A wealthy businessman has commissioned the world’s most expensive face mask, setting him back $1.5 million (£1.15m).
A design firm in Israel has revealed the client in China contacted them earlier this year and asked if it would be possible.
The 18-karat white gold face covering will be encrusted with 3,600 white and black diamonds.
The designer and owner of the jewellers Isaac Levy said the customer gave him three specific criteria that needed to be met with the mask.
Speaking to ABC News, Mr Levy said: “The first one, it must be a N99 approved by the FDA and the European standards.
“The second condition was that it will be delivered before 31 December this year and the third condition, which was the easiest to fulfill, was that it will be the most expensive mask in the world.”
Mr Levy said that while the design isn’t really to his taste, he is thankful such a big job came in when it did.
He added: “Personally, I would not walk with a mask like this. I think that we all should wear the same regular N95 mask.
“Money maybe doesn’t buy everything, but if it can buy a very expensive Covid-19 mask and the guy wants to wear it and walk around and get the attention, he should be happy with that.
“I am happy that this mask gave us enough work for our employees to be able to provide them jobs in very challenging times like these times right now.”
Mr Levy’s colleague and fellow designer Bezalel Cooper said it’s not the easiest job he’s ever encountered, but he’s confident they will get there.
He said: “Setting this many diamonds is a little bit stressful, but we’ll get by.”
It’s safe to say that the issue of face coverings has divided opinion over the last few months, with some claiming they’re an affront to their human rights while others have happily worn them.
In a bid to demonstrate their safety, a doctor ran 22 miles to work and back while wearing a face mask to prove that it doesn’t affect a person’s oxygen levels.
Tom Lawton is an ICU doctor in Bradford Royal Infirmary and said he has seen what coronavirus can do to people, no matter how old or young they are.
So, to raise awareness of the importance of wearing a mask in preventing the spread of the disease, as well as raising over £3,600 ($4,700) for the Trussell Trust, he set out on a mammoth run, during which he claimed he used the equivalent to 10 people’s oxygen intake.
