Gems have been alluring to men throughout history. They are prized for their rarity and the matchless beauty that proceeds from their inherently noble traits. The riches of The Gem Kingdom are here revealed in sumptuous illustrations and a text that embraces both the science and romance of gems.

How gems were first taken from the earth, endowed with mystical and curative powers coveted and revered through the ages, is all part of this fascinating narrative by Paul E. Desautels, curator of gems and minerals for the Smithsonian Institution.

He recounts also the basic methods of gemstone science, facts of importance to all who admire or invest in gems. For while the techniques of the gemmologist guarantee the identity of stones, they have also helped the gem counterfeiter in crafting highly successful facsimiles.

In this panorama of the gem kingdom the author describes the great gem species, such as diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire, as well as the nonminerals, pearl, ivory, coral, amber, and the less precious species favoured by collectors and craftsmen. He divulges the skills of the lapidary and the jeweller (the one creating magnificent gems from rough stone, the other transforming gems into rich adornments), and vividly details the fabulous crown jewel collections of Europe.

This expert and beautiful book concludes with an appreciation of jade, the sometimes green stone that has inspired carvers for centuries. Never before has the gem kingdom been so comprehensively explored or son brilliantly photographed. This is the book for all who admire, collect, invest in and search for gems and gemstones.