Music Friday: Mark Knopfler Scores a 'Beautiful Find' in His 2006 Release, 'I Dug Up a Diamond'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Mark Knopfler scores a "beautiful find" in his 2006 release, "I Dug Up a Diamond."

When taken literally, the song written by Knopfler is about a diamond miner who makes an unbelievable discovery. Metaphorically, "I Dug Up a Diamond" is about a man who's been on a seemingly hopeless search for the love of his life — and then finally finds her.

He sings, "I dug up a diamond / Rare and fine / I dug up a diamond / In a deep dark mine / If only I could cling to / My beautiful find / I dug up a diamond / In a deep dark mine / My gem is special / Beyond all worth / As strong as any metal / Or stone in the earth."

Providing the sweet harmonies for "I Dug Up a Diamond" is country legend Emmylou Harris. The pair had been friends since the late 1980s and decided to collaborate on an album, which they titled All the Roadrunning. Their work earned critical acclaim as the album peaked at #17 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

The 68-year-old Knopfler, who is best known as the frontman for Dire Straits, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in Northumberland, England. Both are coal mining regions, so it is likely he drew his "I Dug Up a Diamond" lyrical inspiration from first-hand experiences.

A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is ranked 27th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold more than 120 million records.

Born in Birmingham, Ala., the 70-year-old Harris is a 13-time Grammy winner and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She's collaborated with some of the music industry's biggest names, including Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson and Neil Young.

Please check out the video of Knopfler and Harris performing "I Dug Up A Diamond." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"I Dug Up A Diamond"
Written by Mark Knopfler. Performed by Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris.

I dug up a diamond
Rare and fine
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine
If only I could cling to
My beautiful find
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine

My gem is special
Beyond all worth
As strong as any metal
Or stone in the earth
Sharp as any razor
Or blade you can buy
Bright as any laser
Or any star in the sky

Maybe once in a lifetime
You'll hold one in your hand
Once in a lifetime
In this land
Where the journey ends
In a worthless claim
Time and again
In the mining game

I dug up a diamond
Rare and fine
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine
Down in the darkness
In the dirt and the grime
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

Lost for 9 Years, Diamond Engagement Ring Pried From a Gap in an Italian Sidewalk

The picturesque town of San Marco dei Cavoti in southern Italy is now world famous for two things: 1) the delightful honey-and-nut confection known as torrone and 2) a diamond engagement ring that was miraculously liberated from a gap in one of its sidewalks — nine years after it was lost.

In the summer of 2008, New Jersey natives Margaret and Justin Mussel were staying with her parents in what may be the "sweetest" town in Italy when she noticed that her 1.1-carat diamond engagement ring was missing. They had visited Pompeii earlier in the day, so they assumed the ring was lost somewhere along the 80-mile span between the ancient city and her mom's home. They searched the house and its surroundings, but the ring was nowhere to be found.

Margaret remembered that the ring had been loose, but she wore it anyway.

"I felt terrible, and I knew I should have probably taken it off," she told ABC. "I just felt really bad that I could have prevented it from falling off, and I kept it on that day."

Worse yet, since the ring was lost on their trip abroad — and not in the U.S. — their insurance company would not replace it.

The heartbroken couple returned to Brick, N.J., with the understanding that the princess-cut diamond in the white gold four-prong setting was likely gone forever. Justin saved up for a few years and bought a replacement ring for Margaret. The lost ring slowly faded from their memories.

That's until the couple returned to San Marco dei Cavoti a few weeks ago, with their two young boys.

One evening, while lounging with his wife on his in-laws' front porch, Justin saw a brilliant reflection emanating from the sidewalk in front of the house. Each time a car would drive by with its headlights on, he saw a flicker.

"I kept saying to Margaret, 'Do you see that? I see this glimmer coming out of the sidewalk," he told ABC.

He thought the light might have been bouncing off a coin.

Armed with a screwdriver, Justin tracked the reflection to a gap in the stones that bordered the sidewalk. He pried the shiny object that was jammed in the crevice, and what emerged was Margaret's ring. The precious metal was slightly scratched, but the diamond was in perfect condition.

“I was like, ‘There's no way the ring is in there.' I couldn't believe it. I thought he was playing a joke,” she told ABC.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would find it again,” she added.

“The odds of it falling into this crack, much less finding it nine years later, are astronomical,” Justin told the Asbury Park Press.

Justin believes the ring must have bounced into the gap with the stone facing down. Over time, it had been covered in dirt, but enough of the diamond was exposed to reflect the beams from the cars' headlights.

