As soon as I heard the first whispers about Gem: The Definitive Visual Guide, I knew that this book was going to need a spot on my bookshelf.
Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian and with a foreword by Aja Raden, New York Times-bestselling author of Stoned, Gem had a killer combination of minds behind it. The result is even better than I’d hoped: a vividly illustrated, accessibly written powerhouse of gemological knowledge guaranteed to thrill anyone with even a passing interest in the prettiest of rocks.
Gem is organized by gemstone – which makes sense, given its title and focus. The book proceeds in a logical fashion by introducing different gems and minerals; discussing their properties, associations, and typical uses; and including detailed photographs of the stone in its rough and faceted form (usually in several variations) as well as showing several finished pieces of jewelry with the gemstone as well.
Interspersed among the chapters on different gems are mini-features, 1-2 pages long each, about exceptional pieces of jewelry. Gems are definitely the focus, but the role that they play in jewelry is certainly acknowledged as well. The pages are also sprinkled with quotes about gems and jewelry from notable authors, from Oscar Wilde to Beth Bernstein.
The other reviews I’ve seen of Gem liken it to an encyclopedia: I understand that comparison, but it wasn’t what resonated with me. To me, the way that Gem organizes its information and places it in a larger context makes it much more than just a reference text.
Growing up in the DC area, I spent a significant amount of my childhood in the Smithsonian’s museums. As soon as I was old enough to have a preference, I knew that I loved the Natural History Museum’s Gem and Mineral Hall more than I loved anything else.
I loved the pretty, shiny finished jewelry, but I also loved looking at the raw stones. I gloried in the colors of the specimens, the way their forms ranged from angular to blobby to almost fuzzy. But the thing I loved the most was the fact that these crazy rocks that naturally formed in the earth were the same stuff as the glittering, polished works of art in the other room. It was the combination of science and art, of nature phenomena and human accomplishment, that killed me.
I’ve never gotten over my fascination with that dichotomy, and that’s really the reason that I’m here today, with a blog that gives me the chance to offer a copy of this book to three of you!
That’s right! I mentioned a giveaway in the title of this post, and I’m going to deliver. I have three copies of Gem that I’m delighted to be able to offer as a giveaway. I loved it, and you’ll love it too.
Thanks to DK, publisher of Gem, I have three copies of this wonderful new resource to give away to three of you.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In order to be eligible to win, you must enter your email address in the widget above and also complete at least one of the entry options. You’re welcome to enter more than once if you want better odds, but as long as you’ve submitted your email address and completed one of the options, you’re entered.
I’ll choose three winners next Wednesday. If any of the winners do not reply to my email within one week, a new winner will be chosen. Please note that this giveaway is US-only.
My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of Gem for review, and for making this giveaway possible.
Images reproduced by permission of DK, a division of Penguin Random House from Gem ©2016 by DK. All rights reserved.
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I love all the gemstones, I have been admiring them since my childhood, in my dad’s office. I am grateful to have a job where I can play with them and create new designs, and introduce my own brand, Bauble Lane. My favorite one now is Alexandrite, as it’s color combination is so beautiful and mesmerizing.
I absolutely love the Paraiba Tourmaline – it’s ethereal and romantic- I also love the old European cut diamonds because of their character and color and sparkle! ❤️
Chrysoprase is my favorite. I love the color and toughness of it.
I have a particular fondness for chrysoprase, myself.
Sapphires! I love all the different color variations they come in, but especially deep, classic blue.
This is such a hard question for me! My most recent love affair has been with garnets, particularly the Georgian variety. I just love the deep red/almost purple hue. I am a September baby and love sapphires (especially padparadschas) as a result. And finally, opals and emeralds have always had my heart. Mostly just to look at though, since they are so delicate! So excited for this giveaway. I’m crossing my fingers!
My current favorite gemstone is Zircon. Especially the deep/ tropical blue variety- the color is Amazing! And the sparkle! It seems to be very underated and not well known? My heart stopped when I first saw it while in Cambodia. I sourced about a dozen for my business for custom pieces, my favorites are already gone :(! I’m so in love with it that I’m going back in a week- ah! to source it straight from the mines for my engagement ring that we’re designing (well I’m letting him have a say 😉 )- so excited!
That’s so exciting!! Congratulations on the ring (and the engagement!).
I have always been an emerald fan — I love the deep green colors and have always wanted a spectacular piece of Art Deco jewelry with an emerald. There is a great local jewelry store in my town that does a lot of custom work and original designs, so I have thought about having them design something as a splurge! Still thinking what type of piece that would be, though.
