Here are a few of the world's most expensive phones, or as we like to think about it, phones topped with glittering stuff.

 

 

First up is this fairly ridiculous looking diamond studded iPhone 4G from the Stuart Hughes collection. The entire frame is encrusted with 6.5 carat diamonds and the rear section features a solid platinum and diamond Apple logo.

 

The handset itself is equipped with 32 GB of storage space and is unlocked for worldwide use (i.e. no roaming packages required if you can afford this phone).

 

And the coup de grace? A luxurious hand finished wallet made from genuine Ostrich feet to be shipped with the phone as a free accessory.

 

This particular Apple product will set you back along the lines of R150 000 a pop, and only 50 are to be made worldwide.

 

 

Produced by GoldVish Luxury Communications, the GoldVish ‘Le Million’ (yes, that’s the official name), is a solid gold, diamond-studded phone designed by Emmanuel Gueit.

 

Made from 18 carat white gold and set with 120 carats of VVS1 diamonds (meaning the diamonds have only microscopic imperfections), the phone also features Bluetooth, 2 GB storage, FM radio, digital camera and an MP3 player.

 

And at a staggering R9.8 million it’s the most expensive phone in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

 

 

The ‘most valuable’ phone in the world award goes however to the Goldstriker iPhone 3GS created by Stuart Hughes. The phone was custom made for an anonymous Australian gold magnate (that’s why it isn’t on the Guinness list). 

 

Featuring a casing made from 271 grams of solid 22 carat gold, a display trimmed with an astronomical 53 1-carat diamonds and a ‘home’ button covered with a single extremely rare 7.1-carat diamond, this phone is truly a harbinger of luxury. It’s valued at roughly R24.3 million and it’s still the same iPhone 3GS underneath.

 

The 3GS Supreme did however come in a chest carved from a single block of granite sporting Kashmir gold and an interior lining made with Nubuck top quality leather.

 

If you (and your wallet) do have a taste for this kind of thing you can check out Vodacom’s iMAGINE concept store situated within Vodaworld centre. While you won’t find the kind of million dollar phones featured in this article, you will be able to get your mitts on some high-end devices previously not available in the country. Tag Heuer’s Meridiist mobile phone is on display selling for R163 000 for example, and it features a 60.5 carat crystal glass display.