The Famous Baccarat Crystals #RichFamousLifestyle

45 comments




The Famous Baccarat Crystals #RichFamousLifestyle

A small village in the depth of a French forest has become the home of some of the world’s most renowned pieces of crystal.

In the 15th Century, glassmakers in Murano, near Venice, produced an almost colorless glass which they called “cristallo.” It was thin, elegant, and much purer than existing glass.

In 1676, a London glassmaker discovered the formula for lead crystal. It was nicknamed “flint glass” due to the high amount of powdered flint in its manufacture, and was used mainly for optics. Finally, in 1781, the first crystal as we know it today was produced.

The story of Baccarat began in France in 1764, when Montmorency – Laval, the Bishop of Metz, got permission form King Louis XV to set up a glassworks of Baccarat, a small village in the depths of the Vosges forest near Lorraine. The glassworks prospered, and by 1860 was one of the leading exporters of crystal to the world.

Baccarat kept pace with the changing technology, introducing the latest fashions of the era in its collections, but creating its own originals at the same time. Baccarat survived two world wars, using the periods of inactivity to renovate and update its factory. Today, it has a range of 2,000 products comprising dinner services, table accessories, decoration, decanters and lighting fixtures.

Up to 1835, Baccarat dictated sober fashions: simple glasses with little cut-work, short and flat-based with straight sides. The style was termed the Regency look. Styles changed in 1839 becoming more elaborate, and the first crystal chandeliers were introduced. These ultimately achieved enormous proportions, some being five meters high. The first balloon-shaped glasses (the predecessors of the wine-taster’s “ballon”) were launched by Baccarat in 1849.

The fashion for profusely decorated crystal was set by Baccarat in 1870. It peaked in the early 1900s, but by 1939, simplicity was back in fashion. From 1958 onwards, Baccarat began the trend of crystal pieces being signed by well-known artists and sculptors including Salvador Dali, and Georges Chevalier. The pieces designed by Georges Chevalier for Baccarat soon after the second world war have become some of the most coveted in the history of crystal.

Crystal is glass with more than 24 per cent lead and with a refraction index above or equal to 1.54. Every crystal manufacturer has its own mix of raw materials, which are largely responsible for the quality of the final product. There are other factors as well – melting techniques, blowing skills and the type of furnaces used – which add or detract from total perfection of the crystal.

Baccarat crystals consist of silica (57 per cent), lead oxide (27 per cent), potassium oxide (14 per cent), and various products in minute quantities (2 per cent). Manufacture begins by mixing the different components in clay crucibles, called pots. These are placed in furnaces at a constant temperature of about 1500 degrees. The melting crystal is then gathered on the end of a steel rod which is turned continuously. This rod is passed on to a blower who shears off the required quantity for the article he is making and blows it through a hollow rod into the desired shape.

Once the shape has been achieved, the blower passes his rod back to the first blower who connects the different pieces of crystal to make it a perfect harmonious whole. The piece is then cooled. The first rigorous check is conducted at this stage. At the sign of the slightest flaw, it is destroyed.

Once a piece has passed the first check, it is cut, engraved, flattened and polished. In spite of the care taken, nearly 35 per cent of articles are destroyed in each lot as failing to reach Baccarat quality.









ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you:A LIFE SO FAR AWAYand my other business blog:SHOPPING eMALL Thank you for your valuable time. Follow my business & writings and you'll find what life's meant to be.

Valentine's Dinner Party With Style #RichFamousLifestyle

10 comments


How to Organize Valentine’s Dinner Party with Style

If entertaining isn’t your favorite chore or you are just looking for some new idea for Valentine’s Day, Wedding, etc., and if you’re working in a restaurant, here’s my helpful suggestions to make those party plans seem effortless.

