Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love [Paperback]

Antoinette L. Matlins (Author), Antonio C. Bonanno (Author), Jane Crystal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1990

This well-illustrated volume covers diamonds, colored gems, and pearls. It takes the anxiety out of buying engagement and wedding rings, turning it into the magical and romantic experience it should be.The authors explain the romantic traditions of diamonds and colored gems in engagement and wedding rings through the centuries and offer expert advice on how to make this once-in-a-lifetime purchase a perfect one. Included are all the steps to determining the quality of a diamond or colored gemstone and judging value. Advice on how to design the rings, and lots of illustrations to help.Selected contents:Retail Price Guides for Diamonds, Colored Gems, and Pearls.The Romance of the Ring.Engagement and Wedding Ring Traditions and Romance.The Allure of Diamonds: What is Diamond?Selecting the Diamond.Comparing Diamond Prices.The Magic & Mystery of Colored Gems.Getting the Best Value in Colored Gems.What to Ask When Buying the Stone.Design and Style: Getting the Look You Want.The Wedding Bands: Gem-Studded, Gold, & Platinum.Consumer Beware: How to Spot a Fraud.Important Advice Before You Buy; Questions to Ask.List of Certified Appraisers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Almost every newly engaged couple is eager to know as much as possible about their once-in-a-lifetime purchase . . . the diamond engagement ring . . . take(s) the guesswork out of this important decision . . . be able to obtain the best value for your money. -- Modern Bride

"Recommended reading . . . for any couple about to get engaged." -- Paul Harvey, Paul Harvey News --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Antoinette L. Matlins, P.G., is an internationally respected gem and jewelry expert, author, and lecturer. Her books are widely used throughout the world by consumers and professionals in the gem and jewelry field alike. A popular media guest, she has been seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, educating consumers about gems and jewelry and exposing fraud. In addition, Matlins is active in the gem trade.Antonio Bonanno, F.G.A., P.G., A.S.A., was one of America's most distinguished gemologists. For over 40 years he was President of National Gem Appraising Laboratory and Director of Columbia School of Gemology in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Gemstone Press; 1st edition (May 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943763053
• ISBN-13: 978-0943763057
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,379,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Antoinette Matlins is an internationally respected gem and jewelry expert, author, and lecturer whose expertise is sought worldwide by clients who retain her to seek fine, rare, or unusual gems and jewels for acquisition.

She has written many books that have helped people--both consumers and professionals--increase their understanding and enjoyment of jewelry and gems. Her books include:

* Jewelry & Gem--The Buying Guide: How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry with Confidence and Knowledge
(The first and only book of its kind ever offered by Consumer Reports--now available worldwide in many languages.)
* Gem Identification Made Easy: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying and Selling
* Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide--How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Other Colored Gemstones with Confidence and Knowledge

She is also the author of the "Gemstones" section of the Encyclopedia of Investments. Gemology editor for National Jeweler magazine for a decade, her articles and comments appear in consumer magazines such as Vogue, the Robb Report, Bride's, Business Week, Forbes, US News & World Report, Conde Nast Traveller, Smart Money, and First.

Antoinette Matlins spearheaded the nationwide campaign against gemstone investment telemarketing scams and has gained wide recognition as a dedicated and effective consumer advocate. A popular media guest, she is seen educating consumers and exposing fraud on shows such as ABC's Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, NBC's Today, CNN's Daywatch and World Report, Oprah, Inside Edition, and CNBC's Power Lunch.

In addition to her work with private clients, Ms. Matlins provides consulting services to companies in the gem field, including mining companies, jewelry firms, and trade organizations. She has also served as an expert witness for the United States Attorney's Office and for plaintiffs and defendants in matters dealing with fraud and misrepresentation involving gems and jewelry.
Ms. Matlins has developed an extensive international network of gem dealers, master metalsmiths, designers, and other resources for her work. Through this network, and working with collectors and investors, she enables clients to acquire unusual pieces, and to make their acquisitions with confidence--and at costs significantly below retail.

Based in Vermont, Ms. Matlins travels the world extensively, advising individuals and companies on buying and selling gems and jewelry. With her exceptional understanding of gemstones and in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the jewelry business, she assists clients with locating everything from an engagement ring to a rare period jewel, from an exceptional natural fancy-color diamond to an unusual carved cabochon or the rarest of fine gems. She also manages the design and creation of equally unusual jewelry for these gemstones.

