Robb Report Christmas Gift Guide For Him
25 of the finest presents for the men in your life. Or, yourself.
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Specific, elevated tastes? We know you and we know you don’t want to smile through another unremarkable gift unwrapping.
And so – introducing the curated, Robb Report selection of gifts.
Technics – SL-1200GR Direct Drive Turntable System
Technics has long delivered the gold standard for turntable systems. Here, in the SL-1200GR, the revered brand combines its analogue know-how with leading edge digital technologies. Smoother rotation through the high-precision motor control achieves better, more replicable sound while the aluminium diecast turntable platter pursues rigidity and vibration damping for an indulgent listening experience.
$2749; lenwallisaudio.com
Dior – Oblique Hawaiian Beaded Shirt
This short-sleeved shirt is cut in silk twill and offers a relaxed silhouette with a convertible collar. The navy fabric is paired with a reinterpreted ‘Dior’ signature seeing a pearl effect. A visible button placket and chest pocket is paired with a straight hem while side vents further its summery appeal.
$2000; dior.com
Technogym Bench
A lot of fitness gadgetry and fads claim to be all-inclusive – even though few are. Technogym’s newest addition, the Technogym Bench, brings training back to basics. The bench combines various fitness bands (in three different resistance levels), hexagon dumbbells (totalling 57kgs), weighted knuckles and a training mat, all concealed in an elegant storage solution easily moved out of sight courtesy of attached wheels.
$2290; Technogym.com
Targa Great Barrier Reef – Ferrari Brisbane
Open to Ferrari owners (hey, we know you’re there) this is an ultimate road experience – one that means belting said Prancing Horse in and around the lush nature that frames Cairns and some impressive Far North Queensland roads. This is closed road racing, an unforgettable three days spent navigating the heady Targa circuit with all aspects (vehicle transfer, meals, luxury accommodation, more) curated and seamlessly delivered by Ferrari Brisbane.
Next year’s race is set for September 3-5; brisbane.ferraridealers.com, +61 (0) 7 3853 0125
Hasselblad – 907X
This vintage inspired camera not only arrives with plenty of design cred – by virtue of its boxy, retro aesthetic – but also holds plenty of technical capability. The 907X is the Hasselblad’s smallest, lightest medium format camera ever. Boasting a CFV II 50C digital back (which can ingeniously fit almost every V system body going back 60 years) the 50-megapixel CMOS sensor is capable of stunning resolution, exceptional colour and a wide dynamic range of 14 stops.
$14,750; Hasselblad.com
Aston Martin – AMR-C01 Racing Simulator
Short of gifting an actual Aston (and wouldn’t you be the ultimate Santa in doing so), the British marque’s luxurious simulator comes close. Taking first steps into the digital world of simulated driving by partnering with Curv Racing Simulators, the AMR-C01 offers the very best in driving simulation through Assetto Corsa software grafted to the luxury details and finishes such as a carbon-fibre monocoque and the same seating position found in the Valkyrie supercar.
Approx. $104,000; curvrs.com
The Balvenie – 30-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Hailing from Speyside in the Scottish Highlands, Balvenie’s expression is one of the lightest and most delicate in the region with little to no peat. The rare and especially fine single malt finds its way into traditional oak whisky casks before being transferred to European oak sherry casks. Expect silky, honeyed notes on the nose with mellow levels of oak and orange peel before arriving at a dark chocolate, plum, marzipan and caramelised pear taste executed on a lingering sweet finish.
$1499; nicks.com.au
Bang & Olufsen – H95 Adaptive ANC Headphones
This stylish set of headphones offers Danish outfit Bang & Olufsen’s expertise in noise-cancelling and sound production. Customised titanium drivers and the brand’s signal processing engine create an unrivalled wireless listening experience while premium materials designed to embrace the ear are made from soft top grain lambskin and ductile memory foam. Aluminium dials provide a tactile interface. Pictured here in the gold tone edition – as part of B&0’s 95-year celebration – drown out the noise this Christmas with a set of these.
$1399; Bang-olufsen.com
William & Son – Poker Set
Up your game with this stylish poker set from Willian & Son. Presented in a sleek leather carry case, the pack allows you to stage your very own Casino Royale and comes with ceramic poker chips – in a range of denominations – dice and two decks of playing cards. With enough practice you might be able to call Le Chiffre’s bluff, even after a few vesper martinis.
