Anschar Diamonds Blog

To promote its new BBQ Onion Ring Burger, KFC Australia is offering an AU$80,000 wedding to a couple that does the most creative job documenting their onion ring marriage proposal.



The Aussie division of KFC is encouraging couples to tie the knot "Kentucky style," which apparently means removing an onion ring from a chicken burger, getting down on one knee and placing the delectable, but a tad greasy, treat on your lover's ring finger.

To enter, couples must submit a photo of the proposal, a 15-second video that introduces themselves and conveys their love for KFC, as well as a 100-word statement about why they deserve to win a KFC Wedding.

"The more creative, the better!" notes the instructions on the entry form. The contest began yesterday and will run through November 27.

The best onion ring proposal will earn a wedding package valued at AU$80,000 (US$50,700), with the following breakdown:

-- Up to AU$30,000 towards one KFC Food Truck to attend and cater the KFC Wedding;
-- Up to $15,000 towards a KFC stylist to theme and decorate the KFC Wedding;
-- Up to $35,000 towards additional wedding costs (including outfits and entertainment).

KFC Australia's latest gastronomic concoction consists of an Original Recipe Chicken Fillet, cheese, lettuce, a new sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and, most importantly, two onion rings (one for the proposal and the other to be kept in reserve, just in case of a jittery mishap). The special sandwich is a limited item, ending November 27.

“At KFC, we’re always looking at life on the fried side," KFC Australia CMO Tami Cunningham said in a statement. "We know our customers love our fried chicken and their partners, so what could be better than combining KFC and weddings?”

The contest is open to everyone in Australia 18 years of age and older, and the winning couple must agree to schedule the wedding within one year of the promotional drawing date.

Credit: Image via KFC Australia.

About 2 1/2 years ago, archeologists in Sweden unearthed a cache of whisper-thin gold foil figures at the Aska archeological site in Hagebyhöga. The delicate specimens, which depict embracing couples and date back about 1,300 years, were found at the bottom of post holes in the remains of a great hall at the historic site.



No larger than a finger nail and thinner than a piece of paper, the Swedish finds (above, right) are remarkably similar to the specimens (above, left) just salvaged from a site in Hov, a village in southern Norway. Two of five new artifacts were pulled from the bottom of post holes of a small structure dating back 1,400 years.

The Swedish team in Hagebyhöga speculated that the foils were once affixed to the upright posts that supported the great hall at the Aska archeological site. Many of the foils were found at the bottom of seven post holes. Of the 15 foils found in Sweden, every one of them depicted an embracing couple, hinting the the building may have been used for wedding celebrations.



Norwegian archeologists from the University of Oslo noticed there were no drill holes in its specimens, so they were likely not worn as jewelry. Instead, they may have been presented as an offering — sacrificed within the walls and post holes during construction to ensure the safety of the building and its inhabitants. The structure measured 15 to 16 meters in length and was likely used for ritualistic functions.

The researchers believe the gold foil figures were stamped from a bronze die, similar to the way coins are made. The newly found Norwegian specimens depict a man dressed in a short robe with his feet visible. He is facing a woman embellished with bold jewelry and wearing a long gown with a train.

In Sweden, there were a number of theories regarding the identities of the couples stamped into the foil. Some speculated that they may depict princes and princesses who were about to get married, but others were convinced that the embracing couples represented the mythological union of the god Freyr and the giantess Gerdr from Norse mythology.



The Norwegian researchers agree that the figures on their foils are Freyr and Gerdr, dating back to the Merovingian period in Norway, which began in the year 550 and continued into the Viking Age, according to Science Norway.

The diminutive gold stamps are distinctly Scandinavia, with the first one discovered in 1725. At that time, they were called "gullglubber," which means "golden old men" even though many of the depictions are of female characters. The gullglubber from Norway and Sweden most often feature couples, while the ones found in Denmark usually highlight a single figure.

The gold stamps offer an idealized picture of what the elite inhabitants of Scandinavia looked like 1,300 to 1,400 years ago. The stylish characters of the Merovingian period sported fine clothing and hairstyles, while enjoying beads, brooches, drinking cups and drinking horns.

The archeological site in Hov was discovered during a project to upgrade the E6 highway between Mjøsa Bridge and Lillehammer.

Credits: Image of Norwegian specimen courtesy of The Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Swedish foil image by Björn Falkevik via Academia.edu.; Image of multiple specimens by Nicolai Eckhoff/Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo; Archeologist Kathrine Stene image by Nicolai Eckhoff/Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fabulous songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, platinum, silver and gold take center stage in Justin Bieber’s 2012 hit, “As Long as You Love Me,” a song about how true love conquers all.



The 29-year-old Canadian-born superstar employs three noble metals in the reprise to illustrate the power of love.

He vows, “As long as you love me / We could be starving, we could be homeless, we could be broke / As long as you love me / I’ll be your platinum, I’ll be your silver, I’ll be your gold / As long as you la, la, la, la, la… love me.”

One might wonder why an artist with a net worth estimated at $300 million would co-write a song referencing hunger and homelessness, but Bieber did, in fact, endure a hardscrabble youth being raised by a single mom in low-income housing.

“As Long as You Love Me” is the third track of Bieber’s third studio album, Believe. Both the single and the album were huge commercial successes. “As Long as You Love Me” charted in 20 countries and Believe made its debut at #1 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart.

Born in London, Ontario, Canada, in 1994, Justin Drew Bieber loved to perform as a kid. In early 2007, he placed second in a local singing competition. Bieber’s mom, Pattie, posted a video of his performance on YouTube, and then added videos of her gifted teen singing covers of various R&B songs. In a twist of fate, a music executive happened upon one of them.

Music legend states that Scooter Braun accidentally clicked on one of Bieber’s videos — thinking he was watching a 20-year-old doing a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” The impressive performer was, in fact, a 13-year-old Bieber.

Braun tracked down the youngster in Canada, and with the permission of Bieber’s mom, introduced him to singer-songwriter Usher, who soon became his mentor. Bieber was then signed by record executive L.A. Reid and the rest is music-industry history.

Bieber has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments — all before his 30th birthday. He has sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide, making the two-time Grammy winner one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

He has nearly 92 million followers on Facebook, 111 million followers on Twitter and 293 million followers on Instagram.

We hope you enjoy the video of Bieber’s acoustic version of “As Long As You Love Me.” The clip is from the Ellen Degeneres Show in December of 2012. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“As Long As You Love Me”
Written by Nasri Atweh, Rodney Jerkins, Sean Anderson, Andre Lindal and Justin Bieber. Performed by Justin Bieber.

As long as you love me (love me, love me)

We're under pressure,
Seven billion people in the world trying to fit in
Keep it together,
Smile on your face even though your heart is frownin'
But hey now, you know girl,
We both know it’s a cruel world
But I will take my chances

As long as you love me
We could be starvin', we could be homeless, we could be broke
As long as you love me
I’ll be your platinum, I’ll be your silver, I’ll be your gold
As long you la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la, love me
As long you la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la, love me

I don’t know if this makes sense, but you’re my hallelujah
Give me a time and place, and I’ll rendezvous, and I’ll fly you to it,
I’ll beat ya there
Girl you know I got you
Us, trust
A couple of things I can’t spell without you
Now we are on top of the world, ’cause that’s just how we do
Used to tell me sky’s the limit, now the sky’s our point of view
Man now we stepping out like whoa (oh God)
Camera’s point and shoot,
Ask me what’s my best side, I stand back and point at you, you
You the one that I argue with, I feel like I need a new girl to be bothered,
But the grass ain’t always greener on the other side,
It’s green where you water it
So I know we got issues baby true true true
But I’d rather work on this with you
Than to go ahead and start with someone new
As long as you love me

We could be starving, we could be homeless, we could be broke
As long as you love me
I’ll be your platinum, I’ll be your silver, and I’ll be your gold
As long as you love, love me,
As long as you love, love me

As long as you love me
I’ll be your silver, I’ll be your gold
Love me,
As long as you la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la, love me
As long as you la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la, love me
As long as you love, (love me, love me)
As long as you love, (love me, love me)
As long as you love, (love me, love me)
As long as you love me



Credit: Image by Jakub Janecki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A 292.46-ounce gold nugget originally discovered in 1980 by Jack Bray at the Feysville mine in Western Australia is expected to fetch upwards of $1 million when it headlines "Jewels Online: The Geneva Edit," a Christie's online auction.



Described as a large amorphous form with bright yellow patina, the "Golden Aussie" is one of the most impressive examples of Australian gold ever found, according to Christie's Lot Essay. Bray's 1980 find was so monumental, the Perth Mint feted the Golden Aussie in its 1987 series of commemorative gold nuggets coins. Bray reportedly sold his "monster" for $250,000 in an undisclosed year.

