Prestigious platinum jewellery competition winners announced 1st September 2010
The eight winners of a prestigious platinum jewellery competition have now been confirmed, along with details of their pieces. An 11-strong panel of experts assessed drawings presented to them in April to determine who should land the honours for this year’s Lonmin Design Innovation Awards.
Read more on Platinum today

Kernels Homestand Preview
There’s only three home games remaining in the 2010 regular season and the Kernels return to Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, September 1st.
Read more on OurSports Central

Bold, black, and brilliant …
This was the year when we saw it all: technical innovations, durable designs, untamed imagination and an amazing surge in sales. Now all that has to be done is deliver the products …
Read more on Europa Star

Jewelry is something very personal and says a great deal about your style, personality and preference. Also one’s taste in jewelry is innate and what may appeal to one may not necessarily please the other. One good thing is that since there are so many options available in jewelry ranging from diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls, beads and metals, that one has a vast selection of options to choose from.

One thing however is for certain, most women invariably opt for the dazzling diamonds (a diamond ring is something that can but always sweep a woman off her feet),  for no matter what, they simply never seem to get enough of these dazzling beauties that are rightly called a woman’s best friend. But there has also always been a substantial tilt towards  colored gemstones as well, with women vying to accumulate these vibrant colored gemstones in their personal jewelry collection. Sapphires for one have always remained a favorite with  women and they seem to be in love with the magnificent blue hue of these stones. Especially sapphire rings have become much coveted as engagement rings since Princess Diana’s famous sapphire engagement ring.

If one is asked to choose between these two stones, the glittering diamond or the sensuous sapphire, you’re sure to get a fair number voting for both these stones. While diamonds score high due to their dazzle and shimmer, sapphires make up for their brilliant color that is simply breathtaking. Most often women who prefer vibrant colors and love to incorporate that in their jewelry prefer sapphires while ladies who enjoy the breathtaking shimmer of diamonds will have it no other way but this. The selection depends entirely on one’s personal liking and taste in jewelry.

Apart from their look and color there is not much else to differentiate between diamonds and sapphires. In fact both these stones are very hard in nature. Though diamonds are the hardest mineral, sapphires score only second to diamonds in hardness. One can say that both of these stones are equally sturdy and durable in nature.

The ideal combination of jewelry of course would be diamonds and sapphires set together in a single piece of jewelry which is sure to be a heady mix of color as well as glitter. But yes, if left to decide between these two stones, personal liking is sure to rule the one’s decision. By – Angara.com

Other topics for you :

• How to care for Diamond Ring?

• How important is an engagement ring to you?

• How to Buy a Diamond Ring?

Top Tips of Engagement Ring Designs

If you already have the right partner for you, then it’s time to prepare an engagement ring for your partner to build a more lasting relationship. Engagement ring can express love between you and your partner. There are some things you may need to consider when choosing an engagement ring is on your budget and design the engagement ring.

However, it would be better if you design your own engagement ring. Maybe some people consider their own engagement ring designs are so difficult but it is not difficult if you want to use your own creativity. Before you make engagement ring designs, you should picture it as being an ensemble of the stone and a suitable setting.

So, you had better then put pencil to paper and sketch or even make notes more or less the specific details of the ring once you can picture these two aspects in your mind. You must decide to use a type of stones, the size and number of those who will you use. Of course, the diamond is the most popular choice, although you can also use other stones such as sapphires, opals and rubies.

When you make your ring designs must also ensure the right type of material to be used for the ring and only then can you come down to the specific. Engagement ring designs really very popular, but you also need to be sure about the type settings for the ring and here you can choose from a panel or open or even channel and of course, setting branch.

In addition you also need to decide whether to use white gold or yellow gold or platinum even decided whether it would be useful. The last one is you have to choose the appropriate size and shape and setting the best choice is one that did most to improve the wearer’s personality.

Do not forget to check first and then counter check your engagement ring designs that the jeweler come up with based on the specifications and only after you feel satisfied that the completed design meets your expectations.

And then you can give to continue to change the design into action. To complement your engagement ring designs, you need to know the better outlets from where you can bargain materials and places to get the ring done right in the specification.

Kaitlin Whipple of Farmington, NM was to be surprised by Fiance’ Reed Harris by placing her engagement ring in a Wendys Frosty (Classy….), yet being a surprise she is unaware of said object in frosty.. she “wolfed” it down including the ring. they were interviewed on the Today show by Matt Lauer.. lol. Congrats to the engaged couple!

