Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you exciting, new tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, rising star Waylon Wyatt takes on the role of a lovesick teen in his 2024 ballad, "Arkansas Diamond."



A native of Hackett, AR (pop. 850), and still in high school, Wyatt compares the object of his affection to an Arkansas diamond, a symbol of beauty and perfection. He's head-over-heels in love with a local girl, but he knows that she's way out of his league.

He sings, "Smile brighter than them Arkansas diamonds / Dreams bigger than a Texan's horizon / Lord knows a poor man like me would do anything / 'Cause her love is what I'm pining / Cut nice, polished and shining / A gem like you is hard finding / So I'll keep on digging for this Arkansas diamond."

We have to assume that Wyatt has a special connection to Arkansas diamonds. From his home near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border, it's only a 2 1/2-hour drive to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, AR, where amateur miners get to keep what they find at the only diamond site in the world that’s open to the general public.

“Arkansas Diamond,” which he originally recorded in the kitchen of his family home, features Wyatt on acoustic guitar. The song is the second track of his 2024 debut EP titled Til the Sun Goes Down.

To date, the song has garnered 54.5 million Spotify streams, an impressive number amplified by Wyatt's recent appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Wyatt said to the Late Show audience, "This song is Arkansas Diamond and even though I play this song a lot it doesn't take away from the fact that I am so thankful for it, because without this song I wouldn't be where I am today."

The rising star is adamant about maintaining his no-frills, acoustic arrangements inspired by country music artists, such as Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan.

“I don’t want a lot of production in my music,” Wyatt told countrytown.com. “That’s not what I’m looking for. I love the raw sound – the raw vocals, raw guitar, raw acoustic. Nothing overlaid on it.”

Wyatt signed a deal in August of 2023 with Music Soup and Darkroom Records, a label best known for signing a 14-year-old Billie Eilish in 2015.

Still a few months away from graduating high school, Wyatt will be dividing his time between his studies and touring. The young star has performances scheduled from March through June in the following cities: Toronto, ON; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, KY; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Omaha, NE; Kansas City, MO; Dallas, TX; Georgetown, TX; Fort Smith, AR; Indio, CA; West Hollywood, CA; Morrison, CO; Panama Beach, FL; and New York, NY.

Please check out the video of Wyatt performing "Arkansas Diamond." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Arkansas Diamond"
Written and performed by Waylon Wyatt.

Call her up in the middle of the morning
5 o'clock on the dot without a warning
Pouring my heart out into the phone

Half awake and barely asleep
Hours spent listening to her dreams
'Cause hearing that voice makes me feel at home

Well, it's a blessing just to know her name
Sparkle in her eyes can put stars to shame
And it's a wonder if she'll ever think twice
On a wretch like me, wouldn't that be nice?

Smile brighter than them Arkansas diamonds
Dreams bigger than a Texan's horizon
Lord knows a poor man like me would do anything

'Cause her love is what I'm pining
Cut nice, polished and shining
A gem like you is hard finding
So I'll keep on digging for this Arkansas diamond

She lives her life wild and free
Doesn't know what she means to me
Doesn't have a single clue in the world

But she'll always have my heart
No matter where we are
It'll always belong to you, girl

And, it's a blessing just to know her touch
Her sweet southern drawl'll make you fall in love
And this lady that I hold so dear
Well, I'd be nothing without her here

Smile brighter than them Arkansas diamonds
Dreams bigger than a Texan's horizon
Lord knows a poor man like me would do anything

'Cause your love is what I'm pining
Cut nice, polished and shining
A gem like you is hard finding so keep on digging for this Arkansas diamond

Keep on digging for this Arkansas diamond



Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com / The Sticks Music.

With Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs vying for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, we have a perfect opportunity to review the glitzy rings that are on all the players' minds.



The Chiefs know a little something about Super Bowl championship rings, having won the last two Super Bowls and three of the last five. The Eagles most recently claimed the Lombardi Trophy in 2018.

Just last year, the Kansas City Chiefs’ players, coaches, ownership and staff received hand-crafted Super Bowl LVIII rings gleaming with 529 diamonds and 38 rubies totaling approximately 14.80 carats (image, above).



The design by Jostens featured a hidden hinge mechanism that allowed the ring top to swing open. Inside the ring top is a hand-written diagram of the game's last play called by coach Andy Reid — the “Tom & Jerry” — which resulted in Mahomes throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime.

With the team’s thrilling 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers, the Chiefs became the first team to “repeat” in 19 years.



