But there is one area where a Pandora bracelet just won’t do: engagements. Most men fear engagement rings with a passion, worried and concerned about making a faulty decision or choosing something that isn’t appreciated. With thousands of different designs, a confusing range of jewellery options, and a truly shocking price tag attached, this is one decision that’s worth thinking over.

So why not take direction from our culture’s driving force – celebrities? These eight celebrity engagement rings, wedding bands, and exotic jewellery pieces combine the expensive and the elegant, the obsessive and the truly beautiful. If you’re struggling to pick a great engagement ring, let these eight celebrity examples serve as some pretty, albeit expensive, inspiration.

1.    Scarlett Johansson’s $30,000 Engagement Ring

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2vrjoaj

Hollywood beauty Scarlett Johansson has always benefited from slightly reserved tastes; the acclaimed actress has rarely been featured on best or worst dressed lists, preferring to disappear into crowds than get caught up in red carpet drama. Her engagement ring – a $30,000 piece from then fiancé Ryan Reynolds – fits her style perfectly, looking elegant yet reserved when compared to other famous engagement rings.

Priced at $30,000, the engagement ring is significantly less pricey than other pieces of celebrity bling, and we can’t help but feel it’s money well spent. Far from the kitsch jewellery we often see celebrities showing off, this stylish engagement ring wouldn’t look out of place on anyone else.

2.    Beyonce’s £2.5 Million Diamond Wedding Band

Source: http://tinyurl.com/33j5ao4

Beyonce’s £2.5 million wedding ring certainly broke tradition; the piece was distinctly different from the public’s expectations, housing several diamonds rather than the standard gold wedding band arrangement. Purchased by husband Jay-Z at a cost of almost $5 million (valued at over £2.5 million at the time), the ring became one of the most famous of all time, grabbing media attention wherever it was seen.

For less financially successful bling fans, similar wedding bands are available at a significantly lower cost. Imitation models have been spotted for as little as $2,500 – the perfect choice for would-be rappers lacking Jay-Z’s $150 million bankroll.

3.    Melania Knauss’ $1.5 Million Engagement Ring

Source: http://tinyurl.com/394fthn

When Donald Trump proposed to Slovenian model Melania Knauss, he knew he needed to make a serious impression. The real estate billionaire certainly disappoint, offering his third wife-to-be a $1.5 million diamond engagement ring, purported by some news outlets to be the most expensive engagement ring of all time.

Other wedding expenses included a $200,000 dress, along with a $1.6 million ceremony. Jewellers are uncertain about the ring’s exact value, although most estimates fit somewhere between $1.5 and $2 million, depending on personal engraving and the piece’s condition.

4.    Katie Holmes’ 5-Carat Diamond Ring

Source: http://tinyurl.com/36nr432

There was little about Tom and Katie’s romance that didn’t attract the tabloids. Their proposal was heard around the globe, the ceremony surveyed by world class paparazzi, and their engagement rings the subject of much scrutiny from jewellery experts and media personalities.

Surprisingly, Katie Holmes’ engagement ring is quite reserved and standard. Detractors made fun of its art deco appearance, glossing over the fact that it is noticeably less shocking than other celebrity rings. With a five-carat oval diamond and platinum setting, this piece of bling may not look quite as ridiculous as its purported price tag.

5.    Jennifer Aniston’s $500,000 Custom Diamond Spiral

Source: http://tinyurl.com/37lnhn6

Before ‘Brangelina’ was the hottest celebrity romance, Brad Pitt’s 1999 engagement to Jennifer Aniston was a media favourite. The couple announced their engagement at a Sting concert, getting married a year later and sporting matching diamond engagement bands.

Jennifer’s ring was the most visibly lavish, sporting a diamond spiral and giant central diamond. Designed by Brad Pitt and Silvia Damiani, the ring cost an estimated $500,000 – one of the most expensive Hollywood engagement rings of the time.

6.    Catherine Zeta-Jones’ 10-Carat Marquise Ring

Source: http://tinyurl.com/3abte4t

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ engagement was a media field day. Engaged to Michael Douglas – a man almost twice her own age – and sporting a restored 1920s engagement ring, reporters let ‘antique’ puns slip constantly and treated the couple as a foreign object amongst other Hollywood romances.

But despite age differences, this celebrity coupling has stood the test of time. Catherine’s stunning restored 1920s Fred Leighton ring was reportedly purchased for over $1,000,000. While it’s a figure most people will never even consider spending on a ring, it seems strangely appropriate here; she is, after all, marrying Gordon Gekko.