Retail Value: $549.99

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Sale Price: $169.99

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The ultimate in jewelry is undeniably the dazzling diamonds. Enjoying the popular title of being a woman’s best friend diamond jewelry indeed scores over every other variety of jewelry. Diamond rings especially are much sought after and if you ask any woman her preference for a ring you’re sure to get diamond ring as an answer. The basic reason behind this being that diamonds shine in all their brilliance when set in a ring and they also end up grabbing loads of attention. Besides the various styles and designs diamond rings are available in make these beauties even more sought after.

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But where on one hand every woman enjoys flaunting a diamond ring, taking care of these precious beauties and maintaining their shimmer is also something that needs thought as well as action. It is true that diamonds are the hardest mineral that was ever mined so they score on their stability and durability. But in spite of this it is of utmost importance to take good care of your diamond rings in order to retain their glitter.

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Although diamonds are hard and durable stones it is best not to wear your diamond ring while doing household chores and gardening as you may end up accumulating dirt in your ring’s crevices and may also damage the surface of the stone with scratches and marks. It is best to remove your diamond ring before getting into these activities. Another option would be to slip a pair of gloves before you start with these tasks.

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You can even clean your diamond ring at home at intervals. All you need to do is soak your diamond ring in lukewarm water along with some mild detergent and later use a soft brush to clean thoroughly.  A visit to the jeweler from time to time is also recommended to bring back the luster of your favorite diamond ring or sapphire ring .

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While it is important to maintain the beauty and shimmer of you diamond ring on one hand it is also vital to keep other pieces of your jewelry intact. Like we said before diamonds are a very hard material so it is best to store them separately in a different compartment of your jewelry box so as to avoid contact with other jewelry pieces. Diamonds may damage or cause scratches on the surface of other softer variety of stones and jewelry, so it is best to individually wrap your jewelry in tissue and store them in compartments.

Community Calendar
Deadline for calendar items is two weeks in advance of the desired publication date. Send information to: Community Calendar, Pioneer Press, 3701 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL 60026; fax to (847) 486-7451 or e-mail to glenview@pioneerlocal.com.
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NYC ‘Housewives’ want Snooki $$
The “Real Housewives of New York City” won’t sell out on the cheap. While the cast has been asked back for Season 4, they…
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June 11 through 17
Argazzi Art: 22 Millerton Rd., Lakeville. “Spring 2010 Group Show”: Through June 28. New works by Eric Aho, Liz Dexheimer, Sabine Friesicke, Brece Honeycutt, Michael Kessler and John Maggiotto. Hours: Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For information: 860-435-8222.
Read more on Litchfield County Times

Canyon News – Beverly Hills Salon Fraud
BEVERLY HILLS—On Wednesday, August 18, Maria Gabriela Perez, 51, owner of the Chez Gabriela Studio, was arrested by special agents of the U.S. Secret Service. Perez is charged with federal fraud after she charged thousands of dollars on her celebrity clients’ credit cards.
Read more on Canyon News

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Angara.com Price: $669.99

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Diamonds are perhaps the most coveted of all stones and not without reason. The dazzle of diamonds give the stones a beauty that is above all other gemstones and it comes as no surprise that even with the passage of time diamonds have remained the most sought after stone for women from across the globe. Diamonds engagement rings are especially special not only because they are beautiful but also because they have a strong significance and a message that comes straight from the heart. Besides what can be a better way of saying how much you love her than with a sparkling diamond ring that reflects your deep love for her.

Diamond engagement rings indeed are the best possible way of showing your love to your sweetheart. For one, diamonds like we all know are every woman’s best friend and she will never tire of increasing their dazzling numbers in her personal jewelry collection. Besides if her favorite stones come in form of an engagement ring what can possibly be more special.

Engagement rings are not mere pieces of jewelry for a woman but something that she holds close to her heart and has a deep significance due to the love it embodies. So when her sparkling diamonds come in an engagement ring she is sure to feel on top of the world. For a diamond engagement ring perfectly blends both things for her, her innate love for the stones coupled with the love she feels captured in them.

So if you really want to touch her heart and make her smile and also at the same time let her know how much you love her, just go ahead and present a stunning diamond engagement ring to her. If you do a little more homework and search for the perfect diamond engagement ring, even better.

