Anschar Diamonds Blog

Emily Calandrelli, better known as "Space Gal" to her millions of Netflix and YouTube fans, recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of rocketing into space. During the emotional, 11-minute round trip aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle, Calandrelli and five other passengers traveled at 2,200 mph to achieve weightlessness 62 miles above the Earth.



In the lead-up to the launch, the host of Emily’s Wonder Lab, revealed that she was bringing her dad's college class ring into space as a tribute to the sacrifices he's made for his family.

""My dad grew up in poverty in West Virginia," she wrote. "He was the youngest of four kids to a single mom. He worked since he was 11 years old to build a better life. And was the first in his family to go to college. This ring represents his sacrifice, his dream, his accomplishment."

Calandrelli shared with her social media followers a video clip of how her dad was moved to tears when she revealed her plans.

"So I just wanted to ask you if it would be OK if I brought your college ring…to space with me when I fly?" she asked.



"Absolutely," said her dad, wiping his eyes. "That would be an honor… Oh my gosh. This is a dream come true. That's amazing. I'm so proud of you."

In a separate post, Calandrelli, who is officially the 100th woman to travel to space, detailed her dad's hardscrabble life growing up in rural West Virginia.

Calandrelli revealed that at the age of 5 his family told him they couldn't afford cereal. At age 7, he was forced to walk where he wanted to go because the family couldn't afford a car. Her dad took on a paper route at age 11, because the family needed the extra income. At age 13, he was told he couldn't join the band because the family could not afford a drum. At age 22, he was the first in the family to graduate college. At age 67, he inspired his daughter to become an astronaut.



Calandrelli captioned the video, "My dad ran so I could fly."

The 37-year-old science communicator, whose mission is to inspire young people, particularly little girls, to see themselves in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), described her life-changing experience far above the Earth.

"Oh my gosh, when we got to weightlessness, I immediately turned upside down and looked at the planet, and then there was so much blackness, there was so much space! I didn't expect to see so much space!" she told an interviewer. "And I kept saying, like, 'That's our planet. That's our planet. It was the same feeling I got when my kids were born, and I was like, 'That's my baby, that's my baby.' I had that same feeling like where I'm seeing it for the first time. It was just beautiful. Oh my God."

Of the 10 groups of items she brought into space, five were gem- or jewelry-related.

- Her dad’s college ring
- Pins, brooches, and cufflinks that all have different meanings, including some with West Virginia state flags.
- Pearls to give to important women in her life.
- Star charms to give to little girls.
- A handful of tiny meteorites that landed in Russia in 1947. (She wanted to return them to space, if even for just a few minutes.)
- A painting of her daughter as an astronaut.
- Petri dishes with plant seedlings and 100,000 Fast Plant seeds to distribute to students.
- Thumb drive containing the names and dreams of children who watch her show. She put the thumb drive in her flight suit to take their dreams to space.
- A roll of stickers that she will put on signed books that will be sent out to children.
- Photos of the 99 women who went to space before her.

New Shepard has flown 47 people to space (three have flown twice). It is rumored that a single ticket for the 11-minute pilot-less excursion is $1.25 million.

Calandrelli is a WVU graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering, as well as an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics and an M.S. in technology and policy from MIT.

Credits: Emily Calandrelli pic courtesy of Blue Origin. Screen captures via Instagram / thespacegal.

Consumers all over the country are receiving unsolicited "diamond" rings in a fancy red box as part of a "brushing" scam aimed at stealing their personal information and creating fake positive reviews using their names.



The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service, warned consumers to beware of seemingly harmless free items that arrive on their doorsteps because these items come with a higher cost than some may realize.

Brushing is illegal in the US and many other countries, and here's how the scam works:

A person receives a package or parcel containing a "diamond" ring that was not ordered or requested by the recipient.

The sender of the ring — which is set with an inexpensive faux diamond — is usually an international, third-party seller who has found the recipient’s address online.

Along with the faux diamond ring are two cards. One provides information about the company and the other includes a QR code for the recipient to scan under the guise that the precious gem needs to be registered. Actually, the QR code links to a phishing website that attempts to trick the recipient into revealing personal and financial information.

The third party may also use the information in the future for a number of scams and other illicit activities.

The USPIS also noted that the distribution of unsolicited items is a tactic to create fake transactions and give the impression that the recipient is a verified buyer. Actually, the third party will write a fake review in the recipient's name.

These fake positive reviews help to fraudulently boost or inflate the products’ ratings and sales numbers, which they hope results in an increase of actual sales in the long run.

Since the merchandise is usually cheap and inexpensive to ship, the scammers perceive this as a profitable payoff.

US Postal Inspector Andrea Avery said that whatever you do, do not pay for the item and don't get conned if the sender follows up with a phone call. By law, she noted, unsolicited packages are yours to keep. Finders keepers applies unconditionally.

"If you didn't order the package, you don't have to return it," she said.

Credit: Image by BigStockPhoto.com.

About 50 million years ago, continental drift sent the Indian subcontinent crashing into the Asian continent causing the rise of the Himalayan mountain range. The colossal collision also created a geological environment of heat and pressure perfect for the formation of precious stones, such as rubies, sapphires, jade, spinel, and the rarest of all gemstones, kyawthuite.



Kyawthuite is so rare that only one specimen exists in the whole world. Reddish-orange in color and weighing 1.61 carats, the faceted gem currently resides in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

The rough kyawthuite crystal was presumed to be amber or topaz when it was discovered in 2010 by sapphire hunters in a stream bed near the gem-rich area of Mogok, Myanmar. But, Dr. Kyaw Thu, a Burmese mineralogist-petrologist-gemologist with a Ph.D. from Yangon University, had a hunch this stone was unique when he acquired it at the Chaung-gyi market.

The International Mineralogical Association confirmed that the mineral was unlike any of the other 6,000 identified minerals in its database and officially recognized kyawthuite as a new mineral in 2015.

