Leibish, the New York-based colored diamond specialist, upped its bids this year by 20% to secure 16 of the 62 gems offered by Rio Tinto at the penultimate 2020 Pink Argyle Diamonds Tender.



The company's biggest prize was "The Argyle Sakura Diamond," a 1.84-carat, pear-shaped fancy vivid purplish-pink stone that had been touted by the mining company as one of the six "hero" diamonds from 2020's offering.

The tender, which represents a collection of the rarest diamonds from a year’s worth of production at the Argyle mine in the remote east Kimberley region of Western Australia, was momentous because the mine ceased operating in November.

During its 37 years of production, the mine famously accounted for nearly 95% of the world’s pink and red diamonds.



Leibish is calling its 2020 tender cache the "Pink Sunset Collection" in homage to Argyle's last days of mining and its historic finale. Leibish's acquisition included 11 of the 21 stones that weighed in at greater than 1 carat. These represented the rarest and most valuable pink diamonds in the group.



Leibish noted that each diamond in the "Pink Sunset Collection" will be elegantly displayed in its own presentation case, accompanied by its provenance.

"As next year (2021) will be the last Argyle tender, we bid on all stones, since the goods will become super rare, in high demand and expensive," said Leibish executive Shmulik Polnauer in a recent Rapaport Magazine report.

Polnauer estimated that asking prices at the 2020 tender were 15% higher than the previous year, so Leibish upped its bids 20% and more to ensure that the company would secure a substantial share of the lots.

The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender — titled “One Lifetime, One Encounter” — included 62 diamonds weighing a total of 57.23 carats. The final Argyle tender is expected to take place later this year.

Credits: Images courtesy of Leibish.

Entombed with the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, garnets have been coveted by kings and commoners alike for thousands of years. The fabulous and versatile January birthstone comes in a wide array of natural colors, including deep red, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, black, brown — and a vibrant raspberry pink.



This ultra-feminine pink variety of garnet is called "rhodolite."

According to the Smithsonian, pink garnets were discovered by mineralogist William Earl Hidden in the Cowee Valley of Macon County, NC, in the late 1800s and were named rhodolite because their color resembled the blossoms of the local rhododendron plant. "Rhodon" in Greek means "rose-like."



In addition to the rhodolite garnet, other varieties commonly seen in jewelry include pyrope, almandine, andradite, demantoid, grossularite, hessonite, tsavorite, spessartine and uvarovite. Garnets achieve their range of color from trace amounts of iron, manganese, calcium or aluminum in their chemical makeup.

Rhodolite is described as the variety of garnet with a coloration and chemistry that bridges pyrope (red) and almandine (red to brownish or purplish-red). Rhodolite contains more magnesium than iron in its chemical structure, thus the color leans more to pyrope. Rhodolite is available in a range of shades from violet to red, including lavender pink, raspberry rose, raspberry red, purplish-violet and purplish red.

This variety of garnet became a popular one for fine jewelry because of its brilliance, color range, transparency and durability. Garnet rates 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. By comparison, diamond rates a 10, sapphire a 9 and topaz an 8.

The most important sources of top-quality rhodolite garnet are Sri Lanka, Tanzania, India and Zimbabwe.

Credit: Image by YippeeD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Rhododendron plants by TriviaKing at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Jessica Amis, an Emmy-winning digital journalist for CBS-affiliate THV11 in Little Rock, recently found herself at the center of a story about a lost diamond, a precocious 7-year-old and the significance of "things" that remind you of stuff you never want to forget.



Amis had been enjoying a meal with two co-workers in the outdoor picnic area of Hill Station, a popular restaurant in the Hillcrest neighborhood of the capital city, when a bent prong on her vintage engagement ring allowed the center diamond to become dislodged.

The diamond disappeared into a bed of gravel — a ground cover that Amis described as the "tiniest and shiniest gravel I’ve ever seen."

Her diamond blended in so perfectly that it was impossible to see. She even returned multiple times to sift through the gravel, but all of her attempts came up empty.

Enter the hero of our story: 7-year-old J. Harley Calloway.



The precocious youngster explained how easy it was to find the diamond, about a month after Amis had lost it.

“I just dig some dirt, and then I found the diamond,” he told the interviewer, who happened to be Amis. “I just looked down when I was grabbing the dirt and I said, ‘Mommy, I found a diamond.’”

Calloway remembered that his mom said, “That’s not real!”

Well, it was very real.

Fortunately, Amis had shared her story and contact information with the restaurant's management, and Calloway's family was considerate enough to turn the stone in. The staff at Hill Station immediately made the connection and called Amis with the good news.



In the her two-minute report, Amis waxed poetic about how people perceive "things" as they grow older. Some things are just things, but others are things that remind you of stuff you never want to forget.

The diamond in her ring is a "thing" that holds memories of "getting engaged, of dancing the night away, of building a life," she said. “And now it’s a reminder of the goodness in others and the hope that comes from just that.”



Amis rewarded Calloway with a Rock and Gem Dig kit from the Smithsonian gift shop.

Please check out the report at this link…

Credits: Screen captures via Youtube.com.

Botswana's Karowe mine, the only mine in history to have yielded two 1,000-plus-carat diamonds, will be turning out high-value rough gems until 2046 under a renewed licensing agreement between Lucara Diamond Corp. and the Government of Botswana.



The 25-year deal will pave the way for the underground expansion of the prolific Karowe mine, which has been the world’s foremost source of Type IIa diamonds in excess of 10.8 carats since it began production in 2012.



The mine's largest and highest-profile diamonds are the 1,758-carat Sewelô (2019) and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona (2015). Other exceptional finds include a yet-to-be-named, 998-carat head turner that was revealed this past November and the 812-carat Constellation (2015). When considering the largest rough diamonds of all time, the Botswana mine accounts for the #2, #3, #4 and #9 positions. The #1 spot is held by the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1905.



The concept of moving the mine operations underground is predicted to extend its productive life by 20 years. In 2019, a feasibility study concluded that a capital investment of $514 million would result in the production of 7.8 million carats by 2040. The underground expansion is expected to take five years, with the first ore being extracted in 2016.

