Being a watch fan is to put yourself through a weird sort of torture.

It’s already incredibly difficult to get your hands on desirable models from watchmakers like Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and of course, Rolex. Paying ‘retail’ for these watches is almost an entirely theoretical exercise: between dealers, the aftermarket and price differentials in different markets, the cost of these high-end watches in the real world greatly exceeds what you’re ‘supposed’ to pay for them.

RELATED: Rolex Watch Prices You Can Expect To Pay

That’s if you even get the chance to buy one in the first place. Brands deliberately keep production numbers low in order to maintain hype, allure and control supply. On top of that, many brands have lengthy waiting lists – you can’t just walk into a boutique and pick up the watch you want. Rolex is by far the trickiest: the world’s most valuable watch brand has literally decades-long waiting lists for some of their most popular models, like Daytonas or Submariners.

Virtually every industry in the world has been impacted by the events of 2020, and the watch industry is no exception. Watch manufacturing has slowed down dramatically thanks to The Bat Kiss, making the already limited supply of luxury watches even smaller… Yet some are touting 2020 as the best year in recent memory for those looking to get their hands on popular Rolexes.

While you’d think that the slowdown in manufacturing would make it harder to get your hands on a ‘Pepsi’ or ‘Hulk’ because there’s less being made, the COVID crisis has reduced demand this year faster than supply has dropped, WatchPro reports.

Analysing data from leading watch aftermarkets Chrono24 and Chronext as well as the latest quarterly financial updates from the publicly traded British watch retailer The Watches of Switzerland Group, WatchPro reveals that some highly desirable Rolexes – such as the perennially popular Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Batman’ – have seen prices fall dramatically (by about a quarter in this case).

This hints at the market’s confidence that manufacturing is likely to pick up again soon and infuse supply, and reveals a sad truth at the heart of the watch industry.

The reality is that some of these super-popular models aren’t being picked up by collectors or repeat customers. Their popularity is in no small part driven by people who might not be quite as into watches, but just want to impress people. They want the watches because they are popular, not because of any real affinity for the brand or design. The popularity of these models then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more desirable they become, the harder and more expensive they are to acquire, which in turn makes them more desirable. It’s also these super-popular models that attract ‘flippers’ who are just in the game to make a profit, and see popular Rolexes as a safe bet.

It’s like the sneaker world. Very few people buy limited release sneakers like Yeezys or Jordans to wear: the vast majority of people entering raffles or camping out in front of stores are looking to make a quick buck by reselling. Rolexes are just a higher-stakes version of the same phenomenon. But with the challenging economic conditions of 2020, people don’t have the same sort of petty cash to indulge in fleeting purchases or aren’t liquid enough to gamble reselling expensive watches.

The current conundrum is that demand, in general, is up, but demand for these ‘unicorn’ pieces remains uncharacteristically low – particularly for Rolexes, which has seen much greater price fluctuations than other brands. This would lend further credence to this theory: ‘Rolex’ is a byword for expensive watch in most people’s eyes, in the same way that ‘Ferrari’ means expensive sports car. Rappers don’t go out and buy Greubel Forseys or Koenigseggs. They want stuff people will recognise as expensive.

The upshot of all of this is that ‘average’ watch buyers looking to snatch up models that would otherwise be scooped up by resellers or clout chasers might find 2020 is the year they finally get their hands on their ‘grail’.

That said, it’s all relative. Prices may be down for these super-popular models but they’re still well above retail. For example, the ‘Batman’ retails for 13,600 AUD but even with current market conditions, the average price for a ‘Batman’ is easily double that.

Read Next

• Current Rolex Aftermarket Phenomenon Every Savvy Buyer Should Be Aware Of
• ‘Pateks Not Portfolios’: Watch Expert Reveals Moves To Make In 2020

The post How To Get A Rolex Watch At Retail appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If first class is a gold-lacquered prison, business class is a jaw-wrenching jail. From networking opportunities with the rich and famous to the snuggly cone of trust, there are numerous benefits cattle class travellers miss out on.

But business and first class aren’t what they used to be. Though we’ve made leaps and bounds in ergonomics, privacy, comfort and technology, there’s a touch of authenticity many believe is missing from The Pointy End in 2020.

