2 comments about Exotic Gems: How to Identify and Buy Tanzanite, Ammolite, Rhodochrosite, Zultanite, Sunstone, Moonstone & Other Feldspars (Newman Exotic Gem Series).

1. Renee Newman knocks it out of the park again!!!! In her latest book Exotic Gems: How to Identify and Buy Tanzanite, Ammolite, Rhodochrosite, Zultanite, Sunstone, Moonstone & Other Feldspars (Newman Exotic Gem Series) Ms. Newman opens the world of the exotic to her loyal fans.
   
   The great thing about any Renee Newman guide is that she writes for everyone - the professional jeweler, gemologist and hobbyist will all be able to glean important information and inspiration from her books.
   
   In the first volume of her Exotic Gems series Newman looks specifically at Tanzanite, Ammolite, Rhodocrosite, Zultanite and several of the Felspar family of gems (Moonstone, Labradorite, Spectrolite, Sunstone and more).
   
   In words that everyone can understand she walks you through the chemical, physical and optical qualities and then she takes you to the mines, shows you what it takes to cut some of these exotics and then finishes up with some of the most gorgeous photos of faceted gems, carved gems and gems in jewelry...and she even talks about the Metaphysical Lore of the gem.
   
   The popularity of the television shopping networks has opened up a new era in gems in jewelry - there was a day when gem Rhodocrosite was considered to soft for jewelry and it was only found in mineral collections - those days are gone and Renee Newman's book give us the information we need to make decisions about using these materials in jewelry and for those looking to purchase them.
   
   This book is worth buying just for the "eye candy" value - delightful to see such a great range from bridge to fine jewelry - cutters to carvers. Thanks Renee - I am looking forward to volume two!



2. Another marvelous book in Renee Newman's collection! Very well written, easy to understand yet so knowledgeable. A plus are the beautiful and informative pictures covering the process from the gemstones being mined to being set in finished gorgeous jewelry! A must-have book to enjoy and learn about wonderful gemstones in an always expanding jewelry field.

No comments about Cenozoic Fossils 1: Paleogene.

5 comments about The National Gem Collection.

1. If you have visited the National Collection and want a souvenir to remind you of the stunning array of unique World Class Gems then this is the book for you. Both the format of the book and the superlative quality of the photography make this book the next best thing to being in the exhibition hall. There is a fairly light weight coverage of the gemmology in the text, but it mostly focusses on the history and ownership of these fabulous gems. The National Collection is unique, no where else in the world is there such a concentration of fabulous jewels with such an interesting history, with the possible exception of the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This book is a fitting celebration of such a marvellous collection.



2. This is a beautiful book with lots of interesting information on the gem collection.



3. "The National Gem Collection," by Jeffrey E. Post, features photographs by Chip Clark. The book is a beautiful celebration of the title collection, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The informative text discusses the history of the collection, facts about types of different gemstones, and specific pieces in the collection.

   The full-color photography is really stunning, and brings a rich assortment of gems to glorious life. Some of the historic pieces pictured are the blue Hope Diamond, the diamond Napoleon Necklace, the Hooker Emerald, and more. Also shown are a colorful collection of "fancy" diamonds, a rare red diamond, the 858-carat uncut Gachala Emerald, the delightful "pink tutu" (a band of dainty rose quartz crystals on a large smoky quartz crystal), a dazzling group of fire opals, a lapis lazuli carving from Afghanistan, and more.

   I appreciate how the book celebrates gemstones at various stages: uncut, cut, and set in artfully crafted pieces of jewelry. Many different types of gemstones--aquamarine, garnet, spinel, chrysoberyl, turquoise, etc.--are covered. Features such as a scanning electron microscope photo of the inner structure of an opal give the reader a deeper understanding of the science behind gems. From start to finish, this book is a marvelous feast for both the eyes and the brain.




4. This review is for the paperback version of the book, which I loved. It has a lovely balance of terrific photos & explanations of the various sources of the featured gems. It serves as a nice beginning reference when you have heard the terms sapphire & red sapphire (huh? I thought red gems were rubys or spinels) and would like to know more about which gems are related to others.
   
   And did I say the photos are just wonderful? Enjoy!



5. Excellent information on the history of gemstones, understanding color and cuts. Exquisite examples, beautifully photographed. A must for anyone interested in gemstones or the history of jewelry.

5 comments about The Curious Lore of Precious Stones.

1. I bought this book because Kunz's work has been the basis for much of what we know about ancient gemstone lore. Kunz's lifelong passion for rocks and gemstones began in childhood and as a gemologist and geologist, he was able to collect and organize vast amounts of gemstone lore. He was also a collector of stones, amulets and magical charms, many of which were donated to the American Museum of Natural History. His enthusiasm for the subject is evident and even though this book is nearly 100 years old, I found it surprisingly easy to read.



2. This book ought to be required reading for all studying the occult aspects of gemstones, and even those that are interested in crystal healing. The material presented in this book is very informative, albeit outdated in some respects. Nonetheless, it is necessary to learn what the formative principles are in this field of study, and this book is an excellent look into the earlier work published solely on the topic of gemstones.



3. The book itself is excellent, an important reference study and a very amusing book for the lover of gems. The author is a leading American scholar in his time, this one is his best: informative with sound statements and principal references. When you read it, you can touch the atmosphere of the great collections arranged by him and the greatest library on precious and semiprecious stones, which he had.
   
   The only disadventage of this edition is the very poor photo reproducing of the original photos. The book contains many rare photos, but the reproducing is so bad, that they make you furious, if you see them.
   
   So, 5 stars to the book itself and zero for the photo reproduction.



4. I enjoy gemstone lore and this is a nice addition to my collection. The language is a little dated, a little dry, and the pictures are not great, but the text is substantial. I enjoy reading it. I would recommend this book.



5. Good old fashioned stuff by someone who lived for gemstones. Very interesting and informative. Quick delivery.

1 comments about Antique Mining Equipment and Collectibles (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. If you are a student of mining history or a collector of western paraphernalia, you should buy this book. The authors have managed to track down most of the tools and other related historical items from the early days of mining. There is an abundance of information on small items such as candleholders, carbide lamps, and assay tools plus the larger items such as ore carts, Pelton wheels, and stamp mills. Pictures of many items plus price ranges give the novice somewhere to begin and the more experienced collector, an excellent reference book.

5 comments about You Can Find Gold: With a Metal Detector (Prospecting and Treasure Hunting).

1. The authors have so much enthusiasm for their topic that I truly wanted to write a positive review, but unfortunately their enthusiasm is the only redeeming quality of the book. True, you can learn some things about searching for gold with a metal detector. And although the authors disclaim any purpose to sell their products, they refer to them exclusively on the grounds that they are most familiar with them. Well, OK, but it still has an uncomfortable feel to it. And I felt I was unable to translate many of their instructions to generic terms (for use with any brand metal detector).
   
   Early on you are advised that terms are defined in the glossary. But they should also be defined in the text so that one does not have to continually stop reading and refer to the glossary. This is basic to didactic writing. For example, the term "placer" is used many times before it is defined. Ground balancing (canceling) is treated the same way.
   
   There are several passages that are repeated verbatim in different chapters and you are left wondering if you have somehow read the current chapter already! It appears that the editor of the book was in a great rush, or extremely inexperienced. I could not find any reference to RAM publications on the web. The editor was found, and seems to be mostly associated with the works of Garret and Lagal.
   
   Was it worth the price? I suppose, as I at least felt the excitement of hunting for gold. But it would be better titled as a companion to one of the Garret manufactured metal detectors. I still hope to find a book on using the metal detector as a hobby that is a better-written "how to" book that speaks in generic terms about metal detectors.



