Now’s the Time to Wear Flower Shaped Diamond Jewellery

Spring is in the air so it’s time to buy one of those new trendy floral dresses and get your sandals out. And what could be more appropriate to accessorise your warm weather ensemble than some flower shaped diamond jewellery. It can be in the form of a diamond ring, diamond earrings or a diamond pendant in the shape of the flower.

Mother Nature provides some fantastic inspiration for pieces of jewellery with fabulous shapes and colours like green emeralds for the leaves and red rubies, yellow sapphires or blue topaz for the flowers.

Spring and summer hopefully gives you the opportunity to bare some flesh and show off your tan so make sure you’ve got the right diamond jewellery to complement the look.

Cheryl Cole replaces her wedding band with a cocktail ring

Singer Cheryl Cole is currently in Paris carrying out promotional duties for her new single, Parachute. When she left her hotel the paparazzi snapped her wearing a large gold cocktail ring rather than the two diamond rings her estranged husband Ashley Cole bought her.

And for once the X Factor judge was pleased to be snapped, proudly waving her bare wedding finger at the cameras, along with a beaming smile.

In a recent poll she was voted the most inspirational woman in the world. In what may have been a veiled jibe about her marriage to the Chelsea footballer she said: “I love inspiring other women. But I'm still a human being, so obviously there are going to be times I still make mistakes - a bad choice or a bad outfit or whatever, but I'm hoping that still is an inspiration to women.”

Would be great to think that Ashley has now been relegated to the realms of an impulse buy that’s never going to suit her so she’ll throw it away!

Oscars curse on marriages of award winning actresses

With Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes becoming the latest Hollywood marriage casualty it seems that a pattern is emerging that a love split seems to follow on from winning an Oscar and naming partners in the thank you speech.

Kate Winslet and Same Mendes married in 2003 in an impromptu ceremony in the Caribbean. It was so unplanned that she didn’t have the time to buy her husband a wedding ring but Mendes managed to place a very large diamond ring on her finger

When Kate Winslet won her Best Actress Oscar in 2009 for The Reader, she gushed about Sam Mendes: “I'm so lucky to have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children who let me do what I love and who love me just the way that I am.” And now just over a year later she has announced her split from the Oscar-winning director.

And there are a number of actresses who are casualties of winning Academy Awards:

Hilary Swank won best actress in 2005 for her role in Million Dollar Baby and in her speech mentioned her husband “'I am going to start by thanking my husband. Chad, you're my everything.” She married Chad Lowe (brother of Rob) in 1997, but in less than a year she had left him and started dating her agent,

Halle Berry made her name as super-heroine Storm in X-Men and married R & B singer Eric Benet after a whirlwind romance in 2001. She won best actress in 2002 saying “Thank you, my husband, who is just a joy of my life.” The couple split in 2003 following stories of Eric's serial adultery. Halle is now with toyboy supermodel boyfriend Gabriel Aubry who romantically gave her his grandmother’s diamond engagement ring after the birth of their daughter.

Reese Witherspoon has had s series of successful movies over the years including Legally Blond. She married the lesser known actor Ryan Philippe in 1999 and they had two children. He proposed to Reese in December 1998 giving her a very rare early Neil Lane, four-carat Asscher cut diamond platinum engagement ring. She won best Actress in 2006 for the Johnny Cash movie Walk the Line saying “I want to say thank you to my wonderful husband and my two children, who should be going to bed. Thank you for loving me so much and supporting me.” It turns out they had been receiving marriage guidance counselling since 2002 and finally separated at the end of 2006. They divorced in 2008 following his alleged affair with actress Abbie Cornish while Reese found comfort with Jake Gyllenhaal.

Kim Basinger is a beautiful ex-model who has appeared in a number of popular films. Her second husband was actor Alec Baldwin with whom she had a daughter. She won best Supporting Actress in 1998 for LA Confidential saying “Wow. Thanks to my husband Alec” and then divorced him in 2001 because of his bad temper and famously sold her 3.7 carat diamond engagement ring.

