Prima Gallery

With the economy going in a downward spiral more everyday, technology is not helping the situation. Of course, everyone loves the fact that technology is improving their iPods and their digital cameras, but is anybody looking at the bigger picture? Big cities usually have a large variety of shops and stores for tourism and everyday economic growth.  Recently, taking a drive down a typically busy road consists of empty stores (that can’t afford to be torn down), or stores that are struggling with insane sales to regain the popularity they once had. Of course, it’s easy to blame the economy for everything but the fact is that technology isn’t helping out to fix the problem either.

Within the past year companies have sold their stores or combined them with other companies in order to stay in business. Others have completely shut down and went out of business due to rivalry prices and stores. Blockbuster appears to be one of the stores possibly starting out in a battle to keep up their stores and business. This of course is partly because of the new red boxes placed everywhere you turn. As a matter of fact, the new red box and Netflix, is not only easy to use, but it’s fairly cheap. Up till recently, Blockbuster did not have anything like that anywhere. Now Blockbuster has gone with the new ages and put some of their own boxes up in order to keep their business. That’s not all! Not only has technologies new advances in renting films changed Blockbuster’s way of doing things, it has also caused them to have to close some of the stores in certain locations in order to keep up the few that are actually still receiving business.

Don’t feel bad for Blockbuster, because they aren’t the only ones going through tough times right now. Since there are, in fact, new advances in technology, the need for employees is obviously going to be unnecessary. Being that one can just go up to a simple little box and make a selection with a swipe of their credit card hardly needs any assistance from an (on the clock employee). Of course, they aren’t taking all the jobs. They still need someone once a week to go and put in the new movies to enhance the boxes movie selection.

Retail isn’t the only career being hit with job taking technology. In fact, the medical field is taking a beating as well. With technology becoming part of everyday life, medical records within the next few years are going to be virtual records rather than being on file. Of course, one argument would be that doctors can easily carry around the records with them while walking through the hospital. The big con is hackers. Privacy is a big issue as it is without the records being placed out in the open. This idea most likely will affect the jobs of many being that doctors can easily add to or adjust the records as he/she’s visiting with the patient.

What does this mean for the future? Will all the jobs be taken by machines that don’t require pay and work 24 hours a day? Will all the remaining employed citizens have to work for lower wages just to keep their jobs? Is it even about money anymore? One thing is for certain; the only thing to do is to wait and see what the future holds.

#1 2009's World-Beating Blue Diamond Ring

The top spot, perhaps unsurprisingly goes to a blue diamond. Master jewellers Chopard set the flawless oval gemstone into a ring consisting of a diamond band set in white gold. Blue diamonds rarely occur in nature, and are caused by traces of boron in diamond's lattice structure.

Diamonds lacking visible nitrogen impurities, which tend to discolour them with a dirty yellow tinge, are rarer still. This one is a vibrant icy blue.

The most famous blue diamond in the world, the Hope Diamond, named after one of its owners of that name, now resides in the Smithsonian museum. It was once set in a necklace by Louis XV, and was supposed to be cursed, with the many supposed victims of the curse including Marie Antoinette.

The curse was a complete fabrication, based on the false idea that it had been one of two eyes of a statue in a Hindu temple, but this was never the case. 

The Hope is actually greyer than the subject of this list which, whilst not showy, is impossible to ignore. It resembles an engagement ring which, whilst a fairly hefty investment, would be unlikely to be greeted with a 'no'. It is valued at £9.8m. #2 Heart of the Kingdom Ruby

British jewellers Garrard have set this patriotically named piece on a diamond necklace. The central jewel weighs a substantial 40.63 carats (eight and one eight grams) and derives from Burma. The clear, deep red gem has been cut with a small dint at the top to yield the shape referred to by the name.

Burma has been the source of other great rubies, notably the DeLong Star ruby which now resides in the American Museum of Natural History.

That ruby was once stolen, ransomed for $25,000 and dropped off in a phone booth. This one would likely fetch more, being valued at £8.48m.

#3 The Winston Earrings

The famous jeweller Harry Winston of California loans out close to $1bn worth of jewellery to stars for Oscar night. It should therefore be no surprise to see his name associated with a piece on this list.

The 2006 earrings, which are set in platinum, are accurately described as 'Diamond Drop', in reference to the sizeable droplets of white diamond hanging free from somewhat smaller diamonds above.

They weigh 60.1 carats between them and are valued at £5.25m. And no, you have to buy them as a pair.

#4 2007's Greatest Blue Diamond Ring

The then record breaking price of £4.84m was obtained for a flawless fancy vivid blue diamond set in a simple ring in Hong Kong. The squarish cut gem which weighs 6.04 carats has an unusual dark hue and is particularly sparkling.

#5 Beyoncé and Jay Z's wedding ring

Lorraine Schwartz provided an 18 carat emerald cut diamond-in-platinum ring to seal the knot between the stars.

#6 Paris' Diamond Engagement Ring

The ring which was intended to unite the two Paris heirs: Hilton and her then fiancé, shipping millionaire Paris Latsis is 24 carat emerald cut, and thought to be worth £2.85m.

#7 De Beers 'Marie Antoinette' Diamond necklace

De Beers think that the famous French queen would have loved its 181 carats necklace with a mix of cut white and fancy vivid coloured diamonds down the centre. The price tag is £2.24m.

#8 Fergie's wedding Necklace

The Black Eyed Peas singer topped off her wedding with a gold necklace heavily slung with diamonds, designed by H Stern - a small matter of £1.92m.

#9 The Chopard Haute Joaillerie Diamond and Emerald necklace

The alternating of clear white and deep green gems gives a beautiful, shimmering, watery effect. The 191 carats of Columbian emeralds dominate the rose cut diamonds, and the effect is impossible to ignore, even from the far side of a room.

Although not officially priced, they would be expected to sell for £1.85m #10 Tiffany's Majestic Diamond Pendant

With an attention-seizing main pear-shaped white diamond of 41.4 carats surrounded by smaller, clear circular and pear diamonds, Tiffany's proudest neckwear seems something of a bargain at £1.54m.

With all the galleries sprouting up along H Street NE, the neighborhood may be on its way to becoming Washington's next big arts district, and another addition this weekend will certainly help the area's credibility. G Fine Art, formerly housed along 14th Street, is taking up residence in the up-and-coming neighborhood.

The gallery celebrates its move to Northeast Washington on Saturday with a new exhibition and an opening reception. The work of A.B. Miner goes on display in "Naked," a show that strips down in more ways than one. In one diptych, Miner pulls back the curtain on his creative process, while a massive 12-panel painting shows a year in the life of a post-surgery expanse of skin from a landscape of stitches to a healed, though scarred, chest. Meanwhile the video piece "Fly 08" -- a riff on Yoko Ono's "Fly" -- features the interaction between an insect and a reclining nude figure.