$5244; mrporter.com
Tiffany & Co. – Paloma’s Groove Ring
Go for gold this Christmas – 18-carat to be precise – with the Paloma’s Groove Ring from Tiffany & Co. With its wide design, powerful graphic lines and handsome grooves, originally penned by Paloma Picasso, it’s a statement from the famed American jeweller’s dedicated men’s department that won’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.
$4940; tiffany.com.au
Chopard – Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
A relative newcomer to the stainless-steel world of sports watches, Chopard’s Alpine Eagle flies high above the pack with a lucent steel and sunburst Aletsch blue dial. It arrives powered by the automatic 03.05-C movement with 60 hours of power reserve and is water-resistant to 100 metres. It currently has four patents pending including a unidirectional gearing system that prevents energy loss, a vertical clutch that ensures accuracy, a flyback chronograph with three pivoting hammers and an ability to compensate for variations in inertia throughout the watch’s lifetime.
$28,100; chopard.com
BDK – Sel D’argent Eau De Parfum
With top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and salt, this is the perfect fragrance for the holiday period and beyond. The nostalgic fragrance is reminiscent of late afternoon swims with a side of ‘romance’ courtesy of green notes such as galbanum, among others.
$299; libertineparfumerie.com
Louis Vuitton – Baby Foot Table
Foosball, but not as you know it. The lauded French maison has delivered an elegant spin on the classic game with hand-painted players and cowhide leather-coated handles adorning the piece. Enamel counting coins see the label’s monogram flower while the ‘LV’ logo decorates the side of what is absolutely the most decadent way to play.
$120,000; louisvuitton.com
Hublot – Big Bang Integral King Gold
The Hublot Big Bang Integral King Gold makes an entrance, which is what you’d expect from a ‘royal’. Satin-finished and polished 18-carat king gold (a fusion of precious metals that results in a warmer tone) forms the watch’s 42mm case and strap. Inside, the Unico 2 calibre – which is visible from the open worked dial – offers a 72-hour power reserve and thanks to technical optimisations, now sits 1.3mm thinner on the wrist. Red indications pop against the matte grey dial while the watch is water resistant to 100-metres.
$73,000; hublot.com
Berluti Venezia – Letter Holder
Utilising Berluti’s expertise in leather goods, the Italian label – headed by Kris Van Assche – has recently unveiled a range of office accessories. Here to elevate your desk and a re-edition of a Carl Aubock original design comes the Venezia leather letter holder which is folded over a metal plate. Opt for the louder colour in the Sukhna Sunset Purple.
$2150; Berluti.com
Alexander McQueen – Oversized Sneaker
A pair of white leather sneakers are a staple of the modern man’s wardrobe. And one of the finer examples is the oversized offering from Alexander McQueen – featuring a drop-heel counter in ‘lust red’ with McQueen signature featuring on the tongue and heel counter.
$790; alexandermcqueen.com
Tom Ford – Grain Leather Shoulder Briefcase
Ford’s elegance extends to this slim briefcase. Made in Italy, the briefcase is crafted from 100 per cent grain calf leather and offers myriad compartments and pockets alongside a detachable shoulder strap and oversized zip (in gold-tone no less) for added functionality.
$5490; harrolds.com.au
Boston Dynamics – Spot Robotic Dog
Spot, as this robot dog is called, may seem like a fun pet, but this four-legged robot actually earns his paycheck by performing remote duties well beyond fetching Sunday slippers. Using its stereo cameras, Spot can manoeuvre through dynamic work areas, carry payloads up to 13kgs, perform security sweeps and even inspect progress on construction sites—at stretches of up to 90 minutes at a time (its swappable battery pack means Spot can get back on duty ASAP). Good dog.
Approx. 101,800; bostondynamics.com
Brunello Cucinelli – Calfskin Backpack
No, you won’t look like a preppy schoolboy wearing a backpack, especially with this elevated Brunello Cucinelli calfskin number. The richly textured grained leather – delivered here in ochre – is complemented by two small side magnet pockets, a front zipper and straps that make it the ultimate utility for the man on the go.
$5250; brunellocucinelli.com
Twilight Tour & Degustation Dinner – Penfolds Magill Estate
An exclusive twilight experience taking in the workings and storied history of the famed Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide – a chance to journey through all that makes Penfolds an international symbol for brilliance. A seven course degustation dinner follows at an award-winning restaurant, the meal paired with wine selected by Penfolds’ cellar sommelier.
$560 per person; penfolds.com
Jaques Marie Mage – Molino Square-Frame Acetate and Gold-Tone Sunglasses
The curated selection of sunglasses by JMM are crafted in small batches and pass through over 100 hands in a 300-step process to ensure quality of the highest standards. Made in Japan, the acetate ‘Molino’ offers a contemporary silhouette fitted with fold inlays and light blue lenses.
Approx. $878; mrporter.com
Cake – Freeride Kalk& Electric Motorbike
A lightweight, high performance weekday commuter that can easily hold its own on a pock marked trail, the Kalk& means clean, fume-free and fun riding. Weighing only 62kg (plus a 17kg battery), it offers 83km of range, is capable of speeds over 90km/h and recharges from flat to 100 per cent in three hours.
Approx. $19,100; ridecake.com
Gucci – Logo Embossed Perforated Leather Wash Bag
Green with envy. Well, that’s what everyone will be when you gift this logo embossed leather wash bag from Gucci. Suited to travel with its ventilating perforations, the bag offers a lined interior, zipped pockets and fastening and a useful side handle.
Approx. $1020; mrporter.com
IWC – Yacht Club Chronograph
Let these Swiss masters sail you into Christmas with the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph. The 44mm stainless steel case houses a silver-plated white enamel dial which is contrasted by a black rubber strap. The in-house flyback chronograph movement offers a 68-hour power reserve and is water resistant to 60 metres so there are no trepidations about taking it out on the water.
$17,400; iwc.com
Robb Report ANZ – Annual Subscription
Award-winning luxury delivered for the next 12 months – is there anything better? We say no, this the gift that literally keeps on giving with quarterly print and digital issues included, so too exclusive offers, access to Robb Report’s VIP concierge services and more. This is the ultimate subscription.
$75; robbreport.com.au
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Show Stopping Fun
Robb Report Australia and New Zealand teamed up with Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance in late February to celebrate a weekend of fine motor cars on Cockatoo Island.
Robb Report Australia & New Zealand and Citizen Kanebridge, the new private members’ club brought to you by this masthead’s publishers, offers exclusive access to magical experiences and unrivalled networking.
This year’s Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance on Cockatoo Island did not disappoint. Our invited guests—including speakers Gerard Doyle, General Manager ASX Refinitiv Charity Foundation; Ant Middleton, the British adventure and TV personality turned hydration-drink disruptor and owner R3SUP; and Lex Pedersen, CEO of automotive investment firm Chrome Temple—enjoyed unlimited access to the three-day event and an elegant sufficiently of Champagne, wine and whisky, as well as an exquisite catered lunch inside the Citizen Kanebridge Private Members’ Lounge. They enhanced their experience by VIP transport to and from the mainland via superyacht.
The British-born event, which also has iterations at Pebble Beach in California and Hampton Court Palace in England, once again teamed up with the world’s most prestigious marques (among them Aston Martin, Bentley, Brabus, Genesis, Lamborghini, McLaren, Rolls-Royce and Porsche), to display their latest supercars alongside the pageant of owner-driven vintage vehicles.
On Sunday, Robb Report’s Editor-in-Chief Horacio Silva treated guests to a special preview of the winners of this our annual Car of the Year awards, showcased in our coming March 2025 issue. Our lips are sealed.
To learn how to become a member of our exclusive new community, visit Citizen Kanebridge.
Thank you to the following sponsors: Whisky and Wealth, Jacob & Co, Wine Selectors, Mulpha, Jackson Teece, Young Henry’s and Resup.
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Patron’s New Ultra-Premium Tequila Is a Reposado Blend That Punches Way Above Its Age
Patron’s latest luxury tequila is a blend of ages.
There are certain categories in the tequila world that indicate how long the spirit has been matured, so what happens when you combine a few of them together into one release? Patron is the latest brand to get in on this multiple-maturation blending action with the new high-end El Alto release, a combination of tequilas aged for different lengths of time.
