It Might Get Loud

The term 'quiet luxury' feels out of place in the world of superyachts, yet it seems a fitting description for Benetti.

- Haziq Yusof

NOTHING ARTICULATES QUIET luxury better than a 67m superyacht decked with seven opulent staterooms, a built-in lift, a dedicated spa and an expansive, al fresco lounge area. Sounds ironic? Yet, this pervasive-and confusing-assessment lingered as I stepped off Calex, a stunning custom-built superyacht made by Italian shipyard Benetti.

Just moments prior, Marco Valle, CEO of the Azimut Benetti Group, had, with a mischievous grin, informed me of an adage the yachting industry takes to heart: "No cash, no splash." If anything, the admittedly amusing aphorism offered quite the opposite observation.

Things only became clearer the next day when I had the chance to speak again with Valle. "People look at our yachts and all they see is the high life and the glamour," he said. "No one sees the people behind them and the hard work it takes to make them possible."

Effortless Elegance

It's all too easy to miss the forest for the trees when inhabiting the world of luxury. Especially when aboard some of the finest vessels money can buy, crafted by a 151-year-old shipyard with indisputable flair. Benetti showed off three superyachts at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show, each with distinct personalities. Yet, all three exuded quiet grace and elegance.