The Pearl Buying Guide

With today's finest cultured pearls rivaling diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire in terms of popularity, rarity and price, more and more people are searching for a reliable source of information to guide them in the fascinating and complex world of pearls-natural, cultured and imitation. This revised and updated 3rd edition is a comprehensive, authoritative guide that tells readers everything they need to know about pearls to fully understand and appreciate them, and avoid any unexpected-and costly-disappointments, now and in future generations.

Initially published in 1992, the Pearl Buying Guide was the first book to give consumers details on judging pearl quality and value. The 186 new colour photographs in this updated 6th edition show new types of pearls, clasps and jewellery styles. Current information has been provided on natural pearls, treatments, cultivation and identification techniques. Although technical data is included to aid gemologists in detecting treatments and identifying pearls, the easy reading style and the 364 photos make this a customer-friendly book for both consumers and professionals. If youre looking for an easy-to-read, full colour, affordable pearl handbook that will help you select flattering pearls and spot fakes, this 6th Edition is the best choice available. 186 new photographs of pearls, pearl jewellery, neck pieces and pearl x-radiographs. Updated information on pearl types, geographic sources and freshwater pearls. Expanded chapter on natural pearls. Expanded chapter on "Creating Unique Pearl Jewelry with Colored Gems". New pearls and pearl jewellery styles.

Know What You Want,Know What You’re Buying, Learn the Secrets to Get the Most for Your Money /Finally! Everything you need to buy beautiful pearls with confidence. Easy to Read Easy to Understand Practical Complete Instant Answers ... to All Your Questions For people who want a reliable source of information to guide them in the fascinating and complex world of pearls—natural, cultured and imitation. Filled with “insider” tips and advice to help you get what you want.

A guide giving clear, step-by-step pointers on how to buy the best pearls for your money. Learn to tell a fake from a real one, compare prices, choose good quality ones, save money on your purchases and turn a pearl necklace into a versatile piece of jewellery.

Pearls are one of the oldest precious gemstones. They have been revered through history and the best reserved to adorn royalty and their favourites. Now, with the arrival of freshwater pearls, they are available to suit every pocket and every style, from the classic to the most creative. It includes a guide to the types of pearl and to the farming process. It gives advice on buying pearls; what to look for and what to avoid and gives instruction on working with pearls, including drilling, setting and knotting. Finally, there is information on South Sea, Tahitian, Akoya, freshwater and natural pearls. This practical book celebrates their exquisite beauty and enduring elegance.

A guide to judging pearl quality and value for the amateur.

The preparation of this book has been a joint labor during the spare moments of the two authors, whose time has been occupied with subjects to which pearls are not wholly foreign—one as a gem expert, and the other in the fisheries branch of the American government. For many years the writers have collected data on the subject of pearls, and have accumulated all the obtainable literature, not only the easily procurable books, but likewise manuscripts, copies of rare volumes, original edicts, and legislative enactments, thousands of newspaper clippings, and interesting illustrations, many of them unique, making probably the largest single collection of data in existence on this particular subject. It was deemed advisable to present the results of these studies and observations in one harmonious volume, rather than in two different publications. While the book is a joint work in the sense that each writer has contributed material to all of the chapters and has critically examined and approved the entire work, the senior author has more closely applied himself to the latter half of the text, covering antiquity values, commerce, wearing manipulation, treatment, famous collections, aboriginal use, and the illustrations, while the junior author has attended to the earlier half of the book, with reference to history, origin, sources, fisheries, culture, mystical properties, and the literature of the pearl.