If you’re into James Bond (who isn’t), you’ve probably finished watching one of the films and thought, ‘I wish I was more like James Bond.’ We’ve all done it and – to be fair – what’s not to love? He’s charming, dresses immaculately and always gets the girl. No doubt you’ve looked into some of his clothing or developing some of the skills he has soon to realise they’re ridiculously expensive or take years of training to master. So how can you bring a little Bond into your life without breaking the bank or devoting all of your extra time to mastering sailing. Well, this Floris NO. 89 shave soap and bowl, is your ticket to the beginning of your real-life James Bond fantasy.I recognise that a shave bowl and soap isn’t all that exciting or seemingly Bond-like, but hear me out. No doubt you’ve seen Skyfall and probably remember the scene where Moneypenny helps Bond shave in Macau before he heads to the casino. Well, Floris NO. 89 is the exact shave soap and bowl that’s featured in that scene.The bowl itself is made from a gorgeous, dark wood that itself is a piece of art. Lining it is a shaving soap made from a selection of essential oils that create a rich, creamy lather to help your blade get the perfect cut. Beyond the bowl and soap itself, it’s Bond in every sense – made in England, elegant and somewhat old fashioned. The scene it is featured in brings together all of the qualities we love about Bond; charming, refined and skilful making the bowl represent something more than meets the eye. Priced at $55, it’s a small amount for something that can both be used and has intangible value.Shop Floris London NO. 89 Shave Bowl & Soap $55

Read next:

• Every Man Needs This $59 Tech Travel Kit

The post Floris Shave Bowl Will Take You A Step Closer To Your James Bond Fantasy appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

For those of you who are lucky enough to grow a full face of hair, you’ll appreciate the fine line between looking ‘groomed’ and looking like a neanderthal. Whilst you might want to go for a more rugged look whilst on holidays, you’re probably going to want to sharpen up a bit for the office. You could pay someone to do this for you, but since you’re such a capable individual, you could do it yourself and Barberino’s Black and Tortoiseshell Moustache Set will help you at every step.The set includes special scissors, a small comb and a brush designed specifically designed to keep your facial plantation in check. These are all kept inside a custom made Tuscan leather case that looks awesome. Priced at $120, it’s quite possibly one of the coolest items you’ll gift yourself this year. Whether you’re a man who loves his grooming or simply a man who loves a gadget, you really can’t go wrong.Shop Barberino’s Moustache Care Set $120

Read Next

• 17 Best Moisturisers To Keep You Looking Younger For Longer
• 11 Men’s Grooming Websites To Keep You Looking Younger For Longer
• Best Sydney Barber Shops

The post Barberinos Moustache Care Set Is A Winner appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you’re like me, you’ve got a few watches that you adore which are on a constant rotation depending on the day’s requirements. I’m not a huge fan of having tens of seemingly indifferent watches of poor quality that get a wear every once in a while, instead, I like to use my watches and everything else as hard as they can be used. When I’m not wearing one of my watches though it resides on my bedroom cabinet collecting dust. If you’re like me this isn’t good enough and you need to find a proper way to store your beloved timepieces. A watch box seems a bit extravagant for such a small collection but a pouch is a little too simplistic. A watch roll is what you (and I) need, and luckily for you, it’s now possible to score a Wolf Three Watch Roll for 30% off.Made from a supple, pebbled black leather, the Blake watch roll is not only sophisticated, but worthy of housing my dearest watches. Inside is a purple ultra-suede lining that will ensure no harm is done to the watches whilst being transported or stored. You can easily pack up a few watches and take them away with you on holidays or leave it in the top drawer of your closet.Now 30% off, the Wolf Black watch roll will only set you back $140, a small price for something that will keep some of your most beloved possessions safe and sound.Shop Wolf Pebbled Black 3-Watch Roll $200 $140

