'Thank You, By the Way' Ad Campaign Gets a Boost From Indian Export Association

Back in August of this year, the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) unveiled its global ad campaign titled, “Thank You, By the Way,” with the mission of communicating the massive socioeconomic benefits generated by the natural diamond industry.

The campaign addressed the concerns of jewelry consumers who, now more than ever, want to know where their products come from, and the impact their purchases have on the producing countries and local communities.

Created with the support of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the campaign illustrated how choosing a natural diamond positively influences the lives of millions of people in the most remote corners of the earth.

In a pre-Christmas press release, the NDC announced that it will be magnifying the “Thank You, By the Way” messaging by partnering with a leading India-based trade group called the Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

"In order to achieve long-term sustainability in our industry, we need to adapt a 360-degree approach," said Colin Shah, chairman of the GJEPC. "The association with the Natural Diamond Council does just that, by highlighting the contributions made and recognizing the vital role of the trade in bringing the community together, touching lives and making a real difference. The sector has always taken a 'do good' approach and we will continue to do so in the future."

The GJEPC has spearheaded a number of philanthropic initiatives, including aid to orphanages, schools, old age homes, hospitals and other similar causes in India and around the world. What's more, the natural diamond sector helps 2 million Indians secure their livelihoods.

NDC's omnichannel ad campaign is built around a core of critical facts related to the socioeconomic and community benefits of the natural diamond industry. The series of creative executions can be seen across NDC's social media channels, with a dedicated page on Only Natural Diamonds.

Here are some headlines from that page…

• "Your natural diamond has contributed to $16 billion of annual benefits for our world. That includes healthcare, jobs, education, biodiversity and infrastructure."
• "Your natural diamond provides high quality and safe jobs, as well as supports the livelihood of 10 million people worldwide."
• "Your daughter’s natural diamond jewelry is not just a gift to her, but also the reason why 4 million people get access to healthcare."
• "Your natural diamond helps educate children and empower thousands of women."
• "While your natural diamond is a sparkling symbol of your legacy, it is also a treasure trove of education for half a million children in rural communities."
• "From solar-powered clinics to groundbreaking disease management programs, your natural diamond purchase helps build a healthier future for some of the world’s most remote, vulnerable communities."
• "When you reward yourself for that much-deserved promotion with natural diamond jewelry, you help fund more than 400 women-owned businesses across Africa."

"Consumers are looking for purpose and want to know if the company they buy from has strong values and robust management systems that integrate sustainability at the core of their operations," said RJC executive director Iris Van der Veken. "The RJC certification gives that third-party assurance."

Credit: Image courtesy of The Natural Diamond Council.

Miami Dolphins Fan Misses His Own Jumbotron Marriage Proposal at Hard Rock Stadium

Did you hear about the guy who missed his own jumbotron marriage proposal during halftime of the Dolphins-Jets game at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday?

Dolphins fan Luis Llorens had arranged with the Hard Rock's special events team to propose in dramatic fashion to his girlfriend — and Jets fan — Christine Dobrin. But when the big moment arrived, Llorens was nowhere to be found.

The giant screen showed a still photo of the couple with the caption: “Christine. Will you marry me?” But when the Hard Rock's video team switched to the live shot of what was supposed to be the marriage proposal, only Dobrin was seated. Frozen in the moment, she stared at the screen with her hand over her mouth.

“I didn’t know what was going on because he wasn’t at the seats, and looking all around, between the crying and the happiness, I didn’t know where he was, so it was a whole big mix of emotions,” Dobrin told Miami FOX affiliate WSVN.

It turns out that Llorens wasn't suffering from cold feet. He was a victim of poor communications. Llorens mistakenly believed that he was supposed to meet the Hard Rock's video crew in the tunnel just below their seats.

“I was actually there," Llorens told WSVN. "People just don’t realize I was about 25 feet underneath her. I was in the tunnel.”

As soon as he realized the mistake, Llorens rushed to make the best of a bad situation.

"I had to hurry up back to my seat and do what I could do to save this,” said Llorens.

Once he was reunited with his girlfriend, Llorens delivered a proper proposal to the cheers of the well wishers in their section, and then from the whole stadium of fans. You see, the Hard Rock's video crew had followed the action and managed to catch the exact moment of the proposal on the big screen.

Connor Hughes, a writer who covers the Jets for The Atlantic was tweeting about the halftime oddities in real time.

"Amazing," Hughes tweeted. "So they just did a scoreboard proposal here at Hard Rock. However, when they cut away from this graphic to where the two are supposed to be sitting, the guy wasn’t there! Just the girl, sitting there, hand over mouth! Dude must have been in the concession line lol."

Hughes' followers on Twitter enjoyed taking light-hearted jabs at the hapless Llorens, who had yet to tell his side of the story. They presumed that he was preoccupied with halftime snacks or stuck in the bathroom.

For a $500 donation, the Hard Rock Stadium special events team will post a message on the giant screen and then cut to a live shot of guests in their seats. The messages run during the last four minutes of halftime, following the on-field entertainment.

The fee is considered a donation because the funds go to the Miami Dolphins Foundation, which leverages the power of sports and entertainment to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community.

Credits: Proposal message photo via twitter.com / Connor_J_Hughes; Proposal screen captures via twitter.com / derekdferny.

NBA Star Trae Young Pops the Question With Oval-Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

Atlanta Hawks' star point guard Trae Young popped the question to his college girlfriend Shelby Miller on Thursday with a stunning oval-cut diamond in a halo setting. Young shared with his four million Instagram followers a bunch of candid pics of the actual proposal.

He captioned his post, "What a night," and added two ring emojis and the hashtag "FutureMrsYoung."

On her own Instagram page, the former Oklahoma Sooners cheerleader posted similar pics and captioned them, "Forever Young" punctuated by a grey heart.

With a ring box gripped in his left hand, the NBA's second-leading scorer kneeled on a bed of white rose petals against a backdrop of white and blue balloons and a sign that read, "Marry Me."

One of the Instagram photos shows Miller overcome with emotion, holding her right hand over her mouth as Young is just about to propose. In another photo, the newly engaged Miller joyfully shows her new ring to the camera.

The oval shape has been trending lately, as a cavalcade of stars have chosen this shape — a cut that flatters the wearer by making the finger appear longer and slimmer. Among the most recent celebs to join the "Oval Club" are Kourtney Kardashian, Ariana Grande and Tay Dome, the new fianceé of actor Taylor Lautner.

Young, 23, and Miller, 25, have been dating since 2017. They met at the University of Oklahoma, where he became a top NBA prospect after his freshman year.

The 6 ft 1 in, 164 lb playmaker they call "Ice Trae" is currently second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game in the first half of an All Star-caliber season. In August of this year, he signed a new deal with the Hawks that's worth at least $172 million.

Credits: Images via Instagram.com / traeyoung.

Music Friday: Here's How the Scrapped Song ‘Tinkle Bell’ Became a Holiday Classic

Welcome to another Christmas Edition of Music Friday when bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we present Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell singing the original 1951 version of “Silver Bells,” a holiday favorite that was nearly scrapped, according to songwriter Ray Evans.

A 91-year-old Evans revealed to NPR’s radio audience in 2006 the “stupid, stupid” backstory of “Silver Bells” and its first, off-putting incarnation — “Tinkle Bell.”

Evans and his writing partner, Jay Livingston, were under contract for Paramount Studios when they were assigned to write a Christmas song for The Lemon Drop Kid, a comedy starring Bob Hope. Evans and Livingston believed the world already had too many Christmas songs and were underwhelmed with the task at hand.

Sitting at facing desks in a shared office, the pair was inspired by a little bell that sat on one of the desks.

“We said, ‘Ahh, there’s our theme for Christmas. The bell makes a tinkly sound when it rings,’” Evans remembered. “We’ll call the song ‘Tinkle Bell.’”

When Livingston told his wife about the new song, she was astonished by the writing team's stupidity.

“Tinkle bell? Are you out of you mind?” Livingston’s wife said. “You can’t write a Christmas song with the word ‘tinkle’ in it. Don’t you know what tinkle means?”

Jay Livingston said, “I never thought of that.”

The next day, Livingston and Evans agreed that the song had to be tossed and the writing partners started working on a brand new song.

“We were ready to get rid of ‘Tinkle Bell’ completely,” said Evans, “but we liked the music and a lot of the lyrics. We ended up with the same song we started with, except ‘tinkle’ became ‘silver.’”