The current open pit mine has a depth of 324 meters. The underground operation is expected to extend the depth to 750 meters below the surface.

Type IIa diamonds have exceptional optical transparency and are the most chemically pure variety of diamonds. They contain no measurable trace of other elements, such as nitrogen, which could alter the color.

"Lucara is grateful for the confidence and support demonstrated by the Government of Botswana as we work to expand our operations at Karowe underground, for the benefit of the Government and the people of Botswana together with Lucara's shareholders," noted Eira Thomas, Lucara's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to continued cooperation and a mutually rewarding partnership with the Government of Botswana."

Credits: Karowe mine, Sewelô and Lesedi La Rona images courtesy of Lucara Diamond.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fabulous songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, pop star Selena Gomez drives home a message of self-empowerment and self-worth in her Latin-infused 2020 release, "Ring."



In the song, the 28-year-old former Disney Channel actress turns up her nose at insincere suitors because she's "one in a billion." Diamond and jewelry references amplify her sentiments, and, at one point, she even compares herself to basketball legend Miichael Jordan — the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time).

She sings, "I'm breakin' hearts like a heart attack / Got him right where the carats at / Wrapped 'round my finger like a ring, ring, ring / They just like puppets on a string, string, string."

Written by Gomez and five collaborators, "Ring" has been compared favorably to Camila Cabello's "Havana," Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" and Santana's "Smooth."

The song appeared as the fifth track on her chart-topping, third solo studio album, Rare. It was the third time in a row that a Gomez album reached #1 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart.

Born in Grand Prairie, TX, in 1992, Gomez and her teenage mom struggled financially. The singer tells the story of walking with her mom to the local dollar store to buy spaghetti for dinner.

Gomez competed in pageants as a child, but her life would change dramatically when she was cast as a 7-year-old on the children's TV series Barney & Friends. After she aged out of that series, she earned a cameo role in the film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. That opportunity opened the door to a starring role in 2007 on The Wizards of Waverly Place. At age 16, she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records, the same label that signed Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Today, the singer's net worth is said to be at least $75 million. She was named to the "Forbes 30 Under 30" list at the age of 23.

In 2017, Gomez underwent a kidney transplant due to lupus complications and now she speaks publicly about her treatment and recovery.

"I've gone through a lot of medical issues," Gomez told Interview magazine, "and I know that I can reach people who are going through similarly scary things — an organ transplant, or being on dialysis, or going away for treatment."

Trivia: Gomez loves everything about pickles. She revealed on a UK talk show that she's obsessed with them. "That is my thing and I drink the juice from the jar too," she said. "They sell them at gas stations and movie theaters in Texas. I go to the movies and have popcorn and pickles."

Please check out the audio track of Gomez performing "Ring." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Ring"
Written by Selena Gomez, Sean Douglas, Julie Frost, Breyan Isaac, David Ciente and Nolan Lambroza. Performed by Selena Gomez.

You all in your feelings, baby, all into me
I'm one in a billion, baby, don't you agree?

Obviously, you know, I'm aware of that
I'm breakin' hearts like a heart attack
Got him right where the carats at

Wrapped 'round my finger like a ring, ring, ring
They just like puppets on a string, string, string
I put it down, they call me up
They doin' way too much
So I'll just let it ring, ring, ring (Oh-oh)

Yeah, I received your message, all twenty-three (Twenty-three)
You know I'm Jordan with it, G-O-A-T (G-O-A-T)

Obviously, you know, I'm aware of that
I'm breakin' hearts like a heart attack
I got him right where the carats at (Yeah)

Wrapped 'round my finger like a ring, ring, ring
They just like puppets on a string, string, string
I put it down, they call me up
They doin' way too much
So I'll just let it ring, ring, ring
Wrapped 'round my finger like a ring, ring, ring
They wanna give me everything, thing, thing
I put it down, they call me up
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
So I'll just let it ring, ring, ring

Circlin' me, they just like satellites (Ooh)
Circlin' me all day and every night (Ooh, yeah)
Circlin' me, I'm sure you sympathize (Ooh)
A-la-la-la-la-la-la-la (Ooh)
Oh, na-na

Wrapped 'round my finger like a ring, ring, ring
They just like puppets on a string, string, string
I put it down, they call me up
They doin' way too much
So I'll just let it ring, ring, ring
Wrapped 'round my finger like a ring, ring, ring
They wanna give me everything, thing, thing
I put it down, they call me up
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
So I'll just let it ring, ring, ring


Credit: Image by Lunchbox LP, Culver City, California, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Former tennis star Maria Sharapova kicked off the new year by finally revealing her stunning, emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from venture capitalist Alexander Gilkes. The couple had announced their engagement in December, but their choice of engagement ring had remained a mystery.



The sizable, rectangular-shaped gem seems to be cradled in a bezel setting crafted in yellow gold. Unlike prong settings, bezel settings completely frame the circumference of a diamond with a rim of protective precious metal.

Made popular during the 1920's Art Deco movement, the emerald cut continues to convey an understated, regal elegance. The stepped facets allow the admirer to see clearly into the stone, revealing its perfection. Beyoncé, Amal Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey are just a few of the celebrities who favored the emerald cut.



Sharapova's choice of engagement ring is significant because the now-retired athlete remains a high-profile influencer due to her name recognition and endorsement deals with Nike, Porsche, Evian and Head, among others. She has 14 million Likes on Facebook and 4.1 million followers on Instagram.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, the 33-year-old said goodbye to 2020 and welcomed 2021 with hope and optimism. She will be taking on new challenges outside of tennis with the support of her fiancé, who she calls her "best friend."

She wrote, "2020, I imagined you to be very different. As we all did! Admittedly, you sprinkled some brilliance in [the] midst of harsh and heartbreaking realities. Personally, you gave me the courage to let go of the one life and career I ever knew. I pinch myself daily for the timing of that decision. And you gave me the gift and commitment of a lifetime waking up next to my best friend every morning. Incredibly inspired for what's to come in 2021. Happy New Year!!

Tennis had been the center of Sharapova's world since her dad brought her to the U.S. from Russia in 1994, when the fledgling athlete was just 7 years old. According to published reports, she and her dad had only $700 in savings when they came to the US to develop the youngster's talents.

Today, Sharapova is one of the wealthiest athletes in the world. Her net worth is reportedly $195 million. She became the world's top-rated female tennis player in 2005 at the age of 18 and she has won five Grand Slam titles.

On his own Instagram page, the 41-year-old Gilkes affirmed his love for Sharapova.

He wrote, "Thank you for making me a very very happy boy and saying yes. I look forward to a lifetime of loving you, and learning from you @mariasharapova." He punctuated the post with a blue diamond emoji.

The British-born Gilkes is currently heading up Squared Circles, a venture studio dedicated to building, accelerating and investing in businesses that improve the world. Until 2018, he was the president and co-founder of Paddle8, an online auction house focusing on art and collectibles.

Sharapova and Gilkes have been a couple since 2018. They have yet to announce a wedding date.

Credits: Image and screen capture via Instagram/mariasharapova.

For thousands of years, wedding rings have been worn on the ring finger of the left hand, but do you know the origin of this worldwide tradition?



Some give credit to the ancient Romans and Greeks, who believed that the vein in the fourth finger of the left hand (the vena amoris or vein of love) ran directly to the heart. Although the “vein of love” story is compelling and widely cited, a contemporary understanding of the human circulatory system has soundly debunked the science behind the legend.

The Chinese have a different take on the tradition. We love their theory because it comes with a sweet explanation and head-scratching, step-by-step demonstration.

The Chinese believe that each finger is a representation of the past, present and future generations of you and your family members. The thumb represents your parents, the index finger represents your siblings, the middle finger represents you, the ring finger represents your partner and the pinky represents your children.

Now give this a try…

• Place your palms together as if you were praying.



• Then, with all the fingertips still touching, bend the middle fingers toward each other until their tips are pointing downward into your palm and the second knuckle of each middle finger is touching the other. Remember, the middle fingers represent you.



• Now, attempt to separate the pinkies. You certainly can, because the pinkies represent your children, who will eventually leave your home and build families of their own.



• The thumbs that represent your parents can separate easily, as well, because your parents are not destined to live with you forever.



• Your index fingers separate with no resistance, as these represent your siblings, who will go on to live life on their own.



• Now, attempt to separate the ring fingers, which represent your partner. They don’t budge. No matter how much you try, they won’t come come apart.

The Chinese reasoning is that the union between you and your partner is unbreakable, and a wedding ring worn on the ring finger represents a marriage that is meant to last forever.

Anatomically, here’s how the phenomenon works… There is a common muscle called Extensor Digitorum that has little connectors between the tendons that go to the backs of each finger that allow them to extend all the way. The thumb is separate, but in addition to this muscle, the pinky has a second muscle called Extensor Digiti Minimi and the pointer has a second muscle called Extensor Indicis. When you bend the middle fingers, you fix the tendons of the Extensor Digitorum and without a second muscle to assist, the ring finger is stuck.

A practical explanation of why the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand focuses on the practicality of keeping the ring out of harm’s way. Since most people are right-handed, wearing the ring on the left hand would make it less susceptible to damage. Also, the ring finger doesn’t get as much work as, say, the thumb and index finger, so the little-used ring finger is a good place to display the bridal jewelry.

Credits: Bridal image by Bigstockphoto.com; Hand images by The Jeweler Blog.

The Chinese Year of the Ox officially begins on February 12th, and The Perth Mint is celebrating with the release of a limited-edition silver coin that incorporates this year's zodiac animal rendered in pure Australian opal.



The coin’s reverse incorporates a round black panel inlaid with a mosaic of bluish-green opal. Irregular slices of the precious stone are meticulously arranged to fill out the shape of the ox. The coin’s outer ring features stylized depictions of tulips, which are considered to be lucky flowers for those born in the Year of the Ox. Designed by Lucas Bowers, the coin measures 36.6mm in diameter, which is slightly smaller than a US silver dollar.

The one-ounce 99.99% pure silver coin is the fifth release in the Australian Opal Lunar Series — a series that launched with an opal rooster design in 2017 and was followed up with opal-enhanced Chinese zodiac offerings in 2018 (dog), 2019 (pig) and 2020 (mouse).

From 2012 through 2014, the mint promoted the Australian Opal Series of five coins depicting native animals, including the koala, wombat, kangaroo, pygmy possum and Tasmanian devil. Each of those animal were also rendered in opal.

The Perth Mint frequently pays tribute to themes that are truly Australian. Opal is the official gemstone of Australia, and the country credited with supplying nearly 95% the world’s fine opal. It's not surprising, then, that the mint figured out a way to utilize the colorful, iridescent gemstone in a coin.

(Australia is also famous for pink diamonds and we've previously written about limited-edition gold coins that The Perth Mint embedded with rare pink diamonds sourced from the now-closed Argyle mine.)



The obverse of the ox coin features the Jody Clark effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the weight and fineness, the “1 DOLLAR” monetary denomination, “AUSTRALIA,” and the Queen’s name.



Offered in a limited mintage of 5,000 units, the Year of the Ox coin is housed in a classic display case and is packed in a decorative box. The Perth Mint expects supplies of this special coin to be available by next week.

Credits: Images courtesy of The Perth Mint.

London-based mining company Gemfields has formed a long-term partnership with Mozambique’s Luwire Wildlife Conservancy to preserve Luwire’s biodiversity and assist its local communities. Gemfields and Luwire share common interests in the pristine — and ruby-rich — wilderness of northern Mozambique, just this side of the border from Tanzania.



The Luwire Wildife Conservancy is headquartered within Mozambique’s Niassa Special Reserve, a huge swath of territory, about the size of Massachusetts. It is one of Africa’s largest private conservation concessions and is considered a globally important carbon sink. The Special Reserve protects the highest concentration of game in Mozambique, including the country's largest and most viable elephant population.



The rich territory is also home to Gemfields' Montepuez mine, one of the most significant ruby deposits in the world. Gemfields acquired 75% of the Montepuez mine in 2011, a move that complemented its purchase of Zambia's Kagem emerald mine in 2008. Kagem is billed as the world’s largest and most productive emerald mine.

