Customer Reviews:
A handy quick reference guide that is easy to use........2007-09-03
I fear that I am a bit of a magpie. I like shiny sparkly things, and the usual response is Ooooh! Shiny! And as a young one, when taken on various trips, I started to take an interest in rockhounding and geology. It was finding gemstones that were the real fun, seeing these little bits of glittery rock that turned out to be sapphires or amethysts or garnets. Life would take me in different directions, but the interest in pretty, glittery rocks has remained.
Smithsonian Handbooks: Gemstones is one of those lovely little books that is crammed full of information and pictures, along some folklore and bits of trivia that add to the mystique of gemstones. Compiled by Cally Hall, it's a very readable book, filled with more than 800 photographs, with a text that while it is slanted towards scientific terms, is very readable and accessable.
The first section of the book is an extended introduction to what makes a gemstone different than say, a mineral, although they might be composed of the same chemicals. A brief history of how gemstones and precious metals (silver, gold and platinum) have been shaped, worn and coveted. One section that I found very intesting was the explaination of the Mohs scale used to determined hardness -- it ranges from 1 to 10, with talc at the bottom, and diamond at the top, and how a stone is determined to fit in along the scale. Another fascinating section is how light and crystallization help to determine gemstones, and what part they play in how a stone is shaped and graded. There is also a section on synthetic gemstones and how they have been created over the centuries, and how the colour of stones can be changed by irradiation, heating and staining the stones. Finally, the section closes with a colour key, ranging various stones by their hues, with plenty of vivid pictures and the name of each stone underneath along with the page that goes into more detail about it.
The next section deals with the gemstones and precious metals in particular. Each item is classified into Precious Metals, Cut Stones, and Organics -- and each item is given a page or two that goes into further detail. Stones are given their chemical composition, rating on the Mohs scale, crystal structure, some folklore and history, what sort of cuts that the stones are usually shaped into, and lots of photographs.
It here in the photographs that the book sells itself. They are unusually clear, and crisply printed, with each gemstone being shown in a variety of ways. There is jewelry, different colours that the stone can occur in, and a few shown in their 'matrix' or the surrounding stone and minerals that the gemstones are usually found in their natural state. One of the more intriguing sections is on what are known as Organic Gemstones -- stones that are created by natural, not chemical, occurances, such as pearls, jet, coral, ivory, shell and amber.
The final sections include a table of properties, glossary, index, and some useful addresses to contact if you find that you want to find out more.
The binding is very sturdy, the printing very clean and crisp with the design well-thought out that flows easily from page to page. It is designed to stand up to quite a bit of use, with a spine that will not crack, and heavier than usual paper stock, and the quality is top notch.
Packed into less than a 160 pages, this is a wonderfully priced little book that gives a quick, informative and lively look at gemstones. While it's certainly not a perfect book, and is mostly designed to help the reader figure out what a stone may or may not be -- only a trained gemologist can tell you what it really is -- it's a fun way to start learning. The price was extremely reasonable, less than 10$US, although the cover price is listed as 20$US. It would make a perfect book for adding to a home library, or as a gift to the budding rockhound in your family.
Five solid stars. Recommended.
Gemstones Handbook.......2007-08-14
Great Book...full of useful information. The pictures really give you an indepth but brief description of the item discussed. This book is absolutely essential to the amature hobby collectors out there.
Good Gemstone reference book.......2007-08-13
Great book for those wanting to know the basics about gemstones. The pictures are wonderful and the tidbits are interesting.
Another great DK book.......2007-06-30
I bought this book for my [...] son after we spent an afternoon panning for gemstones in Breckinridge, CO. The bookseller recommended several choices, but the DK book seemed the most kid-friendly. He likes the pictures the best, and enjoyed showing his younger cousins the various stones.
Lovely Reference.......2007-06-29
I bought this for my 7-yr. old daughter - budding rock hound and naturalist! Like other DK books, the photography is luscious and the layout is casual and very inviting - full of beautiful images.