Read Next

• The $59 Travel ‘Tech Kit’ Every Man Needs

The post Wolf Watch Roll Is The Must-Have Accessory For The Watch Collector appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In an ideal world, we’d all look like Michael B. Jordan: muscles ‘popping,’ breath steaming and guns shining. The reality is, for most of us, such an image remains a mildly erotic visage. Of late, however, men’s magazines have taken to suggesting it’s possible to look like your celebrity of choice, whether it be Chris Hemsworth, Jason Momoa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jason Statham or – of course – Michael B. Jordan.All you have to do is train like them, right?Whether it’s “I trained like Hemsworth for 30 days” or “I ate like Momoa for a week straight” these articles miss a crucial point: if you don’t have the same body type as someone (let alone their financial resources and a personal chef) no amount of training will give you their body. To get the inside word on working out like your favourite A-Lister (and what you actually can do to increase your chances of looking more like them), we spoke to two fitness experts: the personal trainer of Michael B. Jordan himself, Cory Calliet, and 9Round Bowen Hills Club Manager, Nick L’Barrow.First up was Mr Calliet, renowned celebrity trainer, who told us, essentially, that taking on the task of exactly mirroring any other human’s rig is inevitably flawed: “Celebrities aside, it’s important to first understand that every body is different before taking on any physique goal.”That’s not to say you can’t try, but that you need to set your expectations realistically: “Not to deter you, but… Are you foundationally similar (height, body type, etc), to the physique you are trying to achieve? Are you starting from a similar point to where they started?” These are all important factors to consider.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael B. Jordan (@michaelbjordan) on Dec 23, 2019 at 8:09pm PST

He then offers a ray of hope, saying, “If there are differences, it does not mean you can’t achieve what you’re after, it simply means you will need to be patient in getting there and be smart in your approach.” He followed this up by saying, “Make sure your nutrition plan accounts for your body type and supports the goal, and understand that you will need dedication and consistency to be successful.”As for the best exercises, Calliet told us, “Many think this [changing your build] means doing different exercises and lifting nothing but heavy weight. Although there is truth in going heavy, you need to force the muscle to beat plateau by working beyond the burn too.” To do this Calliet recommends you choose “4-6 exercises to target a specific muscle group and keep this consistent for about 6 weeks.”

“You need to shock the muscle to make it grow.”

Specifically, these are his instructions: “Each week, vary the types of sets you do; for example, lightweight burnout, regular sets of 8-12 reps training with weight around 75% of your max, supersets, static holds for strength, tempo reps, etc. Keep the muscle guessing.” Some of Calliet’s favourite exercises are “dumbbell split squats, weighted walking lunges, barbell bent-over rows, seated shoulder press, dumbbell waiter curls, and lateral raise variations.”We then got in touch with 9Round Bowen Hills Club Manager, Nick L’Barrow, to see what he thought. Is it possible to look like your favourite celebrity? Here’s what he had to say: “It’s great to have influences that inspire and motivate your fitness goals, whether they be celebrities, social media influencers or otherwise. But at the end of the day, celebrities who are in top physical shape often are so thanks to an entire team of people ensuring they stay on track, from personal chefs and trainers to physios and other coaches.”“The likes of ‘The Rock’ can create figures that the everyday person could not easily replicate,” L’Barrow continues, “because maintaining this shape ahead of a movie is essentially their job, and they are 110% dedicated to that.” The problem is, “Most people can’t train for two or more hours every day, or eat a specific, clean diet 100% of the time. It would be unrealistic then to think it is possible to get this body by normal strength training and eating relatively healthy, protein rich foods, for example.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Jan 5, 2020 at 10:18pm PST

If you really must build the physique of your idols, L’Barrow says the best thing you can do is “heavy strength training with minimal rep sets,” which is a “major natural testosterone booster and aids your metabolic rate significantly, ensuring you can get that ‘bulky’ look easier.” That said, he urged us to keep in mind “genetics and the science of your unique biology does play a huge part in our physical shapes.”

“While shifting and changing your body type is possible to an extent, things like bone density and your natural physical build (whether that be lean and tall or short and stocky) has a huge impact on how much you can realistically alter your shape.”

Read Next

• The Brutal Reality Of Attempting Michael B. Jordan’s Workout For 30 Days Straight
• What It’s Like To Attempt Cristiano Ronaldo’s Workout As A Skinny Fat Man

The post Celebrity Workouts: The Cold Hard Truth appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

While Friday lunching with a clever friend he let me in on a little secret about buying watches and engagement rings at auction. In this instance we’re not talking about eBay, but at the likes of established auction houses where sellers are not called promisenotfakewatch123.

Intrigued, we met with Hamish Sharma, Head of Jewels at Sotheby’s Australia and vintage watch collector Chris Hilton to understand more about buying second-hand watches at auction and what you need to know to ensure you’re getting value for money, and not ripped off.

A growing market…

There is a high demand for watches in the global market. Internationally, Sotheby’s in Geneva, London, Hong Kong and New York all have sales dedicated to watches. There’s continual demand for quality timepieces in Australia, and the market is growing.

Watches are highly sought after for their collectability (rarity) as well as for their aspirational and lifestyle, design features.

