Belgium

Baobab Platinum, A Gentleman's Candle

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Belgian candle maker Baobab, known for their handmade collection of African-influenced scents, injects some refined manhood into the home decor world with a platinum creation.

There's something about the combination of scented wax and an open flame that seems to negate masculinity, whether due to the enduring legacy of Yankee Candle or the inane obsession with dividing inanimate objects into "his" and "hers." Some candle manufacturers surmount this by festooning the jar with skulls or dying the wax black, which is like wrapping a pirate flag around a fruit basket. But since 2002, Baobab has quietly been producing an entire line of perfumed candles that actually seem appropriate for the boardroom, bar or (his) bedroom. For one, the line takes its olfactory inspiration from Africa (it was created in Tanzania) with scents like Masai Spirit, White Rhino and Zanzibar Spices, all developed in the French fragrance capital of Grasse. The base note for the line is rooted in cedar sandalwood, a warm and spicy foundation to build each individual expression. There are also five sizes to choose from, from the 50gr Mini Max candle to the towering seven-wick, 7.5kg Maxi Max, which has a burn time of 800 hours.

And now Baobab has introduced a platinum jar edition, available across the line. The silvery finish is an elegant and understated display that will hold its own amongst club chairs and single malts. With all that cigar smoke and musty leather in the room you're going to need something that smells good.

Tags: africa, Baobab, belgium, candles, handmade, home decor, platinum

Magritte Masterpiece Back in Print

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Books

To celebrate the recent opening of the Magritte Museum in Brussels, Abrams / Fonds Mercator has come out with a new edition of Magritte, the masterful monograph on the Surrealist genius by the late David Sylvester, the world's foremost expert on Rene Magritte's work. Brought up to date by the Magritte Museum's director, Michel Draguet, the classic work which has been out of print for over a decade features 40 chapters of critical insights and clues to Magritte's poetic painted puzzles, and over 500 lavish full-color illustrations. Magritte's influence has been felt by many artists since the 1960s including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and Ed Ruscha. The Magritte Museum, housed in a neo-classical building in Brussels' Place Royale, displays over 200 original Magritte paintings, drawings and sculptures. Another museum is located at rue Esseghem 135 in Brussels in Magritte's former home, where he lived with his wife from 1930 to 1954.

Tags: Andy Warhol, art, art book, Belgium, book, Brussels, Jasper Johns, Magritte, Magritte Museum, museum, painting, Rene Magritte, Surrealism, Surrealist

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Diamonds

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Luxury Travel & Hotels

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Antwerp, Belgium, the city which handles 80 percent of the world's rough diamonds after they are mined and over 50 percent of the world's precious-stone-quality diamonds. If you're interested in diamonds, the 500 year old traditions in Antwerp are a must-see. You'll want to visit the diamond district, which is a relatively small area (only about a square kilometer), but packs a plethora of jewelry stores and diamond dealers, many at terrific prices -- even with the exchange rate being as unfavorable as it is.

If you're new to diamonds and concerned you might be swindled, you've still come to the right place; it's easy to do your research and learn the A to Z (or, rather, the D to Z) of diamonds in Antwerp. The first stop I would recommend is DiamondLand, an internationally renowned diamond dealer and diamond information center. Free tours are available daily at 11:00 AM, except Sundays, and include a lesson in where diamonds are mined, how they are made, the quality terminology and an opportunity to see a real diamond cutter at work. Secondly, for an even more in-depth look at the diamond industry and its worldwide impact, The Diamond Museum (open daily except Wednesdays) is just a short walk from there. Be sure and get the audio guide; you won't get much information without it.

Gallery: DiamondLand

With no further ado, here are 10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Diamonds, which I picked up in Antwerp:

1. Diamonds cut before 1950 are shaped differently from most diamonds cut since then (today). The "Antwerp Cut" was developed in the 50s; they found a shallower geometry which distributes more light (more sparkle). See the gallery for a diagram.

2. You can be a real diamond miner for a day in Canada. There are two mines in Canada, Diavik and Ekati. They are extremely difficult to get to, but if you visit, you can pick up diamonds, and they'll pay you for what you find.

3. If you do this at any other diamond mine, you will probably be shot. At least that's what my tour guide said.

Tags: accessories-pedia, antwerp, belgium, diamond museum, diamonds, luxist-awards, main-pedia

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Emocean Design for World's Largest Yacht to Beat Abramovich

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

Roman Abramovich's recently launched Eclipse is currently the world's largest private yacht at a whopping 557 ft. His oceanic supremacy may be short lived however, as Belgium-based Emocean Yacht Design has just unveiled plans for a 656-ft. gigayacht (above) which would put the the oligarch's new toy to shame. Like Emocean's 541-ft. design for the UK's Devonport Yachts to be featured at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, the 656-footer is a completely bespoke design, with equipment, styling, configuration, and class tailored to the desires and tastes of the client.

