Masonic Jewelry

While working on my car, my fraternal ring got caught and had to be sliced off. It was a silly mistake; normally I remember to take my rings off before I do any heavy-duty work. My daughter, a jewelry enthusiast, offered to help me select a new ring to replace the one I broke.

She directed me to moissanite rings. I had never even heard of moissanite before, but apparently it’s a synthetic stone that’s just as brilliant and nearly as durable as a diamond, but without the hefty price tag. My daughter assured me that such “bling” was perfectly stylish and appropriate to have on a fraternal ring. I’m happy with the way my new ring has turned out, and I’ll be sure not to damage this one.

The most important principle upheld by the Knights of Columbus is charity. In the 2009 fraternal year, the Order gave more than $151 million directly to charity and performed over 69 million hours of volunteer service. The Order has been instrumental in helping those in need, regardless of their faith. For instance, the Knights of Columbus donated 1,000 wheelchairs in April 2010 to the people of Haiti. A $1 million initiative was also launched to provide prosthetic limbs for the children of Haiti.

Over the past three decades the Order has donated over $382 million to charities supporting the mentally and physically disabled, particularly the Special Olympics. As members of the Order, my father and grandfather have put in a lot of man hours volunteering at Special Olympics events. It gives them a sense of pride to contribute to the betterment of their community. They wear their Knights of Columbus rings wherever they go, as a subtle way of advertising the good deeds of the Order, and to remind themselves of their commitment to charity.

In 1962 the Bulova company introduced a new line of jeweled watches. The reasoning behind it was to make their watches more competitive by offering a jeweled option at prices comparable to other manufacturer’s non-jeweled watches. Needless to say the strategy was a success and the new line of watches took off practically overnight. In the fifty years since their inception these affordable jeweled watches are now available from Bulova in over 290 distinct styles.

When Bulova introduced them no one expected Caravelle watches to be the success they’ve become. The best part about them is how affordable it is to have a gorgeous, eye-catching timepiece. There’s no need to spend as much money as most people spend on new cars just to put a watch on your wrist. When you’re doing your gift shopping this year don’t forget to take a look at Caravelle watches from Bulova for unparalleled elegance at a  fraction of the price.

And with them come all the frustrations associated with doing our holiday shopping.  From sitting in traffic to navigating huge crowds and standing in long lines, this is one aspect of the holidays none of us look forward to. Luckily, though, we can now do more shopping online than ever before. With lower shipping prices and better inventory management online retailers can finally pass meaningful savings on to us. And the best part is you can do all of your shopping from your home or office!

Watches have always made a great gift. Whether it’s for birthdays, anniversaries or just because, a quality timepiece lets your gift recipient know that you care. This year why not take a look at Bulova watches. They’re an age-old, dependable brand with stylish designs and near-flawless engineering. They’re more affordable than many of their competitors without sacrificing the quality and craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from Bulova.

It’s always difficult to find a practical piece of jewelry that a guy will enjoy and wear. Guys just aren’t prone to wear necklaces, bracelets, or rings like women do. Here are a few jewelry gift ideas a guy is sure to like.

~Watches – a guy will wear a watch, it’s practical, it keeps the time, and it’s a status symbol. If you’re looking for a quality watch with aesthetic appeal, consider Seiko or Bulova watches.

~Cufflinks – though he might not wear it when he’s not in his suit, when he does wear his suit these are sure to be a great addition.

~Pins – a pin which can be displayed on the collar of a shirt or shirt pocket is a practical item that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Armed forces and fraternal jewelry typically include lapel and other pin options.

Now that the national economy is on an upswing, more businesses are willing to hire new employees. For the most part that’s good news for recent college graduates, but there’s no denying that the level of competition can be grueling. The slightest edge can make all the difference between landing a dream job and being relegated back to the pool of disappointed candidates.

When it comes time to interview for a potential job, your choice of clothing makes a huge difference. Outfits should be tastefully coordinated and that means matching men’s belts with one’s shoes. It’s best to have at least two belts – one black and one brown – on hand at all times. In addition, you’ll need some stylish khaki pants and a nice shirt. Depending on your desired level of formality, you can add a suit coat to the ensemble. If you choose to wear a coat, lapel pins add a little extra panache to an outfit.

For people who dress casually to work, there are ample opportunities to show unique style and your idiosyncratic qualities. Formal wear, however, doesn’t provide the same freedom of expression. Men often have to show all of their personality in a two-inch wide tie and many employers don’t even permit this.

One almost universally accepted fashion accessory for formal wear is the lapel pin. Since 9/11, the American flag has become the standard for politicians, news anchors and other public figures, but there are certainly other options. Lapel pins can feature a variety of images—from fraternal crests to whimsical characters.

The prestigious Order of the Amaranth consists of Master Masons who are in good standing within the Masonic fraternity and the immediate female relatives of Master Masons. Its four principal virtues are truth, faith, wisdom and charity. Charity especially is a focus – its main cause is the Amaranth Diabetes Foundation, but it also supports scholarship funds, care for the elderly, soup kitchens and other community charities.

Order of Amaranth rings symbolize your membership in this prestigious organization and your commitment to charity. They make the perfect gift for a new member or any member who would like to proudly display their membership.

Freemasonry is based on principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, and is symbolized by the architectural square and compass. These tools can be interpreted as tools for life rather than actual tools for work; the square can be a reminder for men to live by the square of virtue and the compass can symbolize the need to keep their passions with certain bounds for the good of mankind.

Just as these tools are symbolic of morality, fraternal rings are symbolic of a commitment to brotherhood. Like a wedding ring symbolizes a commitment to your wife, a fraternal ring shows your pride and commitment to your Lodge. There are many styles to choose from; you and your brothers may want to consider several and choose one that you all like.

Shopping as a woman for a husband, boyfriend, or just a close friend who happens to be a guy can be a difficult task.  Though guys aren’t quite as particular as women, it’s not easy to know what they want without asking them.  Here are a few gift ideas most men would enjoy receiving:

~Fraternal Jewelry; a ring featuring free masons, knights templar, or armed forces is a great gift for men who participated in these social groups.

~Tech Gadgets; LED flashlights, leathermans, pocket knives, waterproof watches, guys love having the latest technology.

~Sports Memorabilia; find out their favorite NFL, MLB, or NBA team and purchase a apparel or paraphernalia.