Nine button-like ornaments made of pure gold that are believed to be from the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) have recently been unearthed at an ancient tomb in Xianyang, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Uncouth? Hardly. Do sea captains look uncouth? Buttons of a brass or golden hue are traditional with blazers, and they are perfectly acceptable. But American men tend to consider the blazer more ...