Professional insight and education from from IGI Worldwide
The oldest earth-born object known to man, this tiny item is a part of our planet's crust which crystallized an astounding 4.4-billion-years ago. Older than our planet's diamonds. Older, even, than extraterrestrial iron and crystal that fell to earth from the sky.
This fascinating game gets played where the resources are rich, but the people are poor. It is like being on the stock market floor, I suppose. A point upward or downward can quickly bring delight - or defeat.
Living in our world's new normal, is there a chance the thieves who shattered the Green Vault and plundered Dresden Castle would turn to e-Fencing or even outright anonymous sale?
Considered a gift from the mermaids, this translucent gemstone became worn by ancient sailors for the protection it was thought to offer at sea. As we bring March to close it's fitting to visit the wonderful aspects of this month's birthstone, the aquamarine.
I was visiting with my esteemed colleague Luigi Costantini in Italy - practicing safe social email-distancing of course - and the topic of expressions came up. Namely, how the internet has influenced symbology.
Dispersion is a physical constant. Fire is a variable aesthetic. Fortunately, the fact that these terms have been co-mingled and transposed over time creates an opportunity to revisit them and sharpen our skills as communicators.
Thousands of years ago in southwest Africa a party of Nama People discovered a field of odd iron fragments to use in tools and weapons. Imagine their shock if they were told those fragments had come from the very stars they worshipped.
Whether we like it or not, human beings just can't resist a little gossip. So why not make the best of it? As a professional, mixing just the right amount into a sales presentation can add flavor.
The three largest diamonds ever found on planet Earth are under the control of three notable icons. So, where did they come from? How much did they cost? Where are they now? Take a look at three of the most unique and spectacular diamond crystals ever unearthed.
Florida adopted the moonstone as it's state gem in 1970. But our ancestors believed they could touch the moon long before humans ever traveled to outer space.