Description
All the information readers need to buy beautiful colored gemstones with confidence, now updated and expanded! Today’s market with more gemstone varieties to choose from-including altogether new gems-new gem cuts, new treatments and new frauds demands that buyers turn to a source of expert guidance, whether buying for personal pleasure or for investment. This comprehensive resource is the “unofficial bible” for colored stone buying. Gem expert and best-selling author Antoinette Matlins shows anyone shopping for colored gemstones how to get the most for their money. In this updated and expanded guide, Matlins explains in detail everything you need to know to buy and care for colored gemstones with confidence and knowledge. Contents List of Price Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi List of Special Charts and Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi List of Color Photograph Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii PART ONE Getting to Know Gems 1 The Mystery & Magic of Colored Gems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Getting What You Really Want: The First Steps . . . . . . . . . . 9 3 Looking for a Gem That’s a “Cut Above”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 PART TWO Colored Gemstones 4 Determining Value in Colored Gems: What Makes a Gem a Gem? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 5 Colored Gemstone Synthesis & Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 6 Fraud & Misrepresentation in Colored Gems . . . . . . . . . . . 65 7 Colored Gemstone Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 8 Buying Colored Gems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 9 Colorful Choices in Colored Gemstones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 PART THREE Important Advice Before &After You Buy 10 What to Ask When Buying the Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 11 How to Select a Reputable Jeweler & Gemologist Consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 12 Verifying & Insuring Your Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 13 Buying on the Internet: E-Commerce &Online Auctions . . 185 14 Caring for Your Gems & Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Appendix Selected List of Recognized Laboratories . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Selected Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Color Plates and Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Index……….. 200 Price Guides Guide to Popular Gems and Their Prices . . . . . . . 105-110 Opal Retail Price Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Synthetic Gemstone Retail Price Guide . . . . . . . . 112-113 Composite Gemstone Retail Price Guide . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Special Charts and Tables Zodiac Stones, Birthstones, and Anniversary Stones . . 4-6 Gemstone Clarity Classifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Guide to Gemstone Treatments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56-62 Descriptive Names and Misnomers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81-83 Gem Alternatives by Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98-100 How Treatments Affect Prices of Colored Gems . . . . . 101 Gemstones That Are Not Routinely Enhanced . . . . . . 102
