When you buy a brand new phone, you have two options; protect it from the world in a chunky, military-standard cover, or coat it in priceless diamonds, of course.
It turns out that some A-listers, like Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian, have gone for the latter, and bought themselves some of the most luxurious iPhone cases around.
Plated with 24K gold, the stars of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ spent $599 (£504) each on the cases from Golden Concept.
But these aren’t the only stars that own deluxe accessories, as the company also sells the world’s most expensive Apple Watch case.
This ‘Diamond Edition’ case is made from a single block of aerospace-grade titanium and contains 443 diamonds, putting its value at a whopping $15,000 (£12,500).
Golden Concept makes luxurious Apple accessories using aerospace materials, precious metals, and gemstones. Pictured: Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian’s iPhone cases
Plated with 24K gold, the stars of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ Khloe Kardashian (left) and Kylie Jenner (right) spent $599 (£504) each on the cases from Golden Concept
They are only owned by seven people in the world, including Middle Eastern royalty and a chart-topping American rapper – although the company’s CEO, Puia Shamsossadati, would not disclose exactly who.
‘We have had a few unusual requests over the years,’ he told MailOnline.
‘One asked for an iPhone case depicting the Hindu deity Ganesha cast in solid gold and encrusted with diamonds. It cost close to a quarter of a million dollars.’
He added that products have also been ordered by adult film companies for their talent, that had their autographs engraved.
‘We clearly have something for everyone!’ Mr Shamsossadati told MailOnline.
The businessman, based in Malmö, Sweden, claims the Golden Concept products are the modern day equivalent of owning a luxury car, and the ‘opposite of plastic accessory fast-fashion’.
All of the precious cases are shipped in recyclable, engraved wooden boxes.
Mr Shamsossadati said: ‘Items like a phone or a watch are used and looked at constantly, and they are what other people see you with as well.
Kris Jenner, Kylie and Khloe’s mother, also has a personalised gold phone case from Golden Concept, which she flaunted on her Instagram
‘It’s difficult to stand out when, with regards to the iPhone, hundreds millions of people have the exact same product as you.
‘We allow people to let their personalities show through their accessories.’
But the Kar-Jenners are not the only celebs flaunting some series bling on their gadgets, as Brazilian football player Neymar Jr owns at least three Apple Watch cases worth $1,999 (£1,653) each.
These are made from gold-plated stainless steel or titanium adorned with 200 Swarovski crystals.
Footballing legend Lionel Messi and hit-maker DJ Khaled also own iPhone cases plated with 18K gold, worth a whopping $5,000 (£4,142).
The world’s most expensive Apple Watch case is made from a single block of aerospace-grade titanium and contains 443 diamonds, putting its value at a whopping $15,000 (£12,500)
Neymar also has a gold, custom iPhone case from Golden Concept engraved with his own NFT
Footballing legend Lionel Messi and DJ Khaled (pictured) also own iPhone cases plated with 18K gold, worth a whopping $5,000 (£4,142)
Titans of the music industry have all received the luxurious iPhone cases, which go for upwards of $599 (£504). Left: Luis Fonsi. Right: Karol G
But some smartphone case designers put function over fashion, and one from Mous enabled an iPhone 14 to survive being launched during a bungee jump.
Mous CEO and co-founder, James Griffith, took part in the terrifying jump, during which he dropped Apple’s flagship smartphone from 60 feet off the ground.
Amazingly, both the smartphone and the smartphone case survived the test unscathed.
‘I’m not sure what’s scarier – jumping from that high or throwing a brand new iPhone 14!’ he joked.
Smartphone accessory company, Mous, put one of its protective cases on Apple’s brand new smartphone during a bungee jump stunt at Bray Lake
However, both Mous and Golden Concept may have yet to cotton on to the next big trend in smartphone cases – artificial skin.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed a prototype skin that they say can wrap around devices such as smartphones to provide a ‘more natural interface’.
Designed to look like and mimic human skin, it responds to different forms of human contact such as tickling, caressing and pinching.
The researchers say their work opens the door for a possible future with ‘anthropomorphic devices’ – where gizmos have human characteristics.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed a prototype skin that they say can wrap around devices such as smartphones to provide a ‘more natural interface’
The artificial skin was created using two layers of silicone – dubbed ‘dermis’ and ‘hypodermis’ layers – with an electrode layer in the middle made up of ultra-thin wires that act as sensors.
Two different types of silicone were dipped in pigment and moulded to give the creation a skin-like texture.
The researchers said their artificial skin allows devices to ‘feel the user’s grasp’ and has the ability ‘to detect interactions such as tickling, caressing, even twisting and pinching’.
3D-printed anti-bacterial smartphone cases could help to stop the spread of superbugs like MRSA
A new anti-bacterial material that can be used to make smartphone cases could hep to stop the spread of deadly superbugs.
British scientists have created 3D-printed parts that kill bacteria which have become resistant to antibiotics, such as the dreaded MRSA.
The material could be used in general parts for hospitals, door handles, children’s toys, dentures and everyday consumer products.
It promises to halt outbreaks of serious illnesses in wards and care homes – potentially saving the lives of vulnerable patients.
Read more here
The 3D-printed material was effective on both Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which can cause disease in plants, animals and humans, and Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause serious infections, like blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Pictured: Individual Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria on a Nylon-12 surface
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk