Top 10 Mysterious World Landmarks

The world is filled with ancient monuments built by master craftsmen in order to honor everything from kings and presidents to religious figures. And although most of these landmarks have been carefully studied and researched by scientists and historians, some are simply so old, incomplete, or obscure that we still don’t know very much about why they were built or what purpose they served. The following are 10 world landmarks that, whether by intention or simply due to the passage of time, continue to baffle the people who study them.

10. The Cahokia Mounds

Cahokia is the name given to an Indian settlement that exists outside of Collinsville, Illinois. Archeologists estimate that the city was founded sometime around 650 AD, and its complex network of burial grounds and sophisticated landscaping prove that it was once a thriving community. It has been estimated that at its peak the city was home to as many as 40,000 people, which would have made it the most populous settlement in America prior to the arrival of the Europeans. The most notable aspect of Cahokia today are the 80 mounds of earth, some as high as 100 feet, which dot the 2,200-acre site. These helped create a network of plazas throughout the city, and it is believed that important buildings, like the home of the settlement’s chief, were built on top of them. The site also features a series of wooden posts that archeologists have dubbed “woodhenge.” The posts are said to mark the solstices and equinoxes, and supposedly figured prominently in the community’s astronomical mythology.

The Mystery
Although scientists are constantly discovering new information about the Cohokia community, the biggest mystery that remains is which modern Indian tribe is descended from the residents of the ancient city, as well as just what it was that caused them to abandon their settlement.

9. Newgrange

Considered to be the oldest and most famous prehistoric site in all of Ireland, Newgrange is a tomb that was built from earth, wood, clay, and stone around 3100 BC, some 1000 years before the construction of the pyramids in Egypt. It consists of a long passage that leads to a cross-shaped chamber that was apparently used as a tomb, as it contains stone basins filled with cremated remains. The most unique feature of Newgrange is its careful and sturdy design, which has helped the structure remain completely waterproof to this day. Most amazing of all, the entrance to the tomb was positioned relative to the sun in such a way that on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, the rays from the sun are channeled through the opening and down the nearly 60 foot passageway, where they illuminate the floor of the monument’s central room.

The Mystery
Archeologists know Newgrange was used as a tomb, but why and for who still remains a mystery. The painstaking design needed to guarantee that the yearly solstice event occurs suggests that the site was held in high regard, but other than the obvious hypothesis that the sun featured prominently in the mythology of the builders, scientists are at a loss to describe the true reason for Newgrange’s construction.

8. The Yonaguni Monument

Of all the famous monuments in Japan, perhaps none is more perplexing than Yonaguni, an underwater rock formation that lies off the coast of the Ryuku Islands. It was discovered in 1987 by a group of divers who were there to observe Hammerhead sharks, and it immediately sparked a huge amount of debate in the Japanese scientific community. The monument is made up of a series of striking rock formations including massive platforms, carved steps, and huge stone pillars that lie at depths of 5-40 meters. There is a triangular formation that has become known as “the turtle” for its unique shape, as well as a long, straight wall that borders one of the larger platforms. The currents in the area are known for being particularly treacherous, but this has not stopped the Yonaguni monument from becoming one of the most popular diving locations in all of Japan.

The Mystery
The ongoing debate surrounding Yonaguni centers on one key subject: is the monument a natural phenomenon, or is it man-made? Scientists have long argued that millennia of strong currents and erosion have carved the formations out of the ocean floor, and they point to the fact that the monument is all one piece of solid rock as proof that it was not assembled by a builder. Others, though, point to the many straight edges, square corners and 90-degree angles of the formation as proof that it’s artificial. They often cite one formation in particular, a section of rock that resembles a crude carving of a human face, as evidence. If they are right, then an even more interesting mystery presents itself: who constructed the Yonaguni Monument, and for what purpose?

7. The Nazca Lines

The Nazca lines are a series of designs and pictographs carved into the ground in the Nazca Desert, a dry plateau located in Peru. They cover an area of some 50 miles, and were supposedly created between 200 BC and 700 AD by the Nazca Indians, who designed them by scraping away the copper colored rocks of the desert floor to expose the lighter-colored earth beneath. The lines have managed to remain intact for hundreds of years thanks to the region’s arid climate, which sees it receive little rain or wind throughout the year. Some of the lines span distances of 600 feet, and they depict everything from simple designs and shapes to characterizations of plants, insects, and animals.

The Mystery
Scientists know who made the Nazca Lines and how they did it, but they still don’t know why. The most popular and reasonable hypothesis is that the lines must have figured in the Nazca people’s religious beliefs, and that they made the designs as offerings to the gods, who would’ve been able to see them from the heavens. Still, other scientists argue that the lines are evidence of massive looms that the Nazcas used to make textiles, and one investigator has even made the preposterous claim that they are the remnants of ancient airfields used by a vanished, technologically advanced society.

6. Goseck Circle

One of the most mysterious landmarks in Germany is the Goseck Circle, a monument made out of earth, gravel, and wooden palisades that is regarded as the earliest example of a primitive “solar observatory.” The circle consists of a series of circular ditches surrounded by palisade walls (which have since been reconstructed) that house a raised mound of dirt in the center. The palisades have three openings, or gates, that point southeast, southwest, and north. It is believed that the monument was built around 4900 BC by Neolithic peoples, and that the three openings correspond to the direction from which the sun rises on the winter solstice.

The Mystery
The monument’s careful construction has led many scientists to believe that the Goseck Circle was built to serve as some kind of primitive solar or lunar calendar, but its exact use is still a source of debate. Evidence has shown that a so-called “solar cult” was widespread in ancient Europe. This has led to speculation that the Circle was used in some kind of ritual, perhaps even in conjunction with human sacrifice. This hypothesis has yet to be proven, but archeologists have uncovered several human bones, including a headless skeleton, just outside the palisade walls.

5. Sacsayhuaman

Not far from the famous Inca city of Machu Picchu lies Sacsayhuaman, a strange embankment of stone walls located just outside of Cuzco. The series of three walls was assembled from massive 200-ton blocks of rock and limestone, and they are arranged in a zigzag pattern along the hillside. The longest is roughly 1000 feet in length and each stands some fifteen feet tall. The monument is in astonishingly good condition for its age, especially considering the region’s propensity for earthquakes, but the tops of the walls are somewhat demolished, as the monument was plundered by the Spanish to build churches in Cuzco. The area surrounding the monument has been found to be the source of several underground catacombs called chincanas, which were supposedly used as connecting passageways to other Inca structures in the area.