Entertaining in style is expected these days and interesting suggestions to ensure your parties are memorable. Ladies do it with style this Valentine’s Day, or at least you are expected to. Perhaps you better half has invited “just a few” people for dinner. On closer investigation you find that it’s to entertain the VIP’s of the company who just happens to be in town for a couple of days, along with other important people from the firm.

Basically, the organization has to be “just right” and there is no room for panic or anything other than the best in presentation from the table arrangement to the food.

When sending out invitations, do try to give plenty of notice. The usual time is at least two weeks in advance. If the dinner is informal perhaps for friends or relatives often just a phone call, mobile phone, or a short note would be sufficient. If you do arrange formal parties and celebrations, it is worth having set invitations printed at the printers; all you need to do is fill in the date, time and details of the event.

However, if your formal entertaining isn’t a regular event, then a typed or neatly written invitation is best. Send it out at least two weeks in advance, a month is better). To ensure that the guest is informed of all details make sure the following details are included. The day, date and time; if there are pre-dinner drinks or a reception beforehand, the occasion and style of dress (formal/informal/national dress).
When giving the venue do include a map for those who are unfamiliar with your location. Most importantly, include the name of the host or hostess and easily RSVP contact number or reply card for the guest to confirm.
When planning the meal take into consideration the guests who will be attending: are there any special diets required for health, personal or religious reasons? Maybe one or two of the guests are known to have light appetites and would appreciate smaller portions.

Dinner Party Planning:

For a formal dinner, the courses generally are as follows: Cold hors d’oeuvre, soup, warm hors d’oeuvre, fish, sorbet, main course with side dishes, cheese or fruit, dessert and tea/coffee with petit fours. Of course not every dinner party demands such formality therefore most people cut the courses down to a starter, main dish and dessert. If you are not sure which way the menu should be planned, offer a cold hors d’oeuvre, a warm soup or fish course, a main dish, then dessert. In this way, much of the preparation can be done well in advance and frozen ready for the big day.

No dish should ever be repeated, however crustaceans are an exception. Dessert should be light if the main course is rich. Consider a balance of colors – all white food is boring, so the emphasis should be in varying the colors of each course, yet ensuring the dishes complement each other.

At times it may be preferable to serve small hors d’oeuvres with pre-dinner drinks and move straight into the fish/soup course when guests are seated at the table.

Place Settings:

When it comes to place settings for formal dinner parties, it really pays to invest in an attractive and sophisticated dinner service and cutlery. It will be money well spent for they could last a lifetime. One of the first impressions a guest may have of the host is the table presentation. A crisp white table cloth with a pretty overlay is often all that is required to show off your tableware to its best.

Add to this color coordinated candles, a pretty posy of flowers (nothing too high or it will obstruct your guests’ views of each other) and condiments in dainty containers and you have the perfect setting around which to serve a meal.

Linen:

To keep your linen in top condition treat any stains immediately. Spills can be treated with a proprietary stain remover available in many supermarkets. Don’t be tempted to bleach your linen cloth as it will only damage and weaken the fibers. Linen can be laundered in an automatic washing machine. Once washed, the linen should be line dried (not tumbled dried) and taken off the line when it is still damp, then ironed. Spray starches can be used and if possible, steam iron on a medium setting. If you are particularly worried about your linen, take it straight to a reputable dry-cleaning firm the following morning and point out any stains, describing what they are.

Setting the Table:

To get a clear idea of the space required to put the dinner plate you will be using on the table. The plate should be placed one thumb nail in from the edge of the table. Place the side plate to the left of the dinner plate with the bread knife on the right side of the plate, its blade turned to the left.

Cutlery should be laid with the main course knives and forks nearest the plate, and the other courses working outwards until, on the very outside should be the cutlery for the first course. Knives should be placed on the right blades pointing inwards, forks on the left, while the soup spoon traditionally lies on the knife side. Dessert spoons and forks are placed at the head of the plate with the fork handle facing the left and the spoon handle to the right. If there is cheese, the cutlery is placed the same as the dessert cutlery with the spoon being replaced with a dessert knife.

