Goldgenie opens Golden Luxury Store in the UAE

08/04/2016

Article by: Melvyn Teillol-Foo

Category:

Lifestyle, Travel

Can the Midas Touch be Too Much Luxury?

 

First Goldgenie Store in the Middle East

The luxury customisation brand Goldgenie just opened a luxury store in the iMall, on the border of Dubai and Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. The launch of the retail shop in the UAE is another step forward for Goldgenie so their clientele don’t have to visit London to discuss with a specialist in-person, about their personal requirements and see the range of gifts.

A large proportion of the UAE population, culturally have a high affinity for gold:
27% Indian
13% Pakistani
11% Emirati
49% Other

If you are adverse to gold, then, please look away now because the bling that follows is Extreme Gold indeed….

Goldgenie will customise almost anything in gold-plate, platinum-plate, Swarovski crystals or even diamonds. They have created the most unusual customisations in the world from a 1.3 Million Dirham (USD $354,000) 24k gold racing bike that takes pride of place in their luxury store to a gold Segwheel®.

Their motto is: “We create luxury gifts for the ungiftable”.

Laban Roomes the company founder stated “As a luxury brand we considered the UAE as one of the most important countries to establish a foothold within the Middle East, our prime focus is not just the retail market but also the corporate market for personalised customisation”.

Goldgenie was started by Roomes after a successful pitch on the BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ investment reality show. The USA version is ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’.

See the gold rose in his pocket? That’s one of their more popular products and I suspect next Valentine’s Day will see some AlphaLuxe readers’ wives getting one!

Which one would you choose?

Founded on a patented portable gold-plating technology, Goldgenie initially served the automotive industry. Lexus, Bentley and Rolls-Royce were among the company’s first major clients, providing gold-plating services for exterior detailing, emblems, and interior aesthetics.

In 2006, Roomes was asked by the US Academy of Television, Arts and Science (Emmy Awards) to present fifty-five gold-plated mobile handsets to Hollywood stars as part of the Emmy television awards ceremonies. Among the delighted recipients were Helen Mirren and Denzel Washington. He followed that with 900 piece limited edition Elton John Apple iPods encrusted with Swarovski crystals called “Starburst”, which sold out in Harrods and Selfridges stores when launched.

 

Gold! Gold! Gold!

Goldgenie was commissioned to gold-plate Hindu decorations for a temple in London.

Since then, there have been gold Buddhas, bathrooms, iPhones, tennis rackets, golf sets, and even guns. For the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond films, they made a gold-plated Beretta limited series and also Walther PPK.

 

Yes:  you too can sit your golden butt on a gold toilet seat; if that be your deepest desire!

 

 

Speaking of a golfing match, here is an excerpt of one of the most famous post-match conversations.

James Bond: “Do you expect me to talk?”

Auric Goldfinger: “No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!”

 

I’m too scared to imagine what this gold-plated cigar is used for….

Goldgenie already furnish luxury products to the Middle East Royal courts and also celebrities including Simon Cowell (X-Factor talent show trophies), Jay Z, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Brown, the Beckhams and the Oscar and Emmy winners.

 

 

They customise Apple Watches with gold-plate; that’s cheap luxury for those that can’t afford a real Swiss watch from Chopard or Patek Philippe.

There is even a commemorative gold-plated watch dedicated to President Barack Obama; alas, based on the cheap quartz watch used by the Secret Service.

Luckily, they do sell solid gold watches like this blinged-up Rolex Submariner NBA Edition.

You can buy a set of solid gold ingots inset with solitaire diamonds and Hallmarked in London for that real gold touch.

Maybe the big one for No.1 wife and the smaller ones for the rest of the * harem / mistresses / daughters (* delete as appropriate)   🙂

The next trend may be a corporate gifting initiative. What executive wouldn’t like a desk set of golden stapler, paper punch and ink well?

How about a Mac Book Pro in gold?

NBT: Next Big Thing

Of course, current customers are eagerly awaiting the impending release of the new iPhone 7 to be one of the first people in the world to proudly show off their 24k Gold, Rose Gold or Platinum iPhone 7, crafted especially for them.

Hey!  “The cost of true luxury is the choice it affords“; this store truly “creates luxury gifts for the ungiftable”.

 

Author’s Biography:  Melvyn Teillol-Foo (MTF)

Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo is a contributor on AlphaLuxe web-zine.
He is also a moderator on PuristSPro.com horology discussion fora. He blends his scientific medical objectivity from the pharmaceutical industry with purist passion, in his musings about watches, travel, wine, food and other epicurean delights.
His travelog ‘Lazing’ and feasting ‘Grazing’ series of articles have now passed into “mythic legend” on the original ‘ThePuristS.com’ website. Those were the halcyon days when he was “rich and famous” that he remembers with bittersweet fondness.

Dr Teillol-Foo is a quoted enthusiast on the watch industry, appearing in feature articles and interviews by Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Sunday Times (London), Chronos (Japan), Citizen Hedonist (France) and other publications.  He has authored articles for magazines like International Watch (iW) – both U.S. & Chinese editions, ICON (Singapore), August Man (Singapore), Comfort (China) and The Watch (Hong Kong).