Philip's Guide to Gems

Book excerpt: An important feature of the book is a comprehensive visual identification key. This makes it easy for the reader to recognize the type of a stone, and so move on to the correct section of the book for a detailed identification. The main part of the book examines each major group of gems from every part of the world, with each group divided into clearly structured units. The first section deals with precious gems in their many forms, with illustrations of priceless jewellery. The second and longer section concentrates on the semiprecious and novelty stones, the agates and the crystals used aby many professional and amateur jewellers and purchased by the majority of collectors and jewellery enthusiasts.