Vacheron Constantin: The Oldest Name in Fine Watchmaking

Discover the history of Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watchmaker in continuous production. Explore 270 years of fine Swiss horological excellence

Jean-Marc Vacheron was 24 when he took on his first apprentice. The contract, drawn up in Geneva on 17 September 1755, is still kept in the maison’s archives, and it is from that modest agreement that Vacheron Constantin dates its foundation. Geneva’s master watchmakers of the period, the cabinotiers, worked in workshops on the upper floors of the city’s houses, where the light was best, and it was in that world that the young Vacheron set up on his own account. The house he founded describes itself as the oldest watch manufacturer in continuous operation since its foundation, a run that reached 270 years in 2025.

Outdoor art installation of Dubai Design Week on display at Dubai Design District

Dubai Design Week 2026: What to See

Discover highlights of Dubai Design Week 2026, from Abwab’s immersive installations to urban architecture. Explore the full schedule for this top design ev

In the carpet workshops of Kashmir, a pattern passes from designer to weaver through a coded notation known as taleem. This November that system of instructions becomes a structure large enough to walk through, at the twelfth Dubai Design Week, which returns to Dubai Design District (d3) from 3 to 8 November.

2025 Patek Philippe Nautilus Green with diamond border

Patek Philippe: The Watches Collectors Want Most

Discover why Patek Philippe watches are the world's most coveted timepieces. Explore the rare provenance, record-breaking auctions, and history.

For decades, a pink gold Patek Philippe made in 1948 lay in a safe-deposit box. Its original Certificate of Origin, instructions and presentation case were kept alongside it. Its owner, Prince Tewfik Adil Toussoun of Egypt, had bought it in July 1951. It was one of the <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/the-journal/most-expensive-patek-philippe/" rel="noopener">rarest variants</a> of the reference 1518, with a pink dial matched to a pink gold case. When his heirs consigned it to Sotheby’s New York in December 2021, it sold for $9,570,900, more than four times its estimate. Sotheby’s recorded it as the only known 1518 still accompanied by all its original documentation.

For decades, a pink gold Patek Philippe made in 1948 lay in a safe-deposit box. Its original Certificate of Origin, instructions and presentation case were kept alongside it. Its owner, Prince Tewfik Adil Toussoun of Egypt, had bought it in July 1951. It was one of the <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/the-journal/most-expensive-patek-philippe/" rel="noopener noreferrer">rarest variants</a> of the reference 1518, with a pink dial matched to a pink gold case. When his heirs consigned it to Sotheby’s New York in December 2021, it sold for $9,570,900, more than four times its estimate. Sotheby’s recorded it as the only known 1518 still accompanied by all its original documentation.

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Emirates Hills is among the most affluent neighbourhoods in Dubai. This magnificent development realized by Emaar Properties PJSC is commonly called the "Beverly Hills of Dubai".

Discover Tilal Al Ghaf, a serene Dubai community offering luxurious villas, a lagoon, and premium amenities.

Situated in Mohammed Bin Rashid City, District One is a meticulously planned, high-end waterfront community offering a luxurious and modern lifestyle.

Mohammed Bin Rashid City

Discover Palm Jumeirah's luxury living with custom villas, beachfront mansions and branded residences. Explore our ultimate community guide.

Palm Jumeirah

At the heart of Dubai lies the vibrant and world-famous, Downtown Dubai, a masterpiece by Emaar Properties.

Downtown

Experience the tranquil and laidback atmosphere of coastal life in the midst of a thriving urban centre at Jumeirah Islands.

Jumeirah Bay Island, an exclusive residential masterpiece situated off the coast of Jumeirah, is a testament to architectural innovation and luxury living.

Jumeirah Bay Island

Jumeirah Bay

Jumeirah Beach Residence

With 16 distinct communities overlooking the Earth and Fire golf courses, this gated community is a great choice for families looking for a blend of luxury and nature.

Jumeirah Golf Estates

Developed by Al Barari Developers, this gated community unfolds across two masterful phases, offering a unique blend of opulent villas and apartments.

Dubai Hills isn't just an address; it's a narrative of luxury, family living, and a community that seamlessly combines convenience with sophistication.

Dubai Hills

Nestled between Palm Jumeirah and the coastline of Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour is an exciting mixed-use destination that is designed to offer a tranquil seafront lifestyle.



Dubai Harbour

Dubai Creek is an essential part of Dubai’s history and was at the heart of the city’s commercial activity in its early days. Back then, the vibrant metropolis we know today was a pearl diving village heavily involved in maritime trade with the Creek serving as a key port.

Dubai Creek Harbour

Umm Suqeim

Lifestyle | Discover expert insights on luxury properties, design, lifestyle, market trends, and the latest company updates from Sotheby's. (Page 2)

The Journal | Dubai Sotheby's International Realty | Lifestyle (Page 2)

Six Wellness Retreats in Dubai

Discover Dubai's top 6 wellness retreats, from advanced diagnostics to holistic relaxation. Find your perfect escape for mind & body.

