Overview of Brilliance and Fire: A Biography of Diamonds Book

"A diamond is forever. " Who among us doesn t recognize this phrase and, with it, the fascination that these shiny gemstones hold in our collective imagination as symbols of royalty, stars and eternal love? But who gave us this catchphrase? Where do these gemstones and their colorful legacies originate? How did they become our culture s symbol of engagement and marriage? Why have they retained their coveted status throughout the centuries? Rachelle Bergstein s cultural biography of the diamond illuminates the enticing, often surprising, story of our society s enduring obsession with the hardest gemstone and the people who have worked tirelessly to ensure their continued allure. From the South African mines where most diamonds have been sourced since the late 1890s to the companies who have fought to monopolize them; from the stars who have dazzled in them to the people behind the scenes who have carefully crafted our understanding of their value Brilliance and Fire offers a glittering history of the world s most coveted gemstone and its greatest champions and most colorful enthusiasts. Illustrated with sixteen pages of color photographs, this biography is filled with tantalizing anecdotes of the likes of Wallis Simpson, for whom Cartier created their iconic diamond-encrusted panther bracelet; Elizabeth Taylor, who made her numerous lovers prove their adoration through the gems they bestowed upon her; and Jacob the Jeweler and Ben Baller, the edgy contemporary jewelers who create custom bling for hip-hop stars from Jay-Z to Kanye. Smart, lively and engaging, Brilliance and Fire is as dazzling as the very diamonds Bergstein reveals in a new light.

• Book Type :

Humanities

• Book Binding :

Paperback

• Language :

English

• Number of Pages :

• ISBN - 10 :

0062323776

• Brilliance and Fire: A Biography of Diamonds Published On :

25 Jul 2016

• Resource:

Textbooks, Humanities Books for Students, Teachers, Graudates, Professionals and all others

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