Vertu. It's not exactly a household name like Nokia, but handcrafted phones manufactured by Vertu, a unit of cellphone giant Nokia, are the world's most expensive cellphones.

And how much does a Vertu Signature collection cellphone cost? A cool $32,000 (Rs 14.72 lakh)!

For those who think that the phones come packed with some stunning features, here's a tip: it can only make voice calls, send SMS text messages or record appointments. It can neither shoot pictures nor do anything that your current mobile phone cannot.

But despite the astronomical price tag, the Vertu range of mobile phones is quickly becoming a status symbol for the rich and the famous.

Contrary to the perception that Asians are less given to buying super expensive gadgets, it is in Asia that the Vertu phones are selling like hot cakes; especially in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and Singapore.

Nokia's Vertu unit is London-based, but has offices in New York, Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong and exclusive dealers in 20 other countries.

The flagship Vertu phone is a platinum-cased Signature model that costs $32,000. Its yellow gold version costs $18,500. The cheapest Vertu phone is the leather-clad Ascent model that cost only $4,700.

The Vertu brochure says that the Signature Collection epitomises Vertu's vision of luxury personal communication: a compelling combination of stunningly clear sound quality, sensuous materials, impeccable craftsmanship and peerless personal service.

The Vertu Signature model has a talk time of 3-6 hours and a stand by of 100-200 hours.

It weighs 215 gms; and measures 42mm x 122mm x 15.5mm. It has a high-resolution dynamic display screen, an internal antenna with external whip, hands-free capability, internal vibration alert, optimal voice clarity, 'exclusively created ringing tunes generated using synthesis technology and played back on a high-fidelity speaker', precision-engineered key switches with jewelled bearings, alarm clock and a large user memory with 220 calendar notes, 100 text messages, up to 1,000 names in phonebook.

Vertu Signature comprises more than 400 separate parts, many sourced from suppliers to the world's finest watchmakers, with over 180 being totally unique.

This compares with 30 parts found on a standard mobile phone. It is this pioneering attention to detail that epitomises what is perhaps the very essence of luxury - the relentless pursuit of perfection, and a refusal to settle for less. -- Agencies

The world's most expensive Vertu mobile phones on display at a showroom in Singapore.
Photo: Jimin Lai / AFP / Getty Images