7.    Jennifer Lopez’s $1.2 Million Engagement Ring

Source: http://tinyurl.com/323abcr

Talk about a whirlwind romance. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s early 2000s romance was one of the most archetypal in the celebrity world, complete with an expensive ring and a very public break-up. While most can remember Jennifer ditching Ben in favour of Marc Anthony, few people recall an important issue – just what happened to the $1.2 million engagement ring?

Apparently, Affleck was returned the ring after their romance went south, giving it back to jeweller Harry Winston in time for a Valentine’s Day sale. We’re not sure how much the piece was sold for, but you’d hope it was close to its previous value; with $1.2 million invested in the ring and an at-the-time failing acting career, we’re fairly certain this was one sale that Ben wanted to complete as quickly as he could.

8.    Salma Hayek’s £200,000 Oval Diamond Ring

Source: http://tinyurl.com/36mqe5o

When you’re engaged to a French high-end goods billionaire, no ring is too expensive or indulgent. Despite a noticeable lack of media attention, Salma Hayek’s engagement to French tycoon François Henri Pinault caused a stir in the jewellery world. The billionaire offered her a £200,000 platinum wedding ring alongside his proposal, promising to take care of the Mexican actress for the rest of her life.

Besides a brief breakup during their engagement, it seems as if Pinault has kept his promise. The couple have been happily married for over a year, romancing throughout Europe for the majority of 2009 and early 2010.

Problem is, after those long, cold nights and dark, dreary days we are bumbling around, bleary eyed into the sunlight (both metaphorically and actually) looking a little worse for wear!`

Its time to invest a little wedge of your hard earned in some dapper summer apparel and thats where Monkey Clothing can help. We have been out with some of our top fashionista agents to spot whats hot and whats not on the streets of cool Britannia.

We have spotted a host of celebrity fashion conscious fellas and they seem to be all saying the same thing!

Luke 1977 is the snapshot of contemporary brit style. A wide spectrum of famous faces hold Luke clothing in high esteem, from footballers like Anton Ferdinand, international DJs like Graeme Lloyd and DJ Target to actors and TV chefs such as Dean Edwards, John Torode and Jamie Lomas.

Even urban music acts such as Roll Deep and Fundamental cant seem to get enough of this Brit style icon, constantly being snapped head to toe in the designer label.

So, if you are looking for inspiration on what to dress yourself in this summer look no further than Monkey clothing with our great range of Luke 1977 clothing!

The British comedian is seeking revenge on his fiancee after she dubbed him ‘Bridezilla’ over his enthusiasm for their marriage plans. Katy even posted a picture of him on twitter wearing a wedding dress.

He joked, “Katy, that little cow, keeps calling me a bridezilla. Travis Cocker wrote, ‘Just Say Yes,’ the single we’re releasing from the film, and for that, one of the costumes I wore was a wedding dress. I sent Katy a picture and she put it on the internet and goes, ‘Oh look at him he’s obsessed with this wedding.

“I am trying to think of a way to get revenge. Let me tell you there are photos of her on my phone that could go nuclear!”

However, Russell is cautious of revealing the sexy snaps because he is scared of the repercussions.

He told MTV News, “A man has to be respectful. I am so tempted but I feel I am going to need my testicles in the near future.

Claims the pair have already planned their outrageous outfits have already circled the media, with talks of Katy wearing a midriff-baring wedding gown. Although Russell does not want to upstage his bride, he has promised that his attire for the big day will be no less shocking.

He said, “I think it would be unfair to say this day is all about me.

“I am going to wear a tuxedo and a top hat with no pants and I am going to paint my penis with lipstick. This is her day. It is not about those mental images.”

From The Clone Roses to Peat Loaf (pictured right) there are faux popstars dedicating their lives to impersonating bands from all eras. 70s tribute bands based on the likes of Abba, Bee Gees, The Beach Boys and The Kinks are often the most in-demand acts along with 80s tribute bands consisting of phoney Wham, Bon Jovi, Madonna, Cher and Queen performers.

Love them or hate them, these tribute bands aren’t going anywhere soon. In fact, they seem to be becoming even more widespread thanks to console games such as Guitar Hero and karaoke machines that continually provide tone-deaf punters with a platform to make others wince.

In the US, tribute bands are earning more money than ever, drawing huge respect and performing in front of large crowds – at a time when a pair of tickets to a concert by the biggest rock bands can run in the hundreds of dollars.

