5 comments about Gems: A Lively Guide for the Casual Collector (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones).

1. This book is very insightful. If you want to know anything about gems - how to care for them, where they come from, etc. - this book is a must. Highly recommended!



2. I can't begin to say how wonderful this book is. Whether you are a layman or a professional, this is THE book to turn to. Not only is it highly informative, but it is written so well that you actually WANT to read it. Dan's sense of humor and his love for gems shines here. I wouldn't trade this book for anything.



3. This man knows his gems and he has great stories behind each piece. He has great ways of romancing the stones like no one else. I get so excited hearing the little background stories he tells about each gem and the history behind the locations they come from. A great book by a renowned expert of gemology. I highly recommend this book.



4. I very much enjoyed this book mostly because it is written in plain ordinary English for the average person. With all the internet shopping that is now available, it is advisable to know something about the various gems so you know what you're getting.
   This book fills the bill perfectly!



5. This book is just what the title says - the author uses some humor and information is aimed toward a casual collector rather than a scientist or a super-rich collector. Besides the usual information about the make-up of a gemstone, there is also comparisons of the gem if it is found in more than one location, a bit of history of the discovery of a gemstone, and even a bit of information about the beliefs in the health benefits of some stones. It is not absolutely a complete guide, but more than just an overview of the main gems such as diamonds, sapphires, etc. The photos are very good, although not all are labeled.

No comments about Turquoise: Mines, Mineral, & Wearable Art (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

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.

4 comments about Collecting Fluorescent Minerals.

1. Minerals from the United States from New Jersey to Arizona and California, as well as unusual selections from mineral mines around the world, are profiled in Stuart Schneider's Collecting Flourescent Minerals, a guide to gathering in the field and one of the most complete references to the topic in print. While introductory pages discuss notable mine sources and fluorescent minerals, the heart Schneider's discussion lies in color photos of the minerals themselves, supplementing a price guide which reveals glow factors and favorable lighting.



2. This is a terrific book for the beginner as well as for someone who has been collecting for years. Tons of pictures, explainations, and locations of where certain minerals were found, as well as what to look for when rock hunting yourself.



3. I have both of Stuart Schneider's books and think they are wonderful. I collected fluorescent rocks all over Europe for many years, and now I am doing the same here in the Southwest USA. Stuart is an honest man and he knows a great deal about the subject. It is difficult to get the printed colors in the book to match the beauty one sees in reality, but he comes closer than anyone else. His books are required as part of any good book collection about fluorescence.



4. Pictures are fairly decent and accurate, with minor exceptions. A few obvious PhotoShop jobs. But the text has factual and spelling errors that number in the hundreds. I still recommend this book to beginners I come in contact with, but I cringe at the errors I see. Price Guide is 100% subjective, therefore worthless. Most likely what the author paid for the rocks he bought and included. If it were accurate, I'd have a rock worth over $37,000.
   
   Book was published with far too much "blind faith" in references. This should have been published by a person who is more knowledgeable and committed, not a "dabbler".

3 comments about Jade (Fred Ward Gem Book).

1. Like all of the Fred Ward Gem Books Series, this is an instant classic. It features National Geographic quality photos, no surprise since Ward has photographed/authored a number of articles for that magazine. My favorite section deals with the jade from Meso-America, used by the Olmec, Mayan and Aztec civilizations. But it also contains much on Burmese and Chinese jade. This is simply an outstanding book. Buy it.



2. There are not too many books on Jade, so I'm glad I found this one. It was pretty informative and had very nice photographs illustrating the author's points. It's worth it if you're in the jewelry business and want to know more about jade, and it's good for any jade collector. I found the information to be accurate.



3. So far it is a good read,for I have not finished it as of yet

5 comments about Gem Identification Made Easy, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling.

1. Whether you're a beginner or advanced gemoligst, this useful guide will help you navigate the world of gemstones.



2. The book was good for a primer on gem tools and iidentification but lacked the detail I was seeking. It is an very good book for the beginner for it covers a lot of subjects about gem and the various tools used to identify them. I was seeking more exact detail and this book did not have it.



3. Love it so much. A lot of information. This book will teach you how to setup a lab and making identificaiton of the gemstone without attending the gemology school - with very very reasonable price.



4. "Gem Identification Made Easy" opens up the world of gem identification to the jeweler, hobbyist and the curious. I didn't come away with the impression that gem identification is easy, but that some kinds of identification are easy, inexpensive and FUN! Antoinette Matlins makes it clear that the bar to entry into gemology is low. Practice, diligence, and three small instruments that cost less than $200 will enable you to identify 80% of colored gemstones and their look-alikes as well as diamonds and most of their imitations. Since there are at least 3 different gemstones on the market in every color and no shortage of synthetics and enhancement treatments, the skills within the pages of "Gem Identification Made Easy" are invaluable to anyone shopping for gemstones. If gems fascinate you, this book will help you discover if you would like to pursue gemology as a career or serious hobby.
   
   The bulk of "Gem Identification Made Easy" are descriptions of the instruments involved in gem identification, detailed instructions on how to use each, and what they can show you, including many charts which will help you identify stones. The 3 essential instruments that everyone will need are: loupe, Chelsea filter, and dichroscope. The loupe magnifies the stones, revealing inclusions, blemishes, and fillers. The Chelsea filter differentiates between some gems and synthetics. The dichroscope distinguishes single-refracting stones from double-refracting and allows identification of stones by the colors they exhibit. In addition, Ms. Matlins provides instructions for additional tools that one would need to set up a lab: UV lamp, refractometer, microscope. Less essential: spectroscope, polariscope, and immersion cell. For diamonds: SSEF diamond-type spotter and electronic diamond tester. These could cost nearly $3000, but shopping on eBay will bring the price tag down.
   
   The author also dedicates a chapter to "Antique and Estate Jewelry", in which she discusses imitation and alteration techniques frequently found in antique and period jewelry. She advises on how to detect them and includes tables of synthetics and imitations, when they appeared on the market, and characteristics that will help identify them. This is followed by many useful Appendices: a list of gems and look-alikes by color, gem hardness, specific gravities, refractive index tables, tables of dispersion and birefringence, glossary of terms, list of organizations offering gemology workshops or training, equipment suppliers. These are in addition to the many tables and lists in the instrument chapters. Color photos are limited to a center insert, where there are photos of gemstone inclusions and a few other identifying features. "Gem Identification Made Easy" is an easy to understand, practical entry to the fascinating world of gemstones.



5. This was just the book I was looking for. I just recently started to get into collecting colored gemstones and this book was full of great information on what tools I would need and how to use them. That was so important to me.

5 comments about Diamond Ring Buying Guide: How to Evaluate, Identify and Select Diamonds & Diamond Jewelry (6th Edition).

1. this book has all of the fact giving information on diamonds like affects of cut color and clarity on value wich is helpful in understanding what a diamond SHOULD be valued but in real practice in the market place whether shopping online or in a brick and mortor store, diamonds (like most other merchandise) are not offered to customers with a honest description of their quality aspects, which leaves most people lost in the new information which they just learned from fact only books, i own the " thediamondstore" and recc. using the information in this book, but you also need to know the common tricks and methods for misleading consumers at the point of sale , and by combining the two it becomes very difficult to get mislead as to the real value of a diamond.



2. If a picture is worth a thousand words then there are more than enough pictures to make this book worth borrowing. However the prestine touched up photographs serve no purpose in the real world when shopping for a diamond.It is unlikely you will ever see a diamond presented to you with the kind of studio lighting needed to make the photographs in the book worth while. I have been in the diamond world for my whole adult life and believe the worst thing you can do to a customer is give him a false sense of confidence. The book fails to mention the severe diamond shortages of 2005, the GIA bribery scandle and the latest consumer scams like annealing. The purpose of any "how to Book" is to give all the facts a customer needs to know to make an intelligent decision. This one falls so short your almost better off just winging it or buying from an on line consolidator.There are other "How to Buy a Diamond" books that don't cut corners and tell it like it really is.Only borrow this one if you like to look at pictures and don't read the articles.



3. I personally found this book well written and informative. Every chapter covers the basics and gave me enough confidence to make a decision while understanding what our jeweler was talking about. The content is quite easy to grasp and the pictures are enjoyable. This book actually helped me to select an appropriate setting for my anniversary ring, see chapter 12: V-tips for marquise stones. I also found the chapter on clarity & trasparency very clear and to the point. The writer is indeed experienced and knows how to explain this diamond subject to us! After reading this one, I also bought the Diamond Handbook by Newman to acquire more knowledge. Anyone shopping for a diamond ring should get this book before your next trip to your jewelry store, it's flawless!



4. I liked the way Newman clearly explained ideas that a few of the diamond sales people I encountered were unable to explain. This book has lots of information that I didn't find elsewhere. The jewelry store owner I finally bought my diamond from actually uses certain chapters in this book to train his staff!! Excellent book.



5. This "Diamond Ring Buying Guide" does not go into as much detail as some other guides in its discussion of the 4Cs -cut, color, clarity, carat weight. It says little about price and nearly ignores laboratory grading reports. But where other books may only describe the 4Cs, Renee Newman shows readers lots of photos of diamonds under 10x magnification. An abundance of illustrations is the strength of Newman's guides. In addition to close-ups of the stones, there are photos of diamonds mounted in a variety of traditional and unusual rings, which may provide inspiration and ideas if you're shopping for a special ring. Chapters on Gold & Platinum, the pros and cons of different mounts, and advice on how to choose a mount that suits your lifestyle offer practical advice that I haven't seen in other diamond-buying guides.
   
   Newman expands upon the traditional 4Cs by separating cut quality from cutting style and adding 2 new criteria, so the diamond price factors addressed in this book are: cut quality, color, carat weight, clarity, cutting style, transparency, and treatment status. The author feels that transparency and treatments were not issues when the idea of 4Cs was established, but now many treated and low-quality stones are on the gem market, so these factors merit separate discussion. I and SI3 diamonds with poor transparency are now being sold in some jewelry stores, and about one-third of diamonds sold in the US are treated. Most of Newman's 5Cs and 2Ts are given their own chapter. We get the basics with lots of pictures, which helps. I found the discussion of fluorescence ambiguous. Criteria for cut grades are provided for GIA, AGS, and HRD grading systems.
   
   There is a lot of good information in the "Diamond Buying Guide", including some pointers and advice on choosing a ring that I haven't seen elsewhere. I found comparisons of the characteristics of white gold and platinum very useful. Likewise the descriptions of mounts and the practical considerations in choosing a ring style. The book concludes with some "do's and don'ts" of cleaning your diamond rings, buying tips, and a quiz so that you can test your knowledge of 5 crucial chapters. I would consult more than one buying guide before shopping for a diamond, but this one offers some valuable advice, and the photographs make it a pleasure to peruse. For more thorough coverage of how to judge quality through a loupe, try "Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide".

5 comments about Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones).

1. I have been a gem and mineral dealer for over ten years...and a rockhound for a lot longer than that...but this book taught me more in a single sitting than all my years in the buisiness and in the hobby.
   
   I have dug, traded, bought and sold a whole bunch of "Turq"...natural, treated and "color-shot"...and this book instantly became my favorite reference for the rest of my life.
   
   If you are planning on investing in real American or Persian turquoise jewelry or stones...and it is an investment...then this book is a "Must Have!"
   
   No sooner did I put this book down than I called up one of my suppliers and bought all of the Blue Gem and Turquoise Mountain stones they had left in stock...I am sure they are wondering what precipitated that call!
   
   My many thanks to the Lowry family for their labor of love...from the "Turq" Museum to this book...and I hope we cross paths real soon.



2. Turquoise Unearthed is a well written, very useful guide to this most attractive of minerals. The organization by site or mine is helpful to those with Native American jewelry from different sources. This reader found a number of long standing interests and questions satisfied. A small volume, but a "keeper".



3. 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.



4. "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.



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

1. Our family has been in something of a cash crunch since the late 1970's, so the jaunty optimism in this book's title caught my eye the moment I spied it on a local shelf. It was written by the doyen of metal detection - Charles Garrett, creator of the eponymous Garrett Infinium LS detector, as well as the "ultra-advanced, deepseeking GTI 2500," among many others. His book is a sober introduction to the art of wealth accretion by way of magnetic broom. All is covered, from the first "bench test" before a detector's maiden search, to techniques for keeping the search coil level, to the famous "screw-driver probe" for pinpointing buried objects. Shortly after I bought this book my four-year-old son and I passed a pleasant afternoon on a Chatham beach seeking to re-enter the ranks of the upwardly mobile. By nightfall our plunder included an oversized wing nut (almost certainly from a pirate's ship, I assured my son), three discarded soda cans (good for fifteen cents, or twice that should we make the journey to Michigan, where one can gain double the local redemption rate through ruthless arbitrage), and three pennies that my son regularly planted in front of me to allay his boredom and my flagging spirits. All told I expect that we would have found more precious metals by combing the beach with a Geiger counter, and certainly would have had more success at spooking the locals (as it was, my cover story of being a minesweeper on secret business for Tom Ridge had few takers).



2. The improvements in technology have corresponded inversely to the number of prospectors. Erosion during the past century has exposed millions of tons of virgin substrata for prospectors of today, and metal detectors will increase the chance of discovering new placers.
   
   There's no better expert on metal detector technology than Garrett. Great as those detectors are, they require some training to use them. Garrett provides the best 'how-to' advice available. His book will give you the straight-forward means to practice with it before you begin trekking into the canyons or sweeping old school yards for coins.
   
   Learn how to do it and you still mightn't find gold, but you'll certainly find the greatest treasure of them all: solitude.



3. 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.



4. Prospecting information is presented that is useful and informative

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. This book has a ton of interesting information for the collector. I would recommend it highly.



2. Anyone interested in working with gemstones, from jewelers and jewelry makers to designers, will find THE JEWELER'S DIRECTORY OF GEMSTONES: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO APPRAISING AND USING PRECIOUS STONES, FROM CUT AND COLOR TO SHAPE AND SETTING an invaluable resource. Here a history pairs with tips on how to appraise and use gemstones properly, with color photos tying all topic together. Sections are divided into ideas on creating gemstones through mining and collecting, identifying types of stones, and using them in designs. Libraries will find this holds wide appeal for a range of gem crafters.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. Good for what it is, this book offers an ABC look at some gemstones. There is no depth to the material, but it makes a nice starting point and gives a position to make further research decisions on. The section on setting options for different kinds of stones is valuable & interesting, but could have been a lot larger/in-depth, as from a 'Jeweler's' perspective (as the title implies)this is critical info.
   All in all I am happy I bought this book & look forward to finding some serious/heavy duty books that delve right into this important subject.



4. "The Jeweller's Directory of Gemstones" provides a good introduction to the world of gemstones for both jewellers and those interested in purchasing gemstone jewellery. This full color book complements the existing gemstone directories. I also own copies of Gemstones (Smithsonian Handbooks) and Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Third Edition and I consider all three of these books to be of equal value (I recommend that you purchase all three of them, if you can afford it). However, unlike the other two books I mentioned, this book discusses gemstone jewellery, as well as providing geological information about the gems (most gemstone guides simply focus on the geological detail). This book also has a good glossary and index.
   
   This book is a valuable addition to any gemstone library and it is well worth the price of purchase.



5. As a gemologist, I have an extensive library of gem books. This book is one of the best guides written that is germain to professionals and novices alike. Easy to follow and very well edited. High marks!!