While we all can’t make it to the America’s Cup in San Francisco this September, we can enjoy it vicariously. Souped-up sloops will be slicing through the bay at 50 miles an hour – a speed so spectacular that they’ll literally be flying out of the water.

Adding to its educational efforts in Africa, GIA recently entered into a collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory to provide Mandela Day Libraries to four South African elementary schools.

Platinum is a metal favored by jewelers for its durability, malleability and significant weight. It doesn’t tarnish and maintains its natural white color, making it an excellent option for heirloom jewelry. And because it’s long lasting , platinum creates a secure setting for diamonds and gemstones, making it a top choice for engagement and wedding rings to last a lifetime.

The world eagerly awaits news of the arrival of the newest British Royal, due to be born any day. The royal couple’s child will officially be known as His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess of Cambridge, a title fitting for a child that will likely inherit the throne, and along with it, the right to wear the British Crown Jewels. GIA has highlighted a few of the spectacular jewels, which are mostly kept secured at the Tower of London. 

With the current popularity of period pieces—fueled in part by films and shows like The Great Gatsby and Downton Abbey–there is a rising interest in vintage fashion and jewelry. The Edwardian period lasted from 1900 to 1915, when England was flush with power and wealth. For the landed gentry (land owners who could live entirely off of rental income), the Edwardian Era was a period of prosperity and privilege; however, class divisions were equally stark.