Laurence Graff (74), the man who has the most luxurious collection of gemstones in the world, has Romanian origins. His mother, Rebecca, born in 1910 in Botosani, a Hebrewfamily, went to London in 1935. After three years, Rebecca, married to Harry Graff, thefather Laurence, who began his life in poverty and then became billionaire diamondbusiness.

Born on June 14, 1910, Rebecca Segal was 25 when he left Botosani home with her ​​brother, Jean. The couple settled in London, where Harry met Rebecca Graff, a Jeworiginally from Russia, who would become his spouse. Without money and prospects, the two were crammed into a small room in a house located in White Chapel district.
Laurence, the first child of Harry and tailor shop assistant Rebecca newspapers andcigarettes, was born in 1938. The road to glory and money was not easy for him. ”When I was 15 years, mother took my hand and took me to a jewelry shop, a knowledge of her,to learn trade. For three months I did nothing but to wash floors and clean toilets. Then I was kicked out. Mother left and I went to another shop, where I quickly learned how torepair and remodel jewelery. The people were poor in England in those years after the war, people preferred to fix the rings than buy new ones ”, said Laurence in one of the rare interviews he granted the press.

In 1960 already had two stores
After the workshop where he was apprenticed in bankruptcy, Laurence and opened his own shop, which he called ”Segal’s” after the maiden name of mother, his supportalways. ”I was with an old craftsman, in a narrow room. He repaired jewelry, I came up with the idea to create others that mimic those of the Victorian, very popular in England.Rings that I sell two or three pounds each, were semi-precious stones and werehandmade. I managed to get a credit, I bought some diamonds. Thus, the next ring I gaveto 100 pounds, then 200 pounds to 500 pounds and so on, “he says Laurencefascinating story. In 1960 already had two shops in London’s Hatton Garden, butLaurence wanted more, wanted everything. ”I went to Australia and Singapore, where the diamond market was more interesting and more mobile than in England. In fact, inSingapore I bought the Prince and Princess of Brunei. In the ’70s, there were Arabs withtheir petrodollars. Asked diamonds growing, no matter the price. I was there, knew how to mold, so soon I got all the royal family’s favorite supplier of the Orient ”.

He sought relatives in Romania
Sparingly and with great flair investments in acquisitions, Laurence became one of the largest diamond dealers. In 2012, Graff listed in the Forbes richest people in the world with a fortune of 2.6 billion dollars, nicknamed ”king of diamonds”.
Rebekah, mother of Laurence Graff, who left in 1935 in Botosani in London for a better life, he poured out his son’s achievements. She died in 2008 at 98 years, and in later years tried to trace relatives remaining in Romania. In 2005, Rebekah granddaughter, Madeline, post a notice on the Internet: ”Looking for relatives in Botosani, Romania, mygrandmother, Rebecca Segal, and her brother, Jean Segal”.
Unfortunately, Botosani has left no trace of the family of Rebekah. Live, that’s right, twoold name Segal, who regret enormously that are related to the kid who started his careerwashing the floors and toilets for the day to reach the 464-th planet billionaire.

Has houses all over the world, yacht, aircraft and vineyard in South Africa
With a fortune of 2.6 billion dollars, Laurence can afford any fantasy. He and his wife,Frenchwoman Anne-Marie, have five properties in Gstaad (Switzerland), London(England), New York (USA), Cap Ferrat (France) and South Africa. Also Graff’s familyowns a yacht, Space, the $ 15 million, the Global Express XRS a plane, but also avineyard and a winery in Stellenbosch (South Africa). Laurence holds a collection ofmodern and contemporary art estimated at 250 million dollars. In 2009, Laurence andAnne-Marie, who have two boys were on the verge to break when the media reportedabout infidelity Laurence, who has a daughter with his mistress. It has been speculatedthat the divorce between the two, if it occurred, would be the most expensive in British history - Anne-Marie would be charged one billion dollars from her husband! Eventually,the two were reconciled.

$ 1,000,000 in mother’s memory
The relationship between Laurence and his mother was so close, that after her death in 2008, founded in her memory a charity to help poor children in Africa. Graff has donatedone million dollars in memory of Rebekah and said excitedly: ”My mother supervised every step I made in life. Without her advice, I may have taken another road.”

Sultan of Brunei, client since 1974
Company founded in 1960 by Laurence, ”Graff Diamonds’, has 32 ​​stores worldwide and51 percent of” South African Diamond Corporation ”, a South African company to exploit the diamonds, with offices in Johannesburg, Antwerp, Mauritius and Botswana. Graff’smain customer is the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, with an estimated fortune of 20 billion dollars to buy diamonds from him since 1974. Other customers were loyal Laurence, over time, Elizabeth Taylor, who supplied jewelry you wore in the film ”Cleopatra”, Oprah Winfrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denzel Washington and Victoria Beckham.

He bought 46 million dollars the most expensive jewelry in the world
Laurence has an impressive collection of diamonds. This includes one pink, which Graffand won in an auction of $ 46 million, the highest amount ever paid for a gem.
In November 2010, at an auction organized by Sotheby’s in Geneva, Graff raised to 46million dollars for a pink diamond of 24.78 carats, mounted in a silver ring, which gave itsname, ”The G raff fancy pink diamond ”. He completed a personal collection which alsobelongs to another rare gem, Wittelsbach diamond, which awarded and, in 2008, with24.3 million dollars. It’s a rock that stood in the hands of many kings, including Philip IV ofSpain, who then gave to his daughter, Infanta Margarita Teresa in 1664. That did not prevent the Graff diamond to polish, for greater clarity, reducing it from 35.56 carats to31.06 carats, which has drawn criticism. ”It’s like trying to lunge for the painting MonaLisa,” was derided Graff, who gave but a master stroke. Experts estimate that diamondLaurence reşlefuit worth more than before I entered the master’s hand. Another diamondfrom Graff’s collection is ”Lesotho Promise”, of 603 carats, bought in 2006 with 12.4 million dollars.

There are already several years since, in Romania, and even accessories are kept for the most famous companies in the world. While ordinary people buy their clothes from China of poor quality, these manufacturers have increased sales by 20 percent. More recently, in the hands of our workers travel bags out for collection including Aston Martin and Jaguar. When you arrive in store and prices are eight times that when they leave the factory.

In a leather workshop in Alba district is working in detail. Each employee is carefully zgaraie not skin, to be centered straight stitch and buckles. In the hands of these people out purses of hundreds and even thousands of euros, which are part of collections of luxury British car brands.

Even the factory administrator Aston Martin shows us a bag. ”They recognize this piece traditional style British vegetable tanned leather and natural range of colors, “says Constantin Chesculescu.

Objects and pass 40 times by hand to tailors are packed for delivery. And each order defines the client. Italians prefer bright colors, choose black and brown Germans and Britons appreciate the natural colors.

“A bag somewhere out the factory to 100 euros and can reach up to 600 stores in major euro,” said Ana Maria Popa, export manager.

The Baia de Aries, a sports apparel company has managed to conquer the European market. “The highest percentage we deliver on the German market, we have for Italy and France,” says Mariana Terhes, technical director.

The 160 employees that made ​​their boast and sewing clothes for famous companies like Benetton, Goretex or Lotto.

At least eight were killed and an unspecified number were missing on the night of Friday to Saturday, after an Italian liner with more than 4,000 people on board wrecked south of Tuscany, according to Italian press reports said.

A previous review announced six deaths, according to the press.

Eight people died and others were missing after they jumped into the sea in a moment of panic when the ship began to tilt to one side, the daily Il Messaggero said.

Also, over 30 people were injured, including a number seriously, according to Italian media.

Aproxiamtiv 200 people were on board the liner, by 2.30 pm GMT, said Giuseppe Linardi, prefect of the city nearby, Grosseto.

Costa Concordia, which made a cruise in the Mediterranean, the Friday night stranded on a sandbank near the Isle of Giglio, south of Tuscany, with 4231 people aboard, including many srăini, most of whom were evacuated, according to Coast Guard.

That the Mayor of stranded cruise ship Costa Concordia said previously that he fears that stock could rise as evacuation operations of the last passengers and crew members are still on board, might experience difficulties, according to the Italian agency ANSA.

On board about 1,000 passengers were Italians, Germans about 500 and about 160 French, said the owner, who did not provide further details on citizenship to people on the ship.

“Towards 20.00 (ship) Costa Concordia, with a length of 290 meters began to take water on board and leaned on one side at an angle of 20 degrees,” it said in a statement Coast Guard .

Costa Crociere owner said in a statement that the ship carrying about 1,000 passengers and 3,200 crew members and that it started “in Savona on a Mediterranean cruise with stops referred to Civitavecchia, Palermo, Cagliari, the LEAP Majorca, Barcelona, ​​Marislia and (back) to Savona “.

Coast Guard units and other vessels, particularly ferries connecting the Tuscan coast and the Isle of Giglio, were mobilized to the area to participate in the evacuation of passengers and crew.

Rescuers are coordinated by Harbor Master Santo Stefano and carabineers.

“We’re in full emergency” Giglio informed Mayor Sergio Ortelli journalists, busy preparing the island for hosting a few thousand people.

Luciano Castro, a witness, told Ansa news agency that at 21.30 local time (22.30, local time), passengers “just taking the dinner, the lights went out, he heard a bang and then a loud noise, then fell cutlery down “.

