This fascinating work provides a truly stunning visual guide to the beautiful world of gemstones. It brings together a wealth of information in clearly worded text accompanied by a dazzling collection of color photographs showing gems in their natural and cut states. From subjects as diverse as identifying and collecting minerals and advanced testing, to ethical sourcing of gems, every aspect of gemstones is covered, and is presented with a wealth of research in easy-to-understand sections, making it a must-have reference work for anyone who wants to delve into the exciting world of gems.

A renowned jewelry expert recounts her career working with nature’s most extraordinary treasures—gemstones—and traces these rare jewels from ancient Egyptian records through the high-stakes auctions of today. Helen Molesworth has been captivated by precious stones since early childhood but she struggled to join the gemstone industry, having no connections to the few family-run companies that have dominated the field for centuries. She persevered, and more than two decades later, Molesworth is now an international authority hired to appraise the extraordinary jewelry of such clients as the British royal family. Precious is packed with inside stories about fabulous jewels associated with generations of celebrities, from Cleopatra (emerald) to Catherine, Princess of Wales (sapphire); from Marilyn Monroe (pearl) to Beyoncé (garnet); from Jackie O (pearl) to Lady Gaga (diamond); and from Marie Antoinette (pearl) to Elizabeth Taylor (pearl, ruby, and emerald)! As Molesworth tells it, the history of gemstones is the history of humanity. And so she journeys the world, navigating African diamond mines, Colombian emerald mines, and the sapphire-rich rivers of Sri Lanka to study gems at their source. She has selected ten of nature’s most dazzling gems, tracing their discovery to when these cut-and-polished masterpieces first adorned empresses and kings. From the stories of a priceless emerald watch hidden under floorboards for centuries to the common quartz fashioned into world-famous royal jewels, and diamonds selling for multi-millions, Precious is not just a chronicle of archeology and geology, high society and high finance, it’s the story of our timeless ambition to make—and wear—something beautiful.

"A complete reference for goldsmiths, collectors, and jewellery makers, this book is a comprehensive guide to identifying, buying, using and caring for a dazzling array of jewels and gems." "Discover the origins of gemstones and understand the process of selecting the raw material. Includes practical advice on how to assess the quality, rarity, grade, durability, and cut of precious and semi-precious stones." "Learn how gems are calibrated, using the industry standard measurements of carats and points, and how they can be treated to improve both colour and clarity. A glossary section clearly explains all of the key terminology used." "Illustrations and colour photographs help you to identify the gemstones available to jewellery makers, from amethysts and diamonds to tourmaline and quartz, and demonstrate how they can be used in different designs and settings."--Jacket

This classic study begins with a general analysis of precious stones followed by descriptions of their cutting and mounting and the ways in which their value and authenticity are assessed. The remainder of this volume focuses on the diamond: its characteristics; its natural occurrences and artificial production; and its use in jewelry. 52 figures.