Sample content from Vertu Select aand Vertu City Brief, edited by Sally Dickson from 2010 to 2013.

1. Sally Dickson, Global Content Manager, Vertu.
Sample content from Lifestyle magazine and travel guide edited by Sally
Dickson from September 2010 to September 2013
Vertu City Brief
Vertu Select
Vertu Privileges
20 luxury recommendation in
200 cities in 73 countries
translated into Russian, Chinese,
Arabic, French, German and
Italian
Monthly magazine of 27 articles
on Arts & Culture, Fine Dining,
Champagne & Spirits, Fashion
&Lifestyle, VIP Entertainment,
Elite Sport and Business
Intelligence. Also translated into
Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French,
German and Italian
Monthly offer of 20 unique and
exclusive opportunities for VIP
access to events, invitation-only
parties, exclusive sought afterrestaurants and private members
clubs
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

2. Vertu City Brief
New York
From the high rises of Manhattan to
the character-filled boroughs of
Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and
The Bronx, New York is a city of high
energy and high expectations that
rarely fails to deliver.
The Knowledge
Eat and meet
Spend
Insider
In style: Flatiron Lounge
37 West 19th Street
Classic old New York
Sleek banquettes, dark
mahogany tables and
wrought iron banisters
give this lounge a real
sense of New York’s
glory days. Sit at the 30foot bar – built in 1927 –
and chat to the skilled
bartenders, who remain
cool under pressure on
busy Friday nights.
Unique: New York Shaving Company
202B Elizabeth St
Cut above the rest
These male grooming
specialists take the daily
shaving ritual to another level.
The antique barber’s chair and
1940s soundtrack will cast you
back in time. Traditional, not
fusty.
Read: The New York Times for
news and New York Magazine for
listings
Dress: Chic, smart casual
Essential: Explore Central Park
Skip: The queues for the Empire
State building – instead, scale the
Rockefeller Center to the Top of
the Rock for city views
Do: Tip all service staff
Don’t: Think that New Yorkers
aren’t friendly (contrary to myth,
they are)
Service
Lunch: noon-4pm (Sunday
brunch, 10am-3pm)
Dinner: 5pm-midnight
Tax: 8.875% sales tax (exempt on
clothing and shoes under $110)
Tip: Taxi drivers, 10%-15%;
restaurant service, 20%; bar
staff, $1 a drink
City
Time: GMT -5
Currency: US Dollar ($)
Language: English
Dialling code: +1
Population: 8 million
In the know: 2nd Floor on
Clinton
67 Clinton Street
A modern day speakeasy
A new cocktail bar
accessible through
Barramundi, a dimly-lit
Lower East Side tavern.
The host will escort you
to one of the
mismatched tables or
velvet benches under
the tall windows. Order
a James Delancey, made
with gin, calvados, sweet
vermouth and yellow
chartreuse.
Late: Plunge Bar & Lounge
Gansevoort Park Avenue, 420
Park Avenue
Soak up the scene. Situated 20
storeys up, this stylish tri-level
bar offers knockout views of the
Empire State Building. There are
six unique areas, including the
rooftop deck with heated pool
and the exclusive leatherpanelled Blue Room.
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Fashion: Tom Ford
841 Madison Avenue
Master of design
Renowned for being sharp and polished
with a striking silhouette, you can buy
Ford’s off-the-peg suits on the ground
floor of this luxurious store, or book an
appointment in a made-to-measure
salon upstairs.
Editor's Choice
Where can I find an authentic jazz club?
Harlem’s original Cotton Club and
Connie’s Inn are long gone, but some
Greenwich Village crucibles from the
golden age of jazz have survived. Try the
Village Vanguard or Smalls in the West
Village. The Lenox Lounge in Harlem
attracts both old and new stars.
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

