0326 IconicLife_FINAL_MR

Live Beautifully

Living with Intention

Living with Intention

We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to enable an intense musical experience. It is why we develop every component with a clear goal in mind: perfection in sound and design at all times.

We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to enable an intense musical experience. It is why we develop every component with a clear goal in mind: perfection in sound and design at all times.

Burmester creates cultural relevance by bringing people closer to music through profound and immersive experiences. The unique sound of Burmester is an intense experience that stimulates the senses –creating a feeling of liveliness, of being in the moment and truly connected to oneself.

Burmester creates cultural relevance by bringing people closer to music through profound and immersive experiences. The unique sound of Burmester is an intense experience that stimulates the senses –creating a feeling of liveliness, of being in the moment and truly connected to oneself.

Burmester Audio Systems has been producing highend devices of the absolute top class since 1977.

Burmester Audio Systems has been producing highend devices of the absolute top class since 1977.

From the very beginning, the ambition and goals have been the perfect combination of superior sound, technological innovation, and timeless design. All devices are handcrafted by highly qualified employees in the Berlin factory. Because „Made in Germany“ is a commitment that Burmester takes very seriously. Our promise: Sound with an intensity that touches all the senses — experienced exclusively through our curated partners.

From the very beginning, the ambition and been the perfect combination of superior technological innovation, and timeless design. devices are handcrafted by highly qualified in the Berlin factory. Because „Made in Germany“ a commitment that Burmester takes very Our promise: Sound with an intensity that all the senses — experienced exclusively our curated partners.

“THANK

YOU TO OUR FAMILIES, OUR TEAM, OUR CLIENTS AND THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY 40 YEARS AND BEYOND AS A LUXURY HOME BUILDER,” SAYS CALVIS.

Legacy

Built to Last A

Calvis Wyant Celebrates 40 Years

Tony Calvis still remembers the dust. Not the kind that settles quickly, but the kind that lingers on your boots as a new idea is birthed.

In the early 1980s, Calvis got his start as a craftsman, learning the trade from the “literal” ground up. When he set out to build his own home, he was surprised by the overwhelming nature of all the decisions and the process of turning a plan into reality.

That moment inspired an idea that turned into a process which is today the company’s signature blueprint.

Together with his friend, Gary Wyant, a talented architectural designer, Calvis co-founded Calvis Wyant 40 years ago. Behind every custom home stood a client with a career, a family and no time to manage thousands of decisions. So, they built a system. Every detail decided before the first shovel hit the ground with no delayed decisions or costly pauses in the construction process.

For Calvis Wyant, 40 years in the industry represents more than a milestone. It reflects a legacy built on precision, partnership and a deep understanding of what it truly means to create a luxury home.

“Some may say it takes a bit longer up front, but I assure you it will be a better process that finishes on time and on budget,” he says of his firm that designs, builds and maintains luxury homes.

Over four decades, that discipline carried them through everything, including the crash of 2008. Where others stalled, they renovated distressed properties, stayed conservative and kept their team working.

But the real foundation wasn’t just process. It was partnership.

Tony speaks of Gary’s rare spatial genius as the ability to see what doesn’t yet exist. Their joint leadership has created a culture rooted in service, collaboration and trust. About 400 homes later, that chemistry still defines the company. Calvis shares their enormous gratitude for a team that has become like family, many of whom have two and even three decades of service with the company.

Today, as Calvis Wyant marks 40 years, Calvis isn’t focused on the past. He’s focused on preparing the next generation to carry the standard forward for the next 40 years.

Because in the end, he says, it was never just about the homes. It was about serving their clients. “Building a luxury home should be on the short list of life’s best experiences,” he says.

Peace of Mind Awaits Your Return.

As the Scottsdale heat rises, many homeowners trade desert skies for cooler horizons.

While you travel, your home remains a living environment that deserves thoughtful care. Systems must be monitored. Spaces maintained. Every detail protected.

AllHaus Concierge Home Management ensures your home is watched, maintained, and prepared for your return.

Because peace of mind is the greatest luxury of all.

Escape for the summer. Let AllHaus manage the rest.

AllHaus. Where extraordinary, becomes home.

Established in 1983, Classy Closets has been a part of Scottsdale’s growing community for more than 35 years. Our reputation as Scottsdale’s leading provider of custom storage solutions is well deserved, as our custom closets and custom cabinetry can be found in thousands of homes throughout the Valley.

We invite you to visit one of our showrooms in Scottsdale or Chandler to view our wide array of custom storage solutions we have to offer.

We look forward to working with you; the process and experience will be simple and easy.

EXCEPTIONAL ASSETS

FROM VISION TO VIEW

Bringing Doors & Windows to Life

FIFTY FAMILIES

Discover the only primary care concierge medicine practice where a world-class physician cares for just 50 families—ensuring unparalleled attention and personalized care.

Dr. Leslie Thomas Dr. Bithika Thompson

ONE PHYSICIAN

At MD², you have direct, anytime access to your physician. Here, the sacred bond between patient and doctor isn’t just preserved—it’s prioritized. Because your health deserves nothing less.

Now open in Scottsdale Office: (480) 439-3834 Visit: md2.com

Tracy Thomas II President & CEO

tracy@iconiclife.com @iconiclifemag

STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP

As I write this, I find myself holding onto these last few weeks of crisp Arizona mornings with both hands. Like many of you, I am simply not ready for the heat to arrive just yet. There is a specific kind of magic in the Valley right before the summer sun takes hold, when Palo Verde trees are blooming and everything feels full of potential.

This April is particularly special for us as it marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of ICONIC LIFE. Looking back on the past eight years and what this team has built, I am truly honored to serve as the steward of this brand. It is a responsibility I take to heart as we continue to tell the stories of the visionaries and doers who make our community so remarkable.

To ensure we continue this legacy of excellence, we are focused on strengthening our leadership for the years ahead. I am thrilled to share that Meg Perich, who has been an integral part of our team for nearly 4 years, has officially stepped into the role of Publisher of ICONIC LIFE.

Many of you have already experienced Meg’s dedication firsthand. Since joining us, she has been a true partner to our Founder, Renee Dee, navigating every aspect of the magazine’s world. She has helped oversee everything from client outreach and strategic partnerships to the fine details of our production and signature events.

Meg brings a powerhouse of experience to this position. With two decades in media sales and a specialized expertise in the luxury automotive sector, she understands the nuances of a high-end market. Most importantly, Meg understands that relationships are the bedrock of our business. I have absolute confidence in her ability to foster new connections and deepen the storied relationships we share with our partners here in our home market.

As we elevate Meg into this position, our visionary Founder, Renee Dee, is transitioning into the role of Founder and Publisher Emeritus. Renee remains a vital and soulful part of the ICONIC DNA. She will continue to support our team, serve our clients, and help drive the new business initiatives that keep us at the forefront of the luxury lifestyle space. This evolution allows us to build on our strong foundation while looking toward an even more expansive future.

While this leadership shift is a milestone in itself, it is truly just the beginning. We have been working quietly behind the scenes on something transformative for the Arizona market.

Please stay tuned, as we have an exciting announcement coming in the next few weeks that will further celebrate the intersection of design, community, and lifestyle in Arizona.

We are so grateful to call Arizona our home and even more grateful to have you as part of our journey for the last eight years. Let’s enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts.

Warm regards,

by

Meg Perich Publisher

meg@iconiclife.com

@iconiclifemag

THE HONOR OF THE NEXT CHAPTER

This issue is especially meaningful to me. As I step into the role of publisher of ICONIC LIFE Magazine, I do so with immense gratitude and genuine excitement. Over the past three years, I’ve had the honor of serving as associate publisher, learning, growing and deepening my appreciation for the vision and excellence that define ICONIC LIFE. To now continue my journey in this new capacity is both humbling and energizing.

The Men’s Issue celebrates craftsmanship, character and how to “Live Beautifully.” It’s about more than refined taste; it’s about intention. The modern gentleman is multifaceted: driven yet grounded, ambitious yet present, discerning yet curious. He values quality not only in what he wears or drives but also in how he spends his time and whom he spends it with. On a personal note, that philosophy resonates deeply with me.

Family is at the center of my life and my greatest source of inspiration. Health and wellness are daily commitments that keep me focused and balanced. Whether on the tennis court with great friends or out on the golf course with my husband, I am embracing the discipline those sports demand and am reminded that excellence is built through consistency and passion. I find equal inspiration in fashion, where personal style becomes a form of self-expression, and in architectural and interior design, where creativity and structure merge to shape the environments that elevate how we live.

These passions align seamlessly with what ICONIC LIFE represents—elevated living with purpose, beauty with substance and success defined on one’s own terms.

As publisher, my commitment is to continue strengthening the relationships that make this publication exceptional: our readers, partners and contributors, all while honoring the sophisticated storytelling and curated experiences that define our brand. I look forward to building on the strong foundation we’ve created and to shaping an even more dynamic future together.

Thank you for being part of this journey. The best is yet to come.

