The right watch tells much more than the time. It makes a powerful statement of style that tells everyone who seems the wearer he or she is a confident and in-charge person who has the dignity and courtesy to treat others with the respect they deserve.

Whether it’s an important meeting with an out-of-town client or drinks with a friend, watch wearers don’t miss engagements. They are the kind of people who don’t miss a thing and don’t tolerate it when others do.

After all, nothing is more well-mannered than being on time.

The right watch also completes any outfit, setting the wearer apart from those who don’t bother with the kind of elegant and refined finishing touches that make both a fashion statement and a bold statement of self-confidence.

No matter the occasion, watches make elegant and well-received gifts for both men and women. Luxurious, exquisite diamond watches and other high-quality jewelry pieces make perfect gifts because they express admiration and love equally well.

A Rolex, Tag-Heuer or Omega watch also makes the perfect gift for yourself. When its time to show a bit more professionalism, poise and assertiveness, a gold or silver watch can give you the sophistication you need.

Imagine how others will think of you when they see a premium, high-end timepiece on your wrist. You may feel appreciated now, but looking exceptional helps others realize what you already know about yourself.

Celebrities have known the power of wearing the right watches for years. In fact, most public figures have large jewelry collections that include special watches for every occasion. Musicians, politicians and actors accent their carefully considered styles with timepieces, proving how a watch can be a part of your unique look too.

Wristwatches were in danger of going out of fashion among young people just a few years ago, but a new generation is discovering what their parents and grandparents discovered decades ago: The right watch sets an appropriate tone for an evening out with someone special or an afternoon on the town with friends.

Today’s watch-wearers have an advantage over those of yesterday, however. While choosing the right watch once required a visit to a jewelry store and dealing with a tedious and often overbearing salesperson who didn’t always share your style ideas, you can now purchase high-end watches online.

A broad and impressive selection of Rolex, Tag-Heuer and Omega watches is available online right now. There are a number of choices available to convey any mood or make any statement. No matter what you want to say when you step into a room, don’t let your style cause you to blend into the wallpaper.

Buy the perfect watch for your personality and wear your style on your wrist for all to see before you ever say a word.

The engagement ring is the piece of jewelry that a woman will treasure for the rest of her life. It is a symbol of enduring love and probably the most sentimental item of jewelry she will ever own. Purchasing the right engagement ring is important, and a little research will go a long way in choosing that most special of jewelry pieces. Read on for five tips on purchasing an engagement ring.

• Set a budget. Convention suggests spending the equivalent of two months' salary; however, this amount is only a guideline. Some people decide it is worth it to spend more for that special ring, while others will spend less. Once there is a number in mind, important decisions regarding carat size and type of band can be made.

• Consider the prospective bride's likes and dislikes. The man who plans to surprise his prospective bride with a beautiful ring has many options to explore. He may choose between platinum and gold, elaborate and understated, and traditional and modern. Careful observation of her jewelry should yield some valuable clues, and he may want to consult one of her close friends for advice. Personality also comes into play. Does the prospective bride love to show off her jewelry? She may well prefer something larger and more elaborate. Is she more understated in her approach to life? She will probably gravitate to the simple and classic.

• Make a decision regarding metal. Platinum and gold remain very popular for engagement ring settings. While platinum is durable and shows fewer scratches and nicks, yellow gold has a warmth and tradition that many women love. Other choices include white gold, rose gold and silver. In the end, the choice of metal comes down to personal taste.

• Think about the stone. Though diamonds are still the gems of choice for many engagement rings, there are other beautiful stones from which to choose. Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana both received sapphire engagement rings. Rubies and emeralds are also good choices. Smaller diamonds can be set on each side of the main stone, if desired. Some people looking for a very personal touch incorporate birthstones into the ring, alone or with diamonds.

• Select a shape that reflects the taste and personality of the woman for whom it is meant. The round brilliant cut, which emphasizes the stone's brightness and fire, remains very popular for diamonds. The rectangular emerald cut, with its truncated corners and outside facets, is beautiful for many gems, including emeralds. An oval cut makes the hand looks slimmer and longer and will look larger than a round-cut stone of a similar weight. Again, careful observation of the prospective bride's jewelry, along with a few subtle questions, may yield clues as to preference among the many available shapes.

