Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-10
Frauds IN Cons.

1t Is reported as fact that an exper
diamond dealer purchased remarkably
hne diamond for 5000, and afterwart
discovered that 1t was made Of two dia
monds artfully joined with Canada bal
sam, and the fraud was only discovered
BY testing the diamond with ray OF sun
light sent through the camera. While
the beam Of light would pass straight
and clear through other diamonds thal
were perfect single stones, It was stoppet
BY the foreign material joining the com
pound stone.
'sWhile that test would undoubt dly
be conclusive scientific demonstration Of
such fraud" diamond expert said,
''it would not be required by any who
had the right 10 claim expert knowledge
Of precious stones. The joining of dia.
inonds BY means Of Canada balsam Is NOT
new thing. You have fine rose dia
moud Of good color, but shallow. Well,
you back it with another to give il
depth, and If the job is neatly done II
will be difficult for most persons to see
that 1t Is not single stone. But any
expert would detect it almost at glance.
All that Is necessary Is to look right down
into the heart Of the diamond. Then, il
you wish 10 give scientific demonstration
to another person, the camera may be
brought in play. but it is not necessary.
Any one protesting to be an expert who
could be swindled out Of S45e0 on a
'doublet' deserves to lose money.
"Doublets are more frequent among
colored stones than in diamonds. Here
are some sapphires and rubbies that it
takes keen eye to recognize as built
up. They are in part genuine stones
and In part crystal, Joined, as diamonds
often sre, with Canada balsam. Some.
times they are put together by another
process that will stand heat, which the
balsam cementing will not. l had .
specimen Of that kind lying about here
that was sent to me as . sample. All,
here it is. It issnot only doublet, but
was altogether bogus. The lower part
Il made of ruby tinted glass and the
other of crystal; cheap. almost value
less, yet really q good imitation. capable
Of deceiving people who are not really
judges. You see when break it with .
hammer it breaks IS one stone would,
not even then showing its joining, and it
would have withstood . temperature
that would make infinitcsimal bIisters,
quite apparent to the eye, in balsam
cementing. But look into it at that an
gle and you'll see the joint,
''Doublets are by no means the most
dangerous fraud in diamonds. The Sun
some time ago exposed trick that was
well calculated to dsceive-the use Of
auiIine blue fluid to bring off.color stones
mp to the brilliant blue-white. The de.
vice worked we'll, but all that was need
ed to detect It was 10 wash the stones in
soap and water. Now, however, the
genius Of dishonesty has made pro-
gressive step. Instead of an anilins
color, easily removed, there is now en-
ployed chemical that will only yield to
: very strong acid. You might boil in
soap and water stone that has been so
colored and would not change its ap-
psarance. Such, ct least, are the repre-
sentations made to me. None Of those
srtificially tinted stones has yet reached
this country, but package Of them is
now on its way from Europe to broker
Of my acquaintance. am quite curious
to see them and know for myself II 1t ID
true that they would deceive even the
very elect"