A rare Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, considered the 'holy grail' of modern watching, is among 11 timepieces from the collection of actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone being auctioned by Sotheby's New York. The collection, built over 20 years, includes notable watches from prestigious brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Piaget, as well as unique timepieces from Panerai worn by the actor in some of his movies. But it is highly coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300 that is perhaps most likely to pique the interest of fans of haute horology. [See also: Patek Philippe brings its ..read more

Sotheby’s International Realty in the UK has launched a new service aimed offering UHNW individuals and some of the world's wealthiest families a one-stop-shop to the world's finest prime properties, fine art, jewellery, and cars. It will also provide access to wealth, investment, and legal advice. The Family Office service, led by Marcus O’ Brien, a Spear's top-flight property agent, will enable ultra-wealthy clients to buy or sell trophy mansions, villas, penthouses, and their contents, including fine art, jewellery, and automotive collections through a single point of contact across UK Sot ..read more

More than 20 years old from its inception, Hakkasan remains an iconic name in London. The modern Cantonese menus at the original Fitzrovia outpost and its sister site in Mayfair are credited with helping shape an increasingly diverse and world-class culinary scene in the capital.  However, the Hakkasan name was dealt a blow earlier this year when both the original Hanway Place and Mayfair restaurants were stripped of the Michelin stars they had held for 20 and 10 years, respectively.  This loss might have come as a blow to the celebrated restaurant and its team, not least corporate ..read more

There are currently more billionaires in the world than ever before, with 2,781 individuals making Forbes's annual World’s Billionaires List, with a combined net worth of $14.2 trillion. While obtaining a prestigious and traditional education may increase the chances of joining this 10-figure-worth class, it is not the only route to success. Among the world's top ten richest billionaires, some dropped out of education, some attended public schools, while others went to the world's leading universities. Several institutions stand out with record numbers of billionaire alumni, notably Harvard ..read more

A former senior executive of Swiss wealth manager Lombard Odier has left the firm to launch his own advisory outfit aimed at family office clients. Stéphane Monier, who joined the Geneva-based private bank in 2009 and served as its chief investment officer (CIO) for over a decade, set up his new firm, Societe Financiere des Joanins Sarl, in March. The business is registered in the Swiss canton of Valais. The new firm will offer discretionary asset management services to family offices, wealth planning services and advice on global asset allocations. [See also: Green tech surge will fuel 'big ..read more

A former hotel on the French Riviera that attracted the great and good of politics, Hollywood and high society will be given a new lease of life as a super-prime residential development. Le Provençal will occupy the 10-storey Art Deco masterpiece that was once Hôtel Provençal, which was built by an American millionaire in late 1920s as the gateway to Cap d’Antibes. After falling out of favour, the hotel sat abandoned for decades before being bought by luxury property developer Caudwell, which has shared the first details of the £300 million scheme exclusively with Spear's. [See also: Last rem ..read more

Changes introduced to the family courts this week that encourage separating couples to pursue out-of-court resolutions will reinforce practices favoured by high-net-worth and high-profile clients, according to leading advisers in the field. Amendments to the Family Procedure Rules, which came into effect on Monday, widen the definition of non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). Previously, this focused on mediation but it will now include arbitration, collaborative law and evaluation by a neutral third party. [See also: Best family lawyers for high net worth individuals] 'All good family lawyers ..read more

For the fortunate few who own, or will one day own, a landed estate, enlisting the services of a lawyer is essential. These advisers are on hand to direct on specific issues ranging from tax and succession planning, to residential development and diversification. The support of one of the best landed estate lawyers has never been more important, given the increasingly difficult landscape landowners must navigate. Country homes are often money pits requiring endless investment, while the economy and climate means careful thought is required when it comes to maximising the efficient running of ..read more

This year should be a memorable one for lovers of fine, life-enhancing digestifs. It could also herald bumper returns for well-heeled investors in top-notch spirits, with three of the world’s great names in post-prandials – and pre-prandials, too – marking milestone birthdays with stunning, celebratory, investment-worthy releases. I don’t know about you, but my mouth is watering already. Although its origins date back to 1759 with the arrival of Irishman James Delamain in Cognac, Delamain & Co regards itself as having been founded in 1824, which still makes it one of the oldest houses in ..read more

The last available apartment in Mayfair's No.1 Grosvenor Square has been unveiled by leading prime estate developers Lodha, with a listing of £21.5 million. The Oval Residence – its name a nod to the building's past as the US embassy – is an exceptional art and light-filled space designed by Studio Lodha’s creative director and former LVMH executive, Blandine de Navacelle. [See also:1 Mayfair – the latest prestigious development using ‘One’ in its name] The interiors blend understated European elegance with mid-century style lines softened by soft fabrics and textures. De Navacelle has filled ..read more