References for Rockhounds Appraising and Buying Gems and Jewelry

Cameos Old & New gives you all the information you need to collect, appraise, buy and sell cameos. From ancient times to the present, cameos have captivated artists as a unique medium in which to capture and reflect history, literature and legends of every age. And today, the allure of the cameo is attracting a new generation of collectors, connoisseurs, artists and appraisers fascinated by their multidimensional beauty. This first-of-its-kind book tells you where to go to find cameos and how to separate imitations and synthetic materials from the genuine; how to separate old cameos from new; and how to distinguish ultrasonically-produced cameos from hand-carved ones. The Master Valuer System of Quality Ranking Cameos is explained here for the first time in any book. Provided are new tips for collectors and new cameo photographs designed to enable you to recognize and evaluate quality in cameos, including the key factors affecting the value of a cameo; a guide to cameos sold at auction, including photographs and prices; how to buy cameos from the retail jeweler, at auction, through an antique dealer, or via the Internet; cameo artists alive today, and how they are keeping the art of cameo cutting alive, and more...

Newly updated and expanded, Colored Gemstones 2nd edition gives you all the information you need to buy, collect, sell - or simply enjoy - sapphires, emeralds, rubies and other colored gemstones with confidence and knowledge. With more varieties than ever to choose from, including altogether new gems., revolutionary new cuts, and new ways to buy gems - such as Internet auctions and TV shopping - there has never been a more exciting time to buy or collect colored gemstones.

But there are new high-tech treatments and sophisticated frauds to look out for. Lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly. Buyers need a source of expert guidance.

This practical, comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide provides all the information you need in order to know what to look for, and what to look out for, including: What qualifies as a "gemstone"? How to evaluate color - and its impact on price. Deciding between a natural gem and an enhanced gem. Colored gemstone synthesis and treatment. What to ask when buying the stone. What to get in writing, How to get what you want within your budget. Price guides for popular gems, opals and synthetic stones. Important information about buying on the Internet... and much more! Written by an "insider," this easy-to-read guide is the "unofficial colored gemstone bible" for anyone who wants to get the most for their money and enjoy what they have purchased.

Do-It Yourself Guide to Jewelry Identification provides an easy-reading guide to jewelry, describing all forms - Victorian to costume. Sort and identify all jewelry accurately and efficiently - even grandma's old stuff! Identification includes all metals used in the jewelry industry since 1800 and glass, rhinestones, crystals, precious and semiprecious gemstones including organics like pearls, coral, amber, ivory and more. Self testing made easy for everyone using safe, non-toxic methods used and recognized by the Gemology Institute of America and Jewelers Institute of America. Chapters include Jewelry as an Investment, Awareness of Fraud, The Jewelers Loupe, Appraisals, What's in a Stone and How to Choose, Cleaning of Gemstone Jewelry, Storage of Jewelry, What do I Have, Costume Jewelry Names and Insignias, 100 Years of Jewelry Manufacturing, Costume Jewelry Values and Its Collectors, Cleaning and Care of Costume Jewelry and Home Testing and Remedies. Soft Cover, 5" x 8.5", 131 pages.

Buying a diamond ring may be one of the most important jewelry-related decisions you will ever make. The Diamond Ring Buying Guide was designed to help you get the best buy possible. Written in clear, everyday English, with lots of color photos, this book shows you step-by-step how to evaluate diamonds and settings. It's helped thousands of diamond buyers make smart choices - and it can help you too. TheDiamond Ring Buying Guide offers tips on evaluating quality, detecting fakes, selecting ring styles, diamond treatments, gold & platinum, and savvy buying. There's one thing this guide doesn't offer, and that's free diamond samples. But with the information and skills you'll learn from reading this book, you're sure to get good value for your money - and that's worth its weight in gold!

Newly updated and expanded, Diamonds 2nd edition gives you all the information you need to buy, collect, sell - or simply enjoy - diamonds with confidence and knowledge. Whether you are buying a diamond for an engagement ring, anniversary, to commemorate a special moment, or for personal pleasure, today it is more important than ever to understand what you are buying. There are new shapes and cuts, fancy colors, high tech treatments, and sophisticated frauds. There are new ways to buy - such as Internet auctions and TV shopping. Buyers need a source of expert guidance.

