History of the Watch

The earliest mention of the watch was in Shakespeare s play As You Like It. In the second act of the play one character produces a sun-dial from his pocket and muses about the time. Though at this time in history a true, portable timekeeping piece would have been too much of a hassle. Coming up with a powers source for the watch was impossible at this time. But in the 1500 s Peter Henlein from Germany created the first pocket watch. And from that point on portable timekeeping was part of the norm. In the early 1600s, form watches came into being. Cases shaped like animals and objects and religious themed watches were the most popular. But cheap, portable clocks?watches?didn t really come into wide spread use until 1780 when Abraham Louis Perrelet invented the self winding movement.

Gemstones Natural vs Synthetic

What is a synthetic gemstone? A synthetic gem is created in a laboratory under controlled conditions. The gem is grown from a natural gemstone seed. By controlling the environment in which the gem is grown, impurities and inclusions can be avoided which occur in natural gemstones. The created stones have perfect color and clarity which is so highly desired. Most natural gemstones have imperfections due to uncontrolled growing conditions in nature. Synthetic stones will have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties of their natural counterparts without the imperfections. A good analogy for synthetic gemstone creation is growing roses. Roses grown in a hot house where their growing environment is controlled will be closer to perfection than roses that are grown in your backyard. They re both roses, but the backyard rose will most likely be flawed or imperfect due to disease, insects, and other environmental impacts.

Panda Jewelry: an Eye on Our Endangered Wildlife

Thinking of an adorable motif to wear or give away to friends, but tired of cliches? Maybe you ve bought too many ballerina figurines or puppy plushies. It s time to experiment with a different theme. The idea of panda jewelry is a unusual and is associated with environmental and ecological issues. If you want to distinguish yourself from the boring routine of giving away cute cuddly teddy bears or bear-motifed cards for Christmas or a birthday, opt for something different by considering panda jewelry. After all, bears are always cute -- but pandas are exotic BESIDES being cute. Pandas in accessories may be somewhat unconventional, but the unconventionality itself is sure to make this theme set a smash hit. The white-and-black theme that comes naturally to pandas is useful for every design.

The Truth About Platinum

Is platinum a new metal? After all, in the past, one would associate diamonds with gold. Nowadays, the most expensive fine jewelry designs set diamonds in platinum. The truth is, platinum has been on this earth for billions of years. This brilliant metal really came from the skies. Meteorites contain platinum and meteorites have been landing on earth for billions of years already. Kind of romantic if you think about it. That pure white platinum jewelry could once have been part of a star. Part of a meteorite that travelled through space before it landed in our world. Ironically, there was a time when platinum was thought to be an inferior metal by people searching for gold. Platinum looks like silver, so in 1590, when the Spanish discovered platinum, they named it platina, which means little silver.

Lingerie as Fashion Statement

When Madonna first wore her sexy underwear as outerwear our parents were astonished and we thought she was soooo daring. Today a camisole or corset in public is the sexy norm and something for every woman - not just the most daring material girls. Of course you want to make sure sensitive bits are covered so you do not end up spending the night in jail instead of in the throes of passion! A great way to show your taste for the lingerie look is through the use of bows and tassels. The ultra-popular low-rider jeans help with this and a there are a tons of thongs, panties and bustiers that are made to be shown. Lingerie now comes highlighted with crystals, sequins, fur and exquisite lace just begging to be shown off.

Diamond Hoop Earrings: The Divas Choice

Men grow cold as girls grow old And we all lose our charms in the end But square-cut or pear-shaped These rocks don t lose their shape Diamonds are a girl s best friend -- from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Diamond hoop earrings are perfectly popular these days, thanks to young pop divas like Jennifer Lopez or J-Lo, hiphop diva extraordinaire. J-Lo is also known for spreading the trend of the chandelier earring, and other cascading-style ear ornaments. Now take another diva and examine her choice of jewelry. We re talking about actress Elizabeth Taylor and her special fondness for diamonds. When she was dubbed a Dame of the British Empire, the nation held a black tie and diamonds event, to commemorate her love for that specific precious stone. Diamond hoop earrings are part of Miss Taylor s not inconsiderable jewelry collection.

Sterling Silver Jewelry Today

Sterling silver jewelry: silver and gemstone rings, sterling silver earrings, bracelets and pendants are some of the hottest fashion accessories today! Sterling silver jewelry is enjoying an unprecedented popularity with today s fashion conscious public. You know how beautifully sterling silver jewelry complements fashionable clothing and how it sparkles and shines now here is the rest of the story. Silver has been used since ancient times, but has not survived as well as ancient gold because it tarnished and decomposes. There have been times, however, when silver was in we are going through such a vogue today. Silver is the most common of the precious metals. Fine silver is pure silver, which is seldom used for jewelry because it is too soft. Sterling silver is 925 parts silver to 75 of copper, the alloy most often used.

What Makes Leather Handbags So Special?

A leather handbag is the ideal type of handbag for the woman on the go who doesn t like to change handbags often. Leather is a very strong and durable material able to withstand regular wear and tear and still look good. What makes leather handbags so popular though is their unique natural beauty. With genuine leather animal hides you can create some very unusual and stylish handbags. Handbags made with leather each have their own individual characteristics, as no two pieces of leather are alike. There are many different kinds of leather purses as well. Some designers prefer to use lambskin leather for its very soft, and supple feel and excellent look, whereas others may choose to work with cowhide or pigskin leather which possess tougher, more durable properties. As awful as pigskin may sound, it actually makes for a very soft and nice looking leather.

Reading Glasses for Fashion and Function

It will happen to most of us baby boomers?one day we are easily reading a story in the newspaper and the next day we can t see the words clearly. Don t despair, the large selection of reading glasses available on the market will give you exactly what you need in a style that you want. What type of visual assistance do you require? Do you want a magnifying glass for the occasional help with reading a few words, or hot colored eyeglass frames that are made into glasses for reading? The internet is one resource where you can find all of the trendy or traditional styles, choices, colors and prices of magnifying glasses, reading glasses, contacts, color contacts and they are all just a click away. Purchasing glasses for reading or frames has never been easier.

Summer Swimsuits - There is Still Time to Enjoy Them

Our summer season has finally made its way into July, marking what most of us consider to be the halfway point of the season. Soon enough, we will struggle to fit another weekend getaway into what is left of summer before having to dismantle the laid back attitude of the summer sun. Students of all ages will be returning to their campuses, only to recall and share the fond memories with other peers. There is still time to get the most of the warmth and sun before having to cope with facing the inevitable reality of responsibility. There are some relatively unknown tips that can aid in your quest of the everlasting summer, even for those in regions where piling snow will replace the thick green blades of grass. Find Close-Out Swimwear with Style Now is the season to gather up all the latest closeout bikini and one-piece swimsuits that are holding back the fall and winter gear from reaching the store shelves.