The Luxe Lens

 In contemporary watchmaking, true innovation rarely lies in adding complexity—but in redefining how time itself is experienced. With the Time Cipher, CIGA Design takes a bold step in that direction, transforming time from a static reading into a fluid, almost poetic motion. Following the global recognition of its Blue Planet at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the brand returns with a creation that is quieter in appearance, yet deeper in philosophy. Reimagining Time Through Motion At the heart of the Time Cipher is the wandering-hour complication, a concept rooted in 17th-century night clocks. Traditionally seen as a niche curiosity, CIGA Design refines it into something strikingly modern. Here, time does not tick—it flows. A rotating hour disc aligns with a fixed marker, while a central wandering arm traces the minutes in a slow, deliberate sweep. The experience is less about precision at a glance, and more about engagement. You don’t simply check the time—you observe it un...

  Recently, Samsung launched the new Galaxy S26 series – its most intuitive Galaxy AI phone yet. Consumer response has been stellar, with pre-orders moving quickly and excitement building around the device’s innovative features. As these cutting-edge devices begin arriving, it’s important to consider how you will care for it. The average phone upgrade cycle has increased from 2.4 years to a whopping 3.5 years globally, signalling a shift toward longer device ownership. That’s where Samsung Care+ comes in. Not only does it preserve the future resale value of your device, it provides peace of mind today and lasting value tomorrow. Flexible and Personalised Choices for Every Lifestyle Not everyone uses their device the same way. Some need a complete peace of mind against everyday accidents. Others focus on long-term device reliability. Samsung Care+ gets this. Samsung Care+ offers diverse plans that reflect the unique needs of customers with different lifestyles. This includes acciden...

In the rarefied world of haute horlogerie, where time is no longer merely measured but interpreted, Louis Vuitton unveils a creation that transcends function entirely. The Escale au Mont Fuji, the latest chapter in its Escales Autour du Monde collection, is less a watch than it is a living tableau — an intimate voyage rendered in gold, enamel and imagination. Following its explorations of the Amazon and Paris, the Maison now turns eastward, capturing the poetic stillness of Mount Fuji at dawn. But this is no static tribute. It is a scene that breathes, shifts, and quietly unfolds — a moment suspended in perpetual spring. A Landscape That Lives and Moves At first glance, the dial resembles a delicate painting — soft gradients of blush pink and sky blue, evoking the fleeting beauty of early morning light. But linger a moment longer, and the illusion dissolves into something far more extraordinary. A golden compass rose turns gently in the heavens, adorned with Monogram blooms that seem t...

 BMW has introduced the all-new BMW i3, the second model built on its next-generation Neue Klasse (New Class) platform, marking a significant step forward in the brand’s electric vehicle strategy. Following the debut of the iX3, the new i3 reflects BMW’s vision of blending familiar design language with advanced electric performance, bringing it closer in appearance to the conventional 3 Series while embracing the future of mobility. A Familiar Form with a Futuristic Twist Unlike its predecessors, the new i3 adopts a more traditional sedan silhouette, aligning closely with the design of the iconic 3 Series. This shift is expected to appeal to a broader audience seeking a balance between innovation and familiarity. However, BMW has incorporated modern design elements, including a reimagined front fascia where the signature kidney grille merges seamlessly with the headlamp structure. This integration is not purely aesthetic, as it allows for embedded light guides that enhance both fun...

  Mitsubishi Motors has unveiled the All-New Mitsubishi Xforce, a compact SUV designed to meet the evolving needs of Malaysian drivers, combining sleek styling, practical functionality and everyday performance. Positioned as a versatile urban companion, the Xforce is engineered to handle both daily commutes and weekend getaways, offering a balanced driving experience suited for city roads as well as longer journeys across the country. Designed for Comfort and Everyday Versatility Inside, the Xforce features a spacious and thoughtfully designed cabin aimed at enhancing comfort for both driver and passengers. Key highlights include: ✅8-step reclining rear seats for improved passenger comfort ✅A 12.3-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ✅Premium YAMAHA sound system for an enhanced in-car audio experience With its elevated ground clearance and multiple drive modes, the Xforce is built to navigate Malaysia’s diverse road conditions with confidence, whet...

