There’s a story, likely apocryphal, that’s been passed around the internet for over a decade now that involves some rather expensive cookies. A woman and her daughter are dining at a Neiman-Marcus café and decide to try the cookies for a light dessert. Impressed with the cookies, the woman asks for the recipe. The waitress replies that she can sell the recipe for a mere “two-fifty.” The woman happily agrees.

Later, the woman finds she’s been charged no $2.50 but $250. Despite the misunderstanding, Neiman-Marcus refuses to offer a refund. Full of righteous indignation, the woman decides to share the recipe with as many people as possible. As such, the story is usually accompanied by a recipe for the fabled Neiman-Marcus cookies.

As far as I’ve seen, no two tellings involve the same recipe for these “most expensive” cookies.

Amusing stories aside, we couldn’t end this entry without some factual information about the most expensive cookies in the world. In 2007, a rare William Crawford and Sons cookie tin from the 1920s was sold at a London auction. The tin, originally sold for just over $150, was auctioned off for $32,000. The tin was remarkable for two features—its shape, a toy car with electric lights, and the fact that it still contains its original contents.

So—who would pass up the chance to take a bite out of the world’s most expensive cookies? I think I would.

Balenciaga two-tone long wallet – $645

Balenciaga touts the “soft vintage crafted black leather” and silk fabric used to create this pricey wallet. Beyond that, it also includes palladium plated hardware featuring the Balenciaga logo and a total of eight credit card slots and four bill pockets. The Balenciaga logo can also be seen embossed on the inside of the wallet.

Renna USA Zip Around Wallet – $675

This leather wallet features a bifold design with eleven card-sized compartments, three larger compartments, a clear ID window and a checkbook and pen holder. At 4.5” by 8.5”, it’s a little too large to fit in your back pocket. It can be purchased in either black or cognac red.

When Lego began producing their plastic bricks in 1949, they could scarcely have imagined the phenomenon the toy would become. With different lines of Lego parts, a video game franchise and four Legoland amusement parks, Lego is one of the world’s most recognized toy brands.

The most expensive Lego set ever sold is actually a Lego statue sold by FAO Schwartz. The statue is a six foot, 500 lb Batman made almost entirely of Lego bricks. The statue is shipped in three pieces, for ease of construction, rather than in individual Lego bricks. It also features a heavy fabric cape.

The most expensive Lego set in the world sold for $27,000.

Technically, a katana is any Japanese sword with a single edge. In practice, however, the word is almost exclusively used to describe the long, slightly curved sword used by samurai from the Muromachi period onward. Katanas are surrounded with mythic resonance and some few swordsmiths, such as Muramasa and Masamune, have become more famous than the warriors who wielded their creations.

The most expensive katana ever sold at auction was part of the collection of Dr. Walter Ames Compton, a physician who started collecting in the early 1930s. In 1992, two years after his death, the Compton collection of 1,100 Japanese swords was sold at a Christie’s auction in New York. The auction grossed $8 million in just its first day.

The most expensive katana of the day was a 13th century Kamakura blade that sold for $418,000 to an anonymous European collector. While the most valuable katanas are likely museum pieces and utterly priceless, we can still call this one the most expensive katana in the world.

Rolex, according to BusinessWeek, is one of the world’s 100 most valuable brands. The Swiss company’s timepieces are almost synonymous with wealth and status, but Rolex is curiously absent from the list of the world’s top ten most expensive watches. That’s why we’ve decided to let you know about the most expensive Rolex watches in the world.

The most expensive Rolex ever sold at auction was a “Paul Newman” Rolex Oyster Cosmograph “Daytona” sold at a Sotheby’s event in June, 2003. This prototype wristwatch, featuring a red dial and black sub-dials, was produced in 1979. It sold for £210,000—around US $350,000.

Rumors persist regarding a Rolex sold at Selfridges in London for a fantastic price of £8 million—over US $15 million—but they seem to be rumors only.

King Kong – $207 million

The iconic ape returned to the silver screen for the first time in nearly 30 years in this 2005 remake of the original 1933 film. The film featured Naomi Watts as Kong’s number one lady and Jack Black as the inscrupulous film director looking to bank on the prodigious primate. Universal Studios certainly turned a profit with over $500 million in gross revenue.

X-Men: The Last Stand – $210 million

The third installment of the X-Men series saw Brett Ratner stepping into the directorial shoes to replace Bryan Singer as the mutant misfits’ world is turned upside down by forces both internal and external. The film received mixed reviews, but earned higher than either of its predecessors with $459,359,555 gross revenue. It was followed in 2009 by X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $225 million

The sequel to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl introduced the trilogy’s betentacled villain, Captain Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) of the Flying Dutchman. Actors Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom returned, of course, to reprise the roles that made the first movie such a hit. Dead Man’s Chest was a hit at the box office and earned over $1 billion.

Spider-Man 3 – $258 million

Director Sam Raimi’s third Spider-Man movie, featuring Tobey Macguire in the titular role and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, boasted not one but three major villains—Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Venom (Topher Grace) and the New Goblin (James Franco). The film grossed nearly $900 million.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $300 million

The final installment in Disney’s Pirates trilogy, At World’s End resolved the stories of Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp), Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). The most expensive movie ever made received mixed reviews, but won “Best Movie” at the People’s Choice Awards. It earned slightly less than its predecessor with a gross revenue of just under $1 billion.

James Cameron’s Avatar – $500 million

James Cameron, the director who brought us “Titanic and the Terminator franchise, may have outdone himself with his latest endeavor. He’s certainly outbudgeted himself—and everyone else in Hollywood—with Avatar.

Not to be confused with The Last Airbender, the movie follows humanity’s attempts to exploit the resources of an alien planet through hybrid human-alien “avatars.” It features a far less celebrated cast than its budget might suggest—aside from Cameron himself, the biggest names attached to it are Giovanni Ribisi and Sigourney Weaver.

Cameron first wrote the script for Avatar in 1994, but delayed production until the technology caught up with his vision. Avatar uses an innovative new motion capture camera that allows the director to watch the actor’s interaction with the computer generated world as they’re filmed, an enormous performance-capture stage called The Volume and a special skullcap for recording facial expressions. Additionally, the entire movie is being filmed in 3D.

The subtitle on the website of Robin Antar’s Antar Studios inc. proclaims her work as “Realism in Stone.” Antar’s work consists mostly of mundane objects such as denim jackets, potato chip bags, tubes of toothpaste and even M&Ms bags rendered in stone. While you can’t drink from it, Antar’s “Soda Can” is likely the most expensive soda can in the world.

The costly can is carved from a single block of marble, polished and capped with a sculpted, silver-painted lid. Antar chose to carve a slightly crushed can rather than a boring, pristine can. At 10” by 18”, it’s not the largest of Antar’s oversized works, but it’s still larger than your average soda can. It weighs in at 150 lbs.

The most expensive soda can is valued at $36,000.

Northland refrigerator – $11,000

Northland, a 100-year-old provider of custom refrigerators, has really outdone itself with this 72” side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. It has a glass door and stainless steel wrap, features “daylight” interior lighting and easily cleaned glass shelves. The spacious fridge has a total capacity of 48.3 cubic feet

Vividus Mattress – $59,750

The Vividus, Latin for “full of life”, is the most expensive bed in the world. Sleeping on the bed, designed in Sweden by Hastens, has been described as “sleeping on a cloud.” It’s made from a variety of luxury materials, including cashmere, flax, silk, lambswool and hand-tufted horse hair.

Archeo Copper Bathtub – $67,557

Made of solid copper, this tub is hand-crafted by the very people who refurbished Lady Liberty’s torch. Over five feet long and two-and-a-half feet wide, the tub is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate just about anyone. The fluted faucet and hand-held shower unit are designed with the same aesthetic quality as the rest of the tub, featuring a finely engraved starfish-on-seashell knob. The extravagantly made tub easily takes its place as the world’s most expensive bathtub with its $67,557 price tag.

Parnian Furniture desk – $200,000

Created by Parnian Furniture Design & Manufacturing of Scottsdale, AZ, this luxurious desk is made of six different kinds of exotic wood, including ebony and Carpathian elm, and a piece of custom glass. Each of their desks is custom built to fit the room it’s destined to grace. This particular desk was built to show off Parnian’s unique design in their North Scottsdale showroom.

Solid gold stool – $1.3 million

Sold by a jewelry store in China’s Jiangsu province, this expensive stool is made of 110 lbs of solid gold and is priced at $1.3 million. Unfortunately, that’s about all we know about it.

Pininfarina’s Aresline Xten – $1.5 million

Created by Pininfarina, an Italian car design firm best known for designing luxury cars like Ferraris and Cadillacs, the Aresline Xten could be the most comfortable chair ever made. The Dynamic Synchronized Tilting system allows users to tilt the back and the seat independently while the Technogel in the cushions makes them conform to the shape of the user. The chair is also made from a durable fabric called Dynatec, which is also used by Olympic athletes.

Ruijssenaars magnetic floating bed – $1.6 million

Ruijssenaars reportedly worked on the technology for this expensive bed for six years in collaboration with Bakker Magnetics. Permanent opposing industrial-strength magnets allow the bed to float around 40cm off the floor and can hold 900kg. This visually pleasing technology could also be applied to other areas in home decor like coffee tables, sofas, and Japanese dining tables. How cool would it be to eat sushi and drink sake off a floating table?

Tufft table – $4.6 million

The Tufft pier table, named after its creator, Thomas Tufft, was hand-carved in the late 1700s for general store owner Richard Edwards of Lumberton, New Jersey. The antique table features pierced fretwork and long legs ending in narrow ankles and detailed ball-and-claw feet. It was sold by Edwards’ descendent, a Philadelphia architect by the name of Samuel Harrison Gardiner.