Kindest regards and gratitude,

by

PEREGRINE HEATHCOTE

THE ULTIMATE MEN’S BACKYARD

Paradise Valley, Arizona

Aesthetes & Designers of

REMARKABLE LANDSCAPES & OUTDOOR LIVING

At Bar Z, outdoor living becomes an experience of fire, water and horizon. Designed for gathering, grilling and long Arizona evenings under open sky, the landscape extends the architecture with quiet clarity. Through thoughtful composition and careful restraint, Shearon Design Collective creates outdoor environments that feel powerful, effortless and deeply connected to place.

SCOTTSDALE • PARADISE VALLEY • CAREFREE

Editorial TASTEMAKERS

Four luminaries share their influence and point of view for our special issue.

By Nakayla Shakespeare

As we contemplated our special issue for ICONIC LIFE, we turned to four prominent men known for their expertise and experience in Living Beautifully. More than being experts in their fields, they are connoisseurs of the finer and more interesting things of life, from wine to watches to wardrobes. These four notable voices were hand-selected by our editorial team for their unique insights and discerning taste.

Thank you to these men for helping curate and shape the content of this issue.

JOHN CONDAS

John Condas is a partner at the national law firm of Allen Matkins, where he helps clients procure federal, state, regional and local government approvals needed to develop real estate projects. Condas was a member of the board of directors of Great Ajax Corp., a NYSE-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) and served as the 2015 president of the NAIOP Inland Empire Chapter. He taught real estate law for 15 years at the University of Southern California across the MBA and Master of Real Estate Development programs and at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. With a passion for wine and travel, Condas has jet set extensively with his family, spending as much time with his wife and daughters as possible.

MARK POMERANTZ

Mark Pomerantz has guided his eponymous menswear brand since 2010. With previous contributions to Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein, he honed the ability to marry the hand-craftsmanship of traditional, bespoke tailoring with the elegance of designer clothing. Pomerantz holds a degree in Menswear Design & Tailoring and International Trade & Fashion Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology, studying in New York City and Rome. Beyond the atelier, Pomerantz is a passionate collector of Burgundy wines and is a dedicated world traveler. He also enjoys playing tennis and skiing with his family.

DANIEL LANGER

Daniel Langer is the CEO of Équité and the professor of Luxury Strategy at Pepperdine University. As a global authority on the luxury market, he advises the world’s most ICONIC brands on strategy, value creation and exceptional client experiences. His work challenges the industry and distances itself from preconceived norms. Langer was named one of the top five global key opinion leaders in luxury. He is the author of several best-selling books on luxury management, a regular columnist for top-tier publications and an international keynote speaker. Beyond his professional life, Langer is an avid runner, cyclist and yoga practitioner. For him, travel is the ultimate opportunity to get inspired by other cultures and places and to connect with friends all over the world.

CHRIS STARK

Christopher Stark is the founder of The Stark Fund, a long equity fund designed to allow ultra-high-net-worth individuals and offices to invest alongside the founder’s capital and strategies. Stark holds a master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Arizona State University and graduated with a double major in finance and entrepreneurship from Washington State University. Before launching The Stark Fund, he built and led Freestar, which was recognized as the No. 1 fastest-growing company on the Inc. 5000 list in 2019. He was also awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020. Stark enjoys collecting and driving exotic supercars, investing in luxury timepieces and traveling the globe with his wife.

MEG PERICH | Publisher

DOROTHY COSTELLO | Associate Publisher

ERIN SUWWAN | Publication Designer

MADELEINE

AMALIE RHEBECK | Marketing Intern

NANCY ERDMANN | Features Editor

MARK SACRO | Cover Photographer

RENEE M. DEE | Publisher Emeritus

CONTRIBUTORS

Nakayla

Advertising Queries, contact meg@iconiclife.com. Editorial Queries, contact editorial@iconiclife.com.

8145 E. Evans Road, Suite 7 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.577.0399 Subscribe NOW: ICONICLIFE.COM

THE LIST

By Nakayla Shakespeare

GOYARD

Take the EDGE OFF

If you’re going to smoke a fine cigar, you should have equally refined accessories.

PINEL

ELIE BLEU

Limited Edition Fuente Opus X Angel’s Share Red & Gold Cigar Cutter, ($300) via Kirby Allison.

Churchill 3 Cigar Case, (contact for pricing) via Goyard.

23kt Gold Executive Cigar Ashtray, ($1,095) via Kirby Allison.

Turning up the heat on

LUXURY SPACES

MUST HAVES

By Amalie Rhebeck

The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design, ($39.99) via Amazon.

For the MODERN MAN

Inspired by our editorial board, here are five ICONIC items to add to your collection.

40,

Discover the Signature Collection, inspired by Oliver’s wife and three children. Four hearts symbolize those closest to you in a design that is both personal and timeless. Available in silver and gold to keep your loved ones close. See the collection today at one of our boutique locations.

www.oliversmithjeweler.com

Music

Comes Alive

Sound so good it will blow your mind.

By Amalie Rhebeck

What if I told you that your run-of-the-mill surround sound system is in desperate need of an upgrade—scratch that—a million-dollar upgrade? Today, homeowners are demanding that their residential music and visual home entertainment systems rival that of live music performances, symphonies and commercial cinemas.

LMC Home Entertainment has been leading this charge in the Valley for almost 30 years. Their residential entertainment

systems are highly customizable and feature premium audio equipment from partners such as Burmester, Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems, Sonus faber, Wilson Audio, and numerous other premier American and European brands. LMC’s Scottsdale showroom, approximately 10,000 square feet, displays over $10 million in equipment to encourage customers to fully immerse themselves in LMC’s precision-engineered sound systems.

Like purchasing any luxury product, buying a customized audio system is an investment. From the speakers’ cabinetry to the

cutting-edge technology, everything enhances the listening experience.

“With a high-end manufacturer, the life expectancy of a product is several years, not months, as is a more mass-market product,” Mike Ware, co-founder and president of LMC Home Entertainment, says. “They build them to an extremely high degree, and they are built to last, both physically and from a technological standpoint. Many of our products can be upgraded should a new technology arrive. So the customer doesn’t just take their product, throw it in the trash and buy a

new one. They literally get their investment upgraded.”

For Ware, the technical mastery behind these luxury audio systems only tells half the story. The other half lies in the experience itself: the unmistakable sense of awe when someone encounters premium acoustics for the very first time—whether in a fully integrated speaker system in their living room or in the LMC showroom.

“There is an art and a science. They both have to merge to get exceptional sound. You can look at two amplifiers that may, on paper, measure identically. They sound vastly different because, as advanced as we are, as much as we know, there are things we don’t know. There are distortions, little sonic effects that we do not even know how to measure,” Ware explains. “And in the end, no matter what the specs say, the final judgments are the two things attached to the side of your head: your ears.”

In the end, whether a customer is looking to purchase $10,000 worth of audio equipment or $1 million, LMC has created a brand people trust: one built on ingenuity, creativity and unparalleled craftsmanship.

“It’s just like anything else, from cars to watches to luxury homes,” Ware notes. “The sky is the limit.”

RA RY

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa presents The Scotch Library, boasting an enviable selection of more than 300 Scotch whiskies ranging from the most widely recognized 10-year-old blends to a notable collection of mature single malts aged 40 years and more including the rare Balvenie 50 year. Designed as an experience to be savored by those new to whisky and aficionados alike.

The Scotch Librar y is open Wednesday–Sunday, 5–9pm

Make It

NEAT

Step inside one of Scottsdale’s most ICONIC lounges, where hundreds of rare whiskies, Scottish tradition and a signature bagpipe sunset ritual create an unforgettable tasting experience.

By Madeleine Perich

More than a tasting room, The Scotch Library within the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is an immersive and educational experience, inviting guests to slow down and discover the nuance of Scotland’s most ICONIC spirit.

The concept was born after a 2008 trip to Scotland, when resort leaders visited the Gleneagles Golf Course and experienced its legendary Scotch library firsthand. Inspired, they returned to Arizona with a bold idea: transform an underused lobby-adjacent reading room into something extraordinary.

By 2013, the Scotch Library opened as an intimate, reservation-only experience. With just five tables and seatings every half hour, this is hospitality at its most personal.

In addition to concentrating on the guest experience, “What makes us unique is our commitment to rare whiskey,” says senior Scotch ambassador Guy Sporbert.

Behind glass cabinets live nearly 400 bottles of Scotch whisky, including unicorn-level

pours that collectors dream about—a 62-year-old Macallan, a 50-year-old Glenfiddich and a 50-year-old Balvenie, one of only a handful of venues in the country to serve it by the glass. Upcoming acquisitions include a 56-year-old Glenlivet and a rare multi-vintage collection from Glenglassaugh Serpentine Cask series, potentially making this the only place in the U.S. to house the entire set.

Architecturally, the room blends desert openness with Old World reverence, including soaring ceilings and walls lined with amber-lit bottles, making it the perfect place to enjoy an expertly poured Scotch.

