Renaissance Europe, 1500-1625 -- The Baroque interpretation, 1625-1715 -- Eighteenth-century absolutism, elegance and sentiment, 1715-1800 -- Dynastic pride and private affection from Napoleon to World War I, 1800-1916 -- The portrait diamond, 1613-1906 -- The engraved diamond portrait.

Draws upon author's knowledge of jewelry, painting, history and literature to set the portrait jewels in the context of people's lives, bringing to life five centuries of extraordinary events and personalities, and at the same time illustrating an aspect of the history of jewelry never explored to this degree.