Cameras hidden in clothes and jewellery aren’t just the stuff of James Bond movies. Take this extremely rare 14-karat gold ring. That setting isn’t a precious stone, but a lens, fully capable of taking snapshots via a small lever on the side. And it’s currently for sale on eBay.
According to the auction’s description, it’s a KGB “subminiature spy camera”. Inside the ring itself is a metal band for storing a tiny roll of 8mm film.
It’s in surprisingly good nick, too:
…100% original with all hand engrave detail work, light surface mark from normal used, for 8mm film, crown-shaped bezel hiding a lens with variable aperture, working guillotine shutter, only few of these cameras have been discovered, every one in slightly different design, optic has no fungus, separation, scratches or haze. aperture open close smoothly.
If you’re interested, you’re going to run into a few problems. Firstly, it’s pick-up only… from Canada. Secondly, it’s $CAD25,000, or $25,757 Australian. Once you tack on plane tickets, well, it’s not exactly a bargain.
Still, I’m sure there’s a collector out there, salivating at the chance to own this marvel.