Served with Luxury

If in the mood to splurge on all things expensive,22N Au Luxe is a good stop.

Attached to the left wing of Vivanta By Taj Blue Diamond is a den of luxury: 22N Au Luxe. A glass façade gives you a glimpse of simple interiors,shelved sections and coloured artefacts. Inside the small square room,theres no music,no loud conversations,no overpowering decor. Even the store personnel greet you with a silent,welcoming smile. It seems like the policy to allow you to take in the array of high-end luxury goods on display with nothing else to distract you. Etched on a panel on one side are the names Rosenthal,Versace,Casa Bugatti and Lladro.

The white walls are contrasted with a grey-black stone floor. One side houses the Versace-Rosenthal crockery and stemware. From the opulent Versace Medusa Dor dinnerware to the old series of the simple white-gold or black-gold Versace dinner sets,dull gold plated tea and coffee cups,brandy goblets and Rosenthal stemware series,this section is all about high prices and elegant designs. Almost all the goods displayed are simple and classy. Theres nothing flashy about them save the price. Starting from a couple of thousand rupees,the price goes up to a few lakhs. So naturally,the clientele here is largely restricted to the whos-who of the city.

Another section has smaller artefacts angels,cigar and cigarette ashtrays,Medusa coasters,whisky tumblers,and some other decorative items that are picked by corporate houses. We even sell individual pieces in even numbers, says store manager Ramita Lamba. This serves as an attractive selling point to the middle-class buyer. A pair of long-stemmed glasses bearing a luxury brand name for a few thousand rupees a good buy.

The focus of the store is currently on the Lladro section,particularly The Spirit of India collection. They have just received the limited edition figurines from Spain. Medium-sized Ganeshas with 22 carat gold plating and the Ram-Sita collection reflect expert craftsmanship. A similar Hanuman series is expected. Each figurine is made of fine porcelain and the price goes up to beyond Rs 1,25,000. The classical figurines give way to contemporary ones angels,mother-daughters,family scenes and the like. A bedside Lladro lamp with a base of fine porcelain and the figure of a young girl sits at the widow display.

A stand nearby houses Dimple Kapadias candle brand The Faraway Tree. The Buddha candles with sequined crowns stand out; the rest seem a little lacklustre in comparison. Our verdict: 22N Au Luxe can be paid a visit if one is in the mood for luxury retail therapy.

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