Customer Reviews

Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ann Pitman's first book is not only a feast for the eyes with it's beautiful photography and charming page design, it is also a great read, packed with interesting tidbits and details. I particularly liked the informal way "Inside the Jewelry Box" is written and enjoyed the personal remarks and memories of the author. I was amazed by the amount of jewelry shown in this book! It is loaded with hundreds upon hundreds of color photos that a collector can use to learn more about what to search for when buying for personal collections or re-sale. I also really enjoyed the section on web sites that sell vintage jewelry on the internet and am having a blast visiting every single one of them! Whether you are a seasoned collector or just starting to learn about vintage jewelry, I think this book will become a favorite resource. If you love vintage jewelry, this book is for you!

Ann Pitman's book, "Inside the Jewelry Box" is an indispensable reference. I have over 20 reference books including both books by Brunialti which I like very much. However, I continue to order other books of the quality and caliber of Ms. Pitman's book. Her book,"Inside the Jewelry Box" is my standard for ordering future reference books.

Ms. Pitman's book is the ONLY book that I will not loan or check out to acquaintances. I'm afraid that it might never be returned! And it is my favorite reference.

My hope is that Ms. Pitman will write a series of books like her first book. Her sequels will be added to my reference library as soon as off the press.

FIVE STARS FOR MS. PITMAN'S, "Inside the Jewelry Box"!

This work has a wealth of information and photographs, often featuring little known designers, demonstrating how much fun collecting costume jewelry can be. Ann gives collectors a realistic idea of current market trends and prices, describes the proper care, and repair of your treasures, while giving helpful hints on how to avoid fakes and reproductions.

She includes many ads from vintage magazines which is such a delight for collectors when they see their treasures as they were originally presented.

Her personal manner of writing adds to the flavor and tells you that you've found a new friend to help you find those perfect treasures.

Ann Pitman shows the depth of her knowlege in this book. She covers areas and designers that are left out by other jewelry identification and pricing books. On top of that the book is very readable. The stories that Ann tells makes you feel like you are right there with her while she is shopping and researching the jewelry she is writing about. So many identification books are heavy on the pictures and light on the reading material. While this books has excellent pictures the educational and entertaining text makes this a "must buy".

As a fellow author and freelance writer, I appreciate all the effort and research Ann Pitman puts into her work. Ann touches on topics of great interest to jewelry collectors and anyone who wants to learn more about beautiful costume jewelry, including information on designers not covered in other books. The photos are a feast for the eyes as well. Great gift for yourself, or anyone you know who likes vintage collectibles!

Fabulous resource for the casual collector to the experienced dealer. Covers a wide variety of lesser-known jewelry makers, complete with gorgeous photos showcasing each line. Best of all, has pictures of old advertisements complimented by the actual jewelry advertised. The list of resources in the back is quite helpful to those wanting to buy or learn more but not knowing where to start. Buy this book and broaden your knowledge of costume jewelry - you will be a smarter buyer and more informed seller.

Ann's book was such a joy to sit with. She has a beautiful selection of jewels and lots of little known information about various manufacturers. Written in a warm style (after her columns), I just had a great time reading it and absorbing her collecting tips. She has a good variety of manufacturers (some I've never heard of), and tons of pictures (with value prices). Her more than generous array of gorgeous pins and brooches from retro to enamels to you-name-it satisfied even me. My two favorite areas were the great fruit (and vegetable!) pins, and the bakelite and plastics sections. Super, super, super!! And she finished the book off with a section of wonderful vintage ads.
As a vintage jewelry dealer, I have to tell you, if you are looking for a great gift for yourself, or for a fellow jewel collector, this book fills the bill.

Ann Pitman uses loads of great photographs and personal insights in this book to inform and entertain her readers. I have found this book to be a valuable resource! This book is a must have for the new or advanced collector.

I love Ann Pitman's book Inside the Jewelry Box. She has created a book that the novice like myself can understand and enjoy. Her pictures and captions of the jewelry are truly a reflection of her creativity and love of jewelry. You can tell she puts her heart and soul into her work. Even my granddaugher is enthralled with the pictures and now wants her very own jewelry box.

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.