Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-03-26
ARTIFICIAL DIAMONDS.
The Hest Imitation or the Real Gem-A
New Device and It's Uses.

hO hest lMNntJOh OF me IteaI Sem-A
New Device and It's Uses.
While the attempts of chemists to
manufacture genuine diamonds have
always ended in failure Except, per-
haps, in the production of carbon
atoms too minute 10 have any cOmmer.
cial Value), the many efforts to initiate
the diamond have resulted in consider.
able success, and all previous limitations
have been surpassed through process
lately introduced III France Large
quantities Of the artificial gems thus
made have recently been imported into
this country, where they are sold iu
the trade under the name Of "heliolas,'
a dlminutlve Of the Greek word helios,
the sun, They are manufactured from
the colorless glass known as strass,
which has long been extensively used
as a basis for artificial Jewels, but
which in this case is subjected to Il new
treatment, After the application Of
great heat this substance is plunged
into cold water, and the consequent
sudden chilling has a powerful con-
tracing influence, 80 that the grain Of
the strass becomes exceedingly close
and fine. Hence the glass is made
very clear and transparent, AMI given
a remarkably hard surface, which is
susceptible of high polish. Then it
is cut and polished like "a real diamond,
the cutter using leadcn wheel, with
oil and diamond dust; lut while The
genuine stones are always cut singly,
a number of the helioas are fastened
with wax in row upon a stick and
are all cut at the same time. For the
original foil backing to give brilliancy
to an artificial gem, a very small bit Of
foil is substituted, which is attached to
the culet, or center of the back. In
this way the transparency Of the stone
is preserved, while the light is reflected
into its heart. When first made in
Paris, about two years ago, the hcliolas
were produced in comparatively small
numbers, and, being sold hy but few
establishments, were introduced at first
among the better class of people, fot
whom they were set in silver combs,
tiaras, and other ornaments for the
hair, Their Drilliancy and clyse re-
semblance to genuine diamonds grad
ually caused a large demand for them,
and the Paris trade in them hecamcey-
tensiye about year AGO. Their i'm
portation to this county began some
seven or eight months since, and is,
rather singularly, controlled BY
Maiden Lane firm Of dealers in genuine
diamonds, They are used for variety
of purposes Besides being admirably
suited for stage jewels, they are largely
taking the place of Rhine stones in
back combs, and they are set in rolled
plate or low-carat gold for iewciry of
every form. TO Il much greater eX-
tent than the unnitiatcd would
imagine, they are worn by ladies who
are the owIcrs of real diamonds, but
who have temporarily parted with tho
possession of their gems. When a
speculatOr in Wall street or elsewhere
"comes to grief of serious character,
it is not unfrequently found advisable
to pawn his Wfe's diamonds if they
represent considerable capital, Ii j.
also considered advisable that their ab-
Sence should not be remarked, and as
temporary substitutes the heliolus are
found very convenient and deceptive
The helolas are cut in both brilliant
and rose forms, and are Of all sizes,
shapes, and colors. Generally they are
pure white. The unset stones are
graded in certain sizes, to conform to
the carat sizes of genuine diamonds,and
are sold, according to size, at from $40
to so per gross, When set and worn
their resemblance to the real gems is
such that they are likely to be mistaken
for them by all but experts. The lat
ter, however, cannot he deceived, as
there is peculiar light in the fash of
the true diamond which even this imi.
tation does not reproduce,--Nec York
Erenjng Post.