Israeli jewellery company designs 'world's most expensive' coronavirus face mask worth $1.5m

Mask features more than 3,600 diamonds

Israeli jewellery company Yvel is designing world's most expensive face mask (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

An Israeli jewellery company is designing what it says will be the most expensive coronavirus face mask.

Once completed, the white gold, diamond-encrusted mask will be decorated with more than 3,600 white and black diamonds and be worth $1.5m, the Associated Press reports.

According to Isaac Levy, designer and owner of Yvel company, based in Jerusalem, in addition to requesting the most expensive mask in the world, the anonymous buyer also asked that the bespoke mask be completed by the end of the year.

The mask, which will weigh 270g (.59lbs), will also be functional, as it will be fitted with N99 filters at the request of the client.

While Levy did not share the identity of the client, he told the Associated Press that the buyer is a Chinese businessman living in America.

“Money maybe doesn’t buy everything, but if it can buy a very expensive Covid-19 mask and the guy wants to wear it and walk around and get the attention, he should be happy with that,” Levy said.

And while Levy said he would not wear the mask himself, he is grateful his company was given the opportunity to create it.

“I am happy that this mask gave us enough work for our employees to be able to provide their jobs in very challenging times like these times right now,” he said.

To complete the project, Levy told the Jerusalem Post that he carefully selected 25 jewellers and diamond setters from the company’s staff to work in shifts.

Jeweller Isaac Levy poses near expensive mask (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

The mask will be completed by the end of the year (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

According to the jeweller, who explained that the delivery date for the mask is 31 December, “under no situation will it be delayed”.

“In these tumultuous days, every order we receive helps to preserve the company’s day-to-day operations on the one hand, and brings foreign currency into a country that needs all the help from us industrialists on the other,” he added.

Face mask features more than 3,600 diamonds (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

The request for the pricey mask comes as countries around the world have implemented mandatory face covering policies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the CDC, individuals should “wear masks in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain,” to reduce the spread of Covid-19.