Full Description
A complete guide to identifying, buying, using and caring for a dazzling array of jewels.
A complete reference for goldsmiths, collectors, and jewellery makers, this beautiful book is a comprehensive guide to identifying, buying, using and caring for a dazzling array of jewels and gems.
The book includes practical advice on how to assess the quality, rarity, grade, durability, and cut of precious and semi-precious stones, and allows you to discover the origins of gemstones and understand the process of selecting the raw material.
Learn how gems are calibrated, using the industry standard measurements of carats and points, and how they can be treated to improve both colour and clarity - a handy glossary contains all of the key terminology you need to know.
Thanks to colourful illustrations and photographs, you can identify which gemstones are suitable for jewellery-making, from amethysts and diamonds to tourmaline and quartz, and learn how they can be used in different designs and settings.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1. Creating Gemstones
Gemstone formation
Sourcing and availability
Mining and collecting
Usage and supply chains
Properties of gemstone material
Inclusions and optical phenomena
Gemstone cuts
Faceted round cuts
Faceted square cuts
Cabochons
Cutting to order
Beads
Natural crystals
Carving your own
2. Types of Gemstones
Gemstone treatments
Gemstone family tree
Organics
3. Designing with Gemstones
Settings
Colour
Texture and Lustre
Size
Single Stones
Fragile Stones
Nonstandard gemstones forms
Beads, drops and briolettes
The ring
Practical advice
Handling gemstones
Appraising gemstones
Buying gemstones
Resources
Glossary
Index
Credits
