New-York tribune., 1884-10-29
DIAMONDS, POLISHED AND IN THE ROUGH
FROM TIE NINE TO THE MARKET-CoLoRs IN GEMS
--IIOW TO DETECT FRAUD.

with diamonds but gave way Brazil In the present
generation Brazil has snccambed to Y; preamcve ,,can rS
diamond fields had striking effect upon the diamond
market not only the matter Of price on. ooS 0I itb
poor relations. Although these might meet WIN siims
%naT ppH" %a"y 90 the society Which
Of fashion upon this most coveted OF Jeweis az '
present day poor relation OF the diamond family Is o
yeIowsl tnge Fashion, alarmed at the productive
OF the South African diamond Mines In whth yer
yellow diamond of an inferior caste The decree was
everywhere accepted as law and remains III ioree, Inc
cued effectively though quietly. 1t has succeeded IN
creating taste for all coors except ye,low, wncn
ever ia not without its advocates The comparatively
moderate price OF yellow diamonds will not admit
Of their appearacc or even Pass vSch pnes
the diamond for the ackno wlcdged place holds III me
These people every to remember the South
African diamond fields with thankfulness - - al,
covered in ISGs by man named O'Rclly He was looked
upon as an enthusiast and bis claims were dlsregareh
nossrssi9u of a native "doctor" The medicine man
showed unwilngness TO part with his treasure hoGgn
If WAS walnut shaped. It was SO csrats rne and was
sold London for 900 he story oi TINS ,eSh hc
Free states were overn 10y advennrers VINO ,oOn Och ,n
law into their hands and enforced u IN sneh
thoroughly njudcious manner that England stepped III
worked out diamond mine looks ko the crater Of an
c1 met volcano The largest and most productive mine
in South Africa ia the Kimberley. IL is vast noe noe
and shovel in M Hundreds Of buckets Of clay are con
tinnaily being hosicd net work Of hosting apparatus
arctclcs from tue surface 10 tho bottom OF the mine
he clay when received the surface IL sifted and then
washed. Kimberley isa town OF diamond WORKERS ana
buyers. The diamonds are bought IN the rough Gener
ay they arc consigned. nt the mines, TO London anu
Paris lrms !ho diamond In ise u o,tams6 r%ms9 by M
emitting one diamond with another This process fOugh4
OUT II s poehed ona "Ia deyovns aS ,aos i p
dcns and delicate character. Much of II ~ done py
The diamond market Mt present may he quoted "a
steady, with ri'e In prices pfopabc lhis olinon ~
in of tho Kimberley mine This IA certain 10 limit pro
duciion The discovery ~ the African diamond uelds
IL seemed ~ II bottom would he reached aud go
per cent was knocked on from prices before the mahe
smith 4 CO.. OF No. is2 Broadway informed
- TRlnusB reporter that the price, oi
monihs. A. this house - varied collection of damonds
was brought forward for inspeclon Among them wsls
ihnn pure white white stones ranging from f29pto
$500 carat and blue stones from flbO ~ " 900 lay
side by aide nnl glcacd aud gstened ~ the sunshine
Within renc of the splcndor ~ their polished s"ips
lny oi NJ diamonds IN the rough utnoitg flou one 10
lhe othnt WIS like shutting on the sunshine to admit the
storm Tho chilen oi nature arn dun ahd nhlnteosnR
lhey gave ~ evidence Of lhn light inpilaunnl b"hh
iho hodinned surfaces, u Ia there, bat at ls called
mM"nV Iis'nonds AZ" only ~ fpf mechanical pnfposos
n u niar of nature Tho bst do no poh unllho lttr lla
,o," ,iianon,A arc lha nlos highly pfigod, yrliow
coplcd Iho onlpf inoat nel"i Ia blue, bat ~ faf a.
equally valuable several diamond nrns were Nlhnd by
u Tnnusr rporior on a mai"i ~ great lhloiest To-
he value OF - diamond aud lhelo easra ~ which
diamond ~ an apparently fine blue east ,ah berh
| uulidulruiy Imposed upon AN unruhptotht Hh'hhr'i,
The only diamonds with which fraud has been pfhelsrd
are of Tie yellow variety, these arc the cheapest a TIE
object fraud increase the selling valnr. when
frauducnty colored dianonhS made their appearance
a the trad" considerably alarmed
was found that the fraud perperatcd In Eurocbnt
II out Ia he 80 transparent that alarm quickly sub
| sided The diamond II usually cOOrcd with "A stenO-
graphc pencil any line dye. member Of the nfm
| Of smith & Co. showed how IL was accomplished He
rubbed blue pencil on sheet Of tissue paper and hav
ing daInpened the Latter rolled yellow diamond in II.
| The yellow tnge disappeared and In its place was the
| fashionable tint. Diamonds 80 coOred are usually
mounted before attempt Ia sell them IL made As
diamonds only be coiored the surface fraud Is
at discovered by placing them in alcohol
| matter aud exposes the true character OF
the The traffic in artifciay coOred stones s sad
To be small, few people will buy diamonds except
from reputable firms. The latter were benefited rather
than injured by the attempted fraud their reputation
attracted customers who would In ordinary have
bought Of small dealers Thcodore Is. StOrr OF No. IL
broadway, thought that the traffic In arcaly coiOred
stones small as tO be unworthy Of MENTION lie
thought that the attempt to place false stones In the
ket had improved his business uo holds that there
more points about diamond than horse and that the
| points infinitely more delicate and difficult
| TO Judge. Few, except dealers, he thinks,
have sufficient knowledge OF diamonds to buy without
running risk unless the purchase IL made OF q rcput-
able firm. There /. difference between the painted
| the haIlsomest diamond il the NcwYOrk market is
brown. II IL set In ring. The hue OF the stone Is
dcrfuy ric though the color, which Is deep brown.
appears To detract In measure from its scintillatng
power The stone IL surrounded by Gordon OF pure
white diamonds which act as dazzling foil to its quiet