A beautiful look at the world's most alluring gem. With images as fabulous as their highly prized subject, Diamonds is about the science and glamour of this magnificent gemstone. The book takes a look at why we desire diamonds, where their characteristic fire comes from and why they are seen as the ultimate symbol of love. Known in pop culture today as bling, diamonds play a role in fashion and celebrity as well as jewelry. Also revealed are some of the amazing properties of diamonds that make it a vital material for modern technology and medicine as well as a "girl's best friend". Filled with color photographs throughout, Diamonds features six Designed for the luxury-lover or the mineral collector, Diamonds is sure to please.
This was an enjoyable read. It was sitting on the shelf for a while after I first bought it just skimmed through the pictures. Having read through the book, the pictures have come alive - the knowledge of their geological origin, variabilityin quality and the artistic flair used to bring out their sparkle giving the pictures a sense of wonder beyond the photo. Not all of the writing is flawless, but the story of diamonds is well described and is one of a few books (I'd like to find others) about commodities sourced from the ground and their end uses to human society.