Seems like the officials at the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) haven’t been keeping up with hip hop style, especially the recent craze for two-, three- and four-finger rings. Rapper 2 Chainz was recently arrested at La Guardia Airport in New York for traveling with his bold gold four-finger Dope Couture ring that authorities mistook for brass knuckles, according to TMZ.
Sources close to the rapper told TMZ that 2 Chainz performed in Atlanta wearing the DOPE ring and then flew to New York City without incident (he had the ring packed in his luggage). But when he tried to leave the city, the jewelry was found in his carry-on and identified as a dangerous weapon.
The Kanye West protégé was charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon in the 4th degree and was taken into custody by TSA officials. The rapper spent a few hours in jail and the police confiscated his jewelry.
“They tried to assassinate my character; they tried to assassinate my swag,” 2 Chainz told MTV News. “It was just a negative dilemma… where [they] misconstrued a piece of jewelry for a weapon and stuff.”
According to Gothamist.com, the DOPE website warns that its signature ring is considered a weapon by some law enforcement. Specifically, the alert says, “Do not attempt to take this with you through any security terminals. Use caution.” It’s unclear when the warning was put up.
2 Chainz is one of many celebrities who have jumped on the multi-finger ring craze. Rihanna, Megan Fox, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Lauren Conrad and Christina Aguilera all have been seen wearing this flashy and dramatic hip hop style.
The hottest multi-finger rings include statement slogans (such as Love or Bad), nameplates, fancy shapes and unusual motifs. For example, the ring above is a four-finger “divorce” ring by designer Gisele Ganne.
We can’t imaging the TSA putting these famous ladies behind bars for flashing a little multi-finger bling.
So what does your average 20-something billionaire choose as the center stone of the perfect engagement ring? Well, if you’re the founder of Facebook, worth $15.5 billion and your name is Mark Zuckerberg, the answer is the ever-romantic ruby.
On Saturday - only one day after Facebook started to trade publicly with an initial valuation of $104 billion – Zuckerberg married his long-term girlfriend, Priscilla Chan, in a surprising backyard ceremony. Apparently, none of the guests even knew the couple was engaged. The 100 people in attendance thought they were attending a party to celebrate the bride’s recent med school graduation.
Zuckerberg announced his marriage to Chan in the classic Facebook manner. He changed his status from “In a relationship” to “Married to Priscilla Chan,” and the status earned 1.36 million “likes” by Wednesday morning.
Although no photos have been released of the Zuckerberg/Chan ring, it was described by a Zuckerberg publicist as a “very simple custom-made ruby engagement ring that was especially designed by Mark.”
Due to their rich red hue, rubies have always symbolized passion, romance and happiness. Other celebrities to have flaunted their ruby engagement rings include the likes of Princess Fergie and Jessica Simpson.
Zuckerberg and Chan met at a Harvard party nine years ago when both were waiting in line to use the bathroom. They started dating shortly thereafter and Chan has been at Zuckerberg’s side during his epic journey from inventing Facebook to dropping out of college to rising to billionaire status and beyond.
The Zuckerberg/Chan ruby ring was not the only one to make news recently. The fine jewelry of fellow billionaire Lily Safra set auction records at Christie’s Geneva last week. The auction’s top lot was a 32.08 carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Chaumet, which sold for $6.7 million, a new world record price for any ruby sold at auction.
The socialite and philanthropist’s complete collection, called “Jewels for Hope,” fetched an impressive $37.9 million with the proceeds going to dozens of charities.
Starting today, the De Beers Talisman Crown goes on display in the world famous Harrods department store in London. The crown, which features 974 diamonds, was designed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the British throne.
According to De Beers, rough diamonds were the exclusive privilege of Kings and Queens, said to protect, and bring good luck and prosperity. So sitting atop the Talisman Crown is a beautiful 73-carat rough diamond.
“We could have used a bigger diamond,” a De Beers employee told the Telegraph at the unveiling in the flagship store on Old Bond Street, “but this one just felt perfect. The uncut diamond wields a unique power and brings luck. Napoleon carried one in his pocket every time he went into battle.”
The 73-carat rough diamond is suspended above a sphere studded with a mix of yellow and brown diamonds of varying size.
The royal blue crown has an unusual design, with a mix of 797 faceted diamonds and 177 rough diamonds. Oddly, there are areas on the crown that seem to be missing gemstones.
The De Beers website explains that “the set diamonds signify achievements of the past whilst the negative spaces of the unset crown signify future aspirations and accomplishments to come.” Apparently, this presents a symbolic opportunity for future generations to insert their own gemstones into the metalwork.
The Talisman Crown can be seen at Harrods until June 15, at which time it will start a tour that will include appearances in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and New York.
Imagine the horror of discovering that you accidentally threw away five of your most precious possessions – including your wedding band and engagement ring – and they’re all heading to the local incinerator in the back of a garbage truck loaded with 15 tons of trash.
This was the reality for Deb Kirby, a resident of Attleboro, Mass., whose normal dinner last week morphed into a horror show. Kirby had innocently taken off the rings while washing her hands for dinner, and left the jewelry drying in a paper towel.
The next morning, Kirby couldn’t locate her rings, which included her bridal jewelry and a ring from her father. She left for work, but returned during her lunch break to carry out a more thorough search. Finally, she realized that she must have accidentally trashed the rings along with the paper towels when she was cleaning up after dinner.
“I just could not figure out where I put those rings,” she told the Boston Globe. “As I was driving back to the office, I had a wave of panic as I remembered the paper towels, and I knew in my heart that I threw those rings away.”
Frantically, she called Aaron Smith, the district manager of Waste Management, the company contracted to haul trash in Attleboro. Smith was moved by Kirby’s story and was “compelled…to make every effort to recover the items,” according to the Boston Globe.
Smith learned that the garbage truck carrying Kirby’s rings was en route to the town’s incinerator. “It was close, very close to getting there,” he said. Instead, Smith ordered the truck to be diverted to a transfer station where its contents – 15 tons of smelly trash – were dumped on the ground.
Kirby feared that she’d be on her own to sift through the mess, but to her surprise eight Waste Management workers came to her rescue. Kirby recalled the type of trash bag she used, so the workers were able to narrow the search to about 200 bags.
Soon, one of the workers found Kirby’s jewelry.
“I just ran over to him sliding through the trash, and I hugged him and I hugged them all,” she told the Boston Globe. “I was so happy.”
“They could have very easily said there’s no way you’re going to find those rings. But they took the extra steps and they made the effort and it paid off,” she said.
Welcome to Music Friday. Today we present a song that first earned wide acclaim in the Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez 2004 movie “Shall We Dance.” The song returned five years later in the tear-inducing closing scene of the Season 8 finale of “Scrubs.”
Fans of the hit TV series will remember the scene where J.D. prepares to leave Sacred Heart Hospital one last time and he envisions a possible future for himself, filmed in old-school home movie style. The beautiful song playing behind the video montage is Peter Gabriel’s version of “The Book of Love.”
“The Book of Love” was originally part of the “69 Love Songs” three-volume concept album by The Magnetic Fields. All 69 songs for the 1999 album were written by Stephin Merritt. Appropriately for this blog, the last lines of the song repeat the phrase, “you ought to give me wedding rings.”
Enjoy the musical montage from the finale of Scrubs. The lyrics to “The Book of Love” are below if you’d like to sing along.
“The Book of Love”
Performed by Peter Gabriel. Written by Stephin Merritt.
The book of love is long and boring No one can lift the damn thing It’s full of charts and facts and figures And instructions for dancing But I…I love it when you read it me And you…you can read me anything
The book of love has music in it In fact that’s where music comes from Some of it is just transcendental Some of it is just really dumb But I…I love it when you sing to me And you…you can sing me anything
The book of love is long and boring And written very long ago It’s full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes And things were all too young to know But I…I love it when you give me things And you…you ought to give me wedding rings I…I love it when you give me things And you…you ought to give me wedding rings
The 35-carat “Beau Sancy,” a diamond coveted by kings, queens and princes for more than 400 years, was sold on Tuesday night to an anonymous bidder for $9.57 million after an animated eight-minute battle among five interested parties at Sotheby’s in Geneva. The aggressive bidding drove the price to more than double the pre-auction estimate of $4 million.
Called “one of the most important historic diamonds ever to come to auction,” the Beau Sancy has a lineage that links the royal families of France, England, the Dutch Republic and Prussia. The diamond chronicles the history of their fluctuating fortunes for more than four centuries, as it was used to reinforce alliances between nations and pawned to pay off royal debts.
Originally acquired during the 1500s by Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, the diamond was subsequently purchased by French King Henri IV and gifted to his second wife, Marie de Medici. Legend states that as soon as Marie set eyes on the Beau Sancy diamond she had to have it, and nagged her wayward husband until he bought it for her.
The modified “pear double rose cut” diamond failed to bring good fortune to either of them. Famously, she had the Beau Sancy set in her crown for her coronation as the Queen Consort on May 13, 1610. Just a day later Henri was assassinated, leaving her with six children under the age of nine.
After she was exiled in disgrace in 1631, she sold the diamond to settle her debts.
And this was just the first leg in the Beau Sancy’s 400-year journey through European royal history as it passed through the hands of warring and peacemaking monarchs.
“The legendary Beau Sancy is a truly magical stone that has entranced generations of royal owners and continues to exert a powerful influence over all who see it,” said David Bennett, Sotheby’s chairman of jewelry in Europe and the Middle East, in a statement.
“Its supreme historical importance was reflected tonight in the strength of the bidding and the remarkable result realized,” he said.
