Diamond Barbie/40th birthday 1999

Dubbed the world's most expensive Barbie, a specially-commissioned doll has been created by Mattel UK and De Beers, the world's largest diamond mining company, with 60 diamonds embedded in to her aquamarine gown to celebrate her 40th birthday. * A red toy robot from the 1950s set a new auction world record at Christie's in London on 22/7/99 - but the diamond-encrusted Barbie was left on the shelf. The Masudaya machine man robot was bought by an anonymous bidder for 29,900, with the diamond Barbie left unsold at 10,000. It was expected to raise between 20,000 and 40,000.