We'll Be Back

Sorry folks, I've been on the road for Thanksgiving and now off to DC for some work stuff. We'll back posting later this week. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

Business Class to Rio for $2,800

If you're still trying to figure out what to do this New Years, why not head down to Rio for some sexy Brazilian action? If you decide to go down there, check out this great business class fare on United that we found on Travel & Leisure. Get a round-trip ticket from Dulles or JFK down to Rio for only $2,800 (economy seats are usually around two grand). Departure dates are on Dec 25, 26, or 27 and you have to fly back on Jan 6. Book your trip by Nov 27 via Steele Luxury Travel at info@steeletravel.com.

Hermes Boule Clock

Looking for a totally indulgent (and pointless waste of money) gift for that special high roller in your life this holiday season? Check out this 8 Days Spiral Clock by Hermes. It costs $560,000. And what makes this watch so special that it costs over half-a-million dollars? It tells time, has a white gold face, winds with a push of a button, and can go eight days on a single wind. That's it. Half-a-million bucks.

via dvice.com

Tumi's Guide for Hedonists

In this age of iPhone apps and such, it's sometimes nice to revert to old school forms of media. Take the travel guide for instance. Sure, you could be traveling through some exotic European locale with your face two inches from your cell phone screen, looking like an idiot trying to find the nearest crepe stand. But we argue that you'll look a helluva lot more dignified using a paper-back travel guide, like this box set by Tumi which includes eight special editions of "A Hedonist's Guide to..." for cities including Paris, London, New York, Milan, Dubai, Buenos Aires, Berlin, and Tokyo. Buy your set for $125 at tumi.com.

via acquiremag.com

BRM Watch for Abarth

I have to admit, despite the fact that I'm a racing fan, I had to Google who/what is Abarth. It turns out, they're an Italian car maker with a rich racing heritage that is currently part of the Fiat empire. French watchmaker BRM recently created a limited edition watch for Abarth, and it's a real beauty. The watch is a modified V12-T-44 chronograph that has been customizations including a special logo on the face, chrome hands and red stitching on the strap. Only 49 pieces will be made, each one individually numbered and selling for about $7,300.

via autoblog.com

Best Oregon Pinot Noirs

In a couple of days, I'll be packing up my sweaters and heading up to Oregon to spend time with the familia for Thanksgiving. If you've never been to Oregon, specifically my hometown of Portland, you're missing out. It's a great bohemian town filled with great restaurants and home to some damn good wine. Forbes recently came out with their list of top Oregon Pinot Noirs including a couple very affordable bottles in the $30 range. I'll definitely be bringing back a few bottles for the Crew.

Ferrari Shades

Sunglasses from Ferrari? Come on now, you know these shades have to be sexy. Ferrari's Eyewear 2010 collection features 18 new models including the stunner aviators shown here. Read more at bornrich.org.

Business Class to Australia for 50 Percent Off

We just saw this deal where you can fly to Australia on Quantus business class for up to 50 percent off regular fares. Round trip tickets from LA or San Francisco start at $4,440 if you book by January 29, 2010. Book your trip here.

Limited Edition Panerai Watches

For our Hong Kong-based G Luxe readers who are also fans of Panerai watches, check out the special edition models made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Hong Kong retailer King Fook. Customized models of the Luminor Marina Automatic and the Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT will be made available (60 pieces of each). We've never heard of King Fook but they must sell a helluva lot of Panerais to get their own special edition watches.

via luxury-insider.com

WTF, No Ferrari?

I was just making plans to take a couple days off in December and head up to Los Angeles to check out the LA Auto Show when I read that Bentley, Ferrari, and Maserati will be no-shows this year. What the bloody hell? If there's ever a place for those luxe brands to show off their goods, it's Los Angeles. Damn economy.

Porsche Watch Auction

Are you looking for a unique gift for that special Porsche fan in your life? Why not get him or her a watch from the Porsche family's personal collection. Bonhams is auctioning off 49 watches owned by Professor Porsche and his sons on December 2nd in London. The watches up for bid include a rare 18kt gold Porsche Design prototype as well as watches by Omega, Panerai, and Rolex.

via autoblog.com

Pricey Asian Suites

If your balance sheet survived the economic bitchslap of the last couple of years and you're planning to head out to Asia for a five-star vacation, check out some of the best (and most expensive) suites found in the East. Ranging from palatial urban hideaways to an island villa, these suites will definitely leave you with a lasting impression - as well as a mighty big Visa charge.

Help Alicia Keys Help the Kids

Gents, the holidays are just around the corner which means you have start looking around for that special gift for your lady. This year, why not get her something that not only will she love, but will also help out those less fortunate.

