Clutches for Less

Posts Tagged ‘watches’

With the growing trend for people buying designer goods online you may understandably be very tempted to search the web when deciding to buy a new watch.  With mens designer watches in particular being rather expensive, you may opt to buy from ebay to save money.  What is the safest way of buying a watch from ebay?  Follow these handy hints and you will soon be shopping safely.

1) Pay attention to the photos - You should get a good sense of the product from the photos. Are they all of a high quality and do they show the different angles of the item?

2) Product Attributes - A thorough description will indicate whether the seller is being forthright and clearly stating the product's main attributes and features. Good product descriptions should make it easy for you to get this information.

3) Features - The watch you are viewing should include the complications or features you are looking for (e.g water-resistance, battery life).

4) Watch Material - It is important that you should understand what material the watch is made out of (e.g yellow gold, gold plated/filled, silver, etc) and what various qualities and grades are.

5) The item's condition - If you are looking for an entirely new item, check to see if the seller says the item is 'new' or whether it is 'new in box' (NIB). However, if you're shopping for a vintage watch, see how the watch is described to determine if you would be happy with its current condition.

6) Warranty - If it is applicable, you should learn more about the details behind the warranty. Is the watch's warranty backed by the manufacturer or the seller? What duration is the warranty coverage period? What aspects of damage are covered by the warranty?

7)  Packaging – If you’re purchasing a mens designer watch to give as a gift, check whether it comes with a gift box.Quality watches will have a box that is itself valuable.

8) Feedback - make sure to check the sellers feedback to see if they have sold fake items in the past.

If all else fails then don't be afraid to ask the seller for more information. An honest seller should have nothing to hide.

The professional GMT Master Rolex watch

Pilots in World War II had a no nonsense piece of fashion worn on their arm for a reason.  Read to find out what this was.

The GMT Master was originally designed in 1955 in collaboration with Pan American World Airways for use by their pilots during World War II. As a result of their proper flight schedules for the U.S. military, Pan Am pilots coined the term “jet lag,” a condition caused by making frequent jumps between time zones. Pan Am’s founder, Juan Trippe, theorized that if the pilots had a watch that would help them keep track of the time in their current time zone as well as their home time zone, the effects of jet lag would be milder. The original Rolex GMT Master timepiece was developed by Rolex and Pan Am exclusively for Pam Am pilots, first officers, and navigators. This model featured a fourth hand (GMT hand) and adjustable 24-hour bezel, letting pilots to know their “home” time as well as the local time of any other destination.

Many Rolex connoisseurs miss the convex crystals encountered on these older Rolex GMT Master watches.

The first version of the GMT Master series, 6542 had a bakelite bezel insert. As this bezel was likely to crack, it got restored by a metal bezel in 1956. The bakelite bezel could glow in the dark. Even at 165 ft the GMT Master series could get submerged and come back ticking.

In 1964 the GMT Master series 6542 was worn in the “Goldfinger” James Bond Movie by Honor Blackman.

The GMT Master acquired more press in 1970 when a GMT Rolex Master was worn by Jack Schweigert, an astronaut. Not just any astronaut, but the one who helped Apollo 13 return safely to Earth after an oxygen tank ruptured.

In 1981 the waterproof depth was increased to 100m/330 ft. These models (1981 and up) are more common and best represent the Rolex GMT master series today.

A new model of the GMT Master came out in 83′ that featured a sapphire crystal. This could not be easily scratched. This model was named the GMT Master II. In 2006 it was updated with the Parachrom hairspring which is unaffected by any magnetic field & 10x more resistance to shocks than standard hairsprings. In 2007 the bezel was updated to the nearly indestructibleceramic bezel, the most durable bezel in the world.

The GMT can display time in two different time zones and the GMT II in three. Using the additional “GMT” hand which completes a 24 hour cycle in a single rotation, the GMT (and GMT II) uses a bi-directional rotatable bezel marked zero to twenty three allowing for a second time zone to be displayed with the GMT hand pointing to the bezel hour. The GMT II allows the GMT hand to be set independently from the hour hand thus allowing a third time zone.

If you need to know what year your Rolex GMT Master is use this guide:

When deciding to purchase a watch you should first ask yourself ‘what do I want a new watch for?’.Is it going to be for everyday use (assuming such use is not formal wear) or are you more likely to use it for specific kinds of sports such as running or diving?

It should be noted that the fewer watches you intend to buy, the more difficult it is to answer such a question.  If the watch you are buying is likely to be the only you will own it would be sensible to purchase a fairly plain sports model.  The reason for this is that a heavy sports watch would look out of place with a suit and similarly, a mens designer watch with a fancy strap would look silly if you were wearing a tshirt and shorts.  As a rule of thumb, the watch styles you are most likely to encounter can be categorized as follows:

Dress watch – this type of watch is usually gold, plain and thin however these rules aren’t set in stone.If the watch has a rotating bezel or a bezel that has markings on then it is not classified as a dress watch.The dial and hands are a bit less important, but that you should avoid thick markings and hands with lots of tritium.

Designer watch – these watches can be difficult to categorize.Generally these will be makes of watches that have a worldwide reputation and a well publicized designer however bear in mind that this will not always turn out to be the case.  Often the most prestigious mens and ladies designer watch brands are only available in authorized retailers however there are a number of online dealers.

