Porsche Panamera Stingray GTR with Crocodile and Gold Interior

Top Car, a Moscow-based tuning company just unveiled this beautiful Porsche Panamera Stingray GTR Crocodile model.

The stunning customized model comes with Stingray GTR bodykit which consists of new front and rear bumpers, a bulging hood, front and rear fender extenders, side skirts and modified front and rear doors. The package also features ADV.1 Ultra-light forged rims.

The amazing interior designed is made of a cabin outfitted with premium leather seats and authentic crocodile leather on the dashboard, center console and armrest. Elsewhere, there’s beautiful Karelian birch wood trim and gold accents which are applied on everything from the pedals to the window switches. At the back, the sun-roof panel, AC vents, side door handles have used the same patterned birch wood, and outlining with gold, which one might notice in the AC control buttons as well. The foldable seat and booting area too have been enveloped in white crocodile leather and hand-stitched to perfection. Just to take away the monotony, the seats belts in both areas are a classic racy red.

Overall, the upgrades have cost the owner 150 000 € (about 202 000 $). The TopCar Porsche Panamera Stingray costs a cool 423 810 € (about570 000 $). The Panamera Stingray GTR Crocodile will be a limited-run of only 25 copies.

Twitter ● Facebook ● Bloglovin'

Balmain Homme Spring/Summer 2012 Croc Blazer

OMG ,a Balmain jacket from crocodile leather!! Can you imagine the price for this?

photos

Twitter ● Facebook ● Bloglovin'

S.T. Dupont pens by Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld, has designed a limited edition pen line called Prestige & Chic in collaboration with French house S.T. Dupont.

The pens have been designed as an asymmetrical triangular shape with bevelled corners, meaning that they do not roll and ensure comfort for the user.

Choose between two variations: “Prestige” in red lacquer or “Chic” in black with palladium “attributes.”

source:Luxuo

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin  

 

Gresso Unveils $6,000 iPhone 4 Time Machine

Luxury mobile phone manufacturer Gresso, unveiled its new exclusive project, the iPhone4 Time, “designed specifically for people living in the rhythm of world time”.
The iPhone 4 Time Machine houses six independent mechanical Swiss watches behind the smartphone’s case protected by a mineral glass with diamond coating.
The 6 clocks display time zones of the world’s business hubs: Tokyo, Moscow, Paris, London, New York and Hong Kong.


Amazingly, Gresso claim that the iPhone 4 Time Machine is only 1mm thicker than a vanilla iPhone 4 (which measures 9.3mm).
The Gresso iPhone 4 Time Machine is coming out “in 2011” and it will set you back $6,000.

source:Luxuo

The world’s most expensive retail rents

As a shopping destination, Hong Kong has over the past decade charted a course towards the very high-end in brands — and it seems retailers are now paying a very expensive price for the trend.
With a 46 percent rise in rents, quarter on quarter, Hong Kong is now second only to New York in terms of what tenants pay for retail locations across the city.
Hong Kong last year surpassed Sydney as the second-most expensive city in the world, with the average cost being paid now hitting US$1,687 per square foot per year according to global commercial property company CB Richard Ellis.

New York still tops the charts with rents at US$1,900 but Hong Kong seems intent on closing the gap as the world’s leading brands continue to set up shop all over town.

Local media here have reported that even US casual retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has gotten in on the act and is paying HK$7.5 million (US$964,000) a month for a shop in downtown Central that’s estimated to cover around 12,000 square feet. It has up until now been occupied by high-end clothing company Shanghai Tang.
The fact that Hong Kong is the favorite shopping destination for mainland China plays a significant role in the demand for retail space here — a record 22.7 million arrived during 2010 and April saw 2.1 million cross the border.
Overall, retail rental rates grew 3.8 percent globally, year on year, according to CBRE.

The world’s most expensive retail rents
(US$/sq ft per annum)

1. (1) New York 1,900
2. (3) Hong Kong 1,697
3. (2) Sydney 1.301
4. (4) London 909
5. (6) Zurich 829
6. (5) Tokyo 807
7. (7) Paris 783
8. (8) Brisbane 753
9. (9) Moscow 721
10. (10) Melbourne 691
11. (11) Guangzhou 575
12. (12) Los Angeles 520
13. (14) Milan 500
14. (16) Munich 490
15. (13) Chicago 480
16. (15) Singapore 470
17. (17) Rome 461
18. (18) Beijing 449
19. (19) Frankfurt 442
20. (23) Shanghai 414

source:Luxuo

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin

The Most Expensive Photograph Ever Sold

Cindy Sherman's photograph "Untitled #96" has become the most expensive photograph ever sold after being auctioned off by Christie's in New York for $3.89 million. The image, which is one in a series of 10, was originally commissioned back in 1981 by Artforum magazine, but didn't make the final cut. The photograph features Sherman lying on a linleum floor clutching a personal ad, acting as a 30-something single woman in dismay.

Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal Gold Leaf Boots

Maison Martin Margiela line 33 is reserved for artisanal products that require extra special hand work. These gold leaf boots are extravagant, yet classic in shape. But, those will be very expensive scuffs!
Available at Aloha Rag here. $3480. USD.

Piaget Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic Ultra Thin

The Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie is the world’s largest and most prestigious watch show. The SIHH 2011 will take place this month in Geneva Switzerland. The show will see 19 of the world’s greatest luxury brands unveil their newest watches. It is perhaps the biggest event for the watch industry and the luxury brands are geared up to present their best and the latest at the show.

Traditionally most of the brands participating in the SIHH pre release one or two of their watches in the weeks leading up to the big show. This time, though, a couple of the brands have not shown their hand yet. Piaget has pre-released their Piaget Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic Ultra Thin which has been well appreciated by the experts and analysts of the trade and the consumers as well.



The new watch comes in a 46.5mm case made of white or pink gold, featuring new manufacture Caliber 1270p. The look of the watch, its craftsmanship and the precision technology that backs up its performance is all of the highest order. The newest watch from Piaget has  5.5mm thick, automatic, tourbillon, with a front-facing micro-rotor. It is bound to be amongst the front runners for recognition at the Geneva show.

 

photos:www.beautifullife.info/

The $1.2 Million Manufacture Royale Opera Time-Piece Watch

 Manufacture Royale takes inspiration from Voltaire. Yes, that Voltaire - a man that at one point they refer to as the "Super Salesman." They should have just called the watch "Voltaire." That would have been better than making it look like a wrist catapult and for some reason calling it the Opera (well it does have a minute repeater complication).
It also appears that Manufacture Royale, has been influenced by the designs of fellow watch brand Louis Moinet. Both seem to be focused on the "age of enlightenment" (and limitless coffers). Another nod to fantasy is the Manufacture Royale logo. Above the "MR" letter is a curved line with the handle of a sword coming out of it. This is the sword in the stone - Excalibur from Arthurian legend. Make of this what you will. I just smile and think of the Disney cartoon. Does Merlin come with the watch? Perhaps a little Archimedes? Owls seem to be really "in" right now.







The Opera Time-Piece (how MR officially calls it) contains a brand new movement that is manually wound, has a tourbillon and a minute repeater. It was designed by the good people at Fabrique du Temps. Built of 319 parts, the movement is quite nice looking. I do enjoy the silicon escapement, and the combo of brass in various tones and finishes. Makes for a very rich look. While nicely conceived, it is not quite as unique as the watch case, but is still quite attractive. Power reserve is said to be in excess of 100 hours. Plus, the minute repeater plays the hours in A, and the minute in C sharp.




Now comes the interesting part. See how the case opens up like the bellows of an accordion? This unique design feature is made to create a resonance cage/chamber to allow for the minute repeater to sound more lively. The unfortunate reality is that the complexity of many minute repeaters is diminished by the tinny sound they make after being cased in a watch. The modern needs of a watch with water resistance (as well as the desire for precious metals that absorb sound) has made it a challenge for watch designers to come up with cases that adequately allow for minute repeater complications to sound decent. For Manufacture Royale had to convince engineers to develop this ultra complex style of articulating case. We can call it the "Beetle shell watch case."



The watch case itself is 50mm wide done in 18k rose and gray gold. It has three sapphire crystals and 60 pieces in its construction. Everything about this watch is crazy. It is weird and wonderful. Ugly and beautiful. A novelty for true collectors, only 12 of these watches will be made - making way for other future Manufacture Royal watches. I really do appreciate the audacity of the men behind this watch and brand. There is a hefty amount of silliness here. They make little attempt to hide the fact that this is one eternally ostentatious toy. The watch comes in a veneered wooden box that is said to be a reproduction of the Bastille Opera House in Paris. In case you didn't detect it yet, the French are behind this timepiece. The price you ask? Well in Manufacture Royale's own words "just like the product - exceptional." And they aren't lying.... $1,200,000. My consumer gland just had an aneurysm.




Case
Case materials and finishing:
-Folding/unfolding case in patented 18 carat gray or rose gold. 3 sapphire crystals.
-Moveable transparent back. Screws and axles in 18 carat gray or rose gold.
-Assembled and polished entirely by hand
-Individually numbered -Case dimensions 50mm in diameter -Number of components 60 -Crown 18 carat rose gold. Polished and diamond encrusted / Manufacture Royale logo hand-polished surface -Hands Hours and minutes in hand-polished 18 carat rose gold.
-Strap Hand sewn Mississippi alligator skin
-Buckle Hand-polished 18 carat rose and gray gold.
Movement
-Movement dimensions Height: 5.45 mm / Diameter: 32 mm
-Number of components 319
-Number of rubies 29
-Power reserve 108 hours
-Frequency 3Hz, 21,600 vibrations per hour
-Plates Brass with sunray brushing, polished angles
-Bridges Brass with sunray brushing, polished angles
-Entirely hand finished
-Bells/chimes Hours in A / Minutes in C sharp
-Tourbillon Escape wheel and anchors in silicon
-One rotation per minute
-Functions Hours, Minutes. Repeater (triggered by slide)
-Gears Counter gears and sound system NIHS 20-02
-Balance spring Flat
-Balance with screws





                                                                                                                                                                                      source:ablogtoread.com/

Gresso Luxor World Time luxury phone

Luxury phone maker Gresso introduces its new Luxor World Time, designed specifically for the world traveler.
As you can see from the image above, owners have the ability to bring up the time for six different locations at a time.
This is handled by the six independent Swiss clockwork mechanisms. The company says that the power reserve is clocked at 10 years.
Watch on the back panel of the phone shows time of the five main world business centres: Tokyo, Moscow, Paris, London and New York.

The sixth, and perhaps most important, slot is wherever you want it to be, which can be your home, or where you might be travelling to.
Screen and clock-face with elegant Roman figures located on the back panel are fringed with two 97-carat sapphire crystals with high-gloss coating.
Luxor World Time case is produced from ultrastrong and superlight titanium alloy specially developed for Gresso.


It is coated with high-tech ceramics at the closing stage – such coating does not tarnish and discolor with the lapse of time (this material was originally used only in space industry).
The front panel is offset with a bezel made of planished steel with black PVD coating, while the back panel features genuine Italian leather.
Each key of the keypad made of a single sapphire crystal that has been manually polished with a diamond tool to make it pleasant to the touch.
Gresso is selling the Luxor World Time phone through its website for US$6,000.

Domenico Vacca Alligator iPad Case

Italian fashion house Domenico Vacca has created a stylish alligator iPad case, the case is made in Italy with the best genuine alligator skin and is available in 25 different colors. $3,900

Leica M9 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition

Leica presents yet another limited edition version of their M9 flagship digital camera. This time they worked with retailer Neiman Marcus. The camera comes with a chrome finish and brown oestrich leather upper and matching oestrich leather strap. The camera will release soon and retails for 17′500 USD.

Eau de Steve McQueen

It seems like every celebrity and his/her cousin is launching their own scents these days. Thing is, most of those celebrities are, well...you know, alive. Not this one, though.

Amidst the myriad jackets, watches and even motorcycles – and just about everything in between – licensed by the late Steve McQueen's estate comes this cologne. It features a fresh green fruit top-note, the essence of cardamom, sage and cinnamon and cedar base. And of course, the name and likeness of the legendary King of Cool himself.

It won't come cheap, with a €190 (nearly $250) list price (before shipping and taxes), and hits the market as we go to press.

Star Style - Kanye West

Kanye West was spotted out and about walking the streets of New York City yesterday. He looked quite sharp in a well tailored grey two-button suit, tie, and what appeared to be a pair of velvet slippers, which I would assume to be by Tom Ford and if so they’ll run you about ($1,500). I like the look, but one thing stood out to me as a little off, and it’s that his shirt cuff seems to stick out to far from the sleeves of his jacket. I was taught that the sleeves of the  jacket should stop at the wrist-bone, and with the arm at rest, the shirt sleeve should extend no more than one-half inch below the sleeves of your jacket. Is this a rule you follow, or are you just like  Mr. West, where you make your own?

                                                                                                                                                                            photos:upscalehype.com/