Why? Though the thrills of the Golden Age of air travel (banquet style food, lavished spacious seats, spoon-in-mouth service and fine wine) are still alive and kicking in the world’s top airlines’ premium cabins, the laissez-faire sense that ‘this is what travel is’ is lacking.

Don’t believe us? Cast an eye over economy – where the bulk of us spend our time.

Alternatively, check out the following image, posted by Instagram user @joanday, which shows a couple enjoying the signature service of Swiss Air business class during what appears to be the mid 80s.

 

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A post shared by joanday (@joanday777) on Aug 1, 2020 at 1:45am PDT

“Those were the days,” one commented.

“Mid 80s? Glad to have lived those years,” wrote another.

This comes amid a number of other juicy Pointy End Golden Age photos. Another shot posted by @joanday (an account dedicated to iconic aviation scenes) shows Singapore Airlines First Class cabin crew relaxing on the upper deck of a Boeing 747 (either that or the lounge), during – arguably – the peak of said era.

 

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A post shared by joanday (@joanday777) on Jul 1, 2020 at 9:06pm PDT

@joanday has set nostalgic travellers’ eyeballs spinning with a number of other pictures too.

Other examples include a shot of Philippine Airlines first class on a Boeing 747 (which features what can only be described as a f*ck off bottle of champagne in the corner)…

 

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A post shared by joanday (@joanday777) on Aug 20, 2020 at 9:40am PDT

… a photo of British Airways’ first class in the 80s…

 

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A post shared by joanday (@joanday777) on Aug 19, 2020 at 6:43pm PDT

… and an image of Cathay Pacific business class from the same era (Instagram user @travelconsulting wrote beneath the picture, “Looks like around late 80s from memory. The crew is hearing Hermes designed uniform prior to Nina Ricci”).

 

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A post shared by joanday (@joanday777) on May 11, 2020 at 8:21am PDT

This wasn’t the only comment made about uniforms. Another image, of an Iberia 747-200 flight over Spain from a similar time, attracted more praise: “The best uniform ever and of course the best aviation years with the DC10s, 757, 727 around, golden years for sure.”

It’s not all bad news though. As Business Insider reports, there are various areas the aviation industry is now miles ahead in (not to mention half the value of the above posts is in simple nostalgia).

“Then there’s the inflight experience. Modern first class cabins offer a greater degree of privacy, comfort, technology, and personalisation than the jet set could have ever imagined. With prices that could top $US40,000 for a round-trip, these tickets are far from affordable. Then again, neither was first class during the Golden Age of Flight.”

Champagne for thought.

Read Next

• Epic 1986 Julio Iglesias Photo Shows What’s Missing From First Class Travel In 2020
• Why Flying First Class Is Actually More Stressful Than Flying Business Class

The post Old Swiss Air Business Class Photo Perfectly Depicts A Lost Era appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There’s being multi-talented, and then there’s being LeBron James.

The immensely talented basketballer isn’t content with just being the GOAT on the court, but also as a businessman, philanthropist, and modern-day style icon. Widely considered the face of the NBA and easily one of the most valuable athletes of all time, ‘King James’ rules with distinction: a real Renaissance man.

He reaffirmed that title yesterday when he shared a photo of himself working out – sitting on an exercise bike, reading the autobiography of famed civil rights activist Malcolm X, listening to music and wearing nothing but some skin-tight athletic shorts (and his signature Nike basketball sneakers, of course).

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A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Aug 19, 2020 at 6:40pm PDT

Few men can get away with wearing activewear like this, but LeBron pulls it off effortlessly.

Compression garments like these Nike Pro shorts or 2XU tops are often worn by both professional and amateur sportspeople, either underneath other garments or on their own. There’s scientific evidence to suggest that compression garments can reduce recovery time, improve gait and even improve long-term vertical jump height (very important for a basket-swishing baller like James).

On a slightly less scientific note, they’re great for keeping you warm whilst training in winter… And can also look pretty cool, if you’ve got panache like LeBron.

LeBron’s riding high right now: his latest children’s book I Promise debuted at the top of the New York Times Bestsellers list. Yeah, he’s an author too.

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The post LeBron James Dares To Do What Few Men Can In Activewear appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Most people would do anything for an upgrade. But for Australians returning from essential trips abroad, they have little choice but to shell out for this luxury. In fact, many passengers are being forced to book business class tickets, or else risk being bumped from the flight and not getting home at all.

