Many facets of a beautiful diamond
594293
I am "especially fond" of this book and the author.  I have struggled with performing all my life, and with striving to NOT perform for the last 3 years.  It has been frustrating and tedious.  This book taught me so much, and put an exclamation point on 3 years of guidance, encouragement and patience from a very godly and gifted counselor.  Through reading THE SHACK, I learned in my "knower" that my deep desire to be used by God has a lot to do with my wanting to have value to Him.  My head knows different.  I am valued because He is especially fond of me.  Period.  This book is helping me to live different.  I SO loved imagining the scenes and it has helped foster deeper intimacy with God, in all 3 forms, for me.  Is there anything better than that?  I pray it will bring the same for others as they realize how "especially fond" of them He is.

It was fun to read about Wallowa Lake, Joseph, Dug Bar and Imnaha as my husband grew up there and I could picture the places talked about.  It is my place of refuge.  Enjoy and be refreshed.
1908177
Gem: The Definitive Visual Guide, published by the Smithsonian Institute, is the ultimate Book of Bling. The photos are splendid. The book covers precious metals and minerals in their rough (natural) form as well as polished, describing their chemical and physical properties as well as the way that gemologists and lapidaries handle them. In addition, the book displays enlarged, detailed photos of magnificent historical jewelry and art objects (including Saint George and the Dragon, incredible pieces of royal jewelry, Egyptian jewelry and Faberge Easter eggs). The entire book is in color. The only drawback is that it is very large and heavy so its hard to handle.

If you like bling -- this is the book for you.
2777021
I found these when the matching earrings were featured as a lightning deal before Christmas. The two collections purchased together were a real steal (average price being $12.50 per pendant/pair of earrings). You wouldn't know these were so inexpensive. I've received many compliments already on the blue topaz and the peridot. All of the stones are decent size and quality. The garnet looks like a dull brown than the shiny, deep red pictured - but this is the exception. The other stones are brilliant in shine, color, and clarity.

The other comment I have is regarding the chain. The sterling silver arrived with a nice polish to it, however it is extremely delicate. I almost feel like I need to replace the chains for fear of it breaking and losing the stone without noticing. The settings are much sturdy.
1172098
This is one of the present for my dauther who works for the diamond industry and she finds it to be a great reference historical book for jewerly design!
2158657
This ring looks better than others in it's price range and even some in the $100-200 range.

Center stone is about the size of a 3/4 to 1K diamond, and is set in 6 prongs.  Closest in appearance I could get to my real wedding set.  Sizing seems a bit large though.  The size 7 feels more like an 8.

Overall, beautiful ring and great price.
4035705
Treasures of the Earth (3-pack) is worth the 4-6 week special order for anyone (or woman in my case) interested in gems and jewelry.

It's a Discovery Channel video and with most videos from Discovery Channel, it's very informative and lavishly produced. The recreations in stage set and costumes are (Rome 1st Century, Egyptian pharaohs, etc) almost as if it's a Hollywood production.

Discovery Channel went on scene and on location to many places in the world. Photos of the famous and actual gems are filmed. You really see (live) what they're talking about. If it's talking about history, it's recreated using props, actors, and sets that look very real.

* Diamonds: You will see the Hope diamond, South Africa diamond mines, the largest flawless diamond in the world, Diamond Exchange, cutting a large diamond, DeBeers history, and a history of diamond mining and selling

* Gold: This shows you the underground diamond mines of South Africa, India's love with gold and its 22K gilded temple, the 1842 gold rush, gold design, and a gold production center where gold bars are made.

* Pearls and Amber: A historical narrative of Mikimoto cultured pearls but also includes natural Persian Gulf pearls. You will see both harvest areas and the process of making cultured pearls. Amber takes you to the caves and shores where amber is collected. Also includes history of the Russian "Amber Room" and how amber was used during the Crusades and in Roman times.

This collection will dazzle the eyes as well as inform the mind. Great for educational purposes, geology classes, moms, girlfriends, wives, or anyone fascinated with gems, jewelry, and history.

