Over the years J. Steele has worked with some of the best gems God's earth has to offer. He has now put this guide book together for all to use. This is a simple informative guide book. Buying colour gems is a challenge. Written for both consumers and professionals, it is easy to read, has colour photographs and gives practical pointers on how to decipher the differences. Whether you are interested in jade, opal, ruby, topaz, spinel, garnet, tourmaline or some other coloured gem, you will find this guide to be a fascinating and valuable resource.

The collectible appeal of Mexican metal art can be attributed to artistic quality, variety, and large production volume. In addition to jewelry, it includes wearable art, table art, and wall art, with something for everyone. See Mexican jewelry and metal art made with copper, brass, alpaca, and silver. From glass mosaics on brass to silver jewelry inlaid with crushed stone, to metal combinations such as metales casados, the variety in color, texture, and form is wonderful. While other books have made significant contributions to raising awareness of Mexico-designed silver jewelry, little has been written about other metal objects, often made by the very same designers, such as Salvador Teran, Los Castillos, Miguel Martinez, Miguel Pineda, Estele Popowski, and Bernice Goodspeed. Additional names found on illustrated brass and mixed-metal items include Maya, ToA+/-o, Cecilia, Caballo, and Victoria. Detailed captions with value ranges accompany 1000+ color photographs. Includes a bibliography, index, illustrated glossary, and illustrated hallmarks.

This book contains 450 photographs showing readers each step to every project. The art of handcrafted wirework jewelry is a fun and accessible way to create a range of stunning pieces from the comfort of your home. Whether you are looking to make jewelry for yourself, or as unique gifts for special occasions, you'll find all the inspiration and techniques you need here. In this comprehensive guide, there are 30 main projects, each with extra projects to complete a set or to complement the main design, plus there is a wealth of advice on tools, materials and techniques, making it the perfect book for beginners. Step-by-step instructions, clear step photography and handy tips throughout will ensure confidence grows until you're happy to make alterations to suit, or to design your own wirework masterpiece from scratch!

Originally developed for parachute suspension lines during World War II, durable lightweight paracord has even been used by Space Shuttle astronauts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. You can weave and braid this versatile cord in an array of fashion colours to create attractive and useful accessories. Parachute Cord Craft ties everything together, with 22 clever projects and step-by-step instructions for making fashionable bracelets and necklaces, belts, lanyards, dog collars, key fobs and more. Discover the knots you need to know, get practical advice on tools and materials, learn the right way to melt and fuse the cut ends of your cord, and experiment with jewellery findings.

"It imparts the type of educational information that all stages of jewelry collectors, as well as jewelry enthusiasts from students to dealers, will go back to again and again." - Beth Bernstein, Instore Mag "The Modern Guide to Antique Jewellery will make a collector of you yet" -Annie Davidson, JCK "...filled with fun factual titbits that are presented in a witty, conversational style, with lively narratives exploring each piece's history." - Solitaire International "The ultimate go-to guide." - Retail Jeweller World The ultimate go-to guide, The Modern Guide to Antique Jewellery takes the reader on a tour through time, venturing from the 1700s all the way through to the early 20th century. From how to look chic while wearing jewellery that outdates you by 100 years, to how to spot and score the best pieces, this book is a must-read for all enthusiasts and collectors who have an affinity for the jewels of the past. Fun factual tidbits are presented in a witty, conversational style, and lively narratives explore each piece's history. Part travelogue, featuring the most influential shops in New York, LA, London, Paris and Amsterdam; part educational guide, with anecdotes from dealers and experts; and part celebration of historical jewellery, this book is an invaluable and accessible reference. Topics covered include (but are not limited to): how to identify the most popular gemstones, materials, styles and collectible pieces in the market today, and how to select antique jewellery to complement your lifestyle. The Modern Guide to Antique Jewellery will reveal what to look for and where to locate rare finds, as well as how the experts score the pieces that decorate the fingers, ears, necks and wrists of the collector.

