A diamond battery that can last 28,000 years? Yup, it's about to happen because the concept floated five years ago has evolved into a commercial product. Back in 2016, scientists from the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute developed an ingenious means of pairing the unique characteristics of nuclear waste and microscopic diamonds to create a […]
Exactly 140 years ago, a dangerous landslide led to the discovery of the most beautiful and coveted sapphires known to man. High above the nearly inaccessible Himalayan village of Soomjam, the serendipitous event exposed a sheer wall pocked with cornflower blue corundum crystals — gems that would soon be known as Kashmir sapphires. At first, […]
Welcome to Music Friday when we feature classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we shine the spotlight on Marc Broussard and Jamie McLean singing Sam Cooke’s 1962 R&B hit “Bring It on Home to Me.” Honored as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 […]
In honor of April’s birthstone we offer you a sneak peek at the 15.81-carat internally flawless gem that will make history on May 23 as the largest fancy vivid purple-pink diamond ever to appear at auction. According to Christie's, this diamond weighs almost one carat more than the previous record-holder. Named "The Sakura Diamond," the cherry-blossom-colored […]
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 […]