Engagement rings have been given for centuries as symbols of a couple's lifelong commitment. The ring travels with a bride wherever she goes as a reminder of her groom's love. It will stay in the family for generations, passed from children to grandchildren. A trusted, knowledgeable jeweler can provide a ring as beautiful and precious as the love it represents.

The Kohinoor diamond numbers among the most famous diamonds in the world. It was discovered in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and has passed through the hands of Hindu, Turkic, Mughal, Sikh, Afghan and British rulers in its long history. Most recently, it was seized by the East India Company and given to Queen Victoria in 1877.

According to many reports, the Kohinoor was mined at the Kollur mine in Andhra Pradesh. The date of its discovery remains unclear, though Indian legends claim that the stone is 5,000 years old. Some stories say the precious stone was created by the gods; others report that it was discovered in the Godavari River. The first written reference of the Kohinoor speaks of it belonging to a Rajah of Malwa in 1306. The jewel was described as weighing 186 carats, similar in shape and size to a hen's egg.

The Kohinoor passed to Babur, the first of the Mughal emperors, in 1526, and it stayed with the Mughals for more than two centuries. Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor responsible for the construction of the Taj Mahal, installed the Kohinoor in his Peacock Throne. His son, Aurangazeb, eventually took the jewel to Lahore and housed it in his own personal mosque. When Nader Shah invaded the area in 1739, he carried the Kohinoor back with him to Persia. It was then that the stone gained its Persian name, which means "mountain of light."

Nader Shah was assassinated in 1747, and the jewel passed to Ahmed Shah Abdali from Afghanistan. There it stayed until 1830, when it was given to the Maharaja of Punjab. In 1839, the Maharaja willed the Kohinoor to a temple in Orissa; however, the Punjab was proclaimed part of the British Empire in 1849, and the East India Company demanded the stone be presented to Queen Victoria.

Victoria's husband, Albert, was unimpressed with the appearance of the diamond. Indian diamond cutters had wanted to preserve the size of the stone, and so it was not cut down to increase its brilliance. Albert ordered the Kohinoor cut from 186 to 105 carats. In the process, the diamond was transformed into a smaller but more brilliant stone. The diamond was then set into a brooch for the queen.

Following Queen Victoria's death, the Kohinoor was worn in turn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. The late Queen Mother was the last person to wear the stone in public. The diamond is now on display in the Tower of London with the other British Crown Jewels.

India believes the Kohinoor was illegally seized by the British and wants it returned, along with a number of other precious objects seized under colonial rule. India has joined a United Nations-backed international campaign seeking the repatriation of treasures to countries such as Greece, Egypt and Turkey. The British High Commission in New Delhi denies India's claim, saying the Kohinoor was legitimately acquired and that its ownership is not negotiable. For now, the Kohinoor remains in Britain, far from its land of origin.

A superior timepiece comes with a rich history that entices you to know more and to hear the story of an exclusive and elegantly styled watch that you’ve fallen in love with and want to take home. The history of Tag-Heuer timepieces began in 1860 when timepieces were typically gold watches on long gold chains. Eduardo Heuer founded HeuerAG in St. Imier, Switzerland where he was from and he worked diligently for 22 years creating timepieces. In 1882, he patented his first chronograph and this became the foundation for the Tag-Heuer timepieces today.

To appreciate the Tag-Heuer watch, you must understand that a ‘chronograph’ is a watch or a timepiece that not only tells time, but also performs other time-related functions, such as being a stopwatch. A few years after Heuer patented his first chronograph, he developed the first chronographic timepiece for the automobile. At that time, the expertise of the Heuer company was reaching into other areas where time needed to be measured and the company was becoming a leader in this field.

The company motto of Tag-Heuer today is "Swiss Avant-Garde Since 1860", which reminds everyone of the history and tradition of precision and style which is a reality of the company. The spirit of Tag-Heuer embraces the design and elegance of their timepieces that have found respect in jewelers’ showcases. If you have acquired a Tag-Heuer, you know that you have a watch that you can rely on and be proud of, like the Rolex. The watches show the superiority of the workmanship that has gone into making them and the company has developed a watch of high class showmanship. Today, design and technology have merged with elegance and class.

