Pocket Watches,Clocks,Rings,Necklaces,Jewelry Boxes etc…

Hoop Earrings

There are many different types and styles of hoop earrings out in the world today. The only problem with this is how do you know which pair is the right one for you. Do you need the ones that are so big that they almost touch your neck? Or do you need the ones that are so small that they almost don’t clear your ear lobe? The answer that most people will give you is usually something like just pick whatever you want I’m sure it will look good. Well just like a pair of glasses it all depends on the person as to whether or not they need the big ones or the small ones or somewhere in between.  There are a couple of steps involved when picking out a pair of hoop earrings.

The first step is figuring out which kind of hoops you want. This step is crucial to your success in finding the right pair. Do you want pave diamond hoop earrings? You know the ones that have the diamonds wrapped like paver stones all along the hoop, or do you just want diamond hoop earrings? Do you like rhinestone hoop earrings?  Or do all of these make you sick and you just like it plain Jane? All of these things need to be considered when buying a pair. This is probably going to be the easiest part of the process and the hardest because it will be based on what you like.

After you have picked out the style that you want it’s time to get to the part that most people forget to tell you. Your face shape just like when choosing glasses plays a major role when choosing hoop earrings no matter the kind.

 If your face is more of a rounded shape then you are better off with dangle hoop earrings that are on the smaller and slimmer side.

If your face is more of an oval shape then this will allow you to get more of a wide range of oval hoop earrings.

If you have a slender neck then you are able to pretty much get whatever type of hoop earring you choose as they accent your features very well.

While talking about the face you may want to tone down on the striking makeup when wearing hoops as they draw more attention to your face than normal and too much makeup will look cheap.

Hairstyle is another big factor when choosing hoops. Hoop earrings can be worn with anything yes this is the beauty of them but at times they look better with certain things than others. In general keep your hair down when wearing large hoop earrings and keep it up when wearing small hoop earrings.

So the next time you go to pick out a set of hoop earrings remember they are going on your ears not someone else’s so pay attention to how they look on you not a movie star.

Wall clocks come in all different shapes and sizes. Today we are going to be talking about the different types, different themes, the different features that come with wall clocks and some of the different major brands that sell wall clocks. All of the clocks have the main same mechanisms..

The first category that we will be talking about today is the different types of wall clocks that are out there. This is more of a broad summary than anything else.

The first clock that we are going to talk about is the key wound clock. As the name states this type of clock is powered by a key that is inserted inside of the clock and turned to wind up the clock, much like you would do a pocket watch or grandfather clock. This type of wall clock has been around longer than any other type except for the pendulum wall clock.

The pendulum wall clock is our next clock to look at. This particular type of clock movement can be dated back to 1637 when Galileo Galilei formed a partially finished pendulum and later finished in 1656 by Christiaan Huygens. This type of clock uses a giant harmonic oscillator or pendulum to keep its precise time movements. These clocks must be completely still to operate correctly.

The Chiming wall clock or musical wall clock can easily be distinguished from the rest of the types of wall clocks out there today. The chimes are easily recognizable by the musical notes that are produced from the chimes that are attached to the clock
Atomic wall clocks are fascinating clocks; they are the most accurate clocks in the world. The reason that this true is because they receive a radio transmission from the cesium atomic clock. This is the clock that all atomic time is transmitted from; it is located in National Institute of Standards in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Skeleton wall clocks. This is one the more obscure but is still work mentioning. The types of clocks included in this category have exposed operating parts. These types of clocks would be considered steampunk by design.

The second category that we will be observing today is the different themes that are used in wall clocks. Some of the most popular themes are:

The kitchen wall clock theme is a very popular theme for the most part in America. Some of the symbols that you will find on these themed wall clocks are chefs, vegetables, fruits, measuring instruments, coffee cups, plates, bowls, and baking ingredients.

Bathroom themes are another type that is very popular around the world. The usual suspects that you will find on the wall clocks of this category are, toilets, toilet paper, tubs and showers, as well as tooth brushes and tooth paste.

The nautical theme is a great theme for a wall clock as they can go almost anywhere, especially in a nautically themed room. This theme usually consists of a compass, propeller, life ring, light houses, captain’s wheels and usually anything else you can think of that is on a ship.

Novelty wall clocks. This is by far the most popular type of wall clock theme that is out there. This category contains anything from a big wheel wall clock, Barak Obama, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Guitar shaped, Martini shaped, Scare face and so. Basically if there is a person or object out there more than likely it is on a novelty wall clock.

The next category that we will be talking about is for the different features that come on wall clocks.

The first feature that we will be looking at is whether or not to have an analog wall clock or not. Analog type clocks use mechanical means as a way to achieve the correct angle to tell the time. This is shown on the face of a clock as the hands pointing to a say three o clock. Even though you have a digital wall clock, it still may be working off of an analog movement. These types of clocks are called flip clocks.

