Men Metals Blog

Monday, February 22, 2010

Top Five Reasons to Buy a Military Gift


Military gifts are perfect items for veterans and those still serving in their respected branch of the military. It can be difficult to shop for men on their birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries,yet it is assuring to know of this option. Why purchase Army jewelry, Marine Corps jewelry, or Navy pendants?

- The recipient may use Army jewelry to remember those who served with them. Like a class ring, it can be an everyday-symbol of important times and people of the past.

- A Navy gift can serve as a trophy to those who served in the military. Those who served, often appreciate a chance to show their pride and share heroic stories of the past.

- Presenting a piece of Marine Corps jewelry shows the recipient you appreciate their patriotic deeds. Veterans enjoy hearing their participation was appreciated by those they fought to defend.

- Buy something they will definitely wear. Purchasing Navy jewelry, Army rings, and other military gifts, ensures the recipient will wear the gift. Regardless of personal taste, all veterans and those serving will appreciate a military gift.

- You can begin a trend and plan future gifts. Now you'll know what to get your special person again and again. Military gifts such as Marine Corps pendants, Army rings, and Navy jewelry, can become collector's items. Start a trend of presenting military gifts for each occasion.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Men’s Wedding Ring Tips


A majority of men have rarely, if not ever, purchased jewelry for themselves. Sometimes the first piece of jewelry they wear is their wedding ring.

With that being said, how are men supposed to know what type of ring they wish to purchase? What metal to choose, what size to get, what design, what is a good price? These are all common questions since most grooms have limited experience with jewelry.

There are four main aspects to consider when deciding on a wedding ring: Is the ring appropriate for your lifestyle? Does it fit your personality? Is the ring comfortable? What is your budget?

Lifestyle
Where you work, what activities you take part in, and how often you plan on wearing the ring all fall under your lifestyle. To start, think about your day to day. Can you wear the ring every day or just for occasions outside of work? A good example is if you are an auto mechanic working with your hands and getting into oil and gasoline regularly. The ring would interfere with your job so it would be best to leave it in a safe place and avoid the risk of damage. If you choose to wear the ring to work you would probably want to consider a titanium ring or tungsten ring, the best metal for durability and scratch resistance.

Personality
Are you a no-frills type of guy? Do you like fashion but choose to be simple and conservative? Or are you a bold and flashy kind of guy? There are a variety of designs and metals to choose from to meet any personality type. Designs include two-tone looks, woven or weave patterns, engravings, inlays, ribbed edges, and stones like diamonds. Metals include gold, platinum, sterling silver, tungsten, or titanium.

* Gold Rings- most popular, comes in a variety of carats and colors (i.e. white gold, yellow gold, etc)

* Platinum Rings- the most expensive, pure formed white metal

* Sterling Silver Rings- softer and less expensive, white-grey color, not recommended for daily wear

* Tungsten Rings- very strong and durable, less expensive, gray-white color, heavy in weight

* Titanium Rings- very popular, silver-grey-white color, hardest natural metal, extremely light weight

Comfort
The first thing to remember is that comfort comes with use. If it is the first time wearing any form of a ring or jewelry, it is going to feel odd at first. You will become accustomed to it so that you forget you are even wearing a ring. Although, it is still valuable to find a ring that fits your finger properly. Have your ring size taken by a jeweler so you know what size to shop for. Be sure the width of the ring is not too large for your finger. You should easily be able to bend and move your finger. An average width is between 5-7mm. And, finally, consider the texture or shape of the ring. Some rings come with a “comfort curve” built into the inside to achieve maximum comfort.

Budget
Wedding rings are designed to meet just about any budget, from the basic $100 titanium or tungsten rings to the extravagant $5000 diamond platinum versions. The price range depends on the metal, the details, and the quality with the average price around $500 or $600.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Honor Our Hero’s With a Gift


For all their bravery, all their sacrifice, and their continued dedication, members and veterans of the armed forces deserve recognition. Honoring the hero’s of our nation is a way for us to show support and appreciation for all that they do.

We celebrate their hard work on holidays like Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day, but these are not the only memorable times for our troops. Their commitment begins the day they decide to sign up and join the Military- whether the Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Air Force. From that day forward, there are numerous events and challenges that the men and women overcome. Acing their ASVAB test, completing boot camp, graduating from the military academy, receiving the call of duty, and returning from the call of duty are just a few.

Those that fight for our country should be honored and rewarded along their journey, not just on the specific holidays dedicated to them. A great way to do so is to present a gift for their efforts- something they can bring along their journey or have to look back on to see how far they have come.

One gift idea is Military Jewelry. You can find anything from Navy rings, to Air Force Pendants, to Marine Corp Dog Tags, to watches with the Army or Coast Guard Seal. These items are a gift that military members and veterans can wear to show pride in what they do day in and day out.

Another gift idea is accessories that include their specific military logo. Zippos Lighters, money clips, cuff links, tie clips. The list can go on forever.

When determining a gift, think of an option that they can use for a special event or on a daily basis. Either way, the thought that you put into it and the meaning and support behind the gift will demonstrate the pride that you have for your friend or family member and for the troops efforts as a whole.

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Homemade Jewelry Polish Ideas

Would you like to improve the look of your titanium rings, navy pendant, stainless steel rings, etc? Are you unsure about the effectiveness of store-bought cleaners for women and men’s jewelry? Some people use common, household items to polish and clean their decorative pieces.

Try using this recipe to clean stainless steel rings, Freemason jewelry, and other stainless steel jewelry:

Stainless Steel

Needs:

Baking soda

Cleaning pad

Toothbrush (optional)

Mix the baking soda and the water together in a small bowl. Dip a cleaning pad or a soft-bristled toothbrush in the solution. Gently scrub tarnish and impurities from the jewelry. For tougher stains, let the solution settle atop for an hour or so and then gently scrub away.

Silver

Needs:

A clean mid-sized aluminum pot

Baking soda

Cleaning cloth

Bring a few cups of water to a boil and place it in the aluminum pot. Add a teaspoon of baking soda and mix. Place any silver jewelry (army jewelry, Masonic jewelry, tungsten rings) in the water and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Take the item out of the water and clean it with a cloth.

Chrome

Needs:

Apple Cider Vinegar

Cleaning Cloth

Navy gifts, army rings, tungsten rings, and other men’s jewelry items, may have chrome elements. Soak a cleaning cloth with the apple vinegar and thoroughly clean your chrome jewelry item. Afterward, dry with a clean towel and let the item sit. The process can be repeated as desired.

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Welcome

Welcome