”Dragons” Chair – $27.8 million

This expensive armchair belonged to a Paris-based art dealer before finding its way into the hands of Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the eponymous YSL luxury brand. Reportedly, that very same art dealer is the person who paid ten times the chair’s estimated value to procure it at a Christie’s auction. The chair was made by Irish designer Eileen Gray sometime between 1917 and 1919. Called the “Dragons” chair, it is one of Gray’s masterpieces and was expected to sell for €2-3 millions.

Badminton Cabinet – $36.7 million

The Badminton Cabinet (or Badminton Chest) was commissioned by Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, at the age of 19. It took thirty experts six years to create and is named after the Duke’s seat of power, Badminton House in Gloucestershire, where it sat until it was auctioned by his descendents in the late 20th century.

Manhattan’s Nello’s restaurant on the Upper East Side may have hosted the most expensive lunch in the world as Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and nine other guests dined in for $52,000.

According to TMZ, the bill for the ten patrons came to $47,221. That includes three bottles of La Tache, two bottles of Chateau Petrus and two magnums of Cristal Rose—each wine being $5,000 per bottle. Other highlights of the lunch include three plates of truffle tagliolini at $195 each and two plates of truffle carpaccio for $100 each.

The group was apparently feeling generous, as they supplemented the over-$7,000 automatic gratuity with an additional $5,000.

Hanro Fishbone Boxer – $74

These 100% mercerized cotton boxers by Hanro feature a herringbone weave and tailored look. They’re available in white, grey, black and denim blue.

Dolce & Gabbana Boxe Boxer Shorts – $80
These boxer briefs by the ever-stylish D&G feature a double-layered pouch and the Boxe logo along the waistband. The logo alone explains the premium price tag on these pricey undergarments.

Oakley CarbonX Boxer Shorts – $100
What makes these boxers so special? They’re made of fire retardant CarbonX and can stand up to a freakin’ blowtorch–not that I’d want to put that to the test while wearing them. They’re intended for racecar drivers, but could probably be used by anyone with a highly flammable career path. They also feature “anatomical engineering” and a chic Oakley logo.

Octopus – $200 million

Owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Octopus is the world’s eighth largest yacht. The 414-foot yacht was first launched in 2003. The yacht has two helicopters, a submarine with room for ten men and seven boats. For those who’d like to see the ocean floor, the yacht even includes a remote controlled vehicle to do so.

Rising Sun – $200 million

Co-owned by Oracle’s Larry Ellison and media mogul David Geffen, Rising Sun is 453-feet and five stories of oceangoing luxury. It was built with one goal in mind—to exceed the size of Paul Allen’s Octopus, above. This pricey yacht has 8,000 feet of living space with onyx countertops and Jacuzzi bathrooms, a spa and sauna, a gym and even a private movie theatre with an enormous plasma screen.

Lady Moura – $210 million

This 344-foot mega-yacht is owned by billionaire Nasser Al-Rashid. It features a pool with retractable roof, a 75-foot dining table crafted by Viscount Linley and a helicopter. Lady Moura’s most remarkable feature, however, is the beach resort that slides out of one side of the boat. The mini resort features not only sand and deck chairs, but even includes palm trees for a truly authentic resort experience.

Dubai – $350 million

This costly yacht has gone by three names since its conception—Platinum 525, Golden Star and, most recently, Dubai. The Platinum 525 was commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei in 1996, but a lack of funds caused the project to be abandoned a scant couple of years later. In 2001, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then Crown Prince and now ruler of Dubai, took over the project and renamed it the Golden Star. Dubai is as expansive as it is expensive. The 525-foot yacht features an owner’s suite, five VIP suites and a number of guest bedrooms. The bridge features the captain’s quarters, an office and a lounge. The foyer and atrium connects each deck while lighting them from above via skylight. The luxury yacht is powered by four diesel engines with over 9,000 horsepower altogether.

Eclipse – $1.2 billion

Russian billionaire and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich’s super-yacht will be a 560-foot monster requiring a minimum of 70 crewmembers and featuring eleven guests. Abramovich and his guests will be protected by a security system that uses laser bursts to foil digital paparazzi photography when activated, anti-bugging and anti-intruder systems and a missile detection system. They’ll also enjoy a swimming pool that can be drained and used as a dance floor, an additional swimming pool and an aquarium. The yacht holds two helicopters, three boats and a submarine.

Even before the Gregorian Calendar’s year 1, the Romans used vexilloids—flag-like objects—to represent their empire. Nowadays, every nation has its own proper flag. Sometimes a particular flag will gain monetary value from its presence at a particular event. What is the most expensive flag in the world?

Recently, a Union Jack—Britain’s flag—was sold for a record-breaking price at auction. The flag was owned by the descendants of Second Lieutenant James Clephan and is the only surviving flag from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, when Britain prevailed against the combined forces of the French and Spanish fleets without losing a single ship.

