Anschar Diamonds Blog

Full-time chef and part-time romantic Ricardo Juarez thought it would be a good idea to hop onto the field at Dodgers Stadium during the seventh inning stretch on opening day to propose to his girlfriend, Ramona Saavedra, who was watching from the centerfield stands.



Wearing a Mookie Betts jersey and a Dodgers cap, Juarez jogged about 20 yards into centerfield, turned to the stands, went down on one knee and raised the ring box high above his head.

He looked wide-eyed into the stands in a blissful moment that drew "Awwws" from many of the 52,000 fans attending the contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Even Diamondbacks' left fielder Lourdes Gurriel seemed to be enjoying Juarez's moxie as he raised his arms in support and watched the proposal from a few yards away.

In a blink, the touching proposal went very, very wrong when a security guard in a full sprint threw his body headlong into Juarez — flattening the man and sending his cap flying.



Soon two other security guards joined the scrum, handcuffing and arresting Juarez for his overzealous attempt to win his girlfriend's heart.

Countless smartphones captured the action in realtime and the videos quickly went viral on many social media and streaming platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Twitter user @Mazeaveli captured the scene as viewed from the centerfield stands. See the video here…

After being released by the LAPD and told by the Dodgers organization that he wasn't permitted to attend another game for at least a year, the head chef at Oishii Sushi & Teriyaki, completed his proposal in front of a Motel 8 on Sunset Boulevard.



On Instagram, Saavedra showed off her new fiancé and new engagement ring, and commented about the on-field incident: "Tad bit extreme but he’s a LEO, what can you expect? And of course I said YES!"

Saavedra told KABC's Eyewitness News that her boyfriend was feeling the aftereffects of the aggressive tackle.

"He says he's a little sore, but I think he will feel it tomorrow," Saavedra said. "He doesn't care, he's like, 'I would do it again.'"

Saavedra added she was shocked to see her boyfriend hop over the short wall in centerfield and jog onto the turf.

"I couldn't believe it," Saavedra said. "We were so close to the field he just thought it was so easy to just jump off and do it."

Juarez told reporters that he was initially going to propose in the stands, but the excitement of opening day combined with some liquid courage amassed during their party bus ride to the game eventually got the better of him.

Credits: Screen caps via Twitter.com / @Mazeaveli. Couple photo via Instagram.com / ramonasavvedra_nini_/.

Described as a diamond "in a stratosphere of its own," the 10.57-carat "Eternal Pink" is expected to eclipse $35 million when it hits the auction block at Sotheby's New York on June 8.



If it achieves that lofty mark, The Eternal Pink will join the upper echelon of the most valuable gems ever sold at auction.

Sourced at De Beers' Damtshaa mine in Botswana in 2019, the 23.78-carat rough diamond that yielded The Eternal Pink was fashioned into an exquisite cushion cut by a team of artisans at Diacore. The cutters worked on the stone for "six intense months" in an effort to bring out the diamond’s electric “bubblegum” color.

It's not uncommon for a diamond of this stature to lose half of its weight during the cutting and polishing process.



The end result was an internally flawless diamond with a color grade of "Fancy Vivid," the highest possible for a colored diamond. Sotheby's claims The Eternal Pink is the most vivid purplish-pink diamond ever to come to market.

“This color is the most beautiful and concentrated shade of pink in diamonds that I have ever seen,” commented Quig Bruning, Sotheby’s head of jewelry for the Americas.

According to the auction house, the modifying color of purple often results in the most charming and vibrant feminine hue that is the dream of many.

Sotheby's reported that the stone carries the highest price-per-carat estimate ever placed on any diamond or gemstone at auction. If it achieves the mark of $3.31 million per carat, it will still come up short of the current record holder, the 11.15-carat "Williamson Pink Star," which earned $57.7 million, or $5.2 million per-carat, at Sotheby's Hong Kong in October 2022. That selling price was more than 2.5 times the auction house’s pre-sale high estimate of $21 million.

The "CTF Pink Star" still holds the record for any gem sold at auction. The 59.6-carat pink diamond sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong for $71.2 million in 2017.

Pink diamonds are in high demand and short supply since the November 2020 closure of Rio Tinto's Argyle mine, which had been the world's primary source of high-quality pink gems.

The Eternal Pink will be offered as a part of Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels auction on June 8 at Sotheby’s New York. Prior to the sale, the headliner will be embarking on a world tour with stops in Hong Kong, Taipei, Mainland China, Singapore, Geneva and Dubai.

Credits: Images via sothebys.com, Twitter.com/sothebys.

In honor of April’s official birthstone, let’s take a deep dive into the story behind the 127.01-carat "Portuguese Diamond." The gem carries the distinction of being the largest faceted diamond in the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection, while owning a name that totally misses the mark on its provenance.



Legend has it that the near-flawless diamond was unearthed in Brazil during the mid-18th century and became part of the Portuguese Crown Jewels.

But, here's the rub. According to the Smithsonian, no documentation exists to substantiate a Brazilian origin nor a connection to Portuguese royalty. It's not clear where or from whom this story originated.



What we do know for sure is that Peggy Hopkins Joyce, a glamour girl and Ziegfeld Follies starlet, purchased the diamond from Black, Starr & Frost in February of 1928 and had it mounted on a diamond-studded platinum choker.

To obtain the massive stone, the performer traded a $350,000 pearl necklace and added $23,000 in cash to do the deal. The cash outlay in 1928 was worth about $404,000 in today's dollars.

Black, Starr & Frost clarified that the diamond had been sourced in 1910 at the Premier Mine in Kimberley, South Africa. It's the same mine that yielded the 3,106.75-carat Cullinan Diamond in 1905. More than 118 years later, the Cullinan still holds the title of the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found.

Black, Starr & Frost had obtained the Portuguese Diamond as a cushion-cut stone weighing nearly 150 carats, but the jeweler later fashioned it into an Asscher cut at 127.01 carats.

In the late 1940s, the diamond toured the US, apparently in an attempt to attract a buyer, as the "World's Largest Emerald-Cut Diamond." (Asscher-cut and emerald-cut diamonds have a similar stepped faceting, but Asscher-cut diamonds have more of an octagonal shape.)

