours for S$752, available exclusively on The Macallan E-Boutique.
Seán McGirr’s first Alexander McQueen campaign
Seán McGirr, who recently succeeded Sarah Burton as Alexander McQueen’s creative director, just revealed a first look of his upcoming debut collection. Embracing the brand’s past to inform the present and future, the campaign celebrates Alexander McQueen’s essence in nature, with a Celtic ambience and noble strength. It features icons and friends of the house, Debra Shaw and Frankie Rayder, wearing chrome masks in the shape of a skull, a long-time motif of McQueen, and its original logo, redrawn for this new era. The collection will debut in Paris on 2 March 2024.
Charlotte Tilbury becomes an official partner of the F1 Academy
Beauty empire Charlotte Tilbury will become the first female-founded beauty brand to partner with the F1 Academy, its first-ever global sports sponsorship. Founded on a shared purpose to empower and inspire confidence, Charlotte Tilbury will use its global platform to shine the spotlight on the academy’s drivers, their achievements and the opportunities available to women in motorsport, on and off the track.
“At F1 Academy, we want young women and girls to feel confident to chase their dreams, no matter the odds. We are on a mission to transform access to our sport, celebrate trailblazing female pioneers in our industry, and inspire a new generation of young women to pursue a career in motorsport,” says Susie Wolff MBE, the managing director of F1 Academy.
Grand Seiko’s sakura hour
Grand Seiko just launched two 9R Spring Drive limited-edition watches, two Hi-Beat 3600 references inspired by cherry blossoms—the SBGH341 Sakura-Kakushi and SBGH343 Sakura-Wakaba. Cased in titanium with a sapphire crystal open caseback, both watches are fitted with Grand Seiko’s signature textured dials with a cherry blossom-inspired pattern. The Sakura-Kakushi’s pale pink dial captures the beauty of snow-caked cherry blossoms, while the Sakura-Wakaba’s light green dial brings to mind the surrounding greenery. Yours for US$7,300, available at all Grand Seiko boutiques and authorised retailers this 1 March 2024.
Saint Laurent’s Parisian bookstore
The next time you’re in Paris, drop by Saint Laurent Babylone, where art, music, fashion and culture convene. Built on 9 Rue de Grenelle through the eyes of Saint Laurent’s creative director, Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent Babylone mirrors the interior of the Maison’s new Paris flagship, with sleek marble for tables and raw rock for shelves and walls. Visitors may flip through the records and magazines, hand-selected by Vaccarello, and the rare books that sit on an archival Pierre Jeanneret desk.
The Dior Chiffre Rouge collection, back after 20 years
The Dior Chiffre Rouge collection’s monochromatic mood, released 20 years ago, is revisited with eight new watches, to be released through the year. Expect a technical upgrade with offbeat details like an ansymmetric case, and a range of finishes, such as a clean ultra-matte black, diamond-studded case, or a tourbillon dotted with red. Five models have been made available starting this month, and will be followed by one in July 2024 and the last two in October 2024.
In case you missed it:
Feathered inspirations lift Chaumet’s new high jewellery creations
The Un Air de Chaumet high jewellery collection soars with its evocative expressions of birds in flight.
This 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spider is set to fetch US$3 million at auction
Set for auction, this Ferrari Daytona Spider celebrates a storied past.
Emi Eu: Leading Southeast Asian art through uncertainty
Executive director of STPI, a contemporary art space in Singapore, Emi Eu, on leading Southeast Asian art through uncertainty.
