< Previous40 C EO M I D D L E E A S T FEBRUA RY 202 1 PLEASURE | STYLE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. TO D ’S S S 2 1 SPRING STEPS INTO THE PICTURE WITH A WHISPER RATHER THAN A SHOUT, WITH CANDY-SWEET PASTELS THAT NOD TO THE FIRST FLOWERS OF THE SEASON 1. Pale yellow tote, Salvatore Ferragamo 2. Sunglasses, Stella McCartney 3. Crochet top with tassels, Brunello Cucinelli 4. Sneakers, Bally 5. Pale green leather belt, Salvatore Ferragamo 6. Floral top, Stella McCartney SOFT FOCUS 6.FEBRUA RY 202 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 41 WATCHES OMEGA’S SPEEDMASTER MOONWATCH COLLECTION IS ONE OF OMEGA’S MOST POPULAR AND THIS YEAR GETS AN IMPRESSIVE UPDATE COURTESY OF A MASTER CHRONOMETER-CERTIFIED ADDITION TO THE MOON AND BACK Inspired by the watch worn by Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon in 1969, the space-era legacy is resplendent in the latest design, which boasts the classic asymmetric case, step dial, double bevel caseback and dial design. A new Co-Axial movement has been specially developed for the watch and resists magnetic fi elds up to 15,000 gauss, rendering the watch certifi ed as a Master Chronometer, the highest standard of precision, performance and magnetic-resistance in the Swiss watch industry. Around the wrist, OMEGA has made yet more changes. An integrated, fully-brushed bracelet offers a fi ve–arched-links-per-row design. Similar to Moonwatch styles of the past, it includes a new clasp with a polished OMEGA logo on a satin- fi nished cover. Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA says, “When updating a sacred timepiece like the Speedmaster Moonwatch, every detail must be true to its original spirit. This chronograph is recognised the world over, so we’ve approached its design with the most sincere respect, while taking its movement to the next level.” Lunar-inspired. The Speedmaster remains one of Omega’s most sought-after models, an icon of watchmaking. “THE OMEGA SPEEDMASTER MOONWATCH MASTER CHRONOMETER COMES IN EIGHT CHOICES, INCLUDING VERSIONS IN STAINLESS STEEL, 18K SEDNA™ GOLD OR 18K CANOPUS GOLD™. ALL COME WITH OMEGA’S FULL 5-YEAR WARRANTY.”42 C EO M I D D L E E A S T FEBRUA RY 202 1 FOOD | LA SERREPLEASURE | STYLE ELEVATE YOUR ROMANCE GAME WITH PRECIOUS TRINKETS THAT REFLECT IMPECCABLE TASTE AND CONVEY PRECIOUS AFFECTION CODE RED CR IM SO N R OC KS P ER FU M E BY AMOU A G E M SO N R OC KS P ER FU M E 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 1. Sneakers, ACME Studios at Harvey Nichols Dubai, 2. Jessy heels by Bally, 3. Happy Hearts drop earrings by Chopard, 4. Matte fluid lip colour by Christian Louboutin, 5. Mickey x Keith Haring Kisslock bag by Coach 6. Red heels with details, Givenchy, 7. Love Chopard fragrance by Chopard 8. Drop earrings by MKS, 9. Necklace by MKS, 10. Ring by Fabergé 4.FEBRUA RY 202 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 43 PLEASURE | GIFTS Jaeger-LeCoultre releases a special limited edition burgundy Reverso to celebrate the 90th year of this classic model. Created in 1931, at the height of Art Deco period, the Reverso was made for polo players and has since become a timeless icon of style. Issued in signature burgundy the new limited edition Duoface pays tribute to a design that has remained popular for almost a century. The 47mm x 28.3mm x 10.3mm rectangular dial makes this watch wearable for both men and women, a contemporary symbol of enduring style. BREGUET REINE DE NAPLES COEUR The Reine de Naples watch features a romantic new element in the form of a hand that makes the shape of a changing heart as it makes its way around the elongated oval dial. BLANCPAIN VILLERET WOMEN DATE White mother-of-pearl dial offsets a crimson seconds hand and alligator leather strap in this highly limited, 28-piece exclusive released in time for Valentine’s Day. HARRY WINSTON MIDNIGHT VALENTINE’S DANCE Concentric circles echo the dizzying journey of love, with this playful and eye-catching precious watch from Harry Winston, who have declared 2021 their Year of Love. With optimism like that, it surely follows that this diamond- encircled watch with its 72-hour power reserve ought to bestow nothing but good vibes upon the giver, courtesy of delighted appreciation from the recipient. A DESIGN ICON THAT INSPIRES EMOTION AND ATTRACTION IN EQUAL MEASURE, THE JAEGER- LECOULTRE REVERSO IS A WATCH THAT WILL DELIGHT CONNOISSEURS OF FINE WATCHMAKING. Reverso psychology 44 C EO M I D D L E E A S T FEBRUA RY 202 1 The desire to spend hours fussing over details, easing one’s body into restrictive, stiff fabrics and peacocking about is as jarring to most style- minded gents in 2021 as it ever has been; the hunger for elaborate dressing diminished alongside our opportunities to do so, thanks to the effects of social distancing. While the hankering to get dressed up to the nines may resurface with the fi nal, welcome end to Covid-19, in the meantime, artisan-infl uenced designer Brunello Cucinelli has got it spot-on, with a collection that’s as reassuringly easy and pleasurable to wear as one’s weekend athleisurewear –with the addition of the unmistakable Italian style factor. The collection is all about unique and distinctive elements, capable of lending a sophisticated and innovative fl air to any look, always striking the perfect balance between casual elegance and new inspirations. A palette of warm beiges, greys and blues is dotted with fresh summer hues while the use of classical and contemporary fabrics and features makes the collection feel both timeless yet relevant. brunellocucinelli.com BRUNELLO CUCINELLI’S NEW SPRINGTIME COLLECTION EVOKES A, AIR OF PEACEFULNESS AND RELAXATION, CREATED BY THE FINE HARMONY BETWEEN NEUTRAL TONES BRUNELLO CUCINELLI Leisure and pleasure. The unmistakable feeling of luxury fabric and a relaxed style defi nes Brunello Cucinelli’s new collection. Softly spoken. A subtle range of colours permeates the spring collection. PLEASURE | STYLEF E B R UA RY 2 0 2 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 45 Technical outdoorsy materials align with soft cottons and wool. It’s just all so... cosy. “This collection echoes what we are all facing, but it also is a way of looking beyond it. My fi rst idea when I began working on this was to choose very dark colours, false blacks; and then, little by little, colour and light had their say, too,” says Véronique Nichanian, the woman behind Hermès’ menswear collections. THE FINEST FABRICS, HIGH-LUXURY HERITAGE AND A FOCUS ON COMFORT IS THE SORT OF HUG WE ALL NEED IN 2021. THANK YOU, HERMÈS WINTER FEELS Sneakers, pimped. Ultra-luxe leisurewear permeates the aesthetic at Hermès. PLEASURE | STYLE Luxury house Hermès brings an outdoorsy aesthetic to its winter collection that sees a Scandi sense of ‘hygge’ cosy up to the tenets of luxury for which the house is known. A byword for beautifully designed elegance that seduces with a whisper rather than a shout, Hermès in winter brings warm parkas, pullovers and casual trousers, juxtaposed with lavish deerskin, calfskin, wool, cashmere and silk. COVER STORY | MONTHER DARWISH 46 C EO M I D D L E E A S T FEBRUA RY 202 1 A STRONG FOUNDATION IN ITS BRAND IDENTITY SAW LUXURY JEWELLERY AND WATCH BRAND BULGARI DEFY THE ODDS WITH STRONGER THAN EXPECTED SALES DURING 2020. AS THE COMPANY INTRODUCES ITS 2021 NOVELTIES, MANAGING DIRECTOR ANTOINE PIN TELLS CEO MIDDLE EAST WHY STRONG VALUES AND PRINCIPLES COME INTO THEIR OWN WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH BY JOLA CHUDY ulgari defied the odds and has done better than others in the luxury segment. What do you attribute to its success in such a tough time? Organisations and people have been affected in all sorts of ways, in purchas- ing and consuming… but we did not necessarily see a difference in previous years despite the lockdowns; for me it is interesting to realise that people adapt and are agile in so many ways. I see two different things: there is a positive mind- set about the values communicated by the brand. It is a feel-good brand, and at some point in time its capacity to convey a positive message has an impact on customers. This is strong, but not obvi- ous, and it is ongoing through our events, our communication, the enthusiasm of our leadership and ambassadors. These positive values are extremely important in these kind of moments. In moments of tension, you have to ask yourself what your mission and purpose is. You have to challenge yourself to ask what you can give. In a moment of crisis, you stop to deeply question this, you go right back to the basics and you get to the kernel. For Bulgari, this is the idea of enjoyable items, of celebrating life and natural beauty, of the joy of manufacturing and creating. Inside the company, our watch- makers and gemologists, our workshop heads, every one of them is so passionate and happy about their work, and this joy and dedication to every piece they are working on, is as important. How important is it to safeguard the right corporate environment for Bulgari to consistently deliver creative, bold products and how is this implemented? Good leaders lead by example and are the first to be entrepreneurial and creative and agile. This agility in our company is one of the reasons why we passed through the crisis reasonably well. Our CEO Jean-Christophe Babin is a leader who came out of our comfort zone immedi- ately, suggesting we produce sanitising products for hospitals immediately, to support medical research for vaccines and the fight against viruses. You can see an extreme level of energy dedicated to fighting this major disruption in our lives. We don’t imagine that we are a signifi- cant actor within the world of CSR, but we still have a role to play and we played it very quickly and with all our hearts. What are some of the practical ways that Bulgari has moved to adapt its working environment in respect of Covid-19 precautions? People protection, expressed in several ways. For example, it is forbidden to enter our three production facilities unless B BULGARI’S BOLD MOVE PLEASURE | BULGARIFEBRUA RY 202 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 47 watch for a product of this category and beautifully elegant, yet with these two functions. Since r is a year of the chrono- graph, we’ve also produced an Octo Fin- issimo Chronograph in titanium. We first introduced a titanium chronograph two years ago, and this year introduce a black opaline dial with a black rubber strap, a sportier look. One of Bulgari’s most notable achieve- ments is in creating ultra-thin watches. In 2017 Bulgari created the world’s thin- nest automatic movement at 5.15mm, with its Octo Finissimo Automatic and then in 2018 unveiled a watch with two ultrathin world records, for thinnest tourbillon watch and thinnest automatic watch at 3.95mm. What does mastery in this area mean for the brand? We spent a lot of time over the past few years creating world records in ultra-thin watches, we have established Octo Finis- simo as an icon, and we have pushed our expertise in micro-mechanisms. It is super important for us. With micro-mechanics, this quest for perfection there is a quest for maximum freedom in our studio. With a smaller movement, you have more el- egance on a man’s wrist, more creativity in the shape and size of products for women. Our mastery in thin watches for women was expressed through the women’s Ser- penti Tourbillon, which was the smallest movement in the world for women. you work there. We respect extremely strictly sanitary guidelines. Anyone who comes into contact with anyone sick has to quarantine for two weeks and take a Covid-19 test. We have systematic poli- cies in place and fingers crossed have had no cluster cases in the office aside from one time because of one lunch. The second level of protection is the moral one, which we underestimate, but we have tried to convey that if there is a problem we are here to listen, or if they are lonely because of the reduced social interaction. The third level of protection is job protection. We have managed to have no headcount reduction. Our direc- tors have worked extraordinarily hard on added value, adjusting capacity, reallocat- ing functions. After a year, fingers crossed, I am happy we have managed to achieve this while maintaining our activity. Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo has, time and again, asserted the company’s serious watchmaking credentials. This year, three new models join the family. What do they bring to the next chapter of this highly successful model? This year there are three additions to the Octo Finissimo family, the Octo Finis- simo S in a new monochrome style, the Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT, and the Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Titanium with a new dial and rub- ber strap. The studio liked the idea of a monochromatic version, the challenge was to make this very slick, minimal- ist design, but with a readable dial. Our dial is silvered steel and exceptionally readable; respecting the monochromatic approach but respecting the basic func- tion of a watch which is to read the time! It’s very much a style we like with our watches. We extended the range of Octo S with a Chronograph in steel, a beauti- ful blue colour on the dial. The watch is 100 metres resistant and has a screw-in crown and GMT function as well as being just 8.75 mm thick. This is a very thin Style and substance The Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Titanium with a new dial and rubber strap; (far right) the Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon WATCHES “THERE IS A POSITIVE MIND-SET ABOUT THE VALUES COMMUNICATED BY THE BRAND. IT IS A FEEL-GOOD BRAND” Finest craftsmanship Bulgari’s ladies pieces this year express the work of expert jewellers48 C EO M I D D L E E A S T FEBRUA RY 202 1 PLEASURE | WALDORF ASTORIA RAK R as Al Khaimah’s most luxurious beach resort is a byword for upscale weekend escapism, not least because the sophisticated property offers the emirate’s most elegant setting in which to uncoil, breathe deeply and settle into elegant repose. LOVE IS IN THE AIR Five stars This month, Waldorf Astoria RAK is offering its visitors a unique way to delight their loved one WALDORF ASTORIA RAS AL KHAIMAH OFFERS ITS VISITORS AN UNFORGETTABLE WAY TO SEND A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THEIR LOVED ONE THIS FEBRUARY This February, the property, which boasts 350 metres of private beachfront, 10 restaurants and bars, two temperature controlled pools including an adults-only one, is offering its visitors a unique way to delight their loved one while at the property. With a package that includes a meal for two and a bouquet of fl owers, a further surprise awaits courtesy of a personalised message emblazoned on a fl ag fl own across the sky courtesty of a powered parachute, during an air show organised by the property just for its guests. The air show will take place throughout the month (except on February 14th itself) with themed set menus featuring Asian, Middle Eastern, seafood or American cuisine included in the package that costs from AED2,800 and also includes a glass of bubbly. THE SOPHISTICATED PROPERTY OFFERS ONE OF RAK’S MOST ELEGANT SETTINGSFEBRUA RY 202 1 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 49 AIZA A one-stop destination for Greek- Mediterranean food, fun and drinks, complemented by warm and welcoming Greek hospitality, inspired by the Cyclades Islands, AIZA is now open at The Pointe’s East Marina, every day, from 6pm to 2am. aizarestaurant.com What better way to treat your other half than with bubbles and a one-off fi ve-course feast at this high-rise eatery with the best views in town. Menu highlights include burrata, spicy Ahi Tuna Tartare, calamari and a play on Canadian poutine with lobster. Couples can dive into Southern Fried Chicken and seabass or the best steak in town from Weslodge’s famous hardwood & charcoal grill (the biggest in the city), with sides such as triple-cooked chips and mac & cheese to make even the most cynical diner weak at the knees. For the fi nale, “Falling in Love”is a dessert that lives up to its name with layers of vanilla diplomat cream, strawberry compote, Victoria sponge and almond crumble. Weslodge Valentine’s Day, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, AED850 with a bottle of Taittinger pink bubbles. For reservations call +971 4 560 1700 CLAP Dubai opens its doors to Clap, the largest rooftop venue in DIFC. The à la carte Japanese menu ranges from smaller plates, such as black cod bites, to mains like Japanese wagyu beef stone bowl, but if you’d prefer a full dining experience, you can opt for the Omakase menu, the Japanese translation being ‘I leave it up to you’. Among the 141 dishes on the huge menu, some of the most popular include the Salmon ‘Clap Cloud’ - a salmon tartare with spicy miso and poppadum, yellowtail sashimi with tosazu dressing and wagyu beef and foie gras gyoza. A round of applause. claprestaurant.com HIGH-RISE AND HEARTY THERE’S NOTHING COLD ABOUT THE WINTRY VIBES AT WESLODGE, WHERE FEBRUARY SEES AN EXTRA HELPING OF CULINARY FLAIR Love in an elevator. Ride up to the 68th floor for sweeping city views and decadent dining. Next >