Baron Christian Louis de Massy, son of Princess Antoinette of Monaco and Anthony Nogues, the creator of the famous Grand Prix de Monaco, is at the origin of our exquisite brand of wines, named Baron de Monte-Carlo.

We firmly believe in the importance of quality. Our wines are elaborated only by the best winemakers, notably Eric Bonnet & Yves Cuilleron, and the renowned Ramatuelle winemakers who have been awarded year after year by the world’s greatest labels and gastronomic critics. By doing so, Baron de Monte-Carlo wines have been selected among the most prestigious wines produced in France, each of our appellations among the best terroirs of these appellations.

Thanks to the ancestral tradition and meticulous know-how that our winemakers have, Baron de Monte-Carlo wines are able to bring a unique experience of pure pleasure. Therefore, to ensure the best experience, clients can drink our wines in top end restaurants or in high-end retail stores.

We are working on very exclusive wines – barrel selected – at the estates with limited edition number of bottles but for the moment I cannot say more.

That’s an easy one, with my wife

I started my professional career as a tennis player. In the 70s and 80s I was in the top 10, with a total of 9 ATP victories, including Monte-Carlo in 1970. Until the 90s ATP only had a small office in Paris and because the players organization was getting more important, I was called to run the European Head Office which we decided to set-up in the Principality of Monaco. During my ATP career I served as a Board member, Executive Director for Europe and Tournament Director of the ATP Finals in Frankfurt, Hannover and Lisbon. In 2005 I became Director of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

There are no other tournaments like Monte-Carlo. It is a historic event with a prestigious trophy the Prince’s Cup that is coveted by all players. There is a tradition and heritage that come with this destination – we just held the 115th edition. Moreover, even if the venue is relatively small and we maximized every single square meter, we put a lot of efforts to build a kids zone that we also use as a tennis platform to inspire the younger generations. The overall atmosphere is very special here and the sight overlooking the sea is spectacular.

After two years of pandemic, 2022 was a big relief. In 2020 the tournament was cancelled and in 2021 was organized behind closed doors. Until mid-March 2022 we were not completely sure how many people could actually attend but on the 14th of March the good news arrived: there was no more need for vaccination or testing (last year each player had to get tested every second day) and finally, we could run our event at full capacity. This allowed us to sell almost all our tickets and to host more than 132.500 spectators (more or less like in 2019). The atmosphere was festive again and Tsitsipas’ victory was the icing on the cake, he is a spectacular player, indeed.

I come from a tennis family, my background is in tennis and having been a professional player it gave me a significant edge. Furthermore, during my tennis career, I was also studying law and have graduated at the university which came in handy when I started running tennis tournaments. This being said, my academic and professional background have been a good combination and instrumental when it came to running a major tournament like the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and making it successful.

Tennis is an individual sport, it is global and easy to follow, it is not violent and in general players are behaving well. Families prefer it compared to other sports because it’s a good sport for their children’s body and mind and for developing their identity.

Tennis has evolved so quickly because the whole world has changed in the past few decades thanks to the technological progress and transformations that followed. The game itself became more athletic and professional: players now have a coach, a physical trainer, a video analyst, etc., generally speaking they are better prepared. The game has become faster because the equipment and especially the rackets have considerably evolved. Players, themselves are stronger and taller. I cannot say if it is better or worse, it is as it is. Also the press and media coverage have intensified and have followed the transitions, now you can watch a tennis tournament via streaming on your smartphone, which was unthinkable a few years ago. The future of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is bright, the tournament kept growing and now after 17 years of my involvement it is well established and recognized all over the world, it can only work on minor details to make the fan experience even more exciting.

The complex is conveniently located at the entrance to Porto Montenegro, just a short walk from its marina and luxury waterfront village. Its 2023 arrival will redefine marina living with an even bigger retail, restaurant and entertainment offering across 7,400m2, including luxury boutiques, bustling bars and bistros, with an additional 45+ new tenants signing up, which will overlook the area’s vibrant superyacht marina.