Named after Dr. Thu, kyawthuite (pronounced cha-too-ite) is extraordinarily dense (eight times the density of water and double the density of ruby). Its high density is attributed to bismuth, one of the three main elements that make up the chemical formula of the stone. The other two elements are antimony and oxygen, with a trace of tantalum.

Gemologists have wondered out loud why kyawthuite could exist in only one place on the planet. While bismuth and antimony are rare metals, they are not impossibly rare. Yet, if kyawthuite's formula has manifested outside of Mogok, those crystals have yet to be unearthed.

Credit: Image courtesy of Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

The eagerly anticipated, star-studded Wicked just had the biggest box office launch of all time for a Broadway adaptation, bringing in $163 million globally during the weekend of November 22. While Wicked is often described as a prequel to 1939's The Wizard of Oz, conspicuously missing from this year's blockbuster release are Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers. Instead, costume designer Paul Tazewell reimagined the shoes in silver, glittering with more than 1,000 crystals in a swirling, tornado-inpired motif.



The choice of silver slippers remains true to L. Frank Baum's original 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Thirty-nine years later, with MGM's big-budget The Wizard of Oz set to film in vibrant Technicolor, screenwriter Noel Langley feared that silver slippers would fall flat against the vivid Yellow Brick Road. According to film lore, the screenwriter tasked chief costume designer Gilbert Adrian with creating ruby slippers for maximize visual impact.

The silver slippers seen in the current release align with the silver ones used in the long-running Broadway production of Wicked, as well as in the novel of the same name penned by Gregory Maguire.

The shoes play an important role in the story-telling as they give Elphaba’s sister, wheelchair-bound Nessarose (later to become the Wicked Witch of the East), the ability to walk. The same shoes give Dorothy the power to return to Kansas.

“I have the heel starting as a tornado of jewels that swirls up and then wraps over the foot, and swirls around the foot,” Tazewell told Women's Wear Daily (WWD). “We also used short socks on Nessarose when she’s wearing the shoes, which is how we see them on Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.'”

Tazewell told WWD that the shoes were 3D printed and then hand-jeweled with 1,165 Preciosa crystals. As with Dorothy's ruby slippers, a number of versions were fabricated.

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers in the 1939 film were originally adorned with the bugle beads that prop designers used to simulate rubies. When they proved to be too heavy, the solution was to replace most of the bugle beads with sequins, 2,300 on each slipper. The butterfly-shaped bow on the front of each shoe is rimmed in 46 rhinestones, surrounding 42 bugle beads and three larger rectangular faux jewels, according to Footwear News.

Tazewell told WWD that he wanted the shoes to resonate as a piece of jewelry, seeking inspiration from the design of crowns, such as the Boucheron Wave Tiara made in 1910.

“I was looking at the movement of those wave shapes… but I really just sank into the world of spirals because that seemed to be the best way to represent the most whimsical shoe that I could," he said.

The spiral motif is a nod to the tornado that swept Dorothy out of Kansas and into the Land of Oz.

Entertainment Weekly pointed to an Easter Egg in the new release. During the "Popular" number, Glinda (Ariana Grande) selects clothes and shoes from her wardrobe as options for Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) to wear. The first item is a sparkly pair of ruby red heels, which Elphaba rejects.

It is rumored that the silver slippers will have an even more prominent role in the second half of Wicked, which is set to release a year from now.

In an interesting turn of events, one of the five known pairs of Ruby Slippers to have survived the 1939 production will be sold this Saturday via Heritage Auctions. The current online bid is $1.15 million ($1.43 million including the buyer's premium).

Credit: Screen grab from Universal Picture's Wicked Official Trailer 2.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, rockabilly revivalist Chris Isaak offers sagely dating advice in his 2002 release, “Notice the Ring.”



Isaak’s character is having a great time getting to know a woman he just met at a club. The chemistry is right and this could be the beginning of something special, but Isaak notices what seems to be a diamond ring on the woman’s finger. Is it an engagement ring? A piece of faux jewelry? Or just a sentimental bauble that was handed down from her grandma?

He sings, “I notice the ring, does it mean anything / You don’t gotta fool me if you say it’s only jewelry / I believe you when you slip off the ring, oh baby / It’s got complicated if it’s more than just gold plated / Are you single, does it mean anything?”

While introducing this song at his concerts, Isaak often offers light-hearted advice to the men in the audience.

“When you meet a woman for the first time, it’s important to focus on her hands. Not the whole body, but the hands,” Isaak joked. “Look at the hands and they will tell you so much about a person. Particularly, notice the ring.”

Penned by Isaak, “Notice the Ring” appeared as the eighth track of the artist’s eighth studio album, Always Got Tonight.

The singer-songwriter, musician, actor and former talk show host is best known for his song, “Wicked Game,” which was featured in the 1990 David Lynch-directed film, Wild at Heart. That was just one of many collaborations between the director and the artist.

The son of a forklift operator dad and a potato chip factory worker mom, Isaak was born in Stockton, CA, in 1956. Isaak was the 1974 class valedictorian at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School and earned a bachelor's degree in English and communications at University of the Pacific. Isaak started his first band in 1984 and was signed by Warner Bros. one year later.

Fun Trivia: As an amateur boxer, Isaak had his nose broken seven times, according to Discussions Magazine. At the time, his good looks and combed-back hair earned him the nickname, Elvis.

We hope you enjoy the audio track of Isaak performing “Notice the Ring.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Notice the Ring”
Written and performed by Chris Isaak.

Long legged
Good looking
You got everything
Slow walking
You come up
Then I notice the ring
I notice the ring
I notice the ring

You’re talking, I’m listening,
But I don’t hear a thing
Is it something he bought you
Or only a ring, oh baby

I notice the ring
Does it mean anything?
You don’t gotta fool me if you say it’s only jewelry
I believe you when you slip off the ring, oh baby
It’s got complicated if it’s more than just gold plated
Are you single, does it mean anything?

