Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2020 i Maxim

Spike Lee and Lenny Kravitz are not ordinary men, nor would we ever expect them to wear ordinary watches. To say that they are individuals who put their unique stamp on everything they touch is understating the case. Even a rare vintage Rolex Daytona would be a bit too quotidian a timepiece for a pair of idiosyncratic geniuses and true icons who have had such a profound effect on our culture. A unique, bespoke Rolex Daytona with one-of-a-kind design details that acts as both an homage to classic watchmaking and a contemporary expression of timekeeping, however, is the perfect accessory. Of course, there are very few horological design houses that could, or would, carry out such a commission. Bamford Watch Department and MAD Paris spring to mind. But there is…

No American-made car has won first overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since Ford’s legendary sweep from 1966 to 1969 with its iconic GT40s. Former film writer, director and Wall Street money manager Jim Glickenhaus has made no secret that he plans to change that, and the new Glickenhaus 007 from his Sleepy Hollow, New York-based Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus marque might just make it happen. The FIA Endurance Commission, a joint venture by Le Mans governing bodies FIA and ACO, has announced that racing variants of road-legal hypercars will compete in the replacement of its top LMP1 prototype class starting in September 2020, opening the field to the likes SCG 003C became the only privately-manufactured race car ever to score pole position at the famed 24h race at…

It’s no surprise perhaps that a rock star would be fond of champagne. Lenny Kravitz’s affinity for Dom Pérignon goes beyond the tour bus tipple however. The iconic musician, record producer and design guru, who was named Creative Director of the LVMH-owned brand in late 2018, has now collaborated with the famed French prestige cuvée, whose heritage dates back to the 17th Century, on three limited edition new bottle designs as well as a candelabra and table-bar intended to enhance the consumption of what is arguably the world’s most famous wine. The collaboration comes on the heels of a series of photographs taken by Kravitz at a Dom-fueled dinner party at his house in Los Angeles, images from which were later used in an ad campaign, featuring the likes of…

In 1987, while many of his classmates at Harvard were out partying and living the stereotypical college life, a student named Ken Griffin was already focused on building his future. The 19-year-old was busy developing the skills and laying the groundwork for what would eventually become a financial empire, amongst the largest such firms in the world. His setup was Spartan and ordinary by most standards, composed of a telephone, a personal computer and a fax machine (eventually enhanced by a satellite dish he placed on the roof of his dorm), but his ambition was anything but modest. Raising $265,000 that included money from his mother, grandmother and two other investors, Griffin sought opportunities to profit off the convertible bonds market. Despite these humble beginnings, it didn’t take long for…

In 2018 the Maldives made headlines for something that you would normally only see dreamt up by a set designer in a Bond movie—the world’s first underwater hotel residence. The Muraka at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort is more like an entire semi-submerged villa than a mere suite, with two levels, one above the waterline and one 16 feet below it. Under the waves is a bedroom, bath and living room, while topside, there’s a second bedroom, living room, dining room, entertainment space, infinity pool and sundeck. Rates start at $22,000 per night, and you have the option of enjoying luxe services like a seaplane transfer, private chef and even VIP customs clearance. The property also has an underwater eatery, Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, so you can continue the vibe,…

