Most expensive Louis XIII miniature is studded with gold and diamonds

 The purveyor of fine drinks knows that everything about a bottle of classic wine holds value. Though, the content inside it holds prime importance, many people including bottle collectors seek decanters to serve as a collectible. And, if it’s an Rémy Martin Louis XIII decanter, exotic luxury is guaranteed. The French cognac brand is well known for its pristine decanters in its Louis XIII de Rémy Martin range. While it was Louis XIII Le Jeroboam created by Cristallerie de Sèvres, which was making headlines the world over, this time it’s the Louis XIII miniature, which has been given a dazzling makeover by Mike the Jeweler from M&J Jewelry.

Hotel Rates in New York City skyrocket ahead of NYE

New York may be officially the most popular place in the US to spend New Year, but travelers will still be paying through the nose for the privilege.

CTX, the Cadillac of lawn tractor heads to Detroit Auto Show

Sun-Drop Diamond – The World’s Largest Yellow Diamond

A 110-carat yellow jewel called the Sun Drop Diamond, thought the biggest of its kind in the world, sold for a record $10.9 million at Sotheby’s auction in Geneva. Including commission the unidentified telephone bidder paid almost $12.4 million for the gem, putting it within the $11 million to $15 million range Sotheby’s had estimated before the sale.

 Gemologists rate the 110.3 carat diamond as fancy vivid yellow – the highest possible colour grading. The colour in yellow diamonds is caused by nitrogen impurities trapped within carbon molecules and hardened over the course of millions of years. The gem was discovered in South Africa in 2010 and wowed visitors to London’s Natural History Museum where it was displayed earlier this year, and also in Hong Kong.

Fan di Fendi Limited Editions

 Fendi have released two limited edition versions of their fragrance Fan di Fendi. The first, priced at £120, is a 50ml bottle placed in a leather case with a zipper.

Morgan introduces 75th Anniversary edition of its 44 sports car

Since 1936, when the iconic 4/4 sports car was introduced, Morgan Motor Company never really looked back in terms of fan following, for the sheer iconic status of the vehicle. It might not have created as many waves as the Ferrari's and Lamborghini's from the Italians, and Bentley from Britain itself, but the loyal fans of the car still swear by it till date. So, to celebrate the 75 years of the particular model, Morgan has reintroduced it as a special 75th anniversary edition. Using the traditional frame, with some minor twitches and modern customizations, the 4/4 has come alive yet again for the niche vintage automobile lover.

 Morgon 4/4 sportscar 75th anniversary edition front view

World's most expensive casket takes it really far with an adjustable headrest, all for $36,400

Nilai Memorial Park and the solid mahogany wood casket

Andy Warhol's Making Money Is Art Collection is rich with gold coins

 And Warhol is said to be one of the greatest painters and artists of the 20th century. After immortalizing Jacqueline Kennedy, Michael Jackson, Liz Taylor and Marilyn Monroe on silkscreen prints his work "Dollar Sign" is now being hailed, and how. A series by the Monnaie de Paris, is out with gold "money" that sports a "Dollar sign". The flip side features a self-portrait dated 1928-1987. A collaborated effort with The Andy Warhol​ Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc., to commemorate 25 years of his death, the “Making Money Is Art” Collection is made up of four gold coins and a silver coin too. 

Hennessy X.O Mathusalem cognac encased in a designer packaging

 Just in time for New Year Hennessy has unveiled their special edition cognac. Artist Arik Levy teamed up to design the RockRegeneration Hennessy X.O Mathusalem. This is the second time Hennessy has asked Parisian Arik Levy to design the cognac package for them. The annual release of the artsy limited edition cognac is much awaited tradition. The bottle itself is designed with sophisticated curves which is enough to encourage drooling from spirit enthusiasts. The X.O in the title cleverly refers to extra old cognac. This limited edition, collectible bottle and case will be available in January 2012.

Foie gras burger in Japan

US fast-food chain Wendy’s, known for its square beef patties and baked potatoes, on Tuesday unveiled a foie gras burger as it sprang back into life in Japan.

