Water cooler gossip doesn't normally focus on the water cooler itself.
But that may be about to change with the launch of a gold-finish dispenser that was recently unveiled in Dubai with a price tag of Dh6,500 (US$1,769).
The machine, which filters tap water, is aimed at high-net-worth individuals, luxury spas and hotels.
"The gold unit is made from steel that has undergone an electroplating treatment process that covers the dispenser in a gold-coloured film," explains Rukhsana Kausar, the founding partner of Liquid of Life, which sells the unit.
"This process leaves the dispensers scratch and dent-resistant and at the same time, the gold colour will not fade with time."
It has the same basic internal components as the company's regular water dispenser, which costs Dh2,300.
Liquid of Life also sells a dispenser made out of wood that is sourced from a sustainable forest in Canada and costs Dh3,700.
"The presentation of the unit is different.
"They all have the same internal filtration system," Ms Kausar says.
But why a gold one?
"It's very much Dubai," she says.
And the company is always looking to broaden the range of products it offers.
"The gold one seemed to me an attractive proposition for businesses [in Dubai]," Ms Kausar adds.
"Also, I think it is there to raise the profile of bottle-free dispensers generally."
Liquid of Life has not yet received any orders for the dispenser because it was launched just last week, but there are a number of companies in the hospitality sector that have shown an interest.
"I have been approached by a few companies that actually wanted to produce a gold one, but that's a bit insensitive when you have a lot of people around the world who don't have access to clean water," Ms Kausar says."[The gold-plated dispenser] is the closest thing that I would do."
However, anyone who buys it will have to wait up to six weeks for delivery as they are made on demand.
