Thirty years after the first edition of Understanding Jewellery*, the book by Sotheby’s specialists David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti remains the ultimate resource for professionals, collectors and enthusiasts alike. Today at its third revised edition and translated into five languages, this 500-page “Bible” has formed the basis of a ground-breaking new App which makes the content available in a new dynamic and interactive way, featuring the full content of the book as well as brand new images, news, events and auction highlights.

With a visual library of around 1,000 pieces of jewellery dating from the 18th century to the present, the app provides a new and unique way to look at the history, style and craft of jewellery. Its interactive features include high-resolution imagery and search filters to allow the best experience for the user. It is a fantastic resource to identify gemstones, discover the evolution of jewellery over two centuries and learn what an item of jewellery is made of, where it comes from and when it was made.

This educational app is also a living platform which will constantly be expanding with future developments including social features, the opportunity to promote events, fairs, exhibitions and the ability for users to form their own collection within the App. Due to the large amount of material and high resolution images this App is only designed for Android and Apple tablets, not computers or smartphones.

The app is designed for tablet devices and is available for purchase through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store  (for Androids) at a price of $19.99.

*Understanding Jewellery by David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti, third revised edition 2015, ACC Art Books, 496 pages.

About the Authors:

David Bennett
Regarded internationally as an authority in the field of precious stones and jewellery and a key figure in the auction world, David Bennett was appointed Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland in 2011 and Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division in 2015.

An auctioneer for the firm since 1978, David presided over many record-breaking sales. Most recently, he orchestrated the historic sale of royal jewels from the Bourbon Parma family which established a new record for a sale of Royal jewels and antique jewels at $53.1million and for a natural pearl at $36.2 million. He also conducted the sale of the most valuable diamond or jewel ever sold at auction: the “CTF Pink Star”, a Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless diamond weighing 59.60 carats which realised for $71.2 million in Hong Kong in April 2017. In May 2016, David set the world record for any jewellery sale, achieving a record total of $175.1 million for Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva.

Daniela Mascetti
One of the most experienced scholars specialising in the history of jewellery, Daniela Mascetti, Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department in Europe, has been closely involved in the auction house’s most important jewellery sales and has contributed to the research vital for the sales of historic collections, notably the Royal Jewels from the Bourbon Parma family (including treasures from Queen Marie Antoinette), the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor and the collections of Thurn und Taxis, Elton John and Gina Lollobrigida.

As a senior international specialist, she travels extensively, sourcing jewels and promoting Sotheby’s Jewellery sales worldwide. She also regularly gives lectures on jewellery and runs Sotheby’s Institute of Art Jewellery Courses.

Both David and Daniela have published several books on the subject. In addition to the best-selling Understanding Jewellery, they have co-written Celebrating Jewellery, a magnificent volume published in October 2012, illustrating some of the greatest and most iconic pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries.