Give your diet a break. Go sample these delectable desserts from across the country this Diwali.Compiled by Ankita Ramgopal.Click Here To View Some Desserts From Across The Country. (This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 19-11-2012)
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A 76-carat diamond billed as one of the most famous in the world is expected to fetch well over $15 million when it hits the auction block in November, Christie's said on Friday. The colossal gem, which Christie's said was the finest and largest perfect Golconda diamond ever to appear at auction, is perfect in colour and internally flawless. "The legendary Golconda mines in India produced some of the world's most famous diamonds, including the Dresden green, the blue Hope, and the Koh-i-Noor (in the Royal Collection at the Tower of London)," Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry for Christie's Americas and Switzerland, told Reuters. The diamond, named the Archduke Joseph Diamond for one of its former owners, is the highlight of Christie's sale of precious gems in Geneva in November, the auction house said in a statement. A Christie's spokeswoman said the owner of the diamond wanted to remain anonymous. Prices for rare, top quality diamonds have soared in recent years, although the expected price would not make the record books. Higher prices attained in recent years include the Wittelsbach Diamond - a 17th century cushion-shaped deep grayish-blue diamond, which sold for $24.3 million in 2008 at Christie's in London. Two years ago a 25-carat pink diamond soared to more than $46 million at Sotheby's in Geneva, while last December Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor's 33-carat diamond ring, given to her by husband Richard Burton, fetched $8.8 million, briefly setting a new per carat record for a colorless diamond of $240,000 that has already been eclipsed. "The Archduke Joseph Diamond created a sensation when Christie's Geneva offered it for sale the first time in November 1993, where it realised 9.7 million Swiss francs ($6.5 million) - the equivalent of $10.5 million today," noted François Curiel, international head of Christie's jewelry department. Given its history, Curiel said the diamond could easily top $15 million in the upcoming auction. The gem is named for one-time owner Archduke Joseph August Viktor Klemens Maria, son of Archduke Joseph Carl of Austria and Princess Clothilde of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Christie's said. Born in 1872, he was the great-grandson of Emperor Leopold II through his father, and the great-grandson of King Louis Philippe of France through his mother. South central India's Golconda diamond fields trace their roots to 400 B.C, and along with a mine in Borneo were the sole source of diamonds up until about 1725, when diamonds were discovered in Brazil. The diamond will be auctioned in Geneva on 13 November, following an exhibition tour in New York, Hong Kong and Geneva. (Reuters)
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Move over the TV, PSP and hanging out with friends. Internet-on-phone is the buzzword for the wired generation, shows a survey.Compiled by Ankita RamgopalClick Here To Download Graphic: Sajeev KumarapuramSource: Ericsson Consumer Insight Report, a survey conducted among 3,421 children and 1,000 parents across 16 cities(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 19-11-2012)
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On the way back to Delhi from Agra recently, I could not help but notice the billboards selling “luxury” in every possible way. The billboards promised a luxury that could be easily acquired by a large number of people. I could not help but wonder if comfort was being miscontrued for “luxury”. Luxury for me is a combination of exclusivity, customisation, comfort and desire. Real luxury is to own something unique and desirable which, at the same time, provides great pleasure to its owner. So, luxury is strongly linked to emotions; for this reason, design needs to inspire and indulge all of the five senses. In order to transform a house into a home, it should be adapted to lifestyle and tastesIn interior design, to transform an ordinary space into a luxurious one, one needs to constantly engage in researching materials, products, artists, techniques and designs which are exquisite, hard to find and beautiful. There must be an openness to new ideas, materials, techniques and challenges. It calls for developing a contemporary classic language which is at the same time timeless and fresh. Again, to transform a house into a home, it should be adapted to lifestyle, personal style and tastes. A "design", to be complete, needs the owner’s touch. A home should be an amalgamation of luxury and comfort reflecting timeless design. Every design project must be approached from the starting point that it is different and has specific requirements. The designer must work hand in hand with the client and