Posts Tagged ‘Watches’

Timeless Gift

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

It’s a fact of life that some people are notoriously difficult to buy presents for. Eventually you whittle down the options and are usually left with tedious practical items like socks, wooden pasta spoons or those little foam pads to kneel on when gardening! Such a troubled mind is unlikely to think the answer lies in jewellery, but here it is – watches.

They say “time waits for no man” (or woman), so the best we can do is keep track of it. Mobile timepieces have become a mainstay of our culture. The first “clock-watches” to be worn were around in the 1500’s, though these were magnificently heavy and inaccurate, and tended to serve more as ornamental jewellery than anything – very different to the range ROX can offer you online!

Juicy Couture HRH Black Strap Watch 1900418Gents Watches

The wristwatch holds court as the most commonplace item of everyday jewellery for many men. Covering the bases of fashion and practicality, classic designer watches can last a lifetime. One of the main decisions you make will be strap material. Most popular are leather, stainless steel, canvas or rubber.

Ladies Watches

A woman may own thirty eight pairs of shoes, but she probably only wears one watch regularly. A well-chosen watch by one of our partners, for example, Armani jewellery, is a beautiful symbol to enjoy every day. Think carefully about her lifestyle and taste before you buy, and if in doubt go for something classic.

After all, who wouldn’t like to keep a favourite present in sight round the clock!

Time To Invest?

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

For women, investment in jewellery presents an eclectic treasure hunt through bracelets, necklaces, broaches, diamond earrings and so on. But for a gentleman the variety can seem a little scarce (unless you favour the B.A.Baracus-in-the -A-Team look) and perhaps you’ve written-off the notion of a jewellery investment. Well stop the clock because it could be time for you to invest in a quality designer watch.

A stylish gent’s watch is a good investment and statement of style, whilst essentially being a practical item of jewellery. So how do you choose? Think of the wristwatch as being akin to a brand new car – potentially highly expensive and instantly depreciative in market value. However, buy the right car (this is the key!), care for it, maintain it, invest in it and reap the reward in the future. Similarly, a well-chosen, high quality watch can (with appropriate care and preservation) bring you a tidy return on your investment.

Hugo Boss automatic silver dial strap watch 151233Watches are not commonly bought for their immediate return on market value. A good men’s watch from one of our partners, Armani jewellery for example, will commonly be passed on down the family line or worn for a lifetime before a sale is considered.

A universal issue of reduction in value is supplying a watch without its original box and papers, so take care to store them carefully.

Be patient. Where investment is concerned, timing is key, so above all enjoy a lifetime of wear out of your classic timepiece.

GLAM goings on

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

What a whirlwind week we’ve had here at ROX – it’s been go, go, go at GLAM in the City and over the weekend our Victoria, Emma and Donna got to spend a lot of time with Aunty Gok – the man himself Gok Wan. And just like every other woman at GLAM in the City – they fell in love with him!

ROXGok

ROX was the official jewellery sponsor of The Scottish Sun’s Miss Scotland 2010 and we were showcasing some of our hottest new pieces at fashion shows throughout the weekend from designers including ToyWatch, Monica Vinader, Thomas Sabo and Links of London.

We had lots of gorgeous ROX products backstage for for the stylists to work with and Gok took quite a shine to our ROX Viva bracelets – he even decided to wear one of our blinging Gc Chronograph watches throughout the day!

ROXGc

It was a full on weekend and backstage was crazy with stylists, models, make up artists, Miss Scotland finalists and of course Gok but it was absolute ball and the shows looked fantastic – if you were there we hope you had a great time too!

Credit: Gary Doak

Credit: Gary Doak

The new Miss Scotland, the gorgeous Nicola Mimnagh will go on to star on our next advertising campaign and we’re thrilled to have her on board – she’s an absolute beauty and we can’t wait to work with her!

Credit: Gary Doak

Credit: Gary Doak

It was a full on weekend and backstage was crazy with stylists, models, make up artists, Miss Scotland finalists and of course Gok but it was absolute ball and the shows looked fantastic – if you were there we hope you had a great time too!

