Erebaur
English

Language

Twenty-two chapters on precious stones.

What gems are, where they form and how they are mined, how they are cut and judged, how they are traded and regulated, and how people have kept them for five thousand years.

Start at chapter 01
Chapters
22
Entries
182
Figures
48
Reading time
About 3 hours
Last reviewed
September 2026
(Fig. 01)Index22 chapters · 182 entries · 48 figures
  1. A-01Foundations01Definitions & classification8 entries · 7 min · 4 fig.
  2. A-02Foundations02The stones17 entries · 16 min · 1 fig.
  3. A-03Foundations03Gem science10 entries · 9 min · 3 fig.
  4. A-04Earth04Geology & formation8 entries · 8 min · 2 fig.
  5. B-01Earth05Mining & sourcing9 entries · 9 min · 1 fig.
  6. B-02Trade06Industry & supply chain9 entries · 8 min · 2 fig.
  7. B-03Craft07Cutting & lapidary9 entries · 9 min · 2 fig.
  8. B-04Assessment08Grading & evaluation8 entries · 8 min · 3 fig.
  9. C-01Assessment09Labs & certification4 entries · 4 min · 1 fig.
  10. C-02Assessment10Treatments & enhancements9 entries · 9 min · 1 fig.
  11. C-03Assessment11Synthetics & simulants7 entries · 7 min · 1 fig.
  12. C-04Assessment12Identification & instruments6 entries · 6 min · 2 fig.
  13. D-01Trade13Markets, pricing & investment14 entries · 13 min · 4 fig.
  14. D-02Trade14Auctions & record sales4 entries · 4 min · 1 fig.
  15. D-03Culture15Famous stones & historic jewels8 entries · 8 min · 4 fig.
  16. D-04Craft16Jewelry design & manufacturing8 entries · 8 min · 4 fig.
  17. E-01Society17Ethics, ESG & regulation9 entries · 9 min · 2 fig.
  18. E-02Society18Legal, tax, security & crime8 entries · 9 min · 1 fig.
  19. E-03Society19Technology8 entries · 9 min · 2 fig.
  20. E-04Culture20History, culture & symbolism9 entries · 9 min · 3 fig.
  21. F-01Society21Careers, education & events4 entries · 4 min · 2 fig.
  22. F-02Society22Ownership, care & collecting6 entries · 7 min · 2 fig.
  23. F-03ReferenceA–ZEvery entry, stone and place in one alphabetical listIndex

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