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Earlier this year Heesen Yachts launched yacht number 13350, Galactica. This is the second yacht built for the same owner.

Galactica is a 50 meter, 164’ semi displacement vessel. It has an aluminum hull and aluminum superstructure. The engines are 2XMTU 16V595TE90. Galactica is the first semi displacement yacht above 47m which is equipped with the zero speed stabilization system, type 820 Koop Nautic / Naiad Marine. Its top speed is 26 knots and the cruising speed is 24 knots.

The interior design is by Omega Architects and is a contemporary design executed in semi-gloss lacquered pear wood combined high gloss lacquered burl woods. The ceilings are upholstered in off-white colors surrounded with pear wood trims. The owner’s bathroom is executed in Onyx marbles and the guest bathrooms have marble flooring, walls and countertops. The spacious atrium is executed in open-book veneered pear wood with a high gloss polished stainless steel handrail. The centre column of the stairway is finished in high gloss Vavona burl.

The exterior decks are clad in teak.

The lower deck is equipped with two VIP double guest rooms and two twin guest rooms all with en-suite bathrooms. It also has four cabins for accommodation of two crew each, a laundry and a crew mess.

The main deck has a full width owner’s stateroom, full width owner’s bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, study, galley, pantry, and day head. It also has a central entrance lobby, atrium, salon and dining. The wheelhouse deck houses the wheelhouse, captain’s cabin, VIP guest room with en-suite bathroom, day head and a sky lounge.

Galactica is the 133rd vessel launched at the Heesen facility.

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Sheikh Hamad, the foreign minister of the Gulf State of Qatar, has just made an amazing purchase. He has just bought a penthouse home in the exclusive and super-luxurious area of One Hyde Park Development in London for an astounding £100 million (around $196 million).

The penthouse apartment of the Sheikh is one of 86 luxury flats being built on the edge of Hyde Park opposite Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge.

Some features of the new ultra-luxurious apartments are:
- 24-hour room service
-bulletproof windows
-iris recognition scanners in the elevators
-panic rooms
-license plate recognition software

The complex has been designed by architect Richard Rogers is being developed by brothers Christian and Nicholas Candy. This project is also sponsored and backed by the Sheikh himself from his personal fortune.

The penthouse should be ready in two years and two other penthouses have also been sold.

I wonder why the Sheikh would have invested and sponsored such as luxurious and top-level project in London... maybe the investment will be paid off and the value of the appartment will be multiplied itselt many times in a short period of time...

Don't you think this lamp would look great in your kitchen, dining room or office?

I have been flashed by this superb design. In fact, I love chromed lamps, but this design has attracted me like no ther has done before...

I have done a research, and this is a lamp that was originally designed by Italian industrial designer Achille Castiglioni. This is not a cheap lamp, by the way. If you like fine art and contemporary design, this is yor lamp...although it is not the typical cheap metallic lamp you can find at Ikea...

This beautiful lamp has been a best seller for more than 40 years, since it was designed back in... 1966... yes, it seems unbelievable, but this lamp has been an icon, a mith of design for the last 40 years...

If you are interested and want to have more details about this piece of design, please click this link:
Splugen Brau Pendant by Flos

Gresso is a company specialized in ultra-luxury electronic devices. They have just announced a collection of ultra-exclusive Mp3 players, named The Symphonia Collection.

The idea is to create an Mp3 player for those customers who demand the ultimate craftsmanship and exceptional design.

Four Symphonia models are scheduled to be released in 2007. Those four models are made from Blackwood and White Gold, Blackwood and Pink Gold, White Gold and Pink Gold respectively, with the same ancient blackwood (200 year old African Blackwood), and 18 carat gold in each case, with prices ranging from EUR 3000 (US$4000) to EUR 5000 (US$6500).

All models of the Gresso Symphonia Collection have the same square shaped case, which measures 39 x 39 x 10.5 mm.

As part of the company philosophy, is the idea of allowing their ultra-luxury device to be worn as jewellery.

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This is one of the most beautiful watches I have seen lately.

