The one-of-a-kind tree decoration is made of 18 carat white gold and is plastered with over one and half thousand stunning diamonds.

It is surrounded by two incredible rings featuring 188 red rubies and took all year to design and make.

The bauble is being unveiled tomorrow night, but is currently being kept under lock and key in Titchfield, Hampshire.

It is so valuable it is being kept in a steel-framed case surrounded by 6mm thick laminated glass.

The box is surrounded by a high tech microwave bubble, which sounds if it is broken, and even has an extra internal alarm which fills the shop with smoke if it goes off.

It was dreamt up by Mark Hussey, 38, the owner of 30-year-old family business Hallmark Jewellers.

He said: “It was never about the value of the bauble, we just wanted to do something special for Christmas.

“It was more about making something unique, but as we researched other amazing baubles we discovered the most expensive one was £26,874. (more…)

Amidst all the holiday shopping craziness, most Americans at this time of year want to see holiday signs that wish them a “Merry Christmas.”

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of adults prefer “Merry Christmas,” while 22% like “Happy Holidays” instead. Older Americans favor “Merry Christmas” more than younger adults.

Married adults fancy the traditional greeting a lot more than unmarrieds, although there is virtually no difference in the views of those with children in the home and those who don’t have children living with them.

Perhaps inevitably as with much of what is polled by Rasmussen Reports, there is a partisan difference on the question.
Ninety-one percent (91%) of Republicans and 70% of adults not affiliated with either major political party like store signs that wish them a “Merry Christmas,” compared to just 58% of Democrats.

Last year, 68% of all adults wanted holiday signs to read “Merry Christmas,” while 25% preferred “Happy Holidays.”
In a spearate survey released just before Thanksgiving, seven percent (7%) of Americans said they’ve already completed their holiday shopping. But 57% of adults hadn’t started yet.

The good news is that 53% of Americans said they were more thankful this Thanksgiving than they were last year at this time.