Top 21 Jewellery Books That You Must Read

If jewellery fascinates you, along with having a huge collection of it, reading jewellery books is a good way of discovering your love for it.

Add a little sparkle and shine to not just your bookshelf but also to your life with an amazing read on jewellery. Whether it is about the ancient jewels or a glimpse into the minds of famous jewellers, a glut of words has been written on this subject. 

From expert guides on gemstones of the kings to the history of diamonds through the years to the best of modern jewellery, you are likely to find a jewellery book for any and every kind of jewellery that you are passionate about.

If you love jewellery and you love reading then you are at the right place. Whether you plan on getting one for yourself or for someone you love, jewellery books make for a great gift. So, come along, as we tell you about some of the best books on jewellery of all time. 

Top 21 Jewellery Books That You Must Read

Jewel: A Celebration of Earth’s Treasures

Its beautiful black velvet front cover opens you up to a world of the most dazzling jewels, gemstones, precious and semi-precious gems and minerals. The book is full of stunning pictures of celebrated jewellery, gemstones and other precious objects. 

With this book, you get to immerse yourself in the incredible stories that surround these famous, notorious and most-celebrated gems. 

Full of spectacular photographs, interesting real-life stories and intriguing historic jewels, ‘Jewel: A Celebration of Earth’s Treasures’ by Dorling Kindersley is an absolute must-read.

The Cartier: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewellery Empire

Whether or not someone is a jewellery lover, Cartier, is perhaps a name that everyone has heard of. One of the most recognized jewellery brands in the world, Cartier is a household name.

In this book by Francesca Cartier Brickell, the author tells the untold story behind of the family behind the gigantic brand. She talks and shares stories of her ancestors- the three brothers Jaques, Louis and Pierre who transformed their grandfather’s Parisian jewellery store into the luxury international brand that Cartier is today.

Jewels & Jewellery

One of the top jewellery books of all time, Jewels & Jewellery is written by Clare Phillips- author, historian and V&A Museum curator. The book was first published in 2000 and then it has gone through several reprints.

The book examines splendid pieces of jewellery right from the early medieval period to the Renaissance period to the twenty-first century designs. Jewels & Jewellery also features exceptional photographs from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s unmatched collection. 

With an impeccable amount of research put into it, this book gives you an insight into the evolution of jewellery through the different eras.

Hidden Gems: Jewellery Stories from the Salesroom

A book by Sarah Hue-Williams and Raymond Sancroft-Baker, Hidden Gems is a collection of 40 stories. These intriguing stories are a beautiful blend of art, science, history, and psychology and trace the lives of jewels and those connected to them.

This compilation of stories is a very interesting read, and the combined knowledge and experience of the authors has created this spellbinding read.

Chaumet Tiaras: Divine Jewels

The next on our list of must-read jewellery books is Chaumet Tiaras by Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni. This is an exclusive book that features the most stunning tiaras that were created by Chaumet. 

The Parisian House of Chaumet, since 1780, has been one of the most sought-after jewellers in Europe after Chaumet was named the official jeweller to Empress Josephine. 

Chaumet has produced over 2,000 tiaras, and this book pays tribute to some of the most fabulous of them.

Lydia Courteille: Extraordinary Jewellery of Imagination and Dreams

With her avant-grade and unusual jewellery designs, Lydia Courteille has been making a name for herself for over thirty years. One of the most amazing jewellery books to read, this book is part biography and part retrospective. 

Right from tracing her roots from her birth to her teenage years and to her early career, Lydia Courteille pays homage to her home city. The latter part of this amazing jewellery book takes you on a journey through this designer’s wonderful designs. 

Celebrating Jewellery: Exceptional Jewels of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

Penned by David Bennet and Daniela Masceti, Celebrating Jewellery is one of the must-reads when it comes to jewellery books. The book is a compilation of the most celebrated jewels of the last 200 years of western history.

Right from the tiaras of the Victorian era to the designs of the late 20th century, the book features some of the most iconic jewellery houses such as Cartier and Bulgari. 

If you are a jewellery buff, you need to pick this book up.

Fine Jewellery Couture: Contemporary Heirlooms

This book by Olivier Dupon features over 35 master jewellery designers from all across the world. The book also features sketches alongside the photographs of the jewels. 

The author and design expert Olivier Dupon has a keen eye and a creative flair and this book of his is a testimony of that. In his book, each designer is introduced briefly and then hundreds of images of his art follow. Whether you are a jewellery professional or an aficionado, you must read this book.

Stoned: Jewellery, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World

When we talk about jewellery books, this is yet another amazing one. Authored by Aja Raden, it is the former jeweller’s first-ever book. 

A very entertaining read, Stoned takes you on a journey through the history of human desire for what is rare and precious. The author takes into account 8 different jewels that shaped the course of history. 

Stoned is a very, very interesting read that is so brilliantly written that it will have you hooked right from the first page. 

Jeweler- Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design

The next on our list of the top jewellery books is Jeweler, a book by Stellene Volandes. In the book, the author has focussed on contemporary jewellers whose works she considers to be the most influential in terms of both artistry and expertise. 