Each reservation unfolds like a private masterclass where guests are guided through a conversation that feels more bespoke than beverage service. “Whether it’s one person or six people, we dedicate the same amount of time with each guest to enhance their knowledge of Scotch and the history and process of it,” Sporbert explains. The library has four experts: one certified Scotch Professional, two ambassadors-in-training

and Sporbert, who is considered the only Master of Scotch in Arizona.

Every Friday evening, the library hosts its “Evening of Scotches,” a themed tasting complete with four chef-prepared bites designed to complement the spirits, without overwhelming them. Once a month, brand ambassadors and distillery insiders visit the library for an evening titled “Masters of Scotch,” offering deep dives into their particular distilleries and brands. Sporbert notes that these evenings are incredibly informative for guests, because “most people love whiskey, but they don’t know much about it, and they may have misconceptions of what it is.”

Half the clientele at the Scotch Library are locals who treat the space like a members-only retreat. The other half are hotel guests who stumble upon it and realize their Arizona getaway just leveled up. Either way, this isn’t a place for rushed rounds but for slowing down.

Scotch, by law, must come from Scotland, but at the Westin Kierland, it finds an unlikely, glamorous second home in Scottsdale.

by Alive Coverage

the Behind

Velvet Rope

Access the inaccessible.

By Madeleine Perich

In today’s luxury landscape, a ticket is merely an entry point. Actual value lies in access, the kind that transforms a major event into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That philosophy sits at the heart of On Location, the official hospitality and experience provider for some of the world’s most sought-after sporting and cultural events, led by the president of On Location, Paul Caine.

From the Super Bowl and the Olympics to the World Cup, UFC, WWE and global music festivals, On Location specializes

in curating moments that go far beyond the seat. “Anyone can buy a ticket,” Caine explains. “But an experience is something entirely different.”

Unlike secondary ticket marketplaces, On Location works directly with rights holders, such as the NFL, NCAA, FIFA and the IOC, making it a primary provider. This guarantees guests authentic tickets, with exclusive access to on-field moments, behind-the-scenes experiences and one-of-a-kind hospitality.

At the Super Bowl, for example, guests may find themselves meeting newly inducted

Hall of Fame members, attending private concerts, enjoying elevated culinary experiences, or standing on the field during pregame warmups or the trophy ceremony. Similar opportunities extend across the Olympics, World Cup and other global events, all designed to deliver what Caine calls “bucket-list moments.”

But for On Location, luxury isn’t defined by proximity alone. “The ticket is just permission to sit in the seat,” Caine says. “Your experience [with us] starts when you leave your house and ends when you walk back in.” From five-star accommodations and

official transportation to Michelin-level dining, plus dedicated concierge teams, every detail is considered.

That concierge presence is what truly sets the brand apart. On Location staff travels alongside guests, resolving issues in real time and often behind the scenes. In one instance, guests delayed en route to a Pro Football Hall of Fame experience were discreetly rerouted via private transportation, checked into their hotel remotely and delivered to their exclusive meet-and-greet just in time, an experience that would have otherwise been lost.

Beyond sports, On Location curates more than 700 events annually, including music festivals, cultural experiences and bespoke private moments. Requests range from ringside WWE access with backstage meetand-greets to private after-hours museum tours led by Hall of Fame athletes and

milestone celebrations so personalized they remain entirely under NDA.

Caine’s perspective is shaped by a career spent at the intersection of media, entertainment and sports, including senior leadership roles at People, Time Inc., Westwood One, and Bloomberg Media. That insider access helped define On Location’s mission: broadening elite experiences while delivering service on par with a five-star hotel or a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

Looking ahead, the company is preparing for landmark moments, including the upcoming World Cup, which is already seeing record-breaking demand. And for those who assume such experiences are out of reach, Caine offers a simple reminder: “There’s a price point for everyone. Don’t tell yourself it’s not for you, because it is.”

In a world where luxury is defined by meaning rather than material, On Location is proving that access remains the ultimate currency.

The Measure Man of a

From impulse to intention: the

evolution of

modern masculinity—

where craftsmanship, quiet confidence and the rare luxury of self-knowledge define a man’s true presence.

By Daniel Langer

There is a specific, quiet moment when a boy realizes that the world is much deeper than it appears on the surface. For me, that moment happened in a dressing room in Berlin, Germany, slipping into my first Zegna Su Misura made-to-measure suit. The second I felt the transformational power of the perfect silhouette, every other suit I had owned before that became obsolete. The moment that marked the shift was the sudden, visceral understanding of what happens when human hands prioritize excellence.

That was my personal “boy to man” moment. It is the process of understanding who you are, recognizing your place in the world and surrounding yourself with pieces that define your presence.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE SILHOUETTE

The transition to manhood begins with the realization that fit is everything. A boy wears clothes to cover himself. A man wears clothes to introduce himself without saying a word.

This appreciation for true craftsmanship now dictates my approach to style. I have moved away from rigid formality, unless in situations that call for it, such as when I am interviewed on TV or giving a board presentation. Otherwise, I love combining a handmade suit with a simple, high-quality black or white t-shirt (with no logos, of course). The most important factor is feeling comfortable and being myself while maintaining an air of authority. Hence, the suit is no longer a uniform I am forced to wear. It is a choice I make to elevate my daily reality.

THE GROUNDED AESTHETIC

That comfort must extend to footwear. A man knows that you cannot command a room if you are uncomfortable on your feet. I have traded the flashy sneakers of my youth for footwear that balances design with substance.

My rotation now relies on the Zegna Triple Stitch collection and Ferragamo’s ICONIC drivers. Lately, I have found a new obsession with Louis Vuitton’s Buttersoft Sneakers. Investing in your footwear is not vanity. It is the understanding that your path is long, and you need the right equipment to walk it.

THE PRECIOUSNESS OF TIME

I find balance in an increasingly digital world through the tactile beauty of a mechanical watch. My Patek Philippe Nautilus Moonphase Annual Calendar is, to me, a work of art rather than a timepiece. I love that it is understated and it brings me joy every single time I look at it.

When I travel, my Rolex GMT-Master II is my non-negotiable companion, allowing me to zip through time zones with ease. For moments when I want an experience that takes me back in time, I wear a limited-edition re-edit of a vintage Panerai Radiomir. I have to wind it by hand, which requires effort and intentionality and reminds me that life is about the joy of time well spent.

THE INVISIBLE PRESENCE

Finally, a man’s presence is defined by what is invisible. Through a strategy project, I

discovered AMAFFI, and its fragrance, Secrecy, has become my signature. It opens in a beautifully unique way and stays with me all day.

My wife recently gifted me Dior Sauvage, which I like to put on in the evenings. Another favorite is Louis Vuitton Les Sables Roses, inspired by the meeting of rose and desert sand at sunset in the Middle East, capturing warmth and sensuality. Given my constant travels around the world, this scent carries special meaning.

Ultimately, the transition from boy to man is about the shift from wanting to knowing. I dislike things done for a season or products that cut corners. I am drawn to timeless things created with passion and soul. To brand yourself as a man is to build an authentic wardrobe out of those very things. These are items that don’t just serve a purpose; they inspire you to be better and joyful every single day.

Daniel Langer is the CEO of Équité and the Professor of Luxury Strategy at Pepperdine University. As a global authority on the luxury market, he advises the world’s most iconic brands on strategy, value creation and exceptional client experiences.

Sipping Sophistic

ation

More than a cognac, LOUIS XIII is a century in the making, patiently aged, protected by generations of cellar masters and revealed drop by deliberate drop.

By Amalie Rhebeck

Quality is not accidental—it’s meticulously planned, and every drop of LOUIS XIII is the result of decisions made more than a century ago. Considered the pinnacle of prestigious cognacs, the after-dinner digestif is crafted with mindfulness at every step— from harvesting to tasting.

LOUIS XIII is crafted from hundreds of eaux-de-vie—a clear, unaged fruit brandy made by distilling fermented fruit—sourced from the Cognac Grande Champagne region of France. The careful selection and preservation of these spirits is entrusted to the cellar master. Since its founding in 1874, LOUIS XIII has been guided by five successive cellar masters—guardians of time and tradition—each hand-selecting eaux-de-vie to be aged and, decades later,

united into the signature cognac. In the years between, each eau-de-vie is aged in the highest-quality Limousin oak casks to develop depth and flavor.

“The aging process is much more rigorous,” cellar master Baptiste Loiseau says. “Time will decide when it will be ready. We do not rush the process. It will be ready only when the cellar master decides that it is.”

Loiseau explains that, after decades—even a century—of aging, each eau-de-vie becomes part of this aromatic, nuanced cognac. While the duration of aging is determined at the discretion of each cellar master, the signature flavor profile of LOUIS XIII has remained unchanged—thoughtfully preserved and consistent for more than 150 years.

A cognac of this quality is worthy of a tasting experience that heightens the flavor, not distracts from it. LOUIS XIII offers three exclusive tasting experiences. The first, Introduction to LOUIS XIII, includes a visit to the Rémy Martin Historic House in Cognac, France, and the Francis Cellar. The tasting is paired with Bellota Ham, the highest-grade Jamón Iberico.

