Portrait of celebrated movie star Queen Elizabeth I has been anticipated to fetch 1 million pounds ($2 million) at a Sotheby’s auction house in London on 22 November. Antwerp artist Steven van der Meulen created queen’s portrayal in 1560s. On her visit to Hampden House, this 16th-Century queen handed over her sketch to Griffith Hampden and it has now reached auction house by Hampden trust.
Elizabeth, who reigned England from 1558 till she was alive i.e. 1603 was known as the virgin queen as she stayed unmarried throughout. Her feature film depicts her gamut of love affairs. Are you ready to glare at the life-sized portrait of Elizabeth I that is scheduled for auction as a part of British art on Bond Street on 22 November?

Via Bloomberg

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If you are on your hunt to buy something exclusive for your lady then pay some dignity by not getting settled for anything less than a royal diamond necklace, by Cartier. Designed in a trellis of radiant and formally square-cut diamonds dangling a border of pear-shaped diamond drops, the necklace aims to deliver vigor to the elegant neck it is designed for.
This neckpiece was once a part of the Anne Moen Bullitt collection, whose wardrobe was once described as “incredible collection from the golden age of couture”. Each of the three largest pear-shaped diamonds is escorted by GIA certificates affirming the 5.56 carat diamond is D colour VS2 clarity, 6.98 carats diamond is D colour Si1 clarity and 4.35 carats diamond is D colour Vs clarity.

It is anticipated that the necklace would fetch £200,000-250,000 (approx. $400,000- $500,000) and would be available in the signature styles: fine Jewellery & iconic Jewels from the 20th Century sale at Bonhams in New Bond Street on 6 December.

Via AuctionInfo

Unlike celebrities, art, antiques, paintings, statues become more precious as they grow old. While for some it becomes a passion, necessity or investment for others it becomes an outrageous flaunting. But no to forget as their also exist a category where people love to owe such creation to value their sense of reminiscence. And yes, the passion is not restricted to masterpieces as a deserving respect is paid to publication of any bestseller.

Featured above is a first Playboy Cartoon that falls in the latter category. In 1953, Ben Denison initiated the foundation of an ever-lasting custom by producing the first Playboy cartoon that shortly included artists of the caliber of Eldon Dedini, Jules Feiffer, Shel Silverstein and Gahan Wilson. The worth noticing heritage auction is scheduled for 12 December in Dallas. It is estimated to invite bids worth $12,000 to $18,000.

Via Luxist

It was in 2005 that Charles Hack, a New Yorker made a good deal of fortune from property and invested the same in owing antique master paintings and Renaissance sculpture. Lately, Hack added another laurel to his name by purchasing a 24-cent American airmail stamp issued in 1918 for $977,500 (including auction house commission). Insane! No he is not as this was a rare stamp that reached the auction block due to its erroneous nature. Identified as the Inverted Jenny, the stamp became popular as a Curtiss JN-4, an airplane designed in the center was printed upside-down.

Counted 100 such misprints exist. Mr. Hack made the highest bid of $977,500 after beating the last bid for $850,000 at the Siegel Auction Galleries in New York City. The very deal substantiates the ongoing trend of owing a gamut of high-end collectibles. During last week, a compilation of American pattern coins - rare samples exhibited proposed designs and the first U.S in 1792 was traded for $30 million between an unnamed buyer and seller.

Via NYT

While two days back, all eyes were on 1,911-step staircase that Gustave Eiffel stepped to inaugurate Eiffel Towers. The news was one of its piece was set for auction awaiting the proud owner. But today all eyes have swerved to Dutch investor Erik Kurvera, the holder of the honored piece of the Eiffel Tower. Kurvera paid $219,600 (150,000 euros) for a section of the Eiffel Tower’s staircase. He didn’t disclose his plans about what he is going to do with 4.5 metres, 700 kg chunk of slightly rusting iron. But beholding this piece is in itself a pride.

