China is driving the rapid growth of global vanity consumption — money spent on self-indulgence and enhancement of appearance and prestige — according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch global research report.

The investment bank said in a report dated Tuesday that the "vanity capital" market in the "Greater China" region, which covers the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan but not Macau, grew at an annual rate of 15.6 per cent and led the world in the past five years.

Consumption on luxury watches, jewelery, haute couture, fine wines, Ivy League education, private jets and cruises are all part of vanity capital, while in the mid-range market, cosmetics, smart phones and health supplements also fall into this category, according to the study.

The future growth the region is likely to continue outpacing other parts of the world through to 2018, with an estimated rate of 8.2 per cent annually.

Worldwide spending on the area rose 6 per cent year on year to US$ 4.5 trillion last year, although the global consumption market remained soft amid a sluggish economic recovery.

The market size of vanity capital in the region reached US$661 billion in 2014, trailing only western Europe on US$748 billion, and the US on US$663 billion.

"We find that the Chinese, the Indians and the South Koreans have been particular fans of luxury vanity capital over the past five years," Ajay Singh Kapur, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch Hong Kong, said in a research note.

For example, the luxury apparel and footwear market in China, India and South Korea rose strongly by 16.8 per cent to 18.4 per cent per year between 2009 and 2014, which compared to 4.8 per cent worldwide.

In China and India, he added, non-luxury jewelery purchases had been exceptionally strong based on traditional and cultural demand for jewelery and gold as a store of value. By contrast, in countries like the United States, Australia and Korea, sales of expensive alcoholic drinks had shot up quickly.

Despite global economic uncertainties, the study said, the vanity capital growth would exceed the world's average growth rate in the long term.

The main reasons include the internet-driven ease of online purchasing and price comparison as well as faster fashion churn.In addition, demographic trends also affect the vanity capital-related spending.

"Young people in many countries now remain single for a longer time and delay their purchases of first homes. In this case, they will have higher disposable incomes for vanity capital purchases," Kapur said.

But markets like China, South Korea and Latin America had ageing populations. "Most wealth is in the hands of older people. Vanity capital seems a significant beneficiary - be it Botox, luxury personal care, cosmetics or luxury baubles to enjoy [in] their golden years," he said.

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If you look at many of the most popular watch brands, you'll notice that their collections usually contain a few (or many) classics whose names have been around for years. Brands like Rolex don't really release new models, but rather continue to improve on their core collection over time. Models like the Submariner and Datejust have been around for generations. Other brands also keep tradition alive by continuing to offer modern versions of designs that have proved successful for many years. To recognize and help suggest those watches which are "living legends" we've come up with a list of the top 10 worth owning. To be clear, to be a living legend, a watch must have historic roots and still be produced today. We know we couldn't include them all so mention your favorites in the comments below.

1. Rolex Submariner

It was 1954 that Rolex originally released the Submariner, and the watch industry hasn't been the same since. The Submariner was never released as a luxury product, but rather a professional diver's watch that anyone could enjoy. It attained a cult status for being a damn good sports watch and later in the 1980s when the mechanical watch gained a more luxury status and Rolex began its long path to become the world's most desirable luxury timepiece brand. The Submariner is their most popular model for good reason. Durable and legible, its slick style remains timeless, and most importantly - suitable for most any man (and many women) regardless of look, style, or age. It goes without saying that the perennially good design of the Rolex Submariner is alive and well today in its newest renditions featuring 40mm wide cases available in steel, two-tone, or 18k white or yellow gold. Pricey with an average price of about $8,500, but sure to be timeless and retain value. rolex.com

2. Omega Speedmaster

Regardless of price, prestige, history or technology, the Omega Speedmaster is widely considered to be the quintessential sports chronograph. You want a handsome but not showy chronograph with a great history, distinctive look, and a long enough life to offer many different versions? That's a Speedmaster. Why? The Omega Speedmaster was good enough for NASA and one was strapped to Buzz Aldrin for his 1969 moonwalk. The Moonwatch is basically the Submariner of chronographs, there are lots of versions, plenty in the used market, they hold their value well and have evolved relatively slowly. Whether you fancy a manually wound 3570.50 or the updated co-axial automatic Speedmaster 9300, you really cannot go wrong and you'll own a piece of horological history Priced from about $4,500 - $8,700 for steel versions.. omegawatches.com 

3. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Facing bankruptcy in the expanding wake of the quartz revolution, the Royal Oak is the watch that saved Audemars Piguet and made them the brand they are today. Knowing they needed revolution and not evolution, Audemars Piguet brought in none other than Gerald Genta to design a watch that could introduce the brand to a bigger market. Genta created the AP Royal Oak ref 5402ST which launched in 1972 with a price tag so aggressive that not only did it vastly exceed the price of any of its competition, it even out-priced most gold watches on the market. The world had no reference for a steel luxury sport watch, making the Royal Oak an all-in play by Audemars Piguet. While the Royal Oak may have been a polarizing idea from its inception, it created a new watch archetype, the luxury steel sport watch, and acceptance grew fast enough to keep Audemars Piguet in business and the distinctive Genta design is a now an integral part of their brand iconography Starting around $20,000. audemarspiguet.com

4. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

1931 saw the debut of the Reverso, which was one of the original partnerships between Jaeger and LeCoultre, which subsequently merged to form a singular brand. From the start the Reverso was destined to be a high-end watch being made for members of Britain's elite society as a timepiece to be worn while playing polo in then colonial India. While the flipping case concept seems simple by today's standards, it proved complex to initially industrialize. The rectangular case originally flipped to display a solid metal back to protect itself. The art deco styling and handsome mannerisms of the angular timepiece made it a quick hit among high-society folk especially in Europe. The middle of the 20th century saw a halt to Reverso production and it wasn't until the 1980s that the Reverso started to come back. This was especially the case in the last 20 years. Its handsome styling is of course classic, but also timeless and inherently masculine. Jaeger-LeCoultre has also offered a dizzying array of Reverso styles and sizes to appeal to most luxury watch customers. The Reverso case and movement are made totally in-house by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Prices average around $10,000. jaeger-lecoultre.com

5. Rolex Datejust

Easily Rolex's most fundamental watch, the Datejust has been around since 1945 when Rolex added a date feature to their Bubbleback watch.  The Datejust is evidence to what Rolex believes to be most essential in a watch. Rolex is a conservative brand and the Datejust is their most practical model, offering everything you need in an everyday piece and nothing more. While a 41mm version was launched in 2009, the Datejust was previously available only in smaller sizes including 36mm (mens), 31mm (mid size) and 26mm for the ladies. This enduring model has been worn by many famous individuals including President Dwight Eisenhower, literally countless actors, and even Tony Soprano. One of the quintessential Rolex models, the Datejust offers excellent versatility, working just as well with jeans and a t-shirt as it would with a suit and tie. Prices start around $9,000 (for the Datejust II), but the sky is the limit if you like yellow gold and pave diamonds. rolex.com 

6. Tag Heuer Monaco

The Heuer Monaco was launched in 1969 as one of the first automatic chronographs in existence and one that Jack Heuer named in honor of the famous Monaco GP Formula One course. With its square case and now-famous Calibre 11 automatic movement, the Monaco was even seen on Steve McQueen's wrist in the 1971 film Le Mans. An absolute classic in the chronograph world, the Monaco was discontinued after only a few years but the design saw a McQueen reissue in 1998 and was later relaunched by Tag Heuer in 2003. Vintage and limited edition Monacos are extremely desirable and claim a considerable fee in the used market. Whether you're channeling Steve McQueen or Walter White, a Monaco will provide about as unique a wrist presence as can be found today From about $4,500. tagheuer.com 

7. Glashutte Original Senator Navigator

In addition to diver-style watches, the most popular sport watches are pilot-style timepieces - and there are tons of them. Pilot watches are some of the original "big watches" and it is hard to pinpoint exactly who created them first. People tend to agree that many of the early ones were German and Swiss from as early as the 1920s. This particular quintessential design is sometimes referred to by the "B-uhr" name and has been reproduced by dozens of brands. Because we like them, we chose the Original Senator Navigator by Glashutte Original to represent this iconic living legend watch as there is no clear "living parent" to the design. Glashutte Original makes a few pieces in their Original Senator Navigator pilot watch collection with an average price of about $7,000 and they are very high in quality even though they are rare to be found even where Glashutte Original watches are sold. Other brands who offer this design sell them at prices from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars. glashuette-original.com 

8. Breitling Navitimer

The early 1950s heralded in the era of another famous pilot watch - the Navitimer by Breitling. What made this piece famous was its combination of chronograph and slide-rule bezel. While not the first Breitling piece to offer these complications, the Navitimer was quickly adopted by military and professional pilots as a useful tool because in addition to telling time, it was able to offer a range of necessary inflight calculations. This was thanks to the slide-rule and chronograph combo. When cockpits went digital, the utility of the Navitimer subsided, but today many pilots are still trained using traditional analog calculation systems as a backup if electronics fail. The Breitling Navitimer is much more than a tool having attained the status as a high-end tool watch for the discriminating and intelligent active guy. Today, Breitling offers version of the Navitimer with their own in-house movements and it remains one of the brand's top sellers. Price is about $9,000.breitling.com 

9. Cartier Santos

The Cartier Santos is a surprisingly enduring design that is actually quite closely linked with the birth of manned flight. Alberto Santos-Dumont was the first man to achieve sustained flight in a fixed wing aircraft circa 1906. Dumont was close friends with a French jeweler named Louis Cartier and had shared with him the difficulty he experienced when trying to check his pocket watch while flying. Cartier set about to design a wrist-mounted watch that would allow Dumont to view the time without removing a hand from the flight controls. In helping Dumont with a practical problem, Cartier created the first pilot's watch and likely kick-started the trend of men wearing watches on their wrists, which was generally only done by women at the time. The original Santos design lives on today as the Santos 100 in which the distinctive square-style case and roman numeral dial have been updated to a modern 51 x 41.3 mm size. The Santos has endured because of both its origins and its functional sporting design which looks great despite being over 100 years old. Starting from about $6,700. cartier.com 

