New year’s eve is one of our favorite days because of all of the glitz that goes along with it. Who doesn’t love when it’s encouraged to wear excessive sparkle!? This biggest party of the year is only a few days away, so here are a few fabulous fine jewelry pieces to complete your look.
Christmas Tree Magic
If you have a tree farm in the area, ask if you can set up a little proposal area after hours. String lights in some of the trees , put down a nice blanket and a bottle of champagne and lead her towards your “secret” spot. Family and friends can hide in the surrounding trees for an even greater surprise.
If you can’t find a farm, search for a nice clearing in the woods and do the same.
Fireside Surprise
If you’re looking to go for pure romance, consider renting a cabin for a few nights. Surprise her one night by setting up a romantic “picnic” in front of the fireplace. This cozy atmosphere provides the perfect backdrop for a special and intimate proposal.
The Extra Special Ornament
Imagine, you’re putting up the last ornament…but wait…there’s one left! This one happens to be a small box that you give to your significant other, and when she opens it, viola! The ring of her dreams. Another unique part about this proposal is that the box ornament will remind you of this special moment every time you put it up.
Special Sleigh Ride
It doesn’t get more magical than riding in a sleigh, I mean, there’s even a song about it. Treat her to a ride around the park or to a place that is meaningful to the two of you and have your families wait at your destination. It will surely be the surprise of a lifetime when you get on one knee surrounded by your loved ones.
Part of the beauty of the holidays is the bright lights and decorations that exude good cheer. Millions of twinkling lights provide the perfect backdrop to a festive proposal. If you can’t find a professional light show near you, make a small personalized one with the big finale reading ‘Will you marry me’.
With the holidays here, you are most likely contemplating the perfect gift — or maybe even a self purchase. We know that a watch is a great, timeless investment — one that can hold its value for years to come.
While our customers often have varying degrees of passion about watches, some have gotten hooked on the singular statement a watch can make, and have purchased multiple timepieces — making him or her a “collector” of sorts. We are often asked how many watches one needs to have to be considered a collector, or to have a true watch wardrobe. The thing is, it is less about the number of watches you own and more about what types of watches you own that help in building a watch wardrobe.
Generally, most people opt for either a classic work-type watch as their first timepiece, or a sportier watch. These are often the most versatile, and can go from day to night to weekend without a hiccup. It is safe to say that everyone building a wardrobe should have at least one classic dress watch perfect for work, and one sportier, rugged watch that can go out hiking or skiing on weekends.
From there, you build up. Women may want a diamond or gemstone watch for elegant evenings, especially if they do a lot of socializing. They also may want to add a fashion-forward watch — one that makes a color or artistic statement. Other genres of watches also appeal to both sexes, but men often find themselves attracted to pilot or military-inspired watches and there is an entire segment of brands that offer such timepieces. This is where a person’s real likes or dislikes, interests or hobbies come into play. There are car-inspired watches, colorful watches, three-dimensional space-age looking watches and so much more.
We advise you, if searching for a watch as a self-purchase or a gift, to consider what styles you already own, what is missing from your collection (or that of the person you are buying for) and what excites you in terms of look and style. The key to having a watch wardrobe is wearing the watches, and if you don’t love them, you won’t wear them. So buy what you like. We invite you to stop in any time to take a long look at what we have to offer in all watch genres.
Give yourself plenty of time.
Most people typically shop 1 – 3 months prior to their planned date of proposal….give yourself plenty of time so that you don’t feel pressure and have time to plan the perfect proposal, too! You may decide that you want a custom-designed one-of-a-kind ring, and that takes extra time…it’s always best to be ahead of schedule so that you can enjoy the selection and buying process.
What kind of jewelry does she already wear? Is she more classic or modern? Feminine or sophisticated? Do her pieces tend to be more delicate or chunky? Simple or ornate? Observe her demeanor, her body language, her dress, and any references she makes about jewelry, fashion and style. She will be wearing this ring 24/7 every day of her life. It will need to go with everything from jeans to evening wear and everything in between.
Separate fact from fiction.
There are many factors to consider when making this lifetime investment. Good online resources for unbiased and knowledgeable information are: www.gia.edu and http://ift.tt/1mQUIPN. Trust in your jeweler is critical so be sure to shop with reputable establishments who can provide both a great shopping experience and valuable education about your purchase.
You don’t need the exact number, but have a range in mind, be it monthly payments on an installment program, financing the entire purchase, or any combination of either. You may be pleasantly surprised that financing offers now allow you to find the perfect ring for less than you may have imagined. In the end, try to purchase the nicest ring that you can afford and be sure you’re comfortable with the payment or expense; being uneasy about debt is not something you want on your mind right now.
