Back in the summer of this year Oceaneva introduced a new material to their professional dive watch in the form of the Deep Mariner Explorer II Pro Diver Damascus Steel. As a limited edition, the original model was a sell-out success and with demand continuing to be high, Oceaneva have answered the prayers of those who missed out with the release of 12 new Deep Marine Explorer II Pro Diver Damascus Steel colourways, also in limited numbers.

If you’re not familiar with Damascus steel, it’s a type of steel that’s manufactured through a meticulous process involving folding and hammering the metal using various alloys to increase the metal’s strength and durability. Historically it was used to forge impressive swords but here it’s used in watchmaking. Its most distinctive feature is the layered grain, which can be seen all across the Oceaneva’s 42mm case and bezel. Oceaneva source their Damascus steel from experts in Germany and no two watches are identical due to the natural grain of the material.

The same grained pattern is visible on some the dials as well depending on the model, including several colourful options achieved through ion plating. Speaking of colour, there are 12 colours to choose from, some of which are presented with multiple strap options. There’s blue, black, rose gold, yellow gold silver, coffee brown, red, sky blue and green. Those that don’t have the Damascus pattern are instead matte with block colours, creating an intense display.

However, don’t go thinking that the Damascus steel cases are an aesthetic stunt. These watches at their core are still the Deep Marine Explorer II Pro Diver. Which means they have a 1,250m water resistance rating which has been tested in real world aquatic environments. Most dive watch testing takes place in pressure chambers where they never come into contact with water. They’re also equipped with Swiss made Sellita SW200-1 automatic movements with 38-hour power reserves (it would be nice to see them upgrade to the newer stock that has an improved power reserve).

The real kicker though, as with all Oceaneva watches, is the value. The Deep Marine Explorer II Pro Diver Damascus Steel has a pre-sale price of £398 for the Damascus dial models and £358 for the standard dials. The watch is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces but each colour is a limited edition within that, with some models capped at just 30-pieces. Given the original collection sold out, expect these ones to go just as fast.

More details at Oceaneva.

Free diving is a sport that seems utterly terrifying to those who have never experienced it. Veteran divers can spend upwards of five minutes beneath the waves and in certain disciplines reach depths of over 50m – deeper than the majority of recreational scuba divers. In October Ollech & Wajs ambassador Siri Østvold competed at the Freediving World Championship in Kalamata, Greece, wearing the Ocean Graph. She achieved an incredible national record for Norway.

It’s interesting to hear the account of a professional diver using a professional tool watch. For example, while you or I might look at the Ocean Graph and immediately be drawn into the traditional dive watch spiel that it’s used to time decompression periods – the Ocean Graph even replaces the typical timer bezel with a decompression table for this purpose – Siri finds her own ways to make the timepiece work in her preparation.

Image credit: Federico Buzzoni

“Recovery periods between dives must be just as perfectly timed,” she says. “Time on the surface must be relative to a number of factors such as the depth and duration of the previous and next dive and an individual diver’s own physiology — everybody handles CO2 and O2 differently.”

The Ocean Graph is also perfect for freediving because with a size of 39.5mm x 15.8mm case it isn’t too bulky (while being no shrinking violet) and also features an incredible water resistance rating of 1,000m. It might sound like overkill (and it technically is) considering Siri can reach depths of around 60m but it’s important to remember that a watch needs to have a water resistance rating much higher than the depth you actually want to use it at due to the impact of water pressure and movement.

Image credit: Federico Buzzoni

Typically, we say 300m is the minimum you’d want to consider for recreational scuba so for a professional athlete, looking at a more serious water resistance rating makes a lot of sense – Siri is going up to 20m deeper without assistance. In fact, when the Ocean Graph was first developed in 1968 it was rated to 300m exactly because it was designed for recreational diving. It was the recreational counterpart to the more intense Caribbean 1000 that first attained a 1,000m water resistance rating a few years prior.

Part of the Ocean Graph being more recreationally focussed is the fun combination of colours found on its display. Siri says, “I really love the contrast of the chalky blue dial and the triangular orange markers, but the watch saves its best surprise for dusk when the green and orange lume come to life”. Of course, she gets to see more of the lume than most down in the darkness of the oceanic depths.

Powering the Ocean Graph is the Automatic ETA 2824-2 OW5P, an automatic calibre with a 38-hour power reserve. It’s equipped with an Ollech & Wajs machined rotor, although it remains hidden by the solid steel caseback. It’s a solid enough movement though it would be nice to see that power reserve increased. It has an overall price of £1,566 on woven perlon strap or £1,794 on bracelet.

One thing’s for certain. With a watch like the Ocean Graph on your wrist you can feel the confidence to push yourself to the limits just like Siri Østvold. And who knows, while she achieved a national record this year, perhaps next time she’ll walk away with a title.

More details at Ollech & Wajs.

Johnson’s Of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield are a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe from their Luxe range includes custom chrome bolt pockets and hardware, as well as reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collector’s home. Additionally, they are insurance approved.

Available at Johnson’s of Lichfield.

JonesinTokyo Kudu Leather Strap, £89

JonesinTokyo is the project of Douglas Jones, a designer from the UK who moved the Japan in 2007 and began to produce watch straps in 2014. Inspired by the rich leatherworking heritage of both the UK and Japan, he sought out renowned Japanese artisans to learn from to become an expert in his own right. Take for example this beautifully crafted Kudu leather strap. Kudu leather is naturally very strong and develops a patina over time, meaning it will age gracefully with yourself and the watch it’s strapped to.

Available at Jonesintokyo.

Modalo Ambiente Watch Winder, £1,529

Watch winders serve multiple functions in a collection. Most apparent is the fact they keep your automatic watches ready to wear at all times, meaning you don’t have to constantly reset them, something that is particularly important for high complications and calendar watches. At the same time, they also serve as great display cases, especially ones as dynamic as the Modalo Ambiente, which can hold up to nine watches at the same time. Sleek and modern with wooden styling, it’s as much an object of style as the watches it contains.

Available at Modalo.

Costas Design Functional Wristwatch Sculpture

Looking for a centre piece bit of furniture? Costas Design create functional wristwatch sculptures that serve as both timekeeping devices and coffee tables. Pushing the concept even further are pieces like the Royal Oak Humidor, which has a mechanical movement that allows for access to cigar trays for the ultimate luxury combination. It measures 146 x 70 x 62 cm. Depending on the model and style of display delivery of these hand-crafted sculptures can take four to eight months.