It provides a great overview and history of gemstones and their appeal, where specific stones can be found and appealing photographs of the different cuts of stones. It also provides detailed "specifics" such as structure, composition and hardness.
This is a thoroughly engaging book for all ages and it is highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Essential Reference for Consumers, Hobbyists, Jewelers Interested in Gemstones.
- Valueable book for gem id
- Needs More Detail
- Great Gem Guide
- You NEEDThis Book...
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Gem Identification Made Easy, Third Edition: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling
Antoinette L . Matlins , and
Antonio C. Bonanno
Manufacturer: Gemstone Press
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Gemstone Buying Guide, Second Edition: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for Colored Gems
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Colored Gemstones, 2nd Edition: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide: How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Other Colored Gemstones
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Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Third Edition
-
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones
ASIN: 0943763347 |
Book Description
New, revised, expanded edition of the first and only book of its kind. Covers the latest gems, synthetics, treatments, and instruments. Easy to use. Practical. Non-technical. Shows how to identify diamonds, colored gemstones, and pearls, and separate them from fakes and look-alikes. Explains what instruments are needed, how to use them, where to get them, and what should be seen for each gemstone.No science background necessary.Faster than you can imagine, anyone can learn to identify most of the gems and imitations found in the marketplace. This practical volume is the key to avoiding costly mistakes and recognizing profitable opportunities. Essential reading for collectors, investors, jewelry lovers, hobbyists, jewelers, antique dealers, and gemology students. With this highly accessible guide, anyone can begin to master gem identification.Selected Contents:Setting up a basic lab.Description of Each Instrument: What It Will Show & How to Use It.Dark Field Loupe - Synthetic Emerald Filters - Immersion Cell - Synthetic Diamond Detector - Loupe - Chelsea Filter - Electronic Diamond Tester - Refractometer - Ultraviolet Lamp - Microscope - Spectroscope - Polariscope - DichroscopeWhat to Look For, Gem by GemAntique & Estate Jewelry - The True Test for the Gem Detective.Dyeing - Composite Stones - Foil Backing - SubstitutionsAppendices: Charts and Tables of Gemstone Properties, Schools, Laboratories, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Essential Reference for Consumers, Hobbyists, Jewelers Interested in Gemstones........2007-07-18
"Gem Identification Made Easy" opens up the world of gem identification to the jeweler, hobbyist and the curious. I didn't come away with the impression that gem identification is easy, but that some kinds of identification are easy, inexpensive and FUN! Antoinette Matlins makes it clear that the bar to entry into gemology is low. Practice, diligence, and three small instruments that cost less than $200 will enable you to identify 80% of colored gemstones and their look-alikes as well as diamonds and most of their imitations. Since there are at least 3 different gemstones on the market in every color and no shortage of synthetics and enhancement treatments, the skills within the pages of "Gem Identification Made Easy" are invaluable to anyone shopping for gemstones. If gems fascinate you, this book will help you discover if you would like to pursue gemology as a career or serious hobby.
The bulk of "Gem Identification Made Easy" are descriptions of the instruments involved in gem identification, detailed instructions on how to use each, and what they can show you, including many charts which will help you identify stones. The 3 essential instruments that everyone will need are: loupe, Chelsea filter, and dichroscope. The loupe magnifies the stones, revealing inclusions, blemishes, and fillers. The Chelsea filter differentiates between some gems and synthetics. The dichroscope distinguishes single-refracting stones from double-refracting and allows identification of stones by the colors they exhibit. In addition, Ms. Matlins provides instructions for additional tools that one would need to set up a lab: UV lamp, refractometer, microscope. Less essential: spectroscope, polariscope, and immersion cell. For diamonds: SSEF diamond-type spotter and electronic diamond tester. These could cost nearly $3000, but shopping on eBay will bring the price tag down.