In 1951, the aging starlet, then 58, sold the Portuguese Diamond to New York jeweler Harry Winston, who added the gem to his traveling "Court of Jewels" exhibit.

Twelve years later, the Smithsonian acquired the diamond from Winston in exchange for a cache of small diamonds weighing a total of 3,800 carats.



In addition to its unusual history, The Portuguese Diamond is also unique in that it exhibits a bright blue florescence so intense that it is visible not only under ultraviolet light, but also in daylight or incandescent light.

The fascinating Portuguese Diamond is on display in the Gem Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History.

Credits: Diamond image by Chip Clark and digitally enhanced by SquareMoose / Smithsonian. Peggy Hopkins Joyce images courtesy of Smithsonian. Ultraviolet image by Chip Clark / Smithsonian.

Crafted in 14-karat white and yellow gold and hand-set with 679 diamonds and sapphires, the 2022 World Series ring celebrates the Houston Astros' memorable season and ultimate triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies with artful storytelling details.



Coaches and players received their rings on the field at Minute Maid Park during a special ceremony prior to the team’s home opener on Friday.

Each ring features 591 round diamonds, 11 baguette-cut diamonds, 22 emerald-cut diamonds, 9 custom-cut orange sapphires, 2 round orange sapphires, 1 star-shaped orange sapphire, 42 round blue sapphires and 1 star-shaped blue sapphire. The total weight of all the gemstones is approximately 15.30 carats.

The Astros introduced their "Level Up" slogan at the beginning of the 2022 season. Having lost to the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 Fall Classic, the Houston squad was ready to take it to the next level. On social media, the team wrote, "This year, we're aiming for the pinnacle. We're ready to #LevelUp."

And with 117 combined regular and postseason wins, they certainly delivered on that promise.

“Jostens is proud to once again be celebrating this team with a one-of-a-kind ring that tells the story of their season," noted Chris Poitras, general manager and senior vice president of Jostens Professional Sports Division. "This ring is filled with details that bring the Astros championship journey to life and Jostens is honored to be the trusted partner of the 2022 World Series Champions.” 

The ring's top features the iconic Astros “H” logo created from custom-cut orange sapphires and 11 baguette diamonds. These 11 diamonds honor the Astros rich championship history, combining the five AL West Division titles, four AL Pennants and two World Series victories during the team's current golden era.

The yellow gold border of the star is set with 71 round diamonds, symbolic of the 71 strikeouts by Astros pitchers during the World Series – a new MLB record. Surrounding the logo are an additional 117 diamonds, representing the Astros 117 total wins during the season.

Jostens noted that the ring of 42 round blue sapphires that encircles the logo is historically significant on a few levels. In 1980, the Astros experienced a heartbreaking loss in the NLCS to the Phillies and it took them 42 years to avenge that loss.

In addition, the sapphires mark the 42 postseason games that it took Dusty Baker Jr. to win his first World Series as a major league manager. And finally, 42 is the iconic number worn by baseball legend Jackie Robinson. The year 2022 represented the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s historic MLB debut 1947. His number has been retired throughout Major League Baseball.

Framing the top and bottom of the logo are the words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” in raised gold lettering. Exactly 22 emerald-cut diamonds are set on the sides of the ring top, a nod to the 22 runs the Astros scored over the six games of the World Series. The ring top is completed with 60 round diamonds that wrap the circumference. The 2022 season was the 60th year in Astros franchise history and these diamonds celebrate that milestone.



The left side of the ring features the player’s last name in raised white gold lettering above the player's jersey number. Each jersey number is outlined in contrasting yellow gold and set with white diamonds. A meticulously detailed image of Minute Maid Park can be seen in the background to the left of the jersey number. Two orange sapphires set upon the Minute Maid Park image honor the two no-hitters thrown by the Astros in 2022, including the team's historic World Series no-hitter in Game 4.

Of note, the Astros also set a record on June 15, 2022, by delivering two immaculate innings within one game. (An immaculate inning occurs when a pitcher strikes out all three batters faced with a total of nine pitches.)

The right side of the ring displays the championship year, 2022, created in yellow gold and set with 29 diamonds. The Commissioner’s Trophy is also rendered in yellow gold and accented with a singular diamond in the top, representing the team's first World Series won on its home field in Houston.

An additional six diamonds are set along the trophy’s base, a nod to the Astros' six straight ALCS (American League Championship Series) appearances. Two sapphire stars, one orange and one blue, anchor either side of the trophy and represent the two World Series wins in Astros' history.



The interior of the ring is highlighted by the Astros' wordmark logo positioned above their opponents' logos and series results from the postseason run. Each player’s signature provides a touch of personalization and can be found on the inside palm of their ring. The team’s 2022 slogan in the past tense, “LEVELED UP” (as in "mission accomplished") appears along the outside palm of the ring.

Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens.

Welcome to Music Friday when we often bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we shine the spotlight on "Gold," a song familiar to fans of ABC's long-running hit show, Grey’s Anatomy.



Performed by SAILR, the inspirational tune amplified the emotional conclusion of "Pick Yourself Up," the episode that aired on Thursday, March 30. The song ran for about five minutes as the major plot lines were sewn up. "Gold" was likely selected by the show's creative team due to the powerful message it delivers about what is really important in life.

Lead vocalist Josh Jenkins sings, "Gold, all the little seconds that we hold / Every single breath we get to take / Don't let 'em go to waste / Give it all your heart and soul / They'll be gone before you know / So treasure it like gold."

The writer/composer team of Jenkins and Jordan Critz had introduced "Gold" on the SAILR Instagram page with an audio sample on June 2, 2022. Then, on Thursday a week ago, the team alerted its Instagram followers that the song would be featured on Grey’s Anatomy (Season 19, Episode 12) that same night.

This was not the first time a SAILR song has been selected for that show. On October 21, 2021, SAILR's “Puzzle Peace” made its television debut in Episode 4 of Season 18.

Jenkins and Critz describe SAILR as a cinematic folk band based in Nashville. Cinematic music is unique in that the compositions in this genre are intended to be used in a movie or television soundtrack. It's the type of music that evokes strong emotions, especially when combined with video.

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

"Gold"
Written and composed by Josh Jenkins and Jordan Critz. Performed by SAILR.