“It’s a stupid, stupid story,” Evans continued, “but ignorance is bliss. Our royalties are very, very good.”

The Evans and Livingston collaboration produced a string of hits that included the Oscar-winning “Buttons and Bows,” “Mona Lisa” and “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)." They wrote 26 songs that were million-sellers and, in total, recordings of their songs have sold nearly 500 million copies.

“Silver Bells” has been covered by dozens of artists spanning 70 years. The neatest of them all is the original performed by Hope and Maxwell. At the very beginning of the clip, you will see a street corner Santa played by William Frawley, who was famously Fred Mertz on the classic TV sitcom I Love Lucy. The song starts at the :40 mark.

The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Silver Bells"
Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston. Performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
and on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube.com.

'The Chipembele Crash' Avatars to Generate Funds for Rhino Conservation

Six emerald-themed avatars called "The Chipembele Crash” are being auctioned in a very unique way to raise financial support for the black rhinoceros conservation efforts in Zambia, home of Gemfields’ famous Kagem mine.

The six rhino avatars are being sold as NFTs — non-fungible tokens — on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace.

NFTs are pieces of digital content linked to the blockchain, the same digital database underpinning cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. NFTs are typically used to buy and sell digital artwork.

Even though images of the rhino avatars may be widely distributed, the winning bidder of the NFT can claim ownership of the original. The winner will also have the ability to unlock exclusive content. In this case, it is an exclusive photo of the avatar’s real-life counterpart in Zambia. Bids will close at 4:42pm EST on December 19.

If you're wondering how The Chipembele Crash got its name, “Chipembele” means rhinoceros in the local indigenous dialect of Bemba and “crash” is a term used to describe a group of rhinos.

The announcement of The Chipembele Crash NFT coincides with Gemfields’ sale of the largest emerald ever discovered at its Kagem mine. The 7,525-carat "Chipembele" emerald was recently sold for an undisclosed sum to Isreali-based Eshed-Gemstar, a worldwide diamond and emerald supplier.

Gemfields noted that Eshed-Gemstar will benefit from the unique DNA nanoparticle tagging carried by Chipembele. Developed by Provenance Proof, the DNA tagging technology ensures that the cut-and-polished gems that Chipembele yields can be identified and certified as having originated from this extraordinary gemstone.

Each of the six avatars is inspired by a real-life rhino from the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) in Zambia. Their names are Intanda, Kango, Mapalo, Mwamba, Subilo and Tamala.

The unique green body color of each avatar is actually a photographic representation of the emerald inclusions seen inside Chipembele. Each avatar carries the individual ear-notch of the animal, and is outfitted with human accessories that hint at the rhino’s distinctive personality.

Funds raised from the sale of each avatar will go to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme to aid critical black rhinoceros conservation efforts. Those funds will be added to the donation Gemfields has already pledged from the sale of the Chipembele emerald.

"Gemfields is excited to embrace innovative technology in supporting conservation efforts in Africa,” said Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields. “We are delighted to celebrate the Chipembele emerald in this manner and to promote our belief in ‘conservation gemstones.’ The Chipembele Crash NFTs are fun, unique and rooted in supporting the vital efforts of Zambia’s North Luangwa Conservation Programme. We hope that the NFTs appeal to likeminded thinkers and secure meaningful donations to help even more black rhinos in Zambia.”

NFT bidding runs through the afternoon of December 19 at this website.

Credits: Images courtesy of Gemfields.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Unveils Jewelry and Gem Exhibit

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County just unveiled a new exhibit called “Brilliance: The Art and Science of Rare Jewels.” Appearing in the museum's Gem Vault for a limited engagement are more than 100 spectacular objects — necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and unmounted gems — drawn primarily from the works of master jewelry designer Robert Procop.

The museum is encouraging visitors to discover how gems and minerals are used in a wide variety of fields, from jewelry design to scientific research in geology, chemistry, physics and other disciplines. Procop's jewelry is paired with the museum’s mineral collection to encourage visitors to make the connection between the dazzling finished jewelry and the rough, uncut gems.

The displays will explain how scientists use exceptional stones to learn about Earth processes, and, in turn, gain a better understanding of how our planet works.

“This is about discovery, it’s about wonder. It’s an inspiration of what can be found in this mother Earth that has such rarities,” Procop told the Los Angeles Daily News.

The exhibition, which opened on December 8 and will run through February 21, 2022, will include a number of head-turning pieces. Among the highlights are the 42.72-carat “Pink Starburst" diamond, the fancy blue 46.39-carat “Celeste Diamond” and the 21.01-carat "Ceylon Star" sapphire.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Daily News, Aaron Celestian, the curator of mineral sciences for the museum, described the exhibition as "some of the rarest gemstones in the world all coming together under one roof."

The primary gems feature in the necklaces, above, include the "Jade of Muzo," a 63.70-carat pear-shaped, cabochon-cut emerald; "The Golden Sundrop," a 64.72-carat pear-shaped yellow sapphire; and the "Magnificent Muzo," a 24.45-carat pear-shaped emerald.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located in Exposition Park and general admission is $15, $7 for children under 12. Timed-tickets are required to enter the Gem and Mineral Hall, as well as the new jewelry exhibit.

Visitors may pick up their tickets at the museum's ticket counters or at the entrance to the Gem and Mineral Hall on the day of their visit. Capacity is limited.

Credits: Images courtesy of Robert Procop/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Music Friday: Christina Aguilera Gets a Diamond Ring in ‘Merry Christmas, Baby’

Welcome to a special holiday edition of Music Friday, when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Christina Aguilera belts out her rendition of the 1947 classic, “Merry Christmas, Baby,” a song about how a very special piece of jewelry has made this the best Christmas ever.

In first lines of the song, Aguilera — with an assist from Dr. John — sings, “Merry Christmas baby, oh ooh / You sure did treat me nice, oh ooh / You gave me a diamond ring for Christmas / Now I’m living in paradise, oh oh.”

Originally recorded by Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers in 1947, this R&B holiday classic has been covered by a Who’s Who of music-industry legends, including Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge.

A little known fact about Aguilera’s version, which appeared on her My Kind of Christmas album in 2000, is that one of her heroines, Etta James, was supposed to be a featured performer on the track. For unknown reasons, Aguilera never got to record with James and Dr. John was picked as a replacement.

Nevertheless, Aguilera’s My Kind of Christmas peaked at #28 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and sold more than one million copies.

Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers’ recording of “Merry Christmas Baby” also was a great success. The song reached #3 on Billboard‘s R&B Juke Box chart during the Christmas of 1947.

Born in Staten Island, NY, in 1980, Christina María Aguilera moved to the Pittsburgh area as a 6-year-old to live with her grandmother after her parents' divorce. There she earned a reputation as "the little girl with the big voice." At the age of 9, she competed on Star Search and made it all the way to the semi-finals.

The next year, she auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club even though she did not meet its age requirements. Two years later, she would land a role on the series with castmates — and future stars — Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

With record sales tallying 75 million, Aguilera is recognized as one of the world's best-selling music artists. She's been referred to as the "Voice of a Generation" and claims a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Please check out the video of Aguilera’s live performance of “Merry Christmas Baby” on The Late Show With David Letterman. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along!

“Merry Christmas, Baby”
Written by Brian Douglas Wilson and Mike E. Love. Performed by Christina Aguilera, featuring Dr. John.

Oh oh
Merry Christmas baby
You sure did treat me nice, oh ooh yeah yeah
Said uh, merry Christmas baby, oh ooh
You sure did treat me nice, oh ooh
You gave me a diamond ring for Christmas
Now I’m living in paradise, oh oh

I’m, I’m feeling mighty fine
Got good music on my radio
(Yes you do child)
Well I’m, I’m feeling mighty fine
Got good music, on, music on my radio, oh
Well I, I want to kiss you baby
While we’re standing underneath the mistletoe

Santa came down the chimney
About a half past three
Left all these pretty presents
That you, that you see before me, oh

Merry Christmas baby, merry Christmas baby
You sure been good to me, oh, oh ooh
Well I, I haven’t had a drink this morning
But I’m, I’m lit up like a Christmas tree
Christmas tree, oh oh oh, oh yeah

Oh, yeah yeah yeah
Oh oh ooh, yeah, oh, ooh,
Oh oh yeah, yeah, yeah

St. Nick came down the chimney
About a half past three
He left all these pretty presents
That you see before me

Merry Christmas baby
You sure been good to me
Haven’t had a taste this morning
But I’m all lit up like a Christmas tree

Oh, oh, oh ooh, oh ooh
Merry Christmas baby
You sure been good to me
Oh oh, oh oh
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh

Sure been good, to, to, to, me
Hey, oh oh hey

Credit: Photo by Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Underrated and Often-Misunderstood Zircon Is December's Alternate Birthstone

Underrated and often misunderstood, zircon is the colorful alternative birthstone for December. Available in a wide range of brilliant hues — from red, orange, yellow, green to blue and brown — zircon is the oldest mineral on Earth.

