Buzz
Carrying an Hermes Birkin, strutting in Louboutin heels, or donning Ray-Ban shades might seem the height of elegance, but these iconic fashion pieces are overshadowed by even more extravagant creations. Imagine having unlimited wealth—would you splurge on the priciest hat, handbag, or underwear ever crafted? While most of us budget for essentials, the elite—bankers, CEOs, celebrities, and politicians—indulge in these lavish luxuries.
10. Men’s Dress Socks: Falke Vicuna Gentleman Socks, $1,000 per Pair
Ordinary socks are a nuisance—riddled with seams, prone to stretching, and constantly slipping down. Investing in high-quality socks ensures your feet are always wrapped in unparalleled comfort.
Falke excels in crafting premium socks. The brand prides itself on using “only the finest yarns” to produce its luxury men’s legwear, offering “exceptional quality and masterful craftsmanship” in every pair.
The brand’s most expensive socks, priced at approximately $1,000 per pair, are crafted from vicuna, one of the world’s most luxurious fabrics. Vicuna wool is derived exclusively from the ultra-soft hair of the Peruvian vicuna, excluding any coarse fibers, making it exceptionally fine and delicate.
As described on Falke’s website: “The ‘fiber of the gods’ is sourced from the Peruvian vicuna. This exquisite, dense wool has been treasured as the rarest and most costly globally, reserved for nobility and the church since the era of the Incas.”
A single vicuna, resembling a particularly soft llama, yields roughly one pound of wool. Due to its delicate nature, vicuna cannot be dyed, leaving these extraordinary socks available in only one natural shade: llama brown.
Given the fabric’s opulence, mass production of Falke’s knit socks is impossible. Each pair is meticulously custom-made to fit the wearer’s foot perfectly and arrives in a sophisticated wooden box. Additionally, vicuna is renowned for its unique insulating properties, ensuring your feet stay warm in style.
9. Sunglasses: Chopard De Rigo Vision Sunglasses, $408,400
Wearing high-end Ray-Bans is a stylish way to shield your eyes, but for those seeking to make a bold fashion statement, only the most luxurious eyewear will suffice. Chopard crafts sunglasses and accessories from ethically sourced real gold. Their collaboration with De Rigo, a premium eyewear brand, resulted in the ultimate luxury sunglasses.
The Chopard De Rigo Vision Sunglasses are crafted with 60 grams of 24-carat gold and adorned with 51 individual four-carat River diamonds. Each pair boasts over 200 carats of diamonds, making them a true masterpiece of opulence.
According to a brand representative, “These exclusive sunglasses cater to a discerning group of fashion enthusiasts.” They debuted in Dubai, a fitting location given its abundant sunshine.
8. Men’s Suits: Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition, $723,000
A suit costing nearly a million dollars? Absolutely. Luxury designer Stuart Hughes and tailor Richard Jewels collaborated to create the Diamond Edition suit. Only three of these lavish suits were made, each requiring over 600 hours of meticulous craftsmanship.
Similar to other premium suits, the Diamond Edition is crafted from wool, cashmere, and silk. What sets it apart, however, is the inclusion of over 480 half-carat, single-cut diamonds. These gems are intricately embedded into the jacket’s exterior lining, creating a dazzling and unexpected effect.
Great news: The suit is still available for purchase on the Stuart Hughes website. As an added perk, each buyer receives an all-expense-paid trip to an exclusive luxury destination.
7. Hat: Chapeau D’Amour, $2.7 million
The most expensive hat in history is the $2.7 million Chapeau d’Amour, or “hat of love,” designed by Louis Mariette in 2004. Crafted from woven platinum and adorned with stunning diamonds and amethyst, the hat draws inspiration from the designer’s passion for ivy and bluebells.
Harrods commissioned Mariette to design something extraordinary for their new luxury millinery and wedding department. Sponsored by the American Express Platinum card, the designer embraced the project with immense enthusiasm and creativity.
The Platinum Guild had already created the rare platinum fabric that would form the foundation of the hat. This was followed by the addition of decorative Lady Amherst pheasant feathers. Mariette hand-embroidered these feathers onto the mesh-like fabric while sitting on a small island beach in the Indian Ocean, describing the process as “an absolute delight.” The diamond supplier designed unique clasps to secure the stones, allowing them to be removed for insurance and security reasons.
The Chapeau d’Amour has toured the globe and now finds its home at Cliveden House, nestled amidst the bluebell forests that inspired Mariette. It is not available for purchase.
6. Handbag: Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse, $3.8 million
In 2010, Robert Mouawad of the House of Mouawad unveiled the 1001 Nights Diamond Purse, priced at $3.8 million. A year later, the Guinness Book of World Records crowned it the most expensive handbag globally. This heart-shaped marvel, crafted from 18-karat gold, features 4,517 diamonds (105 yellow, 56 pink, and 4,356 colorless) totaling 381.92 carats. Ten expert artisans dedicated over 8,800 hours to bring this stunning creation to life.