Emma Thompson is a well loved British actress who has also written a number of successful films. She married actor Kenneth Branagh in 1989 and made Henry V and The Fortunes of War with him. She won best actress in 1993 for Howard’s End and the couple split in 1995. He soon began dating Helena Bonham Carter and she met and subsequently married actor Greg Wise.

Geena Davis made her name in The Fly where she met husband number two Jeff Goldblum. They got married in 1987 and she won best supporting actress in 1989 giving thanks to “my other wonderful acting coach and darling husband Jeff Goldblum”. They had split by the end of the year and Geena went off with director Renny Hartlin.

Helen Hunt married actor Hank Azaria, whom she met in 1994. She won best Actress in 1998 for As Good As It Gets saying “Thank you to just the very best man I know”. They married in 1998 but it lasted less than a year.

Angelina Jolie is the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight who married eccentric actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton and carried his blood in a locket. She won best Supporting Actress in 2000 for Girl, Interrupted and gushed “It's a real deep connection.” Not deep enough it seems, as by 2005 Bill Bob was long gone and she was famously involved with Brad Pitt. The couple famously support number of good causes and recently endorsed a ban on blood diamonds from Zimbabwe. It was after the BAFTA awards in 2009 that she left a pair of $1.6 million diamond earrings in her suite at London's Dorchester Hotel when she left to return to the USA.

Will Katie Price insist on a more expensive diamond wedding ring for ceremony number 2?

Katie Price is planning a second wedding to cage fighter Alex Reid. When she wed Peter Andre at Highclere Castle in 2005 she had a tacky pink theme, but this time she wants to show how much she has changed (which incidentally could also bag her a £1 million magazine deal!).

Price and Reid tied the knot last month in a quickie Las Vegas ceremony at the Wynn Hotel wedding chapel in front of family and friends. Reid presented her with a 'modest' £2,200 wedding band which is a thick set platinum panelled diamond encrusted wedding ring. It is in sharp contrast to the £350,000 ring her ex-husband Peter Andre gave her when they married in 2005. I wonder if she will stick with the diamond ring Reid has given her or insist on something more expensive this time to flash at the magazine photographers?

Apparently this second wedding will be extravagant and romantic with a traditional English theme. Katie Price/Andre/Reid likes the idea of a fairground element and pony rides for the kids. It is also thought that she wants this ceremony to be "star-studded" and may approach Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am to perform on the day.

Affordable Diamond Jewellery for Mother’s Day

The earliest known celebration honouring mothers dates back to the annual spring festival of Ancient Greece which was dedicated to Rhea who was the Mother of the Gods. The Greeks would pay tribute with honey-cakes and flowers at dawn.

In the UK Mother's day is celebrated on the 4th Sunday in Lent (this year on 14th March) but in other countries around the world, it is celebrated at different times.

In America and most European countries honour their mothers on the second Sunday in May. May 10th is the day dedicated to mothers in many Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

But it is very different for mothers in Croatia where on the second Sunday before Christmas the children creep in and tie their mother's feet to a chair, shouting “Mother's Day, Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?” She then gives them presents to untie her!

A Mother's Day card should be a special token of your love that shows your mother just how much she means to you. Pick cards that offer more than just the average text of "enjoy your special day” and look for meaningful poems or passages that show your appreciation for the lady who raised you.

Jewellery is something a bit different as a mother’s day gift, and nowadays you can pick up some very reasonably priced pendants or earrings which can be packaged with a special message. Jewellery is a traditional gift which your mother can keep rather than eat or eventually throw away which is what she would do with chocolates or flowers!

Of course the most special type of jewellery that you can buy your mother is something with diamonds, and you will be surprised how affordable diamond jewellery can be as you don’t have to give her a large solitaire diamond ring! Pearl and diamond earrings are very pretty and acceptable, as is gemstone jewellery and you can pick a ring or earrings or pendant with her birthstone to make it extra special.

How will Cheryl and Ashley split the dogs and the diamonds?

With Cheryl Cole back in the UK at the marital home she shared with Ashley, and the Chelsea footballer staying in France where he is receiving treatment on his broken ankle, rumours are rife on how the couple will eventually split their £35m empire.

In other words, who gets the dogs and the diamonds?

