If you are a cigar aficionado and looking for ways to preserve the quality of your much cherished stock, we had earlier told you about some of the finest cigar humidors; from the custom-made cigar humidors, walk-in cigar humidors to the in-car cigar humidors. Latest in from 1st Class Cigar Humidors Inc. is their latest range of electronic cigar cabinets which provide an easy solution to all your cigar preservation requirements. Handsome with a special climate controlled feature thrown in, these units can preserve up to 200 cigars, depending on the model you choose. And talking of models, the cigar cabinets are available in two different varieties. While the Redford allows you to store up to 1250 Cigars, the Remington model can stock and preserve 2000 cigars at one go.
Talk of Bebop and the name Charlie Parker comes to fore instantly. The celebrated jazz saxophonist is often credited with developing bebop- a unique music style that incorporated virtuoso techniques and fast tempos. Regarded as one of America’s most successful musical movements till date, Bebop’s founding fathers include among others, Charlie Parker. After being part of the music history in such an integral way, Charlie Parker returns to limelight again. A saxophone belonging to the iconic musician is up for grabs now. The piece which features as lot 1185 at Michaan’s auctions is estimated to fetch between $30,000-35,000.
The renowned aftermarket tuning firm Brabus is to extend its services to the customization of private jets after its focus on autos and yachts for over three decades. We have already recognized the tremendous design potential of the German firm in its Brabus iBusiness Mercedes-Benz S600 and a set of other Mercedes models at the 2011 Dubai International Motor Show. Now as part of sprawling its business to new horizons, Brabus has announced its entry into the turning of private jets. Under the business division the Brabus Private Aviation, it will provide services for both the brand-new and the existing executive jets.
We have already seen world’s most expensive expensive bicycles besides the Audi e-bike recently. From bikes made of gold and silver to those made from carbon fiber and titanium, we have seen it all. Now, after BMW, Audi, Range Rover and Mercedes bikes, another iconic cars manufacturer has unveiled its high-en bicycle built out of stainless steel, the DeLorean Bicycle. Well, you might be awestruck to hear the word DeLorean if you admired the movie the ‘Back to the Future.’ Yes, the DeLorean Bicycle, which is priced at $5,500, comes from the same tradition of the DeLorean DMC-12, which was featured in the Zemeckis film.
Bonhams Aston Martin sale has always garnered attention of auto enthusiasts and collectors alike. Two days more to go for the waiting of antique motorcar fanatics to the Bonhams annual Aston Martin Works Service Sale. The world’s largest antique collectible auctioneer is to sell out a huge set of Aston Martins motorcars and parts in the auction, to be held at the home of Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell, Bucks on May 19, 2012. This time around, Bonhams has listed about fifty Aston Martin motorcars from the 1952 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Sports Saloon to the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante for auction. The Prince of Wales’ 1994 Aston Martin Virage Volante is also in the Bonhams list for the upcoming auction. Here are some highlights of the 2012 Aston Martin Works Service Sale.
Calleija Jewellers had earlier wowed us with the diamond encrusted champagne glasses valued at $400,000, and considered to be the most expensive champagne glasses in the world. And now, the celebrated jeweler from Gold Coast Australia, Calleija is back with limited edition jewels in collaboration with the British luxury car manufacturer, Aston Martin. The “Calleija for Aston Martin Collection” features exquisite jewelry pieces inspired by Aston Martin’s Supercar, the One-77.
Beatles fans have a new reason to cheer. After never-before-seen Beatles photo was offered for sale, now, another most iconic photograph of the famed Beatles band is up for auction, which shows them walking across the Abbey road Zebra crossing backwards. A different version of this picture where the band is seen crossing the road from left to right became the album cover of Abbey road- a Beatles chart topper which continues to hog limelight 43 years after its release. Packed with memories and steeped in history, the photograph is to go under the hammer at Bloomsbury auctions on May 22.
Gold prices are shooting up the roof, but its also the time for the coin collectors to reap their investment. And for the investors, its never too late to extend their investment portfolio. We had earlier told you about the 1792 Silver Center Cent, from the first group of coins ever struck in the U.S. Mint, that fetched $1.15 Million. And, now another rare coin in American history 1870 ‘S’ could become one of the most expensive coins ever. Supposedly one of the rarest coins, only two of this kind were made, and the other one has already been sold years ago.
As the entire nation goes gaga over Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee, it is only natural for the official Timekeeper of the pageant to come up with something extraordinary. In the days leading up to the event, Jaegar-LeCoultre has come up with the limited edition Diamond Jubilee Reverso watch. And now, the celebrated watch manufacturer has designed a one-off version of its iconic 101 jewellery watch to present to the Queen on her sixtieth year of reign. Her Majesty had reportedly worn the same piece at the time of her coronation. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s magnificent gift to the Queen is, therefore, a historical piece which, from all that we hear, has left its royal recipient overjoyed. If the spectacular time piece has been part of a historical event, then the watch itself, we must say, is no less historical either. Registered in record books as the watch with the smallest mechanical movement “Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101,” the Jaeger-LeCoultre beauty is made up of 98 tiny parts weighing around one gram each. So, let us all take a journey back in time, tracing the origins of the Jaegar-LeCoultre 101 watch.