The monstrous but attractively styled vessel features a drive-in garage, two 98-foot day boats, helipad and hanger, a 100-ft. swimming pool, nightclub, casino, games room, two-level cinema, three beach clubs, a health spa, and 10 VIP rooms, 22 guest suites and a private owners deck accommodating a total of 45 passengers, along with 70 crew. Even at that size she'll be impressively fast, with a planned maximum speed of 28 knots, a cruising speed of 20 knots and a range of 6,500 nautical miles at cruising speed. No price has been mentioned yet but expect it to clock in at well over $500 million.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Belgium, Emocean, gigayacht, megayacht, Roman Abramovich, RomanAbramovich, superyacht, yacht

Le Pain Quotidien: The Daily Bread

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Le Pain Quotidien is nominated for a Luxist Award in the Best Bread Bakery category.

When Alain Coumont opened Le Pain Quotidien in his native Belgium in 1990, little did he know then what his artisanal bakery would eventually spawn. Coumont, a highly regarded chef at one of Brussels' most prestigious restaurants, just wasn't able to source bread worthy of his clientele and so started making it himself.

The concept was a huge success from day one. By 1993, there were 16 different locations in Europe. And by 1997, Coumont had opened his first store in New York City. Fast forward to 2009, and you'll find a company, still privately owned, with more than 114 locations around the world. This year, new locations have opened or will open in the Middle East, the United States, Europe and Russia.

Le Pain Quotidien is a French phrase that means "the daily bread." Indeed, Le Pain Quotidien bread is made fresh daily, just as it was in the very beginning. Its whole wheat sourdough breads, called pain au levain, are naturally fermented. Organic stone-ground flour, salt, and water is kneaded and shaped by hand and then baked in a hearth under the watchful eye of artisan bakers.

Le Pain Quotidien restaurants are known for their communal tables, made from reclaimed wood, in which customers sit side-by-side. There, they dine on simple fare from soups and salads to tartines and homemade pastries and breads. The company uses organic ingredients whenever possible.

Each location offers a range of homemade baked goods, from buttery croissants, organic brioche and challah to baguettes, all of which are baked fresh at each location daily. Baked goods are also available for purchase at the counter, including whole and half loaves of wheat, rye, spelt, five-grain and walnut bread.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Tags: Alain Coumont, AlainCoumont, awards-main, bakery, belgium, food-awards, Le Pain Quotidien, LePainQuotidien, luxist-awards

Antwerp's Beautiful Reading Room

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books

There's only just over a week left for easy access to one of Antwerp's more hidden treasures: the Nottebohm Room. This reading room is in what used to be the City Library, recently renamed the Hendrick Conscience Library (or Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience in Flemish), for its location on Conscienceplein in the city center.

The Nottebohm Room is everything you'd imagine a traditional reading room should be, all dark wood paneling, inviting desks, and two stories of books that will bring a respectful hush over any book lover. The library's collection dates back to 1481, and includes more than a million books, with 6,000 rare books, folios and other priceless book-related artifacts, including a delicately calligraphed and illuminated history of Rome written by Eutropius . In the early 20th century, the Nottebohm Room was the gathering place for Antwerp's literati -- you can see some more pictures of it here, although the page is in Flemish.

It's my understanding that the Nottebohm Room isn't open to the public regularly, but it's currently hosting an intimate exhibit of modern hand printed books called "Mooi Marginaal", and the contrast between these modern and often whimsical works, along with the nostalgic presence of the entire sweep of publishing history is a fine reason to fit this in when you visit this jewel of a city in Flanders. The exhibit is on until June 14th, Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free.

Tags: antwerp, antwerpbelgium, belgium, books, libraries, library, rare books, RareBooks

Magritte Museum Package at Belgian Luxury Hotel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

The Rocco Forte Collection of boutique European luxury hotels is celebrating Belgium's new René Magritte Museum with a special package at their five-star Hotel Amigo (above) in Brussels. The museum, opening in June, will contain 170 works by the Belgian Surrealist master. The Amigo features copies of Magritte paintings and design elements throughout. Its Magritte Suite is an elegant series of rooms with amazing city views. In addition to tickets to the new museum, a Magritte book, and other perks, the Magritte Museum package includes a special dinner at the hotel's excellent Ristorante Bocconi.

Meanwhile the Rocco Forte Collection just opened their 12th and newest property in Prague, The Augustine. Located in Prague's Mal Strana district in the heart of the city's rich cultural center, a short walk from the majestic Prague Castle, the Wallenstein Gardens and the famous Charles Bridge, the 101-bedroom hotel was created from a set of seven buildings. Many of of them are historically significant, including the 13th-century Augustinian St. Thomas Monastery for which the hotel is named.