To give you some idea of scale of diamond jewellery we are talking about here: Ashley has an £85,000 Stephen Webster diamond earring which was a wedding gift from Cheryl. He also has a diamond-studded Cartier Santos 100 watch worth £25,000 and a Franck Muller gold watch worth £85,000.

Cheryl has two diamond rings: her heart-shaped diamond wedding ring is worth £150,000 and her square-cut yellow diamond ring is worth around £160,000. She also has a Cartier Santos 100 watch studded with diamonds worth £20,000, plus a fancy Hublot Big Bang Cappuccino watch which is worth £35,000.

Cheryl has a close relationship with the jewellers de Grisogono, who gave her a pair of stunning £70,000 diamond drop earrings which she wore to the X Factor finals.

And then there are the cars: Ashley currently has a driving ban which is stopping him from using any of his incredible collection of vehicles. His favourite is a Lamborghini Gallardo which is worth around £115,000. He also has a £200,000 Bentley and two Range Rovers at £80,000 each.

Ashley bought Cheryl a Bentley for their first wedding anniversary, but she said the £150,000 car was “just too much” so he got her some Cartier jewellery instead.

The two things that Cheryl is almost certainly guaranteed to walk away with are the Chihuahuas Coco and Buster which are her great loves. Apparently Ashley never liked the way she would allow them to sleep in the bedroom, saying they got in the way.

Whatever happens, neither of them will exactly be struggling after the split!

Hollywood’s King of Diamonds

Have you ever wondered how celebrities can afford the fabulous diamond jewellery they wear on the red carpet when they attend major award ceremonies like the Oscars, Batas or Academy Awards? Well most of it is down to one man – Harry Winston – who has his main shop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and loans over $200 million worth of diamonds, ruby and sapphire jewellery to actresses who want to be noticed.

The arrangement benefits the star who gets to wear the finest diamond jewellery for free and the jeweller who gets some very high profile free publicity.

He's been doing this since 1943, when he first supplied Jennifer Jones with her Oscar gems. In 1999 he loaned the Oscar’s host Whoopi Goldberg $41 million dollars worth of jewels (the most ever worn by one person at the ceremony) including a single diamond ring worth $15 million. Also in 1999, Best Actress winner Gwyneth Paltrow and presenter Jennifer Lopez wore jewels by the House of Winston.

He also loans to the film set. When Kate Hudson appeared in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" with Matthew McConaghey, she was wearing an 87 carat diamond pendant created especially for her by Harry Winston.

When Ben Affleck bought Jennifer Lopez her huge pink diamond engagement ring, he bought it at Harry Winston for over a million dollars.

But things do not always work out for him: in 2001 he designed a diamond necklace called "au Chocolat", made of white diamonds in a leaf motif with nine huge chocolate brown diamonds and 18 canary-yellow ones. He hoped that Juliette Binoche (of "Chocolat" fame) would wear it, but she turned up in a string of pearls.

When Winston loaned Sharon Stone a $400,000 necklace to wear to the Oscars she claimed it was a gift and refused to return it, suing him for $12 million, claiming breach of contract.

Known as "The King of Diamonds," Harry Winston has also made a name for acquiring large stones, including the enormous 337 carat Catherine the Great sapphire which Richard Burton presented to Elizabeth Taylor, the 95 carat Star of the East, and the legendary 46 carat Hope Diamond which featured in the film Titanic and which he subsequently donated to the Smithsonian Institution.

There are other jewellers who lend jewellery to the stars for the Academy Awards including Van Cleef & Arpels (located on the same block of Rodeo Drive), but it is Harry Winston who usually manages to steal the spotlight on the news on Oscar Night.

Kimberley Walsh guest judge on 'Let's Dance'

Kimberley Walsh from Girls Aloud will be appearing on BBC1 this Saturday at 18.30 as a guest judge on Let's Dance For Sport Relief. She will be joined by comics Paddy McGuinness (who has recently presented his long term girlfriend with diamond ring and become engaged) and Jason Manford on the celebrity talent contest.

Steve Jones and Claudia Winkleman return as comperes for a second series of the charity show and Katy Brand, Rufus Hound, Linda Robson, Lesley Joseph and snooker star Willie Thorne have been confirmed as contestants.

