Editor’s Picks: Backgammon Board, Ferrari SP51 and ‘Hyperscooter’
From a pair of custom kicks from Duke + Dexter to the latest leather-bound headphones from Montblanc, this is what we want this week…
Words: Jonathan Wells
This week, our Editor’s Picks are a riot of vivid, captivating colour. From some bold, one-of-a-kind kicks from Duke + Dexter to a mesmerising new backgammon board from Alexandra Llewellyn, we’ve got more vibrant, varied shades than you can shake a bottle of Bollinger at. (We’ve even found a jazzy new jeroboam of the famed champagne for good flute-filling measure).
Add to that a bright neon ‘hyperscooter’ and a contrast-striped supercar, and this is looking like our most eye-catching Editor’s Picks yet…
Sound them out: Montblanc ‘MB 01’ Headphones
They almost don’t look like headphones. Upholstered in burnished brown leather and detailed with bold gold, Montblanc’s latest over-ear launch is the brand’s most decadently-designed pair yet. Fitted with active noise cancellation, a proximity sensor and memory foam padding on the ear cushions and headband, they’re a seriously polished proposition.
If the shoe fits: Duke + Dexter ‘1OF1’ Custom Sneakers
While the British brand has mastered a whole shoebox of styles — from hiking boots to boat shoes — these one-of-a-kind kicks remain Duke + Dexter’s most opulent offering. Created by an in-house artist, a consultation will see you choose a style of sneaker, and opt for the patterns, colours and initials you want emblazoned on them. Mere weeks later, you’ll be lacing them up.
Making faces: ‘Usain Bolt’ by Andy Gotts
Available to purchase now, Mayfair’s Maddox Gallery has just launched an exhibition in collaboration with Soccer Aid and UNICEF. Titled ‘Faces of Soccer Aid by Andy Gotts MBE’, the collection includes artists and athletes from Sir Mo Farah to Idris Elba. Our favourite? This spontaneously-shot series, in Gotts’ signature style, of Olympic champion Usain Bolt.
Keeping time: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon
The striking Swiss watchmaker’s ‘Code 11.59’ collection isn’t normally known for its restraint. Usually brimming with subdials and bursting with colour, this latest stripped-back model bucks the trend. Stylish and two-toned, the black onyx dial of the tourbillon features 18-carat pink gold hands and is encircled by a white gold bezel.
Spin your wheels: Dragonfly ‘X’ Hyperscooter
This isn’t your usual e-scooter. Built from aerospace-grade aluminium, carbon fibre composites and polymers developed for the automotive industry, this angular, all-terrain ‘Hyperscooter’ has a limited top speed of 25mph and a range of 25 miles. Available in a range of liveries, the 3.5-inch digital dash will keep you on track whether you’re heading cross-country or you’re off on your commute.
Playing with fire: Trudon ‘Mary’ Candle
Manufactured by Trudon’s master artisans in Normandy, the most classic of this French fragrance house’s scents has been captured in candle form. Inspired by the phantasmagoria and fantasy of Mary Shelley’s gothic greats, expect a thrilling potion of cedar, soft amber and tobacco, with a touch of ‘Gaiac’ — a tree that yields the ‘wood of life’. Frankenstein, surely, would approve.
Seeing red: Ferrari SP51 Supercar
The latest one-off launch from Ferrari, this ‘SP51’ is a convertible that raises both the roof and the carmaking bar. It’s a special be-striped edition of the 812 GTS and, whilst power specs haven’t been disclosed by the carmaker, the aerodynamic-boosting front and rear air intakes — as well as redesigned front, rear, and side splitters — signal serious speed.
Zip it: Mulberry ‘Clipper’ Holdall
The soft leather cornerstone of Mulberry’s luggage collection, the ‘Clipper’ holdall has long been many a man’s loyal and trusted travel companion. Featuring two canvas handles with leather detailing, a detachable shoulder strap and an interior lined in recycled ‘eco-cotton’, it’s as sustainable as it is sophisticated.
Bearing off: Alexandra Llewellyn ‘Vortex’ Backgammon Set
Hypnotic, handcrafted and available from Alexandra Llewellyn from next Monday, this ‘Vortex’ backgammon board features a multi-coloured design that radiates from the centre of its mesmerising marquetry box. Inside, expect the same warm brass playing pieces and extraordinary attention to detail that typify each and every one of the brand’s brilliant boards.
Raise a glass: Bollinger 007 60th Anniversary Champagne
One of the many limited edition launches to celebrate 60 years of cinematic Bond, Bollinger’s cork-popping call-back borrows the iconic coloured dots of Dr. No — and scatters them across a jeroboam of its celebrated ‘Millésimé 2007’. Limited to 25 pieces, it is presented in a red-lined, similarly-spotted case from Globe-Trotter.
Want more of the best gear money can buy? Check out last week’s Editor’s Picks…
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Further reading
Editor’s Picks: Grand Seiko watch, Crockett & Jones shoes, Littlemill whisky and My Style Bags watch case
A bigger splash: The best RIB brands on the market