Two years after shutting up shop because of falling profits, Wendy’s is hoping its exotic new menu will tickle the sophisticated Japanese palate.

Ferrari 360 Modena Limousine Great For Luxury

 This Ferrari 360 Modena limousine was created by cutting a regular 360 Modena in half and adding seats in the middle to provide interior room for eight people.

Bombay Sapphire Bar Bag

 A proud collaboration between Barking Irons & Bombay Sapphire, the Bar Bag is inspired by classic gentry style of 19th Century London.

London Boat Show to wow with luxury

 Visitors to next month’s London Boat Show are set to step into a new world of luxury, with organizers opting to showcase products and services for big-money buyers alongside the boats, even as the global economy continues to shake.

A large diamond-studded conch shell worth $470,000 displayed in India

I don’t know what the fetish with conch shells is, but it sure works well for the fashion lovers. But this is beyond that as well. The Surat Chamber of Commerce in India had put a huge diamond-studded conchshell on display. Estimated at Rs 2.5 crore ($470,000), the conchshell crafted using acrylic and silver is 5.5 feet tall and almost 3 feet wide. Set with as many as 28,000 cubic zirconium diamonds, the stones have been sponsored by a Swiss company.

Most expensive rice pancake is garnished with pure gold foil

We knew that the marriage of food and bling jewels was catching up when we spoke of the world’s most expensive cake decked with jewels. The Indian food industry too seems to have drawn some inspiration here by unveiling a gold version of their popular South Indian delicacy called Dosa (a rice and lentil pancake). It is a popular fast food delicacy which comes with a humble price tag otherwise. However a restaurant in Bangalore has gold-spiked it and they now serve gold dosas at a price of $19 each.

China's new bullet train prototype is the fastest at 300mph

Do you have the need for speed? Then China's new bullet train can give you just the right thrill as the new prototype train can hit speeds as high as 500km/h. Reports from China Daily suggest that the train was unveiled by CSR Corp at the eastern province of Shandong. Crafted using "plastic reinforced with carbon fibre and magnesium alloy" the six car train is light that gives it the high speeds. Although not yet commercially available, the move seems to strengthen the planned Beijing-Hong Kong high-speed line that will connect to Hong Kong by 2015.

Ritz-Carlton opens in Vienna, its first in Austria

 The next time you are in Vienna, make sure you check out the new Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company recently announced the news of their first hotel in Vienna. It is located in two 19th century palaces which were built during 1860 and 1890. The hotel is a real estate gem in terms of its location in Schubertring which has an immense historic significance. This luxury hotel with 202 rooms is close in proximity to the Vienna State Opera and Museum of Fine Arts. As a part of their global expansion The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has added Vienna to their list of cities after recently opening one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Audi A1 Quattro limited edition packs 252-hp

 Audi fans hold your breath. A1 Quattro, a limited-edition version of Audi's subcompact hatch outdoes it predecessor. The high-performance A1 is equipped with the all-wheel-drive system, with power provided by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder used in theS3. Which for you works out to a 252 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm – that is more than 70 hp and 74 lb-ft over the standard 1.4-liter A1. We’re just trying to control our drool from not forming a puddle on the keyboard.

F&M Evantra Supercar is the equivalent of the Italian Bat-mobile

 Say ‘Buona Sera’ to the Goddess of immortality aka the Evantra, the latest show-stopper on the streets from Italy, the latest supercar to be launched by F & M. Evantra also means "object which is unique and exclusive," in a language spoken by the ancient Etruscan civilization that occupied what is now Tuscany.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Merveilleux

Bugatti has unveiled the Super Sport Edition Merveilleux. The one-off model is apparently a birthday present for a mysterious Chinese man named Simon.