  Boracay’s only MICHELIN Guide-listed hotel is building on its recognition with a bold new dining concept and further enhancements across the resort. The Lind Boracay secured its MICHELIN Guide recommendation in 2025, its tenth year of operation, becoming the sole property on the idyllic Philippines island to ever receive the distinction. Marking the milestone, the resort has introduced Yím, a contemporary Thai restaurant bringing authentic, chef-led Thai cuisine to Boracay as part of a broader strengthening of its food and beverage programme. Designed to showcase modern Thai cuisine, Yím presents clean architectural lines, a relaxed yet refined atmosphere and a menu rooted in authenticity that is executed by a resident Thai chef with experience in high-end restaurants and luxury hotels around the globe. The concept adds a new dimension to Boracay’s dining landscape, positioning food as a central driver of the resort experience. Yím forms part of a sustained focus on culinary qual...

 Countless hours of kneading muscles and nurturing guests to optimum health appears to have paid off for the team at Banyan Tree Spa Samui after they were recognized last week with a coveted award from UK-based The Luxury Spa Edit. Announcing the Global Spa Awards 2026, a panel of some of the world’s leading spa and wellness experts, alongside highly regarded travel journalists and sustainability specialists, and including more than 85,000 votes from the public, determined that Banyan Tree Samui take the title as “Best Spa Resort - Thailand”. “We are honored to win this award,” said Spa & Gallery Manager Naphasawan Badklang. “Much of the credit goes to each member of the spa team, most of whom came through rigorous training at the Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy in Phuket.” Ms Naphasawan also paid tribute to the Banyan Tree brand’s “Wellbeing Sanctuary” program, offering guests an alternative vacation based on holistic activities and health, as well as the brand’s own “8 Pil...

 From roast baby goat and handmade pasta to playful bunny mousse desserts, The Hari Hong Kong in Wan Chai will celebrate Easter from April 3-6, 2026 with seasonal brunch and dinner menus and a fun-filled family package. At Italian ristorante Lucciola, Easter brunch kicks off with an aperitivo selection from the bar table, followed by dishes such as sautéed black mussels, handmade tagliatelle and Mediterranean sea bass, and desserts including traditional Colomba Italian Easter cake. The restaurant’s Easter set dinner menu features wild fennel soup with gravlax salmon, Australian beef tenderloin with Madagascar green pepper sauce, and roast baby goat with white wine sauce, ending with a classic Italian Easter cake accompanied with mascarpone cream and warm chocolate. Menus can be accessed here and here. At contemporary Japanese restaurant Zoku, Easter brunch begins with an assorted sashimi platter and yakitori skewers and sushi rolls, followed by mains such as Chicken Yawata-maki, co...

 INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit has unveiled ‘The GALLERY’ to showcase the wares of talented Thai designers, artists and craftspeople, to improve livelihoods and preserve skills handed down the generations. Underpinned by the concept of “Giving Art, Art of Giving”, the social enterprise is situated on the hotel’s 32nd floor adjacent to the reception desk. Connecting local artisans with a broader audience, The GALLERY offers meaningful products such as silks, accessories, hand-painted décor, ceramics, children’s toys and much more.  All profits from The GALLERY support scholarships for art and design students to ultimately help communities in need and safeguard Thai culture, particularly the skills indigenous to over 302 communities across Thailand. The communities surround properties owned by Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), which established The GALLERY. “It’s more than a curated marketplace; every pu...

 As more people spend long hours working, studying, and gaming from home, maintaining good posture and managing physical stress has become increasingly important. Addressing these modern lifestyle challenges, OSIM Malaysia introduces the uErgoh Ergonomic Chair with Massage, an innovative seating solution designed to combine productivity, comfort, and wellness in one seamless experience. The OSIM uErgoh is recognised as the world’s first ergonomic chair with built-in massage technology, thoughtfully crafted to support posture while delivering targeted relaxation for users throughout the day. With the growing trend of hybrid work and digital lifestyles, prolonged sitting can lead to backaches, muscle tension, reduced focus, and fatigue. The uErgoh addresses these concerns with a unique “Switch ON for Productivity, Switch OFF for Recovery” concept, allowing users to transition effortlessly between focused work and relaxing massage sessions. Designed for Productivity and Comfort At its...

 Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor has appointed Memo Hernandez as its new Executive Chef overseeing the 94-year-old luxury hotel’s storied culinary programme, including a one-of-a-kind temple dinner at the ancient archeological park of Angkor. Chef Memo, who was born in Costa Rica, brings to Raffles more than two decades of culinary experience and luxury hospitality from around the world, including most recently in the Bahamas, and before that in Kosovo, Vietnam, Tanzania, Maldives, Fiji, Dubai and elsewhere. At Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Chef Memo will lead the culinary teams at Cafe d’Angkor, the signature all-day brasserie serving Asian and international dishes; 1932, the hotel’s acclaimed Khmer fine-dining restaurant; The Conservatory, the elegant home to Raffles’ famed Afternoon Tea; and the hotel’s renowned banquet service. “I am thrilled to be joining Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, one of Asia’s most iconic luxury hotels, whose extraordinary range of culinary offerings include...

 Fusion announces the opening of Grand Royal Riverside Hue – Fusion Collection, a new luxury hotel located in the heart of Hue City in central Vietnam. The opening marks another milestone in Fusion’s successful expansion into some of the region’s most alluring destinations. Set on the southern bank of the Huong River, adjacent to the iconic Truong Tien Bridge, the hotel, which opens to guests on March 14, boasts a prime riverside location within the UNESCO‑recognized heritage landscape of Vietnam’s former imperial capital. Blending cultural heritage with contemporary hospitality, Grand Royal Riverside Hue delivers an immersive guest experience rooted in history, place and modern comfort. Hue is internationally recognized for its historic monuments, scenic river landscapes and enduring cultural significance. Located at No. 02 Hung Vuong Street, the new hotel features two towers comprised of 161 guestrooms. Inspired by the Huong River, a defining symbol of Hue’s culture and history, ...

 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the global availability of the Galaxy S26 series and the Galaxy Buds4 series. As Samsung’s third generation of AI phones, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 deliver the most intuitive and proactive Galaxy AI  experiences yet, helping users accomplish more with fewer steps. Following Galaxy Unpacked, the newly launched Galaxy S26 series has generated exceptional early demand, with initial pre-order figures surpassing previous records and marking a double-digit increase. The premium Galaxy S26 Ultra has quickly become the standout model, selected by more than 70% of pre-order customers worldwide.  Galaxy S26 Ultra: Where Innovation Leads Galaxy S26 Ultra brings together Samsung’s most advanced innovation in a single device – powerful performance, an industry-leading camera system, enhanced intuitive Galaxy AI and the world’s first mobile phone with a built-in Privacy Display .  Privacy Display, which has draw...

 LAY Beach Club, which has already established a reputation as “the place to be” on Pattaya’s shoreline, is gearing up to celebrate its first anniversary with Spanish flair and fare. Situated on Beach Road on the Gulf of Thailand’s east coast, the vibrant venue will host “Sabores del Mar “(Flavours of the Sea”) on Saturday, March 14, from 6-10pm. The club will welcome chefs William Stringfellow, Juan Ignacio “Nacho” García Racionero and Lluis Cantons from Meliá Pattaya Hotel, INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit and Meliá Koh Samui respectively to showcase Spanish tapas and Mediterranean dishes at an array of live stations during the event. Following sunset sangria and canapes, the chefs will serve the likes of patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), paella de Marisco (seafood paella), gambas al ajillo (Spanish garlic shrimp), and fideua capellini (Spanish angel hair pasta) paired with Spanish bubbles, white, and red wines. The evening’s entertainment will be underscored by a 20-minute fire...

