In the past, the Greeks and the Romans thought that the diamonds were tears of Gods and small pieces of stars. There were also the Hindus, who thought that the diamonds had so much power that they put diamonds in the eyes of some of their statues. Other people believed that an unapproachable valley in Central Asia covered by diamonds existed. One said that this valley was "kept by birds of prey and protected by snakes of mortal stare".

Besides believing that diamonds could attract luck and success, people also thought that they could defy the astrological events. Many people used them as jewels, supposing they would be increasing their sexual power and capacity to attract. Even Plato wrote about diamonds, describing them as living creatures, impersonating divine spirits.

Until the 15th century, only kings were allowed to use diamonds, having them as a symbol of courage, power and invincibility. But as the centuries passed by, the diamond started to acquire its status of sublime proof of love. Currently, they are related to the love, romance and myth.

We probably will never know when the first diamond was discovered, but we do know that, from the ancient times to the 18th century, all the diamonds of the world came from India. From the period of the Roman Empire to the appearance of the first Europeans to India, in the beginning of the 16th century, the commercial relations between Europe and Eastern Asia bloomed.

One of the main routes of the diamond commerce was in Venice. The city became the most important mercantile republic of the western world. It enjoyed the monopoly of the commerce of the diamond course to the main cities of the south of Germany until its final destiny, Brussels. Since this city became the final phase of the commercial route, it became a promising centre of diamond stature, and the reputation of the city in this sector did not stop increasing. Even though Brussels maintained their predominance until the end of the 14th century, they began to decline in a lapse of fifty years. The diamond trade and numerous other economic activities of Brussels were moved progressively to the city of Ambers, which offered more recent and better facilities for the communications and the commercial exchange. In 1866, the first diamond in South Africa was discovered. Following this was the discovery of the deposits of Kimberley few years later, giving birth to the fabulous era of Kimberley.

The word diamond comes from the Greek word ' adamas ', meaning invincible, and ' diaphanes ', that means transparent. In the past centuries, people believed that a diamond could reattach a wrecked marriage. It was used also in battles as a symbol of courage.

Even though the diamond is the hardest rock known by men, it is the only precious gem with only one element: carbon. Nevertheless, it can only be melted when exposed to a temperature of 5500 degrees Celsius! Billions of years before, the basic forces of heat and pressure miraculously transformed the carbon into diamond through volcano lava underneath the earth. In some way, this volcanic mass was expelled out of the earthly crust, cooling soon to be found as diamonds in rudimentary form. No acid can destroy them, and they are capable to cut anything on Earth, therefore, they only can be cut with themselves.

However, are the diamonds really forever? If they appeared miraculously, can they be destroyed? As incredible as it may seem, the small diamond that adorn the ring that you gave your wife will probably last forever - at least while Earth exists. They are the most resistant minerals of the planet, and only can be melted when displayed to a temperature of 5500°C. The problem is that the global atmosphere will never achieve this high temperature, even if it was to be hit by an enormous meteor that would eliminate all forms of life. They only would melt if, one day, the planet literally entered the Sun, which has a temperature of 5800°C. The curious thing is that, according to astronomers, in 7,5 billion years our planet will actually enter the Sun, when the star will be next to death. If you think diamonds will disappear then, you might be wrong. When such episode happens, the temperature of the Sun will lower to about 3000°C. That means that even when Earth reaches an atmosphere as hot and dense as Mercury’s atmosphere, we will still be able to find some small diamonds spread around.

Egg asked the Social Issues Research Centre to investigate the trends that would define the “Noughties”. They found that many people thought of the period as the “Decade of Fear”, due to the immense media coverage of 9/11, the tsunami and the War on Terror. As a result, people are increasingly likely to stay at home, to indulge themselves and to demand everything on their own terms. One great way to combine all three is to treat yourself to gorgeous jewellery, ordered from the comfort of your own computer desk, and delivered straight to your door within days.

The big surprise for online jewellery retailers is that diamonds sell remarkably well through websites. The range available is incredible, with everyone from top-end specialists such as Blue Nile through to familiar high street names such as H.Samuel (http://www.hsamuel.co.uk ) selling diamond jewellery online. Consumers are now confident that buying online is secure, and the quality and design of websites makes the decision easy. For example, some jewellers’ sites feature zoom and 360 degree views of their products so you can see exactly what you’re getting. Blue Nile (http://www.bluenile.co.uk ) even offers an online design service – you can ‘build’ a diamond ring by choosing the stone shape, selecting the perfect band to complement it, and setting the budget.

