Ring Dropped in Salvation Army Red Kettle

As the Christmas season winds down, it’s nice to look back at all of the good that this time of year represents. And good things like generosity abounded this year, particularly when it came to those iconic Salvation Army red kettles. 

We all know them; their sound is synonymous with the Christmas holidays after all. And we have all walked by quite a few of them this year, dropping in a dollar or two. But some people go far beyond just donating their spare change. One Miami individual donated something rather sparkly wrapped up in a $50 bill. The note attached read, “They need it more than I. Do good!” and was signed a friend. When the bill was removed out fell a shining ring set with diamonds and sapphires worth a staggering $2,000. 

Photo : The Salvation Army

And more surprising than this random act of kindness, is that it isn’t as unusual as one would think. In fact a local resident dropped a gold nugget in their local kettle worth thousands of dollars. And it’s not just the wealthy among us who are showing their generosity this year. In Washington a silver coin was donated along with a note saying, “I’ve saved this ounce of silver for twenty years. I’m unemployed for 13 months. My house is in foreclosure. I’m filing for bankruptcy, and at 61 my retirement is shot, but I still know there are families in worse shape.” 

So, as we look towards the New Year, it can be with renewed hope in humanity. Because it seems that the world is full of good people after all. Happy New Year everyone!

Ring Found After 36 Years... In Toilet

Terry and Donna Claver of Montana had a lot to be thankful for this Christmas season including the return of her engagement ring which had been lost for 36 years. 

Photo : Kimball Bennion  /  The Great Falls Tribune via AP

When Terry asked Donna to be his wife after a mere three dates, he couldn’t afford a diamond ring. So he chose a lovely sapphire on a gold band. Donna was thrilled with the ring and wore it proudly until one day she set it down on the back of the toilet while putting lotion on her hands. She then watched in horror as the ring started to slide down towards the bowl. “I went to grab it, but I missed and it fell in,” Donna told reporters. “It went right down into the little hole at the bottom of the toilet. I could put my finger in that hole and feel it with the tip of my finger, but it was wedged in tight.”

It was indeed truly stuck because no matter what Claver and her husband did the ring would not budge. They even tried draining the toilet, shaking, poking, and prodding, but to no avail. They soon gave up the hunt and moved out of the home a few years later assuming that the ring was gone for good. 

Over the years they watched as the house changed hands several times, eventually becoming a hunting cabin for a group based in Florida, but the lost ring was still a mystery. “It always irritated me that we lost it,” sighed Terry. “I always wanted to get it back. About five years ago the hunters asked me to go in the house and fix a bathroom faucet. I saw the toilet over there and I thought, ‘I ought to just take that toilet up to see if that ring is still down there.’ But I didn’t have time and it was somebody else’s house, so I didn’t.”

But luck was on his side when just last month he was fixing the roof of a home across the street. He looked at his old house and saw the hunters carrying out an old toilet, the very same toilet that had swallowed up the ring so many years before. Terry quickly offered to haul the broken fixture away, to the delight and probable confusion of the hunters. 

“I put it in the back of my pickup and drove it into the shop,” he recalls. “I got a sledgehammer, and I whacked it. The base of the toilet fell down on the truck’s end gate, and right in the center where the little hole would have been was the ring.” He then excitedly called his wife and asked her to meet him at the shop. When she arrived he held out the ring and asked his wife of nearly 40 years to marry him. Laughing and crying together they celebrated the return of that very small symbol of their love from all those years ago. Terry believes that “every marriage goes through its seasons. Sometimes you think everything the other person does is cute, and other times you can’t stand to be around them. Finding the ring brought back the same original feelings we had when we were kids. It was a gift from God that made those feelings strong again.”

And we can all share in that joy, and share in the hope that the ring received a thorough cleaning and is never taken anywhere near a toilet again!

Love it! Item of the Week

New Years is such a romantic time for a proposal. I can’t think of a better way to start a new year than by opening such a special new chapter in your relationship. It’s such an exciting time and right at the center of it is that perfect ring. Now, as you guys all know, there are literally thousands of engagement ring options out there, however a classic that has endured throughout the years is the Diamond Solitaire. Elegant in its simplicity, the Diamond Solitaire will stand the test of time. 

So with all of that in mind, for this week’s ‘Love it!’ item, I immediately thought of this ring by Scott Kay. It is the perfect option for all of us girls who love a classic style, but still want a bit of modern flair and individuality. This ring has the standard four prongs, but that’s where sedate and classic ends and modern flair begins. First the ring is made out of Palladium which is a sister metal to Platinum and has been touted as the best kept secret in the jewelry industry. Palladium is poised to make a splash in the world of jewelry so it is perfect for those girls who love to set the trends. 

Also unique is the clean and modern rope-style engraving on the band turning an engagement staple into something decidedly fresh and new. And don’t forget about the two sweet surprise diamonds nestled underneath the basket, one for each of you! They’re enough to melt any girl’s heart. 

So you’ve decided that this is the ring for your girl, but you’re a budget conscious guy. Well don’t worry, this stunning ring is priced at a wallet friendly $755.00! So if you’re thinking about “Ringing” in the New Year, think about adding a modern twist!

Looking Back : A Year in Review

It’s bee one heck of a crazy year in the jewelry industry. We’ve had everything from jaw-droppingly huge diamonds, to jaw-droppingly dumb places to put diamonds, and everything in between. We’ve said goodbye to a legend, but greeted a new one, and even taken part in some good deeds. So let’s take a moment to relive some of the highlights from the past year, it’s been an amazing ride. 

We started out the year by saying farewell to a giant in the industry, Elizabeth Taylor. Known for her many loves in life, she was married 8 times after all, but the thing that she was most famous for was her jewelry. From the “it’s Tuesday, I love you” presents to rings won in a match of ping pong, and her own self-proclaimed passion for all things that sparkled, she was able to amass the “greatest private collection of jewelry ever assembled in one place. And when they labeled the collection The Crown Jewels of Hollywood, they weren’t kidding. Aside from the sheer volume, rarity, and value of the pieces, which is staggering, many items had been part of actual crown jewels at one time or another. So when it came time to auction off her collection, everyone waited with baited breath to see just how much it would all be worth. 

Well it turns out, more than anyone’s wildest dreams. The collection was valued at a mere 30 million dollars by the experts at Christie’s. But when the final hammer fell the jewels had sold for a mind-numbing 137.2 million dollars, 116 million just from the first night’s sales alone. Many items broke records including the highest price ever paid for a pearl with the sale of La Peregrina for $11.8 million. There was so much excitement around this sale that there was a fierce bidding war for a set of paper “joke” jewelry. That’s right, thousands of dollars for paper! Well we hope that the new owners of Ms. Taylor’s baubles love them as much as she did. 

Photo : Christie's Ltd.

Now not even Elizabeth Taylor’s huge diamonds could compete with an entire planet made of diamond. Yes, you read that right; astronomers have discovered a planet that seems to be made of extremely dense carbon which scientists have calculated to be mostly diamond. Scientists believe that he planet is probably the remnant of a large star. However the most important question, that of how on earth can we get up there and mine that stuff, they seem to have ignored completely. I feel sure that they will come to their senses soon and then we all can have gigantic Elizabeth Taylor sized diamonds of our very own!

Photo : Reuters / Handout

But just in case you can’t wait for that, and you happen to have a few million dollars lying around, there humongous diamonds right here on earth that you can buy, one example being the Sun Drop Diamond. This 110.3 carat diamond is graded fancy vivid yellow, the highest and most coveted color grading level possible. The dazzling yellow color is caused by nitrogen atoms that were trapped within the carbon molecules during the diamond’s formation millions of years ago. This record breaking diamond sold at auction for a steal at $12.4 million dollars. That’s a little steep for me, but I could always tape the photo to my hand and dream a little right?

Photo : Anja Niedringhaus

And while I’m dreaming, I’ll pretend that I’m the world’s newest style icon, Kate Middleton. Millions watched the real life fairytale of a commoner marrying her prince this past April. And more stunning than the church, or her dress, or even her Prince Charming, was her jewelry! The newly minted Duchess of Cambridge made a true princess statement with a tiara made of Precious Platinum which was loaned to her by none other than the Queen. And let me tell you, the Queen has one or two pieces of gorgeous jewelry to loan. Kate then accessorized with dazzling platinum and diamond drop earrings designed and given to her by her parents. She of course also wore her stunning engagement ring which is also platinum with a large Sapphire surrounded with diamonds and is part of the legacy left behind by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. It is already evident that Kate is worthy of stepping into Diana’s shoes.

Unfortunately the American version of the royal wedding did not fare too well. Of course I am speaking of the ill-fated 72 day marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. However, this is a jewelry blog, and that’s the best thing that came out of the union after all. And this bling was spectacular weighing in at 20.5 carats. I’m amazed that she was able to lift her left hand with it on! Fortunately it seems that Kim will be able to keep her sparkler because I personally can’t wait to see what she does with it!

Photo : Clint Brewer/Splash News

Also fortunate for us is that the people of India really love diamonds, really. Because they came out with not only a vending machine to dispense them, but contacts to wear them on! These gold plated contact lenses are custom made and feature 18 tiny diamonds. Creator Chandrashekhar Chawan believes that the diamond encrusted lenses will be a big hit. “We always talk eye to eye, and if your eyes are sparkling with diamonds… their eyes will be glued to you and your personality.” He even believes that the sparkly eye-pieces will become the new engagement ring. The price for looking demonically, I mean, lovingly at your sweetheart? A cool $15,000.

But if you thought that was strange, let’s now turn our attention to those vending machines. The new ‘Go for Gold’ Diamond ATM made headlines by not only dispensing gold and silver bars, and coins, but actual diamond jewelry. The machine utilizes a touch screen and gives customers and choice of around 36 different pieces in varying sizes, designs and price points ranging from $20 to $160 dollars. So men, did you forget your anniversary? Well if you’re in Mumbai, just swing by and let the ‘Go for Gold’ machine save the day!

Photo : Shekhar Eye Group

But my favorite story originated right here, at Union Diamond. In September we announced the My Perfect Union contest in which one deserving member of the U.S. Armed Forces could win a $40,000 Platinum Diamond Engagement Ring by Natalie K featuring a 1 carat diamond that was D in color and Internally Flawless. We received over 240 incredible nominations filled with stories of bravery and honor. We were humbled by your stories and uplifted by your courage and perseverance. Out of the hundreds, a winner was chosen, and he is incredibly deserving of not only the prize, but of our immense gratitude. 

Michael is currently an active duty Army Wounded Warrior and a recipient of the Purple Heart. Wounded in Afghanistan when the convoy he was leading was ambushed, he pushed through his debilitating injuries until he was sure that every man and woman in his group was safely out of the kill zone. Unfortunately Michael was severely wounded in the attack and has undergone 11 surgeries to date on his face and hands, but he hasn’t lost hope because he is not alone. He has another hero with him, his wife Jill. Jill has dropped everything to become Michael’s primary caregiver and is an unlimited source of strength for him. They are the Perfect Union and so deserving of this ring and our humble and sincere thanks. 

We are so glad that we have been able to share this past year with you. It’s been one incredible ride!