Russian mining giant Alrosa recently revealed the “New Sun,” a radiant, 100-plus-carat, fancy vivid yellow diamond that now ranks as the largest polished colored diamond ever produced in Russia. With its rich honey-golden hue and flawless proportions, this gem is the end product of a journey that began in August 2020, deep within the permafrost of Yakutia, at the Ebelyakh …

On Friday, April 11, the American Museum of Natural History unveiled "Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry from the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels," a glittering new exhibition where natural history meets high jewelry in a tribute to the cosmos. Set in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery within the renowned Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, the exhibition …

Welcome to Music Friday, when we feature classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we rewind to 1965 and turn up “Play With Fire,” a haunting tune by The Rolling Stones that puts diamonds front and center. The song opens with a glittering nod to high-society indulgence with Mick Jagger singing, “Well, you’ve …

Before the Winston Red Diamond took its place as the dazzling centerpiece of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, on April 1, the ultra-rare, 2.33-carat gem underwent one of the most thorough scientific evaluations ever conducted on a "Fancy red" diamond. The examination was a collaborative effort between Gemological Institute of America …

In the rolling hills near Beit Shemesh, Israel, where the echoes of ancient civilizations still linger, the discovery of a 3,800-year-old scarab amulet has captivated the imaginations of archaeologists, historians — and jewelry lovers alike. That's because the amazing find didn't result from the arduous digging of a highly skilled research team but, instead, the curiosity of a 3½-year-old girl …

Billed as the world's largest flawless Paraiba tourmaline, the 181.61-carat "Kat Florence Lumina" is expected to make a splash at Bonhams' auction on May 22 in Hong Kong. The journey of the Lumina began more than two decades ago in the rugged terrains of Mozambique’s Mavuco district, where famed gem hunter Don Kogen unearthed an extraordinary 830-carat crystal. From the …

In a twist of geological poetry, Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories has delivered one of its most exceptional finds yet — a 158.20-carat gem-quality yellow diamond — just as the mine prepares to shutter its operations. The discovery of this rare stone, one of the largest yellow diamonds ever found in Canada, and only the …

In 1964, a 22-year-old Aretha Franklin declared in a song called “One Room Paradise” that she didn’t need to live in the lap of luxury or be draped in diamonds to be happy. A little one-room apartment would be totally fine as long as she could be with the man she loved. Halfway through the tune, however, Franklin seems to …

Love stories come in all shapes and sizes, but few can rival the grand romantic gesture of Denos Vourderis, a hardworking immigrant who made good on a fanciful engagement promise by purchasing one of New York City's most enduring landmarks. When Denos proposed to his beloved Lula in 1948, he didn't just offer her a traditional diamond ring. Instead, he …

In honor of April's official birthstone, we present the fascinating backstory of the historic and well-traveled "Blue Heart Diamond," a 30.62-carat stunner that Smithsonian benefactor Marjorie Merriweather Post described as "prettier than that other one" while escorting guests on a tour of the National Gem Gallery. The object of her snub was the "Hope Diamond." The origin story of the …