Über Gear

The British Do Love Their Tea...

2005-11-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

To celebrate their 75th anniversary tea maker PG Tips commissioned Boodles Jewelers to craft the uber tea bag. This work of art (?) is reputed to have taken some three months to fashion and is comprised of some 280 diamonds.

Company spokes person Pete Harbour:

"As it's our 75th birthday, we wanted to do something special to remind people just how much they love the great British cup of tea."

Can I get that to go please?

Price: £ 7,500.00

Not So Modest Underwear

2005-11-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

Now when someone with buckets full of money buys something expensive they naturally want to boast to their friends and peers and show off their new purchase, in this case though I would think that most would tend to be a little reserved.

"In 2002, Victoria's Secret out-did all of their records and created a $15 million bra and underwear titled Red Hot Fantasy. This bra was made of red satin, 1,300 gemstones, including rubies and diamonds. Before this, they had launched a one of a kind bra and underwear set made of platinum, sapphires and diamonds. The Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra is studded with a total of more than 2,500 carats of diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones stones. The rose and leaf motif alone on the Star of Victora is made up of 320 carats. It is still up for sale for $10 million!"

Now you don't have to be cold to cut glass... ;-)

Price: $10 Million

Golden Nugget Gets A Whole New Meaning...

2005-11-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Well after a day of template tweaking and blog surfing I'm back at the keyboard to write about all of the uber excesses we wish we could afford.

Now considering the amount of time that a person spends in the ummm.... 'facilities', over the course of a life time it's understandable that you would want to make things as comfy as possible. But this next item is just a little over the top even for me.

3D Gold jewelry of Hong Kong has created what could possible the worlds most expensive toilet, and what is most certainly the the worlds biggest waste of gold. Yes a gold toilet, and as if that was not enough it is only a small part of a complete decor!

Quoted:

"The toilet bowls, wash basins, toilet brushes, toilet paper holders, mirror frames, wall-mounted chandeliers and even wall tiles and doors are all made of solid gold. Embedded in the floor at the entrance are gold bars and studding the ceiling are 6,200 diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls. The store’s owner was inspired by Vladimir Lenin’s vision of gold toilets for the masses."

Is anyone else feeling a little flushed right now?

Price: $4.8 Million

It Is A Dogs Life - Now How Do I Get One?

2005-11-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

All of this recent talk of beds and small furry critters has me thinking. Do the Über-rich really spoil pets the way Hollywood and the tabloids would have us believe they do?

Well after a little bit of digging I can say with certainty... I don't know. But never the less the means are available for anyone wishing to do just that. Enter the McRoskey Mattress Co., mind you this is no comparison to VI-Spring but lets not forget, we are talking about pets here people.

Yes your devoted doggie can now lounge with the best of them.

Quoted from the companies web site:

"...this elegant dog mattress is manufactured with a flexible innerspring that makes each mattress resilient and comfortable. The steel innerspring units are born from wire shaped on coiling machines. The coils are crimped and "laced" together with wire helicals that render a unique hinged flexibility, and are subsequently baked in the oven at 450 degrees for 45 minutes. The filling in each mattress is made of carefully selected cotton fibers and polyester fibers. No foam is used. Thus, each mattress offers form-fitting and durable support, while caressing your pet's body from nose to tail and absorbing pressures."

Price: $600.00 USD

The Ultimate Office Chair?

2005-11-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

'Dammit Spock I'm a blogger... not a starship captain!'

Sorry, caught up in the moment there, I'm back now.

Speaking of backs, yours may very well thank you if you happen to purchase one of these little beauties. The ACS Executive from www.officeorganix.com is plush, one look will tell you that but the controls Jim, look at the controls!

Eight individual, electronically controled air chambers can be inflated and deflated to achieve the perfect fit for your back porch. In addition to that this chair can be adjust in just about every way imaginable and comes wrapped in the finest European leather.

The Price may not be Über-large, but the kick you get from playing Captain Kirk when no one is watching is...

Price: $2495.00 USD

Ahhh - Fresh Roasted

2005-11-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

There is something to be said for rituals. No I don't mean the sort of rituals you'll find in a Stephen King novel. I mean personal rituals, like the ritual of morning coffee. I also enjoy reading as another morning ritual, more often then not, in concert with a fine cup 'o' joe.

So this morning as I sip and browse I started to wonder if the tycoons and moguls of the world drink Maxwell House the same as I do. So off I go on a quest for the coffee of the rich and the filthy rich only to find a story more interesting then the coffee itself.

- Allow me to introduce to you, a Palm Civet -

Kopi Luwak gourmet coffee is produced in Indonesia, is very expensive, and is reputed to be one of the best tasting coffees in the world. Now what on earth does a cute little cat like animal, like a civet, have to do with coffee?

