Cartoon Watches at Incredible Prices

Whether you are avid collector of watches of simply want to buy one for your child you have a lot of choices available at throwaway prices at online shopping malls.

Cartoons are what children relate themselves to. A child watches a cartoon show every day and tries to copy their cartoon character. Their joy knows no boundaries when their favorite cartoon character is always with them. Though any toy can serve this purpose, a cartoon watch must be the most appropriate item for you. What's more you get these cartoon watches at dirt cheap rates so that you can buy many of them at a time. Some of these watches are available at incredible $.099. Though the price of these watches can be on a higher side depending upon the materials used, most of them are not costlier than $50.

What about the varieties and different choice that is available? You may find almost all the cartoon characters printed on these cartoon watches. Form Mickey mouse to Spiderman to Japan's Hamutaro. every cartoon they can imagine are available in these watches.

These watches have been manufactured keeping in mind the safety of the child. Most of these watches come with PVC band which do not have sharp edges. You also get cartoon watches for older child with buckles and metallic band. Some of these watch have 3D wrist band which make them safe and stylish at the same. Why not gift your child a cartoon watch with one of his favorite character printed on it.

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Introduction to Automatic Watches aka Self Winding Watches

Automatic watches are designed to never need a battery, due to its winding mechanism, which works because of the motion of the human wrist, the automatic watch is the perfect choice for those who wear theirs on a daily basis. However, if a self winding watch is not worn for a few days, it will wind down.

How it Works

An automatic watch is also known as a self winding watch or perpetual watch, because of the way it works. In order to understand the mechanisms of these watches, you have to look at how it works in conjunction with the human body.

The movement of the wrist causes the rotor, a metal weight attached to a winding mechanism, to pivot freely on its staff in the centre of the movement. Even the slightest action of the wrist will cause the rotor to rotate back and forth, in a circular motion. As the rotor moves, it winds the mainspring, which in turn powers the watch.

A Short History

So who invented the self winding watch? Well, the modern rotor system was developed and patented by Rolex. It was then used in their Oyster line as the Oyster Perpetual in 1931. To date, Emile Borer, Rolex's technical chief at the time, is credited with its invention. However, the rotor was first truly invented by Abraham-Louis Perrelet (1729-1826), one of Switzerland's greatest watchmakers. He is considered to be the father of the automatic watch.

Self winding watches are very popular because many people appreciate the craft involved in making such a unique movement. The technology is also hundreds of years old, and this adds to its appeal.

Some automatic watches have a glass back so that you can actually see the movement. Many other people like automatic watches because the movement is assembled by hand, and because they run on clean, natural energy - wrist power. This means there are no polluting batteries to dispose of. If you are thinking of buying a automatic swiss watch, then the world is your oyster. There is a watch to suit any budget, and there is a style for any taste.

Maintenance

If you do choose to buy a automatic swiss watch, you should make sure to get it serviced every three to five years (annually if it is a water-resistant watch that is used heavily). The watch should be re-lubricated and the seals should be checked. All in all, automatic watches provides you with the convenience of not having to wind a watch, and the benefit of having a working piece of watch history on your wrist.

Recommendation

The technology to create these automatic watches have improved by leaps and bounds, for a list of affordable and yet durable automatic watches, we recommend the ones made by the Swiss. Check out Swiss-Watches-Guide.com for more watch information.

Copyright Statement

This article was written by James Lam and may be reproduced on any dating & personal development-related website provided this copyright statement is displayed unedited in its entirety at the foot of the article and you use the exact same HTML code to ensure a clickable link back to the author's site. Further articles are also available. Contact the author for more information. Copyright © www.swiss-watches-guide.com

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Talking Watches for the Blind

Many people who are visually impaired or cannot see at all enjoy the benefits of talking watches for the blind. Several years ago, they did not have such a luxury, so many of them never really know what time it was without asking someone else. Now, people are can be more independent with these devices. There are various considerations that you should make when shopping for a talking watch for yourself or a loved one.

There are many different styles of talking watches to choose from. You can get a pocket watch that will read the time to you. You may opt, however, for a watch that sits on your wrist. Another option is a pendant watch that you can suspend from a necklace. The choice of style is really based on your preference, and which type of watch will be of best benefit to you.