Sotheby’s Australia attracts a broad spectrum of buyers when it comes to watches, some collectors looking for rarity and provenance, others seeking a vintage or period watch for fashion and lifestyle reasons.

Aspirational buyers also come to auction to purchase a trending watch in the secondary market at a reduced price- this is a great way to get your hands on something like the currently hot Rolex Daytona.

Benefits and risks from buying at auction…

At auction a buyer can touch and feel the watch and discuss it with the on-staff specialists. There’s no ‘on the spot’ sell, giving you time to evaluate your potential purchase and how much you are prepared to spend.

With auctions you also have the benefit of the catalogue. Entries provide an estimate price so you know roughly what it’s likely to go for when the hammer goes down. Catalogue entries detail what the auction house knows about the watch, including technical specification and history.

If you’re worried about who’s looking over the watches that go to auction then don’t stress. Sotheby’s have specialists inspect all the watches, taking into consideration provenance, documentation and other authentication factors. If you’re still worried, it’s a perfectly normal thing for buyers to bring along their own watch specialist to have a look.

It’s good to remember that when you’re buying at a reputable auction house all items are sold via a General Conditions of Business, something you’re not going to get from eBay or Chrono24.

Avoiding the infamous frankenwatch…

often due to lack of available parts the piece has evolved and can be interpreted as a ‘Franken-watch.’ If the auction specialists feel that a watch has been ‘frankend’ they will make note of this in the item description and the condition will have been factored into the price estimate.

Hot brands and auctions…

Rest assured there will always be a demand for aspirational brands such as Cartier and Rolex, which are known for their craftsmanship and quality.

Shama tells us there’s a strong rise in men’s collectable watches, including those by Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Jaeger Le Coultre, OMEGA, Patek Philippe and Vacheron & Constantin.

• In September 2012 Sotheby’s sold a rare oversize IWC Schaffhausen wristwatch from the 1940s- also referred to as the Portuguese- for $24,000.
• In December of the same year there was a rare, ‘well loved’ Patek Philippe platinum rectangular wristwatch circa 1930.
• More recently Sotheby’s Australia sold a Rolex Special Edition Royal Black for $39,040.

Some tips to help you start buying at auctions…

Avoid beginner’s mistakes, like not speaking to a consultant, or forgetting to ask questions or conduct sufficient research. You’ll find most auction houses list results from past sales online, making it easy to look up and review past entries and results, and learn more about the item you are considering.

You can register to bid in person at the sale location before the auction begins. You can also bid via absentee, telephone or the internet.

To bid you will need to establish an account with the auction house and provide government-issued proof of identity such as a driver’s license or passport. A bank reference may also be required or a deposit. No monies no watch, you understand.

Costs and fees associated with buying at auction…

Obviously it does not cost to bid, but should you be successful and land that dream watch you’ll be looking at what’s called a ‘buyer’s premium’ of 22% +GST on top of the final auction price.

Be aware that some items may have additional GST but being the secondary market most items are sold without GST on hammer price.

If you want to bust out the Black Amex to pay for your watch then there will be the usual fees, however most auction houses accept direct funds transfer, bank cheques and cash without additional handling fees.

Inside tip…

Shama tells us there’s some great new Cartier watches coming up soon from a retailer who’s no longer stocking the brand – this could be a great opportunity to try your hand at buying a watch at auction.

If you want to know more or register to upcoming Sotheby’s Australia auctions visit www.sothebysaustralia.com.au

Good luck!

The post A Guide To Buying Watches At Auction appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It isn’t all that often that we stumble across something that perfectly pairs form and function. In most circumstances, there has to be a compromise between the two that swings one way or another, but Imperial Motion’s latest backpack doesn’t compromise either way.Made from a premium waterproof 900D ripstop nylon, this 32L backpack is highly capable and can keep your kit dry in even when submerged. Alternatively, you can keep wet or smelly gear sealed inside the bag for when you want to deal with it later, making it a perfect gym, beach or surfing companion. On the outside, it has a pocket with welded seams and zippers that allow you to access smaller items with ease. The nylon is not only waterproof, but its also specially designed to be resistant to abrasion and abuse, meaning you can use it harder, for longer.Evidently there were no compromises when it comes to functionality, so what about form? Well, it looks like the kind of thing a Navy Seal might use on a diving mission. The all-black is very modern, versatile and will blend into city streets or out in the wilderness. Priced at $90 it’s very affordable, especially for something that makes no compromises. Get your hands on one before they sell out.Shop Imperial Motion Wet Dry Backpack $90

Read Next

• The $59 Tech Travel Kit Every Man Needs

The post Imperial Motion Wet Dry Backpack Is Both Cool & Functional appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Though Australia is known as “young and free,” it turns out its government has been taking fashion shaming tips from China: in a move as sacrilegious as a deconstructed sausage sandwich, The Coalition has asked local councils to enforce a “smart casual” dress code at their Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.As The Melville Times reported on Wednesday, “The clothing crackdown is part of the Government’s new Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, which forces councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and enforce a dress code.”While some Mayors and councils are upholding this federal move (Western Australia’s Melville being one of them), others – like one council in Sydney’s Inner West – have refused to impose the coalition’s dress code for Australia Day ceremonies.As Guardian Australia reports, “At least one inner Sydney council says it will not be imposing the dress codes for citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, while the peak body for local government in New South Wales has criticised them as needless red tape.”

wear a bikini or a ballgown. who cares other than an officious and out of date government https://t.co/AI3yRgD9lr

— pj (@pjsubi) January 23, 2020

Darcy Byrne, the mayor of this area, says his council will not develop the dress code: “There are people recovering from losing everything, from losing family members in the bushfires, and this is what the Department of Home Affairs and Minister Coleman are saying needs to be prescribed urgently? It’s beyond a joke, it’s beyond belief,” he told Guardian Australia.

“This is an inane, undergraduate culture wars stunt from the government, and citizenship ceremonies should be above that.”

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said that while there was no specific code, councils must set standards that reflect the occasion’s significance, while also being reflective of their community and climate.

“Citizenship is the ultimate privilege a nation can bestow on someone who comes to Australia, and the requirement to introduce a dress code ensures we maintain and continue to recognise the significance and formality of a citizenship ceremony.”

The only problem? Smart casual attire, particularly on a public holiday, is about the most un-Austalian thing anyone can imagine. And so the move, though it was announced last year, is now – again – being mocked as Australia Day approaches.

Hello and welcome to our Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony please ensure you keep yourself nice unlike all the actual citizens. https://t.co/Bh9KDiS89n

— F Onthemoon (@firstdogonmoon) January 24, 2020

From pointing out that very few citizens dress nice to events themselves, to emphasising the Aussie art of dressing down, the Twitterati have shown their displeasure.

Truly Canberra is out of touch when were thongs, stubbies and a Jackie Howe not an appropriate dress code for Australia Day.. https://t.co/6kvOvAEdpG

— Brett Milne (@brettmilne) January 23, 2020

While Mayor Bryne is clearly capitalising politically too (in his response to the request), the point remains that a smart casual dress code for any Australia Day ceremony is faintly ridiculous.

Read Next

• The Truth About Australia’s Cavalier Attitude Towards Sustainability
• ATO Investigates Aussie Office Workers After Receiving $1.5 Billion Worth Of ‘Essential’ Uniform Claims

The post Australia Day Dress Code Slammed By Citizens appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Shaving is a reality all men have to face on a near-daily basis and it is quite the fine art. A great shave needs to strike a fine balance between being close to the skin, yet you don’t want to irritate the skin. Modern marketing of shaving is mostly comprised of brands showing off how they can get 10 blades onto their razor with a moisture pad and a moving head. Frankly, it’s all, for lack of a better term, bullshit.I used to shave using a big brand razor yet somehow in contradiction to their marketing I managed to cut myself and irritate my skin every time – not to mention their blades cost a bomb. For my birthday last year, my girlfriend bought me a safety razor, bowl and brush and I haven’t looked back.Whilst you might be under the impression that this is an archaic way to shave, I now get a closer shave, my skin isn’t irritated and I cut myself far less all from one blade. The reality is, shaving is a simple art, but modern razors and their manufacturers have overcomplicated the process, adding needless blades and features to edge out their competition.Safety razors that you use in old school shavers are much thinner and hence can stay sharper for longer meaning you’re always getting a cleaner shave. They also have a specially designed stainless steel head that ensures you get a close cut, without the irritation of your skin.This $210 from Caswell–Massey is very similar to what I use and whilst it might seem expensive, hear me out. The razors I used to use cost $32.45 for four, I used one every two weeks so it cost me $194.7 a year, every year. Refills for my new razor cost $15.99 for 100 or $4.16 a year. So just after one year of using a safety razor, I’ve already gotten my (girlfriend’s) money’s worth.Seriously, if you’re looking for a better shave, healthier skin and a better bank balance you really ought to check Caswell–Massey’s shave set out. It will look great in your bathroom and I guarantee, you’ll look forward to using it every day.Shop Caswell–Massey Chrome Shave Set $210

