An auction that featured a life-sized fiberglass elephant with a 678-carat Gemfields emerald brought in a total of $782,200 to raise money for the endangered Asian elephants. The auction was part of the "Emeralds for Elephants" exhibition at Selfridges department store in London on June 23. The elephant, dubbed the Emerald Queen, sold for 150,000 British pounds or about $227,300. The auction also featured eight pieces of emerald jewelry by well known designers including Shaun Leane, Theo Fennell and and J.W. Currens. Proceeds will go to the World Land Trust and the Wildlife Trust of India. Another auction on July 3rd at the Chelsea Royal Hospital will feature other fiberglass elephants which have been displayed in London as part of the Elephant Parade created by a variety of designers and artists such as Lulu Guinness, Diane von Furstenberg and HRH Princess Michael of Kent.

[via National Jeweler]

Think the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is powerful enough? With 460 horses under the hood, it'd be hard to surmise otherwise. But feast your eyes on the new DR 520.

A special limited edition for the British market, the DR 520 is the product of the Mercedes Specialist Products Division headquartered at the legendary Brooklands race track in England. It benefits from a 60-horse boost to a dyno-rated 520 – hence the name. The package is completed by matte black or white finish, titanium-finish wheels and chrome, and the AMG Performance Pack Plus with upgraded brakes and engine components.

Only 20 examples will be made in either sedan or wagon body-styles, each carrying a £10k premium over stock at £62,430 or £63,680 respectively.

What was that large piece of jewelry around Kanye West's neck last Sunday at the BET awards? For his comeback performance West wore one of the biggest chains we've seen yet. The thick gold chain held up a huge enameled pendant of Horus, the god of the sky, war and protection in ancient Egyptian religion. The son of Isis and Osiris, Horus was usually depicted as a falcon-headed man as he is in Kanye's necklace. West also wore a four-finger pyramid ring, the total of which are rumored to have a $300,000 price tag. He posted large pictures of the pieces on his blog. Both pieces were created by Jacob the Jeweler. West is famous for his extravagant jewelry. He has worn a jeweled Jesus and another pyramid ring before.

It's been an exciting off-season for NBA basketball this year and the players are being watched carefully. The news that Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony and his TV-personality fiancee La La Vazquez have put their Littleton, Colorado home on the market has basketball watchers talking. But according to the Denver Post, Nuggets fans have no reason to worry. He still has a year on his contract and has said his agent is negotiating for a three-year extension.

Listing agent John Fitzpatrick of The Kentwood Co. in the Tech Center speculated that the athlete may be selling to get a little closer to town. His family situation has changed since he bought the home in 2007 from Qwest exec Stephen Jacobsen, who had the estate custom built in 2002. It looks Anthony will be set to take a big loss even if he gets list price. He paid $12 million but is only asking $9.5 million for the six-acre property in the Polo Ridge Estates gated community. The property has a 21,000-plus- square-foot main house, a 5,500-square-foot barn and paddock, and a 1,600-square- foot guest house. The main home has eight bedrooms, a wine cellar, recording studio, home theater, gym and a pool.



[via Huffington Post]

As part of their special "Odyssey of Pioneers" tour where they are driving a special Tag Heuer branded Tesla electric sports car from Europe through Asia, Tag Heuer is offering a cool giveaway where you can win a book signed by Leonardo DiCaprio. The book is a 150th Anniversary compendium of the brand and its accomplishments. What makes it more cool is that Leo will be signing two of them (there will be two winners), and that he is an official Tag Heuer brand ambassador. The giveaway is being held on Tag Heuer's Facebook page, and you can access it here as well as get more details. Don't miss out, the giveaway ends on July 3rd, 2010.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com

Back in April we learned that Mel Gibson had sold Old Mill Farm, his 75-acre Greenwich estate. Now the Greenwich Time has news on the price. The home sold for nearly $24 million after spending three years on the market. We first saw this property hit the market in 2007 for $39.5 million. At the sale time the listing price had been carved down to $29.75 million. He bought the property in 1994 for $9.3 million.