The Mystery
Most scientists agree that Sacsayhuaman served as a kind of fortress of barrier wall, but this has been disputed. The strange shape and angles of the wall have led some speculate that it may have had a more symbolic function, one example being that the wall, when seen next to Cuzco from above, forms the shape of the head of a Cougar. Even more mysterious than the monument’s use, though, are the methods that were used in its construction. Like most Inca stone works, Sacsayhuaman was built with large stones that fit together so perfectly that not even a sheet of paper can be placed in the gaps between them. Just how the Incas managed such expert placements, or, for that matter, how they managed to transport and lift the heavy hunks of stone, is still not fully known.

4. The Easter Island Moai

One of the most iconic series of monuments in the Pacific islands is the Moai, a group of huge statues of exaggerated human figures that are found only on the small, isolated island of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island. The Moai were carved sometime between 1250 and 1500 AD by the island’s earliest inhabitants, and are believed to depict the people’s ancestors, who in their culture were held in the same regard as deities. The Moai were chiseled and carved from tuff, a volcanic rock that is prevalent on the island, and they all feature the same characteristics of an oversized head, broad nose, and a mysterious, indecipherable facial expression. Scientists have determined that as many as 887 of the statues were originally carved, but years of infighting among the island’s clans led to many being destroyed. Today, only 394 are still standing, the largest of which is 30 feet tall and weighs over 70 tons.

The Mystery
While there is a fairly solid consensus on why the Moai were erected, how the islanders did it is still up for debate. The average Moai weighs several tons, and for years scientists were at a loss to describe how the monuments were transported from Rano Raraku, where most of them were constructed, to their various locations around the island. In recent years, the most popular theory is that the builders used wooden sleds and log rollers to move the Moai, an answer that would also explain how the once verdant island became almost totally barren due to deforestation.

3. The Georgia Guidestones

While most of the mysterious monuments on this list only became that way as centuries passed, the Georgia Guidestones, also known as American Stonehenge, are one landmark that was always intended to be an enigma. The monument, which consists of four monolithic slabs of granite that support a single capstone, was commissioned in 1979 by a man who went by the pseudonym of R.C. Christian. A local mason carefully crafted it so that one slot in the stones is aligned with the sun on the solstices and equinoxes, and one small hole is always pointed in the direction of the North Star. Most interesting, though, are the inscriptions on the slabs, which an accompanying plaque describes as “the guidestones to an Age of Reason.” In eight different languages, the slabs offer a strange ten-point plan to ensure peace on Earth that includes vague proclamations like “prize truth–beauty–love–seeking harmony with the infinite,” to very specific commands like “maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.” Comments like this one have made the Guidestones one of the most controversial landmarks in the United States, and they have long been protested and even vandalized by groups that would like to see them demolished.

The Mystery
For all their controversy, very little is known about who built the Guidestones or what their true purpose is. R.C. Christian claimed he represented an independent organization when he commissioned the landmark, but neither he nor his group has spoken up since its construction. Since the monument was built during the height of the Cold War, one popular theory about the group’s intentions is that the Guidestones were to serve as a primer for how to rebuild society in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust.

2. The Great Sphinx of Giza

Sphinxes are massive stone statues that depict the body of a reclining lion with the head and face of a human. The figures are found all over the world in different forms, but they are most commonly linked with Egypt, which features the most famous example in the form of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Incredibly, the statue is carved out of one monolithic piece of rock, and at 240 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 66 feet tall, it is considered to be the biggest monument of its kind in the world. Historians largely accept the function of the Sphinx to have been that of a symbolic guardian, since the statues were strategically placed around important structures like temples, tombs, and pyramids. The Great Sphinx of Giza appears to be no different. It stands adjacent to the pyramid of the pharaoh Khafra, and most archeologists believe that it is his face that is depicted on that of the statue.

The Mystery
Despite its reputation as one of the most famous monuments of antiquity, there is still very little known about the Great Sphinx of Giza. Egyptologists might have a small understanding of why the statue was built, but when, how, and by who is still shrouded in mystery. The pharaoh Khafra is the main suspect, which would date the structure back to around 2500 BC, but other scientists have argued that evidence of water erosion of the statue suggests that it is much older and perhaps even predated the dynastic era of the Egyptians. This theory has few modern adherents, but if true it would mean the Great Sphinx of Giza is even more mysterious than previously believed.

1. Stonehenge

Of all the world’s famous monuments, none has gained as much of a reputation for pure, simple mystery as Stonehenge. Stonehenge has been inspiring debate among scholars, scientists, and historians since the Middle Ages. Located in the English countryside, the landmark is believed to date back to 2500 BC, and consists of several mammoth pieces of rock arranged and piled on top of one another in what appears at first to be a random design. The site is surrounded by a small, circular ditch, and is flanked by burial mounds on all sides. Although the rock formations that still remain are undoubtedly impressive, it is thought that the modern version of Stonehenge is only a small remnant of a much larger monument that was damaged with the passing of time, and it is largely believed that the building process was so extensive that it could have lasted on and off for anywhere from 1500 to 7000 years.

The Mystery
Stonehenge has become renowned for puzzling even the most brilliant researchers, and over the years the many gaps in the history of its construction, the nature of its use, and the true identity of its builders have become known as “The Mystery of Stonehenge.” The Neolithic people who built the monument left behind no written records, so scientists can only base their theories on the meager evidence that exists at the site. This has led to wild speculation that the monument was left by aliens, or that it was built by some eons-old society of technologically advanced super-humans. All craziness aside, the most common explanation remains that Stonehenge served as some kind of graveyard monument that played a role in the builders’ version of the afterlife, a claim that is backed up by its proximity to several hundred burial mounds. Yet another theory suggests that the site was a place for spiritual healing and the worship of long dead ancestors.

source: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-mysterious-world-landmarks.php

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Top 10 Fashion Designers

These designers have had a lasting impact on the fashion world (and popular culture) throughout the decades. From classic to eclectic, their distinct styles will always influence the way people dress, and the way new designers approach their work. Here is our list of the top ten fashion designers of all time.

10. Elsa Schiaparelli

This Italian designer was known for her love of surrealistic art and she used this influence to great effect in her offbeat, irreverent designs. She is also known as the inventor of a bright pink shade known as “shocking pink”.

Born in Rome in 1890 to an aristocratic mother and an intellectual father, Schiaparelli soon rebelled against the conventional life of the upper classes. Her desire for exploration and experimentation landed her in hot water as a teen, when she published a book of poems with decidedly sensual overtones. Her work deeply offended her parents, who punished her by placing her in a convent. Schiaparelli was so determined to escape from the nunnery that she initiated a hunger strike which resulted in her release. By her early twenties she had fled to London, where she could live under less scrutiny. Later, during a foray in New York, she joined with artist friends and they all made their way to Paris…

In the City of Light, during the years from 1927 to 1940, Schiaparelli’s reputation for daring designs grew steadily. Soon, Parisians developed a passion for her unusual dresses, sweaters, and accessories. Her signature style always encompassed some whimsical elements, such as lobster motifs or skeleton ribs and bones (made with trapunto quilting); however, the construction of the garments themselves was often quite strict and tailored…this dichotomy made for original pieces that were often “knocked off” by other designers.

