Advice for Heavy Bracelet or Watch?
JeanneP
I'm looking for a good way to get something really heavy on my
left wrist without looking too conspicuous. This would be
something I wear every day, so it would need a versatile look
and be durable, although I could get two such items for different
looks, if I need to. Normally, I just wear a watch on my left
wrist, and adding a big cuff bracelet would look cluttered. I
also need something that will look okay while giving presentations
in a corporate environment (to engineers - polo or button-down
shirts - not suits, usually). I'd like to keep it within $200.
Here's the reason; I have Essential Tremors in my hands, which
makes me look a lot more nervous than I really am. Image is
important in certain situations (the kind that tend to make me
on edge, actually, like presentations, job interviews, talking
with the boss, etc.). My occupational therapist showed me that
if I wear a weight on my wrist (the left wrist has worse tremors
because those muscles aren't as built up), the hand steadies
quite a bit.
One possibility is a ladies sports watch that has steel in it,
since those weigh more, and are more durable, than jewelry watches
with precious metals (besides being more affordable). However
most of those are predominantly silver toned, and I'd prefer a
yellow gold tone next to my skin.
Do you have any suggestions?
Also, how would a beaded band compare in weight to a metal band?
I'm thinking of a ladder stitch band, something akin to:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H141020KT
(click on the detailed view)
except a heavier stone and a wider band. I could choose a stone
in a more neutral color that won't look as flashy as a wide
metal band.
Another idea is to have both a heavy watch and a heavy bracelet,
but I'd have to give a lot more thought into how to coordinate
that look.
Ideas, please?
Thank you,
JeanneP
Judy Shaw
The watch can actually be joined to the metal.
Judy Shaw, GJG
Jasco Minerals
"JeanneP" <no...@Real.address.org> wrote in message
news:9f8qm15b4p5jo6l6m...@4ax.com...
m4816k
>>
>>I'm looking for a good way to get something really heavy on my
[snip]
>>
>>Do you have any suggestions?
>>
>>
>>Ideas, please?
>>
>>Thank you,
>>JeanneP
I would forget about stones, since you say weight is a factor - even the
heaviest gemstones are about half of the weight of sterling silver, and even
lighter when compared to gold or platinum (ideally, platinum would be best
because of the weight, but for 200$ you can't even steal a heavy piece of
it). Stones are also not practical for everyday use. As for design, I'd go
for bangle/cuff styles cause if the piece doesen't lie exactly on your skin
(as in some watches and especially bracelets) those styles look more
compact, more uniform and have less tendency to "fly around the wrist" +
they are less eye-catching. Cause of the last thing mentioned also avoid
polished metals, better go for brushed finishes. For the price you can,
besides steel watches/bracelets, go for gold plated and maybe even gold
filled models, both of which are good for watches/bracelets, but not so for
everyday wear (gold will wear off quickly). Well, this sums up my thoughts.
Good luck!
JeanneP
Thank you for the advice!
I would have thought a bangle/cuff style would be more flashy than one
that stays tight, but I can see how the same weight would look bulkier
tight to the arm/wrist than not. I also appreciate your insight into the
relative weights of stones and metals.
I found some attractive dual-tone ladies steel/base watches on
Overstock.com, and some promising looking silver cuff bracelets in the
Rio Grande catalog (I don't know a lot about jewelry... I'm just a
hobbiest enough to have that catalog). Maybe that combination would
look better than trying to wear a silver cuff next to my current watch,
which has a dark brown leather band, gold-tone around the face, with a
black face. I'll also keep an eye out for a two-tone cuff bracelet,
because doing it right is more important than doing it cheap.
Thanks again,
JeanneP
spica
and also it quite heavy , my late father was a goldsmith and he used to make
it for me...
JeanneP <no...@Real.address.org> wrote in message
news:9f8qm15b4p5jo6l6m...@4ax.com...
m4816k
>>> heaviest gemstones are about half of the weight of sterling silver, and
>>even
>>> lighter when compared to gold or platinum (ideally, platinum would be best
>>> because of the weight, but for 200$ you can't even steal a heavy piece of
>>> it). Stones are also not practical for everyday use. As for design, I'd go
>>> for bangle/cuff styles cause if the piece doesen't lie exactly on your
>>skin
>>> (as in some watches and especially bracelets) those styles look more
>>> compact, more uniform and have less tendency to "fly around the wrist" +
>>> they are less eye-catching. Cause of the last thing mentioned also avoid
>>> polished metals, better go for brushed finishes. For the price you can,
>>> besides steel watches/bracelets, go for gold plated and maybe even gold
>>> filled models, both of which are good for watches/bracelets, but not so
>>for
>>> everyday wear (gold will wear off quickly). Well, this sums up my
>>thoughts.
