World’s rarest hit the block: orange carats, trifola d’Alba
A spectacular and rare orange diamond, the largest known gem of its kind, was on Tuesday auctioned for a record $35.54 million in Geneva. “It’s a world record price for an orange diamond, it’s a world record price per carat for any coloured diamond,” the Christie’s auction house said of the sale. The price works […]
$60 for $31K street art in Central Park
World-famous British street artist Banksy flogged original canvases for just $60 in Central Park over the weekend as part of a month-long residency in New York. While his work can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, his website announced that minimal interest and sluggish sales resulted in takings of just $420. The stall was […]
Your next ‘great escape’ for $39.99
From a luxury spa treatment in Bali, to rhino-watching wilderness expeditions and meditative retreats in a monastery in Mallorca, the latest travel guide from Lonely Planet offers globetrotting ideas that promise to help readers reassess, recharge and inspire tired souls. Organized by theme, desires and interests, Great Escapes ($39.99) includes 75 getaway ideas that span […]
Champagne wins at Masters 2013 for being ‘like a Persian carpet’
Hosted by trade publication The Drinks Business, experts sipped on 100 samples of bubbly at luxury hotel The Dorchester in London for the Champagne Masters Competition 2013. Champagne house Charles Heidsieck emerged the big winner this year, earning the ultimate Master title for its Brut Reserve, Brut Millesime 2000, and Blanc des Millenaires Millesime 1995. […]
Find out ‘what Grand Cru you are’ at Grand Central, Oct 1-3
Nespresso invites you to skip a coffee regular from your local bodega and head straight to their latest pop-up boutique in Vanderbilt Hall for a taste of their premium roasts and some interactive fun. From October 1-4, 2013, Grand Central Terminal will be hosting the event where guests can try out their line of machines […]
Neither shaken nor stirred…
Mint caviar beads and chocolate spaghetti with a mojito served in a large bubble, anyone? Molecular gastronomy is often thought of as a mad science to purists but something very intriguing happens when fusion meets cocktails. Molécule-R is offering an array of kits to make molecular gastronomy aceesible to home cooks. Each will help you […]
Vending machines pop out live hairy crabs
“August until October is the prime season for hairy crabs in China, and to ensure people makes the most of the season, one shop vendor has stocked a vending machine full of live crabs, available day and night,” explains PSFK. Last week the vending machine was “stocked with live crabs appeared on a street in […]
World’s most expensive per square foot
According to Knight Frank, a London based real estate firm Monaco is the most costliest city in the world when it comes to real estate. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the average price of real estate in Monaco was between $5,350 and $5,920. If this is a consolation for you, it might surprise you […]
Baccarat + Duval-Leroy collaborate for the holidays
The prestigious French crystal maker has designed a holiday gift set featuring the Duval-Leroy Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Sommeliers champagne, a new cuvée launched last April. A Baccarat crystal carafe etched with the Maison Duval-Leroy monogram is nestled in a red and silver packaging alongside a bottle of Duval-Leroy’s Cuvée des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France […]
Luxury loans trending in Asia
Hong Kong’s ladies-who-lunch are indulging in a smart new trend — cashing in luxury handbags for quickie loans in the Asian style capital. Luxury purses by brands like Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Gucci can all be used to secure a loan in less than half an hour, with specialist pawnbrokers providing cash at up to […]