The £10,000 question February 16, 2012 Robin Swithinbank Calibre magazine In the one-watch game, IWC is never far from front of mind and nor, particularly, is the blue Portuguese Automatic (£9,250). Powered by an in-house movement with a seven-day power reserve, it’s understated, stylish but above the whims of flash-in-the-pan fashion, and cooler than an Eskimo’s freezer. Maria Doulton TheJewelleryEditor.com I [...]
News from the boutiques February 16, 2012 ● KENSINGTON boutique the Watch Gallery is one of the most esteemed watch shops in London, and it’s no longer one of a kind. Having been acquired by DM London, the independent retailer with its “Time2” shops in Westfield and Covent Garden and the luxury watch concession in Selfridges, it is now lending its name [...]
Personal Taste Time to go exploring for an old Explorer February 16, 2012 WHEN watch aficionados think of Rolex, it’s the brand’s steel sports models – its “tool” watches – that really excite them. No other brand has such a wide range of iconic watches so inexorably linked to achievement, adventure and celebrity. In the 1950s, Tenzeng Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Everest with Rolex Oysters an [...]
The new sophistication February 16, 2012 BEAUTY or brains? For a long time women’s watches have been focused on the former with lashings of diamonds distracting from what’s hidden inside – typically a battery-run movement. But now we can enjoy both and stop borrowing from the boys, because some of the world’s finest watch brands have realised that women want a [...]
The ultimate ladies’ watch February 16, 2012 As a name that’s synonymous with the most luxurious, covetable and collectable of timepieces, you’d expect Patek Philippe to come up with something pretty special for women – and it has. The Ladies First, housed within an elegant 18ct rose gold case, is a self-winding minute repeater – a watch that beautifully chimes, at your [...]
How to avoid an Olympian hassle February 16, 2012 Q. How much can I expect to earn from letting out my property for the Olympics? A. The exact figure would need to be determined on evaluating the property and assessing both the local area and transport links to Olympic venues, however, due to the inflation of hotel prices (most charging up to three times [...]
LUCY MORTON, LETTINGS, WA ELLIS | OLYMPICS LETS ARE A BAD IDEA February 16, 2012 “We are now receiving enquiries in their droves about lettings over the Olympic period. Interestingly, 90 per cent of these enquiries are coming from landlords, which tells a story in itself. At the moment, there is very limited demand from tenants. “I offer a word of caution to investor landlords who are considering losing their [...]
RENT February 16, 2012 HEAD OF RENTALS AT AYLESFORD INTERNATIONAL Q. I’ve recently come into the market for a buy-to let property and noticed that there are quite a few new developments nearing completion in 2012 – should I look to purchase a flat in a modern development or consider a converted flat in an older building? A. Whether [...]
Scottish house price dip means good value buys February 16, 2012 SCOTLAND: land of hunting, shooting, fishing…and fortified castles set amid hundreds of acres selling for less than £3m, the cost of a mere flat in certain parts of London. As Jamie Macnab, of Savills’ Edinburgh office, says: “Someone said to me once that four square miles of London is worth more than the whole of [...]
FOCUS ON: PUTNEY February 16, 2012 Roehampton Lane Price: £2.5m Detached, gated six bedroom house with four bathrooms, three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, two cloakrooms, two balconies, an extensive garden, off-street parking and garage. Contact putney@hamptons-int.com Enmore Road Price: £2m Semi-detached family house with a wealth of period features, a west facing garden and gated off-street parking. Features five bedrooms, drawing [...]
