Leading Diamond Miners Join Forces to Launch the 'Natural Diamond Council'
The world's leading diamond miners have hit the reset button on the "Diamond Producers Association," relaunching the global trade organization as the "Natural Diamond Council" (NDC), while at the same time replacing their "Real is Rare, Real is a Diamond" branding with the simpler phrase, "Only Natural Diamonds" (OND).
NDC's new consumer-friendly website, naturaldiamonds.com, will offer insightful natural diamond coverage under six key pillars: "Epic Diamonds," "Hollywood & Pop Culture," "Love & Diamonds," "Style & Innovation," "Diamonds 101" and "Inside the Diamond World." Overall, the group's mission is to promote the desirability of natural diamonds and support the integrity of the diamond jewelry industry.
"Our new digital platforms will inspire and inform consumers globally about the values and heritage of natural diamonds, as well as promoting the significant innovation happening throughout the world of diamond jewelry,” noted NDC Managing Director, Kristina Buckley Kayel. “The younger audience is clearly engaged and inspired when we present ourselves with authority in the digital world. It’s our aim to be number one across all digital platforms in our industry, and our ambitious plans reflect these goals.”
The OND website aims to be a trusted educational hub, providing all the facts needed when considering buying diamond jewelry.
On its YouTube page, Only Natural Diamonds, the OND posted a 50-second video with the caption, "What the modern diamond industry looks like today may surprise you. Discover the world of natural diamonds, today."
In the video, viewers learn that diamond producers are committed to giving back to the Earth by reducing their carbon footprint, protecting 1,000 square miles of land and supporting the livelihood of 10 million people with safe, quality jobs. What's more, the diamond industry is creating infrastructure, social programs and schools to empower future generations, while infusing $7 billion annually into local communities.
The launch of the NDC is the result of the collaborative effort of seven leading diamond mining companies: ALROSA, De Beers, Dominion Diamonds, Lucara Diamond, Petra Diamonds, Murowa Diamonds and Rio Tinto. Combined, they represent about 75% of the world's rough diamond production.
“There is no task more important than inspiring consumers with what we call 'The Diamond Dream,’” said Stephen Lussier, Chairman of the NDC. “Our mission is to educate consumers [about] the industry and the positive social contribution diamonds make to the world today. Our members are committed to these goals, and the launch of the NDC marks an exciting step on this path.”
Credit: 813-carat Constellation diamond image courtesy of Lucara Diamond.
Treasure Chest Containing $1MM Cache of Gold, Gems and Jewelry Is Finally Found
It took more than 10 years, but Forrest Fenn's treasure chest containing a $1 million cache of gold nuggets, gold coins, rubies, diamonds, sapphires and historical jewelry has been found.
The eccentric multi-millionaire had sparked a mini gold rush in the Rocky Mountains north of Santa Fe when he published clues to the location of a 12th century bronze box containing the treasure. Fenn had told The New Mexican in 2017 that the box weighed 20 pounds and and its contents weighed 22 pounds.
Fenn believes that as many as 350,000 amateur and professional treasure hunters had attempted to solve the riddle using clues outlined in his six-stanza poem (seen below).
But, on Sunday night, the 89-year-old art and antiquities collector confirmed on his website that "the search is over." He noted that the treasure was found by a man from "back East" who did not want to be identified. The treasure hunter confirmed his discovery with a photograph.
“It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago," Fenn wrote. "I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot. I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries. So the search is over. Look for more information and photos in the coming days.”
Motivated by a cancer diagnosis that gave Fenn only a few years to live, Fenn decided to make this treasure hunt his legacy. He believed the treasure would inspire people, particularly children, to get away from their texting devices and look for adventure outdoors.
Fenn’s self-published 2011 memoir, The Thrill of the Chase, recounts his rags-to-riches story and includes the nine-clue poem. In 2013, Fenn added the 10th and 11th clues: The treasure is hidden higher than 5,000 feet above sea level; No need to dig up the old outhouses, the treasure is not associated with any structure. Here's the poem...
Fenn’s Treasure Poem
As I have gone alone in there
And with my treasures bold,
I can keep my secret where,
And hint of riches new and old.
Begin it where warm waters halt
And take it in the canyon down,
Not far, but too far to walk.
Put in below the home of Brown.
From there it’s no place for the meek,
The end is ever drawing nigh;
There’ll be no paddle up your creek,
Just heavy loads and water high.