Others taking part in the competition include Holby City's Rosie Marcel and Luke Roberts, Casualty stars Charles Dale, Tony Marshall and Ben Turner and Olympic athletes Mark Foster, Iwan Thomas, Leon Taylor, Dalton Grant, Heather Fell and Jamie Baulch.

Diamond Star Ring

Look at this, isnt it just gorgeous. A ring like this has been worn by a couple of people on the XFactor and we have been waiting for it to come in.


Its 18ct White Cold, Packed with Diamonds as you can see. By buying this ring at The Diamond Store, you can save yourself 550 pounds!


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And if that isnt enough there´s some stunning matching Diamond Star Earrings too.

Winona Ryder - Would she really steal Diamond Jewellery?

Winona Ryder is in the news again, not for something good unfortunately but for Stealing Diamond Jewellery

She was apparently lent the diamond jewellery to wear at a Marie Claire Party by a top jewellery. A Diamond Bracelet and Diamond Ring have both gone missing. Winona said that she left it with the hotel staff, but cameras have been checked and there is no sign of this.

Winona does have a record for Shop Lifting from a few years ago - but how easy would it be for someone to set her up to?

Buying Jewellery For a Girlfriend: A Guy´s Guide

At the outset of a relationship, buying jewellery as a gift for your girlfriend can seem a tricky business.

However, it needn´tt be traumatic. Whether you´re concerned about giving off the wrong signal or worried she just won´t like it, here are a few simple tips from The Diamond Store, the UK´s biggest online independent jewellers, to help you get it right.

1. General Gift Buying
Unless you are planning to propose, the obvious advice is steer clear of big diamond rings as a first present, or indeed most extravagant rings. If it´s her birthday a gemstone ring with her correct birthstone is acceptable and shows that you have thought about the gift (Opal is October´s birthstone as seen in the ring above). Necklaces, diamond pendants, bracelets and earrings are all good options.

2. To Bling or Not to Bling
While the amount of money you spend may be the most important factor for some women, for the majority it is about the thought that has gone into the present rather than the bling itself. There are always going to be other opportunities to splash out if the relationship continues to go well.

The only thing to bear in mind is how much you like this person, and if you´re feelings are strong and you are sure they are reciprocated, then by all means go to town!

3. Sizing Her Up
This does not have to involve sneaking around under cover of night, measuring her finger while she´s asleep. If you decide to opt for a ring, you can work out her size from jewellery she already owns. It is definitely worth making the effort to do this as there´s nothing more likely to put a dampener on the evening then the ring getting wedged on her finger.

4. The Like-ability Factor
How do you know what she will like? Well, no plan is fail proof but you can get a good idea by having a look through her jewellery case. From this you can work out which stones she has a preference for, what items she most often wears, whether she prefers silver, gold or platinum and the style of jewellery she wears. Think about her personality.

Is she bold and vivacious or demure and elegant? Would a big, chunky diamond bracelet suit her or a more delicate alternative? When you are out shopping next, try subtly to guide her towards the jewelry counter and see what items she makes a beeline for. Also ask her family and friends as they will usually have a good idea of her taste.

5. Bad Reaction
Make sure she´s not allergic. Again, if you cannot ask her directly, ask pals and relatives if they know of any reactions she may have to certain metals. A fairly common one is a sensitivity to earrings made from anything other than sterling silver or gold. After all, there´s no point splurging out on those diamond earrings if they are going to make her ears blow up like cauliflowers!

6. Shopper´s Paradise
Once you have a good idea of what you want to get her, the hardest bit is over. The next step is deciding where to buy it. For sheer choice and savings of up to 60 per cent on high street prices, the Internet is the best place to look.

Make sure the site is registered with a recognised body such as The British Jewellery Association and check their returns policy. Shopping this way gives you the opportunity to browse the wide variety of jewellery at your own pace, without feeling intimidated by over keen sales staff.

Celebrity Marriage Proposals

A marriage proposal should be one of the most romantic and memorable moments of your life, so how do the celebrities do it, given their deep pockets and intense media scrutiny?

British singer Seal rates highly in the romance ratings, following his spectacular proposal to supermodel Heidi Klum. He chose the day before Christmas Eve to take Ms Klum on a helicopter ride to the top of a 14,000 ft glacier. He then took her to a specially created igloo, where he made his proposal. Heidi Klum is quoted as saying that it was a “once-in-a-lifetime event”, and was clearly delighted with her impressive 10 carat cushion-cut diamond engagement ring.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had been dating for just two months when Tom chose the famously romantic city of Paris to make his proposal. After a candlelit dinner for two at the Le Jules Verne restaurant, he proposed at the top of the Eiffel Tower. The location is a bit of a cliché though, and the whole TomKat union was always a bit of an odd one, not least after all the strange rumours surrounding their scientology wedding and the birth of their daughter Suri.

Christina Aguilera’s fiancé, Jordan Bratman, filled a room with balloons, flowers and boxed gifts, with each gift accompanied by a poem he’d written. The last gift contained an impressive five carat diamond and platinum engagement ring. This is a simple and personal proposal, which shows Jordan’s heart is in the right place.

The British are renowned for their deep sense of tradition, as demonstrated by British actor, John Light, when he proposed to Neve Campbell. He got down on one knee and recited Shakespeare before presenting the ring.

A Florida beach was the setting chosen by David Arquette to propose to Courtney Cox. He arranged for an impressive fireworks display to start at the moment he proposed, providing a stunning backdrop to the event.

On the eve of the new millennium, Michael Douglas hosted a party at his Aspen home, where he proposed to his then two months pregnant fiancée, Catherine Zeta Jones. He chose a beautiful antique 10 carat marquise-cut diamond ring, estimated to be worth over a million dollars. Given the circumstances, one can presume he felt confident she would say yes!

Denzel Washington may be a Hollywood Oscar winner, but if there were Oscars for romance, he’d definitely be going home empty handed. He proposed to his wife over the phone whilst on location filming a TV series! The couple married in 1983 and went on to have four children. They renewed their wedding vows in 1995, in a ceremony presided over by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, proving that the most enduring marriages can spring from the least romantic starts.

It seems that while some celebrity proposals require a deep wallet, many are simply the result of a bit of effort and imagination, and could be within the reach of anyone. Of course, a big sparkling rock on your finger helps, but at the end of the day it’s the sentiment that really counts.

Engagement Ring Found After Magpie Steals It And Buries It In Nest For Three Years!

A platinum diamond engagement ring has been found in a Magpie's nest at the bottom of the garden, three years after it disappeared.

Julie Boaler was taking a shower when the £5,000 pear shaped diamond ring went missing, and explained: "I left it on the bathroom window ledge when i had a shower and it wasn't there when i returned."

"I thought it must have fallen in the bathroom or even fell out of the window but it was a complete mystery.

"I was heartbroken .... and Justin was not best pleased either".

The couple searched high and low, even ripping up the lino of the bathroom floor, but in the end had to give up the search.

Three years on, the couple were tidying up the garden in preparation for moving house, when the magpie nest was found.

The couple are still engaged, with plans to marry soon. They have now insured the ring!

How Will The Credit Crunch Affect Our Spending Habits?

It is true to say that nearly all of us are feeling the pinch of the global credit crunch. You just have to stroll around one of the country’s shopping centres to notice that everywhere is becoming eerily quiet.

A shift in the economic climate inevitably brings with it a shift in consumer values. Over the last decade we have become (for want of a better expression) a throw away society. Quantity has gradually taken precedence over quality and we have all become obsessed with constant renewal albeit televisions or t-shirts. As a consequence of the credit crunch, people are being forced to realise that having more doesn’t necessarily result in fulfilment. In fact, people are going back to basics and are starting take on board the financial values of their grandparents era, long before we all became consumed by consumerism.

So if its back to basics, does that mean that will be shunning luxury products as part of our Spartan lifestyle?

On the contrary, since people are going to be thinking more about the long term future and less about the immediate future, I predict a return to luxury goods. During an economic crisis people are less likely to be frivolous and more sentimental. I use the word sentimental in the sense that when they make purchases, they are not only going to be driven by their own desires but that are going to be sensible and consider its usage for future generations.