A year earlier, in 2023, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII championship ring — commemorating a spectacular season culminating in a 38-35 victory over the Eagles — featured 629 diamonds, 35 rubies, surprising hidden elements and a twist-off top that doubled as a pendant.

Jostens described how the ring top could be completely removed and converted into a pendant via a hidden bail that seamlessly folds into the ring top.

Once the top was removed, the main part of the ring revealed a miniature version of the Arrowhead stadium rendered in yellow gold, and centered by a green field set with Lombardi Trophies. The number of trophies in this hidden element ranged from one to three, depending on the length of the recipient’s time with the organization.



In 2020, the Chiefs celebrated their 31-20 Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers with a ring emblazoned with 255 diamonds and 36 rubies for a total gem carat weight of 10.85 carats.

The game marked the franchise’s second Super Bowl title and its first in 50 years. The photo, above, shows the 2019 and 1969 championship rings, both of which were designed by Jostens.



If the underdog Eagles prevail in Super Bowl LIX, they will claim their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. Their first was in 2018, when they overcame Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 41-33. The shootout saw MVP Foles passing for 373 yards and three touchdowns, while Brady threw for 505 yards and three touchdowns.

The Eagles commemorated their historic season and epic Super Bowl LII triumph with championship rings emblazoned with 219 diamonds and 17 green sapphires. Each ring boasted a gemstone total weight of 9.15 carats.

Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens.

Three-time Grammy winner and style icon Dua Lipa treated her 87 million Instagram followers to a closeup view of what seems to be a boho-chic engagement ring from beau Callum Turner. The couple has yet to confirm or deny a holiday-season betrothal, but Lipa stirred the pot when she posted an in-car selfie showing the sizable diamond ring on that finger of her left hand.



Known for her bold, eclectic fashion sense that blends elements from the 90s and early 2000s with modern twists, Lipa fearlessly experiments with different looks, seamlessly transitioning between boyish streetwear, feminine ensembles and high-fashion glamour.

It's no surprise, then, that the 29-year-old "Dance the Night" singer is rocking an elegant, yet unconventional, ring design. Described as Etruscan- or gypsy-inspired, the ring features a sizable round center diamond in a half-bezel setting on a chunky yellow gold band.

The diamond is estimated to weigh between 2 and 2.5 carats and is said to be worth approximately $30,000.

A half-bezel setting is a jewelry design where only half of the gemstone is secured by a metal rim, essentially covering the sides of the stone while leaving the top and bottom exposed. This setting allows more light to reach the gem while still providing security with the bezel style.



Lipa's ring reveal was the first in a carousel of 16 images posted under the caption, "january things." The post also included a photo of the couple embracing in a club illuminated with red lights. If you look closely, you can see Lipa's ring reflecting the light as she rests her hand on her partner's shoulder.

Jewelry-industry pundits noted that Lipa's style choice is in line with today's shift toward modern interpretations of vintage designs. This trend was recently witnessed in Zendaya's choice of an east-west diamond engagement ring.

Lipa and Turner, a 34-year-old actor, were first seen together at an afterparty in January of 2024. They became Instagram official in July of 2024, and blurry shots of Lipa wearing what seemed to be an engagement ring started surfacing on her social media during the recent holiday season.

Credits: Images via Instagram / dualipa.

Gemstone Detective Kim Rix, the London-based author of eight travel guides for gem enthusiasts, is relaunching her Gemstone Tours with a renewed focus on ethics and sustainability.



On tap for 2025 are gem-focused adventures in Sri Lanka (Feb. 17-26), Vietnam (May 18-24), Tanzania (July 2-19) and Sierra Leone (Nov. 17-21).

Rix, who earned her Graduate Gemologist credentials in 2016 from the Gemological Institute of America, told The Jeweler Blog that she ran her first gemstone tour in early 2020.

"Then, the pandemic hit and everything was put on hold," she said. "The relaunch is, indeed, a pivotal moment for me."



While the tours were paused, Rix's efforts didn’t stop. She published two Gemstone Detective travel guides — Great Britain (2022) and Myanmar (2022) — and remained heavily engaged with mining communities as she continued to promote ethical practices in the industry.



"I believe these experiences will shape the new phase of my tours and make them even more enriching for my guests," she added.

Rix explained that what sets her tours apart is the depth of engagement and learning she provides.



"From educational sessions with gemstone experts to hands-on mining experiences, my tours are designed to be both enriching and exhilarating," she said. "My guests get to immerse themselves in local cultures, understanding the life, traditions and the pivotal role gemstones play in the daily lives of the communities we visit."