I notice the ring

We gotta slow down
She’s laughing, stop worrying
Get in the swing
Heart pounding, I’m wondering
Just what did she mean

I notice the ring
I notice the ring

Say nobody’s waiting
That’s it’s nothing just gold plating
That it really doesn’t mean anything
Say your grandma left it to you
Just all you need to do is tell me that it’s no wedding ring,
Nice diamond

I notice the ring

We gotta slow down
I notice the ring
I notice the ring
I notice the ring
I notice the ring
I notice the ring
I notice the ring
I notice the ring



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

One of four surviving pairs of Ruby Slippers worn by Judy Garland in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz just sold at Heritage Auctions for $32.5 million, establishing a new record for the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction and decimating the previous record holder — the billowing white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe over a subway grate in 1955's The Seven Year Itch — by nearly $27 million.



Saturday's live bidding opened at $1.55 million, and for about 15 minutes bidders in attendance battled with those making offers over the phone. The price quickly ticked up in increments of $1 million until the slippers hit their final price of $28 million and the auction room erupted with applause. With the buyer's premium included, the total price was $32.5 million, nearly 10 times the pre-auction estimate. The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous.



This is a fitting final chapter to the story of "The Traveling Shoes," the name given to this particular pair because they were frequently on the road at exhibitions.

Michael Shaw, a collector and former child actor, had acquired the slippers from Kent Warner, a Hollywood costumer, who discovered them in an MGM warehouse shortly before the famous May 1970 auction that liquidated costumes and props from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Shaw told The Los Angeles Times in 1988 that when Warner brought him the ruby slippers, “I was so thrilled I literally started crying… I told him that if I never owned another possession, I’d be happy.”

In 2005, the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, MN, borrowed Shaw’s Ruby Slippers for its annual Judy Garland Festival. It was scheduled as a 10-week exhibition, but on August 28, 2005, someone slipped into the museum after hours, shattered the plexiglass case holding the slippers and stole them, leaving behind only a single red sequin.

“It’s the worst nightmare for me,” Shaw said at the time.

In July 2018, after Shaw feared the slippers had disappeared forever, the FBI and Grand Rapids Police Department recovered the pair during a sting operation.

Earlier this year, Shaw was finally reunited with his treasured Hollywood memorabilia.

“It’s like welcoming back an old friend I haven’t seen in years,” said a teary-eyed Shaw as he stood beside a display of the slippers, along with the federal agents and local authorities who spent almost two decades tracking down the Technicolor treasures.

In May 2023, a federal grand jury had indicted Terry Martin for stealing “an object of cultural heritage” from the museum. Five months later, Martin pleaded guilty. Shortly before sentencing, Martin told the court he’d stolen the shoes because he thought the sequins were genuine rubies.

Unable to sell them on the black market, Martin said he ditched the slippers with someone who had recruited him for the job.

“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” said Heritage Auctions' Executive Vice President Maddalena. “The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors. It’s been a privilege for all of us at Heritage to be a part of the slippers’ epic journey over the rainbow and off to a new home.”

Gilbert Adrian, the chief costume designer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, created the ruby slippers for Victor Fleming’s big-screen adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel. (The magical slippers were silver in the book, but Adrian reinterpreted them as ruby because this was to be the first feature film shot in Technicolor).

Adrian had intended to use bugle beads to simulate rubies, but when they proved to be too heavy he swapped most of them for sequins, 2,300 on each slipper. The butterfly-shaped bow on the front of each shoe features red bugle beads outlined in red glass rhinestones in silver settings.

Only four pairs of Ruby Slippers are known to have survived. One pair remains among the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

Credits: Photos courtesy of Heritage Auctions / HA.com.

On Thursday, The Pantone Color Institute selected a warm brown hue to be its 2025 Color of the Year. The institute said "Mocha Mousse" nurtures with its suggestion of the delectable quality of cacao, chocolate and coffee, appealing to our desire for comfort.



The fashion community was surprised by the subdued selection, which is less a color and more a state of being. It's a far cry from the vibrant selections of the past, such as 2012's Tangerine Tango, 2018's Ultra Violet and 2023's Viva Magenta.

Each year, Pantone selects a color that captures the global zeitgeist. The selection for 2025, according the color authority, reflects a growing movement by consumers to align more closely with the natural world.

“Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, Mocha Mousse (PANTONE 17-1230) extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe," noted Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute.

Laurie Pressman, the Pantone Color Institute’s vice president, added that Mocha Mousse is inspired by “little treat culture,” which involves embracing life's simple pleasures, such as a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate.

Mocha Mousse unseats Peach Fuzz, Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year. That color's warm and welcoming embrace was said to convey a message of compassion and empathy.

Consumers looking to accessorize Mocha Mousse fashion in 2025 might consider fine jewelry adorned with brown-family gemstones, such as smoky quartz, brown topaz, brown garnet, brown zircon and even brown diamonds.

Those looking for extra depth and a pop of color might look to Pantone's Mocha Mousse color pairings. Neatly complementing the neutral brown of Mocha Mousse are Tendril Green (think green jade, tourmaline, peridot and malachite), Cornflower Blue (think sapphires, blue topaz, aquamarine, indicolite, blue spinel), Viola Purple (think amethyst, purple sapphire, tanzanite, purple garnet, purple spinel) and Rose Tan (think pink diamonds, pink sapphires, morganite, pink garnet and rose quartz).

Typically, Pantone’s yearly selection influences product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

The Pantone Color Institute originally created the Pantone Color of the Year educational program in 1999 to engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color.



Here are the Pantone Colors of the Year dating back to 2011…

PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz (2024)
PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta (2023)
PANTONE 17-3938 Veri Peri (2022)
PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray (2021)
PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating (2021)
PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue (2020)
PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity (2016)
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)

Credits: Color swatch images courtesy of Pantone.

