A Missouri couple who admitted to doing things a little "backward" recently got engaged on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in front of a live studio audience and 4.2 million viewers at home. Rachel Anderson and Dane Wobbe had been surprised on December 16, 2019, when the popular host visited their living room in St. Charles, […]
Despite the best of intentions, many young suitors let the winter season slip away without proposing to the loves of their lives. They couldn't gather enough courage on Christmas Day (the single most popular time of the year to pop the question) and missed a wonderful opportunity on New Year's Eve. Then, Valentine's Day came […]
As the official birthstone for the month of March, aquamarine is the sea-blue variety of the mineral beryl, whose family members include the intense green emerald and the pink to orange-pink morganite. Aquamarine can range in color from rich blue to greenish-blue, with each variation dependent on trace amounts of iron in the gemstone’s chemical […]
A new study from Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory reveals how — with the right amount of pressure and a modest amount of heat — a substance found in crude oil and natural gas can be transformed into pure diamond. The findings were published February 21 in the journal Science Advances. “Starting with […]
In 1967, diamonds were discovered in the newly independent Republic of Botswana. At the time, the land-locked country in Southern Africa was the third-poorest on the continent, but the wealth and opportunity generated by its gleaming natural resource has propelled it into one of Africa's most successful economies. The key to that success is that […]
Forty-seven years ago, Debra McKenna lost her boyfriend's high school ring in the bathroom of a Portland, Maine, department store. Shawn's ring was adorned with an oval blue faceted stone and embellished with the tall mast symbol for Morse High School's athletic nickname — the Shipbuilders. Ironically, the ring was discovered in early February by […]
In a move that will surely raise its profile in the global market for polished colored diamonds, Russian mining giant Alrosa recently sold a 6.21-carat fancy intense pink-purple stunner to New York-based diamantaire Larry West. Already the world’s leading diamond producer in terms of sheer output, Alrosa is looking to become a major player in […]
Couples spent an average of $5,900 on their engagement rings in 2019, according to The Knot's 13th Annual Real Weddings Study. That amount reflected a budget increase of about 4% compared to 2018. The engagement ring continues to be the second-highest-priced item on the list of all wedding expenses (the venue is #1). Overall, the […]
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country music artist Marty Raybon tells the story of how a trivial prize in a box of caramel corn became a powerful symbol of a couple's eternal love. In "Cracker Jack Diamond," Raybon […]
Ladies planning to pop the question on Leap Day, February 29, may want to check out this tempting offer from Iceland's Hotel Rangá, a luxury countryside resort about an hour's drive from the capital city of Reykjavik. The hotel — which delivers breathtaking views of the northern lights — is giving away a free one-night […]