YES, the 4 c’s are really important.
You don’t need to obtain a gemology degree, but you should have a basic understanding of what contributes to a diamond’s value and appearance. And as fundamental as it sounds, there IS a fifth “C”…. Confidence in your jeweler. Ask for referrals – – be sure you’re buying from a reputable jeweler who is a member of either the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS).
The order of things.
First, select the gemstone: traditional diamond or something different? There are no rules…follow your heart and dare to be distinctive! Then select the shape – – that will help you determine the best possible setting to showcase the fire and brilliance of your gem. Lastly, select the metal of the setting, also sometimes called the mounting, and you can begin to narrow your search. Precious platinum is a great option for many because of its durability and lasting value. A great way to preview different designs is to use a Ring Builder tool that will let you digitally create a ring step by step.
There are many things that you can do to add a very personal element to your ring: perhaps someone in your family has gemstones that you want to include in the design of your ring. Or consider a beautiful engraving crafted inside the ring. A really distinctive option is to have your diamond laser engraved with a special message – – work with your jeweler for a creative solution that suits your style.
Protect your investment
After all that hard work of finding the perfect ring and hearing the all-important “yes”, you now need to be protective of your investment. You shouldn’t assume that you have coverage in case of loss – – always check with your insurance carrier. Your jeweler can coach you here as well to be sure you are safeguarding this very special purchase.
Work on an epic proposal idea!
This is your moment and you don’t want to risk a thing…be sure to give the proposal scene and how you will present the ring lots of thought. From getting family and friends involved, or a romantic getaway, to a billboard in Times Square, you want to do something memorable…and have a great story to last a lifetime.
Hamilton Jewelers has been helping couples create their dream engagement rings for over 100 years and we are happy to share our expertise with anyone looking for guidance. We hope you found these tips useful in your search for the perfect ring. If you would like to learn more about our engagement ring and bridal services, feel free to visit our online Bridal Salon, or visit us at our locations in Princeton, NJ or Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
It’s been a wild and wonderful ride at auction this year for timepieces. As the month of December sees several final auctions, we are already getting great results — results that bode well for the argument that a watch is a fine investment in your future.
Just this week, Phillips Auction House sold, among others, several watches previously owned by watch lover and musician Eric Clapton. The auction, which concluded on Tuesday, November 29, along with a Rolex Milestones auction the House held the evening before, achieved almost $25.5 million in sales.
In its sale a couple of weeks ago, Phillips, in association with Bacs & Russo, sold a Patek Philippe watch that achieved a world record — selling for $11 million. The watch had been made in 1943 and a was a stainless steel Reference 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phase. In that auction, a total of nearly 180 watches from more than a dozen different brands sold — to the tune of $27.8 million.
According to Aurel Bacs, senior consultant with Phillips, the world record accomplishment “is a strong testimony that the watch market is universally accepted as an important pillar of the international art collector community.”
If you were born in December and have a hard time making up your mind, you’re in luck! December babies have three beautiful birthstones to choose from; Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise. Let’s look a little deeper at what’s behind these stones:
Tanzanite:
This bluish-purple stone is one of the newest to be discovered and is only available in one part of the world, Tanzania, making it rare and extremely coveted. The color of tanzanite can range from a pale blue to an intense blue with violet undertones that can rival sapphire.
A softer stone, it is recommended that you wear tanzanite as a necklace or earrings, but with proper care, a tanzanite will look beautiful no matter how you wear it.
Zircon:
A beautiful yet underrated stone, zircon is affordable and comes in a variety colors- spanning red, orange, yellow, green, blue and brown, making it a good choice for many pieces in a collection.
Zircon is the oldest mineral on earth, dating back more than 4.4 billion years. During the Middle Ages, people believed zircon could induce sound sleep, ward off evil and bring prosperity. Blue zircon, in particular was popular during Victorian times and frequently adorned English estate jewelry from the 1880s.
Blue zircon is still the most common among buyers, but if you want to start a collection of beautiful and colorful gemstones, zircon is a great choice.
Turquoise:
Admired since ancient times, turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to a greenish robin’s egg blue.
The earliest evidence of turquoise comes from ancient Egyptian tombs which contain elaborate turquoise jewelry dating back to 3000 BCE. They used turquoise in everything from rings and necklaces, to ornamental pieces and art. It’s no wonder that the Egyptians called the stone mefkat, which meant “joy” and “delight”.
