The way that you clean a watch ultimately depends on the style; even if your watch is water resistant you should remove the bracelet to clean it in order to protect the face.

Stainless steel bracelet:

Stainless steel watches are hugely fashionable and popular with both men and women. They are popular because they will go with anything and can be dressed up and down really easily however, when they get dirty they’re not attractive to anyone, but they are really easy to get back into a great condition.

• Mix together one teaspoon of water with a teaspoon of vinegar and then using a clean cloth rub it up and down the strap – the solution will dissolve dirt and grime.
• Use a cotton bud that’s been dipped into the mixture to get in between the links and if there are any smaller areas then use a toothpick to remove any remaining residue.
• Dip another clean cloth in baby oil and rub it all over the wrist band – then leave it for five minutes.
• Once the oil’s been left use a dry cloth to buff the watch strap by rubbing it in circles – this will help to restore shine.

Leather strap:

Leather watch straps are classic and will never go out of fashion but they’re really easy to ruin so it’s important to look after them properly. In order to prevent a build-up of dirt and any unwanted odours you should always remove your watch when washing and sleeping in order to prevent it from getting wet and to allow the leather to breathe.

• To keep the leather looking and feeling fresh you should wipe it with a damp cloth once a week and leave it to dry.
• For a deep clean it’s important to remove the watch from the strap, then rub a paste – made up of one tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of water – all over the strap and leave it for at least an hour.
• Once it’s been left to stand wash off all of the paste with water and allow it to dry naturally overnight – don’t reattach the strap to the watch.
• Rub some olive oil all over the strap to restore its shiny, luxury look and then polish it with a dry, lint-free cloth before reattaching the watch.

Following these simple tips should keep your watch looking great for years; if you have any doubts though make sure you take it to a professional jeweller rather than trying to do it yourself.

Despite this celebrity connection, you will be pleased to know that although Casio watches look great and come with impressive functions, they are actually very affordable. Tinie Tempah is only one among many famous people to have endorsed the Casio brand.

Justin Bieber and Usher wear Casio

A few years ago teenage popstar Justin Bieber was proudly seen sporting a Casio watch along with his mentor Usher. The red and white models are only two of the great colours available within the collection. Models such as these clearly show how sporty Casio watches are in appearance and why they are consistently chosen by those requiring fantastic features to aid training. Although those worn by Justin Bieber and Usher have useful and easy-to-read digital displays, there are also many available with analogue.

Rihanna took her love of Casio to a new level in her music video for ‘Rude Boy’ when she was spotted wearing a bracelet created from a number of the watches joined together. The multi-platinum and Grammy Award winner recording artist set a new fashion trend and showed off an impressive collection of the watches available from the Casio brand in the process.

Kesha wearing Casio Baby-G watches

American popstar Ke$ha, who is perhaps best known for her chart-topping singles ‘Tik Tok’ and ‘Your Love is My Drug,’ also served as a brand ambassado for the Casio Baby-G line – an opportunity which also allowed her  to personally create two unique design styles.  Speaking at the time she said: “I think the Baby-G brand is amazing. It’s stylish, innovative, durable and affordable. The bright colors and metallic finishes really compliment my moods and personality.”

Lady Gaga wears Casio

The Casio Baby-G collection is catered specifically for females and has been worn by some of the most famous women in the world. American singer Lady Gaga was seen wearing a vibrant yellow Casio Baby-G watch in the videos for singles ‘Lovegame’ and ‘Eh Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)’.

Pixie Lott Casio Baby-G watch

On this side of the pond, British singing sensation Pixie Lott also acted as an ambassador for the Casio Baby-G range and created her own fantastic model. This model (left), like all others from this collection is girly yet strong and built to last for many years to come.

With so many well-known stars proud to be affiliated with this brand, it is clear to see that it has gained a reputation for style, comfort and practicality. To view all of the collection click here.

Jessie J

English popstar Jessie J has been in the news lately after she took to Twitter to defend her comments on last weekend’s BBC The Voice programe. The 25-year-old was not only critical of fellow coach Will.I.Am but she also gave negative remarks to the performances given by her own acts.

After the music talent show aired the singer tweeted: “If I’m not critical, honest and real. What’s the point? You don’t survive in this business if you’re ok. You have to work hard!

“Remember that teacher that picked at all your mistakes and made you really work on every detail? It’s because they cared and saw something special in you. There is a thin line between passion, dedication and commitment! I bet that teacher got you a good grade! Made you believe!”

Not only has the Pricetag singer become a mentor to aspiring singers hoping to get into the music business but she has also become a style icon with viewers eager to see what the show’s only female judge will be wearing.

There is no denying that Jessie J has a distinctive style and loves her accessories. Here at Nigel O’Hara Diamond Jewellers we have been looking at some of the star’s recent looks and showing how you can emulate them.

Jessie J loves to complement what she wears with chunky and eye-catching earrings. This is clearly apparent in the image above where she is seen to wear large gold-coloured hoops. You can find many similar items in our extensive collection of earrings.

9 ct Bamboo Creole Earrings

You can get the music judge’s style with these fantastic bamboo creole earrings. Made from luxurious nine carat gold, these earrings have a bamboo-style appearance and easily attached clasps. Like all our earrings these gorgeous earrings come with a beautiful presentation box.

Guess Ladies’ Holly Loop Drop Earrings- UBE80937

If Jessie’s look inspires you to wear hoop earrings but gold is not the material you are after, why not take a look at this beautiful pair from style brand Guess.

These rhodium-plated earrings have a touch of elegance due to their stone embellishments and will certainly add a touch of glamour and celebrity-style to any outfit.

As many Jessie J fans know, she recently shaved her head for Comic Relief. The picture on her official twitter site continues to proudly show off the singer with no hair.

Once again she has chosen to wear hoop earrings and complements her plain black top with a chunky gold necklace.

With many necklaces in stock here at Nigel O’Haras you are sure to find something to match this particular style. If you want to create this look, we know you will love this Guess Prisoner Of Love necklace.

Guess Prisoner of Love necklace

This gold-tone necklace contains a chunky yet lightweight chain and links enclosing a dazzling stone-embellished heart-shaped pendant.

Trend-setters and those keen on designer names will also love that this necklace, like all others in the Guess range, has clear branding.

A water resistant watch is nothing more than splash proof and should therefore be removed before coming into contact with water. Water resistant watches will be perfectly fine if you’re caught out in a rain storm but you should never submerge it in water – i.e. when swimming – because it will let water in almost straight away.

Waterproof watches are waterproof to different levels. Every ten metres you go under water is equivalent to one atmospheric pressure change and if your watch hasn’t been designed to cope with that then it will just break.

The majority of people don’t need anything more than a water resistant watch because they don’t do anything that will lead to a change in the atmospheric pressure. If you’re a regular diver or you take part in extreme water sports though then a watch that’s waterproof to a decent depth will be essential.

If you know that you need a waterproof watch but don’t know where to start then take a look at the Citizen range that includes the Royal Marine Commando and Diver’s range that can withstand atmospheric pressure changes as low as 300 metres.

If you’re not sure about the best watch for your needs then any reputable jeweller like Nigel O’Hara will be able to help you find the perfect timepiece.

You may be happy with a stylish timepiece that clearly displays the time but may be unaware that we stock plenty of models with more impressive and useful features that are specifically geared towards frequent travellers.

Atomic-timekeeping

Citizen atomic-timekeeping

A great feature for those who travel a lot is atomic timekeeping. You are guaranteed to be on time wherever you are in the world as this is said to be the most accurate measure of time currently known.

Watches such as those in the Citizen Skyhawk Atomic Time range contain small radio receivers. These then synchronize with the official atomic time relative to your timezone from atomic time ground stations located around the world.

This particular collection of watches carry out regular synchronization with atomic time which means you have the added bonus of never having to set it.

To get the best out of a timepiece with this function, brands such as Citizen recommend that you place your Skyhawk A-T watch by your window with the dial facing the nine o’clock position before you go to bed. This is because atomic time broadcasts are most clear late at night or very early in the morning.

Casio Wave Ceptor Watches

Another brand with this impressive feature is Casio. Its wave ceptor watches come equipped with multi-band atomic timekeeping which means they pick up signals from the United States and Japan. As these Casio watches automatically receive these radio signals up to six times a day, you can be assured of accurate timekeeping. When on those flight travelling through the night when the cabin lights are dimmed, flyers will also appreciate the LED light with afterglow and the neo-brite luminous hands and markers.

World Time

Timex IQ men’s traveller watch

This feature allows for reading of the time in a number of dedicated cities and timezone. Both of the above collections contain this feature. For something which is less expensive but which continues to not only look great but also contain impressive features, then we recommend the traveller watches from Timex Intelligent Quartz.

The Timex IQ men’s traveller watch exudes style and practicality. Its very appearance appeals to globetrotters with its world globe displayed in the dial’s centre. You can also see that its world time movement, which can display time in 24 major cities around the world, is located around the dial. This Timex watch also has a season setting indicator in case your travels involve passing through hemispheres.

From slender to chunky, smart to sporty and detailed to minimalistic – there really are so many designer watches available. This is why here at Nigel O’Hara Diamond Jewellers we recognise that finding that perfect watch for you may become a little overwhelming. What may be the ideal fit for you may be not what someone else would want. That is why we have put together the best tips to help you choose your right watch.

