Gemstones: Quality and Value, Volume 1 [Hardcover]

Yasukazu Suwa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

This definitive work is the first of its kind, an introduction to the quality and beauty of gemstones that assists in judging their value and price. Though there are many publications that deal with the mineralogical properties of gemstones, books that discuss the essence of their beauty, how to verify their quality, and how to judge their value are almost non-existent.

Using full-page, high-quality color photographs and a powerful system of quality and value assessment, the first chapter examines 24 gemstone varieties, explaining the subtle nuances that contribute to their unique beauty, the wide range of quality levels they occur in, common treatments, and how these factors interact to affect their value in the marketplace.

Chapter 2 discusses gemstones in the context of their relationship with people, from mining, cutting, and manufacturing, to buying and selling, wearing, and secondary markets.

While simple enough for a layperson to understand, with a glossary of gemological and trade terms, the concepts introduced in this book are powerful enough to be useful to members of the gemstone and jewelry industry, whether they be cutters, wholesalers, appraisers, or retailers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Yasukazu Suwa is president of Suwa & Son, Inc., a Japanese gemstone dealer business established in 1908. Since becoming the first Japanese national to earn his Graduate Gemologist certification from the Gemological Institute of America in 1965, Mr. Suwa has traveled to gemstone mining, cutting, and distributions centers around the globe while establishing his firm as one of the premier wholesale gemstone importers in Japan.

Director of the Japan Jewelry Association since 1997, Mr. Suwa has also sat on the Boards of Directors and Executive Committees of major Japanese and international colored stones trade organizations. He has also been educating consumers through the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Educational Institute's Jewelry Course since 1991.

A strong proponent of educating both the industry and consumers regarding the quality and value of gemstones, Mr. Suwa has written three books on the subject and developed a system for verifying the quality and judging the value of the different varieties of gemstones.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Introduction for English Edition: Three conventions are used in this book to emphasize the main themes of gemstone quality and value.

First, the beauty and character of gemstones are clearly explained through the use of photographs. Understanding their beauty and character is the first step in discovering the essence of gemstones. Since they are products of nature, there is no such thing as a perfect gemstone. While imperfections often give gems their character and allure, those that have a negative effect on beauty or durability are considered flaws. The degree of beauty of a gemstone, offset by such flaws, is the basis of quality judgement.

Second, the values of major gemstones are shown through the use of value comparison charts and reference prices for one- or three-carat stones of jewelry quality. Just as the quality of an automobile and its corresponding value can be reflected in its price-luxury cars may cost $50,000, family sedans $20,000, and economy cars $10,000-the values of each gemstone have been separated into the three quality zones of gem quality, jewelry quality, and accessory quality. The basis of judging gemstone value lies in a full understanding of quality and a feel for the market forces of supply and demand. The value of jewelry also includes the factors of design, manufacturing, and the metals used. Furthermore, a retail price is given for each gemstone and jewelry piece shown in this book.

Third, gemstones are classified into those that are untreated and treated, and treatment methods are specified. Recent advances in heating and impregnation techniques have led to heavy treatment of gemstones. Treated stones may appear identical to high-quality gems that have not been processed by human hands beyond polishing, but they are far more common than untreated gems. Stones that have artificially had their beauty enhanced, their tone adjusted, or their flaws hidden are therefore less rare and less valuable. An understanding of untreated and treated gems and degrees of treatment are important factors in judging quality and value.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sekai Bunka-Sha (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4418999027
• ISBN-13: 978-4418999026
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,181,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Gemstones: Quality and Value big price; bigger disapointment, May 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Gemstones: Quality and Value, Volume 1 (Hardcover)

The author begins with an excellent idea; divide each gemstone into three categories and illustrate those categories on a quality grid with full color photos. The author relies almost completely on the comparative images to illustrate his point. Unfortunately the photographs simply don't do the job. Except for one excellent photo at the beginning of each chapter Mr. Suwa's images are not just poor they are pathetic.
His first section on Aquamarine pp.14-17 serves to illustrate the point. The author begins with a rambling introductory essay of just four paragraphs. On the following page is an excellent full page photo of a lovely aquamarine. Following this p.17 attempts to lay out a quality grid of seventeen aquamarines. Unfortunately the stones all look the same, totally grayed out images of what, appear to be low grade commercial quality aquamarine. In fact, the images are so poorly printed that it is impossible to tell one quality from another. Mr. Suwa further illustrates the text with a "gem of value" photographed actual size usually somewhere between 5-10mm. Unfortunately the reader can barely see it never mind judge the stone and the photographs are uniformly poor.
The remainder of the book stumbles along in this same vein. A short essay, one good photograph followed by a carefully layed out grid of poorly photographed gemstones from which it is impossible to draw any conclusions about quality.
The text provides very little guidence for the would be collector. When he does say something about principals of connoisseurship the author fails to apply these principals consistently from gem to gem. He often drops a technical term but rarely defines it.
Perhaps the translation is somewhat to blame but at the price the author has little excuse for the quality of the photography.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, no more smoke and mirrors!, July 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Gemstones: Quality and Value, Volume 1 (Hardcover)

The gem stone trade likes to keep the average guy from understanding the basics of judging quality and value. Suwa for the first time that I have seen in a gemstone book, gives the reader a peak under the covers on what determines gemstone quality and value. This book, as well as the others in the series from Suwa let the average person in on the very basic, understandable issues that determine quality in various stones. Suwa is willing to share with his readers how seasoned gemologists and the market in general value different gem stones, and the impact of things such as origin, carat weight, clarity, etc. I have not seen a single other publication, particularly as it relates to color gemstones, that is willing to put so clear a measure on value drivers for gem stones. Suwa broke the silence of the indusrty and put a stake in the ground.

This type of clarity does great benefit to the trade in gemstones by instilling confidence in the buyer that they can make informed purchase decisions. With out this guide, buyers must rely entirely on the sales pitch of the retailer in front of them at any particualr time.

I gave this book as a gift to my retailer that I generally buy from , and they are now using it regulary with their clients and say it has helped them enormously. The buyer can still spend what they want, they just spend their money smarter with the help of this book. No smoke and mirrors.

Can't wait until Volume 2 is avaliable!!

4.0 out of 5 stars Gemstone Grading - Very Good Reference Guide, August 8, 2011

By 

HK - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gemstones: Quality and Value, Volume 1 (Hardcover)

Kudos to Mr. Suwa for researching and preparing such detailed grading and valuation charts and photos for Gemstones, Diamonds and Jewellery. His 3 book set is worth the money if you are involved in the jewellery trade or just a lover of gems. Prices for valuation have changed since publication, but still very usefull. Great reference set.