Louis Moinet Creates the Perfect Automaton for an Oilman

Louis Moinet’s Derrick Tourbillon, a limited edition of 12 watches ($280,000), seems expressly designed for a specific customer who owes his fortune to the blessings of petroleum. The automaton on the dial, a moving oil derrick, is driven by a simple tie rod and wheel attached to the movement. The straightforward mechanical nature of the derrick, however—which pumps four times in a minute—might easily find appreciation beyond the petrodollars set. Louis Moinet has anchored the frame of the derrick to the barre…

Vacheron Constantin Re-Dresses Its Sportiest Timepiece, with a Feminine Twist

Vacheron Constantin has reimagined its classic men’s Overseas sport watch in a sparkling women’s version set with more than 600 diamonds at a total weight of 2.5 carats. The water-resistant Overseas Lady Date Self-Winding watch ($56,200) has a self-winding movement in an 18-karat-gold case on a black alligator strap with a diamond-studded fastener. (www.vacheron-constantin.com)

The Maserati of Bicycles

A New York cycling aficionado has introduced to the United States a handmade Italian bicycle that fuses the classic urban roadster with a high-performance racing bike. “A bicycle can be the best tool for exploring a city,” says Brian Miller, the design director and exclusive U.S. importer of Iride bicycles—but only if you have the right tool for the job.
Miller had been riding and building bikes in New York City for a decade before he discovered Iride (it’s pronounced EE-ree-day—the root of the word iridescen…

Sneak Peek: Chinzombo, Zambia

A luxury camp situated on 60 acres of private land along the Luangwa River, Chinzombo has opened this month in Zambia. Designed to create an elegant and comfortable space with minimal impact on its natural environment, the building comprises recycled or recyclable materials and is outfitted with locally produced leather and floors of recycled composite timber. Chinzombo has six villas with roomy bedrooms and bathrooms and a private plunge pool and deck each; they are also equipped with Wi-Fi. Amenities include…

Hamptons Hideaways

For nearly 40 years, Long Island native Jeffrey Collé has been designing and building some of the most beautiful homes in the Hamptons. Just in time for summer, his latest project, David’s Lane, is nearing completion and joining two other Collé-designed estates that are also on the market. Beechnut Hill Farm, $24.995 million Located in the enclave of Water Mill, this 18,000-square-foot estate sits on 42 acres and includes a six-stable horse barn. The seven-bedroom home features shingle-style architecture; m…

Selling Points

When Fairmont Hotels & Resorts transformed El Corazon de Santa Fe into one of its Heritage Place properties last year, updates to the development, which had opened in 2006, included new decor, an expanded clubhouse, and large landscaped areas outdoors. The private residence club comprises 72 condominiums ranging from 1,150 square feet to 1,800 square feet. The 56 whole-ownership residences are sold out, but residences are still available for fractional ownership (one-eighth shares from $130,000).
This su…

Sneak Peek: Hotel Villa Rosa, Nairobi, Kenya

Hotel Villa Rosa will open next month in Nairobi, Kenya, on Chimoro Road in the heart of the city’s commercial center. Designed as a fusion of pan-African and European styles, the 200-room hotel features four restaurants; dining options are Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, and international café cuisine. Kempinski the Spa offers a variety of treatments inspired by the seasons, such as the Autumn Flame Scrub and the Summer Cool Wrap. The hotel has a rooftop lounge, a cigar bar, a lounge, and a fitness center. Ra…

Heesen Delivers Its Largest Yacht Yet

Earlier this month, after more than two years of construction and ahead of schedule, Heesen delivered the 213-foot yacht Galactica Star (formerly known as Project Omnia), the Dutch shipyard’s largest build to date. The concept for the vessel, which is the world’s first all-aluminum yacht with a fast-displacement hull, appeared in Robb Report’s January 2013 Private Preview feature. The four-deck yacht can reach a top speed of 28.8 knots—exceeding projections—and offers a range of 4,200 nautical miles. The vesse…

Manhattan’s New High-Tech Golf Club

Billed as a state-of-the-art urban country club, Golf & Body NYC is a groundbreaking facility that offers golf aficionados a year-round, all-weather place to play. “I used to have to relearn golf every April,” says Tom Schiff, the owner and CEO. That all-too-familiar frustration inspired him to develop the 25,000-square-foot venture. The former commodities broker had already opened a modest but well-equipped facility on Long Island, but he wanted to expand and improve in the city.
The result is seven high…

Wood Shop

Last month the Manhattan-based company Bespoke Global—which pairs its clients with accomplished designers and other highly skilled craftspeople for the development of custom furnishings—began working with four artists who specialize in wooden sporting goods. Their contributions have already expanded Bespoke Global’s line of leisure-oriented products, all of which can be customized. Jamey Rouch designs baseball bats ($350) that feature decorative lines made from individual blocks of wood. Masterworks’ Gypsy woo…