Rare Martian Pink diamond sells for $17.4 million in Hong Kong auction

This is a story of 6 minutes of frenzied bidding, a sum $17.4million shelled and a rare, intense pink diamond. Interested? The recent spring auction held at Christie’s in HongKong of an intense pink diamond was bought by an anonymous caller on telephone and it fetched much higher than estimated! A desirable stone that it is and standing second in position to the costliest pink diamond sold ever ($46.8 million) at an auction, auctioneer’s verdict is this was the biggest of its kind to be ever sold with an expected selling price of between $8m and $12m (£5m - £7.6m). So where did this celestial stone come from? Well, more than where it came from, it is how one good thing leads to the other.

This rare pink diamond came from Harry Winston: he was so impressed with the American voyage to Mars that he literally digged his inventory to find a rough diamond which he thought probably could come out as pink. No surprises because so it did. Cut in a way that the intensity of it is amplified, this pink diamond was by far the largest that he has ever cut. We are so intrigued to find the caller on line. Hello pink diamond owner!

Tree-Inspired Train Station

This winning underground train station proposal was inspired by a predominating staple of the Israeli landscape- the Ficus Microcarpa tree. To imitate the ambiance provided by the ficus in the outside world, the design allows plenty of natural light to fall on the trees planted in the underground station. In addition, features like the steel piping on the deck were designed to replicate the robust trunk that is a signature of the tree. Stepping foot in this station, you’ll feel like you never left outside.

Designers: Yizhar Galmidi and Eliran Yaksein

Apple CEO Tim Cook Turns Down $75 Million Dividend

In a recent SEC filing it has been revealed that Apple’s new CEO, Tim Cook, has turned down a dividend worth $75 million US dollars, the details were revealed in a filing which announced that Apple plans to award a $2.65 a share quarterly dividend on restricted stock which is held by Apple employees.

The Apple CEO has decided that he does not want to receive the dividend on his restricted stock, which would be worth around $75 million to him.

“At Mr. Cook’s request, none of his restricted stock units will participate in dividend equivalents. Assuming a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share over the vesting periods of his 1.125 million outstanding restricted stock units, Mr. Cook will forego approximately $75 million in dividend equivalent value.”

It doubt there are many CEO’s out there that would turn down the offer of $75 million in cash, which he was entitled to, although his overall shareholding in Apple is worth considerably more than the $75 million so he can probably afford to not take the dividend.

LG unveils the world's largest and slimmest 55-inch OLED TV in Europe

The 55-inch OLED TV that LG had introduced at CES, has finally been taken wraps off at a Monaco event. The model named 55EM9600 has got a carbon fiber redesign, shrinking it down by 1mm to 4mm (0.16 inches). The model has all the AV connectors neatly stacked at the back, while three USB ports are aligned on one side for media sharing. LG uses 4 Color Pixel technology that relies on a white sub-pixel to perfect the color output, as well as a Color Refiner to enhance the image, resulting in pictures that are vibrant, natural and comfortable for the human eye. For those who are unaware of OLED’s, they basically generate their own light, eliminating the need for backlighting.


LG was reluctant to give out details about the 55-inch OLED TV set just yet, however the rumours doing the rounds suggest that it is likely to be released in July with a pricetag of about €8,000 (10,000).

Self Driving Cars Headed To California Roads

We recently heard that Google were going to start testing self driving cars in Nevada after autonomous vehicles had been approved for use in the state, and now it looks like self driving cars are headed to California.

A bill which will allow self driving cars on the roads in California has passed the California Stat Senate, and the bill will now got to the Assembly for consideration next month, and if approved it won’t be very long before self driving cars appear on the roads in California.

The bill which is awaiting approval will set up safety and performance standards for self driving vehicles, and will allow for autonomous vehicles to be driven on  California’s roads by a licensed driver.