The next feature that is possible to have on your wall clock is for it to chime, otherwise known as a striking wall clock. This movement was originally more desired than the face of the clock. These types of clocks will chime on the hour. Most will also strike on the half hour and even some every fifteen minutes. There is a sub category to this section which is musical wall clocks that play certain tunes. Some of the clocks play show tunes, some play symphonies, other rock and roll, it all just depends on your taste. These type of clocks usually play their tunes just like the striking clock on the hour.

Digital wall clocks are being used more and more now that technology is becoming cheaper. Because they do not need to have a round clock face these clocks can come in all shapes and sizes. This would be a good consideration for a kid’s room or for someone who has a hard time reading analog type clocks. LCD wall clocks are a type of digital clock that uses liquid crystal display to show the time. These usually what you see when it is a digital clock.

The next feature is something that is coming into its own here in the last twenty years is the LED wall clock.LED or light emitting diode is a type of clock that uses these little lights to make up a whole scene or clock face. This can include everything from the hands to the numbers and pretty much everything else in between. These can form different shapes and objects that would not otherwise be possible.

The neon wall clock is the next type of feature that can be found on some clocks. These usually accompany the novelty wall clocks, because of their wacky nature. These types of clocks are usually as well found on beer and liqueur themed clocks as well as sports themes.

Large wall clocks are basically what the name says in that everything about the clock is larger than normal. The numbers are easier to read the dials are larger and easier to see as well. This is done so that the large wall clock can be put up high on a wall, or out of the way. An easy example of this type of clock is the large digital wall clock.

There are many materials that a wall clock can be made of. Metal wall clocks, wood wall clocks, and wrought iron wall clocks are just a couple of materials that can be used.

Different types of sterling silver rings and their settings.
There are many different types of ring styles and settings for your sterling silver rings. The first thing that we will talk about today is the types and styles of rings that people wear and what they mean. Ring symbolism is intertwined in cultures throughout time. Here is a list of all of the fingers and some of their cultural meanings.
“Thumb: The willpower finger. The Venus Mount at the base of the thumb symbolizes vitality and sexuality. The separation of the thumb from the rest of the fingers represents mankind surrounded by the cosmos. Wearing a thumb ring emphasizes the insistance of freedom of thought and action. The more prominently the thumbs are displayed, the more important is independence and freedom. Insisting upon standing as a unique individual, such a person will not allow any outside factors to influence personal opinions.
Index: The authority (index or pointing) finger. The Jupiter finger represents ego, leadership qualities, and one’s position or standing in the world. (Jupiter was the chief god and ruler of the world.) A ring on the index finger emphasizes your assertiveness and ambition, and your ability to make up your own mind.
Middle: The identity finger. The Saturn finger is associated with wisdom and dealing with responsibility and our role in life. (Saturn was the father of Jupiter.) This is the finger with the most strength and balance. Wearing a ring on this finger announces “I am” and governs the way we see ourselves, our potentials, and our limitations. It is an effort to enhance willpower with the support of total ego.
Ring: The creativity (annular) finger. The Apollo finger reflects your creativity and sense of well-being. (Apollo was the sun god, and is traditionally associated with music and poetry.) This is the finger for most rings, and is associated with affections, optimism, and artistic appreciation. The ring finger on the left hand is the only one with a direct connection to the heart, which is why it has become the traditional finger for wedding rings. It is a self-imposed restriction on the subconscious desires to share the self with others. A wedding, friendship, or engagement ring announces that the person’s creative fantasies are limited to the donor of that ring.
Little: The relationship (pinky or auricular) finger. The Mercury finger reveals your powers of self-expression and communication. (Mercury was the messenger of the gods.) This finger expresses attitudes toward personal and sexual relationships. Wearing a ring on this finger tells others how appealing you consider yourself, and how well and easily you can express yourself to others.”
Toe rings- It is said that the meaning of wearing a toe ring on one toe on one foot in India means that you are a prostitute. This being said western culture puts no real value on wearing a toe ring.
Everything that is in quotes is an excerpt from www.likeacat.com
Now let us go on to the next part of this article with the different types of ring settings that one can have on their sterling silver gemstone rings.
The first type of setting for your silver ring is the:
Prong Settings: Six prongs is usually the accepted amount of prongs to hold a gemstone into place. Prongs are long metal strips that are attached to the ring band that hold the gemstone to the band.
Channel Settings: This type of setting is for more active people as it holds the gemstone closer to your ring band instead of out in the wind like that of a prong setting. The channel setting is exactly what it sounds like the gemstone sits in a “channel” or groove in the ring band.
Tiffany Settings: This type of setting is more for solitaire studs that you want to show off as the gemstone such as on a sterling silver cubic zirconia ring.
Baguette Settings: This type of setting is for flat and long gemstones
Bezel Settings: This setting uses the sides of the prongs to hold the stone into place.

silver in general becomes dirty with time, use and moisture.
In order for your sterling silver earrings to keep their beauty and shine they must be properly cleaned and polished. In order to do this you must have the proper knowledge and tools to do so.
There are a couple of methods that can be used to clean your jewelry. First you can have it cleaned by a professional, or you can attempt to clean it at home.

