Lucara has done it again. For the fourth time in eight years, the mining company has unearthed a 1,000-carat-plus diamond at its Karowe Mine in Botswana. Described as a Type IIa top white gem of high quality, the 1,080-carat oblong gem was recovered by Lucara’s MDR (Mega Diamond Recovery) XRT circuit, a system that uses advanced technology to identify 100-carat-plus …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sensational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg compares his love to the hardest substance on Earth in the introspective “Diamonds to Dust.” In the song, a despondent Fogelberg describes how even the most enduring relationships can break down over time — and …

A dreamlike marriage proposal against a sky of colorful fireworks nearly turned into a water-logged nightmare for model CJ Franco and filmmaker Len Wiseman when her engagement ring went missing just hours after he popped the question. Franco told People magazine that her boyfriend of eight years surprised her with a ring during a romantic July 4 getaway to Cabo …

Tipping the scales at an impressive 100.15 carats, this triangular-cut peridot is one of the world’s most striking examples of August's birthstone. Mined in Pakistan and exhibiting an exceptional vivid green hue, the gem has been part of the Smithsonian's National Gem and Mineral Collection since 2011. The Smithsonian obtained the gem with funds provided by the Tiffany & Co. …

A little over four years ago, Dutch Diamond Technologies introduced the world to an all-diamond ring faceted from a plate of lab-grown material. Dubbed “Project D” and timed to coincide with the company's 10th anniversary, the high-profile accomplishment provided a publicity bonanza, while highlighting the high-tech company's innovative capabilities. The finished product boasted 133 facets and a total weight of …

Utilizing advanced spectroscopic techniques, scientists at the American Institute of Physics can now pinpoint the precise origin of a gemstone. This scientific breakthrough is exciting on a few levels. For instance, curators at the Smithsonian might want to determine if the emerald at the center of a historic crown originated in Cleopatra’s Mines near the Red Sea or the ancient …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Easton Corbin delivers a singing marriage proposal — while revealing what’s under this old hat — in his 2009 chart topper “A Little More Country Than That.” In the song about trust and small town sensibilities, Corbin states …

An international team led by geologists at the University of Southampton in England believes that the eruption of kimberlite pipes — the molten rock that blasts diamonds from deep within the Earth to the surface — is statistically linked with the fracturing of the Pangea supercontinent. Geologists believe that some 300 million years ago a massive supercontinent incorporated nearly all …

Tupac Shakur's majestic ruby and diamond “crown” ring fetched $1.02 million at Sotheby’s New York last week, earning it the distinction as the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold at auction. The hammer price was more than three times the presale high estimate of $300,000, and the impressive result spawned headlines across the media. The new owner remained a mystery …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, the spotlight shines on two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks as she sings “24 Karat Gold,” the title song from her 2014 album. Nicks revealed that the tune she penned in 1980 — but didn’t …