2. Prospecting information is presented that is useful and informative



3. I asked Bill Gates one time Why with all his money he still kept going after even more? He said it is not the Having it is the FINDING that makes his day brighter. I retired from a 9-5 job in 1990. I was 40 years old. I love to find gold. My preferred method is to use a Metal Detector. I have a collection of books written by Charles Garrett. All of them on different ways to use a Metal Detector to find gold or other items of great value. Now you might think that a silver dime is not worth much. Still if it has a great history behind it. I could have been the dime someones father used to call your mother and ask her to marry him. Where would you be if that call never would have been made. This book is into the finding of GOLD like I have said it has a shine like no other. The first thing I found with my latest Infinium LS metal detector was a bracket off of a lawn mower or some such. I would not lie to you for this report. The second item I found with it was how ever a small 1 inch by 1/2 inch by 1/3 inch piece of quartz that had some metals inside of it. I have not ground it up to do an assay on it yet. Still I like to think it has GOLD inside of it. I for one really like listening to Charles Garrett tell us how to find gold or any metal with a detector. I also love it that he is not bad mouthing other metal detectors to try to make his detectors seem better. I do have some of his detectors and I love them. I know one thing listening to him tell about using a metal detector has made me a much better fossicker. Which is how they say it in New Zealand.
   
   73
   dray



4. This book contains very little genuine information. It basically says that Garret's patented pan and detector are the best suited for gold prospection.
   It develops at length the setting of the ground balance of the detector which is famous for its difficulty to use.



5. Has lots of good information to help beginners find gold with a metal detector. However, it includes plenty of hype; it's not as easy as the author makes it sound.
   
   The author's major business is selling metal detectors (he manufactures them). So it's to his benefit if you buy the book, get excited about detecting and buy a Garrett metal detector. I still recommend buying the book if you like prospecting and have time and patience and are not afraid of lots of hard work.
   Go for it! Have fun out there!

5 comments about Tears of Mermaids: The Secret Story of Pearls.

1. The secret story? How about the made-up story? Mr. Bloom has succeeded in spreading gossip about people in the pearl industry - people he barely knows. He should stick to talking about the pearls, maybe then he'd get his facts straight. I'm not impressed by people who turn things around or exaggerate in order to make their "research-based" books more interesting. Of course you can't believe everything you read - in "US Weekly" or in "Tears of Mermaids."



2. Stephen G. Bloom's "Tears of Mermaids" is a spellbinding journey through the world of pearls. Bloom is a born story teller and the reader is transported from the depths of the sea to pearl farms of the Pacific to sales venues round the world, and, ultimately, to appreciative purchasers. Although there are neither photos nor detailed biological descriptions of the bivalves that produce the treasures, there are detailed descriptions of the process of producing pearls and the people involved. This book is an adventure, leaving the reader to wonder who would play Bloom in a movie. My vote would be for Sean Connery, the original James Bond.



3. TEARS OF MERMAIDS is a detective story, an adventure story,and a primer for those of us wanting to know what is meant by a "natural" pearl, a "cultured" pearl and a "freshwater" pearl. Spurred on by the childhood vision of his mother's pearl necklace, Stephen Bloom traveled 30,000 miles to unravel the secret story of pearls, a story chock-full of greed, cruelty, mystery and breathtaking beauty. Coincidentally, just as I finished reading TEARS, I found a circa 1936 photograph of my mother wearing a black dress and a stunning double-strand of what appeared to be perfectly matched akoya pearls. Wow! I had never seen those pearls before. Where did she get them? She grew up with modest means in a small rural town. And, suddenly, like Bloom, I was mesmerized by the pearls. Now, I have begun my own journey, unraveling the secret of my mother's pearls.



4. You can tell this book was written by an academic: it is totally lacking in personality. I would bet money that this author was on a sabatical and said to himself: 'i gotta get somethnig published to keep my job. What's a subject that hasnt been covered, that i can research and get published?'
   Unfortunately for us, he came up with a reasonably interesting subject and got someone to publish it.
   Nothing comes to life in the pages of this book. The author mires himself in countless meaningless facts about the business of pearls but when it comes to the people involved in the business, they may as well be mollusks. Every character is DOA. All the author can seem to ask is how much money do you make and how many mollusks do you shuck in an hour.
   I admit I only read 2/3 rds of the book and, for that, i think i deserve some type of endurance award.
   I love to read and I have the greatest respect for people who can sit down and spend a year or more creating a 250 or 300 page book. But this guy leaves a bad taste in my mouth. He's earnest, utterly humorless, tonedeaf, writes like a junior in a third rate college and makes me want back the money I spent on this book - and I borrowed it from the library!



5. This is a fascinating look at the history of pearls, natural and cultivated. The author has such enthusiasm for his topic that it led him on a far-flung search for information about where, how and why pearls are found and fashioned.

