Jet, a hard, black, shiny gem closely related to coal, has been fashioned into jewelry and trinkets for generations. During the Victorian period, when the ritual surrounding death and the long mourning of Queen Victoria made black fashionable, jet became hugely popular. Although jet is found elsewhere in the world, it is the jet from Whitby that excites collectors to such an extent that even jet jewelry manufactured elsewhere is often called Whitby Jet. This book traces the history of jet and the Whitby jet industry, examining different types and styles of jet jewelry, and pictures the work of some of the best-known Whitby craftsmen.

The 4th edition of Warman's Jewelry: Fine & Costume Jewelry price guide is for any jewelry lover interested in jadeite, pearls, diamonds, figurals, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, sterling silver, beads, rhinestones, avant-garde, designer, antique Victorian-Edwardian-Georgian, couture, plastics including Bakelite and Lucite, gold, and even more exceptional jewelry categories. The book features a fresh and fun redesign with more than 1,000 all-new images. Scholarly information and helpful hints guide the collector on an amusing journey through costume and fine jewelry from the 18th to 21st centuries. The easy-to-follow format allows collectors to quickly identify their jewelry, plus concise and informative intro shorts tell the readers specifically what to look for within categories. The book is an indispensable addition to any jewelry library. Learn about jewelry without the usual tedium of non-fiction for a read that goes fast from the first word to the closing paragraph. Plus, read short interviews with category specialists. All in all, you'll learn a lot without realizing you've been ... studying.