No comments about Jewellery Manufacture & Repair.

1 comments about The Best of Bakelite and Other Plastic Jewelry (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This is a beautiful book! Vibrant color photos of some of the most classic bakelite jewelry ever made. Also some great, unusual things such as school pencils and charms that are rarely seen. Unfortunately, most of us who buy books like these are not only interested in the photos and descriptions but are very much interested in the price/value guides. The value guide in this book is way too non-specific. It gives price ranges for entire pages (or double spread of pages) without giving estimates for individual items or even groups of items. An example: pages 102 and 103, $600 to $1100. Not the bangles on page 102 and the pins on page 102 - just PAGE 102. For someone looking for a beautiful bakelite jewelry "wishbook", this is it! However, if you're looking for an updated book with a usuable price guide this book falls short.

No comments about Art of Jewelry Design.

2 comments about Costume Jewelry Variations: A Collector's Identification and Price Guide.

1. I echo the previous review. I bought the book last year and was very disappointed. I felt as if I got ripped off. The quality of the book was poor. Images were bad and blurry & black and white. There is no rhyme or reason for the book to even be printed. It did not add anything to the information out there on costume jewelry. Save your money.



2. I have about 40 books on jewelry and this is the absolute worst one I have ever seen.........what a waste of money! Half of the pictures are so out of focus that you cannot see any details on the jewelry, most pictures are in black and white, there are no dates, and any information in this book you can find in almost any other book on costume jewelry. I wouldn't advise that anyone, even beginners to collecting, spend their money on this book.........there are too many good books on the subject! Buy any other book rather than this one.

No comments about BLING BLING: HIp Hop's Crown Jewels.

2 comments about Bronzes: Sculptors and Founders, 1800-1930.

1. I love and colect bronze sculputers. This book will help me a lot to complete my colection.



2. Harold Berman has done an enormous favor for all who have a love of traditional-representational bronzes. He has put together the most complete collection of photographs of table-top bronzes that I have seen in print. The books focus on works completed between 1800-1930 and each bronze is well photographed, many with additional "detail-closeups." Each work is accompanied by text giving sculptor, date and dimensions(in some instances, even foundry). As a bronze sculptor, I have found the series invalueable. The works are broken down into categories such as: Equestrian, Child renderings, Soldiers, etc. If you have even the slightest interest in the bronzes that were produced during said time period, you will find this series an absolute joy. Any person who owns statuary of the time and would like more information on their pieces would probably find what they need in these books. Auction houses, museums and individual collectors should not be without this series. Another book of similar subject matter that could interest readers is "Bronzes of the American West."

No comments about Gemstones: Quality and Value, Volume 3 - Jewelry.

5 comments about Jewels and Jewelry.

1. This is a rich & informative antique jewelry book. The contents are categorized under materials, styles vs periods and the details of manufacturings. Great for jewelry designer and those who interested in jewelry history. One of my favorite jewelry collectibles!



2. This book goes into alloys. Mixing copper with gold turns it red, silver turns it green, arsenic turns it blue or grey. White gold the author says, is barely gold at all, it is simply silver with gold _added_ to keep it from looking too much like silver. Very helpful for jewelry buying as well as jewelry making, as I could use this to know how to extract silver or copper, assuming I manage to separate the two.



3. "Jewels and Jewelry," by Clare Phillips, is loaded with full-color photographs of a rich assortment of jewelry. The introduction notes that most of the pieces pictured are on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The book is divided into 3 main sections: "Materials," "Chronology of Style," and "Manufacturing and Distribution."

   The book includes many informative and well-illustrated spreads on a number of topics: the pendants of the Renaissance, pieces celebrating Queen Elizabeth I, 18th century paste jewelry, the Art Nouveau style, etc. The book covers jewelry made from a rich variety of materials--gold, pearls, emeralds, cast glass, brass, coral, platinum, steel, etc. There are even pieces made from such startling material as a real fish head or recycled bus stop signs!

   The book portrays the work of an international gallery of artists, together with interesting biographical facts about these creators. Among the many designers included are Gijs Bakker of Holland, Wendy Ramshaw of England, Fritz Maierhofer of Austria, Yasuki Hiramatsu of Japan, and more. Some really unforgettable creations are pictured, ranging from elegant pieces with a traditional flavor to futuristic or quirky pieces. Overall, a superb book that truly celebrates the tremendous imagination and skill of the world's jewelry makers.




4. This is amazing- a really comprehensive history of western jewelry from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection. The photography is just primo, and any jeweler or gem mad type needs this book. The text is clear and super informative. As a part time jewelry maker I find this an amazingly inspirational reference work, the pictures are so good you can see tool marks and technique. Period portraits illustrate fashion and the use of jewelry in different forms at different times.
   Highly reccomended- and just plain pretty to boot. Even you all who just like to look at beautiful things will thoroughly enjoy this book.



5. I must have a dozen books on jewelery and the history of jewelery. This is the best yet. First off the book very clearly organized. On any page that you might flip to there is a short chapter with a title, photos and supporting text. For instance, the section called "Jewelled Bouquets" shows five full color photos of flower themed broaches, descriptions of each an a well written history of the beautiful little things. Much of the jewelery is supported with photos of period portraits, to further illustrate how the pieces were worn. It's a wonderful, wonderful book and I'm not surprized to find it's from the fabulous Victoria and Albert Museum.

2 comments about The Official Identification and Price Guide to Antique Jewelry (Official Price Guide to Antique Jewelry).

1. This book does not meet the standardards set by Warman's or Jeanine Bell.
   The color pictures are grouped together with inadequate description. There are pages with sample spaces left blank. Descriptions are poor.
   The previous edition by Kaplan was so much richer and fitting for the time. Other vintage and antique jewelry books have better pictures, descriptions and general information than this long awaited book. A real disappointment.



2. I bought The Official Identification and Price Guide to Antique Jewelry as a gift for my mother. My knowledge of antique jewelry is next to nil, but the book appears to be comprehensive, with adequate item descriptions and pictures.

5 comments about Wristwatches: A Connoisseur's Guide.

1. Hello. The LIBRARY JOURNAL review you have for WRISTWATCHES: A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE is botched. You're including review information for some book on jewelry. Please do something about this, pronto. Thanks!
   Ken Goldberg



2. This is a good overview of watch history and availability. Highlighted are 55 of the major collectible watch companies with good photo selections from each. The detailed pages on the companies is good and informative. Not bad for the coffee table, either.



3. This is an OK gift book with nice photos of watches, but it fails as a "connoisseurs" guide. There is scant history of the various brands and almost no technical information. No connoisseur would seriously consider a Timex watch, but Timex is presented along with the finest Breitlings, Bulgaris, Breguets et al. In the section on Bulgari, the author describes in detail a watch given by Count Galazzo (sic) Ciano to a friend, but there is no illustration to go along with the description.

   A watch collector or connoisseur should not waste his or her time with this lightweight giftbook




4. Nothing much to learn from this well illustrated book, at least nothing more than what can be found in "wriswatch annual". For newbies only.



5. Accurate and concise history of time keeping, with a brief history of the technical evolution as well as a generical presentation of the main 50 makers and their actual products. Good photos.