This is particularly the case with jewellery. Whereas before a woman might have opted for gemstone rings in every colour to match every outfit she will now invest in one special diamond ring instead that goes with everything. Women on the high street have been squandering hundreds every season on costume jewellery to keep up with the ever changing trends. It is the type of jewellery that breaks or tarnishes after a few wears. Even if it doesn’t it will be worn for a handful of times then cast aside to make way for the next trend. Over the duration of a year such frivolous jewellery shopping adds up with nothing of value to show for it and especially nothing to pass down as an heirloom. Which is why in today’s current climate, women are considering their jewellery choices wisely. Instead they are opting for a classic pair of diamond earrings that can be worn elegantly in any season with any outfit. They are so timeless that they will not only be enjoyed by you for years to come but also future generations.

Although the initial investment is considerably higher than the average piece of costume jewellery from the high street, in cost per wear terms, you are spending less on a real treasure that will ultimately become an heirloom as its value just cannot be compared. So although the credit crunch brings with it a change in consumer mentality perhaps it will finally encourage people to get into the habit of spending their money wisely on one or two luxury products instead of frittering it away with little to show for it.

Never Too Posh To Pawn!

Aparently, upmarket pawnbrokers are seeing a massive increase in the number of wealthy individuals pawning jewellery and other valuables.

Diamond rings, watches and other jewellery items are popular choices, with even diamond engagement rings being temporarily pawned in the hope that they can be retrieved when finances are more free flowing.

The credit crunch is clearly affecting people at every level. For many, the current climate means making changes to the way they shop, buying cheaper food brands and looking at ways to pull in the purse strings on their day to day living expenditure. However, among the wealthier sets, it is the luxury items that are hit. It may be that they can't quite find the deposit for that holiday villa, or they're struggling to pay the private school fees. And with banks more reluctant to offer credit, the pawnshop is becoming the best place to secure credit, and with no form filling and waiting around for bank approval.

Elle Macpherson Must Be Feeling Bad

The news that multi-millionnaire Arpad Busson has become engaged to Uma Thurman must have been a painful thing for Elle Macpherson to hear.

Elle devoted nine years of her life to the wealthy hedge-funder, and had two children with him, but he never asked her to marry him. The generally accepted excuse was that his strong catholic faith forbade him marrying a divorcee. Yet here he is, engaged to a twice divorced agnostic, whose father was the first westerner to be ordained a Buddhist priest!

And it's not as if they're being very discreet about the news. They've been celebrating in style with a celebrity studded party at their Kensington home, which must really be rubbing Elle's nose in it.

Well, he may have been tactless about his recent engagement, but he certainly has got style when it comes to choosing engagement rings. Uma is wearing a divine 8 carat diamond ring that really does make a statement.

Is Lindsay Lohan In A Lesbian Relationship?

Well, it seems that the rumours are rampant about Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson, after they were seen openly kissing & canoodling in Cannes this week. Are they more than just friends??

Tongues were wagging even more when Lindsay started wearing a diamond ring on her engagement finger......

I think she looks really happy in the pictures, so whatever the nature of their relationship, it seems to be having a positive effect, so good for her!

Samantha Ronson is the sister of DJ Mark Ronson, and the two have become very close friends during the last year.

Can Billy Zane Win Back Kelly Brook?

It looks like Billy Zane is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to win back Kelly Brook, after she recently called off their engagement and declared that she didn't think he was the right man for her to marry.

Billy was spotted buying red roses and chocolates before taking Kelly out for a romantic dinner in London.......but i think he could have been a bit more creative!! Roses and chocolates are hardly very original.......

Kelly is still not wearing her diamond engagement ring, so it looks like he might have to try a bit harder to win her back!

Is Mariah Carey Engaged?

Mariah Carey has been spotted wearing a gorgeous (and enormous) diamond ring on her wedding finger, sparking rumours that she's engaged to current boyfriend, Nick Cannon.

Neither Mariah nor Nick's PR reps have confirmed the rumours, so we'll just have to wait and see if this is an engagement ring, or whether Mariah has simply decided to treat herself to a bit of bling!

Either way, it's a stunning piece of jewellery to show off.