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[Alexandr Korol]

Colors of Ink: M. A. Bulgakov

The world of The Master and Margarita, steeped in mysticism, captivates with its plausibility from the very first pages. It is therefore no surprise that the writer attached special significance to his sapphire ring, which served him as a talisman. Sapphire has traditionally been considered the stone of Neptune — one of the most mysterious and unexplored planets. Interestingly, Bulgakov’s ring did not lose its power even after his death. The next owner of the talisman was the writer’s friend, Sergey Yermolinsky, for whom the magical sapphire also aided in creation. Being a playwright, Yermolinsky once presented his play at the Moscow Art Theatre. Thanks to the permission of Yelena Sergeyevna, Bulgakov’s widow, to wear the “lucky” jewel, the play was accepted for production. It turned out the ring merely needed to be turned with the stone facing upward — and then it would “work.”

Star Path: Talismans of Celebrities

The Serpent’s Power: Angelina Jolie

Malicious tongues say that all her beauty and feminine magnetism — the dream of millions of men — Angelina Jolie owes to her amulets, jewelry in the form of serpents. As a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina traveled through many Third World countries with her husband, and once, while pregnant, she was presented in Africa with a ring in the form of a serpent — the protector of mothers and children.It seems the serpents truly “work”: Jolie remains just as young and beautiful, and her list of new roles never runs dry. Interestingly, in 2009 there was a presentation of an exclusive collection of serpent-shaped jewelry, which the Hollywood diva created to raise funds for charity. Jolie is also supported by Salma Hayek: the sultry beauty likewise adores “precious serpents.”

The “Silver” Group: Cameron Diaz

That silver is sometimes more precious than gold is something well known to another of the above-mentioned stars — Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz.