OMG science
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1 week agoVictoria Reynolds, the chief gemologist of Tiffany & Co.
Diamonds and gemstones undergo a unique geological cycle before being evaluated and polished by experts like Victoria Reynolds at Tiffany & Co.
The exquisite, jewel-encrusted boxes were badly damaged in 2024, after they were among seven treasures stolen from Paris's Musée Cognacq-Jay by a gang of axe-wielding thieves. The perpetrators broke into the temporary exhibition, titled "Luxe de Poche," or "Pocket Luxury," on November 20, making off with goods that were, at the time, reported to be worth more than €1 million.
Today is Monday, Jan. 26, the 26th day of 2026. There are 339 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 26, 1905, the Cullinan Diamond, at 3,106 carats (621.2 grams) the largest diamond ever found, was discovered in South Africa. Also on this date: In 1887, groundbreaking began for the construction of the Eiffel Tower; the tower would be completed just over two years later. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act establishing Rocky Mountain National Park.
Gold extended its advance on Tuesday, trading close to record levels after hitting an all-time high in the previous session. The move reflects strong safe-haven demand amid escalating trade frictions and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. On Monday, Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on goods from South Korea. The renewed tariff rhetoric has added to concerns over global growth and reinforced demand for safe-haven assets such as gold.
The snippet carries the phrase "Fathers of the Senate!" which is nowhere found in surviving Washington documents. The expression is borrowed from ancient Roman Senate-specifically the Latin patres conscripti , or "Conscript Fathers"-and quite possibly wasn't the patrician tone Washington intended to set for a young republic. It is unknown why or how it was used in this case as the manuscript from which the fragment was cut is long lost.
Diamonds may be forever, but popular styles come and go. Celebrities can spark interest- toi et moi rings saw a major resurgence when Megan Fox shared a picture of her diamond-and-emerald engagement ring from then-fiance Machine Gun Kelly in 2022; marquise diamonds saw a spike thanks to Selena Gomez; and more recently, Taylor Swift's vintage styles sparked a major interest in vintage.