Purpose
First you need to decide what you will be using the timepiece for. Do you want it simply to look good as an accompaniment to your everyday outfits or do you want it to come equipped with functions such as those to aid exercise training, world-time or the convenience of being battery-free. If you are only looking with the requirement that it has to look good, then your search will be much easier. Many of the designer watch brands we stock include options with sleek and bare dials that exude style. If this is what you are after, take a look particularly at Rotary, Timex Originals and FCUK.

If you desire more from your watch, you will need to decide exactly how well-equipped and impressive you need it to be. If you are looking a good quality sports watch which allows for clear reading of the time, easy-to-use functions and a stopwatch, take a look at those available from fantastic brands such as Casio and Timex.

However you may also be keen to know that there are other models which cater specifically to divers, pilots and keen travellers.

Price
With designer watches available to suit all price ranges, there really is something to suit all budgets. We have categorised our designer watches into specific price brackets which you can find here. If you are looking a good quality model, that will not break the bank but yet looks more expensive that it actually is, take a look at Accurist. This is because the well-known and fashionable Accurist brand began creating watches to challenge the idea that a timepiece had to be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. If you are looking for more impressive features, you may be prepared to spend a little more and will have the assurance that your watch will last for many years to come. If you are shopping for a high-end option there are also luxurious timepieces available from brands such as Michel Herbelin and Versace. With the inclusion of precious metals and dazzling diamonds used on the watches from these brands, you can be assured that their higher price tag is definitely justified.

Appearance
Taking the above two tips into account, you hopefully have narrowed the search on choosing the right watch for you. Do you want a slender dress watch, a chunky and sporty model or a colourful option? If you want an eye-catching timepiece that is sure to get you noticed and enhance anything you wear then look at the celebrity endorsed Ice Watches. You may also want to add an element of “bling” by choosing a Swarovksi embellished timepiece. If is something chunkier then we recommend the distinctive and futuristic Welder watches.

It is a common misconception, when you come across a timepiece that isn’t working, to assume that it has been ‘over wound’; the truth is though that this isn’t possible – as long as your watch is in good working order. The winding mechanism of your watch ultimately depends on the type of timepiece that you have; a quartz watch for example is powered by a battery that will need to be replaced every couple of years; an automatic watch uses the kinetic energy that is produced through your arm movements and transforms it into potential energy that winds the spring in your watch; a manual watch on the other hand needs to be wound on a daily basis and once this has been done the watch should run smoothly for around 40 hours.

So why can’t you over wind?

Technically you can over wind a manual watch but if you do then you’ll break it. There is a mechanism installed within the watch that indicates when it has been fully wound. As soon as you reach this point you’ll feel some resistance which means that the spring has been wound to its tightest and shouldn’t be wound any further – if you do try to wind it further then you’ll break the mechanism and your watch will stop working.

Automatic watches are wound up through movement. The energy that you produce when moving is converted into potential energy which tightens the spring in your watch – this is exactly the same as physically winding up a manual watch. Once the spring has been wound to its maximum the bridle –a mechanism that works a little like a clutch – allows the central barrel within the watch to slip inside preventing the spring from being wound any further.

A battery powered watch doesn’t need to be wound at all; the battery controls the movement of the watch so if it’s losing time then it indicates that the battery needs to be replaced.

If you’re having problems with your watch – whatever type you own – and you don’t want to risk breaking it then a local jeweller such as Nigel O’Hara will be happy to take a look to see if they can help.

Juicy Couture Ladies' 'Pedigree' White Jelly Strap 1900705

A watch adorned with Swarovski crystals instantly gives the impression of wealth and class as it can actually make a timepiece look more expensive than it actually is. Despite this, you will be amazed to learn how affordable many of these watches actually are. We have a fantastic selection of timepieces which are enhanced by stunning Swarovski crystals from a range of designer watch brands. As there are so many for you to choose from, we have placed our recommendations into a number of categories to help you out.

Bold statement watches

Younger customers who value designer brand names or those women who are searching for an eye-catching accessory to everyday or eveningwear are sure to love options with plenty of sparkle. The ladies’ Juicy Couture watch as seen above is one of our top-selling models. Not only does it have a comfortable white jelly strap, but it also has a rich-looking high-polished gold coloured casing. In addition it has the all-important Swarovksi crystals set upon the bezel and the dial’s striking crown design.

http://www.nigelohara.com/accurist-ladies-gold-tone-bracelet-watch-lb1524p-pid16551.html

These are options which are perfect for those searching for a stunning dress watch or those with small wrists. Despite its inexpensive price tag, the above ladies’ Accurist watch looks worth a lot more than it actually is. This is because of its polished gold-tone bracelet and strap, beautiful mother-of-pearl dial and Swarovksi crystal encrusted bezel.