In fact, Schiaparelli’s designs were often all too simple to copy, unlike the work of her chief rival, Coco Chanel. After World War II, Schiaparelli, who had lived in New York during the war, returned to Paris and found a different sensibility among its people. The post-war desire for simplicity and practicality made the unique embellishments of her designs less popular, and the endless knock-offs also cut into her profits.

Schiaparelli’s fashion house closed its doors in 1964, but her achievements continue to inspire and amaze. In every sense, she was a pioneer, and her friendships with artists, such as Surrealist Salvador Dali and Modernist Man Ray, gave her work an unforgettable edge.

9. Christian Dior

Born in January of 1905, this French designer was best known for his distinctive “New Look” silhouette. First shown in 1947; his suits and dresses revolutionized the way women dressed after the Second World War.

A designer with a notorious past, Christian Dior was also known for being in cahoots with the enemy during WWII, when he dressed Nazi wives and French collaborators in his designs. Despite this questionable choice, he still rose to prominence during the late-forties when the war was over…primarily due to his unparalleled mastery of line and shape. He gave women a desirable “flower silhouette” which always featured a nipped-in waist, a full, voluminous skirt, and a feminine, corseted bodice. Often, the hips of his suits and dresses were padded to balance the bust line and accentuate the wasp-waisted effect.

Dior died in 1957 under mysterious circumstances. It was rumored that he succumbed to a heart attack during a sexual encounter; others have reported that choking on a fish bone spurred his cardiac arrest.

Today, gifted designer John Galliano carries on the legendary designer’s legacy in Paris, where he creates dramatic couture ball gowns, chic prêt-a-porter, and luxurious accessories for Dior. Galliano’s talent and his over-the-top runway shows have ensured that the brand remains strong and viable in today’s world…

8. Roy Halston Frowick

Roy Halston Frowick, better known as Halston, was an Iowa native who was born in 1932. His most famous designs were fluid, silky, and sexy – they became a symbol of 1970’s disco culture, with all of its freedom and decadence.

His interest in sewing and fashion started at an early age; as a young boy, he tailored clothes and created hats for his mother and sisters to wear. After graduating from high school, Frowick went to University in Indiana, but he lasted only one semester. Dropping out of University led him to a more creative life: he took night school courses at an art institute in Chicago and began to work as a window-dresser.

The hats Roy Frowick created in his spare time became his entrée into the world of high fashion. After garnering some publicity for his designs in a Chicago newspaper, he was able to open his first boutique in 1957. Around this time, he dropped his first and last names, opting for a more glamorous moniker that has became synonymous with American glamour…Halston.

Moving to the Big Apple was the next stage in the rapid career ascent of Halston; a stint working as a co-designer with lauded milliner Lilly Dache led to a gig at tony Bergdorf Goodman, where he became the house designer of fashionable hats.

Halston’s association with Jackie Kennedy was a crucial factor in his rising fame; she generally eschewed hats until she became charmed by Halston’s distinctive pillbox styles during the Sixties. She wore one of his designs to the Presidential Inauguration in 1961; she was also wearing a pillbox hat (in pink) on the day her husband, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated.

In the Seventies, Halston befriended (and dressed) members of the international jet set, including Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli, and Liz Taylor. Dressed in his trademark black turtleneck, he could often be found partying at Studio 54 and enjoying his success with a host of celebrity friends. Licensing deals made him very wealthy, but tragedy lay in the distance…drug addiction and an AIDS diagnosis in 1988 led to his downfall. Unable to cope with the demands of his career, he was fired from his own company…Halston died of AIDS-related complications in 1990.

7. Calvin Klein

Like Halston, Calvin Klein epitomized disco glamour in the freewheeling late Seventies. His tight designer jeans, which clung to the sleek bodies of the greatest beauties of the day, including the young Brooke Shields, cemented his fame and made him millions of dollars. However, Calvin Klein’s reign continued well into the 80’s and 90’s – his spare, stripped-down designs offered a minimalist perspective that carried a very modern message. The use of sexuality in his ads was often a keystone of his success; his campaigns were designed to send overt messages and perhaps to shock. Today, his empire is still strong, despite some turbulence in the late nineties: his suits, dresses, and couture still offer a unique viewpoint.

Born in 1942 in New York, Klein also capitalized on his own charisma and lean good looks. Throughout the decades, rumors about his own sexual orientation seemed to fuel the ongoing mystique and appeal of this designer. His biggest business rival, Ralph Lauren, was believed to envy Klein’s ability to charm so effortlessly, and to “work a room”.

Klein received his education at the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. His Calvin Klein underwear line, as well as his array of successful perfumes, helped him to build his empire. His ability to choose the sexiest, hippest stars for his ad campaigns also revealed his tremendous savvy and perceptiveness: celebs such as musician/actor Mark Wahlberg and supermodel Kate Moss also benefited from his uncanny ability to read the zeitgeist.

6. Ralph Lauren

Born Ralph Lifshitz in 1939, this Bronx native changed his last name as a young man, due to years of cruel teasing from schoolmates. “It has shit in it”, he was known to remark, when he was questioned about his birth name and why he changed it.

Growing up, Lauren was encouraged by his mother to become a rabbi, but he chose a much different course. Influenced by the easy, preppy elegance of the country club set, as well as the glamour of old Hollywood, he chose to emulate the work of Brooks Brothers and other WASP-y retailers, creating a look that seemed to embody easy American elegance. His interest in luxury, refinement and a certain “taste level” put a different spin on the staid classics of the past.

Lauren first gained acclaim with his wide ties, which were often made of unusual fabrics. These standout accessories were not yet trendy in the late Sixties, when he began to try and sell them to New York stores. Soon, word spread about Lauren’s somewhat dandyish personal style and his flashy neckwear; he used this success to find investors and then he branched out into men’s and ladies suits and casual wear. Eventually, his clothing lines were sold at high-end stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, where they became extremely popular.

In time, he opened his own stores, which mimicked elite mansions. Careful staging and set design made his shops unforgettable, but their construction, décor and maintenance were so expensive that they often made it difficult to turn a profit.

In the 80’s, Ralph Lauren really became a force to be reckoned with, as his signature polo shirts, with their ubiquitous polo pony and rider, became coveted items for many different demographics. Available in every color of the rainbow, they lined his coffers and allowed him to put more money into his glamorous women’s wear lines; he especially enjoyed producing couture pieces and overseeing glossy runway shows.

