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The Classic Jewelry Pieces Every Woman Should Own

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Buying jewelry, or having it bought for you, can be a lot of fun, and it is easy to have your head turned by fashion pieces in unusual styles, metals and stones. However, while accruing a good collection of costume and statement jewelry is a great way to ensure you always have the perfect accessory for every outfit, there are some pieces that every woman should have in her collection. These are things that never go out of style and are worth investing in. They are also things that when given as gifts, will be kept with you for a lifetime, always reminding you of the special person who gave them to you.

Here are some of the best jewelry pieces to build up in your collection:

A Simple, Delicate Pendant

Whether you prefer gold or white metals, and whether you choose a pendant that is symbolic for religious reasons (like a cross or a St Christopher), for personal reasons (like an initial or a locket with a picture of someone close to you) or simply because it is attractive (like a diamond teardrop), a simple, light chain with a subtle pendant is a great piece of everyday jewelry. These kinds of items tend to carry a lot of sentimental value and you may find you wear it almost every day, with every outfit. It can look delicate and pretty with sharp, professional clothes, but isn’t overpowering enough to overshadow a beautiful evening dress. It is even subtle enough to wear with your most casual outfits.

A Good All Purpose Watch

There are all kinds of different watches for different purposes, like hi tech sports or diving watches for when you are getting active through to glitzy designs to compliment your most glamorous outfits. However, a good watch in a classic feminine style is something that can withstand the elements as well as match all of your clothes. A metal frame and strap tends to look best, because leather can get very worn over time, and a classic analog watch style is the best to go for – digital watches for anything other than sport look tacky. Whether you can afford to splash out on something like a Rolex, Cartier or Tag Heuer style of thing or you go for a similar design by a more affordable brand like Seconda, a good all purpose metal watch is perfect for business, evening and casual use.

The Perfect Stud Earrings

Earrings are one area where it is fun to experiment, with elaborate dangly styles and all kinds of fun metallic shapes always a good way to liven up a simple outfit. However, the perfect pair of stud earrings for your personal style are a must have. They look great with your hair either up or down, and flatter most ear shapes. If you are a glamorous type, diamond earrings or cheaper equivalents (for example zirconia or crystal) are a great choice as they add sparkle without looking too dressy for every day wear. If you like a classic, almost retro look, you can choose pearls or simple gold or silver ball studs. If you like a look that is more modern and funky, you can choose titanium studs in a whole range of colors, or, if there is a stone or color you love, you can invest in some studs in something like emerald, topaz, amethyst or ruby.

Featured images:

This post has been contributed by Nolan Grey, an employee at Diamonds on Web. He is a very friendly individual who enjoys interacting with people and helping them through his informative suggestions.

6 Different Watch Styles Available Right Now, And How To Choose The Right One For You…

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I know what you are thinking before you even continue reading the rest of this article. You are thinking who in the heck still wears watches these days? We have so many different ways to tell time with one of the main ones being or smart-phone devices. It would seem like a traditional wrist watch would have gone the way of a landline telephone or even a cassette player.


But this is not the case though. Unlike the two other items that I just mentioned a traditional watch will never go out of style. Watches are for those people who like to send a certain message when they are seen. What kind of message you might want to know?

  • A traditional wrist watch lets everyone know you are a person who is serious about your time and you do not want anything to distract you from being able to see the time. This is not the case with a smart-phone device. A watch sends the message that your time is valuable.
  • A traditional wrist watch can be used to convey status to other people. Some watches cost a lot of money and they are made by well-known brands. When people see a person wearing these types of watches right away it brings up positive associations. This is one of the reasons why traditional watches will never go out of style.
  • A traditional wrist sends the message of what type of person you are. Just like the clothes you might wear or the car you might drive there are all sorts of different watches. This is what will be discussed in the rest of this article.

Now women do not traditionally wear watches, but there are watches out there for them to. But I am going to try and be as general as I possibly can be in explaining the different types of watches and how you can choose the one that is best for you. Before we go any further you need to answer one question. Your answer to this question is greatly going to affect what type of watch you are going to be able to get. How much money are you willing to spend in order to make a statement? The amount of money you are willing to spend is very important.

