360 DEGREES Weblog

Alfred Hitchcock and his long standing association with horror and suspense genre of movies need not be documented again. His status has reached legendary heights, and perhaps that’s the reason Montblanc has decided to create 2 limited edition series of writing instruments for him. After special editions like the Diamond Solitaire, and the Max Reinhardt anniversary pens, it’s the Alfred Hitchcock special editions series that shall be for the pen collectors around the world, especially those who are the fans of the British movie maker, and his genre of thriller motion pictures.

Limited edition 3000
Based on the movies ‘Psycho’ and ‘Vertigo’, which were packed with intriguing scenes, these pens (pictured above) have been designed on the sidelines of these movies with various elements from them used on the pens’ bodies. Available in limited editions of 3000 each, there are options such as fountain pens, or even the Roller ball with marathon refill, both of which come with 925 sterling silver rings. These rings have been engraved with several hatch marks which relate to the above mentioned movies and their year of release. The black lacquered bodies of the instruments have been given a special pattern which is reminiscent of the most iconic scenes of the ‘Psycho’ and ‘Vertigo’ movies.

Limited Edition 80

Similar in some ways to the blood curling scenes of Hitchcock movies (Psycho murder scene), this limited edition series of 80 pens carry much of the shocking variable of movies of this kind from the master British moviemaker. The special red enamel of the writing instruments while bringing to light the images of these scenes, also carry along the delicate craftsmanship of the 750 white gold decoration around the pen’s rear end, studded with diamonds. The same is the case with the nib, central crown, and even the cap’s clip, which also have the film negative patterns etched on them. In some ways, it reminds of what Hitchcock thought to be his strongest weapon of creativity, and is also a fitting tribute to the legacy of the director.

Okeanos Aquascaping, a New York based high-end aquarium and pond design firm, recently earned a spot on the Robb Report’s list of most exclusive holiday gifts with their backyard pool-and-aquarium complex. Starting at $11 million (yes, you read it right) the water complex design features a 30-foot-by-60-foot freshwater swimming pool that shares two of its walls with a massive glass saltwater aquarium. Thus with something like this, swimmer will be able to virtually swim alongside angelfish, eels and black-tip reef sharks. The best part here is one can even view the aquarium from outside the pool for it stretches from the floor of the pool to 15 feet above its surface. The aquarium is reported to be the Okeanos’ largest, and the pool will be the first undertaking of its kind by the company’s new division, Okeanos Swim.

There’s a range of ways in which you can prepare your morning brew, from the powdered, instant bottom-of-the-rung stuff to the now much higher end: a coffee tap that integrates with your iDevices. Built directly into any kitchen counter top, Scanomat’s Top Brewer is a coffee lover’s dream come true. At the push of a button (still in the comfort of your bed, from your iPhone, say) and in as little as 15 seconds, your drip coffee is ready to pour out of a spigot. The machine will grind your beans and heat the water on the spot, giving you the freshest cup possible. Want more than drip coffee? Whatever the drink, it can make it. Best part: it’s self cleaning! It performs a daily 1 minute routine that cleans all the pipes, including the milk ducts. It even has a longer routine in case of heavy use, so you don’t have to worry about spoilage or foul tastes. There’s even, get this, an optional juice dispenser accessory.

The price hasn’t been announced, but like most finer things in life, chances are that if you have to ask you can’t afford it.

Fonderie 47 designed and created by Roland Iten the brand debuts with some pricy limited edition cufflinks that has been shaped like a watch. Although the maker hasn’t created any watches yet, he is said to have come out some watch concepts. The pair can be clipped together to form a bracelet, just separate it to use as cufflinks. The set is made from the same mechanism that is used to create Swiss watches, and will be set in 18-carat rose and white gold, along with scrap metal from an AK-47 assault rifle.

Limited to 20 pieces, the cufflinks set will actually feature metal from the Russian-made AK-47 found freely in Africa. The makers say that at the 30,000 Swiss Francs ($32,630) price tag, they can eliminate 100 guns at a time, in a bit to reduce the “abuse” they cause.

