Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,900 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks to all our subscribers, readers and visitors. Please continue to visit our blog in 2012!

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II	Omega vintage watch	1965 Omega Watch
1950s Tiffany & Co 14k white gold & diamonds ladies watch	Tiffany & Co. Vintage Watch	Audemars Piguet platinum pocket watch -c1940s

Please visit our website to read the full description of these timepieces and see the other items we have on sale.

wwww.tempussuisse.com | info@tempussuisse.com

Have a wonderful time with family and friends.

www.tempussuisse.com | info@tempussuisse.com

Please view our collection at www.tempussuisse.com and contact us at info@tempussuisse.com.

This is part II to our previous article Gift Ideas for Christmas, in which we looked at some of the things you should consider before buying gifts at Christmas time. Now we will look at some gift ideas.

As noted in our previous post, what you buy should largely depend on your finances. Always keep your budget in mind and what you can reasonably afford.

Perfumes – some are expensive, but they are a number of reasonably priced brands out there of good quality. Perfumes are usually a welcomed gift item for both men and women; some people even collect them.

Purses – most women like a beautiful purse, especially one that is of a favourite colour, goes well with a favourite suit or can be used for everyday wear.

Handbags – like purses, handbags are a must on this list. Most women like handbags and frankly many never leave home without one.

Watches – not to be outdone, watches are excellent gift choices for both men and women, I think men even more so. There are a number of top quality brands out there such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Omega, to name a few. You can buy modern or vintage watches.

Cosmetics – of course you might need to take into consideration a person’s skin type and whether they have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies. It is recommended that you buy cosmetics only for close friends or family members since you are more likely to have knowledge their skin types and possible associated skin problems.

Wines – come in a variety of brands and types. A good bottle of red wine is preferred by many. Because of the range in types and prices you should find a bottle to suit just about any taste.

Personal treat certificates – if you want to facilitate a personal treat, then you could give the receiver a certificate for a massage, manicure, pedicure etc.

Gift certificates – if you’re unsure about what to get a person, you could give a certificate which they would redeem for a tangible gift. The great thing about a gift certificate is that it gives the receiver a chance to choose their own gift.

If you are in doubt, it’s always the safer option, rather than giving a gift the person might possibly not like.

Clothing items – could be a choice for adults as well as children. Don’t buy clothing items if you are unsure of the person’s size. It is also advisable to buy tops, that is, shirts, blouses, and also accessories such as ties and scarves.

Electronics – both men and some women appreciate electronic items. These can include phones, ipods, car electronics, dvd players, media players, to name a few. You will definitely find an electronic item to suit individuals at just about any age.

Jewellery – if you can afford to, buy diamond jewellery, go ahead, people are usually appreciative of diamonds. If you can’t afford diamond jewellery there is a wide array of choices in yellow and white gold, platinum and silver.

1950s Tiffany & Co 14k white gold & diamonds ladies watch

How about some jewellery from the Caribbean or Africa? You will find exotic, beautiful hand-made jewellery online that are made from shells and various indigenous materials from these places.

Costume jewellery of course cannot be overlooked. However, be careful in chosing costume jewellery. Don’t buy those that are likely to strip easily – preferably, buy-gold plated pieces.

Chocolate and cookies – these are two items I’m always happy to receive. There are many people like me out there who would take chocolates and cookies any day.

Tickets to a concert / theatre performance – if there is a concert or theatre performance in town that you think the person would appreciate, why not treat them to a ticket or better yet two; most people like having the company of their significant other or best friend at these events.

Antiques – antique pieces range from vases, pottery, figures/sculptures and so much more.

A gourmet meal – a gourmet meal at a restaurant is always a good choice for someone who doesn’t take the time to treat him/herself, either because they are usually too busy or think they can’t afford to. Also, if a person always does doing the cooking, why not treat them to a few hours in which they are served for a change.

