Book Description
Thanks to Antiques Roadshow, the highest rated, long running prime-time series on PBS®, with millions of viewers a week, we are a nation seeking fortune in our attics. And thanks to Antiques Roadshow Primer, with 572,000 copies in print, we are highly antiques-literate. But there's another audience out there, too, showing up ever more frequently on Antiques Roadshow--those obsessive, bitten-by-the-bug collectors. Bring on the Maltese Falcon posters!
Celebrating the collectible--that 20th-century object that brings with it less monetary value than passion, nostalgia, quirky appeal, and just plain pleasure--Antiques Roadshow Collectibles focuses on 12 major areas that inspire both the thrill of the chase and the thrill of discovery: furniture, photographs, posters and illustration art, costume jewelry and wristwatches, dolls, toys, advertising memorabilia, sports, glass and pottery, and more. A guide to value rather than price, it is packed with a wealth of information that will help turn any interested flea market fiend into a first-class collector. From the innovative design of Bertoia chairs to the high-quality crafting of costume jewely to the surprising variety of PEZ dispensers, here are 416 pages brimming with information. Bound into the book is a 32-page full-color section, while hundreds of black-and-white photographs illustrate every chapter. There are Antiques Roadshow discoveries, tips from experts and appraisers, the steps to becoming a focused collector--even how to use pieces without compromising their value. After all, isn't it more fun to eat off the Fiestaware?
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Read ~ Great for collectors.......2007-03-15
If you are into collecting this is the book for you. It has lots of interesting facts and discussions about why people collect things and how to get started if you're thinking about a collection.
It doesn't talk about EVERYTHING though, so if you are really into a specific collectible you would be better off with a book that addresses that collectible.
Not much help for a serious collector or dealer.......2005-10-30
The scope of the book is too broad and the depth of the topics considered is too shallow. Complex collectibles such as costume jewelry or art glass are given a few pages of attention, but the book tries to cover too many areas at the expense of giving adequate attention to any area. If you want a very, very basic overview, history, and details about popular collectibles, you may find this book of some use. However, your money would probably be more wisely spent on books that deal with your specific topics of interest. It's fun reading, but definitely not a "complete guide to collecting...".
Antiques Roadshow Collectibles by Prisant.......2004-01-03
This work covers practically every important aspect of
antique collection and evaluation. For instance, the authors
point toward important evaluative criteria for antiques
including overall appearance, condition, finish, color,
functionality, attribution, history of ownership and many
other important aspects which indicate value. In addition,
the author quantifies value in terms of sentiment,
historical significance, aesthetic value, intrinsic value,
celebrity status value and market value. The author
provides examples of collectible items; such as,
- Advertising (cigar bands, liquor bottles, ale, bottle caps...)
- Sports (signed baseballs, autographs, bats, gloves, cards...)
- Toys (Tonka, cast iron, trains, boats, robots i.e. Mr.Machine)
- Dolls (mix of saw dust and glue and composite dolls
- Watches (movement, jewels, incabloc shields, caliber,
hands, crystal and grades from factory new to average
- Movie memorabilia
This book is excellent for a potential collector getting into
the antiques business for the first time.
Absolutely Excellent.......2003-08-01
I am a bit of a novice in this area and have been trying to determine what my collection is worth..as well as what to buy...this is a terrific book...I have found a number of areas that can help me do a better job of deciding what to buy...and what not.
Highly recommend
Book Description
Tracing the history of costume jewelry from ancient times to the present day, and explaining how changing fashions, social developments, and the discovery of new materials have influenced and inspired designers, DK Collector's Guide: Costume Jewelry is exciting, comprehensive, and easy to use. Written by world-renowned antiques expert Judith Miller, the book offers more than 1,500 collectible pieces in catalog-style, including special sections on 25 major designers such as Joseff of Hollywood, Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Schiaparelli and Dior, and offers priceless tips on what to look for when buying costume jewelry.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Photography, High-End Emphasis.......2007-01-11
This book is a good one to have in your costume jewelry library. It begins with interesting background on costume jewelry through the ages followed by twenty in-depth designer profiles with example pieces. An interesting feature of these first designer profiles is the "Good, Better, Best" designations for examples of the same type of piece, such as necklaces or pins. The third section is entitled the "A-Z of Designers and Makers," which includes less in-depth information on the company or designer with photos of pieces. Interspersed among the A-Z designers are sections entitled "Hot Collecting Field," which deal with topics such as Christmas tree pins, Scottish agate jewelry, Bakelite, Coro duettes, etc. It took me a while to figure out this interruption in the A-Z organization. One surprise in the A-Z designers is that DeLizza & Elster (Juliana) is not included. The book concludes with a "Gallery of Unsigned Pieces" with some rather hodgepodge categories, such as "Miscellaneous Pins." The index is good but alphabetized by designer last name in contrast to other sections of the book which may be alphabetized by designer first name. The jewelry included in this book definitely leans toward the high end. In addition, values seem to me to be inflated in relation to eBay averages. The photography is beautiful. I would recommend buying a used copy for your costume jewelry library.