Back in 2014, a tiny zircon crystal that scientists believed was 4.4 billion years old was helping to unlock the mysteries of how the Earth first formed. John Valley, a professor of geoscience, and his team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, claimed that a translucent red zircon discovered in Western Australia’s remote Jack Hills region was nearly as old as the Earth itself.

Zircon likely got its name from the Persian word "zargun," which means “gold-hued.” The American Gem Society (AGS) also noted that zircon's name could be traced to the Arabic word "zarkun," which means "vermillion," the brilliant red pigment used to paint buildings in Biblical times.

While zircon has deep roots in science and history, contemporary jewelry buyers are often confused about the difference between zircon and cubic zirconia. Zircon is a naturally occurring mineral and cubic zirconia, also known as CZ, is a synthetic stone grown in a lab.

Zircon in its purest form is colorless and displays flashes of multicolored "fire" that can rival that of a diamond, according to the AGS. Other varieties of zircon owe their color to impurities in its chemical composition. The Smithsonian noted that zircons are most often cut as round brilliants to best show off their dispersion and brilliance.

The most popular color of zircon is blue, which happens to be the alternative birthstone for December. The others are tanzanite and turquoise.

The world's primary sources of zircon are Australia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tanzania, Myanmar, Canada and the US.

Zircon claims a hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale, compared to topaz (8), sapphire (9) and diamond (10).

The zircon gems in the photo, above, are from the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection. They were gifted by the Roebling fund and range in size from 48.3 carats to 105.9 carats. Two were sourced in Thailand and the other two were mined in Sri Lanka.

Credit: Photo by Dane A. Penland / Smithsonian.

Engagement Ring Survey: Millennials Outspend Younger Gen Z Counterparts by 63%

Millennials (ages 25-34) outspend Gen Zers (ages 18-24) by 63% when it comes to buying an engagement ring. The average price paid for a ring by Millennials is $6,700, compared to $4,100 spent by their younger counterparts, according to a newly released survey by The Knot.

Across all age groups, the average spend is $6,000 — up slightly from the pre-pandemic spend in 2019 of $5,900. Ring costs varied widely depending on whether the couple was buying an engagement ring with a diamond or non-diamond center stone. The average cost of a diamond engagement ring is $6,800, versus an average of $2,500 for a ring with a colored gemstone center stone.

Roughly two out of three couples said they stuck to a set budget, while nearly 30% spent more than planned (up 9 percentage points since 2020).

The most popular type of engagement stone continues to be a diamond (86%), with round (41%) remaining the most popular cut. The wedding planning site noted that the oval shape has been enjoying a steady increase in popularity over the past six years. Only 2% preferred it in 2015, but now that number is up to 19%. 

Among the 10% of respondents who chose a non-diamond for their center stone, the most popular pick is moissanite, which now accounts for more than one-quarter of non-diamond stones (28%, +9% vs. 2019). Moissanite is even more popular among Gen Zers (35%).

Nearly one in four engagement rings in 2021 featured a center stone that was lab-grown. That number is up from 11% in 2019.

The Knot also said that bridal couple’s precious-metal preferences are trending away from white gold. Forty-five percent purchased white gold rings in 2021, compared to 61% in 2017.  Yellow gold has increased in popularity by 11 percentage points since 2017.

What’s more, The Knot reported that while online channels, such as social media and jewelry websites, continue to be the leading resource for ring research and inspiration, proposers value the importance of in-store shopping. Exactly 67% of engagement rings were purchased in-store, with half of in-store purchases happening at local jewelers in 2021.

Proposers said they visited two to three retailers and checked out 10 rings on average — in-store — before purchasing. 

More than 90% of couples announced their engagement on social media, with Instagram (78%) and Facebook (77%) being the most popular, and 20% of couples announced on Snapchat. Of those who got engaged in 2021, more than 75% have already set a date for 2022, with fall being the most popular season. 

Of the nearly three in four engagements taking place outdoors this year, 35% occurred at a scenic spot, such as a mountain top or a place with a city view. Nearly one in three engagements took place during a planned trip, up 7% from last year when many trips had to be canceled because of COVID restrictions.

“The Knot 2021 Jewelry & Engagement Study” reflects the impressions of more than 5,000 respondents who got engaged from January through November 2021. 

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com.

Music Friday: Camila Cabello Dreams of Platinum and Gold in Her 2021 Hit, 'Don't Go Yet'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you joyous songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Cuban-American singing sensation Camila Cabello kicks up her heels in the 2021 international dance hit, "Don't Go Yet."

Viewed on Youtube more than 47 million times, the video of this instant classic tells a story of a young woman who can't cope with the idea of being apart from her boyfriend. Throughout the song she implores him to stay — even though he's scheduled to take a flight. Cabello sets the scene by using precious metals to paint a picture of a magical, romantic place.

She sings, "I imagine myself in satin, the room was platinum and gold / I'd dance and catch your eye, you'll be mesmerized, oh."

Written by Cabello and collaborators Scott Harris, Eric Frederic and Mike Sabath, "Don't Go Yet" made its radio debut in July of 2021 as the lead single of Cabello's third studio album, Familia. The song quickly became an international success, charting in 33 countries.

It was nominated for Song of the Summer at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards and as the Best International Video at the 2021 LOS40 Music Awards.

"Familia" in Spanish means "family," and Cabello's official video for "Don't Go Yet" is all about family. The singer told YouTube’s “Released” that the song and music video were both inspired by Cuban-Mexican family parties from her childhood, where "everybody eats dinner, and then after you put on a little cheap disco ball with lights and suddenly the living room is the dance floor."

The video is teeming with a cast of colorful characters, including professional dancers, reality show celebrities and Cabello's actual relatives.

The 24-year-old, Cuban-born Cabello is best known for her smash hits "Havana" (2018) and "Señorita" (2019), a duet she performed with Shawn Mendes.

She got her first big break in 2012, when she placed third on The X Factor. Soon after, she joined a group called Fifth Harmony, which signed a record deal with Syco Music, a music company owned by X Factor host Simon Cowell.

Please check out the awesome video of Cabello and her familia performing "Don't Go Yet." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Don't Go Yet"
Written by Camila Cabello, Cabello, Scott Harris, Eric Frederic and Mike Sabath. Performed by Camila Cabello.

Oh, my love, oh, yeah, yeah
I'm in love, yeah

I replayed this moment for months
Alone in my head, waitin' for it to come
I wrote all your lines in the scripts in my mind, and
I hope that you follow it for once

I imagine myself in satin, the room was platinum and gold
I'd dance and catch your eye, you'll be mesmerized, oh

We'd find a corner, then your hands in my hair
Finally we're here, so, why
Are you sayin' you got a flight, need an early night?
No, don't go yet

Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
What you leavin' for, when my night is yours?
Just a little more, don't go yet

Baby, don't go yet, 'cause I wore this dress for a lil' drama

And I bet, I bet that you think that you know, but you don't
Baby, come to mama
I get, I get what I want when I want
And I get it how I wanna, wanna
And I want you baby, gotta get you, baby

We'd find a corner, then your hands in my hair
Finally we're here, so, why
Are you sayin' you got a flight, need an early night?
No, don't go yet

Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet (No, no)
Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
What you leavin' for, when my night is yours?
Just a little more, don't go yet

Dámelo
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la (Don't go yet)
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, hey (Don't go yet)
Hey!

(Oh-no-no, don't leave yet)
(No te vayas, quédate)

(Oh-no-no, don't leave yet) Ahora voy yo
(No te vayas, quédate)
(Oh-no-no, don't leave yet) Stay a little longer
(No te vayas, quédate) Know you really wanna
(Oh-no-no, don't leave yet) Stay a little longer
(No te vayas, quédate) Oh

Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet
(Oh-no-no, don't leave yet) What you leavin' for, when my night is yours?
(No te vayas, quédate) Just a little more

(Oh, yeah, don't go yet, don't go yet) What you leavin' for, when my night is yours? Yours, yours
What you leavin' for, when my night is yours?
Just a little more, don't go yet

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube.com / Camila Cabello.

December's Newest Birthstone Was Heralded as the 'Gem of the 20th Century'

Back in 2002, tanzanite joined turquoise and zircon as an official birthstone for the month of December. The occasion was momentous because, up until that point, the list hadn't been amended since 1912. The gem you see here is an extraordinary example of tanzanite from the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

The 18.56-carat, emerald-cut stone was purchased for the Smithsonian with funds from the Tiffany & Co. Foundation in 2011. This is significant because 43 years earlier Tiffany played a vital role in making tanzanite a household name.

It was 1967 when Maasai tribesmen discovered a patch of shockingly beautiful bluish-violet gems in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Samples were entrusted to a prospector named Manuel d’Souza, who shared the crystals with distinguished gemologists. Originally thought to be sapphires, the gems turned out to be a totally new, vibrant blue variety of the mineral zoisite.

A year later, Tiffany looked to feature the gemstone in a broad-based advertising campaign, but its marketing team had to overcome a branding hurdle. The name “blue zoisite” sounded very much like “blue suicide” — and that alone could have tanked the campaign. So, the team at Tiffany decided to promote the gems as “tanzanite,” a name that would honor their country of origin.

Tiffany’s marketing campaign was a huge success and tanzanite would eventually earn the title of “Gem of the 20th Century.”

In 2002, a jewelry-industry trade organization — the American Gem Trade Association — designated tanzanite as an official birthstone for the month of December.

Tanzanites are said to be 1,000 times more rare than diamonds due to the fact that the blue-violet gem is mined in only one location on Earth. The area measures 2km wide by 4km long and the remaining lifespan of the mine is less than 30 years.

According to the Smithsonian, tanzanite exhibits the optical phenomenon known as pleochroism. This is when a gemstone presents multiple colors when observed at different angles. A tanzanite could appear intense blue, violet or red depending on the direction through which the crystal or polished gem is viewed.

Credit: Photo by Greg Polley / Smithsonian.

New Study: 96% of Pre-Engaged Women Want to Be Involved in the Ring Selection

A new "Engagement Expectations" study conducted by The Knot and De Beers Group reveals that 96% of pre-engaged women want to have some involvement in the selection of the engagement ring and would not want the proposal to be a total surprise.

Carried out just ahead of "engagement season," the period between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day, the study reveals new insights into marriage proposals in a post-COVID environment. Nearly 300 women in a serious relationship were surveyed about expectations related to the proposal process — from where and how it takes place, to the selection of the engagement ring.

Three-fourths of pre-engaged females have thought a lot or some about their engagement ring and most are increasingly preferring more personalized and unique engagement rings.

The primary choice for an engagement ring center stone remains a diamond, with the majority citing this as their first choice. But contrary to popular opinion, pre-engaged women are less focused on carat weight and more concerned with the shape, style and setting of the stone.

The majority (68%) also believe that ring designs today are more unique than in their parents' generation, and one in five feel the exchange of rings has more meaning and significance today.

When it comes to purchasing the ring, about 2 in 10 respondents expect both partners to contribute to the cost; most women (76%) expect their partner will pay.

The findings also highlight an increased interest in intimacy and connection when it comes to the proposal itself.

While most pre-engaged women still want their partner to propose to them, they want the experience to be more personal and unique. Grand gestures and elaborate public displays were less appealing to respondents, with a solid majority saying the ideal way to pop the question would be one person proposing to the other (98%), planned ahead of time (66%), and in a private place (66%).

While females desire more intimate proposals, the majority (85%) feel there is more pressure on their partners to plan a unique proposal than in their parents' generation.

The Knot and De Beers Group Engagement Expectations Study was fielded on Instagram in October 2021 among 296 females in a serious relationship. A majority of female respondents (77%) participating in the survey believe they will be engaged within the next two years. Most were between the ages of 18 and 34.

Credit: Image courtesy of De Beers Group.

Tay Dome Basks in the Glow of Oval-Cut Diamond Ring From Actor Taylor Lautner

More than a week after accepting a romantic marriage proposal from Twilight star Taylor Lautner, newly engaged Tay Dome was still basking in the glow of her oval-cut diamond engagement ring.

"I can get used to this view," she captioned an Instagram selfie of her outstretched left hand, against the backdrop of her famous fiancé.

The 29-year-old actor had popped the question to his registered nurse girlfriend on 11.11.21 and celebrated a few days later at the DAOU Vineyards in Paso Robles, CA. Both Lautner and Dome shared photos of their romantic getaway, and in a number of photos the ring was front and center.

In one photo, Lautner is holding a wine glass with his left hand while pointing at the 23-year-old's ring with his right hand. His fianceé smiles as she looks straight into the camera with her ring finger extended straight up. In his caption, Lautner shared with his 7.1 million Instagram followers just how much Dome has changed his life.

He wrote, "Cannot wait to spend forever with you @taydome You love me unconditionally. You don't put up with my [stuff]. You calm me when I'm anxious. You make me laugh way too much. You make every single day spent with you so special. And most importantly, you make me a better person. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve brought to my life. I love you forever."

The November 11 proposal took place at Lautner's home in a room strewn with rose petals and lit by a fireplace and white candles. A pink neon sign above the fireplace spelled out "Lautner" in script.

Lautner posted a pic of the scene and captioned it, “11.11.2021 … And just like that, all of my wishes came true.”

According to People.com, Lautner and Dome went public with their relationship three years ago during the Halloween season. Lautner posted to his Instagram page a photo of the couple wearing matching costumes.

Credits: Images via Instagram.com / taydome.

Lawmaker Sponsors Bill to Make Amethyst the Official Gemstone of Pennsylvania

Lawmaker Thomas Mahaffie is advancing a bill to make amethyst the official gemstone of Pennsylvania. Twenty-seven of the 50 states currently have a gemstone to call their own, and the state representative from Dauphin County believes that The Keystone State deserves one, as well.

In a legislative memo, Mahaffie outlined why amethyst is the best choice.

"Pennsylvania is well known for its variety of vast mineral deposits and the mines that work them," he wrote. "Among these is quartz, the most beautiful type of which is the vibrant, purple gemstone, amethyst."

Mahaffie also noted that amethysts are featured in the tiara used to crown the winner of the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. The tiara boasts 92 carats of amethysts, including a keystone-shaped primary jewel weighing 37 carats. The tiara is the subject of great pride because the gems and gold used to fabricate it were contributed by jewelers throughout the state.

"The official symbols of the Commonwealth are important because they help to differentiate our state from others," he continued. "Most states have an official state dog, tree and flower, etc., all of which help to show what is important to that state."

Mahaffie added one more piece of purple passion to his argument.

“Coincidentally, the state plant of Pennsylvania is Penngift Crownvetch, commonly known as “‘Purple Crown,’” he wrote. “How fitting that Pennsylvania is represented by the beauty of the attractive purple blooms of the state plant ‘Purple Crown’ and the radiant purple amethyst gemstones of the ‘Purple Crown’ worn by Miss Pennsylvania.”

According to Thoughtco.com, 27 states currently claim an official gemstone. New Hampshire has smoky quartz, Idaho has star garnet and Maine has tourmaline, to name a few.

If the measure — HB 777 — passes through the House and Senate, Pennsylvania will become the second state to anoint amethyst as its official gemstone. The other is South Carolina.

Also included in Mahaffie's bill is a proposal to make celestite the state's official mineral. First discovered in Pennsylvania in 1791, the pale blue mineral gets its name from the Latin word for "celestial."

"I believe that denoting celestite, more commonly referred to as celestine, as the state mineral will not only pique the interest of school children across the state to learn more about Pennsylvania and its rich environment, but will also help educate the public about a uniquely beautiful mineral," Mahaffie wrote.

Celestite has been found in Pennsylvania's Blair, Juniata, Lycoming, Northumberland, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties. Deposits of amethyst are present in the state's southeastern counties of Lancaster, Chester and Delaware.

