Karim Rashid-designed Globalight champagne cooler steals the show

Typically, you'd think a pricey bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne would be the star attraction on a night out, but we'd have to suggest otherwise if said container is being toted around in this thing. The Karim Rashid-designed apparatus, which is limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, is said to be a "modern reinterpretation of the traditional French chandelier." As for utility, it promises to keep your alcohol chilled for four solid hours, and considering the built-in LEDs will also flicker out after the same amount of time, we suppose that's a good indicator of when it's time to toss 'er back and get going. Here in the US, a handful of the Globalight's will be available exclusively at select W Hotels, but you're not unboxing one without laying down $4,500 first.

[Via Luxurylaunches, thanks Yoge]

[Rayan @ Apr 16th 2008 8:39AM]

Beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!

[j_g_puff @ Apr 16th 2008 9:37AM]

I think it looks tacky, actually...cheap plastic with spray-on chrome-effect. I can't think of anything I'd less want in my house.

[fashionista @ Apr 16th 2008 9:48AM]

puff is right... considering K. Rashim's past crimes against design, this is likely a human factors disaster made of the hardest, cheapest plastic China can mine.

[Rafer @ Apr 16th 2008 10:34AM]

Its pretty gross. And it lights up eww. Check the images after the jump with it next to a lion... Somthing is wrong with that lion.

[CubeGuy @ Apr 16th 2008 2:09PM]

Huh. Yup. That's a lion.

Personally, it'd have to be $20 and fit a two liter bottle before I'd buy it.

[Dualboot @ Apr 16th 2008 2:16PM]

Yes, the lion is stuffed (or it's nauseated by the design).

I can't decide whether I like it or not, but then again, I don't drink that much and I certainly don't have $4,000 to spend, so that pretty much does it for me...

[Dani @ Apr 16th 2008 8:40AM]

I want that!

[Jimmy @ Apr 16th 2008 8:43AM]

Do I have a dirty mind, or does that look like what I think it looks like?

[NHAnimator @ Apr 16th 2008 8:54AM]

It's French. It looks like what you think. And it wasn't an accident.

[RD. @ Apr 16th 2008 9:10AM]

I'll second that. Looks like something Quagmire would have in his house.

[Tarvus Domicus @ Apr 16th 2008 9:44AM]

$ 4,500...

Bag of ice, 99 cents.

It's a no-brainer

[tgeorg @ Apr 16th 2008 9:45AM]

Does it blend?

[Rayan @ Apr 16th 2008 9:29AM]

[sarcasm] Yes it will blend [/sarcasm]

[y3k.nik @ Apr 16th 2008 9:32AM]

I dont think you can fit it in a blender to enable blending...

[Thor @ Apr 16th 2008 10:02AM]

does it come with champange?

[Ian @ Apr 16th 2008 8:35PM]

why yes, yes it does. a $4490 bottle of champagne as a matter of fact!

[Jeff P. @ Apr 16th 2008 10:03AM]

You know you've got too much money if you're spending $4500 on a champaign cooler.

I mean, come on now, the next thing you know they'll be making a 3D flat-screen TV...oh wait...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/worlds-first-46-inch-stereoscopic-3d-tv-from-hyundai-on-sale-in/

[shmengie @ Apr 16th 2008 10:21AM]

i'd buy one if it just looked a little gayer.

[Rocketboy @ Apr 16th 2008 2:32PM]

Vag = Gay?

[someguy7234 @ Apr 16th 2008 10:40AM]

Is that a weeble?- If I Throw it off a cliff will it right itself so my wine dosen't spill?

[johnzilla @ Apr 16th 2008 12:56PM]

The first thing that popped into my head when I saw it was "spongeworthy".

[james1095 @ Apr 16th 2008 1:05PM]

What an ugly piece of shit. It's the sort of thing I'd expect to find languishing in the back of a thrift store with a $2 price tag on it.

[Ian @ Apr 16th 2008 8:35PM]

why yes, yes it does. a $4490 bottle of champagne as a matter of fact!

[Cassini @ Apr 21st 2008 5:27AM]

But the important question here is, what would a man of taste use? Well, it certainly wouldn't be this silly, gaudy, Euro-rubbish.

And those product photos are ridiculous. I especially love the odd, uncertain but tired-looking, sort-of-male-but-sort-of-not, taxidermic lion that looks like he ate a bowl of tranquilizers and isn't quite sure if he belongs there. It's also the only lion I've ever seen that looks as though it's wearing a wig and with a part down the middle (and what are those - sideburns?) At any rate, all they were missing in that particular photo was a shirtless Fabio, a bed with roses, and a waterfall in the background with a few butterflies thrown in for good measure. Blech.

Here's some solid advice: If you're looking to share a chilled bottle of wine, when it comes to presentation, a man would just use a classic, genuine silver ice bucket. Simple. Nice. Romantic. And balanced - not too masculine, not too feminine; sophisticated enough without being pretentious; and perhaps even a bit fun, but without being silly. Not to mention, there's something about seeing, and hearing the crush of the ice. That's the way to go.

This silly thing would afford you none of that; it's extortionately priced; and would make you look like you were trying too hard.

Besides, when you're sharing a bottle of wine, although details have their value, people ultimately are more interested in the wine itself and the company, not some stupid bucket or wine chiller.