How to Spot a Fake Rolex Watch? (Men's Wrist Watches)

Men's Wrist Watches

By: Maggie Hira

A Rolex watch is one of the most luxurious timepieces in the world. The name alone is synonymous with wealth and luxury. Due to its popularity, the Rolex watch is often counterfeited and sold to unknowing customers who think that they are getting the real thing at a good price. However, it is possible to spot these fakes and avoid purchasing them. All it takes is a thorough knowledge of the Rolex brand and a dose of common sense.

Step 1
Check the back of the watch. If there are any engravings or imprints, be advised that this is not a real Rolex watch. The real watches have a smooth caseback without any engravings or other markings, not even a logo. Moreover, if you can see the inside of the watch because it has a clear, see-through backcase, be advised that this is also a fake. Real Rolexes do not have any versions that reveal the "inner workings" of the watch.

Step 2
Check the materials of the watch. A real Rolex is made of either 24K gold, platinum or stainless steel. No genuine Rolex watch is ever gold-plated or made of chrome or chrome-plated. If you spot a Rolex watch that is made of chrome or is two-toned (partly gold and partly stainless steel), you can be sure that it is a fake.

Step 3
Check the "made in" sign. Most Rolex watches are made in Switzerland, which is indicated by a "Swiss Made" sign near the bottom of the watch. If the manufacturer's mark on your watch says "made in China" or any other country with a reputation for producing cheaply-made products, you would be wise to avoid purchasing it.

Step 4
Take the watch to a certified appraiser. This is the only sure way to determine if your Rolex watch is fake or real.

Step 5
Locate the serial and case reference numbers that are engraved on the side of the timepiece. A real Rolex watch will feature the engraving in very fine, light-reflecting lines. A fake Rolex watch will feature an engraving that has a shoddy, etched appearance. Moreover, many counterfeiters simply use the same series of numbers on all their watches and this is a dead giveaway of a fake.

Step 6
Note the price. Genuine Rolex watches as of 2009 sell for upwards of a hundred dollars while some are over thousands of dollars. Don't be fooled by "bargains" that sell Rolexes for $100-$200. Remember that if the price seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

Step 7
Listen for a ticking sound. If the watch ticks, it's a fake. A true Rolex does not make a traditional "tick-tock" sound like most watches.

Step 8
Make sure the "second hand" on the watch sweeps over the numbers without stopping. If the "second hand" jerks as it moves, then the watch is definitely a fake Rolex.

Tips & Warnings
Always purchase your watch from a reputable dealer that will also give you a warranty, receipt and certificate of authentification. This way you will never need to worry that your Rolex may be fake. Research the history and background of the Rolex brand in order to familiarize yourself with the details of the watch. The more you know, the less likely that you will be fooled by a fake.

Article Source: eHow.com

Men's Wrist Watches

Why Do Men Wear Watches on Their Left Arm? (Men's Wrist Watches)

Men's Wrist Watches

By: Bronwyn Blackwell

Though portable timepieces were invented 300 years before the first wristwatch, they were not as widely popular as the pocket watch. The pocket watch design demanded the use of the right hand to wind and set it and therefore influenced the orientation of the wristwatch that became the standard for timepieces in World War I and beyond.

Religion Creates Demand
In the late 15th century, the first portable timepiece, later known as the "pocket watch," was invented in Germany by Peter Henlein. The rise of the watch was heavily influenced by the Reformation in the 16th century. Adherents of Calvinism were restricted from wearing elaborate clothing and jewelry. However, the watch was considered a useful item, creating a boon for the jewelry makers in Geneva, Switzerland, who were no longer profiting from jewelry sales.

The Watch Boom
Advances in technology, precision and design continued for the next two centuries, making Swiss watches world-renown as the gold standard of quality. Household names such as Chopard, Movado and Patek-Philippe emerged in Switzerland as well as neighboring countries. All competed to invent the most coveted timepieces. In 1810, Abraham Louis Breguet became the first documented inventor of the wristwatch prototype we know today. Though other watch companies copied and improved the wristwatch design, they were not a popular accessory.

Form and Function
Men did not commonly wear a wristwatch until more than a hundred years after Breguet's prototype. Wristwatches became synonymous with "ladies jewelry," and men still continued to carry loose or chain-linked timepieces. As a result, tailors began to sew a pocket on men's suit vests to conveniently house the timepiece for checking or winding, hence the term "pocket watch." These early watches required setting and winding with an instrument, such as the key, or later, with fingers on a crown dial. As a practical consideration, winding a watch was more efficiently executed with one's more dexterous right hand as approximately 90 percent of the population is right-handed. Therefore, suit pockets and watches were worn on the left side for storing and holding in hand.

From Breguet To Barracks
World War I marked the shift when wristwatches became a more masculine symbol of fashion. Scores of soldiers were given military-issue watches or wore their own pocket watches modified to fit the wrist, to free both of their hands for combat equipment. Pilots wore the face of their watch on the inside of their left wrist to see the time while flying, enabling the use of their right hand for panel controls. Since most of these men formerly wore pocket watches on the left, they oriented their wristwatch accordingly. Likewise, instead of using the right hand to wind the watch, it is now necessary to buckle a strap or metal bracelet.

