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JEWELRY AND SHEPHERD'S WATCHES We
are pleased to offer these unique and finely crafted jewelry items to
you: sundials that will tell you the time during day or night, and
fanciful charms and jewelry to delight your favorite shepherd or
shepherdess.
The
oldest known instrument for telling time is a sundial. Portable
sundials have been carried by navigators around the globe, worn as
jewelry by aristocrats, and used by common folk. Shepherds in the
Pyrenees use them to this day. These designs are authentic recreations
of portable sundials practical enough to tell you the hour and
beautiful enough to attract every eye. Unless otherwise indicated,
these sundials have a pewter finish; some have brass or bronze or
copper accents.
Nocturnal: The most accurate of dials, "star" dials were first used in the 15th century. Set the middle wheel to the month, hold the dial upside down, and sight the North Star through the center hole. Move the top of the dial's arm to align with the uppermost stars of the Big Dipper, and read the time on the inner dial where the arm crosses the hour mark! On the reverse side are outlines of the major constellations. The tri-color nocturnal is made of rustic pewter finish, bronze, and copper and is 1.25" in diameter. Explorer: In 1777 the Marquis de Lafayette presented a silver Explorer-type dial to George Washington as a token of his admiration and desire to fight by his side in the American Revolution. The Explorer was particularly popular with explorers and ship captains as it takes into account the latitude as well as the angle of the sun to give a more accurate reading. You push the inner ring so it's perpendicular to the outer ring. Then turn the outer ring to line up the latitude with the tiny notch below the loop. Align the upper part of the bar to face north, and the shadow on the inner ring tells the time! The medium sized explorer is approximately 1.13" in diameter. The large explorer is 1.75" in diameter. Aquitaine: How did the Aquitaine sundial get its name? Almost 900 years ago, in 1152, Eleanor of Aquitaine gave a sundial like this one to King Henry II of England so that Henry would know when to return from the hunt for their love trysts. Henry had a copy of the dial made for Eleanor that was inlaid with diamonds and engraved with the words Carpe Diem or "Seize the Day." On sunny days, suspend the dial. Through a tiny hole, a thin ray of sunshine shines through to illuminate a number on the inside of the dial showing the time of day.The Aquitaine is 1.25" in diameter. The Hidden Aquitaine is also pewter, approximately .65" in diameter, and may have a lapis or hematite stone. It is used the same way as the Aquitaine. Saturn: Saturn is the Roman name for the god of time. The center bead is a sphere. You place the dial on a flat, horizontal surface and tilt it down so that the 12 touches the surface and the "S" is facing south. The sun will shine through the glass bead onto the hour. The Saturn is 1.25" in diameter.
And,
charms: hand-cast sterling silver sheep, llamas, knitting on needles,
handspindles, angora goats and rabbits, weaving shuttles, border
collies, shepherds crooks, spinning wheels. The charms can be used on
bracelets, as earring or pendants, or wonderful gifts for yourself or a
loved one. Sterling silver hand-cast charm pendants are approximately 1/2" in size; the border collie is 1-1/4" and upright spinning wheel is 7/8". Make
your selection and click on the 'order' button. You will be able to
adjust the quantities or even delete items before you complete your
order. Note: once you have entered your order information, do not use
the browser's "back" button or you will lose your order before it is
submitted!
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updated: 16 May 2012