52 minutes each tape. C 1997. Compares very favorably with National Geographic's 1991 "Splendid Stones," but covers gold and amber and goes in-depth a more and takes you to many areas never seen before like the mines and production centers.
3869343
I purchased two of these with the intent of turning them into a pair of earrings. I'm not going to do that now because as a delicate pendant,  it is a gorgeous pice of jewelry  that looks great on the companion chain.  I don't usually care for rose gold yet in this setting with the effervescent multiple CZ stones set not only in the face but around the entire edge of the disk,  the rose gold plated onto sterling silver works great.  When light shines through the piece,  the stones sparkle even more so this is a piece that people want to touch even when you are wearing it. I'd like to see this in the other silver and yellow gold plated options to see how they compare. The pave setting is done extremely well,  particularly when you consider the price point.
3376913
First, the great things about the Invicta: It's well made, lovely and chunky in a mod, quirky kind of way. I like the way it looks, especially the elegant face. Very well done. I've swapped it out for my regular watch, and am enjoying the way it works well with both my business and casual wardrobe. Unfortunately, the size comes with extra weight. This is a HEAVY watch as far as women's watches go. As you can see from the photo, it's a big watch, and as I said, it's well made, but also...a bit too substantial. If you're looking for something delicate and petite, keep looking. My only other complaint...for a watch this elegant and large, the diamond accents are...well, teensy tiny. I had to get a magnifying glass to see each of the 12 sand-speck-sized diamonds set into each segment of the bevel. Sure, they add a bit of sparkle, but few will notice the diamonds in this watch. And considering the price point of this watch, I suppose that's reasonable. If you like a larger watch, and you like the looks of this, you'll love wearing it.
3368943
In addition to be a valuable guide for gem identification, this guide has wonderful color photographs, so useful for proper mineral and gem identification. Each gemstone is listed with density (vital for indentification), crystalline structure, light refraction angle (single or double), chemical makeup and hardness. There is an introductory section that is a good reference on mineral properties, a section on gem cutting, and small historical section.
My only objection to this book is that it is incomplete; there are a lot of semiprecious stones like gaspeite, for example that are not listed. So, not a complete reference, but a very good one that covers a wide range of information.
979116
This ring is perfect! The diamonds are very good quality, and the ring is solid. It sparkles radiantly on the finger and get's many complements. I think I will order another!
2830085
If you're looking for sparkle and fire in a two carat, man made diamond, this is an excellent choice. The band is a simple and pretty bypass of sterling silver with platinum plating that will last a long time. I'm like others that worry over spending thousands on real diamonds that can be stolen or lost.
Remember that these are real diamonds, only man made, which means they're not millions of years old and will have no flaws.
It would be nice if they had this in solid gold as well. White gold prongs are very strong, much stronger than sterling, so it would be a plus. Even though the prongs look tiny which allows plenty of light to reach the stone, they're sturdy. An excellent choice!
2684991
This was an excellent purchase!  I really like this piece of jewelry.  It is truly beautiful and very sparkly.  I would recommend it to someone who enjoys blue diamonds.  The white diamonds are very clear, but the blue diamonds are really beautiful.  They are not too small either. It is a nice addition to my blue diamond collection.
2962308
This pendant and chain are just as pretty sitting in front of me as it is on the website. The write up is accurate, too. I received this as part of the Amazon Vine review program but will review it as if I had purchased it.

The back of the pendant is stamped 925, which means it is genuine sterling silver (92.5% silver). The chain has a 925 tag as well, so it should be genuine stirling as well. The diamonds are, as expected, small and not high-end, but they are faceted and reflective. In addition, the mount that is used truly does make the diamonds appear much larger than they really are when viewed at a distance. You need to be pretty darn close to it to distinguish the diamond from the mount. Diamond accent asside, the cross is truly as shiny and eye-catching as the picture. I am very pleased at how nice it looks as well as how accurately it was pictured and written-up on the website.

List price on this was supposedly $90 and Amazon charges $39. I wouldn't pay $90 for it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it in a jewelry store for nearly that much. I think it is a very good price at $39 and reasonable at $49. Amazon also allows returns on this item if you are not satisfied, which gives a buyer confidence.
4216326
I love almost any big stone. Diamonds have always been overpriced (to me). In the 80`s and early 90`s there were enough diamond mines for the stones have been sold for a lower price. (plus who wants a blood diamond?)  My husband has always wanted to give me a big diamond but I would refuse. Finally, I let him buy me a very pretty diamond wedding ring. No big stones but a very nice ring.
  This CZ ring and stone is beautiful! What was a "butterfly cutout"? The stones sit on top of the butterfly cutout in silver. Very, very nice. Great price.
1298698
DK books are known for covering subjects in a visually appealing manner, but the upper echelon of these books are the volumes with Smithsonian and The Definitive Visual Guide in the title.  These books are exquisitely presented with luxurious photography and voluminous information that adds fine detail to broad subject matter.  GEM is a fine example of the quality that these Smithsonian line of DK books offer.

