A good book for beginners has great photographs

books:

	• Secrets to Collecting Jewelry: How to Buy More for Less Leigh Leshner Krause Publications, 2005 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Basic Jewelry Reference

This book is one that I normally wouldn't have purchased because I already have a large library of jewelry reference books. It doesn't have a lot of pretty pictures. It has just enough. It's not big and heavy and it doesn't make me look like an intellectual. It just clearly and simply pictures and defines all those little parts and pieces (or findings and settings, for the purists) of jewelry. And it's small enough to fit in my purse. I constantly find myself running back to this particular book for the correct term or the correct spelling. Why?

Well, there's a very simple reason why Leigh Leshner's Secrets to Collecting Costume Jewelry has become the most useful book in my library. It's simply the fact that the book so well laid out and so easy to use that it's always the first thing I reach for.

Leshner begins with a general discussion of collecting costume jewelry, including where to buy, tools, and some helpful hints and secrets. She manages to wrap up her expertise of years of collecting in less than 40 well written and easily read pages. If you know absolutely nothing about collecting costume jewelry you can't go wrong with her advice.

She spends the next portion of the book delineating the era's of costume jewelry beginning with Victorian times. Although she only illustrates these era's with one or two pieces of jewelry, she has somehow managed to select the most perfect and typical example of each.

From the discussion of eras she moves on to the discussion of manufacturing and techniques used to create different types of jewelry. She gives excellent examples of enameling techniques, shapes of rhinestones and types of findings that our commonly (and uncommonly!) used in costume jewelry. Each has item has one of two small pictures that make identification easy.

The final portion of the book include definitions "Specific types of Jewelry, Materials and Styles". There she defines and gives examples of such items as duettes, sautoirs and prison rings. It's most useful when you come across that oddball piece and you'd love to know what it is.

There's lots more in the book to enjoy, but as a basic reference book it can't be beat!

Dawnjewels

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Textbook perfect

This book is THE textbook you would use if you took a course in collecting vintage jewelry. Leigh gives a definition and then shows you exactly what she is talking about, and she has made this learning interesting and easy. It is great for novice collectors, but even better for brand new collectors.

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Great to start with

The author makes this book a very easy and fun read for novice collectors. This is a must have if you are new to collecting jewelry. There are a lot of useful facts and a list of companies that have made famous costume jewelry over the years along with their years of production. Some of the definitions are basic, but perfect for new collectors. The book itself is being offered at a nice low price unlike a lot of other collector books.

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What a gem!

My husband picked this up at a discount store on a whim and what a find it was! Great information, great photos, helpful index, very well organized. Author is truly an expert.

A good book for beginners has great photographs

This is a good book for beginners. It is really an overview. The information is well organized with a table of contents and index so the reader can find the answer to most queries. This book is similar to How To Be a Jewelry Detective although, Secrets has better photography and higher production values. The title promises Secrets and How to Buy More For Less. I am not sure that these claims can be supported.

There is good section on findings. For example, did I buy a fur clip or a dress clip? Secrets to Collecting Jewelry includes clear photos of findings so the curious reader can discover the difference. Another question that pops up monthly on one of the online jewelry forums I belong to is answered here with more clear photos, "What are those quirky ear findings, they can't possibly be for pierced ears!?!". Yes, there is a photo of those quirky wing back ear findings.

There is a section is called Examples of Specific Types of Jewelry, Materials and Styles or what I would call an illustrated glossary. It is thorough from applejuice bakelite to watch pin. There are some really interesting and unique inclusions such as Prison Rings, Book Chains, Kum-a-Part cufflinks, Negligee Necklaces and more. But some inclusions are silly such as a photo of leather and satin and suede cord! Not really necessary even for a rank beginner.

Secrets to Collecting Jewelry has a notable section on Bakelite and Plastic Jewelry the photography is compelling and the pieces selected are lovely.

This review also appears on Jewelry Ring an on-line community for costume jewelry collectors

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reviews: page 1, 2

Collectors can uncover truths to their favorite collectible jewelry in a few easy steps with this unmatched resource! Secrets to Buying Collectible Jewelry is filled with the knowledge you need to avoid costly mistakes and build a better collection for less.

With sections about cut, settings and metals; what to ask before making a purchase; how to purchase items at estate sales and auctions; collectors will have everything they need to be well-versed in their hobby. The keys to jewelry fabrication including: mountings, settings, marks, fineness and quality, are illustrated in 350 stunning full-color photos. Hints on testing for fakes and karat value, as well as a comparative price guide, help take the guesswork out and empower collectors in their research.

-350 color images help with identification

-Portable size for taking to conventions

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