Most-Expensive.net

World’s Most Expensive Christmas Ornament

2009-11-06T19:10:29Z

The holidays are coming up and the UK’s Hallmark Jewelers are ringing in the season with the most expensive Christmas ornament in the world.

Adorned with 500 diamonds—three of them one carat apiece—arranged along a snowflake pattern and orbited by 188 rubies, The World’s Most Valuable Christmas Bauble, as they call it, is a truly exquisite and unique piece of holiday décor.

Work on the Bauble began on Boxing Day (December 26th, for stateside readers) 2008 and took almost a year to complete. The two halves of the interior orb were cast in London’s Hatton Garden Jewellery Quarter. The bulb was unveiled at a VIP gala and its designer, Mark Hussey, plans to display it in his Titchfield store should a buyer not be available.

The Christmas Bauble is valued at £82,000—over US $136,000.

World’s Most Expensive Soda Can

2009-11-05T23:18:39Z

The subtitle on the website of Robin Antar’s Antar Studios inc. proclaims his 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.

Top 10 Most Expensive Furniture

2009-11-04T00:28:12Z

If you’ve come into your fortune but don’t know how to spend it, then you’ve come to the right place. After all, you don’t want to be the guy who owns a mansion but barely has any furniture, do you? Of course you don’t. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of some of the most expensive furniture in the world.

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.

World’s Most Expensive Lunch

2009-11-02T21:57:10Z

View Larger Map
Nello’s Restaurant

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.

World’s Most Expensive Beatles Memorabilia

2009-10-30T22:33:51Z

Yesterday and Today with the “butcher cover”

Yesterday and Today was the Beatles’ twelfth US release, a collection of tracks from LPs and singles that hadn’t been released in the US. While the band didn’t appreciate the mishmash approach Capitol Records took with the album, they were able to exert some creative control over the cover—at least until it was banned. Now that cover has become the most expensive Beatles memorabilia in the world.

The original “butcher cover” features the quartet dressed as butchers, with slabs of meat and parts of plastic baby dolls strewn across their laps and shoulders. It was part of a 1966 shoot by photographer Robert Whitaker and, according to Capitol Records president Alan W. Livingston, it was Paul McCartney who insisted that it be used as the album’s cover. Unfortunately, retailer complaints led to Capital recalling the 750,000 copies of the album and pasting over the cover with a more agreeable photo.

To celebrate the remastered release of the Beatles’ back catalogue, the Saint Giles Street Gallery together with the British Beatles Fan Club put together an exhibit full of rare Beatles imagery in October 2009. Called The “Eleven Million Dollar Picture” Show, it was named after the printer’s proof of the infamous butcher cover, upon which John Lennon wrote, “here’s the famous banned butcher cover. You can sell it for $11 million dollars.”

The Saint Giles Gallery, of course, had the proof up for sale for $11 million.

Luxury Boxer Shorts

2009-10-30T05:34:46Z

Whether to wear briefs, boxers or boxer briefs is an important decision in a man’s life. Luckily for those of us who wear boxers, there are some high end boxer shorts available. These may not be the most expensive boxers in the world, but we’ve put together a list of the most expensive luxury boxers we could find.

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.

World’s Most Expensive Yachts

2009-10-28T23:07:15Z

The Jacht was originally a lightweight Dutch naval vessel used to pursue pirates in shallow waters. When King Charles II chose to sail in one on his return to England in what would later be known as the English Restoration, the Jacht became a symbol of important and, eventually, wealth and luxury. Today, that tradition is still quite alive and nothing demonstrates that fact better than the most expensive yachts in the world.

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.

World’s Most Expensive Flag

2009-10-26T21:28:08Z

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?

World’s Most Expensive Wedding

2009-10-23T21:19:51Z

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.

World’s Most Expensive Coffin

2009-10-22T21:28:25Z

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.

World’s Most Expensive Shoes

2009-10-20T21:14:58Z

Shoes come in nearly as many shapes and sizes as people do, so we’ve made sure to cover a few different varieties of the most expensive shoes in the world. Below, you’ll find the most expensive flip flops, sneakers and men’s and women’s shoes.

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.

World’s Most Expensive Wine Bottle

2009-10-19T19:56:07Z

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.

World’s Most Expensive Pokémon Cards

2009-10-16T18:31:51Z

Pikachu Illustrator

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.

World’s Most Expensive SUVs

2009-10-14T21:17:46Z

Extremely expensive sports utility vehicles are nothing new. Porsche and Hummer currently produce some of the world’s most expensive SUVs. An infatuation with high-priced gas-guzzlers has produced a market of jaw dropping SUVs that are sure to impress even the toughest critics.

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?

World’s Most Expensive Rifles

2009-10-13T22:52:18Z

Rifles—firearms with helical grooves carved into the barrel to impart greater range and accuracy—have been in military use since the Seven Years War in Europe. While originally used only by sharpshooters and hunters, today’s rifles are the standard arms of the modern infantryman. Of course, none of them get to carry the most expensive rifle in the world.

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

World’s Most Expensive Luxury Baby Strollers

2009-10-12T21:51:07Z

There are two main varieties of baby transport—the stroller and the baby carriage. Baby carriages, or prams, have the baby lying down while facing the pusher. Strollers, on the other hand, keep the baby seated and facing away from the pusher. With that in mind, we present the top examples of either method of baby transport.

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.

World’s Most Expensive Cologne

2009-10-08T19:36:34Z

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.

World’s Most Expensive Breakfast

2009-10-19T19:55:03Z

A West End stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, featuring Anna Friel in Audrey Hepburn’s iconic role, has opened this month and Chambord has crafted the most expensive breakfast in the world to mark the occasion.

