Did you grow up during the 50's or 60's?

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Katie

If you did please share what it was like. What stories do you remember. What was school like? Clothes and fashion? What were parents like back then? How did you spend summer holidays? What were television shows and magazines that were popular?????



All answers appreciated. Have an awesome day - thanks!

Answer
Yes, I remember. As a small kid everybody was wearing either dark or light clothes. Women in skirts, yet pants were starting. Men in neckties when working. Women in high heel shoes most of the time. Men in real shoes. Sneakers were for play and sports only. Men in cleancut image and women in different short or long nice hairdos. No cell phones, no personal computers. Obviously no internet but experiments were started in the beginning of the sixties to connect the then bulky huge IBM computers of those days. Banks, stores and supermarkets used electromechanical machines to do their business. Digital electronics were not yet on scene. But computers, big IMB machines were used by big business. Data was fed by punching cards. People pay in cash or checks. No credit cards as I remember. Movies were shown in movie houses only. No home video but predictions I heard. Television and radio were limited to few stations. And most television shows were black and white. People may remember "Leave it to Beaver", "Andy Griffith" and other sitcoms. But I HATED them as I do now. I remember watching the British "The Invisible Man" [now in dvd], "I Love Lucy" [love it with the Babaloo!], "Combat", "Batman and Robin" and "Man from U.N.C.L.E", not the dumb "Leave it to Beaver", uuugh! Also "The Flinstones" and "Astroboy". Also, and still do, hated "Scooby", uughh! [again!] And long playing records and tape used. No cds. I remember the console record players RCA with AM/FM radio. Parents were stricter. No messing around, yet juvenile delinquency and drugs were starting to cause trouble. School was also strict. Remember a teacher throwing a book at me..ha ha ha! And we had our usual bullies, jocks and nerds, but differently. I remember going twice as a kid to summer camps. They had movies, family movies not "Steven Segals' action movies...please. And some tv but limited. We play and other activities. But between you and me I remember seeing some "unsavory activity" from some kids but I would not mention. But it shows we also had some naughty sides, too. Remember I am talking of 1967! Forty years ago. Maybe I am "old fashioned" despite my constant criticism toward conservative republicans' policies. But I still miss those women looking so feminine in their skirts and hairdos. Not those crummy blue jeans, t-shirts and sneakers, that make them look scruffy today. And I miss something else: people were more simple then. Were not obsessed in possessing material and luxury stuff as we have today. We need some of that again. Thanks.
P.D.: Remember predicting some "pocket phone" in 1966. They laughed at me in school. But is now available: cell phones.

Myths in modern society?

soccerfrea

Hi for english class we need to find 5 cases where we have seen an influence /connection to greek mythology. They can be found anywhere: tv, commercial, painting, ad, brand name etc.
So far i have found this POM commercial where they talk about Aphrodite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe7tgU7SfQ8&feature=related
can you think of anymore influences you have seen in modern society? Thanks for the help.

Answer
Actaeon - The legendary huntsman who saw the goddess Artemis bathing and was punished by her for this indiscretion by being turned into a stag. His own hounds eventually tore him to pieces, not realizing it was their master. There is Actaeon Photo, Actaeon Films, and even six ships in the Royal Navy have been named Actaeon after the mythological character.

Aegis - Zeus and Athena's protective shield; Aegis is a modern security and risk management company. The Aegis Combat System is a naval weapons system that uses powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. AEGIS is one of the largest HIV/AIDS databases in the world.

Aetna - A daughter of Uranus and Gaia. She is the personified goddess of Mt. Etna, a volcano on Sicily. Aetna is a major health insurance company. There exists an Aetna Pest Control company, an Aetna Insulated Wire company. Aetna Group produces stretch wrapping machines, shrink film wrappers and more.

Ajax - Greek warrior in the Trojan War, who "cleaned up" in battle; Ajax is the name of a popular household cleanser.

Amazon - Race of warrior women; amazon.com - huge on-line bookstore. There is also the Amazon Health Care.

Ambrosia - In ancient Greek mythology, ambrosia is sometimes the food, sometimes the drink, of the Greek gods. There is Ambrosia Natural Foods, Ambrosia Software, the famous Ambrosia Salad, and a ton of cafes, banquet halls and restaurants named Ambrosia.

Amphion - Amphion is the son of Zeus and the nymph Antiope, the queen of Thebes. His twin brother is Zethus. Amphion of Finland produces premium grade loudspeakers. Amphion Medical Solutions provides medical record transcription and coding to the healthcare industry.

Antheia - A goddess from the island of Crete, Antheia was the goddess of vegetations, lowlands, marshlands, gardens, blossoms, the budding earth and human love. There is an Antheia Flowers, an Antheia Ballroom, and even an Antheia Hotel.

Apollo - God of light, masculine beauty and music; Apollo Theater is a famous music hall in New York city. There's also an Apollo Health and Beauty Care, Apollo Photonics provides photonic (light) integrated circuit and devices. Apollo Studios is a high fidelity music workshop and Apollo Athletic Club promotes an active and healthy lifestyle.

Ares - Greek god of war; popular car model. As well, Ares is a free open source file sharing program that enables users to share any digital file. There is an Ares Lighting Systems and even an Ares Cuisine Supply company.

Argus - Giant watchman with a hundred eyes; Argus Security is a modern security company, specializing in commercial business protection. Argus Machine Company offers solutions to the gas and oil industries. Argus Controls specializes in automated control systems. Argus Media offers daily market prices and analysis.

Atlas - Was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulders; a modern moving company (Atlas Van Lines); also, Atlas Travel is a popular name for travel agencies all over the globe. Atlas Railroad Company, Atlas Snowshoes, and even Atlas Games.

Aurora - Roman name for Eos, goddess of the Dawn; luxury car model.

Caduceus - A winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it. It was an ancient astrological symbol of commerce and is associated with the Greek god Hermes. You will find Caduceus Magazine, and Caduceus Wine Cellars in Arizona.

Calypso - A sea nymph, daughter of Atlas, who held Odysseus prisoner for seven years on her island of Ogygia. There is mineral exploration company Calypso Uranium, Calypso Technologies, and Calypso Studio in California.

Cerberus - The three-headed hound that guarded the gates to the Underworld. Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., is one of the largest private equity investment firms in the US. Also, Cerberus is the name of a continuous builder software program from Ruby that " like his ancestor will guard your application tests and won't let your project go to the world of dead projects", according to the company. Cerberus FTP Server is a file transfer for internet administrators. There are dozens of companies named or derived from Cerberus.

Charon - Boatman who ferries the souls of the dead to the Underworld; Charon Internet and Charon Productions are two more modern uses.

Centaur - Mythological creatures that are part human and part horse. In modern society, you'll find Centaur Theater Company, Centaur Floor Machines, Centaur Riding School, and Centaur Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures veterinarian medicine.

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Have Two Questions Concerning a very old Steamer Trunk with Initials?

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djohnsonte

I have this questions listed in cameras for that part of the help I need. This trunk had all types of hidden treasures inside it. I bought it at auction unopened and I found an expensive silk rug wrapped in a wax type paper, some coins from France, and sheets and linens with the Initials DK. B. embroidered very ornately with a crest. Those sheets etc had rotted but the silk threads were there and readable. But worth zip due to rot.
The Steamer Trunk is very large, very large. It was owned by someone with the initials L.V. that he had stamped on the two brass handles and under the lock. So, either L.V. was related to DK. B. or DK. B had borrowed or rented the trunk. I found out that steamer trunks were rented or leased as well as sold back then and since no one picked this one up it may have been purchased from L.V. by DK. B. ? We just don't have a clue. Next, the coins were all French and all had the same date 1910 and were French, gold, silver, 12 of each. And the silk knotted rug.
Getting the trunk down to remove all of our Junk stored inside we dropped the trunk and here a crack sound. When it was emptied and opened we found a Secret compartment that had been nailed to the bottom of the Steamer. We looked for a trick lever or opening but there were none so someone fetched me a pry bar and a special spanner to pry open very gently the compartment and remove some tiny nails and nuts. Inside were two very very old cameras. Both wrapped in the same wax paper, in like new condition. One was black in a leather black case and strap all in great shape. But, oddly, the other was in a dark green case and it was dark green. I managed to learn how to open the cameras and placed each inside a large dark bag and I found odd sized film in the green one.

Anyone know of a trunk company initial L.V. or someone long ago with initial DK. B. with some sort of crest? The crest was also rotted and a mess and not clear enough to make anything more out. Anyone know of a special company to develop this film? Somewhere close in the Dallas Fort Worth Area? It could be junk or could be special since they were hidden? The sooner we get the film looked at by a true pro and not something like a photoshop, we can possibly find out who DK. B. was or is and who was or is L.V. who owned this trunk. And, it could be just junk for all we know. But, we expect it to be something really interesting due to the first items found hidden inside the trunk under the lining and so very old. If it helps the rug dated back 300-400 year agoago and the coins were 1910 each ooneand there were 12 of each both types of coins were the same values.
Thanks for any help you might provide on this continuing mystery.

