Anschar Diamonds Blog

Tupac Shakur's majestic ruby and diamond “crown” ring fetched $1.02 million at Sotheby’s New York last week, earning it the distinction as the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold at auction.



The hammer price was more than three times the presale high estimate of $300,000, and the impressive result spawned headlines across the media. The new owner remained a mystery — for two days.

On Thursday night, July 27, five-time Grammy winner Drake posted an Instagram Story showing him flashing the distinctive "crown" ring on his index finger. The next day, Sotheby's confirmed that Drake was, indeed, the winning bidder.

“We’re thrilled that this exceptional piece has entered a new chapter in the hands of another legendary artist,” commented Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture.

Designed and commissioned by Shakur, the crown ring led Sotheby’s “Hip Hop” auction, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with an event dedicated to jewelry, art, fashion, sneakers, photography and more.

In 1996, only months before he passed away in a drive-by shooting, Shakur had initiated the ring project as an act of self-coronation, according to Sotheby’s. He was retooling his image, strategizing screenwriting projects and refocusing his support for community outreach programs.

Sotheby’s wrote, “By 1996, Tupac not only felt ready to take on the world; he was prepared to conquer it. The aesthetic rules of Hip Hop Culture are clear; there is only one way to commemorate your arrival into a new phase of life — you get a new piece of bling.”

Shakur entrusted the jewelry project to family friend and mentor Yaasmyn Fula, who became the liaison between the artist and jewelers in New York City. Shakur modeled his design after the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe.

Boasting 10 carats of cabochon rubies and 5 carats of diamonds set in 14-karat gold, the ring was tooled and re-tooled to meet the artist’s meticulous specifications.

“Tupac’s selection of the ruby as the principal stone in his crown is a continuation of this royal narrative, as rubies have long been symbolically tied to the imagery of monarchy and wealth in our cultural imagination,” Sotheby’s noted.

The size 8 ring is inscribed “Pac & Dada, 1996” on the palm-facing side of the band — a nod to his engagement to Kidada Jones, whose dad was composer Quincy Jones.

Shakur wore the piece on his left-hand ring finger during his final public appearance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996, only nine days before his death.

Two months ago, Shakur was honored posthumously with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Credits: Drake image by The Come Up Show, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons. Jewelry image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

An international team led by geologists at the University of Southampton in England believes that the eruption of kimberlite pipes — the molten rock that blasts diamonds from deep within the Earth to the surface — is statistically linked with the fracturing of the Pangea supercontinent.



Geologists believe that some 300 million years ago a massive supercontinent incorporated nearly all the landmasses on Earth. Then, about 200 million years ago, Pangea began to shift and break apart, forming the early configurations of the continents we recognize today.

Utilizing statistical analysis, along with AI (artificial intelligence) machine learning software, the scientists were able to map the location and timing of kimberlite eruptions along the geological fault lines of the broken continents. Interestingly, when the continents snapped apart from each other, the kimberlites did not form right away, say the scientists. Instead, they occurred 20 to 30 million years later.

The computer models revealed that when continental plates tore apart, a number of events eventually led to the eruption of kimberlite magma. As the rock stretched and became thinner, a rift formed and the hot mantle moved in to fill the gap.

The scientists also believe that the kimberlite eruptions initially occurred at the edges of tectonic plates and continued to migrate inland in an undulating pattern at a rate of about 20 kilometers every million years.

Over many millions of years, the kimberlite pipes emerged vast distances from the original continental break. This solved the disturbing riddle of how kimberlite pipes have been discovered so far from the coasts of existing continents.

“It was an elephant in the room that no one had a good explanation for,” Thomas Gernon, a geologist at the University of Southampton, told science.org. “Kimberlites seem to be responding to rhythms of supercontinents.”

Gernon told science.org that the greatest interest in the study, which was recently published in Nature magazine, may come from commercial diamond miners. Theoretically, the research could provide strategies for locating undiscovered kimberlites.

“You should be able to pinpoint, roughly, the sweet spot for diamonds,” he said.

The accompanying video represents a sonification of kimberlite eruptions over time. Each eruption is represented by a note, with higher latitude eruptions producing higher-pitched tones.



Credit: Painting of Mir Diamond mine by Shanabethmason, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Easton Corbin delivers a singing marriage proposal — while revealing what’s under this old hat — in his 2009 chart topper “A Little More Country Than That.”



In the song about trust and small town sensibilities, Corbin states his case for why he would make a great husband. He paints a picture of the rural life he loves, his appreciation for the simpler things and the importance of being a true gentleman.

He would never play games behind her back because he’s “a little more country than that.” In the last verse, Corbin makes it a point to emphasize that saying "those the three words" (I Love You) is something he takes very seriously. Then he finally pops the question.

He sings, “Yeah, I’m sure that you’ve heard those three words from others / But they fell flat / But this ring ain’t something that I mean to give you / And then take back / I’m a little more country than that.”

Although “A Little More Country Than That” was penned by Wynn Varble, Rory Lee and Donald Poythress, the 41-year-old Corbin said the song mirrors his own life experiences.

“Even though I didn’t write it, this song identifies who I am,” he said. “It shows character and that’s important where I’m from. You learn to say, ‘Yes, ma’am’ and ‘No, sir,’ and to open doors for the ladies.”

“A Little More Country Than That” was the lead single from Corbin’s self-titled debut album. The song went to #1 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs list while the album topped out at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The single was certified Platinum, which means it sold more than 1 million copies.

Interestingly, the writing team originally intended the song for Blaine Larsen, but his record label passed on it.

A native of Trenton, FL, Corbin lived on his grandparents’ farm following his parents’ divorce. At the age of 14, he started taking guitar lessons from long-time session musician Pee Wee Melton. Soon after, he joined a band and performed at music festivals.

Corbin got his first big break in 2005 when he visited 1st Street Music in Lake City, FL, to enter a contest for the Annual Suwannee River Jam. The manager of the store was impressed by Corbin’s in-store demo and connected him with songwriter Reese Wilson in Nashville.

Corbin moved to Nashville in 2006, and four years later "A Little More Country Than That" would help launch his career, with the singer earning three American Country Awards for “New/Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” “Music Video by New/Breakthrough Artist” and “Single by New/Breakthrough Artist.” “A Little More Country Than That” was also nominated in four other categories.

Corbin is currently on a summer tour with performances booked in Ohio, Nebraska, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Idaho and Washington.

