Anschar Diamonds Blog

When influencer and gaming superstar Pokimane buys herself a diamond engagement ring, the internet takes notice. With a combined following of more than 30 million across Twitch, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, she’s one of the most visible creators in digital culture — and her latest jewelry purchase has sparked a lively debate about empowerment, self-expression and modern luxury buying behavior.



In a 73-second video shared across her social media channels, the Moroccan-Canadian creator — born Imane Anys — revealed a sparkling white gold and diamond bypass ring, sliding it onto her finger in a playful “self-proposal.” The tone is light, humorous and intentionally dramatic. Kneeling slightly toward the camera, she asks herself, “Will I be with me for the rest of my life?” before answering, “Yes, I have no choice.”



Pokimane explained that the idea emerged directly from her audience. After she mentioned admiring a ring in an earlier post, fans flooded her comments urging her to “just buy it” and not wait for someone else to make the moment happen.

Initially hesitant because the ring felt “like way too much to get for myself,” she came around to the decision while reflecting on a message that resonated with millions: “The person that you are engaged to the most in your entire lifetime is your damn self.”

But Pokimane also made it clear she hasn’t given up on romance. She hopes to be engaged one day — and is already planning to buy a “sick” diamond engagement ring for her future husband. “You guys know how much I love gift-giving,” she said, smiling.

The reaction from her community was immediate and mixed. Supporters called the move empowering, with many praising her for promoting emotional independence and self-care. “Promising that you’ll take care of yourself is HUGE,” one follower wrote. Others said they were inspired to buy their own milestone diamonds, with one user commenting, “You know what — you’re right. I’m gonna get myself one too.”

Not everyone approved. Skeptics questioned whether self-engagement crosses into self-indulgence.

Still, in the jewelry world, self-purchased diamond rings are far from new. The Diamond Producers Association’s “For Me, From Me” campaign, launched in 2019, formally embraced women as the natural diamond industry’s fastest-growing consumer segment. Research at the time showed that women buying for themselves accounted for one-third of US diamond jewelry sales — a share that has continued to rise as gifting norms evolve.

Pokimane’s video may be playful, but the cultural conversation it sparked is very real. Diamonds are no longer reserved for romantic milestones. Increasingly, they’re becoming symbols of achievement, autonomy and self-worth.

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube / pokimane.

For thousands of years before diamonds or emeralds dazzled Europe, one of the most prized gemstones was a vivid green mineral called variscite. Ancient communities treasured it for its luminous color and carved it into beads, pendants, bracelets and rings. But while archaeologists have long uncovered variscite jewelry across Western Europe, one question remained stubbornly difficult to answer: Where did these eye-catching green stones actually come from, and how did they travel so far from their points of origin?



A team of archaeologists and artificial-intelligence specialists from Spain and Portugal has now brought modern technology to this ancient mystery. Their newly published study combines traditional fieldwork with advanced chemical analysis and machine-learning tools to trace variscite artifacts back to their geological sources. The result is a clearer picture of prehistoric trade networks — and an unexpected story of how these green gems moved across Europe thousands of years ago.



Variscite, whose vibrant green color can range from pale mint and seafoam to deeper emerald hues, is naturally rare and was especially valued between the sixth and second millennia BC. Its color made it a symbol of status and personal adornment. Until recently, researchers could only make educated guesses about where a particular bead or pendant had originated. Mines in Encinasola, Gavà, and Aliste on the Iberian Peninsula were all considered likely sources, but the relative importance of each site was unclear.

The new research changes that. The team began by gathering more than 1,800 geological samples from known variscite deposits and comparing them with 571 artifacts recovered from archaeological sites across modern-day Spain and beyond. Each sample was analyzed using portable X-ray fluorescence, a non-destructive technique that measures the tiny chemical variations locked inside the stone.

These chemical fingerprints — slight differences in elements such as aluminum, phosphorus, and trace minerals — turn out to be unique enough to identify the mine of origin. But because the dataset was so large, the researchers used a machine-learning method called a random forest algorithm to find patterns no human could easily spot.

In simple terms, the AI learns the “signature” of each mine and then predicts where an ancient bead came from. The system achieved 95% accuracy, a remarkable level of precision for artifacts thousands of years old.

With the origins finally mapped, a new trade picture emerged. The study shows that the Gavà and Aliste mines were far more important than previously believed, while Encinasola played a smaller role. Even more surprising, variscite beads found in northern France likely traveled overland from northern Spain, crossing the Pyrenees along long-distance routes. Earlier theories had emphasized maritime trade, but the AI-driven analysis suggests that land-based exchange networks were significant and highly organized.

The project’s open-science framework — making all data and code freely available — sets the stage for future work. Researchers hope to apply the same approach to other materials, from amber to early metals, building a richer understanding of how beauty, craftsmanship and commerce shaped prehistoric societies.

And while the ancestors who wore variscite couldn’t have imagined artificial intelligence, their cherished green gemstones are now helping scientists tell a very modern story: how technology can illuminate the human connections of the distant past.

Credits: Photo of Smithsonian specimen by Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of gold and variscite 2nd century AD earrings by Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.