Answer
You might try this site: http://www.thepirateslair.com/antique-steamer-trunks-chests.html
It says this about "trunk company initial L.V."--it could stand for LOUIS VUITTON . Their phone number is 540-659-6209, in Stafford, VA .
Their street address is:
The Pirate's Lair
Division of DataCity, Inc.
78 Canterbury Drive
Stafford, VA 22554
email: sales@thepirateslair.com
(Note: It is a Service Disabled Veteran-owned small business)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier â commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or shortened to LV â is a French fashion house founded in 1854. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewellery, accessories, sunglasses, and books. [A picture of the logo is to the right of the article.]
Napoleon III of France appointed Vuitton as Malletier (a "Malletier" is, in French, literally a Trunk-Maker) to his wife, Empress Eugénie de Montijo. Through his experience with French royalty, he developed advanced knowledge of what made a good traveling case. It was then that he began to design his own luggage, setting the foundations for LV Co. (article continues from there).

http://forum.purseblog.com/date-codes/date-code-made-in-information-and-locations-183525.html#post3906216
Shows these DATE CODES SEEN ON RE-LINED ITEMS:
DK⦠(USA)

It could also refer to its store in Copenhagen. Denmark is abbreviated as DK.
[What the B would stand for, I have no clue. Hope this helps a little.]

EDIT: For info and value of French coins, go to this site--http://www.taxfreegold.co.uk/francehistoryfrenchgoldcoins.html

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Are gucci watches good quality? Or should I wait to buy another one?

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.

I can't afford Cartier, Montblanc or Baume et Mercier right now (their watches start at around 2,000 which is twice what I can afford) but I saw this really beautiful Gucci watch at gucci yesterday. It was stainless and had little diamonds instead of the numbers, it was a little over 1,000$. Are gucci watches good quality? Or should I save more money to buy one from the top brands?
Thanks!

Answer
Save the money. Im a big fan of gucci and I can tell you that their watches are only expensive because of the brand name. Cartier (not so good imo, but definetely on the luxury range), and these kind of brands have their own mechanical movement. Im not sure who makes Gucci watches for them, but for sure they don't (kinda like the same with burberry watches, theyre made by Fossil). Get a used one if you cant afford it. Look for cartiers in the 1k range on eBay AND MAKE SURE THE BUYER HAS A REPUTABLE FEEDBACK AND A RETURN POLICY (this just proves that they are authentic, and just in case, you might get it checked before the return policy expires).

What is a fast 4 door sporty car available in the US?

Arthur

I was just watching top gear and saw the Vauxhall VXR Bathhurst and though that would be fantastic to have, but sadly they don't sell those in the States.
Money really isn't much of an issue, but in my business it helps to not flaunt success so I try to stay away from perceived luxury brands like Mercedes, Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, and Lexus. On top of that, I really don't like GM.
I know that's a lot of exclusions, but are there any fast 4 door cars that fit the bill?

Answer
It seems someone already mentioned the Porsche Panamera Turbo, which is a nice car but isnt too flashy for your needs, and has a very gorgeous interior.

The new Infiniti M45 is a very nice 4 door car, and wont be asking to get robbed like a Aston Martin Rapide when you park it in a busy city Lol

Google or research maybe a all white Infiniti M45. Its something to consider.

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Are their cars in India or is the country still developing?

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Are their cars in India or is the country still developing? I often visualize India asa land of elephants and camels....Do cars go on the road? What do people do for a living their since they probably don't have certain luxuries that a great country like American would have? Do they have shops and places to eat food? What is the country like in general?

Answer
Ok, first things first. The camels and elephants you think of are in the zoos/ desert/ designated wild areas(like safari). Very rarely you find them on the road, that too they are for shows/ rides - money making tricks for its owner.

You'll find lots of cars on roads, motorbikes and scooters are very popular. Buses, trains, planes - just as in another country. Even in the villages, people use motorbikes and bikes and buses.

What is your idea of luxury? In a typical Indian city, you'll find every house equipped with a fridge, washing machine, microwave too these days. To top it, you have house maids that are commonly employed for cleaning purposes. Hiring cooks is very in now in the cities.

India is filled with eateries. From street food to five star luxuries. Consumer is king and he can choose what he wants to eat.

The country is diverse in culture, language, traditions.In the cities - In a typical community, you'll find people talking different languages, but with a common state language. Men and women work, while kids are sent to schools which are very expensive. College goers usually hang out in clubs on the weekends, people party with booze and cigarettes. Families celebrate traditions with festive decorations, lots of food, show away wealth. Life is pretty interesting, never a dull moment.
Maruti- Suzuki is a famous car brand, but you can easily find Honda accord, Hyundai and occasionally a Mercedes Benz.

In the rural areas, the people are mostly into agriculture and rarely live on subsistence farming. They have produce which is nowadays sold to these supermarkets in the cities and so they get fair price for their work. They also send children to rural schools which are not as good as the city ones, but nevertheless more or less everyone is educated in the current world. Recreation is done by visits to cities, celebrating events and festivals.

Overall, the infrastructure is not very good in terms of bad roads. However, you can easily find a bus/ train from anywhere to anywhere unlike the USA where you are dependent on someone when you don't have a car. Eateries are cheap and varied, giving more options to the consumer. Corruption is rampant, India has a lot of money - just that it gets to a pockets of a few people.

Giving you an idea to take a glimpse into Bangalore, one of the cities in India-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uAGZ_ixh1g

May I have menâs attention? Which brand is watch do men want to wear?

Justin Smi

Love my boyfriend very much. He is handsome and sexy, I want to send him a gift. Maybe a watch is his favor.

Answer
A few more additional details would help -- how old are you (and your boyfriend), what's your budget, what's his style etc?

Assuming you are a young person who cares mostly about the style, take a look at Fossil or Kenneth Cole watches -- they tend to make stylish watches for young folks that quite good looking, both digital and analog. And they also tend to be rather affordable (anywhere from $25 - $250).

In digital watches, you've Casios and Timex that make some rather interesting ones. Check out Casio's Path Finder or G-Shock line, or Timex's Iron Man line (if you're into digital that is).

If your boyfriend is into analog watches, take a look at Seiko. They make a great quality watches at a decent price. A lot of their watches are Rolex-look alikes at much cheaper prices (not cheap knockoffs, but similar styles).

Timex also has some good analog watches. Another good brand would be Victorinox, makers of the Swiss Army Knife. They have some interesting watches, as well.

If you've a higher price point, you can look at low-end Swiss watches such as Tag Heur, Raymond Weil, Tissot, or Longines. For instance, I'm in my mid twenties, and my wife recently gifted me with a gorgeous Raymond Weil Automatic for Christmas [1], since I often have to wear a suit and tie for work, and it's a very clean and dressy watch. Watches in similar styles are usually priced at around 1-2k. Those are lower end luxury watches.

If you've more to spend, you get into brands like Breitling, IWC, JLC, Patek etc. which go from 5k and upwards.

In conclusion, assuming that you're a younger couple and your boyfriend prefers "stylish" watches, I'd look at the following -- Fossil, Kenneth Cole, Victorinox, Tissot, Tag Heur, and Rolex (in increasing order of price). Good luck!

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Where do I buy the best luxury watches online?

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Amon Gear

I'm looking for something a little special for my girl friend. I've got some cash so I was thinking of buying her a really nice ladies luxury watch - not an el-cheapo imitation but the real deal...

I've heard of Zenith and other swiss luxury watch brands like Cartier, Omega, IWC and Rolex and just wonder if anyone knows where I can get the best discount / deals on luxury swiss watches.

Budget is 7-15k - I know - she is really spoilt - but I do really, really love her!

Hey thanks in advance everyone!

Answer
You can not because almost all of the watch sites are scams. Nearly all the answers will be SPAM that direct you to Chinese sites where they are selling fake or just stealing credit card numbers. You will have to go to a real store to not get scammed.

For example: www.bestinluxurywatches.com If you go to the link below you will see that all the information on the site is blocked. Why? Only a scam site would do that.

http://whois.domaintools.com/bestinluxurywatches.com

www.mensluxurtywatchesz.com has its info blocked as well.

http://whois.domaintools.com/mensluxurywatchesz.com

This is a legit site. It has a USA address, and contact info:

http://whois.domaintools.com/amazon.com

Do you think this Columbia Fleece is fake?

