The epitome of luxury! Updown Court is situated only 25 miles from London, and through a pair of large sophisticated iron gates, one can see a palatial construction of immense scale and beauty.
Updown Court, a newly built mansion for sale outside of London, offers plenty of lavish amenities: five swimming pools, an eight-limousine garage, and mosaic floor made of 24-karat gold leaf in the downstairs study.
The property, however, is best known for its price tag: more than 85 million British pounds (+$150 million USD). Continue reading →
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Parisian jeweler Boucheron, they have teamed up with Parisian Chocolatier La Maison du Chocolat to recreate the unique style of a Boucheron snake necklace – but in chocolate!
So is it something to wear or something to eat ? The chocolate version is truly a work of art though and it’s not all chocolate: the gold snake skeleton necklace is coated and decorated with chocolate which covers the chocolate gold skeleton, carrying a 20.08 carat fancy brown tinted yellow diamond! Continue reading →
The World of Watchmaking loudly applauded to the introduction of the Gyrotourbillon 1 as it was destined to become the world-first spherical tourrbillon.
Following the amazing success of the Gyrotourbillon I, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created its worthy successor characterized by technically innovative nature : the swivelling case of the Reverso.
This extraordinary watch mechanism overturns longestablished principles, since it represents the first time that a wristwatch houses a cylindershaped balance-spring.
Aerogel, aka “Blue Smokeâ€, is an absolutely amazing material that was originally developed by Steven Kistler back in 1931.
Aerogel is a low-density solid-state material derived from gel in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with gas. The result is an extremely low density solid.
It is nicknamed frozen smoke, solid smoke or blue smoke due to its semi-transparent nature and the way light scatters in the material; however, it feels like expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) to the touch and can provide 39 times more insulation than fiberglass !
Representing a fresh, new approach to luxury air travel, Halcyon Jets a premiere broker of private jet charter services, announced it will be arranging helicopter packages operating between New York City and eastern Long Island for travelers eager to avoid the traffic-snarled Long Island Expressway en route to the Hamptons exclusive beach vacation areas this summer season.
“For our clients, time is more important than money. A helicopter flight arranged by Halcyon takes about 45 minutes from Manhattan to the East Hampton Airport. Continue reading →
Aurum, an Italian company, is the sole agent of a precious parquet covered with 24 carat gold leaves which bring refinement of materials and craftsmanship in the most exclusive houses.
The elegance of the rich woods and the brightness and glints of the gold and silver give style and charm to the chicest houses, to the yachts, to the shops and to the suites of the most prestigious hotels.
The collection includes 11 patented patterns: 6 in gold (at around 6,800 euros a square meter!), 4 in silver and 1 in copper. Gold leaves applied on wood boards and finished with wax and specific treatments to enhance the natural grain of the wood and to keep brilliance and wear.
If you really love Italy, you have to know that the same price could get you a central Milan apartment !
Usually, where there are extremely coveted gadget, there are always extremely expensive luxury cases for them ! You think iPhone is expensive ? so what about spending another 2 iPhones to protect it?
Anyways Louis Vuitton thought that there is a market for the kind of folks who can afford it and so they have released a set of four cases for the iPhone: Monogram Canvas, Taiga Leather, Epi Leather and Alligator Skin.
Available only in Louis Vuitton’s Manhattan store, prices begin at $225 from the monogram canvas style to $1,120 for the alligator case.
But all of the cases are pretty inconvenient, because you’ve got to pull the iPhone all the way out to actually use it.
If you want to live the experience of a truly unique chocolate, The Royal Collection from Cocoa Gourmet with gold, silver and diamonds will unfailingly captivate your senses and spirit.
A royal treat for eyes too before you pop them one by one to relish the texture of Swiss ganache in your mouth!
Priced at just $1,250, this collection contains 12 masterpieces in all : four 22 carat Gold chocolates, four pure silver chocolates and four sweet Diamond ones.
And no worries It’s actually totally safe when ingested (what a waste!) : both the European Union and United States authorize the use of the precious metals and the diamonds to decorate food products.
This is definitely a gastronomic experience for die-hard chocoholics ! (thanks Jack)
Despite the weak housing market, Donald Trump has recently sold the Palm Beach estate he bought for $US41.35 million in 2004 for $100 million (he came down from $125 million).
The 80,000-square-foot property at 515 N. County Road sits on 6 acres and has 475 feet of unobstructed oceanfront, making the price per linear foot $210,526.
However, the new owner, billionaire and Russian fertilizer tycoon Dmitry Rybolovlev, is actually considering tearing down the mansion and possibly subdividing the property, according to sources.
Christie’s sold last week Jeff Koon’s Ballon Flower (Magenta) for $25,752,051, a world record price for the artist at auction.
This work is one of five unique versions: Magenta, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Red and was executed between 1995 and 1999.
Balloon Flower (Magenta) 1995-2000 is from a top Dallas art collector who paid less than £600,000 for it seven years ago. It was the first time a work of this scale and quality by Koons were publicly offered in London.
Designed and developed by Dennis Ingemansson, the Dubai Sea Limousine is an idea based on the “The World‖ a man-made archipelago of 300 islands constructed in the shape of a world map and located 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) off the coast of Dubai.
Since access to all these islands, which are currently under construction, from the coast and also amongst themselves is only by water, this ambitious new taxi service seeks to become the sort of marine transportation between artificial islands.
Powered by sun’s energy, it comes with solar cells integrated in the window skin and moves forward with the help of a hovercraft.
Inspired by the Lewis Carroll’s novel ‘Alice through the Looking Glass,’ designer Yasmin Sethi developed a chess set that features pieces that “magically turn transparent” when they touch the board.