This cultural immersion alongside exclusive access to restricted mining areas makes each journey unique and memorable. By connecting participants with local cultures and supporting artisanal miners, Rix's tours ensure that each journey contributes positively to the communities involved.

"Our tours are deeply rooted in fostering understanding and appreciation for both the gems and the people whose lives are intertwined with them," Rix said.

These tours will not only reveal the secrets behind the most beautiful gems on our planet but will also highlight sustainable practices that ensure a brighter future for local communities.

"We visit mines and places that uphold high ethical standards, focusing on fair working conditions, environmental conservation and community welfare," she said.

Rix told us that her tours are primarily geared towards the average consumer. She aims to keep the tour groups intimate and exclusive, with most tours accommodating eight to 12 people. For her Sierra Leone tour, Rix will be offering a slightly larger capacity of 20 participants.

Rix's tours attract gem enthusiasts from every corner of the world and generally fit one of these profiles:

Curious Explorers: Individuals eager to travel to exotic locations and learn about gemstones.

Ethical Travelers: Those who value responsible and sustainable tourism.

Enthusiastic Collectors: Gem enthusiasts and collectors seeking unique additions to their collections.

Cultural Enthusiasts: People interested in understanding local traditions and lifestyles.

Adventure Seekers: Individuals looking for thrilling experiences and new adventures.

Tour prices range from £3000 ($3,720) -£3500 ($4,340), which includes accommodation, all ground arrangements and all the activities organized by Rix. Travelers are responsible for their own airfare, visa and insurance.



In addition to her publications focusing on Great Britain and Myanmar, Rix also has published guides about gem adventures in Sri Lanka (2018), Australia (2019), India (2019), Thailand (2019), USA (2019) and Worldwide (2019).

For more information, visit the Gemstone Detective Gemstone Tours at this link.

Credits: Images courtesy of Kim Rix, Gemstone Detective. From top to bottom: Local miners in Umba, Tanzania; Ladies selling rubies and spinel in Mogok, Myanmar; Miners working the gravels in Mogok, Myanmar; Diamond miners in Kono, Sierra Leone; The children of the Diamond Peace Village, Kono, Sierra Leone; Cover art of Rix's eight travel guides.

Red Robin restaurant enthusiasts who pop the question during Valentine's weekend using one of the chain's signature onion rings can enter a contest to win $10,000 in gift cards to purchase an actual diamond engagement ring at the jewelry store of their choice. The winning couple will also get free Towering Onion Rings for the duration of their engagement (up to $180 in value).



Here's how it works…

Diners who propose with an onion ring at a Red Robin location between February 13 and 16 must upload a video or photo of the special moment, along with their love story (500 to 4,000 characters) to a special page on the Red Robin website by noon Mountain Time on February 19. Entrants are also encouraged to tag @redrobinburgers when sharing their engagement announcement on social media.

Entries will be judged 75% on content of their love story and 25% on their photo/video. The winning couple will be notified via email by March 21.

"Red Robin fans love our Towering Onion Rings, so we decided to turn that love into something more permanent for a pair of lovebirds this Valentine's Day," said GJ Hart, president and CEO of Red Robin. "With many couples choosing to select their engagement rings together, what better way to say, 'I do' than with an onion ring, followed by the excitement of picking out your forever ring together?"



Red Robin is celebrating Cupid's favorite holiday with a special Lovebird Combo made for two. From February 13 to 16, guests who dine in can enjoy two select Gourmet Burgers, two bottomless sides and a slice of Lemon Cream Layer Cake to share for $34.99. The company, which was founded in 1969 and operates 495 US locations, is also promoting limited-edition Lovebird Margaritas.

Red Robin is not the first restaurant chain to promote onion ring marriage proposals.

In November of 2023, KFC Australia offered an AU$80,000 wedding to the couple that did the most creative job documenting a marriage proposal using an onion ring pulled from a BBQ Onion Ring Burger. The lavish promotion was designed to elevate the profile of the new menu item. The grand prize included AU$30,000 towards one KFC Food Truck, AU$15,000 towards a KFC stylist to theme and decorate the KFC wedding and AU$35,000 towards additional wedding costs (including outfits and entertainment).

Credits: Images courtesy of PRNewsfoto/Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. With legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan back in the limelight thanks to the Oscar buzz generated by A Complete Unknown, the biopic about his life, we present "Diamond Ring," a song he wrote in 1967 but never recorded.



“Diamond Ring” is one of more than 100 songs a then-26-year-old Dylan composed while recovering from a near-fatal motorcycle accident in his Big Pink home near Woodstock, NY. While 16 of those works went on to be included in Dylan’s highly regarded 1975 album, The Basement Tapes, many of the other songs, including “Diamond Ring,” remained forgotten — until 2014.



Taylor Goldsmith of the folk-rock supergroup The New Basement Tapes channels Dylan in his interpretation of “Diamond Ring,” a song about second chances.

In the tune, the song’s protagonist is heading back to St. Louis, where he’s hoping to reconnect with his old flame, Alice. This time, he’s ready to make the ultimate commitment.

He sings, “That old organ grinder’s gonna wind his box / And the knife sharpener’s gonna sing / When I get back to St. Louis again / I’m gonna buy that diamond ring / Diamond ring / Diamond ring / Shine like gold / Behold that diamond ring.”

With a nod from Dylan himself, producer T Bone Burnett assembled a supergroup of “musical archaeologists” — including Goldsmith, Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Jim James and Rhiannon Giddens — to re-imagine many of Dylan’s “lost” works.

The all-stars recorded dozens of Dylan songs during a two-week session at Capitol Records studio. The creative process saw members of the group swapping instrumental and vocal roles on the different album tracks, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

The group eventually released two editions of Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes in November of 2014. “Diamond Ring” appears as a bonus track in the deluxe 20-song version.

Goldsmith, who is best-known as a member of the Los Angeles-based folk rock band Dawes, had collaborated with Dylan before. His band toured with the music legend in 2013.

Just last week, A Complete Unknown was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet. Chalamet is one of only two actors to earn two Oscar nominations before his 30th birthday. The other was James Dean in 1957.

Please check out the video of Goldsmith and The New Basement Tapes all-stars performing “Diamond Ring.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Diamond Ring”
Written by Bob Dylan and Taylor Goldsmith. Performed by The New Basement Tapes.

If I ever get back to St. Louis again
There’s gonna be some changes made
I’m gonna find old Alice and right away where I left off
It’s gonna be just as if I’d stayed

That old organ grinder’s gonna wind his box
And the knife sharpener’s gonna sing
When I get back to St. Louis again
I’m gonna buy that diamond ring

Diamond ring
Diamond ring
Shine like gold
Behold that diamond ring

If I ever get back to St. Louis again
Everybody’s gonna smile
One of the Mack girls dragged me up to Washington
I got stuck there for a while

She gave me more misery than a man can hold
And I took her bad advice
Now I don’t aim to bother anyone
I have paid that awful price

Diamond ring
Diamond ring
Shine like gold
Behold that diamond ring

If ever I get back to St. Louis again
That diamond ring is gonna shine
That old burlesque dancer is gonna bum around
And everything’s gonna be fine

I’m gonna settle up my accounts with lead
And leave the rest up to the law
Then I’m gonna marry the one I love
And head out for Wichita

Diamond ring
Diamond ring
Shine like gold
Behold that diamond ring



Credit: Bob Dylan photo by Xavier Badosa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Screen capture of Taylor Goldsmith via YouTube / Philipp Schwarz.

For the ninth year in a row, Valentine's Day gift-givers will be spending more on jewelry gifts than any other category, according to a survey just released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The record-breaking $6.5 billion earmarked for jewelry is up a tick from last year's tally of $6.4 billion.



Valentine gift spending across all categories is expected to hit $27.5 billion. This is up nearly 7% from 2024 and also breaks the record set in 2020 ($27.4 billion). Jewelry will be accounting for nearly a quarter of all the dollars spent on Valentine gifts this year.



Other top-spending gift categories include an evening out ($5.4 billion), flowers ($2.9 billion), candy ($2.5 billion) and greeting cards ($1.4 billion). The average shopper plans to spend $188.81 for Valentine's Day gifts this year, up from $185.81 in 2024.

Exactly 56% of consumers plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, an upward trend from 53% in 2024 and 52% in 2023. A higher portion of men are celebrating the holiday this year, with 55% saying they plan to participate in Valentine’s Day, up from 51% in 2024.

Total spending on significant others is expected to reach a new record of $14.6 billion, up from last year’s record of $14.2 billion. Total spending on gifts for family members is projected to reach $4.3 billion, up from $4 billion in 2024 and in line with 2020’s record of $4.2 billion.

