Luxury Does Make a Difference

HISTORY, TRADITION, EVOLUTION, EXCLUSIVENESS AND HIGH QUALITY CHARACTERIZE THE WORLD’S LUXURY MARKET, A SEGMENT THAT INCLUDES HABANOS AMONG ITS PEERLESS GEMS

For decades, making a difference, having something unique everybody wants but it's yet within the reach of only a few, has been the name of game for the luxury market, a trend that counts only on a handful of select items in which Habanos –the very best premium cigars mankind has ever known- are unwaveringly included.

Overall, the luxury market –it embraces both goods and experiences- ramped up 5 percent in 2017, worth over a billion dollars, according to a report

released by Bain & Company in collaboration with Fondazione Altagamma.

More local consumption and hefty purchases fostered growth in a sector that always keeps customers as the centerpiece of its actions. Brands in such diverse fields as fashion, cosmetics, aviation, yachts, cars, jewels, watches, liquors and tourist resorts were all in the mix.

AT FULL THROTTLE

Car sales were no doubt the number-one source of growth for the luxury market in 2017. The Aston Martin Valkyrie ($3.9 million) is a “Formula I on the streets” that peaks this niche as the most expensive sport cars, according to the Forbes magazine's ranking.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is outfitted with a V12 Cosworth atmospheric engine that makes the car speed up from 0 to 321 km/h in just 10 seconds. That comes coupled with technology and design that put it close to the $4 million.

This super sport car can barrel down today's regular highways. The gearbox is the brainchild of specialist Ricardo's and features seven gears in all. Croatian company Rimac is behind the development of the vehicle's battery, while Bosch was tasked with the electronics. Only 150 units are supposed to be built.

TIME WITH ELEGANCE

Valued at $55 million, Hallucination –penciled in as a masterpiece of jewelry and watchmaking- brought down the house at Graff Diamonds. The motley 110-karat diamonds inlaid in this watch are both huge and unusual. The Graff Hallucination for ladies is thought out to step up watchmaking to an unseen notch, according to experts.

HANDY EXCLUSIVENESS

More than just one woman saw their mouth water over a purse launched by French company Hermès –Birkin model- that ranks as the most expensive ever following an auction at Christie's in Hong Kong. The buyer –his or her identity remains unrevealedshelled out $380,000 for this item through electronic bidding. The purse –better known as the Himalaya Birkinboasts pearly white and gray shades. Only one or two of these purses are manufactured every year. The piece was created in 2014 and is made of crocodile skin, 205 diamonds around the handles and 18-karat gold in its buckles.

BEVERAGES FOR THE GODS

In the realm of liquors, a Spanish wine made headlines in 2017 for its $29,000 price tag.

Winemaker Hilario Garcia came up with the Aurumred Oro in Las Pedroñeras (Cuenca), a municipality of less than 7,000 inhabitants. It's been for years one of the world's priciest wines, but it went itself one better in 2017.

Only 300 bottles of this coveted wine are made every year and half of them are already pre-owned, therefore only 150 bottles are on sale annually.

Each and every detailed is carefully observed in the making process, from the soils where the grapes are harvested to the chemicals the plants are sprayed with. As a distinctive element, ozone is added to the water used for sprinkling the

grapevine.

DELUXE SCENT

The Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty panned out to be the priciest perfume of 2017. It had hit the market back in 2006 at a staggering price tag of $205,000.

There are only ten bottles out there, seven of which were acquired by collectors and the remaining three are in exhibition: one at Harrods (London), another one at Bergdorf Goodman (New York) and the third one is traveling all around the world.

The neck of this 500-ml. Baccarat-glass bottle is decked out with a gold necklace set with five diamonds.

WINGS OF PLEASURE

When it comes to flying as a truly exciting experience, experts point at the luxury, speed and comfort private jets have to offer.

In this sense, the recommend the world's only private Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Turned into a private jet by UAS International Trip Support, in collaboration with Deer Jet Airlines, this aircraft can be rented for approximately 60,000 an hour.

The inner design was altered to give more comfort to the passengers, who eventually have far more legroom and space to move around during the flight.

It can fly with 16 passengers in a huge cabin equipped with premium-class seats and two couches that can be put together to create a resting area. Coupled with that, there's a diner with two tables that can also come together to form an immense conference table.

In addition, there's a bedroom with beds for two people, a 42-inch TV, a locker and fully-equipped bathroom for two plated in Italian and Austrian marble, plus a shower room and four additional bathrooms also spruced up in marble.

In such a demanding market as luxury, in which growth must remain on the rise in coming years, experts recommend to develop brand-customer relationships in a customized way, an objective that will contribute to making the elite clientele loyal to their particular brand of choice.

LUXURY IN EVERY ROOM

In search of comfort, pleasure, expertise and customized service, every year thousands of people book in different hotels around the globe. But those on a quest for the ultimate luxury must travel all the way to Asia.

The facility known as “The 13” is in Macao. It features 200 suites beginning at 185 square meters and a monumental suite called “Stephen” of nearly 3,000 square meters.

The building of each hotel suite cost more than $6 million and virtually all design details are customized and specially created for The 13.

The Villa du Comte suite has a private elevator and round-the-clock butler service –trained by MCM Palace Consultants and certified by the English Guild of Butlers. The price is around $100,000 per night.

DIAMONDS IN THE MOUTH

The universe of cosmetics awed its followers with a lipstick made of diamonds. According to experts, it's indeed glamorous lip art created by Vlada Haggerty.

Vlada is widely known for her awesome lip creations, but this is definitely her ultimate masterpiece, specialists agree.

It was made for Smashbox and is officially the world's most expensive lipstick, as registered in the Book of Guinness World Records. The artist used Smashbox gloss and 6.5-karat diamonds provided by Zoe Chicco in the making of this piece of makeup.

ROSY DIAMONDS

In the jewelry section, a rosy diamond of 59.6 karats that went under the gavel at $71.2 million at Sotheby's was the star of the year. Pink Rose –that's the name of the diamond- is considered the world's biggest flawless gem, according to a certification issued by the Gemological Institute of America. It was found in 1999 in an African mine and it took roughly two years to make all the cuts it shows off now.

THE BEST AT SEA

Deluxe superyachts –some of them have been turned into genuine fancy mansions- remained high on the list of major allures in 2017. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramavich, the Eclipse is by far one of the most expensive boats in the world at a whopping $1.5 billion. It's a 160-meter-long vessel built by Blohm + Voss, a shipyard in Hamburg. The upper part boasts two heliports and carries a miniature submarine. It's fitted out with a missile-tracking system, a gym, a sauna, a ballroom, a movie theater, a beauty salon, a casino, a conference hall and a whole lot more. It features over 300 suites and an armored headroom designed for Mr. Abramovich.

Overall, the luxury market ramped up 5 percent in 2017, worth over a billion dollars