Margaret is now wearing her original engagement ring. The replacement ring will be for one of her boys when the time is right.

Photos by Justin Mussel; Screen captures via YouTube.com/CBS New York. San Marco dei Cavoti photo by User: Pcocca Patrizia Cocca (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

98-Carat Bismarck Sapphire Was a Honeymoon Gift From the Wealthiest Man in America

In 1926, at the age of 53, American tycoon Harrison Williams married Mona Bush, a divorcée 24 years his junior. Aboard his 250-foot yacht, the Warrior, the couple departed on a year-long, around-the-world honeymoon, and during a stopover in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), the wealthiest man in America picked up a beautiful cornflower blue bauble for his new bride.

That 98.57-carat cushion-cut gem, which is now known as the Bismarck Sapphire, is one of the world's finest examples of September's official birthstone. Visitors to the Gem Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., will see the Bismarck Sapphire Necklace prominently displayed between two other famous sapphire pieces, the Hall Sapphire and Diamond Necklace and the Logan Sapphire.

Originally set horizontally in a necklace designed by Cartier in 1927, the Bismarck Sapphire was rotated into a vertical position when Mona had the necklace updated in 1959. The necklace on display in Washington, D.C., is accented with eight square-cut blue sapphires and 312 baguette and round brilliant-cut diamonds.

Gem experts believe that the Bismarck Sapphire was originally much larger than 98.57 carats and that it was likely recut by Cartier to attain optimum clarity and brilliance after returning to the states from Sri Lanka. Traditionally, Sri Lankan cutters favored carat weight over ideal proportions.

With investments in public utilities, Williams had amassed a fortune estimated at $680 million (equivalent to about $9.6 billion today) — making him the richest man in America. But, the stock market crash of 1929 dissolved his fortune to a mere $5 million.

Still, the Williamses maintained their ritzy lifestyle and, by 1933, Mona had earned the distinction of becoming the first American voted the "Best Dressed Woman in the World."

Harrison Williams died in 1953, and two years later Mona would marry the German Count Eduard von Bismarck. At this point, the American socialite became known as Countess Mona von Bismarck. In 1967, at the age of 70, the Countess donated her beloved necklace to the Smithsonian. Mona died in 1983 at the age of 86.

Historically, the finest and most vibrant gem-quality sapphires have come from Sri Lanka, Burma and the Kashmir region of India. According to the Smithsonian, sapphires from Sri Lanka are typically light to medium blue and are commonly referred to as “Ceylon Sapphires.”

All sapphires are made of the mineral corundum (crystalline aluminum oxide). In its pure state, the corundum is colorless, but when trace elements are naturally introduced to the chemical composition, all the magic happens. Blue sapphires occur, for instance, when aluminum atoms are displaced with those of titanium and iron in the gem’s crystal lattice structure. Corundum has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, compared to a diamond, which has a hardness of 10.

Sapphires are seen in many colors, including pink, purple, green, orange and yellow. Ruby is the red variety of corundum.

Credits: Bismarck necklace photos by Chip Clark/Smithsonian. Smithsonian display by IFSconnie (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Music Friday: NSYNC Affirms, You Are 'More Precious Than Any Diamond or Pearl' in 1999's 'A Little More Time on You'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, the heartthrob boy band NSYNC compares gemstones to a very special woman in 1999's "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You."

They croon, "In all of creation, all things great and small / You are the one that surpasses them all / More precious than any diamond or pearl / They broke the mold when you came in this world."

While teen girls worldwide stared at their NSYNC posters and dreamed that Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass were singing about them, the official video for the song has the boys praising the virtues of a mom. Shot mostly in black and white, the video explores the powerful bond between a mother and son, from birth to old age.

Released as the third single from their self-titled album, "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You" ascended to #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Canada Top Singles list. The song, which was written by Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, marked the first time NSYNC broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album was also a commercial success, topping out at #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album remained in the Top 10 for 30 weeks.

NSYNC was founded in Orlando, Fla., in 1995 as an alternative to the wildly popular Backstreet Boys. The group's all-caps name, sometimes depicted with a star before the first "N," seems to have two origin stories. Some have claimed that it is derived from a comment uttered by Timberlake's mom, who was impressed by how the boys' voices were "in sync." A second theory is that NSYNC represents the last letter in each member's first name. The second "N" apparently stands for the last letter in Lance Bass' nickname, Hansten.

The star preceding the name was recommended by Israeli illusionist Uri Geller, who believed the symbol would bring them good fortune. At a cafe in London, Geller sat with the band members as he drew a star next to the word "NSYNC" on a napkin.

"I told them, if they place that star on their first CD, they're going to shoot up to #1," Geller related to The Huffington Post in 2015.

As noted earlier, Geller's prediction was nearly spot-on. The album peaked at #2.

The group went on to sell 70 million albums and became one of the top-selling boy bands of all time. The group announced a "temporary hiatus" in 2002, and an official breakup was finally confirmed in 2007.

Please check out the official video of NSYNC performing "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You." It's been viewed on YouTube more than 10.7 million times. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You
Written by Carl Allen Sturken and Evan A. Rogers. Performed by NSYNC.

Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was complete
I thought I was whole
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?

I never thought that love could feel like this
And you've changed my world with just one kiss
How can it be that right here with me
There's an angel?
It's a miracle

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent
A little more time
On you
(A little more time, yes he did baby)

In all of creation, all things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold when you came in this world

And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
The warmth of your smile
The heart of a child
That's deep inside
Leaves me purified

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent
A little more time
On you

Never thought that love could feel like this
And you've changed my world with just one kiss
How can it be that right here with me
There's an angel?
It's a miracle

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent
A little more time
On you

God must have spent
A little more time, on you
(on you, on you, you, you, oh yeah)
A little more time
On you

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

Apollo Astronaut Nearly Lost His Wedding Ring in Space — Fact or Fiction?

Former Apollo astronaut Charles “Charlie” Moss Duke Jr. loves to tell the story about how fellow astronaut Ken Mattingly nearly lost his wedding ring in outer space. The circumstances surrounding how he got it back are so remarkable that the story has attained folklore status in the annals of space exploration.

According to Duke, on the second day of the 11-day Apollo 16 mission to the moon and back, Mattingly, the command module pilot, reported his wedding ring missing. Despite the ship's tight confines and the crew's best efforts, they could not locate the ring.

“It just floated off somewhere, and none of us could find it,” the 81-year-old Duke told Wired magazine in a 2016 interview.

The ring remained elusive until Mattingly's spacewalk on Day 9 — April 25, 1972. Duke said he exited the spacecraft to check on Mattingly when he noticed the wedding ring floating out the hatch door.

Duke tried to grab it, but failed.

The ring would have been lost to the vastness of space, but miraculously bounced off the back of Mattingly's helmet, reversed its course and returned to the vehicle through the hatch. Duke said he was able to secure it shortly thereafter.

Scientifically speaking, the astronauts, the ship and the ring were all flying through space together at 3,000 feet per second, but in the absence of wind resistance, as Duke explained in the Wired interview, things just “move along together.”

While the remarkable recovery was attributed to lucky physics, Mattingly, also 81, has a different recollection of how the wedding ring story went down.

In a 2014 interview with SpaceKate.com, Mattingly bluntly poked a giant hole in Duke's account.

"That's Charlie's story," he said. "I lost it, on Earth."

Mattingly believes the ring slipped off while he was removing his flying gloves.

So much for a lost-and-found story that was truly out of this world...

Credits: Photos by NASA (Public Domain).

Guggenheim Museum's Fully Functional 18-Karat Toilet, 'America,' Will Have Its Final Flush on Sept. 15

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City is about to close the lid on its fully functional 18-karat gold toilet, with the final flush taking place on September 15.

Called "America," the single work of art by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has dazzled and delighted museum-goers for the past year. The installation features a solid gold replica of a Kohler toilet tucked into a single-occupancy restroom. Visitors are encouraged to use the dazzling fixture as they would any other public toilet.

The Guggenheim has kept the golden commode immaculate, thanks to a cleaning detail that has been responsible for tidying up every 15 minutes using special wipes.

“More than 100,000 people have waited patiently in line for the opportunity to commune with art and with nature,” noted Nancy Spector, the Guggenheim’s artistic director and chief curator, on the museum’s website.

In describing the irreverent exhibition, the Guggenheim's website noted that Cattelan’s toilet offers a wink to the excesses of the art market, but also evokes the American dream of opportunity for all — its utility ultimately reminding us of the inescapable physical realities of our shared humanity.

“This is 1 percent art for the 99 percent,” Cattelan told the New York Post during the opening of the exhibition in 2016.

Created by a foundry in Florence, Italy, "America" doesn't carry an official value, but the folks at Gothamist.com estimated the gold was worth between $1.4 million and $2.5 million.

Reviewers who have experienced the toilet first-hand have reported that the seat is very heavy to lift and the gold sparkles so much that it’s almost too bright to look at.

Neither the Guggenheim nor Cattelan revealed what the future has in store for “America.” Will it become part of a new exhibition? Or end up in the powder room of a 21st century tycoon? Only time will tell.