Right Hand Watches
Due to the proliferation of watches designed to be worn on the left, those designed to be worn on the right hand are extremely rare and highly valuable to collectors. Though there are more modern watches available for the left-handed consumer, they lack demand and are manufactured less.

Article Source: eHow.com
Men's Wrist Watches

Special Edition Cell Phone Wrist Watch

Chinavasion has done it again! This awesome Special Edition Cell Phone Wrist Watch is so packed with features that you will not believe its size or price. Featuring a Tri-Band Phone,digital still and video camera, MP3 and MP4 functions as well as Bluetooth capability this is a phone and entertainment system all in one.

http://www.chinavasion.com/ has sourced a limited supply of this item so be sure to order today while stocks last.Chinavasion also has an outstanding range of Cell Phones and Accessories at outrageous wholesale prices. All our products come with a 12 month guarantee backed up with our dedicated Customer Service Team.

Cool huh? What do you think? :)

Source: YouTube.com and credit to chinavasion

Tips to Find Men's Watches on Sale

By: Faye Pennington

In today's economic situation it's so important to save as much money as possible. To save on men's watches one can usually find watches on sale around Father's Day, Graduation,and especially at Christmas Time.

One of my favorite ways to shop for men's watches (or anything else for that matter) is to shop online.There are many many great online stores to shop in. You can shop and compare prices on men's watches from all your favorite online stores. Coupon codes are also available on most stores,just need to look at the expiration date. Also the free shipping is getting more and more popular since last Christmas season.

You will be able to find the best price on men's watches while enjoying a good cup of coffee and wearing your favorite comfortable clothes and save all that costly fuel. If you are looking for an affordable, comfortable, great looking watch with sports features for serious training. Timex's line may be what you are looking for. The Timex watches, are an attractive collection of Timex Watches that include a variety of ladies watches and men's watches that feature a distinctly shaped, Timex watches are attractive and given that these are Timex watches, the performance is what you expect from a traditional Timex watch. These watches are a great choice if you wish to be on time and look in fashion.

Durable, yet stylish enough for weekend play, and may well turn heads. Even if the man in your life already has a nice watch, he will be pleased to get another watch of a different design and packed with new bells and whistles.

http://www.watchesmore.blogspot.com.

Please visit our website to find out more about Timex Watches.

http://www.watchesmore.blogspot.com.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Watch Facts

1485 : Leonardo da Vinci sketches a fusee for a clock.

1500s : Germany : Peter Henlein creates the first pocket watch.

Early 1600s : Form watches becoming popular. Cases are shaped like animals and objects. Religious themes are popular.

1635 : Around this time that the fusee was adapted from clocks to watches.

1659 - 1675 : Christian Huygens invents the "Remontoire".

1687 : Daniel Quare patents the repeating mechanism that uses bells to sound quarter hours and the hours.

1704 : Peter and Jacob Debaufre, Nicolas Facio, are the first to use rubies in watch movements.

1750 : Watch makers began using enamel on watch dials.

1759 : Thomas Mudge invents the English lever escapement.

1775 : Abraham Louis Breguet sets up his own watch making shop in Paris, France.

1780 : Abraham Louis Perrelet invents the self winding movement.

1786 : Breguet is the first to use guilloche on watch dials.

1791 : J.F. Bautte founded the watch company that would eventually become Girard-Perregaux.

1807 : Thomas Young invents the recording chronograph.

1809 : Luther Goddard of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts is the first watch manufacturer in America.

1820 : Thomas Prest registers a patent for the self winding watch.

1833 : Antoine LeCoultre starts his own watchmaking business which later become Jaeger-LeCoultre.

1837 : First Tiffany store opens.

1843 : Adrien Philippe develops a watch with winding and setting through the crown.

1844 : The start, stop, and reset chronograph is invented by Adolph Nicole.

1844 : Antoine LeCoultre invents the millionometre.

1848 : Louis Brandt opens his own workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds which eventually became the Omega Watch Company.

1853 : Tissot makes the first dual time zone watch.

1858 : Minerva is founded.

1860 : Heuer is founded.

1865 : Zenith founded.

1881 : Movado founded.

1884 : Greenwich, England is officially named the zero meridian and used as the world wide recognized basis of time zones.

1886 : Geneva Seal established.

1894 : Universal Geneve established.

1905 : Hans Wilsdorf starts the Rolex Watch Company.

1914 : Eterna introduces the first wristwatch with an alarm.

1918 : Japan : Shakosha Watch Company opened. This would become Citizen in 1931.

1923 : John Harwood is the first to mass produce a self winding wristwatch.

1924 : Tokyo : Seiko brand name is launched by Kinttaro Hattori.

1926 : Rolex introduces the first waterproof case called the "Oyster".

1929 : First anti magnetic watch created by Tissot.

1933 : Ingersoll introduces the "Mickey Mouse" watch.

1956 : Rolex introduces their first model that displays the day and date.

1957 : Hamilton introduces the world's first battery driven watch.

1962 : Rado produces the world's first scratch proof watch called the "Diastar 1".

1962 : ETA of Switzerland develops the first quartz battery operated watch.