In 1895, Heuer patented the first water-resistant cases for pocket watches, which were especially significant for the sports watches. In 1920, Heuer was invited for the first time to bring their chronograph timepieces, which measured 1/100th of a second, to keep time at the Olympic Games. Here, the Heuer timepieces gained popularity with contestants in the sports arena. In 1950, Heuer began manufacturing designer watches for Abercrombie & Fitch, which proved to be a tremendous advancement into the public eye.

In 1966, Heuer developed timepieces that could measure to the 1/1000th of a second! This accomplishment created a stir around Europe and Tag-Heuer created some of the most excellent Swiss sports watches that Europe and other countries had ever seen or used in competitions.

This company loves the precision of the race car industry, which reaches back in their history. Many famous sports figures promote these scratch-resistant, sapphire crystal faced watches, made in eye-catching designs with diamonds and without.

The name Tag-Heuer wasn’t officially used until 1985 when Techniques d'Avant Garde, a race car conglomerate, bought HeuerAG and changed the name. The elegance and luxury that was incorporated into the sports style chronograph and other styles began to win awards and world-wide honors. In 2006 and 2007, the ‘avant-garde’ yet exquisitely cultured timepieces were recognized and awards were given to the relatively newly formed company called Tag-Heuer. Yet with their popularity and acclaimed place in jewelry and watches, they never forget the rich Swiss-made roots where it all began.

Legend holds that the Golden Eye Diamond was mined a century ago in South Africa and that somewhere in its history it was pared down from the size of an apple to its present 43.5-carat weight. The intensely yellow gem, which features a rectangular brilliant cut crown, is touted as the one of the world's largest internally flawless canary yellow diamonds. While the diamond's distant history is a matter of some conjecture, its whereabouts in recent years has been well documented in news stories.

At an inch long, approximately three-quarters of an inch wide and one-half inch deep, the Golden Eye Diamond is one of the most notable diamonds in the world. The Gemological Institute of America states that the gem is from South Africa; however, the mine of origin has not been determined. What is known about the unique diamond's history is that it ended up in the possession of a northeastern Ohio businessman convicted of conspiracy and money laundering.

The FBI seized the gem from Paul Monea, a businessman best known for a Tae Bo infomercial and his ill-fated attempt to market electric grill lighters as pain relief devices. It is not clear how Monea came into possession of the Golden Eye Diamond. Monea allegedly told others that a friend gave the gem to him or that it came from a diamond mine he owned. Monea tried to sell the diamond to an undercover agent representing himself as a broker for a drug cartel in South America.

The FBI confiscated the stone, and Monea was convicted of money laundering. The U.S. Marshals Service, which is tasked with selling forfeited properties that federal criminals gained by illegal activity, sold the diamond online in early September 2011. The minimum bid was listed at $900,000. The Marshals Service received calls from prospective buyers in Saudi Arabia, Israel, China and all across the U.S.

After 16 bids had been placed in the three-day auction, Ohio home builder Jerre Hentosh won the gem for $2.84 million. The price represents quite a bargain since the diamond's value had been estimated as high as $20 million. Hentosh says he and his wife have occasionally dabbled in the purchase and sale of fine jewelry but have never before bought anything so valuable online. He had been prepared to pay $7 million for the rare diamond.

Though multiple parties had claimed part-ownership of the stone, a federal judge found none of the claims credible. Money from the sale of the diamond will go to victims of the criminal case in which the gem was seized, as well as local, state and federal agencies. The website that handled the auction will also receive a portion of the proceeds.

As for Hentosh, he hopes to turn a tidy profit by locating a new buyer for the precious gem. He says that he has already heard from a museum interested in acquiring the Golden Eye Diamond. And Hentosh's wife, Donah, has laughingly hinted that the gem would make a lovely 45th-anniversary gift.

Jewelry has been an important part of Indian culture and traditions for thousands of years. Precious metals and stones have long been associated with wealth and power in India, where jewelry is regarded as an investment as well as an adornment. In difficult economic times money could be raised through the sale of jewelry. Traditionally, jewelry sold in India was less expensive than Indian jewelry marketed in the U.S. Today, however, several economic factors, including a burgeoning Indian economy, have helped raise the price of jewelry in India in comparison to Indian jewelry available from U.S. retailers.

