The perfect timepiece for a history lover, this attractive wristwatch is a great tribute to the lessons of the past. With a clear face and easy-to-read analog dial, it features objects with a historical theme. This watch is a distinctive unisex piece with a unique slant on a fascinating topic.

The National Archives was established in 1934 by President Franklin Roosevelt, but its major holdings date back to 1775. They capture the sweep of the past: slave ship manifests and the Emancipation Proclamation; captured German records and the Japanese surrender documents from World War II; journals of polar expeditions and photographs of Dust Bowl farmers; Indian treaties making transitory promises; and a richly bound document bearing the bold signature "Bonaparte" - the Louisiana Purchase Treaty that doubled the territory of the young republic.

The National Archives keeps only those Federal records that are judged to have continuing value - about 2 to 5 percent of those generated in any given year. By now, they add up to a formidable number, diverse in form as well as in content. There are approximately 10 billion pages of textual records; 12 million maps, charts, and architectural and engineering drawings; 25 million still photographs and graphics; 24 million aerial photographs; 300,000 reels of motion picture film; 400,000 video and sound recordings; and 133 terabytes of electronic data. All of these materials are preserved because they are important to the workings of government, have long-term research worth, or provide information of value to citizens.