Consider the number of buttons it takes to work the various talking watches for the blind. Some watches come with up to four buttons around the face. These buttons work various functions of the watch. Those with four tend to have more features, but they can be confusing to someone who has limited or no vision. This is especially true if they happened to put the watch on upside down. Then the buttons would be backwards, and the wearer would be likely to get frustrated trying to operate the watch.

Think about the volume and voice that is offered on the talking watches for the blind. Many older people who suffer from vision issues may also have difficulties hearing. You want them to be able to hear the watch when it reads the time, or else it will be useless to the user. The type of voice can also cause problems, especially if they are automated and computerized.

It should be mentioned that talking watches, while designed for the blind, are not only worn by those with vision problems. Some people with busy lives see the advantages of having a watch that will read the time to you. It may seem silly, but some feel that they cannot even take a moment to look at their watch because they are so busy every day. Having a watch that will remind you of the time in an audible way is the perfect solution.

As you can see, there are many considerations to make when shopping for talking watches for the blind. You will want to think about the style, number of buttons, volume, and voice. All of these factors can determine how well a person will benefit from watches that talk. Nowadays, these watches are not only for those with vision problems either, as many people who want a readout of the time are wearing them.

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So You Want to Join the Merchant Navy?

So you want to join the merchant navy as an officer? You've heard all those stories about being paid to visit foreign countries, haven't you? What about the girl in every port stories? And you must have been told about the exciting life we sailors lead, right? Are these stories true? Do you think you have it in you to sail the high seas? Well, I am here to tell you about the REAL merchant navy - some of the stories you've heard are true, some are not. I have been sailing for the past 30 years including 13 years as Captain so I am giving you an inside view.

Before we begin, let me first clarify something, the merchant navy isn't the same as the Indian navy. Merchant ships carry cargo as the name suggests, we are not the fighting navy. The cargo could be containers, oil, passengers, animals, bulk ore etc.

So what is the big attraction of the merchant navy? Usually two things come to mind - money and foreign travel. There are other benefits like tax free income, quick promotions and an exciting life. But the good salary is the main temptation. You get fat pay checks and you don't pay tax (if you stay out of the country for more than 6 months in a financial year). You start earning a big salary at a very young age. To give you an example, the starting salary for a 22 year old 3rd officer or 4th engineer (junior most officers on board ships) on an oil tanker is more than 2000 $ per month (conservatively speaking). This amount depends on the type of ship and the company you join so don't quote me! Officers normally work on a contract basis. Junior officers do 4-6 month contracts, while senior officers do 3 to 4 months on board. Some companies pay salaries round the year while others pay you only while you sail. However, your annual salary will remain the same. Why do ship owners pay you such high wages (relatively speaking)? There has to be a catch, right? The catch is, you stay away from home for extended periods of time. In fact you spend most of your time at sea rather than on land. Sure you get to visit foreign countries but things have changed now. Its not as if you reach a port and everyone goes ashore.

Work continues with every officer / crew member working in shifts (watches as we call them). You are free to go ashore once you have completed your watch but don't forget that you have to come back from your shore leave and work again. So, you either sleep or you go ashore. Work on a ship, never stops. As long as the ship is doing something - sailing, loading / discharging cargo, it's making money for the ship owner. Port stays have gone down considerably so the ship is in port for a short time. Of course, this depends on the type of ship you are on. Container ships are in port for a few hours (YES few hours), oil tankers for 24 hrs, cargo ships and bulk carriers stay longer in port. Watches in port are usually on a 6 on 6 off basis, 6 hours on duty, 6 hours off duty, and then you are back to work. Hence you cannot go ashore in every port because you need to rest sometime. The ship owner is paying you to stay on board, not to go ashore! Its not all bad news, you do get to go ashore and do some shopping and maybe sight seeing. Ports are normally far away from civilization. Travelling to and fro takes up time and is not cheap.

