Golden phones popular with celebs

Gold has always been popular with the rich and famous, but it seems the world's favourite celebrities are now combining their passion for bling with their love of gadgets.

Indeed an increasing number of celebs have been spotted with golden mobile phones, from gem-encrusted designs to sleek gold plated models.

According to Bloomberg, David Beckham and Beyonce Knowles are just two of those known to have purchased luxury mobiles, some of which can cost up to $100,000 (£50,700).

One company making gold mobile handsets is Vertu, whose third line of luxury cell phones, Constellation, is arriving in stores now.

Deep-pocketed customers can communicate in style with an 18-carat-gold and leather version costing $18,000(£9,000), or a gold phone with diamond baguette keys costing $86,000 (£43,000).

Alberto Torres, president of Vertu, told Bloomberg he expects to sell "hundreds of thousands" of these luxury phones within the next five years.

"Whenever you have a consumer item, you have a luxury segment,'' he said. "You have luxury cars, luxury clothes, luxury hotels. Why not luxury phones?''