Sports watch – this sort of watch is usually large, often have bezels with prominent markings and are water resistant to some degree.In most cases they usually have thick, luminous hands and are designed to be rugged.

When choosing your watch, remember to try it on first to make sure that it is comfortable as well as adjustable.Also, remember to make sure that it is water resistant as it is critical that the watch is able to keep out everyday moisture.

It doesn’t matter whether you wear a diver’s watch, a digital watch, a pocket watch, a mens designer watch or a ladies designer watch – you’ve worked hard to earn the money that bought you that valuable little timepiece.The last thing you want is for it to break as a result of being poorly kept.With this in mind, the following 15 handy hints will help you to keep your watch looking and working good as if it were brand new.

1.Remember that your watch should be cleaned and maintained at least every 2 years.
2.    When  not being worn, keep your watch stored in a cool dry place.
3.    Remove your watch if you are undertaking heavy/physical work.
4.Be careful to avoid abrasions as scratches may eventually affect the case and bracelet.
5.    Ensure the crown which is used to change the time and date should be properly pushed in at all times.This will help to prevent penetration by water and dust.
6.Keep your watch dust free by wiping it with a soft dry cloth.
7.    Quartz watches should be meticulously cleaned as even the smallest particle can result in damage.
8.When the watch battery runs out, change it immediately as this can affect the mechanical workings.
9.When changing the time or date, make sure that you never do it within 3 hours either side of midnight.Around this time the watch’s regular date change is being carried out internally and should not be interferred with.
10.Get your watch serviced immediately if you see moisture inside the crystal.
11.Remove your watch for hot showers, baths, heavy or physical work as any moisture will damage the inner workings as well as wear down the strap.
12.Don't forget that diving watches need regular servicing, despite their rigorous water resistance.
13.Don’t subject your watch to pressure or heat.
14.Any watch should be rinsed under fresh water if it gets exposed to salt water.
15.Ensure that your watch is returned to an official authorized dealer for servicing or any other necessary repairs.

With the pressure to conform to the latest fashions dictating you that you should look out for what clothes you wear, how you style your hair and what skincare products you should use – it is easy to overlook the effect that the humble wrist watch can have on an outfit.

Men don’t generally wear a lot of accessories, this means that a watch can actually say a lot about the person wearing it.Most people would hate to admit it, but we do make flash judgements about people within the first few seconds of meeting them for the first time – it’s just human nature.Watches are of course worn on the wrist and come in a variety of styles so what we wear can often say a lot about who we are and the image we are trying to project. 

A sporty watch may indicate someone of an active nature, or at least someone that is trying to be.  A more generic style of watch could be indicitave of someone who is perhaps indifferent to how they are perceived and requires it for more practial purposes.  Those who wear more expensive designer watches tend to do so as they act as a status symbol and are as decorative and desirable as a necklace or any other type of jewellery.It is for this reason that there is a large market for replica and counterfeit watches, particularly Rolex watches.It is likely that you will be able to tell which is counterfeit and which is the genuine article by the outfit that it accompanies.

If you are looking for that perfect watch to complete your outfit, don’t be fooled into thinking that a higher end designer watch is outside your price range.  You will be able to find plenty of online designer watch shops where you will be able to find that designer watch to suit your tastes and more importantly, your wallet!

In Spain, women who accept men’s proposals receive diamond engagement rings just like women in many countries around the world. This could be very charming to look at but have you ever thought about gifting diamond watches for men and women which are not only functional but good looking too? People are crazy about these pieces which are created by some of the most renowned names of the industry and various jewelers focus on the various types of such jewelry.

Tacori, for example is a designer known for its diamond jewelry meant for weddings and mixes the classical and modern styles with deftness. For some of the most colorful and exotic pieces depend on Hildago creations whereas engagement rings from the 130-year old company Christian Bauer are available from select outlets and their diamond jewelry is made only to order. The diamonds chosen for these matchless pieces are carefully screened for color and clarity and if you think that any diamond up for sale are used, then your are wrong. When traveling by plane or by train be sure use jewelry boxes for safe keeping of your expensive jewelry. By using jewelry travel boxes they offer a higher degree of security. Here are some tips for using jewelry travel boxes.

Both men and women admire and wear diamond watches as a jewelry item. It is a fact that the earliest wrist watches were actually diamond bracelets which had a small timepiece attached to it. The first of its type was seen nearly 430 years ago, as a gift from Earl of Leicester to Queen Elizabeth I which was a tiny clock round in shape and studded with diamonds which was suspended from a wristband. Chances are that this was the first genuine diamond timepiece for ladies.

Men preferred pocket watches until World War I, considering wrist watches to be effeminate. The innovation of the airplane triggered the developmental process for the first wrist watch for men too. This was the case as during the initial years of the aircraft, the pilot had to use both his hands for controlling since fuel gauges were absent. Therefore it was necessary to have a timepiece that allowed the pilot to keep track of his range and how much fuel was left, and did not necessitate the removal of his hands from the controls in order to reach for a pocket watch!

It so happened that the time when diamond engagement rings became famous coincided with that of wrist watches for men. Today the three topmost makers of diamond watches are Cartier of France, Citizen from Japan and Movado from Switzerland The last name is referred to when someone describes accuracy and exclaims ‘runs like a Swiss watch’. Movado who has a range of nearly 200 clearly defined and characteristic diamond watches, have been in this business for a century now.