Schön! alive 3 | amped

Finally, it seems someone has realised that the future of eyewear shouldn’t involve strapping a computer the size of a brick to your face. Even Realities has just dropped their latest creations, the G2 Display Smart Glasses and the R1 Smart Ring, and they are a breath of fresh air for anyone tired of tech that screams for attention.

The brand is doubling down on their ‘quiet tech’ philosophy, essentially promising superpowers that disappear the moment you don’t need them, leaving you to look like a functioning human being rather than a cyborg.

“With G2 and R1, we’ve created devices that disappear into your daily life, while delivering the most advanced intelligence ever seen in the industry,” says Will Wang, Founder and CEO of Even Realities. “We wanted to embed in Even G2 a series of features that can truly make the day-to-day of high-achieving individuals better, not busier.”

The core team is an impressive blend of experts snatched from tech heavyweights like Apple, Samsung and Philips, combined with specialists from high-end eyewear names such as Mykita and Lindberg. They launched their first-generation product, the G1, with the mission of creating smart glasses that actually prioritise wearability and style over clunky digital functionality. They believe that innovation should enhance the human experience, not overwhelm it, and this latest launch is a confident evolution of that foundational belief.

The headline act here is the Even G2, a pair of smart glasses that genuinely look like high-end eyewear. Weighing in at a featherlight 36g and crafted from aerospace-grade titanium and magnesium alloy, they’ve managed to hide a serious amount of kit inside a frame you’d actually want to wear to a dinner party.

The magic happens via their new ‘Even HAO 2.0’ optical engine, which projects a crisp, green heads-up display directly into your line of sight. This allows you to access turn-by-turn navigation that adjusts as you turn your head, real-time translation across 29 languages and a live teleprompter.

But the real party trick is a feature called Conversate. Imagine having a witty scriptwriter in your ear – or rather, your eye – during awkward small talk. It listens to your conversation (privately, of course) and offers subtle prompts, explains complex concepts on the fly and even suggests follow-up questions if you’re running out of steam. It’s essentially a social safety net powered by AI.

Even Realities have ditched the front-facing cameras entirely. There’s no creepy red recording light and no invasion of privacy, just a focus on enhancing your own experience without making everyone else in the room uncomfortable.

Partnering the glasses is the Even R1 Smart Ring, a clever little slice of zirconia ceramic and stainless steel that acts as a discreet remote control for your face. Instead of tapping your temple like you’re trying to fix a malfunction, you can subtly scroll through notes or dismiss notifications with a tiny gesture of your hand. It also pulls double duty as a health tracker, monitoring your vitals and giving you a ‘Productivity Score’ to keep your work-life balance in check. The two devices link up via ‘TriSync,’ creating a seamless loop between your ring, glasses and phone.

The Even G2 and the R1 are available now globally. Find out more here.

photography. courtesy of Even Realities
words. Gennaro Costanzo

What if your favourite pen could keep its analogue soul while living in a world of cloud storage and instant sharing? That’s the challenge Montblanc has tackled head-on. The German luxury Maison, famed for crafting the world’s finest writing instruments, has successfully debuted the Montblanc Digital Paper, an innovation designed not to replace handwriting, but to elevate it for the modern age.

Unveiled at the brand’s Hamburg headquarters, the new device celebrates the unique, sensory pleasure of putting pen to paper while extending the Maison’s refined writing culture into the digital space. It’s a marriage of high culture and high-tech. 

Upholding its core message to “Inspire Writing,” Montblanc employed cutting-edge technology to translate the unparalleled experience of writing by hand without any loss of quality – a demanding transition perfected by the specialists in Hamburg.

“While digital tools offer efficiency and comfort, handwriting is an intensive experience driven by the flow of thought and sensory input. In our increasingly fast-paced world, this experience can be grounding and inspiring,” says Felix Obschonka, Montblanc Director of New Technologies. 

He notes that with the Digital Paper, they’ve found a way to preserve all the virtues of handwriting while simultaneously addressing the need for unlimited space and effortless digital collaboration. 