GEM provides an exhaustive study of jewels:  precious/semiprecious stones, precious metals and organic gems.  It serves as a one-stop-shop for all things jewel-related.  Educational in nature, the visual appeal takes over the minute you begin flipping through the first few pages.

This guide is organized into four broad chapters (Native Elements, Gemstones, Organic Gems, Rock Gems and Rocks) that are loaded with information.  An introductory chapter preps readers with an educational overview of gems that provides both a technical and general understanding of the material covered in the book.  This informative introduction sets the tone for what is in store for the rest of the book and also serves as a handy reference point as you proceed with the gem-specific material.

The heart of the book is the coverage of the gems themselves and the book offers a tidy template that makes the volume of information being presented much easier to digest.  Every stone/rock/gem is thoroughly explained with a general summary and a detailed inset that provides finer details (chemical name, formula, color, structure, hardness, luster, locations, etc.).  The photography that accompanies each entry is certainly appealing and the biggest selling point of the book.  The pictures are truly beautiful to study by themselves as they allow readers to see the gems in most every state.  Rather than offering a simplistic array of photos, these photos are arranged for maximum visual pleasure and intricate study:  varying sizes, angles and contrasting backgrounds.  Many of the gems are presented as jewelry, with an abundance of renowned jewelers products as examples. What I found fascinating were the historical highlights that are peppered throughout the book.  An up-close study of Charlemagnes Crown, Frederick the Greats snuff box and Russias Amber Room were particularly intriguing.

This is not simply a book about gems; it is THE book about gems.  You do not have to have a particular interest in jewels to appreciate what this book has to offer  it generates an interest as soon as you start turning the pages.  I am a big fan of the Smithsonian line of DK books and consider them as excellent additions to any home library.
3208019
I am delighted with this diamond.  I cannot see any inclusions even with a loop (although I am not a "trained" eye).  I have been told to always choose a GIA certified stone over other certifications.  Amazon had me sign for the delivery and it came in a nice presentation box with a temporary clamp to hold the stone. It included the GIA certificate in a handsome dark blue heavy paper pocket.  Also of note, the shipping box makes it appear as though it is just any other shipment, not JEWELRY.  Friendly advisers are available to answer your questions and to help you make your choice.  Allow more time than they say though for delivery just in case they do not approve your particular stone when they receive it and you have to choose a different one.  I'd suggest having one or two second choices ready.  I HIGHLY recommend Amazon.com collection for your diamond purchase.
2026233
<div id="video-block-R4Q1X6C4EL5SY" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A13PBlqFvbS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91eWNgvrFDS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">This is a lovely princess pendant necklace representing the ever-eternal infinity symbol.  It's quite delicate and is fit for a princess, however, it has the type of chain I usually swap out when I receive one.  The chain is quite thin, but because it's sterling, it's also very strong.  If you plan on wearing it for an evening I'd leave the original chain on.  If it's one of those special gifts chances are you'll want something stronger.  Losing something this lovely isn't an option.  I was not quite sure I'd like this necklace before receipt, but it's classically elegant and the symbolism is beautiful.

There's no doubt that this infinity necklace is sterling silver.  It has that sparkle that announces that fact and also is clearly marked .925 on the underside of the pendant.  It's sprinkled with six tiny, high clarity diamonds that add to the sparkle.  If you shop for jewelry in any of the finer department stores, you'll most likely encounter similar types of necklaces with inset diamonds.  The difference between synthetic and real stones is obvious, making this necklace all the more striking.  The contrasting black and white diamonds is something new to my collection.

The infinity symbol and measures approximately 1" from top to bottom, including the built-in bail.  This necklace is delicate and very lovely, much more beautiful than I expected.  The infinity symbol can easily be a symbol of eternal love or friendship and would make quite a nice gift.  One interesting thing I noticed was that to keep the linked sterling chain for tangling, it was sent in a small Ziplock-like bag part of the end clasped in it. I often have trouble with this type of chain tangling, but this storage solution is perfect. For presentation, display, or gifting, it can go back in the Amanda Rose box.

Sample provided for review.