Elite Traveler March-April 2016

elite traveler MAR/APR 2016 31

We love… A fountain pen made by one of the industry’s finest watchmakers. Removing the cap activates the mechanical

movement to release the nib. $105,000, richardmille.com

TAKE THREE/// HOLDALLS

1 BALENCIAGA It doesn’t get more elegant than Balenciaga’s black calfskin Philos bridle duffle bag. The smooth leather is perfectly suited for a weekend getaway by helicopter. Inside it has interior pockets and a detachable shoulder strap. $2,100, balenciaga.com

2 VALEXTRA Known for its well crafted, sophisticated leather goods, no travel wardrobe is complete without a piece from Valextra. Every piece can be custom ordered in a wide range of colors. The versatile Cabina bag in blue adds a pop of color. $4,120, mrporter.com

Chest for the best Swiss brand Imperiali Genève has unveiled a work of art and elegance that combines a cigar chest (complete with gold-leaf wrapped cigars) with a laser cigar cutter, lighter and a tourbillon. The Emperador Cigar Chest sells for just over $1m, and is created in a limited edition of just 12 pieces annually. It holds 24 Grand Cru cigars in individual glass tubes and houses the lighter, cutter and high tech ashtray. More than 18,000 hours of work over the course of two years were required to bring the chest, and its crowning glory, the tourbillon, to fruition. The tourbillon watch, made of 323 parts and featuring a black lacquered Clous de Paris guilloché dial, sits within the top of the chest. It is a one-minute flying tourbillon, with 80 hours of power reserve. Created entirely by hand by Fabrice Thüler of Swiss Finest SA, the caliber is equipped with its own winding system that keeps the watch constantly wound. The idea of the Emperador Cigar Chest was conceived almost three years ago by friends David Pasciuto and Stéphane Nazzal when they were discussing with a cigar lover the concept of creating the ultimate cigar. Somehow the concept escalated to the ultimate cigar and cigar chest. imperiali-geneve.com

3 SMYTHSON A classic range available since 1927, the Burlington collection is made in soft deerskin. The holdall in dove grey with contrasting red lining is a particularly refined choice, ready to be paired with an array of matching accessories. $2,195, smythson.com

Close up on the tourbillon, the chest’s crowning glory

Words: Kristen Shirley and Roberta Naas