Jewellery books are another of the jewels we love to collect on our jewellery shelves, but do you love them as much as we do?
Books and jewellery, the perfect pairing
In this post, we would like to tell you about some of the works that all of us who are part of this historic establishment in the heart of Cádiz 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 throughout history have made use of writing to express their innermost feelings, to ironise on specific subjects or to teach and disseminate a multitude of knowledge through its most precious asset, inspiration.
On this occasion, we want to help you choose the book with which to disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle and which, of course, are related to one of our other greatest passions: the jewellery.
You are at literary recommendations that we will offer you below, have been our muses to solve some of the doubts that 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's our top 5 books which, as we said, every jewellery lover should read at least once in their life.
1. Vintage Jewellery, by Caroline Cox
In some 200 pages, this book reviews one hundred years of vintage jewellery design history with exquisite illustration. It does so decade by decade, with photographs ranging from the elegant and luxurious art nouveau, through the classic and symmetrical art deco, to the most current design.
For us, Vintage Jewellery, by Caroline Cox, is an invaluable bibliographical reference and a visual source of what times were like in the past in our industry. Another plus point is that it has a glossary of terms describing metals, styles and types of carving.
You will like it if...
You have inherited your family jewellery and you want to get to know it in depth. Also if you are a lover of creative expression in history in all its forms.
2. Andrew Grima. The father of Modern Jewellery, by William Grant
If you don't just like stories of overcoming adversity in the cinema, this book about the Andrew Grima is for you. It contains a large number of his sketches, those never before known, and shows the author's creative process from the very beginning.
Andrew Grima was a transgressor for the classic jewellers of his time. This Anglo-Italian designer was self-taught and created very striking and daring pieces that left no one indifferent. So much so that celebrities from the world of fashion such as Givenchy and Marc Jacobs have declared themselves admirers and collectors of his pieces.
At the end of the 1960s his fame made him not only the favourite jeweller of the high society of the time, but also from the English Crown. In addition, he was presented with a Royal Warrant by the Queen of England.
The creations of this forerunner of today's jewellery have been a source of inspiration for many designers. After his death in 2007, it was his wife and daughter who carried on his legacy. A legacy that is difficult for other creators to match.
You will like it if...
You like stories of overcoming innate talents. Also if you are interested in origins of contemporary jewellery.
3. Necklaces, by Nicolas Estrada
Would you like to discover current trend-setting artists in the contemporary world of jewellery? This work, linked to today's cultural and artistic reality, is for you.
Necklaces runs 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 jewellery on the market, from the necklaces and chokers The most classic to the most daring, 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.
4. Vogue The Jewellery, by Carol Woolton
This book is one of our must and it should be yours too if, like us, you are fascinated by fashion. With a foreword by former British Vogue UK editor Alexandra Shulman, this fascinating book shows us a host of significant pieces that pay homage to the world of jewellery.
Written by jewellery historian, editor and stylist at British Vogue magazine for 20 years, Carol Woolton, it is illustrated by iconic photographs by well-known and famous professional photographers such 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 jewellery. A must if you like the world of fashion.
5. Jewels that made History, by Stellene Volandes
History is another of our greatest hobbies, we recommend this book by the jewellery expert Stellene Volandes, Jewels that made History.
In its pages you will find the history of the world through the eyes of inspirational iconic jewellery. 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 side of history and curiosities.
Do you recommend any?
We hope you liked our small selection of books, but we are open to other bibliographic suggestions with the aim of adding to the shelves of our library and continue learning about this world, which we are passionate about. So if you have any other title among your favourites, we are all ears.
In this page we talk about the best jewellery books, these jewellery books are the best jewellery book authors in the world.
