<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Gemstone Beauty
Review: First, the photography is worldclass. The pictures of the jewelry alone is worth owning this beautiful book. Next, the
content is clearly organized, diplomatic and at the same time
simply informative on each gemstone. The passion and the desire
of the author shines through in his committment to supplying
a standard for the understanding and appreciation of wonderful,
gem quality gemstones. I will also acquire Volume 2 & 3 to
have a complete review of more than fifty gemstones to include an appreciation for the world's finest jewelry. Thank you Mr.Suwa.
Rating: 
Summary: Gemstones: Quality and Value big price; bigger disapointment
Review: The author begins with an excellent idea; divide each gemstone into three categories and illustrate those categories on a quality grid with full color photos. The author relies almost completely on the comparative images to illustrate his point. Unfortunately the photographs simply don't do the job. Except for one excellent photo at the beginning of each chapter Mr. Suwa's images are not just poor they are pathetic.
His first section on Aquamarine pp.14-17 serves to illustrate the point. The author begins with a rambling introductory essay of just four paragraphs. On the following page is an excellent full page photo of a lovely aquamarine. Following this p.17 attempts to lay out a quality grid of seventeen aquamarines. Unfortunately the stones all look the same, totally grayed out images of what, appear to be low grade commercial quality aquamarine. In fact, the images are so poorly printed that it is impossible to tell one quality from another. Mr. Suwa further illustrates the text with a "gem of value" photographed actual size usually somewhere between 5-10mm. Unfortunately the reader can barely see it never mind judge the stone and the photographs are uniformly poor.
The remainder of the book stumbles along in this same vein. A short essay, one good photograph followed by a carefully layed out grid of poorly photographed gemstones from which it is impossible to draw any conclusions about quality.
The text provides very little guidence for the would be collector. When he does say something about principals of connoisseurship the author fails to apply these principals consistently from gem to gem. He often drops a technical term but rarely defines it.
Perhaps the translation is somewhat to blame but at the price the author has little excuse for the quality of the photography.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, no more smoke and mirrors!
Review: The gem stone trade likes to keep the average guy from understanding the basics of judging quality and value. Suwa for the first time that I have seen in a gemstone book, gives the reader a peak under the covers on what determines gemstone quality and value. This book, as well as the others in the series from Suwa let the average person in on the very basic, understandable issues that determine quality in various stones. Suwa is willing to share with his readers how seasoned gemologists and the market in general value different gem stones, and the impact of things such as origin, carat weight, clarity, etc. I have not seen a single other publication, particularly as it relates to color gemstones, that is willing to put so clear a measure on value drivers for gem stones. Suwa broke the silence of the indusrty and put a stake in the ground. This type of clarity does great benefit to the trade in gemstones by instilling confidence in the buyer that they can make informed purchase decisions. With out this guide, buyers must rely entirely on the sales pitch of the retailer in front of them at any particualr time. I gave this book as a gift to my retailer that I generally buy from , and they are now using it regulary with their clients and say it has helped them enormously. The buyer can still spend what they want, they just spend their money smarter with the help of this book. No smoke and mirrors. Can't wait until Volume 2 is avaliable!!
<< 1 >>
| 
