Rich folks like Vertu. (They must, otherwise Nokia wouldn't keep on making ten-thousand-dollar mobile phones, now would they?) But some like flip-phones better than the candy-bar form factor that has characterized its offerings until now. So ostensibly to satisfy such discerning customers, Vertu has released the new Constellation Ayxta.

Like the Ascent, Signature and the existing Constellation model, the Ayxta features luxurious hand-craftsmanship, leather trim and access to the company's bespoke concierge service, on call around the clock from anywhere in the world. The Ayxta's clamshell form also packs a 3-megapixel camera with flash, an 8-gig micro-SD slot and 3G wireless connection. Which by themselves may not warrant the phone's $6,500 - $8,500 asking price, but then companies like Vertu would argue that the whole of its product is more than the sum of its parts.

Another day, another special-edition Vertu. The premium mobile phone company seems to crank them out with regularity, and we recently reported on the Carbon Fibre Collection. Now reports from the mobile phone world indicate that Vertu is already working on the next special version.

Dubbed the Ascent Ti Neon, it's reportedly been redesigned to fit more snugly into the hand, plus they've replaced the leather on the standard model (which is anything but "standard") with neon-colored rubber. The price tag is expected to approach the $10,000 mark when it hits the market in October.

The market for big-bucks luxury cell phones may be shrinking, but that isn't about to stop Vertu. The premium division from Swedish telecom giant Nokia comes out with a new motorsport-inspired special edition every year, and Vertu has no intention of letting a little economic hiccup derail their plans. So while others cancel theirs, Vertu has launched the new Ascent Ti Carbon Fibre Collection.

Comprised of four special edition phones with various applications of the high-tech and dazzling material, the collection tops out with the $9,800 Ascent Ti Carbon Fibre Edition. The latest collection follows the same path as the previous Ferrari editions and Racetrack Legends series, giving those with deep pockets and a penchant for everything automotive a new mobile phone to covet.

Ulysse Nardin surprised the haute horology world a few months ago with the announcement of a luxury smart phone. I originally discussed the Ulysse Nardin Chairman here, but recently got to sit down and personally experience three of the Chairman models my self. I also got to learn a lot more about what makes the Ulysse Nardin Chairman a real luxury of a mobile phone. I got to see the blue and satin steel, the black-toned model (very sexy!), and the blue steel and rose gold (very Ulysse Nardin!). The phone is large and pleasantly hefty - I would describe it more as comfortable and solid feeling rather than intimidating.

The back piece of the watch is made of a carbon fiber plate and a black ceramic plate (mobile phone antenna radio signals do not travel through metal well). The keypad features large comfortable keys and excellent backlighting - and the screen is one large sapphire crystal. Ulysse Nardin finally confirmed that the phone's operating system will be unique to the phone rather than just a skinned version of an existing mobile phone operating system.
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It was only a matter of time before the famed Tag Heuer Meridiist phone got a diamond make over. It is an official diamond make over too, not one of those aftermarket jobs. I am as much a fan of luxury as the next luxe lover, but what is the deal with diamonds on phones? As though a $5,000 - $8,000 phone was not enough given that it will go technologically extinct in a few years? Your future paper weight needs diamond decoration as well? Plus, nothing say's "ergonomics" quite like the jagged edges of fine cut stones against your palms and the side of your face. The Meridiist Diamant phones will likely go for between about $10,000 and $30,000.

The new phones will be known as the Meridiist Diamant collection and will come in two styles with 208 diamonds or the "imperial regalia of mobile phones" with 1232 diamonds. Tag Heuer says that the Meridiist Diamant phones will be marketed toward women, which makes sense. While very expensive, the base line of Meridiist phones is really quire cool - at leat on the outside from a construction and materials standpoint. It should be cool however to have a phone with a massive sapphire crystal as the screen. I do feel that if you are willing to make the investment, you'll be happy with the phone, at least until you want to get another phone.

Remember what I said about the phone being obsolete in a few years due to the rapid progression of mobile phone hardware and software? Well get this: Tag Heuer places the Meridiist Diamant phone in a wooden jewelry presentation box "in which to preserve and store your investment for future generations." Really? As an antique for a time capsule maybe? A mechanical watch will still be useful for "future generations, but a digital mobile phone? Imagine giving your mini cellular tower suitcase phone from the mid 1980s to a 16 year old today and gauge how "awesome" they think it will be. That is the idea.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

I'm not one to usually be very impressed with jewel-studded cell phones, because even if they're pretty to look at they always seem so gaudy and impractical to actually use. But the design of this Lady Diamond phone by Gresso seems to have a nice balance of sleek common sense and indulgent luxury. Made in a limited edition of only 8 phones (seems like an odd number...) it's basically a red version of Gresso's Skeleton Gold model with 4 tiny diamonds on the center keys. It has the same 42K sapphire crystal display and transparent back as the Skeleton Gold, but the price is significantly higher at $5500.

Announced a while back, the Tag Heuer Meridiist mobile phone is one step closer to reality for those few people willing to lay down the dough for one - with the launch of it's new interactive website: www.tagheuer.com/meridiist. The new site shows the luxury Meridiist mobile phones in their full glory. In a world where watch makers try to convince certain stubborn members of the public that wrist watches make better time tellers than mobile phones, some compies like Tag Heuer are adopting an "if you can't beat em, join 'em" mentality.

The concept of a luxury mobile phone is spurious to some - but for others, even the limited technological shelf life of these masterful creations is too much to resist. The Meridiist will be constructed with the same quality as watches and with many of the same materials including sapphire crystal screens, high quality steel cases, and crocodile or rubber covers on parts of the watch. The watch is available also in PVD covered titanium, and in a variety of color choices. The phone itself is an unlocked 3G GSM worldphone with a basic (non-smart phone) operating system. Still, it is said to have Internet connectivity, basic office productivity functions, and Bluetooth.

