23-4-2024 (PHUKET) Devoted Thai fans of Hong Kong singer and rapper Jackson Wang banded together to recover a missing segment of his diamond-encrusted Buzz Lightyear pendant after a Thai couple discovered it in Phuket and attempted to sell it.
The incident unfolded during Wang’s visit to the island province to celebrate his birthday at a beachside club on March 27. Throughout the festivities, the prominent artist donned an opulent necklace featuring a Buzz Lightyear pendant adorned with thousands of diamonds, amethysts, and other precious stones, crafted by the renowned high-end jewellery brand Trice Jewelers. Tragically, the left leg of the pendant, estimated to be worth an astonishing 2.3 million baht (approximately S$84,600), went missing during the celebrations.
As news of the lost pendant spread, Wang’s devoted Thai fanbase sprang into action, amplifying the story across social media platforms. Their collective efforts paid off when Praew, a jewellery store owner in Phuket, came forward on April 22, revealing that a Thai couple had approached her, attempting to sell the diamond-encrusted leg.
Praew, an avid fan of Wang, immediately recognized the precious item. “I am a big fan of Jackson Wang. I got goosebumps and almost cried when I saw that diamond leg. I saw his signature on the feet of the model too,” she emotionally recounted in an interview with ThaiRath. “I felt sorry for him that he lost his beloved accessory. I tried to buy it from the couple because I wished to return the pendant to him myself and have a chance to hug him once.”
Despite offering a substantial sum of 100,000 baht (approximately S$3677) for the missing piece, the couple declined Praew’s offer and left her store, presumably intent on seeking a higher price elsewhere. Undeterred, Praew took decisive action, contacting two other jewellery stores in the area, urging them not to purchase the diamond leg, and reporting the matter to the Cherng Talay Police Station.
Praew’s vigilance paid off when, on the evening of April 22, a Thai man visited the police station and surrendered the lost diamond leg. While his identity remains undisclosed, his image, captured wearing a football T-shirt matching Praew’s description, was shared on the Phuket Hotnews Facebook page.
Cherng Talay Police Station Superintendent Weerapong Rakkhito assured the public that the precious pendant part would be returned to Wang, either through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok or directly to the singer’s team.
