Finely ground black diamonds are the key ingredients in London-based BeautyLab’s new anti-aging serum that diffuses the light to give skin an airbrushed, youthful look.

Confirming the science behind the Black Diamond Energizing Serum, cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Sam Bunting told The Today Show that black diamonds create an optical blur when they settle into wrinkles and pores. “The diamonds diffuse the light and create a soft-focus effect, which potentially hides fine lines and wrinkles,” she said. “But that’s a cosmetic effect; it’s not a permanent thing.”

BeautyLab’s managing director Roger Aoun explained that the black diamonds absorb visible light and convert invisible UV light into blue light, which is scattered across the surface of the skin. The result is the soft diffusion of light that gives the user an airbrushed look.

Gemstones in beauty products are “a bit of a Hollywood secret,” said Rachel Scaperotta, a beautician at the Beverly Wilshire hotel spa. “It’s a pretty instant effect,” she told Today. “That’s why celebs like it.”

In addition to black diamonds, the serum contains sapphires, hexapeptide, copper peptide and sea algea. The peptides stimulate the creation of collagen, resulting in plumper, smoother and more radiant-looking skin.

The serum is priced at $120 for a 30ml bottle. The companion lotion is $140. The brand new product is already a hit in the U.K., where it was launched a few weeks ago. The pre-launch waiting list topped 4,000.

In clinical trials, 1,000 women using the black diamond serum reported a 65% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles in just 28 days.

Kind regards,

The La Mine d’Or Family

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you amazing tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. “I (Who Have Nothing)” is a timeless love song that has been covered by dozens of artists, both male and female, for the past 50 years.

The version we like best is performed here by none other than Sir Thomas John Woodward (better known as Tom Jones), whose powerful interpretation launched the song to #14 on the Billboard charts in 1970.

In “I (Who Have Nothing),” a poor man makes an impassioned plea to win the heart of his love interest. Sadly, all he can do is watch from his window as she goes out wrapped in the arms of a wealthy man — a man who can “give her the world,” including “bright sparkling diamonds.”

Jones, whose soulful voice and great looks melted hearts during the 1960s and 70s, has sold more than 100 million records and charted 36 Top-40 hits, including “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat” and “Delilah.”

The first artists to release “I (Who Have Nothing)” were Ben E. King and Shirley Bassey, both in 1963. Since then, the song has been reinterpreted by singers as diverse as Petula Clark, Luther Vandross, Liza Minnelli and Neil Diamond.

More recently, a new generation of music lovers were introduced to “I (Who Have Nothing) when it was performed by American Idol Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks.

We invite you to enjoy the riveting performance of Tom Jones at the end of this post. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along.

“I (Who Have Nothing)”
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Performed by Tom Jones.

I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Adore you, and want you so
I’m just a no one,
With nothing to give you but Oh
I Love You

He, He buys you diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
But believe me, dear when I say,
That he can give you the world,
But he’ll never love you the way
I Love You

He can take you anyplace he wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you, go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else
When darling it’s I
Who Loves you

I Love You
I Love You
I Love You

A Virginia woman who accidentally knocked her $22,000 anniversary ring into a flushing toilet is singing the praises of wastewater employees who rescued the diamond keepsake from a mucky demise — four days after it was lost.

It was about 11:30 on a Friday night when Jenna Wolfe, who was visiting relatives, took off her cherished anniversary ring and placed it on the sink’s countertop while she washed her hands. The ring, which features a 2-carat round center stone flanked by smaller round diamonds, was a 10^th anniversary gift from her husband.

According to a report by WAVY-TV, Wolfe used a paper towel to clean up some water that had splashed on the countertop, but the wiping motion accidentally knocked her anniversary ring into the flushing commode. In an instant, the very valuable and sentimental ring was gone.

She called a professional plumbing service, but when the company was unable to locate the ring, Wolfe feared the worst.

On Monday, she contacted the city’s Public Works Division, which promptly sent out a crew to help. After setting a debris trap down the water line, the wastewater employees told Wolfe to run water into all the drains of the house and to flush every toilet in an effort to move the ring into the trap.

Even though Monday’s efforts failed to locate and capture the ring, the crew members were back on Tuesday to try again. This time, they succeeded.

In a glowing note to the City of Hampton, Wolfe wrote, “We cannot express enough gratitude to everyone who had a role in recovering this very special ring for us. It’s not only the monetary value of the ring, but also the sentimental value that could not be replaced… Please do anything and everything you can to acknowledge their dedication, honesty and hard work.”

The persistent wastewater team members each received a $25 gift card as part of the city’s program to reward employees who perform above and beyond the call of duty.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sensational songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we step into our Wayback Machine and set the dial for 1965, a time of hippies, bellbottoms, love beads — and Sonny & Cher singing their iconic hit, “I Got You Babe.”