Credits: Amethyst image by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Celestite image by Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Music Friday Flashback: Seals & Crofts' 'Diamond Girl' Shines Like A Precious Stone

Welcome to another Music Friday Flashback, when we bring you classic tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we feature Seals & Crofts performing their Summer of ’73 hit, “Diamond Girl.”

Using gemstone imagery to describe a girl who is perfect in their eyes, Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts sing, “Diamond Girl – you sure do shine / Glad I found you – glad you’re mine / Oh my love, you’re like a precious stone / Part of earth where heaven has rained on.”

The Texas-born Seals and Crofts are famous for their lush harmonies, spiritual lyrics and a string of chart-toppers in the 1970s. Their songs are said to be influenced by the teachings of the Bahá’í faith.

Coming off their success with “Summer Breeze” in 1972, the duo was back in the studio one year later with “Diamond Girl.”

Released as the title track of Seals & Crofts' fifth studio album, the single reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album also was a huge success, as it rose to #4 on the Billboard 200 chart. A second charting single from the album was “We May Never Pass This Way Again,” which topped out at #21.

The duo had a strong run through the 1970s, but disbanded in 1980. They reunited briefly in 1991 and then again in 2004, when they released their final album, Traces.

Seals & Crofts’ fans may not know that Jim Seals is the brother of Dan Seals, who was “England Dan” in the duo England Dan and John Ford Coley (“I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” 1976). In the early and mid-2000s, Jim Seals toured with his brother under the name, Seals & Seals

Another interesting bit of trivia: Seals and Crofts both belonged to the group The Champs (“Tequila,” 1958) in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before going out on their own.

Jim Seals turned 80 on October 17. Dash Crofts celebrated his 81st birthday on August 14.

Please check out the video of Seals & Crofts performing “Diamond Girl” live on The Midnight Special in 1973. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Diamond Girl”
Written by Jim Seals and Dash Crofts. Performed by Seals & Crofts.

Diamond Girl – you sure do shine
Glad I found you – glad you’re mine
Oh my love, you’re like a precious stone
Part of earth where heaven has rained on

Makes no difference where you are
Day or nighttime you’re like a shinin’ star
And how could I shine without you
When it’s about you that I am

Diamond Girl – roamin’ wild
Such a rare thing – radiant child
I could never find another one like you
Part of me is deep down inside you

Can’t you feel the whole world’s a-turnin’
We are real and we are a-burnin’
Diamond Girl now that I’ve found you
It’s around you that I am

Diamond Girl – you sure do shine
Diamond Girl – you sure do shine
Diamond Girl – you sure do shine
Diamond Girl – you sure do shine

Credit: Image by Warner Brothers Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ancient Amethyst Ring Unearthed in Israel May Have Been Worn to Ward Off Drunkenness

When an amethyst ring dating back 1,500 years was unearthed in Yavne, Israel, near the site of the largest winery of the Byzantine period (330-1453 AD), archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority were quick to point out the obvious connection.

You see, in ancient times it was believed that amethyst jewelry could protect its wearer from intoxication and ward off the effects of a hangover. The word "amethyst," in fact, comes from the Greek word "amethystos," which literally means "not drunken."

"Did the person who wore the ring want to avoid intoxication due to drinking a lot of wine?" asked Dr. Elie Haddad, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. "We probably will never know."

The director noted that the ring was found just 150 meters from the remains of a long warehouse, which was used to store tall wine jars, called "amphorae." These jars had long, narrow necks and handles on each side.

Weighing 5.11 grams, the gold ring is bezel set with a cabochon cut amethyst. Despite being buried for more than 1,500 years, the ring and the stone are in remarkably good shape.

The popularity of amethyst dates back thousands of years. The pretty purple stone is mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the 12 precious stones worn by the high priest of the Temple on his ceremonial breastplate.

“The person who owned the ring was affluent, and the wearing of the jewel indicated their status and wealth,” noted Dr. Amir Golani, an expert on ancient jewelry at the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Such rings could be worn by both men and women.”

It is possible that the impressive ring belonged to the owner of the warehouse, a foreman, or simply to an unlucky merchant, who dropped it en route to the winery.

The researchers are still debating when the ring was actually fabricated. The material at the a dig site dates back to the 7th century AD, but it is possible that the ring, due to its beauty and prestige, had been handed down from generation to generation over the centuries. Gold rings inlaid with amethyst stone are known in the Roman world, and it is possible that the ring had belonged to the elites who lived in the city as early as the 3rd century AD.

“The small, everyday finds that are discovered in our excavations tell us human stories and connect us directly to the past," said Eli Eskozido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “It is exciting to imagine that the man or woman to whom the ring belonged, walked right here, in a different reality to what we know in today's city of Yavne.”

Credit: Image courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority/Dafna Gazit.

Unstable Deep-Earth Mineral Survives Journey to Surface Trapped Within a Diamond

An unstable, deep-Earth mineral that shouldn't be able to exist on the surface has been found inside a diamond.

“It’s the strength of the diamond that keeps the inclusions at high pressure,” Oliver Tschauner, a geochemist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Live Science.

Before the discovery, davemaoite existed theoretically.

Under extreme pressure and heat, it presents as calcium silicate perovskite, but degrades into other minerals when it moves toward the surface and pressure decreases.

The tiny spec of davemaoite was able to make to 400-plus-mile journey to the surface — and stay intact — because it was trapped within a diamond.

As diamonds form hundreds of miles beneath the Earth’s crust, tiny bits of their surrounding environment can be trapped inside. What’s particularly unique about diamonds is that the inclusions will remain under the same pressure as they were during the time they were encapsulated.

Diamonds can be blasted hundreds of miles to the surface during volcanic eruptions. The vertical superhighways that take the diamonds on their journey are called kimberlite pipes.

“Diamond is a remarkable vessel for sampling the geochemistry of the deep mantle,” Steven Jacobsen, a mineral physicist at Northwestern University, told EOS.org in 2018, “because of its ability to seal off trapped inclusions from the reactive environment during ascent, like a tiny indestructible spaceship.”

Named after scientist Ho-kwang ‘Dave’ Mao, davemaoite was approved as a new mineral by the International Mineralogical Association. Mao is famous for his pioneering discoveries in the field of high-pressure geochemistry and geophysics.

Scientists confirmed the presence of davemaoite in the diamond by using a technique known as synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The researchers focused a high-energy beam of X-rays on the inclusions within the diamond and then measured the angle and intensity of the returning light. Those results revealed a distinctive chemical signature of what was inside. The davemaoite inclusions measured just a few micrometers (millionths of a meter) in size.

While most diamonds are formed under intense pressure and heat at a depth of 93 to 124 miles, the diamond encasing the davemaoite material was likely formed 400-plus miles below the surface. The greenish, octahedral-shaped deep-Earth diamond samples studied by Tschauner and his team had been unearthed at the Orapa mine in Botswana.

Scientists believe that davemaoite is one of three main minerals in Earth’s lower mantle and makes up 5% to 7% of the material in the mantle. Davemaoite is believed to be part of the group of minerals that helps manage how heat moves and cycles through the deep Earth.

Credit: Image by Aaron Celestian, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Music Friday: Andra Day Gives Up Gold for Grains of Sand in Her Bluesy 2015 Release

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you outstanding songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, the multitalented Andra Day performs "Gold," a bluesy ballad framed as a heartfelt apology to a former lover.

Day admits she betrayed him even though he treated her “like a precious gift.” She suffers a hard lesson when she learns that her new lover is a cheater.

Day describes her remorse with a line that repeats throughout the song: “I gave up gold / For grains of sand / Slipping through my hand.”

In an NPR interview, Day explained how “Gold” was born.

“I was with someone that I was not good to, and wasn’t faithful to,” she said. “I used to be ashamed to talk about it, and ‘Gold’ was really my moment to say, ‘I’m going to talk about it. I’m going to purge because other people experience this.'”

She continued, “So, it’s basically a letter to him apologizing for what I had done. Sort of spelling out my experience and heartbreak after that — having someone betray me and what it felt like. And then letting him know that I now understand what [he] went through… It’s a whole candid story told from beginning to end.”

“Gold” is featured on Day’s 2015 debut album, Forever Mine. That same year, Rolling Stone magazine named Andra Day one of the “10 New Artists You Need to Know.”

The publication was right on the mark, as Day would score a 2021 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the biopic The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Born Cassandra Monique Batie in Edmonds, WA, in 1984, the artist's stage name was inspired by Holiday’s nickname, "Lady Day."

