| When it comes to that special someone in your life, | | | | Egyptian tombs. Both the Greeks and the Romans |
| you know they deserve the very best when it | | | | were known for their use of roses although the |
| comes to gift giving. While traditional gifts are always | | | | Romans outdid the Greeks in this regard when 1st |
| lovely and appreciated, some of them don't last as | | | | century emperor Nero dumped tons of the fragrant |
| long as we want them to. Roses, for example, are | | | | flower on his dinner guests. Romans were also the |
| the acknowledged way of saying "I love you," but | | | | ones who cultivated the beautiful flower and called it |
| once their time has passed, they wilt and die. Plated | | | | Rose Gallica. In addition, when couples married, they |
| gold roses, on the other hand, are a wonderful | | | | would often be crowned with roses. The petals of |
| keepsake that will last a lifetime. | | | | roses were also often used in poultices by women of |
| Plated gold roses are usually handcrafted using a real | | | | high society in ancient Rome as they believed they |
| rose. They are selected when they have reached the | | | | would ward off wrinkles. And, the petals were also |
| peak of their beauty and are then preserved in a | | | | often dropped in wine as it was thought their |
| lacquer shell so as to maintain all of their original | | | | essence would prevent drunkenness. |
| flowery details. The next step in the process is for | | | | In ancient Egypt, Marc Antony - known as |
| the rose to be dipped and plated in gold - 18 karat, | | | | Cleopatra's ill-fated lover - often went to visit the |
| 24, karat, etc. - so their natural exquisiteness can be | | | | queen and when he did, she would ensure to fill her |
| preserved forever. The creation of plated gold roses | | | | living quarters with roses so he would remember her |
| is a long one - up to 40 carefully crafted steps and | | | | for her opulence. He would also think of her every |
| five days are spent by artisans and technicians | | | | time he smelled a rose. |
| creating a flawless flower that is both unique and | | | | While plated gold roses may not be quite as revered |
| one-of-a-kind. | | | | as the real flower was in Rome and Egypt, they |
| The tradition of gardening goes back a long way; its | | | | have their place in today's modern world. With their |
| earliest known origins are of planted roses by | | | | unusual and hand-crafted appeal, plated gold roses |
| nomadic humans. Blooming of the earliest known | | | | are the perfect gift for the discerning collector, |
| roses, however, dates back as far as 35 million years | | | | flower lover, or to simply say the person receiving |
| ago, with rose fossils having been found in Europe | | | | them is very special indeed. |
| and petrified rose wreaths unearthed in ancient | | | | |