Marks of Design: Our Blog

Mon	9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tue	9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wed	9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thu	9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Fri	9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sat	9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Sun	Closed

Music Friday: Vince Gill Proposes With a Pretty Diamond Ring in 'Like My Daddy Did'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you romantic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, 21-time Grammy winner ...

18.96-Carat 'Pink Legacy' Sells for $50.3 Million, Sets Auction Record at Christie's Geneva

In the lead-up to yesterday's highly anticipated auction of the "Pink Legacy," Christie's Rahul Kadakia had gone out on a limb and said the 18.96-carat ...

Miners Seek Coveted 'AO' Status for Colombian Emeralds, Claim They're Geographically Unique

Colombian miners are seeking to gain coveted "AO" status for their emeralds, widely considered to be the finest in the world. "AO" is shorthand for ...

Graff Unveils First 67 Diamonds Cut From the 1,109-Carat Lesedi La Rona

Sixty-seven diamonds ranging from just under 1 carat to more than 100 carats will be known forever as the legacy of Lesedi La Rona, the ...

All-Diamond Ring Crafted From a Single Rough Gem May Fetch $250,000 at Benefit Auction

An all-diamond ring custom crafted from a single rough gem is expected to fetch up to $250,000 when Sotheby's offers it for sale December 5 ...

Music Friday: Tommy and Janey Visit a Jeweler in 'Don't Love Make a Diamond Shine'

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 ...

$1 Million Dream Angels Fantasy Bra Glitters With 2,100 Diamonds Weighing 71 Carats

It took the designers and artisans at Atelier Swarovski a total of 930 hours to complete the bejeweled 2018 Dream Angels Fantasy Bra, an impressive ...

King Tut's Breastplate Features a Scarab Carved From Rare Libyan Desert Glass

When British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter entered the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922, he encountered thousands of luxury objects intended to accompany ...

Rami Malek Reveals on 'Ellen' Why He Cast His Freddie Mercury Fake Buck Teeth in Gold

Rami Malek, who portrays Freddie Mercury in the newly released Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, pulled off the uncanny resemblance by wearing a mouth apparatus that ...

Young Couple Finds $18K in Diamond Rings Hidden in $2 Thrift Shop Board Game

A young couple visiting Prince Edward Island for the Labour Day weekend thought they struck it rich when a $2 board game purchased at a ...

Music Friday: Don Williams Is in Love With the Girl Who Wears a Diamond Ring

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you throwback tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. In 1977, Don Williams ...

Three Minuscule Moon Rocks Expected to Sell for $1 Million at Sotheby's Auction

Three tiny moon rocks brought to the Earth by Soviet cosmonauts in 1970 are expected to fetch upwards of $1 million when they hit the ...

Gemfields Unveils 'Inkalamu,' a 5,655-Carat Zambian Emerald Crystal With Remarkable Color and Clarity

On Monday, Gemfields unveiled "Inkalamu," a 5,655-carat Zambian emerald crystal with remarkable clarity and a perfectly balanced golden green hue. The carat weight is equivalent ...

600 Akoya Cultured Pearls Adorn the $400,000 Tournament of Roses Crown

Adorned with 600 cultured pearls and valued at $400,000, the bejeweled Tournament of Roses crown was placed on the head of 17-year-old Louise Deser Siskel ...

Vancouver Man Spells Out Halloween-Themed Marriage Proposal Using 640 Pumpkins

Justine Aichelberger and Jesse Seads met at a Halloween party seven years ago, so when the young man was plotting a surprise marriage proposal recently, ...

Music Friday: Learn From Mistakes and 'Make Them Gold,' Urges Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you new tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Lauren Mayberry of ...

Artist Trevor Paglen Is About to Launch a ‘Diamond’ the Size of Two School Buses Into Low Earth Orbit

A diamond-shaped reflective balloon the size of two school buses will be delivered into low-Earth orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in mid-November. Visible ...

Made Famous by Marilyn Monroe, 'Moon of Baroda' Diamond to Hit the Auction Block in Hong Kong

Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe sang "Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend" and wore the 24-carat Moon of Baroda diamond while promoting the Howard Hawks film ...

Golden State Warriors Unveil the First-Ever Reversible Championship Rings

The Golden State Warriors kicked off a new season with a ring ceremony last Tuesday to commemorate their 2017-18 championship run, and as expected, they’re ...