Dubai’s wellness scene no longer follows a single idea of escape. In Za’abeel, blood testing and body-composition analysis can guide a programme of nutrition, movement and recovery. Elsewhere, the emphasis moves towards assisted stretching, skincare, bathing rituals or simply a few uninterrupted hours in a resort garden.

Four Seasons Hotel DIFC: An Address Between Appointments

Four Seasons Hotel DIFC: An Address Between Appointments

Four Seasons DIFC: A stylish townhouse hotel in Dubai's financial district, perfect for business stays & appointments.

In DIFC, where firms, funds and the working day shape daily life, the eight-storey Four Seasons Hotel DIFC has the character of a handsome city townhouse rather than a large convention property.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: A Different Measure of Time at Sea

Explore The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: luxury suites, personalized service, and flexible itineraries for a unique sea voyage. Discover your next escape

A late dinner ashore is a small freedom, but it says much about life at sea. On an itinerary with an overnight call, there is no need to leave the table early because a ship is preparing to depart. The harbour remains outside, the suite awaits on board and the next day begins in the same place. For travellers accustomed to arranging their time, that latitude can matter as much as the destination itself.

Why Views And Privacy Matter More Than Size In Luxury Real Estate

Dubai's luxury real estate buyers prioritize views & privacy over size. Discover why these exclusive features command top prices.

For decades, the unspoken arithmetic of luxury property was simple: bigger meant better. Square footage was the headline figure, the number that justified the price tag and gave a villa its bragging rights. In Dubai's ultra-prime market, that equation is being quietly rewritten. The buyers who can afford anything are no longer chasing scale for its own sake. They are paying the steepest premiums for two things that cannot be manufactured at will: an uninterrupted view and the certainty that no one is watching.

Buccellati: The Italian Maison That Turns Gold into Lace

Discover Buccellati, the Italian maison crafting lace-like gold jewelry. Explore Renaissance-inspired designs and exquisite craftsmanship.

A Buccellati jewel rarely gives everything away at first glance. What appears to be softly brushed gold reveals, on closer inspection, fine lines cut individually and by hand. A broad bracelet has the delicacy of lace; a ring may recall the tracery of a rose window. Diamonds and coloured stones are sometimes used in abundance, but the metal itself remains central to the design.

The Most Expensive Whiskies in the World

Discover the world's most expensive whiskies, from rare Scotch to unique Irish blends. Learn why scarcity, provenance, and history drive collector value.

Whisky has long since moved beyond the pleasure of the glass. Its rituals are so familiar — the heavy bottle, the cut crystal, the slow pour — that we almost take them for granted. At the very top end, rare whisky now sits comfortably beside art, watches and jewellery, valued not only for what is in the bottle, but for scarcity, provenance, design and the patience behind it.

Living in Dubai

Considering a move to Dubai? Discover the benefits of living in this dynamic city: tax advantages, visas, housing & more.

Set on the Gulf coast, with Europe, Asia and Africa all within easy reach, Dubai has become a natural base for people whose lives and work move across borders. For those considering a move, Dubai’s appeal now reaches well beyond the skyline, hotels and restaurants, although they often make the first impression. The more lasting draw is practical and, increasingly, strategic. It offers a secure address, a favourable tax position and long-term residency options, while placing strong schools, private healthcare, household support and global travel within easy reach. For internationally mobile families, Dubai can work as both home and operating base, with business, travel and daily life sitting unusually close together.

Audemars Piguet Watches: From Royal Oak Steel to Rare Complications

Explore Audemars Piguet: from iconic Royal Oak steel watches to rare complications. Discover Swiss watchmaking mastery since 1875.

Audemars Piguet began in 1875 in Le Brassus, in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux, when Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet established the manufacturer that still carries their names. The place was not incidental. This part of Switzerland already had a reputation for highly skilled watchmaking, with small workshops producing complex movements that called for patience, precision and very steady hands.

Loro Piana: Weaving Rare Fibre From Piedmont To Dubai  

Discover Loro Piana's journey from Piedmont's rare fibres to Dubai luxury. Explore the art of fine textiles, cashmere, vicuña & more.

In 1924, Pietro Loro Piana founded the modern Loro Piana company in Quarona, a small town in Italy’s Piedmont region with a deep textile tradition. The family’s connection with wool had already been established long before then, but it was in the twentieth century that the name began its slow journey from cloth merchant to global luxury house. Its early reputation was not built on fashion in the obvious sense. It came from fibre, handle and finish: cashmere, vicuña, fine merino wool, linen and silk, worked with the patience of a mill and the confidence of a family business.

Summer Perfume in Dubai: Ultra-Luxury Scents for Heat, Light and Long Evenings

Discover ultra-luxury summer perfumes for Dubai. Find sophisticated scents that conquer heat, light, and long evenings.

