Obama Did Not Buy Michelle Rare Gold Ring, Says Spokesperson

UPDATE: The Obama camp flatly denies that Obama bought his wife Michelle a $33,000 rhodium ring as a thank you gift, according to The Chicago Sun Times. "'No ring was purchased,' said [Obama spokesperson Ben] LaBolt." The statement was made in response to a Daily Mail article claiming that he would.

Here is an excerpt from the original Daily Mail story:

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.

Comments

[harriscrl3]

Another gossip and speculation that turns out to be FALSE. I mean really Huffpost this is getting embarassing.

Carol

[Foy]

Is there ever a limit to how far people can poke their noses sniffing into other people's business? I hope they are not vetted and monitored when they need to use the WH bathroom.

[Mugs]

he could buy her an Island if he could afford it for all I care IT'S none of anyones business what he buys her as long as he isn't buying it with taxpayers money unlike Bush an cronies where was all this concern when they lost 9 BILLION in the green zonw in Iraq?

[TrooAmerican]

I think he should have just taken her to the Victoria's Secret fashion show in Vegas the other day. that was awwwesome!

[mlaiuppa]

Italian designer? Rhodium from South Africa?

Come on. No one questioned that?

No way Obama would be buying that ring.

[cgoodie]

Breaking news! My husband did not buy that ring for me either. Neither did he buy me a BMW Z4, nor a $6M beach home I admired on a realty website...­.

[hrhkat29]

you didnt get the $6m beach home? I did, My husband lost tons of money in the stock market but thanks to the bailout, i can continue to furnish my 7th home! are white tiger fur drapes appropriate in purple or orange?

[Nitalia]

What does the recession have to do with a man using his own money to buy his wife a well deserved present?

[Trina44]

Nothing it's just Republicans wanting to start drama. And trying to find creative ways to trash Obama. IT's long to be a long four years with these fools!

[hrhkat29]

Im glad he didnt get her that ring, not because its expensive, but because its ugly as sin. I think Michelle does deserve some expensive jewels, she worked hard for them, but that ring is way overpriced and its hidious. Not many diamonds, and the metal looks dirty...I know times are tough, but she is going to be the first lady, she deserves at least something better then that thing. Maybe a vintage piece with some history bought at auction or somthing. Jackie-O was known for having beautiful gems and so should Michelle. Yellow gold is coming back into fashion (like it ever left?) and I think a beautiful yellow gold ring with maybe a beautiful Emerald with Diamonds all around it, and made by JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal), perhaps the greatest jeweler of our time. here is a few of his pieces that went up for auction a couple years back.

http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/20/biz_06rich400_cx_sa_jewelry_slide.html?boxes=custom&thisSpeed=20000

[realtalkingnow]

This is either an attempt at the jeweller trying to get some free advertising, or the news paper trying to case a sensational story about a president buying a pricey ring for his wife during a recession. Both the jewller looks like a bunch of liars, and the newspaper can no longer be relied on to tell the truth.

[snarkopolitan]

There will probably be bunches of people who find it easy to get their not-so-stellar names in the paper by claiming they're working on something for the Obamas. Has anyone heard of Giovanni Bosco before? I hadn't. Search engines turned up a couple of necklaces on Ebay, but there's no site, no discussions of this "top Italian designer".

[RJII]

that's why HP should stick to real news

[harriscrl3]

Actually they seem to be running into problems on that front too. They need to VET their stories better

Carol

[kenomomof4]

I AGREE--I never believed the initial story anyway. HP needs to be careful so they don't become a gossip tabloid. They will lose their readers..

[ellawensmom]

I read the story about Winona Ryder and all the borrowed jewels and I commented that no one needed to wear this much on their wrist when there are starving kids in the world. I felt the same way when I heard this story. I'm glad it's not true. It would bother me if he spent this much on a ring whether it was his money or not. That's just my opinion.

[cgoodie]

We're still a capitalist nation with people free to spend their money as they please. The Obama's can afford this ring should they decide to buy it...with money they earned legitimately and through hard work. What have you given to the poor lately?

[hann02]

SInce this story is not true I guess we really should not worry about this, but I have to say when I first heard this on NBC, I was a little upset, I think some of you might of felt the same way, but you do not want to admit it, but during his campaign he seemed to come acrossed that he live a modest life, only had one house and putting down McCain for having 7 and that he could relate to all of us, but during this hard ecomomic times you have to admit it was hard to swallow knowing he could buy his wife such an expensive gift, he can do whatever he wants with his money, he earned it, But, again since it is not true we can now move on, and worry about our own lives.

[vegasmomx3]

It is a beautiful ring and would look perfect on Michelle. Maybe when the economy gets better he can buy it for her and slip it on her finger. Good taste in jewelry!!

[Berkeleyan]

When was the last time we learned about what jewelry a US President gave his wife? He can give his wife anything he wants. Stop commenting on it. Good grief.