Guest Post: Vintage Gold Watches As an Investment

Watches have been developed many centuries ago. These pieces started only as sundials and later on improved its designs with time. Modern watches are usually worn on the wrist which consists of a bracelet or strap made of leather, metal, alloy or rubber. It also features other useful functions including the date.

There are many types of watches such as digital, mechanical and kinetic. There are also specially designed watches for specific purposes such as for divers, air force and the military. Such specialized pieces consist of added features depending on its purpose and design.

Digital watches are battery operated and are the most accurate types. Some watches are solar powered, or powered by the movement of the user. Many manufacturers have developed modern watches which consist of small electronic chips and have many features compared to other types of watches.

Vintage gold watches are the most valued type because of its workmanship and design rather than its main function of time keeping. These expensive watches consist of mechanical parts and runs through the power produced by its spring parts. Some of these contain expensive gems. Others are gold plated.

Vintage watches are mostly collected by men because majority of these bear masculine designs. Watches for women are only introduced lately. Besides being a collector's item, vintage gold watches make perfect gifts which will surely be cherished because its value.

Vintage gold watches not only functions as a timekeeping device but sometimes serve as a symbol of the status of a person's prestige in the society due to its expensive price. Many of the elite class are number one watch collectors.

Vintage gold watches are considered as a beautiful piece of treasure. However, the authentic pieces are very expensive that it brought rise to many fake counterparts. Fake vintage gold pieces are being sold much cheaper while it copies the image or real watches.

Collecting vintage gold watches involves a lot of money and is a good investment and needs to be secured and protected. It is important to check the authenticity of the vintage gold watch before purchasing.

There are few things to consider in examining if a timepiece is genuine or fake. The popularity and the condition of the vintage watch is one of the important factors to consider. The history and how many years the watch has existed also increase the value. The condition of the vintage gold watch should also be considered. Some timepieces no longer function properly but are still valued just the same.

As a general rule, a watch can be classified as vintage when it is very rare, limited and exceptional. They can also be classified according to their age. Some of the vintage watches which have been desired and collected by watch collectors include the Gruen Curvex, Cartier Panthere, Rolex Daytona, Vacheron Constantin and Rolex Zephyr.

The hobby of collecting vintage gold watches is rewarding considering that these items are ideal as investments. You can also consider collecting vintage gold watches not in perfect condition and have it fixed to regain its appeal. Some collectors buy malfunctioning pieces, repair and resell them.

Other vintage timepieces are pocket watches. Pocket watches have a high value because these are old designs no longer common nowadays. Pocket watches existed even before wristwatches became a fad. The rarity of this design increases its monetary value.

Most watch collectors do not wear their collections in order to protect it. They usually put it on display and enjoy the privilege of having the rarest watch in their possession.

Among the companies which have created vintage gold watches are Omega, Hamilton, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Vacheron Constantin, to name a few.

Champion Football Team Strategies: Lessons You Can Apply to Your Small Business

Small business owners can find inspiration and guidance in many places. Whether you like tackling books for entrepreneurs or watching shows about successful figures, you can learn valuable business lessons through a variety of entertainment channels. In fact, you can even gain leadership insights by watching an NFL team battle its way through the playoffs. Here are some small business strategies that you can learn from a champion football team.

1. Protect the ball

The NFL teams that end up on top are often those that can control the ball and avoid turnovers. After all, when it comes time for the big game, one interception can cost a team the title, as was the case for the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. Instead of sticking to its winning game plan, Seattle took a chance, and it cost the team the championship when the New England Patriots were able to capitalize on their error.

When you dictate the terms and pace of play, you are less vulnerable to risk and have more opportunities to win. The same goes for small business owners and their clients. You should strive to protect your relationship with your best clients at all costs. If your business experiences a downward slump, these core accounts can keep you going until you are able to return to better days.

2. Play as a team

As a small business owner, it is important for you to accept that people make mistakes. The sooner you forgive and move on, the sooner your team can get back to achieving its goals. While it may be difficult for many athletes to accept weakness, you will find that the best teams are ready to support one another when a receiver drops an easy pass or the quarterback misses his wide-open target.

Members of a champion football team are quick to shrug off lapses. This approach keeps confidence levels high and communicates the need for unity above all. Small businesses thrive on the same sense of mutual support. You should strive to project confidence in your employees' abilities and move past mistakes quickly. After all, people can do their best work when they are not held back by the fear of failing.

3. Master the art of preparation

Football is a game in which strong coaches dominate. Those who are prepared to maximize their team's strengths and exploit the opposition's weaknesses tend to win. This makes preparation crucial, especially when it comes time to face the best teams in the playoffs. While you can take pride in your ability to improvise, this skill is no substitute for thorough preparation when you have an important meeting or presentation ahead.

4. Learn from defeat

Great teams are not afraid to look in the mirror after failure, and this approach serves small business owners in the same way. When you find yourself down after losing an account or missing a key deadline, huddle with your staff members and find out what happened. Once you determine what you did wrong and fix it, you can lower your chances of repeating the mistake.

5. Be able to improvise

You have to attack every day, game, or quarter with a solid plan, all the while understanding that your methods and systems should be subject to change. Great coaches have a fallback plan for every calamity that might set in, and the ability to improvise can often make all the difference in the big game. As a business owner, you too should know when to change gears. Have a plan but be nimble enough to adjust it as circumstances change..

As a small business owner, you can learn many things from a champion football team. The next time you encounter a problem at work, try thinking about how your favorite football coach would tackle the situation.

6 Perfect Cities for a Start-up Business

Once you have an idea for a business, you have to know where to launch. After all, location is an essential ingredient for successful companies. In fact, it is hard to imagine Tesla Motors succeeding without the network of tech businesses surrounding it in the San Francisco area. The same applies for famous coffee roasters who got their start in Seattle and brewers who launched in Burlington, Vermont. Here are six perfect cities for a start-up business.

1. Raleigh-Durham
When you are thinking about the perfect city for your new venture, it may be important to keep the proximity of well-known universities in mind. As Duke, Wake Forest, and the University of North Carolina all converge in Raleigh-Durham, entrepreneurs who set up shop in this city have access to top talent coming straight out of these schools. Furthermore, due to the large student population in this area, 42% of adults in this city have a college degree and business costs are 18% below the national average, according to Forbes.

2. Boston
In terms of academic talent, no city can beat Boston. With many of the nation's best universities in town, start-up owners will have no shortage of potential hires to tap. Meanwhile, the city's urban density attracts young employees. Boston's public transportation infrastructure serves as another big draw for potential hires. According to Entrepreneur, Boston start-ups have ample access to venture capital as well.

3. New York
Over recent years, New York's Silicon Alley has nearly caught up to the Bay Area's pace of innovation. Group work spaces have emerged across the city, and entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly likely to choose the Big Apple over the West Coast. In terms of quality of life and networking opportunities, New York has no equal. Naturally, investors abound in the finance capital of the United States. Furthermore, companies that plan to do business overseas can benefit from New York's increasingly diverse population.

4. Chicago

Chicago remains one of the best cities for entrepreneurs to call home. A progressive local government has enacted policies that promote green living, making the city popular among new college grads and innovators. Furthermore, a solid transportation infrastructure, a lower cost of living than coastal cities, and great networking opportunities make Chicago a great option for any start-up.

5. San Francisco

When it comes to the perfect cities for a start-up business, it is hard to beat the San Francisco Bay Area. Between the city proper, Oakland (across the bridge), and Silicon Valley (a short drive south), entrepreneurs are guaranteed access to the talent and investors that a growing business needs. Furthermore, businesses that take off from Silicon Valley tend to get the highest valuation. While it is important to note that living in this area can be quite expensive (and likely requires access to a car), the payoff may be too great to ignore when you have a groundbreaking new business idea in the works.

6. Los Angeles

Do not forget to consider sunny Southern California, as well. With rents lower than New York or San Francisco and creative talent everywhere, the City of Angels is a strong contender for new start-ups. In particular, fashion and entertainment businesses truly have a chance to thrive in Los Angeles, but tech companies (such as Tinder and SnapChat) often find a good home here, as well. One potential downside to an LA office is the need to drive and deal with heavy traffic. However, ride-hailing services have been improving many freeway commutes over the last few years.