26th
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2010
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A diamond is truly timeless. When used appropriately, a well cut diamond can be valued well beyond its market price, symbolizing a level of class, commitment and purpose that can’t be expressed in mere dollar amount. With that said, when you have a whole lot of money, each subsequent diamond may add a little sparkle to your life, but it’s highly unlikely each individual rock will hold quite as special place of a place in the mind or heart. There can come a point in one’s affluence when a box full of diamonds is little more than a glorified tub of glitter. Here are some wise purchases when you finally hit that plateau.
Nesmuk Diamond Kitchen Knife w/ring (Price: $40,000) – Not only does cooking’s finest heirloom boast a selection of diamonds to complement its sterling silver handle, it manages to integrate them while minimizing utility. After all, if you’re going to develop a diamond-centric cutting tool why not fashion a knife that can not only cut up a cutlet but also slice through a stained glass window while at it? On the other hand, with daggers and candlesticks becoming more and more obsolete, the “diamond-handled kitchen knife” does make a nice murder weapon for a modern day Clue remake. (more…)
26th
07 -
2010
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When purchasing a million-plus dollar automobile, there are only two logical assumptions as to why it’s a sound investment. Either you are merely using your living room like a mall atrium, showing off prize cars for drawings and giveaways as decoration with no intention of taking one for a lap around the food court, or you are a supremely confident driver capable of summoning Jason Bourne type instincts in the face of oncoming traffic. Bear in mind, every luxury automobile is just one 16-year-old with a cell phone away from an overpriced pile of scrap metal. Furthermore, unlike real estate which (until recently) has largely held or increased its value assuming proper upkeep and barring natural disaster, a car immediately depreciates the second you drive it off the lot. With that in mind, here’s a look at two of the world’s biggest fast-moving price tags.
Bugatti Veyron (Price: $1,700,000) – Enter the world’s fastest street legal car, though one would be tough-pressed to find a street on which it’s legal to top out at just over 250 mph. With its W16 engine (comprised of 16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders a piece) the Veyron affords drivers 1001 horsepower, far and away the most powerful road-car on the market. Since any prospective buyer obviously has some cash to blow, the trip from Los Angeles to Vegas is a hair over 270 miles, meaning you could easily throw down a few more meaningless money stacks on black just over an hour after leaving the City of Angels (assuming no petulant police officers or bathroom breaks). (more…)
26th
07 -
2010
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Having money is a lot of fun in and of itself, but some people like to show off exactly how much they are worth. Without literally donning a suit made entirely of $100 dollar bills (after all, how well would your matching money umbrella hold up when you make it rain?), these selected watches are pretty much as close as you can come to wearing your wealth for all to see.
Piaget Emperador Temple (Price: $3,500,000) – For approximately the same price as a mid-level Malibu home, the Temple allows you to tell time with the world’s elite. Comprised of over 1,200 diamonds of various cuts, many women would willingly accept it in lieu of an engagement ring, actually saving you three months salary in the long run, which if you can afford this watch is probably a healthy chunk of change. Not only does this watch possess enough diamonds to make even African warlords blush, it boasts unparalleled precision as well. Considering the Temple has two watches hidden in its design, each revealed by pushing down on a set trigger, it is actually a bargain compared to some other expensive pieces, running a mere $1,750,000 per face. (more…)
26th
07 -
2010
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They say money can’t buy happiness, but for generations now brand new toys, clothes and accessories have made up for missed recitals, being cut from the basketball team and even individual bouts with social awkwardness. For particularly wealthy parents, each successive disappointment comes with the increasingly expensive task of making it right. Of course, after a decade-or-so’s worth of birthdays and back to school specials, there’s only so much a kid doesn’t already have. Though it may seem that Christmas comes every day for Sam and Sally Silverspoon, here are a few gift ideas that will make them smile on a special occasion.
Louis Vuitton Skateboard (Price: $8,250) – So your young one might not naturally fit in with the average skateboard punk crew, but surely somewhere there’s a crowd of rich kids out there who can fake it in a Malibu’s Most Wanted meets Avril Lavigne kind of way. Any sort of grinding trick is heavily frowned upon, after all, once you scuff up the designer name it becomes just your average 4-wheeled recipe for a platinum cast. (more…)
26th
07 -
2010
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Let’s be honest, human skin is overrated. Aside from the occasional bronze tan after summering at the French Riviera, what more does it really offer? Our animal friends offer much more practical outer layers, after all, alligators sleekly stride through water and can lay in the sun all day without wrinkling, chinchilla’s rarely complain about a chilly winter evening and snake’s shed their skin anyway; it’s not like they are terribly attached to it. For only a couple of thousand dollars a pop, you can finally help put human skin where it belongs, as a failed fad of seasons past. Step into more highly evolved fashion future with this entirely animal skin ensemble. Okay, you might look ridiculous, but fashion statements are inherently bold by nature (and in this case at the expense of it).
Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag (Price: $120,000) – Handbags are perhaps an entire subject on their own, with high end models rarely comprised of mere fabric, but few one-time hides ever eclipse the exorbitant price tag of this little ditty. Apparently, cheaper versions of the original are available for around $5,000. Still for only about the same price, you can purchase your very own baby crocodile, which over the years can grow to hold not only your cellphone, wallet and keys but a wide assortment of insects, fish, shellfish alongside the occasional roaming neighborhood pet. (more…)