The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-03-26

The finest diamonds are clear and
transparent rs drop Of pure water.
But be .ides these ssbrilliants Of the first
water" as they are called both techni-
cally aud in ordinary conversation, there
are colored diamonds OF every sort and
hue. A yellow shade is considered OBJ
jectionable in a diamond SO also il a
cinnamon color. Next 10 rose-colored
diamonds green take rank in the market
next 10 green. blue; and next TO blue,
black. The value Of diamond may,
according to some writers on the subject
be ascertained by regular formula. ac-
cording 70 which the square of the weight
in carats must be multiplied b. sum
varying according to the condition and
quality Of the stone. III the diamond is
~ good water and Of fine shape this sum
may be put down at t1O. IL. however,
the diamond be perfect in quality and
also perfectly cut the sum 10 be taken Is
the basis Of the calculation will be $50
or $40. Big diamonds have larger
theoretical value than small ones; but,
as matter Of fact. diamonds Of large
size have often bad 20 be cut up before
they could be disposed IF In the market.
When in 1887 the Deccan booty, OBJ
tanned by the army 81 Lord Hastings,
was sold magnificent diamond weigh
ing 315 IL grains, and Of the purest
water, brought NJ auction only Sl5, 600.
la the present day the finest diamond,
are held BY Portuguese, Spanish, French
and English families in the order named;
and the best market for them is in the
United States. Among historical dia-
monds an important place must he as
signed 70 the celebrated Pitt diamond,
Of which the weight was $50 carats.
But after being cut process which
occupied two years--it was found 10
have been reduced 10 the weight II Ij6
carats. and !, was then sold 20 the Re-
glnt If Orleans for $675. 900. Its pres
ent value is said 10 be 81 ,Ouc, 900. though
il might be difficult to lind purchaser
for il at that price. The Pitt diamond
or Regent diamond, a. il was called
after having passed into the hands OF
the Duke Of Orleans became one OF the
Crown diamonds Of France. II was
destined TO meet with strange adven-
lures; for. after being placed by Napo-
leon on the hilt Of the sword Of State, il.
was captured by the Prussiaas at Water
loo.
a diamond Of literally inestimable
value belonging to the kingof Portugal,
and 81 Brazilian origin. i said to he
worth upward Of S2.JOO,00O: but this
value l. clearly not IL value in exchange
For the historical interest attached u Il
no diamond can he compared 10 her
Maiesty's koh-i-noor. Originally dug
from the mines Of Golconda. il passed
10 successive sovereign> If CenfralIndia,
and in the early part of the fourteenth
century was added 10 the treasures Of
Delhi. II remained in the possession u
the reigning family until the invasion. in
the eighteenth century, Of Nadir Shah,
who. seeing II in the turban Of the van
pushed Mahommed. proposed ~ him
an exchange Of headdresses, and, the
polite offer being perforcc accepted,
bore away with him the priceless jewel
After the assassination II Nadir Shah,
the Mountain OF Light passed through
The hands Of Ahmed Shah Of Cabul. 10
shah Soojah, who gave IL as the price Of
his liberty To Runjeet Singh, ruler Of -he
Puniaub. On the annexation 81 the
Punjaub in lSfy, il was stipulated that
the koh-i-noor should be surrendered 10
the Queen Of England. who received il
from the East India Company in 1850.
AT the great Exhibition Of 1851 this
famous diamond was found inferior 10
IT, glass model. and il was necessary to
surround il with gas-lights i'm order 10
bring out its colors.
The Russians have very good dia-
mond known a. the Orloff II i about
the size Of q pigeons egg, and at one
time formed the eye Of an idol in the
Temple Of Brahma NJ Pondicherry.
Brahma was robbed Of ii by French
deserter. from whom IL found its way to
a Greek merchant established some
where on the shores Of the Mediter-
ranean, who sold il 10 Count Orloff. at
that time in command Of he Russian
Mediterranean squadron, 70 half a mil
lion roubles, an annuity Of 10000 rou-
hles, and patent Of nobility. Pal
Mall Gazette.