world gallery

This yellow diamond ring with a collection of very melancholic .. baseball star Johnny Damon, actor Charlie Sheen and Eddie Murphy wearing this ring when their engagement, Equipped with a 5.11 carat diamond, this ring worth $ 400,000

Cool Pictures

The Great Star of Africa

Star Africa diamond is the largest cut diamond in the world. The diamond was cut by a Company of Amsterdam who examined the diamond for six month before deciding how to cut it.



Koh-I-Noor
This diamond has the oldest recorded history, since 1304. It was re cut during the reign of Queen Victoria and is among the British Crown Jewels and now weighs 108.93 carats. The Koh-I-Noor is said to have come to earth as a gift from the god in India to a faithful worshipper.

The Excelsior
This diamond is not only one of the world’s largest diamonds it is the second largest diamond ever found in the world.

The Great Mogul
The Great Mogul was discovered in the 17th century in India. The stone was named after Shah Jehan the builder of the Taj Mahal. However the stone has disappeared. Some believe that the Koh-I-Noor diamond may have been cut from this stone after its loss.

The Idol’s Eye
A flattened pear-shaped stone the size of a bantam’s egg, its polished size is 70.20 carats. Legend states that it was given as a ransom for Princess Rasheetah by the Sheik of Kashmir to the Sultan of Turkey who had abducted her.

The Regent
The Regent diamond was discovered in 1702 by an Indian slave near Golconda. The Regent is renowned for its exceptional limpidity and perfect cut and has the uncontestable reputation as the most beautiful diamond in the world.

The Orloff
The Orloff is the world’s third largest cut diamond. Its clarity is typical of the finest Indian diamonds and its color possesses a slight bluish-green tint.

The Blue Hope
It was thought to have part of the famous Blue Tavernier Diamond, brought to Europe from India in 1642. It was once owned by King Louis XIV. The diamond can be seen today in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

The Sancy
Sancy was first owned by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who lost it in battle in 1477. The stone is a pale yellow and is apparently of Indian origin and is said to be one of the first large diamonds to be cut with symmetrical facets.

Taylor-Burton
This pear shaped diamond was found in the Premier Mine in Transvaal South Africa, in 1966. Richard Burton bought the stone for Elizabeth Taylor for $1.1 million, renaming it “Taylor-Burton.

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Flying in a spectacular diamond formation so tight it appears they are almost touching, 16 of Britain’s legendary jump jets soar through the wintry skies.

The occasion was billed as a celebration but, for many, the mood was as sombre as the gloomy weather.

On a freezing day heavy with emotion, the Harrier — the revolutionary aircraft that helped Britain defeat Argentina in the Falklands War in 1982 — took to the air for the last time.

Final salute: The 16-strong fleet of distinctive Harrier jump jets keep close formation in the skies above RAF Cottesmore today

Cutting edge: A Harrier takes off from the aircraft carrier Ark Royal. Both have become victims of Government defence cuts

Celebrations of Harrier 'VSTOL' (Vertical Short Take off and landing) Day at RAF Cottesmore



The sense of loss — of both the iconic fighter planes, and of a cherished piece of British military and aviation history — was symbolised in a moving tradition called the ‘walk of honour’.

After landing the jets following their last flight, the pilots walked away from their craft without a single backward glance.

The Harrier jets have been axed after falling victim to a savage round of defence cuts. Their next stop, after being decommissioned next year, will be the scrapyard.

To mark their retirement after 41 years’ service, 16 Harriers were scheduled to take off from their base at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, and perform a spectacular flypast of seven other RAF bases, the nearby towns of Stamford and Oakham, as well as Lincoln Cathedral.

Unfortunately, the weather spoiled the occasion. Conditions were so poor that the pilots, after forming a diamond formation, could not safely fly below the cloud cover.

Nevertheless, more than 2,000 people turned out at the airfield to bid farewell, while the Red Arrows performed a flypast in tribute.

Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, the Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, said: ‘The Harrier is a true icon and stands testament to the innovation and excellence of British design and engineering and the skill and courage of our airmen.

‘It has had a truly distinguished service with the RAF and the Royal Navy, from the South Atlantic to the skies over Afghanistan. It takes its place in history as one of aviation’s greats.’

Group Captain Gary Waterfall, the Joint Harrier Force commander, said: ‘This is an emotional day for all those who have been fortunate to be involved with one of the true icons of aviation, alongside Concorde and Spitfire.’

Considered one of the country’s greatest technological achievements, the British-built military jets were the first in the world to be able to take off and land vertically.

Introduced by the RAF in 1969, they were famed for their ability to hover above the ground, a distinctive feature which enabled them to fly in and out of areas close to a battlefield that conventional aircraft could not reach.

