Customer Reviews

Eyewitness: Crystal & Gem

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The photographs of OVER 200 CRYSTALS AND GEMS is worth the purchase price of this book. And I am not just talking about ANY picture of each crystal, I am talking about a GORGEOUS, AMAZING sample picture of each crystal! Some of my favorite photographs/stones included are: Opals (My personal favorite stone ok, tied with Diamond!), Aragonite, Agate, Tourmaline, Calcite, Topaz, Barite, Hematite, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, The Blue Hope Diamond, Ruskin's Ruby, Moonstone, Spodumene, Blende, Natural Mosaic, Malachite, Gold, Mother-of-Pearl, Turquoise....I could go on forever!

Here are the chapters: WHAT IS A CRYSTAL? A WORLD OF CRYSTALS, NATURAL BEAUTY, CRYSTALS-OUTSIDE, ...AND INSIDE, THE COLOR OF CRYSTALS, IDENTIFICATION, NATURAL GROWTH, GOOD HABITS, DISCOVERY-RECOVERY, GROWING FROM SEED, CRYSTALS AT WORK, GOOD VIBRATIONS, QUARTZ, DIAMOND, CORUNDUM, BERYL, OPAL, OTHER GEMSTONES, COLLECTORS' ITEMS, STONES FOR CARVING, PRECIOUS METALS, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE, WHAT IS IT WORTH?, MAKING THEM SPARKLE, LORE AND LEGENDS, CRYSTALS AT HOME AND INDEX.

This is a must-own if you have any interest in the marvelous beauty of crystals and gems. Not only are the photographs great but the information is succinct and fascinating! I highly recommend this book along with any other of the 109 in the Eyewitness series! Talk about something for everyone! Thanks Dr. Symes and Dr. Harding! Wow!

For those familiar with the Eyewitness Books series, this is yet another fine entry in the catalog. This series is aimed at young readers, and this book will be fine for children in that age range,

Quite sensibly, the volume begins be defining what a crystal is: "solid materials in which the atoms are arranged in a regular pattern." And one category of crystals are called gems, "natural crystals chosen for their beauty, durability, and, in many instances, rarity."

Examples of crystals? Quartz, granite, calcite, and barite. Gems? Diamonds exemplify, as do rubies and sapphires and opal.

The book also discusses uses of crystals. Certainly, decoration is one. So, too, are crystals used in electronics; they even are in credit cards. Diamonds have industrial uses, because of their hardness.

There is a nice discussion of diamonds, from Sinbad to Marilyn Monroe! In addition, there are a couple pages that touch upon the "lore and legend" of crystals over time. I did not know, for example, that Alexander the Great gave lodestones to his soldiers to repel evil spirits.

So, if your child (8-12 years of age) has an interest in crystals and gems, then this would be a valuable resource.

Fascinating. My kids can't put it down. I am entralled by it all. The kids even play "Guess the gem" color in the back with the chart of birthstones.

A great gift for any occasion.

Crystal & Gem (DK Eyewitness Books)

This book is a great reference book for anyone wanting to enter the world of crystals and gems. My son asked for a diamond and talc so he could compare the hardest and softest minerals, so this is what Santa brought him since diamonds are a tad pricey!

I am a great fan of Eyewitness books and this one is just as great as the others. I am an adult and I always learn a lot from them myself. This book is about crystals and gems which have always facinated me. The stones are beautiful and their beauty is a wonder. Kids love this kind of information too. The kids are always asking me to buy more of them.

The whole reason to why I purchased this book, was so that I could become more intuned with the different types of 'preciouse rocks' there are out in the world so I can choose to make a custome ring with the coolest gems and diamonds thats original and not ur average diamond white ring.

The book brought me back to about 3rd gade as reading time would pass in our class; I remember choosing the EyeWitness books because of all the wonderfull pictures.

The only thing that I thought I was going to also to read about was the prices of the gems and crystals which said it coverd in the book description, but deffinitly didn't. It did go over values, like about color and cuts but I was more looking for the big $$$ sign. Still is a great book. Definitly love Eyewitness even while Im more capable of reading. =)

I bought this book as a visual aid to help our Cub Scout Pack earn their geology belt loops and pins. The color photos are amazing and the book even came with a clip art CD. I could highly recommend to others.

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY GRANDSON FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. IT IS A VERY WELL ILLUSTRATED AND WRITTEN BOOK.

This book had a lot of Crystals and Gems that come in all shapes, sizes and colors.