For a more immersive tasting, there is the LOUIS XIII Experience, an all-day journey that includes a visit to the Grollet Estate in France. The experience includes lunch in a private lounge, a walk through the Cognac Grande Champagne vineyards, two tasting sessions and a private drive to Saint-Même-les-Carrières.

The final tasting opportunity is for those who already own a decanter and wish to savor LOUIS XIII longer: The Infinity Experience. On this two-day occasion, guests bring their empty decanters, which are cleaned and ceremoniously refilled, followed by a tour of the Rémy Martin Historic House.

The way one should taste LOUIS XIII remains the same, drop by drop, regardless of whether it is being savored in Cognac or at home. Loiseau recommends preparing the palate with a drop on the lips first. From there, the distinct flavor of LOUIS XIII begins to unfold. The flavor profile includes notes of dried fruits such as plums, figs and dried apricots; floral notes of jasmine and dried roses; and, finally, spiced notes of saffron, cinnamon and myrrh. The flavor also carries the essence of the aging process, with the spiciness and oakiness from the cask.

“[The flavor] is so complex with all the aromas in the glass and in a single drop because of the concentration of time. It’s really something you have to welcome as a new experience. Even for myself as the cellar master, and being in this role for more than 20 years, every time I have the chance to explore all of these facets, it’s always a discovery,” Loiseau describes. “It’s not a mere tasting of something that is incredible. It’s also the time that you have to give to yourself that is crucial for the understanding of what makes LOUIS XIII so special and unique in the cognac category, but also much more widely in the spirit world.”

Loiseau compares slowing down and savoring the flavor of Louis XIII to smelling perfume—an emotional experience that heightens all five of the senses. It dares one to reminisce on cherished memories while also appreciating the ultimate expression of luxury.

“The best moment I have when I’m sharing a glass is when I see people around me trying to describe their feelings and emotions, and trying to reactivate memories that they have,” he says. “It’s not only something that is beautiful to the eye, but for me, it’s exceptional for all of the senses. It evokes memories and feelings with the eyes, the smell, the taste and the touch.”

“[THE FLAVOR]

IS SO COMPLEX WITH ALL THE

AROMAS

IN THE GLASS AND IN A SINGLE DROP BECAUSE OF THE CONCENTRATION OF TIME. IT’S REALLY SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO WELCOME AS A NEW EXPERIENCE.”

– BAPTISTE LOISEAU, CELLAR MASTER

Thrill The

of the Hunt

The world’s most coveted bottles are within reach, if you know where to look.

By Fran Miller

If you’re a collector of fine wine, you well know that finding rare bottles is as much about strategy as it is taste. Nowhere is this more evident than with Burgundian wines. The region’s tiny vineyard parcels, meticulous winemaking and global demand turn even village-level pinot noir into a sought-after commodity. Today, serious collectors rely on a mix of international wine auctions, specialist merchants and private allocations to secure the most desirable bottles. These channels offer access to vintages and estates that are otherwise impossible to find on the open market.

AUCTIONS: THE HEART OF THE MARKET

Major wine auction houses are essential for sourcing high-end bottles. Sotheby’s Wine, Christie’s Wine Auctions, Zachys, Acker Wines, and Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. consistently handle rare Burgundy and Bordeaux collections. Auctions showcase single-owner cellars, older vintages and exceptional formats, from magnums to jeroboams, often with impeccable provenance.

Recent Burgundy-focused sales have seen prices exceed estimates, reflecting the region’s dominance in the luxury wine market. Auctions provide both transparency and excitement, making them a key destination for collectors seeking wines like Domaine Leroy, Domaine de la RomanéeConti, or vintage Clos de la Roche from Domaine Ponsot.

MERCHANTS AND ALLOCATIONS

Outside of auctions, specialized wine merchants play a pivotal role. U.S. retailers such as Morrell & Co., Tribeca Wine Merchants, Benchmark Wine Group, and K&L Wine Merchants maintain allocations from top Burgundian estates and often have access to back vintages unavailable elsewhere. Collectors benefit from creating relationships with these wine merchants, who can provide early access to limited-production releases and ensure the wines’ pedigree.

Direct allocations from importers are another path to securing Burgundy. Many producers release only a few hundred cases per wine each year, and allocations ensure that bottles go to collectors who appreciate their rarity and value.

BURGUNDY’S ALLURE

Burgundy is desired and celebrated for its specificity. Unlike regions defined by château names or blends, Burgundy emphasizes vineyard-level expression, where a single plot can define a wine’s identity. Each climat, or individually delineated vineyard, carries a reputation shaped by soil, slope and microclimate, and even subtle differences can produce dramatically distinct wines. Grand Cru vineyards occupy only a fraction of the region, yet their wines command the highest prestige and prices in the world. Premier Cru sites offer exceptional quality just below the Grand Cru tier, while village-level wines capture the essence of their appellation with remarkable accessibility. For collectors, understanding this hierarchy is essential: in Burgundy, the vineyard, not the producer alone, defines both character and collectability.

While estates like Domaine de la RomanéeConti and Domaine Leroy often capture headlines, other producers also command attention for their consistency, elegance and age-worthiness.

Armand Rousseau in Gevrey-Chambertin is known for its Chambertin and

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, offering a balance of power and finesse. Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis produces expressive Pinot Noir that shines, whether young or aged. Domaine Méo-Camuzet in Vosne-Romanée delivers wines with plush texture and structure, while Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé in ChambolleMusigny crafts some of the region’s most refined examples. Other notable producers include Domaine Fourrier, Michel Lafarge in Volnay and Thibault Liger-Belair, all of which offer exceptional quality with relatively greater accessibility.

Collectors also look beyond Grand Cru vineyards to Premier Cru and Village wines from Volnay, Marsannay, Savigny-lès-Beaune and Pernand-Vergelesses, where top producers continue to deliver extraordinary wines at more attainable prices.

BEYOND BURGUNDY

While Burgundy often dominates collector conversation, other regions remain essential for a well-rounded cellar. Bordeaux first growths—Château Lafite Rothschild,

Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion and Château Mouton Rothschild—are the anchor to many collections. Champagne prestige cuvées from Krug, Salon, and Jacques Selosse offer luxury and age-worthiness, and Italian icons like Giacomo Conterno Monfortino, Masseto, and Sassicaia are considered essentials to a proper collection.

BUILDING A COLLECTION WITH PURPOSE

For modern collectors, wine is more than a beverage; it’s a lifestyle. The pursuit of craftsmanship and the thrill of the hunt are exhilarating. To capture that one rare bottle is intoxicating, whether imbibing it or not. Wine is history, craftsmanship and geography distilled into a single bottle. Every acquisition carries a narrative: the vineyard, the vintage, the hand that guided it. Understanding those layers transforms collecting from accumulation into curation, and turns a cellar into something far more personal. With the right sources and discernment, those stories are not just attainable, they are waiting to be claimed.

COLLECTOR’S

1. BLUE-CHIP GRAND CRU

ICONS DOMAINE DE LA ROMANÉE-CONTI

La Tâche, Romanée-Conti, Richebourg (Grand Cru vineyards)

2. DOMAINE LEROY

Musigny, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant (Grand Cru vineyards)

3. ARMAND ROUSSEAU

Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze (Grand Cru vineyards)

4. DOMAINE DUJAC

Bonnes Mares Grand Cru and Chambolle-Musigny village wines

5. DOMAINE COMTE GEORGES DE VOGÜÉ

Musigny Grand Cru

HIGHLY REGARDED & MORE ACCESSIBLE COLLECTORS’ PICKS

6. DOMAINE MÉO-CAMUZET

Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru holdings and village-level bottlings

7. CHÂTEAU DE CHAMIREY (MERCUREY)

Les Ruelles Premier Cru, La Mission Premier Cru

8. PIERRE VINCENT GIRARDIN

Meursault and Côte de Beaune expressions

9. DOMAINE FOURRIER

Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru sites and village wines

10. MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN

Clos des Mouches Premier Cru and a broad Burgundy portfolio

Timeless

Time is precious, and there is no better way to mark the moments we hold dear than with a timepiece that lasts through the decades.

By Masada Siegel \\ Photography by James Kong

When Thomas Fleming was 18, his friend received a beautiful watch from his father. The father was reenacting a family tradition, as he, too, had received a watch from his father. In their family, it marked a rite of passage; the father had worn his watch for decades, at every memorable event in his life.

That watch had been present at a wedding, at every holiday, every hospital waiting room, every graduation. Time had passed, and the watch had silently witnessed decades of a man’s devotion.

Fleming was touched. Something clicked.

“I remember thinking about all the moments that the watch had seen,” Fleming recalls. “How, day after day, through good and bad, it was there, its hundreds of tiny pieces still working in concert all these years. In today’s world, software can be out of date in a matter of weeks, and electronics might be obsolete in a year. But here was

something that had such permanence that it not only failed to degrade as an object over decades but actually became something more meaningful—a vessel for memories and emotions, a record keeper, of sorts, to the life of its wearer.”

