In Gaziantep, Turkey, grooms now get golden ties to match brides' heavy gold belts

In the Turkish city of Gaziantep, it has long been customary to gift brides a heavy golden belt at weddings. Now, a matching item has been created for grooms — a solid gold tie weighing 150–250 grams. At current rates, it costs 1.42–1.50 million liras — about 29,000–31,000 dollars. The purpose is the same as the belt: ceremonial decoration and immediate value in metal. Jeweler Murat Kocaoğlu says people first laugh, then buy the set — a belt for the bride, a tie for the groom.