Most-Expensive.net

Most Expensive Newspaper

2008-07-01T01:25:37Z

You probably know that the advent of the web has caused a steady decline in newspaper circulation. Eventually, printed broadsheets may become a thing of the past entirely, relegated to museums and rare book libraries. In that case, certain newspaper copies may command exceedingly high prices for their historical value.

For now, though, it’s the stamps that matter.

The world’s most expensive newspapers is an issue of the Romanian newspaper, Zimbrulu and Vulturulu (The Aurochs and the Eagle), that was mailed to Galati when it was published in 1858. Because of its weight, the newspaper required no less than eight Cap de Bour (Bull Head) stamps. These stamps are now quite rare, quite expensive and quite coveted by philatelists (i.e. stamp collectors).

The priceless paper found its way into the hands of the David Feldman auction house. From there it was auctioned to art collector Joseph Hackmey for €829,500—over $1.3 million in the US! That makes it not only the most expensive newspaper in the world but also one of the most expensive philatelic objects in the world.

Most Expensive Diamond Necklaces

2008-06-30T13:21:58Z

An expensive diamond necklace is more than a simple accessory. It’s a statement of opulence that will set members of your family apart for generations. Check out some of the world’s most expensive diamond necklaces.

H. Stern’s Venus Necklace - $3.17 million

This 110-carat diamond necklace features a number of cushion, square and pear-cut diamonds set in 18k noble gold. Even the clasp is exquisite, featuring a 14-point diamond star. This is truly a piece that looks just as good from behind as it does from the front.

The De Beers’ Marie-Antionette Necklace - $3.7 million

From the De Beers High-Jewellery collection, this luxurious necklace features over 181 carats of mixed cut diamonds. Beneath the deep pink diamond (1.84 carats) on the first string are two yellow diamonds (5.24 and 7.06) along the second and third strings. The 8.05 carat pear-shaped white diamond hanging from the fourth string, though, is the showstopper on this beautiful piece of jewelry.

Neil Lane’s Diamond Necklace - $4 million

The 140 carats of diamonds featured on this valuable necklace feature three different cuts—pear, cushion and teardrop. The diamonds are set in platinum along the six strings that make up this necklace.

Garrard’s Heart of the Kingdom Ruby - $14 million

The most expensive necklace in the world features a 40.63-carat, heart-shaped Burmese ruby surrounded by 155 carats of diamonds. Burmese ruby is one of the most sought after varieties of ruby due to its blood-red hue. This gem is particularly valuable due to its extraordinary size—Burmese rubies rarely exceed a few carats!

The most expensive necklace can also be worn as a tiara.

Most Expensive Cruise Ship

2008-06-25T14:47:00Z

In 2006, Royal Caribbean International embarked on an ambitious project called Project Genesis. Their mission was to build the world’s largest cruise ship. Scheduled to sail in fall of 2009, Project Genesis isn’t just the largest ship. It’s also the most expensive cruise ship in the world.

(via True Cruise)

Project Genesis isn’t Royal Caribbean International’s first enormous cruise ship. Their last endeavor, Freedom of the Seas, also broke records with its ability to carry over 4,000 passengers and its weight in excess of 150,000 tons.

Project Genesis will, of course, break both records. The 1,180 foot long ship will weigh 220,000 tons and carry a maximum of 6,400 passengers and 2,100 crew members. The ship is so big, in fact, that it will have a common area, as large as a football field, called Central Park. Central Park’s piazza will even host street performers and live concerts. Additionally, the park will be surrounded by a variety of restaurants, including fine dining at 150 Central Park, Italian cuisine at Giovanni’s Table and steakhouse fare at Royal Caribbean’s own Chops Grille.

The ship will also include a number of bars ranging from wine bars to the impressive Rising Tide bar—an engineering marvel that actually moves through three decks from Central Park to the public spaces below.

Norway’s Aker Yards is handling the construction of the ship. Their price for building the most expensive cruise ship in the world: $1.24 billion!

Most Expensive Champagne Glasses

2008-06-23T13:05:11Z

(via Baller House)

Fine champagne needs an equally fine glass. It follows, then, that drinking the most expensive champage requires the most expensive champagne glass.

Enter John Calleija, designer of a pair of champagne glasses sure to put any others to shame. Adorned with 1,700 diamonds—both white and a rare argyle pink—these glasses were hand carved from a pair of 8kg blocks of quartz crystal. The glasses are nearly 6 inches tall, over half a pound apiece and share between them 15 carats of diamonds.

Calleija, wishing to expand his work into luxury goods, drew diamond-covered letter openers, scissors, chopsticks and even salt and pepper shakers before hitting upon the more conventional idea of a pair of luxurious champagne glasses. An anonymous client, upon seeing the design, immediately commissioned them and plans to make them into family heirlooms.