The author also dedicates a chapter to "Antique and Estate Jewelry", in which she discusses imitation and alteration techniques frequently found in antique and period jewelry. She advises on how to detect them and includes tables of synthetics and imitations, when they appeared on the market, and characteristics that will help identify them. This is followed by many useful Appendices: a list of gems and look-alikes by color, gem hardness, specific gravities, refractive index tables, tables of dispersion and birefringence, glossary of terms, list of organizations offering gemology workshops or training, equipment suppliers. These are in addition to the many tables and lists in the instrument chapters. Color photos are limited to a center insert, where there are photos of gemstone inclusions and a few other identifying features. "Gem Identification Made Easy" is an easy to understand, practical entry to the fascinating world of gemstones.
Valueable book for gem id.......2007-05-24
Love it so much. A lot of information. This book will teach you how to setup a lab and making identificaiton of the gemstone without attending the gemology school - with very very reasonable price.
Needs More Detail.......2007-04-04
The book was good for a primer on gem tools and iidentification but lacked the detail I was seeking. It is an very good book for the beginner for it covers a lot of subjects about gem and the various tools used to identify them. I was seeking more exact detail and this book did not have it.
Great Gem Guide.......2007-03-31
Whether you're a beginner or advanced gemoligst, this useful guide will help you navigate the world of gemstones.
You NEEDThis Book..........2007-02-27
There are at least 3 dozen gemstone ID or how to buy the perfect gem books on my shelves. The three that sit next to the computer are Walter Schumann's Gemstones of World and two by Antoinette Matlins - Gem ID Made Easy and Color Gemstone Buying Guide. As a Jewelry Design, Lapidary and Gemology student I am always reaching for for one or the other. Thanks Antoinette we always get your best effort!!!
Average customer rating:
- Gemstones of the world
- Gemstones of the World
- Great book, tiny print...
- Best overall gemstone book ever
- Gemstone trader's bible
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Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Third Edition
Walter Schumann
Manufacturer: Sterling
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Binding: Hardcover
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Gemstones (Smithsonian Handbooks)
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The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones From Cut and Color to Shape and Settings
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Gem Identification Made Easy, Third Edition: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling
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Gemstone Buying Guide, Second Edition: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for Colored Gems
ASIN: 1402740166 |
Book Description
Gemstones of the World is truly the single volume that every hobbyist, jeweler, jewelry maker, and rockhound needs: it’s the cornerstone of the field. And this updated edition contains a host of new findings on “Gemstones for Collectors,” additional gems in the “Table of Constants,” and the “double fraction” figures that experts have long wanted—a very special new feature.
All the gemstones are treated in their many variations: more than 1,500 full-color photos showcase each precious and semiprecious stone in both its rough, natural, and its polished and cut renditions. Each entry offers complete information on the gemstone’s formation, structure, physical properties, and characteristics, along with the best methods of working, cutting, and polishing it. There are even full treatments of lesser-known gems, from andalusite to vesuvian, and a special section is devoted to rocks as precious stones, including alabaster, onyx, obsidian, and fossils. Organic gem materials are also covered, such as coral, ivory, amber, and pearl. Charts and tables help collectors identify unknown gemstones and check for genuineness.
Customer Reviews:
Gemstones of the world.......2007-09-21
This is a very informative book with some good pictures, especially for the beginner who is learnig about gemstones. I read and reference it often. I am very pleased with this book and I look forward to using it for a long time.
Gemstones of the World.......2007-09-12
I use it all the time. It has answered all of my questions. Great book.
Great book, tiny print..........2007-08-31
I so want to read this book but every time I try I get a headache because the print is so tiny, and that is with my reading glasses on. Otherwise a very interesting book!
Best overall gemstone book ever.......2007-08-08
I bought the 2001 edition several years ago and found it indispensable at the jewelry store where I worked. Now that I'm getting into the nitty gritty of the Graduate Gemologist program at the GIA, I'm quite pleased to find an updated version available. I expect I'll be taking this to school with me to replace several large, ungainly lab manuals that haunt my desk.