5 comments about Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide.

1. This book has helped me to identify several pieces I have that I have
   been wondering about. It has helped me to be able to differentiate
   between the real thing and the fake.



2. "Turquoise Unearthed" in a brief but thorough introduction to turquoise that would be suitable for anyone interested in turquoise and turquoise jewellery. Although only 74 pages in length, this book is packed full of information, including a history of turquoise, advice on purchasing turquoise, and a guide to the different turquoise mines in the American South-West. There are colour pictures throughout the book, including colour photographs of the turquoise you would find in each of the mines (yes, turquoise does differ between mines); a recommended reading list at the end; and most importantly, it actually has an index. The only thing that could have made this book better would be some sort of pricing guide. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent book and well worth the money I paid.



3. THIS BOOK OFFERS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TURQUOISE. I LOVE BROWSING THROUGH IT AND KEEP IT ON MY COFFEE TABLE. ANYONE WHO HAS A LOVE OR DESIRES A KNOWLEDGE OF TURQUOISE WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. A MUST FOR THE COLLECTOR!! YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A PIECE OF TURQUOISE WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM.



4. If you are a lover of turquoise jewelry, this book is a must. Before you waste money buying reconstituted, stablized or totally 'fake turquoise'...learn about the stone and how it is processed. Also the book is cheaper on Amazon than from the author's museum website.



5. A must have book for the beginner who wants to collect and buy and sell turquoise. The color plates are wonderful and the information is essential to the understanding of the value of different types/colors and shapes of the stone

1 comments about Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Fourth Edition.

1. 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.

5 comments about The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones From Cut and Color to Shape and Settings.

1. If you''ve always wanted to learn more about gems--including more obscure ones--then this is the book to buy. The photos are fantastic, the information very detailed, but easy to understand, and very self-explanatory. All-in-all, definitely a book worth reading.



2. I'm in to bead work and wanted to know more about gemstones
   Great book. good price. Has all the info I was looking for. great photo too.



3. Boy do I wish that the "Search Inside the Book" included the foreword by the author. This book is for JEWELRY MAKERS AND DESIGNERS, not for serious gem dealers or purchasers/appraisers. Little information on how to accurately class stones. There are great tips for those USING the gemstones and what to expect (conchoidal fracture of some stones, cutting recommendations, choosing the right materials). The gemstone family tree is minimal (IMHO). I guess I was hoping for a book with information on how to accurately use a loupe to discern internal details and quality than what this book provided. It was definitely too basic for me - probably since I have a geology/mineralogy background. Perhaps I should take the classes from GIA in order to be able to do what I really want with gemstones (even semi-precious gemstones) than what I can learn from a book. I will try out a couple more books to see what works best for me and then seriously considered taking a formal class. I am still considering sending this book back, or just keep it for general info. Anyway, if I had the appropriate knowledge on gemstones, it can only help me (and others) to purchase stones that are what sellers state and to be able to more fully understand the internal structure when using stones in my own work (whether natural - direct from seller; or if I cut them myself). My background in mineralogy is a help, but gemstones require a better eye and knowledge than the basic to graduate level mineralogy courses in my cache of knowledge.
   
   This book is truly for the general jewelry designer and maker as stated in the forward. Do not get this book if you want more information than the basics. I do want to say that many of the images are spectacular, as well as some of the jewelry designs, and that is a plus. Maybe I should really give it 3 stars due to that. But pretty colored pictures do not provide the information I was looking for in a book on this subject.



4. This is a GREAT resource for people who design jewelry and want to know stone origins and properties. I design and sell jewelry and many of my clients ask questions about the stones.....this helps give me the history people are asking about, as well as idiocyncracies of each type. VERY interesting for me as well as my clients! I wish there were even MORE stones included with this information.......but it does cover the basics.... GREAT BOOK! easy to read and understand.......



5. The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones is a gem in it's own right.
   The information, color photos and extensive description of the gemstones
   is a true historic and professional guide.
   Each gemstone is presented with a history, scientific background and
   value that makes understanding the stone easy without being too boring.
   This book is a great read for collectors, jewelers and the average
   person interested gem knowledge.