Some people who want luxury, but are not willing to spend or cannot afford to spend a certain amount will look for counterfeit watches that have the name of luxury designers on them. This is illegal and these watches are usually poor quality. Those who have very small budgets might just want something that is casual. You can find plenty of these options in your average department store. Just do not go too cheap though, otherwise you will have problems with the band.

Now let’s get into the different types of watches there are.

The Leather Band watch

One of the most classic styles of watches there are would be one that has a leather band. It works perfectly for those people who have wrists that are either really skinny or really big. They can be easily adjusted and they look quite chic. These types of watches are made to have a formal look to them, far more formal than a sports watch. They do not have as much formality as a stainless steel dress watch though.

The best way for you to wear a leather band watch would be with business casual outfits or semi casual outfits. You can make yourself look sophisticated, but not overly so. These types of watches are perfect for the person who want to look low key, but still be stylish.  The strap color of these watches is usually brown or black. Black is very common, so you might want to consider brown. Plus brown tends to get noticed more when you wear certain colors of clothes.

The Stainless Steel Dress watch

If you really want to make an impression, then the stainless steel dress watch is one of the best ways to do it. These watches are meant to be worn by people who like to get dressy for any number of reasons. These watches are designed to send one clear message to people when they see them, class. Stainless steel dress watches are best worn with suits and dress shirts. The two primary colors you should focus on with these would be silver and gold.

Stainless steel dress watches are not meant to be worn all the time. A lot of it is going to depend on how you are dressed and what the occasion is. Plus these watches tend to not be cheap. Several luxury brands make these types of watches. Can you find cheap versions? Sure you can, but the metal is going to begin to fade over time and you will have to end up replacing the watch sooner then you hoped. In the end it is better to invest in a high quality time piece.

The Sports watch

If there is any type of watch just about every guy should have and even a lot of women it would be the sports watch. Just about any type of casual clothes you might want to wear will work well with one of these watches. Sports watches are made for people who do not want to look formal at all. In fact these watches are the least formal option out there. You can wear this type of watch when you decide to go out for fun to places like the bar or even the gym.

Now the type of features you are going to get with a sports watch are going to be different depending on the brand you go with. Some sports watches have features such as an international dual clock face. Other sports watches you are going to find will have stop watches on them and timers. This make them perfect for those people who like to do exercises such as running. These watches are not that expensive really, but a high quality one can cost you a few hundred though.

Watches designed to be personalized or have a specific look

There are watches out there you can get that are made to be plain fun. These are the watches you can personalize. And even if you cannot personalize them you can mix up the type of band you have in order to change the style when you want. You might need to pay for the band though. These watches are usually cheap and can be found in many stores. An example of a personality watch might be one that has a certain design you wanted on it or a certain design period. These might work better for younger people or women who want their watches to look more festive.

Personality watches are made to get a conversation going. They are made for people to notice them, but in a good way. You can think of these watches are being sort of like peacocking mechanisms.  Just make sure that when you go for one you get one that goes with your personality and style. Once again, going for true personalization should be the goal. There are lots of places on the internet that offer these types of watches and can personalize them however you want.

Retro watches

Retro watches are made for those people who like to have a classic look, but a look that might still be considered cool otherwise. Think of a lot of watches that were worn in the seventies for example. With the right type of outfits those watches would look pretty good right? Well there are several manufacturers that make watches with a retro look. These watches are a perfect way for you to show off your personality as well as have a look you know few other people are going to have.

If you have some vintage clothing you can use to put together certain styles, then retro watches are for you. They come in all sorts of colors and designs and wearing one is certainly going to get you attention. With modern type clothing they might look a little out of place though.

Pocket watches

If you really want a watch that is made to convey sophistication and class, then the pocket watch is perfect for you. You might not see a lot of people who have these types of watches, but they are out there. Pocket watches are usually silver or black. The face is protected by the metal covering. There is a high quality chain that is designed to last for a long time.

These types of watches are made for those people who want sophistication, but with a little bit of a vintage look as well. One thing pocket watches is they are not cheap. In order to get a high quality one you must be prepared to spend a reasonable amount of money.