So how much did this anonymous businessman pay for the world’s most expensive champagne glasses? A mere $400,000 allowed him to secure this sparkling legacy.

Most Expensive Money Clip

2008-06-19T14:00:46Z

What could say “I’m rich” better than paying for your morning coffee with a bill pulled from the world’s most expensive money clip?

The Hou Yi money clip, handmade by Chinese craftsman Li Bosheng, is made of 14 karat gold and high-grade sterling silver. The part that really makes this a special money clip, though, is the centerpiece—a hunk of chiseled Hetian jade.

As it is only found in two rivers in Xinjiang, China, this white jade is extremely rare. In fact, it is likely that the supply will be completely depleted within five years. It is considered the most valuable jade in the world and was used by Chinese emperors in their personal seals.

The stone is treated as its pedigree demands. Li Bosheng is known as a master jade craftsman and, as you can see, the final piece does justice to both the artist and the medium.

The most expensive money clip in the world is made to order and requires an estimated 4-5 weeks to be completed. A Hou Yi money clip will set you back $5,600. Of course, in order to make use of it, you’ll have to carry around actual paper money.

Didn’t think of that, did ya?

via bLavish

Top 4 Most Expensive Burgers

2008-06-23T13:11:12Z

Just because the hamburger is undoubtedly a signature fast food item, doesn’t mean that you can’t treat yourself and empty your pockets by tasting one of the world’s most expensive burgers. For those with money to blow, there are some very pricey—and hopefully very tasty—burgers available, and you’ll never guess who has recently come out with the most expensive burger in the world.

The Fleurburger

#4 FleurBurger 5000 - around $75

Are you willing to part with $5,000 for one, though? Renowned chef Hubert Keller thinks you might be. His FleurBurger 5000 is available at Fleur de Lys, a traditional French restaurant located in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. They’ll even mail a certificate to your home just to prove that you ate the world’s most expensive hamburger.

So how do you rationalize a five grand price tag for a hamburger? Well, you could start with the fact that the burger itself is made of Kobe beef. You could, then, move on to the foie gras—that’s duck or goose liver—and black truffles with which the burger is topped. You could even point out that the hamburger is served on a brioche truffle bun and is garnished with a sauce containing even more truffles. Then again, it could be the bottle of Chateau Pétrus 1990 and Ichendorf Brunello stemware, specially imported from Italy, which you get to take home. Yeah, that might be it.

Of course, if you actually want the world’s most expensive burger, rather than the most expensive burger-and-wine combo, then you may have to look elsewhere. The Fleurburger can be ordered by itself for a mere $75.

#3 The Tri-Beef Burger - $125

The Tri-Beef Burger

One expensive burger was created in 2006 at the Old Homestead Steakhouse in Boca Raton, Florida. Called the Tri-Beef Burger, this is made of a blend of three different kinds of beef—American Prime, Japanese Wagyu and Argentine beef. The hamburger is served with signature Chipotle ketchup made with truffles and champagne. As if the beef isn’t reason enough to purchase this expensive burger, the restaurant’s owners donate $10 of every sale of the $125 burger to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

#2 The Richard Nouveau Burger $175

The Richard Nouveau

The Richard Nouveau is a more recent entry into the most expensive burger hall of fame. Named after the fictional writer of PocketChange, an online newsletter about NYC’s most expensive offerings, the Richard Nouveau is available at the Wall Street Burger Shoppe. The ten-ounce Kobe beef burger is topped with black truffles, seared foie gras, aged Gruyere cheese, wild mushrooms and flakes of gold leaf. Like the Fleurburger, it’s also served on a brioche bun. The burger was created when PocketChange’s Jeremy Abelson suggested that the Burger Shoppe’s co-owner, Heather Tierney, outdo the $120 burger offered by another local eatery. With the Richard Nouveau’s $175 price tag, they’ve clearly done so.

#1 Burger King’s The Burger - about $186

The Burger

Hot on the heels of Wall Street Burger, surprisingly enough, is Burger King. Yes, this monolithic fast food giant has decided to live up to its name by producing the world’s most expensive burger. Called simply “The Burger,” this costly hamburger is available only at a West London branch of the restaurant. Luckily for those who’ll be taking their private jets to Burger King for lunch, The Burger can be pre-ordered by phone so that you needn’t wait.

The world’s most expensive hamburger is made, as usual, with Wagyu beef. It is also decked with white truffles, onion tempura prepared in Cristal champagne and some of Italy’s finest Pata Negra prosciutto. All of this is presented in an Iranian saffron and truffle bun.

The Burger is priced at £95 (about $186 US). While it has been derided as a cheap marketing stunt, proceeds from The Burger will benefit a local charity, Help A London Child. All things considered, I’d say it’s at least an expensive marketing stunt.

