Shopping for a men’s wedding band can be tricky: for an amateur to jewelry, the different settings, metals, and textures can be overwhelming. This is the ring that will accompany you through all of life’s ups and downs and symbolize the everlasting love you have for your future spouse, so it’s only appropriate that you take every factor into consideration here. We’ve put together this simple guide to different wedding band styles to help you choose the right ring for you.

Start with your budget.
Before you start thinking about your ring’s design, consider your budget which will be major player in making your ultimate decision. Different metal types (like yellow or white gold versus platinum) vary greatly in cost and you can save yourself a hefty chunk of change if you opt for white gold over platinum or skip on any precious stones. Jewelers can easily adapt your wedding band vision to fit within your budget—they just need to know what you’re comfortable with spending first.

Think about your lifestyle.
The kind of lifestyle you lead determines the metals you should use in your wedding band. If you’re very active or you use your hands a lot for hard work, you might want to opt for a more durable metal that will survive all the nicks and scratches of the hard contact your hands get into like platinum or stainless steel. If you want to learn more about the different types of metal that are commonly used in jewelry like wedding bands, visit our post about them here.

Figure in your personality.
Your wedding band should be representative both of your lifelong commitment to your significant other and your unique personality. Some couples may choose to match their wedding bands, but it’s certainly not a requirement. If you and your future spouse decide to have free reign on your individual wedding bands, then you should really infuse significant elements of yourself into the design. For example, if you’re a classic kind of guy looking for something low-key, a plain gold or silver ring is probably for you. If you lean more modern, then choosing a less traditional metal like rose gold or tungsten carbide might suit you more.

Remember that size matters.
Of course it’s important for your wedding band to be sized correctly, but that’s not what we’re referring to here. One thing that affects men’s wedding bands (and not women’s) is width. Depending on your style, you might be interested in a wider or chunkier ring or a small, unobtrusive one. Some styles don’t work for everyone, though: on smaller hands, the wider ring would look too big and swallow up your finger. While on larger hands, a thin ring would look underwhelming and too dainty. Try on rings of different sizes and widths to figure out which style complements your hands best.

Amp it up.
The options for men’s wedding bands are so varied these days that you can truly find the perfect ring for you, if not just design it yourself. First of all, even if you want a ring without any inlays or precious stones, it doesn’t mean it has to be plain. You can choose a ring with different kinds of textures that can really elevate its appearance: besides the typical high-shine texture, there’s also a matte brushed texture that looks masculine and luxurious and a hammered texture that draws the eye and strays from the traditional.

Inlays
If you are considering inlays or precious stones, a whole world of possibilities opens up for you. Using an inlay can really shake up the design and break up the uniformity of the metal. Choose a ring with a different texture than the outer metal for an interesting and cohesive look, or add in some wood or stone for an eye-catching, masculine element.

Precious stones
Diamonds and colored gemstones don’t have to be reserved for women’s jewelry! Whether you like a little bling or a lot of it, adding precious stones can really upgrade your ring’s look and set it apart from others. A ring with small, channel- or tension-set stones, for example, includes an element of color and shine that adds movement to the design without sacrificing any of the ring’s masculinity. Likewise, bigger, more imposing stones in a wedding band attract the eye and look impressive.

Audemars Piguet ranks as one of the most revered and prestigious watchmakers of all time. Founded in 1875, Audemars Piguet (also commonly referred to as simply “AP”) is one of the world’s oldest Swiss watchmakers and has maintained its esteem with impeccable and avant-garde designs. Here we explore the history and unique features of AP’s signature models.

Royal Oak
Unquestionably, Audemars Piguet’s most recognizable and sought after models is the Royal Oak. Designed by legendary watchmaker Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak made a disruptive debut in 1972; the Royal Oak, with its highly unconventional octangular-shaped bezel inspired by a diver’s helmet, defied industry convention as a steel dress watch. Moreover, its staggering price tag (3300 Swiss Francs) made it ten times more expensive than its contemporary Rolex Submariner and critics largely dismissed the Royal Oak as a miss by Audemars Piguet. However, over time, the Royal Oak gained high-profile industry fans who considered the Royal Oak as a prized addition to their collection. In turn, the AP Royal Oak has blown up into one of most iconic designs and remains a highly sought-after and prestigious collector’s item. To learn more about the history of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, read our post on the topic here.