According to town records the new buyer is Cosette Property LLC. No information is available on the company but this could be a trust for a buyer who wants to remain hidden. The paper says that the highest-priced residential transaction this year in Greenwich was the $31.4 million sale of a mansion on 22 acres at 30 John St., bought by a company that lists Tommy Hilfiger as its principal. That property was our estate of the day back in April and was listed for $33 million. Hilfiger sold another Greenwich home last fall for $20 million. That one was listed at $27.9 million when it was our estate of the day back in 2008.

Old Mill Farm is a design by architect Charles Lewis Bowman built in 1926 for his horse-loving client, G.L. Ohrstrom. The home is one of the last great manor homes in Greenwich and is significant not just for the architecture but for the fact that it has 77 acres of land. The home itself is an Elizabethan-inspired Tudor mansion of 15,800 square feet and the property has 15 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms total. The jaw-dropping room of the place is the great hall which has a 40-foot cathedral ceiling with a stone minstrel's gallery, walk-in fireplace and leaded glass ceilings. The grounds, which were done by landscape designer James Doyle, include formal gardens and a maze. There is also a terrace pool, tennis court, greenhouse, stable, staff houses, log cabin and a pond on the property.

Gibson's Lavender Hill Farm in Malibu remains on the market at $14.5 million.

The sky's the limit when cost is no object. Case in point: celebrated blues guitarist and recording legend Eric Clapton, who has reportedly placed a very special order from Ferrari.

Clapton's a known Ferrari aficionado, and upon visiting the factory recently in Maranello, apparently fell in love with the new 458 Italia. Just one thing: instead of the V8 engineered for the car, he wants one with the V12 from the larger 599 GTB Fiorano – the same engine, more or less, that was in the Enzo, we might add.

Ferrari has, according to reports, agreed to build the special supercar according to Clapton's specifications. The question on our minds is whether the car will end up sounding better than its owner.

The Alexander Wang Studded Drawstring Pouch is a charming and unusual bag for the adventurous fashionista.

The rich, buttery red leather of this bag is artfully gathered with a snake chain drawstring finished with a red leather handle. The silvertone studs are prominent and bauble-like, giving this bag an exceptional amount of flash. The curious leather strips that comprise the top flap come down like fingers over the body of the bag.

Though this pouch is just 7"W X 6½"H X 2"D, it has a sturdy back and protective metal feet to help it keep its attractive, saddle bag-like shape. The pouch shape is the perfect complement for a tulip or bubble skirt.

The Alexander Wang Studded Drawstring Pouch is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $495.00.

Membership has its privilege, or so the saying goes. In the case of Hong Kong residents holding the exclusive Centurion card from American Express, that privilege includes the option to purchase an exclusive, special-edition Porsche.

The Porsche 911 Carrera S Centurion Edition is distinguished by matte black paint with blacked-out wheels, and an interior decked out in black leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber trim. It also includes the optional Sport Chrono pack and dual-clutch transmission. Throw in some special badges, but that's about the extent of it. Each commands a very hefty HK$2 million (about a quarter million in equivalent American dollars), and only three will be made.

Royal Salute, part of the Chivas Brothers luxury whisky stable, is releasing a new limited edition Scotch in a gold and crystal decanter to honor the Queen of England. Dubbed 62 Gun Salute in homage to the fusillade fired at the Tower of London every June to mark the Queen's official birthday and accession to the throne, the exclusive Scotch was created with the input of four generations of master blenders and each whisky used is at least 40 years old. Presented in an exquisite hand crafted Dartington Crystal decanter decorated in 24 carat gold and crowned with a cut crystal stopper, the result of 40 hours of artisanal craftsmanship, it will go on sale at the end of the year priced at $2,000 per bottle. The most prestigious expression within Royal Salute's permanent collection, it is available in limited supply due to its exceptional age and extraordinary rarity.