The impressive nugget measures 26.2 cm x 18.1 cm x 7.4 cm (10.31 in x 7.13 in x 2.91 in) and weighs 8,291 gm (8.28 lb). With the spot gold price standing at about $1,988 per ounce, the intrinsic gold value of the Golden Aussie is $581,410. Christie's pre-auction estimate of 700,000 to 1 million Swiss francs ($779,770 to $1.11 million) reflects the specimen's extreme rarity and provenance.

First established in 1896, the Feysville mine is located in Australia’s premier gold belt. According to Christie's Lot Essay, the mine is known for producing exceptionally high grade gold.

While the Golden Aussie, by most standards, is enormous, it pales in size to the largest nugget ever found. That distinction goes to the "Welcome Stranger," which was found at Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, in 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates. It had a gross weight of more than 2,520 troy ounces (173 lb).

The prospectors found the massive nugget just 3 cm (1.2 in) below the surface, near the base of a tree. Legend states that the Welcome Stranger was so large that it had to be broken into three pieces on an anvil before it could fit on a bank scale. Based on today’s gold price, the nugget's precious metal value would be worth $5 million.

The Golden Aussie is the largest of 11 gold nuggets set to hit the auction block during The Geneva Edit. The online auction began on November 3 and is scheduled to run through November 16.

Credit: Image courtesy of Christie's.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have demonstrated how "biological fingerprints" in the soil can signal the presence of diamond-bearing kimberlite ore tens of meters below the surface.



The DNA sequencing of microbes represents a new tool for mineral exploration — a tool that's much less invasive than drilling for samples.

"Drilling is costly, it's time-consuming, and so you want to really know [what's there] before you start poking holes in the ground," Bianca Iulianella Phillips, a doctoral candidate at UBC’s department of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences (EOAS) told CTV News.

Currently, prospectors employ a limited number of tools to locate buried ore, including drilling samples, scanning terrain and analyzing elements in the overlying rock.



“[The DNA] technique was born from a necessity to see through the Earth with greater sensitivity and resolution," said Iulianella Phillips, "and it has the potential to be used where other techniques aren’t working.”

According to the researchers, when ore interacts with soil, it alters the communities of microbes in the soil, layer by layer, right up to the surface. The researchers tested this in the lab, introducing kimberlite to soil microbes and monitored how they changed in number and species.

“We took those changed communities of microbes as indicators for the presence of ore materials, or biological fingerprints in the soil of buried mineral deposits,” said Iulianella Phillips.



Using these "indicator" microbes and their DNA sequences, the team tested the surface soil at an exploration site in the Northwest Territories where kimberlite had previously been confirmed through drilling. They found 59 of the 65 indicators were present in the soil, with 19 present in high numbers directly above the buried ore. They also identified new indicator microbes to add to their set.

What's more, they tested the surface soil at a second site in the Northwest Territories where they suspected kimberlite was present, and precisely outlined the location of kimberlite buried tens of meters beneath the surface.

This result verified that indicators from one site could predict the location of kimberlite at another.

In the future, exploration teams might use a database of indicator species to test an unknown site to find out if kimberlite deposits are buried beneath the soil.

The researchers also noted that similar DNA sequencing could be used to identify deposits of copper and other valuable materials.

“Microbes are better geochemists than us, and there are thousands of them,” said lead author Dr. Rachel Simister, who conducted the work as a postdoctoral researcher in the UBC department of microbiology and immunology (M&I). “You might run out of elements to sample, but you’ll never run out of microbes.”

The research was published recently in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment.

Credits: Photo of UBC doctoral student Bianca Iulianella Phillips by Alex Walls. Photo of sub-arctic tundra at a kimberlite site in the Northwest Territories by Bianca Iulianella Phillips. Photo of UBC researchers collecting soil samples at a Northwest Territories mine by Crowe Lab.

The 17.6-carat "Bleu Royal" lived up to its pre-auction fanfare at Christie's Geneva on Tuesday as the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever put up for auction sold for $43.8 million after a tense, six-minute bidding war.



Two phone bidders battled back and forth in a dramatic exchange that included 21 individual offers. The bidding started at 19 million Swiss francs (about $21.1 million) and creeped forward in increments of 1 million, 500,000 and 250,000 Swiss francs.

Taking in the action in real time via streaming video, viewers around the world witnessed Christie's international head of jewelry and auctioneer Rahul Kadakia finally put the hammer down at 34 million CHF ($37.8 million). With commissions and fees included, the final price was 37.7 million Swiss francs, or $2.49 million per carat. The winning bidder remains anonymous, for now.

The realized price of $43.8 million was solidly in the range of the Bleu Royal's pre-sale estimate of $35 million to $50 million. Its strong showing elevated the diamond into the upper tier of blue diamonds that have been sold at auction. Among them are the 14.62-carat “Oppenheimer Blue” (Christie’s 2016, $57.5 million), the 15.10-carat “De Beers Blue” (Sotheby’s 2022, $57.47 million) and the 12.03-carat “Blue Moon of Josephine” (Sotheby’s 2015, $48.5 million).

Set in a platinum and 18-karat rose gold ring, the perfectly symmetrical pear-shaped Bleu Royal is flanked by a pair of pear brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 3.12 and 3.07 carats, respectively. The piece had been tucked away in a private collection for the past 50 years.



“This is a true miracle of nature,” commented Kadakia prior to the auction. “Over our 257-year history, Christie’s has had the privilege of offering the world’s rarest gems at auction, and Bleu Royal continues this tradition. We are proud to offer collectors the opportunity to own a diamond fit for royalty.”

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 Bleu Royal 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.

Credits: Images courtesy of Christie’s.

Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 235-carat, gem-quality stone at its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola. It's the second-largest ever recorded at Lulo, the mine that produced the famous 404-carat “4 de Fevereiro” diamond in 2016.



The Lulo Diamond Project in Angola, which is owned by Lucapa and its partners — Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas — has earned a reputation for producing some of the largest and highest-value diamonds in the world.

The rough gem called 4 de Fevereiro was eventually cut into the largest D-flawless diamond ever offered at auction. The 163-carat emerald-cut stunner set in an emerald and diamond necklace by de Grisogono fetched $33.7 million at Christie’s Geneva in 2017.



Lucapa's mining operations have been riding a wave of success. Only one week ago, the miner announced that it had unearthed a 208-carat gem-quality diamond from Mining Block 550, which is immediately south of Mining Block 19, an area which has yielded 8 +100 carat diamonds. Earlier in October, Lucapa had announced the recovery of a 123-carat gem from Mining Block 19.

The 235-carat stone was the 40th +100 carat and 4th +200 carat diamond to be recovered from the mine.

Lulo diamonds are unique because they are classified as alluvial — a diamond eroded over eons from its primary source and discovered in a secondary location downstream. Since the discovery of alluvial diamonds at Lulo in 2015, geologists have continued to seek the kimberlite pipes upstream of the Cacuilo River valley that would have been the primary source of these spectacular stones.

“Lulo continues to demonstrate it is a prolific producer of large diamonds," said Lucapa Diamonds Managing Director Nick Selby. "To unearth three +100 carat diamonds — with two being over 200 carats — in such a short space of time from different areas of the concession, makes us more determined to find the primary source, by dedicating even more resources to the exploration program.”

Later this month, Lucapa's three recent noteworthy finds will be included in a special tender organized by Sodiam E.P in Luanda, Angola's capital city.

Angola produced 8.7 million carats in 2022 (ranking 6th worldwide), and grossed $1.9 billion — a number topped only by Botswana and Russia. The high value is a testament to a finer grade of rough material generated by Angolan mines.

Credits: Images courtesy of Lucapa Diamond Company.

Welcome to Music Friday when we often bring you throwback hits with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we flip back the calendar to 1957 and find an 18-year-old Ray Stevens signing a big-time record deal.



What got the label's attention was a tune called “Silver Bracelet,” which is a fascinating look at love from the point of view of a young man growing up in the 1950s. Stevens tells the story of a simple, engraved bracelet that symbolizes his devotion to his new girlfriend.

He sings, “A silver bracelet / My silver bracelet / This simple token I do give / A silver bracelet / My silver bracelet / To show my love will ever live.”

He goes on to describe how he had his girlfriend’s name engraved on the front and his on the back: “Turn it over there is mine / Forever let it shine.”

Stevens detailed the origin of “Silver Bracelet” on his official website. His family had moved to Atlanta in 1956, and while still in high school, Stevens (then Ray Ragsdale) got his first big break when he met radio personality and Georgia Tech football broadcaster, Bill Lowery.

“He was looking for talent to write songs,” Stevens remembered. “I went out to his house and I said, ‘My name is Ray Ragsdale and I’m going to learn to write songs for you.’ He said, ‘Okay lad, go to it.’”

