If your travels take you through southern New England this summer, be sure to stop into the Yale Peabody Museum, which officially reopened its Halls of Minerals, Earth, and Space to the public earlier this month. Within the museum, the celebrated David Friend Hall showcases one of the world's foremost collections of minerals. More than 170 specimens — some of …
4-Carat Diamond Ring Found Wrapped in a Sock Appraises for £20,000
A mother-daughter duo sauntering through London's Crystal Palace Park during an outdoor taping of BBC's Antiques Roadshow were shocked to learn that a diamond ring they found stashed in "mum's" sock drawer was a 4-carat, platinum-set treasure worth £20,000 ($25,800). The mom and daughter hadn't intended to get the ring appraised that day, but there was no queue to meet …
In the Spirit of Peter Carl Fabergé, Latest Egg Unfurls to Reveal Ruby Surprise
In 1885, Russian Tsar Alexander III commissioned the House of Fabergé to create a fabulous Easter egg for his wife, the Empress Maria Feodorovna. The Tsar was so pleased with the result that he decided to establish a tradition that would last 33 years. Over that time, designer and master goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé would create 52 eggs. He was …
NASA Scientists Surprised by Presence of Sulfur Crystals on Surface of Mars
About 150 million miles away on the surface of Mars, NASA's one-ton Curiosity rover accidentally rolled over the top of a nondescript white rock, busting it apart to reveal the beautiful yellowish-green crystals of pure sulfur that were inside. While NASA scientists had long known about the presence of opal on the Red Planet, the discovery of elemental sulfur was …
Music Friday: Fed-Up Girlfriend Demands Shiny Ring in ‘Little White Church’
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town demands an engagement ring and a walk down the aisle in the high-energy 2010 country hit, “Little White Church.” Fairchild portrays a young woman who is fed up with her boyfriend — …
As Gold Price Surges to Record High, Let’s Take a Look at Where It’s Secured
Gold prices surged to an all-time high of $2,482 per ounce yesterday, sparked by expectations of a Fed interest-rate cut in September. Yesterday's record price is nearly 29% higher than a year ago ($1,926) and almost 72% higher than five years ago ($1,446). With gold experiencing an astonishing ascent, let's take a look at the US facilities that secure the …
World-Class Sprinters Xavier Worthy and Tia Jones Announce Engagement
World-class sprinters Xavier Worthy and Tia Jones, both clad in white and wearing sandals, held hands while relishing a slow, sandy walk toward the beachfront. This is where Worthy had prepared a candle-lit rose-petal pathway leading to a mammoth red-rose wreath flanked by free-standing white block letters spelling out "Marry Me." Worthy, a first-round draft pick of the Super Bowl …
Portland Jetport Exhibit Features Second-Largest Piece of the Moon on Earth
The second-largest piece of the moon on Earth — an irregularly shaped blackish-brown specimen weighing about 94 pounds (42.7 kg) and similar in size to a rugby ball — is now part of a special exhibit at Portland International Jetport in Maine. The display titled "Fly Me to the Moon" also features one of the largest pieces of Mars on …
Why Buying an Engagement Ring on Romantic Trip Abroad Is Fraught With Risks
An Ontario couple recently sought the help of CTV News Toronto after a $4,000 diamond engagement ring they purchased in February at a jewelry store in Cancun, Mexico, turned out to be a $50 fake. The woman, who requested to be identified in a CTV News Toronto report under the pseudonym "May" because she was so embarrassed to have been …
Music Friday: Sing Along With Dion as We Salute July’s Birthstone With ‘Ruby Baby’
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you nostalgic tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Dion helps us celebrate July’s official birthstone with his 1963 hit, “Ruby Baby.” In this song of unrequited love, Dion croons about a girl who may be out of his league. He sings, “I got a girl and …