Машины, яхты, часы

More than a fashion accessory or means to tell the time, the wristwatch has become a statement of identity; politician or celebrity, scientist or sportsman, what you choose to wear on your wrist speaks volumes about who you are. 

The World’s Most Expensive Watches presents some of the most extravagant, intricate, collectable, decadent, or just plain interesting modern-day timepieces that sit at the top of the price spectrum. Starting at a threshold price of about $200,000, it is a trip through the last decade or so of watches whose values soar incredibly to prices of $5 million dollars or more. Additionally, there is a selection of notable watches that yielded extremely high prices at auction – many of which are historically relevant.

A stunning collection that is both informative and entertaining; with detailed descriptions of individual watches and articles that usefully deconstruct the price tag with an explanation of the relevance of craftsmanship and complexity of design, as well as the importance of exclusivity, prestige and collectability. Prepare to be impressed by a larger-than-life-look at some relatively small items that command not only huge prices but kudos and respect, in all areas of a global society fascinated with using accessorising to create identity.

This is the second expanded and updated edition.

About the Author:

Ariel Adams is the owner and editor of aBlogtoWatch.com - the world's largest and most popular wristwatch blog, and regularly contributes to other important media such as Forbes, Centurion, Tech Crunch, and more.

- Published in collaboration with aBlogtoWatch.com - the world's most popular watch blog
- A beautifully constructed volume that lends itself to intimate visual horological voyeurism; witness the craftsmanship, design and sheer luxury of some of the world's most exclusive wristwatches

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Пролистать книгу The World's Most Expensive Watches

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Посмотреть видео о книге The World's Most Expensive Watches

Despite the functional obsolescence of the mechanical wristwatch (our phones and computers tell more accurate time) the early 21st Century has seen a boom in the development, production, and appreciation of all things horological. Whether it is presented to the collector as an alternative investment, as a feat of micro-mechanical technology, or as a showcase of artisanal mastery, the mechanical wristwatch has never possessed more forms, functions or facets than it does today. The Wristwatch Handbook is written from the epicentre of a renaissance, a place in time between the Quartz revolution and the rise of the smart device – where the mechanical wristwatch is the antidote to the microprocessor and the permanent buzz of your inbox. From the multi-axis tourbillion, to the split-second chronograph, to the sidereal sky chart, The Wristwatch Handbook covers it all and does so with more than 470 rich illustrations from over 90 of the World’s leading brands.

The book is separated into two sections. The first section provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of mechanical movement. Its chapters explore power, transmission, distribution and regulation illustrating the basic concepts before considering the innovation and complexity that takes place further toward the cutting edge. From the fifty-day power reserve, to the constant force mechanism, and the 1,000Hz mechanical escapement, section 1 will allow the reader to understand and appreciate what is happening beneath the dial of their watch. Section two allows the reader to take this understanding and apply it to the vast range of complications (functions) that exist in modern horology. Each chapter showcases a distinct category of complication. For example, the regatta timer, pulsometer, and monopusher chronograph join a host of others in a chapter entitled ‘Recording Lapses of Time’; The power reserve indicator, dynamograph, and crown position indicator are featured in a chapter for ‘Power and Performance Indication’; The moon phase indicator, annual calendar, and planetarium can be found in the ‘Astronomical Complications’ chapter. Once the functional categories are exhausted, the final three chapters explore whimsical complications that have little regard for practical function, novelty time indication, and the ‘super-complicated’ watch – a rare breed of timepiece that houses an intimidating host of complications featured throughout the book. Upon completion of The Wristwatch Handbook the reader will be able to identify even the most exotic complication from across the room, and be able to share their appreciation and understanding of what makes it so useful and compelling. 

The Wristwatch Handbook is “brand agnostic”, using only those watches that most aptly illustrate the given subject matter. As a consequence, the book places equal emphasis on the classic and the cutting edge, on watches produced in large volume or exclusive runs, by industry-leading technology or at the hand of a master. In doing so the book provides an unparalleled range of watches from over 90 brands, allowing the reader to determine for themselves which brands, complications, and styles they will build their collection from.