Stevens continued, “I borrowed a little tape recorder from a friend. I got the key to the lunch room, which also served as the assembly hall, from the principal. The room had a very high ceiling and a piano on a little stage. I went there one Sunday by myself and made a demo of a song that I and a friend had written called, ‘Silver Bracelet.’ I took it to Bill and he liked it. He called Ken Nelson at Capitol Records, who was coming to Nashville a lot during those days to produce records. Ken liked the song and signed me to a contract with [Capitol Records’ subsidiary] Prep Records.”

The success of “Silver Bracelet” helped launch a stellar career that has seen the artist release more than 45 studio albums and 93 singles. His two most popular tunes were “The Streak” (1974), a novelty song about streaking, and “Everything Is Beautiful,” which earned Stevens a 1970 Grammy for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Born in Clarksdale, GA, in 1939, Stevens started piano lessons at the age of six. His mom insisted he practice at least an hour each day. At 15, he sang and played piano in a band, the Barons, and the group performed all over the area for the American Legion, the Elks and private parties. His big break came after his family moved to Atlanta.

In 2018, Stevens opened a dinner theater in Nashville called the CabaRay, and the very next year he was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is still actively performing at the age of 84.

Please check out this rare audio track of “Silver Bracelet.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Silver Bracelet”
Written and performed by Ray Stevens.

A silver bracelet
My silver bracelet
This simple token I do give
A silver bracelet
My silver bracelet
To show my love will ever live

I had your name engraved on the front
In letters of my heart’s design
Turn it over there is mine
Forever let it shine

Wear my bracelet, please wear my bracelet
Wear it proudly on your arm
So everyone can see
Your heart belongs to me

Whoa, don’t ever lose my silver bracelet
My silver bracelet
This simple token I do give
A silver bracelet
My silver bracelet
To show my love will ever live

Cherish this token
Though small it may be
May it always remind you of me
Let no other take my place
Let none my name erase

This tiny trinket is such a small part
Of the love I hold in my heart
Won’t you say you love me too
No one else will ever do
Whoa, don’t ever lose my bracelet
Silver bracelet



Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

Next week marks the beginning of “engagement season,” the especially blissful time of the year that stretches from Thanksgiving until Valentine’s Day and accounts for nearly 40% of all marriage proposals.



About 19% of all proposals take place during the month of December, which is more than twice as popular as any other month. For many years, Christmas Day has been the most preferred day to get engaged, followed by a frosty mix of favorites that include Christmas Eve, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.

Engagements tend to occur during the holiday season because couples love to celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by friends and family.

About 2.8 million couples get engaged every year in the United States, according to data compiled by jewelry chain Signet. But for the past few years, the jewelry industry has experienced an "engagement gap" due to the relationship-busting effects of COVID-19. Many singles were forced to isolate themselves and stepped out of the dating pool.

Signet noted that couples get engaged about 3.25 years after they begin dating, so the COVID disruption resulted in the number of engagements thinning out at 2.1 to 2.2 million in 2023.

With a gradual return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, the coming season should reflect the beginning of a rebound, with 2.4 to 2.5 million engagements expected in 2024. Signet predicts the upward trend will continue over the next three years, as the company has identified 14 million people right now in the "dating funnel."

States, such as Texas and Florida, which were the first to drop pandemic restrictions, are 10 points closer to pre-pandemic engagement levels than other states that opened later, according to Signet.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com

November's popular birthstone, topaz, is widely admired for its vibrant array of colors, including yellows, oranges, blues, greens, reds, browns, pinks and purples.



The topaz in the photo, above, are part of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection and can be seen up close and personal in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Originating from Russia, Japan, Madagascar, Ukraine, Brazil and the US (Texas), the topaz in this grouping range in weight from 18 to 816 carats.

Topaz — especially the yellow-to-orange varieties — has been misunderstood and misidentified for more than 2,000 years. Topaz gets its name from Topazios, the ancient Greek name for a tiny island in the Red Sea. The island is now known as Zabargad Island, the largest of a group of islands in Foul Bay, Egypt. It is very likely that the “topaz” mined there in ancient times was actually a yellow-green variety of peridot.

Before 1950, many “gem experts” shared the misconception that all yellow gems were topaz and that all topaz was yellow. In fact, citrine (November’s alternate birthstone) and even smoky quartz are still mistaken for topaz even though quartz and topaz are unrelated minerals.

Today, we know that topaz is allochromatic, which means that its color is caused by impurities in the gem's chemical makeup or defects in its crystal structure, according to the Gemological Institute of America. For example, the presence of the element chromium results in natural pink, red and violet-to-purple colors, while imperfections at the atomic level can cause yellow, brown and blue colors. Pure topaz will be colorless.

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

Topaz is a talisman for the sign of Sagittarius and is the suggested gift for the 23rd or 50th wedding anniversary.

Credit: Photo by Chip Clark/Smithsonian and digitally enhanced by SquareMoose.

When preparing his childhood home to be sold in 2011 after his 83-year-old mom fell ill, Gary Guadagno was careful to check every nook and cranny. You see, Guadagno remembered that his parents had a penchant for squirreling away valuable items in the modest two-bedroom home they purchased in the early 1950s in Reading, PA. He did end up finding the cash his parents stashed behind cinder blocks in the basement, but he couldn't find their wedding rings.



Guadagno was certain he would never see the precious family heirlooms again.

Fast-forward to September of this year, and the new Reading homeowner, Josh Martin, 36, is gently sliding the panel below the soffit of his kitchen cabinets. Armed with a flashlight, he's peeking into the void, trying to spot a gift that he hid away from his wife, Hannah Keuscher. But instead of finding the gift, he sees an old jewelry box.



Inside the box were the Guadagno wedding rings — a diamond engagement ring and a gold wedding band.



Knowing that the rings likely meant a lot to the previous owners or their family, Keuscher and Martin set out to find them.



Keuscher, 33, remembered the previous owners' last name and did some Internet sleuthing. She located Gary on Facebook and sent him a direct message about the jewelry discovery.

"I read it," the 60-year-old Guadagno told NBC10. "I swear I sat there in shock and disbelief for a few minutes with my mouth open."

His parents, Anthony and Rosemarie, had exchanged those rings in 1947. Anthony, a maintenance mechanic, passed away in 1978 when Gary was only 15 years old. Rosemarie became the breadwinner of the family after his death, but had to retire in 1998 as her Alzheimer’s progressed. She died in 2012.

Guadagno told the couple that he was happy to drive the 40 miles from his home in Phoenixville, PA, to retrieve the rings, but Keuscher and Martin insisted on making the trip to see him, instead.



As the homeowners were preparing a video for Guadagno to show him exactly how and where the rings were found, another surprise emerged. Previously unseen in the void below the soffit was a bicentennial 1776-1976 coin set. To Gary, it all made sense, because his dad was an avid coin collector.

"It's a legacy really," Guadagno told NBC10. "And to have [the items] returned to me from the kindness of two people I never met, it just was everything."

Credits: Screen captures via NBC10, nbcphiladelphia.com.

The California Sunset Diamonds, a super-rare matched pair of fancy vivid orange-yellow sparklers, are set to headline Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale in New York on December 6. The fancy-color diamonds weigh 12.20 carats and 11.96 carats, respectively.



Orange diamonds are highly coveted, yet hardly ever come to auction. Appropriately, Christies's assigned the gems with a pre-sale estimate of $7 million to $12 million, reflecting the size, color saturation, clarity and extreme rarity of the oval mixed-cut fancy color gems.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) monograph accompanying the stones emphasized the rarity of fancy vivid orange-yellow diamonds with this statistic: Only 1/3 of 1% of fancy-color diamonds submitted to GIA's grading lab over the past 10 years were graded as "fancy vivid orange-yellow."

The website naturaldiamonds.com describes orange diamonds as "the most infrequent occurrence of orange in nature," and colored-diamond specialists Leibish affirms that orange diamonds are the second rarest colored diamonds, with red being the rarest.

Set as dangle earrings in platinum and 18-karat rose gold, the California Sunset Diamonds are complemented by oval brilliant-cut white diamonds weighing 3.03 and 3.02 carats, as well as white marquise-cut accent stones each weighing .73 carats. The larger of the two orange-yellow diamonds boasts a clarity grade of VVS2, while the other has a VS1 rating.



Another top lot in the same auction will also feature an orange-hued diamond. The pear-shaped, mixed-cut fancy vivid yellowish-orange diamond seen here weighs 5.16 carats, is set in an 18-karat yellow gold ring and carries a pre-sale estimate of $1.5 million to $2 million.

Orange diamonds are rated on a color scale from pale orange to deep orange with the following designations from light to dark: Light Orange, Fancy, Fancy Intense Orange, Fancy Vivid Orange and Fancy Deep Orange.

Scientists are still somewhat baffled about how orange diamonds get their color, because their hue on the spectrum is sandwiched between yellow and red.