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers Return to the Smithsonian After 18-Month Hiatus and Rejuvenating Facelift

They're back! The iconic ruby slippers made famous by actress Judy Garland in the landmark 1939 film The Wizard of Oz return to the Smithsonian ...

Marie Antoinette's Prized Pearls to Be Auctioned at Sotheby's Geneva on Nov. 14

With a revolution raging in France in March 1791, Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI prepared for their escape. The queen spent an evening ...

NYC's Central Park Feted as the Most Popular Place in the World to Pop the Question

New York City's Central Park — the verdant oasis of majestic trees, rolling lawns and bass-stocked ponds just steps away from the bustling metropolis — has ...

Greville Emerald Tiara Takes Center Stage at Princess Eugenie's Royal Wedding

As Princess Eugenie exchanged wedding vows with Jack Brooksbank on Friday at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, England, all eyes were on her magnificent ...

Music Friday: Tom Jones Can't Compete With a Diamond-Gifting Rival in ‘I (Who Have Nothing)’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you romantic throwback tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. In Tom Jones's ...

'Opal Peacock' Brooch Showcases One of the Finest Examples of October's Birthstone

Gifted to the Smithsonian in 1977 by legendary jeweler Harry Winston, the "Opal Peacock" brooch showcases a 32-carat black opal sourced from Lightning Ridge, Australia. ...

'Diavik Stars of the Arctic' to Headline Rio Tinto's 'Specials' Tender on Oct. 25

Inspired by the constellations that light up the night sky of Canada's remote Northwest Territories, 'The Diavik Stars of the Arctic' will headline Rio Tinto’s ...

Music Friday: She's Wearing Michael Jackson's Promise Ring But Still Chasing Other Boys in ‘The Love You Save’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we step ...

Washington Capitals' First-Ever Stanley Cup Ring Glitters With 10.2 Carats of Patriotic Pizzazz

Rubies, diamonds and a sapphire boasting a total weight of 10.2 carats add patriotic pizzazz to the Washington Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup rings. The handcrafted, two-tone ...

6-Year-Old 'Tiny' Dutton Finds $10,000 Bridal Set, Teaches Big Lesson About Doing the Right Thing

Six-year-old Alyah "Tiny" Dutton was sure the beautiful diamond rings she found in the restroom of Ballantrae Community Park in Dublin, Ohio, belonged to a ...

With a Price Tag of $17 Million, 'Passion Diamond Shoes' Are the Most Expensive in the World

Jada Dubai's new "Passion Diamond Shoes" — elegant stilettos made from real gold and embellished with two round 15-carat D-flawless diamonds — went on sale ...

71-Year-Old Grandma Unearths 2.63-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park

A 71-year-old grandma from Aurora, Colo., is being credited with finding the largest diamond so far this year at Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park ...

Music Friday: Duawne Starling Pens and Performs His Own Wedding Song, 'With This Ring'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you inspirational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, contemporary Christian artist ...

Christie's Exec Says the Color of the 18.96-Carat 'Pink Legacy' Diamond 'Is As Good As It Gets'

In terms of its saturation and intensity, the color of "The Pink Legacy" is "as good as it gets in a colored diamond," according to ...

Bravo's 'Summer House' Reality Stars Confirm Engagement With Selfie of 2.5-Carat Diamond Ring

Bravo's Summer House reality stars Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula confirmed their engagement on Instagram with a selfie of her gorgeous new ring. Cooke recently ...

What Would You Do If You Saw an Engagement Ring Being Swiped at a Nail Salon?

In a recent episode of ABC's What Would You Do?, correspondent John Quinones and his team explored how average individuals might react if they witnessed ...

Vibrant Red 'Whitney Flame Topaz' Joins the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection

An extraordinarily rare 48.86-carat vibrant red topaz is the newest member of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection. The teardrop-shaped gem, which was acquired for the ...

Music Friday: Lauv Wears This Bracelet to Preserve the Memories of a Love That Got Away

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fresh songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, 24-year-old Lauv wears ...

5-Carat Fancy Vivid Blue 'Ai' (Love) Diamond Could Fetch $15 Million at Sotheby's Hong Kong

A 5-carat fancy vivid blue diamond named "Ai" — the Chinese word for love — will be flirting with a world record when it hits ...

Emmy Winner Proposes During Live Broadcast With a Ring 'More Valuable Than The Hope Diamond'

To director Glenn Weiss, the simple gold wedding band his dad placed on his mom's finger 67 years ago is "more valuable than The Hope ...

