This text explores the pleasures and the pitfalls of collecting costume jewellery, covering methods, materials and makers from 18th-century paste to the jewels of 20th-century style-setters Schiaparelli, Tiffany and Chanel.

Popularized by Coco Chanel in Paris during the 1920s, costume jewelry -- from the inexpensive to the extravagant -- has come into its own, creating a skyrocketing market for both investors and collectors. This guide covers it all, from Coro, Eisenberg, and Trifari to Miriam Haskell and Joseff. Complete with the latest prices, descriptions, and fascinating histories of the most famous manufacturers, it provides new and essential information for every collector: Listings for every major designerThe most current prices availableDetailed descriptions and photos for easy identificationTips on buying and sellingHow to spot fakes and forgeriesDetailed bibliographyPredictions about hot trends of the future

Co-written by antiques expert, Judith Miller and costume jewelry specialist, John Wainwright, DK Collector's Guides: Costume Jewelry traces the history of costume jewelry from ancient times to the present day. It also explains how social and economic developments, changing fashions, new materials, and manufacturing techniques, as well as the haute couture houses of the 1940s and '50s have influenced and inspired the industry. Over 1,500 collectible pieces are presented in full-color, in a catalog-style layout, with prices and sizes clearly displayed below each one. There are profiles of 20 major international designers and factories, including Joseff of Hollywood, Trifari, Miriam Haskell, and Christian Dior. In addition, pieces by 80 lesser-known names are displayed and priced, and there is a gallery of unsigned collectible pieces. Contextual notes explain the features that make the pieces desirable, and there are tips on what to look out for when buying. "Hot" collecting fields, such as Bakelite and Christmas Tree pins, are featured throughout. The book also includes a glossary of materials, a list of designer's and maker's marks, and a directory of specialized dealers. Book jacket.

Beginning and experienced collectors and even dealers sometimes have difficulty distinguishing a valuable piece of costume jewelry from less valuable jewelry. Two brooches, both signed by the same designer, can have vastly different values. This book provides beginning collectors with friendly one-on-one advice on how to begin a collection and how to recognize good quality costume jewelry. Background information for almost 130 different manufacturers, including the author s recommendations on which pieces from each designer are the most collectible, are provided. Over 200 new photos have been added to this edition, bringing the total to around 900 full-color photographs. A new section on miscellaneous makers is featured, and additional, up-to-date information about selling jewelry on eBay is provided. Once again, tips on how to upgrade a collection by selling to dealers and trading with friends; tips on how to catalog a collection; and tips on repairing, storing, and cleaning jewelry are included. A glossary of jewelry terms, complete bibliography, and an index of patent design numbers round out the book. 2008 values.

Covering every phase, fad, and style of costume jewelry, this detailed guide also features hundreds of photos and a special section on the why, what, how, and where of collecting. 200 b&w photos. 8-page, full-color insert.

Some of the most beautiful pieces of costume jewelry made since the 1940s are presented in full color photographs. The visual creations are enriched by an introduction by Lawrence Feldman of Fior in London. A value guide is included along with an index to make this book a useful, beautiful guide for collectors.

Have you ever wondered why collectors flip-over a piece of costume jewelry to examine the back? Julia C. Carroll's newest book, Collecting Costume Jewelry 303: The Flip Side answers this question. Included in this comprehensive volume are over 1,200 photographs of collectible costume jewelry designs for 97 companies. Detailed, close-up photographs of hardware traits, construction elements, interesting stones, and signatures are provided for each piece. An entire chapter is dedicated to stones, providing the reader with basic information on stone shapes, nomenclature, and composition followed by an informative stone glossary. Interesting illustrations from a vintage hardware catalog help collectors learn the industry names for jewelry findings. Plump with information, this volume also includes amazing interviews with the families of Sandor Goldberger and Yoneguma & Kiyoka Takahashi accompanied by rare examples of jewelry from their private collections. Finally, for fun, this captivating book explores the subject of craft jewelry in the 1960s and 1970s. Colorful examples of craft jewelry, coupled with illustrations from hobby magazines, help collectors distinguish these recreational pieces from higher-quality collectible costume jewelry designs. 2010 values.