The New 7 Wonders of the World

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

MEXICO: Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BRAZIL: This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

ITALY: This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

INDIA: This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

CHINA: The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

JORDAN: On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

PERU: In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Source: Article

Read More........→September 10, 2026

Rare 1930s Watch Stashed in Old Jewelry Box Sells for $80,000 in Thrilling UK Auction

1930s Patek Philippe – Courtesy of Hansons Auctioneers / SWNS

A rare vintage Swiss watch discovered hidden away in a late mother’s jewelry box while the family was cleaning out her home has sold for £59,000 at a British auction—$80,000 in US dollars.

The 1930s Patek Philippe wristwatch smashed expectations after experts originally valued it at just £5,000.

The owner’s daughter remembers her mom once telling her she possessed an expensive watch, but no one expected the stainless steel timepiece to be worth almost 12 times its estimate.

“When I finally had the watch in my hands and was able to examine it properly, I knew we had something extremely rare,” said Darren Ashley, senior valuer at Hansons Cornwall, who held the public auction in Penzance on Tuesday.

He explained that Patek Philippe produced very few stainless steel watches during the period, and that rarity makes surviving examples incredibly desirable to collectors—along with its “mechanical perfection”.

“This was a watch dating back around 90 years, which had spent decades within the same Cornish family and—when it was placed in my hands—it was still finely ticking away.”

1930s Patek Philippe – Courtesy of Hansons Auctioneers / SWNS

The rare Patek Philippe & Co Calatrava Reference 448 belonged to the seller’s grandfather who passed it to his daughter. It’s believed that their grandmother had a love for designer clothes and luxury items, and bought it as a gift for her husband decades ago.

“The pre-sale interest was phenomenal, from serious collectors across the world, but nothing quite prepares you for watching that level of bidding unfold in the room.”

“Having three members of the family there made it even more special. They were absolutely thrilled, while other members of their family were following the auction live from work on their laptops and phones and couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“The final battle between (bidders in) Japan and China was incredibly exciting. To see the hammer finally fall at £59,000 was a fantastic moment for the family.

“It is one of those results that reminds you why this business is so exciting.

“Something extraordinary can still be sitting quietly in a jewelry box just a few miles away.”

“What a wonderful result,” added Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers. “Never overlook what is tucked away at home.”

“This little watch had passed quietly through generations of a Cornish family, its late owner knowing she had something valuable, but perhaps never imagining quite how sought-after it would become.

“To see bidders in America, Japan and China competing for something discovered in a Cornish family home is the magic of auction.

“When rarity, quality and provenance come together, the results can be spectacular.”The watch will now begin a new chapter thousands of miles away in Hong Kong. Rare 1930s Watch Stashed in Old Jewelry Box Sells for $80,000 in Thrilling UK Auction

Read More........→September 05, 2026