Flower White Jade stone carving / polishing

This flower is made of real white jade that is natural. All hand carved / polished. This sculpture originated from China.
Weight: I do not have the actual weight. Aproximate weight about 5 to 8kg
Price:RM2800

Chinese Jade brief info

Chinese jade is any of the carved-jade objects produced in China from the Neolithic Period (c. 3000–1500 BC) onward. The Chinese regarded carved-jade objects as intrinsically valuable. They metaphorically equated jade with human virtues because of its hardness, durability, and (moral) beauty.

The Chinese used jade for tools, but also for carved insignias and talismans probably related to ceremonial ritual. Jade was prized by the Chinese for its durability, its musical qualities, its subtle, translucent colors, and its alleged protective powers - it was thought to prevent fatigue and delay the decomposition of the body.

Faux jade

In almost all dictionaries, the Chinese character 'yù' (玉 is translated into English as 'jade'. However, this frequently leads to misunderstanding: Chinese, Koreans, and Westerners alike generally fail to appreciate that the cultural concept of 'jade' is considerably broader in China and Korea than in the West. A more accurate translation for this character on its own would be 'precious/ornamental rock'. It is seldom, if ever, used on its own to denote 'true' jade in Mandarin Chinese; for example, one would normally refer to 'ying yu' (硬玉, 'hard jade') for jadeite, or 'ruan yu' (軟玉, 'soft jade') for nephrite. The Chinese names for many ornamental non-jade rocks also incorporate the character 'yù', and it is widely understood by native speakers that such stones are not, in fact, true precious nephrite or jadeite. Even so, for commercial reasons, the names of such stones may well still be translated into English as 'jade', and this practice continues to confuse the ill-advised.

Dynastic history

Jade ornament with flower design, Jin Dynasty (1115-1234 AD), Shanghai Museum.Jade has been used in virtually all periods of Chinese history and generally accords with the style of decorative art characteristic of each period. Thus, the earliest jades, of the Neolithic Period, are quite simple and unornamented; those of the Shang (18th–12th century BC), Zhou (1111–255 BC), and Han (206 BC–AD 220) dynasties are increasingly embellished with animal and other decorative motifs characteristic of those times; in later periods ancient jade shapes, shapes derived from bronze vessels, and motifs of painting were used, essentially to demonstrate the craftsman's extraordinary technical facility.

During Neolithic times, the key known sources of nephrite jade in China for utilitarian and ceremonial jade items were the now depleted deposits in the Ningshao area in the Yangtze River Delta (Liangzhu culture 3400–2250 BC) and in an area of the Liaoning province in Inner Mongolia (Hongshan culture 4700–2200 BC)[2]. As early as 6000 B.C. Dushan Jade has been mined. In the Yin Ruins of Shang Dynasty (1,600 B.C. to 1,050 B.C.) in Anyang, Dushan Jade ornaments was unearthed in the tomb of the Shang kings. Jade was used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor decorative items to jade burial suits. Jade was considered the "imperial gem". From about the earliest Chinese dynasties until present, the jade deposits in most use were not only from the region of Khotan in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang but also from other parts of China, like Lantian, Shaanxi. There, white and greenish nephrite jade is found in small quarries and as pebbles and boulders in the rivers flowing from the Kuen-Lun mountain range northward into the Takla-Makan desert area. River jade collection was concentrated in the Yarkand, the White Jade (Yurungkash) and Black Jade (Karakash) Rivers. From the Kingdom of Khotan, on the southern leg of the Silk Road, yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade were made to the Chinese Imperial court and there transformed into objets d'art by skilled artisans as jade was considered more valuable than gold or silver. Jade became a favorite material for the crafting of Chinese scholars objects, such as rests for calligraphy brushes, as well as the mouthpieces of some opium pipes, due to the belief that breathing through jade would bestow longevity upon smokers who used such a pipe.

Jadeite, with its bright emerald-green, pink, lavender, orange and brown colours was imported from Burma to China only after about 1800. The vivid green variety became known as Feicui (翡翠) or Kingfisher (feathers) Jade. It quickly replaced nephrite as the imperial variety of jade.

Categories

Jade horse and rider as well as a winged jade lion from the Western Han dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE)Jade objects of early ages (Neolithic through Zhou) fall into five categories: small decorative and functional ornaments such as beads, pendants, and belt hooks; weapons and related equipment; independent sculptural, especially of real and mythological animals; small objects of probably emblematic value, including the han (ornaments, often carved in the shape of a cicada, to be placed in the mouth of the dead), and many examples of larger objects — such as the cong (a hollow cylinder or truncated cone)

The Six Ritual and Six Ceremonial Jades

The "Six Ritual Jades" originating in pre-history were the bi (a flat disk with a hole in its center), the cong, the huang (a flat, half-ring pendant), the hu and the flat, bladelike gui and zhang. The original names, value and functions of these objects have invited much speculation. The Zhou Li, itself probably compiled in the Han Dynasty, ascribes the circular bi as representing the heavens, the cong as representing the earth, the gui the east, the zhang the south, the hu the west and the huang the north. Although over two millennia old these names and symbolism were given to these objects by much later writers, who interpreted the objects in a way that reflected their own understanding of the cosmos.

The original use of the "Six Ritual Jades" became lost, with such jades becoming status symbols, with utility and religious significance forgotten. The objects came to represent the status of the holder due to the expense and authority needed to command the resources and labour in creating the object. Thus it was as the "Ceremonial Jades" that the forms of some of these jades were perpetuated. The "Zhou Li" states that a king (wang) was entitled to gui of the zhen type, dukes (gong) to the huang, marquis to gui of the xin type, earls (bo) to gui of the gong type, viscounts (zi) to a bi of the gu type and barons (nan) to a bi of the pu type.

Ray-Ban Aviator Collections

I bought this Aviator on Sept2007 for Euro180 in Germany. This original Rayban is in mint condition and never been used since new.

Ray-Ban Aviator brief info

Aviator sunglasses, also known as pilot shades or stunner shades, are a style of sunglasses that were developed by Ray-Ban. They are characterized by dark, often reflective lenses having an area two or three times the area of the eye socket, and metal frames with either paddles or wire temples which hook behind the ears. Contemporary models are often polarized (although wearing polarized sunglasses for flying is unwise since they may mask the light glinting off an oncoming aircraft, as well as blocking the information on most modern glass cockpit displays).

History

U.S. Army test pilot F.W. "Mike" Hunter wearing aviator sunglasses, October 1942Aviator sunglasses were given their name due to their oblique teardrop shape, which matched those of the smoked-lens flying goggles which Ray-Ban was then selling to the Army and Navy. One undesirable result of wearing these goggles was the mismatched tan (darker on the face, lighter around the eyes) which developed.

Legend claims that the need arose for aviator-style sunglasses because military pilots found that sun and glare protection would be helpful to aid them during day missions and dogfights.However, pilots of the time did not wear sunglasses while flying.

The popularity of the glasses sky-rocketed as many celebrities began wearing the style of sunglasses. The style has been popular since the 1960s, but became even more so in the 1980s following pop culture references concerning Hunter S. Thompson, Michael Jackson, and use by celebrities in films like Top Gun, where Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise sported them.

