No comments about Discoveries: Diamonds and Precious Stones (Discoveries (Abrams)).

1 comments about Miller's: Jewellery: Antiques Checklist (Miller's Antiques Checklist).

1. It covers antique collectible jewellery from 18th century to modern, gives plenty of details on styles, materials used, hallmarking and things to look for when buying. For each category (i.e. Art Noveau brooches) it gives one representative item in picture and description + estimation of value, and several similar ones (different craftmanship or designer than the main example) but without the value (which bugged me a little). If it also offered a comprehensive table with all/most info arranged in one place, for quick reference, it would be perfect.

1 comments about From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic, and History.

1. I found Diane Morgan's book to be a fascinating blend of history, minerology, and the magical, mystycial, and medicinal properties attributed to this marvelous gem. If you would like to know more about these subjects, I heartly recomend this very interesting, humerous and highly readable book.

4 comments about Diamonds: A Century of Spectacular Jewels.

1. Penny Proddow and Marion Fasel have done it again! "Diamonds" is a spectacular overview of some of the most famous, infamous, and downright jaw-dropping diamond jewelry ever made. Those who are interested in a gemological history may be disappointed, as Proddow and Fasel concentrate solely on mostly modern diamonds set into jewelry--but those who salivate over the treasures of luminaries from Queen Elizabeth to Elizabeth Taylor will be delighted with this book.

   Proddow and Fasel have done their homework and provide the reader with a lengthy history of the diamond and its stature in the jewelry world. From the beginning, it was considered rare, unusual and much to be treasured--and its status as such ensured that it would be used in only the most elegant, important, and imaginative jewelry. We learn of the origins of the famed Tiffany setting for diamonds. This was a prong structure which supplanted the formerly popular bezel setting by exposing the pavilion (bottom) of the stone itself, thereby allowing more interplay of light and sparkle. This seemingly simple approach ended up establishing Tiffany as one of the world's premier jewelers. We learn about the freedom jewelers felt during the Art Deco and Art Nouveau periods--the freedom to approach jewelry as art and not just dull commissioned pieces from nobility. We learn about the way Jackie Kennedy wore several diamond pins in her hair during a 1960s trip to Paris to SUGGEST the appearance of a tiara--without the royal associations of an actual tiara.

   Proddow and Fasel have done their homework in providing splendid photographs of both well-known and rarely-seen diamond pieces. The book is particularly strong in showcasing nature-oriented jeweled pieces. Particular stand-outs include:

   - An astonishingly beautiful butterfly brooch from the 1890s, in which the butterfly's body is made of a diamond and a ruby and the winds are enormous carved and etched diamonds (p. 20), not to mention a diamond and platinum butterfly brooch in which actual butterfly wings are encased in rock crystal (p. 32);

   - An actual lion's paw seashell in which diamond tentacles climb the shell's grooves and set off the gleaming coral color (p. 87);

   - An enormous Cartier snake necklace commissioned by Mexican actress Maria Felix in 1968 and featuring over 2,400 diamonds on one side. The other side was done completely in colored enamels, making the necklace reversible (p. 112);

   - A tortoise compact made from a real tortoise shell and pavé diamond head, feet, and tail (p. 130).

   This book is an invaluable and instructive guide for anyone who loves diamond jewelry and appreciates the imaginative flights of fancy it inspires in its creators. Highly recommended!




2. The book is nice for people who would like to know a bit more on diamonds in general. If, however, you would like to have in-depth details of this fabulous gem, then there are much better quality books, like "Diamonds", second edition by Eric Bruton, or the GIA provides some nice books; Lord Ian Balfour has written an outstanding work on "Famous Diamonds". All in all, "Diamonds: a Century of Spectacular Jewels" is a nice coffeetable book, but then, if its just the pictures you like, why not buy a copy of "Magnificent Jewels" by Christie's, these sales are held twice a year, both in New York as well as in Geneva (Switzerland); and the photos (not to mention the prices - before AND after the sales!!) will take your breath away!



