As the United States celebrates its 250th year of independence, Belgium's famed diamond capital has marked the milestone with an extraordinary gift: a custom-made ring featuring 321 natural diamonds, created especially for US President Donald Trump by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).



Presented June 29 during the "America 250" celebration at Brussels' Cinquantenaire Park, the elaborate 18-karat gold ring was accepted on the president's behalf by US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White. Designed by renowned Antwerp jeweler and diamantaire David Gotlib and certified by HRD Antwerp, the one-of-a-kind creation was conceived as a tribute to the enduring trade relationship between Antwerp and the United States, the most important export market for Antwerp's natural diamonds.

Inspired by the oversized championship rings awarded to Super Bowl winners, the bold design is packed with patriotic symbolism. In addition to its 321 natural diamonds, the ring features 75 colored gemstones, an American bald eagle, a ruby shield, an emerald olive branch, raised white gold lettering spelling out "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" against a pavé diamond background, and the numbers "45" and "47," referencing Trump's two presidencies. A diamond baguette "T" appears beside stars representing the American flag.

"The United States has been our most important trading partner for generations," said AWDC Chairman Isidore Mörsel. "With this ring, we wanted to celebrate that enduring economic relationship while also showcasing what Antwerp stands for on the world stage: trust, craftsmanship and natural diamond."

The presentation also served as an opportunity for the Antwerp diamond industry to spotlight the differences between natural and laboratory-grown diamonds. During the accompanying reception, guests watched master diamond polishers at work and had their own jewelry analyzed by HRD Antwerp to determine if the gemstones were natural.

Ambassador White expressed his appreciation both during the ceremony and afterward on X, writing: "As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence, we are honored with the Antwerp World Diamond Centre's gift of this beautiful ring that reflects the unbreakable bond between our countries. Our countries have stood the test of time together. This gift celebrates the enduring ties between the United States and Belgium that are destined to last forever."

President Trump also acknowledged the presentation in a pre-recorded video message played during the festivities.

Although AWDC did not disclose the ring's value, a handcrafted 18-karat gold ring set with 321 natural diamonds and 75 additional gemstones certainly exceeds the $480 threshold established under the U.S. Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act. As a result, the gift will likely become US government property and ultimately be transferred to the National Archives, a presidential library or another official government display, unless purchased personally at its appraised value after a presidency.

The presentation also underscored Antwerp's remarkable place in the diamond world. With a trading history stretching back nearly 600 years, the Belgian city remains one of the world's premier diamond centers, handling the majority of global rough diamond trade and serving as a symbol of craftsmanship, trust and expertise for the international jewelry industry.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Antwerp World Diamond Centre.

If you've ever visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, chances are you've admired the dazzling Hope Diamond. But just a short distance away sits another legendary gemstone that has captivated visitors for decades — the 138.72-carat Rosser Reeves Star Ruby, widely regarded as the largest and finest star ruby ever discovered.



Its rich crimson color, remarkably sharp six-rayed star and fascinating backstory have made it one of the museum's most treasured attractions.

The gem owes its name to Rosser Reeves, the legendary advertising executive behind iconic slogans such as M&M's "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand" and Wonder Bread's "Helps build strong bodies 12 ways." Reeves believed the ruby was his good-luck charm and affectionately called it "my baby," carrying the unmounted gem in a small velvet pouch wherever he traveled.

That habit nearly proved disastrous.

For years, one popular story claimed Reeves accidentally left the ruby in a New York City taxicab while rushing to catch a flight to London. Fortunately, the honest driver turned in the pouch, and the treasured gem was safely returned.

But according to former Smithsonian gem curator Jeffrey Post in his book Unearthed, another equally harrowing incident also became part of the ruby's colorful history. Reeves once left the gem on the bar at Manhattan's famed 21 Club before departing on an overseas trip. Only after landing was he able to telephone the restaurant and learn that "his baby" had been safely set aside until his return.

Post also revealed another long-standing misconception. Although Reeves often claimed he purchased the ruby at an auction in Istanbul during the 1950s, the stone had actually been acquired years earlier by London gem dealer Robert Fisher. After being recut from 140 carats to 138.72 carats to better center its star and remove surface abrasions, it was eventually sold by Fisher's son, Paul, to Reeves in 1965.

Reeves had intended to leave the gem to his granddaughter, but Smithsonian gem curator George Switzer persuaded him that millions of museum visitors would enjoy it for generations if it became part of the National Gem Collection.

"I am a salesman," Reeves later joked, "but he is a better salesman."

The ruby has been on public display ever since.

Originally mined in Sri Lanka, the Rosser Reeves Star Ruby is a spectacular example of a star ruby, a variety prized for the optical phenomenon known as asterism. Ruby itself is the red variety of the mineral corundum. During crystal formation, tiny needle-like inclusions of the mineral rutile align in three directions. When the gem is cut into a smooth, rounded cabochon, light reflecting from those microscopic needles creates the illusion of a brilliant six-rayed star gliding gracefully across the surface.

As July's official birthstone, ruby has long symbolized passion, vitality and courage. Few examples embody those qualities more dramatically than the Rosser Reeves Star Ruby — a gemstone whose remarkable beauty is rivaled only by the extraordinary stories it has inspired.

Credit: Photo by Dane A. Penland / Smithsonian and digitally enhanced by SquareMoose.

High in Austria's breathtaking Zillertal Alps sits what may be the world's most unusual tribute to a gemstone: a mountain chapel shaped exactly like a garnet crystal.



Known as the Garnet Chapel (Granatkapelle in German or Capella Granata in Italian), the striking structure rises from a rocky outcrop at an elevation of 6,847 feet (2,087 meters) near Penkenjoch in the Tyrol region. Designed by internationally acclaimed Swiss architect Mario Botta and consecrated in 2013, the chapel resembles a giant rhombic dodecahedron — the 12-faced geometric form commonly seen in naturally occurring garnet crystals.

The project was commissioned by the Brindlinger family, whose ancestors earned their livelihood mining garnets in the Zillertal Alps, where the deep reddish-brown gemstone has long been a symbol of the region's identity.



Botta reinforced the connection by sheathing the exterior in Corten steel. As the steel develops its natural patina, it echoes the warm hues of almandine garnets while blending harmoniously with the surrounding alpine landscape.

The architect envisioned the chapel as a meeting place between human ingenuity and the natural world. Its mathematically precise crystalline exterior represents human rationality emerging from the rugged mountains, while the warm larch-wood interior symbolizes comfort, spirituality and refuge.

Botta once likened the building to a nut — with a hard shell protecting a soft center. Natural light streams through an overhead glazed dome and narrow openings, creating an ever-changing play of light that enhances the chapel's peaceful atmosphere.

The design also pays tribute to a gemstone that once fueled the local economy. During the 18th and 19th centuries, miners in the Zillertal and neighboring Ötztal Alps extracted rich deposits of almandine garnets, prized for their deep crimson color and exceptional clarity. Local lapidaries fashioned the stones into brooches, pendants, rings and traditional Tyrolean jewelry that became popular throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire and beyond. Although commercial mining eventually declined, garnet remains one of Tyrol's best-known gemstones.

Today, the Garnet Chapel has become one of Austria's most photographed examples of contemporary religious architecture. Visitors are rewarded not only with its remarkable design but also sweeping views of the Zillertal Valley, the Tux Alps and the nearby Penken reservoir, whose still waters often mirror the jewel-like structure.

Summer and early autumn offer the easiest access, with the chapel's interior generally open during the warmer months. The soft light near sunset is especially magical when the Corten steel glows against the alpine scenery. Admission is free, and reaching the chapel is easy via the Finkenberger Almbahn gondola followed by a pleasant five- to 10-minute walk.

Credits: Image (top) by SchiDD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image (bottom) by Benreis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

For jewelry lovers planning a trip to Washington, DC, there's now one more reason to visit the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Just steps from the world-famous National Gem Collection, the museum has unveiled a sweeping new exhibition that celebrates America's natural treasures — including rare gemstones, precious metals, remarkable minerals and fascinating fossils from every corner of the country.



Unveiled on June 18, "From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage" is part of the Smithsonian's nationwide "Our Shared Future: 250" initiative commemorating the United States' 250th anniversary.

The 5,000-square-foot exhibition will remain on view through December 2029, giving visitors more than three years to explore an extraordinary collection of 648 specimens and cultural objects representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five US territories.



Drawn from the museum's astonishing collection of more than 148 million objects, the exhibition showcases everything from dazzling minerals and ancient fossils to cultural artifacts that reveal the deep connections between people and the landscapes they call home.

Among the highlights is a brilliant blue benitoite from California, one of the world's rarest gemstones. Even more remarkable, the specimen comes from the now-exhausted deposit that produced virtually all gem-quality benitoite ever discovered.

The exhibit also features lustrous freshwater pearls from Tennessee, the state's official gem, along with spectacular twinned gold crystals from Nevada and polished smithsonite from New Mexico's famed Kelly Mine, a material once prized by jewelers for decorative cabochons.

A special case devoted to official state symbols showcases 17 different rocks, gemstones and minerals representing 11 states, while another section explores the intersection of geology and culture through carved walrus ivory from Alaska and other objects that demonstrate how natural resources have shaped regional traditions.

Fossil lovers will also find plenty to admire. One particularly eye-catching specimen is a fossilized crocodilian egg from Wyoming that, over millions of years, transformed into a sparkling quartz geode. Elsewhere, iridescent ammonites, ancient corals and sea stars remind visitors that much of what is now the United States once lay beneath ancient seas.

"This exhibition brings the entire country into one gallery — letting visitors encounter the extraordinary breadth of America's natural and cultural heritage," said Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History. "As the country marks its 250th anniversary, From These Lands presents an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our landscapes, the depth of our history and the connections that link people and the natural world across borders."

Co-curator Torben Rick emphasized the exhibition's broader message: "Natural history is everything — it is the people around us, the food we eat and the ground we walk on. At its core, this exhibition is about connection."

After touring From These Lands, visitors can simply walk next door to the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals to experience one of the world's greatest gem collections. There, perennial favorites, such as the legendary Hope Diamond, the spectacular Carmen Lúcia Ruby and the breathtaking Mackay Emerald Necklace, continue to captivate millions of visitors each year.

Together, the neighboring exhibitions offer an unforgettable journey through America's geological wonders and some of the world's most celebrated gemstones.

Credits: Photos by James D. Tiller, Smithsonian.

For this week’s Music Friday, we spotlight RAYE’s cheeky and chart-topping 2025 single, “Where Is My Husband!,” a brassy, retro-inspired anthem that uses a sparkling diamond engagement ring as a larger-than-life symbol of romance, commitment and the search for lasting love.



Throughout the song, the British singer-songwriter humorously laments the absence of her future husband while imagining the life they will eventually share. At the center of that fantasy is a “big and shiny diamond” engagement ring — not merely as a piece of jewelry, but as a tangible representation of her hopes, dreams and emotional investment in finding the right partner.

In the opening line, she sings, "I would like a ring, I would like a ring / I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger / I would like a big and shiny diamond that I can wave around / And talk, and talk about it."

The ring serves multiple symbolic roles. On one level, it represents commitment and certainty — a visible promise that someone is ready to build a life together. On another, RAYE playfully leans into the ring’s status-symbol appeal, singing about a diamond she can proudly wave around.

At the same time, the ring also underscores the song’s central frustration. As RAYE jokingly asks, “Where is my husband?” the coveted diamond becomes a marker of delayed dreams and unanswered expectations. The humor, however, never masks the song’s deeper message. By the end, listeners are reminded that self-discovery and self-worth are essential ingredients in finding genuine love.

Released in September 2025, “Where Is My Husband!” became an international sensation. The single topped the charts in the UK and reached the Top 10 in numerous countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. It also became RAYE’s highest-charting US hit, climbing to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The singer further boosted the song’s profile with high-profile performances on Today, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Graham Norton Show and The Jennifer Hudson Show.

The track appears on RAYE’s critically acclaimed 2026 album, This Music May Contain Hope, a collection praised for its honesty, emotional depth and genre-blending artistry. She is currently bringing her new work to audiences worldwide while serving as a special guest on Bruno Mars’ North American tour.

Born Rachel Agatha Keen in London on October 24, 1997, RAYE first earned industry respect as a sought-after songwriter, penning hits for major artists including Beyoncé, Little Mix and Ellie Goulding. After years of success behind the scenes, she emerged as a solo superstar, earning worldwide acclaim for her powerhouse vocals, fearless songwriting and record-breaking six-win sweep at the 2024 BRIT Awards.