Courtesy of Kerzner International, the development welcomes a brand-new, urban-centric, five-star, fitness-infused hotel concept – the world’s first SIRO – bringing a revolutionary new hospitality brand to Porto Montenegro, with fitness and wellbeing at its core.

Blurring the boundaries of urban architecture and the great outdoors, the contemporary interiors of this new lifestyle complex spill out to open spaces where natural light and greenery meander around a central courtyard. Boka Place becomes home to a vibrant retail and dining offering, with a wealth of leisure and community gathering spaces, intertwined with botanical walls, gardens and water features. The complex will house renowned retailers and galleries, alongside an open-air food hall and market concept, three-screen experience cinema and indoor climbing wall – for a recreation-meets-indulgence match.

The design-led SIRO hotel will offer an immersive living experience with holistic wellness at the core, integrating five-star hospitality with fitness, nutrition and restoration, and a wellness-focused approach to health and fitness, appealing to modern, global lifestyles and reinventing the traditional hotel concept to create game-changing experiences that inspire and revitalise. The hotel will feature a cutting-edge fitness club, Recovery Lab, dedicated spaces for yoga and meditation, swimming pools and nutrition-led dining, complementing life at Boka Place and its relaxed new stance on luxury living.

Boka Place is set to become one of the area’s sophisticated addresses offering urban living, with multiple benefits for residents, such as invitation-only events and summer kids’ clubs days, as well as membership to the Porto Montenegro Yacht Club. It will comprise of 213 apartments, ranging from studios to penthouses. Prospective residents will be able to choose from a range of SIRO-managed residences or private residences. Approximately 85% of SIRO-managed residences have been sold and reserved since the launch of off-plan sales in Summer 2020. Each apartment has been designed with wellness in mind – featuring large open spaces, built-in stretching and exercise units, air purifiers, ergonomic furnishings and sustainable materials, sitting perfectly within the wellbeing- and restoration-focused brand. The 144 SIRO-managed residences will benefit from 5-star hotel services, alongside luxury fitness and wellness facilities. In addition to the exclusive hotel-managed residences are a smaller selection of 69 private residences, managed by the Porto Montenegro M-Residences rental management scheme, and will feature exclusive access to a stunning rooftop pool with panoramic views of the Adriatic Coast. The new complex will offer a mix of generously sized studios, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments and 2- and 3-bedroom duplexes, with prices starting from just 240,000 EUR.

With construction already underway and scheduled for completion by 2023, the wheels are firmly in motion for Porto Montenegro’s most exciting new development to date. From bustling bars and bistros, elegant boutiques, live music and family entertainment, the village’s new vibrant and eclectic urban hub creates the perfect marriage with the SIRO hotel brand, with a focus on activity, friendly spirit and transformative wellness.

Aside from the Mediterranean climate and allure of the Porto Montenegro village, a number of other factors are at play in making Boka Place an excellent choice for investors. Not only can buyers now qualify to become Montenegrin citizens, they can do so with or without relocation requirements, catering just as well to those in search of a second home in the sun whilst securing return on investment through a series of bespoke rental management programmes.

Southern Montenegro has long been known for its pleasant weather and organic Adriatic cuisine, while in recent years, Porto Montenegro has become the country’s trademark development, adding an undertone of luxury to the wild beauty. For a minimum of 450,000 EUR investment in real estate and a 200,000 EUR government fund donation towards the country’s infrastructure, investors can enjoy the prospect of a lovely new home coupled with a new passport in as little as six months.

Montenegro’s favourable tax economy boasts one of the lowest personal, corporate and capital gains tax rates in Europe, whilst opening a business is a simple and accessible option for those seeking Residency by Investment.