The phone features two screens. The upper one (on the top of the phone) being an OLED screen that is meant to show the time, or for the stopwatch feature. Available with the Meridiist is a matching Tag Heuer Bluetooth headset. Tag Heuer is proud of the "mechanical" shutter on the camera that is pretty basic at 2MP. Overall it is a sweetly made case for just a decent phone. It will remain looking like a sweetly made phone, even after it is technologically obsolete. Prices vary and I imagine will be about $4,000 - $6,000. Look for them in select high end watch stores.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Despite being out of the spotlight lately, Motorola hasn't given up on the RAZR and they've released a new, luxe model of the popular phone called the Motorola RAZR LúK. It's only available in one color but we think you won't mind since it's classic pearl white combined with equally classic (and shiny!) 18k gold plating. The phone's shape, keyplate, and flip design all remain unchanged but the interior specs of this 3G model are updated with HSDPA connectivity, video calling, bluetooth, and pretty much everything else you'd expect in a RAZR. I love it.

It's not a Blackberry. It's not an iPhone. It's just a phone. The new Nokia Carbon Arte attempts to prove that the cell phone is not dead.

It has panels crafted with leather from Eastern India. Its sister phone, the Sapphire Arte has a sapphire "select" key. Both phones include a "groovy" soundtrack by Austrian duo Kruder & Dorfmeister. Each has a 3.2 megapixel camera, 1 GB of built-in memory, and 3G capabilities. We like the weight, the way it slides open to reveal the keypad (shown), and the really cool silencing mechanism -- if you turn over the phone to screen-side-down when it's ringing, it stops.

Is the heyday of the cell phone over? At 1000 - 1500 euros, this is definitely a luxury item, but who among the elite wants a phone that doesn't surf the web?

Cell phones have nearly become the new watches.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this trend. I love watches. Watches have history, a long tradition of craftsmanship and beauty. Cell phones tend to last two years at most and break a lot. Using your cell phone as your watch may save you the money and trouble of finding and elegant watch, but it's sort of like using a backpack for a purse.

Prada has come out with an interesting pairing of watch and cell phone, above. Prada and LG have teamed up to bring you a watch that receives all your Prada/LG phone's text messages, call data, and it also has a Reject Call function. You wouldn't have to dig out your phone every time if beeps, you could just look at your watch and decide whether it was worth it. Very James Bond, or at least Penny from Inspector Gadget.

[via gizmodo.com]

The iPhone 3G is a beautiful accessory, yet to be properly attired...till now. Orbino Italy has designed three cases for your iPhone 3G, and each is lovelier than the last. Finally, you can protect and adorn your iPhone without cheap plastic or garish designs.

At right, you see the Strada:
"The Orbino Strada Tre Case transforms your 3G iPhone into a premium Italian accessory with a case entirely stitched by hand in gorgeous Tuscan leather. The case features an open face for easy access and includes Orbino's patented spring-loaded removable combination belt clip and desk stand in polished palladium metal. Prices start at $99."

This is the limited Brown Crocodile edition, available here.

Click below to see the other two new 3G iPhone designs, as well as other elegant, Apple-specific cases from Orbino.

Now that's a phone. The $2,000 Motorola Aura is here, and lookalikes are bound to follow.

The Aura has the world's first circular display with 16 million colors and a 300 dpi resolution. The lens isn't just scratch resistant, it's Grade 1 62-carat sapphire crystal. The casing is stainless steel, coated with PVD coating (like on a luxury watch), and it rotates open with the help of 130 precision ball bearings.

All the usual technologies (2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Open Source browser) are included in this sleek, attractive 47.60 x 96.87 x 18.55mm phone.

Blackberries are for assistants.

Just in time for the holidays, you can order one now to be shipped out December 4th.

[via engadgetmobile.com]

The new version of the popular Prada phone has been unveiled. The Prada II looks a lot like the first one but it has a slide-out metallic keyboard, a 5-megapixel camera with 7.2Mbps HSDPA and wifi. It's pretty, it's also pretty pricey, set to sell for around 600 euros (over $800). It will launch in Europe in the end of October or beginning of November. There seems to be a distinct lack of enthusiasm from both bloggers and commenters around the blogosphere on this one which I'm not sure if I attribute to the high price of the phone or the design.

It used to be that having a mobile phone was a fairly expensive treat but oh how things have changed. In a strange twist it now seems that owning a landline has become the true luxury.

A recent Nielsen survey found that not only have 17% of homes already gone landline-less but that number is predicted to jump to a full 1/5 of the population (20%) by the end of the year.

So what's causing this trend? Finances, for most. It's a cold hard fact that for most people cell phones are cheaper to own and operate than landlines, all factors considered, and in today's ever-tightening economy luxuries like home phone service are getting cut out. Who would have thought, expensive and fancy as cell phones are getting these days, that the real status symbol would become the clunky home phone?

Via psfk

I'm not generally a big fan of diamond-encrusted cell phones but I think the iPhone lends itself to the idea better than others because it's so sleek and has such a limited area where diamonds can be placed. Claiming to be the world's first real diamond-studded iPhone, the Apple iPhone 3G by Swiss jeweler Knalihs Athem is made with 475 brilliant cut diamonds totaling 3.75 carats. Only 50 iPhone 3G handsets will be created on a made-to-order basis, with the first 10 units being sold at the special price of $10,000. iPhones 11-50 will be priced "sharply upwards."

I'm not sure what that translates to exactly but it sounds like if you want one you better move fast.