_A fantastic reference work for the novice or the seasoned watch enthusiast
_Fully illustrated with 470 colour photographs
_Brand-Agnostic. Features a vast array of timepieces from over 90 manufacturers

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Пролистать книгу The Wristwatch Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Mechanical Wristwatches

In a 2021 study, McKinsey describes Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) within the watch market as ‘the industry’s fastest-growing segment’. The trade in pre-owned watches is expected to overtake that in new watches by the middle of the decade. ‘Certified Pre-Owned’ is thus a booming trend. Pre-owned watches are becoming increasingly popular for various reasons: CPO makes classic watches and exclusive rarities accessible to connoisseurs, but also to new customers. Since the fine pieces are authenticated by experts, the market offers security. Above all, however, the CPO business enables an emotional approach: buyers get watches with a history that they can perpetuate themselves and then pass on to the next generation. Dive into the fascinating world of watches and watch collecting with Timeless Treasures.

Does a good watch really have to be expensive? What factors determine the condition of a watch? What should I look for when buying? Are CPO watches a good investment? These and many other questions are answered here by leading experts in the field.

But you will not only find useful information for building your own high-quality collection. You will feel the passion for elegant timepieces on every page of this book. Discover first-class photographs of classic and current watch models from the major brands, of celebrities professing their passion for this accessory, or of legendary film scenes in which special watch models play supporting and leading roles.

The reading is rounded off with a ‘style guide’, which offers watch lovers inspiration on how to perfectly stage their favourite pieces in every situation or also answers the question: What type of watch am I?

The result is an emotional all-round portrait of the impressive world of CPO watches, perfectly attuned to an ever larger and more diverse fan community. It’s time to let a little luxury into your life with this book!

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Посмотреть видео о книге Timeless Treasures: The Fascination of Certified Pre-Owned Watches

Innovation, exclusivity, and elegance define Patek Philippe, a family-owned company with a single and passionate calling: to perfect the watch. These lavishly illustrated books present some of the most important timepieces from the more than 3,000 watches exhibited at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. These precious timepieces have been passionately assembled over more than 40 years by Philippe Stern, Honorary President of the company, and include some of the most valuable pieces in watchmaking history. The books allow you to take the Patek Philippe Museum’s exhibition home with you, or, alternatively, to get a preview of its treasures before you visit.

From the collection of historic watches featuring the first portable timepieces dating back to the 16th century to innovative milestones in Patek Philippe’s portfolio since its founding in 1839, each watch is reproduced with such beauty and precision that you can almost hear it ticking. With expert curatorial insight and context from Peter Friess, Conservateur of the Patek Philippe Museum, these intricate mechanisms are not only presented for themselves; they also offer a unique perspective into the cultural history of the last 500 years. True to the trust and excellence of the Patek Philippe brand, the presentation, the extraordinary book design by Birgit Binner, and content of these sumptuous publications meet the highest professional standards. They are the perfect books for the “perfect watch.”

- Two richly illustrated books presented in a slipcase — the result of a unique collaboration between teNeues and one of the most sought-after watch brands of our time
- 235 rare watches from the history of watchmaking
- Two lavish books for collectors and lovers of luxury watches
- Take home your own version of the “Temple to Watchmaking”

About the Author:

In directing and curating the Patek Philippe Museum, Peter Friess, a master watchmaker, patented inventor, educator, and art historian, found his dream job, which, he says, “put me into direct contact with the world’s most creative watchmakers and skilled craftsmen of all kinds. For me, Patek Philippe is not only a manufacturer of watches, but a protector of world heritage, keeping alive crafts like enamel painting, which would not have survived without the company’s efforts to preserve them.”

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Пролистать книгу Treasures from the Patek Philippe Museum: Vol. 1: The Emergence of the Watch (Antique Collection); Vol. 2: The Quest for the Perfect Watch (Patek Philippe Collection)

An epic motorcycle journey 20,000 miles across the Americas, from Brooklyn to the end of Patagonia.