33-Carat Diamond and Platinum Tiara With Ties to Spanish Royalty Comes to Auction at Bonhams

On Wednesday of next week, a very rare and cleverly crafted platinum tiara with ties to Spanish royalty will be offered for sale at Bonhams, ...

Italian Archaeologists Discover Hundreds of Roman Gold Coins Dating Back 1,500 Years

Archaeologists working in the basement of a demolished theater in Northern Italy recently unearthed a soapstone jar literally bursting with Roman gold coins dating back ...

Music Friday: Jason Mraz Hopes You Win 'Prizes Shining Like Diamonds' in 'Have It All'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, singer-songwriter Jason Mraz ...

Aussie Nickel Miner Hits Golden Mother Lode, Including Two Huge Rocks Worth $5 Million

Until last week, RNC Minerals had been running a ho-hum nickel operation at the Beta Hunt Mine in southwestern Australia. But, when a gold vein ...

Empowering Colors, Joyful Hues Dominate Spring/Summer 2019 Palette: Pantone

Empowering colors and joyful hues dominate Pantone’s Fashion Color Trend Report for the Spring/Summer of 2019. According to the Pantone Color Institute’s experts, this new ...

Largest Purplish-Pink Diamond Ever Graded by GIA Headlines Alrosa's 'True Colour' Auction

The largest fancy deep purplish-pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America will headline Alrosa's first-ever "True Colour" auction of colored polished diamonds. ...

$1.7 Million 'Discovery' Coin Pays Tribute to Early Prospectors of Aussie Gold and Diamonds

Inspired by the "holey dollar," Australia's first official currency, The Perth Mint recently unveiled a $1.7 million collector coin that pays tribute to early prospectors ...

Music Friday: Gwen Stefani Compares Boyfriend Blake Shelton to a Sapphire in 'Rare'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fresh songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Gwen Stefani compares ...

FBI Recovers Stolen Ruby Slippers; Smithsonian's Mismatched Pair Finds Its Mates

FBI agents announced Tuesday that they had recovered the pair of Ruby Slippers snatched 13 years ago from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, ...

Prehistoric Amber Lovers Traded the Gem Through a Vast Mediterranean Network, Scientists Claim

An international team of researchers has uncovered archaeological evidence suggesting that precious amber — the golden-colored translucent gemstone formed from fossilized tree resin — was ...

330-Carat 'Star of Asia' Sapphire Is a Phenomenal Example of September's Official Birthstone

Today we shine our spotlight on the 330-carat "Star of Asia," one of the world's finest star sapphires and a stunning representation of September's official ...

Music Friday: 'Diamonds Are Invincible' Mega-Mix Celebrates Michael Jackson's 60th Birthday

Michael Jackson fans from around the world celebrated what would have been the King of Pop's 60th birthday on Wednesday by bopping to a mega-mix ...

Smithsonian's 'Good as Gold' Exhibit Explores How Senegalese Women Embrace Concept of 'Sañse'

Spectacular gold jewelry from the West African nation of Senegal will be the focus of a brand new exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of ...

Deserving Illinois Couple Receives Free Engagement Ring From Jilted Virginian With Big Heart

A Virginia man who had purchased a diamond engagement ring but was jilted before popping the question turned his heartbreak into hope by awarding the ...

Immortalize Your Love Story and Name Your Gem at the Online Museum of Diamonds

The online Museum of Diamonds — a website dedicated to showcasing famous gems, such as the Hope, the Regent and the Kohinoor — is encouraging ...

Double Proposal Affirms Disneyland Is the Happiest — and Most Romantic — Place on Earth

Jesse Tober and Kasey Donovan starred in their own fairytale last Monday when they popped the question simultaneously in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle at ...

Music Friday: Mick Jagger Sings About a High-Society Girl's Diamonds in 1965's 'Play With Fire'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you super throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Mick Jagger ...

Fine Feathered Friend Assists With Marriage Proposal at Utah's Hogle Zoo

Utah resident Laura Forsling is one of the few people on the planet who can say that her marriage proposal was delivered by an African ...

Did You Know That Spinel Is an Official Birthstone for the Month of August?

The modern birthstone list has been amended only three times in the past 106 years, so when the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and Jewelers ...

12th 100-Plus-Carat Diamond of 2018 Establishes New Record for Letšeng Mine in Lesotho

Back in January, Gem Diamonds announced the discovery of a gem-quality, 910-carat diamond at its Letšeng Mine. The D-color, Type IIa stone — which was ...

Music Friday Tribute: Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin 'Wouldn't Mind a Little Diamond Ring'

In 1964, a 22-year-old Aretha Franklin declared in a song called "One Room Paradise" that she didn't need to live in a castle or be ...

Giddy Rob Gronkowski Dishes About His Brand New Diamond Chain: 'I Love This Puppy'

Despite being one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski says he lives an "easy" and "normal" life. ...

San Diego City Workers Help Couple Rescue $30K Diamond Ring From Landfill — in 4 Minutes

San Diego city workers helped a couple rescue an accidentally trashed $30,000 engagement ring from the Miramar Landfill — and the whole operation took just ...

Wildfire Reduces His Family's Home to Rubble, But His Grandma's Ring Rises From the Ashes

With their family's home reduced to ashes in the aftermath of the deadly Carr wildfire, Jerry Ogle and his dad returned to their property off ...

This Is How Fashionable Jerusalemites Were Accessorizing 2,200 Years Ago

This Is How Fashionable Jerusalemites Were Accessorizing 2,200 Years Ago A team of archeologists from Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority unearthed an ...

Music Friday: Kids of the 'One Voice' Choir Inspire Their Peers to 'Shine Bright Like a Diamond'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you exceptional songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, the talented members ...

Flushed Engagement Ring Saved From 'The Abyss' by High-Tech Plumbing Crew in Memphis

Flushed Engagement Ring Saved From 'The Abyss' by High-Tech Plumbing Crew in Memphis A Memphis plumbing crew required a high-tech camera and a little bit ...

Pitcher Joe Kelly Finds Tony LaRussa's World Series Ring in His Glove, Demands $1 Trillion Ransom

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly said it was one of the "funniest, coolest and randomest" baseball stories he's ever been part of. It all went down ...

New Study: Blue Diamonds Form 400 Miles Below the Surface, Far Deeper Than All Others

By studying minute inclusions trapped within blue diamonds, scientists have been able to determine that their origin is far deeper in the Earth than other ...

Music Friday: Her Thai Nickname Means 'Pink Sapphire,' But Jannine Is Singing About 'Diamonds'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you new songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Thai-German pop star ...

Sotheby's Introduces 'The Midas Touch,' Its First-Ever Auction Dedicated Entirely to Gold

This October, Sotheby's London will host its first-ever auction dedicated entirely to gold. Titled "The Midas Touch," the sale will feature unusual golden artifacts cherry-picked ...

Birthstone Feature: Check Out the Fascinating History of the Smithsonian’s ‘Chalk Emerald’

The Chalk Emerald’s impressive clarity, color, size and regal lineage rank it among the world’s finest examples of May’s official birthstone.Exhibiting the most highly prized ...

UK Treasure Hunters Unearth Four Golden Torcs Dating Back 2,500 Years

Two buddies with a passion for treasure hunting unearthed four 2,500-year-old golden torcs within the parish of Leekfrith (pop. 363) in the English countryside. The ...

Jewelry Collection of Celebrated Author Jackie Collins to Hit the Auction Block at Bonhams

One thousand lots from the estate of celebrated author Jackie Collins — including a 6.04-carat pear-shaped diamond — will hit the auction block on May ...

McMatch Made in Heaven: Man Pops the Question With Ring Hidden in Box of Chicken McNuggets

When Lincoln, Ill., native Kristian Helton was plotting the perfect way to propose to girlfriend Karsyn Long on Valentine's Day, he knew that McDonald's Chicken ...

'Real Is Rare. Real Is a Diamond' Commercial Shares Limelight During Last Night's Academy Awards

More than 30 million viewers tuning into the 89th annual Academy Awards last night got their first glimpse of "Runaways," the second in a series ...

Music Friday: Ed Sheeran Carves a Heart Pendant for His Girlfriend in the 2011 Love Song, 'Wake Me Up'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you wonderful songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Ed Sheeran carves ...

Minnesota Twins Pitcher Phil Hughes Has 24-Karat Aspirations for His Surgically Removed Rib

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Phil Hughes shook up the internet last week when he hinted that he's seriously considering transforming his surgically removed rib into a ...

Museum-Quality Collection of North Carolina-Sourced Star Rubies to Hit the Auction Block in June

Sourced in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, four museum-quality star rubies weighing a total of 342 carats will hit the auction block at Guernsey’s ...