~*~Books For A New Gemstone Collector~*~?

Question

Hello All Gemstone People,
I was wondering if you knew of any good books for begginer gemstone collectors? thanks so much!

Answer 1

I teach gemology and this is a reading list I recommend to my students. Hope this is helpful!

Basic Handbooks
•Schumann, Walter (2000), Gemstones of the World, Revised Edition, Sterling Publishing Co Ltd, NY, ISBN 0-8069-9461-4
•Hall, Cally (1994), Gemstones, Dorling Kindersley, UK, ISBN 0-7513-2731-X

Advanced Handbooks
•Liddicoat, Richard T. (1993), Handbook of Gem Identification, 12th Edition, GIA, USA, ISBN 0-87311-020-X
•Webster, Robert (1994), Gems, 5th Edition, Redwood Books, Great Britain, ISBN 0-408-70573-6

Other Readings
•Anderson, Basil & Payne, James (1998), The Spectroscope and Gemology, WBC Book Manufacturers, UK, ISBN 0-943763-18-5
•Gubelin & Koivula (1992), Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, ABC Edition, Switzerland, ISBN 3-85504-095-8
•Sinkankas, John, (1984), Gem Cutting, 3rd Edition, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., USA, ISBN 0-442-27630-3
•Wood, Betty (1984), The Healing Power of Color, Destiny Books, NY
•Yale, Parvey, Garland et al (1980), Color, Marshall Edition Limited, The Netherlands
•Zwimpfer, Moritz (1985), Color Light Sight & Sense, Schiffer Publishing Ltd

General Colored Stones
•Federman, David, (1988), Modern Jeweler’s Gem Profile, Vance Publishing Company, USA
•Suwa, Yasukazu, (1994), Gemstones Quality and Value, Vol. 1-3, GIA & Suwa & Sons Ltd, USA
•Wise, Richard W, (2003), Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones, Brunswick House Press, USA, ISBN 097282239-9

Corundum
•Hughes, Richard (1992), Ruby and Sapphire, ISBN 0-9645097-6-8

Jades
•Gump, Richard, (1962), Jade: Stone of Heaven, Doubleday & Company Inc, NY
•Ng, John & Root, Edmond (1984), Jade For You, Jade N Gem Corp of America, USA
•U Nyan Thin, (2002), Myanma Jade, Mandalay Gems Association, Myanmar

Opals
•Downing, Paul B. (1992), Opal Identification and Value, Majestic Press, USA, ISBN 0-9625311-2-X
•Cram, Len, (1994), Beautiful Opals, Robert Brown & Associates (QLD) PL, Australia, ISBN 1-86273-075-X

Beryl
•Sinkankas, John & Read, Paul G, (1986), Beryl, Butterworth & Co. Ltd, USA, ISBN 0-408-01543-8

Answer 2

Two important ones are "Precious Stones" by Max Bauer and "The Curious Lore of Precious Stones" by George Frederick Kunz. Both are available from Dover. Also, there is a wealth of information available on-line. The Gemological Institute of America is a great place to start. Both links are below.

Answer 3

RasavGems

Answer 4

yes these should be good they are called

"handbook of Gem Identification" by Richard T. Liddicoat, Jr.,
this book shows pictures of the inclusions that are only carried by certian stones which will help you to decide weather or not the stones you are searching for are what you are looking for

or the

"Gem Reference Guide, for the GIA Colored stones, Gem Identificationand colored stone grading courses" made by GIA

these are not beginniers books but they do show pics of the stones in both rough and faceted forms as well as good descriptions of charicteristics each one carries