Most expensive Jeweled Indian carpet

Unique most expensive jeweled Indian carpet would be auctioned in Doha, Qatar, on March 18 on Sotheby’s first-ever auctions. Throw-rug-sized Indian carpet was made of pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds in 1860s as a gift for the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia, the carpet was created under the auspices of Gaekwar Kande Rao, the maharajah of Baroda, a former kingdom in northwest India that is now part of Gujarat state. It took five years of labor by hundreds of craftsmen.

In the mid-20th century the unique Indian carpet wound up in the hands of Sita Devi, a woman some refer to as the Wallis Simpson of India. Her husband, Prattapsingh Gaekwar, maharajah of Baroda, scandalized Indian society when he dumped his first wife in favor of the much younger Devi in 1943. Devi promptly transferred many of the family jewels to her homes in Paris and London, and later to Monaco, where the pair lived together before separating in 1956. The carpet remained in her estate until after her death in 1986. As rumors say this worlds most expensive jeweled Indian carpet could fetch as much as $20 million starting at $5 million.

Premier jewelry with expensive diamond: Quintin Neil - most expensive diamond knife

Quintin Nel was born and raised at the cutting face in South Africa in a family of renowned diamond cutter. All his childhood he was surrounded with a premier jewelry with expensive diamond, gemstones and luxury goods. So it is no wonder that Quintin Nel has grown up and became a famous jewelry designer. Designer Quintin Nel in collaboration with Hoffmann / Pieper has created a true masterpiece – most expensive diamond knife called Nesmuk.

Most expensive knife’s handle is maid of silver studded with 8 diamonds. The blade is carbon steel. A set includes also a luxury ring. So, get most expensive knife for him and a beautiful ring for her! Price: $39,600.

Most Expensive License Plate

Talal Khouri, a Dubai-based stockbroker, made history recently when he became the owner of the world’s most expensive license plate. He won the expensive license plate after placing the winning bid during an auction to benefit individuals with special needs. Oddly, the expensive license plate displayed the number five. You would think the most expensive license plate in the world would at least read ‘1’ or maybe something clever alluding to the owner’s wealth.

Well, now it does.

Saeed Khouri, a businessman from a wealthy Abu Dhabi family, recently purchased a license plate emblazoned with the number one from an auction that sold around ninety other vanity plates. The auction brought in $24 million which, ironically enough, will benefit a rehabilitation center for victims of traffic accidents. $14 million of that came from the sale of the ‘1’ plate.

Comparatively, only $6.2 million was paid for the ‘5’ plate. That price was almost ten times as much as the former most expensive license plate, ‘M1’, which fetched about $660,000 in Yorkshire, Northern England.

Reporters asked Talal Khouri if the number ‘5′ had any special or sentimental meaning to him. “The number does not mean anything to me. I will keep it and after my death it will be re-auctioned and probably raise more money that will again be given to charity and humanitarian work,” he added.

The owner of the current most expensive license plate, on the other hand, was not so humble. He reportedly said of the purchase, “I bought it because it’s the best number. I bought it because I want to be the best in the world.”

Unlike standard license plates in the UAE, these vanity plates include only a single Western digit and no Arabic letters or numerals.

Most Expensive License Plates in the US

The world’s most expensive license plates may have been issued in Abu Dhabi, but that doesn’t mean they get to have all the fun. While the UAE’s wealthy seek the prestige of affixing a license plate with a low number to the back of a luxury auto, the most expensive license plates in the United States are more likely to end up in the collections of license plate enthusiasts.

License plate collectors in the US are similar to stamp and coin collectors in that they’re interested not in how fashionable a plate will look on their car but rather in the scarcity and history of a plate. For example, Mississippi’s oldest license plates come from 1912—a time when that state was the poorest in the nation. Now, a 1912 Mississippi license plate is the third most expensive in the US at $35,000. Strangely enough, there are more surviving 1912 plates than 1913 plates. That’s why the second most expensive plate is a 1913 Mississippi plate that sold for $50,000.

The most expensive license plate in the US is one of only four 1921 Alaska plates known to have survived since the time before the territory was officially a state. The plate’s rarity can be attributed to the fact that, in those days, Alaska just didn’t have the roads to support a lot of cars and even getting the auto to Alaska was an expensive undertaking. This particular license plate was sold in 2000 in a Wendy’s parking lot in Maine for the hefty sum of $60,000.

Most Expensive Autograph

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Collectibles, Luxury on April 1st, 2008

Getting the autograph of your favorite celebrity can be a thrilling experience for most. For serious philographers—autograph collectors—living celebrities’ John Hancocks are just the tip of the iceberg. For these collectors, the most valuable autographs are those of deceased historical figures. Still more valuable are those same signatures decorating handwritten documents and, especially, personal letters. The most expensive autograph in the world, if sold today, would be worth around $5 million dollars. It belonged to William Shakespeare and, if affixed to a play written in his own hand, it would easily be worth ten times as much.

He may have authored such famous works as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and a remarkable number of histories regarding England’s many kings, but only six copies of Shakespeare’s autograph are known to have survived to the current day. In fact, these are some of the only examples we have of the legendary bard’s handwriting, as not a single manuscript handwritten by Shakespeare has yet been discovered. Three of the surviving signatures are attached to his will. The other three adorn the deed to a house in London, the playwright’s mortgage and his testimony in a legal case.

Considering the autograph itself, it isn’t surprising that so few examples of his handwriting still exist. In fact, his atrocious penmanship may explain at least some of the many variants on his surname—from the dull and pedestrian Shaxberd to the evocative and famous Shakespeare.

Most Expensive Barbie Dolls

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Collectibles, Fashion

1959 No. 1 Barbie

The first Barbie dolls were introduced by Mattel, Inc. in 1959. Produced in Japan, their clothing was hand-stitched by home workers. Creator Ruth Handler based them on a German doll called Bild Lilli, which was itself based on a comic strip character. Since then, of course, the Barbie doll has become a household name. Having been around that long, Barbie’s been through quite a few editions.

On her 40th birthday, for instance, we were introduced to the most expensive Barbie doll at the time. Created by jeweler De Beers, this unique Barbie’s dress is covered in diamonds—160 of them, to be exact. She also wears 18k white gold jewelry. This expensive Barbie has an extraordinary price tag of $85,000.

For those who prefer the nostalgia factor to the bling factor, the most expensive classic Barbie is naturally the very first—Barbie No. 1. Featuring a ponytail and zebra-striped bathing suit, this vintage Barbie doll is considerably cheaper than the De Beers Barbie at an estimated $8,000.

Currently, the world’s most expensive Barbie doll is one that was introduced in Mexico City. The doll was created to promote a new Barbie movie, Barbie and the Diamond Castle. According to Giancarlo Melloni, Barbie’s brand manager in Mexico, the film has themes near and dear to the hearts of young women—“friendship, music and shiny jewels.”

Barbie and the Diamond Castle promotional doll

Mr. Melloni is clearly breaking new ground there.

The most expensive Barbie doll was not created for sale but has been valued at 1 million pesos (US $95,361). It features a total of 318 diamonds weighing in at 20.66 carats. Forty-four of the gems decorate her dress while the rest adorn her white gold accessories.

Most Expensive Tolkien Books

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Art, Collectibles, World

Starting in 2011, J. R. R. Tolkien fans across the globe will be able to see two of the world’s most expensive Tolkien books in person. GTC AG, a Swiss company, has recently acquired both books and is planning an exhibition that will bring them to the general public.

In early December, GTC AG acquired a signed copy of “The Hobbit” from Peter Harrington’s for over $78,000. Little more than two weeks later, they announced the acquisition of an even more expensive set of books—a signed first edition set of the Lord of the Rings trilogy dedicated, in Elvish no less, to Elaine Griffith, “The Queen of the Hobbits.” Griffith, a student of Tolkien’s, earned that title by convincing him to seek publication for The Hobbit.

Also acquired in that auction was a lot of Pauline Baynes’ original art. Baynes was Tolkien’s favorite illustrator and passed away last August at the age of 85.

GTC Roadshow’s 2011 exhibition, thought to be the largest collection of Tolkien material ever assembled, will coincide with the release of the upcoming live action film. The Hobbit, directed by Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) and produced by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, is scheduled for a December 2011 release.

