Gemstone Buying Guide - More

How to evaluate, identify, select and care for colored gems

A great book to learn about the market for colored gemstones. Includes lots of basic information about colored gemstones: price factors, cutting styles, color, clarity, weight, synthetics, immitations and gemstone care. Our favorite parts are the many great photos and the detailed descriptions for a large number of gemstones. This book is a 7" x 9" paperback with 155 pages. Second edition.

Gemstone Buying GuideTable of Contents
Acknowledgements	7
1. Colored Gem Price Factors in a Nutshell	8
Price Factors Explained	8
Two Common Beliefs Which Warrant Review	15
Colored Gem Pricing	16
2. Shape and Cutting Style	18
Gemstone Terms Defined	19
Traditional Cutting Styles	20
Fancy Cuts and Cutting Techniques	24
Carving	27
Drusy Gem Materials	31
3. Carat Weight	33
Size Versus Carat Weight	33
Effect of Carat Weight on Price	34
Estimating Carat Weight	35
4. Gemstone Color	36
Evaluating Gemstone Color	37
How to Examine Color	39
How Lighting Affects Gem Color	40
5. Judging Clarity and Transparency	42
Gemstone Inclusions	43
Gemstone Blemishes	45
Examining Gemstones for Clarity	45
How Lighting Can Affect Your Perception of Clarity	47
Do We Need Grades to Evaluate Clarity and Transparency?	48
6. Judging Cut Quality	49
Judging the Face-Up View	49
Judging the Profile	51
How Cut Affects Price	54
Judging "Life"	55
7. Evaluating Star and Cat's-Eye Stones	56
8. Treatments	59
9. Synthetic Stones	63
Synthetic Versus Natural	64
10. Deceptive Practices	65
Misnomers	67
11. Gemstone Descriptions	68
Amethyst and Other Quartz Stones	71
Chalcedony	75
Chrysoberyl (Alexandrite, Cat's-eye… )	80
Emerald and Other Beryl Stones	82
Garnet	86
Iolite	91
Jade	92
Lapis Lazuli	100
Malachite	101
Moonstone and Some Other Feldspars	102
Opal	104
Peridot	112
Spodumene	113
Ruby and Sapphire (Corundum)	114
Spinel	118
Tanzanite and Other Zoisites	120
Topaz	122
Tourmaline	124
Turquoise	128
Zircon	130
Ammolite	132
Andalusite, Apatite	133
Azurite, Benitoite	134
Charoite, Calcite	135
Diopside, Fluorite	136
Hematite, Natural Glass (Obsidian, Moldavite)	137
Larimar, Prehnite, Rhodonite	138
Rhodochrosite, Sugilite	139
Sphene (Titanite), Variscite	140
Test Your Gem IQ	141
12. Caring for Your Gems	142
Birthstones and Anniversary Stones	146
Suppliers of Jewelry and Stones for Photographs	147
Bibliography	150
Index	153