Damascus

Gustafsson & Sjogren Stockholm Watch

Here are some prototype images of the watch that Swedish watch brand Gustafsson & Sjogren (GoS) wanted to make fromt he start. This will be what the upcoming "Stockholm" model watch will look like. Emphasizing the core strength of the brand's talent - Damascus steel (and heavy metal looks). With a Damascus steel out ring and hands, the face of the watch looks beautiful being mother-of-pearl. A single model with have a blue Lapis Lazuli dial. I am really impressed by how it came out even in rough pictures such as this. You can see GoS's signature subsidiary seconds hand that spins like a pinwheel. Damascus steel is once again uses for the watch crown (not in place yet here).

I am not 100% sure, but I think the brand is working on a new case - and that this model is just a prototype.

The Stockholm will be a very limited edition watch. There will be just 5 pieces. The movement is also very special and I don't think GoS was able to get very many of them. GoS acquired a batch of NOS (new old stock) Alpina 592R manually wound Swiss movement and modified them with a Damascus steel plate. While these images are preliminary, it looks like the Stockholm is really going to propel GoS to a new level when it is released in 2011.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: GoS Stockholm watch

Tags: damascus, GoS, stockholm, sweden, watch

The World's Most Expensive Razor for $30,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Hommage, the Parisian purveyor of luxury grooming equipment, skincare and spa services for men, has created a limited edition, platinum-sheathed straight razor using the same ancient layering techniques as the Crusaders' swords, for $30,000. Called the Damascene Razor, the blade is hand-forged in Germany with 128 layers of legendary Damascene steel, with a rose and torsion pattern. The sheath is plated in pure platinum, treated to resist tarnishing.

The razor comes in a lacquered gift box of Tanzanian anigré wood. The name Damascene is often attributed to the steel swords made in the vicinity of Damascus, Syria and first gained its mythical reputation during the medieval Crusades. According to Hommage, "the blade of a Damascus steel sword was said to be able to cut a piece of silk in half as it fell to the ground and was strong enough to cut through a rock without losing its sharpness." And now you can use it to get the world's most expensive shave.

Tags: Damascene steel, DamasceneSteel, Damascus, Grooming, Hommage, Platinum, Razor, Shaving, Sword

Four Seasons Opens Damascus Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Four Seasons has opened a new hotel in Damascus, Syria. The 297-room hotel will also be home to the city's first full service spa which will opne later this year. The interior was designed by Pierre Yves Rochon and combines both classic elegance and Ottoman, Persian and Syrian influences. There are 66 suites including 12 long-term-stay apartments. There are several restaurants including an Italian restaurant, Il Circo as well as bars and lounges and meeting space. The new hotel is the first five-star hotel to be launched in the Syrian capital in almost a quarter of a century.

[via AME Info]

Source

Tags: damascus, four seasons, FourSeasons, middle east, syria