Well hey, kids.  I have made an interesting discovery recently as I begin to get in depth with my books.

I have these books by the Italian, Guido Gregorietti (alt spelling is Gregoretti).  One is “Jewelry Through the Ages” (JTA, pub in 1969); the other is “Jewelry History and Techniques: From the Egyptians to the Present” (JHT, pub in 1979). (yes, I’m aware that the titles aren’t formatted right)

I finally figured something out after I had gone through JHT and was reading JTA for something to do – I was/am working through JHT to write things down like where pearls first show up, how cutting was done in the old world, which were the most popular stones of which era, that kind of thing.  And no, I’ve not gotten far – flare ups in my right hand are making it hard to spend too long writing.

JTA, is 10 years older than JHT, and is at least twice as long in page count.  However, JHT is like a condensed version, with a different layout.  If you have to choose between the two books, get JTA.  The color photos in JHT are also in JTA, and with a goodly bit more besides.

I have not accomplished a page by page, I’m not that picky about it, and the formats are different.  JTA actually has chapters, JHT does not.  JTA has all it’s notes on gold in one section, JHT scatters it throughout, in individual sections, with sections on gems and technique in between, causing some confusion when you get to each one.

So, that’s my opinion.  I also won’t say to not get both, but.  If you are on a budget like me, get JTA NOW and save up for JHT.  (also, JHT is smaller and lighter than JTA – likely because of the page count difference)