incorporate his requirements. This approach will end up giving flexibility in relation to aesthetics and can be applied across projects -- from the classical to the very contemporary. My strategy in India is to cater to a small group of potential clients who truly understand the meaning of luxury and demand the very best. These people will be well travelled, cosmopolitan and extremely versed in luxury — no different to clients in London. With a finger on the luxury pulse to tend to their refined tastes. Casa Forma will acquaint itself with the project's environment and conduct research on locally available materials, suppliers and artisans so as to align the design scheme with the environment and surroundings of the property. Our Indian clients have a penchant for using Indian Modern and Contemporary art in their homes, requesting us to source objets d'art from auction houses such as Christie's since they have access to amazing paintings, whether European, American or Indian, as well as antiques and artefacts. For Contemporary Indian art we also tap the experimental art selection provided by Nature Morte Berlin and Delhi. There are many others who shop abroad for what they want in their homes. As Indians become more aware of true luxury, I can only see the market for interior design growing. The increasingly competitive real estate market will act as a fillip in the years to come.Faiza Seth is the CEO of UK-based interior design firm casa forma(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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I vividly remember my first Indian luxury buy — it was a Shahab Durazi red jacket in the late 80s. At a time when Shahab had the who’s who queueing up outside his boutique, getting that jacket was a real thrill. My all-time favourite remains a beautiful Herve Leger dress bought 25 years ago in St Honore, Paris. The 90s brought the ‘Fashion Weeks’ to India. They encouraged Indian fashion and saw the emergence of new designers. But they also led to a scramble for front row seats in order to be “recognised” and feel important; the rows determining some sort of pecking order for society women. Personally, I enjoyed the growth of Indian fashion and went browsing through the tents where the designers showed their creations. In fact, I bought a lot ‘backstage’ as I called it.It's all about the attitude and the way you carry off a look that defines luxury Luxury is an investment in lifestyle. But many people leave it to stylists to bring luxury into their lives. The difference is always noticed. You can walk into a space which is decorated in uber luxury and yet the host may have no concept of placing the pieces of the jigsaw correctly. You can make a high-street fashion label exude luxury, if worn with attitude and combined with an Hermes Birkin bag. Can you really cultivate style? I believe, you either have it or you don’t. Parmeshwar Godrej, in my opinion, represents luxury in India. She has an innate sense of style that most lack. Her parties, her home, even her persona embodies style, and she needs no help or guidance to get it right. Labels mean less to me than what suits my comfort and style. In fact, white T-shirts/shirts and blue jeans, slip-on beige heels and black dresses — for when I have no time to decide what to wear — are the things I can’t do without. As for brand loyalty, I have begun to enjoy different luxury brands according to the collections they put out. One season, Giuseppe Zanotti came out with a collection that tempted me to get one of each pair, the next season it was Brian Atwood. One season I loved the Roberto Cavalli long dresses and the next I fell for the Amanda Wakeley ones. All this is not to imply that Indian brands don’t do it for me; they most definitely do as long as their finish is up to the mark. Though couture in its Indian form may not be for evening western wear yet. As for Indian shoes, they still don’t make the cut. Shopping for me is about exclusivity and experience. My favourite high streets are 34th Street in New York, Melrose Place in Los Angeles and Champs Elysee in Paris. I love a good bargain, especially when I hit the sale on the very first day. But quality and the product being in good shape still mean more than getting a good price. Accessories complete the picture. To achieve the desired look, the bag and shoes are most important. To reiterate, it’s all about the attitude and the way you carry off a look that defines luxury and fashion. As for keeping up with the Joneses, who are the Joneses anyway?Queenie Singh is a fashionista(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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It cost Bhupinder Singh, maharaja of Patiala from 1900 to 1938, a princely sum of about Rs 10,000 to purchase his first plane in 1910, a Bleriot monoplane. The first Indian to own a private aircraft, archives show, he added two Farman biplanes from Europe to his fleet. Now, of course, Indian businessmen spend anywhere between $5 million and $80 million, or more, on their private jets. And, these ‘wings’ must have jaw-dropping interiors as well. David Velupillai, marketing director of France-based Airbus Corporate Jets, is fascinated by the level of customisation that clients ask for, especially those from South-east Asia. “A jacuzzi is impractical… we have dissuaded clients from having mini pools in their aircraft,” he says. But there is no dissuading them from buying the planes. Owner’s PrideIndustry insiders expect about 1,300 business jets to sell in India by 2030. Airbus, which sold its first corporate jet in India in 2005, expects to sell about five a year in Asia, says Velupillai. The Ambani brothers and Vijay Mallya, for instance, are proud owners of $83-million ACJ 319s. US-based Firestone Management Group’s first biannual report on the private jets market in India says that of the 130-plus business jets in India, 43 have been added in just the past three years. Gulfstream Aeropsace, which has been doing business in India since the mid-80s, sold 15 planes between 2001 and 2011, including the large cabin, ultra-long range G550, which is powered by the enhanced Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines. Brazil’s Embraer expects to make 30 deliveries in the next three years, and touch Rs 4,500 crore in sales by 2018. Karan Singh (left), MD, Business Aircraft Operators Associations, says private planes are used more for work and less for entertainment.David Velupillai, MD, Airbus Corporate Jets, says Indian billionaires want home comforts in the air(BW Pic (left) by Sanjay Sakaria) But the most popular choice till now has been Hawker Beechcraft, which has sold 35 jets in India (26 per cent of the current market). Even as the US-based company faces debt in its home country, Shawn W. Vick, CEO of its sales arm, told BW in an interview that emerging markets (like India) would be key to its turnaround. So it is not surprising that the company is focusing on countries such as India and China, and on Africa and South America. Cessna has sold 31 aircraft here, followed by 24 by Bombardier which is, in fact, confident of delivering 325 aircraft in the next eight years. While Dassault and Gulfstream have sold 17 and 15 jets, respectively, according to Firestone Management, Embraer, Boeing and Airbus have sold nine, three and two, respectively. ANYWHERE BETWEEN $5 MILLION AND $80 MILLION IS SPENT BY BUSINESSMEN ON PRIVATE JETSWorking In StyleAnd lest we think of these magnificent flying machines as billionaires’ toys, Karan Singh, managing director of Business Aircraft Operators Associations, clarifies that these are workhorses too. “A CEO who does 400 hours of corporate flying in a year is saving 28 productive days. The luxury is not in getting served champagne or caviar… it is in saving time, improving productivity, efficiency and security.” While luxury yachts and sports cars could be called ‘toys’, business aircraft mean, well, serious business. “About 90 per cent of the time, business aircraft are used only professionally; 10 per cent is for entertainment,” says Singh. Even if it is business, Indian billionaires sure know how to do it in style. “They demand the comfort of their homes in air,” says Velupillai, adding that it is not unusual to ask for a temple area to be especially created. Nick White, vice-president of Air Works India Engineering, a one-stop shop for aircraft maintenance work, says the business of ‘customising wings’ is the way forward. “…24-carat gold-plating of faucets, door knobs, seat-belt buckles; initials of the owner carved on furniture; handmade carpets; hand-stitched leather upholstery of the finest quality… it’s what they want.” Air Works will launch a 6,000-sq. ft workshop-cum-studio in Mumbai in November 2012, for dedicated bespoke services in business aviation. The state-of-the-art studio can expand to 13,000 sq. ft to give clients the look and feel of a real aircraft’s interiors. It has even tied up with luxury auto designer Dilip Chhabria to ensure world-class and extraordinary interiors. Airbus recently introduced a Phoenix cabin concept for its private aircraft, which can seat six people around a large circular table that can double up as an area for playing cards and board games. A karaoke area is also possible. The CEO of a Delhi-based private charter company, on condition of anonymity, said he recently received a call from a leading Delhi-based businessman’s wife to take a group of 50 people to Maldives for her husband’s 50th birthday bash. “It will cost Rs 80-90 lakh, but the price is no deterrent,” he says. Speaking of Indian billionaires’ penchant for luxury, Eric H. Roth, owner of International Jet Interiors, which specialises in customised high-end aircraft interiors, once recounted “a client from India who wanted crocodile leather trim throughout his aircraft, including for the centerpiece of the lavatory”. When Roth told him the price ($10,000 for the toilet seat alone), the client smiled and asked him to