Well it would seem that in Indonesia this little guy is a big help in picking and processing only the finest, ripest coffee beans.

'But his hands are so small, and he has no pockets... where does he keep the beans?'

The palm civet while cute and furry is, not unlike us, fond of tasty coffee. But in this case the civet eats the ripe beans for their outer covering and then passes, unscathed and without accompaniments, the skinless beans. It is at this point that people harvest the passed beans and roast them for human consummation.

Kopi Luwak coffee - price per lb: $89.95 USD plus shipping.

Now if your Mother In-law is looking for a new recipe for Christmas I would suggest hiding the yams and taking fido for a nice long walk...

My First Real Day Of Posting...

2005-11-15T21:46:00.000-08:00

Well that does it, my fisrt day of posting is almost at an end, I think I could get to like this blogging thing... I really hope that it catches on. I though it would be rather fitting to leave this blog for the evening with a some what topical post given the current time.

-Beds-

Ah yes, the humble bed... nothing is sacred when it comes to über-sizing both the price and the comfy factor here. If you have ever wondered if the Queen of England slept on a regular old mattress like you and I, the answer is... not on your life!

This dear reader is the Sublime Supreme from VI-Spring of England. This is the bed dreams are made for. Largely handmade and purchased by royalty everywhere you can have you very own for only $20,000.00...

Now at $20-G a pop how many mattresses could you stuff full of money in a year?

Just as an interesting side note; this is the same company that also made the beds for the Titanic.

Bic VS. Caran d'Ache

2005-11-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

I really have nothing to add to this other than to say... hey buddy, can you spare a light?

Caren d"Arch ligher $1700.00 - Bic lighter $0.99
Gold and chinese lacquar, fluant it if you've got it baby... flaunt it if you've got it.

Saleen S7 - Say What?!?

2005-11-15T18:25:00.000-08:00

The Saleen S7 is the stuff adolecent wet dreams are made of. Not only does it qualify as the worlds fastest product street leagal automobile. It also make the list as one of the pricest cars around. At a cool $555,000.00 USD (21% higher in Europe), the Saleen speeds to more then one finish line. Also for those curious types, there is not a single Ferrari, Bentley, or Lamborghini on the list. In fact, you would need to read all the way to number 5 on the list before you recognized the name Porche, in all honesty... they don't compare to the S7.

Want to see the whole list? Check it our on Forbes.com

Sometimes It's Justified - Right?

2005-11-15T16:18:00.000-08:00

Now here is a topic close to my own heart, boats. Ah yes boats, those amazing money pits that tell the world, or at the very least your neighbors, that you have arrived. However as you will soon see, there is arriving and then there is arriving!

Now I'm sure that right away you are imagining some colossal mega yacht that would make the QE-II look like a dingy. And while that might be all well and good for your average dreamer it would defiantly be my second choice. More on my second choice later... ;-)

Why you ask would I forgo the behemoth fuel guzzling ship you could land a plane on? Three little words as to why... Van Dam Woodcraft

Yes you did just read the word wood, but trust me when I say. This is not your typical wooden boat. Oh no, not typical at all.

Allow me to introduce to you...
- The Alpha Z -

The list of superlatives is long so let us dispense with the details. You may now commence salivating.

Ok, maybe a few details. Folk’s this is what a wooden boat can look like when you use new methods of construction and new materials. No leaky creaky death traps here; and if you have ever been in an old school wooden boat that has not been maintained, you will know what I mean.

Hand built with a brilliant mahogany finish and powered by a 572ci V8 @ some 800hp the Alpha Z is rumored to have cost $1.2 million USD. A bargain if you as me for this one of a kind toy.

Get Away From It All

2005-11-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

We all dream of taking a vacation to some tropical location and just laying on the beach for a week or two. The problem is, when you get to the beach of your choice the odds are that 50,000 other people have had the same thought, ever been to Hawaii in the middle of winter?

Well the good news is that for a few measly dollars you can ensure unlimited elbow room when you reach for your Coppertone, yes you can buy your own island folks. While this is not earth shattering news it is an obtainable and some what realistic aspiration for most people. That is of course if you work your entire life with this one purpose in mind.

Blue Lagoon Island - Fiji
Brook Shields Not Included...

Quoted from website:

"This is a once in a lifetime to purchase unlimited, timeless ownership of one of the best Islands on the world (230 acre freehold) and also 4 companies with their assets (aircraft, RO/RO cargo vessel, heavy equipment and extensive various inventories). The island is home to a world class resort which is 80% complete with construction ongoing and due for completion in 6 months."

