Select Extravagance

Rare Jewel

Christie's has partnered with Swiss jewellery brand De Grisogono for its auction on November 14 in Geneva. The highlight of The Art of de Grisogono, as it is called, is a unique asymmetrical necklace with a 163.41-carat, D colour, flawless, IIA type diamond suspended at the centre. On one side are 18 emerald-cut diamonds and two rows of pear-shaped emeralds, and on the right are cool white diamonds offering a striking contrast. Each gem is perfectly matched with its neighbour and the metal is darkened to create the chiaroscuro effect. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of De Grisogono, the founder's vision is to expand his fine jewellery collection by working exclusively with a handful of the largest flawless diamonds of perfect polish and symmetry.

First whiff

Fashion designer Gaurav Gupta has launched his first perfume, called Again, in collaboration with The Perfume Library. A unisex perfume, being touted as 90 per cent natural, it resonates with the designer's commitment to sustainability. The eau de parfum is a culmination of four years of conceptualising, and contains fragrances that are his personal favourites. The perfume is composed of ginger, cedar wood, earth note, forest note, absinthe note, oranges, oak moss, rum, thyme, pink pepper and vetiver. This limited edition perfume is available at retail outlets in India and Paris.

Flying Moments

The Breitling Chronoliner is inspired from the 1950s and 60s, an era when Breitling was the 'official supplier to worldwide aviation'. It houses a Manufacture Breitling Caliber B04 powering an ultra-convenient dual time zone system and is issued in a limited series of 100 pieces. Simply turning the crown is enough to set the main hours hand to local time, with automatic adjustment of the date both forward and backward. The Chronoliner is distinguished by its broad bezel in ultra-hard and scratch-proof high-tech ceramic featuring a star-shaped cut-out that facilitates handling. It is available in blue and bronze colours with matching bezel and dial, with the option of a steel or steel mesh bracelet, or a rubber strap picking up the steel mesh motif.

Cocooned In Luxury

The newly opened Wild Coast Tented Lodge on the edge of Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is the kind of haven where scenic beauty, adventure and luxury blend beautifully. The 36 vaulted tents called Cocoons and Urchins (twin-bedded tents for kids and young adults) are made of natural materials, perfectly complementing the landscape. The open-air bamboo-clad Ten Tuskers bar and Dining Pavilion - designed to mirror the boulders scattered across the golden beach - wrap around the resort's enormous free-form swimming pool. While a game drive to discover the secrets of Sri Lankan wildlife safari is just round the corner, the Sanctuary Spa, tucked away in a tranquil part of the resort is a getaway for soothing the frayed nerves. Guests can also partake in the daily-changing menus of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in the restaurant, as well as sundowners and picnics al fresco on the sand dunes, watching dusk settle over the Indian Ocean.

A New shade

Home furnishing brand Shades of India has launched its first standalone store outside Delhi, in Gurgaon. The interiors of the store at Golf Course Road are minimalist and contemporary. It has a herringbone pattern brick floor, bare walls and exposed ducts and piping. It comprises a range of apparels, fashion and home accessories, and home furnishings. Led by design director Mandeep Nagi and former British journalist David Housego, the brand combines contemporary design with the inspiring workmanship of traditional craft. The uniqueness of its style lies in the texturing of fabrics, the coordination and contrasting of colours, and the inventive, unexpected use of surface treatment. Founded almost two decades ago, Shades of India has a strong international presence and has sold to leading department stores around the world including Harrods and The Conran Shop in the UK, ABC and Gump's in the US, Le Bon Marche in Paris, and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.