With visa restrictions post 9/11, many countries will not let you stay back for a holiday after you complete your tenure on your ship. So now you know why the ship owner pays you so much. You are being paid for staying away from family and home, you are being paid for long stints at sea and hardly any chance to go ashore. By the way, the girl in every port stories you have heard are pure myths!!! You will not get time to meet girls and if you do meet girls then they will be the wrong kind. On the positive side, some companies do allow officers (usually senior officers) to carry their family (wife / kids) with them but not girl friends!

No problem you say, I can handle everything, just as long as I get paid well. That's just fine, as long as you are aware of what you are getting into. Expect to work with a multinational crew. Expect multinational cuisine. Expect cultural differences, your Captain could be from U.K. while the other officers / crew could be from Philippines, India, Croatia, Bangladesh or some other country. This variety means that you may not have much in common with them. You might have to spend time alone in your cabin. Can you handle being by yourself? Of course, it might be possible that you are lucky and you get along with everyone, in which case you will enjoy yourself soaking in the various cultures. Or you could be luckier and get to sail with a majority of your nationality. It all depends on the company you work for. During your leisure time you can watch movies, play indoor games (cards, carom etc), work out in the gym (most ships have one) or just relax in your cabin. Most companies allow officers to send emails home and receive them. Of course, there are restrictions on the number and size of emails after all, satellites are used for transmitting/receiving emails. You will get snail mail (conventional paper letters) when the ship touches port but usually not more than once a month. Lately, bigger companies offer internet facilities on board so sailors aren't as isolated as before. Mobile phone sims can be picked up locally as well so you can call home whenever you are in a port.

Now we come to work. Each type of ship requires specialised crew. Each department on board a ship has different duties - the deck department looks after the navigation and loading / discharging of cargo while the engine department looks after maintenance of various machines. Life on board every ship is not the same. Some ships are old so you need to work harder to keep them running. Some ships are newer and are easier to work on. Oil tankers, gas carriers need special training and experience. Container ships and bulk carriers have similarly experienced crew. While at sea, officers generally do 4 on 8 off - 4 hours duty and 8 hours off. This does not mean that after you finish your 4 hours of duty, you can go to sleep. No, you might have to work on other things like maintenance of machinery/equipment. Normally officers and crew work 10 hour days. This is a general statement and is not a hard and fast rule. Work loads increase considerably, when ships are in port. Officers and crew are on watches throughout the day and night. There is no weekend for them - there is no such thing as a public holiday. If one officer falls sick, then the other officers on board share his duties until he is fit again. Normally ships do not carry doctors on board unless you are on a passenger ship. Ships carry medicines and all officers are trained for first aid / medical emergencies. Whenever ships touch port, medical treatment can be provided ashore.

Another aspect to think about is the weather. Ships do run into bad weather (read storms). Even the biggest ship is but a toy when up against the fury of the sea. Sea sickness is not something to be scoffed at. Before you take up a career at sea you had better make sure that you don't get sea sick. Take a trip on a boat to get the feel of things.

Right...now you are aware of various aspects of the merchant navy, money, foreign travel, life on board, work and rest hours, medical facilities, weather etc. What? You still want to join the merchant navy? Bravo!! We need guys just like you - guys who join with their eyes open, guys who don't have wrong ideas about a career at sea. So how do you go about joining the merchant navy? Information is available on the net. In addition, you can keep an eye out for advertisements in major newspapers.

A word of caution, don't be in a hurry to hand over money to some agent who assures you of a job at sea. Check his credentials; check the credentials of the company or training institution you intend to join. Preferably, find someone who is already at sea and who can guide you. This is one profession where a mentor is always a good idea.

I have been sailing for the past 30 years including 13 years as Captain. To me the merchant navy is wonderful. It has given me everything I dreamed of and wanted in life. Life on board ships isn't easy but its not as bad as it is made out to be sometimes. As there seem to be a lot of extreme views on this career, I have tried to give you the real picture. This is a serious profession where you have to work hard and your hard work pays (quite literally)!

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Thomas Russell & The Early English Watchmaking Industry

Thomas Russell 's name is synonymous with the Lancashire watch making industry and he is an icon for watch purists and enthusiasts around the world. But how he came to become a watchmaker and why Lancashire played such an important role in the watchmaking industry is a fascinating story.