Top 10 Luxury iPhone Cases

2008-06-11T20:03:41Z

Why not spend some money to protect your precious iPhone? These luxury iPhone cases are made from carbon fiber, Napa leather, mahogany, ostrich skin, alligator skin and even gold adorned with diamonds with prices range from $35 to $20,000 USD.

10. Griffin iPhone Courier Utility Case

We all know bicyclists are rough and tough, but they are also hip. That’s why they need an iPhone case made especially for them. Additionally, the straps on the jacket allow your iPhone to be secured to the shoulder strap of a messenger bag. The case itself can be detached from the jacket, allowing you to use your phone with ease. There’s even a hidden pocket for ID and other small objects while a larger pocket allows you to carry your sync cable and headphones. With it’s weather proof compression-molded EVA outer jacket, at $34.99 this is a bargain for anyone who wants to protect their iPhone while biking.

9. OtterBox Defender Series iPhone Case

The purpose of the aptly named Defender Series is to provide almost all of the phone’s functionality (the silence button is covered) while protecting the iPhone from the rigors of outdoor activity. The case features a hard plastic shell with a protective membrane that leaves the screen just as responsive as it is without any protection. There’s also a silicone skin that allows you to maintain your grip. Best of all, the case is weatherproof. It comes with a rugged holster and can be had for $49.95.

8. Sena MagnetFlipper Case

Sena, a well known manufacturer of PDA and smartphone cases, offers this European Napa leather case for iPhone users. Reinforced in the front and back, the case offers maximum protection at the expense of the iPhone’s trademark slimness. In addition, the front features extra padding so as not to damage the screen. The case features cutouts for the power button, headphone jack, SIM card, vibration and volume controls and the camera lens. It even features a pocket that can accommodate a credit card or two. The MagnetFlipper is so named because of the magnetic closing mechanism that allows it to be easily operated one-handed. It is available for $52.

7. Case-mate iPhone Carbon Fiber Leather Case/Holster Combo

Made of a rare leather used in high-end aftermarket cars covering an impact resistant molded shell, 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 will set you back $69.99 and can be purchased in either red or black.

6. Belch Co. Case

Yes, you read that correctly. Belch Co. offers this state of the art, layered carbon fiber case for a mere $79.99. The case weighs in at 7g and is only 2mm thick. Will it protect your phone? Probably. After all, doesn’t Belch Co. sound like name you can trust?

5. Vaja i-Volution Top SP Holster

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.

4. Miniot iWood

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. With a $95 price tag, it’s… well… it’s iWood.

3. Orbino Strada

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).

2. Louis Vuitton iPhone cases

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.

1. Diamond iPhone Case

If you think buying a case worth fifty times the phone it carries makes perfect sense, then this is the case for you. At $20,000, it’s the most expensive iPhone case and, 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?

Most Expensive Swimming Pool

2008-06-10T18:41:32Z

Looking at the above image, you might think that this is another one of Dubai’s expensive projects. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s the world’s most expensive swimming pool and it’s located at the San Alfonso Del Mar resort in Chile.

The twenty acre pool is as long as three football fields and holds 66 million gallons of saltwater. Its deep end is 115 feet deep. Naturally, it holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s largest swimming pool.

The water in the pool is in constant circulation, kept clean and clear by a computer-controlled suction and filtration system that draws water in from the ocean at one end and pumps it out at the other. Even at the pool’s deepest point, you can still see the bottom. Not only that, but the water is kept above 78 F in the summer. The nearby ocean water, by contrast, is only around 62 F.

The most expensive swimming pool in the world cost nearly $2 billion to build and requires almost $4 million in annual maintenance.

Most Expensive Box of Chocolates

2008-06-10T18:26:42Z

We’ve all heard the saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” If you’re fabulously wealthy, though, then maybe your life is more like a steamer trunk full of chocolates. In any case, MarieBelle New York’s Chocolate Picnic Steamer Trunk may just be the most expensive box of chocolates in the world.
MarieBelle has a reputation for making some of the world’s finest chocolates, which is quite extraordinary considering they only opened their doors in 2000. A box of only four pieces of their chocolates costs $12.

Now consider the fact that the Chocolate Picnic Steamer Trunk contains 500 pieces of chocolate ganache, five pounds of chocolate bark and croquettes, eighty ounces of Aztec hot chocolate in four tins, a twenty-ounce tin of Aztec Iced Chocolate, eight Aztec Hot Chocolate Bars, a teapot and infuser, two china teacups, a leather-bound journal and a small library of books on chocolate.

That’s bound to be a bit pricey, isn’t it?

Well, it may come as something of a shock that the steamer trunk only costs $15,000. Of course, you also have to purchase it in person from their New York store. Surely that will make up for the incredibly low price of the world’s most expensive box of chocolates.

Most Expensive Watermelon

2008-06-07T14:03:42Z

(via Los Angeles Times)

In a country where watermelons are rare game, they can be a costly commodity. That’s how a 17-pound Japanese watermelon may have recently become 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.”

