Precious by Helen Molesworth is a sparkling history of gemstones – from royal jewels to the brutal mining trade

By Serena Dyer, Associate Professor, Fashion History, De Montfort University

Most children understand the magic of the jewellery box. In fanciful games of pirates and treasure hunters, the imaginary booty is often composed of a parent’s necklaces and rings. They may be oversized on little necks and fingers, but children are quickly enthralled by the mystery and beauty of these sparkly precious objects.

While this is all a game of make-believe to most children, to gemologist Helen Molesworth, those games marked the start of an extraordinary journey and a lifelong career of seeking out treasure.

As she recounts in her new book,

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