The New (AND UGLY) Miss Universe Crown

New Crown

Old Crown

This year the Miss Universe Organization announced that they have a new crown designer and design. The new crown is made of 18k white and yellow gold. According to their website:

"It is comprised of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The colors of the jewels chosen for the crown have great significance. The yellow luster of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink and cognac are the main hues in the crown which represent inspiration and feeling "

The old crown deisgned by Mikimoto in Japan:

The crown is valued at approximately $200,000 and will have 500 diamonds totaling nearly 30 carats. 120 pearls, both white South Sea and Akoya pearls, ranging in size from 3.0 -18 mm will adorn the new crown. Denise Quinones, Miss Universe 2001, recently traveled to Japan where she joined designer Tomohiro Yajima for the first glimpse of the new design. The intricate design depicts the ancient symbol of the phoenix rising, which signifies status, power and the vision of great beauty

So, basically the new Miss Universe got jacked $80,0000 in the crown from the previous year.

I prefer the look of the old crown to the new one - especially because it really is so different, and the uniquness of it, was what really created that symbol for what Miss Universe is supposed to stand for. What are your thoughts?