Qantas yesterday released a spanking new credit card that offers Qantas First Class Lounge access, Status Credits and flight discounts. It also comes loaded with enough Qantas Points for a complimentary business class flight from Sydney to London upon sign up.

If that weren’t enough, the Qantas Premier Titanium Mastercard is cut from metal (bringing a new meaning to the word sharp), offers the highest Qantas Points earn rate of all cards, and the highest number of sign-up bonus Qantas Points of any Mastercard or Visa credit card currently in market.

The only catch? To take advantage of these high roller advantages, you have to already be flash with cash; this “ultra-premium” bad boy is only available to people with an annual salary of at least $200,000 a year. If you belong to this exclusive club, however, further benefits of signing up are listed below.

• Two Qantas First Lounge Invitations and two lounge Invitations for the Qantas Club Domestic and selected International Business Lounges
• 20 per cent bonus Status Credits on Qantas flights
• 10 per cent discount on Qantas operated flights for up to two bookings per year for two people on all fare classes (both international and domestic)
• 150,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $5,000 within 90 days of card approval
• Two Qantas Points per $1 spent overseas, up to 1.25 Qantas Points in Australia and extra points when spending with Qantas

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Isabella Rose (@bfitbybelll) on Sep 17, 2018 at 5:14pm PDT

In a press release, Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said the Titanium card would appeal to Qantas’ growing group of high spending members, who maximise their points earn across the program on everyday purchases (in some cases, buying enough wine to score an upgrade).

“We started our loyalty program for frequent flyers, but as the number of partners has grown it’s actually frequent buyers who are now earning the most points.”

“The top 1,000 points balances are held by members who have maximised their points earn on everyday spend, with our partners like Woolworths and Red Energy or by using Qantas Points-earning credit cards. The expansion of the program means you can earn points buying wine or buying a car, so the potential for larger balances without flying is huge,” she continued.

“In the past 12 months, one member earned more than 30 million Qantas Points on credit card spend. That’s equivalent of over 100 round the world trips in business class.”

Qantas also highlighted that credit card spend on a Qantas loyal credit card is one of the most popular ways for members to add to their points balances. In fact, thirty-five per cent of all credit card spend in Australia is on a Qantas or Qantas Frequent Flyer co-branded credit card.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hayden Quinn (@hayden_quinn) on Jan 21, 2019 at 2:14am PST

But back to the Premier Titanium. If you are already on an existing Qantas program and this metallic money machine tickles your wallet in all the right spots, you can (fairly) easily switch over, as this ultra premium offering complements the existing Qantas Money credit cards (Qantas Premier Platinum and Qantas Premier Everyday) – which both launched in 2017.

However, with an annual fee of $1,200 and the aforementioned minimum annual income requirement of $200,000, Qantas’ Premier Titanium card is the most exclusive of the bunch.

What drove the company to target this market? Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth put it like this: “We’re seeing more and more of our members with points balances in the millions through strategic credit card use and leveraging program partners. The Qantas Premier Titanium card will help boost their points potential and deliver a more rewarding Qantas experience.

“It comes with a significant annual fee, but has significant benefits.”

Additional info of note: the 10 per cent flight discounts can save cardholders thousands of dollars per year. An individual travelling business class with their partner to London and Hong Kong return, for example, can save around $2500 per annum.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Qantas (@qantas) on Feb 12, 2019 at 1:56pm PST

Oh and based on $10,000 domestic spend per month, the Titanium card has the potential to generate enough points in a year for a one-way upgrade from Economy to Business for two people to Honolulu or a return Classic Flight Reward in economy for two people to Singapore. Life’s not bad at the top, huh?

RELATED: Qantas Business Class Suite A330 – An Honest Review

The post Qantas Launch "Ultra-Premium" Credit Card Exclusively For Those Making 'Bank' appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s a whole world of whiskey out there aside from the usual suspects pumped unrelentingly out of the distilleries of Scotland and the American south.