Sam Miller and Sarah Cooper met in 2009 as fresh-faced freshmen on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C. He was in the School of Public Affairs and she was in the School of Communications. They started dating, and after only three months Miller knew deep in his heart that Cooper was “the one,” according to WUSA9.com.
Miller wanted desperately to propose to Cooper, but the young woman’s mom was unwavering in her stance that the couple had to wait until after graduation.
Miller heeded the mom’s wishes, but clearly she didn’t specify how long after graduation, so… on Sunday, May 13, about three seconds after Cooper received her diploma, Miller was waiting on the ceremonial stage with ring in hand.
As Cooper prepared to exit the platform, Miller got down on one knee and popped the question in front of a cheering group of family, friends, professors and peers. The surprised Cooper nodded “Yes” and the couple embraced. Then Miller slipped a diamond engagement ring onto her finger.
“I chose to propose on stage at her graduation because I didn’t want to wait another minute for her to be my fianceé,” Miller told NBC Washington.
The video of the proposal posted on YouTube has been viewed more than 40,000 times over the past three days. Here’s your chance to share in the romance…
If you’re planning to be in New York City on June 2 here’s a neat way to have some fun, test your smarts, support a worthy charity and possibly head home with 10 diamonds worth $25,000.
To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee – the occasion marking the 60th anniversary of her accession to the British throne – a New York City restaurant is hosting a 5 1/2-hour diamond hunt that will pit teams against each other as they solve clues leading to the diamond treasure.
The event is being organized by a restaurant with a distinctively British appeal – Tea & Sympathy. Proceeds will benefit the Dustin Keller Foundation, a charity founded by the New York Jets’ tight end, who will oversee the final stage of the hunt.
The Foundation is dedicated to Keller’s conviction that the abilities and dreams of young people are greater than the challenges that can derail those dreams. The funds will help support the efforts of teachers, coaches, mentors and community leaders who enrich the lives of children.
The day will commence at 10 a.m. in New York City’s West Village. Following registration, participants will form groups of 10 and the hunt will last until 3:30 p.m. The day will end with the presentation of the diamonds and a street party.
The diamond caché was donated by Yves Ringler, a fifth-generation diamond merchant born in Antwerp, Belgium, who has been part of the New York diamond trade for the past 20 years.
“We are so excited to use the Jubilee for a great cause,” said Nicky Perry, owner of Tea & Sympathy. “Just like the Royal family, we believe in giving back and see this as a great opportunity to help others.”
Tickets to participate in the Diamond Hunt are $100 and organizers expect up to 1,000 people to take part.
Miley Cyrus is sporting new nose bling. The teen starlet, who stirred controversy in 2009 when she and her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, collaborated on her first piercing, decided to take this look to the next level by supplanting her tiny gem stud with a more prominent gold hoop.
The 19-year-old pop star was out on a “basic tee shopping spree” with beau Liam Hemsworth when she was spotted with the new jewelry, according to E! Online.
Cyrus is not the only celebrity making an edgy fashion statement with a gold hoop nose ring. Singer-songwriters Pink, Lenny Kravitz,Ke$ha and Joss Stone, to name a few, have made nose rings part of their signature looks. In fact, Ke$ha showed off her nose ring on the cover of her debut album.
When she first got the nose piercing, an apprehensive Cyrus – who was only 16 at the time – said that she hoped “no one is upset at me for doing it,” further explaining, “It’s just temporary. You can take it out.”
Three years later, her new take on an old theme needs no apologies…
Welcome to Music Friday and here’s the scene. It’s April 21, 2012, a beautiful sunny afternoon at Westlake Park in Seattle and about 850 flash mobbers have come together to perform a six-minute musical medley as part of the 3rd Annual Glee Flash Mob, one of the biggest Glee fan events in the country.
Now here’s the fun part: Exactly 3 minutes and 50 seconds into the performance, the dancing stops, the music stops and all the mobbers settle quietly to the ground, except for Tim Hannifin, who remains standing.
Hannifin calls for his girlfriend and fellow “Gleek” Emily Ogura to join him, and proposes on bended knee to the utterly shocked young woman. Ogura can barely contain her emotions. She bursts into tears, hands to her face, as the equally surprised mobbers look on. Finally, Ogura settles herself, accepts the ring and says, “Yes,” to a beaming Hannifin.
With Harrifin and Ogura embracing in a world of their own, the music resumes and the mob continues its performance as poppers and streamers fill the air. When the performance is over, the mobbers rush over to the happy couple to offer their well wishes.
This all came about because Hannifin had won a “flash mob proposal” drawing offered by Egan Orion, a flash mob producer. Maintaining the element of surprise in the social media age was particularly challenging, as co-choreographers Beth Meberg and Jared Jones had to keep the proposal-part a secret from the 800 flash mobbers.
Here’s your chance to get in on the excitement… Click video below.
