A Posthumous Tribute: Remembering Darshan Mehta, Icon of Luxury Retail in India

Darshan Mehta was instrumental in reshaping the Indian luxury retail market.

Earlier this week, we read the tragic news of the untimely passing of Darshan Mehta, former managing director and chief executive officer of Reliance Brands Limited (RBL).

According to online news reports, Mehta suffered from a cardiac arrest while he was on a business trip in Hyderabad. We at Robb Report Hong Kong are saddened by the sudden news and share the grief and loss felt by many. Mehta was in his early 60s.

As a key figure who introduced Western luxury brands to the Indian subcontinent, Mehta was a fount of knowledge about the inner workings of retail. During a live telecast as the keynote speaker at Robb Report Hong Kong’s inaugural Leaders of Luxury Summit last November, Mehta provided international and local delegates with key insights into navigating the luxury landscape in India, and what others could learn from his decades-long experience in dealing with the challenges of launching and nurturing a foreign brand on native soil. 

Under Mehta’s stewardship, RBL blossomed into the largest player in India’s premium and luxury fashion sector, introducing over 85 international brands to Indian consumers. Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Valentino, Balenciaga, and Burberry are among those who found foothold in the most populated country in the world, with a burgeoning market tapping into luxury retail and lifestyle experiences. Mehta’s ability to connect global luxury with local sensibilities redefined consumer expectations and bridged the gap between East and West.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

The Best in Property 2025, From Victoria Peak and Bangkok to Niseko and Quezon City

Nestled within a stretch of verdant landscape with uninterrupted panoramic views of Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak, 1 Plantation Road stands as one of Wheelock Properties’ premier developments, featuring a bespoke collection of just 20 meticulously crafted residences.

Each home is thoughtfully designed to cater to the unique preferences of its owners, boasting expansive gardens and interiors embellished with handpicked materials, thereby achieving a seamless balance between aesthetics, comfort, and functionality.

Ricky Wong, managing director of Wheelock Properties, shares that “each home we build has its own identity. At 1 Plantation Road, no two houses are alike, as we recognise that discerning buyers seek unique residences reflecting their values: lifestyle, privacy, and harmony with their surroundings.” He emphasises sustainability as an important factor for the sophisticated clientele of today, citing it as the motivation behind the development’s use of advanced green building techniques, vertical vegetation, filtered water systems, and more.

Even the private garages are crafted to evoke a sense of home. “When owners return, they are not welcomed by a cold, utilitarian concrete structure, but rather a warm, inviting space that embodies the essence of ‘home sweet home,’” Wong says.

More at The best of real estate and property here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Preach!

Junk boat invites, hiking, camping, krav maga, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.... NO to all. But thanks for asking... 

Anna Hu’s High-Jewellery Masterpieces Now Featured in 4 Renowned Museums

In the top-tier museums of Moscow, Paris, Boston, and London, you will find rare pieces on exhibit as Anna Hu’s work makes the leap from high jewellery to high art.

Renowned high-jewellery artist Anna Hu has reached a significant milestone in her illustrious career, with her exquisite creations now included in the permanent collections of four prestigious museums worldwide. Following earlier accolades, which saw her work displayed at the State Historical Museum in Moscow in 2018 and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2022, two new acquisitions have been made in 2024. Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts welcomed the Enchanted Ania brooch in May, while the British Museum in London recently added the Enchanted White Lily bangle to its collection in September.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Robb Report Hong Kong Best of the Best 2025: Auctions: Sotheby's

RECORD-BREAKING
SOTHEBY’S

When it came to glamour, luxury, and sales figures that looked like telephone numbers, nothing beat the headline making sales at Sotheby’s Hong Kong this past year, particularly at the new retail outpost, the auction house’s maison in the heart of Central. The range on offer at the 24,000-square-foot space, designed by Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, split the house into sub-sectioned salons, where you saw diversity and choice at their shimmering best.

In a remarkable year for Sotheby’s, the standout sale was the auction debut of Mark Rothko’s Untitled (Yellow and Blue) from 1954, which fetched an impressive HK$252.5 million. This landmark transaction positions Rothko as the third most valuable Western artist to be auctioned in the region, surpassing initial estimates of HK$225 million to HK$275 million.

Among other notable sales, Zhang Daqian’s Red Robe Avalokiteshvara emerged as the leading lot in Chinese art, commanding a respectable HK$77.5 million from the Leshantang collection, with estimates ranging from HK$22 million to HK$30 million.

Looking ahead, Sotheby’s will host a Modern and Contemporary Evening auction in spring 2025 in Hong Kong, followed by an expected roster of auctions, events, and previews for watches, jewellery, and Chinese art and antiquities, but it’s the surprises in-store that you can most anticipate, as the new heads and team members promise events worth waiting for. Consider our breaths bated.

Read more here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

The annual collector's edition Best of the Best is out now! 

 

The Best of Jewellery: Van Cleef & Arpels

The Big Idea: Women in Charge. 

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. 

The Best of Jewellery: 

MODERN CLASSIC 

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS 

L’Île au Trésor Collection @vancleefarpels ❤️ 

Inspired by the timeless literary classic, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, the rich chapters of Van Cleef & Arpels have welcomed a riveting page with its latest high jewellery collection. This glittering range serves as a tribute to the adventure and imagination encapsulated within the novel, which has resonated with generations of readers. 

More at RobbReport 💯

Best of Design: Robb Report Hong Kong