They are also being made to “feel like criminals,” one passenger has told DMARGE.

To give you a sneak peek into what all this looks like, DMARGE spoke exclusively with Jaynee Wehbe, global sales director at TRIANGL, who earlier this year was granted an exemption to travel to Ibiza and Italy on business.

Traveller reports that “since the Australian government’s international travel ban came into effect in March, more than 90,000 applications to leave Australia have been lodged, and only 22,640 of those have been approved.”

Jaynee, who in July told us about the bizarre ‘new reality’ of flying business class to Europe, is one of them.

Jaynee has since returned, along the way confirming the rumour many returning Australians are being forced to fly home in luxury.

Jaynee’s first flight home was supposed to go Nice-London-Doha-Sydney with Qatar on the 2nd of July. Jaynee tells us, however, “A couple of weeks before departure they canceled the Nice- London flight with no notice (I just checked for myself).”

“Had to rebook my own Nice-London flight.”

“I got to London 5 days before my scheduled London-Sydney flight,” Jaynee continues. “Two nights before I get a call from Qatar saying I have been taken off the flight and they can move me to the 10th of July on business. Only business class were traveling, all economy were being bumped.”

“I declined this and instead booked with Emirates for the 6th of July. So I stayed in London for an additional 4 nights.”

“On the 6th I get to Heathrow airport, go to check in and then am told that Dubai have changed their rules and no one is allowed to board without a negative COVID test. It was the first I had heard of it. No email or anything – I booked before the rule existed and Emirates didn’t alert me.”

“There are no on the spot COVID tests at the airport and the quickest test turnaround is 36-48 hours.”

“I call to see when the next available flight is and it’s not until the 16th of July on ANY airline.”

This ‘passenger culling’ trend (Jaynee told DMARGE there were only about 40 people on the flight she eventually made it home on) started after the Australian National Cabinet cut international arrivals from a maximum of 6,500 per week to 4,000 per week, a policy which came into effect on Monday the 13th of July, causing chaos among expats and returning travellers.

The new limit, designed to ease pressure on hotel quarantine, has been leading airlines to cancel passengers’ bookings.

Jaynee is far from alone. Australians like Jim Collins and his family, who told the ABC in July they had been trying to get home to Tasmania from the UK since March, have also been hit hard by this phenomenon.

Mr Collins told the ABC in July, “We’ve repeatedly tried to get flights … And every time we’ve been able to do that, the flights have been cancelled.”

“We were told that the flight had been cancelled… But the flight actually went ahead.”

“Now it appears that it’s only if you can afford a first class ticket or a business class upgrade that you’re being allowed in.”

Last month, DMARGE reached out to Qatar Airways to seek comment on this.

Qatar Airways responded: “Due to the limitations on passengers travelling to Australian destinations, Qatar Airways analyses each flight on a case by case basis to ensure we facilitate onward travel to the final destination for as many passengers as possible.”

“The passenger list is continually assessed and based on a range of criteria, including compassionate and medical requests, connecting flights, booking class, party size etc. We continue to work closely with our passengers to find alternative flights if they are unable to travel on their original intended flight.”

Jaynee’s experience suggests this culling is still happening in August.

“I think 90% of the flight on the way home was business. It was easier for me to use the economy toilets rather than business that’s how empty economy was!” Jaynee tells us.

“I only saw a handful of people in economy, mainly business and first class only.”

Jaynee also provided DMARGE with several more observations on what it’s like to fly from Europe to Australia right now.

You can’t get through the UAE without a negative COVID test

You’ve been warned…

Travel hygiene kits are the new amenity kits

“The new normal.”

Many flights have barely anyone on them

There is a metric sh*t tonne of administration

“This is the 8th form I’ve filled out with the same information that no-one collects.”

Disposable uniforms are Emirates’ answer to Qatar Airways’ Hazmat suits

Though the Hazmat suits are more to put customers’ minds at ease than anything, it’s interesting to see the different airlines’ approaches.

The ‘welcome home’ announcement is not very welcoming…

“Substantial fines or a term of imprisonment” await passengers not complying with quarantine requirements, according to a message broadcast on arrival. While understandable, it’s not exactly a warm ‘Bienvenue’…

As Jaynee told DMARGE, “[the] welcome home announcement was a little intense – the common sentiment amongst us was that we felt like criminals.”

Passengers don’t love being made to wait around for hours…

“And now we sit here and wait two hours with no communication as to what’s happening next.”

Sydney Airport’s safety protocols may be painstaking, but they are important

According to Jaynee, there are nurses checking if arriving passengers have COVID at Sydney airport. If you are found to have it, you go to a hotel hospital.

Hotel quarantine is a bit of a gamble

But at least once you get there you’ve got plenty of help (Jaynee also posted a video, thanking army officers for helping her lift her 40kg suitcase down the stairs).

Quarantine is a blessing and a curse

“Even though I have no access to fresh air or sunshine for two weeks, I am so grateful for this whole experience,” Jaynee wrote on Instagram.

This all comes in a context where international travel for leisure for Australians looks increasingly unlikely until at least mid-2021 (unless, as Alan Joyce said this morning, a travel bubble with New Zealand comes to fruition at the beginning of next year).

Read Next

• The ‘Bizarre’ New Reality Of Flying Business Class To Europe
• How My First Ever Business Class Trip Ruined Me For Life

The post Business Class Passengers Shocked By 'Intense' Treatment On Arrival In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If someone told you they had a 70s Volvo wagon for sale, you’d be pretty safe in assuming they’d be talking about a 245. The quintessential Volvo, the 245 is boxy, safe and oddball – a great car, but nothing you’d write home about. Some might call it frumpy. A geriatric’s car.

But there’s nothing frumpy about this fabulous 1972 Volvo P1800ES Manual listed on Carsales in Slacks Creek, Queensland.

This rare and immaculately restored shooting brake, painted in a delightful British racing green (the objectively best car colour, by the way) would make any grandpa smile.

Manufactured between 1961 and 1973, the P1800 is a 2+2, front-engine, rear-drive touring car of which most examples were coupes and a minority were made as wagons. A coupe version of the P1800 was famously the car of choice for future James Bond actor Roger Moore in the hit 60s television series The Saint.

Only around 8,000 examples of the P1800ES were built, and it’s arguably the finest incarnation of the model. The ‘E’ in the name stands for Einspritzung, the German word for fuel injection, and the ‘S’ for Sverige – Swedish for Sweden.

For the first few years of the P1800’s lifespan, it was actually made in England by Jensen – makers of the superb Jensen Interceptor V8 GT car. Eventually, once the P1800 had proved itself as a sales success, Volvo moved manufacturing back home to Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Swedish models have slightly more horsepower and more refined construction than the English-made models, and the shooting brake is rarer than the coupe – so this P1800ES is a very special Volvo indeed.

Lovingly restored by Alex Minassian Car Audio and Restoration in Brisbane, this car is so perfect; so clean you could eat a full dish of Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce straight off the engine manifold.

Volvo have always been innovators when it comes to vehicle technology and this P1800ES is no exception: few 70s-era cars feature fuel injection, and this Volvo also has four-wheel disc brakes, and a four-speed manual transmission with electric overdrive.

The body was actually styled by Pietro Frua (or rather his student, Pelle Petterson) – one of Italy’s finest car designers and head of design at famous coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia. The Italian flair is obvious in the P1800’s design. Its most noticeable feature, the huge hatch formed from a single piece of glass, remains particularly unique even today. Unlike an Italian car from the 70s, however, this Volvo isn’t likely to fall apart at the drop of a hat. Volvos have always been incredibly reliable.

With its original Volvo mudflaps and rims, this P1800ES is one sporty wagon. It’s no performance legend, only making around 93kW from its B20 inline-four engine, but with a relatively light kerb weight of only 1,175kg, it’s lighter (and more powerful) than a modern Ford Fiesta.

In any case, the point of owning a classic car is not to beat people in the performance stakes. Would your pops be challenging WRXs at traffic lights to impromptu drag races? No, of course not. The kind of classy older gent who owns a car like a P1800ES would be too busy twirling his mustache and engaging in witty repartee with a driving companion to engage in such juvenile endeavours.

