A curated list of the most important books on gems, gemology, jewelry, mineralogy and allied fields.

The Gemologist's Core Library | Classic Books on Gemology, Jewelry and Mineralogy

After nearly five decades in gemology, and with a personal collection that numbers over a thousand volumes, we are often asked to recommend books in the field. Below are our top picks. Have we left something important out? Feel free to provide your suggestions.
Here's the lineup:

• RIchard Hughes' Pick of the Litter: Books that every gemologist should own
• Gems by species
• Gems & jewelry by locality
• Buyer's guides to gems & jewelry
• Other titles of interest
• Gem-related fiction

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Richard Hughes' pick of the litter • The gemologist's core library

Look at the following handful of titles and compare it to your bookshelf. If you don't have each and every one of these, then either consider a new profession or click on the links to purchase them. This is the gemologist's core library. Each of these books is a must-have. 

	Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide by Richard Hughes, Wimon Manorotkul & E. Billie Hughes (2017). Together with Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide, these two volumes represent the most complete coverage ever devoted to a single gem species. It's all here, sources, prices, treatments, etc.
	Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide by Richard Hughes, Wimon Manorotkul & E. Billie Hughes (2014). Ruby and sapphire examined from the standpoint of the collector. This even includes a full chapter on collecting the literature of ruby and sapphire.
	The Book of Ruby & Sapphire by J.F. Halford-Watkins & Richard W. Hughes, ed. (2012). A previously unpublished classic brought to life by Richard Hughes. Based on the original 1934 manuscript. Halford-Watkins spent many years liviing in Mogok, Myanmar during the days of the British company.
	Jade | A Gemologist's Guide edited/authored by Richard W. Hughes (2022). While the literature on jade is vast, perhaps greater than any other gem, there is a distinct lack of a volume in English that treats jade as a gemological material. This book is designed to fill that gap, with extensive information on the history, sources, appraisal and identification of both treated and imitation jades. All of this is together in a single volume for the first time, making it a must-have for collectors, dealers, gemologists, appraisers, curators and anyone else with an interest in this fascinating gem. The book is authored by over twenty jade experts from around the world, creating an uparalleled work.
	Broken Bangle | The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature by Liu Shang-i, Richard W. Hughes, Zhou Zhengyu and Kaylan Khourie (2024) takes readers through the entire history of jade nomenclature, detailing how the current monikers were based on misinformation and misunderstanding of the gems’ true natures. But this gemological whodunit is much more than a dry recitation of jade nomenclature. It includes a detailed section on the occurrence and mineralogy of both yù (nephrite) and fei cui. Because jade is so intimately connected with Chinese culture, much of the Middle Kingdom’s fascinating history is also woven through its pages. Broken Bangle features dozens of color images of both historical documents and spectacular photos of contemporary jade and stone carving in China. For those whose mental picture of jade sculpture is a cliché Chinese goddess statue, prepare to have your minds blown.
	Heinrich Fischer's Nephrite and Jadeite, translated into English for the first time by Richard W. Hughes. In 1875, Leopold Heinrich Fischer (b. 1817; d. 1886) published an extraordinary work on jade in German, Nephrit und Jadeit. His book was the first ever to appear in a Western language entirely devoted to jade as we know it today. As you thumb through the pages that follow, the depth of Fischer’s work will amaze. One senses an obsession, days in cold libraries examining dusty texts, sleepless nights poring over a candle-lit desk, condensing this enormous body of human history into a book of just a few hundred pages. This English translation includes a special 43-page appendix containing full bibliographic details of all the references cited by Fischer, as well as additional references on jade in both Western languages and Chinese, making it a valuable resource for scholars.
	The Book of the Pearl: The History, Art, Science, and Industry of the Queen of Gems by George Frederick Kunz & Charles Hugh Stevenson (1908). Reprints available. Certainly the best pearl book ever. Also one of the best gem books ever. A true tour-de-force. If you have the money, buy the original 1908 edition in its sumptuous binding (as shown at left). That also goes for most of the Kunz books. Note there are three flavors of the original. The first US printing has white pearls on the cover, in the second, the white is missing. There is also a UK edition with a white cover.
	Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones by Joel Arem (1977, 1987). Detailed descriptions and fine photos of gems from A to Z. This second edition also covers synthetic and man-made gems. Highly recommended for all gemologists. A tremendous resource. Arem was a mineralogist, and so the data within is based on a solid foundation. In addition, as a former curator of the gem collection at the Smithsonian Institution, he had access to a great deal of commercial information about rarity and available sizes of gems. This is a superb resource and has never been topped.
	Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz (1913). Reprinted many times. Again, like all the Kunz books, a classic and, if you have the money, get the original editions. See also the companion volumes, The Magic of Jewels and Charms and Rings for the Finger.
	Diamonds by Eric Bruton (1970, 1979). Despite the popularity and importance of diamond, after nearly half a century this book still remains the most complete resource on the subject. The 1979 expanded 2nd edition is the one to get.