Royal Oak Offshore
A spinoff of the Royal Oak, the equally impressive and distinguished Royal Oak Offshore was released to commemorate the Royal Oak’s 20th anniversary. The Royal Oak Offshore borrows its core design elements from the Royal Oak but, in step with modern tastes, boasts a hefty and robust size. Interestingly enough, like its predecessor, the Royal Oak Offshore was greeted with an initially cool reception. But, when looked at through the lens of 20/20 hindsight, the Royal Oak Offshore is considered the pioneer of the luxury sport watch trend. Today, the Royal Oak Off shore counts rapper Jay Z. and basketball legend LeBron James as some of its celebrity fans.

Jules Audemars
The Jules Ademars watch lifts its name from one of the Audemars Piguet founders and dutifully plays tribute to the watchmaker’s illustrious history and tradition. Strikingly different AP’s weighty and sporty Royal Oak and Royal Oak Off Shore models, the Jules Audemars collection is impeccably sophisticated and clean. The exquisitely refined design is marked for its round case and elegantly stark bezel; these two understated features ultimately distinguish the luxurious Jules Ademars watch.

Millenary
The Audemars Piguet Millenary—so named in honor of the third millennium—is distinct for a variety of reasons: a striking oblong case, asymmetrical dials, stepped lugs and bezel, and, perhaps above all, a beautifully skeletonized dial. This mesmerizing dial dramatically showcases the intricate movement housed inside. The eccentric Millneary sits beautifully within the Audemars Piguet’s collection as a premier example of the brand’s impeccable design aesthetic.

Want to learn more about Audemars Piguet? Read our post on the History of Audemars Piguet to learn about the brand and how it was on the verge of collapse before the Royal Oak’s introduction.

Because it’s been a dreary winter. Because you got a sweet tax refund. Because you earned it. Or just because! Treat yourself to one of these fashionable finds that you can enjoy and wear every day.

1. Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso Tic-Tac-Toe Brooch, $499
Brooches are a cool way to personalize any ensemble and we particularly love to pin them on the collars of jean jackets or trench coat lapels. And as Instagram-fanatics, we can’t help but immediately feel endeared to this hashtag-look-a-like brooch by Tiffany & Co.

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2. CHANEL CC Rhinestone Black Stud Earrings, $449
Upgrade your simple, everyday stud earrings with a luxe pair by CHANEL. The iconic interlocking Cs in a smaller size makes for a cool, subtle statement.

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3. Mawi Rose Gold Necklace with Black Crystals, $120
This Mawi necklace is the perfect dress-up-dress-down addition to your wardrobe. Wear it to brunch with a plain white tee and cropped jeans. Come Monday, layer it over your shift dress to add a stylish punch to your office-friendly ensemble.

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4. 14K Yellow Gold Friendship Bracelet, $140
We love this grown-up take on the childhood friendship bracelet. This stack-friendly piece will easily slip into your wardrobe and will definitely be a style you can sport all day, every day.

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5. Tourneau Yellow Gold and Leather Vintage Watch, $98
This vintage Tourneau watch feels remarkably fresh and modern with its square watch case and minimalist dial. The leather strap, meanwhile, preserves that perfectly retro vibe.

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6. Diane Von Furstenberg Yellow Gold Plated Brass Snake Chain Tassel, $225
As big of a statement piece as this necklace is, this DVF long pendant necklace with a retro twist is surprisingly easy to throw on with virtually any neckline: crew neck tees, fitted turtlenecks and even flowing boho wrap dresses.

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7. Fendi Classico Watch, $475
With its timeless shape and mixed metals, this Fendi watch offers a lot of style flexibility and will beautifully match any outfit.

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8. Mikimoto 18K Yellow Gold & Pearl Ring, $335
Pearls always feel romantic so we love this Mikimoto single pearl ring as a fashionable and personal addition to your wardrobe—a sweet little reward for yourself.

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9. 14K Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings, $378
Yellow gold hoop earrings are a classic addition to any jewelry collection. We love the light weight of this pair which makes them appropriate for day and evening wear.

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10. Michele Mini Urban Black Diamond Women’s Watch, $495
Michele watches have been on the up-and-up since the brand became a favorite of the street style stars. This deco-inspired shape and sleek design makes for a smart watch to wear to the office and through the weekend.

