Gresso unveils luxury Luna, Sol phones

The Russian design house Gresso today formally unveiled the two models that make up its new Avantgarde cellphone design. The Luna and Sol (pictured) continue the company's practice of using very exotic materials for its designs. The main shell is built out of African blackwood aged at least 200 years and ensures that each handset's finish is unique. The backing and main keypad are built from a scratch-resistant titanium while the front navigation key and (on the Sol) number buttons are finished with gold Roman numerals. The Luna's keypad is more conventional but still laser-etched.

Underneath, either phone is identical with a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and Windows Mobile 6 Standard with support for Outlook "push" mail and live instant messaging. Internet access has not been mentioned but is presumed to involve at least EDGE. Gresso hopes to release the inaugural models in the Avantgarde series by late 2007 at a price of 5,000 Euros ($6,872) for the Luna. The Sol's extra use of gold lifts the final price to 7,000 Euros, or $9,620.