Day got her first break in 2012 when a series of her popular song covers went viral on YouTube. Those videos caught the attention of numerous record labels, which courted the future star. Eventually, she signed with Warner Bros. Records.

The photo, above, also reveals that Day is a big fan of gold jewelry. She wears two gold rings on each finger, bold gold cuffs on her wrists, large gold hoop earrings and two gold chain necklaces.

Please check out the video of Andra Day performing "Gold" live at the SiriusXM studios in June of 2016. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

“Gold”
Written and performed by Andra Day.

He don’t know I call him the teacher
He had a hard lesson for the kid
I get I put you through hell
He put me under the same spell
He lied man, he stressed me out
You loved me like a precious gift
And he loved me like a sloppy kiss
You would tell me your heartaches
Now I understand the pain
Oh why did I let you drown

Baby would you believe
That I’ve been broken
You say memories
Play again and again
I see the reel now it’s real to me
I gave up gold
For grains of sand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand

You had no problems with commitment
Like a king is loyal to what’s his
You looked for a ring to fit
While I played wifey with a kid
Oh the irony makes me sick

He tried to make me look crazy
Nothing new about his kind of scheme
I laugh when I think about
His face when truth nearly spilled out
He looked like me I get that now

Baby would you believe
That I’ve been broken
You say memories
Play again and again
I see the reel, now it’s real to me
I gave up gold
For grains of sand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand

Baby would you believe
That I’ve been broken
You say memories
Play again and again
I see the reel, now it’s real to me
I gave up gold
For grains of sand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand
Slipping through my hand

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com / SiriusXM.

Birthstone of the Month: This Fiery Red Gem Is a Super-Rare Variety of Imperial Topaz

A stunning member of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection for the past three years, the impossibly rare "Whitney Flame Topaz" is one of the world's most extraordinary examples of November's official birthstone.

The vibrant red gem weighs 48.86 carats and exhibits an exaggerated pear-shape that resembles a flame. At the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals in Washington, DC, the gem is mounted vertically and lit from behind to emphasize its fiery color.

Red topaz represents an extremely tiny subset of gem-quality Imperial Topaz, which is highly coveted and most often seen in golden-orange to orange-red hues. Shades of pink, purple, and red are even more rare. The red color is the result of trace amounts of chromium in the gemstone’s chemical composition.

The Whitney Flame was sourced more than 50 years ago at the famed Capao Mine mine of Ouro Preto, Brazil.

“Of all the topaz found in that locality, only about a percent or two is gem quality,” Jeffrey Post, curator of the National Gem and Mineral Collection, told Smithsonian.com in 2018. “And, of those one to two percent, maybe one percent of those have a deep enough red color that they could be marketed as red topaz.”

The flame-shaped red topaz was held privately for many decades, before emerging at the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2017. Post and Smithsonian benefactor Coralyn Wright Whitney were moved to tears when they viewed the stone for the first time.

“When we saw it, we all collectively started weeping a little bit,” Post said. “The color and beauty of this gemstone is astounding. You have to see it to believe it.”

Whitney acquired the stone and gifted it to the Smithsonian, along with a $5 million endowment.

In September of 2018, the Smithsonian welcomed the red gem as a permanent resident of the National Museum of Natural History and honored the philanthropist by naming it the "Whitney Flame Topaz."

Brazil is the largest producer of quality topaz, but the stone is also mined in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Russia, Australia, Nigeria, Germany, Mexico and the U.S (specifically California, Utah and New Hampshire). Topaz rates an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a durable and wearable gem.

Credits: Whitney Flame Topaz image by Greg Polley / Smithsonian and digitally enhanced by SquareMoose.

Bauble Bought at a Car Boot Sale Turns Out to Be a 34-Carat Diamond Worth $2MM

An elderly British woman who brought her "costume" jewelry to a local auctioneer to be evaluated was stunned to learn that a huge "faux" stone in the collection was actually a 34-carat diamond valued at more than $2 million.

The woman — described as a lovely, elderly lady in her 70s who wished to remain anonymous — had amassed much of her collection at car boot sales over many years. Car boot sales differ from flea markets because they are generally populated not by professional sellers, but by ordinary folks who sell their unwanted household items out of the back of their cars.

Mark Lane, the owner of Featonby's Auctioneers, said that the box of jewelry contained a number of low-value costume jewelry items, as well as the retiree's wedding band and the unusually large clear stone.

At first, Lane believed the round brilliant-cut stone was likely a cubic zirconia. The stone sat on his desk for two or three days until a friend of the company made a passing comment that he should test the stone.

The friend's hunch was right. Lane held his diamond tester to the stone and it registered as genuine.

The HRD Diamond Grading Laboratory in Antwerp confirmed that the elderly lady's gem was, in fact, a 34.19-carat round, brilliant-cut diamond boasting H color, VS1 clarity and a triple excellent cut grade. Lane described the gem as larger than a British pound coin, which is equivalent to about an inch wide.

"The color, the clarity, the size… to find a 34-carat diamond is off the scale," Lane told the BBC.

Lane explained that the woman had nearly tossed the gem into the trash, believing it was valueless.

"She told us she'd been having a 'clearout' and that it nearly went in the bin before her neighbor suggested bringing her items to us to get valued," Lane said.

Featonby's Auctioneers is promoting the diamond as “The Secret Stone," and will be offering it for sale during a single-lot auction on November 30 at the auction house's Newcastle location. Featonby's estimates the diamond will sell in the range of £1.6 million ($2.1 million) to £2 million ($2.7 million).

Credits: Images courtesy of Featonbys.

Music Friday: Luke Combs Ruminates About Diamond Rings and Other Things

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, country music star Luke Combs has diamond rings on his mind as he confronts the cruel fact that everything he loves will ultimately break his heart.

Included on his long list of things that have "torn him apart" are his job, his truck, his dog, his favorite football team and a couple of girlfriends. The only thing he can count on is his favorite frosty libation.

In his 2019 hit "Beer Never Broke My Heart," Combs sings, "Longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart / Like diamond rings and football teams have torn this boy apart / Like a neon dream it just don't know me, the bars and this guitar / And longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart."

Written by Combs in collaboration with Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton, "Beer Never Broke My Heart" became a fan favorite when Combs and his band began playing it on tour in January of 2018. A studio version appeared on Combs' second studio album, What You See Is What You Get, and was released as a single on May 8, 2019.

The song ascended to #2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and #1 on the Canada Country chart. The album earned 2X platinum status in the US and topped the album charts in the US, Canada, UK and Australia.

Combs and his band got to perform the song live on both The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2019 and on Saturday Night Live in February 2020.

Luke Albert Combs was born on March 2, 1990, in Huntersville, NC. He demonstrated a love for music at a young age and performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall while attending high school. At Appalachian State University, he worked as a bouncer at a honky-tonk bar and eventually earned stage time to hone his talents.

Just a month before he was set to graduate from college, he dropped out to pursue his dream of becoming a country music star. He released his first EP in 2014, and by 2016 he had been recognized by Sounds Like Nashville as an "artist to watch."

Please check out the video of Combs' Saturday Night Live performance of "Beer Never Broke My Heart." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Beer Never Broke My Heart"
Written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton. Performed by Luke Combs.

I've had a largemouth bass bust my line
A couple of beautiful girls tell me goodbye
Trucks break down, dogs run off
Politicians lie, been fired by the boss

It takes one hand to count the things I can count on
No, there ain't much man that ain't ever let me down

Longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart
Like diamond rings and football teams have torn this boy apart
Like a neon dream it just don't know me, the bars and this guitar
And longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart

She was a Carolina blue jean baby
Fire in her eyes that drove me crazy
It was red tail lights when she left town
If I didn't know then, I sure do now

That longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart
Like diamond rings and football teams have torn this boy apart
Like a neon dream it just don't know me, the bars and this guitar
A longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart

Now I got one hand to count the things I can count on
But I got one man drippin' down on a cold one

'Cause longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart
Like diamond rings and football teams have torn this boy apart
Like a neon dream it just don't know me, the bars and this guitar
A longneck iced cold beer never broke my heart
It never broke my heart.

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube.com/Saturday Night Live.

Set With 423 Diamonds and 1,739 Sapphires, This Necklace Could Sell for 25MM Zlotys

"Julia," an elaborate fractal-inspired necklace set with 423 diamonds and 1,739 sapphires, is expected to sell for 25 million zlotys or more at DESA Unicum's private sale in Poland.