Please check out the video of Corbin performing “A Little More Country Than That.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“A Little More Country Than That”
Written by Wynn Varble, Rory Lee Feek and Donald Poythress. Performed by Easton Corbin.

Imagine a dirt road full of pot holes
With a creek bank and some cane poles
Catching channel cat
I’m a little more country than that

Picture a small town with an old hound
Laying out front of the court house
While the old men chew the fat
I’m a little more country than that

I just want to make sure you know just who you’re getting under, this old hat
Cause girl I’m not the kind of two time or play games behind your back
I’m a little more country than that

Think of a Hank song from days gone
With a steel ride that’s so strong
It sends chills up your back
I’m a little more country than that

If you want a brick home in a school zone
With the doors locked and alarms on
Girl, you’re way off track
I’m a little more country than that

I just want to make sure you know just who you’re getting under this old hat
Cause girl I’m not the kind of two time or play games behind your back
I’m a little more country than that

Yeah, I’m sure that you’ve heard those three words from others
But they fell flat
But this ring ain’t something that I mean to give you
And then take back
I’m a little more country than that
I’m a little more country than that
I’m a little more country than that



Credit: Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Freeman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Utilizing advanced spectroscopic techniques, scientists at the American Institute of Physics can now pinpoint the precise origin of a gemstone.



This scientific breakthrough is exciting on a few levels.

For instance, curators at the Smithsonian might want to determine if the emerald at the center of a historic crown originated in Cleopatra’s Mines near the Red Sea or the ancient Muzo mine deep in the Andes.

The new technology could also be used to shed light on ancient trade routes. Gemstone jewelry unearthed in one part of the world might be linked with a specific mine oceans away, providing solid evidence that the cultures were once connected in commerce.

While all emeralds are made up of beryllium aluminium silicate, subtle differences in the gems' chemical structures can pinpoint their origins, similar to the way a DNA test can reveal that your ancestors were Northern Europeans or Native Americans.

In a study published in the journal AIP Advances, the scientists described three types of spectroscopy — laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. When used in combination, they can tell the origin story of gemstones.

LIBS determines chemical composition; FTIR analyzes structure and the presence of water and other hydrocarbons; and Raman spectroscopy defines the unique crystalline structure of the gems’ atoms.

The researchers analyzed samples of emeralds, peridot and amazonite from the Arabian-Nubian Shield, an outcropping of mineral deposits that runs along the Red Sea in current-day Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The deposits have been dated to Earth’s earliest geological age, and have been a valuable source of precious metals and gemstones since ancient times.

The scientists compared these samples with similar gemstones sourced from mines around the globe.

"We showed the main spectroscopic characteristics of gemstones from these Middle East localities to distinguish them from their counterparts in other world localities," the study's co-author, Adel Surour, told Science Daily.

The gems from the Arabian-Nubian Shield did, in fact, present a different signature than similar gemstones found elsewhere.

"Gemstones, such as emerald and peridot, have been mined since antiquity," Surour said. "Sometimes, some gemstones were brought by sailors and traders to their homelands. For example, royal crowns in Europe are decorated with peculiar gemstones that originate from either Africa or Asia. We need to have precise methods to distinguish the source of a gemstone and trace ancient trade routes in order to have correct information about the original place from which it was mined."

Credit: Photo of 858-carat Gachala Emerald (Colombia) by Chip Clark / Smithsonian.

A little over four years ago, Dutch Diamond Technologies introduced the world to an all-diamond ring faceted from a plate of lab-grown material. Dubbed “Project D” and timed to coincide with the company's 10th anniversary, the high-profile accomplishment provided a publicity bonanza, while highlighting the high-tech company's innovative capabilities. The finished product boasted 133 facets and a total weight of 3.86 carats.



Now the company has created another fascinating all-diamond ring featuring an updated design and a carat weight of 4.04 carats. This ring, too, is fashioned from a single-crystal lab-grown diamond.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the leading institute for research into diamonds, colored stones and pearls, announced last week that Dutch Diamond Technologies had submitted the newest ring to its New York laboratory for assessment. GIA's complete report will appear in the Fall edition of Gems & Gemology (G&G), its quarterly professional journal.

According to GIA, the ring, produced by Dutch Diamond Technologies (DDT) in collaboration with Belgian jewelry store Heursel, demonstrates the fusion between cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship.

The ring was fashioned from an 8.54-carat laboratory-grown diamond plate created by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), according to DDT.

The lab noted that the manufacture of a solid single-crystal diamond ring is a very complex and challenging process. Once material is removed from the crystal, very fine fractures and imbalanced strain can have severe consequences and the ring can shatter.

The GIA added that the ring's creation involved 1,131 hours of processing (including pre-grinding) in the Dutch town of Cuijk, followed by 751 hours of polishing in Belgium. Overall, the project took more than six months to complete.

DDT employed lasers to cut a near-perfect circular ring and utilized digital imaging analysis to measure its inner and outer circumferences.

The 3.03 mm thick band has an inner diameter of 16.35–16.40 mm and an outer diameter of 20.32–20.40 mm. The band of the earlier design was slightly thicker (3.06 mm), but had a diameter that was smaller by about 1.5 mm.

“Although this is not the first 'ring' of this type that has been reported," said Tom Moses, executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer at GIA, "it is the first time GIA has evaluated a ring carved from a single laboratory-grown diamond. As technology continues to evolve with man-made diamond growth, we expect to see more creative ways for this product to be used. New achievements will advance the bounds of what is possible with laboratory-grown diamond, both in new applications in jewelry and technology.”

More than 10 years ago, Shawish Geneva fashioned a ring from a single mined diamond. Shawish unveiled the innovative ring to the public during the 2012 Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Show. That ring was laser-cut from a 150-carat rough diamond.

Credit: Photo by Towfiq Ahmed, courtesy of GIA.

Tipping the scales at an impressive 100.15 carats, this triangular-cut peridot is one of the world’s most striking examples of August's birthstone.



Mined in Pakistan and exhibiting an exceptional vivid green hue, the gem has been part of the Smithsonian's National Gem and Mineral Collection since 2011. The Smithsonian obtained the gem with funds provided by the Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

Peridot is one of only a few gemstones that occurs in just one color. The amount of iron in the crystal structure determines the green gem's intensity and tint. Specimens can range from yellow-green through olive green to brownish green.

According to the Gemological Institute of America, the most favored peridot color is a richly saturated pure grass green.

