Man accused of theft for reportedly swallowing Fabergé egg

Authorities in New Zealand have formally charged a man with theft after he allegedly took a gold Faberg egg locket encrusted with jewels by picking it up and swallowing it. The incident reportedly took place on a Friday afternoon at a jewelry store in central Auckland.

According to Inspector Grae Anderson, Auckland Central Area Commander for New Zealand Police, store employees alerted the police around 3:30 p.m. local time, and officers arrived shortly after, apprehending the man inside the store.

The 32-year-old suspect faces a theft charge and has been placed in custody pending a court hearing scheduled for December 8. At the time of his arrest, the man underwent a medical evaluation and remains under close supervision while in police care, Inspector Anderson stated.

As of now, the stolen pendant has not been recovered. Court documents indicate the item is a Faberg James Bond Octopussy Egg locket valued at 33,585 New Zealand dollars (approximately $19,300).

The locket is crafted from 18-karat yellow gold with green guilloch enamel and is adorned with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires. True to Faberg's signature style, the locket opens to reveal a miniature 18k gold octopus with black diamond eyes, inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy."

Faberg, a prestigious jewelry house founded in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1842, is renowned for its intricate and valuable creations. Recently, one of the 50 Imperial Eggs made for Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II sold at auction for 22.9 million ($30.2 million), setting a new record for the jeweler. The Winter Egg's record price highlights the rarity of these creations, with only seven remaining in private collections worldwide, while the rest are either missing or housed in museums.

Author: Benjamin Carter