Whether you love or loathe the year 2020, taking a moment to dive back into the past can spark a wave of delightful nostalgia. Here’s our top 10 nostalgic roundup of the coolest relics from the radiant 1990s. Each entry brings a burst of pure joy and comes with its own quirky backstory or fascinating tidbit that helped shape pop‑culture. So buckle up, and let’s reminisce—maybe we’ll even convince JNCOs to make a comeback!

Why This Is the Top 10 Nostalgic List

10 Big Brother Magazine

The debut issue hit the stands in 1992, sporting a warning label and a cartoon teen pointing a revolver at his own nose. The second issue saw Jeff Tremaine—future creator of Jackass—jump aboard the wildly chaotic Steve Rocco‑run venture that essentially flipped the bird at the polished, corporate‑run skate mags of the era, which mostly resembled shoe catalogues. Crude, rude, in‑your‑face, and unapologetically disgusting, it embodied everything a 1990s skater kid craved. From as early as eleven, I was hooked on Dave Carnie’s profanity‑laden editorials.

Big Brother published literally anything. One article taught readers how to commit suicide; another explained how to siphon cocaine with a straw, complete with a photo of a kid doing just that on a skateboard (the dust was real‑life Pixie‑Stik). The staff also pulled outlandish stunts, like stuffing entire issues into cereal boxes, and became the first mag to bundle VHS tapes and stickers. More than a pre‑Internet DIY outlet, it was a wild, pre‑Jackass incubator of poop jokes and anarchic humor.

9 POGs

POGs trace a surprisingly ancient lineage back four centuries, originating in Japan’s Edo period (1603‑1868) with a game called Menko, which used circular paper pieces. The concept migrated to Polynesia, then evolved in Japan into rectangular cards—widely regarded as the forerunners of modern trading cards (fun fact: Nintendo began as a trading‑card company). In 1991, a school counselor sought a non‑violent recess activity and swapped out old milk caps for lids from the Passion Orange Guava (POG) fruit drink.

This simple switch ignited a global craze. Southern Californian entrepreneur Alan Ripinski bought the rights to the caps, licensing the idea to virtually every brand in the 1990s. Caps bearing O.J. Simpson’s mug‑shot, fast‑food logos, and movie releases flooded the market; 350 million were sold in 1994 alone. However, Ripinski’s over‑saturation backfired, and by 1996 knock‑offs made from flashy plastic turned the caps into mere trinkets, ending the fad within a few short years.

8 Goldeneye 64

Goldeneye 64 stands as the quintessential ’90s video‑game masterpiece. Development kicked off in 1995, and when the Nintendo 64 launched the title in August 1997, few predicted its monumental impact. It shattered the dominance of Doom by abandoning the fixed‑rail shooter format, introducing free‑movement, and pioneering four‑player split‑screen deathmatches—a feature added at the last minute. Widely hailed as the most influential first‑person shooter, it ranks as the third‑best‑selling N64 game ever and amassed a slew of awards for its groundbreaking design. Many of us still cherish the cheat‑code‑laden GameShark sessions and the chaotic paintball mode with golden rocket launchers.

7 JNCOs

Los Angeles‑based JNCO (Judge None Choose One) was founded in 1985 by Moroccan‑born, French‑raised brothers Haim Milo Revah and Jacques Yaakov. With a $200,000 life‑savings investment, they aimed to upend denim norms, drawing inspiration from the baggy pants sported by urban Californian Latinos. The iconic crown logo was crafted by renowned L.A. street artist Joseph Montalvo, aka Nuke. Teens devoured the alien‑like designs, vivid logo patches, and bold colorways, embracing the rebellion against the stale Levis of the boom‑ers.

The flagship 23‑inch leg width became a staple, and a jaw‑dropping 50‑inch version also hit the shelves. By 1998, JNCO raked in $186.9 million; a year later, sales halved. The brand lingered through the 2000s, catering to club kids and ravers. After the license terminated in 2018, a 2019 announcement hinted at a revival—though we’re still debating whether the world needs JNCOs back in 2020.

6 Surge Soda

The 1980s‑1990s saw Coca‑Cola and Pepsi locked in a fierce “Cola Wars,” spawning oddball products as each tried to outdo the other. In 1997, Coke launched Surge to challenge Pepsi’s Mountain Dew, branding it as a “hardcore” cola for the skate‑punk, MTV‑driven generation. Unlike traditional caffeine, Surge’s formula used maltodextrin, an energy‑boosting starch. A planned Super Bowl debut was delayed after Coke settled a naming dispute with a company that made cow‑milking machines called “Surge.” After only five years, the drink vanished in 2003, though limited re‑releases have surfaced since.