While zoisite has been known to gemologists since 1805, its most famous blue-violet variety was discovered in 1967 along the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania by a Maasai tribesman named Jumanne Ngoma.



Ngoma revealed his find to a prospector named Manuel d’Souza, who had the sapphire-like specimens analyzed by the Gemological Institute of America. The results revealed the intense, electric blue gems were a never-before-seen variety of zoisite.

In less than a year, the marketing team at Tiffany was preparing a broad-based advertising campaign to introduce the unique gem to the world — but one large hurdle stood in the way.

Zoisite, pronounced "zow-uh-site," sounded a little too much like "suicide," so the gem was cleverly rebranded as "tanzanite" to honor its country of origin.

The original campaign advertised that tanzanite could now be found in two places — "in Tanzania and at Tiffany's." It was wildly successful and tanzanite soon became a household name.

In 2002, the American Gem Trade Association added tanzanite to the jewelry industry’s official birthstone list. Tanzanite joined turquoise and zircon as the official birthstones for December.

Interestingly, while other varieties of zoisite — in a range of colors from pink, brown and yellow to green, grey and colorless — are found in Kenya, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, India, Pakistan and the US, the vibrant blue-violet crystals are mined in only one location on earth. The area in Merelani Hills near Arusha, Tanzania, measures just 2km wide by 4km long, and the remaining lifespan of the mine is said to be less than 30 years.

The half-carat zoisite specimens seen in the photo, above, reside in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, and were gifted to the National Gem Collection by Edward W. Boehm in 2008.

The Smithsonian’s website explains that tanzanite exhibits the optical phenomenon of pleochroism, appearing intense blue, violet or red, depending on the direction through which the crystal is viewed.

In 2018, Asha Ngoma, the daughter of Jumanne, made a desperate plea to then-Tanzanian President John Magufuli on behalf of her nearly 80-year-old dad, who was ill, partially paralyzed and struggling financially. The President responded in April of that same year with a reward of 100 million shillings (about $44,000) and well-deserved words of praise.

“Mr. Ngoma is a veritable Tanzanian hero,” Magufuli told The Citizen.

The man credited with the discovery of tanzanite passed away less than a year later in January of 2019.

Credit: Photo by Greg Polley / Smithstonian.

An 18-karat white and rose gold turtle pavé set with 112 exceptionally rare Argyle Pink Diamonds, 52 natural white diamonds and two emeralds seems to crawl across the face of The Perth Mint’s latest 3D “Jewelled” solid gold coin.



Priced at $171,220 (AUD $269,000), The Jewelled Turtle of 2024 represents the seventh in a series of highly collectible coins that have included the 2018 Jewelled Phoenix, 2019 Jewelled Dragon, 2020 Jewelled Tiger, 2021 Jewelled Horse, 2022 Jewelled Koi and 2023 Jewelled Snake.

The Perth Mint chose to celebrate sea turtles because they are integral to the cultures of coastal communities around the world, as well as being revered in mythology and folklore as symbols of longevity, wisdom, patience, endurance, protection and healing. For some, the sea turtle is considered to be the sacred creator of Mother Earth.

Designed by coin artist Natasha Muhl, the latest release features a turtle shell rendered in rose gold and pink diamonds, while the turtle's head and limbs are set with white diamond in 18-karat white gold. More white diamonds are set in a ribbon-shaped line symbolizing the sea surface and a single Argyle Pink Diamond is set at the heart of a stylized sun. Muhl used emeralds to represent the turtle's eyes.

“Six of the world's seven species of sea turtles are found in Kimberley waters," Muhl said, "and five of those are known to nest there. They really are special animals to me.”

The pink diamonds used in the coin’s design were sourced at the now-depleted Argyle mine in Western Australia. The mine, which had been the world’s leading source of pink diamonds, was shuttered in November of 2020 after 37 years of operation. Each of the colored diamonds has a color rating of Fancy Intense Vivid Pink and Purplish Pink.

Measuring 61 mm (2.4 inches) across, the proof-quality coin is struck from 10 ounces of 99.99% pure gold. The coin’s reverse artistry includes imagery of corals and reef fish, the inscription THE JEWELLED TURTLE 2024 and The Perth Mint’s special “P125” anniversary mintmark.



The obverse features the effigy of King Charles III, the weight and fineness, the “2500 DOLLARS” monetary denomination, “AUSTRALIA” and the King's name.

In this limited-edition offer, only eight coins will be minted and each one will be made to order.

Credits: Images courtesy of The Perth Mint.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the release of “Goldfinger,” the title song of one of the all-time great James Bond thrillers.



Many music critics recognize Dame Shirley Bassey's brass-infused, big band rendition of the John Barry-Leslie Bricuss-Anthony Newley composition as the gold standard for all movie soundtracks.

Goldfinger is also often cited as the best film of the Bond franchise. The film borrows its name from Auric Goldfinger, a villain who hatches a plan to increase the value of his own gold holdings by raiding Fort Knox and contaminating the US bullion supply with radiation. He also has a penchant for gilding his victims.

In the song, Bassey describes "the man with the Midas touch."

She sings, “Golden words he will pour in your ear / But his lies can’t disguise what you fear / For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her / It’s the kiss of death from / Mister Goldfinger / Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold / This heart is cold.”

“Goldfinger” presented a challenging recording session for the then-27-year-old Bassey. A frustrating series of retakes due to musical and technical issues forced the session to extend throughout the night. Bassey remembered how composer Barry demanded that the dramatic final note of the song be held for an extended count — seven seconds to be exact.

“I was holding it and holding it,” Bassey said. “I was looking at John Barry and I was going blue in the face, and he’s going, ‘Hold it just one more second.’ When it finished, I nearly passed out.”

“Goldfinger” was an instant global phenomenon — in record stores and at the box office. The single netted Bassey her only Top-10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song peaked at #8 and charted in seven countries. The movie had a production budget of $3 million and grossed $125 million. It opened officially in the US on December 22, 1964.