The large lenses are not straight as in eyeglasses but bulge out slightly. The design attempts to cover the entire range of the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering the eye socket from any angle. Aviators are popular with military and civilian aviators alike because they work quite well. Law enforcement officers have also taken a liking to the glasses for many reasons,[citation needed] including their excellent cancellation of glare and prevention of eye contact. The design was originally intended for shooting.


General Douglas MacArthur wearing Aviator sunglassesThe Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines in World War II. Photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them for newspapers, and Americans instantly fell in love with them.

Tom Cruise made the Ray-Ban Aviator famous again in the 1986 movie "Top Gun". This was technically inaccurate, because since 1982 all the aviator sunglasses supplied to the US forces have been made by Randolph Engineering.

The Ray-Ban Aviator has become one of the most copied styles in history.

The Aviator sunglasses were released in 1936 but these glasses were only available to fighter pilots, and though there was talk at the time for public release, it didn't happen until 1938.

1907 and 1908 Straits Settlements 1 dollar silver coin (damage)

Straits Settlements King Edward VII One Dollar 1907 and 1908

This two coins are consider the damage coin(got hole at the center)and "no value" to collectors.
I think it is still got some value to others since it is silver coin.
(maybe for a souveniers or for whatever reasons)

Price:RM100 for both

Straits Settlements definition

Straits Settlements, collective name for certain former British colonies in Southeast Asia. The three British East India Company territories of Pinang, Singapore, and Malacca (see Melaka) were given a unified administration in 1826 and called the Straits Settlements. The company was dissolved in 1858, and the territories were placed under the jurisdiction of the India Office. In 1867 the Straits Settlements became a crown colony administered by the Colonial Office. Labuan, which had been made a dependency of Singapore in 1906, was constituted a fourth Settlement in 1912. (Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands had been made dependencies of Singapore in 1889 and 1903, respectively.) The Straits Settlement crown colony was dissolved in 1946; Singapore with its dependencies became a separate crown colony, and Pinang and Malacca were included in the Malayan Union, which became the Federation of Malaya in 1948, now Malaysia.

Malaya in 1922.
The unfederated Malay states in blue, the Federated Malay States (FMS) in yellow and the British Straits Settlements in red
Capital Singapore
Language(s) Malay, English, Chinese languages, Indian languages
Government Monarchy
King
- 1820–30 George IV
- 1936–52 George VI
Governor¹
- 1826–30 Robert Fullerton
- 1934–46 Shenton Thomas
Historical era British Empire
- Established 1826
- Disestablished 1946
Currency Straits dollar, until 1939
Malayan dollar, from 1939
Preceded by Succeeded by
Penang
Dutch Malacca
Singapore
Dindings
Labuan
Singapore
Malayan Union
North Borneo


1: Also as the British High Commissioner to the FMS and North Borneo

The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.

Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867. The colony was dissolved as part of the British reorganisation of its South-East Asian dependencies following the end of the Second World War.

The Straits Settlements consisted of the individual settlements of Malacca, Penang (also known as Prince of Wales Island), and Singapore, as well as (from 1907) Labuan, off the coast of Borneo. With the exception of Singapore, these territories now form part of Malaysia.

1977 Malaysia Proof Gold Coin (set of 3)

1977 The Ninth Southeast Asia Games proof coin


This set of 3 proof set consist of 1 gold coin with face value of RM200, 1 sterling silver coin with face value of RM25 and 1 cupro-nickel coin with face value RM1.

This set set come with box and certificate.
The proof set was minted by The Franklin Mint to commemorate the ninth southeast asian games. These coins are legal tender in Malaysia.

Price:RM3500


Proof Coins & Proof Sets brief info

A "proof" coin is a specimen striking for presentation, souvenir, exhibition, or numismatic purposes, but not intended for general circulation. Proof coins prior to 1968 were struck only at the Philadelphia mint except in a few rare instances in which presentation pieces were made at branch mints. Current proof sets are made at San Francisco and West Point.

The term "proof" refers not to the coin's condition, but rather to its method of manufacture. Normal production coins, even in mint state condition, have coruscating, frosty luster, soft details, and minor imperfections. Proof coins are easily distinguished by their sharp detail, high wire edge, and extremely brilliant, mirror-like surface. All proof coins are originally sold by the mint at a premium.

The United States Mint started producing Proof coins as early as the 1850's. Very few proof coins were minted prior to 1856. Some of these are presentation pieces or "patterns" made for the demonstration of new designs prior to regular issue production.

This special process of manufacturing involves specially selected planchets (the blanks that the coins are struck from) as well as dies that have been highly polished. The planchets are hand fed into the press and special care is taken in the handling and packaging of these coins.

How Modern Proof Coins Are Made

1.Select dies are inspected for perfection and are highly polished and cleaned. They are again wiped clean or polished after approximately 15 to 25 impressions and are replaced frequently to avoid imperfections from worn dies.

2.Coinage blanks are polished and cleaned to assure high quality strikes.

3.The blanks are then hand fed into the coinage press one by one, each blank receiving two or more blow from the dies to bring up sharp, high relief details. The coinage process is done at slow speed with extra pressure.

4.Finished proofs are individually inspected and are handled by gloves or tongs.

5.After a final inspection by packers, they are sonically sealed in special plastic cases.

Proof coins usually receive two strikes from the coin press which gives them an increased sharpness in detail. Because the planchets and dies were highly polished before striking the coin will also have an extremely brilliant mirror-like surface. Some early Proof coins will exhibit a frosted effect. These frosted Proofs are highly sought after prizes to the serious collector. In recent years Proof coins have purposely been produced with a very strong cameo effect which gives them a mirror-like field and a contrasting frosty effect on all the raised surfaces of the coin.

Single Proof coins were available from the Mint, at a premium over their face value, in the years in which they were minted. In 1936 the Mint started offering Proof coins in complete sets, cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar. These sets originally sold for $1.87 each. In 1942 there were some Proof sets issued with two nickels. The regular composition as well as the silver. The production and sale of Proof sets was suspended in 1943 and was not resumed until 1950.

Proof sets have always been a very popular part of numismatics. Some collector's will collect one set of every year issued from 1936 to present date while others will start their collection with the more affordable "flat pack" issues from 1955 and continue on up to present day issues. Another popular way these sets are collected is by various nostalgic years to commemorate a significant occasion like an Anniversary, a Birth Year, Wedding Year, Graduation Day, etc.

Occasionally "proof-like" coins are encountered, most frequently in Morgan dollars. These are specimens from the first few impressions of regular coinage dies from a given mint. They are not true proof coins, but have many of the characteristics of a proof coin and usually command a premium.

Matte Proof Coins (1908 - 1916)

Matte proof cents, nickels, and gold coins were issued individually for sale to collectors. A few 1921 and 1922 silver dollar matte proofs are also known to exist. These proofs have a granular surface instead of a mirrored finish.

Proof Sets (1936 - Present)

From 1936 till approximately mid 1955 all Proof sets were issued in small cardboard boxes in which the coins were housed in cellophane envelopes. Most of the early sets have since been removed from the cardboard boxes and the coins placed in a plastic holder to protect them from tarnishing.

