The recent launch of Apple's much-vaunted iPad 2 tablet computer set the technology world on fire, with hard-core fanboyz and fangirlz standing in line for as long as 40 hours to pick one up, hot off the assembly lines (and some enterprising souls who sold their places for thousands of dollars).
But it turns out that the world's purveyors of luxury are right behind the technology itself.
When perusing the latest news of from the world of diamonds, the editors of your Israel Diamond Portal blog came across this item: a gold and diamond iPad 2, by none other than British designer Stuart Hughes, creator of the world's most expensive iPhone.
The Gold History Edition is crafted from two kilograms of 24 karat gold. The case's Apple logo is crafted form 53 gemstones, including 12.5 carats of Internally Flawless-grade diamonds – and one single 8.5-carat diamond surrounded by platinum and 12 smaller diamonds.
But that's not all. Eager to combine the new with the old, Hughes also used Canadian Ammolite – considered the oldest rock in the world – for the iPad 2's front case. And to drive the point home, he took a 65-million-year-old piece of dinosaur bone and shaved it into the rock.
Ordinarily, the iPad 2 retails for around $500. This super-luxe model exceeds that by quite a bit, with a sticker price of £5 million ($8 million). Steve Jobs, take note!
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An Exclusive Club
Most people would refrain from using something encrusted with rubies and diamonds to whack balls around, but there are always exceptions.
A white gold golf 2-Ball putter encrusted with 240 rubies and 378 diamonds made by Odyssey Golf is about to go on sale at Harrod's.
EMEA Marketing Director Nick McInally noted that he did not expect this particular model – which retails for £100,000 – to "go into mass production."
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