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This book is an average to good guide on vintage jewelry books. It focuses heavily on rhinestone, crystal, and aurora borealis jewelry. There are a few interesting sections that I have not seen in other guide books: christmas and holiday costume jewelry, big & bold with focus on oversized vintage necklace pendants, copper section, enamel flower pin brooches. Be forewarned that many of the vintage jewelry is not attributed to specific jewelry artist or signed. If vintage jewelry designers are important to you, as they are to me then you will have to take the prices listed for the items in this book with a grain of salt. Signed vintage jewelry fairs better prices than unsigned works. Many of the pieces are from the author's personal collection and the prices listed do not seem in line with other guide books such as Warmans and Antique Trader. Pretty and detailed pictures but be advised to not use this as a price guide. Use merely as a resource reference book. -HHRead full review
The first section of the book is very informative, it gives information about different stone cuts, care instructions and jewelry makers timeline for jewelry dating. Very good images for the remainder of the book very informative. Price is excellent for what is being received.
Verified purchase: Yes
This book is truly a must-have book for anyone who is new to Costume Jewelry collecting. Notice I did not say new to Vintage Jewelry collecting. While some of the book is focused on Vintage pieces, the majority of the book discusses pieces from the 50's and forward. If that is your delight, then this book is great. The photography is very very good. Each item is presented in a manner that allows the reader to clearly identify it and see if it matches ones own piece. One thing lacking is photos of the actual jewelers mark. That lack however is shared in general among most of the books I have been privileged to read. Another thing lacking is an index. Once again, this is a lack shared with most jewelry collecting books. There are several small sections in the book of general interest to novice collectors that are just fun and informative but not really related to specific pieces. There is a short but sweet one page jewelry designer history list - in my opinion every jewelry book should have a huge designer list. (Nearly every designer on her list produced costume jewelry well into the 1970's or later!) Having said that, you can see now why I say this is a great book for the costume jewelry collector of today as opposed to the collector of vintage jewelry of yesteryears. What she displays is wonderful, and well described and well-presented. She presents sections of jewelry not normally divided out in other like books. One example is an entire section on Men's Jewelry. Other examples are sections on Gold tone jewelry and Silver tone jewelry. There is also a section on Avon Jewelry. If you want to see color photographs well presented you will probably really appreciate this book! The prices are questionable - it says updated to 2010, however, I feel that a shrewd shopper would be able to find most pieces in this book at a third of the listed values, maybe less. If displayed in an Antique Shop setting some of the items may bring those prices.Read full review
The book is poor. It does not have an index with the manufacturers's names and the presentation of the jewels has no method. If you need to found one specific manufacturer or jewels, it will be very difficult. It isn't an advantageous book for collectors.
I am incredulous at the values the authors assigned to the pieces pictured. They are so inflated that the value of the book in as far as a reference book is nil. What a joke-this is already in a pile for Goodwill.
This is an extremely good reference book. It gives very clear pictures which helps in identifying jewelry. I would definitely buy this book again.
A good resource for the more rare pieces of costume jewelry up to 1980. Excellent photography. If you like reading about the jewelry, you will like this book. If you're looking for a quick pricing reference, this is not the book for you.
The book was fine. It is amazing with each book we buy that there are so many different pieces of costume jewelry.
It is pictorial and with great descripition of each piece with a price to follow. Would be helpful to any new collector.
This book covers the basics, and although a bit outdated, it still gives a good overview of costume jewelry for the beginning Collector.