The largest of the sixty-five Densuke, a twenty-four pound melon, sold for $5,945. It was a seventeen pound melon, however, that was judged the best of the crop and sold at auction for $6,100. As the most expensive watermelon ever sold in Japan, it is likely also the world’s most expensive watermelon.

Most Expensive Persian Rug

2008-06-06T21:43:32Z

The world’s most expensive rug may be silk, Persian and four or five hundred years old, but does it really tie the room together? One anonymous buyer seems to think so.

Sold by Christie’s for $4.45 million, the 16th or 17th century Persian rug measures 7’ 5” by 5’ 7”. It was previously owned by Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress who purchased it in 1990 and left it to the Newport Restoration Foundation when she died. Its record selling price amounts to over $700 per square inch.

Prior to this, the most expensive rug was a Chelaberd Kazak rug sold at Freeman’s in Readubg, PA for only $341,625.

Just make sure to wipe your feet before walking on my most expensive rug, m’kay?

A Persian rug

Most Expensive Bathtubs

2008-06-06T15:41:17Z

Nothing says luxury like lazing the hours away in a tub that costs more than a lot of houses. Those looking for such a tub, however, have a few more options than they used to. On the one hand, there’s the elegant, decorative tub that with its simple beauty. On the other hand, there’s the tub with features, gadgets and gizmos.

But which one is the most expensive tub in the world?

The Red Diamond bathtub (via bornrich.org)

The finest example of the latter is the Red Diamond bathtub from Water Games Technologies. Designed by Aldo Puglielli, the bright red tub is big enough for two people. That’s just the beginning of the tubs laundry list of features, however. It also includes a console framed in 18-karat gold—42 grams of 18-karat gold, to be exact—and Swarovski crystals. The console controls two waterproof HDTVs that remain hidden when not in use. Among the tub’s other features are a massage function, multicolored lighting, a hand-held shower unit, automatic disinfection and even a Swarovski-coated Champagne holder. At $47,200, however, the Red Diamond bathtub is not for the faint of wallet.

The Archeo Copper Bathtub

On the other end of the spectrum is Kallista’s Archeo Copper Bathtub. Made of solid copper, the 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—nearly $20,000 more than the Red Diamond!

Most Expensive Japanese Art

2008-06-04T14:58:40Z

An anonymous party represented by Mitsukoshi Ltd., a company that operates department stores, recently made history by making this statue the most expensive piece of Japanese or Buddhist art ever auctioned.

The twenty-six inch, gold-painted statue, thought to be sculpted by Kamakura-period (1185–1333) artist Unkei, depicts a seated Dainichi Nyorai sun goddess. While it was expected to sell for less than $3 million at the Christie’s auction where it was sold, the sculpture went for a stunning $14.38 million. The buyer may have been one of many concerned that this unique cultural artifact would be kept outside of Japan following the auction. Considering the fact that the auction house was headquartered in Britain while the auction itself took place in New York, these concerns don’t seem unreasonable.

Unkei’s work was often done as a commission for high-ranking samurai and other important Japanese personalities in the period. His work on the Niō, a pair of twenty-six foot guardian statues flanking the Great South Gate of Tōdai-ji in Nara, displays a level of realism unseen in the West until much later.

Most Expensive Fishing Lure

2008-06-04T14:57:59Z

If you’re like me, you’ve often wondered how to catch the world’s greediest fish.
Okay, so I’ve never actually wondered that. Even so, MacDaddy’s—a company claiming to “put the bling on your string”—has answered that question by creating the world’s most expensive fishing lure.

The imaginatively named Million-Dollar Lure has been capturing the hearts and minds of Americans since 2006, when it was first unveiled. While the publicity certainly helped MacDaddy’s, it also helped some charitable organizations; they received five percent of proceeds from the Million-Dollar Lure.

The Million-Dollar Lure is made of both gold and platinum. It’s also adorned with over four thousand diamonds and rubies, weighing in at 100 carats total.

Furthermore, lest you think the Million-Dollar Lure will never see any action, it was recently used at the 26th Annual Brisbee’s Black and Blue tournament in Baja California, the largest marlin-fishing tournament in the world.

The Million-Dollar Lure isn’t MacDaddy’s only charitable effort, either. Their Pink Ribbon Collection will be showcased in June at the JKC Jewelry Show in Las Vegas. Ten percent of sales from this latest line of luxury lures will be donated to breast cancer research and recovery.

Most Expensive Airports Ever Built

2008-06-04T14:56:55Z

Calling them airports is an understatement. With over fifteen miles of aviation-related commercial properties surrounding some of the largest airfields, these massive urban sprawls are more properly known as aerotropolises. For simplicity’s sake, though, we’ll just call them the world’s most expensive airports.