Choosing the right type of watch for you

In order for you to choose a watch that is going to be right for you, you first have to ask yourself what kind of message are you trying to send to other people when they see the watch you have on. Depending on what kind of person you are and the type of environments you hang out in, having the right type of watch will make a world of a difference.

Think of the type of watch you want to wear the same way you would a pair of shoes. Shoes are made to go with certain outfits and send a message right? Your shoes are one of the first things people notice about you. Well a wrist watch can have a lot of the same power. You just need to make sure you get one that compliments you well.

Going back to the issue of budget, choosing a watch that is high quality is important, but this does not mean you have to aim for a Rolex or a Cartier. These super expensive brands of watches are only for those people who do not mind spending thousands. But there is another problem with getting these types of expensive watches. Your entire look has to match them. I don’t mean your dressing style, but the cost of the clothes you might be wearing.

If people looked at you and say you wearing a Rolex, but saw you had on Old Navy brand clothing how do you believe this would make you look? You need to focus on getting a watch where the brands of clothes along with the style will match the watch. You want a watch that gives you an authentic look. Plus those super expensive watches are not meant to be worn all the time. They are meant to be worn during times where a little bit of showing off is expected, such as formal events.

Avoid low end watches

Just about any style of watch you can think of you are going to be able to find at the low end of the price charts. These watches might seem good, but they are built to last all of five seconds. First of all the clasps will break easily. These watches usually do not look right, plus the do not take a lot to break at all. Invest in a watch that is going to give you a long period of use and as stated before stay away from knock off watches with the names of luxury designers on them. The market for such watches is huge, but the risk is not worth it.

Smart-phones are never going to take the place of having a traditional wrist watch. Watches are just to convenient and they still serve a pretty strong purpose other than telling time that still makes them quite valuable to a lot of people. If you don’t have one then consider getting one. Just make sure you get the right style.

This article was written by Mitchell Lodowski of Manhattan Time Service. He is a master watchmaker with over 35 years of horological experience. Trained in Poland and Switzerland Mitchell’s skill level allows him to work on some of the most complex timepieces ever created, including double tourbillons and minute repeaters (including the famous calibre 89 Patek Philippe pocket watch).  Follow him on Google+, Facebook and Youtube.

How to Make Your Property Into a Pad

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Every guy I know has a secrete yearning to own a ‘pad’. When you’re young, successful and single, having a bachelor pad that shows off your success and your sense of style can serve not only as a great way to impress friends and potential partners, but also as a reward for all your hard work and validation of your success. Having a great flat that has all the bells and whistles means you’ve ‘made it’ and it’s a sure fire way to be the envy of all your friends and colleagues.

But how do you make a flat or a townhouse into a real bachelor pad? Here we will look at the secrets to making your flat say ‘success’ and ‘style’ even if you aren’t actually bringing in the mega bucks yet.

Minimalism

The first thing you need to focus on is creating a minimal design that doesn’t feature too much clutter or crowd out your spaces. Many people who want to have the best looking homes will make the mistake of decorating them with as much as they can find and stuffing them full of trinkets and items, but all this does is to dilute the impact of each thing on display and make the space look untidy.

Living Room with Bamboo Garden

By having just a few items on show instead you can make sure you choose only your very favourite belongings to display which means the average quality and value there will be greater. Furthermore this will create more open space which makes the rooms look larger and thus more luxurious (and more relaxing to spend time in).

Light

To further make your space look larger you should try and open it out as much as possible and use large windows and light colours to ensure lots of light gets around the room. This will make everything look instantly cleaner, instantly bigger and instantly more relaxing.

Using an open plan layout can also help with this and that’s a great way to make a space look modern while enabling you to entertain. An open plan kitchen that is nevertheless separate from the main room will allow you to cook and prepare food while guests relax on the sofa, or to eat your cereal on the counter while you watch TV before work.

Flooring

A wooden floor or concrete floor is a great way to avoid patterned or coloured carpets which date and stain and also a great way to make your home easier to keep clean.

