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Summer Moments for Eternity

For some, it’s wonderful hours on distant beaches; for others, a quiet afternoon by the lake. The first six months are behind us, the to-do lists have been checked off—or at least put on hold—and suddenly there’s room. Room for anticipation, for travel, for stories yet to be written. That is exactly the energy we wanted to capture. This issue isn’t a loud fanfare, but rather a multi-layered echo of that special lightness. A collection of moments, perspectives, and discoveries that feel like a warm summer evening.

We kick things off right away with our cover, designed by Vienna-based artist Austin Settle. A visual time traveler who works with old color slides and recomposes memories. His images look like artifacts from another era and yet feel surprisingly contemporary. Nostalgia that doesn’t stand still, but looks ahead.

We’re also celebrating Paul Smith’s 80th birthday. A designer who has mastered the art of infusing classic tailoring with a touch of whimsy. His iconic stripes are more than a pattern; they’re a statement. For courage, for individuality, for the idea that elegance must never be rigid. Just how much this very tension is evident in other disciplines becomes clear in our history of architecture. Ten years after Zaha Hadid’s death, deconstructivism seems more relevant than ever. Together with Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Rem Koolhaas, Peter Eisenman, Bernard Tschumi, and Coop Himmelb(l)au, she has shaped a movement since the 1980s that radically reimagined architecture.

This idea of balance between continuity and innovation is also reflected in the workshops of the great jewelry and watch houses. Names like Cartier, Chopard, and Bulgari embody a philosophy that does not preserve tradition but rather evolves it. Here, pieces are created that carry stories while simultaneously writing new ones. Precision meets imagination; craftsmanship meets a very contemporary form of luxury. And while we delve deeply into the tradition of craftsmanship there, elsewhere our gaze is fixed on the future.

The automotive industry’s concept cars show how mobility is envisioned for the future. What sounded like science fiction yesterday seems surprisingly tangible today. Some ideas will fade away, while others will shape our daily lives. The appeal lies precisely in between. And of course, we’re taking you on another journey in this issue. This time, we’re heading to the birthplaces of great painting. To landscapes whose light and atmosphere have inspired artists for centuries. Places you may already know, yet rediscover when viewed through the eyes of art.

This issue is an invitation: to immerse yourself, to slow down, to think ahead. In a nutshell: to summer. We hope you enjoy discovering the new AURUM 999.9 issue.