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How to be a Jewelry Detective - Book Review
02/07/12
C. Jeanenne Bell is a G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America) Graduate Gemologist
with over 30 years experience working with antique jewelry. She has made numerous
television appearances as a jewelry expert and has authored many books on collectible
jewelry. In How to be a Jewelry Detective (part of the "Antique Detectives"
series by A.D. Publishing), Bells introduces us to basic methods used to identify,
describe, and date jewelry. Although the book is marketed primarily to antique
jewelry collectors, it contains a wealth of information that will help any fashion-jewelry
lover better understand the jewelry they purchase and own.
About the Book
The 2002 printing of How to be a Jewelry Detective is a 166-page trade-size
paperback with thick, glossy pages that can withstand a lot of wear. Bell begins
with some examples of jewelry identification "mysteries" she has solved
and, very generally, the methods she used to solve them. Most of the remainder
of the book provides greater details about these methods and other tips and
tricks for jewelry identification.
These include methods for determining whether a piece of jewelry is "fine"
or "costume" (i.e., "fashion jewelry"), when it was made,
and which company manufactured it. Bell also describes the ways gemstones and
metals are examined, tested, and described. The main portion of the book concludes
with a little "exam" testing the reader on the jewelry sleuthing skills
covered throughout the book. A useful bibliography and much-needed glossary
are included in the book's final pages.
Pros
How to be a Jewelry Detective contains a lot of useful information about jewelry
and a little about jewelry history. I learned some very interesting facts that
will help me to describe new and old jewelry more accurately and in greater
detail. But I believe the greatest benefit of the book is the overview it provides
to the methods used by experienced jewelry collectors and professionals.
If you have older jewelry that you know very little about, or if you would
like to know more about jewelry appraisal before having jewelry appraised by
a professional, this book is for you. It's also an excellent introduction to
the field of jewelry study, which can help you determine whether you'd like
to tackle a professional training program or more detailed books in the future.
I must also mention that the book contains some wonderful images of old jewelry
advertising and rare and unusual jewelry collections.
Cons
I suspect the greatest challenge for Bell in writing this little book was keeping
it short, to the point, and on an introductory - but still useful - level. In
reading through the chapters, it becomes clear that Bell's knowledge of jewelry
far exceeds what was appropriate for this intro-level book. There are times
when her writing feels constrained, or even hurried, as if she's taken us by
the hand and is sprinting through a magnificent, high-detail world that she
just doesn't have space enough to fully expose or explain.
One thing I would recommend be added to future editions of the book are summary
flow charts. After reading paragraphs of text on the many clues to consider
when examining a particular piece of jewelry, it would be helpful to see a simplified
chart (or "key") reminding us what to look for first, second, and
so on. With the current edition, readers may wish to take notes as they read
through each chapter, and create their own little charts for quick reference.
Recommended?
Bell admits that you will not become a jewelry appraiser by reading How to
be a Jewelry Detective. To get the most out of this book, you'll need to set
your expectations appropriately. It is not the one and only guide to jewelry
study and identification you will need. Rather, it is a general introduction
to jewelry identification that can be used as a gentle pathway into more intense
studies. I definitely recommend this book for anyone just getting started with
their jewelry studies or jewelry collection, or anyone who would simply like
to be better informed about the jewelry they own or may purchase.
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