- By Shivangi Sharma
- Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:28 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Zealand police are dealing with a bizarre twist in a high-end jewellery theft after a man allegedly swallowed a limited-edition Faberge pendant worth USD 19,000 (Rs 17 lakh). According to Euro News, the incident occurred on November 28 at Partridge Jewellers in Auckland, where the suspect is accused of gulping down the rare piece before attempting to leave the store. He was arrested within minutes.
Inspector Grae Anderson confirmed that the man was taken for an immediate medical check. “At the time of his arrest, he underwent a medical assessment, and an officer is assigned to constantly monitor the man,” Anderson said. “At this stage, the pendant has not been recovered.”
Rare Bond-Inspired Masterpiece
The stolen item, the “Octopussy egg”, is a Faberge pendant inspired by the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. According to the jeweller’s website, only 50 such pieces exist worldwide. The ornate pendant stands 8.4 cm tall, crafted from gold and painted in green enamel. It is encrusted with 183 white diamonds and two sapphires, although some descriptions note a slightly different gemstone count.
The pendant opens to reveal an 18-carat yellow gold miniature octopus adorned with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes, a tribute to the film’s antagonist. Mounted on a display stand, the luxurious creation is considered one of Faberge’s rare collector items.
Court Appearance And Additional Charges
Court documents show that the accused appeared before the Auckland District Court on November 29 but did not enter a plea on the theft charge. His identity has not been released. He is scheduled to appear again on December 8.
Police also revealed that the man faces unrelated charges stemming from earlier incidents, including the alleged theft of an iPad from the same jewellery store on November 12 and the theft of cat litter and flea control products from a private residence on November 13.
For now, investigators are relying on time and digestion to resolve the case. Police continue to monitor the suspect closely to recover the pendant once it “reappears.”
“Given this man is in Police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him, given the circumstances of what has occurred,” Inspector Anderson said.