From late 1955 until 1964 the Mint packaged Proof coins in a flat, transparent cellophane holder. These sets are referred to in the industry as "flat packs." There were no Proof sets issued in 1965, 1966 and 1967. In these years the mint produced Special Mint Sets. These coins are almost proof-like in appearance.

Starting in 1968 the Mint switched the production of Proof coins from the Philadelphia facility to the San Francisco Mint. All of the Proof coins produced from 1968 will have the "S" Mintmark on them. There are some coins that in error did not receive the "S" Mintmark and these are very Rare and valuable. The packaging was also changed in 1968 to a more rigid plastic case which has gone through several design changes since than.

The 1960 and 1970 large-date and small-date (SD) sets are distinguished by the size of the date on the cent. The 1976 three-piece set contains the quarter, half dollar and dollar with the Bicentennial design and they are 40% silver. The 1975 and 1976 sets also contain the quarter, half dollar and dollar dated 1976 with the Bicentennial design. But these coins are made of a copper-nickel composition. The 1979 and 1981 Type II Proof sets have clearer Mintmarks than the Type I sets for those years and are much scarcer and higher in price.

All Proof sets issued from 1936 to 1972 include the cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar; from 1973 till 1981 the dollar was added and then removed from the sets in 1982. Prestige Proof sets were first produced in 1983 and will also contain a Commemorative dollar for that year. The production of Prestige Proof sets was suspended with the last issued being 1997. There are also Silver Proof sets starting in 1992. These sets will have a 90% silver dime, quarter and half dollar. The Silver premier sets are similar to the Silver sets and differ only by being in a more deluxe case. The Mint also produces separately priced proof versions of American Eagles for collectors.

Malaysia Banknotes SA-RATUS RINGGIT - First Series Ismail Ali

Malaysia first series RM100 banknotes signed by Gabenor Ismail Md Ali

This is the scarce 1st Series Sa-Ratus $100 note dated 1967 in crisp Original About EF condition. This is the first series of Malaysia RM100 banknotes signed by gabenor Ismail Md Ali.

This note is on Original Paper - Not Washed.
Very Clean banknote.
There are signs of ageing at the edges.
Serial number: A/1 333597
A/1 is the one of the earliest series of the banknotes that released by Bank Negara
Printer: Thomas De La Rue and Company Limited
Price:RM1300


Bank Negara basic information

Bank Negara Malaysia or BNM is the Malaysian central bank. Its headquarters is located in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, and it was established on January 26, 1959 (as the Central Bank of Malaya or Bank Negara Tanah Melayu) to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government and regulate the country's credit situation.

Governor Year
Tan Sri W H Wilcock January 1959 - July 1962
Ismail bin Mohamed Ali July 1962 - July 1980
Tan Sri Abdul Aziz bin Taha July 1980 - June 1985
Tan Sri Dato' Jaffar bin Hussein June 1985 - May 1994
Tan Sri Dato' Ahmad bin Mohd Don May 1994 - August 1998
Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman September 1998 - April 2000
Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz May 2000 - Current

History
In 1837 the Indian rupee was made the sole official currency in the Straits Settlements, but in 1867 silver dollars were again legal tender. In 1903 the Straits dollar, pegged at two shillings and fourpence (2s. 4d.), was introduced by the Board of Commissioners of Currency and private banks were prevented from issuing notes. Since then continuity of the currency has been broken twice, once by the Japanese occupation 1942 - 1945, and secondly by the devaluation of the Pound Sterling in 1967, when notes of the Board of Commissioners of Currency of Malaya and British Borneo lost 15% of their value. The new Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is the Malaysian central bank. Its headquarters is located in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

Bank Negara was established on 26 January 1959, to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government...

Recent history
In 1985, following the "Plaza meeting" of G-5 finance ministers in New York City, the US dollar fell sharply causing major losses in Bank Negara's dollar reserves. The bank responded by starting a program of aggressive speculative trading to make up these losses (Millman, p. 226). Jaffar Hussein, the Bank Negara Governor at the time, referred to this strategy as "honest-to-God trading" in a December 1988 speech in New Delhi.

In the late 1980s, Bank Negara under Governor Jaffar Hussein, was a major player in the forex market. Its activities caught the attention of many; initially, Asian markets came to realize the influence Bank Negara had on the direction of forex market. Alan Greenspan acting the Federal Reserve chairman later realized Bank Negara's massive speculation activities and requested the Malaysian central bank to stop it.

BNM sold between $500 million on September 21, 1990 - $1 billion worth of pound sterlings in a short period, driving the pound down 4 cents on the dollar (Millman, p. 228). In response, bankers began front running Bank Negara's orders. Two years later, Bank Negara attempted to defend the value of the British pound against attempts by George Soros and others to devalue the pound sterling. George Soros won and Bank Negara reportedly suffered losses of more than USD $4 billion.Bank Negara lost an additional $2.2 billion in speculative trading a year later (Millman, p. 229). By 1994, the bank became technically insolvent and was bailed out by the Malaysian Finance Ministry (Millman, p. 229).

In 1998, Bank Negara pegged 3.80 ringgit to a US dollar after the ringgit substantially depreciated during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In July 2005, the central bank abandoned fixed exchange rate regime in favor of managed floating exchange rate system an hour after China floated its own currency. This resulted in capital flight of more than USD 10 billion, thought to be due to the repatriation of speculative funds that entered the country in anticipation of the abandonment of the peg: - Bank Negara's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD24 billion in the one year period between July 2004 and July 2005 (see table below). During this period there was widespread believe that the ringgit was undervalued and that if the peg was removed, the ringgit would appreciate.

Bank Negara Foreign Exchange Reserves (Source: Bank Negara, rounded to the nearest billion USD)
31 July 2004 USD 54 billion
31 December 2004 USD 66 billion
31 July 2005 USD 78 billion
31 March 2007 USD 88 billion
31 July 2007 USD 99 billion
31 December 2007 USD 101 billion
31 March 2008 USD 120 billion
30 December 2008 USD 92 billion


Bank Negara continues to run negative interest rate differential to USD. The ringgit has appreciated gradually since the peg was abandoned and as at 28 May 2007, it traded at around 3.40 to the US dollar. Malaysia's foreign exchange reserves have increased steadily since the initial capital flight, and as at 31 March 2007 the reserves stood at approximately USD88 billion, which is approximately USD10 billion more than the reserves just prior to the peg being abandoned.

On 31 July 2007 the Malaysian reserves stood at approximately USD98.5 billion which is equivalent to RM340.1 billion. The figure increase to USD 101.3 billion in 31 December 2007 which is equivalent to RM335.7 billion[1]. Bank Negara's international reserves increase further 15 days later to USD 104.3 billion or MYR 345.4 billion.

Locations

Bank Negara Malaysia.Bank Negara is located off Jalan Kuching; at Jalan Sultan Salahuddin. Bank Negara is geographically located at latitude (3.1518 degrees) 3° 9' 6" North of the Equator and longitude (101.6926 degrees) 101° 41' 33" East of the Prime Meridian on the Map of Kuala Lumpur.

The locations related to Bank Negara are represented by the nearest distances two points and may not be nearest by road. For example, Bank Negara is located 0.1 kilometre from SJK Sultan Hishamudin Alam Shah. Bank Negara is located 0.2 kilometre from Wisma Ekran. Bank Negara is located 0.2 kilometre from St Marys Cathedral. Bank Negara is located 0.2 kilometre from Bank Rakyat. Bank Negara is located 0.2 kilometre from Dbkl.

Bank Negara had previously maintained branches in each of the country's state capitals. Most of them were closed in the 1990s when retail banks began taking over most of the counter services. There are still branches in Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Kuala Terengganu, Shah Alam Some branches was converted into a currency distribution and processing centre. Bank Negara also retains representative offices in London and New York City, and a personnel training centre in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Carrot Stone Sculpture

This sculpture originated from China.The main object on the stone is comprise of 3 lucky "carrots". Very nice for cabinet or table display.
The approximate weight is about 5~8kg.
Price:RM2800

Stone Sculpture infoStone sculpture is the result of forming 3-dimensional visually interesting objects from stone.

Carving stone into sculpture is an activity older than civilization itself. Prehistoric sculptures were usually human forms, such as the Venus of Willendorf and the faceless statues of the Cycladic cultures of ancient Greece. Later cultures devised animal, human-animal and abstract forms in stone. The earliest cultures used abrasive techniques, and modern technology employs pneumatic hammers and other devices. But for most of human history, sculptors used hammer and chisel as the basic tools for carving stone.

The process of stone sculpture
The work begins with the selection of a stone for carving. The artist may carve in the direct way, by carving without a model, creating a form or figure from scratch, with only the idea in his mind as a guideline, sketching on the block of stone and developing the work along the way. This method can be inspiring but can also present major problems when too much stone is removed in previous stages.

Or the sculptor may begin with a clearly defined model to be copied in stone. Frequently the sculptor would begin by forming a model in clay or wax, and then copying this in stone by measuring with calipers or a pointing machine. This method leaves much less chance for error, so the desired result can be achieved as expected. This method is also used when the carving is done by other sculptors, such as artisans or employees of the sculptor.

Some artists use the stone itself as inspiration; the Renaissance artist Michelangelo claimed that his job was to free the human form trapped inside the block.

Pineapple White Jade Stone Carving / Polishing

This original white jade stone sculpture hand carved / polished by the Chinese from the Republic of China.The main object carved on the stone is comprise of 2 pineapples.Very nice artworks for collectors display item.

Jade brief information

There are two minerals legitimately called Jade: Nephrite and Jadeite
Nephrite was used in Ancient Chinese carvings through the 1780s.
In the 1780s a "new jade" was introduced into China from Burma.
This new jade was jadeite. Brilliant green jadeite is called Imperial Jade.

Nephrite Jade Properties:
Spot Refractive Index: 1.61 to 1.62
Specific Gravity: 2.95
Hardness: 6 to 6.5
Structure: Interwoven Fibrous
Chemical Composition: Ca2(MgFe)5(OH)2(Si4O11)2

Jadeite Jade Properties:
Spot Refractive Index: 1.66
Specific Gravity: 3.34
Hardness: 6.5 to 7
Structure: Interlocking Granular
Chemical Composition: NaAl(SiO3)2

Jade is found in many parts of the world:
In the United States jade is found in Alaska, California, Washington State, Oregon, North Carolina, and Wyoming.

How jade is formed:
Jade is created in areas of the world that have subduction zones. Subduction occurs when two of the earth's plates collide and one plate dives under the other.
The lower plate takes the necessary minerals to the depths, pressures and temperatures needed to form jade.

Jade, The Stone of Heaven, Tidbits:
1. In ancient Chinese contests the third place contestant was awarded ivory, the second place contestant was awarded gold, and the winner was awarded jade.
2. Pure jade is white. Any other color of jade has impurities in it.
3. Jade is one of nature's toughest minerals.
4. Confucius speaking of nephrite jade:

the wise have likened it to virtue. For them, its polish and brilliancy represent the whole of purity; its perfect compactness and extreme hardness represent the sureness of the intelligence; its angles, which do not cut, although they seem sharp, represent justice; the pure and prolonged sound which it gives forth when one strikes it represents music.
Its color represents loyalty; its interior flaws, always showing themselves through the transparency, call to mind sincerity; its iridescent brightness represents heaven; its admirable substance, born of mountain and of water, represents the earth. Used alone without ornamentation it represents chastity. The price which all the world attaches to it represents the truth.

5. Nephrite is derived from the Greek word nephros. Nephros is the Greek word for kidney.

Jade Terminology:

BC Jade: Jade mined from British Columbia.

Polar Jade: Jade mined from the Polar Mine in Canada.

Chrome Jade: Jade with brilliant green specks.

Chatoyant Jade: Jade that has a tiger eye effect in the stone.

Botryoidal Jade: Also known as bubble jade. Jade shaped like clumps of grapes.

Siberian Jade: Jade from Siberia.

Wyoming Jade: Jade from Wyoming.

Vulcan Jade: Jade from California with a golden brown skin.

There are many other terms that are used in describing jade.


Sculpting Jade:

Jade is harder than steel. Therefore jade is not carved, it is ground and polished. Jade is ground wet because it gives off an asbestos like fiber dust when worked that can be harmful to the lungs.

Jade is primarily worked with either diamond or silicone carbide tools, papers and abrasives. Jade is worked with successive finer grades of abrasives. Some of the grits available are 36, 80, 100, 120, 220, 400, 600, 1200.

After the 600 or 1200 grit the jade is ready to polish. Polishing can be achieved using very fine grades of diamond pastes on media like felt or with chrome oxide mixtures or other compounds on leather. Polishing techniques and compounds are closely guarded secrets by many jade sculptors.

Some jades polish with an orange peel look. These jades require a lot of work and "know how" in the final polishing process. The better jades, like Siberian jades, usually take an excellent polish even for novice sculptors. Since jade is very time consuming to sculpt and polish we recommend that you always start with a quality piece of jade rough.

Natural Jade Stone

This green Jade stone originated from China. I do not measure the stone actual weight but it is quite heavy (maybe in the range of 5kg~10kg--I'm not sure).

The myth of jade

Jade – a gemstone of unique symbolic energy, and unique in the myths that surround it. With its beauty and wide-ranging expressiveness, jade has held a special attraction for mankind for thousands of years.

This gem, with its discreet yet rather greasy lustre, which comes in many fine nuances of green, but also in shades of white, grey, black, yellow, and orange and in delicate violet tones, has been known to Man for some 7000 years. In prehistoric times, however, it was esteemed rather more for its toughness, which made it an ideal material for weapons and tools. Yet as early as 3000 B.C. jade was known in China as 'yu', the 'royal gem'. In the long history of the art and culture of the enormous Chinese empire, jade has always had a very special significance, roughly comparable with that of gold and diamonds in the West. Jade was used not only for the finest objects and cult figures, but also in grave furnishings for high-ranking members of the imperial family. Today, too, this gem is regarded as a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the precious. It embodies the Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty and courage, yet it also symbolises the female-erotic. A visit to the jade market, be it in Hong Kong or Rangoon, or at one of the Hong Kong jade auctions organised by Christie's, can give some idea of the significance this gem has for the people of Asia.

