$1.6m 'Oz' ruby sandals for sale
By CNN's Jane Chattoe
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The sandals are behind bullet proof glass
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- A pair of ruby encrusted sandals went on sale at London's luxury store Harrods with a price tag of £1 million ($1.59m).
The designer sandals, inspired by the shoes worn by Dorothy in the film classic 'The Wizard of Oz,' are on display behind bullet proof glass at the Knightsbridge store.
Designed for a leading actress to attend this year's Oscars they were withdrawn on the night in sympathy with the subdued atmosphere attending the ceremony because of the Iraq war.
The four-and-a-half inch high sandals are threaded with platinum and set with 642 round and oval rubies, totaling more than 120 carats.
Designed by Start Weitzman they were crafted with the help of New York-based Oscar Hemna & Brothers, a firm which traces its origins to the Faberge workshops in Russia at the turn of the last century.
Despite the price tag, the shoes have a Cinderella-like quality -- they will only fit those with size three-and-a-half feet.
For those whose feet do not fit, or whose wallets are not big enough, a limited edition Swarovski crystal replica also goes on sale for £250.
Weitzman is donating £100,000 from the sale of the ruby sandals to British charities supported by Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed including, Francis House Children's Hospice in Manchester and schools who support families with special needs children.
The shoes will be on display until May 14. Offers are still welcomed.
Last year, Harrods exhibited a pair of diamond sandals, worth $1 million dollars, designed by Weitzman.
