Accurate Colour Rendition of Diamond Photographs is Impressive

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	• Collecting and Classifying Coloured Diamonds: An Illustrated Study of the Aurora Collection Stephen C. Hofer Ashland Pr, 1998 - 742 pages average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Fancy color diamonds and so much more

Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones

In 1996, a fancy quarter carat red diamond sold at Christies for $326,800 per carat the equivalent of forty-six million dollars per ounce. The following year another sub-carater, a ninety-five point fancy purplish red sold for $928,315 per carat or one hundred forty-four million dollars per ounce. At this point any lingering doubts were erased, colored diamonds were not only the most expensive items on earth, their prices had entered outer space.

Stephen Hofer's book is the second and certainly the most comprehensive book on colored diamonds to appear in the past two decades. To call Hofer's book comprehensive is, in fact, something of an understatement. This tome, which weighs in the area of ten pounds, ranks not only a definitive treatment of colored diamonds it also contains one of the most interesting and relevant essays on the subject of color science as it relates to gemstones yet published.

The books major theme is a through-going study of the famous Aurora Collection of colored diamonds. Along the way Hofer also offers a logical new approach to colored diamond grading, a color classification system including a new short-hand system of notation and an excellent essay on gemstone lighting.

Had this book covered any one of these subjects as well as Hofer, it would be an important work. As it covers all of the above better than almost anyone has done before, it is a breathtaking tour de force.

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The definitive text on colored diamonds.

This amazing piece of work reflects a tremendous effort by the author and his colleagues. The color photography is superb, especially noteworthy considering the difficulty in photographing small colored objects. ...A very useful appendix... and an extensive glossary provides in-depth discussions of technical terms. This is a beautifully illustrated work... it is an excellent compendium of information and should serve as a very valuable reference for gemologists and any scientist involved in diamond research, faculty, researchers, professionals. Reviewed by: Dr. M.E. McCallum, in Choice magazine, Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, October 1998, Earth Science, # 36-0970.

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Accurate Colour Rendition of Diamond Photographs is Impressive

Although this seems like an expensive book, the fact that the large number of coloured diamonds are photographed so well, and rendered so accurately in the printed form is very impressive, especially to anyone who has ever tried to take high quality photographs of diamonds. It seets us a standard to attempt.
The book should also be a must for anybody thinking of "investing" in, collecting a=or aquiring any natural fancy coloured diamond.

Hofer'sbook on Fncy Coloured Dias

I have been aware of the Aurora Collection for 25+ years and was always amazed by it. Unfortunately,the collection raises more questions in one sitting than you can ever find answers for... until Hofer. Hofer is very likely the most knowledgeable person on earth when it comes to fancies, and his long-time association with Alan B and the Aurora collection has resulted in the most definitive book on the subject in print..

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Excellent photos,certain materials hard to read

The most attractive parts are certainly the photography and the quality of the color printing. There are however a few disappointments. Firstly,under the chapter of the photos for the entire collection,one's appreciation can be marred by the reading of the so called Common Names for the diamonds which are by no means common.For readers who are not color diamond experts (and indeed even for those in the trade), such names could sometimes sound pompous. Secondly, the most widely adopted GIA color grading description is not used.I suppose somehow there is a temptionion for the author to preach and start his own system which could perhaps be understandable as 7 years of hard work has been done.Frequently, I still browse through the book, not so much because of the text,but because of the excellent colour photos. Overall,the author has still done a lot for the trade and introduced the wonderful color diamond world to the public.It is definitely a book I will treasure.For those who have been facinated by this book,they could be frustrated by the absence of sufficient materials on the subject.The way to quench one's thirst is to read the only other comprehensive book (a much thinner but with perhaps much more interesting and readable materials) by Harvey Harris.

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Title: Collecting and Classifying Coloured Diamonds: An Illustrated Study of the Aurora Collection

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