How to Wear Diamonds:

Diamond Earrings
Diamond jewellery is more affordable than ever, so now is the time to buy something special. For true self-indulgence, treat yourself to a pair of diamond earrings to wear every day. There’s no point saving special jewellery for special occasions – if you buy something because you like it, then why not wear it? Diamond earrings come in all shapes and sizes, and the glittering stones are so versatile that you can wear them with anything. For adding discreet sparkle to any ensemble, a little pair of diamond studs is probably the safest option; however, there are some gorgeous drop and hoop earrings around that look fantastic with a strapless little black dress.

Diamond Bracelets
Tennis bracelets are a favourite accessory, although they are possibly a little over the top for everyday wear. They have a classic appeal akin to that of pearls or solitaire rings, so are perfect 18th or 21st birthday presents. For something a little more subtle but just as stylish, try a delicate bangle in ultra-fashionable white gold, pavé-set with a sweep of gems. The beauty of diamond bangles and bracelets is that whenever you move your arm, at least one of the stones will catch the light, and sparkle in that magical way that diamonds have. If you are looking for a stunning accessory that won’t date over the decades, diamond bracelets are definitely worth a look.

Diamond Rings
And finally we come to rings. Diamonds no longer have to be restricted to a timeless solitaire engagement ring. Confident, successful women are beginning to regard right-hand rings as the ultimate expression of self. Wearing a fashionable diamond dress ring to the office every day is a subtle statement, but it will definitely get you noticed at the boring weekly meeting. Make a statement with a “what, this old thing?” attitude to your diamonds.

Diamond Watches
If you’re a bit strapped for cash, but can’t resist the appeal of the little sparklers, why not try a diamond-set watch? It’s far easier to justify to your other half than a dazzling diamond pendant, however gorgeous it may be, because you really need a watch anyway, don’t you?

Diamond Celebrities
Catherine Zeta Jones is famed for her stellar ascent from Swansea mini-series girl to A list silver screen goddess. Her red carpet outfits always play to her strengths – she has a stunning, hourglass figure, and knows that sumptuous satiny gowns with structured bodices and flowing skirts look fab on her. Catherine accessorises with the kind of jewellery you’d expect from someone married to an elder statesman of Hollywood; old-fashioned jewellery, set with obscenely large diamonds.

Jennifer Lopez has a very different attitude to her rocks. Like Destiny’s Child, she buys her own. She may have once been Jenny from the block, but she is now queen of a multi-million dollar empire, which allows her to buy herself a new set of diamonds to perfectly accessorize each of her fabulous reinventions. J.Lo no longer has the stunning six carat pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck proposed with, so for her 36th birthday, she bought herself a gorgeously indulgent £2.5 million diamond-encrusted ring.

Guys would do well to take a leaf out of David Beckham’s book. He treated wife Victoria to a pink diamond even bigger than J.Lo’s, but he’s no stranger to bling himself. The London-born footballer has become an international style icon thanks to his sharp tailoring and immaculate grooming. David likes to wear a huge single stud earring, set with a sparkling square-cut diamond, with a sharp suit and no other jewellery. Herein lies the secret to men’s jewellery – one piece at a time is usually enough, especially if it’s diamond-set.

In recent years, ice has become the jewel of choice for rappers such as Fifty Cent, who choose it as a visible display of their wealth and success. The subject of conflict diamonds has hit the headlines of late, thanks to Kanye West’s “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, which directly refers to the ongoing civil war in that country, financed by the sale of diamonds mined in the warzone. Jay-Z, another Roc-A-Fella artist known for his appetite for bling, is shown using a “diamond cutting” gesture on the front cover of his album “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia”. These rappers have now, rightly or wrongly, become role models, and to get the look of any of these hip-hop stars, a chunky, expensive diamond-encrusted crucifix is a good start.

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so diamond necklaces must be the best friend that lasts forever.

Diamond necklaces are one fashion accessory that can be worn with virtually any outfit. Depending on the size and the style of the necklace it can dress up a casual outfit of jeans or a sweater or it can be the finishing touch to an elegant gown.

Diamond necklaces come in many different designs and the most difficult part in choosing one can be deciding which one best suits your personality.

One of the first considerations when purchasing a diamond necklace is the size of the diamond. Diamonds are measured in carats with a larger number indicating a larger and more expensive stone.