Available at Costas Design Studio.

Rapport London Brompton Three Watch Roll, £300

Rapport London has been producing horological goods for over 100 years with products ranging from watch winders and boxes to mechanical pocket watches. This is the Brompton Three Watch Roll, a protective case designed for transporting up to three watches. It features a crocodile-effect leather exterior, while a soft suede interior keeps the watches safe during transit. There are also many colours to choose from including red, green, blue, brown and black.

Available at Rapport London.

The Ciga Design U Series Blue Planet is a landmark piece in the history of the watch industry. Back in 2021 it was the first Chinese watch to be awarded a prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). Such a golden achievement requires a golden celebration, which brings us to the Ciga Design U Series Blue Planet Gilding Version – available with a 30% Black Friday discount until 2^nd December.

It features a large 46mm x 15.6mm diameter case made from sleek, black ceramic with a flowing round shape. The shape highlights the watch’s unique method of timekeeping where the central globe functions as a single hand displaying both hours and minutes. To read the hours you follow the line of the compass rose indicator to the static 12-hour scale. For the minutes you follow the same line to the minute scale, which instead of being static also rotates in order to keep the correct alignment. It’s an interesting twist on the standard single hand display.

The globe itself is stunningly detailed, created using a micro-carving technique and multiple layers of 24k gold gilding. The depiction of the world follows a consistent ratio ensuring each country is the correct size, as are the oceans. On top of that, it’s also topographically accurate, showing the relative altitudes of various mountain ranges and valleys. The contrast between the gold landmasses and dark ocean is particularly striking, highlighting how much of a jewel the planet really is.

Ciga describe the calibre that powers the watch as a Ciga Design self-designed movement with 40-hour power reserve and a 28,800 vph frequency. Looking through the exhibition caseback it bears a resemblance to many ETA calibres, although whether it’s based on them or inspired by them is near impossible to determine without taking it apart. Regardless, the most impressive feature is the module that controls the minute scale because it rotates 390 degrees in an hour rather than the regular 360. That’s in order to account for the fact it has to align with the central globe which is itself rotating at a rate of 30 degrees each hour.

There’s no question that the Ciga Design U Series Blue Planet Gilding Version is a really cool and innovative watch. It combines precise manufacturing with prestigious materials like ceramic and gold plate with a unique style of display and movement. Plus, with the Black Friday deal available until 2^nd December it’s 30% off, making it just $1,899 (approx. £1,515).

More details at Ciga.

Clase Azul Mexico Día de Muertos Múscia Limited Edition Decanter

In Mexico, the festive season isn’t just limited to Christmas. In November, they celebrate Día de Muertos, a celebration of ancestry and those who came before. For Clase Azul, one of Mexico’s top luxury spirit brands, it’s a chance to celebrate their heritage by releasing an annual limited edition decanter themed around the celebration. For 2024, it’s the Múscia edition, featuring a plum-coloured decanter decorated with a musical ensemble representing the sounds of the festival.

Limited to 10,000 pieces, available in the UK on request at Hedonism Boutique London.

Abask Hector Saxe Leather Poker Set, £1,460

What’s Christmas without a few games? The Hector Saxe Leather Poker Set is ideal for getting your evening cards off to a start in the right way. It features a buffalo leather case handcrafted in France that contains 440 clay chips, two decks of Modiano cards, and five resin dice. Whether as a gift for a friend or a gift for yourself when you set off to visit the in-laws, the Hector Saxe set makes it easy to set up a game and relax wherever you find yourself this Christmas.

Available from Abask.

Equiano Ominira, £180

Equiano’s Ominira is an extremely exclusive 2010 vintage rum available in a limited batch of just 3,000 units worldwide. A blend of celebrated tropical rums distilled by Foursquare in Barbados and Gray’s in Mauritious. Tropically matured for a minimum of 11 years in Bourbon and Cognac casks with a touch of ex-Sherry cask rum for added depth, contributing to its richness and long finish. It has notes of dark chocolate, sweet caramel, and tropical fruits as well as touches of buttery oak and cinnamon and nutmeg spices. An invitation to celebrate, toast, and share with friends.

Available at Equiano.

Biokidé’s Baobab Moon Face Cream, €55 (approx £45

Whether for yourself or a partner, Biokidé’s Baobab Moon Face Cream is a moisturizing cream designed for dry skin and made with baobab oil, aloe vera, shea butter, hibiscus, and honey. It’s the ultimate fusion of authentic African ingredients and French knowhow to bring you clean cosmetics you can trust. The brand is currently undergoing Butterfly Mark certification by Positive Luxury to prove their commitment to a positive social and environmental impact.

Available from Biokidé.

Contour Boxes by Tom Aylwin, from £1,395

Your watch or jewellery collection is deeply personal, so it’s only right that you protect it with a box that’s equally significant. Contour Boxes by Tom Aylwin are bespoke creations made from British materials that make for unique gifts. They feature incredibly accurate topographical carvings of any specified landscape in the world (or the moon/Mars) as chosen by you. Meaning you can pick a landscape that’s special to you or your loved ones. You can even request silver pins to be placed to mark the location of your house or a notable feature.

Available from Contour Boxes.

SIRPLUS Crew Neck Jumper, £150

For their AW24 collection, SIRPLUS are focusing on knitwear and keeping it cozy. The classic Crew Neck Jumper is the focal piece of the collection, available in nine attractive colours: mint, periwinkle, oat, kingfisher, marmalade, green, poppy, ink, and lapis. They’re tightly knitted from lambswool in the UK with clean lines and a simple, comfortable fit. SIRPLUS recommend pairing a neutral tone with a blazer or opting for a bolder colour over a crisp white shirt. You could even go a size up for a baggy, relaxed look

Available at Sirplus.

Acqua di Parma Holiday Collection Candle Quintet, £92

Acqua di Parma has unveiled their Holiday Season Collection, featuring gift sets of fragrances and candles designed to warm the spirit. For 2024, they’ve partnered with celebrated artist and architect India Mahdavi to create colorful and joyful packaging that combines Italian design with French wit. The dominant scents in the collection are Bosco with its pine and fir tree notes, Caminetto with its warm incense like an open fire, and Panettone, which smells like panettone.

Available from Acqua di Parma.

Kardo Luis Shirt, £310

Kardo’s latest collection remains faithful to its DNA through the presentation of many different artistic expressions from artisans across India, using ancient embroidery from the Rabari tribe in Gujarat. The results are pieces like the Luis, a 100% handloom cotton overshirt covered in vibrant applique motifs on Khadi denim. Everything about the oversize shirt is inseparable from its region of origin, the ultimate in single origin fashion.

