A natural piece of art, a snail gemstone. According to nypost.com this gemstone is 80-million-year-old fossilized sea creature. A priceless gemstone made its debut at the Museum of Natural History.
It's a two-feet-in-diameter fossil of a marine animal called an ammonite, whose iridescent, rainbow-colored, snail-like shell was transformed over millions of years into ammolite. That's one of three gemstones, along with amber and pearl, produced by living organisms.
Ammonites were hard shelled squid-like marine animals that existed from the Palaeozoic to the end of the Cretaceous era when they suddenly became extinct. They were abundant in all of the oceans. According to Neil Landman, the museum's curator of invertebrate fossils, the sea creature became extinct about 65 million years ago, around the same time as the dinosaurs.
"A fossil like this is extremely rare," said Ken Oschipok, of Korite International, the Canadian gemstone company that donated the piece to the museum after its discovery in Alberta.
Friday, September 28, 2007
A Precious Snail?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A precious stone dessert?
A luxury hotel in Sri Lanka is charging $14,500 a serving of the world's most expensive dessert. The dessert is made up of gold leaf Italian cassata flavored with Irish cream, served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a champagne sabayon enlighten. Decorated with a chocolate carving of a fisherman clinging to a stilt, inspiration comes from the resort’s logo of the ‘stilt fisherman’ an age old local fishing practice, and an 80 carat aquamarine stone. The aquamarine, mined in Sri Lanka, is worth $14,000.
The price of the dessert is due to ingredients like Dom Perignon champagne, gold and silver leaf -- and an 80-carat aquamarine the diameter of the head of a soup spoon set into the dish. They call it "The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence" was created to give visitors at The Fortress resort in the coastal city of Galle a one of a kind experience, said the hotel's public relations manager, Shalini Perera.
No one has actually purchased the dessert. Though the hotel has gotten calls about it from as far away as Japan, that will be coming in December, hoping that they will get one or two out before the year is up.
But of course, whoever orders the desert gets to take the stone home. They have written to the Guinness Book of World Records and they are awaiting their feedback.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Russian diamond auction sold for more than $38.4M
Russian company miner ALROSA recently sold US$38.4 million in uncut diamonds during the 24-th international auction on sale of diamonds of the special sizes, organized by the company together with Diamond chamber of the Russian Federation in Moscow. ALROSA is one of the largest diamond-mining companies in the world; about 25% of world extractions is on its share. Prospecting for diamond deposits and producing, cutting and selling diamonds.
131 lots of ALROSA's diamonds have been exposed on the tenders, taken part by Belarus specializing on operations with large diamonds and brilliants. Containing 1,215 diamonds weighing more than 17,000 carats in total were sold. Included in these parcels were 12 diamonds that weighed more than 50 carats each. The biggest diamond offered on auction weighed 229.11 carats.
Representatives of more than 40 companies from Russia and foreign companies from Israel, Belgium, India, the USA, Lebanon. Viewing of the diamonds offered on sale at the next auction, will begin on September, 25th, 2007.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
November Birthstone
Topaz the accepted gem for the 13th and 17th wedding anniversaries. A traditional, Contemporary, Mystical, Ancient, Zodiac and Star signs (born on November 21st through December 21st) and beryl is the birthstone for Scorpio (born on October 23rd to November 20th) Topaz is symbolic for hope and strength also said to represent faithfulness as well as being associated with wisdom, courage and sincerity.
The name Topaz was possibly named after Topazos, an island in the Red Sea, by the Romans who found it. Topaz is a common gemstone that has been used for centuries in jewelry. Its golden brown to yellow color is classic but is confused with the less valuable citrine, which is sold under the name topaz. Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers and was worn as a talisman against evil thoughts and snake venom. It was also considered to have medicinal properties and was commonly used as a remedy for urinary and kidney ailments.
Citrine is a variety of quartz ranging in colors of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown, reddish-brown. Natural citrine is a pale yellow to orange, and is much lighter than the heat-treated material, which is dark orange-brown to reddish-brown.
Color is noted next to birth stone name.
