Gemstones

Gemstones have been a source of fascination for Millenia, from the icy brilliance of diamond and the soft iridescence of pearl, to the deep red garnets treasured by ancient Egyptians and Victorians alike. They are used for their natural beauty in jewellery, worn for protection as talismans, associated with romance and power. They are also of scientific importance, forming over billions of years and containing secrets to the inner earth.This book examines the world's most commonly encountered gemstones, exploring their unique beauty, rarity, and durability. It reveals how these gem materials formed, where they are mined, how they are identified by their physical and optical properties, their enhancements and imitations. Travelling through each gem's history and use in adornment, it is filled with fascinating facts for the curious to the professional. With sumptuous colour photographs, Gemstones is a dazzling insight into the world of the rare and valuable.

"Gemstones — a Concise Reference Guide by Robin Hansen is a book which provides up-to-date data on gemstones and contains more informative reading than many similar, small-format gemmological reference books. [...] It will be a worthy source of information to students of gemmology, mineralogy and all readers with an interest in ornamental stones." -- Susan M Stocklmayer Australian Journal of Mineralogy Volume 23(1)
"Cleverly, the author never forgoes an opportunity to convey valuable information and ground the diversity of the gems described in their broad-ranging origins, structures, uses and histories. The author’s passion and respect for all of these gems is obvious.This book is superbly written and organised, and is accessible and concise. It covers sufficient gemstones to be a valuable ‘ready reckoner’ guidebook in the library of gemmologists and would be an excellent adjunct textbook for gemmology students." -- Michelle Clark The Australian Gemmologist Volume 28(1)

Robin Hansen developed a love of minerals and geology while growing up in her hometown of Perth, Western Australia. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Curtin University, then worked for three years in the mining sector before moving to London and settling into a position in the private mineral collector business. During the following decade she complemented this role with a Diploma of Gemmology through the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and was awarded the prestigious Tully Medal. She has been Curator, Minerals and Gemstones at the Natural History Museum, London since 2015, and feels privileged to help care and manage this magnificent collection of more than 185,000 specimens.

Gemstones have been a source of delight and fascination for many thousands of years, from the icy brilliance of diamond and the soft iridescence of pearl, to tough jade gems once used in weapons and pink topaz that was popular in Victorian jewellery. This book looks at each of the world's known types of gemstone in turn, exploring their unique beauty, rarity and durability. It reveals how each of the gem minerals forms, where they are found and mined, and how they are identified. The book also explains how to distinguish the real from the fake, as well as cutting and polishing techniques. The use of gemstones in adornment, from over 4,500 years ago to the present day, is also explored. With sumptuous colour photographs, Gemstones is a dazzling insight into the world of the rare and the valuable.

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