How the incident happened
In Auckland, a visitor to Partridge Jewelers attempted to steal a Fabergé egg-shaped pendant by swallowing it right on the shop floor. Store staff noticed the man doing it.
The 32-year-old man was immediately detained. He underwent a medical examination after his arrest.
An Auckland patrol quickly arrived and detained the suspect in the store
– Gray Anderson, chief of police for the city's central district
Description and characteristics of the pendant
The pendant is part of a limited series called "Octopussy", created based on the 1983 James Bond film of the same name. The piece measures 8.4 cm in height; it is made of gold, coated in green enamel, and set with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. Only 50 such examples were produced.
The interior of the piece contains a figurine of an octopus made of 18-carat yellow gold, with suckers of white gold and eyes of black diamonds.
Court and condition of the suspect
After examination by medics, police are waiting for the piece to pass naturally. Further action by investigators depends on that process. The suspect is due to appear in court on December 8.
For comparison, at Christie's auction in London the imperial "Winter Egg" by Fabergé was sold for £22.9 million, setting a new world record for pieces by the house.