Practical, comprehensive, and easy to understand, this book offers in depth all the information you need to buy sparkling diamonds with confidence, including: What is a diamond? The factors affecting quality differences in diamonds. Diamond grading reports and how to interpret them. How to compare prices. How to spot differences in stones that may appear to be the same quality. How to protect yourself from misrepresentation. Questions to ask when buying a diamond. What to get in writing. How to get what you want within your budget. Important information about buying on the Internet... and much more! Written by an "insider," this easy-to-read guide is the "unofficial diamond bible" for anyone who wants to get the most for their money and enjoy what they have purchased.

Engagement & Wedding Rings takes the fear and anxiety out of buying an engagement or wedding ring, restoring the romance and the magic of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. You'll find everything you need to know to select, buy and enjoy that perfect ring... to truly experience the wonder and excitement that should be part of finding - or creating - it. Engagement & Wedding Rings is filled with useful information to help you make the right choice, including: Romantic traditions behind engagement and wedding rings. How to select the right style and design for you. Tricks to get what you want on a budget. Steps to compare prices properly. How to select the perfect bridal pearls. The latest cuts, ring styles and designs. Secrets to differences in diamonds and colored gemstones that may appear to be the same quality. How to select your jeweler, appraiser, and insurer. What to do to protect yourself against fraud - what to ask and what to get in writing. Tips on Internet shopping... and much, much more! Dazzling color section features over 100 different rings showing antique to contemporary designs. Over 400 illustrations and photographs. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 283 pages.

Gem Identification Made Easy is the first and only book that explains in non-technical terms how to identify diamonds and colored gems and separate them form imitations and look-alikes. The book's approach is direct and practical, and its style easy to understand. In fact, with this highly accessible guide, anyone can begin to master gem identification. Using a simple, step-by-step system, the authors explain the proper use of essential but uncomplicated instruments that will do the identification tasks, what to look for gemstone by gemstone, and how to set up a basic lab at modest cost.

Three of the instruments are inexpensive, portable, pocket instruments which, when used together, can identify almost 85% of all precious and popular stones. The key to avoiding costly mistakes and recognizing profitable opportunities is know both what to look for and what to look out for. Gem Identification Made Easy will help you: Open your eyes to the types of imitations, synthetics, look-alikes and fakes in the gem market today. Learn how to tell the difference between them. Quickly spots synthetics, including synthetic emeralds and diamonds, filled diamonds, diffused "blue" sapphires and "red" rubies, and much more. Discover how to identify new gems such as "red" emerald and "Mandarin" garnet. Know when to seek help from a professional gemologist or lab. Become more professional in you business or hobby.

The contents are organized into 16 major sections: (1) Before Beginning, (2) Setting Up the Lab, (3) Proper Lighting for Gem Identification, (4) The Loupe and Dark-Field Loupe, (5) The Chelsea Filter and Synthetic Emerald Filter, (6) The Dichroscope, (7) The Ultraviolet Lamp, (8) The Refractometer, (9) The Microscope, (10) The Spectroscope, (11) The Polariscope, (12) The Diamond-Type Spotter - Essential tool for Diamond Buyers, (13) The Immersion Cell, (14) The Electronic Diamond Tester, (15) The "Synthetic Diamond Detectors", and (16) Antique and Estate Jewelry - The True Test of Gem Identification Skill.

Covered in appendices are Gemstone Property Tables, Glossary, Recommended Reading, Laboratories That Provide Internationally Recognized Reports of Genuineness and Quality, Where to Go for Additional Gemological Training, International List of Gem Testing Laboratories and Gemologists, International List of Associations, and Gem Identification Suppliers.

The Gemstone Property Tables include: Frequently Encountered Transparent Gems by Color, Hardness of Popular Gems, Specific Gravity Table, Refractive Index Tables for Single and Double Refracting Gems, Table of Dispersion, and Table of Birefringence of Gemstones. Other tables include: Suggested Lighting for Gem Identification Instruments, Using the Synthetic Emerald Filter Set to Separate Natural Emerald from Synthetic, Colors Exhibited by Popular Dichroic and Trichroic Gems - by Gem Color, Colors Exhibited by Popular Dichroic and Trichroic Gems - by Gem Family, Gems That Show No Dichroism, Fluorescent Gemstone Chart, Use of Ultraviolet Examination for Separating "Look-Alikes", Phosphorescent Gemstone Chart, Refractive Index of Popular Single Refracting Gemstone Materials, Diamond Types and Which Ones Respond to HPHT Techniques, Diamond Reactions to the SSEF Diamond-Type Spotter, Liquids Used to Immerse Gems for Better Examination, and Synthetic Gemstones and Man-Made Imitations.