The 11 ft by 7 ft flag has a fair number of holes, but considering it survived gunfire and chainshot—ammunition made specially to take down masts and other rigging—its condition is remarkable.

While it was only expected to sell for £10,000, its final sale price on Trafalgar Day (October 21st) in 2009 was £384,000—over US $600,000. That price makes it the most expensive Union Jack ever sold, but is this the world’s most expensive flag?

Few things could come closer to that clichéd fantasy of young girls, to be married to a dashing prince in an extravagant wedding, than the nuptials of celebrities and billionaires. These weddings can be events that draw thousands of guests, feature lavish decorations and include performances by superstar musicians.

The wedding of Vanisha Mittal, daughter of world’s 8th richest person Lakshmi Mittal, to investment banker Amit Bhatia was the most expensive wedding in the world. The six-day event was held in Versailles in 2004 and included a reenactment of the couple’s courtship, an engagement ceremony at the Palace of Versailles—the only private function ever held in the palace—and performances by Shah Rukh Khan and Kylie Minogue.

The elder Mittal footed the bill for the wedding, reportedly spending $55 million to see his daughter happily married.

From the pyramids of the Egyptian Pharaohs to the costly funerals of the modern day elite, one truth is made quite clear—first impressions may be important, but final impressions last longer. That’s why Michael Jackson was buried in one of the most expensive coffins in the world.

Inspired by James Brown’s 2007 funeral, the late King of Pop ordered a coffin called “The Promethean,” the same model chosen by relatives of the Godfather of Soul, from Batesville Casket Co. in Indiana—Jackson’s own home state.

Jackson’s coffin is a solid bronze casket lined with blue velvet. What makes The Promethean truly spectacular, though, is the hand-polished 14k gold plate finish. All told, the coffin cost $25,000.

While Jackson’s memorial was held on July 7, 2009, he wasn’t interred until September 3rd. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

PechePlatinum crocodile flip flops – $400

The most expensive flip flops in the world are made with patent-pending technology and hand-matched crocodile straps. Furthermore, if your conscience won’t allow you to wear a crocodile skin on your foot, PechePlatinum assures us that selling shoes made of crocodiles and donating 5% of the profits to primate-friendly eco-groups somehow helps both the crocs and the monkeys.

Berluti Rapiécés Reprisés – $1,830

These shoes, inspired by Andy Warhol, are notable for the patched appearance traditionally reserved for clothing. Because Warhol requested a visible patch only on his right shoe, each set includes an additional left shoe that remains unpatched.

Solitaire Kicks’ Nike Air Force One “So Cals” – $50,000

The most expensive sneakers in the world were presented to rapper Big Boi at the Solitaire Kicks launch party in November 2007. Solitaire Kicks, a customization service offered by Laced Up Boutique in Atlanta, tricked these sneakers out with Nike logo cast in gold and adorned with 11-carat diamonds. The diamonds’ casings are affixed to the shoes by gold stitching.

Harry Winston’s Ruby Slippers – $3 million

While the original ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz were made with sequins, these spectacular slippers designed by Ronald Winston of the House of Harry Winston to mark the classic movie’s fiftieth anniversary used real rubies. The slippers include 4,600 rubies totaling 1,350 carats (as well as 50 carats of diamonds) which took craftsman Javiar Barerra two months to set. Made in 1989, the world’s most expensive shoes were still on sale in 2000.

Even if you’re not a wine drinker and don’t recognize the name “Chambord,” you’re certain to recognize their distinctive round bottle. Chambord Liqueur Royale de France is a black raspberry liqueur that comes in a bottle styled after the globus cruciger—a medieval symbol of Christian authority featuring the cross atop a globe. Now Chambord and Donald Edge have taken that authority to the next level by creating what may just be the most expensive wine bottle in the world.

Chambord by Donald Edge is a handcrafted Royal Orb bedecked with gold and gems. It features more than 1,100 brilliant, princess and pear cut diamonds as well as a single emerald cut diamond. As if that wasn’t enough, the bottle also features a number of the finest pearls. All of these gems are set in the bottle’s 18k gold embellishments.

The bottle is valued at over $2 million and is currently under review by Guinness World Records. It was used in the world’s most expensive breakfas and a world tour is in the works.

The Pokémon craze may have died down somewhat, but Nintendo’s media franchise still has a devoted fan base. While originally released as a pair of Game Boy games, Pokémon’s popularity led to a cartoon series, several feature length films and, of course, a collectible card game.

Charizard

The most expensive Pokémon card in the world is the Pikachu Illustrator card. Only six of these cards exist. They were created for a contest run by CoroCoro magazine in which children were invited to design their own Pokémon cards. The six winners won these holofoil trophy cards. They have been valued at up to $20,000.

