Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia [Hardcover]

Prince Michael Of Greece (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2006

The world’s fascination with the Russian imperial family endures, and with this stunning book a new spotlight is added. Jewels of the Tsars, the first book to examine the family’s unparalleled collection, is illustrated with extraordinary photographs taken under special conditions at the Kremlin’s Diamond Fund, and accompanied by 18th- and 19th-century portraits and photographs of the Tsars, their families, and their court. Prince Michael of Greece, a Romanoff descendant, writes with an insider’s knowledge of his family’s passion for rare and beautiful jewels, and their place in the troubled history of Imperial Russia.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Prince Michael of Greece is the grandson of the Grand Duchess Olga, the sister of Nicholas II, and of King George I of Greece. His mother, Princess Françoise of France, is the sister of the Count of Paris, the Bourbon claimant to the French throne. Prince Michael lives in Paris.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Vendome Press (October 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086565171X
• ISBN-13: 978-0865651715
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Mineralogy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous, November 16, 2006

By 

Tyrannis "It's all fun and games until someon... - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia (Hardcover)

I never write reviews but I received this book last night and felt inspired to speak up. This is probably one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. I devoured it immediately and stayed up late to do it. I was shocked when I got to the end and checked the clock.
The entire book is in color, the jewels are shown close up and at times in portraits so you can have an image of how they would have looked or been arranged with other pieces.
The book is arranged in chronological order by monarch starting with Catherine the Great through post revolution times, though that material is understandably short. The portraits are typically full page and so beautifully rendered you can almost smell the paint. The paper is of a really high quality, heavy with a nice sheen making the book that much more beautiful.
It also offers quite a bit of interesting information about where the jewelry has ended up after the revolution and the history of the family. It's not an in-depth history, but that was never the purpose. It does offer some interesting tidbits and trivia. The author is clearly passionate about the topics which is infectious and makes you want to keep reading. The pictures almost always have captions that are very informative. If you don't want to really read but just enjoy the photos, you can easily do that and still gather quite a bit of information without being overwhelmed with text.
If you are at all interested in the subject matter, this is worth every penny. It's absolutely stunning. I believe there is one about the British crown jewels by Prince Michael of Greece by the same publisher as well. I'm going to go find out!

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars IMPERIAL JEWELS, November 21, 2006

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia (Hardcover)

Very well done book on the crown Jewels of the czar's. The text is light and interesting, not too indepth and the images are supurb. I saw many of the crown jewels in Houston during the traveling exhibit on the imperial treasures of the Kremlin, I was blown way by the beauty of the Faberge peices and the imperial crown of diamonds and Sable that Peter the Great wore, this book is a great deal like the book I bought at the museum on that trip, it was a Russian book and was fantastic, this one is just as good. At any rate, I highly recommend this book. If you appreciate Russian culture or just the beauty of fine jewlery, then I cant imagine you not being pleased with this book.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Jewels of the Tsars" is a collectible treasure!, November 22, 2006

By 

Candace J. Reed (Florida, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia (Hardcover)

Everything about "Jewels of the Tsars" is a class act. This is a beautifully-bound volume using the finest heavy glossy paper. The hundreds of photographs are ideally lit and enlarged for maximum impact and enjoyment of precious details. Many of the paintings and photographs are rarely seen and so lovely. This is more than a coffee table book, it is a precious gift, a collectible. The copy is accurate and very well-written by Prince Michael of Greece. No detail from cover to cover has been ignored. This is a labor of love. I highly recommend "Jewels" to everyone who loves Russia, history, and exquisitely crafted jewels as a person treasure or a gift. Vendome Press obviously used "Jewels" as it's vehicle to produce a jewel of its own. It's worth twice the price.