However, as long ago as the pre-Columbian period, the Mayas, Aztecs and Olmecs of Central America also honoured and esteemed jade more highly than gold. New Zealand's Maoris began carving weapons and cult instruments from native jade in early times, a tradition which has continued to the present day. In ancient Egypt, jade was admired as the stone of love, inner peace, harmony and balance. In other regions and cultures too, jade was regarded as a lucky or protective stone; yet it had nowhere near the significance that it had in Asia, which was presumably due to the fact that people knew relatively little about this fascinating gem. Fortunately however, in recent times, people's understanding of this gem, which fascinates not only the connoisseurs by its perfect interplay of hardness and toughness with an enchanting range of colours and fine lustre, has improved; and their esteem for it has been on the increase all over the world.

What is jade?

'Jade', or yu, as it is called in China, is strictly speaking a generic term for two different gems, nephrite and jadeite. The name is derived from the Spanish 'piedra de ijada', loin-stone, jade having been recognised by the Amerindians as a remedy for kidney ailments. Because of its beneficial effect on the kidneys, the stone was also known as 'lapis nephriticus'. That, indeed, is where the term 'nephrite' came from.

Jadeite and nephrite are both regarded in China as 'zhen yu', 'genuine jade'. It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that mineralogists and gemmologists started to differentiate between them, since they bear a considerable resemblance to each other in terms of their appearance, their hardness and the properties they exhibit when being processed. Both are tough, since they consist of dense, close-grained, matted aggregates, but they differ from one another in their chemical composition and colours. Nephrite ranges mainly from mid to dark green or grey-green, but it can also be white, yellowish or reddish. Rarer, and somewhat tougher, jadeite displays hues which include green, but also white or pink, and reds, blacks, browns and violets. In both minerals, the way the colour is distributed varies a great deal. Only in the very finest jade is the colour evenly distributed. Both nephrite and jadeite often have veins, blemishes and streaks running through them, though these may not always be regarded as flaws. On the contrary, some of these patterns are considered particularly valuable.

Jade: from raw material to finished product

Jadeite is rarer than nephrite and is therefore regarded as more precious. Nephrite deposits have been found in China, New Zealand, Russia, Guatemala and the Swiss Alps. Dark green jade, so-called Canada jade, is also found in Western Canada. Jadeite is found in China, Russia and Guatemala, but the best stones come from Burma, now known as Myanmar. There, at the annual 'Gems, Jade and Pearls Emporium', blocks of jade in all sizes are auctioned. When purchasing the raw materials, the dealers need to be fairly lucky, since the nodules, blocks and fragments are sold either whole or after having been cut into slices, and there is only a very small window, the result of some initial grinding. So the buyer cannot see exactly what is hidden on the inside: valuable green jade, or an almost worthless, speckled or streaky material. It is not until the cutting process begins that the real quality is revealed.

In the jade-cutting centres of Canton, Beijing and Hong Kong, the raw material is processed with carborundum and diamond powder. Since jade is, as a rule, not transparent, but has a fine lustre, the cabochon is the form best suited to it. Thin slivers, which can be worn as pendants, and jade bracelets are popular too. Round, cylindrical and flat shapes can be combined to make attractive necklaces. Traditionally, jade is processed into slender figures, filigree images or thin-walled vessels. This is sometimes erroneously referred to as jade carving. Unwanted material is in fact removed during the cutting process, and the stone is subsequently polished. Here once again we see the subtle difference between nephrite and jadeite: whilst polished nephrite has a surface with a resinous lustre, the glassy lustre of jadeite after polishing seems to shine almost like that of a mirror.

What distinguishes good jade?

For collectors as well as jewellery lovers, jade is a fascinating gemstone. In Asia, above all, it is collected as an antique. Besides the quality of the gem and its processing, religion and faith also play an important role. In the West, many people prefer to collect jade in the form of snuff-boxes, cigarette holders, small bowls or rings. Since each collector has his or her own taste and his or her own likings with regard to colour, style and shape, it is no easy matter giving definite advice on the purchase of jade objects.

However, jade is, at the same time, a wonderful gem, not only in its traditional guise, but also in more modern designs. Especially in recent years, creative jewellery and gemstone producers have come up with some wonderful, up-to-date jewellery design, thus sprucing up the image of jade, which had had rather a traditional character for quite some time.

In general, the value of jade is determined according to its colour and the intensity of that colour, the vivacity and texture, and its clarity and transparency. Likings for particular colours vary very considerably from region to region and culture to culture. In green jade alone, the connoisseurs differentiate between seven main qualities, from the intense, even green of imperial jade, via apple green and spinach green, all the way to the lighter and to more heavily speckled shades of green. These special nuances often overlap and can hardly be recognised by the untrained eye. In the USA and Europe, emerald green, spinach green and apple green are regarded as particularly valuable. In the Far East, on the other hand, pure white or a fine yellow with a delicate pink undertone is highly esteemed. In the world of jewellery, the fine violet nuances of lavender jade are very popular. It is however the rare, emerald green of imperial jade, which shines through at the edges, a colour of incredible depth, which fetches the highest prices. Unfortunately, since not only good and natural jade is offered for sale, but often fake or poor-quality products or stones which have been coloured or otherwise treated, it is advisable to buy good jade only from reputable dealers and jewellers, whether the purchase is being made for a collection or as an individual piece of jewellery.

Symbolic energy and beauty, the traditional and the modern are combined in jade in a particularly harmonious way. And in gemstone therapy it is said that jade 'stimulates creativity and mental agility on the one hand, while also having a balancing and harmonising effect.' So this beautiful gemstone brings us joy, vivacity and happiness all at the same time – and what, in our times, could we possibly need more?

Brief Jade Info
Jade is an ornamental stone. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:

Nephrite consists of a microcrystaline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium)-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an intermediate composition is called actinolite (the silky fibrous mineral form is one form of asbestos). The higher the iron content the greener the colour.
Jadeite is a sodium- and aluminium-rich pyroxene. The gem form of the mineral is a microcrystaline interlocking crystal matrix.
The English word jade (as well as the English word "jadeite") is derived (via French: l'ejade and Latin: ilia[1]) from the Spanish term piedra de ijada (first recorded in 1565) or "loin stone", from its reputed efficacy in curing ailments of the loins and kidneys. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish piedra de ijada.[2]

Nephrite and jadeite were used from prehistoric periods for hardstone carving. Jadeite has about the same hardness as quartz, while nephrite is somewhat softer. Both nephrite and jadeite are tough, but nephrite is tougher than jadeite. They can be delicately shaped. Thus it was not until the 19th century that a French mineralogist determined that "jade" was in fact two different materials. The trade name jadite is sometimes applied to translucent or opaque green glass.

Among the earliest known jade artifacts excavated from prehistoric sites are simple ornaments with bead, button, and tubular shapes.[3] Additionally, jade was used for axe heads, knives, and other weapons. As metal-working technologies became available, the beauty of jade made it valuable for ornaments and decorative objects. Jadeite measures between 6.5 and 7.0 Mohs hardness, and Nephrite between 5.5 and 6.0,[4] so it can be worked with quartz or garnet sand, and polished with bamboo or even ground jade.

Nephrite can be found in a creamy white form (known in China as "mutton fat" jade) as well as in a variety of green colours, whereas jadeite shows more colour variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colours. Of the two, jadeite is rarer, documented in fewer than 12 places worldwide. Translucent emerald-green jadeite is the most prized variety, both today and historically. As "quetzal" jade, bright green jadeite from Guatemala was treasured by Mesoamerican cultures, and as "kingfisher" jade, vivid green rocks from Burma became the preferred stone of post-1800 Chinese imperial scholars and rulers. Burma (Myanmar) and Guatemala are the principal sources of modern gem jadeite, and Canada of modern lapidary nephrite. Nephrite jade was used mostly in pre-1800 China as well as in New Zealand, the Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coasts of North America, Neolithic Europe, and south-east Asia. In addition to Mesoamerica, jadeite was used by Neolithic Japanese and European cultures.

Seiko 5 Sports Automatic 100m Men’s Dive Watch

Seiko 5 Sports Automatic 100m Men’s Dive Watch

This is one of my favourite watch. It is simple and reliable.

=== Made in Japan ====

SNZG25J1 Japan Seiko 5 Sport Automatic 100m Mens Watch
Model No.: SNZG25J1 / SNZG25

Description :
Black dial
Lumibrite hands and markers
Stainless steel case and bracelet
see-through case back
Double Finger Press Clasp

Features :
Day and date display at 3 o’clock position
crown at 3 o’clock position
Water resistant 100m (10 bar)
23 jewels
Made in JAPAN

Approximate measurements :
Case diamater: 42.5mm(excluding crown)
Case diamater: 46.5mm (including crown)


A Brief History of Seiko Watches

Although the Seiko name was adopted in 1924 with the introduction of its first wrist watch, the company was actually founded 43 years earlier by a clockmaker in Tokyo's Ginza District. Applauded for its accuracy and craftsmanship, the Seiko watch became a resounding success and by 1938, demand for the timepieces pushed yearly production to well over one million watches.

Dedicated to technology advancement and precise manufacture, the Seiko Company has repeatedly staked its reputation on performance, acting as the Official Timer of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Sapporo, Barcelona, Lillihammer and Nagano.

Seiko's many design innovations include the world's first quartz watch, the world's first LCD quartz watch with six digit display, and the world's first intelligent analog quartz watch with alarm and timer function.

In 1992, with the introduction of the Kinetic design, once again Seiko rewrote the state of the art. The Seiko Kinetic collection is a line of quartz watches that are electrically charged by movement. The Kinetic Auto Relay goes into suspended animation when unworn for three days, thus conserving energy. With a few shakes of the wearer's wrist, it wakes up and resets itself to the exact time.

Other trend-setting, multi-functional watches by Seiko include the Perpetual Calendar series which automatically reset their date settings for the next 100 years; the Chronograph collection with dual stopwatch features; the Le Grande Sport series, a classic combination of contemporary European design and functionality; and the Ladies Jewelry collection, an elegant marriage of versatility and style

Unused Original Zippo Collection 1

Unused Zippo Collections

All my Zippos collection are original and UNC (never been used). I never keep / collect / buy any fake or inferior quality Zippo lookalike.
I like Zippo due to their unconditional lifetime guarantee – “It works or we fix it freeTM.” So this give me confidence that the Zippo always has value for my hard earn money.

Some of the Zippos I bought from overseas and some from local established shop.I have dozens of original Zippo so I just attached the basic picture.

A Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military specific ones with one for a regiment.



Zippo history

The story of Zippo Manufacturing Company is the story of its people, from the founder, George G. Blaisdell, to the many Zippo employees, customers, and collectors who have played a part in its 75-year history. Their loyalty to Zippo has made this one of America’s great companies, one with a vivid history which is detailed here.

The Zippo timeline begins in the early 1930s, at the Bradford Country Club in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Mr. Blaisdell* watched a friend awkwardly using a cumbersome Austrian-made lighter. The lighter worked well, even in the wind, due to the design of the chimney. But its appearance was utilitarian. Its use required two hands, and its thin metal surface dented easily.

*From the beginning, this is how Zippo employees referred to George Blaisdell

He decided to refashion the Austrian lighter in the fall of 1932. Mr. Blaisdell fabricated a rectangular case and attached the top of the lighter to the case with a hinge. He retained the chimney design which protected the flame under adverse conditions. The result was a lighter that looked good and was easy to operate. The first lighter, currently displayed at the Zippo/Case Museum in Bradford, was produced in early 1933.

The word “Zippo” was created by Mr. Blaisdell in 1932. He liked the sound of the word “zipper” so he formed different variations on the word and settled on “Zippo,” deciding that it had a “modern” sound.

The first Zippo lighters sold for $ 1.95 each. And, from the very beginning, they were backed by Mr. Blaisdell’s unconditional lifetime guarantee – “It works or we fix it freeTM.”

Application for the original Zippo patent was filed on May 17, 1934, and patent number 2032695 was granted on March 3, 1936. A second patent, number 2517191 was issued on August 1, 1950. The design of the Zippo lighter basically remains the same to this day, with minor improvements.

In the mid-30s, Bradford’s Kendall Refining Company placed an order for 500 Zippo lighters. These are believed to be the first company-advertised lighters produced by Zippo and are highly collectible. Today, companies continue to use Zippo lighters as an advertising medium and Zippo “advertiser” lighters continue to be among collectors’ favorites.

World War II had a profound effect on Zippo. Upon America’s entry in the war, Zippo ceased production of lighters for consumer markets and dedicated all manufacturing to the U.S. military. The military initiative led to the production of the steel-case Zippo with black “crackle” finish. The fact that millions of American military personnel carried the lighter into battle was a significant catalyst in establishing Zippo as an icon of America throughout the world. Supplying the military market resulted in full production for the plant. This enabled Zippo to be strong financially and made it a viable company.

At the end of the war, Zippo hit the road selling lighters to peacetime America. A promoter at heart, Mr. Blaisdell wanted to create a car that looked like a Zippo lighter. In 1947, the Zippo Car was born.

Zippo Manufacturing Company, Canada, Ltd. was established in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1949 to negate import duties. Outside of the main plant in Bradford, this is the only place in the world where Zippo lighters have been made. The bottom stamp on lighters produced in Canada reflect the Niagara Falls location. Due to the implementation of free trade policies in the 90s, the need for a Canadian manufacturing facility was no longer viable and the plant was closed in 2002.

Starting in the mid-50s, date codes were stamped on the bottom of every Zippo lighter. The original purpose was for quality control, but the codes have since become an invaluable tool for collectors.

