5 comments about Collecting Costume Jewelry 202: The Basics of Dating Jewelry.

1. In "Collecting Costume Jewelry 101", Julia Carroll provided a guide to the main makers of (American) designer costume jewellery, which would allow a beginner to get some idea of what is on offer before going out into the market. In the sequel to this book, "Costume Jewelry 202", Carroll starts by assuming that her readers have already started their costume jewellery collections and then proceeds to give advice on how to date this jewellery.
   
   According to Carroll, there are six main methods of dating costume jewellery: using the maker's mark; using patent information; by reviewing vintage advertisements; by the style or design of the piece; by using books and the internet; and by provenance. Carroll then provides as much of this information as possible to her readers to allow them to date their own jewellery using these methods. For each of the major designers whom Carroll has selected (and there are a lot of them), she provides tables of patent numbers and descriptions, pictures of vintage advertisements, tables of maker's marks and information on style. Much of this information I have not seen in any other book. Extra space is devoted to Coro, Vendome and Trifari jewellery. Readers of "Costume Jewelry 101" will recall that in this book Carroll recommended that beginners start by collecting jewellery by Coro, Kramer, Trifari and Weiss, so this is somewhat consistent with that. Although, I feel that she should have also devoted extra space to Kramer and Weiss jewellery to be fully consistent.
   
   As with the previous book, this book is filled with numerous colour photographs of the jewellery, with 2007 values given for each piece. Please note that this book focuses on dating costume jewellery produced between 1935 and 1980, so if you are interested in dating jewellery that is either earlier or later that this, this book may prove inadequate.



2. This was a wonderfully informative book with information that dozens of other books on this subject do not cover.



3. This book held my attention for days (not just hours!) because it took hours just to get through it --- which I still haven't!! It is a must for anybody who loves jewelry the way I do. It is a must for the true collector. The photos are fantastic! Enjoy!



4. This is one of the better jewelry books around. I had a copy and gave it to my sister who is learning about jewelry. Then I bought another copy to replace it. It is chock full of jewelry manufacturer information as well as patents. Perfect for researching jewelry. This book will become dog-earred just like my first one-I use it that much.



5. The way this book is set up is not useful to me. Interesting but non-functional.

5 comments about Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones).

1. THIS BOOK OFFERS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TURQUOISE. I LOVE BROWSING THROUGH IT AND KEEP IT ON MY COFFEE TABLE. ANYONE WHO HAS A LOVE OR DESIRES A KNOWLEDGE OF TURQUOISE WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. A MUST FOR THE COLLECTOR!! YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A PIECE OF TURQUOISE WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM.



2. "Turquoise Unearthed" in a brief but thorough introduction to turquoise that would be suitable for anyone interested in turquoise and turquoise jewellery. Although only 74 pages in length, this book is packed full of information, including a history of turquoise, advice on purchasing turquoise, and a guide to the different turquoise mines in the American South-West. There are colour pictures throughout the book, including colour photographs of the turquoise you would find in each of the mines (yes, turquoise does differ between mines); a recommended reading list at the end; and most importantly, it actually has an index. The only thing that could have made this book better would be some sort of pricing guide. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent book and well worth the money I paid.



3. This book has helped me to identify several pieces I have that I have
   been wondering about. It has helped me to be able to differentiate
   between the real thing and the fake.



4. Turquoise Unearthed is a well written, very useful guide to this most attractive of minerals. The organization by site or mine is helpful to those with Native American jewelry from different sources. This reader found a number of long standing interests and questions satisfied. A small volume, but a "keeper".



5. I have been a gem and mineral dealer for over ten years...and a rockhound for a lot longer than that...but this book taught me more in a single sitting than all my years in the buisiness and in the hobby.
   
   I have dug, traded, bought and sold a whole bunch of "Turq"...natural, treated and "color-shot"...and this book instantly became my favorite reference for the rest of my life.
   
   If you are planning on investing in real American or Persian turquoise jewelry or stones...and it is an investment...then this book is a "Must Have!"
   