Peridot has been coveted for more than 3,000 years. According to the Smithsonian, ancient Egyptians fashioned beads from golden green peridot crystals mined on an island in the Red Sea. The island was known to the Greeks and Romans as Topazios and its verdant bounty (today’s peridot) was known as topazion until the 18th century.

Mahana Beach on Hawaii’s Papakolea coast is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. The beach sand on the Big Island’s undeveloped southern tip is rich in the mineral olivine (gem-quality olivine is known as peridot). Olivine is a common mineral component of Hawaiian lavas and one of the first crystals to form as magma cools.

Locals refer to peridot as the “Hawaiian Diamond,” and small peridot stones are sold as “Pele’s tears” in honor of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes. In ancient Hawaiian chants, Pele was described as “She-who-shapes-the-sacred-land,” and her temper was known to be both as abundant and dangerous as the lava.

Peridot is currently sourced in the US (Arizona), Myanmar, Norway, Brazil, China, Australia, Pakistan and Vietnam. Peridot is also one of the few interstellar gems. Pallasitic meteorites contain iron dotted with olivine.

Mined in Zebirget, Egypt, the world’s largest faceted peridot weighs 310 carats and, like today's featured gem, resides at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

In addition to being an official birthstone of August — along with spinel and sardonyx — peridot is the 16th anniversary gemstone.

Peridot has a hardness of 6.5–7 on the Moh’s scale, which means that it is a relatively soft gemstone best suited for earrings, pins and pendants, according to the American Gem Trade Association.

Credit: Photo by Ken Larsen, Smithsonian.

A dreamlike marriage proposal against a sky of colorful fireworks nearly turned into a water-logged nightmare for model CJ Franco and filmmaker Len Wiseman when her engagement ring went missing just hours after he popped the question.



Franco told People magazine that her boyfriend of eight years surprised her with a ring during a romantic July 4 getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Everything was perfect when Wiseman proposed to Fanco at their favorite restaurant named Arbol at Las Ventanas.

She recalled, "He got down on his knee and said, 'I know we've only know each other for a little while, so this may come as a shock.' He proposed as fireworks began, which felt like they were just for us. I didn't hear anything he said but he looked really cute doing it!"

A few hours later, the couple headed to their hotel's pool, and this is where our story takes a turn for the worse.

"We ended our evening swimming surrounded by candles and rose petals," she told People. "It was like a dream until I realized my ring was missing."

(As we've noted many times in this column, bodies of water and fine jewelry are not a great combination — for so many reasons. In this case, Franco's ring likely slipped off because her fingers shrunk in the cool water.)

Their relaxing evening swim quickly transitioned into a rescue mission.



"We put goggles on and spent the next half hour searching the bottom of the pool for lost treasure — as romantically as possible," she said.

Based on the photos that Franco and Wiseman posted to their respective Instagram pages, we're pretty sure the rescue mission was successful.

Franco's classic solitaire ring features a princess-cut diamond set on a simple gold band.

The 32-year-old model, actress and reality star explained why they kept their engagement under wraps for a month.



Wrote Franco on Instagram, "Been keeping a little secret since 4th of July! I wanted to keep it quiet until we could share the news with our families in Northern California."

Franco's most recent appearance was on The GOAT, an unscripted series where competitors vie for the title of "greatest reality show contestant" of all time.

Wiseman, 50, is the co-creator of the Underworld series and recently filmed the John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas.

Credits: Images via Instagram / cjfranco; Instagram / lenwiseman.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sensational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg compares his love to the hardest substance on Earth in the introspective “Diamonds to Dust.”



In the song, a despondent Fogelberg describes how even the most enduring relationships can break down over time — and uses a precious gemstone to make his point.

He sings, “Once there was love here / And once there was trust / Once it was honest / And open and just / Our love was a diamond / That grew between us / But time can turn even / Diamonds to dust.”

“Diamonds to Dust” appeared as seventh track from Fogelberg’s album Love in Time. The album was released in September of 2009, nearly two years after the artist’s untimely death at the age of 56.

Fogelberg, who battled with cancer since 2004, had completed the songs for the album and stored them in a safe deposit box. He asked his wife, Jean, to release the album after his death. Fogelberg passed away at his home in Deer Isle, ME, on December 16, 2007. His ashes were scattered into the Atlantic Ocean.

When the album was released, Jean wrote, “His music continues — a living legacy to one of the most versatile and talented musicians, singers and songwriters of his generation.”

Jean used the phrase “living legacy” as a nod to her husband’s favorite, and most famous song, “Leader of the Band” (1981), which he wrote to honor his father, Lawrence, a high school band director. For that song, he penned the famous line, “I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band.” Lawrence passed away in 1982 at the age of 71.

Born in Peoria, IL, in 1951, Daniel Grayling “Dan” Fogelberg was the youngest of three sons. As an adolescent he taught himself to play a Hawaiian slide guitar — a gift from his grandfather.

At age 14, he joined a Beatles cover band, The Clan, and by 1967 he was writing songs for another cover band, The Coachmen. By the late 1970s and into the early 1980s, Fogelberg topped the charts with a string of platinum-selling albums and singles. His 1982 Greatest Hits album went triple platinum.

In a tribute to its hometown hero, the city of Peoria renamed Abington Street in the city’s East Bluff neighborhood “Fogelberg Parkway.”

Please check out the audio track of Fogelberg performing “Diamonds to Dust.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Diamonds To Dust”
Written and performed by Dan Fogelberg.

Diamonds to dust
Oh, diamonds to dust
Time can turn even
Diamonds to dust

Diamonds to dust
Oh, diamonds to dust
Time can turn even
Diamonds to dust

Love is a question
That few understand
It runs like a river
Between a woman and man
But its course can get twisted
And its bed can run dry
And our hearts become deserts
In the wink of an eye

Once there was love here
And once there was trust
Once it was honest
And open and just
Our love was a diamond
That grew between us
But time can turn even
Diamonds to dust

Diamonds to dust
Oh, diamonds to dust
Time can turn even
Diamonds to dust

Ohhh, ohhh

Time is a teacher
It’s kind and it’s cruel
It gives you the wisdom
To see you’re a fool
And it gives love and takes love
It hurts and it heals
And it never parts easy
With the truth it reveals

Diamonds to dust
Oh, diamonds to dust
Time can turn even
Diamonds to dust

Diamonds to dust
Oh, diamonds to dust
Time can turn even
Diamonds to dust

Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh



Credit: Image by Epic Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lucara has done it again. For the fourth time in eight years, the mining company has unearthed a 1,000-carat-plus diamond at its Karowe Mine in Botswana.



