Colored Gemstones
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Review
"The information provided in this book is easy to understand and enjoyable to read. Before buying your next gemstone, buy this book, then shop with confidence!" - Tundraco's Diamonds, Gemstones, Jewelry, March 2004.
Product Description
Purchasing coloured gemstones can be a magical experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make buying gemstones confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly. Lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewellery confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly. Buyers need a source of expert guidance. To help you to avoid the pitfalls and keep the magic, Antoinette Matlins, an internationally respected expert on buying gems, puts her insider knowledge to work for you in this easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide. Practical, comprehensive, and easy to understand, this guide offers all the in-depth information you need in order to know what to look for and what to look out for, including: What qualifies as a 'gemstone'?; How to evaluate colour -- and its impact on price; Deciding between a natural gem and an enhanced gem; Coloured gemstone synthesis and treatment; What to ask when buying the stone; What to get in writing; How to get what you want within your budget; Price guides for popular gems, opals, and synthetic stones.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
The fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Same Book as Jewelry & Gems Buying Guide, 19 Sep 2005
By J. Kall "Gem & Equine Lover" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide (Paperback)
The content in this book is almost identical (page for page) to certain sections of Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide--How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence and Knowledge (5th Edition). While the content was good, I was looking for something more in-depth. This was not it.
So, if you have Jewelry and Gems, don't buy this book. If you do not, this is a good introduction to colored gemstones.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Useful, but redundant and reprises other sources, 21 April 2006
By Mr. Chips - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide (Paperback)
Antoinette Matlins is a gemstone authority, teacher, and author who has made a large educational contribution to the appreciation of gemstones and jewelry. This book attempts to summarize and synthesize the growing world of colored gems, so that readers and buyers can make informed choices.
She introduces readers to the traditions of zodiac gems & birthstones; addresses the use of the loupe; talks about evaluation of cuts and color. She includes price tables and tables about treatments by gem family; and finally addresses each gem by chapter section. A pleasing color plate section sets off the center of the book.
A problem is that much of the information is repeated constantly throughout the book, while other potentially useful information is missing. Information about her favorites -- emerald, ruby, sapphire -- shows up in the early chapters, to be repeated later in the chapters specifically about these gems. Meanwhile, other information is lacking. Personally, I would like to know the differences between "Swiss blue Topaz," "sky blue Topaz," and "London blue Topaz." Are they different treatments, or are they different names for the same thing? You won't find it here. What about buying gems on Ebay? Could Ebay be a good place for the beginner to explore inexpensive colored gemstones and learn to use tools? Or do the risks outweigh the potential rewards? Do high-roller gem buyers ever use Ebay? In what sorts of cases?
All this said, you will glean useful information that may not be available in other sources about recent changes in certain gems -- e.g., that Aquamarine is now entering the "expensive" classification, and sizes over 10 carats with good color and clarity are becoming hard to find. But overall -- and I regret if this seems hypercritical, but readers need to know -- this feels like a rehash. Although there will be tidbits you will glean here, this book seems to repeat the information in Matlins' other books, without adding much new.
The REAL book to use for gemstone buying is Matlins' EXCELLENT "Gem identification made easy," where she hits on all cylinders. The information in that book -- on stones, tools, and inclusions -- has almost everything here and much more, including a TERRIFIC color plate section on inclusions.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Consumer Protection Advocate, 14 Mar 2004
By Suppresst "suppresst" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide (Paperback)
One would not think that competing gemstones titles could generate the passionate allegiances found in the various on-line reviews of those titles. However those allegiances are there and I think I know why - have you ever noticed how people committed to exposing the truth are often reviled? In an industry where deception, rephrased as "enhancements" abound; where too many jewelers justify pawning off on unsuspecting customers something less-than-genuine as, "simply acknowledging reality" or "giving the customer what he wants", Antoinette Matlins stands out as an oracle of truth. This, I'm sure, makes her somthing less than heroic to those who enjoy the easy mark-ups in less-than-genuine articles. (Apparently Antoinette Matlins's father was something of a pioneer in stepping forward and informing the public about what really goes on behind the scenes in the world of gems.)
If you have a passion for truth; are a dedicated and tireless advocate for consumers and consumer rights, and wish to protect yourself or someone you love from unscrupulous sharks in the gem trade, than obtain and read this compact, easy-to-read volume. While there may be other volumes on the market with more breadth and scope, and more abundant pictures, I felt very satisified, after reading this book, that I had gained a solid understanding with which I could begin the perilous navigation of the gem trade.
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