Gems

By Robert Webster
Revised by B.W.Andersen
Butterworths
1989 (4th Edition), Reprinted 1987, 1989
ISBN 0-408-01148-3

Butterworths writes:

Since it was first published in 1962, Gems: Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification has become firmly established as the most comprehensive and authoritative account of gemstones available in the English language.

The period since publication of the third edition, in 1975, has seen numerous changes of far-reaching consequence for the science of gemology. A large proportion of these changes has been brought about as a direct consequence of the appearance in quantity of cubic zirconia, an extremely successful stimulant of diamond. Thus, a full description of cubic zirconia and the associated new test instruments has been a foremost concern for Basil Anderson in this revision.

There have been other additions to the range of synthetic gemstones, most importantly synthetic opal, and recent advances in the techniques for altering the color of gemstones. These are described and discussed in detail in this new edition, along with several new gem minerals and the current procedures for diamond grading.

Although primarily aimed at the professional jeweler and student gemologist, Gems is also an essential item in the library of the collector and the layman who is interested in precious stones.

About the author
Robert Webster is the author of two other books: Practical Gemmology and The Gemmologist’s Compendium