If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories by Carol Woolton

I’ve always adored jewellery for as long as I can remember, so when Joe Christie at Simon and Schuster kindly sent me a copy of If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories by Carol Woolton in return for an honest review, I was delighted. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories was published by Simon and Schuster on 26th September 2024 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories

A treasure trove of forgotten stories about jewels throughout history by internationally renowned jewellery expert, Carol Woolton.

If Jewels Could Talk delves into the history, cultural significance and eclectic trivia of jewellery. As a jewellery historian, jewellery editor at British Vogue and now podcast host, Carol Woolton is uniquely qualified to take us on a whistle-stop tour through history via seven items of jewellery: hoops, rings, beads, charms, brooches, cuffs and head ornaments.

Weaving in examples from cultures around the world, Carol will uncover fascinating stories about Viking silver torques, Imperial jade in China, sixteenth-century Posy rings, organic gems, snake motifs, Roman cameo carving, Hindu wedding jewellery, Etruscan gold, Ancient Greek coins, piercings, Wedding pigs in China, tiaras and anklets – to name but a few.

A beautiful and illuminating gift for any jewellery lover, If Jewels Could Talk shines a light on all that glitters and more.

My Review of If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories

A non-fiction book looking at seven kinds of jewellery.

I’m going to say at the outset that I think the title If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories is a complete misnomer! Whilst the book is divided into seven sections covering jewellery from hoops to head ornaments, it is far, far more than that might suggest. This is a real cornucopia of history, culture, myth, legend and vicarious travel. If Jewels Could Talk might have a focus on jewellery but it is fascinating for many other reasons too.

It’s actually quite hard to review If Jewels Could Talk without merely regurgitating the wonderful factual information between its pages, but that would be like telling the plot for fiction and is in danger of spoiling discovering the contents for yourself. What it is possible to say is that the underpinning thread of If Jewels Could Talk is the connections and identity made through wearing jewellery. It might be to belong, to illustrate status or wealth, to act as protection or to suggest our personalities, but what Carol Woolton presents so sensitively is the need for human connection. And when she considers so-called environmentally friendly lab created jewels, QR codes, or the future of technology in jewellery making, there is still the message that jewellery helps us define ourselves – both to others and to our own hearts. It seems ridiculous that a whirlwind tour of seven kinds of jewellery can leave the reader feeling slightly emotional, but I found If Jewels Could Talk remarkably touching as well as engaging.

Whether a reader’s interest is in the world of fashion from discovering the Cartier anti-occupation brooches of the second world war through an Elton John style party, or in civilisations across the globe and in discovering the Egyptians were the first to create fake jewels, If Jewels Could Talk is a book with something for every reader presented in an erudite but accessible tone that is a joy to read. That said, I won’t be wearing jewellery containing a slug design any time soon!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading If Jewels Could Talk as it is authoritative, informative and hugely entertaining. I think it’d make the perfect gift for a jewellery lover who otherwise seems to have everything.

About Carol Woolton

Carol Woolton is a jewellery historian, editor, author, stylist and jewellery editor at British Vogue for twenty years, where she remains as Contributing Jewellery Director. She was the first jewellery editor of Tatler magazine and has contributed widely to the likes of the Financial Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue and the Daily Telegraph. Carol has written several books about jewellery for the special sales market, including The New Stone Age (2020), Vogue: The Jewellery (2020),Floral Jewels (2014) and Dolce & Gabana High Jewelry (2023). Carol curates jewellery exhibitions and hosts If Jewels Could Talk, the podcast she launched in 2020.

For further information, visit Carol’s website and follow her on Twitter/X @carolwoolton. You can also find Carol on Instagram.