It is true that all women love jewelry in every possible form but if it is something that suits her taste and preference she loves it even more. So try and find out her taste in jewelry. Observe the kind of jewelry she likes to wear. You may also go ahead and consult her close friends and family members. Trust me if you use all this information and end up selecting a diamond engagement ring that she likes, she will love you all the more for the thoughtful work you put behind getting the ideal ring like also sapphire ring for her.

Diverse cultures contributed to New Mexico’s art
SANTA FE, N.M. — For centuries, New Mexico has been home to a distinctive tradition of painting Roman Catholic saints in simple portraits, rather than adhering to the elaborate styles of European art.
Read more on Florida Today

Rudisha lowers 800m World record again, 1:41.01; Carter dashes 9.78sec in Rieti – IAAF World Challenge
29 August 2010 – Rieti, Italy – At this evening’s the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Rieti, which was celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Kenyan David Rudisha, who lowered the World 800m record* last week in Berlin to a time of 1:41.09, further reduced the all-time best for two laps to 1:41.01*.
Read more on IAAF

Celebrity Diamond Ring Styles

Whether we like it or not present trend in diamond rings say bigger is so much better. For examples check out the styles of diamond rings celebrities are choosing. And we all know that celebrities may have a lot of faults but they do set the standards for style and what is cool.

J Lo’s engagement to Ben Flick a few years ago started a trend of consumers seeking out pink diamond rings. The popularity of pink diamonds remains at an all time high and it doesn’t look like it will diminish soon with a new Leonardo Dicaprio movie coming out which focuses on a pink diamond.

Do any of you remember Marilyn Monroe singing her famous line about “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend?” Do you have any idea what that did the diamond rings market. Guys are still paying small fortunes for that statement. Sure back in the 50s women knew it wouldn’t be sensible to wear such a large diamond ring but that didn’t mean a lady couldn’t yearn for it.

Today women shouldn’t feel in the least bit guilty about wearing a large diamond ring, in fact there are many women that judge how well they are loved by the size of the diamond rings that they wear. Especially in a two income family, it is often the woman who ends up paying for part of her own diamond ring.

When we see the diamond rings worn by celebrities like Madonna or Catherine Zeta-Jones we take notice and their choices influence the trends that follow. Celebrities are the leaders in setting fashion and jewelry trends.
Madonna with her Edwardian diamond ring and Catherine Zeta-Jones’s antique styled 10 carat diamond ring has revived the desire to own antique diamond rings. In fact it’s one of the hottest engagement ring styles in 20 years.
The size of the diamonds in current styles of diamond rings has also grown from the average one carat to over three carats. That’s a pretty big rock that’s going to set you back a bit. But girls know they deserve it! If you aren’t sure whether bigger is better than have a look at the jewels at this years Oscars which are said to total over million dollars in value. Diamonds are now more affordable than ever and you can easily find diamond rings similar in style to your favorite stars with out having to spend million.

With bling being the in thing one has to stop and wonder how the heck normal average working guys plan to pay for these rings. When their fianc?s are asked the standard answer is “doesn’t matter I’m worth it! That’s great if your guy is earning a 6 figure salary but wait what if he’s not. What if he’s joe average living from pay day to pay day. What should he do move into the bush and give up his home, perhaps take up walking and sell his car?
Okay girls lets be real here. Dreaming and lusting for that big 5 carat diamond ring is just fine. No problem with dreaming, but when it comes time for your man to buy that ring remember that the ring is not what you are marrying so perhaps it’s time to consider the quality and quantity of the husband to be rather than the ring

One of the best diamond resources is www.engagement-rings.com.au> they are a wholes seller who offer rock bottom prices for big rock.

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Gloria Winters, Perky Star of Wholesome ‘Sky King’, Dies
Ms. Winters, who personified American innocence in the 1950s, also had roles in “The Life of Riley,” “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” and “Death Valley Days.”
Read more on New York Times

Saving Ghana’s Diamond Industry: Is Disinvestment The Best Option?
It is a well known fact that Ghana’s diamond industry is facing hard times. Production volumes have been falling, and employment generation from the industry, both formal and informal – has declined.
Read more on Ghanaweb.com

LifeStyle
Whether faux or fabulous, a diamond is a designer’s best friend. – Caroline TigerShine on Add bling to your morning coffee break with the 2 Carat Cup (.99), whose gold-glazed handle and sparkling Swarovski crystal look like a chunky diamond ring. Available at kitchenkapers.com.
Read more on The Philadelphia Inquirer