Described as a Type IIa top white gem of high quality, the 1,080-carat oblong gem was recovered by Lucara’s MDR (Mega Diamond Recovery) XRT circuit, a system that uses advanced technology to identify 100-carat-plus diamonds.

By monitoring the rocky material for X-ray luminescence, atomic density and transparency, the new technology can identify and isolate large diamonds before they go through the destructive crushing process.

The newest find measures 82.2mm (3.24 in) by 42.8mm (1.69 in) by 34.2mm (1.34 in).

"Lucara is extremely pleased to be reporting the recovery of another large, high-quality gem diamond in excess of 1,000 carats in size," noted Lucara CEO Eira Thomas. "As we progress mining deeper in the open pit and transition to underground mining, exclusively in the South Lobe, the preponderance of large, high value stones is increasing, consistent with the resource model and underpins the strong economic rationale for investing in the underground expansion that will extend the mine-life out to at least 2040."

Of the top seven diamonds ever discovered, six were sourced in Botswana and five of those came from the Karowe Mine. Other notable Karowe finds include the 1,758-carat Sewelô (2019), 1,174-carat unnamed (2021), 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona (2015) and the 998-carat unnamed (2020). In 2021, Debswana’s Jwaneng mine in Botswana produced a 1,098-carat gem.

At the top of the list is the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905.

Interestingly, after the Cullinan was unearthed, it took the world’s mining companies 110 years to discover another rough diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats. From 2015 to 2023, that feat has been accomplished five times due to the new technology aimed at protecting extremely large diamonds.

It's too early to tell what will become of Lucara's 1,080-carat high-quality gem, but it's fun to imagine the size of the finished diamonds that may emerge from the rough.

British jeweler Graff purchased the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona for $53 million in 2017 and eventually transformed it into one principle square emerald-cut stunner that's believed to be the largest D-flawless gem ever certified by the Gemological Institute of America. The rough gem also yielded 66 “satellite” stones ranging in size from 22 carats to just under 1 carat.

Gems cut from the Cullinan Diamond included the Cullinan I (530.20 carats), Cullinan II (317.4 carats) and seven others ranging from 94.4 carats to 4.39 carats.

Lucara owns 100% of the Karowe mine, which has been in production since 2012.

Credit: Image courtesy of Lucara Diamond Corp.

A British metal detectorist is enjoying his 15 minutes of international fame after scoring not one but two historic coins in a farmer's field in Sudbury, Derbyshire.



In late July, Jasper Hyde was participating in an event organized by metal detecting group Down To Earth Charity Digs when he happened upon a Celtic gold stater, a coin that dates back more than 2,000 years to 65 BC.

The Celtic coin is likely associated with the Corieltauvi tribe, according to Roger White, an archaeologist with the University of Birmingham. He told the BBC that the Corieltauvi lived in Britain before the Roman conquest, and their former territory now forms part of the East Midlands region of England.

The rare, pre-Roman Era stater should have made his day, but Hyde continued searching the 47-acre farm, about 20 miles from his home in Stone, Staffordshire.

Within an hour, about 400 meters from his first hit, Hyde unearthed an Edward III quarter noble that dates back to the mid-14th century. The coin was minted from high-purity gold, and is in remarkably good condition even though it has been buried for more than 500 years.

"It's very unusual to find gold, and to find two unconnected gold finds from different eras in one day is almost unheard-of," Hyde told Newsweek. "Celtic gold is a very special find, and the pristine condition of the Edward III coin also makes it very unusual."

Hyde enthusiastically shared photos and details of his good fortune on the Metal Detecting Finds UK & British Coins Facebook page, writing, "I dug these two coins yesterday in Derbyshire. Found 400 meters apart and separated by over 1400 years. Corieltauvi Celtic gold stater ca 65 BC. Edward III quarter noble 1351-1361. A lucky day."

Down To Earth Charity Digs are organized to generate funds for charities nominated by the owners of the land where the digs take place. Detectorists pay a fee to participate, and digs to date have generated more than £6,000 for good causes.

Hyde, who had been treasure hunting for only nine months, reported that other metal detectorists on the charity dig had found musket ammunition, Bronze Age axes and a Roman coin, but none of those compared to Hyde's bounty.

"As far as metal detecting days go [it] was about as good as it could be really," he told the BBC. "There were some other amazing finds on the dig. It was a field of dreams."

A finds liaison officer based at the University of Birmingham told Hyde that the coins were not classified as treasure.

Hyde wants no commercial gain from the finds. Instead, he is hoping that the pair of coins — separated by about 1,400 years of history — will one day be exhibited at the nearby Redfern's Cottage Museum of Uttoxeter Life.

"It's about the history and the enjoyment of finding things and sharing them," he told the BBC.

Credit: Image by Jasper Hyde.

"Forever starts now!!!" exclaimed actress Zooey Deschanel and TV personality Jonathan Scott in a jubilant joint Instagram post seen by their combined 10 million-plus followers on Monday.



The New Girl star and Property Brothers twin announced their engagement while showing off a unique engagement ring featuring a series of floret-style gem clusters set on a white metal band.

Their post was punctuated with an infinity sign bookended by a pair of "Smiling Face with Hearts" emojis.

Deschanel's unorthodox engagement ring seems to have no primary center stone. Instead, the central element looks like five purple stones (possibly amethysts or sapphires) in a petal arrangement.



The florets to the left and right seem to be set with all diamonds, except for a single pink stone perched symmetrically on the upper left of one and the lower right of the other. The pink accent stones might be sapphires, as well.

(Some outlets are reporting that the white gems to the left and right of the purple grouping are actually large, single diamonds. Take a look at the closeup view and give it your best guess.)

While most of the Instagram comments regarding her ring choice were upbeat and positive, one user comically warned, "That ring is gonna unravel many a sweater!"

People magazine reported that Scott's proposal took place this past Sunday during a trip to Scotland, where Deschanel's kids participated in the celebration. The actress shares a daughter, Elsie, 8, and son, Charlie, 6, with her ex-husband and film producer Jacob Pechenik.

Deschanel, 43, and Scott, 45, had met during an August 2019 filming of James Corden's Carpool Karaoke — an appearance that included the couple's famous siblings, actress Emily Deschanel and Property Brother Drew.

According to published reports, the newly engaged couple started dating shortly after her separation from Pechenik in 2019 and then the couple spent two years renovating a 1938 Georgian-style dream home in Los Angeles.

