Warman's Jewelry: A Fully Illustrated Price Guide to 19th and 20th Century Jewelry, Including Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Costume (2nd ed) (Paperback)

by Christie Romero (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A comprehensive price guide to antique, period, vintage, and collectible jewelry furnishes more than three hundred close-up photographs, detailed captions, and values for all kinds of ornaments, as well as information on hallmarks, manufacturers, and a history of jewelry. Original. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 293 pages
• Publisher: Wallace-Homestead Book Company; 2nd edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870697684
• ISBN-13: 978-0870697685
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #893,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Index is not accurate; book of no use for research, August 16, 1999

By A Customer

I have read this book from cover to cover and have learned a lot. It is well-illustrated, both in color and black-and-white. However, the index is not accurate. It's as if the publisher failed to revise the index prior to publication. For example, the index says that the designer "Tortolani" is mentioned on pages 206 and 219. In actuality, this designer is listed on pages 190 and 203. It's the same problem no matter what one looks up. This problem makes the book essentially useless for research. It's informative, but I would advise the buyer to beware if he/she intends to use the book primarily to look up items in the index in order to research particular designers and pieces.

<i>This review refers to the June, 1998 edition of this title.</i>

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN OLDER PERSON 'S VIEW OF THE SUBJECT, February 20, 2000

By	Mary Lou Vangheluwe (USA) - See all my reviews

AS AN OLDER PERSON, I HAVE 'LIVED THROUGH' MANY OF THE FADS WHICH JEWELRY MANUFACTURERS REFLECT. I STARTED COLLECTING JEWELRY, AND DECIDED TO WRITE A RESOURCE BOOK FOR THE NOVICE. WELL, WHEN I READ MS. ROMERO'S BOOK, I FOUND THAT IT WAS SO INCLUSIVE THAT IN ORDER TO FILL IN THE GAPS, AS IT WERE, MY WORK IS REALLY CUT OUT FOR ME. THIS BOOK IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO ANY JEWELRY COLLECTOR'S REFERENCE LIBRARY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE SPACE TO REVIEW IT.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A visual feast for jewelry lovers, April 9, 2004

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Warman's Jewelry (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

"Warman's Jewelry," 3rd edition, by Christie Romero, is subtitled "A Fully Illustrated Identification and Price Guide to 18th, 19th, & 20th Century Fine and Costume Jewelry." The book is full of fascinating and useful features, among them an extensive bibliography, glossary, index, and chronology. There are also a number of appendices, including a hallmark identification guide and a guide to the marks and names on Mexican silver jewelry and metalware.

The 272-page book is full of hundreds of clear, beautiful full color photos of jewelry. Each photo is accompanied by essential information on each piece depicted. The items shown represent a huge price span; in this book you'll see a $336,000.00 gem-encrusted platinum bracelet, a $10.00 brooch shaped like a poodle, and lots in between. Many types of jewelry are pictured: necklaces, cufflinks, earrings, lockets, scarf pins, etc. Included are pieces representing a broad variety of artistic approaches: whimsical, elegant, gaudy, graceful, fierce, futuristic.

Also fascinating is the broad range of materials covered: diamonds, emeralds, opals, turquoise, gold, coral, agate, wood, rhinestones, plastic, brass, porcelain, etc. The photography is accompanied by an interesting, well-written text. Jewelry production is placed in historical and cultural context. There are also special sections devoted to jewelry of particular cultures (Native American, Mexican, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish). Interesting trends such as Victorian-era black jewelry and "eye miniatures" are also highlighted. Overall, this is an endlessly interesting and stunningly beautiful reference work.