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Super Hello Kitty Jewel Doll: 10.5 cm, 15 Million Yen (Updated)

Not-So-Daily Link of the Day II: Baselworld, the world's most elite jewelry trade show and marketplace, opened in Switzerland on March 26 with a 15-million-yen (US$153,000) Super Hello Kitty Jewel Doll. It is reportedly the most expensive Hello Kitty tchotchke in the world. The Austrian lead crystal glass maker Swarovski collaborated with Sanrio to created this one-of-a-kind — literally — doll for its Enlightened Swarovski Elements brand. The 10.5-centimeter (4.1-inch) doll weighs 569 grams (1.25 pounds) and is entirely encrusted with 232.256 carats of 2,346 diamonds, white topazes, and, naturally, pink sapphires. Plans have not been made to offer it for sale. However, the five-color Hello Kitty Colors x Enlightened Swarovski Elements jewelry set goes for a somewhat more reasonable 350,000 yen (US$3,600).

The same Baselworld jewelry show unveiled the 30-million yen (US$300,000) platinum Gundam that Bandai commissioned in 2007.

Source: animeanime.jp

Update: An earlier jewel-encrusted "Queen Kitty" figure made for the 30th anniversary of Hello Kitty sold for 10.5 million yen (US$102,00). A less expensive platinum Hello Kitty was offered for sale that same year for 3 million yen (US$28,000). Another platinum Hello Kitty was valued at 18.9 million yen (US$163,000) in 2006. However, platinum has dropped more than half of its value in the past year. Thanks, Emerje.