The gorgeous and talented Alicia Keys has launched a new jewelry line called The Barber's Daughters with jeweler Gisele Theriault. The collection includes this special sterling silver double tablet necklace which features a Ghandi quote that says: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.". As a proclaimed Ghandi hater, Crew Member Tandori likely won't be buying one of these necklaces (he is a bastard). The necklace costs $295 with $100 going to Keep a Child Alive. So don't be a Tandori, buy the necklace, and help out some needy kids.

via luxist.com

Vote For Munn

Help select Olivia Munn's poster for MYMAG magazine. Yes, this may not have the same gravitas as last year's election, but chances are it'll result in more bipartisan support. Click here to vote.

World's Best Golf Courses

As an avid (yet hackish) golfer, I'm lucky to live down the street from one of the best public courses in the world. If you don't have a world-class course like Torrey Pines in your back yard and need to leave your zip code to get some quality 18 holes, check out this article from our friends at Kiwi Collection that lists some of the best golf resorts in the world.

Black Box Wines

A few years ago, I dated this girl who, let's just say I wouldn't bring home to Mama. She wasn't that bright and most likely an alcoholic. If the prophylactic had failed, our family's gene pool would have taken a few evolutionary steps backwards. The only thing this girl was interested in talking about was partying and boxed wines.

Chances are, the boxed wine she was referring to was nothing liked the quality grapes offered by Black Box Wines, a company started in 2002 that has been providing high quality wine at reasonable prices. By storing their wine in boxes instead of expensive bottles, they can offer their product at about half the price of comparable bottles. In addition, the box utilizes a vacuum-sealed back which means the wine can remain fresh for up to 4 weeks even after the initial pour.

And don't think that just because the wine comes in a box that it's some crappy swill. Their wines have won numerous accolades and medals and recently earned recommendations from Wine Spectator.

Buy yourself a box at a local retailer.

via justluxe.com

Bling Find: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Leather Band

If spending $27,000 on a new white gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona like Crew Member Tandori did recently seems a bit decadent in these challenging economic times, consider picking up a used one like this leather band version we found on Portero. Here's the description:

"Form meets function with this gentleman's Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch, reference 116519. A round 18k white gold case with 18k white gold tachymeter bezel surrounds the black dial that houses the three sub dials of the chronograph; 30 minute register at 3, seconds register at 6 and 12 hour register at 9. A pair of silver and white hands marks the 44 jewel perpetual automatic 4130 caliber movement, which is shown through the applied diamond indicators as markers. Finishing this watch is the original Rolex black leather bracelet and 18k white folding clasp. This circa 2004 watch is in very good condition with minor scuffing on the case and case back and slight wear to the bracelet."

Buy yourself an early Christmas gift for $13,999.

Champagne and Cigars

Cigars and champagne...two of our most favorite things. Truth be told, it never really occurred to us that the two would go well together. Now we may have to start pairing our favorite maduro with some bubbly after seeing this list on Luxist of their ten champagne and cigar pairings for the holiday season. A glass of Veuve Clicquot with a Rocky Patel Decade? Why yes please.

My Kind of Breakfast

Normally during the week, I'll get myself a fairly healthy breakfast of eggs and fruit. On the weekends though, I like to indulge a bit and have some belly-busting pancakes and bacon. If you're looking to really indulge, you've got to check out the deep-fried French Toast with froie gras served at Chicago's The Publican restaurant. Now that's the proper way to start your morning.

via seriouseats.com

Best Kona Coffee of 2009

Nothing is quite as heavenly as a fresh brewed cup of Kona coffee. Recently at the 2009 Gevalia Cupping Competition in the Big Island of Hawaii, Wolf Farms was named best Kona coffee while Kona Coffee and Tea took the title for large estate farms. If you're looking to get your hands on some beans from Wolf Farms, contact them at: 328-8588 or wolfden55@msn.com.

via halogenlife.com

Jimmy Choo X for H&M

OK, so we're a bit torn. As a blog dedicated to to the luxe life, we've got mixed feelings about Jimmy Choo's new men's X collection for H&M which is being released today. On one hand, it is Jimmy Choo, responsible for many devastatingly high credit card charges from guys who unwittingly went shoe shopping with their ladies. On the other hand, it's H&M.

Based on what we see in some of these promo pics, it looks like the collection has some pretty good stuff that we wouldn't mind having in our closets. Only nine H&M stores will be carrying the line, so make sure to check their site first before heading down to the mall.