If you’ve been wise and found the blaze,
Look quickly down, your quest to cease,
But tarry scant with marvel gaze,
Just take the chest and go in peace.
So why is it that I must go
And leave my trove for all to seek?
The answers I already know,
I’ve done it tired and now I’m weak.
So hear me all and listen good,
Your effort will be worth the cold.
If you are brave and in the wood
I give you title to the gold.
Credit: Book image via Facebook.com/The-Thrill-of-the-Chase-157364220954166/.
Gemfields' Third Short Film Introduces the '6Cs' of Buying a Ruby or Emerald
"Buyers Guide," the third installment in Gemfields' short-film series, introduces the "6Cs" of buying a ruby or emerald. Gemfields takes the commonly known "4Cs" of buying a diamond — color, clarity, cut and carat weight — and adds "character" and "certification."
The character of a gemstone is defined by its unique inclusions – the tiny flaws entombed in its crystals, which give it a personality all its own. This “story inside each gemstone” is perhaps the most important consideration for buyers, says the narrator.
He goes on to explain how a certificate from a licensed gem laboratory provides expert opinion on the gemstone's characteristics, as well as its country of origin and any treatments undertaken. 
Color and clarity vary according to hue, tone and saturation, according to Gemfields, and these are influenced largely by the gemstone’s place of origin.
The skilled artistry involved in shaping each gemstone into an exquisite cut — be it round, oval, marquise, pear or octagon — is referenced, too.
Narrated and set to dramatic music, the film runs just under two minutes. But, in that short time, the viewer is taken on a spectacular journey from the formation of gemstones deep within the earth to the time they come to market.
"A gemstone is a gift from the earth itself," says the narrator.
The Buyer’s Guide video was created by Lambda Films, which utilized "liquid art" (a mixture of paint and oil) to illustrate how rubies and emeralds are formed at an elemental level. The Lambda creative team also used sculptured marble tableaus in 3D to depict modern-day shoppers, a gemologist and even an African queen.
Gemfields is featuring the short film on its website and on its YouTube channel, with shorter teasers posted to Gemfields’ social media.
The first video in the series emphasized the miner’s commitment to responsible sourcing, while the May release focused on emerald — the most valuable member of the beryl family and the official May birthstone.
The fourth and final video will be released in July. Gemfields will shine the spotlight on ruby, the birthstone of that month.
The mining company is uniquely qualified to tell the story of emeralds and rubies. For the past 12 years, it has operated Kagem, the world’s largest and most productive emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. Gemfields also operates the world’s largest ruby mine — the Montepuez mine in Mozambique.
Please check out the Buyers Guide video, below…
Credits: All images © Gemfields.
Music Friday: Eric Clapton’s ‘Golden Ring’ Chronicles a Complicated Love Triangle
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today's featured song, "Golden Ring," chronicles Eric Clapton's complicated love triangle with model Pattie Boyd and The Beatles' George Harrison.
When asked by VH1 in 1999 to name his favorite song from his own catalog, the 17-time Grammy winner surprisingly picked “Golden Ring,” the ninth track on his 1978 Backless album.
He said the simple song was his all-time favorite because “it’s obscure, people don’t know it and it’s about marriage.”
It was later revealed that Clapton wrote the song to send a not-so-subtle message to Boyd about her lingering feelings for the ex-husband, Harrison. The Fab Four guitarist and Clapton became close friends in the late 1960s, but despite their friendship, Clapton fell in love with Boyd, who Harrison had married in 1966.
In 1970, Clapton reportedly proclaimed his love for Boyd with his hit song, “Layla.” When Boyd rebuffed his advances, Clapton went into a self-imposed musical exile that would last more than three years.
Boyd and Harrison eventually separated in 1974 and divorced in 1977. Clapton now had his chance to rekindle the relationship.
Clapton penned “Golden Ring” in the emotional transition year between Boyd’s official divorce from Harrison and his own marriage to Boyd in 1979. It was also the year Harrison tied the knot with author Olivia Trinidad Arias.
Clapton explained in his 2007 autobiography, “[Golden Ring] was written about the situation between me, [Pattie] and George. It referred in part to her response to the news that George was getting married again. She took it quite hard, and I, in my arrogance, found that hard to understand. So I wrote this song about the peculiarity of our triangle, which finishes with the words, ‘If I gave to you a golden ring / Would I make you happy, would I make you sing?'”
Clapton, who is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream), is considered one of the most influential guitarists of all time, ranking second on Rolling Stone magazine’s all-time list.
Clapton has sold more than 100 million albums and played 3,000-plus concerts during his 58 years as a performing artist. Over that time, more than two billion people in 58 countries across six continents have attended his concerts.
Born Eric Patrick Clapton in Surrey, England, in 1945, to a Canadian soldier stationed in England and a teenage mom, the future guitarist was raised by his maternal grandparents, convinced that his mother was his sister. At age nine, he learned learned the truth. Emotionally scarred, he became moody and distant and stopped applying himself at school.
Clapton loved music and got his first guitar on his 13th birthday. In 1961, at age 16, Clapton attended the Kingston College of Art and studied stained-glass design. He was expelled from college after one year because he spent most of his waking hours playing guitar and listening to the blues.
According to Clapton’s official bio, he spent his early days in music as a street performer. When he was 17, Clapton joined his first band, The Roosters. To make ends meet, the young Clapton worked as a laborer alongside his grandfather, a master bricklayer.
Clapton, who was making a name for himself on the R&B pub circuit, was recruited to become a member of The Yardbirds. The 18-year-old guitarist, who would earn the nickname Slowhand even though his hands were blazing fast, accepted the offer and the rest is history.
We invite you to enjoy the audio track of Clapton performing “Golden Ring.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Golden Ring”
Written and performed by Eric Clapton.
He gave to you a golden ring
It made you happy, it made you sing
And I played for you on my guitar
It didn't last long, we didn't go far
And though the times have changed, we're rearranged
Will the ties that bind remain the same?
You came around after a while
Everyone said that I made you smile
It all went well and suddenly then
You heard that he would marry again
And though the times have changed, we're rearranged
Will the ties that bind remain the same?
Well I know that I have been here before
I've trod on your wings, I've opened the door
If I gave to you a golden ring
Would I make you happy, would I make you sing?
Though the times have changed, we're rearranged
Do the ties that bind remain the same?
Oh the times have changed, they're rearranged
Will the ties that bind remain the same?
DNA Fingerprinting Is Used to Determine Origin of Natural and Cultured Pearls
Simple-to-use DNA testing kits, such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA, have been providing millions of families with eye-opening snapshots of where their ancestors came from. Now, the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) is employing similar DNA fingerprinting technology to determine the origin of natural and cultured pearls.
By combining DNA fingerprinting with age-dating technology already provided by SSEF, it is now possible to gain previously inaccessible scientific insights into a pearl's unique origin and provenance. In the future, a natural pearl, such as "La Peregrina" (seen here), could be tested to determine exactly where and when it was harvested.
The new fingerprinting capabilities were developed by SSEF in partnership with the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich. The organizations have substantially expanded their DNA fingerprinting reference database and capabilities, which now include eight oyster species that produce the vast majority of pearls found in the natural and cultured pearl trade.
They included the following:
• Pinctada radiata (Arabian/Persian Gulf & Ceylon pearl oyster)
• Pinctada imbricata (Atlantic pearl oyster)
• Pinctada fucata/martensii (Akoya pearl oyster — Japan)
• Pinctada maxima (South Sea pearl oyster — Australia, Philippines, Indonesia)
• Pinctada margaritifera (Tahitian black-lipped pearl oyster)
• Pinctada mazatlanica (Panama pearl oyster)
• Pinctada maculata (Pipi pearl oyster — French Polynesia and the Cook Islands)
• Pteria sterna (Rainbow-lipped pearl oyster — Gulf of California, Mexico)
SSEF has refined its testing method so the subject pearl will not be harmed. The amount of material required for testing has been considerably reduced to an infinitesimal amount.
"We are happy to build on decades of pearl research at SSEF to launch this new service for the pearl trade,” said Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki, director of SSEF. “DNA fingerprinting will contribute to further documenting the origin and geographic provenance of historic natural pearls and traceability efforts in the cultured pearl trade.”
“In addition to our collaboration on DNA testing of precious corals and ivory," said Dr. Adelgunde Kratzer of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich, “we are pleased to be able to contribute our lab expertise to documenting pearls, which are one of the oldest and most iconic gems known to humankind.”
SSEF’s research on species identification creates important opportunities to better understand historic pearl trading routes and the origins of notable pearls.
Unlike many other natural and cultured pearls, the provenance of La Peregrina is well documented. After its discovery in the Gulf of Panama in the 16th century, King Phillip II of Spain gave the teardrop-shaped, 55.95-carat La Peregrina to Queen Mary I (Mary Tudor). The natural pearl also has been owned by Spanish royalty, the Bonapartes of France and the British Marquis of Abercorn. In 1969, Richard Burton spent $37,000 (outbidding a prince at Sotheby’s) to buy La Peregrina for Elizabeth Taylor as a gift for Valentine’s Day.
Credit: Photo courtesy of SSEF.
Lady Gaga Wore the 128-Carat 'Tiffany Diamond' During a Post-Oscar Run to Taco Bell
On Friday, Lady Gaga dished the tasty 2019 Oscars backstory of how the $30 million, 128.54-carat "Tiffany Diamond" that she wore during the awards ceremony remained on her neck during a Madonna-hosted afterparty — and a late-night excursion to Taco Bell.
During her virtual appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Gaga described the celebration after scoring her first Oscar for Best Original Song.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen that night — I was just so happy to be there,” the 34-year-old singer-actress told the host. “My sister and I were barreling through champagne backstage, and when we left, I didn’t tell anyone, and I still had the diamond on.”
The extraordinary cushion-cut sparkler, which normally resides on the main floor of Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship store, has been worn by only three women during its 143-year history. The fancy yellow diamond made its first public appearance on the neck of Mrs. E. Sheldon Whitehouse at the 1957 Tiffany Ball. Actress Audrey Hepburn famously wore it in 1961 publicity posters for the motion picture Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
And, in February 2019, Gaga and The Tiffany Diamond turned heads at the 91st Academy Awards. Tiffany's security team was on hand throughout the evening to keep a watchful eye on the famous stone.
“Everyone freaked out that I was still wearing [the necklace],” Gaga said. “When I went to Madonna's house, security guards were side-eyeing me."
Gaga was finally separated from the mammoth diamond when she and her entourage sought a late-night snack at a fast-food drive-thru.
“When we were heading to Taco Bell, my car was pulled over and Tiffany's security politely removed [the necklace] from my neck,” Gaga said.
The 128.54-carat yellow diamond was cut from a 287.42-carat rough stone discovered in the Kimberley diamond mines of South Africa in 1877 and acquired the following year by Tiffany’s founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany.
The rough stone was brought to Paris, where Tiffany’s chief gemologist, Dr. George Frederick Kunz, supervised the cutting of the diamond into a cushion-shape brilliant with an unprecedented 82 facets — 24 more facets than the traditional 58-facet brilliant cut. The stone measures slightly more than an inch across.
In 1961, the diamond was set in a ribbon rosette necklace to promote Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In 1995, it was part of a brooch called Bird on a Rock, which was exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
The Tiffany Diamond necklace worn by Gaga was designed in 2012 to mark Tiffany’s 175 anniversary celebration. The platinum necklace features an openwork motif of sun rays glistening with 481 diamonds totaling more than 100 carats.
Credits: Academy Awards screen capture via YouTube.com/ABC; Bird on a Rock image by Shipguy [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
Birthstone Feature: Historic 'Pearl of Asia' Is the World's Largest Natural Pearl
Today we celebrate June’s official birthstone by shining our spotlight on the world's largest natural pearl. Tipping the scales at 600 carats (about a quarter pound) and standing 3 inches tall, the "Pearl of Asia" boasts a storied history that dates back more than 400 years.
Jewelry experts believe the baroque-shaped pearl was discovered in the pearl fishing grounds of the Persian Gulf sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
The natural pearl first surfaced in India, but became the property of the King of Persia (present-day Iran) after the siege of Delhi. The King then gifted the gem to Chinese Emperor Qianlong, who believed the giant pearl would bring happiness and good fortune.
The Pearl of Asia migrated to the west in the early 20th century when it was placed into its current setting — an organic motif that resembles a bunch of fruits dangling from a vine. The smaller fruits are represented by an oval-shaped white pearl as well as a cabochon-cut jade and pink quartz.
Natural pearls, such as the Pearl of Asia, are exceedingly rare because they are created by mollusks randomly, without human intervention. When a grain of sand or similar irritant finds its way between the mollusk’s shell and its mantle tissue, the process begins. To protect itself, the mollusk instinctually secretes multiple layers of nacre, an iridescent material that eventually becomes a pearl. Cultured pearls, by contrast, are created when a shell bead is surgically embedded inside the body of the mollusk to stimulate nacre secretion.