The first of the two methods is to have your sterling silver earrings cleaned by a professional. Cleanings usually cost depending on how much jewelry you give them. It usually takes them only a couple of hours to do this at the most, it just all depends on how much work they have. If you have special requests or a certain earrings that need special attention it might take up to a couple of weeks to do the full restorations.
The other type of cleaning that you can do for your sterling silver earrings is to a at home method. I have gathered as many different home methods that I could find, and will be adding to more to this list.
One of the most widely used methods is to use aluminum foil and baking soda.
The things that you will need for this are:
-Baking soda- one tablespoon
-Aluminum foil- enough to cover a plastic bowl
-Plastic bowl- if you must use a metal bowl, be warned that there might be a chemical reaction that might discolor your sterling silver clip on earrings.
-One cup of warm water
-A soft bristle brush or a soft cloth
After you have gathered all of these items together. The first step is to cover the plastic bowl with the aluminum bowl. The next step is to place the jewelry in the bowl. * Special note* be careful if you have sterling silver earrings with gemstones in them. Certain solutions and harsh abrasives, read about how to care for them before using this solution, can harm gemstones. After you have placed the sterling silver earring into the bowl, mix one-cup warm water and one-teaspoon baking soda together in a separate container and pour it over the jewelry. Make sure to cover all of the parts of the jewelry. If you are cleaning more than one piece of jewelry double the mixture. Let the mixture sit for a little bit. You should start to see black specs collecting in the bottom of the bowl after a minute or two. Once the earrings have sat for a while take them out and gently rub them with the brush or rag on stubborn spots. Do not rub to hard on the jewelry or you will run the risk of scratching it. This should be adequate to clean your sterling silver stud earrings.
-The next method is for very lightly tarnished sterling silver earrings and jewelry. It can also be used on flatware as well. Light tarnish is light yellow and barely seen unless you hold it against a white object such as paper or napkin. A hand sanitizer that is unscented will usually take of the tarnish before it turns black and becomes hard to take off. This method only works on light tarnish. Be sure not to rub to hard on the jewelry. If tarnish will not come off with this method then try one of the ones mentioned below.
-There are many different sterling silver polishes on the market today that work very well when used as directed. Just be sure to read all of the instructions on the product bottle.
-Difference between tarnish and firestain.
Tarnish occurs when your sterling silver hoop earrings come into contact with hydrogen sulfide, which is found in the air. Other ways that jewelry gets tarnished is by wool, some foods, felt. Activities that make jewelry tarnished are working out, cleaning with jewelry on, and getting in the pool or hot tube with it on.

Jewelry Armoires


Whenever you go and buy something that costs a lot of money, you would more than likely hopefully want it to be of a pretty good quality standard. In order to do this, you have to have some simple skills of observation. In this case we will be going over jewelry armoires. Sight, touch, and sometimes smell are going to be your best friends when it comes to picking out a quality piece.

The first one of these the sight is probably going to be one of your biggest assets. It will allow you to find more of the imperfections than anything else. Sight is especially important in purchasing an antique jewelry armoire. Before you buy an armoire look at the hinges and see if they are in good condition and not rusted. You will be able to tell if they are rusted by if there is a dark or light brown craterous look in the metal. This does not mean that you have to not buy the piece it just means that this would probably be something that should come up in price negotiation time.

After the hinges move your eyes to the legs and doors. You are going to want your wooden armoire to have sturdy doors and legs, if possible kind of give the armoire a LITTLE nudge. This will give you an idea of how it sound it was built, while doing this look down to make sure that the legs are attacked well and not splintered or cracked. Also with the overall piece of furniture try and see if you can find any holes or pieces of wood falling off as this might be a sign of termites. Also with the doors make sure they are securely attached to the hinges and that the knobs on the doors are secured as well. Oak jewelry armoires for example usually for the most part will have no problems with their legs and doors because of the sound cellular structure of the oak wood. Stay away from soft or imitation wood armoires if you want quality and long lasting conditions.

Another thing that you will want to look over when buying a painted jewelry armoire is the quality of the paint. Is it cracking or peeling, are there runs in the paint? Is the paint chipping? Is the color fading? This is especially important if it is a hand painted jewelry armoire. These should have some kind of protective covering such as acrylic or enamel. On older armoires there is a good chance that there will be a lacquer coating instead of paint. This can mean that the piece is relatively old and should be considered to be looked at by an appraiser for further detail. This is not always the case though so be warned of a high antique price without it first being looked at by a professional.

