Celebrities and Their Diamond Engagement Rings

What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.

The history of diamond engagement rings

Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.

The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.

Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.

Famous ladies and their engagement rings

Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:

Royalty:

• Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.
• Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
• Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.

Actresses:

• Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
• Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
• Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.
• Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.

Pop stars:

• Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
• In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
• Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
• Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
• Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
• Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.

Replica diamond engagement rings

Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.

Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.

Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.

Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.

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Tim Richardson
http://www.loveanddiamonds.com

Reality TV - American Idol

Not everybody is into reality TV. It's understandable. Many of the shows are just plain stupid. But for pure entertainment value, it is hard to argue that American Idol is not the cream of the crop. This show doesn't seem to lose steam, even after five seasons. If you think that's not accurate, you might like to know that more people voted in the American Idol finals this past year than in any presidential election, ever. Of course that's a sad commentary on our political and social system, but nonetheless, those are the facts.

So why is American Idol so popular? Is it that good? Are the singers that good? Is the concept itself so interesting and unique? Is there just nothing else on worth watching Tuesday and Wednesday nights? Do we love to hate Simon? Do we love to love Ryan? Or do we just love rooting for the underdog? While we may not really know the answers to any of these questions, it would be interesting to at least explore just what it is that makes American Idol such a big hit with young and old alike.

There's no doubt that there is a certain amount of suspense with American Idol, wondering who's going to get booted off the show each week. And for those who think that the losers are predictable, one only need to go back to the episode where Chris, who every one thought was going to be the new American Idol, got booted off the show. The look on his face when he got the news may have been the photographic moment of the year. So there is definitely a bit of uncertainty with this show.

What about the talent? Is any of it really that good? Is there anybody really worth caring about? Well, probably one of the greatest singers of today came out of this show. If you never had the pleasure to hear Clay Aiken sing, you have no idea what you're missing. And he wasn't even the winner that year, the award going to Rueben Stoddard in what was probably one of the most controversial Idol votes in the whole history of the show itself. The ratings for that last show were through the roof.

And yes, there is always rooting for the underdog. Did anyone really think that a prematurely gray haired guy by the name of Taylor Hicks could have come away with this year's title? He may have not had the greatest voice of all the contestants, but you couldn't ask for more of a showman. Yes, he was the dark horse contestant and yet, he won it all.

And then there are Simon, Paula and Randy. You can call them the 3 Musketeers or the 3 Stooges, but they are certainly entertaining. Yes, Simon is the one everyone watches to see and hear and he's going to say next to insult somebody. Heaven knows why we love that stuff. Thank goodness we have Ryan to keep the three of them in line.

Whatever the reason for American Idol's success, one thing can't be disputed. This is a show that may very well be around long after many of the careers they've spawned are dead and buried.

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Source: Your Independent guide to Reality TV

Free Golf Instruction

If you wish to learn how to play golf, you can hire a golf instructor to guide you. However, if an instructor is not available or you just can’t afford one, you can always refer to books and magazines to know how the game is played. This can be especially helpful if you prefer self-study. Golf literature can teach you about preparation for a game, rules and etiquette, and the best and Latest Golf News & equipment on the market.

For the most part, learning always includes trying to play the game and learning how to maneuver each club using proper technique. A beginner should observe other players closely when on the golf course. It is necessary for a beginner to ask someone about his or her posture while playing. This “spotting” is essential to pinpoint certain deficiencies you have in the game. It also gives the beginner an idea on what to focus on in his game. Ask your golf buddies for other useful tips to help you improve your game.

Watching how others play the game can be very helpful. You can observe the proper posture and alignment of the body when taking a swing. If you want to learn from the best, watch professional golf on sports channels. Observe how professionals approach the sport and try to imitate their posture in front of a mirror.

Learning how to play golf in this manner has its own advantages. For example, it gives you an opportunity to assess personal achievements regarding the game and to learn without being pressured. You learn at your own pace. There are also disadvantages, however, since there is a great difference between professional instruction and learning the game through trial and error on the golf course. Having someone instruct you firsthand means that you are exposed to a variety of approaches and given the chance to choose which swing best suits you. When you learn the game on your own, it takes time before you get the swing to work for you. Nevertheless, learning golf through free instruction is a challenge for the eager beginner that might prove rewarding in the end.

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Elizabeth Morgan
http://www.e-golfinstruction.com

Car Insurance

Insurance exists to safeguard an individual against loss. Car insurance refers to insurance against loss due to theft or traffic accidents. An insurance contract or policy specifies the terms and conditions under which an insurer will pay the insured. In most countries, it is compulsory to buy car insurance or automobile insurance to drive on public roads.

Insurance companies generally charge a flat per-car/per-year price. The insurers pay this amount, also known as a premium, to the insurance company. If the policyholder places a claim against the insurance, the company reimburses the claim from the funds raised by collecting such premiums. When buying car insurance, the customer is protected in different ways, depending on the type of coverage purchased.

Liability insurance covers claims against the customer or policyholder. Generally, it also covers claims against any other driver or operator of the policyholder’s car, provided they do not live at the same address as the policyholder and are not particularly excluded on the policy. If the address of such drivers or operators is same as that of the policyholder, then they must be specifically covered on the policy. Liability insurance does not protect the customer or policyholder if he drives a car other than his own. In such a case, the customer is covered under the policy of the other car’s owner.

Comprehensive insurance is designed to pay for repairs or replacement of the policyholder’s car in the event of damage not resulting from an accident, including damage from inclement weather.

Collision coverage is an insurance that promises to pay for the repair or replacement of the policyholder’s car in the event of an accident, regardless of who caused the accident.

Gap insurance was created taking into consideration the forever increasing cost of cars, extended term car loans and increase in the number of leased cars. Gap waivers provide protection for customers when a ‘gap’ is formed between the actual value of the vehicle and the amount of money owed to the bank.

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http://www.web-carinsurance.com/

Laptop Computers

A laptop is a personal computer which is portable. It may also be known as a notebook. The typical laptop will range in weight from 1 to 3 kilograms, and will generally have an internal battery as well as a power adapter. While most laptops are portable, few can currently match the power of the most expensive desktops, though this will likely change as technology continues to advance. The word laptop was first introduced in 1983, and was used to refer to the Gavilan SC.

Despite the name, most laptops should not be placed in your lap if it is not covered, because they can get hot, and can even burn skin that is held against it for extended periods of time. The typical laptop can be powered by one battery, and the power adapter can power the battery when it is plugged into a wall outlet. A laptop can perform many of the same tasks as a PC, but they tend to be limited. They will have the same internal devices which are seen in desktops, but they will be much smaller in size. Most laptops will have a screen which uses a liquid crystal display.

Most manufacturers have designed their laptops to work with a keyboard and mouse, and they will also have a touch pad that can be used to move around the cursor on the screen. Laptops come in three varieties, and these are based on the size. An ultraportable laptop will generally weigh less than 1.7 kilograms, while a thin and light laptop will weigh up to 2.8 kilograms, and a medium sized laptop will weigh up to 3.5 kilograms. The idea for the laptop existed prior to the invention of the personal computer, and was first conceived during the 1970s. The very first laptop was the Osborne 1, and it was released in 1981.

While the Osborne 1 was massive in comparison to contemporary laptops, it was revolutionary for its time, because it allowed people to carry their data with them, and the computer didn't have to be left in a single location. However, the Osborne 1 was so large that it was not possible to run it on a battery. Most laptops today now use lithium ion batteries. While laptops have a few advantages over their desktop counterparts, they have some disadvantages as well. Unlike desktops, they are limited in their ability to be upgraded. As of this writing, their is no form factor for laptops, and the costs and technical issues involved with making them easy to upgrade aren't feasible.

The only parts of most laptops that can easily be upgraded are the hard drive and RAM. In addition to this, laptops are expensive to repair if they are damaged, and they are also easy to steal due to their small size. Stolen laptops are a common cause for identity theft. While the use of the USB port has allowed laptops to be upgraded to some degree, it will typically reduce their portability. Historically, the performance of laptops has always been low when they were compared to desktops in the same price range.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Colucci