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by Howard Cohen on Dec 18 2017
Swiss luxury jeweler de Grisogono has sent the 813-carat “Constellation” rough diamond to Israel to undergo the first stages of a cutting process that is expected to yield a 350-carat D-flawless polished stone — a gem that would rank as the fourth-largest faceted diamond in the world. When he first purchased the rights to cut...
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by Howard Cohen on Dec 15 2017
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. In the 1983 holiday release, “2000 Miles,” Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders paints a picture of a diamond-embellished winter scene while lamenting the fact that she’s far away from the one she loves at...
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December’s Newest Birthstone — Tanzanite — Is Celebrating Its Golden Anniversary
by Howard Cohen on Dec 14 2017
Tanzanite, one of December’s three official birthstones, is celebrating its golden anniversary. Fifty years ago, Maasai tribesmen discovered dazzling bluish-violet gems in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Originally thought to be sapphires, the mesmerizing stones were identified by the Gemological Institute of America as a never-before-seen variation of zoisite. The unusual mineral caught...
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Blackened Wedding Ring Pulled From the Ashes Inspires Wildfire Survivor to Propose All Over Again
by Howard Cohen on Dec 13 2017
A blackened wedding ring recovered from the ashes of their lost home symbolizes a new beginning for Southern California wildfire survivors Julie and Don Myers. The Ventura County couple was forced to flee their home when the fast-moving, wind-whipped fires tore through their neighborhood. When fire officials allowed them to return to their property, Julie...
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Elite Collection of Green Diamonds Makes Its Debut at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
by Howard Cohen on Dec 12 2017
On Saturday, visitors to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles were the first to view an elite collection of ultra-rare green diamonds. Called “Green Diamonds: Natural Radiance,” the exhibit includes 60 gems on loan from New York-based Optimum Diamonds, a company that has amassed the largest collection of natural green diamonds in the world....
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‘Ultra Violet’ Is Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year and We’re Excited by the Possibilities
by Howard Cohen on Dec 11 2017
“Ultra Violet” is Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year and we’re excited by the possibilities. While Pantone says the vibrant color communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking, we see the Color Institute’s pick as a great reason to shine the spotlight on some of our favorite gemstones, including amethyst, tanzanite, iolite, spinel and violet sapphire....
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Music Friday: Diamond Bracelet and Diamond Ring Top Ashanti’s Holiday Wish List in ‘Hey Santa’
by Howard Cohen on Dec 08 2017
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you festive songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Ashanti tells jolly old St. Nick what she wants for Christmas in her 2003 holiday tune, “Hey Santa.” In the first verse, she asks for “something sweet,” such as chocolate Kisses or candy...
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Beatles Legend Paul McCartney Invites Aussie Couple Onstage for a Very Special Marriage Proposal
by Howard Cohen on Dec 07 2017
Beatles superfan Saya and boyfriend Martin saw their dreams come true Saturday night when music legend Paul McCartney invited them onstage in the Land Down Under for a very special marriage proposal. More than 24,000 fans at the sold-out “nib Stadium” in Perth, Australia, shared the love as McCartney interrupted his encore to focus on...
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Beatles Legend Paul McCartney Invites Aussie Couple Onstage for a Very Special Marriage Proposal
by Howard Cohen on Dec 07 2017
Beatles superfan Saya and boyfriend Martin saw their dreams come true Saturday night when music legend Paul McCartney invited them onstage in the Land Down Under for a very special marriage proposal. More than 24,000 fans at the sold-out “nib Stadium” in Perth, Australia, shared the love as McCartney interrupted his encore to focus on...
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5.69-Carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Fetches $15.1 Million at Sotheby’s New York
by Howard Cohen on Dec 06 2017
A 5.69-carat fancy vivid blue diamond fetched $15.1 million at Sotheby’s New York yesterday, making it the top lot of the day and advancing the narrative that aficionados are eager to pay top dollar for blue diamonds that carry the ultra-rare “fancy vivid” classification. The hammer price, which is equivalent to $2.66 million per carat,...
