LAST week, Huawei announced the local availability of their most exclusive and ultra-premium flagship device, the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 20 RS, and with a price tag of P99,990, its way up there with the iPhone XS Max and Samsung Note 9 and, most probably, the soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy S10.
It got me curious, so I checked if these are already among the most expensive phones ever manufactured (not modified with diamonds and other precious stones, so that $15.3-million Black Diamond iPhone 5 isn’t included).
Of course I was wrong. Those three flagships are bargains compared to the devices made by companies like Vertu and Goldvish. For example, the most affordable phone on this list I found on Android Authority costs as much as 100 pieces of Note 9s.
Here are the 10 most expensive phones in the world designed from the ground up:
10. Dior Reveries Haute Couture (Estimate Price $100,000). There are only 99 units produced and each of them was assembled by hand in France. Why is it so expensive? It’s made from 18-carat white gold and features 1,539 diamonds, as well as 46 pieces of mother of pearl.
9. Goldvish Eclipse Desiring Arcadia (Estimate Price $105,000). Goldvish’s most expensive phone is called the Eclipse Desiring Arcadia, which is listed on the company’s web site at €92,900. Its back is covered with premium alligator leather and studded with 320 diamonds.
8. Ulysse Nardin Chairman—Diamond Edition (Estimate Price $130,000). Ulysse Nardin is a luxury Swiss watch and the Diamond Edition of the Chairman is powered by Android Gingerbread and sports a physical keyboard below the display. What makes it expensive is the 3,000 17-carat hand-cut diamonds. Exactly 1,846 units of the device were made as a tribute to the year the company was founded.
7. Vertu Golden (Estimate Price $180,000). The Golden series include the Kinko, Kikusui, Nanten, and Daigo, and each has a price tag of ¥20 million. The only difference between them are the designs on the back representing a different season of the year. They were only available in Japan and is made of gold.
6. Savelli Emerald Insane (Estimate Price $185,000). Insane was targeted at women, and is made of 18-carat white gold, 75 baguette-cut emeralds, and 900 brilliant-cut diamonds and only eight units were made, with each one costing £145,000.
5. VIPN Black Diamond (Estimate Price $300,000). Made by a company called VIPN, the design created by Jaren Goh for Sony Ericsson. The Windows Mobile device features two diamonds—one at the back and one at the front—that can easily be removed and implemented into a different piece of jewelry. Only five units of the VIPN Black Diamond were made.
4. Vertu Signature Cobra (Estimate Price $360,000). Another creation by Vertu, this one prominently features a cobra wrapped around the edges up front. It is studded with the majority of the 439 rubies and two emeralds that serve as the snake’s eyes. Definitely not for those who are afraid of snakes. The Signature Cobra was designed by the French jewelry company Boucheron and assembled by hand in the UK. Only eight units were made.
3. Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot (Estimate Price $1 million). You might really need to hit the jackpot to afford this phone, which has black diamonds on the front and 200-year-old African Blackwood on the back—one of the most expensive types of woods in the world. The keys are made from sapphires, while the restimate of the phone is manufactured from gold. Only three units were produced, each one with a unique number engraved at the back.
2. Goldvish Le Million (Estimate Price $1.14 million). Another Goldvish creation, this one retailed for €1 million, because it is made of 18-carat white gold and studded with 120-carats of VVS-1 graded diamonds.Only three of these luxury phones were made.
1. Diamond Crypto Smartphone (Estimate. $1.3 million).The Diamond Crypto was made by a Russian company called JSC Ancort and Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson. The phone is made from platinum except for the Ancort logo and the navigation key, both of which were created from 18-carat rose gold. The device also feature 50 diamonds—10 of them are blue—and is has expensive Macassar ebony wood on the sides. The Diamond Crypto Smartphone was meant for Russian VIPs, not only because of its high price tag but also because of its encryption technology that makes sure the user’s data on the device is safe. These phones earned their price tag because of their rarity and the materials used to create them, but not one particularly stood out for specs, so if you are looking for a luxury phone that’s packed with amazing tech, these phones aren’t for you (if you can even afford them).
