THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE SMARTPHONE
UK: British luxury designer Stuart Hughes has created a £10
million, solid-gold bodied, diamond-encrusted iPhone 5. The phone, which
underneath its special shell, is no different from any iPhone in terms
of hardware components, was commissioned by an unnamed Chinese
businessman as his regular day-to-day handset.
Called the Black Diamond because it features a 24-ct black diamond
where the home key should be; it also has a solid gold chassis.
If that wasn’t enough, it is decorated with what Hughes says are 600
flawless white diamonds set in gold on the back panel, while the Apple
logo, now in solid gold takes on a three-dimensional quality and has
also been enhanced by the addition of a further 53 diamonds.
One other notable difference, and one that could soon become a
reality on all smartphones, is the use of sapphire glass rather than the
standard Gorilla Glass to cover the iPhone’s display.
Sapphire glass is used to create body armour and only a diamond is
stronger or more resistant.
However, at current prices, a sheet of such glass costs 10 times more
than Gorilla Glass. Although this was a commission, Hughes is more than
happy to produce another Black Diamond, if a consumer has £10 million
(US$ 15 million) to spare.
HINDUSTAN TIMES |