10. IWC Portuguese

The story of the IWC Portuguese collection starts with its name. According to IWC, a group of Portuguese ship merchants traveled to their manufacture in Switzerland in the 1930s asking for a legible and highly precise watch able to be worn while onboard a ship. At the time it was necessary to have precise marine chronometer clocks while at sea because there was no way for the ship to update its clocks while far from land. The men from Portugal wanted precise wrist watches as opposed to having to rely on stationary clocks. While it is unknown how precise these original clocks ended up being, what is known is that the watches to come out of the relationship proved very popular. Their design is based on ship instrumentation and marine clocks, and they remain extremely popular sellers for IWC today. The Portuguese comes in a range of styles but each has that large-size dial look with applied Arabic numerals and properly proportioned hands. To many, it is watch design perfection, and by all accordingly a living legend. Average price is about $10,000. iwc.com

Notable Top 10 Living Legend Watch runner-ups: Breguet Classique, Bell & Ross BR 01, Junghans Max Bill, Patek Philippe 5270, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Panerai Marina Luminor, Hublot Big Bang, Rolex Daytona, and Movado Museum Dial.

 This article was jointly produced by Ariel Adams & James Stacey

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The Apple Watch can be outfitted with many different bands, from a simple synthetic strap to high-end leathers. But one band caught my attention from the get-go, back when the watch was first revealed last year.

It's called the "Milanese loop." You have undoubtedly seen it because many of the review watches that were distributed to the media came with this band. It's a delicate silvery mesh that combines a metal-link-style bracelet (think: Rolex Submariner dive watch) with a buckled strap.

The closure on the loop is magnetic so the wearer can strap the Apple Watch securely to his or her wrist. It combines the precise adjustability of a strap with the durability and style of a link bracelet, minus the imprecise bracelet sizing that many folks with smaller wrists don't like.

The Milanese loop, naturally, was created in Milan. As WatchPro.com noted, the style was popular in the 19th century, a time when wristwatches were typically rather demure and seen as jewelry, mainly for women (men carried pocket watches).

Metal mesh bracelets were in the wristwatch mix for decades and looked particularly relevant during the Art Deco period of the early 20th century. In the post-World War II era, however, Milanese loops became more of an offbeat choice. Writing for WatchPro, Kathryn Bishop pointed out that the style became a signature for Skagen, a Danish brand that specializes in very thin watches; the more delicate Milanese loop makes sense with this type of timepiece.

Elsewhere, link bracelets and straps, as well as a type of closure called a "deployant" (a strap that doesn't buckle), have ruled the watch world. The trend in luxury watches and less-expensive timepieces alike has been toward larger and larger faces – 40 millimeters and up is the default for men these days – and big watches don't get along very well with a delicate mesh band. Thick, distressed leather bands, chunky link bracelets, and aftermarket stuff like militaristic Nato and Zulu straps are what we've seen.

Until the Apple Watch came along.

The Milanese loop made an immediate and early appearance in promos for the Apple Watch. If you searched "Milanese loop" online back in 2013, you would have gotten a bunch of obscure results. Do it now and you get sent right to the Apple Watch. I'd go far as to say that the Apple Watch is now inextricably associated with the Milanese loop.

In fact, the loop works very well with the stainless-steel version of the Apple Watch, which is fairly thin, as watches go. It also allows the watch to take center stage (center wrist?), something that's important for the Apple Watch, given that it is designed to have a much more active screen than the typical watch's face. Finally, because the Apple Watch is square, an unusual form factor in the luxury watch world, the mesh loop allows that unique shape to stand out.

The Milanese loop has always been a good choice for men in particular who do not have the large wrists that accommodate link-style bracelets. But the fine metal mesh came off a perhaps insufficiently masculine, and the burly nature of a lot of big sport watches didn't help.

Many men who haven't been wearing watches – they've got smartphones, thanks – are going to buy the Apple Watch, and plenty of those guys are going to go for the Milanese loop.

So good work, Apple, in reviving a classic band that had fallen completely by the wayside. The watch world rejoices!

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Luxury hotels can cost thousands of dollars a night, but they don't have to. 

Insiders know where to book a luxe hotel on the cheap. Of course there are the major online travel agencies like Priceline, Orbitz, and Hotels.com, but those are just a starting point for in-the-know travelers.

Here are eight websites that let you book luxury hotels for less.

Jetsetter

Jetsetter.com began as an offshoot of Gilt Groupe, but was acquired by TripAdvisor in 2013.

One of the original flash sale vacation sites, Jetsetter offers discounted rates at top hotels around the world. Their sales usually only last a week or so though, so if you see a hotel you're interested in, book a room before the sale expires. The site also allows users to book rooms at their curated hotels year-round — though not at the same discount you'd find in a flash sale.

Luxury Link

In addition to offering discounted rates to top hotels around the world, Luxury Link makes sure its users get other perks, like resort credit or complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi. 

The site also offers the option of bidding on getaways at some properties for discounted rates through an auction.

Luxury Link works with Gilt Travel. 

Secret Escapes

Secret Escapes is a members-only hotel booking site that negotiates rates with luxury hotels that are up to 70% off.

There's no fee to become a member. Simply enter your email address and you'll have access to the sales.

If luxury hotels aren't your scene, and you aren't in the market to buy an estate of your own, there's another option available: renting.

RentCafe.com put together a list of the most expensive rentals in 15 countries, ranging from a picturesque villa on the French Riviera to a streamlined luxury flat overlooking Hyde Park.

Dollar amounts listed are USD as of April 27.

15. South Africa: A sleek triplex with a pool.

Monthly Rent:$14,867

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

This three-level, three-bedroom apartment with an infinity edge pool overlooking the ocean comes fully furnished.

14. Belgium: A renovated masterpiece outside the city.

Monthly Rent:$16,113

Location: Brussels, Belgium

This five-bedroom home, originally built in 1929 by famous Belgian architect Marcel Leborgne on nearly five acres of land, was completely renovated to feature a swimming pool, home theater, and gym.

13. Spain: An ocean view villa on the coast.

Monthly Rent:$48,770

Location: Malaga, Spain

This nine-bedroom, four-floor villa features an elevator, wine cellar, sauna, gym, movie theater, spa, and two covered porches overlooking a pool with ocean views.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The poshest of luxury homes are acquiring the cachet of a masterwork by Picasso or Matisse.

Rather than settle for garages of antique cars or a museum's worth of paintings, billionaires are increasingly willing to pay $100 million for homes that can serve as showcases for their fortunes, according to an analysis issued Thursday by Christie's International Real Estate.

"It tells you that there is a new class of collectible — they're trophies now," Dan Conn, CEO of Christie's real estate brokerage, said of the most lavish homes being acquired.

The luxury housing market has shifted in the past year as the dollar has strengthened. Sales in Manhattan, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and other global hubs are stabilizing after having rocketed in 2013, when many buyers cashed in on stock market gains. Now, multi-millionaires and billionaires are seeking estates overseas and at resort destinations, the report said.

The dollar has appreciated 20 percent against the euro in the past year, making pied-a-terres in Paris and wineries in Bourdeaux more affordable for wealthy Americans. Sales are also surging by averages of more than 20 percent along the beaches of Turks & Caicos and the slopes of Telluride, Colorado.

Five homes sold around the world for more than $100 million in 2014, and a record 18 were listed for sale at that level, according to the Christie's report. Last year's purchases include a $146 million French Riviera mansion. Each square foot of the home cost $22,577 — roughly equivalent to a new Honda Accord.

This is the new top tier for billionaires scouring the globe for signature homes, a market that Conn said should continue to prosper because the world minted 200 new billionaires from 2013 to 2014.

"You've got this club of billionaires who just like to have unique assets," Conn said. "But it's also, truthfully, that they like to entertain their friends and say, 'This is mine.'"

The luxury market contrasts with the still-struggling U.S. real estate market as a whole. Millions of homeowners still owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth — a vestige of the housing crash that triggered the Great Recession in late 2007. Buyers remain sensitive to changes in mortgage rates and price swings that could make ownership costlier. At the same time, access to credit remains tight for some. Sales have been running below a pace associated with healthy markets.

"There's a deeper cultural shift where people aren't willing to get a house at any cost," said Glenn Kelman, CEO of the brokerage Redfin.

Existing homes sold at an annual pace of 5.19 million in March, a sharp increase after a brutal winter curtailed buying in the Northeast, the National Association of Realtors said last week. Kelman warns that that sales pace isn't sustainable because demand has been driven largely by 30-year fixed mortgage rates averaging just 3.65 percent, compared with a 52-week high of 4.33 percent.

Winter storms have also weighed on Manhattan sales, yet analysts view that market as remarkably stable. Sales in the borough during the first three months of 2015 fell 19.5 percent compared to the same period in 2014, while average prices have slipped by roughly $40,000 to $1.73 million, according to reports by the brokerage Douglas Elliman.

"We had a horrible winter," said Dottie Herman, CEO of Douglas Elliman.

She said many new developments in Manhattan that would boost sales have yet to come onto the market.

Herman is also seeing interest in second homes, something she attributes in part to wealthy baby boomers. Sales and prices have surged in winter hotspots such as Aspen, Colorado, where the average sales price jumped 55 percent in the past year to $4.15 million.

"That's because of the baby boomers, who are not retiring early and are sometimes on their third wife at 65 and have little kids," Herman said.

Still, other luxury developers say the stronger dollar has cut into sales. There has been a 25 percent drop in Manhattan's monthly sales pace and a 50 percent drop in Miami Beach, said Kevin Maloney, a developer whose firm, Property Markets Group, works on luxury buildings.

Global buyers have become more patient. They are seeking value because their incomes, earned in euros, pesos, reals and other currencies, now buy less in dollars. Real estate magnates are coping with same challenge facing manufacturers who are trying to sell their products overseas.

