In Twisted, wire artist Nadja Shields encourages you to twist, wrap and weave your way to a treasure trove of stunning jewellery. Featuring 15 step-by-step projects, you can use copper, steel, silver or even gold wire and embellish your pieces with sparkling gems or beads.

Before embarking on your first project, discover the techniques used for various weaves, information on tools and materials, details on creating and assembling components, and options for setting gems and beads. After gaining a grasp of the basics, delve into projects ranging from beginner through to advanced, such as simple butterfly earrings, a beaded cuff bracelet and a complex bejewelled pendant.

By the time you have completed the last project, you will have all the skills and techniques you need to become a confident and skilled wire artist, from the first twist to the final polish.

Enter a workshop filled with expert craftspeople as they bring loved pieces of family history and the memories they hold back to life.

Each expert explains their craft, the reason they love it so much and how they go about restoring and reviving your precious objects, from a Ukrainian suitcase to a matchstick clock, using crafts as varied as leatherwork, woodwork, metalwork, art and ceramic restoration.

Discover the intriguing stories of the world’s most famous and fabulous gems, including the mysterious Hope Diamond, the stunning Koh-i-Noor of the Crown Jewels, and exquisite Fabergé eggs. Trace the history of gemmology, learn all about the key characteristics of precious and semi-precious stones, and discover the science behind some of their more unusual and mysterious properties.

With a foreword by antiques expert Judith Miller, co-founder of Miller’s Antiques Price Guide, and a regular presenter on BBC’s The Antiques Roadshow, this sumptuous celebration of gems and jewels is guaranteed to bring sparkle to both your life and your library.

Dive deep into the pages of this dazzling book on jewels to discover:

– Hundreds of specially commissioned, spectacular photographs.
– Intriguing features on the history of gemstones, and the fascinating real-life stories behind them.
– Stunning photography showcases the brilliance of semi-precious and precious stones, minerals, and metals.
– Fascinating features on the most famous (and infamous) gems, and on the history of gemmology.
– Optional 80-page directory section

Jewel is the ultimate guide to gemstones, jewels, and jewellery – combining mineralogy with culture, history, and symbolism, and proves the perfect addition to the library of jewel lovers of any ages. Whether you’re interested in gems, jewellery, and making jewellery, or a student of gemmology or geology, this gorgeous gem gift book is sure to delight.