>>
>>Thank you for the advice!
>>
>>I would have thought a bangle/cuff style would be more flashy than one
>>that stays tight, but I can see how the same weight would look bulkier
>>tight to the arm/wrist than not.
- Exactly. That's why guys like shorter chains - cause pieces that are
tighter to the skin look bulkier, more massive. Also, link bracelets tend to
move more, especially if not tight enough, with links often moving to
diferent directions catching light, which is even more noticable if you're
doing manual gestures. Therefore cuffs, oval bangles (that follow shape of
the wrist) or torque bangles would be best, cause they stay in place easier
without looking flashy. -
>>
>>I also appreciate your insight into the
>>relative weights of stones and metals.
>>
>>I found some attractive dual-tone ladies steel/base watches on
>>Overstock.com, and some promising looking silver cuff bracelets in the
>>Rio Grande catalog (I don't know a lot about jewelry... I'm just a
>>hobbiest enough to have that catalog). Maybe that combination would
>>look better than trying to wear a silver cuff next to my current watch,
>>which has a dark brown leather band, gold-tone around the face, with a
>>black face.
- Another thought! Bracelet with ceramic parts (maybe inlays or something).
They aren't expensive, and material is very wear resistant, hard and strong
(unlike enamel although they can look similar and more durable than most, if
not all, gemstones), plus they're available in just about any color
combination imaginable so you don't have to get another watch. Maybe you can
find something you like. Just note that ceramics are quite lightweight so
don't go for a whole piece done in it. -
>>I'll also keep an eye out for a two-tone cuff bracelet,
>>because doing it right is more important than doing it cheap.
>>
>>Thanks again,
>>JeanneP
- You're welcome!
Marijan -
Ted Frater
But it cant be done in this case as its unlikely that you could come
here for the solution.
In the mean time heres what Id do if you were.
firstly Id ask you to wear your watch on your right wrist.
I do as im left handed and break watches regularly when forging with
my left hand,
then your left wrist wouldnt be clutterd up with 2 items.
Id advise that you wear a cuff type of bracelet, that is C shaped. This
is worn between the joint and the hand.
I would furthermore advise that it is made from copper as this is a
heavy metal that forges well. then Id have it heavily silver plated,
and satin finished., not bright.
I would take a piece of 3/4in round copper rod of the appropriate length
and hot forge it into a D section, with tapered ends.
Ive left out all the finishing etc needed in the process, time from
start to finish approx 2 to 3 hrs.
Cost? all in about $175.00.
this would be made to fit your specific wrist measurement.
It can only be done whilst you are present.
But the outcome would be just perfect.
Ive made many like this for customers in other metals, mostly tho in
solid silver.
What you need to find near you is a silver smith that has the
nessesary skills to do this for you.
Im in Dorset Uk.
I guess your a long way away.
Hope this helps.
Ted Frater
JeanneP
> JeanneP wrote:
>
>>Hello all,
>>
>>I'm looking for a good way to get something really heavy on my
>>left wrist without looking too conspicuous.
>>Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you Ted; you've given me more to think about. I'll try wearing my
watch on my right wrist a few days to see how I can cope with it.
And you're right that I'm too far away. I'm in the Shrewsbury on the
other side of "the pond." Perhaps I'll look for a local silversmith. I
like the idea of something that doesn't have movement, yet fits close
enough to my arm/wrist that it won't matter what type of sleeves I'm
wearing or clatter on table tops in meetings. My wrist is just over 6.5
inches (just less than 17cm), and as I shop I find that many cuffs and
bangles are quite loose on me.
While I'm posting, take a look at this bracelet:
http://www.saveallyear.com/product.php?productid=30240
Can it honestly weigh 1.96 pounds?!? My "clerical error" meter is going
off.
JeanneP
Peter W.. Rowe,
>>Can it honestly weigh 1.96 pounds?!? My "clerical error" meter is going
>>off.
More like misinterpetation error. 2 pounds would be the shipping weight you pay
shipping on, most of which will be the box and other packaging. And I
wouldn't be surprised if they up their profit margin a bit by stating the
shipping weight a little higher than they actually get charged for by the
shipper, to add a little more to handling fees without saying so. (But I'm
guessing on this. Could be accurate...
