Description

By (author) Newman Renee Short description/annotation:A graduate gemologist’s lavishly illustrated journey through the history, romance and craft of diamonds, covering mining, cutting, evaluating and jewellery.Description:The beauty and sparkle and mystique of diamonds is unmatched by that of any other gem in the world. Since early times, diamonds have been treasured as good luck charms, remarkable tools and status symbols and have been worn, collected and presented as lavish gifts. Today, diamonds remain among the most sought-after gemstones and continue to hold their value through good times and bad. In Diamonds, author Renée Newman, a graduate gemologist and author of many trade-level handbooks on gemstones, invites the reader on a journey into the fascinating world of diamonds. This lavishly illustrated guide — which features hundreds of photos, maps and diagrams — covers everything from mining, cutting and evaluating diamonds to the romantic histories of some of the world’s most valuable stones. Diamonds includes chapters on: ; What a diamond is — its significance from antiquity to the present day and what it represents from different perspectives ; The process and history of mining diamonds — the locations (both modern and historical) as well as the techniques used to mine diamonds ; The evolution of diamond cutting — how a diamond is processed and what are the key cuts and shapes to know ; Diamond jewellery through the ages — how diamonds have been used in jewellery from pre-Georgian times to today ; Evaluating and pricing diamonds — how diamonds are priced based on their many value factors, such as colour, carat weight, cut, clarity, and so on ; Man-made diamonds ; The remarkable benefits of diamonds. As beautiful as they are precious and as useful as they are decorative, diamonds continue to fascinate and allure. Diamonds will be a welcome guide for anyone who has felt the romance and power of these fascinating gems. It will also be a useful resource for professionals in the jewellery trade.Review quote:This coffee-table book from gemologist Newman (Diamond Handbook: A Practical Guide to Diamond Evaluation) covers diamond lore, mining and processing, and more. With detailed, larger-than-life photographs, along with maps and illustrations, Newman explores cuts (rose, brilliant, emerald), jewelry styles (Victorian, art deco, modern), and pricing considerations. Newman mentions only briefly the social and environmental impacts of diamond mining, and in a generally positive light (for instance, she describes De Beers”s GemFair program as connecting “artisanal and small-scale miners to the global market through digital technology and assurance of ethical working standards”)… Brilliant, oversize images of loose stones at all stages and in custom-made jewelry will draw gem buffs, jewelry makers, collectors, and historians.Review quote:An illustrated guide to the treasured diamond…. An overview of diamonds through the ages, the process of mining, the evolution of diamond cutting, and many more aspects of the dazzling stone”s many facets.Review quote:A massive tome devoted to the beloved sparkler.Review quote:The first thing you notice and appreciate about Renee Newman”s new book Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities, and Benefits is the remarkable photo illustration that graces the cover… But this is not just another coffee table book full of incredible images of impossibly expensive baubles (although, those are quite lovely!). In 272 glossy pages, Ms. Newman invites us to consider everything there is to know about diamonds, from their formation deep in the earth, to their mining by man and machine, and on to their eventual use in both industrial and entirely frivolous applications… The explanations are clear, concise, and not overly technical… Reading Diamonds is a pleasure … A beautiful b