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.

Welcome to our new feature, "10 Luxuries." For each installment a notable figure in the world of luxury, tastemaker or stylish personality will tell us about the 10 necessary luxuries they simply cannot do without. Related quotes and images of each item can be found in the gallery.

Perry Oosting became president of Vertu, the world's leading luxury mobile phone manufacturer, earlier this year. He joined the company with extensive experience in the luxury industry via senior roles held at several blue chip brands including Bulgari, Prada, Gucci and Escada.Vertu uses the finest materials from the world of watchmaking, automotive design, aeronautics, and jewelry to create truly unique mobile phones of unparalleled craftsmanship and exclusivity, such as the new Ascent Ti Carbon Fiber. Vertu is also the only phone in the world to ever receive a hallmark from the Swiss Assay Office, the organization that guarantees the quality of the world's finest watches. In the gallery, Oosting reveals his 10 essential luxuries, from his favorite hotel, watch and car to shoes, wine, writing instrument and more, and tells us what makes them a must.

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.

In the nearly five years that Luxist has been around we've seen a lot of expensive cell phones. But could we be reaching the end of an era? Wired's Gadget Lab chronicles the shrinking market for luxury cell phones. Bang & Olufsen which made the Selene phone got out of the mobile phone market last year. Recently Motorola, which makes the Aura, has scaled back its luxury phones canceling the Ivory E18, which was expected to sell for around $3,000.

Frank Nuovo, former chief of design for Nokia and current head of Vertu, maker of some of the world's most expensive phones, isn't scared. He says that the concept is the same as a fine watch or car and that there will continue to be a market for these types of phones. Vertu offers a wide variety of phones from the subtly luxurious to attention-getting phones like the ones made in partnership with Boucheron which are studded with a variety of gemstones. The company is proceeding apace, the latest handset, the Carbon Fibre Ascent Ti will sell for $9,800 when it comes out in August.

One thing the article doesn't mention is those in the phone bedazzling business, those who take existing phones and cover them in gold or set them with diamonds. There aren't any figures on how these businesses are doing in the recession but given the drop in jewelry sales it may be that these businesses are also experiencing similar lowered sales.

Rapper, producer, designer, and tastemaker Kanye West could obviously have any watch in the world. The one he chose is a customized all-black Rolex Submariner by Swiss firm Black-Out Concept (above), on a black nylon NATO spec strap. Kanye made a decision a while back that Rolex would be his signature watch brand, but he wanted to add his own twist; Black-Out's version was perfect. "It looks hard, it looks really cool," he explained in naming the watch one of his 10 style essentials. "It's a new take on a classic watch." He also likes the fact that they take a Rolex and literally "paint it black" (coat it, actually).

Black-Out Concept was founded in 2007 by Fabrice Letellier in Geneva. An avid watch collector, racecar driver and all-round exotic car enthusiast with the means to indulge his passions, the idea was born when Letellier had some of his supercar collection given a matte black treatment, i.e. blacked-out. Next he decided to do the same with his Rolex, and soon some of his fellow car and watch aficionados followed suit. Obviously there was a market for it. Letellier contracted with one of Geneva's best watchmakers to perfect the black out process for timepieces, which is done using two low-friction, scratch-proof finishes used by the military, PVD and DLC (diamond-like carbon).

Black-Out also creates customized blacked-out cars, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley and Aston Martin; the Black-Out package on the latter (see the gallery) costs about $40,000. They do customized matte black motorcycles as well built on a Harley-Davidson base, blacked-out Vertu Ascent cell phones - basically anything you can think of that would look better in all black. In addition to the Submariner they also black out several other Rolex models, including the GMT II, Daytona, Milgaus, and Deepsea, as well as other brands like Panerai, Bell & Ross and Audemars Piguet. Letellier has his own high-end watch brand in the works as well.



Of course, Black-Out aren't the only ones to offer blacked-out Rolexes; we've written before about Bamford & Sons' $30,000 PVD Daytona and other models, as well as Jacques Picard's $18,000 DLC Deepsea. (No, we don't know who thought of it first.) Black-Out doesn't actually sell watches, however, they customize yours at a cost of €5,000, or about $7,000, which includes Fed-Ex'ing to and from Geneva, and a set of three different straps including the NATO. So you can in fact get the look of the far more expensive models for much less - if you pick up a used Submariner in the $5,000 range - yet still have a watch that's every bit as exclusive, not to mention Kanye-approved. You can contact Black-Out's U.S. representative Christian Ginet at blackoutconcept@mac.com for more info.

