Customer Reviews

Jewelry Making Techniques Book (Quarto Book)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The first twenty pages are interesting because the author take the time to describe the tools and material needed for jewelry making.
But after the author try to describe the most jewelry techniques in a minimum of page: only one or two pages for each technique.
It is very insufficient.The photos are also to small.

Olver has put together a gorgeous book. Every page contains legible photos, often six or more per page, showing the tools, techniques, and outcomes of a master jeweler, but with plenty of instruction and inspiration for the aspiring beginner. The book opens by presenting the jeweler's tools and materials, with conversion tables between traditional and modern measurements (e.g. wire gauge numbers to mm diameter). Nearly the whole rest of the book presents techniques, usually as a two page spread for each one. The upper part of the spread discusses the technique and its applicability in a general way, then the lower half or two-thirds demonstrates the technique in words and photos. The how-to pictures and wonderful samples of finished pieces make this a real joy to thumb through.

The difficulty comes when you slow down enough to try to learn a technique from that two-page spread. US readers will find themselves hindered by wire diameters and sheet metal thicknesses in millimeters rather than AWG - well, the rest of the educated and industrialized world uses metric, so you'll just have to suck it up and bookmark the conversion tables. (Olver normally provides inch approximations to each mm measure, with a refreshing disdain for over-fussy conversion factors.)The real problem comes from brevity. There's only so much you can say in a two-page spread on raising, chasing, or foldforming, when entire books have been dedicated to each of those techniques by itself. Then, reliance on photos sometimes gets in the way. In the sections on knit metal, for example, I'm sure that an experienced knitter will dive in and get great results. Someone like me who never acquired the skill would have appreciated a nice, clear drawing or two instead of photos and words that assume you already know what's going on. Olver also presents advanced techniques, such as custom 'blanking' tools for large runs of repetitive shapes, amid elementary techniques like soldering. This leaves a somewhat confused image of what a beginner should focus on first, and glosses over complexities like hardening the blanking tool for long production runs.

Treat this book as an illustrated (if not the most complete) index to jewelers' techniques, and it's a lot of fun. Anyone trying to master the basics might be frustrated by its terseness, though.

3 stars for instructional value, 5 for breadth a curiosity-inducing pictures, 4 over all.

-- wiredweird

This is the book I looked for. It has large color photos and detailed step-by-step instructions. It is not only for beginners but also covers challenging techniques. Although the book concentrates on making techniques, it gives very nice examples to apply the techniques.

This book is not for someone that has no background in jewelry/metalsmithing. Not for a beginner, or newbe. It is in the Quarto style form the publisher. It does cover what is promised. with short descriptive statements. Good photo's for somebody that has read a couple of beginner books. And has some knowledge of the techniques involved, they will not find the short descriptions to be a problem. I own it.

This is one of those books that promises a lot but fails to deliver: The procedures are incomplete; with missing steps and vague descriptions. There are lots of photos, but many of them are too small to clearly demonstrate what's being done. Beginners -- even intermediate jewelers -- will have a hard time puzzling their way through the instructions, and experienced jewelers will find nothing new or useful here. There are many well-written, helpful jewelry-making books out there. This isn't one of them.

I never received the book I paid for. I can't review something I never received. I will contact Amazon for help, I don't understand what to do next.

I loved this book! It covers so many different kinds of jewelry making. There's enough detail to teach you with plenty of ideas to stretch your imagination. Definitely worth the money.

I have not been making silver jewelry very long but knew I needed more complete instructions and I have found them in this book. I am more confinent in my jewelry making and am enjoying it so much more. wanda in texas

... gave away my other 'general' technique books. Examples are well organized and concise. Methods are well explained with good photo references. Very broad coverage of techniques with a focus on Silver Smithing. Jewelry designs shown in the book range from modern minimalist to old time scroll work but these do not overtake the techniques being discussed. Written in England so some of the descriptions take a little getting used to, but once you get a feel for her writing, you'll find her descriptions perfect and easy to follow. The one book you need for beginning to intermediate work. Also, "cheap as chips" give the wonderful photos and info provided.

This book is so inspirational--lots of ideas and pictures that will move you. It shows so many techniques and designs that you are only limited by your imagination. If you only have one book in your library, this is THE one to get.