Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-12
JEWELS qENu1ag AND YALsE.
how Diamonds are Misunderstanding Of
Precious Stones,

Precious Stones,
"There is perfect specimen OF the lapi-
dist's art, said j. W. Beath yesterday as
he handed across the counter fine specl-
men of the cairngorn.
Observe he continued, "the number
of facets on that stone. There are SOO IN
all, and each one is perfectly true IN shape:
This stone weighs nearly two ounces, and
vet SO true is it cut, the oval shape so geo.
metricaily perfect, that it will stand on its
pivot, which is not so large as pins
head" and, suiting action to words, the
lapidist deity placed the stone on sheet
of glass, and the center of gravitation fall
ing within its pin head base, it remained
nicely balanced on it's lower point or pivot.
There are but two lapidists in this city,
one of whom is ]. w. Bsath he Is also an
ardent mineralogist. He has been collect.
ing odd and unique gems OF more or less
value during many years past, and his col,
lection OF minerals contains no less than
72S specimens found in all parts of the
world.
xviii you tell me how the transforma-
ton of the Opaque muddy-looking stone in
the rough to the sparkling gem is effected ?"
asked the visitor.
"The rough gem goes through three pro.
cesses before it is ready for the jewelers.
window. First, piece of stone must be
cut off as nearly as possible the size re-
CURED. The saw used In during this is
circular piece of sheet. iron, without teeth,
set as WoodWorker's saw and operated by
foot-treadle. Two men stand at this
saw, each having foot upon the treadle.
One man holds the stone to be cut tightly
against the edge of the saw, while the
other, using feather dipped in oil, applies
the diamond dust TO the edge OF the saw.
The saw being made of very ductile metal,
the tiny particles of diamond become I'M
bedded in it, and, acting as cutting points,
soon wear through the hardest stone. Now
the piece cut off passes to the cutting table.
Here is a wheel strapped through the Gen.
ter that revolves parallel to the top OF the
table. The stone to be cut is fastened to
stick about six inches long with cement.
The lapidist takes the stick in his right
hand, steadies his hand on wooden rest
which is adjusted TO the right of the wheel,
and holds the stone firmly to the wheel IN
til one facet is ground down. To the wheel,
l should add, is applied diamond dust and
water. The table and upper facets of the
stone are cut this way, and the stone is
then removed from and readjusted to the
stiek before the lapidist cuts the under
side, collets and remaining facets.
THE POLISHING PROCESS.
"The manipulation of the stone in the
third or polishing process is identical with
that of the cutting. The wheel, however,
is composed mostly of tin, and tripoi and
rotten.stone are used in tie polishing. If
you will look closely at small diamond or
crystal, and notice the number of faucets,
their equality of size and harmony of form,
you will be able to get an idea of the skill,
care and long practice called for by the
work. 4"
els the manufacture of imitation stones
carried on to any great extent in this
country ?"
"Well, there are limitations and imita-
tions, you know. Nearly all the paste
comes from France, as it can be produced
much cheaper there than here. Five.
sixths of the paste sold under various
names would not deceive child. 1t is
bought and sold by the quart, one might
almost say, for mere song, and looks just
like what it is-glass, and often bad glass
at that Now, look at this" and as he
spoke Mr.. Beath held out at arms length
with pair of dividers what appeared to
be fine twocarat brilliant, just shade
off color. A close inspection showed that
the lower half of the stone was cased in
tiny metal cup. Now, no one but an ex.
pert can say whether this is genuine
brilliant or not. As matter of fact, it is
foiled paste, and worth in trade less than a
dollar. The foil is placed between the
lower part of the stone and the cap or COW
ering, but when the work is well executed
it takes an expert to detect its presence.
There is even a more artful and effective
way of Stimulating the diamond, but am
pleased to say, for the benefit of the trade,
that the counterfeit is rarely made up in
this country.
THE DoUBLET.
"The doublet, as it is called, is made by
fixing slice of thin diamond, worthless
cutting from large stone, on the table of
a brilliant with invisible cement. A piece
of glass is then affixed to the bottom of the
false stone, which is cut fat, not to point.
This gives real diamond surface to the
top of the stone, so that the file test will
not touch it. These false stones are almost
exclusively used for the purpose of defraud-
ing people, and you will rarely come across
one even in the trade. Emerald, ruby and
sapphire doublets are used freely, and it is
almost impossible for the Impractical eye
to detect them. Do not misunderstood
me-they are not sold as genuine, but as
limitations, and very beautiful they are. A
garnet is used as the top layer, and blue or
green glass is affixed to the bottom of the
stone, according to the natural color of the
simulated stone. Here is a magnificent
specimen of scarce gen." said the lap
idist, taking an oval-cut green stone
with a rich russell tinge in it
from drawer in his private cab
six carats, andapossessed much brilliancy.
cit is called an Alexandria, said he,
/" and is found in Siberia. This gem is
remarkable and valuable, because while by
daylight it is green. as you see it now, by
gaslight it is full, rich purple in color.
Here is a remarkable gem" and the lap.
idist took up beautifully cut stone that
was yellow on the face and pure white
underneath. "Thst is specimen OF the
-colored sapphire, and is very rare"
A yellow beryl, found at Avondale, Pa. !;
large piece of chalcedony, holding i'm.
prisohed about gill of water piece of
quartz, with hornblende in it; another
piece showing plainly spray of rutile, and
many other curiosities, Mr.. Beath showed
his visitor, ard, but that he was continu.
ally being called away to weigh this stone.
value that, or give an opinion as to the
identity of another, he was courteous and
obliging enough to have shown every stone
in his cabinet.
WHAT A PAwNBRoKER SAYS.
A visit was paid to large pawnbroker's
establishment. "Are pawnbrokers often
taken in by means of imitation gems :"
was asked. Pawnbrokers are not unfre-
quently deceived by spurious stones" said
the proprietor, " but you must not suppose
from what l say that any one but an ex-
pert at the game could succeed in de-
frauding them. will tell you little in.
cident that occurred recently, illustrating
how these frauds are perpetrsted. Some
twelve months ago a well-dressed man of
good appearance and address called upon
lapidist and working jeweler, and showing
him handsome scarf pin, asked him il he
could duplicate it, using imitation stones.
The pin was large opal, set round with
twelve small brilliants. The lapidist un-
dertook the job, not thinking for moment
the pin was wanted for fraudulent pur-
pose. The opal was simply colored glass
backed with foil, and for the brilliants,