Available at Kardo.

House of Hazelwood Queen of the Hebrides, RRSP £2,000

Even among House of Hazelwood’s rare inventory, they count those from the isle of Islay, aka the Queen of the Hebrides, as some of their rarest. A blended malt matured in American oak with light tannins and a long finish. If you’re unfamiliar, House of Hazelwood is a relatively new Scottish whisky brand that sources their rare produce from a family’s private collection, making each bottle extremely sought after.

Available at House of Hazelwood.

Sonos Arc Ultra, £999

Invest in your own enjoyment this Christmas season with the new Arc Ultra premium sound bar from Sonos. It’s Sonos’ most powerful sound bar ever with 14 drivers and advanced Sound Motion technology. Sound Motion effectively means you’ll get the full enjoyment of surround sound from a single sleek bar – which can also be enhanced further should you wish with additional speakers. It’s a low profile but high impact addition to any home entertainment system.

Available at Sonos.

VYN Switzerland Classic Sneaker All Black, £335

Buy into all the insanely colourful, hypebeast sneakers you want, you’ll always have a space in your wardrobe for a sleek, well-built pair of all-black trainers. Made in Italy from German leather by a Swiss brand, these are a pan-European staple in the best possible way. The classic silhouette suits all occasions and the monochrome can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. If you do fancy a splash of colour, you can also purchase different heel options to keep things fresh. Yes, those heel options can also be black.

Available at VYN.

Ruark R610 & Sabre-R, R610 – £1,200 & Sabre-R – £699.00

Ever wanted that nostalgic sound of yesteryear without having to dust off the vinyl? Enter Ruark’s latest complete stereo system. The deliberately throwback British audio specialist has built one of their best-looking creations yet, two Sabre-R bookshelf speakers and a high-resolution ready streaming console to pull them together, all in the same timelessly handsome style. The console also includes a phono pre-amp for adding a record player, just in case you can bring yourself to crack out the old records. It’ll be worth it.

Available at Ruark.

De’Longhi La Specialist Opera Coffee Machine, £799.99

Why head to your favourite coffee shop every morning for that sweet, sweet caffeine when you can instead have professional standard coffee from your own kitchen? And don’t say, ‘the culture’. The latest in De’Longhi’s La Specialist range has 15 different grind settings and variable temperature to suit any bean and type of coffee. It even comes with a HomeCafé kit that contains glasses, vacuum bags and everything bar the beans you could need. Sure, it might bankrupt the little hipster joint around the corner, but it’s worth it – on so many levels.

Available at De’Longhi.

Walker Slater Sherlock Coat, £425

Our favourite contemporary tweed brand, Walker Slater, returns for the Autumn Winter season with a new set of tailoring fabrics and an emphasis on checks and windowpanes, with the colours ranging from classic blues to more autumnal dark greens and aubergines in the signature Edward and James cuts. Case in point, the Sherlock Coat, here in Harris Tweed Barleycorn in a Highland-appropriate Peat colouring, as perfect for crisp mornings on the moors as a far more mile winter in the city.

Available at Walker Slater.

Stenstroms Beige Textured Roll Neck, £399

With this year marking the brand’s 125th anniversary, a new collaboration with menswear authority Mathias Le Fèvre seems fitting. With a Scandinavian heritage and shared passion for craftsmanship, sartorial values, and above all, great fitting, classic garments, the Stenstroms x Mathias Le Fèvre capsule brings together elements of 1970s and ’80s style points with a definitive air of Bowie, woven cleverly into the DNA of a Stenstroms fit and aesthetic. It works without questions.

Available at Stenstroms.

Belhamel Contra Aqua 39, £399 (Pre-Order £319)

Belhamel started life creating bespoke rubber straps for the Seiko SKX collection but a successful Kickstarter in 2023 brought their first wristwatch to market this summer. It’s called the Contra Aqua 39 and it’s inspired by the same accessible tool watch vibe and practical price point as Seiko with their own unique flair. It has a 39mm diameter steel case with a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel and ultra legible dial. With its 300m water resistance it actually outperforms many of Seiko’s divers. Inside is the Miyota 9039 automatic.

Available at Belhamel.

Héron Marinor Seastorm Black, £495

Héron have recently restocked their core collection timepieces including the Marinor Seastorm Black, a gorgeous dive watch in a 39mm diameter hardened steel case with 300m water resistance. The style, with a domed sapphire bezel and large, lumed hour markers draws inspiration from legendary dive watches of the 20th century, but at a much more accessible price point. Powering the watch is the Miyota 9039, one of the Japanese manufacture’s premium movements with a 42-hour power reserve.

Available at Heron.

Primitive Haus Timekeeper Type-A, $369 (approx. £280)

Finding what inspires you is always the foundation of a good microbrand and Primitive Haus are clear on where their inspirations lie. Influenced by the German minimalist movement spearheaded by Bauhaus, they aim to bring colourful watches to live that blend style and function seamlessly. Recently with the TimeKeeper Type-A they’ve been exploring fresh colours and designs such as fumé blue, vibrant purple and this gorgeous dimple dial variant that looks like freshly fallen snow. They house the Miyota 82S5 with 42-hour power reserve.

Available at Primitve Haus.

Dejager Explorer, £225

DeJager is a British watch design studio with close ties to South Africa as that’s where the brand’s founder grew up, witnessing the atrocities of Apartheid and segregation first hand. As such, a portion of all sales go to SOS Africa, a charity helping disadvantaged children in South Africa. Their watches, such as the Explorer combine accessible automatic movements with practical designs, including a 40mm case in stainless steel. The display is very legible with Arabic numerals and a small seconds subdial at six o’clock with a vibrant red hand.

Available at Dejager.

Wristclassics Omega Speedmaster Ref. 105.003 Ghost Bezel, €10,900 (approx. £9,050)

A huge part of the allure of vintage watches, beyond the cool styles of bygone eras of design, are the deeply personal stories they tell. These stories are at the core of what Wristclassics focus on as a vintage watch dealer. They only stock watches with unique hallmarks and distinct features that make them stand out in the crowd. For example, this Omega Speedmaster from 1964 with a beautiful ghost bezel. Or a 1956 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Honeycomb Dial.

Available at Wristclassics.