"If I had my druthers, I'd like to see the dollar weaken against other currencies," Maloney said.

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Architect Marvin Mitchell has bought Frank Sinatra's former penthouse at the Edgewater building on 530 E. 72nd Street for a cool $4.995 million. 

Mitchell — who told The Wall Street Journal that he purchased the home for its spacious floorplan, not its history — takes ownership of the 3,200-square-foot, tri-level apartment just four years after the previous owner, Long Island car insurance executive Penny Hart, renovated it. Hart, who bought the home for a reported $2.5 million and never lived in it, first listed it at $7.7 million in 2012.   

Seller Penny Hart had this glass staircase made to the exact specifications of those in the Apple stores.

Sinatra owned the penthouse from 1961 to 1972. He lived primarily on the West Coast so this was his East Coast party pad; rumor has it that Sammy Davis, Jr. used to chuck Champagne glasses off the terrace onto FDR Drive.

Sinatra entertained everyone from president John F. Kennedy to Dean Martin to Marilyn Monroe in the apartment.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman dropped $91.5 million on a luxury One57 apartment last month, together with a group of investors.

It's the second-most expensive apartment sale in New York City – ever – but Ackman says he bought it "at a very attractive price."

Before speaking at the 2015 Sohn Investment Conference on Monday, he told Bloomberg's Stephanie Ruhle that the apartment is an "investment."

"I think it’s the best apartment in the world," said Ackman, who does not intend to ever live there.

The six-bedroom, 13,554-square foot unit is located on the 75th and 76th floors of the swanky One57 condo, reports The Real Deal.

Ackman told Ruhle he thinks he got the place cheap because apartments overlooking New York's Central Park usually go for $10,000 per square foot. At $91.5 million, he only paid $6,750 per square foot.

Initially, Ackman said he bought the apartment "for fun."  Now it sounds like he's changing his tone. He said he lives in a normal "family" apartment.

Want to know what Ackman's place looks like? Step inside One57, where New York's most expensive penthouse just sold for a record-breaking $100 Million

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Billionaire business magnate Carlos Slim put his Manhattan townhouse up for sale on Tuesday, and he's asking for a hefty $80 million.

Slim bought the Fifth Avenue mansion, which faces Central Park at East 82nd Street, for $44 million back in 2010.

If he gets his $80 million, that would make it the most expensive mansion ever sold in the city, the New York Daily News reports.

The eight-story, 20,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts building is one of those landmark mansions that has its own name – or, in this case, names.

Known as the Benjamin N. and Sarah Duke House, the Duke–Semans Mansion, or the Benjamin N. and Sarah Duke House, it's one of the last private mansions on Fifth Avenue, according to the Sotheby's listing.

Built from 1899-1901, the townhouse has a French Renaissance interior and was originally owned by an American Tobacco Company tycoon, according to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

It features high ceilings, hand-carved wood paneling, and gold-leaf trimmed fixtures, and plaster friezes, as well as a "sweeping" staircase, according to the listing.

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Taking a page from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the Austrian-based Migaloo Submarines will design, engineer, and build a private submersible yacht for anyone with deep-enough pockets.

The yachts take the concept of privacy to a whole other level, as they can remain submerged both at anchor and when cruising between destinations.

An offshoot of the design firm Motion Code: Blue (whose 918-foot supertanker luxury yacht concept Imāra features a four-level ski resort with chair lift and ski lodge), Migaloo will work with clients to customize its designs to accommodate any size specifications or alternate configurations based on four primary models currently offered.

The 236-foot M2 was also designed with the potential to be an underwater restaurant and bar or a conference center, depending on the client’s needs. The 442-foot M5 and 524-foot M6 come with three viewing galleries, a starboard saloon, a portside dining area, a wine room, a library, and a lounge with bar at the bow. The owner’s apartment spans three levels including a private bow terrace; additional accommodations include six VIP suites. The M5 and M6 also feature an outdoor pool and hot tub (accessible when surfaced), a helipad, and a wet garage that accommodates two 36-foot minisubs for smaller-scale exploration.

Boasted by Migaloo as the world’s largest submersible superyacht, the 738-foot M7’s design is based on the United States Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyer. It is capable of 40 knots on the surface and 20 knots underwater (for when seas get rough) and, as with the other models, submerging will keep passengers in a depth of luxury that would make even the Nautilus seem substandard.

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Most people strive to save money any chance they get. Whether it’s cutting down on dining out by cooking at home or avoiding high bar tabs by hitting up happy hour, it pays to be budget conscious. But sometimes it makes sense to spend a little extra for services. 

From home improvements to personal makeovers, here are five scenarios where it actually pays to splurge.  

1. Bumping up to business class for a long flight.

Spending six hours on a plane is bad enough. Spending six hours in a cramped seat on a plane is even worse. If you find yourself traveling across country, or internationally, consider bumping up to business class for a more comfortable ride.