In the whisky world, an age statement represents the minimum age of the liquid that’s in the bottle—in other words, a 10-year-old scotch may have liquid much older than that in the blend, but 10 years represents the minimum age. When it comes to tequila, there are also rules in regards to how it has to be labelled based on maturation, and like whisky that depends on the youngest liquid in the blend. The core of El Alto is an extra anejo tequila (the exact proportion isn’t revealed), meaning it was aged for a minimum of three years. But master distiller David Rodriguez decided to blend some anejo (aged one to three years) and reposado (two months to one year) tequila into the mix as well, making this an expression that is defined as reposado instead of extra anejo even though it has some ultra-aged liquid in the blend.
According to the brand, 11 different types of barrels were used to mature the tequila in El Alto, with the majority being hybrid barrels consisting of American oak bodies and French oak heads—each type of wood is thought to impart different flavours into the spirit. “The tequilas that harmoniously come together in Patron El Alto are a result of selecting the finest 100 percent Weber blue agave in the highest parts of Jalisco, Mexico, a territory known for producing the sweetest agaves,” said Rodriguez in a statement. “We took four years to focus on only the best of the best and perfect the bold, sweet flavors of this expression the right way: naturally.”
This type of multi-aged tequila seems to be part of a growing trend, with a few other brands releasing similar high-end expressions including Cincoro and Volcan de Mi Tierra. Perhaps it’s a way of stretching supplies or a tactic to get consumers to dip their toes (or tongues, preferably) into another luxe tequila, a category that is growing every year.
This month Australians are getting an exclusive taste of the El Alto as this formerly USA-exclusive release is launching here with The Bacardi Group. You can find El Alto in selected hospitality venues and at Barrel & Batch for $298 as these chic spots that represent the “pinnacle of celebrating momentous occasions,” according to the brand.
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Neutral, Not Boring: How to Wear This Season’s Most Stylish New Menswear
The soft tones of California’s Joshua Tree provide a perfect backdrop for the season’s refined yet relaxed vibe.
Amid spring 2025’s myriad trends, there was one connecting element: colour. From Alessandro Sartori’s rusty hues at Zegna to Loro Piana’s subdued neutrals, the palette was more sun-bleached than saturated, and the muted tones of California’s Joshua Tree provide a perfect backdrop for the season’s refined yet relaxed vibe.
Stylists Naomi Rougeau and Alex Badia, teamed up with photographer Brad Torchia to create these casual looks that turn a bold statement into a confident whisper.
Berluti leather jacket, $14,067; L.B.M. 1911 merino crewneck, $450; Dolce & Gabbana linen trousers, $1,921; Zenith 37 mm Chronomaster Revival in steel, $13,987.
Umit Benan silk jacket, silk shirt, and linen trousers, all prices upon request; Dolce & Gabbana suede loafers, $1600; Girard-Perregaux 38 mm Laureato Sage Green in steel, $23,954.
Brunello Cucinelli linen shirt, $1500; Loro Piana linen trousers, $908; Zenith 37 mm Chronomaster Revival in steel, $13,987.
Anderson & Sheppard cotton jacket, $4,421; Gabriela Hearst cashmere turtleneck, $1,430; Louis Vuitton cotton jeans, $2n138; Tod’s suede sneakers, $1438.
Canali wool, silk, and linen tweed blazer, $4,011; Thom Sweeney silk shirt, $876; Paul Smith mohair trousers, $908; Church’s patent-leather loafers, $1,768; Parmigiani Fleurier 40 mm Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date Golden Siena in steel and platinum, $40,675.
Paul Smith cotton trench, $3528; Ferragamo cashmere sweater, $1,752, and cotton trousers, $4389; Dolce & Gabbana suede loafers, $1599.
Hermès denim shirt, $1,647, and belted cotton chinos, $1,366.
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19/03/2025
This New York Jewellery Gallery Is Offering up a Treasure Trove of Vintage Watches
The Mahnaz Collection’s first formal collection of timepieces will include rare finds with fascinating histories
There was a period when Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos found it hard to hold on to a watch. The prominent collector and dealer often would post pictures on social media of the uncommon, sculptural timepieces she purchased for herself. But every time, clients of her eponymous jewellery gallery—New York City’s Mahnaz Collection—would hound her into selling them.
“They found those photographs, and they are just diligent in bothering me,” she says with a laugh, adding that some would simply persist until she changed her mind about letting them go.