Some diamond necklaces contain a single stone while others have a collection of smaller stones. In the case of the necklace with several smaller stones the diamonds weight are added together to give you a total carat weight for the necklace.

Although it’s important to consider the size when purchasing diamond necklaces it’s also advisable to take other characteristics of the diamond into account.

All diamonds are judged on their color. If you briefly glance at a diamond you might consider that they are all a brilliant clear color. This isn’t true.

There are diamond necklaces that cover a full range of hues. Diamonds are placed in several different color categories. Colorless and white are two of them. These types of diamonds when placed in diamond necklaces are considered the purest form of diamond.

Other colors of diamonds include blue, yellow, orange, pink, brown, green and red. If a diamond has a hint of any of these colors it is considered to be impure. They are stunning though and make a wonderful additional to diamond necklaces.

Purchasing diamond necklaces can be done several ways. If you are looking for diamond necklaces that you’d consider an investment you’re advised to visit a local, reputable retailer who specializes in the sale of diamonds. They can explain the different designs, size and clarity of the diamond necklaces to you. They will also, often, offer a guarantee which provides for any repair and cleaning of the necklace.

Many jewelry retailers also provide a trade-in option. This means that if you decide not to keep the diamond necklaces you’ve purchased that you will be able to return them to the store. The store will purchase them back from you for a percentage of the original cost.

If you are looking for less expensive diamond necklaces you might try an online retailer. There are several online sources to buy diamond necklaces. Often they are low priced because of the high volume they deal in.

Many online stores that do sell diamond necklaces have testimonials or reviews posted. Read these and see how others who have used the site felt about their diamond necklaces purchase. It’s nice having a little insight into the company you are dealing with when you are planning on purchasing something as special as a diamond necklace.

Regardless of where you purchase your diamond necklace you’ll be thrilled with the product. Diamond necklaces have a way of brightening up the smile of any woman wearing one. They make beautiful and thoughtful gifts for any occasion.

Friendship bracelets, a fashion accessory once attributed to young girls, can now be found on the wrists of people of all ages.

Friendship bracelets are bracelets that are generally hand made by one person and then given to another as a symbol of the friendship. The bracelet can be crafted from one of a number of different materials, including beads, hemp or wool.

The bracelet is then placed on the wrist of the friend. It shouldn’t be removed manually because if it is that is a sign that the friendship is over. Instead it should be left on and if it falls off on its own, that’s not considered damaging to the friendship.

There are many friendship bracelets craft kits available for purchase. These usually contain all the basics for making friendship bracelets. Young girls especially like receiving these kits for gift. It allows them to make several friendship bracelets which they can then share with the best buddies.

Friendship bracelets have also become popular as a way for a person to show they are smitten with another. Many teenage boys and girls make a friendship bracelet and then present it to the person they like. It’s assumed that if you accept the bracelet you are also interested. Many teenagers are sporting them.

The color of friendship bracelets can be varied. Many are made from hemp or rope with the addition of colorful beads. The bracelets themselves are a tan color while the beads are said to reflect the personality of the person who gave the bracelet.

The process of making the friendship bracelets isn’t complicated at all. There are many instructional booklets available that detail the process.

Most friendship bracelets are comprised of a number of knots in the material. Once you’ve made one bracelet it’s fairly simple to make more. It’s a matter of practice.

One of the simplest types of friendship bracelets to make involves looping the cording or rope through a serious of beads. Once you’ve completed attaching all of the beads you then tie off the ends.

Glue is often used as a reinforcing agent during the making of friendship bracelets. It also acts as an agent that stops the cord or rope from unraveling.

The majority of friendship bracelets are simply tied onto the wrist. Once the bracelet is completed the person giving it will hold it around their friend’s wrists and tie it at an appropriate length. It’s important to be careful not to tie the bracelet snugly around the wrist. There should be some room left under the bracelet to run a finger through. No one wants the friendship bracelet they gave to cut off the circulation of their recipient.

Adults are also beginning to wear friendship bracelets. They can be a gift from one person to another or they can also be purchased ready made and worn yourself. In addition to being a reminder of a fond childhood memory they actually go well with many casual outfits.

Friendship bracelets can be worn by anyone regardless of gender or age. They are a lovely way of showing your feelings for another person. They are also an interesting and innovative fashion accessory.