Chambord, known for their black raspberry liqueur, has combined the culinary arts and the jeweler’s craft with a croissant embellished with edible gold and diamonds, as well as Bar le Duc hand-seeded redcurrant jam. The meal also includes Kopi Luwak—the world’s most expensive coffee—and a Chambord and Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque champagne cocktail worth over $30,000. As if that wasn’t extravagant enough, the Chambord is served from a gold, diamond and pearl-encrusted bottle worth $2.4 million.

Should you wish to enjoy this breakfast of champions, it’ll set you back nearly $35,000. If you plan on taking in the show afterwards, however, be sure not to snap any pics of Anna Friel’s nude scene—the ushers have been instructed to confiscate any phones or cameras used for such nefarious deeds.

World’s Most Expensive BlackBerries

2009-10-05T21:19:44Z

RIM’s BlackBerry has come a long way in the years since its introduction as a two-way pager in 1999. Known for its push e-mail feature, the BlackBerry series held a place among the elite smartphones before anyone had even heard of an iPhone.

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.”

World’s Top Ten Most Expensive Foods

2009-10-02T21:36:32Z

If you’re looking to expand your horizons into the world of excess culinary expense, then you could do worse than starting with a few items on the list below. We’ve collected some of the most outlandish, outrageous and, above all, the most expensive foods in the world.

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).

World’s Most Expensive Lamborghini

2009-09-30T22:49:56Z

Italian carmaker Lamborghini is known for their sleek and swanky performance cars, rivaling fellow Italian company Ferrari S.p.A. since their founding in 1963. It’s only natural to ask “What is the most expensive Lamborghini in the world?”

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.

World’s Most Expensive Binoculars

2009-09-29T20:44:30Z

Whether you’re into bird watching, hunting or *cough* private surveillance, a pair of expensive binoculars can be a useful thing. That’s why Leica produces several lines of luxury binoculars, including the most expensive binoculars in the world.

Leica’s Duovid 10+15×50 features a 50mm lens and can switch between 10x magnification and a 15x magnification comparable to spotting scopes. It also features tactile rubber armoring to ensure a steady grip no matter the conditions. The expensive binoculars even come with a tripod for stargazing.

The Duovid 10+15×50 retails for $3,245. Unfortunately for those of you who’d like it in hot pink or neon orange, it’s available in only one color—black. Sad, isn’t it?

World’s Most Expensive Belt

2009-10-09T18:25:13Z

Whether used for its more utilitarian purpose or as a fashion statement, a belt can be an important part of any person’s wardrobe. Check out these two very expensive belts.

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.

World’s Most Expensive Baseball Bat

2009-09-24T22:21:18Z

When the Louisville Slugger used by legendary baller Babe Ruth to hit his first home run at Yankee Stadium in 1923 went up for auction, some feared that the winner might destroy it—either to end the dreaded “Curse of the Bambino” and allow the Red Sox victory in that year’s World Series or to sell pieces of it for profit. Instead, it became the most expensive baseball bat in the world as it sold for $1.3 million.

The bat, which left Ruth’s hands as a prize for a Los Angeles high school batting champion, features an autograph and dedication “To the Boy Home Run King of Los Angeles” and a brass plate that reads “Presented to Victor Orsatti at Manual Arts H.S. by the Los Angeles Evening Herald.” The 46-ounce bat’s model number, 148, is still visible amidst the lathe marks.

During his career, Ruth hit 714 home runs. His mythic batting prowess paid for the original Yankee Stadium—earning it the monicker “The House that Ruth Built”—and filled the 58,000-seat stadium with at least 60,000 fans in its first game, when the Yankees played against the Red Sox.

Speaking of the Red Sox, the Curse of the Bambino was lifted the year of the auction when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 in the 2004 World Series.

World’s Most Expensive Backpack

2009-09-22T21:47:19Z

What can you carry in the most expensive backpack in the world? From the look of it, you could stuff just about anything you need for a good day’s hike in one of its many pockets.

Leather goods producer Mulholland has made this luxury backpack out of deerskin, a supple but strong leather. The buckles are made of refined nickel or brass findings and the zippers are of the highest quality. The backpack is trimmed with signature Latigo leather and lined with water-resistant Italian linen. Each backpack is handmade in San Francisco and, due to the quality deerskin used in its manufacture, features unique graining.

Mulholland’s Deerskin Rucksack Backpacks are priced at $1,324.95. I dare you to find a more expensive backpack.

Luxury Children’s Beds

2009-11-03T23:10:22Z

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!

World’s Most Expensive Commercial Real Estate

2009-09-17T19:24:02Z

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)

World’s Most Expensive Nail Polish

2009-09-18T01:33:16Z

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.

World’s Most Expensive Toilet Paper

2009-09-14T23:16:14Z

Do you ever feel like your toilet paper doesn’t communicate your wealth as well as it could? Fortunately for anyone who has, that insurmountable problem has been surmounted by Renovo, makers of the most expensive toilet paper in the world.

Renovo’s luxury toilet paper is the ultimate in luxury toiletries. This soft TP is made of 100% virgin pulp for maximum softness. It’s three-ply and colorfast. Yes, you read that right—it’s colorfast. Renovo’s designer toilet paper comes in six different colors—black, red, green, orange, blue and fuchsia.

Renovo toilet paper is priced from just over $3 for a single roll to $7.60 for six rolls. It can be seen—and, I suppose, used—in upscale restaurant and hotel bathrooms in the US, Canada and Europe.

Top Carbon Fiber iPhone Cases

2009-09-11T20:19:12Z

Carbon fiber’s popularity in iPhone cases may be attributed to the material’s toughness and low density. After all, part of the appeal of the iPhone is that it’s so slim, so a lightweight protective material is all the more attractive. Check out these three luxury iPhone cases and you’ll see why they’re some of the most expensive iPhone cases in the world.

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.