Gemstones Understanding, Identifying, Buying

Gemstones: Understanding, Identifying, Buying by Keith Wallis is the essential practical guide for anyone who wants to understand, collect, or purchase precious and semi-precious stones. Wallis, a gemologist with decades of professional experience, covers the full range of commercially significant gemstones — diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and their less famous but equally beautiful cousins — with clear explanations of the factors that determine quality, value, and authenticity. The book addresses the questions that matter most to buyers: how to identify a genuine stone, how to evaluate cut and clarity, how to avoid the most common pitfalls of the gem market, and how to build a collection with confidence. Published by the Natural History Museum with extensive photography, this is the indispensable companion for jewellery buyers, collectors, and anyone fascinated by the extraordinary beauty of the mineral world.