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Gerald Ratner speaking at the Inspire07 Business Awards

COMEBACK king Gerald Ratner certainly sparkled as the guest speaker at the Inspire07 Business Awards.

The former jewellery tycoon, who back in 1991 made one of the most famous gaffes in British corporate history, proved to be a highly engaging and humorous speaker.

His name was once a fixture on our High Streets, with its chain of cut-price jewellers. But a speech at the Institute of Directors where he described some of his jewellery in less than flattering terms - including boasting that some of his firm's earrings were cheaper than a prawn sandwich - wiped an estimated £500million from the value of his company, Ratners.

It was intended to be a humorous comment, one he had made several times before, but on this occasion it was picked up by the tabloids who were on the hunt for "Fat Cat" stories - and it resulted in his downfall.

Mr Ratner described how his name still crops up as a comparison whenever business or other high-profile people make huge mistakes.

The businessman went through a tough time after his gaffe - losing his job as head of his business empire. But his comeback started when he opened a thriving health club.

The success of the gym spurred the charismatic entrepreneur to go back into the jewellery business - but this time online. And here he has found success, once again, because his website - www.geraldonline.com - is now the UK's largest online jeweller.

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