Amethyst is a great gem! I mean really! Mother Nature out there producing upbeat & enriched purple hues!
I love coloured stones, especially sapphire. Every time I think of Sapphire, I think of royalty, mystery and privileges. Princess Diana’s engagement ring is how I learned about sapphire from. Although sapphire is beautiful but it needs diamond to bring out its best.
My favorite gemstone would have to be the rare alexandrite. This is because of the magical color change from greenish blue in the daylight to a soft purplish red in the incandescent light. Also this gem is very scarce so anyone who owns this simply owns a piece of treasure
Alexandrite is definitely an incredibly cool gem. I’ve had the pleasure of handling a few really beautiful examples at jewelry shows, but I can never get them to photograph well – I think you need special lighting.
Picking a favorite is hard! I’d have to go where the sparkle is and say zircon. I love the multitude of styles available with diamond clusters, dinner rings, pave, etc but like the slight unusualness of zircon. Seems like a stone not everyone has.
Oooh, such a fun pick! I agree with you that zircon is underappreciated. It’s really such a versatile stone.
Love Zircon too! Definitely underated. Makes for a great eye catching conversation piece though 🙂
My newest favorite gemstone is Aquaprase. As a January baby I am thrilled for our beautiful new birthstone!
Ooooh, good one!!
My favorite is purple amethyst. It’s alluring, colorful and exotic.
Hard to beat a seriously good amethyst.
I love amethyst and all the varying shades of purple that is being shown now because it’s my birthstone! I also love green tourmaline because that is my favorite color and it is a more affordable and sturdier stone than emerald.
I’m totally with you on green tourmaline – it comes in such incredibly beautiful tones, too.
I love fluorite, labrodorite, opals, and topaz!
Fluorite Is my favorite because of the lovely blue, green, teal, yellow, and pink variations. I also love that it grows in a natural square shape and that it can naturally glow!
Amethyst because I love purple, but I’m not so picky when it comes to good color or shape or markings (amber or turquoise for example). On the other hand, I don’t much for care for tanzanite very much.
PS, I already follow some of your Pinterest boards.
Gee… favorite gemstone… ;^) I’d say Sapphires!! Just love, Love, LOVE them! All the rainbow, cab or cut, depth of color, sparkle and superior hardness. I want the ALL.
Ahahaha how would I ever have guessed?!?! It’s a great pick: sapphires are magical. There aren’t really any other gemstones that can do so many things that well.
My favourite gemstone is of course a diamond. I especially love pink pear cut diamonds. They are unusual, unique, sparkly and beautiful. Qualities that I love in my gems and in myself. 😻💗💎
You want me to choose just one gemstone? That’s so difficult!
Ametrine, but it has to be cut trillion-style.
But I have a ton more, like lapis lazuli with pyrite when cut into a sphere (looks like the earth!), malachite, and labradorite.
Like this one, located at the GIA museum:
http://www.gia.edu/ametrine#.WAezOJMrJTY
I love how specific your favorites are!
I love malachite because of the beautiful colors and patterns that each stone uniquely has. Also, malachite is such a versitile stone: it can be used in jewelry and so much more!!
Ooh, good one! I love love love malachite.
I absolutely love Montana sapphires – there is just something about that ethereal blue-green gradient that makes me fall in love every time I see one.
My favorite gemstones changes often but at the moment it’s anything that contains purple like amethyst, fluorite, synthetic alexandrite, wampum shell, etc
What a fabulous variety of choices – I can tell you’d really love this book.
I’m getting the Beth Bernstein book for my (blue topaz) birthday in December. I’d love to have this book by the Smithsonian and Aja Raden. Like jewels, one can never have too many books about jewels. 🙂
I put my birthstone in my comment but forgot to tell you that diamonds are my favorite gem!
My favorite gemstone is moonstone but I haven’t met a gemstone I didn’t like.
Thanks for posting about this book, it looks wonderful!
I couldn’t believe I wasn’t already following on Pinterest–now I am. I write a cozy mystery series, and my protagonist is an antique jewelry dealer. I NEED this book!!
I’m pretty excited about this book too! As soon as I heard about it, I sent my husband and link to it at work and said “LOOK AT THIS AWESOME BOOK.” I type screamed and everything!
Oh, and my favorite gemstone of the moment is a diamond. I can’t choose just one for all time, because there’s so many great ones. Last time my favorite was emeralds, before that, opals… 🙂
Ahh, yay!! I’m so glad you entered – this book is awesome and you would love it.
xoxo,
Becky