Top 10 Discontinued Sodas

5 Sony Playstation 1

The PlayStation debuted in Japan in 1994 and hit North America in 1995, originally intended as a joint venture with Nintendo. The partnership fell apart in 1991 when Nintendo switched to Philips, leading Sony to craft a sleek, blocky console reminiscent of the SNES—rumored to be a cheeky jab. The system pioneered 3D gaming, a bold gamble at the time. Fun quirks include the black disc color chosen purely for aesthetic flair, Crash Bandicoot originally being a wombat, and two failed mascots: Polygon Man (a shape‑head representing 3D graphics) and Toro, an obscure white cat that never left Japan.

4 McDonald’s Big N’ Tasty (or: The Failed War Against the Whopper)

Corporate rivalry can be ruthless. Just as Coke and Pepsi sparred, McDonald’s and Burger King have long battled, each boasting distinct menus. McDonald’s, determined to eclipse the Whopper, launched a series of attempts: the 1984 McDLT with a dual‑compartment wrapper, the 1991 McLean Deluxe, the 1996 Arch Deluxe, and finally the 1997 Big N’ Tasty. Though initially a premium offering, it soon fell to the dollar menu and was replaced in 2003 by the double cheeseburger. Today, the sandwich—sometimes dubbed the “Big N’ Nasty”—remains available on select military bases and in parts of the Middle East.

3 Pokemon

Pokemon, originally Pocket Monsters, burst onto the scene in 1996, created by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. Game Freak started as a modest comic‑zine that interviewed arcade owners for high‑score tips, eventually earning Nintendo’s trust with a Yoshi puzzle game in 1991, then a Mario & Wario title that never reached North America. The first releases were Green and Red, later rebranded internationally as Red and Blue. Shockingly, the original plan was to end the series with Gold and Silver—thankfully, they pressed on, spawning a multibillion‑dollar franchise.

2 Titanic

When James Cameron unveiled Titanic in 1997, it became the most expensive film ever made, boasting a $200 million budget. To date, it has amassed $2.195 billion, second only to Cameron’s Avatar. The cultural phenomenon turned Rose and Jack into icons, though casting could have been wildly different—Matthew McConaughey and Gwyneth Paltrow were early contenders. Ultimately, a relatively unknown Kate Winslet sent Cameron a bouquet of roses, prompting the famed “Roses from your Rose” audition that landed her the role. Leo DiCaprio, reportedly cranky over Cameron’s massive sets and 14‑hour shooting days, even asked co‑star Kathy Bates which utensil he should lobotomize himself with. Enya was originally slated to score the film, but Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” stole the spotlight. The production cost, adjusted for inflation, outpaced the real Titanic’s $150 million expense. On the final night of filming in Nova Scotia, a batch of chowder was laced with PCP, sending about 80 cast and crew members to the hospital with hallucinations.

1 The O.J. Simpson Trial

The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson dominated the 1990s, pioneering the modern true‑crime media frenzy. Before his arrest, O.J. received counsel from Robert Kardashian—father of Kim Kardashian and a close confidant. Legend says O.J. nearly shot himself in Kim’s bedroom before Robert intervened. The infamous white Bronco chase that captivated the nation is now displayed in a Tennessee crime museum. While the chase aired, pizza orders at Domino’s skyrocketed as the country stared glued to their screens. Though acquitted, the trial ruined prosecutor Marcia Clark’s life, despite her bestselling memoir. After the verdict, O.J. threw an enormous party that spiraled out of control, prompting police to shut it down.

Top 10 Reasons Life Was Better In The ’90s

The mythic Heart of the Ocean may have sparked a cinematic treasure hunt in James Cameron’s Titanic, but the genuine quest involves 10 missing gems that slipped through the fingers of history. While the fabled necklace never existed, countless real jewels have disappeared into the annals of time, leaving scholars and adventurers alike to wonder where they might be hidden. Below, we count down ten legendary gems and jewels that remain unfound.

Why These 10 Missing Gems Captivate Treasure Hunters

10 The Blue Diamond

The Blue Diamond, a 69‑carat marvel unearthed in India, is widely hailed as the world’s earliest known blue diamond. King Louis XIV of France acquired it in 1668, then expertly cut it to its famed 69‑carat size before setting it into the prestigious Order of the Golden Fleece.

Although the diamond’s early provenance is well documented, the later chapters of its life grow murkier. In 1791, amid the French Revolution, King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette attempted to flee, only to be captured. Revolutionary forces stormed the palace, looting its treasures—including the famed Blue Diamond—marking the last recorded sighting of the French Blue.

Unlike many lost jewels that simply vanished, the French Blue appears to have been re‑fashioned. Modern scientific analysis of the Hope Diamond, now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, suggests it is the very same stone, trimmed down to roughly two‑thirds of its original mass.

Thus, the dazzling blue gem that once dazzled French royalty may still be glimmering today, albeit under a different name and a slightly altered cut.

9 The Great Mogul Diamond

The Great Mogul Diamond earned its name by being the largest diamond ever extracted from Indian mines, weighing an astonishing 787 carats when first uncovered in 1650.

