There has been some amazing motorcycles churned out by the world’s leading manufacturers since the year 2000. In just over two decades, the best motorcycles have gone from almost totally analog to rolling computers, and there’s been a level of innovation the likes of which has never been experienced before within the industry.
Out of this field, there are a few standouts that deserved to be called out. We’ve cobbled together our picks for the best models since the millennium, only including production machines. The focus is also on those bikes you can ride on the street or dirt road. Hang on, we’re going for a ride.
2000 Honda RVT 1000 (RC51)
Photo : Courtesy of PJ Archives.
By the end of the 1990s, Honda was sick of its exotic but outclassed RC45 getting defeated in the WorldSBK race series, so it went away to build a “better Ducati.” This was Honda’s first go at producing a twin-cylinder racer after decades on the four-cylinder train, and it worked better than anyone had hoped. Two WorldSBK crowns with Colin Edwards (2000/2002), and its last AMA Superbike crown (2002) with the late Nicky Hayden, cemented the RVT 1000’s reputation as one of the best superbikes that Honda ever created.
2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Suzuki took a few lessons learned from its iconic GSX-R750 and fitted them into the new big-bore superbike category that was now in full prominence, creating a 108kW powerhouse that promptly displaced Yamaha, then class king, and its YZF-R1.
The GSX-R1000 was instantly competitive, and when it came to AMA Superbike competition, the model won every championship from 2003 until 2010, when Yamaha fought back. The 2001 GSX-R1000 marked the first true Suzuki superbike of the modern era.
2001 Honda GL 1800 Gold Wing
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Honda went back to the drawing board in 2000 for the following year’s GL 1800. The bike featured an increase in capacity from 1,520cc to 1,832cc, plus an emphasis on the sportier side of long-distance touring with improved suspension, brakes and ergonomics.
The result was a motorcycle so good that it would be 17 years before Honda could come up with another fully revised version worthy of the Gold Wing name. The model is still the standard by which all touring motorcycles are measured.
2002 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
While the world was slowly waking up to the benefits of the do-it-all motorcycle at the beginning of the century, Suzuki trumped the competition in that class with the 2002 V-Strom 1000. The ’Strom used the old TL1000S V-twin, a motor with oodles of torque and primarily designed for a sportbike.
The V-Strom’s power plant, however, was packaged in a chassis that could handle almost every type of riding except hardcore off-roading. Twisty roads, touring, two-up cruising, city commuting, dirt roads—the bike can do no wrong.
2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
We’ve selected the 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R for inclusion, not for its outright performance, but for the lasting mark it left on superbike culture in the early 2000’s. Others were quicker and won more races, but the ’04 10R’s reputation as a scare-your-pants-off sportbike is unmatched even to this day. A claimed 130kW (in truth it was about 111kW at the rear wheel) with a snappy, unruly chassis—devoid of simple rider aids like a steering damper—made this bike one that was only for those who weren’t even remotely faint of heart. The easy-riding 2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R is almost the antithesis of the original 2004 fire-breather. We guess it had to grow up, eventually.
2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
This is Suzuki’s all-time hit. A WorldSBK champion with Troy Corser, an AMA champion with Mat Mladin and a showroom star in sales across the globe. The 2005 GSX-R1000 combines light, precise handling with one of the best superbike motors ever made—a 130kW behemoth that put bikes like the Honda CBR1000RR and Yamaha YZF-R1 firmly in the mirrors. The engine and chassis were so good that Suzuki was still using the combination 10 years later when it introduced the GSX-S1000 range, and then a few years after that with the revamped Katana, which the company freely admitted was a 2005 GSX-R1000 in disguise.
2006 KTM 950 Adventure
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The ultimate iteration of what many consider KTM’s greatest adventure bike, the 2006 KTM 950 was the last such machine to come from Mattighofen with carburettors. As such, it became a favourite with global travellers who could fix the bike in the middle of nowhere rather than deal with a finicky fuel-injection system.
