Ragan's Jewelry Blog
October 21st, 2013
South African supermodel Candice Swanepoel will have the honor of wearing the $10 million, jewel-encrusted “Royal Fantasy Bra” at this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

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The bra-and-belt combination designed by Mouawad features 4,200 precious gems, including intricate patterns of diamonds, sapphires and rubies meticulously set in 18-karat yellow gold. The centerpiece of the bra is a stunning 52-carat pear-shaped ruby dangling from a diamond bow.

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"It’s a substantial bra, but it’s not terribly heavy," the 24-year-old Swanepoel told ELLE.com. "It was created from a mold of my body, so it’s quite comfortable... I think [wearing] it will actually give me more confidence! Who wouldn’t have a stronger walk with a $10 million bra?"

This is Swanepoel’s first time wearing the coveted bra, which is always presented as the final look at Victoria’s Secret’s runway shows. This year’s installment will be televised internationally on December 10.

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Victoria’s Secret has been unveiling extraordinary fantasy bras since 1996, when supermodel Claudia Schiffer sported the “Million Dollar Bra.” Swanepoel joins a veritable Hall of Fame of internationally acclaimed models who have worn the prized lingerie.

They’ve included Alessandra Ambrosio (who sported the $2.5 million Floral Fantasy Bra last year), Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima and Claudia Schiffer.

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Despite its $10 million price tag, the “Royal Fantasy Bra” is not the priciest fantasy bra of all time. That designation goes to the $20 million "Red Hot Fantasy Bra," a jeweled bra-and-panty set worn by Gisele Bündchen in 2000.

Even though every Victoria's Secret fantasy bra has been for sale, not a single one has been purchased. Typically, each is dismantled, stone by stone, at the end of the season.