In response to that demand, this month her Madison Avenue space will begin offering its first formal collection of unique watches, curated with the same rigor and studious eye Ispahani Bartos has applied to sourcing rare jewellery. (Her specialty is the hard-to-find fare made by artists, designers, goldsmiths, and architects.) One coveted example is a gold-and-diamond pendant watch handmade by the late Italian-born avant-garde designer Andrew Grima, whose work was beloved by the British royal family. This example from his historic collaboration with Omega was made in the 1970s. Lesser known but no less noteworthy is the Spanish designer Augustin Julia-Plana, who created a gold-and-jadeite watch for his brand Schlegel & Plana, also in the ’70s. “He was a great jeweller and watch designer,” says Ispahani Bartos of Julia-Plana, who penned striking and visually creative work for everyone from Chopard to Tiffany. “He specialised in really unusual stones,” she adds, noting that he died far too young at age 41.
Photographed by Janelle Jones/Styled by Stephanie Yeh
Ispahani Bartos knows something about legacy. Born in Bangladesh—when it was still called East Pakistan—she grew up in a culture steeped in traditions of wearing and appreciating jewellery. She recalls her grandmother giving her earrings made from yellow gold, turquoise, diamonds, and Burmese rubies at age 7. (Too young to wear them, she put them on her dolls’ ears for safekeeping. Both were lost when her family fled the violence of the country’s 1971 revolution; the ship carrying their belongings, she says, was sunk by an enemy carrier.)
When she was a teenager, her mother gifted her one of Omega’s Grima-designed watches, which she still owns. That early introduction to rare design influenced her own collecting journey, which turned into her full-time job when she opened her gallery in 2013.
Photographed by Janelle Jones/Styled by Stephanie Yeh
That comprehensive approach befits Ispahani Bartos’s previous career and intellectual curiosity. After earning a Ph.D. in international relations, she served as a foreign- and security-policy expert for an array of global organisations, including the Ford Foundation and the Council on Foreign Relations.
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Penfolds Saves Best For Last with Show-Stopping Release with Creative Partner NIGO
Penfolds has just dropped their limited-edition 65F by NIGO Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, a mouthwatering wine you need to nab now.
Though Penfolds holds many wonderful wines in its star-studded suite, their latest collaboration with NIGO is earmarked as a sure-fire collector’s item.
Retailing for $395 a bottle, the Penfolds 65F by NIGO is expected to sit snugly alongside the likes of Grange and Bin 389 as a standout single-vintage wine connoisseurs will vie for in years to come.
This prize wine isn’t just delicious and highly collectible, it looks the part. It features branding by artistic director and creative visionary NIGO, the founder of cult streetwear brands A Bathing Ape and Human Made, a pal of Pharrell Williams and current creative director of French fashion house Kenzo. For the box and packaging NIGO was inspired by the towering 65-foot chimney that prevails over Penfolds South Australian home, Magill Estate.
Penfolds archival material served as NIGO’s inspiration for the inclusions within the gift box and on the wine label. A chalkboard wine tag with coinciding chalk pencil pays homage to the chalk boards used in the original working winery at Penfolds Magill Estate and allows the opportunity for personalisation of the wine if used as a gift. The bottle label features a design which takes inspiration from the pressed bottle labels from the 1930-50s, and the tissue paper wrapping the bottle has been adapted from the Penfolds logo style used in the early 20th century. NIGO’s signature playful design style is emphasised with a chimney smoke wine stopper.
Inside it’s a classic embodiment of the way South Australian winemakers blend cabernet sauvignon with shiraz to stunning effect.
As a result this wine has a mouth-watering palate with plenty of fine grain tannins and silky mouth feel. A nose enriched with spicy nutmeg, cardamom and cassis is layered over blueberry compote and lush fig on a palate. There’s lots of blueberry soufflé, gamey tones and just a hint of fennel seed, with more complexity to come as the years fly by.
All the base wines were sourced from grapes grown in South Australia’s top wine regions of Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. And while the 65F by NIGO Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz is being released now, it will continue to reward cellaring for years to come.
Penfolds first announced NIGO as its Creative Partner in June 2023, with the global release of One by Penfolds. This was closely followed by the launch of Grange by NIGO (the first takeover of Penfolds flagship red wine) in February 2024, followed by Holiday Designed by NIGO in October 2024.A classic for the ages.
Penfolds 65F by NIGO Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2021 is available globally from Thursday 27 February 2025 (RRP AUD$395.00 for 750ml). Available via Penfolds.com, at select Dan Murphy’s stores nationally and select independent retailers.