Glass in Jewelry enables glass and jewelry lovers alike to enjoy the obvious glamour of such jewelry and for the first time to understand and appreciate the hidden brilliance of these little treasures in glass. Illustrated with over 400 full color photographs of examples, the text explains the origins of filigree and alabaster glass, the lovely variety of bead types, artificial gems, glass cameos and incrustations, millefiori, mosaic and aventurine jewelry, and even applications in modern jewelry designs.

This concise guide has all the information you need to successfully makeyour ownjewelry using knotting techniques. Clear, step-by-step, fully illustrated instructions show you exactly how to knot between beads and attach various types of clasps and finishes. The book also explains how to evaluate, select, and care for pearls and gemstones; how to select findings and tools; the pros and cons of silk versus nylon stringing material; and more."

With beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions, this how-to book includes all the techniques involved in crafting metal jewelry, including:

--Cutting and filing

--Cold connections

--Soldering

--Texturing

--Forging and forming

--Setting stones

--Applying specialty finishes

The book's clear organization provides easy access to information with straightforward directions and hundreds of full-color photos. You'll also find easy projects for trying the techniques, as well as a stunning gallery of metal jewelry pieces by experienced designers. Find beautiful jewelry examples and gain skills and inspiration with "The Complete Photo Guide to Making Metal Jewelry"

"...Modern British Jewellery Designers 1960-1980: A Collector's Guide, is an ode to an extraordinary period in British jewelry history."- Phyllis Schiller, Rapaport "This book, in my opinion, fills a significant gap in the literature providing a good starting point for anyone thinking of collecting jewellery from the 1960s and 1970s, and for anyone interested in jewellery from that era." -Elizabeth Passmore, Scottish Gemmological Association n the 1960s, British jewellery underwent a revolution. Natural, uncut stones exploded into vogue and a 1961 exhibition at the Goldsmith's Hall kickstarted the nation's new obsession with gold. The women who shopped at Quant's Bazaar and Hulaniki's Biba no longer just received jewellery as gifts. They placed their own orders, exploring Grima's drizzled gold and Flockinger's fused metallic experimentations; John Donald's textured gold cubes and the House of Munsteiner's curious new gem cuts. This was an era of innovation - captured here through insights into the work of 25 major jewellers and sumptuous pictures of their work. This book introduces the most influential British designers, jewellers, goldsmiths and silversmiths of 1960-1980. Tracing the evolution of style across these decades, Modern British Jewellery Designers reveals the designers' inspirations and the identifying signatures of their work. Accompanied by new photography showing each designer's creations, this is the perfect introduction for anyone with an interest in collecting, or learning more about this transformative period in British jewellery design.

Fold forming is a creative and dynamic way to manipulate metal. This practical guide explains the process, starting with simple line folds and showing how a few techniques can reveal the rich potential of the method. Written for jewellers and metalsmiths, it goes on to explore the many beautiful ways in which fold forming can be used to distort and shape metal to incredible effect. It introduces the concept of fold forming by exploring different methods and types of single folds; it covers how to create multiple folds in sheet metal using hammers and then the rolling mill to forge folds; it explains how microfolding is particularly suited to jewellery and smallwork, and can be used to strengthen thin material. Finally, it encourages interpretation, experimentation and development of the techniques to produce original pieces.

Enduring Splendor focuses on the rich and diverse silver jewelry traditions of India's Thar Desert region, stretching across the western states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These traditions are considered against the background of the five-thousand-year history of jewelry making across the vast Indian Subcontinent. Drawing on recent field research carried out in the city of Jaisalmer, a thriving center of contemporary jewelry production, Enduring Splendor explores for the first time the life and work of four sonis (silversmiths or goldsmiths). To contextualize this recent production, numerous illustrations of very fine examples of ninteenth- and twentieth-century jewelry types that are still worn are included. These objects have been borrowed from the Ronald and Maxine Linde Collection of Jewelry and Ritual Arts of India, part of a promised gift to UCLA, where it will find its future home with the Fowler Museum. The Linde Collection is one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Indian jewelry in the world. This volume highlights elaborate rural styles rendered in silver as well as selected ornate examples, largely associated with the elite, made with gold and gemstones.