Ralph Lauren is known for his desire to control every facet of his company’s image: some of his ex-employees tell tales of a control freak with a quick temper and little patience for mistakes. In fact, the whole Lauren saga, with its many reversals of fortune and huge comebacks, was recorded with biting accuracy in the nasty, unauthorized tell-all book, Genuine Authentic.

Today, his basic polo shirts and khaki pants continue to remain the base of his empire, along with fragrances like Lauren (for women) and Polo, his famous men’s cologne.

5. Gianni Versace

Flamboyant and so very Italian, Gianni Versace was born in December of 1946 in Reggio di Calabria, Italy. Gianni’s mother owned a tiny tailoring shop, and she supported her children through her sewing. The young Versace watched and learned as a boy, adopting techniques that he would put to exemplary use later on.

After years spent helping his mother embroider and tailor garments, he decided to study architecture; by the time he was 26, he changed directions again…he knew that fashion would be his life’s work. Versace moved to Milan to pursue his dreams…

Talented and charismatic, he soon drew the attention of VIP’s in the fashion world; they appreciated his chic knitwear and his creativity. Always influenced by art, Gianni Versace drew inspiration from ancient Roman and Greek paintings and sculpture, as well as modern abstracts and Pop Art – producing bold, current designs using color, prints, and careful fitting that accentuated the lines of the body,

A steady ascent through the ranks of the fashion world led to Versace’s creative independence, by the mid-Seventies he was producing lines under his own name. He began with women’s wear, but soon starting designing for men as well.

Versace was a homosexual and lived openly as a gay man; he found true love in 1982, when he met his life partner, an Italian model named Antonio D’Amico. They remained together until Versace’s shocking death in 1997.

This man, who was known for being kind, generous, and a doting uncle, succumbed to a gunshot wound inflicted by bitter social climber Andrew Cunanan, who killed himself just a few days afterward. Versace was only 50 years old when he died.

It is a sad fact that the lurid details of Versace’s murder sometimes overshadow the vast achievements of the designer, whose over-the-top, glamorous pieces gave the supermodels of the 80’s even more power and sex appeal.

4. Valentino Garavani

Valentino Garavani, better known as Valentino, was born in northern Italy in 1932. From childhood, he was interested in fashion, and he pursued apprenticeships and training from family and local designers. By his late teens, he was ready for Paris. His parents helped him to move there, and when he arrived, he began to study art and design in preparation for his chosen career.

Stints with notable fashion houses, such as Fath and Balenciaga, led him to connect with celebrities who recognized the originality and genius of his sketches. After five years with a luxe dressmaker in Paris, he was fired under a cloud of controversy; reputedly, he spent too long holidaying in Saint Tropez and was let go.

This development led to a more independent life for Valentino, who began to produce his own designs under his own name. In 1959, he returned to Italy and opened his first shop on Rome’s Via Veneto. His trademark scarlet dresses became his signature designs; women enjoyed the drama and femininity of his gowns.

In the 60’s, Valentino made a decision that would enhance his reputation; he sent Jacqueline Kennedy, the American First Lady and fashion icon, a series of his pieces to look over. She was enchanted with his designs, and even chose to wear one of his dresses when she married her second husband, Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis: her influence led to greater fame and fortune in North America.

Valentino is known for his flamboyant lifestyle and his love of luxury and beauty. He lives with his lover of 50 years in a series of lush villas throughout the world. His jet-set lifestyle and extensive collection of priceless art are not the only rewards he has received for his talents: France’s President Chirac also awarded him the Legion d’Honneur in 2006.

3. Giorgio Armani

Another Italian designer with a unique vision, Giorgio Armani was born in 1936 in Piacenza, Italy. During his early years, he dabbled in different careers, including photography and medicine. Like Halston, a stint as a window dresser at a department store opened up new horizons…

After working for renowned fashion house Nino Cerruti, he branched out on his own, delivering his first women’s wear collection in 1974. Armani’s designs were always influenced by menswear, and his immaculate tailoring and cutting gave his pieces a timeless air. He is famous for his deconstructed jackets, which feature a softer shoulder and a longer line.

Today, A-list stars such as Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster often opt for his evening suits and gowns when they walk the red carpet. Armani delivers elegance that is never overtly sexual or brash. For today’s power brokers and celebrities, owning Armani suits and separates is a status symbol – his clothes always send a message of quiet confidence.

Armani’s impact grew stronger after Richard Gere donned his designs during the filming of American Gigolo in 1980. Gere’s smoldering good looks and perfect proportions were the ideal complement to Armani’s clean, elegant pieces.

This Italian superstar’s career has not been without its ups and downs. Armani is known for being quite difficult and temperamental, and he is believed to have disliked one of his chief fashions rival in Italy, the late Gianni Versace. In 1996, he pleaded guilty to charges of corruption – he was convicted of bribing tax officials.

2. Yves Saint Laurent

Born in Algeria in 1936, Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent’s gifts were apparent from a young age. After winning third prize in an important contest held by the International Wool Secretariat, he made his way to Paris and met with French Vogue’s editor, who was very impressed with the innate talent of Yves Saint Laurent.

Shortly thereafter, he began to work closely with Christian Dior, who was nearing the end of his life. Dior recognized the skill and creativity of his young protégé, and he chose him as his successor. When Dior died of a heart attack, Saint Laurent found himself holding the reins of one of France’s most venerable fashion houses: he was only 21 years of age.

Known for his stunning couture designs and his sophisticated women’s tuxedo jackets (known as le smoking), Saint Laurent was destined to carve out his own identity, but his career was not without its challenges. After a poorly received collection at Dior, which featured hobble skirts and other unusual designs, he was sent into mandatory military service. The stress of being in the army (although he lasted only 20 days) took a tremendous toll on the sensitive designer. He suffered from teasing and hazing by his fellow soldiers, and he soon plunged into a nervous breakdown; he was sent to a mental hospital for treatment.

During his short military service, the House of Dior fired him. A series of harsh treatments (including powerful drugs and electroshock therapy) at France’s Val-de-Grace Mental Hospital were thought to be the trigger for Saint Laurent’s later drug addictions and ongoing emotional issues.

He rebounded in the 60’s and 70’s, designing his own line and stunning Paris and the entire fashion world with his own brand of French elegance. However, the stress of his work led him to abuse booze and drugs; in time, the fragile designer’s health became precarious. By 1987, he was unable to fulfill his responsibilities, and allowed others to design his prêt-a-porter line.

In 2008, after living a life of a hermit for several years, Yves Saint Laurent succumbed to brain cancer and died.

