games

World's Most Expensive Poker Set for $7.5 Million

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style, Wealth

Talk about high stakes – Geoffrey Parker, London-based maker of the finest games on the globe, is offering the world's most expensive poker set for $7.5 million. The bespoke set comes housed in a genuine alligator skin case finished in any color the client chooses, fitted with 18k white gold combination locks and hardware. The case' suede lining features an 18k gold and diamond frame holding 384 18k white gold chips, each inlaid on both sides in shagreen (stingray skin). The chips can be in any currency and denomination the client desires; the display set features chips marked €100,000 – or about $140,000 at today's rates.

The edge of each chip is set with precious stones – white diamonds for the white chips, sapphires for the blue, rubies for the red, emeralds for the green and black diamonds for the black. The dealer button is be a larger 18 karat white gold chip set with two rows of diamonds to the edge. The set will feature an estimated 22,364 stones in all, totaling 1,012 carats. Finally there are four platinum-plated decks of poker cards. Orders are now being taken with an expected delivery time of six to nine months; the price may go up if the precious stones and metals market fluctuates.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: alligator, alligator+skin+poker+set, alligatorskinpokerset, bespoke, cards, diamond, diamonds, exotic leather, gambling, game sets, games, Geoffrey Parker, gold, gold and diamonds, London, mens style, most+expensive+poker+chips, most+expensive+poker+set, mostexpensivepokerchips, mostexpensivepokerset, platinum, playing cards, poker, precious stones, shagreen, UK, white gold, worlds most expensive

Dunhill Carbon Fiber Games Compendium

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

London luxury goods firm Dunhill has come out with the ultimate gentleman sports car enthusiast's accessory, a carbon fiber games compendium for $4,000. A masterpiece of understated, elegant design, at first glance its merely a sleek black box made of carbon fiber, resembling a type used in the latest supercars. The compendium is handmade by expert artisans exclusively for Alfred Dunhill and is inspired by some of the finest pieces in the firm's archive, originally made of saddle leather. Inside the box you'll find all the requisites for playing two traditional and well loved games: chess and backgammon. A folding two-sided playing board is also finished in carbon fiber, with stainless steel playing surfaces, a steel dice cup and anodized aluminum counters and pieces.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: carbon fiber, Dunhill, games, London, UK

Antique English Picnic & Games Chest for $34,500

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

A stunning expanding English mahogany picnic chest and games table is being offered for sale by M.S. Rau Antiques of New Orleans for $34,500. The exquisite piece, made circa 1920, resembles a simple wooden trunk at first glance; with its four legs unfolded however, the top and sides open out to reveal a complete luncheon service for eight, including Sheffield silverplate utensils, bone-handled cutlery, plates and saucers, cups and glasses, kettles and burners for hot water and soup, single and stacked enamel containers, wicker-wrapped glass bottles, ceramic butter pots, silver plated tins, a corkscrew and matchbox.

When the meal is over, the table folds and unfolds again, transforming into a felt-topped card table, perfect for a game with the deck of playing cards which are also included in the fitted compartments. No doubt designed for a wealthy British army officer or aristocrat on safari who wished to sacrifice none of the comforts of home, the impressive example of British Colonial campaign furniture would have been custom crafted to the owner's specifications and transported about by a retinue of servants – the brass fittings highly polished, of course.

Tags: 1920s, antiques, aristocrat, decor, England, furniture, games, luggage, M.S. Rau Antiques, mahogany, New Orleans, picnic, safari, silver, trunk

Pricey Handmade Chess Set Made Entirely of Legos

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Art

Chess is a sophisticated game that often lends itself to rare and expensive materials but for this version designer Derek Seiple chose to create a chess set out of common plastic black and white Legos. LEGOs might be common (who hasn't build a Lego fortress at some point in their lives?) but what they lack in intrinsic value they seem to more than make up for in nostalgia and collectability (as Wired pointed out this set costs more than a Macbook Air). The design takes almost 4000 lego bricks to create and the board is made using a special "no studs on top" technique so the squares have a smooth surface. The board measures 22 3/4" square by 1" thick and the King stands 4 1/2" tall. Each set is made to order and can be done in any color combination, with a lead time of about three weeks. Order now for the Lego-lover on your Christmas list. $1,295

Gallery: LEGO Chess Set

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Tags: board games, chess, games, gifts, holidash, holiday gifts, lego, legos

Solid Gold Monopoly Game at Museum of American Finance

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

As if Wall Street needs another excuse to play with money earlier this month the Museum of American Finance unveiled a special solid gold edition of the famous finance and real estate game Monopoly. The game is made of 18 karat gold and numerous gemstones, with 165 gems decorating the property squares, photo-etching on the "Chance" and "Community Chest" cards, and 42 full-cut diamonds marking the number dots on the die. The game has an estimated overall value of $2 million, with the set of dice alone worth $10,000.