Of the mass produced Pokémon cards, the most popular and expensive card is Charizard. It’s valued for its high HP of 120 and its devastating “Fire Spin” attack. It can fetch up to $125, but only if it’s a first edition card.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S – $112-150,000

This 520 horsepower beast is capable of handling even the most extreme conditions. The Cayenne Turbo S has a base MSRP of $112,000 and hit sales floors in 2003. But if you want it with all the amenities like colored Porsche crests on the wheels, the off-road tech package, and the 20-inch wheels and tires, you can expect a price tag of almost 150 grand! When off-road, the Cayenne Turbo S features a 2.4 inch suspension articulation for those pesky boulders or fallen trees as well as a unique “hill-descent mode” where the SUV can safely inch its way down a slippery slope at a set speed without assistance from the driver’s foot. This SUV will put your standard sports car to shame, running the coveted 0-60 miles per hour in an astounding 4.8 seconds.

Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris – around $300,000

Originally called the D12, the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SSUV was introduced in 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show. Some of the standard features of the Spyker SSUV include: fulltime four-wheel drive, four doors (suicide configuration), carbon-ceramic matrix brakes, and all aluminum construction. While it was originally intended to have a Audi W12 engine, it is now believed to be fitted with a V8 by an unknown American company—hence the change from “D12″ to “D8.”

“Warrior One” Hummer H1 – $1.25 million

On January 20th of 2007, CNN auctioned off a Hummer used by journalists that were covering the war in Iraq. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Fisher House Foundation. Dave Liniger, a Vietnam veteran and the founder of Re/Max International Inc., purchased the most expensive SUV ever sold at auction, bidding $1 million for the Hummer. Another bidder, Dave Ressler, contributed an additional $250,000 to benefit the charity. The Hummer H1 was the world’s most expensive SUV until it ended production in 2006.

Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition – $1.5 million

Perfect for the urban warrior, this bulletproof SUV is an upgrade from the original 8.1 liter GM V8-powered Dartz Kombat T98. Debuting at the 2010 Top Marques Monaco show, the most expensive SUV in the world will feature ruby red matte paint, gold-plated bulletproof windows, 22″ Kremlin Red Star bulletproof wheels, tungsten exhaust and a coating of kevlar. The badges and dials are made with white gold, diamonds and rubies. It also features a special Vertu mobile phone with an “alert” button and a Rogue Acoustic Audio System. Best of all, the interior is lined with whale penis leather!

That is good, right?

VO Vapen Royal Collection United Arab Emirates Edition rifle

The gun is a product of Viggo Olsson, the Swedish gunsmith who founded VO Vapen in 1977. Called the H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque Rifle, it was created as a tribute to its namesake building in Abu Dhabi. The rifle was modeled after the mosque’s impressive chandelier and features gold inlays and thirty-six diamonds of various colors. The exclusive rifle is valued at $825,000. Olssen has also produced 100 Royal Collection United Arab Emirates Edition rifles priced at a somewhat more modest $525,000.

Of course, there are some rifles whose historical importance renders them priceless. One example of such is the Carcano rifle used to assassinate John F. Kennedy, which is currently in the hands of the National Archives and Records Administration in Maryland.

The John F. Kennedy assassination rifle

The stroller that may just be the most expensive stroller in the world is Kid Kustoms’ “The Roddler.” Its sleek design makes it look more like a classic car than a conveyance for your little one, thanks to a fender design based on 50s Buicks, Oldsmobiles and the like. The stainless chassis is inspired by aircraft designs and the custom seat and top can be made of ostrich, stringray, alligator, cow hide or alcantra. It even includes an iPod dock and DVD player. It can be customized with a variety of different colors as well as logos, your baby’s name, etc. and the price for a custom starts at $3500.

The most expensive baby carriage in the world is likely the Silver Cross Balmoral Pram. Silver Cross has been handcrafting traditional baby carriages in Northern England for over 100 years and the Balmoral Pram features three coats of lacquer for a perfect shine and quality English leather. Each one is unique and individually numbered. Priced at $2,900, you’re not likely to find a more expensive carriage on the market.

Clive Christian No. 1 isn’t just the most expensive perfume—it’s also the most expensive cologne in the world.

Clive Christian No. 1 for Men features top notes of bergamot, lime, Sicilian mandarin and cardamon; a heart of Lily of the Valley, rose, jasmine and ylang ylang; and a base of cedarwood, sandalwood, vetyver and ambery woods. The scarcity of these ingredients and the six months it takes for the spiciness to crystalize give the cologne its extraordinary price.

A regular bottle of Clive Christian No. 1 can be had for as little as $650. While the limited Imperial Majesty edition bottle referred to in our perfume article is no longer available, a handmade lead crystal bottle sporting a brilliant cut white diamond in a gold collar is available for $2,350.

If that doesn’t scream “Cover it in diamonds,” well, I don’t know what does.

