Welcome to Music Friday, when we celebrate songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today’s musical gem is U2’s timeless 1989 love song, “All I Want Is You,” a beautifully layered ballad that opens with one of rock music’s most memorable jewelry references: “You say you want / Diamonds on a ring of gold.”



At first listen, the lyric seems to set the stage for a traditional romantic promise. Diamonds symbolize enduring love, while a gold ring represents commitment and the pledge of a shared future. Together, they evoke the treasured engagement and wedding jewelry that can mark life’s most meaningful milestones. But Bono gives the image a more surprising twist: The song isn't really about a man promising his wife bridal jewelry. It's about discovering that the most valuable gift he can offer is himself.

In his 2022 memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, Bono revealed a fascinating detail about the song's origins. He wrote it from the perspective of his wife of more than four decades, Ali Hewson, after learning she was pregnant. At the time, Bono was wrestling with anxieties about fatherhood and his career. Rather than writing a straightforward declaration of his devotion to Ali, he imagined her voice reassuring him. No matter how many diamonds, treasures or extravagant promises he might offer, what she wanted most was him.

That perspective transforms the jewelry reference. The diamonds and gold represent the beautiful things couples may give each other to celebrate their commitment. But even the finest jewelry takes on its deepest meaning because of the love behind it.

Released as the fourth single from U2's 1988 album Rattle and Hum, “All I Want Is You” arrived in June 1989. It reached #4 on the UK singles chart and #83 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its American profile received another boost in 1994 when the song appeared in the closing credits of the film Reality Bites. It has since become a popular wedding selection, and Bono even performed it as a toast at the 2003 wedding of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti and Nicoletta Mantovani.

U2 began in Dublin in September 1976, when 14-year-old drummer Larry Mullen Jr. posted a notice at Mount Temple Comprehensive School seeking musicians. The teenagers who answered were Bono, guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton. More than 50 years later, the four original members are still making music together and preparing for their 2027 "Greatest Show on Earth" world tour.

Along the way, U2 became one of rock's most successful and influential bands, selling more than 170 million records and earning a record 22 Grammy Awards for a group. Their signature songs include “With or Without You,” “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “One,” “Beautiful Day,” “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).” The band entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Please check out the video of U2’s 2005 live performance of “All I Want Is You.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along...

“All I Want Is You”
Written by Bono. Performed by U2.

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you’ll give me
A highway with no one on it
You treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you’ll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbor in the tempest

All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
All I want is you

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold

All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
All I want is you
All I want is you

All I want is… You…
All I want is… You…
All I want is… You…

All I want is… You…
All I want is… You…
All I want is… You…

All I want is… You…
All I want is… You…
All I want is… You…

You…



Credit: Photo by Paul Jones, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Imagine two colossal topaz crystals, weighing a combined 181 pounds, being sliced into pieces for scientific equipment. It nearly happened in the early 1960s. Today, the towering crystals are among the star attractions of the Gems and Minerals Gallery at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.



We recently viewed these remarkable specimens in person, and their sheer majesty is difficult to convey. The larger crystal, shown above, weighs 50.4 kilograms (111 pounds), equivalent to an astonishing 252,000 carats. Its companion weighs 31.8 kilograms (70 pounds). Both are among the world's finest examples of November's official birthstone, and they share a backstory nearly as impressive as their size.

The story is recounted by Jeffrey Edward Post, former curator-in-charge of the Smithsonian’s National Gem and Mineral Collection, in his book Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.

It began in the late 1950s, when Andy Kulin of Manlabs, a metallurgical research laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, spotted nine enormous topaz crystals displayed in a Los Angeles store window. A sign identified them as being on loan from their owner, Alan Caplan of New York. Kulin and his brother, Phil, recognized that the crystals could be useful in their work with X-ray fluorescence analysis. Andy tracked down Caplan and quickly arranged to buy all nine.

Most of the crystals were eventually sent to a subsidiary company, Crymet, where they were sliced into pieces to make monochromators, optical devices used in scientific measuring instruments. Fortunately, the two largest and most perfect specimens were kept at Manlabs.