Red

I have a Columbia fleece from the actual store, but I found another from the thrift store and the tags are not the same. The one from the outlet is gray and blue (the tag when you unzip) but the one from the thrift store is simply white and black like the one in the link below
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Columbia-Benton-Springs-Fleece-Jacket-Full-Zip-Ladies-Med-Lg-XL-Acropora-NEW-/110999414062?pt=US_CSA_WC_Outerwear&var=&hash=item19d814a52e

I was just wondering if it was fake or not, the quality is just about the same is my original Columbia, there's no misspellings or Chinese writing and it does not look fake. If anyone can help that'd be great!
same AS*

Answer
Were they bought on eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Asos Market, street vendors, or online store? Kiosk @ the mall? NOT REAL.
Were they bought @ Certified Columbia fleece dealer like Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, department stores in your city? THEY'RE REAL. Those stores don't sell fake Designer Labels or brands! Outlet stores, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Ross, etc. . . . don't sell fake merchandise, or they would have been CLOSED down. They sell the same quality products as those other bigger stores, 35-45% less, because they've been rejected by Quality Controllers. They may have a small flaw, packaging dents, scratched, or ripped, maybe the hem was off, or missing a button or belt loop . . .or who knows what they were looking for but 90% nothing wrong with them!
Where they bought @ KMart, or Target, Rite-Aid, Walgreens? Fake. Those stores sells fake products.

China, after all, is the fastest growing luxury market in the world.
The 10 Most Counterfeited Products in America http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-10-most-counterfeited-products-in-america-180942491.html

I also suggest when paying for online purchases, don't use Paypal, it takes just once to be a victim. I was and it took 3 years to get my credit. Use your Credit Card, always, they can help you if any disputes. Example from YA!: "On the 10th of November we returned a watch I had bought for my husband, it was supposed to be an automatic but when it was taken off stopped after a short while. I phoned to tell then and they said to return it for a refund, I know it reached them on the 11th November as I tacked it by the post office. the promised refund has yet to come after several email all ignored and a few phone calls now all I can do is contact the credit card company. so customers beware".
AND beware of international shipping, they could add 3-25% extra fees, even if the price is cheap.
My merchant was from Texas, but the product was shipped from Hong Kong.
Other times, when you need to call Customer Service, they speak in foreign tongue and no one to translate them or JUST they don't answer calls.

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What makes the Infiniti M so unique?

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Freddy

Answer
The Infiniti M is the closest competitor to a German car then any other Japanese Luxury car on the market. For starters the Infiniti M37 & M56 both compose more horsepower then any of its competitors in the market, making it the class leader in the segment. The M35H which is part of the M-class line up is also the worlds fastest luxury hybrid sedan. Many industry first technologies are equipped in the M-class sedan which includes, Forest Air ventilation system, Infiniti Laser guided cruise control, blind-spot-intervention system, Side-Collision Prevention etc etc. For all new 2012 vehicles, Infiniti will be the first luxury brand in the US to offer a 24 hour personal Assistant concierge service plan that literally provides you with your own personal Infiniti agent connected via Bluetooth automatically programmed into your vehicle. The new Infiniti Personal Assistant benefit is a great addition to the Infiniti Total Ownership Experience, providing true âanything, anytime, anywhereâ concierge service with the personal touch of talking to real people, not some computer data site. There is seemingly no limit what Infiniti Personal Assistant can do for you. Its simply adds to the pleasure of driving and owning an Infiniti vehicle. The M37 has a lot of rivals and many of them just as opulent and and appealing as the next. The Infiniti M37 doesn't just aim to be a luxury sports car but more so an executive one, with small touches that even though have no effect, it creates a sense of significance. From the real silver powered interior wood trims, to the Italian styled stitching all the way to the swooping steering wheel mounted dashboard to the potent and roaring 420 Horsepower engine..... its undeniably a beautiful car. Infiniti is creating pedigree for their brand which is why they are a major International brand across the globe.

2012 M37/M56 price range: $48,000 - $76,000

Pictures:

Interior:
http://www.japanesesportcars.com/photos/d/98786-2/2011-infiniti-m37s-europe-10.jpg
http://www.japanesesportcars.com/photos/d/98781-2/2011-infiniti-m37s-europe-9.jpg
http://image.automobilemag.com/f//multimedia/photo_gallery/1005_2011_infiniti_m_wallpaper_gallery/32833881+w1024+h768+st0/1005_02_z+2011_infiniti_m+front_interior.jpg

Exterior:
http://www.planetautocar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2011-Infiniti-M-Prototype.jpg
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/23990/images/2newInfinitiM37carreviewpictures.jpg

Youtube Reviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrN5jPitDWI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2DNAeOaQkU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDojOd8JCo

Is S400 Hybrid worth it?

Q. My dad wants to get a brand new S-Class, the 2011 version when it comes out. When does come out by the way? Anyways, he has the money to buy a S65 but he also likes to save the environment. He wants a Mercedes-Benz for sure and he came across the S400 Hybrid. He read and watched a lot of reviews on it(the 2010 version) and they all said it wasn't as nice as S550, and it is a bit sluggish. Reviewers said it feels really slow.

Here is the thing, we live in Michigan where there is 6 months of winter. It usually snows 2-3 times a week. Some people say if the driver is careful, a rear-wheel drive(S400 Hybrid) can handle the snow and some say it's dangerous. I know 3 people who totaled their rear-wheel drive in the snow, but they were all teenagers. If he gets a S550, it will be a 4MATIC. Also will people think that my dad couldn't afford a S550 if he gets the S400?

Also part of the reason he wants a S-Class is because well #1 it's the top selling and most popular luxury car in the world but also because it's used as state/president cars in Asia and Europe. Which one do they usually use? S550 or S600?

Is getting the S400 worth it? Would you get a S400 or S550 if you could afford it, even though S400 is more environment friendly? But S550 is environment friendly too right? I heard S550 uses recycled material and burns fuel cleaner than Toyota Prius, which is good for the environment.

Thoughts please, thank you (:

Answer
You've been watching Top Gear, huh? Maybe you haven't. I don't know. But anyway, if it does snow a lot, you should DEFINITELY get an all-wheel-drive/4MATIC. The best luxury car for an area with a lot of snow is the Range Rover. It really can handle snow well. He shouldn't get a RWD. It's not going to be good in a lot of snow. But if you're getting an S-Class (my favorite sedan in the world) you definitely should NOT get the hybrid. 0-60 in 7 SECONDS! That is VERY slow. It is very sluggish. I know it's environmentally friendly, but it's so boring to drive. Don't get it. One car doesn't make any difference. The S550 uses a bunch of recycled material- well so does the S400, and the S600, and the S63 and S65, too. Not just the S550. It burns fuel a lot cleaner than a Toyota Prius. Everybody says the Prius is environmentally-friendly, but it's not! It uses a LOT more energy to make a Prius than an S-Class, but I'm not going to go there. Now I'll answer your questions one by one. The 2011 S-Class will be released November 15, 2010, but there might be a delay. People will NOT think that he's poor if he gets the hybrid, people don't think that when they see hybrids. Some will say, "Ah, there's an idiot who sacrifices power for environment," while others will say, "Ah, a good fellow, trying to save the Earth," but nobody will think that he's poor. Poor people get the E-Class. Which one do the presidents in Asia and Europe use- definitely the S600. If your dad can afford it, he really should get it, it is a phenomenal car in terms of performance, especially since it is so heavy. But the AMG models are even better. It's actually kind of tough between the S600 and the S63- the S600 having a smaller engine but 12 cylinders, while the S63 having a larger engine but 8 cylinders. Anyway, is the S400 worth it? Nah. Very expensive, very sluggish, very slow. Of course, it's an S-Class, and compared to any Lexus LS model, it is better, but for an S-Class, it's no good. If I could afford it (I can, actually) I would definitely get the S550. The S550 isn't so bad in terms of environment. You're right, it has a lot of recycled material, but, then, so does the S400. It definitely burns fuel much cleaner than a Prius- a horrid car indeed. Overall, if he really is willing to sacrifice a lot of performance for environment, he should get the S400, but if he doesn't want to spend a lot on a car that is VERY slow, he should definitely get the S550/S600, and I would personally get the S600.

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What changes have you made to your life to help with rising costs?

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I personally have begun to bake my own breads, rolls and cookies and have tried to shop with a list using what is on sale on the online circular.

I've also had my family begin to unplug appliances when not in use.

Answer
Check out this website www.hillbillyhousewife.com

I have started cleaning with vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, etc. I also watch how much laundry soap I use and unplug things. I go around to the stores that have discount racks during the week for veggies. I make more homemade things, casseroles and things that stretch. I go thrift store shopping. I use a brita filter jug thing instead of buying bottled water. We have no more luxuries, shoot to us a luxury is being able to have meat at dinner time!! And mac & cheese and ramen noodles are our "go to" meals LOL It doesnt help a chick totaled my other car so to save gas I stay home until I start work!

