The 17 most hotly anticipated hotel openings of 2019

The beach resorts, city hotels, safari camps and adventure lodges you need to know this year.

By Devorah Lev-tov 21/01/2019

A boutique hotel with a floating spa in England’s countryside. Luxury domes in the middle of Bolivia’s salt flats. A top-to-bottom remake of one of the world’s legendary hotels in Singapore. These are just a few of the reasons we’re excited to travel in 2019. As we hunker down for winter, we’re setting the countdown for the openings of some truly incredible properties this year, from spa retreats to lavish resorts to tented camps across the globe. Here, we’re predicting an entire year’s worth of the best in travel- let’s go!

The New Beach Classic: Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Opening: Summer 2019

After what seems like eons of waiting, the first new Reserve property from Ritz-Carlton in three years will finally open its doors this summer in Los Cabos, Mexico, joining the three other ultra-luxurious properties in the exclusive portfolio. Cabo is seeing an unprecedented number of luxury resorts launching this year, including properties from Four Seasons and Nobu, but we’re most impressed with Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve thanks to its spectacular beachfront location, two pools, five-acre wellness haven, 27-hole golf resort with three distinct courses designed by Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus and four restaurants and bars. There will be 115 suites and one- and two-story villas, each with a personal butler and many with a private plunge pool. If you can’t relax here, we’re out of ideas.


Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Photo: Courtesy Ritz-Carlton

The Elite French Retreat: Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé

Opening: Spring 2019

Does France need more chateaus-turned-hotels? If it’s the Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé, our answer is a resounding yes. A former Loire Valley country home of the Baron Jacques Pineau de Viennay from 1760, the château is being returned to its 18th-century splendor after a careful private restoration under the guidance of the French government. Having played host to luminaries like Voltaire, Rousseau and Mozart, the property oozes an unapologetically opulent (and undeniably French) style. The 45,000-square-foot château, set to open this spring, will have 17 rooms and suites, a spa and fitness centre, a grand ballroom, formal and informal dining rooms, orangeries and nearly 80 acres of impeccable French gardens and grounds. Over-the-top doesn’t begin to explain the lavishness here: From original boiserie walls with wooden details to stunning chandeliers dripping with crystals to custom fabrics from French luminaries like Pierre Frey, Christian Lacroix and Jean Paul Gaultier, the Château du Grand-Lucé will give Paris grandes dames a run for their money.


Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé
Photo: © Catherine O’Hara Photography

The Vineyard Treasure: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley

Opening: Mid-2019

Four Seasons is entering the wine business with the introduction of its Four Seasons Napa Valley this summer. The property will have its own winery operated by Thomas Rivers Brown and a hand-farmed vineyard visible from the 85 rustic-chic rooms and suites with private terraces. Dining options will be top-notch- this is Napa, after all- with a restaurant, pool grill and a general store stocked with local gourmet picnic necessities. There will also be two outdoor pools and a stone-clad eight-room spa featuring outdoor treatments using mineral-rich local mud. Our favorite detail? The two cabanas hidden among the vines, which can be used for spa treatments and private dinners.


Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley
Photo: Courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

The Soaring High-Rise: Rosewood Hong Kong

Opening: March 2019

Hong Kong has no lack of high-end super-luxe hotels, which makes the March opening of the Rosewood Hong Kong all the more exciting: This hotel is competing with some of the world’s best urban properties and we are positive it will more than hold its own. With some of the largest rooms in the city and more than 80 percent of them having panoramic harbor views, the hotel features impeccable design by Tony Chi, with rich materials, one-of-a-kind art and thoughtful details like double showerheads, deep soaking tubs and well-stocked bar carts in all suites.

The 65-story Kohn Pedersen Fox–built tower will devote 43 stories to the hotel, and there will be 322 rooms and 91 suites, including 18 extravagant signature suites like the 10,764-square-foot Harbour House and Garden House, both of which enjoy wraparound sky terraces with Victoria Harbour views. Other hotel amenities include uniquely designed salons with curated artifacts on each floor; the posh and sophisticated Manor Club executive lounge; the brand’s first urban Asaya, Rosewood’s holistic wellness concept set across two levels; and eight restaurants and bars including an authentic Chinese tea house.


Rosewood Hong Kong
Image: Courtesy Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

The Island Paradise: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Opening: March 2019

Despite the fact that the Maldives keep shrinking, the hotels and resorts on its islands seem to be multiplying. This year will see openings by Baglioni Resorts, Raffles and the one we’re most curious about: the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. Spanning three islands in the South Male Atoll, the resort will have 10 dining outlets and 138 carefully positioned beachfront and overwater villas. Each lavishly appointed villa will be equipped with a private pool, hot tub and lounge deck area. Some overwater villas will also have magnificent glass flooring for crystal-clear views of the lagoon below.