Their reprieve was set to be short lived. On the same day the crystals were scheduled to be transported to Crymet for cutting, MIT graduate student Gene Meiran noticed the magnificent crystals in the company president's office. Meiran, an avid mineral collector, immediately understood what was at stake. According to Post's account, he made an emphatic case to company officials that the crystals were extraordinary natural treasures and should not be destroyed. His intervention worked, saving the pair just in time.

The crystals were subsequently loaned to the Smithsonian for exhibition. In 1981, they were donated to the institution by Howard G. Freeman and Joseph M. Linsey, securing their place in the National Gem and Mineral Collection.

Both specimens originated in Minas Gerais, Brazil, a region celebrated worldwide for its remarkable mineral wealth. The historic area around Ouro Preto is particularly famous for Imperial Topaz, a rare and highly prized variety displaying rich golden-yellow, orange, peach and reddish hues. Its distinctive natural colors make it especially desirable to collectors and jewelry lovers. Brazil is a leading source of fine topaz, although the gemstone is also found in countries including Mexico, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Topaz itself is far more colorful than many people realize. Natural varieties range from colorless and pale green to yellow, pink, reddish brown and the coveted Imperial shades. Much of the vivid blue topaz commonly seen in jewelry today begins as colorless or pale material that is treated with radiation and heat to produce its blue color. With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, topaz is also a durable choice for everyday jewelry, although care should be taken to protect it from hard knocks.

Topaz is one of November's two official birthstones, sharing the distinction with citrine. For those celebrating a November birthday, the Smithsonian's giant crystals offer a brilliant reminder that this beloved gemstone's intrigue extends far beyond its beauty.

Credit: Photo of the 111-pound Freeman Uncut Topaz by The Jeweler Blog.

A spectacular 197.80-carat sapphire with a history that reaches back to the final glittering years of Imperial Russia will take center stage at Sotheby’s upcoming Royal & Noble Jewels sale in Geneva. Known as the "Romanov Sapphire," the extraordinary unheated Ceylon gem is one of the few remaining jewels directly connected to Russia’s Romanov Dynasty and the fabled Russian Crown Jewels.



Sotheby’s has assigned the cushion-shaped sapphire a presale estimate of 850,000 to 1.7 million Swiss francs, approximately $1 million to $2 million. The auction is scheduled for November 11, 2026, and will feature about 80 treasures associated with some of Europe’s most important royal and noble families.



The sapphire’s most celebrated moment came in 1903, when Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, mother of Russia’s last emperor, Nicholas II, wore it to the legendary Winter Palace Costume Ball. The lavish event brought the imperial court together in elaborate 17th-century Russian dress, adorned with extraordinary quantities of jewels. It is often described as the last great spectacle of Imperial Russia.

Feodorovna wore the sapphire alongside a matching stone, with both mounted in a diamond setting created by the celebrated House of Fabergé and attached to the front of her skirt. The companion sapphire was recorded as weighing 249.25 carats. Its whereabouts today are unknown, making the 197.80-carat survivor all the more remarkable.

Following the Russian Revolution, the new Soviet government commissioned an illustrated inventory of the imperial treasures. The Romanov Sapphire appeared in the resulting four-volume Fersman catalog, named for mineralogist Alexander Fersman, who helped lead the effort. The collection was divided into categories, with some historically important pieces preserved and others sold abroad. The sapphire was among the jewels eventually dispersed by the Soviet government.

In 1927, the gem was acquired by Ganna Walska, a Polish opera singer, socialite and famously extravagant jewelry collector. Walska initially purchased it from Cartier, where it was mounted as the centerpiece of a sautoir necklace. Over the years, she had the sapphire reset in several dramatic designs, reflecting her fondness for colossal gemstones and bold, exotic jewelry.

The sapphire eventually returned to auction, appearing at Sotheby’s Geneva in 1992. In 2015, Cartier gave the historic gem its present-day iteration: an impressive platinum and diamond bracelet.

The piece features the cushion-shaped sapphire at its center, surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds and accented with modified shield-shaped step-cut diamonds. Its most intriguing feature is an interchangeable centerpiece: the sapphire can be removed and replaced with an engraved rock crystal element embellished with triangular-cut diamonds. The two dramatically different centerpieces allow the bracelet to shift between the deep blue grandeur of the Romanov treasure and the luminous, sculptural appeal of rock crystal.