For example, passengers who ride Delta Comfort+, the airline’s newest experience, can enjoy extra legroom, spacious seats, complimentary drinks, and premium entertainment. Cross-country travelers get the added benefit of healthy dining options as well as a complimentary sleep kit – which includes a sleep mask, blanket, and pillow – to get you through the flight.

2. Getting your hair highlighted at a salon.

Coloring your hair can be risky business, especially if you're attempting something as complicated as highlights. Though you may think the answer is in a box, it's best to leave coloring to a professional. In many cases, it can end up costing you more to correct your color mistake than it would to get it done at the salon the first time around. 

3. Paying extra at amusement parks to avoid waiting in line.

The best part about visiting a theme park is experiencing all of the the crazy rides. The worst part? Having to wait hours in line to get on those rides. Fortunately, many theme parks now offer visitors a way to avoid them. For a certain fee, customers can purchase passes that notify them when it’s their turn in line – giving visitors more time to enjoy the park.

Skipping lines is also a perk offered to Delta Comfort+customers. Comfort+ passengers have access to Sky Priority^®, making them one of the first passengers to board the plane and one of the first to get off.

4. Hiring professionals for home renovations.

It’s great to have a DIY attitude around the house — such as redecorating your bedroom or installing shelves in the bathroom —  but some things should be left to the professionals. While major improvements can be pricey, it’s always smarter to get the job done by someone who knows what they're doing. That means hiring your cousin’s cousin who once reroofed a house for a friend may not be the greatest idea. It’s best to approach home improvements as an investment. Money you put into your home will be recouped in added value, so spend wisely. 

5. Using food delivery services.

If you're too busy to go grocery shopping and find yourself constantly dining out, a weekly food delivery service could be a great investment. For a fee, members get ingredients for recipes shipped directly to their homes each week. Customers can choose from a variety of recipes the week before. Not only is the service convenient, but it can also help you save money on dining out or on groceries you don't eat. The service can also get you into the healthy habit of making home-cooked meals. 

Delta Comfort+ offers a stress-free dining option as well. Customers can choose from healthy in-flight options such as a Greek yogurt bar or Luvo^® sandwich wraps. Hand-picked wine options, spirits, regional craft beers, and Starbucks coffee is also on hand.  

Learn more about flying with Delta Comfort+.

This post is sponsored by Delta.

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SEE ALSO: How to enjoy a luxury flight if you're on a budget

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In an era of bulk and ostentation, the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph stands out for its old-school values. 

As the thinnest flyback chronograph in the world, this model builds on the legacy that began with the release of the world's thinnest hand-wound and automatic watches in 1957 and 1960, respectively.

While others are concerned with space-consuming complications or eye-catching shock value, the Altiplano harks back to a simpler era, when luxury items were more restrained.

In the case of the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph, less is certainly more. The aesthetic is clean and direct. Single black lines to mark the hours and minutes, while parallel lines mark the even hours. The three sub-dials are decorated with tall, slim Arabic numerals and are located towards the centre of the dial at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Unusually, the 9 o'clock sub-dial is actually a GMT dial, not an hour counter as one might expect.

This may annoy some, but given that this watch's main complication is a fly-back chronograph, it seems justifiable (fly-backs are more often used to time shorter periods). The fly-back function simply means that the chronograph hands can be reset to zero and restarted with a single push of a button. This is handy if you are trying to time something accurately and accidentally false start, or if you are timing a sequence of events with little or no pause between the end of one and the beginning of another. Whatever use you find for it, its most prolific might be as a conversation starter.

This is a custom, specific, proprietary movement developed to break records. It is, in this sense, a work of art and engineering in harmony. You could find plenty of examples of major brands that charge just as much for a bog-standard ETA, cleverly hidden in or disguised by a glitzy case. The Piaget Altiplano Chronograph is no pretender; it is classy to its core. The eagle-eyed might notice that the case is actually larger than it needs to be – the Calibre 883P could easily fit in a case under 40mm diameter, but Piaget have chosen to give the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph a bit more width to satisfy modern tastes.

 The result is that the sub-dials appear somewhat bunched-up in the centre of the dial. I, personally, like the look and the space that the central busyness leaves for the hour markers to breathe, but it may not be to everyone's taste.

The 41mm rose gold case is noticeably sharp. Its plain, straight sides, and angular bezel give the whole watch the appearance of size, despite remaining comfortable to wear – the case comes in at a remarkable 8.24mm tall. Due to the starkness of the flanks, the watch is able to satisfy the modern requirement for presence, while remaining slight enough to fit comfortably under a cuff. The Piaget Altiplano Chronograph retains a consistent identity through the use of stout, polished pushers that blend in with the otherwise uncluttered silhouette. The pushers need to be there because it's a chronograph, but their presence is muted and all the better for it.

This kind of balance does not happen by accident. Great pains have been taken to reduce the thickness of almost every component in the watch. Piaget state that the canon pinion is 0.12mm thick, the barrel staff 0.115mm, and the chronograph gear finger a staggering 0.06mm. The Calibre 883P is a world-leading 4.65mm thick. Despite its diminutive size, it also boasts a 50-hour power reserve.

