Dry January might not be for everyone and if you're partaking in nightly red wine with dinner, more power to you.
But more recently it has traditionally become a time when individuals with various drinking habits experiment with the process of not ingesting alcohol and allowing their bodies to be alcohol-free for a period of time
Dry January started in 2014, after it was created by the charity Alcohol Change UK. They reported that it began with only 4,000 participants, but that expanded to four million by 2018. So chances are you've either done it yourself, or know someone who has.
So for those still attempting a hangover-free month, who still require the taste of an adult-drink on their tongues, here are 4 suggestions that abstinence doesn’t have to equal a sparkling water with lime and just because you’re going sober - either permanently or temporarily - you shouldn't have to deny yourself. Instead, embrace the latest swathe of alcohol-free spirits that are lining supermarket shelves and cocktail cabinets and enjoy a clear head in the morning.
Ingredients
Seedlip Spice: 50ml
Ginger Ale: 125ml
Glass and Garnish
Rocks
Garnish w/ Orange Full Moon
Method
Build over ice
For many decades the women’s watch market was sidelined, a sideshow almost. Many women’s watches were too often merely downsized versions of mens watches with perhaps some diamonds or semi-precious stones thrown in to make them more ‘feminine’.
But times are changing!!
Women are now far more discerning about the watches they buy and there are now more women buying their own watches, not just receiving them as gifts or for special occasions.
There are also increasing numbers of female watch collectors and women designers in the industry, which is only good for women and the watches available to them
Still, a luxury wristwatch is one of the most important personal purchases you will ever make and iconic brands, luxury materials, and a large price tag mean that a high-end timepiece is much more than a fashion buy – it’s a serious style investment.
An emotive accessory that helps to define something of your personal taste and add a serious statement to your everyday look.
How do you know what watch is right for you?
Once you have decided to invest in a special watch, the choice can still be overwhelming. The best advice is to stop and do your homework. Try to get a handle on the key brands, the right design for you and your lifestyle and how to recognise quality.
We can help too! Please let us know what you are looking for we are are a Website for women, run by women, so we'd always be happy to guide you through the important information you need to make an educated buying decision.
Women's luxury watch designs
Finding a watch style to fall in love with is a very personal process. From delicate jewellery watches to heavier sporty styles, there is a women’s luxury wrist watch for every taste. Many brands now offer designs that are unisex, meaning there is no need to be confined to ‘women’s’ collections.
Design factors to consider can include the size and shape of the watch face, strap design and material, colour, and embellishments.
A square face can look neat and elegant, where a larger, round face has a sporty utilitarian feel.
A bracelet strap crafted in precious metals hits a glamorous note while traditional leather feels simple and chic.
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to selecting a luxury watch design – you simply need to find a watch that fits into your personal style and comfort.
You may like one style of watch but once you try it on it looks wrong. Consider the size of your wrist, your skin tone and the clothes that you wear. You may find yourself choosing a completely different type of watch to one you originally thought you wanted!!
What makes a high quality watch so special?
Well-known watch brands are not everything. Some high-end luxury watches may just not be to your liking or within your budget. Some designer watches such as Emporio Armani and Calvin Klein are great as they have Swiss movements and are well priced high-quality watches.
Take care with some fashion watches though, because you can sometimes pay just for the name and be ripped off with a cheap watch that won't last.
One way to ensure quality though is to choose a well-known, luxury Swiss brand. You should take the time to look at the materials a watch is made from.
Precious metals and embellishments showcasing high-value gems, like diamonds, are a mark of excellence. Watches in precious metal should have a PVD coating to prevent tarnishing and stainless steel models should have a high level of purity. Other high-quality models may be made from titanium or ceramic.
Look for sapphire glass in the watch face as this is much more durable and less susceptible to scratches than mineral or crystal glass.
Another important factor in the quality of a luxury watch is the movement. Generally, affordable, good-quality watches will have a quartz movement. Mechanical, automatic movements are normally reserved for use in luxury watches and represent a higher level of craftsmanship and intricacy than quartz movements.
Finally, take in the overall look and finish of the watch. A high-quality watch should be finished beautifully and have balance and symmetry. The more time you spend examining high-quality watches, the easier it will become to spot the tell-tale signs of quality.
In addition to all this, the packaging the watch comes in will assure you that it is the genuine article. The box, packaging and the papers or cards will confirm model and serial numbers, date of purchase, warrantee information and gemstone authenticity (if applicable)
Celebrities and watches
Brand ambassadors include Cindy Crawford for Omega, Bella Hadid for Tag Heuer and Kate Winslet for Longines say a lot about a brand’s values and image. But so so people such as Victoria Beckam and her Rolex Daytona, the Duchess of Cambridge and her Cartier Ballon Blue and Michelle Obama with her Cartier Tank Francaise. Women you identify with can have great influence in the watch you choose. However if you choose a watch you love and its within your own budget you will always be happy.
Caring for your luxury watch.
Once you have chosen your luxury watch then it is important to care for it properly. Not only does this mean ensuring it is properly insured against theft and damage but also keeping it cleaned and well maintained.
Remember, your luxury watch is an investment and one that is likely to be with you for years to come and perhaps an heirloom in time, so treat your timepiece with the love and care it deserves.
so....Are you ready to invest in a timepiece that reflects who you are?
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Noomoon is a Swiss company that has designed one of the cleverest looking watch straps that we have ever seen.
It's called the LABB, which is labeled as the one and only completely 'Loop-less And Buckle-less Band' for your watch.
I have been trying it out on my Apple watch as they come with two fixing options, quick release spring bars and the Apple Watch attachments. Both are easy to use and require no specialist tools when fitting to your watch. Although I chose to try out the Apple Watch straps the spring bar straps look great on loads of watches. I liked the Light Blue on the Hamilton Jazzmaster and the black strap on the Tag Heuer Formula 1
Designed by Benjamin Hubert, the LABB by Noomoon was designed to be functional, soft, and waterproof. The strap is made from fluoroelastomer, which is a soft rubber material that is made to be worn without stretching or damage and it is self sealing.
As I mentioned previously, the strap has no clasps, loops or buckles so I wondered how well it would stay fastened on the wrist, especially if exercising. ( yes I know, hard to believe but I do now go to the gym!) But once placed on my wrist all I do is align the 2 bands up evenly, and simply take my thumb and press down on firmly for the straps to mesh together.
Think of the straps as a new type of Velcro in a sense where one end interlock with each other in order to give you a tight form fit on your wrist.
In terms of comfort, it feels like it was meant for the Apple Watch.
When it’s on my wrist, I can go from work directly to the gym without having to switch watches or watch straps. I am happy that the strap will keep my watch on my wrist securely. I also like the diamond shaped holes in the design as it allows the strap to be breathable and let the sweat evaporate. Also, as it's made of rubber it is easy to wash and keep hygienic.
Using iit at work when typing, the strap sits comfortably flat without any annoying clasp or buckle to catch on the desk or dig into my wrist. This makes it pretty comfortable to wear for the whole day.
Taking the band off is as simple as just taking one end and peeling it off and it is great for everyday wear as well as when exercising. I especially like the blue as I live in jeans and this goes with mostly everything. However it is also possible to mix and match the colours depending on the look you wish to have. I think the white will be my favourite when the summer arrives.
I am sure that there will be more colours in the future, but the seven colours already available are great and there is something there for everybody.
This is a unisex strap so the spring bar straps are currently available in 18, 20 and 22mm.
The Apple strap is available in both the smaller 38mm and the 40mm. The Apple attachments are also available in both Black and Silver.
This strap is so light and comfortable that it has become one of my favourites. I like the fact it is so wearable, easy to use, a great design and as an added bonus I love the fact it is so tactile and great to fidget with!!
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It took Breguet two years' work, involving 17 craftsmen, to complete the piece, but in the end, the oval watch, the first wristwatch in the world, was delivered on 21 December 1812.
Bejewelled wristwatches caught on in royal and aristocratic circles in the mid to late 1800s, but only with women. They were very expensive, custom made bracelets that were barely functional as watches. It’s thought that Queen Elizabeth I did so and Queen Marie Antoinette commissioned a diamond ‘bracelet watch’.
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