Are you buying a men’s titanium ring as a gift? Are you thinking of getting titanium rings for wedding? Do you know the true meanings behind the metal as jewelry? Here is some general information for making such a decision.

Many people, including myself, heard of Titanium for the first time when either a military aircraft or a human joint substitution was mentioned. It seems like jewelers are just running out of new ideas for making new lines of jewelry. Yet, titanium jewelry is one of the fastest growing jewelry industries nowadays and there are actually plenty of justifications to the popularity.

Most people misunderstand that Titanium (the element Ti on chemistry periodic table) is a strong metal. In fact, the metal alone is not hard enough for most of the purposes it serves today; it is the alloys that produced from it that offer the superb strength and resistance to heat. Also, Titanium is not considered as previous metal like silver, gold or platinum.

So what makes Titanium so attractive? The most obvious reasons are the superior tensile strength and hardness. A particular grade of Titanium, 6.6.2, composes of a particular mixture of aluminum, vanadium and tin is used in many industrial applications such as aerospace. Therefore, the jewelry made of such (aircraft grade) Titanium like wedding band rings have no problem of being used every day. In addition, the fact that Titanium wedding rings are much harder and more durable than gold and silver makes it a perfect candidate for symbolizing the eternity of love in a marriage.

Besides traditional uses in wedding, Titanium also possesses various properties that allow it to become popular in the fashion jewelry industry. For example, tension set diamond rings in the form of an open circle with a diamond mounted in the openings is one of the most sought after designs that not many metals can be used in. Also, Titanium reacts with different chemicals in electrolytic solutions and turns into different colors such as green and blue, a process called anodization. This makes Titanium Rings much more versatile when it comes to fashion. Finally, Titanium can also be combined with traditional metals like gold and silver in the form of inlay. Men’s titanium rings with gold or silver inlay are created by bombarding the ring in a vacuum environment with a gold or silver atom beam in an angle that the metals adhere to the ring evenly.

After all, jewelry is a way of express oneself. Men's titanium rings rings are for men who would like to stay ahead of the fashion trend and value the subtle inspiration from the effect of technological advances on every aspect of our lives and culture.

To receive a ‘Hallmark’ items of precious metal must undergo tests carried out by the ‘Assay’ office. This is done to ascertain if the object’s content of precious metal meets the standard requirements of purity.

Forms of marking precious metal objects were around from the Byzantine period in the early part of the first millennium A.D. However, it was under the rule of king Edward I of England, known as ‘Longshanks' due to his size, that hallmarking was first established.

The term ‘Hallmark' comes from ‘Mark of the Hall of Goldsmiths’ in London, who in 1327 were the first official ‘Assay’ hallmarking office decreed by parliament to control the standard of precious metals circulating in the British Isles. To this day they still operate one of four authorized assay offices in Britain.

Before items made of precious metals such as silver, gold or platinum are stamped with an ‘Assay’s’ hallmark they undergo rigorous testing to prove whether or not the metal purity measures up to the established standards. In fact, the word ‘Assay’ is derived from the French word meaning to test, trail or examine.

The basic method of assaying, also known as the 'Cupellation' process, was first introduced by the ancient Egyptians. The process starts when a small sample of silver is removed from the object to be tested, which is then carefully weighed and measured. The sample of silver is then placed in a ‘Cupel’, a small receptacle made of bone ash, along with a small quantity of lead. This is then placed in a furnace and heated to a high temperature with a draught of air flowing over it. The lead and any other base metals contained in the silver sample are either oxidized or absorbed into the ‘Cupel', leaving only the pure silver behind.

The remains of the silver are then weighed and measured and compared to the initial weight of the sample. The ‘Cupellation’ process is the most accurate method for determining metal purity and is the standard technique practiced today. Upon meeting the required standards of sterling silver the item of sterling is stamped with the appropriate hallmark.

Until quite recently, most Hallmarks were ‘Struck' using steel punches. The punches are produced in various proportions, appropriate for petite pieces of jewelry to hefty items of silver ware. Punches are made in straight shanks for normal punching with a hammer, or ring shanks used with a press to mark rings.

The trouble with traditional punching is that the procedure can misshape the form of the jewelry, resulting in the article having to be reworked after hallmarking is completed. For this reason, unfinished items of jewelry are often sent to the assay office where cuts-offs are taken and tested from the articles before hallmarking is executed.