Credits: Images via Instagram / zooeydeschanel.

Christie's on King Street in London will be hosting a one-week tribute to the stunning creativity of Wallace Chan, the world-famous Chinese jewelry designer, visual artist and innovator.



Running from September 4-10, the free exhibition titled "The Wheel of Time" will include 150 jewelry pieces and six titanium sculptures, representing five decades of Chan's work. The majority of the items in the show have been loaned to Christie's by the artist's long-term collectors.

According to Christie's, "The Wheel of Time" serves as a metaphor for Chan’s labor-intensive working process, requiring meticulous attention to detail. His art embraces traditional aspects of Chinese aesthetics, combined with respect for the intrinsic qualities of his working materials, the unique skill employed in carving them, and the element of time involved in their creation.

“In the blink of an eye, a half a century has flown by,” Chan said. “Time is an eternal wheel that rotates for infinity with neither beginning nor end. In the creative process, time is a theme so intangible, yet omnificent.”



One of the most fascinating items in the exhibition is the "Legend of the Colour Black," a shoulder brooch sculpture featuring one of the largest known cut black diamonds in the world. The diamond weighs 312.24 carats and is set alongside silver grey diamonds, crystal sapphire, black agate, titanium and the Wallace Chan Porcelain, a material Chan has spent years developing which is said to be five times stronger than steel.



A second notable piece is "The Joy of Life" brooch, featuring one of Chan’s most important motifs — a mesmerizing butterfly — comprised of pink sapphire, blue sapphire, tsavorite garnet, colorless diamond, yellow diamond, pearl and titanium.



"A deeply philosophical man, Wallace infuses his jewels with Oriental spiritualism," explained François Curiel, Chairman, Christie’s Europe. "This is the motif which he spends his entire creative life interpreting and reinterpreting, experimenting with endless combinations of gemstones, mediums, styles, aesthetics and executed in his world-renowned techniques.”

One of those techniques is called “The Wallace Cut,” a carving style that employs a dentist’s drill with a specially adapted blade to render a three-dimensional portrait into the non-faceted back of a gemstone. The drill, which spins at 36,000 rotations per minute, generates so much heat that the process has to take place under cold water or else the stone could be easily damaged.

According to Christie's, the 67-year-old Chan’s artistic contributions are featured in prestigious collections at the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), The British Museum (London) and Capital Museum (Beijing).

“Christie’s is committed to supporting great artists and the evolution of their work," added Guillaume Cerutti, CEO, Christie’s. "We hope collectors and art enthusiasts around the world will be enriched by this rare retrospective of Wallace Chan.”

Credits: Photos courtesy of Christie’s.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you chart-topping songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, a chance after-hours encounter between a bar owner and a patron results in a marriage proposal in Brad Paisley’s country hit “We Danced.”



In the song written by Paisley and Charles Dubois, the protagonist is cleaning up after closing time when a woman, who had been at the bar earlier that evening, returns to retrieve a misplaced purse. The two get lost in conversation, and the bar owner insists that the only way he’ll return the purse is if she agrees to dance with him.

With the chairs up and the lights turned down, the coupled danced — and instantly fell in love.

Paisley sings, “And from that moment, there was never any doubt / I had found the one that I had always dreamed about / And then one evenin’, when she stopped by after work / I pulled a diamond ring out of the pocket of my shirt.”

In a fun twist, the woman says she’ll accept his proposal under one condition — that he agrees to dance with her.

“We Danced” was the fourth and final single from the 50-year-old singer-songwriter’s wildly successful 1999 debut album Who Needs Pictures. The song went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was nominated for Song of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

That album helped launch a long and successful career that yielded 35 Top-10 singles on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart, 20 of which have reached #1. Paisley has sold more than 11 million albums, won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards and two American Music Awards. At the age of 28, he became the youngest artist ever to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

A West Virginia native, Bradley Douglas “Brad” Paisley was introduced to country music by his grandfather, Warren Jarvis, who gave the youngster his first guitar, a Sears Danelectro Silvertone, when he was just eight years old. Jarvis taught his grandson to play, and by the age of 10 Paisley was performing regularly at his church.

While in junior high, Paisley was doing a show at a local Rotary Club, when he was discovered by a program director for a Wheeling, WV, radio station. He was invited to be a guest on the popular radio show “Wheeling Jamboree” and the rest is history.

Paisley currently has tour dates scheduled in Niagara Falls, NY; Redondo Beach, CA; Hartford, CT; and Tampa, FL.

Please check out the audio track of Paisley’s “We Danced.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“We Danced”
Written by Brad Paisley and Charles Dubois. Performed by Brad Paisley.

The bar was empty, I was sweeping up the floor
That’s when she walked in, I said, “I’m sorry but we’re closed”
And she said, “I know but I’m afraid I left my purse”
I said, “I put one back behind the bar, I bet it’s probably yours”

And the next thing that I knew
There we were, lost in conversation
Before I handed her her purse
I said, “You’ll only get this back on one condition”

And we danced
Out there on that empty hardwood floor
The chairs up and the lights turned way down low
The music played, we held each other close
And we danced

And from that moment, there was never any doubt
I had found the one that I had always dreamed about
And then one evenin’, when she stopped by after work
I pulled a diamond ring out of the pocket of my shirt

And as her eyes filled up with tears
She said, “This is the last thing I expected”
And then she took me by the hand
And said, “I’ll only marry you on one condition”

And we danced
Out there on that empty hardwood floor
The chairs up and the lights turned way down low
The music played, we held each other close

And we danced
Like no one else had ever danced before
I can’t explain what happened on that floor
But the music played, we held each other close
And we danced, yeah, we danced



Credit: Photo by Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A World Series ring so enormous King Kong would have to see his jeweler to have it sized down was officially unveiled at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Friday.



The replica of the Astros' 2022 championship bling made its debut alongside the team's 2017 edition, providing an awesome photo op for fans entering the stadium from Texas Avenue.

The rings appear to be about three feet tall and match the design of the originals, stone for stone. Each ring stands upright on a circular blue platform on which fans can climb to pose with the ring.

The festive unveiling, which took place from noon to 3 p.m. prior to the game against the Seattle Mariners, included appearances by the Astros' dance team — the Coca-Cola Shooting Stars — as well as the Shuttle Crew, a group of marketing professionals that manned the prize wheel and other activities.



Fans attending the event also got a chance to pose with the actual 2022 World's Series Trophy, which was placed on a podium between the two giant-sized rings.

