Understanding Jewellery: The 20th Century

”[A] beautifully illustrated book by David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti…” - Phyllis Schiller, Rapaport“Understanding The Jewellery is a love letter to glorious pieces from the last hundred years.” - M. J. Rose, The Adventurine“An enjoyably scholarly romp through the past and a feast for the eyes for the novice and the consummate jewelry fan and collector.” - Beth Bernstein,, Forbes“The new volume covers the most distinguished designers of the 20th century—including Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co.—and is sure to be a reference for years to come.” - Victoria Gomelsky, JCK“A must-have coffee table book for jewellery aficionados, ACC ART BOOKS’ new Understanding Jewellery: The 20th Century offers a comprehensive overview of the brands, trends and techniques that defined the jewellery world in the century past.” - Elisa Vallata, Departures International“As with stocks, education is the way to begin. There are many excellent books on the jewelry market, but start with Understanding Jewellery, the industry bible by two former Sotheby’s jewelry executives, David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti.” - Kristen Shirley, Bloomberg“More than a coffee table book, the authors take the reader on a journey through the ages with a lesson in history, focusing on fashion and jewellery.” - The Australian Gemmologist“Understanding Jewellery, The 20th Century is a monumental book by David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti.” - Hedendaagse sieraden“Speaking of classic books, one that I recommend to friends who want a readable, educational and beautifully illustrated book about antique and vintage jewelry is Understanding Jewellery, by David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti. Unlike many other encyclopedic and informative books spanning different centuries, this one is an enjoyable scholarly romp through the past and a feast for the eyes for the novice and the consummate jewelry fan and collector.” - Instore

David Bennett is the Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division and the Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland. He has sold four out of the five most expensive jewels in auction history. Having worked as an auctioneer at the firm since 1978, Bennett is renowned internationally as an authority on jewellery. He played a key role in numerous illustrious sales, such as the ‘Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor’ (1987), a tiara from the Collection of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck (2011) and Henry IV of France’s Beau Sancy (2012).

Daniela Mascetti is Sotheby’s Chairman of Jewellery in Europe. She joined Sotheby’s in 1980, opening the firm’s Milan-based department. She is one of Sotheby’s most experienced scholars in the history of jewellery, and has collaborated extensively in the sales of historic collections. Her research has assisted with several notable auctions, from The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor to the collections of Elton John and Gina Lollobrigida.