Amosu BlackBerry Pearl Diamond Edition – $88,000

Amosu released their BlackBerry Pearl Diamond Edition in 2008. The diamonds used to make this particular phone were recyclable—owners could have them refit to their next BlackBerry when the Pearl became obsolete. The Amosu BlackBerry even came with a year of access to an exclusive concierge service allowing purchasers to enjoy a variety of luxury services.

Amosu Curva Diamond BlackBerry – $191,000

Not one to rest on his laurels, Alexander Amosu has created a brand new exclusive BlackBerry customization. The Amosu Curva is covered in 4,494 brilliant cut VS1 diamonds totalling about 28.42 carats set in a coat of 18-karat gold. The best part, though, is that only three of these luxury smartphones will ever be made. Each purchaser will have the option of having their name engraved on the back. Like Amosu’s previous offering, Amosu Curva owners will enjoy a free year-long global concierge service in 44 cities.

Knalihs Athem BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition – ???

Swiss luxury designer Knalihs Athem has also created a suitably expensive BlackBerry. Each Knalihs Athem BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition is customized with the buyer’s choice of pink, yellow, black, champagne and white diamonds. The back of the phone is also customized with leather, crocodile or snake skin, or denim—each available in at least two different colors. Of course, it also has all the standard features of the BlackBerry Bold. Unfortunately, the price of Knalihs Athem’s expensive BlackBerry seems to have been filed under “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”

Matsutake Mushrooms – $1000/pound

The matsutake, or mattake, mushroom is expensive because of its rarity. While its historical prevalence meant it was nearly synonymous with autumn in Japan, the introduction of an insect that kills the trees under which the mushroom grows has caused a dramatic decrease in the number of matsutake mushrooms. A method for farming the matsutake has yet to be developed, which means the lack of trees from which to harvest these mushrooms naturally is a serious problem for the species.

The World’s Most Expensive Bagel – $1000

This bagel, created by Executive Chef Frank Tujague for New York’s Westin Hotel, is topped with white truffle cream cheese and goji berry infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves. The bagel’s price is justified when you consider that white truffles happen to be the second most expensive food by weight, eclipsed only by caviar. The underground fungus grows only under specific oak trees in Alba, Italy. Their pheromone-like odor is considered to be an aphrodisiac and is the reason dogs and female pigs are used to hunt the precious truffle.

The Zillion Dollar Frittata – $1000

This absurdly expensive breakfast item consists of a mixture of eggs, lobster and 10 ounces of sevruga caviar (which costs the restaurant $65 per ounce). On the menu next to the expensive omelet there is a challenge that reads, “Norma dares you to expense this.”

Wagyu Steak – $2800

While Wagyu cattle are raised both in and outside Japan, the Kobe varietal which is raised specifically in the Hyogo prefecture is the most elite. Employing the most traditional production methods, Kobe beef comes from cows that are allegedly fed only beer and massaged by hand to ensure a tenderness and marbling beyond compare. These dishes can be out of range for the average restaurateur, carrying an unhealthy load of fat and a price tag to match. For your next after-work social, you might try taking your associates to New York City’s Craftsteak, where a full Wagyu rib eye was served up to a private party for $2800.

Samundari Khazana, the World’s Most Expensive Curry – $3200

To celebrate the DVD release of Slumdog Millionaire, Bombay Brassiere packed this curry platter full of the most expensive ingredients they could find. Devon crab and white truffle and a half tomato filled with Beluga caviar and dressed with gold leaf are just the start of this lavish dish. A Scottish lobster, also coated with gold, four abalone and four shelled and hollowed quails’ eggs filled with even more caviar round out the dish.

Domenico Crolla’s “Pizza Royale 007″ – $4200

The 12 inch pizza pie is densely packed with an assortment of some of the world’s most expensive food ingredients, such as lobster marinated in cognac, caviar soaked in champagne, sunblush tomato sauce, Scottish smoked salmon, venison medallions, prosciutto, and vintage balsamic vinegar. In addition to all these fine ingredients, it’s topped with a significant amount of edible 24-carat gold flakes.

(via Los Angeles Times)

Dansuke Watermelon – $6,100

In a country where watermelons are rare game, they can be a costly commodity. That’s how a 17-pound Japanese watermelon became the most expensive watermelon in the world. Densuke watermelons, a type of black watermelon grown only on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, are usually given as gifts due to their extraordinary rarity. There were only sixty-five of the fruits among the first harvest this season. They are harder and crisper than the watermelons we Americans are used to and, according to Tohma Agricultural Cooperative’s spokesman, they “have a different level of sweetness.”

Yubari Melons – $22,872

Another type of expensive melon, the world’s most expensive cantaloupes are a pair of Yubari melons and were the first auction of the 2008 season. They had previously been judged the best pair and were purchased by the owner of a nearby seafood lunchbox and souvenir business. It had some competition—100 melons grown by farmers from Yubari were also judged.

