TV personality and Antiques Roadshow expert John Benjamin brings his best-selling guide to becoming a collector completely up to date. Collecting Jewellery is a guide to jewellery through the ages and includes new chapters on the ‘Modern Style’ of the 1940s and ’50s, the ‘Designer Jewel’ of the 1960s and ’70s, right up to and beyond the Millennium. Through his expertise as lecturer, valuer and jewellery historian, Benjamin provides fundamental information to enable the collector, student and enthusiast to recognise and identify jewels and designs through the centuries. From natural to cultured diamonds, unique ‘one off’ pieces to popular prevailing fashions, Collecting Jewellery is an accessible companion that will teach the reader about availability, value and fashion, while gaining the knowledge needed to create their own fabulous (and affordable) jewellery collection.

Formerly International Director of Jewellery at Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers, John Benjamin established his own independent jewellery valuation and advisory service in 1999. A Freeman of The Goldsmiths’ Company and a Freeman of the City of London, John is a Founder Liveryman and Court Assistant of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars. He is author of Starting to Collect Antique Jewellery (2003) and co-author with Paul Atterbury of The Jewellery and Silver of H.G. Murphy (2005). A lecturer, valuer and jewellery historian, John has been a member of the team of experts on BBC Television’s Antiques Roadshow since 1991 and is a popular speaker for both The Arts Society and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.