James Pearse Cashmere Scarf

Living in Southern California, it never really gets that cold, even during the winter time. Sure it may dip into the fifties in the evenings, but rarely do we have to get bundled up like some of our East Coast friends. This is usually a good thing, but it also means that we don't get a chance to style out in cold weather gear.

If you're looking to add a touch of winter to your wardrobe without all that unnecessary insulation, consider this gorgeous oversized cashmere scarf by James Pearse. Made of 100 percent cashmere and measuring 45" x 70", it's large enough that it could double as a blanket to cozy up with your special someone. Buy it for $295.

Arash AF-10 Supercar

Does the world really need another supercar? Probably not, but we at G Luxe still give props to British entrepreneur Arash Farboud for creating a new one anyways. The Arash AF-10 is a carbon-fibered beast that is powered by a 7-liter 550 hp V8 engine that is derived from the one sitting in the Corvette Z06. The half-million dollar supercar is slated to be released sometime next year and only 70 will be available annually.

via luxist.com

Buy Your Own Resort

When you're tired of staying at a five-star resort with the commoners, it may be time for you to buy your own damn resort. If you've got a spare $25 million lying around, you can buy yourself four villas at the gorgeous Amanyara Villas located in the British West Indies. Designed by Jean-Michael Gathy (no idea who he is...but he has a fancy sounding French name so he must be good at all that designing stuff), the resort features an ocean front volcanic rock pool, pavilions galore, and personal chef and butler to keep you satiated and clean. If you want to check out the property before plunking down the large purchase price, you can preview the property for around $8,000 which includes two nights stay, meals and return flights to Turks and Caicos.

via affluentpageluxuryindex.com

G Luxe Twitter Challenge

Because the holiday season is upon us, and because our Twitter follower count kinda sucks, we'll be donating $1 to the St. Jude Children's Hospital for every new Twitter follower between now and November 30th. If we somehow manage to get 500 followers by the end of the challenge, we'll raise the donation amount to $2 for each new follower. So please help out a great organization - we mean St. Jude, not us - and follow us.

World's Most Complicated Watch

If you've got a spare $2.7 million lying around and are a fan of complex time pieces, consider getting yourself the Aeternitas Mega 4 by watchmaker Franck Muller. The Mega 4 is the world's most complicated wristwatch with 36 complications (25 are visible) and 1,483 individual components. At just under $3 million, the Mega 4's price tag makes the amount Tandori spent on his recent watch purchase look like chump change.

via worldtempus.com

Art of the Trench

Burberry just launched a microsite dedicated to the trench coat. They've gathered tons of pics, including reader-submitted photos, featuring stylish folks on the street donning their favorite trench coats. It's really a shame that if I was to wear a trench coat in San Diego, I'd simply look like a flasher.

via notcot.org

GenevaSound Model M

If you're looking for a stylish yet effective iPod dock and speaker system for your pad, check out the GenevaSound Model M. Measuring 14.4 x 9.5 x 7.8 and weighing in at 23 lbs, the Model M will fit quite nicely in the corner of your room, either on top of a dresser or perhaps on its on stand. We dig the Model M's red lacquer exterior while audiophiles will love it's four 25-watt amps, two-way midrange speakers, silk dome tweeters and bass ports. In addition to docking your iPod or iPhone, the Model M comes with an FM radio, CD player, and will easily connect to your other stereo devices. Pick one up for $799.

Dita Lancier

The problem for me about posting stuff I like on G Luxe is that Crew Member Tandori tries buying the items first. Well fortunately his arse is in Africa teaching a bunch of village kids or something, so he won't get to order the brand new Lancier aviator collection by Dita Eyewear. There are three lines inspired by racing, flying and boating and each featuring high-grade titanium frames. Only 450 pieces will be made available and over 200 are already on the waiting list. With the glasses expected to be released in mid-November, you better hurry and get your name on that list now.

via acquiremag.com

Spyker Aileron Spyder

So how much do you have to be worth before you should be shopping for a supercar like the new Spyker Aileron Spyder? Well if you're like the average Spyker owner, about $50 million. At "just" around a quarter-million dollars, the latest Spyker may start becoming within reach for those of us with one less digit behind our net worth. In addition to being slightly less expensive than the other Spkyer models, the Aileron Spyder also comes with an automatic transmission. However, before your snobby arse starts poo-pooing all over this car, consider that it can still go from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, tops out at 187 mph, and still has the bespoke hand-crafted, aircraft-inspired interior that Spyker's are known for. And since only about 50 Spykers total are sold annually, you'll be part of a very exclusive club.

via forbes.com

Psycho Bunny Poker Set

In December, the Crew will have our annual cigar event. However, unlike last year's Cabo Smoke, this year we're keeping things a bit...undercover. Our tagline is "No photos. No videos. No recollection." Needless to say, no girlfriends or wives either. While I can't go into specifics, there will be some poker involved. And since the event will be at a remote destination, we'll need a travel poker set like this one by Psycho Bunny. The set comes complete with two decks of cards, plenty of chips, and a gorgeous leather case. Buy one for $195.

