The combination of gold and emeralds has fascinated people since the dawn of time. This beautiful green colour has been seducing women and men into desire to possess them. Costa Esmaralda belongs to Nirwana’s six senses collection. It also has a hidden secret: you can simply flip the bracelet for a second stunning design.
Made in rose gold plated solid silver, handset in cubic zirconia, and laced with a unique string, this bracelet will soon become your top pick for the evening.
Order online
The Prestigious WATCHPRO Salon Returns to London This November 2022
The biggest luxury watch show of the year in the UK, WATCHPRO Salon, is taking place from 11 to 12 November at The Londoner, a sensational 5-star hotel that opened last year right on Leicester Square.
The show is packed with inspiring watchmakers ranging from the hottest artisan independents such as Laurent Ferrier, Zeitwinkel and Czapek & Cie up to commercial giants including Grand Seiko, Maurice Lacroix, Oris and DOXA. In all, we expect to have over 50 brands to discover.
There is also a lively seminar programme at Salon including Robert-Jan Broer, founder of Fratello Watches and Omega Speedmaster enthusiast club Speedy Tuesday, doing a talk on the origins of the club and the phenomenon of the community. RedBar co-founder Kathleen McGivney will host a special session with collectorsfollowed by the long-awaited London global meet up.
Confirmed exhibitors, a list that is growing by the day, include:
Allemano | anOrdain | Ball Watch | Bianchet | Bomberg | Bonhams | Byrne Watches | Charles Girardier | Cyrus | Czapek & Cie. | Doxa | eBay | Elliot Brown | Encelade 1789 | Grand Seiko | Hanhart | Herbelin | Ikepod | Junghans | Kauri Watches | Laurent Ferrier | Luminox | Marathon | Maurice Lacroix | Montres L. Leroy | Minase Watches |Oligo | Oris | Perrelet | QlockTwo | Reservoir Watches | Scatola Del Tempo | Seiko | Sequent | SevenFriday | Sherpa Watches | Sinn | Speake-Marin | Squale | Swiss Capsule | Swiss Kubik | Victorinox | William Wood Watches | Zeitwinkel | Zodiac Watches
“WATCHPRO Salon is a prestigious event, but we are making it accessible to everybody with a passion for watches,” says head of WATCHPRO Live Lucy Cheesewright.
The show debuted last year and was universally acclaimed for mixing blockbuster brands with independents that are rarely, if ever, seen in the UK to a delighted audience of watch lovers.
“Something interesting is happening in the world of watch events. Following the implosion of Baselworld, there are hundreds of watchmakers that have nowhere to show their latest novelties while, at the same time, the number of people with a passion for timekeepers has exploded, particularly in the UK,” notes WATCHPRO co-founder Rob Corder. “WATCHPRO Salon is an event where seasoned collectors and recent converts to the joys of horology can indulge in their passion,” he adds.
There are various sessions that the public can attend including a VIP Preview on Friday 11 in the afternoon which includes private meetings with watchmakers along with champagne and canapés. Tickets are £100. This will be followed by our opening night cocktail party, tickets priced at £45.
General admission is all day Saturday 12 and tickets are £20.
Ticket sessions:
VIP Champagne Preview, Fri 11 2-5:30
Opening Night Cocktail Fri 11 5:30-8:30
General Admission Sat 12 10-6:00
Email Club Vivanova for your complimentary tickets
Blevins Franks Financial Tips - The Multi-Manager Investment Approach – Specialists vs Generalists
Multi-manager investment enables your portfolio to be managed by several different fund managers, each selected for their expertise in specific market sectors. This ‘open architecture’ approach reduces your reliance on any one investment manager making the right decisions in all conditions, and provides the opportunity to have some of the world’s best mangers looking after your money.
By Rob Kay, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks
Did you see the athletics at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer? Or at the World or European Championships? And of course we had the Tokyo Olympics last year. It was great to see British success emerging with the likes of Jake Wightman, Keely Hodgkinson, Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan, but interestingly, there are some aspects of what you may have seen that are directly relevant to investing.
Specialists vs generalists – a sporting analogy
A useful way to explain the benefits of a multi-manager investment approach is to compare the difference in performance between a decathlon champion and the individual champion in each event.
You may have watched the athletics at the Commonwealth Games or European Championships and marvelled at the decathletes’ abilities. They have to be skilled at 10 different disciplines, quite a Herculean task – speed for sprinting, stamina for distance, strength for the field events and technique for events like the pole vault.
But while the decathlon champion is obviously an all-round athlete performing at an extremely high standard across ten different disciplines, they are frequently beaten by specialists in each of the individual events.
Let’s compare the performance of the decathlon gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) against the individual gold medallists in some of the individual disciplines.
The decathlon champion Damian Warner ran the 100m in 10.12 seconds. Lamont Marcell Jacobs took just 9.80 seconds in the individual event. The results of the other nine disciplines tell the same story. For example, Warner threw the javelin 63.44m, while the individual event gold medallist achieved 87.58m. Warner reached a height of 4.90m in the pole vault compared to the individual champion’s 6.02m. The specialist performed better than the generalist every time.
You would not expect a sprinter like Lamont Marcell Jacobs or Usain Bolt to also specialise in pole vault or javelin; specialists tend to be just that – specialists. There are many situations in life where a specialist performs more efficiently and delivers better results than a generalist, and this is particularly true in investments.
Just because an investment manager is skilled at managing UK equities, for example, does not mean he will be as successful at managing US or Japanese equities. Managers also tend to specialise in a certain style of investing, and these styles move in and out of favour according to economic and other factors. They will therefore produce impressive results in certain conditions, but below average ones in others.
