/ 18 December 2006

Diamonds just icing on Japanese cake

In the mood for an extra-rich dessert after Christmas dinner? A Japanese department store is offering a cake layered with 100 diamonds — for a cool 100 million yen ($850 000).

The chocolate cake, whose diamonds weigh a combined 50 carats, is on display at the Takashimaya department store in the western city of Osaka.

The 35cm dessert on a chocolate base is named after Japanese jeweller Sa-Birth, which supplied the gems, and pastry chef Masami Miyamoto, who designed it.

While the cake is mostly to pull in Christmas shoppers, the department store said it is up for sale.

“So far we have not received an order for the cake but it must be a good buy as the jewellery on the cake is well worth the price tag,” said Eriko Nishikido, a spokesperson for Takashimaya. — AFP