Designer Alex Carroll is auctioning what is reportedly the world’s oldest timepiece this Valentine’s Day, along with what may be the world’s rarest necklace, and hopes to raise millions for charity with the proceeds from the sale.

The timepiece and necklace are being auctioned next week in time for Valentine’s Day, with a starting bid of $1 million.

The world’s most expensive clock to date sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 1999 for $5.7 million. Carroll claims the one he is selling at auction is rarer because it is one-of-a-kind, made by nature, and can never be copied or duplicated.

The winning bidder gets to choose which charity the proceeds of the sale are given to, and can even designate their own charity if they wish.

The 20-million-year-old timepiece is made from a naturally heart-shaped piece of fossilised Bali Star Coral, and what Carroll says is the world’s largest collection of naturally heart-shaped pieces of rare, red sea glass.

The matching gold pendant is made with what Carroll says is the most perfect specimen of naturally heart-shaped red sea glass ever found.

Carroll has named the timepiece “The Crown Jewel of the Sea”, and it is the star feature of his limited edition series of clocks and pendants which are all made from naturally heart-shaped stones he has collected from beaches around the world.

Carroll has contacts to the Royal Family and said: “There’s a chance Prince William might get the pair for Kate for Valentine’s Day and give all the proceeds to their charity.”

Check out this video on the beautiful Crown Jewel of the Sea and the world’s most expensive Valentine’s Day gift auction:

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Let it Flow readers enjoy splurging on the finer things in life. And although we have recommended some pretty nifty rare foods and lavish dining experiences in the past, vegetarian cuisine hasn’t been at the top of our suggestions. But with a growing trend for celebrities, socialites, and even athletes going vegetarian/vegan, it would be a mistake not to represent this type of cuisine.

Here are a few tips for dining vegetarian style in NYC – but to keep it interesting for meat eaters, we’ve thrown in a couple of curve balls as well.

Blue Hill

Need to find a place where both meat eaters and vegetarians can compromise? We suggest trying a farm-to-table restaurant, which follows, yes, the philosophy of only cooking what is fresh from the farm. Blue Hill, which is frequented by the wealthiest urbanites, has its own farm in upstate New York, and delivers the best possible produce that would put the kitchens of most restaurants – strictly vegetarian or otherwise – to shame. Yes, the menu is still mostly for meat and fish eaters, but if the freshest, most organic food is what you are after, this is the place. www.bluehillfarm.com

Blue Hill, 75 Washington Place New York, New York 10011 Tel. 212 539 1776,

Hangawi

Going vegetarian doesn’t mean going boring.  Certain nations actually subsisted (and still subsist) on a vegetable dominant diet, and thus are very good at making it fun and exciting for the palate. If you like Korean cuisine, Hangawi is a must to try, located in the heart of the city’s Koreatown, you get all of the flavors that you are familiar with, but in the healthiest way possible.  The space is dark, swank, and romantic too – perfect for impressing your vegetarian love interest (health conscious and adventurous!). www.hangawirestaurant.com

Hangawi, 12 E. 32^nd Street New York, NY 10016 Tel. 212-213-0077,

Candle Café

This is Vegan Heaven. For those who don’t know what veganism is, it’s the preferred diet of Natalie Portman (and Mike Tyson) and not only eschews meat, fish and poultry, but dairy products as well (and yes, that includes butter). So how does it work, you ask? Well the chefs here substitute tofu, soymilk, tapioca and all sorts of ingredients to come up with similar tasting alternatives, and in the meantime utilize protein substitutes like Seitan (wheat gluten) to come up with delicious meals. Confused by all the information? That means you just have to come try it. www.candlecafe.com

Candle Café, 1307 3rd Avenue New York, NY 10021 Tel. 212-472-0970,

ABC Kitchen

The clear subtext of this article is farm-to-table. And the other great farm-to-table restaurant in New York City right now is ABC Kitchen. Run by culinary icon Jean-Georges Vongerichten, this restaurant located in the lobby of a luxury furniture store and presents a menu filled with vegetarian friendly meals that range from soups and salads to pastas and roasted dishes. And again, you get the freshest possible ingredients so that you can audition your ‘pleasure face’ in front of the many entertainment folk who come here to hob-nob and also be seen. www.abchome.com

ABC Kitchen, 35 E 18th St New York, NY 10003 Tel. 212-475-5829,

Angelica Kitchen

If you could identify a New York City vegetarian by sight, and then stopped them on the street and asked them where to grab a hearty vegetarian meal, we are sure that Angelica Kitchen would be mentioned at some point. This place – a definite staple of the East Village – has been around since 1976, and offers an eclectic menu with items ranging from Asian-style rice bowls to Southern-style chili, sandwiches and more. If you are looking for a causal, satisfying evening, this is the place you will want to go, and keep coming back to. www.angelicakitchen.com

Angelica Kitchen,  300 E. 12^th Street New York, NY 10003 Tel. 212-228-2909

Vancouver has become the new home of the world’s most expensive hot dog.

Hot dog restaurant DougieDog Hot Dogs introduced a $100 hot dog to their menu on Tuesday.

The Dragon Dog consists of a foot-long bratwurst infused with 100-year-old Louis XIII cognac — which, on its own has a price tag of $2,000 — Kobe beef seared in olive and truffle oil, fresh lobster, and picante sauce.

“When people have food you have to be able to taste the different tastes, people have the chance to taste each (individual ingredient),” said Dougie Luv, owner and hot dog connoisseur of DougieDog Hot Dogs. “All the tastes intertwine with each other.”

But while The Dragon Dog may seem over the top for the ordinarily humble hot dog, Luv insists it remains true to the original hot dog identity.

“I didn’t want to change the concept of a hot dog, we wanted to inspire it and bring it to the next level,” he said. “It’s a hot dog that anyone would love.”

As yet, no one has ordered the world’s most expensive hot dog, but Luv said it will remain a permanent feature on the menu.

Patrons will need to place their order for The Dragon Dog 12 hours in advance in order for the ingredients to be prepared.

The Dragon Dog broke the previous record of world’s most expensive hot dog held by a $69 Haute Dog found at Serendipity restaurant in New York.

It is that time of year when we’re feeling optimistic and making plans for the foreseeable future. Maybe you are preparing to go back into the office with renewed confidence and give your career a boost. Maybe you are getting ready to be a better parent, husband or wife. Maybe you have no clue whatsoever of what to do with your life next.

For those of you who are feeling a little lost, here are a few people and companies developing cool stuff out there that may inspire you to think outside the box – and who knows, maybe break some new ground?

Copenhagen Suborbitals: Space Travel Amateurs

There has been a lot of talk about space travel in recent years. We have all heard of Virgin Galactics of course, and know fully well that the governments of the US, Russia and China are active in space through various programs. But what you may not know is that there are independent, uncompromising inventors out there who want to send people into space too – and they may just succeed in the next few years.

One such project that we want to hear more from is Copenhagen Surborbitals, started by two guys – one mechanical engineer/inventor who before he started crafting space capsules built submarines and one architect with a specialty skill in space travel. And don’t for one second think that these boys aren’t serious. Their program, funded by donations and volunteers, is well under way with test flights already happening and by 2016 or 2017 we may well hear about them orbiting somewhere like 150 to 200km above planet earth. www.copenhagensuborbitals.com

Sealander: Water Cruising Caravan

Forget about that typical holiday in the forest or up in mountains, now you can soon go for camping trips not just by the water but ON it. Thanks to German inventor Daniel Straub this fun camper’s dream will take you cruising in style, and you can even take the roof off on sunny days. We can’t wait to see this in production and on the market in the near future. Just someone please explain to us how the fact that it is an electric vehicle operating in water works? www.sealander.de

Innespace: Wild Submarines

Since we’re already in the water, let us stay there for a while and look at submarines fit for anyone who feels the need for speed – and aquatic adventure. Innespace has for a few years now been building boats that look (and to certain extent behave) like sharks and dolphins. We heard of their latest killer whale inspired submarine called “Seabreacher Y” that supposedly can power you forward at a roaring speed of 90km per hour, take dives at speeds of 30km per hour (yes, that means dives DOWN INTO the ocean) and can jump more than 5 meters out of water, and we were pretty impressed. We hear the waitlist is pretty long. www.seabreacher.com

Peraves: Sexy and Clever Electronic Cars

They brought us the covered motorbike “MonoTracer” before, and now Swiss inventors Peraves are presenting the eTracer, a two-wheel electronic car that can take you further than 300km on one battery charge. That is, if you maintain speeds at or below 100km per hour. If you want to step on it though, and don’t mind to stop sooner for a charge, this modern car will cruise at speeds as high as 250km per hour.

