With a $50 borrowed from his dad and a 1949 Pontiac, Darwin Deason, a formerly landlocked Arkansas boy left his hometown the day after he graduated from high school, and headed for the bright lights and big city Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he started his successful career into data processing. Then a farm boy, Darwin is now a self-made billionaire with Xerox as his source of wealth. This billionaire, who likes to spend absolutely foolish money on the things he loves, which primarily includes boats, is now in news for his exceptionally long, 205-foot mega yacht dubbed Apogee, which means pinnacle in Greek.
Italian fashion label, Bulgari, has been synonymous with luxury and style for years. Owned by French company LVMH since 2011, the brand is now preparing to launch its uber stylish Serpenti leather goods collection, a reinvention of one of its most recognized symbols. The leather line includes some of the most exquisite collection of goods you’ll ever come across, ranging from shoulder bags and belts to bracelets and wallets.
As the nation buckles up for Queen Elizabeth’s sixtieth anniversary of coronation, Jaegar LeCoultre, it seems, are right on “time” with their latest collection. In honor of Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee year on throne, the renowned Swiss watchmaker has re-created their limited edition Reverso watches. Embodying the occasion’s spirit, the pieces have all been engraved with the diamond jubilee pageant logo. For those who did not know, Jaegar LeCoultre’s association with the grand event goes beyond the limited edition Reversos. The company is all set to play Official timekeeper of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Lavish capes that are too heavy for models to carry on the runway, Chinese designs married on to western gowns- Guo Pei’s creations, in brief, are synonymous with all things extravagant. The Chinese designer, whose client base spans around a whole army of celebrities ranging from Lady Gaga to China’s rich and famous, is now back with her latest range. Named Legend of the Dragon, the collection is primarily meant to showcase exquisite wedding gowns for Chinese brides, mingled with Pei’s out-of-the-box ideas. The show began with an exhibition where visitors, caught amidst a dark, mysterious oriental atmosphere, chanced thirty breath taking and yes, expensive wedding gowns- handcrafted to perfection and immersed in tradition. The hand embroidery, the oriental collars- all remind us of equally most expensive wedding dresses. The latest to join the ranks, Pei’s amazing wedding gown collection, is all about once-in-a-lifetime couture for the most important occasion.
The noted German manufacturer of watches, writing instruments and other accessories, Mont Blanc has recently unveiled the new Montblanc Régulateur Nautique watch set at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. Celebrating the role played by the navigation and seafaring on the high-seas for the evolution of the precise time measurement, the manufactory like Mont Blanc has devoted its effort to the marine theme, refreshing the memories of watch lovers about the accurate time measuring, originally born on aboard the ship. Each of the set consists of a large navigational clock and wristwatch chronograph, and only 16 exclusive specimens of the Montblanc Régulateur Nautique timepiece set will be manufactured; eight sets with red gold wristwatch chronographs and eight more with wristwatch chronographs in white gold cases.
British manufacturer Aston Martin has now officially revealed its much anticipated DBS Ultimate limited edition online, before even ending its DBS model. With DBS Ultimate, Aston Martin is looking for the same kind of response they got for their completely sold-off One-77, regarded as one of the greatest supercars of all time, known for sporting the most advanced technology, design and standards of construction, besides also being the most expensive car in the world.
Forty-two years after his death, Marc Rothko sets records at a Christie’s auction, which, again, has its own reasons to walk down the pages of history. A brilliant camaraderie of three colors, “Orange, Red, Yellow”- Rothko’s timeless creation from 1961, shattered all records for post-war and contemporary art by fetching $87 million. Overflowing with dealers and collectors, the auction room at Christie’s represented a happy and busy place as the gale banged on Barnett New man, Gergard Richter, Alexander Calder and Yves Clain to record-eclipsing quotes. The results had Christie’s authorities smiling all the way. The sale’s total takings-$388,488,000, according to the house sources, are the highest ever fetched at a contemporary art auction since 2007. The tally exceeded the $236-329 million pre-sale estimate by several millions. The current auctions sales, though, are yet to surpass the house’s all-time high evening tally for various-owner sales which, powered by modern art and impressionist pieces, fetched $491 million.
International award winning builders of composite yachts, Yachting Developments, which has enviable reputation of building and delivering innovative yachts of distinction ‘on time’ and ‘in spec’, has now won an award in The World Superyacht Awards 2012 for its recently launched yacht, the Antares III. Adjudged as the ‘Best Sailing Yacht 30-40m’, the 30m Antares III is described to be a remarkable composite performance cruising sloop designed by Bill Dixon and design board of naval architects Dixon Yacht Design.
