Miss U’s crown shines bright with 547 diamonds and precious stones
By Roy C. Mabasa and Robert R. Requintina What does the majestic diamond crown of the 64th Miss Universe, now proudly worn by Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach, and the large traditional Bohemian Crystal Chandeliers that welcome the guests of the Philippine President in the Reception Hall of Malacañang Palace have in common? Both were produced in the Czech Republic. According to the Czech Embassy in Manila, it took renowned Czech company Diamonds International Corporation (DIC) four months to painstakingly craft the jewelry, combining the traditional techniques of Czech glassmakers, jewelers, cutters and polishers. The crown, designed to emulate the Manhattan skyline, is made up of 311 pieces of diamonds, 5 pieces of blue topaz, 198 pieces of blue sapphire, 33 pieces of crystal, and gold. Its price tag is estimated to be $300,000. Aside from the crown, the Miss Universe Organization has announced that Wurtzbach’s prize package includes: a year-long [...]