$30,000 Thank-You Ring for Michelle

For the gal who has everything:

Michelle Obama is to receive this £20,000 thank you from her husband for her support during the election.

The Harmony ring is made of rhodium - the world's most expensive metal --and encrusted with diamonds. It is being hastily made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco in time for January's inauguration ceremony.

Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around £5,000 an ounce.

The stunning thank you ring is made by top Italian designer Giovanni Bosco, who are based at Valenza Po near Alessandria and who counts a select list of VIPS's and celebrities as his clients.

Rhodium is one of the world's most precious metals and as a result only about 25 tons are mined each year and as a result it's price is higher than gold - typically being around £5000 an ounce.

It is a very select precious metal and because of its value and association with wealth, rhodium was chosen as the material for the disc presented to Beatle Paul McCartney for being history's all-time best-selling songwriter and recording artist.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not posting this because I object. If Barry can afford it and he wants his wife to have it, more power to him. However, in this time of job loses and plunging retirement accounts, it seems a little tone deaf to go to this extravagance. I can't imagine any Republican being able to get away with a gift like this without being completely savaged by the media and the Democrats.

UPDATE: The Obama people are denying the story. If the original report was true, I'm guessing the deal's off now.