Famous Bling Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johannes Vermeer

Vermeer is the correct painter. It is said that the subject was Vermeer's daughter. Whether or not, the contrast of the subject's eyes and single pearl seems to be the focus of this painting. The other foils are famous painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Please enjoy their lovely works.

Answer: A jeweled egg

The Imperial Eggs are brilliant creations from Faberge for the Russian Imperial family. They have been called "the last great commissioned series of objets d'art." These lovely items were made to celebrate the Easter holidays which are the equivalent of Christmas holidays in Russia.

Answer: Blue

The Hope Diamond was originally a stone found in India by a French merchant, cut and then sold to Louis XIV. In 1791 it was stolen (did no one safeguard their jewels in this era?) It was cut (again) and ended up in the London auction of gems from the Hope family in 1839.

Through various owners, it was sold to Harry Winston (the New York gem merchant) in 1949. He subsequently donated it to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where it resides today. (I saw this lovely necklace 40 years ago and it still amazes me!)

By the way, red diamonds are the rarest and most valuable. For Valentines Day, if you really love her...

Answer: It is not a ruby

The Timur Ruby is actually a ruby spinel. Spinels are minerals that resemble rubies and are often found next to them in gem gravels (excavations.) They are sometimes called "the mother of rubies." However, they are not as hard and weigh less than true rubies. The other answers were inventions.

Answer: These common brown stones are used for industrial purposes

Please do not be taken in by the advertisements for "Chocolate Diamonds." They are the most common and base stones that are usually used for industrial purposes. In the 1980s, the Argyle mines in Western Australia began producing tons of the stones. What should they do? Sell them as costly jewels, of course.

Answer: in the rough

A "diamond in the rough" is an American term for one who is a great person. Perhaps the intention is that with polish, this individual may improve in certain ways such as speech or manners. (I couldn't help myself from including the reference to the Beatles song about Lucy, the sky and diamonds)

Answer: Country

The current "Four Cs" of diamond ranking are Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat. I wish a fifth category would be added - that of Country of Origin. Conflict diamonds (also known as blood diamonds and hot or war diamonds) are those that are mined in areas of war to finance a warlord or insurgent armies typically in Africa. Let us do what we can to not financially support such tyrants.

Answer: A string of pearls

My daughter received a string of pearls on her birthday as did I and other daughters in our Southern family through the generations. A Hope Chest is a lovely concept in which a young lady would store various items for her eventual move to her new (married) home.

It might contain a hand embroidered wedding handkerchief. As much as she hoped, little one did not receive that new car for her birthday (sad face.)

Answer: Golden Jubilee Diamond

The Golden Jubilee Diamond's color is officially cited as "Unnamed Brown." It was brought to Pope John Paul II in Rome to receive an official Papal blessing and was also blessed by the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and the Islamic Chularatchamontri in Thailand.

The Centenary Diamond was discovered at the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1986. It is a 273.85 (cut weight) grade D colorless diamond initially valued at $100 million USD by De Beers company. The current owner is unknown.

The Cullinan I Diamond, also known as the Star of Africa, was the world's largest cut and faceted diamond until 1908. The Taylor-Burton Diamond was named after the famous Hollywood couple.

All of the referenced diamonds came from the same mine in South Africa.

Answer: Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller is famous for his recording of the melody called "String of Pearls." He was famous for recording many songs that continue to be American musical treasures (e.g. "In the Mood," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," and "Pennsylvania 6-5000.")

Jack Hylton was a 5'3" British band leader born in 1892. He spent the WWII war years traveling around Britain giving promenade concerts.

Artie Shaw was a band leader famous for the clarinet and his song "Begin the Beguine" (amid other wonderful tunes.) He enlisted in the Navy during WWII and he and a band played in the Pacific theatre.

Arthur Murray was a famous US dance instructor (born in 1895 in the Ukraine) whose clients included Eleanor Roosevelt, the Duke of Windsor and John D. Rockeller. Please check out his album called "Arthur Murray presents the Discotheque Dance Party" if you wish to learn the 1960s dances called the "Frug," "Wobble," "Surf," and "Merengue." What fun!