| Gemstones: Symbols of Beauty and Power
by Eduard Gubelin and Franz-Xavier Erni
published by Geoscience Press, Tucson AZ, 2000.
Hardback, 9-1/2" x 12", color, 240 pages. $49.95.
Reviewed by June Culp Zeitner.
This is a beautiful and fascinating book about a favorite subject of lapidaries
and jewelers. Dr. Gubelin, well known to gemologists, has established a systematic
approach for categorizing inclusions in gemstones, invented some gemological instruments,
and has written numerous articles and books about gems. Dr. Erni has been a magazine
editor and is a writer on scientific subjects, including gemstones. An oustanding
contribution to the book is the exceptional colored photographs by Erica and Harold
Van Pelt.
Gubelin starts with the characteristics and origins of gem materials. He writes
about crystal systems, hardness, toughness, and color. In the well-illustrated
part about color, he talks about chemical color, physical color, and optical effect
coloration of gem materials. The photo of a bouquet of rhodochrosite crystals
surrounded by gleaming spires of rock crystal quartz is breathtaking. The smaller
picture of padparascha is exactly what I thought the color should be. The next
part tells about mining and processing. There is a world map of major gem deposits
from 46 countries. Cutting, polishing, and engraving gemstones is explored and
illustrated.
In his complete examination of gem species, Gubelin starts with the big four.
This is traditional, but I hope some day a different system is involved that stresses
beauty and adaptation to jewelry more than history, legend and lore. For example,
green tourmaline, tsavorite garnets and imperial jade usually make more attractive
jewelry than most emeralds. The discussion of feldspars emphasizes the growing
appreciation of this colorful and shimmering group. Garnets are an exceptional
group, rich in history and found in many wonderful deposits. Gubelin notes that
no other gemstone has been discovered in recent years in such a wide vareiety
of types and colors. Australia and Mexico are given credit for being the two leading
suppliers of opal, although new deposits are still being discovered. I was glad
to see the sunny peridot given its due. This is another of the underrated excellent
greens.
I enjoyed the chapter on quartz. This bright group of gems is perhaps the favorite
with the most amateur lapidaries. Tourmaline is worthy of its high praise as a
gem, and again, the picture showing both crystals and jewelry is almost unbelievably
beautiful.
The next major division is ornamental gems, a traditional subdivision, although
it may also be time for that to change. Jade and agate are among the gems included
here, as well as some of the newcomers, like sugilite and charoite.
The book was printed in Italy and usually their color is among the best in
the field; however, in one instance, malachite, the color in no way did justice
to this popular stone colored by copper.
Dr. Erni's contribution to the book begins with the chapter Gemstones, Symbols
of Authority and Power. Rich in history, this chapeter is bursting with crowns,
orbs, and scepters laden with priceless gems, including some of the world's greatest
diamonds. An interesting 18th-century jewel is the Order of the Golden Fleece,
where a gorgeous almandine garnet outshines many a ruby. Crosses and other religious
jeweled items are showcased. There has been little written about some of these
items in books about gems and jewels. These items are fabulous treasures. Unique
and outstanding is a quartz crown of the "Mother of God."
The second of the Erni chapters is Beauty, Magic and Medicine. Some
of the famous jewels will be unfamiliar to lapidaries and jewelers. Among these
are the elaborate jeweled statue of St. George, the jeweled mirror of Marie de
Medici, a remarkable antique cameo, and the throne of Boris Godunov, and more.
Seals, Amulets and Talismans covers many ancient customs and superstitions,
such as scarabs, signet rings, and the legend of Nonius and his opal.
Dr. Erni chose to describe an updated version of birthstones, which gives the
moonstone for June (previous June stones have been agate, pearl, and alexandrite)
peridot for August (previously sardonyx was first), and tourmaline replacing opal
for October. Zodiac stones and the stones of Aaron's breastplate are also described.
The text returns to Gubelin with his studies of inclusions, a chapter on collectibles,
and another on synthetics, composites and imitations.
This book is good to read, to look at, and to show friends to help them understand
how huge and involved is this world of gems and jewels, as well as for reference.
It will also make an impressive gift for admirers of gems and jewelry, or for
clubs and libraries.
June Culp Zeitner, who has
been writing for Lapidary Journal since 1956 and joined the editorial staff in
1967, is the author of nine gem and mineral books, and has helped to start the
National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame.
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