Maxim July/August 2024

Fine watches and premium cigars are beloved by the prosperous, which seems to be all that these items have in common. Some may have been puzzled, then, by the announcement of a partnership between upscale avant-garde watchmaker Jacob & Co. and premier Dominican cigar manufacturer La Aurora—a partnership that was minted in January 2024 with the release of the Epic X “La Aurora 1903” capsule seen here. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that these two brands were forged under similarly trying circumstances. Today, acquisition of one of Jacob & Co.’s proudly ostentatious timepieces is practically a rite of passage for well-heeled celebrities and serious collectors alike. But the brand’s masterminding founder, Jacob Arabo, had the odds stacked against him when he emigrated from Soviet Uzbekistan as a teenager…

“My love of motorcycles was born when I was 3 years old and my father threw me on a three-wheeler,” W. Robert Ransom tells Maxim. Unlike many arguably overeager fathers, Ransom’s dad wasn’t even particularly interested in motorsports—rather Wayne Robert Ransom Sr. did it for a reason as old as time itself: as a scheme to get his girl back. “My parents were actually divorced at that point and he needed a way to get my mother back to the house,” Ransom Jr. recalls with some amusement. “So he said, ‘I'm going to get this kid a three-wheeler and then he'll have to be brought to my house, and I'll get to see my ex-wife!’ It was a ploy that worked out in my favor.” Unfortunately for Wayne Sr. the…

If the proposal of an all-titanium motorcycle sounds unnecessarily challenging, that’s because it is. Highly sculptural body work or fairings in the motorcycle industry are usually made of fiberglass or composites, rarely metal. And never, ever titanium. Why? Titanium is not only incredibly expensive, but the low-density, high-strength metal makes welding notoriously difficult, and its thinness is unforgiving—planishing out flaws or errors can be both arduous and time-consuming. Overall one can expect labor to be three to four times more complex over steel or aluminum. “It really exposes all the flaws that you have as a shaper,” W. Robert Ransom admits. “The artistry is making the metal look like it was molded.” His justification for the added challenge is simple: Ransom sees the Legacy Collection as prioritizing performance, acceleration and…

You might’ve first seen the chiseled physique of Jason Momoa combing the Hawaiian sand as Jason Ioane on “Baywatch.” Or if you’re a sci-fi/fantasy zealot, perhaps it was in “Stargate Atlantis,” or resurrecting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic Conan the Barbarian character. But most likely you first discovered Momoa as Khal Drogo, the ruthless and impeccably mascaraed liege of the Dothraki on “Game of Thrones.” Since that career-making turn the life-loving actor has exploded across countless cinematic universes, taking on marquee roles in “Fast X,” “Dune” and most famously “Aquaman” as one of the most enjoyable characters in all the DC Universe. Now he’s simply known as action megastar Jason Momoa, of course. When he’s not duking it out with Dominic Toretto on a flaming bridge or saving Atlantis from the surface…

Gentlemen, start your engines! This race season, Maxim hosted its Official Miami Race Weekend Party on Friday, May 3. Known for its iconic events, Maxim gave guests a memorable kick-off to all the Formula 1 Grand Prix excitement ahead of Sunday’s race at Hard Rock Stadium. The first of F1’s three highly anticipated U.S. Grands Prix (Austin and Las Vegas will rev up in the fall) was the perfect reason for racing enthusiasts and Maxim devotees to come together to celebrate and rub shoulders with hundreds of top models, influencers, athletes, celebrities and local VIPs. The star-studded affair was held at Hyde Beach, the first Miami location for this Los Angeles and Australia nightlife favorite, at the elegant Philippe Starck–designed SLS South Beach. The party featured electrifying beats from renowned…

Lavish designs and what are speculated to be superlatively high price tags put the Rolls-Royce Droptails in a class of their own. “Speculated” is the operative word, as the British marque refuses to comment on apocryphal reports relating to the Droptail series’ cost of commission. Nevertheless, the first of these four rolling automotive artworks, La Rose Noire, was rumored by many outlets to cost $30 million at its 2023 reveal, which tentatively made it the world’s most expensive new car. The almost otherworldly ride featured positively astounding bespoke details, including its own Champagne vintage and a dash-mounted Audemars Piguet Royal Oak concept that could be removed and worn. The second Droptail, Amethyst, curiously didn’t spawn any “world’s most expensive” headlines. It was no less stunning, with an aerodynamic deck featuring…