Books and Book Reviews


Our Rare Jewelry Books section will provide eBook versions, if possible, and information on hard-to-find works of interest to jewelry makers.

HomeJewelry MakingBooks and Book Reviews
Cuttlefish Casting Method

Cuttlefish Casting Method

Cuttlefish casting is a quick and fairly accurate casting method. Its applications are limited only by the thickness and overall...
Read More

The Best Jewelry Books: A Comprehensive Reading List For Craftspeople

A selected bibliography list for the jeweler - Metal working, Casting, Plating, Enamelling ,Gem Cutting, Setting, Engraving and Etching, Other...
Read More
Testing Precious Metals and Alloys

Testing Precious Metals and Alloys

The purpose of precious metal testing is to determine, first, whether a given sample is precious or base, and, second,...
Read More
Testing Japanese Patina Solutions

Testing Japanese Patina Solutions

It is important to understand that many variables will affect patina results. Our tests were made on smooth, rolled metal....
Read More
Gold of Africa: Jewellery and Ornaments from Ghana

Gold of Africa: Jewellery and Ornaments from Ghana

Now this is a truly attractive book. One of those coffee table type books dripping with gorgeous National Geographic quality...
Read More
Practical Jewelry Rendering

Practical Jewelry Rendering

Gems are a lot of fun to render, but because they require some precision, you might want to render a...
Read More

Full eBook: The Jewelry Maker

Full eBook.48 Pages: Jewelry and metalsmithing are hard work, and also very rewarding. There is great pleasure in creating with...
Read More
Practical Wax Modeling Techniques

Practical Wax Modeling Techniques

To begin with I highly recommend this book of technical information and procedures for anyone wanting to learn wax modelling...
Read More
Contemporary Japanese Jewellery

Contemporary Japanese Jewellery

Contemporary Japanese Jewellery, In order to introduce largely unknown contemporary Japanese jewelry to the West, British jeweler Simon Fraser, working...
Read More
Book Review – The Art of Jewelry Design

Book Review – The Art of Jewelry Design

Do you like sumptuous drawings and colored renderings of gemstones and fine jewelry? Interested in basic design principles for commercial...
Read More
Enameling on Electroformed Vessels

Enameling on Electroformed Vessels

June Schwarcz (b.1918) in Denver, CO. She is a Fellow of the American Craft Council and received their Gold Medal....
Read More
A Modern Method of Creating Enameled Filigree Jewelry

A Modern Method of Creating Enameled Filigree Jewelry

After making jewelry and doing lapidary work for twenty-five years, I began looking for another type of jewelry making which...
Read More

Precious Metal Refining

The principle of this ancient, valued procedure is described here because of its historical interest, and with the thought that...
Read More
Book Review – Lapidary Carving for Creative Jewelry

Book Review – Lapidary Carving for Creative Jewelry

This book is an expert and concise introduction to the world of carving gem materials. You could actually do it...
Read More
Book Review – Bernhard Schobinger – Jewels Now!

Book Review – Bernhard Schobinger – Jewels Now!

Bernhard Schobinger, one of Europes most provocative and influential jewel artists, is the subject of this handsome monograph, originally produced...
Read More
Full eBook: Practical Jewelry Rendering

Full eBook: Practical Jewelry Rendering

This practical tool-in-a-book combines instruction on rendering techniques with unique guides that assist designers as they conceive jewelry and other...
Read More

Book Review – Modeling in Wax for Jewelry and Sculpture

My first reaction when I heard about this book was, "It's about time." Think of it: If you tried to...
Read More
Reducing to Half-Size

Reducing to Half-Size

At the counter, you remove the tape with a sharp blade and then slide the ring up a man-drel. Next,...
Read More

Book Review – Jewelry Making for Schools, Tradesmen, Craftsmen

It would be inappropriate to review this book without including a short description of the craft environment of the early...
Read More
Full eBook: Modern Letter Engraving

Full eBook: Modern Letter Engraving

Full eBook.186 Pages: Modern Letter Engraving in Theory and Practice - A Manual for the Use of Watchmakers, Jewelers and...
Read More

Recycling Gold from Electronics

With over 300 tonnes of gold used in electronics each year, end-of-life electronic equipment offers an important recycling potential for...
Read More
Book Review – Delightful Beaded Earring Designs

Book Review – Delightful Beaded Earring Designs

This small paperback book is written and illustrated by Jan Radford. At 8.95 it is an affordable introduction to 'Indian'...
Read More
Book Review – Introduction to Precious Metals

Book Review – Introduction to Precious Metals

About 15 years ago a friend showed me a copy of the first edition of Mark Grimwade's Introduction to Precious...
Read More
Book Review – Gijs Bakker and Jewelry

Book Review – Gijs Bakker and Jewelry

One of the best things about a retrospective book is having a window into the mind of an artist, meandering...
Read More
Book Review – Beginner’s Guide to Enamelling

