A Fabergé pendant has been recovered – after police spent six days closely monitoring the man accused of swallowing it.
The limited-edition jewellery was inspired by the 1983 film Octopussy, where a smuggling operation involves a fake Fabergé egg.
Detectives say the pendant exited the suspect’s gastrointestinal tract naturally without medical intervention – after all, diamonds are forever.
A photo has been released showing the collector’s item reunited with police, and a gloved hand can be seen around the pendant and its long, gold chain.
The price tag – showing it was on sale for £14,250 – remained intact.
According to a statement, the 32-year-old was arrested at Partridge Jewellers in Auckland on 28 November and had been in police custody ever since.
Officers were stationed around the clock waiting for the evidence to re-emerge.
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The Fabergé egg – one of only 50 ever made – was crafted from gold, painted with green enamel and encrusted with 183 diamonds and two sapphires.
It opens to reveal an 18-carat yellow gold octopus nestled inside, adorned with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes.
