The world’s tallest Atlas, the 6 ft-tall Earth Platinum from Australian publisher Millennium House has gone on sale for a mere $100,000 per copy.
The publisher said that the last book even close in size to his 128-page volume was the Klencke Atlas, produced in 1660 as a gift for Charles II of England.
“But that was about one foot smaller than this,” Millennium House founder Gordon Cheers, proudly told AFP. “This is the first time a book this size has ever been seen.”
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After being awarded four more 3-starred restaurants by gastronomy bible Michelin last week, Japan widened the gulf between it and its closest culinary rival, France.
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The new furniture collection by Mercedes-Benz Style will be making its world debut during Milan’s “design week” with a special Fuorisalone event.
The collection is made and distributed worldwide by Formitalia Luxury Group and brings the reality of research and material quality that is inherent in Mercedes automotive products into the home.
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The presentation will take place from 16th April till 21st April 2012 at Mercedes-Benz Milano S.p.A., Via Daimler, 1 – 20151 Milano.
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Bentley Motors has announced a global partnership with St Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
Bentley Continental Flying Spur models have been chosen as the house fleet for a new generation of luxury travellers at St. Regis hotels and resorts around the world.
The brands will also team to offer coordinated driving programs from St. Regis or Luxury Collection hotels to some of the world’s most desirable destinations.
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Famed French jewelry house Cartier is launching its Juste un Clou line (“Just a Nail”) – despite the fact that it’s made from gold!
Each bracelet and ring is shaped in nail form, made pure of 18 karat white, rose or yellow gold and can be bedazzled per choice with shimmering pavé diamonds.
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Citroen’s premium DS line will be launched in China this year and, to mark the event, the legendary French automaker has designed “Numéro 9”, a new concept car.
The Citroen Numero 9 is a large luxury car which features futuristic styling and a hybrid drivetrain. The design showcases the styling themes of the next three DS line models; a C-segment premium sedan, an SUV and a D-segment executive saloon.
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Maserati, one of the best-known and most-exclusive names in luxury cars, is gearing up to become a more mainstream automaker.
This week, it revealed plans to up the number of cars it produces to 50,000 units a year by 2015, introducing three new models between now and then.
To put that number in perspective, last year Maserati delivered just 6,159 units, making its cars among the rarest on the roads.
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Joining the likes of Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr and Candice Swanepoel, German model Toni Garrn has been confirmed as the latest Victoria’s Secret Angel.
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The growth of technology in today’s vehicles means that it can be difficult to know where to go for help. You can’t go to an electronics shop, because it’s in your car.
It’s a problem which luxury automaker Lexus has been working on, reportedly hitting upon the answer with the help of the world’s hottest technology brand, Apple.
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The Adastra, unveiled last week in China, is the new floating pleasure palace of billionaire Anto Marden who commissioned its construction five years ago.
Designed by Sussex-based yacht designer John Shuttleworth, the Adastra was built in Zhuhai, China at the cost of a cool $15 million.
The striking trimaran has an integrated ship monitoring system, and can even be controlled with an Apple iPad within a 50-metre range.
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A few years ago, British engineering firm Atkins won the rights to design an extravagant hotel deep within a 100-metre pit in Shanghai‘s Songjiang District.
Construction on the Intercontinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland finally commenced last month, and the hotel is scheduled to open in early 2015.
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American billionnaire Sheldon Adelson has announced a $35 billion investment on massive Vegas-style casino complexes in Madrid and Barcelona.
Following the opening of his latest casino complex, in Macau, Mr Adelson told Reuters: “We are looking at 12 integrated resorts, 3,000 rooms each. A mini Las Vegas about half the size of the Las Vegas strip in Spain for the European market.”
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Bugatti has just released a promo video for the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse – the world’s fastest roadster.
Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is essentially a mix between the Grand Sport (roadster) and Super Sport.
The Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is powered by the same W16 engine as the regular Veyron, but instead of 1,000 hp, it has an output of 1,200 hp.
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In bright colours of mint green, raspberry, and tangerine, Vertu’s new Constellation Candy emerges right on time for spring/summer.
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After naming Jean Paul Gaultier the new creative director of Diet Coke, the soda brand unveils new bottle designs and a campaign featuring Gaultier’s signature flair.
The advertisements photographed by Stephane Sednaoui feature bottles with nautical stripes and corset silhouettes for a play on the night and day theme.
Check out the commercial and more ad images below.
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As Christian Louboutin launches its European online boutique April 11, the luxury shoe label has announced a host of digital innovations for the future including an iPhone app and live chats with the label’s representatives.
The iconic shoe brand suffered so much with sites claiming to be selling genuine Louboutins that in 2009 it issued a warning concerning the problem.
While the label does retail on sites such as Net-a-Porter, the brand introduced e-commerce to the US in 2010 and Canada in 2011, with the new European expansion marking a new wave of innovations.
Customers can shop on the Christian Louboutin website for designs by color, size and heel hight — with sky and sky high unsurprisingly dominating the options.
WWD reports that digital initiatives coming soon include an iPhone app and the chance to pre-order styles from the Fall 2012 collection via the online store.
Shoppers can currently e-mail or call reps for advice related to their purchase but videos are also to launch soon as well as a function allowing shoppers to chat live online with Louboutin representatives.
To mark the anniversary of the sale of the first Ferrari in China – a Ferrari 348 TS ordered by a Beijing customer – Ferrari is opening an exhibition at the Italia Center in the Shanghai World Expo Park and releasing a China-only limited edition 458 Italia.
Covering 900 square metres the Ferrari Exhibition will last for three years and will feature some of the best collections from the Maranello Museum divided into five topics, including Ferrari in China, Green Technology, Product, Design and Racing.
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The limited edition 458 Italia will sport an exclusive new colour called Marco Polo Red, specially developed for this car.
The most eye-catching element of the car’s exterior is the golden dragon on the front bonnet, which is offset by gold and black livery stripes symbolising a racing track.
SEE ALSO: FERRARI CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN CHINA
Each of the 20 cars also sport a ‘20th Anniversary Special Edition’ plaque is set into the dash. No word on the pricing yet.
This 458 Dragon is the second China-only Ferrari, the first one was the porcelain-painted Ferrari 599, only one was made and sold for 1.77 million dollar.
Fourth-generation Spanish chef Elena Arzak, who heads one of the top 10 restaurants in the world, Arzak, will receive the award for Best Female Chef at this year’s edition of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards.
Last year, Arzak watched as her father Juan Mari Arzak stepped up to the stage to receive a lifetime achievement award for his long and storied career.
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The president of Turkmenistan has won his country’s maiden car race after an impromptu decision to enter.
Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov drove to the track in the capital Ashgabat in a green Bugatti Veyron sports car to watch.
Suddenly asking to take part, he changed to a Turkish-made Volkicar and won the time trial challenge.
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French fashion powerhouse Dior has named Raf Simons as chief designer to succeed John Galliano who was fired more than a year ago for racist outbursts.
The 44-year-old Belgian, who started out designing furniture, will be responsible for Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear and Women’s Accessories.
He will premiere his first Christian Dior Haute Couture collection in Paris in July, said Dior, one of the crown jewels in Bernard Arnault’s LVMH luxury empire.
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To explore the world’s fascinating seabeds, the Turbine watch adopts an original design that is as symbolic as it is functional. The rounded contours of the 11-blade upper rotor subtly evoke a submarine propeller.
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