A New Zealand man has been charged with theft after allegedly swallowing a Fabergé egg locket price US$19,200 (CAD$26,780).
The fragile piece of jewellery, referred to as the James Bond Octopussy egg, is created from 18-karat yellow gold, embellished with inexperienced guilloché enamel, and encrusted with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires. When opened, it reveals an 18-karat gold miniature octopus, in accordance with the Fabergé web site.
Proof of the alleged theft has but to emerge, police stated Wednesday.
“On the time of his arrest, he underwent a medical evaluation, and an officer is assigned to continually monitor the person,” Insp. Grae Anderson stated in an announcement. “At this stage, the pendant has not been recovered,” she stated, The Related Press reported.
The person was arrested inside the shop minutes after the alleged theft. He appeared within the Auckland District Courtroom on Nov. 29, the place he didn’t enter a plea on a cost of theft.
The alleged loot was a limited-edition pendant impressed by the 1983 James Bond movie, Octopussy. Central to the movie’s plot is a jewel-smuggling operation that includes a pretend Fabergé egg.
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“Given this man is in police custody, now we have an obligation of care to proceed monitoring him, given the circumstances of what has occurred,” Anderson stated.
The suspect is because of seem in court docket once more on Dec. 8.
The alleged theft comes a day after a uncommon crystal and diamond Fabergé egg crafted for Russia’s ruling household earlier than it was toppled by revolution was offered at public sale for 22.9 million kilos (USD$30.2 million, CDN$42.3 million).
The Fabergé Winter Egg is displayed at Christie’s public sale rooms in London on Nov. 27, 2025, and offered for 22.9 million kilos (USD$30.2 million, CDN$42.3 million) on Dec. 2.
AP Photograph / Kirsty Wigglesworth
The four-inch (10-centimetre) tall egg is created from finely carved rock crystal, coated in a fragile snowflake motif wrought in platinum and 4,500 tiny diamonds. It opens to disclose a detachable tiny basket of bejewelled quartz flowers symbolizing spring.
Craftsman Peter Carl Fabergé and his firm created greater than 50 of the eggs for Russia’s imperial household between 1885 and 1917, every elaborately distinctive and containing a hidden shock. Czar Alexander III began the custom by presenting his spouse with an egg every Easter. His successor, Nicholas II, prolonged the present to his spouse and mom.
— With information from The Related Press
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