Friendship knows no bounds, and now that the internet has connected us with a host of on-line friends, the desire for trading and sharing tokens such as friendship bracelets has become more popular than ever. Learn over two dozen braiding techniques and how to use the popular braiding wheel in this easy book.

Fashionable, fun and downright addictive to make, these DIY crochet jewellery accessories rock! This kit contains 2 crochet hooks, 3 colours of crochet thread, a yarn needle, and a book of step-by-step instructions and full-colour photographs that show you how to create 5 pretty jewellery designs: A Bobble Necklace, Colorful Cuff Bracelet, Lacy Metallic Ring, Chic Chevron Necklace and "Diamond" Earrings. Stitch them for yourself or as gifts for your friends, but whatever you do, plan on having fun with Crochet Jewelry.

This fabulous new book from the editor of Making Jewellery magazine is the ideal resource for jewellery makers keen to learn the intricacies of creating wedding jewellery. From elegant earrings to eye-catching headpieces, along with necklaces, bracelets and brooches galore, there are plenty of imaginative and stylish pieces to complement any bridal outfit. The book is divided into five inspirational collections in a range of captivating styles: Classic, Vintage, Lace, Nature and Floral, with six pieces of jewellery in each one. Each chapter also features at least one special technique which is unique to that particular collection. Although some jewellery-making knowledge is assumed, all the basic techniques are covered in a separate section. There is also a discussion of the tools and materials required, so the book is suitable for beginners as well as experienced makers. Every bride should feel like a princess on the big day and with the help of Sian Hamilton's gorgeous jewellery she'll look like one, too.

From the Preface When I first went to Africa in the 1960s, I was bowled over by African art. What really got under my skin were the bangles, principally the bronze bangles from West and Central Africa. They were tactile, weighty and full of design and form. Later, when I lived in Ghana and Togo, I built up my own collection of bangles. In recent years this collection was seen by past and present curators of the British Museum and I was encouraged to work up the expertise to comment on and possibly help classify the Museum's collection of African bangles. They recognised that they have thousands of these bangles lying mostly untouched and unloved because they could not be given a story, a context, a meaning. They were so enthusiastic and helpful that I secured introductions to many major museums around the world, to study their substantial and interesting collections. Museums in Europe and on the East and West Coasts of the United States gave me access to the rich material they had accumulated. I had the rare privilege of spending days in their storerooms in the course of which I could see and compare many thousands of bangles. The curators who accompanied me in the inspection of their bangles were aware that these beautiful artefacts had lain undisturbed because they could not be explained or set in a wider context. The bangles were attractive but seldom came with a meaningful provenance. To their great credit, these highly-qualified specialists would listen enthusiastically as my wife and I noted bangles which we had encountered elsewhere. Seeing all these bangles and thus, over time, gradually building up a picture of their types, uses and probable areas of origin, I began to realise that I was looking at a decorative culture which was self-generated, wholly unlike the decorative cultures of the rest of the world. It was unique. Astonishingly, it was to be found in almost every inhabited part of the vast semi-continental area of sub-Saharan Africa. Gold and silver were of little consequence. Copper was their "precious metal". The style - instantly recognisable - was chunky, solid, weighty. Rarity was not a concern; the Eurasians' "precious stones" were unknown. Rings had no great meaning. It was bangles that were the standard means of conveying status, attraction and readiness for marriage. Most importantly, as I read the stories of explorers and the later accounts of African life in the 19th and 20th centuries while I worked through the museums' storerooms, it became clear to me, that for centuries, the bangle had been the one and only defining material culture shared by all Africans south of the Sahara. At last, an overall picture was emerging and there was now a chance of describing it before it was too late. The bangle culture that had unified Africans, through which and in which they had lived much of their lives, was fading fast. In their heartland of West and Central Africa the tactile bronze bangles that everyone wore in the 19th century - and which I saw occasionally in northern Ghana in the 1980s - were now encountered more in museums than on the bodies of inhabitants of those regions. This book will follow the art-historical practice of using "bronze" to describe all forms of copper alloys, including brass, when the composition is not directly relevant and retain "copper" for occasions when the pure metal is being discussed. "Bangle" will be used as the generic term for all forms of jewellery applied to the human body. This bangle culture is still an unselfconscious part of daily life in a few isolated African tribes and used quite naturally to send messages. But, in a few decades, this bangle culture will survive only in less traditional forms and only in limited areas in East and Southern Africa. At its height, it was an admirable system of great importance to social intercourse, replete with significance, great beauty and craftsmanship. It deserves to be recorded and I will try to do this in this book. I will set out why this bangle culture was so different from anything else in the world; the skill with which the bangles were made; and how the bangle culture spread throughout all Africa south of the Sahara; I will have to admit that the industrial world and its products have led to the Eurasian hierarchy of gold and silver overtaking bronze in Africa and, indeed, eliminating it as a "precious metal". But I will end on a note of hope, that there are indications that the sense of solidity of form and the respect for copper that was evident in classical African bangles may still live on among African Americans.

