Customer Reviews

Gemstone Buying Guide: A Guide to Buying

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

 

 

If you are looking for a brief, concise, easy to read book that spells out the basics for gem buying, this is for you. It also has some lore and some of the most beautiful photographs of gems I have ever seen. Inexpensive and useful.

Magnificent four-color pictures that not only assist in identifying gems but also highlight how the stones can be used as sculptures as well as in jewelry. The author tells what the book should be used for as well as what it should not be used for. Pleanty of graphics and charts that explain the anatomy of gems, various cuts, hardness, toughness, refraction and care. A bit more technical than I wanted--but better too much information than too little. Especially helpful in its explanation of how gems are "treated" to appear better than they really are, or, to enhance the color and price of the gemstone. The book is good enough that I'm ordering a second copy for a friend!

Do you want a book which shows how a TRUE top gemstone looks like ? Buy it. Do you want to understand why you cannot buy a really! pigeon blood red ruby for 100 dollars a carat? Buy it. You cannot decide if the paraiba tourmaline, advertised on an internet auction for 135 dollars, may be a good business? Buy it

Excellent resource. Packed with pictures and data on gem types and sub types. Ranks stones that come in many colors by value. (e.g. tourmalines, spinel,sapphires, etc.). Tables on specific gravity, hardness, etc. help with positive identification.

I echo the positive comments made in other reviews of this book.

I started looking for books that would educate me on what to look for when purchasing gemstone and gold jewelry. Somehow, I stumbled onto this author's previous book, the Gold Buying Guide, which I loved so much that I ended up buying this book as well! R. Newman gives wonderful detailed advice for the consumer on what to look for in buying jewelry and what to avoid. This is a -must- for anyone planning to buy gemston jewelry!

Within two weeks of receiving this book I need to reference a new gemstone that arrived in the jewelry store I worked. I was able to give the buyer additional information she was not aware of! I recommend this for any jewelry store employee to have close by for reference. Great book!

I do not feel this book is specific enough regarding values of stones for a beginner such as myself, especially for less-expensive stones.