Dog gets his day, and $4.2 million designer tiara

A male Maltese dog, Kanune, wears an emerald tiara worth 150 million baht ($4.2 million) during a dog fashion show in Bangkok April 23, 2009. The tiara consists of 153 karats of emeralds built with a titanium body and decorated with more than 100 karats of diamonds.

BANGKOK (Reuters Life!) - A young Thai jewelry designer has crafted a tiara worth $4.2 million for his pet dog, using precious stones given to him by his mother.

Riwin Jirapolsek, who showcased the tiara at a dog show in Bangkok recently, said he wanted to make something special for Kanune, his 15-year-old male Maltese.

He took almost two months to finish the piece, which is made from titanium encrusted with 250-carats of emeralds and diamonds.

Jirapolsek said he has no plans to sell the tiara, and now wants to create a jeweled hair clip for his beloved canine.

"I will make a hair clip next time because my dog has to wear clips everyday otherwise its fur will block its view," he told Reuters Television. "It may be decorated with jewels."

Despite the global economic crisis cutting into people's expenditure, the Bangkok dog show saw several canine lovers dressing up their pets in elaborate costumes and accessories and participating in events.

(Reporting by Sinthana Kosolpradit, editing by Miral Fahmy)