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Warman's Costume Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide Paperback – July 14, 2014

by Pamela Y. Wiggins (Author)

4.7 306 ratings

From disposable bauble to collectible art form!

Stylish and beautiful, vintage costume jewelry ignites the passions of collectors and fashionistas alike. Originally created as an inexpensive accessory to be worn and then discarded, costume jewelry is now considered an art form worth many times its original purchase price!

Warman's Costume Jewelry sparkles with wearable art creating during the past 100 years, spanning the Victorian era through the early part of the 21st century. Dazzling jewelry images, histories, profiles, and current market values are presented by one of the most highly regarded jewelry experts in the country, Pamela Y. Wiggins.

   • Detailed descriptions and up-to-date pricing information for more than 750 pieces of jewelry
   • Valuable background information about jewelry designers and manufacturers
   • Tips on dating and identifying costume jewelry
Warman's Costume Jewelry offers a brilliant showcase for all the glitters!

About the Author

Pamela Y. Wiggins' passion for costume jewelry includes studying pieces in her own collection and items she offers through her business--Chic Antiques by Pamela Wiggins--as well as exploring how popular culture and historical events shaped adornment worn decades ago. She is the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors International, a global organization dedicated to costume jewelry education and holding renowned events for collectors. Wiggins also works as a free-lance writer and editor specializing in antiques and collectibles, serving as the antiques expert for About.com. She is a contributor to a number of national and regional publications on a variety of topics with a focus on collectible jewelry.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Krause Publications
Publication date

July 14, 2014
Dimensions

8.4 x 0.6 x 10.9 inches
ISBN-10

1440239444
ISBN-13

978-1440239441
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Krause Publications; Illustrated edition (July 14, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1440239444
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1440239441
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.4 x 0.6 x 10.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #459,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #107 in Antique & Collectible Jewelry (Books)
- #111 in Antique & Collectible Reference (Books)
- #475 in Antiques & Collectibles Encyclopedias

Customer Reviews:
4.7 306 ratings

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About the author

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Pamela Y. Wiggins

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Pamela Y. Wiggins is a journalist specializing in topics relating to antiques and collectibles. She is the Antiques Expert for About.com, and has written for many national and regional periodicals. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int'l, an organization dedicated to publishing online educational resources and bringing collectors together at yearly conventions. Her business, Chic Antiques by Pamela Wiggins, offers a selection of collectible costume jewelry and vintage ladies accessories in several online venues. For more information, visit www.chicantiques.com.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

306 global ratings

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My Reviews

There are so many great tips about identifying jewelry pieces and eras in this ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2014

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Pamela Wiggins and her photographer Jay Siegel have created a fabulous costume jewelry guide. Book is filled with large and superb images, printed on top quality glossy pages, making the book a pleasure to peruse. Jewelry images are crisp and clear, showing all the details of the pieces, and many images of the backs, also. The images 'pop' as though they are sitting right in front of you and you can just reach out and touch them..

And the content…… fabulous, as well. I don't usually find time to sit and read all the text in the guides I purchase, but this one is an exception. Pamela has a way of engaging you with her writing skills, so once you start, you just have to keep reading. She makes the information presented both extremely informative and interesting. There are so many great tips about identifying jewelry pieces and eras in this resource.

This is a well done costume jewelry guide, from the content and images, right down to the printing quality, and will be a great addition to your jewelry library. I absolutely love it. I hope the author will do more books. Would love to see one dedicated to Trifari….hint, hint!

6 people found this helpful

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Victor Lidz

Attractive book

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2022

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The book is attractive and arrived in time to be the planned birthday gift.

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2021

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This book was a Christmas gift for my sister in law. She told me the book is an excellent reference as she collects costume jewelry.

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Marily

Good book high price for used copy

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2021

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I really liked the book, but I can’t get over the price. The back of the book lists a price of $26.99. I paid $60 for a used copy! I was so eager to get the book that I was not thinking straight.

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BRENDA D.

Wonderful guide, fabulous pictures, realistic pricing and informative snippets of history!

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2014

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Ms. Wiggins congratulations on a masterpiece, you have always been thorough in your research that comes through in these
pages; an easy read one does not want to put it down and I could not. Mr. Siegel your photography is breathtaking certainly a work to be enjoyed by the accomplished collector and beginner alike. I took fewer ( minor) exceptions with this guide on costume jewelry than I have in many years of reading and collecting shelves of the same. If you have to own only one, purchase this one or add it to your collection. IT IS WORTH IT!

9 people found this helpful

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Tippie Jacks

Best of jewelry books

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2017

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Why great? Lots of history, information on identifying unmarked pieces, dating of components, pricing guide, great, quality photos. I pull it out frequently. You can find many books with nice photos (and more of them), but this one shows the backs, which is poorly lacking in most jewelry collectors books.

28 people found this helpful

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susan

Great book about costume jewelry.

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2020

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Love this book. Wish it was larger and would cover more but this is a great start for your research on costume jewelry.

One person found this helpful

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Mary Ann Wilson

I LOVE Warman's Jewelry Guides and use them constantly for research ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2014

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I LOVE Warman's Jewelry Guides and use them constantly for research and I must state that this edition has quickly become my favorite. The presentation, information and photography are both impressive and comprehensive. Ms. Wiggins and Mr. Siegel have done an outstanding job creating this edition, it is user friendly, instructional, descriptive and beautiful and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in jewelry.

6 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Leo

Good book.

Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2020

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Good book for anyone wanting to learn .

persefone63

Ottimo Libro

Reviewed in Italy on December 19, 2020

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Perfetto per i collezionisti

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Gingertabby25

Informative and beautifully photographed jewellery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2020

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The jewellery items have been beautifully photographed and the text is very informative. Gives potted histories of many of the designers and the marks to be found on the pieces. Prices are given but are probably out of date now but a good starting point.

A lovely well presented book.

Larissa B.

Excellent

Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2019

Verified Purchase

Nice book for collectors. Great service. Thank you

Charles Parker

Amber

Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2020

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Good explanations of various times in jewelry production.