Modern Birthstone - Yellow Topaz (Yellow), Citrine (Yellow)
Traditional Birthstone - Citrine (Yellow)
Mystical Birthstone - Pearl (White)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Topaz (Yellow or Blue)
15th-20th Century Birthstones - Pearl (White), Topaz (Yellow or Blue)
Other Birthstone (elsewhere on internet) - Diamond (White, Clear)
Citrine jewelry is known to change color when subjected to heat and is routinely heated in the jewelry-making process to intensify its color. For this same reason, though, this gemstone should not be left in direct sunlight for a long time because it will permanently alter the color. The blue topaz that is often confused with aquamarine is rarely natural and is produced by irradiating and then heating clear crystals. Topaz is the hardest silicate mineral and one of the hardest minerals in nature. Topaz crystals can reach incredible size of several hundred pounds. Most Citrine is mined in Brazil, but other sources of the quartz are Bolivia and Madagascar.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Beethoven's Diamond Hair
Decomposing composer Ludwig van Beethoven's hair turn into a diamonds. A lock of his hair was grown into a precious diamond. Extracted the carbon from the musician's brown hair, exposed it to temperatures approximating the depths of hell. A synthetic diamond company has transformed 10 strands of Beethoven's hair they had result into a three blue "diamonds" sized at .56 carats. Expected to sell for up to $1m on eBay, regarding the estimated £500k price tag. Hoping a high profile musician such as Sir Elton John or Sir Paul McCartney will buy it. But with it being on eBay, anyone can bid on it. LifeGem, the company that has made the diamond, is hoping there will be bids from around the world.
One of the resulting Round Brilliant gems will go to the University Archives, LifeGem will keep another, while the third will be auctioned for the benefit of various charities including the UK's Dreams Come True, an organisation which fulfils the wishes of terminally and seriously ill children.
The German musician’s brown hair was provided exclusively by John Reznikoff, largest and most valuable collectors of celebrity and historical hair. He collects the hair of famous dead people, and has locks from a variety of celebrities including Albert Einstein, Napoleon and Abraham Lincoln. Reznikoff's collection is listed on the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest. The collection also has modern day hair samples from Princess Diana, Elvis, John F. Kennedy, George Harrison and even a bit of horsehair from Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Hundreds of years ago it was the trend to cut hair and put it in a locket.
This is a highlights to the new technology that enables us to make a diamond from a lock of hair. In the past we have only been able to make diamonds from a person's ashes. But now people are given the opportunity to give a gift as a celebration of life.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Most Expensive Cakes
The most gorgeous and can consider as the most expensive cake is the Diamond fruit Cake, costing $1.65 million.This cake is studded with 223 small diamonds and the rest of the cake is edible. This cake is up for sale on Christmas. Apart from the 223 diamonds. This is a masterpiece in Food Art and it will be exhibited in the seventeen diamond-related designs in an exhibit called “Diamonds: Nature’s Miracle.” The chef is wise enough, not to disclose the ingredients.
But theres a $20 million wedding cake that has made its debut in Beverly Hills. This diamond cake is the most expensive diamond wedding cake ever and is created by Mimi So Jewellers and cake designer Nahid La Patisserie Artistique. The edible opulence is the star attraction of the Luxury Brands Bridal Show held at Rodeo Drive. She said, the cake will be overseen by a team of uniformed security guards at all times.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
October Birhtstone
Opal is the modern October birthstone and the accepted gem for the 13th wedding anniversary. The name opal is derived from the Sanskrit word "upala," as well as the Latin "opalus," meaning "precious stone."
To ancient Romans, the opal was a symbol of love and hope. Orientals called it the "anchor of hope." Arabs say it fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. It was believed to make its wearer invisible, hence the opal was the talisman of thieves and spies. The opal was supposed to maintain a strong heart, prevent fainting, protect against infection, and cleanse foul-smelling air. During the Medieval period, a change in color intensity of an opal was believed to indicated if its wearer was ill or in good health.
The opal is a fragile hydrated silica material, made of submicroscopic silica spheres held together by more silica and water. It is a soft stone, easily altered in appearance by changes in heat and pressure. This mineral contains varying amounts of water within it that determine the appearance of the gemstone. When water evaporates out of an opal, the stone appears slightly smaller and the stress of the evaporation creates cracks on it. Many stones flash the colors of the rainbow when moved, due to the interference of light on small cracks and other internal structural differences. Opals also have characteristic colors due to impurities within the stone.
Quality Opal is very expensive, made more so by the caution that must be exercised in cutting, polishing and setting it into Opal jewelry. The most valuable opal pattern is the "harlequin," large angular patches of red, yellow and green resembling the checks on a clown's costume.
October Birthstones
Color is noted next to birth stone name.
Modern Birthstone - Opal (White or Black), Tourmaline (Pink or Green)
Traditional Birthstone - Tourmaline (Pink or Green)
Mystical Birthstone - Jasper Brown or Red)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Opal (White or Black)
Other Birthstone - Pink Tourmaline (Pink), Zircon (White, Clear), Aquamarine (Blue)
Opals are formed in near-surface volcanic rocks, within cavities and cracks. In sedimentary volcanic ash rock, percolating water in the ground dissolves silica that eventually precipitates to form the opal, sometimes becoming the replacement material for fossils -- shells, bones, wood -- whose original material had dissolved away.