Fleming fell in love with watches and what they stood for. This passion led him to analyze what kinds of watches people wore daily and which ones were relegated to drawers. He discovered that several factors were important: quality, versatility, classic style and that they be mechanical.

The more he learned, the more he wanted to meet the people who made the best watches in the world. Shortly after founding Fleming Watches, Fleming jetted to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, the historic heart of watchmaking, where he would meet with watch partners he had been in contact with, as well as spend time learning from small, independent artisans who had dedicated their lives to a craft measured in moments.

“These artisans and engineers have often spent their entire careers perfecting a single aspect of watchmaking,” Fleming explains. “One might specialize in movement development, another in dial production, another in case construction and others in applying a specific finishing technique to components.”

Fleming explained how the collaborative approach is really the heart of his company.

“Some of these people have been doing this for decades, and the lineage of their craft can often span well over a century. When you bring them together around a shared vision and give them the freedom to do their best work without constraints, they can create something that none of us could achieve alone.”

Fleming’s philosophy is based on three core principles: creating each watch in the best way possible, no matter the time or resources required; total design integration from case to dial to movement; and sculptural thinking— ensuring the watch is compelling from every angle.

“Mechanical watches, especially the way I approach them, are really art; there’s no justifiable reason for them to exist other than that they make people feel something,” Fleming says.

“Creating something that elicits a strong emotional response is very difficult, and getting there requires making decisions that often couldn’t be justified to traditional [watch] investors who would want to see rapid growth, efficiency, maximized profits and so on,” he continues.

Fleming watches are all about quality. The company could simplify the case design, use simpler, cheaper materials, and still end up with a “nice” watch that is much less expensive and time-consuming to create. However, the company’s vision stems from how watches are made with precision and passion. To Fleming, that’s what gives them meaning.

“What would be best in the short term would often be directly opposed to what would allow us to create the best art,” he points out.

Precision and passion shaped the Series 1, Fleming’s debut collection.

“The first [collection] was about creating watches that combine the traditional with the contemporary, both in concept and in the ways we go about realizing the watches,” Fleming explains. “Our design, while certainly taking inspiration from the past, is very contemporary.”

The Launch Edition debuted in 2024 and sold out immediately. The Mark II, released in 2026, advances all the elements. It exists in two expressions—Pacific in tantalum and Redwood in 5N gold—each inspired by the northern California landscape where Fleming is based.

“My goals with every watch I design are to create something cohesive, sculptural in form, dynamic, versatile and comfortable,” he notes. “Comfort seems perhaps a bit out of place, but it’s something that is often overlooked and massively important. The watches with which we form the deepest emotional bonds are those that get worn the most.”

In early 2023, James Kong joined Fleming as COO and art director. A respected industry photographer, Kong brings operational expertise and a refined aesthetic sensibility to every product. Together, Fleming and Kong have built a creative partnership balancing technical ambition with visual elegance.

The brand has attracted attention from world-class athletes. Three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud partnered with Fleming, and together they produced the Ghost, Fleming’s next release.

The company sells directly to clients because these watches are deeply personal objects, Fleming notes. “We want to know the person who’s wearing one,” he adds. “We want to be the ones to share the stories behind the artisans who spent weeks finishing their dial by hand. That connection matters to us, and I think it matters to the people who buy our watches, too.”

A Fleming watch represents a significant investment. However, the direct model allows everything that might otherwise go toward distribution to go directly into the product itself.

“When people understand what actually goes into one of our watches—the level of handwork, the caliber of the people involved, the materials and techniques we’ve chosen, I think they realize the price is very fair,” Fleming says. “We’re not padding margins; we’re putting it all into the watch.”

In a world that measures time in notifications and deadlines, the brand offers something countercultural: an invitation to consider time not as a resource to be optimized, but as a gift to be cherished.

Fast Live

The thrilling HunterMoss driving experience has made its way to the U.S.

By Peter Volny

ICONIC cars. ICONIC roads. ICONIC scenery. ICONIC dining. There’s no better thrill than being behind the wheel of a high-performance car, emulating your favorite Formula One driver over some of the most scenic roads in America. This fantasy, for many, can now become a reality.

HunterMoss, a well-established driving tour company in Europe, has expanded to the U.S. with a selection of guided tours featuring rugged, mountainous drives in Utah and Colorado.

A fleet of automotive icons includes a Ferrari 296 GTS or F8 Spider, a Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder, an Aston Martin Vantage F1 or DBS, a Porsche 911 GT3 or 911 Turbo S, a McLaren GT, a Maserati MC20, an Audi R8 or a Corvette C8. You’ll have a chance to drive a variety of them on whichever tour you select.

Accommodating up to 12 people per tour, these experiences are highly personalized and carefully planned to ensure maximum enjoyment and fellowship. When the checkered flag drops, you embark on the thrilling drive, experiencing the powerful force of the car while soaking in the stunning scenery. Your rendezvous spans multiple days, with nightly group pit stops at refined accommodations offering gourmet dining and fine wines. Inevitably, the conversation will be about cars and performance.

HunterMoss offers an exhilarating exploration of Utah’s spectacular Wasatch Mountains. Its mountain roads rival the best of Switzerland and Austria. The winding roads through the breathtaking peaks and valleys allow you to exercise your inner Walter Mitty, imagining that you’re competing on the Mille Miglia or Targa Florio.

What was once cowboy and mining country has evolved into luxury accommodations in ski towns like Park City and neighboring Deer Valley. You’ll stay in the authentic and elegant Montage Deer Valley, one of America’s premier ski resorts in winter, and a hiking and mountain biking utopia during summer. You’ll rack up an appetite after a day of driving, so you can look forward to being treated to Michelin-approved dining at fabulous restaurants. Before or after dinner, relax in Utah’s largest spa, which will have you feeling recovered and ready for another day of driving.

Drivers can also embark on a journey through the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains, which stretch from southern Colorado to northern New Mexico, passing through snow-capped mountains, pine forests and deserts, with stops at historic Wild West villages and cattle ranches. On the High Road to Taos, you will experience all four seasons in just one drive through centuries-old adobe villages and dramatic mountains with sparkling lakes.

Overnight accommodations are at Bishop’s Lodge in the heart of artistic Santa Fe, where you’ll satiate your appetite with delicious wood-fired cuisine and slake your thirst with mezcal cocktails.

With any of these tours, the only disappointment you’ll have is that you’ll be very sad when they’re over, but you’ll treasure the stories you’ll have to tell.

For information on any of these driving tours, contact www.huntermoss.com.

High Steaks

This Phoenix steakhouse defines itself with chic interiors, exceptional cuisine and impeccable service.

By Nakayla Shakespeare

Cleaverman, the new steakhouse in town, has been a hot topic of conversation recently. Hearing my friends rave about it has put this restaurant at the top of my list for places I must experience. So, when the opportunity arose for me to give it a try, the answer was an immediate “Yes!”

Born and raised in Texas, I know good steak. I have been to numerous great steakhouses in the Valley, and with Arizona currently experiencing a steakhouse boom—eight high-end steakhouses opened in 2025, and eight more are slated for 2026, according to Western Retail Advisors—I was curious to see how Cleaverman would stand out from the rest.

Inspired by high-end steakhouses in Chicago and New York, Cleaverman’s exudes prestige the moment you walk through the door. A long hallway, fully draped in deep olive velvet curtains, sets a moody tone, adding a hint of mystery while affording those dining on the other side a sense of privacy.

The main dining room showcases grandeur and opulence evocative of the past, with espresso-colored upholstery on the booths and chairs, and burgundy stone tables with marbling like that of a steak. Large chandeliers, reminiscent of plumage arrangements, hang from the limewash ceilings, casting a warm, golden glow on the restaurant. Velvet drapery lines the walls, which feature commissioned figurative-realism artwork by local artist Brian Lipperd.

While seated at my booth, I could hear the subtle echo of live music coming from the Filthy Martini Bar, a connecting cocktail lounge. Although I didn’t go inside, I could tell it would be a hot spot for grabbing a cocktail and indulging in live entertainment.

The server, Erick, greeted my guest and me with enthusiasm. He walked us through the diverse menu and highlighted some standout dishes such as the shrimp cocktail, which consists of four large shrimp tossed in a citrus herb butter sauce with a housemade

horseradish cocktail sauce; shellfish gratin, where guests choose between crab or lobster, which is then baked with butter, bechamel sauce and topped with a delicate puff pastry; as well as its ICONIC caviar service, presented on luxurious silver platters.

Selecting a steak is an experience in itself. Guests can choose from an array of cuts, including filets and ribeyes, as well as porterhouse, strip loin and rib cap. The star of the steak menu is the 30-day, dry-aged prime rib crusted in porcini and herbs and served with rosemary black garlic au jus, French onion horseradish cream, Spanish pepper chimichurri and fresh horseradish.

We kicked off our evening with the Pretty Decent Martini, which incorporates a custom house brine with dill, and the Fancy

Girl, the restaurant’s take on a cosmopolitan. As a martini snob, I can vouch that the cocktail was more than just pretty decent.

