The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-05-25
Artificial Precious Stones.

lis the manufacture Of imitation
stones carried on to any extent in this
country"
''Well. there are limitations and i'm
itatiOns, you know. Nearly all the
paste comes from France, rs it can be
produced more cheaper there than here.
Five-sixths Of the paste sold under vari-
Gus names would not deceive u 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 Of
ten bad glass at that Now look nj
this" and rs he spoke. the dealer held
out at arms length with pair of d.
viders what appeared to be \ fine two
carat brilliant, just shade Off color.
A close inspection showed that the low
er half Of the stone was cased in tiny
metal cup. "Now, no one but an cx-
pert can say whether that is Il genuine
brilliant or not. As matter of fact,
1t Ia foilsd paste. and worth in trade less
than dollar. The foil is placed be
tween the lower part of the stone and
the cap or covering. but when the work
is well executed il takes an expert to
detect its presence. There is even q
more artful and effective way of simu-
lating the diamond. but am pleased to
say for the credit Of The trade that the
counterfeit is rarely made u in this
country.
1.-THE doublet, rs it is called, is made
by liking slice Of thin diamond, q
worthless cutting from a large stone,
on the table of brilliant with invisible
cement. A piece Of glass is then afiix-
ed to the bottom of the false stone,
which is cut flat, not to point. This
gives Il 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 de-
fIauding the PEOPLE, and you will rare
ly come across one even in the trade.
Emerald, ruby and sapphire doublets ara
used freely, and il is almost impossible
for the unpracticed eye to detect them
DO not misunderstood me, they are not
sold rs genuine. but as limitations, and
very beautiful they are. A garnet is
used rs the top layer, or blue or green
glass is affixed to the bottom Of the
stone, according to the natural color OF
the simulated stone. Here is mag
niticent specimen Of scarce GEM"
said the lapidist, taking IN Oval-cut
green stone, with a rich russell tinge in
it, from drawer in his private cabinet.
The stone weighed, perhaps. six carats,
and possessed much brilliancy. ut is
called an Alexandrite." said he, land
is.fOund in Siberia. This gem isremark-
able and valuable because, while by
daylight it is green, as you see it now,
by gaslight it is Il full rich purple in
color. Here il a remarkable gem"
and the lapidist took up a beautifully
cut stone that was yellow Oh the face
and pure white underneath That il
u specimen of the two-colorpd sapphire
and is very rare
Ayellow beryl, found al Avondalc, Pa,
u large piece of chalccdony, holding
imprisoned about gill Of water; Il
piece of quartz, with hOrnblcnde in it;
another piece showing plainly spray
OF rutile. and many other curiosities,
Mr.. Beech showed his visitor, and, but
that he was continually being called
away to weigh this stone, value that.
Or give an opinion rs to the identity of
another. he was courteous aud obliging
enough to have shown every stone in
his cabinet. philadelphia Press
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