(The zloty is the official currency of Poland. Twenty-five million zlotys is equivalent to about $6.2 million.)

Designed in 2009 by Aussie Marc Newson for the French luxury brand Boucheron, the 18-karat white gold necklace includes more than 125 carats of gemstones and required more than 1,500 hours to complete. The 2.5 carat, E-color, VVS2 diamond at the center of the piece appears to be floating.

Billed as the most expensive piece of jewelry ever offered at auction in Poland, the design's fractal spirals feature a diamond-intensive center that transitions to light blue sapphires and then to dark blue sapphires as the gems radiate outward from the center.

A fractal is a complex geometric pattern that when viewed at any scale repeats elements of the overall pattern. Fractals can be seen in sea shells, fern leaves, sunspots, spiral galaxies and the structure of human lungs.

According to the Warsaw-based auction house, "Julia" is one of the most expensive jewelry pieces ever sold by Boucheron. It even caught the eye of Karl Lagerfeld, who featured it at one of his haute couture shows in Paris.

"Julia" honors French mathematician Gaston Julia, whose work described how fractals are formed.

The necklace had been on public exhibition from October 22 to 26 in a guarded case at the auction house's gallery. The sale of "Julia" will take place under a private sale tender. After the necklace has been inspected by people interested in purchasing it, confidential tenders will be accepted. The last day to make an offer is November 5.

Credits: Images courtesy of DESA Unicum.

Evidence of Ancient Life Found Trapped Inside Greenland Ruby, Say Researchers

Graphite fragments preserved within a Greenland ruby could be evidence of ancient microbial life dating back 2.5 billion years, according to a new study.

The research team, led by Chris Yakymchuk, professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, set out to study the geology of rubies to better understand the conditions necessary for ruby formation.

During this research in the North Atlantic Craton of southern Greenland — which contains the oldest known deposits of rubies in the world — the team found a ruby sample that contained graphite, a mineral made of pure carbon. Analysis of this carbon indicated that it is a remnant of early life.

"The graphite inside this ruby is really unique," Yakymchuk said in a statement. "It's the first time we've seen evidence of ancient life in ruby-bearing rocks."

He said that the graphite within the ruby was likely composed of dead microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria.

As reported by Livescience.com, cyanobacteria are thought to be some of the first life on Earth. Scientists believe that over billions of years of converting sunlight into chemical energy, cyanobacteria gradually produced the oxygen necessary for complex life to eventually evolve.

The graphite found in the ruby formed during a time on the planet when oxygen was not abundant in the atmosphere, and life existed only in microorganisms and algae films, Yakymchuk explained.

During this study, Yakymchuk’s team discovered that this graphite not only links the gemstone to ancient life but was also likely necessary for this ruby to exist at all. The graphite changed the chemistry of the surrounding rocks to create favorable conditions for ruby growth. Without it, the team’s models showed that it would not have been possible to form rubies in this location.

"For me personally, it's quite humbling to think about all the things that are encapsulated in this ruby as a reminder of our small part in the long history of planet Earth," Yakymchuk told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Titled "Corundum (ruby) growth during the final assembly of the Archean North Atlantic Craton, southern West Greenland," the study was recently published in Ore Geology Reviews. A companion study, "The corundum conundrum: Constraining the compositions of fluids involved in ruby formation in metamorphic melanges of ultramafic and aluminous rocks," was published in the journal Chemical Geology in June.

Credit: Image courtesy of University of Waterloo.

Music Friday: Tom Petty Wants Her More Than Diamonds or Gold in 1991's 'Built to Last'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we feature Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performing “Built to Last” from their 1991 2X platinum-selling album, Into the Great Wide Open.

In this song about a couple whose love has endured both the good and bad times, frontman Petty sings, “I want her more than diamonds / I want her more than gold / I want her more than anything anyone could hold.”

In the next verse, he adds, “We were built to last / On until forever / The world is changing fast / But our love was built to last.”

Although the song was never released as a single, it was a favorite of concert-goers. In a rare clip (below) from a 1991 performance in Oakland, CA, enthusiastic fans can be heard singing along with Petty and his bandmates.

“Built to Last” was co-written by Petty and Jeff Lynne, the frontman for Electric Light Orchestra. It was the 12th track on Into the Great Wide Open, an album that sold nearly 3 million copies worldwide and rose to #13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. A Rolling Stone critic wrote at the time that the album features Petty’s best lyrics. The album spawned two #1 hits, “Learning to Fly” and “Out in the Cold.”

Established in 1976 in Gainesville, Fla., Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were still rocking' in 2017 when Petty died of an accidental overdose one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour. The singer had been taking medications to alleviate pain from a serious hip injury.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have sold more than 80 million records worldwide, putting them high in the ranks of the world’s best-selling bands. Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 91st on its list of the Greatest Artists of All Time.

We welcome you to check out the rare clip of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ live performance of “Built to Last.” The video actually features two songs, “Built to Last” and “Makin’ Some Noise.” Our featured song leads off the double bill. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

“Built to Last”
Written by Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. Performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Somewhere out my doorway
Somewhere down my block
I can hear her heartbeat
In rhythm with my clock
I want her more than diamonds
I want her more than gold
I want her more than anything anyone could hold

We were built to last
On until forever
The world is changing fast
But our love was built to last

She has followed me down
Along those empty streets
She has followed me where the rain would fall in sheets
And I know I been changing
Changing like the wind
I was feeling burned out
I got tired of it

We were built to last
On until forever
The world is changing fast
But our love was built to last

So come to me my darlin’
Hold me while I sleep
I know you feel lost
But you’re not in too deep

We were built to last
On until forever
The world is changing fast
But our love was built to last

Credit: Image by By musicisentropy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Braves Slugger Joc Pederson and His Signature Pearls Head to the 2021 World Series

Atlanta Braves fans are hoping that slugger Joc Pederson’s pearls will help carry the team to its first World Series title since 1995.

Back on September 29, the Braves 6’1’ 220 lb outfielder stepped up to the plate against the Philadelphia Phillies sporting a strand of white cultured pearls around his neck. His surprising fashion statement generated a buzz that hasn’t let up as the Braves vanquished the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers on the way to the Fall Classic against the Houston Astros.

“I just saw the pearls and I was like, you know what? That looks cool,” Pederson told the Associated Press. “I’ve done the black chain and the gold chain and all those different ones and — I think a lot of other players have. But I don’t know, [the pearls] kind of caught my eye. I was like, you know, those look good.”

The Braves acquired Pederson from the Chicago Cubs in July, and the 29-year-old has been a clutch performer, especially after the pearls became a key component of his game day uniform.

After blasting the go-ahead home run in Game 3 of the Brewers series, Pederson tweeted a photo of himself and captioned it "pearl Jam."

Fans wondered, "Were the pearls somehow responsible for the Braves' success?"

Pederson's pearls didn't escape the attention of former Braves slugger Dale Murphy, who threw out the first pitch before Game 2 of the Los Angeles Dodgers series. While standing on the mound, Murphy pulled out his own pearl necklace, flung it around to excite the fans and then placed it around his neck.

At Truist Park, the home of the Braves, clubhouse stores began selling replica pearl necklaces at $5 apiece, according to published reports.

Pederson's pearls are worth far more than $5. He told reporters that his pearls are, indeed, real and that he purchased them from a jeweler.

With Pederson and his favorite accessory in the national spotlight you can be assured that millions of baseball fans — including men, women and kids of all ages — will be talking about cultured pearls.

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

Tampa Bay Lightning Marks Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Wins With Record-Breaking Ring

The Tampa Bay Lightning's players, coaching staff and owners celebrated their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in a private ceremony on Thursday with massive championship rings set with 338 diamonds and 52 genuine sapphires — for a total gem carat weight of 31.67 carats. These are the largest championship rings — carat-wise — in the history of Jostens, a jewelry company established in 1897.

Winning back-to-back Stanley Cups is no easy feat. So, when the Lightning beat the Montreal Canadians to capture the title in 2021, Tampa Bay's ownership was determined to award a championship ring reflecting that awesome accomplishment.

Diamonds and sapphires are used throughout the design to represent the Lightning's blue and white team colors. Specifically, each 14-karat white gold ring features 273 round diamonds, 45 custom-cut diamonds, 20 princess-cut diamonds, 30 custom-cut sapphires and 22 tapered-baguette sapphires.