Probably the only thing that will pry you away from the pristine beach is the massive, it-has-everything 21,500-square-foot spa with an extensive outdoor bathing circuit, a VIP spa suite, a hammam suite, four resting pavilions, a vitality pool, a beauty salon and an indoor and outdoor mind and body studio. A gym, an outdoor fitness center, aqua spinning classes and an overwater yoga platform complement the spa’s offerings.


Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Photo: Courtesy Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts

The Italian Exclusive: Hotel de la Ville

Opening: May 2019

Rome’s hotel offerings were getting a bit tired. But la dolce vita is making its way back to the Eternal City- first with the spectacular renovation of the St. Regis Rome and soon, with the arrival of Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte property set to open at the top of the Spanish Steps in May. The historic 18th-century palazzo, which originally opened as a hotel in 1924, will have 104 elegant rooms and suites designed by Tommaso Ziffer in collaboration with Olga Polizzi (director of design for Rocco Forte Hotels). There will be two presidential suites, but you’ll want to book the one on the 8th floor because it boasts private elevator access and spans 1,185 square feet with two terraces, a sitting room, dining room and study. The hotel will also feature three restaurants and cocktail bars headed by executive chef Fulvio Pierangelini, a stylish rooftop bar with stunning views of Rome, and a two-story spa with a thermal concept and five treatment rooms.


Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Photo: Courtesy Rocco Forte Hotels

The Desert Oasis: Six Senses Shaharut

Opening: Q3 2019

One of the year’s biggest openings is happening in the arid desert in southern Israel, where the closest attraction is the Red Sea, some 50 miles to the south. Set into a dramatic cliff with panoramic views of the desert landscape, Six Senses Shaharut will have 58 suites and villas, including one three-bedroom retreat, when it opens in the third quarter of this year. The villas will be built from local rocks and feature furnishings sourced from local community artisans. The signature restaurant, poolside bar and grill, juice bar and Six Senses’ trademark “Alchemy Bar” will use ingredients harvested from the resort’s own gardens or from local farmers at nearby kibbutzim. The massive spa facilities will include an indoor pool, outdoor lap pool, fully equipped gym, yoga studio with desert views and nail bar.

Worried about what to do in the desert? Six Senses Shaharut will also be a home base for exploration, featuring camel stables with an arena and grooming area, and an open-air amphitheater created from the natural terrain that will transform into a cinema beneath the stars. Activities include off-road driving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, camel safaris, craft workshops, bird-watching, wine tours and a tented Bedouin dining experiences.


Six Senses Shaharut
Photo: Courtesy Six Senses

The Grande Dame Redux: Raffles Singapore

Opening: Mid-2019

While this list is mainly dedicated to new hotels, we couldn’t help including the return of one very important legend. This year, Raffles Singapore, which has been closed to guests for renovations since 2017, will mark its much-anticipated grand reopening with a mid-year unveiling of its 115 suites (an increase due to the new layout of the hotel) all re-created by Champalimaud Design. The two grand Presidential Suites overlook the tranquil Palm Court and feature private verandas, living rooms and dining rooms that are bedecked with carefully curated antiques and artworks.

New dining concepts will be helmed by a clutch of renowned chefs, from Alain Ducasse (with his first Mediterranean sharing-and-grill concept) to Michelin-three-star chef Anne-Sophie Pic (with her first restaurant in Asia) to Jereme Leung (with a boundary-pushing Chinese restaurant). If that’s not enough, Raffles will reopen with seven other bars and restaurants, including a fresh new take on the beloved Long Bar, which has returned to its original home in the Arcade.


Raffles Singapore
Photo: Courtesy Raffles

The Over-the-Top Adventure: The Lodge at Blue Sky

Opening: May 2019

Luxury coupled with the great outdoors is hard to do well. But this year, two new properties are challenging that notion. The first, Blackberry Mountain- a sophomore property from the family behind Tennessee’s famous Blackberry Farm- will open this February. The second- and the one that has us most excited- is The Lodge at Blue Sky, an Auberge Resorts Collection property set to open in Utah’s secluded Wasatch Mountains this May.

There will be no glamping at Blue Sky: The lodge will have 46 well-appointed rooms and suites including the plush Creek Houses- spacious, freestanding accommodations situated along Alexander Creek (which also happens to be the property’s main water source). But it’s what’s happening outdoors that will beckon most, with activities like fly-fishing, horseback riding, snowshoeing and skiing offered across the property’s 3,500 acres and beyond. Extra thrilling is a partnership with helicopter outfitter CloudVeil allowing guests to partake in unforgettable heli-skiing and heli-snowboarding on some of North America’s most iconic peaks.

