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The Wonderful Beauty Of Pearl Necklaces

August 18th, 2009

by Jim Samposzi

A pearl is a beautiful stone of mother nature that is very popular and usually sported by the wealthy. Pearls, because of their origins, are precious and rare. The rarity of pearls is due to the fact they are not found in oysters regularly; it takes a lot of effort, time, and manpower to get enough pearls to make a pearl necklace. Because of the rarity in discovery, pearls are rather costly and not always available. Pearls are valuable in many cultures and seen as a symbol of the privileged.

Pearls are available in a slough of kinds, like: Freshwater Pearls, Seawater Pearls, Akoya Pearls, South Seawater Pearls, Tahitian Pearls, Black Pearls and Synthetic Pearls. The cost of pearls is dictated by quality, size, rarity and popularity. No matter what type, pearls are all quite delicate and have to be handled with care; any deficiencies can reduce the quality and value of the pearls. Earlier pearl was considered to be available exclusively to wealthy people but nowadays technology has made pearls affordable for almost all people. There is an old adage that states wearing pearls can bring about luck and success in life; many still believe this to be true.

Almost all woman’s jewelry, of any kind, have the option of pearl inclusion, however, necklaces are the most popular ornament for the lady’s neck. Women nowadays wear a vast collection of necklaces that coincide with their own style and essence. Because of the vast offerings in neck wear, pearl necklaces are sold in a vast array of styles, like: a pearl rope, pearl collar, opera necklace, matinee necklace, princess necklace, and pearl choker to name a few. These various types are really specific to specific occasions. Also, partial pendant necklaces are available as an alternative to the costly full-chained pearl necklaces. These styles are available in shapes like: heart, round, and oval.

Pearls are typically quite important to brides because of the added white elegance they let off; they match very well with the bride’s gown. Pearl necklaces and pendants are a great present for loved ones as well. Pearl necklaces are very popular at parties because they can be formal and casual at the same time. Pearl necklaces are usually worn by popular celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey. Most jewelry makers who include this level of clientele have a wide range of them. Many of the rich part of our world own and have these necklaces made exclusively for a specific individual; these can cost much more than any other piece of jewelry there is.

Nowadays original pearls are very rare and a good majority of pearls in stores are altered in some way. Though cultured pearls are put together with the same process as natural ones, a pearl’s originality with size and shape make them each one in a million. Pearl necklaces are crafted throughout the planet in nations abroad, for instance: China, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan. The previously mentioned nations have a good and long reputation for pearls and have been the leaders in this industry for many years.

Jim is a columnist with more than 10 years editorial experience. Jim is engaged as a columnist with our b2b site and is considered the company expert on pearl necklaces. Visit our useful website for more information on Pearl Necklaces and Freshwater Pearl Necklace.

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Quartz Watches: A Revolution In The Watch Making Industry

July 31st, 2009

by: Jake Szarcosi

Even though traditional mechanical watches were being used for almost 600 years since their inception in the 14th century, nothing revolutionized the watch industry like the introduction of quartz watches. They were hailed as the greatest innovation in the watch making industry since the move to watches from hour glasses. Even today this technology which was introduced to the world in the 1970’s continues to dominate the watch making market with as many as 90% of all watches manufactured being quartz watches.

Quartz watches have several distinct advantages over their mechanical counterparts. One of the primary benefits is the high accuracy. A quartz watch is 60 times more accurate than a mechanical watch. On an average it will gain or lose no more than one second per week as opposed to this a mechanical watch generally gains or loses one minute per week. So even if you were to calculate on a monthly basis the shift of a quartz watch amounts to 4 seconds while a mechanical watch can be off by as much as 4 minutes. If you were to take into consideration longer periods the inaccuracies of a mechanical watch would be significant. The accuracy of quartz watches can be attributed to the high number of oscillations of the quartz crystal which almost reach 32,768 per second.

Mechanical watches are powered by a mechanical drive. That is they have a power source (a spring in this case), a dial, hands, an oscillating mass and a gear system to move the hands and to ensure the accuracy of the time piece. With so many parts, wear and tear was common in mechanical watches and these parts had to be replaced often but the quartz movement is radically different.

A quartz watch uses a property of the quartz crystal called piezoelectric effect. When a quartz crystal is bent or compressed a resultant voltage in generated on the surface conversely when a charge is applied the quartz crystal will change shape or oscillate. This property is called the piezoelectric effect and this is the property used in the watch making industry. Quartz crystals were used in the radio transmitting and computer industry long before their foray into the watch industry. They are made of the same compound as sand and chemically quartz is nothing but silicon dioxide. It is a bad conductor of heat which makes it heat resistant and it is stable with most solvents which made it sturdy enough to be used in watches.

Quartz watches use small batteries to generate the charge that will cause the oscillations in the quartz crystal. These oscillations are induced with the help of plated electrodes. They are then amplified with an integrated circuit and channeled back to the crystal to make sure that it continues oscillating. Since temperature fluctuations have no effect on quartz crystals they continue oscillating regardless of normal temperature fluctuations. These oscillations are transmitted to a tiny motor that is in turn connected to a gear system that moves the hands of the watch. And that’s how a quartz watch works.

Today, quartz watches are available in various designs and with the traditional dial or digital displays. They are sturdier, cheaper and last longer as compared to the mechanical watches and you will never have to worry about winding them.

Jake Szarcosi is a independent journalist with over 12 years of writing experience. Jake is employed as a freelance writer for our b2b site and is considered the resident guru on fine timepieces and quartz watches. Be sure to visit our web portal for additional information on Quartz Watch and Quartz Watches.

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Pearl Necklaces: Who Said Diamonds Were A Girl’s Best Friend?