This book makes a great cornerstone for any gem library. I own many gem guides and encyclopedias twice the size and weight of this while containing considerably less information. This one has the most complete collection of information and pictures I've seen anywhere at an astonishingly diminutive size. If you plan to buy only one gem book in your lifetime, I highly recommend this one.
Gemstone trader's bible.......2007-07-28
I dabble in gemstones - buying and selling from Brazil, Colombia and other countries. Schumann's book is a bible - an essential reference with a very accessable layout, excellent and concise information. Rarely do I need to seek other sources when researching stones.
Book Description
For goldsmiths, collectors, jewelry-makers, investors, retailers and consumers.
The trade of gemstones is a highly specialized and often secretive business. Using
The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones, written by an expert gemstone dealer and designer, will provide any consumer with the insider knowledge needed to make accurate judgments of gemstones, to recognize low- and high-quality stones, and to make a good buy rather than a bad one.
Each full-color spread is packed with concise text, annotated drawings and beautiful photographs, including a showcase of virtuoso jewelry designs. Great for informed consumers, the book includes:
- Sources and grading
- Traditional and modern settings
- Cutting and faceting
- Designing a special setting
- Gemstone groups
- Appraising, buying and handling gemstones
- Diamond types and pearls
- Spotting synthetics and fakes.
Here is a sampling of the practical insider information in this book:
- Using a loupe to examine a stone
- Understanding laser cutting and carving
- Identifying synthetic diamonds
- Buying at gem fairs and from dealers
- Cleaning and storing stones.
No other book has this kind expert advice -- up-to-date, clearly presented and fully illustrated -- on evaluating and using gemstones.
Customer Reviews:
Libraries will find this holds wide appeal for a range of gem crafters........2007-07-27
Anyone interested in working with gemstones, from jewelers and jewelry makers to designers, will find THE JEWELER'S DIRECTORY OF GEMSTONES: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO APPRAISING AND USING PRECIOUS STONES, FROM CUT AND COLOR TO SHAPE AND SETTING an invaluable resource. Here a history pairs with tips on how to appraise and use gemstones properly, with color photos tying all topic together. Sections are divided into ideas on creating gemstones through mining and collecting, identifying types of stones, and using them in designs. Libraries will find this holds wide appeal for a range of gem crafters.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Very helpful.......2007-06-27
This book has a ton of interesting information for the collector. I would recommend it highly.
Appraising is not really addressed.......2007-05-29
This book is rich in accurate images of gems and minerals and has a scientific review of chemical composition, hardness and refractive properties. It is not, however, a guide for appraisal. I have seen a small booklet that determines the carats of gems based on the dimensions and shape of the particular stone. This information is what I had hope to get, but, unfortunately, did not.
Invaluable book for the serious gem colletor........2007-05-21
Highly authortative, well written, profusely illustrated and, simply, a wealh of information.
More than just info on stones.......2007-05-19
This book has valuable information about stones with good pictures, but it also has beautifully designed jewelry. A great addition to a jewelry library.
Average customer rating:
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Dictionary of Gems and Gemology
Mohsen Manutchehr-Danai
Manufacturer: Springer
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Gemmology, Third Edition
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Gemstones (Smithsonian Handbooks)
ASIN: 3540239707 |
Book Description
The rapid growth of gemological sciences and mineralogy requires a comprehensive dictionary for gemologists, mineralogists, geologists, jewel dealers, industry, and hobbyists. The second edition of this dictionary contains about 25,000 entries – about 9,000 more than the first edition. The comprehensive definitions are now completed by more than 1,500 charts, diagrams and figures. The author offers a one-stop reference to any matter dealing with gems and gemology.
Book Description
Over 130 gemstones are depicted with description, occurrence, composition, crystal structure, luster, and other details.
