About this item

This compact visual guide is packed with more than 800 vivid full-color 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. Each expertly written entry combines a precise description with annotated photographs to highlight the gemstone's chief characteristics and distinguishing features. Additional color illustrations and photographs show uncut stones, color variations, and a range of popular cuts, while color-coded bands provide at-a-glance facts for quick reference. The detailed introduction defines what a gemstone is, explains the physical and optical properties used to identify and classify gemstones, and shows how they have been fashioned and even imitated throughout history.