Currently, the most expensive airport is Hong Kong International Airport, located on Chek Lap Kok island in (surprisingly enough) Hong Kong. With over 47 million passengers in 2007, HKIA is also one of the world’s busiest airports. Passengers may fly in or out via a number of airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, Air Hong Kong and many others with “Hong Kong” in their names. For its $20 billion construction, the airport was awarded a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Unfortunately for HKIA, it will soon lose that place.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the new record-breaking aerotropolis is being constructed in Dubai. Dubai World Central International, being constructed south of Dubai near Jebel Ali, will cost $33 billion for its infrastructure alone. The plans call for an airfield that can accommodate the latest superjumbo jets, hotels, shopping malls, two 18-hole golf courses and a residential city that can house 750,000 people. Of course, this sort of project takes a lot of time to complete and DWC is no exception. It isn’t expected to be operational until 2017. By that time, yet another record-breaking airport project may be started.

Other aerotropolises include Brisbane Airport in Australia, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Incheon International Airport in South Korea, Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and at least five within the continental United States.

Most Expensive Celebrity Baby Photos

2008-06-02T21:15:24Z

Increased competition between tabloids, blogs and entertainment shows has become a gold mine for celebrity couples. The struggle to one-up the opposition has led to some phenomenal prices being paid for exclusive photos—the most prized pics being those of celebrity parents cradling their newborn children. These photos have become such a cash cow that some have speculated that celebs have started knocking each other up just to cash in on the photo rights. Here are the most expensive celebrity baby photos to date.

Dannielynn Birkhead

When Anna Nicole Smith, who started her career as Playboy’s 1993 Playmate of the Year, died of an accidental overdose following the death of her twenty-year-old son, it set off a custody battle in which her attorney, Howard K. Stern, and photojournalist Larry Birkhead both claimed paternity of her surviving daughter, Dannielynn. When it was established in 2007 that Birkhead had fathered Dannielynn, photos of the father and daughter were sold to OK! Magazine for $2 million.

Pax Thien (above) and Shiloh
Nouvel (below) Jolie-Pitt

Tied for third place with Dannielynn is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s adopted son, Pax Thien. Shots of Jolie and Pax taken after the 2007 adoption of the three-year-old Vietnamese child were sold to People magazine for $2 million.

Meanwhile, Pax’s sibling, Pitt and Jolie’s first biological child, holds second place. Born in 2006, pictures of the Hollywood couple and their newborn son, sold to People magazine, earned them $4.1 million.

The record for the most expensive celebrity baby photos goes to Max and Emme, offspring of Jennifer Lopez and her third husband, fellow singer/songwriter Marc Anthony. Lopez’s pregnancy with these fraternal twins has been kept secret for nearly five months before she announced it on the last night of her and Anthony’s “En Concierto” tour. This proved a wise financial decision, as exclusive rights to photos of the newborns sold for $6 million to People magazine. That’s over a third of the amount of money she received for her role in Monster-in-Law.

Max & Emme Muñiz

While the prices of these exclusive photos may seem outrageous, you may want to reserve judgment until the next crop of celebrity parents have their say on the world’s most expensive celebrity baby photos. We can only imagine how much tabloids will shell out for exclusive pictures of Jamie Lynn Spears, Jessica Alba and Nicole Kidman with their little bundles of bliss.

Most Expensive Sweaters

2008-06-02T21:14:04Z

How would you like to gain a piece of television and fashion history while helping out children with learning difficulties? Bid on one of the most expensive sweaters and you may be able to do just that.

Erinn Cosby, one of Bill Cosby’s four daughters, is auctioning off three of her famous father’s notorious sweaters “just in time for Father’s Day.” Bidding starts on June 2nd and proceeds from the sale of the three sweaters will go to the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby foundation.

When playing Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984-1992), Bill Cosby most often wore shirts with loud, geometric, swirling and/or patchwork patterns. This habit gave rise to the term “Cosby sweater,” used to describe similar sweaters.

Bill and Camille Cosby set up Hello Friend after the murder of their son, Ennis Cosby, while he was studying for his master’s degree in education at Columbia University. Having struggled with dyslexia as a child, he wished to become a special education teacher. The Ennis William Cosby Foundation seeks to help teachers address the needs of children with similar difficulties.

The most expensive sweaters are being auctioned on eBay. Bidding starts at $5,000.

Most Expensive Salons

2008-05-31T17:38:43Z

We’ve already told you about the world’s most expensive haircut, a one-off service provided by stylist Stuart Phillips to retired millionaire Beverley Lateo, but Mr. Pillips’ usual fee of £150 (around $300) is far short of that commanded by some. The wealthy, after all, are willing to pay a handsome fee for a stylist who can turn the haircut in their mind’s eye into a reality. Let’s take a look, then, at the world’s most expensive salons.

