10 INSANELY EXPENSIVE VERSIONS OF NORMAL ITEMS

10 Insanely Expensive Versions of Normal Items
By Selena Singh, Toptenz, 30 July 2015.

When you’ve got more money than you’ll ever need, it’s not just your houses and cars that can reflect it. Imagine, for a moment, getting a bonus from your job. You might treat yourself to an extra-large coffee instead of the usual medium, or get really opulent and buy 2-ply toilet paper. So plush! But when you’re filthy rich, any little thing that you can use in your daily life can be over-the-top, and it doesn’t even have to be gold plated or diamond encrusted. Here are some overly luxurious, every day items that will leave you shaking your head.

10. Juuni Ban Hot dog (US$169)

We usually think of hot dogs as a quick and cheap solution for lunch, but the US$169 Juuni Ban hot dog is neither quick, nor cheap. The Seattle food truck company, Tokyo Dog, is responsible for this 12-inch masterpiece. Revealed in 2014, this Guinness World Record holder is made with some of the world’s most expensive ingredients including wagyu beef, foie gras, shaved black truffle and caviar. The only thing that seems to be missing is gold flakes, which its makers (Eugene Woo, Samson Kwong and Rocky Yeh) considered but ultimately decided to exclude.

If you’re craving one right now, you’re out of luck because it requires two weeks’ notice to acquire the ingredients. To avoid regretting your insane order within that time frame, just remember that all proceeds of this gourmet hot dog go to the American Red Cross.

9. Perfect Pencil (US$311)

Does writing with expensive utensils give your words more worth? If you’d like to find out for yourself, you can order a US$311 pencil made by German manufacturer Graf von Faber-Castell. This supposedly perfect pencil (as it is so appropriately named) is made of Californian cedar wood and comes with a replaceable eraser and a sharpener built into its platinum-plated extender. You know what that means: no more rummaging through your things to find those easily-lost tools. It’s also claimed that the pencil releases the pleasant aroma of the cedar when sharpened. Seriously, what more could you ask for?

The company, which has been making luxurious writing utensils since 1761, even has a line of fountain and ballpoint pens named “Pen of the Year” (some of which are gold-plated) that retail for thousands of dollars.

8. Kona Nigari Water (US$402)

Water is a basic human need, so we wouldn’t expect to pay more than US$7 for a standard 750mL bottle (and even that price is ridiculous). However, Kona Nigari water is here to shatter your ideals of cheap water for all to drink. At a whopping US$402 per 750mL, this is the most expensive (non-gold loaded) water that comes in a bottle not adorned by crystals or made of solid gold.

So, why the high price? Well, off the coast of Hawaii, the desalinated water is extracted 2,000 feet under the sea. The water, marketed by Hawaii Deep Marine Inc., claims to aide weight loss, stress reduction, skin tone and digestion. Maybe it’s worth the price if it really does do the job of your dietician, therapist, and dermatologist combined.

7. Kopi Luwak Coffee (US$600/pound)

There are some people who just can’t function without a cup of coffee in the morning. Some even go so far as to spend US$5 on a drink at certain popular coffee retailers. But just how far are coffee-lovers willing to go? How about US$600 per pound? That’s the price of Indonesia’s Kopi Luwak, the world’s most expensive coffee.

The coffee beans are actually seeds, which fall from the flowering plant, Coffea. The plant itself comes in the form of a shrub or small tree and is native to tropical Africa and Asia. The fallen seeds are ingested by civet cats and undergo fermentation in their bodies. After about a day, the beans are excreted from the cat and collected by farmers to be washed and roasted. In other words, the most expensive coffee in the world is, quite literally, cat poop. Tasty!

6. Faiv Kei’s Olive Juice Soap (US$817)

If you have an extra US$817 laying around, what would you buy? A puppy? A laptop? How about a bar of soap? Yes, you read that correctly. Carefully crafted over a period of 6 months, the olive juice soap by Japanese luxury soap company Faiv Kei is one of the world’s most expensive soaps. But, is it really just money down the drain?

Faiv Kei takes pride in gathering raw materials from around the world, especially olive oil. Rich in oleic acids and phenols, the soap has antioxidant properties that are beneficial for the skin. The olive oil is also said to protect the skin by not stripping away moisture, as do many run-of-the-mill soaps do. Additionally, the soap bar comes in a serial-numbered box.