Come along for the adventure of a lifetime: revel in the freedom of a road trip, and join two friends riding into the unknown — traveling 20,000 miles south on their trusty BMW air-cooled G/S overland haulers. From the Guatemalan jungle, to the magical, desolate Bolivian salt flats, the high roads of the Peruvian Andes, all the way to Ushuaia, the Land of Fire.

About the Author:

Born in Barcelona, Matias Corea moved to Brooklyn in 2002 to further his career as a designer and entrepreneur. In 2006 he co-founded Behance. His deep passion for motorcycles, travel, and photography drive his curiosity and his constant search for opportunities to learn, grow, and adapt through new adventures.

Dreamwheeling. The stories behind 100 of the world’s most coveted automobiles

Famous First Edition: First printing of 10,000 numbered copies

From the adrenaline-filled 24 Hours of Le Mans to the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lake Como’s famed Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to the premier Monterey Car Week, the collector car calendar and market has shown one of the most extraordinary growth trajectories of recent years. As thousands flock to specialized meet ups, rallies, auctions, and Concours d’Elegance around the globe, asking prices for the rarest motors have revved higher and higher. So much so, that the value of the 100 cars included in this book exceeds a staggering $ 1 billion.

For the seasoned car collector or the awestruck newcomer, this double-volume is the unrivaled collector car anthology. Curating 100 of the most exquisite, remarkable, and desirable cars of all time to tell a spellbinding story of automotive design-and-engineering endeavor in the tireless pursuit of ever-greater performance both on and off the track, from the first Indy 500-winning 1910 Marmon Wasp to the futuristic 2020 Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Laps ahead of any generic catalog, this superlative volume exudes authority and elegance, settling for nothing less than the very best of the best, and presenting each model with the lavish spreads it deserves, complete with stunning imagery taken by the world’s leading car photographers alongside rare archival treasures, from original factory photos to famous motorsports event posters. Each entry is also accompanied by expert descriptive texts and specs, detailing each car’s make, model, year, engine size, horsepower, top speed, transmission, and all-important production numbers.

By passionately tapping into their transatlantic expertise and insider knowledge of car auctions, museums, and collections around the world, design authors Peter and Charlotte Fiell survey the autoworld's finest cars of all time. Their carefully curated selection spans the whole history of the automobile, taking in such rare models as a 1912 Stutz Model A Bearcat, as well as lesser-known jewels such as the astonishing 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS “Goutte d’Eau” Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi.

This definitive compendium includes a foreword from Rob Myers, the founder of RM Sotheby’s, and includes an introduction from the authors that gives a unique perspective on the ins and outs of car collecting at the highest level. The main content is interspersed with interviews with Dr. Frederick Simeone, founder of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum; The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival; Sandra Button, Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance; John Collins, leading dealer of historic Ferraris; and Shelby Myers, global head of Private Sales at RM Sotheby’s, which offer key personal insights into the car-collecting world.

The editor and author:

Charlotte & Peter Fiell are well known design writers, having written over sixty books on the subject. Among their various areas of specialization is the realm of transportation design in all its diverse forms. They have also lectured widely, guest taught courses, curated exhibitions, and consulted to manufacturing companies, museums, salerooms, and major private collectors around the world. Together they have written numerous TASCHEN books, including 1000 Chairs, Design of the 20th Century, Industrial Design A–Z, 1000 Lights and Scandinavian Design. They also edited TASCHEN's Decorative Art series and the 12-volume domus 1928–1999 and have most recently authored the double-volume Ultimate Collector Cars.

Celebrate over 100 years of the legendary Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.

The definitive motorcycle guide explores the legacy of this iconic brand, from its origins in a backyard shed to the enormous international brand it is today. From sports bikes, v-rods and choppers, bikers can explore the best Harley Davidson bikes.

Explore motorcycle history with this Harley Davidson book. Inside you'll discover:

- A tribute to the world's most incredible motorcycle company, written by a specialist Harley Davidson expert and lifelong fan - Hugo Wilson
- Catalogues over 70 of the most coveted Harleys ever created, including racing models, special one-offs, limited-editions, and the latest models - including the Pan-America 1250
- An updated catalogue that includes technical data and key design innovations for each bike

For more than 100 years, Harley-Davidson has shaped the motorcycle world and been synonymous with the pursuit of adventure and a rebellious spirit. Double page gallery spreads showcase more than 70 of the best Harleys ever made, highlighting and exploring their defining features.