Please check out RAYE's live performance of "Where Is My Husband" on The Jennifer Hudson Show. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Where Is My Husband"
Written by RAYE and Mike Sabath. Performed by RAYE.

I would like a ring, I would like a ring
I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger
I would like a big and shiny diamond that I can wave around
And talk, and talk about it
And when the day is here, forgive me God, that I could ever doubt it
Until death, I do, I do, I do, I…

This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh
Help me, help me, help me, Lord

Baby, where the hell is my husband?
What is takin' him so long to find me, ee, ee?
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? Woo-hoo, yeah
Tell him if you see him, baby (baby), if you see him, tell him (tell him)
He should holler

Why is this beautiful man waiting for me to get old?
Why is he already testing my patience?
I only fear he taking time with other women that ain't me
While I've been reviewin' applications
Wait till I get my hands on him, I'ma tell him off too
For how long he kept me waitin', anticipatin'
Prayin' to the Lord to give him to my lovin' arms
And despite my frustrations

And he must need me (he must need me)
Completely (completely)
How my heart yearns for him
Is he far away? (Is he far away?)
Is he okay? (Is he okay?)
This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh
Help me, help me, help me, Lord
I need you to tell me

Baby, where the hell is my husband?
What is taking him so long to find me, ee, ee?
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? Woo-hoo, yeah
Tell him if you see him, baby (baby), if you see him, tell him (tell him)
He should holler

I'm doing lonely acrobatics, unzipping my dress at 2 am
And I'm tired of living like this
He must be out there getting ready, tryna fix up his tie
Uh, huh-huh, uh, hello? This where your wife is
Wait till I get your heart goin', I'ma turn it up too
For how much I'm about to love ya, no one above ya
Prayin' to the Lord to hurry, hurry you along
Baby, I intend to rush ya

And he must need me (he must need me)
Completely (completely)
How my heart yearns for him
Is he far away? (Is he far away?)
Is he okay? (Is he okay?)
This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh (help me)
Help me, help me, help me, Lord
I need you to tell me

Baby, where the hell is my husband?
What is taking him so long to find me, ee, ee?
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? Woo-hoo, yeah
Tell him if you see him, baby (baby), if you see him, tell him (tell him)
He should holler

Tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh
Tell him I'm mm, tell him I'm mm with the mm-mm-mm
Tell him I'm kind, tell him I'm five foot five
Tell him I've got brown eyes and a growing fear
That if he doesn't find me now
I'm gonna die alone, so can he
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh (Hurry up here, sir)
Uh-uh, uh-uh-uh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
I want it, want it, want it, want it, want it

I would like a ring, I would like a ring
I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger
I would like a big and shiny diamond that I can wave around
And talk, and talk about it
And when the day is here, forgive me God, that I could ever doubt it
Until death, I do, I do, I do, I..

This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh
Help me, help me, help me, Lord
I need you to tell me

Baby, where the hell is my husband?
What is taking him so long to find me, ee, ee?
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? Woo-hoo, yeah
Tell him that my grandma said it, tell him grandma said it
"Your husband is coming"

I would like a ring, I would like a ring
I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger
I would like a big and shiny
Diamond, diamond, diamond, diamond, diamond, oh, oh
Where is my husband?



Credit: Screen capture via YouTube / Jennifer Hudson Show.

A hands-on archaeology program for local students yielded an extraordinary result when 12-year-old Alon Horowitz uncovered a rare 1,500-year-old gemstone at Israel's Korazim National Park. The discovery of the ancient "Nicolo" stone is providing archaeologists with fresh clues about wealth, trade and daily life in the Galilee during Roman and Byzantine times.



The sixth-grader from Ramat Korazim Elementary School made the remarkable find while participating in a community excavation project designed to connect local students with their historical roots. The program encourages young people to take an active role in uncovering the past through guided tours, hands-on digging, lessons about daily life in ancient times and demonstrations of ancient techniques.

After three days of excavation, Horowitz struck archaeological gold just minutes before the activity was scheduled to end.



“About ten minutes before we finished, I was digging with the trowel, and suddenly I saw something blue, round, and special,” Horowitz said. “I picked it up and showed it to the archaeologist. When I understood it was something rare, I felt really happy and proud.”

Experts identified the find as a "Nicolo" gemstone, a prized variety of agate that was highly sought after during the Roman and Byzantine periods. Characterized by its striking blue coloration and layered appearance, Nicolo stones were commonly set into jewelry and signet rings worn by wealthy and influential members of society.

According to excavation director Dr. Achia Kohn-Tavor of Ariel University, the gemstone likely dates from between the 1st and 6th centuries CE and would have served as a status symbol for its owner.

“Small finds like these open a large window for us into the personal lives of the residents of ancient Korazim — not only into buildings and streets, but also into worlds of beauty, status and human connections,” Kohn-Tavor noted.

The discovery is significant because the gemstone was not sourced locally. Archaeologists believe it arrived in Korazim through long-distance trade routes, providing evidence that this ancient community was connected to a broader network of commerce stretching across the Roman and Byzantine worlds. Its presence suggests that alongside agriculture and daily village life, Korazim enjoyed access to luxury goods and international trade.

Located a few miles north of the Sea of Galilee, Korazim was a village that flourished for more than a thousand years, from the Second Temple period through the 11th century CE. Today, visitors can explore the remains of homes, ritual baths, olive presses and a magnificent ancient synagogue renowned for its intricate stone carvings.

The site is also roughly two miles north of Capernaum, the ancient fishing village that served as the central base of Jesus’ public ministry.

Credits: Photos by Hadar Quint, Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

It was supposed to be an intimate, picture-perfect proposal. Instead, actress Jane Seymour and her beau, physician-musician John Zambetti, found themselves laughing hysterically in their Malibu home as a vintage "toi et moi" diamond engagement ring bounced under the bed resulting in Zambetti getting his knee wedged under the bed frame as he tried to retrieve it.



"It was an interesting story," Seymour recently joked while recounting the Valentine's Day proposal in an interview with ExtraTV.

The slapstick mishap may not have gone according to plan, but the ring itself couldn't have been more perfect.



Zambetti chose a vintage "toi et moi" engagement ring — French for "you and me" — featuring two diamonds nestled side by side. The design immediately resonated with him because it symbolized the couple's journey to finding one another later in life.

"I saw this one ring that really spoke to me," Zambetti told People magazine. "Because it had two stones in it. I like the fact that it had two stones, and they had a little pavé path leading up to each stone."

To him, the symbolism was unmistakable.

"I thought, like, it's the two of us together, and there's our past lives each leading up to us being together," he explained.

Seymour was equally enchanted by the ring and its history. She learned that the toi et moi style traces its roots to late 18th-century France and was immortalized in 1796 when a young Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Joséphine de Beauharnais with a bypass-style ring featuring two pear-shaped gems — a diamond and a sapphire — positioned in opposite directions.

The two stones represented two souls becoming one, and the romantic design quickly gained favor among European aristocrats before flourishing during the Victorian era and again during the Art Deco period.

Today's toi et moi rings come in countless variations. Some pair two identical diamonds, while others combine a diamond with a colored gemstone such as sapphire, emerald or ruby. Popular shape combinations include pear and oval, emerald and round, or two matching stones arranged symmetrically. Settings range from the classic bypass style to sleek open-shank designs that make the gems appear to float.

Seymour's vintage ring remains faithful to the style's original spirit. Its two center stones are joined visually by delicate pavé-set diamonds, creating a poetic representation of two lives converging.

As for the proposal itself, things unraveled almost immediately.

Zambetti had hidden the ring in a safe and planned to present it on the morning of Seymour's 75th birthday, the day after Valentine's Day. But as he knelt beside the bed, the ring slipped from the box and bounced underneath.

"Then I had to climb under the bed, and then I couldn't get out," he told People.

"The funniest part was that he couldn't get up afterwards," Seymour added. "His knee was now stuck from being under the bed and I'm not strong enough to pull him up because he weighs almost twice what I do. We looked at one another and started laughing hysterically."

The couple has been together for nearly three years. Seymour, who continues to act and recently appeared in films and television projects while maintaining an active producing career, describes Zambetti as "a magical human being."

Zambetti spent decades as an emergency room physician while simultaneously building a successful second career in music as a singer-songwriter, producer and co-founder of the surf-rock band The Malibooz.

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube / extratv.

Scientists speculate that deep beneath the icy blue clouds of Uranus and Neptune, one of the universe's most dazzling weather phenomena may be taking place: showers of diamonds falling through the planets' interiors.



It sounds like science fiction, but decades of research — and a growing body of laboratory evidence — suggest that these distant worlds may indeed be producing diamonds by the billions.

Uranus and Neptune are known as "ice giants," but that name can be a little misleading. Their interiors aren't filled with frozen water the way we think of ice on Earth. Instead, scientists believe their small rocky cores are wrapped in enormous layers of superheated "ices" made primarily of water, ammonia and methane.

It's the methane that gives these planets their signature blue color — and possibly their extraordinary diamond-making abilities.

Researchers believe that about 6,200 miles beneath the clouds, temperatures soar to thousands of degrees and pressures climb to more than a million times Earth's atmospheric pressure. Under those crushing conditions, methane molecules are torn apart, separating carbon atoms from hydrogen.

The freed carbon atoms are then squeezed into microscopic diamonds.

Because diamonds are denser than the surrounding materials, scientists theorize they begin to sink, creating what can only be described as "diamond rain."

And the story may get even more spectacular from there.

Some researchers believe these falling gems accumulate around the planets' cores, forming thick diamond-rich layers. Others speculate that the extreme temperatures deeper inside may melt the diamonds into vast oceans of liquid carbon.

In one of the most intriguing scenarios, enormous solid diamonds — some perhaps as large as icebergs — could float atop these liquid seas.

Imagine a world with diamond bergs drifting on oceans of carbon.

The idea was first proposed in 1981 by physicist Marvin Ross of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, but for years it remained little more than an intriguing theory.

More recently, scientists have recreated the extreme conditions found inside Uranus and Neptune using powerful lasers and shock-compression experiments. In these tests, materials containing carbon and hydrogen — including common plastics — were blasted with intense pulses of energy. The results showed that carbon atoms rapidly reorganized themselves into tiny diamonds, lending strong support to the diamond-rain hypothesis.

Although no spacecraft has ever ventured deep enough into Uranus or Neptune to confirm the phenomenon directly, scientists are increasingly confident that these glittering storms are real.

For jewelry lovers, it's a delightful thought: While diamonds on Earth are precious and rare, somewhere in the outer reaches of our solar system, they may be falling like raindrops.

Credits: Fanciful conceptual image by The Jeweler Blog using aichatapp.ai.

For decades, the electric glow of Paraíba tourmaline has captivated collectors, designers and gem lovers alike. Now, an exciting new discovery in Ethiopia is adding a fresh chapter to the story of one of the world's most coveted colored gemstones.



The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF recently confirmed credible reports of a new deposit of copper-bearing tourmaline — the variety known in the trade as Paraíba tourmaline. The find is especially intriguing because preliminary testing shows the Ethiopian gems share a chemical signature remarkably similar to the most prized Paraíba stones from Brazil.

That similarity is both exciting and challenging.

SSEF scientists are now actively refining their trace-element analyses and origin-determination algorithms to distinguish Ethiopian Paraíba tourmalines from their Brazilian and African counterparts with greater precision. In some cases, the overlap is so significant that geographic origin remains inconclusive, highlighting just how closely related these gems are.

Paraíba tourmaline first burst onto the jewelry scene in the late 1980s when Brazilian prospector Heitor Barbosa uncovered vivid blue crystals in a weathered pegmatite near the village of São José da Batalha in the state of Paraíba.

What he discovered was unlike anything the gem world had ever seen.

Paraíba tourmalines are celebrated for their electric, almost neon glow — a dazzling blue to bluish-green color often compared to tropical waters or even the bright hue of glass cleaner. The vivid coloration comes from trace amounts of copper within the crystal structure, sometimes enhanced by manganese, creating an internal radiance that seems to glow from within.

The gems immediately became a sensation. Their intense color, combined with their rarity, sent prices soaring and established Paraíba tourmaline as one of the most desirable colored gemstones on Earth.