   No sooner did I put this book down than I called up one of my suppliers and bought all of the Blue Gem and Turquoise Mountain stones they had left in stock...I am sure they are wondering what precipitated that call!
   
   My many thanks to the Lowry family for their labor of love...from the "Turq" Museum to this book...and I hope we cross paths real soon.

5 comments about Collecting Costume Jewelry 101: The Basics of Starting, Building & Upgrading (Collecting Costume Jewelry 101).

1. "Collecting Costume Jewellery 101" is essentially a beginners' guide to the main makers of (American) designer costume jewellery. Other information is also given, such as how to repair and clean costume jewellery and what to do with unwanted jewellery, all of which would be useful to a person starting a costume jewellery collection. However, the vast majority of this book are devoted to summaries of the main jewellery making companies.
   
   For most designers, the summary given is brief, comprising the dates of operation of the company; a brief history of the company; the signature look of the product; and buying recommendations. Nevertheless, this is more than enough for a beginning collector. Greater detail is given about Coro, Kramer, Trifari and Weiss, however, four designers whom Carroll recommends for beginning collectors. Numerous color photographs are also provided for each designer, with values given for each piece of jewellery.
   
   For people seeking a more detailed discussion of designer costume jewellery, I recommend the sequel to this book, "Collecting Costume Jewellery 202", although both books are well worth investing in.



2. This was a wonderfully informative book with information that dozens of other books on this subject do not cover. Also suggested is the sequel, Costume Jewelry 202.



3. I am so tickled and honored to have jewelry from my private collection featured in Julia's books. This new Second Edition of the "Collecting Costume Jewelry 101" book features a bright new cover with colorful layouts and 200+ new photographs and additional designers. Julia and I have been jewelry friends for many years and her incredible knowledge in this field has helped me form an extensive collection. So jewelry lovers, it is time to set aside the original edition that is dog-eared & note filled, and add this new second edition which features many new photographs and designers that are not in the first edition! As her other books, it is a great learning tool that will teach you so much about forming a fabulous costume jewelry collection of your own! She is so thorough in her research which you will see with all the updated information and new values. We can only hope there will be a 303 version in the future!



4. Hang on to your hats, jewelry lovers!!!! This is a book you MUSTN'T MISS!!! Julia C Carroll never disappoints collectors at any level of expertise. Once again, in this visually stunning new book she grabs us with beautiful pages in a logical and practical teaching layout that keeps us turning those pages!! The pictures are generous in volume and so well done you can examine the details in each piece. This new upgrade is a MUST HAVE-beautiful, bright, full of the great educational info of the original "101", but with so many more pictures and facts!! I find other authors' guides nice to thumb through, but you really learn to identify and nail down pieces out in the real world by studying Julia's "101" and "202". My collection is now full of incredible pieces I learned to look for only because of her great books. If you want the pride of knowing what to buy, and how to not overpay, buy and study this wonderfully updated book...even if you have the original "101", ADD THIS TO YOUR LIBRARY!!! Then sign on to buy her "202". Thanks, Julia C!! How about a "303"??????!!!!



5. I wish to express my gratitude to so many generous people who helped with this Second Edition of "Collecting Costume Jewelry 101:the basics of starting, building & upgrading".
   
   First, I want to thank my readers. I am warmed by the wonderful feedback I have received from beginning collectors on the first edition of this book. Based on this feedback, I was careful when working on the second edition to leave in place the easy-to-use format. Thank you readers!
   
   A warm thank you must always be reserved for my husband who once again offered me his support and his excellent camera skills. Thank you sweetheart!
   
   Next I want to thank my friends (especially Debi Reece and Dave Mayer) who shared their knowledge and collections with me so I could add over 200 new photographs to this new edition. Thank you dear friends!
   