In reference to vintage memorabilia like comic books, it seems like what we traditionally thought to be child’s play has now become a serious business. Over the times, we have seen that rare comics associated with the Earth’s mightiest superheroes have always garnered hefty prices at the auctions. Comics, which were once sold for a few cents, now sells for millions, and it becomes pretty apparent from our comprehensive list of most expensive comic book auctions. Now again, a CGC universal grade example of the most sought-after golden age comic book Batman #1 of year 1940, CFC-Grade 9.2 has been sold for $850,000 in a private transaction through the Heritage Auctions ComicMarket.
In continuation of the 2011 Hera Tourbillion and the 2010 Ladyhawke Tourbillon, Girard Perregaux and Boucheron combine forces for the third time to create and present their latest range- Cypris Tourbillon Black and White Swan three gold bridge tourbillon watch. If the limited edition vintage 1945 Three gold bridges watches, we had earlier told you about, were masterpieces in their own right, the newest collection has all the makings of a great art piece. Paying ode to the Swan’s graceful posture, the Cypris Tourbillon black and white swans three-golden bridge watches represents the perfection combination of master artistry on one hand and technical excellence on the other.
Blueseed, a company started by Max Marty and Dario Mutabdzija backed by venture capitalist and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, made an ambitious announcement last year to build a floating technology fortress where the world’s boldest, brightest and most talented tech-entrepreneurs and visionaries can gather and collaborate, right next to Silicon Valley without actually setting foot on United States soil. Now, the world’s first floating and Silicon Valley’s visa-free offshore startup community is gaining steam as Blueseed has officially announced that it will set sail before 2014, and nearly 150 technology startups have shown their interest in building business on the high seas. However, it’s of no surprise to see Peter Thiel, an angle investor to successful startups like Facebook and PayPal, funding for Blueseed, as he has already funded for floating islands, a venture by Seasteading Institute, which will make small nations that will float freely in the waters of ocean, and wouldn’t have the law of any other nations applied on them.
Even the world’s most luxurious aircrafts lacks fine dining in a way this Airbus A380 themed airplane restaurant does. And for one, you don’t need to pay expensive expensive airfares and going through vigorous security checks, to enjoy the upper-class experience in this Airbus A380 themed airplane restaurant, which had recently been opened in Chongqinig, China. The restaurant has truly replicated the elegant interiors of the world’s largest passenger airliner, and it comes with a crew of high-class waitresses especially trained to act and talk just like the professional stewardesses.
While the pool remains the focal point in luxury homes with spacious backyards; featuring designer outdoor furniture, complete with huge outdoor TV screens; a hot tub that boasts of an in-built bar and a flat-screen TV can change all that. We had earlier told you about the best of high-tech luxury bathtubs, and SPAmbient’s Luxema 8000 reinvents the bathtub with its Swim Spa series of hot tubs.
George Herman Ruth, best known as ‘Babe’ Ruth was not just an American baseball player who spent 22 seasons in Major League Baseball; he was the heart of the game. He is not recognized as a pitcher but a great pitcher, not mere a hitter but a dazzling hitter, and was so nicknamed ‘the bambino’ and the ‘Sultan of Swat’. The former home run king is still a major draw among baseball buffs and collectors, as we have earlier seen that his memorabilia have always garnered hefty prices at the auctions, which becomes apparent with our list of world’s most expensive sports memorabilia that includes four items of this player. Now, the Babe Ruth fans have the opportunity to live in his house, as the Sudbury house which the player owned in the late 1920s is up for grabs at a listing price of $1.65 million.
With an idea to create an exceptional electric supercar with a new propulsion concept, Croatian automotive startup Rimac Automobili has produced an electric supercar dubbed Concept One. Debuted last year at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Rimac has now officially opened the order books for Concept One that blends horsepower and sleek design that is redefining the term ‘supercar’ into magnificent perfection. It went on sale at the start of the Top Marques Monaco, where Prince Albert II of Monaco also spent some time checking out some supercars of his interests.
To generations of car enthusiasts, it has symbolized luxury, elegance and sophistication. And, time now for jewelry lovers to have a brush with the iconic black prancing horse which represents Ferrari around the world. Ferrari teamed up with Damiani, the celebrated Italian designer to debut their new collection of jewels, crafted and made exclusively for the rich car enthusiasts. We had already told you about the diamond encrusted Ferrari jewel brooch handcrafted by expert Damiani craftsmen. The association scales new heights with the latest collection of pendants, earrings and necklaces. Marked by Damiani’s legendary craftsmanship and following in the lines of the Ferrari brooch, the pieces have all been designed around the ever-so-famous Ferrari horse.
Hers was a life fraught with controversies. Speculations shrouded her untimely death. And now, almost a year after the world saw last of Amy Winehouse, the English singer and songwriter is back, if not in flesh and blood, then at least in canvas and blood. A Bloody exhibition (in literal terms) now showcases a series of paintings Winehouse had drawn in collaboration with Liberties ex-front man Pete Doherty. Called “On Blood: A Portrait of the Artist”, the show displays over 20 works. The spotlight, however, remains on a small self-portrait of Winehouse.
They came out with diamond dust wrist watches not so long ago in February. Before that we told you about their handcrafted watches with a special porcelain medallion and their Sculpture collection in silver, gold and platinum. And now Angular Momentum brings an exhibition of spectacular time pieces, each flaunting an Urushi lacquered dial. For those who did not know, Urushi refers to two types of Japanese artworks- paintings created with actual lacquer and printing styles which despite using regular ink resemble the thickness and blackness of black lacquer.
With the NBA Playoffs beginning this month, which is considered to be the most high-pressure part of the season, both of the Basketball icons, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant will be wearing Nike’s new line of ultra high-end basketball shoes, fitted with carbon-fiber and Kevlar. As LeBron wanted the best in show for the World’s biggest basketball stage and the brightest lights, Nike obliged the games’ legend with its limited run high-end shoe, which is part of the 2012 Elite Series, which includes the LeBron 9 PS, Nike Zoom Hyperdunk and the Nike Kobe VII.
Designed with a challenge in mind to translate the training experience to fit the home, when today’s home training gear delivers professional environment; the Munich design forge LUNAR Europe developed the concept called, Nova, a personal climbing wall that redefines training at home, making it a celebrated activity through a new take on design expression and a compelling interactive interface. Over the times, many enthusiast climbers have entertained the idea of climbing walls in the form of Treadwall and the Aquaclimb’s climbing wall, but these walls were not aesthetically elegant as Nova wall, which blends into modern spaces.
We had earlier told you about the octopus chair by famous designer Maximo Riera. The latest to join the list of Riera’s breath taking animal chair collection is a swish elephant chair. It is probably the first time that the grand animal, known for wisdom, memory and intelligence, has a chair designed on it.
The tiny bells on the bicycle’s handlebars, which were good enough to warn other cyclists and pedestrians of your existence, are now of no use to grab the attention of inattentive motorists driving the sports coupe. City cyclists who struggle to get noticed on the road and thinks bike riding in a congestion-friendly urban environment can be a dicey task, can now buy Honster bicycle, a ride equipped with a horn that is louder than Concord jet. Described to be an impeccable curb against the in-attentive motorists and a rather extreme solution to road safety, the Honster doesn’t just produce few more decibels than an average cycle bell, but it explodes with 178 decibels as it is powered by modified scuba air cylinder.
For the wine collectors, who owns an army of rare and expensive wine bottles, what further drives the value is preserving them at the right temperature and in right conditions. We have earlier told you about some of the finest wine cellars, including Sand & Birch wine cellars, besides walk-in wine cellars, like Vintec Transthermhas’ Espace to store a vast collection. The latest is Winekeep’s designer wine lockers, that are custom designed to match your exact specifications and are available in a range of colors to complement your interiors.
Enthusiast book collectors, who have the passion and money to buy some of the world’s most expensive books written by this world’s extraordinary thinkers, scientists, influential authors and the works of seminal masters, can now also buy the world’s most beautiful book on fish. To be offered at the Bonhams sale of the Angling Library of Alan Jarvis at Knightbridge on 22 May, the book is a magnificent copy of Marcus Elieser Bloch’s, a German medical doctor and naturalist who is considered as 18th century’s most important ichthyologists, monumental work which is described as the most beautiful book on fishes ever published.
Crown replicas, royal gloves and now royal vacation spots- Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee celebrations has the entire nation painting their land red. The latest in the celebratory block, a list of travel suggestions rounding off the favorite vacation destinations of the royal family. Quintessentially Travel, an international luxury company has came out with a royal itinerary to mark the Queen’s sixtieth year of reign. Queen Elizabeth II, one of the most revered female figures on the planet, is also a thoroughly traveled individual. Being the head of state of sixteen nations, the Queen has so far visited 135 countries. Hence, what better way to commemorate the special occasion than by naming some really exquisite travel destinations to replicate the family’s itinerary? From Prince Harry’s favorite vacation getaway to Kate Middleton and Prince Charles preferred retreat, the options includes custom packages.