Every week, The National's Luxury magazine team will compile Black Book, a cheat sheet of the most interesting and noteworthy arrivals in fashion, watches and jewellery.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton's famous Damier checkerboard pattern has undergone another transformation at the hands of Francesca Amfitheatrof, Vuitton’s Artistic Director for Watches and Jewellery. Just as menswear director Pharrell Willams expanded the Damier pattern for his debut show, creating "damouflage", so Amfitheatrof has scaled it down to the size of rings, bracelets and earrings, in gold and diamonds. “It is a diamond collection that is not just about the stones but the pattern that they create,” explains Amfitheatrof. Available as rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces, in white and yellow gold, the collection is designed to be genderless.
Rimowa
German suitcase specialist Rimowa is bringing its expertise into a new arena with a handbag-sized arrival called The Original Bag. Made with the same ridged aluminium construction as its famous suitcases, the new day bag is unisex, and can be carried with a top handle or worn crossbody via a strap. Fully lined in Italian leather, it is designed with functionality in mind, and has a zipped pocket and slots for credit cards. To showcase the new design, Rimowa enlisted the help of luminaries including model-turned-photographer Larissa Hofmann, as well as Ib Kamara, who was a stylist, editor-in-chief of Dazed magazine and is now the creative director of Off-White.
Hermes
Hermes has released a new scent for women – Barenia. Named after the delicate calf skin leather used to create its saddles, handbags and accessories, this new fragrance pairs powdery iris with the sweetness of miracle berry and the fruit of butterfly lily to create a liquid that evolves on the skin. These florals are grounded with the warmth of oak wood and an intense patchouli that continues to develop as it is worn. Housed in a bottle inspired by the maison’s Collier de chien (dog collar) bracelet, it comes with the same metallic studs, with two on the 60ml size and four on the 100ml size on hardware that follows the curve of the bottle.
Dior x Lewis Hamilton
The latest addition to Dior’s capsule with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton is here, in the very retro 2000s-inspired shape of the B44 Blade. The shoes feature microfibre and canvas inserts along with the Dior logo, as well as a Dior and Lewis Hamilton charm hanging from an eyelet. The model gets its name from the blade that cuts along the sole. It’s an indicator that these aren’t just fashion shoes, they can be used for some (unlikely) running. The pair is equipped with an NFC chip, placed under the sole of the right foot, which gives wearers access to a certificate of authenticity. The exclusive series is limited to 1947 numbered pairs.
Giuseppe Zanotti
Italian shoe maker Giuseppe Zanotti is doubling down on individual style by offering customers the chance to customise some of its footwear in Dubai boutiques. The program, called My GZ, enables clients to add their own touch to styles from the autumn-winter 2024 collection, such as the GZ Mule, the Brendha sabot slingback, and the Janiee knee-high boots. Clients can choose from an array of additions, including adding initials to their heels, or a heart to create a unique pair. This service is available only at flagship locations such as Dubai, Paris, Milan and Shanghai, while those living elsewhere can access a similar service online. The shoes will then be customized in the Zanotti workshops in Italy, and shipped to the customer.
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
