This beautifully illustrated, heartwarming mystery romp is based on the popular light novel series that also inspired an anime!
When Japanese college student Seigi Nakata rescues a handsome young jewelry appraiser from a group of drunken assailants, he gets more than he bargains for! The appraiser is Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian, a brilliant and mysterious British jewelry expert. Seigi hires Richard to appraise a ring left to Seigi by his grandmother...and the adventures are just beginning. Together, they unlock the secret messages hidden in the hearts of jewels--and those who possess them.
This was so good, really didn't expect it to like it so much! The story follows Seigi, a student who works part time, saving a man from some drunkards. This man turns out to be Richard, an English jeweler who is quite peculiar, but who's extremely good at his job. Seigi ends up working at his shop on the weekends, and they solve cases together.
Although it's not labelled as BL manga, it's giving off strong gay vibes. I'm convinced Seigi is bi and Richard is giving me ace vibes??? The last story also had a lesbian couple and important discussions about accepting oneself, it was really good!
I enjoyed it so much that I ordered the next volumes and the light novels too, because I have no fucking chill.
Rep: bi (?) main character, English-Sri Lankan mc (who might be mlm aspec)
This is such a great manga and I can't wait to continue with the next volume as soon as I get my hands on it!
Seigi rescues Richard, a jeweler, from being accosted by drunkards. The first case follows the mystery of a pink sapphire that was Seigi's grandmothers. After this Richard offers Seigi a job at this shop. The second case is about drama surrounding a client who brought in a ruby for a valuation.
The information about the gemstones was really interesting and I really liked how each mystery is centered around a gemstone; using it do discuss different themes and topics.
I enjoyed both cases, but the second one was my favourite far. It's bedrock of self-acceptance and how difficult and complex it can be.
While I enjoyed the anime, this is a case where the story works much better in written form, and I suspect the source light novels are even better. Most striking is the way that queer themes are used in the story - Seigi could very easily be bisexual and the second case, about a woman trying to deal with her own internalized homophobia and how it's getting in the way of her happiness versus what the world says happiness is "supposed" to look like for a woman, is excellent. This isn't the book to pick up if you're looking for a classic mystery (cozy or otherwise), but it is a smarter story than I initially gave it credit for.
Case 1. Justice of the Pink Sapphire Part 1 Case 2. Justice of the Pink Sapphire Part 2 Case 3. Truth of the Ruby Part 1 Case 4. Truth of the Ruby Part 2
I liked this first volume! We follow a Japanese man and an English jeweler named Richard. They meet because they want to find out the mystery of a strange ring that his grandmother stole years ago. They investigate the mystery and become partners in the process. I'm looking forward to seeing how this series develops.
The Case Files of Jeweler Richard has an interesting concept, beautiful art, and some very fun main characters. I am getting an almost Sherlock Holms and Watson vibe from this. It seems like the set-up is we have these two characters, one an expert in his field and one a newcomer, solving particular cases through Richard's gem store. Now, they aren't solving murders or anything, more like interpersonal problems, but it is still a lot of fun. And I absolutely adore both of the cases we got in this first volume. The initial one, regarding Seigi and his grandmother, really set the tone for the type of person Seigi is. It was also a good introduction to who Richard is, and how he operates.
And the second story! God it almost made me cry, I really loved the way it was handled.
Seriously, it was so good, and I appreciate it so much.
Compared to the Anime This isn't really important in the long run, two different mediums means changes will have to happen, but I just wanted to make the comparison to highlight specifically what I like about the manga. Because I am reading this while watching the anime, and so far I definitely like the manga more (and having something to compare the manga to makes it easier to articulate what I like about it). Bear in mind, all of these opinions are based on what I have read/seen so far. So, it is possible things change further on in the series. But I stand by this from what I know so far
Character Development
The manga feels like it has more character depth. The show feels very much like Seigi's journey that the other characters are there to help develop, while the manga feels more like a story about Seigi and Richard (like I said, that Sherlock Holmes and Watson vibe). Richard is a much more interesting character in the manga. We get to see his expressions more, we get different reactions from him (he is way too composed in the show), and we get to learn subtle things about him. A lot of the conversations he has with Seigi reveals the way he sees the world, and most of those are missing from the show. In the show, he barely feels like a presence and I think he shines more in the manga.
We also get more that develops the side characters. I haven't seen too much yet, but I like the characters we have met so far.
