Gemstones have been a source of delight and fascination for many thousands of years, from the icy brilliance of diamond and the soft iridescence of pearl, to tough jade gems once used in weapons and pink topaz that was popular in Victorian jewellery.

This book looks at each of the world's known types of gemstone in turn, exploring their unique beauty, rarity and durability. It reveals how each of the gem minerals forms, where they are found and mined, and how they are identified. The book also explains how to distinguish the real from the fake, as well as cutting and polishing techniques.

The use of gemstones in adornment, from over 4,500 years ago to the present day, is also explored. With sumptuous colour photographs, Gemstones is a dazzling insight into the world of the rare and the valuable.