Tag Heuer released the Monaco series chronoghapher in 1969. In 1970 Steve McQueen adopted this unique and trendy watch and showed it in his famous movie
"24 Hours Of Le Mans", a cult movie about car races, the biggest passion of Steve McQueen.

Tag Heuer was a revolutionary company when they released the Monaco series in 1969, because they introduced a square shaped watch, that nobody had the guts to offer before.

Today, Tag Heuer gives a deserved tribute to Steve McQueen and the Monaco series watches, and one of the pieces is this New TAG Heuer Monaco Vintage Limited Edition Steve McQueen Watch CW2118.BA0780 .

If you want to know more details about this beautiful, classy, trendy and unique watch, please click on the following link: New TAG Heuer Monaco Vintage Limited Edition Steve McQueen Watch CW2118.BA0780

There is a trend with the ultra-rich millionaires of owning commercial airline jets trimmed as to fit the highest demanding owners.

These commercial jets privately owned are decorated with the highest luxury details.

Edese Doret Industrial Design, an US based company, is about to complete the interior decoration of the latest Airbus A380. Some pictures of the interior of the aircraft have been released, and it is unvelievable the level of luxury and technology being installed in this VIP Airbus A380.

Although the owner is unknown, since the plasma TV's have arabic settings, it is clear than the proud customer is from the Gulf area. Since Dubai is the origin of the flightpath in the monitors of the plane, we can guess where comes from the owner of this aircraft that ha already been called a FLYING PALACE.

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YatchPlus is a fractional luxury yatch service created by a group of rich men. They are setting themselves apart from their competitors by offering The YachtPlus Signature Series boats. These series are 131 foot powerboats designed and created by famous architect Sir Norman Foster (from Foster and Partners).

YachtPlus owners are planning to have eight owners per yacht. There is an agreement that includes an option for eight more of these yachts to be made.

The ultra modern yachts will be made in aluminum alloy with a composite superstructure. Each one of the yachts have four decks and with four guest cabins and a full beam owner’s cabin. There is a submersible beach deck and the large glassed-in saloon area offers 180-degree views.

As per reports from other companies interested in the yatches multi-ownership (8 owners per yatch), a one-eighth share (12.5% of the whole) is priced at 1.5 million euros, with each yacht selling for a total of 12 million euros.

The first yacht should be ready in 2008, and YatchPlus is alreay having a lot of millionaire potential buyers interested in the shared ownership of these yatches from another world.

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Last week there was a very big controversy in Spain. Dolce & Gabbana released one of the ads from their current promotion (the ad you can see in the picture).Few hours later there were many phone calls, and public demonstrations from associations of women, feminists, and other women-oriented groups that protested and complained, claiming that the ad was humiliating from a women's point of view, and accused Dolce & Gabbana of promoting violence and abuse against women.

Early this week, Dolce & Gabbana pulled the ad out of their Spanish promotion campaign and acused the Spanish society of being old fashioned and out of style... they have also threatened that their next campaign will be even more provocative.

I don't want to give my opinion in this controversy...just look at the picture and judge yourself... hasn't fashion always known to be challenging and provocative?...

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It may seem that thong sandals are only used to wear at the beach or at home in the summer, but everyday we see more and more people using these comfortable sandals in every place and occasion.

Looking comfortable above all, , they are great to have around in spring and summer.

The only problem with thong sandals is that to find a really stylish and beautifully designed pair , especially for men, is a more than difficult task most of the time. These Louis Vuitton AIX Thong sandals is one solution. These thong sandals are made of a very thin black calf leather and the insole is padded for comfort. The sole and the outer strap both have the Louis Vuitton signature logo on top. The price is $420.

It is very hard for me to describe these watches with words...at least you have the pictures to realize these are not watches. Time in this case is not the most important thing, and this must be the reason why in these amazing masterpieces of jewelery the time is read through on the side of the watch rather than the top. The dial rotates and the hand remains fixed. The winding and setting crown has a briolette cut diamond, the lugs are set with precious stones, and the time indicator is set with diamonds to mark the half hours.
The price?? $150,000 each.

SOURCE: Zadora