Realising the diamond was likely detached in the pool, Christine felt “pretty sick” when she discovered it was gone. Christine and Richard Downer were on a cruise with friends in southern France when the diamond dislodged from Christine's engagement ring. Other passengers joined the search, spending more than an hour sweeping the pool in a grid pattern with their feet. It was all over again, and there’s no way I am going to let this ring be lost,” he said. Richard pictured with the missing diamond.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 21, 2025 05:50 UTC