Aera C-1 Cloud Chronograph

After a year of relative quiet, cult British tool watch brand Aera is back – and in serious style. For their first complication they’re picking the ever-practical chronograph and, in keeping with their minimalist utilitarian aesthetic, they’re sleek and sharp. On the one hand you have the blacked-out Shadow, with some red flashes across the chronograph hands; on the other the stunning Cloud, with a calming, blue-tinged neutral look. With only the bare minimum of numerals and indexes, these are a world away from the usual, overly technical chronos and I personally love them.

More details at Aera.

Gaga Laboratorio Labormatic Cinquanta

What do you get when you pair a legendary tattooist with an Italian singer songwriter with a healthy obsession with all things retro? Gaga Laboratorio. Mo Coppoletta and Alessandro Ristori’s shiny new Italian watch brand dives deep on jazz age cool, with discs for both hours – visible through a date-like window at 12 o’clock – and the central minutes, a genuinely unique dial and a case with some of the most sculptural lugs this side of £5,000. It’s a little crazy, sure, but this is a pair of flamboyant Italian collectors living la bella vita; what else would you expect?

More details at Gaga Laboratorio.

Awake Sơn Mài

Let’s not beat around the bush here, Awake’s gorgeous new collection is all about the dials, and for good reason. While they might look like enamel or guilloche, or a mix of the two, they’re actually made using the traditional Vietnamese art of Sơn Mài (hence the name, obviously) which involves applying fine layers of lacquer over silver leaf. The result is a depth of colour and texture that’s hard to find in a watch – and especially one this accessible. That’s the kicker: despite a dial akin to something one of the grand old maisons of watchmaking would dabble in, this automatic, La Joux-Perret-equipped beauty will set you back just over £1,500.

More details at Awake Watches.

Brew Metric Star Chrono

New York based, coffee-laced, and painfully cool, Brew have been going from strength to strength, especially since the streamlined Metric came into play. So, seeing them graduate to a chronograph was genuinely exciting before we saw the watch and is even more so now. It has all that lovely 1970s flavour, with a lightly roasted golden dial and bright, zesty red notes across hands and peripheral minute track. It’s like a modern Pogue, which given Seiko’s recent ‘reissue’ is probably the best thing we’re getting. It’s also as affordable as ever, with a Meca-quartz movement for that perfect blend of accuracy and reliability.

More details at Brew.

Paulin Modul E Automatic

I absolutely love the shape and style of Paulin’s painfully retro Modul collection, from their cushion cases to their Bauhaus-adjacent dials. The colours though have been perhaps a bit much. Now though, the Glaswegian brand is embracing wearability with black and white editions dubbed the Modul D & E. They’re not boring by any stretch, with plenty of coloured indexes – orange and blue for the white edition, light blue and yellow for the black. It’s also worth noting that these are Paulin’s first lumed dials, with a host of differently glowing colours on each. It’s one of those cases where the release itself isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it is something that needs to exist. And it’s about time it does.

More details at Paulin.

The last couple of years haven’t been the best for investing in watches. Some of the biggest brands and models have been in a bit of a slump that’s yet to recover. But that, of course, is only for investors. For collectors on the other hand, it’s a great time to be a watch lover.

Gone are the hundreds of watch flippers out to make a quick buck, offering popular yet uninteresting watches for many times their retail price. Instead, it’s a collectors’ market. By that, we mean that there are some seriously cool watches you can get hold of for far less than you might have before. As the UK’s premier marketplace for fine watches, Watch Collecting knows a thing or two about that.

Over the past few months, the online platform has sold an incredible spread of watches. The choice ranges from undervalued bargains that should go for a lot more to insanely high-end pieces that just don’t crop up often on the open market. To give you just a snapshot of the watches passing through Watch Collecting, we’ve selected some of the most interesting that have been sold in recent weeks. That of course means that these exact pieces are no longer available but keep your eyes open. This isn’t the first time they’ve cropped up and it won’t be the last.

Rolex Cellini, £1,499 (1990)

Even after being discontinued, the Rolex Cellini doesn’t get nearly as much love as it should. It’s a perfect little dress watch and the unusual rectangular version here, with its President-adjacent gold-on-gold look, is a lovely counterpoint to modern Rolex. It’s pure minimalism except for the quirky minute markers notched directly into the bezel. It just goes to show the disproportionate spotlight that’s shone on Rolex’s steel sports models. A rare vintage Rolex for £1,499? On paper that seems insane. On Watch Collecting, it’s the norm for the underappreciated Cellini.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Platinum Number One, £14,500 (2000s)

As soon as you head off the beaten path of Royal Oaks, Daytonas, and Nautili, you’ll be surprised at the value you can get in pre-owned watches. Reversible case in point, a platinum watch with a magnificently skeletonised dial from one of the most long-standing maisons in Swiss watchmaking – for less than £15,000. Not only was this Reverso Jaeger-LeCoultre’s first series production in platinum, but it was also limited to 500 pieces, making this both a rarity and an important watch for the brand. Given how many collectors are sleeping on older JLC models right now, this was a fantastic buy – and there’s more where that came from.

Cartier Crash Skeleton, £85,000 (2017)

In recent years the asymmetrical Crash has become a touchstone among the artier of horological aficionados; yet another case shaped feather the Parisian tour de force has in their well-heeled cap. These days that makes it a bit of an auction regular, though rarely with quite the cache of the skeleton version. The way that the skeletonised bridges curve with the case is downright magnificent, even by Cartier standards and makes this model something of a stand-out among Crash references.

Richard Mille RM67-01, £120,000 (2021)

It’s hard to call any Richard Mille well- priced given the eye-watering numbers  the watchmaker tends to pull in, but the RM67-01 here is a genuinely fascinating piece. Most watches of this calibre either go to auction or pass between private sellers and seeing it here is a testament to Watch Collecting as a platform. Then there’s the watch itself, which is a beauty. Defined by its diamond-set case, it happens to be one of Richard Mille’s slimmest (it was the thinnest of all when introduced in 2016). It’s an exemplary Richard Mille and netted the seller £120,000. I’m sure the buyer agrees that it was worth every penny.

Rolex Daytona ‘Le Mans’, £133,000 (2024)

Sure, the market’s a little depressed, but that was never going to stop collectors jumping on the Daytona wherever it pops up. That’s especially true of the 2024 ‘Le Mans’, a special edition tribute to the famous endurance race, created in honour of the 2024 competition in the (almost) spitting image of the annual winners’ watch. It has all the modern bells and whistles – a ceramic tachymeter scale, a calibre 4132 Rolex movement, and a full white gold case. Understandably, very few of these are ever sold. Not only are they rare, but if there’s one in your collection, it’s likely never leaving. It achieved a sky-high price tag, but not nearly as much as it would have a few years ago.

More details at Watch Collecting.

Audio-Technica AT-SP3X Bookcase Speakers, £169

For listening to music in your study or office, Audio-Technica have got you covered with the new AT-SP3X Bookcase Speakers. They can be fully integrated with the brand’s turntable range, bringing the rich tones of vinyl to life. Alternatively, they have wireless, Bluetooth connectivity for modern versatility. They’re equipped with 3-inch woofers and 1.1-inch tweeters tuned to deliver full-range audio from the compact forms. They have a minimalist, industrial vibe that matches the rest of the Audio-Technica range.

Available at Audio-Technica.

Four Stories Gin Autumn, £34.75

While Four Stories Gin is a relatively new name to the premium gin market, they had substantial experience distilling, bottling and labelling gin for other brands before turning that experience towards their own product. Based in the UK, their inaugural series is dedicated to the flavours and stories of the four seasons. Story No. 1 Autumn features the warmth of a cosy blanket on a crisp autumn evening with tasting notes of Fuji apple, vanilla, lemon and cinnamon. In terms of style, it’s the perfect example of time-honoured techniques including hand applied labels and wax dipped seals at accessible prices.

Use code ORACLE for 20% off the entire range.

Available at Four Stories.

Sirplus Crew Neck Jumper, £150

By popular demand, SIRPLUS’s lambswool jumper is making a return this season in a brand-new range of colours. Inspired by the British painter Albert Irvin, this collection brings his vibrant colour palette and abstract shapes to their knitwear. Albert Irvin’s influence is present across the AW24 collection, showcasing bold hues and dynamic patterns reminiscent of his striking artwork. Their jumpers not only highlight the artist’s signature style but also offer a contemporary take on traditional styles. Explore Irvin’s legacy, reimagined in contemporary knitwear made from British lambswool.

Available at Sirplus.

Biokidé Baobab Moon Face Cream, €55 (approx. £45)

Whether for yourself or partner, Biokidé’s Baobab Moon Face Cream is a moisturising cream designed for dry skin with baobab oil, aloe vera, shea butter, hibiscus and honey. It’s the ultimate fusion of authentic African ingredients and French knowhow to bring you clean cosmetics you can trust. The brand is currently undergoing Butterfly Mark certification by Positive Luxury to prove their commitment to a positive social and environmental impact.

Available at Biokidé.

Pink Mahoghany Ned E. Williams Manukato, $210 (approx. £160)

Where timeless class meets priceless luxury, Ned E. Williams Manukato, eau de parfum, embodies a legacy of excellence, education, and astuteness. Rooted in a rich family heritage, this fragrance is designed for the discerning individual who values sophistication. Each bottle tells a story – elevated by a harmonious blend of bold blackberry, deep felt pen ink, rich leather, and warm cedar. Every spray evokes an air of refinement, creating a lasting impression of strength and elegance. Designed for those who effortlessly command the room, Ned E. Williams is more than a fragrance – it’s an experience, an ode to history and a tribute to those who live with intention.

Available at Pink Mahoghany.

Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield are a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe from their Luxe range includes custom chrome bolt pockets and hardware, as well as reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order, letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collector’s home. Additionally, they are insurance approved.

Available at Johnson’s of Lichfield.

Bernard Favre Black Rings Watch Winder, CHF 1,590 (approx. £1,425)

A watch winder is often as much a decorative object as it is a practical one, and the Bernard Favre planetary winders demonstrate that perfectly. With rotating rings like an armillary sphere, it makes for a spectacular view as it keeps your watch topped up on power. The double-axis motion also prevents one of the perceived issues of watch winders, the fact that a constant rotation on a single axis puts uneven strain on the movement, which can damage it.

Available at Bernard Favre.

Bennett Winch Triple Watch Roll, £685

Keeping your watches safe while you transport them is important and the Bennett Triple Watch Roll is ideal for keeping a trio of timepieces protected. It’s handmade in London with panels of Tuscan leather arranged around an ultra-durable yet flexible Kevlar core. Cushioning the watches on the inside is an Alcantara suede lining, providing a soft protective layer. When closed, the structure becomes rigid, preventing the watches from getting crushed or damaged. It’s available in brown or black, offering classic and refined appearances with a distinctive hexagonal shape.

Available at Bennett Winch.

Joseph Bonnie Wool and Leather Strap, €129 (approx. £110)

Joseph Bonnie is a French brand dedicated to the fashion of wristwatches, producing a range of watch accessories and straps, as well as selling vintage watches. Their latest collection is based on straps that combine vintage wool fabrics and leather. There’s a beige/brown/green houndstooth edition and a grey/cream white windowpane check one – both available at 18mm and 20mm lug widths. They’re incredibly distinctive, offering a texture and pattern not commonly seen on watch straps, making them feel very personal and unique, which is what collectors want from a strap.

Available at Joseph Bonnie.

ZEALANDE Universal Rubber Strap, £135

The ZEALANDE Universal rubber strap offers the perfect blend of watchmaking heritage and innovation. It’s a straight rubber strap compatible with any watch and available in two different widths; 20mm and 22mm. Their four vibrant colours: black, red, blue, and white are suitable for a wide range of sporty timepieces. Made from high-quality vulcanised FKM rubber, these straps offer the perfect symbiosis of sportiness, lightness and all-day comfort. From the ocean to the city, the Universal adds a contemporary touch and unique character to your watch.

Available at ZEALANDE.

One of the biggest hassles with selling your watch is the pain of navigating the various sales platforms who, more often than not, want to take more than their fair share of the revenue that is rightfully yours. Thankfully eBay is on hand to make selling your watch easy thanks to their latest announcement that they are cutting seller fees across their major categories.

In short, eBay has simplified the process of selling on its platform by cutting all selling fees for private sellers across all categories (except cars, motorcycles and vehicles). This comes following a trial of fee cuts in the fashion category, which has now expanded that to the rest of its site.

What does this mean for people wishing to sell items? Well, in addition to no longer paying final value fees or regulatory operating fees, eBay has simplified the selling process with easier item listing, simplified delivery options and access to eBay Local and eBay Balance services. According to eBay, “Sellers can list items across categories within minutes using guidance about the best pricing and shipping options, alongside AI-generated descriptions and photo-enhancing tools.”