Fans of these iconic motorcycles can browse through an updated catalogue of every production model. Explore technical data and key specs for each motorbike, including racing models, unique one-offs, and limited-edition production runs. This visual guide also includes close-up images of key Harley-Davidson engines to see how the bikes worked.

About the Author:

Hugo Wilson is the author of several best-selling books on bikes, all published by DK. He is also the editor of Bike, the UK's leading motorcycle magazine.

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Пролистать книгу Ultimate Harley Davidson на Google Books.

VELO City continues the celebration of the bicycle and its ongoing (r)evolution, because cycling is far more than just an eco-friendly connection from A to B

For a cycling enthusiast, only the perfect bike will do. Engineers adapt their creations to every terrain and every taste – from chic baroque bicycles with frivolous details to colorful pushbikes; from remakes of classic cruisers to robust cargo bikes. Fully equipped SUV two-wheelers are ready to roam through rocky terrain, while the latest electric technologies are perfect for pushing tired muscles up the steepest climb. And don’t forget the gear: independent companies are constantly releasing fashionable and functional equipment to satisfy any cyclist’s needs.

As one of the the most sustainable, healthy, and economical means of transportation in today's metropolises, the bicycle has the power to change our future profoundly. Time to explore that future – come take a breath of fresh air with VELO City.

From two of the world’s leading experts on watch collecting, this supremely elegant and informative selection of one hundred watches traces the timepiece’s evolution as it highlights the most unusual, important, and beautifully crafted watches of the past half a millennium.

For centuries people have been captivated by watches — whether for their technical precision, their unique design, or their historic importance. Each of the one hundred watches profiled in this elegant book stands out for one or more of these qualities. Organized chronologically and divided by century, the watches are presented in spacious, double-page spreads, featuring exquisite photography with engaging, incisive texts. Readers will discover examples of the earliest watch forms; an astonishing Elizabethan-era watch with astrolabic dial; an early 17th century watch encased in a single emerald; two of the earliest watches to incorporate the balance spring — a feature that revolutionized the portable timekeeper; and some of the first repeating and perpetual calendar watches.

These are followed by the first lever watch, invented by Thomas Mudge; important precision watches; early 19th century enamel and automaton watches; highly complex watches by Breguet and Patek Philippe; Sir Winston Churchill’s yellow gold World Time Victory watch; a Rolex wristwatch made to commemorate Indian Republic Day; an Omega Speedmaster that went into space; and a Roger Smith wristwatch completed in 2023. Featuring exquisitely reproduced photographs that are appearing for the first time together in book form, this historic collection will appeal to sophisticated collectors, amateur watch enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in the art and science of horology.

About the Authors:

Alexander Barter spent more than a decade at Sotheby’s watch division, becoming its Deputy Worldwide Head in 2005. In 2009 he founded his own company, Black Bough. He is a member of the Antiquarian Horological Society and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, the oldest surviving horological institution in the world.

The Chairman of Sotheby’s International Watch Division, Daryn Schnipper is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of watches and has played a pivotal role in the sale of numerous important single-owner watch and clock collections.

A glorious and nostalgic celebration of a defining period in American car culture — the 1950s to the 1970s, the golden age of Detroit’s icons of the road — when automobile design was at its peak and the car itself was synonymous with a vision of success in America.

Auto America offers a compelling look at three decades (the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s) of America’s fascination with the automobile. At a time when self-driving vehicles and climate change are transforming driving around the world, John G. Zimmerman’s pictures capture the optimism and even utopianism of a beloved period in American car culture.

Many of Zimmerman’s photographs were originally taken for Life, Time, and Sports Illustrated magazines and highlight diverse aspects of America’s auto industry at its zenith; they feature not only iconic cars of the era, which Zimmerman chronicled comprehensively at car shows and in-studio assignments throughout the period, but also a behind-the-scenes look at the people who designed, built, collected, exhibited, and raced them.