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11. 14K Yellow Gold & 0.26ct Diamond Pinky Ring, $281
One trend that is on the rise: vintage pinky rings. We love the sentimental look and feel of these antique rings and wearing them on your pinky finger has become a super fashion-forward way to sport it.

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12. Skagen SKW2511 Women’s Watch, $105
The ultra-minimalist design makes for a big style statement on this Skagen watch. It’s also a good size for slender wrists—over-sized while offering a comfortable fit.

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13. 14K Yellow Gold and 0.5ct Black Diamond Solitaire Necklace, $250
This delicate chain and single diamond necklace is the perfect gift-to-me: it immediately feels personal and its small and graceful design means it won’t clash with any outfit.

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14. Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Dome Ring, $351
The popularity of everyday diamonds—jewelry with small or pavé diamonds that don’t feel so stuffy or too precious to wear on non-special occasions—is on the rise. Get ahead of the fashion curve with this ring by Cartier that features a delicate diamond in a bezel setting.

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15. Jordan Scott Design Thin Dia Bypass Ring, $375
Jordan Scott Designs puts a cool spin on the everyday diamonds trend with their edgy open ring design. This delicate-meets-daring ring will make for a fresh accent piece in your jewelry collection.

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Hero image courtesy of Viva Luxury.

TrueFacet CEO Tirath Kamdar kicked off Valentine’s Day with an appearance on Fox morning talk show “Mornings with Maria Bartiromo”. The three-minute segment found Tirath, accompanied by Rosecliff investor and Fox Business consultant Michael Murphy, explaining the ins and outs of the TrueFacet marketplaces. Tirath also showed off his jewelry appraisal chops by describing the differences between an authentic Cartier Love Bracelet and a fake one. Thanks to Maria Bartiromo for having Tirath on the show and letting him show the audience why TrueFacet is the way to go!

A tachymeter scale is a very complicated-looking ring of numbers (from 700 to usually 60) that runs along your chronograph watch’s bezel. Besides its complex appearance, the tachymeter bezel serves a very helpful purpose and converts elapsed time (in seconds) to speed (in units per hour). So a tachymeter can tell you how fast a car, a plane, or even a runner is traveling over a fixed distance.

What’s unique—and perhaps a little mind-bending—about a tachymeter is that it functions independent of a specific unit of distance (think miles, kilometers, etc.), so long as that same unit is used in all your calculations. So a 120 reading on the tachymeter scale can mean 120 miles per hour or 120 kilometers per hour.

Here, we break down how to read and use your tachymeter bezel to calculate speed.

The Difference Between a Chronograph and a Tachymeter

One common point of confusion is considering a chronograph interchangeable with a tachymeter. These two functions are, in fact, different. Similar to how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares, all watches with tachymeters have chronograph functions, but not all chronographs include a tachymeter.

A chronograph is, simply put, a stopwatch. A tachymeter, meanwhile, measures speed.

How to Read a Fixed Tachymeter Bezel

A tachymeter bezel is used to calculate speed or, in other words, measure elapsed time over a fixed distance. As daunting as the bezel looks, it’s incredibly easy—and surprisingly intuitive—to read a tachymeter scale rating.

To use a tachymeter bezel, press the chronograph pusher to start the stopwatch. Once the object (for instance, a car driving one mile) passes the finish line, press the pusher again to stop the stopwatch. Then reference the tachymeter scale marker adjacent to the second hand; this figure tells you the speed of the car. So, if a car travels one mile in 40 seconds, the tachymeter scale reading will be 90 for a speed of 90 miles per hour.

Calculating Slower Speeds

The above example is a very straightforward way to measure speed.  But, what if you’re measuring the speed of a runner? A tachymeter bezel can only be used to time an object traveling for less than 60 seconds. So, to determine a jogger’s speed, you’ll need to do some simple math.

The tachymeter’s calculations rely on a fixed distance, so you’ll need a shorter distance that a runner can reach in under 60 seconds. In this example, we’ll use 200 meters as our fixed distance. Using your tachymeter as outlined above, you time the runner as traveling the 200 meters in 20 seconds. Your tachymeter will read that the runner was sprinting at an impossible 180 kilometers per hour. So, to get the actual speed, you have to do some simple calculations; knowing that 200 meters is 1/5^th of a kilometer, you’ll divide 180 by 5 (since the runner traveled one-fifth of a kilometer) and your runner’s speed was 36 kilometers per hour.