There was a time when Porsche was known to be the best luxury car brand around. However, just recently, Lexus managed to climb up on Porsche’s shoulders to be crowned the world’s best luxury auto brand. Lexus managed to top the list above BMW, Mercedes-Benz and the formally hailed Porsche. The Lexus brand, owned by Toyota Motor Corp., had to rival with Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s BMW, including Volkswagen AG’s Audi and Tata Motors Ltd.’s Jaguar.

Yesterday we showed you the Bespoke Ferrari  FF form the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Today art meets gaming in the Tom Burr Ping Pong Table ($45,000). Created by the well-known artist and limited to just 10 examples, this unique and insanely priced table is sculpted out of black rubber — making it quite durable while adding a bit of bounce to your balls — and features clean, solid lines that help make it as pleasing to the observer as it is to the player. In addition Neiman Marcus will donate $2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters for each one sold, so at least some of that cash will be going to a good cause.

Ritz-Carlton has been a renowned name in the luxury hotels industry, providing unmatched hospitality services around the globe. In a fitting tribute to the chain, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the U.S. recently crowned the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, China the ‘Best Hotel in the World’. As part of the 24th annual Readers Choice Awards for 2011, the hotel also bagged the Best Hotel in Asia Pacific award. Complete with 285 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, four exceptional restaurants and bars and a lot more to pet your creature comforts, the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai well-deserved the honor indeed.Ritz-Carlton has been a renowned name in the luxury hotels industry, providing unmatched hospitality services around the globe. In a fitting tribute to the chain, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the U.S. recently crowned the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, China the ‘Best Hotel in the World’. As part of the 24th annual Readers Choice Awards for 2011, the hotel also bagged the Best Hotel in Asia Pacific award. Complete with 285 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, four exceptional restaurants and bars and a lot more to pet your creature comforts, the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai well-deserved the honor indeed.

With demand for private jets on the rise, there has been a corresponding surge for customized interiors, with greater luxury, and of course modern designs too. Just basic seating comfort doesn’t seem to cut it anymore, and a theme like ‘accommodation on the move’ seems to be the current mood. Airbus, a veteran of 170+ corporate jets, has unveiled the world’s largest corporate jet cabin that provides all that one might need in a modern day professional setup.
The cabin has been fitted on the Airbus ACJ 318 aircraft, and a luxury charter services is currently being rendered by Comflux, through whom one can hire the aircraft to experience this ‘office in the skies’. Amenities aboard include the 2 convertible bedrooms and attached bathrooms, lounge-cum-dining-cum meeting area with LCD Television, with designer leather sofas and convertible tables. The lounge also features a service station, which could be useful during the dining meets. Not to forget, are the multiple plug points for your electronics at various parts of the cabin. All of this and more is spread over an area of close to 800 sq ft which can be equated with a studio apartment on a realistic estimate. Hence, the capacity for accommodation of guests apart from crew members is 19 at given time which means a sizeable get-together in the skies isn’t a far-fetched thought anymore. So, if you are a part of the jet setting well-paid bunch of executives, you could put this cabin on your next corporate shopping list.
The cabin was recently put on display at the Jet Expo in Moscow, which gave visitors an experience of what it could be like, abroad the Airbus ACJ 318 corporate jet. With the current services allowing intercontinental travel, corporates don’t need to worry anymore for exclusive spaces in the sky. However, for comparisons, do take a look at our insight in to the Airbus A380, and rather refreshing Transparent Airbus. Looking at them, one begins to imagine whether there is anything that would be impossible with the company’s expertise.

French fashion house Lanvin have released an exquisite pair of lamb leather slippers for travelers. The Lanvin Travel Slippers are carefully stitched by hand out of supple lamb leather. The travel slippers come in a matching leather carrying pouch so they can be packed easily.

As spring makes way for summer, you can give your dad the perfect belated father’s day gift with an accessory that can compliment his Christmas gift, the TF Est. 1968 Tourbillon cufflinks best, the classy new TF Est. 1968 “Tourbillon” Pen. Available in a range of variations and finishes as mentioned below, the pen sports the “tourbillon” mounted at a 45° angle on the top of the pen, which can be seen as you pocket your pen. An apt gift for a watch collector, some pens sport a steel with palladium plating for the shimmering look, while come also feature a “a genuine carbon fiber top”. All pens have a two year guarantee.