	Emerald and Other Beryls by John Sinkankas (1981). One of the finest books ever written on a single gem species. A masterpiece of gemological scholarship and, with Kunz' Book of the Pearl, one of the two major inspirations for my books on ruby and sapphire. The Butterworth Gem Series book on beryl is a shortened version. Get the original.
	Gem and Crystal Treasures by Peter Bancroft (1984). This is in my top five all time. It covers the 100 most famous gem and mineral localities in the world, and most importantly does so from the human side. The extremely readable text is paired with some of the finest gem and mineral photography ever published. This book had a huge impact on my writings, with its blend of stories and vintage photos. A leather-bound limited edition exists and I'm proud to own a copy of that, along with the regular edition.
	Gem Testing by B.W. Anderson & E.A. Jobbins (1990, 10th ed.). Anderson was perhaps the greatest gemologist of the 20th century. This book distills over 50 years of gem-testing experience. Look for the 10th edition if you can find it.
	Gemology by Cornelius S. Hurlbut & Robert C. Kammerling (1991). This is one of the best discussions of mineralogical gemology, with excellent sections on crystallography and gemological optics.
	Gemology: An Annotated Bibliography by John Sinkankas (1993). My pick for the greatest gem book of all time. No author ever worked harder on a single work. Over 6,000 entries, virtually all of which are annotated. There is a limited edition in fake leather with a siipcase.
	Gems by Robert Webster (2008, 6th ed.) No one who calls themselves a gemologist can be without this massive work. However this 6th edition is not the one to buy, since so much material was removed. Instead, look instead for the Third, Fourth or Fifth Edition editions, or if you are a real collector like me, get them all.
	Gems & Gemology Quarterly journal from the GIA. This is a must for all gemologists. Alice Keller, who edited this publication for three decades, single-handedly dragged gemology into the modern scientific world. Every gemologist on the planet owes her a debt of gratitude. Now each issue is available for free in PDF format, but get yourself a paper subscription to help support this important scholarship.
	Gems Made by Man by Kurt Nassau (1980) The finest book published to date on synthetic gem materials.
	Gemstone Enhancement: Heat, Irradiation, Impregnation, Dyeing, and Other Treatments Which Alter the Appearance of Gemstones, and the Detection of Such Treatments by Kurt Nassau (1984 and 1994). Virtually the only book on this important subject. A must have. Try for the 2nd edition if you can find it.
	Handbook of Gem Identification by Richard T., Jr. Liddicoat (1947–1987). A classic from the former head of the Gemological Institute of America. This was my introduction to gemology, and describes the subject in an easy to follow manner. While the various editions often show only minor changes, the last edition (1987) is the most complete and features many color illustrations, a great break from the past. Call me a stick-in-the-mud, but I still prefer the black-and-white spectra of previous editions to the color spectra in the 1987 edition.
	Internal World of Gemstones: Documents from Space and Time by Eduard Gübelin (1979). The rarest of creatures, a technical book that transcends and becomes art. One of the finest gemology books of all time. Like Jimi Hendrix' first album, this was a book that completely redefined the tone of gemology. All who have followed reflect its influence.
	Jade by Roger Keverne (Editor) (1996). The most complete coverage available for this fascinating gem material in the English language, with each chapter written by a true expert.
	Manual of Mineral Science (Manual of Mineralogy) by Cornelius Hurlbut & Cornelius Klein & Barbara Dutrow (2007; 23rd ed.). The classic college text on mineralogy.
	Mineralogy for Amateurs by John Sinkankas (1993). I know of no finer introduction to mineralogy and crystallography. Outstanding illustrations, each created by the author. Sinkankas was a master at explaining and illustrating technical subjects.
	Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones by Eduard Gübelin and John Koivula (1986). See also Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2 (2005; my review here) and Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3 (2008; my review here) Among the three most important gemology books ever published. Get 'em while you can. When they go out-of-print, you'll pay $1000/volume. You can buy the whole series now for less than the price of a lousy 1-ct. ruby. John Koivula took the work of Edward Gübelin and ratcheted it up several notches beyond ten. These books have gone through several printings, but sadly the bindings are not nearly strong enough to support the weight. Which is why my family has three sets of all three. They are that important.
	Precious Stones by Max Bauer & L. J. Spencer (Translator); reprint of the 1904 edition. Although somewhat dated, there is still much to recommend about this book. If you can, get the 1904 original, which features a lovely binding.
	Ruby & Sapphire by Richard Hughes (1997). For its time, the finest book ever devoted to a single gem species. It's all here, sources, prices, treatments, etc. Now out-of-print and superceded by Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide, but original copies sell for thousands of dollars, testament to the quality of the original work.
	Asterism | Gems with a Star by Martin Steinbach (2017). This massive book (900 pp!) contains information on virtually all gems of any type that exhibit astersim. If it's not here, it probably doesn't exist. Highly recommended.
	Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones by Richard W. Wise (2003; 2nd edition 2016). Excellent discussion of quality analysis of gems, a sorely neglected subject. The 2nd edition is expanded and corrects some of the problems of the first. Limited editions with slipcases are available.

