The Black Card | Centurion Card | Visa Black Card | Luxury Credit Cards

Umm, Oooops!

Originally rumor and urban myth, the American Express CENTURION CARD came to be in 1999 (see the original AMEX press release). “There had been rumors going around that we had this ultra-exclusive black card for elite customers,” says Doug Smith, director of American Express Europe. “It wasn’t true, but we decided to capitalize on the idea anyway. So far we’ve had a customer buy a Bentley and another charter a jet.”

So, although the urban myth and legend referred to the card as the “Black Card” American Express decided to call it the “Centurion Card” named after their private bank, and trademark that instead; The challenge for AMEX is now, however, that they left themselves open by not also trademarking the term “Black Card“, despite the fact that the American Express Centurion Card is ubiquitously known in popular culture as the “Black Card” or Black AMEX, and less so the “Centurion Card”.

Visa readily tells those applying for the card that the “Black Card is not for everyone”, apparently, they mean American Express as well. You can check out patents filed for “Black Card”  and “Centurion Card” on the United States Patent Office Site.

It doesn’t matter legally, that the cards don’t really compare in terms of exclusivity or benefits because Black Card, LLC, Barclays and Visa currently do own the trademark “Black Card”. Maybe we will see a new Black Card for Dummies Guide targeted at the Visa’s Black Card instead?

You can see where the American Express Concierge’s are sending Centurion Cardholders when they need to book a dinner, vacation, or just something fun to do!

Here’s a link to the site TRAVEL INSIGHTS from American Express Centurion:
http://www.amexpub.com/travelinsights/flash/index.html

Kimberly Noel Kardashian was born October 21, 1980 and is an American celebutante, socialite, model, actress, apparel retailer, and television personality. She is perhaps best known for her social life, stolen sex tape, and her role on the E! reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”

What’s less well-known is the fact that Kim Kardashian got a chance at fame and grew up with money earned by her father, Robert Kardashian (2/22/1944 – 9/30/2003): successful attorney who represented O. J. Simpson during part of the Simpson murder trial and was close friends with Simpson.

Kim Kardashian and her siblings denied allegations that they improperly charged more than $120,000 in charges on the Black Card used by R&B singer Brandy Norwood’s mother (verified by court documents). In an answer to the Superior Court lawsuit filed by Sonja Norwood in Los Angeles, the Kardashians “deny generally and specifically each and every allegation,” the papers say.

Norwood’s lawsuit, which also names Kardashian’s siblings Khloe, Kourtney and Robert Jr., alleges they ran up the charges in 2006 and 2007. It seeks the return of the money plus 10 percent interest.

Kim Kardashian had access to the American Express card when she worked as a stylist for Brandy in 2004 (Brandy’s brother, Ray J, also appeared in the infamous sex tape with Kim). Norwood claims Kim later passed on the card number to her siblings, who also allegedly made unauthorized charges.

Now why would Kardashian feel the need to burn money using Brandy’s AMEX when she has a Centurion Card of her own? That’s just silly.

Centurion Concierge tells us where Centurion Card Members most often frequent the following places when in Los Angeles (LA).

Clubs and Bars

Tropicana
Prey
Les Deux
Hyde Lounge
Skybar
Cabana Club
The Bar

Hotels

Hotel Bel Air
Four Seasons Los Angeles
Regent Beverley Wilshire
Intercontinental Century City
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
Fairmont L’Ermitage
Ritz Carlton Marina Del Ray
Four Seasons Beverley Hills
Beverley Hills Hotel and Bungalow
Le Meridien Beverly Hills

Restaurants

Campanile
The Ivy
CUT
Osteria Mozza
Koi
Republic
Il Cielo
Urasawa
Melisse
Katana

Here’s some detail on what Centurion cardholders like to do in New York.

Broadway Shows

Jersey Boys
Young Frankenstein
Spring Awakening
Mamma Mia
Curtains
Spamalot
Drowsy Chaperone
A Chorus Line
The Phantom of the Opera

Clubs and Bars

BLVD
Bungalow 8
PM Lounge
Church Lounge at Tribeca Grand
Whiskey Blue
Frederick’s

Hotels

Jumeirah Essex House
The Peninsula New York
New York Palace
Mandarin Oriental New York
St Regis New York
Ritz Carlton Ny
Waldorf Astoria
The Carlyle Hotel
Hotel Plaza Athenee
W Hotel

Restaurants

Per Se
Babbo
Nobu
Buddakan
Megu
Le Bernardin
David Bouley
Gramercy Tavern
Jean Georges
Chanterelle

Sights

Carnegie Hall
Empire State Building
Lincoln Center
Top of the Rock
Radio City Music Hall
Natural History Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Modern Museum of Art
Central Park
Frick Collection

Median Age = 49
Average Household Income = $427,200 (based on 1.47 exchange rate 12/12/07)
Company Owner 63%
Plans in the next 12 months to:
Average spend on watches = $13,994
Average spend on fine jewelry = $14,597
Average spend on men’s fashion and accessories = $14,039
Average spend on women’s fashion and accessories = $16,052

Number of Cardholders based on Centurion Magazine Circulation (cardholders are automatically subscribed)
United Kingdom = 18,500
Germany = 10,500
France = 1,500
Italy, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands = 4500
Switzerland = 2,800
Israel = 800
Turkey, Russia, Monaco, Greece, Cyprus, Middle East = 5,200
Middle East = 500
Saudi Arabia = 1,000

From: http://www.departures.com/mediakit/international08_01.cfm

Based on the demographics for the Centurion Magazine subscribers, we can see a bit more on card holders in Pan Asia.

Card Members = 14,800

Male/Female = 37%/63%

Average Age = 42

Average Gross Household Income = $537,000

Company Owner = 49%

Managing Director, Board Member = 32%

https://www.centurioncard.ch/

http://www.americanexpress.com/centurion