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Gem Identification Made Easy, Third Edition: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling
New, revised, expanded edition of the first and only book of its kind. Covers the latest gems, synthetics, treatments, and instruments Easy to use. Practical Non-technical Shows how to identify diamonds, colored gemstones, and pearls, and separate them from fakes and look-alikes. Explains what instruments are needed, how to use them, where to get them, and what should be seen for each gemstone.No science background necessary.Faster than you can imagine, anyone can learn to identify most of the gems and imitations found in the marketplace. This practical volume is the key to avoiding costly mistakes and recognizing profitable opportunities. Essential reading for collectors, investors, jewelry lovers, hobbyists, jewelers, antique dealers, and gemology students. With this highly accessible guide, anyone can begin to master gem identification.Selected Contents:Setting up a basic lab.Description of Each Instrument: What It Will Show & How to Use It.Dark Field Loupe - Synthetic Emerald Filters - Immersion Cell - Synthetic Diamond Detector - Loupe - Chelsea Filter - Electronic Diamond Tester - Refractometer - Ultraviolet Lamp - Microscope - Spectroscope - Polariscope - DichroscopeWhat to Look For, Gem by GemAntique & Estate Jewelry - The True Test for the Gem Detective.Dyeing - Composite Stones - Foil Backing - SubstitutionsAppendices: Charts and Tables of Gemstone Properties, Schools, Laboratories, and more..
Price: $22.50
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A Man of Honor: The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno
"Friendships, connections, family ties, trust, loyalty, obedience-this was the 'glue' that held us together " These were the principles that the greatest Mafia "Boss if Bosses," Joseph Bonnano, lived by. Born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Bonnano found his future amid the whiskey-running, riotous streets of Prohibition America in 1924, when he illegally entered the United States to pursue his dreams. By the age of only twenty-six, Bonnano became a Don. He would eventually take over the New York underworld, igniting the "Castellammarese War," one of the bloodiest Family battles ever to hit New York City... Now, in this candid and stunning memoir, Joe Bonanno-likely a model for Don Corleone in the blockbuster movie The Godfather-takes readers inside the world of the real Mafia. He reveals the inner workings of New York's Five Families-Bonanno, Gambino, Profaci, Lucchese, and Genovese-and uncovers how the Mafia not only dominated local businesses, but also influenced national politics. A fascinating glimpse into the world of crime, A Man of Honor is an unforgettable account of one of the most powerful crime figures in America's history. .
Price: $4.02
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Honor Thy Father
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The Sixth Family: The Collapse of the New York Mafia and the Rise of Vito Rizzuto
From The Sixth Family, according to witness testimony: BROOKLYN, MAY 5, 1981 "We were in the closet. We all had our weapons loaded. We sat there and waited for the doorbell to ring," said Salvatore Vitale, a slender New York mobster known as Good-Looking Sal. "We left the door open a smidge to look out." The ringing of the bell at the private social club’s entrance signaled the arrival of the first of the invited guests. Vito Rizzuto crouched low, peeking out from his vantage point. Through the swelling crowd and loud chatter from tough men all accustomed to having their say, Vito kept his eyes on one man, Gerlando Sciascia, a fellow Sicilian who was a long-time Rizzuto family friend. Breathing deeply beneath his mask, Vito watched for the secret signal that would draw him from the closet, a signal that came when Sciascia slowly ran the fingers of his lean, right hand through the silver hair on the side of his head. That simple act of preening brought mayhem to the social club and radically changed the balance of power. "Don’t anybody move. This is a holdup," Vito said as he confronted the roomful of powerful mobsters, his words muffled by a woolen ski mask pulled down over his long, thin face. Despite those words, this was not about robbery. Nothing would be taken but three lives and the rights to an underworld throne..
Price: $11.99
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Bound by Honor: A Mafioso's Story
Bill Bonanno could be just another 66-year-old retiree, gone to Tucson, Arizona, to live out his remaining years in a hospitable climate. But he's not. "I come from a long line of Mafiosi," he informs us, taking pains to establish the difference between Mafiosi, a term "rooted in the character and the values of the men and women who were the everyday makers of Sicilian history," and the fictional Mafia. (Bonanno knows from crime fiction: there are those who say that he's the real-life model for Michael Corleone, and he does not deny it.) Bound by Honor is as much a family saga as it is a true crime story, and Bonanno's insightful self-reflection guarantees a distinctive degree of honesty and depth. .