Gift Baskets / Hampers – you might choose to buy, have someone else put it together or have fun putting one together yourself. You don’t need a large basket. Get a small basket and put buy a few items that the person would like such as cosmetics, wine with fruit cake and chocolates, for a female; shaving creams, lotions, body splash together for a male.

As noted before, it all depends on what you can afford – but it works well when you create your basket around a theme such as a food or cosmetic theme.

Adventure gifts – bungee jumping, hot air balloon ride, a wild life expedition; if you have friends or family members who like adventure… make it a treat.

Luxury goods – some of us can afford to buy luxury gifts, some of us can’t. If you can afford to indulge that special person, whether it’s an expensive car, accessories, sport wears etc., then go ahead. Type in ‘luxury gifts’ in Google and you will be introduced to a number of stores that specialise in luxury goods. Some of the items listed above could fall under luxury, depending on the associated brand and prices.

Couples

The gift items listed above would go well for individuals or couples. At Christmas time people like to be close to their loved ones, consider giving gifts that the couple could enjoy together – dinner for two, a mixed gift basket etc.

Children

Smaller children usually like toys and many of them take the guess out of gift buying by telling you exactly what they want. Many children also like figures that are representative of the characters in their favourite cartoons or television series.

The latest electronic gadgets are usually on the wish list of many teens and preteens.

Meaningful Gifts

Try to give meaningful gifts this Christmas. The cost of a gift is not what determines how meaningful it is… it’s the heart behind it. Appreciate the season for what it is; a time for family, friends and our neighbours. By neighbour I don’t mean only the person who lives next door but every face you see.

Don’t forget to spread the love beyond to your circle, and please drop a little token in the Salvation Army’s bucket as you pass by.

Christmas is a beautiful season, enjoy it.

© Julian Gooden, All rights reserved | www.tempussuisse.com | info@tempussuisse.com

Japanese Hand-painted vintage vase

Japanese Hand-painted vintage vase - c1920s

Japanese Hand-painted vintage vase - c1920s

Japanese Hand-painted vintage vase - c1920s

Japanese Hand-painted Vintage Vase - c1920s

Japanese Hand-painted vintage vase - c1920s

Click to view slideshow.

This Japanese vase dates from the 1920s – it is beautifully hand-painted. It is an original piece, measuring 26cm high. The condition is excellent – no chips or cracks. If you are interested in this and other antique pieces, please see some of our items on display at www.tempusantiques.co.uk. Please email us at antiques@tempussuisse.com or call +44 (0)20 7127 0449.

Christmas is the season that many of us look forward to each year. It’s the time when people seem happier,  more calm – it’s a time when family and friends get together and enjoy each others company and of course it’s also a time of gift giving.

What should I buy?

Most of us want to give gifts that would be meaningful to the receivers, which translate to ‘what should I buy?’  Sometimes we get a bit over zealous at this time and are not realistic about what we can actually afford. Depending on your financial circumstances you may be able to buy luxury or much less expensive gifts.

What to consider before buying

Before you decide to buy your gifts here are few things you should consider:

1. Who are the people you want to give gifts? Be definite about this. For some individuals a nice card is quite an acceptable gift. It is the thought that should count. It is quite understandable that you might not be able to give gifts to everyone in your circle of friends or even everyone you would like to give a gift.

2. Budget – realistically look at your budget, and think about what you are able to afford. Sometimes we do buy on impulse; try to keep this at a minimum as you will likely overspend and not have enough to take care of other critical expenses, not to mention starting the new year paying off this debt.

3. The receiver’s taste – consider what the person likes or dislikes – for example, some people like colognes or perfumes, others don’t or can’t use them because of allergic reactions. A gift will be more meaningful if it’s something within the person’s taste range.

