Video: Gold shirt sold to Indian businessman for $228,000
An Indian businessman with a passion for bling has spent $228,000 for a custom-made shirt fashioned out of 3.5 kilos of gold.
The 140,000 "small pieces of gold" took 15 goldsmiths 20 days to hammer together, jeweller Shailesh Ranka told Torstar News Service on Tuesday. The back and collar are fastened with six red Swarovsky crystals as buttons.
Businessman Datta Phuge accessorized the outfit with gold chains and wristbands from his seven-kilo daily collection, he says in a video.
The 42-year-old "Gold Man," as he is known in his city of Pimpri-Chinchwad, says he was broke for a long time but has worked hard and is pleased he can afford luxury living now.
"The gold shirt has been one of my dreams and I am elated to collect it today," he told the local Pune Mirror newspaper on Dec. 28. His plan was to wear it to a New Year's Eve party.
"It will be an embellishment to my reputation as the 'Gold Man of Pimpri'."
Phuge is married to a local councillor, Sheema Phuge, who was charged last summer with submitting fake documents in an election, according to Indian media.
Ranka, whose family jewellery business dates back six generations in the west-central Indian city, said his store is hoping to enter the garment in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Pune Mirror newspaper polled "style gurus" for their opinion of Ranka's 22-karat creation.
"Kudos to the designer for thinking out of the box, though I wonder which man would pay to wear it," said celebrity designer Swapnil Shinde.
"It is not my style and it has no structure or shape. And looks very busy with the red buttons," said classic designer Maheka Mirpuri.
"As if there is not enough bling on clothes," sniffed veteran Mumbai couture designer Narendra Kumar