Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-10-16
IMITATION DIAMONDS.
Perfection In the Art Of Making
False Gems.

Paris is the great center for this
business, which has been brought to
the most astonishing perfection. The
astounding transformation of grains
of heavy-looking, dirty sand into q
diamond OF the finest water, is the
daily avocation of large number of
persons who avowedly work with the
intention of deceiving every body but
the buyer. Everything in the opera
ton depends upon the quality of
sand, and that used for the purpose is
brought from the forest of Fontaine-
bleau. Large quantities of it are
sent abroad, SO high is the repute in
which it stands. For initiating emer-
aids, sapphires and rubies a coloring
matter, entirely mineral in it's origin,
is employed, and it has been brought
to high state Of perfection. About
twenty years ago the principal mer-
chant in this class of jewelry was a
M. Bourguignon, whose atelier was
situated at the Barrier du Trone. He
was the prince of his trade, and sur
passed all others In the excellence of
his productions. He employed near
ly hundred workmen, besides q
number of women and young girls,
whose business it was to polish the
colored stones and line the false pearls
with fish scales and wax. The scales
of the roach and dace are chiefly used
for this purpose and form q consider
able source Of profit to the fishermen
of the Seine in the environs Of Cor
bell, who bring them to Paris in
large quantities during the season.
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,
however, to the cultivation" Of the
diamond that M. Bourguignon devc-
ted his ingenuity, and, had he detail
ed tho mysteries of his craft, some of
the most singular histories OF ssfamily
diamonds" and "heirlooms" would
have been brought to light.
Not only was domestic deception
carried on by means Of M. Bourguig-
mons artistic skill, but he was often
called upon to lend his aid to diplo-
matte craft likewise. Nnmberless
were the snuff-boxes, adorned with
valuable diamonds" which issued
from his atelier in secret 40 the re-
ward of public service or skillful me-
gotiation innumerable portraits, "set
in brilliants," which were mounted
there to gladden. the hearts of Charge
d'Affaires, attaches and Vice Consuls.
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 ex-
quisite productions of nature. The
luster of the diamond, the richness,
the double reflection 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 parurcs are valued as
high % 5000 to 5000 francs. The
workmanship, however, is as tasteful
and costly as any produced by the
first jewelers. in the world. The set
ting is always of real gold and the
fashion of the newest kind. A tiara
of these stones of the price Of 6,OOO
francs will rival in effect and delicacy
Of finish its neighbor which may have
cost twenty times - 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 or
der to see whether or no it becomes
furnished.