What you can probably afford, however, is the the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 20 RS. It might not have the gold and precious stones, but it has the specs that can easily outshine those million dollar devices.
PRACTICAL BAGS PERFECT FOR TWINNING TECHIES
IF you have got plans to celebrate the love month with your significant other by booking an out-of-town trip, then you better gear up with these stylish yet practical bags that will keep your stuff and your significant other safe.
U ELEMENT: Get started on your getaway with the U Basic Switch Tech bag that will change the way you travel.
It’s a versatile everyday urban carry with a 2-in-1 functionality that converts a messenger bag into a backpack instantly.
It’s the perfect work-life that can fit and organize up to a 15-inch laptop, a 10-inch tablet, phone, power bank, keys, pen, among other things you may need to access a lot while on the road. It is designed also with reinforced cushioning for your laptop. U Basic Switch Tech ensures optimum protection for your gadget.
CABINZERO: Hot pink and red never looked this good together. Roam around the world in CabinZero’s lightweight bags that promise to never weigh you down. The brand’s classic Cabin bag is the ultimate traveling companion that will hold all your belongings with its spacious and roomy capacity, and can be easily carried to just about anywhere. Never worry about the hassle of checking in luggage anymore as these bags follow most airline hand-carry specifications. CabinZero bags have side compression straps, and front and inside zipped pockets to ensure your valuables, too. Plus, it comes with a built-in lost-and-found tag to let you trace your bag in case it gets lost or stolen.
PACSAFE: Now, if you’re an on-the-go type of couple, this versatile backpack is perfect for the two you. Pacsafe’s VentureSafe backpack will carry all your daily needs wherever you decide to explore. Whether you’re an active duo who are into hiking, biking, and running, or a city-crawling pair, this bag will safely and securely fit your belongings as it is equipped with anti-theft technology. The bag comes with an internal padded laptop sleeve that can fit a 15-inch device, and features a cut-resistant material plus an RFID blocking pocket.
Now, if you’re a girl who prefers exploring different cultures via a jam-packed city itinerary, the Citysafe CX Square Cross body bag is perfect for you because of its sturdy make—the bag is equipped with anti-theft technology and a clasp locking system that will let you roam the city worry-free. You also get easy access to all your essentials without fuss. The Citysafe CX Square Cross body bag will let you securely stash all your valuables in a stylish on-the-go tote that will match with all your outfits, too.
DIAMOND SUPPLY CO X PACSAFE
SPEAKING of PacSafe, the world’s leading anti-theft technology brand, it recently partnered with Diamond Supply Co. bringing together skateboarding and stylish travel technology. Together, they have developed the ultimate in secure carry solutions to keep skaters’ gear on lock.
The Republique Backpack is a bespoke anti-theft skate backpack. Made using durable material and world-class anti-theft Pacsafe Technology, smart pockets store your bearings, bolts, and more for fast access without you having to rummage through your bag in the middle of a session.
With hard-wearing material, space for your on-the-go essentials, and patented anti-theft Pacsafe’s Technology, the Southbank Slingback’s agile size lets you push through the city without the feeling of carrying heavy weight on you.
The Macba Hoodie stands out from conventional hoodies because of its numerous hidden pockets for your wallet, phone, headphones, passport and more, while its extra-large hood also allows for black-out sleep. Push around with maximum flexibility in discreet, minimalist style.
Each piece also features Pacsafe’s patented RFID safe technology, preventing unwanted scans. It blocks range 10MHz-3GHz, most commonly found in passports and credit cards. Other standout features include the PopNLock Security Clip and Roobar Locking System on the Republique Backpack and Southbank Sling, which lets you secure your bag to any rail or fixed object. The stainless steel reinforced straps add further protection from would-be thieves.
The limited-edition collection is inspired by passion, born from skating, and built with world-class technology.