Customer Reviews:
Gemstone Identification.......2007-01-16
This book is OK but for the beginner trying to get the most for your money in explanation of precious gemstones, I don't really recommend this book a necessity for right away. You can enter it to your reference library at a later time. It is a good book but doesn't have enough details needed at first for identifications.
WOW!.......2005-03-19
I took out this book in the middle of fourth grade. I loved it so much I kept it till the end of the year. Then I took it out again in fifth grade, along with the Moths and Butterflies book from the same series. These books are wonderful tools for projects, assignments, or just plain fun! I'm planning on buying this book soon once I earn enough money. (I'm broke T_T)
A brilliant articles on diffrent sort of gemstones. A must f.......2002-06-20
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CALLY HALL PERSONALY FOR SUCH A EXCELLENT WORK ON GEMSTONES. THE WORK CANNOT BE DESCRIBED IN WORDS. I AM A JEWELLER AS WELL AS GEMOLOGIST, GOT QUIET IMPRESSED WITH SUCH PIECE OF ART.
the ultimate reference series.......2001-09-01
Where to begin? Photos, interesting facts, chemical compositions, broad range of stones!!!! The perfect reference for jewelers, libraries, hobbyists, homeschoolers- and to all you crystal/light workers, here is an awesome way to get a view of the crystals mentioned in the text-only guidebooks. See the Rocks & Minerals guide also.
I LOVE THIS BOOK!.......2001-07-13
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS AND THIS BOOK HAS TERRIFIC PICTURES AND VERY CLEAR AND CONCISE DESCRIPTIONS. EVERYTHING THAT I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT IS ANSWERED IN THIS BOOK. THERE'S A VISUAL GUIDE TO OVER 130 GEMSTONE VARIETIES AND A COLOR KEY FOR EVERY GEMSTONE. THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING BITS OF INFORMATION HERE THAT THE READER GETS A COURSE IN HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, SCIENCE AND FOLKLORE. FOR INSTANCE, THE CUSTOM OF WEARING BIRTHSTONE JEWELRY STARTED IN 18TH CENTURY POLAND; THE MASK OF TUTANKHAMEN WAS MADE OF LAPIS FROM AFGHANISTAN AND THE BEAUTIFUL PINK MORGANITE WAS NAMED AFTER J.P. MORGAN. THIS IS A SUPER REFERENCE BOOK!
Book Description
Since it was first published in 1962 'Gems' has become universally recognised as the most comprehensive and authoritative treatise on gem materials in the English language. This sixth edition, has been revised for relevance to today's practice and includes an expanded encyclopedic section.
'Gems' caters for the professional jeweller and student gemmologist, collector of gems and those with an insatiable interest in precious stones.
* Descriptive account of all gem materials used as ornament, along with their synthetic counterparts
* Contributing authors, at the top of the field, bring the latest developments to the reader
* The only encyclopedic reference for gemstones
Book Description
Throughout history, precious stones have inspired passions and poetry, quests and curses, sacred writings and unsacred actions. In this scintillating book, journalist Victoria Finlay embarks on her own globe-circling search for the real stories behind some of the gems we prize most. Blending adventure travel, geology, exciting new research, and her own irresistible charm, Finlay has fashioned a treasure hunt for some of the most valuable, glamorous, and mysterious substances on earth.
With the same intense curiosity and narrative flair she displayed in her widely-praised book Color, Finlay journeys from the underground opal churches of outback Australia to the once pearl-rich rivers of Scotland; from the peridot mines on an Apache reservation in Arizona to the remote ruby mines in the mountains of northern Burma. She risks confronting scorpions to crawl through Cleopatra’s long-deserted emerald mines, tries her hand at gem cutting in the dusty Sri Lankan city where Marco Polo bartered for sapphires, and investigates a rumor that fifty years ago most of the world’s amber was mined by prisoners in a Soviet gulag.
