The World's Most Expensive TV

By Scott Wilkinson • Posted: May 18, 2010

As you may have surmised by now, the Ultimate Gear blog is dedicated to A/V products that are extreme in terms of performance, design, and/or price. I normally try to find items that embody all three elements, but sometimes, one of them takes center stage. So it is with the PrestigeHD Signature Rose LCD TV from British luxury purveyor Stuart Hughes, which can be yours for only £1.5 million, or about $2.2 million as of this writing.

Yep, that's right—over $2 million for a 55-inch LCD TV. Of course, it's completely ridiculous, even obscene, but fascinating nonetheless. How can a TV possibly justify such an outrageous sum? Well, the base and outer frame consist of 28 kilograms of 18k rose gold, and the outer frame is studded with 72 brilliant-cut, 1-carat IF flawless diamonds as well as sunstones and amethysts. The inner frame is hand-sewn alligator skin—obviously, this TV won't find a home with any super-rich environmentalists.

Is the TV itself any good? Supplied by Metz of Germany, it offers 1080p resolution, full LED backlighting with local dimming behind an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD panel, 200Hz refresh rate (remember, this is the European market, which starts at 50Hz instead of 60Hz as in the US), SRS sound, and an integrated DVR. That all seems fine, but I can't imagine watching a TV with that much bling in the bezel.

Of course, you can get a superb 55-inch LCD TV for a tiny fraction of 1 percent of what this one costs, but that's not the point here, is it? The PrestigeHD Signature Rose is so exclusive, only three will be made, and I have little doubt they will be sold—to those with more money than sense.

Comments

Submitted by Scott Wilkinson on May 18, 2010 - 10:59am.

Jarod, Panasonic does indeed use IPS panels in its LCD TVs. However, the largest screen size is 42 inches, and even this is bigger than in years past, when Panny LCDs topped out at 37 inches. Apparently, the company doesn't want much overlap in the screen sizes of its LCDs and plasmas, unlike Samsung and LG.

Submitted by Robert on May 18, 2010 - 6:59pm.

Does it come with an HDMI cable? ...Is it even HDMI version 1.4 for 3D capability? ...Anyway, I think I'll pass on that one, lol.

Submitted by Jarod on May 19, 2010 - 11:02am.

Oh cool, so they are using them. Right on Scott, thanx again man!

Submitted by Javan on May 19, 2010 - 12:45pm.

55" TVs are for poor people. Call me when they make a 65" version.

Submitted by Robert Silva on May 19, 2010 - 1:51pm.

Hi Scott, It looks like this TV would be a perfect match for that $130,000 Profile 1.1 Blu-ray Disc player you reported on previously.

Submitted by Scott Wilkinson on May 19, 2010 - 3:30pm.

Hey Robert, nice to hear from you! Yeah, the Goldmund Eidos Reference Blue and the PrestigeHD Signature Rose, a match made in...well, I was going to say heaven, but maybe not, at least not any heaven in which I'd want to spend eternity!

Submitted by Robert (LOTR) on May 20, 2010 - 12:32am.

You guys are already living in heaven, ...from another galaxie, lol.

Submitted by Denny on May 20, 2010 - 7:30am.

Hm okay, if i mortgage the house and the car and your house and my neighbors house and uncle Freds house and collect bottles for 37hrs a day and work 4 jobs... man im gonna love watching this tv when i get it!

Submitted by Larry S on May 21, 2010 - 3:05pm.

OTOH, the value of almost all consumer electronics I can think of drops to nothing within six months of purchase. At least in this case you've still got the gold and jewels well after the TV stops working.