The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones From Cut and Color to Shape and Settings - Hardcover

Crowe, Judith

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554071666 ISBN 13: 9781554071661

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2012

Synopsis

For goldsmiths, collectors, jewelry-makers, investors, retailers and consumers.

The trade of gemstones is a highly specialized and often secretive business. Using The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones, written by an expert gemstone dealer and designer, will provide any consumer with the insider knowledge needed to make accurate judgments of gemstones, to recognize low- and high-quality stones, and to make a good buy rather than a bad one.

Each full-color spread is packed with concise text, annotated drawings and beautiful photographs, including a showcase of virtuoso jewelry designs. Great for informed consumers, the book includes:

• Sources and grading
• Traditional and modern settings
• Cutting and faceting
• Designing a special setting
• Gemstone groups
• Appraising, buying and handling gemstones
• Diamond types and pearls
• Spotting synthetics and fakes.

Here is a sampling of the practical insider information in this book:

• Using a loupe to examine a stone
• Understanding laser cutting and carving
• Identifying synthetic diamonds
• Buying at gem fairs and from dealers
• Cleaning and storing stones.

No other book has this kind expert advice -- up-to-date, clearly presented and fully illustrated -- on evaluating and using gemstones.

About this title

About the Author:

Judith Crowe is a jewelry-maker and gemstone dealer in London, England.

Review:

Intended to help the average person learn enough about the properties of gems and the design and marketing of gems and jewelry so they can buy stones or jewelry on the open market. The author accomplishes this purpose admirably using myriad color photo of gems, natural crystals, and fine jewelry... Even those of us who do not buy gems can learn much from this work. (Bob Jones Rock and Gem)

For jewelers, but it is just as well suited for buyers and wearers of gemstone jewelry. (Lori D.Kranz American Reference Books Annual)

An invaluable resource.... Libraries will find this holds wide appeal for a range of gem crafters. (Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review)

A blend of delightful eye candy with sapphires, emeralds, rubies, jade, quartz and pearls and practical lessons about to look for in a piece, the best cuts, and how to detect the synthetic stones from the fakes. A beautiful tabletop book for those who adore jewelry and an excellent education resource for consumers. (Tanya Enberg Toronto 24 Hours 2006-11-01)

A valuable tool for understanding and using gemstones... an important investment for those devoted to fine gems. (Kathleen Webb Tacoma Way News Tribune 2006-12-07)

A welcome book for anyone in the craft. (Annie Boulanger The Record (New Westminster, BC) 2006-12-16)

A reasonably thorough, convenient resource for anyone wanting to buy and use gemstones in their jewelry....Extremely useful, and I strongly recommend it. (Art Jewelry Magazine)

The lavish full-color photographs are well balanced with the text, making this book a feast for the eye. (Lori D. Kranz Bloomsbury Review)

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1554071666
• ISBN 13: 9781554071661
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176