Bassey’s remarkable rendition of “Goldfinger” has stood the test of time. In 2008, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2013, the then-76-year-old Bassey performed the song during the Academy Awards as part of a tribute to the James Bond franchise’s 50th anniversary.

A native of Cardiff, Wales, Bassey went on to record the theme songs for two other James Bond films, including Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Moonraker (1979). In 2000, she became a Dame in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. She was honored for her services to the performing arts.

In October of this year, the now 87-year-old Bassey placed more than 80 of her own jewels on the auction block at Sotheby’s Paris to benefit her favorite charities. According to Sotheby’s, every jewel in the sale represented a particular moment in Bassey’s life, as well as iconic performances.

Bassey has always been excited to talk about her life-long love affair with fine jewelry, especially diamonds.

“I fell in love with jewelry when I first discovered natural pearls as an up-and-coming singer, and I bought myself my first string of pearls – the first piece of jewelry I’d ever bought,” Bassey told naturaldiamonds.com. “However, I quickly graduated to my lifelong passion for diamonds, which preceded the recording of ‘Diamonds Are Forever.'”

She explained that she accepted the offer to sing the title track of the 1971 Bond flick because the lyrics “rang true” to her: “Diamonds never lie to me / For when love’s gone, they’ll luster on / Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.”

Please check out the video of Bassey’s memorable live performance of “Goldfinger” at the Royal Albert Hall in 1974. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Goldfinger”
Written by John Barry, Leslie Bricuss and Anthony Newley. Performed by Shirley Bassey.

Goldfinger
He’s the man, the man with the Midas touch
A spider’s touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don’t go in

Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can’t disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her
It’s the kiss of death from

Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold
This heart is cold

Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can’t disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her
It’s the kiss of death from

Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold
This heart is cold

He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold



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

Exactly one year after their relationship became Instagram official, record producer Benny Blanco proposed to songstress Selena Gomez with a marquise-cut diamond in a yellow gold diamond pavé band.



An excited Gomez turned to Instagram last Wednesday to share a close-up look at the ring with her 423 million followers. She posted four pics with the simple caption, "forever begins now."

Blanco seemed to reveal his motivation for picking a marquise diamond via a short video on his own Instagram page, which showed the couple clinking wine glasses to the track of Gomez's 2015 hit song "Good for You." The lyrics go like this: "I’m in my marquise diamonds / I’m a marquise diamond / Could even make that Tiffany jealous.”



Jewelry-industry insiders believe Gomez, 32, and her new 4-plus-carat diamond could launch a new rush for marquise-shaped center stones and relegate the previously popular oval diamonds to second-shelf status.

The marquise cut, featuring an elegant, tapered shape, is known for its flattering effect of making fingers appear longer and more slender.



In one of Gomez's Instagram photos, the singer/actress is sitting on a blanket while admiring her ring on what seems to be a commercial set arranged to look like an outdoor picnic. Fans pointed out the curious product placement of a Taco Bell box along with a Mexican pizza. Is it possible the fast food chain sponsored the proposal? Or maybe Blanco, 36, proposed during the shooting of a Taco Bell commercial.



In December of 2023, Gomez doubled down on the concept of going “Instagram official” by not only confirming her relationship with Blanco via the popular social media platform, but also revealing a diamond-accented “B” ring on the ring finger of her left hand.

Gomez wrote, “He is my absolute everything in my heart.”

At the time of that announcement, Gomez and Blanco had been secretly dating for six months after having worked on a number of music projects together.

During her November 2024 guest appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, Gomez described her relationship with Blanco.

“I’m beyond proud to know that there is someone in the world that deeply cares about every tiny detail about who I am,” she said. “And [to] have someone support me, encourage me, inspire me and motivate me. It brings me joy. And more than anything he’s just my best friend. I’m really, really lucky.”

The comments section of Gomez's engagement post reflects an outpouring of love from a slew of A-listers, none A-listier than her BFF Taylor Swift, who wrote, "yes I will be the flower girl." The quip earned 1.76 million likes.

Credits: Images via Instagram / selenagomez.

Scientists and engineers from the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have successfully created the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery with the potential to power devices for thousands of years.



Several game-changing applications are possible. Bio-compatible diamond batteries can be used in medical devices, such as ocular implants, hearing aids and pacemakers, minimizing the need for replacements and distress to patients.

The batteries could power active radio frequency (RF) tags where there is a need to identify and track devices either on earth or in space, such as spacecraft or payloads, for decades at a time, thus reducing costs and extending operational lifespan.

The battery leverages the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, known for its use in radiocarbon dating, to produce a diamond battery.

The carbon-14 diamond battery works by using the radioactive decay of carbon-14, which has a half-life of 5,700 years, to generate low levels of power. It functions similarly to solar panels, which convert light into electricity, but instead of using light particles (photons), they capture fast-moving electrons from within the diamond structure.

“Our micropower technology can support a whole range of important applications from space technologies and security devices through to medical implants," commented Tom Scott, Professor in Materials at the University of Bristol. "We're excited to be able to explore all of these possibilities, working with partners in industry and research, over the next few years.”



Sarah Clark, Director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA, described how diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power.

"They are an emerging technology that use a manufactured diamond to safely encase small amounts of carbon-14,” she said.

Fatimah Sanni, a Senior Process Engineer at UKAEA, told gizmodo.com that researchers can imagine a future in which diamond batteries are used in almost everything. She listed small satellites, computer chips, remote controls and wrist watches as some day-to-day examples.

Diamond batteries, which have no moving parts and require no maintenance, could potentially replace lithium ion batteries, which are taxing on the environment.

Credits: Diamond battery and diamond battery team images courtesy of University of Bristol.

In her new book titled The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance, author and historian Marion Fasel explores the true narrative behind the origin of one of the most universally accepted symbols of love and marriage.