Production from the original Brazilian mines was limited, prompting excitement when additional deposits were discovered in Nigeria and Mozambique in the early 2000s. Mozambique, in particular, emerged as an important supplier, producing larger quantities of gem-quality stones and occasionally yielding spectacular specimens weighing hundreds of carats.

Now Ethiopia joins that exclusive club as the fourth major source.

The discovery could eventually increase availability, but rarity remains part of Paraíba's mystique. Only a small percentage of the rough is considered gem quality, ensuring that fine examples remain highly sought after.

Beyond its beauty, Paraíba tourmaline is also practical. Ranking 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it's durable enough for everyday jewelry, from rings to pendants. It's also one of October's two official birthstones, sharing the honor with opal.

Credit: A selection of copper-bearing tourmalines from Brazil, Mozambique and Nigeria, and two additional samples (two oval stones on the bottom left of the image) analyzed recently at the Swiss Gemmological Institute, which based on preliminary data possibly originate from the newly reported source in Ethiopia. Photo: © SSEF.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, actress and singer-songwriter Rita Wilson reminds us that even life’s darkest moments can reveal unexpected beauty in her uplifting 2026 release, “Diamonds.”



The song’s central image is wonderfully simple, yet deeply powerful. Wilson sings, “I see diamonds, I hear sirens” followed by the gripping line, “In the silence, I hear singing.” The two phrases form the emotional core of the song.

Diamonds symbolize beauty, strength and hope. They are precious treasures forged under immense pressure — a fitting metaphor for resilience and personal growth. The sirens, on the other hand, evoke danger, heartbreak and the chaos that can unexpectedly disrupt our lives. Wilson suggests that even in moments of fear or uncertainty, it’s possible to recognize life’s hidden gifts and discover the courage to persevere.

The lyrics continue this theme as Wilson describes finding “beauty in the dust and rust,” emphasizing that hope often emerges from imperfect places. The song ultimately delivers an optimistic message: Love and inner strength are powerful enough to guide us through adversity and help us emerge stronger on the other side.

“Diamonds” appears on Wilson’s sixth studio album, Sound of a Woman, released earlier this year to strong critical acclaim. Recorded in Nashville and co-produced by Wilson and Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, the folk-inspired album explores themes of self-discovery, aging, motherhood and acceptance with honesty and warmth.

Wilson is currently supporting the album with her Sound of a Woman tour, an intimate, acoustic-driven show featuring strings and background vocalists that beautifully recreate the album’s rich sound.

Remarkably, Wilson’s music career blossomed after she had already achieved enormous success as an actress and producer. Born Margarita Ibrahimoff on October 26, 1956, in Los Angeles, she first gained fame through television roles in the 1970s and ’80s before appearing in beloved films such as Sleepless in Seattle, Runaway Bride, Now and Then and It’s Complicated. As a producer, she helped bring the smash-hit films My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Mamma Mia! to audiences worldwide.

Music had always been a passion, but Wilson didn’t release her debut album until 2012. Inspired by her appearance as Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical Chicago, she began writing songs of her own and steadily built a respected career as a singer-songwriter.

Wilson has been married to actor Tom Hanks since 1988. A breast cancer survivor, she is a passionate advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness and women’s cancer research. In 2019, she received one of Hollywood’s highest honors — a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Please check out Wilson's recent live performance of "Diamonds" on The Kelly Clarkson Show. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Diamonds"
Written by Rita Wilson and Amy Wadge. Performed by Rita Wilson.

Do I have to prove it to you?
If I don't, then will I lose you?
I'm at the back of every line
Wrong side of history every time

Tell me how do I keep going
When the progress is so slow? And
Like my mother did before, I'm faced with slammin' doors
Tell me, how am I supposed to do it all?

I see diamonds, I hear sirens
In the silence, I hear singing

Out of all the dirt and rubble
Let's go and make ourselves good trouble
I see beauty in the dust, hidden underneath the rust
Shining bright

I see diamonds, I hear sirens
In the silence, I hear singing

Saying love is enough (love is, love is, love is)
Saying love is enough (love is, love is, love is)
Saying love is enough (love is, love is, love is)
Saying love is enough (love), is enough

Saying love is enough

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube / The Kelly Clarkson Show and Rita Wilson.