¥15.6 million Hello Kitty figurine to celebrate 35
year anniversary
2009-04-01
AFP - The Japanese group Sanrio
announced on Thursday March 26 the creation of a small figurine of
its star figure “Hello Kitty”, covered in diamonds, topazes,
sapphires and other precious gems, it’s a unique doll worth ¥15.6
million (€125,000).
Photo : Sebastien
Bozon/AFP
Presented on Thursday March 26 in
Switzerland at the watch and jewellery exhibition “Baselworld
2009”, this exclusive item – designed to recognise 35 years for the
world famous pink kitten – was made in collaboration with the
Austrian frim Swarovski, a crystal and precious stone
specialist.
The statuette (10.5cm tall and weighing 569g), called “Super Hello
Kitty Jewel Doll”, is adorned with 1 diamond, 1,939 white topazes,
403 pink sapphires and 1 citrine (a type of yellow quartz).
How, where and when this curiosity will be sold has not yet been
established, confirmed Sanrio in a press release.
Amongst the innumerable fans of “Kitty-chan” some, rich or
fascinated, won’t hesitate to pay a small fortune for this
luxurious representation of the cute kitten, a symbol of sweetness
and peace adored by many generations of young girls.
A Japanese buyer has previously paid ¥10million (€80,000 at the
time) for another “Hello Kitty” jeweled piece a few years
ago.
The blank-faced animal was born in 1974, and since then Kitty has
become the cash-cow of Sanrio. Its image decorates thousands of
different items (clothes, fashion accessories, electronic
equipment, nick-nacks etc) and is sold in around 70
countries.
Kitty is also, like Mickey for Disney, the figurehead of a larger
group of acolytes and the star of two theme parks in Japan.
She was officially named “Ambassador for the Japanese Ministry of
Tourism” in 2008 to tour China in a bid to attract visitors to
Japan.