Books are another of the jewels we love to collect on the shelves of our jewelry store, but what about you? do you love them as much as we do?
Books and jewelry, the perfect pairing
In this post, we want to tell you about some of the works that all of us who are part of this historic establishment in the heart of Cadiz, have fallen in love with and that we think you have to read if you like gems in all their varieties, at least as much as we do.
Whether for joy, consolation or pure happiness, all writers in history have used writing to express their innermost feelings, to ironize about specific topics or to teach and disseminate a multitude of knowledge through its most precious value, inspiration.
On this occasion, we want to help you choose the book with which to disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle and that, of course, are related to another of our greatest passions: jewelry.
These literary recommendations that we will offer you below have been our muses to solve some of the doubts we had in our minds, whether they were about the specific properties of certain gemstones or to clarify historical questions about them.
So take a seat and relax, here are our top 5 books that, as we said, every jewelry lover should read at least once in their life.
Vintage Jewelry, by Caroline Cox
In some 200 pages, this book reviews one hundred years of vintage jewelry design history with exquisite illustration. It does so decade by decade, with photographs ranging from elegant and luxurious art nouveau, through classic and symmetrical art deco, to the most current design.
For us, Vintage Jewelry, by Caroline Cox, is an invaluable bibliographical reference, as well as a visual source of what times past were like in our industry. Another point in its favor is that it has a glossary of terms describing metals, styles and types of carving.
You will like it if…
You have inherited jewelry from your family and want to know it in depth. Also if you are a lover of creative expression in history in all its forms.
Caroline Cox reviews one hundred years of vintage jewelry design history in her book Vintage Jewelry.
2. Andrew Grima. The father of Modern Jewelryby William Grant
If you don’t just like stories of overcoming your own personal challenges in the movies, this book about Andrew Grima is for you. It contains a large number of his sketches, those never known before, and shows the author’s creative process from his beginnings.
Andrew Grima was a transgressor for the classic jewelers of his time. This Anglo-Italian designer was self-taught and created very striking and daring pieces, leaving no one indifferent. So much so that celebrities from the fashion world such as Givenchy or Marc Jacobs have declared themselves admirers and collectors of his pieces.
At the end of the 1960s, his fame made him not only the favorite jeweler of the high society of the time, but also of the English Crown. In addition, he was presented with a Royal Warrant from the Queen of England.
The creations of this precursor of today’s jewelry have been a source of inspiration for many designers. After his death in 2007, his wife and daughter carried on his legacy. A legacy difficult to match by other creators.
You will like it if…
You like stories of overcoming innate talents. Also if you are interested in investigating the origins of contemporary jewelry.
The book Andrew Grima. The father of Modern Jewelryby William Grant, shows the author’s creative process from its beginnings.
3. Necklaces, by Nicolas Estrada
Would you like to discover current trendy artists in the contemporary world of jewelry? This work, linked to today’s cultural and artistic reality, is for you.
Collares covers, through a little more than 200 pages, the works of more than 180 artists from 40 countries. We love it because it shows the existing proposals of this type of jewelry on the market, from the most classic necklaces and chokers to the most daring ones, designed with the most eccentric materials and the most surprising techniques you can imagine.
You will like it if…
You like visual arts of all kinds, creative processes and discovering new artists.
Collares covers, through a little more than 200 pages, the works of more than 180 artists from 40 countries.
4. Vogue The Jewellery, by Carol Woolton
This book is one of our must-haves and should be yours too if, like us, you are fascinated by fashion. With a foreword by Alexandra Shulman, former director of the British edition of Vogue in the UK, this fascinating book shows us a myriad of significant pieces that pay tribute to the world of jewelry.
Written by jewelry historian, editor and stylist at British Vogue magazine for 20 years, Carol Woolton, it is illustrated with iconic photographs by such well-known and famed photographers as Mario Testino and David Bailey. You can also see in its pages images of great models, actresses and other celebrities such as Sophia Loren or Linda Evangelista.
You will like it if…
You are curious about the world of jewelry. A must if you like the fashion world.
Vogue The Jewellery, by Carol Woolton, is illustrated with iconic photographs by professional photographers.
5. Jewels that made History, by Stellene Volandes
History is another of our major hobbies, we recommend this book by jewelry expert Stellene Volandes, Jewels that made History.
In its pages you will find the history of the world through inspiring iconic jewelry. Like a novel, it delves into the passions and predilections of some of the most extraordinary people we know today, from Cleopatra to Jennifer Lopez to Meghan Markle.
If you want to know how some shiny stones and precious metals have defined empires, this beautifully readable book will be another must-have in your library.
You will like it if…
You are a lover of the lesser known part of history and curiosities.
The book Jewels that made History shows the history of the world through inspiring iconic jewelry.
Do you recommend any?
We hope you liked our small selection of books, but we are open to other bibliographic suggestions in order to increase the shelves of our library and continue learning about this world, which we are passionate about. So if you have any other titles among your favorites, we’re all ears.
In this page we talk about the best jewelry books, these jewelry books are the best authors in the world of jewelry books.
