The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-29
DIAMONDS.
The "Centenniap Gossip Concerning Precious
Stones.


Stones
Previous to 1s4S few diamonds were
imported by, Americans, but with
the production of California gold
came taste for precious stones
which soon increased the value of the
diamonds annually passing through the
United States Custom. houses from
100000 to $1,000,0O0. This, however,
does not represent the total annual im-
portation, for smuggling was so exten-
sively practised that a leading jeweler
| declared 1t his belieI that less than one
sixth OF the gems imported paid duty.
As all Is not gold that glitters, neither
is everything that sparkles diamond al
| though 1t may be purchased for one.
Anna Maria fairly adored the Fitzhugh
Adolphus who With such happy speech
and winning manners presented her with
a diamond necklace. 'The dear, dear
felIowl' she would exclalm, and then
ask her lady friend if they 1.-THE dla-
monds) were not $50 loYelyW Bat when
her brother Jack turned up his nuse and
said the diamonds were pastes, she first
became indignant at Jack, then cried a
little, and ended by declaring that
Adolphus was just horridp All Of
which would not haYe occurred had the
pastes been well executed, or Jack a
novice in jewels, for the art OF Initiating
gems has been so much perfected that
experts are required to detect we'll
made limitations. A composition has
been obtained which presents hard
nne, lustrous appearance; these mock
| diamonds depend most, however, on the
artistic construction and setting of the
| tlnsel pasted behind them. Mons,
Bourgulgnon, ol Paris, who has world
| wide reputation as u manufacturer of
| pastes exhibits in the French de partment
| main building, fac simIes Of some Of the
most famous diamonds in the world.
Among these limitations is that of the
Koh-i-noor, r,-"Mountain of Light-
Whichis stone olimmense size and has
romantic history. For u thousand years
it was stolen from sovereign Iy soyer-
ign, and was the cause Of numerous pet
ty wars among Oriental tribes. 1t at last
iell into the possession of q ruler who
styled himself "AurHnzebe, Babef Of the
Moguls," and who thought the stone
could be improved by polishing. He in.
trusted the diamond to an ignVrant and
unSkilled cutter, by whom its weight
was reduced from 1893 carats t0I86. Au-
runzebe was with difficulty restrained
from cutting the workman down in the
same proportion, SO great was that soy-
erIgTs rage. The stone should not have
been reduced 10 u weight of less than
4O0 carats, and at that size it would have
bet worth $5,0O0,0 900. The diamond was
finally captured by British troops in one
of England s Eastern wars, and was
added TO the crown jewels of the king
dom. 1t has since been recut and DOL
lshed by Costar, of Amsterdam, and,
although it now weighs but LOG carats,
its beauty and brilliancy were much ill.,
creased by the operation.
Another gem, am imitation of which is
exhibited by Mons. BOurguignon, is the
famous "Mo0n of the Mountains" now
one of the finest stones in the Russian
Imperial collection. The history of
this stone is one Of murder and blood
shed.
Mons. Bourguignon exhibits imita-
tions of other famous diamonds-the
'"Pitt," valued at $600,000 now among
the crown jewels OF France; the "San-
cy," which was once swallowed by an
owner to prevent its robbery, that un-
wise act only subjecting MIN TO death
and disembOwelment; the Star of th
SOUTH" from Brazil; and others of great
value and celebrity.
WHAT becomes or all the diamonds is
as much OF MYSTERY as is the late ofa
he pins. So many diamonds have been
produced that it is not hard TO accept |
as sober truth that story of the sailor
Sinbaus, WAC reported that in certain
valley diamonds were as thick as peb-
Dies In the bed OF New England
brook.
The Golconda mines of India seem to
iiaVe been The nearest near approach to
5inbad's diamond valley, for III that dis
trlcL lived the sultan VINO once be-
queathed $40 pounds of diamonds 10 his
leirs; there stood the royal mosque in |
which was placed the famous "Peaceek |
rhrone," formed entirely of gold and |
Jewels, and valued at $50, 900, ,005; and |
there was Shahjehauabad, the "City of |
the King of the World" IRON which the
Persian usurper bore away jewels to the !
value OF $l00,00J,000.
NoJ many years ago slave workman
III Brazil turned out diamonds valued at
~, ,5OO, 600 with one stroke of his shovel. |
me fortunate man was liberated and re-
warded, as are all slaves who find stones
weighing more than IT carats.
The most valuable diamond ever found
in the United states was picked up by a
workman on the BANKS OF the James Ri
YER, near X chmond, Va, in 1856. 1t
Weighs 70 carats, and is valued at
40, 000.
There is valuable showcase here at
he Centennial. 1t is only three feet
square, but contains over $500, 900 in
precious jewels. Thirty-fve Thousand
Jollars per square footl