Kali Woven Bracelet

Could you find something that looks similar to this red Kali Wover Bracelet at your local flea market? Possibly. But here at G Luxe, we don't do flea markets. Buy the real deal to add a colorful accent to your wardrobe at Neiman Marcus for $195.

Salvatore Ferragamo Laurent Leather Boots

I want these boots. They're currently on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue for $477 (reg. $795).

La Aroma de Cuba Belicoso

It's been a while since we've posted a cigar review. Well this morning I had to write about a delicious cigar I'm currently enjoying with my cup of coffee: the La Aroma de Cuba Belicoso. I just received a box of this gorgeous Nicaraguan cigar earlier this week and couldn't wait any longer to grab one out of the humidor. Everything about this screams that it will be a great smoke, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

Let's first start with the appearance. This bad boy looks like a proper cigar. The belicoso with its tapered end is one of my favorite shapes to smoke and this one is no exception. The chocolaty Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with its deep, rich color is simply beautiful. I couldn't help staring and admiring my humidor filled with these luscious babies. Cigar porn I guess.

I used a straight cut as one would on a belicoso and carefully lit the cigar with my blowtorch (toasting it first, of course). The draw was perfect. I smoked the cigar all the way down to the nub and I probably only ashed 3 or 4 times, demonstrating the terrific construction of the cigar. The burn was even and the cigar remained cool throughout. This is one well-made cigar.

From the first puff, there was a wonderful earthy sweetness with hints of cocoa and chocolate. There was bit of spiciness that added another nuance to the cigar. The flavors remained fairly consistent throughout the smoke, letting up only slightly as I got to the end of the cigar. The Nicaraguan blend is a new one developed by the master Don Pepin Garcia and I have to say, it's better than the previous ones used in the old La Aroma de Cuba (which I also liked a lot). Speaking of aroma, it's just as wonderful as the flavors.

At just over $5 a stick if you buy a box, this is a great cigar for your everyday smoke. But don't let the low price fool you: this will hold up just fine after a steak dinner with the fellas. Go ahead and buy a box (or three) for $135.

Save 50 Percent at Starwood

If you're a fan of Starwood properties, make sure to take advantage of their current sale where you can save up to 50 percent on select hotels. The offer ends on November 10th and is subject to restrictions. Book your stay here.

via hotelchatter.com

Veuve Clicquot Rare Vintage in Cellar Box 1988

Nothing makes our dear friend Karla D. happier than a bottle (magnum preferable) of Veuve Clicquot. This particular 1988 vintage comes encased in a special cellar box created by famed designer Pablo Reinoso. But don't be side-tracked by the pretty container. The blend of Pinot Noir (68%) and Chardonnay (32%) grapes create one helluva delicious drink. Since we are admittedly poor with flowery language, here is a description from wine.com:

"The effervescence is both delicate and long lasting. The bouquet is fine and complex, strong in the aromas of dried fruits and flowers. There is an elegant harmony in the nose around toast and brioche notes. In the mouth, the wine is firm and well structured, with masses of substance and refinement. Such wine accompanies perfectly lobsters, scallops and sea fish. After a few more years of ageing, one would not hesitate to offer it with poultry or with meat dishes such as veal."

Purchase a bottle for $95.

F'ing David Beckham

I'm personally going to kick David Beckham in his left nut if denim shirts start coming back in style. This is a real possibility ever since Mr. Posh Spice showed up at a recent Lakers game sporting a denim-on-denim ensemble. If you're delusional enough to think that his look works for you, go ahead an imitate his outfit at complex.com.

Do Good, Buy Some Louis Vuitton

Our dear friend Linda W. doesn't really need any new reason to go shopping for Louis Vuitton gear, but now she has one anyways, and it's a good one: the Red Cross. In honor of the aid organization's 150th anniversary, Louis Vuitton is donating 10 percent of all online purchases of four of their iconic Monogram bags - the Speedy, Alma, Noe, and Keepall - to the American Red Cross. OK Linda, go do some good.

Porsche Boxster Spyder

I absolutely love my Porsche Boxster. It's as pure of a sports car as one could ever hope to own and is just a dream to drive top down on a perfect SoCal day. Today, Porsche introduces the latest member of the Boxster family, the Boxster Spyder.

Stripped of silly little things like a radio and cup holder which saves 176 lbs compared to the Boxster S, the Spyder is designed to be even more agile and sporty than the base Boxster and Boxster S. The Spyder comes with a new sport suspension, exclusive 19" wheels, launch control and a six-cylinder, 320 hp engine which can get the car from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds. Our favorite part of the Spyder is the rear lid which features two bulges and extends well to the rear giving the car a much sexier silhouette than the standard Boxsters.

The Spyder will be officially introduced at the LA Autoshow next month and will go on sale in February 2010 starting at just above $61,000.

Gifts to Get You Laid

Gentlemen, with the holiday shopping season just around the corner, check out this list of gifts by Esquire which they claim will help you get laid. With the way my love life as been going, it looks like I'll definitely have to shop of this list.

A Rare World

If you're looking to get something for that jet-setter friend of yours, check out A Rare World, a luxury travel magazine that provides pretty pictures and reviews on some of the world's best hotels. Now this ain't your normal Travel & Leisure magazine. At $199 a year for 10 issues, this subscription will set you back a hotel's night stay. It may sound steep, but at least you'll also get a PDF copy of each issue with your subscription.

via hotelchatter.com

Tag Meets Lambo and Makes a Phone

Tag Heuer has partnered up with Italian exotic car maker Lamborghini to create the Meridiist Autombili Lamborghini cell phone. The quad-band GSM world phone is looking to take on the Vertu line of luxury phones and will only be available to 1,963 lucky people at select Lambo dealers and Tag Heuer retailers. The phone itself is fairly loaded with 2GB of memory, a 2MP camera, an amazing 28-day and 7-hour talk time, stereo Bluetooth, and a 60.5-karat scratch-proof display screen. Price: really, really expensive.

via autoblog.com

Omni Hotel 72-hour Sale

Omni Hotels is offering a 72-hour sale that runs through tomorrow where you can save up to 40 percent off normal rates on select properties throughout the country. Stays must take place between December 2 to February 10. Click here to book your stay.

via usatoday.com

When in Dubai, Only Stay at the Best(est)

If you're looking for luxurious excess, whether it be cars (probably more Bugatti Veyrons per capita than anywhere else in the world), hotels, or nightlife, look no further than Dubai which is located in the United Arab Emirates along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. After watching the amazing spectacle of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this past weekend, I'm certain that Dubai is a place the Crew must visit in the near future.

If you're headed out to Dubai, you mustn't settle for anything less than the best. That's why you should check out this article from our friends at DealBase. It lists some of the best and most unique hotels that you'll find in the Arabian playground, including the world's only 7-Star hotel.

I wonder where frugal travelers would stay in Dubai. Do they have like a Dubai Travelodge?

Lingerie For When it's Dark

The question isn't "why glow in the dark lingerie?" but "why not?"

Here at G Luxe, we're all for any kind of sexy lingerie, whether it glows in the dark or not. If buying some LuminoGlow thongs will encourage some hot lovin, then hey, by all means, buy a pair or two.

via the lingerie post

Fly First Class to Hawaii for $477

That's a one-way rate of course, but still not bad for a first class flight to Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines is offering some great first class rates starting at $477 from a number of West Coast cities. Make sure to book your trip soon as the rates are good through November 4th. Click here to make your reservations.

Thanks Karla D.

Canvas Tote by In God We Trust

Over the past eight years or so, we've been going to the Big Smoke in Las Vegas where as part of the ticket price, you get a tote bag to carry your cigar haul for the evening. I've kept all those tote bags and use them to carry all sorts of crap. As much as I dig my Big Smoke totes, I figure it may be time to upgrade like to this canvas oversized tote by In God We Trust. The white canvas and black accents make this a stylish bag to carry out to your next pool party - which unfortunately is probably still months away. Purchase one for $80 at Refinery 29.

via limitedhype.com

Dinner and Cigars at Cache

With all the smoking Nazi's in SoCal, it's nearly impossible to enjoy a cigar, especially to enjoy one during a nice meal. That's why we were just tickled when we learned from Urban Daddy about the Cigar Night Dinners at Cache in Los Angeles. For $150, you'll be treated to a five-course meal paired with three cigars. To make a reservation, call 310-399-4800.

Casa Dragone Tequila

If you are planning a trip down to Mexico, consider picking up a bottle of Casa Dragones Tequila that we just learned about from Uncrate. Available in very small quantities, each $330 bottle of Casa Dragones is a blend of platinum tequila and extra anejo. And needless to say, this ain't no shooting tequila. Sip it. Enjoy it. And for goodness sakes, don't use it for your margaritas.