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Gemmology Library
Gemmology isn’t just learned through videos… it’s built through study.
This is my personal Gemmology Library, a growing collection of books that have shaped my understanding of diamonds, gemstones, pearls and jewellery over the years.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your knowledge, these are the resources I recommend again and again.
New Book added every Sunday!
Gems
by François Farges
Enter into the fascinating world of precious gems through this unique volume that brings together the wonders of mineralogy and masterpieces of jewelry.
Both a reference book and an exhibition catalog, Gems unveils the fascinating world of minerals and gems through a dialogue between the prestigious collections of the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris and the great French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. The Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris welcomes the exhibition Gems from March 31, 2020–January 30, 2021.
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Beautiful Creatures: Jewelry Inspired by the Animal Kingdom
by Marion Fasel
Creatures from the animal kingdom represented in exquisite jewelry by renowned masters Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., JAR, Belperron, David Webb, Schlumberger, Boucheron, and many other brilliant jewelers.
Many of the most imaginative designs by the world's great jewelry houses and artisans take inspiration from the animal kingdom. From Cartier's iconic panthers to Bulgari's snakes and JAR's butterflies, these spectacular objects dripping with precious stones are akin to wearable art. Beautiful Creatures depicts some of the most spectacular beasts ever transformed into sparkling treasures and accompanies a forthcoming special exhibition in the American Museum of Natural History's Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals.
The Soul of Jewellery
by Jean-Marc Mansvelt
This volume offers unique and previously unpublished insight on the world of jewellery. Calling upon specialists from every creative and intellectual discipline―artist or composer, botanist or perfumer, novelist or philosopher ― this reference volume examines jewellery in all of its different facets, from anthropology to philosophy to art.
Alongside its sensitive and cultural insight into the art of jewellery-making, this volume is richly illustrated with drawings and archives from Maison Chaumet and photographs by Simone Cavadini and Julia Hetta that offer new perspectives on the jewel. This tome has been published in collaboration with Maison Chaumet.
Jewelry for Gentlemen
by James Sherwood
Men’s jewelry has a long and fascinating history, with storied houses, famous patrons and a diverse range of modern designers. Behind each tiny piece often lies a complex narrative of patronage, personality and craftsmanship. This is the first publication dedicated solely to a neglected subject.
Drawing on his expertise on men’s style and insider’s knowledge of the jewelry industry, men’s style aficionado James Sherwood tells the story of men’s relationship with jewelry and presents the contemporary artisans who keep the art alive.
The Smithsonian National Gem Collection―Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels
by Jeffrey Edward Post
Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the National Gem Collection for more than 25 years, separates fact from fiction in an all-new and original book, revealing fresh information and regaling the reader with anecdotes and tales of some of the world’s greatest and most famous gemstones.
Dr. Post is the author of the now out-of-print book The National Gem Collection (Abrams, 1997), which has sold more than 50,000 copies. In this brand-new book, he tells the stories of the Smithsonian’s most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, Star of Asia Sapphire, Carmen Lucia Ruby, Hooker Emerald, and Blue Heart Diamond―and also presents the tales, details, and fascinating facts surrounding rarely displayed gems from the Smithsonian vault and additions made to the collection since 1997
Magnifica: the power women hold
​by Tina Leung, Amanda Nguyen
Bvlgari's new high jewelry collection pays tribute to the pioneering visions of indomitable women who blazed their own paths, broke boundaries, or shattered cultural norms.
In keeping with the inspiration for the jewelry collection, this book is an ode to women, as suggested by the female name "Magnifica." This launch marks the start of a new chapter in a history filled with energy, impact, and daring creativity, with a collection of outstanding pieces at the height of High Jewelry, creativity, and artisanship, conveyed through exper-tise and craftsmanship.
Gemologue: Street Jewellery Styles & Styling Tips
​by Liza Urla
Did you know that jewellery predates clothes? The oldest known piece is a set of 100, 000-year-old beads, made from Nassarius shells. Liza Urla advises us not to look at the eyes when meeting a new person, but instead to look at their jewellery. She describes it as the ultimate means of self-expression, essential to our identification as humans. "Jewellery is our armour," she says, "and precious stones our amulets".
Ruby: The King of Gems
​by Joanna Hardy
This is the most ambitious book ever published on the ruby, the king of gems. From Emperors and Empresses, Kings and Queens, Maharanis to Hollywood royalty, a stunning array of style icons are shown wearing their favourite ruby jewelry, alongside classic images of rubies from art, advertising and fashion.
The book also showcases sixty of the world’s most significant and renowned pieces of ruby jewelry, including many previously unseen designs from royal and private collections. Historic creations are represented alongside pieces from major modern jewelry houses, among them Cartier, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, Harry Winston and Graff. Additionally, Ruby offers practical guidance on what to look for in a quality ruby.
Jewel: The Definitive Visual Guide*
​by DK
Combining stunning photographs with expert knowledge, this book is a dazzling guide to precious stones, organic gems, and precious metals.
