A collection of 700 jewels belonging to the wife of a billionaire businessman who grew his wealth as a member of the Nazi Party came up for auction through Christie's auction house in London on May 10.

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Anticipated to fetch $150 million, the collection was to be sold all together and one of the most sought-after pieces, the Sunrise Ruby, was said to be worth $15 to $20 million on its own.

"This sale is indecent … this sale is also to finance a foundation with the mission to safeguard the name of a former Nazi for posterity," said Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France.

The jewels were previously owned by Heidi Horten, who was married to Helmut Horten. She inherited a billion dollars upon his passing in 1987. Heidi died in June 2022.

Many of the jewels ended up fetching much lower prices than estimated. The Sunrise Ruby sold for 13 million francs ($14.6 million). A diamond ring believed to be worth as much as 3.2 million francs sold for about $1.28 million.

However, ultimately the collection did sell above its lower estimates, earning $156 million.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on Christie's to put the sale on hold so that further research of any connections to "Nazi-era acquisitions are completed. Don't reward those whose families may have gained riches from targeted Jews."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Archaeologists in Morocco on Thursday unveiled what they said was the oldest jewelry in the world, perforated seashells dating back as far as 150,000 years.

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The shells, assumed to have formed necklaces and bracelets, were discovered in the Bizmoune cave near the coastal resort of Essaouira.

They were dated as 142,000-150,000 years old, according to researcher Abdeljalil Bouzouggar.

"This discovery has enormous implications for the history of humanity," he said, adding that it suggested the owner was using language.

"These are symbolic objects, and symbols, unlike tools, can only be transmitted through language," Bouzouggar added. "So this raises the question: does this discovery imply the existence of a language used to communicate between these groups or with members of other groups?"

Happening now : a new Aterian Nassarius perforated shell at Bizmoune Cave, Southern Morocco ! @ResearchInsap, University of Arizona and Aix-Marseille Université . pic.twitter.com/Qtzd1YBdZg

— abouzouggar (@jbouzouggar) November 17, 2018

Speaking at a press conference organized by the culture ministry, Bouzouggar said similar ornaments had been found across the Middle East and Africa, dating back between 35,000 and 135,000 years.

"These people searched for the same type of seashell despite the existence of many other types," he said.

"This shows that they shared something. Maybe there was even a language," Bouzouggar added.

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He also noted that Morocco was the site of some of the oldest Homo sapiens remains discovered to date: five individuals who died some 315,000 years ago and were discovered in 2017.

Bouzouggar's team included researchers from Morocco's National Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage as well as the University of Arizona in the US and France's LAMPEA research institute.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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A Byzantine-era winery complex recently unearthed in Yavne, considered a treasure in itself, has revealed another precious find, the Israel Antiquities Authority reported Tuesday.

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Archaeologists working at the site have excavated an amethyst ring. Amethyst is one of the 12 stones featured in the hoshen (breastplate) worn by the Temple High Priest, and is believed to possess many powers – including the ability to stave off hangovers.

According to Dr. Amir Golani, an expert in ancient jewelry at the IAA, the ring belonged to a person of means and could have been worn by either a man or a woman.

Excavation directors Dr. Eli Hadad, Liat Nadav-Ziv, and Dr. Jon Seligman say that there is some question about the age of the ring, which was discovered in debris that appears to date to the end of the Byzantine era or the beginning of the Early Islamic Period in the 7^th century CE. However, they explained, the ring itself could be hundreds of years older and passed down through generations.

Gold rings set with amethysts were common in the Roman period, and the piece of jewelry could have belonged to a wealthy resident of third-century CE Yavne.

In related news, since announcing the discovery of the winery complex, the IAA has been overwhelmed with requests for guided tours and has scheduled more dates.

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One of the Gulf region's most prestigious diamond and jewelry shows, Jewellery Arabia, is being held this year from Nov. 16-20 in Bahrain, and for the first time, Israel's diamond industry will be represented.

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Israel Diamond Center (IDC) founder Avi Tavisal, who is also a founder of the Israel Diamond Exchange, designed and created the AlSakhra Collection, inspired by the Rock of Ascension and the spirit of the Abraham Accords.

AlSakhra was created in the spirit of Islamic faith and culture. The choice of the name is to Sakharat Al-Maraj, "the Rock of Ascension," from which Muhammad ascended to the heavens for his Night Journey, and the beautiful gilded Dome of the Rock above it.

Featuring Jerusalem stone, gold, and diamonds, the pieces in the collection will be unveiled at the expo and for sale at the company's booth.

When invited by the Israel Diamond Exchange to be one of the first diamond and fine jewelry dealers to represent Israel at the Jewellery Arabia exhibition, Tavisal – a seventh-generation Jerusalemite and second-generation jeweler – agreed immediately and began working with a team of craftsmen and advisors to produce the AlSakhra line.

"We are making history. This is a very exciting and important development. Dealing with diamonds connects me to a very special place – diamonds saved my father's life during World War II and gave me a rare opportunity to become one of the founders of the Israeli Diamond Exchange and industry. It is a privilege to use my skills, creativity and faith to honor Islam and our partners in the historic Abraham Accords," Tavisal said.

IDC VP of Business Development Shady Kheir explained that "The Abraham Accords motivated us to combine our vast experience in the diamond industry, artistic vision and great appreciation to the leaders who realized the historic peaceful relations in the region into this unique brand which has already stirred curiosity in the Gulf region.

"Israel is well known as the 'Start-up Nation' and as the No. 1 diamond exporter in the world. We are extremely delighted and honored to take part in this important event," said Kheir.

Jewellery Arabia is regularly attended by senior officials and dignitaries from the United Arab Emirates and all over the world. The Bahraini royal family plays an active role in hosting the event and will be present throughout the exhibition.

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During 2014's Operation Protective Edge against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, jewelry designer Inbal Duvdevani noticed a rocket that had fallen near her studio on Kibbutz Nirim and rattled her world.

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"I took a few pieces of shrapnel and kept them as souvenirs," Duvdevani says.

"Because the kibbutz is always in range of rocket fire in every round of fighting, kids would collect the pieces of shrapnel that fell, and so would my son, who collected them and added them to a box that was in the closet," she continues.

After Operation Protective Edge was over, Duvdevani visited the US to take part in an expo intended to promote business from southern Israel. She took the box of shrapnel with her to show visitors with what residents of Israel's south were forced to contend.

"When I displayed the box, someone came up to me and wanted to take a few as a souvenir, and mentioned that if I made jewelry from it, he'd be the first to buy them. When I got back to Israel, it stayed in my mind."

It took Duvdevani two more years until she dared take the box of shrapnel out of the closet and start turning its contents into jewelry.

"After all, it was a tool of war that killed and wounded people I know. But two years on, I decided that I wanted to turn the war into love, and I started crafting jewelry that combine gold and shrapnel, the same rocket that landed next to my studio. After a few tries, I designed jewelry and put them up for sale."

Duvdevani, 41, was born in the western Negev and has lived there all her life. Today, she is a resident of Moshav Sadeh Nitzan in the Eshkol Regional Council. For 25 years she has designed and sold jewelry at her studio on Kibbutz Nirim.

"It's not easy living in the western Negev. Managing an independent business there is hard," she acknowledges.

With assistance and mentorship from the Lauder Employment Center, which works to promote small businesses in Israel's periphery, Duvdevani launched a website through which she sells her creations. Her collection includes pieces made from gold, gold-filled, and silver as well as the items from mortars, which have proved popular and some of which are already sold out.

"Instead of being afraid of the material that's sent to kill us, I chose to make lemons into lemonade and design jewelry from it," she tells Israel Hayom. The designer says that responses have varied widely: "There are people who when they hear that the jewelry is made of a mortar or rocket are put off and don't want it, even if the piece appealed to them originally. On the other hand, there are people who say they have to have it and also ask me to design more for them."

Duvdevani says that during Operation Guardian of the Walls, the loaded issue returned. "People reached out and ordered presents like keychains and necklaces to give them to people who hosted them in other places in Israel. This is material sent to kill us, but I'm proving that things can be different and we can approach it from a stronger place."

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Could diamonds become the earth's best friend? Luxury jewelry company Aether has successfully found a way to create diamonds out of air.

According to Aether, many companies in the sustainable jewelry arena claim to be carbon neutral, but lab-grown diamonds are manufactured using carbon from fossil fuels. Aether says that "neutral" isn't good enough when it comes to reversing climate change.

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Aether uses proprietary technology to convert excess carbon dioxide air pollution into precious stones, cleaning the air while producing the world's first carbon-negative diamond.

Aether will feature its carbon-negative diamonds in a new luxury jewelry line scheduled to launch on its website this December. All Aether diamonds are certified by the International Gemological Institute and held to the same standards as mined diamonds.

"Amid global climate change and all of the other challenges 2020 has brought with it, we believe there is currently great opportunity for high-minded doers to step in and help shape the future," said Aether CEO Ryan Shearman.

"Aether is proud to be a part of that change for good as the creator of the world's first gem-quality diamonds from air," Shearman said.

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Just in time for holiday engagement season, the US retail jewelry chain Jared has announced the debut of an exclusive engagement ring collection by Israeli bridal designer Pnina Tornai of Say Yes to the Dress fame.

Marking Jared's first partnership in the bridal fashion world, each of the rings in Tornai's collection comes with a unique backstory, all inspired by love stories Tornai has heard in her two decades of working with brides.

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The rings all feature a signature rose gold cuff detail with three diamonds in the band, symbolizing two exceptional individuals and the life they create together. Each ring will also come with a certificate of authenticity, verifying it as an original Pnina Tornai design.

The new 31-piece collection retails from $699 to $19,999 and will be available exclusively in Jared retail stores in the US and online.

"In my years working closely with brides, I've had the privilege of hearing thousands of spectacular love stories that inspired me to create my first-ever jewelry collection – because these beautiful jewels would not have a purpose if it weren't for love," Tornai said.

"It has always been a dream for me to create an engagement jewelry collection," the designer said.

The jewelers are equally excited.

"We're thrilled to launch Pnina Tornai's first-ever ring collection – One by Pnina Tornai – exclusively at Jared, showcasing her unique designs inspired by her years of experience making brides feel special," said Bill Brace, chief market officer and executive GM at Jared.

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The cover photo shows Cardi B wearing a paillette-covered dress with a deep décolletage by Balenciaga with a short wig, topped by a net of precious crystals by Wolf.

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Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia put out the cover shot on her Instagram account, where she tagged Wolf.

Wolf spoke to Israel Hayom about her cover coup saying, "During coronavirus, I was asked to send editorial pieces to Elle. I didn't know it was meant for the prestigious September issue, with the star Cardi B.

"I saw that Nina Garcia, the editor-in-chief, had tagged me, and it was really exciting. I'm thrilled about it all, especially right now, when everything is so challenging," Wolf said.

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