In the 17th century farmers and agricultural workers who needed to supplement their income during the winter months undertook much of the work of watchmaking. In and around Lancashire this was particularly important and the proximity of metalworking, the availability of fine metal tools and the port of Liverpool aided the growth of the industry. By the 18th century watch parts were being sub-contracted to small farms and cottages throughout the region.

Another factor in the growth of this cottage industry were the significant lower overheads that the farmers enjoyed as part-time workers in their own homes. Elsewhere wages were the largest contributor to the total cost of watch manufacturing with the cost of raw materials, apart from gold and silver used in the making of expensive cases, relatively small.

One commentator notes that, "From Prescott to Liverpool, eight miles as the crow flies, the countryside was dotted with the cottages of spring makers, wheel cutters, chain makers, case makers, dial makers - every speciality that went into the making of a watch." By the end of the 18th century between 150,000 and 200,000 watches a year were being produced by this system, satisfying the national need for accurate timekeeping as the industrial revolution took hold.

The Lancashire sub-contracting system allowed the production of watch movements at such low prices that by the end of the 18th century, the Lancashire manufacturers were supplying most of the great watch firms in London, Coventry and Liverpool. All that these firms needed to do was to make or source their own case and dial, and then assemble the watch.

Thomas Russell joined this hive of activity in 1848 when he moved his business as a watch manufacturer to Slater Street in Liverpool. The city was a major seafaring port and the manufacture of ships' clocks and chronometers became an important revenue stream for the business.

Thomas Russell's father, also named Thomas Russell (1780-1830), the founder of this watchmaking dynasty, was born in Eskdale a small village in Cumberland. He served his time in watchmaking in New St. Broughton-in-Furness Lancashire under William Bellman, he then served his journeyman time with William Wakefield in Market St Lancaster where he later started a business of his own in the same street.

He had two sons; one named Thomas was married to Mary in 1831. They also had two sons, Thomas Robert (1833-1894) born in Lancaster and Alfred Holgate Russell (1840-1893). In about 1840 the family moved to Halifax setting up a watchmaking business in Lord St. It was here that Alfred was born.

By 1848 the family had moved once more and records show that Thomas Russell was a watch manufacturer with premises at 20 or 22 Slater Street, Liverpool and later at number 32 in the same street. It was here that Thomas Russell became arguably Liverpool 's finest watchmaker and the business produced quality watches and clocks, including the celebrated Russell Hunter pocket watch. Thomas Senior and his oldest son Thomas Robert were granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria indicating their rapid progress in watch manufacturing.

Around 1859, Thomas handed over control of the business to his sons Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate and the company changed its name to Thomas Russell & Son. Following Thomas Russell's death in 1867 the business was divided into two; the trade side continued under the same name and was run by Alfred and Thomas ran Russells Limited. The retail business became importers of Swiss watches and music boxes.

By 1877 the company had moved the business once more, this time to Cathedral Works, 12 Church Street, Liverpool, with additional offices at Piccadilly in London and Toronto, Canada. It was now known as the Russell Watch and Chronometer Manufactory and was listed in 1880 as "watch and chronometer manufacturers and machine made keyless lever and jewellery merchants" and additionally, "by Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen and HRM the Duke of Edinburgh and the Admiralty".

After Queen Victoria's death, Thomas Russell still signed their watches "Makers to Queen Victoria" even though officially the warrant had ceased with the Queens death. This was tolerated for a time before they removed this from their watches.

Following the deaths of Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate, Alfred's son Bernard Holgate Russell and his cousin Thos Townsend Russell took over the company and the name of the business was changed in 1894 to Russells Limited. From this date it appears that they continued as retail jewellers with several branches in Liverpool and, by the early 1900's, Manchester and Llandudno as well.

Bernard married and had a son Thomas Graham (1906-1999). In 1915 Bernard and Thos Townsend Russell invited Joseph Wright to become a fellow director of Thos Russell & Son. Joseph had extensive trade knowledge, travelled extensively and had business contacts in Switzerland and working experience with the famous American Illinois Watch Case Co.

The sons of these directors all seemed to have worked in and run the business in later years. During WW2 Joseph Wright kept the firm going despite wartime shortages of materials and men until the sons returned from the war. In about 1994 both the retail Liverpool Russells Ltd and the workshops and offices at 12 Church Street closed their doors for the last time.

