The Metaphysical Site

Upon hearing the words 'luxury watch', most people would firstly think of famous brands such as Rolex, Cartier or Omega, and from there make the assumption that the term referred to mechanical watches encased in precious metals. After all, the expertise and technical skill which goes into their construction is one of the main selling points for watches of this type.

Quartz watches, by contrast, have a generally poor reputation. First made easily accessible in the late sixties, the fact they can be produced cheaply and quickly in mass numbers has given them bad press among the luxury market, despite the manufacturers of these prestigious watches having developed the technology. The myth that if it ticks it can't be a Rolex is wrong - Rolex was one of several watch makers who worked together to produce quartz mechanisms, and several quartz models were released shortly after, most notably in their Oyster range. (Although, if you are offered a Rolex that ticks, it's a very good idea to make sure that it is one of these models, and not a counterfeit.)

It's also important to remember that quartz watches do not offer inferior timekeeping. Quite the reverse. Quartz watches are in the region of ten times as accurate as a mechanical watch, and for one simple reason. It is a fundamentally different method of telling the time. While mechanical watches are powered by kinetic energy, wound on a spring and then slowly meted out, a quartz watch works by passing an electric current through quartz crystal. The current makes the quartz vibrate, or oscillate, at a very high speed, and because that speed is constant, and does not vary even if the temperature changes, it makes a good regulator for a watch movement.

Because there are no gears, cogs, pinions or wheels to fit into a quartz mechanism, aside from those required to turn the hands, quartz mechanisms can be made much smaller and in a wider variety of shapes than mechanical watches. Many watches take advantage of this fact, and exploit it to make a dizzying variety of designs, most far smaller than a mechanical watch could ever be.

Jewellery and fashion watches are the most ostentatious quartz watches produced by luxury watch companies, but are by no means alone. Several companies, such as Tag Heuer, Breitling and TW Steel, have ranges of quartz sports watches, that exploit the accuracy of the quartz mechanism to take chronographs to their most accurate platform. They can also take advantage of the lower costs associated with producing quartz chronograph movements and focus on both an outstanding watch design and a highly competitive price. Quartz watches produced by these companies can be obtained fro a fraction of their mechanical counterparts.

As with everything in life, to excel in one area, a trade off must be made in another. Quartz watches lack the ultimate prestige of mechanical watches - there is no way to mimic the thousands of hours that go into their construction. But they gain in other areas: accuracy, flexibility and affordability. And most importantly of all, a luxury watch is the sum of all of its parts. To discredit it on the movement alone would be disservice to the watch house that designed the whole.

Watchfinder.co.uk specialise in selling new and pre-owned watches of exceptional quality, from brands such as Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Breitling, IWC, Raymond Weil, Jaeger LeCoultre, Chanel, TW Steel, Longines, Panerai and many others. For more information, please visit http://www.watchfinder.co.uk.

Jemma Hill is an author with a passion for both mechanical and quartz luxury watches.

Clover Necklaces: A Celebrity Must Have

One of the hottest charm shapes you'll see adorning the neck of your favorite pop star or movie star is the rounded clover. 

Mariah Carey wore a layered clover necklace in stunning mother of pearl and sterling silver to a recent awards gala.  Reese Witherspoon gracefully wore a long gold strand necklace with clovers to an luncheon benefit.  And Paris Hilton, everyone's favorite socialite, wore a long gold clover necklace while on vacation in Hawaii.  Even Heidi Klum is in on the action, creating her own collection of clover inspired jewelry.  So are clovers really lucky?  They just might be, but one thing's for sure, they are definitely "in".

The clover shape has been a hit in the jewelry world for the past few years, and it's nice to know that it has staying power.  The clover necklace can be worn as a dainty pendant with a cut out shape in the middle.  It can be an actual clover that is dipped in gold or sterling silver.  But the most popular clover pendant is a rounded and symmetrical design with a colored center, usually in black or white enamel.

Long clover strand necklaces usually have the shape spaced out every few inches and can be worn with a scoop neck or rounded neckline.  This type of necklace looks great when paired with a long billowy dress or a casual tank top and jeans. 

Symmetrical clover designed necklaces are beautiful when worn as a jewelry set.  Their understated glamour and rounded edges make them a well put together combination, as they are sure not to overwhelm petite frames. Matching clover earrings can either lie on the ear, dangle as a charm or be a hoop style design.

As you can see, the clover itself can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe and is fun, youthful, and some might say, quite lucky.

About the Author

Posted by Cherry Bruce. I'm a jewelry lover, I love Necklaces: Sterling Silver jewelry Necklaces, and jewelry sets. and I'm writing a blog about fashion jewelry.

Does anyone know anything about these "Invictus Pendant Power" necklaces?

Okay, I found these really cool looking necklaces at a souveneir shop at the beach, and I bought one, but now I'm concerned about what it means...I only bought it because it looked really cool and pretty, and I can't find anything on what the pendant I bought means, only some random website about the Invictus cult...I don't want to be in a CULT!!! Help anyone???

It will stop Lord Voldemort from messing you up

Saturday's Last Word on Friday
City election - “Thank you to all five city residents running for City Council. For a tiny city at a crossroads, it is crucial to elect representatives who grasp the concern residents have for upholding city goals, and not letting the goals, rules and policies be rewritten every time a developer or individual quietly enlists the help of the staff to reshape the current rules. Residents who have ...

Thanks for visiting!