Read Next

• The 17 Best Moisturisers To Keep Your Looking Younger For Longer
• The 11 Best Men’s Grooming Websites To Keep You Looking Young

The post Caswell–Massey Shave Set Is Better For Your Face & Bank Balance appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I’m the first to admit the future excites me. I’m much more interested in what will happen in the next 10 or 20 years than anything that’s happened in the past. But despite having what I like to consider to be an open mind, I’m still not sold on autonomous cars and quite frankly, I’d rather defecate in my hands and clap than step foot inside one.Why you may ask? Autonomy is the future of transportation! you might cry. Pish. Until autonomous vehicles can be proven to be safe and can intermingle with human-driven cars – although just how they’ll ever be able to cope with Sydneysiders is beyond me – I’ll happily stick to my three pedals and manual gearbox.For now, the only real manufacturer championing autonomous vehicles is Tesla. You’ve probably heard of it. Spearheaded by pothead Elon Musk, Tesla’s cars have slowly but surely been cropping up all over the world. In fact, since the first cars rolled off the production line, Tesla has put together just under 1 million of them.https://www.instagram.com/p/B166OkVBPJR/The Model S-hite, Model Y-the hell would you want one, Model X-ceptionally pretentious and Model 3-is not the magic number and soon to be released Cybertruck (which speaks for itself), all promise to offer a futuristic way of driving and interacting with the car. Fair enough, the oversized iPad style centre console screen is quite cool – I’m a gadget man at heart – but still unnecessary when you’re meant to be keeping your eyes on the road.That’s because Tesla’s Autopilot technology currently only meets level 2 criteria, set by SAE International, which means the car can automatically keep you in the correct lane when cruising along and can notice when the car in front brakes, bringing you a stop as well. But the driver still needs to have their hands on the wheel, and be ready to take over should anything untoward happen. No checking your Tinder profile on the go just yet.You’d think then, that with so much money invested into the technology, that Tesla cars would be safe and be the perfect advert for why we should hand our driving duties over to the robot overlords. But that’s not the case at all, as Reuters reports, there has been an increasing number of cases – 127 so far – wherein Tesla cars have decided to automatically accelerate.While 127 is a diminutive figure when compared to the number of cars Tesla has sent out of its factories, it’s still a sign that the technology isn’t foolproof just yet. I’m not sure about you, but I quite like my life, and yes I know I’m probably in just as much danger when I head out on the road in my own car, but if anything happens I’ll take blame. I don’t want to be in a situation where I have to say “It wasn’t me, it was the car”. I can only imagine that it will go down like a lead balloon in court.Another aspect of autonomous cars that constantly bugs me, is how they’ll act in more niche driving situations. Motoring along the highway is all well and good, the majority of the time there won’t be any traffic so you can cruise at a steady pace.But what happens when you’re driving around a residential estate, for example, there are cars parked on your side of the road blocking your way, and another car wants to come towards you. Does your autonomous car stop to let the other pass, or does it assess the obstacle in its way and move around it, potentially causing a head-on collision?Unless we eventually end up with roads à la Minority Report where we’re basically all connected to a giant Scalextric track, the chances of crashing will be high.I imagine it’s this type of scenario that Mr. Musk might not have thought of.It’s also something owners and prospective owners will unlikely think of, either. They’re the car to be seen in right now. They’re not owned by tree-hugging environmentalists. They’re owned by people that like to say their car accelerates superfast and has fancy gullwing doors. Excuse me while I go and set myself on fire.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw7h8QaBljY/Oh, and what will become of driving tests? If cars go full auto, will the next generation of drivers still be required to know the rules of the road? If an accident or driving incident occurs, such as speeding, is the car to blame or the driver? I don’t understand how police will be able to enforce laws when there are two potential suspects.Besides, driving is fun and exhilarating. Putting your foot down, hearing the engine purr and feeling connected to the road. For myself, there’s no better feeling. I don’t want the car to take that experience away from me. If I ever decide to go electric – and like autonomous cars, it would have to be a really cold day in hell for that to happen too – and I had the bank account for it, I’d choose the Porsche Taycan any day. No automation, just pure driving thrills.

Read next

• $150 Cybertruck Down Payments Could Be The Internet’s Most Embarrassing Flex Yet
• Porsche & Boeing Are Conspiring To Revolutionise Your Daily Commute

The post Autonomous Cars In Australia, Why It’s A Bad Idea appeared first on DMARGE Australia.