The Pacing
The manga seems to have a relatively even pacing. I do think some things happen a bit fast at times, but it is not as rushed as in the show. I like the way scenes are structured/ordered. I think it all works together to paint a cohesive story that hints to future character development. And I think the manga has a more balanced tone. The manga has some funny parts, and then some really touching parts. Overall, it feels like a more rounded story
The Lgbt stuff
Overall, this seems like it is going to be a really fun series. I like the concept, and I like the characters. I've always enjoyed manga that has a specific focus that I can learn more about (classical music, cooking, sports, and now gems). The writing and art are pretty solid as well. I cannot wait to get the next volume!
This was a very interesting and informative read. While I knew a small amount about gems from working at a jewelry store this made it fun to learn. I can’t wait to see what happens with Richard and Seigi because they seem very comfortable around each other after only a short time. Not to mention the wonderful way it doesn’t shy away from multiple forms of LGBTQ relationships.
I finished this a couple days ago but couldn’t articulate my feelings into words but now I can write something about this.
I KNEW IT my gaydar was correct this has lgbtqia+ things in it and that made me so happy I’m definitely getting the rest of the manga! Definitely one of my current favorite mangas :)
Absolute gem (pun intended) of a manga! This blew away all expectations and then some. Slice of life with a little mystery and intrigue. The art style and character design...*chef's kiss*...can't wait to read the next volume!
I came across this completely by accident on Kobo, and the cover artwork and blurb were enough to inspire me to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! This was a fun, clever story told in two parts - part 1 gave us the background story for one of the MC's, while part 2 gave us an interesting case of an LGBT couple facing a personal crisis. All the stories centre around jewels, as Richard is an appraiser/seller. The story starts with Seigi being overworked, overtired, and leaving work late at night, just in time to save Richard from thugs who are attacking him. Through exploring Seigi's family history, he and Richard form an acquaintance, which leads to Richard hiring Seigi as his new staff member in his store.
The artwork is GORGEOUS! Everything you see on the cover and more. The characters are well rounded, well explored, and show real development and growth even in just the first book. There's great rep, with Seigi having an MF crush, while showcasing an FF couple in the second story. There's also the hint that Seigi finds Richard attractive, but in a casually blurted out way that he doesn't take seriously, but hints that there might be a budding romance to follow.
Overall, it all came together to be a bright, fun adventure, as we follow Seigi on his journey to learn about gems. I can't wait to see what follows in Volume 2, and I'll be reading the Light Novel it's based on, as well, in the future.
The manga is so much better than the anime. I feel like watching the anime has tainted the book for me a bit because they altered and cut so many things... The tone of the anime is kind of gloomy, but I felt the manga, even though it has its serious moments, is pretty upbeat. They're like two totally different things, I feel.
There are two main storylines in volume 1 of this manga. In the first story, a college student named Seigi happens upon an Englishman, Richard, being assaulted by some hooligans. He runs them off and takes Richard to the police station to file a report. Afterward Seigi seems captivated by Richard and they linger to the point Richard's taxi driver yells at them that they need to get going. Richard gives Seigi his card so they can keep in touch. Soon afterward, Seigi reaches out to Richard to have a ring valuated. It belonged to his grandmother and he needs information on its history. Their relationship continues to deepen as they explore the mystery of the ring's origin and solve it together.
Seigi begins working for Richard. In the second story they meet a woman caught in a love triangle with a man and another woman. She is leaving her choice of whether to marry her boyfriend or to remain with her girlfriend (marriage equality has, sadly, not come to Japan yet) up to how valuable a necklace her boyfriend gave her is. Richard and Seigi force the three to sit down and talk things out until the woman can make the decision that is right for her. The way the scenario was addressed made me feel the author is either LGBT or well understands the nuances of being LGBT. It was a well-written story.
This is not boys' love (Seigi actually has a crush on a female classmate), but Seigi does constantly tell Richard he's beautiful, just as an undeniable fact, and they keep having semi-romantic misunderstandings that make Seigi blush. I guess you could say he has a guy crush with no intent to act. And it's not specified but thus far into the manga I do believe Richard is gay. He seems to enjoy Seigi praising his beauty quite a lot and he makes Seigi sign a contract as they begin working together, promising not to discriminate against anyone for their race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation.
I really want to watch the anime because I enjoyed the manga a lot but I feel like it's just not a very good adaptation. They cut a lot to save on time, and they cut out the more lighthearted scenes, character development, and all the homoerotic misunderstandings that occur between Seigi and Richard. I don't know if the intent was to avoid queerbaiting or just to cram as much story into each episode as possible but on the whole it just feels lacking in comparison to the manga. Also, scenes appear out of order so everything feels jumbled compared to what I kept expecting to happen next. Just FYI.
I would call this series a heartwarming slice-of-life. The jeweler and his new companion help people with problems of the heart through their compassion and gemstone expertise.
