The watch was first created in the 16th century when the spring driven clock was invented. These watches were at first quite big and boxy and were worn around the neck. It was not for another century that it became common to wear a watch in a pocket.

The rise of railroading during the last half of the 19th century led to the widespread use of pocket watches. Because of the likelihood of train wrecks and other accidents if all railroad workers did not accurately know the current time, pocket watches became required equipment for all railroad workers.

Up until about the turn of the 20th century though, the pocket watch was predominant and the wristwatch was considered feminine and unmanly. In men’s fashions, pocket watches began to be superseded by wristwatches around the time of World War I, when officers in the field began to appreciate that a watch worn on the wrist was more easily accessed than one kept in a pocket.

Around the turn of last century, pocket watches were the norm. Wrist watches simply weren’t commonplace and a pocket watch was as carefully chosen to go with a suit as a jacket and shoes. Many men owned several pocket watches for that very purpose.

Pocket watches are not common in modern times, but some collectors or people who like extraordinary things, do not regret any sum of money to catch an unusual pocket watch. They would be interested in the following information:

Sotheby’s will put one of the most important double-dialed pocket watches ever manufactured onto the auction block at its “Important Watches and Wristwatches” sale May 16 in Geneva. The George Thompson pocket watch by Patek Philippe is a minute-repeating pocket watch made for Thompson in 1914. The piece features two dials displaying perpetual calendar, moon phases and split seconds chronograph with register. The timepiece is expected to fetch $300,000 to $450,000 when the gavel falls.

It is possible today to buy pocket watch at any price and of the best quality on-line. It is a perfect gift for your friend, beloved and even for a chief and a colleague.

By the way, we have already got mp3 watches! It’s just the idea of an mp3 pocket watch for those who think that the pocket watch is a thing of the past.

Amethyst is the birthstone for month of February. Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral quartz and is a popular gemstone.

The name Amethyst is derived from the Greek ‘a methystos’ and means “not drunken.” This was perhaps due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like color of some stones that they may have encountered.

Varying in shade from pale mauve to deep purple, the beautiful amethyst has a rich history ranging from mythology to some quite famous admirers.

• Cleopatra, a lover of amethysts, wore a beautiful signet ring which had the figure of Mithras engraved on it; Mithras was a Persian deity who symbolized the source of light and life;
• In the British Crown Jewels the Amethyst can be found;
• Catherine the Great of Russia loved this stone;
• In the Roman Catholic Church the Amethyst is also found in abundance; Catholic bishops still wear the traditional large amethyst rings; as a representation of their charity;
•  Amethyst is also the stone of Saint Valentine and gives its wearer marital bliss;
•  Leonardo da Vinci praised Amethysts for the fact that it dispels evil thoughts and also because it sharpens the intellect.

Amethyst is considered to be the stone of spirituality, love and virginity. It helps dreaming, dispels nightmares. It is known as the “sobriety stone”, helps break bad habits. It is a powerful healing gem, having been used in treating disorders of the nervous system, digestive tract, heart, stomach, skin and teeth. An amethyst under the pillow can aid sleeplessness; an amethyst placed on the center of the forehead can relieve the pain of headaches.

Amethysts are plentiful and affordable. Qualitative amethyst jewelry can usually be found from fifty to a few hundred dollars. You can find a wide selection of Amethyst jewelry and other gemstone jewelry from reputable jewelers and online jewelry stores.

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Originally, a man wore gems to adorn himself, to beautify his garments and beloved, to decorate weapons and a horse.

Then, a rare stone became a measure of wealth and richness. In addition to the great value of gems, they possess enormous wonder-working powers and effects. For example, the ancient warriors always had a diamond on the left side of the weapon to avoid death. It was considered that the diamond frightens away bad dreams and helps to somnambulists. Ancient people believed that the emerald neutralizes the venom and they put the stone into the cup with the dubious drink.

It is believed that there are no gems without any related superstitions, signs, beneficial or deleterious effects. The Japanese consider pearls to be a symbol of health, happiness, longevity and love. In the 19^th century Brazilian doctors were ordered to wear ring with an emerald; the lawyers wore finger-rings with rubies, and the engineers had to adorn themselves with a sapphire. The gems were assigned to improve the professional qualities.

According to some legends, the agate is a symbol of longevity and health, the topaz signifies fast friendship, and there is an interesting fact that turquoises guaranteed success while selling ill horses.

Everyone who wants to be happy in his life must wear the stone of his birth month – a birthstone. Here it is a list of birthstones:

January: Garnet or Rose Quartz;

February: Amethyst or Onyx;

March: Aquamarine or Bloodstone;

April: Diamond or Rock Crystal (Quartz);

May: Emerald or Chrysoprase;

June: Alexandrite or Moonstone or Pearl;

July: Ruby or Carnelion;

August: Peridot or Sardonyx;

September: Sapphire or Lapis;

October: Opal or Tourmaline;

November: Topaz or Citrine;

December: Tanzanite, Zircon or Turquoise.

But it is not the whole interesting information about gems. In the ancient pharmacopoeias, precious stones are counted among the most valuable remedies. Special virtues were attributed to the ruby, topaz, emerald, sapphire, and hyacinth, which were rendered famous in medicinal annals.

Nowadays the medical and mystical effects of gems are not officially recognized, but our belief in the reality of amulets and talismans is still alive.

Technorati Tags: gemstones, health, wealth, birthstone, diamond, emerald, symbol, talisman