DIAMOND-STUDDED BARBIE: YOURS FOR $60,000

DIAMOND-STUDDED BARBIE: YOURS FOR $60,000

LONDON (Wireless Flash) -- If diamonds are a girls best friend, a new Barbie doll must have plenty of pals. The new "Diamond Barbie" is covered with 160 diamonds, weighing a total of nearly 20 carats. The sparkling doll will be auctioned off later this month by Christie's of London where it could fetch as much as $60,000. The diamond-clad doll comes complete with a box signed by Barbie creator Ruth Handler as well as Elton John, and proceeds from the doll will benefit Elton John's AIDS charity group. The Diamond Barbie is just one of the unusual toys slated for the July 22 event. Other items include an action figure of the derby-tossing Oddjob, who appeared in the 007 flick "Goldfinger, "a toy car modeled after the "Avengers" Jaguar and a vintage 1955 German "Lilli" doll, which was the inspiration for Barbie.

CONTACT: Suzanne Trisk (Christie's); London; 011-44-171-321-3122 or strisk@christies.com