Archive for the ‘Jewelery & Watches’ Category

Thinking About Buying Jewelry Online? Go For It!

July 1, 2010 - 1:40 pm No Comments

Like most men, I struggle when it comes to buying jewelry. I feel uneasy because I don’t know how much it’s supposed to cost. I know that diamonds are expensive and that certain precious stones and metals cost more than others, but I probably couldn’t even tell the difference between man-made stones and the real thing. I get suspicious when I see department and chain stores advertise deeply discounted jewelry. I just don’t know what to believe. As a savvy consumer, I don’t want to pay huge markups or simply assume that if it costs more it must be better. That’s why I found the answer in buying jewelry online.

But isn’t that risky? I don’t think so. I buy many other things online and I do it because I generally have a greater selection and get a better deal. Online stores have much lower overhead. There are no middlemen and no expensive storefronts. This results in lower prices. Transactions are safe, there are money-back guarantees, and service is as good or better.

There are other advantages. For example, I dread going to conventional jewelry stores because of the subtle and not-so-subtle sales pressure they inevitably put on you. They always bring out the really expensive stuff as if I were a cheapskate unless I spent so and so much for a set of diamond earrings. The implication is always, “If you really loved her, you’d spend more.” I hate to be put into that position, and it is one of the reasons why I prefer shopping for jewelry online.

Now obviously there are some drawbacks as well. It can be difficult to get a true idea of the size and appeal of a piece of jewelry without actually seeing it in person and touching it. Then again, unless you risk getting talked into buying something you really don’t want or need, most jewelry we see in stores we don’t get to touch either. So the very high quality photography on online jewelry site often shows more detail than what you see in a store.

A very important advantage of shopping for jewelry on the web is that you get to compare. Jewelry in stores usually has a tiny price tag attached to it and no other information at all. Online, each item is usually described in detail. That way you know the material, the stones, the size, fit, finish and anything else you need to know. If you’re shopping for bracelets, for example, you can search by type, material, price range or other criteria. Likewise, if you’re interested in birthstone collections, Celtic jewelry or a Mother’s Day gift, you can simply bring up the category and then compare to your heart’s content. If you have a certain price ceiling in mind, you can call up whatever suits your budget. There is never any pressure.

The selection available at the better online jewelry stores is amazingly large. Couples shopping for wedding bands may find many hundreds of beautiful designs in many categories, again all described in great detail and shown in close-up photography. Diamond jewelry, likewise, is available in an almost endless variety, with diamonds described in cut, carat weight, clarity, color and, if applicable, certificate type.

For me, the bottom line is clear. Buying jewelry online means no sales pressure, more selection, more and better information (some have learning lounges and other educational resources), easier comparison shopping, and generally better prices. What’s not to like? So next time you’re in the market for a fine piece of jewelry, try shopping online. Reputable online jewelry stores will have the latest trends and styles. Most have excellent customer support, and the best ones offer price guarantees. You simply can’t lose.

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Gemstone Jewelry

June 26, 2010 - 10:34 pm No Comments

One of the hottest new synthetic gems about the marketplace would need to be the hydrothermal quartzes, which arrive inside a range of colours. Many of them are color-striated. There is really a hydrothermal quartz that’s a defunct ringer for blue sapphire, actually. You will find also incredible synthetic versions from the other organic quartz gem stones, including amethyst and citrine. I saw an oblong hydrothermal quartz about a year ago that nevertheless haunts me – it was green along with a deep rose colour – various colours at various poles from the gemstone. It looked some thing like tourmaline but the colours were a lot brighter and clearer.

Bracelets For Men

June 25, 2010 - 1:53 pm No Comments

Bracelets for men used to be the symbol of wealth and prosperity. These pieces can show power and pride. Mens bracelets can improve the over-all look of mens attire or wardrobe. They are not only stylish, lots of therapeutic, too.

Bracelet started with materials like beads, metals, bones, glasses, leathers, stones, woods and even plant materials. They were created to serve religious and spiritual interests. Some were plain, while others were designed with intricate details.

Bracelets are increasingly being crafted from a wide variety of materials for different purposes. These pieces are made of cloth, hemp, leather, metal or plastic. They generally contain rocks, wood and shells.

Bracelets are now used as fashion items or accessories. And because of the evolution of metal craft and the development in production, bracelets are now created from gold, bronze and silver. Gemstones, like jade, emerald, and ruby are sometimes set to ensure they are more desirable.

Bracelets for men are gaining popularity as modern men become more aware of how they look. They stumbled on realize how bracelets can enhance the over-all look of their attire or wardrobe. With the right bracelet design, they can be well accessorized, thus, making them well dressed.

Bracelet for men remains as one of the options for accessories that modern men consider.

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The History of the Watch

June 25, 2010 - 11:20 am No Comments

Before learning about watches you should be familiar with some of the terminology. The word horology has two meanings; it is the study or science of measuring time or the art of making clocks, watches, and devices for telling time.

Since the first appearance of man on the earth an effort has been made to measure time. The tracking of the sun’s movement across the sky, candles that were marked at intervals, oil lamps with a marked reservoir, sandglasses (hourglasses) are some of the ways in which time was measured. In the Orient knotted cords and small stone or metal mazes filled with incense that would be burned at a specific rate.

