The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-11
ARTIFICIAL PRECIOUS STONE.
Tricks of the Trade that Sometimes Puzzle
the Experts.


"ls the manufacture of imitation stones
carried on to any extent in this country ~
well, there are limitations and imitt
tons, you know. Nearly all the past,
comes from France. Fiye-sixths OF the
paste sold under various names would not
deceive child. 1t is bought aud sold by
the quart, one might almost say, and look:
just like what it is,-glass, and often bad
glass at that. Now look at this" and as he
poke the dealer held out at arms length
with a pair Of diyders what appeared to be
fac two. carat brilliant, Just shade oil
color. A close inspection showed that the
lower hall OF the stone was cased in tiny
tiny metal cup. Now, no one but an OK
pert can say whether that is genuine
brilliant or not. As a matter of fact, 1t is a
iOiled paste, aud worth IN trade less than a
dollar. The foil is placed between the
lower part OF the stone and the cap or GOV.
ering, but when the work is well executed
1t takes an expert to detect its presence.
There is even more artful and more eff
iectiye way OF Stimulating the diamond, but
| am pleased to say for the credit OF the
trade that the counterfeit is rarely made
up IN this country.
The doublet, us il is called, is made by
liking "A 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
ialso stone, which is cut Hat, not to point.
This gives real diamond surface to the top
OF the Stone so that the tie-test will not
touch il, These false stones are almost ex-
clusiyely used for the purpose Otdeirauding
people, and you will rarely come across one
even in trade. Emerald, ruby, and sap
phire doublets are used freely, and IL is al
most impossible for the Impractical eye TO
detect them. DO not misunderstood me,
they are not sold as genuine but as imita-
tons, aud very beautiful they are, A gar
net 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 magnificent
specimen OF II scarce gem, said the lapiuist,
taking an oyal-cut green stone with rich
russell tinge in II, from drawer in his pr
vate cabinet. The stone weighed perhaps
six carats, aud possessed much brIlliauCy
1T is called m AleXandrite, said he, land
is found in Siberia. This gem is remarkable
and valuable because, while by dayllghtlt is
green, ms you see 1t now, by gas light it is
iull rich purple in color. Here is II remark.
able GEM, and the lapidst took II beauti-
lully cut stone that was yellow on the face
and pure white underneath. That is n
specimen OF the two-colore sapphire, and is
very rare
A yellow beryl found ut Avondale Penn
sylvania large piece of chalcedony, hold
ing imprisoned about gill of water;
piece of quartz, with hornblende in it,
another pice showing plainly IL spray of ru
tile, and many other curiosities Mr.. Beach
showed his visitor, and, but that he was
continuity 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, II Philadelphia Press