Within the 128 illustrated pages, Fasel exposes several misconceptions, such as the notion that diamond engagement rings only became popular after the “A Diamond Is Forever” DeBeers advertising campaign launched in 1947 or that the first diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.

"Researching the true narrative involved a deep dive into the archives of museums and libraries in Europe and New York, where I found diamond engagement rings depicted in Renaissance masterpieces and documented in original manuscripts," she noted. "Experts also guided me to historic examples of rings, beginning with the first styles featuring point-cut diamonds."

Fasel added that bringing this story to light has been one of the most fascinating experiences of her career.

The book's cover art reflects the long history of engagement rings. There is a Renaissance-period design with the Latin inscription “I am a token of love,” a 1920 Tiffany setting and an early Asscher cut diamond (circa 1915) in an ornate platinum ring. Also featured is a mid-20th century emerald-cut diamond ring, contemporary cushion-cut diamond and gold ring, and an oval diamond in a platinum design.

Fasel reviews the engagement ring selections of luminaries from the past and present. They include Britain’s Queen Charlotte, poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Grace Kelly, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lawrence and Blake Lively.

The author includes style guides, which review the vocabulary of diamonds and break down the technical parts of a ring. Her "ring timeline" chronicles diamond-cutting techniques and trends through the ages.

“Marion’s been an invaluable contributor to Only Natural Diamonds since its inception, and we couldn’t be more excited to join forces in celebration of this extraordinary new book," stated the website's Editor-in-Chief Sam Broekema. "Her expertise and passion shine through on every page, making this volume on the brilliant, yet not fully told, history of natural diamond engagement rings — and the eclectic styles and stories that reflected significant cultural moments over time — a must-read.”

Fasel is the founder of the online fine jewelry magazine, The Adventurine. Her new hardcover book, published by The Adventurine Limited Editions in partnership with Only Natural Diamonds, is available at naturaldiamonds.com, amazon.com and independent bookstores across the US.

Credit: Cover image courtesy of Only Natural Diamonds.

The second- and seventh-largest rough diamonds ever recovered finally have official names, according to Lucara Diamond Corp., which sponsored a two-week Legacy National Diamond Naming Competition and received more than 39,000 entries from the citizens of Botswana.



The winning name for the epic 2,488-carat diamond unearthed at its famous Karowe Mine in August 2024 is "Motswedi," which in Setswana, the local language in Botswana, means a flow of underground water that emerges to the surface offering life and vitality.



The 1,094-carat diamond — discovered at the same mine one month later — will be known as "Seriti," which means aura or presence in Setswana and has deep cultural significance related to identity and legacy.

The submitted names were evaluated by a panel of judges based on creativity, originality, Botswana cultural significance, as well as relevance to the diamonds themselves.

The contestant who submitted Motswedi will receive a 100,000 Pula prize ($7,325), and the citizen who came up with Seriti will receive a 50,000 Pula ($3,662) prize. Both winners will enjoy an exclusive tour of the Karowe Mine.

“We are incredibly proud to announce the naming of two extraordinary diamonds recovered from our Karowe Mine in Botswana," commented William Lamb, Lucara’s President and CEO. "[They] represent pivotal moments in Lucara's commitment to discovering and preserving extraordinary geological treasures."

Lamb added that these diamonds are not just geological phenomena. They are a testament to the incredible potential of the Karowe Mine and Lucara's innovative approach to diamond recovery.

"Each stone tells a story millions of years in the making," he said, "and we are humbled to be the custodians of these remarkable gems as they prepare to enter the global market. We look forward to the next stages of their journey, confident that the Motswedi and Seriti will continue to inspire wonder and admiration around the world.”

Of the top nine diamonds ever unearthed, the Karowe Mine has been the source of seven of them.

Sitting at #2, the newly named Motswedi has a rugged silvery-white appearance and weighs in at 17.58 ounces (1.1 pounds). Maintaining the top spot is the 3,106-carat Cullinan, which was found at South Africa’s Premier Mine 2 in 1905.

Currently ranked #7, Seriti was discovered in Karowe’s south lobe, which has historically produced large, high-value diamonds. The stone bears striking similarities to the 692-carat diamond the company unearthed in August 2023. That stone, which ranks #23, was polished by HB Antwerp and yielded diamonds that sold for more than $13 million.

Lucara’s newest treasures remained unscathed during the recovery process thanks to the company’s state-of-the-art Mega Diamond Recovery (“MDR”) X-ray Transmission (“XRT”) technology, installed in 2017 to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds.

Lucara’s $683 million underground expansion at Karowe aims to extend the life of the mine beyond 2040.

Credits: Photos courtesy of CNW Group/Lucara Diamond Corp.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you festive songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we celebrate the holiday season with a contemporary take on Eartha Kitt’s 1953 classic, "Santa Baby," performed by pop phenomenon Sabrina Carpenter and best-selling country artist Shania Twain.



A song that echoes the sentiments of 1949’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “Santa Baby” tells the story of girls appealing directly to Santa Claus for some of the finer things in life — a sable coat, a blue convertible, a yacht, a deed to a platinum mine and, finally, “a ring.” Carpenter and Twain claim to have been angels all year, so they don't think they're asking for a lot.

They sing, “Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring / I don’t mean on the phone / Santa cutie, hurry down the chimney tonight.”

The duo performed “Santa Baby” during the Netflix variety special, "A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter," which premiered on December 6.

A blockbuster hit for Kitt in 1953, “Santa Baby” has been covered by dozens of artists over the past 71 years. They include Madonna, Taylor Swift, Natalie Merchant, Kylie Minogue, The Pussycat Dolls, LeAnn Rimes, Faith Evans, Kellie Pickler, Gwen Stefani, Miss Piggy, and even Michael Bublé, who chose to address his benefactor as “Santa Buddy.”

Written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer, “Santa Baby” is reportedly one of the few Christmas hits penned by a woman.

