4 comments about Watches International: Volume VII (Watches International).

1. While this book is heavy on pictures (and just heavy), it lacks some interesting brands and it doesn't have prices (even suggest retail helps establish a base line). There are better books on watches on the market but the price is low enough to make it (for me) not all bad.
   
   You can do better - keep clicking !



2. How about some new information? And lately, it seems like this collection is nothing more than the same as last year, with a few pages of what's popular this year added in. Where's a comprehensive book?



3. to be honest the book is filled with wonderful color pictures and descriptions of the watches.this is a good book to have for reference. I do perfer wristwatch annual as they include the prices. but for the money tis is a good book for someone who either collects or appreciates fine watches. a very nice overview



4. This book is a very comprehensive volume of today's finest watch brands and timepieces. There are at least two major brand omissions, including my favorite watch brand, Omega.
   
   There is not a single mention of Omega or Blancpain in the entire book. This leads me to believe that the book is really a pay to play advertising vehicle and these brands either chose not to participate or were intentionally left out. For me, with Omega missing, the book became a disappointment.

2 comments about Visions from the Golden Land: Burma and the Art of Lacquer.

1. The British Museum, London, should be applauded for launching the first significant exhbition of Burmese art in a major European institution. The catalogue is well-researched, well-written and presents provocative questions. A pioneering section pertaining to inscriptions on Burmese lacquer is especially interesting. Furthermore, the installation in London at the museum was stunning.



2. This is the first authoritative book devoted exclusively to the lacquer ware of Burma (Myanmar). I am an importer of Asian antiques, tribal, and folk art primarily from S.E. Asia, including Burma, and was delighted with the thoroughness of this books content. The range of lacquer ware discussed is quite thorough, the discussion on inscriptions is invaluable and the photographs are excellent. If the chapter on lacquer ware in Sylvia Fraser-Lu's Burmese Crafts Past and Present seemed too short, this is the next book to get. For the very knowledgable and very serious Burmese lacquer collector some of the examples used in the book may be dissapointing. I highly recommend this book.

No comments about Early Victorian Costumes Paper Dolls (History of Costume Series).

3 comments about Colored Gemstones, 1st Edition: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide--How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies, and Other Colored Gemstones with Confidence and Knowledge.

1. Antoinette Matlins is a gemstone authority, teacher, and author who has made a large educational contribution to the appreciation of gemstones and jewelry. This book attempts to summarize and synthesize the growing world of colored gems, so that readers and buyers can make informed choices.
   
   She introduces readers to the traditions of zodiac gems & birthstones; addresses the use of the loupe; talks about evaluation of cuts and color. She includes price tables and tables about treatments by gem family; and finally addresses each gem by chapter section. A pleasing color plate section sets off the center of the book.
   
   A problem is that much of the information is repeated constantly throughout the book, while other potentially useful information is missing. Information about her favorites -- emerald, ruby, sapphire -- shows up in the early chapters, to be repeated later in the chapters specifically about these gems. Meanwhile, other information is lacking. Personally, I would like to know the differences between "Swiss blue Topaz," "sky blue Topaz," and "London blue Topaz." Are they different treatments, or are they different names for the same thing? You won't find it here. What about buying gems on Ebay? Could Ebay be a good place for the beginner to explore inexpensive colored gemstones and learn to use tools? Or do the risks outweigh the potential rewards? Do high-roller gem buyers ever use Ebay? In what sorts of cases?
   
   All this said, you will glean useful information that may not be available in other sources about recent changes in certain gems -- e.g., that Aquamarine is now entering the "expensive" classification, and sizes over 10 carats with good color and clarity are becoming hard to find. But overall -- and I regret if this seems hypercritical, but readers need to know -- this feels like a rehash. Although there will be tidbits you will glean here, this book seems to repeat the information in Matlins' other books, without adding much new.
   
   The REAL book to use for gemstone buying is Matlins' EXCELLENT "Gem identification made easy," where she hits on all cylinders. The information in that book -- on stones, tools, and inclusions -- has almost everything here and much more, including a TERRIFIC color plate section on inclusions.



2. The content in this book is almost identical (page for page) to certain sections of Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide--How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence and Knowledge (5th Edition). While the content was good, I was looking for something more in-depth. This was not it.
   
   So, if you have Jewelry and Gems, don't buy this book. If you do not, this is a good introduction to colored gemstones.



3. One would not think that competing gemstones titles could generate the passionate allegiances found in the various on-line reviews of those titles. However those allegiances are there and I think I know why - have you ever noticed how people committed to exposing the truth are often reviled? In an industry where deception, rephrased as "enhancements" abound; where too many jewelers justify pawning off on unsuspecting customers something less-than-genuine as, "simply acknowledging reality" or "giving the customer what he wants", Antoinette Matlins stands out as an oracle of truth. This, I'm sure, makes her somthing less than heroic to those who enjoy the easy mark-ups in less-than-genuine articles. (Apparently Antoinette Matlins's father was something of a pioneer in stepping forward and informing the public about what really goes on behind the scenes in the world of gems.)
   
   If you have a passion for truth; are a dedicated and tireless advocate for consumers and consumer rights, and wish to protect yourself or someone you love from unscrupulous sharks in the gem trade, than obtain and read this compact, easy-to-read volume. While there may be other volumes on the market with more breadth and scope, and more abundant pictures, I felt very satisified, after reading this book, that I had gained a solid understanding with which I could begin the perilous navigation of the gem trade.

No comments about Celebrating Snow Globes (Collectibles).

No comments about United States Paper Money Errors: A Comprehensive Catalog & Price Guide (U.S. Paper Money Errors).

No comments about Collecting American Belleek (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about Delftware at Historic Deerfield.

2 comments about Million Dollar Nickels: Mysteries of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickels Revealed....

1. I am a 48 year old attorney who has collected coins on the side since my paper route days 40 years ago. As a collector, I appreciate the history and lore that accompanies the hobby. Unfortunately, most of my non collector friends think it is akin to watching paint dry. This book is a great example of why non coin collectors SHOULD read stories involving coins. You may find it hard to believe the authors could write 300 pages about a nickel, but it was well done and a very enjoyable read. This is a great book for anyone -- part folk history, part mystery, part treasure hunt -- about one of the most famous coins of all time. A MUST read for collectors and a SHOULD read for everyone else.



2. Hello, I'm Donn Pearlman and I was actively involved in the surprisingly successful search in 2003 for the George O. Walton specimen 1913 Liberty Head nickel. It had been missing from the hobby for more than 40 years; kept in a strongbox with family papers ON THE FLOOR OF A CLOSET FOR DECADES by a family that was mistakently told in 1962 the coin was a fake!
   
   So, I'm more than a bit biased when I say that this book is fantastic. The authors revealed information even I didn't know about the worldwide search. Of course, this wonderful book is much more than just the hunt for the Walton coin. It is a superbly-written numismatic detective story, examining the mysterious circumstances that led to striking the five-known 1913 Liberty Head nickels, and the colorful people who have owned one or more over the years.
   
   Enjoy,
   -donn-
   Donn Pearlman
   American Numismatic Association Board of Governors, 1989 - 1993
   Professional Numismatists Guild, Affiliate Member

1 comments about United States Army Scrapbook (Military Scrapbook Series).

1. Excellent book. Can be used for a scrapbook or a photo album.