Setting Glasses:

The glass which accompanies the main course (the leading glass) is placed directly above the dinner knife. Glasses which accompany courses before the main dish are set before the leading glass and glasses which accompany a course after the main dish are set behind the leading glass.

This order is important as it ensures the guest has unrestricted access to the glassware for each course. Glasses should be removed after each course, apart from the water glasses which should be placed in line with the first course glasses. No more than four glasses should be placed on the table. Additional glasses can be added later if required.

Crystal Care:

Dish washers are too harsh for crystal as heat and abrasive cleaners may mark the surfaces. Jostling in a dishwasher can also cause chipping and cracking. It’s better to hand washing in water that is hand-hot using a mild washing up liquid. Rinsing well in lots of clear water – vinegar in the rinsing water will help remove any stubborn stains. Wash away from the taps to prevent chipping and drain on a plastic coated rack or towel.

When drying, use a clean linen dish towel (keep several ready for the task) and hold the glass by the bowl, not the stem, for twisting the stem in the opposite direction to the bowl can cause it to snap. Polish the glasses then store standing on their bottoms not the rims, well spaced out to avoid any potential chipping in your cupboards or glass cabinets.

Vases and decanters can be cleaned by filling them half-full of moderately hot water, a small amount of mild detergent, two tablespoons of white vinegar or ammonia and ¼ cup of uncooked rice. Swirl the rice around for a few minutes to remove residue inside. Rinse well with moderately hot water and air dry, upside down on a rack.

Accessories:

Accessories provide the ideal finishing touch to a table: add some fresh flowers, candles and place cards but always remember that the decoration should be unobtrusive yet attractive. With practice and even inexpensive decorations, it is easy to create elegant table settings. Keep an eye out for attractive fabrics which could be made up into inexpensive table mats and napkins.









ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you:A LIFE SO FAR AWAYand my other business blog:SHOPPING eMALL Thank you for your valuable time. Follow my business & writings and you'll find what life's meant to be.

What To Look For In Diamond Engagement Rings #RichFamousLifestyle

12 comments

S.Kashi & Sons established in 1990, a samll family business has now grown to be an industry leader. Our mission is to create the most innovative designs, diamond engagement rings and combine top quality workmanship and excellent customer service S. Kashi and Sons

What To Look For In Diamond Engagement Rings

You've found the perfect partner in life and want to show her how much she means to you by astounding her with the perfect diamond engagement ring when you propose. What a fantastic way to show someone how much you adore and love her than to present her with a gem as unique and flawless as she is. There are so many shapes and sizes of diamond from which to choose as well as a plethora of settings.

There are preset diamonds and loose diamonds to put into a gorgeous setting of white gold, yellow gold or platinum. There are also very different rings available made of meteorite or titanium. Of course there are the three "C's", cut, clarity and carat. Cut and clarity overshadow carat weight because a bigger diamond doesn't meant a better diamond. They may have more flaws which detracts from the sparkle and beauty of the diamond. It's not the size of the diamond that matters or the amount that's spent. Should you choose a preset diamond in a setting you can find them at any fine jewelry store and anyone there would be happy to answer questions. Any reputable jewelry store will offer a guarantee when buying diamonds. All they ask is that you have the diamonds inspected a certain number of times per year.

The various shapes of diamonds can add to the splendor of it. There are square or princess cuts, round, oval, pear, marquise, asscher, brilliant and emerald. Each cut has it's own splendid brilliance and is really a personal preference. If you are ring shopping with your significant other, pay attention to her response to diamond shape and precious metal preferences. If you are shopping alone and surprising your lady with the ring, be sure you have the right size. Once she accepts your proposal and you place the ring on her finger, she will NOT want to take it off so having the correct size is exceedingly important. It can be sized at a later time, but no bride-to-be will want to be without her token of love.