Credits: Photos by Kris McKay © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Artie the Police Dog Sniffs Out Missing Diamond Four Days After It Was Lost

Artie the Police Dog used his super sniffer to locate an engagement diamond for a New England couple — four days after it was lost.

About two weeks ago, Jamie and James Ruddock of Sunderland, Mass., visited a nearby kennel to pick up one of their dogs, but as they were leaving the facility, Jamie noticed that the diamond from her engagement ring was missing. The Ruddocks retraced their steps, but couldn't find the diamond.

Undaunted, James Ruddock returned to the kennel four days later with his secret weapon. You see, Ruddock is a K-9 Officer for the Montague Police Department and his patrolling partner is Artie, a dog specially trained to sniff out drugs, find bodies and track down fleeing criminals.

Finding the diamond would be a piece of cake for the talented pooch.

While diamonds don't have a scent, the person who was wearing the diamond in her ring did. Within 10 minutes, Artie found the diamond in the turf outside the kennel.

“We knew to 'trust your dog,'" Ruddock told NBC affiliate WWLP, "and we did eventually find it under some thick grass. It was very surreal and a pretty emotional moment.”

According to the Montague Police Department, Ruddock was appointed as a K-9 Officer in 2014. He and Artie have been a team ever since.

Besides fighting crime and finding lost diamonds, Artie is a favorite of local schoolchildren and participates in community programs. Artie has a custom vehicle and his own Facebook page.

Dogs are exceptional sniffers because their noses have as many as 300 million olfactory receptors, compared to five million in humans. This gives them such a keen sense of smell that they can detect some odors that are just one or two parts per trillion.

Earlier this summer, The Times of London reported that researchers at Manchester University were teaching two Labradors and a Cocker Spaniel to detect the smell of the molecules emitted from skin just before people develop Parkinson's Disease. If successful, the dogs will be able to identify those susceptible to the neurodegenerative disease before they show any symptoms.

Credits: Screen captures via wwlp.com. Officer Ruddock/Artie portrait via Facebook.com/K-9-Artie-of-Montague-Police-Department.

'Fight of the Century' Victor Floyd Mayweather Jr. Earns 'Priceless' Money Belt Encrusted With 4,260 Gems

When professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated UFC star Conor McGregor by TKO Saturday night in what was billed as "the fight of the century," the undefeated Mayweather earned a $100 million-plus payday and a Money Belt glistening with 4,260 gemstones. It is believed to be the most valuable sports trophy ever created.

World Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Sulaiman unveiled the belt on Wednesday during the final press conference leading up to the fight in Las Vegas. The belt, which is made from alligator leather imported from Italy, is studded with 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires and 300 emeralds set in 3.3 pounds of solid, 24-karat gold. It also features the names of the two combatants spelled out in gemstones.

Sulaiman refused to reveal how much the belt was worth, opting to describe it as a "priceless piece."

“It cost a fortune,” Sulaiman told MMA Fighting. “It cost many, many, many hours of work of many artisans. It is just a beautiful piece of work. It’s a lot of money. I don’t really have a figure. It’s a priceless piece for an historic event.”

When asked by a reporter where the belt would be housed during the time between the Wednesday press conference and the Saturday night event, Sulaiman said with a laugh, “If I told you, I would have to disappear you. It’s in a safe place. It’s in a secure vault.”

Interestingly, when Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao two years ago, he also walked away with a blingy WBC belt featuring 3,017 emeralds set in 1.7 pounds of gold. That belt was said to be worth more than $1 million.

The match between Mayweather and McGregor was an unusual spectacle because it brought together the top names from professional boxing and mixed martial arts. McGregor made a strong showing in the opening rounds, but faded as the fight wore on. Mayweather's superior boxing skills prevailed, and the referee called a stop to the fight in the 10th round of the super-welterweight bout.

The victory brought Mayweather's unflawed record to 50-0, surpassing the 49-0 record amassed by Rocky Marciano during the 1940s and 1950s. The 40-year-old Mayweather announced that the McGregor fight would be his last. Mayweather was guaranteed a purse of $100 million for Saturday night's fight, but could end up earning $200 million or more based on international pay-per-view revenues.

Credits: Images via Twitter.com/Mauricio Sulaiman.

Music Friday: Unlucky in Love Maia Sharp Wonders, 'How Much Gold Can You Find If You Never Go Mining'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, singer-songwriter Maia Sharp ponders the question: "How much gold can you find if you never go mining?" in "Underneath," an intimate, self-effacing song about a woman who's been unlucky in love.

Sharp uses the mining simile to illustrate her passive approach to romance. She admits that she has no one but herself to blame for her loneliness, but she's confident that it will all work out in the end. Perhaps the best things will come to those who wait.

She sings, "How much gold can you find if you never go mining / They say the wine gets better if you let it breathe / Oh, the deeper the digging, the sweeter the finding / I want to know what’s underneath / Oh, I want to know what’s underneath."

"Underneath" appears as the third track on Sharp's sixth studio album The Dash Between The Dates, which was released in 2015. Providing the harmonies on the track is singer-songwriter Gabe Dixon.

In describing the album, Sharp noted, "I was trying to look at things with a wider-angle lens and bring more breadth to the songs without sacrificing the intimacy."

Interestingly, the artist admitted that she worked on the album during a period of extreme writer's block. Critics countered that it was her best work to date.

Born in California's Central Valley in 1971 to a singer-songwriter dad and a college professor mom, Sharp wrote her first song as a five-year-old. By the time she was a teenager, she had already shown proficiency with a number of instruments, including keyboards, guitar, oboe and saxophone. She studied music theory at California State University and honed her songwriting skills. As a 22-year-old, Sharp began performing her own music in Los Angeles clubs.

A few years later, she was discovered by music executive Miles Copeland, who managed The Police. During her 20-plus years in the music business, Sharp has written songs for some of the industry's top acts, including Cher, Kim Richey, Amanda Marshall, Paul Carrack, Edwin McCain, The Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood and Kathy Mattea.

We know you will enjoy the audio track of "Underneath." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Underneath"
Written by Maia Sharp. Performed by Maia Sharp with Gabe Dixon.

No one but myself to blame
If I ain’t got a love to call my own
Maybe it takes some chippin’ away
Before you get down to the cornerstone

How much gold can you find if you never go mining?
They say the wine gets better if you let it breathe
Oh, the deeper the digging, the sweeter the finding
I want to know what’s underneath
Oh, I want to know what’s underneath

When the new ran out, I ran out
I took off one time, took off the shine
I never could shake my shadow of doubt
And the only heart I ever really broke was mine

How much gold can you find if you never go mining?
They say the wine gets better if you let it breathe
Oh, the deeper the digging, the sweeter the finding
I want to know what’s underneath
Oh, I want to know what’s underneath

Underneath these
Underneath what’s shown
Past the shallow waters
To uncharted undiscovered unknown

How much gold can you find if you never go mining?
The wine gets better if you let it breathe
Oh, the deeper the digging, the sweeter the finding
And I want to know what’s underneath
Oh, I want to know what’s underneath

I want to know what’s underneath

Credits: Screen capture via YouTube.com/Maia Sharp.

Survey: Millennial Women Prefer 'The Real Deal' When Buying Diamonds and Luxury Items

Despite being tempted by a retail environment flush with fast fashion and unlimited choices, millennial women would prefer to adhere to the maxim of "buy less, buy better." According to a survey conducted on behalf of the Diamond Producers Association, the vast majority of millennial women prefer "the real deal" when purchasing diamonds and luxury items.

In fact, exactly 89% of women between the ages of 18 and 34 said they are looking for authenticity when shopping for finer items, with 94% of the highest-earning millennials ($150,000+) reporting that they would prefer a single expensive, genuine item over lots of cheaper ones.

“When evaluating luxury purchases, [millennials] seek items that are genuine, unique and not mass-produced, and have inherent meaning and value,” said Deborah Marquardt, the DPA’s Chief Marketing Officer. “This preference speaks directly to the diamond promise — in an increasingly artificial world, diamonds remain authentic, rare and precious.”

Interestingly, during the span from 2013 to 2015, self-purchasing of non-bridal diamonds by U.S. millennials increased from 25% to 31%.

Here are some other key findings from the survey that sought to pinpoint what millennial women really want when it comes to luxury goods, such as diamonds:

• Three in four millennial women see diamond jewelry as an investment in themselves, and 82% consider it a long-term investment. Among the highest-earning millennial women, these numbers jump dramatically to 94% and 91%, respectively.

• Exactly 85% of high-earning millennials said they would be embarrassed to know that they own a knock-off, especially for luxury items.

• Two out of three respondents admitted to feeling more confident in themselves when wearing diamond jewelry.

The survey was conducted online by KRC Research and took place from July 10 to July 14 among 995 millennial women. The DPA's current marketing initiative is called "Real is Rare. Real is a Diamond." The group has amassed a promotional budget of $57 million, the great majority of which is dedicated to the U.S. market.

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com/Real is a Diamond.