Unlike yellow diamonds that owe their color to the presence of nitrogen in their chemical makeup, pink and red diamonds owe their color to the effects of intense pressure, heat and twisting while they were still deep within the Earth. So there could be multiple factors at work to generate the rich orange hue.



The New York auction's second-priciest lot is expected to be a fancy vivid blue cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond weighing 3.49 carats. The internally flawless gem is set in a brushed platinum ring and is predicted to fetch between $4.5 million and $5.5 million.

Credits: Images courtesy of Christie’s.

Taco Bell Canada is about to unveil its "biggest crown jewel yet" — four 1-carat lab-grown diamonds made from taco shells. The diamonds serve as an ode to what the company calls "the perfectly imperfect nature of tacos."



"Taco Bell is all about celebrating life's messy moments and embracing what it means to be imperfect," said Devon Lawrence, marketing director for Taco Bell Canada. "The idea that even something as beautiful as diamonds have imperfections reinforces our brand mantra to 'Live Mas,' and celebrate our authentic, messy and beautiful selves! And what better way to mark the occasion than with friends – the people who celebrate you for exactly who you are."

On December 1 and 2 at a pop-up event at 1153 Queen St. W. in Toronto, besties are invited to see the diamonds up-close and enjoy a variety of activities for free. These include the following:

-- Getting matching tote bags
-- Taking cheesy photos at the photo booth with fun props and filters
-- Receiving matching temporary tattoos
-- Getting permanent friendship bracelets

What's more, Taco Bell fans in Canada are encouraged to enter a drawing to win a pair of matching Taco Bell Diamond Friendship Necklaces featuring the taco-derived diamonds. Each pair is valued at $20,000 CAD.

As the hardest substance know to man, the diamonds in the Taco Bell Canada promotion celebrate the unbreakable friendships in our lives.

According to Taco Bell Canada's marketing team, the process of growing the diamonds from taco shells took more than 12 months to complete at a "top-secret, undisclosed location." We're not sure why the process took so long because conventional lab-grown diamonds typically require only a few weeks to form.

Diamonds are composed of pure carbon. And while we've heard of diamonds grown from the carbon obtained from hair or cremation ashes, this may be the first time taco shells have been used in the process.

To enter the contest, Taco Bell lovers must follow Taco Bell Canada on Instagram or TikTok, like the "Friends Are Forever" post and tag their bestie in the comments. The contest is open to Canadian residents, except for those in Quebec, and runs from November 21 to December 8, 2023. The winners will be drawn on December 11, 2023.

Credit: Image courtesy of CNW Group/Taco Bell Canada.

The festive holiday season got off to a roaring start on Black Friday as the strength of the jewelry and apparel segments helped propel retail sales by 2.5% year-over-year. The Black Friday sales results built upon the double-digit growth experienced in 2022, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment.



While experiential gifts have been the popular choice the past few years, Mastercard noted, consumers continue to search for something to unwrap for the holidays, with jewelry and apparel being the top gift sectors of the day.

“Consumers are navigating the holiday season well and taking advantage of holiday promotions, giving them ample choice as they hunt for gifts for everyone on their list,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and Chairman of Saks Incorporated. “Consumers are also shopping smarter, using all of their tools – from searching across channels to cross checking on apps and websites – to maximize value while they spend time with friends and family.”

Retailers once again started their Black Friday sales early in the month, giving consumers ample time to search for promotions and score the best deals.

According to Mastercard, e-commerce sales on Black Friday increased 8.5% YOY as consumers shopped deals online. Adobe data reported that US consumers spent $9.8 billion on Friday alone, a new sales record. The firm expected another $10 billion to be spent over the Thanksgiving weekend and a record $12 billion on Cyber Monday.

Interestingly, in-store shopper traffic outperformed expectations. Black Friday in-store visits were up 4.6% compared to 2022, according to Sensormatic Solutions, which tracks shopper traffic at brick-and-mortar stores. Mastercard noted that Black Friday in-store sales increased 1.1% YOY.

“Consumers are again finding joy in brick-and-mortar shopping, seeing it as an experience to be shared with loved ones," noted Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic. "It’s a testament to the hard work retailers have done to streamline journeys and deliver satisfying experiences.”

Nearly 182 million people were set to shop online and in stores between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com.

Moriah Prichard tried to keep her cool as her boyfriend, Troy Goldschmidt, was being detained during a routine traffic stop in front of the Pablo Center in downtown Eau Claire, WI.