5. Xten Ergonomic Office Chair (US$2,495)

Had enough of those uncomfortable office chairs with their cheap material and non-adjustable arms? Well, if you can dish out US$2,495 then your first world problems regarding your office chair may vanish. The Xten Ergonomic Office Chair is the Ferrari of chairs; they do, after all, have the same makers. Pininfarina is the Italian company that introduced this chair, claiming that it was designed at a cost of US$1.5 million.

The chair’s surface is made of Dynatec fabric, the same material used by Olympic athletes. It also incorporates Technogel, which adjusts to your body, apparently reducing pressure. Best of all, the arms adjust with the touch of a button.

4. Neorest 700H toilet (US$6,500)

They say that your home is your castle, and every castle needs a throne. Which inspires the question, is a house’s throne of the porcelain variety? It might seem that way with the US$6,500 Neorest 700H Dual Flush toilet by TOTO. The company, founded in 1917, has made it its mission to create innovative toilets that make life easier for people while saving as much water as possible.

The toilet actually comes with some pretty cool features, including an air deodorizer, heated seat, and even a nightlight (should you have any trouble finding the toilet in the dark). Fit for royalty, this toilet also has a flushing system called Cyclone that keeps the bowl cleaner than your standard toilet. You know, like the ones those feeble peasants are forced to crap in. Perhaps the best part about owning this toilet is the reduction in arguments about closing the seat and flushing the toilet, since it does so automatically.

3. Panama Straw Hat (US$25,000)

Equal in price to many people’s salary, certain Montecristi Panama hats by Panama Hat Company of the Pacific cost an unbelievable US$25,000. For that price, you could probably buy a brand-new car to protect you from the elements of nature. However, a US$25,000 car might not be able to give you the style and feeling of utmost class that these hats will give you. At least, that’s what we’re guessing you’ll have to keep telling yourself if you choose to drop about a year’s worth of college tuition on a freaking hat.

Each hat, which originates from a bundle of straw, is crafted over a period of three months. The owner of the company, Brent Black, claims that it’s the labour and art which is responsible for the high price tag. Several wealthy clients, including Charlie Sheen (because, of course), have purchased one of these finely woven creations. Now, that’s one hat you don’t want to forget on a park bench! Which is also, presumably, where you’re most likely to find Mr. Sheen sleeping most mornings.

2. Aerodream One iPod Speaker Dock (US$560,000)

Grab your ladder, it’s time to…dock your iPod? Standing at an impressive (and frankly, kind of absurd) 11 feet high, the AeroDream One by Jarre Technologies is the world’s tallest and most expensive iPod docking station. The US$560,000 dock was introduced in 2011 and yes, the hefty purchase also includes a ladder. The sleek cylindrical tower features a 15,000 Watt power output and a five-channel amplifier. Available in chrome, black or white, the custom-made dock is also compatible with iPhones and iPads.

This 992 pound dock may be a good investment if you’re an incredibly rich technology junkie, since it could also double as a work of art in your living room. It also helps if you’re Reed Richards, or maybe Andre the Giant. Otherwise, bragging about having a really tall iPod dock just seems kind of weird, ya know?

1. The Floating Bed (US$1,600,000)

The bed is often the thing people most look forward to after a long day. People love their beds. Throughout history, the bed has seen many interesting versions: water beds, swinging beds, bunk beds, and even rotating beds. But none of that compares to the ridiculous pointlessness of owning a magnetic, floating bed created by architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars for Universe Architecture.

This unusual, albeit amazing bed floats 1.3 feet off the ground and can support about 2,000 pounds. The way it works is that there’s a set of repelling magnets: one on the floor, and one on the bed. There are thin cables that keep the bed from drifting away. Of course, this means that nothing on or around your bed could be metal, but it’s probably worth the sacrifice being able to say you own the closest thing to a magic carpet. The bed was actually prominently featured in the Russell Brand remake of Arthur, but just take our word for it. We wouldn’t wish the pain that comes with watching that film on anyone.

Top image: The floating bed. Credit: Universe Architecture.

[Source: Toptenz. Edited. Top image and some links added.]