The entire experience hinges on the accompanying Montblanc Digital Pen. It proudly inherits the ergonomic design and celebrated features of the legendary Meisterstück, retaining the signature three metal rings and the iconic Montblanc emblem.

To genuinely replicate that unique feel, the Digital Pen comes with three interchangeable tips, each meticulously engineered to simulate a different paper texture, allowing the user to precisely tailor the handwriting experience. Writing on the device’s high-resolution display with electronic ink promises the exact same sensory satisfaction as putting a classic Montblanc nib to paper.

Beyond the tactile experience, the Digital Paper is designed as an essential smart companion. It’s ideal for annotating presentations, e-books and documents. But most importantly, all handwritten notes and documents are made fully searchable through an intuitive function with sophisticated handwriting recognition. 

Users can structure ideas using pre-loaded templates for calendars and planners, while files can be seamlessly shared and received via email, USB-C or through the accompanying app connected to the Montblanc Cloud.

Aesthetically, the device is housed in an ultra-light metal casing available in Mystery Black, Elixir Gold and Cool Grey, finished with a calfskin leather side panel embossed with the Montblanc emblem. For added luxury, stylish leather covers are available as an option, which can be individually customised with embossing.

The Montblanc Digital Paper is now available in selected boutiques worldwide and online.

photography. courtesy of Montblanc
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Who knew pianos and luxury cars had so much in common? Steinway & Sons and Bentley Motors, apparently. The two heritage houses have joined forces for a collaboration that celebrates precision, craftsmanship and design through the launch of Steinway’s ‘Ultra Black’ and ‘Ultra White’ limited editions.

Built in Hamburg, just fifty-two of these grand pianos will exist worldwide, evenly split between the two finishes. Each takes cues from both brands’ most recognisable signatures: Steinway’s timeless silhouettes and Bentley’s sleek monochrome palette. The Ultra Black, finished in a deep Jet Black that’s been a favourite in Bentley’s veneer catalogue, feels sculptural and commanding; its mirror image, the Ultra White, draws from the carmaker’s Arctic White, luminous and modern in tone.

“The Ultra Black and Ultra White editions embody Steinway’s ability to honour our heritage while exploring new expressions of design,” confirms Guido Zimmermann, President of Steinway & Sons Europe. “These pianos are not only instruments of the highest musical quality but also works of art, created for those who value craftsmanship, individuality, and timeless beauty.” 

It’s a statement Bentley could easily echo. And indeed, to mark the launch, the British marque unveiled a ‘Flying Spur Speed’ finished in Arctic White with a Piano Black veneer interior – a perfect mirror of Steinway’s monochrome duo. 
“Our collaboration with Steinway & Sons is a meeting of worlds, where craftsmanship connects music and motion. The Flying Spur Speed, paired with Steinway’s Ultra Black and Ultra White editions, represents a dialogue between two distinguished names, creating objects of rarity and enduring beauty,” says Wayne Bruce, Chief Communications and D&I Officer. 

Founded in 1853, Steinway & Sons remains the gold standard for concert pianists, its instruments painstakingly made by hand over the course of a year in just two factories located in Hamburg and New York. Bentley, meanwhile, has been crafting luxury cars in Crewe since 1919, evolving from W.O. Bentley’s original vision into a symbol of British engineering and design.

What makes this collaboration more than just a meeting of logos is the exchange of craft behind it. Steinway and Bentley artisans shared techniques in veneering, finishing and woodwork – a merging of two disciplines united by precision and touch. Both brands have built their legacies on that tension between handcraft and innovation: from Bentley’s meticulously engineered interiors to Steinway’s SPIRIO | r system, which can record and reproduce a live performance with astonishing fidelity.

Elegance shouldn’t be limited to concert halls or car showrooms and, together, the two brands prove that this is what happens when sound and speed share the same rhythm.

photography. courtesy of Steinway & Sons, Bentley Motors
words. Gennaro Costanzo