Technology

Having lots of technology in your property is a great way to make it seem more luxurious, more automated and more modern. A big TV has long been a mark of success, but other smaller elements like having a tablet computer on a coffee table or a more advanced shower with multiple shower heads and settings can also sell the fact that you’ve spared no luxuries.

Taste and Variety

Wall Plates

To have a real pad you shouldn’t just be trying to demonstrate your resources but also your taste and lifestyle. Choose some items to display then that will show off where you’ve travelled and your hobbies and interests, but again keep these more minimal – so that means one piano or guitar, or just one tribal mask from your gap year. These also serve as fantastic conversation starters.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Susan Lewis is a home maker and has bought her first home recently. She says that Investment in Property in Melbourne is on a high these days as a huge number of houses have been sold and bought.

5 Overused Decorating Trends You Should Avoid

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What’s old is sometimes new and what’s new can sometimes get old. While a design trend may be hot, there comes a time when you should move on. Whether it’s a room completely covered in chalkboard paint or a room filled with reclaimed “treasures”, some trends have been done to death. The following are just five overused decorating trends you should avoid.

Stereotypical Design

Stereotypical design has been a problem since the first homeowner added a tiki bar to their basement. People think that they can just throw a symbol of a culture in the room and create the style, but it isn’t so. Instead of trying to recreate Mexican flare with a sombrero, study the colors and design of Mexican culture and create a room doesn’t look like a Mexican restaurant.

Chalkboard Paint

There’s no denying the fact that chalkboard paint is a cool addition to almost any room. Unfortunately, people have taken this trend to the extreme. Instead of painting your entire child’s room in chalkboard paint, boarder off an area to make it look like an actual chalkboard. This would be a great place for him to keep notes about upcoming sports practice or tests.

Above the Fireplace TV Mounting

Let’s get one thing straight. A fireplace should be the focal point of a room and it should never have to compete with a TV. Not to mention that the heat of a fireplace can shorten the lifespan of your precious TV. You can opt to focus your seating arrangement on the fireplace, but still have comfortable access to the TV or you can create separate seating areas.

Disconnected Design

Stop trying to make your bedroom look like a posh hotel room. A room should be designed with your interests in mind. The room should scream your name, rather than looking like a room that can be seen in hotels across the country. Choose design elements that relate to you. You might start out with a bold paint color or even base your design off a beautiful duvet.

Reclaim Overload

There’s nothing wrong with salvaging that piece of furniture from the flea market and making it new again. A reclaimed piece can add character to an updated room. When the room is nothing but reclaimed pieces, it starts to look more like a thrift store than a chic living room. Be careful not to fall prey to reclaim overload.

There are so many wonderful design trends to choose from. Instead of choosing one that you’ve seen on TV numerous times, why not choose something new or even create your own design?

About the Author: Armand Heitland and his wife spent a lot of time planning their home decor. They recently found contemporary sectional sofas from gowfb.com and have had a few classical murals painted directly onto some of their entryway walls.

Our friend is finally getting married

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I was talking with a very good friend of ours earlier today. I’ve always thought of him as a confirmed bachelor a la George Clooney … but it seems I was wrong, so very wrong.

He’s had a girlfriend for about two and a half years and it seems that he’s ready to make it permanent. Just having the girlfriend for this long has been a record. I’ve known this guy for about 25 years and prior to this I’ve never known him to see a girl for longer than about two weeks! So you can imagine my surprise when this relationship lasted and lasted and now when he told me earlier today that he wants me help finding an engagement ring.

I think I just about fainted when he told me he was about to get engaged. He really should have told me to be sure I was sitting down. LOL

I guess sometime next week we’ll meet up and go out and look for the perfect engagement ring. I used to be a jeweler so I still have some great contacts that we can use to get him a very good deal. My husband was a jeweler as well so I’m sure he’ll have some input as well. In the meantime I told him to take a look at various Semi mount diamond ring styles to get an idea of what he thinks his fiance to be might like.

Hopefully he has an idea of what kind of style she’d like. If he really doesn’t seem to have a clue when we go out looking I might suggest that he proposes without a ring and then lets her have some input on her engagement ring. Not quite as romantic, but it’s better than totally hating your ring.

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