Aquarama the Icon

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the world’s most famous speedboat, the Riva Aquarama, along with a new book from Assouline

- By Jared Paul Stern

For me, the Riva Aquarama is simply one of the most beautiful things I own. It will never go out of style because it is a work of art created by a genius. Like the works that remain over time and in our memory, it amazes me every time because it proves that man's craftsmanship can produce stunning masterpieces that, in turn, forge the aesthetic soul of those who admire them."

The speaker is Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, which now owns iconic Italian boatbuilder Riva; he is also the son-in-law of Ferretti stakeholder Piero Ferrari-who himself calls the Aquarama "a paragon of style, elegant details and high-quality construction." "Owning an Aquarama is more than a membership club-it's almost a religious thing." he marvels. "When you meet other owners and end up talking about the wonders of the Aquarama, there's a sense of belonging to a very special community."

The quotes appear in Riva Aquarama, a new book from top-drawer French luxury publisher Assouline, coinciding with the model's 60th anniversary. Part of their posh Ultimate Collection, the $995 volume, with text by Michael Verdon and main photography by Oliver Pilcher, is an impressive, lavishly-illustrated tribute to the legendary runabout, which debuted in 1962, and an even pricier edition presented in a custom mahogany box evoking the beauty of the Aquarama's magnificent hull.