1. Coco Chanel

Born in August of 1883, Gabrielle Chanel was a French native who was destined to liberate women from the constraints of corsets and other uncomfortable garments. A true rebel and visionary, Chanel, who changed her name to Coco after a brief career as a singer, preferred to wear clothes she could move freely in; often, her style were imbued with a mannish aesthetic. Indeed, Coco Chanel, who designed her first cardigan to avoid pulling any garment over her head, was really the originator of modern women’s sportswear. Her desire for freedom and self-expression gave women style without sacrifice…

Her childhood was not easy; her mother died young, when Gabrielle was just six years old, and in time, the young girl was sent to live in an orphanage…the nuns who cared for her also taught her the rudiments of sewing.

Intelligent and pragmatic, Chanel used her powers of seduction to gain a foothold in the competitive fashion world; in succession, she became the mistress of two powerful and wealthy men. Both of her lovers were quite happy to use their money and influence to give her a start in business. From a beginning as a milliner, she rose to prominence in 1920, when her signature fragrance, the incredibly iconic Chanel No. 5, was launched.

The first true “Chanel suit” was produced in 1925; Coco used chains to weigh down the fabric, so that it hung “just so”. She favored ornamentation such as ribbons, pretty buttons, and ropes of pearls. Her feminine touches added style and impact to her wearable designs; in fact, even vintage Chanel designs remain remarkably timeless and easy to wear.

Chanel led a long and fascinating life, which included some darker episodes, such as an affair with a Nazi officer during World War II. He used his influence to ensure that she could continue to live in comfort at the Hotel Ritz during the conflict. Many wondered why Chanel was not charged for collaborating when the war ended – it is believed (and very likely true) that friends in high places protected her from retribution. Coco Chanel died in Paris, at the Ritz, in 1971.

source: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-fashion-designers.php

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10 Movie Mistakes

No matter how many millions of dollars the studios spend on a movie, mistakes or bloopers are inevitable. Most of these mistakes are continuity errors or something may be visible that shouldn’t be visible. Some pedantic moviegoers watch out for them like hawks and pounce. To be honest, most of us don’t even notice until it’s pointed out to us. Here are some of the more, shall we say…obvious ones…that slipped through the net.

10. Reservoir Dogs

Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi

The cult movie about a heist gone wrong produced an unforgettable scene in which a police officer named Marvin Nash is tortured by three of the gang to the sound of the Stealer’s Wheel song, ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’. Nash’s hands are handcuffed and they keep switching from being cuffed in front of him and being cuffed behind his back throughout the scene.

9. Full Metal Jacket

Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Matthew Modine, Vincent D’Onofrio

Kubrick filmed his anti-war movie in England, skillfully using locations to create the story. The attention to detail slipped up however, in the scene where the Marines are jogging in the ‘training camp’. The road they are jogging on shows British road markings, which would not be seen in the US.

8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Directed by Peter Jackson
Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood

Fake wounds are common in action scenes and it’s good to remember where they are on the body, so continuity between takes is maintained. Frodo has a scar on his face for part of the film. It keeps changing position and size. It must be the work of wizards (or the make up department).

7. Jurassic Park

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum

Movie Clip

In the link to the youtube.com movie clip you can see the “live” movie feed (2:40 mark) which is actually a Quicktime movie being played. Maybe the movie makers thought since this was an Apple Macintosh application most people wouldn’t recognize that it was obviously a pre-recorded movie. The storm effects are pretty good, though.

6. Gladiator

Directed by Ridley Scott
Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix

Gladiator brought back the Roman epic, aided by modern CGI special effects and impressive fight scenes. During the Battle of Carthage, a chariot is knocked on to its side and hits a wall, whereupon a blanket lifts up to reveal a gas cylinder in the back. What did the Romans ever do for us? They didn’t introduce a gas supply, that’s for sure.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Directed by Gore Verbinsky
Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightly

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise revived swashbuckling for a modern audience. In the scene when Captain Jack Sparrow says, ‘on deck, you scabrous dogs’, a crew member is clearly visible looking out to sea, dressed in a tee shirt and cowboy hat, and sporting a pair of sunglasses.

4. Teen Wolf

Starring Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Susan Ursitti

Everyone is aware of Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction, but the first wardrobe mishap actually occurred during another Championship Game – between the Beavers and the Dragons. In the final victory scene you see Scott’s dad coming out of the crowd to congratulate him. There is a fan behind him who exposes himself to the camera. While Janet’s exposure made the headlines, this exposure may be what started it all.

3. Commando

Directed by Mark Lester
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong

After chasing down the unscrupulous Sully, the yellow Porsche is wrecked on the left side. When Arnold commandeers the Porsche and drives it away, and it’s fine. Of course this may have been the first Transformers movie and we didn’t know it.

2. Star Wars

Directed by George Lucas
Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher

Someone should have widened the doorways on the Death Star. As stormtroopers burst into the room, one of them hits his head on the door frame. Ouch! At least he had his helmet on. The re-mastered version of the film is in on the joke and has incorporated a ‘thud’ sound effect. Noel Coward famously said, ‘learn the lines and don’t bump into the furniture’.

1. North by Northwest

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint

Instructing extras on how to behave in a scene is all-important. In a scene in a café at the Mount Rushmore memorial, a young boy in the background puts his fingers in his ears before the sound of gunfire is heard. He’d read the script and knew what was coming!

source: http://www.toptenz.net/10-movie-mistakes.php

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Hewan-hewan Masa Lampau

1. DIPROTODON

Sebelum manusia pertama menginjakkan kaki di Benua Australia sekitar 40.000 tahun lalu, beraneka ragam hewan berkantung berukuran besar pernah hidup di sana. Salah satu yang terbesar ialah Diprotodon. Hewan berkantung yang satu ini diperkirakan ukurannya sebesar seekor Kuda Nil dewasa. Dilihat dari bentuk morfologinya, ia terlihat mirip seperti seekor Wombat – spesies hewan berkantung Australia – namun berukuran raksasa. Sama seperti kebanyakan hewan-hewan berkantung lainnya, Diprotodon juga mengkonsumsi dedaunan sebagai makanan utamanya. Meskipun mereka bukanlah hewan yang memiliki pergerakan gesit seperti Kanguru, namun ukuran badannya yang besar dan kuat membuat para predator sangat sulit untuk menaklukannya.

