14 DAY TRIAL // Forget sports cars, motorcycles, freakishly expensive watches, and the like. Apparently, the ultimate male accessory is an otherwise simple-looking belt buckle that, as surprising as this may sound, sells for an impressive $550,000 (some €450,000).
The belt buckle, photos of which are included in the gallery below, is the brainchild of company based in Geneva, Switzerland. In case you haven't figured it out by now, the company, dubbed Roland Iten, is a men's luxury brand.
Why is the belt buckle this expensive?
For starters, word has that it that the buckle, whose nickname is the Calibre R822 Predator, is made of titanium and 18-carat solid white gold. Besides, it packs 14.15 carats' worth of diamonds cut into a baguette or a round shape. In case anyone was wondering, the number of gems on the Predator amounts to 387.
What's interesting is that, as explained by Oddity Central, the white gold, the titanium, and the diamonds do not quite explain the belt buckle's outrageous price. Thus, the Predator costs about as much as a house because of its design.
The folks behind Roland Iten explain that, to begin with, the buckle comprises as many as 167 different components especially designed to ensure that the wearer enjoys the absolute best experience when getting dressed or undressed, and when going about their business.
The Predator's creators say that the buckle opens and closes mind-bogglingly swiftly, and that the leather belt fitted on it can be changed in the blink of an eye. What's more, the Predator comes complete with safety catches and self-cleaning mechanisms.
It is understood that, when driving or just sitting and enjoying a quiet meal, the wearer can switch the belt to a loose position. Roland Iten recommends that, when walking, the belt be switched to a tight one. Needless to say, both positions are equally comfortable.
Possibly the coolest belt buckle in the world
Apart from being the most expensive belt buckle in the world, the Calibre R822 Predator is argued to also be the absolute coolest and most satisfying to wear. In fact, the buckle owes its name to the fact that Roland Iten is quite convinced that it can put to shame all other buckles in the world.
“Operating the Calibre R822 buckle is a veritable tactile pleasure,” the company behind explains in a statement. Add to this the fact that just three such buckles have so far been made and you might just understand why Roland Iten is asking for a truckload of money in exchange for just one.
The somewhat good news is that, if you can't afford a Predator, you can settle for a Raptor. These other buckle belts made and marketed by the Swiss company are essentially the Predator's not-so-complex siblings, and sell for just $60,000 (nearly €50,000) apiece.