I have always loved jewelry. Ever since I was little, I remember spending a lot of time in front of the windows mesmerized by these incredible and unique pieces. In fact, on special occasions like birthdays I only wanted to receive jewelry, I wasn’t interested in fashion like other girls. In 2014 I opened an Instagram profile to share this passion of mine, just out of fun. With time, I started to get more followers and receive invitations from brands, it all happened on its own, very organically. However, at that time, I also had a stable corporate job, so during the day I was working and during my evenings or leisure time I was developing my channels and pursuing my passion. At a certain point I had to decide whether I wanted to continue in the corporate world or if I wanted to take a leap of faith and pursue this uncertain journey. I chose my passion and here we are.

I totally agree, as you said, nowadays it is okay to buy important and significant jewels, we are confident enough to purchase expensive products for ourselves. Personally, I like both, self-gifts and gifts, they will trigger different emotions. Moreover, the meaning and personal attachment behind each piece will be different. For example, when you treat yourself to something special, it’s often to mark a significant achievement or milestone. Every time you wear that item, you will be reminded of the pride and joy you felt at achieving that milestone. When we speak about jewelry the most important thing is the emotion that it transmits to you. When you wear a jewel it should give you instant pleasure, that’s why I think you should always wear and enjoy them, they are not made to be kept in a box.

Before the pandemic, lab grown diamonds were already becoming a trend and this has continued and grown significantly. Lab grown diamonds are so perfectly made that with the naked eye you are not able to recognize the difference between a natural and a synthetic diamond. But there is a profound difference, one is the result of a miracle by nature and the other is made in laboratories. To me everything has to do with emotions and buying a lab grown diamond is like buying a counterfeit bag or watch: in terms of functionality, it performs the same function of the real branded one and looks the same! But you don’t have the romance, passion, and emotions that the branded item is able to bring along. However, I totally understand that diamonds are not within everyone’s reach, and the mining industry itself has a murky past, so I understand that for multiple reasons someone would choose lab grown diamonds. Personally, I’d rather own something smaller and ethically sourced but made by nature than something bigger made by laboratories.

Diamond stud earrings, no doubt about it. I love earrings, they have the ability to frame the face of a person, they bring brightness to someone’s face by reflecting the natural light. As a matter of fact, diamond stud earrings were my first self-gift. They are so versatile, you can wear them on all occasions, from a Gala night to an everyday outfit.

In general, I think it really goes down to the differences in cultural tastes, jewelry market and safety. For example, Italian artisans mostly work with gold, and they are very innovative in terms of technique and design. Italian masterpieces are considered appealing worldwide, these jewels perfectly reflect Italian culture made of fun and passion. On the other hand, the Middle East market tends to appreciate more important and rare stones like rubies, while Far East customers conversely prefer more delicate, elegant, and feminine pieces. Furthermore, it is interesting to highlight that for the Asian culture symbolism is extremely significant, that’s why some brands create exclusive pieces for specific occasions such as the Chinese New Year. Lastly India is a really developed market, from mining to manufacturing and consumption, the jewelry industry is absolutely valued, and today’s clientele appreciate pieces that can mix the traditional Indian culture with new contemporary and trendy design. Depending on the country, you can encounter different tastes and consumption behaviors, however, global brands like Graff, Cartier, Bulgari, Harry Winston and Van Cleef & Arpels, are coveted worldwide, even if their in-store collections vary from country to country.

Prior to the pandemic I used to spend all my time flying from one country to another to attend all jewelry exhibitions. I love these events; they give you the possibility to interact directly with smaller and bigger companies and see their wonderful pieces. Today, for obvious reasons, we have changed our habits and I’m not traveling as much as I used to. However, my absolute favorites are: Jewellery Arabia in Bahrain, Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition in Doha; Haute Jewels and GemGenève in Geneva; JCK and Couture in Las Vegas.

And obviously I have to say that I particularly love Vivid Events. Last year was a unique and prestigious experience where selected people of the industry and potential customers were given the possibility to attend, meet jewelry brands, get to know their creations while enjoying a marvelous dinner at a wonderful location in Monaco. To me this was amazing. I must say that Kimberley Williams, (Founder of Vivid Events), did something completely innovative, especially because sometimes entering a jewelry boutique can be intimidating but thanks to this unique concept you can enjoy a beautiful one-of-a-kind evening with incredible people that share the same passion for jewels. When I went in September 2021, it blew me away and exceeded all my expectations, I look forward to attending the next event and recommend everyone to attend!

2020 has been a very tough year with retailers temporarily forced to close due to the pandemic, However, as a result, I noticed so much innovation as brands used the situation to try new approaches and stay present. Social media played a major role enabling brands to showcase new collections, and to remain in touch with customers. Surprisingly enough, people bought jewels despite the pandemic because birthdays and other important occasions were still happening and had to be celebrated. Overall, consumers were spending less on travel and fashion…in my opinion, some of that spending was diverted to jewelry due to the longevity that comes with this industry and products. Indeed, in 2021 all jewelers had positive sales and positive results.

Every brand would like to be featured on someone famous’s account, they want celebrities to wear their pieces – especially models and movie stars – and they compete very hard to achieve that, that’s why they work closely with stylers. Then there are us bloggers, we are not wearing pieces on the red carpet, but we are able to show our audience what is available, with the docs on the jewelry item, not the outfit or the hairdo, sharing our expertise and know-how. Brands have started to really appreciate this type of communication because we have a very targeted audience, and we have credibility. It’s a different communication. When I decide to collaborate with a brand, I take into consideration various factors, first the brand must be aligned with my values, my tastes and followers’ tastes, then I look at the quality, design and gem of the jewels because I decided to focus and work only in the very high-end jewelry segment. For instance, my followers know what I think about lab grown diamonds, so they know they won’t find this genre of content on my page. Since I want to stay true to myself, to my authenticity, I really pay attention to which brand I’m collaborating with. If I need to generalize, key factors on social media are consistency, credibility, authenticity, and trust.

We’ve seen Messika jewelry collaborate with both Gigi Hadid and Kate Moss, where they went beyond brand ambassadorship and played a part in the design of the collab collection. Hopefully we will see a lot more in the future!

As far as I know, renowned brands are happy to be part of a larger conglomerate. However, I do think buying jewelry is a very personal moment, maybe more than any other industry, therefore, I believe customers will support and remain loyal to a brand regardless of ownership. At the end, it all comes down to the relationship you build with your customers and how you treat them. On the other hand, smaller brands cannot spend as much money as conglomerates to build their brand awareness, and to hold massive events with celebrities. It would be a very sad day indeed if the larger companies overshadowed the market to the extent that we lose the creativity and uniqueness of smaller brands, and emerging designers. However, they have other strengths, for instance smaller brands may have better prices, unique pieces, fully personalized service, and they have flexibility that more established brands may not have. Although you encounter two different experiences in a jewelry boutique – depending on the size and how well established a firm is – you will still experience two equally good moments. For instance, when I go to Harrods, I feel like a kid in a candy shop and when I go to a smaller boutique, I really appreciate the level of attention and personalization. I just love being in a jewelry boutique!

It depends on what they want to do. In general, I would say getting a qualification and studying gems to increase your knowledge. For example, De Beers has really good online courses, Van Cleef & Arpels has a school in Paris and of course there are the GIA courses. Start with education and identify your own style. Additionally, if you can, try to get experience in a boutique at a ground level because you will learn so much about customers, selling, the brand, manufacturing… everything. My first job was in retail! I have highlighted the importance of knowledge because before I was only interested in diamonds but after a trip to Columbia where I got the chance to visit an emerald mine, I started to appreciate emeralds. During the years, my tastes have evolved as TheDiamondsGirl. Now I appreciate all gems, they all have the magic and power to transform an ordinary day into an extraordinary day by making you feel special.

Honestly, it wasn’t love at first sight, however, shortly after I started to enjoy it. What intrigued me and attracted me the most was the fact that in this industry you have the chance to be a real designer because you literally design and craft everything from a blank page. On top of that, each project is completely new, hence you don’t get bored and this aspect combined with the creativity that follows is what has motivated me over the past 16 years.

