snakes

Richard Mille RM 026 Watch For Women, With Snakes

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Holiday Guides

It is fascinating for me to see how high-tech themed watch maker Richard Mille produces women's jewelry watches using the same watch case styles. While the two manner of watches are seemingly very different, the brand is able to make it work. For 2011, Richard Mille's new ultra high-end women's watch is the RM 026, otherwise known (to me) as the "snakes in a mother f'in half million dollar watch." Ya baby, this is THAT watch.

The idea behind the piece is that the skeletonized tourbillon movement should look like two snakes are moving around in it. The illusion works pretty well. Thankfully the snakes are not too life-like being made out of precious stones (otherwise that might be quite creepy). One snake is done in mostly rubies, while the other in mostly emeralds. Look closely and you'll see scales engraved into the 18k white gold of the snake bodies. On the snakes, as the hour indicators, and all over the case are diamonds. A really neat feature is that sapphire caseback displays a solid onyx place (very hard to find a suitable stone that size). See that little snake tongue? It is done in coral.

The new RM 026 movement has the time, a tourbillon, a seconds indicator on the back of the watch (the celtic style star spins), and a power reserve indicator on the dial (sort of hidden on the side). The tonneau shaped watch case is 39.70mm wide and 45mm tall. Richard Mille will offer the RM 026 in titanium, 18k red gold, or 18k white gold. Priced at $485,000, $505,000, and $510,000 respectively.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Richard Mille RM026 watch

Tags: richard mille, rm 026, snakes, watch, women

Cobra Hired To Guard Jeweled Sandals

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

In today's age of motion and touch sensors and every other kind of high-tech gadget we've got for security of precious goods, Harrods in London recently took a unique step to protect a pair of very expensive shoes: they hired a poisonous cobra to stand (sit? slither?) guard.

Obviously this was a publicity stunt, not a real security effort, but I say good for them. That's pretty clever, and for all intents and purposes it worked. The cobra has since returned to its owner and the shoes are, I'm sure, under a more traditional lock and key type security system.

Curious what kind of shoes warranted such a show? A pair of red sandals by Rene Caovilla that are encrusted with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds and valued at about $120,000.

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Tags: cobra, diamond, diamonds, gaurd, harrods, heels, high heels, HighHeels, london, rene caovilla, ReneCaovilla, renee caovilla, ReneeCaovilla, rubies, sandals, sapphire, sapphires, security, shoes, snake, snakes

10 of the Strangest Spa Treatments

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Spas

Bird dropping facials and snake massages may sound like something straight out of an episode of Fear Factor, but they're really part of the growing list of strange options you might have at a luxury spa near you. An ancient Japanese secret often used by Geishas and available at Diamond Hawaii Resort and Spa in Maui is a facial that starts with Nightingale excrement, which is reportedly full of enzymes that help keep the skin smooth, clear, and white. Or maybe a Hakali massage is more your style at Apuane Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Minta, Mexico, where spine-free cactus paddles are used to rub in an alcohol called 'pulque,' which comes from the agave plant and is in the tequila family.

Other strange spa experiences that might trip your detox trigger include snake massages (exactly what they sound like -- snakes slithering up and down your back!), getting yourself covered head-to-toe in caviar, soaking in a huge tub of dark beer, and "cupping" -- a process where several cups are placed strategically along your back and then lit on fire to create suction.

Fear Factor or not, some of these sound awesome! (Some, not all...)

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Tags: cactus, cupping, detox, droppings, extrement, facial, facials, massage, massages, nightingale, snake, snakes, spa, spas, strange, strangest

Cobra Table Lamp

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

It was tempting to make some sort of last "snakes on a..." reference for this unusual lamp, but the Cobra Lamp is only snakelike in appearance, not involving any actual snakes. It was designed by Elip Martinelli in 1968 and features a swiveling joint that allows the lamp to extend from a Pac Man-like shape into that of a striking cobra, hence the name. The table lamp is UL approved and a good deal more visually interesting than the average desk lamp. Price: $890 (orig. $1,250)

[via uncrate]

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Tags: cobra, cobra lamp, desk, lamp, light, lighting, snakes, snale

Snakes on Bracelets

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Unlike both the cake and the charm, these two bracelets from Roberto Cavalli have little more to do with the movie Snakes on a Plane than timing. But timing can make for the start of a trend, and perhaps snakes are it. One bracelet ($215, pictured at bottom right) is made from gold metal with either a black or orange stone in the serpent's head. The other snake bracelet ($275, top right) is gold with enameled scales in black or green and is adorned with small Strauss crystals. Both have hinges that open slightly to allow the bracelets to be slipped onto a wrist.