1970 : Hamilton releases the "Pulsar", the first electronic digital watch.

1972 : Longines and Seiko introduce the LCD, (Liquid Crystal Display).

1980 : Hublot founded.

1983 : SMH of Switzerland launches the Swatch brand.

1985 : Swiss Heuer Company merges with TAG to form TAG Heuer.

1986 : Audemars Piguet introduces the first self winding tourbillon.

1991 : Franck Muller founded.

1999 : Casio innovates with the first wristwatch with a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS).

Article Source: nawcc154-daytonabeach.com

Fun Facts on Tag Heuer

- A Heuer stopwatch can be seen and heard in the opening to the news program 60 Minutes.

- You can dive into deep water and still see what time it is at 650 feet if you're wearing a Tag Heuer watch.

- In 1916, Tag produced a stopwatch that had 1/100th of a second accuracy.

- Steve McQueen wore a Tag in the 1971 movie, Le Mans.

- John Glenn wore a Heuer stopwatch when he piloted the Mercury Atlas 6 spacecraft on the first U.S. manned space flight in 1962.

Article Source: KirkJewelers.com

Fun Facts on Omega

- President John F. Kennedy had a gold Omega wristwatch, inscribed "President of the United States from his friend Grant."

- Omega appeared in the film Apollo 13 (1995) with Tom Hanks as Commander James Lovell.

- The Omega Speedmaster Professional was worn in the real life adventures of the NASA Apollo missions to the moon.

- The Omega Seamaster 300M Professional Chronometer is the current official James Bond watch, used by Pierce Brosnan in each of his Bond movies since, but not including, GoldenEye (1995). In the GoldenEye film, the quartz Seamaster 300M Professional was featured. Daniel Craig, the current James Bond of the film Casino Royale proudly wears his Omega Seamaster.

- The Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch worn on the Moon. All subsequent manned NASA missions also utilized this wristwatch.

- Special Agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder wore Omega DeVille Prestige watches on The X-Files.

- In the film The Deep End of the Ocean (1999), Michelle Pfeiffer's character Beth Cappadoro wears a vintage steel Omega.

- The Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch appears in many documentaries and programs related to the Apollo missions including From The Earth To The Moon, NASA: 25 Years To The Moon and For All Mankind.

- In Simply Irrestible (1999), actress Sarah Michelle Gellar wears a steel and gold Omega Constellation.

- Omega has frequently been the official timekeeper for the Olympics, beginning with the 1932 Summer Olympics. Omega was the official timekeeper for the 2006 Winter Olympics and will be for the 2008 Summer Olympics as well.

- Luc Besson's movie The Big Blue (1988) featured Omega's Seamaster Professional 600 which has become a collectible.

- In the film, The Corruptor (1999), Chow Yun Fat wears an Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch.

- In the television series JAG (1995-2000), Commander Harmon (David James Elliott) wears a Seamaster Professional Diver.

- The villain in Undercover Brother (2000) wears a steel and gold Seamaster Professional Chronograph.

- Wil Smith, as Robert Dean in the movie Enemy of the State (1998), wears an Omega DeVille Prestige.

- Nigel Marven, of The Discovery Channel's nature documentary series Nigel's Wild Wild World, occasionally sports a Seamaster Professional Diver.

Article Source: KirkJewelers.com

Fun Facts on Rolex

- Ian Flemming's James Bond character wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in the series of spy novels.

- In the movies, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton all wore different Rolex models during their time as James Bond. The Rolex Submariner was the iconic choice, but Moore also wore Rolex Cellini.

- Rolex created the first waterproof watch case, the first wristwatch with a date on the dial, and the first watch to show two timezones at once.

- Rolex is associated with many athletic events including U.S. and international sailing regattas, golf, sportscar and road racing, fishing and angler sports, and equestrian events.

- Rolex recognizes visuary individuals through the Rolex Institute, which honors and supports significant contributions in science, culture, education, and the arts.

- Winners of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise include Alexandra Lavrillier for setting up a nomadic school for the Evenks of Sibera and Brad Norman who developed a photo database that gathers information about whale sharks.

- Rolex relies on 4,000 watchmakers in over 100 countries.

- Chapter 3 of the film Pulp Fiction is called "The Gold Watch." The watch is a gold Rolex.

- Dustin Hoffman exchanges a Rolex for loose change in the 1976 film Marathon Man. (We don't recommend this.)

- A Rolex watch reatains a higher percentage of its cost than any other production Swiss watch.

- Rolex donates a large portion of the profits made through the sales of its watches to charitable causes.

Article Source: KirkJewelers.com

Tips on Taking Good Care of a Watch

By: Aaron Brooks

A watch is more than an accessory and if you take good care of it the watch could become a family heirloom. Caring for a watch is not tedious.

• Always place your watch in its case at the end of the day. If you leave in it a bag or purse or on a table it could get scratched badly.

• Unless you watch is water proof or resistant you must protect the watch from high humidity levels. Watches that have leather bracelets should not be worn for a swim or dipped in soap suds. The leather will get ruined.