Sally Hershberger

Sally Hershberger, known for her signature shaggy look, has salons in both downtown and uptown New York and a recently opened salon in Los Angeles. In the years she’s been styling, Hershberger has developed quite a list of celebrity clientele, including Sandra Bullock, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tom Cruise and even Hillary Clinton. She currently charges $600 for a haircut, but be sure to book your haircut well in advance. The waiting list is long and regulars get preference.

Frédéric Fekkai

Frédéric Fekkai, born in Southern France, has been cutting hair professionally for over twenty years. He now has eight salons, including locations in Soho, Greenwich and even Dallas. He’s been featured in a variety of magazines, from Menswear to Vogue, and his staff tests his line of hair care products in the same salons frequented by A-list celebrities like Live Tyler and Kim Basinger. A haircut at a Frédéric Fekkai Salon also costs $600.

Orlando Pita
(via bcause.org)

The priciest salon, though, is a private salon run by Orlando Pita. Unlike some other salons, Orlo Salon in New York City focuses solely on the haircut. Orlando has spent 25 years in the business and has styled for the likes of Madonna, Jennifer Connelly and Kirsten Dunst. Those who can manage to get an appointment at Orlo must be prepared to dish out $800 at the most expensive salon in the world.

Most Expensive Sake

2008-05-31T17:38:37Z

(via True Sake)

Sake, a word used to refer to any alcoholic beverage in Japan, has come to mean a specific drink in America. While we often call that drink a “rice wine,” the rice fermentation process is closer to the making of beer than wine. Despite that fact, the resulting brew is non-carbonated and tastes similar to wine.

There are three main types of premium sake—junmai, ginjo and dai ginjo—that have the undesirable portions of the rice polished away. To make dai ginjo, generally the most expensive sake, the brewer polishes each grain of rice down to half its original size.

The type of rice used to make the sake also matters. While most sake-grade rice is crossbred, Kame no O is a pure breed of rice discovered in Amarune, Yamagata Prefecture around 100 years ago. The rice is so distinctive, in fact, that it inspired a 2001 summit in Amarune. It even has its own theme song.

The most expensive sake offered by True Sake, which claims to be America’s first dedicated sake store, is a Kame no O sake by Wataribune. It is, of course, a dai ginjo sake and, at $500 for a 720ml bottle, it may just be the world’s most expensive sake.

Most Expensive Candy Bar

2008-05-28T19:33:45Z

Fans of the immensely successful television drama, Lost, may be the only people who’ve heard of the world’s most expensive candy bar. Aside from making numerous appearances in the show, the candy bar also played a significant part in the show’s accompanying alternate reality game, The Lost Experience.

An alternate reality game, or ARG, is a game that uses the real world as a platform for an interactive narrative. Much like a role-playing game, participants’ actions can affect the outcome of the story. Unlike an RPG, however, the rules governing the game aren’t formalized and players do not take on fictional roles.

The Apollo Bar appears as part of the bounty looted from a research station on the mysterious island where the show is set. The real life Apollo Bar, on the other hand, was given out at various distribution events while The Lost Experience ran. Recipients were invited to photograph themselves with the chocolate bar’s wrapper and submit the photos to whereisalvar.com, where they can still be seen. Once enough photos were submitted, The Lost Experience’s creators released the ARG’s final element, a video that resolved the game’s ongoing mysteries.

The most expensive candy bar was one of these Apollo Bars. Auctioned on eBay just prior to the game’s resolution, the candy bar earned its seller £69.78 (just over $130 USD). Apollo Bars can still be found on eBay, but can typically be purchased for less than $10.

Most Expensive Table

2008-05-27T17:20:51Z

Rococo is a style of art and interior design developed by the French in the 18th century. Rococo-style rooms favored form over function, featuring ornate furniture, elegant tapestries, ornamental mirrors and other lavish trappings. Sold at a Christie’s auction in Philadelphia, the most expensive table in the world is just one example of rococo furniture.

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.

The most impressive thing about the world’s most expensive table isn’t its auction sale of $4.6 million, which overshot presale estimate by over $3 million, but the fact that it has retained its position for nearly two decades. The Tufft pier table was sold on January 20th, 1990. Now that’s an enduring work of art!

Replicas of the Tufft table, like the one pictured above, can be purchased from Richard Rothstein Classic Interiors.

Most Expensive Dress Shirt

2008-05-27T17:20:10Z

They say the clothes make the man. That’s probably less true today than when you could tell a man’s occupation by the hat he wore, but if it’s true of anything then it’s true of the world’s most expensive shirt.

Swiss shirt-making company Eton, celebrating their 80th birthday, created this shirt out of the finest Egyptian cotton. Of course, it couldn’t be the most expensive shirt in the world without a few diamonds. Both the studs and the cufflinks are encrusted with diamonds—white diamonds on the cufflinks and colored diamonds on the studs.

As if that isn’t enough, the dress shirt will be touring the world before it’s sold at auction next year. The luxurious shirt will make stops in Milan, LA, Stockholm and a few other places with Eton stores.