More than a century after Maria Feodorovna wore it at the Winter Palace, the Romanov Sapphire remains a remarkable survivor of an opulent bygone era.

Credits: Romanov Sapphire bracelet image courtesy of Sotheby's. Empress Maria Feodorovna image (cropped) by Пазетти Анаклет, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Remember the bizarre concept of turning plastic soda bottles into diamonds? Back in September 2022, we reported on a fascinating experiment in which German scientists used powerful lasers to transform ordinary bottle plastic into microscopic diamonds. Now the researchers have reached another milestone: for the first time, they have successfully captured the tiny diamonds intact, using a special gel.



Unfortunately, these aren't the kind of diamonds we will be setting into an engagement ring. Each one measures just three nanometers across — about three billionths of a meter — and contains roughly 3,000 carbon atoms. They're so small that even a trillion of them would barely make a visible impression. But what they lack in size, they make up for in scientific potential.

The original discovery was actually a byproduct of research into the interiors of icy giant planets, such as Neptune and Uranus. Scientists wanted to recreate the extraordinary conditions found deep inside these distant worlds, where temperatures reach several thousand degrees Celsius and pressure is millions of times greater than Earth's atmospheric pressure.

To do that, researchers at Germany's Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the University of Rostock fired high-powered laser pulses at an ultrathin film of polyethylene terephthalate, better known as PET — the everyday plastic used in water and soda bottles. The laser generated intense heat and shock waves, compressing the material so dramatically that its carbon atoms rearranged themselves into diamonds. The process also helps explain why scientists believe it literally rains diamonds inside Neptune and Uranus.

There was just one problem. The newly formed nanodiamonds were blasted out of the plastic at speeds exceeding 22,000 miles per hour. Trying to collect them was a little like attempting to catch a meteorite with a butterfly net. Until now, researchers could demonstrate that the diamonds formed, but couldn't recover them for closer examination.

The breakthrough came with a specially developed, water-soluble ionic gel. Acting as a soft cushion, the gel slowed the microscopic projectiles without destroying them. After extracting and purifying the particles, the team was finally able to examine individual nanodiamonds under an advanced electron microscope.

The results, recently published in the journal Diamond and Related Materials, could have implications far beyond planetary science. Nanodiamonds are exceptionally hard, stable and heat-resistant, making them useful in industrial grinding and polishing. Their potential future applications include highly sensitive quantum sensors, improved medical imaging and targeted drug delivery. They may also help speed up chemical reactions, including processes that use sunlight to break down carbon dioxide.

The researchers say the laser technique could eventually provide a cleaner, more controlled way to manufacture uniform, high-purity nanodiamonds than conventional methods. For now, they're working to increase production.

It's remarkable to think that yesterday's soda container could become tomorrow's high-tech diamond. That's quite a recycling story!

Credit: Conceptual image by The Jeweler Blog using aichatapp.ai.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you wonderful tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. In The Temptations’ soulful 2010 song “Let Me Catch Your Diamonds,” the precious gemstone becomes a powerful symbol of devotion and redemption. The song is an especially fitting choice for Music Friday as founding member Otis Williams celebrates his 85th birthday today, October 30.



Featured on the group’s album Still Here, the mid-tempo love song follows a man desperate to rekindle a relationship he damaged. He acknowledges the hurt he caused and wants to make amends, restore their passion and prove that he can be the partner she deserves.

The song’s recurring plea captures that determination: “Let me catch your diamonds / I’ll be there for you baby / I’ll be there for you baby, this time around.”

Here, diamonds are more than symbols of romance or luxury. They represent the tears his former partner has shed because of his mistakes. By asking to “catch” those diamonds, he promises to be present when she hurts, offering comfort instead of adding to her sadness. The image also suggests a deeper commitment: he wants to protect what remains of their shared history and create a future in which painful memories give way to happier ones.

That layered symbolism makes the song’s title particularly effective. Diamonds are enduring, just as memories can be, but the protagonist understands that lasting love requires more than beautiful promises. His appeal for another chance is an acknowledgment that devotion must be demonstrated through changed behavior.

“Let Me Catch Your Diamonds” was co-written by Williams and musician, producer and songwriter Johnny Britt. Britt also contributed trumpet and flugelhorn to the track, while Williams handled the vocal arrangement. The song appears as the fourth track on Still Here.

