Barack Obama to buy rare £20,000 gold ring for his wife to say 'thanks for your support'

[PBS Poll-435]

Barack Obama to buy rare £20,000 gold ring for his wife to say 'thanks for your support'

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 1:12 AM on 01st December 2008

Michelle Obama is to receive this £20,000 thank you from her husband for her support during the election.

The Harmony ring is made of rhodium - the world's most expensive metal --and encrusted with diamonds. It is being hastily made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco in time for January's inauguration ceremony.

Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around £5,000 an ounce.

The stunning thank you ring is made by top Italian designer Giovanni Bosco, who are based at Valenza Po near Alessandria and who counts a select list of VIPS's and celebrities as his clients.

Rhodium is one of the world's most precious metals and as a result only about 25 tons are mined each year and as a result it's price is higher than gold - typically being around £5000 an ounce.


More, including a visual of the stunning piece at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1090653/Barack-Obama-buy-rare-20-000-gold-ring-wife-say-thanks-support.html

[SharonRB]

1. That is exquisite

I hope it wasn't supposed to be a surprise!

[PBS Poll-435]

3. LOL

I didn't even think about that.

Oops...

:yoiks:

[RollWithIt]

2. I'm sure some will argue that because of the economic crisis, this is poor timing... BUT....

For a man of his stature (About to be President of the United States of America) $20,000 is really not a huge purchase. In comparison to past Presidents.

Not to mention that Obama would not be where he is at right now if not for his wife.

Not to mention a little bling never hurt anybody.

[PBS Poll-435]

5. Compared to one Cindy McCain outfit?

This is peanuts.

[Captain Hilts]

17. That's 20K pounds, not dollars. Comes out to about $40K. nt

[PBS Poll-435]

19. More like 30K using today's exchange rate.

[FrenchieCat]

4. It is rumored.......

in order to gin up sales.

Quite ingenious.

Barack is not the type that would tell divulge this information if he did do this,
and he is not stupid.....

I see a rise on my built in BS meter here....

[PBS Poll-435]

7. You could be right

At first glance I didn't even see that angle.

[gblady]

13. I thought in a similar fashion....

it doesn't seem like something Barack would announce...

[VADem11]

15. I agree

I won't trust anything that a UK tabloid says. Plus, I doubt that Barack would be so stupid to buy a $40,000 ring when the country is in an economic crisis.

[Captain Hilts]

18. I completely agree. nt

[JI7]

35. reminds me of the story of the dress that Malia wore on election night

there was an article where some designer of a dress claimed Malia was wearing the dress she designed. but the dress really didn't look like the dress she designed. but she hoped maybe peopel would belive it and buy the dress she designed .

[Catshrink]

6. It's beautiful!

And so is our new First Family!

[ellenfl]

24. imo, it's way too thick to be a ring and why is it not closed?

this piece looks more like a bracelet. it's too thick to be comfortable as a ring. gawdy, too . . . imo. michelle is much more classical than this.

i would be surprised if this is true.

ellen fl

[Kalyke]

46. I wouldn't give $20 for that, much less $33,000.

Yuck.

Michelle's fingers are too long and thin for that thick of a ring.

[livvy]

8. Very pretty! He has good taste...but we knew that already! n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I really think this is a lovely thing for him to do...

She's been through a lot...

Jewelry is a traditional gift to a spouse after a period of trial...

Good for him!

[EastTennesseeDem]

10. Right wing spin contest. Go,

[redstate_democrat]

11. damn that is beautiful...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Never heard of rhodium before

the ring is nice if you like that kind of ring.

[msongs]

14. obama will make millions $$ from being president

when his term is up, so might as well get to the big spending now.

Msongs

[Captain Hilts]

16. This doesn't pass the smell test. A $40K ring? I don't think so...nt

[still_one]

25. I agree /nt

[Ilsa]

20. I can't see P.E.B.O. allowing such a thing to be revealed. IF he was

going to give her that ring, I bet he cancelled his order because of this announcement. It is very inappropriate for the jeweler to be discussing this, IMO.

[firedupdem]

21. You never know but I don't see him doing this or it being made

public.

[saracat]

22. If this is true, it would be in bad taste. My husband couldn't even afford an anniversary present

this year and this would make Obama look tacky. JMHO.But it would not seem in line with someone who cancelled the inaugeral fireworks because it wouldn't reflect well at this time. This is likely RW spin or a sales ploy.

[TK421]

23. Let Ring-gate begin!!! This is hUGH12

Meanwhile at FreakRepublic:

To: Feedumizntfee

I heard that the ring comes equiped with a disintigrater ray!!@ Obamma needs too be investigatid for this and we shuld watch Michele closelee!@! I heard that rhodium can be used in the making of nukular weponry!!@23 and heez looking at a bracelit for her next111

Oh, I can just see it now :rofl:

[nam78_two]

39. DUzy

:spray: Thank you -that is the best laugh I have had in a week or so.....

[DevonRex]

53. OMG. Nukular juleree from Africa. That's yer WMD rite thar!

Prolly has that yaller cake in it.

[Erin Elizabeth]

26. I'm really not inclined to believe this.

A) This doesn't even sound like something he'd do, much less broadcast it.