Book Review – Beginner’s Guide to Enamelling

The book is based on a workshop for beginners given by the author some years ago called 'The Second Coat'....
Read More

Book Review – Die Granulation

This article is a book review by Hannelore Gabriel for the book “Die Granulation" by Jochem Wolters, for the 1984...
Read More
Working with Large Mosaic Enamels

Working with Large Mosaic Enamels

An enamel of any size can be produced by working sectionally. I cut copper sheet into irregular shapes to enhance...
Read More

Book Review – Silversmithing

Silversmithing is a big topic. While I have a few reservations about this book, my overall response is that it...
Read More
Book Review – Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives

Book Review – Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives

This book is not only very good, it is important. In the introduction, author David Darom, who is a marine...
Read More
Book Review – Ethnic Jewellery

Book Review – Ethnic Jewellery

For those of us who get our sustenance from books about jewelry, Ethnic Jewellery is an excellent feed. Its 170...
Read More
Full eBook: Doming Silver Beads

Full eBook: Doming Silver Beads

Full eBook. 96 Pages. If you've ever dreamed of making perfect silver beads every time, then this manual is just...
Read More
Book Review – The New Jewelry

Book Review – The New Jewelry

Well, this is a book I have to have in my collection. I recommend it for yours. As a contemporary...
Read More
Book Review – Art Jewelry Today

Book Review – Art Jewelry Today

The very term art jewelry has been bandied about so much within the past few decades that one must endeavor...
Read More
Ensuring the Best Refining Experience

Ensuring the Best Refining Experience

Today's record metals prices have probably encouraged you to be more diligent than ever about capturing every last bit of...
Read More
Book Review – Making the Most of Your Flex-Shaft

Book Review – Making the Most of Your Flex-Shaft

A welcome addition to the literature now coming out for bench jewelers, Making the Most of Your Flex-shaft by Karen...
Read More
Book Review – Legacy: Jewelry Techniques of West Africa

Book Review – Legacy: Jewelry Techniques of West Africa

In this beautiful and personal volume, readers are invited to visit the sparse market stalls, examine the heirloom tools and...
Read More
Book Review – 20th Century Jewelry

Book Review – 20th Century Jewelry

John Peacock is a fashion designer's best friend. Over the years, this former BBC costume designer has published a dozen...
Read More

Book Review – Setting of Gemstones

This article is a book review by Tim McCreight for the book "Setting of Gemstones", written by Walter Zeiss, for...
Read More
Book Review – Two New European Jewelry Books

Book Review – Two New European Jewelry Books

Two new European jewelry books crossed my desk this summer. One offered an uneven survey of jewelry concepts and the...
Read More
Book Review – Designing Jewelry

Book Review – Designing Jewelry

Boy these people are really good at what they do. I’d love to watch them drawing sometime. Like their previous...
Read More

Book Review – The Complete Metalsmith

Many fine books have recently been published for the serious student of metalsmithing. Tim McCreight's new book is a tasty...
Read More
Monographs of 3 Contemporary Metalsmiths

Monographs of 3 Contemporary Metalsmiths

Superb mographs about three contemporary metalsmiths have recently become available: Ah Xian -- a Chinese sculptor who uses time-honored practices...
Read More
Book Review – Gem Care

Book Review – Gem Care

This slim paperback book is a real addition to the book collections of the working jeweler, the jewelry shop owner,...
Read More
Book Review – The New Clay

Book Review – The New Clay

The New Clay is a serious and readable text offering polyform clays as a material for unique and production jewelry...
Read More
Book Review – Fabergé and His Works

Book Review – Fabergé and His Works

ver read an annotated bibliography? Its not normally thought of as exciting reading by non-researchers. But if you are interested...
Read More
Book Review – Collecting Rhinestone & Colored Stone Jewelry

Book Review – Collecting Rhinestone & Colored Stone Jewelry

This book by Maryanne Dolan is in its third edition and is clearly a required text for those interested in...
Read More
Book Review – The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

Book Review – The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

This book is profoundly logical, extremely obvious and demystifying. The book and it's content presents more relevant information about glass...
Read More
Book Review Camille Faure

Book Review Camille Faure

Camille Fauré: Impossible Objects Cork Marcheschi lSBN 615-13229-4 172 pages; full color; 11 x 9 inches This book demands to...
Read More
Book Review – At the Bench

Book Review – At the Bench

This soft back book is a practical guide intended for practising goldsmiths and is developed from a number of articles...
Read More
Metalsmith ’88 Summer: Book Reviews

Metalsmith ’88 Summer: Book Reviews

This article is for book reviews for the books "Jewelry by Architects", "The Jewellery of René Lalique", "Jewelry 7000 Years"...
Read More
Metalsmith ’92 Summer: Book Reviews