The Astros' social media team promoted the installation with a Facebook photo caption that simply noted, "The newest addition on Texas Ave. outside of Minute Maid Park." The post was punctuated by an Engagement Ring emoji and a Star Eye emoji.



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

Each 2022 ring features 591 round diamonds, 11 baguette-cut diamonds, 22 emerald-cut diamonds, nine custom-cut orange sapphires, two round orange sapphires, one star-shaped orange sapphire, 42 round blue sapphires and one star-shaped blue sapphire. The total weight of all the gemstones is approximately 15.30 carats.

By comparison, the Astros’ 2017 World Series ring — also designed by Jostens — tells the story of the franchise’s first-ever championship using 225 colorless diamonds, nine orange sapphires and 16 blue sapphires set in 14-karat white and yellow gold. Each ring glitters with 10.40 carats of genuine gemstones.

The Astros' are currently vying for another run at the championship. The team is 70-55, just behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West.

Credits: Giant ring replica images via Facebook / Astros. Actual ring photos courtesy of Jostens.

Have you ever marveled at the lustrous mother-of-pearl coating on the interior shell of an oyster or abalone? The Nautilus pompilius, commonly known as the "pearly nautilus," also has an iridescent, silvery interior shell — a shell so extraordinary that Indonesian island communities were cherishing it during the late Ice Age.



Australian and Indonesian researchers discovered hundreds of carefully crafted Nautilus shell beads in a Makpan Cave on the Indonesian island of Alor, one in a string of islands that run West to East just north of Australia. The carved and drilled reflective beads were fabricated 12,000 years ago and were likely sewn like sequins onto clothing. The beads averaged about a quarter inch across, but some were nearly a half-inch wide.



What's more, the pearly fashion statements — most with two drill holes — match up with similar findings on the neighboring Indonesian islands of Timor and Kisar, proving that the populations participated in a maritime network and shared traditions. The scientists discovered that the nacreous surface of several beads had been deliberately scratched with a stone tool edge, possibly to increase their reflectivity.



The team, led by Griffith University’s Associate Professor Michelle Langley and the Australian National University’s Professor Sue O’Connor, used advanced microscopic analysis to investigate the Nautilus shell beads. The team explained on the Griffith University website that recent DNA evidence has shown how people on different Indonesian islands were genetically related, but the shell beads are now putting into focus how culturally similar the populations were.

“The time and skill required to create the tiny shiny beads in the numbers found archaeologically must have been extensive, suggesting that the beads were an important part of the Makpan community’s repertoire of adornment,” said Langley, the study's lead author.

The nautilus mollusk, which measures about 9 inches across, is difficult to harvest because they inhabit depths of 200 to 300 meters. When a nautilus dies, however, the shell becomes buoyant and floats to the surface. The scientists surmised that the shells used for jewelry were likely harvested this way.

The research team found thousands of shells in the food waste during the excavation of the Makpan cave, but barely any of them were nautilus. This led them to the conclusion that the nautilus was not a food source, but utilized specifically for crafting.

Because the Makpan community had the luxury of securing and processing resources for aesthetic uses without any obvious other practical benefit, the scientists believe that the society was secure and prosperous.

All of these factors combine to create “an image of an inter-island ‘community of practice’ with shared values and worldviews,” noted Langley. “It is likely that the populations of these islands shared a distinctive culture, exchanging style, goods, technology and genes across the sea.”

The archaeological evidence also shows that the inter-island communities shared a love of obsidian, a shiny black volcanic glass. The scientists believe the obsidian originated at a single source, but they have yet to find it.

The study was recently published in the journal Antiquity.

Credits: Images by Michelle Langley, Griffith University.

For the second time this month, Lucara has unearthed a massive top-quality diamond at its Karowe Mine in Botswana.



A few weeks ago, the mining company revealed a stunning 1,080-carat oblong gem that rates as the sixth-largest ever unearthed. On Monday, Lucara unveiled a 692.3-carat Type IIa high white gem from the same source. That diamond, yet to be named, takes its place at #20 on Wikipedia's "List of the Largest Rough Diamonds."

Of the top 20 diamonds ever discovered, seven have come from the Karowe Mine. The largest Karowe finds include the 1,758-carat Sewelô (2019), 1,174-carat unnamed (2021), 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona (2015) and the 998-carat unnamed (2020).

About the width of a golf ball, the newest find was recovered from the direct milling of ore sourced from the EM/PK(S) unit of the South Lobe at Karowe — the same extraction point as the 1,000-carat-plus diamond introduced earlier in August.

The 692.3-carat diamond measures 46.5mm (1.83 in) by 40.7mm (1.60 in) by 28.4mm (1.11 in). Its Type IIa classification represents a colorless diamond with no measurable impurities. Type IIa gems account for less than 2% of all natural diamonds.

So far this year, Karowe has produced four diamonds larger than 300 carats and 20 larger than 100 carats.

Lucara’s MDR (Mega Diamond Recovery) XRT circuit uses advanced technology to identify 100-carat-plus diamonds. By monitoring the rocky material for X-ray luminescence, atomic density and transparency, the new technology can identify and isolate large diamonds before they go through the destructive crushing process.

"The successful track record of delivering some of the world's largest diamonds continues with the recent recovery of a 692.3-carat diamond," said Lucara CEO William Lamb. "The recovery of large diamonds from the EM/PK(S) lithology of the South Lobe strongly supports our expectations for the underground project where the majority of material mined will constitute this phase of kimberlite during the first years of underground production."

The Karowe Mine, which was opened in 2012, had been expected to cease operations in 2025, but an underground expansion at the cost of $683 million promises to extend its productive lifespan until at least 2040.

Credit: Image courtesy of Lucara Diamond Corp.

The silver snake bracelet worn by Freddie Mercury in the 1975 "Bohemian Rhapsody" video — along with a "Queen Number 1" gold brooch gifted by band manager John Reid to the singer when the song reached #1 on the UK charts — are just two of 1,200 items from Mercury's estate that will be hitting the auction block at Sotheby's London in early September.



The world-renowned rock superstar was a savvy and enthusiastic collector who once explained, "I want to lead a Victorian life, surrounded by exquisite clutter."

And across six auctions, Sotheby’s offerings will reflect Mercury’s kaleidoscopic world of style and quality, spanning art, fashion, musical instruments, personal papers, photographs, furniture — and jewelry, accrued over the course of 50 years.

