The Regent 1609 AD is the first Backes & Strauss limited edition timepiece. The name of the luxury watch pays tribute to English astronomer Thomas Harriett who made the first drawings of the moon, before Galileo.

The Backes & Strauss 1609 AD watch showcases an original and luxurious moon phase indicator, which presents a representation of a 17-star constellation, depicted in round brilliant diamonds.

Produced in collaboration with Geneva’s Franck Muller Watchland, which manufactures the movements and completes assembly, Backes & Strauss watches sparkle with diamonds set in 18k gold cases shaped to accentuate the multifaceted gems’ play of light.

Established in 1789, Backes & Strauss is famed for being the world’s oldest diamond company and every Backes & Strauss watch has at least one diamond, set by hand into the crown.

The Regent 1609 AD is currently on display in the Harrods Fine Jewellery in London until it is officially launched in October 2008. The model will be limited to 219 pieces (in two sizes) and available in different diamond combinations, from £17,000 ($34,000).

Mercer has just released its top 50 most expensive cities in the world based on cost of living.

Mercer’s Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2008 is used to help multinational companies and governments determine living costs for their expatriate employees, who usually demand a relatively high quality of life.

Mercer’s survey covers 253 cities across six continents and measured the relative cost of over 200 items in each place, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment.

Luxury developer, Raimon Land, launched on July 17 The Lofts Southshore – a US$200 million concept – their latest addition to the up-market Bscene in Pattaya (Thailand).

The Lofts Southshore is perched on a hillside in the Khao Pratamnak, the area overlooking Pattaya Bay, and offers stunning 360-degree views of the sea, Pattaya City and surrounding area just minutes from downtown and the beach.

There will be about 850 units within the two towers situated on an almost 10,000 square meter land plot acquired for 235 million baht ($7,000,000).

The first tower will be at least 35 floors and the other tower will have 50 floors. The 850 units are sized between 30 and 300 square meters (penthouses with private gardens) at just around 65,000 baht ($1,935) per square meter and with a starting price of about 1.8 million baht ($53,000).

Swimming pool, sun deck and sports facilities are to be located atop a massive podium shared by the towers overlooking the beautiful Pattaya Bay.

Already well established in Bangkok, The Lofts Southshore will be completed by 2011.

On August 15-16, the world-renowned auction house, RM Auctions, will present the Sports & Classics of Monterey, an auction event featuring a varied selection of the finest sports and classic cars in their largest offering to date – $50-60 million.

A rare and coveted 1958 Chrysler Diablo, considered the most valuable concept car of the late 1950s and conceived by Virgil Exner, will make its auction debut as one of the headlining cars alongside 24 Ferraris, the largest collection of Ferraris ever presented at the classic car weekend in Monterey.

Last year’s auction brought a record-breaking $46 million in total sales as 190 cars crossed the block. Nine cars broke the magic million-dollar mark !

Résidence Supérieur is an extreme luxury concept designed by internationally known lifestyle designer Richard Nilsson, located on the French Riviera in Cannes.

The concept include super sports cars, private jets, yachts, butlers, chefs, bodyguards and basically any other service you may wish for.

Guests can get access to an exclusive car fleet, regularly updated, which today consists of a Wiesmann Roadster, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and Mercedes S-Class.

This villa is located in beautiful, spacious enclosed grounds (3,900 m 2). It has 450 m2 of floor space and has 4 luxury bedrooms and a garden house.

The European luxury company Munk Bogballe has launched a hand crafted executive workstation that combines simple elegance and the finest quality materials in an unusual design.

Designed for Munk Bogballe by award winning, Danish, former Bang & Olufsen designer, Henrik Sørig Thomsen, as a work tool for accomplished individuals who appreciate and share a passion for aesthetics and quality

The housing is largely made of anodised aluminum and the underside of the workstation is covered with the finest quality of Italian aniline leather.