Jewels is a unique and often exhilarating voyage through history, across cultures, deep into the earth’s mantle, and up to the glittering heights of fame, power, and wealth. From the fabled curse of the Hope Diamond, to the disturbing truths about how pearls are cultured, to the peasants who were once executed for carrying amber to the centuries-old quest by magicians and scientists to make a perfect diamond, Jewels tells dazzling stories with a wonderment and brilliance truly worthy of its subjects.
Customer Reviews:
A rainbow of gems and an interesting read.......2007-03-06
With this book - which is effectively a sequel to her book on colour - Victoria Finlay investigates the history, myth and reality of the jewels we often place so much status on. She starts with Amber the softest of the semi-precious jewels and works her way through to Diamonds, which are much more common and not as indestructible as the jewellers and marketers would have us believe.
This is an interesting read, and while not exhaustive, will still manage to tell some new stories about gemstones even if you have read many other books on the subject. A combination of travel diary, history and general knowledge this book is educational and may make some readers view the stones in their jewel box in a new light. And as for "birth stones" - read the appendix at the end, it may open your eyes on one of the great marketing hoaxes.
Jewels - Not Only for Jewel Lovers .......2006-09-08
For anyone who is interested in the fascinating story of some of the worlds most popular types of jewels, this book is for you. For anyone who is interested in visiting little know and remote parts of our planet, this book is for you. For anyone who is interested in better understanding why people are mesmerized by beautiful objects and why other people undertake dangerous jobs to find them, this book is for you.
The author not only shares the fascinating history of how these jewels have been used throughout history but she tells the even more fascinating story of those who make their livings finding and selling them. Ms Finlay has not let distance or danger inhibit her desire to see first hand where the gems come from and to speak with those who spend, and often risk, their lives in their pursuit. Their stories are as interesting and varied as the stones themselves. Like Patrick Leigh Femor and other top travel writers, this author seems to be able to put almost anyone at ease and entice them to tell her their stories with amazing candor. She has then been able to blend historical facts and current circumstances into a really fascinating read.
For me, her quest was really to better understand why jewels which, while beautiful, are basically useless command so much time, effort and even in some cases human lives in their production. After reading this book I believe that each person will be able to form their own answer to this question.
Sparkling History.......2006-08-22
"It is an ordinary gemstone," writes Victoria Finlay of the sapphire in a ring given to her by her parents, "yet like most other ordinary gemstones it has a good story to tell, if you go looking for it." Go looking she does, not only for the story of that sapphire but for those of other gems, and yes, she found good stories and writes them up in _Jewels: A Secret History_ (Ballantine Books). Indeed, she values the stories more than the stones' rarity, perfection, or size. She set out to tell stories of nine different stones, from semi-precious to precious, and from two to ten on the Mohs hardness scale. The scale, invented in 1825 by mineralogist Freidrich Mohs, simply rates stones and other substances by what they can scratch and what scratches them; talc rates a one and diamond, the hardest substance known, rates a ten. Finlay ranges her chapters from softest stone to hardest: amber (Mohs somewhere between gypsum 2 and calcite 3), through jet, pearl, opal, peridot, emerald, sapphire, ruby, and finally diamond. (It is interesting that value tends to increase with hardness, indicating that we place a premium on durability.) Even the biggest stones, Finley notes, are objects that are really rather small, but the stories encompass great swaths of human history and technical expertise.
I will mention here only her quest for amber, for which she visits the Polish Baltic coast, a source for the stone. You may know the sticky sap that is oozed out when a pine tree is injured, and amber is the fossilized version of the same thing. Its origin is mysterious, because for amber to have become the geologic deposit as it is now found, huge numbers of evergreens (the species of tree is no longer with us) must have been hit with some sort of disease or other stress. Amber is the stuff that entrapped the mosquito that had dined on the blood of the dinosaur which yielded the DNA to build the monsters of the movie Jurassic Park. Its prices rose sharply when that movie came out in 1993, demonstrating our whimsical notions of value. Finlay goes to the University of Gdansk where is located the Museum of Amber Inclusions, and a guide indeed shows her insects trapped within. There is a particularly strange sample that looks like a long fly, only it has twelve legs; it turns out to be two flies caught by the sap during copulation. She attends the Amber-Washing Championships at Jantar, Poland, in the expectation that she would even herself be able to wade into the sea to fish out amber with the rest of the competitors, but finds that the sea no longer easily yields this treasure. Competitors on the beach were looking for amber pieces as big as shirt buttons planted by the organizers. "The whole thing was as exhilarating as a grape-peeling competition" she grumbles. The local supply of amber comes from a mine in an ex-Soviet Gulag "even bleaker than I had expected." It is a constant theme: gems may sparkle, full of richness, but the areas from which they are extracted are grimly impoverished.
Finlay has mined the historic literature for good stories; her debunking of the story of the curse of the Hope Diamond, for instance, is hilarious. She has also gone to the countries involved with each gem, and literally descended into the mines. She has funny stories, like being in a taxi stalled for an elephant parade in Sri Lanka (elephant parades are good for the sapphire business, as such a gem that has been worn on an elephant tusk is believed to have been blessed by Buddha himself). She has undergone no small amount of risk on these excursions. She has skillfully interviewed sometimes reticent subjects within the mines or within the business of bringing jewels to market, and employs judiciously the colorful anecdote. The historic and social results of our fascination for these useless rocks ("You can't eat them, you can't read them, you can't shelter under them ..." she quotes a Burmese taxi driver as saying) are on display here, as colorful and surprising as any of the gems themselves.
Average customer rating:
- Great basic information
- Great Resource
- Introduction to Evaluating Colored Gems with Lots of Colored Photos.
- GEMSTONE BUYING GUIDE, SECOND EDITION
- Book
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Gemstone Buying Guide, Second Edition: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for Colored Gems
Renee Newman
Manufacturer: International Jewelry Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Gem Identification Made Easy, Third Edition: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling
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Gemstones (Smithsonian Handbooks)
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Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones
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The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones From Cut and Color to Shape and Settings
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Colored Gemstones, 2nd Edition: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide: How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Other Colored Gemstones
ASIN: 0929975340 |
Customer Reviews:
Great basic information.......2007-06-27
This book is a must have for the beginner collector of gemstones. I refer to it practically everyday.
Great Resource.......2007-06-27
This book is a GREAT resource for gem buying. I'm hooked on the jewelry shows on TV and I think this book has given me the "edge" I need when purchasing gems.
Introduction to Evaluating Colored Gems with Lots of Colored Photos........2007-06-09
Renee Newman's "Gemstone Buying Guide" is an introduction to colored gemstones, not a comprehensive or in-depth resource. It presents the basics of evaluating quality in colored gems, avoiding fraud, and can serve as a quick reference to the background and characteristics of most gemstones that you will find in the marketplace. Chapters 2-7 address the major points of gemstone quality with discussions of: shape and cutting style, carat weight, color, clarity and transparency, cut, and a chapter that explains what to look for in star and cat's eye stones. The chapters on shape and carat weight are pretty basic. Those on color, clarity, and cut are more detailed. All chapters include advice on how to go about examining stones for these criteria.
Chapters 8-10 help the reader avoid fraud when shopping for gemstones with descriptions of various treatment procedures, both acceptable and deceptive, a brief discussion of synthetic stones, and practices commonly used to deceive buyers. Chapter 11 is by far the longest, containing the Gemstone Descriptions. 100 different species and varieties of gemstones are described, with information on their origins, characteristics, and vital statistics such as Refractive Index, Specific Gravity, Toughness, Crystal System, Cleavage, Optic Character, and more for each species or group. (Those terms are defined.) There are more than 125 color photographs of mounted and unmounted gems in this chapter. Guidance in evaluating jade and opal are included here rather than with the other chapters on gemstone quality.
