Gems of the World

An introduction to gemstones. Includes information about how they are mined, cut, and prepared for sale. How to buy and identify them. Hundreds of photos and illustrations give you a detailed description for major and minor gem varieties. This book is a 7 1/2" x 9 5/8" paperback with 256 pages.

Gems of the WorldTable of Contents
Foreword	4
INTRODUCTION
Gem Formation	6
Mining	10
The Diamond Industry	14
Diamond Cutting and Trading Centers	20
Conflict Diamonds - Ethical Sourcing	22
Crystal Structure	24
Optical Properties	28
Physical Properties	32
Fashioning and Cutting	36
Gemstone Cuts for Diamonds	42
Buying a Diamond	46
Buying Colored Gemstones	50
Imitation and Synthetic Gemstones	58
Gemstone Enhancement	61
History of Gems	64
Famous Diamonds	66
Caring for Gemstones and Jewelry	68
Color Key	70
Classification	77
GEMS	78
Important Gem Locations of the World	243
Glossary	252
Index	253
Useful Addresses and Acknowledgements	256