Williams’ birthday offers a moment to celebrate a remarkable musical legacy. Born in Texarkana, TX, in 1941, he helped form The Temptations in Detroit in 1960, bringing together members of two local vocal groups. The quintet soon signed with Motown Records and rose to international fame with such enduring hits as “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Get Ready,” “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.”

The group broke new ground at Motown, becoming the label’s first act to win a Grammy. The Temptations' song "Cloud Nine" was voted the Best Rhythm & Blues Performance of 1969. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and later received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

More than 65 years after their formation, The Temptations are still touring, with Williams remaining the last surviving original member and guiding the group’s continuing performances. Their longevity gives “Let Me Catch Your Diamonds” an added resonance: like a treasured jewel, a great song can carry its meaning across generations.

Please check out the audio track of The Temptations performing "Let Me Catch Your Diamonds." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Let Me Catch Your Diamonds"
Written by Johnny Britt and Otis Williams.

Diamonds. Diamonds.

For so long I wanted to call
Just to say "I'm sorry"
I can't forget how we first met
Such a wonderful story

I shoulda' known then
I hada' make amends for everything I did that was wrong
Tickle my nerve, I must confess just how much I miss you

What did you do?
Waiting alone here by the phone to hear you

What did you say?
All that I do is think of you, I miss you

Gotta let her know.
Girl, it's alright you gotta know, I need you

I'm here to stay
I need to have you near me
I need you in every way

Darling, I'm sorry for all the wrong that I have done

Let me catch your diamonds
Oh baby I'll be good to you
I'll be there for you baby

Let me catch your diamonds
I'll be there for you baby
I'll be there for you baby, this time around

Never again like that way I used to see you cryin'
A man of my word, I'll honor you until the day I die
Let's go away, far away, restore our joy and passion
Me and you, the love we knew, what a physical attraction

What did you do?
I gave her my hand, I promised to be faithful
What did she say?
That I was a man, for that I am so grateful

What'd you let her know?
I don't need nobody. It's all about you
I'm here to stay
I'm so happy that I am back with you

Let me catch your diamonds
I'll be good to you. I'll be good to you, baby
Let me catch your diamonds
This time around

Don't try to hold back the tears
Yes, I did, baby
Try to hold back the tears
I'll be good this time

I'll be good, better than ever, baby
I'll be good to you, baby
Yes I will

Let me catch your diamonds
Let me catch your diamonds
All of me, all of you, let me show you my love

Let me catch your diamonds
Better believe it, baby
All of me, all of you, let me show you my love

Let me catch your diamonds
Let me catch your diamonds, yeah
Let me catch your diamonds

Let me catch your diamonds



Credits: Image by Foto: Stefan Brending, Lizenz: Creative Commons by-sa-3.0 de, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons.

An exceptional pink diamond weighing 8.41 carats will take the spotlight at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Autumn Auction on November 24, where rare colored gemstones and iconic jewelry designs will mark the 40th anniversary of Christie’s Asia.



Known as “The Pink Petal,” the pear-shaped diamond is graded Fancy Vivid purple-pink, the highest level of color intensity in the Gemological Institute of America’s grading system for colored diamonds. It also boasts VS1 clarity, indicating very slight inclusions, and is described as potentially Type IIa, a chemically pure category prized among diamond collectors.

The gem carries a pre-sale estimate of HK$65 million to HK$95 million, or approximately US$8.3 million to US$12 million.

Its potential price reflects the extraordinary scarcity of vivid pink diamonds, particularly in substantial sizes. Christie’s notes that fewer than 10% of pink diamonds weigh more than one-fifth of a carat, while only about 4% possess the deep, saturated color needed to qualify as Fancy Vivid. Type IIa diamonds account for less than 2% of gem-quality diamonds.

Pink diamonds are especially fascinating because their color arises differently from that of many other colored diamonds. Yellow diamonds, for example, typically owe their hue to nitrogen impurities. Pink diamonds develop their color through distortions in the diamond’s crystal lattice caused by intense geological pressure as they form deep within the Earth. The resulting changes in how the stone absorbs light create its pink appearance.

Their scarcity has become even more pronounced since the closure of Australia’s Argyle mine in 2020, which had supplied the vast majority of the world’s pink diamonds.

Three other exceptional jewels will help anchor the November sale.



An Art Deco Cartier brooch features a 10.10-carat Burmese ruby graded “pigeon’s blood,” a coveted designation for a ruby’s intense, pure red color. The ruby is unheated, meaning it has not undergone heat treatment to alter its appearance. Estimated at HK$40 million to HK$60 million (approximately US$5.2 million to US$7.7 million), the brooch combines a celebrated design period with a highly desirable gemstone.



Another stunner is a 21.05-carat Kashmir sapphire-and-diamond ring mounted by Cartier. The unheated sapphire’s rich, velvety “royal blue” color and impressive size make it a standout among the auction’s colored gemstones. Its estimate is HK$30 million to HK$50 million (approximately US$3.9 million to US$6.4 million).



Completing the trio is a dramatic 100.16-carat Burmese sapphire-and-diamond pendant showcasing an unheated sapphire also described as “royal blue.” Its estimate is HK$20 million to HK$30 million, or roughly US$2.3 million to US$3.6 million.

The four jewels are among more than 120 lots in a sale spanning natural pearls, jadeite, emeralds and signed creations by leading jewelry houses. Before returning to Hong Kong, selected highlights will travel to Bangkok, October 29–30; Geneva, November 6–10; and Shanghai, November 9–13. The Hong Kong preview is scheduled for November 18–24 at Christie’s Asia Pacific headquarters, ahead of the November 24 auction.

Credits: Images courtesy of Christie's.

More than 300 extraordinary jewels worn, commissioned and cherished by British monarchs will take center stage in a landmark exhibition at Buckingham Palace, offering an unprecedented look at five centuries of royal style, ceremony and personal history.



“Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes” will run from June 25, 2027, through March 19, 2028, at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, in London. The Royal Collection Trust announced the exhibition as the first ever to explore 500 years of British royal jewelry, from the 16th century to the present day. Approximately two-thirds of the pieces will be exhibited publicly for the first time, alongside paintings, designs and historical documents from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives.

The exhibition will trace jewelry’s role in shaping the monarchy’s public image while revealing more intimate stories of love, family, grief and remembrance. Its treasures range from creations by royal goldsmiths to designs associated with celebrated houses including Garrard, Cartier, Boucheron and Fabergé.

Among the most recognizable pieces is George IV’s Diamond Diadem, created for his lavish 1821 coronation. Made by royal jewelers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, the striking headpiece features 1,333 diamonds set in silver and gold, including a four-carat pale-yellow diamond. Its design incorporates roses, thistles and shamrocks representing England, Scotland and Ireland. Queen Elizabeth II later made the diadem internationally famous by wearing it on her way to her 1953 coronation and in portraits reproduced on coins, banknotes and stamps.



Another historic highlight is Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown, commissioned from Garrard in 1870. Set with 1,187 diamonds in an openwork silver frame, it was designed to sit comfortably above the widow’s cap Victoria wore following the death of Prince Albert. The crown became so closely associated with the queen that it was placed on her coffin when she lay in state.



Victoria’s emotional connection to jewelry is also represented by her sapphire wedding brooch, a diamond-accented sapphire gift from Albert on the eve of their wedding in 1840. The piece reflects the Victorian tradition of using jewelry to commemorate defining moments in a relationship.



The exhibition will also feature a necklace from Queen Charlotte’s garnet jewels, a late-18th-century collection newly connected to the wife of George III through recent research.

A Fabergé aquamarine and diamond pendant, dated 1909, represents the artistry of the celebrated Russian jewelry house. The Royal Collection Trust identifies it as a gift from Queen Mary to her granddaughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II.



Also on view for the first time will be the spectacular Greville emerald and diamond necklace, part of the bequest made by society figure Dame Margaret Greville to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

As co-curators Caroline de Guitaut and Kathryn Jones explain, each jewel carries a human story of “love and loss, power and politics, family and faith.” The exhibition promises visitors an unusually personal perspective on the people behind the monarchy’s most enduring symbols.

The official Crown Jewels, which remain on display at the Tower of London, are not included in this exhibition.

Credits: Images courtesy of © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust.

