Robb Report Hong Kong: The Best in Art, Design & Gear 2025, From Sonus Faber and Baccarat to Christofle, Christie’s, and Aman Interiors

Going For Baroque

Numbers don’t compute easily when you look at the staggering figures that have emerged from auction houses this past year as top-tier brokers expanded their presence in the city, sending out unmistakable global smoke signals: they are here to stay. Hammers were slamming down in quick succession as the four leading auction houses in Hong Kong displayed remarkable prowess, each carving a unique niche in the dynamic art market—and in their new homes.

Bonhams Hong Kong celebrated a record-breaking 2024, achieving an impressive 18 per cent increase in total sales amounting to HK$670 million, the highest since its inception in 2007. In fact, its new Asia-Pacific headquarters at Six Pacific Place facilitated a 68 per cent surge in private sales, while Christie’s opened its current regional headquarters at the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed Henderson, which heralded a remarkable inaugural auction that amassed HK$1.3 billion.

Similarly, Sotheby’s achieved stellar sales at its 24,000-square-foot maison in Central, unveiled last summer, fetching HK$252.5 million for Mark Rothko’s Untitled (Yellow and Blue). Despite a difficult year, the auction house is optimistic in its outlook: An official statement released at the start of 2025 revealed the company’s 2024 earnings, with Sotheby’s CEO Charles Stewart reporting US$6 billion (HK$46.62 billion) of consolidated sales against what he referred to as “a clearly challenging market backdrop.” While the auction house made better numbers in 2023 with US$7.8 billion (HK$60.61 billion) in sales, all things considered, the results are not too shabby as Sotheby’s figure was “the highest in the industry for last year,” according to ArtNews.

While the art world was going for broke, the design world went hard on minimalism. Embodying the living contradiction of “less is more,” interiors were all about clean lines in kitchens, offices, and shared spaces—think islands of plush sofas, coffee tables with nominal fuss, and furnishings in all the right angles eschewing adornment for function. Even Italians, the noted originators of Baroque in the 17th and 18th centuries, have turned the tables, expressing Nordic minimalism in the shape of sleek lamps, monochrome carpets, prismatic tables, and monotone chairs—has the highly ornate and elaborate been spirited away for good?

Some semblances of curlicues and curvaceous design were evident in tech as vinyl made a comeback and designer chess sets and speakers brought back hints of ostentation with a touch of gold here and a flash of silver there. (Instead of looking forward while engineering gadgets, many are choosing to hark back to simpler times and the age of innocence.) Altogether, these noble houses, producers, and brands not only reflect the thriving ecosystem in art, design, and gear, but also set the stage for a promising future in the world of curated collectibles.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Best of Style: 2025: Best of the Best by Robb Report Hong Kong

 

Shot at the Summer Palace in Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, this full look by Shanghai Tang ended up being one of the best shots in the issue. Mad rush to do the shot before the arrival of lunch guests, had no idea, it'll all come together so well. 

The usual suspects made the cut in menswear, Dior, Bottega, Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, Loro Piana etc, but really wanted a Hong Kong/Asian angle. Luckily there's always a Mandarin collar at Shanghai Tang - or as its known in my neck of the woods; the Nehru collar! 😉 

There's a behind the scenes video that'll be up soon at RobbReport.HK 😎 

FYI: I had a dream team on the day of course; Photography: Dino Busch @dinobuschphotography 

Stylist: Bhisan Rai @styledbybhisan 

Hair and Make-up: Karen Yiu @karenyiumakeupart 

Model: Taner from Model One @tanersc @modelonehk

The Best of Jewellery: Cartier: Robb Report Hong Kong's Best of the Best 2025

The Best in Jewellery 2025, From Louis Vuitton and Van Cleef & Arpels to Cartier and Wellendorff

In today’s landscape of high jewellery, there’s been a seismic shift in who runs, controls, directs, and designs—and these women know exactly what women want from their jewels.

