Party like a Rockefeller

During the depression, while the rest of the country was pinching pennies and just scraping by, the Rockefeller family was holding fabulous soirees complete with unique ideas.  One of my favorites centerpiece ideas stems from their lavish parties.  The Rockefellers would put a long, rectangular box filled with sand in the middle of the dinner table.  The mini trowels  placed in the box helps the guests unearth their party favors: emerald necklaces, diamond earrings, ruby bracelets, you name it!  Why not update this idea by choose or creating a box of your own, filling it with decorative stones, crystals or even candy, and hiding favors in it?