New Zealand authorities recovered a limited-edition Fabergé egg pendant valued at 33,000 New Zealand dollars (about $19,000 USD) from a 32-year-old suspect’s body on Thursday evening, six days after his arrest for allegedly swallowing it to steal from Partridge Jewelers in Auckland. The jewelry, one of only 50 produced, passed naturally through the man’s gastrointestinal tract without medical intervention, prompting police to maintain constant surveillance in custody. The suspect, unnamed publicly, faces theft charges and remains detained ahead of his Monday court appearance in Auckland District Court.
Crafted from 18-carat yellow gold with green guilloché enamel, the pendant measures 8.4 centimeters tall and features 183 diamonds plus two sapphires, complete with a long gold chain and intact price tag upon recovery. It opens to reveal a surprise 18-carat gold octopus with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes, homage to the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy‘s jewel-smuggling plot involving a fake Fabergé egg. Police shared a photo of a gloved hand holding the retrieved item, contrasting its prior glamorous display.
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Incident Timeline
- Arrested November 28 inside Partridge Jewelers shortly after swallowing the pendant.
- Court appearance November 29 without entering a plea; held in custody under 24/7 watch.
- Inspector Grae Anderson noted ongoing duty of care due to the ingestion risks before recovery.
This unusual case highlights security challenges at high-end jewelers and the patience required in evidence recovery
