Oldest diamonds discovered in WA
Scientists believe diamonds uncovered in Western Australia could answer a debate about the earth's formation.
Aged over four billion years, the diamonds are believed to be the most ancient on earth. While too small to command a high price tag, they may be invaluable for determining the condition of the earth's surface soon after it formed.
According to a report in The Age, a group of researchers uncovered the gems inside crystals of zircon some 900 kilometres north of Perth.
The rare zircon crystals are believed to be the only surviving relics of earth's crust from the first 500 million years after the planet formed, about 4.5 billion years ago. A study of the zircons indicated it may have taken less than 200 million years for the earth to cool enough for water to condense and oceans to form. But the presence of diamonds - only formed at high pressure - challenges this theory.
Fake jewellery seller busted
A disabled man made thousands of pounds by selling fake jewellery on eBay, according to a report in The Bolton News.
Unable to work following a car accident, Rodney Fish (39) sold body jewellery decorated with football club logos from his Bolton, UK home, making £12,500 ($AU30, 605) from the sales.
Suspicious about the goods, trading standards officers made some test purchases and determined the goods to be counterfeit. After pleading guilty before the Bolton Magistrates Court, Fish was given a two-year supervision order.
Enormous emerald discovered
A 10,050-carat emerald has been found in South Africa.
Coloured gemstone exploration and mining company Gemfields Resources uncovered the 10-centimetre, hexagonal stone at the Mbuva-Chibolele emerald mine in Zambia.
Mbuva-Chibolele is the company's flagship emerald mine and has been in commercial production since June 2006.
Justin Timberlake goes platinum
Singer Justin Timberlake has been spotted searching Santa Monica jewellery stores for a platinum commitment ring for his actress girlfriend, Jessica Biel.
While the star is not yet looking for an engagement ring, Life and Style magazine reports that Timberlake has been looking at platinum promise rings set with diamonds and sapphires.
Medieval jewellery uncovered
A group of archaeologists have discovered ancient jewellery in a grave in Bulgaria. While conducting excavations, the group from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences unearthed a head adornment made from gold and silver and stitched to a cloth woven with gold from the resting place of a young woman believed to have lived during the Middle Ages.
The archaeologists also found a bronze earring and ring.
Spice Girls album a real gem
Estranged 1990s pop group the Spice Girls will be releasing a one-off copy of their greatest hits album embellished with gemstones.
Worth £1 million ($AU2, 443, 090), the album sleeve will read "Spice" with each letter adorned with a different gemstone.
According to a report on the Holy Moly website, the S is made from amber and represents Posh Spice, The P is set with ruby and represents Baby Spice, Sporty Spice's I is made from diamond, Ginger Spice's C is made from sapphire stones, and the E is made from emerald and represents Scary Spice.
Bikini bling
Girls wanting to turn heads this summer might be interested in purchasing a diamond bikini, though summer sparkle doesn't come cheaply.
Valued at over $36 million, the diamond bikini is made entirely of diamonds and platinum - without a stitch of fabric.
The creation of Steinmetz Diamonds designer Susan Rosen, it features over 150 carats of D flawless diamonds, including a 51-carat, D flawless, pear-cut; a 30-carat, D flawless emerald cut; a pair of 15-carat, D flawless rounds; and a pair of 8-carat, D flawless, pear-cuts all set in platinum.
Luxe lederhosen
An Austrian company has claimed to have sold the most expensive lederhosen ever made - a pair of diamond-studded, leather trousers that cost $AU135, 000.
Sewn from red deer leather, the trousers are embellished with 166 diamonds, each set into gold.
Retailer of traditional Austrian and German clothing Christian Wohlmuther made the special order, saying the lucky purchaser was a German who lives in Dubai.
Lederhosen are traditional attire in many Alpine regions, typically tailored using elk, goat, or pig hides. Designed to last a lifetime, the men's pants are generally knee-length, sometimes adorned with monograms and hunting designs, and held with suspenders.
Going deaf in style
A Denmark-based company has developed a 24-carat gold hearing aid set with 220 diamonds.
Widex, a company specialising in digital, hearing-aid technology, believed that, while the device is a little pricey for the average consumer at $AU60, 575, a market for the product existed.
"As digital hearing aid technology has advanced, wearers have become increasingly proud of the devices," said Widex representative Lawrence Werth. "More clients advertise the fact they use an aid, even wearing them as pieces of jewellery."
Bulletin Board is collated from a variety of sources including other magazines, internet sites, email newsletters and so on.