Time is a wheel that is spinning
Always moving on
The moments you think last forever
You look up and one day they're gone
Gotta hold on, hold on, hmm

I see little glimmers of heaven
From the waves to my own daughter's eyes
Of all the things this life could offer
I know that there's no greater prize
Than to hold on, hold on
Gotta hold on, hold on

Gold, all the little seconds that we hold
Every single breath we get to take
Don't let 'em go to waste
Give it all your heart and soul
They'll be gone before you know
So treasure it like gold

Everything we're looking for
Has been in our reach all along
All we gotta do is listen
To hear it ring out like a song
Let it stop you and behold
'Cause it's something beautiful

Gold, all the little seconds that we hold
Every single breath we get to take
Don't let 'em go to waste
Give it all your heart and soul
They'll be gone before you know
So treasure it like gold

From the morning to the midnight
From the high roads to the low tide
Feel it all 'cause it's all part of it

Yeah, we watch it as it goes by
Then we look back and we realize
Every minute was all just a gift

Gold, all the little seconds that we hold
Every picture in our mind we get to take
Don't let one get away
Give it all your heart and soul
They'll be gone before you know
So treasure it like gold



Credit: Image via Instagram.com / sailrband.

The 55.22-carat "Estrela de Fura," the largest gem-quality ruby to ever appear at auction, is expected to make headlines at Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in New York on June 8. The gem has a chance to break two records that have stood since 2015: The largest sum ever paid for a ruby and the highest price-per-carat ever paid for a ruby.



Back in September 2022, mining company Fura Gems unveiled the Mozambique-sourced “Estrela de Fura” in its rough form. At the time, it weighed 101 carats and was described as a “once in a century” discovery.



Even in its rough, untouched state, Estrela de Fura was considered by experts as an exceptional treasure of nature for its fluorescence, outstanding clarity and vivid red hue, known as "pigeon’s blood" — a color traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies.

The company’s chief executive, Dev Shetty, said at the time that the gem could eventually yield a faceted stone weighing 50 carats or more and challenge the records held by the 25.59-carat, cushion-cut "Sunrise Ruby."

We assumed that if the quality of the polished Estrela de Fura (Portuguese for “Star of Fura”) turned out to be on par with the “Sunrise Ruby” ($30.3 million), Fura's find might deliver $50 million or more.



The past week, Fura and Sotheby's confirmed that the 101-carat rough from the Montepuez ruby deposit did, indeed, yield a top-quality, cushion-cut ruby exceeding 50 carats. Fura reported that Estrela de Fura displays a saturated and homogeneous red color, combined with a degree of clarity unseen in any other unheated ruby of comparable size.

Estrela de Fura was masterfully cut and faceted by a team of artisans, according to Fura. The rough was transformed into a beautiful cushion-shaped stone which, according to a report from the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), “resulted in vivid red hues due to multiple internal reflections.”

The report further stated that the gem is profoundly rich in chromium which, when exposed to ultraviolet light — as found in sunlight — causes the stone to radiate a fiery red fluorescence, further enhancing the stone’s vibrancy, as though it was lit from within.

"From the in-depth analysis and study of the stone through the process of cutting and polishing, we have worked with the utmost care and respect for the ruby, recognizing its importance and stature, " said Shetty. "Witnessing the completion of Estrela de Fura was a monumental achievement for all of us, and we are excited that a new page in the story of this incredible gem and Mozambican rubies is about to be written with Sotheby’s.”

While it's nearly a sure bet that Estrela de Fura will beat the Sunrise Ruby's record for the highest price ever paid at auction for a ruby, the "once-in-a-century" gem will need to achieve about $66 million to overtake the Sunrise Ruby's per-carat record of $1,185,451. That's a tall order.

Estrela de Fura is currently embarking on a multi-city tour ahead of the New York auction. The stone will be making appearances in Hong Kong, Taipei, China, Singapore, Geneva and Dubai.

Credits: Images courtesy of Fura Gems.

The De Beers Institute of Diamonds just revealed "Beating Heart," a fascinating and ultra-rare diamond-in-a-diamond. Weighing about 1/3 of a carat, the unusual rough stone has an internal cavity with a free-moving, smaller diamond trapped inside.



De Beers Group unearthed the Beating Heart at one of its four global mining locations (Botswana, Canada, Namibia or South Africa) although it's still not clear which one delivered this treasure. Sorters at De Beers Group Sightholder VD Global (VDG) in India identified the unusual stone as a "significant anomaly" in October 2022 and sent it back to the UK for analysis.



An arsenal of sophisticated equipment developed by De Beers Group Ignite, including the DiamondView and SYNTHdetect, was used in a preliminary analysis of the diamond, followed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and fluorescence and phosphorescence imaging.

Armed with this information, the De Beers Institute of Diamonds (IoD) was able to provide an explanation of how the 0.329 carat, D-color, Type IaAB diamond came to be.

Scholars at the institute believe that the diamond's formation process occurred in three phases. The inner "core" consisted of good-quality diamond growth, followed by a middle layer of growth that was poor and fibrous. The final, outer layer, was a coating of gem-quality crystal.

At some point between its formation and travel to the surface of the Earth, the poor-quality middle layer etched away, leaving only the untethered core and the outer coating.

"The Beating Heart is a remarkable example of what can happen on the natural diamond journey from formation to discovery," noted Jamie Clark, head of global operations at IoD. "We would like to thank VD Global for recognizing this diamond's potential and acknowledging its educational and scientific potential."

While the Beating Heart is a true oddity, it's not the first of its ilk.

Back in 2019, mining company Alrosa surprised its Instagram followers with a video that seemed to show a tiny rough diamond rattling around in the cavity of a larger one. The caption read, “A diamond in a diamond? We couldn’t help but share this very special find with you.”



Alrosa researchers utilized Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray microtomography to confirm that both the smaller crystal and its host were diamonds.

Alrosa named the curious double-diamond “Matryoshka” — a nod to the popular Russian nesting dolls. The diamond was discovered in Yakutia at the Nyurba mining and processing division of Alrosa.

Still another diamond-in-a-diamond was unearthed by India Bore Diamond Holdings (IBDH) in 2021 at its Ellendale alluvial deposit in Western Australia. The mining company reported finding an 0.844-carat flat, triangular gem, which contained a second diamond weighing just 0.001 carats.

