Gold Plated Prototype Summilux and Summicron

[noimmunity]

Item # 200219552425 on ebay. BIN US$14,995.00 :eek:

Prototype made for the Sultan of Brunei.

[Matthew Allen]

Hideous lenses, but wow I have got to go stay with this Sultan of Brunei guy!:

The Sultan did NOT offer these for sale, they were special gifts to the distinguished guests of the palace, and upon there last night of stay the Two Gold lenses (of the #125 sets the Sultan ordered) were placed upon the nightstand of the guests bed as "gifts from the Sultan".

So who else in the world gives Leica glass to house guests? Let's make a list.:D

Matthew

[dshugar]

I saw a similar one on Craigslist here in Vancouver. Less expensive but still a fair chunk of change. This one for the King of Thailand: http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pho/643511812.html

[Nigel Meaby]

"The 35mm has a detachable black plastic lens hood"

Now that's a real selling point! :D I guess a gold hood would have just sent it off the "Bling Scale"
My finger was hovering over the "buy it now" until I read this in the description!

[jarski]

I wonder how much heavier those two lenses are, compared to normal ?

[manfromh]

Were all the Sultans guests photographers using Leicas? Or did the non-photographers just use the lenses as ashtrays?

[Matthew Allen]

Were all the Sultans guests photographers using Leicas? Or did the non-photographers just use the lenses as ashtrays?

I wondered that too. Most of them are probably mouldering in bank vaults along with other piles of riches.

Matthew