Abstract
This textbook was developed to prepare students for the British Gemmological Association’s Preliminary and Diploma Examinations. As such there are even examination notes contained in Appendix E of the book. However, the scope of this edition goes well beyond a simple preparatory manual for a gemmology examination. Many new additions are also present in this edition, including gemstone identification, simulants, and synthetics. References have been enhanced in this version and new sections addressing high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) diamond enhancement and Be lattice diffusion techniques for corundum have been included. In essence, this edition has been thoroughly updated and revised according to the author. In many sections, the text is technical to the point that it would be sufficient for a mineralogy undergraduate textbook. The book consists of 20 chapters and 10 appendices. The introduction provides a fun-to-read chronology of the last 170 years of the quest for gemstones, the ability to create various synthetic stones, and the never-ending challenge of spotting and analyzing potential “fakes.” This chapter also does a nice job of summarizing the three essential qualities of a gemstone: (1) beauty, (2) rarity (especially …
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