Costume Jewelry

Myriad designs, eclectic sources of inspirations, and a disregard for convention—experience almost 600 pieces from Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo’s breathtaking collection of the finest ‘jewel-less’ jewelry. Frivolous but inescapable, reproducible, and now highly collectible, costume gems are the ultimate ‘democratic jewels’, accessible to all. 

Faux and Fabulous

A dazzling collection that celebrates the beauty and artistry of imitation gems

Discover the sparkling story of costume jewelry through the extraordinary collection of Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. In the early 20th century, New York became the epicenter of paste jewelry design, as artisans fleeing war-torn Europe rebuilt their craft in America. Their expertise propelled the city to fashion’s forefront, ushering in an era of bold, beautiful, and accessible bijouterie.

This gorgeous book, with texts by Carol Woolton and Maria Luisa Frisa—who pens a personal reflection on Patrizia and her collection—showcases nearly 600 of the finest pieces from the 1930s to the new millenium.

With stunning photography by Luciano Romano, it follows jewelry’s democratization, as women embraced statement accessorizing and a newfound fashion freedom. Beyond their beauty, these baubles embodied rebellion and transformation: they adorned Hollywood’s greatest icons, and became symbols of identity and creativity.

Explore the visionary designers and cultural movements of each era, reflecting the artistic, economic, and social shifts that shaped them. Learn how innovative materials like Lucite and Bakelite, and the introduction of vibrant tropical colors, inspired new waves of designs. Discover the remarkable artistry of designers who incorporated intricate details and eye-catching motifs in their often avant-garde creations, blurring the line between fine and fashion jewelry and transforming accessories into wearable art. This is an essential source of inspiration for collectors, designers, and jewelry lovers alike.

The artist

Renowned photographer Luciano Romano combines his passion for visual storytelling with a background in theatre and architecture to create striking, staged photography. A winner of the Atlante Italiano 003 award in 2003 and Strategia Fotografia 2022, he exhibited at the 10th International Venice Architecture Biennale, and his work is held in major museum collections worldwide.

The authors

Carol Woolton is an author, broadcaster and contributing editor at British Vogue. She's the founder of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and co-founder of The Leopards, a charitable initiative that works to nurture inclusivity, and mentor young people into the industry. She's written widely on the subject, having published eight books covering a broad spectrum of styles, from antique, historic jewels to contemporary pieces.  

Fashion critic and curator Maria Luisa Frisa holds a chair at the IUAV University in Venice, where she founded the Fashion Design and Multimedia Arts programme. She has curated numerous exhibitions and written many exhibition catalogues, her most recent publications being the monograph Le forme della moda. Cultura, industria, mercato, comunicazione (2022) and the anthology I Racconti della moda (2024).

Costume JewelryHardcover, 26.9 x 33.6 cm, 4.52 kg, 528 pages

ISBN 978-3-8365-8826-3

Edition: Multilingual (English, French, German)