In this love song about a young couple just starting out, Sonny promises Cher that when they’re together there’s “no hill or mountain we can’t climb.” In the jewelry reference, he sings, “I got flowers in the spring. I got you to wear my ring.”

The husband-and-wife team blasted onto the music scene in 1965 with their hits, “I Got You Babe” and “Baby Don’t Go.” In the 1970s, they became household names, as they starred in two top-10 TV shows, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Show.

“I Got You Babe” had a key role in the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day, as Bill Murray, playing an arrogant TV weatherman, finds himself reliving February 2 in a perpetual time loop. Every morning at exactly six o’clock Murray wakes to the clock-radio playing the Sonny & Cher ditty.

The couple divorced in 1975, but the breakup proved that they didn’t need one another to be successful. Cher went on to become a Grammy Award-winning solo singer and an Academy Award-winning actress. Bono eventually became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Sadly, he passed away in a skiing accident in 1998.

In the rare video at the end of this post, Sonny & Cher are introduced as newcomers by Sammy Davis, Jr. The lyrics to “I Got You Babe” are below, but we bet you already know the words…

“I Got You Babe”
Written by Sonny Bono. Performed by Sonny & Cher

[HER:] They say we’re young and we don’t know
We won’t find out until we grow
[HIM:] Well I don’t know if all that’s true
‘Cause you got me, and baby I got you

[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe

[HER:] They say our love won’t pay the rent
Before it’s earned, our money’s all been spent
[HIM:] I guess that’s so, we don’t have a pot
But at least I’m sure of all the things we got

[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe

[HIM:] I got flowers in the spring I got you to wear my ring
[HER:] And when I’m sad, you’re a clown
And if I get scared, you’re always around
[HER:] So let them say your hair’s too long
‘Cause I don’t care, with you I can’t go wrong
[HIM:] Then put your little hand in mine
There ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb

[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe

[HIM:] I got you to hold my hand
[HER:] I got you to understand
[HIM:] I got you to walk with me
[HER:] I got you to talk with me
[HIM:] I got you to kiss goodnight
[HER:] I got you to hold me tight
[HIM:] I got you, I won’t let go
[HER:] I got you to love me so

[BOTH:] I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe

Kind regards,

The La Mine d’Or Family

Called “a true Rembrandt among gemstones,” natural padparadscha is one of the rarest and most valuable varieties of sapphire. Unlike its blue brethren, padparadscha boasts a salmon color reminiscent of the most delicate orange/pink sunset you’ve ever seen. Fans of this unusual and strikingly beautiful gemstone are in for a big treat on May 28, when an exceptional padparadscha-and-diamond ring hits the auction block at Christie’s Hong Kong as one of the top lots of its Magnificent Jewels sale.

The oval, modified brilliant/step-cut Sri Lankan padparadscha weighs a staggering 73.98 carats and is framed with brilliant-cut diamonds mounted in 18-karat rose gold. Pre-sale estimates put the value of the ring at $1.03 million to $1.55 million.

The poetically named padparadscha gets its name from “padma raga,” which literally means “the color of the lotus flower” in Sanskrit.

Padparadschas of the size and quality of the one offered for sale at Christie’s are rarely seen in auction circles. One gemstone dealer told author and gemstone expert David Federman, “Fine padparadscha is far rarer than either fine Kashmir sapphire or Burma ruby. We’re talking about a true Rembrandt among gemstones.”

Padparadscha belongs to the corundum family of gemstones, which includes rubies and sapphires. The presence of trace elements determines the color of each gemstone. While blue sapphires are naturally colored with iron and rubies with chromium, padparadschas are colored by the presence of both. The delicate interplay of pink and orange hues make this gem one of nature’s greatest marvels.

Kind regards,

The La Mine d’Or Fmaily

In the exasperating competition for her fiancé’s attention, Aussie Melissa Swift admitted she was no match for Angry Birds, the wildly popular video game where players use a slingshot to launch wingless birds at pigs.

No matter how much she protested, Swift couldn’t get her 30-year-old boyfriend, Ben Levi, to stop playing the game.

“We’d be watching TV and he’d be playing Angry Birds,” the 24-year-old Swift told The Huffington Post. “We’d be out to dinner with friends like civilized people and you’ve got Angry Birds going on under the table.”

The situation looked bleak, as Swift became an “angry bird” herself, defined in the Urban Dictionary as an annoyed girlfriend whose boyfriend is addicted to the Angry Birds game.

The bane of her existence resurfaced last month, when Levi asked his girlfriend to try out the new Angry Birds Friends game on his tablet during a lunch date at a local restaurant. Reluctantly, Swift agreed and started launching birds.

What Swift didn’t know was that her clever boyfriend had contacted Rovio Entertainment, the creator of Angry Birds, and asked if the company’s creative team could prepare a custom level with a special message for his fiancée. To his surprise and delight, the Finland-based company agreed to his request.

Over the next few months, Rovio representatives worked with Levi to create a unique and unforgettable marriage proposal.

When Swift reached Level 3, she was left nearly speechless when the screen showed the headline, “MARRY ME MEL.”

“I think I would have been less surprised had I seen a flying pig,” Swift told The Huffington Post. “I remember looking at it and not really comprehending what it meant. He was down on one knee and it just all fell into place and I just started crying… It was just unbelievable.”

The whole scene was captured by hidden cameras set up by the video game company, which produced the video at the end of this post.

Swift has a new appreciation for Angry Birds, telling The Huffington Post, “It took Angry Birds to finally get him to propose. I love them. Nothing else would motivate him, but Angry Birds did it, so I’m forever grateful.”

Is this couple destined to have an Angry Birds-themed wedding? We wouldn’t bet against it.

See the video of the Angry Birds proposal here: Angry Birds Proposal Video

We’ve been getting several calls from distraught clients in recent times regarding their battles with insurance companies. Why? Well, most have recently made a claim and were surprised when their insurance company dictated which jeweller they had to go see and what price they were willing to pay to replace their piece of jewellery. Unfortunately, this makes an already stressful situation, even more stressful; especially when you’re trying to replace something with so much sentimental value.

Does this Scenario Sound Familiar?

You bought your fiance a diamond engagement ring appraised at $6,000 and it was stolen/lost/damaged. Now your insurance company is telling you to go see some other jeweller that’s offering to replace “the same diamond” for $3,000. When you ask if you can go see your original jeweller they tell you that they’ll only provide you with $3,000 of replacement value if you choose to do so.

Sound familiar? Well, we’ve seen it happen pretty often lately. The problem here is that not all jewellers have the same standards (not by a long shot!). Having an appraisal signed by someone with GIA designations is a far cry when comparing it to someone who doesn’t. The other problem is that no two diamonds are created equal; for instance, on paper two diamonds can have the same grade, but in reality, one may be worth twice as much as the other. Therefore, how can you be assured of the same standards without going to see your original jeweller, or at least, one with the same credentials as the original?

Now here’s the real kicker! When you originally provided your insurance company with that $6,000 appraisal they may have charged you a premium on your insurance policy based on that amount, but now they only want to pay $3,000. Sound fair?

What Should You Do?

1)      Talk to your insurance company and find out if there are limits to your policy. Most do have limits unless you specify a particular piece to be insured; this is called a “rider”. A rider goes on top of your Home Insurance and you will likely be charged a premium for insuring this piece.

2)      Ask your insurance company how they handle repairs and/or replacements if something happens. Specifically, you should ask:

1. Will you be given “Full Replacement Value”?
2. Can you deal with the jeweller of your choice?
3. What kind of coverage will this include? Theft, loss, damage, etc?
4. How much more will you be paying?

Most importantly, if you’re not satisfied with the answers, consider Jewellery Insurance. Few realize that this is often less expensive and offers a broader, more comprehensive coverage than your home insurance. For instance, Jewellers Mutual insures qualified jewellers in North America and also offer insurance to these jewellers’ clients. Their policies normally cost less than a “rider” on your home policy and their coverage includes theft, damage, loss, and mysterious disappearance…even while travelling. Also, they have GIA trained staff on-hand; i.e., people with certified standards for jewellery, not someone shopping for the best bargain. And here’s the best part, you can choose to return to your original jeweller, as he/she knows exactly what you had purchased.

So next time you get the chance, speak with your insurance company and make sure you know what you’re paying for. If you don’t like what you hear, consider jewellery insurance.

We hope this helps!

The La Mine d’Or Family

As we were going through some repairs recently we came across an interesting letter from a supplier. It was regarding a watch which had been sent for repair because it wasn’t keeping time properly. It read the following:

There are internal working components of your automatic watch which are constructed of steel. If your watch comes into contact with a magnetic field, such as a strong electric motor, magnetic bracelet, etc., it is possible that the steel components of your watch will become magnetized.

This will cause drastic timekeeping issues.

The condition is not permanent, but the watch must be sent to our service centre to be demagnetized.

It is best to avoid exposing your watch to sources of magnetism.

Thank you.

