As I fly back to England from a spectacular weekend in Monaco, I think of the magical evening I spent in the company of the most wonderful people in Monte Carlo.

By James William Phillips, Monaco.

Boubou, Raquel, Ana, Patrice, Juan, Sonia, Alan; their warm hospitality, friendship and generous welcome for myself and Luxury News Online at the Christmas Gala Dinner for Les Amis du Liban at Oliban in Monaco are the warmest of memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.

For several years, Buran Bouery personally helped those who were most in need in his home country, Lebanon. This dedication is channeled to provide better living conditions and enhance the lives for children whatever their background, and this annual Gala Dinner at Oliban Monaco has been the setting for this years magical evening of fabulous jewellery, celebrities and fashion.

The Association “Friends of Lebanon in Monaco was born in 2005.

The event was organised by BouBou Hallani the most popular and successful of the luxury event organisers in Monte Carlo and a genuinely lovely human being, and hosted by Hayat High Jewellery, the high-end jewellery business owned and created by the glamorous and very beautiful, Raquel Torres.

Image: Alan Landry

Image highlights: Raquel Torres and James W Phillips, Alan Landry, Opera Diva Delia Grace Noble, Monaco model Nelly Daubord.

High up on the Monaco rooftop restaurant at Oliban, the red carpet took guests to a popular photo area to have their photos taken by a very charismatic Thomas Boyron of ‘Pictures Event’, and a glass of wine by the attentive staff of Oliban and a seat at the Hayat table greeted me and Luxury News Online.

Ana Martin of L’ambassade du Luxe and Raquel Torres.

Beautiful women and the best of Monaco high society began arriving, including the well known and popular Spanish singer Juan Pena and his amazing wife Sonia, an eminent Government minister for Monaco and the French National Football Coach, Didier Deschamps. We were also joined by the highly talented and eminent fashion designer to the Monaco Royal family, Patrice Papa.

Juan Pena and Wife Sonja

Raquel Torres entered in a wave of flashbulbs in a stunning glittering white sequin dress and glittering yellow gold earrings in 18 carats, with blue and purple sapphires, designed by herself. The fabulous Hyatt Jewellery began to arrive with security for display in glass cabinets surrounding us, and there were gasps of wonder as Raquel unfolded her jewellery rolls to reveal her stunning jewellery creations in absolutely amazing colours set in delicate yellow gold settings in 18 carats, with Beryls, blue Sapphires, Fire Sapphires, yellow Sapphires and orange Sapphires which glittered under the lights. Fabulous ear rings, spectacular broaches, and show stopper rings.

As Raquel slipped on her black gloves to make final adjustments to her jewellery displays, I felt unbelievably lucky to be in the presence of such a talented artist, a jewellery designer who sets out to be different from all the usual designer brands, who is passionate about her collection, who is equally glamorous as her wonderful creations and who I count as one of my close friends.

Some UK shoppers and jewellery followers may not have heard of Hayat – but you will now! For Hayat Jewellery is fast growing into one of the most respected and glamorous of the boutique luxury jewellery brands. Hayat tells the story of a company that is passionate about the luxurious history of our ancestors. Shapes and colours that lead us to those incredibly mysterious, extravagant, exotic, wild places that inspired the most powerful figures in history.

This is the brand of Hayat, exclusive designs, hand-crafted pieces that is most sought after and appealing for women who admire luxury jewellery. Hayat is a lifestyle choice and glitters with elegance that awakens the senses.

This most amazing and spectacular of evenings progressed at pace, with fantastic singing by famous Spanish singer Juan Pena, Alan Landry ‘The Voice of Monaco’ and Opera Diva Delia Grace Noble, exotic dancing, a luxury brand fashion show with beautiful catwalk models wafting effortlessly among the tables to the delight of all the glittering guests.

Image: Alan Landry

The food tradition Meze with Prosecco, fine wine and to add a luxury twist, the evening had been supported by the innovative and soon to arrive in the UK ‘Molecular Experience’. This really is thinking outside the box for all those who enjoy that touch of luxury drinking with a difference. Bursting pearls of Vodka, Gin & Tonic and passion fruit – yes they burst in your mouth and are some what addictive!

I had never experienced anything like this before. Luxury News Online can contact Molecular Experience should you wish to explore their amazing services for your event, wedding or party. Glamorous serving assistants handed you a shaped spoon with the alcohol filled pearls, and just when you think this doesn’t get any better, a hand comes in with a liquid dropper to add yet more exotic flavour to amaze your senses!

Sitting talking to a Monaco government minister and his lovely wife, and local business man Bahri, I took a moment to sit and reflect not only how lucky I was to be at such a prestigious event, but also what an important occasion for Raquel Torres and Hayat High Jewellery this really was, this truly was a showcase for her beautiful work, her brand and her endearing personality. Let’s just take a moment to consider what Raquel has achieved. To take an idea, make sketches, drawing her passion from within to design from initial concepts, manufacture by hand and create the most beautiful jewellery and have a presence in arguably the most glamorous of all locations – Monaco, was not only an incredible achievement, but the life’s work of this exceptional and fabulous jewellery designer.

James W Phillips and Raquel Torres

I took many photos for you all to enjoy, even with modern technology the camera’s memory soon began to reach capacity and I will be sharing these during the days ahead on my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages and right here on luxurynewsonline.com

The stunning earrings worn by Raquel Torres available at Hayat

So following this star studded evening of celebrity, wine, models, fashion, new – wonderful friends and beautiful Hayat jewellery, the night began to draw to a close. How lucky I was to be in the company of such famous, esteemed friends and colleagues in the luxury industry with Hayat gift bags and a red carpet to greet our departure. I thought to myself we must do this every weekend!

Next, and as a surprise I had been invited to a spectacular mountainside Romanesque Villa in the Monte Carlo hills….. but this is a story for another day! So sit back and enjoy the images from this wonderful evening by Hayat and Boubou and the glamorous and beautiful, Raquel Torres.

By James William Phillips for Luxury News Online on location in Monaco.

Luxury News Online wants to hear from you! If you have a luxury event, jewellery collection, luxury business or launch event then we would love to hear from you. We can fly by arrangement to meet with you, and cover your event. Please contact James at Luxury News Online by express email at: luxurynewsonline@gmail.com