The finest known 1822 Half Eagle gold coin set a new world record when an anonymous bidder snatched it up at a Las Vegas auction last Thursday for $8.4 million. “The 1822 Half Eagle is now the most valuable gold coin minted by the United States ever sold at auction. It’s also now the third-most […]
On April 13, Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York will showcase “The Perfect Palette,” a vibrant trio of colored diamonds that will be sold separately at the auction house's Rockefeller Plaza headquarters. The most anticipated lot among the three is a 2.13-carat fancy vivid blue diamond that's expected to sell for $2 million to […]
Since the late 1800s, platinum has maintained its stature as the ultimate precious metal due to its rarity, beauty, strength and durability. But it's amazing to imagine that a precious metal that is prominently featured in the world's finest jewelry was once belittled and cast aside by the Spanish conquistadors who encountered the material while […]
Archeologists in Sweden recently unearthed a cache of wisp-thin gold foil figures at the Aska archeological site in Hagebyhöga. The delicate specimens, which depict embracing couples and date back about 1,300 years, were found at the bottom of post holes in the remains of a great hall at this historic site. The foil shown, above, […]
Reflecting nearly 2,000 hours of hand fabrication, this diamond and rock crystal bangle bracelet will headline Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong on April 20. The bracelet by Cartier features a D-flawless, 63.66-carat, pear-shaped white diamond set among smaller white diamonds and rock crystal. The architectural masterpiece carries a pre-auction high estimate of $8.4 […]
Aussie authorities urged the residents of Sapphire to move to higher ground last Wednesday when violent thunderstorms dropped 215mm (8.5 inches) of rain on one of the largest precious gem-bearing areas in the world. While most residents scrambled their way to safety, others characterized the raging flood waters as liquid gold. “There are already people […]
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sensational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we present the soulful Anita Baker singing her biggest hit, “Giving You the Best That I Got.” In this entrancing love song, the eight-time Grammy Award winner tells her husband how much she […]
The Pantone Color Institute recently revealed its top 10 colors for Autumn/Winter 2021/2022. Described as "heartening hues reflective of our natural environment," the Pantone standouts were widely seen in February's multi-media, digital-only installment of London Fashion Week. Green Bee / Tomato Cream / Ibiza Blue / Illuminating / Winery According to Pantone, the autumn/winter picks […]
Apple, the tech giant that changed your world with the introduction of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac, AirPods and Apple Watch, just filed a patent for a unique ring that has the ability to interpret hand gestures and interact with other devices. Technically, Apple describes the ring as "a self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensor-based gesture input […]
An asteroid about twice the size of New York's Empire State Building will be zooming past the Earth at 77,000 mph (124,000 kph) on Sunday, giving scientists a rare opportunity to learn whether it contains precious metals, such as silver, gold and platinum. The asteroid named "2001 FO32" will come within 1.25 million miles of […]