We found it funny how little we sometimes think of small things like magnets and where we may come into contact with them. This caused a brainstorm of ideas as to where we find magnets around the house that we may not often consider:

-          Speakers

• Including headphones

-          Small toys with motors

-          Kitchen cabinets with magnetic latches

-          CD Readers

-          The refrigerator

• The ones that hold pictures
• A strip inside the door which helps hold it closed
• The motor

This is just to name a few without even considering your workplace. So be careful around magnets with your cherished timepieces (particularly automatic watches), it’ll save you a trip to the shop. But either way, feel free to visit anytime!

Kind regards,

The La Mine d’Or Family

We’re seeing it more and more often: Clarity Treated Diamonds. Picture this scenario; a person comes in for an appraisal on a diamond they purchased in a far away land. You can tell they’re anxious to find out what this stone is really worth because they got a great deal. Once we start looking at the stone we quickly see something odd through the side of the diamond; lines which snake into the diamond. We look a little closer under the microscope and there they are, laser drill holes (see picture).

Laser Drilling

As with many other blog posts we’ve written, we always emphasize that every diamond is different. Each has its own unique characteristics, particularly inclusions; those little crystals, pieces of carbon, small cracks, etc, inside the diamond which affect how light is reflected. For obvious reasons, black inclusions in a clear diamond are easy to see and usually less appealing to most people as compared to white inclusions. So modern technology is used to drill a hole into the diamond so that an acidic solution can essentially “bleach” the black inclusion (see picture to the right). The treatment is permanent and doesn’t eliminate the inclusion; it just makes it white so the diamond is easier to sell. The drawback is that the drill hole actually becomes an inclusion which can also affect clarity.

How Does This Affect a Diamond’s Value?

This is where clients have to be careful. Although laser drilling helped make the diamond more marketable, the treatment must be disclosed to the client before selling it. Reputable jewellers who you can trust have an ethical responsibility to disclose any treatment; this is an industry requirement. Thus, many jewellers (including ourselves) refuse to deal with treated diamonds. In a nut-shell, the treatment which make the diamond more marketable actually makes it harder to sell because most people want a natural diamond made by mother-nature herself.

Fracture Filling

The other common treatment for diamonds is called fracture filling. This treatment normally uses a molten glass filling material to fill fractures in a diamond; and thus improving clarity. This treatment isn’t permanent and can affect a diamond’s color (see the picture of the fracture filled diamond under UV light).

There’s one purpose to this treatment: It can help make a cracked diamond look attractive.

How Does This Affect a Diamond’s Value?

Fracture filled diamond are much less valuable because the treatment is not permanent. The durability is always in question because the fillers used is not nearly as hard (or durable) as real diamond. Like laser drilling, fracture filling must be disclosed .

How do you Protect Yourself?

There’s only one way; purchase from an ethical jeweller you can trust. Or at the very least, have the diamond sent to a lab for analysis before committing to the purchase. Keep in mind that diamond treatments such as laser drilling are permanent and may help you afford a bigger, prettier stone as compared to its all-natural counterpart; but the treatment must be disclosed every step of the way.

Next time, we’ll explore treatments aimed at modifying a diamond’s color.

Kind regards,

The La Mine d’Or Family

I had always been frustrated with my husband’s lack of enthusiasm for Valentine’s Day, meaning a card given halfheartedly was the most I could expect. But since he was a wonderful, loving husband and father and did nice things for me all year, I really couldn’t complain.

However, on Valentine’s Day, as my co-workers received flowers, candy, and romantic cards from their husbands and boyfriends, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for myself.

Sue just got flowers . . . Becky just got a balloon bouquet . . . oooh, and a candy bouquet for Sara!  I decided to take a quick break and go for a walk to blow off a little steam. It was near lunchtime; maybe I’d treat myself to a special Valentine’s Day lunch.

As I walked out the door of my office building, I was approached by a mime. I had seen him “working the street” the past few weeks and got a kick out of his silent antics. Today he seemed to sense my blue mood and walked right up to me.

The mime drew his face into a sad one to match my expression and proceeded to entertain me with a series of scenarios that depicted sadness turned to happiness. At the end of his routine, he magically whipped out a bouquet of brightly-colored paper flower s and handed them to me with a flourish.

As I reached out to take them, he grasped my hand and opened it, palm flat. He took the flowers, gave them a little shake above my hand, and out dropped a ring. Thinking this was a continuation of his entertainment, I picked it up to examine it, and found it to be a curiously real-looking opal surrounded by tiny diamonds. This guy must be getting some great tips!

A hand reached out and touched my arm, and there stood my husband, Richard, smiling with the pleasure of a small child. “Honey,” he said, “that ring is for you. Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you.”

“But, Richard, you don’t believe in Valentine’s Day!” I squeaked as I put the ring on and held it out in the sun light to admire it.

“No, honey, that’s not really true.  I’ve just been saving up for something really special!”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The La Mine d’Or Family