IoD noted that the Beating Heart specimen will be left intact so it can be used for research and educational purposes with the consent of VDG.

Alrosa also had clarified in 2019 that the Matryoshka diamond had been added to its collection of rare finds — and was not for sale.

Credits: Electron microscope image by Ivan Nikiforov / De Beers Institute of Diamonds. "Beating Heart" diamond photo by Danny Bowler / De Beers Institute of Diamonds. "Matryoshka" diamond courtesy of Alrosa.

One of Oscar Meyer's 27-foot-long hotdog-shaped promotional vehicles will be making a two-day stop in Las Vegas this weekend, where it will be transformed into the city's newest wedding chapel: "The Wienermobile of Love."



On Monday, the popular hotdog brand, announced on its social media pages an opportunity for soon-to-be-newlyweds to exchange vows "in hotdog bliss." The Wienermobile, one of six that criss-cross the continent throughout the year, will be parked outside the famous Little White Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Via social media, Oscar Meyer explained that the all-expenses-paid ceremonies would take place within 30-minute time slots on Saturday and Sunday, April 15 and 16, and that reservations could be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.



Couples who can secure a spot will be wed by the brand's beloved hotdoggers in a ceremony that includes a live wiener whistle quartet and an "odd wiener cake." (Wienermobile drivers are called “hotdoggers.”)

As of this writing, all the reserved spots have been taken, but applicants may still join the waitlist.

The company noted that the weekend promotion, titled "Meat You Down the Aisle," is designed to subvert the seriousness of stressful wedding planning and highlight the joy weddings should bring.

Specifically, the promotion addresses a recent Zola survey that revealed 72% of couples felt either “very” or “extremely” stressed about planning their big day.



Instead, Oscar Mayer is bringing some much-needed relief by providing couples the chance to trade in the hoopla of a traditional wedding in favor of something stress-free and fun: an elopement to the Wienermobile outside the Little White Wedding Chapel.

Said Ed Roland, Oscar Mayer’s senior manager of brand communications, “Now, as more people seek stress-free ceremonies with their partners, our Hotdoggers are thrilled to reignite the joy of this special day and give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a wedding through a pair of meat-colored glasses.”

For years, the brand's fans have been encouraged to order up a Wienermobile for their marriage proposals. To book one, all they had to do was visit the company’s website, fill out a request form, and hope for some good luck. Each year, Oscar Meyer receives thousands of requests for the Wienermobile to be part of a couple's big day.

Wienermobile proposals became a thing at Oscar Mayer after Zach Chatham, an official Wienermobile driver, revealed his plans to pop the question in front of the vehicle at Yellowstone National Park. This hotdogger’s proposal idea caught the attention of Nick Guerten, marketing director for Oscar Mayer.

“When Zach told us about his plans to propose with the Wienermobile at Yellowstone, we knew it would be a one-of-a-kind experience they would never forget,” Guerten told foodandwine.com. “We wanted to extend this to our fans so everyone can have the opportunity of a 27-foot hotdog on wheels present during such an important life moment.”

Oscar Mayer charges no fee for a Wienermobile appearance, but spots are based on availability. The company has recommended that requests be made from three to 12 months ahead of the big day. The company usually notifies couples one week prior to the requested date.

Trivia: The first Wienermobile was created in 1936 by Carl Mayer and the 1952 version of the Wienermobile has a permanent home at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.

Fans can track the whereabouts and promotional appearances of the six Wienermobiles on this page.

Credits: Images via BusinessWire, oscarmeyer.com.

Former Miss Universe and model Olivia Culpo turned to Instagram last Friday to show off her gorgeous oval-shaped diamond engagement ring from San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey.



In a beautifully shot series of B&W photos taken during their Utah desert holiday in early April, we can see the athlete going down on one knee with a ring box in hand as his girlfriend presses her palms together in front of her face in surprise.



In the the final frame of the carousel, her 5.3 million followers got a good look at Culpo's oval center stone framed by two five-sided epaulette-shaped accent diamonds. (The shape is a mashup of a triangle and a trapezoid, typically seen on the shoulder patches of military personnel.) The precious stones are set in platinum and mounted on a delicate yellow gold band.



Culpo, 30, captioned the photos with the couple's engagement date — 4.2.23. She bracketed the date with grey infinity symbols.

Celebrity jewelers have estimated the weight of the oval center stone at 5 to 8 carats and the value of the ring in the neighborhood of $500,000 to $600,000.

On April 5, Culpo and McCaffrey had shared a 10-pic carousel of their RV adventure in the desert with the caption, "Road-trip shenanigans," without revealing that they had been engaged three days earlier.

It's been reported that their adventure included a stop at the tony Amangiri resort in Canyon Point, UT, but it's not clear if the proposal took place there.

In an Instagram Story, Culpo admitted, "We tried to keep this quiet for as long as possible but apparently word travels fast.”

The 26-year-old Stanford alum, who was recently traded to the 49ers from the Carolina Panthers, reportedly worked with Nicole Wegman of New York-based Ring Concierge to design a ring that matched Culpo's "trend-setting style" while "still remaining timeless."

Culpo won the title of Miss Universe in 2012 after qualifying as Miss USA and Miss Rhode Island USA. The soon-to-be bride is a successful model and influencer, and she even starred in a short-lived 2022 reality series called The Culpo Sisters.

McCaffrey and Culpo first started dating after being set up by friends in May 2019. They have been sharing their romantic adventures on social media ever since. Culpo has been particularly supportive of McCaffrey's football heroics.

In early January, Culpo wrote, “WHAT A YEAR ! So proud of you @christianmccaffrey. You deserve this and beyond. Next up, playoffs!”

The 49ers would eventually lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference championship.

Credits: Images via Instagram / oliviaculpo.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we feature Elvis Presley singing about the colossal symbolism packed into a tiny circle of gold in his 1973 cover of “She Wears My Ring.”



To a smitten Presley, the ring he placed on his girlfriend's finger is not only an expression of his commitment, but also a signal to the world of their eternal love.

Presley sings, “This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion / An endless pool of love that’s as deep as the ocean / She swears to wear it with eternal devotion / That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring.”

