Five phones you’ll need to remortgage for

The flagship smartphones from the likes of Apple, Samsung, HTC, Sony and LG will cost you between £500 and £700 off-contract, give or take a few pounds.

But those models are almost budget prices when it comes to the likes of Vertu, Tag Heuer and even the more customised versions of handsets like the HTC One.

Both Tag Heuer and Vertu have launched devices in the last couple of weeks, and neither comes cheap. Here are five oligarch-worthy phones that will have you running cap-in-hand to the bank manager before you make a single call.

Vertu Constellation - £4,200

The Vertu Constellation smartphone is handcrafted in Hampshire and has a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 resolution display coated in a 5.1-inch sheet of sapphire crystal only a diamond could scratch.

Its grade 5 casing is the same stuff used to make aviation engine parts and the calfskin leather back comes in orange, black, brown, beige and raspberry, plus each handset also has its own leather pouch included.

In terms of specs, the Vertu Constellation runs on Android 4.2 and comes with a dual-core Snapdragon 1.7GHz processor to give you a decent amount of power.

Perhaps the most interesting part is the device also has the Vertu Life app, which will bring up recommendations including map-based exclusives around the world and events such as "Book a VIP box for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid".

Tag Heuer Meridiist - £3,291

The Tag Heuer Meridiist was originally launched nearly five years ago but the new 2013 model is slimmer, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor.

The new model is dual-SIM allowing you to have personal and business accounts on the same handset and it comes in 10 designs including pink alligator and pink sapphire.

You'll get a 5-megapixel rear camera, along with 8GB storage and a full-colour 2.4-inch TFT LCD display with a 320 x 240 resolution. The Meridiist isn't a smartphone but you will still be able to play MP3 music files and AAC.

Just like the Vertu Constellation, the Tag Heuer Meridiist has its own exciting feature in the form of an exclusive concierge service. Press the button and a Tag Heuer representative will get you what you want, "Just ask and it's yours" is the motto.

Gresso Regal Titanium - £3,130

The Gresso Regal Titanium isn't designed for the Candy Crush or Angry Bird lover, but instead someone who wants their phone to resist dents, scratches and heavy loads.

The titanium shell is resistant to corrosion, salt, moisture and sunlight, and weighs 130g. In terms of specs, the device will offer you tri-band operation, Bluetooth connectivity, a 2-megapixel camera and an FM stereo radio.

You'll also get a voice recorder and voice command functionality, as well as 30MB of internal memory, expandable up to 2GB through a microSD and an 860mAh battery.

Gold HTC One - £2,750

Coming down in price slightly is the 18-carat gold HTC One. The only problem is, there will only be five available and one will be going to the MOBO Awards 2013 Best Newcomer winner.

But if you want to and manage to get your hands on one of these, you'll get the full specs of the HTC One device with it, meaning it will top the other three phones on this list in terms of physical specs.

You won't get a concierge service, or a life experiences recommendation app, but you will find a 4.7-inch full HD display, along with a quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor and 2300mAh battery.

Platinum Apple iPhone 5S - £1087

If you are keen on paying over the odds for a phone, but don't want to move away from Apple, HTC or BlackBerry, there is always Goldgenie.

Of course, you will have to buy the device you want customised first, so essentially you will be paying the price we have listed just for the plating.

However, once you have shelled out the best part of £2,000 altogether, you will have a platinum-plated iPhone 5S, which includes the sides, back, top and bottom.

You'll only have to wait seven days before it is sent back to you, and there is a one-year guarantee on platinum plating. If you prefer gold or rose gold plating, Goldgenie also have these as an option.

The specs aren't the highest in terms of the Vertu, Tag Heuer or Gresso phones, but they are great status symbols. If you have a spare £4,000, why not have a phone made of sapphire and calfskin, or one with a concierge service!

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