Celebrate exploration and discovery with a limited edition Pilot from Shackleton

Shackleton's most popular jacket gets a one-of-a-kind run

By Mark D McKee Published November 27, 2024

Shackleton Limit Edition Pilot Jacket Collar — Shackleton

Today’s definition of success is usually defined by what you can acquire. You get the lovely house, you get the luxurious car, and you pay for it all with a cushy corner office job. At the end of the day, it seems that success is primarily defined by how much comfort you can build around yourself. But Ernest Shackleton defined success as shedding all remnants of comfort and embracing the unknown on a quest for knowledge and discovery. His dedication to exploration resulted in much of what we know about Antarctica today. Eventually, it led to the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, solidifying the continent as a scientific preserve and a place of peace. December 1st is a day to celebrate the treaty, and one brand looks to celebrate it in a colossal way. The Shackleton Limited Edition Pilot from a brand inspired by the explorer’s life releases just in time for the holiday.

Very limited edition for a one-of-a-kind explorer

Shackleton Limit Edition Pilot Jacket Side Vent — Shackleton

Shackleton’s Pilot Jacket is one of their best sellers, but this limited edition version comes in a polar white instead of their usual black and sand. Designed in the London headquarters and tested by pilots in Antarctica, there is a reason it is a bestseller. The brand’s ability to create technical garments that are fit for exploration and combine them with versatile pieces you can still wear daily in rough weather makes this jacket worth the investment. There will only be ten of these jackets in the limited-edition run, making them almost as rare as Ernest Shackleton himself. Whether you are able to get your hands on this jacket or not, you should absolutely take the inspiration and live courageously anyway.

Shackleton Limited Edition Pilot Jacket

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Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…

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Fashion & Style

A denim legacy built to serve: DEVIL-DOG Dungarees celebrates military heritage

DEVIL-DOG looks back to two and a half centuries of excellence

Man leaning on tree in hat

Twenty-five years ago, I joined the United States Army to serve. Well, part of it was to serve. There was also honoring my grandfather and doing all I could to make him proud. And the other part of it was not having a real path to college and just needing something to do. Two and a half decades later, the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Marines celebrate their 250th birthdays. The three branches of the services have been involved in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War, as well as more recent conflicts like the Gulf War, Afghanistan War, and Iraq War. Without them, the world would look very different. With that in mind, it is hard to think of men's style, but there are some definite connections.

Nearly three-quarters of the garments in your closet can be traced back to their origins in the military, and those who can't end up with connections to it. DEVIL-DOG Dungarees is one of those brands that recognizes the excellence of the perfect pair of jeans and also pays homage to the excellence of the United States military that fought for the freedom for us to do what we love. I got a chance to sit down with DEVIL-DOG's legacy owner, Jeff Rosenstock, to talk about celebrating the milestone this year.

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How to spot a true limited edition watch (and avoid overpriced hype)

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A row of four luxury watches.

‘Limited edition’ is a term long linked with exclusivity, prestige, and rarity – in the realm of luxury timepieces, this typically comes with hefty price tags. But what if it references only the term and is merely the illusion of exclusivity? No two brands are the same, and the same applies to two limited editions. While some are actually scarce, many others are simply marketing tools used to build up hype and create an artificial demand for the item. Watch enthusiasts understand the intricacies in order to avoid purchasing exclusivity that does not exist. It is important to know thy luxury, plus when and why limited editions aren’t always rare.

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Fashion & Style

Ulysse Nardin dazzles with blast sparkling rainbow high jewelry limited edition

Ulysse nardin's blast sparkling rainbow features mystery-set sapphires

Ulysse Nardin Sparkling Rainbow Liminited Edition

Ulysse Nardin transforms its avant-garde Blast collection into spectacular high jewelry territory with the Blast [Sparkling Rainbow], an eight-piece limited edition priced at CHF 451,700 that fuses haute horlogerie with gem-setting artistry. The timepiece showcases 211 rainbow-colored sapphires totaling 13.33 carats across the entire watch construction.
The original Blast collection, introduced in 2020, drew inspiration from stealth aircraft design to marry high function with unconventional aesthetics, establishing Ulysse Nardin's reputation as avant-garde icon. This high jewelry interpretation elevates that foundation through unprecedented gem-setting complexity while maintaining the collection's distinctive architectural language.
Central to the technical achievement sits the in-house UN-172 skeletonized movement featuring flying tourbillon, silicon escapement, and platinum micro-rotor visible at 12 o'clock. Operating at 18,000 vibrations per hour with 72-hour power reserve, the caliber demonstrates Ulysse Nardin's silicon innovation expertise dating to 2001's legendary Freak timepiece.
The 45mm white gold case receives invisible setting treatment across 211 individually selected sapphires cut into 85 unique shapes. This rainbow spectrum creates seamless gradient effect encircling the entire watch while employing "mystery setting" technique that allows light passage through gems, creating floating stone illusions without visible metal frameworks.
Gem-setting complexity extends beyond case architecture to encompass bezel, dial, crown, and clasp applications, ensuring complete chromatic coverage across every visible surface. The rainbow arrangement requires precise color matching and graduated placement to achieve the seamless transition effects that define the piece's visual impact.
Construction challenges multiply when combining high jewelry techniques with complex movement architecture. The skeletonized dial must accommodate both sapphire setting requirements and tourbillon visibility while maintaining structural integrity and shock resistance expected from luxury sports watches.
The integrated white rubber strap and deployant clasp receive matching sapphire applications, completing the rainbow aesthetic while ensuring practical wearability. Despite extensive gem setting, the watch maintains 50-meter water resistance, demonstrating successful integration of jewelry and timepiece functionality.
Limited production to eight pieces emphasizes exclusivity while highlighting the intensive handwork required for each example. The mystery setting technique demands exceptional gem-setting expertise, with each sapphire requiring individual cutting and placement to achieve the floating effect.
This release continues Ulysse Nardin's tradition of pushing horological boundaries through unconventional materials and techniques. The brand's silicon escapement innovations combine with high jewelry craftsmanship to create timepieces that challenge traditional luxury watch categories.
The CHF 451,700 pricing reflects both the extensive gemwork and limited availability, positioning the piece among the most exclusive offerings in Ulysse Nardin's contemporary catalog. Eight-piece production ensures immediate collector status while showcasing the manufacture's high jewelry capabilities.