Women in Charge

In the inaugural issue of Robb Report Hong Kong, as we edited the layouts of the Best in Jewellery pages, an off-the-cuff remark lingered a minute longer than intended: three of the selected jewellery pieces looked alarmingly “the same,” in the form of a sapphire pendant strung with diamonds of excessive size, carat, and breathtaking cost. High jewellery is not one for the faint of wallet. Now, of course, the brands themselves would have lost their hat illuminating on how distinguished and distinct their statement necklaces are, but from a healthy distance, without a gemological microscope, there is a familiarity to accessories from heritage houses.

In 2025, the same cannot be said. Armed with that mental Post-it and perspective, we fanned out to look for variety—the spice of life. It is as if the designer brands saw our yellow canary in the coal mine and delivered. A usual treasure trove of emeralds and diamonds aside, we saw cameos of onyx, amethyst, aquamarine, opal, topaz, and jade make dazzling appearances. Many campaigns were shot not in claustrophobic studios, but out at the beach, in gardens, on mountains, and in deserts, letting buyers know that the pieces are not meant just for annual balls and parties to complement gown and glory, but to be worn often. Jewellery should be part of one’s daily life as each artisan celebrates the wearer as much as the stone.

High jewellery today offers a wider and broader landscape, and there has been a seismic shift in who runs, controls, directs, and designs—these women know exactly what women want. Francesca Amfitheatr of left Tiffany & Co. as Bernard Arnault, in a shuffle of musical chairs, asked her to lead Louis Vuitton’s watches and jewellery division as artistic director. It’s all in-house news, of course, as Arnault acquired the maison where Nathalie Verdeille has done stellar work behind the seams of the silver ribbon that ties all those coveted blue boxes together. Val.rie Messika makes her premiere appearance on the list as her eponymous brand—Messika—celebrates its 20th year. Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of Chopard, has held her position at the top for decades and Lucia Silvestri, creative director of Bulgari, has a firm grasp on where the house’s iconic serpentine strands are heading.

Women have led the charge in changing the industry from within, from ore to orb, and their beautiful accessories are all ethically sourced as we read time and again in announcements from each maison. In 2025, let it be said that with great beauty comes great responsibility

JEWELLERY OF THE YEAR

CARTIER

Nature Sauvage Collection

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Parmigiani Fleurier Releases its Tonda PF 36 MM Automatic in a New Stone Blue Colourway

A seamless accessory that will complement and enhance any look—an instant Swiss classic.

In an era where luxury is increasingly defined by simplicity and universality, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF 36 mm emerges a refined emblem of sophistication, transcending traditional gender boundaries to appeal to discerning individuals who seek a versatile aesthetic. 

The Tonda PF captures the charm of vintage proportions, seamlessly melding it with a contemporary allure that speaks to today’s aspirations of quiet luxury. If ever an accessory spoke the adage “wealth whispers,” this seemingly innocuous watch signals such elegant taste among those in the know.  

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Robb Report Hong Kong's Best of the Best 2025!

It's here! 

Best of the Best of 2025, spanning 10 lifestyle and luxury categories, the annual collector's edition is out now.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Robb Report Returns to Turkey For a New Era of Luxury Without Compromise

Robb Report Turkey launches a new chapter in luxury.

Another edition has joined the Robb Report international family—say merhaba to Robb Report Turkey. Indeed, as the latest region to joining our international roster of luxury magazines, Robb Report Turkey is poised to make a triumphant return under the stewardship of Acar Toplu and 108 Media Publishing. Robb Report Turkey’s relaunch signifies a commitment to delivering stories on the finest elements of luxury lifestyle to an audience in their native language, covering exquisite products all the way to unparalleled services.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Cartier Reveals the Next Chapter of Its Nature Sauvage High-Jewellery Collection

It’s not déjà vu, but a look anew as Cartier brings savage returns.

Cartier’s latest release, the third chapter from the Nature Sauvage collection, draws deeply from the wellspring of nature, intertwining artistry and craftsmanship in a manner that transcends mere adornment. At the heart of the high-jewellery collection lies an exploration of the animal kingdom, where creatures both real and imagined come to life in breathtaking designs as glittering kings of the jungle in perpetual repose.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong