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What happened to the most important collection of watches ever achieved by a private collector?In an August 1958 issue, Cecil Clutton lamented the almost certain auction and dispersal of the most important collection of watches ever achieved by a private collector. Republished for the first time in nearly 70 years, we also reveal what happened to the precious assortment of timepieces.
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Do we dress better when the economy is tanking?The seventies, the nineties and now the twenty-twenties are proving ripe for fashions that stand the test of time. Yet they also proved economically trying. Are the two things linked?
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Justine Picardie: 'Search dusty attics or muddy boot rooms for forgotten trench coats and sally forth, as gallant Britannic ambassadors'The practicality of the Burberry Trench first appealed to army officers and Antarctic explorers. Later, its stylish androgyny made it the choice of punks and princesses. Next week, an exhibition at the V&A will celebrate its remarkable story.
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Stop trying to make a pub something it isn'tIt doesn't need to be a restaurant. It needs to have a soul.
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Shell we? The dressed crab is smart, splendidly laid back and uniquely BritishAll a freshly caught and picked crab demands is that you dress for success, says Tom Parker Bowles
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Did Chanel's spectacular diamond exhibition almost cure the Great Depression?Three years after the 1929 stock-market crash, when the world was still in the depths of depression, Coco Chanel staged a dazzling exhibition of astronomically inspired jewellery.
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What is everyone talking about this week: How Yotam Ottolenghi inspired a vogue for harvest partiesThe chef who taught Britain how to love vegetables is now celebrating them with an annual back-to-school party. Others are following suit.
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The Goodwood Members' Meeting, where The Duke of Richmond meets Dave from RichmondNick Hendrix makes it a personal mission to inspire the next generation of petrolheads. Where else to do so than West Sussex?
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'Alexander McQueen is coming home the way football never could': This season’s ‘it’ item is the runway itselfLondon Fashion Week is finally back in vogue.
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Blackacre: The award winning bespoke jeweller doing it the hard wayPresented by Blackacre
Blackacre’s founder, Samuel Stirrat, tells Country Life how a childhood encounter led to a career creating delightful, one-of-a-kind jewellery.
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Can Federer, DiCaprio and Zidane follow in Cary Grant's footsteps and sell their watches for a tip top hammer price?It’s a bumper autumn for watches at auction: the timepiece that once graced the wrist of Cary Grant has sold. Soon, so to will one owned by Zinedine Zidane and four special offerings from Rolex with links to Leonardo DiCaprio and Roger Federer.
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A dazzling piece of jewellery from the Diamond King could be yoursShine bright like a Harry Winston diamond.
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Salon Privé 2026: McLarens, Duesenbergs, Miuras and more from Blenheim's best garden partyNow in its 11th year, Salon Privé still sets the standard for a discreet and delightful car show.
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Yotam Ottolenghi: ‘I still get stressed about hosting a dinner party'Lotte Brundle meets the chef and restaurateur.
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What fascinates a man who has seen it all? A Bugatti VeyronA well-curated Concours d'Élégance can inspire and amaze even those with no interest in automobiles. The edition at Heveningham Hall, in Suffolk, is a fine example.
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Five centuries of the dog collar, from wolf-proof necessity to aristocratic accoutrementGet your pooch a paddle because two dog collars from the 18th century are going under the hammer.
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The Nazi-defying bird brooch and other gems from the Country Life ArchiveRosie Paterson selects her favourite jewellery adverts from the Country Life Archive.
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No pesticides please, we're British: Organic sector swells with wines the winnerAs the Soil Association kickstarts Organic September, new statistics show a sector that is demonstrably more healthy in terms of value and volume sales compared with conventional food and drink.
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Light as air, tough as diamond: A five-minute guide to ceramic watchesWatchmaker's ceramic is the toughest material on your wrist — and it's never looked better.
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Emily Roux doesn't need her father's help, unless it's looking after the childrenFor Emily Roux and Michel Roux Jr, cooking is a family affair. Lotte Brundle meets the father and daughter duo.
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'The Pull of an Elephant and the Appetite of a Canary': The enduring joys of driving vintage carsThis week sees two of the country's most prestigious car shows grace the grounds of Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court. Back in 1986, the acclaimed novelist James Leasor helpfully explained the joys of owning and driving classic cars — a pleasure that thankfully still endures today.