Calculating High Speeds

On the flip side, what if you’re measuring the speed of a plane or racecar that will travel more than one mile in 60 seconds?

In instances of an object traveling very quickly, you’ll need to extend the fixed distance (say from one mile to ten miles) for an accurate calculation. Let’s say a jet takes 30 seconds to fly 10 miles. Your tachymeter will indicate a speed of 120 miles per hour. But, because the fixed distance is actually 10 miles (or, differently said, 10 times further than one mile), you’ll multiple that tachymeter scale reading by 10 to calculate a speed of 1,200 miles per hour.

To learn more about watch complications, check out our post on how to use the chronograph function here.

Impress your friends with these 10 odd facts about the cost of an Olympic gold medal, the exacting precision of the timers and the reason why Olympians bite their medals.

1. A 2018 Winter Olympic gold medal is only worth $577.
Tabling all the symbolic value of an Olympic gold medal, if you melted the medal down, it would be worth $577 USD. A melted-down silver medal would retail for roughly $320 and the bronze ring in for a grand total of $3.50.

2. The gold medal is not solid gold.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the Olympic medals have not been made of solid gold since the 1908 games. At the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, athletes received the first gold-plated medals. Today the medals are made with at least 92.5% silver and plated with 6 grams of gold.

3. If the gold medal were solid gold, it would be worth $25,000.
The Pyeongchang gold medal weighs a hefty 586 grams (or 1.29 lbs) and is the heaviest medal in the history of the games. If the gold medal were made of solid gold and sold for scrap metal, it would be worth a whopping $25,000 USD.

4. Olympians really only bite their medals for the benefit of photographers.
The now-iconic pose of athletes grinning and biting down on their gold medals was a photo-op largely concocted by photographers. The idea behind this stance is traced back to the Gold Rush when prospectors would test the purity of gold by sinking their teeth into gold nuggets. If they were able to bite the soft metal, it meant they had pure gold. The irony is that, today, Olympic medals are only made of roughly 1.34% gold. So, when athletes pop their medal into their mouths and mug for the camera, it’s really just for the benefit of photographers and on-lookers who have come to adore this classic shot.

5. There are only two companies in the world that meet the exacting timing standards of the Olympic Committee.
Omega and Seiko are the only two brands that meet the Olympic Committee’s timing standards. As such, Omega has been the official time-keeper of the Olympic Games 28 times (including the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games) and Seiko five times. The official timekeeper of the games is responsible for providing the staff and the state-of-the-art technology needed to precisely time all the events.

6. At the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, there will be 300 timekeepers.
Because nothing but the best in precision timing will be accepted by the Olympic Committee, Omega is bringing 300 timekeepers, 350 trained volunteers and 230 tons of equipment to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. For comparison, back in 1932 when Omega made its inaugural appearance at the Los Angeles games, there was a single technician who was outfitted with 30 stopwatches to time all 117 events.

7. It takes two years to install all the timekeeping technology.
Well before the opening ceremony, Omega’s team descended upon PyeongChang to unload the aforementioned 230 tons of equipment—including scoreboards, photofinish cameras and photocells—and laid down miles and miles of optical fiber. And in the year before the start of the Winter Games, Omega’s staff thoroughly tested and cross-checked the equipment to ensure its accuracy and precision.

8. Olympians’ times can be measured at one millionth of a second.
The accuracy of the timing technology can go all the way down to a microsecond or one-millionth of a second. For comparison, it takes 300-400 microseconds to blink an eye. While this may seem excessive, take into consideration the 100m butterfly race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic of Serbia by a mere one-hundredth of a second, the length of time it takes for lightning to strike.

9. Real-time sports reporting was introduced in 1964.
The clock timer in the corner of our television screens is a modern fixture of the Olympic Games. But this feature was introduced fairly recently; in 1964, Omega introduced the Omegascope, technology that allowed them to display the athletes’ times on TV. This groundbreaking addition heightened the intensity of the Olympic Games for fans at home and forever changed the viewing experience.

