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Articles from GOLD JEWELLERY (714 Articles), RINGS - ENGAGEMENT (287 Articles), STAINLESS STEEL JEWELLERY (159 Articles)
With jewellery, there really is something for everyone. From statement-making peace-lovers, to those who can speak Klingon -- everyone can get their 'bling-on'.
Star Trek and rifles; the wacky world of jewellery
 3.4 k views | Posted December 06, 2011 | By Aaron Weinman
AK-47’s become jewellery; collections for sci-fi buffs; and a murdered actress’ engagement ring goes up for auction.
Not-for-profit organisation Fonderie47 has discovered an innovative way to dispose of dangerous and readily available AK-47 assault rifles: melting them down to create jewellery.
Peter Thum and John Zapolski founded Fonderie47 after a trip to Kenya in 2008, where they were shocked to discover the abundance of cheap weaponry. Seeing an opportunity to get guns off the street, the pair acquired the rifles from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which had initially confiscated the weapons from its North Kivu Province.
The company then enlisted the services of designers Philip Crangi and Roland Iten to create a collection of rings, earrings and cufflinks - which bare no resemblance to their original source – except for the rifle’s serial number, engraved into each design.
“We saw the AK-47 as an opportunity because it’s such a successful design,” Thum told the New York Times. “What better way to turn things around than with this object, which represents so many things ugly, and turn it into something beautiful?”
Whilst the jewellery sells for upwards of $20,000, the proceeds from sales help finance non-governmental organisation, Mines Advisory Group, an organisation contracted by the Congolese government to eradicate weapons.
While the Fonderie47 project has serious objectives, another range of jewellery could be described as amusing.
US-based television giant CBS in collaboration with award-winning jewellery designer, Udi Behr have announced a collection of Star Trek themed jewellery. Available exclusively from Amazon.com, the collection is based on designs found in the cult sci-fi show.
The range features a variety of necklaces, pendants, bracelets and rings all made from either titanium or stainless steel.
New York-based Behr is well known for his collections for other popular television shows including Dexter, True Blood and The ‘L’ Word. His designs have won acclaim in the New York Times and People Magazine.
“Working with CBS is an honour,” Behr said in a statement from CBS. “Star Trek is an icon in American culture and I tried to create a line of jewellery that will not only speak to the fan community, but will also serve as a great ambassador to an audience not familiar with the franchise.”
From the weird and wacky, we go to the bizarre!, According to celebrity-driven news service TMZ, murdered actress Sharon Tate’s engagement ring is expected to fetch up to $10,000 in a Hollywood auction
The ring was put up for auction on November 30 alongside other Hollywood and music memorabilia at GottaHaveRockandRoll.com.
Brutally stabbed to death by the Manson family in 1969, Tate was allegedly wearing the ring at the time of the murder, according to former husband, Roman Polanski.
After proposing to Tate in 1967, the controversial film director’s agent, William Tennant removed the ring from her finger when identifying her body at the morgue just two years later.
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