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Every once in a while, one comes across an accessory for the home or office that is truly unique and aesthetically pleasing to an unusually high degree. Such is the case with the one-of-a- kind world globes from High Roller Toys. These beauties are the product of hundreds of man-hours of skilled craftsmanship, giving rise to ornate and elegant art pieces comprised of precious metals and lustrous gemstones from all over the world.

With each country meticulously inlaid with precisely hand-cut gemstones that are representative of that region, the sheer visual poetry of these globes is striking from every angle. To see the rich abalone pearl from the Great Barrier Reef forming the profile of Australia, and the deep blue lapis lazuli stones that comprise the seas which surround her, is to behold a treasure so precious and rare as to make the spirit soar. Like beholding Chagall's glass windows, or Tiffany's lamps, these spectacular desk globes bespeak the artistry of genius.

Often passed on as heirlooms, as no two are the same, these magnificent works of art contain lines of longitude and latitude etched in real gold, with the Equator and International Dateline made of Sterling Silver.

With countries drawn in amethyst, red jasper, green agate, rhodonite, yellow and white mother of pearl, unakite, jade, and other beautifully hued stones from all over the world, Planet Earth is indeed bejeweled in the colors of the rainbow.

Sitting on an ornate three legged stand with a mariner's compass set in its base, this distinctive and matchless creation brings elegance and class to any study, library, or office.

ALSO FROM HIGH ROLLER TOYS:

Breakthrough Technology: Tritium Watches

There is nothing new about "Glow in the Dark" watches. They were popularized decades ago, before people became aware of the serious health risks posed by their radium dials.

Now, Tritium (H3), an isotope of Hydrogen, is being used as a self-powered light source to replace radioactive materials such as Radium with dazzling results. The physics is quite interesting.

When Tritium gas undergoes beta decay, it releases electrons that will stimulate phosphor, to fluoresce. This creates a self-sustaining source of light that can last up to 25 years. Coat the inside of a glass vial with phosphor and fill the vial with Tritium gas, and, voila!-sustainable light that requires no batteries, recharging, solar power, or any other energy source. Make the vials small enough, and fasten them to the face and hands of a watch, and you have an incomparable night vision watch.

Now, High Roller Toys, the upscale retailer of unique gifts for men and women, is offering this marvel of modern science in a rugged titanium-encased chronograph watch that is state of the art.

Oh, come on! How can you possibly get gas-filled vials that small?

With Swiss precision, that's how.

The process is fascinating. During manufacture, a length of microscopically fine borosilicate glass tube which has had the inside surface coated with phosphor is filled with Tritium gas at high pressure. The tube is then fused into tiny incremental sections with a CO2 laser, creating microscopic glass vials. Borosilicate is preferred because it is a type of glass noted for its strength and resistance to breakage. The vials are then affixed to the face and hands of this handsome timepiece which has all the features you would expect from a high-quality, multipurpose, sportsman's watch.

You really have to see it (in the dark) to fully appreciate it.

Learn more about this author, Alan Forray.
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