COVER: Robe ($450), MOLA WALKER; molawalker.com. Necklace ($20,960) and rings ($1,740 and $1,100), SYDNEY EVAN; sydneyevan.com. COVER STORY: P.54: Hat ($985), ERIC JAVITS; ericjavits.com. Body chain (price upon request), ERICKSON BEAMON; instagram.com/ericksonbeamon. Thong ($21), COSABELLA; cosabella.com. Boots ($2,938), REDEMPTION, redemption.com. P.55: Jacket ($580), PRIVATE POLICY; privatepolicyny.com. Body chain ($2,200), AGENT PROVOCATEUR; agentprovocateur.com. P.56-57: Jacket ($255), RABENS SALONER; rabenssaloner.com. Earrings (price upon request), ERICKSON BEAMON; instagram.com/ericksonbeamon. Necklaces ($2,850, $2,090 and $1,410), and rings ($905-$1,840) SYDNEY EVAN, sydneyevan.com. Panty, ($495), AGENT PROVOCATEUR; agentprovocateur.com. P.58: Bodysuit (price upon request), ELISABETTA FRANCHI; elisabettafranchi.com. Earrings (price upon request), CHROME HEARTS; chromehearts.com. Bracelet ($475), JENNIFER FISHER; jenniferfisherjewelry.com. Skates, model’s own. P.59: Coat ($119), ASOS DESIGN X CHRISTIAN COWAN; asos.com; earrings ($550), JENNIFER FISHER; jenniferfisherjewelry.com. Panty ($95), AGENT PROVOCATEUR; agentprovocateur.com. P.60: Dress ($2,725), earrings ($625) and necklace…

1. Christophe Fenwick Driving Gloves Parisian classic car and motorcycle collector Christophe Fenwick decided to create his own line of luxurious leather driving gloves because he couldn’t find any that were stylish enough to suit his rides. He developed an exclusive method of applying a patina to the leather to give some of the gloves a lustrous vintage look. The Type E model retails for about $310 via www.christophefenwick.com 2. Hedon Motorcycle Helmet Hedon’s handcrafted helmets are classic retro and racing style retooled for the modern gentleman. Designed in London, some offer anti-fog double lenses, and three-channel ventilation, and all offer leather linings, wide field of views, and killer looks. The Heroine Racer 60’s model is a spot-on tribute to the Swinging ’60s that is fully road legal for the…

It’s hard to miss the veritable explosion of American whiskies popping up on the shelves of your neighborhood spirits shops and watering holes lately. Even casual observers have probably spotted a dozen new labels of native browns, while enthusiasts are eagerly licking their lips at the scores of new options available. There are so many, in fact, that some aficionados are suffering from fatigue. Eager to dig deep into the varied offerings of the new American whiskey landscape, we recently sampled over 100 bottles from across various categories to find those worthy of closer attention—and a healthy pour. “Given the growth of interest in American whiskey and proliferation of craft distilleries, as well as new products by large distilleries, it’s clear we’re in a golden age of whiskies,” David Ozgo​,…

For the truly wealthy, one elegant solution to increased tariffs on French wine readily presents itself: buy your own vineyard. Despite burgeoning interest and a surge in acquisitions eating into available inventory, there are over 80 vineyards and wine estates currently listed for sale with Vineyards-Bordeaux, the Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate and market leader located in what is arguably the world’s most famous wine region. Chinese buyers now own about 170 vineyard estates, or châteaux, in Bordeaux, Vineyards-Bordeaux cofounder and executive partner Michael Baynes tells Maxim—billionaire Jack Ma, China’s richest man, reportedly owns several of them—and the uptick in investment means that “Bordeaux wine estates are more popular today than we have seen for a long time.” Which we predict also means that prices will only go up from…

The late 1980s. Somewhere in the wilds of the English countryside, I get my hands on a tired Volkswagen Mk1 Golf. Not the sprightly GTI of legend. Rather a wheezing 1.3 GLS on bicycle tires. In keeping with its wine-colored paint job, it drinks more oil than petrol, but still makes the 6.5-mile twisty country lane run to school in under six minutes. Complete with hedgerow scratches, tire squeals, fading brakes and shaking heads from other petrified road-users. The four-speed manual stick shift works overtime searching a gearbox that feels like a wooden spoon stirring drippy cake mix. Meanwhile the London City Boys wear red braces, pinstripe suits, flash watches, and speed by in bright red Porsche 911 Turbos. A piece of kit all wheeler-dealers aspired to. Not because they…

