|
|
 |
SITE PREVIEW 1st draft 02.10.2008
For centuries, GOLD
- the most famous precious metal – has been used as a medium for monetary
exchange. It once formed the basis for gold standard before the collapse of the Bretton Woods Exchange system, but is nevertheless still widely acceptable
as an excellent medium for hedging inflation and preservation of individual wealth.
In terms of metal properties, although soft in its pure form, gold does not react
with most chemical except for certain solvents, such as chlorine, flurine etc. (It
dissolves in mercury). It was believed that most of the gold that had been extcavated
out from earth will hardly "disappear or vaporize" due to these unique
metal properties.
<<<--- Leica
started offering gold plated Leica Camera Deluxe / LUXUS range of RF cameras as early
as in 1930. But overall, rangefinder Leicas in gold finish were not too common except
for select special editions of the M-series (a few of these are shown below).
|
| |
|
| A typical example was the 911 attack,
despite billions worth of assets have been gone along with the ashes, the storage
of gold bullion at the basement of the totally demolished World Trade Centers in
New York was literally recovered in full. So, modern theory states the gold is equally
good for fencing off unpredictable disastrous events as the paper money. Gold in
its raw form is actually a dense, soft and shiny metal, brilliant bright yellow in
color; traditionally considered as very attractive, hence delivering a kind of of
charm hardly matched by other metals. For centuries, from Maya kingdom in southern
continent of America, ancient Egypt to emperors from different period of Dynasties
in China, gold was valued as a wealth of nation, and sometimes for ornamentation
as well as ritual usage. Probably to most English reading surfers, the mad Gold Rush
by early English settlers in North America was also one of the many factors that
had contributed in creating United States of America. |
| |
|
 |
 |
|
Probably the first
in the LEICA M-Series, a LEICA GOLD M3 with gold plated lens and accessories, 1957
|
LEICA M-2 Gold Oskar
Barnack 1,000 units edition w/50mm 1:1.4 offered in 1979.
|
| |
|
 |
Leica didn't produce only Gold plated
rangefinder cameras. The SLR-based LEICA R3 (1979) Oskar Barnack was paired with
the Leica M4-2 gold edition, each system had 1,000 units made.
|
|
| The right picture was a LEICA R4 Gold
plated edition which was introduced in 1984 with a matching gold plated Summilux-
X-R 1:1.4/50mm lens. Both of these editions were made in Leitz Portugal plant. Relative:
Other comparative Gold SLR cameras (SLRs) outfits:- Nikon F Gold outfit | Canon F1 GOLD
| Nikon F2 GOLD
| Nikon FM GOLD
| Nikon
FA Limited Edition
GOLD | Pentax LX Limited Edition GOLD | Olympus OM2N Limited Edition GOLD
| For others please refer to the Main Index Page |
| |
|
| Gold simply means wealth, power, status
and respect, but often over centuries, it also formed the basis of many historical
political conflicts around the globe. But in many parts of the world, esp. the orient,
the precious metal is still often tied to royal throne where even the associated
yellow color symbolizes highest ranked and the most respectful status in a country.
There were a couple of known LEICA rangefinder camera issued in the Leica M6 Series
which were packaged in all gold plated packaging. In most cases, the matching lens
were also being plated in equal gold finish. In some extremely rare instances, gold
finish also covers the component accessories as well. |
|
 |
The highlight of this section is actually
centered on a less known special LEICA
M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam Silver Jubilee 24ct Gold Edition which came along with a matching Gold-plated
Summilux-M 1:1.4/50mm lens where most references often relate an equivalent 1996
Gold edition which formed part of a few variant package for the 50th Birthday of
Sultan of Brunei special edition.
|
| Credit:
Image(s) courtesy of MATSUMOTO camera Japan ®.
The group also operates their own active, popular Online Website, trading for many major camera brands
and collectibles Leica & other major labels. Image Copyright © 2008. All
rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer. |
| |
|
| I am not quite unfamiliar with Brunei
Darussalam; back in 1997 after good exposure with completion of the Formula 1 project
for Sepang F1 Circuit, our
Company, MIR has been
commissioned to develop the official governmental website for Brunei which include
a massive inclusion of 14 sub satellite sites for the respective ministries where
it took us 3 months to complete. Much of the original content as well as the core
framework of the site we developed still exists today. Errr .. I guess it might be
a good idea to provide links and talk to them again on site revamp huh ? hehe..one
good old sly fox, I am. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
The Official name of Brunei is Negeri
Brunei Darussalam (in Malay languages or Bahasa term, means "State of Brunei,
Abode of Peace" in direct translation). It is a relatively small country, but
blessed with rich reserves of oil and natural gas. This Muslim majority country is
located at the northwestern cost of Borneo Island and situated closely to the State
of Sarawak, East Malaysia. It gained independence from British colonial rule in 1984.