India is the largest consumer of gold in the world, followed by China. The increased wealth of India and the rise of the Indian middle class have strengthened the demand for gold and gems. The increased demand has raised the prices of these items. India has a huge population, and as the number of people grows, demand for gold continues to increase. Supply struggles to keep pace with demand since it is becoming more difficult to find gold and more expensive to mine it.

The diamond market in India grew from $400 million in 1995 to $3 billion in 2010. Gold sales rose by $20 billion in the same period, and the market is expected to keep growing. A rapidly growing Indian middle class has more disposable income to spend on expensive jewelry. Occasions for buying jewelry abound, especially in the wedding and festival seasons

Consumers in India are flocking to high-end jewelry, unfazed by the high price tags. Gold has always been seen as a near-necessity in India; the difference now is that the well-heeled consumer willingly pays for the prestige of a brand name rather than simply focusing on gold content and diamond carats. As Indian consumers show their willingness to spend more money on exclusive jewelry, the prices of these desirable designs continue to escalate.

Finally, a weak rupee also plays into the rising price of jewelry in India. The Indian jewelry sector imports most of its rough diamonds and gold from countries such as Brazil, Russia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The weakness of the rupee forces Indian manufacturers to pay higher prices for jewelry materials, and the additional cost is passed on to the Indian consumer. When the U.S. dollar is stronger than the rupee, jewelry can be imported to the U.S. from India at a lower cost and the savings passed on to the American consumer. Recent currency fluctuations have favored the American consumer of Indian jewelry, and the trend is forecasted to continue.

While jewelry in India was once available at lower prices than Indian jewelry sold in the U.S., American jewelers now offer the more budget-friendly option.

Gold: It's Found in More than Just Jewelry
We all love the beauty of gold, but that is nothing new in human history. After all, people from every generation have appreciated the rarity and distinctive appeal of this precious metal. Gold necklaces, earrings, rings and much more are favorites today, and such jewelry will remain in favor long into the future. But did you know that gold has uses beyond jewelry? Some of your favorite products, in fact, likely include gold in their construction.

Military Applications
Top jewelry retailers only use the highest-quality gold in their jewelry, but military contractors are also in the market for the best gold available. Since gold can be pounded so thin as to make it transparent, it has many military applications, especially for aircraft. Pass an electric current through a cockpit window that contains gold, and ice will not form on the window at high altitudes.

Industrial Applications
The same gold that makes beautiful, durable chains for the necklaces and bracelets we sell can also be made into gold thread and used in tapestries, clothing and other textiles. Satellites launched into orbit often contain gold to reflect radio waves and light. Electronic manufacturers use gold to conduct electricity. Semiconductors, electric connectors, microchips and other components of your favorite electronic devices, such as computers and smart phones, usually contain gold.

Medical Applications
In the past, the belief that gold was good for a person’s health was largely a superstition, but recent medical advances have shown that quality gold does have many healthcare applications. Imagine our surprise, for example, when we discovered that the same high-quality gold used in our jewelry is also useful for certain cancer treatments and in making crowns and other dental devices. It is also an essential part of many microscopes and other tools used to make medical discoveries.

Food and Drink Applications
Many gourmet foods are made with high-quality gold. We prefer to make the finest jewelry with such gold, but the appeal of “gold-laced food” is undeniable.

Monetary and Investment Applications
Especially in times of economic uncertainty, gold is essential for individual financial stability. Many people choose gold bars and coins for long-term investing, but our gold jewelry is likewise suitable for investment because we use only the best gold for our rings, necklaces and other jewelry pieces. Those who buy our gold jewelry can be assured that they will be able to resell it later on and receive the per-ounce pricing current at the time of sale.

In the past, many currencies were based on the gold standard, but countries are unlikely to return to this measure of value anytime soon. Buying quality gold jewelry from us, however, enables you to take advantage of gold’s investment potential easily and affordably.

Buy Only the Best Gold
As an individual, you are most likely interested in gold jewelry above all else. We recommend that you buy only the purest, highest-quality gold that is available today. When you purchase gold jewelry from our company, the best gold is exactly what you will get.