We ordered a variety of starters: the shrimp cocktail, which was just as good as Erick described; baked potato rolls; crab cakes; and shellfish gratin. The baked potato rolls came with a delicious bacon-cheddar butter, and the crab cake was the best I have tried; it was the perfect medley of crab, with a panko breading to add a subtle texture and sat in a lobster bisque that was so creamy it could be its own soup. The shellfish gratin was delectable. The five bite-sized lobster puff pastries were devoured.

For our mains, I ordered the lobster Wellington: prosciutto-wrapped Maine lobster and herbed shrimp mousseline

wrapped in puff pastry and coated in brown butter. My fiancé ordered the 8-oz filet with brandy-green peppercorn sauce and chimichurri. We couldn’t shy away from the sides, so we ordered the potato purée, creamed corn spoon bread, and wild mushrooms and onions. The chef surprised us with the 12-oz Australian lobster tail; it was massive and tasted absolutely incredible. The Wellington has a unique flavor profile that I thoroughly enjoyed. The delicacy of the puffed pastry mixed incredibly well with the fresh, succulent lobster. The potatoes were extremely light, whipped to perfection, and the steak was ambrosial; its buttery-soft texture melted in my mouth with every bite.

With all the food, we made sure to leave room for dessert and asked Erik to surprise us. He presented the brown-butter cookie skillet, topped with popcorn ice cream and garnished with salted-caramel popcorn. It was the perfect medley of salty, sweet and satiating. We also indulged in the Basque cheesecake topped with natural honeycomb; it was light and highly satisfying.

Cleaverman is more than just a standout steakhouse; it’s an experience. Between the white-glove service, thoughtful presentations and impeccable food, you leave with more than just a satisfied appetite. You leave with an impactful, lasting impression of a restaurant that knows what it means to be ICONIC.

Masterclass

Blending bold architecture, masculine elegance and the raw beauty of the Sonoran Desert defies expectation.

By Lindsey Wilson

in Contrast

When architect Erik Peterson of PHX ARCHITECTURE first encountered the vacant lot at the base of the McDowell Mountains, he saw something others had missed. The cul-de-sac parcel, long dismissed as unbuildable due to its tight confines and surrounding homes, presented a puzzle: How could a residence claim both privacy and panoramic views, all while embracing the desert’s stark, sculptural allure?

The answer is Atelier Noir, a custom home that redefines modern desert living in Scottsdale’s exclusive Desert Mountain community. “The lot sat vacant for years,” Peterson recalls. “With careful design and a unique plan layout, we were able to create a clean, modern home that maximizes view corridors while blocking out neighboring properties.” The result is a masterclass in contrast, where warm meets cool, open meets intimate and architecture meets environment.

Nestled in a depression, the lot demanded sensitivity to both climate and context. Peterson and his team, in collaboration with interior designer Holly Wright, embraced the challenge. “The desert setting offered incredible freedom in terms of views, light and scale,” Peterson notes. “But it also required us to be mindful of the home’s orientation and materiality.”

The solution was to craft a design that turns constraints into strengths. Floor-to-ceiling windows and strategic cut-outs in the kitchen and living areas invite natural light to dance across dark, textured surfaces. The home’s rectilinear forms and strong horizontal lines reinforce a sense of solidity and control. At the same time, a muted, earthy palette of soft neutrals, warm whites and deep blacks, punctuated by subtle notes of green, pays homage to Arizona’s brutally beautiful landscape and its famous saguaro.

Atelier Noir’s aesthetic is unapologetically masculine, yet never cold. Peterson describes

it as “modern desert minimalism — cleanlined, architectural and restrained, but balanced with warmth and livability.”

The owners sought a space that felt both contemporary and comfortable, with a strong connection to the outdoors. Carefully curated contrasts, such as dark accents against light woods and soft furnishings against hard surfaces, maintain openness and flow throughout the residence.

Key to this balance is the home’s material palette. Light-toned wood, bold stone and concrete-like finishes create depth and texture, while custom millwork and built-ins add a tailored, intentional feel. “The masculine character is reinforced through strong horizontal architecture, minimal ornamentation and purposeful detailing,” Peterson explains. “Every element is designed to evoke a sense of quiet confidence.”

Likewise, the home’s flow is linear and intuitive. Public spaces unfold seamlessly, with sightlines extending from interior rooms directly to outdoor living areas. The primary suite, a quietly luxurious modern retreat in itself, features a dramatic, chevron-patterned black-tile wall, a custom chandelier, and layered textures that bring bold serenity to the space.

The primary bath, with its sculptural marble wet room, offers a luminous, spa-like atmosphere and creates a private oasis within the home. “The bathroom was designed to feel like a sanctuary,” Peterson points out. “The marble, the lighting, the fixtures—every detail was chosen to create a sense of tranquility.”

Outdoors, the boundary between interior and exterior blurs. The thoughtfully planned living area, with its symmetrical cut-outs

and custom lighting, transforms into a vibrant entertaining space as the sun sets. A pool provides comfort during Arizona’s hot summers, while an attached jacuzzi offers respite in the cooler months. The landscape design complements the architecture by incorporating native plants and materials, creating a fluid transition between the built environment and the natural world.

While Atelier Noir’s sustainability strategies are understated, they are thoughtfully woven into the design. Passive principles such as strategic orientation for optimal solar gain, natural daylighting to reduce the need for artificial light, thermal mass to regulate indoor temperatures and shading elements to protect against the intense desert sun ensure the house is as efficient as it is elegant. “Sustainability doesn’t have to be overt to be effective,” the architect says. “We focused on creating a space that feels comfortable and connected to its environment, using strategies that are integrated into the design rather than added as an afterthought.”

What Peterson says he will always remember about Atelier Noir is the interplay between stillness and movement. “The interiors are calm and composed, yet alive,” he reflects. “Each space transforms subtly throughout the day as light moves across surfaces and through the landscape beyond.”

This dynamic quality is most evident in the kitchen and living areas, where large-format glass and carefully placed windows frame ever-changing desert vistas. In the morning, the home is bathed in soft, golden light; by afternoon, the shadows grow longer, adding depth and drama; and at dusk, the house glows with a warm, inviting light that makes it feel like a beacon in the desert.

Peterson is most proud of how Atelier Noir achieves equilibrium. “It’s a space that feels deeply personal to the owners while remaining timeless and architecturally clear,” he says. “The balance between strength and warmth, minimalism and comfort, is what makes this home truly ICONIC.”

collectors’ pieces

Sculptural Suiting by Mark Pomerantz.

By ICONIC LIFE

Photography by Mark Sacro

Combining form, fabric and function, men’s fashion designer and luxe tailor Mark Pomerantz takes his art to the next level this season. The result is a visual story that blurs the line between art and fashion.

Special thanks to Pomerantz for his creative direction for this shoot and Gallery Sonder for the perfect location.

ON DISPLAY

Midnight Doublebreast Suit in Italian Woven Silk & Cotton Seersucker worn with Black Linen House Signature Hollywood 1-Piece Collar Shirt

SUIT YOURSELF

Black Houndstooth Peak Lapel Suit in Italian Woven Winter Tropical 3-Ply Wool worn with Black Linen House Signature Hollywood 1-Piece Collar Shirt

WELL THREAD

SMOOTH OPERATOR

White Peak Lapel Suit in Italian

Woven Cotton Summer Canvas worn with Klein Blue Silk/ Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

ELEGANCE, ENGINEERED

Off-White Peak Lapel Dinner Jacket in Italian Woven Cheetah-Bone Wool worn with Black Dinner Pants and Cottone Pleat Front Dinner Shirt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mark Pomerantz.

PHOTOGRAPHY & LIGHTING Mark Sacro. HAIR & MAKEUP Melissa Evans. MODEL Chris, LA Models. WARDROBE Mark Pomerantz Menswear by Appointment.

LOCATION Gallery Sonder. FEATURED ARTIST Sheng Lor.

A Place of HIS OWN

courtesy of Toy Barn

Far from just a garage or basement, these stylish man caves have it all.

By Nora Burba Trulsson

Never mind the she-shed. Man caves are coming into their own. The descriptive phrase first emerged in the early 1990s, referring to basement rec rooms where beer could be quaffed and games enjoyed with buddies, or garages that invited car talk and tinkering. Fast-forward more than three decades, and the man cave has evolved into a stylish, design-driven retreat, featuring everything from cocktail bars, weight rooms and saunas to luxe garages equipped with sophisticated turntables and lifts. Here are just a few we love.

A PLACE FOR YOUR TOYS

Love to collect cars, but your neighbors are muttering that your property is starting to look like the grounds of the Barrett-Jackson car auction? Consider a car condo. Toy Barn is a luxury garage condominium concept for secure,

premium car storage. With deeded, individually owned units that range in size from 960 to 3,000 square feet, the seven metro Phoenix locations (with two more in the planning stages) offer 24/7 access to your rides as well as the use of the clubhouse at each location, which has a full kitchen, big-screen TVs and lounge seating.

