Customer Reviews

Brilliant Rhinestones Vintage & Contemporary Jewelry

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Lots of nice photos in this book but there is very little information about dating jewelry. Vintage and contemporary jewelry are mixed together so a newbie will not know what is old and what is new. It looks like the author took pictures of all her jewelry and then added values that a seller could only dream of getting. There are many jewelry books out there that are very informative but this is not one. Don't waste your money!

I'm surprised to see this book has received such poor ratings because though I agree with other reviewers that it has its flaws, I don't think it is a bad book at all.
I bought this book at the bookstore without first looking up any reviews online. At the time, I had to choose between Aikins' book and one other book that had better photographs and a sleeker look. The Aikins' book won me over because most of the pieces are dated and they are photographed in their entirety and on their own. There is nothing wrong with focusing on a portion of a necklace or photographing a piece surrounded with props, but I also think it is important to be able to see what type of findings were common at a particular period in time (although the backs of earrings and brooches were not photographed for this book).
Most of the jewelry in this book is from the 1940s to 1950s. There are a few from the 1920s and earlier and a couple from the 1970s and 1980s. I like the variety of necklaces, bracelets, pins and earrings the author shows in this book. In fact, every time I open it, I seem to find a new piece that catches my attention even though I have read the book from cover to cover. This is not a book for those looking for historical references and explanations about the different styles and trends in jewelry fashion. For that, I would recommend such books as C. Jeanenne Bell's "Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry". "Brilliant Rhinestones," on the other hand, is more adequate as a visual reference for those who want to familiarize themselves with the "look" of a variety of pieces of vintage rhinestone jewelry.

Little information, very inflated prices on low end costume jewelry. Misleading for novices, no information for seasoned collectors. I wish I could sell things at these prices!

Without a doubt the worst book on vintage costume jewelry ever published. Unless you're a newbie collector looking for a guide to what NOT to waste your money on, don't bother.

I got the book "Brilliant Rhinestones" as a gift several years ago, and I thought at the time that the prices were way, way off - I've never seen such high and uneven prices for costume jewelry. Plus, the book's written content is extremely amateurish and, frankly, irritating in the extreme. Well, to spare my good friend's feelings I didn't share this opinion with her - told her the book was great. So, what did I get for my birthday this year? Yikes!!!!! The next edition, (20th Century Costume Jewelry) even more irritating than the first!! I bear no ill will towards the author, I'm assuming the publisher reeled her in to do another book (this stuff is kind of like the old "vanity press", isn't it?) and is counting on the book to sell just because these books are hot right now. But beware - this latest book has prices for modern jewelry that is absolutely, totally based on fantasy (for stuff you can load up on at Goodwill)and the prices for real vintage jewelry is also way off, about like her first book.

I purchased both this book and the sister companion, 20th Century Jewelry and felt that it was on my list of one of the worst photographed books that I have seen. There are two others by this same publisher that are lackluster in photography. Little information about the jewelry history is included in both books. While I appreciate all that the author has going for her (no doubt the other review was written by her husband), a little more attention to photography detail would have made this book much more enjoyable. I felt that the prices were a little over inflated which is a shame for both books because gorgeous jewelry is featured, just lousy photography to show them off.

I received this book as a gift and found the prices to be very high several years after publication. As the title says it is from the Ronna Lee Collection. Pictures are fair to good. Again as with the Coro book more pictures should have been placed on a page. Pictures of low-end rhinestone bracelets with 2 dead stones are shown for a value of $120-$150. If you want to see someone ones collection and compare it to yours maybe this would be of value otherwise pass on it.

Perhaps, those who thought negatively of this book should take into consideration the extensive time and effort on the author's part; not only does she work, raise a child, and send a husband to college, but she also collects jewelry and shares her collection with the world. It is doubtful her book is meant for the uneducated, novice collector. Maybe one should take a hiatus from critizing and look at the book for its poetics, and the great feeling and thought from Ms. Aikins. Since I contacted Ms. Aikins, I have learned many interesting facts about costume jewelry; I'm looking forward to her second book. Hopefully, it will showcase even more exquisite jewelry than the first! Kudos to you, Ms. Aikins!