The book concludes with a chapter on Caring for Your Gems, emphasizing that colored gemstones are not as durable as diamonds and providing a chart of risks according to stone. To be clear, this "Gemstone Buying Guide" does not discuss diamonds at all, colored or colorless. I enjoyed learning about stones that I've seen at gem shows and never understood. And I got some good tips on judging cut. I cannot say that I would be prepared to run out and buy a colored gemstone after reading only this book, however. It doesn't provide enough detail regarding how many and what type of inclusions constitute poor clarity in which stones or which stones are always heat-treated, sometimes treated, or never. The "Gemstone Buying Guide" does mention these issues but is not sufficiently instructive for my taste. But this book is an introduction and is fine as such.
GEMSTONE BUYING GUIDE, SECOND EDITION.......2007-06-08
Excellent, colorful, high quality photos of hundred of gemstones, loose and set in jewelry. As a novice, this information has helped me to identify gems I have collected in estate sales and inherited from my family. It's Great Book..highly recommended!Gemstone Buying Guide, Second Edition: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for Colored Gems
Book.......2007-04-06
Very good information. Anyone new to the world of Gemstones will benefit from reading it.
Book Description
Arizona is known the world over for its rich abundance and variety of geological treasures. Newly revised, the fourth edition of this best-selling guide updates the well-known sites and features twenty new locations for collecting rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils. Situated in landscape as diverse as the minerals themselves, these sites vary from arid desert to pine covered peaks. Includes over 90 collecting sites.
Detailed text describes where to go and what to look for at each collecting area. Maps for each site lead the rockhound to an almost limitless supply of specimens. Black and white photographs picture the collecting areas. Color photographs highlight beautiful specimens. A new glossary makes it easier to locate that special specimen for your collection.
Filled with expert advice based on years of experience, Gem Trails of Arizona is an invaluable guide for the rockhound just starting out. For the experienced collector who has searched for Arizona's mineral resources for years, it is an outstanding source for the best collecting sites throughout this scenic state.
Customer Reviews:
sorely in need of another revision.......2007-08-20
We tried half a dozen or more of the recommended trails and had success with only one! Arizona has been developing fast and many roads were closed, gone, blocked or built over. We did enjoy our one successful day (although I wish he had noted that it would take hours to cross the unpaved dirt roads...), but lost several vacation days to paths which no longer existed :(
We ultimately decided to ditch the book so that we could enjoy more of our vacation and give up the "wild goose" chases.
I'd recommend this only for people who live in arizona and have abundant time on their hands. expect to experience more disappointments and failures than successes, and you will not be disappointed.
Using the book in the field.......2006-11-13
After purchasing the book, I used it by going to some of the sites listed in the book and after being successful at two out of 5 of the sites I went to I would have to say that the book needs a new revised edition. But overall it is an outstanding book and a must for the rockhounds heading for Arizona.
Needs better maps and/or GPS coordinates.......2004-04-16
This review is based on visiting only 4 of the sites covered in the book. For three of the four sites, I found the hand drawn maps in the book rather confusing. Based on my limited experience, it appears that most AZ roads outside of medium to large population centers are rough, may be unmarked and, if marked, often have names/numbers that may not match the book, the gazetteer, or USGS topo maps. Furthermore, some of these collecting sites are old mine workings that are not readily visible due to overgrowth. In any case, GPS coordinates would take some of the confusion out of the location descriptions. Better maps would help also. However, we did eventually find what was advertised and this certainly is a helpful guide and worth the money spent.
Gem Trails of Arizona.......2001-01-02
I own three different revisions of this book. All are very useful for amateur rock hounds. My sons and I have visited about a dozen of the listed sites and all have produced nice specimens.
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Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals (Smithsonian Handbooks)