Some investors rely on just one or two fund managers to look after their investment capital. But wouldn’t you prefer to have individual specialists managing the various areas of the market your capital is invested in?
Multi-manager investing
Today most investors agree that holding different asset classes and different regions and sectors in their portfolio spreads risk. Multi-manager funds add a third, and increasingly important, level of diversification to your portfolio.
You will benefit from a team of specialist managers, as well as diversification across multiple investment styles within each fund, with different managers looking after one style. So one fund could have five or more specialist managers, covering a variety of styles (growth, value, quality, risk management, market oriented etc).
This complementary blending of managers and styles can reduce investment risk, regardless of what style is in favour, and help provide more consistent returns through different market environments.
Just like a strained muscle would hamper the decathlete in all his events, if prevailing market conditions are unfavourable to a single manager’s investment approach, performance may suffer. Multi-manager spreads risk as it lowers the investor’s dependence on the success of a single manager’s approach.
Going back to the sporting analogy, in the world of athletics individual champions can easily change from year to year. The same can happen with investment managers, but the multi-manager firm’s research is designed to find the next champions. They constantly monitor their funds, so that managers can be changed as and when necessary to improve performance for clients.
Multi-manager investing is not designed to attempt to win a gold medal in just one particular season. Rather, it aims to produce consistent results, season by season, over a long-term period.
This investment approach can prove suitable for various investors with different needs. However, you should always discuss your requirements with a professional financial adviser, as your investment strategy should be targeted to meet your personal objectives. At Blevins Franks, we combine investment advice with effective tax and estate planning strategies, to maximise wealth preservation opportunities.
These views are put forward for consideration purposes only as the suitability of any investment is dependent on the investment objectives, time horizon and attitude to risk of the investor. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, as can the income arising from them. Past performance should not be seen as an indication of future performance.
Blevins Franks Group is represented in France by the following companies: Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) and Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF). BFWML is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF), is registered with ORIAS, registered number 07 027 475, and authorised as ‘Conseil en Investissements Financiers’ and ‘Courtiers d’Assurance’ Category B (register can be consulted on www.orias.fr). Member of ANACOFI-CIF. BFF’s registered office: 1 rue Pablo Neruda, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon – RCS BX 498 800 465 APE 6622Z. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier and L512-6 and 512-7 du Code des Assurances (assureur MMA). Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of retirement schemes. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.
You can find other financial advisory articles by visiting our website here
Globe Business College Munich - Gift your Son or Daughter an Experience that Will Allow Them to Shape Their Character and Skills
What would you invest in a weekend where your son or daughter will be coached by a team of mentors, professionals, and special VIP guests in a high-energy business competition where they walk away energized, excited, and full of zest for life. We take young people off their phones and immerse them in a personal development experience.
Welcome to the Golden Ticket Workshop by Globe Business College Munich . Read more online
This dynamic weekend is set in a business context but is really about character and skill development. Your sons and daughters are taken off their phones and immersed in an energy driven experience that allows them to step out of their comfort zone and grow personally. The procrastinators, the perfectionists, those who are shy or lacking in confidence or unfocused get to blossom; the budding entrepreneurs shine, and the great academics get to see the other side…the practical application of skill and knowledge.
The next Golden Ticket Weekend is coming quickly: 2 - 4 December, 2022 at our campus right in the heart of Munich.
The price for the workshop is 450 Euros, which includes the weekend experience (Fridy evening to Sunday), certificate of completion (linked to school CAS points where relevant) and snacks. It also includes the parent session on Sunday (from 11-2) which involves customised feedback on your child's performance, a general session on how parents can navigate education in a tech driven world, Q and A reception and watching your child and their team at the final presentations.
You can register online at this link, by calling our admissions team at +49 89 59990841 or by contacting us directly by email.
Don't believe us about how great this experience is, then have a look at the testimonials below.
Link to information for parents
Andrea Wirsching, current owner and operating director of the Hans Wirsching Winery talks about the Golden Ticket weekend - view the interview online
To hear the experience of students, we recommend this video link
The Mall Sanremo Pays Homage to the Beauty of Autumn with its Fashion Market
Through its colors and fruits, The Mall Sanremo celebrates the arrival of autumn with Harvest: the exclusive seasonal event which, from September 15th to November 6th, will welcome guests to a characteristic Fashion Market made up of natural treasures and local flavours.
Thus begins a sensory journey, where trails of purple leaves, wooden fences and lush olive trees in rustic planters embellish the spaces with their nuances and aromas, from the railings to the walkways.
A real explosion of materials, scents and charms, which highlight the engaging structures transformed for the occasion into exhilarating showcases on local products. Specifically, the Greenhouse Station invites customers to a contemporary market, where for the entire duration of the event, the staff of the adHoc Food Lounge will be displaying indigenous delicacies to be tasted and purchased. The Immersive Station, on the other hand, is the interactive room intended for the three-dimensional discovery of seasonal ingredients stored in raised wooden planters, such as aromatic herbs and olives, the undisputed symbol of Liguria. Finally, an elegant relaxation area will be set up on the panoramic terrace.
Among the numerous proposals of the Fashion Market of The Mall Sanremo, there are also personalized activities including a workshop to introduce children to the natural growth path of flora, where participants will then be gifted a plant to look after. The older ones will receive a practical mesh shopper bag complete with logo for future sustainable shopping.
An exciting event where the territory intertwines with the most authentic beauty, to rediscover familiar products and slow rhythms together.
European Hub for Innovation and Business Hosts Amazing Success in Monaco with The Pioneering Ultimate Mixer 2022
On Wednesday 28th September 2022, and in partnership with Club Vivanova, The European Hub for Innovation and Business co-hosted The Ultimate Mixer 2022 at the Fairmont Monte Carlo.
