The 24m Pink Panther debate

As I carelessly flick through the tabloid pages of the Daily Mail unamused by the overly publicised reports and headlines on the indecisive Rooney and his new salary of 200,000 a week I hastily switch back to other headlines, momentarily staring at a beautiful pink diamond that costs a staggering £24 million pounds! Even Rooney may strike a predicament when trying to purchase this, “exuberant, joyful and intensely feminine” jewel.  Yet there have been several enquiries even though the auction in Geneva, Switzerland is not until November 16 where this ring that is often compared to, “ the fabled diamond in the Inspector Clouseau films” will be on sale. As my imagination suddenly fathoms up ways to get to Geneva with the mere 75 pounds I currently have in my bank account just to stare and probably drool at this “shield shaped diamond” my sister glances at the jewel and is surprisingly unimpressed!

“But Lollipop it’s so beautiful “I protest to my sister as I stare at my rough un-manicured hands and smile knowing what a difference this ring would make to my life and my bare middle finger.

“It is clearly not worth £24 million pounds sis”

“Er……….Clearly it is”

“So if you suddenly had £24 million pounds you would buy this ring?”

“I would definitely consider it!”

“You are crazy,” states my sister. Flabbergasted I attempt to fit this particular newspaper headline into a crazy scenario my teenage sister might actually understand. What if when you went to see Justin Bieber at Madison Square Gardens he glanced up and saw you and only you amongst the thousands of squealing girls. Hypnotized, he runs up to you and takes out this “absolutely irresistible” pink diamond ring and asks you to marry him! Or at least accept it as a token of his love for you.  Even if you were aware of the rare stone’s extortionate price tag would you still think it is not worth it and say no!

For a few seconds lollipop is silent. Clearly she is playing out this fantasy moment in her head yet still she replies, “No, I would tell Justin to take it back, save his money and perhaps buy me a cheaper ring as I already love him anyway. He does not need to buy my love.” I laugh at my gullible sister and continue to read the “24m pink panther” newspaper article secretly wishing I was less materialistic like her. Justin Bieber is apparently worth around 5.5 million dollars and according to today’s Daily Mirror Wayne Rooney’s new deal at Manchester United means he will be earning 10.4 million a year! With such celebrities and such huge sums of money scattered across the tabloids and the internet I find Lollipop’s comments quite touching.  Although she is an avid Manchester United supporter and like most teenage girls she has come into close contact of the Bieber Fever Lollipop would still turn down this rare diamond if any of her role models offered it  to her.

“You are crazy Lollipop,” I say as I finish reading my paper and have a subtle urge to learn to be less materialistic like my younger sibling. Surprisingly she has never heard of the ring’s previous owner, the late Harry Winston yet her often crazy insight into current newspaper headlines is as usual quite interesting.