Customer Reviews

Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Fourth Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The new edition of this classic work adds material covering gem treatments and things like diamond testing devices. It has several pages of "new to the market" gemstones, and updates and extends a few areas and has some minor rearrangements of the material. It's noticeably thicker than the 3rd edition, but overall it's pretty much a collection of small improvements rather than anything revolutionary.

It remains probably the best first book on gemstones for anyone interested in the subject. It tells you a little bit about everything, though it generally does not cover any topic in great depth. It's a pleasingly sized hard-bound volume which is very portable and quite reasonably priced.

There's a new six page section on the healing powers of gemstones which I thought was rather disappointing to see, but I guess they feel the need to cater to the new-age audience as well.

It's a book that everyone with an interest in gemstones should own, and the 4th edition is a worthy update and a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who owns a previous edition.

I am a mineral and crystal dealer and love this "gem" (sorry) of a book. It is well-organized and clearly written, and the photographs are actually useful - showing specimens that one might actually see - making it valuable for identification. Useful for all levels of knowledge or interest, with enough depth for a professional reference, yet not daunting for a novice. High-quality printing on glossy paper and a very portable size - this are a must-have for the enthusiast, collector, or anyone who loves gems, minerals, and crystals.

GEMSTONES OF THE WORLD has been newly revised and expanded in this updated fourth edition, which packs in nearly two thousand photos of gems along with complete physical properties and tips on finding and cutting them. Even more gemstones are covered here than in previous editions, making for an outstanding reference and a 'must' for any gemstone collector or library catering to them.

Great illustrations and very informative. Explains the whole process, from the mines to the marketplace. Also explains synthetics,imitations and how to spot them. The book is a wealth of information, interesting from cover to cover.

Very good source for comparison and learning material. Recommend for those who want to learn more about gems and their colors. Good reference book.

I bought this book for my mother-in-law who loves gemstones. The book was a nice looking book. It had a good weight to it and it had gorgeous photos. It seemed to have a lot more information than some of the other gem books I looked at. I was very pleased with this purchase.

Now in its 4th edition, Schumannn's book is a comprehensive field guide to gems, minerals, mining and cutting. For the price, it is difficult to name a better general guide. Its scope is sweeping with interesting discussions on mining, cutting and fashioning of gemstones. It covers species and varieties not normally encountered in the gem trade and is therefore an excellent source book for the odd and exotic.

It is not, however, a buyer's guide. Readers looking to understand relative quality must look elsewhere. The technology used to produce the images is dated and the reproduction therefore suffers. Each gem variety is represented by one full page image and the stones shown tend to be of mediocre qualities of the gemstones discussed. You rarely see an example of a fine quality gem.

If you are looking for a sturdy, inexpensive and comprehensive guide to all aspects of the gem and mineral kingdoms, Gemstones of the World is an excellent choice.

Richard W. Wise, G.G. Author:
Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones

We travel the USA doing gem and rock shows for a living. This book is the argument solver on rock/gem id.

I have a number of books on rocks, minerals and gemstones. Some are texts, others, more like "coffee table books" with huge lush photos of the gems and stones. This book has quite a bit of information, but I find it lacking in highlighting the differences in different varieties of stones, and while it has many illustrations they are small and somewhat disappointing.