Three years ago, Tata Motors unveiled the world’s cheapest car, the Tato Nano. At £1,300 the Tato Nano was billed as ‘the people’s car’ for India and after the launch, Tata Motors had an enviable waiting list.
Demand has dropped somewhat since. Safety issues (a number of cars have reportedly burst into flames) and consumer pride have been cited as reasons for the slump. It seems status is everything, owning a new car is paramount, owning a Nano is not.
So how about this for status? The Goldplus Nano takes the base level car and turns it into something….well, I don’t know really.
For 3 million quid, you get the £1300 Nano, with extras. The extras are extra special, but I do not think it makes the Nano anymore desirable! You could buy over 2300 standard Tato Nano’s for this, although I’m not sure what you could do with them!
Covered in 80kg of 22 carat gold and 15kg of silver, it will turn heads. It will also probably make those same heads hang in shame.
There has never been a better example of why ‘bling’ is so vulgar. Mutton dressed as lamb, it is never a good thing.
The Goldplus Nano doesn’t stop there though. It is also inlaid with 10,000 semi precious stones and gems.
With Tato’s drop in sales with the base level Nano’s, it’s a relief that the Goldplus Nano is a one off. This unique car is for promotional purposes only and will tour Tata owned jewellery stores across India.
The ‘people’s car’ of India may struggle to attract any buyers, with its £3 million price tag.
Posted by Paul Handley on Mon 5th September 2011 at 07:35 AM, Filed in Expensive Jewelry
Vanessa Kandiyoti has developed an exquisite collection of unique handmade Jewellery in London. With Celebrity fans including Giorgio Armani and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, this is one Jewellery designer to keep an eye on.
Talking of eyes…Her first collection was based on the ‘evil eye’ concept of protection and good fortune.
Now these delicate yet eye-catching pieces of jewellery use diamonds, pink and blue sapphires, turquoise, coral and black onyx in a total of five collections; ‘Candy Shop’, ‘Evil Eye’, ‘Fresh and Wild’, ‘Completing The Bling’ and ‘The Kandiyoti Collection’.
Rich, deep jewels are the colours of the season, as seen in Vanessa Kandiyoti’s collection of handmade jewellery in London. Ruby reds and sapphire blues make up the Kandiyoti collection, in bracelets, necklaces and mini evil eye pendant earrings encrusted with diamonds.
Born to Turkish parents, Vanessa started her life in Brussels. Growing up in a house filled with traditional Turkish superstitions and beliefs, she developed a keen interest in the mystical power of symbols and stones, their ability to heal and protect.
If you are looking for fine unique handmade jewellery in London, Vanessa Kandiyoti is currently stocked in Liberty’s, Harvey Nichols & Net-a-porter, and can also be ordered online at vanessakandiyoti.com. Prices start from £375.
New Turkish jewellery by designer Jada is now available from the wonder boutique Kabiri, within Selfridges.
This exciting new Turkish jewellery in London features an intrinsic Turkish vibe entwined with this season’s most on-trend neon look.
Designed to be timeless keepsake pieces, the Jada collection of necklaces, earrings and bracelets are made using the finest chains of yellow, rose and white gold, which are inset with diamonds, citrine and topaz stones to name a few.
Jada jewellery is hand-crafted in Istanbul using carefully chosen conflict-free stones.
Designer Ceyda Gungor spent much of her life living abroad. This is where the inspiration for Jada stems from.
In 1996 she completed her degree in communications whilst living in Istanbul, Turkey. Ceyda has been crafting her own jewellery from Istanbul’s old town market, the Grand Bazaar since her childhood, and at 18, with barely any money, she started designing specific pieces.
Living in London since 2000, Ceyda has continued to be inspired by jewellery and the last twelve months has seen the lead up to the launch of her first major collections.
Using precious stones, and 14carat gold, the collections are designed using pendants such as initial disks, encrusted with diamonds, apples and pears with rubies, champagne diamonds and green sapphires, and the bestselling neon bangles.
Each piece is hand crafted using the finest techniques to produce high end pieces. The five collections, Reina, Zea, Yelda, Changa and JuJui are named after places and people close to Ceyda.
Sold originally through private clients, Turkish jewellery in London, Jada, is now available at Kabiri in Selfridges, Kabiri online, as well as through jewellerybyjada.com.
The latest in our series of ‘World’s most expensive…’ really takes the biscuit. Or rather chocolate cake….
Luxury eco retreat Frégate Island Private, in the Seychelles, has teamed up with South Africa Diamonds and the world’s leading diamond cutting company, Rosy Blue, in a bid to create the world’s most exclusive dessert.
This masterly, one-of-a-kind confectioned chocolate tarte, created by Frégate’s chef patissier, is garnished with no fewer than 929 diamonds, totalling 151.92 carats.
You might need a few quid for what is the ultimate romantic gesture. $5,310,000 to be more precise.
The World’s most expensive dessert will deliver maximum brownie points though. Chocolate and diamonds?
Luckily, this diamond-studded dessert comes complete with two First Class Emirates Airlines tickets to the Seychelles from any destination in the world, and a one week full board stay for two at Frégate Island Private.
Designed to blend in with the natural environment, the 17 one and two bedroom villas are incredibly spacious and ultra private, with spectacular panoramic views. Each villa features its own private infinity pool, a personal golf buggy you can zip around the resort in, and a dedicated butler on hand to take care of your every whim.
For more information or to book visit QuintessentiallyTravel.com
The UK’s first Luxury Indian wedding show comes to London in July.
Ardhanginni, The Indian Wedding, Destination and Lifestyle Show will showcase the very best that India has to offer in wedding planning, lifestyle, destinations, fashion and beauty, making it a one-stop event for anyone planning their big day, and beyond.
India’s wedding industry is worth $19bn and growing at an annual rate of 25% (Times of India, 2010) and the colourful, romantic cultural traditions of an Indian wedding are proving a popular choice among mainstream cultures as well, endorsed by celebrity couples such as Russell Brand and Katy Perry.
Presenting the most bespoke services in the kaleidoscopic Indian wedding market, the event is a high end lifestyle, fashion and bridal exhibition which will bring the timeless experience to everyone who dreams of a celebration as rich, colourful and sumptuous as a typically Indian wedding.
The Indian Wedding, Destination and Lifestyle Show will showcase the crème de la crème in the world of luxury bridal design and wedding services, with a carefully selected portfolio of some of the biggest names in fashion, beauty and lifestyle being presented at the exhibition.
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