The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-25
Gems and their Value.

Gems and their Value.
The value of precious stones consid-
cred as investments requires two quail
fcations. The very large stones have
become in course of time comparatively
yalueless for want of purchasers. The
Sancy was sold the other day to a Par
see for EGO, 900, but there are very few
private individuals left in the world
who will pay e1 600 a year for the pleas
ure of being known as possessors of n
of the historic diamonds. Even crowned
heads dislike to appear so foolishly ex-
travagant; and it may, we think, be-
laid down as an axiom that no stone
whatever is worth e25, 900 sterling, he.
that no stone could be sold on O pinch
for any such figure. Captain Negronps
glorious sapphire, which he estimated
at some Gi6O, 900, will scarcely find q
purchaser out of Turkey at a tenth OF
that amount, and even in it ministers
would demonstrate II the Sultan gave
much more. Then the owners of small
Ter stones are exposed to one very INN J
nent danger. The discovery of the Ba-
hia mines sent the price of diamonds
down one half; and as the Americans
extend their authority into the gold and
silver producing regions such discoveries
may be repeated. The Burmese monop-
DIV. again, cannot endure for ever, and
whenever it is broken up the price Of
rubies will at least for a time diminish
We NAV have emeralds also yet both
from America and Siberia, science hav-
ing lone exceedingly little TO forward
he careful search which is certain one
dav to be made, and which ought, IN
Siberia, at all events, to produce note
worthy results. The dearest stone 10
the ruby, which, always assuming ina
IL Is of true pigeons blood red, purify,
and spread, sells thus: "A ruby OF one
carat weight is worth 9l4 to kZO; ~
carats. e25 to EDS two 3arats ETY. 70
ESQ. three carats, f2OO to f250; four
: 90 rats e4OO to g450. Below carat
rubies are sold at from CO toes per carat,
and ahove four they become fancy, ar!i-
= cles. to which price can scarcely 70
l affixed. A really splendid ruby ring'
/, with a perfect single sDohe oi wv '""''
q will therefore cost GS5. 1t.
The next dearest is the dian1ono, tne
price, he it remembered, referring only
to "brilliants," 1. g. diamonds thick
enough to admit Of proper cutting.
~ A diamond ring, therefore, with a sim
Gle magnificent stone of w earats,
ought to be purchasable for go, or about
III SO per cent of the value of asimila ring
dc in ruby. The emerald, though 1t seems
It's dearer, is not so, thevalue not increasing
so rapidly so that, although the price
ttu per carat of a perfect specimen may vary
" from goo to G4O, it does not rise in pro-
norton with its size So of the sapphire.
hThe value of the sapphire does not,
"a like that of the ruby, increase so enor-
of mously in proportion with It's size. A
- fine, perfect, evenly colored, spread sap
I'd phire, weighing II carat, OF d ueep
i" rich blue color by night as we'll as by
n, day. is worth ego; whilst q sapphire
n. en1ally fine, of 100 carats, would not be
uy worth more than $1,000 or 6 $4,000. A
en- n of the same size and perfection
would be the most valuable gem in exis.
ny tence, SURPRISING even that OF the finest
diamond. Legacy duty has been paid
upon a sapphire supposed TO De WORT
in, could be sold for that amount. Pearls
zen when OF large size, obtain fancy prices
her but Mr.. Emanuel believes that he Is JUS
titled in saying that perfect white pear
ere drops, of so to 100 grains, may be estima
In! ted at from f7 70 Ell per grain those o
80 to so grains, at from "a tof7 per grain
Ter and those of 80 to 60 at from f3 to Go pei
ms grain. Ordinary pearls fetch lower prices
er, grains, COS. 1t will be remembered that
las all these values apply only to the best
Of specimens, and if dealing with an un'
Of known seller the buyer should test the
he stones. He will find these general rules
till useful First, nothing that a file will
OF cut is a precious stone; secondly, thai
the file should be used OF both sides, to
the avoid the trick, very common In Italy
ore of fastening a slice of the real article or
to a false basis thirdly, a stone canno
be genuine if of very much less than II:
'pt' nroner specific gravity. 1t is also worth
sw- remembering that a sapphire will moi
scratch a diamond, and that the ancienl
ere test of the hammer is also absolutely
nd worthless, very vaiua9ie stones oseaAihs
under it almost as readily as glass.
US AS to color, the very best preparation
for bnyingis to educate your eyes by OBJ
vas serving carefully good specimens, the
snaciaiities of color being incommunica'
was RE in any other way. 1t is possible
rec however, to ascertain by q simple rul
of whether a stone has two shades-a yer
"ommon fault. Hold it in clear waite
bei u. :. inch from the surface, and tn
about al. - at once apparent, and Tn
1v. shades will p. "nv Glide into eac
points at which JA..
other. This observation must no ox.
eu ca 10 uncut jewels, which differ entirni,
10 : III appearance from the cut speciman
anu sometimes look absolutely worth
TT less. Inselre are sapphires, for example
lie in Captain Nesroni's collection, which
e. would, to an inexperienced eye, seem
u dirty pebbles. A fine, clear deep CO.
&c lored amethyst of the size of a f1oria ia
IL worth from GlO TOOLS, and years ago was
worth many times that amount, the
I'd value having been reduced by heavy
importations from Brazil, Oriental am
:. ethysts, it must be remembered, are
really sapphires, and of much greater
AZ value, though the stones sold under that
We name are usually so called from igno-
rance. Garnet's cut ca cdbochon are
called carbuncles, and when of large
ost size and free from spots are frequently
AT worth eco, but no other garnets have