The prototype for eTracer won Peraves the 2011 Progressive Automobile X Prize for best two-seater electronic car, so we’re pretty excited to see how it does when available to the general public. After all, who doesn’t want to be able to drive 100km on the equivalent of 1 liter of gas? www.peraves.wordpress.com

Purdue University: Tiny Electronic Oxygen Generator for Treating Cancer

Apart from above inventions that keep our dreams alive, there are of course countless genius visionaries who power forward in chemistry, physics and medicine to keep us healthier and physically more fit too – and while they deserve a thousand articles celebrating their bravery, we wanted to mention one in particular here today.

Most of us are directly or indirectly affected by the horrors of cancer during a lifetime. What you may not know is that many treatment methods are highly inefficient without oxygen – and that oxygen in some kinds cancer tissue is very scarce. To find a way around this problem researchers at Purdue, a US University, have developed a tiny, 8mm long oxygen generator that can be surgically inserted into tumors, where it turns water into oxygen via electrolysis.  Thank you, we say. This is definitely an invention we want to keep an eye on.

Just a few years ago, the mere mention of a ‘green’ hotel would have probably conjured up images of having to stay in a hut in the middle of nowhere, sleeping on leaves and giving up all of your favorite amenities.

These days, however, hotels around the world have found that being more eco-friendly enhances the luxury aspect of their facilities, and attracts a clientele that is ready to pay extra in order to know that their health and well being, as well a those of the surroundings, is being protected. Here are our favorites:

Australia: Voyages Longitude 131

When you hear about the accommodations at this luxury resort next to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you may first be taken aback, as they call them ‘tents’. They are far from camping teepees that fold up into your backpack. These eco-friendly structures are some of the most, painstakingly designed, spacious and private structures you will ever stay in, nestled along the terrain and offering unbroken views of the breathtaking scenery.  And with only 15 of them available, you never forget that you are experiencing something incredibly unique, and nothing short of five-star. www.longitude131.com.au

Napa Valley: DoubleTree Napa Valley Hotel and Spa

Northern California’s Napa Valley is one of the finest places to connect with nature, bask in beautiful surroundings and enjoy some of the best American wine and cuisine you can get. Topping off a visit by staying at this LEED Certified (Gold rating!), environmentally sustainable hotel, is ideal for any eco-conscious tourist – it utilizes energy saving solutions such as skylights for lighting, offers recycled products throughout all rooms and even provides eco-friendly beds made of renewable materials. Formerly known as the Gaia, but now a DoubleTree, this is not a hotel for ‘wow’ factor, but is certainly the greenest option in this enchanting destination. www.doubletree1.hilton.com

Switzerland: Whitepod Eco-Resort

If you’re off to the Swiss Alps for your next ski adventure, you will definitely want to check out the Whitepod Eco-Resort, which looks like it popped out of a James Bond movie from the 1980’s. That’s not an insult – the 15 state of the art insulated pods in this resort area offer incredible protection from the snow and cold weather, and are outfitted with everything from wood burning stoves to organic bedding.  They have a low impact on the surroundings, and the resort takes an active role in reducing waste, minimizing water and electricity consumption and utilizing renewable resources. www.whitepod.com

Japan: Hoshinoya Karuizawa

While this resort nestled in Nagano, Japan beautifully blends ancient Japanese traditions with modern Western amenities, the standout feature is its incredible Onsen (hot spring bath). Especially in the coldest months, a dip in these waters is rejuvenating, and the perfect way to relax before enjoying a locally sourced meal or resting in the eco-friendly Ryokan-style rooms.  The resort also harnesses natural, geothermal heat, utilizes recyclable materials, and actively pursues several eco-friendly projects, policies and initiatives. If you are wondering, Fukushima is nowhere close to this area. www.hoshinoya.com