   The multi-award-winning architecture of Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan – an awe-inspiring, suspended rice bowl structure – remains as pioneering today as when it was unveiled 28 years ago. Now, the Forbes Five-Star resort draws on those cutting-edge foundations to reveal a thoughtful reimagining of its luxury riverside suite accommodations and jungle-view dining spaces The resort has partnered with the world's largest hospitality design firm, Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), for a revamp anchored in Balinese harmony and heritage. Guided by an ethos of refined, rejuvenated, and liveable, the resort refresh launches in July 2026 across seven suite accommodations: five Premier Duplex Suites and two Family Premier Suites. Ayung Terrace – the resort’s elevated jungle-vista restaurant – and Jati Bar, its river valley hideaway, will also showcase new furniture, colour schemes and styling. Every element of the refresh is rooted in respect for the jungle, rice paddy and Ayung Rive...

  Azerai Resorts in Vietnam enter the new year after an award-packed 2025 which saw veteran hotelier Adrian Zecha’s latest portfolio winning multiple high-profile honors from some of the world’s leading travel authorities. Azerai Ke Ga Bay, the all-suites-and-villas oceanside property in southern Vietnam, was awarded a prestigious MICHELIN Key in October. This followed the resort being named one of Southeast Asia’s best boutique hotels by The Times (UK) and after securing the runner-up title in the Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World contest (it also secured the title for the Most Instagrammable Hotel in Asia, the Indian Ocean and South Pacific) sponsored by the U.S.-based Luxury Travel Advisor. The resort was voted one of Vietnam’s “Top 10 Family Hotels” in the Smart Travel Asia Reader Poll and finished the year with an award as Vietnam’s “Best Boutique Resort for 2025” from Epicure magazine. Azerai Ke Ga Bay, located a comfortable 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City on a new ...

 A Spanish national with more than a decade of experience in luxury hospitality in Europe and Asia has been named The Anam Mui Ne’s director of rooms. Elena Lopez de Silanes has joined the 127-room resort on Mui Ne Beach to oversee rooms divisions operations, including front office, guest experience, housekeeping, laundry, and in-house water factory. She also acts as the resort’s executive assistant manager, partnering with resort manager Ye Chang Sheng (Peter) in leading daily operations, strategic initiatives, and cross-departmental collaboration to achieve overall business and guest satisfaction goals. Lopez de Silanes has worked in Vietnam since 2022. Before joining The Anam Mui Ne, she was the director of guest experience and entertainment at Villa Le Corail, A Gran Meliá Hotel, in nearby Nha Trang, and was part of the resort’s pre-opening team. Previously, she was a front office manager and quality control manager at Meliá Bali. She originally embarked on a medical degree to ...

Founded in 2003 in Alzenau, Germany, Alexander Shorokhoff is renowned for its art-driven timepieces that combine meticulous hand-finished craftsmanship with bold, culturally inspired design. This year, the brand introduces the Kandy Fantasy, a limited-edition creation that captures its unrestrained imagination and avant-garde spirit. A bold expression of artistic freedom and independent watchmaking, the Kandy Fantasy embodies founder Alexander Shorokhov’s philosophy: those who set limits for themselves will never have the courage to imagine. True to this spirit, the timepiece brings together vibrant colours, unconventional geometry, and refined mechanical craftsmanship in a design that is unmistakably avant-garde. The dial features a striking black-and-white central motif accented with genuine mother-of-pearl appliqués, alongside a date display at 6 o’clock, also inlaid with mother-of-pearl for a playful touch. Elongated hands with coloured circular cut-outs and deliberately offset num...

  Stareep, a technology company focused on smart sleep solutions, is exhibiting its S3 Pro AI Intelligent Mattress at the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF). The company's exhibition space saw high foot traffic and generated a strong initial reception from attendees and industry professionals during the first day of the event. Stareep at MIFF 2026 The S3 Pro AI Intelligent Mattress represents Stareep's current integration of artificial intelligence with sleep hardware. Recognized with the 2026 TWICE Picks Award and the 2026 BIG Innovation Award, the mattress functions as a "personal sleep doctor," engineered to dynamically respond to user sleep states. Key features of the S3 Pro include: ✅Advanced Multi-Modal Sensors: In a tropical climate where temperature and humidity fluctuations often cause tossing and turning, advanced sensors accurately capture and measure continuous physiological data and micro-movements with precision. ✅Precise AI Analysis and Deci...