10 Over-the-Top Luxe Rentals
It's about time! Exquisite wristwatches valued at $7,000 to $50,000+ from Rolex, Audemars, and Cartier can be rented for several months - the fees vary depending on the watch's value and number of watches rented. One plan from Eleven James charges $2,700 for three two-month watch rotations per year; another plan goes for $4,850 for six two-month rotations per year, says founder Randy Brandoff.
Flickr/Hypophyse
Ok, so this stunning emerald and diamond pendant and necklace by Bulgari, given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton as a wedding gift in 1964, was priced at $2.5 million to $3.5 million a few years ago - then sold at auction for $6.1 million (Julianne Moore wore it last year at an exhibition of Taylor's Bulgari jewelry). But if this gorgeous accessory isn't for rent, plenty of other amazing jewels are. A pair of 18K white gold amethyst and diamond earrings, for example, sells for over $11,000 but can be rented for one week for $384 from Haute Vault.
REUTERS
Maybe renting an entire island sounds pie-in-the-sky, but plenty of people do it for weddings, honeymoons, family celebrations, and culinary or spa getaways they'll never forget. A rental of this Banyan Tree Maldives island in Asia goes for $20,000+ a night and is available exclusively for 2 to 18 people. Or go downscale a little bit and rent an island in Tanzania for "just" $3,000 a night.
Private Islands Online
Titan the Robot, created by Cyberstein Robots Limited, has been throwing "his" considerable weight around for the last few years or so, renting himself out for TV appearances and performances at malls, celebrity parties, trade shows and corporate events. The robot "costume" stands 7 feet 9 inches tall and was designed by Nik Fielding, who runs Cyberstein from Cornwall, England. Reportedly it's the most expensive robot in the world - one source says its rental fees run $150 million a day - though we have the strong suspicion Titan sets a price only after he meets you.
This is the fastest and most powerful roadster on the market, designed and developed by the Volkswagen Group and with a top speed of over 267 mph. But just think: By renting it you don't have the burden of paying full price or anything even close to that. All you need to rent this incredible Bugatti Veyron for a day is $26,000 - or, for a week, kick it up to just over $70,000. Just strap on your high-powered helmet and seat belt, and go.
Bugatti
This highly desirable brown leather Birkin handbag by Hermes retails for $16,500, but borrowing it for a month costs $600 through Bag, Borrow & Steal. The bag features accents of gold gilt metal hardware. Renting handbags, purses, clutches, and even sunglasses by Chanel, Hermes, Vuitton and Prada is simply a snap. All you need is cash.
Flickr/Jacket Lee
Cruise the world's best coastlines and most pristine beaches from your own chartered yacht, at a cost of $500,000 a week plus expenses. Athena, a sailing yacht built by Royal Huisman in 2004 and refitted to the max in 2011, sold for $95 million and is one of the largest sailing yachts built since the 1930s. It can host 10 guests in 5 cabins, plus 20 crew members for "a relaxed luxury yacht experience." Amenities include air conditioning and WiFi connection.
Flickr/Nick Kendrick
A gorgeous wedding gown by Nicole Miller in soft ivory ruching to "complement" a bride's curves can be rented for about $150, though it retails for $880. For extra luxe, pair it with Ben-Amun’s Antiqued crystal bracelet and Crislu’s teardrop sparkle earrings. Wedding dresses from a nearly endless list of designers can be rented these days for a fraction of the retail cost by places such as Rent the Runway and others. Once you've picked your selection, you typically book for a 4-day or 8-day rental period.
Rent The Runway
For $3,000 - $7,500 a night, this vacation villa on the island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos - featuring 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, two pools and a view to die for - can be yours. Bajacu (for "rising sun") is on a south shore hilltop with a 270-degree view of the sea, surrounded by a 13-acre estate of "lush tropical gardens with coconut, royal palm, fruit trees, bougainvilleas, jasmine, and frangipani." The house is 9500 square feet, with another 3500 square feet of open deck space. Drink it all in, then exhale. Repeat.
Luxury Retreats
Baby-soft fur coats, jackets, stoles, hats and scarves can be rented for just the right fee. Manhattan's Madison Avenue Furs Ltd./Henry Cowit, Inc., offers rentals for almost any season or reason, including white fox stoles for weddings, its most popular item, a spokesman said. About 10 percent of the company's business is actually in fur rentals today (it won't disclose individual rental fees out of deference to clients). The company also rents furs out to films, plays, photo shoots, and even the Obama inauguration in 2013, when 15 mink coats were on loan to discriminating inaugural attendees.
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