Most Expensive Japanese Art

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Art, World on June 4th, 2008

An anonymous party represented by Mitsukoshi Ltd., a company that operates department stores, recently made history by making this statue the most expensive piece of Japanese or Buddhist art ever auctioned.

The twenty-six inch, gold-painted statue, thought to be sculpted by Kamakura-period (1185–1333) artist Unkei, depicts a seated Dainichi Nyorai sun goddess. While it was expected to sell for less than $3 million at the Christie’s auction where it was sold, the sculpture went for a stunning $14.38 million. The buyer may have been one of many concerned that this unique cultural artifact would be kept outside of Japan following the auction. Considering the fact that the auction house was headquartered in Britain while the auction itself took place in New York, these concerns don’t seem unreasonable.

Unkei’s work was often done as a commission for high-ranking samurai and other important Japanese personalities in the period. His work on the Niō, a pair of twenty-six foot guardian statues flanking the Great South Gate of Tōdai-ji in Nara, displays a level of realism unseen in the West until much later.

Most Expensive Rug

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Art, Luxury, World on June 6th, 2008

The $4.5 million Persian rug

The world’s most expensive rug may be silk, Persian and four or five hundred years old, but does it really tie the room together? One anonymous buyer seems to think so.

Sold by Christie’s for $4.45 million, the 16th or 17th century Persian rug measures 7’ 5” by 5’ 7”. It was previously owned by Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress who purchased it in 1990 and left it to the Newport Restoration Foundation when she died. Its record selling price amounts to over $700 per square inch.

The most expensive rug’s record may soon be beaten, however, by the storied Pearl Carpet of Baroda. Commissioned in the 18th century by Khanda Rao Gaekwad, Maharaja of Baroda, the rug is similar to one that decorates the Taj Mahal. Featuring around two million naturally seeded pearls, the rug is embossed with gold set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. It features three stunning rosettas made of diamonds and silvered gold.

Due to the untimely death of the Maharaja, the rug was never delivered to the destination he had intended for it. Instead of gracing the tomb of the prophet Mohammed, the rug stayed with the Maharaja’s family since its completion.

Now it may fetch a sum as princely as its pedigree at a Sotheby’s auction in their new office in Doha, Qatar. The expected hammer value for this most expensive rug is $14.5 million.

Just make sure to wipe your feet before walking on my most expensive rug, m’kay?

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda

Most Expensive Club Membership

Being filthy rich probably isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Imagine how much trouble it is planning which beach to lounge at, which ultra-luxury vehicle you’re going to drive that day and any other ways you may need to display your wealth that day, lest those around you forget their place. Enter consultant-turned-“Lifestyle Designer” Richard Nilsson, whose Résidence Supérieur may just be the most expensive club membership in the world.

The Résidence Supérieur Black Card allows its holder to access to a host of services—including private jets, butlers, fleets of luxury cars, Michelin-class chefs and more—based in the Résidence Supérieur resorts. Each of their properties are owned or designed by Résidence Supérieur to ensure that members get only the best of the best.

Villa Oxygene, the original Résidence Supérieur property in Super Cannes, was designed by one of France’s most distinguished architects and includes four luxury bedrooms, a garden house and, of course, a decently large swimming pool. Other Résidence Supérieur properties include Necker Island—one of the British Virgin Islands—and The Lodge in the Verbier ski resort in the Swiss Alps.

Best of all, cardholders need only give six hours notice to access any of these properties.

The Résidence Supérieur Black Card costs €200,000 (US $266,000) annually. It may be the world’s most expensive club membership but, hey, can you really put a price on “Extreme Luxury?”

Most Expensive Bullets

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Art, Fashion, Luxury

Bullet Forge, an online retailer of custom bullets, may be offering the most expensive bullet in the world.

The retailer sells gold bullets, platinum bullets and, of course, a whole lot of silver bullets. Their premier offering, however, is this 45 ACP hollow-point made of 14-karat white gold. Mounted within the hollow-point are ninety diamonds surrounding a sparkling amethyst. Like all of Bullet Forge’s custom bullets, this beauty is inert—it can’t be fired. However, it does feature a loop attached to the base so it can be worn on a necklace.