What's the "REAL" price? How could I get a break on the price of that stone? Is the gem with more green or more yellow in it worth more? Is that gem merchant treating me fairly? How can a jeweler sell more high-profit colored stone jewelry and tie up less capital? These are some of the questions answered and some of the secrets revealed by this famous gem merchant/cutter and author. If you have asked questions like these and found evasiveness or silence as your reply, you should read this book. The Gem Merchant is not just a must for gem merchants, gemologists and appraisers; it is a book particularly for the jeweler who wants to make more money with colored stones, and for gem lovers in general. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 158 pages.

Gems & Jewelry Appraising is the premier book of its kind, now updated and expanded. Gems & Jewelry Appraising, 2nd Editioncovers all the standards, procedures, and ethics of appraising gems, jewelry, and other valuables.

Each step involved in conducting an appraisal is fully explained, with photos, case studies, key documents, worksheets and pricing data included. Registered Master Value Anna M. Miller gives professional guidance and step-by-step instructions on how to Build a Clientele, Set Fees, Get Publicity, Handle Insurance Replacement Claims, Photograph Gems and Jewelry, Research and Write Reports, Test Metals, Research Provenance, Master the Different Approaches to Valuation, Use Price Guides, Understand Legal and Ethical Aspects of Appraising, and more!

This resource offers all the information that practicing or aspiring appraisal professionals will need to establish an appraisal business, handle various kinds of appraisals - for insurance, divorce, inheritance, liquidation, collateral and tax donation - and provide an accurate, verifiable estimate of value.

Buying colored gems is a challenge. To make a wise choice, you must be able to judge their color, flaws, transparency and brilliancy. The Gemstone Buying Guide will show you how. Written for both consumers and professionals, it's easy to read, has over 200 color photos and gives practical pointers on how to buy the best stone for the money. Whether you're interested in jade, opal, ruby, topaz, spinel, garnet, tourmaline or some other colored gem, you'll find the Gemstone Buying Guide to be a fascinating and valuable resource. Get straight talk on: Price Comparison, Quality Evaluation, Fake Stones, Gem Treatments, Gem Cleaning and Care and Savvy Buying. Chapters include: Colored Gem Price Factors in a Nutshell, Shape & Cutting Style, Carat Weight, Gemstone Color, Judging Clarity and Transparency, Judging Cut Quality, Evaluating Star & Cat's-Eye Stones, Treatments, Synthetic Stones, Deceptive Practices, Gemstone Descriptions and Caring for Your Gems. An appendix includes Birthstones & Anniversary Stones and Suppliers of Jewelry & Stones for Photographs. Also included is a comprehensive Bibliography and Index. Soft cover, 7" x 9", 156 pages.

Have you ever had a chain break right after you bought it? Have any of your stones fallen out of their settings? Do you wonder if your "gold" jewelry is really gold? The Gold & Platinum Jewelry Buying Guide shows you how to spot poor craftsmanship and imitation gold or platinum and gives you a wealth of information on chains, multi-colored gold, and platinum alloys. Gold & Platinum Jewelry Buying Guide is packed with color photos and step-by-step guidelines on evaluating craftsmanship, detecting fake metals, determining karat value, making practical choices, caring for your jewelry and finding a good buy. Soft cover, 7" x 9", 156 pages.

There is far more to appraising jewelry than just being able to put a dollar value on an item. The title of the appraiser also distinguishes the individual able to identify, witness, estimate status, excellence or potential, and determine the authenticity of the article. Many factors impact on a thorough appraisal, especially estate and period jewelry. This beautifully illustrated, complete guide to accurate jewelry identification and appraisal provides step-by-step instruction of jewelry identification and dating, reviews the role and responsibilities of the appraiser and describes in detail virtually every style of antique and period jewelry, from Georgian and Victorian to modern, "retro" and ethnic jewelry art. Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising offers expert information and clear, insightful guidance on all aspects of appraising. Included are a wealth of photos and figures, case studies, typical problems, pricing data and key documents. Chapters include The Appraiser, Appraisal Procedures and the Nature of Value, Conducting the Appraisal. Research and Analysis: How to Estimate Value, Jewelry from Antiquity to the Modern Era, Valuing Watches, Coin Jewelry, Carvings and Other Articles, Legal and Ethical Aspects of Appraising, and Preparing the Appraisal Document.Hard cover, 9" x 11.5", 194 pages.

