Understanding Jewellery: The 20th Century

One of the most dazzling, absorbing and varied collections of jewellery images ever assembled in a book, from the authors of Understanding Jewellery.

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"Understanding Jewellery is a love letter to glorious pieces from the last hundred years." —M. J. Rose, The Adventurine


"An enjoyably scholarly romp through the past and a feast for the eyes for the novice and the consummate jewelry fan and collector."—Beth Bernstein, Forbes


"A must-have coffee table book for jewellery aficionados..." —Elisa Vallata, Departures International


"As with stocks, education is the way to begin. There are many excellent books on the jewelry market, but start with Understanding Jewellery, the industry bible by two former Sotheby’s jewelry executives, David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti." —Bloomberg

Understanding Jewellery, by authors David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti, is often described as the must-have jewellery book of our time – a ‘Bible’ in the jewellery trade. First published in 1989, it has remained in print ever since, amassing a loyal following of devotees who admire its detailed information and stunning imagery.

In this new work, Bennett and Mascetti have taken the original concept of Understanding Jewellery a stage further. Now, with the benefit of 20 years of hindsight, they have concentrated on the 20th century alone by conducting a detailed survey of each decade, identifying the key players, trends and movements. The book is an encyclopedic history of the various forms, techniques and materials employed by the companies and individuals who defined jewellery in the 20th century.

Most significantly, this book includes a new set of photographs, which make Understanding Jewellery: The Twentieth Century one of the most dazzling, absorbing and varied collections of jewellery images ever assembled in a book. This large format hardback volume is a perfect gift for all lovers of jewellery and the definitive guide for those who desire a deeper understanding of the subject.