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Most of us have heard of manufacturers such as Philips, Kenwood, Russell Hobbs, Morphy Richards, Sony, Braun, Goodmans and Remington- they are indeed household names and require no introduction. But what of lesser known manufacturers?
This section provides information about some of the manufacturers of the luxury items we sell on this on-line shop which we trust you will find useful and informative. However if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us and we will endeavour to assist-remember we value your custom.
Bijoux MBee
Bijoux MBee use only the finest materials to create heirloom pieces that will last and can be handed down through the generations.
Many tiara makers use plated wire in their creations to keep their costs (though not necessarily their prices) to a minimum. Doubtless a tiara made with plated wire will look pretty enough on the day, provided it is bought late enough that it doesn't have time to tarnish. Over time it will discolour, and become impossible to clean. Remember the gold plated necklaces you had as a child, that looked convincing when new, but left an ugly green mark on your neck after a few days' wear?
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Bijoux MBee never use plated wire in their tiaras. They use only the very best quality wires:
- Sterling Silver
- Fine Silver
- Gold Filled
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Sterling Silver is silver which is 92.5% pure, having had a small quantity of another metal such as copper added to give it extra strength and hardness. Most silver jewellery is made from Sterling Silver.
Fine Silver is silver which is at least 99.9% pure. Ordinarily too soft for use in jewellery making, Fine Silver in the form of fine gauge wire is very useful when a design calls for wire to be woven or crocheted.
Gold Filled is also known as Rolled Gold. Pure gold, as well as being prohibitively expensive, is too soft to be used in wire wrapping. Gold Filled refers to the process of bonding a layer of gold onto a base of some other metal, such as Sterling Silver or copper. That layer must be a minimum of 1/20 of the total weight. Gold Filled wire is effectively a tube of gold around a silver or copper core. It contains 100 times as much gold as gold plated wire and, unlike plated, it will withstand cleaning when required and retain its beauty. Like carat gold or Sterling Silver, gold filled jewellery will last a lifetime if cared for properly.
Bijoux MBee's base bands are of tarnish-resistant gilt or silver-coloured metal.
Other materials that they use in the construction of their tiaras and jewellery include:
- Sterling Silver and Karen Hilltribe Silver beads
- Bohemian and Swarovski crystals
- Freshwater Biwa pearls
- Gemstone beads and tumblechips
- Mother of Pearl, shells and feathers
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The Karen Hilltribe Silver beads and charms are from Thailand, where they are handcrafted by Karen silversmiths. The silver used is much purer than Sterling, usually around 98.5% pure.
They use Swarovski and Bohemian machine cut and fire-polished crystal beads and pendants. Machine cut crystals sparkle with stunning brilliance. Fire-polished crystal has a subtler luminescence.
Bijoux MBee's pearl tiaras and jewellery are made with genuine freshwater pearls, not glass "pearl" beads.
The findings used in Bijoux MBee's jewellery are Sterling Silver, Karen Silver, Gold Filled and carat Gold.
Bijoux MBee's commitment to quality is reflected also in their packaging. Jewellery from their Bridal and Evening range is presented in deluxe cases. These are covered in natural light brown sil touch material with a lightly padded grained nubuk lid. They have cream flock base pads, and their brand name is embossed in gold lettering on the cream silk padded lid liner. The cases are shipped boxed to ensure that they arrive in pristine condition.
For their Everyday Jewellery range, their standard box is of top quality ribbed black card, with our brand name in gold lettering on the hinged lid. These have a button fastening, with black foam insert.
All Headdresses are presented in pretty but sturdy keepsake boxes. Colours and patterns may vary, but you can be assured that quality will remain constant.
Caran d'Ache of Switzerland
Caran d’Ache, “Maison de Haute Ecriture”
With its long tradition of precious expertise handed down through the generations, Caran d’Ache devotes its passion and rigour to designing and producing exceptional products devoted to the art of writing: writing instruments, art and drawing materials.
Known the world over for their “Swiss Made” quality, the subtle luxury, craftsmanship, authenticity and contemporary personality of the products never cease to surprise people and start them dreaming. The name Caran d’Ache evokes a prestigious universe, a wonderful combination of excellence and creativity. More than just a signature, it communicates a unique style: it is the mark of a Maison de Haute Ecriture.
Quality and excellence: a Caran d’Ache tradition
Founded along the lines of the Swiss watchmaking and jewellery industries, Caran d’Ache stands for superior quality and recognised expertise. The exclusive “Swiss Made“ label meets the most demanding standards, incorporating not only a high level of technology, precision, reliability and a passion for perfection, but also the elegance and originality that come with Swiss products.
Blending traditional craftsmanship with the performance of digitally controlled tooling, Caran d’Ache products offer a rare level of quality and finishing that is perfect in every detail. This results from a large number of delicate operations and very careful selection of materials. The products are checked and individually tested at each stage of manufacture.
Oskar Emil
Oskar Emil were established in 1993.
Designers of elegant timepieces combining fine watch making technology with high grade metals. The brand has consistently innovated in the field of design and conveying timeless aesthetic appeal.
Caring for Your Automatic Watch
Although automatic mechanical watches do not have batteries, some easy-to-follow maintenance is necessary for continued and long-lasting good use.
Self-winding automatic watches depend on the movement of the arm to operate and do require some winding, even if you wear your watch on a daily basis.
If you wear your Automatic watch everyday, it is best to wind it once, every two weeks to keep the wheels in motion and oil fluid. Simply wind the crown (the same knob used to adjust the time and date) until you meet slight resistance.
If you do not wear your Automatic watch everyday, you should try to wind it at least twice a week to ensure continuous operation, as well as keeping the inside mechanism in complete running order.
Fitting Your Watch to Your Wrist
Removing links to fit your wrist
If you have ordered a watch with a metal bracelet, there is a good chance that you will require one or more links removed to fit your wrist properly.
You can either:
Return the watch to Oskar Emil for alteration but please enclose the measurement of your wrist size (if unsure, measure around your wrist using a slip of paper and mark clearly on the paper the length).
Enclose a cheque £6.95 made payable to: Ebling Feres International Limited.
Return Address: Ebling Feres International Limited
Unit 4, Elstree Business Centre, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Herts, WD6 1RX
OR
We suggest you take the watch to a reputable local jeweller for sizing.
Do not attempt to size your own watch! You may damage or scratch the watch and bracelet. The liability is yours.
Retain the removed links
After the links are removed, keep those links! Occasionally, a watch bracelet may break. It is a lot easier (and cheaper!) to have the bracelet repaired with your own links than ordering and shipping new ones.
Extra links can be ordered if required. Please contact Oskar Emil's Service Department.
Watches and Water Resistance
Your new watch says it is water resistant, but what exactly does that mean? And how do you care for a water resistant watch?
Definition of Water Resistance
A watch marked as water resistant without a depth indication is designed to withstand accidental splashes of water only. Do not submerge such a watch.
Higher levels of water resistance are indicated by increasingly higher acceptable depths, usually indicated in metres.
There are a variety of ways to make a watch water resistant. All such watches use rubber gaskets or “O”-rings to seal the case back. A watch with a back that screws onto the case provides a higher degree of water resistance. Some crowns (the “winding stem”) actually screw into the case to further increase water resistance.
Usage Recommendations
Usage Recommendations
The following usage recommendations are suggested by the Swiss Federation:
• Water-resistant to 30 metres (3ATM). Will withstand splashes of water or rain but should not be worn while swimming or diving.
• Water-tested to 50 metres (5ATM). Suitable for showering or swimming in shallow water.
• Water-tested to 100 metres (10ATM). Suitable for swimming and snorkelling.
• Water-tested to 150 metres (15ATM). Suitable for snorkelling.
• Water-tested to 200 metres (20ATM). Suitable for skin diving.
• Diver’s 150 metres (15ATM). Meets IS0 standards and is suitable for scuba diving.
• Diver’s 200 metres (20ATM). Meets IS0 standards and is suitable for scuba diving.
Please note that we do not recommend swimming or diving with your watch unless it has a screw-down crown (also known as “screw-lock” or “screw-in” crown) and is water-resistant to at least 100 metres.
Care for a Water Resistant Watch
It is not recommended to wear your water resistant watch in a hot shower, sauna or hot tub.
The extreme heat causes the metal parts to expand at a different rate than the rubber gaskets. This creates small openings that can allow water droplets to penetrate the watch.
Sudden temperature changes are especially harsh. Take care not to jump into a cold pool after wearing your watch in the hot tub.
After swimming or diving in salt water, immediately rinse the watch in a stream of fresh water. If your watch has a rotating bezel, turn the bezel several times while rinsing it. This will prevent salt build-up and corrosion of the bezel ring.
Leather straps can be made to be water resistant too. Generally however, leather straps are more easily damaged by frequent exposure to water. So if you are going to wear your watch while swimming – think of buying one with a metal bracelet or a rubber or nylon diver strap.
Watch Warranty
Oskar Emil provides warranty coverage of 5 years movement warranty from the date of purchase. Their warranty covers the watch movement (except in the case of misuse) repair or replacement for the time period stated and excludes: watch case, watch bracelet, straps, crown/stem, crystal/glass, finishes, damage caused by excessive wear and tear and/or physical/accidental abuse, and damage resulting from wear under conditions exceeding the watch manufacturer’s water resistance limitations. All shipping and handling costs in connection with warranty service are the responsibility of the customer. This warranty is valid only at Oskar Emil or an official Oskar Emil watch repairer. Improper repair or warranty service performed by someone other than Oskar Emil will void this warranty. Oskar Emil DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF WRITTEN OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF THIS WATCH, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. Some countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you. For additional questions concerning warranty service, please contact Oskar Emil's Customer Service Department at UK 020 8953 2632 – or, alternatively, any of their Service Centres listed.
Warranty Service Instructions:
When sending in your watch for warranty service, please include the following:
• Your name
• Original invoice number
• Detailed description of the problem
• Your return address, phone number and e-mail address
Please pack your watch in its original packing materials for shipping via a reliable, traceable carrier, such as Royal Mail Registered service, UPS or FedEx. All shipping costs are your responsibility.
For your protection, you should insure your watch for at least its purchase price.
If you have any questions whatsoever, Oskar Emil's trained experts are standing by ready to help. In the UK call 020 8953 2632. Outside the UK, dial +44 20 8953 2632.
Oskar Emil's UK Call Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4.00pm.
Please allow the service department 21 working days to return a watch sent in for service.
Please enclose payment of £25 (or credit card payment) for postage and handling when returning a watch for service. Cheques to be made payable to Ebling Feres International Limited.
For More Information
If you have questions or need more information, please call 020 8953 2632 and Oskar Emil will be glad to assist you.
Outside the UK, dial +44 20 8953 2632.
Oskar Emil's UK Call Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, local time.
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