The engagement ring used by Machine Gun Kelly to propose to actress Megan Fox is a modern adaptation of a design originally conceived by a promising 26-year-old officer named Napoleon Bonaparte more than 200 years ago. Back in 1796, Napoleon — then still eight years removed from the French throne — presented to his beloved Josephine on the occasion of …
Music Friday: Ron Sexsmith Wants You to Know There’s ‘Gold in Them Hills’
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith uses the term "gold in them hills" to deliver an inspirational message about cherishing all that life has to offer — both the good and the bad. He sings, "But if we'd only open …
Sasha Spielberg Reveals New Engagement Ring and Uncanny Diary Prediction
Sasha Spielberg, the daughter of movie mogul Steven Spielberg and actress Kate Capshaw, recently announced her New Year's Eve engagement to restauranteur Harry McNally with a series of Instagram pics that included a closeup of the ring and a prescient diary entry. Sasha, who uses the stage name Buzzy Lee, posted a shot of her newly adorned left hand partially …
Perth Mint Celebrates Year of the Tiger With Opal-Inlaid Collectible Coin
The Chinese Year of the Tiger officially starts on February 1, and The Perth Mint is marking the occasion with a limited-edition, silver proof coin featuring the image of the Chinese zodiac animal rendered in pure Australian opal. Irregular slices of the bluish-purple precious stone are meticulously arranged to fill out the shape of the tiger, which stands out from …
Gold to Play Key Role in Performance of $10B James Webb Space Telescope
The gold-clad mirrors of the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope will play a key role in observing galaxies that are more than 13 billion light years away. In fact, NASA scientists believe that gold's superior ability to maximize the mirrors' reflection of infrared light gives Webb its best chance of seeing the cosmos. On December 24, a rocket carrying …
Commemorative Coins Mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 Years on the British Throne
On Sunday, February 6, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate 70 years on the British throne, and The Royal Mint will be commemorating her remarkable Platinum Jubilee with a series of precious metal coins. The special obverse design, by esteemed artist John Bergdahl, depicts The Queen on horseback and will be struck on the "heads" side of a new 50p and …
Music Friday: Justin Bieber Wants to ‘Lace You With Pearls’ in the 2011 Remix of ‘Up’
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today we feature Justin Bieber singing about pearls in the R&B remix of his 2010 release, “Up.” In this 2011 collaboration with Chris Brown, the Canadian heartthrob refuses to call it quits on a troubled relationship that has nowhere to go …
Who Gets the Ring If You Break Up Before the Wedding Takes Place?
We love to write about romantic marriage proposals, but today we take a deep dive into the murky subject of who gets to keep the engagement ring when a relationship fails and the wedding never takes place. Although there is no uniform law in the US or Canada regarding the return of engagement rings after a breakup, the Alabama Court of …
Here’s a Close Look at the Medals of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games
With the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing less than a month away, let's take a close look at the gold, silver and bronze "Tong Xin" medals that will be awarded at the much-anticipated global event. "Tong Xin" means "together as one" and the circle-in-a-circle design is reminiscent of the themes seen in ancient Chinese jade pendants. The front of the …
Birthstone Feature: ‘Subway Garnet’ Regains Its Luster After 40 Years in Storage
After being out of the public eye for more than four decades, the "Subway Garnet" is once again the pride of Manhattan. When the American Museum of Natural History unveiled its completely redesigned, 11,000-square-foot Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals in June of 2021, visitors were encouraged to see the 9 pound 10 ounce reddish-brown crystal of the almandine garnet …