Auckland—A New Zealand man has reportedly pleaded not guilty to a number of charges after allegedly swallowing a special-edition Fabergé pendant in an Auckland jewelry store.
On the afternoon of Nov. 28, police were called to Partridge Jewellers after the 32-year-old picked up the pendant, put it in his mouth, and then swallowed it, according to a statement Inspector Grae Anderson, Auckland Central Area commander, shared with National Jeweler.
The suspect also ingested the pendant’s approximately 20-inch 18-karat gold chain with the tag attached.
Auckland police responded within minutes and arrested the man.
The pendant emerged on Dec. 4 following a six-day wait, according to New Zealand Police.
At a court appearance on Dec. 8, the man, whose name has not been shared, entered a plea of not guilty in the case, as per a local report.
His next appearance in Auckland District Court is set for Feb. 17, police said.
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The necklace he swallowed was a “Fabergé x 007 Octopussy Egg Surprise” locket.
It’s listed as retailing for $16,500 on the Fabergé website, though news reports put the locket’s value at 33,585 New Zealand dollars, or about $19,400.
The piece is crafted in 18-karat yellow gold with green guilloché enamel, set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, suspended on a yellow gold chain.
The egg opens to reveal a golden octopus inside with two black diamond eyes.
The piece was inspired by the 1983 film “Octopussy” in which James Bond must solve the murder of a spy found dead in East Germany clutching a fake Fabergé egg that’s similar to the one created for the limited-edition necklace.
In a statement to local news, Partridge Jewellers said the recovered necklace will be returned to Fabergé.
A similar steal-and-swallow crime took place earlier this year in the United States.
In March, a man in Florida allegedly stole almost $800,000 worth of diamond jewelry from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando and then ate it during a traffic stop.
The two pairs of earrings were later recovered.