Meet the world's most expensive hood ornament

Wondering how much the world’s most expensive hood ornamentcosts? Ealuxe has the answer!
If you have to mention one of the most luxurious cars on the market today, chances are Rolls-Royce would be one of the top names that come to mind.

Not many cars invoke images of fortune as Rolls-Royce. Admittedly, the most valuable hood ornament in the world should embellish such a car.
Many people have been able to claim right to the hood ornament throughout the years. Volkswagen bought it at one time along with the rights to the shape of the Rolls-Royce grill and some elements from Bentley and eventually reached a deal with BMW, who owned the rights to build Rolls-Royce cars.
The highest-priced hood ornamentin the world, known in the U.S. as ‘The Spirit of Ecstasy’, ‘Emily’, ‘Silver Lady’ or ‘The Flying Lady’ has quite an impressive story. The bonnet ornament was a request for Lord John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu’s Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
Charles Sykes, the sculptor who designed The Flying Lady, used Eleanor Velasco Thornton (Lord John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu’s secret love) as a model for the figurine. Eleanor Velasco Thornton was Lord Montagu’s secretary, but their love had to remain secret. The reason for that is obvious; social and economic status.

Originally, Charles Sykes dubbed the ornament ‘The Whisper’. Why that name? Because the figurine features Eleanor pressing a finger against her lips. This gesture symbolize the secret of their love.
The highest-priced hood ornamentis on display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu. Later, The Whisper became The Spirit of Ecstasy. Charles Sykes said about the world’s costliest hood ornament that is ‘a graceful little goddess, the Spirit of Ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight and alighted on the prow of a Rolls-Royce motor car to revel in the freshness of the air and the musical sound of her fluttering draperies‘.

That was back then. Nowadays we want more gold, more precious stones, more luxury, more everything! Designer Jean Kemanjian created a version of the Spirit of Ecstasy coated in diamonds for Manhattan Motorcars.
The exquisite ornament was unveiled at the New York Auto Show. The new improved version is made of platinum and other rare metals and completely coated in 150 carats of high-quality (VVS1) diamonds.
Although it’s valued at $200.000, it’s not for sale. However, it can certainly be called the most valuable hood ornament in the world.

The Spirit of Ecstasy was featured in Beck’s ‘The New Pollution’ music video, where the singer is driving a Rolls-Royce with the hood ornament prominently featured, and also in the series ‘Banshee’ where Burton kills Nola Longshadow by slashing her throat with the Spirit of Ecstasy.

By A lux