2. MOROPUS

Ketika para ilmuwan menemukan fosil Moropus untuk pertamakalinya, mereka seakan sulit mempercayai bentuk morfologi dari makhluk yang satu ini. Hewan purba dengan bentuk kepala menyerupai kepala kuda ini benar-benar memiliki bentuk tubuh yang aneh. Para Ilmuwan mendeskripsikannya sebagai “campuran” dari tiga binatang, yaitu Kuda, Jerapah kerdil, dan Beruang. Kepalanya yang mirip kuda serta badannya yang menyerupai badan seekor beruang dihubungkan oleh leher yang lumayan panjang bak leher jerapah kerdil. Dengan kuku-kukunya yang panjang nan tajam, serta kemampuan berlari dengan baik tentunya ia memiliki pertahanan diri yang baik untuk menghindari para predator. Moropus hidup di wilayah Asia selatan dan barat sekitar 12.000 tahun lalu.

3. Ambulocetus

nilah salah satu makhluk purba yang banyak diklaim para penganut Neo-Darwinisme sebagai bukti kuat periode transisi spesies makhluk laut ke darat. Ambulocetus, hewan purba dengan perawakan mirip campuran nenek moyang paus dan berang-berang hidup di wilayah yang kini disebut sebagai Pakistan modern sekitar 50 juta tahun lalu. Panjang tubuh seekor Ambulotecetus dewasa diperkirakan sekitar 12 kaki. Bentuk kepalanya besar dengan rahang yang panjang. Gigi-gigi tajamnya didesain untuk menangkap dan mencengkram mangsanya. Didalam air, ia dapat bergerak dengan gesit berkat bantuan ekornya yang digunakan sebagai “motor” bagi tubuhnya.

4. Lystrosaurus

Sebelum kemunculan Dinosaurus, kehidupan makhluk di Bumi pernah diramaikan oleh beberapa hewan aneh yang menyerupai reptil. Salah satunya ialah Lystrosaurus. Hewan purba yang cukup menarik karena bentuk tubuhnya yang aneh ini hidup di habitat berawa-rawa, namun ia juga tidak masalah jika harus terpaksa mendiami tempat-tempat yang tergolong kering. Lystrosaurus diperkirakan mendiami bumi sekitar 230 juta tahun yang lalu.

5. Phorusrhacos

Sekitar 20 juta tahun yang lalu, Amerika selatan merupakan daratan yang memiliki begitu banyak variasi spesies burung dan mamalia. Salah satunya yang cukup terkenal ialah spesies burung karnivora bernama Phorusrhacos. Ia adalah spesies burung yang tidak dapat terbang. Tinggi badannya bisa mencapai 10 kaki (3 meter). Meskipun tidak dapat terbang, mereka ialah pelari-pelari cepat. Ini menjadikan Phorusrhacos dapat dengan mudah untuk menangkap mangsanya. Spesies Phorusrhacos diperkirakan eksis hingga 3 juta tahun yang lalu. Para ilmuwan memperkirakan kepunahan Phorusrhacos disebabkan oleh munculnya beberapa predator lain yang bermigrasi dari Amrika Utara ke Selatan setelah keduanya dihubungkan oleh daratan Amerika tengah yang muncul ke daratan.

6. Mammoth

Saya yakin pasti kawan-kawan sudah tidak asing lagi dengan hewan legendaris yang satu ini. Mammoth merupakan salah satu hewan purba yang begitu populer. Fisiknya menyerupai gajah namun memiliki bulu lebat disekujur tubuhnya. Perawakannya yang besar serta tambahan “senjata” berupa gading yang begitu panjang membuatnya begitu sulit untuk ditaklukkan predator manapun. Lukisan-lukisan yang di goreskan pada dinding-dinding gua oleh para manusia purba banyak menggambarkan betapa sulitnya hewan ini untuk ditaklukkan oleh mereka. Mammoth merupakan hewan yang mendiami sekitar pulau Wrangel di pesisir utara Siberia. Banyak Ilmuwan percaya, generasi terakhir Mammoth masih dapat dijumpai sekitar 4000 tahun yang lalu saat konstruksi piramida Khufu di Giza, Mesir telah selesai dibangun.

7. Harimau Gigi Pedang

Inilah hewan purba yang bagi saya paling mempesona, Harimau Gigi Pedang. Mereka merupakan salah satu hewan zaman es yang begitu terkenal. Salah satu predator terganas nan mematikan yang pernah menginjakkan kakinya di bumi ini. Harimau Gigi Pedang mendiami wilayah barat Amerika Serikat pada akhir zaman es, tetapi mereka juga tersebar beberapa wilayah Amerika Utara lainnya serta beberapa berdiam di wilayah Amerika Selatan.

Diketahui, terdapat dua Genus dari hewan ini, yaitu Genus Smilodon dan Genus Homotherium. Pada umumnya jenis dari Genus Smilidon panjang taringnya bisa mencapai lebih dari 18 centimeter, sedangkan untuk genus Homotherium memiliki panjang taring sekitar 10 centimeter. Hewan ini memburu kuda, banteng, antelope sebagai makanannya

sumber: http://jelajahunik.blogspot.com/2010/04/hewan-hewan-masa-lampau.html

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Top 10 Free Twitter Tools

Twitter is one of the top social networking platforms. Individuals and businesses can both benefit from using Twitter for sharing updates, news, and marketing. Here are the top ten tools and resources to help Twitter users find followers, manage multiple accounts, and get the most out of their Twitter experience:

10. Bit.ly

Bit.ly is a popular URL shortening service. If you register for Bit.ly, you can add multiple Twitter accounts to your Bit.ly profile. Anytime you shorten a URL through Bit.ly, either by going directly to their website or using their bookmarklet, you have the option to send that URL in a tweet using a specified Twitter account without having to login to Twitter.

9. Twitter Advanced Search

Twitter Advanced Search allows you to search for keywords and trends that have been mentioned in tweets. You can specify exact phrases, exclude certain words, language, to or from certain members, from users in specific locations, the date range of the tweets, whether they are asking a question, if the tweet contains links, and include or exclude retweets. On a personal level, you could search for local people who share a common hobby, or on a business level, you could find a potential customer based on their interests. There are lots of great uses for advanced searches.

8. Twitter Lists

Following too many people, and missing out on tweets from some of your favorites? Instead of having to purge your Twitter following, now you can simply create lists and add the people that you want to follow more intently. So if you want to catch up on your friends’ tweets, celebrity tweets, or tweets on a particular subject, you can create a custom list which can be shared with the public or private to only you. If you’re not sure who to add to lists on a particular topic, you can check out sites like Listorious that keeps track of the best Twitter lists on almost every topic.

7. Social Oomph

Social Oomph (formerly TweetLater) is a free service that lets you set up auto following of anyone who follows you, auto Direct Messages (DM’s) to anyone who follows you, and scheduled tweets. In terms of auto DM’s, keep in mind that many people consider them spam. So if you choose to send them, don’t just blatantly promote your website. One idea is to throw out a question. If you go with that, be sure to check your messages so you can respond to anyone that answers. That response could be the opportunity to share a link, product, or service, assuming it is valuable.