Jeweler is a colourful mix of the old and the experimental. Stellene Volandes has picked out the most visually impactful jewels, along with a personal introduction of each jeweller.

Ruby: The King of Gems

Penned by jewellery specialist Joanna Hardy, Ruby: The King of Gems gives an insightful look into this precious red gemstone. She shares the tales of the 60 most renowned rubies, ruby jewels. She also gives practical advice on what you should look out for when you buy a gemstone for yourself.

The book is a very beautifully illustrated survey that will take you on a journey right from the mines in Burma to the courts and palaces in Europe. If you are fond of rubies or gemstones in particular then this is one of the must real jewellery books for you.

Tiaras: A History on Splendour

This lavishly illustrated book is penned down by Geoffery C. Munn and gives you a deep insight into the world of tiaras. Right from how the word ‘tiara’ originated to its transformation from the ancient days to its modern-day status, you can read everything related to tiaras in this book. 

The book also features an array of photographs of royal tiaras of the French and Russian Imperial provenances, creations of some of the most iconic designers including Cartier, Castellini, Tiffany and more.

Diamond Jewellery: 700 Years of Glory and Glamour

The book talks about the glorious history of this highly celebrated precious stone ‘diamond’ through the stories of the European rulers. This book by Diana Scarisbrick is one of the best jewellery books especially if you are a diamond enthusiast.

Right from the mid-fourteenth century to the present day, ‘Diamond Jewellery’ explores the powerful people who commissioned and wore extraordinary pieces of diamond jewellery. Exclusive paintings and photographs highlight the diamond jewellery worn by prominent figures such as Queen Elizabeth I of Great Britain and icons such as Elizabeth Taylor.

The Cartier Collection: Jewellery

Penned down by Francois Chaille, Michael Spink, Christophe Vachaudez, Thierry Coudert and Violette Petit collectively, this two-volume book showcases more than 3,000 pieces from the stunning Cartier collection. Right from the 1860s to present day, this book traces thousands of high jewellery pieces from the luxury brand.

Right from Queen Elizabeth to Sir Bhupinder Singh, The Cartier Collection showcases extraordinary pieces from these imminent personalities. If high jewellery is something that interests you then this one is a must-have.

Adorning Fashion

This book by Deanna Farneti Cera is the next on our list of the top jewellery books. The book is a definite and comprehensive guide to costume jewellery and covers all aspects of it.

It talks about the evolution of costume jewellery right from bourgeois France to its present-day state. It is a very lavishly illustrated books that is a must-have for all kinds of jewellery enthusiasts. The book includes a range of remarkable designers such as Dior, Versace, Balenciaga and many more.

The styles of each era right from the Victorian era to the twentieth century are individually highlighted in Adorning Fashion. 

Beyond Extravagance: 2nd Edition 

Beyond Extravagance by Dr Amin Jaffar is a book that you absolutely must not miss out on as the book talks about the diverse tradition of Indian jewellery spanning over 4 centuries.

This particular second volume highlights more than 400 pieces of fine jewellery and art objects right from the time of the Mughal Empire to the British Raj to the twenty-first century. Some of the key pieces include a ruby and pearl choker made for the Maharaja of Patiala by Cartier, the Shah Jahan dagger, the Taj Mahal Emerald and much more.

This luxurious book is a must-have especially for those who love high jewellery.

Spectacular: Gems and Jewellery from the Merriweather Post Collection

This book by Liana Paredes gives a glimpse into one of the most remarkable collections of jewellery. ‘Spectacular’ will immerse you into the history and design of jewellery and keep you hooked throughout. 

The book features exquisite pieces by Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels, contemporary commissions from Harry Winston and so much more. One of the must-read jewellery books, it talks about the changing jewellery styles and developments in America as well as Europe. 

Women Jeweler Designers

A book by Juliet de la Rochefoucauld, Women Jeweler Designers celebrates the works of female jewelry designers from all across the globe. The book features works of Coco Chanel, Paloma Picasso, and many other female designers.

The book majorly talks about the works of women jewelry designers of the twentieth century. Every prominent woman designer and her work that you may want to know about is included in this wonderful book.

To know about the stories of these inspirational women and their exceptional work, this book is a must-have.

The Pearl Necklace

The next on our list of must-read jewellery books is The Pearl Necklace by Vivienne Becker. An iconic classic, the book exclusively talks about the ‘pearl necklace’ and about those who made it a part of their wardrobes.

Right from the Renaissance queens to the Maharajas to the First Ladies, you will find stories of all kinds of pearl necklace owners in this book. 

Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Precious Gemstones

This book by Richard W. Wise is a must-read if you are into gemstones. If how the best gemologists in the world evaluate precious gems is something you wish to know then you need to grab this book right away.

Rings

A book by Rachel Church, Rings is an engaging book on the evolution of ring designs right from the Middle Ages to today. This beautifully illustrated book talks about everything related to the most-worn accessory, ‘rings’. There are over 200 illustrations in the book right from period paintings and sketches to photographs.

Over to You

Here, we talked about the 21 must-read books on jewellery. Which one of these 21 jewellery books are you the most excited to read?

In case you wish to buy some silver jewelery, head over to our jewellery section where you can buy rings, earrings, pendants, bangles & bracelets and necklaces.

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