Tags: Belgium, Brussels, Europe, Hotel Amigo, HotelAmigo, hotels, Magritte, museums, Prague, Rene Magritte, ReneMagritte, Rocco Forte, Rocco Forte Collection, RoccoForte, RoccoForteCollection

800-Yr.-Old Belgian Castle Will Go to Highest Bidder

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Auctions

On Monday, a famous 800-year-old Belgian castle will be auctioned off by court order to the highest bidder, and it looks as if someone could snag a real bargain. The 13th century Corroy-le-Château located just south of Brussels and surrounded by a moat, was built by nobleman William of Brabant and remains one of Europe's most perfectly-preserved medieval strongholds. The current owners, descendants of Brabant's, have been fighting over the property for years and have now been ordered to sell it with a Monday deadline. The highest bid so far is for a measly $3 million, the International Herald Tribune reports, though it is probably worth ten times that much. However, if no other bidders come forward in time, the 16,000-sq.ft. fortress on 50+ acres will be sold for that amount.

Tags: Belgium, Brussels, Castle, Medieval

Brazen Thieves Steal Bzyantine Cross

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Earlier this week I mentioned the jewel theft at the Damiani store in Milan. An even bigger theft went down on February 18 in Belgium. A pair of armed robbers broke glass display cabinets containing items from the Cathedral Treasury making off with several prize pieces including eight 17th-century chalices, two episcopal rings, two episcopal crosses and the beautiful Byzantine cross shown here, a 5th Century piece which is gold and set with precious stones, pearls and paste. The robbers disappeared into an Audi driven by an accomplice.

[via Stolen Vermeer]

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Tags: belgium, cathedral, cross, jewelry, theft

$1 Million Grand Enigma Speakers Top the List of Most Expensive

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Now we're just getting ridiculous. Joining the "$1 million" club is these Grand Enigma speakers by Karma, and there's apparently only 1 pair in existence in a basement somewhere in Belgium. Seeing as how there's only the one set, it really doesn't matter what the features are (it's not like you could get your own), but I'm still really curious! Just what does a set of speakers have to do to be worth that much? They look huge, but other than that I'm skeptical (I don't see any diamond accents...) and it seems feature specifics are hard to come by.

And be sure to check out the rest of HigherFi.com's list of the world's most expensive speakers, with 2nd place going to Wisdom Audio's Infinite Grande at $600,000.

Source

Tags: 1 million, 1Million, belgium, electronic, electronics, enigma, grand enigma, grand enigma speakers, GrandEnigma, GrandEnigmaSpeakers, karma, million, most expensive, MostExpensive, music, one million, OneMillion, sound, speaker, speakers

Dining is an Adventure with 'Dinner In The Sky'

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Now here's a concept that takes the idea of "a unique dining experience" to a whole new level, literally. Created from an idea by Belgian chef Quentin Jadoul, Dinner in the Sky is one of those things that is exactly what it sounds like: it's a large dining table that seats about 20 people and gets hoisted high up into the sky on a crane -- there's even room in the middle for the waiters to come along! And surprisingly, even though it's based in Belgium the table is mobile and travels around Europe for different events and occasions, and the menu can be adjusted to accommodate tastes for pretty much anything.

For somewhere around $20,000 you can have your own "Dinner in the Sky" party, just pray for good weather and hold onto your napkin!

Via Wine Spectator

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Tags: belgian, belgium, chef, dining, dinner, dinner in the sky, DinnerInTheSky, europe, Jadoul, Quentin Jadoul, QuentinJadoul, restaurant

Kids Hotel at Atomium

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

This famous, beautiful structure is known as Atomium. Located in Belgium, it was built for the World's Fair in 1958 and is a replica of an iron molecule, enlarged 65 billion times. Atomium was not intended to be a hotel at all, but when the complex was renovated this year, a portion of the structure was turned into the Kids Sphere Hotel, which just opened this month. Unfortunately, parents can't just book their children in and take off for a romantic evening. The hotel can be reserved only for chaperoned groups.

[via The Cool Hunter]

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Tags: atomium, belgium, children, hotel, kid, kids

Sotheby's Auctions Off Royal Jewels

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

Sotheby's haslanded another royal score, the estate of Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, the Princess of Belgium. The auction, which will be held on December 19 in Paris includes jewels, silver and works of art that belonged to the late princess. Some of the coveted possessions include two diamond tiaras which were both worn by Princess Josephine-Charlotte on her wedding day with Prince Jean . Earclips, hair ornaments and brooches and bracelets all designed by some of the most famous jewelers in the world are all part of this rare collection. The auction also includes other distinctive pieces such as a set of 12 gilt silver and enamel tea spoons with a tea strainer and sugar tongs in the original case and a collection of 15 exquisite royal fans.

[via National Jeweler]

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Tags: auction, belgium, diamonds, estate, jewels, sotheby's, tiara