- Title: Million pound crackers and ruby tarts - all part of a millionaire's Christmas
- Date: 11th December 2015
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) NECKLACES IN CABINETS VARIOUS OF DIAMOND NECKLACE AND EARRINGS DIAMOND NECKLACE ON BLACK MANNEQUIN MODEL SIX DIAMONDS AND CRACKERS IN BOX (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUXURY GOODS SELLER AND FOUNDER OF VERYFIRSTTO, MARCEL KNOBIL, SAYING: "If we start with the diamonds. We have a collection here of six remarkable diamonds, all white diamonds but each one of a different cut. The most expensive being this three carat, beautiful pear diamond which is truly spectacular and part of its worth it due to the fact that it it really, really pure. It's a very, very high grade, high clarity diamond indeed." PEAR-SHAPED DIAMOND IN BOX SIX DIAMONDS POSITIONED IN THEIR BOXES (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUXURY GOODS SELLER AND FOUNDER OF VERYFIRSTTO, MARCEL KNOBIL, SAYING: "Each guest sitting around the dinner party will be surprised to find a really remarkable diamond." CRACKERS IN BOX PEAR-SHAPED DIAMOND IN BOX (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRESOR PARIS DIRECTOR, SALIM HASBANI, SAYING: "A million pound on crackers I think it's nice. It's something that will last forever. It's not... You know you can spend a million pound on a Ferrari but you'd be lucky if it starts the next day to take it out for a drive. This will stay with you forever, you can pass it to your kids. It's an eternal gift. It's not just for that Christmas day. It will remind Christmas day 2015, but it will last forever." CRACKERS IN BOX GOOSE DOWN ON CRACKERS RIBBON AND FLOWERS ON CRACKERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HOUSE OF CRACKERS OWNER, DAVID SNOOK, SAYING: "Ok well we started off with a really high embossed foiled paper, it came from India, first time in the country it came in. Then we added a poinsettia flower on top of this. Then added a beautiful little goose feather that comes from the belly of the goose. Super sheer ribbon on the ends to tie them all up and hey presto we've a beautiful cracker." SNOOK AND TRESOR PARIS STAFF MEMBER PULLING CRACKER WITH PEOPLE STANDING AROUND WATCHING AND CHEERING TRESOR PARIS STAFF MEMBER PULLING DIAMOND IN BOX OUT OF THE CRACKER AND SHOWING IT TO CAMERA VARIOUS OF TARTS IN TRAY AND ON WOODEN PLATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAKER AND FOUNDER OF GEORGIA'S CAKES, GEORGIA GREEN, SAYING: "I love making something like this towards Christmas you know adding the extra sparkle and something I love doing which is creating patisserie and little tarts in the shape of Rudolph." TARTS ON WOODEN PLATE GREEN EATING TART SNOW GLOBE ON BLACK MATERIAL FAKE SNOW, INCLUDING DIAMONDS, DRIFTING AROUND MINIATURE FIGURES OF FAMILY FAKE SNOW, INCLUDING DIAMONDS, DRIFTING AROUND SNOW GLOBE MINIATURE SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUXURY GOODS SELLER AND FOUNDER OF VERYFIRSTTO, MARCEL KNOBIL, SAYING: "The snow globe is created by Leah Andrews who is known around the world as queen of the snowglobes and what she's doing for us is she's creating a micro-sculpture of your own family in whatever setting your require. So you have your own bespoke sculpture and on top of that the snow actually contains tiny diamonds." VARIOUS OF CHRISTMAS TREE STAR CHRISTMAS TREE WITH STAR POSITIONED ON TOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT 77 DIAMONDS, DAVID ALLEN, SAYING: "It blew us all away. I think making something for a Christmas tree it's something that makes people look at what's on top of the Christmas tree as opposed to what's underneath it and the centre stone is retractable so once Christmas is over and done with they can screw it out and pop it around your neck in a pendant which I think is quite special." VARIOUS OF KNOBIL PUTTING STAR ON TOP OF CHRISTMAS TREE HATTEN GARDEN STREET ON WHICH TRESOR PARIS IS SITUATED STREET AND SIGN (English) WHICH READS: "HATTON GARDEN" EXTERIOR OF TRESOR PARIS SHOP VARIOUS OF TRESOR PARIS SIGN (English) WHICH READS: "TP"
- Embargoed: 26th December 2015 13:09
- Keywords: Very First To Crackers Diamonds Snow globe Tarts Rubies Hatton Garden Christmas
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0013DESGGP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A luxury goods seller showcased items for a millionaire's Christmas on Thursday (December 10) which include a snow globe with diamond snow, tarts with rubies, a Christmas tree star containing more than 280 diamonds and a box of crackers costing 995,000 Pounds ($1,509,066).
The items are sold by luxury goods website VeryFirstTo which claims to be the first to sell a box of crackers with such valuable diamonds inside.
The most expensive diamond is pear-shaped and is valued at 247,000 Pounds ($375,866). The least valuable is worth 113,000 Pounds ($171,954).
The company's founder, Marcel Knobil, said the crackers will delight guests.
"Each guest sitting around the dinner party will be surprised to find a really remarkable diamond," he said.
Business Development Director of Tresor Paris, the jeweler which sourced the diamonds, said spending close to a million pounds on crackers was a good investment.
"A million pound on crackers I think it's nice. It's something that will last forever. It's not... You know you can spend a million pound on a Ferrari but you'd be lucky if it starts the next day to take it out for a drive. This will stay with you forever, you can pass it to your kids. It's an eternal gift. It's not just for that Christmas day. It will remind Christmas day 2015, but it will last forever," he said.
The crackers themselves were created by House of Crackers, a bespoke cracker making company based in Dorset, England.
Its owner, David Snook, said he hand-crafted the crackers using Indian embossed foiled paper, goose belly feathers and sheer ribbon.
Also on offer are tarts which feature real rubies.
Baker Georgia Green, founder of Georgia's Cakes, baked the tarts and said it was a pleasure.
"I love making something like this towards Christmas, you know adding the extra sparkle," she said.
The tarts cost 475 Pounds ($722) per tart or 2,700 Pounds ($4,108) for six tarts.
A snow globe also features, containing snow made from diamonds.
They feature a miniature family inside, which are bespoke to the buyer. They will need to spend 3,270 Pounds ($4,976) to buy one of the pieces.
The globes are created by Australia-based Leah Andrews for Queen of Snow Globes.
Also available is a Christmas tree star which costs 615,000 Pounds ($935,860). It features more than 280 diamonds including a five carat diamond at the centre which can be removed and worn in a pendant.
Creative director of 77 Diamonds, the company which built the star, David Allen, said it would make for a special Christmas for its owner.
"I think making something for a Christmas tree it's something that makes people look at what's on top of the Christmas tree as opposed to what's underneath it," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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