Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger sings about finding the perfect love in the group’s 2008 hit, “Gotta Be Somebody.” In Kroeger’s view, we all dream about the love of a lifetime, the perfect soulmate. The challenge is having the …
Named After a Perfume, 1,000-Carat ‘Most Precious’ Aquamarine Resides at the Smithsonian
“Most Precious” is one of the world’s most beautiful examples of March’s official birthstone. Presented as part of the National Gem and Mineral collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., the rectangular-cut aquamarine from Brazil weighs a startling 1,000-carats and evokes the clear blue hue of a tranquil sea. A gift of Dr. W. Langer and Evyan …
Arkansas-Sourced ‘Esperanza’ Diamond Heads to the Auction Block March 21
Here’s your chance to own a piece of Americana. The 4.64-carat D-flawless “Esperanza” diamond, which was found by Bobbie Oskarson in 2015 at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Ark., will be offered for sale at Skinner’s fine jewelry auction in Boston on March 21. Esperanza carries a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 to $150,000 and is the top lot …
NASA Captures Image of Giant ‘Ice Diamond’ Floating in Caspian Sea
NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite spotted a glistening diamond-shaped ice jewel while orbiting above the cold, 600-mile northern region of the Caspian Sea — the world’s largest inland body of water — stretching from Kazakhstan to Iran. The image of Ice Diamond was captured on February 4 by NASA’s Operational Land Imager (OLI), a high-tech camera attached to the satellite. IFL …
UK Treasure Hunters Unearth Four Golden Torcs Dating Back 2,500 Years
Two buddies with a passion for treasure hunting unearthed four 2,500-year-old golden torcs within the parish of Leekfrith (pop. 363) in the English countryside. The items, which include three neck torcs and one bracelet weighing between 1 ounce and 8 ounces, may date back to 400 BC and represent the earliest Iron Age gold work ever discovered in Britain. An …
Jewelry Collection of Celebrated Author Jackie Collins to Hit the Auction Block at Bonhams
One thousand lots from the estate of celebrated author Jackie Collins — including a 6.04-carat pear-shaped diamond — will hit the auction block on May 17 and 18 at Bonhams in Los Angeles. The star and socialite, who wrote 31 novels which together sold more than 500 million copies in 40 countries worldwide, passed away in September of 2015 at …
McMatch Made in Heaven: Man Pops the Question With Ring Hidden in Box of Chicken McNuggets
When Lincoln, Ill., native Kristian Helton was plotting the perfect way to propose to girlfriend Karsyn Long on Valentine’s Day, he knew that McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets had to be the focus of the plan. You see, Long absolutely loves, loves, loves the crispy batter-dipped morsels. “She has devoted her life to chicken nuggets,” Helton told NBC affiliate WAND, “so that …
‘Real Is Rare. Real Is a Diamond’ Commercial Shares Limelight During Last Night’s Academy Awards
More than 30 million viewers tuning into the 89th annual Academy Awards last night got their first glimpse of “Runaways,” the second in a series of “Real is Rare. Real is a Diamond” commercials produced by the Diamond Producers Association (DPA). It’s been 10 years since the diamond category has shared the limelight of the Oscars — the second-most-watched event in the …
Music Friday: Ed Sheeran Carves a Heart Pendant for His Girlfriend in the 2011 Love Song, ‘Wake Me Up’
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you wonderful songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Ed Sheeran carves a heart pendant for his girlfriend in the 2011 love song, “Wake Me Up.” “Wake Me Up” is essentially a musical love letter to Sheeran’s girlfriend, where the English singer/songwriter outlines all the characteristics and …
Minnesota Twins Pitcher Phil Hughes Has 24-Karat Aspirations for His Surgically Removed Rib
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Phil Hughes shook up the internet last week when he hinted that he’s seriously considering transforming his surgically removed rib into a piece of jewelry. Hughes underwent surgery last July to correct a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome. During the surgery, a small rib in the upper chest was removed to alleviate pain caused by the compression of nerves …