Metalsmith ’92 Summer: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1992 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviewing "Contemporary American Jewelry...
Read More
Book Review – One of a Kind

Book Review – One of a Kind

If you like art jewelry, innovative work, future jewelry directions and opening up new markets for the jewelry industry you...
Read More
Book Review – Classic Earring Designs

Book Review – Classic Earring Designs

This small paperback book is written and illustrated by Nola May. At $9.95 it is an affordable introduction to 'Indian'...
Read More
Metalsmith ’89 Summer: Book Reviews

Metalsmith ’89 Summer: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1989 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "Power and Gold:...
Read More
Metalsmith ’95 Fall: Book Reviews

Metalsmith ’95 Fall: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1995 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "Ancient Mesopotamian Materials...
Read More

Book Review – Jewelry Contemporary Design and Techniques

Today's metalsmith and jewelry designer has available a full range of reference books—from the general text, which gives a broad...
Read More

Book Review – The Flexible Shaft Machine

Harold O'Connor's latest book is both logical and well laid out and will be a valuable reference to anyone using...
Read More

Metalsmith ’98 Spring: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1998 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviewing "Object and Ornament:...
Read More

Metalsmith ’92 Spring: Book Reviews

This article is a book review of 2 books in the 1990 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including Victorian...
Read More
Books on Material That are Fun

Books on Material That are Fun

After "Plastic", "Glass" and "Wood", "Metals" is now the fourth volume in a successful series of books on materials. It...
Read More
Book Review 2003 August

Book Review 2003 August

Enameling Art Live by Toshiko Tanaka The World of Modern Enamel Murals 89 pages; soft, glossy covers; 172 full color...
Read More

Metalsmith ’85 Spring: Book Reviews

This article showcases the book reviews for "Diamond Setting: The Professional Approach" and "Contemporary Jewellery: The Americas, Australia, Europe and...
Read More

Metalsmith ’94 Summer: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1994 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviewing "Hydralic Die Forming...
Read More
A Book Review August 2009

A Book Review August 2009

This handsomely presented volume has an initial chapter tided 'An English Goldsmith's Work History, and over 140 of the 158...
Read More
Book Reviews Feb 2005

Book Reviews Feb 2005

The Art of Enameling; Techniques, Projects, Inspiration by Linda Darty Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co. 2004; ISBN...
Read More

Metalsmith ’88 Spring: Book Reviews

This article reviews three books “ American Jewelry: Glamour and Tradition” and “Art Aurea” and "The Eloquent Object" published in...
Read More
Glass on Metal 2008 Book Review

Glass on Metal 2008 Book Review

Painted Enamels - An Illustrated Survey 1500-1920 by Erika Speel Published by Lund Humphries, Hampshire, England, 2008 Hard cover, 10-3/4"...
Read More
Glass on Metal 2008 December Book Review

Glass on Metal 2008 December Book Review

The Little Book of Water Etching and Enameling for Metal Clay Etching with water? This may sound strange until you...
Read More

Metalsmith ’85 Winter: Book Reviews

This article showcases the book reviews for "Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists" by Glenice Lesley Matthews and "The Nature and Art of...
Read More

Metalsmith ’87 Winter: Book Reviews

This article reviews two great books "Practical Casting: A Studio Reference" and "Jewellery of the Ancient World" published in the...
Read More

Metalsmith ’86 Spring: Book Reviews

This article showcases book reviews for "The Art of the Jeweler", "Bead Setting Diamonds, with Pavé Applications", "Custom Knifemaking: 10...
Read More
Metalsmith ’93 Summer: Book Reviews

Metalsmith ’93 Summer: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1993 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "Metals Technic: A...
Read More

Metalsmith ’95 Spring: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1995 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "One of a...
Read More
Book Review April 2004

Book Review April 2004

This recently published 64-page small format book gives an overview of the jewellery and luxury objects that comprise the collection...
Read More

Metalsmith ’90 Spring: Book Reviews

This article is a book review of 3 books from 3 authors in the 1990 Spring issue of the Metalsmith...
Read More

2006 February Book Reviews

Contemporary Enameling - Art and Techniques by Lilyan Bachrach 256 pp., 550 color photos, 8-1/2" x 1 1" hard cover....
Read More

Living Design

In his book "For Common Things", the American author Jedediah Purdy foretells the end of the fun society. It is...
Read More
Metalsmith ’97 Fall: Book Reviews

Metalsmith ’97 Fall: Book Reviews

This article is a book review published in the 1997 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviweing "Uber den Schmuck...
Read More

The All-In-One Jewelry Making Solution At Your Fingertips

When you join the Ganoksin community, you get the tools you need to take your work to the next level.

Become a Member

Trusted Jewelry Making Information & Techniques

Sign up to receive the latest articles, techniques, and inspirations with our free newsletter.