The success of both operations has paved the way for Africa to become the world’s largest exporter of emeralds and rubies.

Gemfields is committed to furthering transparency, legitimacy and integrity in the colored gemstone business and believes that colored gemstones should create a positive impact for the countries and communities from which they originate.

"Gemfields has, for more than a decade, walked a trail promoting greater transparency in the mining and selling of Africa’s colored gemstone resources," said Gemfields CEO Sean Gilbertson. "Today, more emerald- and ruby-derived value than ever accrues to our host countries in Mozambique and Zambia. We see an undeniable connection between Africa’s minerals and biodiversity and the interconnecting relationship with local communities. We are delighted to partner with Luwire to really deliver change on the ground in Mozambique."

During its time in Africa, Gemfields has established a track record for improving the healthcare, education, agriculture and standards of living for the communities around its mines, while supporting conservation efforts to protect Africa’s wildlife and biodiversity.

"Gemfields joins an impressive list of global partners that have recognized the value of Luwire as a global natural asset and the critical role that local communities play in preserving that asset," commented Paul Buckley, Chairman of Luwire. "Gemfields’ initial focus shall be on a number of Luwire’s nature-based businesses. These businesses are critical for sustainably empowering local communities."

Credits: Images ©️ Gemfields 2021.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great, new songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Taylor Swift compares an elusive lover to a championship ring in "Willow," the chart-topping lead single from her 2020 album, Evermore.



Written by Swift and Aaron Dessner, "Willow" follows the magical and mysterious journey of a young woman who does everything in her power to win over the man of her dreams.

She sings, "Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind / Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in / As if you were a mythical thing / Like you were a trophy or a champion ring / There was one prize I'd cheat to win."

In the song's official video, Swift's character follows a glowing, golden string that lures her into the back of a magical piano, down a rabbit hole, through time portals and eventually to her lover. The "Willow" video follows the storyline from an earlier video for "Cardigan."

In an interview with Apple Music, Swift explained why she wanted "Willow" to lead off her ninth studio album.

"I loved the feeling I got immediately upon hearing the instrumental that Aaron created for it," she said. "It felt strangely, I say, witchy. And I stand by that. It felt like somebody making a love potion, dreaming up the person they desire and trying to figure out how to get that person in their life."

Many fans and critics believe Swift's fictional narrative in "Willow" parallels her own life experience. They believe the song really tells the story about how she won the heart of British actor Joe Alwyn.

"Willow" made its debut at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, scoring Swift her seventh #1 single, and the third that entered the chart at #1.

Born in Wyomissing, Pa., Swift was not an average schoolgirl. By the time she was 11, Swift was already performing regularly at karaoke contests, festivals and fairs near her home in Berks County. When she was 14, her parents moved the family to Nashville, where Swift would be better positioned to pursue a career in country music. At the age of 17, Swift was topping the country charts.

Now 31, Swift is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 200 million records worldwide. She has won 10 Grammy Awards, one Emmy, 23 Billboard Music Awards and 32 American Music Awards. In December of 2019, Billboard named her Woman of the Decade (2010s).

Please check out the official video of Swift performing "Willow." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Willow"
Written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner. Performed by Taylor Swift.

I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night
Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife
And if it was an open/shut case
I never would've known from that look on your face
Lost in your current like a priceless wine

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in
As if you were a mythical thing
Like you were a trophy or a champion ring
There was one prize I'd cheat to win

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
They count me out time and time again
Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind
But I come back stronger than a 90's trend

Wait for the signal and I'll meet you after dark
Show me the places where the others gave you scars
Now this is an open/shut case
I guess I should've known from the look on your face
Every bait and switch was a work of art

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

The more that you say, the less I know
Wherever you stray, I follow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man
You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man

Hey, that's my man
That's my man
Yeah, that's my man
Every bait and switch was a work of art
That's my man
Hey, that's my man
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Wreck my plans, that's my man



Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.

With the help of 320-pound offensive guard Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers star running back Aaron Jones showed the world a very special piece of jewelry he was wearing under his #33 jersey during his team's 32-18 thumping of the Los Angeles Rams in Saturday's divisional-round playoff game.



On the very first play of the third quarter, Aaron Rodgers handed off to Jones, who busted through the middle of the line and scampered 60 yards to the Rams' 15 yard line. Two plays later, the man they call "Showtyme" plunged one yard into the end zone, giving the Packers a 25-10 lead.



As he celebrated the touchdown, the elated four-year veteran attempted to dig into the neckline of his jersey, but was having trouble getting a grip on the jewelry underneath because his gloves were too bulky. Fortunately, Jenkins — the 6' 5" lineman — knew exactly what to do.

In a quick seven-second sequence, Fox TV cameras caught the moment when Jenkins successfully pulled out a diamond-and-emerald encrusted necklace featuring the Packers' iconic "G" logo.

The spectacle caught the attention of Emmy Award-winning TV and radio personality, Bryant McFadden, who mentioned the celebration and the jewelry while hosting a post-game analysis for CBS Sports HQ, the network's streaming video sports channel.

"He scores a lot of touchdowns, man, and he also has a lot of cool jewelry," said McFadden. "That's awesome…that little Green Bay [logo] in diamonds. I couldn't rock it, but he can."

Jones shared the Fox video clip on his Instagram Story while giving a shoutout to Jenkins and the jewelry firm that designed his necklace. He wrote, "My bro @elgton74 had to pull it out for me! @shopgld"



@shopgld is the Instagram handle for GLD, a Miami-based jewelry firm that specializes in over-the-top, diamond designs for celebrities and sports stars. A sample of the Packers' logo design is shown on the company's website.

GLD shared the Fox celebration clip on its Instagram page along with this caption, "Shout out to the legend @showtyme_33.. Yea you see that packers chain baby. Every TD it’s coming out."

Aaron Rodgers and the top-seeded Green Bay Packers will take on Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in pursuit of a Super Bowl title.

We're guessing that Jones's Green Bay bling will be making a few more cameos along the way.