Maldives: Soneva Fushi Resort

The Maldives should be one of those ‘bucket list’ places for everyone. This destination is truly gorgeous, especially the North Baal Atoll area and its lush terrain, sandy beaches and glittering lagoon, where this resort makes its home. In 2010, the facilities became 100% carbon neutral, and over the years the hotel has won multiple awards for its energy efficiency, waste reduction practices, and preservation programs. What this means for guests is that they get to frolic in one of the most pure destinations in the world, a luxury to beat all luxuries. www.sixsenses.com

So you’ve just recovered from another New Year’s celebration, after partying with your friends, family, and loved ones, consuming insane amounts of alcohol, and not getting arrested or ending up in the hospital. Congratulations! But what did you forget? Didn’t make any resolutions for the year? Shame on you. Isn’t that what part of ringing in a New Year is all about?

But if you are legitimately having problems imagining how to improve yourself this year, we do have some suggestions for you.

Stop Pirating for a Minute and Go Out to a Movie

For those who believe there is no difference between watching a movie on their iPhone or going to a movie theater – shame on you. The communal aspect of seeing a movie on the big screen, and simply experience a picture and sound clarity that you could never afford in your home, are real treasures that will soon be endangered if we all don’t do something about it. Movie attendance (in the US) was the lowest it’s been since 1995… don’t you think you owe it to this good old tradition to buy a couple of tickets once and a while?

Leave the Bacon Craze Behind

A couple of years ago, bacon became GOOD again. Yes it’s fatty, but it is also delicious, and the smoky aroma is a real turn on for many a nose. So – OK – we were fine with seeing more bacon in our food (especially on our favorite burgers), watching countless celebrity chefs praise its flavors, and trying the occasional oddball beverage with its essence mixed in. But bacon mints? Moisturizer? Soap? Air fresheners and candles? Dental floss? Please stop all of this bacon stuff! We’ve had enough!

Take a Gamble with your Beer Money

This will help you lose some weight AND give you a chance to make some money. Look back and calculate how much beer you drank last year, look at how much weight you gained last year and look at how much healthier and richer you can be this year just by cutting down.  The money you save? Depending on how much it is, invest it in some stocks and do some e-trading, or even make a quick buck on an online gambling site. Too volatile, you think? Well it’s money you would have put around your waist anyway, which is, in our opinion, the biggest waste of all.

Look at Products Not Made by Apple

This one will be hard. But years ago, people relished in having choice. These days, everyone seems to go ‘all-in’ in with Apple regarding all of their tech purchases. Not a good idea. While many of the computers and phones are indeed beautiful, a lot of their accessories are actually pretty terrible, and buyers can find better (and yes, just as pretty) options for much cheaper. And please, don’t be that person who takes those free Apple stickers and puts them on their refrigerator, television or some other non-apple product, hoping to make those items ‘cooler’. That’s just weird.

Learn About Scams

It’s 2012, and there are still people around the world falling prey to Internet scams.  These are the same people who would probably turn away a real prince or princess from their doorstep for looking too ‘foreign’. But when they get a faceless email from some deposed royalty from a non-existent country asking for thousands of dollars and the promise of millions in return, they can’t wait to hand over their savings. Why is this still happening? Please do the world a favor and tell everyone you know – especially older folk who don’t know about all the crazy people on the Internet – to watch out for these things.

What other resolutions are you going to make this year? Let us know in the comments!

When it comes to grooming, many men will go into hibernation mode in the winter. And since they don’t actually stay in a cave for the duration, the results can be unsightly.

So what should you get a man (or yourself) who needs to get to spring in one piece?