What should I know about car seats before I buy one?

chloe

I need a car seat for my 12month old (FAST) she 's really outgrown it. But I don't really know what to look for. What makes a good car seat? What should I watch out for? I went to buy one today, but there were so many, and the salesperson didn't know much. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer
Remember these rules:
1)the BEST seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly 100% of the time. (This is why convenience features DO make a difference and ARE worth the money! If its easy to use, you're more likely to use it correctly.
2)Children should stay rear facing AS LNOG AS POSSIBLE!!!! The 20lbs/1 year rule is outdated and provides a bare minimum for turning kids forward facing. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both recommend keeping kids rear facing as long as possible, up to the limits of their seat, preferably until at least 2 years of age. For good reason: A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone. In other countries, rear facing 2 - 3 - 4 year olds is standard, they understand that its safer. Here, we turn them as soon as we get to, seeing it as a right of passage thing or something. Ridiculous. Most convertible seats have a 30lbs rear facing limit, Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer seats rear face to 35lbs, Britax rear faces to 33lbs.
3)Once you do turn them forward facing, they need to stay in a 5 point harness as long as possible. 4 years/40lbs is the minimum for riding in a booster, and most 4 year olds have no business using one yet. If they can't sit upright for an entire trip, they need the harness of a car seat still. And, even if they do sit properly, a 5 point harness is safer, so you want to keep them in one as long as possible. This is important to consider b/c most car seats only forward face to 40lbs. My son just turned 3, and is in the 95th% for height and weight - 40" tall and weighs 41lbs. He outgrew the 40lbs seats shortly after his 2nd birthday. It was a total waste of money. He now has a Britax Marathon, which goes to 65lbs, and will be able to fit it for some time yet. If I'd have bought it when he was born, I could have had one car seat this whole time instead of the 3 I wasted money on. They are more expensive for many reasons, this is one.

So...knowing all that, here's some about specific seats. Please don't get a Graco Comfort Sport. Car seat techs call it the 'crappysport'. LOL Its a crappy seat that won't last your child very long b/c it has a really short shell. The straps twist all the time, and if they're twisted they won't support your child in a wreck properly. They're hard to install. There's nothing good about these seats except perhaps they're cheap sometimes. Ditto the Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy.

The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model) can be found for regular price of $269, and on sale at Albee Baby online for $209-$219. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. I can get it into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.

The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.

The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe Convertible seat is great, it is made by Britax, without all the frills. It's the same shell as a Marathon, but for less than half the price. $130 at Albee Baby online with free shipping, or at their eBay name, babysurplus. Rear faces to 33lbs, forward to 55lb

Which are the top 10 luxury watches in the world ?

luxury watches brands review image

Jack

for men fashion.

Answer
Rank #1 Patek Philippe
Rank #2 Blancpain
Rank #3 Vacheron Constantin
Rank #4 Breguet
Rank #5 Audemars Piguet
Rank #6 A.Lange&Sohne
Rank #7 Ulysse Nardin
Rank #8 Piaget
Rank #9 Bovet
Rank #10 Arnold & Son
Rank #11~100 @ http://usnews.watchesranking.com/

Rank #1 Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe
Rank #1
Overall score 100
Avg Price $52,064
Founded in 1839
Origin Switzerland
Craftsmanship 9.9
Reliability 9.9
Investment 9.9
Recognition 8.24

Patek Philipp is ranked #1 at watchesranking.com in High end Luxury category.

Editor's Review: When one speaks with watch collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts from all walks of life, one brand is consistently singled out as being "the Rolls-Royce of watches". Like that esteemed auto manufacturer, it is a name that has become synonymous with perfection, exclusivity and the finest craftsmanship. The company is Patek Philippe, and its history offers a compelling insight into how this unique, family-held watch company has dominated the Swiss watch industry for over 160 years.

Rank #2 Blancpain
Blancpain
Rank #2
Overall score 99.2
Avg Price $53,816
Founded in 1735
Origin Switzerland
Craftsmanship 9.6
Reliability 9.7
Investment 9.7
Recognition 8.69

Blancpain is ranked #2 at watchesranking.com in High end Luxury category.

Editor's Review: Blancpain is a Swiss watch manufacturer, founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jaques Blancpain. Blancpain is currently owned by the Swatch Group along with other famous brands like Omega and Breguet. Nick Hayek, the son of Swatch Group's founder and chairman, Nicolas Hayek, is running Blancpain. Less than 10,000 are created a year and each watchmaker is given the ability to personally build a complete watch rather than line production. Blancpain watches are elegant and stylish and true to the company slogan, "Since 1735, there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be."

Rank #3 Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin
Rank #3
Overall score 98.2
Avg Price $59,698
Founded in 1755
Origin Switzerland
Craftsmanship 9.9
Reliability 9.9
Investment 9.9
Recognition 6.57

Vacheron Constantin is ranked #3 at watchesranking.com in High end Luxury category

Editor's Review: The world?s oldest watch manufacturer in continuous operation since 1755 and the founder of the spirit of technical and precious Haute Horlogerie, Vacheron Constantin has been making horological history for over 250 years. From the beginning, it has concentrated on building and consolidating its tradition for technical and aesthetic excellence. This is best illustrated by its timepieces, whose hand-finishing is of an exceptional quality.

Rank #4 Breguet
Breguet
Rank #4
Overall score 97.9
Avg Price $56,634
Founded in 1775
Origin Switzerland
Craftsmanship 9.8
Reliability 9.9
Investment 9.8
Recognition 6.68

Breguet is ranked #4 at watchesranking.com in High end Luxury category

Editor's Review: Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet in Paris, France. The founder married the daughter of a prosperous French bourgeois and her dowry helped finance his first workshop.Firstly manufacturing pocket watches the watchmaker coined many world firsts before 1800 including the first self winding watch, invention of the gong spring and the anti shock device. In 1801 they celebrated the patent of the tourbillon regulator and in 1810 manufactured their first wristwatch commissioned by the Queen of Naples.

Rank #5 Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet
Rank #5
Overall score 97.5
Avg Price $40,154
Founded in 1875
Origin Switzerland
Craftsmanship 9.7
Reliability 9.8
Investment 9.3
Recognition 8.58

Breguet is ranked #5 at watchesranking.com in High end Luxury category

Editor's Review:Audemars Piguet watch company has been designing and manufacturing exceptional Swiss luxury timepieces Since 1875. In 1972 the creation of the famous Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, mankind's first high-end steel sports watch, established Audemars Piguet's widespread popularity and prestige in the watch industry. From the simplest styles to the most intricate complications, Audemars Piguet watch collections continue to astonish collectors and watch aficionados with their beauty, elegance, and sophiscated

which tablets are the best?

Marie

I want to buy a tablet and I prefer the ones that show the drawing on the tablet itself rather than on the computer screen. Which ones are the best for that? and I'd like to carry it in my bag.
please help..
thank you!

Answer
Those are called Convertible PC Tablets alone, unless you want an insanely expensive Wacom Cintiq that requires you to have it connceted up to a desktop at home... But these PC Tablets are powerful laptops themselves, that have digitizer pens that allow you to draw and interact with on the screen. They are convertible, in a way that they flip out like normal laptops, but you can swivel the screen around into "Tablet-mode", and then you can turn it around back, into it's normal Laptop interface.

People saying that all other Tablets like the Android tablets, iPads, and Kindles are the best and most powerful, they're not. They're great, but they're a bit overrated compared to how much greater you can get.

I'm STILL searching for these ones that have all the right statistics for what I need, on Ebay though:

Fujitsu Lifebook t900/t901/t902

Lenovo Thinkpad x220t/x201t/x200t

~~~~~

The t's stand for tablet, so watch for those. The ones I pinned up over there are actually a bit very difficult to find that are reasonable, other than the x201t and x200, but in PC tablets themselves what you'll want to look for in them is:

Decent processor, most have i5-i7

4GB RAM or more, and if you want more, it'll have to be installed with Windows 64-bit. Not 32-bit. And will need to have TWO memory slots, one for the 4GB RAM pre-installed, and another slot for another 4GB RAM stick that you can buy.

Windows 8 tends to annoy people, but it's slightly better at working with the touch screen's functionality, I'd still go with Windows 7 64-bit though.

Multi-touch is useful if you very much need more capability and speed with working on whatever you'll be doing, other than that, it's more of a luxury.

Find a PC tablet that's "Wacom-penabled", that way it'll be able to use Wacom pens on it. If it isn't penabled, than find a Tablet that atleast has a decent pen digitizer that has a decent amount of pressure-sensitivity(determines how hard or soft you pressed down to get thicker or thinner lines). STAY AWAY, from "N-trig" pens at all costs.

A 4-cell battery is slightly bad, 6-cell is good enough, 8-cell is great.

The size of most Tablet PC's range from 7-13 inches, I'd say to look for ones that are ATLEAST 10 inches and above.

Brightness isn't much of a systematic matter, but if you want, analyze information on their LCD functionality. Or find a Tablet that does well with outdoor use.

Convertible Tablets are more powerful than Slates.

~~~~~

These Convertible PC Tablets are VERY expensive going from $1200-3000 when buying them brand new, or even plainly used on Amazon, so buy them on Ebay. It seems like an unworthy source, but trust me, just look out for good sellers, and you can save a lot. Just ANALYZE their descriptions and selling reputation VERY well. To be safer, search for sellers that have a record of buyers reviewing him at least 95% and above, and make sure the seller provides lots of information, don't buy from anyone that seems to vague and thin with providing a detailed description for their product.

Great PC Tablets that are powerful, yet at very reasonable prices on Ebay are:

Lenovo Thinkpad x200t, Lenovo ThinkPad x201t, Lenovo Thinkpad x61t

HP Elitebook 2760p

Fujitsu Lifebook t5010

~~~~~

Goodluck~

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I am naturally tan but became pale over time if I get a tan will it stay or fade?

best luxury watches for women 2013 image

Anne Onymo

I am naturally tan (Native American) and because of staying inside so much I have become pale. Now I am getting a tan, will the tan stay permanently or will it fade in the winter?
I am still tan but I am pale like if you were white but you still could look pale the same with my skin I am dark but pale.

Answer
Tanning comes & go, unless you do them everyday 24/7 for the rest of your life. But in the end the only thing you'll benefit is either moles, freckles, skin tags or discolorations from sunscreens, lotions, etc. and the more you do, the more they get larger, darker & bumpier. My nephew had a membership in a tanning bed salon for a year. After it expired, he stopped, now he's as white as before he began.

Tanning, is a result for 'damaged skin' and no products can reverse you from skin cancer or damaged skin, may prevent you from pre-mature aging, but that's part of the billion dollar beauty industry.
A new study conducted by the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology has found that tanning bed exposure can be dangerous when tanners self-diagnose skin problems and use the radiation to treat skin eruptions. The study specifically found that a tanning bed user that used the radiation to treat a mild skin rash caused by an ibuprofen allergy developed a much more severe reaction called toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). When left untreated, TEN can be fatal.
Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease. An estimated 76,690 new cases of skin cancer will be reported particularly among women in their 20's & 30's, and that's 6,020 more than 2011, people died from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute. Two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the US each year, according to the EPA's Sun-Wise Program. That's more than breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer cases combine! Now however, a recently published study suggests that those people with ginger hair and fair complexions face a much higher risk of developing dead skin cancer even if they are completely protected.
Nov 2nd, 2012.

Watch Mirror, Mirror when the evil queen played by Julia Roberts wanted to look as fair as the princess played by Lily Collins. I came from a vacay in Ireland, and many of the people there working in the profession (luxury hotels and banks, etc.) have beautiful white complexion!
This is what beautiful flawless skin looks like:
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/dos-and-donts/hairstyle-pictures-today/2012/05/15/zooey-deschanel-side-swept-chocolate-curls
Google Liv Tyler. http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=liv+tyler&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Or Google Catherine Zeta Jones - she's 42 with beautiful skin.
Watch The Duchess - Keira Knightly has flawless complexion - a natural beauty.
Taylor Swift is another starlet with beautiful skin, in her 20's.
Nicole Kidman has flawless skin (barely wears makeup) or Julianne Moore, who is 7 yrs. younger than me! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2325045/Cannes-Film-Festival-2013-Nicole-Kidman-protects-big-hair-umbrella.html
Google: Dita von Teese she's the queen of retro style.
Google: Pale Complexion celebrities.About 513,000 results

I've been protecting myself from the sun since age 9, but no matter, I got Discoid Lupus. Google that one. It was like someone punched my chin and it gave a purplish mark. It took 12 years for that to fade, so now I'm using a wide brim hat or umbrella for protection. Gene Simmons & Shannon both have been seen hold an umbrella during an event. They were invented before beauty products, for a reason. Google also Bullous Pemphegoid, photos I posted of my mother was too gross & deleted, another skin disorder.

Take the Skin Picture Quiz - Identify These Common Skin Conditions on MedicineNet.

I'm paler than a polar bear? Any tips on how to tan without fake tan or makeup?

Emma

I am really really pale. Like whiter than paper. And I hate it. I'm also 9stone,so I'm fat :( I'm 13 btw and female. But I want to be tan but don't want to use fake tan or makeup. And it's impossible to get a sun tan because I live in Ireland where the most interesting thing is potatoes and sheep. So any tan tips?

Answer
Embrace your paleness. You could be one contestant, and adored by Asians, specially if you're young & slim.

Example what I'm talking about. Read this: Miss Korea 2013 Contestants Spark Plastic Surgery Debate- April 24, 2013.

I just came from Ireland, and I found many people there working @ luxury spas, banks, hotels have beautiful pale complexion.

Watch Mirror, Mirror when the evil queen played by Julia Roberts wanted to look as fair as the princess played by Lily Collins. I came from a vacay in Ireland, and many of the people there working in the profession (luxury hotels and banks, etc.) have beautiful white complexion!
This is what beautiful flawless skin looks like:
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/dos-and-donts/hairstyle-pictures-today/2012/05/15/zooey-deschanel-side-swept-chocolate-curls
Google Liv Tyler. http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=liv+tyler&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Or Google Catherine Zeta Jones - she's 42 with beautiful skin.
Watch The Duchess - Keira Knightly has flawless complexion - a natural beauty.
Taylor Swift is another starlet with beautiful skin, in her 20's.
Nicole Kidman has flawless skin or Julianne Moore, who is 7 yrs. younger than me!
Google: Pale Complexion celebrities.About 513,000 results
If you're very tall, very skinny, and pale complexion, you're a desirable model in Asia!

I've been protecting myself from the sun since age 9, but no matter, I got Discoid Lupus. Google that one. It was like someone punched my chin and it gave a purplish mark. It took 12 years for that to fade, so now I'm using a wide brim hat or umbrella for protection. Gene Simmons & Shannon both have been seen hold an umbrella during an event. They were invented before beauty products, for a reason. Google also Bullous Pemphegoid, photos, another skin disorder.

Take the Skin Picture Quiz - Identify These Common Skin Conditions on MedicineNet.

Tanning comes & go, unless you do them everyday 24/7 for the rest of your life. But in the end the only thing you'll benefit is either moles, freckles, skin tags or discolorations from sunscreens, lotions, etc. and the more you do, the more they get larger, darker & bumpier. My nephew had a membership in a tanning bed salon for a year. After it expired, he stopped, now he's as white as before he began.

Tanning, is a result for 'damaged skin' and no products can reverse you from skin cancer or damaged skin, may prevent you from pre-mature aging, but that's part of the billion dollar beauty industry.
A new study conducted by the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Dermatolo

Nice watch for my mom this Christmas?

women luxury watches diamond image

Kyle

I want to get my mom a nice watch for Christmas. I would like to keep my purchase under $350 if at all possible. I was thinking something along the lines of this:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Citizen+Women%27s+EW0890-58D+Eco-Drive+Riva+Diamond+Accented+Watch&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=665&tbm=isch&tbnid=NjZGNoz29hAL5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.itmustbetime.com/citizen-women-s-eco-drive-riva-diamond-accented-watch-ew0890-58d.html&docid=_lOsmNsh9kh-oM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.itmustbetime.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/E/W/EW0890-58D.jpg&w=280&h=280&ei=6jPHTqDHKMuEtgfGycTsCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=190&vpy=251&dur=365&hovh=143&hovw=143&tx=114&ty=59&sig=102680990115656803068&page=1&tbnh=143&tbnw=143&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
it is $296 on Amazon.
But I am not sure what a good brand is, or if this is a good watch for the money.
I know she wouldn't like anything too big and too flashy, so I am trying to keep it on the smaller side and avoid something that stands out too much. I think she prefers mostly silver.

If you guys could recommend me any good quality watches, watch brands, or even a decent place to purchase watches your help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer
Rolex watches are the ultimate luxury watches, but they would be out of your price range unless you buy them on ebay.
Good watch brands include Swatch, Citizen, Seiko, Casio, and designer watches like Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Armani, all of which would come within your price range.

The website I linked just lists some brands and price comparisons that you may find helpful

can you please tell me about dupont lighters?

Robert

Answer
""""

S. T. Dupont Paris is a designer brand name and manufacturer of stylish lighters, collectible pens, handbags, and recently stylish tech gadgets using the trademark diamond-head pattern. The company has been producing luxury items since 1872 when founded by Simon Tissot Dupont. The founder of the brand, Simon Tissot-Dupont was born in Savoy in 1847. S.T. Dupont owes its initials to him.

History

Simon Tissot founded a carriage company which was destroyed in a fire in 1872. Unabashed, that same year he bought a workshop which made leather briefcases for diplomats and businessman.

In 1884, Simon Tissot Dupont became the supplier of one of the worldâs largest shops â Les Grands Magasins du Louvre â while maintaining his private clientele.

Simon Tissot Dupont handed over his company to his sons in 1919, Lucien and Andre, who, trading under the name of Les Fils de S.T. Dupont (the Sons of S.T. Dupont) relaunched the activity. The activity was focused on high quality travel cases and accessories. Highly qualified craftsmen were called upon and patents were taken out to protect industrial secrets. Two hundred and fifty workers and 17 separate traders were involved in the manufacture, such as goldsmiths, woodworkers, engravers, leather craftsmen, lacquer workers, locksmiths, etc.

S.T. Dupont transferred its workshops from rue Dieu in Paris back to the family's hometown of Faverges in Savoy in 1924.

In 1929 Lucien Tissot Dupont was invited to New York by Louis Cartier to present his travel cases in their 5th Avenue shop. On the ship going to New York he learned about the Crash and the ensuing panic on Wall Street. Upon his return to Paris, in response to the crisis, he decided to move even further upmarket and cater to clients unaffected by the Crash.

Dupont became supplier to kings, emperors, maharajahs, ambassadors, and bankers. Up to 10 exceptional travel cases are turned out of the workshops every month. The master craftsmen work with extravagant materials: crocodile skin, gold and silver, ivory, and tortoiseshell.

