Crafting a
Modern legacy
Crafting an
innovative legacy
Both Range Rover and Hodinkee share a passion for creating bespoke pieces that will stand the test of time.
Both Range Rover and Hodinkee share a passion for creating bespoke pieces that will stand the test of time.
In the Venn diagram of collector communities, the overlap between cars and watches is as well documented as it is robust. The merger of technical excellence, legacy, and design defines the best of both worlds – where a brand's ability to innovate and change without losing sight of its DNA helps it make and keep fans for generations. It’s that type of impressive balancing act that keeps collectors curious. Range Rover has mastered the art of small changes with a large impact that never stray too far from its core identity. It is something we here at Hodinkee think about often, especially in our own releases, and always with our community in mind.
When every product is treated with care and consideration – how do the people behind limited editions and bespoke projects ensure their products stand apart? We spoke with two of the men behind Hodinkee’s Limited Editions, Eneuri Acosta, Chief Brand Officer, and Jeff Hilliard, Senior Director of Limited Editions, as well as Phoebe Lindsay, Materiality Design Manager at Range Rover, about the delicate work of crafting something special, while honoring a brand’s core values.
In the Venn diagram of collector communities, the overlap between cars and watches is as well documented as it is robust. The merger of technical excellence, legacy, and design defines the best of both worlds – where a brand's ability to innovate and change without losing sight of its DNA helps it make and keep fans for generations. It’s that type of impressive balancing act that keeps collectors curious. Range Rover has mastered the art of small changes with a large impact that never stray too far from its core identity. It is something we here at Hodinkee think about often, especially in our own releases, and always with our community in mind.
When every product is treated with care and consideration – how do the people behind limited editions and bespoke projects ensure their products stand apart? We spoke with two of the men behind Hodinkee’s Limited Editions, Eneuri Acosta, Chief Brand Officer, and Jeff Hilliard, Senior Director of Limited Editions, as well as Phoebe Lindsay, Materiality Design Manager at Range Rover, about the delicate work of crafting something special, while honoring a brand’s core values.
“We've had several collaborations in the past where the sum of our ideas has created something that is pretty exciting for us,” Hilliard says of the fertile collaboration process. The team at Hodinkee works with a partner brand from the beginning to create a final product that everyone feels happy with. It’s a balancing act not just between the two teams, but also the technical needs of the product and the design aspirations. “And there have been times when constraints actually allow us to be more creative. With Grönefeld, we had a very specific idea of what we wanted to do with that watch.” That idea was to make one seemingly small change on the dial, which pushed both Hodinkee and Grönefeld into a rigorous testing and development phase, forcing a path forward that either entity might not have forged on its own.
“Our viewpoint there was, we want to alter the DNA of the brand just a little bit, but not too much to where it still feels wholly Grönefeld.”
“Our viewpoint there was, we want to alter the DNA of the brand just a little bit, but not too much to where it still feels wholly Grönefeld.”
Jeff Hilliard
Senior Director of Limited Editions, Hodinkee
Jeff Hilliard
Senior Director of Limited Editions, Hodinkee
“What's interesting about this, and I think something that people don't think about when we release our limited editions, is that on the surface it seems to be a very minimal change,” Hilliard says. But by making one seemingly small aesthetic change, there was over a year’s worth of technical trial and error to make the piece work. “The more you know, the more you can appreciate how subtle tweaks and watches lead to an overall thing that may seem small on the surface, but actually has quite a big R&D process behind it.”
“What's interesting about this, and I think something that people don't think about when we release our limited editions, is that on the surface it seems to be a very minimal change,” Hilliard says. But by making one seemingly small aesthetic change, there was over a year’s worth of technical trial and error to make the piece work. “The more you know, the more you can appreciate how subtle tweaks and watches lead to an overall thing that may seem small on the surface, but actually has quite a big R&D process behind it.”
For Range Rover and the newly released Range Rover SV Carmel Edition, the SV Bespoke team drew not from another brand per se, but from a specific location. The execution of the inspiration is what makes a quintessential Range Rover. The details are subtle and well thought out, and the nods to the Pacific Ocean are not in garish blues and seafoam greens, but shimmer in reflections woven through a calming color palette. The interior is a mix of rich Perlino and Deep Garnet leather and plush Pearl Oyster carpets. The connection extends not just to the landscape of Carmel, but also Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week with two sets of Titleist golf clubs included with the car.
For Range Rover and the newly released Range Rover SV Carmel Edition, the SV Bespoke team drew not from another brand per se, but from a specific location. The execution of the inspiration is what makes a quintessential Range Rover. The details are subtle and well thought out, and the nods to the Pacific Ocean are not in garish blues and seafoam greens, but shimmer in reflections woven through a calming color palette. The interior is a mix of rich Perlino and Deep Garnet leather and plush Pearl Oyster carpets. The connection extends not just to the landscape of Carmel, but also Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week with two sets of Titleist golf clubs included with the car.
“I can see the evolution of Range Rover from the eighties until today, and it feels organic,” Acosta says. “And so the through line with great design is that it can withstand that test of time and speak to different generations. The brands that are able to remain consistent and put design on the same level as engineering and quality, innovation, and safety – their design identity is consistent and instantly recognizable. They just tend to be more appealing.”
