Gems

Edited by François Farges

Enter into the fascinating world of precious gems through this unique volume that brings together the wonders of mineralogy and masterpieces of jewelry.

Both a reference book and an exhibition catalog, Gems unveils the fascinating world of minerals and gems through a dialogue between the prestigious collections of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris and the great French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. The Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris welcomes the exhibition Gems from September 16, 2020‒May 4, 2021.

This beautifully illustrated volume brings together an international team of mineralogists, scientists, and specialists in natural history and in the history of jewelry, under the editorial direction of François Farges, to explore the diversity of the mineral universe through an exceptional selection of geological specimens (some published here for the first time), legendary gems, and exceptional ornaments created throughout history. Raw crystals, cut stones, and jewelry are compared and contrasted, shedding light on both the natural wonders made by the Earth itself and the virtuoso creations of human hands that transform them into works of art.

About The Author

François Farges is professor of mineralogy at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, honorary professor at Stanford University, and member of the Institut Universitaire de France, specialized in environmental and heritage mineralogy.

Publish Date: September 01, 2020
Format: Hardcover
Category: Design - Jewelry
Publisher: Flammarion
Trim Size: 7-1/2 x 9-3/4
Pages: 304
US Price: $45.00
CDN Price: $60.00
ISBN: 978-2-08-151295-5

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Reviews

"GEMS will appeal to the geological nerd, the historical jewelry buff, and the celebrity follower. The subject matter and flow of the book all come together under the supervision of gemology expert Francois Farges. What’s most compelling about this book is that beautifully photographed minerals are superbly matched by the legendary jewels created in the same stones. For example—seeing the emeralds in the rough form and then how they were expertly crafted into museum quality jewelry is a treat for those of us who appreciate every part of the process and love to learn about minerals we have never heard of –or those we have but don’t know enough about. Boasting 304 pages and 270 color illustrations, this book is compact yet packs a huge punch." —FORBES.COM

"A handsome compendium to the exhibition, titled Gems (Flammiron), created under the direction of curator and renowned professor François Farges, features vibrant close-up details of the gems (some published for the first time) and jewels and is sprinkled with insightful details by more than 25 mineralogists, scientists, and specialists." —GALERIE MAGAZINE.COM

"You can lose yourself in dozens of chapters on the different minerals and gems and their formation and characteristics written by eminent curators, gemmologists, mineralogists and other highly-specialised scientists. Forming a bridge between theory and art, the book reflects the layout of the exhibition and places side by side raw crystals and finished examples of Van Cleef & Arpels jewels using the same precious mineral. Rigorous yet visually appealing this book explores both sides of the gemstone world." — THEJEWELLERYEDITOR.COM

"Gems has plenty to offer for rock nerds and jewelry nuts. In fact, it may well be the only book that celebrates and studies the relationship between fine jewelry and the extraordinary minerals found in the Earth. If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many shades of tourmaline, for example, or what makes malachite look, well, like malachite with its ribbon-like hues of green, the answers are all here. This fact-filled compendium was made in association with the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris and showcases minerals from the museum’s superb collections alongside amazing jewels from the vast Van Cleef & Arpels collection. Read it, and next time you look at your diamond earrings or your star sapphire ring or your gold chain necklace, you can take comfort in knowing that you’re a dedicated devotee of Earth’s most spectacular offerings." — NATURAL DIAMOND COUNCIL