The stars align for Vertu’s newest smart phone

MANILA, Philippines - There was a time when people looked up to the stars as a way of life; when the Orion, the Big Bear or the Little Dipper did much to tell the time, the shifts of seasons, nautical direction, one’s fortune and a vast assortment of myths and legends. These celestial wonders inspire the loftiest ambitions and the most luxurious innovations, from chronographs, cruise ships, and more recently, what could be the world’s most valued smart phone. Like its namesake, the Vertu Constellation revolutionizes the way people — or at least, those who could very well afford — connect with the rest of the world.

In what could be a sheer case of serendipity, the first Vertu flagship store in the country, found at the first level of the new wing of Shangri-La Mall, opened up in time for the Constellation’s global launch. The third series of the exclusive English mobile phone label, the Constellation may be a tad more accessible compared to its predecessors the Vertu TI and the Vertu Signature, yet what it lacks in the usual exorbitance, it makes up for with its cool and savvy.

“We’re targeting a new customer, a younger customer, a more gender-neutral customer, so we started appealing to a more feminine and younger audience,” explains Vertu regional sales manager Nick Holt.

The Vertu Constellation notably took on a more colorful, almost casual vibe, distinctly different from its stern and serious forerunners, yet, still present are the features that make any Vertu phone a cause for somber desire.

“It’s still all about craftsmanship. It’s about the play of all different materials, and it’s still handmade by one person in England. So, although, it’s in the lower realms of the price structure, it’s still very well a luxury item. We’re moving away from the ‘bling’, if you like, to make a beautiful smart phone that people can use,” adds Nick Holt. What with a scratch-resistant, 100-carat sapphire crystal display, imbedded in tough and lightweight grade 5 titanium, and stylishly lined with the finest European hide off the century and a half year-old North German tannery of Van Heimer, beautiful, in this case, is quite the understatement.

Found in delectable colors of Cappuccino, Mocha, Raspberry, Orange and Black, it could give your expensive bag fetish quite the run for its money, but clearly, it isn’t the case. As Vertu Philippines general manager Edith Dychiao puts it, “Unlike bags or watches, you can have a different one on each day or occasion. But I think when a person buys into the Vertu Constellation, this is something they will keep for quite a while. It is, what I’d like to call, a luxury essential.”

The essential, indeed, makes the Constellation far from being a pricey caprice, for deep under its remarkably good looks is an even more significant tech spec. “In terms of positioning it for the smart phone era, we are using market-leading technology. The Constellation works from the Jellybean 4.2.2, which is upgradable to Key Lime Pie or Kit-Kat 5.0, the most up-to-date Android software,” reveals Nick Holt. Add to that the crystal clear 4.5” HD display which keeps glares and reflections at bay, as well as sublime acoustic precision made more precious with a portfolio of melodic ringtones composed by the London Symphonic Orchestra, no less, never have answering calls or receiving  an SMS been a work of art.

Yet much more than the aesthetic perfection, or the supreme performance, there is one thing that Vertu disciples value, and it’s the exclusive privileges. The Vertu Constellation comes built-in with the Vertu Life advantage, a passport to the world’s most private clubs, elite events, and especially-curated experiences all in a flash of a phone. Vertu Certainty, on the other hand, safeguards this innovative investment, with personal and corporate security by Protector Services Group, anti-virus software from Kaspersky, and global Wi-Fi access via iPass. For these reasons alone, one can get his money’s worth, perhaps much more, in a Vertu Constellation handset.

To underline these master strokes further, Vertu Constellation is featured in a striking global ad campaign by renowned British fashion photographer Kristian Schuller. Known for his whimsical imaginings for the iconic British Vivienne Westwood and Harrod’s brands, Schuller turned the enchantment of the Constellation into one that vividly celebrates creative freedom and the liberty to dream — going back to Vertu’s main entitlement, which in Latin literally means “object of art.”

“We have the materials, we have the craftsmanship, and we have the service element, the new Constellation embodies all these,” Nick Holt sums up the scintillating features of the newest Vertu phone, and yet, it seems, there is so much more. In a country with over 100 million mobile phone subscribers, the Vertu Constellation may prove to be the ultimate aspiration, where the mundane acts of taking calls and sending texts become precious experiences in themselves. Of course, for most of us, it would take much more than a wish off a shooting star, while for the rest it’s the fortunate realization of fate.

“We are very excited because Vertu is keen on coming up with newer products which are more up-to-date in terms of technology and design, so we are very optimistic about the brand,” enthuses Edith Dychiao. And the Constellation may just as well be the start of virtuous things to come for its local flagship, and consequentially, its followers.

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The Vertu Constellation retails for approximately P297,000 and is now available at the Vertu store, at the ground floor of Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.