Precious: The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time Hardcover

Description: A renowned jewelry expert recounts her career working with nature's most extraordinary treasures--gemstones--and traces these rare jewels from ancient Egyptian records through the high-stakes auctions of today. Helen Molesworth has been captivated by precious stones since early childhood but she struggled to join the gemstone industry, having no connections to the few family-run companies that have dominated the field for centuries. She persevered, and more than two decades later, Molesworth is now an international authority hired to appraise the extraordinary jewelry of such clients as the British royal family. Precious is packed with inside stories about fabulous jewels associated with generations of celebrities, from Cleopatra (emerald) to Catherine, Princess of Wales (sapphire); from Marilyn Monroe (pearl) to Beyoncé (garnet); from Jackie O (pearl) to Lady Gaga (diamond); and from Marie Antoinette (pearl) to Elizabeth Taylor (pearl, ruby, and emerald)! As Molesworth tells it, the history of gemstones is the history of humanity. And so she journeys the world, navigating African diamond mines, Colombian emerald mines, and the sapphire-rich rivers of Sri Lanka to study gems at their source. She has selected ten of nature's most dazzling gems, tracing their discovery to when these cut-and-polished masterpieces first adorned empresses and kings. From the stories of a priceless emerald watch hidden under floorboards for centuries to the common quartz fashioned into world-famous royal jewels, and diamonds selling for multi-millions, Precious is not just a chronicle of archeology and geology, high society and high finance, it's the story of our timeless ambition to make--and wear--something beautiful. Product details Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books Language ‏ : ‎ English Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593500881 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593500880 Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.37 x 1 x 9.55 inches SHIPPING Shipping All items fast! The majority of orders are shipped using USPS Priority Mail and UPS Ground if requested. There is an option at checkout to add a Signature of Delivery for extra security & peace of mind. This means you need to sign for your parcel. If you are not home, the courier will take it to your local post office for collection. We also offer expedited shipments upon request, we will quote the shipment and let you know of the estimated cost. If agreed we will process the order and add the shipping charge to your invoice. All items ordered by 3 PM EST will be shipped same day. We also are partnered with Ebay using the Global Shipping Program. We will ship internationally to any country that is a part of the program. 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Price: 25 USD

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2025-01-16T17:27:47.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.99 USD