• If you want a watch to outlast you then set up a service schedule like you do for your car. Get the watch serviced by its own manufacturer as far as possible. This way you will protect the watch’s authenticity. And, you can be assured that duplicate parts will not be used. The authorized center will service the watch and replace any worn out parts, lubricate the watch, and clean its case.

• Read the care booklet carefully. And follow the instructions given.

• If the watch is a mechanical one try not to be rough when winding the watch.

• If the watch has a metal strap, you can clean the strap in water or use soap, water, and an old toothbrush to clean all the grime away .Take care not to let water into the case. And wipe the case gently with a soft cloth.

• Leather straps must be protected from perspiration and expert’s advice that watches with leather straps should be worn loose in summer. When wet the strap must be dried with a soft cloth. Never use a hair drier it will crack the leather up.

• Protect your watch from high temperatures, contact with leaking batteries or harmful chemicals, magnets, strong sunlight, and shocks.

• If you want to adjust the strap length, place the watch on a flannel piece or cloth. Be gentle or the spring will fly out and never be found again. If you have clumsy hands then take the watch to the service center for adjustments.

• If the watch needs winding you must wind it at the same time everyday. Research indicates that winding in the morning is beat. Wind a watch slowly and consistently. Stop winding when you meet with resistance. Be careful or you will break the spring if you continue to wind the watch.

• If the watch is automatic then you cans wing the arm around in an arc to get the watch running. Some watches have winding too, and then give the watch around 25 gentle turns to get it running smoothly. Automatics can be left off overnight without winding.

• If you need to remove any scratches you can do so with a gentle cleaner and soft cloth to rub the scratch away. Many people use products that range from Brasso to toothpaste to Polywatch.

A watch will work for 10-15 years without breaking down. But sometimes not servicing the watch regularly can lead to huge expenses when a final break down occurs. The adage “a stitch in time saves nine” applies to the world of watches.

* Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for http://www.1866watches.com , the premier website to find Luxury Watches including topics on designer watch, jewelry watch, diamond watch, wrist watch with discount prices, wrist watches for Men’s, Ladies, and children, cheap wrist watches and more. He also freelances for the premier Music site http://www.1888music.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How Do You Clean a Wristwatch?

By: Debra Hunt

While cleaning wristwatches is best done by a professional, you can do it at home if you like tinkering with mechanical things .You might not want to try this at first on an expensive or favourite wristwatch that means a lot to you, as you will most likely ruin the first watch you try this on. Get an inexpensive watch to practice on till you get perfect.

To start with, make sure you have a place to work. A large table that is empty will do well, or it would be even more perfect if you have a proper workstation in your garage where you can work undisturbed. Add a white sheet on top of the table before beginning, as this will not only make it easier to see the tiny bits and pieces, but will also prevent parts from bouncing off the table when dropped.

On top of this, you will need very good lighting in the room. You should also add a lamp, (fluorescent would be ideal) to the table so you can get some direct light. The next thing you need is a good screwdriver set. Make sure you get a good quality set as this will not damage the screws on the watch.

Besides this, you will also need a tray to put all the parts you take out of the watch on. It would be best if this has sections built into it, and as you strip the watch start putting the pieces from right to left so you don't get confused later. Another thing you need is a good pair of tweezers. This will be needed to handle the small parts, and make sure you fit them back into the watch accurately.

You will also need cleaning supplies. If you are serious about this hobby, you can buy proper ultrasonic parts cleaners from online, but in the start you can just use Naptha. This is the ingredient that makes up lighter fluids, and evaporates fast without leaving a residue. Pour a very small amount in a cup and then soak all the parts in this for a few minutes.

After you do this, you need to take a small brush, paintbrush, or makeup brush, and brush the pieces and then remove them from the liquid and put them on a towel or filter paper to dry them out.

You will also need to get oil, like Moebius to oil the watch pieces. To apply this, you need an oiler which is a thin wire with a flat end. To be able to see what you are doing, you will also need to get a magnifying glass. Buy a blower to help you remove dust from parts, and get a hands remover to properly remove and fit back the posts when you are cleaning the watch.

To start off, unscrew the back of the watch and open it up. Once you have done this, you need to let down the mainspring which is what keeps the watch running. The next thing to remove is the movement, followed by the hands and finally the dial. Keep going on removing pieces till you are left with the skeleton of the watch in your hand. Now put all the pieces in the cleaner fluid and wait a few minutes.

After cleaning, start putting the parts back the way you removed them making sure you get the order right. Wind the watch and screw the lid back on and see if it works.

If you are searching for men's cheap replica watches or cheap men's designer replica watches try wristwatchmaven.com.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

6 Tips to Evaluate a Watch

By: Aaron Brooks

The world of watches is exciting and fascinating. Watches are like perfumes objects of desire and it is hard to say whether the asking price is right or exorbitant. This problem of price occurs only when you want to buy a rare, antique, or limited edition watch. If you are just buying a model mass manufactured by wrist watch giants then the maximum retail price is always given in catalogue and on company web sites.

How does one know the worth of a watch? It is hard to value a watch from pictures placed online. What is important is to check the condition of the watch including its movement. It is hard to judge a valuable watch from pictures on the World Wide Web. Sadly people randomly label things as antiques or valuable but in actuality the watch is one of thousands. Just because it is “old” does not mean it has a high value.

Today people all over the world collect watches for functionality, aesthetic value, and vintage value. Evaluating a watch must include aspects like: quality, craftsmanship, availability, history, reputation, uniqueness, and more.

1. Consider carefully the “quality” of the watch. Find out about the design and construction. Examine the case, dial, and movement. Important factors are functionality, accuracy in keeping time, reliability of manufacture, and longevity. To become a “collectible” a watch must bring with it a piece of history.

2. Find out the minute details of construction. Aspects that play a role are innovativeness, complexity of movements, and the mechanical functions. Sometimes a watch gains value as it represent a change in way watches work say for example the first digital or automatic watch.

3. Determine its value based on how many are flooding the market. The fewer the numbers the more “collectible” a watch is. Or if it belonged to a great personality like “Einstein” or if it participated in “making history,” was worn when someone climbed the highest mountain for the first time or flew around the world.

4. Consider the demand for the watch. Some watches are popular among collectors not because they are rare but because they are funky or “different,” they have great curiosity value. A watch may gain import because of their brand name for example many like to posses a “gold Rolex.”

5. Weigh the pros and cons of reputation. Many watches sell just because x,y, or z made them. Very often a manufacturer sourced watches from others and sold them with his “label.” And these watches are renowned because of a “brand name.”

6. Know what the watch will fetch in the market by doing a survey. Ask whether the owner will
furnish an independent evaluation by a watch expert.

Brands that are popular are: Rolex, Breitling, Heuer, Omega, Patek Phillippe, IWC, and Girard Perregaux among others.

World over collectors and connoisseurs consider: the age of a watch, uniqueness, the manufacturer, date of issue, rarity, mechanics, movement, and repair. Another possibly important factor is ownership.

Learn about watches through the World Wide Web, from auctions, and watch exhibits. If you get a chance view famed collections. Make notes and weigh the pros and cons of collecting. Decide do I want to collect by mechanics or use. Or am I interested in who wore the watch when. Find your own niche and level and “keep a watch on the watches.”

* Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for http://www.1866watches.com, the premier website to find Luxury Watches including topics on designer watch, jewelry watch, diamond watch, wrist watch with discount prices, wrist watches for Men’s, Ladies, and children, cheap wrist watches and more. He also freelances for the premier Fashion Style Article Submission Directory Site http://www.1888articles.com/fashion-style-articles-199_22.html

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How to Choose Wrist Watch Correctly

By: Alex Temin

In today's world watches are not simply a mechanism rhythmically counting minute by minute. A watch is a symbol of prestige and taste, a symbol of belonging to a particular community, therefore you should approach to choice of this accessory enough seriously.

Choosing the watch you need clearly understand what you need them for. If for everyday wearing the classical watch is suit excellent, if for publication then jewelry or designer watch, for recreation or sports - sports watch (for underwater sports - special watch for diving). If you choose the watch for woman, it is better to do this with her participation: watch for woman is part of her wardrobe and they should be in harmony with her attire. If it is a childrens' watch, they must meet ecological requirements, should be bright and interesting, and watch for teens should be stylish in first place.

Whatever your goals, choosing watch, please draw attention to the following details:

1. Mechanism - The mechanism perhaps the most important part of any watch, because of its reliability depends accuracy and durability of the device. Undisputed leaders on the market of watch mechanisms are Japanese (Miyota and Seiko) and Swiss (Ronda, Eta - represents the largest range of mechanisms), whose products have traditionally differed high quality, reliability and diversity. Among the companies that produce mechanisms for watches with digital display the Japanese company Casio stands out.

2. Material of watch case - There are five types of materials that are differ by degrees of strength and price range. The best materials are stainless steel and brass. These materials are used for manufacturing of watches of most prestigious brands. Plastics is stands rank below. It can be used for expensive quality watches (for example, the Japanese Casio), as well as cheap forgeries. Therefore acquiring watch made of plastics, pay attention to manufacturers. If it is a well established company on watch market you can safely buy. For manufacturing of low-cost and short-lived watches aluminium alloys are used. Titanium alloys are well-proven but assortment is not very wide. Purchasing the clock in the titanium case, again pay attention to manufacturers and... the weight of watch. Generally, the easier watch the more composed of titanium alloy. The use of some additives makes cases fragile to external influences: they can easily to scratch and even deformed.

3. Bracelet - You may approach to choosing of the bracelet from different perspectives. You can proceed from the design (especially true for womens' and designer hours) or from the material. Typically, leather bracelets absorb moisture well (except in cases where they are ingrained with a special water solution) and have a high elasticity. At the same time life of the leather bracelets much lower than metal. Metal bracelets come in two types: of all-metal chains (more expensive) and of rolled metal.

4. Watch Coatings - All coatings have nasty fact that, over time, they are obliterated. This is less related to ceramics and steel coatings, and more to coatings made of gold. The most bad option is the lacquered coating, that is readily used by Chinese manufacturers. That is why the best coverage is its absence, on the stipulation that watch is made of stainless steel, titanium alloy or brass.