Plus, eBay is rapidly becoming a hotspot for luxury watches thanks to their authenticity guarantee. What this means is when a watch is bought for £1,500 or more, it’s sent to be vetted and verified by international repair and authentication giant Stoll & Co in London. They check everything from the dial and caseback to end links and reference number to make sure everything’s in order, even checking the item matches its seller description.

More details at eBay.

Who we are, how we live our lives and our perceptions of the world around us are heavily influenced by where we come from and the family we grew up with. You might not think about it on a daily basis but the decisions and character of your parents, grandparents or even great grandparents impact even the smallest decisions you make all the time. However, one watch brand that does think about this fact is Nostas, founded by designer Francesco Nostas who channels all he has learnt of his family history into the modern, brutalist design of the Audace collection.

While the watch brand Nostas is thoroughly Italian, the family Nostas has a heritage that spans the globe. Francesco’s father, Hermes, grew up on the other side of the planet in Bolivia, South America, and moved to Italy in 1990. However, he only did so because his father Pietro had moved to Bolivia from Italy in 1945, after the war, where he then married into the Nostas family, who were prominent fabric traders in Santa Cruz.

In the span of just four generations you have multiple examples of people willing to uproot their entire lives and set out across the world to discover their fortunes. And by doing so become newly ingrained in the cultures and lifestyles they discovered there. How then do you express this familial willingness to sacrifice safety and security in order to follow your passions in the form of a wristwatch?

Well, first of all you have ensure that if you decide to suddenly up sticks and head off into the jungles of South America or disappear along the coast of the Mediterranean, your watch can keep up with you. It has be versatile and a natural explorer. Secondly, the design simply cannot be conventional – a plain circular case is not an option – in order to push the edges of your comfort zone.

With all this and more in mind, in 2023 Nostas launched the Audace. A collection that today consists of the standard Audace and the Audace 500 (there was also a limited production GMT edition that has sold out). Each variant has a case heavily influenced by brutalist architecture, bold and imposing. There are few architectural movements that push the boundaries of people’s artistic comfort zones as much as brutalism. The brand is also partners with Roberto Conte, a photographer known for his book “Brutalist Italy”, which documents how brutalism and Italian style go hand in hand and so in a roundabout way brutalism is also part of the Nostas heritage.

In terms of design, the watches are octagonal in shape with large, flat surfaces sitting at sharp angles and prominent facets. In watch design terms we would classify this as a late 1970s, 1980s style of design that was spearheaded by prominent figures such as Gerald Genta. They also have a tapering body that leads into the bracelet giving it an integrated appearance despite being interchangable.

As for being versatile and keeping up with the daring, explorer attitudes of the Nostas family, the Audace couldn’t just look the part, it needs specs to match. The standard Audace has a 200m water resistance rating and is equipped with a reliable Sellita SW200 movement. It’s ready for life on the move.

Pushing the collection even further in the tool watch direction is the Audace 500, a true dive watch interpretation of the piece. It adds a dive timer bezel to the watch and increases the water resistance rating all the way up to 500m, which is seriously impressive for a family business microbrand. This model also houses the Sellita SW200 with 38-hour power reserve, a widely used movement among microbrands and independents.

Nostas really offer a great example in how to take a concept and translate it into a product. However, I think the greatest trick that Nostas have managed to achieve is that you can know absolutely zero of the heritage behind the brand or their reasoning behind certain design features and the Audace is still a great accessible timepiece. The standard edition costs £712 while the Audace 500 is £1,000. I would happily pay that price for a watch with fundamentals as rock solid as this. This is the kind of foundation that can set a brand up for multiple generations and as we’ve seen, that’s what Nostas is all about.

More details at Nostas.

Beaucroft Seeker 37mm, £425

Since 2020, Beaucroft has created classic mechanical watches with a fresh modern flair from the heart of Cambridge. The Seeker 37mm exemplifies this, offering bold colours and striking design details. Fully hand assembled and regulated in Great Britain, it blends traditional timekeeping techniques with modern watch design styling. Beaucroft brings the best of the old and new worlds together, creating both signature and bespoke watches that are affordably priced and beautifully finished.

Available at Beaucroft.

Primitive Haus TimeKeeper Type-A, $369 (approx. £280)

Finding what inspires you is always the foundation of a good microbrand, and Primitive Haus are clear on where their inspirations lie. Influenced by the German minimalist movement spearheaded by Bauhaus, they aim to bring colourful watches to life, blending style and function seamlessly. Recently with the TimeKeeper Type-A they’ve been exploring fresh colours and designs, such as fumé blue, vibrant purple and this gorgeous dimple dial variant that looks like freshly fallen snow. They house the Miyota 82S5 with a 42-hour power reserve.

Available at Primitive Haus.

Héron Marinor Seastorm Black, £495

Héron have recently restocked their core collection timepieces, including the Marinor Seastorm Black, a gorgeous dive watch with a 39mm diameter hardened steel case and 300m water resistance. The style, with a domed sapphire bezel and large, lumed hour markers draws inspiration from legendary dive watches of the 20th century, but at a much more accessible price point. Powering the watch is the Miyota 9039, one of the Japanese manufacturer’s premium movements with a 42-hour power reserve.

Available at Héron Watches.

Vesuviate Attivo-Duplex, $545 (approx. £420)

Vesuviate’s name is a reference to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, one of the most famous volcanoes in history. The modification of the volcano’s name into a verb, vesuviate, plays on the fact that the brand’s signature manufacturing technique is thermochemical surface treatment, which uses heat-related chemical reactions to give their steel an ultra-hard surface. The Attivo-Duplex uses this hardened steel in its 39mm x 46.2mm x 11.5mm case, which has a retro TV shape. The display features two independent time displays powered by separate movements, both of which are ultra-slim Peacock SL-7020s with 36-hour power reserves.

Available at Vesuviate.

DeJager Explorer, £225

DeJager blends timeless British design with their African adventurous roots resulting in classic styles for everyday and special occasion wear. No matter when you choose to wear your DeJager watch, you will be wearing your social and cultural impact on your wrist. DeJager Watches is proud to partner with SOS Africa helping disadvantaged South Africans get a great education. Every watch purchased triggers a donation to SOS Africa’s vital work on the ground. The Explorer ties a rustic brown leather strap with a modern blue face, aircraft propeller hands and a deep red seconds hand.

Available at DeJager.