Great Book, Lots of Information!.......2006-09-08
I really like this book because the is alot if information on alot of different makers. The pictures are clear.There are alot of designers I have never heard of so this is great for me. I'm far from an expert and not a beginner so this book is good for me!
Buy it!
Judith Miller Costume Jewelry.......2005-07-24
Very good basic review of higher end costume jewelry with great photos, bold layout.
Great Book for Beginners and Experienced Collectors.......2005-05-14
This book was one of my first books on costume jewelry, and it is so easy to learn from. I know, because I have an online vintage jewelry site, "Enchantment Vintage Costume Jewelry" and I still reference this book frequently.
The best thing about this book, besides the clear & colorful eye candy, is that it gives a rundown on different jewelry eras--from Victorian through 1980s glitz! There are aslo sections on a great many of the most collectible designers and the characteristics of their jewelry. It also includes a section on unsigned jewelry, which is good because most costume jewelry was unsigned.
One of the most helpful aspects is that the jewelry is dated, so that the reader can learn to start assigning dates to the different styles of jewelry. You can't go wrong with this one.
I also recommend "How to Be a Jewelry Detective," by Jeanenne Bell.
Good quick reference.......2004-10-22
A beautiful book that covers an exaustive list of designers/makers. It's great for quick reference of designer bios and their notable pieces, or simply for enjoying the high quality photos. However, I find this book inadequate in terms of in-depth information on period/designer indentification based on material, craftmanship or markings. As a relatively new collector of vintage jewelry, I find it a good place to start, but it's by no means an all-in-one type of reference book.
Book Description
This book provides beginning collectors with friendly one-on-one advice on how to begin a collection and how to recognize good quality costume jewelry. Background information for almost 130 different manufacturers, including the author's recommendations on which pieces from each designer are the most collectible, are provided. Over 750 color photographs of costume jewelry that is within the means of most collectors are featured. There are also tips on how to upgrade a collection by selling to dealers, selling on eBay, and trading with friends; tips on how to catalog a collection using a spread sheet or a notebook; and tips on repairing, storing, and cleaning jewelry. A glossary of jewelry terms and an index of patent and design numbers round out the book. 2004 values. REVIEW: This book is a companion to the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass, 9th Edition, but can also stand alone as a handy reference guide to take along on your glass searches. Thousands of patterns, from Absentee Dragon to Zip Zip, are included, with all available colors and values listed.
Customer Reviews:
Absolute Beginners.......2007-05-23
Brief Description of Book
This book lives up to its name and is a great gift for someone you may know who is just getting hooked on buying vintage costume jewelry. It would make a great companion gift to a fabulous vintage piece. This book Collecting 101 is a bit basic for absolute beginners only.
The core thesis of the book is G-U-I-D-E an acronym that stands for:
* Is the piece in Good condition?
* Do U Like it?
* Is it a good investment?
* Is the piece designer signed and is it well designed?
* Are there extras that make it more interesting?
These questions are posed to help the buyer select good pieces at whatever price point they are starting to collect at. The author explains her GUIDE concept quite concisely and uses it throughout the book.
The author suggests four designers that beginners should collect Trifari, Coro, Kramer and Weiss. She recounts a little history about each of the companies, shows photos of their marks and recommends pieces to purchase. For example she suggests Trifari from the 50's and 60's because it is plentiful, available in excellent condition and not too expensive. The author uses a lot of photos to illustrate these sections
The next portion of the book is arranged the alphabetically and cameos 130 designers. Each profile contains a little company history, marks, signature look of a designer and recommendations of pieces to buy.
