Gems and Jewels: A Connoisseur's Guide [Hardcover]

Benjamin Zucker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2003

Gems and jewels have, since the beginnings of civilization, been prized as tokens of love, as symbols of wealth and social status, or as objects endowed with magical or religious significance. In Gems and Jewels, internationally renowned gem expert and dealer Benjamin Zucker reveals much of the history and mystique surrounding these precious objects.

Divided into chapters devoted to rubies, sapphires, emeralds, white diamonds and colored diamonds, pearls, amber, lapis lazuli, jade, turquoise, opals, and garnets, Gems and Jewels features compelling descriptions and insights into the chemical composition of these stones, the methods and styles of cutting them in different periods, discussions of outstanding specimen stones-such as the Tiffany diamond-and comparisons of key differences in shades of color within one type of gemstone-as in the case of opals from Australia and Mexico, and sapphires from Kashmir and Ceylon.

A gorgeous illustrated book for lovers of gems and jewels and an important volume for professionals, this unique volume also provides the vital clues that enable the expert eye to distinguish between natural and synthetic stones, and between natural and cultured pearls, and also supplies guidelines on methods of grading and on relative market values.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Benjamin Zucker, a well known New York gem merchant, was born on the French Riviera, educated at Yale and Harvard Law School, and followed his grandfather and father into the family business. He travels regularly to the gem capitals of the world purchasing precious stones. He has lectured at the Smithsonian Institution and the American Museum of Natural History.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Overlook Hardcover (August 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585674206
• ISBN-13: 978-1585674206
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,031,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but dated!, April 15, 2004

By 

Bobbi Bellinger (Provo, Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gems and Jewels: A Connoisseur's Guide (Hardcover)

When Gems & Jewels was first published twenty years ago it was the first book to approach breaking the gem trade's taboo against telling the consumer anything that would help him to develop connoisseurship in gems. I say approached because although an excellent gemological geography book Zucker approached but never really revealed the truth about quality grading. Whenever he came close and he often came frustratingly close, he would take refuge in statements such as "finer jewelry stores have traditionally provided guidence..."

As of 2004 the text is dated and color imaging technology has passed this book by. The photos are mushy and dull compared to newer texts.

Interested in developing connoisseurship? I recommend a new book entitled Secrets Of The Gem Trade, The Connoisseur's Guide To Precious Gemstones. The author, Richard Wise, delivers on the promise contained in the title, it truly is a connoisseur's guide filled with fabulously accurate color photographs of the exceptional examples of the 35 gemstone varieties covered in the book.