First the client has to hire me. It could be a private client or a company. Usually new clients arrive via recommendation. Since I also work on other projects not involved in aviation, it may happen that after concluding a project with a client, he/she asks me to make his/her private jet. Depending on whether it is a refurbishment or a brand new jet the design process may change. On average I would say 1-2 months for refurbishment and 4-6 Months for green (new) jets. Generally, however, we look after our customers until the delivery of their aircraft, as it is very important to us that we ensure during the completion phase that the desired design is also executed in the desired quality. Therefore, a refurbishment project takes about 6 months and a green aircraft project up to 3 years depending on the size of the aircraft and the complexity of the design.

I would say to listen and understand your client’s needs which sometimes it is not as easy as it seems because clients might not be fully aware about what they want. Typical questions can be: How many passengers will you accommodate? How will you use your private jet? Is it only for business or also pleasure? Will you charter it? Particularly this latter point is extremely important because it can change the layout and materials. To give you an example, if you decide to not charter your jet, you might choose expensive leathers such as the glove leather, very soft and delicate, but if you decide to charter it, you might want to consider using another leather, a cheaper and stronger one because if a damage occurs – which can easily happen since people tend to not take as much attention and care as the owner does – it can end up being very costly for you. Moreover, when it comes to understand client’s tastes and desired style, I have noticed there is some confusion, that’s why we usually ask for pictures and which hotels they like, in this way we avoid any miscommunication. We have had very good experience with mood boards, which we present at the first client meetings. With the help of the mood images, it is easier for most customers to communicate their preferred design.

The first and not surprising one is the small layout, you cannot add space in a private jet as you may do in the real estate industry. The second and most important one is time, usually the designer is involved in the project too late. In an ideal and perfect world six months would be enough but most of the time you don’t have this fortune. What happens instead is that you don’t have much time to get to know the client, you don’t have enough time to check with the engineer if the mechanisms work and the client might need to adapt to the situation and compromise or sacrifice the overall quality because nowadays prices are higher compared to 15 years ago and behind every change there is a lot of paperwork that is considered an extra cost, so in general it is better if you get it right the first time. Another challenge we can encounter and that is linked to the previous problem is the possibility to talk with the customer. Often, you don’t get to know the final client, you meet the representative but not the real client. What happens is that they will give you the answers that they think their boss would give but they are just guessing because obviously they can know the owner only until a certain extent. Finally, the fourth and last challenge is instant gratification. Today the clientele is younger and they are looking for instant gratification and we need to explain them to be patience and to prioritize quality.

To show how the private jet will look there are some tools. Currently the industry is experimenting with Virtual Reality but I need to admit at the present stage is not a very comfortable tool, however clients get a deeper understanding on the actual use of spaces. To get an even better understanding of the space, mockups are valid substitutes and they avoid the dizziness that sometimes arises from Virtual Reality. Renderings are also very helpful but in my +15 years of experience I noticed the best way to envision your project is from hands sketching. I know today is not a popular thing to say because people are mostly encouraged to develop digital skills, but hand sketches can give you and your client the advantage of keeping an open mind, it allows inspiration and a constantly evolving dialogue between the designer and client. Obviously, after you need to create renderings but if you start with rendering then it is so realistic that you don’t leave room for other possibilities.

In general, private jet owners are now younger, so they are willing to experiment and search for what is unconventional. They prefer to have a very colorful interior design instead of the classical and timeless beige because it is already seen and they want a fresher look for their private jet. However, when it comes to refurbishment, customers tend to ask for a contemporary black and white selection. An interesting trend that I have noticed is how the aviation industry is learning and taking inspiration from the automotive industry, for instance, in terms of seat design and its comfortability but also from a technological point of view and of the overall experience. As regards models I expect to see more green jets in the next years, notably the Airbus 350 and the new Boeing 777x. But I also expect narrow jets, such as Airbus 319 and 320neo; Boeing Max BBK Max and Airbus ACJ220.

From an exterior point of view I would say A350, I really like the wings and its contemporary design, and in terms of interiors I like when it’s futuristic, contemporary and modern.