3. The highlight of this book, strangely enough, is the text. It explains how jewelry styles changed throughout the century in an interesting way. Unfortunately, the photographs weren't as good; they didn't accentuate the jewels very well and were sometimes slightly out of focus and grainy. In the chapter on pink diamonds, many of the photographs make the diamonds look gray. Throughout the book, diamonds described as canary yellow look like white diamonds. In general, the beauty of the gems were not captured.



4. An intelligent text and very handsome photographs. Trouble is, far too many of those photographs are in black and white whereas for the asking price, this book should be a feast of color. For the passionate diamond-lover, it's still a treat, but be ready for mounting frustration as you turn pages and increasingly wonder what these gorgeous things REALLY looked like.

No comments about Jewelry & Metalwork in the Arts & Crafts Tradition: 2nd Edition, Revised.

2 comments about Art Nouveau Domestic Metalwork: From Wurttembergische Metallwaren Fabrik 1906.

1. The best silver book i have ever seen. I have never seen those models before. No more words , just buy and see yourself.



2. In addition to being a fabulous portrayal of a time gone by, this is the working bible for collectors of WMF, a turn of the century German mass producer of silver-plated holloware in the Jugendstil (art nouveau) style. Because the products were plated rather than sterling, the manufactured items were easily affordable. This is a reprint of the company's 1906 English catalog. not sterling, or pure, silver, the

5 comments about How to Buy a Diamond: Insider Secrets for Getting Your Money's Worth (4th Edition).

1. This book is excellent. Information is first rate and very clear. The dimensional data on diamonds is helpful to decide how to buy an excellent diamond over the internet or at a jeweler.
   The book helped me get a really nice diamond at a decent price.
   
   There really are lots of scumbags in the diamond industry ready to screw you so be prepared with this book.
   Seriously, after reading this book you will know more about diamonds then half the "jewelers" out there.



2. Very comprehensive and detailed. The OEM price list is of great help. This book is a must for anyone who's looking at buying diamond.



3. Fred Cuellar -jeweler, prolific diamond advisor, and creator of novelty gem pieces for pro sports teams and corporations- brings his enthusiasm for diamonds to "How to Buy a Diamond", his popular guide to getting your money's worth in carbon, now in its 5th edition. "How to Buy a Diamond" discusses buying diamond engagement rings, but since it assumes you will be shopping for a loose stone, the information is equally applicable to any diamond: rings, earrings, pendants, stones for investment, etc. This book places more emphasis on the process of purchasing the diamond than most diamond guides. Only the first 2 chapters are concerned with the stones themselves.
   
   Chapter 1 addresses the obligatory "4 Cs": carat weight, clarity, color, and cut. In addition to basic information, Cuellar explains the expanded color typing produced by a Colorimeter, shows how color and clarity grades should correspond unless you want an oddball stone with poor resale value, and he comments on GIA's new, looser cut grading system. Chapter 2 is dedicated to "Cost", including price lists for 1/3 -5 carat diamonds, price lists for "buying shy" or buying just under the desired carat weight, and charts for calculating prices of 6-10 carat stones. Cuellar explains why it is difficult to determine what a diamond of a certain color, clarity, and carat should cost without a lot of other information.
   
   There are questionnaires to aid in finding a qualified jeweler and picking a suitable stone. The author highly recommends "bonded" diamonds, warns against the limitations of lab grading reports and buying on the internet, describes enhancement treatments to look out for, and introduces us to synthetic diamonds. Chapter 5, "Tricks of the Trade", details some common ploys that jewelers use to deceive customers as well as some that customers use to scam jewelers or unjustly accuse them of theft. Presenting the dangers of the diamond business from the jeweler's point of view provides interesting insight.
   
   A "Will You Marry Me?" chapter gives trepidatious men advice on how to pop the question -and when not to. This seemed to me like a lot of self-righteous advice on finding Miss or Mr. Right. Fred Cuellar is unquestionably a romantic and a talented salesman. He likes the idea of "true love" and the idea of a diamond as an expression of such. The book has 11 chapters. Those that I did not mention are shorter and perhaps less essential: ring settings, common myths about diamonds, tips on cleaning, advice on trade-ins and selling your diamond. Carat size charts, a glossary, Q&A, and more are found in the Appendixes.
   
   "How to Buy a Diamond" offers some helpful advice that I have not seen in other consumer diamond guides. On the other hand, no retailer will ace the jeweler questionnaire, no one recognizes color typing, and you will not find diamonds with the kind of "bonded" warranty that the book describes. Fred Cuellar is not a disinterested party. He sells (bonded) diamonds, and he hopes you will buy from him. I found "How to Buy a Diamond" a mixed bag: useful insight, strong opinion, and thinly veiled sales pitch. I liked enough to recommend the book, but sometimes it must be taken with a grain of salt. "How to Buy a Diamond" does not have photos, but its companion web site does. If you would like more detail about diamond cuts, enhancements, and how to detect a fake, including how to examine a diamond though a loupe, "Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide" is more hands-on and impartial.



4. If you don't know the 4 C's about diamonds, certification, etc. you will be "totally" unprepared to deal with jewlery stores and wind up paying way, way...... too much money for a diamond.
   
   This is a great book. Get a fair deal for your loved one. Get this book!!!



5. I ordered this book before a major diamond purchase. I was able to read it quickly and easily. I was impressed by how well organized and effective it was. I believe that this book prepared me well.
   
   The author provides plenty of support for his clear recommendations. I was suprized at how well he used just enough detail without bogging down. He even has included an extensive diamond price list.
   
   I can't emphasize enough how much the organization of the book made it easier to pick up the necessary information.
   
   Highest recommendation

1 comments about The Amber Book: Ake Dahlstrom and Leif Brost (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones).

1. Buy this book, and when you can stop drooling at the pictures, call me and we will talk.

   Gorgeous pictures, worth the cost of the book by themselves. A wide ranging course of study on the basics of the Amber trade and a comprehensive scientific primer on the nature of Amber, are a wonderful bonus.

   The book also includes several methods for determining if what you have is real or synthetic Amber, as well as a solid discussion of the various types of fakes that are on the market, and how to spot them.

   I sell Amber and Jet, both of which are fossil "gemstones" and I always recommend this book to my customers. A well informed customer is the best way to keep honest merchants in business, since they are unlikely to pass up quality work in favor of the "bargain" that is really a fake.

   I recomend the book "Jet Jewelry and Ornaments" by Helen Muller for a similar overview on Jet. I can also recommend the Dorling and Kimberly (DK Books) Gemstone book for an overview of gemstones in general.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This book is an invaluable resource for any business or collector dealing in silver (coin, silverplate, or sterling). This was a gift I purchased for a collector's library and the third reprint I've purchased over the years. A must-have book for the silver research library.



2. I got this book through inter-library loan on the advice of an online silver seller and hobbyist? expert? We are restoring an 1800s farmhouse in New York state, and have found various bits of silver and pottery and other things. Everything is quite worn and dirty from being underground for decades. I did a number of online searches but it was this book which enabled me to identify, just in the course of one afternoon, two pieces of cutlery -- one old silver, one less old silverplate, and be fairly secure in the ID because this book tells a bit about some of the marks, such as their locale.
   
   No resource is infinite. This book shows many, many marks, and the text tells of the history and relationships among many of the manufacturers. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone else doing research. Don't forget your loupe or other strong magnifier!



3. This is a good book for American Hallmarks BUT, it is extremely out-of-date. Also, many entries do not have a picture of the mark, making identification difficult. There must be a better book out there somewhere!



4. This is a "must have" for anyone who collects, sells or loves sterling silver.



5. this is the book to have if you are an antique silver collector. Wonderful addition to my silver library

No comments about Romance of the Golconda Diamonds.