Source LA Times

Worlds tallest residential building in Dubai

The worlds tallest residential building in Dubai dwarfs the Trump World tower

Dubai loyalist may find yet another reason to celebrate; the world’s tallest residential building has just risen from a seedy siesta on the grounds of this posh middle-east city: the grandeur is in the fact that it stands 107 storeys tall and it’s meant for living! Viewed from the highest level of perception, there is no good or bad. We think we now know why the phrase was coined. Seated at a height from where the earth is but picturesque, the judgments do go ashtray. Encompassing 6 basement floors and 100 above the ground excluding the ground floor, this went straight into the pages of a historic book named the Guinness Book and rightly so. Located at the posh and prestigious Dubai Marina development, Tameer’s Princess Tower stands a staggering 414m tall and occupies 37,410 sq ft, housing 763 luxury apartments, including one, two, three and four bedroom apartments in addition to penthouse apartments overlooking Palm Jumeirah

Once home to the tallest towers, Dubai is now enjoying twice the fame and no, not a bit shared. So, we guess that’s what it takes to feel on top of the world? You decide

2 cars in 1

The first of its kind, the 2Wheela is a concept vehicle that merges the practicality of super-compacts with the spaciousness of vans. Confused?! It’s actually 2 cars in 1! The modular system features 2 sporty looking cars that can be joined at the ends when you need the extra room or want to travel as a group. When it’s time to split, simply pull over, detach, and go your separate ways!

The most realistic T-800 animatronic Terminator bust

Although it has been a while since the release of Terminator 2, there are quite a few among us who’re still obsessed with T-800. Japanese artists at T-Studios have created a super cool model of the T-800 that will be released in limited numbers. The rare vinyl model has glowing red light up eyes, wonderfully detailed chrome terminator busts and neat animated features. The artists have designed the bust such that its head, neck and eyes move independently to be reminiscent of the movements of the endoskeleton seen in the original Terminator movie.

Even the teeth of the model are based on the images of Arnold Schwarzenegger, so you know they’re pretty. Each of these robot busts is custom made to order and have hefty price tags on them owing to it. But if you’re crazy about unique, sci-fi toys, then it would be a price you’d be willing to pay!

   

World`s largest artificial island can now be yours for almost $10 million

Not many people have the privilege to own a private island of their very own. And if that is the one illusive piece in your luxury puzzle, the King’s Island in Denmark can be yours for keeps. Made for the Danish King Christian IX in 1890, the island spans over 180,000 square feet island boasts of 200 rooms, more than two and a half miles of hallways and needed two and a half million tons of solid Bornholm granite to finish. Called as the Middelgrundsfortet by the Danish, King`s Island is the world`s largest artificial island that is not connected to mainland. Located between Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmö, the island can be reached in under 15 minutes from Copenhagen by water and it also features a fully functioning helipad.

 This is not the first sale for the island; it has been in private ownership for the last 9-years, as a hotel and conference facility, with 24 rooms that contains 88 beds along with a “furnished captain’s quarters done in a handsome maritime style”. The property also has a restaurant, a nightclub, and a bar and billiard lounge. Priced ay €6,800,000 ($9,500,000), for non Danes, you just need to establish “a Danish company, which can in turn buy the island without any complications”.

Gold Lamborghini Gallardo spotted in Beijing

Last we saw a gold Lamborghini stun visitors at Liberty Walk booth at 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon. And now a dazzling gilded beast is spotted in Beijing. Painted with gold, this Lamborghini Gallardo was parked outside a karaoke bar. Roll over for more images of this Midas-touched bull on wheels......

Most expensive ruby ring $6.6 million

The charity auction of jewels owned by the Brazilian-born billionaire Lily Safra was indeed a delight to the senses with several unique pieces of jewellery under the hammer. A spectacular ruby and diamond ring made by Chaumet happened to fetch a whopping 6.2 million francs ($6.6 million), as against the estimate of 2.8 - 4.6 million francs, a price which was a record for ruby sold at an auction. The cushion shaped red stone of this most expensive ruby ring weighed in at 32.08 carats.

