Emeralds (Fred Ward Gem Books) [Paperback]

Fred Ward (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fred Ward Gem Books | Publication Date: June 1, 2001

Part of the Fred Ward Gem Book Series. This lavishly-illustrated book in the all-color seriess includes History & Lore, Hunt for Treasure, Romancing the Stone, Jewels and Artifacts, Created Emeralds, Fakes, and Imitations, and Buying and Caring. This book provides the ideal introduction to one of the world's most famous gems. Follow author Fred Ward around the world in search of the most important examples of this and historic gemstone.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...well-produced and succeeds in giving a great deal of information. I recommend for all interested in this beautiful stone. -- Journal of Gemmology, England

Inspired. This book is enjoyable cover to cover, and I can't wait for the next book in the series. -- Lapidary Journal Magazine

This easy-to-read, informative, very well illustrated book deserves a place on the coffee table of the gem enthusiast. --Australian Gemmologist Magazine

About the Author

For 14 years Fred Ward created, wrote, and photographed National Geographic's legendary gemstone series. He has now greatly expanded his classic work into the 8-book Fred Ward Gem Book Series, complete with new photographs and text. His easy-to-read authoratative text provides you what you need to know to buy and enjoy the world's most historic and beautiful gemstones. Mr. Ward's award-winning photographs make each page a visual feast. This is part of the world's most popular gem book series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Gem Book Publishers; 2 edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887651055
• ISBN-13: 978-1887651059
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,590,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Many of our armchair adventures began by flipping pages of a National Geographic Magazine. Glimpses of foreign cultures, the beauty of the planet from the majestic to the minute, or a look toward the heavens above or secrets below have come from the images of National Geographic photographs. As photographer and writer over the past four decades, Fred Ward has opened our eyes to special and spectacular views of the world. His contributions to Time, Newsweek, Life, and, of course, National Geographic have led him through adventures that we merely read about. If the adventure makes the man, his retelling makes his audiences a part of the action.

Fred Ward has simply done it all. His travels for Geographic led him through more than 130 countries, piloting experimental aircraft and his own helicopter, and diving underwater, all in search of the perfect picture and the most interesting story. His photography has won numerous national awards, and his work--including historic images of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Gerald Ford¬--is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Library of Congress. His journalism has also collected a variety of honors.

Fred's gemstone series for National Geographic evolved into nine published gem books. His connections in the industry gave him the opportunity to become not only a gem dealer but also the owner and founder of Jade Designs, Blue Planet Gems, and ultimately, Gem Book Publishers. Along the way, he produced and directed two National Endowment for the Humanities films on Mexico, and various TV commercials and corporate documentaries, and he served as a special gem consultant for National Geographic television.

Without a doubt, through his explorations in the world, this man shares his legendary experiences with the rest of us.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Attractive...mildly biased?, July 15, 2006

By 

Nef (Urban east coast, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emeralds (Fred Ward Gem Books) (Paperback)

This is a highly attractive book; the photographs actually almost made me salivate. The majority of emeralds in the marketplace are reprehensible--the ones pictured here prove that emeralds done right are among the most transcendently lovely objects on earth.

Ward clearly knows his emeralds (and other gemstones); he effectively and clearly transmits the basic information important to emerald novices. For example, he's correct to note that most people don't realize their emeralds have been oiled, and he puts to rest any criticisms of oiling--it makes the stone the best it can be be, after all.

I can tell he started out as a journalist. He has a very investigative-journalist, breathless tone. I think it works for the most part, especially when he's rhapsodizing over discoveries of sunken treasure or fabulous royal jewels attached to epic legends and lore.

But he is mildly biased against certain types of stones. He excessively disses the Egyptian mines. I'm glad he delves into the history of Cleopatra's mine, and I even appreciate his attempts to theorize as to the real chemical composition of the alleged "emeralds" from Egypt. However, he sprinkles in derogatory references to the Egyptian mines throughout the entire text, finding them vastly wanting. I think this is overkill. Colombians are the best--we get it.

Also, he frequently disparages ancient South American (Incan, for e.g.) and Egyptian empires' facility with stonework and knowledge of stones. He writes things akin to, "while we would never find such simply drilled, untumbled stones attractive, the ancients knew no better.." Actually, I quite liked the simple, untumbled emeralds he showcased; some of the ancient jewelry was quite stunning, and while it's not to my tastes to wear, I know several schools of people who are into that whole "organic" look.

By the way, this is a very slim volume. It's suitable either for complete novices or for collectors who want anything on their favorite stones.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Emeralds, filled with information", February 16, 2001

By 

Luke Smith (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emeralds (The Fred Ward Gem Book) (Paperback)

I read Fred Ward's book "Emeralds", a part of his gem series, for an oral report I had to do for school. This book is packed with information on emeralds, from general info, to the cutting process; this book has it all! Not only is Fred Ward a talented author and researcher, but also he takes magnificent photographs. This book has lots of beautiful pictures of emeralds from all over the world. Fred Ward gives you a history of emeralds and their importance with the ancients. And shows and tells you about some of the beautiful jewelry that emeralds are in today, as well in the past. It even has a buying guide that shows what to look for when buying emeralds. I did tons of research for my report, and used a lot of books, but none of them even came close to "Emeralds".

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to emeralds, December 28, 2001

By 

Michael Schoene (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emeralds (Fred Ward Gem Books) (Paperback)

This book is a fairly short book on Emeralds. Ward gives the reader a great introduction to the world of emeralds without losing the reader in a bunch of scientific jargon. Though the book is very short for its price,it is full of great color pictures and information. The photography in this book alone makes it a must have for emerald lovers. The only complaint that I have about the photograph is that many of the pictures are taken zoomed in so the reader has a tough time determining the actual size of the subjects. Ward touches on the ancient history of these beautiful gems and explores modern day sources of the world's emeralds. Ward also discusses treatments of emeralds before sale, care of emerald jewlery, and there is a particularly interesting section on the making of synthetic emeralds. I would recomend this book to anyone with an interest in emeralds, but I would not recomend it to those looking for a particularly scientific book or a buyer's guide. This little book is packed with information and photographs that won't let you down.