“Our previous partnership with Jostens resulted in a spectacular ring and an overall fantastic celebration,” said Lightning CEO Steve Griggs. “It is a uniquely special opportunity to be working with them again less than a year later to celebrate our second Stanley Cup in two seasons. This ring is the culmination of a year of determination and sacrifices and pays homage to the dedicated fans of Bolts Nation.”

The ring top features the iconic Lightning logo created from 30 custom-cut genuine sapphires set atop a bed of 45 brilliant custom-cut and baguette diamonds. Accenting the top and bottom of the ring top is the title earned by the Lightning in their 2021 season, STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS, in raised white gold lettering against a blue background.

Fifty-six diamonds cascade from the top of the ring, while the top and bottom edges of the ring are each bordered with 10 princess-cut diamonds, for a total of 20.

The left side of the ring features the Lightning's home city, TAMPA BAY, and the player's name, both rendered in raised white gold lettering on a blue ground. Below the player's name is the player's jersey number in blue raised lettering within a circle accented with "skate marks" in the background.

The right side of the ring displays the team name, LIGHTNING, featuring two Stanley Cups underneath with the championship year dates in blue. Completing this side is a sea of Bolts fans who seem to be holding up the two Stanley Cups.

The palm of the ring proudly displays the phrase BACK 2 BACK.

The interior of the ring features the Lightning logo created from custom blue ceramic. To the right are the series results from the team’s 2021 playoff journey. Below these details is the phrase CLINCHING SHUTOUTS, a reference to the NHL record shattered by goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy by recording shutouts in five straight series-clinching games going all the way back to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final win over the Dallas Stars.

Also included on the inside of the ring is the Lightning’s playoff record over the past two seasons: 32–13. Incredibly, that stretch of 45 games included no back-to-back losses. Each ring also features the player's unique signature.

As an added bonus, each ring top flips open to reveal a hidden story. The left side has a bold headline, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, which reflects the sentiment that some of the players would be moving on to other teams. The circle around the headline includes all the jersey numbers on the 2021 roster.

On the opposite side, the center reads CUP PARADE REPEAT, a nod to the franchise’s back-to-back Cup wins. The words encircling the outside of the crest hold significant meaning to the team: the mantra of head coach Jon Cooper in the locker room before Game 5 against Montreal, PROCESS OVER OUTCOME. WORK OVER HOPE.

The final detail lays within the three diamonds set between the phrases. These are symbolic of the Lightning franchise's three Stanley Cup victories.

Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens.

Music Friday: Dua Lipa Is Feeling 'Diamond Rich' in Her '80s-Inspired Hit, 'Physical'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you outstanding songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, red-hot recording artist Dua Lipa channels the synth-pop sound of the 1980s with her 2020 international dance hit, "Physical."

In this song inspired by Olivia Newton-John's 1981 classic of the same name, Lipa uses a gem metaphor to describe the extraordinary feeling of being head-over-heels in love.

She sings, "Common love isn't for us / We created something phenomenal / Don't you agree? / Don't you agree? / You got me feeling diamond rich / Nothing on this planet compares to it / Don't you agree? / Don't you agree?"

Lipa told Billboard magazine that the song she wrote with Jason Evigan, Clarence Coffee Jr. and Sarah Hudson is very '80s inspired.

"It's quite Flashdance-y," she said, referencing the 1983 cult classic. "It's fun, you can dance to it. It's definitely my craziest of high energy songs."

The retro vibe of "Physical" instantly connected with the Brit's international fan base. The song charted in 48 countries, including #1 spots in Croatia, Israel, Lebanon, Poland and Slovakia. The song went platinum in the US, Canada and the UK.

"Physical" earned the critical acclaim of music critics, as well. They called it "this decade's perfect workout song," "a perfect pop song" and "an instant classic." It was also nominated for International Song of the Year at the 2020 NRJ Music Awards and Song of the Year at the 2021 Brit Awards.

Now 26, the London-born model-turned-singer was musically influenced by her father, who was the frontman of the Kosovan rock band, Oda.

At Fitzjohn's Primary School in London, Lipa wasn't disheartened when the teacher heading the school choir told her "she could not sing." Instead, the nine-year-old took weekend singing lessons at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

As a high-schooler, she uploaded to YouTube videos of herself covering the songs of Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera.

Lipa became a model, which led to a role as the "singer" in and ad for The X Factor music competition show in 2013. A year later, she would ink a deal with Warner Bros. Records.

Please check out the audio track of Lipa performing "Physical." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Physical"
Written by Dua Lipa, Jason Evigan, Clarence Coffee Jr. and Sarah Hudson. Performed by Dua Lipa.

Common love isn't for us
We created something phenomenal
Don't you agree?
Don't you agree?
You got me feeling diamond rich
Nothing on this planet compares to it
Don't you agree?
Don't you agree?

Who needs to go to sleep, when I got you next to me?

All night I'll riot with you
I know you got my back and you know I got you
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical
Lights out, follow the noise
Baby keep on dancing like you ain't got a choice
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical

Adrenaline keeps on rushing in
Love the simulation we're dreaming in
Don't you agree?
Don't you agree?
I don't wanna live another life
Cuz this one's pretty nice
Living it up

Who needs to go to sleep, when I got you next to me?

All night I'll riot with you
I know you got my back and you know I got you
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical
Lights out, follow the noise
Baby keep on dancing like you ain't got a choice
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical

Hold on just a little tighter
Come on
Hold on, tell me if you're ready
Come on
Baby keep on dancing
Let's get physical
Hold on just a little tighter
Come on
Hold on, tell me if you're ready
Come on
Baby keep on dancing
Let's get physical

All night I'll riot with you
I know you got my back and you know I got you
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical
Lights out, follow the noise
Baby keep on dancing like you ain't got a choice
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical

Let's get physical
(Physical)
Let's get physical
Come on, physical

Credit: Image by Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Purple-Pink Heart-Shaped Diamond Ring Tops All Lots at Christie's Geneva Sale

Carrying a pre-sale high estimate of $10.8 million, a 6.75-carat fancy vivid purple-pink heart-shaped diamond set in a platinum ring with yellow gold prongs has the honor of being the top lot at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Sale in Geneva on November 9.

The gorgeous ring is one of five diamond lots with high estimates surpassing $4 million. Here's a look at the head-turners that will be up for grabs at the Geneva Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues.

-- Exceptional Colored Diamond Ring (Lot 77). The purple-pink diamond mentioned previously is flanked by colorless tapered baguettes and features a hidden — but beautifully finished — yellow gold gallery in a shape that mirrors the center stone. The diamond's shape is officially classified as a heart modified brilliant-cut. Estimated price range: $7.5 million to $10.8 million.

-- Exceptional Unmounted Diamond (Lot 11). This pear modified brilliant-cut diamond weighs an astounding 55.50 carats and is the largest of all the diamonds being offered at the Christie's sale. It earned a color rating of D and a clarity rating of VVS2. This is a Type IIa diamond, which means that it is colorless and chemically pure with no traces of nitrogen or boron. Estimated price range: $4.3 million to $5.4 million.

-- Important Diamond Ring (Lot 52). Also a Type IIa diamond, this 43.19 carat oval brilliant-cut diamond is flanked by baguettes and set in a platinum ring. The D-flawless diamond is secured with four claw prongs. Estimated price range: $3.2 million to $4.3 million.

-- Exceptional Colored Diamond and Diamond Ring (Lot 71). A fancy vivid yellow rectangular cut-cornered diamond of 42.98 carats is complemented by a pair of kite-shaped diamonds with 1.70 and 1.69 carats, respectively, in this stunning platinum and yellow gold ring. The yellow diamond carries a clarity rating of VVS1. Estimated price range: $2.1 million to $4.3 million.

-- Harry Winston Colored Diamond and Diamond Brooch (Lot 76). A fancy light pink marquise brilliant-cut diamond of 7.37 carats adds a bloom of color to this floral-motif diamond brooch. The pink diamond is surrounded by a colorless 10.31-carat marquise pear brilliant-cut diamond and colorless pear brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 9.59, 9.38 and 4.87 carats. Eight smaller colorless marquise-shaped diamonds fill out the stem. The piece carries the maker's mark Jacques Timey and is displayed in a black Harry Winston case. Estimated price range: $2.1 million to $4.3 million.

Credits: Images courtesy of Christie's.