Product Description
Winner, 1994 Geoscience Info Society Best Reference Work Award This is the first comprehensive bibliography of gems and precious stones ever published, containing over 7,500 entries--predominantly books, but also periodical articles of significant material of historical value, from 1500 up to 1985, with some books published after that date. All important works are described, collated, and assessed in terms of content, accuracy, and importance, with remarks added on bindings and physical features that will enable librarians, researchers, booksellers, and collectors to verify editions and states as well as completeness of copies. Illustrations; subject index. The bibliography is based mostly on the Sinkankas Library, generally agreed to be the largest and most complete collection of its kind, now in the Gemological Institute of America, Santa Monica, CA. ... Read more

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The Gemology Bible
There are not so much books about gemology, what makes the study of the gems a very difficult thing. The books above complete the space at literature and give both a reference and a study help. We could, almost, call them an encyclopedia about gems. In fact, if you bought these books you will not need to buy another title. ... Read more

Product Description
Although Arab contribution to the sciences is generally well known in the Western world, Arab contributions to the study of gemology are less recognized because of the lack of English-language translations of notable Arab texts. Scarecrow Press is pleased to present Samar Najm Abul Huda's translation of Ahmad ibn Yusuf al Tifaschi's study of gems. Born in 1184, Al Tifaschi first learned about gems from his father, and augmented his knowledge through readings of Aristotle, Theophrastus, and Pliny, as well as through extensive travels to mines and trading centers. In 1253, he wrote what later became known as the most "methodical and complete" work on precious stones. Gemologists of today are still astounded by the advanced observations that Al Tifaschi made in this work. The book covers 25 different stones, giving the crystallographic forms and physical properties such as hardness, lustre, and dispersion. The book also describes causes of the formation of gemstones within their mother rocks as well as the characteristics of the mine concerned. Abul Huda's translation of the work includes notations on the translations of Al Tifaschi's work into other languages, as well as background information on Al Tifaschi's world, the well-known gemstones of the 13th century, the gemological terminology used by the medieval Arabs, and notations on other gemstones not mentioned by Al Tifaschi. Includes index, a general bibliography, and illustrations of two precious gemstones in their settings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Facinating translation showing early gemological knowledge
There is an old story that the Emperor Shah Jahan was sent a large "ruby" by his son Aurangzeb, The Great Moghul.The son who had deposed his father and shut him up in the Red Fort at Agra wished to know if the stone was a true ruby or a "balas" ruby what we know today as a red spinel.

At this time there were a number of famous large rubies known in Europe including the famous Black Prince's Ruby and a large brooch owned by the French crown known as the Four Brothers.European gemological knowledge at this time was not so far advanced as to make the separation between the true and balas stone.

Ms. Huda's facinating translation of Al Tifaschi's "Best Thoughts on the Best of Stones" proves that the Arabs could make the separation as early as the 12th Century.Perhaps Shah Jahan had read his book.This is just one of the many interesting insights in this wonderful little book Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of jewelry and gemology.



Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones ... Read more

Product Description
This edition has been revised and expanded to reflect recent and varied developments in the highly specialized field of gemology. Among these are: gemstone synthesis; imitation gems; the alteration of gems to improve, add, remove or otherwise change their color, phenomena or clarity; the importance and widespread uses of the microscope to reflect the aforementioned developments; and a number of new gem minerals or new forms of previously described minerals recently discovered or actively marketed for the first time. The chapter on Descriptive Gemology has been divided into two groups: important gemstones (those gem materials most widely used in jewelry and ornamental objects) and less important gemstones (those less commonly encountered). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Does anyone...
Does anyone know how Robert C. Kammerling died or where I could find information on him??? I knew him but only for 1 year and i am trying to figure out more about him.
I have heard that this book is very helpful and is one of the best books on gemology.

Classic Text which is the basis of GIA classification
Cornelius Hurlbut (1906 ,2005) a Harvard University Geologist and Robert Kammerling (c1947, 1996)of the Gemological Institute of America wrote an excellent text on Gem Identification.The book became the basis of the GIA course of colored stones and colored stones identification which are required for the GIA Graduate Gemologist designation. Chapters 1-7 give basic facts on origin of gems, crystallography, chemical formulas, physical properties (hardness, specific gravity, heat conductivity), colors and optical properties. Chapters 6-7 also discuss equipment used in gem identification (specific gravity scales, heat testers, refractometer, reflectivity meters, polariscope, condensing sphere).The most important gem identification instrument is the refractometer and the authors give a detailed discussion of its uses which nicely supplements the GIA `lab manual'.Chapter 8 and 9 discuss the microscope and loupe and the spectrophotometer.Chapter 11 discusses synthetic stones (which have the same chemical, optical, and physical properties of the natural stones) and imitation stones (which merely resemble the natural stones.)The other chapters discuss enhancement, fashioning and the properties of stones on the GIA gem identification "a" and "b" lists.

Ph.D. GG (GIA)

An excellent reference source
This book is an excellent source of information for people interested in the field of gemmology. I have found that the contents covers a wide range of topics and presented in an easily understood format. It is a concise andwell-illustrated book which makes it ideal as a reference book ... Read more

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Chapters: Pleochroism, List of U.s. State Minerals, Rocks, Stones and Gemstones, Ratna Pariksha, Asterism, Gems ... Read more