Excellent WP suspension coupled with dual gas tanks meant that massive miles could be covered between stops. The 950 helped solidify KTM’s reputation as the motorcycle brand for serious adventure riders, rather than those who primarily commute to the café.
2006 Ducati Desmosedici GP16 RR
Photo : Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Ducati’s Desmosedici D16 RR (RR stands for Racing Replica) was as close as you could buy to a MotoGP bike for the street. Using a 990cc motor modelled on the 2004 Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP racer of Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi, Ducati claimed the machine made a rollicking 149kW and 115Nm of torque from the V-4 engine.
The bike is graced with the very best Öhlins suspension of the period, and was the first production motorcycle to use forged magnesium wheels. It’s an absolute gem that costs a treasure trove to run and service, but is currently skyrocketing in value as it will surely be coveted long into the future.
2006 Yamaha YZF-R6
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6 is to sportbike riders what a Remington Model Seven is to serious hunters. This machine debuted a number of technical firsts for Yamaha—the first ride-by-wire throttle in Yamaha’s Chip Controlled Throttle (YCCT), variable inlet tracts, titanium inlet and exhaust valves and an ear-splitting 18,000 rpm redline.
All of these elements helped make the ’06 R6 one of the finest sportbikes of all time. It formed the basis of the R6 line for the rest of the model’s life, which finally ended in 2020 when the last YZF-R6s rolled off the production line.
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Taking the design ethos of the Suzuki Hayabusa–killing ZX-14, Kawasaki launched the Concours 14 in 2008. The model is an elegant and fast long-distance touring machine. Thanks to its ZX-14-derived four-cylinder motor, the bike made 111kW. It also featured variable valve timing, digital tire pressure monitors, an electric windscreen, ABS and a cockpit that enabled pilots to ride for hour after hour in comfort.
In one fell swoop, Kawasaki nearly perfected the high-speed touring motorcycle. The model has remained essentially the same ever since, save for minor tweaks like traction control, some bodywork nips and tucks and subtle suspension changes.
2008 BMW F 800 GS
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The F 800 GS was BMW’s answer to a growing call from adventure riders for slimmer, lighter off-road motorcycles that were easier to take to the far reaches of the world than the mighty (and heavy) R 1150 GS. The 2008 F 800 GS relies on a svelte parallel-twin motor that is also found in the F 800 R.
BMW mated the motor to a long-travel, dirt-friendly suspension with 21-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels. Add the chain drive and it’s a true go-anywhere transport that proved immensely popular with everyone from expeditionary travellers to inner-city motorcycle couriers. And the F 800 GS proved an able sibling to the bigger 1150 GS range.
2009 Aprilia RSV4 Factory
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
With the redoubtable RSV4, Aprilia came back to superbike competition with a vengeance in 2009. Possessing the only V-4 motor you could buy in the class (at least at the time), the RSV4 benefitted from Aprilia engineers who used every bit of knowledge gained from their years of 250 cc Grand Prix domination to create a landmark, track-focused machine.
The bike delivers a stout 134kW and 115Nm of torque, and is equipped with the best production Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes of the time. The first RSV4 was dominant almost immediately, taking the 2010 WorldSBK title with Max Biaggi in the saddle. Since then, the RSV4 has garnered two more titles and won countless shootout tests across the globe. The model is now part of the 1100 cc club with the debut of the stupendous 2021 edition.
2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The sportiest Sportster of all time, the XR1200 is on this list not so much for outright performance or even sales success, but as an indication of how on-point Harley-Davidson’s thinking was at the time. The manufacturer preempted the return of the flat-track style—universally favoured by custom builders around the world—by half a decade. But Harley-Davidson only produced the machine between 2009 and 2012.
After that, the executives gave up, confining what was a real sleeper of a machine to the history books. Today, an XR1200 that’s not in some state of disrepair is a rarity, as many were raced, crashed, poorly maintained or all of the above. Find a good one, though, and you’ve got a true modern classic on your hands.
2010 Honda VFR1200F DCT
Photo: Mark McIntyre, courtesy of PJ Archives.