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The Four Treasures, our searchable reference database with over 8000 references is now avaiable online here.

Gems by species

Generally speaking, we buy every single monograph on a gem that we can lay our hands on. Why? Because they tend to be written by those who specialize in the subject, and who better to learn from than an expert? Here are a number of the gem monographs we can recommend. Many are out-of-print and in high demand. Which should tell you that when you see them, buy them. They tend to disappear quickly and when out-of-print, prices can get crazy.

Amber

• Amber: Window to the Past by David A. Grimaldi (1996). Probably the best modern book on amber. Excellent photos!

Beryl (including Emerald)

• Beryl and Its Color Varieties: Aquamarine, Heliodor, Morganite, Goshenite, Emerald and Red Beryl by various authors. Volume 7 of the English extraLapis series, this is an outstanding addition to the literature.
• Colour of Paradise: The Emerald in the Age of Gunpowder Empires by Chris Lane (2010). The history of Colombian emeralds making their way to Mughal India.
• Emerald and Other Beryls by John Sinkankas (1981). One of the finest books ever written on a single gem species. A masterpiece of gemological scholarship.
• Emeralds: A Passionate Guide by Ron Ringsrud (2009). One of the finest books available on emerald, with an emphasis on Colombian emeralds. Highly recommended!
• Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemmology and Genesis by A.H. Kazmi & L.W. Snee (1990). A technical description of these gems.
• Esmeraldas de Colombia (in Spanish) by Gustavo Rodriguez Vargas (1992). Nice treatment of Colombian emerald.
• Emeralds of the World by various authors (2002). Volume 2 of the English extraLapis series, this is an outstanding addition to the literature.
• Giuliani, G., editor (2022) Émeraudes, tout un monde. [in French], Glavenas, France: Les Editions du Piat, 448 pp.
• Green Fire by Peter Rainier (1943). One of my all-time favorites, written by the man who rediscovered the Chivor emerald mine in Colombia. Outstanding read!
• Tic Polonga by Russ Anderton (1953). A fun read about gem hunting in Ceylon and Colombia after World War II.

Chrysoberyl (including Alexandrite)

• Russian Alexandrites by Karl Schmetzer (2010). The only work of its kind on Russian alexandrite in English.