Omega is more than one of the most famous names in the watch-making industry; this company is an interesting study in firsts. It was the first watch to land on the moon, and the first to explore the depths of the ocean. Known for leading the pack in accuracy, Omega watches have witnessed our favorite sports legends as they made history. Want to know more? Here’s a rundown of Omega’s history:

The Founding of Omega
Omega got its start in 1848 when 23-year-old Louis Brandt opened an assembly workshop to make precision pocket watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds, France. When Louis passed away in 1879, his sons, Louis-Paul and Cesar, took over the family business and changed the operation to include the manufacture of the watch parts as well as the assembly to gain control over the quality of each component. By 1885, this switch resulted in the Labrador, the first watch that varied by less than 30 seconds each day.

The Early Years through Today
Over the years, the company passed from the Brandt family to a series of other owners. In 1930, Omega merged with Tissot. Soon, a new parent company, SSIH, was formed. Eventually, this parent company expanded to become the third largest watchmaker in the world and held more than 50 different brands including Hamilton and Lanco. In the 1980s, SSIH merged with ASUAG, another Swiss holding company, to form a new group called ASAUG-SSIH. When this group faced an economic crisis, it was taken over by a private company and rebranded SMH. At this time, Omega watches continue to be made by this final entity.

That Famous Logo
Believe it or not, if you could get your hands on an original Brandt watch, it wouldn’t even carry the famous Omega logo. This brand name wasn’t used until 1894. Ironically, Omega, a brand name that has become synonymous with famous firsts, is actually the last letter in the Greek alphabet. However, it was chosen to represent this line of timepieces because it symbolizes perfection and accomplishment.

Omega Celebrity Ambassadors
As if the quality and styling weren’t enough to sell an Omega, this company has used a number of celebrity spokespeople to market this brand of timepieces. Although many names are no longer familiar, everyone can recognize these household names:
• Cindy Crawford – Brand Ambassador for 1995
• Michael Phelps – Brand Ambassador for 2004
• Nicole Kidman - Brand Ambassador for 2005

Some Famous Firsts
Here are some more famous firsts in Omega’s exciting history:
• 1892 – Omega developed the first watch, the minute-repeater, that announced the minutes, quarter hours, and hours at the touch of a button.
• 1917 – Omega made the first textured watch designed for the visually challenged.
• 1932 – Omega became the first official timekeeper of the modern Olympic Games.
• 1934 – Amelia Earhart refused to carry any other timepiece on her famous flight across the Atlantic.
• 1937 – Omega developed the very first waterproof watch.
• 1943 – Omega released the first automatic watch.
• 1967 – The first touchpad technology was introduced by Omega and used by the swimmers in every summer Olympics since this date.
• 1968 – An Omega was used to determine the exact location of the North Pole for the first time.
• 1969 – The first, and only, watch to be worn on the moon was an Omega.
• 1970 – An Omega helped time the boost that saved the Apollo 13 mission.
• 1981 – An Omega adorned the wrist of diver Jacques Mayol when he set the unassisted diving record.
• 1994 – Omega releases another first: a self-winding wristwatch.
• 2006 – Always a pioneer, Omega is an official sponsor of the Solar Impulse, a solar-powered aircraft.

Whether you choose to wear a classic Omega Speedmaster or select their latest timepiece, the elegant Ladymatic, a watch that bears this famous brand will never disappoint!

Every diamond is unique, and choosing the right diamond is a personal decision. People with the same budget may make completely different choices, depending on personal preferences. There are a variety of factors that affect diamond price, which is why it is important to focus on the factors that are most important to you. Focusing on what is most important to you will help you choose a diamond that is beautiful and meets or exceeds your personal standards without breaking your budget.

All diamonds undergo laboratory certification prior to sale, which gives an independent judgment of the characteristics of each diamond. This certification, called a dossier or grading report, verifies the characteristics and value of each diamond. GIA certified diamonds are among those with the most accurate dossiers because GIA is an independent laboratory that is not owned in whole or in part by diamond companies or retailers, which frees this non-profit organization from bias and influence. Additionally, GIA developed the four C's of diamond rating, which is the standard that is used universally today.