For more information, please visit her website at www.antoinettematlins.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just buy it., December 19, 1999

By 

Scott F. Hall (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Engagement & Wedding Rings, 2nd Edition: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love (Paperback)

And get a cup of coffee. And a high-lighter. And then just let this book do your work for you. Why? Because "Typical Joe" will wander into a nice jewelry store not knowing diddly about diamonds, sporting a deer-in-the-headlights look that serves as an aphrodisiac to the store clerks. The love Typical Joe! With their lush carpets, free coffee, revolving credit and halogen lights that would make a piece of tar light up like Vegas, the stores also provide an "education" about diamonds through brochures published by their trade association. But if you want the REAL skinny -- and not some puff piece that glosses over the important info -- get this book. It holds your hand, feeds your head and keeps your wallet MUCH fatter in the long run. ( I know am I going to get negative marks at the bottom of this review from annoyed jewelers...sorry, folks). I saved thousands of dollars.

For instance,I never knew about diamond brokers until I read this book. The appendix helped me find a good one;I saved a lot of money on the ring. I should mention that the purpose of the book is to educate on diamonds, not diminish the importance of a good jeweler (although, after I saw the mark-up on loose stones, I was livid. I'm all for making a profit, but most jewelers just GOUGE you). Point is, by reading this little book, you can learn a good deal of pertinent info and translate that into an immediate savings.

Buying an engagement ring, in theory at least, should be a one-time purchase. And no guy wants to mess it up. Get this book, understand the color, clarity, blah blah blah but focus on the CUT. If you understand that, you're miles ahead of Typical Joe. This book is well-organized, well-written and provides all the info you need to get a beautiful diamond from a position of strength.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Difference A Book Can Make!, December 18, 1999

By 

K. Ford (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Engagement & Wedding Rings, 2nd Edition: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love (Paperback)

I recently purchased another book before I found this one, and quickly figured out the author was a diamond dealer trying to get my business. I was about to give up on finding a book that was written by a real expert who was NOT trying to sell me something, and then I found this one. What a treasure, written by someone who is really a consumer advocate, and tells the whole story. After reading Engagement & Wedding Rings, The Definitive Buying Guide For People in Love, I knew I wouldn't make a mistake or get ripped off. This book even told me what to ASK to be sure I was comparing "the same thing" when I went from store to store with my fiance (and even provided a place to write down information given from store to store)as well as what to get in writing. One of the things my fiance liked best, however, was the information on how to protect ourselves and how to find a reliable appraiser to verify what we were told. Personally, I loved the information on how to make our rings more personal and intimate, and the great advice on little design details that make such a difference in the appearance of the ring. We bought the diamond first, and then the ring, and even though the ring wasn't "custom made" , we knew what to ask for, so the jeweler knew what to show us and we found the perfect ring which the jeweler then ordered and engraved especially for us. So few things really affect what you do, but this book really did, and we can't thank the authors enough. I've even written a letter to the authors, to personally thank them (and that's something I've never done before). One thing was clear from the start: these authors not only know their stuff, but they really care about their readers making the best possible choice on this important decision. And without trying to sell us something!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What do diamond flaws look like? This book will not tell you, August 8, 2002

By 

Lisa G. "crafty kitty" (Seattle, wa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Engagement & Wedding Rings, 2nd Edition: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love (Paperback)

I purchased this book along with the book Diamond Ring buying guide by Renee Newman. This book only contained B/W diagram drawings and described the 'flaw's that diamonds have. Hello? dianmonds are not B/W diagram drawings, that little dot on the drawing tells me nothing!
The book seems to ramble and drone on and on about diamonds, like a good old high school history book. Of all the 14 pages of color photos, there are 6 pages dedicated to 'designer rings' and the rest are just photos of different styles of jewelery. What does a yellow diamond look like? What about a diamond that was cut incorrectly? A simple line drawing does not help at all.
I found Newman's book much more detailed and well written than this book. Newman has many photos, practically the entire book is made up of color photos of diamonds and flawed diamonds (so you know that to look for).
If you have a lot of time on your hands and don't mind a boring book, then buy this book, other wise Newman has condensed this 300 page book into just a mere 150 pages or so into hers.