I'd bet the bracelet itself likely weighs more in the range of a quarter pound
at most. A few ounces at any rate, leaving you to define "few". Exactly how
many is anyone's guess without a side view of the bracelet to show it's
thickness. It's fairly wide, but flat is lighter than something that's not just
solid but domed or otherwise has significant volume, and I'd expect that
braid/fabric portion to be fairly thin. The edges will be heavy enough to allow
the bracelet to keep it's shape well, but not likely more than that. I'd expect
this bracelet to weigh less than it visually looks.
Peter
Ted Frater
Ive had a look at the image you linked us to.
The weight is more likely to .19 lbs. the dot is most likely in the
wrong place.
Also Ive seen these here in the UK, there made in India( nothing wrong
with that of course) and the price is the give away.
If it was 1.9 lbs the price would be up near the $1000.00 range.
also it wouldnt be possible to weave it so thin..
No , my advice id dont touch it. It wount do what you want it to.
If you can get your Co. to second you to the UK for a few weeks, then my
offer to make one for you still stands.
Im a couple of hours from London by train
Could be done with a day trip.
Ted Frater.
PS. Weve a Shrewsbury here to ,some 200 miles up country from here..
carlDOTwest
>
> And you're right that I'm too far away. I'm in the Shrewsbury on the
> other side of "the pond."
Massachusetts?
How heavy does it need to be?
I'm in Natick, maybe we can work something.
> While I'm posting, take a look at this bracelet:
> http://www.saveallyear.com/product.php?productid=30240
> Can it honestly weigh 1.96 pounds?!? My "clerical error" meter is going
> off.
It's gotta be shipping weight.
--
Carl West carlD...@comcast.net http://carl.west.home.comcast.net
>>>>>>>> change the 'DOT' to '.' to email me <<<<<<<<<<<<
"Clutter"? This is an object-rich environment.
Marilee J. Layman
wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>I'm looking for a good way to get something really heavy on my
>left wrist without looking too conspicuous. This would be
>something I wear every day, so it would need a versatile look
>and be durable, although I could get two such items for different
>looks, if I need to. Normally, I just wear a watch on my left
>wrist, and adding a big cuff bracelet would look cluttered. I
>also need something that will look okay while giving presentations
>in a corporate environment (to engineers - polo or button-down
>shirts - not suits, usually). I'd like to keep it within $200.
>
>Here's the reason; I have Essential Tremors in my hands, which
>makes me look a lot more nervous than I really am.
I dressed up for a party yesterday and decided to put a very heavy
bracelet on my left wrist. It didn't seem to change how my hands
shake, although mine are related to stroke.
--
Marilee J. Layman
Marilee J. Layman
wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>I'm looking for a good way to get something really heavy on my
>left wrist without looking too conspicuous. This would be
>something I wear every day, so it would need a versatile look
>and be durable, although I could get two such items for different
>looks, if I need to. Normally, I just wear a watch on my left
>wrist, and adding a big cuff bracelet would look cluttered. I
>also need something that will look okay while giving presentations
>in a corporate environment (to engineers - polo or button-down
>shirts - not suits, usually). I'd like to keep it within $200.
>
>Here's the reason; I have Essential Tremors in my hands, which
>makes me look a lot more nervous than I really am.
I dressed up for a party yesterday and decided to put a very heavy
JeanneP
> On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 21:19:40 GMT, JeanneP <no...@Real.address.org>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Hello all,
>>
>>I'm looking for a good way to get something really heavy on my
>>
>>Here's the reason; I have Essential Tremors in my hands, which
>>makes me look a lot more nervous than I really am.
>
>
> I dressed up for a party yesterday and decided to put a very heavy
> bracelet on my left wrist. It didn't seem to change how my hands
> shake, although mine are related to stroke.
I'm sorry to hear that. Good luck with that.
I got the advice about wearing a heavy bracelet from an occupational
therapist I've been seeing. She demonstrated how my tremors can be
helped (although not entirely avoided) with better muscle control, and
gave me exercises to work my shoulders and arms. She also showed me that
if I wear a really heavy weight, like a 1 pound exercise band, on my
wrist, I have better control with fine things, like picking up and
placing pegs with tweezers. It may be specific to my condition, though.
To get back on topic, I found a couple of bracelets I like on
alltribes.com, and spoke with the Navajo there who makes them; he could
use a heavier gauge silver in one of the styles and get the weight up
close to two ounces and stay within my bugdet, which may be a good
compromise between function, form, and price. I also found out an
acquainance of mine is an amateur (non breadwinning) jeweler, and he
said he'd like to make up some drawings for me. He mentioned bi-metal as
something that might work for me.