Subtle

Perhaps you only want the subtle inclusion of Swarovski crystals. Options such as this Citizen’s ladies’ watch show that sometimes less is more. This timepiece has a unique stainless steel bangle which is beautifully complemented by a sleek and minimalsitic black dial. The dial is void of any detailing apart from Citizen branding, silver-tone minute and hour hands, and an exquisite Swarovksi crystal located at the 12 o’clock position. This model is ideal for all women who love to dress well.

Totally unique

The Charmed by Accurist range offers customers a very different watch option. This collection is among the most popular here at Nigel O’Hara Diamond jewellers due to its offering of attractive and distinctive timepieces. Not only does the range include charm bracelets and colourful beads, but each item is also made practical by the inclusion of useful dials. There are a number of Accurist charm bracelets available which offer beads, separators and watch bezels with Swarovksi crystal. So if you are someone who likes to follow the latest popular trends and loves to constantly add to your accessory wardrobe we recommend these Accurist watches for you!

Marathon runners

It is that time of the year again when runners take to the streets of Belfast to push themselves to the limit and run 26 miles. The Belfast Marathon, taking place on Bank Holiday Monday 6 May. More than 20,000 runners are expected to take part either running the full race individually or as part of a relay team.

Beginning at City Hall and ending at Ormeau Park, the race will span all areas of the city and create a buzz unrivalled any other day of the year. If you are taking part or are considering training for this or another marathon, we have some fantastic watches in stock to aid you.

Timex watches specifically cater to those keen on exercise and each timepiece is tailored to meet a range of needs and requirements depending on your sport or preference. What is also more important, is that although Timex watches offer impressive functions, they are also very affordable and look great.

Regular marathon runners love this dedicated Timex marathon watch. This model will act as friend for you on Monday no matter what distance you are registered to run.

Timex marathon watch

This Timex watch looks good and has a large clear display which makes for easy reading of the time when running and perhaps you are feeling slightly exhausted! It has a comfortable black resin strap that will not become a nuisance during the event as it will snugly fit to the wrist. It also has all of its impressive and practical functions available at the easy press of a button. It means you can record and compare your mile times.

This particular men’s sports watch is also water resistance to 50 metres and has an indiglo light meaning you can rely on accurate time-telling even if the weather turns dark and miserable!

The Timex Ironman is the place to look if you love any form of exercise. As the name of the collection suggests, these timepieces are durable and built to last and contain every function you need to improve.

A Timex heart rate monitor may also prove a good buy if you are taking part in the marathon on Monday. These items are also popular with those wanting to lose weight as they help the wearer determine when they are moving into fat burning as some can count the number of calories burned. Heart rate monitors are great if you need an incentive to keep going. They can act as your own ‘personal trainer’ as you can set them to beep when you are out of your target range so that this can actually act to push you on and make you go faster.

If you are a ‘jack of all trades’ and love to combine your love of running with other sports such as cycling and running, then we definitely recommend this triathlon watch. As you will see, not only does this timepiece have a distinctive design, but it also combines features such as 10 metre water resistance with a stop watch and 50 lap memory function.

If you are in your last bout of training for Monday’s marathon and really want to look the part, a sports watch from Timex is definitely recommended.

1. Place the watch face-down on a soft towel or dish cloth – this is not essential but it will prevent the face of the watch getting scratched.

2. Take off the back cover – if there’s a small depression in the back then it should pry off pretty easily using a flat screwdriver. If there’s no depression then it’s likely to be screwed in place in which case the cover will come away easily once the screws have been removed.

3. Find the battery; watch batteries are small – usually silver – pill like objects that tend to be held in place with a cover or clip. The battery cover usually comes away easily but some are held in with a screw in which case you’ll need to remove this before you can remove the battery.

4. Remove the battery; look at which way it fits into the watch before removing it as it will have to be put back in exactly the same way. If the battery doesn’t slot out easily then use a pair of plastic tweezers to prize it from its slot.

5. Identify the battery: Although the majority of watch batteries look the same there are actually loads of them out there so it’s really important to take a note of the number of yours before you buy a new one. Watch batteries can be identified by a three or four digit number on one side; it’s a good idea to take your old battery with you when you go to a jeweller for a new one so that they can supply you with exactly the same as you had before.

6. Install the battery. Once the battery has been installed fix the battery cover and the watch-back in place and check the operation of the watch – you should find that it’s working perfectly. Remember that it’s essential to make sure that you’ve sealed your watch correctly in order to maintain its water resistance.

If you have an expensive, designer watch and are worried about damaging it, you may prefer to take your watch to a jeweller who will be happy to fit a new battery for you.