Corundum (Ruby & Sapphire) – See our full article on collecting the literature of Ruby & Sapphire here

• The Book of Ruby & Sapphire by J.F. Halford-Watkins & Richard W. Hughes, ed. (2012). A previously unpublished classic brought to life by Richard Hughes. Based on the original 1936 manuscript.
• Corindon et Spinelles by various authors (2002). A fine compilation of articles in French describing both corundum and spinel. Now sadly out-of-print. Mineraux et Fossils Hors Serie No. 15.
• Corundum (Butterworth's Gem Books) by Richard W. Hughes (1990). An earlier version of the author's Ruby & Sapphire.
• Heat Treatment of Ruby & Sapphire by Ted Themelis (2010). The second edition of this corundum cookbook.
• Ruby & Sapphire by Richard Hughes (1997). Arguably the finest book ever devoted to a single gem species. It's all here, sources, prices, treatments, etc.
• Siamese Ruby by John Hoskin & Lindsey Lapin (1987). Covers the now-exhausted Thai ruby mines.
• Yogo: The Great American Sapphire by Stephen M. Voynick (1987). The best book ever written on this intriguing locality for Montana sapphire.

Diamonds

• Collecting and Classifying Coloured Diamonds: An Illustrated Study of the Aurora Collection by Stephen Hofer (1998). Simply the final word on the subject. Fantastic!
• Diamond Grading ABC: Handbook For Diamond Grading by Verena Pagel-Theisen (1993). The classic work on the subject.
• Diamonds by Eric Bruton (1979). Probably the best overall treatment ever on the gemology of diamond.
• Diamonds | An Early History of the King of Gems by Jack Ogden (2018). Terrific history of diamonds. Highly recommended.
• Fire into Ice by Vernon Frolick (2002). Story of the discovery of Canada's diamond mines.
• The French Blue by Richard W. Wise (2009). Wonderfully written historical fiction based on Tavernier's travels.
• MicroWorld of Diamonds: A Visual Reference by John I. Koivula (2000). No one does it better. A must-have.
• The Nature of Diamonds by George E. Harlow (Editor) (1997). Beautiful introduction to diamonds, based on the American Museum of Natural History exhibit.
• Photo Masters for Diamond Grading by Gary A. Roskin (1994). Photomicrographs of diamond clarity grades. A diamond grader's wet dream.

Garnet

• Garnet (Butterworths Gem Books) by John D. Rouse (1986). One of the only monographs devoted to these important gems.
• Garnet by various authors (2008). Vol. 11 of the acclaimed English extraLapis series.

Ivory

• Ivory and the Elephant: In Art, in Archeology, and in Science by George F. Kunz (1916). The rarest of Kunz' major works. Yet another masterpiece of both scholarship and the bookmaker's art.

Jade (see our full article on collecting books on jade here)

• Chinese Jade Carving by S. Howard Hansford (1950). The classic work on the subject. Beautifully illustrated.
• Jade for You by John Ng & Edmond Root (Editor) (1984). Now out-of-print, this book is highly sought after as it deals specifically with gem-quality jadeite from Burma.
• Jade Lore by John A. Goette (1976). Reprint of this classic from 1936.

Opal

Opal is well represented in the gemological literature because the major source is in Australia, an English-speaking country. I recommend buying anything by Lenny Cram. He has issued a number of smaller books, but his multi-volume set, A Journey With Colour, is a must-have.

• A Field Guide to Australian Opals by Barry O'Leary (1977). This is a terrific small book, filled with color illustrations on judging opal. A must buy.
• A Journey with Colour, Volume One: A History of Queensland Opal by Len Cram (1998)
  A Journey with Colour, Volume Two, Part A: A History of White Cliffs Opal by Len Cram (2002)
  A Journey with Colour, Volume Two, Part B: A History of Lightning Ridge by Len Cram (2004)
  A Journey with Colour, Volume Three: A History of South Australia by Len Cram (2006)
• Opal: The Phenomenal Gemstone by various authors (2007). Vol. 10 of the acclaimed English extraLapis series.

Pearls

• Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl Fishing Origins to the Age of Discoveries by Robin A. Donkin (1998). Nice scholarly view of pearl history, covering the period of time when all were natural.
• Pearls by Elisabeth Strack (2006). The most comprehensive book on pearls since The Book of the Pearl by Kunz/Stevenson.
• Pearls by Hubert Bari, David Lam & Katrina Fried (2010). Lavishly illustrated book on pearls.
• Pearls: A Natural History by Neil H. Landman, Paula M. Mikkelsen, Ridiger Bieler and Bennet Bronson (2001). One of the finest book on pearls published in decades.

Quartz

• Amethyst: Uncommon Vintage by various authors (2012) Vol. 16 of the acclaimed English extraLapis series.
• Quartz by various authors (2000). A fine compilation of articles in French describing both corundum and spinel. Now sadly out-of-print. Mineraux et Fossils Hors Serie No. 11.

