Gemstones of the World (hc) by Walter Schumann

Newly published in a fifth edition, this definitive guide takes the mystery out of appreciating, buying and selling gemstones. It covers everything from the romance and history of more than 1,800 gemstones to their geographic locations; scientific, physical and color properties; and the way they are formed, structured and mined. The book also fully covers the optical features of gems, light and color, luminescence, refraction and inclusions, and key information about the densities and chemical elements of each stone, with fascinating details on different cuts, polishing, gems, hardness, cleavage, classification, trade names, rarity and more!