‘A brightly entertaining natural and cultural history of gemstones and the worlds they contain… An overstuffed, endlessly interesting treat for anyone interested in any aspect of jewels.’ Kirkus Reviews, Starred Reviews
‘Helen Molesworth has produced a magnificent history of gemstones–their symbolism, provenance, and the legends surrounding the best ones.’ The Spectator
NEW US RELEASE: September 2024, Ballantine
Precious (US Edition)
NEW UK RELEASE: May 2024, Penguin
PRECIOUS
The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time
Waterstones says -
From the V&A's Senior Jewellery Curator comes an immersive history of the world through the gems that have forged empires, created cultures and built the modern world.
In this sumptuous and sweeping history of humanity's love affair with jewels, Helen Molesworth takes you behind the curtain of what you see in a museum or fetching vast sums on the auction floor, illuminating the deeply human stories that lie behind them.