In the next chapter there is a section called "Marked by Style" on identifying unmarked jewelry. A little more than a beginner skill in my opinion but an interesting section to ponder nonetheless. She focuses 75% of her energy on Juliana, the remaining 25% on Eisenberg, Dorothy Bauer, Hattie Carnegie, Goldette, Haskell, Hollycraft, Sarah Coventry, Schauer, Schreiner and Weiss.
The remaining chapters cover:
* Upgrading your collection
* Repairing and Cleaning
* Cataloging a Collection
* Storing and Insuring a Collection
Over all the advice is quite sound, the G-U-I-D-E principle should be followed it will really help anyone avoid unfocused buying.
Quantity of Illustrations:
There are more than 750 total illustrations in Collecting Costume Jewelry 101. There are color photographs, original advertisements in color and black and white. The photos are clear and focused.
Quality of Illustrations:
Comments: The items selected are not riveting I think that they are pedestrian. Maybe that is because this book is pitched at beginners. However I feel that the selections should be inspirational and exciting. This is why the top shelf pieces in a book such as "A Tribute to America" are always fun to look at. I felt the items pictured were what the author could get permission to use. Which leads me to the inclusion of Christmas tree jewelry! There are too many Christmas trees in this book. And I like Christmas tree jewelry.
I have one very pointed example that illustrates my low score on the illustrations. The author devoted 3 pages to Miriam Haskell. In my opinion these are not good representative pieces, they are what was available to include. There is one pair of beaded earrings, a necklace with gold chain and a wood pendant that looks like it was made in shop class to me, several strings of beads, a pearl necklace that is not photographed close enough to generate any excitement and a pair of gilded earrings. I may sound harsh here but the wow factor of buying Miriam Haskell is not expressed in these photos. Feel free to disagree!
As a final note on the illustrations, I am reviewing the first edition of this book. According to the publisher Collector Books a second edition should be available soon. They promise 200 new photos and updates on the price guidelines that are included in the first edition.
Quantity of Information
Range of Information offered:
For the most part this is a good concise book to check for information. If you are looking for in depth information on a particular designer you should probably look at a more specialized book. For example there are entire books on Haskell, KJL, D &E, to name only a few designers.
Is the information thorough?
The information provided seems to be thorough and remember this is a book for beginners.
Values Listed (Prices) Yes
Are they helpful or realistic? The prices are being updated for a new edition
The prices are based on what one might hope to get in an e-bay auction.
Comments: Based on the prices sometimes I want to be buying and other times I want to be on the selling end of the transaction.
User Friendly:
Is the book easy to read and follow? yes
Is there a table of contents and index? yes
Is information easy to find? yes
Is this book a must have? Only for your friends who are just beginning to collect costume jewelry. I think Costume Jewelry 202 is a vastly superior book and I would recommend that (again).
Overall comments
If I had this book many years ago I would have avoided buying stuff I just didn't need. I would have made wiser purchases and would have a better collection today.
Wonderful Vintage Costume Jewelry beginner guide.......2007-04-02
I actually bought her 2nd book (202) before buying this one (101) and while I treasure my 202 guide much more than this first one (because I'm not a beginner) - I think it is a fabulous book to have for those starting out. With a lot of fake WEISS and other great designers' jewelry being reproduced and sold as the real thing today (especially on eBay), it's a good guide to have that shows a fair amount and variation of these favorite popular designers' pieces. This will help the beginner collector possibly know a fake when they see it. Not all that shines and sparkles means it is the real thing or that it's collectible. I believe both her books should be bought together but the 202 Guide is definitely the very best there is (because it shows so many patents). I particularly like the fact that both of these books are done in sturdy paperback because if they were hardbound, they would be so heavy given how big they are. Lots and lots of colorful pictures! Well done!!
JUST LOVE THIS BOOK.......2007-04-01
Found this book to be very helpful at my jewelry shows. Has lots of pictures and information on vintage jewelry and numerous designers. Does not go into great detail, but gives enough good information to be helpful. Because the information is listed in alpha order, my customers find it helpful when looking up specific designers or styles. This book is great for beginners and old collectors alike.
