Jewels of the Romanovs: Family & Court

This is a lovely book to look at and the author has unearthed some very rare photos you only normally see in low quality on the internet along with pieces sold long ago at obscure auctions for our viewing pleasure. Having said that I found this book somewhat disappointing. Given the topic there's some unavoidable cross over with the contents of  Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia , which is another visual treat. The author has also matched up photos of people wearing their jewels to sold pieces that is very interesting and lacking in "Jewels of the Tsars" on a scale such as this.What it is missing though is a full list of the jewels sold in 1927 and those taken into exile with the imperial family. To get the 1927 list you have to get  A History of the Crown Jewels of Europe  which is both rare and expensive or for the jewels in exile  The Fate of the Romanovs where the list is available as an appendix. The lack of this hard, useful information for those researching Russian imperial jewels will make this book of mostly visual use in the future rather than the last word on the subject. One other glaring omission in both of these books is a lack of photos of the jeweled badges the ladies in waiting wore for each empress. These are distinctly Russian pieces of jewellery, and while odd examples are shown neither book goes into them in any detail which is a great pity.The text is 90% recounting of the biographies of various members of the imperial family and friends lives. I suspect a full family tree would be useful for those not familiar with the Romanovs. The majority of the information about the jewels themselves is to be found in the captions for the pictures and for me that made this a somewhat odd book, but one which nevertheless will have it's place on my bookshelf.

While there were some stunning pictures, I was disappointed by how relatively few there were for the size of the book. The Romanovs had some gorgeous jewelry, and I'd have liked to have seen more pictures of the jewels and less of the people (without the jewels). There were also some factual errors in the book, as well as a lot of info on more distant relations that really added nothing to the book. In all, I'd have to say that I was very disappointed.

This lovely book is read more as a memoir than a jewelry book. Many photos are of jewels that were destroyed or lost, so the book also act as an archive of these wonderful creations. The text is very well done but with so many Marias, Alexandras and the complicated system for russian last names, a genealogical tree or guide would have been so welcomed (next edition maybe). If you love russian history or jewelry, a great addition for your library.

This book is lavishly illustrated and has much documentation. However, I feel that there is more information on the individual members of the Romanov family than of the jewels themeselves. The author should have included who the present owners of these gems are or if they have been distroyed. I understand that some of the present owners might not like their names included, so the "generic" term Private Collection would have sufficed. It is very inconvenient to have to go back to the end of the book to see the source of the photographs and thereby surmise who the present owners might be.Nonetheless, it is a great book to have for lovers of jewels and the Romanovs.

This is a magnificent book. I have never seen diamonds and aquamarines look so beautiful. The photography is great and it is a noble effort. However, I was surprised to find a number of serious mistakes in the book. For example, Olga did not travel to Yekaterinburg with her parents, it was Maria. I found a dozen errors like this, it wasn't a pleasant experience, I wanted the book to be better. The book also is ignorant of many important facts regarding Alexandra, her jewels and their fate. I would say buy the book for the pictures. Let us hope that someday we'll get a great book on Alexandra and her jewels. This is not it.

This book is stunning! I had no idea what to expect prior to receiving it, but now that I have, I look forward to turning the next page, to see what will pop up next! Amazing jewels, history, photographs... it's a wonderful coffee table book to learn a bit of Russian History from. Of course, the jewels are just jaw-dropping, too! Enjoy!

I like this book due to all the information that have regarding The Romanovs and their jewelry. I love to read about European Royalty. Y.C.

Excellent seller, received the book in good condition. The book is well written, very enjoyable.

This one heavy book and needs to be picked up and put down many times carefully and with two hands, to take in all the details of the jewels and the stories behind them, a mamouth task. However a task which is very interesting and I am sure I will be reading still in a years time there is so much detail to take in, the photographs are superb and the reproduction quality of the highest standard. An heirloom for any family to look at, read and enjoy.Another Amazon triumph

good photography and lots of items I had not seen before.great item for anyone interested in the Romanovs with nice little stories about the jewels

beautiful book, holding lots of info on the jewels as they originally started and their change throughout their lifetime and different owners, its not a book to read from start to finish; in one go; but one to revisit time after time for snatches of a very romantic period of history.

Wallow in the beauty and the craft displayed here and ponder on the historical view underwriting the events described

You won't be disappointed this is a lovely quality book.It is a book i look at often,especialy as it shows the movement of jewellery throughout family and continent.