Trust it to Honda to push the technical boundaries. The world’s largest motorcycle company did just that with the 2010 VFR1200F, the first such machine to come with Honda’s innovative dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The DCT was the first semi-automatic gearbox fitted to a production motorcycle.
You could still change gears manually via the paddle shifters on the left handlebar, but there was no clutch lever—something many riders needed time to get used to. Powered by a 1,237cc V-4 motor, the VFR is remembered as a good bike, not a great one, yet was the vehicle Honda used to bring the DCT system to market. That alone is reason enough to include it here.
2010 BMW S 1000 RR
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Few superbikes have blown away the competition like the BMW S 1000 RR. At a time when the world was still reeling from the global financial crisis, BMW kept its development foot flat to the floor and released what is now remembered as the first true digital sportbike. A total of 141kW was on tap from the 999cc four-cylinder motor that ran a number of production firsts, including “finger-follower” valve actuation for the cams rather than the old “shim-and-bucket” design.
A twin-spar aluminium frame designed primarily for track use was employed, but the big news was the massive electronics suite that included ride-by-wire throttle, lean-angle-sensitive traction control and four variable ride modes. With the S 1000 RR, BMW changed the design game for all superbikes to follow.
2013 BMW R 1200 GS
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The bike that started the ADV segment way back in 1980 got its biggest update yet in 2013. Dubbed the “wasser-boxer” (water boxer), the 1,170cc flat-twin engine was partially water-cooled, with power going from 82KW to 92kW, and torque measurably increased across the rev range.
With a focus on sporty handling, this GS could even be taken to the racetrack if so desired, and then eat up any dirt roads on the way home. Of course, true to BMW form, it seemed to carry every conceivable rider aid offered, so the tech more than matched the motor. The BMW R 1200 GS became king of the maxi-ADV class, a position it holds to this day.
2014 Yamaha MT-07
Photo: Jonathan Godin, courtesy of PJ Archives.
This is the little Yamaha that could. Yamaha has a proud history of excellent small-capacity roadsters that stretches back to the early 1970’s. Machines like the TX650 and subsequent RD350 had newbies lining up to ride them, and the MT-07 continues this legacy for a new generation.
There’s nothing overly flashy about the MT-07; it’s got a 687cc parallel-twin four-stroke motor good for about 52kW. But it’s finished beautifully and the ride experience is superb. Yamaha has sold mountains of MT’s since its release in 2014, and there’s little doubt that it will continue to do so for years to come.
2014 KTM 1290 Super Duke R
Photo: Brian J. Nelson, courtesy of PJ Archives.
The rise of the “super-naked” bike really began with the Aprilia Tuono V4 at the end of the previous decade, but the class was cemented when KTM brought out “the Beast” in 2014. That monster was the 1290 Super Duke R powered by a 1,301cc V-twin—a naked motorcycle designed for the hooligan in all of us.
The manufacturer quoted an incredible 134kW for the motor, wrapping it in KTM’s trademark orange steel-trellis chassis, WP suspension (admittedly not as top-of-the-line as it could have been) and just enough electronics and rider aids to lend a faint air of sensibility to the madness. More than that, however, the Super Duke heralded KTM—already an off-road powerhouse—as a truly major player in the street-bike market.
2015 Honda RC213V-S
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
It would be unfair to include the Ducati Desmosedici on this list and not the Honda RC213V-S. More exclusive, rarer and certainly pricier, the bike was Honda’s halo MotoGP replica based on the RCV1000 machine raced by the late Nicky Hayden.
Limited to just 200 examples and weighing a scant 170kg dry, the model—carrying a 999cc V-4—came in restricted 74kW. However, the purchase of the race pack, which included a stunning and barking-loud titanium exhaust, allowed for 160kW. This is likely the most exclusive street bike Honda has ever produced, besting even its other halo model, the 1992 NR750.
2015 Yamaha YZF-R1
Photo : Courtesy of PJ Archives.