Back in the day, a few free pints of beer would be enough to fund a tribute band’s roadshow; they did it for the sheer thrill that derived from trying to replicate their heroes and would try their very best to be as rock ‘n’ roll off the stage as they were on it. Most paid homage to classic rock acts of the 60s and 70s – the Rolling Stones, the Beatles – and heavy metal bands like Judas Priest. But the sheer number and variety of tribute bands has exploded, branching out to modern-era acts such as Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, and even Sheffield boys Arctic Monkeys. And they’re not playing for ale anymore. Today’s tribute bands are playing major nightclubs, concert halls, and in some cases arenas – earning thousands of dollars per gig.

Kerry Katona

This former Atomic Kitten star has already seen more than her allotment of financial problems. Katona has dealt with many ups and downs in her personal life, including two failed marriages and the births of four children. Her professional life has also taken a hit; after quitting the Atomic Kittens, Katona moved through a host of reality shows, trying to find another niche in the entertainment industry. Without many true successes to guide her career, Katona found herself bankrupt in 2008, and she lost her £1.5 million home at the end of last year.

Shane Ritchie

Shane Ritchie may be best known for his role as Alfie Moon on the soap opera EastEnders. This British celebrity has been involved in entertainment on stage and in front of a camera. Unfortunately, Ritchie’s booming acting and singing career is overshadowed by a host of money troubles that included the sale of his dream home when he couldn’t keep up the £8,000 monthly payments. He managed to avoid bankruptcy through friends who covered debts for him when money got tight.

Mike Read

Disc jockey Mike Read is another well known Brit who has fallen into more debt than he can handle. Read declared bankruptcy not once but twice, with the last settlement occurring just last year. The second bankruptcy forced Read to sell his beloved collection of music memorabilia to keep bill collectors happy, although initial sales only covered a portion of his debts. Sales continue in hopes of eventually paying Read’s debts in full.

Joe Swash

Another soap opera star who found himself in dire straits is Joe Swash. This former EastEnders star was also the winner of the British hit, “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” Unfortunately, Swash was not a good manager of his generous television salary, and at the end of last year, he was declared bankrupt by London’s High Court for failure to pay a £20,000 tax bill and debt cosilidation loans

Matt Goss

Better known as one of the Goss brothers in the British pop sensation Bros, Goss learned early in life that fame does not come cheap. Bros achieved fame and fortune while the Goss brothers were still teenagers, and despite the money made, the brothers came close to declaring bankruptcy by the time the Bros era was coming to an end. Today, Matt Goss lives in the United States, headlining at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He has learned financial management from the school of hard knocks, and he is much more careful with how he handles his assets today.

Even the rich and famous can run into financial difficulty if they do not exercise money savvy as their income grows. The same rules that apply to the rest of us also keep celebrities in the black and out of trouble.

The Oscar-winning actress and Jess James, 41, split after reports revealed he had cheated on her with several women.

The couple, just weeks before the split, had adopted three-month-old baby Louis Bardo, who Sandra, 45, plans to raise on her own.

In a recent statement, Jesse said, “My whole life has been full of hard decisions.

“The decision to let my wife end our marriage, and continue the adoption of Louis on her own, has been the hardest.

“The love I have for Louis cannot be put into words. Not having him around to love and to hold has left a huge hole in my heart.

“Sandy is the love of my life, but considering the pain and devastation I have caused her, it woul be selfish to not let her go.”

Jesse checked into rehab shortly after the split.

“Right now it is time for me to beat this addiction that has taken two of the things I love the most in life,” he adds.

-Not so Graceful-

Lady Gaga is a self-confessed fan of the cult icon Grace Jones but it seems Grace won’t be rushing to answer Gaga’s famous telephone in the near future after some scathing remarks about the current Queen of Pop.

The Jamaican-born singer / model / actress was approached by the Pokerface star for a collaboration, but Grace rejected her offer hands down.

Asked about whether Gaga contacted her for a joint venture, Grace replied in no uncertain terms: “Yes, she did, but I said no. I’d just prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not copying me, actually.

“I’ve seen some things she’s worn that I’ve worn, and that does kind of p*ss me off… I wouldn’t go to see her.”

She added: “I really don’t think of her at all. I go about my business. I just don’t play with other acts as a rule.”

Lady Gaga has previously admitted that she is a fan of Jones and described the star as her “Jesus”. MIA and exre-Moloko frontwoman Roisin Murphy have both previously suggested that Gaga mimics their past style – whilst Gaga herself hails the likes of Prince, David Bowie, Madonna, Freddie Mercury and Labelle as her inspiration.

