Abingdon Music Research Luna Series Pushes the Boundaries of High End Audio.

There are certain areas of the consumer market so extreme, and so obscure, that most have never heard of them, and their existence beggars belief.  Brands operate within these spaces that produce products for customers for whom money really is no object.  For example, most high end consumer males believe they have a good understanding of luxury accessories.  Yet if you asked them about Roland Iten's gold diamond studded shoe lace tips for thousands of dollars, they would either laugh or stare blankly.

High end audio is a similar sector.  Most consumers believe their knowledge of McIntosh and Bang & Olufsen put them a cut above.  However, the real high end audio consumers smile quietly when overhearing such talk, because for them the High End show in Vienna in June 2026, an event again most have never heard of, brands such as B&O are like Primark.

AMR's new Luna Series show this with aplomb.  A piece of audio hardware some 12 years in the making, this four quadrant push-pull amplifier which is the first in the world of its kind, features processing hardware and software that makes music flowing through its four 80kg each components give the first sense of being present in person. The price of each of these 148 limited pieces shows the disparity between the pedestrian and the niche.   Each set costs £441,000.00.  If the sense that there's a world beyond your ken isn't clearly generated, the fact that half have already sold is.

Our take?  This is true luxury.  Pieces that are unique, special, and provide something you cannot obtain anywhere else.

 

LOEWE Tomato Cosmetics Range.

 

When one thinks about refreshing and cleansing fragrances, tomato is unlikely to jump to mind.  Yet LOEWE has nonetheless decided to launch an entire range of cleansing products based around the fruit.  Yes, tomato is a fruit, the French know it, "apple of the earth" framing this quite clearly.

The new range includes liquid soap, hand wash, body wash, bar soap, and candles, with more set to come out in the future, with prices ranging form £60 and upwards.  There's little else to say about this really, if you think smelling of tomato is appealing, LOEWE has you.

In terms of why this range has been produced, we can look towards social media virality.  Back in 2024 a TikToker posted a video of an X post featuring a Heirloom tomato, saying "So LOEWE I can't explain it".  LOEWE then produced a tomato clutch, and doubled down on all vine related things.  Is this good?  Who knows.  It is though 

Rimowa Ink Blue Original and Distinct Luggage Colour.

A new colour way from a brand is not a new release, despite what marketing departments may want you to think.  Rimowa's new ink blue colour way isn't therefore, anything revolutionary, it is simply aluminium and leather luggage in a different colour, in this case, blue.

Yet despite the painful predictability of the press releases touting this as extraordinary and unique, we are not completely soured to it.  The navy aluminium looks understated, elegant, and quite smart.  The leather distinct range is less impressive, being a sky blue, and not attractive, but the original aluminium ink blue is genuinely a nice option.  

One thing to wonder is whether the ink blue colour will scratch off as easily as the black does.  Anyone browsing second hand cases can easily see how bad these look after a couple of trips.  But if this has been fixed the blue colour option might be a worthy choice for new buyers.  Don't bother replacing yours with these however, as there's no other difference than the colour.

Available now from £1,000.00 up to £2,600.00 for the leather version.

Commodore Callback - Useless Dumb Phone's Continue Their March

 We have long supported the notion that the only thing dumb about dumb phones is the concept itself.  Yet perhaps nothing better exemplifies this than the new dumb phone that saw the storied brand Commodore throwing their hat in the ring, the Commodore Callback.

For younger people Commodore might not ring any bells.  However, at one point in the 1980's it was the largest computer manufacturer in the world.  That history is long past now, and following bankruptcy the brand was purchased by a German computer company in 1995.  Since then Commodore has been producing mostly retro tech, with the passion for that in the last few years seeing a ramping up of products targeting consumers.  This is the background that made them design, manufacture, and release, the Callback.

It can't be disputed that this is an aptronym, as it is most certainly a callback.  Coming in three classic designs, transparent and gold, harking back to the face swapping of the 90's, and a classic white, that evoke's Commodore's old computer designs.  It's also a clamshell, which can't help but make users think of the 1990s.  The dot matrix display, and LED notification lights, also can't hale a child of the 70's feel nostalgic.  

However, beyond aesthetics, this manages to also  be aptly named, as anyone buying this particular dumb phone can hardly be called wise.  We started this article mentioning dumb phones being dumb, yet many offer some advantages.  But the Callback allows no email, no RCS, and doesn't permit banking apps.  This last point is understandable, as the proliferation of finance apps is ludicrous.  But lacking the fundamental communication method of email is criminal.  As is the price for this inadequate communication tool, which is £350.

Phillips Record Breaking Watch Auction Demonstrates the Rich Remain Rich.

 

If the record breaks g stock market gains weren't convincing enough that the end is nowhere near nigh, the auction market should be good evidence of it.  Phillips recent watch auction in the Hotel President in Geneva on May 9 and 10 2026 broke all records, selling 224 of 225 lots, and $96.3 million in sales. 

In particular, 43 world records were broken, including Patek's setting higher benchmarks than ever, F.P Journe demonstrating its significance to the collectors market, and even independent brands such as Akrivia which pulled in £2.86 million for a AK-06 reference.

According to Aurel Bacs and Livia Russo, consultants in the watch collecting and art collecting worlds, watches are now alongside fine art, jewellery, and rare cars, in respect of collectibles.  We're not convinced, but it's definitely impressive, and certainly shows that if the drain is being circled, there's clearly a great deal of water left in the sink.

Vertu Resorts to AI Slop in Advertising it'a AlphFold AI Agent Phone.

We mentioned a year or so ago that Vertu re-emerging would supply endless comedy moments (here), and we had been repeatedly proven right.  Their latest AlphaFold phone shows this with absolute aplomb.  apparently targeted towards business users, it apparently comes with a brand new AI agent known as "Hermes".  Apparently it is so advanced it can handle schedules and tasks on a users behalf.

This is quite remarkable, as it seems to indicate that Vertu have achieved what all other AI producers have not, a form of active, General AI.  It appears that without telling anyone, Vertu achieved the singularity.

Or perhaps not.  Indeed, far more likely not.  Like everything they now produce it's smoke and mirrors.  Their logo states "Vertu England", but the phones are made in mainland China, and the headquarters is in Hong Kong.  The new phone specs are irrelevant, because no-one will buy it.  But what is amusing is that they've fallen so far that they have now resorted to using AI generated advertisements.  Presumably the difficulties they faced have made them reconsider having a marketing budget.  

In any event, the AlphaFold will be available from £5,000.00 to £100,000.00 in precious metals.  If you are so inclined to buy one, don't be surprised if you're laughed at by others for using it.

 

Boss Linge Roset Togo Capsule Stuns Few.

 

In perhaps the most mismatched collaboration since chalk met cheese, Ligne Roset, a luxury furniture brand known for high-end furniture, and Hugo Boss, a fashion brand known for a questionable past, and making mid-range suits that fit poorly.  Yet while this might not be the collaboration we wanted, it's the collaboration we got.

In terms of the output, we have the Togo Fireside chair and Pouffe in "Boss" like colour ways.  Black leather and black fabric, or brown leather and beige fabric.  The leather is apparently Cachou, Ligne Roset's grained aniline leather, and the fabric is Kerale, Ligne Roset's cotton, linen viscose blend.

And that's it.  It's a pretty underwhelming offering, which typifies Boss, as "middle of the road" is how most would characterise Hugo Boss, unthreatening, and rather dull.  On good thing is the price, as in it's the same cost as a non-co-branded piece, with the Fireside chair being £2,200.00, and the Pouffe £1,100.00.  So if you like the colours, at least you don't need to pay a premium for them.

Swatch Audemars Piguet Royal Pop Collection, and the AI Renders Which Fans Prefer.

Much hype preceded the latest Swatch luxury brand collaboration.  Hype which the first image here would suggest was warranted.  This image which shows an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Swatch demonstrates a direct copy of the uber high-end piece, one which would unquestionably recapture the hype of the original Omega Moon Swatch.  Something badly needed, as the second collab, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Swatch, is still very much available on Swatch's own site.  While the Omega Moon Swatch sold out in hours, and resells for many hundreds above retail.  However, the above image is AI generated, and nothing like the real thing.

