Of Costly Blades and Golden Knives

Buster Warenski who passed away in 2005 was a famous custom knife maker in America. It was in 1970 that the 30-year old Buster Warenski joined the Knifemakers Guild. The famed knife maker enthralled the world with his Legacy Series of four 18k gold knives. The series also included Gem of the Orient–the most expensive modern knife in the world.

Warenski designed that knife for a Japanese customer with its jade and gold filigree handle encrusted with 153 emeralds (10 carats) and nine diamonds (5 carats) for which 28 ounces of gold were used and Warenski supposedly took 10 years to give the final shape to the work.

The world’s most expensive modern knife was originally sold for $1.2 million and re-sold at $2.1 million later. Designed by globally acclaimed jewelry artist Quintin Nel, the pricey blade also marked the collaboration of blade smiths Hoffman/Piper. The kitchen knife was made of sterling silver and featured eight diamonds costing $39,000 and was the sharpest knife ever known.

Swiss Army knives are also famous for their innovations in craftsmanship. The shells are the most expensive part and the material is pure platinum 950. The inset length 430 dazzling diamonds and takes the total weight to about 4 carats. It costs around $70,000.

 Written by Samarpita Mukherjee-Sharma

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Samarpita Mukherjee-Sharma is an Indian journalist-turned-freelance writer. She also contributes to a UNESCO project-Youth Leader Magazine. Samarpita is among the 6 Indians who were awarded the United Nations Voluntary Award for Youth Leader in 2010. She also edits an online magazine, 21Fools.