The Four C's of Diamond Grading

Clarity

Clarity describes how clean a diamond is from imperfections, called inclusions. There are 11 grades of clarity, with the highest being flawless. A flawless diamond is clean from inclusions. A diamond may be described as internally flawless if it contains small external inclusions that can only be seen with a microscope. Very very slight inclusions, or VVS1 and VVS2, are terms used to describe diamonds that contain slight inclusions only visible by an expert when using a microscope. Very slight inclusion diamonds, referred to as VS1 and VS2 may contain inclusions that are rarely visible with the naked eye and easily visible with a 10x magnifying loupe. Slight inclusions are often visible with the naked eye and easily visible with a 10x magnifying loupe. Industrial diamonds contain inclusions that are easily visible with the naked eye.

Carat Size

Carat weight determines the size of a diamond, although the shape also affects the appearance of size. Diamond price charts are typically divided by carat weight and the prices of round diamonds and fancier shapes are different. The carat historically takes its name from the carob seed, which was a uniform weight used by early gem traders as a counterbalance for their scales.

Color

Colored diamonds are more expensive than traditional diamonds. There are a variety of colors available, including red, pink, blue and other colors. Because of their uniqueness compared to the typical diamond colors, many people are willing to pay premium prices to have a diamond that is truly special. Lighter colored variations are less expensive than the more intensely colored diamonds. Depending on their budgets, many people sacrifice clarity or carat size in order to have a more unique gem that still fits into their price range.

Cut

Cut is a very important characteristic that many people overlook. No matter what the clarity, carat weight or color of a diamond, a poorly cut diamond will not sparkle as much or look as good as a diamond that is well-cut. Although cut affects price less than the other three C's, it is a very important factor. For those who want a great looking diamond that is still affordable, the best recommendation is to sacrifice slightly on the first three C's if necessary in order to get a diamond that is well cut.

Gold has always been valued for its beauty, strength and resistance to corrosion and tarnishing. All over the world, ancient civilizations placed a high value on gold, equating it with beauty, prestige and power. Gold is the easiest metal to manipulate, naturally occurring in a pure and workable state.

Descriptions of gold appear in Egyptian hieroglyphs dating back to 2600 B.C. By 1500 B.C., gold from Nubia had become the recognized medium of exchange for trade among nations. The inhabitants of modern-day Peru produced great quantities of beautifully crafted gold artifacts around 900 A.D., and Spanish desire for gold figured prominently in Columbus' exploration of the New World. The quest for gold has stretched over thousands of years, but only 161,000 tons of it have ever been mined, indicating the rarity of this precious metal.

Gold quality is measured by its purity or number of karats. The word "karat" itself evolved from the practice of weighing precious metals against carob beans in ancient bazaars. Pure gold is designated as 24-karat gold. This is the most expensive grade of gold, but it is also less durable than gold that has been alloyed with other metals. To make gold durable enough for everyday wear, it is alloyed with a mixture of metals such as copper, silver, zinc and nickel.

The higher the karatage indicated on a piece of jewelry, the higher the corresponding value. While pure gold is measured at 24 karats, 18 karats indicates that an object is 75-percent gold. Jewelry labeled with the designation of 14 karats is 58.5-percent gold. Gold jewelry must be at least 10 karats, or 41.7 percent-gold, to be legally sold as gold in the U.S. Karat markings on jewelry are accompanied by a trademark identifying its maker and sometimes the country of origin.

People from different cultures have different preferences regarding the purity of their gold jewelry. While people from India often look for 22-karat gold, Europeans gravitate to 18-karat gold. Many Americans enjoy 14-karat gold, since it offers a good blend of gold content and durability.

The value of gold tends to increase when a weak economy creates consumer uncertainty. People often collect gold to protect themselves in times of economic recession and as a hedge against inflation. Though the dollar may decline in value, gold remains a stable investment dependent on a global market rather than a national one.

Interestingly, since 1919 five individuals from London Gold Fixing have been responsible for fixing the global price of gold. The five members use market reaction to gauge the price of gold after announcing the price once in the morning and once in the afternoon. When more dealers buy gold, the price escalates, and when more sell, the price goes down. This pricing procedure, which affects almost every economy on the planet, has not changed for over 90 years.

Many people see the purchase of high-grade gold jewelry as a good investment in an uncertain economy. We are committed to offering high-quality gold jewelry displaying the very finest craftsmanship. Customers may rest assured that our extensive knowledge and experience in gold evaluation ensures our gold jewelry designs are of the highest caliber.

In traditional and modern Hindu weddings, the bride adorns herself with pieces of jewelry that have symbolic meaning. Other ornaments are strictly for fashion appeal and draw attention to the bride during the celebrations. The bride will purchase some pieces for herself while relatives and friends may buy others as gifts. The jewelry a bride wears should accent her dress, which is typically red and white. Gold and ivory jewelry with red beads or other adornments are most common.

The mangalsutra is the most important piece of jewelry given to the bride during the ceremony. The groom will tie this stringed necklace around his bride’s neck during the wedding to symbolize their union. It is similar to the wedding ring in Western traditions. The bride is to wear the mangalsutra everyday until the death of her husband to signify to others that she is married. Traditionally, this necklace consisted of a yellow string that contained beads and a pendant. More commonly today, it is a string of black beads with a gold or diamond pendant.

Chudi are bangles that the bride wears during the ceremony and after she is wed. It is conventional relatives and friends to offer these bangles as gifts for the bride. She does not typically purchase her own. Chudi can be ivory, glass, plastic or gold, but the chosen material depends upon the practices of the family. It is most common for these bangles to be red and white to match the bride’s dress. White symbolizes purity, and red represents fertility. Ancient customs dictate that the bride continuously wears chudi from the day of her wedding, and when the last one breaks, her honeymoon is over.

Many Indian brides prefer to wear a tikka, which is a long pendant that hooks onto the hair and hangs down from the center of the forehead. The pendant sits on top of the third eye position, which is an important symbol in Hindu traditions. The tiara form of this type of jewelry is called a shringar patti. This headdress can be gold or silver and will match the necklace and earrings that the bride wears. The necklace and earrings serve only a fashion purpose and can be quite heavy. They can be adorned with red jewels to accent the bride’s dress.

Before modern dresses were worn, an Indian bride had to wear a kumarband to support the dress and keep it in place. This piece of jewelry was worn around the waist and was heavy to secure the dress. Brides who choose to wear a kumarband today do it solely for fashion reasons. Other optional pieces that a bride wears include a nath, a payal and a hathphool. The nath is a gold nose ring with a chain attached that hooks onto the hair behind her ear. A payal is an anklet, which is usually made from silver and can have matching toe rings. The hathphool is a bracelet with chains attached to one or more rings for the bride’s fingers. All of these pieces are optional and can draw attention to the bride and accent her dress on her wedding day.

India has been blessed with an abundance of jewelry resources, so it is not surprising that Indian jewelry manufacture stretches back 5,000 years. The subcontinent's rich history has influenced jewelry development, with each state offering its own unique styles and designs. Rajasthan, for instance, is known for its enameling work, or meenakari, and the southern Indian town of Nagercoil produces famous temple jewelry.

As early as 1500 B.C., inhabitants of the Indus Valley created gold necklaces, bracelets, metallic bangles and bead necklaces. Gold and silver held a special place as sacred metals in Hindu belief, with gold symbolizing the warm sun and silver representing the cool moon. The resistance of gold to oxidation and corrosion contributed to its association with immortality.

Each empire that ruled India made its own mark on jewelry styles. The Mughals, who ruled the subcontinent between 1526 and 1857, were particularly influential. Their expertise in fashioning intricate carvings and skillful work with precious stones strongly influenced subsequent jewelry manufacture.

As Indian jewelry evolved, designs and styles came to ornament almost every portion of the body from hair to feet. Read on for descriptions of traditional Indian jewelry.

Nose rings, or nath, were popularized by the Mughals, who fashioned delicate floral patterns with precious stones and thin chains. Today, the nose rings adorn young girls as a fashion statement, blending tradition with a stylish trend.

Earrings are an important accessory for Hindu women, and it is customary to pierce the ears of young girls before their first birthday. Both men and women now wear this common fashion jewelry. Beautifully designed gold earrings are generally saved for traditional occasions, while small studs are worn daily.

The necklace, or haar, is one of the most elegant pieces of Indian jewelry. Traditional necklaces are often passed from one generation to the next. Contemporary necklaces range from thin necklace chains to stunning diamond creations.