The black-tie business gala opened at 7pm with an aperitif at the Salle de la Mer Ballroom of the Fairmont Monte Carlo with presentations and an Alexa Eve fashion show followed by gourmet dinner, fine wines and dynamic networking, carriages arrived at midnight.
View the event gallery
Join The Ultimate Mixer 2023
The first edition of The Ultimate Mixer brought together exceptional people in an exquisite location to cultivate new business opportunities – developing relationships among individuals and businesses having a common interest of positive and dynamic brand development.
The evening focused on business and innovation from the Nordic regions with a listing of global brands including the attendance of many Club Vivanova partners.
In partnership with the European Hub for Innovation and Business (EHIB), Pontus Catering, Trackmy Solutions, Ingredifind, QVT Distillery, Proteus Professionals, Eurolink Systems, Alexa Eve, Club Vivanova and the International University of Monaco.
Please see this link for more information on membership and partnerships.
The Good Life is Coming to the Cote D’Azur with Gavin Sharpe of Riviera Wellbeing and Paris Based Relationship and Recovery Coach Dufflyn Lammers
U.K. psychotherapist and Monaco resident Gavin Sharpe of Riviera Wellbeing has teamed up with Paris based relationship and recovery coach, Dufflyn Lammers. On October 15th 2022, the pair will deliver the Good Life at the Monte Carlo Bay hotel. Tickets cost €60 and proceeds are being donated to Child CARE Monaco. Lunch is included.
Gavin Sharpe said “It’s been my ambition for some time to start a conversation on the French Riviera about wellbeing. The time is now. After Covid-19, the world changed for all of us. Wellbeing is no longer just a bit of yoga on a Sunday afternoon but it’s a matter of survival. So how can we survive?”
In collaboration with 106.5 Riviera Radio, the event is being sponsored by three Monaco companies, Savills, Metabolic Balance, and Blevins Franks as well as one of the world’s leading rehab centres in Switzerland, Clinic Les Alpes.
The pair promise the day will be fun and practical. Lammers and Sharpe want participants to take home practical tools which will enhance their lives, including a wellbeing kit. Topics include how to be financially healthy, how to make love relationships work and why healthy living is important.
Ingredifind Partners with Club Vivanova Enhancing Your Gastronomical Dining Experience
Club Vivanova has recently partnered with INGREDIFIND offering our gastronomical partners the chance to join a dynamic culinary platform free of charge with a promoted restaurant and menu listing.
About Ingredifind
Ingredifind is a platform that improves your connection with new, potential, and existing customers. Our goal is to bridge the information gap in regard to the menu you are serving and client’s dietary desires.
A Totally Free Service
All current services on our platform are free, allowing you to create free online and QR code menus, personalize the menu to fit your brand, and let your customers see a customized menu.
Promotion and Marketing
As Ingredifind develop restaurant partners across Europe and the UK, they will promote and market you through their social media channels and in three restaurant directory. Free publicity – always a bonus!
This is an example of what we are doing with Club Vivanova – follow this link to view more
We promote you as a location to the Ingredifind database.
You send us your menu, and we do the rest!
For more details about Ingredifind and what they offer, download this pdf
Contact us
CaterMatch - A Berlin Start-Up Offering Experienced Gourmet Catering Services
In search of an adequate business catering in Berlin? CaterMatch delivers a suitable catering offer for meetings, events, and gourmet parties within two hours.
CaterMatch is the best way to skip the long search for a suitable business catering service in Berlin: With a few clicks on the website, you tell us what you want and our team will send you a offer for your business catering within 2 hours. Our offers are free of charge and non- binding.
To make sure that you only get high-quality caterings, we offer a selection of handpicked caterers which deliver everything from team breakfasts, team lunches and business lunches to finger food, BBQ and Christmas buffets at Christmas parties. You need your parking lot filled up with several food trucks to cater your staff party or think about a private Christmas market for you team? Just give us a hint, we are happy to help and create a personal offer for you.
At CaterMatch you benefit from our years of experience in catering. We make ordering easy, provide competent service, deliver reliably, and put an emphasis on delicious and appealing food. But see for yourself. We look forward to your enquiry.
Athens Based Fashion Designer Vassilis Zoulias Showcases "The Grace Collection" at the 2022 Club Vivanova Luxury Lifestyle Charity Gala Dinner
Athens based and internationally renowned fashion designer Vassilis Zoulias showcases an haute couture fashion extravaganza with "The Grace Collection" at the 2022 Club Vivanova Luxury Lifestyle Charity Gala Dinner on Saturday 12th November at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. Link to book gala tickets
In 2002, Vassilis Zoulias opened his boutique, Vassilis Zoulias Old Athens in Athens, Greece, where he introduced luxury shoes, handbags, hats and limited collections. Realizing his passion to dress women and staying true to his love for old time elegance –in 2007 he launched his first Prêt-à-Porter collection, paying homage to old-time glamour with the refined synchronous touch of his finely detailed excellent creations. By 2008, he showcased his first Haute Couture and Bridal Collection and has since headlined Greece’s fashion week for the past decade! View more
Do You Own a Classic or Modern Supercar? Then Join Rendez-Vous Riviera on Saturday 1st September in St Tropez
If you own a treasured classic or modern supercar, you can drive it to the Saint-Tropez Polo Club on Saturday 1st October and be part of a spectacular display of beautiful cars. Whether you have an old Citröen 2CV or modern Ferrari, we want to hear from you. Half-price tickets are available for anyone displaying a car. There will be live music and DJ sets, champagne and oysters, rosé and cocktails and great food served all day. For details and to contact us about your car, visit this website.
How Can Private Tuition Help Your Child Achieve The Grades Needed To Apply To The Best Schools
We are seeing an increase in the number of our families requesting a full-time private tutor, governor, or governess. The feedback: a lack of confidence with standards in school education, especially since the covid pandemic closed schools across the globe, and an attempt by families to expose their children to the global knowledge economy, to give them an edge and ensure that they can compete for coveted places at top schools.
So with this in mind, how can a private tutor, governor, or governess work with your child to help them achieve their very best results and reach the outcome required?
One-on-One Attention
A private tutor, governor, or governess can develop and create lesson plans based on the specific needs and age of your child. They can match your children’s personalities and learning styles and give them the confidence to learn something that they find difficult in a typical classroom-stye environment. The school system tends to have large classes, and even where there are limits on numbers in each class, shy children are often in danger of being overlooked and left behind as they concentrate on the needs of the average student in the class. Where teachers don’t have time to provide the attention a child needs, and the longer this goes on, the more unlikely it becomes that the child will be able to catch up which can have a devastating effect on their self-esteem. A well-chosen one-on-one private educator has the luxury of being able to go back to the beginning, filling gaps in the knowledge and ensuring the child understands the topic and can apply the concepts and possibly even exceed the required standard.
Flexibility To Study Anything, Anywhere and Everywhere
Many of our families have busy schedules and like their families to travel with them around the world spending weeks to months in various countries. As this can be disruptive to a child’s schooling, a private tutor, governor or governess is able to travel with you on family vacations and business trips so that your child doesn’t miss key learning stages at school. A private educator will establish a daily educational plan and routine that allows for one-to-one instruction, learning activities and outings, preparing for tests and exams, and time to write assignments and Essays; fitting all this around the family’s obligations, downtime, and schedule. One of our tutors would regularly deliver lessons on the family’s private jet using the time efficiently so that on arrival the child could indulge in other more engaging pursuits. Additionally, to aid learning, a private tutor, governor or governess might choose to teach specific subjects on specific days. For example, maths and science on Mondays, languages on Tuesdays, art and music on Wednesdays with Friday dedicated to outdoor learning each week.
Learning More Than the Syllabus
A private tutor, governor, or governess teaches a wide variety of subjects in more depth than core curriculums usually require. For example, a bilingual educator will be able to deliver lessons in more than one language. Where your family regularly interacts with different cultures it might be important to you for the educator to teach proper etiquette, culture and customs, a code of conduct, and manners. In pursuit of top colleges, an accomplished, highly educated tutor, governor, or governess can often teach more than the information required by the curriculum and may be able to provide a wider viewpoint for study that allows a student to garner a deeper understanding not only of the core subject, but also the wider issues that impact the subject. Private tutors are also able to teach study skills and how to plan and organise your revision timetable, they can show a child how to best manage their time and prioritize tasks in exams and whilst studying. These life skills are valuable lessons that the child will be able to use throughout adulthood.
Goals and Objective Setting for Your Child’s Future
A private educator can help you set objectives in line with your and your child’s goals,aspirations, personality, and interests. Not all children know what they want to be when they grow up and a private tutor, governor, or governess can act as a coach, encouraging the child to explore their interests. Their focus on educational attainment alongside consistent praise, encouragement, and feedback can instill confidence in your child which will allow you and them to choose the right schools and colleges and be better prepared for entrance exams and often achieve higher results than their peers in traditional schools. A private tutor, governor, or governess can also support you in preparing your child for adulthood byimparting valuable life skills that they may not get exposed to in traditional educational systems.
Is your child struggling? Things to look out for:
Even if your child does attend an educational establishment, they may still benefit from having a private tutor, governor, or governess who will work closely with a student who has fallen behind or has learning difficulties. A child who might benefit from one-on-one attention might have:
• Consistently poor or falling grades
• Detentions for homework not completed
• Not enjoying school
• Stress or anxiety about school, friends, or grades
• Difficulties with age-appropriate core skills such as reading, writing, or maths.
• Diagnosed learning difficulties.
• Not wanting to attend school
Where Can I Find the Right Private Tutor/Governor/Governess for my Family?
Platinum Nanny is an international bespoke search consultancy in the placement of Nannies, Tutors, Governors, Governesses, and Household & Estate Staff in Monaco · London · Dubai · Moscow · Switzerland & the Middle East.
Contact details:
Email
Website
WhatsApp: +33760038355
**INVITATION**
As a participating sponsor, Platinum Nanny warmly invites you to the British Boarding Schools Show Monaco 2022. This event for Parents of Monaco & the French Riviera will take place on Thursday 22nd September 2022 from 10:30 to 18:00 at The Yacht Club De Monaco, Quai Louis II.
A Callender Howorth Masterclass - The Wow Factor in Luxury Interior Design
When you walk into a room and feel taken aback by its beauty and sense of wellbeing, what you are responding to is the mood set by the lighting design. You can have a room filled with beautiful and luxurious furniture and decor, but if the lighting design is not correct, you will not feel the intended energy and experience of the space. In fact, you will feel like something is off, or that it is missing the WOW factor.
As one of the pillars of interior design, lighting directly affects our senses and our mood. Studies have found that the more intense the light, the more intense emotions are perceived to be. Not only does lighting affect our moods, but directly affects our biorhythm and even our circadian rhythms.
Lighting is what makes us feel safe and relaxed at home, and directly affects our productivity at work. It also links the connection between rooms ensuring a smooth transition from one room to the next.
Callender Howorth managing director Mark Howorth explains, “Lighting design is such an important element of the interior design process. It is one of the key ways that we create the wow factor with our designs. There are many facets to getting the perfect interior design – and our lighting design team is key to getting the big wow factor that our clients want.
Good lighting design adds the magic that lifts and enhances all of our designs to the next dimension. Whether we are looking to create a cosy reading corner or a multi-function space the same principles are adopted to ensure our projects are delivered to the highest level.”
However, lighting design is a uniquely creative and technical process that requires the vision of a skilled team that can translate the overall design to produce subtle colours and intensity bringing the design to life.
Our team at London Lightworks are masters of creating the perfect balance for our luxury residential projects which require the utmost highest attention to precision and detail.
Mark Kazer from London Lightworks shares his intentions behind lighting design. “An expertly designed lighting scheme adds another dimension to your space, bringing an interior design project to life. Great lighting creates depth and height, and cosy spots, and draws attention to your most impressive areas or features of the room.
It's all about the balance of light and shade and bringing new energy to an interior. Considering a user's interaction with any given space is so important to how a lighting scene is set to ensure it is comfortable and really portrays the moods we wish to create.”
Callender Howorth Interior and Architectural Design provides an English-speaking design and build team for luxury interior design projects across the French Riviera, Monaco, London and New York.
If you are looking to renovate your home, we invite you to contact us by email to Mark Howorth at or call +33 483 5805 27. For press inquiries contact Juanita Viale.
Blevins Frank Financial Tips - Inflation Concerns Today and Planning for the Future
Inflation is causing concern in across the EU and in the UK. It has been climbing steadily since last summer, hitting over 8% in the Euro area in June and July and expected to climb to 13% in the UK. Even low levels impact your spending power over time, so take steps now to protect your savings and retirement income for your long-term future.
Inflation has been a major news story this year, but we don’t need to read news reports to know the cost of living is going up, we’re only too aware with our weekly shops and electricity bills.
This follows 10 years of benign, easy to ignore inflation, but in fact we were not immune from it then. It is always there, slowly eroding the spending power of the Euro in our pocket and we should always be vigilant about how it impacts our financial security through retirement.
Although this inflation surge is lasting considerably longer than first anticipated, and is likely to get worse before it gets better, it is not still not expected to be long-term. But hopefully people will view it as an eye opener and take this long-term threat more seriously now. We cannot predict what inflation will be in ten or twenty-years’ time, but we do know that even low levels can seriously reduce your spending power over time if your money does not grow at the same rate.
The Eurozone
The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) was 2.2% in July 2021. This July it hit 8.9%, another record for the single currency.
French consumer prices, as measured by the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached 6.1% in July, up from June’s 5.8%. The acceleration of service prices linked to the summer period has contributed to the increase, as have food prices. Energy prices, however, slowed.
The UK
In the UK, the Consumer Price Index reached 10.1% in July, up from 9.4% the previous month. The July figure was the highest annual CPI inflation rate in the National Statistic series, which began in January 1997. Rising food prices made the largest upward contribution.
Will inflation remain high?
When prices began rising last summer, that was largely caused by the ‘base effect’ (inflation the previous year had been unusually low in the pandemic) and supply difficulties as economies exited from lockdowns. However, the crisis in Ukraine then exacerbated the issues, particularly with energy prices escalating though uncertainty about supply chains has also pushed prices up.
In July, the European Commission revised its Eurozone 2022 inflation forecast upwards, from 6.1% for the year to 7.6% – peaking at 8.4% in the third quarter. It will then ease to 4% for 2023 as a whole, falling below 3% in the last three months of the year.
Its Summer Economic Forecast explains:
“Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put additional upward pressures on energy and food commodity prices. These are feeding global inflationary pressures, eroding the purchasing power of households and triggering a faster monetary policy response than previously assumed.”
In the UK, the Bank of England has issued bleaker forecasts. On 4 August it warned that it now predicts inflation to hit 13% in the last quarter of the year, and that it will “remain at very elevated levels throughout much of 2023, before falling to the 2% target two years ahead”.
In response to inflation, the Bank of England has raised its interest rate six consecutive times since December 2021. At its latest Monetary Policy Meeting on 3 August, the committee voted 8-1 to increase the bank rate by 0.5 percentage points, to 1.75%. This is the highest since December 2008 – but still a long way below inflation.
Inflation and your savings and retirement income
No-one is immune from inflation. We all need to plan to protect our savings and future income from the rising cost of living. Making sure your money lasts as long as we do should be an integral part of our financial planning for retirement.
If you’re retiring now at age 60, you need to plan for over 30 years of retirement. Unless your savings grow each year, they will buy you considerably less as the years go by.
As a basic illustration, if you have €50,000 in a current account with no growth, and inflation is 3% every year, after 10 years its value will have fallen to around €37,000. After 20 years it’s around €27,500 and after 30 just €20,555. That’s a 59% reduction in purchasing power.
You therefore need to invest in assets that can be expected to produce enough growth to at least keep up with inflation. As we know from the last decade, bank interest rates cannot be expected to do this – in fact, many savers have been earning negative real rates of return.
While you may become more averse to investment risk in retirement, remember that inflation is also a big risk to your savings. You can reduce investment risk to comfortable levels by obtaining an objective calculation of your attitude to risk, then building a suitable well-diversified portfolio around your risk tolerance, time horizon, circumstances and objectives.
Holding your investment portfolio within an arrangement that is tax efficient in your country of residence helps protect your capital from unnecessary taxation as well as inflation. Review your financial planning annually to have peace of mind about your future, then get back to enjoying your retirement years.
HICP/CPI inflation data is at 25 August 2022.