Almas Caviar – $25,000

Almas caviar comes from Iran making it extremely rare and extremely expensive. The only known outlet is the Caviar House & Prunier in London England’s Picadilly that sells a kilo of the expensive Almas caviar in a 24-karat gold tin for £16,000, or about $25,000. Coincidentally, it is also where you can find the most expensive meal in Britain. The Caviar House also sells a £800 tin for those on a smaller budget.

Italian White Alba Truffle – $160,406

Expensive truffles are notoriously pricey because they are difficult to cultivate. This makes them a true delicacy which some have called the king of all fungi. The Associate Press reported that a real estate investor and his wife from Hong Kong have paid €125,000 ($160,406 USD) for a gigantic Italian White Alba truffle which is reportedly the world’s most expensive ever. The most expensive truffle weighs in 1.51 kilograms (3.3 lbs).

The Lamborghini Reventón 2008 is true to the company’s enduring legacy of exclusive automobiles. It sports a body straight out of science fiction and a 6.5 L V-12, 640 hp engine. It can accelerate to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and is capable of up to 210 mph.

Like other Lamborghinis, Reventón is named after a fighting bull. This may have been a poor choice as the name, meaning “explosion,” is also an automotive term—for a blowout.

Only twenty of these expensive Lamborghinis were ever built and they were originally priced at a jaw-dropping $1.45 million.

Selfridges & Co. gold belt – $32,000

You can never have enough gold on your body—at least, that’s what Selfridges, a chain of high end department stores in the UK, wanted you to believe when they unveiled this expensive belt. Selfridges & Co. commissioned the aptly-named design house Money to create the gold-studded men’s belt. Featuring seventy pyramids crafted from 18-carat gold and mounted on white leather, the belt was intended to herald the return of the lavish lifestyle. Given its 2006 release, they probably even sold a few before the global economic hullabaloo.

The Selfridges luxury belt was priced at £20,000—around US $32,000—for anyone with a waist under 28 inches. Each additional inch added £800 to the price.

Republica Fashion’s Gucci 30cts.diamond belt – $249,000

Of course, within days of the original publication of this article a brand new Most Expensive Belt in the World was unveiled. A collaboration between Goldstriker International and U.K. designer Stuart Hughes, this belt was commissioned by an anonymous client of Republica Fashion. It’s a Gucci belt with the Gucci monogrammed belt buckle replaced by a more extravagant platinum buckle with 30 carats of diamonds placed along the upright G.

Sleep is just as important—if not more important—to kids as it is to adults. So if you have the cash, why not treat your kids to one of these luxury children’s beds?

Vi-Spring, maker of luxury beds of all kinds, created these divan beds to provide comfort and support to children five years and older. Best of all, the beds are made with 100% natural materials—as long as you don’t count the metal springs, at least. Vi-Spring contends that natural materials such as cotton or lambswool breathe more readily than synthetic materials and allow for a more restful night.

Vi-Spring’s luxury children’s beds are handcrafted with your choice of over sixty mattresses and divan fabrics. Prices start at £1,200—that’s around US $2000. At that price, these beds may be the most expensive children’s beds in the world!

The most expensive commercial real estate in the world isn’t office space in Boston, London or Hong Kong. In fact, it isn’t office space at all—it’s a data center.

A data center in Chicago, paid for by high-frequency traders, commands a price of $4,000 per square foot. It’s used to power security exchanges like the Chicago Board Options Exchange and also to make thousands of trades per second based on computer generated algorithms.

The high price of this real estate can be attributed to the proximity between the exchanges’ servers and the traders’ servers. While online communication may seem instantaneous, a fraction of a second can make all the difference in the world for these high-frequency traders.

(Via Larry Cheng)

People have been decorating their nails since before the rise of the Roman Empire, so it’s only natural that someone would create a truly extravagant nail polish. “I Do” is just such a nail polish—and it’s the most expensive nail polish in the world.

You won’t find this expensive nail polish at your local Sephora store. Created as a collaboration between women’s beauty magazine Allure, Essie Cosmetics, Platinum Guild International (PGI) and British platinum supplier Johnson Matthey, “I Do” is made with powdered platinum and debuted at JCK-Las Vegas in 2005. The first batch of this luxury nail polish was displayed in a special bottle created by PGI and designer Henry Dunay and made of—you guessed it—pure platinum.

The platinum bottle of “I Do” is valued at $55,000. A normal bottle of the platinum polish can be purchased for a more affordable $250.

Case-mate iPhone 3G/3GS Carbon Fiber Leather Case
$49.99

This luxury iPhone case is made with a rare leather—mainly used in high-end aftermarket cars—covering an impact resistant molded shell. The exclusive case is available only in black and includes a screen protector.

Case-mate iPhone 3G/3GS Carbon Fiber Leather Case/Holster Combo
$79.99

Made with the same rare leather as their slightly-less-premium case above, this is Case-mate’s finest iPhone case. In fact, it’s available only for a limited time. Once their supply is gone, that’s it. The case also comes with full face screen protection and a holster made of the same carbon fiber leather as the case itself. This costly case can be purchased in either red or black.