Indeed, the true face (pun intended) of the collaboration is a pocket watch.  Anyone familiar with the history of Swatch won't be overly surprised by this, the Pop brand was a pocket watch brand, therefore it's entirely expected that it's one of those.  What's less expected is that consumers don't want the pocket watch, they want the AI render version.  What is perhaps even more surprising, and is a stark demonstration of the fact that we truly live in interesting times, is that they are going to get what they want.

In an unprecedented move, Chinese manufacturers are producing the bands and bracelets from the AI renders, and are selling them in absolute barrel-loads.  According to this article in Wired, the demand created by the AI generated images resulted in supply.  We are of the view the chicken laid the egg here, and it was a deliberate, targeted campaign to create demand, with the supply already in place.  Whatever the case, we certainly live in unusual times, where a copy of a thing is more popular than the thing, and results in it being more desired than the original.

Perhaps you disagree, and would love a pocket watch.  If so, they are available now on Swatch's website for £335 a piece.

 

 

Kering Potential Canary in the Coalmine as Shares Drop by 9.3%

We have been waxing lyrical for some time about the possibility of a decline in luxury goods consumption and growth.  Something difficult to advocate for given the constant success of Hermes.  Yet Hermes is an outlier, and the Kering Group, parent of Gucci amongst many others, is showing things might be less rosy than they want you to think.

The fire comes from the fact that following Gucci reporting a slump in earnings, the conglomerate has seen a 9.3%.  This is a significant drop, and it’s our sense that, as the title suggests, we are witnessing the beginning of a downward spiral of the luxury industry.

We’ve been wrong before, but the multitude of competing global factors lend us to say were more likely right.  Time will however, as with all things, tell.

Chanel Blow the Doors off Outrage Pieces with the Half Shoe.

 

In a world where attention is money, and Oscar Wilde's famous quote that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about is literally the key to survival, outrageous acts and products are increasingly ordinary.  It's refreshing therefore to find that some brands can still create a double take, and Matthieu Blazy's Chanel half shoe certainly achieves this.

Being quite literally half a shoe, these shocked attendee's at Chanel's Cruise 2026 show.  With the internet and fashion circles in a tailspin about how it can be reasonable to charge more for less, given it's rumoured these may retail of £1,800.00 or more.

Yet the final image here demonstrates with absolute aplomb that these aren't meant to be worn.  It's self-evident that they make no sense, and as the image shows, they can't even stay on the feet.  These are meant to garner attention, create controversy, gather clicks, and keep Chanel current, hot, and in demand.  In this they are a resounding success, after all, we wrote about them, and you're reading about them.

Hermes Paddock Yoyo Asks How Much is Too Much for a Charging Device

Living in a world where most digital devices come with a charging cable and plug free, and alternative's can be purchased for pennies, the question might be asked, how far could one go moving in the opposite direction of this disposability.  In fact, this question has already been asked and answered by Hermes, with the new Paddock Yoyo range of charging devices. 

The selection includes an Apple Watch charging pad, duo charging pad, and plugs and cables.  All of which are smothered in Epsom calf leather.  The prices start from £1,000.00, and go up to £4,000.00 for the full set in a leather pouch.

We'd love to suggest this is merely the grandstanding that brands such as Louis Vuitton partake in, with for example the "burger box" they released some years ago.  However, this is Hermes, and if they produced this, they know they have consumers.  That we live in a society where there are clientele that will pay £4,000.00 for a charger set where it's not even possible to stand your Apple Watch up, meaning in most cases the band needs to be removed to use it, is definitely a symptom of deeper ills.  Perhaps you disagree?  In which case head on over to Hermes before they sell out!  

 

Loro Piana Confounds Logic With Jewellery Collection.

Pictured here are the offerings from Loro Piana's newest release, a jewellery collection.  The mind immediately jumps to why a business created for the express purpose of manufacturing fabrics feels that jewellery is within its purview.  However, lets step aside from that momentarily, and consider the pieces themselves. 

They are without exception, entirely unexceptional.  Bland, dull, and ordinary pieces that wouldn't look out of place in a small high-street jewellery store.  But this isn't surprising, as Loro Piana is, as often noted, owned by LVMH, and what LVMH does with everything it touches is turn them into sterile clones of its flagship Louis Vuitton.

There's another item underpinning this move, which is the desire that all brands now have to be 'houses'.  To sell all things for all people.  The casual observe might cite Louis Vuitton and Hermes and mention how they do this.  Yet, Hermes started as a saddle maker, a craft requiring exceptional skill, that can be turned to any other luxury manufacture.  And Louis Vuitton, as much as we malign them, have the same background as a trunk manufacture.  LVMH's problem is thinking that their excellence can be applied to every brand in their portfolio.  It can't, and they should appreciate the value of specialisation in the businesses they buy.

Perhaps you disagree?  If so, these pieces are available now from Loro Piana's website's and stores ranging from £750 to £3,000. 

 

Louis Vuitton Darjeeling Collection - Again

In 2007, Wes Anderson released the Darjeeling Limited.  A predictably whimsical and playful tale about three wealthy brothers travelling across India on a spiritual journey, with undertones of chasing an inheritance.  A common Anderson theme.  While the on-screen stars were the usual Anderson suspects of Owen Wilson and Adrian Brody, another star was Louis Vuitton luggage.  

The custom made luggage was a Shibboleth representing the brothers journey, and disposing of it showed their growth.  LVMH decided to ignore this message, and seized on their IP by releasing a selection of Darjeeling pieces.   Now, fifteen years later, they have released them again.

Never let it be said that Louis Vuitton have run out of creative ideas, for this collection is significantly different than the last.  In that it has a lot more pieces.  While the old one only had the pieces from the film, this one pastes the custom designed logos' over everything from stationery, to socks.

We don't think going bigger hides the creative bankruptcy of this collection, but if you disagree, the collection is available now, prices ranging from £200.00 to £80,000.00.

 

Rimowa Flogs Dead Horses With Grid Classic Collection.

Since Rimowa'a acquisition by LVMH they have demonstrated poor choice after poor choice.  We wrote last year about the decision to release the classic range in multiple colour ways, and how this is inherently contradictory in respect to the messaging of classicism, given it stands diametrically opposed to it.

Rimowa's latest release however does manage to qualify for the classic moniker, as it's a re-release of a 1950's collection, the alumium grid collection.  The grid like pattern released by Rimowa in the 1960's remained true to its origins, whatever the business case may be for debating from it.

What makes this collection slightly odd is that Rimowa moved away from this design due to the groove design being more hard wearing, along with being more attractive overall.  Therefore by releasing this new re-issue, the brand has taken a step back, and down.  An odd choice.  

You may disagree, and find these pieces irresistible.  In which case they are available now from Rimowa, staring from £1,900.00 for cabin luggage.  Yes, they are also significantly more expensive by over 60% than their superior, other, edition.

 

Prada Sea Beyond Capsule Collection

 

In 2021 Prada and UNESCO collaborated to produce the Sea Beyond educational program.  This was conceived for schools worldwide to educate children at the ages of 7-14 about sustainability, and ocean preservation.  Prada has since gone on to ensure all its nylon products are "Re-Nylon".  Which means that the nylon used is regenerated nylon, with the hopes this can be reused in the future.

Prada has continued to fund this program, and has likely educated many children about the dangers and risks of plastic in the sea, and microplastics in everyday drinking water.  They have now further monetised this by releasing a capsule collection titled the Sea Beyond collection.

The Collection itself is simply four classic Prada nylon pieces, in primary colours, and one small detail, the Prada logo is coloured to match the product, a nice little detail.  Prices start from £380 for the bucket hat.

While it's admirable Prada are investing money into sustainability, and is encouraging they have likely shaped young minds with their program, it seems inherently contradictory for a fashion brand to tout their credentials as a supporter of anti climate-change ideologies.  By their very nature, that of needing to produce a new collection twice a year, they stand diametrically opposed to this.  With factories creating garments, shipping them around the world, and into stores, the amount of carbon dioxide produced makes a course for kids to learn about pollution in the oceans rather like a band aid over a bullet wound.

The best thing Prada could do to contribute to climate-change is to stop existing.  But that won't happen. So, nice products, we might buy the jacket, the self coloured logo is quite cool.