Jewellers’ quick reference guide to working with gemstones
The Jeweller's Quick Reference Guide to Working with Gemstones
The ultimate visual bench companion for jewellers, silversmiths, goldsmiths and stone setters.
Master Jewellers & Trade Professionals: Gain vital insights for handling rare or unusual gemstones.
Students & Apprentices: Love the fast access to essential gemstone parameters and physical properties.
Hobbyists & Silversmiths: Find the accurate, reliable information needed to work with gemstones without risk.
The Jeweller's Quick Reference Guide to Working with Gemstones puts vital data for over 110 gemstone varieties right at your fingertips. Formatted specifically for practical, active bench work. No dense textbooks. No fluff. Just clear, immediate answers when you need them most.
Why Every Bench Jeweller Needs This Book
Avoid Costly Accidents: Instantly check risks and vulnerabilities before touching that gemstone with your torch or tools.
Save Time at the Bench: Stop hunting through multiple books or unverified online charts for quick gemstone parameters.
Protect Client Keepsakes: Handle customer heirlooms and fragile gems with absolute confidence.
What’s Inside Your Bench Companion
Colour-Coded Quick Reference: Fast-scan data tables designed for rapid checks mid-project.
Hardness, Toughness & Durability Ratings: Instant clarity on chipping, fracture, cleavage, or scratch risks before your tools touch the gem.
Working Knowledge: Know at a glance if a stone will survive contact with files, abrasive wheels or the pickle pot.
Process & Repair Suitability: Clear indicators on whether a gem can safely withstand resizing, soldering heat, polishing or ultrasonic baths.
Workshop Risk Mitigation: Protect fragile stones from costly damage during steam cleaning, barrel tumbling and routine bench tasks.
Designed for the Workshop by Gemmologist & Jeweller Sally Spencer
Designed and written specifically for the workshop environment, combining Sally Spencer’s dual knowledge as both a qualified gemmologist and a bench jeweller.
Whether you’re resizing a ring with a heat-sensitive stone, cleaning a client’s piece of jewellery, or setting a delicate gemstone, one small oversight can turn a profitable job into a costly mistake.
No more guessing, no more hoping. Preventing a single damaged stone could immediately cover the cost of this guide.
£29.99 for printed book - £22 for digital eBook
UK - free p&p for printed book (please choose this option at checkout)
Discounted shipping of printed book to Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Switzerland & USA - you may have to pay import VAT (& customs duties, if payable) & a handling fee to your local postal service or authorities before delivery can be completed & will depend on the destination country.
I am disappointed to say that, due to the new PPWR regulations introduced on 12/8/26, I am no longer able to ship to EU countries, but the book is now available as a digital download eBook - see below to buy you may have to pay your country's VAT on an eBook but this will be shown at checkout. No shipping charges for an eBook.
Please note - it is not possible to ship to a PO Box address.
If your country is not listed here & you are outside the EU, please email me and I will be happy to get a shipping quote to send a printed book to you or click here for a list of international stockists.
Buy physical printed book here
Buy digital eBook here
The "How to use" section explains the information tables included for each stone & gives further detailed information for the jewellery making processes.
Each stone has example photo/s & a table showing its durability, which jewellery making processes it may or may not survive & why.
On the opposite page is a description of the stone & details of any treatments, synthetics or imitations & stones with a similar appearance.
A5 in size with laminated covers to protect it on the bench - wire bound so that it can lay open for easy reference! 184 pages in total.
Contents
How to use the book with explanations for each of the various jewellery making processes - covers durability (hardness, toughness & stability - click here to find out more about durability), abrasives, barrel polishing, casting in place, firing in a kiln, filing, pickling, polishing, steam cleaning, heat from a torch (including firing in metal clay) & ultrasonic cleaning.
Gemmology & how can it help
How to use a loupe & tweezers
Visual clues of indications how a gemstone may react to the processes (with photos)
130 pages of gemstone information covering more than 110 different varieties & including 181 colour photos
Gemstone facet names, shapes & cuts
Information about casting in place, kiln firing & torch firing gemstones
Table of gemstones by colour
Cleaning gemstone jewellery & care advice for customers
Glossary
Print RRP: £29.99 - eBook RRP: £22
Thank you - we have had some really lovely comments & feedback - here are just a few...
Andrew Berry from At the Bench first reviewed the book on one of his Youtube live sessions in 2021 & has now released this review. Andrew bought his copy - this wasn't a solicited review.
Andrew Berry
At the Bench
Jeanette Caines from Jewelry Arts Inc posted a video on Instagram. Jeanette bought her copy - this wasn't a solicited review.
Jeanette K Caines
New York, USA
"Your book arrived today & I just wanted to say how great it is! It really simplifies things for us who arent that experienced with gemstones. I will be recommending it to everyone!"
Jodie
UK
"I had heard that you had stuffed it full of great information, but until one sees it, I do not think one can know just HOW much is in the book. I am thrilled with my purchase!!
Thank you for a great reference tool!"
Cindy
Michigan, USA
My first Amazon review...
and it's 5 star!
Thank you Erin - I'm so happy the book is out there, on benches, helping jewellers when they are working with gemstones.
In case you are wondering - the book was written to help all jewellers, whether they have been in the industry for years or recently started making jewellery as a hobby.
Another lovely review...
Thank you Kate!
Every comment, email or review means the world to me because it is a fellow jeweller who’s finding my book helpful & discovering more about the gemstones they are working with. That’s a pretty special feeling.