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Gold and Jewellery History Books

Written by Baroque Rocks

Explore books tracing the history of gold, jewellery, and precious metals across centuries, from the treasuries of ancient civilisations to the rise of modern luxury houses.  These titles reveal how gold has shaped global trade, power, geopolitics, craftsmanship, and symbolism, illuminating why this enduring metal has captivated societies for millennia.


Best for:
readers seeking a deeper understanding of the history of gold, jewellery design evolution, precious metal economies, and the cultural and geopolitical significance of jewels.


Top Tip:
Discover the Baroque Rocks Guide to Gold Glorious Geopolitical Gold.

Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioelleria Materpieces of High Jewellery curated by Carol Woolton The New Stone Age by Carol Woolton Vogue The Jewellery by Carol Woolton
 
 

 

 
Cartier: The Story Behind the Style by Rachael Taylor
Tiffany & Co.: The Story Behind the Style by Rachael Taylor
Rolex: The Story Behindthe Style by Rachel Taylor. Discover the story of Rolex, from its beginnings in 1905 to its current position as the most famous watch brand in the world.
 

 

Sapphire by Joanna Hardy
Emerald by Joanna Hardy
Ruby by Joanna Hardy
 
 
The Cartiers The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewellery Empire by Francesca Catier Brickell Cartier in the 20th Century by Margaret Young-Sanchez The Cartier Collection: Jewelry by François Chaille
 
 
Cartier (The Official V&A Exhibition Book) edited by Helen Molesworth and Rachel Garrahan.  Few jewellers are as celebrated as Cartier, even fewer have as many instantly recognizable designs - some of which, such as the Tank watch, Love bracelet and Trinity ring, have become iconic.  Glamorous, witty, beautiful and beloved of stars such as Grace Kelly, over 150 dazzling Cartier pieces are featured here. This book presents jewels from superlative collections, including the V&A and the Royal Collection, as well as Cartier's own private collection and it celebrates the history of the company The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, called the 'Jeweller of Kings and the King of Jewellers'.
Bulgari Treasures of Rome by Vincent Meylan
The Art of David Webb: Jewellery and Culture by Ruth Peltason and Ilan Rubin
 
 
The Smithsonian National Gem Collection - Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels by Jeffrey Edward Post Christie's: The Jewellery Archives Revealed by Vincent Meylan Garrard: Crown Jewellers for 150 Years by Charlotte Gere
 
 
War and Gold: A 500-Year History of Empires, Adventures, and Debt by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Power of Gold by Peter L. Bernstein
The Secret History of Gold: Myth, Money, Politics and Power by Dominic Frisby.  The Secret History of Gold tells the epic tale of the world’s oldest, and most treasured, currency. From its origins in the formation of the solar system to its pivotal role in both ancient myth and modern finance, Dominic Frisby explores, with wit and brevity, how gold has defined the entire course of human civilisation.
 

 

Stoned Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World by Aja Raden The Pearl Necklace by Vivienne Becker If These Jewels Could Talk: The Legends Behind Celebrity Gems by Beth Bernstein
 

 
Koh-I-Noor: The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond by William Dalrymple The Royal Jewels by Suzy Menkes Art as Jewellery: From Calder to Kapoor by Louisa Guinness
 
 
Jewel: A Celebration of Earth's Treasures


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