Diamonds: A Century of Spectacular Jewels [Hardcover]

Penny Proddow (Author), Marion Fasel (Author), David Behl (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

Here the history of diamond jewelry is traced to the present day. Decade by decade, the authors link the changes in public taste to the impact of each era's trendsetters, from Marjorie Merriweather Post and Audrey Hepburn to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Madonna. Diamonds are traced from the Art Nouveau period on to Art Deco, Pop, and Fantasy. 175 illustrations, 100 in full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Through most of their long and sparkling history, diamonds have been reserved for royalty; that is, until 1887, when the leaders of the Third Republic of France decided to sell the French crown jewels. Following that event, anyone could own them. This work successfully blends a highly informative and authoritative text with magnificently photographed splendors that exhibit the opulence associated with the jewels. Each chapter focuses on some aspect of the historical importance of the diamond over the past century and its relationship to and impact on fashion. Career information on an array of notable jewelers?from Boucheron, Bulgari, and Cartier to Schlumberger and Winston?is featured. Also highlighted are the styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Machine Age, Modern, and Pop, along with the evolution of settings from traditional silver to platinum and gold. This cavalcade of jewelry history is punctuated with references to fashion, glamor, socialites, entertainers, and royalty. This volume could serve as a companion to The Master Jewelers (LJ 10/15/90) and would be a welcome addition to any collection.?Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 191 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810932296
• ISBN-13: 978-0810932296
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,744,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular overview of sumptuous diamond jewelry, August 31, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diamonds: A Century of Spectacular Jewels (Hardcover)

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!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but it could have been better, January 22, 1998

By 

Sam's human (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamonds: A Century of Spectacular Jewels (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Deceiving cover, December 31, 2000

By 

Mr Frank M. A. Aris (Dalkey / Co. Dublin - Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamonds: A Century of Spectacular Jewels (Hardcover)

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!