Of course, there’s plenty of quality whiskey coming out of the old-school powerhouses as well, so we’re under...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post Finest Whiskies Of The World You Need To Try At Least Once In Your Life appeared first on D'MARGE.

When you think of watch making many will imagine a small workshop somewhere in the backstreets of a town with a small, almost elf-like person toiling away making magnificent creations.

That was the case a few decades ago, but today in 2019, it’s a very different story.

IWC Schaffhausen, the Swiss watch brand has come a long way since 1868. In it’s 150 plus years, IWC has changed hands numerous times; from blue-blooded Swiss families to the car instrument company VDO, after which the Richemont Group purchased the IWC business in 2001.

IWC has always resided in the small Swiss town of Schaffhausen about one hour north of Zurich. The brand’s head office is located amongst the cobblestoned streets of the small Swiss town – a modest set of digs for one of the world’s biggest and more prestigious watch brands.

We catch up with IWC’s CEO Mr Christoph Grainger-Herr three days out from his biggest week of the year – SIHH – and he’s as cool as a cucumber.  He alludes to some of the highlights planned for the IWC Gala dinner, but is careful not to let the cat out of the bag.

Christoph was previously responsible for IWC’s aesthetic and the design of its trade fairs. Later moving away from the drafting table to work across product and sales and eventually rising to the top job after gorgeous Georges Kerns’ departure in 2018.

Chris’s office mixes IWC memorabilia with rich mahogany and his two carbon fibre BMC racing bicycles. An avid cyclist, Chris says that cycling in Switzerland isn’t so much fun when it’s -2 degrees, windy and snowing. While the others are laughing I’m totally fixated on an original silver Nokia 8810 neatly framed on his office wall. Chris explains that the Nokia 8810 was the very last mobile phone that you could fix entirely at home. Every part was removable and repairable. However, today finding the parts isn’t easy as these phones fetch over $2,000 on eBay.

IWC’s watchmaking facility was originally located in the head office building before the structure was entirely converted into the current-day offices and IWC Museum. Bursting at the seams due to consistent growth, the brand moved it’s 200 watchmakers, designers and engineers to a brand new state of the art facility a few kilometres just outside of Schaffhausen.

Under the watchful eye of Christoph Grainger-Herr, the new building was constructed in just 21 months. An imposing combination of glass, black frames and stainless steel, the building serves as a monument to the brand’s past 150 years and looks toward the next 150.

The new IWC Manufakturzentrum combines traditional watchmaking with state-of-the-art manufacturing methods and technologies. We stand in the snow like bewildered fanboys out front, jostling for the perfect photo when in reality its design is quite stunning from any angle.

The manufacturer’s lobby is grand, standing at 9 meters high. Gorgeous Georges makes another appearance on the lobby wall next to pictures of past owners and founders. Georges Kern’s contribution to the business can’t be forgotten, having spent 15 years pushing and shaping the direction of what the IWC brand is today.

IWC make the tour experience more authentic we’re asked to wear white zip front coats. Reminiscent of a team of doctors making their rounds in a futuristic hospital we proceed into the first level of the facility. It’s here where around 1,500 watch components are produced.

Complex components are also produced here such as bottom plates, bridges and oscillating weights, as well as small parts including switching levers, springs and latching elements. Some parts manufactured here are so small that they are barely visible to the naked eye.

Plasma cutter machines work between 18-24 hours a day with robotic arms feeding in the raw materials and removing the finished components. Oil is constantly poured over the machining process to reduce friction and heat during the cutting process.

The level of precision and detail required is why most of the steps involved in producing movement components are automated. Imagine doing this by hand? Watches would be 10 times more expensive.

On the flipside, assembling these pieces is far too complex and delicate for machines alone, therefore they require watchmakers to bring these components to life by hand.

Inspecting all the individual components in a variety of metals is impressive but it’s when you see the watchmakers at work that you really begin to appreciate what you’re wearing on your wrist. 

IWC work on a line concept that has been developed for assembling the movements, breaking the assembly process down into multiple sub-processes thus allowing a specialist with specific expertise to tackle each individual step. A movement person does movements, a dial assembly person does dials only, and so on.

Before entering the workshops we’re reminded that even tiny amounts of dust or dirt can impair a movement’s performance. For this reason, the components are assembled in a clean room atmosphere. Operating theatre shoe covers are mandatory for guests, whilst IWC staff swap their street shoes for white Birkenstocks when in the glass-enclosed workshops.

According to IWC, fifty thousand cubic metres of air is circulated every hour through the workshops. The pressure in this environment is above atmospheric pressure, making it even harder for dust particles to find their way in. What I wouldn’t give to have this technology in my dusty Bondi Beach apartment.

We stand quietly over the team carefully putting together perpetual calendar movements for the IWC Portugueser models. Each workstation has Apple iPads which allow the watchmakers to double check each step of the process according to their well-documented manuals.

As the case and movement are passed down the line, the previous work is double checked to ensure that the process has been followed and it’s working correctly. Doing so ensures the number of faulty and or defective units is almost zero. Additionally, defects with movements can be traced back to the exact workstation to ensure problems are isolated and not across an entire batch of watches.

Machine engraving and etching is also used to engrave case backs. This highly advanced technology ensures excellent process reliability and allows new possibilities of engraving designs.

Guests are offered the chance to try some of these techniques, thus proving how difficult learning the art of watchmaking is. In some cases watchmakers will spend up to one year learning how to do just one step in the IWC watchmaking process. 

IWC has paid special attention to the tour experience by allowing guests to get up close to the watchmakers and even experience the watchmaking process themselves.

Our jet lag may have been in full flight, however, that didn’t stop us from getting on the tools and dismantling and reassembling an IWC chronograph movement. Miraculously I completed this task and received a certificate to which I immediately proclaimed ‘this is going straight to the pool room.’ Sadly my reference to the 1990’s classic movie The Castle went over the nice Swiss German teacher’s head.

If you’re a watch lover or simply just an engineering nerd, then the IWC Manufakturzentrum is pure heaven. It’s reminiscent of a Formula 1 team’s factory or pit garage. Spotless and every gizmo perfectly placed on shelves and in their correct spots. It’s a thing of beauty.

It’s when you get to experience and see behind the scenes of how your watch is made that you take on a whole new appreciation for the industry.

For bookings and for more information please contact visit@iwc.com

The post IWC Manufakturzentrum: The Most State Of The Art Watch Factory In The World appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Dress shirt weaves are something a tailor or shirtmaker should have a handle on, not us regular gents, right? Wrong.

Understanding the cotton weave of the common dress shirt, considering most of us buy our shirts off-the-rack (and wear them to work five days a week), is incredibly important.

S...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post Dress Shirt Material Can Make Or Break Your Suit; Here’s How To Pick The Right One appeared first on D'MARGE.

Well someone took the saying "wear it like you stole it" a bit too literally. Meet the latest baseball cap from Italian-American designer label, Palm Angels.

The cap is everything you'd expect a cap to be. Functional. A colour of your liking. Good fit. And...um, stolen. We figure that the Pal...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post The $200 Designer Cap That’s Proof People Will Buy Anything In The Name Of Fashion appeared first on D'MARGE.