Price: $3.90
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Jewelry & Gems the Buying Guide: How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence And Knowledge (Jewelry and Gems the Buying Guide)
Know What You Want, Know What You're Buying, Learn the Secrets to Get the Most for Your Money Easy to Read • Easy to Understand Practical • Complete Instant Answers ... to All Your Questions Completely Updated & Expanded 6th Edition! Purchasing gems and jewelry can be a magical experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly. To help you avoid the pitfalls and keep the magic, two internationally respected experts on buying gems and jewelry put their inside knowledge to work for you in this easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide. It is filled with practical advice and is designed to make it easy for you to have all the information you need to buy gems and jewelry with confidence. Recommended by consumer and jewelry trade reviewers around the world, it is already in use in over 100 countries and has been translated into Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Hungarian, and Russian. Over 300,000 copies are now in print and this revised, updated, expanded edition covers even more: buying and selling on the internet, dazzling new diamond cuts, recently discovered gems … and new treatments and trickery to look out for. There are fascinating mythical and magical tidbits, and practical tips that could only come from an insider. In simple, straightforward terms you'll learn about the four Cs and how to juggle them to get what you want, at the price you want to pay; what to look for, and look out for; all about gold and platinum, jewelry design, and some of the country's leading designers. You'll learn what questions to ask and what to get in writing, and even how to select the jeweler, appraiser, and insurer. The authors leave no stone unturned to give you everything you need to know—whether you are a novice or a connoisseur. With Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide, you'll find the experience can be a joy, and the gems and jewelry you select a source of lasting pleasure! Praise for Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide "Restores the magic! [Will] entertain and enlighten all its readers and save some from heart-break. Recommended reading." — Paul Harvey, Paul Harvey News "Includes all kinds of fun facts to know and tell ... an essential resource for the gem buyer." — Art & Antiques "Takes the guesswork out of this important decision ... obtain the best value for your money." — Modern Bride "A book designed to build trust between jewelry retailers and consumers." — National Jeweler "An appropriate book for the uninformed public, but more than that, it is a good reference book for jewelers and their staffs, gem collectors, students of gemology, travelers, teachers, and even those who know gemology but want a state-of-the-art review." — Lapidary Journal "We have seen no work more practical and accurate than [this book] ... the investor, or engagement ring buyer, who follows the dictates ... which are well explained and illustrated, will surely avoid being burned ... the best of its kind and likely to be of enormous value to anyone." — Frederick H. Pough, PhD Former Curator of Gems and Minerals, American Museum of Natural History, N.Y.C. "Most certainly achieves its aim of helping consumers buy gems and jewelry with confidence and knowledge ... highly recommended." — Asian Jewelry "Especially useful to service members shopping overseas." — Financial Planning Guide Supplement to Army, Navy and Air Force Times.
Price: $12.69
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Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love
This well-illustrated volume covers diamonds, colored gems, and pearls. It takes the anxiety out of buying engagement and wedding rings, turning it into the magical and romantic experience it should be.The authors explain the romantic traditions of diamonds and colored gems in engagement and wedding rings through the centuries and offer expert advice on how to make this once-in-a-lifetime purchase a perfect one. Included are all the steps to determining the quality of a diamond or colored gemstone and judging value. Advice on how to design the rings, and lots of illustrations to help.Selected contents:Retail Price Guides for Diamonds, Colored Gems, and Pearls.The Romance of the Ring.Engagement and Wedding Ring Traditions and Romance.The Allure of Diamonds: What is Diamond?Selecting the Diamond.Comparing Diamond Prices.The Magic & Mystery of Colored Gems.Getting the Best Value in Colored Gems.What to Ask When Buying the Stone.Design and Style: Getting the Look You Want.The Wedding Bands: Gem-Studded, Gold, & Platinum.Consumer Beware: How to Spot a Fraud.Important Advice Before You Buy; Questions to Ask.List of Certified Appraisers..
Price: $3.39
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Mafia Marriage
An Unforgettable Look Inside the Godfather's Own HouseShe Was A Profaci. He Was A BonannoRosalie Profaci was a Mafia princess. Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno, oldest son of Mafia Don Joe Bonanno, the real-life model for The Godfather, was organized crime's crown prince. And Bill, deeply involved in his father's "business" of mob schemes thought pretty Rosalie knew what it meant to be a "Mafia wife." But the convent-raised, deeply devout Rosalie, whose innocence was protected by her doting father, had no idea... Their Marriage United Two Mafia Dynasties...Mafia Marriage is Rosalie Bonanno's intimate account of life inside the secretive world of the Mafia. Naming names and providing shocking details, she writes about the wild spending sprees, the mysterious absences of her husband, the other women in his-their running from the law, the abductions, and shootings. Above all, Rosalie reveals the passion that kept her virtually a prisoner to love...and her heartbreaking journey of discovering the truth and trying to break free. .
Price: $2.00
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