An indispensable guide to beads and beading techniques, presenting essential beading know-how together with a wide range of inspirational projects, tips and ideas. Beads are the oldest and most widespread art form, having been used in virtually every culture since ancient times. Over the years new materials and methods of making beads have been introduced and now bead workers have a vast array of stunning beads to work with. Beading has also developed over the years and, even though many traditional techniques are still popular, the craft is constantly evolving. With so many techniques, and such a vast array of beads and materials available for the contemporary beader, there is definitely a need for a comprehensive guide. The Beading Bible is just that - an encyclopaedia of beads and beading techniques that aims to educate and inspire anyone who loves working with beads. The Beading Bible begins by looking at beads themselves; how to choose beads from metal, modelled, gemstone, seed beads and cylinder beads to hex beads, crystals, glass and bugle beads. There are handy tables to help you to understand how beads are measured and bead quantities, as well as advice on choosing bead colours. You are then guided through the basic to more specialist tools and equipment that you will need in beadwork. You will find each beading technique explained in detail throughout the chapters. However, the book begins by giving you the basic knowledge of essential techniques, such as working from a chart and knotting. The book is divided into eight chapters that cover all the traditional techniques: bead loom weaving, off loom bead stitches, ropes and cords, fringing, netting and tassels, threading and stringing, wire work and jewellery techniques, bead embroidery and even knitting and crochet with beads. Within each chapter you are guided through the basic skills, tools and materials, before tackling more advanced techniques. Inspiration pages will give you interesting ideas using the different techniques, and there are over 30 fabulous projects, ranging from beautiful bags and jewellery to stylish scarves and accessories - perfect excuses for trying out your new skills! Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, clear diagrams and stunning photography combine to create the must-have resource for beaders of all abilities.

Georgian Dublin is synonymous with a period of unprecedented expansion in the market for luxury goods. At a time when new commodities, novel technologies and fashionable imports seduced elite society, silver enjoyed an established association with gentility and prestige. Earlier studies have focused predominantly on the issue of style. This book considers the demand for silver goods in Georgian Ireland from the perspectives of makers, retailers and consumers. It discusses the practical and symbolic uses of silverware, interpreted through contemporary guild accounts, inventories, trade ephemera and culinary manuscripts. For the first time the activities of Dublin's goldsmiths and their customers are considered in the context of the British Isles, acknowledging Dublin's 'second city' status in relation to London. How did the availability of new products like English porcelain and Sheffield Plate affect the demand for silver in Dublin, and how did silver imports from London affect the Dublin trade? To what extent do the practices of Dublin goldsmiths mirror their North American counterparts seeking to infer associations with the fashionable metropolis of London? Drawing on an extensive range of documentary and object evidence this wide-ranging analysis considers the context in which silver goods were made, used, valued and displayed in Georgian Ireland.

