How the world's most exclusive card is about to look even cooler
Years ago, I became (uncharacteristically) absorbed in a show called The Real Housewives of Orange Country. During the first episode, one of the rich guys entered an upscale furniture store and waved a black card at the staff. The employees promptly closed the store to the public and followed him from aisle to aisle, grabbing any exorbitant item at which he pointed.
That magical card was the Centurion Card from American Express. It's the most exclusive product on the market, as it's by invitation only (with few clues as to the qualifying criteria). The general consensus is that you need to spend $350,000 per year on your card even to be considered.
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Those invited to the Amex Centurion will pay an initiation fee of $10,000, plus an annual fee of $5,000. So while we all may desire the fame that accompanies this prestigious card, most of us settle for distant lustful gawks.
The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you're one of the few Amex Centurion cardholders, there's exciting news coming your way. American Express is reinvigorating the look of the card, and they're giving you multiple options to choose from -- including a wearable Prada card.
New looks for the Amex Centurion card
American Express has solicited two accomplished individuals to help them improve the aesthetic of their hyper-exclusive Amex Centurion Card:
- Rem Koolhaas (Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, founder of OMA Design Group)
- Kehinde Wiley (painter of the official Barack Obama portrait)
The designs are fresh and tasteful, and they add a unique dimension to the card. Three options give Amex Centurion cardholders the ability to personalize their card further. However, this is a marked change to what's known as the "black card." A jet-black slab of anodized titanium is distinguished and recognizable. These new variants add an element of playfulness to the Amex Centurion Card.
Check out the new designs below to see what I mean.
Rem Koolhaas' Boompjes project graces the front of a new Centurion Card. Originally commissioned to "redevelop a district in Rotterdam, Netherlands which was decimated by bombings during the second world war" (per HYPEBEAST), the project now extends to the Amex Centurion card.
Kehinde Wiley's portraits regularly feature floral patterns as a background. The design on the Amex Centurion card is reminiscent of the living walls you'll encounter at the front desk of Amex Centurion airport lounges.
Last, and by far the most unique is the "Prada Centurion" wrist wear. It's a unisex scratch-resistant black saffiàno leather strap, which includes a hidden payment chip inside.
Bottom line
American Express has enhanced its nondescript black Amex Centurion card. They've commissioned help to refresh the look of their cards and they all look pretty great. The ultra-premium "black card" now boasts yellows, blues, greens and pinks in its new card design while retaining its perks-laden reputation. And you'll now be able to wear this luxurious card on your wrist.
Let us know what you think of these new designs!
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How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023
Rewards Rate
10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023