Reinterpreted with English lyrics by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1960, “She Wears My Ring” was adapted from a Spanish-language song, “La Golodrina.” That song was penned by Mexican physician Narciso Serradell nearly 100 years earlier, when the doctor had been exiled to France during the Second Franco-Mexican War.

He wrote “La Golodrina,” (“The Swallow” in Spanish) as a fond tribute to the country he left behind. The song is about a migrating bird yearning to return to her homeland.

Although Presley’s rendition of “She Wears My Ring” is the most memorable, the song was originally performed by Jimmy Bell in 1960 and covered by Roy Orbison in 1962 and Ray Price in 1968.

“She Wears My Ring” appears as the fifth track of Good Times, Presley’s 20th studio album.

Born in Tupelo, Miss., in 1935, Elvis Aron Presley ascended to stardom in the mid-1950s with his good looks, silky voice and outrageous performance style. Not only did he top the charts during the 1950s and 1960s, but he also starred in more than 30 movies, including Jailhouse Rock (1957) and Viva Las Vegas (1964).

Presley met Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in 1960 and married her after a seven-and-a-half-year courtship. The ceremony took place at the Aladdin hotel in Las Vegas and, yes, she wore his ring.

“The King,” as he was known, would eventually become one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music, with more than one billion records sold worldwide. His Memphis home, Graceland, is still a major tourist attraction.

Elvis died in Memphis on August 16, 1977, at the age of 44.

Please check out the audio track of Presley performing “She Wears My Ring.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“She Wears My Ring”
Written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant. Performed by Elvis Presley.

She wears my ring to show the world that she belongs to me
She wears my ring to show the world she’s mine eternally
With loving care I placed it on her finger
To show my love for all the world to see

This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion
An endless pool of love that’s as deep as the ocean
She swears to wear it with eternal devotion
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring

She swears to wear it with eternal devotion
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring

This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion
An endless pool of love that’s as deep as the ocean
She swears to wear it with eternal devotion
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring



Credit: Uncredited, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

On Thursday, April 20, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, will unveil the "Lion of Merelani," a superb 116.76-carat electric green tsavorite garnet.



Unearthed in 2017 by Bridges Tsavorite mining company near Merelani, a gem-rich region straddling the border of Kenya and Tanzania, the gem weighed more than 283 carats in its rough form.

The following year, the mining company recruited world-renowned gem cutter Victor Tuzlukov to shape the rough stone into the 177-facet Lion of Merelani, the world’s largest cushion-cut tsavorite.

“This tsavorite is truly one of the most important colored gemstones to have been mined this decade,” said mineralogist Jeffrey Post, the Smithsonian’s curator-in-charge of gems and minerals. “A gem like this is one of Earth’s natural treasures and is an exciting addition to the National Gem Collection and to our public exhibition.”

Post and the rest of the Smithsonian’s gem-collection team examined the stone up close at the 2020 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show and were reportedly astonished by its unprecedented size and quality.

According to Post, faceted tsavorites weighing more than 10 carats are rare. The Lion of Merelani is more than 100 carats heavier than the current largest tsavorite in the National Gem Collection.

According to the Smithsonian, the Lion of Merelani is the largest precision-cut tsavorite in the world. It's also the largest tsavorite gem ever cut in the United States.

The impressive tsavorite was gifted to the National Gem Collection from Somewhere in the Rainbow, a privately owned gem and jewelry collection. Somewhere in the Rainbow works with gemologists, gallery owners, museums and jewelry designers to preserve the rarity and beauty of the finest colored gems in the world.

It is also a gift from Bruce Bridges, the CEO of the Bridges Tsavorite mining company. The Lion of Merelani honors Bruce's father, the late Campbell Bridges, the famed geologist credited with discovering tsavorite in Tanzania in 1967.

“We are confident that this great tsavorite will quickly become a visitor favorite, for its beauty and its well-documented story,” Post said. “It will be the iconic garnet in the National Gem Collection, the one that all other tsavorites will be compared to in the future.”

As of Thursday, the Lion of Merelani will settle into its permanent residence at the museum's Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals.

Credit: Photo by Jeff Scovil, courtesy of Bridges Tsavorite.

The Georgia Bulldogs' 2022 championship rings tell the story of two remarkable accomplishments — a perfect 15-0 college football season and back-to-back national titles.



The rings were presented to non-returning seniors at the Bulldogs’ G-Day intra-squad game on Saturday, and then privately to the remaining players and coaches at a reception on Monday.

The ring top features the university’s “G” logo and two gold-tone College Football Playoff (CFP) trophies, topped with football-shaped stones, representing the team's two National Championships in the CFP era, which began in 2014. These coveted trophies are depicted with their backs to each other — a subtle nod to the team’s back-to-back titles.

The base of each trophy holds two round stones, each of which represents one of Georgia’s four National Championship titles.

The words “NATIONAL CHAMPIONS” in raised gold lettering on a black enamel background wrap the left and right side of a gold-tone dog collar with 15 spikes, representing the team’s 15-0 record.

A total of 107 shimmering white stones decorate the ring top, highlighting the total number of points the team scored in the CFP semifinal and championship combined.

(According to NCAA rules, the National Championship rings cannot exceed $415 in value. This reality creates enormous design challenges for companies, such as Jostens. Instead of setting the ring with diamonds and other precious gems, Jostens used simulated stones. Non-precious alloys replaced 14-karat gold.)



The left side of the ring displays the bulldog logo and 15-0 record, along with the recipient’s last name. On the bulldog's collar is a tag with either the player's jersey number or coach's initials.

The bulldog overlays a representation of 58 yards of a football field. This element celebrates the team’s record-breaking 58-point win differential in the championship game, when they soundly defeated Texas Christian University 65-7.



The right side of the ring pays homage to the city of Los Angeles — where the championship game was held — with a depiction of its classic skyline and palm trees. The championship year, the final score of the game and a gold-tone CFP logo complete this side of the ring.

"Each of these rings truly captures the unique details of the 2022 season, and the team did a spectacular job designing these rings to tell that story beautifully," said Chris Poitras, GM and SVP of Jostens Professional and College Sports Division. "The lasting symbol of a championship season is the ring, and Jostens could not be more proud to share in this historic celebration with a tremendous program and institution."