B) How shitty would that look--most people are just trying to get by and he buys his wife a $30,000-$40,000 ring? And is indiscreet enough about it that the media knows?

Meh. The Daily Mail isn't known for accuracy.

[polichick]

27. Doesn't seem likely to me either.

[Historic NY]

28. I'd say she is worth it for putting up with 2 yrs of insanity campaigning.

[Catchawave]

29. Must be true....

http://www.gazeteport.com.tr/DUNYA/NEWS/GP_336222

Obama'dan eşine 40 bin dolarlık yüzük
01.12.2008 - 15:26

yazdır

sepete ekle

arkadaşına gönder

DIGG

FACEBOOK

DEL.ICO.US

Barack Obama ve eşi Michelle

İlgili Haberler

Diğer Haberler
'Savaş suçu' işlemeyen asker rob...

İşte Obama'nın yıldızlar takımı

Obama'dan eşine 40 bin dolarlık ...

Dev hippi lambasıyla turist çeke...

WASHINGTON - ABD'nin müstakbel başkanı Barack Obama'nın, 20 Ocak'taki yemin töreninde, eşi Michelle'e, son 2 yıldır siyasi yaşamında kendisine verdiği destekten dolayı 40 bin dolarlık özel tasarım bir yüzük hediye edeceği açıklandı.

Dünyanın en değerli metali sayılan rodyumdan imal edilecek olan yüzüğün elmaslarla kaplı olacağı belirtiliyor.

Obama'nın yüzük için dünyaca ünlü İtalyan tasarımcı Giovanni Bosco'yla anlaştığı kaydedildi.

Yılda sadece 25 ton çıkarıldığı için dünyanın en pahalı metali sayılan rodyum, zenginlerin mücevher tercihlerinde ilk sıralarda yeralıyor.

(GAZETEPORT DIŞ HABERLER)

:evilgrin:

[NYC_SKP]

34. Obama'dan eşine 40 bin dolarlık yüzük ???

OH NO!!!

[zeos3]

40. Why "oh no!"?

OH YEAH!!!

Edited to add: OOPS, I misread an accent mark. You're right. OH NOES!!11!

:evilgrin:

[NYC_SKP]

30. I love you prodn2000, but I have serious doubts about the article. For example,

Rhodium is trading at about $1050/ounce today, not £5,000 an ounce.

And I did a Google news search of Obama and Rhodium, with no significant results, just two UK and one Israli article.

I would expect many domestic media outlets would be all over this.

Let's see... :hi:

[Captain Hilts]

31. London and Israel is where this stuff is traded, but I still don't believe it. nt

[PBS Poll-435]

32. I believe that you are right about this.

I saw the article, thought it was cute, decided to post.

Yeah.... :dunce: <--- Me

[osaMABUSh]

33. BS -- no way BHO buys that

doesn't fit the image and is not right for the times

[Skittles]

36. correct

it is disgusting

[gravity]

37. She deserves it

[Captain Hilts]

48. Well, yeah, but that's a whole other issue!

ER: She sure does!

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

38. DAMN!! that is too cute!!!

[BreweryYardRat]

41. Word of advice, folks: If rhodium ever drops for some reason, fucking BUY!!!

I was doing research into precious metals a while back, and at some point in '02 or '03, rhodium dropped to $200 an ounce for a month or two. Last year, it was trading at about $6000 an ounce.

If it ever gets that low again, I intend to put some serious money into it, and so should you.

[Vinca]

42. All things considered, buying a ring such as this one is a better

investment than most things you could do with your money. When this ring hits Michelle's finger it will double in value immediately. It'll be a wonderful keepsake to pass on to her girls.

[Mass]

43. I'd like to see confirmation of this by a more respectable paper.

The dailymail is part of the British tabloids, and the information is sometimes very wrong.

[onenote]

44. applying critical reasoning skills -- this story sounds bogus

Can Obama afford it? Yes.
Would it be a good investment? Yes.
Would it be a smart thing to do politically in the middle of an economic crisis? Of course not.
Is Obama a smart politician? Absolutely yes.
Will there be ample opportunity to give Michelle an extravagant gift down the road? Certainly.

Under the circumstances, does the story make sense? Not a bit.

[bunnies]

45. Stunning.

Its a beautiful ring and I refuse to hold his ability to purchase it against him. Its not my place to judge his gifts for his wife.

More power to them, I say.

[AspenRose]

47. Mmmm, doesn't seem within his personality or character

I smell a rat

[blindpig]

49. I am sure

that those many voters who supported him and don't make that in a year will be suitably impressed.

[DevonRex]

50. Nice to see you back blindpig. And I am sure that you'll wait to get verification

of this before passing judgment. Because that's what democrats do.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

51. The Obama camp has already said the story isn't true.

[DevonRex]

55. Thank you very much for posting the facts SCQ. It was amusing

while it lasted, though, if only to see who fell for it and who did not. And the DUZY-worthy response above made my day. :)

[NYCGirl]

54. Good thing the story is NOT TRUE, then, right?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Obama_aide_denies_ring_story.html

[onehandle]

52. What the Hell is wrong with jewelry from Wal-Mart?

Elitist! Elitist!