Readers will find fascinating details about the discovery, whereabouts, and value of famous opals, from such classic specimens as the Burning of Troy Opal to the Bonanza Opal and other more recent discoveries. Finally, the book surveys today's major opal-producing areas and provides current information on opal occurrence worldwide. Punctuating the text are useful tables, extensive glossaries of opal types and opal-related terms, and beautiful photographs that capture the essence and mystery of this most exquisite stone.

Specializing in the most-prized gemstones, from Colombian emeralds to sapphires found in the remote hills of Kashmir, David Morris celebrates color, flawless craftsmanship, and unique creativity in jewelry design. This is the jewelry house’s first major book. David Morris established his eponymous fine jewelry house in 1962 at the height of the Swinging Sixties and quickly gained a global reputation for his opulent use of the rarest, most extraordinary gemstones and for innovative design sought by jewelry connoisseurs the world over. The house’s creations—now overseen by his son Jeremy Morris—are all designed and handcrafted to exacting standards in the New Bond Street atelier. This sumptuous slipcased tome, featuring brand-new photography and newly commissioned gouaches created especially for the book, delves into the enchanting history of David Morris, aka the London Jeweler, whose legacy shines as brilliantly as the gemstones the house atelier transforms into objects of art. Over the years the house has gained a reputation for adorning Hollywood, British, and European royals from Elizabeth Taylor to Diana, Princess of Wales. Today, a David Morris jewel still radiates star quality, connecting the brand’s storied past to its future. This first major monograph debuts some of the house’s latest, most innovative designs as well as a large selection of its most famous pieces, and beautifully showcases the sophistication and creativity of one of the most masterful jewelers working today.

### Discover the Mystical World of Birthstones with "Gems of Destiny"! Unlock the secrets of birthstones and their enchanting lore with "Gems of Destiny," a captivating eBook that delves deep into the fascinating history, myths, and modern significance of these precious gems. Start your journey with **Chapter 1**, introducing the concept and historical significance of birthstones. Learn about their ancient origins and myths in **Chapter 2**, where you'll uncover the rich tapestry of cultural stories and the gods associated with these magical stones. In **Chapter 3**, explore how birthstone traditions have evolved over time, from formalization to their varied regional customs. Dive into astrological connections in **Chapter 4**, discovering which stones align with the zodiac and their mythical attributes. Each month is celebrated with its unique birthstone, beginning with **Chapter 5's** exploration of the garnet in January — uncover its legends, healing properties, and historical significance. Traverse through the year with amethyst in February, aquamarine in March, diamond in April, and so forth, each chapter offering a treasure trove of stories, uses, and cultural importance. **Chapter 17** invites readers to discover mystical and alternative birthstones, while **Chapter 18** looks towards the future, discussing trends, sustainability, and the place of birthstones in popular culture. "Gems of Destiny" is more than just a book; it's an adventure through time and tradition. Whether you're fascinated by the mystical properties, the historical legends, or the modern uses of birthstones, this eBook provides a comprehensive guide that's sure to educate and enchant. Embrace the magic of birthstones and let "Gems of Destiny" be your guide to understanding their timeless allure. Perfect for gem enthusiasts, history buffs, or anyone curious about the metaphysical world of these precious stones. Start your enlightening journey today!

This monograph offers the first comprehensive treatment of the multi-faceted scholarly interests of Ole Worm, professor of medicine at the University of Copenhagen. Scholarship about Worm has focused mainly on Worm’s collecting and the creation of his cabinet of curiosity, the Museum Wormianum, resulting in Worm’s rationale for his research being largely overlooked. Worm shared his many interests with a number of other physicians of the age, but in terms of breadth, few matched the variety of his concerns. For a man who considered himself first and foremost a physician and anatomist, his interests in Paracelsianism and collecting can at times be baffling, while his interests in antiquarianism, runes, and chronology strike the modern reader as at odds with his medical and natural philosophical interests. It is important to comprehend that Worm’s multi-faceted interests in the created world were underpinned by his Lutheran, Melanchthonian natural philosophy, and this served to unify all Worm’s scholarly undertakings, inquiries, and experiments in the single aim of reaching a better understanding of God’s creation, the Book of Nature.

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.

Have you ever fallen in love with a ring or necklace? Perhaps there's a reason! Gems and crystals have metaphysical and healing qualities that can support you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This innovative guide will help you choose a piece of jewelry ideal for your unique life path. Diamonds enhance your creativity. Rubies teach us about love. Opals fuel intuition and offer healing. Which stones are right for you? Shakti Carola Navran offers a thorough introduction to astrology to help you identify the challenges and spiritual needs evident in your birth chart. A detailed list of sixty-four gems and crystals--with full-color photos of polished stones and finished jewelry--makes it easy to find the minerals that can balance these conflicting energies. You'll learn how to "program" your stone with joy, peace of mind, self-confidence, or any other quality. There's also helpful information for choosing the form (ring, earrings, or necklace), selecting the metal setting, and incorporating symbols into your unique piece of jewelry.