For His Hair

Sometimes men like to think that they have hair that is impervious to the elements.  But in the dead of winter, in the blistering cold, who really is that clueless that they don’t try to keep their hair moisturized? Don’t answer that. Instead, just pick up a bottle of John Allan’s Smoothe Conditioning Styling Cream, which packs in Honey, Milk Proteins, Aloe, Carrot Root Extracts, Avocado and Meadowfoam Seed Oil in order to keep your hair in tip top shape even in the harshest winter conditions. www.johnallans.com

For His Eyes

Sunglasses are typically for the summer, but these days, more and more people are wearing them in the winter. Why? Because they’re a great way to block cold winds, avoid glare reflected from snow, as well as protect from harmful UV rays.  This pair by John Varvatos, which updates the classic aviator style, is one of our favorites, as it offers lightly tinted and large enough lenses to provide maximum protection, and looks great on the widest variety of faces. www.johnvarvatos.com

For His Skin

There are myriad moisturizers for men that are capable and acceptable. But we swear by Kiehl’s, the old school pharmacy based in New York City, which has been coming up with innovate ways to hydrate the skin since 1851.  Although L’Oreal now owns them, that hasn’t changed them a bit, and their classic Facial Fuel is still our favorite skin care for men. Not too greasy, but highly effective, it is lightweight yet manly enough for even the most skeptical and grumpy cavemen types. www.kiehls.com

For His Hands

They often say, ‘real men don’t get manicures’, but men sure do need them sometimes. Personally, we have decided that men are terrible at clipping their fingernails because standard clippers are just not manly looking enough.  This Klhip award-winning nail clipper is truly the best we’ve seen, redesigned to make the clipping process fell effortless as well as collect loose fingernail bits.  You. Can. Do. Clipping. Now. Good. www.shop.klhip.com

For His Soul

Men are just little boys on the inside. How can you tell? They still won’t take their vitamins! But all little boys do like gummy candies, so why doesn’t someone just make gummy style multi-vitamins? Oh wait, they do.  And during the winter, it is important to take vitamins due to the lack of sunlight, change in diet and reduction in exercising – and feed the body and soul, if you will. These are made by One a Day, but you can find some by Northwest Natural Products and many more vitamin manufacturers. www.oneaday.com

Luxury jeweller Fabergé is hosting the world’s largest Easter egg hunt next month in London.

The event, called The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt, will feature 200 giant and uniquely crafted, strategically placed eggs with Fabergé’s signature egg design, scattered throughout London.

“Eggs are synonymous with Fabergé and it is almost impossible to think of one without the other,” said Sarah Fabergé, great granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé and Special Projects Director at Fabergé, London.

“The egg is symbolic of life and rebirth in so many different cultures and, in the days of the Russian Imperial Court, Fabergé Eggs were given by the Tsars as symbols of new life,” she said.

Entrants will have the 40 days and nights of Lent — starting on Shrove Tuesday, February 21 and ending on Easter Sunday, April 8 — to try to find as many eggs as possible.

Fabergé is using the event to raise up to £2 million for Action for Children, a leading children’s charity, and Elephant Family, the UK’s biggest funder for the endangered Asian elephant (£1 million for each charity).

“How could we not be involved in a Big Egg Hunt that supports such worthy causes as the protection of young lives and the animals that share our planet?” Ms Fabergé added.

The two-and-a-half foot fibreglass eggs will be exclusively adorned and decorated by some of the world’s leading artists, architects, jewellers and designers including the Chapman Brothers, Vivienne Westwood, Giles Deacon, Zandra Rhodes, Diane Von Furstenberg, Sophie Dahl, Rob Ryan, William Curley, Bompas and Parr and Polly Morgan.

“The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt encourages and celebrates creativity and design, qualities that lie at the very heart and soul of Fabergé,” Ms. Fabergé said.

“My great-gradfather Peter Carl Faberge was a legendary artist-jeweller, known for his relentless pursuit of innovation and artistry.

“We are continuing that mission today, by collaborating with the world’s leading artists as well as encouraging and supporting emerging  talent, the artists of the future.”

Once the egg hunt ends on April 8, Fabergé will auction off the eggs with the goal of raising $3,089,318 for its two nominated charities.

“I believe the Fabergé promotion is sending a strong message that Fabergé is a socially-concerned and responsible company that supports charitable activities,” said Ron Kurtz, president of American Affluence Research Centre, Atlanta.

“[Indeed], such promotions if structured properly can have good credibility among affluent consumers,” he said.

The event is also an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the biggest Easter egg hunt and serves as a promotion for the recently opened Fabergé boutique in London.

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt was launched in November at The Goring luxury hotel dining room, with a culinary creation commissioned by Fabergé, billed as the world’s most “eggsclusive” breakfast, featuring smoked salmon, scrambled Burford Brown eggs, quail’s egg, lobster, and caviar. The dish will be added to the hotel menu throughout the duration of The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt.

Check out this launch video for The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt below:

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Astronomer Ian Hutcheon has produced a red wine that boasts a 4.5 billion-year vintage.

The one-of-a-kind Cabernet Sauvignon, created in Chile, has been aged with a meteorite that was formed during the birth of the solar system and is aptly named Meteorito.

Hutcheon, who moved to Chile from Norwich in England, insists the rock, which is about 8cm (3in) wide, gives his Meteorito wine a “livelier taste”.

“It came from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter,” Hutcheon, 40, said.

“I have been involved in wines and astronomy for many, many years and I wanted to find some way of combining the two.

“When you drink this wine, you are drinking elements from the birth of the solar system.”

The meteorite used to create the unique wine crashed into the Atacama Desert in northern Chile about 6,000 years ago.

Hutcheon said his wine’s ageing process means he can “give everybody the opportunity to touch something from space”.

So far, Hutcheon has made more than 10,000 litres (2,200 gallons) of Meteorito at his vineyard located about 100km south-west of Chile’s capital Santiago.

The wine is currently sold exclusively at the Centro Astronomico Tagua Tagua, but Hutcheon said he would like to export it to other countries also.

A copy of the world’s most expensive book, John James Audubon’s 19th-century masterpiece The Birds of America, is set for auction later this month and is expected to sell for up to $10 million.

Only 120 complete copies of the book are believed to exist today, with the majority owned by institutions.

The last complete edition of The Birds of America, which went up for auction in 2010, sold for £7.3 million at Sotheby’s, breaking the world record for a single book.

The latest copy up for auction was bought by the fourth Duke of Portland at some point after 1838 and is in “excellent” condition, according to auction house Christie’s.

Christie’s has given the edition a sale guide price of $7 million – $10 million, with experts believing it will break 2010’s record on auction day on January 20 in New York.

“Birds of America is most significant for its sheer beauty. It’s a masterpiece of illustration,” said Richard Davies from rare and used book specialist AbeBooks.

“Aside from being famous in the rare book world, Birds of America has also immense historical and ornithological importance. Some of the birds John James Audubon painted are extinct and he also discovered new species.”

Davies added while the estimated value of the book is “sky high … [it] is in excellent condition [and] if the record does fall, then no one should be overly surprised because a rare book like this is recession-proof”.

Measuring over three feet in height and running to four volumes, The Birds of America was created by Audubon between 1827 and 1838. He was insistent that The Birds of America was made up of life-size illustrations, and that it showed all the known species of north America, making the finished volume “the greatest of all bird books, [and] arguably the highest achievement of ornithological art”, according to Christie’s.

Rare book dealer and author Rick Gekoski said of the masterpiece: “It isn’t a book, not in any normal sense of the term”.

The volumes consist of “a large number of works of art – original hand-coloured engravings – bound together for ease of storage and reference,” he said.

“The format was chosen not out of any grandiosity but because it was Audubon’s remarkable desire – and ability – to produce life-sized engravings of each bird. Thus the finches and cardinals have plenty of space in which to flit about, while the flamingo and trumpeter swan tilt their necks graciously inward and arrange themselves with some care. The effect of this is just terrific.”

Handling a copy of the book is a two-person job according to Gekoski, who examined an edition of the book at Sotheby’s once prior to an auction.

“The (very nervous) resident expert and I (gingerly) turned the pages together, him at the top and me at the bottom, and peeled them back (respectfully) into just the right conjunction with the rest of the plates,” he said.

“You have to be careful how you handle a gargantuan book worth more than 10 million dollars.”