Famous Jewellery Songs From Diamonds to Gold

Jewellery does more than make us feel a million dollars, it has inspired hundreds of songs across every genre and era. From diamonds and rubies to gleaming gold, precious stones and metals have given musicians some of their most memorable lyrics and hooks. Whether you love a retro classic or a modern hit, there is a jewellery song for you. This explainer rounds up some of the most famous jewellery songs of all time, with a nod to the real gems and metals you can find in Hatton Garden, London's diamond quarter in the EC1N postcode.

Diamonds Are Forever by Shirley Bassey

There are countless songs about diamonds, from The Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds to Rihanna's chart-topping Diamonds, but Shirley Bassey's Diamonds Are Forever remains one of the most iconic of all. Released in 1971 as the theme to the James Bond film of the same name, it has lost none of its glamour.

The track has since been resampled by major artists, including Kanye West, who reworked the classic into something entirely modern. That a song about a diamond still resonates decades later says much about the stone's enduring appeal.

It is a fitting anthem for a gem so closely tied to permanence and lasting love.

Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs

Who could forget the Kaiser Chiefs' lively romp Ruby, with one of the catchiest choruses of its decade. A summer anthem from 2007, it kept the band's name on the radio for years afterwards.

While the song uses Ruby as a woman's name, the bright red gemstone could easily inspire a song of its own. Rubies have symbolised passion and vitality for centuries, and remain among the most prized coloured stones.

It is proof that even a glancing reference to a gem can give a song lasting sparkle.

Fun fact: Fine rubies can be rarer and, carat for carat, more valuable than diamonds, with the deepest red Burmese stones among the most sought-after gems in the world.

Gold by Spandau Ballet

It is not only gemstones that get their own songs, as precious metals have inspired plenty too. Few are more memorable than Spandau Ballet's 1983 smash Gold, an uplifting anthem built on peppy verses and a soaring chorus.

The song has comfortably stood the test of time, still filling dance floors decades on. Like the metal itself, it has proved remarkably durable, its appeal undimmed by the years.

Gold's lasting popularity mirrors the metal's own history as a symbol of value and celebration. If these songs have you in the mood for the real thing, the jewellers of Hatton Garden can show you diamonds, coloured gemstones and gold to match any anthem.