I consider it a sign of faith in the endurance of the world economy that diamond-covered phones are still hitting the market. Luxury designer Knalihs Athem has created the Diamond Vertu Constellation Gold. Each phone is done in 18K gold and covered with more than 1500 brilliant cut diamonds. The handset can be personalized with initials, lucky number, logo or anything else you have in mind. Prices, including the Vertu handset, start at $25,000.

As we saw a couple months ago, to celebrate Boucheron's 150th anniversary, the jeweler is partnering with other companies to create some amazing pieces. Two years ago Boucheron and luxury phone maker Vertu created extravagant bejeweled snake phones. The seven signature phones each contain 388 mechanical parts and each has a removable jeweled charm. Each has a gold case and a different design of pavé jewels. No word on the price yet but they are assumed to be into the six figures at least.

[via Chip Chick]

Prolific and controversial artist Damien Hirst is no stranger to commerce. He has created a line for Levi's and sells his own bracelets, paint kits and other items. But his next rumored collaboration is intriguing. Fashion Week Daily reports that Hirst may be working with Vertu on a new luxury phone. Vertu has created lines with car brands and jewelers but they haven't worked with an artist yet. Certainly Hirst, who once covered a skull in diamonds, is no stranger to bedazzlement so the two should get on perfectly.

Like our pals at Autoblog we are a bit mystified as to why this phone has a Ferrari gear gate on it but it does look cool. The latest phone from Vertu is the Vertu Ascenti Ferrari 60. The phone is titanium and covered in Ferrari leather which can be replaced as needed through Vertu's service package that includes a free checkup every six months as well as the other features standard with Vertu phones such as their concierge service. There are just 60 of the phones available and they sell for $25,000.

[via Sybarites]

When Vertu first announced their Racetrack Legends phones, which pay homage to some of the world's most famous tracks, the company planned to sell them individually, releasing only 1000 of each of the six designs. So far, only 4 of the 6 designs have come out. To appeal to collectors during the holiday season, Vertu has just released a very limited edition Racetrack Legends Box Set that includes all six of the phones in a carbon-fiber box. The box also has three trays with cases for headsets and other mobile phone accessories. Only 51 sets will be sold. Price: £30,000 (approx. $59,000).

The list of the five most expensive phones of 2006! Erm, that is, the phones we've written about. So get out those check cards and make someone really happy this holiday season!

5. The world's first luxury phone company launched in 2002, the London-based subsidiary of Nokia called Vertu, and we loved what they've been doing. Not only do its phones boast superior electronics, but the shells aren't too shabby either. They say the reception is "as clear as a Mozart symphony," and they phones' near-indestructibility comes from metals like titanium and aluminum and precious stones like sapphire and ruby. These celeb-magnets run from about $10-$20K.

The newest addition to the Vertu lineup is the Stainless Steel Signature Duo. This tri-band GSM mobile phone is built to last and is, in fact, almost unbreakable. Not only is the case made from stainless steel and Titan, but the display is made from a scratch-proof 69.25-carat sapphire. There are also rubies inset under each button on the keypad. In addition to looking good, the phone also offers superior performance with a 116 x 148 screen resolution, AKG 20mm speakers and up to 200 hours of battery life. An external antenna is option for enhanced reception if you tend to venture into remote locations frequently. Price: $14,833.

[via shiny shiny]

They don't make them like this in the U.S. These crazy and beautiful phones are the Vertu phones created by Boucheron are going on sale in India. The phones feature ornate jeweled snakes, your choice of either a diamond-studded cobra or a python. Other phones in the Vertu Signature Diamond Collection come in gold and diamonds but only the Boucheron phones feature the snakes. The phone on the left is the limited edition Signature Cobra which sells for $350,000 and will only be cast in 8 pieces. I know, I know, it's wasteful, but wouldn't this be the ultimate phone to be carried by an villainess in a superhero movie?

Two new Vertu phones for racing fans. Vertu has announced their Racetrack Legends series. The first two phones in a series of six which pay homage to legendary tracks are Monza and Silverstone. The phones are available in limited, numbered editions of 1,000 each and feature racing tread rubber details and a map of the track laser-etched on the phone. The Monza is in red and the Silverstone is in green. They have also come out with a new color for their special editions, a summery azure blue (shown after the jump).

[Thanks, Marco]