In anticipation of seeing our favourite supermodels grace the Victoria’s Secret runway as 2013’s Angels this December, we’ve created a slideshow to give you a rundown of each year’s most eagerly awaited centrepiece: the Fantasy Bra. Starting with 1996’s Million Dollar Bra priced at, you guessed it, $1,000,000, Victoria’s Secret’s show stopping Fantasy Bras have only increased in splendour, extravagance, and price tag as the years have passed. Find out how much time each designer spent painstakingly making each bespoke garment, from the million dollar start to this year’s Royal Fantasy Bra, which is ten times that price. Sit back and get ready ladies and gentleman, the Victoria’s Secret fashion show is about to begin, and here’s everything you need to know.

1. A Million Dollar Bra Story

2. 1996 The Million Dollar Fantasy Bra
$1,000,000
EQUALS 20,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Roy Raymond always felt
uncomfortable when buying underwear
for his wife. Inspired by this, he founded
the company that is now at the forefront
of lingerie retailing worldwide.
300
MANHOURS
Est.
Victoria’s Secret
A n g e l
Decorated with
over 100 carats of diamonds
amongst a variety of other semi-precious gemstones.
Claudia
S ch i f fe r

3. 1997 The Diamond Dream Fantasy Bra
$3,000,000
EQUALS 60,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Roy Raymond started the
chain with $80,000 in borrowed money,
but it earned him $500,000 in its first
year alone.
Harry Winston
300
MANHOURS
Est.
A n g e l
Ty r a
Banks
Decorated with
93 pear-cut gemstones, nearly 100 diamonds around
the trim, and a 42 carat pear-cut diamond in the centre.

4. 1998 The Dream Angel Fantasy Bra
$5,000,000
EQUALS 100,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: This was the first time the
models wore the iconic wings on the
runway and became angels.
300
MANHOURS
Est.
Janis Savitt for M&J Savitt
A n g e l
Decorated with
77 carats of marquise-cut rubies, 330 carats of
pear- and marquise-cut diamonds, all set in platinum.
Daniela
P e s tov a

5. 1999 The Millennium Fantasy Bra
$10,000,000
EQUALS 200,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: The brand was named after
the prudish Queen Victoria. And what
was actually her secret? Only she will
ever know.
Victoria’s Secret
300
MANHOURS
Est.
A n g e l
Heidi
Klum
Decorated with
2,000 diamonds set in platinum
amongst several diamond-cut sapphires.

6. 2000 The Ruby Fantasy Bra
$15,000,000
EQUALS 300,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Earned a place in the Guinness
World Records as the most expensive item
of lingerie ever created. Although never
sold, the purchase price included free
delivery in an armoured van, complete with
specially trained security guards.
370
MANHOURS
Victoria’s Secret
A n g e l
Decorated with
over 1,300 gemstones,
and among them 300 carats of Thai Rubies.
Gisele
B ü n d ch e n

7. 2001 The Heavenly Star Fantasy Bra
$12,500,000
EQUALS 250,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: This was the first fantasy bra
ever to be featured in a Victoria's Secret
show.
Mouawad
A n g e l
Heidi
Klum
300
MANHOURS
Est.
Decorated with
1,200 Sri-Lankan pink
sapphires and a 90 carat emerald-cut diamond at its
centre, which is worth $10,600,000 alone.

8. 2002 The Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra
$10,000,000
EQUALS 200,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: The show temporarily moved
to Cannes Film Festival to raise money
for Cinema Against Aids.
370
MANHOURS
Mouawad
A n g e l
Decorated with
1,150 ruby roses, and 1,600 emerald leaves.
K a ro l i n a
Ku rkov a

9. 2003 The Very Sexy Fantasy Bra
$11,000,000
EQUALS 220,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Heidi Klum became the first
angel to wear the fantasy bra for the
third time. This show signaled the
beginning of the glitter era.
Mouawad
370
MANHOURS
A n g e l
Heidi
Klum
Decorated with
over 6,000 gemstones
and a 70 carat diamond in the centre.