Water clocks did not depend on the observation of the sky or the sun. The earliest water clock was found in the tomb of Amenhotep I who was buried around 1500 B.C. Greeks called them clepsydras; they were stone containers with sloped sides that allowed water to drip at an almost constant rate from a small hole in the bottom. Other clepsydras were cylinders or bowl shaped designed to slowly fill up with water coming in at a near constant pace. Markings on the inside of the bowl marked the passage of the hours. Though this was used primarily at night, it is thought they were used in the day hours as well. A metal bowl with a hole the bottom was placed in a larger bowl filled with water. It would fill and then sink in a certain amount of time.

Since water flow was not exactly predictable and difficult to control the flow accurately, timepieces that depended on water were very inadequate. People were drawn to develop more accurate ways of measuring and telling time.

The development of quartz crystal clocks and timepieces depended on the crystal size, shape, and temperature to create a frequency. Quartz clocks and watches continue to be popular. They work well enough for the price and although they tend to be slightly ‘off’ the correct time most people can afford them.

The first watches had a natural movement but no minute hand. They had to be wound every twelve hours. Watches were originally worn more for adornment than functionality. Timepieces worked with weights but these were not practical in portable timepieces.

Time measurement has been a goal of man from the beginning and a time line will help you understand how we got to where we are with watches. Watches have so many new functions. They have the date, the time, times across time zones and some have stop watches. Most watches have some kind of an alarm in them. The possibilities are endless and I can really see a Dick Tracy type of watch being real.

Here is a timeline of watch history. Some of the years might not be listed in chronological order but I got them as close to it as possible. It is very interesting to learn how watches have developed. It’s amazing when I think of the minds of the people who had their hand in creating watches, how smart and technical they must have been!

Prior to 1600 – The main problem was the driving power the timepieces ran were balanced weights. This made it difficult to carry them around.

1524 – Henlien was paid fifteen Florins for a gilt musk-apple with a watch. This is the earliest date of watch production that is known.

1548 – Other watches appeared and were probably French or German in origin.

1575 – Swiss and English products began to appear. This was the period of the most advancements and innovation. First watch movements were made of steel and then later brass. They were straight verge watches with no balance and were highly inaccurate. The use of spiral-leaf main spring began. This allowed the power of a movement without hanging weights. These pieces were inconsistent in their accuracy.

1600 – 1675 – This was the age of decoration. Watches became more of a decoration and jewelry piece rather than being functional. The shape of cases changed from tambour cylinder with a lid, to a circular case with hinged, domed covers on the front and back. Champleve enamel and relieved case filled with colored enamel appeared.

1620 – The glass crystals were fitted to the cases as a typical alternative to metal opaque covers. The glass is translucent and allowed the owner to see the time without taking off the cover. In order to set the watch and see the time, the cover had to be removed.

1625 – Plain watches came about as the result of the Puritan movement.
After 1660 – Fancy shapes and adornments were seen mostly on ladies’ watches.

1675 – The spiral balance spring is first used in watches. The accuracy now was measured in fractions of minutes as opposed to fractions of hours. This increased accuracy caused watchmakers to create a dial that had a minute hand and was divided by minutes.

1675 – Charles II introduced waistcoats with pockets. Men now carried their watches in their pockets rather than on a pendant.

1704 – Dullier and Debeaigre developed a method of using jewels as bearings.

1715 – Sully found out that creating a small sink around each hole would retain the oil because of the surface tension.

1725 – It was common to find a large diamond endstone in the cock.

1750 – The names of watchmakers never appeared on the dials of watches till now.

1761 – John Harrison made a clock that was so accurate it was used to measure longitude during sea voyages.

1775 – Champleve is now rare.
Purrelet began production of self-winding watches.

1780 – Rareguel produced these watches.

1800 – The pocket chronometer was a readily available and accurate watch.

1814 – Massey was the first who used a push or pump with a rack that operated by pushing the pendant that turn on a ratchet basic or going bowl.

1850 – The United States were the first to use mass production with mixed results

1900 – Advances were made in metallurgy. This was the introduction of the balance spring on the first verge watch.

1952 – Battery powered watches became available.

1970 – Electronic watches were very successful.

Watches today use quartz crystals, batteries, and there are even atomic watches. Time tracking has never been more accurate and advances in the field of Horolgy are being made all the time.

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diamond rings

June 25, 2010 - 10:06 am No Comments

One other piece of advice it that earlier than you got down to buy a diamond ring should know your girlfriends ring size. It will show you how to to ask the retailer to customise the ring to her ring size. For those who absolutely sure that this ring is made special or your accomplice you may even write a customized message behind the ring to shock her. It could possibly be one thing that only you and he or she could share. Will probably be a secret that only both of youll know and share. It is going to be that sly smile that you simplyll give each other which indicates that personal second whenever you requested her to marry you and she stated sure.

diamond rings

Emeralds

June 23, 2010 - 10:28 am No Comments

Emeralds are a fragile gemstone, and you’ll find a few environments that can diminish the rock’s look. It can be excellent practice to keep your emerald rings away from direct sunlight or high temperature environments, as it might trigger the oils to dry up within the emerald. Also, avoid making use of detergents and cleaning chemicals when cleaning emerald rings, as this can have the same impact of drying up the oils. Ultrasonic cleaners are typically applied to clean jewelry, on the other hand they have to be avoided when cleaning emerald jewelry, as the fissures inside of the rock make it prone to cracking or chipping.