My Costume jewelry reference book.......2007-03-16
This book along with the "202" book by the same author are "must have"s for costume jewelry collectors, buyers and sellers. I can't rate them highly enough.
Great overview of costume jewelry.......2007-02-25
I learned many of the basics overtime and searching the internet. It is great to have so much information in one book. The photos are excellent and I would recommend this to anyone starting a collection. Great do's and don'ts.
Book Description
The best-selling guide to the most popular and collectible jewelry from the 19th and 20th centuries just got better!
Now in its third edition, Warman's® Jewelry is in full-color and completely revised and updated. Collectors will find detailed descriptions and up-to-date pricing information for more than 1,000 pieces of antique, period, and vintage collectible jewelry on the U.S. market today. Covers everything from Victorian, Art Noveau, Edwardian, Costume, and Bakelite to Scandinavian, Mexican, Novelty, and more. Readers will learn fascinating, informative, and valuable background information about each category of jewelry. More than 600 colorful photographs grace the pages of this invaluable price and identification guide.
Christie Romero is a historian of antique and vintage jewelry, as well as a certified gemologist, lecturer, instructor, consultant, and collector.
• Fully revised and updated edition, now full-color
• Features more than 1,000 pieces of antique, period, and vintage collectible jewelry
• Written by jewelry expert and collector, Christie Romero
Customer Reviews:
Great Reference Material.......2005-02-28
As on online vintage jewelry dealer, Atlanta vintage jewelry dot com, Warman's book was one of the first in my reference library. Sure, it has some faults, but not to the degree to make the book 'useless'. I used to spend my evenings in bed reading through the pages, getting familiar with the vast array of information.
The book includes excellent pictures with clarity, and lots of them. It covers jewelry designs from various eras, beginning in the mid-1700's through present day.
Many people in the vintage jewelry circles may refer to Warman's as the 'bible' of vintage jewelry as it also covers both fine and costume.
In spite of its somewhat unreliable index referred to by others, this hefty book is well worth the purchase price. I'm glad for mine.
Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.
Drool . . ........2004-08-15
Over the years, Warman's guides to antiques have established a reputation for reliability. This volume is the third (2002) edition of their jewelry guide. It's lavishly illustrated with examples from many styles, eras, and price ranges. It provides a feast for the eyes and a lot of useful information as well.
Romero divides the material according to time period and, when appropriate, according to style and material and country of origin. She gives concise summaries of the essentials of each and links jewelry fashions to world events and clothing styles. Sometimes her discussions are a little too concise for this curious reader ( to be fair, the book is a guide, not an in-depth treatment), but she provides a full bibliography at the end for those who want to dig deeper. There's also a glossary of jewelry-related terminology and a section on marks.
According to the introduction, this edition reflects the increasing globalization of the marketplace and the influence of internet buying. Romero has expanded coverage of Scandinavian jewelry and added discussions of Neo-Renaissance and Beaux-Arts jewelry. Every illustration is in color, and the captions are fully detailed. Several reviewers of earlier editions mentioned that there were problems with the index. These problems seem to have been corrected in this edition.
Any problems I have with this book are mostly quibbles. The author makes a point of linking changes in jewelry fashions to changes in clothing and in social conditions. I wish that she had put in a few period illustrations showing the fashions and the jewelry worn with them. This is probably a little out of the reach of an identification and value guide, but it would have been a nice touch. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful resource for jewelry collectors and, in fact for anyone who thinks they might like to become one.
A visual feast for jewelry lovers.......2004-04-10
"Warman's Jewelry," 3rd edition, by Christie Romero, is subtitled "A Fully Illustrated Identification and Price Guide to 18th, 19th, & 20th Century Fine and Costume Jewelry." The book is full of fascinating and useful features, among them an extensive bibliography, glossary, index, and chronology. There are also a number of appendices, including a hallmark identification guide and a guide to the marks and names on Mexican silver jewelry and metalware.
The 272-page book is full of hundreds of clear, beautiful full color photos of jewelry. Each photo is accompanied by essential information on each piece depicted. The items shown represent a huge price span; in this book you'll see a $336,000.00 gem-encrusted platinum bracelet, a $10.00 brooch shaped like a poodle, and lots in between. Many types of jewelry are pictured: necklaces, cufflinks, earrings, lockets, scarf pins, etc. Included are pieces representing a broad variety of artistic approaches: whimsical, elegant, gaudy, graceful, fierce, futuristic.