For Marvel fans, the Infinity Gauntlet represents almost limitless power. For jewelry lovers, it is an extraordinary showcase of precious gemstones. Now, the one-of-a-kind, gem-encrusted replica inspired by the weapon wielded by Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading to auction for the first time, offering collectors a chance to own a spectacular fusion of fine jewelry and pop culture history.



The nearly 20-inch-tall creation will headline Julien’s Auctions’ Pop Culture Legends evening sale on December 8 at Rosewood Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Unveiled at Marvel’s booth at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, the gauntlet was valued at $25 million. Julien’s has not published a current auction estimate; prospective bidders must request it privately and receive pre-approval before bidding.



The six gemstones, representing the Infinity Stones that control Time, Space, Reality, Mind, Power and Soul in the Marvel universe, weigh more than 170 carats combined. Each has been certified and authenticated by American Gemological Laboratories, with additional Gemological Institute of America documentation for the diamond.

The colorful collection includes an emerald-cut Colombian emerald representing the Time Stone. Unearthed more than a century ago, the untreated emerald weighs just under 23 carats and had remained in the East Continental Gems collection for more than 30 years before being selected for the project.

The Space Stone is represented by a cushion-cut sapphire weighing more than 30 carats, sourced from Madagascar. A natural oval-shaped ruby from Mozambique, weighing more than 15 carats, represents the Reality Stone. The Power Stone is a natural oval-shaped amethyst weighing more than 35 carats, while a cushion-cut spessartite garnet of more than 35 carats embodies the Soul Stone. Completing the spectacular six is a high-clarity, intensely colored, rectangular brilliant-cut yellow diamond weighing nearly 35 carats, representing the Mind Stone.

The idea for the project began in 2019, when Adam Mirzoeff, CEO of New York-based East Continental Gems, spotted a toy Infinity Gauntlet on a senior Marvel executive’s desk and jokingly suggested creating a real one. Inspired by watching Avengers: Endgame with his children, Mirzoeff became fascinated by the gemstones’ central role in the story and wondered whether Marvel had ever assembled an actual collection of corresponding precious stones. It had not.

Marvel and East Continental Gems subsequently collaborated to bring the concept to life. Marvel provided access to the layered design files behind the gauntlet seen on screen, enabling the jeweler to reproduce the original prop’s form while replacing its fictional stones with genuine gemstones selected for their color, size and character.

For East Continental Gems, a family business operating from the same New York office since 1972, the commission was an exceptional opportunity to combine gemstone expertise with cinematic storytelling. When the gauntlet made its debut in 2022, its novelty and $25 million valuation attracted worldwide attention.

Now, four years later, the remarkable creation is being offered for sale for the first time. The winning bidder will receive the original fitted presentation case, full gemological certification and a signed certificate of authenticity from Jim Starlin, the creator of the original Marvel Comics Infinity Gauntlet storyline.

Credits: Images courtesy of Julien's Auctions.

Finding a diamond mine may soon become a little easier — thanks to a surprising clue hidden inside an ordinary mineral. Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered that tiny amounts of water trapped within olivine crystals can help geologists predict whether underground volcanic formations are likely to contain valuable diamonds. The revelation could save diamond explorers millions of dollars by helping them identify promising deposits before committing to costly drilling and testing.



The discovery, published October 22 in the journal Nature Communications, focuses on the relationship between olivine, water and the extraordinary journey diamonds take from deep inside the Earth to the surface.

To understand why this matters, it helps to know a little about kimberlites. These unusual volcanic rocks originate deep within the Earth, where natural conditions allow diamonds to form. When kimberlite magma surges toward the surface, it can carry diamonds along for the ride, delivering them into deposits that may eventually become mines.

The catch is speed. Diamonds can be damaged or dissolve if the rising magma takes too long to reach the surface. A fast ascent gives them a better chance of surviving the journey intact. Unfortunately, determining whether a particular kimberlite rose quickly enough — and preserved enough diamonds to make mining worthwhile — has traditionally required expensive exploration work.

That's where olivine comes in. One of the most abundant minerals in kimberlite, olivine can retain tiny traces of water within its crystal structure. Researchers found that olivine containing more than 40 parts per million of water is associated with kimberlites that have higher diamond grades. The water acts like a geological speedometer: crystals that retain more water provide evidence that the magma rose rapidly, helping protect its precious cargo. Slower-moving magma allows hydrogen to escape from the crystals and may give diamonds more time to deteriorate.

