Gemstones: A Concise Reference Guide

(Paperback)

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Description

A richly illustrated guide to the gemstones of the world

Gemstones have been a source of delight and fascination for thousands of years, from the icy brilliance of diamond and the soft iridescence of pearl to tough jade gems once used in weapons and pink topaz that was popular in Victorian jewelry. This book covers every known type of gemstone, exploring each ones unique beauty, rarity, and durability. It reveals how gems form, where they are found and mined, how to identify them, and more. With sumptuous color photos throughout, Gemstones offers dazzling insights into the world of the rare and the valuable.

• Covers every kind of gemstone known to exist
• Features a wealth of beautiful, full-color photos
• Discusses the natural history of gemstones and their physical and chemical properties
• Explains how to distinguish the real from the fake
• Discusses cutting and polishing techniques and their use in adornment throughout history
• Includes invaluable identification tips

Reviews

"[A] worthy source of information to students of gemmology, mineralogy and all readers with an interest in ornamental stones."---Susan M. Stocklmayer, The Australian Journal of Mineralogy
"[A] welcome new addition to the class of 'pocket' gemstone reference guides."---Michelle Clark, The Australian Gemmologist

Author Bio

Robin Hansen is curator of minerals and gemstones at the Natural History Museum in London.