By Rob Kay, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks
Blevins Franks Group is represented in France by the following companies: Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) and Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF). BFWML is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF), is registered with ORIAS, registered number 07 027 475, and authorised as ‘Conseil en Investissements Financiers’ and ‘Courtiers d’Assurance’ Category B (register can be consulted on www.orias.fr). Member of ANACOFI-CIF. BFF’s registered office: 1 rue Pablo Neruda, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon – RCS BX 498 800 465 APE 6622Z. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier and L512-6 and 512-7 du Code des Assurances (assureur MMA). Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of retirement schemes. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.
You can find other financial advisory articles by visiting our website here
Lorenza von Stein Worldwide Realty - Prime Position Port Hercule Renovated Apartment Now Available for Purchase
Located in prime position in the Port Hercule, offering a panoramic sea view looking out to the Port and the Mediterranean sea, this stunning two bedroom apartment has been renovated and designed to perfection.
As you walk through the entrance hall, enter into a bright and stylish open-plan living space, perfectly designed for entertaining. The main room features a generous lounging area to one side, as well as a beautifully crafter bar area, lined with genuine brown marble, a dining table seating 4, as well as a spacious open plan kitchen area, equipped with Miele appliances & a separate island, offering more seating possibilities.
The living area's flawless aesthetic is curated by the backdrop of the views overlooking the Port area, while a spacious terrace offers a direct view of the starting line of the Grand-Prix.
The property features two bedrooms. A spacious master bedroom, with ensuite shower room, and a generous ensuite dressing area. And a second bedroom with ensuite shower room and an abundance of closet space. Both bathrooms in the property benefit from under-floor heating.
All in all, the apartment has been stylishly finished with the highest quality materials and with a great attention to detail, and is presented throughout with a combination of custom-made and designer furniture with original artwork and mood lighting.
The apartment is composed as follows: an entry hall, a double living and dining area with a fully equipped kitchen, a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and dressing area, a second bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and built in storage space, a guest toilet, and a large terrace overlooking the Port Hercules.
Apartment is sold with 1 cellar in the building.
The apartment has been fully equipped with a Sonos surround system, as well as a mood lighting system by Lutron.
Parking for the apartment is available for sale separately by the owner in the nearby Panorama building. There is one single open space and a box with parking for 2 cars - price on application
For additional information regarding the property, including a video & virtual tour of the property, you may consult the website.
Lorenza von Stein Worldwide Realty
47, boulevard du Jardin Exotique
MC 98000 MONACO
Tel : + 377 97 97 02 77
Email
Currencies Direct Co-hosts and Sponsors the 2022 Prestige French Property & Lifestyle Show
This will be the first dedicated French Property Show since March 2020 and we look forward to showcasing the best of France. Attending the show will be Immobiliers representing some of the most popular areas of France such as Normandy, Brittany, Mayenne, Loire Atlantique, Limousin, Dordogne, Languedoc etc.
Prestige will be there as the hosts and they offer everything from property management to a marketing and reservation service for rental properties in France. Currencies Direct as co-hosts are the dedicated currency exchange company for the show and there will also be other proifessional companies such as AXA Banque, Generali Assurance, Northerncross Wealth, HCB French-Connections (Visa Specialists), Hot-Tubs in France, Escec International (Accountancy), a Mortgage Broker and Caravans in the Sun who can offer mobile homes throughout Europe. France Media (The France Show & French property Exhibitions) are the media partner for the show and they also publish French Property News and French Entrée. Link for tickets
Award-Winning Motoring Events Company V Events Offers Two Spectacular Tours of Provence to Coincide with their Saint-Tropez Party
RENDEZ-VOUS RIVIERA 1st October 2022 - Saint Tropez Polo Club - The first is The Derek Bell Tour, hosted by Porsche legend and 5-times Le Mans winner Derek Bell, which starts with a lunch on Cap d’Antibes on Tuesday 27th September. The 20 classic and modern sports cars will then set off on a 4-day adventure, taking in the finest driving roads and staying each night at the best hotels in the region. Then on Friday afternoon they will arrive in Saint-Tropez and the first of 2 nights at The Kube Hotel, in time for a party by the pool, with views that stretch out across the bay to Saint-Maxime.
The next day it is Rendez-Vous Riviera, a relaxed and intimate concours-style event at the Saint-Tropez Polo Club featuring live music by rock and roll legend John Oates (of Hall & Oates fame), DJ sets by Anna de Ferran, champagne and oysters, Mirabeau rosé and cocktail bars, and superb food served throughout the day. And of course there will be a display of some of the finest cars ever built. For full details, please visit Rendez-Vous Riviera or get in touch with Chris Bucknall at V Events.
The following day (Sunday 2nd October) there will be a closed road parade for all the cars around the village down to the port, and then drinks at the Saint-Tropez Lounge Club will mark the end of Derek’s event.
Then there is The Jodie Kidd Tour, hosted by international fashion model-turned motoring journalist Jodie Kidd, whose guests will arrive in Saint-Tropez at the same time as Derek’s (Friday 30th September) and who will also enjoy the same 2 nights at the Kube Hotel, the party, and Rendez-Vous Riviera. But the parade on the Sunday morning mark’s the beginning of her tour, which sets off on the same route as Derek’s, but in reverse, finishing with a night at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco on Tuesday 4th October, and then a farewell lunch on the beach in Cap d’Antibes the following day.
What better way to round off the summer than with a relaxed tour and a weekend of partying in Saint-Tropez. All classic and modern sports cars are welcome, and if you don’t have a suitable car we can arrange the rental of one for you. For full details and brochures about the tours For full details, please visit Rendez-Vous Riviera or get in touch with Chris Bucknall at V Events.
