Sunken timepiece still ticking
A gold watch missing since 1941 has been uncovered from the ocean floor and delivered back to its owner… still ticking!
Lieutenant Teddy Bacon last saw his Bulova Automatic watch when it was sinking into the harbour in Gibraltar. The watch had slipped from Bacon's wrist when he threw a line to shore from his ship, HMS Repulse. Two divers tried to retrieve the timepiece, but failed.
In 2007, the watch was discovered by workers who scooped it up with other debris in their machine when dredging the harbour.
A log kept by Bacon in containing a description of the watch allowed the workers to identify its owner - so they posted it back to him.
"It truly was a miracle that I had been reunited with that watch after a lifetime," said Bacon, now aged almost 90.
Bacon said he now wears the watch every day and it still keeps perfect time.
Jewellery theft not hard to swallow
A woman has been charged with theft after stealing jewellery from a pawnshop by swallowing it.
According to an Associated Press report, the Salt Lake City resident put two gold bracelets in her mouth before exiting the store.
The bracelets, valued around $2,000, have since been recovered and are back on sale.
Carrie prefers pearls
Sex and the City protagonist Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) has traded her signature nameplate necklace for a strand of pearls as her jewellery staple in the new Sex and the City movie.
The leading New York fashionista wears an opera-length Mikimoto pearl necklace featuring 8.5-millimeter Akoya cultured pearls in a 32-inch length, finished off with the brand's signature clasp in 18-carat gold.
Jewelry Television sued over treated gems
A California woman has filed a $US5 million class-action lawsuit accusing Tennessee-based Jewelry Television of false advertising, alleging the company sold treated gemstones without full disclosure.
According to a report in National Jeweler, the woman is acting to recover the money that she and thousands of other consumers spent on "gemstones fraudulently advertised and misrepresented by [Jewelry Television] as being a highly-coveted, extremely rare, all natural expensive gem that looks like Oregon sunstone."
The Jewelry Channel has since announced it will cease operations in early August.
Course helps jewellers go green
A San Francisco jewellery-arts academy is offering a course to jewellery retailers on ethical trading.
According to a report in National Jeweler, The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco is offering the one-day course to help retail jewellers answer questions about what it means to be "green".
The five-hour session, scheduled for August 23, will include information on the source of metals and gemstones, green suppliers and how to help promote healthy mining practices.
Ancient gold cup found under bed
A 2,500-year-old gold cup that has spent the past 60 years in a box under its owner's bed is expected to fetch up to £100,000 after being rediscovered during a house move.
The 5.5 inch (14 cm) high cup is embossed with two female faces, each wearing a crown formed from snakes. Metallurgical tests identified its likely origins as the Middle East or North Africa three to five centuries before Christ.
Current owner John Webber received the cup from his grandfather in the 1930s and assumed it was made from brass and copper, as his grandfather dealt with these metals in his work.
Whopping diamond sold at auction
A 101.27-carat diamond has been sold at auction in Hong Kong for more than £3 million.
The stone is the largest colourless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years, according to auction house Christie's.
Set in a tiara, the diamond is one of four colourless diamonds over 100 carats to come up for sale.
According to a statement from the auction house, the diamond was the largest ever sold in Asia and its appearance on the market had "created a sensation".
Hearts on fire opens flagship store
Diamond brand Hearts on Fire has opened its first retail store.
Following in the footsteps of DeBeers and Lev Leviev, Hearts on Fire opened its first North American store in Atlantic City, New Jersey during June.
The store is located with the boutique shops connected to Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and surrounded by high-end neighbours such as Hugo Boss AG, La Perla and Just Cavalli.
Olsen twins link with jeweller to create new line
Fashion-forward Hollywood celebrity twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have partnered with US-based jewellery designer Robert Lee Morris to create their first licensed jewellery collection.
The collection will fall under the label Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James, the latter being the Olsens' apparel brand.
The line is set to hit US stores in September and will consist of 80-plus styles, including thick metals cuffs and rings, earrings and necklaces accented with turquoise beading, crosses and daggers.
Pop stars splash out on sparkle
Singers Rihanna and Chris Brown have treated each other to jewellery costing £100,000 at top Beverly Hills jeweller, Jason Arasheben.
The pair, aged 20 and 19 respectively, selected diamond-set necklaces for each other, despite not yet confirming that a courtship is in process.