3.8万美元的天价iPhone外壳

When measured against other smartphones, the average price of Apple's iPhone already makes it a luxury item in most Asian countries.

就其平均价格和其他智能手机相比，在多数亚洲国家，苹果公司(Apple Inc., AAPL)的iPhone手机本身已经就是款奢侈品了。

But that hasn't stopped designers from offering even more extravagant iPhone cases with eye-popping price tags.

尽管如此，设计师们还是不断推出越来越奢华，价格愈加令人瞠目的iPhone手机外壳。

The latest entry is the Koku, a bedazzled case for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, which comes in both silver and gold varieties. The gold case is fitted out with more than 200 diamonds and sells for 3,776,000 Japanese yen, or more than $38,500.

最新上市的Koku，是一款专为iPhone 5和iPhone 5S制作的系列手机外壳，分金、银两款，造型眼花缭乱。其中金款镶有200多颗 石，售价3,776,000日圆，约合逾38,500美元。

Though the cases are currently sold only in Japan, the president of the Japanese jewelry company that makes them says he hopes to start selling them it world-wide.

尽管这些外壳目前只能在日本买到，但制作该产品的日本珠宝公司──秋山国际株式会社(Akiyama International Co.,简称：秋山国际)的总裁秋山酉太郎(Yutaro Akiyama)表示，希望开始面向全球发售。

'Since iPhone is marketed globally, we'd like to promote these outside Japan as well in future,' Yutaro Akiyama, of Akiyama Co., told the Journal.

他对本报记者说道，苹果手机布局全球市场，因此我们也希望在未来将产品推广到日本以外的国家。

So, what makes the Koku so expensive? We broke down the cost.

那么Koku手机外壳何以如此昂贵？让我们来看看它的制作成本。

Who Makes It: Japanese jeweler Akiyama and mobile phone company Phonet, both based in Yamanashi prefecture, teamed up on the Koku. Akiyama usually makes wearable women's accessories such as earrings, bracelets and pendants, while Phonet runs a dozen stores in Yamanashi.

由谁推出：总部位于山梨县的秋山国际和移动手机公司Phonet Co.共同完成Koku的设计工作。秋山国际实际上是一家主要经营耳环、手镯、挂坠等女性饰品的公司，而Phonet在山梨县拥有十二家手机门店。

What It's Made of: The gold iPhone case is made of 18-carat yellow gold studded with 207 diamonds weighing 1.71 carats in total. The less expensive version is made with silver and cubic zirconias, bringing the price down to a still-pricey 377,600 yen.

由何制成：金款iPhone手机外壳由18K黄金制成，表面镶有207颗总重1.71克拉的 石。银款外壳由银和合成锆石制成，售价虽较金款外壳低，但仍高达377,600日圆。

Craftmanship & Design: Koku means 'time,' and the back of the case features a design of a clock face set against the outline of a solitaire-diamond ring. Above the XII symbol is a silhouette of Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest peak, whose height -- 3,776 meters -- inspired the product's aspirational price tag.

工艺/设计：Koku在日语中意为“时间”，外壳的背面图案是一枚时钟表盘模样的指环，上面用镶 勾勒出 石的外形。表盘12点位置的上方则呈现以日本最高峰──富士山的形貌，该产品的价格正是由山的海拔──3776米得来。

How It's Made: The case was 'extremely difficult' to manufacture because the materials tended to shrink or lose their sheen during the casting process, said Mr. Akiyama.

生产过程：秋山称，该外壳的生产工艺“极其精细”，因为在铸造的过程中要确保材料不会收缩或失去光泽。

Exclusivity: Available only by order, only 15 gold and 15 silver cases will be produced and are targeted toward wealthy women in their 40s and 50s. According to Mr. Akiyama, the company has received one order for the silver version so far, but none have been placed for the gold one yet.

独特性：产品只接受定制，公司计划生产金款、银款各15件，并将目标客户群定位在40至50岁、富有的女性消费者。据秋山称，公司目前已经收到一份银款手机外壳的订单，尚未有人预定金款。