6. Twitter Karma

If you choose to auto follow those that follow you, you will want to periodically prune the list of Twitter members that you are following. Who do you want to stop following? How about the Twitter members who use automated following software to boost their numbers – they will follow you, anticipating you to follow back, then they will unfollow you. Twitter Karma will show everyone you are connected to on Twitter, and whether it is a mutual following, you are following them only, or they are following you only.

5. Twellow

Looking for people to follow who are interested in the same things that you are? Twellow is one of the easiest to navigate Twitter directories. You can browse through specific categories or search for specific keywords in Twitter bios. I would also recommend adding yourself to these directories with an extended bio including more information about yourself, your websites (if applicable) and other social network profiles where people can find you.

4. TwitterCounter

TwitterCounter is a great tool to see how many people are following you over time, so you will be able to tell if your numbers are going up or going down. You can see the top 100 Twitter members in a particular region as well as search for members with particular keywords in their Twitter bio. As an added bonus, you can view the stats for each member in the search results. If you are trying to build followers, follow members that have an even ratio of following vs. followers, as these are members that auto follow everyone back.

3. Tweepi

Tweepi allows you to enter the username of a Twitter member and see statistics about that members’ followers such as their number of followers vs. following, how many times they retweet others, how many times they are retweeted, when they last updated, how many times they reply to others, and where they are located. This can come in handy if you find a Twitter member whose followers would also be interested in your tweets.

2. TwitterFeed

TwitterFeed is a service that allows you to automatically tweet new RSS items to one or more Twitter accounts. For example, if there is a blog that you find you always want to tweet their latest articles, you could put the RSS feed URL into TwitterFeed, and it would publish a tweet every time a new article has been added. This is a great way to always have interesting content for your Twitter followers automagically flowing through your Twitter feed.

1. HootSuite

HootSuite is one of the top Twitter management tools. It allows you to manage multiple accounts in a tabbed interface, and under each account you can have multiple columns to keep track of mentions, direct messages, lists, keyword searches, and more. You can also shorten URLs in the HootSuite dashboard, and keep track of the statistics for tweets with Ow.ly URLs.

source: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-free-twitter-tools.php

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10 batu permata paling mahal di dunia

Perkiraan Value: 7 Juta dolar(Rp. 70M)

Merah adalah yang Moussaieff ditampilkan sebagai bagian dari Smithsonian's "The Splendor of Diamonds" pameran, di samping De Beers Millennium Star dan The Heart of Eternity.

Moussaieff Merah yang dilaporkan telah ditemukan oleh seorang petani Brasil di Abaetezinho sungai pada tahun 1990, di sebuah daerah yang dikenal sebagai Paranaiba Alto yang memiliki reputasi sebagai sumber besar dan berwarna indah berlian.secara kasar, itu diyakini 13. 9 carats (2. 78 g).

Berlian ini dibeli dan dipotong oleh William Goldberg Diamond Corp, di mana ia pergi dengan nama aslinya Shield Merah. It is currently owned by Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd. Saat ini dimiliki oleh Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd

The Moussaieff Red Diamond is a diamond measuring 5 . 11 carats ( 1 . 022 g) with a triangular brilliant cut (sometimes called a trillion or a trilliant cut), rated in color as Fancy Red by the Gemological Institute of America. Merah yang Moussaieff Diamond adalah berlian berukuran 5. 11 karat (1. 022 g) dengan memotong sebuah segitiga yang brilian (kadang-kadang disebut trilliant triliun atau dipotong), diberi warna sebagai Fancy Red oleh Gemological Institute of America. Meskipun ini mungkin tampak relatif kecil jika dibandingkan dengan berlian terkenal lain, yang Moussaieff Merah adalah, pada kenyataannya, Fancy Red terbesar laporan GIA memiliki nilai.

Perkiraan Nilai: 16 Juta dolar(Rp.160M)

The Heart of Eternity adalah mengukur berlian 27. 64 karat (5. 528 g), warna dinilai sebagai "Fancy Vivid Blue" oleh Gemological Institute of America. The Heart of Eternity dipotong oleh Steinmetz Group, yang memiliki berlian sebelum menjual ke De Beers Group.

The Heart of Eternity adalah anggota kelas yang sangat langka berwarna berlian. Saat itu ditemukan di Premier Diamond Mine Afrika Selatan. Blue (Tipe IIb) account intan kurang dari 0. 1% dari output dari Premier tambang, yang merupakan satu-satunya tambang di dunia dengan produksi yang cukup biru berlian. Dari sepuluh berwarna berlian yang menarik tawaran tertinggi, enam dari sepuluh itu biru berlian, nilai-nilai rating setinggi $ 550, 000 menjadi $ 580, 000 per karat ($ 2750-2900 / mg).

The Heart of Eternity ini diresmikan pada bulan Januari 2000 sebagai bagian dari De Beers Millennium Jewels koleksi, yang mencakup Millennium Star. The Heart of Eternity adalah fitur dengan sepuluh berlian biru lainnya; koleksi berlian biru mencapai 118 karat (23. 6 g). De Beers Millennium Jewels yang ditampilkan di London's Millennium Dome sepanjang 2000. Usaha pada 7 November 2000 mencuri koleksi digagalkan.

Selama pameran di Smithsonian, the Heart of Eternity ini tercatat pinjaman dari kolektor pribadi, sehingga menimbulkan spekulasi bahwa itu adalah suatu terjual selama pameran di Millennium Dome di London.

Perkiraan Nilai: 350 Juta dolar(3,5triliyun)

Hope Dia-mond adalah besar, 45. 52 karat (9. 10 g), bertempat di Museum Sejarah Alam Smithsonian di Washington, DC Hope Diamond biru dengan mata telanjang karena jumlah jejak boron di dalam struktur kristal, tapi pameran fosfor merah di bawah sinar ultraviolet. Hal ini diklasifikasikan sebagai Tipe IIb berlian, dan terkenal karena dianggap menjadi kutukan.

Perkiraan Nilai: Unestimated (Mungkin tak ternilai)

The Sancy, kuning pucat berlian dari 55. 23 karat (11. 05 g), pernah terkenal milik ke Great Mogul zaman kuno, tapi lebih cenderung asal India yang dipotong karena yang tidak biasa dengan standar Barat.
Berbentuk perisai batu terdiri dari dua back-to-back mahkota (yang khas bagian atas batu) tetapi tidak memiliki kemiripan apapun untuk sebuah paviliun (bagian bawah batu, di bawah ikat pinggang atau bagian tengah tubuh).