Hattie Carnegies life story surpasses that of Cinderella in that it is true. Born in 1886, she went from being a destitute Macys messenger girl who owned three blouses and one skirt to controlling, at its high point, a ten-million-dollar empire. Her five companies included custom and ready-to-wear clothing, hats, perfume, and fabulous costume jewelry. For decades, her personal taste and fashion sense influenced the styles worn by countless American women. Today, Hattie Carnegies jewelry is what has lasted, and this groundbreaking book showcases the full range of designs -- from glamorous rhinestone bracelets to exotic Oriental pins. Over 480 stunning color photos illustrate earrings, necklaces, sets, pins, and bracelets produced from the 1920s to the 1970s. Historical background, jewelry marks and signatures, current values, and collector tips are all included. Many have heard the name Hattie Carnegie, but until now her story has remained a silent secret. With this engaging book, collectors can finally enjoy a look at Hattie Carnegies fascinating life as well as the beautiful jewelry that serves as her legacy.

This newly revised 4th edition edition displays a wide variety of Southwest Indian-made jewelry which features the many different colors and types of turquoise, depending on their origins. The turquoise mines in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico are discussed with characteristics of the turquoise found there. Beautiful color photographs show hundreds of examples of Southwest Indian jewelry, dating back over a hundred years and up to the present, with innovative designs. Men's, as well as women's, jewelry is shown to display the many colors and textures of turquoise in belts, bracelets, bolo ties, necklaces, and special pieces of particular beauty. The price guide has been newly revised. *Hundreds of examles of Southwest Indian jewelry are shown *Features turquoise mines in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico *Newlry revised prices

To develop a successful jewellery line, designers have to be more than just creative artists - they have to understand the ins and outs of running a craft business. Emilie Shapiro's detailed guide explores the many facets of creating a quality handmade collection that people will buy, including where to sell your work, how to do small-scale production, how to carry out market research and publicity, how to price and present your pieces for greatest effect and so much more. It's the perfect primer for budding jewellery entrepreneurs.

If you love silver jewelry but don't have the time or patience to learn traditional silver-smithing techniques, then the exciting medium of silver clay will open up a whole new range of possibilities to your jewelry making. Boasting all the same properties as modeling clay, it is 99.9% pure silver--meaning that you can make high-quality jewelry using the easiest of techniques. Revised and reformatted Silver Clay Workshop is perfect for anyone taking their first steps with this rewarding craft. 22 projects that show perfectly the versatility of silver clay. Shape, roll, cut, mold and indent your way through them, learning the techniques as you go. From pendants and bracelets to rings and statement beads, there will be something for everyone.

This book features 30 main projects, each with extra projects to complete a set or to complement the main design. It offers wealth of advice on tools, materials and techniques, making it perfect for beginners. Featuring projects from a range of jewelry designers, with clear steps illustrated in 450 photographs. The art of handcrafted stringing and linking jewelry is a fun and accessible way to create a range of stunning pieces from the comfort of your home. In this comprehensive guide, there are 30 main projects, each with extra projects to complete a set or to complement the main design, plus there is a wealth of advice on tools, materials and techniques, making it the perfect book for beginners. Featuring projects from a range of jewelry designers, there is bound to be something to suit everyone. Step-by-step instructions, clear step photography and handy tips throughout will ensure confidence grows until you're happy to make alterations to suit, or to design your own masterpiece from scratch!

This new study presents striking parallels in both ethnic (non-European) and folk (European) traditional costumes and ornaments made with silver and glass. African ornaments include Zulu beads, Maghreb necklaces, the Oba's crown, and Massai headpieces. European ornaments extend from the Baltic to the Alps and from Russia, Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Asian jewelry comes from the Fertile Crescent, the Silk Route, and the foothills of the Himalaya. Each example exquisitely displays a common sense of beauty among many distant peoples.

The most prolific 20th century and contemporary Zuni jewelers established themselves by adhering to the same basic models and traditions set by their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Using silver and mosaic inlay pins, bracelets, bolo ties and other ornaments, these artisans have created many successful motifs taken from the animal kingdom, including horses and cows, insects such as butterflies and dragonflies, wild animals like deer and antelope, birds of all shapes and sizes, and humans. All of these are featured in the author's fourth book in his series on Zuni jewelry. Read sixty-five biographies of Zuni jewelry-making individuals and families, with interesting facts about their extraordinary backgrounds and explanations of their design styles and methods. Nearly 300 color photos display subtle variations that indicate a particular master's work. Detailed notes on each image include design specifics and prices.