�10,000 diamond-clad Nokia N95 borders on gaudy

To be fair, Continental Mobiles' diamond-encrusted Nokia N95 is a real bargain at £10,000 ($19,813) when compared to Amosu's £12,000 alternative, but seriously, real richies should be holding off for the evolutionary N96, anyway. For those with enough cash to care, this particular handset / status symbol packs a Sterling silver front-panel stacked with "4.42ct of brilliant-cut, VS1 quality, color G-H, naturally mined diamonds." If you're craving one, you'd better get your order in now, as it takes the British craftspeople crazy enough to sell these things three full weeks to whip one up.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 10:57AM]

I think it would be cool to replace the rather cheapish front bezel with a genuine silver one, but why did they lave the original, plastic keypad in? Doesn't make much sense. I'd like to see these parts replaced by metal ones, and the back cover also.

[Lowest Ranked Posted Jul 7th 2008 3:14PM]

With diamonds being the hardest mineral in the world, why would you want to lay them all over a device that you rub against your face?

I bet you come away with a clean-shave everytime you're finished speaking on it.

[Ignatius Posted Jul 7th 2008 10:57AM]

If you truly have the need to buy a $20,000 cell phone... please let me choke you with every single one of those dollars.

[Lowest Ranked Posted Jul 7th 2008 3:11PM]

The point of this is obviously to buy it, remove the diamonds, then return it claiming you bought the basic model.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:00AM]

ghetto fabulous!
LOL!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:03AM]

Please excuse yourself from Engadget...

On the phone? Well, when your phone goes missing in the airport, you'll know why...

[ronzorelli Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:03AM]

"borders on gaudy"?

Borders on it???

It crossed that border doing 100 miles an hour...

[zephxiii Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:05AM]

Bling Bling! I'd rather have brushed aluminum, stainless, or bright nickle plated metal.

[DefPoet Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:08AM]

The person that drops this phone is not goona feel to smart

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:43AM]

Dude, thats why they did a N95 and not a smartphone

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 2:36PM]

You mean the Symbian OS-totting, Quake-running, push e-mail capable Nokia N95 *isn't* a smartphone?

[Norcal2Monaco Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:11AM]

IF you're going to spend that much on a phone get a Vertu

[KaBoom Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:22AM]

Why do a N95 and not a N95 8GB?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:22AM]

This thing has HSDPA, faster than iPhone's 3G. Wouldn't have known such a thing was possible if I hadn't bought meself one.

[Zadillo Posted Jul 7th 2008 12:23PM]

The iPhone does include HSDPA as well; The iPhone tech specs page says:

UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)

I think the point of contention has been that Apple has mentioned a slower max speed than AT&T's 3G network is capable of; the question is whether Apple is intentionally limiting the speed, or if they are just being conservative in listing the max speed, or something else. I imagine we'll all find out soon enough what the real world results are.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:38AM]

Hey, with 10 million millionaires ( http://www.savingtoinvest.com/2008/06/world-wealth-report-ten-million.html ) in the world, this phone has a big market - gaudy or not. After people will buy it as status symbol rather than for utility purposes.

[Luke Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:34AM]

I would have said "gaudy on borders."

[Luke Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:36AM]

I would have said "gaudy on borders."

[Luke Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:37AM]

I'm anticipating a triple post. Sorry for the annoyance. Vote Obama.

[martindaler Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:40AM]

so do they just bin it when they are due the next upgrade, or do they put in one of those charity recycling envelopes?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:43AM]

this is plain stupid. broken-by-design el-cheapo cellphones covered with diamonds. it's like wiping your ass with italian silk.

if i were that rich, i'd hire a private secretary.

but okay, at least the money _is_ spent. that's what counts.

[stuartrue Posted Jul 7th 2008 12:42PM]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

[mcdizzle Posted Jul 7th 2008 12:43PM]

that side shot looks like it rivals the 1st gen iPod. T-H-I-C-K! (More like BRICK).

In the hands of certain supermodels it could be deadly!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 1:01PM]

Ditto that..ohp you already did.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 1:31PM]

12000GBP = $24000+ USD. I don't usually opt for clone alternatives, but the NK610 looks pretty reasonable at the $429 price -http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1674 -Get the functionality without possiblity of real diamonds falling off of $24K phone...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 1:35PM]

12000GBP = $24000+ USD. I don't usually opt for clone alternatives, but the NK610 looks pretty reasonable at the $429 price -http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1674 -Get the functionality without possiblity of real diamonds falling off of $24K phone...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 1:48PM]

I'm pretty sure after looking at those pictures that they managed to put the stones in all the places that the paint rubbed out from use on my N95... So... instead of losing a couple pennies of value from wear and tear you lose... diamonds? Stupid. Maybe make 'em inset a bit?

Thanks engadget for keeping us mere mortals in touch with the fashion sense of the stars, I always want to know what people who have wallets heavier than their heads are buying.

[fernando Posted Jul 7th 2008 2:41PM]

N95's build quality isn't good enough for doing this, you're better off with a vertu. The Accent Ti is well featured and much more, er, blingier.

[dougpy Posted Jul 7th 2008 6:43PM]

It "borders" on expensive too ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 3:48PM]

Nice phone but really expensive. I recently bought more of the cheaper phones and got extra savings through this cashback site called Litecash. The URL is www.litecash.co.uk

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 3:54PM]

sorry new to this http://www.litecash.co.uk

[waterboy99troop Posted Jul 7th 2008 8:44PM]

new to spamming links?... i think we'd rather you not bother...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 7th 2008 4:44PM]

N95 w/ firmware 20.2.011 upgrade will shut down randomly, beware...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 8th 2008 8:47AM]

oooooooooh! my eyes!!
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