How the Royal Oak Paved Way to Luxury Sports Watch Market

The Royal Oak is the most well-known piece of Audemars Piguet in Las Vegas today. It first debuted at Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Show during the quartz crisis back in 1972. Audemars Piguet crafted the Royal Oak out of need because of the rising demand for the more affordable quartz movement watches. This increasing popularity of quartz watches was seen as a problem by watchmakers who make delicate and expensive mechanical watches.

As Audemars Piguet was severely affected by the quartz crisis, they realized that they would soon be out of business. As a result, they made a risky decision to design a new type of watch—a luxury sports watch.

Watch designer Gerald Genta was tasked to design and make the watch. According to Genta, an executive told him to “design a watch that has never been made before, and it has to be new and waterproof,” and it was due the very next day. 

When designing the would-be Royal Oak, Genta drew inspiration from a deep-sea diving helmet. Thus, the Royal Oak’s stainless steel case nods to the era’s marine diving helmets. It also has the same type of exposed screws and octagonal bezel.

Then, in 1972, when the Royal Oak debuted, it did not sell well. The idea of a luxury sports watch was unusual at that time. With its unusual design and high price tag, consumers were a bit wary. It was, after all, more expensive than a gold Patek Philippe and some Rolex stainless steel watches.

It took three years for the Audemars Piguet to sell its first 1,000 Royal Oak watches. Afterwhich, the interest in the Royal Oak suddenly rose. It is also said that the first Royal Oak was sold to Iran’s Shah—King.

While it took some time for the Royal Oak to become a success, Audemars Piguet’s risky decision to design and make an entirely new watch paid off, especially since it has made an impact in the world of luxury watches. We have Audemars Piguet to thank for paving the way in the world of luxury sports watches.

Most Expensive Swarovski Collaborations

People are often dissatisfied with what they have. And because of that, they love to do modifications and personalizations on their things. Some people like to put their initials on their items, and some like gold-plated everything—from dining tables to bathtubs. And in this blog, we’ve listed some of the most outrageously expensive Swarovsky Collaborations in Las Vegas or suit the Las Vegas scene.

Diamond Studded Konquest Hoodie

Clothes are the most modified and personalized item a person can have, and a Swarovski studded hoodie is just one of those. Konquest, a premium men’s clothing brand, unveiled a $10,000 Swarovski and diamond-studded hoodie. The hoodie was adorned with 4,000 Swarovski crystals and a 3-carat diamond zipper. Colby O-Donis wore the hoodie at the American Music Award’s Red Carpet and the after-party. 

Ji Xiang

The Ji Xiang glass sculpture depicts two carps frolicking atop crystal blue waves. The two carps are studded with 48,670 Swarovski crystals which were painstakingly hand-sent. The masterpiece took more than 394 hours to complete. Carps are a symbol of good luck and prosperity in China. Unfortunately, there are only 300 pieces of this masterpiece, and it is sold for $24,385 each.

Samsonite Black Label Swarovski Trunk

Are you sick of having identical colored or styled luggage with other people? Do you want to stand out while claiming your luggage at the airport? Well, this trunk might just tickle your fancy. Samsonite’s 1920s vintage-style trunk studded with Swarovski crystals is definitely a stand-out. The collaboration produced approximately 30 studded trunks and was sold at around $25,000. However, if you want one that is not covered with crystals, it would cost you around $950 each.

Swarovski Encrusted Crystal Isis Commode

We now have arrived at the height of technological innovation. And today’s toilets are pretty modern, especially Japanese ones with seat warmers, a bidet, and so much more. However, this particular luxury toilet is not technologically advanced, and it is a Swarovsky studded toilet. Jemal Wright designed the Swarovsky Endrusted Crystal Isis Commode. The entire toilet is covered in crystals. There is also a matching bathtub and sink if you want the whole set. The toilet will set you back at around $75,000.

Swarovksi Studded Mercedes Benz

The most eye-catching and expensive collaboration with Swarovski is the Swarovski studded Mercedes Benz SL600. The car was showcased at the Tokyo Auto Saloni in 2009. It was studded with 300,000 pieces of Swarovski crystals. Each crystal is cut into diamond shapes before being individually placed on the car. There were two Swarovski studded cars displayed in the show and one of which is owned by Prince Al Waleed of Saudi Arabia. The luxurious and glamorous vehicle is reportedly valued at $4.8 million.

How to Preserve Paper Money

Bank Notes (also known as paper money) are prone to damages, like being crumpled, folded, torn, and much more. And for collectors, paper money must stay in mint condition or an acceptable state. Its corners are not torn, its serial number is visible, and so on. 

If you are a collector of bank notes in Las Vegas and would like to know how to preserve their mint condition, you ought to read what's next. We’ve got a few tips for you on safely storing your paper money so you can preserve its condition.

Inventory

The first step in storing your paper money is to list all of the paper money in your collection. Make sure you include the denomination, serial number, year printed, country of origin, and other unique markers, thus helping you organize them properly. It will also help you identify which of them are high-value items. Moreover, by having a list, you can monitor which ones you have easily.

Handling Paper Money

When handling paper money, you might want to use soft cotton gloves. The gloves protect the money from fingerprints and natural oils in the fingers and palms. The oils excreted from our fingers and palms can damage the notes over time. Paper money should also be stored in a clear album with pockets or a money holder. You should also not attempt to clean the money or repair any tears. Any sign of repair will reduce its value and collectible appeal. With fixing valuable items like collectible banknotes, it is better to leave it to professionals instead of doing it yourself.

Where to Store Paper Money

In addition to the money album, bank notes should be stored in a cool and dry place. It should also be stored in a low humidity area, with the recommended humidity between 44% to 55%. You may store it in your closet if you want, just make sure you have considered its security. After all, bank notes would still have face value. A small vault is the best place to store them. It is secure, and some vaults are even temperature controlled, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your paper money.