Officers Maggie Anderson and Josh Miller had pulled the couple over, claiming that one of the car's tail lights was out. But then Miller instructed Goldschmidt, who was driving, to step out of the car because there was an issue with his license.

The situation got even more dicey when Officer Anderson asked Prichard to get out of the car and Officer Miller seemed to be placing her boyfriend under arrest. Goldschmidt was on one knee with his hands behind his back.

"My nervousness was growing a little bit, but I thought it must just be a mistake," Prichard told WQOW News 18. "Looked over my shoulder and noticed his hands were being put behind his back, and I was definitely starting to get a little concerned."



Prichard's despair turned to elation when Goldschmidt — still on one knee — professed his love and presented the ring box he was hiding behind his back. Yes, the traffic stop was a carefully orchestrated ruse.

"I love you so much. You are my best friend," he began. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Would you marry me?"

Without hesitation, Prichard said "Yes."

At that point, he opened the box, stood up and put the engagement ring on her finger.



The officers congratulated the couple as hugs and handshakes were shared all around.

"You guys have been awesome," Goldschmidt told the officers.

Then the groom-to-be asked his new fiancée if she liked the ring.



"It's gorgeous!" she exclaimed.

The Eau Claire Police Department shared the body cam footage on its official Facebook page under the caption, "You never know what's going to happen on a traffic stop."

The Wausau couple had a great time when they visited Eau Claire back in March and were impressed by how friendly the people were. In fact, Prichard had lost her phone on that trip and Officer Anderson helped her recover it.

Goldschmidt was certain that he would return to Eau Claire with his girlfriend in late November when he was planning to propose.

"They had a very positive experience with Officer Andersen, and Troy was hoping she could be involved in the proposal," officer Miller told News 18. "Troy said they were coming into town again… to see a show, so he and I coordinated to do a traffic stop on them when they got into town."

You can check out the three-minute video here…

According to WEAU 13 News, both Goldschmidt's and Prichard's families were inside The District Pub & Grill watching the proposal happen across the street.

Commenting on the video post, Goldschmidt wrote, "Thank you so much, ECPD! I'm glad you had the video because I barely remember what I said. Neither Moriah and I have been able to stop smiling!"



A spokesperson for the ECPD responded, "It was such a pleasure to be a part of your special moment. Congrats to you both!"

On her own Facebook page, Prichard noted that she is not a big social media user, but HAD to share the ECPD video, writing, "Thank you SO much Eau Claire Police Department for volunteering your time! And Troy Goldschmidt for your love, care and creativity! I couldn't be happier, and I can't WAIT to spend the rest of my life with you! Excuse me while I go practice writing my new last name…"

Credits: Screen captures via Facebook / EauClairePD.

Cat lovers planning to pop the question this December have a chance to win $4,750 towards the cost of the engagement ring — as long as they share how their kitty will be involved in the memorable milestone moment.



Felix Cat Insurance just launched "A Purr-fect Proposal," a contest that will help one cat-loving couple celebrate the next chapter of their lives with extra cash and a curated collection of treats for their furry friend.

Those planning a proposal can privately share their cat-related engagement strategy at FelixPurrfectProposal.com. Whether your kitty will be toting a ring on its collar or posing alongside a romantic bouquet of flowers, Felix wants to know all the "catified" details.

Explained the sponsor, "With December being the most popular month for engagements, Felix is stepping in to provide a bit of holiday magic by covering the cost of the engagement ring… as long as those popping the question promise to include their cat in the proposal!"

On December 22, 2023, the insurance brand will select one lucky winner to receive a cash prize of $4,750 to help cover the cost of an engagement ring. According to The Knot's 2022 Jewelry and Engagement Study, the average cost of an engagement ring in the US is about $6,000, although the study revealed significant regional differences. Couples in the Mid-Atlanic spent the most on engagement rings ($8,400), while Midwestern residents spent the least ($5,200).

Felix didn't forget to acknowledge the star of the promo. The winner's cat will get a celebratory package of treats, including a plush champagne toy and festive feline fashion accessories — so kitty can dress up for the special occasion. The contest is open to US residents 18 years of age and older.

"Our felines are family members and just like your closest friends and family, we want to include them in celebrating meaningful moments like this," said Jamie Maxfield, marketing director and brand expert at Felix Cat Insurance. "Not only is Felix here to ease the expense of this core life event, we can also be there every step of the way afterwards."

Credit: Image courtesy of Felix Cat Insurance.