A cache of 11th century gold and silver items, including rare bracelets and anklets, was discovered at an archeological dig in Ramle, Israel. Some of the ornate bracelets, reportedly in excellent condition, have plant motifs. One of the gold bracelets has the phrase "Full blessing" inscribed on it in Arabic, while one of the silver bracelets is engraved with quotes from the Koran and has an amulet. Two of the heaviest items, silver anklets, weigh about 170 grams each. While similar jewelry such as the silver items have previously been found in digs in Jerusalem, this is the first time that items such as the gold bracelets have been found in an organized archeological excavation. Other unearthed items include gold coins from the eighth to 11th century, bronze weights, and a scale.

The 128.54 carats, cushion-cut Tiffany Diamond, with 82 facets, just completed a stay at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The stone, on loan from its permanent “home” at Tiffany & Co., is one of the world's largest yellow diamonds. For its brief stay, it kept company with other brilliants, such as the Hope Diamond, Hooker Emerald and Oppenheimer Diamond.

The diamond, one of the largest yellow diamonds ever found, sits atop a gem-encrusted bird known as the "Bird on a Rock," designed by Jean Schlumberger. The bird, a show-stopper on its own, is made of gold and platinum with white and yellow diamonds, and has a ruby eye.

Its size, 45.5 carats, more than two-and-one-half times the size of the Hope Diamond, makes it the largest diamond on public display in the United States. Gorgeous as it is, it has only been worn twice, once by a Rhode Island socialite and once by actress Audrey Hepburn in a promotion for the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Lending the diamond to the Smithsonian was a part of a celebration of the foundation's endowment to the museum. The monies are specifically earmarked for the museum to purchase gems to add to their collection.