With more than 200 photographs and drawing on the John G. Zimmerman Archive’s collection — including his best-known photographs of Fords, Chryslers, and GMs in their heyday alongside ephemera, tear sheets, and outtakes from his assignments — the book celebrates the automobile’s central place in American culture during those decades when the timeless silhouettes of classic cars ruled the roads.

About the Author:

John G. Zimmerman (1927–2002) has been recently rediscovered as a unique chronicler of twentieth-century American culture. His photographs appeared frequently in Sports Illustrated, Life, and other major newspapers and magazines from the 1950s through the 1980s, and his work has been published in books including America in Black and White and Crossing the Line: Arthur Ashe at the 1968 US Open. Linda, Greg, and Darryl Zimmerman are the children of John G. Zimmerman and the curators of the photographer’s archive. Terry McDonell is a writer and editor, and the former Editor of the Time Inc. Sports Group.

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Пролистать книгу Auto America: Car Culture 1950s-1970s: Photographs By John G. Zimmerman

Expanded and updated. Bikers: Legend, Legacy and Life is a painstakingly detailed chronicle of this unique band of Brothers, and trawls deep into their history to detail the early town-sieges of America’s Mid-West in the 1940s through to the British Mods and Rocker coastal clashes of the 1960s, the Easy Riders of the 1970s, the Street Fighters of the 1990s, and the vibrant multifaceted Biker Culture scene of the first quarter of 21st Century.

Expanded and updated Bikers will appeal to anyone who’s ever ridden on two wheels and also delves into many of the misconceptions surrounding this most misunderstood of sub-cultures.

BMW M-Series celebrates the 50^th anniversary of these legendary German performance cars, detailing both its production and motorsport stories with expert commentary and fascinating photography.

BMW launched the Motorsport, or “M”, division in 1972 to formally support its growing and successful racing program. Wisely, BMW leveraged that racing credibility to create limited-edition, high-performance production cars, the first being the M1 supercar of 1978. Tested and tuned at a dedicated facility located at the legendary Nürburgring, BMW’s M cars are true “driver’s cars” focused first and foremost on handling and performance. Still, they are docile enough when not driven aggressively to serve as comfortable high-end daily drivers.

Since the late 1980s, the range of M models has broadened considerably and now includes coupes, convertibles, and sedans in M2, M3, M4, M5, and M8 flavors along with high-performance X-series M SUVs. Early M cars like the M1 and late 1980s M3 and M6 are now desirable collector cars welcomed at top collector auctions and commanding premium prices.

With decades of racing and production success and, literally, no signs of slowing down, BMW’s M cars hurtle full speed to their 50^th anniversary in 2022. BMW M offers the history no Bimmer fan will want to be without.

About the Author:

Tony Lewin is a lifelong automotive commentator and industry analyst and has spent most of his career testing cars, analyzing them, and reporting on the ups and downs of the global enterprises that build them. He has been a regular writer and editor for Automotive News Europe and launched several pioneering titles for The Financial Times as well as contributing regular columns for other national and international publications. Today, Lewin divides his time between journalism, books, and translation work. His titles for Motorbooks include BMW Century, How to Design Cars Like a Pro, The Complete Book of BMW, and Speed Read: Car Design. He also translated Junkyard: Behind the Gates at California’s Secretive European-Car Salvage Yard for Motorbooks. He lives in East Sussex, England.

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Пролистать книгу BMW M: 50 Years of the Ultimate Driving Machines на Google Books

Cool cars and international hyper architecture

Architecture and Cars: not only does this combination generate beautiful pictures - eye candy for both architecture lovers and car freaks - but it is also a fascinating marriage. Where, for instance, did the idea come from that everyself-respecting architect automatically drove a Saab? Why could Le Corbusier just as well have been called Le Carbusier? And is Frank Lloyd Wright really the inventor of the carport?

Carchitecture answers these questions and many more alongside gorgeous photography on a journey through iconic architecture and car design. Starchitecture meets supercar across six chapters: Classical Gas, Brutal Power, Contemporary Carchitecture, European Modernism, Space Rage, and Case Study Cars.

