Not to be mistaken with the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is not only Dubai’s most iconic building but also the most luxurious hotel in the world. Located steps away from the Jumeriah Public Beach and the Souk Madinat, the iconic white sail-shaped building hides a level of luxury accommodations and decor splendor within its walls that has no parallel. The Burj Al Arab is the only hotel in the world with seven stars and the fifth tallest hotel in the world sitting on a man-made island and connected to the Jumeriah beach by a private curving bridge.
Posts filed under Travel
From the Archives: Visiting the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture. World’s Oldest Watch Manufacture.
As you all know, Vacheron Constantin is not only one of the three brands that integrate the 'Holy Trinity of Watchmaking' but also the oldest watch manufacture in the world with an uninterrupted history that spans across almost three centuries —268 years to be precise. Therefore, a visit to the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates —a municipality on the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland— is a fascinating experience that as watch collectors and scholars, we will cherish forever.
From the Archives: Visiting the Breguet Manufacture in L'Orient
Embarking into a trip to go visit of one of the most important watch manufactures out there is one of the most appealing things when it comes to our watchlife. Breguet is today the second oldest watch brand as it was established 20 years after Vacheron Constantin opened its doors in 1755. Established in 1775 by its founder Abraham-Louis Breguet the father of the tourbillon, Breguet is today owned by the Swatch Group and located in the village of L’Orient in Swtizerland’s Vallée de Joux —considered the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. After a 3-hour train ride from Paris, we arrived at the Vallorbe train station only 15 minutes away from Breguet.
Experience: Visiting the Vacheron Constantin 'Suite 1755' at The West Hollywood Edition Hotel. A Perfect Friday in the City of Angels.
This past Friday, June 16, 2023, we had the pleasure to finally visit the recently opened Vacheron Constantin ‘Suite 1755’ at The West Hollywood Edition. This temporary space was opened at the end of April 2023, as a private appointment-only lounge while the total renovation of the Rodeo Drive Vacheron Constantin Boutique takes place.
Experience: Vacheron Constantin Mexico City. The Brand's First and Only Boutique in Latin America.
Today, December 7, 2022, we attended the official opening ceremony for the Mexico City Vacheron Constantin Boutique. Not only this marks the first boutique to be opened by the brand in Mexico City —the 5th largest city in the world with a population surpassing 23 million people— but it is also the brand’s first and only boutique in Latin America. This long awaited boutique will cater to the exclusive base of Mexican watch collectors that are always looking for the best of the best.
Experience: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1931 Café New York. An Incredible Evening and a Decadent Morning in the City that Never Sleeps.
Last Tuesday, November 1, 2022, we were in New York City for the opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1931 Café. This experiential concept has just opened for a limited time in different locations around the world from New York to Paris, to Tokyo. The space located on Madison Avenue and the corner of 64th street brings its visitors into an exquisite Art Deco setting for a decadent journey through incredible coffees made to order and tailor-made pastries created by French chef Nina Métayer.
Experience: Dubai with a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual
In proper WCL style, a trip to Dubai is not complete unless you’ve stayed at what is referred to as the most luxurious hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah —not to be mistaken with the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world— is not only one of Dubai’s most photographed buildings but also an iconic white sail-shaped building that hides a level of luxury accommodations and decor splendor within its walls, that has no parallel.
Experience: AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver in the Cayman Islands. Nothing Beats a Watch in its Element.
A week in the Cayman Islands is always wonderful, specially when you stay at the Ritz-Carlton located in the heart of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. During our stay we enjoyed lenty of water activities including interacting with stingrays, smoking a handful of Habanos —Montecristo #4— and simply enjoying the good life. Summers spent by the beach in the company of a good timepiece is always something we really appreciate to the fullest.
Experience: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora with an AP Royal Oak Offshore Forged Carbon Diver
For those of you craving an island hideaway, we invite you to experience this wonderful trip to the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora with us. Adventure, luxury, and the warmth of the Polynesian people await you. Getting to Tahiti requires an 8-hour flight from LAX via Air Tahiti Nui in an exceptionally clean and tidy aircraft with turquoise blue accents, reminiscent of the waters that you will soon encounter and that await you. With world-class service in both Business and Economy class, the journey across the Pacific is a peaceful and easy one.
Experience: Parisian Affair at The Louvre with Vacheron Constantin. The Most Epic Watch Experience Ever.
We’ve taken a lot of trips with watch brands and have experienced some incredible watch experiences that money can’t buy, but nothing will ever compare to the few days we spent in Paris with Vacheron Constantin for the release of the new Metiérs d’Art Tribute to Great Civilizations set of watches. As we embarked on the trip of a lifetime, we were not even sure what Vacheron Constantin had in store for us.
From the Archives: Visiting the Armin Strom Manufacture in Biel/Bienne. A Small but Mighty Fully Integrated Independent Watchmaking Manufacture.
Biel/Bienne is the tenth largest city in Switzerland and the only Swiss city with bilingual signage in German and French. Located in between German and French speaking cities, Biel/Bienne —name in both German and French— is surrounded by the Swiss Alps and magnificent crystal clear water lakes. Home to the Armin Strom Manufacture and also to Swatch Group brands like Omega and Swatch along with one of Rolex’s final assembly facilities, Biel/Bienne will captivate your senses with its Art Deco architecture, Bauhaus landmarks and views of the Swiss Alps for days.
From the Editor: My Visit to The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus
Almost a month ago while I was in Geneva attending the GPHG, I finally visited the new Audemars Piguet museum ‘Musée Atelier’. After many visits to Le Brassus and the ‘old Audemars Piguet Museum’, every trip to Le Brassus has its touch of magic and a special charm that is sometimes hard for me to describe. Back in 2013, right after I had just launched WCL, I visited the AP Museum for the very first time. A year later, Audemars Piguet decided to expand the original museum and the idea to create the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet was born.
