to this edition In working with my own clients to acquire gemstones and
jewelry since this book was first published in 1984, they have pointed
out that most people buy "jewelry" and not "gemstones." Because the book
offers so much practical advice and money-saving tips about buying
jewelry, they urged me to change the title. So, in this edition The
Complete Guide to Buying Gems has been changed to Jewelry & Gems: The
Buying Guide. Consumer and professional response to the book has been
very gratifying. Almost 14,000 hardcover copies are in circulation. We
have received hundreds of letters, phone calls and in-person comments
about the helpfulness and interesting information it provides. We thank
you for encouraging us to make the book more widely available by
bringing out this softcover edition. We have taken the opportunity of
this softcover edition to update the price guides for diamonds and
colored gemstones and, in light of the increase in both the popularity
and price of pearls, to add a price guide for them in the "Guide to
Popular Gems and Their Prices." Also, we want to take this opportunity
to comment further on gem invest- ment, taking into account major
developments since the original manuscript was written in 1980.