Spinel

• Corindon et Spinelles by various authors (2002). A fine compilation of articles in French describing both corundum and spinel. Now sadly out-of-print. Mineraux et Fossils Hors Serie No. 15.
• Terra Spinel by Vlad Yavorskyy & Richard Hughes (2010). The only book covering this important gem. A visual feast, but light on text.

Topaz

• Topaz (Butterworth-Heinemann Gem Books Series) by D.B. Hoover (1993). The only monograph devoted to this gem.
• Topaz: Perfect Cleavage by various authors (2011). Number 14 in the acclaimed English extraLapis series. All of these volumes are highly recommended.

Tourmaline

• Rubellite: Tourmaline Rouge by various authors (2019) Number 20 in the acclaimed English extraLapis series. All of these volumes are highly recommended. This volume is simply spectacular.
• The Tourmaline Group by Richard Diethrich (1985). Nice overview of the tourmaline minerals, with emphasis on the mineralogy rather than gemology.
• Tourmaline by various authors (1985). The whole issue of the Mineralogical Record.
• Tourmaline: A Gemstone Spectrum by various authors (2002). Number 3 in the acclaimed English extraLapis series. All of these volumes are highly recommended.
• The Tourmaline / The History of Mount Mica of Maine, U.S.A. by Augustus Choate Hamlin (2009). Modern reprint of these two classics from the 19th century in one volume.
• Der Turmalin: Eine Monographie by Friedrich Benesch (2000). A sumptuous oversized volume of photographs of tourmalines, particularly slices through the crystals. Absolutely gorgeous.

Zoisite (including Tanzanite)

• Merelani, Tanzania by Wendell E. Wilson, John M. Saul, Vincent Pardieu & Richard W. Hughes (2009). By far the finest work on this locality, from which comes all of the world's tanzanite. Highly recommended. The whole issue of the Mineralogical Record.
• Tanzanite: The True Story by Valerio Zancanella (2004). Although not everything in this book is true, it is a nice treatment of the subject.
• Tanzanite: Born from Lightning by Didier Brodbeck and Hayley A. Henning (2016). Coffee-table treatment of tanzanite, with lovely photos of tanzanite-set jewelry.

Gems & jewelry by localities

Again, generally speaking, I buy every single monograph on a locality that I can lay my hands on. Because, once again, they tend to be written by those who specialize in the subject, and so are experts. Below are a number of the locality monographs I can recommend. Yes, many are out-of-print and in high demand. Which should tell you that when you see them, buy them. They tend to disappear quickly and when out-of-print, prices will get crazy.

Afghanistan

• The Gem Hunter: True Adventures of an American in Afghanistan by Gary W. Bowersox (2004) The author tells his own story of his adventures buying gems in Afghanistan.
• Gemstones of Afghanistan by Gary W. Bowersox & Bonita E. Chamberlin (1995). Terrific treatment of this important source of lapis lazuli, emerald, ruby and other gems.

Burma (Myanmar)

• Geology and Gem Stones of the Mogok Stone Tract, Burma by L.A.N. Iyer (2007). Reprint of the 1953 classic on the geology of the Mogok Stone Tract.
• Land of Jade: A Journey from India through Northern Burma to China by Bertil Lintner (1996). Marvelous tale of a 1985 year-long journey across insurgent-held Burma.
• Mogok, the Valley of Rubies by Joseph Kessel & Stella Rodway, trans. (1960). The classic from the French author.
• Mogok - Valley of Rubies & Sapphires by Ted Themelis (2001). First volume in this two-volume series on the Mogok Stone Tract. See also Volume 2: Gems & Mines of Mogok, Special Limited Illustrated Edition by Ted Themelis (2008).
• Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess by Inge Sargent (1997). Heartbreaking autobiographical story of love and tragedy in Burma. Inge was the German teacher at my middle school in Boulder, CO when I was growing up. Today, she and her husband, Tad, are active in the overseas Burma democracy movement.

East Africa

• Gemstones of East Africa by Peter C. Keller (1992). Beautiful photos and an excellent text make this an important work on gems from Kenya and Tanzania.