Have fun shopping for the ring and know that she has probably dropped many not-so-subtle hints about what she desires. Don't be afraid to ask her. Just as every woman is special, so should her engagement ring be. Best of luck to you!








ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you:A LIFE SO FAR AWAYand my other business blog:SHOPPING eMALL Thank you for your valuable time. Follow my business & writings and you'll find what life's meant to be.

The Modern Rich Mobile Executive #RichFamousLifestyle

6 comments



He is rarely in his office. But with electronic gadgets, laptop at work, another at home, and different units for travel, he is always in touch with things. He can read and answer e-mails from anywhere. For the latest headlines, he logs on to news service. To buy or sell stock, he keys in orders by computer.

He dreads obsolescence. He reads books and magazines and knows the latest add-ons being made available in the market. He has made technology a way of life, a tool with which to run the company 24/7.

The electronic society that futurists began predicting so many decades ago, seemed at that time, as if it might never come. There were many reasons. The tools were too crude. They were too expensive. Or they just didn’t exist. But now, they are here, they are cheap and they work. Computer technology has become an indispensable part of nearly every product, every job, and every trivial pursuit. And it is becoming more portable and beautifully packaged too. Suddenly, with little real fanfare, the electronic revolution has arrived and never be stopped.

Personal computers, cellular phones, cameras, tablets, voice mail, e-mail, and faxes; these electronic tools are catching on rapidly. And they are spreading beyond the traditional office. They are enabling ordinary people in ordinary situations to organize their lives in new ways by loosening the confines of time and space that dictate 9 to 5 days very often also bracketed by a lengthy travel time to and from work.

Today’s executive is also becoming a “time shifter.” Instead of waiting until he can meet face to face or connect on the phone, he use fax, electronic mail, or video conferencing with his business associates. People like him are pioneering a whole new lifestyle, a novel work culture that has liberated individuals from the monotony of routine, sparked their creativity and made the running of businesses so much fun and enjoyable and, what is more important, far more efficient. Working across time zones and continents, users of the new electronic tools are compelling corporations to reorganize their conventional structures. For instance, if employees can operate with equal efficiency from home or a golf course or a ski chalet – and are quite happy doing so – why shouldn’t an organization let them?

The new lifestyle has created problems of its own. Since the Industrial Revolution lured many off the farms, there has been a clear separation between work and home life. But when the office comes home, what happens in the family? And if home becomes the focus of work, how does one replace the social interaction of the office? After all, spontaneous personal contact is indeed crucial to getting work done.

For many, the electronic lifestyle means leaving the office for good. Electronic gadgets are even invading the lives of executives who can’t tolerate computers. They won’t be able to escape voice mail, mobile phones, tablets essentially an answering machine service built into the phone system for receiving, leaving and broadcasting messages. Mobile phones follow suit for this processes and even sending files and images, even tele-conferencing.

At this electronic lifestyle spreads, it will undoubtedly alter the social and economic landscape. Satellite communications and computer networks have already made easier for one to imagine corporations made up of individuals and groups scattered all over the country. Such networks made their way to conquer the people’s lifestyle. But inevitably, electronic lifestyle will be encouraging decentralization.

Meanwhile, the shift to an electronically assisted lifestyle is increasing. The cellular phone shows for instance how quickly and completely such changes are occurring. Before, a mobile phone was an expensive toy for gadget-happy technophiles; now it is a necessity in every strata of the society, especially in the social and business circles. Many users feel that it has added seven to ten hours per week of productive time to their working schedules.

Are we really heading for something else in the future? Or for the rich and famous people only?









ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A freelance writer who meticulously structured and maintained blogs just for you:A LIFE SO FAR AWAYand my other business blog:SHOPPING eMALL Thank you for your valuable time. Follow my business & writings and you'll find what life's meant to be.


About Me

My Photo
A freelance writer, blogger and transport coop counselors.
All Rights Reserved@Fernando Lachica 2014. Powered by Blogger.