Bangles, or chudi, are typically worn on the area between wrist and elbow. Gold and silver remain the most popular metals, but materials such as ceramic, glass, oxidized metal, ivory and wood are appearing more often.

Bracelets are available in a variety of designs, both traditional and contemporary. They are worn by men and women and vary in design according to their state of origin. Bracelets range from traditional carved designs to modern chunky beaded items and charm bracelets.

Finger rings, or angoothi, have traditionally played a significant role in Indian culture. From their origins as simple wood and crude metal designs, they have developed into finely fashioned creations of silver, gold and platinum. Some elegant rings feature loosely hung fragile pendants.

Anklets, often known as payal or pajeb, are famous for the variety of their styles and the intricacy of their carvings and embellishments. Anklets usually feature small bells that tinkle charmingly as the wearer walks and are fashioned of gold or silver set with semi-precious and precious stones.

Toe rings or bichua, were traditionally worn by married women but are also worn today by unmarried girls as fashion accessories. Traditionally made of silver and occasionally gold, toe rings now are available in a variety of materials and make an ideal gift for a new bride.

The variety of these beautiful ornaments and skill of the artists who make them account for the worldwide popularity of Indian jewelry 5,000 years after its beginnings.

Since its beginnings nearly a century ago, Rolex has become one of the most renowned luxury watchmakers in the world. The esteem in which Rolex watches are held owes as much to their accuracy as the beauty of their cases and bracelets. While lesser brands have foundered and disappeared, the Rolex watch has continued to flourish.

The company that would become Rolex was founded in 1905 by German native Hans Wilhelm Wilsdorf and his English brother-in-law, Alfred James Davis. The partners registered Wilsdorf and Davis Ltd. as Rolex in Switzerland three years later. The name was reportedly chosen for its ease of pronunciation in several languages and the symmetrical appearance it made on a watch face. One account even claims that “Rolex” was inspired by the sound a watch makes as it is being wound.

Wilsdorf and Davis initially concentrated on travel clocks and pocket watches. Swiss manufacturers at that time had difficulty producing accurate movements small enough to fit in wrist watches. Wilsdorf clearly saw the wrist watch as the timepiece of the future, and he succeeded in inventing the first truly accurate one. London’s Kew Observatory certified the Rolex wrist watch to be as accurate as a marine chronometer, a rare distinction even today.

The advent of World War I saw an increased need for precise and reliable wrist watches. Unlike pocket watches, the new Rolex wrist watches allowed soldiers to keep their hands free while checking the time. Once soldiers began wearing the watches, admiring civilians eagerly followed suit. The British government imposed a 33-percent tariff on imported watch parts at this time and consequently, Rolex moved to Bienne, Switzerland, and then to Geneva in 1919.

In the following years, the brand saw a number of significant developments. The famous Rolex Crown logo was trademarked in 1925 but did not appear on watches until 1939. Wilsdorf made a major breakthrough in 1926 by developing a model with a waterproof case, cleverly named the Oyster. Mercedes Gleitze wore an Oyster waterproof watch on her second attempt to swim across the English Channel in 1927, and when she emerged from the water, she showed that the watch was keeping perfect time. The resulting publicity constituted a marketing coup for Rolex.

In 1931, the company introduced a rotor that rewound the watch whenever the wearer’s wrist moved, and the Oyster Perpetual became the first truly successful automatic watch. By the time World War II started, Rolex watches were so well regarded in Britain that soldiers spurned their government-issued watches to spend their paychecks on Oyster Perpetuals. Rolex rewarded their loyalty by replacing Rolex watches confiscated from prisoners of war.

The boom in quartz watches during the late 1960s and early 1970s resulted in the demise of over half of the watch manufacturers in Geneva. Rolex, however, continued to think long-term and refused to embrace change for the sake of change. Rolex developed a single quartz model, which today accounts for only 2 percent of the company’s overall production.

Rolex produces about 2,000 watches a day, far less than market demand. The company continues to develop the look and functionality of models in the three major Rolex categories: Professional, Cellini and Oyster Perpetual. Rolex continues to succeed by innovating while staying true to its tradition of producing the ultimate high-quality watches.

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