3. Beijing
Although adapting to its global role,
Beijing can feel parochial at times.
Head to 798 Art Zone (Dashanzi Art
District) or the Dongcheng district
for a more thriving and cosmopolitan
culture.
The Knowledge
Eat and meet
Spend
Insider
Read:China Daily – liberal but still
the voice of the party
Dress: Conservative. Suit and tie
for meetings, sharp jacket and
jeans for socialising
Essential: Tiananmen Square. For
all the reasons
Skip: The Summer Palace and
organised trips to the Great Wall.
Hire a driver and head for the
Mutianyu section instead
Do: Take the hotel’s card with
key addresses and phrases in
Chinese characters. You will use
it
Don’t: Sit down first at business
dinner. Some customs such as
where the host sits persist
In style: Georges
Gate 12, Workers’ Stadium,
Gongrentiyuchang, Chaoyang
Masterful mixology
In this solo venture, George Zhou
(of Q Bar fame) continues to
serve up his creative signature
concoctions. Journey down a
flight of stairs into a classic black
interior, with a lengthy bar on
one side and intimate booths on
the other.
Fashion: Sanlitun North Village
Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang
Dress to impress
Home to an exclusive selection of
designer boutiques, each situated
around a central open-air courtyard.
Browse the latest lines from Comme Des
Garçons, Versace and Balmain.
Service
Breakfast: 7am-10am. Good for
business and dim sum
Lunch: 1-2pm. Drinking alcohol
at lunch is uncommon
Dinner: 6-10pm
Tax: 17% VAT
Tip: No tradition of tipping but
visitors should add 10%
City
Time: GMT +8
Currency: China Renminbi (RMB)
called the yuan
Languages: Mandarin
International dialling code: +86
Population: 22 million
In the know: Champagne Bar
Fairmont Beijing, 8 Yongan,
Dongli, Jianguomenwai Dajie,
Chaoyang
The finer things in life
This seductive ground-floor bar,
featuring hard polished woods
and caramel marble panelling,
serves up a sterling selection of
champagnes, including a vintage
1998 Krug. Take note of the
striking $1 million Dancing
Sleeves chandelier.
Late: Atmosphere
China World Summit
Wing, 1 Jianguomenwai
Dajie, Chaoyang
High society
Situated on the 80th
floor of Beijing’s tallest
building, this new
opening offers
spectacular views of the
city and stylish decor by
renowned American
designer Adam D.
Tihany. Select a drink
from the extensive
menu and take in the
live jazz.
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Spa: Green T. House Living
318 Cuige Zhuang Xiang Hege Zhuang
Cun, Chaoyang
Award-winning pampering
Inspired by a Tang dynasty emperor’s
bath house, this exquisite spa offers a
green tea-infused granite steam bath
and massage therapies. Voted 'Best Spa
Design' in the Wallpaper*magazine 2010
Design Awards.
Editor's Choice
Try some Mandarin
Offering up the odd 'ni hao' (nee how =
hello) or 'she she' (shay shay = thank
you) will bring kudos. As will a deft
chopstick grip.
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

4. Vertu Select
Delicious delinquent Jean Paul Gaultier may be a fashion stalwart, but
that doesn’t mean he has grown up. Josh Sims catches up with the
iconic designer
The surroundings of Elton John’s Grey Goose Winter Ball had an air of familiarity about them: the grand
entrance was lined with blue and white stripes and the ballroom garlanded with a panel cut into a lace
effect. That the set design was so familiar is a testament to the man who created it, almost as an anthology
of his own iconography.
He may have released dance singles, hosted TV series, created costumes for Peter Greenaway and Pedro
Almodóvar and, until recently, designed womenswear for Hermès, but the greatest contribution of JeanPaul Gaultier has been his own spin on French fashion – the tradition of corsets and trenchcoats, Breton
tops and pencil skirts, reworked with the irreverence of streetwear.
‘I just think I have a cinematic way of designing. I discovered fashion through the cinema,’ he says, ‘But, you
know, actually, if you’re obsessed with certain ideas, you keep going at them – and over time they just
become iconic.’
Obsession is putting it mildly. For example, those corset dresses – which gave us underwear-as-outerwear –
were inspired by the corsets worn by his grandmother when he was a child. The idea of men in skirts and
playing with ideas of the macho came simply from his own love of kilts, which for some time, along with a
Breton, became the Gaultier uniform – expressing what some might see as a wacky creativity of which,
arguably, the fashion industry has a diminishing store.
‘There is nothing that I would call fashion these days,’ says the designer. ‘For someone to tell me that I have
to do trousers in a certain way because that is what’s selling, which is what happens a lot in the industry
now, well, I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in
difference.’
Now, 35 years since he got his first proper design job with Jean Patou, with Hermès behind him and a
world-touring retrospective of his work opening soon at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the 59-year-old
is back to focusing on his own collections and a new deal with La Perla to design what is actually his first
underwear line. La Perla, rightly, expect big things from the launch collection. Above all, he is back to a
labour of love: couture – one that he earns nothing from.
‘Maybe couture helps sell some perfume,’ he suggests. ‘But just as some people buy an apartment with
their money, or a little boat, I do couture, because that’s what it’s been my dream to do since I was a child.
Couture is an important laboratory. And it’s exciting – when I find the idea. And when I don’t, it’s like…
urrgghh.’
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

5. Josh Sims writes for The Independent and the Financial Times
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

6. Sailor Pen has been producing exquisite writing instruments since 1911.
Named after an unknown British sailor, this company makes some of
the most desirable and collectable pens in the world. They are like
miniature works of art, writes Ian Buxton
‘With a treasured fountain pen, the writer assumes an air of accomplishment and expresses his innermost
thoughts and passions to the world. Rising above the times, a fountain pen will stay, and forever remain,
the purest means of self-expression.’
So say Sailor Pen of Japan that, since 1911, has been producing some of the world’s finest nibs and
precision writing instruments for an enthusiastic group of connoisseurs and collectors.
Blame an unknown British sailor who, more than one hundred years ago, demonstrated his fountain pen to
Kyugoro Sakata, an engineer from Hiroshima. Sakata was so intrigued by the design and function of the pen
he chose to honour his British friend by naming his company Sailor Pen. Today, Sailor remains dedicated to
crafting the finest writing instruments in the world. From their factory, still located in Hiroshima, they offer
an exceptional range – both a permanent collection and limited editions of as few as 10 pieces.
Such highly desirable objects are miniature works of art, the ebonite barrels meticulously hand-decorated
by experienced and highly skilled artists employing ancient Japanese techniques, including Maki-e. This
1,500-year-old technique combines intricate lacquer painting with a variety of surface decorations including
powered gold and other precious metals, gemstones and mother-of-pearl.
The themes of the various collections reflect Japan’s long cultural heritage, with editions honouring Noh
theatre; the four seasons of Mount Fuji; the ancient Tale of Genji (believed by some to be the world’s
oldest novel) and traditional images from Japanese art, such as the cat and the chrysanthemum flower.
Other collections honour ancient languages (the link to writing is clear) and endangered species of ocean
creatures and birds. The limited edition pieces are highly collectable and cost around £1,000 – they are
long-term investment pieces that are also superbly functional.
Sailor’s permanent collection may cost less but there is no compromise in production standards and these
are highly satisfying pens with which to work. Well balanced, comfortable in the hand and with a range of
nibs to suit every writing style, the entry-level 1911 series is suitable for everything from signing a deal to
writing your first novel.
However, the complete pen obsessive demands special and unusual ink, also from Japan: for example,
correcting paperwork in Pilot’s Momiji shade, from the Iroshizuku series is particularly rewarding. This
dramatic red ink, which seeks to match the colour of autumn maple leaves, comes in an elegant hand-made
bottle. This is only available in Japan but it is worth ordering as the ink can add a touch of class to even the
most spidery scrawl.
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

7. Ian Buxton is an author and journalist who lives in Scotland
When it comes to paradise islands, complete with prerequisite white
sands, coconut palms and glorious sunsets, Zanzibar is about as
good as it gets. By Nick Smith
There can’t be many places where the name alone is enough to conjure up the sheer romance of barefoot
luxury travel. Maybe Timbuktu or Mandalay, but the most evocative of all is Zanzibar. Cast adrift off the
coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean, this tiny coral archipelago – famed for its cinnamon and nutmeg,
cloves and vanilla – is a must-see for all who love their travel to be truly exotic.
In the old days, you would arrive by dhow, a traditional seafaring vessel made entirely of wood. But today
you’re more likely to get your first glimpse of the islands from a light aircraft, where the bleached white
coral sands fringe an emerald green equatorial paradise, nestled in the indigo and turquoise tropical sea. As
you land, you can almost smell the spice plantations, and as the taxi takes you the short ride to Stone Town
– the ancient capital of Zanzibar – you’ll see a blend of African, Arabian and European architectural
influences that blend to give a multifaceted cultural experience like no other.
Stone Town is the best place to say, with many unique and intimate converted spice merchants’ houses.
The finest of these boutique hotels is Emerson and Green, which rises above a skyline of mosques, temples
and churches, giving a sumptuous panorama westwards over the ocean. The open-air rooftop bar is the
perfect place to have a sundowner, where, seated on Persian carpets, the experience is of pure tropical
indulgence.
In Stone Town, you don’t need a map. The narrow unnamed streets, filled with antique shops and coffee
bars, are so confusing that a map would be no help at all. Much better to get lost in the labyrinth, soaking
up the ambience of a bustling and lively town.
But there’s more to Zanzibar than just the ancient walled city. Nowhere is more than a few hours away, and
with the help of a guide you can head east, through mango groves to visit the incredibly rare Colombus
monkeys of the Jozani forest, or even venture further to the idyllic coastline of Jambiani, where you can
watch fishermen out on the reef in dug-out canoes, or the women of the village farming seaweed in
shallow lagoons. There are spice plantations, ruined castles, churches and forts, while, for water-sports
lovers, there’s superb scuba diving and snorkeling in the north.
But for many, the abiding memory of this jewel of the Indian Ocean will simply be the thrill of being in one
of the most exquisitely beautiful places on earth, where coconut palms line the white beaches, and where
the aroma of exotic spices wafts on the tropical breeze.
Nick Smith writes for The Telegraph, Literary Review, The Times Higher
Education Supplement and The Wall Street Journal
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Tel: + 44 7957 440703

8. Vertu Privileges
Racing around a Grand Prix circuit in a F1 car is one of the most
exhilarating experiences anyone can encounter
Racing around a Grand Prix circuit in a F1 car is one of the most exhilarating experiences anyone can
encounter. Step into the shoes of one of your racing heroes as you take an adrenalin-fuelled spin at speeds
of up to 200mph around Budapest’s Hungaroring circuit with Lotus Renault GP’s i-Race programme.
A race day includes a full day driving experience behind the wheels of three superb racing cars: Formula
Renault 2.0, Lotus GT4 and a F1 single-seater. Being a racing driver doesn’t just include zooming round a
track, so your day will include full briefings, debriefings and both physical and technical training.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience includes one night’s accommodation at the five-star Four Seasons
Budapest, chauffeur transfers to and from the airport, a VIP gift, breakfast and lunch at the circuit and a
cocktail reception with dinner.
The ultimate Rio Carnival experience
For any party lover the legendary Rio Carnival is a four-day party you simply cannot miss. It is the biggest
carnival in the world and attracts international partygoers to watch the parade and attend the surrounding
parties. And the hardest-to-access party happening around the Carnival is the sophisticated Magic Ball at
the legendary Copacabana Palace Hotel.
Indulge in the ultimate carnival experience at the Copacabana Palace Hotel by calling Vertu Concierge, who
can arrange accommodation in a highly sought after sea-facing room looking over the Carnival. Rub
shoulders with international and Brazilian VIPs at the Magic Ball, taking place on Saturday, 18 February.
The highlight of the Carnival is Rio’s Samba Parade, taking place at the Sambódromo on 19 and 20
February. Vertu members can access the best seats in the house – the luxury VIP lounges lining the catwalk,
usually reserved for the A-list.
Contact: sally.dickson@btinternet.com
Tel: + 44 7957 440703