With its luxury villas, relaxed lifestyle and ‘booty-ful’ beaches, Bali has long been a popular tourist destination for Australians. But as you scoot between Kuta’s throbbing nightclubs and Uluwatu’s peaceful cliffs, you would do well to keep the statistics in mind.In 2017, four Australians died in scooter accidents in Bali, while thousands more acquired critical injuries. And that’s not to mention Kuta’s BIMC Hospital waiting room, which is in a permanent state of disarray as tourists drenched in blood, with broken bones and fractured skulls, are trundled in and out on stretchers.Some get away with a story and a scar; others never make it home. Suffice to say, when you’re riding around Bali, you need to be switched on. This includes understanding insurance (and how certain actions can void it), learning the road rules, and listening to the local “do’s and don’ts”. We’ll get into that at the end of this piece.But first, take a pew and listen to a travel horror story that could save your life. Submitted to TripAdvisor by a user called James R, this is a piece of travel advice you rarely find in a forum dedicated to food and hotel reviews.Entitled, “Learn From Someone Who Almost Died In A Road Accident In Bali,” James explains how he was badly hospitalised, and the one crucial tip he has for other scooter riders that saved his life. We’ll allow him to take it from here.In August 2017, I was hit head on by a small truck that didn’t look before it swerved across my lane from the other direction to take a right turn. It happened about four minutes from Seminyak on a main road. They hit me at about 30mph, and I was probably doing 25… I was sure I would be killed. I knew I was going to hit the truck head first, and it was probably going to be a neck breaker.It didn’t happen in slow motion, there were no bright lights; all I remember is seeing the truck, shouting “NO” and then hearing the noise of my body hitting the the truck before blacking out. By pure luck I survived & woke up in the middle of the road.To give you a taste of the kind of injuries you can get from this kind of accident, which in relative terms would be a slow speed incident on a motorbike: I was blind in my right eye, I was concerned that I might have a bleed on my brain—or perhaps something had gone through my eyeball itself. My vision was black. I had broken my right cheekbone and my nose, my left forearm bone had gone through my upper arm, and parts had also gone through the back of my elbow. My wrist was 180 degrees rotated and badly broken/dislocated. I had a tear to my right nostril, and a piece of glass had gone through my upper cheek to the bone. I also had a shard of metal that had punctured my back to the left of the base of my spine. The surgeon said 1-2mm to the right and my spinal cord would have been severed. I had lots of glass lacerations to my legs and arms, and a large hole to the bone in my right leg below the knee.It was a truly horrible experience.I travel alone on business, so I had no one to call. If I had remained unconscious I dread to think what would have happened to me, where I would have been taken or even if I would have received any help . I WAS insured and checked that i could ride a bike, but if you are unconscious no one knows who you are or if you have insurance – (I NOW WEAR A MEDICAL ID WRISTBAND WHEN I AM THERE).But the INSURANCE company still took 14 hours to agree to pay for ANY treatment, despite knowing I had open fractures. My real worry was blood poisoning, my cuts were full of road grit and who knows what else. I sat in a hospital entrance for the entire time, slowly gathering a pool of blood at my feet. During that time I had no pain relief and no help. I rang my insurers on the hour every hour and still they tried to find reasons not to pay. There is also no ambulance service in Bali, so you get yourself to hospital or die at the scene.I was pulled across the road by locals, who removed my split helmet and poured water over my face. I remember been stood up twice and passing out both times—I will say that everyone who was there seemed to be trying to help with the best of intentions—I also had a large amount of cash under my motorbike seat as I was off to pay a deposit on a shipping order… A Balinese gentleman came over with my money and put it in my pocket and told me to keep it safe (Balinese people are in general so kind and warm hearted).

“If you read this, then take one thing away from it: wear a crash helmet and do it up. If the helmet they give you is rubbish—(and) most of them are—go to a helmet shop and buy one that fits properly and does up easily and quickly.”

I was wearing a brand new one when this happened. I also ride a large motorbike in the UK and know to ride defensively and be aware of the dangers. The accident was 100% the other party’s fault.The number of pretty surfer girls riding along with their hair blowing in the wind is really scary. Whilst I was in hospital a girl came in after hitting a kerb head first when she came off the moped; she died in the reception of the hospital. I was at the hospital for 6 days after surgery, during that time a man from the EU had also been bought in dead after a crash. I read that he was wearing a helmet, but it wasn’t done up and this caused severe brain damage that lead to his death a day later.

