Elite Traveler, the world’s leading private jet lifestyle magazine celebrated the launch of the Top 50 Watches for 2018 at The St. Regis New York with more than 80 guests, which included industry experts, watch collectors and friends of the magazine.
Elite Traveler introduced its September/October issue and the coveted Top 50 Watches of 2018 feature, written by watch expert Roberta Naas. The carefully curated list requires time and dedication to source the most outstanding timepieces on Earth that fit into 10 different categories. The categories include: astronomy, innovations, haute joaillerie, land and sea, minute repeaters and sonneries, multi-timers, chronographs, ultra-thins, tourbillons and ladies’ tourbillons.
“We are celebrating what we deemed the best watch releases of the year, whether they were a groundbreaking new complication or a million-dollar high-jewelry masterpiece,” said Elite Traveler Luxury Editorial Director, Kristen Shirley, at the dinner.
“It’s always difficult to pull together this list, as watch brands constantly compete to outdo each other, and outdo themselves. Our watch expert, Roberta Naas, and I spend hours reviewing the launches from every brand, then distilling the list down into the Top 50. It can lead to agonizing choices, but we are very proud of the list we’ve put together.”
Shirley also introduced Elite Traveler’s Top Yachts feature, sponsored by Bermuda Tourism. The list is the ultimate buyer’s guide for superyachts available to purchase, spanning from sailing yachts to mega yachts.
Guests sipped on Clase Azul’s special Plata Paloma from the Clase Azul tequila bar and got to sample the brand’s new reposado tequila, and Glenmorangie served three expressions of its finest whisky from the dedicated whisky bar, including the 10 Years Old, 18 Years Old, Extremely Rare and the Signet.
Panerai watches encased in vitrines were on display as you circled the room, as were three small model cars, recreations of vintage cars from the 1940s and 50s, plus a pair of oversized vintage binoculars from Nicholas Brawer Gallery.
Guests took home a gift bag, which included Glenmorangie tumblers, a sample of Glenmorangie whisky, St. Regis chocolates, a catalogue from Fisher Auction House and Elite Traveler’s September/October issue.