The most expensive shirt is valued at £23,000 (over $45,000). Proceeds from its sale will go to charity.

Most Expensive Guitar Picks

2008-05-21T14:34:45Z

If you’re looking for a guitar pick, there’s no shortage of different shapes, styles and materials available for you to choose from. Customized picks have been prevalent since the days when Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick would throw hundreds of them out into the audience. In fact, most famous guitarists have their own custom guitar pick. Even among the myriad of different styles, some plectrums are more unique than others. The world’s most expensive guitar picks are some of those.

Starpics, an Australian company known for plectrums made of precious metals, created a completely unique pair of guitar picks. Like their other picks, they’re guaranteed to last pretty much forever and to significantly reduce string breakage. So what makes these picks so special?

They’re made of meteors.

These two luxury picks were fashioned from pieces of Gibeon meteorite. Said to be around 4 billion years old, Gibeon meteorites were discovered in 1836 in Namibia, Africa, where their sale and export were banned by the local government. Despite that fact, over twenty-five tons of the meteorites have been recovered and it is the most commonly found meteorite on the market today. One of the most interesting things about the meteorites is the pattern of Widmanstatten lines created by their frigid passage through space. These patterns are preserved in the picks and can be seen in the picture above.

The most expensive guitar picks in the world are priced at $5,000 AUD ($4,674 USD).

Most Expensive Bass Guitar

2008-06-11T15:24:02Z

A financially endowed bass player might look at any one of Jens Ritter’s bass guitars, which start at $6,000, and be content. After all, the German luthier’s expensive basses are made with some of the same techniques used to make Stradivarius violins. One customer, however, wasn’t satisfied with one of Ritter’s “normal” guitars and we’re lucky for it. After all, if it weren’t for this customer, we wouldn’t be able to tell you about the world’s most expensive bass guitar.

The Ritter Royal Flora Aurum, as it’s called, has a body carved from a rare, solid piece of maple while the nut is carved from 10,000-year-old mammoth ivory. The fingerboard is decorated with a floral inlay pattern made of 24-karat gold. There’s even a black diamond set in platinum decorating each leaf. Even the bridge, tuner buttons and knobs are cast in gold. The knobs on this luxurious bass hold an additional embellishment—they’re both topped with brilliant-cut diamonds (3.3 carats total).

The Flora Aurum is a work in progress and is on hold for one lucky buyer.

The most expensive bass guitar in the world is valued at $100,000.

Most Expensive Cheesesteak

2008-05-21T14:50:54Z

(via CBS3)

How much would you pay for a Philly cheesesteak? Stephen Starr, owner of Barclay Prime restaurant, hopes your answer is in the triple digits. The latest draw to this upscale restaurant for serious patrons is the aptly-named $100 Cheesesteak.

While Starr admits that the sandwich is a marketing ploy for the Philly-based restaurant, the most expensive cheesesteak appears to be worth every penny. Of course, it’s a given that the sandwich is made with Kobe beef. The sandwich also includes $17-per-pound Taleggio cheese, sautéed foie gras, caramelized onions, heirloom shaved tomatoes and $900-per-pound shaved truffles. It’s a bit of a step up from your standard roast beef and provolone sandwich.

Strangely enough, Todd Miller, the chef responsible for the haute cheesesteak, had never eaten a cheesesteak prior to being tasked with its creation. However, he gave himself a crash course in the famous local sandwich before beginning his endeavor in earnest.

Luckily for those with only slightly deep pockets, the world’s most expensive cheesesteak is big enough to share. It’s even served with a selection of knives from Japan, France and Australia.

Most Expensive Skateboard

2008-05-13T15:11:22Z

BMW Street Carver

When BMW introduced their Street Carver in 2001, they proved that they could make skateboards with the same precision engineering as their automobiles. The Street Carver is heavier than most skateboards with its cast-aluminum truck assemblies, wood and fiberglass deck and 110mm wheels. The most notable features of the board, though, are the pendulum arms that work against each other to provide you with a much more stable ride. At $500, the Street Carver was also the world’s most expensive skateboard at the time.

Exkate X-24

Nowadays that title rightly belongs to the Exkate X-24. The evolution of this product began when Louis Finkle, an electronics enthusiast, spent five years creating an electric skateboard with a wireless remote that actually uses the rider’s own body to send signals to the board. Since then, Exkate has made a name for themselves with many permutations of the original electric skateboard.

The most impressive of these, of course, is the X-24. Not only is it capable of reaching twenty miles per hour in only four seconds, it can also accommodate a 275 pound rider. The battery charge lasts for roughly ten miles and can be charged around 400 times. The electronic skateboard can even break from twenty miles per hour in only thirty feet.

When it was available, the X-24 could be purchased for just under $1,000. While it’s currently out of stock, a newer model of the most expensive skateboard in the world will be available sometime this year.

