Take off with these private jet trips of a lifetime

This year the biggest trips are taking place high in the sky, with travellers flying from one spectacular destination to the next in ultimate luxury.

By Susan B. Barnes 19/02/2017

When it comes to travel, we say go big or go home. This year the biggest trips are taking place high in the sky, with travellers flying from one spectacular destination to the next in the ultimate luxury of a private aircraft. From a two-week African safari to a bona fide around-the-world adventure, these new private-jet journeys are the ultimate high-flying fantasies.

Crystal AirCruise

Since 2015, Crystal Cruises and its maverick CEO Edie Rodriguez, has been on a mission to push the boundaries of luxury travel. Six newly built cruise ships will hit Europe's rivers throughout the next three years or so, and three 100,000-gross-ton cruise liners with privately-owned condos will start hitting the water in 2022.

Now following the launch of its first Northwest Passage itinerary last August (and becoming the largest vessel to ever traverse the notoriously remote Arctic Ocean sea route), the up-scale cruise company has yet another first up its sleeve — a trip to the world's 10 Peninsula hotels aboard a private Boeing 777-200LR jet with custom interiors by Greenpoint Technologies.

Departing from the Peninsula New York on August 21, the 27-day inaugural Crystal AirCruise , $US159,000 (about $A207,400) per guest, visits two additional U.S. cities (Chicago and Los Angeles) before crossing the Pacific to Tokyo for two days. Guests then explore three Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong) and venture south to the capitals of the Philippines and Thailand, ending the trip with four days in Paris (Peninsula's first European property).

On-the-ground, activities are customisable, but everyone should expect brand new rooms and suites at the Peninsula Chicago, which underwent a remodel last year for its 15th anniversary, and at Peninsula Beijing, which is still undergoing a $US123 million (about $A160.5 million) renovation.

While at Peninsula Tokyo, guests should also check out the Imperial Palace across the street, take a sushi class with the hotel's head chef Teruyuki Kojima, and watch a private showing of a traditional _Kabuki_ performance.

Other standout offerings include Tai Chi classes at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Temple of Heaven (an imperial complex of religious buildings in Beijing), a private dinner at the Great Wall of China, and a dinner and fireworks celebration during the _Loy Krathong_ festival of lights, where guests will also be able to pay respect to Thailand's ancient goddess of water by floating their own lotus-shaped rafts and candles.

Onboard the private Boeing 777-200LR jet, service is comparable to the white-gloved attention to detail that Peninsula is known for. Each of the 84 guests has access to fully reclining seats that extend flat into 187cm beds, Bose noise cancelling headphones, Apple iPads preloaded with personal itineraries, free WiFi, USB ports and power outlets, and a 61cm interactive TV with on-demand programming and a music library.

Exquisite meals are prepared by an on-board executive chef and served with a premium wine list with over 300 world-class vintages and can be enjoyed at your seat or in the separate social space, which includes dining tables and a stand-up bar. There is also a team of Crystal Skye Butlers to attend to your every whim. (crystalcruises.com) – Amanda Millin

DreamMaker's Passport to 50

Grab 49 of your closest friends and hit the skies with travel outfitter DreamMaker's new Passport to 50 private-jet package. The around-the-world trip, priced at $US13,875,000 (about $A18,104,000), takes place in an elegantly outfitted Boeing 767, and stops in 20 cities — including Kathmandu, Florence, Marrakech, and Havana — over 20 thrilling days.

Along the way, surprises abound, from an in-flight charity poker tournament with a purse of $US500,000 (about $A652,400) to a set of 50 custom-designed swizzle sticks (each adorned with a golden globe marked with 20 white diamonds for each destination) — one for every lucky guest on this truly over-the-top trip. ( passportto50.com) - Susan B. Barnes

Abercrombie & Kent's Wings Over Australia

Abercrombie & Kent traverses the Land Down Under with its new Wings Over Australia journeys, highlighting the country's most iconic sites and scenes over the course of 13 days.

The trips — limited to just 20 passengers and priced from $US25,495 (about $A33,265) per person — promise plenty of Aussie adventures, from sipping local wines in the Yarra Valley and sleeping under the stars at Ayers Rock in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park to exploring the Great Barrier Reef and touring the iconic Sydney Opera House. (abercrombiekent.com) - Susan B. Barnes

TCS World Travel's Around-the-World Culinary Journey

Gastronomes, get ready: This May, TCS World Travel is sending 52 wayfaring foodies on the trip of a lifetime. Designed in collaboration with René Redzepi — the chef of Copenhagen's Noma restaurant and founding father of New Nordic cuisine — the 19-day Around-the-World Culinary Journey begins with three days in Seoul before carrying on to eight more palate-pleasing destinations across Europe and Asia.

The itinerary for the trip, priced from $US135,000 (about $A176,200) per person, features far more than just memorable meals. In Tokyo, travellers can take a sushi-making class with a local master and forage the countryside with chef Shinobu Namae of the Michelin-starred L'Effervescence.

A stop in Florence offers lessons with a fifth-generation Tuscan butcher; in Paris, it's a Champagne-and-oyster-fuelled cruise across the Seine; and in Copenhagen, Redzepi will give travellers behind-the-scene access to his legendary kitchen.

Throughout the journey, passengers will travel aboard TCS's private 52-seat Boeing 757 and stay in Four Seasons hotels and resorts. (tcsworldtravel.com) - Sandra Ramani

andBeyond's Private Jet Expeditions

The African safari experts at andBeyond are taking to the skies with a host of new private-jet journeys. The Johannesburg-based outfitter has unveiled 15- and 19-day itineraries, priced from $US75,000 (about $A97,900) per person for the 15-day trip; the 19-day trip starts at $US116,500 (about $A152,000) per person, that will take travellers to some of Africa's most iconic safari destinations, including Botswana's Okavango Delta (where guests can participate in the andBeyond's Rhinos Without Borders initiative by tracking rhino via helicopter) and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park (where travellers will be led by Jonathan Scott of BBC's award-winning _Big Cat Diaries_).

In the air, passengers will enjoy the comfort of a reconfigured Embraer 145 and the Pilatus PC12; on the ground, they'll stay in andBeyond's luxury camps and other A-list properties. Scheduled itineraries accommodating up to 12 guests per departure are set to take place this year in May, June, September, and October. Travelers can also book bespoke expeditions for custom African adventures. (andbeyond.com) - Jackie Caradonio

Après in the Air with Fairmont Hotels and Air Canada

Oh, Canada! Celebrate True North's 150th birthday this year with an over-the-top experience from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Air Canada. The Après in the Air package transforms Air Canada Jetz's all-business-class Airbus A319 into a chalet in the sky with fuzzy faux lambskin throws and live in-air entertainment.

On the ground, travellers stay in Fairmont properties in Ottawa, Montebello, and Mont-Tremblant, enjoying wintertime experiences like ice-skating, skiing, and dog sledding. The customisable journeys are available through the end of 2017, and are priced from $US300,000 (about $A391,400) for up to 58 travellers. (fairmont.com) - Susan B. Barnes

Discover Your Italy's Grand Tour of Italy by Private Jet

Discover Your Italy is taking Italophiles on the whirlwind trip of their dreams with its 15-day Grand Tour of Italy by Private Jet experience. Priced from around $US17,000 (about $A22,200) per person, the fast-paced itinerary will have travellers cruising Italy's Lake Como at sunset one day, and touring the Verona Arena the next.

Additional stops include the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Sicily. Experiences at every stop are customisable, regardless of whether you fancy a gourmet lunch in Padua, a boat ride in the famed Grotto, or a tour of the Mt. Etna volcano. (discoveryouritaly.com) - Susan B. Barnes

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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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