Town of Nördlingen, Germany, Sits in a Massive Crater Filled With 72,000 Tons of Diamonds

The picturesque Bavarian town of Nördlingen, Germany, is situated in a crater filled with 72,000 tons of diamonds, according to a story posted Friday by Smithsonianmag.com. Although the town’s origins date back to 898 A.D., it wasn’t until 50 years ago that scientists realized that the 9-mile-wide depression, known as the Ries crater, was formed by the impact of an …

‘Offcuts’ Removed During the Faceting of Super-Large Diamonds Reveal Their Deep-Earth Origin, Says GIA Study

The world’s largest diamonds, such as the Cullinan or Constellation, have a much different composition and structure than their smaller counterparts, states a breakthrough study by the Gemological Institute of America. Unlike smaller diamonds that materialized at a relatively shallow depth of 90 to 125 miles amid oxygen-rich rocks, the biggest diamonds formed 200 to 500 miles below the surface …

Carrie Ann Inaba’s Engagement Ring From Robb Derringer Took Her Breath Away

Dancing With the Stars’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba couldn’t be more elated with the 3.68-carat oval-cut diamond engagement ring that actor Robb Derringer placed on her finger during a bonfire-lit proposal at the site of their magical first date. The ring features a number of secret, symbolic, unseen elements, including an oval-cut ruby that is flush-set on the inside of …

Mass. State Troopers Recover Elderly Couple’s Wedding Rings Alongside Interstate Highway

Two Massachusetts state troopers recently went above and beyond the call of duty to recover the wedding rings of a senior couple who had lost them alongside Route I-495 in Wareham — about 20 miles from the historic Plymouth Rock. On December 8, troopers Kurt Bourdon and Jonathan O’Loughlin responded to midday calls from concerned drivers regarding two elderly individuals with metal detectors …

Music Friday: Kelly Clarkson Asks Santa to Make Her Christmas Eve ‘4 Carats, Please’

Welcome to a special Christmas edition of Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Kelly Clarkson asks Santa for high-end jewels in the 2013 holiday favorite “4 Carats.” In this tune penned by Clarkson and three collaborators, the “Original American Idol” makes a plea to Santa on …

Clouds Packed With Rubies and Sapphires Circle the Distant Exoplanet HAT-P-7b, Say UK Astronomers

Astronomers at the University of Warwick in the UK have identified a massive exoplanet with cloud formations densely packed with rubies and sapphires. Located 1,000 lightyears away, the blistering hot Jupiter-like planet — named HAT-P-7b — was studied using NASA’s Kepler space telescope. Researchers monitored HAT-P-7b for four years and witnessed unusual shimmering cloud systems being propelled by a powerful …