Customer Reviews

Inside the Jewelry Box, Vol. 2: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Identification and Values (Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry)

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2 star:		(2)
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Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry Identification and Values, Volume 2 is a full-color catalogue of an amazing array of costume jewelry pieces. Each piece is presented with one or more photographs, a recommended price, and the name of the collection from which the sample piece was selected. From charm bracelets to artful plastics to necklaces, earrings, and rings, as well as special sections dedicated to well-known brand designs such as Eisenberg and Bettina von Walhof, Inside the Jewelry Box is a singularly gorgeous compilation and a joy to page through simply to savor the photography. The text offers the occasional sprinkling of historical information, comments, or insights about costume jewelry as well. A highly recommended treasury for collectors.

This book is an excellent followup to the first volume of "Inside the Jewelry Box." It once again features nearly 1,000 full color photographs of beautiful vintage costume jewelry, with values ranging from $5 to $2,000. Collectors of every level from novice to experienced will find this book to be extremely useful. It is also entertaining as it is written like an informal chat between friends, discussing their favorite jewelry. Twenty six vintage costume jewelry ads are reproduced including companies such as Eisenberg, Coro, Trifari, Schiaparelli, Hattie Carnegie and Miriam Haskell. The Contemporary Chapter features jewelry by current artist Annie Navetta and the late, great Ian St. Gielar. The Websites Chapter features completely different websites devoted to selling vintage costume jewelry, building on those in the first volume. And the front and back cover photos are gorgeous! Enjoy!

An invaluable asset for any collector of vintage costume jewelry. The book is well written and well researched with hundreds of beautiful close-up photographs showing the detail of some really amazing works of art. Many of the pieces in the book have photos showing the reverse side and the designers mark.

The book has chapters with the pieces grouped by designer, which is a real time saver if you want to look up a particular designer. There are also chapters where the jewelry is grouped by quality, showing only the more expensive pieces. Plus, there are several beautiful pictures of vintage ads.

A really useful section is the one that list about thirty-five Internet Websites offering vintage costume jewelry for sale. If you are a dealer, like my wife, this is really helpful when pricing items for sale. She has an online shop where she sells vintage costume jewelry and artisan jewelry that she makes. She's starting to incorporate some vintage parts and pieces from broken costume jewelry in her artisan jewelry and it makes some really interesting designs. Her shop is called Funky Stones. She just opened it a few months ago and she already has over 85 pieces for sale. I do the buying for the costume jewelry that she offers for sale and Inside the Jewelry Box is one of my most used books when I need to identify or find the value of a piece of jewelry.

Buy this book, you'll be glad you did!

I was just so very disappointed. I suppose I was expecting much more information and detail, for example the time periods, or the designer. I also was disappointed in the quality of pictures because they were somewhat dark and so I couldnt enjoy any of the dazzle or sparkle that I have seen in other pictures. My biggest complaint is that I did not like the way it was organized. It was overwhelming in the same way a 30 page menu is. I suppose I was expecting specific information on designers by chapter instead of a chapter on bracelets, earrings, etc. Even if the chapters were listed by time period it would have been more informative. I purchased this book solely based on the reviews but it felt like I went to a movie because the critics raved about it and after the movie I was still wondering what the big hooplah was about. I was expecting details and not personal opinion. I'm surprising myself by taking the time to write this because I'm not usually such a critic, but I was really disappointed. Actually if I could have returned the book I would have.

Ooops, I meant, not your OTHER jewelry book. I liked the first Inside the Jewelry Box so much, it was worth buying what I thought was just a second edition of it. But this is an entirely new book, with all new everything: information, subjects, photos. Great job once again by the talented Ann Pitman, who covers yum-yum subjects from fruit salad to Juliana and Lily Dache ... and exotic hard to find extras such as an Italian Ornella boot and a snazzy Calvaire purse. This is one of those books that keep on giving: you keep finding wonderful things you didn't see before, no matter how many times you look. Great job ... on an all-new book!

I was trying to come up with a word to describe Mrs. Pitman's approach to collecting, and I guess "cheerful" says it. She is very enthusiastic and this shows through on each page. There are many clear and colorful photos and light-hearted stories about collecting jewelry. There is information too, but I would have liked to have seen more information on many more manufacturers, but what is there is easy to read and fun. This book is also inspiring and you will not hurt for ideas on what to add to your collection after you read it.
As long as you don't try to compare this book to Julia C. Carroll's Collecting Costume Jewelry 101, you will not be disappointed.

This is a fabulous book on vintage costume jewelry! Beautiful colored photos, prices, loads of information and FUN. The author shares her own stories, talking with you as if you are an old friend, and by the time you finished the book you'll wish you were.

Anyone who has a passion for vintage beauties will love this book. It appeals to collectors on every level. Don't hesitate to buy. You will not be disappointed.

The author's first book on vintage costume jewelry is also a must have!

Beautifully written and the photos are stunning! If you collect costume jewelry you won't be disappointed. Only problem is now I have many more pieces to covet!!!

I was disappointed in this book. It listed few names that I was interested in or commonly see and it didn't provide useful information. It was mostly and list of pictures, some of which weren't that good, and personal opinion.

If you are a jewelry lover this is a must have book for your collection.
Ann does a wonderful job with the pictures and the information. She is very knowledgeable in the costume jewelry field