Bespoke solid gold iPhone case by Miansai makes a $10,000 statement

The hip-hoppers and gold diggers in the house, listen up. Designer Michael Saiger of Miansai have launched a made-to-order high-end iPhone case comprised of 14k gold. You can jazz up your phone in either the traditional yellow gold or the slicker rose gold with the option of a sober matte finish or a polished finish. You also get the choice of emblazoning whatever you like on the case. Each custom made case is individually numbered and engraved.

Rolls-Royce 102EX returns back from a world tour

 The Rolls-Royce 102EX (Phantom Experimental Electric) is back home at West Sussex, England after completing a global test program. First unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show the car went on a world tour to ensure that the electrically Phantom could stand the test of being a true-blue Rolls-Royce. 

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal invests $300 million in Twitter

Cohiba Behike limited edition cigar box

The Limited Edition Cohiba Behike Cigar box for $18,846 is a perfect gift for the connoisseurSmoking isn’t the healthiest habit, but for the connoisseur who likes the finest blends of the leaf, health does take a 2nd step sometimes. Cohiba, a brand which has given us ultra-fine options like the Frederique Constant, now brings in what might be the world’s most expensive cigar: limited edition Cohiba ‘Behike’ cigar. Priced at $18,846 for a box of 40, or $420 for each, these cigars have been prepared with a special blend of Cuban tobacco, which itself is a secret like most of the fine variety in this segment.

 Though cigar tobacco is grown over significant stretches of land in the Caribbean and American continent, the world’s finest varieties are known to come from the country called Cuba. So much as been the fame associated tobacco from that country, which cigars have become a symbol of national pride for people of that nation. This is also where the Cohiba Behike has been grown, and blended to perfection by Norma Fernandez Torcedora, at the El Laguito Cohiba factory. The varieties she generally uses are from the Pinar del Rio and Vuelto Abajo regions of Cuba, but like most things special, the actual blending and selection process remains strictly under wraps.

Donkervoort D8 GTO finally launched

Dutch sports car maker Doonkervoort was planning a D8 GTO revamp for Christmas last year, and by the likes of it, they seems to have made good on that promise, albeit a year later. The makers are out with the D8 GTO that will feature a 2.5-liter TSFI Audi engine. The car sports a "steel-tube frame is wrapped in carbon panels and a one-piece door that swings up quasi Koenigsegg style".

World’s Most Expensive First Date package

 If you want to make someone feel extra special this 2012 you just have to consider whisking them away to in all luxury to the romantic Spitbank Fort- a former Napoleonic fort in the middle of the Solent. Amazing Retreats’ has put together the world’s most expensive first date package for £34,000 ($52,800). Along with the ‘amazing retreat the package also consist of 60ft luxury Sunseeker motor yacht which is all yours for 24 hours. The escapade begins from your doorstep with a chauffeur driven Bentley which drops and pick you up from the Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport, Portsmouth.

The 46 metre Mystic superyacht is now on sale

One57 Ultra-Luxury Condo Tower In New York

 One57, the ultra-luxury condo tower that's under construction on West 57th Street, is being billed as the tallest residential tower in New York City.

Million dollar garments made of gold coins in Tokyo

 Bling, bling and more bling………….where is all this blinging leading to? Here’s one more paradigm of the latest trend from the Midas Kingdom. Take a look at the outfits that were fitted with more than 1,500 Austrian gold coins! Designed by students from a Tokyo design school, Bunka Fashion College, the outfits were shimmering and the models looked like fishes with dazzling golden scales! The coins were lent by the Austrian Mint Office and worth more than $1.2 million. They were sewn onto three pieces of apparel - a full-length dress weighing 10 kg (22 pounds) and two jackets weighing up to 21 kg (46 pounds). More dazzling images follow......

2012 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster to be out soon

Nespresso Christmas variations 2011

Ten most expensive cars going on sale in 2012

 For all the car enthusiasts out there, Forbes magazines has compiled their list of ten most expensive cars going on sale in 2012. The list was assembled on basis of new cars and their MSRP value. It does not take into account any auction values. Here it is, The ten most expensive cars of 2012:

10) Porsche 918 Spyder -