Since it is our birthday, we we chose to plan something special. To celebrate, we decided it best to skip the 50-year wait to have a golden anniversary and go for gold from year one. Hence our gloriously shiny, real-deal top hat this month. Yes, pure solid R150 000-worth of gold. We've installed a vault in our offices...) Roberto Regasto and his team at the Pagliari Group forged and hammered what might just turn into my retirement investment (who needs the Kruger millions) especially for our carefully selected cover star Lauren Mello: For some reason, she's had a headache ever since.

EVERYONE likes to be acknowledged and since 1957 the Pagliari Group's goods have lauded the top dogs, from Pope John Paul II and his Millennium Medal to Nelson Mandela and his Unity Medal. For the last six years, managing director Roberto Regasto has kept the artistry that the company is renowned for and merged it with state of the art, cutting edge technology. Roberto trains his own staff, 98% of whom come from disadvantaged communities, to do everything from the intricate, detailed engraving of cigarette print rollers, to modern trophies and corporate gifts, and with an international client base and products stocked in more than 30 countries, Roberto should get his guys to make themselves a few trophies.