This collection had been meticulously preserved at Mercury's beloved home at Garden Lodge in Kensington, West London, by his life-long friend, Mary Austin. Mercury, the frontman for Queen, passed away in 1991 at the age of 45.

“The time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life,” Austin said in a statement. “It was important to me to do this in a way that I felt Freddie would have loved, and there was nothing he loved more than an auction. Freddie was an incredible and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything.”

Austin is reportedly donating a portion of the proceeds of the sale to both the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Sotheby's previewed the collection during a month-long free exhibition at its 16,000-square-foot London gallery. The exhibit will be followed by a series of six live auctions (each devoted to a different aspect of Mercury's life) commencing on September 6.

The auction has a been called a "democratic sale" because many items are affordable, with prices starting as low as £100 ($127).

Here are the jewelry highlights from "Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own."

Lot 28. Freddie Mercury’s snake bangle (pic, above). Crafted in sterling silver and featuring faceted green glass eyes, the coiled 95cm snake (measured from head to tail) was worn by Mercury during the "Bohemian Rhapsody" video in 1975. Estimate: £7,000 - £9,000 ($8,903 - $11,446).



Lot 35. "Queen Number 1" brooch. Given by Queen manager Reid to each band member when "Bohemian Rhapsody" reached the top of the UK charts in 1975, the Cartier-designed gold brooch replicates the title design of Queen’s debut studio album. Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000 ($5,087 - $7,631).



Lot 32. Onyx and diamond ring. Believed to be a gift to Mercury from fellow rock star Elton John, this Cartier-designed ring is set with a pair of hexagonal-shaped onyx within a surround of diamonds. Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000 ($5,087 - $7,631).



Lot 33. Fancy light brown-yellow diamond ring. The bezel-set oval diamond weighing 10.03 carats is surrounded by brilliant-cut colorless diamonds. Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000 ($25,437 - $38,156).



Lot 34. Fancy deep orange-brown diamond ring. Similar to Lot 33, this ring has a fancy-color 9.04-carat center stone surrounded by brilliant-cut colorless and colored diamonds. Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000 ($19,078 - $25,437).



Lot 29. Diamond brooch. Designed circa 1950, this feather brooch is set with baguette and tapered baguette diamonds. The plumes are dotted with brilliant-cut diamonds. Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000 ($19,078 - $25,437).



Lot 30. Sapphire and diamond brooch. Accented by single- and circular-cut diamonds, the brooch is signed by Cartier London and was designed during the 1920s. Estimate: £12,000 - £18,000 ($15,262 - $22,893).

Credits: Jewelry images courtesy of Sotheby's. Freddie Mercury photo by Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Welcome to Music Friday when we feature fabulous songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we’re privileged to present Pink Floyd’s 1975 masterpiece, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”



Written as a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett, who had to leave the group after suffering a mental breakdown, the song includes the famous opening line, “Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun. Shine on you crazy diamond.”

In comparing him to a diamond, the co-writers — all band members at the time — saluted Barrett's exceptional talent and creative genius.

A founding member of Pink Floyd, Barrett was the group’s lead vocalist, lead guitarist and primary songwriter during the band’s early years in the mid-1960s. He is also credited with naming the band, but it wasn’t long before mental illness and drug abuse took its toll.

His behavior became erratic: Concertgoers reported that Barrett would sometimes get on stage and not play a single note. Other times he would play the same note over and over. His stint with Pink Floyd lasted only three years, as the band reluctantly ousted him in 1968. He passed away in 2006.

Running nearly 26 minutes, the nine-part “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was originally intended to fill the first side of the concept album, Wish You Were Here. Ultimately the band members decided it was best to split the epic song in half and allow it to bookend the album.

Wish You Were Here turned out to be a huge commercial success with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine listed it as one of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

Although the original song officially runs 25:57, we’ve found a radio version that dives right into the powerful lyrics. It runs just 3:29. Enjoy...

“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”
Written by Roger Waters, David Jon Gilmour and Rick Wright. Performed by Pink Floyd.

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there’s a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,
Blown on the steel breeze.

Come on you target for faraway laughter,
Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!

You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.

Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well, you wore out your welcome with random precision,
Rode on the steel breeze.

Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!



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

In a surprising expression of solidarity, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson purchased an over-the-top diamond necklace featuring 80 carats of emerald-cut and round gems. The diamonds spell out "Woody and the Jets," and the back is inscribed with the phrase “Think Big August ‘23.”



The 76-year-old Johnson made the big reveal during Tuesday's episode of Hard Knocks, an HBO documentary-style series that chronicles the trials and tribulations of NFL teams during the pre-season.

At the team meeting, Johnson took off his jacket to show off his new jewelry, crafted by the same New Jersey jeweler who designed star quarterback Aaron Rodgers' #8 pendant and Sauce Gardner's “Sauce” necklace.

The players in attendance were clearly delighted.



"I'm inspired by you, of course," Johnson told the players. "I've been doing this for a number of years. And when I see this, this August, and I see this team coming together, and the pieces we've added and the development that I've seen so far, it's absolutely incredible"

Johnson believes the time to soar is now for the hapless Jets — a team that hasn't participated in the playoffs for the past 12 years. But with the addition of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers and promising young players, Johnson and Jets fans have high expectations for the upcoming season.

"We've got to take advantage," Johnson continued. "This doesn't happen every day. It's all up to you guys and all up to everybody in this room. You've got 15 million fans out there that are so excited that they can barely contain themselves."

Al The Jeweler (whose real name is Al Bekdas) posted photos and short videos of Johnson's "Woody and The Jets" jewelry and added the caption, "Truly An Honor To Work With @woodyjohnson4, Thank You For Trusting Me With This Project, Appreciate The Amazing Hospitality @nyjets." He punctuated the post with two emojis: praying hands and a red heart.

About a month ago, last season’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Gardner welcomed Rodgers to the Jets with a piece of jewelry that had the four-time Most Valuable Player grinning from ear to ear.

Emblazoned with Jets-green emeralds and white diamonds set in white gold, Rodgers' #8 pendant reflects the jersey number the former Packer and 18-year veteran will be wearing during his first season in the Big Apple.

Back in February, Al the Jeweler designed a diamond-encrusted “Sauce” necklace for the Jets’ first-round draft pick. That piece, in the shape of a hot sauce bottle, was reportedly made up of 20 carats of VS-quality diamonds.

Credits: Images via Instagram / al_jeweler.

The 11.28-carat "Infinite Blue" is about to punch its ticket to the pantheon of the greatest blue diamonds of all time. Sotheby's Hong Kong will be auctioning the cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut Fancy Vivid Blue stunner at a special single-lot event on October 5.



