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In the middle of New York City lies a neighborhood where all secrets are valuable, all assets are liquid, and all deals are sealed with a blessing rather than a contract. Welcome to the diamond district. Ninety percent of all diamonds that enter America pass through these few blocks, but the inner workings of this mysterious world are known only to the people who inhabit it.
In Precious Objects, twenty-six-year-old journalist Alicia Oltuski, the daughter and granddaughter of diamond dealers, seamlessly blends family narrative with literary reportage to reveal the fascinating secrets of the diamond industry and its madcap characters: an Elvis-impersonating dealer, a duo of diamond-detective brothers, and her own eccentric father.
With insight and drama, Oltuski limns her family’s diamond-paved move from communist Siberia to a displaced persons camp in post–World War II Germany to New York’s diamond district, exploring the connections among Jews and the industry, the gem and its lore, and the exotic citizens of this secluded world.
Entertaining and illuminating, Precious Objects offers an insider’s look at the history, business, and society behind one of the world’s most coveted natural resources, providing an unforgettable backstage pass to an extraordinary and timeless show.
| 22 of 23 people found the following review helpful  The People Behind the Diamonds, By Lisa "Casual Reader" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life (Hardcover) In Precious Objects, Alicia Oltuski gives an insider's look into the world of diamond dealing. Her father works in the diamond district of New York City. It's a different world there, entrenched in tradition and religion. Through good times and bad, the dealers have formed their own code of ethics and way of doing business. They are a unique family of sorts, but things are slowly changing with new technologies and new generations of dealers. The allure of the sparkling stones will never change though.This book does a very thorough job over covering many different aspects of diamonds. From their usage throughout history to their important role in shaping the political and economical structure of many parts of Africa, diamonds have never been just jewels. The author does a fabulous job of keeping things from ever getting too dry. I learned so many different things about diamonds, both about their physical characteristics and the more esoteric traits that have made them so... Read more 7 of 8 people found the following review helpful  A fascinating peak behind the curtain, Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life (Hardcover) My favorite non-fiction books teach me something new on every page while telling a story in an engaging and enjoyable way; Ms. Oltuski's portrait of the jewelry industry easily passes this test. I knew next to nothing about the jewelry industry before, and now that I've finished the book I feel like an insider.Ms. Oltuski found fascinating characters through which to tell her story: a pair of crime-fighting brothers who work to prevent and solve robberies to karmically avenge their own family's jewelry business; the real DeBeers family, who walked away from a fortune because it was ruining their nice farm; a mogul who made his money creating a product that the diamond industry simultaneously hated and found themselves needing to use; and a group of Ms. Oltuski's own family members, both lucky and tragic. Before I read this book I didn't think I had any interest in how jewelry was found, made, and sold. To me, jewelry was an overpriced rip-off, and it was enough... Read more 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful Diamonds were my best friend..., This review is from: Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life (Hardcover) This book was a vivid reminder why I got out of the diamond business: in the good old days before Rap, Certs, and Bloods (not what you think); and don't forget Yehudas! It was good to remember the many close relationships I developed (even though I'm a goy), some only over the phone. I recall mentioning to one dealer that I was looking for a Micky Mouse watch for my young son: one week later there was one in my mailbox, the invoice marked "paid in full". Then there was the time I contacted the wife of a dealer for help in finding a specific stone: "you walk by me on the street but you remember my engagement ring!": both diamonds in question were heart shapes. And the time that I was sure I was talking to a golf pro until his wife walked up: 1.04 ct. Rb. IVS1, Ideal cut: the man worked for FedEX. And don't forget my wife's constantly-changing "personal" jewelry collection. This book is also a comprehensive update of all of things I've missed since my departure: Some I can't... Read more |
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