From the Archives: Experience The Patek Philippe Museum. The Most Amazing Horological Museum in the World.
The Patek Philippe Museum is a must-see for any watch collector. Located in the heart of Geneva on Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, this museum holds the largest collection of horological pieces and the most fascinating horological exhibit in the world. The Patek Philippe Museum holds more than 2,200 timepieces within their collection divided into two segments, the antique collection dating from 1500-1850 and the Patek Philippe collection that includes not only almost every single reference ever released by Patek Philippe —including commemorative pieces from their various anniversaries as well as unique pieces— but also some of the impressive Henry Graves Jr.'s timepieces, the Supercomplication 'Duke of Regla', the Calibre 89 and a special exhibit with all the pieces commemorating the 175th anniversary amongst others. Once you make yourself into the museum an air of grandeur fills every corner.
From the Archives: Visiting the Audemars Piguet Manufacture in Le Brassus. A Longtime Dream Becomes a Reality.
Back in 1998, I purchased my first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, it was a stainless steel ref. 5402ST A-series that I should've never sold. After buying that first AP, the two-tone Royal Oak ref. 5402SA you see in the picture above was the one that followed. For 20 years as an AP collector and 28 years as a watch collector, I've longed to visit the Audemars Piguet manufacture in Le Brassus, Switzerland.
From the Archives: Visiting the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Le Sentier, Switzerland
Visiting the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture is one of those things that every watchlifestyler should do at least once in their lifetime. Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the most legendary watch brands with a very rich history that dates back to 1833, when in the remote mountains of Jura, inventor Antoine LeCoultre revolutionized the art of horology and turned the Vallée de Joux into the cradle of fine Swiss watchmaking.
Experience: Visiting the HYT Manufature in Neuchâtel. The Compound for the Hydromechanical Horologists and Preciflex.
Located in the northern shore of Lake Neuchâtel and flanked by the Jura Mountains, Neuchâtel is the home to many watch manufactures including Panerai, Zenith and HYT watches. Just 15 minutes away by train from the city of Biel/Bienne, Neuchâtel is also home to spectacular vineyards, Switzerland’s largest bird watching paradise and decadent fish cuisine straight from its glacier water lake. Housed inside the Preciflex headquarters, the HYT Manufacture feels more like some sort of secret technology lab rather than your typical watch manufacture. Preciflex develops, industrializes and manufactures disruptive micro- and meso-fluidic devices with the purpose of indicating, injecting, diffusing or managing power. They target industries such as watchmaking, medical devices, interior design objects, cosmetics and automotive. Their expertise offers new solutions in the areas of micro mechanics, fluid mechanics, chemistry, electronics and optics.
Experience: Visiting the Armin Strom Manufacture in Biel/Bienne. A Small but Mighty Fully Integrated Independent Watchmaking Manufacture.
Biel/Bienne is the tenth largest city in Switzerland and the only Swiss city with bilingual signage in German and French. Located in between German and French speaking cities, Biel/Bienne —name in both German and French— is surrounded by the Swiss Alps and magnificent crystal clear water lakes. Home to the Armin Strom Manufacture and also to Swatch Group brands like Omega and Swatch along with one of Rolex’s final assembly facilities, Biel/Bienne will captivate your senses with its Art Deco architecture, Bauhaus landmarks and views of the Swiss Alps for days. Less than two hours away by train from Zürich and only 15 minutes from Neuchâtel, Biel/Bienne is situated alongside the Biel Lake that together with Lake Morat and Lake Neuchâtel, is one of the three large lakes in the Jura region of Switzerland.
Experience: The Breguet Museum in Paris. A Must When Visiting the City of Light.
One of the few horology museums outside of Switzerland, the Breguet Museum is a must when visiting Paris. Located at the top level of the Breguet Boutique at the Place Vendôme, the museum displays some of the most exquisite timepieces from Breguet. As soon as you get to the boutique, head to the second level where you will be able to see a chronological journey of Breguet timepieces along with the archives safeguarded by a vault. The museum, just like all things related with the history of the brand are carefully curated by Monsieur Emmanuel Breguet a direct descendant of the Breguet family and vicepresident of Montres Breguet S.A.
Experience: Visiting the Breguet Manufacture in L'Orient. Holding the World's Biggest Guillochage Department.
Embarking into a trip to go visit of one of the most important watch manufactures out there is one of the most appealing things when it comes to our watchlife. Breguet is today the second oldest watch brand as it was established 20 years after Vacheron Constantin opened its doors in 1755. Established in 1775 by its founder Abraham-Louis Breguet the father of the tourbillon, Breguet is today owned by the Swatch Group and located in the village of L’Orient in Swtizerland’s Vallée de Joux —considered the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. After a 3-hour train ride from Paris, we arrived at the Vallorbe train station only 15 minutes away from Breguet.
Experience: Art Basel 2018 with the 4th Audemars Piguet Art Commission. When Baselworld is not at the Messeplatz and the Magic from Le Brassus Fills the Air and the Halls.
Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of joining Audemars Piguet on a once in a lifetime trip that included a visit to the AP Manufacture in Le Brassus —which you can read about it here— and Art Basel 2018 in Switzerland. For those of you not quite familiar with Art Basel, this is one of the most renowned art fairs in the world with three shows staged annually in Basel, Switzerland; Miami Beach, Florida; and Hong Kong. Even as excited as we were about visiting Art Basel in its home city, there was a strange eerie feeling about being there when Baselworld wasn't taking place. It was almost like a 'déjà vu' without the usual crowds, the watch brands and the media people.