   Finally, I want to thank the staff at Collector Books for giving me the opportunity to write a Second Edition. With their help this second edition has many beautiful enhancements. For example:
   
   - Collector Books created a hot new cover and vibrant new interior color scheme. I adore the bright colors and I hope you do too. While maintaining the easy-to-use alphabetical arrangement of makers, the interior design is also updated.
   - Over 200 new photographs have been added providing additional examples of jewelry designs from many makers.
   - The historical information and information about marks is updated.
   - eBay selling changes frequently so Chapter 6 - "Upgrading Your Collection" is fully updated.
   - A new chapter is added featuring 13 makers not shown in the first edition.
   - The popular "Marked by Style" chapter, showing unmarked jewelry attributed by the style to specific makers, is revamped and expanded.
   - Of course the values have been updated.
   Thank you Collector Books!
   
   I love jewelry, I love collecting, and I love this new edition. I hope you do too. Warm regards, Julia C. Carroll

2 comments about 305 Authentic Art Nouveau Jewelry Designs.

1. This was a gift to a friend in Europe and he LOVED it! Very quick shipment and everything great. Amazon is fantastic, as usual!



2. I LOVE this book, and have turned many of these designs into tattoos. Never seen anything like it on any other person, either.

5 comments about Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry: Identification and Values.

1. An excelent reference book, however, sellers/buyers need to know a particular designer to find items. Not all items are referenced. Sellers/buyers need to do MUCH more research if they are looking for something special.



2. I was looking forward to receiving this book because as a collector I did not have a book on unsigned costume jewellery. However I was disappointed with the copy I received.
   My main complaint is the quality of the illustrations. For the most part the photos are dull, too dark and the colours are distorted. Some pages have a definate brownish tint and other pages are quite grey. In comparison to other books on the suject the photos lack colour and clarity but this may be due to the printing and perhaps I received a particularly bad copy.
   The book has 3 chapters that give insight into the birth of costume jewelry, the metals, stones, shapes and settings and also how to start a collection, date and restore pieces.
   For the price the book covers the subject well.



3. Marcia "Sparkles" Brown puts together the best books on costume jewelry there are. With all the pictures she includes it makes it so much easier to find something you may be wondering about and she has a lot to look at! I absolutely love her books!



4. I had read the book before when I started researching my mothers pins. I have now purchsed two of Marcie's books. They are well written, easy to follow, good pictures of pins and great advise.



5. I love this book!. It's chock full of excellent pictures and information for the vintage jewelry collector, whether a novice or one of long-standing. The book is well organized in its layout. I've discovered it's a 'collectible' book in its own right. Author, Marcia Sparkles Brown, has a video, which I also own and recommend.
   
   Although not a whole lot on each designer, some mention is better than none. To find references to Judy Lee, BSK, LaRoco, Park Lane, Avon, Capri, Art, JJ, Les Bernard, Capri, etc. was of interest to me when I first started collecting jewelry because of the scarcity of volumes on these names. Other designers, such as Lisner, Coventry, Napier, Monet, etc., also included in this book, were more easily found when doing searches for designers.
   
   The book has no index, so this may be a concern to others. But the designer names are presented in alphabetical order.
   
   Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.

5 comments about Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry.

1. I paid $175.00 for this book before I discovered amazon.com and the wonderful prices. Even so it is worth every dollar I paid and it is a book to treasure. Elizabeth Taylor has a truely stunning collection of jewels and such a vast amount but she knows each piece and the story behind it. The book is filled with stunning photos and is interesting to read. I was not a great fan of Elizabeth Taylor before reading this book but since then I have read more about her. You will not be dissappointed.



2. This book has many expensive pieces of jewelry in it, and the stories behind the pieces. Most of it was bought by Mike Todd and Richard Burton, the "two loves of my life", as Elizabeth puts it. Her two greatest loves were the ones who bought her the most jewelry. I admit, I was touched by the stories of what Richard Burton was like as a husband. I think those two would've been the greatest together, if only they could've worked through their problems and conquered them.
   
   I also think most of this jewelry is big and gaudy, not something I'd want to wear. I often wonder what it was about Elizabeth Taylor that made men want to buy her so much jewelry. Beautiful? Certainly. A compassionate, loving woman? Sure. But was she worth that kind of outrageous spending? Make your own judgments.



