Open Forum: What's The Most Precious Item In Second Life?

This is New World Notes style correspondent Iris Ophelia posing with a pair of puppies from A.I.F., each costing L$700, about $2.60 USD ("Which I consider cheap," she tells me, "considering how much they do", which includes chasing a ball and taking a bath), and an avatar design called Sorrow Marionette from The Abyss, which will cost you L$3999, around USD$15, at today's L$-to-US$ exchange rate.

I show this photo as a way to launch our new search for the best in the metaverse: What's the most precious item in Second Life?  Post your suggestions in Comments, following this general criteria:

- The item must be relatively expensive-- say L$1000 or above.
- It must be on sale now to the public-- in an SL store or e-commerce site.
- It must have been provably sold to several customers or more.
- It must be original to SL-- i.e., no blatant knock-offs of famed RL brands.
- It must be precious-- showing unique beauty, craftsmanship, innovation, and most of the other qualities we associate with valuable items.

The item you name can be almost anything-- clothing, vehicles, weapons, jewelry, art, housewares, magic armor, spaceships, and more.  Much like Iris' search for the hottest male avatars of 2008, we'll select numerous semi-finalists from your suggestions, and put those up for a vote.  And just in time for the holidays, Iris and I will feature ten of the most popular and acclaimed items.

In other words, we hope to make this a gift guide, a microcosm of the in-world economy, and a pictorial meditation on the value of virtual items, all in one.

When Iris and I choose the semi-finalists, here's items which we probably won't select:

- Likely not particle effects, animations, HUDs, or other temporary, non-physical objects.
- Likely not purely utilitarian items (unless they're extremely beautiful.)
- Likely not anything overly complicated to rez, set-up, and otherwise use.

So post suggestions in Comments!  We'll keep this forum running until the end of November.  And whenever possible, please name the creator, and the SLURL/URL where the item is sold.

Comments

[nahasa singh]

What about the AM Pro cars ? Long time since I saw a SL product and thought "I definitely got to get me one of these...". Let's see..

-- relatively expensive, check
-- on sale now, check
-- provably sold to several customers, dunno
-- original to SL, nah
-- unique beauty & craftsmanship, double check

Go look at them, you be the judge...

[Ann Otoole]

Drat! Guess I need to make something expensive!

[Simondo Nebestanka]

My vote goes to the most beautiful thing I've seen in SL, Light Waves' Ballerina. For sale at the Black Swan sim. Not sure how many have been sold? But it's craftsmanship is supreme.

[Bellona Vella]

Check out the Tornado Summoning HUD v3.0
by Tryptofaa Sands.
Has to be one of the most impressive things I've seen in Second Life. So much effort has been put into it, and what with the destructable buildings as well, it's hell of a lot of fun.

Check it out and see what you think.
http://www.vimeo.com/953695

[dandellion Kimban]

Tough question. There are so many valuable and precious things in my inventory and thousand times more on the grid.

Still, it's not only the money that counts. When I saw the question, first thing that popped to my mind was prim.docker. It's less than 1000L$ but I cannot count it's value... in saved time, nerves and inspiration.

[Troy McConaghy]

It's not on sale anymore, and it's not transferable, but I think one of the most precious items in SL must be Starax's wand.

[Bone]

My most expensive/precious item(s) are my "Python" revolvers from Breach at $1200.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Overdrive%20Island/127/213/21

[Gahum Riptide]

I would say that the trees that change color depending on the season at Kenroku are what I'd call precious. I bought one of the maples, and I adore it. My favorite purchase in SL so far.

[Ignatius Onomatopoeia]

My Dominus Shadow, without a doubt, is "my precious." The Shadow is no mere rip-off of the '67 Mustang. Instead, it takes that classic shape and adds what every Apollo-era kid wanted: a flying supercar.

It's my favorite inventory item in part because it features:

--free software updates from Francis Chung

--features that enable Shadows to be configured in a number of ways. I keep mine as a drop-dead beautiful, basic black convertible w/o a spoiler and with basic "Bullitt" rims.

--reasonable handling. I own a classic car IRL and have driven many others. The Shadow "feels" right, at least in low gears and when it's not flying ;D

--a range of performance options. It goes very fast when I race it. As I become a better SL driver, I think the car will be very competitive for a "stock" vehicle. So many other SL vehicles are over-powered for a track.