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Silver Chains - Real Or Fake? How to Tell

Gold is out, and silver is in! This has been the fashion trend for the past few years. Indeed, while sterling silver chains do not rival its golden counterpart in terms of value, it does have in terms of popularity.

Silver Chains Equals Quality

These days, getting silver chains can be rather costly. But if you are one of the many people who give importance to quality over price, this can be a very good investment. The popularity of silver chains and other accessories have given rise to silver plated jewelry pieces and, unfortunately, some that are sold as sterling silver pieces even if they are actually not. 

To make sure that the silver chain you are getting is made of. Sterling Silver, or a cheap fake, here are some ways on how to check your jewelry piece.

Check for the Mark

Silver jewelry pieces, including silver chains would often be branded by a small "925" marking. This is usually place on the jewelry pieces where they are less likely seen. In the case of rings, and some bracelets, the 925 marking is usually found on the inside part of the ring or bracelet. For .925 silver chains, the marking is usually found on the clasp of the chain. These markings are extremely small and oftentimes, you may need a magnifying glass to check this out. 

Acid Test

Since there are a lot of cheap imitations posing as sterling silver chains and other silver accessories and items, another way to test this is through a nitric acid test. You can ask your local jeweler to do the nitric test before you or you can do this at home. To do this, briskly rub a certain portion of the silver chain or silver item that you would like to test. It is a good idea to do this on a part of the silver piece that is not easily noticeable. This would allow you to break the plating on top of most silver pieces which is placed to prevent it from easily tarnishing. Apply a few drops of nitric acid onto the scratch surface and check the results. The color of the liquid would tell you what kind of silver it is. If the liquid turns into a cloudy grey color, you are guaranteed that your silver piece is made out of sterling silver. If it turns green, it means that it is only silver plated.

Being on the Safe Side

To make sure that you are only given genuine silver chains and other sterling silver jewelry pieces, make sure that you only go to a recognized jeweler that specializes in sterling silver pieces. If you do plan on buying silver chains and other silver pieces over the Internet, it is a good idea do some research on the credibility of these online stores. Sterling silver does not come in cheap, and more often than not, the prices placed by these jewelers can be rather shocking. Nevertheless, it would make a great piece of jewelry that you can enjoy for a lifetime

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Do Tag Heuer Watches Hold Their Value?

The bottom line with the question of whether Tag Heuer watches (usually abbreviated to 'Tag') hold their value or not is simply - you get what you pay for! If you buy a fake Tag or a cheap everyday watch then of course it won't hold the value, keep its looks or even last as long. However, if you buy an authentic designer watch, whether it be Tag, Armani, Cartier, Gucci, Breitling, Rolex or Storm watches to name but a few, it should not depreciate to a great extent and if you keep it for 30 years or more it should actually increase in value.

Looking at Tag Heuer specifically, this is a Swiss company founded in 1860 who have built their reputation on the quality and accuracy of their time pieces. Tag are the choice of many sports men and women and have been associated with the Olympic Games and Formula One World Championships for example. For instance, Lewis Hamilton was wearing a Tag Heuer special Singapore limited edition of the new Carrera Cal.16 DD Chronograph when he breezed to victory in the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix in September 2009. Tag were also the official time keeper for the Indy 500 in 2004. Such achievements are not to be sneezed at and have led to Tag being recognized as a producer of iconic and precise timepieces!

The Tag Aqua range for example does not come in cheaply at around 800 pounds sterling plus, so they certainly have to be good. However, those that own them do appreciate their superiority and prestige. As the name suggests, Aqua are primarily diving watches and these are water resistant down to 300 meters.

Tag has designs suitable for both ladies and gents. There gents watches tend to make a bolder statement with strong, solid watch bands and in darker colors. Conversely, the ladies watches are more feminine and have lighter weight watch bands.

To return to the question, "do Tag Heuer watches hold their value?" Let's just stray to Rolex here for an example. If a 1960s Rolex GMT Master was valued at around $5000 in 2008 and was originally purchased for around $225 - our suggestion is yes, high-end, good quality designer watches will stand the test of time (excuse the pun!).

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