Customer Reviews

The Pearl Book : The Definitive Buying Guide : How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Pearls (1st Edition)

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If you love pearls--or just want to learn more about them--this is the #1 book to buy. I have Matlins 'Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide' which is very well worn from use, so I decided to start learning more about pearls with this book.

Wow! Talk about bursting with information! Matlins covers everything from history and lore to famous pieces, moves on to explaining the differences/types of pearls, how to evaluate them, *and* what to look out for... she provides estimated value lists, gives advice on how to buy, wear and care for pearl jewelry. Whew!

Did you know a drop of salad dressing can ruin a pearl? I didn't!

The author also interviewed many pearl industry professionals and their thoughts are informative as well as (at times) entertaining. In fact, the entire book could be described as "conversational". It's not textbook in style, yet provides so much information it could be used as one!!

Do you sell pearls? The information Matlins provides can help you better understand and describe the charecteristics (and value!) of the pearls you sell. Are you looking to invest in pearls or start a collection? Add this book to your shopping cart--you might save hundreds or thousands in the long run.

But if you simply have a passion for pearls and want to learn all you can about them, this book is a "must have" for your library. It's comprehensive, loaded with tips, and easy to read. There aren't pages & pages of photos. It does have some good compare/contrast photos, as well as others of important or famous pieces. You may find yourself wishing there were more of the "educational" sorts of pictures, but overall that's a small nick in an otherwise glowing treasure. No doubt the binding will become worn from frequent use.
IN SUMMARY:I highly recommend 'The Pearl Book'. It's truly worth every penny. You'll know what to look for if you get this gem.

I recently became interested in pearls when I bought a very rare cultured mabe abalone pearl from US Abalone, a California abalone farm. Ms. Matlin's book emphasized just how rare, lustrous and valuable this pearl was, helping me distinguish between mine and the countless other pearls being cultured which pale in comparison in terms of quality, beauty and veracity. I am forever grateful to her for this! Also, learning about the history of pearls--from Cleopatra's ingestion of a beautiful accident of nature to the South Sea and Tahitian black cultured pearls' popularity today--has been a wonderful education for me. Her book covers ALL you'd need to know to be a wise buyer of pearls. I feel like a much smarter pearl buyer today--smarter than even many jewelry store proprietors who have revealed to me they don't realize that "freshwater pearls" are from a marine creature and not humanly manufactured!

As a Pearl Dealer who works for American Pearl & Diamond, (1-800-84-PEARL) I can say that this book is an excellent compilation of pearl varieties and clear explanations of how to identify quality within each variety. This is essential to purchasing pearls. Pearls are a blind item. They are an item you must purchase by comparison. If you are interested in learning about the universe of pearls, this is a source of solid knowledge where not much is available.

I've always admired the beauty of pearls, but never known much about them. The folklore and history explained in this book makes it as much an enjoyable novel as it is an informational source. The knowledge I have gained from reading this book is invaluable. (Remember, guys! We women just LOVE pearls!)

I bought this book because I was interested in purchashing pearls for myself in Japan while living there. It told me everything I needed to know about distinguishing high from poor quality pearls in a concise and very readable manner. Also contains excellent glossy color photos. I highly recommend this book.

I bought this book for our store reference. My staff became hooked, the information is solid and written in a way that reads like a book built for leisure. One critique; There could be more pictures in her book, although a cliche - a picture is worth a thousand (descriptive) words. I will buy more books from Ms Matlins, she has established herself as THE DEFINITIVE WRITER for gems and pearls. Thanks for the great reading material. Veronica, Ali'i Jewelry - Hawaii

A SUPER way to educate oneself before or during the process of selecting the right pearls.

Enjoy!

As the title states, "The Pearl Book" is the definitive book on pearls. This 198 page book tells you everything you need to know about pearls, starting with a history of pearls and then moving on to descriptions of the different types of pearls, and advice on the selection and care of pearls. Of particular interest to me was Section 5, in which famous jewellers speak about pearls. The only drawbacks of this book are that the photos (with the exception of some colour plates in the centre) are in black and white, and being published in 2002, it is now slightly dated (the pricing guidelines are now irrelevant and the reference list does not include any web addresses). Nevertheless, this is an interesting read and a valuable addition to a jewellery library.

Deserving of ongoing mention is this fourth updated, expanded edition covering all the basics in THE PEARL BOOK: THE DEFINITIVE BUYING GUIDE. From selecting and buying pearls to caring for them, this offers a fine centerfold of color pearl photos to accompany all facts. There's still no comparable focus on this subject available, making this an ongoing consumer's reference.

This book will cover--trust me--every question you've every had about pearls. What makes for a very valuable pearl? What artificial enhancements can be used to add value to pearls. How to treat your pearl.

For example, did you know that vinegar can injure pearls? And that you should always put on hairsprays, perfumes, and cosmetics BEFORE you put on your pearls? "Ammonia can also be deadly to pearls. Keep in mind that many commercial jewelry cleaners contain ammonia" p 179).

The book also contains a very useful guide to the price of pearls.