The launch of the Slim model in 1956 was a major milestone. This version was designed to appeal primarily to women. The first non-lighter product was a steel pocket tape measure, or “rule” as it was called, introduced in 1962. Other items have been added and deleted from the Zippo line since the 1960s. Many were primarily geared to the promotional products division. The roster includes key chains, pocket knives, golf greenskeepers, pen-and-pencil sets and the ZipLight pocket flashlight.

Mr. Blaisdell passed away on October 3, 1978. He is remembered not only for inventing the Zippo lighter, but also for his generous and kind spirit. After his passing, his daughters, Harriett B. Wick and Sarah B. Dorn, inherited the business. In the 1980s and 90s, the company was owned by six members of the Blaisdell family, including his daughters and their children. Today, George B. Duke, Mr. Blaisdell’s grandson and Sarah Dorn’s son, owns the company and is Chairman of the Board. Gregory W. Booth is President and CEO.

In the 70s and 80s, Zippo greatly expanded its overseas sales and marketing efforts. As a result, Zippo lighters are now sold in over 120 countries with Japan being the largest market outside of the U.S.

In 1993, Zippo acquired Bradford-based W.R.Case and Sons Cutlery Company. Case is the manufacturer of premium collectible and sport knives, often designated “the world’s most collectible knives.” Case, established in 1889, has a rich heritage and many aficionados collect both Case knives and Zippo lighters.

It’s estimated that there are some four million Zippo collectors in the United States and millions more around the world. Their fervor and dedication to the brand is unparalleled. To enhance the collecting experience, Zippo began hosting the Zippo/Case International Swap Meet in 1995. Currently, swap meets are presented in Bradford every other year, with meets held in Japan in the opposite years.

The Zippo/Case Visitors Center opened in July 1997. It is a 15,000-square-foot facility that includes a store, museum, and the famous Zippo Repair Clinic, where the Zippo lighter repair process is on display. It has become Northern Pennsylvania’s most-visited museum.

Perhaps one of the biggest influences on collecting is Zippo’s ties to Hollywood and Broadway. The Zippo lighter has been featured in more than 1,500 movies, stage plays and television shows over the years. Zippo lighters have “starred” in such diverse productions as “I Love Lucy” “The X-Men” and “Hairspray – the Musical.” Often the lighter is a key prop, used as a device to more the plot forward or to reflect the personality of a character or time period being depicted.

On the music scene, Zippo lighters have been raised high since the 1960s as a salute to favorite performers, a gesture later dubbed the “Zippo Moment”. The famous Zippo “click” sound has been sampled on songs, and the lighters themselves have been featured on album covers, tattooed on rockers’ skin, and wielded in Rolling Stone photo shoots. With a rock resume like this, the Zippo Hot Tour was created in 2004 to showcase the talents of undiscovered bands across the country.

2002 was a banner year for Zippo, with the debut of the company-sponsored Zippo collectors’ club, Zippo Click. The name of the club is derived from sound of the click of a Zippo lighter and is a play on the word “clique.” The club has registered members from over 60 countries.

Zippo also launched a major new product category with the Zippo MPL®, multi-purpose lighter, a refillable butane utility-style lighter. Since then, several new products have been added to the multi-purpose lighter line. In the fall of 2002, Zippo obtained trademark registration for the shape of the Zippo lighter. This was a major milestone in helping Zippo protect the brand from counterfeiters.

In March of 2004, Zippo acquired D.D.M. Italia, known throughout Europe for fine Italian leather goods. Now called Zippo Fashion Italia, the subsidiary markets fashion-forward purses and small leather goods.

In 2006, Zippo production surpassed the milestone of 425 million lighters since Mr. Blaisdell crafted the first lighter in early 1933. The lighter is ingrained in the fabric of both American and global culture. In marketing parlance, the brand enjoys an unaided awareness rate of more than 98 percent. That means 98 out of every 100 people surveyed have knowledge of the Zippo name and lighter without being coached in any manner – an astonishing recognition factor.

Today, though most products are simply disposable or available with limited warranties, the Zippo lighter is still backed by its famous lifetime guarantee, “It works or we fix it for free.” In almost 75 years, no one has ever spent a cent on the mechanical repair of a Zippo lighter regardless of the lighter’s age or condition.

Golok - Gollock - Parang - Attacking knife

This is not a toy. It is a warrior weapon for attacking the enemy.This golok is a handmade and originated from Indonesia

Price:RM280


Golok brief info

The golok is a type of machete or broadsword originating in Southeast Asia. The word golok (sometimes misspelled as "gulok" or "gollock") is of Indonesian origin[citation needed] but is also used in Malaysia and the Philippines. In Malaysia it is usually interchangeable with parang.

The Golok style is noted for being the pattern for British Army-issue machetes used since the early 1950s

Sizes and weights vary, as does blade shape. Golok tend to be heavier and shorter than machetes, often being used for bush and branch cutting. Having either a primary grind or an edgewise taper, the golok is less likely to jam in green wood than the flat-sided machete.

Golok are traditionally made with a springy carbon steel blade of a softer temper than that of other large knives. This makes them easier to dress and sharpen in the field, although it also requires more frequent attention. Although many manufacturers produce factory-made golok, there is still an important handmade production in Indonesia.

Parang brief info

The parang is the Malay equivalent of the machete. Typical vegetation in Malaysia is more woody than in South America and the parang is therefore optimized for a stronger chopping action with a heavier blade and a "sweet spot" further forward of the handle, the blade is also beveled more obtusely to prevent it from binding in the cut. This is the same rationale and (in practical terms) the same design as the Indonesian golok and very similar to the Filipino bolo. A parang blade is usually 30 centimetres (12 in) long and has a mass of no more than 0.75 kilograms (1.7 lb). The curved blade enables maximum effort to be applied when cutting timber, and the blade arrives before the knuckles, so giving them protection. A parang has three different edges, the front is very sharp and used for skinning, the middle is wider and used for chopping, and the back end (near the handle) is very fine and used for carving.

Uses
Like the machete, the parang is frequently used in the jungle as well as being a tool for making housing, furniture, and tools. The parang has been noted in John "Lofty" Wiseman's SAS Survival Handbook, a leading survival book.[1] for this use.

In the season 7 episode "D-Girl" of the television series Law & Order, a parang is used as the instrument of murder.

Parang are also used as weapons, typically carried by gang members and robbers in Malaysia.

Gold Medal Collection

This gold medal is not for sale. This is my personal collection

This medal I won dur1ng 1994 Stepper Motor work performance competition within all Seiko Epson Company, This tournament were conducted at Nagano, Japan. I am the 1st Malaysian to win this medal and also the 1st non-Japanese that won this medal. I'm very proud of it due to "Malaysia Boleh".
I also do not know whether the material is really gold or not.I never verify it.


Seiko Epson brief info

Seiko Epson Corporation (セイコーエプソン株式会社, Seikō Epuson Kabushiki-gaisha?), or Epson, is a Japanese technology company and one of the world's largest manufacturers of computer printers, information and imaging related equipment. Based in Suwa, Nagano, Japan,the company has numerous subsidiaries worldwide and manufactures inkjet, dot matrix and laser printers, scanners, desktop computers, business, multimedia and home theatre projectors, large home theatre televisions, robots and industrial automation equipment, point of sale docket printers and cash registers, laptops, integrated circuits, LCD components and other associated electronic components. Traditionally, the company has been manufacturing Seiko timepieces since its foundation and is one of three core companies of the Seiko Group. Net sales over 2006/2007 amounted to ¥1.416 trillion.


History

Daiwa Kogyo, Ltd. was founded in 1942 by Hisao Yamazaki in Suwa, Nagano, Japan. The company was supported by an investment from the Hattori family (founder of the Seiko Group) and began as a manufacturer of watch parts. It started operation in a 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) renovated miso storehouse with 22 employees. In 1943 Daini Seikosha (currently Seiko Instruments) established a factory in Suwa for manufacturing Seiko watches with Daiwa Kogyo. In 1959 the Suwa Factory of Daini Seikosha was split up and merged into Daiwa Kogyo to form Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. The company has developed many timepiece technologies. In particular, it developed the world's first portable quartz timer (Seiko QC-951) in 1963, the world's first quartz watch (Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ) in 1969, the world's first automatic power generating quartz watch (Seiko Auto-Quartz) in 1988 and the Spring Drive watch movement in 1999. Manufacturing of watches is still the major part of businesses for Seiko Epson today.The watches made by the company are sold through the Seiko Watch Corporation, a subsidiary of Seiko Holdings Corporation.

In 1961 Shinshu Seiki Co., Ltd. was established as a subsidiary of Suwa Seikosha to supply precision parts for Seiko watches. When the Seiko Group was selected to be the official time keeper for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, a printing timer was required to time events, and Shinshu Seiki started developing an electronic printer. In September 1968, Shinshu Seiki launched the world's first miniprinter, the EP-101 (EP stands for Electronic Printer,) which was soon incorporated into many calculators. In June 1975, the name Epson was coined into the next generation of the EP-101 which was released to the public. (EPSON:E-P-SON: SON of Electronic Printer). In April of the same year Epson America Inc. was established to sell printers for Shinshu Seiki Co.

In June 1978, the TX-80, eighty-column dot-matrix printer was released to the market, and was mainly used as a system printer for the Commodore PET Computer. After two years of further development, an improved model, the MX-80, was launched in October 1980. This was soon the best selling printer in the United States.

In November 1981 Epson introduced the world's first laptop that was portable (1.7 kg) Epson HC-20 (HX-20 outside Japan) which featured a full-size keyboard, two Hitachi 6301 CPU's running at 0.614 MHz, a 120 x 32 dot-matrix LCD screen (20 x 4 characters), dot-matrix printer, microcassette storage device, RS232/Serial Port, 16KB RAM (32KB max), built-in rechargeable batteries. Microsoft BASIC was installed in the ROM, unit was carried in its own carrying case.

In July 1982, Shinshu Seiki officially named itself the Epson Corporation and launched the world's first handheld computer, HX-20 (HC-20), and in May 1983 the world's first portable color LCD TV was developed and launched by the company.

In November 1985, Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. and Epson Corporation merged to form Seiko Epson Corporation.

The company developed the Micro Piezo inkjet technology, which used a piezoelectric crystal in each nozzle and did not heat the ink at the print head while spraying the ink onto the page, and released Epson MJ-500 inkjet printer (Epson Stylus 800 cartridge) in March 1993. Shortly after in 1994, Epson released the first high resolution color inkjet printer (720x720 dpi was considered as a high resolution), the Epson Stylus Color (P860A) utilizing the Micro Piezo head technology. Newer models of the Stylus series employed Epson’s special DURABrite ink.

In 1994 Epson started outsourcing sales reps to help sell their products in retail stores in the United States. In 1994 Epson started the Epson Weekend Warrior sales program. The purpose of the program was to help improve sales, improve retail sales reps' knowledge of Epson products and to address Epson customer service in a retail environment. Reps were assigned on weekend shift, typically around 12–20 hours a week. Epson started the Weekend Warrior program with TMG Marketing (now Mosaic Sales Solutions), later with Keystone Marketing Inc, then to Mosaic and now with Campaigners INC. The Mosaic contract expired with Epson on June 24, 2007 and Epson is now represented by Campaigners Inc. Actually, their sales reps were not outsourced but rather Epson hired "rack jobbers" to ensure their retail customers displayed product properly. This freed up their regular sales force to concentrate on profitable sales solutions to VAR's and system integrators, leaving "retail" to reps who didn't require sales skills.

In June 2003, the company became public following their listing on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As of 2009, the Hattori family and its related individuals and companies are still major shareholders of Seiko Epson and have the power.[4] Even though Seiko Holdings and Seiko Epson have some common shareholders including the key members of the Hattori family, they are not affiliated. They are managed and operated completely independently. Epson has established its own brand image but rarely uses Seiko.

In 2004 Epson introduced their R-D1 digital RangeFinder Camera, which supports Leica M mount and Leica screw mount lenses with an adapter ring. This camera is the first digital rangefinder on the market. Because its sensor is smaller than that of the standard 35 mm film frame, lenses mounted on the R-D1 have the field view 1.53 times as long as that of the standard 35 mm camera. As of 2006 the R-D1 has been replaced by the R-D1s. The R-D1s is less expensive but its hardware is identical. Epson has released a firmware patch to bring the R-D1 up to the full functionality of its successor— the first digital camera manufacturer to make such an upgrade available for free.

Vintage Antique Traveller Camera

Vintage antique Traveller camera

This Traveller camera is rare in the market.But I do not know and no time to test the condition of the camera. I also don't have the right set up to check whether it works or not.Please see pictures to know what your getting.... Very nice for your home decoration or antique display.

Price: RM280


Camera brief info

The first photograph was taken in 1814 by Nicéphore Niépce using a sliding wooden box camera made by Charles and Vincent Chevalier in Paris; the photograph though was not permanent and it faded. Niépce built on a discovery by Johann Heinrich Schultz (1724): a silver and chalk mixture darkens under exposure to light. While this was the introduction of photography, the history of the camera can be traced back much further. Photographic cameras were a development of the camera obscura, a device dating back to the Book of Optics (1021) of the Iraqi Arab scientist Ibn al-Haytham (Alhacen),which uses a pinhole or lens to project an image of the scene outside upside-down onto a viewing surface.

Scientist-monk Roger Bacon also studied the matter. Bacon's notes and drawings, published as Perspectiva in 1267, are partly clouded with theological material describing how the Devil can insinuate himself through the pinhole by magic,and it is not clear whether or not he produced such a device. On 24 January 1544 mathematician and instrument maker Reiners Gemma Frisius of Leuven University used one to watch a solar eclipse, publishing a diagram of his method in De Radio Astronimica et Geometrico in the following year.In 1558 Giovanni Batista della Porta was the first to recommend the method as an aid to drawing.

Before the invention of photographic processes there was no way to preserve the images produced by these cameras apart from manually tracing them. The earliest cameras were room-sized, with space for one or more people inside; these gradually evolved into more and more compact models such as that by Niépce's time portable handheld cameras suitable for photography were readily available. The first camera that was small and portable enough to be practical for photography was built by Johann Zahn in 1685, though it would be almost 150 years before such an application was possible.