See Jones's touchdown run and end zone celebration, below. The sequence starts at the 18:30 mark.


Credits: Screen captures via YouTube / CBS Sports HQ; Pendant photo via Instagram / Shopgld.

Some time long ago, your elementary school teacher introduced you to "homophones," those fun words — such as so, sew and sow — that sound alike, but have very different meanings.

Which brings us to today's quiz: Can you identify all four words in the English language that are pronounced "keh·ruht"?

Here's a hint: Each has a unique spelling and two are distinctively jewelry related.

If you're having trouble naming all four, or would like to know more about all things "keh·ruht," please check out the explanation below…



• car·rot. A favorite of Bugs Bunny and any chef worth his salt and pepper, a carrot is a long, tapered orange-colored root eaten as a vegetable. Carrots are know to be a good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium and antioxidants. The delicious, diet-friendly vegetable is also associated with good eye health and low cholesterol levels. Carrots cook up well in soups and can be eaten raw in salads or as a snack.



• car·et. Many people don't know that the inverted V-shaped symbol sitting above the "6" on most keyboards is called a "caret." The symbol is used in proofreading and typography to indicate that a punctuation mark, word or phrase needs to be inserted at a specific point in the text.



• car·at. A tiny unit of weight designed to measure gemstones or pearls, a "carat" is equivalent to 200 mg (or 0.2 grams). Each carat may be divided into 100 points. A one-quarter carat diamond could be referred to as a 25 pointer and gems larger than 1 carat will be described as a whole number and decimal. For example, "the ring featured a 1.25-carat center stone." The Lucara-sourced rough diamond shown here weighs 341 carats, or 2.40 ounces.

The word "carat" stems from the Italian word, "carato," which was borrowed from the Greek word for "carob seed" — an Ancient standard for measuring small quantities. The current standard for what a "carat" represents was adopted in 1907 at the Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures. Before 1907, the value of a carat ranged widely, from 187 mg in Cyprus to 215 mg in Bucharest.



• kar·at. Used to describe the fineness of gold, a "karat" measures the parts per 24. For instance, 24-karat gold is absolutely pure — 100% gold with no alloy metals included. Pure gold, however, is not used for making jewelry because of its softness.

Instead, most gold jewelry seen in fine jewelry stores is represented as 14-karat or 18-karat. Fourteen-karat gold is the equivalent to 14/24ths, or 58.33%, pure gold. Eighteen-karat gold is 18/24ths, or 75%, pure gold. Jewelry manufacturers will commonly add metals, such as zinc, nickel, silver and copper, to make the alloy more durable. The other metals also can be used to change the metal's color. A greater portion of copper, for instance, would produce rose gold.

Credits: 341-carat diamond courtesy of Lucara. Gold nugget from Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Australia by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Carrots by Kander, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Caret symbol, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

With the fate of the rescheduled Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in serious jeopardy due to a surge of coronavirus cases in Japan, there's a very real possibility that all the work that went into designing the medals and procuring the recycled precious metal to create them may have been in vain.



The 2020 Summer Olympics were originally slated to begin on July 24, 2020, but those plans were scrapped due to the worldwide pandemic. The organizers reset the opening ceremonies for July 23, 2021, anticipating that COVID-19 infection rates would be low enough a year later to allow for large gatherings. It was the first time in history that the Games had been postponed.

But the risks have only gotten worse. Earlier this month, a new state of emergency was declared in several areas in Japan, including the Olympic and Paralympic host city of Tokyo. A recent survey of Japanese citizens showed that 77% believe the Games should be cancelled or postponed.

The Games came with a price tag of $12.35 billion, but beyond the possible loss in revenue are the squandered efforts related to the precious medals that would have been awarded to the 5,000 Olympic competitors.

In 2017, the Tokyo 2020 Medal Project was established to encourage Japanese citizens to donate their used mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops and games units so they could be harvested for the small amounts of precious metals they contained. The goals was to produce the first Olympic medals fabricated 100% from recycled material.

By the end of March 2019, the collection goal had been achieved. Nearly 80,000 tons of devices were collected, yielding 32kg of gold, 3,500kg of silver and 2,200kg of bronze. The donations included 6.21 million devices.

Despite being a country with virtually no precious metal mining, Japan’s discarded small consumer electronics is believed to contain the equivalent of 16% of the world’s gold reserves and 22% of the world’s silver reserves.

If the Games are cancelled, the beautifully designed medals by Junichi Kawanishi may not see the light of day.



The front of the 2020 medal depicts Nike, the mythical Greek goddess of victory, standing in front of the Panathinaikos Stadium. The back features a raised, pebble-like center, reflective Olympic rings, and a checkered Tokyo 2020 “ichimatsu moyo” emblem inside a swirl design. Kawanishi designed the medals to resemble rough stones that have been newly polished, and now “shine with light and brilliance.”



Olympic gold medals, in general, are made mostly of silver, containing just six grams of pure gold. The silver medals are pure silver. The bronze medals are made from gunmetal, a corrosion-resistant form of bronze that contains zinc. Olympic gold medals were once made of solid gold, with the last ones awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, back in 1912.

Credits: Images courtesy of Tokyo 2020.  

Millennials rank natural diamond jewelry as the most desirable luxury item, according to survey results just released by the Natural Diamond Council.



When offered a list of nine luxury gifts and and asked to consider which they would most want to buy or receive if money were no object, millennials (currently aged 25–39) rated natural diamond jewelry ahead of clothing, cosmetics, electronics, handbag/accessories, perfume, shoes or a watch. The only luxury gift that rated higher than diamond jewelry for millennials was the only non-tangible item on the list — a vacation.

Most Generation Z respondents (currently aged 18–24) also preferred a vacation, but rated diamond jewelry as the second-most-preferred tangible item, just behind clothing.

Interestingly, natural diamond jewelry beat out the vacation category for two subgroups — females who recently purchased jewelry and males who recently received jewelry.

These findings were recently published in the "Consumer Insights Report on Diamond Desirability (US)," which was conducted online by 360 Market Reach in October 2020 and reflects the attitudes of 5,000 respondents. The study is keenly interested in the purchasing habits of millennials and Gen Zers because the two groups — while accounting for 38% of the adult population — are responsible for more than 60% of the demand for natural diamond jewelry. It's also projected that their incomes, in real terms, are expected to rise by more than 70% in the coming decade.

According to the Natural Diamond Council, millennials and Gen Zers share a strong relationship with diamond jewelry. They see the diamond jewelry category as having lasting value, uniqueness, emotional connections and versatility. Exactly 70% strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that each diamond is “one of a kind.” And respondents also widely agreed that diamonds represent a symbol of love and exclusivity (68%), authenticity (65%) and rarity (57%).

The survey reveals that about half of all jewelry purchasers over the past 24 months have acquired natural diamond jewelry.

-- Of that group, about 50% bought diamond jewelry to be worn personally. For these women, the key reasons for buying for themselves included the following: design (mentioned by 51% — they “found a piece of jewelry they really loved”), versatility (49% — “it can be worn and appreciated every day”) and long-term style and value (46%).

-- 80% of jewelry purchasers have bought diamond jewelry as a gift. Key reasons for giving diamond jewelry as a gift included its long-term value (45%), the fact that it can worn every day (39%), the design “a piece that the recipient would love” (40%) and because diamond jewelry is "a perfect symbol of one's love for someone else" (33%).

-- About 25% of jewelry purchasers bought a piece of diamond jewelry "just because," with no special occasion in mind.

Independent jewelry stores continue to be the preferred source for diamond jewelry (30%), followed by online (28%), national jewelry chains (25%), high-end retail stores (8%) and "other in-person" outlets (9%).

Interestingly, diamond jewelry purchasing has been favoring the earring category. Diamond earrings are the most popular category (28%), followed by necklaces (23%), fashion rings (14%), engagement rings (10%), wedding/anniversary bands (10%), bracelets (10%) and watches (5%).

The average price paid for diamond jewelry acquired in the past two years was $2,400, with male purchasers spending $3,000 and females spending $1,900.

The Natural Diamond Council pointed out that buyers require more than four retail touch points before making a diamond jewelry purchase. On the average, two of the touch points were in person and 2.6 were online.

Credit: Image by BigStockPhoto.com.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today we have Huey Lewis and the News performing “The Power of Love” from the blockbuster film, Back to the Future. In the chart-topping 1985 hit, Lewis claims that the power of love is a curious thing. It’s “tougher than diamonds, rich like cream.”



Being tougher than diamonds is an impressive claim, indeed. Diamonds possess a number of impressive attributes, including unparalleled beauty, rarity and toughness. Yes, diamonds are the hardest natural substance ever known to man. Based on the song, if diamonds rate a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, the "power of love" would likely score an 11 or better.

Fans of actor Michael J. Fox and the Back to the Future trilogy may remember that “The Power of Love” was featured in one of the first scenes of the original release (1985). The song plays in the background as Fox’s Marty McFly character is skateboarding to school.



Later in the film, the song surfaces again when McFly and his group are auditioning for the Battle of the Bands. Lewis makes a cameo appearance in the film as a grumpy faculty member who rejects the band before McFly can sing the first verse. Says Lewis, “Sorry, fellas… I’m afraid you’re just too darn loud.”

The backstory reveals that the real reason Marty doesn't sing is because there were no lyrics at the time of filming. Lewis and two collaborators wrote "The Power of Love" especially for Back to the Future, but could only deliver an unfinished song by the time the movie was in post production.

According to songfacts.com, Lewis's family provided inspiration for the lyrics. The singer was newly married and had two young children when he wrote it with his bandmates Johnny Colla and Chris Hayes.

Driven by the film’s universal appeal (it grossed $388 million at the box office), “The Power of Love” charted in 17 countries, including #1 spots on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 58th Academy Awards, but lost to Lionel Richie's "Say You, Say Me."

“The Power of Love” also makes brief cameos in both Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990).

Huey Lewis was born in New York City in 1950, but was raised in Marin County, CA. In an interview with David Letterman, Lewis said he learned to play the harmonica while waiting for rides as he hitchhiked across the country back to New York City as a teenager. Later in his youth, Lewis stowed away on a plane to Europe and supported himself in Madrid by busking with his harmonica.

Trivia: Lewis, whose birth name is Hugh Anthony Cregg III, scored a perfect 800 on his math SAT, attended Ivy League Cornell University and had aspirations of being an engineer.

We invite you to check out the video of Huey Lewis and the News performing "The Power of Love." The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“The Power of Love”
Written by Johnny Colla, Chris Hayes and Huey Lewis. Performed by Huey Lewis and the News.

The power of love is a curious thing
Make a one man weep, make another man sing
Change a hawk to a little white dove
More than a feeling that’s the power of love

Tougher than diamonds, rich like cream
Stronger and harder than a bad girl’s dream
Make a bad one good make a wrong one right
Power of love that keeps you home at night

You don’t need money, don’t take fame
Don’t need no credit card to ride this train
It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life
That’s the power of love
That’s the power of love

First time you feel it, it might make you sad
Next time you feel it, it might make you mad
But you’ll be glad baby when you’ve found
That’s the power makes the world go ’round

And it don’t take money, don’t take fame
Don’t need no credit card to ride this train
It’s strong and it’s sudden it can be cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life

They say that all in love is fair
Yeah, but you don’t care
But you know what to do
When it gets hold of you
And with a little help from above
You feel the power of love
You feel the power of love
Can you feel it?
Hmmm

It don’t take money and it don’t take fame
Don’t need no credit card to ride this train
Tougher than diamonds and stronger than steel
You won’t feel nothin’ till you feel
You feel the power, just the power of love
That’s the power, that’s the power of love
You feel the power of love
You feel the power of love
Feel the power of love


Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com.

The Maryland Zoo has given gemstone names to the first four chicks from this year's breeding class of endangered African penguins. On its Twitter page, zoo officials explained that the adorable hatchlings are being named for gems because they are also precious and rare.



The zoo posted to its Twitter page individual graphics to represent each chick. Their names are Diamond, Pearl, Onyx and Topaz. Each graphic panel included a photo of the new arrival, gemstone icons representing each name and a "rare penguin fact." The post was punctuated with a blue diamond emoji.



In a 30-second video, also posted on Twitter, zoo officials showed how adult penguin "ambassadors" helped choose a name for the first chick of this season. The four names were printed on round, cardboard medallions and hung in front of the adult birds. "Diamond" became the first name when one of the adults marched directly to that medallion and pecked at it aggressively.



A week earlier, the zoo began a Twitter post with the pun, "Chick this out." That post introduced the world to the newest members of this year's breeding class, but didn't hint that their names would be gem-related. Check out the zoo's fun Twitter page here…



The Maryland Zoo's "gem" babies are bringing well deserved attention to its unique breeding program. Since 1967, more than 1,000 African penguins have hatched at the Zoo, which boasts the largest colony of African penguins in North America. The exhibit is called "Penguin Coast."



According to the zoo's website, the African penguin is an endangered species whose population has declined by 90% since the turn of the 20th century. The current wild population is estimated at about 52,000 birds.

The zoo's breeding program begins in mid-September and runs until the end of February, mimicking the temperatures of the fall breeding season for these endangered birds in their native South Africa. Penguin chicks will hatch 38 to 42 days after the eggs are laid.

The hatchlings are covered in dark gray downy feathers. At about three months old, they reach their adult weight of about six pounds. At the same time, their fluffy gray down is replaced by the more familiar black-and-white waterproof feathers.

The babies are not viewable to the public, but the juvenile and adult penguins can be seen at Penguin Coast. Until February 28, The Maryland Zoo's admission fee is discounted at $15 per person (free to children under 2). Timed tickets are reserved online, as the number of guests is limited to support social distancing initiatives. The zoo is currently operating four days per week, Friday through Monday. On March 1, the schedule changes to seven days per week.

Credits: Images via Twitter.com/Maryland Zoo.

Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel can hardly believe his eyes when he comes face to face with an exact replica of the "Welcome Stranger," the largest gold nugget ever found at 72kg (158.7 lbs).



In the Season 4, Episode 2, installment of Gold Rush: Parker's Trail, we find Schnabel half a world away from the Klondike Gold Rush trail, as he pursues new adventures and opportunities in the Land Down Under.



At the beginning of the episode, Schnabel and his associate Fred Lewis are welcomed by fourth-generation Aussie prospector Tyler Mahoney, who swings open the door of her truck to reveal the two-foot-long golden boulder nestled across the back seat.



Schnabel had wondered out loud why Mahoney would want to meet him in such a remote part of the Australian Outback, but soon learns that Moliagul, Victoria, is the precise location where prospectors John Deason and Richard Oates unearthed the Welcome Stranger on February 5, 1869. The prospectors found the massive nugget just 3cm (1.2 inches) below the surface, near the base of a tree.



Legend states that the Welcome Stranger was so large that it had to be broken into three pieces on an anvil before it could fit on a bank scale. Based on today's gold price, the nugget would be worth $4.7 million.



The original Welcome Stranger was melted into gold bars, but two exact replicas continue to live on. One is owned by the descendants of Deason and a second is on display in the Old Treasury building in Melbourne. We're assuming that the one pulled from Mahoney's truck belongs to the Deason family. Erected in 1897, an obelisk marking the exact location of the nugget's discovery still stands in Moliagul.

Titled "Welcome Stranger," this episode of Gold Rush: Parker's Trail premiered in March of 2020, but was re-aired this past weekend on the Discovery Channel.

Credits: Screen captures via The Discover Channel. Historic photo of Deason, Oates, miners and their spouses by State Library Victoria, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Obelisk by Peterdownunder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Great news! Valentine's Day comes out on a Sunday this year, which makes it the perfect time to pop the question with the perfect ring.



Millions of suitors will take advantage of their day off to execute the perfect surprise proposal. It may start off with a romantic outing — a return to the scene of a first date, perhaps — and then getting down on bended knee, professing their love and pulling out a ring box that's been cleverly hidden in their jacket pocket. And after all the happy tears have dried away, the couple will have plenty of time — because it's Sunday — to share the excitement with family and friends.

Valentine's Day marks the end of “engagement season,” that romantic time of the year — from late November to mid-February — when nearly 40% of all marriage proposals take place.

How many suitors will find themselves on bended knee this February 14th? Current stats are unavailable, but back in early 2013 (when Valentine's Day came out on a Thursday), an American Express spending survey estimated that 6 million American couples would be either receiving or delivering a marriage proposal on Valentine’s Day.

Over the past few years, Valentine's Day has maintained its position as one of the calendar's Top 5 days to get engaged. According to WeddingWire's most recent “Newlywed Report,” Valentine's Day rated as the fifth-most-popular day to pop the question, with Christmas Day taking the #1 spot. In WeddingWire's 2018 report, Valentine's Day rolled in at #2, just behind Christmas Day.

Wedding website The Knot also placed Christmas Day in the #1 spot, followed by Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, the Sunday before Christmas and Valentine's Day.

As you can see, all of the most popular days to pop the question fit neatly into "engagement season."

If proposals were distributed equally throughout the year, each month would claim about 8%. But, WeddingWire's 2020 Newlywed Report revealed a significant spike in the portion of proposals taking place during December. A surprising 19% of all engagements happen during that festive month, and the number represents a rise of three percentage points since 2017. December proposals outnumber any other month by a margin of better than 2 to 1.

In 2020, the National Retail Federation reported that 55% of the U.S. population would exchange gifts on Valentine's Day, with jewelry purchases expected to reach $5.8 billion. A special subset of that number reflected the purchasing power of millions of romantic suitors who proposed with a diamond ring.

According to WeddingWire's 2020 Newlywed Report, 89% of suitors proposed with a ring in hand and 84% popped the question on bended knee.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com.

Signaling a brilliant start to 2021, Lucara Diamond Corp. just unveiled a pair of 300-plus-carat, top-quality white diamonds from its prolific Karowe Mine in Botswana.



The 341-carat and 378-carat, unbroken, Type IIa gems are the 54th and 55th diamonds greater than 200 carats to be recovered from Karowe since 2015. (Type IIa diamonds are colorless and chemically pure with no traces of nitrogen or boron impurities.)



While Lucara didn’t announce the value of the rough diamonds, we can offer a guess based on the previous sales of similar diamonds. Using $50,000 per carat as a guideline, each gem could yield $17 million or more.



In a statement, Lucara CEO Eira Thomas noted that impressive finds join "a rare and special lineage of exceptional, high-value diamonds recovered at Karowe and continues to highlight the wonderful diamond potential of Botswana."

On Wikipedia's list of the largest rough diamonds, Karowe-sourced gems occupy 12 of the top 55 spots, including these headliners…

• 1,758-carat Sewelô (2019), #2
• 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona (2015), #3
• 998-carat unnamed (2020), #4
• 812-carat Constellation (2015), #9

The #1 spot is held by the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, which was sourced near Pretoria, South Africa, in 1905.

Lucara's recent success in securing huge diamonds is largely attributed to its implementation of cutting-edge technology. Diamond-rich ore passes through the MDR (Mega Diamond Recovery) XRT circuit, a system that can identify 100-carat-plus diamonds by monitoring the rocky material for X-ray luminescence, atomic density and transparency. Previously, large diamonds might have been mistaken as worthless ore and pulverized during the primary crushing process. The company has been using MDR technology since 2017.

Early this month, Lucara confirmed that the company signed a 25-year deal with the Government of Botswana that will pave the way for the underground expansion of the Karowe mine. The current open pit mine has a depth of 324 meters. The underground operation is expected to extend the depth to 750 meters below the surface.

"Continued and consistent recovery of large diamonds, such as the 378-carat and 341-carat stones, comes at a critical time and provides continued strength and additional foundation to the opportunity to finance and build the underground expansion at Karowe that will see mining continue for at least another 13 years after the open pit ceases operations in 2026," commented Thomas.

Credits: Images courtesy of Lucara.

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Beyoncé and Destiny's Child sing about female empowerment and financial independence in their 2000 hit, "Independent Women Part 1," from the movie Charlie's Angels.



Sixth on Harper's Bazaar's 2020 list of the 41 most powerful songs written by women, "Independent Women Part 1" pulls no punches in its messaging. The basic premise of the song is that the independent woman needs no man to gift her the finer things in life. She can buy these items on her own.

The first verse goes like this: "Question: Tell me what you think about me / I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings."

In the catchy chorus, we hear another diamond reference: "The shoes on my feet / I've bought it / The clothes I'm wearing / I've bought it / The rock I'm rockin' / 'Cause I depend on me."

According to songfacts.com, Beyoncé was inspired to write the song after having an argument with her boyfriend. She thought to herself, "I don't need a man, I'm independent." She marched into a studio and recorded vocals for the first version of the song, which was eventually released as "Independent Women Part 2."

"Independent Woman Part 1" is a version of the song that was reworked by Samuel Barnes, Jean-Claude Olivier and Cory Rooney for the 2000 film adaptation of the Charlie's Angels TV series.

In the official video, the three members of Destiny's Child — Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — find themselves in a futuristic bootcamp, where they take on the roles of the movie-version Angels, played by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu. Both the film and the song were huge successes. The movie went on to gross $264 million and the song charted in 23 countries, including a #1 position on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #3 placement on the Canadian Singles Chart.

The song also earned a 2001 Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Twelve years later, Beyoncé and her former bandmates (Destiny's Child broke up in 2006) reconnected to perform "Independent Woman Part 1" during the halftime show of the 2013 Super Bowl.

Please check out the official video of "Independent Women Part I." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Independent Women Part 1"
Written by Samuel Barnes, Jean-Claude Olivier, Cory Rooney and Beyoncé Knowles. Performed by Destiny's Child.

Lucy Liu… with my girl, Drew… Cameron D. and Destiny
Charlie's Angels, Come on
Uh uh uh

Question: Tell me what you think about me
I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings
Only ring your cell-y when I'm feelin' lonely
When it's all over please get up and leave
Question: Tell me how you feel about this
Try to control me boy you get dismissed
Pay my own fun, oh and I pay my own bills
Always 50/50 in relationships

The shoes on my feet
I've bought it
The clothes I'm wearing
I've bought it
The rock I'm rockin'
'Cause I depend on me
If I wanted the watch you're wearin'
I'll buy it
The house I live in
I've bought it
The car I'm driving
I've bought it
I depend on me
(I depend on me)

All the women who are independent
Throw your hands up at me
All the honeys who makin' money
Throw your hands up at me
All the mommas who profit dollas
Throw your hands up at me
All the ladies who truly feel me
Throw your hands up at me

Girl I didn't know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Girl I didn't know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that

Tell me how you feel about this
Who would I want if I would wanna live
I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get
Ladies, it ain't easy bein' independent
Question: How'd you like this knowledge that I brought
Braggin' on that cash that he gave you is to front
If you're gonna brag make sure it's your money you flaunt
Depend on noone else to give you what you want

The shoes on my feet
I've bought it
The clothes I'm wearing
I've bought it
The rock I'm rockin'
'Cause I depend on me
If I wanted the watch you're wearin'
I'll buy it
The house I live in
I've bought it
The car I'm driving
I've bought it
I depend on me
(I depend on me)

All the women who are independent
Throw your hands up at me
All the honeys who makin' money
Throw your hands up at me
All the mommas who profit dollas
Throw your hands up at me
All the ladies who truly feel me
Throw your hands up at me

Girl I didn't know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that
Girl I didn't know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that

Destiny's Child
Wassup?
You in the house?
Sure 'nuff
We'll break these people off Angel style

Child of Destiny
Independent beauty
Noone else can scare me
Charlie's Angels

Woah
All the women who are independent
Throw your hands up at me
All the honeys who makin' money
Throw your hands up at me
All the mommas who profit dollas
Throw your hands up at me
All the ladies who truly feel me
Throw your hands up at me

Girl I didn't know you could get down like that
Charlie, how your Angels get down like that


Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.