LuxuryLifestyle is a portal about all things luxury, but the very word can mean different things to different people. That’s why we have launched “My idea of Luxury”. All you have to do is get in touch with us, sending us your name, location and, in around 50 words or less, what your personal idea of luxury really is. Perhaps it is:

• A place around the world or close to you
• Something you like to indulge in
• A possession

But of course, one thing will be certain: it will be unique. Every idea will be published on our site in a special article later this year. Get writing!

The Polar Diamond Group was created in 2005 for the acquisition of Polar Bear Diamonds™. Polar Bear Diamonds™ was originally established by Sirius Diamonds in 1999, and is described by many as the original 100% Canadian Diamond.

Polar Diamonds owns and operates the Polar Bear Diamond Factory in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The Polar Bear Diamond factory consists of a 5000 square foot, high security building containing state of the art equipment. It is located next door to the already established Arslanian Cutting Facility. Polar Bear Factory employs over 40 people who have extensive training in cutting and polishing.

All Polar Bear Diamonds™ are subject to the strict standards as set out by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Peter Thompson, Editorial Director of LuxuryLifestyle, is pleased to announce the Inaugural LuxuryLifestyle.com Awards for Luxury 2006. These awards will commend those who have achieved outstandingly in the luxury industry.

Details about the awards will be unveiled in an official press release scheduled for mid-April. We can tell you, however, that there will be a Readers’ Choice Award for your favourite luxury brand, as selected by the readership of LuxuryLifestyle. There will be five nominations for this award, so if you have a luxury brand or service in mind that you would like to propose, feel free to contact our Editorial Director at pthompson@luxurylifestyle.com.

London set for royal jewelry auction

The late Princess Margaret, younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, will have several items of her jewelry, furniture and works of art auctioned at Christie's in London, it was announced this week.

To be held on June 13th and 14th, the auction will comprise more than 800 items of her most esteemed possessions and is thought to have a total value of over £2 million.

One of the highlights of the auction is a £5,000, nine-carat gold gem-set Cartier cigarette case that was presented to Princess Margaret for Christmas in 1949 by "her very devoted Papa", as the inscription reads, King George VI.

The highest single estimate in the collection is for a translucent mauve enameled silver Faberge clock, with gold decorations. A gift from Queen Mary, the auctioneers value the piece at over three-quarters of a million pounds.

Christie's say this is the first time in history that the private jewelry collection of the sister of a reigning monarch has been offered for sale, although they are careful to say that it does not represent a part of the Crown Jewels, nor the Royal Collection.

The auction has been planned by the late Princess Margaret's two children in order to raise money to help pay an inheritance tax.



A bit rare, at £345 a slice

Welsh rarebit is a bit rarer now that Tom Bridge, the master chef and food historian, has reinvented it at £345 a slice.

The snack dates from the 18th century, when most people could snare a rabbit for the pot — except a Welshman, who was thought so feckless that cheese melted with beer would have to suffice.

But Mr. Bridge will use the fanciest ingredients, including Umbrian truffles and matsutake mushrooms — so valuable that they are harvested under armed guard — in time for National Cheese on Toast Day on April 27. He opted to use Warburtons Toastie bread and Lancashire cheese, which are best for toasting.

A version of the snack is to be auctioned on eBay and the highest bidder will get a personal visit from the chef, who will cook the dish in the winner’s home.