Yubz Swarovski-covered cellphone handset plunges us into a sea of despair

Sometimes we get the impression that somewhere out there is a community of ultra-wealthy individuals that live lives of unimagined excess and opulence. And when they get together to do whatever it is that they do -- think of ways to take over the world, perhaps -- they can be recognized by the fact that all of their belongings are encrusted in Swarovski crystal. From cameras to coffee makers, they live in a world of such rarefied elegance that any non-Swarovskified gadget is a blight, an eyesore. Even if you think we're a bit off base, it appears that someone at Yubz might know where we're coming from. The company is known for its plug-in handsets for cellphone users who want to kick it old school (like, "bakelite" old school). These things are usually available in cool colors like "Russian Red" and "Regal Gold" for somewhere around $45 ($75 if you want Bluetooth support). According to Chip Chick, the company has announced their newest handset line: beginning with "Lust" and working its way up through the Seven Deadly Sins, these guys will feature Bluetooth, a hell of a lot of Swarovskis, and an $1,800 price tag. Should be hitting the streets in the spring, if you can wait that long. And we've included a couple pictures of the standard device after the break, so you could see what all the fuss is about. You're welcome.

[loocas @ Jan 28th 2009 7:28PM]

:D:D:D:D

[insky @ Jan 28th 2009 7:32PM]

So is the headphone adapter for the iPhone going to get the Bedazzler treatment too? Or is that something you have to buy on your own?

[WTDude @ Jan 28th 2009 7:37PM]

How about Engadget never ever reports about this stupid crap ever again.

Lets diamond/crystal/gold/silver/platinum, encrust/plate whatever every stupid thing we can get our hands on! way to go!!!! GREAT JOB!

[GeStroup3939 @ Jan 28th 2009 7:42PM]

That image in black looks like it spells the word DICK and the phone looks like the shape of a DICK HEAD.

[Nick J @ Jan 28th 2009 7:47PM]

....

....actually it looks more like it spells "GeStroup3939"....


....but that could be the same word....

[GeStroup3939 @ Jan 28th 2009 7:53PM]

....

....actually your name nick rhymes with dick.

....so it's nick the dick jr. i suppose.

[MasterSauce @ Jan 28th 2009 8:17PM]

Anyone else think it looks like the Jaguar Shark from The Life Aquatic?

[chris @ Jan 28th 2009 8:18PM]

Who is their target market? Did Elton John get an iPhone?

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 28th 2009 9:08PM]

I absolutely love it.
Imagine the faces of people around you when your telephone rings and instead of the usual boring cell phone from the inside pocket of your coat comes out this thing (in black , of course).
For a resonable price I would definitely buy it:

[Rob Conway @ Jan 28th 2009 10:43PM]

Not black, the red one is perfect! hahahahahahaha! how fucking ridiculous is that?
it's inspiring. i'm gonna make a HUUUGGGEEE fucking shoulder harness/helmet apparatus for use with the iPhone. you jam the iPhone (or ipod touch, i don't wanna exclude anyone) into a dock on top of the helmet. It has a 17" LCD panel hanging off the front so you can see the display, a nice 5.1 surround sound system, you know like an actual set you would hook to computer at home, and a hollywood quality boom mic! that shit would kick ass!

[Jeff Lewis @ Jan 28th 2009 9:45PM]

This is why the notion of 'style' as a primary purchase criterion leaves me cold.

I know this will be hard - but give it a try and maybe improve your 'empathy' skills.

Look at that first handset. Feel the nausea well up. Feel the sense of 'WTF is WRONG with you?" grow inside.

Now.. imagine that you're someone who doesn't like the Apple design approach and that that's how they feel. Imagine your MacBook Pro encrusted in faux leopard patterned Swarovski crystals and costing $33,000.

That's how some of us feel. Accept it. What's lovely for some, might be stunningly unattractive (or just meh) to others.

It doesn't mean YOU shouldn't enjoy your Apple products. It doesn't mean you're nuts for liking them. It just means that different people like different things.

The being said... some preferences should probably not be shared in public - and those two phones fall firmly in that group. :)

[dishbreak @ Jan 29th 2009 1:50AM]

This gives new meaning to the phrase "disposable income."

Personally, I think Sony's 11-inch OLED is a dumber idea than this, but yeah...there's retro that's charming, and then there's retro that should just stay in the decade we left it behind in.

[Julius @ Jan 29th 2009 2:12AM]

ThinkGeek sells these exact same handsets (both the corded and the Bluetooth versions, obviously not the crystal-encrusted version) as an *exclusive item* claiming that they're the only retailer selling them. Obviously they were lying.

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