Also fascinating is the broad range of materials covered: diamonds, emeralds, opals, turquoise, gold, coral, agate, wood, rhinestones, plastic, brass, porcelain, etc. The photography is accompanied by an interesting, well-written text. Jewelry production is placed in historical and cultural context. There are also special sections devoted to jewelry of particular cultures (Native American, Mexican, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish). Interesting trends such as Victorian-era black jewelry and "eye miniatures" are also highlighted. Overall, this is an endlessly interesting and stunningly beautiful reference work.
AN OLDER PERSON 'S VIEW OF THE SUBJECT.......2000-02-20
AS AN OLDER PERSON, I HAVE 'LIVED THROUGH' MANY OF THE FADS WHICH JEWELRY MANUFACTURERS REFLECT. I STARTED COLLECTING JEWELRY, AND DECIDED TO WRITE A RESOURCE BOOK FOR THE NOVICE. WELL, WHEN I READ MS. ROMERO'S BOOK, I FOUND THAT IT WAS SO INCLUSIVE THAT IN ORDER TO FILL IN THE GAPS, AS IT WERE, MY WORK IS REALLY CUT OUT FOR ME. THIS BOOK IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO ANY JEWELRY COLLECTOR'S REFERENCE LIBRARY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE SPACE TO REVIEW IT.
warmans jewelry.......2000-01-06
A great book, with lots of valuble information, but the index, is not accurate.this makes it very frustrating to look things up....warmans should issue partial refunds to the dedicated customers who purchased the book...
Book Description
Antique jewelry has long been considered the perfect collectible. Now, this professional-level collector's guide, completely revised and enlarged, offers a unique pictorial review of the world of antique jewelry. Updated with over 4,000 black-and-white photos, this reference has no peer in terms of comprehensiveness, quality, and usability.
Two hundred years of jewelry -- from 1750 to 1950 -- are represented here, with a special emphasis on nineteenth-century effects. In addition, for the first time, an informative section on popular and valuable Retro jewelry -- from the late 1930s to the late 1940s -- is included to provide a complete picture of the wide range of antique jewelry.
"Not only does it monitor the market, The Official Identification and Price Guide to Antique Jewelry serves as an invaluable reference work for over 200 years of jewelry.
Book Description
This book is the first book of its kind, concentrating not only on costume jewelry, but also on those pieces that are unmarked or unsigned by the manufacturer. Over 1,000 photographs featuring 3,500 pieces of antique and collectible costume jewelry highlight this beautiful book. Brown carefully illustrates and discusses such details as the types of metal finishes used, the different cuts of stones, and stone setting techniques. Easy to read charts covering time lines, fashion dates, and jewelry introductions are provided for ease in identification of pieces. All photographs are indexed for easier research, and a helpful glossary has been included. 2000 values. AUTHORBIO: Marcia Brown published her first book, Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry, in 2000. She is the host and co-writer of the award-winning Venture Entertainment books-on-tape series Hidden Treasures: A Collector's Guide to Antique Vintage Jewelry. She is a frequent contributor to the Vintage Fashion Costume Jewelry newsletter. An antique and vintage jewelry historian, lecturer, and collector, Brown also provides private consultations for many dealers, mall owners, and collectors. REVIEW: This book truly "sparkles" (like the author's name) and would make an ideal gift for costume jewelry fans. Thousands of jewelry items are illustrated in over 1,000 color photographs and are complemented by captions that include descriptions and values.
Customer Reviews:
Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry.......2007-01-04
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.
Review from a buyer in Australia.......2005-09-14
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.
Unsigned and Unsung beauties of jewelry!.......2005-08-27
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!
Basic Knowledge.......2005-07-20
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.
Excellent Resource for Vintage Jewelry Buffs.......2004-11-18
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.
