An international authority on gemstones overcame significant barriers to enter the family-dominated jewelry industry and now appraises extraordinary pieces for clients like the British royal family. In Precious, she explores the rich history of ten dazzling gems, tracing their origins from mines in Africa, Colombia, and Sri Lanka to their roles as treasures for empresses, kings, and celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Beyoncé. Through fascinating stories of hidden heirlooms, record-breaking diamonds, and iconic jewels, the book reveals humanity's timeless pursuit of beauty and status through gemstones.
I picked this book up because I thought it would be about pieces of jewelry in history. Instead, this was an interesting mash-up of memoir, scientific explanation of a gem’s make-up, AND jewelry. Some of the scientific explanations of how gems are formed was a bit tedious, I came away from the book feeling like I learned something.

Overall, it was informative and I did feel as though the author had a passion for gemstones that I just don’t have. I think readers who have an interest in precious stones will enjoy this very much.

A very interesting deep-dive into the world of gemstones, their history [quite often not what we might think], and some of the most outrageous auctions, complete with prices paid for ginormous gemstones [this part was deeply troubling to read as people all over the world are struggling, starving {often in the VERY countries where these gemstones are mined}, and dying from lack of care or the inability to pay for even the most basic care; to read about the auctions and the money spent is nothing short of obscene], which will boggle the mind [and hopefully fill the reader with a teeny bit of disgust].

Filled with personal anecdotes from the author [some are very funny and some are very touching. The stories about Princess Margaret were particularly enjoyable], this was a very good read and I recommend it to anyone who loves good history and non-jewelry and jewelry lovers alike.

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Molesworth, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For some time my husband would give me a ring featuring a different gemstone to celebrate special occasions. It was always a thrill to open he small box and find an emerald or a ruby. These pieces mean so much to me so I was looking forward to reading Precious. Helen Molesworth is a leading expert in gemstones and her love of this subject shines through as she talks about her background and experiences in the field. Her chapters are divided by the various types of gemstones. She explains the importance of the gems through history, their formation, the mining, commerce and their cultural importance. She explains the valuation of gems, which is sometimes determined by their ownership. She talks of the thrill of evaluating the collection of Princess Margaret and the value of the emerald jewelry purchased by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor, significantly increasing its’ value. There are also anecdotes of well known gems, such as the Hope diamond, which arrived at the Smithsonian through the mail. The narrative is well written, making it easy to read. Molesworth’s expertise is evident on every page. This is a book that I will be revisiting often in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book.

The author delves into the captivating journeys of gemstones — from their humble unearthing to their dazzling transformation into exquisite masterpieces coveted by oligarchs and royalty. She covers emeralds sapphires, and more gemstone. The pictures of the gemstones are gorgeous.
It’s a fascinating and educational about gemstones. I was completely enthralled while reading this book. I also wanted to have the gemstones! It’s a ok to treasure. I wil be buying my own copy and also buy copies of this book for gifts. It’s a delightful book to read.

I enjoyed this book overall. I was more interested in the history than some of the personal anecdotes but I was entertained and left with new knowledge all the same. However, I think this book could’ve been a bit shorter/more streamlined because it felt endless at times. The author has a unique style and voice that drew me back in several times though.

I found this book to be absolutely fascinating and immersive. Helen Molesworth cleverly partitioned the chapters to focus on a particular gem and then dove deeper with regards to specific geological anomalies that were cause for their creation, mining practices, famous examples and also personal encounters. Reading about the extraordinary lengths that it takes to mine gems as well as the luck (and often serendipity) required, allows the reader to better appreciate the rarity and expense that is associated with gems of all sizes.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on September 17, 2024.

Helen Molesworth’s Precious: The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time is a treat for anyone fascinated by the beauty, history, and cultural significance of gemstones. Molesworth, a jewelry expert with decades of experience, takes readers from ancient Egypt to modern-day auctions, unraveling the stories behind some of the world’s most famous jewels. She focuses on the human experience--her own and others--but also provides a lot of technical information. It's like taking a college class with a chatty professor, which might be hard for some readers to get into, but if you love jewels, give it a shot!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

“Gems speak a universal language of human belief and behavior through history: they illuminate a treasure map of what people did and thought thousands of years ago, and why in so many cases we continue to do and think the same things today. Far more than being objects to look at, they have so much to teach us: a shortcut into whole swaths of human history, beckoning us to understand all the cultures that existed before us, and how close the connections are with our world today.”

Precious is about so much more than the gems around which Helen Molesworth organizes this book. She covers geology, of course, as our earth births these magnificent signifiers of culture and wealth. The geological timescale vis a vis our mortal lifespans is beyond comprehension, and this book gives us moments to reflect on this. The millions of years it takes to move and align minerals, heat and pressure them, and nudge them to the surface for discovery is a staggering concept, a “freak of nature,” Molesworth says.

Then there is the historical framework in which these stones were discovered, mined, and evolved as cultural symbols. She covers the business aspects of this industry and touches on early trade practices and the daring merchants who traveled to distant nations in search of gems. Molesworth will follow the paths of these early traders to visit mining regions, sometimes at the risk of life and limb such as one trip to Myanmar. On a lighter note, there are fun tidbits such as the story about the 45+carat blue Hope Diamond being delivered to the Smithsonian Museum by U.S. mail. Great read!