July 31st, 2009

by: Jake Szarcosi

There can be very few things in a woman’s wardrobe that can look half as classy as a pearl necklace. Worn by royalty and Hollywood starts alike pearls can give you the allure and mystique of diamonds and platinum but at an affordable rate. A well chosen pearl necklace will serve as a family heirloom for years to come. The most wonderful thing about a pearl necklace is that it can be coupled with a business suit as well as ball gown or a cocktail dress and it will look equally stunning. If you don’t already own a pearl necklace you should seriously consider investing in one. Here are a few guidelines that will help you to pick the perfect pearl necklace.

Pearls are either natural or cultured and even though natural pearls are significantly more expensive than their cultured counterparts you will never be able to tell the difference in the two unless you put them through an x-ray. Also salt water pearls are more expensive than fresh water pearls.

The different types of pearls used in necklaces are Mikimoto, South Sea pearls, Tahitian and Akoya. Out of these the most expensive are the Mikimoto pearls they are also of the best quality and available in different colors. Akoya pearls are available in white, cream and silver while the south sea and Tahitian pearls are famed for their darker colors.

Pearl necklaces are available in different lengths and choosing the right size can not only complement your wardrobe but also enhance your physical features.

Ideally pearl necklaces should be chose based on the wearer’s age, skin tone, neck size and body type. As far as colors are concerned white, cream, pink and silver pearls look good on fair skinned people while gold or yellow pearls suit dark toned people. Younger women should opt for smaller pearls while older women should go for pearl necklaces that are long enough to divert attention from their necks. Other choices would include pearl necklaces with multiple strands and ones with bigger pearls.

The different styles of pearl necklaces are

The Collar: This is the shortest type of pearl necklace at 10 to 13 inches in length. This necklace works well with evening or day wear and is worn above the base of the neck. A very popular Victorian style that is making a comeback is the dog collar which is a short pearl necklace with multiple strands worn high on the neck.

The Choker: This type of pearl necklace sits around the base of the neck and measures between 16 to 18 inches. The choker is a perfect choice for ladies who want to flaunt their long necks. Also if you have a thin neck the choker can take the attention away from the length of your neck.

Princess: This is by far the most popular type of pearl necklace. It is 17-20 inches long and perfect for any type of outfit.

Matinee: This pearl necklace that is between 20 to 24 inches long. It looks particularly good when coupled with business wear.

Opera: This is a long pearl necklace that is 28-34 inches in length and goes well with formal outfits. You can get quite adventurous with this pearl necklace because of its length. You could knot it or double it to form two strands.

Pearl necklaces are not only the ideal choice for any occasion but they also make great gift items.

Jake Szarcosi is a columnist with over twenty years writing experience. Jake is currently consulting as a national correspondent with our b2b site and is considered the local expert on fine jewelry and pearls. Be sure to visit our useful website for additional information on Pearl Necklace and Pearl Necklaces.

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Look Cool In Fashion Sunglasses This Summer

July 20th, 2009

by: John Maltakiso

Choosing fashion sunglasses can be one of the most difficult choices that you may have to make given the sheer volume and variety of fashion sunglasses available in the market today. Whether you are looking for branded fashion sunglasses or something which is workable yet affordable the range is humongous. And if you just want to go for that one prefect pair which accentuate your facial features and make you look good making a choice can be very tough. So here are a few tips to help you make a decision.

Of course the primary purpose of fashion sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun but hey nobody is buying them just to protect their eyes. They are a personal style statement, an item of haute couture the ultimate in fashion wear for instance the sales of Ray ban aviators went through the roof after Tom Cruise wore them in Top Gun. But as a rule you shouldn’t choose fashion sunglasses based on what your favorite pop start of movie star is wearing instead go for something that suits your face and accentuates your features. Here are a few thumb rules.

One of the most classic shapes is the aviators preferred by the pilots of WW2 they are still one of the most popular shapes not only for men and women from the aviation sector but with other high flying youngsters as well. Characterized by a tear drop shape and metal rims they are still as trendy as they were a few decades ago.

The Wraps: These fashion sunglasses extend past the eyes reaching towards the temples wrapping the face

The Shields: These are one piece fashion sunglasses either rimless or partially rimmed. They are available in a wide range of tints.

The Clip-ons. These are very convenient for people who not only need to use fashion sun glasses but also prescription eyeglasses. The reading glasses can be easily converted into fashion sunglasses by clipping on the sun protective lenses either with clips or magnets.

The shape of the fashion sunglass frame and the tint that you choose should flatter your face; generally the shape of the frame should contrast the shape of your face.

For instance if you have a round face choosing a round frame will certainly not look good instead go for a rectangular frame that will make your face appear longer and thinner. Another tip is to choose frames that are either equal to or wider than the broadest part of your face. If you have a strong jaw line or a square face go for a frame with soft angular shapes. A high temple will create the appearance of a longer profile while brow bars will make the face look longer. People with an angular face should choose round frames which make their face look broader. People with oval faces can use any shape.

You can choose the traditional darker tints of brown or gray or go for the funky blues, reds or yellows. But choose them depending on the places and the attires that you intend to wear them with. For instance the more traditional tints will look good with formal clothes while the other colors will suit informal outfits.

There is also a huge choice when it comes to the various brand names that are in the fashion sunglasses market like Gucci, Versace, Police, Ray Ban, Cavalli and others. Its important to remember that an expensive fashion sunglass doesn’t always mean that is good or that it will look great so remember to choose wisely.

John Maltakiso is a technical writer with more than fifteen years editorial experience. John is consulting as a freelance writer with our b2b site and has become the in house authority on hot trends in eyewear. Visit our web portal for additional information on Polarized Sunglasses and Fashion Sunglasses.

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Posted in Fashion