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Approximately two-thirds of the pieces will be exhibited publicly for the first time, alongside paintings, designs and historical documents from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives.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.

What do you give a team that has waited 53 years to reclaim the NBA championship? How about a ring that brings its legendary home court to life? The New York Knicks received their championship jewelry Tuesday night before their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Crafted in white gold, the spectacular rings feature a groundbreaking mechanical innovation that transforms each piece into a miniature tribute to the World's Most Famous Arena.



Created by luxury jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills in collaboration with Knicks leadership, the custom rings glisten with 22 carats of diamonds. There are approximately 800 gemstones in all, including round brilliant and emerald-cut white diamonds alongside colorful team-color sapphires. The New York Knicks logo is rendered in orange sapphires on the top with a white diamond border. In the background behind the logo, blue sapphires set in a radial pattern mimic the inside of Madison Square Garden when you look up at the stadium from your seats.

But the ring's most remarkable feature isn't its gemstone count or diamond total weight. It's the engineering.



A state-of-the-art mechanism allows a miniature recreation of Madison Square Garden's iconic exterior to rise from the core of the ring with a simple turn. The innovation transforms the ring from a traditional championship keepsake into an interactive miniature tribute to the arena known affectionately as the World's Most Famous Arena.



The surprises continue when the ring is opened. Its body twists apart to reveal a detailed miniature recreation of the Garden's lower bowl, while the underside of the removable ring top recreates the arena's distinctive ceiling architecture. Together, these features capture the place where generations of Knicks fans have celebrated, suffered and dreamed of another title.

Jason Arasheben, founder and CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills, said the goal was to "create something truly revolutionary, worthy of an iconic franchise and a city as passionate about basketball as New York."

Bringing Madison Square Garden to life through the ring's moving mechanisms was central to that vision.

The ring also tells the story of the championship season through an abundance of carefully chosen symbols. Jersey numbers representing the entire championship roster wrap around the ring top — representing the team's unity — while each player's ring is personalized with his last name above a diamond-encrusted jersey number.

On the championship side, the year 2026, playoff series results and the Larry O'Brien Trophy commemorate the team's remarkable postseason journey. A 0.16-carat round diamond set into the trophy honors the Knicks' dramatic 16-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in the championship-clinching game.

Sixteen emerald-cut diamonds line the inner bezel, one for each postseason victory, while 69 points of round white diamonds spell out “WORLD CHAMPIONS” on the face of the ring, recognizing the team's combined regular-season and playoff wins.



Hidden engravings add an intimate touch. “Knicks in Five” celebrates the team's five-game Finals triumph over San Antonio, while “10 WEEKS” recalls the players' mantra of sacrifice, discipline and total focus on winning it all.

For a franchise whose previous championship came more than half a century ago, the ceremony carried a special emotional resonance. Eighty-one-year-old Knicks legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier was on hand to deliver the rings, connecting the champions of today with the celebrated teams of the past.

Credits: Images courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills.

A year after introducing its ambitious “Desert Diamonds” initiative, De Beers is bringing the natural diamond concept back into the holiday spotlight with a fresh celebration of warm, earthy colors and timeless jewelry designs. The 2026 campaign reimagines classic diamond pieces in shades of champagne, yellow, ochre, whiskey and brown, inviting a new generation of consumers to embrace natural diamonds as expressions of love, individuality and personal style.



The holiday campaign features familiar favorites, including diamond tennis bracelets, stud earrings, eternity bands and halo solitaire pendants. The designs offer a contemporary twist on traditional diamond jewelry, encouraging consumers to choose pieces that reflect their personalities rather than follow a single definition of diamond beauty. This year's campaign launched with a celebration of Desert diamond tennis bracelets at the US Open, where prominent athletes including Venus Williams, Taylor Townsend and Naomi Osaka appeared wearing the warm-toned gems.



The holiday push arrives nearly one year after De Beers dramatically introduced Desert Diamonds as its first new natural diamond “beacon” in more than a decade. The original launch reached a spectacular crescendo on October 27, 2025, when De Beers declared “Diamond Day” during a rare sports equinox, with the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL all holding games on the same day.



The company bought advertising time across major sports broadcasts in an ambitious “roadblock” designed to make its message virtually impossible to miss. The wider campaign extended across television, digital media, social platforms, outdoor advertising and high-profile New York installations, including a 3D Times Square billboard and a Rockefeller Center subway station takeover.

De Beers describes a beacon as more than a conventional advertising campaign: it is a demand-creation engine intended to inspire interest across the natural diamond category. Early results suggest the strategy made a meaningful impression. Brand-lift studies showed purchase intent for Desert Diamonds more than doubled, rising from 9.4% to 20.8%.

The campaign generated more than 1 billion impressions across channels during the final quarter of 2025 and drove more than 2.7 million store visits across more than 1,600 locations. Searches for colored diamonds rose 19% during the quarter, while participating independent retailers reported a 16% increase in the value of colored diamond sales.

Broader market figures also offered encouragement. According to Tenoris, sales of natural diamond jewelry priced above $1,500 increased 3.4% in units and 9.7% in revenue.

In early 2026, De Beers extended the concept into bridal jewelry, bringing the earthy palette to engagement rings and wedding designs. More than 200 new bridal designs were previewed, giving couples alternatives to traditional colorless diamonds and a way to express their own stories through champagne, honey, blush and cognac hues.

Credits: Video screen captures courtesy of De Beers Group.

Kylie Jenner made a dazzling Victoria’s Secret runway debut on October 18 in Los Angeles, wearing a jewel-encrusted $50 million Fantasy Bra that sets a new record for the lingerie brand’s most valuable creation. Designed in collaboration with luxury jeweler Jacob & Co., the extraordinary piece features 4,410 natural diamonds totaling 1,373 carats, anchored by a spectacular 75.54-carat Fancy Vivid yellow diamond valued at $22 million.



The record-setting price tag is more than triple that of the previous champion, Gisele Bündchen’s $15 million Red Hot Fantasy Bra, unveiled in 2000. Jenner’s appearance also marked the first time the Fantasy Bra had returned to the Victoria’s Secret runway since 2018.

Graded VS2 by the Gemological Institute of America, the natural Fancy Vivid yellow diamond dangles below two round brilliant white diamonds totaling 11.85 carats. The surrounding diamonds showcase seven different cuts, including radiant, pear, round brilliant, heart, oval, marquise and designer Jacob Arabo’s proprietary Angel-Cut.



The design also incorporates 91 large natural white diamonds, ranging from 5.01 to 18.59 carats, selected in E-F color and VVS2-VS1 clarity grades. Smaller diamonds fill the spaces between the larger stones, creating a brilliant, continuous display of light.

The Angel-Cut carries a personal meaning for Arabo and his wife, Angela. Its 37 facets symbolize the couple’s 37 years of marriage, adding a romantic touch to the spectacular craftsmanship.

Yet the most remarkable feature may be what the Fantasy Bra lacks: fabric. Instead, the piece is built from 18-karat white and yellow gold, with 3,218 individually designed components engineered to articulate with the body. The structure was developed through pencil sketches, a full-scale chipboard model and detailed computer-aided design, then cast using the traditional lost-wax method. Each element was assembled and set by hand.

A team of 15 artisans devoted more than 1,000 hours to the project, carefully balancing the weight of the precious materials with the flexibility required for a runway performance. The finished creation weighs just under four pounds, yet its articulated diamond fringe swings with movement, allowing the piece to catch the light as its wearer walks.

“I wanted to create the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever made, but value alone was never enough,” Arabo said in a statement released by Victoria’s Secret. “For me, it had to be about the diamonds, the light, and the movement.”

The Fantasy Bra tradition began in 1996, when Claudia Schiffer modeled the first creation. Over the years, the designs have transformed lingerie into extraordinary showcases for rare gemstones and jewelry artistry.

