Man arrested after allegedly swallowing diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg
Police in New Zealand have arrested a man accused of stealing a diamond-studded Fabergé pendant and attempting to destroy the evidence by swallowing it. Authorities confirmed Wednesday that the unusual theft took place last week in a jewelry shop in Auckland, the country’s largest city.
The 32-year-old suspect was detained at the scene, but officers have still not recovered the precious item, valued at around 20,000 US dollars. Investigators believe the man ingested the pendant, prompting police to assign an officer to monitor him closely until the object can be retrieved naturally.
The pendant is a special-edition Fabergé egg inspired by Octopussy (1983), the James Bond film centered around a jewel of the same type. According to Fabergé’s website, the miniature egg—crafted from 18-carat gold and adorned with diamonds and sapphires—contains a tiny octopus hidden inside.
Fabergé, famous for its exquisite imperial eggs created in the late 19th century, continues to command extraordinary prices. On Tuesday, the House’s “Winter Egg,” originally crafted for the Russian imperial family, sold for a record 22.9 million pounds (26 million euros) at Christie’s in London.