Discover the intriguing stories of the world's most famous and fabulous gems, including the mysterious Hope Diamond, the stunning Koh-i-Noor of the Crown Jewels, and exquisite Fabergé eggs. Trace the history of gemmology, learn all about the key characteristics of precious and semi-precious stones, and discover the science behind some of their more unusual and mysterious properties.
* There are a few versions of this book with different covers, they are all the same (360 pages)
The Graff Book: Story Told in Diamonds
​by Graff
This immersive coffee table book is the story of Laurence Graff and the House he has built, and a tribute to the creativity and talent of the designers, gem setters and craftspeople behind our jewels. Featuring beautiful photography and personal images from the Graff family archive, Graff makes mesmerising reading for aficionados of High Jewellery.
American Cut: The First 100 Years
​by Al Gilbertson
American Cut: The First 100 Years, by Al Gilbertson, chronicles the evolution of what we refer to as the Ideal Cut from its earliest beginnings. It was known as the American Cut because of Henry Morse, a diamond cutter in Boston, who by 1873, with the help of his shop manager, built the first bruting machine to make a diamond perfectly round. Prior to this, diamonds were rarely cut as round shapes. Morse also made the first gauge to measure the angles of diamonds and through repeated experiments decided which angles were the best for the crown and pavilion. Cutting factories copying his methods soon sprang up in America, and, by 1900, Morseís style of cutting was called the American Cut. This book carefully documents others who also influenced the development and perceptions about the Ideal Cut, including Frank Wade, Herbert Whitlock, Marcel Tolkowsky, Robert Shipley and Richard T. Liddicoat.
The Cartiers:
The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire
by Francesca Cartier Brickell
The Cartiers is the revealing tale of a jewellerydynasty―four generations, from revolutionary France to the 1970s. At its heart are the three Cartier brothers whose motto was 'Never copy, only create' and who made their family firm internationally famous in the early days of the twentieth century, thanks to their unique and complementary talents: Louis, the visionary designer who created the first men’s wristwatch to help an aviator friend tell the time without taking his hands off the controls of his flying machine; Pierre, the master dealmaker who bought the New York headquarters on Fifth Avenue for a double-stranded natural pearl necklace; and Jacques, the globe-trotting gemstone expert whose travels to India gave Cartier access to the world’s best rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, inspiring the celebrated Tutti Frutti jewellery...
Jewellery Illustration and Design: Techniques for Achieving Professional Results
by Manuela Brambatti, Cosimo Vinci
The first volume in this two-part series provides a step-by-step guide to the fundamental aspects of the graphic representation of a wide range of jewellery pieces, from the simplest to the most complex forms. Different volumes, spaces, surfaces and finishes are explained in detail, as are methods for depicting different materials, from timeless metals and precious stones to substances such as celluloid and bakelite.
The objective of this book is not to showcase completed jewellery pieces. Instead, it aims to provide readers with the tools needed to be able to accurately convey their ideas and master use of colour, as well as to draw different facets and effects such as brilliance, transparency and opacity. It does so by explaining a variety of illustration techniques involving pencils, markers, pastels, tempera and computer rendering.
Secrets Of The Gem Trade
Second Edition
by Richard W. Wise
This second edition has been enlarged and largely re-written. Completely revised and expanded with 11 new chapters focusing on Jade, Demantoid Garnet, Natural Nacreous Pearls, Conch Pearls, Sunstone, Moonstone, Peridot, Cobalt Blue Spinel, Red -Pink Spinel and Golconda (Type IIa) Diamonds. Also there are five new introductory essays covering Blue-white diamonds, Jadeite, Natural Pearls, Spinel and Feldspars. Plus 278 color photographs (161 additional) which include exclusive images from major museum collections and the latest auction market icons. This is the definitive book for anyone wanting to learn how the best gemologists in the world evaluate precious gems, and what makes one stone merely a good stone versus a truly fabulous museum quality gem.
Colombian Emerald / Esmeralda Colombiana
Author: George Smith, Ronald Ringsrud, Geoffray Riondet, Gérard Panczer and Guilhem Merolle
The book Colombian Emerald / Esmeralda Colombiana offers a clear, well-documented look at Colombian emeralds: history; the historic mines of Muzo and Chivor; gemology and treatments; today’s market; and a practical buying guide. Richly illustrated and written by field specialists for collectors, jewelers and curious readers, it also brings a genuinely passionate view of a market driven by remarkable people—a tribute to those who work the stone from the mines of Boyacá to the offices of Bogotá—and a complete look at the history, the community, and the future of production with emerging sites such as Las Pavas.
Pearls: Their History, Sources, Types and Qualities
by Renée Newman
Throughout history, pearls have been treasured for their beauty wherever they've been found, from China to the Persian Gulf to Mexico and beyond. Before the creation of cultured pearls, natural pearls were incredibly rare, considered symbols of wealth and power reserved for the elite. With the pearl culturing revolution, pearls became widely available, and they remain an iconic fashion staple for celebrities, athletes, royalty and everyone in between.
New Book added every Sunday!
This library is constantly growing.
New book added every Sunday, so make sure to check back and keep building your knowledge.
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