Clearly designed for those living the ultimate jetset lifestyle, the new Constellation line of phones will sport premium refinements such as scratch-resistant sapphire crystal LCD displays and leather backs (in black, tan, chocolate and pink options) with either 18-carat gold or stainless steel finish. The keypad, available in ceramic--a first for Vertu--and stainless steel, comes laser-etched with backlit illumination.

The Constellation collection is the third range of Vertu mobiles introduced into the market, after the classic Signature series and the sporty Ascent line. Frank Nouvo, Vertu's principal designer, revealed in a press statement that the "Vertu Constellation design was conceived in order to complement both of these Vertu originals (Signature and Ascent series) and reinforce the style and design quality of the Vertu brand".

According to the company, each Constellation phone is handcrafted in the company's UK workshop. As many as 45 hand-tightened screws (in the gold version) are used to hold the handset together. The phone itself draws inspiration from the classic aircraft design. Perhaps the most evident example is the microphone receiver port which is shaped to resemble a traditional propeller fan.

Of special note is the pink leather-clad Vertu Constellation with polished stainless steel finishing. Designed for the female crowd, this is the only model in the series which comes with a distinct red ruby stone in the center of the navigation button controls.

To further enhance the user experience of world travelers, Vertu has introduced several interesting features into its Constellation models. These include a real-time flight tracker for on-demand flight information, a currency converter with the latest exchange rates and a global weather reporting tool. (These services will require GPRS connection for activation.) The phones will also come with a flight mode, which allows the phone features to be accessed without having to turn on the cellular functions.

As with all Vertu phones, the Constellation series will come with a dedicated Vertu Concierge button which gives the user 24-hour worldwide access to lifestyle services. Other noteworthy features you can expect are a four-way navigation controls (another first for Vertu), quadband connectivity, 262K-color TFT screen, Bluetooth, multi-language support and an onboard audio/video player. Take note that the phone cannot be used to roam in Japan or Korea as it does not support 3G (UMTS) networks.

In all, there will be seven models offered in the Constellation collection and they are expected worldwide from the fourth quarter of 2006. Prices will range from S$6,700 (US$4,932.89) for the Satin Stainless Steel, black leather to S$28,000 (US$20,615.07) for the 18 Carat Yellow Gold, black leather.