The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-05-25
Artificial Gems.

L nc ar lst must nrst decide what his
glass shall be--amcthyst, ayenturine,
emerald, ruby, sapphire, topaz, or pearl
The pearl is the simpler, as it is com pos
ed ordinarily OF common glass. In the
composition Of the stones various sub.
stances are mixed in order to give them
their appropriate color. The following
statement indicates the humble origin
of II considerable number of the cheap
gems SO popular in certain circles:
Amcthyst-l 900 parts OF strass aud
% of oxyidc of cobalt.
Adventurine-250 parts Of Band, 100
carbonate of soda, 80 carbonate Of lime,
40 bichromate Of potash.
Emerald-1, 900 parts of strass, 8
oxide of copper, 0 2 uxide of chromium
Ruby-l 900 parts OF strass, 40 glass
of antimony, l purple of Cassius, aud
an excess OF gold.
Topaz-Thc same as ruby, excepting
the excess of gold, and heated for a
shorter time.
These materials fused in the furnace
and subsequently cut, ground and pol
ished by the laridary, il we may so term
him, serve Il e purpose Of jewelry among
those who are unable to purchase the
real, or unable to discriminate between
the true aud the false.
The making Of pearl is somewhat
more difficult. The artist sits at Ia.
BILE in all respects like that of II glass
spinner, with the same spirit lamp and
the same common glass tubes, the latter
resembling those which serve the boys
as pea shooters or patty blowers, aud
the fashionable drinkers, male and fe
male, in the dog days, iu lieu of straws.
Tie first draws out his tube to the de
sired size, increasing its length by di.
mlnishing its thickness. The tube
being thus made of the desired size,
be breaks it in pieces Of from four to
six inches in length. Taking one of
these pieces upon the end of his
blow.pipc he heats it again in his
lamp, and, blowing geutly through
the tube, forms it into the shape Of u
ball. When he removes his blow pipe
hole is left at the place Of contact.
Thus two holes are formed in it that il
may be strung upon necklace. II il
be intended for an earring, bracelet,
or pin, he leaves but the one hole 10
it. tic next fashions il 10 shape rs de
sired, still without u mould, chiefly by
his breath. 1u the real pearl certain
Irregularities OF form are observable.
These must b, initiated. The artificial
pearl must not be too perfect. He
therefore takes very small iron pallet,
with which he gently strikes the still
maileable pearl, producing almost i'm
perceptible Irregularities Of form, which
add to the deception. This done, he passes
the still iucipient jewel to workwo,
man, whose duty it Is to give To the
colorless glass its pearly white. For
this purpose she is provided with col.
orlcss glue made of parchment, and a
colorless matter, the composition Of
which is ons OF the secrets of the trade.
Having before her several thousands Of
these pearls, she rapidly introduces into
them light coatiug OF the coloring glue
through the orifce- which the glass
blower has left; while this is still
damp she puffs into it, by her breath,
the requisite quantity of the coloring
matter. The pearl is then ready for
the market. The reader may have some
curiosity to know how much these pre-
cious jewels cost the manufacturer. In
France the workmen who blows them is
paid at the rate Of from 80 to IS cents
a huadrcd the workwomen who color
them littleover two cents per thousand.
IL 1t: