His personal favorites were the deep yellow gems known as canary diamonds.

The jeweler had just purchased it from her stepmother's estate and was selling the 52-carat canary diamond for an asking price of $4,250,000.

The canary diamond glittered at him, and he had an idea-a brilliant one, if he did say so himself.

"It's a 20-carat canary diamond," he told her.

Next time around, Ms. Rothschild said, "I would like at least an 8-carat canary diamond.

The pseudovoice seeming to come from behind the mask of canary diamonds was sweetly humorous.

"The talk around here about canary diamonds and pink diamonds among housewives is diabolical," said one Greenwich mother who did not wish to be named.

Pettigrew called attention to a solitaire ring with a fifteen-carat canary diamond.

Viewers saw the solitaire with the canary diamond; they glimpsed the emerald brooch.

James merely gave an easy smile, flanked by the glistening canary diamonds in his ears, and waved to the waiting news media.