Diamonds have been symbols of power and beauty for millennia. Exchanged as precious luxury objects from as early as the fourth century BC in South Asia, the Roman naturalist Pliny (AD 23–79) famously called them the most valuable material, “not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.” In Diamonds: An Expert's Perspective, Graeme Thompson, Director of Jewellery for Bonhams Asia and one of the world’s leading jewellery experts, draws on his considerable expertise to explore every facet of diamond connoisseurship. Using spectacular examples from collections around the world, he discusses how diamonds are graded and priced, as well as the science behind how they are formed. Using his insider’s perspective, Graeme also confronts some of the challenges facing the jewellery market and provides insights into its future direction.