The last hurrah: Harriers take off from RAF Cottesmore for a series of nostalgic fly-pasts before being decommissioned

An RAF Harrier puts on a display at RAF Cottesmore, after a flypast passing over seven military bases, the town centres of Stamford and Oakham and Lincoln Cathedral before landing back at RAF Cottesmore

End of an era: Flypast to mark the retirement of the Harrier aircraft above RAF Cottesmore, Oakham

What they do best: Two Harriers hover just 40 feet off the ground at RAF Cottesmore yesterday


The 700mph Harriers played a crucial role in defending the nation’s interests, seeing action in every conflict from the Falklands — where they were known as the ‘Black Death’ by Argentine pilots, after shooting down 25 enemy aircraft without a single combat loss — to the two Gulf Wars and five years in Afghanistan.

The aircraft also flew combat missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone, providing close air support to troops on the ground.

But the 79-strong Harrier fleet was axed in the coalition Government’s strategic defence and security review, saving less than £1 billion. The decision sparked controversy, because scrapping the 130 RAF Tornados — which were retained — would have saved £7.4billion.

The last-ever sortie: Harrier pilots before last flight walk to their aircraft at RAF Cottesmore

So proud: Wing Commander Simon Jessett waves from the Harrier cockpit after the last flight

Don't look back: The pilots stride away from their aircraft as pipe band plays a stirring tune

That's my daddy: Wing Commander Jessett with daughter Sophie after the emotional ceremony

Critics are outraged at the decision, which means the Royal Navy will not have a sea-borne strike capacity until 2020 when a new aircraft carrier is kitted out with jets.


Commander Nigel ‘Sharkey’ Ward — dubbed Mr Sea Harrier after being decorated for flying the jets in the Falklands — said: ‘The connived withdrawal of the Harrier from service is an appalling miscarriage of justice, and of operational wisdom.

'The reprehensible actions of those who contrived this as “a logical operational decision” must be condemned as disloyal and against the direct interests of our national defence capability.’

Meanwhile, the Government announced yesterday that it is to scrap HMS Illustrious, its final aircraft carrier. She will be decommissioned in 2014 — joining her sister ship, HMS Ark Royal, which will be scrapped next year.

The helicopter and troop carrier HMS Ocean will be retained following a review, revealed Defence Secretary Liam Fox.

At the controls: Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit to British Aerospace's Sea Harrier production line at Kingston in December 1982

Royal Marines lined up for a weapons check in the hanger of HMS Hermes in the South Atlantic on their way to the Falklands in 1982, with Sea Harriers in the background

Long life: A Hawker Siddeley Harrier undergoing refuelling with a Royal Air Force Victor inflight re-fuelling tanker aircraft in 1967

Able bodied: The unusual vertical take-off and landing abilities enabled Harrier jump jets to fly in and out of areas near to the battlefield although the weight of fuel required for vertical take-off limited its weapon load. Four GR9 Harriers, flying in formation over Britain. Nearest to the camera is a GR9 in the tail colours of 800 Naval Squadron, then 4 Squadron, 1 Squadron, the furthest GR9 is painted in the 1969 camouflage pattern

I love desserts! Who doesn’t?! But these desserts are "special" if you take into account their price. They are beautiful and all, but frankly, I wouldn’t pay such a price, it is simply to give away your money, even though I wouldn’t have so much money to pay for some of them anyway…

Diamond Fruitcake

This cake is encrusted with 223 diamonds and you can still eat it.

Strawberries Arnaud

This is no normal plate of strawberries, ladies. The berries are marinated in a wicked expensive port, served with fresh mint and cream and are garnished with a 5-carat pink-diamond ring. Just snatch the menu, order it and bill your beau later. Stop being a wimp. Do it.

The Sultan’s Golden Cake - $1,000

If you’re thinking about taking a romantic trip to Istanbul (stop the sneering, it could happen.) stop by the Ciragan Palace and indulge in delicious rum, caramelized black truffles and gold, real edible gold, dessert.

The Madeleine Truffle - $250

This $250 truffle isn’t expensive because it’s made of gold or has diamond chunks in it; this lofty price tag is all about the labor. Apparently, the ganache is whipped by hand until it’s as smooth as your nana’s hands. Plus, the poor little old chocolate maker has to make the stuff in an ultra cold refrigerated room. Now get out your wallets and give this guy some cash. He deserves it.

The Brownie Extraordinaire - $1,000

The fact that this $1,000 brownie is in Jersey still makes me giggle. I guess they’re trying to class up the joint by throwing in Italian hazelnuts, dark chocolate brownies and crystal atomizers so people can squirt port into their greedy, greasy mouths after every bite.

Golden Opulence Sundae - $1,000

Gold. Gold. Gold. Although, this dessert chooses insanely expensive chocolate over Hershey’s syrup and candied fruits, gold covered almonds and chocolate truffles over walnuts and a maraschino cherry, I still can’t quite wrap my cheap mind around the $1,000 price tag for…friggin’ ice cream.

Chocolate Variation - $640

Stopping by Italy? Shoot your heavy pockets into Mezzaluna and sample the scrumptious chocolate dessert that has been ranked one of the most expensive desserts in the world — $640. It’s made with champagne sorbet (made from Roederer Cristal) and, of course edible golden leaves. I’m thinking this is where all the cash for gold is going.

Macaroons Haute Couture - $7,414