FAVORITES

With the trend to coloured stones still going strong, Tiffany Colored Gems, published last year, is more relevant and inspiring than ever. The 306-page hardcover by John Loring is not only a reliable reference but a striking coffee table book with engaging colour drawings and photographs from the Tiffany & Co. archives.

The introduction provides a history of coloured gems, tracing the path of magnificent royal jewels and documenting Tiffany's design acheivements at world's fairs. The company's early and influential use of coloured gems is also explained through its collaborations with Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin and Paloma Picasso.

Chapters are cleverly divided by colour, so that stones such as sapphire, topaz, aquamarine, lapis lazuli and turquoise are covered in the chapter on Blue.

A glossary and gem chart at the back of the book provide easy reference on each stone's brilliance and durability.

But it's the exquisite colour photos and revealing tidbits, that truly captivate. Many are aware that Paloma Picasso's favourite colour is red. But who realized that she despises rubies, prefering red rubellites or tourmalines.

And here's an argument reprinted in Tiffany Colored Gems from a 1940 issue of Vogue, for anyone thinking that costume jewellery is an adequate substitute in tougher economic times.

"The fake can be fun, the synthetic can put up a nice show, but still eyes turn unswervingly to the real thing in jewels. The pseudo is never quite as soul-satisfying. The lapel under the paste pin has never quite the same unalloyed life as the one under the precious clip. Perhaps, too, in these times of uncertainty, eyes turn to bona-fide jewels for their very certainty - for their tangible beauty in a world of all too little beauty; for their tangible value in a world of all too many teetering values."

Tiffany Colored Gems

by John Loring

$50 U.S.

www.abramsbooks.com