The specially ordered Harmony ring is made of rhodium – the world’s most expensive metal –and encrusted with diamonds. The $30,000 gift is being hastily made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco in time for January’s inauguration ceremony.
Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around $10K an ounce.
A spokesman at Giovanni Bosco said: ‘Our American distributor has contacted us and has asked us to provide details on the Harmony ring.
Does anyone remember the Obama campaign’s contrived Palin wardrobe controversy? Is Michelle going to donate this ring to charity? Just how much would $30K help a struggling family in America? You know, the ones who Obama is going to save. We should not give the Obamas a pass on this one.
Why couldn’t the Obamas ride the “buy our kids a dog” story for a while more? I find this to be more heartwarming than presenting the next First Lady with a 30k trinket. First of all, how do these things get into the news? How did the media find out about this Harmony Ring? The jeweller. Way to plant a story, mister DeBoers.
There is no doubt, that Michelle Obama will be a different “First Lady.” The first Black woman to hold this position, again its historical. But beyond that, she is: she is bright, politically savvy, worked in Corporate America, but also knows how to wow a crowd on the campaign trail. In addition she brings a different, yet importance perspective of the educated, Black upper middle class, which most of America is yet to learn about. She also knows about why so many ‘hurting’ in the lower rungs of our society, she comes from there.
I look forward to seeing her in that role, and confident she will put the spotlight on women in a very positive way.
http://www.vernasmith.com