The gem, which is set in a ring with a pink diamond halo and trapezoid-cut white diamond side stones, comes with a pre-sale estimate of $26 million to $37 million. The high estimate translates to $3.3 million per carat.

The Infinite Blue can track its lineage to Petra Diamonds' iconic Cullinan Mine in South Africa, which has produced more than 800 stones weighing more than 100 carats and is renowned as the world’s most important source of blue diamonds.

Blue diamonds the size and quality of the Infinite Blue are exceptionally rare. It is believed that only six examples weighing more than 10 carats have ever come to auction.

In April 2022, the 15.10-carat “De Beers Blue” was within a whisker of setting a new world record for the priciest vivid blue diamond ever sold at auction. The hammer price of $57.47 million ($3.8 million per carat) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong was just short of the $57.54 million ($3.9 million per carat) achieved by the 14.62-carat “Oppenheimer Blue” at Christie’s Geneva in 2016.

Back in 2015, “The Blue Moon of Josephine,” a 12.03-carat internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond, sold for $48.5 million ($4 million per carat) at Sotheby's Geneva. Earlier this year, the “Bulgari Laguna Blu,” an 11.16-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, fetched $25.2 million ($2.3 million per carat), also at Sotheby’s Geneva.

A Gemological Institute of America Monograph described the quality and rarity of the Infinite Blue. The GIA wrote, “To say the Infinite Blue is special cannot be overstated. The odds of finding a blue diamond is of the topmost rarity. This glorious and notable diamond is an example of what can occur when nature leads the way, and humankind embraces the earth’s treasures—producing a radiant gem of spirited light performance. The Infinite Blue will continue to stun gem connoisseurs and diamond lovers alike. In the world of gems, blue diamonds steal the show.”

Blue diamonds are considered one of the rarest colors of all diamonds. A fabulous fluke of nature, a blue diamond owes its color to the random presence of boron within the diamond’s carbon structure. The Infinite Blue is categorized as a Type IIb diamond, a quality level that includes less than 0.5% of all diamonds.

Scientists believe that blue diamonds form about 400 miles below the surface, four times deeper than about 99 percent of all other diamonds.

Credit: Image via Instagram / sothebysjewels.

Imagine this scene. You've just arrived at the airport after an international flight, and as you enter the terminal you hear your boyfriend's voice on the PA system. He calls your name, professes his love and tops it all off with a marriage proposal.



Well, that's exactly what played out at Auckland Airport in New Zealand on August 18, as Aucklander Yashraj Chhabra enlisted the help of airport officials to pull off a spectacular surprise for his girlfriend of eight years, Riiya Shukla.

“She’s a hard woman to surprise and I really wanted to catch her off guard,” the 26-year-old banking specialist told the New Zealand Herald. Chhabra had a plan, but he didn't know if the Auckland Airport would be on board.

"I was delighted they said yes to making my dream proposal become a reality,” he said.

Chhabra precorded a 12-second proposal that would be triggered as soon as his girlfriend entered the Arrival Hall. This is where Chhabra would be waiting, along with a large contingent of family and friends.

"Attention Riiya Shukla, you are hearing my voice because I really need to talk to you," the suitor announced over the loud speaker. "Every minute that we have spent together has been the most amazing moments of my life. So I have something really important to ask you... 'Will you marry me?'"



At that point, Chhabra emerged from behind the crowd of supporters and approached his girlfriend with a ring box in hand. Then he went down on one knee and placed a diamond ring on Shukla's finger.



In the background, a bunch of younger family members held up signs that in combination spelled out the "Will You Marry Me?" message. Everybody else cheered and whistled.



Two members of the airport technical staff, who were responsible for triggering the pre-recorded message, watched the action via a close-circuit feed and high-fived as Shukla accepted Chhabra's proposal. Mission accomplished.



The Auckland Airport Facebook page noted that "love was in the air" at their facility.

The airport social media team posted a video of the exciting proposal and wrote, "We jumped at the chance to be ring-ins for this unforgettable moment. Grab the tissues and be ready to swoon. Congratulations Riiya and Yashraj! Thank you for making us a part of it." The team punctuated the post with an engagement ring emoji.



Shukla was ecstatic: "It's the best thing ever. And thank you, Yash, for making this memorable."

"Anything for you," he said.

Credits: Screen captures via Facebook / Auckland Airport.

The Diavik Diamond Mine has donated 250,000 Canadian dollars ($184,777) to the United Way to support wildfire-response efforts in the pristine Northwest Territories, where thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds of fires are still raging out of control.



The mine, which is located 300 km (190 mi) northeast of Yellowknife and about 193 km (120 mi) south of the Arctic Circle, employs 1,100 people in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and generates about 4.7 million carats in diamonds per year.

So when wildfires raced to the NWT capital city of Yellowknife, displacing all of its 20,000 residents, the Diavik promptly authorized the sizable donation through its parent company's Rio Tinto Disaster Relief Fund. There are 240 wildfires actively burning across Yellowknife, according to the Canada Helps Facebook page.



A NASA-generated satellite photo shows plumes of smoke billowing from numerous fires near Hay River in the Northwest Territories.

Diavik noted in a press release that the donation underscores the company's dedication to aiding host communities facing emergencies. The money donated will directly assist registered charities to address immediate crisis requirements, with an emphasis on essential needs, such as food, fuel and other critical incidentals for NWT communities and evacuees.

“At Diavik, we understand the importance of community resilience and timely support," said Diavik Diamond Mine president and chief operating officer Angela Bigg. "Our hearts go out to everyone impacted, which includes many of our own employees. This contribution is a testament to our long-standing commitment to supporting our communities, especially when they need it the most. Our partnership with the United Way will help ensure that the necessary resources promptly reach those in dire need.”

According to published reports, since the beginning for fire season this year, more than 15.1 million hectares (37.3 million acres) have be scorched across Canada. That's seven times more than the country's 25-year average. On August 28, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) reported that 675 fires were still out of control, with especially large numbers in Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

“We are incredibly grateful for this monumental donation to support NWT residents," noted Tracy St. Denis, board chair of the United Way Northwest Territories. "As people are forced to evacuate from their communities across the Northwest Territories, the need will only continue to grow, and it’s heartening to see Diavik step up and contribute significant funds to help evacuees and emergency efforts.”

Credits: Wildfire image by National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Satellite image courtesy of NASA.gov.