10. 2004 The Heavenly “70” Fantasy Bra
$10,000,000
EQUALS 200,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: This is the only fantasy bra
ever sold, according to official data.
Because of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s
wardrobe malfunction, the Victoria’s Secret fashion
show was cancelled and five models went on tour
instead.
275
MANHOURS
Mouawad
Decorated with
2,900 pave diamonds in an
18-carat white gold setting. In addition
to a 70-carat pear-shaped diamond in the centre.
A n g e l
Ty r a
Banks

11. 2005 The Sexy Splendor Fantasy Bra
$12,500,000
EQUALS 250,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Without a buyer, every bra is
sadly dismantled by its designer after
the show in order to use the gems for
new jewellery.
Mouawad
A n g e l
Gisele
B ü n d ch e n
300
MANHOURS
Decorated with
2,900 pave set diamonds, 22 ruby
gemstones and a 101 carat diamond
in the middle. All set in 18-carat white gold.

12. 2006 The Hearts on Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra
$6,500,000
EQUALS 130,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: This fantasy bra required over
20,000 hours of labour to perfectly cut
and polish its 2,000 diamonds
300
MANHOURS
Hearts on Fire
A n g e l
Decorated with
2,000 diamonds and a
10-carat diamond brooch centrepiece.
K a ro l i n a
Ku rkov a

13. 2007 The Holiday Fantasy Bra
$4,500,000
EQUALS 90,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: VS regularly denies celebrity
requests to model. Each month The
company’s chief marketing officer has to
turn down a number of requests from
high-profile female celebrities desperate
to be an honourary Angel.
Mouawad
320
MANHOURS
Est.
A n g e l
Selita
Ebanks
Decorated with
9,000 gemstones, which include
diamonds, rubies, emeralds and yellow sapphires.

14. 2008 The Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra
$5,000,000
EQUALS 100,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Like the standard miracle bra,
the Black Diamond is designed for
“maximum cleavage enhancement”.
Est.
300
MANHOURS
M a r t i n K a tz
Decorated with
3,575 black diamonds, 117 one-carat white diamonds and
34 rubies. Two black diamond drops totaling 100 carats
swing from the centre to complete the creation.
A n g e l
Ad r i a n a
Lima

15. 2009 The Harlequin Fantasy Bra
$3,000,000
EQUALS 60,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: The models are chosen based
on their appeal to woman as opposed to
men. In fact, there are twice as many
women than men who watch the show
every year.
Damiani
A n g e l
Marisa
Miller
800
MANHOURS
Decorated with
2,400 white, champagne and
cognac colored diamonds, and a 16 carat
heart-shaped diamond pendant in the center.

16. 2010 The Bombshell Fantasy Bra
$2,000,000
EQUALS 40,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Most of the models are
discovered before they are 15. Adriana
Lima was only 13 when she took her first
steps in the modelling industry.
1500
MANHOURS
Damiani
Decorated with
3,000 brilliant cut white diamonds,
as well as several blue sapphires and
oval-cut topazes. All set in 18 carats of gold.
A n g e l
Ad r i a n a
Lima

17. 2011 The Fantasy Treasure Bra
$2,500,000
EQUALS 50,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Miranda wore the bra less
than one year after giving birth to her
son.
London Jewelers
500
MANHOURS
A n g e l
Miranda
Ke r r
Decorated with
3,400 gems, including 142 carats of diamonds,
in addition to pearls, citrines and aquamarines.

18. 2012 The Floral Fantasy Bra
$2,500,000
EQUALS 50,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: To celebrate the 10th anniversary
of Swarovski’s involvement with the
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show they created a
$5 million ensemble. It was also the first year
they paired a fragrance with the bra, the
$500,000 Bombshell Fantasy Fragrance.
300
MANHOURS
London Jewelers
Decorated with
over 5,200 precious gems, including amethysts, sapphires,
tsavorite, rubies, and white, pink and yellow diamonds. A
drop centerpiece that wows with a 20-carat white diamond,
a 12-carat white diamond and a 21-carat pear-cut ruby.
A n g e l
Alessandra
Ambrosio

19. 2013 The Royal Fantasy Bra
$10,000,000
EQUALS 200,000 REGULAR VICTORIA’S SECRET BRAS
FUN FACT: Victoria’s Secret had to create
a mold of Candice so it could fit her
perfectly. It also has two bodyguards all
of the time, only the bra, not the model.
Mouawad
A n g e l
Candice
Swanepoel
527
MANHOURS
Decorated with
over 4,200 precious gems
including rubies, diamonds and yellow sapphires.
The stones are set in 18-carat gold with rather large
52-carat pear-shaped ruby that dangles at the center.

20. A Million Dollar Bra Story
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With special thanks to Victoria’s Secret and Limited Brands