Hype The Extraordinary
Sorted your essentials? Sweet. Time to treat yourself. Here are seven truly indulgent, impeccably well-made items to enrich your life, your next trip away, your next social engagement or just the next few hours.
Rocket Espresso Porta Via
As much as we love being DOWNTOWN, sometimes our travels take us to places where the coffee culture is, to put it kindly, somewhat behind the times. For times like these, Milan-based Rocket Espresso have designed the portable Porta Via espresso machine, which comes in its own handy carry case and can transform a simple campsite or a basic hotel room into an invite-only café where you’re the boss. Built to the highest standard, the Porta Via has all the hallmarks of a Rocket Espresso machine, including the much-appreciated PID temperature controller to make sure your water temperature is always on point. The machine has a combined water tank volume of 1.2 litre (brew boiler and steam boiler). With its dual circuit setup, you can froth your milk while pulling your shot – no queues for your cappuccinos here. #deathbeforedecaf
More info: rocket-esspresso.com
Price: € 1,950
On Vacation sweater
There’s no doorman checking IDs to get into this exclusive club. German brand On Vacation may well have designed the sweater(s) of the season with their On Vacation Club collection and the Do Nothing Club collection. The under-the-radar fashion brand has gone all-in for a vintage look and feel at a premium quality. Looking effortlessly cool, the unisex Bold Quarter Zip Sweater lets you set the scene for a holiday, even if you haven’t physically moved beyond a 10km radius. Women are advised to go down one size. Produced in the EU, it’s made from 80% polyester and 20% cotton and On Vacation are vehement believers in adopting sustainable production, opting for recycled ocean plastic and cotton farmed without pesticides amongst other things.
More info: on-vacation.club
Price: € 79.99
Omata One
You probably don’t just ride your bike to get from A to B but because you love it and because bikes are brilliant. But would you still love your bike as much if it looked like a shiny plastic cube? Hold on, that sounds a lot like a bike computer that you’d attach to your handlebars… So, how does that aesthetic align with the rest of your bike? The Omata One is the answer: a high-tech GPS computer housed inside a beautifully made aluminium analogue speedometer. Your digital ride data is converted into analogue form while you ride. By turning the dial, you set the Omata One into ride, stop or connect mode. The four dials show speed, distance, time and total ascending. For road or city bikes, the Omata One will enthrall you from the first turn of the dial, and the stoke will keep on rising as the second hand keeps ticking.
More info: omata.com
Price: $ 700.00
Campagnolo BIG corkscrew
The epitome of Italian design and wine heritage, the Campagnolo BIG corkscrew is another beautiful creation from Tullio Campagnolo, the man behind the invention of quick-release skewers. The story goes that he injured himself opening a bottle of wine and immediately set about rectifying his current tool, designing a new and improved version. First patented in 1966, there’s been no shortage of imitations, but the original design remains a true classic. Handmade in Vicenza, the screws hail from Super Record cranksets from the 1970s. Made to swoon over for decades if not longer, this is one to reserve for the finest bottles of vintage wine. The telescopic, self-centering bell, wide head, and long lever arms team up to open even the most stubborn corks without breaking a sweat. If only all of Italy’s uphills could be conquered so smoothly …
More info: campagnolo.com
Price: € 179.90
Rega Planar 1 record player
Audiophiles tend to agree on one thing: MP3s will die out in favour of vinyl and that much, much warmer sound that it gives you. For those venturing into the physical world of vinyl records, or returning to it after a digital hiatus, British heritage brand Rega have revised their Planar 1 record player, making it 2021 approved with a new tonearm and drive belt. The minimal design doesn’t just make it totally recognisable (especially to those in the know) but also ensures the best sound, pretty much ever, as there are no additional components to interfere with your listening pleasure. To change the revolutions of the Planar 1, the belt must still be pulled by hand to the other radius of the drive. There’s the standard lifelong guarantee against manufacturing defects from Rega, just in case vinyl’s comeback isn’t as imminent as we all hope …
More info: rega.co.uk
Price: € 380.00
Leica M6 camera
When Leica first launched the M6 in 1984, you could have argued it was behind the times in terms of technology. Rival brands like Minolta were already going automatic, while the 35 mm mechanical Leica M6 clung onto the manual approach. This clearly didn’t deter consumers, who bought the M6 in hordes and used it to capture iconic shots that we all swoon over today. In 1986, the M6 got a lighter chrome plating and cemented its place in photography fans’ hearts. Robust, hardwearing and now a cult item, the Leica M6 is the 35 mm camera that everyone wants to own – a decent second-hand version will set you back € at least 2,500 and you’ll need to set money aside for fairly regular servicing. But much like Rolls Royce who boast 65% of all originals are still in roadworthy shape, we’re confident that these indestructible Leica cameras will age even more gracefully.
More info: leica-camera.com
Price: ab ca. € 2,500
Glashütte Original SeaQ diving watch
The SeaQ by Glashütte Original is a genuine piece of watchmaking art from Germany that you can wear on your wrist. Those into their watches will recognise it as a successor to the Spezimatic Type RP TS 200 from 1969 – the German Democratic Republic, aka East Germany’s, first industrially produced dive watch. When the Berlin Wall fell, Glashütte shifted back to their artisan roots and readopted their high-end, hand-made horology. This is a good thing! From development to production and the intricacies of the dial, virtually every single component is made at Glashütte. It’s built with the brand’s signature three-quarter plate architecture. While the 39.5 mm diameter is a hallmark of traditional watches, this one is a certifiable diver’s delight and watertight up to 200 metres. Dials like this one aren’t easy to make and take up to 80 different steps to create – quality, as we know, takes time.
More info: glashuette-original.com
Price: € 10,000
Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Hersteller