Many thanks to Random House—Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The author writes convincingly about how moved she is by gems. She REALLY loves them and holding a special specimen in her hands gives her quite a buzz. I don't share this feeling (I guess - maybe I've just never been around any special jewlery) but I am interested in most things and the way gems are created, discovered and mined is something I knew very little about. The book also tells the surprising history of what different gems have represented though the years, and how the prestige and value of gem types has risen and fallen. There were also human stories of specific gems and the people who have owned them. This was a fun, quick read and I loved how passionate and knowledgeable Molesworth is about her subject.

I enjoyed learning about some of my favorite gems Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires and how they are created, where they can be found and why they are so valuable and expensive. I also liked learning about how some people will pay anything to have these rare gems and how other people attach meaning and superstitions to them. because of events that surround these stones, like the Hope diamond. Finally, I learned information about gems that use to be important to the world like the Garnet, Quartz and Jade, and fell out of favor which surprised me, I would have never guessed that any of them were valuable even though I think they are beautiful, and I never heard of Spinel before which seems to have an interesting history.
On last part of the book I liked was hearing about all the interesting characters that the author met along the way and how they taught her a lot about they gems, the stories were pretty funny.


I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this story about precious gems.

Precious by Helen Molesworth is a non-fiction work describing one woman’s love affair with priceless gems. She is thorough in the descriptions of the gems as well as their providence and their history. It is far too much for one reader to absorb, although it was interesting and well-written. Her descriptions were vivid and engaging. It was an enjoyable book to read, although beyond an overall impression, I’m not sure how much I absorbed.

I was invited to read Precious by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #HelenMolesworth #Precious

Each chapter showcases a different gem culminating with jade. There was a tremendous amount of research done in finishing the book. The author is certainly passionate and knowledgeable about gemstones. I liked the different anecdotes of a stone's history but was kind of bored with the chemical compositions. I think this book would be perfect with colored pictures of all the famous jewels she wrote about instead of looking them up online.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with a digital copy.

I was given an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in exchange for a fair review. I so wanted to like this book, but it was more like a textbook written about various gems (think diamonds, emeralds, pearls, etc.). The author gave what seemed like a detailed (and boring) account of how these gems came to be in the geological sense. More interesting were her comments about certain aspects of famous gems and their owners throughout history. Author Helen Molesworth has had a unique career working with these jewels. Unfortunately, her experiences were not only hard to identify with, but most of her diatribe was long-winded and boring. I was expecting so much more. Holding jewels and touching them did little to impress me. Visiting mines in far flung places should have been more interesting, but it all seemed so dull. At the very least, I can say I was disappointed. Molesworth's unique role should have made a great read. Instead, it was hard to get through.

Am ambitious and accessible look at 10 different gemstones. Molesworth weaves her own life and experiences into the stories of these stones-not only the better known ones such as diamonds and sapphires but also those we don't see as often such as spinels and garnets. Some of this might be familiar (especially with regard to diamonds) but it's the spin she adds that makes this an entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This might be most enjoyed in hard copy to more fully appreciate the photographs that accompany the text.

This is a fascinating and absorbing book on gems, including many famous pieces that we’ve heard and read about. From the science of gemstones, mining, marketing and value to their historical, cultural and religious significance, this book covers it all. The author has done a wonderful job covering the breadth of the gemology world in a writing style that is interesting, engaging and relatable. She clearly loves what she does and her interest and passion for gemology continues despite her vast experience and work in the industry. I love how she shared her experience and knowledge while continuing to be excited about future discoveries in the gemology world. Just over a week ago, the second largest ever diamond in the world - at 2,492 carats - was discovered in a mine in Botswana. It’s the biggest diamond found since 1905. I’m sure this was just the kind of future discovery that keeps life interesting for Ms. Molesworth! Overall, this book was a great read and I definitely recommend it. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love jewels and was delighted to be able to read and review this book. I thought it would be fascinating to read and learn about so many famous and outstanding gems throughout history. But, in reality, I found this to be a very slow read and it was so highly detailed that I lost interest. I thought the author thoroughly researched the subject and was eager to share all she had learned but it read to me like a college class and my eyes glazed over with the sheer volume of information. It just did not hold my interest. I really wanted to love this. The cover of the book is outstanding and really grabbed my attention.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Molesworth does a decent job of describing and telling the stories of the world’s most precious gems and jewellery with personal commentary, and some history and facts.

This was not entirely what I had hoped for in design and in its facts and storytelling, but glad to have come across it. It is truly inspiring and comprehensive.

Precious by Helen Molesworth was a very informative and interesting book about gems. I never gave them much thought to the history of them but after reading this book I now have so much more respect for gems.
This is a perfect book for anyone who has thought of gems as just pieces of the jewelry they own. The description on the cover that says it is about the history and mystery of gems caught my attention and seeing the gorgeous necklace on the cover was magnificent.
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Helen Molesworth for the book #Precious. This is my personal review.

What an interesting book! I found the histories of the various gemstones, both as categories and in specific famous named-stone instances, to be full of magic, intrigue, and fun facts. It wasn't a book to read straight through for me, as the format followed in each chapter started to feel a little repetitive, but it was definitely an informative and engaging book to come back to for handfuls of stones at a time. I enjoyed the mix of history, mythology, and drama that surrounded each of the types of stones, but definitely found the intrigue surrounding the named stones to be the most engaging part of the book for me personally.