Brunei is a monarchy and is reigned by powerful remnant of a localized sultanate system which
dates back to the 14th century.
<<<--- His
Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei Darussalam, often was ranked among as one of the richest individual by western
media.
|
| |
|
|
Born in 15th July 1946 and crowned on 1st August 1968,
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, current Sultan and
Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, is the 29th of his line of the Brunei monarchy.
Very much respected by locals as a working and foresighted monarch, where His Majesty
is fondly referred as the architect of modern Brunei. He remains a very influential
figure in the SEA region and works tirelessly in the promotion and strengthening
of inter-countries relationship esp. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. I do understand
the Sultan was quite an active sportsman esp. in the field of polo (a team sport
played outdoor on horseback) and had successfully organized the 20th South East Asian Games in 1999
under his supervision but had no idea if he is an active
photographer like The King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Kingdom of Thailand. But in 1992
(more exactly, 1993), it was the 25th Jubilee year on throne for the much respected
Sultan, somehow an idea of creating a special edition of Leica to commemorate the
special occasion had been proposed and accepted. Why a camera amidst all forms
of possibilities ? Err .. a wild guess is, may be His Majesty, the Sultan does
possess a personal interest in the field of photography as well.
 |
The date August 10, 1998, marked the Royal Proclamation
of His Royal Highness, Al-Muhtadee Billah
- the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, as the Crown
Prince of Brunei. The proclamation puts him in line to become the 30th Sultan of
Brunei. My good friend, Vincent Thian, AP photographer took this memorable picture inside the Palace.
RELATED:
History of Brunei
by Gramham Saunder
Bandar Seri Begawan,
Capital City
Istana Nurul Iman Official
residence of Sultan
Tourism of Brunei
NOTE: "Negeri"
in Malay/Bahasa means State(s). For an instance, Malaysia has 14 administrative States
in the country; This model has the engraving word "Negeri" (Brunei has
very close relationship with other Sultan(s) who acts as non-political Head of various
States in Malaysia); the followed up Sultan Brunei 50th birthday model in 1995
has reverted / changed to use an alternate word "Negara"
- which means Country or Nation in native Malay Language or Bahasa.
|
Anyway, I think I should also take the opportunity to highlight a more important
event that might be more directly associated with the people of Brunei, i.e. an important
event in the establishment Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation at the same corresponding
Silver Jubilee Year (1992). The foundation basically works like a state-run welfare
establishment which formed and intended to look after the general welfare (such as
full governmental sponsorship in education, medical, rural development) or issues
that relate directly to livelihood etc. for people in Brunei. I am telling you this
because I had met an old couple in the renown IJN heart hospital (Institute Jantung
Negara/National
Heart Institute of Malaysia). Back in 1998,
the man who happened to be in the hospital room next to mine, told me all expenses
for his heart surgery as well as his whole family's trip to accompany him were paid
by the foundation. I thought that was nice and was impressed with such public welfare
system. It was just a small episode that reflects the Sultan actually was slowly
starting to release its wealth back to the grassroots level of community as early
as that stage. For the curious westerners, probably His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah was best known via media exposure such as Fortune Magazine Annual Wealth
Rating which has the Sultan being often ranked among as the world's richest individual
for many years. Anyway, I am aware there are plenty shorelines that kept circulating
around the figure over the years but undeniably, behind the rich, colorful yet and
a little mysterious background of this most famous personality from the State of
Brunei, we may find something a little personal via issue of this LEICA Special Edition
camera here. |
|
|
previous | Next | 1/2
Outlining its external features
as well as other issues that relate
as well as a rarely surfaced M6 Platinum Sultan Brunei
Silver Jubilee edition, 1992
Part 1 | Part 2 | Leica M6 Sultan
of Brunei Special 50th Birthday Edition, Platinum w/diamond, 1995
Relative: Leica M6 HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand Golden Jubilee
Edition | Gold cameras (SLRs) outfit
Leica
M3 Gold, 1957 |
Leica M4-2 Gold | Nikon F Gold outfit | Canon F1 GOLD
| Nikon F2 GOLD
| Nikon FM GOLD
| Nikon
FA Limited Edition
GOLD
Pentax LX Limited Edition GOLD | Olympus OM2N Limited Edition GOLD
| for others please refer
to the Main Index Page
Main Index Page
- Leica M6-series models / Main Index Page - Leica-M Rangefinder
camera Models
Nomenclature / Main Reference Map for Leica M6 Standard Model(s) applicable to this M6 Gold Edition | Others:-
Leica
M6 TTL Model(s)
Instruction Manuals:- Leica M6 Classic in PDF (3.8mb) applicable to this Gold Edition by Niels H. S. Nielsen; Others:- Leica M6 TTL 3.6 Mb PDF) by Joe Chan
| Message Board | lenses | Message Board | RF cameras
about this site
|
