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Month: July 2021

Gently-used luxury handbag seller arriving in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/07/2021

Sellier Knightsbridge has announced the upcoming opening of a Monaco location, a first for the luxe pre-loved retailer outside of the UK.  

The UK-based high-end consignment shop, Sellier Knightsbridge, has revealed it is opening an outlet to sell its to-die-for designer pieces in the Principality.

Founded by mother-daughter team Hanushka Toni and Dina Ibrahimova, the company has made a reputation selling top-notch luxury pieces from around the world. Though known for their Hermes bags, Sellier also has a vast selection of designer pieces, such as Yves Saint Laurent dresses, Stella McCartney suits, Alexander McQueen sunglasses and everything in between.

Having started out as a brick-and-mortar shop, the company has since expanded, largely due to the health crisis, to more online and social media-based selling, which now accounts for 85% of their sales.

In spite of the focus going online, Monaco-based Hanushka and London-based Dina thought a shop in the Principality was a sound idea for both buyers and sellers, as clients are buying pre-loved more and more on principle. Sustainability is all part of the ethos of the company, along with selling quality authentic pieces at prices people can relate to.

Hermes bag for sale by Sellier Knightsbridge 

Their connection to Monaco has existed for many years, as Dina was formerly owner of a fashion re-sale business catering to clients looking for rare or coveted clothes, handbags and accessories, many of whom lived in the Principality. This evolved into Sellier Knightsbridge, so for them, opening in Monaco brings the company full circle.

As for Hanushka, her husband works in Monaco, so she splits her time between here and London and is well familiarised with the country and its sensibilities. 

Sellier says it is the number one reseller of Hermes in the United Kingdom, selling an astounding eight to 15 bags every week via Instagram, with additional pieces found in store and online. A Kelly bag went for £15,000, making it the most expensive item ever sold by Sellier.

 
 
Top photo of Dinara Ibrahimova and Hanushka Toni, Sellier Knightsbridge Founders
 
 
 

Prince’s Foundation welcomes back Gombessa 6 team

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/07/2021

After 20 days locked in a 5m2 life capsule, the intrepid scientists of the Gombessa 6 returned to Monaco on Tuesday with answers and even more questions about the puzzling rings of coral they explored off the coast of Cap Corse.

The mystery of the Cap Corse coral rings is being slowly unravelled after the head of underwater expeditions, biologist and photographer Laurent Ballesta, along with aquanauts Antonin Guilbert, Thibault Rauby and Roberto Rinaldi, spent 20 days on the sea floor observing and categorising findings from this never-before explored area.

The mission was made possible through a collaboration between several partners including the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Swiss watchmaker Blancpain. A reception was held after the return of the team on Tuesday, hosted by the Prince’s Foundation.

There were 35 French and international researchers on the operation. The cooperation of the researchers, who all had their own pet projects in mind, was a testament to the level of willingness to learn and share on all levels.

Photo by Jordi Chias, Gombessa Expéditions

Located 120 metres under the sea, the 4km2 zone encases coral structures that reach up to 30 metres in circumference and are home to an astonishing array of sea life.

“The mission ends with, as with all expeditions, its share of things of which we are proud, but also with frustration,” said Laurent Ballesta. “We have approached new horizons that we had not imagined and that makes us want to go further. But the goals were met and it’s wonderful.

“Scientifically, there was the riddle of these rings first. We have succeeded in carrying out cores, sometimes over a metre, to pierce the rock in the heart of these rings. It was far from a given because we didn’t have the opportunity to test these manoeuvres before.”

These samples were able to be taken through a collaboration with the Sephismer, the French Navy’s human diving division. In the samples, there were some surprising findings. A coral called Callogorgia, which typically lives in far deeper waters, was found, as were small pearly shells thought to exist only in tropical reefs. DNA samples were also obtained, and the divers placed hydrophones and current metres in the rings to be able to observe remotely the comings and goings of sea life as well as the sea conditions.

Photo by Jordi Chias, Expéditions Gombessa

“We hope that the results of our research will help to understand the origin of rings, how they function, their age, etc. And there is still so much to discover,” Ballesta went on to say. 

In addition to reaching their scientific goals, the team were also rewarded with some exciting finds, such as a line of underwater caves that have yet to be explored, as well as something that scientists rarely can boast of: the discovery of a new species.

“We found a small nudibranch sea slug that we had seen on a previous dive, and which turns out to be a new species. We are going to have the privilege of giving it a name and that is a great source of pride. It will most certainly be my daughter’s first name,” the team leader said.

Photo © Jordi Chias, Expéditions Gombessa

Aquanaut Thierry Rauby voiced his early concerns, which soon dissipated as the mission progressed. “Before the start of the expedition, I was worried that spending 20 days around a sandy bottom would quickly end up being boring. But we have discovered an incredible biodiversity. It was a very good surprise. We have the impression that we have only glimpsed something incredible and, of course, it makes you want to go back.”

Along with the good, there was a bit of bad. The team came across plastic waste mixing with thousand-year-old amphorae and stunning sea fauna, a stark reminder of our human impact on the planet.

The team brought back thousands of images, which will be put together in association with Arte to create a film about the voyage. They also plan to make a book and to hold conferences to speak about their discoveries, raise awareness and promote environmental protection.

Photo by Laurent Ballesta, Andromède Océanologie, GOMBESSA 5

Results from the mission will start coming in September, with the DNA results being forecast to arrive by the end of the year and the rest of the test results by the end of 2022.

The team intend to make more journeys to their new, now not-so-hidden treasure where they hope to continue unlocking the mysteries of this fascinating area.

 
Top photo by Photo by Laurent Ballesta, Gombessa Expéditions
 
 

Historic Fiat 500 event draws the crowds

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/07/2021

The first Monaco International Meeting of Historic Fiat 500s took place on Saturday in the Port and was deemed a huge success with more than a thousand people visiting the event.

Organised by Club Fiat Monte-Carlo, the 1st Monaco International Meeting of Historic Fiat 500s went off without a hitch on Saturday. Nearly 50 cars were on hand and about 1,500 visitors, including Prince Albert II, came to the port to check out the cars on display.

Fiat owners from all over Europe made the journey and there were some truly rare and special models for enthusiasts to see. A pair of Fiat 600 Multiplas, courtesy of Jollyfiat MC, were on display, as was a 500 Abarth Maletta, a car which has done the circuit at the Historic Rallaye Monte-Carlo on several occasions.

The cars took to the streets of the Principality and paraded through the city giving everyone an eyeful as they made their way to their final destination in the port. Biker “angels” helped them navigate the streets safely, taking them past the Place du Palais and the Casino.

Photo by Club Fiat Monte-Carlo

“It was a challenge, but the members of the club did an exceptional job, so for a ‘first’ the presence of HSH Prince Albert was definitely the seal of gratitude for all the work accomplished,” said Massimo Peleson, president of the Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo Club. “It was also confirmed by the visit of Stéphane Valeri, President of the Monaco National Council, and of the Italian Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco, Giulio Alaimo. The highlight was certainly the parade through the streets of the Principality, something that had never taken place in Monaco. At one point, we had around 40 cars on the legendary Formula 1 circuit. It seems to me that F1 couldn’t do better.”

Prizes were awarded to participants who made exceptional efforts. Elodie Verrando won the Elegance Prize for her 500L which she adorned completely with flowers, Guido Pererra won the prize for coming from the farthest distance, all the way from Milan, in his 500 Lombardi, and the oldest car went to Nicotemo Pezzella in his magnificent 1938 500B Topolino.

The club’s success this year has ensured a repeat performance next summer where Monaco will again be the host.

 
 
Top photo by Club Fiat Monte-Carlo
 
 
 

Anna Vissi playing at Salle des Etoiles this September

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/07/2021

Singer, songwriter and actress Anna Vissi is coming to Monaco’s Salle des Etoiles for one night only in a can’t-miss show that will also raise funds for the Prince’s Foundation.
The world met Anna Vissi in 1980 when she knocked the socks off everyone at the Eurovision Song Contest where she represented her native country, Greece. Since then, she has had over two dozen gold albums certified in at least two countries, earning her near-universal name recognition in her homeland.
Named Greece’s 15th most powerful and influential celebrity by Forbes, the singer-actress took her show on the road in the early 2000’s to try her luck abroad and has found success internationally as well as at home.
Now she’s coming to Monaco for the first time ever to hold an elegant dinner concert where fans and fans-to-be can enjoy her music in an elegant and intimate setting.
“When I came to Monaco for the first time, I was 18 or 19 years old,” says Anna Vissi. “I was on the Place du Casino, and it was a dream to be able to perform a concert one day here. In September, this dream will come true.”
The proceeds from the show will be going to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in order to protect the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
“This concert is an opportunity to remind people that the Mediterranean Sea is a great link between our two countries, Greece and Monaco,” says Olivier Wenden, Vice-President of the Prince’s Foundation. “It was quite easy, thanks to the support of Aleco Keusseoglou, president of the Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco, to identify a project that could speak to the community and establish a concrete support link to the environment of our two countries. This project was launched in 2019 and brings together many European players in a common ambition, the protection and sustainability of Mediterranean monk seals.”
Catch Anna on 25th September at the Salle des Etoiles where doors open at 8pm for a 10:30 show. Masks will be required, and all current health measures will be taken to ensure the safety of all.
 
