This definite guide takes the mystery out of appreciating, buying, and selling gemstones. it covers everything from the romance and history of more than 1,800gemstones to their geographic locations; scientific, physical, and colour properties; and the way they are formed, structured, and mined. the book also covers the optical features of gems - light and colour, luminescence, refraction, and inclusions - and key information about the densities and chemical elements of each stone, with fascinating details on different cuts, polishing, gems, hardness, cleavage, classification, trade names, rarity and more. There are also many charts and diagrams as well as magnificient colour photographs of the stones with data about them on the facing page. if you want only one book on gemstones in your library, this would be the one!