They have been immortalized in works of art. Poets found in them inspirations for literary masterpieces. And now the bird, in all its vivaciousness and embodiment of free spirit, inspires an entire time piece collection. Dubbed Wings Of Time, Century, through its latest range of delicate jewelry watches, pays ode to the bird. A time piece, an expression of artistic brilliance, whichever way you look at it, the Wings Of Time pendant Jewelry watch is an ultimate show stealer.
With newer innovations and ideas popping up left, right and center, the kitchen has come to resemble a “melting pot” of technological experiments. We had told you about the Electrolux 3D hob earlier. Stylish and energy efficient, it packed functionality and creativity in one suitcase. Keyhole hob, another Electrolux creation that we reported on, bagged the prestigious gold award at the 2010 Singapore Design awards. European in design, the hob was meant primarily for Asian kitchens. And now, evoking fresh memories of hob- related experiments in the past, Fagor present their latest collection- fashionable induction hobs with a dash of Freezone technology and innovative “Pasta Function” thrown in.
It all began three decades ago in 1978. In recognition of his extraordinary performance, Mel Wimore’s employers gifted him a stunning Montblanc pen. Overjoyed, inspired, Mel embarked on his decades-long journey with Montblanc pens- a journey which culminates this June with The Mel Wilmore Collection of Extraordinary Montblancs auction at Bonhams. And before the gavel bangs on the exquisite pieces, they will be showcased at cities like Hong Kong and New York. Bonhams earlier collaborated with Butterfields for hosting an auction of rare Montblanc pens, including the the Montblanc Meisterstuck Solitaire Royal LeGrand, a legendary Diamond Solitaire pen featuring 4,500 brilliant cut white diamonds over an 18k yellow gold barrel, also known as one of the world’s most expensive writing instruments.
American billionaire Lily Safra’s jewelry auction continues to establish record results. Christie’s auction of Lily Safra’s jewels includes the largest collection of single-owner JAR jewels to ever go on auction. The private jewelry collection raised a total of $37.9 million, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $20 million. The collection also set a record for the most expensive ruby ring auctioned at $6,742,440. This top of the lot Burmese ruby diamond ring was designed by Chaumet. Safra’s ‘The Hope Ruby’ highlighted a cushion-shaped red stone weighing 32.08 carats. The auctioned price was the highest ever price for a ruby sold at auction.
Flying in the air has always been costlier than having a ride on road in a car. But it seems that the scenario is for an immediate overturn or so claims designer John McGinnis, the man behind the innovative Synergy aircraft. The current evolution of aircraft engineering gives us enough confidence to think so. We have earlier told you about Yuneec electric sport airplane prototype priced at around $89,000, and the highly fuel-efficient Pipistrel’s Panthera four-seater airplane. The compact of the lot is this small passenger airplane, called the Synergy with a mesmeric power efficiency that will even beat our cars down in mileage. The Synergy project was introduced in NASA’s 2011 Green Flight Challenge and is in look for an initial financial support of $65,000 on Kickstarter.
Talk of cameras and one name that has been everywhere, from record books to auction circles, is Leica. We had told you about vintage Leica cameras fetching big bucks at auctions. A rare camera from the 1923 Leica o-serie camera made headlines by selling for $1.9 million in 2011. The vintage piece, as we had reported earlier, went under the hammer twice, smashing records on both occasions to become one of the most expensive cameras ever sold at an auction. And, yet again at the WestLicht auction another rare camera from 1923 part of the famous O-series, set a new record for being the most expensive camera, for a whopping $2.8 million selling price. And now, joining the list we have the black enamel Leica MP-126 which brings home a staggering $158,000.
If you have a fascination for the vintage stuff, then the American lifestyle brand Coach has given vintage apparel a whole new meaning with its range of men’s wallets made out of vintage baseball gloves. Released in the press preview of Spring 2012 collection, the men’s wallets from Coach were undoubtedly the show stoppers. The limited edition men’s billfolds are crafted by hand using leather sourced from vintage baseball gloves with hand-turned edges and reinforced seams to add durability to its sophisticated heritage design. Further, the vintage style mitts embellished with a series of trimmings added primitive glamor quotient to them.
The year 2012 known as “Year of the Dragon” as per the Chinese astronomical experts has been a year of the celebration of the Chinese culture to the hilt, with luxury brands leaving no stone unturned to lure the wealthy Chinese. Chinese culture relates Dragons to strength, harmony and good fortune. So whether it’s jewelry or cars or other premium brands for luxurious items, everyone is in a race to tap the symbolic prosperity and power of this special Chinese mystical animal. And when the name of the noted Spanish jewelry firm – considered as one of the best worldwide, Carrera y Carrera pops up, it becomes synonymous for all words describing distinguished work of art. And special Carrera y Carrera Year of the Dragon jewelry representing one of the strongest collections of this brand - Círculos de Fuego is no exception.
There have been lots of amphibious vehicles over the years. They may move on both water and road alike. But, most often, weird design and low performance on road make the amphibious vehicles less worthy for drive on land. At the same time, they may be great vehicles for water. The Sea Lion is different here with an impressive body and incredible performance on both road and water. Powered by a 13B Rotary Engine (Mazda) and stainless steel body, the Sea Lion can run 180mph on road and a better 60mph on water.
October 1, 1975- a day when the boxing world stood witness to one of the greatest fights in history. Thrilla in Manilla, the third and final boxing match between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, of which Ali famously remarked “It will be a killa… and a chilla”, is back in a new way. The trunks worn by Ali in that legendary match have sold for a record breaking $100,000 at Robert Edwards auctions. Needless to point out, if Thrilla in Manilla can be universally regarded as one the greatest boxing battles in history, Ali’s trunks, which he wore that day, are no less awe inspiring either.
As Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee celebrations pick up steam, the world and his wife, it appears, are ready with a bunch of newer surprises to vent the excitement. From watches to royal cars to rare scotch whisky- we had spoken about a series of innovative ideas marking Queen Elizabeth’s sixtieth year on throne. The latest is a diamond jubilee cocktail by Goring Hotel, is what gets us talking this time.
Speed locked in time- weird as it may sound, yet Meccaniche Veloci’s Only One collection is woven around a similar theme. In a one of its kind extravaganza, the Only One collection presents exclusive timepieces made from parts of helicopters, racing cars and airplanes- in brief, all objects that signify speed and raciness. Making its debut at Baselworld 2012, the range has all the makings of becoming a collector’s delight. We had earlier spoken on Veloci’s collection for Baselworld 2011. The spectacular timepieces based four engine pistons, had drawn inspiration from racetracks. The Meccaniche Veloci collection at Baselworld 2012, therefore, is a fond reminder of its much appreciated predecessor. While Veloci’s newest range may remain packed with a variety of racy pieces, the limelight undoubtedly falls on the Only One Air Huey- a grand piece which honors one of the world’s best known helicopters.
As summer glows down on earthlings, there is a mad rush for innovative cooling techniques. Despite all the heat, it is also the season that sees a large number of people buckle up for outdoor adventures. But having said that, what’s the point of hitting Canadian lakes or Alpine resorts, when the cooling effect could be created, right here in your backyard? Presenting an exciting variant to the already enriched list of luxury outdoor showers, Idiha brings their latest multi-sensory design-the Loop.
Fine wine is always on the radar map for connoisseurs and collectors, especially if they carry a vintage origin with them. We saw plenty of such bottles from pages of history in the list of most expensive wines, and also the Space aged wine bottle, that had the beverage infused with a 4.5 billion year old meteorite thus pushing its price higher. Now, it’s the turn of an ultra-rare 1774 bottle of Vin Jaune which will go under the hammer at Christie’s Fine wine auction on May 15, this year. For an asking price between $43,504 and $54,380, the bottle will see a rather fierce budding as more than the content alone, the historical vintage associated with it, will generate the interest around it.
If you find a dozen ways of earning bucks, then the world and his wife are ready with hundred more ways to break the bank! Or so it seems. Dresses, cars, gems- we have seen fetch thousands of dollars, and in a surprising new revelation, hot dogs, too, appear to have entered the bandwagon. Cherished and loved by gourmands around the world as one of the most delicious mid-day meals, the hot dog has off late started acting pricey. We ran a story on the $2000 cognac soaked world’s most expensive hot dog. There have also been reports of a $80 foot-long delicacy with exotic trimmings and truffle shavings. The $69 hotdog by New York restaurant Serendipity 3 was another big stunner. And now a latest hot dog strips them all off the world’s most expensive hot dog title. Created by hot dog purveyor Juliano, the piece sets you back $1,501.
As global warming turns the whole of world into a “hot spot”, top brands are busy churning out amazing collections to help you beat the summer heat. We had earlier reported on Chopard unraveling their range of, what many claim to be, the most expensive sunglasses in the world. Turn now for Brioni and Dolce and Gabbana to join the ranks. Brioni has clothed some of the world’s best known men back through time. They are even credited with designing one of the most expensive suits in the world. For the Italian fashion house, whose suits have reached such an iconic status, the sunglass range marks their maiden foray into the world of designer eyewear. Dolce and Gabbana, on the other hand, pay a tribute to contemporary style in their latest female line of sunglasses. Dubbed the Gold Edition, the pieces have all been bathed in yellow and white gold. All aspects considered, the choice is going to be anything but easy for the eyewear crazy fashionistas out there. And to make your decision a bit more complicated or perhaps provide you with a bit of helpful guidance (whichever way you look it actually) here’s is what the Brioni and Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses pack onto themselves.