Zealandic Iceborne

Microbrands have been killing the textured dial game recently, inspired (one assumes) by the nature-obsessed success of certain Japanese watchmakers but on a much smaller and less artisan scale. Case in point, Zealandic. This isn’t their first attempt at the Iceborne; their previous Kickstarter didn’t quite make it to their goal.

But after revisiting the design (and changing supplier) they’re back and the new Iceborne with its absolutely gorgeous light blue dial looks like a winner. It’s every bit the field watch, 39mm of stainless steel with the workhorse Miyota 9039 automatic movement, crowned with a glacial dial inspired by New Zealand’s Lake Pukaki. Yes, it’s a fun name to say. Priced just shy of $500 for now, it’s a tool watch yes, but one with some serious style.

More details at Zealandic.

Nuun Official Bora Bora Mai Tai

The long days of summer are pretty much over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reminisce about those sun-drenched, poolside times, especially when it comes in the form of Nuun Official’s cocktail-laced new colour. The lightweight White Resin Carbon X case still opts for the brand’s Nautilus homage case shape, but that orange gradient, going light at the top to dark at the bottom, is something that Patek Philippe would never touch.

It’s far too fun. It’s also built for the poolside, with 100m water resistance and a chunky, dial- matched rubber strap for cooling off in the heat – though Scuba diving might be beyond it. Backed by a quartz Miyota Cal.0S21 chronograph, it might be the perfect watch for a bit of upcoming winter sun.

More details at NUUN.

MECEXP MS1001

Where to start with this one? More an engineering project than a mainstream timepiece, MECEXP’s debut is a CNC driven, lithium battery powered watch the likes of  which Urwerk fans will salivate over. Self- described as a ‘linear flyback’ (retrograde may  be closer to the mark), the two indicators move up the precisely engineered columns then flick right back down to the start.

It’s inventive, dynamic and a little bit nuts. Hell, even the crown isn’t a crown in the traditional sense as it uses a sensor and chip to detect the inputs so that there’s no physical interaction with the, for want of a better word, movement. Oh, and the whole thing is lit by LEDS because by this point, why not?

More details at MECEXP.

Oceaneva OceanTrek GMT

After plumbing the depths (quite literally) of what an accessible dive watch can do with the kind of value that puts the rest of the industry to shame, Oceaneva are testing new waters. The OceanTrek is a whole timezone away from what the brand has done before, a lovely, pared-back, semi-dress watch pairing Roman numerals with a 24-hour GMT indicator towards the middle.

At 42mm it’s still not small, but it’s slimmer and much more elegant than a diver, especially with the host of new, sunray-brushed dial colours. The OceanTrek still lives up to its name with 200m water resistance and a slight tool watch flavour, but between the gorgeous green shown here and the Seiko movement, there’s a lot to love. And that legendary value for money? Yeah, the OceanTrek GMT will set you back £149. Try finding that anywhere else.

More details at Oceaneva.

There’s a chance that 10 years ago when the magazine was founded if the name Oracle Time was unavailable, we’d have ended up as some combination of Whisky & Watches. Twin passions that go hand in hand at the pinnacle of luxury. While we’ve stuck with the watches, we haven’t touched a bottle of whisky in a long while. That is, until House of Hazelwood unveiled their fabulous Third Collection, which you can experience through a virtual tasting experience by entering the competition at the bottom of this article.

If you’re unfamiliar, the story behind House of Hazelwood is a fantastic one. For over 100 years the Gordon family in Dufftown, Scotland, carefully curated a private whisky collection containing some of the rarest and most sought after whiskies. Today this collection is regarded as the largest inventory of aged Scotch whiskies in the world. It features casks from across the breadth of Scotland and beyond including exceptional rarities such as renowned’ first and last casks.

In 2022 House of Hazelwood was launched, a whisky brand owned by the Gordons and whose whiskies are sourced entirely from their private collection. As you can imagine, this makes every bottle exceptionally exclusive, released as they are in small batches that are carefully hand selected. For 2024 they’ve released the Third Collection, consisting of eight whiskies inspired by the theme of the Gordon family’s adventuring spirit. The collection is split into two, the Charles Gordon Collection and the Legacy Collection.

Charles Gordon Collection

Charles Gordon, a well-known figure in the Scotch whisky community as well as member of the Gordon family, helped to curate the Hazelwood collection in its early years, as such the collection named after him is dedicated to some of the oldest whiskies in the collection, all aged at least 40 years.

Legacy Collection

The second half of the House of Hazelwood Third Collection is the Legacy collection. It’s here that the concepts of blends celebrating the family’s global travels really come to the fore, featuring as it does bottles entitled The Transatlantic, Queen of the Hebrides and The Silk Traveller..

Virtual Tasting Competition

Discover the House of Hazelwood Third Collection first hand by entering this competition to win a virtual tasting experience. As part of the experience, you’ll receive a sample set of 25ml of seven of the Third Collection whiskies and be guided through the tasting by one of House of Hazelwood’s experts. Unfortunately, due to its extreme exclusivity, The Last Trace is not part of the tasting. This competition is only available to UK residents and closes on November 29^th, 2024, making it the perfect opportunity to win yourself a Christmas treat or offer the experience to your whisky loving friend as a festive gift. Whether you’re new to the whisky scene or a seasoned collector, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Stay up to date with House of Hazelwood news by signing up to their newsletter here. 

Winfield Watch Company Oconus GMT, £494

Winfield Watch Company is dedicated to the true art of exploration, with their watches being designed for high adrenaline activities including mountain climbing, skydiving, mountain biking, swimming and skiing. The outcome is watches like the Oconus GMT, a practical tool watch in steel with a large 44mm diameter. That size gives it a broad, rugged appearance while ensuring great legibility at a glance. Powering it is the Miyota 9075 GMT, a true GMT with a 42-hour power reserve.

Available at Winefield Watch.

House Of Khalsa Ocean Lion, £1,344

In many ways, wristwatches are all about personal representation. Whether that’s personal style or the ways in which we choose to live our lives that may necessitate the use of certain tool watches. House of Khalsa is a watch brand dedicated to the concept of representation, specifically the representation of faith through Sikh Khanda Sahib on the dial, seconds hand and bracelet clasp. However, it’s important to note that there’s also some serious watch design skills on display, as well with the Ocean Lion featuring a Swiss automatic movement and 500m water resistance rating.

Available at House Of Khalsa.