Today, a new method of marking is being employed using laser technology, which burns the hallmark on to the jewelry, something which is especially valuable for delicate items which would otherwise be damaged by the traditional technique of punching. This procedure of hallmarking uses high power lasers to dissolve material from the metal surface. There are two methods of laser marking, 2D and 3D, 2 dimensional marking, which burns the outline of the hallmarks into the object, while 3 dimensional marking simulates the traditional punching.

Often the hallmark is made up of several elements including: the type of metal, the maker and the year of the marking. In 1999 a new format of English hallmarking on objects of sterling silver was initiated consisting of a maker’s mark, the assay office insignia and a 925 symbol. Optional extra marks are the ‘Lion Passant’, the UK sign of sterling silver, and the date letter stamp.

The standardizing of the date letter sequence, shared by all four remaining assay offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield, were introduced to bring the UK system closer in line with other European Union standards. However, the problem remains that many countries throughout the world have different standards and specifications that vary considerably, making it difficult for one country to accept another's hallmarking as equivalent to its own.

With the advent of globalization, ‘Free trade’ and the Internet, finding the problematic solution to the standardization of world hallmarking has become increasingly important. In 1972, the EFTA (European Fair Trade Association) consisting of Austria, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom held the ‘Vienna Convention,’ where the first European hallmarking laws for precious metals were put into force.

The convention enables specially designated assay offices throughout member countries of the EFTA to apply, after testing, a common control mark to articles of precious metals including sterling silver in accordance with the Convention. The articles bearing the Convention marks, called CCM: Common Control Marks, are accepted without further testing or marking by the assay office of any destination country that is an EFTA member.

Although this system is not worldwide as yet, Denmark, Ireland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have since joined the Convention. And Bahrain, France, Israel, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and several Eastern European countries have shown an interest in the Convention and are preparing for application.

Reflecting the rainbows of the ocean beds, iridescent Mother of Pearl is the Opal of the sea. Like amber, Mother of Pearl is organic, but unlike any other gemstone it forms locked away within its creator: the mollusk.

Mother of Pearl or Nacre forms in the shells of bi-valve mollusks found in salt and fresh water. These mollusks are found around the world from the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia to the Gulfs of Mexico, Panama and Venezuela.

Abalone Oysters (Haliotis)

Used in trade for thousands of years Abalone oysters are found in abundance around the world. As well as being produced for their meat, they are an excellent source of highly iridescent Mother of Pearl and Pearl, ranging in beautiful colors from turquoise, green, cream and rose.

Green Abalone (Haliotis Fulgens)

Green Abalone thrives in the cold and rocky waters in the Gulf of California. They are often encrusted with small clams that adhere to their surface whose presence gives rise to the creation of blister pearls within the Abalone. Blister pearls are formed when the clams bore into the shell from the outside, the Abalone responds in defense to the intrusion by secreting layers of nacre, which coat the foreign body on the inside of the shell eventually solidifying forming natural blister pearls.

Black-Lipped Oyster (Pinctada Margaritifera)

Harvested since millennia, the black-lipped oyster, covering the widest geographical area of any known species, was the preferred color of Mother of Pearl of Indian and Persian monarchs. However, despite this oysters name the nacre is rarely pure black, instead the colors range from gray to green with blue or rose overtones. Mother of Pearl produced by Pacific black-lipped oysters is the most sought after on the world’s market today.

Silver-Lipped Oyster (Pinctada Maxima)

Sometimes referred to as the gold-lipped oyster, these giants have been harvested for their Mother of Pearl for more than a hundred years in the South Pacific. They were first cultured for its pearls in the late 1800s but only became widely distributed in the late 19th Century. Today the silver or white Mother of Pearl or Nacre produced by this oyster is the mainstay of the Australian, Japanese and Philippine cultured pearl industries.

Ayoka Oyster (Pinctada Fucata)

Japan is famous for its Ayoka pearl producing oysters, but this has only been the case since the 1920s. Before this time Japanese divers placed little value on Ayoka pearls, discarding them and keeping the Mother of Pearl, which was used as decorative inlay in jewelry and household ornamentation. By the 1950s, with new culturing techniques, Akoya Mother of Pearl and pearl had won widespread popularity and is now exported worldwide.

Ceylon Oyster (Pinctada Radiata)

From the time of antiquity up to the 1920s the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf supplied the world's demand for Mother of Pearl and pearl. The source of the majority of Mother of Pearl came from the Ceylon oyster, known as bil-bil by the fishermen of the Red Sea. The large demand almost drove this particular species to extinction but remarkably this oyster has endured the ravages of time and new techniques in cultivation have seen numbers increase.

