The full-pavé R822 calibre "Predator" buckle by Roland Iten

Photo Essay: Making Of The R822 Predator By Roland Iten, The World’s Most Expensive Belt Buckle

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While $450,000 (give or take a bit of change) isn’t a sum that even the richest among us is likely to scoff at, it’s quite possible that a more expensive belt buckle exists that I don’t know about. However, it’s very unlikely that any buckle exists that comes even close to the high levels of sophistication and engineering found in the Roland Iten R822 Predator. The diamonds really are just the icing on the cake.

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Bruno Senna and Martin Brundle arriving in Siena in the 2014 Mille Miglia

Reflecting On The 2014 Mille Miglia

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Last week Quill & Pad co-founders Ian Skellern and Elizabeth Doerr went to the Mille Miglia: Elizabeth as the guest of principal sponsor Chopard, Ian (in a support car) covering Roland Iten, a main sponsor with five cars in the event, and Mr. Roland Iten himself, who competed in the race in a 1953 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupé 1500 , driving more than one thousand grueling miles through the Italian countryside.

Ian, Elizabeth and Roland now discuss this unique adventure and invite you to listen in.

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1927 Lancia Lambda Type 221 Spider at a time check in the 2014 Mille Miglia

Snapshots From The 2014 Mille Miglia

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The Mille Miglia is a ray of sunshine in your heart,” famous Belgian race car driver Jacky Ickx writes in Chopard’s commemorative book celebrating 25 years of being the race’s global sponsor. “The Mille Miglia is one of the last great adventures possible today,” concurs Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Chopard’s co-president is racing his 25th Mille Miglia this year. Here are a few impressions from the last couple of days and nights on the strada italiana. . . .

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Thierry Lombard and Mathias Beche driving a sensually sculptured 1953 Aston Marin DB3

The 2014 Mille Miglia Day-By-Day

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The 2014 Mille Miglia runs for four days from 15 through 18 May 2014. Thursday, the 15th of May, 2014 is day one of the 2014 Mille Miglia. While there are regular checkpoints, marshals and police, it seems like anything goes; anyone can join in the race – while it’s called a time trial, the Mille Miglia is to all intents and purposes a Gumball Rally-type road race.

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Porsche 550RS driven by Friedrich Scheufele and Jacky Ickx in the 2010 Mille Miglia. Image courtesy V12GT.com

Quill & Pad At The Mythic Mille Miglia

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Only a few sporting events are fortunate enough to transcend the confines of their sports. But for these special few, their name and reputation evoke powerful associations, even among those who care little for the sport itself.

And when it comes to endurance racing in historic cars, one name stands above all others: the Mille Miglia in Italy.

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Micro-cables suspending the movement of the Richard Mille RM 027

Rafael Nadal, The World’s No.1 Tennis Player; The Richard Mille RM 27-01, The World’s Most Expensive Sports Watch; And The Ion Tiriac Trophy, The World’s Most Complicated Tennis Trophy

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The Mutua Madrid Open is a young tournament; it crowned just its thirteenth winner on May 11, 2014. This winner happens to be world number one Rafael Nadal. And Nadal was wearing an evolution of the ground-breakingly ultra-light RM 027. In lightness as in its $690,000 price tag, this watch breaks all kinds of records.

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Roland Iten R8SC buckle

A Tale Of Belt Buckles Starring Sylvester Stallone, Roland Iten . . . And Me

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For those of you not aware of who, or what, Roland Iten is then the two words − though not the only two − you need to know are “belt buckles.” High-end belt buckles. Belt buckles crafted like a high-end watch. Belt buckles crafted like a very high-end watch. Crafted so well that both Sylvester Stallone and I are big fans.

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