Robb Interview: Daniel Ricciardo

We sit down to dissect the weekend that was, TV’s influence on F1 and why his work with St Hugo wines could ultimately assist his dad.

By Richard Clune 12/04/2022

It’s a day after Melbourne F1 and Dan Ricciardo is in a buoyant mood.

The weekend proved a happy hunting ground for his McLaren – driven by that thing all F1 teams seek beyond speed: consistency.

In an elevated hotel suite, with a view over a twinkling city skyline that’s increasingly reminiscent of New York, the 32-year-old sits with Robb Report to explore his best result of the 2022 season and, more so, why he’s so eagerly embraced his role as occasional winemaker for St Hugo.

 

Robb Report: Congratulations on the weekend – a solid result and one that must be pleasing after a few trials already this year?

Daniel Ricciardo: Thanks, it felt good but then it’s a funny one, because I’ve been doing this for ten years or so and so to get a sixth – meh. But it does feel good because, as you say, it’s the best result this year and it was a solid weekend from start to finish. I’m also happy for the home crowd – I feel it was enough to keep them up and about and excited.

 

RR: How do you combat the increased pressure that comes from this being your home GP?

DR: It’s the nature of the beast and what makes a good or a great athlete or sportsperson, it’s just who can handle that pressure the best. Across all sports there’s a dozen or so who can all do the same thing at that level, right? So it’s then the top two who can handle the external stuff better. For sure, a home race is a little more of a challenge as you’re also dealing with your own emotions – you’re more excited to be on home soil and you get all this great support, but you have to bring yourself back and stay level as much as possible.

 

RR: There was a true vibe, this tangible buzz that framed the weekend – record crowds and people really embracing the racing and everything F1, I’ve personally not felt such a vibe like that here in Melbourne before. Can you feel it? 

DR: It was nuts this year. I think, you know, people haven’t been for a couple of years so there’s that to it … There was just this felt the oomph and a buzz and this overall happiness from the crowd that we were back — it was the most enjoyable home race I’ve had. I was talking to our team principal Andreas Seidl and he was the same, he was saying he’d never seen anything like this weekend, so it was really cool – people were out and they were awesome.

RR: A lot’s been said about Drive To Survive – much about its influence and driving even greater interest in F1 and to a much wider audience. Do you think that has played a role in regards to broader audience attendance; have you seen or felt its influence in relation to recent GP crowds?

DR: It’s definitely changed a lot of things. F1 has always been big here and since [Mark] Webber has grown and grown, but there’s been a big turn since that series first aired – we’ve seen it in all parts of the world and that’s definitely come across.

 

RR: An an F1 driver your time’s rather limited – so why do Drive to Survive; why participate in the program given you don’t have to?
DR:
What is good with it is that 95% of the time it’s done on our terms. If they come to the farm, you know, I’ve said that’s ok, they’re not just turning up and knocking on the door. And so I’d say we’ve still got good control of our time – and that’s the big reason for me to do it, it’s been pretty easy going.

 

RR: Let’s talk wine. We can only imagine how many brands or labels must approach you to collaborate – so why St Hugo, what’s central to this relationship?

In short – they’re Australian, that’s a massive reason for me. I left home at 17, so nearly half my life I’ve been living out of Oz, but I still 100% consider myself a homeboy. And then the older I got the more I started to drink wine, and travelling the world I’d always be trying wine from different regions. But I’d always come back to Australia, to Australian wine and I actually drank alot of St Hugo, I liked it and so here we are.

 

RR: Ventures such as this and which are away from the track – do they also provide some necessary balance or sense of escape?  

DR: I think that if I went to bed every night with the wheels turning and just about F1 then I’d get a little worn out by that…  I’m someone who has hobbies and likes getting involved in other things. If something’s interesting to me then I want to learn about it, I want to educate myself and be creative …

 

RR: So what then has Daniel Ricciardo learnt about wine, through this process of working with St Hugo on your own drops?

DR: Well, I now know how to use big words and how to place words you don’t really understand in a sentence. I’ll be honest, and I think this even with food, I feel I’ve got a decent palate – so it’s given me an understanding of how to better taste things and better describe what it is I’m tasting, which in this case makes drinking wine more enjoyable. It’s also a talking point at a table – we travel the world with friends, family and through events and so it’s great to talk about it, that’s all part of it.

