Product Details
Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Third Edition

Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Third Edition
By Walter Schumann

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Product 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.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #13617 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-01-01
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 272 pages

Customer Reviews

Gemstones of the World -3
I was expecting a bit more from this book! The reviews I read before purchasing this book all raved about how "complete" and "up to date" it was! It's obvious that the people responsible for those reviews don't have much experience in the Gemstone world! First off, the print in this book is FAR too small. The information is very crammed and the author barely brushes the surface when describing individual gemstones. There are also far too many gemstones left out of this book. Gemstone pictures represent about half of the book and are also very incomplete! If this book were larger (larger font), it would be far less crammed and much easier to read. If you are someone looking for a BASIC intro to Gemstones (the more popular ones), this book MAY suffice. However, if you are a Gemstone buyer, collector or hobbyist, this book will prove to be extremely incomplete. I'm really disappointed in the insufficient descriptions of individual gemstones and how crammed, small AND difficult to read, the text in this book proves to be.

Gemmy Book that Shines for Gemmophiles+5
This book on precious stones is brillant.I liked the quality and structure of the book.It's not a cheap paperback.Color photos and an abundant supply of them.Scientific data and historical background presented.It's ideal for those of us ,who are Reiki practitoners .This gem book is not Wicca related.Yet,it is quite facilitative for wiccans who use the healing stones and perform healing exercises.The depth of gemstone information is a farraginous mixture from almagest times until today.

Gemstones of the World5
This book is by far the best single source for gemological data for the price, anywhere. Pictures are excellent too, more than the other books I have reviewed. The only thing that would make it better, is to make it larger.