If you’re going to be a jeweller, hailing from one of Antwerp’s biggest diamond dynasties certainly can’t do any harm. Vanessa Tugendhaft, the 31-year-old jewellery designer who will debut in Dubai tonight at Toby Arts Gallery in Al Quoz, is not one to trumpet her origins, and her success – she counts Madonna, Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson and Inès de la Fressange among her fans – has been entirely her own.
She’s certainly a popular guest round Paris, but this rather shy Belgian is more likely to be found nesting at home with her young daughter than out on the town, and that unpretentious attitude extends to her jewels.For Tugendhaft, diamonds are not necessarily about grandeur and ostentatious dressing, but should be worn lightly, day-to-day, and the low-key delicacy of her signature “Identity” collection from 2004 – the single diamond hanging from a coloured thread – allows just that. “I don't wear lots of jewellery,” she admits. “I only wear real jewellery and very discreetly. That's why I designed what I call ‘skin’ jewellery. I can mix it with high-end pieces from my grandmother or mom's collection, but it's really very rare that I do.”
Indeed, even the most elaborate pieces in her collections, such as her latest collection, the art deco-inspired Le Garconne collection designed with the jewellery editor of Citizen K magazine, or the now iconic rose design, sit unobtrusively against the skin, with diamonds set in yellow, white or pink gold or, in the case of the rose, in a more affordable rhodium silver. Here is a peek into her lifestyle.
What are you reading?
On my bedside table, I have two books at the moment: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
What kind of music do you like? I listen to all kinds – I'm a music lover. But I have a weakness for the 1980s. My favourite artist? I have so many! I love Madonna, Tori Amos, Adele, Whitney Houston...
What's your favourite movie?
"Va, Vis et Deviens" (Live and Become), directed by Radu Mihaileanu.
Who are your style icons?
Audrey Hepburn and Charlotte Casiraghi, and the fashion designers I most admire are Riccardo Tisci, Anne-Valérie Hash, Stella McCartney (because she is animal friendly, like me) and Raf Simons.
Describe your personal style
I’m not a fashion follower. I'm often in black: a black classic Joseph pant or a denim leather jacket, my Isabel Marant or Chloé boots (both from old seasons), Maje tops, and I carry the bag that I designed in collaboration with the Belgian designer Clio Goldbrenner. I think a stylish woman is one who knows how to play with fashion according to her body and taste; she is chic, she's elegant with a twist of fashion. She is never overdressed, never wears a total look, she mixes and matches and knows how to be simple during the day. The last pieces I bought and loved were a black Antigona bag from Givenchy – it’s so chic – and the latest MacBook Air.
What are your best beauty buys?
I don’t buy beauty products – I use organic essential oils to create my own beauty products. My favorite is Docteur Valnet because each oil has a therapeutic power and it's organic. I love going to a spa as well, and being surrounded by my best friends and family – we sometimes need a change of scene because of the Parisian turmoil! My favourite is the U Spa at the Hôtel Fouquet's Barrière de Paris.
What do you like to eat?
Food is my guilty pleasure. I love to eat cookies, chocolate and especially fruit dipped in fondant dark chocolate! My favourite cuisine is Italian. I'm not a cook, although I do cook very simple and organic things time to time. I love summer white truffle risotto. I love going to Il Carpaccio, the Italian restaurant at the Royal Monceau Hotel in Paris.
Where do you like to travel?
I last went on holiday to The Seychelles – it’s such a peaceful, wild and relaxing island. For hotels, the Shangri-La in Paris blows my mind. I love going to Los Angeles, too, because it has such a unique combination of green, gardens, beach leisure, perfect weather, glamour, good food and fashionable places. And when I'm in LA, I spend some peaceful weekends in San Diego.
Which artists do you admire?
I've started to collect art, following in the footsteps of my mom's passion for art. My favourite artist is David Gerstein. I adore his genuineness and colourful world.
Who would you invite for dinner?
My top dinner party guests would be Coco Chanel, for her revolutionary fashion vision and her amazing and strong personality, and Grace Kelly for her beauty and timeless elegance.
What do you never leave home without?
My BlackBerry, because unfortunately you have to be reachable everywhere and anytime – but also because I like being in contact with the ones I love.
Describe your personality in five words.
Determined, honest, smiling, open minded and faithful.
How would you like to be remembered?
A loyal person and an innovative jewellery designer.
What is the best advice you ever received?
Never give up.
What is your greatest achievement?
My baby girl.
Who do you most admire?
My husband.
What inspires you?
Everything. It could be a cafe, a city, a dress, my baby girl, my travels, sight-seeing, a person...
Vanessa Tugendhaft launches tonight at Toby Arts in Al Quoz; the jewels will be available soon at S*uce. www.shop.vanessa-tugendhaft.com
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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