Vario Empire Seasons True GMT, £549

Art Deco design is most commonly associated with two geographical regions of the world, France and the United States of America, or more specifically New York. Between the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, the New York skyline is an ode to Art Deco design. It’s this that has inspired the Vario Empire True GMT with its stylised typography, sector style display and guilloche texture pattern. The Seasons limited edition series is made in Japan and houses the Miyota 9075 True GMT movement. Limited to 60-pieces.

Available at Vario.

Vesuviate Attivo-Duplex, $545 (approx. £420)

Vesuviate’s name is a reference to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, one of the most famous volcanoes in histoty. The modification of the volcano’s name into a verb “vesuviate” plays on the fact that the brand’s signature manufacturing technique is thermochemical surface treatment, which uses heat related chemical reactions to give their steel an ultra-hard surface. The Attivo-Duplex uses this hardened steel in its 39mm x 46.2mm x 11.5mm case, which has a retro TV shape. The display features two independent time displays powered by separate movements, both of which a ultra-slim Peacock SL-7020s with 36-hour power reserves.

Available at Vesuviate.

Oceaneva Oceantrek GMT, £150

Oceaneva are best known for their rugged and durable tool watches that offer amazing value. Now though, with the launch of the OceanTrek GMT they are expanding their aesthetic in a more refined direction. Measuring 42mm in diameter with a smooth steel bezel, the OceanTrek GMT is a versatile daily wearer suitable for every occasion, from the beach to the boardroom to an evening soiree. It features elegant sunray brushed finishing on its dial with Roman numerals and an inner 24-hour GMT scale. Powering the watch is the Seiko calibre NH34.

Available at Oceaneva.

Artem Straps PAM Style Strap, £114

Artem Straps are one of the most popular Australian watch strap brands on the international stage, specialising in sailcloth and fabric straps. Sailcloth is a type of tightly woven canvas developed to be weather resistant for use, as you might guess, in nautical settings. As such, it’s the perfect material with which to create dive watch straps as it can withstand submersion. These PAM Style straps are specially developed for Panerai watches, although they’ll technically work for any watch with a 24mm lug width. There are 14 colour and stitching options available.

Available at Artem.

Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield are a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe from their Luxe range includes custom chrome bolt pockets and hardware, as well as reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collector’s home. Additionally, they are insurance approved.

Available at Johnsons of Lichfield.

Tawbury Grove Watch Box, $159 (approx. £130)

The Tawbury Grove has a rustic feel to its design thanks to the matte finish of its dark brown Kassod wood exterior. Kassod is a tree from southern Asia with a distinct textured grain giving the piece a tactile feel. The Grove also doubles up as a watch display case with its transparent lid allowing you to view the six watches stored inside, even while closed. Protecting the watches from scratches is the micro-suede lined interior and soft pillows.

Available at Tawbury.

Modalo Ambiente Watch Winder, £1,529

Watch winders serve multiple functions in a collection. Most apparent is the fact they keep your automatic watches ready to wear at all times, meaning you don’t have to constantly reset them, something that is particularly important for high complications and calendar watches. At the same time, they also serve as great display cases, especially ones that are as dynamic as the Modalo Ambiente, which can hold up to nine watches at the same time. Sleek and modern with wooden styling, it’s as much an object of style as the watches it contains.

Available at Modalo.

Jonesintokyo Kudu Leather Strap, £92

JonesinTokyo is the project of Douglas Jones, a designer from the UK who moved to Japan in 2007 and who began to produce watch straps in 2014. Inspired by the rich leatherworking heritage of both the UK and Japan, he sought out renowned Japanese artisans to learn from and to become an expert in his own right. Take this beautifully crafted Kudu leather strap. Kudu leather is naturally very strong and develops a patina over time, meaning it will age gracefully with you and the watch it’s strapped to.

Available at Jonesintokyo.

Barcelona Gallery Weekend: 19-22 September 2024

Enjoy the last rays of summer by getting away from the UK and visiting Spain’s Barcelona Gallery Weekend from 19th to 22nd September. There are dozens of exciting exhibitions taking place across 27 galleries in the city and in L’Hospitalet highlighting regional and national artists. This year’s showcase marks the 10th anniversary of the Gallery Weekend, with every exhibition being completely free and open to the public. You can also attend talks, encounters and other activities at the galleries, the ARCO GalleryWalks guided tours, or follow the walks proposed by local curators.

More details at Barcelona Gallery Weekend.

Four Stories Gin Autumn, £34.75

While Four Stories Gin is a relatively new name to the premium gin market, they had substantial experience distilling, bottling and labelling gin for other brands before turning that experience towards their own product. Based in the UK, their inaugural series is dedicated to the flavours and stories of the four seasons. Story No. 1 Autumn features the warmth of a cosy blanket on a crisp autumn evening with tasting notes of Fuji apple, vanilla, lemon and cinnamon. In terms of style, it’s the perfect example of time honoured techniques including hand applied labels and wax dipped seals at accessible prices. Use code ORACLE for 20% off the entire range.

More details at Four Stories.

Biokidé Baobab Moon Face Cream, €55 (approx. £45)

Whether for yourself or partner, Biokidé’s Baobab Moon Face Cream is a moisturising cream designed for dry skin with baobab oil, aloe vera, shea butter, hibiscus and honey. It’s the ultimate fusion of authentic African ingredients and French knowhow to bring you clean cosmetics you can trust. The brand is currently undergoing Butterfly Mark certification by Positive Luxury to prove their commitment to a positive social and environmental impact.

More details at Biokidé.

GreenGent Co 2-in-1 Hair and Body Wash, £20.28

GreenGent Co is a relatively young brand in the men’s grooming space, developed specifically to tackle skin and hair issues with products dedicated to using only natural ingredients. Since their launch in January, their 2-in-1 Hair and Body Wash has proven exceptionally popular with its refreshing fragrance and multi-use simplicity – ideal for men who don’t like to spend too long grooming while also fitting perfectly alongside a dedicated skin and haircare routine for those who do. Other prominent GreenGent Co products include their acid face cream, face oils and eye cream.

More details at GreenGent.

Carmen Delprat Art Exotic Portraits And Surreal Landscapes

Carmen Delprat’s art transforms spaces with her exotic portraits and surreal landscapes, blending vibrant colours and intricate details into harmonious, dreamlike realms inspired by topics both natural and human. Her work goes beyond decoration, fostering serenity and introspection. Each piece is a portal to beauty and deeper meaning, making your home a sanctuary of inspiration. As an expansion to an existing collection of art, or the start of new one, her works make for a vibrant and exciting investment.

More details at Carmen Delprat.