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Perfume carries a particular significance in Dubai. It is part of personal style, social presence and regional culture, yet summer in the city demands a more considered approach. Heat changes the behaviour of fragrance. Citrus can rise quickly, sweet notes can become more pronounced, and dense amber, oud or vanilla can feel too weighty before evening.
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Perfume carries a particular significance in Dubai. It is part of personal style, social presence and regional culture, yet summer in the city demands a more considered approach. Heat changes the behaviour of fragrance. Citrus can rise quickly, sweet notes can become more pronounced, and dense amber, oud or vanilla can feel too weighty before evening.
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A Guide To The Rolex Yacht-Master – A Watch For The High Seas

Explore the Rolex Yacht-Master: a luxury nautical watch blending style, precision, and maritime heritage for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

If any Rolex evokes the spirit of life at sea, it’s the Yacht-Master. Introduced in 1992, this nautically inspired model marked the brand’s boldest foray into maritime timekeeping – designed not for the depths, but for the deck. While it shares its foundational DNA with the iconic Submariner, the Yacht-Master was never built for saturation diving. With a water resistance of 100m (versus the Submariner’s 300m), it trades technical extremity for visual presence and all-day wearability.

The Rolex Air-King – The Neo-Vintage Pilot’s Watch, Explained

Explore the history, evolution and market value of the Rolex Air-King, from its RAF origins to today’s modern 40mm sports watch.

The Air-King occupies a singular space in the Rolex pantheon. Long regarded as an affordable gateway into the brand, the model is sometimes overlooked as a modest, entry-level Rolex – a perception shaped more by price point than by provenance. Behind the humility of the Air-King though, lies remarkable lineage: introduced in 1945, the Air-King was born in the same year as the first Datejust, predating the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master by nearly a decade. Its origins trace back to the skies of World War II, where British RAF pilots reportedly wore Oyster Perpetuals during combat. Across eight decades, the Air-King has remained a pure distillation of Rolex design. From its earliest 34mm references to its modern rebirth as a 40mm sport watch with anti-magnetic engineering, the Air-King has charted an unusually dynamic path – one that reflects Rolex’s shifting priorities, technological advances, and evolving aesthetic language. Read on for a closer look at its history, notable references, collector interest, and current market value in the UAE.

Shanqin Bay Golf Club, Hainan – coastal golf course with cliffs and ocean views.

Shanqin Bay Golf Club, Hainan: A Coastal Original by Coore & Crenshaw

Shanqin Bay Golf Club in Hainan, a stunning masterpiece designed by Coore & Crenshaw, offering breathtaking ocean views and world-class golfing experience.

On Hainan’s southeast coast, near Wanning and the village of Bo’ao, CITIC Shanqin Bay Golf Club sits on a spectacular headland of cliffs, dunes, and jungle that looks out over the South China Sea. Private, perfectly discreet and perennially lauded, it is one of modern golf’s true destination courses – Golf Digest includes it in the World’s 100 Greatest, while GOLF Magazine also ranks it among the world’s top courses. Opened in 2012, it has quietly earned acclaim ever since.

On Hainan’s southeast coast, near Wanning and the village of Bo’ao, CITIC Shanqin Bay Golf Club sits on a spectacular headland of cliffs, dunes, and jungle that looks out over the South China Sea. Private, perfectly discreet and perennially lauded, it is one of modern golf’s true destination courses – Golf Digest includes it in the World’s 100 Greatest, while GOLF Magazine also ranks it among the world’s top courses. Opened in 2012, it has quietly earned acclaim ever since.

Dubai Luxury Jewellery Brands

Explore Dubai’s luxury jewellery scene, from Mouawad and Cartier to Emirati ateliers, offering rare diamonds, heritage pieces, and collectible artistry.

Jewellery is not merely a purchase but a quest for beauty, rarity, and legacy. For those in search of exceptional pieces of jewellery, there is no other place like Dubai, where diamonds are selected as intentionally as works of art, and pieces are suffused with heritage and craftsmanship. Behind the glass of boutiques and the serene atmosphere of private salons, luxury jewellery brands present pieces that, if not as rare as they feel, are beyond radiant.

6 Luxury Smartwatches for Men in 2026

Discover the best luxury smartwatches for men in 2026 — from Apple Hermès and TAG Heuer to Louis Vuitton, Garmin, Hublot, and Montblanc.

What constitutes luxury has shifted dramatically over the past decade. Among today’s wealthiest – the tech billionaires, founders, and futurists – status is less about complications and more about connectivity. In Silicon Valley, you're now more likely to see a state-of-the-art smartwatch on the wrist of an executive than a vintage Patek (though such assets will most certainly be kept in a vault or safe somewhere). Catering to this evolution, a new generation of luxury smartwatches has emerged, balancing haute horology with high-function tech. Whether you're after precision health tracking, voice-enabled scheduling, or a sleek design statement that nods to both Apple and Geneva, these are the most refined, forward-looking smartwatches for men on the market in 2026.

Vacheron Constantin: The Oldest Name in Fine Watchmaking

Dubai Design Week 2026: What to See

Patek Philippe: The Watches Collectors Want Most

The Journal

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