Customer Reviews

Consumer Guide To Diamonds, Third Edition

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Before I began shopping for an engagement ring for my fiance, I knew absolutely nothing about diamonds. Determined not to make a mistake in my purchase or pay more than I should, I researched the subject intensively. I bought six different books on the subject of buying diamonds, went to countless diamond dealers including many on 47th Street in NYC, and learned enough over time to make an informed purchase. The best single aid to my education, by far, was Joe Mirsky's book. His explanations were clear, objective, comprehensive and honest. His emphasis on the importance of the quality of the cut in determining the beauty of a diamond is right on! End result: a very happy fiance!

This book is a storehouse of information and contains more
gem information in its 108 pages than any consumer guide
I've ever read. For anyone who intends to buy a diamond this
is a very modest investment which can help buyers avoid the
pitfalls of gemstone purchasing. I am a professional colored
gem cutter and I've found much of the information in this
book to be relevant to buying rough gemstones. This book is
honest, informational and entertaining.

As a graduate gemologist and gemology teacher whose main area of interest is colored stones, I read relatively few books on diamonds. Joe Mirsky's book is one that caught and held my attention.

He cuts to the chase, and through the mystique which so often accompanies the industry hype on diamonds. His practical and senisble approach to diamond selection, terminology and ownership should be read by anyone with an interest in owning or learning more about this most precious form of the element carbon.

Joe Mirsky's book is terrific. It contains great details on how to buy a diamond in a no-nonsense style. While clarity and color are important, many of the jewelers I visited were hesitant to discuss cut, the most important of the 4 C's. This book provides all of the information on ideal cuts, with sample AGS and GIA grading reports. The black-and-white photos and diagrams are great, and diamond terminology is explained in an easy-to-read and entertaining format. I found the book to be much more informative than Fred Cuellar's book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone searching for the perfect diamond.

The author takes the mystery out of diamonds.
This book gives the average diamond buyer the power of being
an educated consumer. As a diamond wholesaler, I think this
guide should be required reading for all consumers and diamond
retailers.

Diamond buying is both confusing and intimadating for most consumers. This book covers all Diamond topics - from the birth of the stone, the maintenance of your piece of Diamond jewelry, simulants and synthetics, certificates and appraisals - all written with the consumer in mind. Not only was this easy to understand, but I enjoyed reading about some of the author's inshop experiences. This book should also be a must read for any jewelry salesperson.

This Joe Mirsky character really knows his stuff.
Not only does she take you on the usual tour with the 4 c's but explains why they are relevant and what that means to the average " Joe" about to part with hard-earned cash for " a piece of the rock". (not to mention the matrimonial blissand peace of mind that follows after a wise and informed choice.I didn't know there was so much to know... and so many differences in quality, size and cut. Wait until you read aboutsome of the tricks that are used by unscruplous sources to make a flawed stone appear better quality than it is and then charge you for the better quality!!
If you're serious enough to go looking for " the right stone" for your perfect lady, be smart enough to become the consumate consumer and spend some real time with this book. Like me,you'll be dog-earing a lot of pages that will ultimately inform you and save you a bundle. Read it,and tell your friends to read it.This is an excellent book on diamonds for "the rest of us!!"

How I wish that my wife and I would have had a great resource like this when we were choosing her diamond engagement ring! Like so many, choosing a diamond can be a huge financial - and emotional - investment. Here's a guide for those of us who are NOT gemologists. It's short - not a highly technical volume. But it can help anyone looking for a diamond to be a better, more confident consumer, and to take much of the anxiety out of the selection process.

What a great buy!

Authoritatively written by practicing bench jeweler, gemologist, and appraiser Joseph Mirsky, the Consumer Guide To Diamonds is an extraordinary buyer's guide to diamonds, explaining everything from cuts to light reflection, to symmetry grades, and more. An excellent layman's guide written especially for non-specialist general readers looking to enhance their knowledge so as to effectively buy diamonds without risk or mistake, Mirsky's consumer Guide To Diamonds is a highly affordable "must-read" for anyone considering a hefty monetary investment in these precious stones.