The girl looked so honest at first. As we emerged from the Metro, she was bending down and picking something up from the ground. She stood up with a look of astonishment on her face, and showed us what she was holding in her hand. It was a gold ring!

On realising we weren't French, she exclaimed in faltering English that this was a real gold ring that someone must have dropped! She gave it to us to examine, and we spotted a hallmark inside. It looked like real gold and certainly seemed, to our inexpert eyes at least, to be expensive. We all agreed that it needed to be taken to the police station.

The girl, who was aged about twenty and dressed in clean jeans and a warm top, her hair tied back neatly and wearing no make up, seemed respectable and honest. She went on to tell us that she couldn't take it to the police station herself because her religion banned jewellery. We felt we had no option other than to offer to take it ourselves, so she handed the ring to us and we said our goodbyes.

We turned away from her, and started to think about finding le commissariat de police, but something didn't feel quite right.

Then we heard her call us back. Smiling warmly, she suggested to us that perhaps she deserved a reward for her honestly. As her religion wouldn't let her take the ring herself, a financial payment would do instead. Would we like to give her some money? Could we at least buy her a cup of tea?

I felt confused. Why would we want to buy her a cup of tea? You can't just go up to someone in the street and ask them to buy you a drink! Can you?

Slowly, the penny dropped. This was all a scam. We refused to give her any money and gave her the ring back. Immediately her demeanour changed. The smile dropped and she became more forceful. We walked away from her with insults ringing in our ears.

Discussing it afterwards, we felt a mix of emotions. Stupidity, for being so slow on the uptake and failing to realise straightaway that it was a scan. Gullibility for thinking that the hallmarks were genuine. Anger that she had tried to fool us. Amusement that anyone whose religion banned jewellery should have her ears pierced. And a small, grudging admiration, for what was at least a novel and unusual way to try to obtain money from people - better than the usual "dog on a lead and euros in a hat" routine.

Later in the day, we saw exactly the same performance being acted out again in the upmarket streets near the Paris Ritz. Different woman, similar ring, same tale. However, these well-heeled pedestrians were all far too worldly wise to fall for her story, and she wasn't able to engage anyone in conversation. We realised then that this was obviously the latest craze in the world of the Parisian con artiste.

The next day, we saw our girl again near Le Louvre. She recognised us straight away, and began swearing and name calling. The pleasant smile and ingratiating ways were nowhere to be seen, and we felt quite intimidated as we passed. A few minutes later, the smile was back as she tried the old routine on a passing elderly couple who were, I'm glad to say, far more streetwise than us and far too clever to fall for her tricks!

So watch out next time you're in Paris - despite the wonderful statues on the Pont Alexandre, all that glitters is most definitely not gold.

This is the worlds most expensive TV and has the staggering price tag of $130,000 dollars. This YALOS Diamond LCD TV is well worth its price tag due to all of its brilliant features. The features include 160 diamonds that total up to at least 20 karats, extraordinary brightness, a great contrast ratio, a great response, and unbelievable pixel resolution. Oh yeah I forgot, this thing also happens to be plated in white gold.

Worlds Most Expensive Phone

GoldVish Luxury Communications of Geneva sold this phone for the huge price of 1.3 million dollars in 2006. This phone, nicknamed Le Million, is covered with 18 karat gold surrounded by 1,800 diamonds with a total of more than 120 karats. This one of a kind phone was purchased by a Russian man that gave it as a gift. That is one gift that I know wasn't returned.

Worlds Most Expensive Perfume

This perfume is called Imperial Majesty and is the most expensive bottled perfume in the world. This bottle sells at the whopping price of $215,000 dollars and must smell, oh so good. Imperial Majesty is actually a limited edition signature scent of Clive Christian and sells for $2,150 dollars an ounce. In this case the bottle costs so much because a British designer poured 16 ounces of it into a crystal bottle covered with diamonds and an 18-carrot gold collar. This is one blinged out perfume bottle.

Worlds Most Expensive Gameboy

This out-of-date toy is the world's most expensive Gameboy with a staggering price tag of $25,000 dollars. This limited edition Gameboy was created by Aspreys of London and is made out of 18 karat gold with a display screen surrounded with diamonds. I wonder what lucky kid got this toy from Santa?

Worlds Most Expensive Pen

This is the world's most expensive pen and was designed by Caran d'Ache in 1999. He designed this very extravagant and blinged out pen to show respect for a famous architect named Antoni Gaude who passed away in 1926. This pen, known as La Modernista Diamonds Fountain Pen, was sold to a Swiss company for a cool $265,000 dollars. The pen contains solid silver parts, a 18-karat gold tip, and is enveloped in 5,072 specially cut diamonds. This pen also contains 96 rubies which form an emblem on the pens cap top.

Worlds Most Expensive Cup of Tea

This is actually the world's most expensive tea bag and has the gigantic price of $13,941 dollars. This special tea bag was created by PG Tips Tea Company to celebrate their 75th anniversary. It took three months to make and was entirely hand crafted with over 280 diamonds. I can't wait to see how they celebrate their 100th anniversary.

Worlds Most Expensive Water

This is Kona Nigari water and is the world's most expensive water at $16.75 dollars an ounce. This water is packed with minerals and comes from the deep seas near Hawaii. The water has first been desalted of course. This water is not just meant to be drunk. You are instead supposed to dillute it with more regular water. This water is specially known for the healthy vitamins and minerals that come in each bottle.

Worlds Most Expensive Christmas Tree

This is the World's Most Expensive Christmas Tree and valued at over half a million dollars. This tree is made from 5 pounds of 18 karat gold, is decorated with round briolette diamonds, and has a platinum star with a 4.54 karat diamond on top. This tree will be sold at an auction and all of the proceedings will go to the American Cancer Society. I wonder what kind of gifts Santa would leave under this tree?

Worlds Most Expensive Fishing Lure

That's right, this is an iced-out fishing lure that is valued at 1 Million Dollars. This $1,000,000 fishing lure consists of three pounds of Platinum, Gold, Diamonds, and Rubies. This lure took months to create and was totally hand crafted. I am not sure who owns this lure now, but I hope he is bringing in some big fish.

Worlds Most Expensive Skull

I know you're probably sitting in your chair googly-eyed and with your mouth hanging open, but trust me this skull is real. This 90 Million Dollar skull was created by the notorious artist Damien Hirst. This one-of-a-kind piece of art is titled “For the Love of God” and is the most costly piece of contemporary art ever made. This piece is encrusted with over 8,601 diamonds and has a total of 1,106.18 carats. It weighs 63 pounds and is made from a real skull and teeth. This is my new favorite piece of art and Damien is my new favorite artist. Damien is not planning to sell this piece of art and created it with his own bank account. Now all he has to do is stick this skull on top of a cane and become the ultimate Puff Daddy.

Come check out the latest in delicacies and be sure to enjoy your "golden" gastronomic experience.

1. The Grand Opulence Sundae

This is probably the world's most expensive ice cream and has a price tag of $1,000 per serving, especially available at the Serendipity Restaurant in New York. The premium ice cream sundae is beautifully garnished with a generous amount of 24-karat edible golden flakes.

2. Pizza Royale 007

Perhaps you have read about the world's most expensive pizza prepared by a Glasgow based restaurateur, Domenico Crolla. With a price tag of around £2,150, you'll get a pizza with premium toppings including edible gold flakes. Viola!

3. Frozen Haute Chocolate

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "Frozen Haute Chocolate" is the world's most expensive dessert, available at Serendipity 3, New York city. At $25,000, this dessert is made up of exotic blends of cocoa, sprinkled with 5 grams of gold flakes and served in a goblet lined with a thin layer of an edible gold sheet.

4. Gold Liquor

It is believed that the gold flakes in liquor are meant to cut one's throat in very tiny areas so that the alcohol may enter the bloodstream quicker for a faster effect. Although this may be an urban myth, nonetheless, there are several liquors in the market which contain gold. For instance, the "Gold Flakes Supreme" is an ultra premium vodka produced in France and marketed by the Shaw Ross Importers at about $60 per 750ml bottle.

"Goldschlager" is another alcohol beverage which contains edible gold flakes. This Swiss cinnamon schnapps costs around $25 per 750ml bottle. Perhaps you can also opt for "Danziger Goldwasser", a Polish herbal liquor which also contains floating gold flakes, costing around $29 per bottle.

5. Seville Orange Marmalade

In 2006, to mark its 125th business anniversary, a UK fruit preserves manufacturer, F. Duerr & Son produced the world's most expensive marmalade. The "Seville Orange Marmalade", contains 24-karat gold flakes and comes in a crystal jar. It is maybe the most expensive marmalade spread for a piece of your toast.

6. DeLafee Chocolate and Lollipop

A Swiss company, DeLafee International has been developing luxurious gifts decorated with gold since 2004. DeLafee's products include golden chocolates and golden lollipops. DeLafee's gold chocolate is made of premium cocoa, wrapped in an edible 24-karat gold sheet. A small box containing 8 chocolate pralines costs about $100 per box. DeLafee's lollies on the other hand are red heart-shaped sweets garnished with 24-karat edible gold flakes. Costing nearly $29 per piece, it makes a nice Valentine's Day gift.

7. Gold Wine

Jayson Woodbridge, the owner of Napa based Hundred Acre came up with "GOLD" wines containing 24-karat gold flakes. GOLD comes in two 2005 vintages; one is made from California's Napa Valley's grapes and another is made from Australia's Barossa Valley's grapes. They are currently available in the US market for about $25 per bottle.

8. Golden Beaver Hot Sauce

The Golden Beaver Hot Sauce contains habanero pepper extract and of course, floating 24-karat gold flakes. It costs $49 per bottle.

9. Gold Sake

In Japanese culture, sake containing edible gold flakes is often consumed during the New Year's eve for luck and prosperity. There are several types of sake brands in the market which contain gold flakes. The more familiar one in the market would be the "Kuromatsu Hakushika Gold Yamada Nishiki Sake". This sake is made from premium Yamadanishiki rice and comes complete with floating gold flakes. It costs $30 per 720 ml bottle.

Cheers and Bon Appetit!