Dazzling Diamond and Rock Crystal Bracelet May Fetch $8.4MM at Sotheby’s HK

Reflecting nearly 2,000 hours of hand fabrication, this diamond and rock crystal bangle bracelet will headline Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong on April 20. The bracelet by Cartier features a D-flawless, 63.66-carat, pear-shaped white diamond set among smaller white diamonds and rock crystal. The architectural masterpiece carries a pre-auction high estimate of $8.4 million. Rock crystal is a …

Raging Flood Waters in Sapphire, Australia, Present Rare Fossicking Opportunity

Aussie authorities urged the residents of Sapphire to move to higher ground last Wednesday when violent thunderstorms dropped 215mm (8.5 inches) of rain on one of the largest precious gem-bearing areas in the world. While most residents scrambled their way to safety, others characterized the raging flood waters as liquid gold. “There are already people out in the sapphire fields …

Music Friday: In This Soulful Hit, Anita Baker Bets Everything on Her Wedding Ring

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sensational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we present the soulful Anita Baker singing her biggest hit, “Giving You the Best That I Got.” In this entrancing love song, the eight-time Grammy Award winner tells her husband how much she loves him, how she feels …

Pantone’s Color Palette for Autumn/Winter Reflects Our Natural Environment

The Pantone Color Institute recently revealed its top 10 colors for Autumn/Winter 2021/2022. Described as "heartening hues reflective of our natural environment," the Pantone standouts were widely seen in February's multi-media, digital-only installment of London Fashion Week. Green Bee / Tomato Cream / Ibiza Blue / Illuminating / Winery According to Pantone, the autumn/winter picks effectively mix playful with practical, …

Apple Files Patent for Smart Ring That Can Interpret Hand Gestures

Apple, the tech giant that changed your world with the introduction of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac, AirPods and Apple Watch, just filed a patent for a unique ring that has the ability to interpret hand gestures and interact with other devices. Technically, Apple describes the ring as "a self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensor-based gesture input system." According to pymnts.com, SMI …

Scientists Excited to Study Precious Metal Content of Near-Earth Asteroid

An asteroid about twice the size of New York's Empire State Building will be zooming past the Earth at 77,000 mph (124,000 kph) on Sunday, giving scientists a rare opportunity to learn whether it contains precious metals, such as silver, gold and platinum. The asteroid named "2001 FO32" will come within 1.25 million miles of Earth, which is equivalent to …

55.55-Carat Flawless Diamond Is a Fitting Tribute to 100 Years of Chanel No. 5

To mark the 100th anniversary of its Chanel No. 5 perfume, the French luxury house unveiled last week a 55.55-carat, octagonal, D-flawless diamond at the center of a commemorative necklace. The center diamond is framed by 104 round diamonds and 42 baguette diamonds, and when viewed from the side resembles the profile of the perfume bottle's stopper. Exactly 100 years …

Music Friday: Tom Misch Wants to Stay ‘South of the River’ Where the ‘Loving Is Gold’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you groovy songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, 25-year-old Tom Misch and hundreds of his fans perform "South of the River," his tribute to South London where the "loving is gold." For those of you unfamiliar with the geography of London, the city is split horizontally …

299.3-Carat Gem-Quality Stone From Famous Cullinan Mine Sells for $12.18MM

The 299.3-carat diamond recovered in January at the iconic Cullinan mine in South Africa has been sold to Stargems for $12.18 million, according to Petra Diamonds. The impressive per-carat price of $40,701 is equivalent to the MSRP for a 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan. Imagine, a precious stone weighing in at just over 2 ounces has approximately the same value as …

‘Dragon Stone’ Plays Central Role in Disney’s ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

A radiant, powerful "dragon stone" plays a central role in the newly released — and critically acclaimed — Disney fantasy film, Raya and the Last Dragon. The stone is a symbol of power and peace in the mythical land of Kumandra. When the stone is fractured, its powers dissipate and the peaceful land becomes vulnerable to the nasty Druun (amorphous, …