Last month we mentioned the upcoming auction for the 1976 Lotus Esprit from one of the best 007 movies over the years. Recently, a private collector in the U.S. purchased the iconic car from the 1977 James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Sir Roger Moore and Barbara Bach. Bond's car was expected to fetch up to £120,000. The bid for the 1976 Lotus Esprit was made over the phone during the Bonhams sale by a self-proclaimed Lotus and Bond aficionado in Atlanta, Georgia. If you never saw 1977 film it was the third of seven Bond films Moore starred in and his action-packed scene from land to sea in his amphibious Lotus Esprit is pretty impressive. Too bad Mr. Atlanta won't be able to use his new purchase underwater like Bond did.
On display in Osaka, Japan is one pricey holiday trinket. The 24K gold tree glistens with 240 jewels including diamond baubles and a string of pearls bringing its value to £1 million. Sitting in Ginza Tanaka jewelry shop, it luxuriously beckons patrons to keep the holiday shopping spirit alive even with the gloom of tough economic times. Mimicked after a fir with five golden tiers it took four filigree artists three months to fashion the 1.5 meter tall tree. The glittering pine will remain on display until Christmas Day after which it will be available for purchase.
EVOO may be the common name for extra virgin olive oil but Yellingbo's Gold EVOO is anything but common. This premium grade oil from the Meltzer's family farm is unfiltered and cold pressed. Even though it is a single estate, limited release which would gladly be included in any chef's kitchen Yellingbo is making it easier for the everyday cook to have it at their fingertips too. Employing a new cask design with air-tight construction and an easy flow tap, holding four-times as much EVOO as one of their beautiful glass bottles, the cask which should cost $200 is currently being offered for $69 just through the holidays! Plus the oil will enjoy a significantly longer shelf-life and won't go rancid nearly as quickly. (Which is important with something this delicious). Luxury-quality ingredients at a palatable price.
If you like intricate, ornate decor on a tiny scale you'll be impressed by the miniature architectural marvels by Mulvany & Rogers. Taking historically significant European and North American buildings and their interiors and re-creating them at one-twelfth of their size these little wonders include Hampton Court, Versailles and Buckingham Palace. They even recently sold a miniature version of Harry Potter's Hogwarts! Their online store currently has two pieces for sale: Gothik House and Georgian Rectory for £10,000 and £9,000 respectively which gives you just a taste of their creative abilities. The gallery shows a variety of pieces so luxuriously crafted it is hard to imagine you can't walk into them.
With a December birthday I tend to receive winter-inspired gifts and yes, I've been given an ice-scraper in the past. But one look at Saab's Funk-Is Ice Scraper makes mine look pretty sad. Designed in Sweden, the scraper sports frosted plexiglass in an angular shape padded by a sheepskin edge for a comfortable grip and even includes a notch to accommodate cleaning of the all-important wiper blade. Leave the gas station, plastic-form ice scraper at the counter and keep this compact, luxe-looking scraper in your car this season. ($72.50)
If you're an AmEx cardmember you are probably already enjoying some perks but this holiday season they're pulling out all the stops with the AmEx My WishList program starting Dec.1st through Dec.18th. Through exclusive AmEx access, cardmembers can get fabulous gift packages for much less than the typical retail price. And you thought Black Friday had fantastic deals! From luxury handbags starting at $260 to individualized shopping experiences for $1,500, the new 2010 Mercedes SUV, not yet priced, to private dining for two with a celebrity chef for $2,500, American Express' My WishList may just make us adults feel like Santa really does exist! Peruse the gallery for details about some of the featured packages.
Another holiday tradition may be experiencing downsizing as the economy pinches more and more corporations and individuals this time of year. The celebratory fetes from big companies to neighborhood gatherings are feeling the need to pare down their events this season. More and more people are choosing smaller, less luxurious, and less prestigious parties -- some even opting to not host a party at all -- in anticipation of more economic woes to come or for fear of receiving AIG's corporate-irresponsibility label. Don't expect the Taittinger Champagne or caviar this year -- and maybe not even in 2009.