 

RR: You mentioned your farm in the southwest – time to now take some of what you’ve learnt and run in some vines?

DR: We actually have a little vineyard — but it’s tiny and it’s just for mum and dad to do something, to have a bit of fun with … My dad’s side of the family actually makes some homemade wine, hmmm, right, yeah he’s going to hate me for saying this, but they’ve done poorly for many years. Honestly, it tastes like vinegar, it’s terrible. So maybe I can now help

 

RR: Alongside the new DR3 II x St Hugo release you’ve opted for a very distinct decanter – moulded in glass from a race boot, we’re told an unworn one provided by your mum, and in essence it’s a nod to your famed podium celebration ‘the shoey’. We’ll be honest – we thought at first it was an April Fool’s joke.

DR: Yeah you weren’t alone …

 

RR: A cheeky little up yours perhaps to the rigidity of the stuffiness of the wine world?

DR: It fits perfectly into why I did the actual ‘shoey’ in the first place, back in 2016. And that was because I sometimes felt F1 can be a little too stiff, yeah, I’ll use that word, ‘stiff.’ That was my feeling towards F1 and sometimes the drivers on the podium – I’d be like, ‘man you just got a podium, show some emotion.’ I wanted to make [the podium] fun and relax the shoulders a bit when up there … And so that has transitioned into doing a decanter – which is  fun. I get that doing a ‘shoey’ is kind of gross – but we’ve turned that into this magnificent decanter that’s fun and it also works. And I’m putting my name to it — so it’s very me and St Hugo were completely on board …

 

The limited release DR3 x St Hugo wines and Ricciardo Decanter are available online only now;  www.sthugo.com/dr3

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Tom Brady Wears a Jacob & Co. Watch Decked in Yellow Sapphires to the Super Bowl

The $740,000 Caviar Tourbillon was an opulent choice for the former NFL star.

By 17/02/2025

Tom Brady was on the field tonight at the 59th annual Super Bowl game, and while the retired NFL hero—a seven-time Super Bowl winner (the most of any footballer in history)—wasn’t playing, he came dressed to impress with a $116,400 Jacob & Co. watch on his wrist.

Brady, who is a notable watch collector, recently sold off several of his timepieces at a Sotheby’s auction called “The GOAT Collection: Watches and Treasures from Tom Brady” this past December. Those timepieces ran the gamut from a Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 to a unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with his name spelled out in diamonds across the salmon-colored tapisserie dial. His Rolex Daytona sold for over $1.5 million, and, in total, his auction raked in around $7 million. So, he’s well-equipped for a new watch purchase.

Whether or not he owns the six-figure sapphire stunner or it was a paid spot, the watch certainly stood out against his conservative but immaculately fit gray suit. “Tom Brady is the epitome of excellence, both on and off the field,” said Benjamin Arabov, CEO of Jacob & Co, in a press release sent out by the company shortly after Brady’s appearance. “We’re thrilled to see him wearing two of our most prestigious timepieces on the biggest stage in sports. The Billionaire Mini Ashoka and Caviar Tourbillon embody the precision, luxury, and innovation that define Jacob & Co. We’re honored to have him represent the artistry and craftsmanship behind every piece we create.”

Like much of Brady’s wrist candy, his 44 by 15.8 mm Caviar Tourbillon is not easy to come by. It is limited to just 18 pieces. It features hours, minutes, and a one-minute flying tourbillon in the JCAA43 movement with 216 components and 72 hours of power reserve. The movement itself is set with 338 brilliant-cut diamonds, while a total of 337 yellow sapphires adorn the case and dial. The clasp is decorated with another 18 baguette-cut yellow sapphires, and the crown comes with 14 baguette-cut yellow sapphires and one rose-cut yellow sapphire. As far as gem setting goes, this is one extraordinary piece, but it certainly seemed like a surprising choice for Brady, who was otherwise dressed like he just stepped out of a boardroom or a Ralph Lauren catalog.

Benjamin Arabov, son of Jacob & Co. founder Jacob Arabov, is now the CEO of the company. The 32-year-old recently took to Instagram to post that he was looking for a rebranding agency with experience in visual identity and packaging. As far as marketing goes, however, with Tom Brady, he’s golden.

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This Vintage Rolex Day-Date Has an Ultra-Rare and Coveted ‘Bark’ Design

The ultra-cool piece from Wind Vintage also comes in pristine condition with a desirable patina.

By Paige Reddinger 17/02/2025

Over the last four years there has been a resurgence in interest for 18-karat yellow gold watches. Much of that is due to fatigue over the long-running craze for steel tool watches, but it is also in part due to the rising value of gold (which shows no sign of slowing), rendering these once undesirable pieces increasingly worth collecting. Add to that the fact that, in some niche and stylish circles, unusual bracelet treatments, gem-setting, and interesting dials are becoming increasingly appealing and you have a new wave of watch collecting emerging. Steel sports watches are still the bread and butter for most dealers, but as pockets of interest in more unusual timekeepers, often from younger and fashion-forward collectors, continue to rise we’re seeing some really fun pieces pop up on the market. Case in point: This 1980s Rolex Day-Date in 18-karat yellow gold with a sapphire and diamond dial from Wind Vintage currently available exclusively on The Vault.

It wasn’t that long ago that dealers had a hard time unloading an all-gold gem-set piece. Eric Wind, the notable dealer and founder of Wind Vintage, says five years ago he would have sold this piece for around $23,000 to $28,000. The asking price today? $45,000. “It is very rare,” he tells Robb Report. “I think that was all clearly hand-done. Funnily enough, bark watches were not very desirable in the past. You know, even five to 10 years ago, they were very, very hard to sell. But, over the last three to five years, there’s been such an emergence and interest in jewellery and watches and work like that engraving and other kind of artistic forms that the watches took.” The style of engraving he is referring to on this watch can be seen on the bezel and middle links of the bracelet that is referred to as “bark” for its rough tree-like appearance.

“Bark” engraving on the bezel and bracelet of the Wind Vintage 1980s Rolex Day-Date
Courtesy of Wind Vintage

And while the bracelet is certainly a notable feature that will stand out in a sea of Submariners and Daytonas, the dial is also worth bragging about. Its diamond minutes track and sapphire hour markers are executed in what is known as a “string dial” because it looks like a string of pearls. “They’ve become very popular,” says Wind. “They were very expensive back in the 80s, just because of the cost of the stones, and there are just not many that exist on the planet.” Likewise, Wind says the canary yellow matte dial is not something he comes across often, having only seen a couple of others.

An up-close look at the patina and “bark” engraving on this 1980s Day-Date from Wind Vintage.
Courtesy of Wind Vintage

Part of what makes this watch so hard to find on the market is that pieces like this often didn’t survive past their ’80s heyday. “A lot of times these watches were so undesirable that dealers would replace the bezel inserts and put on fluted inserts, or smooth bezels or fluted bezels and melt down the bracelets or polish the center link so they looked like a standard Day-Date. Those dealers should have learned that what goes around, always comes around. Now with these interesting Rolex watches on the rise, they’ll become even harder to find.

A Wind Vintage 1980s Day-Date with “bark” engraving and a gem-set “string dial”
Courtesy of Wind Vintage

If you’re interested in the piece and want to speak to Wind about it IRL, he will be at Robb Report’s House of Robb event in San Francsico today during the NBA All-Star weekend.

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Soccer Star Kylian Mbappé Is Now an Investor in Watch Marketplace Wristcheck

Just like Jay-Z.
Published on February 7, 2025

By Abby Montanez 11/02/2025

Kylian Mbappé just went from brand ambassador to investor.

The celebrated French footballer, who currently plays for Real Madrid, has taken a stake in luxury watch trading platform Wristcheck, Hypebeast reported lat week.

Off the filed, the 26-year-old soccer star is a known timepiece collector and has served as an ambassador for Swiss marque Hublot since 2018. With this new partnership, the forward joins a growing group of influential backers, including Jay-Z. The rapper and business mogul took an equity stake in the Hong Kong-based company last summer as part of a recent funding round of $7.9 million.

“I’m thrilled to join Wristcheck as an investor through Coalition Capital,” Mbappé said in a press statement. “As a Hublot ambassador and someone passionate about watches and innovation, I see Wristcheck as a platform that truly understands the next generation of collectors. They’re reshaping the watch industry with a forward-thinking approach that blends technology, transparency, and creativity.” Mbappé did not immediately respond to Robb Report‘s request for comment on his new business endeavor.

Kylian Mbappé is an investor in online watch shop Wristcheck.
Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Launched in 2020 by renowned horophile and Instagram personality Austen Chu, Wristcheck offers a platform for collectors to buy and sell pre-owned watches that have been authenticated by Swiss-trained watchmakers. Since it was founded, the company has raised more than $21.6 million in funding from investors including the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners GBA, and K3 Ventures.

