New Zealand Police have finally recovered the James Bond-inspired Fabergé pendant after six long days of waiting for the evidence to reemerge, as per AP News. The jewelry made its dramatic reappearance late Thursday night when it naturally exited the suspect’s gastrointestinal tract, police confirmed. This whole ordeal sounds absolutely miserable for everyone involved, especially the officers who were stuck on duty.
The drama began on November 28, when the 32-year-old man was arrested inside Partridge Jewelers in Auckland shortly after the alleged theft. Police have not publicly named the suspect. Since his initial court appearance on November 29, when he didn’t enter a plea to a theft charge, the man has been held in police custody.
You can imagine the logistical nightmare this presented for the New Zealand officers. They had to be stationed with the man round the clock for nearly a week just waiting for the evidence to pass without medical intervention. Inspector Grae Anderson addressed this unusual situation in a statement on Wednesday. He noted that because the man is in police custody, they had a “duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred.”
You need quite the patience as a police officer for a case like this
The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday and will remain in police custody until then. The limited-edition Fabergé egg pendant is valued at 33,000 New Zealand dollars, which converts to about $19,000 US. A less glamorous photo supplied by the police on Friday showed the recovered pendant and its long gold chain in a gloved hand, price tag still attached.
The design is where the James Bond connection comes in. The pendant was inspired by the 1983 film Octopussy, which featured a jewel-smuggling operation centered on a fake Fabergé egg. This limited-edition piece is one of only 50 ever made. The store’s website describes the pendant as being crafted from gold and painted with striking green enamel. It’s absolutely covered in bling, encrusted with 183 diamonds and two sapphires, which reminds us of the Brazilian ‘Catwoman’ robbing luxury homes.
The pendant is relatively large for a necklace charm, measuring 8.4 centimeters tall, which is about 3.3 inches. But the real top-tier feature is the surprise inside. The item description confirms that the egg opens to reveal a tiny, 18-carat yellow gold octopus nestled inside. That octopus is adorned with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes. This little hidden gem is what pays homage to the eponymous antagonist at the center of the Octopussy film.
It’s definitely a testament to the dedication of the New Zealand Police that they maintained this surveillance for six days to recover the item intact, much like how Florida Police dealt with a troll criminal. I can only imagine the sigh of relief they let out when the evidence finally reappeared, allowing them to close this very bizarre, gastrointestinal case.
Published: Dec 5, 2025 05:30 pm