Post-activity, guests can escape to the Auberge Spa, replenish at the signature restaurant supplied by the 1.5-acre farm, or book the property’s yurt for a bonfire-fueled marshmallow-roasting session. Our favourite part? The on-site Saving Gracie Equine Healing Foundation where guests can work with rescued horses and cattle.


The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection
Photo: Courtesy Auberge Resorts Collection

The Bali Alternative: Lelewatu Resort Sumba

Opening: April 2019

As Bali becomes more and more overcrowded, travellers- and hotel owners- are looking to other islands in Indonesia’s archipelago of unspoiled islands. Enter Sumba, a tropical and relatively unknown paradise with remote beaches, world-class surf, lush jungles and an enthralling local culture. Come this April, the idyllic isle will welcome Lelewatu Resort Sumba, a member of the Preferred Hotel & Resorts set on a cliffside overlooking a private lagoon and the Indian Ocean. Scattered over 10 acres of untouched land, the resort’s 27 stunning villas will be filled with authentic Sumbanese wooden interiors, hand-woven ikat fabrics, indoor marble baths, and private balconies and pools. Guests can sample local delicacies at two gourmet restaurants, be pampered at the Maraga Spa and experience a host of activities including yoga, horseback riding, trekking, and exploring the beautiful coastline, traditional villages, sacred lakes, and waterfalls. Bali who?


Lelewatu Resort Sumba
Photo: Courtesy Lelewatu Resort Sumba

The Wellness Evolution: Miraval Austin

Opening: January 2019

Speaking of horses, Texas’s wild-‘n’-free Hill Country is about to lure wellness seekers from far and wide with the imminent arrival this January of the Miraval Austin. The 220-acre property- Miraval Group’s first resort outside of its lauded flagship property in Arizona- will combine signature offerings from the Arizona property with exclusive only-in-Austin programs and spa treatments. The retreat will include 117 rooms and suites, a 21,000-square-foot Life in Balance Spa, a 4,500-square-foot Body Mindfulness Center, a treetop challenge course, a kitchen for culinary classes and two infinity pools. Skin-care products will be exclusive to the resort: Laurel Shaffer, whose brand Laurel is hyper-focused on natural ingredients, came to Austin from California to develop products special for the property. The resort has also partnered with the nearby Cypress Creek Ranch, where equine therapy and other experiences are offered. Most of all, we’re eager to check out the resort’s culinary offerings, which are poised to seriously upgrade spa food (finally!) by tapping into Austin’s thriving local food scene and focussing on the region’s natural bounty.


Miraval Austin
Photo: Courtesy Miraval Austin

The Next-Level Safari: Sonop

Opening: Summer 2019

Namibia is already on fire, with recent openings from esteemed safari-maker Wilderness and top-notch newcomer Natural Selection. But this summer, the plot thickens in the arid Karas Region, where Sonop, an exclusive lodge set in the southern extremity of the Namib Desert, will open its doors. The brainchild of French hotelier Arnaud Zannier, the lodge will be constructed atop dramatic boulders, with 10 rooms that are richly furnished with antiques made of superior materials, telescopes, colourful carpets and precious wood. Bathrooms- often an afterthought at camps in these parts- will be built around central copper bathtubs and feature rain showers. Also on hand will be a cocktail-and-cigar lounge with a billiard table, a spa, a fitness centre and a heated outdoor infinity pool, all facing the desert’s vastness. Of course, the real reason you’ll visit Sonop is the surrounding desert; the lodge will take guests on 4×4 dune drives and horseback safari rides to glimpse everything from leopards and cheetahs to baboons.


Sonop
Photo: Courtesy Zannier Hotels

The Fresh City Hotel: 1 Hotel West Hollywood

Opening: Spring 2019

We’ve been waiting to see what’s next for the 1 Hotel brand, which currently has two properties in New York City and one in Miami. Turns out, they’ve been working on several new locations, including hotels in Los Cabos, Mexico; Hanalei Bay, Hawaii; and Haitang Bay (China) as well as this gem in West Hollywood, which is a takeover and revamp of the old Jeremy hotel. The 1 Hotel West Hollywood, which will open its doors this spring, will sport floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sweeping views of Los Angeles in its 285 rooms and suites.

Of course, 1 Hotels are known for taking inspiration from nature so it’s no surprise that native greenery, reclaimed wood, clay tones, marble bathrooms and organic cotton sheets are all part of the new look. In a nod to the brand’s South Beach property, a rooftop pool deck is poised to become a new “it” spot for hopping WeHo. And for those who need to escape the smog, the hotel has thoughtfully connected its two towers with “the Canyon,” a granite pathway running between reclaimed-wood planters that houses olive trees and wild, native plants.


