Product 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21203 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Review
Even those of us who do not buy gems can learn much from this work. (Bob Jones Rock and Gem 200707)

An invaluable resource.... Libraries will find this holds wide appeal for a range of gem crafters. (Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review 200707)

For jewelers, but it is just as well suited for buyers and wearers of gemstone jewelry. (Lori D.Kranz American Reference Books Annual 20061207)

A beautiful tabletop book for those who adore jewelry and an excellent education resource for consumers. (Tanya Enberg Toronto 24 Hours 20061216)

A valuable tool for understanding and using gemstones... an important investment for those devoted to fine gems. (Kathleen Webb Tacoma Way News Tribune 200703)

A welcome book for anyone in the craft. (Annie Boulanger The Record (New Westminster, BC) 200701)

A reasonably thorough, convenient resource... Extremely useful, and I strongly recommend it. (Art Jewelry Magazine )

The lavish full-color photographs are well balanced with the text, making this book a feast for the eye. (Lori D. Kranz Bloomsbury Review )

About the Author

Judith Crowe is a jewelry-maker and gemstone dealer in London, England.

Customer Reviews

Very useful book!
I've been a hobbyist jewelry studeng for some little while now, and what sets this book apart is the section on using each gemstone... this is the part that tells you how to approach setting the stone into jewelry, how hard or brittle the stone is and what features of the stone might make setting it easier or harder. Other books may give you more scientific/ gemological detail, a greater range of stones, and a better idea of price ranges. If you want to know what your stone is, whether it's a good specimen of its kind and if you paid a good price for it, this book may or may not tell you that. BUT... if you know what stone you have, this book will tell you how to care for it, and, if you're crazy enough to want to set it yourself, this book might just tell you how best to do that, and give you some idea whether, just this once, you should hire it done by someone who's already gone around that learning curve...

Gems
This is a great book. Well written and great pictures to go with the breakdowns of each gem. Recommended.

Very well done!
As a gemologist, I have an extensive library of gem books. This book is one of the best guides written that is germain to professionals and novices alike. Easy to follow and very well edited. High marks!!