Books on identifying gemstones

[Patstone]

My daughter is buying me a surprise book on gemstone identification for Christmas, and I wondered which one to choose. I am not really interested how the gemstone came about, just being able to recognise them correctly would be enough, but in their polished state not raw and a photo rather than a coloured drawing. Any ideas anyone.

[Dennis]

We have been here before Pat, and I still think the Dorling Kindersley handbook on gemstones fulfils your description.

http://www.dk.co.uk/nf/Search/QuickSearchProc/1,,Gemstones,00.html?id=Gemstones . If you click on 'read more and look inside', you will get a preview. Dennis.

[Patstone]

I just wondered if anyone else had any ideas, new books are coming out all the time.

[Myosotis]

The Cally Hall book is pretty good for entry level gemmology - I've had mine for nearly 20 years and its all I've ever needed.