Diamonds

A massive tome devoted to the beloved sparkler.--Diana Jarrett, GG, RMV Mid-America Jewelry News (2/14/2022 12:00:00 AM) An illustrated guide to the treasured diamond.... An overview of diamonds through the ages, the process of mining, the evolution of diamond cutting, and many more aspects of the dazzling stone's many facets.-- Instore Magazine (2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) This coffee-table book from gemologist Newman (Diamond Handbook: A Practical Guide to Diamond Evaluation) covers diamond lore, mining and processing, and more. With detailed, larger-than-life photographs, along with maps and illustrations, Newman explores cuts (rose, brilliant, emerald), jewelry styles (Victorian, art deco, modern), and pricing considerations. Newman mentions only briefly the social and environmental impacts of diamond mining, and in a generally positive light (for instance, she describes De Beers's GemFair program as connecting artisanal and small-scale miners to the global market through digital technology and assurance of ethical working standards)... Brilliant, oversize images of loose stones at all stages and in custom-made jewelry will draw gem buffs, jewelry makers, collectors, and historians.--Maggie Knapp Library Journal (2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Gemologist Renee Newman is well-known in the trade for her practical handbooks... Her latest publication is Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities and Benefits, and it would not be hyperbole to call this book the bible for diamond knowledge. The coffee-table-size volume takes the reader on a fascinating journey covering the symbolic power of diamonds through the ages, the various mining levels, provenance, the evolution of cutting, and jewelry styles. It also tackles issues such as pricing, ethics and lab-grown diamonds... Diamonds is the gift every newcomer to the industry should receive or buy for themselves. It's also an essential read for consumers who want to make informed choices.--Sonia Esther Soltani, Editor-in-Chief Rapaport Magazine (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM) This could be the shortest book review ever. If you are interested in anything and everything about diamonds you need this book. Period. Renee Newman is a highly respected Graduate Gemologist and author of several acclaimed guides to gems and jewelry, including previous books on diamonds. But this latest book goes well beyond anything she has previously published on the King of Gems... This is principally a book about diamond jewelry and will be of prime interest to jewelry aficionados and historians. The writing is crystal clear, the numerous illustrations are superb, and the information provided is absolutely up-to-the-minute. Whether your interest in diamonds is casual or intense, you need this book.--Eric J. Hoffman ASJRA Newsletter (12/1/2021 12:00:00 AM) The first thing you notice and appreciate about Renee Newman's new book Diamonds: Their History, Sources, Qualities, and Benefits is the remarkable photo illustration that graces the cover... But this is not just another coffee table book full of incredible images of impossibly expensive baubles (although, those are quite lovely!). In 272 glossy pages, Ms. Newman invites us to consider everything there is to know about diamonds, from their formation deep in the earth, to their mining by man and machine, and on to their eventual use in both industrial and entirely frivolous applications... The explanations are clear, concise, and not overly technical... Reading Diamonds is a pleasure ... A beautiful book, both in its many photographs and illustrations and in its content. It gives the reader an excellent overview of the many facets of diamonds: historical, technical, industrial, decorative, and symbolic. The accessible text provides a bounty of information to the novice and fresh insights to the expert, all while working its nimble way from topic to topic. Renee Newman's impressive body of work boasts a brand new star in this lovely book!--Caitlin St. John, GIA GG National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)