The design draws inspiration from the Middle Eastern tale, One Thousand and One Nights. This exquisite jeweled purse has been showcased at auctions in Hong Kong, Geneva, and London and remains available for purchase. Experts estimate its current value exceeds $5 million.
5. Underwear: Victoria’s Secret Red Hot Fantasy Bra and Panties, $15 million
For decades, Victoria’s Secret has crafted bras worth millions. At the 2001 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Heidi Klum showcased the $12.5 million Heavenly Star Bra, adorned with 1,200 pink sapphires from Sri Lanka and a 90-carat diamond. In 2005, Gisele Bundchen wore the equally lavish Sexy Splendour Fantasy Bra, featuring 2,900 pave diamonds, 22 rubies, and a 101-carat diamond set in 18-karat white gold.
If you’re spending over $10 million on a bra, wouldn’t you want matching underwear? The Guinness World Record for the most expensive lingerie set belongs to the Red Hot Fantasy Bra and Panties, modeled by Bundchen in 2000. This set includes 3,000 diamonds and 22 Thai rubies set in 28-karat white gold, totaling 1,300 carats (with 101 carats dangling from a single diamond). The price? A staggering $15 million.
Note: Victoria’s Secret Fantasy pieces are technically “underwear” and not designed for poolside wear. For luxurious beachwear, consider Susan Rosen’s $27 million diamond bikini. Created for Molly Sims’ 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, this barely-there swimsuit features 150 carats of diamonds set in platinum, epitomizing the pinnacle of opulence.
4. Shoes: Passion Diamond Shoes, $17 million
Recently highlighted among our list of pricey everyday items, these shoes are a must-include in any luxury fashion roundup. Launched in October 2018, the Passion Diamond Shoes are the world’s most expensive footwear. Adorned with hundreds of flawless diamonds, including two impeccable 15-carat stones, these real-gold stilettos were crafted by Jada Dubai and are showcased at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hotel. While the display size is EU 36, affluent buyers can request custom sizing.
Note: A single pair of Passion Diamond Shoes equals the cost of 23,448 pairs of Louboutin So Kate pumps, priced at approximately $700 each.
3. Jewelry: CTF Pink Star Diamond Ring, $71.2 million
Even modest diamond rings come with hefty price tags, but the Pink Star is in a league of its own. This “internally flawless pink 59.6-carat diamond” fetched $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong in April 2017.
Mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, the raw diamond weighed 132.5 carats. It underwent two years of meticulous cutting and polishing to achieve perfection. Measuring 2.69 cm by 2.06 cm (1.06 in. x 0.81 in.), it holds the title of the largest flawless fancy vivid pink diamond ever certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
The Pink Star was purchased by Chow Fai Fook Enterprises, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate operating a chain of jewelry stores.
Note: The Pink Star holds the record for the most expensive jewel ever sold. However, the blue diamond boasts the highest price per carat at $3.93 million. In 2016, the 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Blue diamond was auctioned for $57.5 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva.
2. Dress: Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur, $30 million
Faiyzali Abdulla, a renowned Malaysian fashion designer, is known for creating extraordinary pieces. When one of his designs is named “Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur,” it signifies something truly exceptional.
Debuted in 2009 at the STYLO Fashion Grand Prix KL, the $30 million dress is crafted from premium chiffon and silk taffeta. This stunning off-shoulder gown sparkles with 751 diamonds totaling 1,100 carats, including a 70-carat Mouawad teardrop diamond adorning the bustier.
This stunning burgundy gown, adorned with a 6-foot train, is said to have cost $23 million to craft. Abdulla drew inspiration from the 14th-century Persian poem 'The Rose and the Nightingale,' which was recited during the dress's unveiling.
1. Timepiece: Chopard 201-Carat Watch, valued at $26 million
Chopard, a renowned Swiss luxury watchmaker, has been celebrated for its precision timepieces and exquisite jewelry since its inception in 1860 by Louis Ulysse Chopard, a young visionary dedicated to crafting accurate pocket watches and chronometers. In the 1960s, Karl Scheufele III acquired the company.
The 201-Carat Watch, priced at an estimated $26 million, is so unique that it lacks a definitive listing price. This extraordinary timepiece is adorned with 874 high-quality diamonds in shades of blue, white, and pink, totaling 163 carats. At its heart are three heart-shaped diamonds: a 15.37-carat pink diamond, a 12.79-carat blue diamond, and an 11.36-carat white diamond.
To check the time, the wearer activates a special mechanism. The heart-shaped diamonds elegantly unfold like flower petals, revealing the watch face, which features three pear-shaped yellow diamonds.
