The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-19

punished. In 1884, the Princess of Orange
was also robbed of her diamonds by friends
this affair has, however, long since been hushed
| up. In more recent times, diamond robberies
| have not ceased. London was agitated. not
! long ago, by peculiar robbery of this kind,
and in New York we have had not few cases.
A well-knoWn bank-note engraver of this
city was recently waited upon by two men,
! apparently gentlemen, with one of whom he
was slightly acquainted. They produced for
his inspection some diamonds, and requested
loan OF several thousands of dollars upon
their security: The engraver accompanied
J his visitors to Tiliany's, where the diamonds
| were pronounced genuine, and the loan was ac-
| cordingly negotiated. In few days the parties
| returned and redeemed the diamonds A short
| time afterwards, the parties again visited the
engraver; and producing O much larger and
apparently more valuable assortment of dia-
monds, among which were the identical
jewels ON which the former loan had been
made, requested a second loan, much greater
in amount, though still amply warranted by
the market value of the gems offered Conf
dence by this time having been established,
the proposition was at once, without further
examination, acceded to. The money was
loaned, and the borrowers departed and have
not since been seen. The diamonds offered
have been found to be only capital paste part
OF them excellent limitations Of the diamonds
first offered.
fashionable parsonage, known in avenue
circles as "T,he Count, ~ was some years ago
discovered to be nothing more nor less than a
diamond thief having dishonesty obtained
possession of the jewels of leading BELLE
The matter was hushed up, however, but the
Count departed to less aristocratic localities
Mr.. John Anderson, the retired tobacco
dealer and the eminent philanthropist, was
recently the victim of a diamond swindle.
P,rrti 41, 1
to sport once on a time in this city diamond
worth Sl2, 600, which he is said to have stolen
from the person Of an Englishman travelling
abroad and in this connection it may be re-
marked that many of the professional thieves
OF New York are to be reckoned among the
owners, or at least the holders of diamonds.
DIAMONDS AS AN INVESTMENT.
AT the present day, in this age of calcula-
ton and in this land of calculators, diamonds
are valued not only as an ornament but as an
investment. This branch of the subject leads
to various reflections entirely Independent of
history, romance, or beauty, but involves
matter-of-fact details. AS an investment dia-
monds have the great objection of being inca
pable of bearing interest; but ON the other
hand they are independent Comparatively
of the fluctuations of trade, Ofthe price of gold
ETC.; they have fixed standards Gas far as posi-
ble) of genuine value, and they are very port
able, easily transported from place to place.
Besides (Which in these times is a great con-
sideTation), diamonds are comparatively free
| from taX-paying no tax either to the State or
| Government, saving under the general head of
| personal property, and a duty of ten per
cent. to the Government. All these facts
| being taken into consideration, it would seem
! that our wealthy citizens are not so "eXtrava-
| CAN'T as would at first appear in their outlay
! in diamonds.
THE DIAMOND BUSINESS.
The United States is one of the very best
| modern markets for the sale of diamonds,
and as such is rapidly attracting the attention
of the diamOnd-producing countries. Many
| of the diamonds sent to this country are old
family jewels, with histories attached, once
the property of the noblemen of Portugal,
| Spain, France, and England.
The trade in diamonds, like all others, has
| its periods of fluctuations; but as a rule it is
more equable than the majority of commercial
branches. The Indian diamonds have been
crowded out of the market as it were, to a
certain extent, by the Brazilian; and these, in
course of time, may yield to gems discovered
in other localities. In fact, it is estimated by
many thoroughly versed in the matter that
the earth is full of diamonds, and that some
day the supply will probably exceed the de-
! mand. AT the present time, however, the
| case is exactly the reverse. The yield of Brazil
for many years averaged three thousand six
hundred carats per annum. The number of
dealers in diamonds in New York will reach
| from eighty to one hundred. The value of
| diamonds in the United States will reach
| SO, 00O0, ,000-of which at least $50, 100000 is
to be found in New York city alone. Diamonds
are said to be appraised ten per cent. higher
in this country than they are abroad. This
estimate, however, is being diminished.
| HOW DIAMONDS ARE vAIrFD
The first item in determining the value of
| diamond Is its color, according to the state
ments published in the opening portion ofthis
article. The next consideration is the manner
in which it is set or cut. The cutting of the
diamond is a very important element. When
taken out of the mine the diamond is ofttimes
merely dull-looking stone, appearing to be
| coated with gum-arabie; but when polished
and cut, it is of all stones the most brilliant.
Cutting, of course, diminishes the weight and
| size of diamond, but increases the brilliancy
of its surface, and therefore really enhances
its value. In former times the diamond-cut-
ters wasted more Than half the diamond in
performing their work; but at the present
time they are more skilfll and more careful,
and the loss is comparatively less, averaging
from forty to fifty per cent. The "spread' OF
a gem, or the proportion of its breadth to its
depth, is another item to be carefully CON
sdered.
HOW DIAMONDS ARE CUT AND POLISHED.
The art of cutting and polishing the dia-
mOnd was known in early times throughout
Asia, but was not familiar to the Europeans.
1t was introduced among the latter by a work
man of Bruges, who, in the year 1916, dis
covered by accident that by rubbing two dia-
monds together their surfaces were abraded.
| II yyqg al aiun1 tbat ba J;o,,,o.,l