A source of expert guidance to help you enter today's fastest growing marketplace for gems and jewelry. This definitive guide to buying and selling at auction covers both the unique risks and the opportunities to be found at the auction house and on Internet auction sites. Entertaining, informative, and packed with tips from an insider, this practical, easy-to-understand guide makes available detailed information on what distinguishes auction buying and selling from other methods; the rules of the game for buying and selling at auction; what you need to know before bidding on diamonds, colored stones, pearls, gold and platinum; design and style: great jewelry periods and great jewelers; special concerns when buying and selling on Internet auction sites; how to avoid the pitfalls when buying and selling at auction; what auctions do guarantee and how to protect yourself against what they don't guarantee, and much more. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 309 pages.

Know what you want. Know what you're buying. The new 6th edition of Jewelry & Gems The Buying Guide will show you the secrets to get the most for your money.

Purchasing gems and jewelry can be a magical experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming and costly.

To help you avoid the pitfalls and keep the magic, two internationally respected experts on buying gems and jewelry put their inside knowledge to work for you in this easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide. It is filled with practical advice and is designed to make it easy for you to have all the information you need to buy gems and jewelry with confidence.

Recommended by consumer and jewelry trade reviewers around the world, Jewelry & Gems The Buying Guide is already in use in over 100 countries and has been translated into Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Hungarian, and Russian. Over 300,000 copies are now in print and this revised, updated expanded edition covers even more: buying and selling on the Internet, dazzling new diamond cuts, recently discovered gems... and new treatments and trickery to look out for. There are fascinating mythical and magical tidbits, and practical tips that could only come from an insider.

In simple, straightforward terms you'll learn about the four Cs and how to juggle them to get what you want, at the price you want to pay; what to look for, and look out for; all about gold and platinum, jewelry design, and some of the country's leading designers. You'll learn what questions to ask and what to get in writing, and even how to select the jeweler, appraiser, and insurer.

The authors leave no stone unturned to give you everything you need to know - whether you are a novice or a connoisseur. With Jewelry & Gems The Buying Guide, you'll find the experience can be a joy, and the gems and jewelry you select a source of lasting pleasure.

Chapters include: (1) Becoming Intimate with Gems, (2) Looking for a Gem That's a "Cut Above", (3) The Magic of Diamonds, (4) The Importance of Cut & Proportion, (5) Body Color, (6) Clarifying Clarity, (7) Weight, (8) False Claims & Costly Bargains: How to Spot Fraud and Avoid Misrepresentation, (9) Comparing Diamond Prices, (10) The Mystery & Magic of Colored Gems, (11) Determining Value in Colored Gems, (12) Colored Gemstone Treatment & Synthesis, (13) Fraud & Misrepresentation in Colored Gems, (14) Buying Colored Gems, (15) Colorful Choices in Colored Gemstone, (16) Pearls, (17) Rare & Precious: Gold & Platinum, (18) Choosing the Setting, (19) Antique and Period Jewelry: Back by Popular Demand, (20) What to Ask When Buying a Stone, (21) How to Select a Reputable Jeweler, (22) A Word about Gemstone Investment, (23) Buying on the Internet: E-Commerce & Online Auctions, and (24) Choosing the Appraiser & Insurer.

Appendices include: Selected Laboratories, Selected Readings and Color Plates and Exhibits. Price Guides include: Diamond Price Guide, Colored Gem Price Guide, Pearl Price Guide, and Opal Price Guide. Special Charts and Tables include: Diamond Color Grades, Commonly Used Diamond Color Grading Systems, Commonly Used Diamond Clarity (Flaw) Grading Systems, Sizes and Weights of Various Diamond Cuts, Diameters and Corresponding Weights of Round Brilliant-Cut Diamonds, Comparison of Diamonds and Diamond Look-Alikes, Zodiac Stones, Birthstones, and Anniversary Stones, Gemstone Clarity Classifications, Colored Gems - Descriptive Names and Misnomers, Gem Alternatives by Color, How Treatments Affect Prices of Colored Gems, Gemstones that Are Not Routinely Enhanced, Gold Marks, How Alloys Affect Color, and International Ring Size Equivalents.