For 2015, Yamaha went through the YZF-R1 model from top-to-bottom, releasing a superbike that could be considered the natural successor to the 2010 BMW S 1000 RR in terms of the loaded tech. A new, slender chassis and reworked crossplane-crank motor were crafted, and a slew of electronics were added, the latter including Slide Control.
The 2015 YZF-R1’s power plant was a massive step up from the original crossplane-crank engine in the iterations from 2008 through 2014. This version was such an improvement that Yamaha has only had to make incremental changes in recent years to keep it at the head of the superbike pack.
2017 BMW K 1600 GT
Photo: Daniel Kraus, courtesy of PJ Archives.
When considering BMW’s K 1600 GT, its long-distance touring tour de force, there is a laundry list of impressive features to note: the 1,649cc six-cylinder engine with ferocious torque, the self-levelling electronic suspension, adaptive headlights that see around corners, a reverse gear, an electric screen and all the rider-assist bells and whistles you could want.
First released in 2011, the model received a thorough rework in 2017 in order to challenge the Honda Gold Wing in the maxi-touring arena. It’s a far sportier machine than the Gold Wing, and the build quality is exceptional. The BMW K 1600 GT and even more luxurious K 1600 GTL represent the absolute pinnacle of Munich’s touring might.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Although Ducati was arguably the first to bring a modern, scrambler-style production bike to market in 2014, it was Triumph who perhaps perfected the segment in 2019 with the brilliant Scrambler 1200 XE. The original scramblers are the forefathers of today’s motocross bikes, and while Ducati got the looks right, Triumph took it a few steps further to create a retro-style motorcycle that can go places many modern ADV bikes would struggle to get to, and that the Ducati Scrambler could only dream of. (Although the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled somewhat fixed this problem).
Huge ground clearance, good suspension and comfort, a motor swiped from the Triumph Thruxton and aesthetics that would fit right in with Steve McQueen in the film On Any Sunday make the Triumph Scrambler an absolute treat to ride.
2020 Zero SR/F
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The first company dedicated to electric motorcycles, California-based Zero had spent 13 years trying to convince famously reluctant riders about the benefits of electric propulsion. But it never quite managed to do so until the SR/F came along. The SR/F hit the market at the same time as the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, but its price (a third less than the LiveWire) made it a far more enticing prospect.
Then there was the ride experience. The machine covers zero to 100km/h in 3 seconds, not to mention its mind-bending acceleration between 60km/h to 120km/h. This is a proper motorcycle, not one of the sometimes gimmicky Zero offerings of the past. It shows that electric motorcycles really can excite, and provides a tasty preview of far more battery-powered bikes to come.
2020 Ducati Superleggera V4
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
Carbon fibre. That’s all you need to know about the Superleggera V4. Every structural component is made from the stuff—the front frame (chassis), subframe, bodywork, wheels, various engine and wheel guards, all of it. The Superleggera is the first street bike to feature a carbon frame for sale to the public (the other carbon bike, the BMW HP Race, was a track-only offering).
Due to the Ducati model’s lightness paired with its 224 hp V-4 motor, one that gets boosted to an eye-watering 234 hp with the race exhaust, the Superleggera V4 gets firmly placed in the pantheon of sportbike legends.
2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 S
Photo: Courtesy of PJ Archives.
The Ducati Multistrada took a massive leap forward in 2021, and not simply because it got a bigger V-4. It’s a ground-breaking motorcycle because it was the first production bike to be fitted with radar-assisted Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD), upping the safety game considerably over the rest of the field on the market today.
Combine that with an outrageous 1,158cc V-4 motor, optimum ergonomics for everything between sporty on-road riding and off-the-beaten-path adventuring, every possible rider aid Ducati could come up with and an excellent suspension and brake package, and you’ve got a bike Ducati says is its greatest yet. After time in the saddle, it’s very hard to argue that sentiment.
The list includes a presidential helicopter, a special-edition ACH130 co-designed by Aston Martin, and the sleek Bell 525, appropriately named “Relentless.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.