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There are Mini fanatics all across the country.
Up in the Northeast, in the center of Boston
is one of the most devoted in the world.
Meet Hrach Chekijian,
jeweler, master goldsmith and Mini enthusiast extraordinaire.
He's transformed his shop into a miniature Mini museum,
with Mini models and artifacts intermingled with broaches, rings and other high quality
items of jewelry.
For more than 25 years, Hrach has been carving some of the most beautiful Mini models in
existence.
All are precisely and painstakingly crafted. Some of his smallest creations are no larger
than thumbnail in size.
This magnificent Mini Moke is made of solid gold.
But he's a man full of surprises.
Why do I do this? Well, I like to see the first reaction of people.
When they see me wear this, it puts a smile on their face.
Number one is that they laugh.
And then they see the creativity, because I do work with precious metals and precious
stones.
So I'd rather see things that people recognize you with. And they know my hobby is Minis.
And you eventually know that you make a "spectacle" out of yourself.
That's very clear. That's the humorous side.
The idea for the showcase came about from the bracelet that I'm wearing,
and the idea is that life is a journey. So you travel and if you travel in a Mini, it
would be more fun.
For me the greatest joy in having a Mini is driving it around and seeing people's reactions,
from little babies, infants - they see and point out the car and laugh, and I wave back.
The shop is just the start of his Mini passion. His home is almost a shrine.
And this is the dungeon of my parts room.
Here we are, we have new parts,
y'know mostly new parts I'd say, all the accessory things for Minis to run every day.
And here is my Cooper grill.
It's made out of lots of Mini parts, it's from 8-inch double camshafts welded together.
We have lots of fun, delicious meals:
Here are some of my Mini collections.
I have collected T-shirts for the last 26 years.
And here is my collection. Every drawer and every place, I have Mini T-shirts.
And you see some of them up here.
I've been collecting them for a long time.
Now you're in my bedroom. You can see the collection of Mini matchboxes,
and
the badges,
the memorabilia, the pins,
trophies.
And now you can see the paintings, hand-painted watercolors,
from an English gentleman.
He's in Florida now. He also has a Mini.
More memorabilia.
I have more books on Minis.
And this is my bed, where I sleep every evening.
Many Mini sweet dreams.