The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-03
Fla nous Real Diamonds.
[Pall Mall Gazette.]

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 colored diamonds of every sort and
hue. A yellow shade is considered OBJ
iectionable in a diamond, so also is a
cinnamon color. Next to rose-colored
diamonds green takes rank in the mar
ket; next to green blue; and next to
blue black. The value of diamond
may, according to some writers on the
subject, be ascertained by a regular form
ula, according to which the square of
the weight in carats must be multiplied
by sum varying according to the con-
dition and quality Of the stone. If the
diamond is of good water and of fine
shape this sum may be put down at $40.
If, however, the diamond be perfect in
quality and also perfectly cut the sum
to be taken as the basis of the calcula-
ton will be $50 or $40. Big diamonds
have larger theoretical value than
smaller ones; but. as matter of fact,
diamonds of 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 magnificent diamond weigh
ing 3754 grains, and of the purest water,
brought at auction only $4,000. 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
assigned to the celebrated Pitt diamond,
of which the weight was 430 carats. But
after being cut-a process which occu-
pied two years-it was found to have
been reduced to the weight of 1876 carats,
and it was then sold to the Regent of
Orleans for $675,000. Its present value
is said to be 81, 100000, though it might
be difficult to find a purchaser fer it at
that price. The Pitt diamond-or Re-
gent diamond, as it was called after
having passed into the hands Of the
Duke of Orleans-became one of the
Crown diamonds of France. 1t was des
tined to meet with strange adventures
: for, after being placed by Napoleon or
: the hilt of the sword Of State, it was
captured by the Prussians at Waterloo
A diamond Of literally inestimablt
value, belonging to the King of Portugal
and Of Brazilian origin, is said to b.
! worth upward of $2,5o0,oo0; but thi
3 value is clearly not its value in exchange
: For the historical interest attached to i
: no diamond can be compared to her Ma
/. jesty's Koh-i-noor. Originally dug from
9 the mines of Golconda, it passed to sue
n cessive sovereigns of Central India, ant
, in the early part of the fourteenth cen
tury was added to the treasures of Delhi
1t remained in the possession of the reign
n ing family until the invasion in th
a eighteenth century, of Nadir Shah, who
il seeing it in the turban of the vanquishe
+ Mahommed, proposed to him an e,
v change of headdresses, and, the polit
i offer being perforce accepted, bore ava
it with him the priceless Jewell After tn
,e assassination Of Nadir Shah, the "Mour
If tain of Light passed through the hand
n of Ahmed Shah, of Cabul, to Shah Sot
It jah, who gave it as the price of his lii
a erty to Runjeet Singh, ruler of th
1t Punjaub.
h On the annexation of the Punjaub i
is 1S49, it was stipulated that the Koh-
If moor should be surrendered to the Quee
re of England, who received it from tn
d East India Company in 1850. At til
n great Exhibition Of 1851 this famous di
h mond was found inferior to its gla
e model. and it was necessary to surroun
t. it with gas-lights in order to bring out i
le colors.
is The Russians have a very good di
Ii mond known as the Orloff. 1t is abol
IS the size of a pigeons egg, and at OF
S, time formed the eye Of an idol in IL
d Temple of Brahma at Pondicherr
e Brahma was robbed of it by French d
a. serter, from whom it found its way to
s. Greek merchant established somewhe
l. on the shores of the Mediterranean, WI
lg sold tito Count Orlof at that time 4
TO command Of the Russian Mediterranes
)r squadron, for half million roubles, q
N annuity of twenty thousand roubles al
if a patent Of nobility.