3. This book surpasses any written bios of Ms. Taylor. She has masterfully catalogued her acquisitions with quality photographs and a synopsis of who gave her each of the gems and when. I have never appreciated the art and beauty of jewelry until I've seen this book (I never could afford to!).
   Elizabeth Taylor and her life has always intrigued me but this book is mesmerizing: Imagine, a man will tell a woman he loves her with extravagant jewelry. And, let's face it, don't we all fantasize that?
   By the way, she also catalogues the Cartier-Burton Diamond of which she no longer possess.



4. Miss Taylor's jewelry is art. The only difference is hers is not on the walls of some home. She shows it off beautifully and probably owns some of the major jewels of the world. Since we don't have the Crown Jewels hers are the next best thing.
   
   Anybody who criticizes her know nothing of jewels. The book is beautifully illustrated and the antidotes amusing.



5. No one should expect this book to be deep or not vulgar in any way. It's a book about a beautiful woman and her jewels. What exactly do you expect? She's wealthy and adored by men and she is talking about jewelry. OF course there are going to be silly comments!
   
   I loved this book for what it is. Pure eye candy and funny anecdotes and beautiful pictures of Liz. Don't pick this book up and expect anything else.

4 comments about The Master Jewelers.

1. "Delicious", sumptuous... full of beauty! This book is for anyone who loves to look at jewelry at its best!!



2. The book offers insight into the most important jewelry designs and the artistic talents of their creators. It gives an overview and biographies of the most important jewelry artists of the recent history and how their businesses got started: Cartier, Tiffany, Van Cleef and Arpels, Lalique, Verdura, Bulgari, Boucheron etc. The photos are wonderful; I only wish there were more of them. A great book for anyone wanting to learn more about the most important jewelry creators and jewelry pieces. It is also a great way to start your own favorite jeweler/jewelry book collection and get more specific books.



3. I really enjoyed my first scan of this book and look forward to many more in-depth visits. The jewelry is absolutely breathtaking. The color photos are extremely well done.



4. It may seem an era long gone by but the art work is as vital and enthralling today. The photos are numerous and magnificent and it is a valuable addition to anyones library.

5 comments about Colored Gemstones, 2nd Edition: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide: How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Other Colored Gemstones.

1. "Colored Gemstones" is a beginners' guide to gemstones that aims to help consumers understand what types of gems are available, what to look for in determining value, and how to go about doing that. This book does not oversimplify the subject as some guides for beginners do. Author and gemologist Antoinette Matlins gives readers some preliminary guidance on how to familiarize yourself with a gemstone using a loupe and how to determine if it is well-cut. Then it is on to Part 2, which constitutes the bulk of the book and is a fount of essential and fascinating information.
   
   First, the "4 C's" of color, clarity, cut, and carat, with particular emphasis on color and cut and how they relate to one another. Sample laboratory reports on gems are provided, so we see what a lab report can tell the consumer. The chapter on synthetic gems and enhancement treatments is particularly informative. The author describes common treatments and provides a very useful chart of treatments by gemstone. The chart lists treatments for 34 gem groups and indicates which treatments are typically used, seldom used, whether they are stable, and whether the treated gemstones require any special care, including which should avoid ultrasonic cleaners. Information on color enhancement spans several chapters.
   
   A chapter on fraud and misrepresentation lists which gemstone treatments are acceptable practice and which are dishonest, with descriptions of the treatments, and a list of deceptive names often used to mislead customers. So we will know what our options are, the author lists gems by color, provides a list of gems not routinely enhanced for those who prefer natural stones, and a table of how much treated vs a natural stones differ in price. There is a detailed price guide for 21 groups of (faceted) gems, indicating what you may expect to pay for good to extra fine quality stones, wearability, and availability. Opal and synthetic price guides are separate. One chapter is dedicated to descriptions of about 40 gems, with data on hardness, chemical composition, wearability, and brilliance for each. Ms. Matlins concludes with specific advice on what to ask and look for when buying stones, what facts to make sure appear on your receipt, and tips for cleaning and caring for gems.
   
