Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-29
Portuguese Jewels.


The Portuguese possess large amount
of wealth in gems, which were procured
from India during the prosperous era Of
their commerce with that country, and,
since the beginning of the eighteenth cen.
tury from the mines Of Brazil II is
said that the display of diamonds on dress
occasions In Lisbon and Oporto will far
exceed in magnitlcence any similar exhi-
bition in London or Paris. The crown
! jewels of Portugal are remarkably fine,
and among them is the Braganza dia-
mond, which is the size of hens egg,
and weighs 1850 carats, or fourteen
ounces. Itwas found in the Caethe Minim
mine, in Brazil, in 1741, and was frc-
| quently worn by King John vi. 1t is
suspected that this stone is only color.
less topaz but If 1t be genuine diamond
| II is the largest in the world. 1t is badly
cut, having but few facets, and were II
brought to the true form of a brilliant its
weight would be reduced to 900 or 1000
carats. The Koohinoor, or Mountain of
Light which came into the possession of
Queen Victoria in 1S49 by the abdication
OF the ruler of Punjaub, who resigned re-
gala and dominions to the British EN-
pire, weighed, in its rough state, 800 car
ats, but was reduced in cutting to 1921
carats. The Orlof diamond, in the scep-
ter of Russia, weighs 1913 carats; the Pitt
diamond, 1876 carats; and the Star of the
South, which was brought from Brazil in
1855, weighed 25415 carats when found,
and after cutting, 1875. None of these
diamonds, the largest in the world, are
one.titth as large as would be the Bragan-
IN stone when reduced to the shape of q
brilliant. Good judges differ regarding
the identity of the gem last named, but
the Kings of Portugal unhesitatingly
place it among their diamonds, and ex-
hibit it at a court where the luster and the
value of precious stones are thoroughly
known.
Diamond-cuuing is difficult but profit
able trade. 1t has been claimed that the
art was invented by a Jew and that none
but Jews can practice it. Mr.. Latouche
relates that in a conversation held with a
learned descendent of the Hebrew race it
was remarked to him: "If O man in New
York or in Calcutta wants diamond cut
he can have 1t done but in one place and
that place is Amsterdam and all the work
men are Jews. The jewellers of London
and Paris have never yet succeeded in es-
tablishing this trade in their cities; and
they never will, though there is no secret
in it-only cleverness."
The Brazilian topaz is cut by Portu-
in the mines of South America of the fin
est quality and of good size. Opals,
amethysts and other gems found in Brazil
could be procured in Oporto few years
ago at very moderate cost. A pure opal as
large as three-centpiece could be bought
for perhaps 800 when its market price in
London was five times that amount. The
opal at the period of which we speak was
held in Oporto at about the value of an
amethyst Gems are still many time
sold at the shops in this city for much less
than their price elsewhere. 1t is in
Oporte that the Moorish iewelry worn by
the peasant women is manufactured. The
same designs are now traced upon these
tilagree ornaments that were in vogue in
the days of the Saracens, and the crescent
and the star of Islam are engraved upon
lockets and pendants which are to adorn
devout adherents to the Christian faith.
The craft required in the production of
this iewelry is handed down from father
to son and has very likely remained in
certain families since it was first learned
from the Moors.