Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-08
IMITATION DIAMONDS.

Perfection In the Art of Making False Gems
Paris is the great center for this bust
ness, which has been brought to the
most astonishing perfection. The as.
founding transformation of grains of
heavy looking, dirty sand into diamond
of the finest water, is the daily vocation
OF large number OF persons who avow-
edly work with intention of deceiving
everybody but the buyer. Everything
in the operation depends upon the quail
ity of the sand, and that used for the
purpose is brought from the forest of
Fontainebleau. Large quantities of it
are sent abroad, so high is the repute in
which it stands. For initiating emeralds,
sapphires and rubies a coloring matter,
entirely mineral in its origin, is employ
ed, and it has been brought to high
state of perfection. About twenty years
ago the principal merchant in this class
of jewelry was M. Bourguignon, whose
atelier was situated at the Barrier du
Trone. He was the prince of his trade,
and surpassed all others in the excellence
of his productions. He employed near
Iva hundred workmen, besides number
of women and young girls, whose bust
aud line the false pearls with fish scales
and wax. The scales of the roach and
dace are chiefly used for this purpose,
and form a considerable source of profit
to the fishermen of the Seine in the en-
virons of Oorbeil, who bring them to
Paris in large quantities during the sea-
son. They must be stripped from the
fish while living, or the glistening hue
which we admire so much in the real
pearl cannot be initiated. It was, how
ever, to the cultivation of the dia-
mond that M. Bourguignon devoted his
ingenuity, and, had he detailed the mys-
teries of his craft, some of the most
singular histories of "family diamonds
and "heirlooms would have been
brought to light.
Not only was domestic deception car
ried on by means of M. Bourguignon's
artistic skill, but he was often called
upon to lend his aid to diplomatic craft
likewise. Numberless were the snuff
boxes, "adorned with valuable dia-
monds," which issued from his atelier in
secret as the reward of public service or
skilful negotiation; innumerable por-
traits, "set in brilliants," which we're
mounted there to gladden. the hearts of
charge d'affaires, attaches and vice con-
suls.
A visit to some of the workshops will
inspire the mind with wonder to behold
the perfection with which art can be
made to initiate the most exquisite pro-
auctions of nature. The luster of the
diamond, the richness, the double refec-
ton OF the ruby, even the caprice and
deviation in the form and color of the
pearl, escape not the cunning eye of the
artist. Some of the parures are valued
as high as $1,000. The workmanship,
however, is as tasteful and costly as any
produced by the first jewelers. in the
world. The setting is always of real
gold and the fashion of the newest kind.
A tiara of these stones of the price OF
5000 francs will rival in effect and deli
cacy of finish it's neighbor which may
have cost twenty times as much. None
can tell the difference but those who
have been allowed to handle it and
breathe upon it and touch it with the
tongue and apply an acid to it, in order
to see whether or no it becomes furnished.