Ancient Persians also decorated extensively with turquoise believing it offered protection. Native Americans used it in sacred ceremonies to communicate with the spirit of the sky and attached it to their bows to improve a hunter’s accuracy.
Now, it is a beautiful stone used in many modern, sleek jewelry designs. When purchasing turquoise jewelry, keep in mind that it is a softer stone and is sensitive to sunlight and solvents like makeup and perfumes.
1. Think about the person you are buying for, especially their hobbies and interests. Are they sports lovers? If so, what kind? There are a lot of watches that offer chronographs for timing laps, or tachymeters for tracking speed, for instance. Is he or she an dive-, auto- or aviation-lover? If so, water-, car- and pilot-inspired watches work beautifully.
2. Consider where the person lives and what the climate may be. These factors will help influence whether you select a watch with a metal bracelet, or a rubber or leather strap. Warm climates are often suitable for bracelets, so the strap doesn’t get clammy or sticky on the wrist. Colder climates may call for the warmth of a leather strap. Rubber straps work in all climates and in cases where the person is very active. Interchangeable straps are a great concept because they enable versatility.
3. Don’t forget to take age and career into account when selecting a watch. Generally, teenagers and young adults are more interested in what is stylish and trendy, than the functions of the watch, while older people may want a larger, easy-to-read dial. Additionally, lifecycle may come into play. Buying for someone just starting a career versus someone already well entrenched in his or her career may mean the difference between a fashion statement and a “success” statement.
While these three easy tips will help you out, we also urge you to keep your own budget in mind. You should have a set amount you want to spend already figured out and stay within that range. Now that you are thinking about your loved one’s interests and personality, we invite you to visit our store and take a close up look at the gift of time.
If you’re looking for a great gift for the special lady in your life, chances are, jewelry is somewhere on that list. I mean, what woman doesn’t love opening a box to find something sparkling inside? Well…A woman who opens the box to something totally not her style probably wouldn’t be too happy.
Luckily, there are a few staples that any fine jewelry loving gal would love to have, whether they are just starting their fine jewelry collection, or looking to add or upgrade. The key with these pieces are that they are timeless; transcending any of-the-moment trends while still giving her the sparkle of the finest gemstones.
Continue below for the fine jewelry essentials sure to make her smile this holiday.
Diamond Studs
A good pair of diamond studs can go a long way and last a long time. These are sure to be her go-to and will likely never come off since they go with casual looks, evening wear and everything in-between.
For Her First:
Hamilton Classic 18k White Gold .25 ct Diamond Studs. $495.
For Her Upgrade:
Hamilton Classic 18k White Gold 1 ct. Diamond Studs. $4,950. (Finance from $105/month)
Diamond Pendants
Just like diamond studs, a stunning diamond pendant works with any look and adds a touch of sophistication. This is another piece that is sure to get a lot of use for years or even passed down for generations.
For Her First:
Pearls
Pearls have made a strong comeback over the past few years and a strand of high quality classic pearls never disappoint. The key with pearls is quality. The best quality pearls will look and feel better and with proper care will last a lifetime.
For Her First:Mikimoto 18k gold 16″ pearl necklace featuring A quality 4mm pearls. $1,260 (Finance from $27/month)
For Her Upgrade:
Diamond Tennis Bracelet
The tennis bracelet has been a jewelry staple for generations; and still, no one is saying no to this timeless diamond look.
For Her First:
Last week we brought you a story about the annual watch awards known as the Grand Prix de Horlogerie Geneve (GPHG) and showed a few brands we carry that were in the final running. Well, the winners have been announced and we are pleased to bring some of the results to you now. Oh, and make note, you can view these award-winning brands in our store any time, and an even larger selection during our annual Watch Fair this Friday and Saturday at our Gardens Mall, Palm Beach Gardens location.
Winning the Jewelry category is Chanel with its one-of-a-kind Secret Watch Signature Grenat. Powered by a quartz movement, the watch is set with diamonds and orange sapphires, and features a center carmine garnet weighing 52.61 carats.
The Tudor Black Bay Bronze self-winding watch, which uses bronze on the case, won the Petite Aiguille award. This watch will be available during our Watch Fair.
Finally, TAG Heuer won the Revival category with its affordable Monza Chronograph. This self-winding mechanical watch recalls the brand’s involvement in the auto-racing world.
One of the watch industry’s biggest events —The Grand Prix de Horlogerie Geneva (GPHG) — takes place tomorrow in Geneva. Every year for the past 15 years, the GPHG has celebrated the finest timepieces on the market by honoring one watch in a host of different categories.