 
 

Prince joins prominent list backing Great Barrier Reef protection

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/07/2021

Prince Albert of Monaco has joined the likes of Joanna Lumley and Jason Momoa in backing calls for the Great Barrier Reef to be placed on a list of world heritage sites in danger.
The list includes an international line-up of actors, conservationists and scientists including activist Lumley, Aquaman actor Momoa, Australian singer Cody Simpson, former lead UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres, and oceanographer Philippe Cousteau, the grandson of French diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau.
“The scientific evidence is beyond doubt: the Great Barrier Reef is in danger and it is time to act,” the group said in a global statement.
It follows a recent recommendation from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) that Australia take “accelerated action at all possible levels” on climate change, citing global heating as the cause of mass coral bleaching in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Later this week, the world heritage committee will be asked to put the world’s biggest reef system on its danger list. If Unesco follows the recommendation, it would be the first time a natural world heritage site has been placed on the “in danger” list mainly because of impacts from the climate crisis.
The statement that Prince Albert co-signed was organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), who says: “The reef belongs to the world and, as its custodian, Australia must show global leadership on climate action to preserve its future.”
Coral reefs are considered one of the world’s most at-risk ecosystems from the climate crisis due to their sensitivity to warming oceans.
A Unesco report said that despite efforts and achievements by the state and federal governments in Australia, key targets on improving water quality had not been met.
“The plan requires stronger and clearer commitments, in particular towards urgently countering the effects of climate change, but also towards accelerating water quality improvement and land management measures,” it said.
Unesco is also asking Australia to link its policy to protect the reef to the Paris climate goals to keep heating to 1.5C.
A consultant to the AMCS, Imogen Zethoven, said Australia’s climate policies were “more consistent with a 2.5-3.0C rise in global average temperature – a level that would destroy the Great Barrier Reef and all the world’s coral reefs.”
The high-profile statement comes amid backlash from Australia’s Scott Morrison government, who is calling the Unesco decision political and lead by China. Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley is also in Europe lobbying countries against the danger listing.
 
 
Photo of the Great Barrier Reef by Nico Smit on Unsplash
 
 
 

Covid incidence rate at highest point since March

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/07/2021

The circulation of Covid-19 throughout Monaco continues its worrying upward trajectory, as France declares that the “fourth wave has begun”.  
The latest figures released by the Monaco government on Monday show that, in the seven days to 18th July, the incidence rate had jumped to 156, up from 91 the previous week, and 42 the week before that.
The incidence rate refers to the number of positive people in a population of 100,000, and the alert threshold is normally set at 50. The incidence rate had dropped to as low as 8 in the Principality at the end of May. From then, it has almost doubled week-on-week.
It is a similar situation in the neighbouring Alpes-Maritimes department, where the incidence rate as of Monday 19th July was 163, compared to a national average of 74.6.
During a press conference on Monday, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal declared, “We have entered the fourth wave of the epidemic.” He had just come from a meeting with the French cabinet to approve a bill that would extend the use of health passes to incite people to get vaccinated against Covid.
“We are observing a faster wave with a steeper curve than before. It can go up very fast and very high,” said Attal, attributing the rise to the more contagious Delta variant.
Health Minister Olivier Veran has said that nine out of 10 newly infected people in France are unvaccinated.
The impact of holiday travel
With PCR tests mandatory for the majority of international travel, the number of PCR tests in Monaco has unsurprisingly increased by almost a thousand in a week, going from 3,432 PCR and antigen tests in the first week of July, to 4,341 tests the second week.
The positivity rate among those tests has also seen a large increase, from 0.6% to 4% – a figure once again reminiscent of the end of March.
The Alpes-Maritimes has a positivity rate of 2.9%
Who is testing positive?
It is important to keep in mind that Monaco’s figures are based on the test results of both residents and non-residents of Monaco. In terms of hospitalisations, the number still remains manageable at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, which is currently caring for three non-resident patients, and one non-resident in ICU.
72 residents with mild symptoms are being cared for by the Home Monitory Centre.
ICU occupancy in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (PACA) region is 22%
Vaccinations
As of 15th July, the number of people in Monaco to have received their first vaccination stood at 21,144, or 61.41% of the eligible population over 12. Of those, 88% had also received their second injection and are fully vaccinated.
In France’s PACA region, 2.69 million people have been vaccinated.