Precisely 32% of consumers also plan to purchase gifts for friends this Valentine’s Day, up from 28% last year and the highest in the survey’s history. Another 19% expect to purchase gifts for co-workers, up from 16% in 2024 and another record. On par with last year, 32% also plan to purchase gifts for their pets.

Fifty-six percent of survey respondents intend to give candy in 2025, followed by flowers (40%), greeting cards (40%), an evening out (35%) and jewelry (22%).

“Consumers plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day through a variety of ways to show appreciation and love for the many different people around them,” Prosper Insights & Analytics Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist said. “Purchasing gifts for those outside of significant others or family members continues to rise in popularity and reflects consumers’ growing interest in celebrating all the meaningful relationships in their lives.”

According to the NRF, among those not celebrating Valentine’s Day, 28% still plan to mark the occasion in some way. Many will treat themselves to something special, while others will plan a get-together or evening out with their single friends or family members.

As the leading authority and voice for the retail industry, NRF provides data on consumer behavior and spending for key periods, such as holidays throughout the year. The survey of 8,020 US adult consumers was conducted January 2-7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.

Credits: Couple image by BigStockPhoto.com. Chart courtesy of the National Retail Federation.

A solid gold helmet dating back to the 5th century BC and cherished as a national treasure by generations of Romanians was stolen in the predawn hours of Saturday morning when three hooded thieves used explosives to blow out a door at the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands.



The intruders took three minutes to abscond with the "Golden Helmet of Coțofenești," as well as three golden bracelets that dated back to the ancient Dacians. While the museum maintained overnight surveillance, no guards were on duty during the brazen 3:45 am attack.



All the stolen pieces had been borrowed from National History Museum of Romania for a seven-month exhibition called “Dacia – Empire of Gold and Silver.” The run had been scheduled to end on Sunday.

In a social media post, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the historical items have "incalculable value" and asked for a speedy recovery.

The Coțofenești helmet had been an international superstar, with previous museum appearances in Paris, Oxford, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Florence and Lisbon. It was even featured on a gold coin series issued by the National Bank of Romania.

Romanian art historian Cornel Colceru told the Dutch Broadcasting Foundation (NOS) that the helmet is particularly meaningful to Romanian national identity.

"Every child in Romania learns about this helmet in school. It’s the symbol of the Dacians and their treasures," he said.

The Dacian people lived in a region that currently includes parts of modern-day Romania and several nearby countries. Their kingdom lasted until 106 AD, when the Romans took control of the region.



Experts believe the helmet belonged to a Geto-Dacian king. Weighing 770 grams (about 1.7 pounds), the golden helmet is adorned with a blend of designs from ancient Eurasian and Greek cultures. It is comprised of three welded plates and is largely intact, except for the very top, which is missing.

According to romanian-insider.com, two children who were tending cattle noticed the partly buried helmet in 1928 after torrential rain eroded a hillside in the village of Coțofenești. The children played with the helmet, not knowing its value or origin. The kids' parents were also clueless and kept the helmet in their shed.

Smithsonianmag.com reported that a merchant from Ploiești, Romania, purchased the helmet from the family in 1929 and later donated it to the country's National Museum of Antiquities. It arrived at the National History Museum of Romania in the 1970s. In July of 2024, the helmet was lent to the Drents Museum for a seven-month exhibition.

“This is a dark day,” Harry Tupan, the general director of the Drents Museum, said in a statement. “We are intensely shocked by the events last night at the museum. In its 170-year existence, there has never been such a major incident. It also gives us enormous sadness towards our colleagues in Romania.”

Romanian authorities fear that the culprits will try to melt down the helmet for its gold value, about $75,000.

Meanwhile the Dutch police have asked for the assistance of Interpol, the international organization that specializes in transnational crime, and Dutch entrepreneur Alex van Breemen offered a reward of EUR 100,000 ($104,000) for any tip that could lead to the recovery of "Golden Helmet of Coțofenești."

Credit: Helmet of Coțofenești photo by Jerónimo Roure Pérez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Drents Museum photo by CrazyPhunk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Helmet detail photo by Laci3, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Faced with evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton neared landfall on Florida's west coast, Melissa Martin quickly packed the family cars with their most important personal items.



She remembered taking off her gold-and-platinum wedding band and placing it in her pocket as she tended the fish in her aquarium, but when she checked for the ring later that day, it wasn't there.

When the threat had passed and Martin was allowed to return home, she searched tirelessly for her ring. She searched inside her home. She searched the front yard. She even searched the edge of her neighbors yard, to no avail.

Martin feared that the ring she wore every day for the past 25 years would be gone forever.

"It really means the world to me," she told Tampa's CBS affiliate, WTSP.

Three months had passed when Martin was scrolling her Facebook feed and noticed a post about Steve Thomas, a local metal-detector enthusiast with a stellar record for finding the unfindable.

She reached out and he was ready to help. Thomas' home base is in Dunedin, just a 15-minute drive to Seminole, where Martin lives.

He called Melissa to set up a search.

"And what I do when I come over, I have that individual recreate what they thought they were doing when they lost their ring," Thomas said.



Thomas gathered a few clues.

According to Thomas' Ring Finder blog, Martin had made a number of trips to place personal items in the cars before evacuating. She also walked next door to check with her neighbors to see if they might secure their trash cans. Martin also remembered kicking something in the driveway that she thought at the time was a rock.



Armed with this information, Thomas targeted the yard in front of the house. Within a half hour he scored a reading of 71-72 on his Minelab Equinox 900 detector.



He probed the area with his handheld pinpointer and spotted the reflective edges of Martin's two-tone ring, which was half-buried in the grass.

Thomas knocked on Martin's door. When she opened it, he announced, "I think I found what we were looking for!"

"We walked over and I pulled the ring out of the grass where it had laid for over three months," Thomas wrote. "I handed it to her and Melissa began crying tears of joy."

"Oh, I cried," she told WTSP. "We were hugging, crying — it was such a wonderful moment."

Thomas is a member of The Ring Finders, a loosely knit network of more than 1,000 members in 25 countries. Each member shares a love of metal detecting and reuniting people with their cherished keepsakes. The group’s website claims that members have recorded more than 14,583 successful recoveries since it was founded 16 years ago.

Thomas charges nothing for his services, but he told The Jeweler Blog that he accepts rewards, which go right into a college fund that he established for his two grandsons, ages 2 1/2 and 9 months.

"For me, the first 'rush' comes with the find and the second one comes when I give the ring back to its owner," Thomas wrote on his blog. "This never gets old!"

Credits: Photo of Martin's wedding ring in the grass and photo of Martin with her ring courtesy of Steve Thomas. Screen captures of Thomas working the front yard via YouTube / 10 Tampa Bay.

When Julius Caesar led the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC, Scottish pearls were on his mind.



Pearls were a symbol of wealth and power in Ancient Rome, and at that time the world's very finest natural freshwater pearls came from the riverbeds of Scotland.

Legend states that natural pearls held more value than diamonds. They were held in such high esteem that Caesar (100 BC - 44 BC) passed a law where only aristocrats could wear pearls within Rome's borders.

One of the key goals for his military expedition to Britain in 55 BC was to gain control of the freshwater pearls of Scotland and acquire significant wealth.



The Roman general had a long-standing appreciation of pearls. During his consulship in 59 BC, he famously spent 6 million sesterces on a large black pearl for his mistress, Servilia Caepionis. That price tag would be equivalent to about $3 million in today's dollars.

The "Servilia" pearl has been featured in several works of fiction, including The Field of Swords (2005), Cleopatra: Whispers from the Nile (2016), and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).

Trivia: Servilia was also the mother of Marcus Brutus, who later assassinated Caesar.

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Caesar honored the pearl’s connection to Venus (he considered the Roman goddess of love and beauty to be his ancestor) and even adopted pearl as his personal symbol.

In mythology, Venus was born from the sea, similar to how a pearl is formed within an oyster. She was often portrayed in artwork as emerging from an oyster shell.

The British Isles, particularly regions such as Scotland and Wales, continued to produce natural freshwater pearls all the way until the end of the 20th century, when over-harvesting, illegal fishing and the degradation of the habitat brought that industry to its knees.

According to the Financial Times, efforts are being made to reverse the trend.

"Freshwater pearl fishing has been banned in Scotland since 1998, as well as in the European Union, with several programs desperately trying to help populations [of mollusks] recover and ensure the species’ viability," noted the publication.

The largest natural freshwater pearl ever found in Scotland measured 10.5 mm in size and weighed 10.91 carats. Called the Abernethy Pearl, the specimen was harvested in 1967 and was sold at auction in August 2024 for £93,951 ($117,200).

Credits: AI-generated battle image by The Jeweler Blog using ChatGPT and DALL-E 3. Julius Caesar painting by Clara Grosch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Freshwater pearls by James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.