“I can see the evolution of Range Rover from the eighties until today, and it feels organic,” Acosta says. “And so the through line with great design is that it can withstand that test of time and speak to different generations. The brands that are able to remain consistent and put design on the same level as engineering and quality, innovation, and safety – their design identity is consistent and instantly recognizable. They just tend to be more appealing.”
Much like a watch, what’s powering the new Range Rover SV Carmel Edition is as vital to the success of the product as the package. The long wheelbase vehicle is powered by a 606hp twin turbo V8 MHEV gas engine. The interior glows with Pearl Oyster carpet, mats, and binding, which allow the soft, deep red of the rear seats to really shine. No crevice of this vehicle, inside or out, has been ignored and the inclusion of ash burr on the car door interiors is bewitching. Much like a moonphase or minute repeater, the well thought out details aren’t musts, although after seeing such craftsmanship in person, they very well could be. And while Range Rover took inspiration for the vehicle from California, it's also giving back by donating a portion of the sales to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
“Designing a look and feel embodying a narrative tied to this location, the vehicle is curated to resonate sentimentally with these local clients. By meticulously pairing unique combinations of soft trim, decorative and jewelry elements, in a creative and iterative process, the finished article is an artistic interpretation of the vehicle theme,” Lindsay shares. Range Rover designs its bespoke offerings not just with inspiration in mind, but also the people who will eventually find themselves behind the wheel. “Personalization elements, created hand in hand with the client, artistically embellish the vehicle interior expressing luxury in its truest form – through individuality.”
Much like a watch, what’s powering the new Range Rover SV Carmel Edition is as vital to the success of the product as the package. The long wheelbase vehicle is powered by a 606hp twin turbo V8 MHEV gas engine. The interior glows with Pearl Oyster carpet, mats, and binding, which allow the soft, deep red of the rear seats to really shine. No crevice of this vehicle, inside or out, has been ignored and the inclusion of ash burr on the car door interiors is bewitching. Much like a moonphase or minute repeater, the well thought out details aren’t musts, although after seeing such craftsmanship in person, they very well could be. And while Range Rover took inspiration for the vehicle from California, it's also giving back by donating a portion of the sales to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
“Designing a look and feel embodying a narrative tied to this location, the vehicle is curated to resonate sentimentally with these local clients. By meticulously pairing unique combinations of soft trim, decorative and jewelry elements, in a creative and iterative process, the finished article is an artistic interpretation of the vehicle theme,” Lindsay shares. Range Rover designs its bespoke offerings not just with inspiration in mind, but also the people who will eventually find themselves behind the wheel. “Personalization elements, created hand in hand with the client, artistically embellish the vehicle interior expressing luxury in its truest form – through individuality.”
For both Hodinkee and Range Rover, quality isn’t enough. The product has to differentiate itself enough to be truly special, not just collectible due to its limited nature. So much of that comes down to the “why” of the product. Not just why would someone want to buy it, but why should we make it? Why take a risk or change an already great piece? It comes down to the story – honoring the past not just in reverence but in the culture of transformation at the core of both brands.
For both Hodinkee and Range Rover, quality isn’t enough. The product has to differentiate itself enough to be truly special, not just collectible due to its limited nature. So much of that comes down to the “why” of the product. Not just why would someone want to buy it, but why should we make it? Why take a risk or change an already great piece? It comes down to the story – honoring the past not just in reverence but in the culture of transformation at the core of both brands.
“when I think about some of my favorite collaborations, our limited edition Leica M10-P introduced us to a similar community within the photography world.”
“when I think about some of my favorite collaborations, our limited edition Leica M10-P introduced us to a similar community within the photography world.”
Jeff Hilliard
Senior Director, Limited Editions
Jeff Hilliard
Senior Director, Limited Editions
“We could have put out a product that was luxury because of the materials, because of the finishing, because of all the work that goes into it, and I'm sure it would’ve sold,” says Hilliard. “But if we feel like it doesn’t have a story and we can't still tell that story then it doesn’t feel like the right thing for us to do. When you look at other businesses that can be called ‘luxury,’ especially in the watch realm, like Vacheron Constantin, often their most popular watches are ones that are steeped in history that speak to people, and that's a story that you can't buy or manufacture.”
“We could have put out a product that was luxury because of the materials, because of the finishing, because of all the work that goes into it, and I'm sure it would’ve sold,” says Hilliard. “But if we feel like it doesn’t have a story and we can't still tell that story then it doesn’t feel like the right thing for us to do. When you look at other businesses that can be called ‘luxury,’ especially in the watch realm, like Vacheron Constantin, often their most popular watches are ones that are steeped in history that speak to people, and that's a story that you can't buy or manufacture.”
When it comes to crafting a bespoke product, both Range Rover and Hodinkee know that it's about so much more than exclusivity for exclusivity’s sake. Fine craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and thoughtful technical innovation meet deep passion and honored lineage to create a product that stands out from the everyday.
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