Gems in the Smithsonian Institution

The text surveys gem materials, their physical and optical properties, and the methods used to cut, treat, and evaluate them, explaining why durability and refractive qualities affect use as jewels. It outlines the geological origins and mining of principal gem species, discusses natural and synthetic substitutes and traditional lore, and describes how a national collection was assembled from gifts and endowments for public display. The work also highlights notable specimens and the practices of cataloguing and exhibition that make scientific study and public appreciation possible.