(In ‘Alice through the Looking Glass’ by Lewis Carroll, Alice falls through a mirror and on the other side of the mirror, she becomes a piece in a game of chess.)
The pieces of this chess set are each contained in a cylinder that turns opaque when they’re removed from the board hiding the identity of the piece.
However, when you put them back down in one of the squares, the pieces turn transparent again and reveal their true identity.
In the late ’90s The Fendi Baguette bag got a big promo in every fashionista’s favorite television show, Sex and the City.
To commemorate the 10th Anniversary since the launch of Fendi’s iconic Baguette designed by Sylvia Venturini Fendi, Fendi has created this Limited Edition Beaded Baguette Bag.
Only 40 pieces of this Limited Edition Baguette Bag were made, and each piece comes with a serial number embroidered on the inside. Continue reading →
The Foster designed 40 “Signature Series†is a new concept private luxury super-yacht for a new generation of yacht owner. Her unique contemporary shape makes her unmistakably a piece of modern architecture.
A new emphasis was given to such issues as quality and quantity of space, outdoor terraces, light and views. With outdoor terraces, plenty of natural light, and panoramic ocean views from the interior cabin, this 132-foot megayacht offer luxury-loving clients all the amenities conducive to comfort. Lord Norman Foster’s work on luxury hotels and residences provided a fresh approach to achieving privacy, comfort and usage of space onboard a motor yacht. As a result, the 40 “Signature Series†offers more deck space and interior comfort than any equivalent yacht of her size.
Visitors to New York this summer will find something unusual even for this celebrated city — four monumental, man-made waterfalls in the East River along the shores of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Governors Island.
Danish artist Olafur Eliasson is the creator of the public art, titled “The New York City Waterfalls,”.
Commissioned by the Public Art Fund (they cost about $15 million), the project is said to have been designed to protect water quality and aquatic life.
Automotive News reports that Pininfarina is working on a new privately-commissioned one-off based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.
Coachbuilding for individual clients is becoming an important part of Pininfarina’s business, as automakers worldwide are outsourcing to independent carrozzerias less than they used to
Pininfarina claims the Hyperion is inspired by pre-war Rolls-Royces; while the lines do help connect the car to its history, many of the same lines recall more modern vehicles. The kink just below the window line, rising up as it hits the rear fender, evokes memories of the Silver Wraith and Silver Cloud, both products of the 1950s.
Other details on the Rolls Royce Drophead Coupe special haven’t yet emerged, but expect to see the Hyperion in full at the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance that opens on August 17.
World famous British couture designer Bruce Oldfield has in collaboration with Crosley Diamonds of London created the world’s most expensive abaya , a traditional form of Islamic dress (it is actually the simplest form of dressing accepted by Islamic religion).
The abaya that Bruce has created is covered in 4,668 individual diamonds (85.13 carats ) with a gold weight of 359.7 grams of white gold. The abaya is expected to be sold off in August at a major British luxury brands trade fair, titled “The Saudi Gulf Luxury Trade Fair†for £175,000 ($350,000), taking place at InterContinental London Park . The sales generated would be donated towards the relief charity “Islamic Relief.
The trade fair is in conjunction with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, and has been created to boost and create new business opportunities for British and Britain based companies, in the luxury brands sector, who are aiming to develop or further develop business with the affluent Gulf consumers during this difficult economic climate.
Russia’s state-controlled energy giant, Gazprom, has unveiled a new design for a major new office building it has been planning for several years in St. Petersburg. The new design proposes to use plants to control the building’s temperature.
It’s been described as the first building to be given a “green fur coat” a glass tower with double walls, in between which hundreds of trees and plants will provide heat in the winter and cooler temperatures in the summer. With temperatures in St. Petersburg rising to 30 degrees Celsius in the summer and plummeting to minus 30 in the winter, the design will be able to regulate the temperature without the need for expensive air conditioning or heating systems.
But according to a recent poll, more than 40 percent of residents thinks that would ruin the skyline of St. Petersburg, designated by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site. Built by Tsar Peter the Great at the start of the 18th century, its Venetian-style buildings and winding canals attract thousands of visitors every year.
But the architects say the project will revitalize a city that has been in decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Construction is planned to start later this year with completion scheduled for 2012.
Designer Giorgio Armani and Italian pen maker Tibaldi have collaborated to create a limited-edition collection of fine writing instruments called Giorgio Armani Pens.
The pens will be available in rollerball, ballpoint and traditional fountain models.
“A handwritten note is, today more than ever, a sign of etiquette, elegance and sophistication,” said Armani. “To carry an iconic pen is therefore a symbol of character and style.”
The first series will be released this month and is called the Regal collectionwhich will be limited to 199 numbered pieces. Continue reading →
The Worlds Record Academy included among its recorda the newspaper copy “Zimbrulu and Vulturulu†(which means “the Aurochs and the Eagleâ€) as the most expensive newspaper in the world. The daily is currently showcased at the EFIRO 2008 World Philatelic Exhibition in Bucharest (the first edition happened in 1932).
The 1858 copy of the Zimbrulu si Vulturulu newspaper copy was printed in Iasi, eastern Romania, was accidentally stamped with eight Auroch heads. The newspaper’s destination was Galati (south eastern Romania) where it was bought by a stamp collecting bookshop owner. Afterwards, the owners’ traces vanished until 1969. The priceless paper found its way into the hands of the David Feldman auction house. From there it was auctioned in 2006 to art collector Joseph Hackmey for €829,500 ($1.3 million).
Today, the Romanian stamps are among the highest acclaimed in the world, with Romania ranking seventh in the classification of the most beautiful stamps in the world.
The epitome of luxury! Updown Court is situated only 25 miles from London, and through a pair of large sophisticated iron gates, one can see a palatial construction of immense scale and beauty.
