Crime

Man Pleads Not Guilty to Swallowing Fabergé Pendant

CrimeDec 17, 2025

Man Pleads Not Guilty to Swallowing Fabergé Pendant

The special-edition egg pendant ingested in a New Zealand jewelry store was recovered after a six-day wait.

Fabergé egg pendant near gloved hand
Police recovered this Fabergé pendant after a New Zealand man allegedly swallowed it in an Auckland jewelry store. (Photo courtesy of New Zealand police)
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.

 Related stories will be right here … 

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.

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