Book Description
Costume Jewelry, A Practical Handbook Value Guide is the first book to provide information regarding the investment potential of one of today's hottest collecting fields. The breadth of the industry is represented by different types of costume jewelry - defined as fashion jewelry - both domestic and foreign. It provides comprehensive information on a broad range of jewelry, emphasizing the more common, rather than the unique and rare, types of jewelry which most collectors are likely to encounter in the market place. Dealers as well as collectors will enjoy the more than 2,200 pieces featured in full color, and appreciate the wealth of information provided. The author explains the ever-changing market, value scales, and investment tips, as well as hints on cleaning, repairing, displaying, and storing jewelry. This beautiful, full-color book will be a welcome addition to all collectors' libraries. 2002 values. REVIEW: Over 2,000 pieces of American, Austrian, Czechoslovakian, German, Italian, Oriental, and Spanish costume jewelry are featured in this book. Besides the numerous international companies, there are over 100 American manufacturers with background information. Unmarked pieces are given coverage, as well as gold filled and silver jewelry, brass, copper, pewter, tin, plastic, and beaded jewelry.
Customer Reviews:
Another Book on Costume Jewelry AAA++++++.......2007-09-13
I was very pleased with this book!! It covered many jewelry manufacturers that had not been mentioned in any other books. It's very useful to me. I sell vintage, high-quality costume jewelry. The only draw-back, and it is small, is that some of the black jewelry doesn't show as well as it would have on a lighter background. Great Job!!!
Laura
City Scavenger Vintage
BEST EVER.......2006-12-09
Of all my jewelry reference books I own, I use this one the most. It has a wide range, good photos, practical information on the manufacture. I wish I could find one like it with current prices. It's great!
Informative and helpful book.......2006-07-22
This book is one of the bes t for covering the different makers and I especially enjoyed the charts and guidelines for buyers.
Good book for a casual collector.......2004-12-08
This book provides a short introductory section on cleaning buying selling etc and then write ups on different jewelry companies. The introduction is good for people with little information about caring for jewelry: displaying, cleaning, storing and repairing. It is sometimes humorous, as when Rezazadeh describes the meticulous procedure he goes through to clean his jewelry and then recalls discovering that his wife cleaned her jewelry by scrubbing it with a tooth brush and then blow drying it. There is also a bit about apraising and the supply and demand at work. I doubt that this is a book for dealers, because they presumably already have good resources and knowledge.
The body of the book has short entries on different jewelry companies. About a page is dedicated to each, but there are sometimes two to a page and sometimes four or five pages to a widely spread company. Each company gets a short write up and photo of some jewelry pieces. The photos are good, but obviously not full page. They are enough to oo and ah over. Each photo has a caption describing the jewelry and giving an estimate for price it would cost. Companies are grouped into European and imported depending on where they were located. There are also sections on unmarked jewelry. These are grouped by how they are made (enamel, Austrian crystal, plastic, etc.). Since there is no company these sections have more pictures to text.
If you are into vintage including jewelry then this could be a fun book. Also if you design jewelry then the multitude of pictures here can be a good resource for ideas and inspiration. The pictures are the highlight of this book.
Good commentary, poor photos........2001-12-02
Overall, the commentary in this book in wonderful. But the photography leaves something to be desired. Some of the photos are too dark to be very beneficial in identifying the items.
Many are just not up to the quality which one would expect in a publication of this topic. Where's the sparkle in the stones? Why is the metal so dull looking? I'm happy to have the book, but found the photography a big disappointment.
Book Description
Collectible Costume Jewelry simplifies the understanding of historical and social influences which will aid in identification. All the major designers and manufacturers like Haskell, Coro, Eisenberg, and Trifari are featured. There are dates given and examples of the jewelry for which the designer/manufacturer is best known. A time chart shows what was in style during each period of time as do the fascinating vintage ads. There are examples from the Victorian era to the present, even featuring recent pieces by designers such as Anne Klein and Joan Rivers. There is a helpful glossary of jewelry terms with picture examples. Nearly 600 full-color pictures arranged by subjects. Current values, marks, and detailed descriptions. 2003 values. REVIEW: This book addresses all kinds of questions about costume jewelry - how do you know if a piece is worth anything even though it is signed? How do know if it is rare? What about fakes? Is it a reproduction? How do I take care of the jewelry once I start collecting it? What do I do if the item is broken? This book addresses all of these topics and more.
Customer Reviews:
Collectible Costume Jewelry: Identification & Values.......2007-05-04
Wonderful photographs wide range of designers as well as some unsigned pieces. The only issue I have with the book is the value guide is a bit out dated. (book released in 1997! Almost vintage it self!)
But it will give you a good idea of a value range. The market goes up and down and I am certian this was written when it was up, with today's gas issue the same pieces do and will sell for much less, as I have seen on eBay. The Florenza pieces in the book have a low value and I've seen the prices so much higher than what is marked this book. It does give you a good idea though.
There is a great varity of types from rhinestone necklaces to bakelite clips to compacts and a few copper pieces. Demis, full parures, broochs, bracelets.. Very well done book.
Apparently I got a "Library" copy that was dog eared and marked up inside, but all in all I am happy with this book and suggest it to all collectors.
Review from a buyer in Australia.......2005-09-14
Very informative book, well laid out and beautifully illustrated.
My copy is in hardback and was an excellent buy for the price. The book identifies all the famous and many little known costume jewellery makers and their marks/signatures so it is a very good buy for anyone starting to collect vintage costume jewellery. The only disappointment for me is that it basically only covers USA jewellery with little mention of Victorian, Deco, Czech etc from Europe and Britain.
A Great Reference Book!!.......2005-02-27
I like this book for a number of reasons. I like the way it's organized by types of jewelry and not by designer like so many other books I own. I like the graphic illustrations of the types of cuts and the lengths necklaces come in and how to 'name' them accordingly. I like the old costume jewelry advertisements at the beginng of the book, giving one a sense of the era.
As a dealer of vintage costume jewelry, this book is a great addition to my collection. Buy it if you have an interest in vintage jewelry.
Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.
This book was not what I hoped it would be...........2002-04-24
I am new to collecting costume jewelry so I bought this book thinking it would help me identify older pieces. It confused me more than anything else.
This book has beautiful photos which have been very helpful to me. However, the author is vague on alot of things.
She does talk about the differnt era's of jewelry (i.e. victorian, art deco etc.) but she is not clear on how to date them or how to tell when they were made. Just not enough information or details if you really want to idetify your great finds!
I still don't know how to tell the difference between Bakelite, celluloid, lucite or regular plastic!
Great book if you just want alot of pretty pictures!!
A good book for beginners........2001-07-10
This book is mostly a picture book and the pictures are excellent. It has a Designer/Manufacturer chart toward the front of the book. This is a good help for beginners. There are some cautions about copies of signed jewelry, some tips about cleaning/storing a collection, a glossary, and drawings of some marks and signatures. All in all it's a nice book for beginners, it's strongest point being the many fine color illustrations. Another interesting feature is the section showing old jewelry advertisements.
Average customer rating:
- Not the best, but not much out there
- Not the Definitive Guide We were Promised
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Sweetheart Jewelry and Collectibles (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Value Guide)
Nicholas D. Snider
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Antique Sweetheart Jewelry (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
ASIN: 0887408346 |
Book Description
Military sweetheart jewelry was important on the home front during the World Wars I and II as mementos of the service men who were abroad. With their emblems of American and foreign military branches and rank, and patriotic devices clearly displayed, these lockets, bracelets, wings of love, In-service pins, "Remember Pearl Harbor" items. Victory pins, cards, pillows, banners, necklaces, and compacts became keepsakes representing loved ones and a display of patriotism. This book is published just in time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion and end of World War II, one of the world's most patriotic eras. Nearly 200 beautiful color photographs of over 1,000 pieces with explanatory text and a price guide bring these items to life. The variety that was made astounding. These keepsakes are collected today to protect small pieces of history.
Customer Reviews:
Not the best, but not much out there.......2004-02-15
I am a WWII British sweetheart collector. This book is known as "The Black Book". He also wrote another, which I reccomend, called "Antique Sweetheart Jewelry" (the red book). Both are good additions to any sweetheart collectors library. Now to the book. It has great photos. They are probably the books most valuable asset. You will be able to find things more by the photos than the descriptions or the sections. The problems with this book are numerous. At least one color plate is mirrored. Several pins were photographed upside down. The prices are not even close to accurate. If they were I would be a millionare. (but this is a commomn problemn with any antique price guide book, if you want to find out the current price of things, go to eBay or a militaria fair) He also has many, many pins in the wrong category. British war relief are misidentified and put in with international sweethearts. Some WWI are in mixed in with WWII. The book, while an excellent tool, is far from perfect and should not be taken as the difinitive voice in sweetheart collecting. I would love to see Mr. Snider do another book and focus *only* on sweetheart jewelry. Leave out the ephemera, compacts, hankies and all the other bits and bobs he tries to jam in this book. This is a complicated type of jewelry to collect. Anyone with the brains and money enough to put a new book on the market, that is accurate will have the collectors standing in line for it. If you are considering it, buy it. You will benefit from the good parts of it and just take the rest with a grain of salt.