Most of the world's Opal deposits are found in Southern Australia. Australia produces about 95% of the world's opal supply. Other sources of this gemstone are Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and Nevada.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
September Birthstone
Sapphire is the modern September birthstone and the gem designated for the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversary; a star sapphire is typically given on the 65th wedding anniversary.
"Sapphire" comes from the Persian word "safir", meaning "beloved of Saturn", (or Greek sapphiros).
The blue color is by far the most popular color for sapphire but orange-pink, golden, white, and even black, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure.
Color is noted next to birth stone name.
Modern Birthstone - Sapphire (Blue or Pink)
Traditional Birthstone - Sapphire (Blue or Pink)
Mystical Birthstone - Agate (Blue or Green)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Moonstone (White)
15th-20th Century Birthstones - Chrsolite Other Birthstone (Elsewhere on internet)- Lapis Lazuli (Blue), Diamond (White, Clear), Chrysolite (Green)
The Sapphire is second only to the Diamond in hardness, making it a durable gemstone for setting into Sapphire jewelry. The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. Sapphires were once believed to be protection against snakes. It was said that if poisonous reptiles and spiders were placed in a jar containing the stone, the creatures would immediately die.
Ancient civilizations believed that the world was set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the sky blue with its reflection. This legend, as well as the belief that the ten commandments were inscribed upon tablets made of sapphire, gives September’s birthstone a royal place among gemstones.
The biggest source of sapphires world-wide is Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
August Birthstone
Peridot is the birthstone for August and it is sometimes originally presented as an anniversary gift on a couples 16th year of marriage.
Peridot is perhaps derived from the French word peritot which means unclear, probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large stones. It could also be named from the Arabic word “faridat” which means gem. Also mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah.
Peridot ranges in color from light yellow-green to the intense bright green of new spring grass to olive. The purer green a peridot is the higher the value. Any tinges of brown or visible flaws greatly diminish the price. Some of the finest Peridot Jewelry stones are called "evening emeralds" because they appear greener under artificial light.
Color is noted next to birth stone name.
Modern Birthstone - Peridot (Green)
Traditional Birthstone - Sardonyx (Brown)
Mystical Birthstone - Diamond (White, Clear)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Sapphire (Blue)
15th-20th Century Birthstone - Carnelian (Orange), Moonstone (White), Sardonyx (Brown), Topaz (Blue or Yellow)
Other Birthstone - Jade (from elsewhere on net) (Green or Lavendar)
The Peridot was regarded since ancient times as the symbol of the sun. The Greeks believed that it brought royal dignity upon its wearer. During the Middle Ages, Peridot was pierced, then strung on the hair of an donkey and attached to the left arm to ward off evil spirits. The Crusaders thought that Peridot were emeralds, and brought them back to Europe where they were featured as ornaments in churches. The peridot was once thought to bring power and influence to the owner. Ground up, the gem was taken internally as a treatment for asthma. The stone has also been used to induce sleep, attract love and calm anger.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
July Birthstone
Ruby is the birthstone of July and the 15th and 40th anniversary gemstone. This red-colored gemstone is said to accord wearers wisdom, happiness and health, and to balance love and all spiritual endeavors.
The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red. It is a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock. Corundum is the second hardest mineral, after Diamond. It comes in a variety of colors, and is considered a Sapphire in any color except red, which is designated as a Ruby. Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red in color. The red color in ruby is caused by trace amounts of the element chromium. Large sized Rubies are very rare and valuable. Ruby Jewelries is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history.
Color is noted next to birth stone name.
Modern Birthstone - Ruby (Red)
Traditional Birthstone - Ruby(Red)
Mystical Birthstone - Ruby (Red)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Ruby (Red)
15th-20th Century Birthstone - Onyx (Black), Turquoise (Blue)
Other Birthstone (from elsewhere on the internet) - Carnelian (Orange)
Ruby was considered to have magical powers, and was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil. Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for blowguns, and it was said that a pot of water would boil instantly if a Ruby was tossed into it. Ground to powder and placed on the tongue, this crystal was used as a cure for indigestion.
Like most gemstones from the antiquities, Ruby is one of the Biblestones. In Exodus, the Breastplate of Aaron is described as containing a "sardius", the ancient name for ruby. Rubies have a famous place in science - the first lasers were made from artificial ruby crystals. Some ruby crystals show the fluorescence (actually very short term phosphorescence) that makes a laser possible.
Rubies come from all over the world but good gemstones are found at Thailand, India, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, North Carolina in the U.S., Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, Kampuchea, and perhaps most notably, Burma.