The national championship ring was just one of four presented by Jostens to the players and coaches. The jewelry manufacturer also delivered rings to commemorate the Official College Football Playoff Championship, the SEC Championship and the Peach Bowl Championship.



The Georgia Bulldogs’ four DNA traits — Toughness, Connection, Resiliency and Composure — are imprinted inside of the ring. This ring is finished with the word “HUNT” on the outside palm, as a nod to Coach Smart’s message to the team: “Be the hunter, not the hunted.”

“We are excited to commemorate a historic season by head coach Kirby Smart and our football program,” said J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brook. “These rings symbolize the hard work and dedication that helped Georgia become the first back-to-back national champions of the College Football Playoff era.”

Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens.

Set with 50,907 diamonds, "Eutierria" absolutely crushed the Guinness World Record for the most diamonds set in a single ring. Created by H.K. Designs and Hari Krishna Exports, the spectacular sunflower-inspired piece more than doubled the diamond count of the previous record holder.



The ring comprises eight diamond-encrusted parts, including four layers of petals, the shank, two diamond discs, and a bedazzled butterfly. The ring is designed in 18-karat gold, has a diamond total weight of 130.19 carats and is valued at $785,645. The gold alone weighs 460 grams (just over 1 pound).

The name "Eutierria" is associated with a positive feeling of oneness with the Earth. Appropriately, the ring was made with an eye toward sustainability — utilizing recycled materials, including gold and diamonds repurposed from customer returns. What's more, the company has pledged to plant one tree for each of the diamonds set in the ring.

In pursuing this ambitious project, the company's goal was to create a rare piece of art that would be in a class all its own, while showcasing the team's expertise in designing and crafting exquisite jewelry. The sunflower motif was chosen because of its beautiful, sunny charm and glow.

The manufacturer reported that it took four months to complete the CAD (computer aided design) and another nine months to fabricate the ring.

“I am deeply grateful for the recognition from Guinness World Records," noted Ghanshyam Dholakia, founder and managing director of Mumbai-based Hari Krishna Exports. "It is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication… We are proud to showcase our commitment to sustainability and artistic excellence through the 'Eutierria Ring,' and we hope to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in the jewelry industry.”

"Eutierria" easily unseated the previous Guinness record holder, “The Touch of Ami,” which featured 24,679 diamonds and had been in the top position since July of 2022. Inspired by the graceful, undulating layers of the pink oyster mushroom, the design by SWA Diamonds made headlines when it nearly doubled the number of natural diamonds employed by the previous record holder.

“Most Diamonds Set in One Ring” is a frequently challenged category at Guinness World Records. There have been six title holders since July of 2018. Just when you think you can’t possibly fit any more diamonds onto a single ring, these designers have continued to push the boundaries…

Ranked 3rd - “The Marigold – The Ring of Prosperity” (December 2020). Indian jeweler Harshit Bansal turned heads with an eight-layer floral ring set with 12,638 diamonds.

Ranked 4th – “The Divine – 7801 Brahma Vajra Kamalam” (October 2020). India-based jeweler Kotti Srikanth designed a 7,801-diamond ring inspired by the rare Brahma Kamalam flower, which is native to the Himalayas.

Ranked 5th – “Lotus Temple Ring” (August 2019). Lakshikaa Jewels of Mumbai fabricated the 7,777-diamond “Lotus Temple Ring,” which took its inspiration from the famous Lotus Temple in Delhi.

Ranked 6th – “Lotus Ring” (July 2018). Indian jewelers Vishal and Khushbu Agarwal set 6,690 diamonds into an 18-karat rose gold ring that resembles a lotus flower.

Credit: Photo courtesy of H.K. Designs/Hari Krishna Exports.

A cache of impressive gold jewelry worn by a Roman girl more than 1,800 years ago to ward off evil spirits — and buried with her to provide protection in the afterlife — was recently unveiled by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).



A gold "lunula" pendant, along with gold earrings, gold hairpin, and beads made of gold, carnelian stone and glass were discovered in a lead coffin by Yael Adler in 1971, but the archaeologist sadly passed away before she could publish her findings.

The gold jewelry and her perfunctory archaeological report ended up in storage at the IAA and were forgotten for more than 50 years.



Earlier this month, the beautiful jewels and their backstory were finally presented at the 48th Archaeological Congress organized by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel Exploration Society and the Israel Archaeological Association.

The IAA's effort to revisit old discoveries is part of an initiative called “Publication of Past Excavations Project,” whereby old excavations that had not been fully published are now getting their time in the limelight.

“The location of the original reports that gathered dust over the years in the Israel Antiquities Authority archives, and physically tracing the whereabouts of the items themselves, has shed light on long-forgotten treasures,” said Dr. Ayelet Dayan, the head of IAA's archaeological research department. “The beautiful jewelry that we researched is an example of such treasures.”



The gold lunula pendant (shaped like the crescent moon and named after the Roman moon goddess Luna) was of particular interest to the IAA team. The archaeologists believe it was worn as an amulet by a young woman during the Late Roman period (about 130 AD).

According to IAA researchers Dr. Ayelet Dayan, Ayelet Gruber and Dr. Yuval Baruch, the very valuable gold item bearing the symbol of the goddess, was likely worn by the girl during her lifetime. And then after her death, she was buried with the pendant so it could protect her in the afterlife.



The archaeologists believe the girl lived during the Late Roman era, about 60 years after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70AD.

According to the IAA, people from different parts of the Roman Empire settled in the city of Jerusalem, bringing with them a different set of values, beliefs and rituals.

“The interring of the jewelry together with the young girl is touching," noted Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. "One can imagine that the parents or relatives parted from the girl, either adorned [her] with the jewelry, or possibly [laid it] by her side, thinking of the protection that the jewelry provided in the world to come. This is a very human situation, and all can identify with the need to protect one’s offspring, whatever the culture or the period.”

Credits: Photos by Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, a cowboy learns a valuable life lesson in Kenny Rogers’ 1991 hit, “If You Want to Find Love.”



Co-written by Rogers, Skip Ewing and Max D. Barnes, the song uses multiple jewelry and precious metal references to tell the story of two strangers who meet in a bar. The man has a cheating heart, but the woman sets him straight.