The next thing that needs to be looked at is the interior of the armoire. This matters just as much as the rest of the criteria for a quality purchase. One of the main things that you will want to look for in the interior of an armoire is going to be fading. Fading is more of an issue when buying used armoires. Cheap jewelry armoires and discount jewelry armoires are more prone to fading faster than those say a cherry jewelry armoire with a silk interior.

As you can see by now that sight is going to be by far the most prevalent sense to use when it comes to picking out a quality jewelry armoire. The next sense however can be just as effective as picking up on flaws when looking to purchase a wood jewelry armoire. Touch is going to be the next sense that we talk about.

The first thing to feel is going to be the outside of the wood. The wood should feel smooth and natural, and by natural I mean the smoothness should go with the grain.  Feel all around the armoire for knots or nicks or imperfections in the wood. The pine jewelry armoire is notorious for having many knots and divots. This is ok if it is naturally found in the wood. Also look for nail or screw marks, or in older models look for pegs that have come out a little. These imperfections can also be looked at when discussing a price.

The next thing that needs to be felt or rub your hand over is the interior of the armoire. Feel for rough spots, high and low spots and areas where there might be missing material. Look especially in high traffic areas and corners.

Let us take a minute to talk especially about the antique type. One of the main things to look out for when buying one of the antiques is. How good of condition is the wood in? What kind of quality is the interior in? Is it torn? Is the wood cracked or splintered? Are the hinges in good condition? Does the top or doors move freely? Does it smell musty or moldy?  These questions might seem simple but one must look to double check the quality before they spend a lot of money on something that is going to just fall apart a couple of months down the road. If you must have the piece no matter the condition of it, then you will more than likely want to take it to a restoration facility where they specialize in restoring antiques and jewelry boxes.

wooden jewelry boxes
hanging jewelry organizer

There are literally thousands of different types of charms out there, as well there are many different ways to pick out charms for a charm bracelet; here are just a few ways to do so. Keep in mind this is just a general outline with general meanings.

The zodiac sign charm is probably one of the most often used on charm bracelets. There are twelve signs in the zodiac.  If a person is a Sagittarius you could get them charms that relate their sign such as a horse and archer or the planet Jupiter or a symbol for fire. Another idea for the person who is into astrology is to get them all twelve zodiac charms so that they will have the complete zodiac on their bracelet.  Other charms that would fall into this category are birthstone charms.

Awareness charms are charms for bracelets that more than likely represent a cause such as raising the awareness for breast cancer. These are great for those who are going through or who have gone through such a traumatic event. These are also great fundraiser ideas to help raise awareness for the cause. Selling the bracelet charms for a couple of bucks is a good way to make money for a foundation or charity as well.

Italian charms are very popular over in Europe and are fast becoming very popular among those who collect here in the states. The main difference between an Italian charm bracelet and a traditional one is the way the charms are attached. The Italian charm attaches to the bracelet much like that of a link of a watch, this is different than regular charms because they usually just dangle or hang from a loop which is connected to a bracelet.

Animals are popular charms especially if it is of the animal that owner of the bracelet has. These come in most every type of breed and variation that one can think of.

Good luck charms that are commonly used are:

The Italian Horn: worn to ward off or protect against evil.

The Horn of plenty/Cornucopia: symbol of food and abundance.

The Four leaf clover: According to legend, each leaflet represents something: the first is for fame, the second is for wealth, the third is for love, and the fourth is for health

The Mustard Seed: Protects against all harm.

The Horse Shoe: Gives general well being.

The Mazel: is the Hebrew word for “luck,” “fate” or “fortune”.

The Acorn: Protects against lightning strikes.

The Akuaba: Gives fertility.

The Angel: Guards against evil.

The Maneki Neko / Beckoning Cat: brings about good fortune.

Dolphins: Believed to give safe voyage in sea voyage and in life.

Double Happiness: Wedding happiness

The Elephant: endure, longevity, and ensure good business meetings or a journey.

The Eye of Horus: Protect from evil and bring good luck.

The FU: means good fortune in Chinese

The Hamsa/Hamesh Hand: good fortune, happiness, love, and good health.

The Jade: Meant to cleanse ones soul, good fortune, Protect from evil.

The Kokopelli: fertility, wealth though charity, good luck

The Ladybug: General good luck, gardening

The Hotei/Laughing Buddha: wealth

The Nazar Boncugu: Wards of the evil eye.

The Peace symbol: Symbolizes peace

The Pig: wealth and fertility

The Scarab: Heart Health, general good luck.

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