Mantle Clock Vault

All About Watches

You’re familiar with the custom in which a man gives a woman a ring as an engagement gift, but did you know that in some places, women give mens watches for the same reason? It’s true – in Spain when couples get engaged and announce wedding plans, women will purchase designer watches for their fiancés. Right now, you’re about to learn more about mens watches – and womens as well.

Back in the Day…

Designer watches and luxury watches are fairly new innovations, as well as specialty timepieces such as dive watches. The concept goes back quite a ways in history, however.

The first mechanical clocks came into existence in Europe around 1300, during the time of such luminaries as William (“Braveheart”) Wallace, Marco Polo, Jacques DeMolay and Dante Alighieri. (Interestingly, eyeglasses were invented about the same time.) These early clocks were driven by weights; spring-driven clock – from which mens watches were ultimately developed – did not come along until well over one hundred years later.

The first mens watches, invented around the time of King Henry VIII, were miniature versions of wall clocks, carried on a chain around the neck. Early models were still large and none-too-dependable; nonetheless, the pocket watch ultimately became a standard accessory for gentlemen starting in the 1600s and lasting until well into the 20th century (and was a required tool for railroad men).

The first wristwatches were actually made for women; the “bracelet watch” was first made available in 1868. It was the advent of aviation that led to the development of the first mens watches starting with the Santos watch of 1904 (named for the famous French-Brazilian aviator).

Designer Watches Since Then

The manufacturer of that early wristwatch was Louis Cartier – a name that has since been synonymous with luxury watches. However, his is hardly the only one.

Abruptly yanked into the Industrial Age from a medieval society that had been unchanged for over 1,700 years, the Japanese wasted little time in catching up to the Western World. Citizen watches, still a hallmark of timepiece quality, were first made in 1918 by the Shoshoka Watch Institute, which became Citizen in 1930.

Another famous name – from a country the name of which is practically a synonym for fine watchmaking – is that of Swiss company Movado (Esperanto for “always in motion”). Movado watches have been famous since before the First World War. Movado diamond watches and Movado gold watches combine elegant, minimalist style with state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology for some of the most accurate timepieces on Earth. If you are considering one of the many women’s Movado watches, you may have a difficult time; there are nearly 100 different Movado women’s watches to choose from – and nearly as many models of mens watches!

Jonathan Blocker
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/how-to-find-good-movado-womens-watches-368884.html

Oh! I didn’t see you there! You gave me quite a fright.

I have made a temporary relocation from the kitchen floor, to the bathroom floor, for medical reasons. My HMO apparently doesn’t cover the removal of splinters in the buttocks region (and don’t ask me how I got splinters down there, or I shall have to plead the fifth.)
I really should have known better. My HMO doesn’t acknowledge emergency services, such as a simple trip to my local physician.

Since I have been living in the United States, I have been doing everything within my power to stay healthy and active. However, during the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling a little bit under the weather. Looking around now, at the bare basin, slightly dusty S-bend and chipped bathtub, I think I understand why.

Feng Shui is missing in my life.

It was during my recent (and fruitless) visit to the doctor, that I picked up a very interesting magazine called, “Your Life and Feng Shui” by the eminent Aunt Agga Woo (not to be confused with that funky 80s hit, “Agga Doo.”)

I had a vague idea about all of this. It was something to do with how placing your furniture in various positions could positively affect your life and overall well being. Either that, or a new and improved version of the Karma Sutra for the more dedicated and athletic types.

I was surprised to learn, as I turned the pages, that there is so much more to this than just making sure your toilet rolls are correctly aligned with the spirit of your bowels and smaller intestines.

Aunt Agga Woo tells us that you can use Feng Shui in other turbulent areas of your life. This really caught my interest, as I was close to kicking the clinic’s receptionist in the shins for asking me to fill out yet another form.

It was clear that Aunt Agga’s sagacious advice has worldwide popularity, considering that her “Ask Woo” column was overflowing with anxious people needing guidance in their screwed up lives.

Jason from Taiwan wrote:

Dear Aunt Agga,
I have been in the insurance line for more than 15 years; on hand, I have about 15 agents to work with. We used to be an active group, but lately, something has been going wrong. We are very listless, with no harmony amongst us. Can you advise me how we can overcome such a situation?

Dear Jason,
It is obvious that there is something wrong with the relationship luck in your southern regions.
There is, perhaps, a lack of fresh and sunny air within your personal space, and I would suggest moving your quarters closer to where there is water.

Now, I don’t know about you, but if you read between the lines here, this one is a no-brainer.
Jason obviously needs to keep his hands out of his pants, wear better deodorant, and make use of the restrooms more frequently, for that little bladder problem of his.

Wanda, from New Zealand, had a few different dilemmas, closer to home:

Dear Aunt Agga,
I am in a domestic quandary, please, please advise me.
a) Is it good to use a plastic curtain to cover the toilet?
b) Where’s the best place to hang a clock?
c) Can we have Fuk Luk Sau under the dining room table?