About the Authors:

Thijs Demeulemeester is a Belgian lifestyle journalist, specialising in interior design, contemporary art and architecture. He has previously published a number of well-received titles at Lannoo. Bert Voet has been working as a freelance journalist since 2004 for De Tijd, Trends and Knack, among others. He visits a car collector every week for the magazine Sabato. Thomas Debruyne is best-known for his instagram feed 'Cafeine'. Thomas is a photographer, specialising in architecture, and a graphic designer.

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Пролистать книгу Carchitecture: Houses with Horsepower

Celebrate all that is quintessentially American about being on the water in the world’s most beloved boat.

Since 1874, Chris-Craft has built boats of immense beauty that evoke an emotion and passion in all who see them. The varnished mahogany runabouts of yesteryear, and their modern sister-ships of today, all share the same design ethos, gorgeous lines, high quality, and style. The name alone conjures up images of classic wooden boats, waving flags, and unforgettable memories made on the waves.

Immortalized on the big screen in such movies as On Golden Pond and Mission Impossible, the aura and romance of Chris-Craft shines through in this book featuring more than 200 boats — from never-before-published archival images to gorgeous color photos of collector and new boats — as well as plans and ephemera from Chris-Craft’s own collection. A thoroughly researched and informative narrative brings the captivating 140-year story to life.

This is the ideal gift for boaters, as well as the perfect book for any owner of a vacation home or lake house — or those who aspire toward this American dream.

About the Authors:

Nick Voulgaris III is an entrepreneur, writer, and avid sailor who is passionate about yacht restoration. He has owned and restored dozens of boats, including two vintage Chris-Crafts. He is also the author of two previous Rizzoli books, Hinckley Yachts and The Seaside House. Nick is the proprietor of Kerber’s Farm, a historic farm and retail brand on Long Island (www.kerbersfarm.com). Nick lives in New York City’s West Village with his English Labrador Charlie, and in summer aboard his 58-foot Alden sailboat Scout. 

Ralph Lauren began his career in 1967, designing neckties under the label Polo. Today, his collections include menswear, womenswear, accessories, fragrance, and home. He has received numerous awards for his work in fashion, philanthropy, and humanitarian causes and is the only designer to receive the CFDA’s four highest honors: Womenswear Designer of the Year, Menswear Designer of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement.

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Пролистать книгу Chris-Craft Boats: An American Classic

Now in a new and more accessible compact format, Cyclepedia is a cornucopia of all that bicycle design has to offer, the ultimate gift for cycling enthusiasts everywhere

Architect and designer Michael Embacher’s unique collection of more than 250 bicycles, the only one of its kind, was lovingly collected over many years and exhibited around the world. This new compact edition of Cyclepedia offers an expanded selection of Embacher’s finest, most unusual and most coveted pieces, despite the fact that the collection is no longer intact.

With a foreword by design guru Paul Smith and a history of bicycle design by Michael Zappe and Martin Strubreiter, this homage to the beauty of two wheels is a celebration of the fastest, lightest, most innovative – and most inventive – bicycles designed over the past century. This stunning, carefully curated selection features some of the rarest, most beautiful and most sought-after bicycles from around the world, including classic racing bikes from the Tour de France, high-tech machines that employ the latest advances in materials science, and eccentric bikes designed for unusual uses.

With a redesigned layout that makes the most of Bernhard Angerer’s colourful photography, this edition features ten new bicycles from Embacher’s collection, including designs from Alex Singer, Alan, Textima and Puch.

Contents List:

Introduction by Michael Embacher • Foreword by Paul Smith • The Bicycles

About the Authors:

Michael Embacher, an architectural designer in Vienna, has amassed one of the most diverse bicycle collections in the world.

Paul Smith is one of the UK’s pre-eminent menswear and fashion designers, successfully exporting British style throughout the world. Despite his brand’s global presence, he remains actively involved in the business and has managed to retain the personal and unassuming touch for which he is admired and celebrated.