It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock here in London. That means it’s time to down tools, pour yourself a drink and look back at what A Prodigal Week we’ve had.
Glass in hand? Let me offer you some canapés of news and views…
GADGETS
Close encounters of the turd kind
HomePod Mini just a little too discreet for you? Sonos One a little too subtle? Don’t worry, French luggage manufacturer Louis Vuitton has your back. This is the Horizon Light Up Speaker and let’s just say its for people who care more about form than function. With its grotesque UFO- looks, the LV logo plastered all over it, and the 35 LEDs on its glass, stainless steel and leather build, it certainly makes a statement.
These tech/fashion crossovers are notorious for being easy on the eye but harsh on the ear, but this one might actually tick all the boxes. It has a 3-inch subwoofer, two 0.75-inch tweeters, three mics for voice calls, and Bluetooth 5.1 and Apple AirPlay 2 for streaming from a phone. It also comes with its own display dock that charges it up via USB-C. The Horizon Light Up Speaker is available to order now, with shipping starting on 31st July.
Rather you than me.
Also worth your time
Sony's new home theatre speakers announced: “Beefy and ridiculously expensive.”
Adobe Premier Pro ported: “It’s now ready for everyone using an M1 Mac. There are speed increases throughout the app, from a 50 percent faster launch to 77 percent faster editing.”
Sony PlayStation 5 reviewed: “A meaningful step forward in almost every way.”
WATCHES
Paper planes
I’ve long had a soft spot for Bremont. It definitely helps that they make utilitarian tool watches - the very niche that first got me into horology - but, if I’m honest, the brand’s appeal has more to do with its Britishness and its two down-to-earth founders, Nick and Giles English, than its products.
That said, the products are certainly desirable. I have an original MB II on my wrist as I type this and have always thought of it as the quintessential Bremont. It’s handsome if a little bulky, durable if just a little clumsy, and reassuringly over-engineered (particularly when it comes to shock-resistance). I’ve never liked the term ‘beater’ but the MB II is definitely the watch I strap on when I think my day may be turbulent.
This week, Bremont announced a variation on the theme: the titanium-cased MB Savanna. Titanium is strong but light so helps with weight reduction, but the showroom appeal is really all about the colour scheme. The pale, desert-like hue of the case is mirrored on the dial. This is very similar to what IWC (the brand Bremont really wants to be when it grows up) did with its Top Gun Mojave models: it recalls military camouflage colors used in deserts.
It’s certainly an acquired taste and I couldn’t recommend it for a one-watch collection but I rather like it for occasional summer use.
Also worth your time
Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 green dial auctioned: “It sold for EUR 320,000. We’re talking about a watch that retails for EUR 30,400. That’s close to 11 times the official price of the watch, or a premium of close to 1,000 percent.”
Omega Speedmaster revisited on 52nd anniversary of the moon landing: “One of the greatest chronographs of all time.”
IWC Doppelchronograph reconsidered: “You get a lot of watch for the money. It’s the first-ever double chronograph that used cams for both the split-second and for the chronograph.”
CARS
Simply the best
It’s such a cliché: for as long as I can remember, every time a car reviewer tries to sum up how he or she feels about the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it’s not long before they reach for the “the best car in the world just got better” trope. Guess what? This week, the best just got better.
This is a luxury barge not a sports car and - with that in mind - what appeals to me about the latest S-Class is its interior. I love how the boffins in Stuttgart have fashioned something which feels comfortable and familiar yet also cutting edge.
Evo of course bemoans its lack of driver appeal but I think that’s missing the point. Me? I’m embracing my middle age.
Also worth your time
Abarth F595 revealed: “Marking the 50th anniversary of the Carlo Abarth-designed Formula Italia racer, the new model does 0-62mph in 7.3sec and has a 135mph top speed in five-speed manual guise.”
Porsche Macan refreshed: “Porsche has consolidated the model range by dropping the Turbo variant and upgrading the GTS model to compensate.”
Audi RS3 unveiled: “New model comes with one or two critical differences under the aggressive new skin designed specifically to help rid the RS3 of its reputation of somewhat blunt, nose-heavy handling.”
Don’t miss…
👀 A glimpse inside the watch industry with Robin Swithinbank. It’s a first for Persiflage: in this episode we have a guest, one who actually knows what he’s talking about. Which brands are responding well to digital? Should authorised dealers be worried? Who are the standout execs? What happens next?
Join us to find out >
🏎 Do you have to be mad to take your car on a race track? Eric and I go head to head on this in a new episode of Persiflage. I point out all of the risks, he cares only for the rewards.
Have a listen >
👨🏻💻 Apple’s keynote at WWDC 2021 was a disappointment to those of us who had convinced ourselves that we would see the new MacBook Pro - but was full of clever, incremental software improvements that are much more than the sum of their parts.
Read the highlights >
Welcome to the weekend, folks. 🍸