DRO Concepts’ Carbon Fiber iPhone 3G Case
$92.99

The world’s most expensive carbon fiber iPhone case is an improvement on a similar case by the now-defunct Belch Co. (can’t see why they went out of business). This handcrafted case features four layers of carbon fiber with a scratch-resistant gloss finish and a neoprene lining. It even has a removable bottom so you can dock it without the hassle of removing the whole case.

GnG “Golden Delicious”
$100,000+

This extravagant case is the culmination of twelve months of development. The case features a 1mm subshell made with 140 grams of 18k gold, a carbon fiber inlay and about 200 diamonds. The outer frame features another 400 diamonds in the logo, which may be customized. As a customizable luxury item, however, prices may vary widely based on the materials needed.

10. Vaja i-Volution Top SP Holster
$80+

If you already think your iPhone is too big, and want to keep it slim, the Vaja i-Volution Top SP may be the case for you. The leather case protects your phone’s screen with a layer of ABS thermoplastic. With the flip-case opened, you have access to all of the iPhone’s features, including the headphone jack, SIM card and vibrate slider. The speakers and camera lens are also exposed. The i-Volution Top SP Holster starts at $80 and is available in a range of styles and colors.

9. DRO Concepts’ Carbon Fiber iPhone 3G Case
$92.99

This carbon fiber case is an improvement on a similar case by the now-defunct Belch Co. (can’t see why they went out of business). This handcrafted case features four layers of carbon fiber with a scratch-resistant gloss finish and a neoprene lining. It even has a removable bottom so you can dock it without the hassle of removing the whole case.

8. Miniot iWood
$95

Where can you find a sophisticated, almost antique appearance wrapped up with a name that would make any horny teenager—and many adults—snicker with very unsophisticated glee? Try the iWood case. It’s… well… it’s iWood.

7. Orbino Tuscan Leather Tasca Case
$119
Tuscan leather handstitched with premium waxed thread at Centro Stile Orbino in Italy makes this flap-top case a unique commodity. The Tasca case is hand lacquered, as well, with four coats of black, brown, tan or red lacquer. The leather lining provides a snug fit for your iPhone 3G or 3GS.

6. Swarovski Wildcat
$299.99

Featuring Swarovski crystals arranged by hand in a leopard-spot pattern, each of these luxury iPhone cases is completely unique. The easily snapped-on case is supposed to be as protective as it is aesthetically pleasing, but Ultra Case doesn’t list the materials used to create the “crystal hard case.”

5. Orbino Strada
up to $319

There are other iPhone cases out there made of the “finest” Italian leather, but what makes the Strada unique is its patented belt clip/pedestal. Not only is this belt clip removable, it’s also made of palladium metal and it can even be used to prop up your iPhone so you can watch videos at your desk. After all, you probably don’t have any other viewing apparatus there. The Strada also features a screen protector and connector access. Oh, it’s also hand-stitched. That automatically makes it at least twice as good. The Strada starts at $99, but you can pay more to get one made from one of a variety of gentle woodland creatures—from ostriches ($249) to crocodiles ($319).

4. Softbank BB Samurai iPhone cases
$1,000

Softbank BB is bringing the aesthetic appeal of traditional Japanese lacquerware to your iPhone. These five cases commemorate five famous samurai from Japan’s storied history—(from left to right) conquerer Oda Nobunaga; one-eyed warlord Date Masamune; tactician and “Dragon of Echigo,” Uesagi Kenshin; famed lover Naoe Kanetsugu and triumphant underdog Yukimura Sanada. The cases were created in collaboration with 350-year-old lacquerware company Zohiko and each design comes with a different cloth pouch.

3. Louis Vuitton iPhone cases
up to $1,120

Louis Vuitton is now offering four different flavors of iPhone case: Monogram Canvas, Taiga Leather, Epi Leather and Alligator Skin. Everyone knows adding the LV logo to something makes it practically priceless. But these prices range from $225 for the Monogram Canvas case to $1120 for the Alligator Skin case. Unfortunately, these costly cases commit the cardinal sin of covering the phone’s screen.

2. Diamond iPhone Case
$20,000

If you think buying a case worth fifty times the phone it carries makes perfect sense, then this is the case for you. With its 42 VVS1 diamonds (3.5 carats), it’s the most bling for your buck. That’s only $5,714 per carat. Great deal, huh?

1. GnG “Golden Delicious”
$100,000+

What is the most expensive iPhone case in the world? This extravagant case is the culmination of twelve months of development. The case features a 1mm subshell made with 140 grams of 18k gold, a carbon fiber inlay and about 200 diamonds. The outer frame features another 400 diamonds in the logo, which may be customized. As a customizable luxury item, however, prices may vary widely based on the materials needed.