Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones

I’m studying to get GIA certified and into the gem business. Making jewelry, being able to recognize the quality of the gemstones I use or helping others. This book gives you a look inside the industry. I enjoyed it. Will add to my study books.

Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious GemstonesI am a Graduate Gemologist and have been a professional gem dealer now for thirty years and I can say with some authority that Richard Wise’s Secrets Of The Gem Trade (2nd Edition) is purely and simply a masterpiece. The first edition was excellent; the 2nd edition is even better. The author has revised and enlarged the book adding eleven additional chapters almost two hundred new photographs.It is truly the connoisseur’s guide, but the word should not put off the potential reader. Part of what makes the book so useful is that it is written in straight, easily understandable, non-technical language. I recommended the book to all my jeweler clients as an indispensible training tool for themselves, their staffs and as the perfect gift book to pass along to their gem loving clients.The second edition is sumptuously produced, beautifully bound with accurate, spot varnished color photographs of some of the world’s most fabulous gems. Secrets Of The Gem Trade is a gem lover’s delight.

Many years ago I started a business that appraises, sources and purchases and sells fine jewelry for private clients. It was at the end of a long road and steep learning curve of developing appraisal skills and more importantly learning about the evaluation of diamonds, gems and jewelry. This included time spent studying gemology at the GIA in Carlsbad and Chicago in person and online. I wish I had seen this book before I started down that road as it is the bible of the gem business. For the professional, and the person just interested in gems, this beautifully printed and presented book is teeming with knowledge (hard-won) and images of astounding jewels. While at the GIA the only gems we touched were tiny samples, here are magnificent, perfectly photographed examples of the gems we get to learn so well. I encourage you to purchase this book, it brings to life the truly beautiful aspects of our world in an easily digested format. Buy it also as a gift for people, clients, friends, who have an interest in diamonds and gems; it will be much appreciated.

It's a good book, pictures are glaring, the back stories are deep. It goes into the mining of stones and some of the people who mine them, and the history, like I said excellent, but I returned it, because it's not a carrying around book, too big and it has some weight to it, but ultimately it doesn't teaches about spiritual connection to the stones and what the stones does for a person.

I do not have formal training in Gemology, but have acquired a a lot of general information about gemstones through the years by reading and I also facet gemstones. The tittle of this book caught my attention, hoping the information would take me to a new level. I have not been disappointed! Easy to understand, the text is very well written, not only for Gemologists. I'm really glad I bought this book! Very clear and concise, full of beautiful colour photographs and interesting and intriguing information that will be very useful to expand one's knowledge. One of my favourite gems, Vietnamese Cobalt Spinel, is featured! Essential reading for those of us obsessed with Gemstones, and a must-have for dealers and buyers.

This book would be a beautiful gift for even a jeweler. The quality of the book is very high grade. The photos are gorgeous and the information is great. I sat for 2 hours a browsed through it. I just bought a present for myself because I am keeping this GEM of a book!

I've read many books about gems. Secrets of the Gem Trade is one of the very best. Richard Wise writes from knowledge, just like many other authors. But few other authors have the ability to write from a lifetime of deep experience. Thank you for sharing your experience, Mr. Wise!-------UPDATE (4/8/2019): I just purchased a second copy. One for work and one for home. I've read and reread many parts of this fine book.

There where so many great color pictures so much wealth on information over all I loved it and the price was great. What on earth are you waiting for go and get a copy today I love to collect gemstones and it's the best I have ever seen by far. Look I don't gain anything here so don't be afraid to pick your copy up today. Lots of hard work went into this book and you will be able to see it.