| This book is the essential guide for serious and casual | | | | when chatelaines and watch fobs evolved into |
| charm collectors alike. "Charms and Charm Bracelets | | | | bracelets, up to the 1960s and beyond. Part three |
| The Complete Guide" is a hardback book published by | | | | takes a look at special categories of charms such as |
| Schiffer in 2005. The author, Joanne Schwartz, and | | | | stanhopes, hearts, travel souvenirs, and those with |
| photographer, Robert N. Schwartz have done a | | | | mechanical moving parts. And part four, my favorite, |
| brilliant job of packing the book with charm bracelet | | | | is the charm catalog, which is loaded with many more |
| history spanning the 19th century to present time. | | | | "drool over" photos from some premier charm |
| They also discuss the makers, styles, and current | | | | collections. There are also several appendices in the |
| values, and included over 300 stunning color | | | | back that help identify various makers and types of |
| photographs of bracelets and charms. | | | | charms. |
| On the dust jacket inside front cover there is a brief | | | | The technical advisor for the book was Joan |
| biography of Joanne Schwartz. The first paragraph | | | | Munkacsi. She also provided many of the beautiful |
| reads: "Schwartz is an avid collector of antique and | | | | bracelet examples from her extensive personal |
| vintage jewelry. Her personal library includes more | | | | collection to be used in the photographs throughout |
| than 100 vintage jewelry catalogs, and she is a | | | | the book. Sadly Joan passed away last year, |
| member of the Society of Jewelry Historians." | | | | however her legacy lives on for charm collectors |
| From her vast knowledge and library she has pulled | | | | through her contributions to this book, and in the |
| together this comprehensive and entertaining guide | | | | vintage charm ebay discussion group she founded. |
| that was my first "must have" jewelry reference, | | | | I believe this book is a collectible in itself, equally |
| and still my favorite. Reading through the table of | | | | suited for a coffee table specimen and a research |
| contents gives an overview of the wealth of | | | | guide. You'll want to have a separate copy for |
| information contained in the pages that follow. | | | | research though because I assure you the pages will |
| Part one examines the making of various vintage | | | | appear heavily used within a short time. It's |
| charms including the materials used, the | | | | considered by many to be the charm collectors |
| manufacturing processes, and embellishments. Part | | | | "Bible" and is a great resource for jewelry collectors |
| two chronicles the history starting from the 1900s | | | | everywhere. |