JeanneP
m4816k
JeanneP
That last one (bi-metal) sounds good since you mentioned you'd like a
gold-tone piece. Maybe gold inlays or something in SS to keep the price
relatively acceptable and have a partially gold tone.
Ted Frater
Quote,
that you might need a weight of about 1lb.
Now you continue to write that your Najavo indian could get a silver
bracelet up to 2 ounces.
Now I make this 1/8th of the advised weight.
My comment is that it is unlikely to do what you want.
Apart from the fact that if its bright and shiny, with your tremors it
will attract attention to it not distract from it.
Lets get back to 1st principles,
Ive given it some thought and suggest you do some experiments first
before you order up your Najavo or any other bracelet.
If you were my customer here id make up( it would only take a few
minutes a cuff type bracelet in say the 2oz weight in a piece of lead
sheet( you can cut this stuff with household scissors.
Id then bind it with electrical pvc insulating tape to keep the lead
from your skin you choose the colour!!, make a small cotton sock cover
for it and get you to try it for as couple of days. the Id repeat this
little experiment till you had a weight on your wrist that did or didnt
do what you wanted.
Cost? well say $10.00 each.
Any plumber who has sheet lead to hand could do the same.
then you would be in the know wether your therapist's advice was
relevant or not.
Knowhow is a great help in finding answers to problems.
trev...@postmaster.co.uk
> left wrist without looking too conspicuous.
You might want to get in touch with Cynthia Eid at www.cynthiaeid.com.
I've heard through a mutual acquaintance that she's recently done
something exactly like this for a person with the same needs as
yourself. If I remember correctly the bracelet(s) she made weighed in
around 250 grams ... of solid Argentium Sterling silver. To be sure
though you should check with Cynthia, the facts may have been damaged
in transport.
Cheers,
Trevor F.
JeanneP
Trevor,
Thanks, I'll contact her! Her studio is about 20 minutes from where I
work, apparently.
JeanneP
JeanneP
Thank you for the advice, Ted.
As an engineer, I'm a fan of prototyping to get a "proof of concept"
before investing in the full solution.
The 1lb weight is not the minimum needed to make any difference; it's
merely a handy weight to acquire inexpensively (only a dollar or so for
an exercise band) to wear around the house. I've concluded that the
minimum I require to make any difference is a bit less than two ounces,
and I was thinking that any help at all would be better than no help.
I'm still trying to figure out how much I'm willing to spend for this. I
haven't brought myself to be comfortable with the thought of wearing a
bracelet that will want a rider on my home insurance! On the other hand,
this is a professional issue, so maybe it's a small price to pay. Well,
that's my issue to figure out, not yours. At the end of the day, though,
nothing I wear will make the tremors go away completely, so I have to
make sure that whatever I wear looks natural enough so that it doesn't
attract even more attention to my hand, so I can't go too bulky or
flashy. Whatever I get will have to be a compromise.
I just asked an Indian coworker (from India) about gold jewelry in
India, and how the price compares. He told me there are several Indian
jewelry stores in the area that have better prices than the American
stores, and in his opinion they have better quality. There is nothing
below 22k, he says. He showed me a 22k gold bracelet that he's worn
non-stop for 7 years (even sleeps in it), and it looks like new. I'll
have to check them out too. According to my coworker, if they don't
have what I want, they can probably have it made fairly easily, because
they are extensions of family businesses.
JeanneP
Carl 1 Lucky Texan
Best suggestion so far! good post.
If the lead can't be found, perhaps there are arm weights of varying
size or some type of tubing could be filled with water or sand.
Carl
--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)
m4816k
Just out of curiosity, what type/design of bracelet is it? Could you "google
out" something similar (and let me know the link to the picture), cause for
quite some time I've been thinking I made a wrong bracelet choice for
myself - I've been wearing my 14k for 6-7 years 24/7 also, and it doesen't
look anything like new, so I think it's got to do with design. Since
everyone (and science) says 14k is longer lasting than 22k I can't come up
with a better reason. Hope it's not too much trouble. Thnx!
P. S. Without paying any taxes or other fees and paying only 10% extra for
the making, 22k would cost you about 15$ per gram. So for 200 you can't even
get half of an ounce, at best. Besides, it's really eye-catching since it's
almost the color of pure gold, and Indians have very detailed, interesting,
intricate designes which also add to the "I'm here, look at me" effect:-)