The Nature of Diamonds by George E Harlow

The Nature of Diamonds by George E Harlow

The paragon of physical perfection and a sparkling example of Earth's forces at work, the diamond has fascinated all realms of society, from Russian tsars and Hollywood stars to scientists and brides-to-be. The Nature of Diamonds is an authoritative and richly illustrated look at nature's most coveted gem. Leading geologists, gemologists, physicists, and cultural observers cover every facet of the stone, from its formation in the depths of the Earth and its explosive ascent to the surface, to its economic, regal, social, and technological roles. The book takes the reader to cutting-edge research on the frontiers of diamond exploration and exploitation, from Arctic wastes to laboratories that create industrial diamonds for cutting tools that slice through rock. Charting the history of mining from its origins in India and Brazil, the book follows the diamond rush in South Africa to today's high-tech enterprises. It provides a glimpse into the economics of the diamond trade, and an overview of diamond cutting, from the rough uncut stones in early Indian and Roman jewelry to the multifaceted stones we see today. The cultural history of the diamond as both a revered and a social symbol is explored, from its early history as the exclusive property of royalty to today's brilliant-laden jewelry as an emblem of wealth and status. The engaging text is complemented by more than 200 lavish illustrations which span fine art, earth science, and cultural studies and capture the brilliance and beauty of this extraordinary gem.

'The Nature of Diamonds is a remarkable book, that is both an excellent source of information and a satisfying readIt covers its subject from all facets, starting with the origin of diamonds in the earth, and covering their discovery, their mining, the nature of diamonds themselves, their history, the skills of the diamond cutter, synthetic diamonds, the lure of diamond jewellery and the lore of diamonds in literature and films. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field, and the whole has been skilfully edited by George E. Harlow, curator of gems and minerals at the American Museum of Natural History … fascinating reading … What I especially like about The Nature of Diamonds is the breadth of scholarship that has gone into producing it. Few books bring together people from such disparate disciplines as chemistry, physics, commerce, geology, history, literature, design, fashion, fine arts and the media, and at the same time have them all intelligible to the specialist and non-specialist alike … There are few subjects that can unite so many branches of learning between its covers, and provide interesting reading in all of them. The Nature of Diamonds has succeeded superbly. Not only that, but it has the glamour of a coffee-table book with scores of fascinating illustrations. The authors and publisher are to be congratulated. It is well referenced and indexed and, despite being a multi-authored work, it has been admirably edited to ensure that whether the subject is alluvial mining or the binding of diamond-encrusted Russian bibles, it is informative and entertaining. If you cannot afford the real thing, and you want to give someone you love a jewel of a gift, then buy them this book - it is a gem.' John Emsley, The Times Higher Education Supplement
'The story of the discovery and exploitation of diamond is an extraordinary one as befits an extraordinary mineral … admire the pictures and enjoy the essays contributed by international experts, covering virtually everything you want to know about diamonds, from the history of their discovery to their exploitation in industry, art and fashion.' Douglas Palmer, The Financial Times
'This book contains just about everything you ever wanted to know about the hardest natural material on Earth, made of the substance of life - carbon. From manufacture by meteorite impact to the allure and efficacy of diamonds as poison and aphrodisiac, this beautifully illustrated collection of essays is a fascinating introduction to an extraordinary material.' New Scientist
'If diamonds are a girl's best friend and you can't afford them, buy her The Nature of Diamonds … It's the next best thing.' Digby Diehl, Playboy
'… lavishly illustrated and sensibly priced.' Mick Brown, Physics World
'This beautifully illustrated book, produced by an international team of experts, will tell you everything you might ever need to know about diamonds.' Terry Allsop, School Science Review
'This lavishly illustrated book … is very well written and produced and presents a comprehensive overview of all topics related to diamond.' Allan Pring, Geological Magazine
'I have already bought a copy of this book and I would recommend you to do so too.' Jane Randle, The Open University Geological Society

Ernest Beck is an award-winning professional writer and editorial consultant. A former Wall Street Journal staff reporter, he focuses on the intersection of design and business, innovation, and public policy. George E. Harlow, a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College in 1971, received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1977. He is currently the Curator of Minerals and Gems in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History. Trained as a geologist specializing in mineralogy and crystallography, Dr. Harlow has concentrated his research on the chemistry and structure of minerals as tools for understanding their origin and the record of geological processes they contain. Dr. Harlow is a fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America and the author of over 100 scholarly texts. John Bigelow Taylor and Dianne Dubler, the creators and developers of this project, are New York based photographers, specializing in architecture, works of art, antiquities and jewelry. They have created the photography for over 250 books. John Gillespie and his spouse, Andrea Borden, have been actively collecting minerals for more than 30 years. Gillespie has been a portfolio manager and securities analyst for more than thirty years. Since 1997, he has served as the managing member of Prospector Partners, LLC. Mr. Gillespie received a B.A. cum laude from Bates College in 1980 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1986. In addition, he is on the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Investment Committee of Bates College.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521629355
ISBN 10	0521629357
Title	The Nature of Diamonds
Author	George E Harlow
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	1997-10-13
Number of pages	288
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.