Credits: Photos courtesy of Jacob & Co.

For the first time, holiday retail sales in the United States are expected to top $1 trillion, with consumers continuing to prioritize gifts and celebrations despite inflation, rising gasoline prices and an uneven economic outlook. The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts that November and December sales will reach $1.013 trillion, a 4.2% increase over 2025.



The projection marks an acceleration from last year, when holiday sales increased 3.1% to $972 billion. If the forecast holds, this year would deliver the strongest holiday sales growth since 2021, when sales surged 12.6%.

“This year’s forecast reflects our confidence that consumers will prioritize the holiday season even as they remain mindful of their budgets,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.

Speaking during an October 15 media call, Shay emphasized that Americans have consistently made holiday spending on loved ones a priority.

“They’ve repeatedly shown that the holidays and spending on loved ones are priorities,” he said.

Still, the record-breaking forecast comes with an important caveat: Not all households are experiencing the economy in the same way. NRF leaders described a K-shaped spending pattern, in which higher-income consumers continue to drive a disproportionate share of retail growth, while households with tighter budgets remain more cautious.

NRF Chief Economist and Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews said rising financial wealth is supporting spending among affluent households, while higher gas and food prices are putting greater pressure on moderate- and lower-income consumers. In some retail sectors, Mathews noted during the call, the top 10% of spenders account for as much as 70% of sales.

The forecast offers reason for optimism, particularly among shoppers with room in their budgets for meaningful gifts. Consumers are expected to remain deliberate and value-conscious, making attractive designs, compelling price points and thoughtful gift options important throughout the season.

US retailers are preparing for the demand by planning to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal workers, roughly in line with last year’s estimated 356,000 hires.

NRF also expects artificial intelligence to play a larger role in holiday shopping, as consumers increasingly use AI tools to research products and compare options.

The NRF defines the holiday season as November 1 through December 31 and excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants from its retail-sales calculation. Holiday sales have accounted for approximately 19% of annual retail sales over the past five years.

Credit: Image by The Jeweler Blog using aichatapp.ai.

In Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Arrows,” David Crosby reflects on hardship and transformation through these memorable lyrics: “I have a thing about arrows / And diamonds and coal / Pressure turning carbon to jewels.” These opening lines offer a powerful reminder that life’s most challenging experiences can become the raw material for personal transformation. Just as pressure can turn carbon into a diamond, adversity can force a person to confront painful truths, discover inner strength and emerge with a renewed sense of purpose.



Welcome to Music Friday, when we highlight songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics.

For Crosby, the metaphor carried a deeply personal resonance. The song’s imagery of arrows turned inward suggests that growth begins not by blaming others, but by examining one’s own choices and weaknesses. Its uplifting message — “You can turn it around” — offers hope that even after hitting bottom, a person can find a path to the top.

Co-written by Crosby and acoustic guitarist Michael Hedges, “Arrows” appeared as the ninth track on Crosby, Stills & Nash’s sixth studio album, Live It Up, released in June of 1990. Although the song was never issued as a commercial single, the album reached No. 57 on the Billboard 200.
The timing of the song is significant. By the mid-1980s, Crosby’s long struggle with cocaine and heroin addiction had devastated his health and career. In 1986, he began serving a prison sentence in Texas for drug and weapons offenses. Without access to drugs or musical instruments, he endured a painful withdrawal and was released on parole later that year.

Crosby would later describe prison as an experience that helped save his life. His path to recovery was neither simple nor painless, but it marked the beginning of a remarkable comeback. By the time Live It Up arrived, he was sober and had begun rebuilding his personal life, including marrying Jan Dance in 1987.

Against that backdrop, the song’s diamond imagery becomes more than a poetic flourish. The coal represents a person’s darkest moments; the pressure represents the difficult work of facing them. And the jewel represents the possibility of becoming stronger and wiser without pretending the past never happened. The arrows turned inward are not weapons of self-destruction, but instruments of honest self-examination.

Crosby’s journey gave this message particular weight. A founding member of the Byrds before joining Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, he helped shape the harmonies and sound of a generation. Crosby, Stills & Nash became one of the defining supergroups of the late 1960s and 1970s, earning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1970. With Neil Young joining them at various points, the expanded lineup became Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Across their different configurations, the musicians sold tens of millions of records and left an enduring mark on rock music. The trio was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Crosby died in January 2023 at age 81, but Stills and Nash remain living links to the group’s extraordinary legacy.

Please check out the audio track of Crosby, Stills & Nash performing "Arrows." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Arrows"
Written by David Crosby and Michael Hedges. Performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Arrows turned inward are good for the soul
I have a thing about arrows
And diamonds and coal
Pressure turning carbon to jewels

Slowly they aim at my iron mark
Flaming healing arrows
They beat at my heart
Angels turning metal to tools

I don't care what you think has got you down
You can turn it around
I don't care what you think, turn it around
Turn it around, turn it around

Times that I knew I could never get through
That's when I grew up the most
And alone sounds so sad
But alone I found the best friend I had

I don't care what you think has got you down
You can turn it around
I don't care what you think, turn it around
Turn it around, turn it around

Arrows turned inward are good for the soul
Piercing through every callus
They always get through
My target is a heart no one fools

Turn it around, turn it around
Turn it around, turn it around



Credit: Photo by Eddi Laumanns aka RX-Guru, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

For families across the American heartland, a giant pile of corn kernels can be the perfect place for little ones to dig, scoop, tumble and play while Mom snaps adorable fall photos. But amid the pumpkin patches, hayrides, apple cider donuts — and corn pits — there’s a surprising hazard that can turn a carefree autumn outing into a jewelry owner’s nightmare.



Here's the problem: When thousands of kernels rub against one another, they release a fine, powdery residue of corn starch. As children and adults plunge their hands into the corn, that dust coats their fingers and reduces the natural friction that helps keep rings in place. An engagement ring that normally fits securely can suddenly become slippery enough to slide off without its owner even noticing.

Add the constant motion of digging, scooping and reaching through a deep bed of kernels, and a precious ring can disappear in a blink. Cooler autumn temperatures may make the problem worse if fingers shrink slightly in the chill, leaving a ring with an even looser fit.

The danger isn’t theoretical. In October 2023, Gull Meadow Farms in Kalamazoo County, MI, reported that a visitor had found an engagement ring in its 1,500-square-foot Corn Crib. The farm appealed to the public for help locating the owner, carefully withholding a photo so the rightful owner would have to identify the ring.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Jess Tran’s diamond wedding ring vanished during a family visit to Waldoch Farm. She didn’t realize it was missing until she and her husband were preparing to leave with their three young sons. The ring had disappeared into what must have seemed like an endless sea of corn.

Tran rented a metal detector and returned to the farm before it opened. After searching, she recovered her ring — along with another person’s earring and some stray coins. Her relief was enormous. As she told the Star Tribune, “My heart just started pounding.” She said she began screaming and crying, feeling as if she were being proposed to all over again.

At Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze, also in Minnesota, jewelry losses were so frequent that the operators kept metal detectors on hand. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, keys and cellphones all found their way into the kernels.

Finding a lost ring in a corn pit is no easy task. Kernels shift and settle, concealing jewelry beneath layers of nearly identical pieces. Even if a farm has a metal detector, recovery can mean a painstaking search — and there’s no guarantee the ring will be found.

Fortunately, the simplest solution is also the most effective: remove engagement rings, wedding bands and other loose jewelry before entering a corn pit. Store them securely at home or in a safe place before the family outing begins. Check for warning signs at the entrance, too.

Corn pits are meant to create happy fall memories, not heartbreaking jewelry mysteries. With a little preparation, parents can focus on the giggles, the photo opportunities and the pumpkin-spiced treats — without worrying that a family heirloom might vanish beneath the kernels.

Credit: Image by The Jeweler Blog using aichatapp.ai.