St. Landry democrat., 1880-04-03
Famous Real Diamonds,

The finest diamonds are clear and
transparent as drop of pure water.
But besides these =" brilliants of the first
water" as they are called both techni-
cally and in ordinary conversation, there
are coiored diamonds of every sort and
hue. A yellow shade is considered OBJ
Jectionable in diamond; so also is a
cinnamon color. Next to rose-colored
diamonds green take rank in the market :;
next to green, blue; and next to blue,
black. The value of a diamond NAV,
according to some writers on the subject,
be ascertained by regular formula, &C
cording to which the square of the weight
in carats must be multiplied by sum
varying according to the condition and
quality OF the stone. II the diamond is
OF good water and Of fine shape this sum
may be put down at go II, however,
the diamond be perfect in quality and
also perfectly cut the sum to be taken as
the basis OF the calculation will be $50
or $40. Big diamonds have a larger
theoretical value than small ones; but,
as a matter OF fact, diamonds of q large
size have often had to be cut up before
they could be disposed of in the market.
When in 1887 the Deccan booty, OBJ
tanned by the army of Lord Hastings,
was sold a magnificent diamond weigh
ing 315 1-2 grains, and of the purest
water, brought at auction only S15, 600
In the present day the finest diamonds
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 be as
signed to the celebrated Pitt diamond.
OF which the weight was 43O c:lrats.
but after being cut-a process which
occupied two years-it was found TO
have been reduced to the weight of 1856
carats, and it was then sold to the Re-
gent of Orleans for $675,OOO. It's pres
ent value is said to be 81 zoo, 900. though
1T might be difficult to find purchaser
Tor it at that price. The Pitt diamond
or Regent diamond, as it was called
after having passed into the hands OF
the Duke of Orleans-became one of the |
Crown diamonds of France. It was
destined to meet with strange adven- |
lures; for, after being placed by Napo-
leon on the hllt OF the sword of State. it |
was captured by the Prussians at Water
loo.
A diamond of literally inestimable |
value belonging to the King of Portugal, |
and of Brazilian origin, IS said to be |
worth upward of s., 100000; but this
value is clearly not its value in exchange.
FOR the historical interest attached to It |
no diamond can be compared to her
Majesty's koh-i-noor. Originally dug
from the mines of Golconda, it passed |
to successive sovereigns of Central India,
and in the early part of the fourteenth
century was added to the treasures of
Delhi. 1t remained in the possession of
the reigning family until the invasion, in
the eighteenth century, of Nadir Shah,
who, seeing it in the turban of the van
pushed Mahommed, proposed to him
an exchange Of headdresses, and, the
polite offer being perforce accepted,
bore away with him the priceless jewel.
After the assassination of Nadir Shah,
the Mountain of Light passed through
the hands of Ahmed Shah of Cabul. to
Shah Soojah, who gave it as the price of
his liberty to Runjeet Singh, ruler Of the
eunJaub. On the annexation of the
Punjaub in 1949, it was stipulated that
the koh-i-noor should be surrendered to
The Queen of England, who received it
from the East India Company in 1850.
At the great Exhibition of 1851 this
famous diamond was found inferior to
is glass model, and it was necessary to
it with gas-lights in order to
bring out its colors
The Russians have very good dia-
mond known rs the Orloff. 1t ia about
he size Of pigeons egg, and at one
line formed the eye of an idol in the
Temple of Brahma at Pondicherrv. ,,
5rahma was robbed of it by French
teserter, from whom it found its way to
Greek merchant established some :
where on the shores of the Nlediter- .
'anean, who sold it to Count Orloff, at .
hat time in command Of the Russian =,
Mediterranean squadron, for half mil ,,
ion roubles, an annuity of 10000 rou- ,
lies, and patent of nobility. Pal ,
Na1t Gazette.