RAT figurines have been all the rage since the Year of the Rat was ushered in but an exclusive one – and probably the most expensive so far – was unveiled recently by Lazare Kaplan International Inc.
 
The diamond-encrusted figurine, named The Mouse, will be auctioned off in Malaysia at a starting price of US$20,000 (about RM66,000). The Mouse, a display piece that can also be a brooch, is constructed with 18k yellow gold while the base is in silver. The body and the face of the mouse consist of 563 commercial round diamonds produced by Lazare Kaplan, while the ears, feet and the end of the tail are set with commercial round pink diamonds. 

The piece weighs 12.36 carats, making it the world's largest diamond mouse.
 
It was shown to the media last week at The Westin alongside two other Lazare Diamonds Novelties – the Million-Dollar Ice-Cream Cone and the Ideal Evening Bag.

 
Miss Malaysia World 2007 Deborah Henry was there to parade the items.

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