Synthetic, Imitation and Treated Gemstones (Paperback)

by Michael O'Donoghue (Author) "Gemmologists, jewellers, gemstone and mineral collectors, museum curators and even gem and mineral prospectors now accept that nothing is what is seems..." (more)
Key Phrases: thermal reaction tester, gemmology textbooks, gemmological tests, Journal of Gemmology, Tucson Gem, Sri Lanka (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The book describes a wide range of gem and ornamental materials, species by species, opening up the secrets they sometimes conceal. The book reveals when gemstones can be artificially manufactured, when they can be synthesized or cleverly imitated by other materials - like glass - and when their colour has been enhanced, permanently or for a short time, by the hand of man. Readers are told and shown what the tell-tale features are and learn that while nothing is quite what it seems there are ways in which they can spot give-away signs without needing to consult a laboratory.


The book is ideal for the jeweller, the auction house expert, the gemmologist and the mineralogist who will find a new slant on the materials that begin a somewhat less glamorous life as rough specimens.

From the Publisher
The book is ideal for the jeweler, the auction house expert, the gemologist and the mineralogist who will find a new slant on the materials that begin a somewhat less glamorous life as rough specimens.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann (November 5, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750631732
• ISBN-13: 978-0750631730
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,534,334 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #38 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Mineralogy > Gems
  #40 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Chemical > Coatings, Ceramics & Glass

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money, December 3, 2007

By	Marge Simpson (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This book is overpriced and not worth the money. For the $77.00 I paid for this paperback book brand new, I expected a lot more then what I got. There are only 8 pages of color plates, the other illustrations contained were crude. While the printed information was indeed useful, it is in no way worth the listed price! In my opinion the GIA lab manual is just as helpful! Buy this book used and save your money.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have, May 16, 2007

By	Eva Ananiewicz - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I teach gemology at a major university and this is one book I tell all my students they must have.