A tourbillon (French for "whirlwind") is a centuries-old mechanism built inside some of the world's most expensive watches. It was originally designed to improve the accuracy of pocket watches by rotating the escapement and balance wheel to help counter the effects of gravity.
Pedal harps can cost $70,000 — far more than lever harps, which cost $2,000 to $9,000. At first glance, a pedal harp looks like a simple frame with a row of strings. But there are complicated mechanisms inside that musicians use to change notes. At Camac Harps in France, every harp is carved and assembled by hand.
Sheets made with Egyptian cotton can cost over $900 — but not all cotton is created equal. Many products use the term "Egyptian cotton," but experts say there isn't enough Egyptian cotton grown to actually make all of the products that claim to use it.
In Tunisia, Mohamed cracks and scrapes at snails to make authentic Tyrian purple dye. Farther south in Uganda, Akello pounds and grinds nuts by hand to make silky, luxurious East African shea butter.
Hot-air balloons have been around for centuries. They're certified aircraft for those looking to take the slow and scenic route, but owning one can set you back considerably — 30,000 euros for a smaller balloon and 150,000 euros for a larger one.
In Uruguay, Renato sets off an explosive to reveal an ancient, glittery stone: amethyst. In Italy, Enrico cuts slabs off of one of the most expensive marbles in the world: Calacatta.
From the purest form of maple syrup, extracted drop by drop from trees in New York, to the finest polished-rice sake, crafted by Japan's youngest female sake brewmaster, we uncovered the stories behind some of the world's most expensive foods.
Founded in 1643 in France, Trudon is one of the oldest candle manufacturers in the world. Its candles lined Marie Antoinette's bedroom and the churches of Paris. Today, prices range from $48 for one taper candle to $660 for a "great"-sized jarred candle. Its legacy isn't the only thing behind that hefty price tag.
Amethyst is one of the most abundant crystals in the world, but the most prized pieces can cost almost a million dollars. Some of the world's largest amethyst geodes come out of Artigas, Uruguay. The earth beneath this region is uniquely suited to producing amethyst.
From Assamese muga silk to jasmine oil used in luxury perfumes and from aromatic sandalwood to real saffron that costs over $10,000 per kilogram, we traveled the length of the subcontinent to uncover the stories behind some of the most expensive products made in India.