She counters the cowboy’s not-so-subtle advances with the following advice: “If you wanna find gold / Go looking in the mountains / If you wanna find silver / Go digging in stones / If you wanna find heaven / Go reading in the Bible / If you wanna find love / Go looking at home.”

Later in the song, the woman turns her attention to the cowboy’s wedding band.

Rogers sings, “She touched the gold ring on his finger / And held it to the jukebox light / And she said, ‘Stranger, think what you’re losing / If you leave here with me tonight.'”

“If You Want to Find Love” was released as the first single from Back Home Again, the county music superstar’s 24th studio album. The single reached #11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

Born in Houston in 1938, Kenneth Ray “Kenny” Rogers was one of the most successful country artists of all time. He charted more than 120 singles and topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks. In all, he sold 100+ million records worldwide and, amazingly, charted a record in seven different decades.

In 2015, he announced that he would be retiring from show business after a final tour, which he titled “The Gambler’s Last Deal.” Shows were scheduled through 2018, but he was forced to cut the tour short in April of that year because of health issues. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 81.

Please check out the audio track of Rogers performing “If You Want To Find Love.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“If You Want To Find Love”
Written by Skip Ewing, Max D. Barnes and Kenny Rogers. Performed by Kenny Rogers.

He was sitting on a bar stool
A picture from a cheating song
She’d been standing by the jukebox
Dropping quarters all night long.

He said, "Tell me: are you lonely?
Is there someplace we can go?
She said, "Cowboy, you know I’m lonely
But there’s something you should know"

If you wanna find gold
Go looking in the mountains
If you wanna find silver
Go digging in the stones
If you wanna find heaven
Go reading in the Bible
If you wanna find love
Go looking at home.

She touched the gold ring on his finger
And held it to the jukebox light
And she said, "Stranger, think what you’re losing
If you leave here with me tonight."

So he pulled her body closer
She felt feelings she’d never known
And he said, "Thank you, for the lesson
And if you need me I’ll be at home."

If you wanna find gold
Go looking in the mountains
If you wanna find silver
Go digging in the stones
If you wanna find heaven
Go reading in the Bible
If you wanna find love
Go looking at home.

If you wanna find gold
Go looking in the mountains
If you wanna find silver
Go digging in stones
If you wanna find heaven
Go reading in the Bible
If you wanna find love
Go looking at home.

If you wanna find love, love, love
Go looking at home



Credit: Photo courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries. UH Digital Library.

Storm Mountain's Kao mine in the Kingdom of Lesotho is quickly establishing itself as one of the world's most important producers of exceptional pink diamonds. Last week, the mining company unveiled a spectacular 108.39-carat fancy intense pink diamond, which ranks among the largest in history.



The yet-to-be-named gemstone is more than twice the carat weight of the mine's previous record holder: the 47.81-carat “Pink Eternity,” which was discovered in 2022. Other notable pink diamonds from the Kao mine include the “Pink Palesa” (21.68 carat, 2021) and the Rose of Kao (29.59 carats, 2018).

The 170.2-carat Lulo Rose, which was discovered in August 2022 by Lucapa Diamond Co. at its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola, is said to be the largest pink diamond recovered in the past 300 years.



Storm Mountain described its newest headliner as a Type IIa gemstone, which is chemically pure with no traces of nitrogen or boron impurities. This type of stone accounts for fewer than 2% of all natural diamonds.



Its color rating of "fancy intense" is one grade below the highest possible grade of "fancy vivid." For fancy-colored diamonds, the general rule is "the stronger the hue, the more valuable the stone." It's still not clear what size and shape of stone will emerge during the cutting process.

Pink diamonds are in high demand and short supply since the November 2020 closure of Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine, which had been the world’s primary source of high-quality pink diamonds.

Storm Mountain Diamonds is jointly owned by Namakwa Diamonds Limited and the Government of Lesotho. According to mining.com, the Kao mine is one of the largest diamond mines in Lesotho and produces about 400,000 carats annually.

All eyes will be on another pink diamond on June 8. The cushion cut, 10.57-carat "Eternal Pink" with a color grade of “fancy vivid” is expected to eclipse $35 million when it hits the auction block at Sotheby’s New York.

The “CTF Pink Star” still holds the price record for any gem sold at auction. The 59.6-carat pink diamond sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for $71.2 million in 2017.

Credits: Images courtesy of Storm Mountain Diamonds.

On January 24, 1848, a carpenter named James Wilson Marshall found flakes of gold in a stream bed while building a water-powered sawmill for John Sutter at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, CA.



“It made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold,” Marshall reportedly said of the historic find — a discovery that would change the complexion of California forever.

News of Marshall's good fortune sparked the California Gold Rush, with hundreds of thousands risk takers from all parts of the US and abroad trekking to the Wild West to seek their fortunes. The Gold Rush — which lasted barely 10 years — yielded an estimated 750,000 pounds of gold worth approximately $24 billion in today's dollars.



Now, 175 years later, the combination of torrential rains and devastating wildfires in California's Central Valley have set the stage for Gold Rush 2.0.

Amateur prospectors are heading back to the riverbeds on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, where "pickers" (gold nuggets large enough to be grabbed between one's thumb and forefinger) have suddenly become more abundant.

The gold nuggets made their way downstream after emerging from newly exposed soil that had been eroded by the combination of historic rainfall, heavy snow melt and less tree cover. Today, a one-ounce gold nugget will yield nearly $2,000. During the original gold rush it was about $20.

Historian Ed Allen of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma, CA, told The Daily Mail that only 10 to 15 percent of California's gold has been extracted so far. That means that 85% has yet to be found.

"We just had a flood here last month and that brought down [the] gold," Allen had said in a February interview with Sacramento-based NBC affiliate, KCRA. "People are still looking for gold."

Wearing a nugget necklace, Jim Eakin told The New York Times that he found a chunk of gold that was so large it funded his new Ford F-150. Despite his good fortune, he was cagey when a reporter asked him to disclose where he found it.

"Somewhere north of Los Angeles, south of Seattle and west of Denver," Eakin told the publication.