Most Expensive Blackberry Case

2008-06-12T00:42:50Z

If you were at CES 2008, you may have had the chance to win a Diamond Blackberry Curve Case. If you weren’t the lucky winner or if you weren’t even there, then you can still acquire one through Case-Mate’s website. Of course, if you go that route you’ll be paying top dollar for the world’s most expensive Blackberry case.

The forty-two vvs1 diamonds that went into the creation of this case weigh in at 3.5 carats and are set in 18-karat gold. The emblem on the back of the case is made of the same quality of gold. Even the carbon fiber leather, specially developed for the case, is gold. In fact, a total of fifteen grams of gold were used to make this expensive phone case. Of course, the case is as protective as it is luxurious—the plastic is impact resistant and the screen is entirely protected.

The number of Diamond Blackberry Curve Cases is so limited that it was originally reported that the one given away at CES was the only one. That may have been true at the time, but now the world’s most expensive Blackberry case can be purchased directly from Case-Mate for $20,000. We dare you to find a more expensive case than that.

Most Expensive Flip-Flops

2008-05-08T19:38:14Z

Flip-flops, or thong sandals, were inspired by traditional Japanese sandals. They were introduced to the Western world via New Zealand in the late 1950s. While most flip-flops are of the cheap, plastic variety, dressier thong sandals are available. The most expensive flip-flops in the world, however, fit neither of those descriptions.

Crystalishious

An exclusive product of trendy clothier Electric Couture, the costly sandals are decorated in a rock n roll theme with guitars, winged hearts and the slogans “WILD THING” and “WALK THIS WAY & ROCK.” These flashy flip-flops, created by Crystalishious, are naturally covered in crystals. Of course, it’s the $1,800 price tag that makes them worthy of our attention.

H. Stern

Of course, those aren’t the only expensive flip-flops out there. H. Stern, a jeweler, unveiled a pair of flip-flops in 2004 that sold for $17,000. In fact, if they were sold today, they would most likely sell for even more than the Crystalishious flip-flops. These luxury sandals were made with over 1,500 gold feathers accented with diamonds. Unfortunately, only one pair was ever made. The rest of the line sold for a more pedestrian $2,000 to $3,000.

PechePlatinum

If you prefer a sportier sandal, though, PechePlatinum’s crocodile flip flops may suit you better. Using patent-pending technology and hand-matched crocodile straps, these shoes guarantee maximal comfort. 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. At $400, these are the most expensive production flip-flops available.

Most Expensive Mint Julep

2008-05-05T14:46:00Z

The Kentucky Derby, also known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” has been held annually since it was first organized in 1875. This year’s derby drew one of the largest crowds in history, consisting of over 157,000 people. It also marked the 35th anniversary of legendary equine athlete Secretariat’s spectacular win at Kentucky Derby 99 in 1973. To mark this auspicious occasion, Churchill Downs and Woodford Reserve have created the world’s most expensive mint julep cup.

The handcrafted cups are plated with 24-karat gold and feature artwork by legendary sports artist Leroy Neiman. Each one was sold in an oak box lined with a satin reproduction of Secretariat’s blue and white silks. The mint julep inside was made of all-natural ingredients, including mint grown from Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, where Secretariat was buried whole. The drinks also include ice made from limestone water and a special blend of sugar from a local sorghum farmer. Ninety-seven of the ninety-nine cups sold for $1000 each.

The remaining two cups, 1 and 99 in the series, have been adorned with one carat of diamonds and sapphires, again reproducing Secretariat’s silks. These two were auctioned online prior to the race. While we’re not yet sure how much these two cups brought in, we think it’s safe to assume that these two cups house the most expensive mint julep cups in the world.

Most Expensive High Chair

2008-04-28T19:05:42Z

Henry IV was the name of an English king, a French king and even a Holy Roman Emperor in Germany. It’s also the name of the world’s most expensive high chair and, considering the chair’s German creators, was probably named after the latter king.

Sibi, the brand name used by interior architect Wolfgang Sirch of the Sirch Company and sculptor Christoph Bitzer, began producing items for children in 2000. Previously, the Sirch Company dealt only in industrial shipping pallets. Under the Sibi brand, the Sirch-Bitzer team has produced a doll house, push car, trailer and, of course, the Henry IV Convertible High Chair.

The most expensive high chair in the world has all of the standard features of a high chair—a tray, straps and a cushion—but it also has a few tricks that you won’t see in many other high chairs. For starters, the chair is made of laminated and varnished birch, as well as powder-coated steel. The seat swivels so that you can easily change the direction your child is facing. The most remarkable feature, however, is that the seat converts to a children’s chair suitable for a child of up to fifteen years of age. The high quality materials used to make the chair may even ensure that it survives for that long!

This luxury high chair is made in Germany and can be purchased for $1,350 from babygeared, an online retailer specializing in children’s items.