“Buyers Guide,” the third installment in Gemfields’ short-film series, introduces the “6Cs” of buying a ruby or emerald. Gemfields takes the commonly known “4Cs” of buying a diamond — color, clarity, cut and carat weight — and adds “character” and “certification.” The character of a gemstone is defined by its unique inclusions – the tiny flaws entombed in its crystals, …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today’s featured song, “Golden Ring,” chronicles Eric Clapton’s complicated love triangle with model Pattie Boyd and The Beatles’ George Harrison. When asked by VH1 in 1999 to name his favorite song from his own catalog, the 17-time Grammy winner …

Simple-to-use DNA testing kits, such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA, have been providing millions of families with eye-opening snapshots of where their ancestors came from. Now, the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) is employing similar DNA fingerprinting technology to determine the origin of natural and cultured pearls. By combining DNA fingerprinting with age-dating technology already provided by SSEF, it is now possible …

On Friday, Lady Gaga dished the tasty 2019 Oscars backstory of how the $30 million, 128.54-carat "Tiffany Diamond" that she wore during the awards ceremony remained on her neck during a Madonna-hosted afterparty — and a late-night excursion to Taco Bell. During her virtual appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Gaga described the celebration after scoring her first Oscar for …

Today we celebrate June’s official birthstone by shining our spotlight on the world's largest natural pearl. Tipping the scales at 600 carats (about a quarter pound) and standing 3 inches tall, the "Pearl of Asia" boasts a storied history that dates back more than 400 years. Jewelry experts believe the baroque-shaped pearl was discovered in the pearl fishing grounds of …

A marquise-cut, 12.11-carat, fancy intense blue diamond will be headlining Christie's first live auction since the COVID-19 outbreak. The internally flawless diamond is expected to fetch between $8.3 million and $12.2 million at Christie's Hong Kong on July 10, with previews running from July 4-7. Flanked by two side stones and set on a diamond band, the stunning blue diamond …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, pop star Katy Perry encourages young women to aspire to greatness in her 2010 ballad, “Pearl.” On her YouTube channel, Perry explained that “Pearl” is a song she wrote for anyone who’s been held down — by friends, …

A San Francisco-based Greek restaurant chain, which had closed each of its eateries in strict adherence to the city's shelter-in-place order, made a special exception recently and opened one of its stores so a long-time regular could surprise his girlfriend with a proposal in the exact spot where their first date took place five years ago. Sam Goldstein and Christa …

Reservations were limited and visitors needed to bring their own tools, but the good news is that Arkansas' field of dreams — the Crater of Diamonds State Park — reopened on Friday, May 22, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. The 37½-acre search field in Murfreesboro is actually the eroded surface of an ancient diamond-bearing kimberlite pipe. Treasure …

The Washington Nationals unveiled the design of their 2019 World Series rings during a video presentation on Sunday night. Featuring 257 gemstones weighing a total of 23.20 carats, the 14-karat white and yellow gold rings document the team's unlikely road to the championship after starting the season with a 19-31 record. The team had been enduring a miserable slump when …