Via Xinhuanet

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If you have enough bank balance attracting dust then it’s time to get it cleaned by picking Ecosse Heretic Titanium. Don’t mistake by identifying it as another precious stone but rather it has earned the tag of the most expensive bike ready to burn the road. With a biting price of $273,200, the bike features an interesting engine crafted from a solid block of billet aluminum, with elements including a race-spec crankshaft, intercooler, supercharger and fuel injection.
With its 2147 cc engine, it drives out a huge 207bhp and an evenly bulky 218ftlb of torque. But this is not enough rather it is the beginning of the endless list as it is followed by a hand-built titanium chassis, powered individually by competent titanium welders, molding the notoriously luxurious metal into casing. Equal amount of respect is earned by its other accessories including custom-made ISRs brakes, race-spec carbon fibred framework shaped in an autoclave that is complemented with an elegant BRM chronograph watch harmonizing with each bike. The equipment used to fabricate this beauty is light weighted and thus cuts down the weight of the product to 192kg!
Via AutoRacingDaily

Now and then we have been coming across various minute Eiffel Towers but did you ever give a thought of buying one and if not complete at least a single real piece. You must be aware that Gustave Eiffel had to climb 1,911-step staircase to inaugurate it in 1983 before the stair case was stood and the previous 24-pieces from the previous were auctioned off to museums and collectors globally.

And now here is an opportunity for you as a 14-foot piece is scheduled to be auctioned on 19 November at Hotel Drouot auction house. This record piece of the grand tombstone is projected to obtain between $29,000 and $44,000.

Via AP

Someone has rightly said the identity of the successful person gets recognized when he is asked for autograph rather than signature. In Blogosphere, the dialysis occurs when a blog gets mature from a label of a baby blog to the pedestal of a majestic presence. Right on the heels of my expectations, I have managed to crack 500 posts (on EliteChoice) within less than a year (with first post on 9 January).

Ideally I should feature myself with a goblet of champagne but I take the opportunity to introduce my internal spirit to you. This two-legged beast is my mirror image who knows the right direction and cherish past with a present energy and looks forward to ink bigger deals in life (in terms of value as size doesn’t make a difference).

Besides my journalistic profession, I was committed to my bloggers’ desk throughout this year and never intended to beat big sharks like Luxist, LuxuryLaunches, UberGizmo, ShinyShiny, Bornrich, UberReview, Blavish and others but am glad that I earned the deserving recognition from them. Also, a three-month-young network with Elite Fashion Blog Bazaar Community is quite satisfying.

It was an exciting journey to chronicle the world of elite products and break the news on the board, respecting the prerequisite of a journalist and curiosity of my faithful readers. Gluing to my very first post that outlined the purpose of my blog, I am happy to set various laurels in that direction and am geared up to offer an unbeatable common-sense perspective on important topics/ products and events of the day.

I am glad to share with you that the onset of 2008 would mark our first anniversary with a lot more unique features on the cards. And yah from today I am all set to offer next 500 posts coming thick and fast.

This Time Three Cheers To Me And My Love:)

Buried amidst dirty shoe boxes and dresses for almost three decades, a valuable 18th century Chinese vase lately invited the highest bid of $5.87 million at Sotheby’s. The owner of the case is a Switzerland-based person who made an effort to put this vase for auction after witnessing a similar work at London museum.

Since 1970, this vase festooned with blue-and-white “dragon” art work was piled up in her wardrobe. Alastair Gibson, the head of London-based Sotheby’s Chinese department said that it has increased its value by 250 times. The global market for Chinese antiquities is flourishing and is fueled in part by an escalating desire in regards to wealthy Chinese collectors for remnants of their country’s royal history. As per Gibson, it is residing in woman’s house since 1950s, when she bought it from a German antique dealer. It was used by them to hold flowers.

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Miles away from India’s heritage monument Taj Mahal that has made to world’s seven wonders list, a namesake is being sold in a small Pennsylvania city and to the unfortunate seller could generate only one-tenth of the demanded price. This four-storey estate spread over 72,000 square feet in the town of Coundersport, US, was once the corporate headquarters of Adelphia Communications Corporation. Much against the seller’s expectation of $30 million, it invited the highest bid of $3.4 million in an auction that invited our curiosity for the past three weeks. The building is known as ‘Taj Mahal´ or mausoleum among the nationals.
The building was tagged as the Taj Mahal as Adelphia was dipping into bankruptcy before it could domicile the company’s office. It was constructed by Adelphia founder John Rigas before the company sleeved for bankruptcy in 2002 amidst accusations of an internal fraud and debt increasing to billions of dollars. The construction work was still in the process when Adelphia, sank into bankruptcy.
Via Bloomberg