Best Costume Jewelry Books

[bergenpickersusa]

Everyone has their opinion as to which is the best book to them. I'm currently on the market aiming to expand my library and feel I should ask the REAL experts for advice. What book(s) have you found to be the absolutely most helpful to you in collecting/selling/buying Vintage Costume Jewelry over the years. Your advice is treasured therefore I'd like to thank you ahead of time. 🙂

[prettysillybaubles_bylorih]

I'm no expert but the ones I probably learned the most from are Julia Carroll Collecting Costume Jewelry 101, 202 & 303. A recent purchase that I really liked and has alot of information is Pamela Wiggins Warman's Costume Jewelry which came out fairly recently. I also use Ann Pittman Juliana Jewelry Reference, Katarina Musetti The Art of Juliana Jewelry and Karla Wacker & Paula Knutson Juliana Jewelry The Last Generation on a regualr basis. 

[old.crows.nest]

My first and still favorite book is "Fabulous Fakes" by Carole Tanenbaum

The book is filled with beautiful pictures. It includes Victorian to Modern Styles in all types of materials.

[old.crows.nest]

A word of warning about Julia Carroll CCJ books, make sure to confirm you are buying the latest version.

[arlene_v]

American Costume Jewelry : Art and Industry, 1935-1950 by Roberto Brunialti. (2 volumes). Scholarly, in-depth, beautifully illustrated and well worth the money spent to acquire them. I bought these on the recommendation of Sandy (Flipping Treasures)  and Cool-Awesome-Vintage earlier this year and am so pleased that I did.

[bergenpickersusa]

Thank you all very much for your insight. Some of these books are pricier than expected! 😉 I'm starting off with the Warman's Guide and moving into the others soon. The Juliana Jewelry Reference though, WOWZERS, on the price! 

[zienty]

I really like:

Collectible Silver Jewelry Identification and Value Guide by Fred Rezazadeh.

Some of the books do seem expensive. They can pay for themselves in useful information.

[flipping_treasures]

Depending on where you are in your knowledge of costume jewelry, I would recommend "How to be a Jewelry Detective" by C. Jeanenne Bell.  I still find useful information in this book.  All of the above mentioned books are also in my Library.

[don-franciscos-sister]

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've collected upwards of 100 jewelry books (ack! where did all that time go?). At this point I don't use them as daily references, but I love taking out one at a time and drooling (hopefully not literally) over the pics.

When I first started out, I relied heavily on Warman's. For all the books that are updated, the latest version will incorporate the most up-to-date knowledge, but I keep the old versions, as I often can find pics that were not carried over to newer versions (hope that makes sense!)