Fun

Did you know whatever device you’re using to read this post – mobile, tablet or desktop – wouldn’t exist without lab-grown diamonds? Did you know diamonds are being used for medical imaging, quantum entanglement and (you read it right) teleportation? Read on.

As the world watches the engaging achievements of NASA and SpaceX – and Boeing sits in the wings hungry to make their own space-shots – let’s take a fanciful look at the landscape ahead for diamond and jewelry enthusiasts.

What’s on your watch-list? Bookmark this post and get some popcorn ready. There are nearly 24 sparkling hours of well-known jewelry themed movies listed below. These 10 cinematic classics span more than 80 years. I’m not going to play favorites (even though I have one), so here they are in alphabetical order.

Did you know that the sparkle of candlelight is actually created by millions of tiny, brightly burning nano-diamonds? In fact, around 1.5 million microscopic diamonds are created per second in the flame of a candle as it burns.

Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic ballerina clips danced onto the American stage in the early 1940s and were immediately embraced by the public, who saw them as refreshing symbols of joy and hope during the uncertain days of World War II. We could all use a bit of joy and hope right now, so let’s revisit some of these beautiful jewels.

Much of the 20th century passed by without much attention to men in pearls. Fortunately we have seen a notable uptick in red-carpet sightings of men sporting pearl bracelets, tie-clips, earrings and – with increasing frequency – pearl neckwear.

Are close-ups of gemological inclusions actually works of art, painted by Mother Nature in anticipation of our creative human inspirations? When exploring the mysterious spaces of crystals we must sometimes ask ourselves whether we’ve stepped into another area, the field of real art.

You know it as emerald, the birthstone of May. Today’s post celebrates all Maybies and Mayple (May babies and May people) with a focus on “your stone.” The largest high-quality rough emerald ever found, and the poetic story behind its provenance and sale.

Humans need variety right now. We’re always hungry for something new, sick of eating the same old thing. So let’s change things up. Set out your tableware, put on the candles and prepare for a nouvelle experience in three courses. Bon appétit!

Some amazing, creative and vivid jewelry pieces from iconic designers at last year’s Couture show, presented to you in all the colors of the rainbow.

The oldest earth-born object known to man, this tiny item is a part of our planet’s crust which crystallized an astounding 4.4-billion-years ago. Older than our planet’s diamonds. Older, even, than extraterrestrial iron and crystal that fell to earth from the sky.

How much is a quadrillion? Here’s how 1 quadrillion pennies would appear, stacked behind the Sears Tower, Empire State Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and a football field… Now replace each penny with a ton of diamonds!

Considered a gift from the mermaids, this translucent gemstone became worn by ancient sailors for the protection it was thought to offer at sea. As we bring March to close it’s fitting to visit the wonderful aspects of this month’s birthstone, the aquamarine.

It’s a fair question. Health, safety and shelter must be our priorities right now. So why are people continuing to discuss, debate, and obsess over jewelry? Katherine, an active enthusiast in an online jewelry community, provided a response for the ages. Literally.

I was visiting with my esteemed colleague Luigi Costantini in Italy – practicing safe social email-distancing of course – and the topic of expressions came up. Namely, how the internet has influenced symbology.

Thousands of years ago in southwest Africa a party of Nama People discovered a field of odd iron fragments to use in tools and weapons. Imagine their shock if they were told those fragments had come from the very stars they worshipped.

Whether we like it or not, human beings just can’t resist a little gossip. So why not make the best of it? As a professional, mixing just the right amount into a sales presentation can add flavor.

Crack! Fracture! Cleavage! Gletz! These words are used to describe one of mother nature’s most common clarity characteristics. The feather. The dreaded feather. That notorious, ticking-time-bomb that could cause your diamond to EXPLODE!

The three largest diamonds ever found on planet Earth are under the control of three notable icons. So, where did they come from? How much did they cost? Where are they now? Take a look at three of the most unique and spectacular diamond crystals ever unearthed.

Florida adopted the moonstone as it’s state gem in 1970. But our ancestors believed they could touch the moon long before humans ever traveled to outer space.

Once upon a time… A lonely rough diamond met another. The two began growing together. For countless ages they shared […]

You’ve found the perfect partner and want to propose. Wonderful! Now you need a symbol of affection and connection. A […]

History’s most famous black-diamonds may be those included in the Fantasy Bra worn by Adriana Lima at the 2008 Victoria’s Secret fashion show.. That’s perfectly fitting, since black-diamonds have a “Secret” of their own, as we will reveal below…

From the beginning, the International Gemological Institute has had total commitment to understanding consumer concerns. So it’s appropriate, at the […]