The gold and jewel-encrusted Monopoly board was created by artist Sydney Mobell and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most expensive. It's not for sale but is on loan from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History for two years, and will be on display through October 2012.

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Tags: board games, game, games, monopoly, most expensive

Dunhill Offers the Ultimate Croquet Set for $6,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Famed London luxury goods firm Dunhill is now offering the ultimate gentleman's croquet set featuring the finest wood and leather detailing. Priced at about $6,000, the four-player professional grade set comes housed in a handmade mahogany chest secured with saddle leather straps, designed to fit perfectly in the trunk of your Bentley or Rolls-Royce. The mallets feature Rockwood heads fitted with brass rings which help add weight and protect the mallet faces from damage. The hickory handles are covered in luxurious Dunhill leather. The solid wooden balls come in a special black leather Dunhill case along with matching clips and markers, and the hoops are constructed of solid cast iron.

Tags: Bentley, croquet, Dunhill, games, lawn games, leather, London, mahogany, Rolls-Royce, UK

Ralph Lauren Hammond Chess Set

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Chess boards are one of the most artistic and expressive games a person can own, often becoming part of a room's decor scheme and its design serving to say a little something about the owner. Ralph Lauren's Hammond Chess Set takes a sleek, minimalistic approach by serving up the classic game in contemporary blackened nickel, black leather and walnut. Of course the box is also meant to hold and store all the pieces and, designated a rare collector's item, each board is numbered on a logo-etched plaque under the lid. 16" x 16" x 2 1/2", $1995.

Via Bornrich

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Tags: board games, chess, game, games, ralph lauren

The Classicist: Bespoke British Luxury from Norton MacCullough & Locke

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

In previous columns we've been known to wax nostalgic about the golden age of luxury travel, and the vintage luggage that embodies the glamour and decadence of a bygone era when journeying to a foreign land involved adventure, romance and style. Such exquisitely crafted pieces, like the mysterious bespoke Hermès crocodile suitcases made for Out of Africa author Karen Blixen which we wrote about last week, evoke a time when the journey was as important as the destination and every conceivable creature comfort was taken along for the ride. Not everyone is ready to consign such a stylish mode of sojourning to the past, however. Hence we take pleasure in introducing Norton MacCullough & Locke, a new London firm committed to producing the finest custom-made trunks, jewelry boxes and homeware in the essence of 1920s bespoke British luxury, founded by veterans of Hermès, Claridge's and Patek Philippe.

Norton MacCullough & Locke creates individual, hand-crafted pieces in their workshops in England, with the aim of preserving traditional leatherworking techniques and bespoke craftsmanship. Their beautiful pieces feature details such as gold plated locks and hardware, Alcantara linings, precisely fitted removable trays, and engraved mirrors on the inside lids of dressing cases. Designed and made with the finest materials available, the firm's specialist leather, metal and woodworking artisans employ traditional techniques and hand-finishings, ensuring that each piece is unrivalled in its exclusivity, aesthetics and attention to detail. In other words, the sort of luggage suitable to traveling by private jet.

By designing and creating products that are specific to the individual client's aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyle requirements, each Norton MacCullough & Locke piece is truly unique to its owner. Each bespoke order is developed through a series of personal consultations with the client; from concept and design through to personalization and material selection. The firm is continuously developing its extensive range of precious metals, exotic woods and leathers. While bespoke commissions are limited only by the imagination, some of the items they create include jewelry boxes, trunks, hat boxes, suitcases, humidors, watch cases, travel desks, attaché cases, games sets and drinks cases.

Gallery: Norton MacCullough & Locke

Tags: Berkeley Hotel, bespoke, England, exotic wood, games, gold, humidors, John Galliano, leather, London, luggage, Norton MacCullough Locke, private jet, suitcase, UK

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Hermès Leather & Scarf Print Origami Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Hermès has come out with a witty tribute to its iconic scarf designs in the form of a chic origami set. The famed French fashion and luxury goods house's twist on the traditional Japanese folk art pastime features several sheets of origami paper in bright colors, adorned with scarf prints in various motifs on one side, and deep-hued Rothko-like color blocks on the other. Encased in a handstitched black saddle leather envelope and presented in a black lacquer box, the set is priced at about $750. The envelope itself is designed in the style of a piece of folded origami paper, and echoes that of leather clutches Hermès has offered in the past. Hermès made its first scarf in 1937, and the eye-catching accessories were an immediate hit, since sported by worn by style icons such as Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve, and Jackie Kennedy.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: games, Hermès, Hermes, Japan, leather, origami, Paris, scarf

