Gems and Jewelry: All Color Guide [Paperback]

Joel E. Arem (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994

This new edition of the classic consumer guide to precious stones and their settings is packed full of color photographs and comprehensive information about gems in a portable format. Written simply and clearly, it answers consumers' questions and informs them of what they will encounter in the marketplace. 186 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This second edition of Arem's beautifully illustrated book on Gems and Jewelry adds new photos and updated information, making this book a classic guide for the buyer of gems and jewelry.

Arem, a well known gemologist, mineralogist, author, and photographer, writes clearly and concisely about the many kind of gems which are used for jewelry and ornamental purposed, including popular mineral species, organic gems, decorative stones, collector's gems, and man-made gems. The consumer is introduced to gems by a discussion of their origin and history and their properties. Explanations of cabochon and facet cutting methods help the reader understand the marketing of gems.

The species listings start with the traditional leaders, diamond, beryl, and corundum, followed by the increasingly important garnet group. Each section contains information about variations, localities, fine examples, and consumer tips, enhanced by fascinating historical references. Illustrations of crystals augment the many colored cut stone and jewelry pictures.

Quartz gems are described in the next section, confirming the widespread acceptance of quartz as a versatile material for faceting, cabbing, carving, and objects d'art.

Other species are opal, topaz, jade, tourmaline, feldspar, spodumene, chrysobe- ryl, peridot, lapis lazuli, turquoise, spinel, zircon, and tanzanite.

Consumer tips are especially helpful. Buyers are warned about incorrect names, dyes, irradiation, poor cuts, imitations, and look-alikes. Also useful for advanced consumers and students is a quick reference chart in the back of the book giving the major characteristics of 165 species sometimes used as gems. Other charts list the world's great diamonds, diamond color grading systems, pearl weights, trade names, and birthstones.

Because it is so thorough and has such great color, this book is an uncommon bargain. Anyone interest in gems or jewelry will enjoy it. A book like this should be stocked a jewelry counters and gem shops, not just book stores. -- Lapidary Journal, January, 1993

About the Author

Joel E Arem received his B.A. in geology from Brooklyn College in New York, an M.A. in geology and Ph.D in mineralogy from Harvard University. A former curator at the Smithsonian Institution, Arem is consultant, author, photographer, lecturer, educator in the field of gemology and mineralogy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Geoscience Press; 2 Sub edition (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945005091
• ISBN-13: 978-0945005094
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,671,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars pictures, history and buyers' advice, January 22, 2000

By 

Yoon Ha Lee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gems and Jewelry: All Color Guide (Paperback)

There are an awful lot of fantasy writers who would benefit in reading, if not this book, then one very like it. But that's not a recommendation.

I had the first edition, lost it, discovered the 2nd edition, was happy. Even if you're not a gem-shopper (I'm not), the book's worth it for the zillions of full-color photographs alone: you can *see* what all these gemstones look like.

Arem discusses carats vs. karats, gem-cutting, mining, trivia and lore on various gemstones...a lot. There are other books on the same subject, of course, but this one's a decent survey.