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Hershey’s Is Betting That Its Newest Flavor Profile Will Have Consumers Going for the ‘Gold’
by Howard Cohen on Dec 05 2017
Who knew gold was a flavor? On Friday, Hershey’s Gold — a candy bar crafted from caramelized creme and packed with peanuts and pretzels — started hitting shelves at supermarkets and sweet shops from coast to coast. “Gold” is only the fourth flavor profile in the 123-year history of the iconic brand, which first delighted...
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Diver Recovers ‘Priceless’ Engagement Ring From the Murky Depths of Lake Travis in Texas
by Howard Cohen on Dec 04 2017
A juicy hamburger served at the Gnarly Gar floating restaurant on Lake Travis in Texas nearly cost Hannah Austin her engagement ring last Sunday. The Colorado Springs native was enjoying a casual lunch with her family at the open-air eatery near Austin when she took off her “priceless” family heirloom and rested it on the...
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Music Friday: Aaron Watson Pens a Love Letter to His Little Girl in ‘Diamonds and Daughters’
by Howard Cohen on Dec 01 2017
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome new songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country star Aaron Watson pens a love letter to his little girl in “Diamonds and Daughters.” Released in February of 2017 as the 16th track from his Vaquero album, “Diamonds and Daughters”...
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550-Pound Swarovski Treetopper Is the ‘Star’ of Rockefeller Center’s Annual Celebration
by Howard Cohen on Nov 30 2017
Two weeks ago, New York City crane operators carefully maneuvered the iconic 550-pound Swarovski Star onto the top of a 75-foot-tall Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Set with 25,000 crystals and gleaming with one million reflective facets, the 9.5-foot-wide stunner has been the “star” of the tree-lighting celebration since 2004. Each year, the star is...
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Recutting Pays Off as ‘Pink Promise’ Fetches $31.9MM, Setting Record at Christie’s Hong Kong
by Howard Cohen on Nov 29 2017
Described by its auctioneer as the “Picasso of the pink diamond world,” the 14.93-carat “Pink Promise” set a record yesterday when it fetched $31.9 million at Christie’s Hong Kong. The $2.13 million per-carat selling price was the highest ever paid for a pink diamond larger than 10 carats. The oval-shaped pink diamond — which had...
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Welcome to the Start of ‘Engagement Season’ — the Most Romantic Time of the Year
by Howard Cohen on Nov 27 2017
Thanksgiving Day marked the start of the “engagement season,” a romantic time of the year that stretches all the way to Valentine’s Day. The period accounts for 23% of the calendar, but proudly claims about 40% of all marriage proposals. According to WeddingWire.com, Christmas Day is the most popular day to get engaged, followed by...
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Golden Laurel Leaf Trimmed From Napoleon’s Coronation Crown Sells at Auction for $730,000
by Howard Cohen on Nov 22 2017
A golden laurel leaf trimmed from the coronation crown of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804 sold for a surprising $730,000 at an auction near Paris on Sunday. The hammer price was more than four times the pre-sale high estimate. Weighing barely 10 grams (.35 ounces), the leaf’s precious metal value is less than $500....
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Sierra Leone Yields Second Massive Diamond of 2017; This One Weighs 476.7 Carats
by Howard Cohen on Nov 21 2017
It’s been a banner year for tiny West African nation of Sierra Leone. The recent discovery of the 476.7-carat “Meya Prosperity” — which followed the March discovery of the even more massive 709.1-carat “Peace Diamond” — gives Sierra Leone the distinction of being the source of the world’s two biggest diamond finds of 2017. The...
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Mother Nature Dazzles Us Again: Natural Freshwater Pearl Bears Uncanny Likeness to a Swimming Fish
by Howard Cohen on Nov 20 2017
A natural freshwater pearl bearing an uncanny likeness to a swimming fish proves, once again, that Mother Nature is the world’s greatest artist, sculptor and designer. Measuring a little less than an inch in length, the specimen’s shape, color, scale-like texture and seemingly articulated head and body make for a one-of-a-kind masterwork that has the...
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Music Friday: Sonny Turner of The Platters Sings, ‘With This Ring I Promise I’ll Always Love You’
by Howard Cohen on Nov 17 2017
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of “With This Ring,” a feel-good sing-along that was a huge hit for The Platters and frontman Sonny Turner. In this song, Turner is about to marry...
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