If this bag reminds you of a smokey bowling alley and ill-fitting, overused bowling shoes than this won't be your cup o' tea. But personally I like the retro-chic, mod look of Miu Miu's Cutout Bowling Bag. It may be a bit of a literal spin-off of its name but the neutral, simple tones and basic design make it a daily bag for popping around town or heading to a business lunch. The compact size but rounded shape give you ample space to bring your makeup, water bottle, wallet and apple but it isn't big enough to weigh you down or get in your way. For $1,430, the double zip top closure with padlock, silver accents, and satin lining make for a great basic handbag. (16" x 11" x 8" with 5" strap drop)
Versace has turned out a winner for the holiday season. Reminiscent of Santa's red suit this gorgeous crocodile embossed bag is stylish and colorful without being overdone. I love the kissing-mouth shape of the overlapping layers and the subtlety of the Versace name only noticeable by the small plate and 7" intertwined chain handle. With an adjustable or removable 16" shoulder strap this bag can be a functional daybag or flashy evening bag. Either way, for $3,045 it is bound to ring in the New Year with panache! (16" x 12" x 7 1/2")
Although premier brand strollers are nothing new the combination of Juicy's posh style and Maclaren's innovative design makes for a must-have in the baby department. The pink and brown stroller speaks to the fashion-inclined mom who wants her little princess to have luxury labels at an early age. With Maclaren's high standard it is not surprising to find such features as a five-point harness, removable washable seat, compact umbrella fold, foot-operated parking breaks, high performance aluminum frame, and proper weather-proof coverings. For $450 this stylish and safe stroller will surely be a conversation starter at the local playground. (See the gallery for other chic strollers available)
Before the end of the year it looks like Korean washers and dryers will have new competition from LG. These shiny and spectacularly load-diverse machines have a whopping 15 kg capacity (that's over 33 pounds) and a dozen different modes from which to choose. Fluff your Hermès scarf or scrub your stinky campfire clothes -- either way the LG Trom Bruno will take care of your clothes washing needs. The price is $5,250 which I really hope includes both the washer and dryer. I'm wondering...if you have fine clothes that would warrant such expensive machines wouldn't you take them to the dry cleaner before throwing them into your own laundry? Although with the stunning capacity it would be fantastic for a really big family or the multiple loads a college student brings home on the weekends.
The Smithsonian is usually known in relation to its museum but it also offers 'The Best in Educational Travel'. Pairing behind the scenes adventures with experts and comfortable accommodations, Smithsonian Journeys are one of the up-and-coming ways to see the world...especially if you have a larger budget. Choose from such itineraries as 'In the Footsteps of Galileo' or 'Historic Cities of the Sea' and you'll treat yourself to an mind expanding vacation with top-quality offerings. In the world of the wealthy it is no longer a week at the beach that suits their needs but a deeper desire to pair unknown destinations with self-enrichment and quality dinner conversations with fellow travelers. Peruse the gallery to get a hint of the incredible destinations that await you.
When it comes to ski towns in the U.S. many think of the Vail/Beaver Creek area of the Colorado Rockies -- I certainly do, but then again I am a bit biased since I was born and raised in the gorgeous blue-sky state. Bias aside it's clear that the newest addition to Rock Resorts, The Osprey at Beaver Creek, is a stunning combination of outdoor adventure, lavish amenities, and premier slopeside location. This alpine retreat, formerly known as the Inn at Beaver Creek, boasts they are the 'closest hotel to a ski lift in North America' which comes in handy when you want to whisk out to the slopes and then back again for a luxurious massage or après-ski drink around the fire pit.
This fabulous hotel will host a grand opening on December 19th just in time for the holidays. Plus, there are a couple of specials to kick off the winter season: The Osprey's 'First Flight' and Rock Resorts' 'Holidays On Us' and 'Ski Free Stay Free'.
Denman College, the Women's Institute-owned Residential Adult Education College in Oxfordshire, is celebrating 60 years and to commemorate their diamond anniversary they are raffling off a diamond mounted cooktop. In partnership with Seventy Seven Diamonds and Stoves appliances this luxurious cooking range and oven will benefit a national Women's Institue-led initiative, Let's Cook!, which runs cooking programs for parents of disadvantaged communities. It is finished in a sparkling 'diamond-effect' silver paint and bears a certified half-carat diamond to complete this one-of-a-kind prize which raises it's price to £4,000. But the raffle tickets are only £2.50 which makes this prize open to just about anyone. If you want to see this stunning cooker on display it will be shown at the BBC's Good Food Show in Birmingham between November 26th and 30th. The winning ticket will be drawn January 1st -- good luck!
As some stocks become a bargain in this depressed economy so are some of the finer wines of this world. The Liv-Ex 100 Fine Wine Index, which represents the price movement of 100 of the most sought-after fine wines, dropped 12.4 % in October, its greatest decrease yet, which puts wine prices at an 18-month low. Some of the most notably impacted are Lafite Rothschild 2004 which is down 27.9% and Chateau Montrose 2003 which fell 23.1%. The wider range of the world's wines are not faring as badly as the Liv-Ex 500 reports only a drop 1.8% in October. On the plus side, this makes it a buyer's market and a good time for collectors and oenophiles alike to purchase the best at a lower price.
