Cartier: Founded 150 years ago in Paris, the family-run Cartier firm expanded to become an international jewellery business with a reputation second to none. In the decades preceding the World War II, its celebrated clients included Indian princes, members of European and other royal houses, and leading names in high society; with time, famous faces from the world of show business joined the select ranks of Cartier's clientele. This sparkling history features an illustrated selection of the firm's prestigious jewelled wares - tiaras, bracelets, necklaces in distinctive styles- worn by famous owners. Codognato: Codognato Jewelers has been an institution in Venice for more than a century. In 1866, Simeone Codognato opened his shop in the very same spot where it stands today. More than a business venture, the boutique was an act of faith and creativity. Simeone's son discovered the considerable interest of jewels unearthed by contemporary archaeological digs in Etruria, which inspired him to create revolutionary new jewellery. Today, Codognato remains one of the most majestic and mysterious of the great European jewellery houses?a secret destination for style insiders. Van Cleef RArpels: The mere mention of the name Van Cleef and Arpels signifies beauty, excellence, and mystique. It is one of the few brands that has an immediate and undeniable power to fascinate, a quality earned with over a century of unyielding devotion to the highest standards of haute jewellery. Van Cleef and Arpels deftly combines glamour with nature and sophistication with simplicity?just like the women who choose it. Shinde Jewels: This lavishly illustrated book lifts the shroud of mystery from a man The New York Times has called "a leading figure in design known only to cognoscenti." Working with the world's rarest jewels, A.V. Shinde decorated everyone from the Queen of England to Madonna. Shinde Jewels traces the life of Shinde from the first two decades of his sixty-five-year career designing for the fabled Maharajas of India, to travelling the world as head designer for the diamond legend Harry Winston. Based on three years of intimate conversations with A.V. Shinde and featuring previously unpublished photographs and designs, Shinde Jewels offers an insider's account of the creation of the world's most famous jewellery. Dior Jewelry: The pinnacle of French haute couture and savoir-faire, the house of Dior is one of the world's most celebrated luxury brands. Christian Dior envisioned a world of sophistication and elegance, a complete expression of the French tradition of high culture, artistry, and meticulous workmanship. With his fashions, Dior created idealised feminine shapes, seeking harmony and coherence in the lines of his designs. As a young man, Christian Dior had hoped to become an architect; his mother wanted him to be a diplomat: He was all that and more. 300 illustrations in total