Tony Watley, president of the Gold Country Treasure Seekers Club, said 2023 is going to be a magnificent year for members of his group. He told The Times that they're seeing new erosion everywhere, and that means new exposed gold as the rivers continue to recede.

California state law does not permit the extraction of gold with heavy machinery, so much of the prospecting is done by hand. Fortune seekers are employing tools similar to the ones used by their predecessors during the original California Gold Rush.

Geologists believe that the combination of volcanoes, tectonic pressure and erosion over millions of years led to the presence of gold in high concentrations in the mountains and gravel beds along the rivers and streams of California.

(The impressive California gold specimen shown above is about 7 inches wide and resides at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.)

Credit: Historic photo by George H. Johnson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Gold image by Chip Clark / Smithsonian.

About 20,000 skygazers descended on the small resort town of Exmouth on Western Australia’s North West Cape last Thursday to experience a wondrous celestial phenomenon — a total solar eclipse that looked remarkably like a diamond ring.



The Diamond Ring Effect, which was first explained by Francis Baily in 1836, occurs when the Moon completely masks out the Sun during a solar eclipse. Due to the rugged lunar landscape, the black outline of the moon is not smooth. Tiny beads of sunlight can still shine through in some places and not in others as the moon slowly grazes past the sun.

These are called Baily’s Beads. When only one dazzling “bead” remains, momentarily, the view of the eclipse resembles a diamond ring. The ring’s glow is produced by the Sun’s corona remaining dimly visible around the lunar silhouette.

The Diamond Ring Effect can be seen in the instant just before the total solar eclipse and in the moment just after. In Australia, the Diamond Ring was visible for only a second or two, while the eclipse lasted about a minute.

NASA astronomer Henry Throop was one of the thousands cheering the daytime blackout, explaining to an NPR reporter that the experience was "mind blowing."

"I feel so emotional, like I could cry," added Fremantle, Australia, native Julie Copson.

Solar eclipses are the result of an uncanny mathematical coincidence. The Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun, but is 400 times closer to the Earth. This results in two celestial discs that are virtually the same size visually.

On occasion, solar eclipses will occur when the Moon, in its elliptical orbit, is near its farthest point from Earth and appears slightly smaller than average. In that case, the halo of the Sun is more prominent and the Diamond Ring Effect doesn't occur. Instead, we are treated to a “ring of fire” solar eclipse — also known as a "wedding band in the sky."

Scientists described this type of eclipse as “annular,” a word derived from “annulus,” which means ring-like object.

While Exmouth (pop. 3,000) had been touted as the best place in Australia to see Thursday's solar eclipse, the spectacular show was also visible in parts of Indonesia and East Timor.

The next total solar eclipse over North America will take place on April 8, 2024. The next annular eclipse over North America is set for October 14, 2023.

The image, above, was captured by NASA at an observatory in Chile in 2019. Thursday's eclipse was live-streamed by NASA, but the videographer was not able to get a clear shot of the Diamond Ring Effect.

Credit: Image by NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Billed as the largest and most valuable private collection of jewels ever to come to auction, "The World of Heidi Horten" is expected to fetch more than $150 million at Christie's Geneva in early May.



The auction house is confident that "The World of Heidi Horten" collection will easily eclipse the $100+ million sales totals achieved by "The Elizabeth Taylor Collection" ($115MM, 2011) and the "Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence" auction ($109MM, 2019). Christie's noted that these are the only two jewelry collections in history to achieve more than $100 million.

Christie’s will be offering 700 lots from the Austrian art collector and philanthropist during a series of auctions slated for Luxury Week in Geneva, with a two-part live sale taking place on May 10 and 12, alongside an online sale from May 3 to 15.

Among the highlights of the auction are the stunning 90.38-carat "Briolette of India" diamond necklace, the 25-carat "Sunrise Ruby" and the 362.45-carat carved "Great Mughal Emerald Pendant Necklace."

All of the proceeds from the auction will benefit The Heidi Horten Foundation, established in 2020 to support The Heidi Horten Collection, a museum of modern and contemporary art she founded in Vienna, Austria. Funds will also support medical research, child welfare and other philanthropic activities that she supported for many decades. Horten passed away in June of 2022 at the age of 82.

According to Christie's, Horten was known for her elegance, glamor and fine taste.

"Heidi was a sensitive and passionate collector with a deep appreciation for jewelry," said Max Fawcett, head of jewelry at Christie’s in Geneva. "She had a discerning eye and curated a sophisticated collection featuring some of the finest jewels ever to come to market."

She and her husband, Helmut, collected fine works of art and jewels of exceptional quality and rarity. As a wedding gift, Helmut presented his wife with the "Wittelsbach Blue," a natural greyish-blue diamond of 35.56 carats that had formerly been part of both the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels.

After Helmut's passing in 1987, Heidi continued to refine her jewelry and art collections.

"What makes this collection particularly remarkable is the breadth and quality of the gemstones represented," added Fawcett. "You’ll find everything from costume jewelry and one-of-a-kind haute joaillerie pieces to historic jewels with exceptional provenance."

All eyes will be on these featured lots at Christie's Geneva in May:

The 90.38-carat ‘Briolette of India’ diamond necklace (shown above). According to jewelry historian Hans Nadelhoffer, the stone was cut into its distinctive shape in Paris and sold to Cartier in the early 20th century. In 1950, the stone was purchased by Harry Winston, who made it the centerpiece of a marquise- and pear-shaped diamond necklace. (Estimate on request).



"The Sunrise Ruby" and diamond ring, featuring a 25-carat pigeon-blood, cushion-cut ruby of exception purity. By Cartier. (Estimate $15 million to $20 million).



A three-strand necklace incorporating 175 natural saltwater pearls and highlighted by an 11-carat cushion-shaped pink diamond clasp. By Harry Winston. (Estimate $7 million to $10 million).



"The Great Mughal Emerald Pendant Necklace" featuring a 362.45-carat carved emerald. By Harry Winston. (Estimate $500,000 to $700,000).



A diamond, sapphire and emerald necklace set with a 46.56-carat round brilliant-cut diamond at its center. By Bulgari. (Estimate on request).

Credits: Jewelry images courtesy of Christie's. Heidi Horten image courtesy of The Heidi Horten Foundation.