The Case Files of Jeweler Richard is a series that is very near and dear to my heart. I discovered the anime soon after the first episode was released and I quickly realized it was the hidden gem (no pun intended) of spring 2020's new release lineup. Upon realizing we would be getting a manga adaptation and translations of the light novels, I was beyond ecstatic.
This first volume beautifully sets up the tone of this story for the next volumes to come. We follow Nakata Seigi a college student who, staying true to the meaning of his name, is a hero of justice. As well as Richard Ranasinghe de Vulpian, a Jeweler staying in Japan for business. After saving Richard from a group of drunk men, Seigi discovers Richard is a jeweler and he decides to ask him to do a valuation on a Pink Sapphire ring that his grandmother had stolen nearly half a century prior. Upon finding the original owner, who insisted Seigi keep the ring, he finally finds closure on the entire situation. Seigi is later offered a job in Richard's shop, Jewelry Etranger. The significance of Richard naming his shop that, is something that becomes more clear in the future (especially once Richard's backstory is explored). With every customer that comes and every jewel too, Seigi learns an important lesson as well as us, the readers. Overall, this is a quick and very enjoyable read if you're looking for something unique.
I first watched the anime of Jeweler Richard and absolutely loved it. So I had to read the manga!
I was pleased to see how much more was in the manga vs the show, as I felt like I was getting even more fun content and story. Even though there's some changes and differences between the two, both are equally delightful. I love both forms!
What I truly love is Seigi and Richard's relationship - their dynamic is a little rocky at the start, yet they have an implicit trust and loyalty to each other from the moment they meet. I just loved watching their bond evolve and become even more understanding of one another, helping each other realize who they are as individuals and what they mean for each other.
I also like how the book and series is a mix of mystery, education, humor, drama, even slice of life. The cases are rich and unique from one another, and I like how characters or previous adventures will propel or be featured in other capers later on. The theme of fate and chance meetings stays prevalent throughout, and it's so fitting.
All in all, I quickly became a total fan girl of this series!
I don't know anything about the jewelry business but this manga was both educational and entertaining. I learned about carats and heat treatment and corundum, and that people who like rocks and ores call themselves "rockers" (lol). It's always so fun to learn about niche interests and professions.
The LGBT representation in this book is pretty good, especially in the second story. This manga presents the characters as people instead of caricatures and I appreciate that. I also like the interactions between Seigi and Richard, especially with Seigi being so cheerfully honest about certain stuff. I'm really curious to see more of these characters.
One more thing I want to point out is some cool language things. Like that Seigi calls his mom by her first name. And that Richard sometimes uses English phrases in his Japanese, and Seigi goes to English class but he doesn't speak it very well. Also the fact that Richard is from England but his grandma is from Sri Lanka and his last name sounds French and his store's name is also French. He's so ~international~, hahaa. I just think it's neat!
This was apparently based on a light novel and there's also an anime series out there. Gonna hafta check those out, too!
I actually really liked this. I like both Seigi and Richard (the name is giving grandpa vibes though 😂), they have an interesting dynamic. This isn't labelled as BL, but it kind of has that vibe. I like that each jewel comes with a different mini mystery, it's a lot of fun and easy to read. I'm not going to give it 5 stars yet, but I have high hopes. I'm a little interested in the light novels too.
I really like the two main characters. They have a great, natural chemistry that has the potential to be romantic in the future, though it feels like their relationship would be more subtle than others. and I actually learned quite a bit about gems and minerals. Good, clean art style and interesting cases. Looking forward to the rest of this series.
Really good. Story is good. Richard and Seigi are great characters with great dialog. I also learn things about gems I didn't know. Love the individual stories from clients they have. Reading the 2nd vol. now.
i'm so happy to finally read the manga! i remember watching the anime back when it was released back in 2020. watching it really brightened up my days during that time of the first few months of the pandemic, and being able to read the manga brings me so much joy 🥰.
i absolutely love richard and seigi's relationship and how quickly the two of them connect despite being complete opposites and coming from two completely different parts of the world.
the art style and plot are so enticing. i can't wait to read the second volume and see the story unfold further! 🤩
Honestly a really good start to the manga adaptation. It's already so much more in so many ways than the anime was, filling in odd narrative gaps. Look forward to future volumes.
CW for attempted suicide (death by train, intentional drug-overdose), dementia
I'm starting to really enjoy manga adaptions of light novels. Richard and Seigi have a pretty great banter going on throughout the manga, and I loved the ending of Seigi's personal dilemma. The ending with Richard giving Seigi a taste of his unfiltered mouth was freaking hilarious. And I loved the second story. It does get very dark and dramatic at points, but I love how Seigi handles the young woman. Looking forward to the next one!