Gemstones: A pocket guide

A new pocket-size guide to gemstones, with stunning colour photographs throughout, written by a Natural History Museum curator and gem expert.

Gemstones have been a source of fascination for millennia, from the icy brilliance of diamonds and the soft iridescence of pearls, to the deep red garnets treasured by ancient Egyptians and Victorians alike. They are used for their natural beauty in jewellery, worn for protection as talismans, and associated with romance and power. They are also of scientific importance, forming over billions of years and containing secrets of the inner Earth.
This book examines the world's most commonly encountered gemstones, exploring their unique beauty, rarity and durability. It reveals how these gem materials formed, where they are mined, how they are identified by their physical and optical properties, and their enhancements and imitations. Travelling through each gem's history and use in adornment, it is filled with fascinating facts for the curious to the professional.
With sumptuous colour photographs, Gemstones is a dazzling insight into the world of the rare and valuable.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

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