sam_ash_smash's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely an interesting read, although not extremely deep, or well rounded. Bernstein focuses on a few people involved in each era or aspect of the diamond industry, and tends to give a little too much focus to the back story of the individual rather than their contributions to the diamond industry.
In the beginning of the books I was highly annoyed by how she minimizes Cornelia Bradshaw Martin's party as merely an excuse for Cornelia to wear her jewels, brushing aside her efforts to stimulate the local economy.
Also, this book has three footnotes. Yes, 3. What, I ask, is the point of three footnotes? It's a ridiculous number for footnotes. I mean, really? I almost took a star off for this.
Anyways, this book was generally very readable and enjoyable. I learned much that I did not already know and some of it was about diamonds and some of it was about people that I had never heard of before. And some of it about people that I did already have passing familiarity with of course.
In the beginning of the books I was highly annoyed by how she minimizes Cornelia Bradshaw Martin's party as merely an excuse for Cornelia to wear her jewels, brushing aside her efforts to stimulate the local economy.
Also, this book has three footnotes. Yes, 3. What, I ask, is the point of three footnotes? It's a ridiculous number for footnotes. I mean, really? I almost took a star off for this.
Anyways, this book was generally very readable and enjoyable. I learned much that I did not already know and some of it was about diamonds and some of it was about people that I had never heard of before. And some of it about people that I did already have passing familiarity with of course.
claudia_bow's review
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and War
Moderate: Colonisation
amh1619's review against another edition
5.0
Bergstein avoids the boring ‘Geology 101’ and instead dives into the historical legends and myths of that penultimate gemstone, the diamond. It’s important to recognize, which Bernstein does, that diamond provenance has influenced our culture’s appreciation of, and value for, diamonds. We would not feel the way we do about this simple crystal without having seen Elizabeth Taylor sporting her collection, or Audrey Hepburn at Tiffany’s, or Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” or all the royalty and stars flaunting their diamonds (the latter every year on countless red carpets)! This is the story Bergstein shares and, frankly, it’s the most important one that influences your impression of diamonds today.
[Oh yes, I know, you’re so aware of conflict diamonds and that diamonds aren’t *really* rare, but if someone offered you an 8 carat pear shaped D internally flawless, let’s be real: you’d take it in a heartbeat.]
One more thing—Bergstein has done her gemological homework. It’s the first layman’s description of simulant versus synthetic versus naturally occurring I’ve read that gets it right. People with a decade in the industry screw this up, so Bergstein’s contribution to educating the public is very welcome. Buy the book, be entertained and informed, and know that you’ll finish knowing much more (correctly) about diamonds that you did before picking it up.
[Oh yes, I know, you’re so aware of conflict diamonds and that diamonds aren’t *really* rare, but if someone offered you an 8 carat pear shaped D internally flawless, let’s be real: you’d take it in a heartbeat.]
One more thing—Bergstein has done her gemological homework. It’s the first layman’s description of simulant versus synthetic versus naturally occurring I’ve read that gets it right. People with a decade in the industry screw this up, so Bergstein’s contribution to educating the public is very welcome. Buy the book, be entertained and informed, and know that you’ll finish knowing much more (correctly) about diamonds that you did before picking it up.
reaganmurphy's review
5.0
This book was really engaging and interesting to read!! The writing is very easy going and makes everything really easy to understand. I really enjoyed the chapters and how the book was set up. I think this book would be awesome as like a documentary or a mini series with like an episode per chapter!
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