   Having read Renee Newman's Gemstone Buying Guide, I find that Ms. Matlins' "Colored Gemstones" is more complete. This is primarily because the coverage of enhancements, synthetics, and price are more extensive in this book. Its discussions of how cut affects color are also better. That said, the "Gemstone Buying Guide" treats star and cat's eye stones more thoroughly and has a slight advantage in coverage of opal and jade. It provides more vital statistics, including refractive index, cleavage, and specific gravity. "Colored Gemstones" biggest shortcoming is the scarcity of photographs. There is a 16-page insert of color photos, but most of the gems discussed are not pictured. The "Gemstone Buying Guide" has far more photos, but if you have to choose one book, I think you'll be happier with "Colored Gemstones" unless your interest is in cat's eye or star gems.



2. If you buy Jewellery and gem buying guide from the same author, you find it is a lot of repetition. However, to me this book is giving more information than the other one as the discussion of more focus on gemstone.



3. Quite enlightening. Particularly liked the guide for prices of gemstones as well as the uses of stones. Had I purchased this book before, I would have made more informed choices when buying gemstones. Would recommend to anyone buying any type of gemstone.



4. Everything I needed to know to get started buying gemstones. Easy to read and very detailed; it helped me learn where the true value lies in these gems. More than I ever thought I'd learn!



5. I'm a novice at gemstones, but I found this book easy to read. It had all the information I needed to shop for gems! I'm sure people with more experience would also find this helpful.

5 comments about Art Nouveau Jewelry.

1. I pondered over purchasing this book for probably two years. This was due mainly to the fact that there was no way to really view the content of this publication. Frankly, the authors offering of an inside look of their book was ridiculous. Show me some pictures!!! I really hate to purchase something that I can't see! Finally, I bit the bullet and purchased Art Nouveau Jewelry. I was stunned by the volume of beautiful color pictures. This book turned out to be just what I was looking for, basically a pictorial presentation of jewelry from that era. I search constantly for any reference material that I can find on this subject (Art Nouveau era jewelry) and this book is one of the best that I have found. So if you are a jewelry designer like myself and are always looking for inspiration, this is an excellent book for your collection.



2. A very good book about this period, no other one has covered the subject as this one.



3. i wanted to know more about art nouveau jewelry and this book really helped me for that purpose.
   it has lots of pictures and info about whatever there is to know and see.
   the only dissapointment was that majority of the pics are in black and white. You miss out on all the enameling work colors..
   also i expected to see more from lalique.
   overall though its a good book for starters.



4. This book far exceeded my expectations for the price! The only minor criticism I have is that I wish ALL the photographs had been in color. A great deal......



5. Beautiful book, this book was much more than I expected. The pictures of jewellery and the information contained within was worth every penny.

3 comments about Costume Jewelry for Haute Couture.

1. I haven't finished reading this book but the images of jewelry are beautiful and inspiring.



2. I've been keeping an eye on 'high fashion' for 25+ years as my own one-of-a-kind bead & jewelry business evolved. I could never figure out why some of the very unusual and creative jewelry I saw in couture and pret-a-porte' runway shows was rarely covered in detail in the fashion books or magazines. Finally this book was created to begin answering my prayers! Bravo - I love it, get lost in it!
   While I love all kinds of jewelry, I'd gotten my fill of the books featuring more traditional gold/diamond-type jewelry! If you like the more unusual side of the universe, then you will treasure this book.... and I say all of this before I've even studied the text!
   I hope publishers will pay attention and give us more, more, more! This is the tip of the iceberg and I'm delighted.



3. Expertly co-authored by fashion historian and consultant Florence Muller and haute couture costume jewelry collector Patrick Sigal, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" is a profusely illustrated compendium showcasing dazzling, one-of-a-kind jewelry designed by skilled artisans to complement and adorn individual couture pieces for fashion shows and photo shoots. Representing outstanding examples from Coco Chanle in the 1920s to Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s, to the creation of Lanvin today, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" highlights some of the greatest jewelry creations by some of the greatest artists the fashion industry has every known, including examples by Balenciaga, Diro, Schiaparelli, Givench, Vionnet, and so many others. Beautiful and informative, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Art History, Fashion History, and Jewelry reference collections.