Precious cover art

Precious

The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time

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Precious

By: Helen Molesworth
Narrated by: Helen Molesworth
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

When Helen Molesworth joined the gem and jewellery industry she began her own love affair with one of humanity's oldest and richest fascinations. For as long as people have known about gemstones they have treasured them. Born of violent geological events and the chance meetings of minerals, their stories are an extraordinary journey through time, and are significant to the human narrative in as many ways as they boast sparkling facets.

Selecting ten of nature's most dazzling jewels, Helen Molesworth makes journeys across the world to trace stones from their discovery to the moment a glimmering cut and polished masterpiece is traded, and then fought over, adorns oligarchs and kings, falls out of favour, and then raises eye-watering sums in another age. Touching on history and politics, archaeology and engineering, geography and geology, chemistry and physics, psychology and romance, fine art and high finance, her book is rich with great stories and has something for everyone.

©2023 Helen Molesworth (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science World

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Critic reviews

What shines through is Molesworth’s deep love of her subject and the tactile joy of wearing such gems.
Traces the journeys of different stones from their discovery to their sale … Explores the history, geology and famous wearers of 10 beloved jewels. (Kate Youde)
A magnificent compendium of everything one could ever want to know about jewels: their symbolism, physical construction, worth and history . . . I shall never look at a diamond in the same way again. (Anne de Courcy)
This is - fittingly - a gem of a book. Rich descriptions, fascinating histories and, at times, just pure, dazzling bling. A joy to read. (Tracy Borman, author of Elizabeth’s Women, Thomas Cromwell and The Private Lives of the Tudors)
Reading Precious is like opening history's treasure chest, to discover a trove of fascinating information. (Jane Robinson, author of Trailblazer, Hearts and Minds and Bluestockings)
Merging knowledge with fascination she shows us that the preciousness of gems does not lie solely in their sparkle but in their story.
Engaging and illuminating, Precious is a masterclass in the history of gems. It’s also great fun to read - one of those books where the learning is effortless as Helen invites the reader to join her while she visits glittering palaces, explores muddy sapphire mines and values some of the most phenomenal jewels on the planet. (Francesca Cartier Brickell, author of The Cartiers)
Beautifully written and superbly interesting, Helen Molesworth tells a compelling, global story of gems - their unending allure and continuing impact on human history. (Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum)
Those who read Precious are in for a treat; I could not put it down until I had read every page. It is a rich and seamless web of gem history, gemmology and personal encounters with jewellery including the author's amazing and fearless journeys to the sources of rare stones, and of handling incredible stones prior to sale. This book is destined to remain a classic.
Precious is part history, part travel memoir, and part declaration of love towards gems. Like an overflowing jewellery box, its pages are bursting with stories of the sumptuous and luxurious, as well the perilous and arduous. (Serena Dyer)
All stars
Most relevant
A fascinating insight into the sparkling world of gems and a remarkable career. Sensitively and intelligently written. I enjoyed it immensely.

Fascinating

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Such a cool book.
It's educational, with fascinating stories about stunning gemstones as well as an insight into the authors personal gemstone and jewellery journey.
I thought is was beautifully read, with a voice that keeps you interested and wanting to continue listening.
It's a must for anyone who loves jewellery, gemstones, history and anything shiny.
100% recommend by a jeweller who listens to tons of audio books while working.

Beautifully Written and Delivered

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This book is fabulous, so interesting dealing with each gem stone by chapter and looking at it from so many different angles from the archaeological, historical, gemological and auction house view points. A joy to listen to Helen Molesworth narrating her own words as well, her enthusiasm for the subject really comes across!

Fabulous!

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