India

• Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans: The Complete Science of Planetary Gemology by Richard Brown (1996). Indian beliefs on gems, combined with photos of the author's jewelry.
• Dance of the Peacock by Usha R. Bala Krishnan (2005). Stunning treatment of Indian jewelry from the maharajas.
• Jewels of the Nizams by Usha R .Bala Krishnan (2006) . A chronicle of the jewels of the Nizam of Hyderabad, once the richest man in the world.
• Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts by Anna Jackson & Amin Jaffer, eds. (2009). Jewels, paintings, etc. from India's princes.
• Maharajas' Jewels by Katherine Prior & John Adamson (2000) Incredible displays of princely Indian opulence in this large volume.
• Mani-Mala, Or A Treatise On Gems, Part 1 (1879) by Sourindro Mohun Tagore (1991). Reprint of this classic book on Indian gemology. In two volumes.
• Traditional Jewelry of India by Oppi Untracht (1997) If you like Indian jewelry and jewels, this is a must purchase.
• Travels in India (English and French Edition) by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Reprint of 1925 edition by Valentine Ball and William Crooke (itself a revision of 1676 French original). What can you say? A classic. Tavernier was a French diamond dealer who brought the Hope diamond, among others, to Europe. See also The French Blue by Richard Wise.
• Treasury of the World: Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals by Manuel Keene & Salam Kaoukji (2001). Terrific collection, including fabulous spinels, emeralds and diamonds.

Madagascar

• Madagascar A Mineral and Gemstone Paradise by various authors (2001). Volume 1 of the acclaimed English extraLapis series.
• Minéralogie de Madagascar by Alfred Lacroix (1922, 1923) Classic of the minerals of Madagascar. Now long out-of-print and treasured by collectors.

North America

• American Mineral Treasures by various authors (2008) Gorgeous coffee-table treatment of the finest minerals from the US.
• Gems and Precious Stones of North America by George F. Kunz. Reprint of this Kunz classic from the 19th century.
• Gemstones of North America, Vol. 1 by John Sinkankas (1959). Like all of John's books, these are meticulously done.
  Gemstones of North America, Vol. 2 by John Sinkankas (1975).
  Gemstones of North America, Vol. 3 by John Sinkankas (1997).
• Yogo: The Great American Sapphire by Stephen M. Voynick (1987). The best book ever written on this intriguing locality for Montana sapphire.

Pakistan

• Emeralds Of Pakistan: Geology, Gemmology and Genesis by A.H. Kazmi & L.W. Snee (1990). A technical description of these gems.
• Pakistan: Minerals, Mountains & Majesty by various authors (2004). Number 6 in the acclaimed English extraLapis series. All of these volumes are highly recommended.

Russia

• Humboldt's Travels in Siberia 1837-1842: The Gemstones by Gustav Rose by Gustav Rose, George M. Sinkankas (Editor), John Sinkankas (Translator) (1997). Historical account of Russian gem & mineral localities.
• Russian Alexandrites by Karl Schmetzer (2010). The only work of its kind on Russian alexandrite.

Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

• Die Edelsteine der Insel Ceylon by Eduard Gübelin (1968). One of the only works that specifiically covers the gems of Sri Lanka. Now out-of-print.

Thailand

• Exploring for Gemstones on the Upper Mekong. Northern Siam and Parts of Laos in the Years 1892–1893 by H. Warington Smyth. Reprint of the 1895 original entitled Notes of a Journey on the Upper Mekong, Siam.
• Five Years in Siam from 1891 to 1896. by H. Warington Smyth. 1994 reprint of the two-volume 1898 original. Much on early ruby and sapphire mining in Thailand and Cambodia.
• Siamese Ruby by John Hoskin & Lindsey Lapin (1987) . Covers the now-exhausted Thai ruby mines.

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Buying guides

Fred Ward Gem Book Series

Each is a nice introduction to the subject, featuring terrific photos and reasonably priced.

• Diamonds
• Emeralds
• Gem Care
• Jade
• Opals
• Pearls
• Phenomenal Gems
• Rubies & Sapphires

The Renee Newman Buying Guide Series

Buying guides geared towards the retail customer. These are regularly updated and get better and better with each edition.

• Diamond Ring Buying Guide
• Emerald and Tanzanite Buying Guide
• Exotic Gems
• Gemstone Buying Guide
• Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide
• Pearl Buying Guide
• Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Buying Guide

The Antoinette Matlins Gem & Jewelry Buyers' Guides

Best-selling buying guides geared towards retail consumers.

