LVMH Making Moves, Taste Studios Is Back, Mellon Blue Makes History at Christie’s & More
From boardroom strategy to blue-chip jewels and avant-garde hospitality, the week’s biggest stories show the global luxuryLuxuryA lifestyle defined by exceptional quality, craftsmanship, exclusivity, and sophistication, encompassing the finest products, services, and experiences that represent the highest standards of refinement and excellence.Go to Luxury Glossary market holding its poise and its imagination even amid shifting tides.
The worlds of high horology, haute gemology, and more converge, indicating a compelling mix of power plays and poetic indulgences. LVMH sharpens its horological prowess with a strategic stake in La Joux-Perret. Christie’s, meanwhile, sets the stage with a vivid blue diamond worthy of its own mythology. Regent Phu Quoc elevates experiential dining into a cinematic art form. Meanwhile, Lexus Manila reintroduces itself with a new space.
LVMH Buys Stake in La Joux‑Perret
LVMH is tightening its grip on the upper echelons of Swiss watchmaking. The luxury titan’s watch division announced that it had acquired a minority stake in La Joux-Perret, one of Switzerland’s most respected movement and component manufacturers. La Joux-Perret remains independent, but the partnership gives LVMH privileged access to the kind of high-precision manufacturing that underpins serious horology.
The timing is telling. With the global watch market navigating softening demand in China and tariff pressures in the United States, brands with secure movement pipelines are better positioned to weather volatility. For LVMH Maisons such as TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith, this move strengthens their various technical capabilities while ensuring more control over innovation cycles.
For collectors and industry observers, this acquisition reads as a subtle but decisive play. In an era where vertical integration and supply-chain security increasingly define competitive edge, LVMH is investing where it matters most.
“Mellon Blue” Sets Christie’s Third-Highest Blue Diamond Sale
A landmark moment in haute jewelery: a 9.51-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond, also known as the “Mellon Blue,” sold for approximately US $25.6 million at Christie’s in Geneva. It marks the house’s third-highest price ever recorded for its kind.
Once owned by American arts patron Rachel “Bunny” Mellon—who built a legacy that spans horticulture, philanthropy, and old-money elegance—the gem exudes such a rarity. Christie’s praised the stone’s “superb color and extraordinary purity,” qualities that define the uppermost tier of colored-stone collecting.
While the sale met the pre-auction estimate of US $20 to 30 million, it nevertheless reflected a cautious air within the luxury-gem segment. Geopolitical headwinds and a muted Chinese market weighed on bidding momentum. The Mellon Blue’s performance reaffirms vivid-color diamonds as enduring ultra-luxuryLuxuryA lifestyle defined by exceptional quality, craftsmanship, exclusivity, and sophistication, encompassing the finest products, services, and experiences that represent the highest standards of refinement and excellence.Go to Luxury Glossary assets, albeit signaling a more tempered tone. Rarity alone no longer guarantees a record leap. Rather, it preserves value above the fray.
The Return of Regent Phu Quoc’s “Taste Studio”
Nestled on the shimmering shores of Phú Quốc Island, the resort’s signature immersive dining experience turns theatrical this November. The fourth edition of Taste Studio unfolds under the theme “A Spectrum of Contrasts,” inviting just 32 guests for an intimate, multi-sensory journey.
This dinner is a choreography of cuisine, craft, and culture. Guests start with a welcome cocktail, then move through five meticulously crafted courses by Executive Chef Francesco Andreoni and his team. Each plate paired with live performance by choreographer Sabra Johnson, visual projections by Paris-based AC3 Studio, and the delicately poised paper art of Trúc Chỉ, all underscored by the sonic fusion of Hanoi trio Limebócx.
The concept explores dualities—light and shadow, mountain and sea, tradition and innovation—anchored in Vietnamese philosophy and the natural drama of Phú Quốc’s UNESCO-designated biosphere backdrop. Taste Studio will be held from November 28 to 30, 2025.
More information here.
The Lexus Manila Gallery
Lexus officially opened its new Manila Gallery in Bonifacio Global City. The three-story facility, complete with a roof deck, reflects the brand’s omotenashi philosophy—Japanese hospitality rooted in anticipation and grace. Designed in collaboration with Casa Architects, the Lexus Manila Gallery combines architectural sophistication with warmth and tactility.
Natural wood, stone, and leather dominate the interiors, while sustainable features such as low-VOC paints, energy-efficient lighting, and renewable finishes underscore the brand’s commitment to eco-conscious craftsmanship. The result is a space that feels less like a dealership and more like a sanctuary for our most discerning motorists.
On the third floor, guests can even enjoy a golf simulator, a curated coffee bar exclusive to the Gallery, and a personalized concierge service. “The opening of the new Lexus Manila Gallery shows our commitment to creating better experiences for our customers,” Lexus Philippines President Masando Hashimoto said in his opening speech. “It is a place where innovation meets hospitality.”