I don’t know what the team at Motorola were thinking introducing a new phone into the market that’s not only a flip phone but looks exactly the same as their original RAZR except for the colors. In fact the phone is just a white-and-gold colored version of the RAZR yet because it’s not just any white, it’s “classic pearl white” and not just any gold but “18K gold plating,” suddenly it’s been catapulted into the ‘luxury’ phone category.

The internal features themselves do have some minor updates such as HSDPA connectivity, bluetooth technology, USB support and videocalling. Yet if you’re the kind of phone consumer who didn’t care enough about having those features in the first place and continued to enjoy your original RAZR then, why would you care that this one has updated features?

Personally I don’t think it looks lush enough at all. And flip phones are so out. I’m over the flipping thing. It’s getting annoying. I want to just pick up my phone and press a button, I am too lazy to flip it open!

• Source: EP, Luxist

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At 31,000 euros (about $39,600 USD), you could buy a car with this knife. Designed by renowned jewelry artist Quintin Nel, in collaboration with bladesmiths Hoffmann/Pieper, this knife is apparently as sharp as it is aesthetically pleasing.

Nesmuk knives come in a variety of lengths and pretty much all aspects of the knife are customizable. The site boats that “The blade length, handle shape and material, Damascus steel pattern, scrimshaw and engraving work are all selected according to your individual preferences.”

Though this particular diamond one is possibly the most expensive option, and intriguingly enough, also has a matching ring available for purchase. Many have suggested this as a present for a wife however when I see that ring it doesn’t seem feminine to me at all. Looks more like the kind of ring that could leave a real mark if you punched someone in the face with it, if you know what I mean… !

• Sources: BornRich, Nesmuk

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This week, Christie’s in Paris is having one of the most exciting auctioning events it’s seen in a very long time – especially with the economic crisis, this kind of excitement and actual biddings generated came as a genuine surprise.

More than 1,200 wealthy art lovers, collectors and dealers were present at Christie’s in Paris, as well as 100 abroad on telephone lines to Christie’s staff members were involved with the much anticipated auctioning off of the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s lifetime collections of art.

A 1911 Matisse painting sold for $40.9 million, which was double the original estimate. Other classic art was sold off in roars of adrenalin-pumping bidding mayhem. One flop, however, was a Picasso that was stopped at 21 million euros when it had been estimated to reach between 25 million to 30 million euros.

Aside from the incredible value of all the items in this Yves Saint Laurent auction, Christie’s had invested in a $1.2 million renting and refurbishment of the Grand Palais in Paris to host this particular auction.

Yves Saint Laurent’s passing away in mid-2008 was a grave and sombre event for the fashion world last year. The man had created a fashion empire and inspired many throughout his lifetime.

• Source: NYT

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Okay, the team at Lexus have just taken concept cars to a whole new level. It’s just ridiculous how far they’ve taken it. With the luxury factor, with the modern technological innovation factor, and with the general ‘COOL’ factor. The concept car Lexus LF-A is the first concept car with a crystallized exterior.

It’s like bringing a Swarovski sculpture to life and making it driveable. If this concept truly turns into mass production, I have a feeling that there will definitely be buyers. Currently it’s more like a piece of artwork, though, and being displayed at Milan Fashion Week.

The impressive exterior is not the only innovative feature of the LF-A, however, as within the crystal there is to be nestled a 5.0 L V10 engine. I’d like to order one that is a lovechild of this concept car and the Lexus HS 250h that is environmentally friendly.

Better yet, let’s stick some pink Swarovski crystals on the already crystalized exterior and give it to Paris Hilton for Christmas, yea?

• Source: Luxist

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The Samsung Memoir is to be available to all T-Mobile USA customers in the US from 25 February 2009. Official face of this campaign, supermodel Helena Christensen, carried the phone with her and shot pictures of her travels throughout New York and Barcelona.

The phone is a touch-screen with 8-megapixel camera, featuring premium imaging functionality. The phone also comes with music player, full web browser and GPS navigation system.

Available accessories include a noise cancellation bluetooth headset and mini-cube speakers. The music player as 16GB of memory and with the instant online access, the Memoir allows you to immediately upload your photos onto Flickr, Kodak Gallery, Snapfish or Photobucket.

There is also a TV-out feature, which allows you to share the pictures on a television screen as a slide show.

The camera comes with Xenon flash, autofocus, multiple shooting modes and an intriguing Smile Shot smile recognition technology. Video recording option is available as well.

All these functions make the Samsung Memoir one of the most advanced touchscreen phones currently available on the market.

• Sources: Samsung, Newsmarket, CNET

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This post may as well be written as a recipe for a do-it-yourself luxury sandwich.

• 2 pieces of bread
• Lots of truffles
• Some butter

1. Spread butter on bread.
2. Add truffles.
3. Refrigerate for 2 days to allow flavours to soak through.
4. Lightly grill and serve.

An incredibly simple invention from French chef Michel Rostang, who names this dish “LE “SANDWICH” TIEDE A LA TRUFFE FRAÎCHE” – I think it means ‘The Truffle Sandwich’?

Michel Rostang is a two-star chef based in Paris. His two daughters are also in the restaurant business with him, and have been featured in numerous culinary magazines.

Rostang’s restaurants are renowned not only for the rich and gourmet flavor yet also for the decadent interiors which reflect an impeccable eye for artistic appreciation. Both Michel and his wife Marie enjoy collecting beautiful art objects and displaying them throughout their restaurants. Their restaurants are some of the most popular in Paris, France. 

• Sources: Luxist, Michel Rostang

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Rolls-Royce will be unveiling its latest concept car, the 200EX at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009. The design will be indicative of the direction Rolls-Royce is taking for its four-door saloons in 2010 productions.

The sneak previews show a less formal sense of styling compared to previous Rolls-Royces, and a great focus on spaciousness in the interiors. “200EX is a touring saloon with more than a little panache and perhaps more bravado than one might have expected,” says Chief Designer, Ian Cameron.

The design stays true to Roll-Royce tradition of elevated prow, long bonnets and short front overhangs. The Rolls-Royce design philosophy is to have something that is “powerful but unobtrusive.”

Headlamps are LED as a modern update, and the 200EX concept model is finished with Darkest Tungsten and seven-spoke, 20-inch wheels.

Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves explains that the 200EX “is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance,” as it retains some of the core values of Rolls-Royce tradition yet adapts to modern aesthetics. Rolls-Royce is expecting to attract the kind of customer who “appreciates its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style.”

• Source: Rolls-Royce

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