Another unique and rare piece of jewelry that fetched a record price at Christie’s was a ruby flower brooch by Jar which sold for 4 million francs ($4.2), as against the estimated price of 1.4 million francs ($1.48 million). The ruby and Camellia flower brooch that weighed 173.09 carats was created for Safra in 2003

Madonna’s sensual naked photo goes under the hammer

It’s funny how assets from yesteryears pop up all of a sudden, breaking estimates and stunning all of us. A saucy photo of pop singer Madonna from 1990’s in beach blond hair and dark eye-make up went on sale at Bonhams at a price three times the estimate. The sultry photo in grey and silvery tone was taken by fashion photographer Steven Meisel, when Madonna was about 31 during her Blond Ambition tour. The provocative image was one among many photographs for which Madonna had posed at the time.

The picture that flaunts her bare breasts and just about covers her modesty, has the star posing with a cigarette and pouting her lips. The photo fetched £14,761 ($23,750), a price three times higher than Bonham’s £5,000 estimate.

Perfect Jagur

Inspired by the vintage Jag e-type of the 1960s, the Jaguar XKX concept finds a modern balance between pure muscle and supreme elegance. The design returns to the total smoothness of the brand’s original models with soft, fluid lines that dip and curve into one another like liquid. Vintage inspiration combined with highly advanced tech (I.E. – an outer skin that recharges the battery) make this one fierce kitty.

With a much smaller and cooler power plant than conventional models, the aerodynamics were conceived in a new innovative way. The side deflector intakes of the front are broader so a much less air gets stuck by the engine- instead, it flows behind the front wheels, moving behind them and sliding along the doors before taking another shortcut through the rear wheels and out from the large rear openings. This greatly reduces the total flowing path and subsequently drag.

Facebook Offering 50.6M Extra Shares

Facebook has filed a new amended S-1 before its IPO which happens later this week, and the company has announced that they will be selling an extra 50,162,302 shares and the have also announced that the expected new price range is between $34 and $38 per share.

That means that Facebook is offering close to 337.5 million shares, which would see the company raising a massive $12.1 billion assuming the shares go for around $36.

We and the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional 50,612,302 shares of Class A common stock to cover over-allotments.

We anticipate that the initial public offering price will be between $34.00 and $38.00 per share.

Facebook had previously said that it would offer its shares between $28 and $35, and with the new price it could give Facebook a valuation of over $100 billion.

World's fastest amphibious car

While all-terrain vehicles are not new, they are still rare and hence never cease to attract our attention. Well, for all those who cannot have enough of vehicles that can cover almost every terrain, be it land or water, the amphibian beauty dubbed the Project Sea Lion is truly worth a see. Touted to be the world's fastest amphibious car, it is the fruitful creation of over five years of hard work. The vehicle can go 45mph on water and 125 mph on land. The amphibious vehicle or the Project Sea Lion, combines a custom-built aluminum and stainless steel body with a Mazda 13B rotary engine meant to set the record for fastest land-sea vehicle.

What is impressive about the vehicle is how it transforms to adapt to the new terrains. When changing to boat mode, one can feast one’s eyes on everything from sidepods and folding prow to retractable wheels! This car that can zoom in water however, is unlikely to reach the record books as the new record calls for 60 mph on the open water.

The seller of the car, Fantasy Junction, is offering this amphibious creation for $259,500. The builder promises to make himself available to any buyer as "consultant, engineer, machinist and psychiatrist." Do we have any takers?

VW works on hovercar concept

Volkswagon has imagined a concept hover car, which uses electro magnets embedded in the road to allow it to hover above the street. Watch the video after the jump to see the VW concept hover car in virtual action.

Other features of the concept hover car include a collision detection system to protect you from crashes, and which can be used in an automatic driving mode. The vehicle has been designed to carry two passengers and requires just a simply joystick controller to steer.

