By Amy Zimmer
DNAinfo News Editor
UPPER EAST SIDE — It's unlikely you'll be seeing these on the subway anytime soon — the latest must-have for the jet set are white or black diamond encrusted earbud covers.
They just arrived on Thursday at the OC Concept Store on Madison Avenue where they're selling for $10,000 — much costlier than the iPod or iPhone they can be used with.
"They're for the girl or guy that has everything and clearly loves music," Ashley Orfus, OC Concept Store's marketing coordinator.
The shop at 655 Madison Ave., near East 60th Street, has other tech accoutrements, including buffalo or snakeskin iPhone covers ($150), ostrich iPad covers ($1,500), and the more affordable bling-y earbuds made of colorful crystals ($98 – 150).
Orianne Collins, a Swiss jewelry designer who won a reported $50 million settlement in her divorce from pop star Phil Collins, opened the $3,400-square-foot temple of luxury in October. She's currently in Switzerland on maternity leave, expecting her third child in March.
"It is [Orianne Collins'] passion to travel around the world and find the best rarities," Orfus said. "She hand curates the items. … That's what makes her different from other socialites who want to put their name on the door of a store."
The boutique is not conceived as a normal retailer with inventory based on seasons, but rather like a gallery. It has limited edition items that can be ogled by anyone coming off the street curious about the gold leaf dining table that opens into a pool table ($49,000) or a customized yacht.
"There's no buzzer," Orfus said. "We want people to come in. We want people to play with the crystal foosball table."
That table has now sold to a member of the Saudi royalty, she said.
The shop hosts art exhibitions and parties, and plans are in the works for celebrity collaborations. Singer Mary J. Blige is designing four pairs of purple and gold sunglasses the store is expected to get in May. Orfus added coyly, "There could be a collaboration with royalty very soon."
In April, the store plans to have what Orfus called a "Skull and Bones"-type event — referring to the Yale secret society — where they will tap VIP clients to come to a hush-hush event for hard-to-get, uber-exclusive customized Bamford watches.
Many of the customers are from overseas, especially from Brazil, Russia, England and France, Orfus noted.
"There are definitely people that have money and want to spend it," Orfus said. "They want to feel serviced. They don't want to feel forced. They want to feel comfortable."
Luxury, she added, isn't about price points. "It's the story," Orfus said.
She held up a chocolate spoon that melts into hot chocolate: "It's the best chocolate spoon in the world and it's $5."
