FOR some five gold rings are enough for Christmas but the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, requires 37 - one for each of his female MPs.
The 74-year-old ordered the specially made £1,193 rings from a designer jeweller and they were given to female politicians as part of his annual Christmas gift.
In all 24 women MPs from the lower house and 13 senators from the upper house were given the Italian “tricolour” rings which were made of three bands of white, yellow and pink gold studded with tiny diamonds.
The rings were made by jeweller Recarlo, who are based at Valenza near Alessandria in northern Italy, an area known for its upmarket gem dealerships.
On it’s website Recarlo says of itself: “Pure passion - Recarlo has always chosen the best quality diamonds.’’ The firm’s chairman Carlo Re, who has run the family business for 40 years, was unavailable for comment on Friday but a member of staff said: “This was a special gift chosen by the Prime Minister of Italy. “We are not making any comment on it as it was a private purchase.”
Mr Berlusconi is known for his generosity and each year he gives MPs from his People of Freedom party Christmas gifts but it’s not just limited to Italian politicians.
He has also given expensive watches as presents to world leaders including Tony Blair who received no fewer than nine during his time at Number Ten.
Last month it was claimed that Mr Berlusconi had also given 7,000 euro and a diamond necklace to belly dancer Karima El Mahroug after she attended one of his parties while just 17 years old. – The Nation