go right ahead. bweditor(at)abp(dot)in (This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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Enjoying wine is not something that requires an elaborate setting with expensive bottles in the background. Gratification from wine is an experience as personal as curling up with an old classic — discovering new angles to the same lines each time you revisit them. But it isn’t also enough to buy a few bottles impersonally and call it a wine cellar. Like a library, a wine cellar must reflect your tastes and preferences. It must be composed of memories rather than just references and popular brand names. The thing about a wine collection is that, unlike art, it has a shelf life. Also, it can be consumed and the real pleasure delivered will only live on in a memory. But wine is an article of luxury. It isn’t about the money one pumps into stacking up an enviable pile. It is the time invested in understanding each acquisition and the timing of when it should be consumed. Every house bought for the collection should tell a story: a visit on a vacation, an occasion, a celebration… anything that justifies its presence and marks its significance. Having a wine collection shouldn’t be a social ticket to fancy soirees. It should be your attempt to better define your personality. Here are a few basic rules to creating your own wine cellar.A wine collection shouldn’t be a ticket to fancy soirees, but to define yourself better1. Start by defining the space. If you don’t wish to have a pricey wine fridge outright, find a wooden cupboard in a quiet, and cool part of the house. Wine abhors light, heat, vibrations, and a dry atmosphere. Wood is a good insulator and if in a place like a basement or under a stairwell, temperature control is easier. Place a bowl of water to maintain humidity, and ensure that no machinery is placed nearby. The best options remain the specialised coolers that have near-silent compressors. Eurocave, Dometic and Transtherm make the classic styles (Rs 50,000-plus, depending on size). Recently I came across a patented cooling unit (Rs 2 lakh-plus) by Fisher & Paykel that looks like a drawer and can double up as a store. Else, construct a room, put in shelves, and a strong AC. 2. Next, define what you like. Eliminate wines which you haven’t enjoyed. Then set about buying the wines you liked from (A) different regions; (B) different producers; (C) different vintages and (D) at varying price points. Ideally, never buy one of a bottle, six is ideal but even two will do. 3. Your likings should comprise 70-80 per cent of your cellar. The rest should be an assortment: quirky wines that you stumbled across, or those that someone gifted you, and also wine regions or styles that you may not personally enjoy but keep, nevertheless, to come off as a good host. Another ratio to keep in mind is 65:35 — at any point 65 per cent of the wines should be destined for long-term holding whereas 35 per cent should be ready to consume. 4. Label the bottles so that you know when you bought them and where. Any other information acquired is also good to mention. Professionals like to include the medals won or points scored but it is more pertinent to mention where and when you bought it and what you liked about it then. 5. Vintages: Pay attention to them especially if you are in the market for a cellar with wines worthy of ageing. Good vintages produce wines that can age longer than, say a year when rainfall was hard or scarce, or the sun was extreme or feeble. The rule says that in a bad vintage buy wines from prestigious houses whereas in a good vintage, buy wines from just about anybody decently reputed. Bordeaux saw a bad run between 1991 and 1994 but years like ’82, ’86, ’95, ’05, and the recent ’08, are absolute heirloom stuff. 6. Finally, put all this on a spreadsheet and keep stock tabs. Manage it like precious inventory and remember to keep rotating the stock. The question of what to buy may still nag away. Here is an attempt to address those issues. 1. Wines from France can sometimes be hard to decipher but they certainly help up the connoisseur quotient. If not too sure, get Italian wines, or even Spanish wines, which can be easier to explain on the palate. A good bottle would set one back upwards of 50 euros in a duty-free setting. Bordeaux top growths (1 to 5), Burgundy Grand and Premier Cru, Italian appellations of Amarone, Barolo, Brunello and Chianti, Spanish Rioja, and Portuguese Douro wines can certainly feature as stars. 2. The New World (i.e., everything outside of Europe) makes more attractive wine styles; stuff which speaks to you straightaway. Australia tops this list, followed by Chile and Argentina. Henschke, D’arenberg, Penfold’s, Cloonakilla, Montes, Miguel Torres, Catena Zapata, O. Fournier, Stag’s Leap, Bond and Robert Mondavi are but a few names to point you in the right direction. 