1 Hotel West Hollywood
Photo: Courtesy 1 Hotels

The Otherworldly Escape: Kachi Lodge

Opening: April 2019

Last year, it became clear that round was the new black. Forget four walls, a floor and ceiling- the hottest trend in adventure travel is bubbles. This April, the geodesic look is heading south to Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats, with the opening of Kachi Lodge, a six-room (or, rather, six-bubble) camp located at the base of the Tunupa volcano. Inside the orbs is surprisingly spacious—there’s even space for a private bathroom and wood-fired stove- but the real decoration is the panoramic views of salt flats that stretch in every direction. There’s even an observatory attached to the main dome for maximum sky views of the salar.

Of course, you can’t stay in your bubble forever- especially in this ethereal setting. Activities at Kachi will include hiking (to either a nearby cactus-covered island or the volcano base), mountain biking and visiting the village of Coquesa and its ancient mummy caves.


Kachi Lodge
Photo: © Amazing Escapes

The Airport Hotel You’ll Actually Want to Stay In: TWA Hotel

Opening: Spring 2019

For the first time ever, we might actually stay at the airport on our next visit to New York City. John F. Kennedy International Airport’s TWA Hotel, opening this spring, isn’t your typical airport pit stop. It has been in the making for years and will be housed in the iconic TWA Terminal built by legendary architect Eero Saarinen in 1962. The terminal was designated a landmark in 1994 but ceased operations in 2001, until MCR, one of the largest hotel operators in the United States, stepped in.

Connected to JetBlue Terminal 5 via the flight tubes made famous by the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, the hotel’s 512 rooms will take you back to the terminal’s heyday with authentic Saarinen-designed mid-century modern Knoll furnishings, martini carts, vintage rotary phones and terrazzo-tiled bathrooms with Hollywood-inspired vanities. The massive property will also feature 50,000 square feet of event space, a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, a rooftop pool and observation deck, a museum devoted to TWA and the mid-century modern design movement and six restaurants and eight bars, including a recently announced Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant called Paris Café. Plus, you’ll be able to have a cocktail on an actual airplane while still on the ground: The hotel recently got its hands on a 1958 Lockheed Constellation L-1649A Starliner airplane called Connie that will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind cocktail lounge and event space. Wheels up!


TWA Hotel
Photo: Max Touhey

The Last Untouched Island: Awei Pila

Opening: January 2019

Discovering the undiscovered is becoming harder and harder. But on a near-deserted island in the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar, which was until recently off-limits to all visitors, Awei Pila is that rare place that has remained truly unknown. Set to open this month, the resort will share the island of Pila with a community of some 70 Moken fishermen—and no one else. Nestled among stunning atolls and coral reefs within an archipelago of 800 islets, most of which are uninhabited and untouched, this is one of the world’s last virgin paradises.

Awei Pila will have 24 tented villas fronting a white-sand beach, an open-air restaurant and a spa. The island has a single source of fresh water, 10 sandy beaches, a thriving bird population (including hornbills) and coves brimming with fish, dugongs and turtles. With sustainability and eco-consciousness at its core to protect the island, Awei Pila is a plastics-free resort with a resident marine biologist overseeing sustainable policies.


Awei Pila
Photo: Courtesy Awei Pila

The Historic Haunt: Monkey Island Estate

Opening: February 2019

A luxury island hotel in the middle of England? ’Tis true. Perched on the River Thames in the historic village of Bray in the English countryside, the 800-year-old Monkey Island Estate, which will be a member of Small Luxury Hotels, is undergoing a complete renovation by YTL Hotels and Champalimaud Design.

Monkey Island, which was founded by monks (not monkeys) and has been frequented by monarchs, aristocrats, writers, and artists throughout its storied history, will be restored and redesigned to celebrate its lore and history. We’re most eager for the floating spa—the first of its kind in Britain—on a custom-built barge featuring a wheelhouse reception, Elixir Bar, and three treatment rooms. In a partnership with the British spa brand Moss of the Isles, the signature treatment will be the Monks Elixir–Botany and Beauty, which begins with a cup of a monk-brewed ancient herbal tonic followed by a full-body massage enhanced by herbal packs to relieve stiffness. Accommodations include 38 boutique bedrooms, three deluxe suites and six individual residences spread across the seven acres of stunning grounds. Another reason to go to Bray? It’s the only village in the world that lays claim to two Michelin-three-star restaurants: Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and The Waterside Inn by Alain Roux.

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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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