The story of the Cheapside Hoard has the twists and turns of the finest detective novels.

Between 1640 and 1666, nearly 500 items – including jewelry and loose gems – were placed in a wooden box and hidden in the cellar of a building near London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. A large Colombian emerald pocket watch; a rose-cut sapphire and diamond cross pendant; an enameled gold ring set with a large table-cut diamond; a 2,000-year-old Egyptian agate cameo – these were just a few of the spectacular pieces secreted away.

Russia hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, but did you know that it’s the country that wins the gold medal for diamond production?”

Alrosa mined 34.4 million carats of diamonds last year, well ahead of De Beers’ total of 27.9 million, which most people equate the world’s leader in diamond production. In fact, Alrosa has relegated De Beers to “silver medal” status for the past three years.

Sleek. Simple. Sophisticated.

It’s Zen Style – jewelry that has clean lines and uncomplicated shapes. There’s little in the way of ornamentation and embellishment. Its beauty comes from artful construction and the pairing of contrasting shapes and colors.

It began in gritty rock clubs in London and ended up on fashion runways in New York – that’s the long, strange trip taken by punk rock-inspired jewelry.