 These impressive feats have been achieved because of the way Piaget's design team has integrated all of the chronograph components into the movement rather than going for a modular construction that would have added height. The movement itself is an aesthetic treat. I love the gilded logo, engraved against a circular Geneva Wave pattern. The screw balance is on show, and there is just enough visible motion to entertain the eye without sacrificing the necessary rigidity of the bridges. Blued screws add a flash of color to proceedings, while bevelled edges catch the light brilliantly. One of the greatest challenges faced by watch designers is finding a way for the wearer to actively engage with his or her timepiece. Being able to see the effect of the pushers when actuated by exposing the polished column wheel is a really nice touch.

With the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph, Piaget has reconfirmed its status as a major player in the ultra-slim market. These days, it is a more niche sector than it has been in the past but still attracts plenty of interest. It is good to see other brands making an effort to steal Piaget's crown. For example, the Arnold & Son UTTE currently holds the world record for the slimmest Tourbillon, but the Breguet Classique Extra-Thin Automatic 5377, showcased at last year's Baselworld, will take its place when released. With the increasing ubiquity of new and curious complications, the ultra-slim market could be due a renaissance. It seems natural that improvements should follow a simple evolutionary process: conception – complication – refinement. Once a complication has been mastered, what more can one do but make it smaller and simpler?

Mired in a world of wrist giants as we are, it may be hard to see a return to the old ways, but reducing the size of the movement simply increases the potential of big watches to house even more mechanical magic. For example, you could very nearly fit two Calibre 883Ps in the case of an Omega Planet Ocean – imagine the possibilities raised by a duplex movement! For that reason, I think Piaget's continued work in this field is more than a quaint reminder of how things were, and rather a soul-stirring glimpse at what the future could yet hold.

The price of the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph is $29,000 and it will be released in September 2015. For those who don't think a rose gold chronograph is fancy enough already, there will also be a white gold, diamond bezel version.

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I was more excited about the Apple Watch than any other Apple device — and I've been around long enough to have experienced the arrival of every Apple product since the Apple III!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the Apple Watch. A watch! I love watches!

And then I did.

I didn't think it was that great. It's very nice and has some cool features.

But it didn't stay with me.

I haven't thought about it in weeks. Admittedly, I notice when someone is wearing one. But I don't care. If I see someone sporting, say, an Omega Speedmaster, I stop and have a gander. Not so much with the Apple Watch.

Apart from its Apple Watch-ness — it's obvious and novel status as THAT NEW Apple gadget — it really isn't much to look at. Most of the time, it's a black square. Who wants to gaze admiringly at a black square?

I actually think this is huge drawback of the Apple Watch. It can't be "on" all the time, really, or it will kill the battery. But this also means that a bunch of people sitting around with Apple Watches on their wrists can't study the differences, apart from versions of the watches or the choices of band or bracelet. And even when the watch is activated, the astonishing visual variety of old-school watches simply isn't present.

Besides, with traditional watches, you can check them out because being on, for the most part, just means being in daylight.

So I in no way covet the Apple Watch or want to think about it or ultimately even care that it exists. My iPhone handles just fine the parts of my life that the Apple Watch could theoretically assist. My iPhone doesn't need a little buddy.

Meanwhile, I've gone right back to looking at all kinds of lovely traditional watches that do little more than tell time. 

I'll just have to see if this changes as the Apple Watch matures as a product. But sorry, Apple — the initial thrill, that delicious anticipation, is totally gone.

SEE ALSO: I Checked Out An Aston Martin, Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche, Lamborghini, And Ferrari — All In The Same Day!

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Always dreamed of circling the globe, just without the hassle of airport security and all the other delightful stuff that comes with commercial airline travel?

Have a $100,000 and change to burn?

You’re in luck. While the center of this Venn diagram is likely fairly small, luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent is betting there is a large enough market to fill the majority of a chartered Boeing 757, which seats 50.

“To say that interest in private jet travel is strong would be an understatement,” Geoffrey Kent, the company's CEO and founder said in a statement. “Unprecedented would be a more apt description. We just sold out an around-the-world trip I’m hosting to wildly exotic destinations including Uzbekistan, the Philippines and Mongolia, primarily to past A&K private jet travelers."

The 26-day all-inclusive trip – which departs from Miami and then continues on with stops in Iquitos, Peru, Easter Island, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Kenya, Monaco, Nice before ending in New York City – costs a casual $117,000, although that number goes up to $132,000 if you're traveling alone (the company applies a somewhat harshly named 'singles supplement'). 

Because all travel is done via private jet, the idea is that vacationers will be able to explore remote locales where commercial airlines don't typically fly. “I personally designed this voyage to combine some of my favorite places with exotic destinations visited by only a privileged few,” Kent said.

Private jet travel is an increasingly hot sector. Alongside a new wave of companies working to lower the price of private flying through discounted deals and jet sharing programs, there are an increasing number of premium packages marketed at the one percent.

