Category: Luxury Goods and Services

Philippe Stern, Heir to the Patek Philippe Watch Brand, Dies at 88

The New York Times – Business:
In an era of electronic timepieces, he marketed $40,000 handmade watches as status symbols, breathing new life into a struggling industry.
Saks Emerges From Bankruptcy With a New Plan and Corporate Name

The New York Times – Business:
The retailer, renamed Exemplar Luxury Group, is ditching anything that isn’t focused on high-end department store shopping.
Welcome to the Luxury City Built by Taiwan’s A.I. Boom

The New York Times – Business:
Fortunes, luxury buildings and birthrates are rising in the city at the center of Taiwan’s chip supply chain.
From Florence to Malta, 5 New Boutique Hotels

The New York Times – Business:
Whether set amid vineyards in Burgundy or in the heart of Florence, these boutique hotels will keep the crowds at bay.
Ferrari’s First Electric Car Runs Into Backlash in Italy and Beyond

The New York Times – Business:
Memes mocked the new model, analysts questioned its appeal and investors sold the automaker’s stock. A former Ferrari chairman warned of “the destruction of a legend.”
$140,000 E.V.s and Heritage Gold: The Rise of China’s Homegrown Luxury Market

The New York Times – Business:
As China’s economy slows, consumers are increasingly turning to domestic luxury products, challenging the dominance of long-established European brands.
Shoppers’ Frenzy for ‘Royal Pop’ Pocket Watches Forces Swatch to Shut Stores

The New York Times – Business:
The pocket watches, a collaboration with the luxury timepiece maker Audemars Piguet, drew crowds to stores and malls around the world.
How do Two London Luxury Hotels Compare? Testing the Chancery Rosewood and Raffles at the OWO.

The New York Times – Business:
Raffles at the OWO and the Chancery Rosewood recently opened in landmarks once teeming with generals, diplomats and spies. Both promise pampering and a dash of history. Do they deliver?
Luxury Brands Bet on the Middle East. War Has Damaged Their Plans.

The New York Times – Business:
High-end brands such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès are looking to other regions as sales in Persian Gulf nations plummet.
Humans Who Used a Bear Suit to Defraud Car Insurers Sentenced to Jail

The New York Times – Business:
The California residents collected more than $141,000 in insurance payouts after staging bear attacks on their luxury cars, state officials said.
How Airlines Turned First-Class Seats From Freebies to a Profit Engine

The New York Times – Business:
Airlines used to give away most of their nicest seats, but they have increasingly found ways to persuade people to pay a lot for them.
What Does an Ultra-Luxury First Class Ticket Get You? Flying in a Frictionless Bubble.

The New York Times – Business:
A writer reports from inside the premium bubble, where there’s no such thing as too much, petty annoyances are nonexistent and the real world never intrudes.