Jewelry Factory Blog
Labrador Puppy Undergoes Emergency Surgery After Swallowing $23,000 Worth of Bridal Jewelry
JANUARY 12TH, 2015 A mischievous Labrador puppy underwent emergency surgery Wednesday to remove $23,000 worth of bridal jewelry from her stomach.
Tulsa, Okla., resident Stephanie Lamb told FOX23 News that she had placed her diamond engagement ring and plain wedding band on her kitchen table for a moment. But when she looked to retrieve them, they were gone.
Lamb has two dogs, Tahoe and Sierra, but she knew exactly who the culprit was.
"I knew that it was Sierra because she's just a little bit of a troublemaker. She's kind of the instigator," Lamb said.
X-rays clearly revealed that Sierra had, indeed, gobbled them down. The two rings were in her stomach and threatened to damage her intestines, according to Dr. Rodney Robards of Southern Hills Veterinary Hospital. He determined that waiting for the rings to pass naturally was too risky.
Instead, the doctor called for emergency surgery to remove the jewelry.
After the successful operation, the doctor joked that Sierra is more like a goat than a dog. In addition to extracting a diamond engagement ring and slightly squashed wedding band, he discovered a number of rocks, bones and sticks.
"She eats more than just rings, I'm afraid," the doctor told FOX23 News.
Sierra will need only a few days to recover," noted Dr. Robards. With her stomach cleared of all the foreign objects, she will be as good as new.
It seems as if dogs have an unusual fondness for eating fine jewelry.
In July of 2014, we wrote about Tucker, a 10-year-old Rottweiler mix from Stevens Point, Wis., who coughed up his owner’s long-lost engagement ring after gobbling a frozen Popsicle® treat, stick and all. Apparently, the Popsicle® stick dislodged the ring that had been stuck in his stomach for more than half his life.
Music Friday: Stevie Wonder’s ‘Golden Lady’ Is ‘All Joy,’ Writes ‘Billboard’ Magazine on the Song’s 40th Anniversary
JANUARY 9TH, 2015 Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fabulous songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we present the legendary Stevie Wonder performing “Golden Lady” from his classic 1973 album, Innervisions.
In a 2013 article celebrating the album’s 40th anniversary, Billboard described “Golden Lady” as a “song of all joy.” Stevie sweetly describes his golden lady as “a dream come true.” He sings, “And golden lady, golden lady / I'd like to go there / Golden lady, golden lady / I'd like to go there / Take me right away.”
Innervisions was a remarkable and monumental achievement on so many levels. Not only did the then-23-year-old Wonder write all the songs on the album, he’s also credited with singing the lead and background vocals, as well as playing nearly all the instruments on six of the album’s nine tracks. These include the piano, bass, synthesizer, harmonica, congas, drums and handclaps — a true one-man band.
The album went on to win a Grammy for “Album of the Year” and is considered by critics and fans alike to be one of Wonder’s finest works. In 2003, Rolling Stoneranked Innervisions at #23 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Blind since shortly after his birth in 1950, Wonder was a musical prodigy and was signed to a recording contract as an 11-year-old by Motown CEO Berry Gordy. During his youth he performed as Little Stevie Wonder.
Over a career that has spanned six decades, Wonder has recorded more than 30 U.S. top 10 hits and earned 25 Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. He has sold more than 100 million albums and singles worldwide and was ranked #5 on Billboard’s list of the “Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists.”
We know you will enjoy the video of Stevie Wonder singing “Golden Lady.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
"Golden Lady"
Written and performed by Stevie Wonder.
Looking in your eyes
Kind of heaven eyes
Closing both my eyes
Waiting for surprise
To see the heaven in your eyes is not so far
'Cause I'm not afraid to try and go it
To know the love and the beauty never known before
I'll leave it up to you to show it
And golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Take me right away
Looking at your hands
Hands can understand
Waiting for the chance
Just to hold your hand
A touch of rain and sunshine made the flower grow
Into a lovely smile that's blooming
And it's so clear to me that you're a dream come true
There's no way that I'll be losing
And golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Take me right away
A touch of rain and sunshine made the flower grow
Into a lovely smile that's blooming
And it's so clear to me that you're my dream come true
There is no way that I'll be losing
And golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
And golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
And golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Golden lady, golden lady
I'd like to go there
Image: Screen capture via YouTube
Hey, January Babies! Your Birthstone Is the Fabulous, Versatile Garnet
JANUARY 8TH, 2015 Entombed with the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and often mistaken for ruby, garnets have been coveted by kings and commoners alike for thousands of years.
The fabulous and versatile garnet comes in a wide array of natural colors, including pink, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, black, brown — but is best known for the ones of deep-red hue.
The official birthstone for January, garnet gets its name from the Latin word “granatum,” meaning pomegranate seed.
Beautifully representing garnets in the National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is the Victorian-era hairpin (above) that was donated in 1937 by Ales and Maria Herdlicka. The piece is set with Bohemian pyrope garnets that were sourced from an area that is now the Czech Republic.
The hairpin is typical of Bohemian garnet jewelry, which was known for its close-set rose-cut stones. The gems were faceted on the top and flat on the bottom.
Pyrope garnets are the most common form of garnet and are typically a rich, deep-red color. According to the Smithsonian, pyrope garnets were often confused with ruby, due to their fiery appearance. In fact, the Greek word “pyropos” means “firelike.”
Until the late 19th century, Bohemia was the main source of pyrope garnets. Although the original source has been depleted, garnets are still mined in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
In addition to the popular pyrope garnets, other varieties commonly seen in jewelry include almandine, andradite, demantoid, grossularite, hessonite, rhodolite, tsavorite, spessartine and uvarovite. Garnets achieve their range of color from trace amounts of iron, manganese, calcium or aluminium their chemical makeup.
Photo by Chip Clark/Smithsonian National Gem Collection
Germantown (Wis.) Police Solve ‘Christmas Ring Mystery’
JANUARY 7TH, 2015 The Germantown (Wis.) Police Department closed the file on the “Christmas Ring Mystery” after the owner came forward Monday to claim the diamond engagement ring that was found dangling from a branch of the department’s lobby Christmas tree.
For the five weeks leading up to Christmas, community members — both young and old alike — were invited via Facebook to decorate the department’s tree. Children who put ornaments on the tree received a stuffed animal in return.
But on Saturday, while helpers were taking down the tree, one “ornament” stood out from the rest. It was a diamond engagement ring that was left anonymously — and hardly by accident.
“It wasn’t like it fell off of something, you know. It was intentionally placed on that tree,” Police Chief Peter Hoell told Fox6 News.
Hoell quickly turned to the department’s Facebook page to put out the word about the ring and to determine if the owner had second thoughts about parting with such a valuable and sentimental keepsake.
The response from Facebook users was overwhelming, with inquiries coming in from as far as Dallas. Hoell noted that he received a lot of emails and phone calls from people praying and hoping this was their lost or stolen wedding ring. Sadly, it wasn’t.
Then, on Monday night, Hoell announced via Facebook that the ring’s owner had finally come forward.
“Tonight we have identified the owner who intentionally placed the ring on our Christmas tree,” Hoell wrote. “This was a highly emotional domestic situation and the owner now would like the ring back.”
Hoell had suspected that the ring may have landed on the tree as a result of an impulsive, emotional act.
“This was the primary reason we posted this story on Facebook, thinking this may be the case,” he wrote. “I do not want to give any additional details so as not to embarrass the ring owner and/or the family.”
Hoell reported that the three-day Christmas Ring Mystery left him with a greater understanding of the jewelry business. “I now know more about weddings rings and diamond cuts than I ever thought I would,” he wrote.
Images: Screen captures via Fox6Now.com
Israeli Company Prints Entire New Testament on Silicon Chip That's Smaller Than Your Pinky Nail
JANUARY 6TH, 2015 Using incredible nanotechnology, an Israeli company successfully printed the entire New Testament — all 27 books comprising 180,000 words — on a single silicon chip that’s smaller than your pinky nail.
The chip is easily mounted in a pendant, so devotees can wear the sacred scriptures close to their hearts. They also can be embedded in watches, charms and nearly any other kind of jewelry.
Developed in cooperation with Tel Aviv University’s Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, each silicon chip measures 4.76mm square (about .2 inches) and is expected to be validated by Guinness World Records as the world’s smallest Bible.
According to a spokesman for Jerusalem Nano Bible, each letter measures 600 nano meters, which is so small that it requires an electron microscope in order to see it clearly. The company and its breakthrough product were profiled last week on CBS Evening News.
The nano Bibles are not produced individually. They are mass produced on eight-inch round wafers, each of which contains 1,210 complete copies of the New Testament.
“Our aim is to be able to mass produce it and cater to really every [budget]” said David Almog, head of Jerusalem Nano Bible’s marketing and sales department.
The biblical text of the current nano bible represents the Ancient Greek version of the New Testament. In the photo above, a representative size of a complete nano bible (black square) is compared to the Greek text of a traditionally printed version.
Jerusalem Nano Bible is planning to produce a nano version of the Old Testament (600,000+ words) in the near future.
Screen captures via YouTube/CBS Evening News
Drone Delivers Engagement Ring to Couple on Ipswich Beach While Capturing Spectacular Aerial Footage
JANUARY 5TH, 2015 Strolling hand-in-hand on scenic Crane Beach in Ipswich, Mass., Andrew and Sophie noticed a curious drone flying along the shore and heading in their direction. Hanging off the drone was a black bag containing a very special cargo, which Sophie would soon learn was a diamond engagement ring.
Andrew had conspired with a New England company specializing in aerial drone videography to assist him with an unforgettable, high-flying, surprise marriage proposal.
Not only was the drone making the ring delivery in a most unusual way, but also was capturing the momentous event in crystal clear 1080p high definition — from an amazing vantage point.
The company, Above Summit of Somerville, Mass., posted a video that combines footage generated by the drone-mounted cameras and others on the ground. The result is a masterful presentation that, in the arena of awesome marriage proposals, raises the bar for creativity and sheer beauty.
In the video, we see the drone slowly descending on the couple, and then hovering just above Andrew, who reaches up to remove the bag.
Now, with his grandmother’s heirloom engagement ring in hand, he proposes to Sophie, who says, “Yes.” The couple kisses and embraces.
Then, much like the final scene of a Hollywood romance film, the drone’s camera locks onto the couple as it takes off into the distance, creating an epic end shot.
Drones, which are sometimes called unmanned aerial vehicles, typically have multiple rotors and can fly safely within 10 feet of the subject matter, according to a Q&A published by Above Summit.
The units are flown by remote control and often have two operators — one flying the drone and the other controlling the camera. They are allowed to fly in “unregulated” airspace, generally staying under 400 feet in altitude and away from airports and other aerial activity.
Check out the beautifully shot video of the Ipswich marriage proposal below…
Images: Screen captures via YouTube
Music Friday: ‘You Can Buy Me Diamond Earrings and Deny-ny-ny,’ Sings Meghan Trainor in ‘Lips Are Movin’
JANUARY 2ND, 2015 Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you chart-topping songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we welcome the New Year with Meghan Trainor performing her smash hit, “Lips Are Movin,” a song about a confident, young woman taking a stand against her lying, cheating, sweet-talking boyfriend.
Incorporating elements of doo-wop, hip-hop and bubblegum pop, “Lips Are Movin” features a key jewelry reference in the catchy sing-a-long chorus: “You can buy me diamond earrings and deny-ny-ny, ny-ny-ny, deny-ny / But I smell her on your collar so goodbye-bye-bye, bye-bye-bye.”
As Trainor explained to MTV News, “It's like, 'Here's me… trying to get through this feeling of, ugh he's cheating on me again.' Like, 'I know you're lying, but that's OK because I'm gonna find the next guy. I'm good.'"
Currently positioned at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 and having charted in 13 countries, “Lips Are Movin” is the second single from Trainor’s soon-to-be-released debut studio album, Title. Trainor and her writing partner, Kevin Kadish, reportedly penned the song in eight minutes.
Trainor broke new ground with the “Lips are Movin” official video. She enlisted the talent of the tech company HP and social influencers from the worlds of Vine, Instagram and YouTube to give her performance a unique flavor, from the choreography, set design and styling to the hair and makeup and behind-the-scenes photography. Bri Emery, Marcus Johns and Cody Johns, Robby Ayala, Les Twins, Sara Escudero, Kristin Ess, Mei Kawajiri and Barkley the Pom are just some of the online stars contributing to the video and its viral following.
Fans responded in droves, as “Lips Are Movin” has captured more than 69 million views on YouTube.
The 21-year-old Massachusetts native started singing at age six and wrote her first song at age 11. She attended Berklee College of Music and released two acoustic albums in 2011.
Her big break came in February 2014, when she performed “All About the Bass” on ukulele for L.A. Reid, the chairman and CEO of Epic Records. That resulted in a recording contract and a monumental rise to stardom. “All About the Bass” topped the charts in 58 countries and resulted in a Grammy nomination for “Song of the Year.” Grammy winners will be announced on February 8 during the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
Please check out Trainor’s official video of “Lips Are Movin.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along.
"Lips Are Moving"
Written by Kevin Kadish and Meghan Trainor. Performed by Meghan Trainor.
If your lips are moving, if your lips are moving
If your lips are moving, then you're lyin', lyin', lyin', baby
If your lips are moving, if your lips are moving
If your lips are moving, I said you're lyin', lyin', lyin', baby
Boy, look at me in my face
Tell me that you're not just about this bass
You really think I could be replaced
Nah, I come from outer space
And I'm a classy girl, I'mma hold it up
You're full of something but it ain't love
And what we got, straight overdue
Go find somebody new
You can buy me diamond earrings and deny-ny-ny, ny-ny-ny, deny-ny
But I smell her on your collar so goodbye-bye-bye, bye-bye-bye
I know you lie
'Cause your lips are moving
Tell me do you think I'm dumb?
I might be young, but I ain't stupid
Talking around in circles with your tongue
I gave you bass, you gave me sweet talk
Saying how I'm your number one
But I know you lie
'Cause your lips are moving
Baby, don't you know I'm done
If your lips are moving, if your lips are moving
If your lips are moving, then you're lyin', lyin', lyin', baby
If your lips are moving, if your lips are moving
If your lips are moving, then you're lyin', lyin', lyin', baby
Hey, baby, don't you bring them tears
'Cause it's too late, too late, baby
You only love me when you're here
You're so two-faced, two-faced, babe
You can buy me diamond earrings and deny-ny-ny, ny-ny-ny, deny-ny
But I smell her on your collar so goodbye-bye-bye, bye-bye-bye
I know you lie
'Cause your lips are moving
Tell me do you think I'm dumb?
I might be young, but I ain't stupid
Talking around in circles with your tongue
I gave you bass, you gave me sweet talk
Saying how I'm your number one
But I know you lie
'Cause your lips are moving
Baby, don't you know I'm done
Come on, say!
If your lips are moving, if your lips are moving
If your lips are moving, then you're lyin', lyin', lyin', baby
If your lips are moving (Alright now)
If your lips are moving (I wanna hear ya'll singing with me)
If your lips are moving
Then you're lyin', lyin', lyin', baby (Here we go)
I know you lie
'Cause your lips are moving
Tell me do you think I'm dumb?
I might be young, but I ain't stupid
Talking around in circles with your tongue
I gave you bass, you gave me sweet talk
Saying how I'm your number one
But I know you lie
'Cause your lips are moving
Baby, don't you know I'm done
Images: Screen captures via YouTube.