Not the Definitive Guide We were Promised.......2001-04-02
Nick Snider's book has been credited with bringing hundreds of new collectors to the field of sweetheart jewelry. As an avid homefront jewelry collector, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was disappointed to find page after page of photographs with hardly any description or even identification! World War I jewelry was mixed together in the same photo with jewelry from World War II. Pins from American war relief organizations were listed under "foreign". Short essays at the beginning of each chapter were informative, but hard to relate to the pieces displayed with them. In my judgement, homefront and sweetheart jewelry collectors will still be looking for that "definitive guide" to our avocation.
Book Description
This book is based on the author's informative and interesting news column that has run in antique publications across the country since 1997. These articles are presented here, along with photographs of hundreds of pieces of vintage costume jewelry with descriptions, designer names, and current collector values. A section on costume jewelry on the Internet is also included, which profiles in detail, the best costume jewelery sites on the web, including biographies of each dealer and a synopsis of what makes the sites special. There are also hints for those wishing to sell their jewelry at auction. There are even vintage costume jewelry advertisements to add pizazz to the book. Finally, an informative section on where to buy replacement stones, how to restring beads and pearls, how to repair costume jewelry, and how to join vintage costume jewelry clubs rounds out the book. 2004 values.
Customer Reviews:
Good jewelry collectors book!.......2007-08-21
This book covers a host of costume jewelry, better than average photos of the manufacturer's signatures or maker's marks (very important if you are a collector!), along with good descriptions and some pricing information. Included in the back of the book are copies of some of the original advertisements for some of the jewelry. Good stuff! I'd recommend this book if you are a collector.
Valuable Costume Jewelry Guide!.......2007-04-02
Wonderful pictures! I like the way she has some jewelry shown under designer headings while she also shows groups of brooches, necklaces, etc., with various designers together. I especially like the beginning that shows the backs of designer pieces; something you don't get to see a lot in these jewelry guides. It's one of those books you take out on the porch on a nice day and go through page by page from beginning to end (for me, it was like a kid in a candy store), and by the time you get to the end, you feel much more knowledgeable about costume vintage jewelry!
Haphazard Organization.......2007-01-10
The jewelry in this guide is mainly from the author's and apparently her friends' collections. Quite a bit of the jewelry is unidentified by company. The book is strangely organized beginning with around a dozen companies, unalphabetized, followed by sections under the headings of "Quality," "Fruits & Vegetables," "Bakelite, Lucite & Other Plastics," "Parures & Demi- Parures," "Necklaces," "Bracelets," "Brooches & Pins," "Earrings," "Rings & Things," "Pebble Jewelry," and "Guilloche." Under these headings there is no discernible organization. The book concludes with a short section on contemporary jewelry, general information on reproductions and care and repair, thirteeen pages of vintage ads, and some costume jewelry internet web sites. The strengths of this book are that the photography is pretty good and the collection of figural pieces is extensive.
GREAT JEWELRY BOOK!!!!.......2006-11-07
I am so happy to add this wonderful costume jewelry book to my collection of reference books. Very well written and I love the sections on DeLillo, Rosenstein, Claudette, Hobe and especially Calvaire since I recently purchased a magnificent Calvaire wide collar necklace & bracelet set with emerald green rhinestones. I was also happy to see the green "baked potato" set since I also have the same set but in a different color. It would be fantastic to one day find out if this set is really a Nettie Rosenstein set. Thank you so much, Ann, for featuring these special designers. Hope to see another book from you soon!
Good Information and lots of pictures!.......2006-09-08
I like this book because it has an assortment of makers and not alot of history. There are alot of pictures and values which is what I am looking for.The pictures are clear. Most jewelry books seem to have inflated prices on the values of the jewelry. This book doesn't seem to be to far off base.But I'm no expert!I also like that there is a section on "Fakes".
To bad it has to come to that!It's a good book so buy it!
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