In 1971, ST Dupont was purchased by Gillette. The company bought 48% of its stocks.

However, the brand would not last with Gillete too long. In 1987, it was eventually sold to Dickson Concepts Ltd.

Products

Since then, Dupont has gone on to produce lighters, pens, wallets, watches, and fragrances. It currently controls 70% of the luxury lighters market. The first S.T. Dupont serially produced lighter was created in 1941, during World War II. It was made of Aluminum, as brass was used as a strategic metal restricted for war purposes only. From 1958-1963 all lighters were constructed of 18k solid gold with 3% brass. The 50-60's LIGNE 1 series was most popular and very pricey. S.T. Dupont is better known as a masculine luxury brand but it creates accessories and products also appealing to women.

Today S.T. Dupont is active in high quality luxury and jeweled lighters, writing instruments, leather goods and accessories

As of May 25, the most expensive lighter on Ebay.com, at $85,000, is the ST Dupont Prestige lighter.

""""

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What are some techniques for writing a good script?

must have luxury watches women image

Q. I don't have a degree in English but I am sure I can make sense out of all the times I talk/write. How can I come up with characters and their personalities, scenery, main and 2nd storyline, what kind of research do I need for example if I want to write a script like "What Women Want" wise, etc?
And how long is an average movie/tv script?

Answer
A degree in English won't help you anyhow so don't worry. Those who study English do not explore the process of storytelling, unfortunately, but instead study the extrinsics of writing by examining language, code, and text. This used to not be the case. In the early 20th century through the 50s, storytelling was a requisite course for writers just as much as art is for painters or music for musicians. This became lost in the 60s and the loss of the craft of storytelling has been severe for the past two generations who have never learned how to tell a story. But English degree holders can tell you about gender identity, psychology of characters, and other facts that are looking at a story from the outside. But these facts won't tell you how to create a story.

Like a painter who is wanting to paint or a musician wanting to create a symphony, writers learn their craft. But most writers today don't have the luxury of taking courses on storytelling and therefore learn subconsciously by reading and mimicking the structure of what they read. Those who say "just write" as an answer are really saying to apply everything you've learned subconsciously through reading as if the mystery will be revealed. This doesn't work for everyone. And they may bring up example of child prodigies who they don't believe require learning, which if you're a prodigy you wouldn't have asked the question.

Screenwriters still take classes on storytelling in film school to explicitly learn how to tell a story (George Lucas, Tim Burton, etc...). English majors haven't taken these classes for 40 years, and even creative writing courses today focus on extrinsics and expression rather than on dramaturgy and prose arts such as plot and spine.

You should focus on telling a story. This is more important than the format of your screenplay, more important than your title, and more important than finding a publisher. After you've written your story you can then learn about how to do that.

Stories tell us the meaning of life and say, "life is like that!". At least the best ones do.

So, to get you started, below is the process that will show you how a story begins from idea to germination. Then, once you grasp this you can learn how to turn a seedling into a rose bush.

Before you write, you must have something to say, though. There are three things that I believe are important and these three things are often confused with each other:

1) Premise
2) Setting
3) Theme

Let me illustrate the difference so you can easily find the theme of any story by walking through how a writer creates a story. This way you can easily find how to begin the quest. By seeing how a writer creates stories, you can see it from his or her point of view and clearly find the theme and learn to do it yourself.

The controlling idea is the meaning of your story. It is another word for "theme". The premise is what happens. The setting is the place and time where it's set.

For example, when you ask someone who just watched or read "Lord of the Rings" what it's about, they'll probably say something like, "it's an epic story about a hobbit who is given a huge responsibility to take a magical ring into a mountain to destroy it and save the world and elves and men unite to....etc.." Or they may answer "It's about Middle Earth". These are not themes. The first is simply the premise. The latter is the setting. What the story is *really* about is: "Freedom is attained when we risk and sacrifice ourselves." That is the controlling idea (the theme) of the story. Of course, we can debate if that is the true controlling idea but I'm only giving you my interpretation.

Harry Potter's premise contains magic, and the setting is in a fantasy land, but the theme is not about magic nor fantasy. The theme of Harry Potter might be: "Happiness prevails when we are confident of our own gifts and individuality." Discuss. =)

Now you can apply this understanding as I'll explain below with a story to any story you read.

First, I'll explain the premise. This way you'll see the difference.

A writer finds a premise through research and asking "what if" for any situation. If you read the news, one can find many ideas if you simply ask yourself "what if" as you read through it.

For example, I randomly selected a news article on Yahoo News:
Survivors recall horror of flu pandemic

As I'm reading through each line, I'm thinking about story ideas and asking "what if". For example, I read this line:

>> The flu swept through the nation's capital, which had attracted thousands of soldiers and war workers.

Now I'm asking myself, 'what if someone built a virus and orchestrated a large event so they could infect everyone in it to inflict the most damage?'

That's a start, but sounds a bit cliche, but that's okay. Let your mind race and you'll then ask "what if" upon "what if". What if the person accidently released the virus and kept silent while everyone around them died? What if the event was organized by a force where people are called to gather in one location but everyone made excuses for going there without realizing they were being forced -- only a supernatural force could do that -- and the reason is the supernatural force wanted to end the human race? hehe...this gets into some horror or science-fiction if that's your bag. But you can see the magic "what if" at work.

Let's choose the supernatural 'what if' as the premise in this example. Now we're going to start thinking of the controlling idea. This is what is the heart of your story -- the story you need to tell and what the story is *truly* about.

The controlling idea is not a single word; it's not going to be about "viruses" nor "aliens" nor "Civil War". The Controlling Idea tells us, "life is like this!"

The controlling idea will be a sentence that tells us how and why life changes from one condition of existence to another (again, theme and controlling idea are the same -- I prefer to use controlling idea). This change will show up in the climax of the last act of your story. That's where you will find the controlling idea.

Concerning how I came up with Harry Potter's controlling idea, I looked at the last acts' endings of every Harry Potter story. What value changed? Harry went from being unconfident to confident and therefore was happy whereas each story opens with him in a situation and the world crumbling around him and constantly being challenged. Look at the last act's value change.

Fine writers filter everything they write through the controlling idea and then work up to the last climax -- look at the value that exists throughout the story because there will be themes that come and go. For example in Harry Potter he often seeks to befriend those who try to do him harm so we learn that "Trust is earned when we love our enemy" -- or because that didn't always work we could say, "Evil prevails when we try to love our enemies" but either of these is not the controlling idea of the entire story.

Going back to my story, by following the writer's work and using the premise that people are being supernaturally led to gather in one location, we need to come up with a protagonist. I'm going to use a "what if" and ask 'what if the protagonist is also under this supernatural spell?' That will make it more interesting because it will provide deeper conflict. Not only will he have to try to save the world but also get out the spell himself perhaps.

Some more questions I will ask myself and we're going to come to the controlling idea of the story I created: What is this spell? What is so attractive to force these people to gather without them even knowing they're being forced? Now this is starting to get rich. We know a lot of people do things they don't want because they're manipulated. Cults are famous for doing this. Charismatic leaders and propaganda are also effective. People are manipulated in many ways that many fail to see they're being manipulated. And those who best manipulate do it without you knowing. Life is like that! Now I'm starting to find my controlling idea.

My controlling idea is a sentence, it's not simply "manipulation". So, I start with something -- it's better than nothing: "Evil prevails when we fail to examine our conscious and instead follow others" or "Compassion prevails in humans only when we follow our conscious". Whichever we choose, it must be clear in the last-climax of the last act of your story.

As a writer develops the story, they work to that last act. Many writers paste that controlling idea onto the computer monitor and filter everything they write through it. Your characters may go in different directions, but this controlling idea is the writer's guide.

Concerning the setting, you can place this story in a different dimension, in a different time, or on a different planet. That will change the dynamics of the story but it won't change the controlling idea and that is where the power of the story exists -- it gives it meaning.

For the setting let's place this premise 50 years into the future on Earth.

The character will have an object of desire. In the premise that I've created, the supernatural force is manipulating people to gather in one location so it can infect them with a virus. Because I think this force is intelligent and sly, it's not going to be identical for every peson and is going to feed on the weakness of every individual. I think the best object of desire for the protagonist is going to be his pursuit of power within his sphere of influence. So, let's say he's an oceanographer (I pulled that out of nowhere). He would become famous and influential if he made an important discovery -- perhaps a discovery that can save lives such as tsumani detection technology (but in 50 years in the future we could make a more futuristic device). This is what he wants -- power. The force provides him the opportunity to seek this object and eventually he's going to have to go to this one location where the force intends to infect him. Now we have a lot more what ifs' to ask. As you can see, we're starting a great outline of the story and fleshing it out.

But we need to get back to the controlling idea.

I like up-endings so I want him to become redeemed in the end. I think his pride is too great and his pursuit of power is evil. His idea of saving lives is a great idea, but his reasoning is not -- he's doing it to gain influence for himself, not to help people -- this makes him conflicted and provides excellent dimension to his character. This force is going to manipulate his desire. But I am also going to add a subconscious desire to this. I want it so that he really doesn't want power...he simply doesn't recognize that the work he does already helps to save lives by adding to the research of others who are trying to find effective tsunami detection devices. He'll end up realizing this in the end. And this matches my controlling idea: "Evil prevails when we fail to examine our conscious and instead follow others." His pursuit of power only leads him into trouble as he follows others in trying to please them. But we still have to deal with this supernatural force that is manipulating everyone. Do we make our protagonist one who defeats the force, or do we make him lose by it. Either way, we must know the controlling idea clearly at the end of the last climax no matter what he does.

Although I went off in a science-fiction direction, the controlling idea I discovered can exist in any genre and any setting whether this is based during the time of the Civil War, the present, or on Mars.

Although I wrote a lot, I hope leading you through the writer's process will help you to see clearer how stories are developed and make it easier to find the theme and your premise and then things will begin to fall into place.

What are some poems about home being the best treasure?

WildAt<3

I need a poem about appreciating what you have and home being the greatest treasure.
Oh, that poem was soo good. I think it just may work. Can you please help me like analyze it a little more though? I get the part where it says home is just something money can't buy. But that's about it.

Answer
How about this by Edgar A. Guest? I hope the country dialect doesn't spoil it for you--seems to have what you want:

HOME

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
It ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.

Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb-marks on the door.

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled, an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.

Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.

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buying products not in UK off ebay?

luxury ladies watches uk image

Sam

i want to buy this watch and its from Hongkong and im in the uk. the item says its £2.45 and free postage, does this mean no other postage or exchange fees.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Luxury-Sport-Style-LED-Digital-Date-Lady-Men-Watch-New-/270809974745?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&var&hash=item84b87aada9#shId
thanks

Answer
Yes you have that correctly, there will not be a mailing charge which is already included in the price. Since the price is quoted in GBP there will not be a foreign exchange fee either. Obviously this is a cheaply manufactured watch, but hey, if it lasts for a year or two you got your money's worth.

Mail of small packages from Hong Kong to the UK is typically delivered in about 2 weeks, often with the hang-up being in the UK customs office. There should not be any import duties either.

REPLICA4WATCHES supply replica watches ?

shawn

Lady watch is the most important accessory a lady can own, so is men watch. - it is an essential style element. Replica watches are invented for the people who want to look good, to impress everybody, but they don't hurt their pockets to buy original expensive watches. REPLICA4WATCHES can supply top quality watches, the precision engineering of the watches. Nobody will know that it is not real from the sight. Also, it is a very good, pleasant and not expensive present for your friend, father, husband, wife or any other close person, witch will serve for many years. This great present will remind about you to your close man every time. If you are looking for luxury, the latest watch technology and excellent design take a look at our collection of replica watches. Replica4watches will make your dream come true now.

REPLICA4WATCHES (http://www.replica4watches.com) specialize in top quality Replica Rolex watches, Cartier, Chanel ceramic glaze watches, Jacob & Co. watches, ETC.

Answer
thr..

You can find all types of replica watches on the site-:

http://www.replicahours.com

Thanks
http://www.brickblue.co.uk

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Is a luxury watch like Rolex worth so much money?

luxury watches for her image

John

Why do luxury watches like Rolex cost so much money. They look kinda plain and the mechanical movements don't keep time as well as a their super cheap quartz counterparts. What then is the justification for spending over 5000 dollars for a regular steel watch?

Answer
They are hand made. They last the rest of your life (assuming they get regular service). The equivalent Chinese watch lasts only a few months.

Even the cheapest stainless steel Rolex costs about $7,000.

A Rolex is vanity. I own one because I like it. But many people choose to have children. Children are vanity. I choose not to have that kind of vanity. Thankfully my girlfriend is on board with that. Smart phones are also vanity. I have no need for that. Everyone has their own vanity.

Also a Rolex is something earned. It is not about the watch. It is about the work it took to make the money to buy it.

What are the most popular luxury watch brands worldwide?

Braniac

I'm doing a bit of ad-hoc research, and was wondering what the most popular luxury watch brands in different countries were.

I read a report that said Rolex and Tag Heuer were at the top for the USA.

Does anyone know what the top 5 are in places like Britain, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia etc?

Thanks

Answer
Omega
Citizen
Seiko
Breitling
Tag Heuer
Cartier
Invicta
Kenneth Cole
Patek Philippe
Guess
Bulova
Longines
Skagen
Rado
Rolex
Gucci
Tissot

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Why is that when i start running for a couple of minutes there's piercing pain on either sides of my hips?

luxury watches for couples image

prawnoodle

I always loved to run but unfortunately after running for a minute or two there's a piercing pain on either sides or both if i keep pushing it.. Why does this happen? and is there anything i can do to avoid such pain?

Thanks a million!

Answer
Interesting question.
Without knowing anything else about you or you running style, there are just a couple of things that come to mind.
Perhaps the most important thing is the question about stretching. Are you doing any stretches at all?
The human body, while not an automobile, is like a car in this way: You would not start your car on an icy, winter day, and immediately start driving at 60 MPH! The reason is that cars need to warm up, just like people do. With cars, you have cold metal grinding against cold metal, and that just does not work out too well for the long term survival of the car.
People need to warm up properly before running! Part of that warm-up should be a series of stretches, and that should include all of the major muscle groups. Legs, arms, shoulders, trunk twists, etc etc. The idea is to prepare your body to run. None of the stretches should be bounced, either. You should move into the stretch gradually, and then hold it for 20-30 seconds.
Once you start to run, start slowly at first. Again, running will subject the body to stresses that it normally does not have to deal with, and this is especially true if you are planning to run a few miles or more.
The next time there is a track meet on television, or in your area, watch the runners before their events. They are often stretching for quite a while before they even get out on the track.

I can assure you of this: You will never see a world class runner who does not do a lot of stretching both before and after the event. We stretch before in order to reduce the chance of injury. We stretch afterwards in order to reduce the amount of residual tightness that often occurs after a particularly hard event.

Let me add a little anecdote here. Derek Clayton was a world class marathon runner, who held the world record for the marathon longer than anyone else in the history of the sport. The one thing that cut his career short was that he got injured often. It was even suggested by some (kiddingly, of course) that Clayton wound up on the operating table so often, his surgeon could buy a new luxury car each year. In his early years of running, he didn't do much stretching at all. When he wrote his book "Running to the Top", he devoted an entire chapter to the importance of stretching, commenting that if he had it to do over again, he definitely would have done a lot more stretching than he did.

By the way, listen to your body. If there is pain, you should pull back. If it fades, continue. If not, then it's better to stop and get it checked out right away. A doctor who is skilled in sports medicine should be able to diagnose the injury and suggest the best treatment for it.

Good luck, and good running!

So excited-getting ready to retire. Any good vacation ideas that are fairly reasonable?

Zelda

I also am single so do not want a family, romantic couple kind of place. A cruise? Europe too expensive. Mexico, Alaska, U.s.? I live in CA. Thanks!

Answer
How about small ship cruise? They are more expensive than the giant resort ships but there are always singles and everyone mixes well because they are of similar mind set! You also don't get drunks, morons and screaming out of control kids!

Dragged on to our very first cruise (Princess, Vancouver to Anchorage) by my wife kicking and screaming I would hate it. Loved it!

Tried the big lines for several cruises. HOWEVER we didn't like the crowds and missing the "real world" you pass by on the way to the next money making tourist stop, complete with 2+ other cruise ships also docked!

Have been all over the world visiting remote/fantastic sites (impossible for big ships to get at) in small ships since.

Went on 100 person ship Anchorage to Vancouver 2011.
Never saw a big ship!
Never stopped at a tourist trap town!
No dancing girls or casino.
No crowds or queues!
Visited back of beyond small towns - bet you have never been to a hammer museum - we have now!
We spent most of the time out in the Zodiacs seeing the best show on earth - NATURE!
In front of a glacier having a 10,000 ton calving (mini tsunami moved us all around).
Standing in a salmon spawning stream with the fish swimming through our feet.
Being one side of a river watching bears catching salmon on the other side!
Spending 2 hours drifting with a pod of about 20 humpback whales bubble feeding - something you never expect to see other than on TV.
Sea otters, Sea lions, humpback breaching about 50ft from us!
Barbecued on a spit of land surrounded by nature/mini icebergs/Eagles!
Drifting with a pod of Orca whales as we approached northern Victoria Island.
Total sensory overload all the time etc. etc.
You don't compromise comfort or good food!
The choice is yours! We never go on big ships now!

Yes they are more expensive - but worth it!

Our next trip (this year it is in an 80 person ship) will be staying within the Glacier Park area and we will not visit any towns but we will be trekking / exploring / whale watching / kayaking / glacier watching. Hope not to see another ship!
This is the company we are going with.
Not as luxury as some of the other small ships, but we also choose by outstanding itinerary!
Best time for whale watching is last 2 weeks of July.
http://www.un-cruise.com/alaska-discoverâ¦

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Im giving myself a computer for the holidays. What should I keep in mind when making a purchase?

high end luxury watches brands image

gr8_smyll

I don't plan to use it for work. Only for games and fun stuff--movies,music, etc.

Answer
Your question is relatively broad, as the level of your gaming, music, and movie usage isn't defined. Will you simply be watching movies or editing them? When you say games, do you mean online Yahoo! poker or do you want to play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on the highest graphic settings? The answers to these questions change my recommendations greatly, but I will give a quick, sweeping overview of components anybody should look for with a PC.

If you are going to buy the PC from a major company such as Dell, Gateway, etc. you will find that they offer different level computers for different levels of needs. As somebody suggested, a desktop will typically give you more performance for the price if you plan on using it at home. But, there is something very nice about being able to e-mail from your couch and surfing the net wireless.

Still, you listed movies as one of your concerns, and this typically calls for a large screen and robust sound system. You can get a large screen for a laptop, but then it ceases to be all that portable and you'd still have to hook it up to stationary speakers or headphones to get any kind of audio enjoyment from your music/media. In this regards, do no skimp on the monitor. Look for an LCD monitor with a high refresh rate (for gaming purposes) and make sure it is big enough for your purposes. 17" is a good starting size, but you'll thank yourself if you go 19" or larger. Widescreen is a luxury you can choose if you wish, but I wouldn't say it's required to any degree.

As for the guts of the computer, you're going to want to look at CPU, memory, graphics card, and hard drive space. There are, of course, other components, but these are your core essentials when judging what type of machine you're looking at.

How much CPU power will be completely dependent upon what types of applications you wish to run. If you see yourself doing movie editing, every ounce of horsepower counts. But if you don't plan on doing editing or extremely high end gaming, basically anything that is a 64 bit processor will suffice. It is important you get the 64 bit processor, as this technology will be taking over soon and you don't want to be lagging too far behind after only a year. There are two major brands of CPU: Intel and AMD. Both are good choices and you will find people that swear by one or the other. I've used both, and can say it's hard to make a bad choice.

Memory (RAM) is simple. The more you have, the better. A year ago I would have said 512mb would get most people by, but that's swiftly changing. I'd recommend at least 1gb of ram. If you plan on doing any sort of 3D gaming, put the most in you can afford. RAM is probably the cheapest and easiest way to notice an improvement in your computers performance.

Graphics cards can get more complicated. I wrote another suggestion on graphics card I will link for you here if you wish to read more:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As7hHFFE_Y86a_2VkUktXL3sy6IX?qid=20061130225304AA7j0co&show=7#profile-info-fa45dee379360ef00b1118481e6ba8c0aa
If you plan on doing extensive 3D gaming and movie watching, you will want a nice graphics card. Get at least 256mb of memory on it. This would be the minimum now for gaming, so if you can upgrade, do it. However for most people, a graphics card with 256mb is going to do the trick for awhile.

Finally, the hard drive. This is just how much stuff you'll be fitting onto your computer. Again, the more the better. If you're downloading music, games, and movies 100gb (gigabytes) gets small really quick. Look for something with over 150gb, and upgrade as you see fit to your needs.

In short: Get a nice monitor! This is something you'll be looking at for hours, so make it pretty. When getting a CPU, make it a 64 bit processor. The best graphics card you can afford is future proofing you to be able to do games for at least 2 years. The more RAM the better, at least 1 gigabyte (But you probably wouldn't need more than 2gb). And the more hard drive space the better: you want to be able to store all your videos, movies, music, and games.

There are other features to look for, but by follow these basic standards you'll be sure to find a PC to suit your needs and price!

A quick word on Apple computers:
These are a great alternative to the PC, especially now that they come with an intel processor. However, they are going to typically cost more than a PC and not every piece of software/hardware will work for it. Still, they are beautiful machines and if you can afford the price tag I wouldn't think twice about recommending a purchase.

whats the difference between a cheap watch and an expensive brand ie rolex, omega etc.?

yep

I have always loved buying watches but all my life i have gone with less expensive brands (quartz) I would just like to know what I am buying when I buy a more expensive brand such as omega, rolex, etc. The specs are sometimes identical. why would someone spend so much money?

Answer
Captain Obvious is correct about a few things, but not all.

For the most part, there isn't much of a difference (functionally) between a $50 quartz watch and a $2,000 quartz watch. Quite obviously, there will be a better quality product -- both in terms of aesthetics and finish as well as in terms of reliability and quality of timekeeping. Otherwise, both tell time fairly well.

However, the differences start showing when you are looking at mechanical watches that do not use Quartz, such as Automatics. These watches are mechanical marvels that can do some pretty darn interesting and complicated things. The advantage of an Automatic over a Quartz, of course, is that the good ones are built to last and you can pass it on to your next generation.

In that regard, a lot of the watches may seem the same (i.e. they tell time - duh). However, remember that with luxury watches, you are paying for it as a piece of expensive jewelry and art. The fact that it tells time is secondary.

Therefore, the difference therefore comes in *how* a watch tells time -- i.e. what mechanism (or movement) does it use, how well does it work, what else can it do, how well was it made, who made it, where was it made, what materials were used etc. In that regard, there is a world of difference in the tiers.

You've beginner luxury brands -- Raymond Weil, Longines, Stowa etc. Great watches, very reliable and use standard "movements" with excellent quality construction -- but nothing special. Not particularly expensive (less than $2,000 usually).

Then you have the mid tier brands. Within the mid tier brands, you've the lower mid tier and the higher mid tier brands.

In the lower mid tier, you have Omega, Rolex, Breitling, IWC etc -- around $2,000 - $10,000. About the same as the beginner (mostly), but slightly better quality and finish, and better brand name. In the higher mid tier brands, you get brands like Girard Perregaux, Breguet, and even IWC. Much better quality -- and you start getting into "custom" movements and "complications" that do some really amazing and cool mechanical things, and they are usually between $10,000 - $50,000. Their finish and quality tends to be rather outstanding, and they are not as commonly found.

Both the beginner and mid-tier brands are pretty reliable, and adhere to COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) standards of timekeeping accuracy, even when they don't have to. More than likely, a cheap $50 watch -- or even some of the "branded" $1,000 watch (think Armani or Guess watches) -- will fail at these standards.

Finally, then you get into the truly higher end brands -- Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemar Piguet, A. Lange & Söhne, etc. These guys make mechanical marvels, and they maintain the market by producing only a handful of truly outstanding pieces that pretty much take several top notch master watchmakers years to make their timepieces. These can go into the millions. And remember -- in this category, it's less about it being a watch and more about prestige, art, and the fact that you own one of a kind mechanical marvel.

At the end of the day, you must remember that once you leave the functional realm, watches become status symbols, and ergo Veblen goods (i.e. people buy them *because* they are expensive and elitist). You end up with "snob effect", where people want to use exclusive products, and price becomes associated with quality. Unfortunately, the side effect is the "bandwagon effect", where everyone wants to use exclusive products, and the demand for high-priced goods goes up. Consequently, the price of the already high-priced goods goes up.

If it helps, you should check out manufacturers like Parnis [1] or Sea Gull [2] -- Chinese watchmakers that make rather excellent watches comparable to lower end Swiss watch makers at a much lower price point.

Either way, watches are rather interesting, and you'd be amazed at just what's out there. Enjoy!

And here are some examples of "grand complications" --

Patek Philippe -
http://www.patek.com/patek-philippe.html?pageId=44674

Vacheron Constantin -
http://www.vacheron-constantin.com/en2/our-watches/#screen=PRODUCT;productRef=47070-000J-9085

Audemar Piguet -
http://www.audemarspiguet.com/collections/men/jules-audemars-47/equation-of-time-72/jules-audemars-skeleton-equation-of-time-1383/

A. Lange & Söhne -
http://www.alange-soehne.com/cms/en/timepieces/unforgettable-masterpieces/grand-lange-1-luna-mundi/index.html

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