Since you own your condo, you’re free to decorate to your heart’s desire or add optional amenities like a half bath, an epoxy floor or a mezzanine. And, it’s not just cars that are welcome at Toy Barn. You can also store boats, jet skis, motorcycles and RVs. Best of all, the concept puts you right in the midst of a car community, with informal gatherings in the clubhouses or the monthly Cars & Coffee events, when the locations are open to the public to check out what’s under the hood.

DRIVING THE DESIGN

When architect Scott Carson of Cosan Studio met clients for a new-build home on Camelback Mountain, the husband had a specific request. “He said he wanted a living room for his cars,” says Carson, principal of Scottsdale-based Cosan Studio.

“This client’s life is driven by his passion for cars,” notes builder Jason Boysel, president of Symmetry Construction LLC. “We didn’t really know what that might look like until we dug into the details. He also said he wanted his office in the space, plus a place to hang out with friends.”

Collaborating with Boysel and his creative director, Adam Kostis, Carson designed a three-level, 9,600-square-foot contemporary home that steps down the side of the mountain. Boysel says the hillside project took eight months of site work just to get to a level building pad.

The final design includes a 1,900-squarefoot “living room for cars,” accessible through a massive multi-slide door, and a 700-square-foot mezzanine man cave that overlooks the cars and features a lounge area, office and powder room, as well as golf and racing simulators.

“[The client] can park up to nine cars in the space,” Kostis says. “There’s a projection TV screen along a wall so the client and friends can watch baseball or F1 races.” The car living room, visible from the home’s main living space, is detailed with dark-wood wall cladding and an exposed concrete floor, sealed with slip-resistant epoxy so that the space can double as an indoor pickleball court.

Exposed ductwork is painted a Ferrari red as an homage to one of the luxury cars the owner collects. He also has a custom McLaren, which the car manufacturer personalized into his racing simulator. For the everyday drivers, the design/build team also crafted an adjacent two-car garage, but even that has a designer’s touch. “That garage has a great view,” Carson says. “The back wall is all glass.”

by Bradley Wheeler

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MANLAND

In Gilbert, Ariz., a mansion built for Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is on the market for a cool $20 million. This prized property not only includes the original 9,300-square-foot main house, but also more than 4 acres of guy-friendly amenities—a veritable manland—some added by the subsequent owner, says listing agent Frank Aazami of Compass. “We call one of the buildings on the property ‘The Hideaway,’” Aazami says. “It looks like a barn, but there’s more than 6,000 square feet of entertainment amenities in there, including a batting cage, golf simulator, an arcade, pool table, fitness room, full kitchen and bar, plus a dance studio. There’s also a fireman’s pole from the upstairs apartment for quick entrances.”

An adjacent building houses six electric go-karts for zipping around on a loopy track, while another structure shelters the basketball court, complete with a scoreboard and stadium seating. For chilling out, the property also has a freestanding 5,600-square-foot spa building that boasts treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, hot tub and more. Don’t want to chill? The underground shooting range might do the trick. If that’s not enough, Aazami has a friendly tip: “The 2.5-acre lot next door is also available,” he says. “You can build whatever else you want.”

LAIR GUITAR

The ghost of Jimi Hendrix guards a guitar vault in the basement of a Paradise Valley home—or at least a black-andwhite photo of the late Purple Hazer gazes across this special room in a residence built by Jeremy Meek’s Desert Star Construction.

“The gentleman of the house is a retired professional athlete with a keen passion for music,” Meek says, who worked with architect Erik Peterson, interior designer Colleen Pawling and lighting designer Walter Spitz on the project. “The guitar vault and display room are hidden in an alcove of the home’s basement.”

The rotating collection of famous guitars makes a statement against black-plastered walls, marble flooring and theatrical lighting. A Fort Knox vault door and a display pedestal amplify the high-stakes ambiance. This lair for guitars is part of a larger lower-level man cave that includes a private stage, soundproof room and recording studio perfect for jam sessions, not to mention a billiards room and a 20-person movie theater with velvet drapery and a flashing marquee entrance.

“This project was the largest home we’d ever done up to that point in the history of Desert Star Construction,” says Meek of the 40,000-square-foot-plus abode. “There were days that we had 150 people working on that home.”

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is Health Wealth

Four Arizona destinations redefine men’s wellness.

By Masada Siegel

Arizona is a leading destination for wellness, and now health clubs and resorts are specifically addressing men’s self-care. Prioritizing health is more important than ever, as we live in a hyperconnected world where stress never sleeps, and our inboxes are never empty. Men, just like women, need downtime to focus on their health.

Arizona’s spas and men’s health clubs are focusing on longevity, luxury and ancient wellness wisdom, combined with cutting-edge medical and scientific innovation, to improve men’s health and lives.

BLUSONIL

BluSONIL opened in Scottsdale in early 2026. Located in the Scottsdale Quarter, bluSONIL isn’t just a spa or a clinic; it’s both, melded together to enhance and revitalize men’s health. BluSONIL merges evidence-based medical innovation with concierge-level, five-star hospitality.

Husband-and-wife founders Brett and Colleen Lewis built the concept centered on the idea that wellness and aesthetics shouldn’t exist in separate universes. Their thought was, “Why should someone optimize hormones in a sterile medical office, then drive across town for aesthetic treatments in a spa that ignores their cellular health?” BluSONIL was created to integrate both aesthetic care and wellness in one location.

The wellness center was designed to create a moment of pause, shifting you to a calmer state of mind. The environment melds Japanese minimalism with desert elements, merging textures and highlighting walnut accents, clay plaster, stone and organic textiles.

The services provided include longevity treatments such as medical-grade peptide therapy, hormone optimization and a stateof-the-art hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Also on the list are NAD+ infusions that flood your cells with co-enzymes, which are critical for energy production. Experiences such as contrast therapy, which alternates clients between a cold plunge and an infrared sauna, and FDA-cleared red-light therapy, which penetrates deep into tissues for cellular repair, are also available.

The medical team is led by Amy Lee, MD, chief medical officer of wellness, who holds three board certifications in internal medicine, clinical nutrition and obesity medicine. They approach clients with science-backed protocols personalized to their biomarkers.

HIVE FIT CLUB

Hive Fit Club isn’t just where you train. It’s where you elevate; it’s where driven men and women come to build strength, sharpen their edge, and optimize every layer of performance—physically, mentally and spiritually.

At Hive, “It’s more than a gym. It’s an experience” isn’t just a tagline. It’s how the company operates. With more than 100 pieces of premium equipment, a massive turf zone built for real work, and an environment designed for intensity and connection, this is where serious training happens. No fluff. No crowds wandering around. Just focus, energy and momentum.

When the work is done, the recovery begins. Hive Fit Club has many recovery options including a cold plunge, a sauna, red-light therapy, PEMF therapy,

compression, vibroacoustic therapy, HOCATT and ozone therapy. Performance isn’t just about how hard you train; it’s about how well you recover.

What truly sets Hive apart is the integration with its in-house medical partner, Honeyglow Wellness. Members have direct access to testosterone optimization, peptide protocols, hormone replacement and advanced lab work all under one roof.

Hive Fit Club implements a balance of training, recovery and medical optimization working together for optimal health results. It’s is family-owned, community-driven and built for professionals, competitors and leaders who refuse to operate at average. Hive isn’t for everyone; it’s for those who want more.

BENESSAIR HEALTH

Benessair Health’s motto captures everything: Live Better, Longer.

Their goal is for clients to win at the game of life. Carrie Bordinko, MD, was named a top doctor nationally by Concierge Medicine Magazine for nine consecutive years and decided that preventive medicine and taking care of oneself before illness were key, so Benessair was created to transcend preventive care.

Located in Paradise Valley, Benessiar focuses on proactive, evidence-based optimization through concierge service and medical treatments.

The center offers state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers, IV infusion therapy, one-on-one training, physical therapy and LED light therapy, among other treatments. Membership also includes 24/7 access to primary care. It offers programs for people seeking complete transformations with an elite two- to three-week health immersion. Some of the protocols include a complete metabolic reset, advanced diagnostics and peak performance optimization.

PREAMBLE HEALTH

Jesse Greer, MD, spent 17 years as a Green Beret and Special Forces flight surgeon. From Walter Reed to Afghanistan’s front lines, he witnessed healthcare’s systemic failures firsthand. So, he founded Preamble as a response to a system that wasn’t working. His mission is to bring longevity science to high-performing men.

At Preamble Health, the mission is to shrink the gap between lifespan and healthspan. Backed by science and on-the-field knowledge, Preamble Health’s goal is to add years to a person’s life by applying military-grade precision to preventative care.

Clients undergo comprehensive blood panels that analyze more than 100 biomarkers as well as metabolic health,

inflammation, hormones and nutrition. Advanced cardiac screenings measure future heart disease risk. DEXA scans and VO2 max testing provide data-driven baselines for optimization.

Preamble Health then assesses how a person’s body is functioning overall. Based on the test results, Greer will meet privately with each client and develop a lifestyle program that is reasonable and will improve a person’s health and prevent future illness.

The program has impressive results. More than 75 percent of patients increase lean muscle while reducing body fat, especially dangerous visceral fat surrounding organs. More than 90 percent of patients with elevated inflammation reach optimal levels.

Photo by Kyle Gilbert

Chasing

Locations with license to thrill.

By Fran Miller

I’ve always loved James Bond movies. The handsome, ever-evolving leading men. The implausible, often outrageous action sequences. The sense that the world itself—its cities, landmarks and grand interiors—is as much a character as Bond himself.

Bond films always trade heavily in fantasy, but they ground that fantasy in real places. The featured cities, recognizable streets and architectural landmarks are places that viewers can actually visit. That’s part of the thrill. Watching a chase unfold, or a villain’s plan take shape, is one thing; recognizing the location because you’ve been there yourself is another entirely. Over the years, Bond has taken me (sometimes unexpectedly) to places I know well, from my state of birth to cities my family calls home, and to destinations I’ve wandered for both work and leisure.

These are the James Bond filming locations I’ve experienced firsthand, and why each was such a perfect setting for the ICONIC 007 franchise.

VENICE

From Russia with Love (1963) & Casino Royale (2006)

Venice’s canals, palazzi and speedboats have long been Bond staples. In From Russia With Love, Sean Connery plays Bond as he navigates Hotel Danieli’s opulent interiors and surrounding canals. On a recent visit, I wandered those canals and explored the hotel, recalling the film’s chase sequences—boats slicing through water, architecture flashing by. In Casino Royale, Daniel Craig takes over the role, with Venice returning as a stage for high drama, culminating with a palazzo dramatically collapsing into the Grand Canal on screen. The city’s timeless beauty competes fiercely with Bond for attention, and often wins, proving that Venice is as much a character in the story as the spy himself.

KENTUCKY

Goldfinger (1964)

Kentucky holds a special distinction for me: it’s the state where I was born. Watching Goldfinger long after its 1964 release, with Connery as Bond, I felt an extra spark of connection knowing James Bond himself—on screen, at least—passed through my birth state. Fort Knox, home to the U.S. Bullion Depository, serves as the target of villain Auric Goldfinger’s Operation Grand Slam. The choice is inspired; few locations carry such instant associations with wealth, secrecy and national power. Interior scenes were shot elsewhere, but the Fort Knox exterior anchors the film’s stakes firmly in reality.

PORTUGAL

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Scenes from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service leapt to life during my recent media trip to Lisbon. George Lazenby stars as Bond in his sole outing, navigating the coastal roads outside the city. For me, those roads felt instantly familiar and remarkably unchanged in the half-century since Bond first raced along them. Casino Estoril and the grand Hotel Palácio Estoril exude a timeless, oldworld elegance and serve as the perfect stage for Cold War intrigue. Meanwhile, Praia do Guincho and its rugged cliffs provide a striking counterpoint to Bond’s meticulous, tailored world.

NEW YORK CITY

Live and Let Die (1973)

New York is a city I know well. My son has lived there for nearly a decade, and I’ve perused its streets countless times. Watching Live and Let Die, with Roger Moore cast as the lead, it’s fun to spot Bond moving through real city landmarks: the United Nations headquarters, JFK Airport, the Upper East Side’s East 65th Street outside a voodoo shop, glimpses of 2nd Avenue and a car chase along FDR Drive. Though the film’s most famous action sequences unfold far from New York, experiencing these fleeting NYC scenes provides a tangible thrill, turning cinematic snippets into a personal encounter with a city I love.

SARDINIA

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Sardinia feels tailor-made for Bond, again played by Moore: all sun-bleached glamour, serpentine coastal roads and a sense of exclusivity. During a recent Crystal Cruise stop in this autonomous region of Italy, I traced stretches of coastline used in The Spy Who Loved Me, along the same curves that once framed Moore as Bond at full cinematic swagger. Bond is shown staying at Hotel Cala di Volpe, the ICONIC luxury hotel perched above the emerald waters. It’s a location that visually captures the film’s jet-set glamour, followed by a classic high-speed chase sequence.

VIENNA

The Living Daylights (1987)

Austria has long lived in my imagination through The Sound of Music. During a Danube River cruise a few years ago, a stop in Salzburg brought that film to life, before the journey continued to Vienna. Seeing Austria through a Bond lens was a shift. In The Living Daylights, Timothy Dalton’s Bond turns glorious Vienna and its Prater amusement park into a setting of shadow and intrigue. Here, Bond rides the ICONIC Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel, one of the film’s most memorable scenes. Elsewhere, Vienna’s grand streets and concert halls provide a backdrop for Cold War tension, leading me to trade my nostalgia for The Sound of Music for something cooler and more dangerous.

SAN FRANCISCO

A View to a Kill (1985)

San Francisco is my current home, and living here means encountering Bond locations almost daily. A View to a Kill, with Moore again as Bond, made full use of the city’s visual drama, turning familiar landmarks into backdrops for some of the film’s most memorable moments. City Hall becomes a site of high-stakes confrontation. Market Street transforms into a playground for chaos. The Golden Gate Bridge hosts the film’s climactic showdown, with Bond battling Max Zorin atop the towering cables. Just an hour from my Bay Area home, Silicon Valley serves as the symbolic nerve center of the same movie. Zorin Industries, the film’s fictional tech giant, represents the region’s cutting edge of innovation and menace. The film was prescient, tapping into this epicenter of possibility and disruption early on, framing technology as both a marvel and a threat.

MONACO

GoldenEye (1995)

Few places embody the Bond mystique quite like Monaco. Elegant, exclusive and unapologetically glamorous, it’s a city that feels theatrical even in real life. During my visit last spring, the Monte Carlo Casino glittered just beyond the track during the Grand Prix, a view that instantly recalled GoldenEye, with Pierce Brosnan as Bond. Casino Square remains one of the franchise’s most recognizable backdrops, and standing there, it’s easy to understand why the city has become synonymous with Bond’s blend of intrigue and sophistication. This is the fantasy, fully realized, and a real-world setting that always holds its own.

ROME

Spectre (2015)

Rome’s narrow streets and riverside avenues were made for theatrical pursuit, and Spectre, with Craig as Bond, takes full advantage of them. Especially rousing is the nighttime car chase that races along the banks of the Tiber River, before the Aston Martin DB10 plunges dramatically into the water. Having wandered Rome’s streets many times myself, it’s impossible not to admire the precision required to film such scenes. Rome’s density, history and unpredictability add texture to the action. Few cities balance grandeur and chaos so naturally, making Rome an intrinsic fit for Bond’s world.

THE FINAL TAKE

The James Bond franchise has a way of turning every scene location into a cinematic adventure, which is part of its magic. Each featured city, coastline and hotel adds layers of intrigue, glamour and suspense. For those who have visited these places, spotting them on screen provides a private thrill that stays long after the credits roll. Even though Bond himself is fictional, the world he inhabits is tangible, compelling and just waiting to be explored.

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The

Hustler

The ICONIC game takes its cue from luxury design.

By Amalie Rhebeck

Gone are the days of the simple billiards table. What was once tucked away in a basement man cave— between a bar and a beanbag chair—has undergone a long-overdue upgrade. Today, it’s defined by sophistication and, most importantly, customization.

Leading the charge in personalized billiards tables is 11 Ravens, a Los Angeles-based design house that has been creating custom game tables for 15 years. Their collaboration with clients, ranging from tastemakers to professional athletes, is all about creating a statement table that expresses personal style while also fitting seamlessly into its environment.

“Because our tables are designed specifically for the client’s space and lifestyle, they become part of daily life rather than

something reserved for special occasions,” Michael Zaretsky, CEO and co-founder of 11 Ravens, says. “The balance of performance, craftsmanship and beauty allows the table to feel appropriate in both celebratory and intimate moments, which is why it resonates so strongly with our clients seeking meaningful ways to connect.”

While customization requests vary, all 11 Ravens tables feature a sophisticated, bespoke design: refined woods, tailored accents and detailed finishes. Not only do they provide custom billiard tables, but their expertise also includes designing custom, ping pong, poker, air hockey, shuffleboard, foosball, mahjong and multifunctional tables that seamlessly convert between games and dining. Regardless of the game at hand, each 11 Ravens table is designed not only for play

and performance, but to embody a sense of luxury, craftsmanship and purpose.

“We see continued growth in multi-functionality, material honesty and quieter expressions of luxury,” Zaretsky says. “Game tables are becoming more sculptural, more intentional and more emotionally resonant— objects that invite connection while standing the test of time.”

The company ensures that a billiard table is no longer an afterthought hidden behind closed doors. Instead, it’s the focal point of a room, a structural centerpiece that reflects raw craftsmanship and a personalized touch. Equal parts art and function, the modern billiard table melds connection and character into one—a reminder that while the game hasn’t changed, the table has evolved.

Re ned jewelry for the modern man. Classic, versatile pieces that complement any look. Pair them with our Signature Pre-Owned Timepieces, expertly authenticated and tested, each backed by a two-year warranty. Explore the collection today at one of our boutique locations.