“Please wear a helmet. Please do it up and don’t even consider riding a bike in Bali if you have no experience or insurance. You are very likely to cause or be involved in a serious accident. I took every precaution—don’t think it couldn’t happen to you.”

I still visit Bali, and I still ride a bike there. But for the main road journeys I always take a taxi, and if I go for a beer in the evening, I leave the bike at my apartment. It’s just not worth it. Do your own research into motorbike deaths on the island: it’s quite sobering.Safe travels and I hope this message can help to save a life: perhaps it will be yours.On that note, here’s everything else you need to know about riding a scooter in Bali.

Insurance

As childcare worker, Amethyst Chrystal knows only too well that not sorting out your travel insurance before you go to Bali could leave you in upwards of $60,000 debt. Last year the Australian woman set off from Broome, hoping for a relaxing holiday in the sun, before suffering horrendous injuries from an “impulsive” scooter ride that went wrong.Even though she was scooting round the relatively quiet area of Canggu, she ended up with, “Five facial fractures, a shattered kneecap, exposed femur, and tendons and ligaments ripped from the bone” (News.com) after colliding with a taxi.Fortunately, her insurance company covered her massive medical costs, which—if left untreated—could have resulted in losing her limbs. Unfortunately for other travellers, like Christian Bosco, this is not always the case. As reported by The Inertia, soon after Christian arrived in Indonesia with friends for the trip of a lifetime, “What started as an unseemingly common nosebleed… turn(ed) into a full-on nightmare.”

“That nosebleed led to finding out he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. His condition is nearly impossible to properly treat in Bali, but his insurance will not cover adequate transportation back to Spain. So he remains in Indonesia, receiving regular blood transfusions while fighting for his life.”

While he did eventually get help from the surf community, who organised a go-fund-me, it’s stories like these that prove how important it is to know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to insurance. And while we highly recommend you hit up a professional company with the details of your specific journey, here are some general ‘scooter insurance’ guidelines.

• Always get personal travel insurance.
• Although most local rental shops won’t have it, if you want extra peace of mind, places like Bali Bike Rental, offer premium insurance options upon booking. These premium insurance options mean that in the event of an accident, where you would normally be required to pay a full damage deposit until repair estimates are received, this term is waived.
• Declare your pre-existing medical conditions.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• Check you’re covered for sports activities (or that your chosen insurance provider doesn’t consider driving a ‘sport’).
• Inform the rental company or police immediately if your scooter is damaged or stolen, or if you are involved in an accident.
• Buy a comprehensive (read: not the cheapest) insurance policy.

Getting A License

Although the dude in a Bintang singlet and thongs will tell you the worst that can happen is a $30 slap on the wrist, if you want to be on the right side of the law you need one. As Driving In Bali explains: “You need an international driving license, which you have to apply for in your home country. They are usually only valid together with your ‘real’ driving license, so you need to bring both along.”“You can get a temporary Balinese driving license (tourist driver’s license) from the police station in Denpasar within a day. Check with your hotel or homestay, they will know how you can get there. The cost is about US$30. That’s one way the local police (generate) some extra income. You will have to fill in a multiple choice form (with the answers right next to you!), bring a passport picture and the money… Anybody can get it between the age of 18 and 70!”

Helmet

Did you not read the story at the start? Always wear one, and if the one your rental shop gives you is dodgy or so difficult you don’t trust yourself to strap it on properly, go and buy a new one.

Bali Burn

This classic bogan souvenir, as long as it doesn’t become third degree, is actually the least of your concerns when riding a scooter around Bali. If you want to avoid red raw legs/thighs, wear jeans.

Do’s

• Check the scooter before you pay for it.
• Be guided by the locals—but don’t copy their riskier manoeuvres. While many expats claim this is the only way to learn to drive, keep in mind it could put you in more danger, not less.
• Use the horn. Think about it: would you rather mildly irritate someone, or not be run over?
• Use your signals, or get the passenger on the back to shake their hand in the direction you want to go.
• Stay calm and friendly when you get stopped by police.

Don’ts

• Carry a bag on your shoulder—could get grabbed, or could put you off balance.
• Drive too fast – in Bali, your motto should always be to expect the unexpected.
• Drink and drive.
• Drive too close to the edge of the road where there is often debris.

If you’re after comprehensive travel insurance, here are a few good places to start.

• World Nomads
• AAMI
• Allianz
• Fast Cover Travel

RELATED: The Coolest Hotels In Bali Every Traveller Needs To Check Out (& Into)

The post Hiring A Scooter In Bali – Advice That Could Save Your Life & Money appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You knock off work early, call your mate and tell him to meet you at the beach. Wind's perfect. Corduroy lines are rolling in. The banks are better groomed than Kelly Slater's wave pool. This could be a surf session that will go down in friendship history. The only problem? It will be dark in an hou...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post Friends Who Don’t Own Cars Are The Greatest Drain On Humanity appeared first on D'MARGE.

Time. It’s a constant which forms the very backbone of motor sports. Without it there’s no competition, no finish line.

It’s little surprise then that luxury watch makers have let some of their most coveted creations be inspired by the world of motorsports. Whether it’s Formula One, Le Mans, Mille Miglia or just weekend cruising, there are no shortage of watches designed for the die-hard motoring enthusiast.

Herein lies eight of the most stylish watches that will make any car lover do a double take.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

It comes with a three year waiting list but you can rest assured that the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is worth every dollar it commands. The watch design was first introduced in 1963 as a timing instrument to meet the demands of professional racing drivers. Legendary actor and motoring enthusiast Paul Newman eventually rocked one and from then the watch spawned a dedicated fan base of its own. There are countless variations of the model over its 50 year lifespan so your best bet is to shop around and be patient in order to lock down one of history’s greatest sport chronograph watches. The model shown above is a 40mm stainless steel version.

Bremont Jaguar MKI

Fine British carmaker, meet fine British watchmaking. The partnership between Bremont and Jaguar is unlike any other thanks their shared roots. Crafted to pay tribute to the legendary Jaguar E-Type – a car which Enzo Ferrari called the fastest production car in the world at its launch in 1961 – are six chronometers marking the resurrection of the six ‘continuation’ E-Type racing cars currently being built by Jaguar. One of the six watches, the MKI model, responds to the call for a more accessible version of the original ‘Lightweight’ limited edition watch by reproducing many of its design features sans the white gold and aluminium case. What we have here is a slimmer variant in polished 43mm stainless steel case backed by a tachometre-inspired dial.

BUY £8,795

OMEGA Speedmaster Racing Co-Axial Chronograph

OMEGA‘s Speedmaster is famous for being the first watch on the moon, but that’s not the only place it’s gone. Their watches have also acted as dedicated timekeepers for countless motorsport disciplines which demand precision lap timing. This particular Speedmaster Racing variant is a modern representation of OMEGA’s pioneering spirit underscored by motorsport design elements. The model wears a grey dial with bright yellow accents to mimic the gauges of racing cars whilst the three sub-dials feature a textured “Clous de Paris” pattern. The mechanism sits in a 40mm stainless steel case which is paired to a black rubber strap moulded to a cool tyre tread pattern.

BUY $5,650

IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition “50th Anniversary Of Mercedes-AMG”

The IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition is a tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Mercedes-AMG. Taking inspiration from the first Ingenieur models from the 1950s, the new variant injects a bit of modern technology in the form of a lightweight titanium case. The vintage lines continue with an intricate dial with striking hands and indices with luminescent elements. It also features a tachymeter scale that, when used together with the stopwatch hand, allows the wearer to calculate the average speed covered over a distance of 1,000 metres. The protection against magnetic fields on the case back is inspired by the carbon brake discs that feature on Mercedes-AMG cars. Only 250 units of this watch have been produced.