5. Glass - The glass protects clock-face and arrows against damage. Glasses come in three types: plexiglass (plastic) - it is the cheapest material. It is different of weak resistance to scratching but usually not splitted; crystal (or tempered glass) - this material is resistant to scratching but is more fragile than the plexiglass; artificial sapphire - the most expensive and most wearproof material.

6. Shockproofness - The resistance of mechanism to drop on hard wooden surface from a height of 1 m. As a rule, all sports watches have high shockproof qualities.

7. Watertightness - The mechanism of watertight watch is protected by special pads from ingress of moisture. Conventional waterproof watches withstand minor ingress moisture (rain, spray), but they are unsuitable for use in the basin, shower or bath. This does not apply to sports watches and especially to diving watches - they stand watertight at depth of 100 meters.

http://www.replica-watches-online.com/

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How And Why Wrist Watches Were First Created

By: Gregg Hall

The first watches were pocket watches used by rich men. A popular fashion item among gentry they were kept in the top pocket of a long waistcoat.

The first wristwatches were worn by women as fashion accessories. They were small and designed to look delicate on a female’s wrist. As many new fashion statements are they were very expensive and worn primarily by society women in order to show off their wealth.
Surprisingly they were not considered practical and rather just a fad that people would soon get bored with. Of course this was not the case. Wristwatches really started to be used as a practical item during the Boer war and even then it could be claimed that it was accident. What they actually did was strap their pocket watches around their wrists in order to be able to tell the time quickly. These were found so practical on the battlefield that it became mandatory to wear them on the wrist.

It was not until 1915 when Rolex decided it the right time to introduce them into the market. These wristwatches came with leather straps and much like the watches today they had a buckle to fasten them. These proved a success and the age the wristwatch was born.

The real turn around for watches again was the war. Heroes were returning from the Great War sporting wristwatches and an item deemed originally to be for women suddenly had masculine connotations. Again it was Rolex that took the initiative and introduced a line of wristwatches solely for men. It soon became apparent that wristwatches were far more practical than pocket watches and they quickly took over the market place.

The next significant change was Quartz watches in the 1970s. With the computer age looming these watches seems incredibly futuristic. Initially they were expensive, but the more popular they became the more the price came down and before long every hip youngster had one.

The popularity in digital watches increased as new features were developed for them. Over the years they have had games, alarms, stopwatches, calculators and world time.

Nowadays everyone has owned a wristwatch, as much for fashion as telling the time. The straps are easy to fix on and they come in a variety of styles to suit everyone's taste.

It seems though he age of the wristwatch is disappearing. Everyone now owns mobile phones and they have all the features of a digital watch and more. Perhaps one day mobiles themselves will be worn on wrists. It does seem like it could evolve that way.

* Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as fine watches at http://www.watchesplusmore.com/

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Men's Watches - The TOP 10 Brands List

Below are the top 10 most wanted men's watches brands, updated June 1, 2008, by hubpages.com

• Rolex
• Breitling
• Omega
• Tag Heuer
• Cartier
• Swatch
• Guess
• Fossil
• Seiko
• Casio

Are those brands on your favorite list?

Source: hubpages.com

Watch-Buying Guide - Part 3

By: Alex Muniz
* This is the 3rd part of the article. Read the 1st part and the 2nd part.

Essential Glossary

Whether mechanical or electronic, watchmaking remains an exacting and highly complex science and art. There is a range of important industry words and definitions that may elude the average shopper. Taken directly from ProfessionalWatches.com, what follows is a glossary of 27 must-know watch terms.

Aperture: Small opening in the dial that displays certain information such as date, day, month or moon phase.

Applique: Numerals or symbols cut out and stuck to the dial.

ATM: A measurement of pressure called an atmosphere. An atmospheric measure is the amount of air pressure at sea level that a watch can withstand. (1ATM = 1BAR = 10m = 33.3ft).

Automatic movement: Self-winding watch whose movement is mechanical. A weight (the rotor) turns by the motion of your arm and winds the mainspring. The energy generated by the movement is transferred into mechanical energy that creates the movement. These watches can be shaken or manually wound if the power reserve runs out.

Bezel: The ring around the top of the crystal. Generally holds the glass or crystal in place. A rotating ratchet bezel moves in some watches as part of a complication. Rotating bezels either rotate clockwise, counterclockwise or both to assist in calculations.

Caseback: Bottom of the watch that lies against your skin.

Chronograph: Stopwatch function that uses sub dials to keep track of seconds, minutes and hours.

Chronometer: A very precise watch that is tested for 15 days and nights at five different positions and temperature ranges.

Complication: Any "function" added to a watch, such as a minute repeater, countdown timer, stopwatch, altimeter, asthometer, pulsometer, calendar, moon phase indicator, split second chronograph, power reserve indicator, or alarm.

C.O.S.C.: Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). They test watches for 15 days and nights at five different positions and temperature ranges. They either pass or fail the watch movement. If the watch passes, it is called a chronometer.

Crown: Knob used to wind a mechanical watch and to set the time or calendar of a watch.

End of energy: The end of energy in a "mechanical" watch is indicated by the seconds hand, which jumps every two, three or four seconds.

End of life: The end of battery life in a "quartz" watch is indicated by the seconds hand, which jumps every two, three or four seconds.

Gasket: Most water-resistant watches are equipped with gaskets to seal the caseback, crystal and crown from water. Gaskets need to be checked every couple of years to maintain water resistance.

Guilloche: Decoration found on the dials of high-end watches.

Hacking: A feature that stops the second hand when the stem is pulled out as far as it will go. This allows you to set the exact time.

Horology: Science of time measurement, including the art of designing and constructing timepieces.

Isochronism: Equal periods of time. A watch's ability to maintain its rate as the mainspring unwinds.

Ligne: Traditional unit of measurement used to measure the diameter of watch movements.

Luminous paint: Self-illuminating paint that is put on the hands and markers to read the time in low light situations.

PVD: Physical Vapor Deposition. Method of coating thin watch cases by integrating titanium particles and then depositing gold for color (usually comes in black finish).

Rattrapante: Addition of a second hand to measure split times.

Super accurate: A watch that is accurate to +/- 10 seconds per year. A technology that uses quartz crystal oscillators working with an integrated circuit, assuring up to 10 times more accuracy than a conventional quartz watch.

Telemeter: Stopwatch or chronograph function with a scale that measures the distance of something from the wearer of the watch through the amount of time it takes sound to travel.

Triple date calendar: Complication that provides month, day and date.

Waterproof: No watch is 100% waterproof.

White on: Analog watch that is able to display functions at the touch of a button. An easily legible white numeric display appears on the inside surface of the crystal when any digital function is activated.

Take Your Time

You've got the key watch terms, you know the crucial watch questions and you know the watch types available. Now get out there and start shopping. The clock is ticking!

Resources:
http://www.askmen.com/intermediate/fashion/fashion_tip_255_professionalwatches.html
http://www.europastar.com/europastar/watch_tech/watchcrystals.jsp
The Encyclopedia of Men's Clothes

Article Source: AskMen.com

Watch-Buying Guide - Part 2

By: Alex Muniz

* This is the 2nd part of the article. Read the 1st part here.

Case

This is the watch's frame. When it comes to analog watches, the case can be round, rectangular, square, and sometimes even polygonal. The case finish can be shiny, matte, patterned, or inlaid with jewels and other crystals (although I can't recommend such a look -- unless pimpin' is your thing).

For analog watches, the case is usually made of a metal -- steel, titanium, gold, silver, and platinum being the most common. Getting a watch with a case (and band) made from the latter three precious metals is going to cost you a pretty penny, but many watchmakers mix the precious metal with less valuable alloys for a more affordable timepiece.

Here are some common watch "Gold Marks" according to The Encyclopedia of Men's Clothes:

18K or 750 means the piece is about 75% pure gold.
14K or 585 means it's about 58% gold.
10K signifies it's about 42% gold.

Watch crystal

This transparent cover protects the watch face. It can be made from plexiglass, mineral (traditional) glass or synthetic sapphire -- an ultra-hard, clear, man-made crystal.

Plexiglass is the cheapest of watch "crystals." It's the least likely to shatter, but the most likely to scratch.

Mineral glass, on the other hand, is more likely to shatter, but less likely to scratch.

Synthetic sapphire costs the most, but it's the most scratch-resistant. Of course, there's a catch: Synthetic sapphire breaks quite easily.

Band type

If you have an analog timepiece (whether quartz-powered or hand-wound), your watchband will either be made of leather (usually black or brown) or the same kind of metal used on the case.

Digital watches, such as sports models and gadget watches, usually have plastic bands.

Nontraditional watch types

Sports

Sports watches are very sleek, very durable and made from high-quality plastic composites. The most common sports watch is the classic water-resistant diving watch. Nowadays, the market is packed to the gills with such timepieces. Sports watches can incorporate odometers, altimeters, compasses, GPS technology, blood pressure and pulse monitors, and a range of other gadgets for the guy leading an active lifestyle.

Two good brands to look at are Nike and Timex. Both companies produce diverse, feature-laden lines that are relatively affordable and quite durable.

Gadget

Gadget watches are highly functional for the student, techie or engineer. They contain even more tech goodies (such as calculators, digital cameras or e-mail applications) than their loaded sports model cousins. Keep in mind, however, that gadget watches are conversation pieces that usually only attract the interest of other tech-savvy guys. They're usually not a good bet for picking up women.

The proper fit and match

Whatever its type, your watch should fit snugly (and not move up and down when you move your arms), without leaving an imprint on your wrist.

Silver watches match best with blacks, grays, silvers, and blues, and ideally, you should wear them at night. Gold watches go with browns, beiges, tans, and other earth tones. They are best worn during the day.

And, of course, digital watches (no matter how cool) go better with casual clothes or workout attire than with business suits or formal wear.

A glossary of all the important watch terms in Part 3.

Article Source: AskMen.com

Watch-Buying Guide - Part 1

By: Alex Muniz

Even the best-dressed men can get tripped up when it comes to buying the right watch. Men's watches are complex, can be expensive and there are a lot of them out there. So just what should you know when shopping for one? Well, you can start by looking at your wardrobe and your budget, and asking yourself a few questions.