Perkiraan Nilai: 25 Juta dolar(rp.250M)
The Steinmetz Pink adalah berlian seberat 59. 60 karat (11. 92 gram), diberi warna sebagai Fancy Vivid Pink oleh Gemological Institute of America. The Steinmetz Pink adalah berlian terbesar yang diketahui telah diberi Vivid Pink. Sebagai akibat dari kelangkaan yang luar biasa ini, yang Steinmetz Group mengambil hati-hati 20 bulan untuk memotong Pink. Saat itu diperkenalkan di Monaco pada 29 Mei 2003, dalam sebuah upacara publik.

The Steinmetz Pink ini ditampilkan sebagai bagian dari Smithsonian's "The Splendor of Diamonds" pameran, di samping De Beers Millennium Star, terbesar kedua di dunia (yang Centenary terbesar Diamond) atas warna (D) secara internal maupun eksternal tanpa cacat berlian berbentuk buah pir di 203. 04 karat (40. 608 g), the Heart of Eternity Diamond, yang 27. 64 karat (5. 582 g) hati-potongan berlian biru dan Moussaieff Red Diamond, di dunia Fancy Red terbesar yang diketahui berlian di 5. 11 karat (1. 102 g).

Perkiraan Nilai: 100 Juta dolar(Rp.1triliun)
De Beers Centenary Diamond, pada 273. 85 karat (54. 77 g), terbesar ketiga berlian telah diproduksi di Premier Mine. The Centenary Diamond digolongkan berdasarkan tingkat D warna sebagai warna oleh Gemological Institute of America, yang merupakan kelas tertinggi intan tidak berwarna dan secara internal maupun eksternal tanpa cela. Itu bernama Centenary Diamond seperti yang disajikan dalam kasar untuk Centennial.The Centenary Diamond ini diresmikan dalam bentuk akhir Mei 1991.

Perkiraan Nilai: 3 Juta dolar(RP.30M)

The Allnatt Diamond adalah berlian berukuran 101. 29 karat (20. 258 g) dengan bantal dipotong, dinilai dalam warna sebagai Fancy Vivid Kuning oleh Gemological Institute of America.Ini intan ini dinamai salah satu pemegang, Mayor Ernest Alfred Allnatt, seorang prajurit, olahragawan, seni pelindung dan penolong. Meskipun tidak diketahui secara tepat di mana berasal Allnatt, banyak ahli percaya bahwa hal itu mungkin ditemukan di tempat yang sekarang dikenal sebagai De Beers Diamond Mine Premier.

Allnatt asal-usul yang tidak diketahui sebelum beli Mayor Allnatt dari berlian di awal tahun 1950 s.Setelah membeli berlian, ia menugaskan Cartier untuk membuat pengaturan untuk itu.n Pengaturan terakhir adalah platinum bunga dengan lima kelopak, dua batang dan daun, semua diatur dengan berlian. The Allnatt ini diperjualbelikan di lelang Mei 1996 oleh Christie's di Jenewa sebesar $ 3, 043, 496 US. Pada saat penjualannya di Allnatt adalah 102. 07 karat (20. 41 g). dan dinilai Fancy Intense Kuning. Setelah dijual kepada Siba Corporation, berlian itu kembali dipotong menjadi berat saat ini dan intensitas ditingkatkan sebagai hasilnya.

Perkiraan Nilai: Unestimated (Ini salah satu dari permata mahkota british!)

K? Hi N? R (Hindi: ???????, Persia / Urdu:??????, Telugu: ????????) yang berarti "Gunung Cahaya" dari Persia, juga dieja Kohinoor, Koh-e Noor atau Koh-i-Nur adalah 105 karat (21. 6 g) berlian yang dulunya dikenal berlian terbesar di dunia. Para Kohinoor berasal di Golconda di negara bagian Andhra Pradesh di India. Hal ini milik berbagai Sikh, Mughal, dan penguasa Persia yang berperang dengan sengit di atasnya pada berbagai titik dalam sejarah dan merebut sebagai perang merusak waktu dan lagi. Setelah benar-benar mengabaikan Maharaja Ranjit Singh's akan itu akhirnya disita oleh East India Company dan menjadi bagian dari Permata Mahkota Inggris ketika Perdana Menteri Inggris menyatakan Benjamin Disraeli Ratu Ratu Victoria India pada 1877. Ini adalah legenda bahwa siapa pun yang memiliki Koh-i-Noor menguasai dunia.

Kemungkinan kutukan yang berkaitan dengan kepemilikan dari berlian tanggal kembali ke teks Hindu yang berkaitan dengan penampilan dikonfirmasi pertama dari berlian tahun 1306:

“ He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. "Dia yang memiliki berlian ini akan memiliki dunia, tetapi juga akan mengetahui segala kemalangan. ” Hanya Allah, atau seorang wanita, dapat memakainya dengan bebas. "

Perkiraan Nilai: 16. 4 Juta dolar(rp.164M)

Wittelsbach Diamond yang juga dikenal sebagai Der Blaue Wittelsbacher adalah 35. 56 karat (7. 11 g) intan biru dengan VS 2 kejelasan yang telah dihargai oleh bangsawan Eropa selama berabad-abad. Itu telah menjadi bagian dari baik Austria dan Bavaria Mahkota permata.

Warna dan kejelasan telah dibandingkan dengan Hope Diamond. Berlian ukuran 24. 40 mm dengan diameter dan 8. 29 mm secara mendalam. 82 facet telah diatur dalam sebuah pola atipikal. Segi bintang pada mahkota yang terbelah secara vertikal dan paviliun memiliki enam belas jarum-seperti faset, diatur berpasangan, menunjuk ke arah luar dari segi culet.

Perkiraan Nilai: 400 Juta dolar(rp.4triliun)

The Cullinan berlian kasar terbesar adalah berkualitas permata berlian yang pernah ditemukan, pada 3, 106. 75 karat (621. 35 g).

batu poles terbesar dari batu permata bernama Cullinan I atau Bintang Pertama Afrika, dan pada 530. 2 carats (106. 0 g) adalah berlian terbesar di dunia hingga tahun 1985 penemuan Golden Jubilee Diamond , 545. 67 karat (109. 13 g), juga dari Premier Mine. Cullinan Aku sekarang dipasang di kepala dengan tongkat kayu Salib. Permata terbesar kedua dari batu Cullinan, Cullinan II atau Bintang Kecil Afrika, di 317. 4 carats (63. 5 g), adalah berlian terbesar keempat di dunia. Kedua permata berada di Crown Jewels dari Kerajaan Inggris.

sumber: http://jelajahunik.blogspot.com/2010/04/10-batu-permata-paling-mahal-di-dunia.html

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