Miss Universe's `crowning glory is even more dazzling thanks to a redesign courtesy of Mikimoto, the official jewelry sponsor of the Miss Universe Organ-ization.
The crown, designed to represent the ancient symbol of the phoenix rising, features 500 diamonds totaling nearly 30 carats and 120 South Sea and Akoya pearls ranging in size from 3 mm to 18 mm. The price? About $200,000. Not only did Miss Universe 2002, Russia's Oxana Fedorova, get to wear the Mikimoto crown, she also was given a $20,000 pearl and diamond tiara to wear at her public appearances.




Source: Couture International Jeweler
August 2002