3. Other countries make fantastic wines too — from South Africa to Moldova — and it would be unfair to discriminate against them. Look out for Saperavi and Rkatsiteli grapes from Georgia. Finally, invest in some glassware. You will need stemware that isn’t just aesthetically appealing but also accentuates the nuanced aromas of the wine it holds. Riedel is popular but Zweisel is where I put my trust (both having glasses upwards of Rs 1,000 a stem). And on days I can afford it, Zalto (multiply by a factor of two). Czech brand Duende is also super chic and worthwhile. And definitely get decanters. So that was a brief on setting up your own little wine stash. From here on the exercise can only get more interesting. With each new bottle you will find your interests altering, tastes better defined and confusions more intense and deep. But then that is exactly why one enjoys wine. Magandeep Singh is India’s first French-qualified sommelier and wine taster(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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Fifth Avenue, New YorkA few kilometres from Wall Street lies the last word in luxury shopping, especially between 49th and 59th streets. Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Macy’s and Tiffany are all known for their superlative selling services. The high-end designer shops flanking the avenue include Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman, Gucci, Versace, Dior and Steuben. And don’t miss the Apple Store, the most-photographed location in New York City, and FAO Schwartz, the world’s largest toy store. Celeb quotient: Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary Blige and Nicole Richie spotted at Bergdorf Goodman Avenue Montaigne, ParisEver since Christian Dior opened his first couture house in 1946, Avenue Montaigne has hosted the crème de la crème when it comes to high fashion. It is here that you get confirmation (if you had doubts) that the French capital really is the epicentre of sophistication and style. Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Chloé are all here along with some uber luxury hotels. Celeb quotient: Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore and Jacques Chirac frequent shoppers at Christian Dior (Bloomberg) Rodeo Drive, Beverly HillsHollywood shops here, to say the least. Perhaps the world’s glitziest and most glamorous shopping area, this is where the rich and the famous get their haute couture creations to show off on various red carpets. Star-studded sightings could happen anywhere from elegant restaurants to extravagant salons to exclusive shops such as Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Tiffany and Chanel. Celeb quotient: Almost everyone you know. Nicole Kidman, Diane Keaton, Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, the Kardashian sisters... Via Montenapoleone, MilanThis fashionista paradise is the main street of a fabulous shopping neighbourhood in one of the world’s greatest style cities. All of the top Italian (and non-Italian) designers are here, together with less-exclusive ready-to-wear and jewellery shops. The most exclusive Italian shoemakers have their boutiques on this street. Celeb quotient: Britney Spears and JLo seen at Pianegonda (Bloomberg)Bond Street, London Extending from Picadilly to Oxford Street, this is Europe’s busiest boulevard. It has been a fashion epicentre for wealthy Londoners since the 18th century; today it is a much-loved destination for celebrities, socialites and the international jet set. Everyone from Asprey to Zegna is here, along with auction houses Phillips and Sotheby’s. A short hop away is the equally posh Sloane Street. Celeb quotient: Patsy Kensit and Helena Christensen at Ralph Lauren Bahnhofstrasse, ZurichThe tree-lined avenue is a perfect place for well-heeled bankers and perfectly-coiffed ladies to shop for designer clothing, and gold watches. It is a watch lover’s haven and has a museum with antique timepieces. Stretching just over a kilometre, the pedestrian-friendly street ends with the famous luxury confectionary, the Confiserie Sprungli. Celeb quotient: Boris Becker at IWC Ginza, Tokyo: Not exactly a street, but an entire district comprising eight blocks, Ginza has been in existence since the Edo period. It is known for its big upscale department stores such as Wako, Matsuzakaya, Matsuya and Mitsukoshi, luxury retailers, and elaborate window displays. Sony has a flagship electronic showroom here. Celeb quotient: Jenson Button at Chuo Dori; Lady Gaga at Louis Vuitton Gran Via, Madrid: Gran Vía, or Great Way, is an ornate and upscale shopping destination in the Spanish capital. Best known for the 20th century architecture that creates landmarks along its way, this bustling street is best enjoyed at night. And be sure to look skyward — many of the buildings are at their best on the roof. Don’t miss Zara, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius. Celeb quotient: Catherine Zeta Jones at Museo Chicote (This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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