Emperor Aurangzeb sent the massive stone to Venice, where master cutter Hortentio Borgis attempted to shape it, shaving roughly 500 carats off the original. Dissatisfied, the emperor fined the jeweler for each penny lost in the process.

After that dramatic episode, the diamond faded from recorded history. Many scholars suspect it perished during the 1739 sack of Delhi, while others argue the famed Orlov Diamond could be the same stone, citing their shared “half‑egg” description—yet conclusive proof remains elusive.

8 The Irish Crown Jewels

The Irish Crown Jewels once belonged to the Order of St Patrick, an elite aristocratic order that used the gems during swearing‑in ceremonies for the Viceroy of Ireland and the Grand Master of the Order.

Tragedy struck on July 6, 1901, when a routine inventory revealed the jewels had vanished—just days before King Edward VII’s scheduled visit to Dublin, where the jewels were to be displayed for a new knighting ceremony.

Extensive police searches across Dublin turned up nothing, and despite numerous false leads over the ensuing years, the priceless regalia have never resurfaced.

7 The Marlborough Diamond

The Marlborough Diamond, a 45‑carat treasure, was proudly exhibited in the front window of a high‑end London jewellery shop, a decision that would soon invite trouble.

Members of the Chicago mob, having spotted the gem, orchestrated a daylight robbery on September 11, 1980, disguising themselves as Arab sheikhs. Though the thieves escaped the shop and even left the country, they were intercepted at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on their return.

Both culprits, Art Rachel and Jerry Scalise, served over four decades behind bars. Yet the Marlborough Diamond itself vanished without a trace; authorities suspect the seasoned criminals know its location, but they have never disclosed any details.

6 The Atocha Star

The Atocha Star is a celebrated Colombian emerald, originally weighing about 25 carats, that set sail aboard the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha in 1622 en route to Spain.

A ferocious hurricane sank the vessel off the Florida coast, consigning its treasure—including the emeralds, gold, and silver—to the ocean’s depths.

Treasure hunter Mel Fisher located the wreck in 1985, recovering six pounds of cargo. Among the finds was the Atocha Star, which Fisher had trimmed to roughly 12 carats and mounted on a gold eagle statue.

In 2016, the golden eagle—along with the emerald—was stolen from a Vancouver exhibition at Art Vancouver. Despite an active police investigation, the statue and its precious stone remain missing.

5 Akhbar Shah

The Akhbar Shah, a pear‑shaped diamond weighing roughly 119 carats, originally adorned Emperor Akbar’s Peacock Throne, a centerpiece of Mughal splendor.

When the throne was looted and transported to Iran, the diamond vanished for nearly a century. It resurfaced in 1866 when merchant George Blogg acquired it, dubbing it “The Shepherd Stone,” and shipped it to London for reshaping before selling it to Indian noble Malhar Rao.

Contemporary tax filings suggest the Rao family may still possess the gemstone, yet no public verification exists. The stone’s ultimate whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery, with rumors of further sales or hidden caches.

4 The Florentine Diamond

The Florentine Diamond, a yellowish 137‑carat marvel, is believed to have originated with Charles, Duke of Burgundy, though its early history is hazy.

After the duke fell in battle in 1476, a soldier seized the gem and sold it. It later resurfaced in Tuscany under the care of the Medici family, who eventually sold it in 1657.Subsequent owners included Charles I of Austria. During his exile in World War I, the jewel was stolen, and speculation abounds that it was smuggled to the United States, recut, and sold under a new identity—yet no definitive evidence confirms this theory.

3 Hawaiian Crown Jewels

Before becoming a U.S. state, Hawaii operated as an independent kingdom with its own royal regalia, including a dazzling crown and accompanying jewels.

On April 3, 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown, and shortly thereafter officials discovered that the trunk containing King Kalākaua’s crown had been broken into, its jewels stripped away.

Over 600 gems vanished; some were recovered from royal guards’ pockets, but the majority disappeared into the black market, never to be reclaimed.

2 The Romanov Crown Jewels

The Bolshevik Revolution not only birthed the legend of Anastasia but also saw the disappearance of priceless Romanov crown jewels.

For years, the collection was thought complete until a 1922 publication hinted at previously undocumented pieces. One of those items was later recovered, yet three remain unaccounted for.

Scholars debate the fate of the missing pieces: some argue Soviet agents pilfered them, while others suspect they were concealed during the royal family’s exile in Siberia, awaiting discovery.

1 The Eagle Diamond

The Eagle Diamond, discovered in 1876 near Eagle, Wisconsin, while workers were constructing a well, weighs between 15 and 16 carats, making it the largest U.S. diamond of its era.

Local resident Clarissa Woods presented the stone to a jeweler, who sent it to Chicago for analysis, confirming its significance.

Sold to Tiffany’s and later displayed at the American Museum of Natural History, the diamond was stolen in 1964 by famed thief “Murph the Surf.” Although many stolen items from the heist were recovered, the Eagle Diamond itself remains missing.