Introduction

Chances are most people have never heard of Vertu. Unlike other manufacturers which mass produce cell phones for the general public, Vertu caters to a very small and exclusive group of consumers.

Creating personal instruments that are as much communication devices as works of art, Vertu produces a small supply of luxury phones crafted in partnership with the most prestigious jewelers and craftsmen. Incased in precious metals and the finest leather hides, the effort to create Vertu phones alone resulted in over 20 new patents.

But perhaps the draw of the Vertu is that it is not just a phone. When consumers acquire a Vertu, they join an exclusive community around the world with access to the Vertu Concierge. A global network equal to that of the world's finest hotels, a personal support system twenty-four hours a day allow users to receive expert information on travel and entertainment, as well as reservations, preferred rates and access to emergency assistance - simply by pressing the dedicated key on the side of the phone.

As the newest device from Vertu's limited product portfolio, the new Signature 2006 upgrades the original, adding an improved color screen, GPRS support, and internal antenna. Setting the standard for exquisitely crafted, high-quality, luxury mobile communication, Vertu's amazing success over the last four years has been the company's single-minded dedication to craftsmanship.

Design

In creating the Signature Collection, Vertu's designers took great care to ensure it would not only look magnificent, but also be engineered to the finest standards. "Obsessive" is probably the best term to describes the workmanship that goes into each phone, assembled entirely by hand in pristine workshops with 404 individual mechanical parts that go through 96 rigorous inspections.

The Vertu Signature Collection comes in a variety of different high-quality materials, including stainless steel, 18-carat yellow and/or white gold, platinum, and even diamond encrusted versions, all individually hallmarked. Providing a durable grip, the finest leather surrounds the Vertu's rim, ensuring it won't slip out of one's hands accidentally. With price ranges from around $6K for a steel duo variant, to over $60K for the platinum (with solitaire diamond), Vertus are not for the faint of heart, or wallet.

The front features a stylish and angular screen. To protect a high-quality 12-bit color LCD, 69.25 carats of pure scratch resistant sapphire crystal was used on the Vertu Signature (one of the largest commercially produced). Commonly found on high-end watches for a scratch-resistant face, sapphire crystal is second only to diamond in hardness, ensuring a smooth viewing surface.

Below, an angular keypad is supported by ruby bearings (at least one per key) for precise key presses and text messaging. Concierge service is available around the clock and around the world with the press of a button on the left, while keys along the right adjust volume.

Even the ear pillow was carefully designed, carefully crafted of a durable and tough ceramic compound (used to protect the outside of the Space Shuttle). Being extremely resistant to heat and always warm to the touch, applying the Vertu logo on the pillow required a special process known as Physical Vapor Deposition, where the mark was coated on the surface in a vacuum chamber at temperatures of up to 300C.

Not to be outdone, the back plate of the Vertu Signature uses a scratch-resistant fusion of two powerful materials (Zirconia Ceramic and Titanium) which is partly translucent to emulate the luster of lacquered wood. Featuring Vertu logo-styled speakerphone vent on the back, a unique high-fidelity sound is blasted by an advanced Yamaha polyphonic ringtone generator, accomplished with a specially designed acoustic cavity beneath for optimal harmonic tonal qualities. The back plate which shelters the battery and SIM card can only be removed with the turn of screwdriver-like key (although anything flat will work).

The Vertu Signature comes in an exquisite presentation case with a standard 950 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Battery Cover Release Key, Regional Charger with Charger Cable, Leather Case, Microfiber Polishing Cloth, Wrist Lanyard, Data Cable (COM Port), CD-ROM, Concierge Booklet, Quick Guide, Certificate of Ownership, and User Manual.

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