The Jeweller's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones, from Cut and Colour to Shape and Setting

Author Judith Crowe is both a gemstone dealer and jewellery maker and designer whose aim is “to provide an inspirational guide to gemstones that supplies essential gemmological and practical information and also encourages jewellers to produce imaginative and distinctive designs that celebrates the qualities of stone”. As well as being inspirational, the book is factual and practical.

The main body of the book is a “directory” (i.e. guide) to 39 gemstones. These include the well known topaz, garnet, jade, opal and diamond, as well as the lesser known spinel, sillimanite, lolite and zoisite. The four “organics”, pearl, amber, coral, shell,...