Born in Quakertown, PA, in 1999, Carpenter earned her first acting gig as an 11-year-old on an episode of Law & Order. She gained stardom on the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World (2014–2017), which eventually led to her rapid ascent as a singer, songwriter, actress and style icon. She is currently nominated for six Grammy awards, including Best Album, Best Song, Best New Artist, Best Record, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the 59-year-old Eilleen Regina (Shania) Twain is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the top-selling female artist in country music history. She has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and earned the moniker, the "Queen of Country Pop." She's claimed five Grammy Awards from 18 nominations.

Please check out the video of Carpenter and Twain performing “Santa Baby” during the Netflix special. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Santa Baby”
Written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer. Performed by Sabrina Carpenter and Shania Twain.

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue
I’ll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I’ve missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed
Next year I could be as good
If you’ll check off my Christmas list

Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really need, the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany
I really do believe in you
And let’s see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don’t mean on the phone
Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight



Credit: Screen capture via YouTube / LetsGoShania.

A teenage beluga whale's very human-like reaction to a marriage proposal taking place just outside her tank at the Georgia Aquarium has the internet buzzing. The TikTok video capturing last Wednesday's special moment has earned 6.9 million views, 2.7 million likes and 5,500 comments.



Qinu, a 16-year-old female beluga, at first seemed spellbound by the young couple posing for pics, but the whale's upturned smile turned into an open-mouthed expression of excitement when Gavin Hulberg went down on one knee and proposed to Olivia Walsh with a diamond engagement ring.



In the background audio, a crowd of aquarium onlookers can be heard cheering and applauding the couple. A few seconds later, a trainer comes into frame, gains Qinu's attention through the glass and directs her out of the scene.



Walsh, who has been interning with the beluga training team for the past three months, wrote in a TikTok comment that the aquarium proposal was the most thoughtful way Hulberg could have proposed.

She captioned the video, "The most perfect proposal I could've asked for" and punctuated the phrase with a Holding Back Tears emoji and a pink heart emoji.

According to people.com, Hulberg had reached out to the beluga whale training team at the aquarium to get "something special figured out" to make the proposal memorable.

Katie Lorenz, associate curator of mammals and birds, told people.com that Qinu's reaction at the tank window what not a taught behavior — it was her own.

TikTok commenters — there are 5,500 and counting — had a lot of fun adding clever quips about Qinu and her seeming affection for the newly engaged couple.

Wrote Keesh: "Beluga literally said 'aww.'"

Added Autumn Zhané : "The Beluga has to be a bridesmaid at this point."

Please check out the 38-second TikTok video here...

Credits: Screen captures via TikTok / withlovebyliv.

Hailey Bieber turned to her Instagram Stories on Saturday to show off another heartfelt tribute to her four-month-old son, Jack Blues Bieber — a special "toi et moi" ring featuring their two birthstones.



The proud mom added helpful labels to the gems seen nestled in the photo: On the "Jack" side of the ring is an emerald-cut peridot, the birthstone for August. On the "Mama" side is a slightly angled pear-shaped citrine, one of the official birthstones for November.

Traditionally, the “toi et moi” ring symbolizes two souls becoming one and is predominantly used for bridal jewelry. (The French phrase “toi et moi” means “you and me” in English.)

The concept is attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, who, in 1796, was a 26-year-old officer and still eight years removed from the French throne when he presented a “toi et moi” ring to his beloved Josephine on the occasion of their marriage. Josephine's bypass-style ring featured two pear-shaped gemstones, one diamond and one sapphire, set in opposite directions.

Over time, the emperor's concept has been reinvented in a number of ways. For instance, in one variation, the stones aren't the same shape and in another they're not oriented in opposite directions. In Bieber's interpretation, it represents her special bond with baby Jack.

This is not the first time Bieber has embraced mom-themed jewelry.



In an early September post on Instagram, Bieber revealed to her 54 million followers a dimensional, diamond-embellished “MOM” ring on the index finger of her left hand.



On the ring finger of the same hand was her upgraded 18-carat oval-cut diamond engagement ring that she received in late spring. The ring commemorated the renewal of her and Justin Bieber’s wedding vows after five years of marriage, as well as the exciting news that they were expecting their first child.

Her previous engagement ring — with an oval-cut diamond said to weigh between 6 and 10 carats — can be seen on the pinky of her right hand.

Then, in October, the model and cosmetics entrepreneur was photographed wearing a necklace that featured the bubble letters "JBB"— Jack's initials — as well as a gold bracelet with Jack's name spelled out in black text.

Credits: Images via Instagram / haileybieber; Instagram / justinbieber.>

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen plays the role of a jilted girlfriend who just won't let go in her 2012 release, "Wedding Ring/Guitar String."



In the song, Jepsen tells her ex that if he agrees to come back to her, she's willing to seal the deal with a makeshift wedding ring.

Jepsen sings, "But if you cut a piece of guitar string / I would wear it like it's a wedding ring / Wrapped around my finger / You know what I mean / You play my heart strings."

Written by Jepsen and two collaborators, "Wedding Ring/Guitar String" appeared as the 11th track of Jepsen's second studio album, Kiss.

Jepsen is best known for "Call Me Maybe," the third track on that same album. That song's worldwide success has been partly attributed to the complimentary words of fellow Canadian Justin Bieber, who tweeted that "'Call Me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen is possibly the catchiest song I've ever heard lol." Jepsen's hit went on to sell 20 million copies while charting in 34 countries. The song also led to major record deals.

While a guitar string wedding ring is unconventional, it's not unheard of. A quick TikTok search will yield many videos of amateur jewelry makers offering tips on how to best weave guitars strings into a ring. Other commercial companies have guitar strings worked into the motif of alternative-metal wedding bands.

Back in September, Jepsen took to Instagram to reveal to her 2.6 million followers the non-traditional ring marking her engagement to Grammy Award-winning music producer Cole M.G.N. The ring featured a smoky-grey-blue gem — possibly a sapphire or spinel — prong set on a simple yellow gold band.

Born in Mission, British Columbia, in 1985, Jepsen developed a passion for musical theatre while in secondary school and was accepted at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, British Columbia.

After graduating, she had a tough time landing a job in theater so she made ends meet as a pastry shop assistant, barista and bartender.

Inspired by Sinead O'Connor's rendition of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," Jepsen pursued a singing career.

She got her big break after placing third during Season 5 of Canadian Idol. The third-place finish earned her a spot on the Canadian Idol Top 3 concert tour and the rest is history.

Please check out the audio track of Jepsen performing "Wedding Ring/Guitar String." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Wedding Ring/Guitar String"
Written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Tavish Crowe and Josh Ramsay. Performed by Carly Rae Jepsen.

You were here
And then you left
Now there's nobody, nobody

Now they're all
Just second best
There's nobody, nobody

So if you want me
I'll be around
You're a bird on the water
I'm a fish on the ground

Just hold me closer
Oh won't you hold me down tonight

But if you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it like it's a wedding ring
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean
You play my heart strings

If you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it
This is the real thing
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean
You play my heart strings

When you're near
I feel the best
I'm somebody, somebody

It's in my pulse
It's in my chest
My whole body, whole body

So if you want me
I'll be around
You're a bird on the water
I'm a fish on the ground

Just hold me closer
Oh won't you hold me down tonight

But if you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it like it's a wedding ring
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean
You play my heart strings

If you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it
This is the real thing
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean
You play my heart strings

You're in the country
While I'm in the town
You're a bird in the water
I'm a fish on the ground

And I want to be there
For you tonight
And I hope you hear me
Baby hold on tight
Hold on tight, yeah

If you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it like it's a wedding ring
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean

If you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it like it's a wedding ring
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean
You play my heart strings

If you cut a piece of guitar string
I would wear it
This is the real thing
Wrapped around my finger
You know what I mean
You play my heart strings



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

In its preliminary holiday season report, Mastercard SpendingPulse singled out “jewelry” as the top-performing gift-giving category.



Overall retail sales during the period from November 1 through December 24 saw a 3.8% increase compared to 2023, with the last five days of the holiday season accounting for 10% of all holiday spending. The actual 3.8% growth blew by Mastercard's early-season forecast of 3.2%, as well as last year's growth rate of 3.1%.



Jewelry sales during the holiday season surged 4.0% compared to 2023, while electronics saw an increase of 3.7% and apparel grew 3.6%.

According to the credit card company, empowered consumers sought value at every turn this year, responding to promotions during the November and Black Friday shopping period, and filling their baskets in the run-up to December 24.

"This holiday season, we saw consumers motivated by deals, and retailers responded with promotions to meet the demand,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and chairman of Saks Incorporated. “The value-minded consumer showed up to shop at brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms, with retailers managing across both to capture attention throughout the season."

Mastercard also reported that consumer demand for experiences, such as dining out, strengthened during the holiday season, with restaurant spending up 6.3% compared to last year.

“Solid spending during this holiday season underscores the strength we observed from the consumer all year, supported by the healthy labor market and household wealth gains," noted Michelle Meyer, chief economist, Mastercard Economics Institute.

Another key takeaway from the Mastercard report is that consumers are increasingly embracing digital-first shopping, with e-commerce, curbside pick-up and delivery being top-of-mind during this year's festive season. Online retail sales grew 6.7% year-over-year, whereas in-store sales increased 2.9%.

Mastercard SpendingPulse™ reports on US retail sales across all payment types. It measures both in-store and online retail sales and is not adjusted for inflation. The findings are based on aggregate sales activity in the Mastercard payments network.

Credits: Photo by BigStockPhoto.com; Graphic courtesy of Business Wire.

A California couple who traveled to picturesque Park City, UT, for a snowy post-engagement photoshoot learned a tough lesson about how fingers can shrink in the cold weather.



The couple's photographer started off the shoot by encouraging Kim Saw, 33, to use snow as a prop in a series of fun shots where she is throwing it in the air or blowing it at the camera. But when the photographer was ready to shoot a closeup of Saw's hand on her new fiancé's chest, she noticed the ring was gone.

“Ten minutes into the shoot, we lose the ring,” Phil Mui, 34, told fox13now. “Hearts are sinking, we’re kinda freaking out a little bit.”

The couple frantically looked for the ring, but came up empty. Passersby assisted, and the couple even enlisted the help of the Park City Ski Patrol, which brought along a metal detector. Still no luck.

At one point, a member of the ski patrol half-joked that the couple should resume the search after the spring thaw.

“We thought it would take only a few minutes to find because we were in such a small area and so many people were helping us look for it, but it ended up taking us two hours,” Mui said.

Yes, after two full hours, just when they were about to give up hope, Mui spotted the diamond ring glistening atop a patch of snow-covered grass.

“As soon as Phil was like, ‘I found it!’ I was like jumping up and down, and I just started crying because I was so excited that we found it,” Zaw said.

Mui was in a kneeling position when he found the ring and remained that way when he spontaneously re-proposed to Saw — to the delight of the nearby helpers and the folks on the ski lift that was passing overhead.

Zaw believes she remembers the exact moment the ring flew off her finger.

"We did a pose where we picked up snow and threw it in the air and then we did another pose where we picked up snow and blew it at the camera at our photographer and I think it was that moment where it was so cold that I shook my hands to kind of just warm up and it fell off," she said.

It is very common for fingers to swell in the summer and shrink in the winter. Scientifically, it has to do with expanding or contracting capillaries.

Many a bride has experienced her engagement ring or wedding band feeling a little snug in the hot weather and then spin freely in the cold. These effects can be compounded if the rings are already a bit tight or loose under normal conditions.

This is why it's so important to have your precious jewelry professionally sized. It's also wise to wear gloves to protect your rings when encountering frigid weather.

Credit: Screen capture via fox13now.com.