Monthly Archives: May 2009

Cube by Oppenheim

You can choose the design of your phone, your computer, and your car – so why not your condominium?

That’s what Chad Oppenheim, head of Miami-based Oppenheim Architecture & Design, asked himself while putting together his architectural thesis at Brown University.

The question became the impetus for his latest project: a condominium complex, set to be completed by the end of 2010, that takes a bottom-up, user-generated approach to constructing residential space.

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Lamborghini Wall Art

Richard Moriarty bought this 1974 Lamborghini Countach 10 years ago, paying a collector $60,000.

Now, sick and tired of having it towed due to stalled engine, he decided to hang it on his wall as art.

All that took was a 70-ton crane, a five-man crew, about an hour to get it into the house, & a steel-reinforced wall with fasteners of half-inch-thick steel cable.

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Prince Harry Coming To America

Prince Harry will be making his first-ever formal visit to the United States later this month to participate in the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic, taking place on Saturday, May 30th.

The Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic will coincide with the 400th anniversary of New York and opening day of the Governors Island season.

Event proceeds will benefit American Friends of Sentebale, a U.S.-based charity that supports at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa.
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Nixon Rubber Player Green Watch

Back in March Nixon surprised us with its “4 x 4” Rubber Player Collection whereby they will introduce 4 Rubber Players in a single colorway to the world.

On the 15th of each month from March to June a new surprise color will be released.

Participating shops will be shipped only 4 Rubber Players each month. Each surprise color will be kept secret.
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Ferrari to auction off special F430 for Abruzzo earthquake relief

Ferrari has announced that it will offering a very special car at the RM Auction due to be held this coming Sunday.

The car, the very last F430 to leave the production line towards the end of this year, will be auctioned to raise funds for rebuilding in Abruzzo, central Italy, which was devastated by the earthquake on the 6th of April.

The F430 will feature a special two-tone livery which recalls the traditional colours of Aquila, the city most hit, and will be consigned with a certificate signed by Ferrari Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo.
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Gresso announces Lady Gold & Ultramarine

Luxury mobile phone maker Gresso has announced two new luxury phones, the Lady Gold and Ultramarine Gold.

Both phones are built into a titanium case, covered with colored ceramic, and then accented with 18k gold.

Inspired by wrist watch design, Gresso has also put a sapphire crystal window into the back of the phone, so you can see the circuit board.

Both models are limited to a run of 15 units, and will cost approx. $6,500
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Paris Hilton party ends with vandalized Veyron

According to TMZ, Paris Hilton had a party on Monday evening at her new Hollywood Hills home and the loud noise prompted neighbors to call the police.

Hours later, about a half-dozen expensive cars on the street were found keyed and egged, TMZ reported.

Two Bentleys, two Maseratis and a $1.4 million Bugatti Veyron were among the vehicles that were damaged.
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LVMH Invests In Bono’s Clothing Line

LVMH, the world’s leading luxury products group has completed a minority investment in Edun, the ethical fashion company owned by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono, U2 lead singer and activist.

Edun is a brand of socially conscious fashion for men and women.

The Company’s mission is to create beautiful clothing and sustainable trade with partners in the developing world.
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jumeirah beach hotel

Bespoke Phantoms for Burj Al Arab

Burj Al Arab, one of the most luxurious hotels, has received four new bespoke model Phantom Rolls-Royce’s into its already extensive luxury vehicle range.

The iconic hotel has enlarged the fleet of Phantoms to ten – all of which have custom-made features specifically crafted to reflect the unique opulence of the hotel.

The four Special Edition Phantoms are hand built with custom-made wood with Gold Inlays matching the Burj Al Arab logo and unique Greek inlays harmonizing with the hotel’s rooms.
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Raw eggs thrown at Shareholders of PPR

Shareholders of Pinault Printemps Redoute (PPR), the French multinational holding company specializing in retail shops and luxury brands, were showered with raw eggs thrown by employees of the group protesting during their general assembly in Paris on May 7, 2009.

The shareholders voted a dividend equivalent to 418 million euros (560 million US dollars) for 2008, whilst the employees demand the sum to be invested in to the company, and that job lay off plans be abandoned.
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Rare blue diamond sells for record $9.5 million

A flawless blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats has sold for a record 10.5 million Swiss francs ($9.49 million), the highest price paid per carat for any gemstone at auction, Sotheby’s said.

The rectangular-shaped blue stone, mounted on a platinum ring, is the rarest to enter the international market this year.

The anonymous phone bidder, who won after a 15-minute war, has yet to name the gem.
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Boeing luxury jet sales drop

Boeing executive jet sales have plummeted in the slower economy, according to information from the 2009 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva

Boeing sold eight new personal luxury jets since the show last year but had four orders cancel, leaving a net gain of four. This is an 87 percent drop from the last period between shows, when Boeing sold 33 of the aircraft.

The jets are usually called BBJs when they’re based on Boeing 737s, and VIPs when based on larger airframes.

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Waza Miyabi Toilet Collection

Toto, the company well known for its innovative toilets, showcased the new, artistic Waza Miyabi collection at the KBIS (Kitchen/Bath Industry Show) 2009.

The patterns for these toilet models are based on sho-chiku-bai, which means “pine, bamboo and plum” in Japanese.

“Each toilet is hand-painted in vivid colors with intricate detailing, creating a piece of high art for the bath space,” Toto spokeswoman Lenora Campos said.
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World’s first solid platinum iPhone 3G

Stuart Hughes, founder of Goldstriker, has re-created the original iPhone in Platinum.

It took four proficient craftsmen months of detailed intricate work to re-create the original body of the iphone with about 230 grams of pure platinum.

For £24,495 ($38,000), the uniquely designed Platinum & Diamond iPhone 3G certainly flaunts an Apple logo that glitters with 53 diamonds.

The Mandarin Oriental Moscow

The luxury Mandarin Oriental Hotel chain has unveiled its plans for its first five-star hotel development in Moscow, Russia.

Designed by architect HOK the 250-room “upside-down” hotel will require customers to check-in at sky lobby level affording views over Red Square and the Kremlin.

The hotel will be located on Tverskaya Road and will see the redevelopment of an historic building, originally constructed in the early 19th Century as a private manor house.


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Alain Delon Face of Perfume Dior Eau Sauvage

Dior in order to reach out to new, younger consumers as well as to help older generations reminisce is offering a twist on their next Eau Sauvage campaign.

They have decided to take the unusual step of using a celebrity’s face, French actor Alain Delon’s, but as that person appeared when much younger.

Delon will appear as photographed by Jean-François Périer in 1966 in Saint Tropez when he was 31, the year of the creation of Eau Sauvage by Dior.
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