• Jewelry and Gems: The Buying Guide
• Colored Gemstones, 3rd Edition
• Diamonds, 3rd Edition
• The Pearl Book: The Definitive Buying Guide

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Other titles of interest

The following are numerous books on gems, jewelry and related subjects. I have copies of most in my personal library and have added comments on those I particularly like.

Appraisal & gem business

• The Complete Handbook for Gemstone Weight Estimation by Charles I. Carmona (1998) The be-all and end-all to a slender subject.
• The Gem Merchant - How to Be One - How to Deal With One by David Stanley Epstein (2012). An excellent introduction to the wholesale gem trade.
• Gems & Jewelry Appraising, 3rd Edition: Techniques of Professional Practice by Anna M. Miller & Gail Brett Levine (2008)
• Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising by Anna M. Miller (1999)
• Standard Catalog of Gem Values by John Sinkankas & Anna M. Miller (1994). Excellent list of gem prices. This book is exhaustive and contains much that is found nowhere else.

Color science

• Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay (2003). A wonderful history of color written in a beautiful story-telling style.
• Colour by Helen Varley, ed. (1990). My all-time favorite book on color. Stunningly illustrated. Buy it!
• The Physics and Chemistry of Color, 2nd Edition by Kurt Nassau (2001). Great treatment of the causes of color.
• Billmeyer and Saltzman's Principles of Color Technology, 3rd Edition by Fred W. Billmeyer & Max Saltzman (2000). Classic of color science. Gemologists would do well to pay more attention to this important field.

Gems & gemology

• Arab Roots of Gemology by Ahmad Ibn Yusuf Tifashi; Samar Najm Abul Huda (Translator) (1997). First English translation of this important Arabic lapidary from the 13th century.
• The Book Most Comprehensive in Knowledge on Precious Stones: Al-Beruni's Book on Mineralogy = [Kitab al-jamahir fi marifat al-jawahir (Natural sciences) by Hakim Mohammad Said (1989). English translation of the most important Arab lapidary. A must have for those interested in the history of gemology.
• The Color Treasury of Gemstones by Eduard Gübelin (1975). A wonderful look around the world of gems by the master himself. Outstanding book.
• Gem Identification Made Easy, Fourth Edition: A Hands-on Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling by Antoinette L. Matlins, Antonio C. Bonanno (2009). A beginner's guide to gemology, this is one of the best-selling gemology books of all time.
• Gemmology by Peter Read (2005). Standard text on gemology.
• Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann (1997). Beautiful pictures in this book, but unfortunately the text contains many factual errors.
• Geology of Gems by Euginii Ya. Kievlenko (2003). This book is extremely strong in describing localities within the former Soviet Union, including places like Tajikistan that are largely ignored in the other English literature.
• Mani-Mala, Or A Treatise On Gems, Part 1 (1879) by Sourindro Mohun Tagore (1991). Reprint of this classic book on Indian gemology. In two volumes.
• The Spectroscope and Gemmology by B.W. Anderson, J. Payne, R. Keith Mitchell (Editor) (1998). Fantastic compilation from the inventor of the gemological spectroscope.

Famous Gem Collections

• The Crown Jewels: The History of the Coronation Regalia in the Jewel House of the Tower of London by various authors (1998). Sumptuous oversized two-volume set on the British Crown Jewels. Bring money, but, if you can afford it, this is the finest work extant on this important collection.
• Crown Jewels of Britain and Europe by Prince Michael of Greece (1990). The best book that covers the various collections across Europe.
• Crown Jewels of Iran by V.B. Meen & A.D. Tushingham (1991). The finest book ever written on the world's finest collection of gems and jewels. A must-have.
• The French Crown Jewels by Bernard Morel (1988). The finest work on this collection.
• Gems and Crystals: From the American Museum of Natural History by Anna S. Sofianides & George E. Harlow (1991). Terrific photos in this book about this famous New York gem collection.
• The Edward Arthur Metzger Gem Collection by Elise Skalwold, with photos by Jeffery Scovil (2011). Great gems, great photos, what more can one ask for?
• The National Gem Collection by Jeffrey E. Post (1997). Beautiful treatment of the Smithsonian gem collection.
• Queen's Jewels by Leslie Field (1997). After looking at this, there is little doubt that the British monarch is one of the richest people in the world. Can you say gift tax?