As you might guess due to the car being just a concept at the moment no production vehicles are available to actually drive, but the video representation of how the concept might work, gives you a glimpse of the what the future might hold.

Discus shaped futuristic underwater Hotel to come up in Dubai

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Dubai is the destination for architectural wonders. From the Burj Khalifa to the man made islands dubbed Earth, Dubai’s landscape is home to some of the most unbelievable man made creations. The latest architectural wonder to call Dubai its home is none other than a half-submerged hotel, complete with underwater rooms offering views of life below the surface of the sea. Christened the 'Water Discus Hotel' , this spaceship-shaped building is set to be the first of several planned across the region. Designed by Deep Ocean Technology (DOT), this hotel will surely please the so called “water baby’s” who love exploring the depths of the deep blue sea.

The hotel will comprise of two main discs, one above water and one below. These two discs will be connected by three 'legs' which contain lifts and stairways to plunge guests from the sunshine above down beneath the surface of the sea. The underwater section is located up to 10 meters deep and comprises of 21 rooms adjacent to the submerged dive centre and a bar. Offering a view like no other, the designers will make use of special lighting to illuminate the flora and fauna outside. What is more, guests will also be able to zoom in and take a closer look at even the tiniest creatures using macro photography. What is more, the hotel will be built to the highest safety standards. The top disc is built high enough to withstand a tsunami and any flooding, while the underwater disc automatically surfaces at once in the event of any danger.

While this is not the first hotel in the world to offer underwater rooms, it will still break quite a few records when it is ready.

Prindiville Lamborghini Aventador J concept launched

The Lamborghini Aventador J recently at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show left quite a few luxury car connoisseurs stoked owing to the stunning design aesthetics and performance. London-based bespoke coachbuilder, Prindiville has kitted out a concept showcasing their bespoke undertaking of the luxury supercar. The ECU of the 6.5 litre twelve-cylinder powerplant was remapped to push the output from 700 to 805 hp, allowing it sprint from 0 to 62 mph in around 2.5 seconds. It achieves a top speed of over 220 mph and a 15% power upgrade is attributed to the bespoke twin Prindiville titanium or stainless steel exhaust system.

The renowned Prindiville insignia has been etched into the jet black driver and passenger seats that are dressed with the finest Italian leather and alcantara. The interior panels and air vents of the concept car are presented in a high grade precision milled aluminum and customers can choose from exterior color choices of matt or metallic.

Customers are also provided access to the powerful Prindiville Entertainment system with the DVD Player, satellite navigation and bespoke software featuring maps, setups, and telemetry of some of the most well-known race circuits across the globe. The Lamborghini Aventador J was created as a one off model and only 8 of the bespoke models will be sold world-wide.

Solid Gold Maybach $57 million worth of bling bling

After we witnessed the Maybach 62S decked out in diamonds at Cannes last year, it’s time to see the coveted car swathed in precious gold. That’s right, successful entrepreneur and TV personality Theo Paphitis’ has recently been spotted in his brand new Maybach 62 kitted out in solid gold bullion. The exclusive pictures in which the car looks a brilliant golden yellow could make anyone go greedy over it. Apparently, not just the exterior is covered in gold, even the interior is shimmering with the precious metal right from the steering wheel, air-con vents, floor, seats, roof, indicator stalks and even the screen on the sat-nav. The chauffeur driving this car around for his boss must be feeling like the most privileged chauffeur in the entire world, I reckon!

Every sunshine comes with a bit of a dark cloud. That is something to say for the sluggish speed of 47 miles per hour and a capacity of 3 miles to the gallon for this gold-covered car. Considering the current gold prices, it must have cost Mr Paphitis a whopping £35m ($56.9m) to cover his $1,350, 550 in solid gold. But he is worth more than just flashy cars as he donates generously to the Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust. So it would be fair to say that a man with a heart of gold rides in a car of gold. A genuine Midas touch, eh?