[Balthasar Bookmite]

How about Scarlet Creative homes. They are super high quality. The texture work is top-notch. They are really expensive, 4000L$ for the base model and I think they go up to 15,000L$, possibly more. I know that Charlotte has worked with the Costa Rica Sims and created a line of houses that work with the estate and I think that she has partnerships with other sims aswell with her regular line of houses. I know however each house has a limited time frame in which is it sold, but the quality is the same.

Balt

[vint falken]

Would vote for Light Wave's Greenies Cat. =)

[Valentina Kendal]

The most expensive pure luxury item I have bought in a long time, because I saw one and just HAD to have it, is a steampunk style flying submarine by Carrah Rossini (The Nereide Flying Submarine). The workmanship and textures in this ship are phenomenal. It would be worth it just on looks, but it flies, has functional radar, security, compass, altimeter, TV and radio, as well as a fully functional bed. I am not affiliated with Carrah, just a satisfied customer - pictures available here:
http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=images&ItemID=630627

[Faerie]

My most precious object is my adult faerie dragon avatar from the Isle of Wyrms.

There are few things as impressive as a full adult dragon avatar.

IOW dragons are the best dragons in SL and it's not just the quality of the "prim work", but also the quality of the scripting and the accessories like the saddle which allows another avatar to ride the dragon, which are far better (smoother and more efficient) than any other in SL (and I do own several other dragons from other creators as well).

IOW adult dragons are expensive at around $3000L for the first adult dragon and only a limited number are released at each equinox. However you get more than just an avatar - you also become part of a whole community.

IOW dragons meet all of the criteria you have set down for being precious and in addition they are loved by those who have them and envied by many who do not. Surely that is a good definiton of what "precious" means?

IOW dragons can be seen in the Cathedral on the sim "Cathedral" (which is one of the sims that jointly make up the "Isles of Wyrms".

[mollynmona]

The most unique, creative, finely crafted item in my inventory is two sets of armor by Kelly Nordberg. When I wear them I feel like a Valkyrie, invincible, I can slay dragons, win fair maidens, and amaze those around me with the armor's details and textures. There are two pictures here.

[Yak Wise]

The beautifull Artificial Intelligent VKC dogs made by Enrico Genosse.

[Eleanor Balbozar]

My most precious item(s) are my ears and tail, lol. Ok, over 1000L? That would be my waterfall from Bliss Gardens, it is so beautiful and makes my land my home :)) I think I paid around 3k for it. Worth every L...

[Yak Wise]

On the other hand... how could I be without my underpants by swaffette Firefly... the only mens underpants that suggest there's something in it...

[Morris Vig]

Starax's wand. Period.

[skribe]

Last year Tracylynn Carpenter was selling absolutely gorgeous yachts for $L30k and up to $L50k for some IIRC. But she appears to have moved into cannons.

[Hamlet Au]

Starax's wand would be a great suggestion, but far as I know, it's no longer being sold; note the "on sale *now* to the public" clause.

[Winter Jefferson]

The flaming Night Mare at AKK Ranch. It's 5000l and I yearn for it. There are mundane horses at 2k each, but... come on. Demon horse FTW.

[Eveline Nixdorf]

Doesn't meet the cost criterion at all, but the sweetest item I own is a small toucan from animania, who sits on my shoulder and looks about, and who I like to imagine whispers nasty gossipy toucanly comments in my ear.

[rightasrain]

The Angel (25,000 to 40,000L) at Black Swan is a top piece at a high price--adored by many and ripped-off by many also (we tracked down most of those!). Check the Collectors' Gallery for other most precious items like Ballerina, Fetus, Lover's Rock and of course the Noob (99L). http://rezzable.com/virtual-worlds#virtualart

[Hant Boucher]

I think this meets all, the houses from Scarlet Creative. I have had mine for a few months. You get cycled upgrades (they don't charge) and it has the most amazing textures.

Not sure how they do it but their houses are so light and actually give me a nice touchy feel.

Def for me the most precious item in SL.

[nahasa singh]

Update to my previous comment...

I'd like to point your attention to the cool jet for sale at Alanya/205/129/37 ... stunning.