Debswana Diamond Co. will be spending $6 billion on a massive project that will extend by 20 years the lifespan of Jwaneng, the world's richest diamond mine. When the Botswana mine reaches full capacity in 2034, it will be generating 9 million carats per year. Since 1982, Jwaneng has been an open-pit mine, but the […]
Completely redesigned and reinstalled, the 11,000-square-foot Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City are set to reopen on June 12. The new Halls will feature more than 5,000 specimens sourced from 95 countries. Among the most notable specimens are the legendary 563-carat Star of India […]
On a night when the highly touted, 100.94-carat, D-flawless "Spectacle" diamond was supposed to be the star of Christie's Geneva auction, it was a 19th century sapphire-and-diamond crown that earned the loudest applause. The crown once worn by Queen Maria II of Portugal (1819-1853) sparked a bidding war that yielded a final price of 1.77 million […]
Gem Diamonds, the mining company that operates the prolific Letšeng mine in Lesotho, is riding a wave of fabulous luck. On Tuesday, May 4, officials announced the discovery of a 254-carat Type II white gem, and then on Monday, May 10, topped that news with the unveiling of a 370-carat Type II stunner. Despite its […]
A formal independent study has confirmed what jewelers have been telling their customers for generations: When it comes to wear resistance and gem-setting security, platinum outperforms white gold. This most recent phase of research represented the third in a series of platinum wear testing studies, spanning 2016 to 2020. Conducted by Forshungsinstitut Edelmetalle & Metallchemie […]
Actress Rebel Wilson recently showed off a cool "class ring" commemorating the 10th anniversary of Bridesmaids, the hilarious movie that earned a Golden Globe nomination, two Academy Award nominations and more than $288 million at the box office worldwide. A gift of director Paul Feig, the ring features a pinkish-purple cabochon center stone and a […]
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, our spotlights shines on Savage Garden, an Australian pop duo that loved to open its live shows with an over-the-top, dancing-in-the-aisles rendition of "Tears of Pearls." Pearls are referenced throughout the song to […]
Tallulah Willis, the youngest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, turned to Instagram on Tuesday to announce her engagement to film director Dillon Buss and to show off a stunning Asscher-cut diamond on a bold, gold band. On Wednesday afternoon, she returned to her Instagram page to share a close-up of her ring and […]
A team of landfill workers in New Hanover County, NC, went above and beyond the call of duty to rescue an engagement ring and wedding band that had been accidentally put out with the trash. The green-vested team worked for hours sorting through layer upon layer of garbage bags until the right one was found […]
Seventy-seven perfectly matched cabochon-cut emerald "leaves" sprout from a diamond-studded golden branch in this stunning necklace from the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection. The piece boasts 350 carats of Colombian emeralds and provides one of the world's most unique displays of May's official birthstone. Designed in the mid-1960s by Julius Cohen, the piece was donated to […]