Breathtaking color photographs, especially commissioned, capture the glistening beauty of gemstones from around the world-stones used for jewelry and magical rites as far back as 20,000 years ago. This feast for the eyes shows uncut stones and gems in their natural state, details how they are formed and mined, and also includes such exquisite jewel-adorned creations as the Black Prince's ruby set in the British Imperial State Crown; a Mayan jadeite mask, and the Koh-i-Noor diamond. For a full understanding of their fascination, look beyond their visible magnificence to the gems' structure and physical attributes. Besides the most popular gemstones, there are fascinating descriptions of common imitations and synthetics, and advice on distinguishing the real from the fake. "Note: This book is published in cooperation with the prestigious Natural History Museum in London.