The Perl Book tells you everything you need to know about pearls to fully understand and appreciate them, and avoid any unexpected (and costly) disappointments, now and in future generations.

Topics covered include: The rich history and romance surrounding pearls; Differences between natural, cultured, and imitation pearls: What they are, how they differ, and how to tell them apart; The five factors that determine pearl value; How to judge quality, with tips on how to see the differences with the naked eye; Comparisons of all types of pearls, in every size and color, from every pearl producing country in the world; What to guard against: Artificial enhancements and misrepresentation; How to wear and care for pearls; Pearl prices: From affordable to astronomical; Magnificent pearl jewelry - conversations with the world's leading pearl experts, who offer "insider" insights and advice; Important resource information, including sample lab reports, a pearl glossary, and more.

Chapters include: (1) Most Ancient of Gems, Most Precious of Gems, (2) Legendary Pearls, Legendary Tales, (3) Pearls in the Making, (4) Different Types of Pearls: A Pearl for Every Mood, (5) Quality - Key to Lasting Beauty, (6) Artificial Enhancements Used on Lackluster Pearls, (7) How to Choose Fine Pearls, (8) Pearl Choices - A Wide Variety, (9) Pearl Prices - Some Guidelines, (10) The Experts Speak, (11) Great Jewelers on Great Pearls, (12) Magnificent Auctions Highlight Magnificent Pearls, (13) Wearing Pearls with Style, (14) Caring for Pearls to Keep Them Lustrous, (15) What to Ask When Buying Pearls, (16) Good Insurance Requires a Good Appraisal, and (17) Getting a Laboratory Report.

Price guides include American Cultured Freshwater Pearls, Cultured Saltwater Pearls, South Sea Cultured Pearls, Tahitian Black Cultured Pearls, and Chinese Freshwater Pearl Necklaces, Mabé.

Special charts include Nacre Thickness, Grading Nacre Thickness in Japanese Pearl Strands, Misnomers and What They Really Are, Popular Uniform Necklace Lengths, and Popular Graduated Necklace Lengths.

Appendices include Where to Go for Additional Information, Selected Readings, A Practical Pearl Glossary, and Credits. A comprehensive index is provided.

Pearl Buying Made Simple - When making a major purchase, be it computer, car or gem, it's best to know what you're looking for and how its quality is rated. the Pearl Buying Guide is the first book to give consumers details on judging pearl quality and value. Written in easy-to-read everyday English, with lots of explanatory photos, this book gives clear, step-by-step pointers on how to buy the best pearls for the money. You'll find out how to tell a fake pearl from a real one, how to compare pearl prices, how to choose good quality pearls, how to save money on your gem purchase, and how to turn a pearl necklace into a versatile piece of jewelry. Chapters include Why Read a Whole Book Just to Buy Some Pearls?, Curious Facts About Pearls, Pearl Types and Shapes, Judging Luster & Nacre Thickness, Judging Color, Judging Surface Perfection, Size, Weight & Length, Judging Make, South Sea Pearls, Black Pearls, Freshwater Pearls, Pearl Treatments, Imitation or Not?, Natural or Cultured?, Choosing the Clasp, Versatile Ways to Wear a Strand of Pearls, Caring for Your Pearls, and Finding a Good Buy. Soft Cover, 7" x 9", 156 pages.

Where can you find details on what to look for in colored gems? Not in a jewelry store brochure, not in a gem lore book, nor in a promotional video. Your local jeweler doesn't have a whole day to explain how color, shape, cut, clarity, transparency, geographic origin and treatments affect gem value. Let the Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Buying Guide provide the in-depth information you'll need to be a smart buyer. Written for both consumers and professionals, it's easy to read and has over 150 high-quality color photos. The Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Buying Guide provides straight talk on quality evaluation, gem treatments, fakes and synthetics, jewelers and appraisers, gem cleaning and care, and savvy buying. Chapters include Why Read a Whole Book Just to Buy a Gemstone?, Curious Facts About Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires, Carat Weight, Shape and Cutting Style, Judging Ruby Color, Judging Emerald Color, Judging Sapphire Colors, Judging Clarity and Transparency, Judging Cut, Ruby & Sapphire Treatments, Emerald Treatments, Imitation or Real?, Synthetic or Natural?, Star Rubies & Sapphires, Caring for Your Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Jewelry, and Finding a Good Buy. Soft cover, 7" x 9", 164 pages.

Table of Contents

Bob Keller