"The island is 225 acres in size, 1 mile long by 1/3 mile wide and 150 feet high, with numerous caves and tide pools to explore. It was an operating coconut plantation in the 19th century; therefore the entire island is littered with coconut palms. It is surrounded by a 5,000 acre plus lagoon which almost completely encircles the island, offering protection from extreme tides and providing the island with calm tranquil waters ideally suited for water sports. The crystal clear water has up to 200-foot visibility and is a comfortable 80 degrees Fahrenheit most of the year."

Price: $25,000,000.00 USD

To rich for your bank account? Not to worry, www.privateislandsonline.com offers a wide range of selections. For a mere €1.5 million you can purchase St. Georges Island in Greece. Sure it might be a little on the cramped side at only 23 acres but I'm sure most of us could get by.

Pass the baklava please...

"Wealth Is A Beautiful Thing…"

2005-11-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

Ok well it only seems fitting that since I mentioned the I-pod as an example below that the first object of excess that should be seen on these pages is an mp3 player. But not just any mp3 player dear readers, a $44,000 diamond studded mp3 player!

Alright now, wipe those tears from your eyes and clean up the coffee you just spilled, this is not a typo; a $44,000 diamond studded mp3 player. Curious? I am...

Quoted from Douglas J Music:

"The Presidential is the most expensive media player in the world, and it imposes a level of grandeur within a market that is saturated with flimsy plastic devices. When we first considered creating a luxury media player, we realized that it had to be more than just beautiful; we would need the finest components, and the most advanced technology. The final product was an instrument both advanced and breathtaking. The Presidential is something that everyone wants to have but few can afford. In the media player market there are different tiers of quality and prestige, and we are at the very top."

"You choose between white gold and yellow gold for your exterior. The next stage is choosing the diamond configurations outlined in our Hansel & Gretel range. Details of the full range are given to prospective buyers. The Presidential is hand delivered by our own private escort to your door. We also provide maintenance for your Presidential so it always remains in excellent condition. It soon becomes clear that the Presidential is not just for one life; it’s for several of them."

The Details:

While little is mentioned in the way of performance other offerings from Douglas J do include a lengthy list of features as seen with the "X2" model below.

1 GB USB 2.0
Enjoy Movies, MTV, Videos, Pictures
Screen-saver Function
Electronic Album and Picture Browse
Supports the following OS: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Mac OS 8.6+/Linux 2.4.0+
Supports MP1, MP2, MP3, MPX, JPG, WMA, ASF, WAV, AVI
OLED 65K Colour Display
Supporting MP3 and MP4 Video
View Song Lyric
Built-in FM Radio with auto search and the ability to save broadcast station
Intelligent Disk Management
Super-long and VOX voice digital recording from mic and radio
Sleep Timer
13 Language Choices
Lithium rechargeable battery with 10 hours battery life
2 Hours Full Charge Time
Telephone book supporting 99 contact information entries
E-book

Price: £80.00 GBP - X2 Model

While this does look good for the price one can only imagine what you get with the big brother model. Unfortunately wonder is all you will be able to do as you will actually need a Gold Card to access any more information. Talk about pre-qualifying your customers.

Another Engadget?

2005-11-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

- Not quite -

While you will find similarities between this site and the above mention the purpose of this site is much broader in its scope. I-pods and cool new laptops are everywhere these days and I would have to say that it would take a fairly impressive offering to make me stop and look twice.

This site is about Über Gear; the kind of toys that make you wish you had pockets like Bill Gates. Because practical or not we have all lusted after one über toy or another at some time in our life. Oh sure you may not want to admit it but you have, we all have.

Be it a luxury car or sea side mansion or something as modest as having your own theater in your basement, we all have our vices. Sure you might not wish for your own private jet but wouldn't you be interested in seeing what you can buy with a lifetimes average earnings?

Über What?

2005-11-15T01:52:00.000-08:00

People love toys, I don't mean Barbie and G.I. Joe I mean really expensive toys, the kind of toys that can come with remote controls or keys. The kind of toys that make your wife or husband and even you friends flinch when you mention the price. Let’s face it; does anyone really need a $30,000.00 TV to watch reruns of Gilligan’s Island or worse Larry King?

Yes. People need $30,000 TVs to watch reruns of Gilligan’s Island; they would be making them otherwise now would they? Larry King on the other hand is actually improved by view on lower quality smaller sets, more on this phenomena later.

Of course the best part about the really expensive toys aside from buying them, or having the means to buy them, is being able to drool and fascinate over them. At least that’s the case for those of us that don't consider it some sort of cruel torture to be taunted with such objects of desire. Our numbers are few but I will brave on to bring you this editorial.

Well not so much editorial and diatribe. This is to be my little contribution to the internet, my effigy to all thing expensive. All of the things you wish you could have for ever recorded for history sake on a dusty little computer hard drive someplace out there.

Hello World

2005-11-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

This is my blog - Created at the time of this posting, give or take a few seconds ;-)