General Questions:

• When will you be wearing it?
• What will you use it for -- work, going out, lounging around, playing sports?
• How do you feel about high-tech gadget watches?
• How much money do you want to spend? While you can conceivably get any style of watch for little money, certain watchmakers and brands command very high prices.

WATCH TYPES AND OPTIONS

So you've decided on the situations in which you'll wear your watch and you've figured out the style you want for your wardrobe. Before heading out, take a look at the main types of wristwatches and some of their parts.

Analog, digital or analog/digital

An analog watch has a face that holds hour and minute hands, and either numbers, markers or Roman numerals that display a 12-hour day. It is considered the more formal, classic watch type, and is perfect for business, dates and formal events.

Digital watches either have an LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light emitting diode) face that displays the time in numeric form (for example, 2:50). They're considered very casual.

Analog/digital watches have both an analog and a digital face. They're utilitarian and can be worn to work and during your daily routine (though they're probably not a good bet for formal events).

Battery, quartz or mechanical (hand-wound)

Digital watches are powered by an ultra-small watch battery (the kind you usually see by the checkout counter in electronic stores).

Quartz watches are analog timepieces that run on a tiny, vibrating, electrified quartz crystal. They keep extremely accurate time (within a minute each year).

Mechanical watches are powered by a complex array of gears and springs. These watches can command a hefty price as a result of their superior craftsmanship. Unfortunately, the ancient art of hand-wound watchmaking remains imperfect. Mechanical watches lose about an hour a year and must be wound regularly.

Find out about watch cases, crystals, band types, sports, and gadget watches, and more in Part 2.

Article Source: AskMen.com

How To Choose A Men's Watch

By: Michelle Bery

Image Source: dgreetings.com

When it comes to choosing the perfect watch – for you or someone you love – it can be difficult to narrow down the choices from all the available styles on the market. For women, who have already chosen several pieces of jewelry throughout their lives, choosing a watch may be easier for them than their male counterparts. Choosing a men's watch can be a bit more of a challenge. For many men, aside from their wedding ring, a watch may be the only piece of jewelry that they wear. And while the watch can be worn for functional reasons, it can also fill a role as a stylish accessory - even for men. Finding the perfect men's watch is about balancing these two functions in a way that's comfortable for the man wearing the watch.

For an athletic man who enjoys both indoor and outdoor sports, a men's watch that is streamlined, compact, and sporty may be the best choice. A men's watch of this variety may also include accessories beneficial for athletes - such as a stopwatch capacity, and heart rate monitor. For a career man who is in the public eye, a luxury men's watch that has glitz as well as functionality could be an appropriate selection. This particular men's watch can be a bit of an investment; but more often than not, its quality workmanship would match the price. This could be a classic timepiece that he can enjoy for many, many years.

The more casual man may prefer a trendier men's watch that depicts the latest styles and compliments a variety of looks. Many younger men gravitate towards the hottest men's watch on the market at the time, and while it can make quite a splash now, it may not be something he's interested in wearing as he gets older.

For those men who enjoy the value of a great antique, an antique men's watch could be something he will cherish. Or perhaps an older family member has a men's watch that can be cleaned and polished for a bright new future.

Ultimately, the best men's watch is the watch that its owner feels comfortable and confident wearing for many years!

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Why Every Man Should Own A High Quality Fine Watch

By: Gregg Hall

Generally men are not typically concerned about fashion. Although there are always exceptions to the rule, men usually let women pick their clothing. Even though you may not care much for fashion, there are some things you can do to demonstrate a sense of fashion.

A great item such as a fine watch should be a part of every man's wardrobe. A watch for a man can be a fashion statement in and of itself. A high end watch that is in good taste will add some tasteful flair to your wardrobe. Recently watches have returned as the new fashion statement for men. Men can express their personality through a choice of a good watch.

To find the right watch for you it is important to shop around a little. Searching online for a watch will help you to avoid the mall. By looking online you can also look for watches that allow you to express yourself without judgment.

Many men have owned a variety of cheaper watches throughout their lifetime, but until you find a high end watch you are merely toting a watch out of necessity. Timex is not necessarily a high end watch nor is Casio or any other watch with a plastic or cheap metal band. These are generally for everyday wear and sports activities. That is fine since they are intended for that.
If you are ready for a nice watch that will last and be a family heirloom someday then there are some names you may want to consider.

Some watch names to look for are TAG Heuer or even Rolex. Both are made of superb quality and style. Either watches brand is high end and bound to become a treasured family heirloom.
TAG Heuer has the Aqua racer collection. They are quart crystal watches which are very accurate and dependable. There are several to choose from and all equally beautiful timepieces.
Another popular and classic brand of watches is Rolex. They have been around for a long time and are often referred to as the king of all the watches. They are watches to pass down from generation to generation. The Cellini watch is simple in design but classy as ever.

Regardless of your idea on fashion, there is no reason you can't make a statement with a classy high end watch. The difference once you have one on your wrist may surprise you. Once you wear a beautiful watch you may never pull out the others again. The confidence you may feel from owning such a timepiece will help you feel more successful. A fine watch will be a timeless heirloom to pass on for generations to come.

Article Source: Ezine Articles