Jewelry

There are thousands of books written on jewelry, so I will not (and cannot) cover that waterfront here. That said, here's a few choice nuggest to whet your whistle.

• 7000 Years of Jewelry by Hugh Tait (2008). Based largely on the collection in the British Museum.
• Alexandre Reza by Vivienne Becker (2012). Oversized and sumptuous volume on this important French jeweler.
• Boucheron: The Secret Archives by Vincent Meylan (2011). A fascinating look into the archives of this Place Vendôme jeweler.
• Cartier by Hans Nadelhoffer (2007). Coffee-table history of jewelry from the famous French jeweler.
• Cartier and America by Martin Chapman (2010). A great introduction to Cartier.
• The Cartier Collection: Jewelry by Francois Chaille (2004). Stunning oversized volume. This is just one of a three-volume set!
• Celebrating Jewellery by Daniela Mascetti and David Bennett (2012). One of the finest jewelry books in my collection, from two Sotheby's pros who provide an overview of important jewelry from the 19th century on.
• JAR Paris by Joel Rosenthal (2003). A rare item covering the jewels of this reclusive Paris-based designer.
• Jewelry: Concepts And Technology by Oppi Untracht (1982). Probably the most complete book on the jewelry arts ever written.
• Jewelry Technology in the Ancient and Modern World (2022). Excellent history from Jack Ogden.
• Jewels: A Secret History by Victoria Finlay (2007). One of the best written books I know of about gems and jewels. Highly recommended!
• Warman's Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide

Lapidary Arts

• The Secret Teachings of Gem Cutting by Justin K. Prim (2021). A nice modern discussion of the faceting art.
• Gem Cutting by John Sinkankas (1984). Like all of John's books, a meticulous and lucid treatment of the subject.

Minerals & Mineralogy

• A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough (1998) Classic field guide.
• The History of Mineral Collecting by Wendell E. Wilson (1994). Entire issue of the Mineralogical Record devoted to this subject.
• An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals (2nd Edition) by Deer, Howie & Zussman (1992). Standard college-level text.
• Manual of Mineral Science (Manual of Mineralogy) by Cornelius Hurlbut & Cornelius Klein & Barbara Dutrow (2007; 23rd ed.). The classic college text on mineralogy.
• Optical Mineralogy: The Nonopaque Minerals by William Revell Phillips & Dana T. Griffen (1981). This book is a must-have for anyone involved with gem identification. Despite its age, the identification tables are the most complete ever published. Outstanding!

• • •

Gem-Related Fiction

Gem-Related Fiction from Gerald A. Brown

• 18mm Blues
• 19 Purchase Street
• Green Ice
• Hot Siberian
• Stone 588
• West 47th

Other Gem-Related Fiction

• The Love of Stones by Tobias Hill (2002). Novel based on the jewelry business.
• The French Blue by Richard W. Wise (2009). Great historical fiction based on the travels of Tavernier. This is really an outstanding read. Highly recommended! 

About the author

Richard W. Hughes is one of the world’s foremost experts on ruby and sapphire. The author of many books and over 170 articles, his writings and photographs have appeared in a diverse range of publications, and he has received numerous industry awards. Co-winner of the 2004 Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award from Gems & Gemology magazine, the following year he was awarded a Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award from the American Gem Society. In 2010, he received the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association. The Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG) in 2013 named Richard as one of the Fifty most important figures that have shaped the history of gems since antiquity. In 2016, Richard was awarded a visiting professorship at Shanghai's Tongji University. 2017 saw the publication of Richard and his wife and daughter's Ruby & Sapphire • A Gemologist's Guide, arguably the most complete book ever published on a single gem species and the culmination of four decades of work in gemology. In 2018, Richard was named Photographer of the Year by the Gem-A, recognizing his photo of a jade-trading market in China, while in 2020, he was elected to the board of directors of the Accredited Gemologists Association and was appointed to the editorial review board of Gems & Gemology and The Australian Gemmologist magazine. In 2022, Richard published Jade • A Gemologist's Guide, while 2024 brought Broken Bangle • The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature. His jade trilogy was completed in 2025 with his translation of Heinrich Fischer's Nephrite and Jadeite.