The practical advantage is substantial. Instead of immediately extracting hundreds or thousands of tons of rock to estimate a deposit's diamond potential, exploration teams can analyze small samples of olivine using a technique called infrared spectroscopy. The relatively inexpensive test measures the mineral's water-related signature, giving geologists another tool for deciding which discoveries deserve further investment.

Although thousands of kimberlite formations have been discovered worldwide, only a small fraction contain enough recoverable diamonds to justify the enormous expense of developing a mine. Estimates commonly put the economically viable share at less than 1%. A reliable early warning that a deposit is unlikely to be productive could therefore prevent millions of dollars from being spent pursuing an unpromising target.

The researchers emphasize that the water content of olivine is a complementary indicator, not a guarantee of a profitable diamond deposit. Nevertheless, the finding adds a valuable new clue to the exploration process.

Credit: Image by Parent Géry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A golden wedding band can be much more than a beautiful piece of jewelry. In Randy Travis’s 1985 country classic “On the Other Hand,” it becomes a powerful reminder of love, loyalty and the promises we make — especially when temptation threatens to lead us astray.



Welcome to Music Friday when we highlight songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, "On the Other Hand" tells the story of a married man who finds himself attracted to another woman. He acknowledges the excitement of a possible romantic encounter but ultimately recognizes that his wedding ring represents something far more valuable than a fleeting thrill.

The song’s central imagery comes into focus with the memorable lines: “But on the other hand, there's a golden band / To remind me of someone who would not understand.”

The wordplay is simple but brilliant. One hand represents the temptation to pursue another romance; the other carries the physical symbol of his marriage. That golden band serves as a tangible connection to his wife and the life they have built together. It is also a reminder that his decisions affect someone who trusts him.

Later, the narrator resolves his internal conflict: “On one hand I could stay and be your lovin' man / But the reason I must go is on the other hand.”

Rather than pretending temptation doesn't exist, the song acknowledges its pull while celebrating the strength to walk away. The ring becomes a moral anchor, transforming a familiar piece of jewelry into an emblem of conscience, fidelity and personal integrity.

Interestingly, the song needed a second chance to become a hit. Warner Bros. Records first released “On the Other Hand” in 1985 as Travis's debut single for the label. It stalled at #67 on Billboard's country chart. After his follow-up single, “1982,” gained traction, the label re-released the song in 1986. This time, “On the Other Hand” climbed to #1, becoming Travis's first chart-topping hit. It also earned the Country Music Association's Song of the Year honor in 1986.

The song helped launch a remarkable career. Born Randy Traywick in North Carolina, Travis moved to Nashville with his manager, Lib Hatcher, and worked as a cook and dishwasher at the Nashville Palace, where he also performed. After years of rejection, he caught the attention of Warner Bros. executive Martha Sharp, who signed him in 1985.

His 1986 debut album, Storms of Life, helped lead country music's return to traditional sounds. Travis went on to win seven Grammy Awards, earn induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016 and sell more than 25 million records worldwide. His enduring hits include “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Three Wooden Crosses.”

A devastating stroke in 2013 left Travis with aphasia and partial paralysis, profoundly affecting his ability to perform. Yet his connection with fans endures. On his current More Life Tour, Travis greets audiences and celebrates his musical legacy, while country singer James Dupré performs the lead vocals on his classic hits.

Please check out the video of Travis's live performance of "On the Other Hand." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"On the Other Hand"
Written by Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet. Performed by Randy Travis.

On one hand I count the reasons, I could stay with you
And hold you close to me, all night long.
So many lover's games, I'd love to play with you
On that hand there's no reason why it's wrong

But on the other hand, there's a golden band
To remind me of someone who would not understand.
On one hand I could stay and be your lovin' man
But the reason I must go is on the other hand

In your arms I feel the passion, I thought had died
When I looked into your eyes, I found myself.
And when I first kissed your lips, I felt so alive
I've got to hand it to you girl, you're something else

But on the other hand, there's a golden band
To remind me of someone who would not understand.
On one hand I could stay and be your lovin' man
But the reason I must go is on the other hand
Yeah, the reason I must go is on the other hand



Credit: Photo by Andy1981, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.