Million Air Fall 2024

elite traveler FALL2024 25

Welcome

It’s not by chance that our Top Watches issue coincides with the changing of the seasons. The topic of time — how it passes, how much we have left, what to do with it — is at the forefront of our minds as we notice summer drifting away and fall creeping in. Roberta Naas, Elite Traveler ’s contributing timepiece editor andbona fi de watch guru, has selected the most

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Samantha Coles checks in at the new Royal Mansour Casablanca — and enjoys the view from the rooftop

extraordinary new releases for this eighth year of Top Watches. Almost every year since our Top Watches feature began in 2017, we have presented 50 watches (except during the height of the pandemic when watch production slowed). This year, we have scrapped the 50 rule — as Naas succinctly puts it, “Why, after all, should there be 50 watches in the lineup if 50 watches don’t fi t the bill?” By including fewer watches, it means the criteria for inclusion is evenmore stringent than ever before. To make the cut, every timepiece must retail for a minimum of $20,000; the watches must have been introduced in 2024; and selected timepieces must be new and di ff erent when it comes to display, indications, functions, technology and aesthetics. The resulting list sees some of the most complex three-dimensional and classic watches, head-turning feats of high jewelry and incredible world fi rsts. From haute horology to haute perfumery, Naas also visits Henry Jacques’ laboratory in the South of France and reveals how the brand creates its gorgeous elixirs. Elsewhere in our In fl uence section, Alex Martin takes a closer look at Patek Philippe’s reimagining of its mid-century classic Golden Ellipse with a bracelet as fascinating and intricate as its movement. Also in our In fl uence section, Kim Ayling chats to CEO and founder of Tully Luxury Travel, Mary Jean Tully, about her vast travel experiences and the place that she returns to again and again (despite visiting over 120 countries). I sat down at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands to speak to ocean-exploring legend Jean-Michel Cousteau before taking a dive into the Indian Ocean, where we spotted a turtle. Michael Teo Van Runkle gets behind the wheel (in one case, behind the handlebars) of the latest and greatest new releases in the motoring world — including the fi rsthybrid Bugatti and the Lucid Air Sapphire, which can reach a hair-raising top speed of 205 mph. In our Explore section, Becca Hensley looks at the fi nest suites on the high seas and Michelle Gross is seduced by island life on Turks and Caicos. Emma Al-Mousawi heads out on an incredible journey to Panama, while Fiona Sims heads to the Azores for a culinary-focused escape. As ever, we close out this issue with our Flight of Fancy — VistaJet has partnered with Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea to launch A Way fi nder’s Journey for a spectacular evening under the stars.

Corey Zaretsky celebrates the Elite Traveler Leaders in Luxury issue launch party in NewYork

KimAyling makes anew friend at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island

FionaSims explores the Azores, an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands

Samantha Coles Editor samantha.coles@elitetraveler.com