Gaga is on the road with her Monster Ball tour at present which stretches across the calendar year, and you can purchase Lady Gaga tickets from viagogo.

From Tiger Woods seemingly endless lineup of hidden romances to Sandra Bullock’s recent relationship hurdles, some of the world’s most apparently stable celebrity romances have come undone in a matter of minutes. Despite the media’s endless attempts to piece together stories and assemble timelines, there’s one sure-fire source of data that’s been behind nearly every cheating celebrity’s downfall: their mobile phone.

Tiger Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren reportedly found out about her husband’s affairs from his cellphone. Tiger, a billionaire sports star who likely picks up a sponsor-provided free mobile phone weekly, had text messages leak into the mainstream media, many of which detailed his efforts to have contacts, messages, and information selectively removed from his phone.

Similarly, Sandra Bullock’s husband Jesse James has found his dirty laundry aired in public as a result of poor text message management. The West Coast Choppers CEO found that his flashy iPhone offers little protection from snoopy spouses or investigative reporters – after several women went forward with details of affairs, the well-known TV personality entered a rehabilitation program to ’save’ his marriage.

So before you begin to think that iPhone deals offer protection from relationship hiccups, it might be worth looking at the whole situation. With text messages, saucy mobile photos, and unknown contacts the cause behind a growing number of celebrity affairs, it’s only a matter of time before technology’s tendency to expose our dirty laundry trickles down to the general public.

The ‘Fight for this Love’ singer is reportedly taking over legal proceedings insisting she will get the house and her dogs in the divorce settlement.

The divorce is reported to take place in July after the World Cup Tournament, which will see the Chelsea love rat single once more.

Sources have revealed that the X Factor judge wants an amicable settlement and hopes that she can “divorce with dignity.”

A source told the Daily Mail, “There are no divorce lawyers yet, Cheryl wants to do everything on her own terms.

“She is speaking to Ashley-they are texting-she even calls him babe-but as much as she loves him, there is no way back. This is divorce with dignity, it is Cheryl’s style.

“When is happens it will be quick, quiet and painless.”

The insider said that the Girls Aloud star is planning to go head with the divorce after the World Cup Tornament to save any added drama.

“Any divorce will be away from the public eye and swift.

“It will not be acrimonious and will likely be after the World Cup. All Cheryl wants is her home and her dogs.”

And 2010 is no different. So far we have seen a bunch of celebs exposed for their cheating ways and here are a few that have stood out in our mind.

Sandra Bullock 

Oscar-winning actress, Sandra Bullock’s life was torn apart after learning her husband, Jesse James, had had a sordid affair with tattoed model, Michelle McGee. McGee sold her story claiming the pair had an 11-month affair, and on one occasion lay in bed together watchin Bullock’s TV appearance at the MTV awards last May.

Celebricious Verdict: This Jesse James character needs to get to Specsavers!

Elin Nordegren

The Tiger Woods scandal shook the nation and broke the heart of his beautiful wife Elin Nordegren.  The multiple affairs which broke out earlier this year, showed the Tiger’s true colours and rocked his squeaky clean image on and off the golfing ground. Although not officially set in stone, reports have claimed Elin, 30, will file for a divorce, which could see sex-mad Tiger pay out millions of pounds.

Celebricious Verdict: Tiger made a huge cock up and should of kept his balls to the golf course!

Reese Witherspoon

Pretty Reese Witherspoon faced heartbreak in 2006 when she discovered text messages on her former husband’s, Ryan Phillipe, phone suggesting he had been having an affair with co-star Amy Cornish. The break up stunned the nation as the pair seemed like a cute couple with not a problem in sight. Although Cornish denies the affair, sources on the movie set for Stop Loss claim she is a liar and was seen leaving his apartment on several occasions.

Celebricious Verdict: Ryan’s Phillip-ing mental for cheating on Reese!

Jennifer Aniston

 The stunning, attractive and successful Jennifer Aniston was publically humiliated in 2005 after reports revealed his sordid affair with Angelina Jolie. The pair, who met on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith, became very close and spent a lot of time together, texting and calling while off set too. Everyone was completely stunned when the stunning pair split, with Jennifer telling Vanity Fair Magazine, “The world was shocked and I was shocked. I’d be a robot if I said I didn’t feel any moments of anger, hurt and embarassment.”

However, the stunning star has bounced back and landed herself some great movie roles and a few hunky guys along the way!

Celebricious Verdict: At least Jen will always have her Friends!