A glint of quartz resting in the palm of a hand, an emerald in its raw form rising from its matrix: sometimes, that is all it takes to bring the eye to a standstill. Minerals possess a rare quality: they resemble works of art even before a human hand has touched them. Prisms of almost architectural regularity, clusters with untamed contours, hues that even a painter’s palette would struggle to reproduce… Each bears the traces of a geological history that the eye alone cannot fully decipher.
It is this dual perspective, both aesthetic and scientific, that Exceptional Minerals and Gemstones offers, with publication scheduled for 15 October 2026 by DBS publishing house.
Spanning 256 pages, the volume unfolds as a visual journey. Its 120 illustrated double-page spreads reveal the extraordinary diversity of mineral and crystalline forms, inviting readers to explore them as though leafing through a museum catalogue.
From the Depths of the Earth to the Far Reaches of the Solar System
Some of these specimens formed kilometres beneath our feet. Others, according to the publisher, have undertaken improbable journeys across the Solar System before arriving among us. The book brings together these contrasting origins, placing them side by side: mineral inclusions trapped within stone, microminerals that require the discerning eye of a magnifying glass, and giant crystals that occupy space like sculptures.
This diversity of scale is one of the book’s guiding themes. From microscopic detail to monumental formations, the focus shifts and with it, our way of seeing.
From Mineral to Gemstone: Where Jewellery Begins
The book’s scope extends beyond the geologist’s cabinet to enter the world of fine jewellery. It features exceptional jewels and Crown Jewels, reminding us that a gemstone is, at its origin, a mineral that humanity has chosen to cut, set and pass down through generations. For anyone fascinated by precious stones, this transition from nature to adornment lies at the heart of the subject. Understanding what makes an emerald, a sapphire or a diamond so desirable begins with understanding how these stones form.
© Minéraux et Gemmes d’Exception
Three Specialist Perspectives
The book’s strength also lies in its trio of authors, whose complementary backgrounds bring depth and breadth to the subject.
Hélène Bureau, a research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), works at the Institute of Mineralogy, Materials Physics and Cosmochemistry at Sorbonne University.
Éloïse Gaillou directs and curates the Mineralogy Museum at Mines Paris - PSL. A geologist by training and a lecturer and researcher, she specialises in the spectroscopic and geochemical study of gemstones, with a particular focus on diamonds, opals, sapphires and emeralds.
Gilles Chazot, a professor at the University of Brest and a member of the Géo-Océan laboratory, studies the mantle from which basalts originate. His current research focuses on East African volcanism and the island arcs of the Pacific.
A researcher, a curator and a volcanologist: three distinct perspectives on the same mineral world, bringing together scientific rigour and a keen eye for visual detail.
Who Is This Book For, and Why Now ?
Earth science enthusiasts, collectors, jewellery aficionados and readers drawn to nature photography will all find something to discover here. The book is intended for those who appreciate knowledge that can also be contemplated. It offers generous access to a world usually encountered only behind a display case. Whether browsed out of curiosity or studied with a connoisseur’s eye, it deserves a place in the library of anyone intrigued by the beauty and complexity of the mineral world.
