Newly updated and expanded,
COLORED GEMSTONES gives you all the
information you need to buy, collect, sell—
or simply enjoy—sapphires, emeralds, rubies and
other colored gemstones with confidence and knowledge.
With more varieties than ever before to choose from, including altogether new gems, revolutionary new cuts and new ways to buy gems—such as Internet auctions and TV shopping—there has never been a more exciting time to buy or collect colored gemstones. But there are also new high-tech treatments and sophisticated frauds to look out for. Lack of information, error or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming and costly. Buyers need a source of expert guidance.
This practical, comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide provides all the information you need in order to know what to look for, and what to look out for, including:
- What qualifies as a “gemstone”?
- How to evaluate color—and its impact on price.
- Deciding between a natural gem and an enhanced gem … and new glass-gemstone compositions.
- Colored gemstone synthesis and treatment.
- What to ask when buying the stone.
- What to get in writing.
- How to get what you want within your budget.
- Price guides for popular gems, opals and synthetic stones.
- Important information about buying on the Internet.
- … and much more!
Written by an “insider, ” this easy-to-read guide is the “unofficial colored gemstone bible” for anyone who wants to get the most for their moneyand enjoy what they have purchased.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
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
Über den Autor
Antoinette Matlins, P.G., is an internationally respected gem and jewelry expert, author, and lecturer. Honored with the international Accredited Gemologists Association’s highest award for excellence in gemology, Ms. Matlins is the author of many books that are widely used throughout the world by consumers and professionals in the gem and jewelry field. Her books include Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide (over 400, 000 copies now in print—the only book of its kind ever offered by Consumer Reports); Gem Identification Made Easy: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling; The Pearl Book: The Definitive Buying Guide; Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love; and Jewelry & Gems at Auction: The Definitive Guide to Buying & Selling at the Auction House & on Internet Auction Sites (all Gem Stone Press).Former gemology editor of National Jeweler magazine, her articles and comments on buying and selling gems and jewelry and on gem investment have appeared in many national and international consumer and trade publications. She is also the author of the ‚Gemstones‘ chapter in the Encyclopedia of Investments, 2nd Edition.Ms. Matlins has gained wide recognition as a dedicated consumer advocate. She has spearheaded the Accredited Gemologists Association’s nationwide campaign against gemstone investment telemarketing scams. A popular media guest, she has been seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, educating consumers about gems and jewelry and exposing fraud.In addition to her educational work, Ms. Matlins is retained by clients worldwide to seek fine, rare, or unusual gems and jewels for acquisition.Ebooks vom selben Autor / Herausgeber
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