10. When Seiko became the Official Timer of the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Japanese brand did not make a single sports stopwatch.
When Tokyo was selected to host the 1964 Olympic Games, Japan saw an opportunity to rapidly build its economy and made an incredible push to use exclusively Japan-made products. In turn, Seiko president, Shoji Hattori, petitioned to have Seiko the Official Timekeeper of the games. The only problem? Seiko didn’t own any stopwatches designed for sports. Impressively, in five short years, the entire company rallied to introduce 36 models and 1,278 timing instruments (manned by 172 employees) to successfully and accurately time the Tokyo Olympic Games. This incredible feat overhauled Seiko’s brand image and catapulted them into international notoriety.

There are lots of things to consider when bringing your relationship with your significant other to the next level, and the engagement ring is high up on that list. For a purchase that’s supposed to last a lifetime, you can expect to spend a significant amount, but figuring out exactly how much to set aside for the ring can be tricky. We’ve rounded up some suggestions to guide you on determining your engagement ring budget.

What Are You Looking to Buy?

Determining how much you can spend directly relates to what type of ring you’re buying, so it’s important to either know your beloved’s taste and style or to take them along for the ride. If buying an engagement ring is something you plan on doing together, you can loosely discuss a budget ahead of time and solidify the costs once you start the process of shopping. Remember this: not everyone dreams of big diamonds, and, especially in today’s society, tastes have become more varied and less traditional. Check out this post to help you choose more affordable and contemporary styles that might be better for both your spouse-to-be and your wallet.

How Much Should You Really Spend?

You’ve probably heard the rumor that one should spend at least two months’ salary on an engagement ring, but for many, that just isn’t practical. When choosing an engagement ring, it’s important to strike a balance between spending enough to buy a good quality ring that will last a very long time and spending so much that you won’t have a budget for the wedding and the honeymoon. The best thing to do is to take a step back and look at the big picture. A wedding – whether you elope or not – can be costly, and an engagement ring should be factored in to those costs. It’s also important to keep in mind that even if you get something that is smaller or costs less than you might like, you can always upgrade the ring down the road.

Can You Put It On a Credit Card?

If you know you have a steady enough income that will allow you to make payments on time, do consider purchasing the ring using a line of credit from your bank or a low-interest credit card. Should you decide to make the purchase via a store that offers their own credit, be sure to do all the research you can first before committing to something that might cause you trouble down the road. And if you sign up for one of those “six months, interest-free” deals, be sure to read the fine print before signing on any contract that involves money. Using the ring to boost your credit score will come in handy when it comes time for the two of you to go house hunting in the near future.

The cliché “go big or go home” can be applied to so many things, but when it comes to jewelry, “bigger” often means “more expensive”. But what some buyers and jewelry lovers may not realize is that there are ways to cheat a little on design while still getting the jewelry look you want. Below are a handful of tips to help you guide your next jewelry purchase so you can get the statement piece you’ve always wanted without breaking the bank.

1. Halo settings can make the stones on your piece look bigger

Whether it’s to enhance the size of an engagement ring or add a bit of flash to a cool, colorful gemstone, the “halo” look is clearly here to stay for a reason. What a halo setting does is give size to the center stone by adding a line (or several) of smaller diamonds or other gemstones in a ring around the precious stone. Many well-known engagement rings—like that of Princess Diana and now the Duchess of Cambridge—have a halo of diamonds, so the trend has been around for a while, and we doubt it’s going to die off anytime soon.

2. Specially-designed precious metals can bring extra brilliance to your piece

Want the look of diamonds on your pieces of jewelry but have bills to pay and mouths to feed? Fear not! There are some cool things happening in jewelry design that will give you the look without breaking the bank. The new “Platinum Born” collection by Suna Brothers offers the look of diamonds on platinum pieces by instead faceting the rich, white metal in such a way that it sparkles and glimmers as if it contains dozens or more of tiny set diamonds. It’s a great look at an affordable price and platinum is certainly no metal to scoff at.

3. A clear, rose-cut gem can pass for a diamond

A trend on the rise in the jewelry design world right now is the use of rose-cut gemstones, but particularly in clear options like rock crystal or white sapphire. If you have a white or clear gemstone cut into a rose cut and then surround it with smaller diamonds in a halo-design or a starburst fashion, you’ll find that people will often mistake the center stone for an actual diamond. And with rock crystal or white quartz being so inexpensive, you can wear pieces that have a certain “look” without paying the extra bucks to get it.

Happy shopping!