Frank Bertram Wade

Born on July 8, 1875, Frank Bertram Wade was an American educator and writer whose work centered on science and gemology. He is associated with books including A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public and Diamonds: A Study of the Factors That Govern Their Value, both aimed at explaining the world of gemstones in a straightforward, useful way.

Rather than writing for a narrow academic audience, Wade appears to have focused on helping readers understand how precious stones are identified, appreciated, and valued. That practical approach likely made his books especially appealing to jewelers as well as curious general readers.

Wade died on October 3, 1950. Though he is not widely known today, his surviving books reflect an effort to bring technical subjects down to earth and make them easier to learn.