The Pearl of Asia is said to be the largest known natural "nacreous" pearl, meaning that it is formed with layers of nacre. The largest non-nacreous pearl — the "Pearl of Allah" — weighs more than 14 pounds. That pearl was the result of stony growths called calcareous concretions.
In 2005, the Pearl of Asia was one of 12 rare pearls featured during a six-month exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History called “The Allure of Pearls.” Other specimens included La Peregrina, the Hope Pearl, the Drexel Pearl, the Black Beauty, the Pearl of Kuwait, the Queen Mary Brooch with two large natural pink conch pearls, the South Sea Drops, the Survival Pearl and the Paspaley Pearl.
Pearl is one of the two official birthstones for June. The other is alexandrite.
Credits: Images courtesy of Smithsonian/NMNH Photo Services.
12-Carat Blue Diamond Headlines Christie's First Live Auction Since Outbreak
A marquise-cut, 12.11-carat, fancy intense blue diamond will be headlining Christie's first live auction since the COVID-19 outbreak. The internally flawless diamond is expected to fetch between $8.3 million and $12.2 million at Christie's Hong Kong on July 10, with previews running from July 4-7.
Flanked by two side stones and set on a diamond band, the stunning blue diamond is secured by six yellow gold prongs.
“Fancy Vivid” is the ultimate color classification for blue diamonds. Those displaying lower levels of color saturation may be rated “Fancy Intense,” “Fancy,” “Fancy Light” or “Light,” according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Blue diamonds owe their color to the presence of boron in the chemical makeup of the gem.
The Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale, which had originally been slated for June 2, signals a return to some normalcy for the famous auction house. Christie's had been promoting online auctions as a substitute for its high-profile onsite events.
In an article titled, “10 Jewels That Made History — and Changed the Market,” Christie's highlighted a 28.86-carat, emerald-cut diamond that will be offered at its Jewels Online sale, June 16-30. The D-color gem carries a high estimate of $2 million and is being touted as the highest-valued lot ever offered for sale online at Christie’s.
July's live auction will include four other high-profile lots...
• Posted with a high estimate of $1.2 million is a 6.06-carat ruby and diamond ring. The ruby is of Burmese origin and boasts the highly desirable "pigeon's blood" color. Surrounding the center stone are eight oval white diamonds and smaller pink stone accents.
• An exceptional jadeite bangle is expected to sell in the range of $1 million to $1.5 million.
• Two Kashmir sapphires are the stars of a diamond necklace that could yield as much as $1 million. The sapphires weigh 12.81 carats and 6.50 carats, respectively.
• These jadeite hoop and ruby earrings carry a high estimate of $748,000.
Credits: Images courtesy of Christie's.
Music Friday: Katy Perry's 2010 Ballad Urges Young Women to Shine Like a 'Pearl'
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, pop star Katy Perry encourages young women to aspire to greatness in her 2010 ballad, "Pearl."
On her YouTube channel, Perry explained that "Pearl" is a song she wrote for anyone who's been held down — by friends, or relationships or family members.
"[The song] talks about a girl who used to be a pearl, and how she became a shell of herself," said Perry. "She let this person rule her world and she's kind of a skeleton now. Her rainbow is a flat shade of grey."
She added, "It's a really important message to send to be confident in who you are and your relationships. And to love yourself most importantly before anybody else loves you."
Perry sings, "Oh, she used to be a pearl / Yeah, she used to rule the world / Can't believe she's become a shell of herself / 'Cause she used to be a pearl."
Written by Perry, Greg Wells and Tricky Stewart, "Pearl" was the last song added to Perry's chart-topping Teenage Dream album.
Perry told MTV News that she felt that the nearly completed Teenage Dream was missing something, so she and her writing partners added one more tune that completed her album in just the right way.
"And it was kind of just like, 'All right, now I have this crown, and I have all these jewels, and I can put these little jewels into the crown, and I feel like it's a complete presentation, something I'm really proud of.'"
Teenage Dream was a tremendous success, charting in 28 countries, including #1 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and #1 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album and its singles earned Perry seven Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Record of the Year.
Born Katheryn Elizabeth “Katy” Hudson in Santa Barbara, Calif., the singer changed her name in the early 2000s so she wouldn’t be confused with actress Kate Hudson. The daughter of Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up singing in a church choir, where she developed an affection for gospel music. Perry was dropped by two record labels before going on to sign with Capitol Music Group in 2007.
Over the past decade, the 35-year-old Perry has become one of the most successful musical artists of all time, having sold more than 18 million albums and 125 million singles globally.
Trivia: Perry's "Pearl" may have been inspired by her "wonderful" paternal grandmother, Ann Pearl Hudson, who sadly passed away in March at the age of 99.
"When my fighter spirit comes out, that’s Ann," Perry wrote in an Instagram tribute.
Please check out the audio track of “Pearl.” The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"Pearl"
Written by Katy Perry, Greg Wells and Tricky Stewart. Performed by Katy Perry.
She is a pyramid
But with him she's just a grain of sand
This love's too strong like mice and men
Squeezing out the life that should be let in
She was a hurricane (-cane, -cane, -cane)
But now she's just a gust of wind
She used to set the sails of a thousand ships
Was a force to be reckoned with
She could be a Statue of Liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he's scared of the light that's inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark
Oh, she used to be a pearl
Yeah, she used to rule the world
Can't believe she's become a shell of herself
'Cause she used to be a pearl
She was unstoppable
Moved fast just like an avalanche
But now she's stuck deep in cement
Wishing that they'd never ever met
She could be a Statue of Liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he's scared of the light that's inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark
Oh, she used to be a pearl
Yeah, she used to rule the world
Can't believe she's become a shell of herself
'Cause she used to be a—
Do you know that there's a way out,
There's a way out
There's a way out
There's a way out?
You don't have to be held down,
Be held down
Be held down
Be held down
'Cause I used to be a shell
Yeah, I let him rule my world, my world
But I woke up and grew strong
And I can still go on
And no one can take my pearl
You don't have to be a shell, no
You're the one that rules your world, oh
You are strong
And you'll learn that you can still go on
And you'll always be a—a pearl
She is unstoppable
Credit: Image by nikotransmission from Sammamish, WA, USAuploaded by C.Jonel / CC BY
Shuttered SF Greek Restaurant Opens Its Doors to Host Surprise Marriage Proposal
A San Francisco-based Greek restaurant chain, which had closed each of its eateries in strict adherence to the city's shelter-in-place order, made a special exception recently and opened one of its stores so a long-time regular could surprise his girlfriend with a proposal in the exact spot where their first date took place five years ago.
Sam Goldstein and Christa Simone are big fans of Souvla, a "fine-fast" restaurant chain specializing in spit-fired meats, Cali-fresh veggies, Greek wines and frozen yogurt in NYC coffee cups.
Goldstein told the dining guide site Eater SF that he had been contemplating a proposal long before the pandemic.
“I’m generally into big crowds," he told the site, "so I was trying to publicly embarrass Christa. But when the world shut down, that became increasingly hard.”
Goldstein's backup plan was to contact the principals of Souvla to see if he could set up a special proposal on the outdoor patio of the chain's NoPa location. That's where the couple's relationship blossomed as they dined on chicken salads and a bottle of rosé.
The love-struck young man was surprised when Souvla owner Charles Bililies quickly agreed to oblige. Not only did he open the shuttered restaurant for the couple, but also had a special sign made for the front window — “Come on in, Christa” — placed rose petals in the corridor leading to the patio and set up a table with sentimental photos, flowers and a bottle of wine.
On Saturday, Goldstein encouraged Simone to take a walk with him through the neighborhood, making sure Souvla was on their route. When the couple passed in front of the restaurant, Simone was surprised to see her name on the sign.
Bililies and his wife, Jen Pelka, greeted the couple and led them to the back patio, where Goldstein popped the question with a diamond ring and Simone said, "Yes."
“We were blown away by how incredibly generous and helpful Charles and Jen were,” Goldstein told Eater. “It just goes to show how kind people can be, even to complete strangers. It was one of those moments that restores your faith in humanity.”
Even though San Francisco allows restaurant take-out service, the Souvla chain has decided to remain closed through the shelter in place in an abundance of caution for the health and safety of its staff.
"We know San Francisco misses Souvla – we do too," the chain's representative told SFGATE. "We'll be reopening soon, in the safest way possible for our team and our guests. We hope everyone is staying happy and healthy, and we can't wait to see our customers again soon!"
Credits: Images courtesy of Souvla.