Casio G Shock Watch

June 21, 2010 - 2:33 am No Comments

I have a casio G shock watch and I love it. Plus, I got a good deal on it. It’s not expensive and I like that. A quality watch should not have to cost you a proverbial arm and leg. I got mine for $70 or so. It has no battery but is charged by sunlight, which is awesome. It’s black colored and fits nicely on the wrist. It has a stop watch functionality and other similar features and even a nice backlight. It looks good too, which is important. Yes, I highly recommend the Casio G Shock Watch. Now, I gotta get back to working on my herbal colon cleanse site.

Earrings from the Twilight Collections

June 13, 2010 - 1:38 pm No Comments

A wonderful selection of Twilight earrings awaits the discerning Twilight enthusiast. Which ever the particular occasion there’s a piece of Twilight Jewelry to meet your requirements and impress all your friends! It shouldn’t matter who is your preferred Twilight character because anyone can develop a Twilight jewelry collection that features all or any of the favored pieces of the character you love the best. You may purchase a twilight jewelry collection comprised of jewelry of the whole Cullen clan or else you can establish a jewelry set that features all or any of your preferred jewelry items, irrespective of whether it is Alice’s Choker, Rosalie’s necklace, Esme’s bracelet and even Edward’s wristcuff ~ it is really right down to you right now!

The Sinn Navitimer A Collectors Choice

June 11, 2010 - 4:23 pm No Comments

If you like Breitling wristwatches then you will no doubt be conscious of their celebrated Navitimer watch. The Breitling Navitimer is among the worlds most well-known watches, and was among the original instrument watches ever created. The Navitimer boasts a slide rule inside the rotating bezel that permits pilots to create all of the calculations they might require to to get a flight strategy. What quite a few persons don’t realise is the fact that the rights to the Navitimer feature have been also sold to an additional observe firm, Sinn. Sinn are fewer nicely recognized than Breitling, and their prices are a lot less costly too. You’ll be able to pick up a Vintage Sinn Navitimer to get a fraction from the cost of a Breitling, yet numerous share both the Navitimer bezel and the movement itself with their Breitling counterparts. Having a Sinn Navitimer you get the functions and high quality of a Breitling, but with out the price. Sinn Navitimers are therefore extremely well-liked with collectors and pilots who favour a tool watch over the status of the higher end brand like Breitling. Owners of Sinn Navitimers have a tendency to become far more serious watch collectors and look at the Sinn a smarter choice than the Breitling equivalent.

Indian Jewelry

June 10, 2010 - 12:31 pm No Comments

The first step in creating a beautiful custom jewel is creating an exciting design. Thomas Edison said that

invention is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.When it comes to custom-designed jewelry, the numbers are reversed –

designing a beautiful, personalized jewel is 99% creativity and fun and, maybe, 1% labor.
Most custom-designed jewels celebrate a special person or event: thus, the design of the jewel should carry a special meaning

for both the creator and the wearer. There are many ways to add “personal touches” to a custom jewel. Here are several ideas:
Brooches and pendants have long been showcases for miniature portraits of loved ones and special places. Sometimes the

portraits are prominently painted, enamelled or etched of the surface of the jewel; other times they are hidden in a secret

compartment!
Or, in the last century a style known as “acrostic jewelry” was popular. In acrostic jewelry a phrase or name is “spelled out”

using the first letters of the names of gemstones. For example, a ring set with four stones – Jadeite, Uvarovite garnet, Diamond

and Iolite – would carry the secret message “Judi”.
Finally, a custom-designed jewel can be personalized by incorporating a special gemstone, color or motif which has special

meaning for the wearer.Often, the simplest design carries the deepest meaning.
When you are designing a custom jewel, there are three important guidelines you should follow:
1.Allow yourself and your jeweller enough time to create a jewel which will be truly special and of lasting beauty. A custom

jewel whose design is rushed or compromised will often look awkward and incomplete. (Ed. note – If you plan to create a

special jewel for the Christmas holiday season, you should begin the design process in early November.)
2.Cast a wide net when searching for design ideas. Possible sources of inspiration include antique and ancient jewels, jewels

from other cultures and contemporary jewelry designs.Clip magazine ads and catalog listings of design ideas you may want to

incorporate in your jewel.
3. Work with a designer who will help you enhance and interpret your ideas. The design should be a statement of your personal

tastes and life style.Be wary of a “designer” who “knows exactly what you need” or works from a catalog of hackneyed

commercial designs.
At Bijoux Extraordinaire, our designers and gemologists are available to help you design a jewel of lasting beauty and value.

We will work with you to translate your ideas and sentiments into a truly unique jewel inspired with personal meanings.

We can help you find the best way to buy gold