The Swarovski firm is one of the best jewelry brands in the world , building on a tradition going back a 100 years they still produce stunning pieces than enthrall collectors to this day. The main focus is on crystal and semi precious stones. This makes Swarovski much more affordable and accessible than diamond jewelry – something which in my opinion increases their collectible value.

Watch collecting is a very popular pastime and it continues to grow , just browse through the magazine racks at your local book store and you will see dozens of magazines catering to watch collectors. Browsing online through the auction listings at popular online auction sites like eBay confirms this.

This is promising as it indicates that there is a strong demand for collectible watches and that their is a large body of easily accessible knowledge that novices can tap into. One of my favorites are vintage pocket watches and I have built up a substantial collection of these classic timepieces over the years.

There is just something about the craftsmanship and the timeless beauty that really fascinates me – the quality engineering ensure that these timepieces always command a top price at auction – making vintage pocket watches a great investment as well.

This makes it important to ensure that you spend your money wizely , here are tips on ensuring that you don’t end up with a dud,

Models and Types – knowing the different brands and models and what their market values are can help prevent you from overpaying for a particular piece. This research can be conducted online , but don’t forget about old school techniques such as visiting libraries and talking to other collectors at shows and auctions. As you learn more about these classic timepieces your appreciation for the hobby will grow.

There are many fantastic books covering not only vintage pocket watches , but the entire field of collectible watches. If you plan on building a collection of watches I recommend investing in a couple of reference books – the information contained in these will help you spot some great watches and prevent you from getting ripped off by unscrupulous sellers.

As with any form of collecting it is a sad fact that you have to guard against fraudsters and scams especially when acquiring these items online. Only deal with reputable online auction sites such as eBay , who actively seek to eliminate fraudsters from their user base.

These are some of the scams that you should be on the lookout for:

Fraken – watch – is the practice of  cannibalizing various components from watches of the same calibre series and creating a new model. In Europe they are referred to as wedding watches – this is quite common in higher end watches that are in demand by collectors.

Each movement engine has what is known as a calibre number , similar to the engine numer of a car , some calibre numbers are more collectible and pricey than others. A common scam is to switch these around housing a fake movement is a genuine case , or a calibre that is not as collectible in a more expensive casing.

A variation on the scam discussed above is to use a similar movement , but to replace the part with the calibre number , this is especially common in brands that have numerous models with the top of the range model being much more expensive.

Placing a quality dial and movement in an inferior quality casing. You can check the case number on the back of the watch and make sure that it matches the serial number.

Another scam is to replace worn hands and crowns with replacement parts – these watches are then market as genuine. The best way to counter this is to do your homework and study watches that you know are authentic and match any pieces that you are interest in acquiring against these pictures. A great place to do this research is online in various collectors forums – there is just so much information that is freely available.

Replacing worn and damaged parts with authentic parts – this although quite acceptable does reduce the value of the timepiece and you can spot it by looking at color variations in the moving parts.

Watch out for marketing copy that describes the piece as quality when it is not , always look for evidence to back up these claims. Words to watch out for are “mint” , ” 100% genuine” etc.

Examine the watch carefully for signs of wear and tear that have been covered up , look out for signs of excessive polishing which may indicate that the watch has not been looked after. A timepiece that has been neglected will not have had regular services – every 3-5 years for a mechanical watch. The signs of neglect are usually visible to the naked eye and these should be avoided.

Examine the dial carefully , any signs of indentations indicate that not genuine screws have been used in the movement. Study the dial for any signs of corrosion or flakes this could indicate that the watch has been in a humid environment , exposed to water or just not serviced regularly – all things you want to avoid in a collectible watch.

When looking for a watch try and do the following ,

There are many collectors and experts online and offline who are more than happy to share their knowledge , do some research and study the watches you are keen on – this will help you to more accurately evaluate their value.

Look for scratches , signs of rust and corrosion and avoid these watches like the plague – these are all classic symptoms of a poor service history. Always ask the seller for a full service history – if he doesn’t have one pass on that particular piece.

Ladies have been keeping their prized pieces in jewelry boxes since the dawn of time and the jewelry box is as old as jewelry itself. It is logical that ladies will need a place to secure their favorite jewelry pieces in. Most woman hold a few pieces of jewelry and thus would need a jewelry box to securely retain their collection.

It also prevents small items from being misplaced and you know where all you jewelry is. A beautifully crafted jewelry box also looks stunning on your dressing table and really compliments you jewelry collection. Often a jewelry box is presented as a gift or passed down from older relatives and its this continuity and history changing hands that can make it a special object for any young girl.

Here are a few points to keep an eye on when looking for a jewelry box:

Always consider the size of the collection and whether it will all fit into the jewelry box. For very large collections it might be a good idea to buy matching sets of jewelry boxes.

Set a budged based on what you can afford or are willing to pay for a jewelry box. Often an over zealous salesperson will try to over sell to you and you can pay more than you had bargained for. Don’t buy a jewelry box that is more expensive than the collection it is housing.

If you are a novice watch collector there are a couple of things you should consider in order to successfully build a collection that has appeal and monetary value. Firstly you need to be able to spot and avoid frauds , you can read more about it in this post. Secondly you need to be able to spot a quality piece and be able to buy it at a good price.

What is a good price? A good price is any price that is lower than the intrinsic market value of the object – it often happens due to various reasons that you are able to achieve this , but you need to be able to recognize this opportunity before capitalizing on it.

In order to secure a quality piece and avoid the scams you should examine every piece in great detail looking out for any possible defects or issues that could impact on the watches value. It is a good idea to buy yourself a jewelers magnifying glass with which to examine possible buys. If the watch has a few scratches and looks used , relax chances are good that it is authentic. In fact watches that have been refurbished and polished can actually result in a lower market valuation. Scratches and other signs of age and usage actually add value so resist the urge to polish your newly acquired classic.

If you are able to buy a watch with its original strap still intact you have a winner , although a replacement strap won’t detract too much from the valuation it is always preferable to try and secure a watch with the original.

Lastly if you think you have found yourself a winner  , always ask the seller for documentation. An original certificate is a must and also look for a service record as well , this will greatly enhance the value of your investment and ensure that you buy a quality piece that is still in great working order.

Watch collecting is fun , but my experience over the years has proven that quality collectibles comfortably out perform the stock market over a period of time.

The company was founded by Daniel Swarovski after he invented a cutting machine for crystal. The cutting process was quite energy intensive – so he set-up his first factory at Wattens in Austria – close to affordable hydro electricity sources. Wattens is still in use today and is the home of the Swarovski museum.

The range includes designer jewelry , crystal ornaments , home decorations and fancy chandeliers. The crystals used by Swarovski in the design process contain up to 32% lead which results is the magnificent sparkle that we have come to expect from Swarovski. Another popular technique is to coat the crystals resulting in an impressive rainbow effect.

The current Swarovski logo is a swan and was introduce in 1988 replacing the original logo which was an edelweiss flower. Swarovski crystals are highly collectible and very popular amongst collectors globally. Whether they are used as fashionable jewelry or decorative objects around the home they are an excellent investment and the demand and value of these stunning objects continues to escalate.

The company has also diversified into optical products such as a quality range of binoculars and scopes. This is quite a departure from jewelry and ornamental crystal , but the process is dependent on quality engineering – something which the Swarovski company excels in.

The move into optical products was a result of the founders son having a keen interest in astronomy. Using the engineering techniques that were available at Swarovski he was able to build a superior pair of binoculars. Today Swarovski Optik continues to be a leading supplier of quality optical products.

The right piece of jewelry can lift any outfit and can make the difference between plain and absolutely stunning. You can get nice sterling silver sets in , rings, bracelets, earrings, and attractive  cuff links for men are also a great buy.

Like any investment or collectible object you need to exercise care when buying , you can get the best quality sterling silver jewelry by following these guidelines:

Understanding sterling silver - Sterling silver is an alloy made up mainly of silver and other metals like copper. The alloy metal is much more durable and easier to work with than pure silver making it highly suited for use in the manufacture of jewelry.

Quality manufacturers – only buy sterling jewelry that has been crafted by the best craftsman. Find out who the reputable designers and manufacturers are , if you are able to source your sterling jewelry online you might also be able to save. However be very careful about compromising quality in favor of price – you will regret it over the long run.

Handcrafted – try to select handcrafted jewelry. It has a much higher resale value and there is also an obvious quality difference as well. You will also be able to get much more unique and original designs if you focus on handcrafted jewelry. If you are buying a special gift for someone using handcrafted designs will enable you to select a piece that is suited to the person.

One of the major factors making sterling silver so popular is tha vast range of unique jewelry designs that you will be able to find as well as the fact that sterling silver is still relatively affordable without appearing cheap or tacky. Silver can easily be worn to the office or that next black tie event that you are invited to. In my opinon sterling silver is also likely to become highly collectible ensuring a great resale value , I am personally building up my sterling silver jewelry collection in anticipation of higher demand and increased prices for quality sterling silver jewelry.