In 2019 alone there were 20 new resorts planned in the Maldives, a minute archipelagic nation some 370 miles off the coast of India. Made up of nearly 1,200 islands that barely register on a map, it has nonetheless has become the season’s hottest exotic getaway, what the Wall Street Journal calls “a destination for the 1%” that has attracted flocks of celebrities, influencers and well-heeled travelers thanks to its exotic appeal, luxe resorts, and Instagram-worthy scenery (7.4 million #maldives posts and counting). Though it ranks as the smallest country in Asia, the Maldives has outsized appeal. Perched in the Indian Ocean and comprised of 26 natural atolls surrounded by a protective coral reef system, it has attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Joe Jonas (who honeymooned there) and Prince…

This just may be the most beautiful modern café racer on the market today. And although many a café racer has an impressive story, the Magni MV Agusta 750S Tributo probably takes the cake. Handcrafted in Italy by a family with MotoGP in their DNA going back decades. Meccanica Verghera Agusta, aka MV Agusta, was born in 1945 in the village of Verghera, Italy, as an offshoot of an aeronautics company founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1907. In 1970 they began producing what many petrolheads would say is the most beautiful Italian production bike ever made, the 750S. With its distinctive red, white, and blue livery it is still as eye-catching today as it was then. Unfortunately, by the end of 1976 MV Agusta was falling into decline…

Although in the midst of a renaissance, bottled-in-bond whiskies are anything but new. In the nascent liquor industry, additives and bootlegging were rife, so in 1897 the government signed the Bottled-in-Bond Act to assure buyers the labeled spirit was the real deal. Bottled in bond (BIB) guaranteed three things: the whiskey was the product of one distillation season at a single distillery; it was bottled and stored at a federally-bonded warehouse under government supervision for at least four years; and it was bottled at 100 proof. “Transparency in the whiskey industry is paramount—consumers want to know what they are getting,” says Tommy Tardie, owner of Manhattan’s Fine & Rare and The Flatiron Room. “BIB takes the guesswork out of it. There is no question of who distilled it, where it…

Want to hop on a private jet, fly to an exotic destination and have an over-the-top vacation? All it takes these days is a decent credit limit. Thanks to a sort of dumbing down of luxury travel in recent years, what was once reserved for the elite traveler is now accessible to almost anyone, as brands try to appeal to a larger audience and, as a result, end up alienating top -tier clients. “Luxury brands often miss the opportunities to reach the highest echelon of travelers by serving downmarket experiences,” as Wealth-X, a data company that curates intelligence on wealthy individuals from around the world, notes. “It’s the result of a troubling trend of mass market luxury, standardized luxury travel marketing [that] appeals to both high net worth [HNW] and…

When it comes to private islands, well-heeled travelers to the Maldives are spoiled for choice. You can rent or purchase one with a beautiful house on it, but buying out an entire private island resort may be the most baller move of all. Essentially you can “own” a world-class five-star property for the duration of your stay. And it’s not just lesser known brands that offer this opportunity. Take The Nautilus Maldives, which opened in 2019. It’s the only Maldivian member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association, which includes some of the world’s finest luxury hotels and resorts, and which maintains an extremely high standard for wine and cuisine. Located in the Baa Atoll, The Nautilus is home to 26 beach and ocean abodes situated like private residences in…

The sun is torrid, and there is no breeze. The entire world feels like an oven set on broil, merciless and angry. And yet we’re grinning idiotically like drunks with bellies full of the good stuff. The reason for our joy is simple: we’re driving high-tech 4x4s through an ancient, rugged landscape. It’s like a cheat code of mechanical differentials, burly body-on-frame fortitude and petrol engines so big they can swallow the nearby cliffs. The thrill is hard to articulate. Barreling down an open swathe of Arab desert, the pedal is floored as the world opens up before us. All around the cliffs of Wadi Rum, some spiraling almost 3,000-feet into the sky, rise from the red soil like sentries. The sun is about to set over Jordan, hovering not…