BUY £10,750

TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11

If the name doesn’t give it away then we don’t know what will. The TAG Heuer Monaco was inspired by the Monaco Grand Prix at a time where racing was as glamorous as it got. It first appeared in 1969 and was considered revolutionary thanks to its water resistant square case – the first ever, alongside the title as the first automatic chronograph. It was given even more racing pedigree when Steve McQueen wore the watch as part of his character in the 1971 film, Le Mans. After a big break from production in the mid-70s, the Monaco was resurrected in 2003 and today it sees renewed adoration as an icon of motoring watches.

BUY AU$7,650

Chopard Mille Miglia 2018 Race Edition

It might not be as well known as others on this list but Swiss watchmaker Chopard has been the partner and official timekeeper of la corsa più bella del mondo for 30 years now. To celebrate this milestone, Chopard created the special Mille Miglia 2018 Race Edition. It’s a timepiece which subtly evokes Mille Miglia racing cars from 1927 to 1940, with its anthracite engined-turned dial inspired by classical dashboards. The limited edition design is housed in a 42mm stainless steel case paired to a leather strap with rubber linin and emblematic red details throughout.

BUY CHF5,450

Baume & Mercier Clifton Club10342

Any car lover will know the iconic American car known as the Shelby Cobra. Baume & Mercier certainly did and that’s why they partnered up with the carmaker to create the Clifton Club Shelby Cobra 10342. There’s plenty of motorsport appointments here from the smooth silver-colored dial with three subdials in silver and Daytona blue, to a red accented leather strap which mimics the appearance of carbon fibre. Functionality doesn’t escape this attention-grabbing piece which also boasts a sturdy water resistant rating of 50 metres.

Autodromo Stradale

Taken straight from a dashboard of Italian sports Berlinettas of the late 1950s and early 1960s, Autodromo’s Stradale is a minimalist’s timepiece made for motoring enthusiasts. It’s most unique feature is a multi-layered dial which sees the hour indexes floating on a transparent glass ring. That transparent layer itself floats over the white dial to create a three-dimensional effect reminiscent of their motoring counterparts. Reliability of Autodromos are solid – the Stradale model is powered by a 24-jewel Japan-made automatic movement. The mechanism sits in a 40mm stainless steel case that’s paired to a black leather strap. A 50m water resistance rating should also help shall your Lotus Esprit also decide to become a submarine.

BUY US$875

Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley

A newcomer for 2018 was a revamped and new look Breitling and Bentley collaboration. For year Breitling and Bentley made unsightly watches for men with no taste. Today that’s a totally different story. Under the leadership of Georges Kerns, Breitling launched the super elegant yet masculine Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley in late 2018. Part of this launch saw the release of the racing green Breitling Premier Bentley edition. It’s 42mm case was a refreshing change from the 48mm versions and is definitely one of the best watches for the motoring enthusiast.

The post Iconic Watches Created For Car Lovers & Driving Enthusiasts appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

His name is Shawn Mendes and he’s here to prove to men around the world that loud doesn’t necessarily need to mean better. Simply choosing the most difficult tuxedo colour to wear is.

The GRAMMYS is renowned for bringing out some of the most audacious looks in menswear (we’ve included a photo of Swae Lee as reference), but as musician Shawn Mendes has proven time and time again, keeping it clean can also be a damn flattering look for guys.

At the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles Mendes stepped out on the red carpet in a striking royal blue tuxedo pared down to perfection. No bow tie, no tie. Just big fat contrasting lapels, a black dress shirt partially unbuttoned, black leather boots and a bit of masculine jewellery. No gimmicks, all class.

What else can we say, gents? If you ever need proof of how to pull off a decent smart casual look that stands out for all the right reasons, this is how to do it.

And it wouldn’t be the first time he’s done something similar.

RELATED: Shawn Mendes Broke All The Rules In A Two-Toned Suit

The post Shawn Mendes Owns The Red Carpet By Wearing One Of The Hardest Tuxedo Colours appeared first on DMARGE Australia.