Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones provides both the connoisseur and the casual collector with a compact, easy-to-use volume describing more than 100 rare varieties of minerals whose beauty and mystery have possessed our imaginations from time immemorial. More than 450 brilliant photographs accompany profiles of each gem, covering such aspects as appearance, physical properties -- density, hardness, refraction -- occurrence, and how to judge quality and value. Additional sections describe the process of cutting gemstones and the techniques professional gemologists use to evaluate a stone's weight and optical properties. Detailed and comprehensive, this book is essential for anyone interested in the study of gems and precious stones.

Shows stones both rough and as jewelry, plus descriptions of more than seventy minerals.

Owning the Stone-Chance Protection Agency has its perks. It's a profitable company that allows Ramsey and Keilah Stone to enjoy the finer things in life; however, it has also added an element of danger to their otherwise normal lifestyle. When Keilah was a field agent, she was an excellent marksman, known for being fearless when it came to protecting her clients. Now that she has a baby daughter, she's lost that competitive edge and longs for a slower life. That might not be possible, though, when the return of a shady ex-lover brings chaos into Keilah's life. At home, Ramsey is a warm and caring father and husband, but on the job, he finds it necessary to maintain his tough persona as an ex-military officer. When an unexpected tragedy darkens his doorstep, he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with a dangerous assailant. He will be forced to make some very difficult decisions in order to protect his family. Essence best-selling author Darrien Lee delivers another page-turner with Precious Stones.