Love,

ROX

The Origins Of The Wristwatch

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Wearing a wristwatch is something we men take for granted, but it hasn’t always been the case. Less than 100 years ago, men carried pocket watches, whilewristlets, as they were called at the time, were regarded as Ladies Watches.  Watches of this kind were considered nothing more than a passing fad than a serious timepiece, and it is thought that watchmakers dismissed them as well, believing that, because of their size, they could not be accurate, nor withstand the everyday knocks and bumps they would receive. Because of this, very few companies produced watches in quantity, but this started to change in the nineteenth century, and it was down to the military for this reassessment of Mens Watches.

Hugo Boss black dial black strap watch 1512335Pocket watches were clumsy to carry and thus difficult to operate while in combat situations, so soldiers fitted them into primitive leather straps so they could be worn on the wrist, thereby freeing up their hands during battle. It is believed that the German Imperial Naval used wristwatches as early as the 1880s, which they wore on their wrists while synchronising naval attacks and firing artillery.

Mens watches have come along way since those days, and there is a fantastic range of gents watches available today, from the ordinary functional watches through to Designer watches. If you are thinking of buying Mens watches online, take a look at the great selection here at ROX. You will also find a superb range of Diamond Jewellery, from Diamond Rings to Trilogy Rings and much, much more.

The Advantages Of Modern Jewellery

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Modern jewellery has undergone many changes in terms of the design, materials and technology that is incorporated in their manufacture.

For example, yellow gold is no longer the most popular metal for settings and jewellery. The growing popularity of expensive titanium means that the more affordable white gold is becoming more popular as a substitute.

Jewellery is not immune to trends and changes in politics and society. New awareness of the ethics of diamond mining – illustrated by Leonardo Dicaprio in the film Blood Diamond – means that consumers are more discerning and questioning about where their diamond jewellery is coming from.

Guess Collection diamond set watch I47502L1One of the most interesting developments in modern jewellery design and technology takes place in the field of watches design. Once upon a time, it would be that your new fancy watch would stop working. You would have to make a trip to the jewellers or the watchmaker to have the battery changed. It wasn’t an expensive affair – more of a nuisance.

This is no longer the case with many of the more modern watches which don’t run on batteries, but on kinetic energy created by the movements of your body while you wear the watch. The designer watches turn the kinetic energy into electrical energy, meaning you have eco-friendly watches which never need batteries changing or winding up. They are also able to store energy and put themselves to sleep, thus saving energy; re-setting themselves when movement begins again.

Concern for the environment has an impact of every area of our lives – including jewellery design – and it will be interesting to see how jewellery and watches develop over the next decade.

The Importance Of A Watch

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Ladies watches and gents watches are a unique piece of jewellery, in that they serve to provide several things at any one time. We ask more of watches than we do of any other accessory.

Practicality

Watches have a practical function in that they tell the time, but most modern watches offer a lot more than this. Contemporary watches offer the wearer everything from water resistance, glow in the dark capabilities so that you can tell the time at night, date functions and increased power capacity (some no longer rely on battery). The modern watch has come a long way from the wind-up timepieces of times gone by.

Sentiment

A watch – either ladies watch or gents watch – is a much-treasured gift. Someone once said that the ideal present is something that you use regularly. Given that we look at our watches many times during the average day, this notion makes a watch one of the best presents out there.

Links of London Black Dial Sweetie Watch - SmallContemporary watch design incorporates diamonds, precious metals and mother-of-pearl to create stylish and memorable designs that any man or woman would be happy to incorporate into their wardrobe. In the same way that a great pair of shoes or handbag can lift an outfit, a classic watch is regarded as one of the essentials of any good wardrobe.

Investment

Watches can cost anything from £25 to several hundred thousand pounds. This makes watches, like art, something to collect and cherish. A luxury watch may not be for everyday wear, but its beauty and value will only increase over the decades. This makes an expensive watch an item worth passing on from generation to generation as a timeless piece of jewellery.

How To Buy A Watch For A Lady

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Buying ladies watches is no less difficult than buying any other accessory or item of jewellery, so if you thought that buying a watch would be easier than a bracelet or pair of earrings – maybe you should think again. Additionally, buying a watch is not necessarily cheaper than buying jewellery. Watches can run into the tens of thousands of pounds at the top-end of the market.

If you are determined to buy your partner a watch because she’s seeking the convenience of such jewellery, and you are therefore not looking for a Rolex, there are some things you can consider before you go shopping to make the experience easier for yourself.

Firstly, work out what sort of watch would best suit your partner’s lifestyle. Is she very sporty, or more classic? Does she like diamonds or she is more into following fashion trends?

DKNY ladies black dial bracelet watch NY4643

If she is sporty, then focus on sports ladies watches which will have functions such as timers or water resistance – both things that your sporty partner will find useful. If she is classic then stick to leather and plain designs, while if she is fashion conscious you can afford to be more creative, on-trend and daring with your choice, and maybe consider designs by DKNY or D&G. If she has a penchant for diamonds, see if you can delve into your savings for a truly memorable gift.

Once you have established this – and it is essential that you establish this or you run the risk of buying watches that she doesn’t like – take into account the amount of money that you want to spend when you go shopping.

How To Clean Gent’s Watches

Monday, March 29th, 2010

If you want your watch to dazzle and impress long into its life, and to be able to keep time long after its initial calibration, then proper maintenance of watches is of critical importance. Luckily, however, in order to take good care of your watch you don’t have to be a master watchmaker!

First off it’s important to remember that watches are highly attuned mechanical pieces and this means that they are uniquely fragile and sensitive to even the slightest disruption. This usually precludes them from being washed in liquids (apart from some water resistant models) and therefore it’s best to clean your item with a soft brush.

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Before cleaning your gents watches, if possible you should detach the bracelet, which can then be cleaned via more traditional and effective methods such as with a detergent and water solution. With the actual timepiece itself, on the other hand, you could very gently use a toothbrush or, ideally, use a cleaner specially formulated for gents watches. If you have a particularly complex mechanical watch or the dirt is particularly embedded within the watch the best idea is to take it to a specialist cleaner who will be able to use the latest methods for cleaning watches, such as with ultrasonics.

Indeed watches are often bought with inheritance in mind, and therefore it is important that their value remains ostensive decades and even centuries in the future, and therefore the correct maintenance of your watch is not only a matter for your own enjoyment of the piece but is a matter for generations to come!

All The Brightest Jewellery Brands!

Friday, March 26th, 2010

At Rox we are able to offer jewellery from the world’s best jewellery brands, so whether it’s sublime diamond pieces or exquisite designer watches you’re after, you can be guaranteed of only the best in style and functionality from Rox.

Watches, like no other accessory, benefit from branding and there are certain designer watches and brands that immediately bring to mind ideas of high quality and style. At Rox we can offer all of the best names in designer watches, such as recognisable fashion brands e.g. Emporio Armani to renowned watch makers such as Raymond Weil; so, whether you’re looking for exquisite ladies watches or highly-functional men’s pieces you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for! You might assume that to buy into the high echelons of designer watch brands might come at a premium, but some of the best watch brands offer pieces for around a hundred pounds, making them a truly affordable aspirational gift.

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At Rox we don’t just deal in watches, however, and we are also to offer a wide range of other jewellery pieces, such diamond bracelets and earrings from time honoured brands such as Swarovski, which are immediately recognisable for their high quality and elegance. In fact, we offer such a wide choice of jewellery and watches that finding just the right item for yourself or that special someone is not only easy, but is affordable; with even the most stylish brands are able to offer items that just scream high-glamour, whilst not breaking the bank!

How To Look After Diamond Rings

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

The heart of a diamond is its sparkle, but this can diminish over time if you don’t look after your diamond rings. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take in order to ensure that your diamond jewellery dazzles long into the future.

The best way to keep a diamond sparkling at its maximum is to clean it occasionally, perhaps once every few months. Before outlining how this is done, it is important to remember not to clean your diamonds too vigorously: they might be durable but they’re not invincible!

A nice gentle method for cleaning your diamond rings, that is surprisingly effective, is to soak them in a warm solution of mild detergent and water; avoid using boiling water or tougher detergents as you’ll probably only be cleaning off a thin layer of built up dirt.

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If your diamond rings still don’t sparkle to their full potential you should consider using a soft brush (a toothbrush might be a little to abrasive) to remove any stubborn dirt around the setting, for example.

If you’re still struggling, then your diamond may be damaged and it’s actually a flaw you’re dealing with, or you could try some more vigorous cleaning methods; such as special jewellery cleaning solutions or even a tooth pick to get right in-between the setting.

One of the reasons that diamond rings make such great items of diamond jewellery is that they are incomparably durable, and will most likely keep their sparkle ad infinitum; however they are susceptible to build ups of dirt, so occasional cleaning is definitively a good idea!