Discover the French Riviera Like Never Before with ‘Discover’, The Real Estate Magazine from Savills
Celebrating 20 years as a leading French property agent, Savills shares a selection of lifestyle favourites from the Côte d’Azur and invites you to explore behind the scenes of a collection of Riviera homes. With everything from Michelin starred chefs, the future of Yachting and a guide to the Beach clubs of Saint-Tropez there is something for everyone.
Pick up or request your copy today and learn just what makes the French Riviera unique.
Find out more here
8 Stars Monaco Presents Delirious - A State of Wild Excitement - from 26th August to 4th September at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco
Join us for the party of the summer: A wild circus cabaret show with some of the most captivating, jaw-dropping and outrageous performers ever to descend upon Monaco. A thrilling night celebrating the art of the party as you’ve never experienced it before. Let us take you into a state of wild excitement - experience: DELIRIOUS
After the success of BOHEMIA in 2021 - with H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco - the 8 Stars Monaco team led by Nicolas Jelmoni is again ready to take you on a DELIRIOUS circus journey for the night.
8 Stars Monaco is a multidisciplinary agency based in Monaco that puts its experience and expertise at disposal to carry out various artistic projects.
Creative director of the company, Nicolas Jelmoni benefits from his career travelling around the world as a renowned circus performer to bring all the events and projects to life.
SPIEGELTENT
Large round tent, made of wood and fabric, whose interior space consisting of a dance floor and private alcoves is surrounded by an unbroken row of large mirrors. For the second year in a row, set up on the Esplanade du Grimaldi Forum, these vintage and magnificent round tents of old fashioned and very good quality make the place feel very warm and intimate.
Reservations
By email
+33 680 864 200
Handbag Clinic France Presents The Top 10 Most Expensive Designer Handbag Brands In The World
A guide through 10 of the most expensive handbag brands, and some of their most iconic, lavish pieces. The stuff of dreams!
The beauty of the handbag industry is the variety of pieces available to suit every taste, purpose or budget. From the high street to high-end fashion houses, experimentation with colours, materials, precious metals, jewels and size is frequent, and as a result there is something for everyone from functionality to finesse. Amidst these delights, as with all luxury items, there are pieces which take it to the next level and demand next level prices as a result.
Handbag Clinic will guide you through some of the most notorious handbag brands, the most expensive pieces they have ever produced, and just why they demand some of the vast sums that have been exchanged. Whether bought in an auction, direct from the designer or loaned out to famous names, here is our list of some of the most sought after and coveted handbags on the planet for you to fall in love with!
#10: Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is a name ubiquitous with fashion accessories and notorious for quality, so their specialist ‘Carolyn Crocodile’ handbag had to feature at #10 on our list. Whilst they have more accessible and affordable lines and may not seem to be exclusive, this piece proves they can compete with huge global names, not just on price but on outstanding quality and rarity too.
This handbag costs an estimated £21,000 ($30,000) and is constructed from patent crocodile skin, available in a quilted blue or purple coloured pattern reminiscent of tie-dye, which guides the chosen colour through a variety of different tints and hues on each individual panel to create an unforgettable effect. You won’t see anything like this again.
Above: Marc Jacobs' 'Carolyn Crocodile' in purple. Source: Luxos.com
#9: Fendi
The ‘Selleria’ handbag was first launched over 70 years ago in 1938 and is an icon Italian fashion giants Fendi have moulded their brand image around. Made to order with sable and chinchilla leathers (two of the most expensive and elusive skins in existence) these beauties can take up to 4 months to be produced by Italian master craftsmen.
Above: Fendi's 'Selleria' handbag in a stylish silver. Source: Pinterest
The handbag, priced at £26,500 ($38,000), not only exudes luxury and sophistication with a sublime finish but is one of the few bags in our list which is actually big enough for daily use and can accommodate all of your accessories comfortably within its sumptuously soft hide. Tempting to say the least for any handbag aficionado.
View our range of Authentic Pre-Owned Fendi Bags at more affordable prices!
#8: Hilde Palladino
Hilde Palladino is a Norwegian designer who produces some of the most unique handbags on the planet. The ‘Gadino’ is classed as one of the most impressive purses in the world by popular demand. The limited edition bag is made from white crocodile skin with 39 diamonds placed on its lavish white gold fasteners.
Above: Palladino's 'Gadino'. Source: Smartsuwal.com
Coming in at a cool £27,000 ($38,470) it’s actually quite reasonable in the context of this piece. Palladino sells her bags within high-end boutiques around the world like Harvey Nichols, but keeps them incredibly limited in production to keep them exciting and only for a fortunate few.
#7: Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton are known for pushing the boundaries with extravagant one off collections and ground-breaking concepts which have changed the landscape of fashion over their history. With a brand image of usually being clean, clinical and recognisable, nothing within this list quite compares to their ‘Tribute Patchwork’ bag for boundary pushing innovative design.
Including a variety of different iconic Louis Vuitton styles pieced together, only 20 of these Frankenstein-esque collector’s items were ever produced, and retailed for £29,000 ($42,000) each. Opinion was split upon release in 2007 as some sectors dubbed it “the world’s ugliest handbag”, but unsurprisingly they all sold out rapidly. For sheer attention to detail and paying homage to some fantastic styles, Louis Vuitton has to be acknowledged for their audacity on this occasion.
Above: Beauty or a beast? Louis Vuitton's 'Tribute Patchwork' has raised some eyebrows. Source: Financesonline.co.uk
If your bag budget doesn't stretch to this, why not see if we have a more affordable Pre-Owned Louis Vuitton Bag for sale.