For $43,500 Magellan Jets will fly parents and high-school seniors to visit college campuses. More recently, Magellan has partnered with the Four Seasons, creating a new getaway package that ferries families from their homes to a Caribbean resort via private jet.

"Families can anticipate feeling as if they have already checked in to Four Seasons Resort Nevis simply by boarding the aircraft, as they will be handed Naked Turtle Rum Punches served in fresh coconuts upon boarding the paradise-themed Gulfstream 450," the company said in a press release. 

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More than 300 drivers have joined the Classic Car Club, a private, luxury club in New York that offers the chance to drive an amazing stable of more than 40 classic cruisers and modern supercars.

Business Insider spent some time behind the wheel of rides that are used by the likes of Robert Downey, Jr., Tumblr CEO David Karp, and more.

There's no better way to get your driving fix than becoming a member — if you can afford it.

[An earlier version of this story was written by Alex Davies.]

The sign on the front door lays out what the club is all about.

The club has 40 to 45 cars at any given point. They regularly buy and sell vehicles to keep the selection fresh.

When a member comes to pick up a car, it's lined up at the entrance by a staff member.

Leap did not immediately return a request for comment, but we'll update when we hear back.

SEE ALSO: A new 'luxury bus' startup lets San Franciscans sip fresh-pressed juice and Blue Bottle coffee while commuting

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With an estimated net worth of $17.5 billion, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen can afford some expensive toys.

His 414-foot yacht, "Octopus," has to be one of the best billionaire toys around. 

Fully equipped with a pool, two helicopters, a movie theater, basketball court, recording studio, and accommodations for 26 guests in 41 suites, Octopus makes for an extremely luxurious escape. 

We've rounded up some of the yacht's craziest features here.

1. It cost Allen about $200 million to build.

Octopus is said to have cost Allen up to $200 million. Custom-built by German shipbuilders Lurssen over several years, it was officially launched in 2003.

2. It costs an estimated $384,000 a week to operate.

Yacht owners are expected to pay approximately 10% of the original purchase price each year to cover basic maintenance and operations.

By that logic, Allen pays about $384,000 a week to keep Octopus in tiptop shape. That adds up to approximately $20 million a year, according to New York Social Diary.

3. It weighs more than 9,000 tons. 

Measuring a whopping 414 feet, Octopus is one of the biggest private yachts in the world. According to Boat International, it was the largest when it launched in 2003, though yachts belonging to David Geffen and Roman Abramovich have since surpassed it.

4. He employs a permanent staff of 60.

Keeping such a massive operation running requires a lot of helping hands: captains, first mate, engineers, deckhands, in addition to chefs and stewardesses.

The yacht has 28 cabins just for the crew, the Superyacht Times reports. 

5. The tender — a boat used to shuttle guests between the yacht and the shore — is 63 feet long.

In keeping with the sea creature theme, Octopus' tender is called "Man-of-War." At 63 feet long, it's a decently sized boat itself.

6. It has two submarines.

Allen has said that Octopus is "less a Bentley than a Range Rover" because of the state-of-the art exploration equipment onboard.

According to Vulcan, one of the submarines, called Pagoo, can dive for up to eight hours and accommodate 10 people. It's stored in an interior dock on the bottom of the yacht.

A second submarine, called the Octo ROV, can be remotely controlled and dive up to 8,843 feet. The ROV has been loaned out for Google Earth's "Explore the Ocean" project and for a documentary on the Discovery Science Channel. 

7. A crew discovered a Japanese battleship with one of them.

In March, Allen announced that a crew onboard Octopus had located a WWII-era battleship at the bottom of the ocean in the Philippines.

It wasn't the first time Octopus has been used for purposes beyond entertainment for Allen and his inner circle. In 2012, Allen loaned the yacht to the Royal Navy in an effort to find a bell from a British WWII-era battleship. The search was eventually called off due to bad weather.

Octopus is also a member of the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue, which means that it can be used to assist other boats in distress. 

8. It also has two helicopter landing pads.

There's one in the front and one in the back.

9. Mick Jagger has used the recording studio onboard.

A longtime fan of rock and roll — he built an entire museum dedicated to Jimi Hendrix memorabilia — Allen reportedly lent Octopus' recording studio to Mick Jagger when he was recording an album with SuperHeavy in 2011. 

Usher, Dave Stewart, U2, and Johnny Cash have all reportedly performed onboard Octopus.

10. It has a glass-bottom pool. 

Other amenities include a basketball court, move theater, and a swimming pool with its own bar area. 

11. Parties Allen has hosted on the boat have drawn loads of A-list guests.

Octopus was built for a good time. 

Each year at the Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France, Allen throws an extravagant party attended by actors, filmmakers, and supermodels.

Actors John C. Reilly, Jessica Lowndes, and Kelly Rutherford, as well as models Karlie Kloss and Melissa Bolona were all in attendance at this year's party.

Sharon Stone, Adrian Grenier, Russian actress Svetlana Metkina, and model Natasha Poly came last year.

Allen usually treats his guests to a live performance.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen threw a Bollywood-themed yacht party attended by celebrities and supermodels

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