4. Receiver’s location – consider where the receiver is located. Sometimes we want to send gifts to family and friends abroad or in other states or provinces. Depending on how far within country or overseas the receiver is,  it would be necessary to buy and send gifts early so they will reach on time. Estimate how long it should take and send it so it will reach at least a week before Christmas. Remember the longer you wait to send gifts the later they will reach; especially at this time of year when more people will be using the postal services. Also, keep in mind the fact that many post offices do have deadlines or cut-off dates as it pertains to the Christmas season – so posting after a particular date will invariably mean that your item will not be given priority as the post office would focus on sending off items posted before the cut-off date.

Even if you do decide to use a courier service there could still be delays, as they too usually have more deliveries at this time of year.

5. Where to buy? Where are you likely to find particular gift items? You might decide to go into your local shopping centres or to shop online. While going into your local shopping centres could be fun – it could also be time consuming and tiring, especially if you aren’t sure which shops actually supply what you need. A quick search in Google could provide you with a host of options. Many businesses are now making themselves available online with more than just a welcome page. A large number of them have online stores that mirrors the products at their locations. Some even don’t have a physical location, and operate exclusively online – while others operate primarily online but are still quite accessible offline.

Choose what works for you…

If you decide you’re going to make the trip to your local stores or isn’t interested in shopping online, then a good place to start would be your local directory. Directories usually have different categories for businesses; often a quick phone call to any of these businesses will provide the answer as to whether they have your item in stock or not.

Shopping online might provide more variety in products and convenience,  but is not an option for many people, for various reasons. Choose the option that works for you.

6. How will you pay for your items? You’re probably wondering, what should it matter? Believe me it does, and this ties in to #1 above. Not only should you make a budget but you should decide on the source of the funds. Will you be using your credit card, taking money from your salary or do you have funds you’ve been secretly putting away for Christmas? Please note that while credit card purchases mean you are able to delay payments, it could also mean starting the new year with more debt on your hands than necessary – that’s why you need to make a reasonable budget and stick to it.

Planning ahead

This Christmas is upon us, but we can take a cue for next year and holidays to come. If money is not an issue for you then this might not resonate, however, if it is, then maybe you could decide on a ‘start saving point’ during the year.  This is a point when you would begin putting away a bit for the holidays, whether  you use your your piggy bank  or  open a special account at your local bank – you decide. Planning ahead will make a huge difference in terms of funds you will have available for spending and also help you to stay sane in the ‘silly season’.

Choosing a Gift

So, you’ve made your budget, know where you’ll find the items you seek – but what should you buy? As noted above, different people have different tastes, so often there are several possibilities.

Please subscribe or visit us to read part 2 of this article where we’ll give you some gift ideas.

© Julian Gooden  2011, All rights reserved

Antique Jade Birds

Antique Jade Birds

Antique Jade Birds

Antique Jade Birds

Price: £1,250 £950

Vintage Bird Detail

Item: bird sculpture/ornament
Region of Origin: China
Original/Repro: Original
Material: Jade
Size: 16cm high x 14.5cm wide
Condition: Excellent – no damage
Year: 1940s

This is a lovely piece – beautiful craftsmanship. Antique and vintage pieces will make excellent gifts this Christmas. Please see other items we have listed at our antique blog – tempusantiques.wordpress.com and on our antiques page.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at antiques@tempussuisse.com or call +44 (0)20 7127 0449

tempusantiques.wordpress.com

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II - case

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II - case

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II - movement

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II - steel bracelet

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II - new watch box

Omega Speedmaster Profesional

Brand: Omega
Condition: Used – Previously owned
Gender: Gents
Type: Hand-wound
Casing: Solid steel
Strap: Solid steel bracelet
Functions & Features: New watch box
Year of Manufacture: 1970

This is a vintage Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II chronograph watch. It dates from 1970, and is a rare and sought after model. The watch features a large steel case, clean hand-wound Omega Cal 861 17 jewel movement and a grey/red dial.

You are unlikely to find another of this model, making this watch an excellent investment piece. Buy it as a keepsake or gift for that special person. Please visit our website now to read the full description.

www.tempussuisse.com | info@tempussuisse.com | Office Intl: +44 (0)20 7127 0449