According to this witness, a pregnant woman began to scream and children cry. When light returned, the commander announced a generator up to electroassembly and promised quick redress.

But passengers and realized that the ship tilts on its side, the crew asked everyone to put their life jackets and go out on deck, in the boats.

Later the ship was ordered to be abandoned, marked with seven short bell sounds and a long one, according to witnesses.

Another passenger, Mara Parmegiani, a journalist, described “scenes worthy of Titanic”, where there was a stampede among evacuees, screaming and crying.

Singer Cesaria Evora died Saturday at age 70. The singer was hospitalized for several days, suffering from respiratory failure and pulmonary edema.

The one that friends say he was born on August 27 Cize 1941, Mindelo, Sao Vicente commercial town, one of the Cape Verde islands. At age seven when her father died, was taken to the orphanage, where she learned to sing.
But the one who reveals mysteries and mornas coladeras traditional interpretation will be Eduardo, a sailor who was infatuated when he was 16.

In an independent experiment, made ​​by a fashion house that creates “clothes for curves’, shaped two models have walked the streets for an hour an American city.

No man could not resist the temptation to turn your head after the two women, and the conclusion of the study would be one and good: men like clothes made ​​of Ishtar & Brute.

Kevin Costner, star of blockbusters “Robin Hood” or “Dancing with Wolves” will shoot next month in Bucharest for an American film. “The Hatfields and Mc-Coys” is the story of two families of misunderstandings ground during the Civil War the United States.

Director Bill Paxton, with whom he worked Costner “Robin Hood – Prince of thieves” and “Waterworld,” chose to film in our country at Castel Film Studios, since 19 September. The film will be released, apparently in 2012, when another blockbuster, shot in Romania, will be presented to the public: “Ghost Rider 2,” with Nicolas Cage starring. In this case, the producers were so excited about our country that is going to make its world premiere, scheduled for February next year, the House of the People in Bucharest.

Singer Rihanna is one of the sexiest stars of the moment, and interpret the age of 23 years continues to provide men for reasons of admiration.

Located in the USA in Miami, Rihanna appeared dressed in a transparent white dress, which they could be seen wrapped forms only a swimsuit.

Rihanna was very affectionate with fans who had gathered at the hotel and they sent their “marshmallows” in the car they carry. Perhaps it was the way the singer thanking the fans, because yesterday deposed Lady Gaga, among the most pleasant celebrities on Facebook.

In other news, Rihanna is the new face of lingerie line produced by Emporio Armani, replacing Megan Fox-such. It will appear as the images to promote the autumn-winter collection 2011-2012.

More pictures with Rihanna`s Dress here.

Sandor Nemeth Raffael and Gyozo, handball killers Marian Cozma, will spend the rest of life in prison, court magistrates decided Veszprem, while Sztojka Ivan, another attack will be 20 years in prison. The verdict is not final and may be attacked.

The main defendants in the Cozma, Raffael and Sandor Nemeth Gyozo, received life imprisonment and will not be released before 30 years of punishment serve. Sztojka Ivan also got 20 years in prison without the right to leave behind bars until serving 15 years sentence.
“It’s good that justice has done the job. To me that does not give me any satisfaction. Nothing can bring you back to Marian,” said Peter Cozma Marian’s father for evz.ro.
Marian Cozma handball was killed the night of 7 to 8 February 2009. The athlete was 27 years and was stabbed in the heart after a fight with some gypsies in a bar in Veszprem.

Typical of David Hasselhoff. A talented actor and singer, but not serious (see his problems with alcohol). So managed to put 1,500 students in the head and dizzy aştepatu to sing it.

Hasselhoff had to support the concert at a party organized by the University of Hertfordshire, but was delayed more than an hour. So he had the crowd excited. How to get on stage was greeted with booing, throwing bottles on him and shouted to get off the stage.

David is not softened, and after only a quarter of an hour and drew sympathy around, apologizing and being autoironizându. The crowd went pretty quickly from “Off, off, off!” (Down, down, down! “) to Hoff, Hoff, Hoff.

Actress Kelly Brook does not understand why her breasts are considered so sexy, she is very disappointed by the appearance of her chest. The star 31-year-old, who posed for Playboy last year, says it is pleased with the appearance, but recognizes that it is not perfect.

Kelly Brook has revealed that when he gives her bra down, her breasts are a bit left so famous.

“Well, I’m proud of how I look. I have natural breasts, but hanging a bit. There are very firm and I think that’s disappointing. When you figure below bra, breasts leave, “he recunsocut star.

Although he said that he was too afraid to turn to plastic surgery, Kelly Brook and would like to look like Halle Berry or Angelina Jolie.

“Halle Berry has perfect tits. So Angelina Jolie, “she said.