Gemstones

"The Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Gemstones" is packed with more than 800 vivid full-colour photographs of more than 130 varieties of cut and uncut stones, organic gemstones, and precious metals. With authoritative text, clear photography, and a systematic approach, this concise guide to identification enables you to recognize each gemstone instantly. This book features a photo-encyclopedic approach. Each expertly written entry combines a precise description with annotated photographs to highlight the gemstone's chief characteristics and distinguishing features. Additional colour illustrations and photographs show uncut stones, colour variations, and a range of popular cuts, while colour-coded bands provide at-a-glance facts for quick reference. This book is suitable for beginners and enthusiasts alike and explains what a gemstone is, how and where gemstones occur, their natural properties, and how they have been fashioned and imitated through the ages. A colour key illustrates the variety of colours found within natural and synthetic gemstones, and a concise glossary explains relevant scientific and technical terms.