No, you’d buy this P1800ES because you know a good thing when you see it. You enjoy the finer things in life. You’ll tell people at the pub ‘oh, I just drive a Volvo’, because you’re not a show-off. But when push comes to shove, you’d have the finest car in the parking lot.

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The post Volvo P1800ES For Sale In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Nutrition trends, much like fashion trends, are often quite cyclical. Advances in science and technology mean that what was once common practice is now demonised, and vice versa.

The ketogenic diet (or ‘keto’) is a good example of this. For years in the West, fats have been considered nutrition no-nos, and we’ve been taught to steer clear of them. Then, the discussion shifted towards ‘good fats’ and ‘bad fats’. Now, keto has become one of the nutrition world’s biggest trends: eating lots of fats and barely any carbs in order to force your body into ketosis (a state where your body replaces glucose for ketone bodies from fat as an energy source).

Sugar has been another hot-button issue in modern nutrition. First, the consensus became that sugar was bad, and an easy way to avoid sugar was to swap sugary drinks for zero-calorie alternatives that use artificial sweeteners. Then, hysteria about how artificial sweeteners allegedly cause cancer or diabetes saw us swing back towards ‘real sugar’. While ‘new’ artificial sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract have less stigma attached to them than older substitutes like aspartame or sodium saccharin, people are still wary of artificial sweeteners.

Graeme Tomlinson, a UK-based nutrition coach and author, regularly shares nutrition tips and advice on his Instagram profile. His most recent pearl of knowledge? Zero-calorie drinks might not be as bad for us as popular perception would have it.

 

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A post shared by Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef_) on Aug 19, 2020 at 11:01am PDT

“The assumption that diet drinks are ‘bad’ has been born out of the nutrition industry’s innate ability to ignore science and spread pseudoscientific pandemonium,” Tomlinson relates.
⁣⁣
“The assumption that aspartame causes cancer and other diseases can be shut down immediately on grounds of there being no evidential metadata. ⁣A dated study conducted on rats suggested a possible link to blood cancers, but link is not cause and rats are not humans.”

Indeed, aspartame has since been proven not to have any carcinogenic effect in rats or humans, Tomlinson shares.

“⁣The assertion that sweeteners trick our brains into thinking that we’ve just ingested sugar thus resulting in an elevated insulin response is a fallacy. Because there are no calories or sugar in diet drinks – thus no insulin response is possible. ⁣The dramatic claim that diet drinks destroy gut health and cause disease can [also] be countered by the fact that though no nutrients are absorbed. Only extreme consumption (20 cans a day) over time has been shown across studies to possibly impact [your] gut microbiome.”

“…The playground whispers claiming that Diet Coke must be bad for you because you can clean silver coins with it can be [countered]… a coin does not represent any aspect of the human anatomy…. And that we can wash away dog sh*t with water.⁣”

“Finally, many a newspaper has printed that ‘diet drinks cause obesity’. But it is scientifically impossible to gain fat if zero calories are consumed.”

Low or zero-calorie drinks are big business. According to Statista, 29% percent of all products sold worldwide in 2019 by The Coca-Cola Company (the world’s third-largest beverage manufacturer behind PepsiCo and Nestlé) were low- or no-calorie – an almost 14% increase since 2016.

Yet most people are still extremely hesitant to swap sugar for substitutes. The most common reason given is taste: it might have zero calories but aspartame just doesn’t taste the same. But low or zero-calories drinks are getting better and better all the time. Coca-Cola Life, sweetened partially by stevia and partially by normal sugar (which is no longer available in Australia, sadly) tastes virtually identical to regular Coke while having a third less calories.

The other big criticism of zero-calorie is that they lull people into a false sense of security. A Diet Coke is not a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise routine.

“In truth, unsurprisingly, zero-calorie drinks are neither good or bad,” Tomlinson concludes.

“Their value is dependent on [their] moderate contribution to a nutrient-dense, energy controlled diet.⁣⁣ Although bereft of nutrients or energy, zero-calorie, artificially sweetened drinks can replace one’s favourite calorie/sugar-dense drink whilst offering a similar taste. And given that zero calories are acquired, consumption may be a useful fat loss aid.”