#6: Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent, founded in 1961, is a brand notorious for modern minimalism and Parisian monochrome fashion, creating ready-to-wear garments as well as a range of accessories in which handbags feature prominently. Creatively directed by Hedi Slimane, simplicity in its purest form with perfect execution and superb materials seems to be the way of YSL, and their ‘Sac De Jour’ leather tote is a prime example of this mantra.
Constructed from magnificent alligator leather you cannot argue that this handbag is simply sublime and will never go out of style: exactly what founder Yves Saint Laurent would have wanted. Coming in at £ 20,500 (€26,500) it ranks at the ‘cheaper’ end of this list but maintains an understated luxury that rivals the more excessive pieces on this list. Maybe one day!
Above: The definition of elegance? Saint Laurent's 'Sac De Jour'
Shop our range of Pre-Owned Saint Laurent Handbags.
#5: Chanel
A mainstay within the handbag world, if you ask any collector or enthusiast Chanel will not be far from their thoughts. Aside from their classic, lavish retail collections they have some of the most beautiful and sought after bespoke pieces the world has ever seen.
The Chanel ‘Diamond Forever’ handbag is a piece which immediately springs to mind. With only 13 produced worldwide in 2007 the handbag boasts 334 diamonds making up an extraordinary 3.56 carats, 18 carat white gold hardware and a white alligator skin body. The price for this masterpiece of £183,000 ($261,000) places the bag firmly amongst the most desirable handbags to have ever been produced.
Above: Diamonds are forever with this Chanel showstopper. Source: Styledemocracy.com
For something with a little less ‘bling’ the Chanel ‘Croc Biarritz’, an oversized tote bag made exclusively from black crocodile exotic leather, is another notable release from the French powerhouse which is a little more subtle. There were only 8 produced and the sleek design means an incredibly resilient everyday fashion piece, but for £30,000 ($43,150) you would expect it to be!
Shop our range of Pre-Owned Chanel Handbags.
#4: Hermes
Hermes Birkin’s are notoriously hard to come by and demand eye-watering sums as a result, and this trend has no sign of ending. Currently a Birkin holds the record for the most expensive bag ever to sell at auction- a pink exotic crocodile skin example with diamond embellishments which sold at Christies in Hong Kong for a staggering £155,000 ($221,844). The previous record at auction was also a Birkin too, set in 2011 when a red Birkin with diamond accompaniments sold at Heritage Auctions in New York for £143,000 ($203,150).
These aftermarket auction prices are extreme, but they are nothing compared to the retail of their collaboration pieces with renowned designers. In 2012 Hermes revealed a solid gold piece by designer Pierre Hardy 2 years in the making which went on sale for $1.9million. A Hermes Birkin by Ginza Tanaka made of platinum and adorned with more than 2000 diamonds, including large pearl drop diamonds, also holds a value of $1.9 million (approximately £1.3m).
Above: Pierre Hardy's collaborative Hermes Birkin: worth its weight in gold...and then some. Source: Fashionmagazine.com
Shop our range of Hermes Handbags.
#3: Lana Marks
A favourite of Helen Mirren, the ‘Queen Cleopatra’ is amongst the more understated and sophisticated pieces we have featured in our list. With a metallic silver alligator skin making up the entirety of the frame, the ornamental metalwork surrounding the clasp holds an impressive 1500 fully cut and faceted black and white diamonds housed within an 18 carat gold surround.
Above: Helen Mirren clutches her 'Queen Cleopatra' at a black tie event. Source: Bagbliss.com
The bags are supposedly so exclusive that Marks only allows one high-profile star per year (since 2004) to be seen with the piece, which is valued at around £175,000 ($250,000). It is not known whether any A-listers actually own the piece, or whether it is just loaned for red carpet events.
#2: Judith Lieber
Renowned for her extravagant designs, particularly her ‘Cupcake Minaudiere’ accessory which was featured in the Sex & The City movie, Lieber pieces are as expensive as they are recognisable. Operating from just 4 boutiques in India, Indonesia, Singapore & Malaysia exclusivity is one element Lieber is well-known for.
One particular piece which caught headline attention and the imagination of handbag fanatics worldwide is the one off ‘Precious Rose’ handbag, a piece so ornate it would look better in a gallery than on an arm. The £64,000 ($92,000) decorated rose has an incredible 1016 diamonds totaling 42.56 carats, 1169 pink sapphires and 800 tourmalines. This evening purse must sparkle!
Above: A work of art, could you see yourself wearing Lieber's rose? Source: Bagbliss.com
#1: House of Mouwad
Mouwad’s ‘1001 Nights Diamond Purse’ which was formed in 2011, holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive handbag in history and took ten artisans more than 8,800 hours to make. The heart shape bag is currently valued at an astronomical and frankly ridiculous £1.65 million ($2.35m).
With a diamond embellished surface utilizing a variety of precious metals, Mouwad’s record breaker is certainly a sight to behold and another on our list which is probably more beautiful than functional. Imagine leaving it in a bar or having a leak inside! It’s the stuff of nightmares. We are guessing this handbag was never meant for purpose and should feature within an art gallery somewhere (and rightfully so).
We love it with all our heart (but will be waiting a while to afford one!). Source: Dailymailonline
Looking for something more within your price range?
If your budget does not quite stretch to any of these astronomical prices, Handbag Clinic may have something suitable within our retail locations! We stock a wide range of high-end designer pieces to suit all tastes and budgets and can even source one for you to your specification. View our collection of Pre-Owned Designer Handbags.
Handbag Clinic France would like to offer a 20% discount on all services.
For a quote, please contact us directly.
