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.

This is an expansive book on exquisite gems with a description of colors, movements, patterns and beauty. When one can’t see the pieces up close, this is the next best thing to visualize photos and learn about them.

The book is organized well and readers are educated with how the stones were originally found. Helen Molesworth has done a remarkable job with researching precious gemstones. She shares her knowledge in chapters of the emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet, pearl, spinel, quartz, jade and, of course, the diamond.

I especially enjoyed reading about those of great wealth who have enjoyed having these pieces in jewelry, fashions and art. The list of women seen with rare gems includes Elizabeth Taylor, Marie Antoinette, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy and Princess Margaret.

The author shares some insight with how her personal life in the auction business has given her rare opportunities to see and handle some of these pieces. Since her childhood, she has loved these precious, stunning stones. She says every piece is different which makes it a fun challenge.

This would be an ideal gift for someone who loves gems or an educational tool for a jeweler. The history is fascinating and I learned some interesting facts. Yet, it was a lot of information for me to personally digest. I think it will benefit readers to also see stunning photos when the book is released as it’s such a visual subject.

My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 17, 2024.

Great book on a topic that has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Helen Molesworth has written a beautiful book with a lot of information on gems. Overall, it was a great book. I would have loved to see more pictures.

I would've enjoyed this book more if it were less about the author's personal anecdotes in her field as a gemologist, and more about the gems themselves.

In that, the subheader for this book is a bit misleading. Whilst it does indeed include some history, it's in the form of tidbits and often personal commentary and opinion than history plain and simple. The assortment of stories and trivia about celebrities and royalty in relation to jewels were both already known and not very interesting to me. And Molesworth's at-work anecdotes as a jewellery expert for an auction house were even less interesting. I suppose that, if you are into stuff like learning what expensive jewellery a star like Liz Taylor got from her husbands, or want to know insider gossip and family anecdotes from a Christie's or Sotheby's resident gemology expert, you'd find the book's content and style more to your liking.

But I wanted the history of the gems, not more of what I already know. I've been looking for a book about the history and cultural impact of precious stones that includes all the heavy hitters, because there are books for single stones (rubies and emeralds and pearls, I have two such books) or even individual gemstones (I have a book about the Koh-i-Noor), and "Precious" seemed to tick all the boxes.

It doesn't. But it did have things I liked, for example: the inclusion of stones that aren't considered "precious" in the West. I had noticed before that in Eastern cultures, stones like the spinel and garnet were precious, and had wondered about this difference with the West. Molesworth goes into that, which is appreciated. I think the chapters dedicated to these stones that aren't universally precious were the most interesting, and what saved the book for me. It includes also quartz and jade, that also have more value outside the Western sphere, so that makes a total of six chapters dedicated to universally precious gems (ruby, emerald, sapphire, pearl, diamond, and coloured diamonds) and four to culture-specific precious gems (spinel, garnet, quartz, and jade). I'm somewhat surprised at the absence of opal, though, and also lament the oversight of certain stones no longer considered precious but that were very appreciated in past centuries, such as Lapiz lazuli, turquoise, amethyst...

So, it's not a thorough or particularly in-depth book about gemstones. If you read this, you should be aware that it's mostly generalities and personal input, and don't expect much more than that.

Before I provide a review, let me advice that I think this is likely to be a book that should be read/purchased in print. I read an advance readers copy on Kindle that did not contain what I am sure will be amazingly stunning photographs of many of the exquisite jewelry pieces detailed in this book. Setting that aside, this book provides an interesting history of ten categories of gemstones, including their geography, how different civilizations valued then, geologic properties and some modern-day cultural context (which I hungered for much more of!). The book really shines in those places where the author describes the most famous pieces, who they were owned by, how they were worn, etc. In some places, the book does get a little wonky, sometimes repetitive and occasionally, too much of the author's memories of her uncle/grandfather, that while sweet, do not add to the book. I read this book around the time of my late mom's birthday—I think she and others who have a love for gemstones and jewelry will enjoy and appreciate this book. It is very much for that niche crowd. I am not sure it has broader appeal given the limited amount of modern-day cultural context around who is wearing what stones, value, etc. For that reason, giving this book a 3-1/2 star review.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley.

Helen Molesworth book is a love letter to jewelry and gems. It also is at times a quasi-memoir. Quasi because it focuses on her experience with some jeweler y as well as the discovery of some of her grandfather’s travels. But it is far less of a memoir, and far more a love letter.
And that is pretty awesome.
Molesworth absolute love of what she is writing might not be the most obvious selling point for the book, but it makes the book work so well. It’s always fun to read or listen to someone who really loves their work. The other selling point, and most likely the one that is going to be highlighted, is that Molesworth has worked with the collections that were held by Elizabeth Taylor, Wallis Simpson, and Princess Margaret.
But that’s icing, that really is.
Molesworth’s book is divided into chapters centered around various gems. The heavy hitters are here – diamonds, emeralds, rubies. However, and this is great, she includes less games (at least lesser to Western audiences) – garnet, spinel and quartz. Each chapter gives what is in essence an overview of how it is made, where it can be found, possibly a trip to a mine, and famous examples.
Now many of those examples come from the jewelry of Elizabeth Taylor whose two time husband Richard Burton put really nice pieces into stockings. She just had to make sure her dogs didn’t chew them. But they aren’t the only ones mentioned.
Three words -Jade Burial Suits.
Eight words -Goose being feed gems to make them glow.
(Other famous people with jewelry mention here include Cleopatra, Monroe, and Beyoncé).
In some class, such as with jade and spinel, Molesworth discusses why in some cases the West viewed them differently than the East. This is particularly true for spinel, where Molesworth traces why the stone fell out of favor in the West.
There is science here as well. Molesworth speaks of the various ways the gems are developed. She goes into the difference between the types of pearls as well as the different types of diamonds. But it isn’t overly scientific writing, so you don’t have to be a geologist to understand it. Furthermore, the love for the subject shines though so even the science bits are not dry at all.
In some cases, Molesworth journeys to the mines and places where the gems are found. This includes Burma and that section is particularly interesting. She also visits mines in Columbia and helps look for gems in Sri Lanka (another wonderful chapter). She goes into some of the traditions surrounding not only the crafting of the gems but also the mining of them. The chapter detailing is particularly well written in this regard. She talks to the big names but she also talks to the workers whose names are not remembered.
It would be fair that Molesworth does not address colonialism and the various gem trades head on. But she does acknowledge it, and in the case of the Koh-I-Nor gives the unvarnished story about how the British monarchy got the basically stolen gem, which isn’t bad for a book that is also an introduction to gems.
I enjoyed this book so much. IT was so fun to read a book that was fan girling as it were about gems. I’m going to buy a hard copy. You should order your copies now.
A quick shout out to Emma Thomasch who sent me an email and Netgalley invite for the book. Thank you. You should get a raise.

Beautiful writing! When I first started this book, I was captivated by Helen Molesworth's melodious description of gemstones & their formation.
You don't have to be a geology expert to appreciate the chemical formation of earth's beautiful jewels. The author's writing is poetic and lyrical: "That stone is the product of nature’s extremes and expanses, born from the collisions and eruptions that shaped the planet as we know it today, as mountains formed and continents closed over long-forgotten oceans." As a history/archeology buff, I especially appreciated the author's extensive knowledge of the historical & archeological context of gemstones. Stones are not just beautiful; they are windows into a distant past. Ancient cultures revered stones and lovingly shaped them into perfection. The miners, builders, and owners are tied to the history of the stone. Overall, I really enjoyed learning more about the historical context of stones; their significance in society and symbolism.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of Precious.