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A bloke who bought the "UK's biggest gold cross and chain" has appealed to Tyson Fury to save it from being scrapped.
Andreo Montanino, 33 and from Nottinghamshire, bought the flashy chain in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter after spotting it in the window of a bullion dealer.
It reminded him of his nan, who sadly passed away 18 months ago, so he paid for it knowing that she would've hated for it to have been melted down.
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He has now put the 1.5kg chain up for auction, with it expected to raise £30,000 when it goes under the hammer on September 22, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
The 9ct gold belcher chain has 28 13mm links, one hallmarked ‘Sheffield 1997 JH & S’. The 9ct gold crucifix is 316.7gms and 21cm in length, longer than an average adult male hand which is 19.3cm or 7.6ins.
Andreo said: “My nan would have hated that [the jewellery be melted down]. She was highly religious, a Roman Catholic who originated from Italy. She believed items like this, Jesus on the cross, were sacred and should be treated with the utmost respect.
“As soon as I saw that cross, it reminded me of her. I had to buy it for nan. I had to save it from being melted down. I found it at a bullion place where people send gold to be scrapped and items are usually processed quickly."
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He purchased the item around three months ago and believes it should be bought by someone like heavyweight boxer Fury.
Fury announced his retirement from the ring after no agreement was reached to fight Derek Chisora for a third time. The WBC has given Fury until August 26 to confirm his future plans.
That is just days after Anthony Joshua's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday (August 20), with rumours circulating that Fury may want to face the winner.
Andreo continued: "I hope bringing it to auction will help me find someone who will treasure it. Because it’s so special, a showpiece, it would work well if it was worn around the neck of a famous boxer on the walkout to the ring, someone like Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
"It’s perfect for a sportsman, celebrity or someone from the music world who likes to make a big statement, perhaps a rapper. I see it featured on a program like MTV’s Cribs or being bought by a famous basketball or NFL player.
"It would be interesting to know who commissioned the cross originally. No one I have shown it to has ever seen anything like it before. I think it could be the biggest necklace of its kind in the UK."
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Helen Smith, head of jewellery at Hanson's, said: "I have never seen anything like this, or as big as this, before and we might not see anything like it again. It’s extra special.
"The chain links are huge and quality workmanship has gone into creating the iconic religious imagery of the crucifix."
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- Tyson Fury
- Money
- Boxing
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