Dear Wanda,
a) No, it is better to use a piece of aromatic balsa wood for your toilet. A plastic curtain allows the foul air from the WC to filter easily into the rest of the house, and that can’t be good for your overall Chi. Moreover, plastic curtains tend to be noisy and crackly, and you should be keeping the toilet quiet. Do not activate it with noise or movement.
b) Clocks are never good symbols to highlight in the home. It is better to have natural clocks, rather than modern ones hanging on the wall.
c) The best place for the Fuk Luk Sau is facing the front door or in the hallway.

Well, I would think so too!

Not only would foul air from the toilet upset your Chi, I would think it probably would lose you a few dinner guests as well.
I, personally, try and keep ‘my’ toilet quiet and deactivated when I can (or, at least until I can’t keep my legs crossed any longer.) I also give it a daily dose of Xanax, for when it gets a little too hysterical.
What’s this about modern clocks not being good symbols for the home? What do you expect? A sundial?
As far as your Fuk Luk Sau is concerned Wanda, the best place for THAT is in the bedroom, my dear.

The last little gem I espied, before they threw me out of the doctor’s office and locked the door, was from an obviously distraught Randy, in Canada.

Dear Aunt Agga,
I have always been curious about what color a wallet should be. I always carry three coins in my wallet, but the money doesn’t stay. Maybe I need a different colored wallet. Can you tell me please?

Unfortunately, the response from the wise Aunt Agga had been mysteriously ripped from the page, but I think the answer was fairly obvious in this case.

Dear Randy,
Get a life! Who in their right mind carries just three coins in their wallet these days? Have you not heard of debit cards? The reason that your money doesn’t stay in there, is that you keep wasting it on crappy magazines like this, you MORON!
Maybe you ‘do’ need a different colored wallet, but I would suggest some intensive psychotherapy to start with.

I may not have been able to get these splinters out of my ass, but I did succeed in sneaking this highly perspicacious periodical out of the clinic. I managed this, by stuffing it down my shirt (in the hope that the Feng Shui power of Aunt Agga would align itself with the iron in my bra, thus encouraging my ‘unenlightened’ bustline to expand.)

When I returned home, I tried placing my laptop in various areas of the apartment to see whether I would feel more in tune with my inner ‘best-selling author’, but all I got was a strange look from the guy who came to turn off the gas.

So, on that note, I shall leave you with a word of prudent advice, straight from the mouth of Aunt Agga Woo, rip-off merchant extraordinaire:

If, whilst trying to reset your sundial ’snooze-button’, and pacify your lavatory, you are overcome with a feeling of uncontrollable discomfort in your ’southern region’, it’s probably just splinters, so, get your trusty tweezers out- your HMO won’t want to know about it!

Kylie Evans
http://www.articlesbase.com/humor-articles/tales-from-the-kitchen-floor-part-ii-678853.html

The Howard Miller company is currently a prominent manufacturer of grandfather clocks. Find out about collecting modern grandfather clocks in this free video on collecting antique clocks from France from an expert in clock restoration.

Expert: Bob Frishman
Bio: Bob Frishman is the owner of Bell-Time Clocks, and he has collected and repaired clocks since 1980.
Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Duration : 0:1:13

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TRIPLE CHIME CLOCK WESTMINSTER ST MICHAEL AND FAV

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http://www.Dragon-Antiques.com – see our website

Stunning Gilt Brass Clock Set
by A. D. Mougin.
~ French – Circa 1880 ~
~~ Excellent condition: fully cleaned and tested movement, clean and bright gilded case ~~ 
A beautiful Louis XVI style clock set ‘Garniture de cheminee’ by the famous maker A. D. Mougin. It is very well modelled in gilded brass in the Louis XVI style. The case is architecturally shaped, profusely decorated with floral swags. The front of the case is fretted to allow the pendulum to be glimpsed, swinging inside the case. Candelabra are conforming in style with bold 4 branch candelabra above handled urns.
The dial is enamel on copper with a cast brass centre and is complete with original blued steel hands. It is covered by convex, bevelled glass fitted in an hobnail bezel. The back door is glazed to allow the movement to be seen.
The A. D. Mougin French movement is of excellent quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been stripped, inspected, fully cleaned, serviced and function tested by our clockmaker. We have also replaced the pendulum. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. The Mougin mark is on the movement backplate. See the video clip below to see this actual clock working!
Condition of the case is excellent with clean and bright finish. There is some very minor wear to the original gilding on the high spots and the candelabra arms are very slightly distorted. There is some light scratching on the back door glass. The dial is also in excellent condition with no chips or scratches.

Complete with pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.

Duration : 0:2:35

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Herschede 9-tube clock chiming Whittington with dial removed to see clock mechanism in action.

Duration : 0:1:18

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Here’s a sneak preview of the latest clock from the John Fox workshop. A Giant (7ft) Rolling ball clock. This will be the largest Skeleton clock ever built. Seven years in design and building the clock is now nearing completion. Here its shown running prior to polish and Gold Plating. John is a brilliant Engineer but he dosn’t like Charlie Parker hence the music (which has nothing to do with me). Oh well nobodies perfect.

Duration : 0:2:7

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JUNGHANS WESTMINSTER CHIMING wall clock ON EBAY UK

Duration : 0:0:45

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http://www.MyCarriageClocks.com Shop here to find the best selection and fantastic prices on carriage clocks, mantel clocks, antique carriage clocks, and wall clocks.

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