Diamonds: A Century of Spectacular Jewels
Through most of their long and sparkling history, diamonds have been reserved for royalty; that is, until 1887, when the leaders of the Third Republic of France decided to sell the French crown jewels. Following that event, anyone could own them. This work successfully blends a highly informative and authoritative text with magnificently photographed splendors that exhibit the opulence associated with the jewels. Each chapter focuses on some aspect of the historical importance of the diamond over the past century and its relationship to and impact on fashion. Career information on an array of notable jewelers?from Boucheron, Bulgari, and Cartier to Schlumberger and Winston?is featured. Also highlighted are the styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Machine Age, Modern, and Pop, along with the evolution of settings from traditional silver to platinum and gold. This cavalcade of jewelry history is punctuated with references to fashion, glamor, socialites, entertainers, and royalty. This volume could serve as a companion to The Master Jewelers (LJ 10/15/90) and would be a welcome addition to any collection.?Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson CityCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.