Chanel Bocce Ball Set for Summer

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

In time for the lazy days of summer, Chanel is offering a vintage-inspired bocce ball set in a braided wicker and leather case. The set, priced at about at about $2,800, includes eight stainless steel bocce balls engraved with the Chanel logos and a wooden "jack" or target ball. The case is finished in two-tone brown and natural woven wicker with Chanel's trademark interlocking C's done in braided rope on top, and brown saddle leather straps and handle. The set resembles a vintage picnic case and is no doubt meant to be used on the lawn of a gracious country house. Given that Chanel is a French fashion house we're not sure why this isn't called a Pétanque set, but there you have it. Meanwhile, British model-turned-TV star Alexa Chung, who has gotten her hands on one of the sets in advance of their public offering, has been using the stylish case as a handbag.

Tags: bocce, Chanel, games, Karl Lagerfeld, wicker

The $50,000 Dunhill Gentleman's Games Chest

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

For a cool $50,0000 London luxury goods firm Dunhill will furnish the modern gentleman with an exquisite games set finished in exotic shagreen, made from the skin of male stingrays. The Shagreen Games Compendium is handmade by expert artisans exclusively for Alfred Dunhill and is inspired by pieces in the Dunhill archive. The games chest is formed using cedar wood and then covered in the very finest grey shagreen leather and elegantly trimmed with ebony with stainless steel hardware. The shagreen provides a protective element as it is remarkably durable. The Compendium contains shagreen-embellished chess, backgammon and noughts & crosses boards with all counters and pieces finished in sterling silver. A bottom tray houses two packs of Dunhill playing cards, poker dice, bridge score cards and Dunhill pencils.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: cards, Dunhill, exotic leather, ExoticLeather, games, London, shagreen

The $10,000 Cartier Poker Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Famed French luxury goods house Cartier has come out with a poker set equaling Asprey's incredible crocodile skin version for opulence. Cartier, founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, presents their offering to the gentleman gambler in a lockable red and black lacquered Sycamore wood chest with striped sides and a checkerboard pattern on the lid, gold-plated hardware and an Art Deco-style gold Cartier key plate. The interior, lined in black Alcantara like the upholstery on an exotic sports car, holds two packs of Cartier playing cards, 360 chips in five different colors and denominations bearing Cartier logos, and five dice. It's priced at $10,000 so you'll need to have a pretty good poker face.

Tags: cards, Cartier, gambling, games, Paris, poker

Luxury Board Games For The Holidays

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides

Around the holidays it never hurts to have some games around. A spirited game can help defray family tensions and put the focus on healthy competition rather than old grievances. Clustering around the Wii can be fun but it's just not quite the same as a good board game or a game of cards. For some luxe versions of classic ideas check out the gallery below. The easiest essential is a deck of cards, this Tiffany set sells for $30.

Gallery: Games for the Holidays

Tags: board games, BoardGames, cards, games, luxury games, LuxuryGames

Bamford & Sons Ltd. Edition Backgammon Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

We've written about the clothing and custom watches from Bamford & Sons before; now the bastion of top-drawer British style is launching its first dedicated accessories collection for fall. The standout piece is this collectors' edition backgammon set (above) in a lockable calfskin case with signature perforation detail on the leather and metal hardware. Individually hand-finished using the finest responsibly-sourced materials, including traceable skins from French tanneries, it's priced at for $4,995. The set incorporates elements of the new collection's two themes; the first, Concours d' Elegance, represents the alluring world of sports cars and racing, with calfskin finished in black and Ferrari red. The second, Wooton, is dedicated to an active country lifestyle and its many pursuits, from work to leisure, rendered in unlined suede and leather associated with equestrian pursuits.

Tags: backgammon, Bamford, Bamford Sons, BamfordSons, British style, BritishStyle, games

Asprey Crocodile Skin Poker Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

200-year-old London luxury goods firm Asprey has been making some of the world's most exquisite games for decades, of the sort that wouldn't look out of place in a palace. One of their latest offerings is a beautiful handmade gentleman's poker set in black polished genuine crocodile skin with ceramic poker chips and royal purple Asprey playing cards (above). Priced at about $8,000 it certainly brings new meaning to "poker night". Asprey, founded in 1781, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, one of several granted by the British Royal Family over the years. As we reported last year, Asprey decided to return to its roots and focus on its core business of luxury goods representing a high-water mark of taste, refinement and quality after having branched out into clothing and footwear.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Asprey, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, crocodile, gambling, games, London, poker, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Royal Warrant, royalty, RoyalWarrant, UK