Mbappé, meanwhile, has achieved remarkable success in his soccer career. He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, becoming the youngest player to score in a final since Pelé. At PSG, he has secured multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups. Individually, Mbappé has earned the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award and regularly features in top European scoring charts. And in 2020, he was ranked the world’s highest-paid player, surpassing rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

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Sotheby’s Will Put on the Largest Auction of Breguet Watches in Decades This Fall

To celebrate the revered watchmaking house’s 250th anniversary, the sale includes rare collectibles belonging to living Breguet family members.

By Paige Reddinger 11/02/2025

Interest in Breguet has experienced a quiet resurgence among savvy collectors who appreciate the brand’s deep-rooted watchmaking heritage. This growing enthusiasm will soon take center stage with an upcoming auction that shines a significant spotlight on the storied Maison.

Founded in Paris 250 years ago, Abraham-Louis Breguet was one of the most influential watchmakers in history, best known for inventing the tourbillon and the automatic winding system—along with many other groundbreaking innovations. His legacy continues to inspire modern masters such as F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour. You can see Breguet’s influence pointedly in pieces like F.P. Journe’s famous Chronomètre à Résonance timepiece, voted one of Robb Report‘s 50 Greatest Watches of All Time.

Now, Sotheby’s has announced “the largest sale of Breguet timepieces in three decades.” Though the auction won’t take place until November, the auction house is already working to build anticipation. In the meantime, it might be wise to brush up on the most coveted Breguet references.

Breguet 1827 Perpétuelle à Tact watch made for King George IV Breguet

What may pique collectors’ interest is the sale is being curated in conjunction with Breguet and Emmanuel Breguet, the vice president and head of patrimony, who happens to be a descendant of the original Monsieur Breguet. So far, the only timekeeper publicly associated (at least visually) with the auction is the 1827 Perpétuelle à Tact watch made for King George IV. Still, it hints at the historic level of pocket watches, wristwatches, and clocks that will be on offer. Abraham-Louis Breguet was a frequent supplier of high-end and state-of-the-art timepieces for royalty, including Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, and King George III.

Other highlights include an open-faced montre à tact (a watch that replicates the internal hour hand on the cover of the pocket watch via an arrow so that time could be read via touch) with a calendar and moonphase indications that was the inspiration for the Ref. 3330. A pendulette with alarm, perpetual calendar and repeater, and a two-color gold open-faced tourbillon watch is said to be a part of the sale, although no images were provided as of press time. More info on what will be in the sale will come this spring.

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Capella Brands Their Own Caviar to Mark Chinese New Year

Capella Sydney continues its commitment to exceptional luxury experiences, with a high tea and caviar upgrade all part of its 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations to usher in the Year of the Snake.

By Belinda Aucott-christie 07/02/2025

These days caviar bumps are on the menu at all the best seaside restaurants, and now guests checking into a suite at Capella Sydney will be saved the trip to the beach with a tin of caviar conveniently stationed in their mini bar.

Downstairs at the chic lobby café Aperture, caviar is also part of their elegantly indulgent high tea. Expertly crafted by Head Pastry Chef Arthur Carré. This bespoke menu features a delectable selection of delicacies, including Capella Kaluga Caviar, sesame prawn toast, Peking duck pancake roll cornetto, fried pork dumplings, and pandan and mandarin lamingtons. The experience is complemented by the delicate notes of white rabbit jasmine tea from Zensation Tea House, with an optional upgrade to a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne for a truly indulgent experience.

It’s all part of a chic lunar collaboration with Kaluga Caviar (from central China) which supplies 21 of the 26 three Michelin starred restaurants in Paris. Kaluga caviar offers a balance of luxury, flavour, and sustainability. Its rich, creamy texture and large pearls make it a close alternative to Beluga caviar with a lovely walnut aftertaste.

Even if you are a guest just for the day at Capella Sydney you can indulge your palate with a high tea that pairs Oscietra black caviar, from Russian Sturgeon stock, with champagne and traditional accompaniments.

Ask for the Capella Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea when you make you reservation, and take your place at the table. Each set comes with a 10g tin of Capella Sydney x Kaluga Queen Caviar.

Capella Sydney

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