This year there are 12 categories, including Ladies, Ladies High-Mech, Men’s, Chronograph, Tourbillon, Calendar, Travel Time, Mechanical Exception, Petite Aiguille (best in show), Sports, Jewelry and Artistic Crafts. There is also a People’s Choice Award that is selected based on votes from the general public.
Approximately 160+ watches were submitted to the GPHG for consideration this past June. These watches were then culled down by a jury to the final pre-selected nominations of six per each within the 12 categories, for a final 72 watches. We will bring you the results of the awards next week, but here are a few nominees from the brands we are proud to carry in our store.
Daylight Saving Time in the United States ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, when the clocks fall back by an hour, and many of us will certainly enjoy an extra hour of much-needed sleep. Meanwhile, our friends at ATimelyPerspective.com offer a fun look at the origins of DST, which happen to stretch back to the days of our Founding Fathers. Here is a little insight into the history of DST for true time junkies.
Some credit the concept of DST to American politician and inventor Benjamin Franklin, who, in a 1784 essay entitled “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light,” suggested people get out of bed earlier in the morning to use the light instead of candles.
More than a century later, in 1895, a New Zealand entomologist, George Vernon Hudson, who liked to collect insects in his free time, wanted more daylight time for his studies, so he presented a report to the Wellington Philosophical Society proposing a two-hour daylight savings time program. Though the concept wasn’t embraced internationally, it laid the groundwork for what would come later.
In 1905, British builder William Willett proposed the idea of DST, suggesting setting clocks ahead in April and switching them back in September. His idea caught the attention of Robert Pearce, who introduced a bill to the House of Commons in 1908. The concept was opposed by farmers in England and did not pass, but it laid more groundwork.
In 1916, Germany was the first country to implement DST and several countries followed suit, including America.
In the United States after World War II, states could choose whether or not they wanted to impose DST and on which dates. However, mass confusion caused Congress to establish the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which set a protocol for DST times/dates. Still, some U.S. states/territories don’t participate, calling out the dubious usefulness of DST.
As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the length of DST in America was extended by four weeks, starting in 2007. Additionally, while it is recognized around the world, not all countries practice DST, and those that do, do so on different dates.
Daylight Savings Time image: karenroach/Bigstockphoto.com
November has arrived and while the leaves keep showing off their autumnal hues, this month’s birthstone, citrine, joins in with its yellow and orange colors seeming to compliment the world around us.
The warm, yellow tone of this stone is the perfect addition to a fall wardrobe, not only because it matches the environment, but also because its color has been thought to radiate positive energy.
If you have a business deal coming up, you might want to wear some citrine. Throughout history, it has been known as the ‘success stone’ since it is believed to promote prosperity and abundance, especially in situations involving business. It has also earned the nickname of ‘the merchant’s stone’ owing to the fact that business owners used to keep citrine in cash registers for good fortune.
For those of you not necessarily interested in business success, it is also said that citrine is able to dissipate negative energy, provide stability in life, and relieve depression and self-doubt.
Citrine is very affordable and versatile making it the number one selling yellow-to-orange stone. View our citrine birthstone collection here.
It isn’t every day a Swiss watch brand in the affordable luxury category, such as Baume & Mercier, unveils a more expensive complicated watch. In fact, for this brand, it is only about once a year. To demonstrate its technical savior-faire and true watchmaking capabilities, once annually for the past five years, Baume & Mercier has released a specially made complicated piece in its much-loved Clifton collection. This year, that piece is a perpetual calendar watch.
The Clifton Perpetual Calendar features a silver opaline dial with day, date, month, leap year and moon phase indications. The perpetual calendar tracks day, date (taking into account different lengths of the months), month, year, leap year and moon phases via a mechanical memory of 1,461 days (four years).
Crafted in 18-karat 5N rose gold, the watch is powered by an automatic Vaucher 5401 base caliber that features a Dubois Depraz 5100 module for tracking the celestial factors, such as moon phase and perpetual timing.
Baume & Mercier designed and developed the concept in its Geneva headquarters, and the finishing and assembly in the its Les Brenets (Jura Mountains) workshops. The dial — harmoniously balanced with four sundials — is slightly domed, and its fine silver opaline finish gives it a vintage appeal. The watch deftly achieves what it set out to do: demonstrate the abilities of the Baume & Mercier designers and watch makers.
Stop in any time to see our selection of fine Baume & Mercier watches.
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