Read Next

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• Joe Rogan Reveals The Problem With Most American Free Range Eggs

The post Nutritionist Busts Common Zero-Calorie Drink Myth appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Qantas today released its full-year results for the financial year of 2020. In what has been the most challenging period of the Australian airline’s 100 year history, the Qantas Group has reported a $124 million Underlying Profit Before Tax for the 12 months ending on the 30th of June 2020.

This is down 91 per cent on the financial year of 2019, and also comes amid a statutory loss before tax of $2.7 billion (the majority of which is non-cash, including aircraft write downs), a $4 billion revenue impact from COVID crisis in 2H20 and an operating cash flow of $1.1 billion.

Qantas also noted “liquidity of $4.5 billion providing considerable buffer to manage uncertainty” as well as “significant progress on initial steps of three-year recovery plan.”

Qantas said this reflects a strong first half of the year ($771 million Underlying Profit Before Tax) followed by a near total collapse in travel demand and a $4 billion drop in revenue in the second half due to the COVID-19 crisis and associated border restrictions.

Fast action to radically cut costs (which involved, among many other things, retiring the Queen of the Skies earlier than planned) and place unused parts of the flight business into a form of hibernation “helped minimise the financial impact from this extraordinary sequence of events,” Qantas stated.

“From April to end of June, Group revenue fell 82 per cent while cash costs were reduced by 75 per cent, helping to limit the drop in Underlying Profit Before Tax in 2H20 to $1.2 billion.”

“At the statutory level, the Group reported a $2.7 billion Loss Before Tax –– due mostly to a $1.4 billion non-cash write down of assets including the A380 fleet and $642 million in one-off redundancy and other costs as part of restructuring the business for recovery.”

“Despite significant uncertainty across most markets, the Group remains well positioned to take advantage of the eventual return of domestic and, ultimately, international travel demand. In the meantime, Qantas Freight and Qantas Loyalty continue to generate significant cashflow and charter operations for the resources sector are performing strongly,” Qantas added.

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A post shared by Qantas (@qantas) on Jul 23, 2020 at 12:56am PDT

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce summed up the results like this: “this is clearly not a standard set of results for the Qantas Group.”

“We’re an airline that can’t really fly to many places – at least for now.”

“The impact of that is clear. COVID punched a $4 billion hole in our revenue and a $1.2 billon hole in our underlying profit in what would have otherwise been another very strong result.”

Mr Joyce also called attention to the progress made with regards to the core elements of Qantas’ recovery plan, including:

• All of our A380s are now in long term storage in the US.
• Our 747s have been retired, six months ahead of schedule.
• We are (sadly) progressing with reductions to our workforce.
• We have negotiated new terms with many suppliers, which we thank them for.

Mr Joyce has predicted Qantas will be resuming international air travel in July 2021, unless hopes of a trans-Tasman bubble come to fruition earlier.

From there, Mr Joyce said airlines will have to do more than just get leaner and meaner, and continue to innovate to succeed in a post-pandemic world.

“Hard decisions in the current climate are largely about survival – and also about eventually being able to grow again,” Mr Joyce said.

“Domestically, there are lots of opportunities for Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar, which will ultimately justify renewing our fleet.”

“Our message is simply this: the Flying Kangaroo’s wings are clipped for now, but it’s still got plenty of ambition. And we plan to deliver on it.”

Read Next

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• $25 Qantas Initiative A Godsend For Business Class Travellers Suffering FOMO

The post Qantas Project Sunrise Is Still Happening appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Trevor Noah is one of the world’s most successful and prominent comedians. From humble beginnings in his native South Africa to becoming the latest host of hugely popular talk show The Daily Show, the hard-working wit has certainly made his mark on the entertainment industry.

With great success comes great timepieces – Noah’s quite the watch fan. Normally a pretty lowkey sort of guy, Noah’s chief indulgence seems to be fine Swiss watches. The man’s amassed quite a collection over the years: Rolex Submariners and GMT-Masters; a bevy of Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks; even a rare Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Advanced Research.

Rolexes and pieces from the ‘holy trinity’ brands tend to crop up in any discerning watch collector’s treasure trove. It’s no mystery why: they’re great investments and classy timepieces. Noah’s watch collection is tasteful. Some might even say predictable.

Which makes Noah’s latest watch purchase even more surprising.

The 36-year-old was spotted on the streets of New York keeping it casual in jeans and a t-shirt… Oh, and a $230,000 Richard Mille.

 

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A post shared by INSANE LUXURY (@insaneluxurylife) on Aug 19, 2020 at 12:24pm PDT

Noah’s collection already contains plenty of large, ‘statement-piece’ watches, like his Panerai Luminor, but this Mille takes the cake. This RM11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph in rose gold and titanium is one flashy watch and the last thing you’d expect a comedian like him to wear.

It used to be that if you had a lot of money and you wanted an expensive watch to ‘flex’ on people, you’d get a Rolex. These days you’d get a Richard Mille: the brand known for its large, highly complex tonneau-shaped timepieces, has become the watch of choice for men looking to make a splash.

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• Mark Wahlberg Takes The Horological Helm With ‘Wavy’ Rolex Daytona

The post Trevor Noah Wearing A Richard Mille appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Forget its reputation as the city of light. Paris is the city of surly serveurs. But for the time being you can throw all your lazy ‘Gallic’ stereotypes on the bonfire – Paris is now so quiet even the waiters are friendly.

This comes as, with international travel drastically reduced, many Parisians coming to miss the bustling that they once loved to complain about.

Politico reports, “The Île-de-France tourist office says 16 million tourists are missing this year, leaving restaurant owners with half their income.”

Florent Audot, who was a waiter at Le Parvis brasserie, a two-minute walk from Notre Dame, told the WSJ, “We miss everyone.”

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A post shared by Patrick Colpron (@patrickcolpron) on Jul 20, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

“How desperate is the City of Light for tourists these days? Even the waiters are friendly,” the WSJ wrote, in an article entitled, “Paris rolls out red carpet for those that can make it.”

National Geographic reports many tourist attractions are open, with new rules: “Museums are open but both the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, reliable tourist draws, are among those that have restricted their viewings.”

Before the pandemic hit, tourism in France was at an all-time high, with a total of 89.4 million visitors in 2018 and a target of 100 million tourists for 2020 (a target that will no longer be reached).

Paris alone had over 40 million visitors in 2018, with 15 million visiting EuroDisney, 7 million visiting the Eiffel Tower and 8 million visiting the Louvre.

As Condor Ferries reports, in pre-COVID years, the travel and tourism industry would contribute around 200 billion euros towards the French economy and created 2.8 billion jobs.

Now though, even as France has opened its borders to select international countries (it was previously only open to European countries and the Schengen Zone) on July the 1st, relatively few are willing and able to take France up on its offer. Australians, for instance, are unable to travel anywhere for leisure, even though numerous countries (see: Greece and Bali) would love to welcome them back.

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I wonder strange things like … what are they going to do with all these huge teddy bears, these plush toys they use to block seats and tables after Covid? Burn them? What the… heck were they thinking when they started plopping them up everywhere ? Just a passing thought, in the mean time it makes photos more interesting and fun #thisisparis always something new to discover, taste and experience #paris #topparisphoto #topfrancephoto #topeuropephoto #hello_france #super_france #igersfrance #visitfrance #merveillesdefrance #parisjetaime #parismonamour #parigi #igersparis #tlpicks #passionpassport #iamatraveler #mylittleparis #culturetrip #beautifuldestinations #parisobviously #shotoniphone

A post shared by Patrick Colpron (@patrickcolpron) on Jul 24, 2020 at 7:39am PDT

Likewise, though there are select countries the French can visit, it is more complicated (and risky) than in years gone by. This has led to a resurgence of Parisians ‘enjoying’ Paris.

As the WSJ reports, “The French are venturing into unknown territory: France.”

“Every summer French vacationers snub their homeland in favor of far-flung destinations, allowing France, the world’s top tourism destination, to become a playground for foreign tourists,” the WSJ wrote.

Not this year.

However, even as the millions of French that have never climbed the Eiffel Tower; or traipsed round Le Louvre, stay at home, that doesn’t mean they are having fun.

According to Politico, “the coronavirus is making this August a source of anxiety rather than pleasure.”

“It would be a mistake to see this defiance as mere carelessness or summer insouciance. It is a symptom of various ills, including distrust in politics and social and economic division. Both have been exacerbated by the virus.”

Maybe there’s hope for France’s surly attitude after all?

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The post The Best Time To Visit Paris, Is Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.