Atlantic Oyster (Pinctada Imbricata)

Before leaving, the Queen of Spain told Christopher Columbus that Mother of Pearl and Pearl along with gold and silver were the treasures that the Spanish monarchy desired the most. When Columbus landed on the Venezuelan coast in 1498, the royal request was answered on the islands of Margarita and Cubagua. For one hundred years, the fruits of millions of Atlantic oysters from the region were shipped to Europe to satisfy the European monarchy’s desire. The fragile Atlantic oyster came close to extinction; however, commercial farming ventures in the last century have seen an increase in numbers.

La Paz Oyster (Pinctada Mazatlanica)

Before the discovery of the Pacific’s black-lipped oyster the only other Mother of Pearl that came close to the beautiful colors of the oysters of Polynesia came from the La Paz oysters in the waters of Panama and California. At one time La Paz oysters, preferring open oceanic conditions, were near extinction but recent culturing ventures in the Gulf of California are replenishing numbers and seeing a return of black pearls and Mother of Pearl to the world market.

Mabé Oyster (Pteria Penguin and Pteria Sterna)

These two species of thin-shelled oysters are the most common sources of mabé blister pearls. Mabé pearls are artificially induced or cultured, they form when a mold made of plastic is inserted between the oyster's shell, this causes the oyster to produce layers of nacre or Mother of Pearl which eventually covers the mold, the mould is then cut from the shell. These oysters occur naturally in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and the tropical western Pacific.

Jewelery cleaning is thought to be easy, but it actually is not! Jewelry cleaning depends on the material and the quality of workmanship used in a particular piece.

There are many commercial liquid cleaning solutions available in the market. You should purchase an ammonia free jewelry cleaner. Most costume jewelry cleans well with mild, soapy water and a soft brush.

There are three important guidelines to follow in caring for your jewelry:

• separate it
• avoid jewelry contact with perfume, hair spray and makeup
• don’t wear it during any vigorous activity

Follow these steps while cleaning your jewelry and see the difference. Properly cleaned and cared for, your jewelry will look great, for a lifetime of wearing pleasure!!

The right kind of jewelery enhances the look of the wearer and attracts other’s attention. The jewelery market has come a long way. Today, you will find designs to suit each and every taste.

But, you need to be careful, when you are purchasing jewelery. Just follow the guidelines given below and you will never be duped:

• Make a list of the kind of jewelery you wanna purchase.
• Once the jewelery is decided, plan your budget.
• If you are planning to get a piece for yourself, then try the jewelery in the showroom in front of the mirror.
• Once you have selected the piece, ensure the quality of the jewelery.
• Jargons confuse people. And they go away without asking what 916 stands for. Make sure you ask the shopkeeper to explain this.
• Learn how to compute the cost of gold. It is calculated by adding the costs of gold + wastage + labor charges + tax.

Hip hop rapper Lil' Kim has had two pieces of custom-made jewellery stolen while travelling through New York's John F Kennedy Airport.

Lil' Kim - whose real name is Kimberly Jones - was reportedly carrying more than GBP300,000 worth of jewellery in a bag, which she planned to take on the flight to Los Angeles as hand luggage. However, the bag got mixed up with her other cases and ended up being placed in the aircraft's hold. The 27-year-old realised the mistake as the flight was preparing to depart and raised the alarm, which resulted in the flight being delayed.

Staff recovered the bag, which appeared to have been tampered with, and two necklaces worth GBP150,000 were missing, according to Ananova.

Hip hop rapper Lil' Kim has recovered two pieces of custom-made jewellery which were stolen while she was travelling through New York's John F Kennedy Airport last week.

Lil' Kim - whose real name is Kimberly Jones - was reportedly carrying more than GBP300,000 worth of jewellery in a bag, which she planned to take on the flight to Los Angeles as hand luggage. However, the bag got mixed up with her other cases and ended up being placed in the aircraft's hold. The 27-year-old realised the mistake as the flight was preparing to depart and raised the alarm, which resulted in the flight being delayed.

Staff recovered the bag, which appeared to have been tampered with, and two necklaces worth GBP150,000 were missing. However, the necklaces were recovered on Friday (27 June) after a United Airlines worker found them wrapped inside a rag in a locker room for airline employees.